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yellowcry · 6 months ago

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I can finally see

Dolores doesn't know what to do. Her only hope is that Tío Bruno will agree for a vision

Another thing for Sickened based off cursed gifts with the help of @miracles-and-butterflies

Despite a common belief, Dolores didn't have a problem with her gift. She loved her hearing, it made her far more aware of what was going on. What she hated was actually when she didn't know something. Maybe a habit, maybe a natural wish to seek the truth. And right now she didn't know why the thing were going the way they were.

Dolores heard strange noises coming from Luisa all the way back, starting at the morning that followed the ceremony. But she didn't bother to check if anything was wrong. Luisa didn't seem too bothered with this. If anything, the younger cousin tended to crack her fingers quite a bit from time to time. Which had always annoyed Dolores, but she did her best to ignore it. So it was easy to assume Luisa just kept cracking her fingers while working. Which was more than usual, but nothing too far from the limit. And Dolores herself didn't listen to her cousin up until when Antonio noticed a flickering door. She could assume many things from what she heard. Having Luisa be turned into a stone wasn't one of them.

And then here came her Tía. This was at least way more understandable. Her skin was open, sizzling with oil of an old oven. Red bursting out in a rapid pace, slipping under the teal clothes. Its wasn't Dolores' place to judge whoever had it worse. But with Tía it was at least something she knew. She heard people getting injuries and coming to heal them every day of her life. It didn't make her less sick from the loud opening slashes or blasting blisters.

And super hearing didn't provide Dolores any information of no-one actually knew what it was. The puzzle pieces were too distorted for her to get the image herself. The only evident thing was that it was somehow related to the magic. The doors were acting strange. There was no situation before when they flickered like this. (or when they flickered at all). The Madrigal candle stable flame also was toned down just a little and didn't seem to shine as bright as before. There was really nothing to hold onto except for that.

But if Dolores didn't have an access to any useful information, somebody else could.

She wasn't very invested in this whole thing with Bruno so-called disappearance. He just... got into the walls at the next day after Mirabel's ceremony and that's it. And Dolores wasn't really bothered by it. Back in the days she had her own problems. School and other childish stuff. And later it just became something casual to her.

But even if Dolores didn't listen to Bruno in the walls that much she heard how he was getting inside of it every day. Enough to learn the right painting.

She had to admit, Bruno was making strange noises too. Just like Tía or Luisa. But Dolores could say this about ninety percent of the things she heard from the walls. It wasn't a big surprise. There was a small part of her that worried if something was wrong with Bruno too. But his door was fine. Or it wasn't fine bit it was in it's normal faded condition. Not flickering. And it was one of the most important information Dolores had. The only thing that united everyone who was affected.

The old floor cracked as she walked deeper. The hallway was confined, making movements somehow uncomfortable but possible. Rats rushed past Dolores, squeaking under her feet. Ouf. How does Tío Bruno live like this? From behind the smallest gasps in the walls Dooores could hear her family just a bit clearer. Which usually meant anyone could hear them without a super hearing.

"Felíx, Do you think this thing is really spreading like an infection?" Mamá breathed out so close but so far away. The tiniest snowflakes floated in the air.

"Juli and Luisa has different symptoms," Papá reminded. And that was exactly the problem. Whatever the magic did, the infection, way to hurt wasn't the same. And it was the reason why Dolores went to Bruno. She had to dig the lacking pieces out of the lime.

The doors closeted around a small door. Dolores crunched, getting past the creaking doorframe. It looked like it was standing on it's last power and would turn into rubbish if someone had touched it wrong.

She squeaked, announcing her presence. She wasn't sure if her Tío would get it, but it was better than nothing. And Dolores didn't exactly know what to say in this situation. She only winced, frowning her nose from the smell that stood in the small room. It shouldn't be a big surprise, Tío Bruno couldn't clean it properly all the time. But it still wasn't something Dolores wanted to smell for much longer.

The known lodger of the place sat crunched on the floor. Wind that howled around him puched his belongings off their places. Rats hid under the ancient armchair. Squeaking in distress.

Okay, this was worse than what Dolores thought of. But she also expected Bruno not to be in he best condition. He looked around helplessly, holding onto the back of his chair, his hooked nails digged into the soft fabric, tearing threads apart.

"Tío?" Dolores crouched in front of him, blinking at the sight.

"Ah!" Bruno gasped, half-jumping on the spot. "Who... who's here?" He shut his eyelids, reaching out for Dolores. "Are you really here or not? Sorry... I... I can't tell."

The thin fingers, the bones and joint were clearly defined under the skin grabbed onto Dolores' arm. Tight. She let out a short yelp of pain. There would probably be some bruises left. The world around started to spun, sending inpulses of headache to Dolores from the noices. Her hearing was getting overstimulated with sounds.

"Okay, okay, you're real." Tío Bruno exhaled, his glowing in green eyes snapped open. Didn't it mean Bruno had a vision at the moment? It would explain a lot. From the strange noises to a surprised reaction. He did have involuntary visions from time to time right?

"There's something wrong with the magic." Dolores explained, trying her best to ignote the jamming sound in her head. "You need to see what it is." Right now Bruno was their only way to see what was going on and how to stop it until the entire thing got even worse than it was already.

"Can I stop having visions instead? It's too much! I can't... I don't understand a thing!"

Dolores' heart pounded. She didn't remember much of how Tío Bruno's gift was supposed to work. To he honest, she knew Bruno preferred Isabela to her back when they were kids. So she assumed it's how visions were supposed to work. Inconvenient and illegible for anyone becides Bruno. It would make sense, it was his gift after all. "This isn't a matter of a simple want. We need a vision." Dolores pulled her uncle, trying toget him out of this state. She remembered Tío Bruno used to make some ritual before visions. Maybe this would help them both. There was no time to avoid the problem. The magic affected Luisa and Tía Julieta in a rapid pace. Their gifts were misbehaving in a way nobody could predict. "Maybe use some bigger space? It will give you more way too see your visions!"

"It doesn't work that way!" Bruno barked at her, pulling away much to Dolores' relief when images stopped bombing her mind. "Space doesn't change anything! It's too..." He shook his head rapidly, narrowing his eyes. "STOP THIS!" His hand gripped onto his hair, pulling a gray handful out.

Dolores winced at the sound. It rung in her ears, beating her with a hammer. Her arms dropped flat, she stared at the dusty floor in disbelief. If the way she saw and heard a bunch of inconvenient flashes was the way Bruno was seeing visions too... It sertainly would not work. The only thing that was able to clear this up wasn't available to them. And if they couldn't see the way out of this, how in the world were they supposed to stop the thing?

#honestly I'm not too proud there's not enough angst #it's just too hard to describe in third person pov but well #encanto #dolores madrigal #bruno madrigal #fanfic #ao3 author

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anotheronechicagobog · 4 years ago

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Enemies to Lovers Noah Sexton x dawson!reader

requested by: @bitweird1

written by: @anotheronechicagobog

Warnings: swearing, mature themes, child neglect, slightly Dawson bashing but they really just didn’t know, canon compliant threats

You had spent your entire life struggling and working your ass off. No social life, extracurriculars for the sole purpose of applying to universities, and spending the majority of your life studying because according to your dad at least one Dawson had to become a doctor and your older siblings had decided that it wouldn’t be them, leaving you to do nothing but prepare for the future that had been hand-picked by the man you felt abandoned you. And then Noah fucking Sexton just waltzes in having put in half the effort and riding the coattails of his much more intelligent sister who gave up a career as a doctor because of sexism. He spent far too much of his time flirting with everything that had boobs and a pulse. You didn’t like him because he took nothing seriously and didn’t have a responsible bone in his body, and he hated you because you were incredibly uptight and didn’t have a sense of humour.

“Maybe you’d have more friends here if you didn’t have a stick shoved up your ass.”

“I’m not here to make friends, I’m here to become a doctor.”

Everyone was getting really sick of your fighting, so they banded together and made things worse. They had badgered you until Doris had enough and dragged you to Molly’s. You refused to drink or eat anything, resulting in more snide remarks between you and Noah. Just when everyone was developing a migraine before they were anywhere even close to drunk your parents burst through the door and marched over to you. And suddenly, everyone in the bar, including your siblings, were subjected to and twenty-minute rant from your parents about how you should be grateful they pushed you towards medical school and all the activities that got you scholarships, that they didn’t abandon you, and that they clothed and fed you because a third child cost so much money, how you never took anything seriously and were always joking around, and how you were a disgrace to the family. Once they finished, your dad dragged you out by your arm, your mom followed muttering about why couldn’t you be more like Gabby and Antonio.

You walked into the ED the next day as robotic as ever. The pitiful and awkward stares were ignored with ease, it was something you were quite used to if you were honest. Your parents were always scrutinized by your teachers and DCFS. At the end of the day, though, they weren’t abusive enough for any charges or housing changes to be set. They weren’t like that with Gabby and Antonio, who had mostly moved out by the time you were in kindergarden, you were their last chance to help them prove to their family that they didn’t fail as parents. And they made sure you knew it.

“Dr. Dawson, you’ve got a patient in treatment one. Also, uh, are you okay? I feel pretty bad about last night.”

“Oh, don’t worry about anything. I’m fine, and my parents were right I should’ve been studying. It was a poor decision on my part not to. I’m gonna get to this patient, but you really don’t need to feel bad, okay?”

She nodded absently as you turned your back to her. ”Hi, I'm Dr. Dawson, can you tell me what brought you in today?”

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Your patient had just gone up to the OR to have a blood clot removed and you made your way to the doctor’s lounge, followed by Noah Sexton. ”Hey, Y/N, are you-”

”Yes, Noah, I am okay. Yes, I'm sure. I am fine, I am always fine.”

”From my experience when people say they're fine they're usually not.”

”Noah, I am okay.”

“I don’t believe you.”

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The next few weeks were a maze of pitiful stares, hushed concerned words, and a silent Noah. All of it was completely unnerving. It all came to a head when Dr. Charles approached in the ED you about starting therapy with him, talking continuously about all the points ‘brought to his attention’, not even giving you the time to tell him the majority were false. “Excuse me?”

Your stomach coiled in anger at his words. Not only were you more than capable of doing your job, but you already had a therapist. With basket case parents like yours, it was blatantly obvious that therapy was required. But the audacity of your co-workers to gossip so much that it came to the point over half the points Charles brought up were complete BS was astounding. Not only that, but he’d apparently spent the last few days internet stalking you to try and find some of your demons. “Dr. Charles, do you consider me a danger or liability to any of the patients or doctors at this hospital because of my relationship with my parents?”

“No, you actually seem to be well balanced mentally.”

“Then what, on earth, made you think it was appropriate to go around behind my back asking everyone at the hospital their opinion about me and what happened at Molly’s, or stalk me online to try and get a read on me, and then ask me blatantly at work, in the middle of the shift, in front of all my co-workers and superiors? What made you think it was okay to loudly bombard me with rumours and hearsay while I’m working?”

“Well, I thought that since it’s my job to check on all the ED docs, I’d check on you.”

“... You’re joking, right? I am the only person in this department who goes to therapy. Don’t kid yourself, you don’t check on anyone here. You judge them and make sure they know it. And quite honestly, you don’t have the best reputation for looking out for the mental and emotional state of your colleagues. This confrontation was not only completely inappropriate, but rude, obnoxious, presumptuous, riddled with unchecked errors, and unprofessional.”

“That’s not how I would word it.”

“It’s how I see it, and how I’ll word it with HR.”

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No one was pitying you anymore, not since the tongue lashing you gave Dr. Charles, who was on very thin ice with the hospital. While bringing up Robin and Sarah may have been a bit of a low blow, it exposed some issues with Dr. Charles that needed to be addressed. The only person who acted as if you were made of glass was Noah Sexton. While he had been a bit of a pain in the ass, this was worse. He was being sickeningly nice to you and it was getting on your last nerve. Yes, your parents were abusive. Yes, you had a messed up and traumatic childhood. But did that limit your abilities? No. Did that make you mentally unstable requiring therapy and fragility from your coworkers? Absolutely not.

He came in with coffee exactly the way you liked it, again. With a muffin, again. “You have to stop.”

“Stop what, Y/N?”

“Stop acting weird. You don’t like me, you hate me, actually. The only reason you’re being nice to me is because my parents resent my existence. I do not need or want your pity. So stop treating me like a china doll, and start treating me like your coworker.”

“Okay, okay, I uh... I’m sorry. I just, I feel guilty, okay? I gave you such a hard time for being so frigid and then when your parents showed up at Molly’s and started screaming at you for existing and having a life of your own, it just all made sense. And I gave you shit and trouble for coping with your crazy-ass parents. And then Dr. Charles came by to talk to you and I just felt even worse because even though I didn’t tell him anything, it was our fighting that put the spotlight on you in the first place. You shouldn’t have had your dirty laundry aired to the entire hospital, that’s happened to me a few times and it’s horrible, and I feel bad because I know that I was a contributing factor to all the shit you’ve had to deal with at work.”

“I get where you’re coming from, but let’s be real, everything would’ve turned out exactly the same way if you weren’t involved. The gossip mill runs strong at Gaffney.”

“Yeah, it does. I still feel bad.”

“Well, you’re forgiven then. So you can stop treading delicately, buying me coffee, and being creepily nice to me.”

“I am not being ‘creepily nice’! And how can being nice be creepy anyway?”

“Yesterday you followed me around offering to help me take my gloves on and off constantly, to the point where a patient who came in for falling out of the ceiling above the women’s changeroom said ‘that’s just weird’.”

“... Okay. I’ll stop. But I gotta be honest, I don’t think I can go back to arguing with you all the time.”

“That’s fine, just stop acting so weird that a couple I caught having kinky sex after an STD swab said ‘that made us really uncomfortable’.”

“Don’t have to tell me twice. Seriously, you didn’t have to tell me twice.”

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SIX MONTHS LATER

You and Noah had actually managed to become good friends and roommates. Shortly after he started acting like a normal person around you, not an instigator or a psycho, you found yourself enjoying his company. And yesterday, when you’d come home to find your room completely torn apart by your mother because your father had tried to frame you for using weed, you were done. Most of what you owned had been destroyed in your mother’s search, which sucked, but it made packing up all your stuff into your car much easier.

So far you’d ignored 43 texts, 12 calls, two visits from Gabby when she brought in a patient, and one visit from Antonio who didn’t even bother trying to lie to you. He also threatened to impound your car, you threatened to tell Voight about the time he and Lindsay got drunk and hooked up. It didn’t even matter that she was in New York now, Voight wouldn’t even blink before bludgeoning him down. He swore at you, “how could you break mami’s heart like this?”, and “can’t you just behave and do what you’re told for once?”

You looked him dead in the eyes, heart beating erratically at you older brother supporting your parents belittling and abusing you, “You sound like dad Antonio.”, watched his face fall, and left. Noah stopped him when he went to follow you. “You good?”

“Uh, not really. I don’t have a place to go tonight.”

“Did your mom kick you out?”

“No, I left. I can’t do it anymore. I break out in hives whenever I even think about my mother now. I just can’t go back.”

“Well, you don’t have to. I have been looking for a roommate, we can move you into my place after shift.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.”

“Now come on, it’s prank week. Stohl pissed off Manning last week and she’s been planning revenge ever since, you do not want to miss this.”

And you didn’t. You entered the ED to find one of the most hated doctors in med spitting out Gatorade. “WHaT thE heLL?! That was sooo-ughghghg-” he couldn’t even finish his sentence before running to the doctor’s lounge to throw up in the bathroom. To Natalie’s credit, she didn’t crack a smile or react at all as she gracefully stepped over the spilled orange Gatorade. She briefly reminded you of a fae, graceful, beautiful, and cunning as all hell. You made a mental note never to cross her. Later at lunch, Natalie opened her sushi container, slightly deconstructed each piece, loaded all the pieces up with wasabi, reconstructed them, and popped one in her mouth. Everyone sitting near her had their eyes flash in recognition. Stohl had a habit of stealing other people’s food, and no matter how many times anyone told him to stop, they were just bullied into compliance. As a result, everyone had to dictate their food choices around his palette. Which meant no spicy food. Something that sucked for nearly everyone because hot food was a favourite for most people in the ED. But Manning wasn’t taking his shit. Not today. Something that worried everyone sitting around her because she would get in trouble for eating her own food how she liked it. It wasn’t until one of the HR workers, Holly, sat down beside Natalie and engaged in conversation that everyone realized the full scope of her plans. Stohl plopped down beside you and stole half of your sandwich right out of your hand. Ranting and raving, insulting everyone, stealing food, he made his way all around the circular cafeteria table until he got to Nat. He scooped up to pieces and threw them in his mouth just after he finished the words ‘insolent underlings’. Everyone held their breath as they watched his pale face redden exponentially. His eyes widened. And then he screamed.

He yelled, he swore. “I’m going to report you to HR! You tried to poison me!”

“You stole food from everyone, something inappropriate, unethical, and unprofessional. You stole her food. That she made spicy to her tastes. She didn’t try to poison you.”

“And just who the fuck do you think you are?!”

“Holly Scott, from HR.”

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You and Noah were doing great, as roommates and as friends. “Hey, do you have any plans for dinner tonight? My parents invited me over for dinner and they asked me to extend an invite to you. It’s nothing major, they wanted to meet my previous roommates, too. Make sure you’re not a hooligan.”

“Okay, sounds fun. What should I bring?”

“Yourself...?”

“It’s rude to show up at someone else’s home without a gift.”

“You don’t need to bring my parents a gift.”

“Oh, I’m bringing a gift. I’m just asking you for some input.”

“Okay, well they really like wheelie shoes-”

“Ha, oh my god, I meant for what your parents would like, not you. And want wheelie shoes? Those have been out for a while, Noah.”

“Hey, do not laugh at me! They are just a very effective and fun way to get around.”

“Would you like them to light up too?”

“... Is that an option?”

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You knocked on the door while Noah rolled his eyes at you. “I grew up here!”

“Well you don’t live here anymore and it’s rude to just barge into someone’s home and act like you own the place.”

“Oh, you must be Y/N! I wasn’t expecting anyone to knock, usually, Noah just barges in and acts like he owns the place. Come in, come in. It’s freezing outside.” You gave Noah a side-eyed smirk as you took off your coat, while he looked bashfully embarrassed. “Uh, here Ms. Sexton, I brought some homemade empanadas, they can be put in the fridge or kept in the freezer, and it’s best to reheat them in the oven. 350 F, ten minutes from the fridge and about 20 if they were put in the freezer.”

“Oh, you really didn’t have to do that.”

“I was raised that when you go over to someone’s house for dinner or an event, you bring a gift. And it was either this or a house plant.”

“Ha, good idea going with the food, it’s a Sexton family trait that will kill all the plants we touch. Thank you very much.”

“Hello, you must be Y/N. It;s wonderful to meet you- and what smells so good?”

“Y/N brought empanadas, and they are going away so that you and I can enjoy them later. Now everyone, to the dining room, dinner is just about done.”

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Things started to change a bit a few months later when Choi had to physically restrain Noah from attacking a drunk bar fight patient who called you a slut in the middle of the ED. You’d been confused but Maggie just kept saying that it was a matter of time.

When you’d been hanging around at Molly’s with Noah, Sarah, and Darren, Noah had his arm casually wrapped around your shoulders, something your sister gave you the eyebrow for from her place at the bar.

After you’d been mugged and beaten, you’d run to the 21st, where your brother promptly unleashed the most fearsome demon hell has ever cowered from, AKA Hank Voight, he also called Noah. And when your brother finally made an arrest and got Voight to calm down a little, he’d entered the breakroom to find you fast asleep, curled up against Noah. Who sat in an incredibly uncomfortable position, holding you and stroking your back. You missed the dark look that crossed his face, or the one of fear that had crossed Noah’s but something of an understanding had fallen to Noah. The two of you needed to talk.

So you did, and it went well, so well that you planned a date. Then another one. And another one, until you two had been dating for six months and figured it was time to tell your families. You were shaking in your boots, the Sexton’s were all incredibly close and incredibly doting on Noah, so even though they liked you, you had absolutely no clue as to what the reaction would be. To your relief, it was happiness, they loved you as much as Noah apparently, and they relished in the changed you’d caused in Noah.

Your family, on the other hand, did not react well. Which was why you’d made sure that you told them in a very public place, and had only ordered waters before you told them. There was yelling, screaming, your father waving his arms around so much Antonio had to use his cop voice on him. In the end, you and Noah had been there for around five minutes before throwing some cash at the waitress as a tip for leaving her with your family, and hauling ass out of there. The two of you had ended up just eating pizza on the boardwalk in your fancy clothes and heading back to the apartment late.You both had work the next day, but while you were an intern, Noah was not. And while you were off giving a patient a sponge bath, your siblings cornered Noah at the nurses desk. “Sexton, is there a place the three of us can talk?”

“Uh, sure, this conference room is free...”

“Perfect.”

“So, I take it this is about-”

“Nuh-uh. You do not talk. We do.”

“You are dating our baby sister.”

“We may not be as close to her as you are with your sister, but she still means a lot to us.”

“We love her. We are two people with some pretty dangerous skills. It is for these two reasons that you will not hurt her. Ever.”

“And if you do, don’t forget who I work with.”

“No one will ever find your body.”

“Are we clear?”

“Uh, hmmh... Clear. Crystal clear.”

“Good. Now do you know where Y/N is? We’d like to take the both of you out to lunch or something, just the four of us, to make up for the dinner of many disasters.”

#One Chicago #chicago med #Chicago Fire #Chicago PD #noah sexton #noah sexton x reader #antonio dawson #gabby dawson #maggie lockwood

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1dfangirls35 · 5 years ago

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Voir Dire- N.H

A fake dating AU about contracts, soulmates and risking it all for love.

Masterlist // Tell Me What You Think!

twelve

"What's going on in that mind of yours?"

"Huh?" Niall replied suddenly, his mind drawn out of its daze. He turned to look at Krystal, her eyebrows furrowed in a concerned gaze as she takes another sip of her red wine.

It was Valentine's Day, and Niall and Krystal found themselves at yet another PR dinner. Appearances like this had a least become more bearable recently, especially as Krystal and Niall had developed a bit of what one might call a friendship. It was bound to happen, though, especially with all the time they spent together on the road.

What was going on in Niall's mind was a million things. A million complicated, complex things. Things that all centered around one specific person. After Kelsey's wine-fueled breakdown about the status of their relationship, Niall was feeling the pressure. He wanted to prove to Kelsey that this was, in fact, real to him. But just how he was going to do that was uncertain. He also knew that having to spend Valentine's day with his other girlfriend surely wasn't helping things.

"I said," Krystal began again setting her hand on Niall's forearm, looking directly at him in a way guaranteed that he would understand this time. "What's on your mind? You're off in your own little world."

"I'm fine. Just thinking."

"About your real valentine?" Krystal asked, crossing her arms in front of her.

"I guess you could say that," Niall shrugged. But Krystal didn't stop her gaze, instead her eyes bored into Niall's, willing him to speak the truth. That's one thing he'd learned about Krystal during his time as her "boyfriend"- she had the uncanny ability to convince anyone to answer her question, until she got the answer she wanted.

"She's freaked out that what we have isn't real," Niall sighs, running his hand through his hair. "And I don't have the slightest idea of how to fix it."

"You really like her don't you?" Krystal asked, the corners of her red-stained lips turning up into a grinning tease.

Niall looked down at his glass of wine, then back up at Krystal. "I do," he took a sip of his wine before adding "And it's fucking terrifying."

Krystal smiled. A small, knowing smile. She took another drink before saying, "So tell me about this real relationship thing."

"Are we really doing this?" Niall groaned, sitting up a little straighter in his seat. "Here?" The restaurant they were in was hardly a place for a heart to heart conversation. It was too stiff, too posh. Every inch of the place, from its tile floors and bleached white tablecloths to the high ceilings and crystal chandeliers, screamed politeness and class.

"Yes, we are," Krystal declared. Because first of all, you aren't great company when you're all in your head," Krystal pointed at Niall. "And second of all, I'd like to think that I'm getting paid to do more than just sit here and look pretty."

"Don't really think they are paying you to give me advice on a secret relationship Krystal," Niall rolled his eyes.

"Maybe not. But who better to figure out your relationship problems than the girl who is in a relationship with you?" she winked at Niall, which only made him want to let out another groan.

Niall shook his head. This girl, she didn't take no for an answer. "I think she just feels like, I don't know, we can't do the things a normal couple would do. Like right now, we can't go out for a nice dinner."

"Why not?"

"You know exactly why not. People recognize me all over the place, we'd be waiting for a disaster to happen."

"But you've been places before haven't you? I mean we've been trying to get papped and sometimes haven't."

Krystal had a point. There had been dozens of times in his life when he'd slipped in and out of places unseen. It just took more planning, and a little diligence but it wasn't impossible. And it didn't have to be a constant thing. Just enough to show Kelsey that he wasn't trying to keeping her in the shadow. Just one, normal date. Easy, right?

"I mean it would take some planning, but I suppose you're right, I could make it work."

Krystal clapped her hands in excitement, a little too much excitement for setting up a date for someone else in Niall's opinion. But that was another thing Niall had learned about Krystal. She liked to be needed and she liked to be right. Niall only hoped that she was right about this.

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

Niall sent Kelsey a simple text.

We're going out tonight

He knew it could be risky, taking Kelsey out in public. But he also knew that Kelsey needed to feel like this relationship could be somewhat normal. He needed to prove to her that this was real to him. Realer than any relationship he'd ever been in before. And what better way to prove that this was real to him than by taking her on a real date? (With slight modifications of course).

When Kelsey first got the text, she was confused. Niall had made it clear from the beginning that this thing going on between them had to be kept on the down-low. All her wine-fueled confessions about the status of their relationship had been true. But she worried that they had made Niall feel as though he had to do something drastic. And while, a night out like a normal couple was more than Kelsey could have asked for, she only hoped that it wouldn't end up being something Niall regretted.

Kelsey picked out a slim black dress with a plunge down the middle that showed just enough. It was her first date with Niall, well her first "real date", and she wanted to look the part. When Niall comes to pick her up, he stands at the door to her apartment speechless.

"Ya look amazing," he said softly, leaning over to plant a kiss on her cheek. His words send butterflies through Kelsey's stomach.

Niall takes Kelsey to an upscale pizza joint in downtown LA. The place was best known by Hollywood's elite for its private back room dining area and a VIP entrance. It was the perfect place for taking Kelsey out, yet keeping her safe from any looming paparazzi. When they arrive, the manager, Antonio, greeted them with an enthusiastic smile, shuttling them to a table decked with a white tablecloth and flickering candle.

But it wasn't just the setting that made Kelsey feel like she was in a made for TV movie. It was the way Niall pulled her chair out for her before she took her seat. Or the way he grasped her hand from across the table as the sipped a glass of wine. It was the way he looked at her, under the flickering candlelight like she was the only girl in the room, which to be fair she was. Kelsey began to wonder if all her fears were unfounded. Because how could Niall act like this if it wasn't all real?

But then the voice in her head reminds her that he is doing all this stuff with another girl. In a relationship that is far from real.

"Have you been here with Krystal?" Kelsey blurted out. She knew she shouldn't bring up the other woman in this scenario, but she couldn't help herself. When she thought of Niall being out of public all she could picture were the endless pap pics of the pretty blonde hanging onto Niall's arm as they got out of a limo, or stealing a kiss as they sat at a soccer match.

"No, I haven't," Niall paused. He knew Krystal would always be apart of the conversation and this relationship. And he understood that having a fake girlfriend was always going to make Kelsey a little anxious. But he wished Kelsey wouldn't see her as the enemy. In fact, Krystal had played a large role in them getting to this point in the first place. "She's actually a nice person, you know. I guess when I first heard I was getting a fake girlfriend I figured she'd be some awful, attention-seeking girl who was just in it for the fame. And she's not all that, I mean she's definitely trying to get her chance at the spotlight but there's more to it than that."

Kelsey had come to the conclusion that Krystal could be Mother Teresa reincarnated and a part of her would still loathe her. It wasn't anything about Krystal in particular it was just...the principle of the matter. "I believe you, Niall, I really do. But who decides one day that they are going to be someone's fake girlfriend? Like doesn't that just seem...I don't know, morally wrong?" Kelsey interjected.

"That's what gets me too. Every time I think, hey I could really be friends with that girl, I just think about what she stands for and...I just can't move all the way past that. A part of me will always wonder what kind of person she really is."

"I guess some people are willing to go to extremes to follow their dreams."

"That's one way to put it," Niall said. He knew what that sometimes pursuing dreams involved risk. He knew that sometimes you had to put your own needs in front of others. But volunteering to manipulate the public, all in the name of publicity? And seeming to enjoy it? Now that didn't sit right in Niall's stomach.

He glanced over at Kelsey. She's picking at a hangnail on the edge of her thumb, a sign she's probably thinking something and isn't sure if she should say it. Niall set his hand on her leg, a sign of quick reassurance.

"Just promise me one thing?" Kelsey's voice grew soft.

"Anything, Kels."

"Promise me you won't fall in love with her."

Niall looked at Kelsey, her brown eyes showing all the pain and heartbreak she'd been through. This girl was broken, scarred, vulnerable. But she was also the strongest and most resilient person he'd ever met. He never wanted to be the one that caused her heart to ache again. "Promise," he replied.

"Besides," he added, his pulse beginning to quicken at the thought of saying the words aloud. "Can't fall for her when I'm already falling for you."

Kelsey didn't consider herself to be a hopeless romantic, at least not anymore, but something about the way Niall's blue eyes glistened as he said those words made her heart flutter and her fingertips tingle.

"Kelsey Benton," Niall grabbed Kelsey's hands, looking at her like she was the only person in the room. "Will you be my girlfriend? My real girlfriend?"

Kelsey nodded feverishly, yet she can't seem to form any words. This is what she had wanted. This was what she had needed. This confirmation that things with Niall were more than just a fling. That what they had was real. More real than anything he had with Krystal. "Yes, yes!"

When they leave the restaurant, Kelsey felt giddy. She grabbed Niall's hand as the walk a block down the street where the car awaits them. Niall had called and requested they give themselves a bit more of a walk so, as he told Kelsey, "He could just feel like a normal guy walking with a beautiful girl."

The night air is cool, but the sky was clear, with millions of twinkling stars and the bright moonlight. And holding Niall's hand, walking down the dim lit streets of Los Angeles, Kelsey didn't feel like she was dating a famous popstar. She didn't feel like she was the hidden relationship behind a PR stunt. She felt like an average girl, with the hand of a boy who's just admitted he's starting to fall for her intertwined in her own. A girl who maybe, ever so slowly, was starting to fall for him too.

As they pass an alley and walk away, Kelsey swore she saw the flash of a camera, but when Niall failed to react, she brought her head to rest on his shoulder as they keep walking. She was being paranoid after all.

Taglist: @awomanindeniall @niall-is-my-dream @ihearthemcallingforyou

#okay so my keyboard is being funky and i can't highlight so i'll try and link masterlist tommorow #also hopefully getting a second update tomorrow night?!#voir dire #writingby1dfangirls35 #niall horan #nh #niall fanfic #niall x ofc #fake dating #secret relationship

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hetalia-boyfriend-scenario · 5 years ago

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S/o having a massive anxiety attack?

This may be triggering for some. Flavio is kind of a terrible person in this. But I would like to base it on how I think he would react.

1p Spain ( Antonio):

"So what movie do you want to watch bonito/a." We are looking through netflix and I am snuggling up to my partner. They are holding on to me.

"I guess anything. I need to really unwine from this unbelieve day." They say that while nuzzling there nose into my neck. "Make it something from your country. Suprise me."

As I sit here with my boyfriend and he puts on the movie. I just start thinking about my day and the fact that I have run out of my meds. As well I can not get more intill tomorrow, because the Pharmacy is closed today.

I would not be suprise if he pick a romance. That is what we normal watch, when he picks a movie.

"Ok, let me think." Antonio is going through the search bar and types up spain and goes through the movies. He get this devilish look on his face, he is up to something. "How about we watch REC."

"What is it about?"

"It a suprise." I give him this look of annoyance. "You said you wanted it to be a suprise." He say shaking his hands up in the air.

"Alright"

While we watch the movie. I immediately tell it is some sort of mystery. Like the news people (I forget what there called) go to interview the fire fighter and watch them work. It in the veiw of the camer.

"Is this a horror movie?" Antonio shakes his head up and down. "You know I get scared during these things!"

"Do not worry I will protect you." He pulls me closer to his chest. "You have to experience a spainsh horror movie. There the best horror movies."

"I do not like horror movies in General."

It get further and further into the movie. I am paying attention to the movie, but I am as well thinking about everything that went wrong today.

I start to over analyze everything. Oh my god. Whar is that? I throw up immediately, the first step of every massive anxiety attack I have ever had.

"Wow, it not even at the gross stu-"

I am start to breath deep and quick, I start to cry, and then I run to the opposite side of the apartment.

I go into a little ball, just start to go back and further. My boyfriend rushes in. I can tell his talking, but I can not hear I thing. But I do start to avoid eyes contact. I want to look anywhere but him. I just don't want him to see me like this.

I see after my partner throws up. That they stuble away, crying, and doing this weird breathing thing. "Wow, we are not even at the gross stuff. Hey are you alright?" They start to run across the apartment. I rush after them assuming they are going to the bathroom. But intead they go to the bedroom? "Hey, Bonita/o?! What the matter?!"

They crubble to the growned and go into a tiny ball. There hyperventilating. Oh god what have I done. When they mentioned that they had a bad day, they most havw thought I understood that they ment anxious.

I walk into the room. "I am sorry." There sill hyperventilating. "What can I do to help you?" They look up at the ceiling and around. They look at me but refuse to give me eyes contact. "Tesero?"

They put there head in there knees. "I want my mommy" I hear them whisper under their voice.

"I do not have your mamá number. What is it?" They do not seem to hear me. I go back to the living room for their phone. I see it by their wallet. I pick it up and I put in their password. I call their mamá.

2p Romano(Flavio):

We are just arriving from a fashion show. It was amazing. But all those models where nothing like me. I was thinking about this all throughout the night, that I was hardly even enjoying the show. I think Flavio wad able to tell. I was breathing deeply during the entire thing, just wanting to cry. But I know Flavio would be deeply embarrassed if I expressed these emotions.

Flavio opens the door for me, when we enter the car. Then he goes right next to me. "Drive us home." He orders the driver to do. I see Flavio turn to me "What made you want to cry during it?"

"Very funny. I did not want to cry. In fact I was quite enjoying the show."

"Then explain why you are at the break of tears right now." I give him these look of how do you know. "It in your voice, Bella/o."

I burst into tear and start to hyperventilate. "It just- I don't- hate... Body." Flavio start to close the window that makes it easier for him to contact the driver."

"What got you down about your body?" Flavio is looking at me and expects a answer. But I know I will not be able to talk right now. I try but I ened up barfing. "Oh my god. Are you sick." He open back up the window. "Get us back home ASAP!" He closes the window again. He doea not touch me. Probably because I am not as pretty/handsome as those models. "What do you want me to do? How sick are you? If you knew you were sick, why dis you come. Do you know how bad it would be for my reputation if my partner throw up in public."

I just look at him. He is right. I should have know I would not have been able to handle seeing all those models. He still is not touching me.

"Hey are you going to talk to me?" I look away from him. I am embarrassed for the fact he saw me throw up and currently have a panic attack.

"I am sorry!" I scream.

He gives me this puzzled look. "What are you sorry for?" He looks at me "Your hyperventilate. Oh my god. I am so sorry. Is that way you throw up." He start to go in foe the hug, but he stops. "I do not want to get my clothes dirty."

I start to move away from him.

"Why are you distancing yourself from me?"

"YOU WANT ONE OF YOUR MODEL FRIENDS DON'T YOU!" I yell, then I go back into a ball. "All you care about is how you appear to other people."

"NO! I do not!" He screams it too, but not has loud.

I just distance myself from him more.

"Fine you will not even look at me. What did I do wrong. I am the perfect boyfriend. You should not be having a panic attack right now."

Then he looks at himself. 'Am I the reason there crying'. "Is the reason you are crying because you do not look like those models?" I do not budge, I just start rocking back and forth.

He start to move closer to me. His shoes get into the throw up, but he still get closer to me. He then pulls me closer to him. "I will do anything you ask. Just tell me. And I am sorry for making it about me."

2p Italy ( Luciano): This talks about sexual assult. If that triggers you please do not read.

I fidle with my keys. I am trying to open the door. But I am on the urge on having a panic attack, which is making my vision blurr. I final get the right key, in the right way, and open the door. I walk inside and once the door is close, I crumble to the growned. I start hyperventilating even thought I already did this at my works bathroom. It does not stop me from doing it here. That man touched me again. I feel disgusting.

I see Luciano rushing in "Amore?! What is it?" He rushes over and start to hols me. "Is it your anxiety?" Luciano never acts like this. "You have been having a lot of these lately. Did you forget to take your meds? I will get them?" He say rushing through his sentace really quickly and then start speaking in italian "Cosa sta succedendo con lui. Sono così preoccupato" He say it under his breath.

"Luciano. Please do not get mad at me."

"Why would I be mad at you?" I hear worry in his voice.

"This guy at work... Well he has been... I do not know what he has been doing. But he grab me by my crouche and said this disgusting thing in my ear. I am sorry. I probably did something to ask for it. But I do not know wh-"

He see this look on his face. He is probably mad at me. "Who is this man?" He looks directly at me, I swear he is looking into my soul "And what did he say to you?"

"I do not want to repeat it."

"Do not worry. I will take care of things. Now stop hyperventilating."

" I can't, I want my mommy." I say under my voice.

I know Luciano is a little off topic. But it was the best I could do for him. I was running out of ideas. I was thinking about including school. But I like the idea that the S/O is a adult. I find it easier to write.

When I am having a severe anxiety attack. I throw up and I do not know how other react. So I pretty much base it on my personal experiences with anxiety.

#Flavio #Lucinao #antonio #2p romano #2pitaly #2promano #2p hetalia #2p italy x reader #2ptalia #spain hetalia #2p romano x reader #spain x reader #hetaliaboyfriendscenarios #hetalia boyfriend scenarios #aph hetalia #hetalia #boyfriend scenarios

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elven-ariaera · 5 years ago

Text

Read the New Leaf Diaries first here!

Start from NH Diaries part 1: Permanent Island Getaway

Day 7

Kitt moved in this morning. It felt so good to have her back in my life. I did not realize how nostalgic I would get already, but no matter what, I am sticking with my plan to move forward. Citytown is behind me, and Islandtown is my future.

I got a free tee-shirt in the mail from Dodo Airlines. Audie didn’t seem to care much about it and gave me a lecture on fashion. I guess she does know what she’s talking about. Maybe I should pawn it off on some poor unsuspecting fool…

Until then, all I can do is think about my life choices while wearing this dumb dodo shirt…

That night a terrifying thing happened. A tarantula appeared and tried to get Audie! Luckily for her, I had a bug net in hand. I crept up next to the little sucker and swiped my net! …Only to miss and get bitten by the arachnid. Luckily she dragged me back to my house and all was well again.

You know, that’s a reoccurrence that I could never quite figure out. Whenever I am bitten by a spider or stung by bees to the point of passing out, I always wind up back in my home. Who is taking me there? Is that you, Antonio?

Day 8

I caught a Whale Shark! I thought about doing a little more fishing after my excellent finds two nights ago and my word I’ve done it again! Sure it was the most ridiculously heavy thing I’ve ever had to reel in — I’m surprised the line didn’t snap — but I did it!

I brought it to Blathers to give it a nice new home in the museum. Let me tell you, finding a plastic baggie big enough to bring it in was its own challenge. He told me some interesting tidbits about the gentle giant. Learning can be fun sometimes!

Is that an actual option?

I had also been working on a garden for a while now and I must say it is really coming along! I’m so pleased… That’s it. There’s no punchline. Not everything in life is a joke! Can’t I just have a moment of serenity for once in my life?

Oh, I had nearly forgotten! Stitches finally moved in! I’m not sure why he was the last one to move in when I asked him first, but I guess he had a lot of things to unpack. I visited him to welcome him to the neighborhood as he unpacked and he was very persistent about cleaning the back left corner of his home… Even though the entire floor was coated in dirt.

In other news, Audie and I have continued to bond and I’ve learned some things about her. She might not be as innocent as I initially thought…

I didn’t realize you played Smash Bros too!

But then we got to chatting about movies and it turns out she’s writing one. A rock-opera to be exact. While I was genuinely interested, its plot was a little hard to follow…

Really, all the neighbors and I have been getting along rather well. I jumped in on a conversation between Bud and Kitt, though, and it seems they have rather opposite tastes. Literally.

All these wacky shenanigans that go on in this town, I swear, it’d make for some kind of sitcom. I actually just received a cartoonist set from Kitt earlier, perhaps I’ll try my hand at it sometime. For now, these journals will have to suffice.

Day 9

I had gotten a new room expansion for my house the other day and it seems that word spread quickly! Audie has been dying to come over and see the place since the first day, but now she has sort of been inviting herself over.

It’s not that I don’t want her over, she’s easily become my best friend of all the island’s residents that live here. I simply want to gussy up the place before she comes. Still, she remains persistent… Is this what Antonio felt like about my persistence?

…Man, what a great feeling to be loved and admired so much.

I headed over to check in on Stitches today seeing as he was still new to island life. He seems to be progressing rather quickly and is already doing stuff.

On another note, he keeps insisting that he has bug friends who live inside the floor and whisper things to him while he sleeps. Should I be concerned?

Mabel dropped by today to set up shop in the town plaza. I always enjoy her selection of clothing to pick from. She’s also quite the trooper — It rained practically all day today, and still, she stood outside waiting for potential customers. I do think I was the only one though…

She just stands there… Menacingly!

Later that night Audie insisted on coming over again. I did explain to her that I was waiting for the renovations on my new room aka extension walk-in closet to be finished before anyone saw, and she seemed to understand, so we went back to her place to chat for a while. I found it a little ironic that she didn’t want me to snoop around her house yet she kept trying to persuade me to invite her over to my house… Does she have a secret shrine of me?

…That would be so sweet! She’s the best friend I ever had!

We later went on a late-night stroll and things got real. I told her about my previous fishing escapades and she kept freaking out. It seems she has a severe case of ichthyophobia.

Day 10

The resident’s hall was under construction and they have now finished and revealed the new and improved plaza. It looks magnificent! Nook had even gotten new help from off-island. He hired Isabelle, my assistant from back home. I guess Citytown isn’t doing so hot without me…

Now I have no quarrel with Isabelle under normal circumstances, but I can’t help but feel that Nook is trying to replace me. I am your island representative, not her! Don’t you dare get any ideas…

Ugh, Isabelle, you make it so hard to hate you when you act so precious!

Anyway, it’s clear that I’m still the favorite of the residents. Stitches came by and gave me a house-warming gift even though he was the one who just moved in… Still, it was much appreciated.

I dropped by the town hall today to carry on business as usual, but of course, Tom Nook just had to rave about what a great help Isabelle would be. I mean, sure, she did let me change the flag because of my magnificent artistic potential, but that doesn’t change anything! I’ve got my eye on you, Isabelle…

Btw, the flag looks fabulous.

Other business included the construction of a suspension bridge. Of course, most of that money was coming out of my pocket, but still, if it could save me from a pole-vaulting accident, I’d gladly pay the majority.

I decided to look for more resources to sell off-island and the dodo’s brought me to a wonderful place. They brought me to an island filled with rare hybrid colored cosmos growing all over! It was truly a sight to behold! My garden would look absolutely stunning with some of these added in the variety! Why haven’t these dodo-brains ever brought me here before? Oh…

In addition, I think my talk with Audie yesterday night helped her overcome her fear of fish. But I still don’t think she understands how fishing works…

Day 11

I still needed to make some money for that suspension bridge, so I thought a little bug catching and tree shaking would do the trick. Kitt called out to me, asking if I was having a fun time bug catching. She then apologized for assuming, and though she did assume correctly, I appreciate her earnest apology.

We also opened a campsite today! To think, the future resident of my town would soon be here! Nook was very persistent about persuading people to settle down here, and I couldn’t agree more. I wonder what kind of animal they would be? I wonder if maybe… No. Certainly he wouldn’t be there…

Enough stressing myself out over the thought of my future resident. I also took another mystery flight from Dodo Airlines to see what magnificent isle they might bring me to today. Yesterdays “Hybrid Island,” as I am thoughtfully dubbing it, was a sight to behold. How could they ever top that?

In short, they didn’t. They brought me to an island where every fish in the river was a black bass. Every. Single. One.

I hate you all…

As awful as that experience was, I had to be grateful that the ocean fish were not all sea basses. Ugh. I shudder at the very thought of such a place even existing. Still, I complained to their manager. I had already booked a Nook Miles Ticket in advance, so their flight tomorrow had better be good!

All the neighbors today kept stressing out about the Happy Home Designers committee and I just couldn’t understand why. They give you nice presents if you do a good job decorating your home, right? Well, when speaking to Audie, she presented it to me in a whole different way. I’ll never look at the Happy Home community the same way again…

A friend of mine had invited me and another chum over to his island later that evening. It was a delightful night filled with picnics and hide-and-go-seek.

I also met someone. Roald. His eyes were so striking, I could not look away. With that and his chiseled features, one could easily… No. Stop it. You are a one-anteater kind of woman! Someday he’ll come back. I know he will. Until then, I must resist the sweet temptations of this gorgeous hunk of penguin.

Oh, you lift? I can tell…

Day 12

Today’s the day~

We have a guest at the campsite! Oh, I can’t wait to meet them! I’m so excited that I had to write about it the first minute I got up today! This lucky fellow isn’t even aware that they’re going to be our future resident! Ooo, I’m so excited! I have to go! I’ll write more when I get back tonight!

I don’t want to talk about it. Ugh, but I have to vent somewhere, don’t I?

Our guest today was Graham, the hamster. Ugh. I do not like Graham. Why? He’s such a wannabe poser! He claims he’s a celebrity and uses corny terms all the time. He greeted me by saying “Bonjourno!” and later exclaimed his excitement by shouting “Guten Tag!” First — that’s not even the same language as you were faking before, second, you’re not using that phrase properly! Don’t think I’m not onto you, hamster.

To make matters worse, he doesn’t even refer to me by my name. He just calls me “Hey, you!” Do you even know who I am, pal? I’m more a celebrity than you’ll ever be!

Ugh, after that nightmare finally ended (for now,) I needed a bit of joy in my life. Stitches was the perfect friend to brighten my day. But then I screwed that up too — I thought it would be cute to give him a stuffed Panda Bear, and then I remembered he is a stuffed bear. Oh, my dear sweet Stitches, I am so very sorry.

Then Gulliver washed up on my shore again. Even he is aware of my excess loads of free time so, of course, I had to help him…

I decided it was time to just take a breather and use that Nook Miles Ticket I had. I looked the pilot dead in the eyes before we took off and said, “I swear, if you bring me to black bass island one more time, it will be the last thing you ever do.” Needless to say, he brought me to Bell Rock island today. I went to the island with 5,000 bells and came home with 87,000. I am one satisfied customer.

By the way, how does that work? I understand when I chip away at a rock and things like stone or clay fall from it, but bells? Perhaps bells are actually a type of stone valued so much by the animal people it’s used as currency? You see, I could accept that, but the fact that sometimes it flies out of the rock wrapped in little bags, it just baffles me!

Well, with all my profits from that trip I managed to pay for another bridge. Audie and I were discussing how this would benefit us by not having to use the vaulting poles anymore.

Also, Kitt hurt my feelings today too. She said that my style was basic. She could see I was a bit upset by this, so she covered it up by saying she meant I wore basics well, but I knew what she really meant. I’m starting to remember why I let her move from Citytown…

Yeah, well, your hat doesn’t match your jacket!

Though this day was full of ups and downs, the final part of my story ends with the highest high one could feel. Later in the evening, I thought I should attempt to find the rumored Tarantula Island. I haven’t had any luck finding a specimen for the museum, so certainly I would be able to find one in a place literally named after the creature. But I did not find the island. However, what I found was even better. Love.

I got off the plane, and lo and behold, there he was. My precious, my darling — Antonio was there! I ran to his side, thrilled to see him, nearly jumping into his arms — but I controlled myself.

We talked and talked, catching up on life since we last saw each other. It turned out he was doing a survival training challenge, which is why he was out on the island. Typical Antonio. Still, his training was doing him wonders, ooh, those muscles!

He also noticed how much I have been toning myself as well, what with all this island hopping and hard labor Nook tasks me with.

He off-hand mentioned that he’d love to his island training full time, so I took the opportunity and asked him to move in with me— I mean, to Islandtown. After everything that had happened between us, I thought perhaps I came on a bit too strong, but he answered in the affirmative. Antonio, sweet, sweet, Antonio, is going to be part of my village once again!

Despite all the bad things that happened today, I can rest easy knowing my favorite animal is going to be with me.

Day 13

Graham was the first one to move in today, but Antonio will be here tomorrow! I’m so excited! Audie and I got together and talked about it all morning. It was funny because she was watching a romance movie the day before and had an inkling something special might happen!

But sadly, poor little Stitches was sick today! I immediately ran over when Kitt told me the news and brought him some medicine. He was feeling a lot better afterward, but I told him he should still rest inside for the day.

I proceeded from there to go to the Town Hall as Tom Nook had requested for my assistance — MY assistance, not Isabelle’s… Okay, Isabelle’s too. Ugh.

If you think for one second that I’m your task force you’ve got another thing coming…

Anyway, the two of them asked me to keep inviting new residents to live in our town. Easy enough! I knew plenty of people from back home who would love to live here! I called up my girl Whitney from back home and invited her to camp out with us here on the island. I figured we’d hang out a bit and then I’d ask her about moving in.

She was thrilled when I called her and came over immediately. We had such a good time catching up, it’s been so long! These past few days have been overwhelming me with emotion with so many familiar faces.

However, when I mentioned that Whitney should move to Islandtown, she didn’t say no, but she didn’t quite feel ready yet. I get it. Citytown is a great place. I mean, it’s less great now that I’m not mayor anymore, but it’s still pretty cool. I’ll invite her over again after she’s thought it over a bit.

Oh! With my garden doing so well, I decided to set up my own little flower shop right outside my house. I stood there for three hours today and not a single customer. Mabel, I applaud your patience and durability.

I was hoping to raise a bit of money through this stand to set up a bridge. You see, when I picked a spot for Antonio’s house to be, I didn’t realize he had no connection to the other parts of the island. It was imperative that I got this bridge funded and finished by tonight. Luckily I had some help from friends to donate enough bells for the project to be completed. It took a lot of hard work and a lot of fishing…

But it will all be worth it. Tomorrow, my prince charming moves to town.

A Residents Representatives work is never done! With so many tasks to complete and more residents moving in, how will our solo human villager handle the heat? Read the New Leaf Diaries first here! Start from NH Diaries part 1: Permanent Island Getaway…

#Animal Crossing #Animal Crossing New Horizons #Diaries #Fan Fiction #Gaming #New Horizons #Nintendo #Parody

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ncfan-1 · 7 years ago

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ncfan listens to The Magnus Archives: S1 EP011 (’Dreamer) & EP012 (‘First Aid’)

In which I have a lot of questions, and I feel like I’m not the only one.

No spoilers, please!

EP 011: ‘Dreamer’

- The imagery of this organism like a strangling vine choking the city is nice and visceral and creepy.

- So we’ve established that there’s a limit to what sort of cases the Institute will take on. It’s nice to establish this. I do wonder about stuff like that in series like this, because if the Institute treated seriously every fever dream they were told about, they’d never get any work done.

- “I know how that sounds.” Yeah, if someone said that to me, the first thing I’d assume is, uh, very different from what you’re telling us, Antonio Blake.

- Wait, Antonio’s ex is named Graham? I… I compared the statement dates of this one and ‘Across the Street’, and I think this is in the right timeframe to be right around the time Graham from that episode was replaced by not-Graham. Obviously, if this is referring to a different Graham (and yeah, I know I said not to rely on coincidences, but I think the same given name isn’t as much of a link as the same surname would be, unless the surname was, like Smith or Jones or Patel) I’m following the wrong thread, but if it is the same Graham, then wow, there’s some nasty subtext to that breakup.

Of course, I’m not sure this is the same Graham we’re talking about. Graham Folger had such a pervasive air of isolation around him that it stretches my suspension of disbelief a little to believe he had a boyfriend. But I suppose it would explain why he was often out of his flat, and it’s not like having a boyfriend would have helped him much when he was at home. Alone.

- I winced when Antonio detailed how he didn’t wake up from the dream when he fell from the roof of Canary Wharf, and didn’t wake up when he experienced the phantom pain of the landing. I’m terrified of heights, and the mere act of dream-falling would have been enough to wake me—and indeed, I think it would have been for most people, if they’re having normal dreams. But this isn’t a normal dream.

- I wonder if Antonio’s fear of taking the elevator up to the twenty-third floor is supposed to be indicative of a premonition involving an elevator malfunction.

- So the death of the head archivist at the Magnus Institute triggers some catastrophic change in supernatural activity in London? Or was there some drastic change, and the Institute—and Gertrude—was at the epicenter of it?

- “And the bridge was knotted high with the flashing vines.” I checked, and a cursory search with a few different search phrases didn’t show me any statistics that indicate that a statistically large amount of people jump from London Bridge in suicide attempts each year. If this was taking place in San Francisco and we were talking about the Golden Gate Bridge, I’d have no doubt that that’s what the vines are about there, but here, I’m not as certain. It might be a combination of suicides and car crashes, or, if the vines have been accumulating for centuries, it could just be the accumulated deaths of centuries upon the structure.

- The Magnus Institute, as described… is not entirely dissimilar from my own workplace in appearance. My workplace being a combination of administrative offices and archive for a local heritage center. Where I work as an assistant archivist. …You might see why this disturbs me a bit.

- And now Jonathan suddenly has so many questions. As he should. I can understand his gut response being to assume that it was a prank, and can equally understand his being freaked out upon discovering that no, this was probably not a prank.

- So Jonathan doesn’t know exactly what happened to Gertrude, and didn’t even know she was dead when he got the job? His comment about asking if she was available to give him some job training, I think, confirms something I was wondering about—whether or not he had a great deal of experience as an archivist before this. He sounds fairly young when he’s reading the statements (and when he gives his assessment of them it almost sounds like he’s trying to make himself sound older than he really is) and his seeming inability to understand that it would be better to get the hard copies of the files in chronological order before trying to digitize or record them were making me wonder. Jonathan, buddy? I hate to say this, but unless you pull some archiving info out of your head to wow me, your assistants may be better at this than you are. Yes, even Martin. Possibly especially Martin, given that he seems to have been working with the Archive in some capacity since 2010.

- Yeah, Elias sounds sketchy.

- So Tim’s the only one of the assistants you trust not to pull a prank on you? I guess I’ll have to file Tim away as the serious one.

- “But if anyone comes in ranting about dreaming my death, then I very much want to hear about it.” I’m just trying to imagine Jonathan’s possible conversation with Elias after this. Especially considering how high-strung he seems to be.

Jonathan: Hey, I just read a statement about some guy predicting Gertrude Robinson’s death in a dream. Elias: Don’t worry about it. Jonathan: But the statement is dated to just before she died. Elias: Dude, it’s not your business. Jonathan: It’s not my— You didn’t even tell me how she died! She could have overdosed on heroin at my desk for all I know! What else aren’t you telling me? Elias: Don’t worry about it. You know it’s all head-in-the-sand management around here—or did you not figure that out when I dumped you in a disorganized Archive filled with thousands of incomplete case files that hadn’t been organized according to any system, with only three assistants and no other help, and without giving you the slightest warning about the way Gertrude was running the place? I mean, if that didn’t tip you off that I’ve got no interest in giving you guidance of any kind, then I really don’t think there’s any hope for you. Jonathan: *not-so-internal screaming*

Friendly reminder that this is the kind of assignment that can make people start fantasizing about killing their boss.

EP 012: ‘First Aid’

- Yeah, so I have a new favorite episode. Already. I know; I’m fickle.

- I can speak to emergency rooms never really being empty, no matter the time of night. I had to go into the emergency room at three in the morning, once, and it was in a small hospital in a rural area, and me and my parents still weren’t the only ones in the emergency room. It wasn’t full by any stretch of the imagination—again, small hospital in a rural area—but there were other people there. There was also an asshole doctor who didn’t want to take seriously the idea that I was in any real pain or medical danger, despite the fact that my lower lip had swollen to about five size its normal size and was starting to split open and leak pus.

- So we see the weirdness start to infect the hospital early with the too-quiet waiting room.

- It occurred to me that for the two men to have been burned everywhere on their body (the older truly everywhere, and the younger everywhere below his neck where there wasn’t a tattoo), they also had second-degree burns on their genitals. I flinch in sympathy, no matter what these two were getting up to that led to the burns.

- Oh, look, Jared Key’s back! I’m sure that won’t be important at all.

- I do wonder what happened that the burns stopped at his neck.

- And Jared has been tied to eye imagery again. My Tolkien roots are showing, but I am reminded a bit of the Lidless Eye, always watching.

- The bit about everyone in the hospital apart from the patients too ill to be moved disappearing (and later shown to all get up at the same time and file outside to parts and for reasons unknown) is pretty creepy. I do wonder how the patients who could get up and go outside fared, considering it was December in Britain, where it tends to snow at that time of year.

- “It sounded like… the growl of an animal, a rolling, angry sound, and I realized that the floor was shaking ever so slightly.” What was going on with the vending machine could potentially account for this, but I also like the idea of the slowly creeping horror, invisibly stalking the halls of the hospital.

- “And then I saw it. […] But I now saw that the one on the left, a clear-fronted machine that stocked bottled soft drinks, was shaking violently. As I got nearer, I saw why. In every bottle, in every row of the machine, the drinks appeared to be violently boiling. Cokes and lemonades and fruit juices shook and bubble, before one by one, the bottles exploded, coating the inside of the clear plastic front with liquid that still kept steaming and hissing. It couldn’t have taken more than thirty seconds for all of them to pop.”

One: great description. Two: I wonder what the people who restock the vending machines made of this.

- Jared is just as ambiguous a figure in this episode as he was in ‘Page Turner.’ His actions in the events of the episode itself are beneficial to the narrator—it’s possible that he saved both of their lives—but he’s clearly caught up in the affairs of things moving just beyond our ability to see them. Things that are not benevolent. He doesn’t come off as being malicious in personality, but he’s still caught up in a lot of shady shit. And we’ve seen him kill at least once, possibly at least twice if he killed his mother and didn’t just skin her after she voluntarily committed suicide.

- “Something told me if there was a coherent explanation for everything that had happened since the ambulance arrived, then I would be no better off for knowing it.” What, no, listen, Lesere, this is absolutely the time to be asking questions.

- “Better beholding than the lightless flame.” Something to file away, I guess.

- I hope we get more information about Jared later.

- Jared was released into the care of his mother? Wasn’t Mary already dead by this point? Let me check ‘Page Turner.’ *checks ‘Page Turner’* Okay, the events of the episode take place in December 2011, and Mary turned up dead in 2008. So what, is she not really dead? Is the ghost Jared summoned with ‘Key of Solomon’ able to move around outside of their old bookstore/house? Was that someone pretending to be Jared’s mother? Well, at least now I know what Jared meant when he said he’d had worse burns than the ones you get picking up a super-heated metal trashcan.

- And now Lesere feels like she’s being watched. Lady, if I was you, I’d be more concerned by that.

- Yeah, where did they all go? Because the patients who could walk went outside, too, and I feel like standing in your bare feet in the snow for fifteen minutes would be injurious.

- “The feed cuts out for less than a second, and is replaced for a single frame, by a close-up of a human eye staring back through the video feed.” Yeah, that’s… that’s not good. You don’t want these sorts of things to take notice of you.

#ncfan listens to The Magnus Archives

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aristocratlegacy · 4 years ago

Photo

Chapter Seventy (!): Night Out

Chloe: “And you’re sure you’ll be ok? Your birthday was only a few days ago, sweetie- I don’t want to make you feel like we’re making you grow up too fast!”

Pierce: “Chloe, she’s been able to speak in full sentences since she was literally a toddler, I think she can handle it.”

Chloe: “But you don’t know that! Maybe she’s just putting on a brave face! I was a big sister- I know what the pressures are!”

Roswell: “You’re still a big sister, Aunt Chloe.”

Chloe: “I know! And it’s a lot!”

Roswell: “No need to worry, though. My father is right! I’m complete ready to take care of my cousins, we’ll juts hang out like always, but now I can use the stove!”

Chloe: “No!”

Pierce: “Chloe, I taught her how to cook, it’s fine.”

Chloe: “No stove! Microwave only! No alcohol, just watch cartoons until we get back and eat the leftovers in the fridge.”

Roswell: “Got it.”

Chloe: “I left a list with everybody’s phone number, and if we don’t answer right away, dm me on every single social media platform. Even LinkedIn.”

Pierce: “We trust you completely, Kiddo.”

Roswell: “Thanks, Dad!”

Vivien: “Who’s ready to party, babes?”

Walter: “Okay, Roswell, I wrote down everybody’s number and-”

Pierce: “Chloe already covered the overbearing mom thing.”

Vivien: “By cuties! Take care of my baby!”

Pierce: “If we don’t follow her, then she’s gonna just take the car and go without us.”

Chloe: “Bye babies! Call me if you need me!”

Roswell: “Bye guys!”

Barbie: “Byyyye!”

Chloe: “I don’t know if this is a good idea.”

Pierce: “The three of us have literally not gone out since Barbie was born.”

Vivien: “Maybe you guys haven’t.”

Chloe: “But when was the last time that you stayed out past nine?”

Vivien: “.....I don’t answer to you, Chloe.”

Pierce: “Why are you so freaked out? Antonio is just gonna go to sleep, and Roswell will just do like a science experiment with Barbie and then they’ll post mean comments on videos saying the moon landing didn’t happen.”

Chloe: *Deeeeep breathe* “You’re right. There’s no reason that they’d do anything that they wouldn’t normally do. Let’s go.”

Barbie: “So…can we build that rocket you’ve been telling me about?”

Roswell: “The rocket is really more of a...long term plan. I don’t think anybody is gonna sell a couple of kids the kind of materials we’d need for it, and I don’t think it’s safe for us all to check out the dumpsters.”

Barbie: “You’re not a kid anymore, though.”

Roswell: “That’s...a very good point. Hmm,”

Barbie: “Ros?”

Roswell: “I’m thinking. Our parents trusted me to take care of you two, an taking you to go dumpster diving for the parts would be irresponsible.”

Barbie: “We’ll be fine! We’ll split the work and the responsibilities, that’ll even it out! You’re in charge of me, and I’m in charge of Antonio! Right Antonio?”

Antonio: “Bah?”

Barbie: “Exactly. We’ll be fine!”

Roswell: “I guess it’ll probably be fine.”

Roswell: “Alright, let’s go, we just have to keep an eye on the time and be back before our parents are.”

Roswell: “Agh! Ew!”

Barbie: “You okay?”

Roswell: “I’m fine! Just touched something wet- you two behave out there!”

Antonio: “Art…”

Barbie: “I’m loving that, Ants. You’re a genius. Like the big sticky mess guy, who’s that guy? Who’s the one with the big sticky mess?”

Antonio: “Ross…...well”

Barbie: “Pfft. Burn.”

Barbie: “Hey Ros did you hear what he said?”

Roswell: “I’m not stuck!”

Barbie: “No- he said you’re a big sticky mess!”

Antonio: “Burnd!”

Barbie: “Hah! Nice.”

Roswell: “Phew. Okay. I’m fine. I’m grown up. I’m the baby sitter. I did not get stuck.”

Barbie: “We already know all those things. Did you find it?”

Roswell: “Yes, actually, I think I have enough spare parts to make the fabricator run properly.”

Barbie: “Hell yes! What’s next?”

Roswell: “Crystals. Lots of them. And some kind of flying apparatus. We have a few options for that but I think I know our best bet.��

Barbie: “What...is this place?”

Roswell: “Spellcaster’s alley.”

Barbie: “Are we floating?”

Roswell: “Yup!”

Barbie: “Where’s the earth?”

Roswell: “It’s another dimension, I don’t know everything. Wait here for a sec, don’t let Antonio wander away. Sir? Hi, can I see your crystals?”

Wizard: “Ooohh-hoo-hoo! Naughty children out past dark unsupervised! Careful, or I’ll cast a spell on you! Wheee!”

Barbie: “Ahh! He cast a spell on me!”

Wizard: “I got your nooooose!”

Barbie: “Roswelll!!!!”

Roswell: “Whoa- what’s wrong?!”

Barbie: “He stole my nose!”

Roswell: “Who? Antonio?”

Barbie: “No! Him- the wizard- oh.”

Roswell: “Barbie, there’s nobody else here”

Barbie: “He disappeared! Now I’ll never get my nose back!”

Roswell: “You still have a nose, Barbie.”

Barbie: “Oh thank god. He must’ve given it back before he vanished.”

Barbie: “Can we ask one of those fools to teach us magic so we can get back at them?”

Roswell: “I mean, I can’t. I’m an alien, I guess you could in a few years, though.”

Barbie: “Hmm….interesting. Is there anything else you need?”

Roswell: “Uh...yeah, I gotta get a radar and a few other things.”

Antonio: “Whaa!”

Roswell: “Oh, shit. Antonio! Press the down button on the broomstick!”

Barbie: “Sooo...when you finish your spaceship, where are you gonna go?”

Roswell: “Uh, I can’t really...say it out loud?”

Barbie: “But you promised not to keep secrets from me, Ros!”

Roswell: “It’s not a secret! I just can’t say it in english. It’s more of a glowy mental thing.”

Barbie: “Can you try?”

Roswell: “Uh, sure….”

Bssssszzzt

Roswell: “You getting anything?”

Barbie: “Uh...I kind of smell pancakes?”

Roswell: “Yeah, that’s probably the best way for me to describe it.”

Barbie: “What do you think the pancake planet is like, Ants?

Antonio: “May-pull.”

Barbie: “Yeah that’s what I was thinking. I bet it’s really cool.”

Vendor: “You should obviously check out the lab if you want more information, but-”

Barbie: “What’s that?”

Roswell: “It’s a weird fruit. I think it came from my planet and it’ll help me triangulate it’s location.”

Barbie: “What’s that?”

Roswell: “A hat that will transmit my brainwaves out into space.”

Barbie: “What’s that?”

Roswell: “Codes to get into the abandoned laboratory outside of town.”

Barbie: “Are we...going to the abandoned laboratory outside of town?”

Roswell: “Yup, I just have to grab a few things there, and then one more thing, then we can head home.”

Roswell: “Hff, hnggg, shoot. I can’t get it open.”

Barbie: “I can help.”

Antonio: “Help!”

Roswell: “I’m not sure you guys are gonna be able to do any better than me.”

Barbie: “Won’t know unless you try. Ok- Pull!”

Barbie: “Ok, yeah, that bad boy is shut-shut.”

Roswell: “Maybe there’s a key somewhere?”

Antonio: “Color it in!”

Roswell: “Oh- Antonio, no, you probably shouldn’t mess with that.”

Barbie: “Why not? Somebody already drew lines all over it.”

Roswell: “Yeah, because it’s redacted, not because it’s art.”

Barbie: “That makes more sense, it was really bad art.”

Roswell: “Hmm, maybe I can look at these papers more closely and figure out how to get in there later, I don’t think we’ll be able to now.”

Barbie: “Did you get what you were looking for?”

Roswell: “Yup! Well, mostly. It’ll do for now.”

Barbie: “When you go to the pancake planet- are you gonna take all of us with you?”

Roswell: “Um...maybe? I don’t know if I can make a ship that fits seven people.”

Barbie: “Can me and Antonio come?”

Antonio: “Space!”

Roswell: “If Dad and your parents say it’s okay, I don’t see why not.It’ll be pretty cramped, though. We won’t get our own rooms anymore.”

Antonio: “Nooooo...thanks!”

Barbie: “Fine, then you don’t have to come to space!”

Barbie: “You promise you’ll take me with you?”

Roswell: “Of course. I hadn’t even really thought about it, I guess I just assumed that you’d come with me.”

Barbie: “Are we gonna come back ever?”

Roswell: “Of course! I think…”

Barbie: “You think?!”

Roswell: “I mean- I’m pretty sure. It might take a while to get there.”

Barbie: “How longs a while?”

Roswell: “Uh, a few years I’m guessing? Even if I bundle up a bunch of brooms together I don’t think that it’ll really go that fast.”

Barbie: “YEARS?!”

Rowell: “Are you okay?”

Barbie: “I don’t want to leave everybody for years, Roswell!”

Roswell: “Oh. Hm. I guess...I could go alone. That makes the most sense, right?”

Barbie: “I don’t want you to leave for years either!”

Roswell: “I mean I...kinda have to. Literally the whole reason I exist is so I could find my way back and tell my people about humans.”

Barbie: “Aren’t we your people, though?”

Barbie: “Is some quest from people you’ve never met really more important than your family?”

Roswell: “No! I mean…I….”

Roswell: “I’m not going anywhere yet, Barbie. Can we just...talk about this later?”

Barbie: “Fine. Can we go home yet, or do you have more stuff to get?”

Roswell: “I mean, I have one more big thing to get, but it’s kinda complicated. We can go home if you really want to. I’m kinda tired.”

Barbie: “Ugh. Fine. What is it, we can do one more.”

Roswell: “Okay, this is gonna be a little tricky but I think we’ve still got time before our parents come home, but I think if we ride these broomsticks we’ll be able to get there and back fast enough. Hopefully.”

Barbie: “Okay, when you said one more thing I didn’t think you meant cave-diving in El Salvadora!”

Roswell: “I said it was kinda complicated!”

Barbie: “Why do you always downplay everything when you talk to me?!”

Roswell: “I do not!”

Barbie: “You do! You do! You act like everything is simple and normal and then act surprised when we’re not all on the same page!”

Roswell: “Don’t act like I’m lying to you just because you didn’t have enough critical thinking skills to be able to realize that going on a mission into space would be more than a family vacation!”

Barbie: “I...I..mmm.”

Roswell: “Oh. No nonononono Barbie don’t cry! I’m sorry for yelling! You can yell at me back just stop crying.”

Barbie: “Jerk!”

Roswell: “Barbie come back! It’s not safe!”

Rowell: “Barbie!”

Barbie: “Ahhhhhh!”

Roswell: “Barbie!!!!

Antonio: “EEEE! BONES!”

Roswell: “Aah! Kids, get behind me, I’m the babysitter- I’ll protect you!”

Barbie: “Roswell it’s too dangerous!”

Roswell: “Hiya! Take that! Aaand that!”

Skeleton: “Waa!”

Barbie: “Are you okay Ros?!”

Roswell: “Oof, eyup, just a little winded.”

Barbie: “You saved us! I was so scared!”

Roswell: “And you’re squeezing a little tight there, Kiddo.”

Barbie: “Sorry!”

Roswell: “It’s okay. I’m really sorry for being a jerk before. I didn’t mean it.”

Barbie: “And I’m sorry for running off, too. That was a stupid thing to do, I was just upset because…”

Roswell: “I know, Barbie. I...I’m gonna miss you too.”

Barbie: “You’re my best friend, and I don’t want you to go away without me.”

Roswell: “I’m not going anywhere yet, and...maybe there’s another way. I’ll figure it out, because you’re my best friend too.”

Antonio: “Friend!”

Pierce: “Hah! And did you see the bartenders face when we-”

Vivien: “Yesssss!! Ahh…”

Chloe: “Shh- the kids are probably asleep!”

Chloe: “Hey, Ros...sorry we came home a little late.”

Roswell: *Yawn* “Oh, I didn’t even realize”

Pierce: “Were the kids okay?”

Roswell: “Oh yeah, no trouble at all. We just watched a few movies, they’ve been asleep for a while.”

Chloe: “Why don’t you go to bed, Ros. Thanks for being such a good babysitter and letting us have a night out. You’re becoming a very responsible young woman and I’m very proud of you.”

Roswell: “Oh, uh, thanks, Aunt Chloe.”

Chloe: “And Pierce- you’ve become such a good father, even though you were scared at first, and I’m proud of you.”

Pierce: “Uh, oh-kay?”

Chloe: “And Walter- you overcame your fear of being boring and asked out Vivien, and I’m proud of you too.”

Roswell: “Not gonna lie, that made mine feel less special.”

Pierce: “Yeah.”

Chloe: “And Vivi- oh sweet, baby Vivien! You’ve grown up so much and-”

Vivien: “Ooookay- it’s been so long since you’ve been wasted I think we all forgot how...supportive you can get. Go to bed, Chloe.”

Chloe: “Okay. Good night, kids.”

That’s it for now! I can’t believe I’m finally on generation 9- it’s been a long...5 years? Is that possible? Oof, anyway, we’re nearing the end, with one of my favorite generations yet. Thanks for reading and leave a comment if you liked it!

#sims 4 #sims 4 legacy

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ambrosedeans · 7 years ago

Text

Above the Sounds

Ship(s): Ambreigns / Rolleigns / Eventual Ambrolleigns (and all that entails) Chapters: 1 / 3 Warnings: alcohol consumption, implied/referenced sexual content Word count: 4,018 AO3 mirror

AN: a prelude; setting up the world for this au i can’t stop thinking of. just some good denial of feelings and flirting for now. it’ll get juicier, i promise.

The first time Roman meets Dean, they’re both sober. Not that Roman makes a habit out of meeting people while he’s drunk, or getting drunk at all for that matter. What surprises Roman isn’t himself; it’s Dean’s sobriety that comes as a shock. He’s heard so many stories from Seth about his roommate, how crazy he can be and the antics he gets up to. Roman had even gotten the impression that alcohol wasn’t the only substance Seth’s roommate liked to dabble in. So, yeah, Roman will admit, that first meeting surprises him. They’re at Antonio’s place for some party Roman is pretty sure was called for the sake of it, rather than to actually celebrate something particular. He doesn’t mind, really. He likes the excuse to meet up, have a few drinks, socialise. Sometimes they even get a fun story or two out of a night like this, if there’s enough alcohol consumed. Roman’s making his way out of the kitchen with a beer when the door opens, and he finds himself smiling as he sees Seth coming inside. He waits a moment and doesn’t approach right away, allowing Antonio to play the good host and welcome his guest.

It’s then that Roman realises Seth’s not alone. Behind him is a man who, honestly, seems like he’d rather be anywhere else right now. He doesn’t look like much, wearing jeans and a leather jacket over a plain grey T-shirt. His hair falls messily into his eyes—which have the dark circles under them—and there’s the faintest hint of stubble on his cheeks. He mumbles something when Antonio pulls him into a brief, welcoming hug. Roman’s so busy trying to subtly look at the man and work out who he is, he doesn’t realise Seth has spotted him until he starts walking over. Roman notes that Seth has to pull on the stranger’s sleeve to get him to follow. “Hey, man!” Roman greets, keeping his focus on Seth. The surly look on the other guy’s face makes him want to avoid eye contact, and gives the impression the stranger isn’t up for conversing anyway. “Roman!” Seth replies, smiling. “Was hoping you’d be here. I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.” “Yeah, it’s been a while,” he chuckles lightly. Roman can feel the stranger’s eyes on him, but he tries to ignore it, to go on as normal. Seth, however, seems to notice, and as Roman’s about to ask a question, he’s interrupted. “Oh! I forgot, you guys haven’t actually met,” exclaims Seth. He takes a little step back, opening the conversation up to the stranger. “Dean, this is Roman. Roman, my roommate Dean.” “You’re Dean?” Roman can’t keep the surprise out of his voice. He’s not sure what he was expecting, exactly, but it certainly wasn’t this quiet, sullen dude who looked like he’d been dragged here against his will. Seth had always made him out to be a party animal. Dean, somehow, manages to deepen his scowl at Roman’s outburst. “What’s that supposed to mean?” He demands, lifts his chin up defensively. He looks ready to punch Roman, and honestly, Roman wouldn’t put it past the guy. “Nothing, man,” Roman says quickly, trying to save the situation. The party’s only just getting started; the last thing Roman wants to do is start a fight in the middle of the living room. “Just heard a lot about you. Nice to have a face to put the name to.” Dean turns his scowl on Seth now, eyes narrowing. “What you told him?” “Jesus, Dean, not your life story or anything. Will you chill out? You’re my friend, I live with you, you just come up in conversation sometimes.” Dean huffs, doesn’t seem wholly convinced by the explanation. He does back down though, gives Roman another sceptic look over before standing in a way that’s not so confrontational. Roman takes a long drink from his beer, feeling like he needs another. Quickly. “Y’all wanna grab a drink?” He asks, doing his best to diffuse the tension. Seth nods and Dean grunts, so they move their little group to the kitchen, Roman finishing his drink off as they go. His second surprise of the night comes next. Roman goes to the fridge—which is filled almost exclusively with alcohol and soda—to grab two beers, turning around and offering them to the other men. Seth takes his but Dean hesitates. “Can you grab me a Coke there?” He says, ignoring the offered bottle and nodding over Roman’s shoulder at the open fridge. Roman blinks, looking between the drink in his hand and Dean’s face. “You don’t want a beer?” He asks, doing his best to keep the surprise out of his voice this time for fear of Dean snapping at him again. “Not drinking,” is all Dean offers in response. Roman’s brief moment of shock allows Dean to nudge his way past and grab the can from the fridge for himself. It takes so much of Roman’s self-control not to just stare with an open mouth. Did Seth have another friend called Dean? Had he recently moved out of the apartment and been replaced by this new guy? Because, based on the stories Roman had heard, this Dean seems like a completely different person to the one Seth had been living with. He looks to Seth for an explanation, catches a soft smile and the brief brush of Seth’s fingers against Dean’s elbow. Dean scowls. Roman’s confusion grows, but he decides against questioning anything for now, focusing instead on getting another drink down. He feels like he’s in for a long night

The next couple of hours are, thankfully, uneventful. Roman stays with Seth for the most part. They catch up, talking about work and terrible dates, all the things that have gone on in their lives since they last saw one another. Dean keeps quiet, sipping on his cola and offering short responses when Roman or Seth try to include him in their conversation. Antonio drifts by every now and then, listens to a story, laughs along and makes sure everyone’s doing okay on drinks.

Eventually Dean excuses himself to go to the bathroom, leaving Roman and Seth alone for a few minutes. Roman intends to make the most of it. “Is he okay?” He asks, keeping his voice low, eyes on Dean’s back as he heads away from them. Seth sighs heavily beside him. “He didn’t really wanna come out tonight.” “Oh really?” Roman replies sarcastically, his eyebrow arched. “Could’ve fooled me.” He waits a beat before his curiosity gets the better of him and he has to ask. “Why’s he here then?” Seth looks around like he’s making sure Dean isn’t within earshot before he answers. “I talked him into it. He’s been miserable all week, I thought it might do him some good, y’know, to get out for a few hours.” “I don’t think it’s working,” Roman says drily. “Yeah, no shit,” grumbles Seth. He rubs his eyes and takes a long drink from his bottle. “I just don’t know what else I can do for him.” “Why’s he need you to do anything? Seems like the guy can take care of himself.” Seth shakes his head. “He acts tough, but he’s soft really. No, I mean it,” he insists quickly, seeing the doubt on Roman’s face. Seth will blame the alcohol if anybody asks why he doesn’t let the issue go. Because there’s no reason to keep talking about Dean, to defend his roommate to Roman. “Really, he’s not as much of an asshole as he seems. He’s a nice guy. And he’s usually not this grumpy.” “Yeah, from all you’ve told me, I thought he’d be dancing on tables or something by now,” Roman admits. “What’s the deal?” “He’s—” Seth cuts himself off, and Roman looks up wondering if he’s seen Dean heading back over, but there’s no sign of him. Seth gets this look of concentration on his face, eyebrows pinched like he’s thinking deeply about what to say next. Roman waits for him to continue, and finds Seth’s vague: “He’s going through some stuff, man,” incredibly anticlimactic. Obviously Seth isn’t willing to divulge much about Dean’s personal life. That’s fair, Roman barely knows the guy, after all. “Well, maybe a beer or two will help him?” Roman suggests. “Take the edge off, y’know.” “Nope,” Seth says firmly, shaking his head. “Will not help. He’s not drinking.” It’s clear from Seth’s tone that there’s no discussion to be had over the matter, so Roman lets it go, doesn’t press further. It makes Roman wonder, however, what kind of stuff Dean could possibly be going through to get Seth all protective like this. Usually Seth is happy to just sit back and watch things unfold, has never been the ‘mom friend’ who gets overbearing with people. That’s always been Roman’s thing. And up until now, Seth had seemed fine with Dean’s habits, even the more self-destructive ones that involved illegal substances. When he talked about Dean to Roman, it was never with disdain or worry; he didn’t look down on his roommate for living the way he did. So why did Seth care so much all of a sudden? Unless Seth and Dean aren’t just roommates. Unless there’s more between them than Seth’s been letting on. Roman gives Seth this curious look, a small smile. “You seem real protective over this dude,” he notes, his tone light and teasing. Seth rolls his eyes. “It’s not like that,” Seth sighs, immediately sensing where Roman’s mind is at. Roman arches his eyebrows, the smile spreading on his face. “You sure?” “I’m sure. He… Dean, he has someone,” Seth nods a few times to himself. Roman searches Seth’s face for disappointment, but if he’s feeling any, then he hides it well. “But, y’know,” he adds after a few moments, waves the hand that isn’t holding his beer. “I don’t, man,” Roman laughs softly. Seth’s vague hand gesture doesn’t explain anything to him. “I’m just looking out for him. Being a friend.” “You happy with that? Just being a friend?” “Roman, I told you, he’s with someone.” “That ain’t what I asked.” “God, you’re insufferable,” Seth groans, rolls his eyes, pretending to be more annoyed than he feels. “I’m not secretly in love with my roommate, okay. Can we stop the interrogation?” Roman’s not completely convinced, but he doesn’t have much choice in the matter, as it turns out. Dean is pushing his way through the small crowd of drunken people on his way back to them, and they can’t exactly have this discussion in front of him. “If you say so,” Roman mutters with a teasing smirk, hiding it behind his bottle as Dean reappears at Seth’s side. Seth, ever the drama queen, huffs a sigh and shakes his head. Dean looks between them, eyebrows raised slightly at the apparent tension. “You two have a domestic or something while I was taking a piss?” He asks. And Roman can’t help himself, but he laughs, all sudden and joyous, bubbling out of him. He’s not even sure what he’s laughing at, if it’s amusement at the look of indignation on Seth’s face, or shock because this is the first time Dean’s spoken unprompted all night and that’s what he comes out with. “What is it with you two!” Seth exclaims. “I’m not interested in either of you. Get your big heads out of your asses. God.” “All right, princess, calm down,” Dean says, but there’s still traces of a grin on his face. “I thought I was supposed to be the moody one here.” Roman’s not sure what that’s supposed to mean, nor does he understand the look Seth shoots Dean, but he doesn’t get a chance to ask. Seth is rolling his eyes, huffing again. “Whatever. You guys suck, I’m gonna go find someone who appreciates my company.” “Oh c’mon, Seth,” Dean groans, but Seth’s already leaving. “Have fun bonding or whatever,” he calls over his shoulder. “I’ll find you later.” And with that, Roman’s left alone with nothing but his beer and Dean for company. He’s not sure whether he finds this whole situation strange or amusing, looks to Dean, smiling in spite of his disbelief. “What was that all about?” Dean’s eyes snap back to Roman at the question, but he looks all closed off again. Roman’s sure Dean isn’t going to answer him, that he’s also about to walk off in a strop. But, to his surprise, the other man sighs and lets a smile tug at the corners of his lips. “Think he’s frustrated. Hasn’t got any in a while,” he says bluntly. There’s mischief dancing in his blue eyes, and Roman finds himself staring, a little stunned. Dean doesn’t seem to care about Roman’s shock, if anything it encourages him to keep talking. “Honestly, I’m kinda glad he’s gone. If he can find someone to give him a good fucking, they’ll be doing us both a favour.” Roman stares in disbelief, eyes wide and mouth agape for a moment before some sense returns. He closes his mouth and shakes his head slowly. This is more like the person he had been expecting Dean to be, but it’s such a sudden change in behaviour that it’s thrown him for a loop. It’s like someone flipped a switch and now Dean’s suddenly out of his shell, no longer wanting to kill Roman by staring daggers at him, and instead he’s joking like they’re best friends. “You keep tabs on him that closely?” Roman asks when he finds his voice again. Dean shrugs, bouncing a little on the balls of his feet. “Like he said, I live with him. Our walls ain’t that thick, and he ain’t that quiet. Even if he was, it’s not hard to tell. He gets all crabby like this when he doesn’t get laid. ‘S a nightmare.” Roman had always considered himself and Seth to be good friends, but he feels like he’s rapidly learned far too much information about the other man. He doesn’t need to be thinking about Seth all frustrated, doesn’t need to know that, apparently, Seth just gets moody when he’s desperate because he hasn’t been fucked for a while. Roman’s mouth suddenly feels dry, and he quickly drinks down the rest of his beer, trying to chase the feeling away. Dean is still watching him with that small grin and eyes that spell trouble. He’s giving Roman a knowing look, like he’s peered into his soul and discovered some deep secret. It makes Roman a little uneasy, and he wishes he hadn’t been so quick to finish his drink. “Let’s hope he hooks up with someone, then,” Roman says after far too long of a pause, but he has to fill the silence with something. “You want me to get him back over here?” Dean asks him with a smirk an a suggestive movement of his eyebrows. Another laugh is pulled from Roman’s chest at the mere thought of what Dean’s implying. “No man, I’m good,” he assures him. “Why?” Presses Dean, because apparently the guy has no regards for boundaries. He tilts his head, studying Roman. “Been there, done that? Or you don’t swing that way?” “Those my only two options?” Roman chuckles, genuine amusement lighting up his brown eyes. Dean’s strange, not in a bad way, just unlike anyone he’s ever met before. Roman’s not quite sure what to make of him, but he finds he doesn’t mind his company, is happy to stick around talking to him. “I said he was annoying, don’t mean he ain’t easy on the eyes. So, I figure either you can’t appreciate that ass, or you’ve already tapped it.” Roman shakes his head again, astounded by Dean’s blunt and upfront attitude. “I have not already tapped it,” Roman mutters, lifting his bottle to his lips and then realising there’s nothing left inside. He motions to the kitchen with it and starts heading off to grab himself another. Or two. “But you would?” Dean is following behind him, apparently not willing to drop the conversation. Maybe Roman should find something stronger than beer if they’re keeping this up. “Nah, man, I don’t think so.” Roman pulls open the fridge and surveys the contents, glad for a few seconds of respite where he doesn’t have to look at Dean and that damn smirk. Honestly, he’d never really thought of Seth in that way until tonight, and it’s strange to consider it. “Seth’s just a friend.” Roman pulls out two cans of coke, offering one to Dean and mixing the other in a plastic cup with a generous finger of vodka that he spots on the table and assumes is fair game. “Friends can fuck,” Dean protests as he cracks his own can open. “I guess. I don’t know,” sighs Roman, leaning back against the counter and furrowing his brows as he looks down into his drink. He doesn’t know how to explain himself to Dean, isn’t sure what reason he can give as to why nothing has ever happened between himself and Seth. He doesn’t know. Probably because Seth wasn’t interested. If he was, Roman feels like he would know. No, things have always just been platonic between them, and why change that? It seemed to be working fine for both of them. There was no need to rock the boat by even thinking about this stuff. “Ah fuck, please don’t tell me I’ve sparked some identity crisis,” Dean groans as he watches Roman, pokes him in the shin with his foot. “C’mon, I ain’t drinking and I can’t deal with watching you cling to your precious heterosexuality while I’m sober.” “Can’t cling to something that was never there, brother,” Roman shoots back, lifting his head again and playfully kicking his leg toward Dean with a grin. Dean’s smile widens a little at the gesture, and Roman hears Seth’s voice somewhere in the back of his head as they both laugh. ‘Have fun bonding or whatever.’ “So it’s a Seth thing, not an ‘I don’t fuck dudes’ thing,” Dean nods, looking like he’s just made a breakthrough, like he’s one step closer to solving some puzzle. “Man, why do you care so much about who I’m into?” Asks Roman, but he’s still smiling, keeps his tone light. He’s just curious, isn’t annoyed that Dean keeps needling him. He doesn’t really care about the slightly invasive questions, not when the alcohol is slowly starting to hit him, leaves him feeling loose and happy as it thrums through his veins. “Just trying to figure it all out, y’know. You got two good looking guys who hang out together, don’t get why you haven’t bumped nasties a couple times.” “Good looking, huh?” Roman repeats, eyebrows raised. Because it’s easier to question that than to keep talking about why he and Seth have never been a thing. “Like you haven’t heard that before,” Dean scoffs. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Oh, come on,” he groans, gesturing up and down Roman’s body. “Look at you.” Roman looks down at himself, frowning softly. He doesn’t think he looks all that impressive. He hadn’t made a huge effort tonight, since they were just going to be in Antonio’s place with their friends. His hair is pulled back into a messy bun, and he’s just dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, with a hoodie pulled over the top. Not too dissimilar to how Dean himself is dressed. “I look like you do,” Roman thinks aloud, and now it’s Dean’s turn to laugh. “Yeah, in my dreams, big guy. You got a face like you could be a model, and that’s before I even get started on your broad shoulders and… Well, all that,” Dean settles for, waving his hand at Roman’s form again. “You sure it was Seth you were asking on behalf of earlier?” Roman teases lightly, trying to look smug, to make a joke out of this so Dean doesn’t pay too much attention to him, because Roman’s pretty sure he’s blushing with how hot his cheeks feel suddenly. Dean hums, surveying him again, and if Roman wasn’t blushing before he certainly is now, because the long looks make him feel like Dean is undressing him with his eyes. Roman wants nothing more than to gulp down the vodka in his cup to help him deal with it, but he feels frozen under Dean’s gaze. He doesn’t know why it’s making him so nervous. Maybe because he had been joking, but now it feels like Dean really is checking him out, like he’s considering it, and Roman is so not prepared for any of this. Finally Dean’s eyes travel slowly up Roman’s body to meet his gaze again, and he hums and affirmative to the question Roman’s almost forgotten he asked. “Yeah, I’m spoken for, man. Unfortunately.” Dean gives him an apologetic smile and shrugs his shoulders. Roman’s just about to ask if it’s unfortunate for him or unfortunate for Dean, when a loud whooping noise and a chorus of cheers from the living room catches their attention. Dean’s already turned around and heading for the doorway by the time Roman registers what’s happening, and his feet carry him on, following Dean to investigate the noise. Dean stops just the other side of the door frame, eyes surveying the room before he pumps his fist in glee. Roman follows his gaze, wondering what the hell Dean’s so happy about all of a sudden. It all makes sense when he looks to the couch, sees Seth pinned there with some guy in his lap. He has blond hair with a beard and tanned skin, and Roman doesn’t recognise him, but the dude’s got a hand in Seth’s hair and their mouths are moving together. Roman’s stomach feels a bit strange at the sight, but he blames the alcohol. It has to be the drink. He’s seen Seth kiss plenty of people before, and it’s never been a problem. It isn’t a problem now. “Alright, Sethie!” Dean cheers, clapping his hands and whooping along with some other members of the small audience the couple have attracted. Seth doesn’t pay attention, however, completely engaged in his activities. Dean groans after a few moments, shaking his head before turning to the side, his eyes on Roman’s face again. “Well. I’m gonna go take them home before they start fucking on Cesaro’s floor or some shit,” he says, jerking his thumb towards the couch. Roman wrinkles his nose up in disgust at the thought. “Give the guy some credit, he’s got more class than that.” “Like I said, big man, he’s desperate,” Dean shrugs, grinning wickedly. “I’ll see ya ‘round Roman.” And with that Dean’s gone, pushing his way past stumbling, drunken bodies to reach the couch. Roman watches him pry the guy gently away from Seth, and he laughs to himself as Dean matches the death glare he’s given for doing so. He can see lips moving, but the sound of the party makes it impossible to know what he’s saying from this far away. Eventually Dean gets the two off them up and pushes them toward the door, stopping to thank Antonio and say goodbye before they leave. Roman’s not sure why he’s still stood there watching him. He’s glad he is, however, because once Dean has ushered Seth and the other guy outside, he turns and catches Roman’s eye. They look at one another for a few moments until Dean raises his hand in a wave and offers him a smile that’s almost soft. Almost. Roman returns the smile, raises his cup in acknowledgement, and then that’s it. Dean’s outside and Roman’s left staring at the door until Antonio’s in his face, laughing and asking Roman about Seth and his roommate. Roman doesn’t think about either of them for the rest of the night. He doesn’t. At least, that’s what he’d say if anyone asked. It’d be a barefaced lie, but that’s what he’d say.

#ambreigns #rolleigns #ambrolleigns #ambrollins #getting together #flirting #fluff #humour #eventual romance #(idk tagging etiquette or anything here forgive me)#(is there a wrestling ship tag??)#(who knows)#my writing #wwe #wrestling #wip #long post #read more #tw: alcohol

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voightsgirl · 7 years ago

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crossfire: volume i - chapter four

a/n y’all i’m so sorry this was meant to be up yesterday, but i forgot to change the time on my wifi router and it cut out at 10:30 instead of 11:30 when i went to put it up :( ah well - hopefully this chapter’s worth the wait. also, i’d like to formally introduce you to my original character, avery murray!!! taa-daaa!! & previous chapters can be found here

☆ avery ☆

“Okay, so what do we know?” Jay posed the question to their Sergeant when he and Erin had returned from the locker room, where they had just about managed to scrub all of the marker from their faces.

“Seventeen year-old Luca Sanchez,” Sergeant Hank Voight growled, slapping a photograph onto the murderboard. “Ran away from his foster placement two months ago. Last night, he winds up with a bullet in his skull. Same as the others. Still waiting on the tox reports to find out if there were traces of cocaine on him, but I’m almost certain that he’s another victim of our guys.”

Jay and Erin looked at each other, not understanding why this information made them have to come into work at seven in the morning on a Saturday.

“Okay,” Erin said slowly. “And have you found a connection between him and our drug ring yet? Or is he like the rest of them?”

They’d been working a drugs trafficking case for the past three months, after a CI of Ollinsky’s had tipped them off about some movement from an old player who hadn’t been heard of in over a decade. Kids had started going missing and being found exactly as Luca had been, but so far, nothing.

Ruzek came running in from the break room. “Sarge, I found the connection between Sanchez and our players. You were right.”

Voight just nodded. Of course he was right. Erin snorted softly to herself, and then at Ruzek’s alarmed expression, coughed to cover it up.

“So there was a lot of red tape to get through over at DCFS, but I sweet talked the lady and managed to get it out of her. Luca Sanchez was taken into care thirteen years ago, after the Feds took down a major drug trafficking operation,” Ruzek explained to Jay and Erin. “Luca’s father, Carlos Sanchez, was snatched, and his mother killed, but his uncle, the ring leader of the operation and Luca’s emergency guardian in case something should happen to his parents, took off. He’s been in the wind ever since. You have one guess as to who this uncle is.”

Jay raised his hand.

“No way,” Burgess breathed. She and Atwater had joined them by now and were standing, opened mouthed, watching Ruzek’s big reveal and listening intently.

“Barack Obama,” Ollinsky suggested, in his completely serious voice. They all turned to stare at him. Of course, they knew he was joking, but the rare emergence of their co-worker’s sense of humor caught them off guard.

“Diego Perez,” Voight grunted. “Finally.”

They stood in silence for a brief moment, trying to comprehend the fact that they had finally, after months of trying to find a connection between these dead kids and Perez’s reappearance, found something to help them.

“So why kill your own nephew?” Erin pondered aloud.

“Yeah, if he was so keen on keeping this operation away from his family and away from any ties to him, surely you wouldn’t draw attention to yourself like that?” Atwater agreed.

“Well, I think it’s safe to assume that we won’t find drug residue on Luca’s body,” Ollinsky murmured quietly. “I mean, normally Perez targets the rich white kids to do his dirty work for him. Changing MO to popping your nephew doesn’t strike me as him just mixing things up a bit. Luca was killed to cover something up.”

Voight nodded. “Or else it was a revenge hit. Okay, Halstead, Lindsay – you go to the morgue and see what Dr Robbins has for us.”

They nodded and grabbed their jackets, heading down the stairs and out of the district – just in time to miss Sergeant Platt come running up the stairs with a fourteen year old girl.

☆

“So, how are you feeling after last night?” Jay asked her when they were back in the car and heading downtown to the morgue to pick up the results of Luca’s autopsy.

“Hmm?” Erin mumbled, lost in thought. “Sorry, I wasn’t really listening. What was that?”

“How was last night?”

She smiled softly to herself and met Jay’s eyes in the rear view mirror. “It was fun, I guess.”

“You guess?” he nudged her slightly. “I seem to remember the kid absolutely worshipping you!”

Erin laughed slightly at how completely dorky Jay was acting. “Yeah, I suppose I was pretty awesome.”

“You’re gonna make an amazing mom one day, Erin,” he said quietly, all the jokey humor suddenly dissipating from his voice and being replaced with the highest sincerity and, well, love. It was true, seeing her playing with Owen last night had just made him fall in love with her all over again, and he couldn’t wait until ‘one day’ was in the foreseeable future and they could have a family together.

Erin, however, was completely oblivious to Jay’s sentiment. “Yeah,” she rolled her eyes and brushed the comment off with a laugh. “Like that’s going to happen any time soon.”

It wasn’t intended to be mean – in her exhausted state, she hadn’t even picked up on the hint that Jay was trying to drop. She had never even thought about the possibility of her ever becoming a mother. Well, other than to dismiss it. With her job, she didn’t think it would be suitable to try to bring up a child, and when you factor in all the complications that she’s had over the years what with her upbringing, her drug addiction…it just wouldn’t be fair. Besides from all that, she had just thought Jay was talking about her when he said that she’d make a great mother. It never occurred to her that maybe, he meant them. The two of them becoming parents. Together.

Jay looked out of the window and the rest of the car ride was spent in silence. He was kicking himself for not anticipating the possibility that she wouldn’t want kids, for getting his hopes up when they hadn’t even brought up the conversation before. He tried to ignore how much it hurt.

☆

Voight had retreated into his office when he saw the desk sergeant walking up the steps to the bullpen, a small, fragile and scared looking girl who couldn’t be more than fourteen behind her. He frowned.

“Trudy?” he greeted her when he had gone out to meet her. “Who’s this?”

“This,” Platt gestured behind her. The girl had hung back, and was looking around the bullpen in what looked to him like a sort of disgusted admiration. “Is Paige Williams. She wants to speak to you.”

“Hi, Paige,” he said, doing his best talking-to-kids-voice. “I’m Sergeant Hank Voight. What do you need to talk to me about?”

Paige swallowed. “I –” she started, but as she approached Voight, and therefore the murderboard, she stopped. Looking up at the photograph of Luca Sanchez as they found him at the crime scene, his eyes open and glassy and his head plastered with already-drying blood, she stuttered. “It is him,” she choked, affirming to herself all of her apparent suspicions. But she didn’t cry, like Voight expected her to. Instead, she whirled around, determination settling in her eyes and on her pursed lips.

“Luca was my friend,” she said fiercely. “I want to help you catch whoever did this.”

Voight shot a side glance at Trudy, who just looked away. She wasn’t getting involved in this one.

“I’ll…leave you two to it, then,” Trudy smirked, and left the bullpen.

Voight turned back to the girl. “And how do you plan on doing that?” he raised his eyebrows.

Paige swallowed, and then raised her head in defiance and determination. “I saw him get shot. I’m a witness.”

Voight stared at her. What?

“Did I just hear right?” Atwater appeared in the doorway, Burgess at his elbow.

“You’re a witness?” Voight asked her. “You’re not having me on?”

Paige just stared at him. “Sergeant, I saw my friend get murdered. Do you really think I would lie about that?”

The sergeant just pursed his lips in lieu of giving a response.

“Fine. You want me to prove it to you?” she snapped. “Ask me anything you know.”

At that, Voight was stuck. They didn’t actually know anything.

Instead of answering, he just led her to the interrogation room. “Sit down,” he said gruffly, pointing at the seat behind the desk. “I’ll have someone come in and take your statement in a minute.”

There was something strangely familiar about the girl, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Probably nothing, he thought, and he took out his phone.

☆

“Hey, Hank,” Erin greeted her boss when she and Jay got back to the bullpen, the autopsy files in hand. She nodded at Platt when she entered the district, who had smiled weirdly at her and continued on with whatever she was doing.

“Hey, guys,” he swallowed. “You get anything from the autopsy?”

“No. Nothing of value, anyway. No traces of drugs. No sign of sexual assault either, but he had defense wounds all over his body. The kid fought back.” She shook her head slightly. These kinds of cases got to everyone, especially those of them with kids at home, like Antonio and Ollinsky, or younger siblings like Atwater. Erin found them tough, too, but not for the same reason – because she knew that if she hadn’t been saved by Voight when she was their age, the body in the morgue that morning may very well have been her about eighteen years ago. Mixed up with the wrong crowd, into the wrong stuff – Erin could definitely relate.

“We’ve got leads this time,” he reassured her. And they did. “Big leads, as it turns out.”

“W—” Jay started, but Voight was quick to interrupt.

“A young girl, Paige Williams, came by as soon as you left. She claims to be a witness. Says she and Luca were friends.”

“Sarge, that’s great!” Jay exclaimed. “We can get her to pick our offender out of a line-up, she can testify…”

Voight nodded. “Burgess is in taking her statement now. You might want to sit in.”

Erin nodded. She and Jay made their way down the hallway and slipped into the observation room behind the window mirror of the interrogation room. But what they saw made both their hearts sink deep into the pits of their stomachs, and Erin let out a gasp so loud it made an almost strangled noise. Jay reached out and grabbed her elbow, steadying her as she took who their witness was.

“Avery?” she whispered, and before Jay could stop her, she flung open the door and ran straight into the interrogation room.

☆ ☆ ☆

thank you for reading!! if you’d like to be notified when it’s updated either head over to my ff.net account or message me and i’ll tag you at the end of the post :)

@allenting @sophiaxjesse @writteninthestarsandthesky @riverdaleangels @chillmydude

#chicago pd #linstead #linstead fanfic #erin lindsay #jay halstead #fanfiction #myfics #cpd #crossfire #crossfire:1:4

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rantingfangirl · 7 years ago

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Operator

Summary: While Lovino Vargas didn't have the worst job in the world, he had to say that it was pretty high up there.

Pairing: Spamano

Credit for prompt goes to @aphdicksquad

This is being moved from my old account

While Lovino Vargas didn't have the worst job in the world, he had to say that it was pretty high up there. He was a 911 telephone operator, and while you would think it would be easy, it really wasn't.

Sure, some days were quiet. Most of the calls he got weren't even emergencies. People asking why the traffic was taking so long, or how some idiot broke another's computer. But other days were teeth gritting, hair clenching, and you could just feel the tears gathering in your eyes. Like when their's an accident, and a child is dead, or a rape, and you just wish that you could freak out and start screaming and crying, but no. You have to stay calm, or it'll just make the situation worse.

And the thing is, he had to deal with that day after day, from seven to three. The only vacation days being national holidays, and even then there was a chance that you would be called into work. It was stressful, and even though Lovino had thought about quitting multiple times, he didn't, the thought of helping people, even if it was just one or two a day, made him stay.

As he pulled into the parking lot, the sky dark and the air smelling like it was about to rain, the large, dull office building looming over like a prison, Lovino knew that if it wasn't for the fact that he was saving lives on occasion, he would've quit a long time ago. Found some other job that wasn't so stressful, so nerve breaking, some other job where he would just be ignorant of everything that was happening around him. All the pain, all the suffering. He liked the nervousness and headaches, though. It made him feel alive and remind him of everything that he could lose.

Lovino stepped into the building, the glass doors shutting behind him with a slam. Coffee in hand, he walked over to the desk and computers where he would spend the next eight hours.

But before he could, something, no someone, stepped in front of him, and if he had not been careful, he would've spilled his coffee all over the two. Looking up, he saw his co-worker, Mathias, standing in front of him.

"Hey, Lovino!"

"What do you want?" he said, one of his eyebrows raising. He didn't particularly like Mathias, but it wasn't like he hated him, either.

"My computer's acting all funky, and I was wondering if you could take a look at it for me."

Of course. Everyone had now thought that he was some time of tech-wizard after he rebooted his computer when it froze. It was common sense, really, and truth to be told, the only thing that Lovino knew about computers was the stuff he learned in public school technology class. He walked pass Mathias, taking a sip of his coffee.

"I don't know, why don't you go get someone else to do it for you? Like, Eduard? You know, because it's his damn job to fix stuff like that."

Behind him, he could hear the complaints and whines as Mathias pouted. It's not like Lovino cared. It really was Eduard's job, being the IT guy and all. It was rude to do something that someone else was supposed to do because that would lower their performance grade. And Lovino would probably mess it up anyways, creating more work for the Estonian in the long run.

Finally sitting down, Lovino logged into his computer, starting the day just like any other, and got to work. As the hours ticked by, the sky eventually cleared up, the sun shining bright with minimal clouds. Nothing important really happened, only a minor car accident, no casualties or injuries, thankfully, and some jackass asking what the hold up was after being stuck in traffic following the car accident, "Come on! I have to go to the grocery store, man!" and Lovino telling the guy to not call when he doesn't have an emergency, wishing he could yell, "No one cares about your milk!"

In fact, the day was fifteen minutes close to being done for him when the phone rang. Already pulling up multiple transfer numbers, he answered the phone with, "911, what's your emergency?" There was labored breathing on the other side, and Lovino began to think the worse. Was the person being chased by a knife-wielding maniac, close to being dead? Or maybe they were running out into their yard, their beloved house and belongings going up in flames, rendering them homeless. What if they're being abused, and finally mustered up the courage to call the police on their long-term abuser? After three years of doing this, Lovino learned to expect everything and to start thinking about the bad stuff first.

"Oh hi," a shaky laugh sounded, the man sounding like he was close to passing out, "You see, this is a kinda funny story. So I was, you listening? Anyways so I was walking down the sidewalk, yeah? And I'm right below a tree when I hear something. I look up, and get this, there's a kitten in the tree! I can't just leave a kitty in a tree, of course, so I start to climb the tree, and it's like, a really tall tree, and when I get to the top, I get the kitten, but the branch below me breaks, and that was my way down, so I'm kinda stuck in the tree."

Lovino just sat there, processing what the man said before slapping his hand over his face, leaning down. He's scared of heights, yet he climbs a tall tree to save a cat? The cat has feet, and if it can get up to the top of the tree then it can get down.

He took a deep breath, "Sir, please calm down," he really wanted to yell at the guy, but that would be breaking protocol, which could significantly damage his work performance. "It's going to be alright."

A shaky laugh, "Oh I assure you, I am perfectly calm. Totally! The calmest someone could be!" It was obvious that the man was freaking out, and even if Lovino tried to calm him down again, the attempt would be fruitless. He seemed like the type of guy to be extremely stubborn when it comes to situations such as this.

So Lovino continued, "May I have your location?"

"I don't know where I am. There's a green house across the street, though."

Great. Usually, the people who called had an exact location or at least somewhat of an inkling of where they were. Other times, they could give a specific landmark that would tell Lovino where to send whatever services were needed.

Lovino pinched the bridge of his nose, "Sir, are there any street signs located in your line of sight?"

There was a ruffle of leaves and a faint meow on the other side. The man was speaking to the cat, stuttering breathlessly to it how everything was going to be fine, which would normally make Lovino want to roll his eyes if it hadn't felt pity for him. Eventually, there was a gasp. Another ruffle. The man started to rattle off the street name, making Lovino scramble for his notebook.

Lovino wrote down the street name, which happened to be five minutes away, and pulled up his computer to send the fire department. All the while, he was telling the man to "please stay on the line, help is coming soon," and to keep calm.

Minutes later, sirens sounded on the other side. Lovino didn't understand why they would bother, as it was just getting some poor idiot and a cat out of a tree. But that wasn't his part to decide, so he just kept his mouth shut and made fun of the firefighters silently.

There was a ruffle of leaves and a quick "Hey, thanks!" before the call ended. Lovino slouched back, sighing as he took a sip of his coffee. As protocol stated, he wasn't allowed to hang up until the person who called did, and after that, he was free to carry on with whatever else he had to do.

This was going to make a great story, though.

Returning from a lunch break, Lovino sat in his chair, booting up his computer. It had been three weeks after the initial call he got from Antonio, the guy stuck in the tree. Yes, they were now on a name-to-name basis, or somewhat of one, with Antonio having taken calling him Lovi and he calling Antonio "sir", as protocol stated. He didn't really know how the man got his name, and, to be honest, he wasn't really sure why the man managed to get stuck in a tree two or three times a week saving various neighborhood cats, but he did. Even when he was deathly afraid of heights, which he often tried to deny now.

It was a slow day, which wasn't uncommon. Lovino lived in a city where crime was moderate, not like Philadelphia where there was a shooting every day, but it wasn't a small town where crime was rare, either. It was just simply medium, and he rarely got a call reporting a murder or theft, anyways.

Lovino pulled up the CAD system*, the colored code spreading across the screen. It was a good thing that they had computer assistance these days, as he wouldn't know what to do if he had to pull up the numbers of the fire department or the police station from that giant book in one of his desk drawers. Lovino talked to the more senior dispatchers sometimes, and, from what he could tell, the books had been a giant pain in the ass to go through, making the process longer and more stressful.

He sat there, waiting, running through all of the other things that were included in his job, such as transferring information from his notebook to his computer from earlier calls, since he found it easier and quicker to write and then type later. Lovino was just finishing entering the information when the phone started ringing. Lovino sat down his notebook.

"911, what's your emergency?"

"Oh hey, Lovino," a familiar voice seemed to become louder the more he spoke, "I thought today was your vacation day!"

Of course, it had to be him. Lovino really should've expected it, the past calls have recently seemed to come in a pattern, and Antonio had always tried to strike up a conversation, to his failure, making the calls that much longer. Lovino was surprised how he hadn't been yelled at by the floor supervisor yet.

"Sir, what's your emergency?" He didn't have time for this.

"I'm stuck in a tree again." Figures, though it always baffled Lovino how the man on the other like had managed to get stuck in a tree every single week and not have learned how to get out.

"Sir, do you know your location?"

"So professional!"

"I'm sorry, sir, may you repeat your location?"

Just like before, just like every single time this happened, a ruffle of leaves as Antonio tried to find the street signs. Most of the time, he was stuck in the residential trees, and with the cookie-cutter houses that infested the entire town with their dull uniformity, it was difficult to locate where he was with relative location. It was easier like this, though, Lovino wouldn't have to remember the street names near the respective landmarks.

Once he finally got Antonio to give him the street name, after asking multiple times and getting frustrated when he wouldn't move fast enough, Lovino made the call to send the fire department.

He wanted to leave Antonio to make the call, it seeming awkward to talk about someone when they're right on the other side, but if he did, his floor supervisor, Kirkland, or jerk, as he not-so-affectionately called him, would be on his ass. Kirkland always had gotten up on everyone when it came to protocol, and would not hesitate to report someone.

Lovino stayed with Antonio, gathering information such as his surroundings and if there was any culprit that he should know about. It wasn't until the sirens started blaring and Antonio hung up that he realized that he never once heard the faint, familiar mew of a cat.

Lovino pulled into the parking lot of a bright, colorful cafe. Red tulips lined the sidewalk as he walked in the door, a bell jingling to announce his arrival. The cafe was small and wasn't full at the time, but that was fine. Lovino was only here for a quick coffee, so it wasn't like he would be here again.

As he walked up to the counter, already knowing what he wanted, he fished out his wallet and ordered, "Grande blonde roast and a blueberry muffin." Lovino had dinner at his brother's house tonight but particularly didn't want to eat whatever Feliciano's boyfriend was making.

There was a silence. He looked up only to see the green-eyed man at the register gawking at him like he had two heads. Lovino drew his eyebrows together, but before he could say anything, the man said, "Are you Lovino?"

Yay! I finished Operator. This had actually been in my Grammarly docs for a while, but I never found the time nor inspiration to continue it. So it just sat. It wasn't until I was thinking, "Wow, I really need to update my FF.net and Fanfiction blog," that I really got started. So, here it is, and I hope you guys enjoyed! Have a great morning, day, and/or evening!

*The CAD system is computer aided dispatch. Basically, let’s 911 dispatchers send the emergency services easier. It’s also used with taxis.

#Aph SpaMano #SpaMano #Aph South Italy #Aph Spain #RantingFangirl

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chromemuffin · 7 years ago

Photo

Shoukoku no Altair Liveblog (Chapter 17)

Altair’s covers will never stop being lovely. What...is Mahmut wearing, though? This time it’s distinctly European (from where, I have no clue), but as always has the fluffy sleeves and billowing cloth going on (with the addition of lots and lots of lace). I guess it goes since the narrative is following stuff the Empire is doing across the continent. Or, the cover designs are random.

Anyway, we were just escaping a certain shitstorm when very ominous ships spied our main characters who are floating on a tiny little boat.

Chapter 17: City of the Sea

Oooh, we get to meet this guy in volume 4!

We also seem to be moving to lands far away from home. Looks like a European town of some sort.

I do love that his symbol is a salamander/lizard.

While the new guy (he hasn’t been named yet, but I think this is Abiriga?) has a wasp. Interesting.

Looking spiffy. I love the color palette too. Wonder which country you come from...? I am terrible at guessing based on the clothes alone.

Suleyman! And Katerina! I just...love...how huge her wingspan is. so majestic.

New guy who looks very, very menacing.

This is such a wonderful page, I kind of wish I didn’t have the volume cover as the main picture here haha.

So did Iskander recover? That looks like him...sort of. I LOVE the detail on the wings and tail feathers, plumage is difficult to draw correctly. If anything, the middle row of feathers should be a bit thicker toward the body (yes I stared at pictures of eagle wings for 5 minutes to figure this out).

Anyway. Hello, Venedik ship. I TOLD YOU LAST CHAPTER YOU’D BETTER NOT RECOGNIZE MAHMUT. Damn, did that play about his escapades travel this far or does everyone he freaking meet go on to describe him in great physical detail to everyone else on the continent?

We’ve also got Kyros’s full name. And apparently their arrival by tiny boat was expected.

Maybe you should listen. It’s been a while since you got stabbed, and you’re still DRIPPING blood. Listen to the guy, c’mon, I think he knows a thing or two about injuries.

I have definitely missed all of Mahmut’s serious expressions in my absence. Seriously though, bleeding everywhere.

Maybe...

we can just blame this hysterical outburst on the massive blood loss. just a little. (those stains are never coming off the deck btw)

YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO YOUR HELPFUL RESPONSIBLE COMPANION.

Heey it’s the cool guy from the back cover.

Ah, poor Mahmut, he can barely hold on.

Aaand he’s out.

This Brega guy is very chill.

And we get to find out this guy’s name! Okay, so I’ve seen it around as Abiriga (instead of this early translation of Abliga), so I guess I’ll go with that. I know I’m super inconsistent with these names, but I can’t remember the general consensus since I’ve been away from so long and just go with what’s in the manga at the moment. Abliga sounds...much weirder than Abiriga though, so I’ll go with the updated one.

Ok cool drawing of his pen and bandaged hand BUT: it’s now ‘carpet’ month. lol...these random names for the months.

Like I said, Mahmut, you were half delirious from blood loss. They probably just let it slide.

also. he brought his book of poetry with him. :3

This is Abiriga’s room, right? I love all the little details crammed into this one tiny space.

Like owner, like bird. Or like bird, like owner.

wow Kyros. I wonder if it’s intentional. It’s equally likely to be a mistranslation on that “even”.

Is this supposed to be ‘hopping in excitement’?

I think this guy joins them later. If so, he (along with Kyros) will bring some well needed cheer to the group.

STUNNING. It’s so much better when I don’t have to shrink it but it’s so wonderful. Even the design on the ship’s side (hull?) has little bands of light to show how it’s shining in the light.

NEW MAHMUT EXPRESSION: ACQUIRED.

And thanks to Kyros, we even have a name for it this time instead of making 20 guesses. Gawking Mahmut. Gotta admit, he looks very different without his hair in his face. Also, my love for Kyros grows. I love his quips. People will think you’re a country bumpkin. Well, they wouldn’t be wrong. More like, he was born in a desert and seeing so many places with WATER EVERYWHERE might be a bit cool. Maybe.

lol he even warns that he’s going to get ripped off if he keeps acting like a tourist (which happened when he was still in his own country, mind you).

More lovely architecture.

Okay, one. That was a little rude. You definitely knew he was demoted beforehand.

But I can’t be too mad because you’re also likely to be the only one who will consistently be up-to-date with Mahmut’s rank. Like, everyone keeps calling him a pasha when he isn’t anymore.

Even though they’re talking about deception, this is one amazingly upfront political talk here. He didn’t even try to deny it lol. He could have lied and said it took time to mobilize their fleet or they were delayed or something. Instead he just admits: yup, we sailed all the way out and just sat there, no we didn’t intend on helping.

GLAD TO KNOW NONE OF YOU CAN KEEP YOUR HEADS IN FRAGILE POLITICAL SITUATIONS. We need a new team member. Mahmut’s not very...scream-y normally, but he says a lot of things he probably shouldn’t in front of meetings of people with power.

Ah, yes, Mahmut, that’s good. Redirect to more reasonable topics.

Welcome to the real world, guys. I guess this would be more of a business thing with politics, as opposed to the near declaration of war in the first few chapters.

I put these out of order because it fits. He even looks so, so young (and lost, in disbelief) here. Nothing like having what little faith you had in humanity get crushed in an instant, huh.

Ah, I like that Mahmut is at least trying to come up with reasonable things to say. He really wants to comment on the guy’s loyalty as a supposedly good friend of Constantinos, but he’s sort of learned his lesson on that already and shuts up to ask about logical consequences.

So, so ironically, Mahmut is the one who is advertised as the one seeking peace, but all he can think about is going to war. Because to him, there is no other option as much as he hates war. It’s either war or surrender, no in between. I’m assuming Antonio, if it comes down to it, will want to do the same thing the kaesar wanted to do and surrender.

Ah, so both options are up in the air for them.

WHY. YOU WERE DOING SO GOOD. He’s not a pasha anymore.

...are we to assume that bottom panel is how he pictured Mahmut. because.

Anyway, oh the irony.

And all I see is a young man who leaps before he thinks. He’s just...your decision making part of your brain doesn’t develop fully until the early 20s.

I think it’s mainly pride and loyalty toward’s one’s country motivating him to go to war as the first option, though. That was Constantinos’s downfall, too.

But, so far it seems that one has to give in this environment. You can’t have peace, not go to war, and keep your pride as a country against the invading Empire.

lol so Mahmut is the type to curl up with himself and Iskander and mope/brood, Kyros takes it out on the nearest stone statue. xD

They seemed oddly upfront back there, though.

lol

They literally do not know how this city works. It’s based off Venice, so.

lol it’s Mahmut’s turn to make the funny faces. This is a very Shara face. I kinda miss her.

You are so chill, it’s nice. Hopefully you stay that way.

I also really love his design, like everyone in this manga lol. I like how everyone is quite unique in design without being too outlandish.

Oh! And that’s the end of the chapter. That was a good one. Ah, I wonder what troubles they will run into this time...

← back・onward →

#Shokoku no Altair #the very long altair liveblog #altair vol 4

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onechicago-onefamily · 8 years ago

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Liked I Love You

Fandom: Chicago P.d, Chicago Med

Character(s): Erin Lindsay, Jay Halstead, Will Halstead

Summary: Erin was still upset with Jay, but when working on a case, Erin gets shot by pushing jay out of the way of the bullet, who get’s hit but is severely injured who might not make that’s when jay realizes that he can’t live without her, when Erin starts to feel better, they both reunite.

Word count: 2700

Warnings: some minor cussing, some fluff

Erin was sitting at her desk,twirling her pen listing to voight and the others go over the case. She was still upset with Jay that night, they both had a heated arguement and said some things that hurt both of them. She was in her own little world when, Voight started to call her name.

“Erin..Erin” he said her name in his gruff tone, she looked up and shook her head, “yeah.” she answered him, with a short tone.

Voight looked at her and stuck his tongue in his bottom jaw, looking at the rest of the squad, “alright..let’s get this son of the bitch..suit up and roll out in ten” They all nodded their head and went to go get suited up.

“Erin in my..office now..” he growled,Erin sighed and followed his instructions and headed into his office. He was right behind her and closed the door and turned to face Erin with his arm’s crossed in-front of him.

Jay was walking up the steps to grab something, when he saw Erin in Voight’s office, he kept starring at her, he wanted to talk to her but he couldn’t right now. He looked away before she looked over to him, he grabbed his gun and headed quickly back down the steps and out to where the other’s were waiting.

Voight looked at Erin, knowing she wasn’t in her right mind going on this manhunt. “you’re not going..I hate to do this..but you’re not going im pulling you off this case” Voight told her, while shifting himself so he was leaning against the door frame. Erin gave him and look and fixed her posture and stood up straight.

“i’m just fine to go on this case to catch this sick bastard..” she started get a little loud while pointing to her chest, trying to make a point to Voight.

He looked down, “well you’re not going and that’s final..you’re not in your right mind..Erin.” he paused, “i’m just trying to look out for you” She sighed and looked to Voight.

“i’m going to go on this case, and i’m going to catch him..showing im in my right mind to do this..and nothing happened alright..” Erin knew he was going to ask if something happened to cause her not to act right. Voight sighed and opened the door for her. Erin gave him one last look, before grabbing her jacket and bullet proof vest off her chair and walked down the steps.

*in the car*

Normally Jay and Erin ride together, but not this time Erin rode with Burgess and Jay rode with Antonio. Erin was looking out her window while, Burgess drove behind the others following the directions that they were given at the address for the man.

Burgess cleared her throat, while looking over once and a while to see Erin still silent. “so do you have any plans for tonight” she asked, Erin smiled softly over to her, “nah not really maybe go home..and just have myself some wine.” Burgess smiled, “that sound’s really nice actually.” Erin smiled, “what about you anything special Burgess.”

Burgess smiled the biggest grin that Erin has ever seen, “i have a date tonight” Erin perked up and smiled, “really with who” Burgess smiled softly, “i really can’t say..” Burgess frowned, “its with a coworker, which i know is against the rule-” Erin stopped her right there. “who cares what Voight’s rules say, if you really love the person or really like go for it Burgess, i’ll cover you.” She smiled and softly spoke “thank you.”

*at the suspects house*

They finally parked outside the house, that they were going in, Erin drew out her gun along with Burgess and the others. Voight signaled, for Burgess and Erin to go around back.

Erin and Burgess checked the back of the house and the yard, couldn’t find anything thing that lead them to believe that the man wasn’t there. Before Erin could say clear, a gunshot rung out and hit Erin right in the chest, where the bullet vest couldn’t protect, Burgess called for backup and started to shoot down the suspect but he started to run, Dawson and Atwater and Olinsky came running around the back going after the man.

Burgess was putting pressure on the wound, but Erin was going in out of focus. Voight, Jay, held Erin close while Burgess was still putting on the pressure of the wound. Ruzek was rubbing his head while on the phone with the paramedics. They could hear the squad’s siren coming from far away.

“Stay with me, Lindsay, Stay with me” Voight had tear in his eyes, afraid of loosing her, Jay was in tear’s again after the arugement he was sorry for what he had said to her.

The paramedic’s arrived, Brett and Gabby ran over to them. Brett looked to Burgess, and placed her hands where her’s where and placed a bandage and gauze on the wound.

“nice job keeping the bleeding to a minimal” Gabby smiled softly to Burgess, they loaded her up into the squad and took her quickly to Chicago med.

*few weeks later*

Erin has been in a comma for a few weeks, Jay was sitting by her bed with her hand into his. He hasn’t slept in for what it feel’s like years. He was so worried about her. Voight knocked softly as he leaned in the door frame.

“Go home, Halstead” Voight told him, Jay looked up at him, “no..i can’t” Voight walked over to him, “Jay..i know you two had a fight that night..and you walked out you both said some things.” Jay looked confused and spoke softly.

“how’d ya know tha-” Voight held up his hand, “i just know these things..i have been there..She’ll be fine, she’s a tough girl, and you’re brother is taking real good care of her.” Voight placed a hand on his shoulder, “now i’ll keep on watch, and i’ll call you if thing’s changes alright.” Jay smiled softly, “alright..thanks” Voight smiled

Jay walked out of the room, bumping into Will. “Will please how is she doing”. Will sighed and looked at his chart’s and looked back to his brother with a soft smile.” she’s doing a little bit better than she was doing, she should be waking up sometime on her own” Jay smiled softly, “thank’s brother, please take care of her.” Will nodded..”of course”

They both said goodbye, and walked two different way’s.

*few days later*

Erin was sitting up in bed, she was looking down at the food that was in front of her. She alway’s hated hospital food. Erin placed her fork down on the little table and looked to the chair that was empty, she was hoping that Jay would be here.

Jay smiled as he saw her sitting up in the bed, he knocked softly on the door with a small teddy bear in his hands.

“good morning” he smiled, Erin smiled softly and whispered hoarsely, “hey”

Jay sat down the bear besides Erin, who smiled at the kind gesture of him. They both were a little awkward after that night. Erin and Jay both let out a sigh. Jay sat the chair down besides her bed, and held her hand.

“I’m glad your still here with me, i was so worried” Jay whispered to Erin, who had tear’s in her eyes. He was starting to get teary eyed himself, “I’m so sorry Erin, i shouldn’t have done that i shouldn’t have said that stuff to you”

Erin was crying softly, “o jay im sorry too, i dont want to be without you ever.” Jay smiled through his tear’s and he leaned over and kissed her. Erin kissed back they both pulled away, when they heard a voice clear their throat. It was will standing there with a smile on his face.

“well, how are you feeling miss Lindsay.” he asked, she smiled “im feeling fine Will” he smiled and looked at his chart’s. “it looks like you will be discharged in a few day’s, we still want to monitor you to see if you are alright.” Jay smiled at Erin, and they smiled at Will, who left the room with a small smirk playing on his face.

#chicago med #chicago pd #linstead #erin lindsay #jay halstead #fanfic #writings #chicago med imagine #chicago pd imagine

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barddom · 8 years ago

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The Two Gentlemen of Verona

I had never read Two Guys, A Girl, And Pizza Place – I mean, The Two Gentlemen of Verona (hereafter referred to as Gentlemen or Two Gents) before now. This is probably because it’s not one of the big, hyped Shakespeare plays (see: Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear), but upon reflection it could stand to be performed more often? Small cast, simple plot, neat – if completely ridiculous – resolution.

Anyway, I hadn’t read it, but I guessed, based on the title, that it was about two dudes from Verona. And I was right. That’s pretty much it.

Without even realising it, I’ve leapt straight from “Shakespeare’s Last Play” (Tempest) to this, which some people believe was “Shakespeare’s First Play”. It was definitely an early play, and an early comedy, written probably somewhere between the late 1580s and early 1590s. While I’m not usually someone who’s like, “Oh, it’s an early play, which is why it sucks!” it… might have something to do with why it’s not great.

Don’t get me wrong. Gentlemen has friendship, passion, conflict, drama, loyalty, and cross-dressing! (And really, what else is there?) But after stepping off the ship from Prospero’s cell and landing in Milan, finding this scene on shore is a little underwhelming. Where are the harpy spirits and chess motifs? Why is nobody half naked and swearing at the sky? Also, Gentlemen is #problematic. But we’ll get to that.

So many, so so many of Shakespeare’s plays are about, or involve intimate male friendships. This is because intimate male friendships were a Big Deal, at the time, and not just in a gay way, but in a totally heterosexual, platonic way. (But sometimes also in a gay way.)

The difference between Shakespeare and other writers who lauded male friendships is that Shakespeare is… suspicious of them, or suspicious of the idealized versions of them. In all his plays about male friendship, these friendships aren’t perfect. I will talk more about this at length during my summary, I guess, but also when we read Hamlet later. (I feel a great many things about Horatio.)

The first imperfect friendship we’re going to meet is these guys, Valentine and Proteus of Verona. (A part of me wants to already press pause and say, seriously? Valentine and Proteus? What kinda on-the-nose names are these? But then I remember that, as far as I know, while Chaucer had already somewhat popularised Valentine as a saint of love, I actually have no clue how widely that kind of language was used. And also “Proteus” doesn’t just mean “First” (first lover, first character, first play?) but is also, like, a god of the sea? So really I need to calm down about my etymological leaps.)

Act One

Here’s the deal. Valentine is about to leave Verona to go explore the world (see: Milan), but he doesn’t want to leave without Proteus. Normally, these two guys are inseparable! Amigos! Compadres! Guys being dudes, dudes being guys! But alas, Proteus can’t leave Milan. Why? Because he’s in looooove. He’s so gone for this chick Julia that he turns down an all-expenses paid gap year with his bff. In the next scene, we find Julia chatting with her friend Lucetta, and the conversation is basically this--

Lucetta: That Proteus guy totally has a thing for you. Julia: Oh my god, really? Lucetta: Uh, yeah! It’s sooooo obvious. Julia: I guess he’s… cute. Lucetta: Julie… babes… you literally wrote I Heart Proteus in your notebook eight times since I walked into this room. Julia, looking down at her notebook: Oh shit, you’re right. I mean. What?

Julia is so determined to deny that she likes Proteus that when Lucetta says she has a letter from him Julia literally rips it up! And then tries to piece it back together and kisses it? Like Helga Pataki or something. It’s the weirdest. (1.2.99-123)

Meanwhile, Proteus’ dad doesn’t understand why his son would want to waste his time at home when he could go have bro-tastic adventures in Milan. (Also, I just checked: Milan and Verona are… very nearby each other. You could walk there in just a few days.)

Proteus has received a letter from Julia saying she loves him back! They’ve traded vows! He gave her a ring! But he doesn’t tell his dad about that, because he is worried his father won’t approve. So Antonio – that’s dad – forces Proteus to go to Milan and have some fun, damnit.

Act Two

In Milan, we meet Silvia, the object of Valentine’s affections. He’s all over her like a rash, but he seems incapable of understanding how she flirts. Ironically, Speed – Valentine’s servant from Act 1 who is supposed to be dim as a rock – seems to be the only smart, funny character who Gets Stuff. (Unless I’m reading him as being too sarcastic where he is supposed to be sincere.)

For example: Valentine writes a love letter to Silvia, and she tells him to keep it. He says, “Wait, no, it’s for you?” and she says, “Yeah, I asked you to write it. But it’s for you.”

“I’ll write you another one, then.”

“Then after you write that, read it, and if you like it, good. If you don’t like it, then think of ways to make it better.”

“And what if I like it?”

“Then keep it for yourself.” (2.1.109-123)

Exit.

Valentine is (I guess understandably) frustrated, but Speed, speaking in rhyme/verse (where he normally speaks in prose), makes fun of the situation, like, “Hahaha, you essentially wrote yourself a love letter, lmao.” Speed explains that Silvia is flirting by having Valentine write love letters and giving them back to him. She is giving him love letters: “Herself hath taught her love himself to write unto her lover.” (2.1.156)

I have a soft spot for the fools, especially the fools that make fun of love and romance. Maybe I’m giving Speed too much credit, and he’s not actually smart/witty, just mean and a foil for the lovestruck protagonists. Fools are pretty much always a case of the wisest words coming from the foulest mouths. ANYWAY.

Silvia’s dad wants her to marry this guy Thurio, who she’s not keen on at all. And when Proteus turns up, he immediately forgets all about Julia and decides that he also wants to marry Silvia. Men are so predictable.

See, Valentine’s busy ribbing Proteus about Julia, and while Proteus is like, “Julia’s not a goddess. I just like her, mortal flaws and all,” Valentine is busy espousing the holy divinity of Silvia. Something in Proteus’ brain flips. He must have that goddess.

Back in Verona, Julia is coming up with a Flawless Plan to go see Proteus in Milan. She needs to see him again or she’ll die. (2.7.15)

But she can’t travel as a woman, alone, without a male escort! So, she does what any rational woman would do, and decides to disguise herself as a boy. (Worth reminding you again: Milan and Verona are about 93 miles apart. That’s about a 3 day journey on foot.)

As this is the first time we, on this blog, are witnessing crossdressing in Shakespeare, it is worth reminding you that women did not act on the Elizabethan/Jacobean stage. All female characters are played by boys in drag, essentially. So when crossdressing happens – and it almost always happens with a girl pretending to be a boy – what is actually happening on stage is that a boy is pretending to be a woman pretending to be a boy. Layers!

Act Three

Proteus is plotting against Valentine, because nothing comes between two best dude friends better than a sexy lady. He tells Thurio – the other suitor – that Valentine has been sneaking up to see Silvia at night and that they’re planning on running away to elope.

Thurio is like, “wtf?” and dobs this in to Silvia’s dad. The Duke is like, “Yeah….. I know….. it’s an issue.” Doubly an issue because Valentine has been tryna play the Duke like a harp. The Duke is too quick for this and tricks Valentine into revealing all his wooing techniques, and through some sort of weird trick involving a ladder (the logic of this train of thought remains unclear?) finds Valentine’s love letter to Silvia and is like “AHA!!!! YOU FIEND!!!”

Valentine is told to leave Milan and never return. Boom. (3.1.120)

The Duke is all, “Gee, I’m so glad my new friend Proteus tipped me off to all this. He’s such a stand up guy.”

Silvia, who was really into Valentine, is super pissed at her dad, and also wants nothing to do with Proteus since he’s the one who screwed everything up for her. Meanwhile, Proteus is trying to play Valentine’s old game, and pretends to be in favour of Thurio marrying Silvia. (Hint: this won’t work out well.)

Act Four

On “the frontiers of Mantua”, Valentine and Speed get attacked by outlaws. If Mantua sounds familiar, it’s also where Romeo get’s banished to in Romeo and Juliet, so it’s clearly where all the rejects from the Italian justice system get sent.

Valentine lies to the outlaws and says he was banished by the Duke for killing a man. And they’re like, “Oh shit! This guy is legit! Let’s make him our leader!”

And that’s how Valentine becomes the leader of a pack of outlaws.

Meanwhile, Thurio is futzing up his wooing of Silvia, because Proteus is giving him really bad advice, like singing bad songs and generally being annoying.

There’s also a bit here where Proteus says, “… Yet, spanial-like, the more she spurns my love / The more it grows and fawneth on her still.” (4.2.14-5). This is almost the exact same line that Helena says in Midsummer re: Demetrius. Just worth mentioning.

This is when Julia enters, in boy’s clothes. (So, I guess it’s been three days.) She hears this song about Silvia and is like, “Woooooow. Ok. So… this sucks.”

Even worse, she overhears a conversation between Silvia and Proteus, where he says, “Look, I was in love once, but that chick is dead, so… I’m wide open.” And Silvia responds, “That’s sad and all, but you also stabbed your best buddy in the back like a total tool. So I can never trust you, let alone love you.”

Silvia plans to escape Thurio, Proteus, and her father, and head to Mantua where she and Valentine can be together. Also, she gets rid of the little dog that Proteus gave her. Because who needs that shit around.

When Proteus sees that his dog has been returned to him, he’s like, “Fine! I can up my game!” He turns to Julia, who for some reason he doesn’t recognise, a la Lois Lane not recognising Superman when he has his hair done a little different, and says, “Take this ring and give it to Silvia.”

It’s Julia’s ring! She is… crushed.

When Julia goes to give the ring to Silvia, like a lamb, she basically bursts into tears and says, “I knew Julia. And this belonged to her. And he wants to give it to you. But if she knew… she would… probably die forever and ever.”

Silvia – who, in my opinion, realises that this boy is actually Julia – says, “Take the ring, and this purse of money. Look, I’m crying too. Wow. Ok, bye.”

Act Five (i.e. when things deteriorate quickly).

Silvia wants to get the hell out of Milan, and she and Sir Elgamour talk about their plans outside Friar Patrick’s cell. They’re gonna run away! That always works well.

(A lot of conspiring happens in, or by, a friar’s cell – see: Romeo and Juliet.)

Meanwhile, Proteus being grilled by Thurio about Silvia. Does she like me? Does she hate me? What is going on! What Proteus really wants to know is what Silvia said to Julia aka Sebastian.

But before we can get any answer – the Duke bursts in and announces that Silvia has disappeared! Dun dun dun.

“She’s fled unto that peasant Valentine.” Clever dad.

In the next scene, we find Silvia in the forest, alright, but Sir Elgamour is nowhere to be found! In fact: Silvia is being held captive by outlaws. I’m sure you, who is not an idiot, can see where this is going.

In the next scene, Valentine gives a speech about how lonely being the inexplicable leader of a band of outlaws can be, and how all he really wants is Silvia. Who cares about unchecked power and the loyalty of violent criminals when the love of your life has been taken away from you? Sigh.

But then, there’s a suspicious noise – and lo and behold, enter Proteus, Silvia, and Julia!

Valentine steps aside into the shadows to eavesdrop on their conversation.

Apparently Proteus (and Julia) helped rescue Silvia from the outlaws before she could successfully be taken to Valentine.

“What do you mean you still don’t want to fuck me!” Proteus complains. “After me and my servant rescued you and everything!”

“Dude,” Silvia replies, “I would literally rather be eaten by a lion than have you rescue me from anything.” (5.4.33-34)

“It’s a damn shame when a woman can’t love when she’s loved,” says Proteus.

“It’s a damn shame when Proteus can’t love when he is loved by Julia who, yeah, I know is still alive, you steaming pile of human garbage. Also, I love Valentine, who was supposed to be your best friend,” Silvia replies – though I may be paraphrasing a little.

This is when Proteus, and I shit you not, “seizes her” and says, “I’ll woo you like a soldier, at arms’ end / And love you ‘gainst the nature of love – force you.” (5.4.59-60)

That’s right. Proteus fully intends to rape Silvia then and there.

Valentine leaps out of the shadows and goes to rescue Silvia from Proteus, rightfully calling him all sorts of despicable names that I’m sure would have been very insulting to someone four hundred years ago.

Naturally, Proteus drops everything (‘everything’ being Silvia) and apologises profusely.

“Okay, cool,” Valentine says.

Wait, what? OKAY COOL? “Then I am paid, / And once again I do receive thee honest”? How?

Similarly shocked by all these developments is Julia, who swoons.

When everyone rushes to her side, she says, “Oh, I forgot to give Silvia this ring…”

“But… this isn’t the ring I gave you to give Silvia. This is the ring I gave Julia!” Proteus says, like a genius.

“Oh, right. I meant this ring,” Julia corrects herself, taking out the ring that she had given Proteus that he had then given Silvia. (Lots of rings.)

“But wait, how did you get this ring?” Proteus asks, still not getting it.

This is when Julia gives up and has mercy on everyone, and reveals herself to not be a little boy named Sebastian but a grown woman! And a very specific grown woman!

After a bit of blushing about being seen in such immodest attire, Julia and Proteus kiss and make up. So now instead of a very messy love triangle/square/octagon, we just have two happy couples! Yay, heteronormativity restored!

Thurio, the Duke, and the band of outlaws all then rock up, presumably for the closing song. Are there going to be any consequences for anyone’s actions? No? Does Thurio hold this against Valentine? Absolutely not! What about the Duke? Any issues with his daughter ending up with the leader of a band of murderers?

“Sir Valentine, / Thou are a gentleman, and well derived; / Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserved her.” (5.4.158-59)

Nope, and nope.

Closing remarks?

I think we can see why Two Gents isn’t considered a piece of High Art in the way a lot of other Shakespeare plays are. It’s essentially the Shakespearean equivalent of a sitcom, or a formulaic romantic comedy. When trying to look Deep into Two Gents, most people point to the gender relations and the complications that arise with crossdressing on stage. There are also grounds to investigate the role of forests in Shakespeare’s plays – if it happens in the woods it’s bound to be interesting. Then of course there are the all-encompassing questions about love, and the truth of love, and the relativity of that truth. Proteus was so in love with Julia that he almost couldn’t bear to leave Verona, and yet as soon as he saw Silvia, any love he felt for Julia went flying out the window. Shakespeare once said that love looks not with the eye, but with the mind. I would say that Two Gents preaches exactly the opposite. Absence doesn’t make the heart grow fonder; it just sets it loose on the nearest soft object.

Things to accompany The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Two Guys, A Girl, and a Pizza Place (1998- 2001) starring Ryan Reynolds.

The Road to El Dorado

“Same Girl” by R. Kelly and Usher

I dunno, every sitcom ever.

#shakespeare #the two gentlemen of verona

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lauramalchowblog · 5 years ago

Text

Post-Binge Biology: What Happens To Your Body When You Overeat (and 8 Things To Do Afterward)

‘Tis the season for consumption.

Cookies, cakes, and pies abound. Feasts happen on a regular basis. Candy is given and received as gifts. And there are parties immeasurable—at work, with family, with friends—where calorie-dense, rewarding food is handed out, like, well, candy. The holiday season is a practice in overeating, and it can be very hard to avoid. You may not want to even avoid it; there’s something to be said for letting loose now and again on special occasions, especially when holiday cheer is in the air.

But what happens to your body when you overeat? And what can you do about it?

The type of overeating most people do across the holidays is high-sugar, high-fat, and relatively low protein. These are your cakes and cookies. Your brownies and fudge. Your pie for breakfast. This is the worst kind of overfeeding you can do. Research shows that just six days of high-sugar, high-fat, low-protein overfeeding rapidly increases fat deposition in the liver and muscle. Seven days of overfeeding reduces whole body insulin sensitivity, inhibits glucose clearance, and impairs endothelial function.

If you keep doing it, say, over the course of a month, bad things pile up. You get incredibly insulin resistant. Your liver fat increases. Your body weight and overall body fat increase. Your C-reactive protein increases, an indication of inflammation. A class of antioxidants called plasmalogens also increase, which means your body is fighting oxidative stress.

One problem with the studies is that you have to distinguish between quality and quantity; overfeeding with different foods elicits different effects. For instance, in the study that looked at overfeeding’s effect on lipid metabolism, the subjects overate by eating more cookies, potato chips, and cheesecake and drinking an oil-based liquid supplement. Overeating a bunch of that junk food is different than overeating steak.

In fact, research shows that overfeeding protein has little to no impact on fat or weight gain compared to carbohydrate or fat overfeeding.

Another factor to consider is individual variability. Some people are “obesity prone.” Others are “obesity resistant.” In one study, obesity prone and obesity resistant subjects had different responses to three days of overfeeding. The obesity prone people saw their fat oxidation rates drop during sleep; they burned less fat. The obesity resistant subjects saw their fat oxidation rates unchanged during sleep; they continued burning fat like normal.

So, when we talk about the effects of overeating, we have to keep in mind that the effects will differ between individuals and vary if you’re eating a pound of roast lamb versus eating half a pie. But the general point still stands: Overeating can make you gain weight, gain liver weight, induce oxidative stress, cause insulin resistance, increase inflammation, and make you sicker, fatter, and more unwell the longer it goes on.

But am I too late in saying this? Are you already dealing with the effects of excess? Here are 8 tips for scaling back and minimizing damage.

1. Favor Protein

As explained above, overfeeding protein has more neutral metabolic and body composition effects than overfeeding fat and carbs. Some effects are even positive, like boosts to energy expenditure during the day and during sleep. Load up on the turkey, the lamb, the beef rib roast and keep portions of mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, stuffing, candied chestnuts, and cookies more reasonable. One advantage of overeating protein is that eating less of the other stuff tends to happen inadvertently.

2. Eat Vinegar

Vinegar, whether it’s organic apple cider vinegar with the mother still swimming in it or standard white vinegar from a two gallon jug, improves glucose tolerance and keeps postprandial hyperglycemia and insulin tamped down. The trick is eating the vinegar (maybe a side salad before the big meal dressed with a vinegar-y dressing) 20-30 minutes before you overindulge.

This is most relevant for meals containing carbohydrate.

3. Exercise

No, exercising after overeating is not “binge behavior” or evidence of an “eating disorder” for most people. It’s simply physiological common sense. You consume a ton of calories, calories in excess of what your mitochondria can process and convert to energy. What makes more physiological sense—just sitting there, letting that extra energy circulate and eventually accumulate on your body, or creating an energy deficit so that the extra energy is utilized?

This isn’t about “calories,” per se. It’s about throwing a ton of energy toward your mitochondria and giving them a job to do—or letting them languish in disuse. It’s not about “weight gain,” necessarily. It’s about energy excess and the oxidative stress and inflammation that results. It’s about not being wasteful. If you introduce a ton of energy and then do nothing, you are wasting that potential.

Besides, research shows that exercise counteracts the short term negative effects of overfeeding, including countering the negative epigenetic effects seen in the adipose tissue of over-consumers. The best time to exercise is immediately after eating. Of course, I wouldn’t suggest doing an intense CrossFit workout with a belly full of food, but something light like the several sets of 10 pushups, squats, lunges, and situps in this study done immediately after does the trick.

4. Accept It As a Positive Experience and Move On

That overeating induces oxidative stress enough to trigger the release of antioxidant compounds may mean the occasional acute bout of overeating can act as a hormetic stressor that makes you stronger in the long run—provided it stays acute and hormetic. It could actually be good to overeat once in awhile. Yeah, go with that.

5. Have Some Black Tea

I just did a big definitive guide to tea, and it turns out another benefit of the stuff is that it actually speeds up digestion after eating. It beats alcohol, espresso, and everything else that people tell you helps digestion.

6. Go For a Walk

Right after you overeat, a 20-30 minute walk will reduce blood glucose and speed up gastric emptying—helping you process the meal much faster and reducing the feeling of fullness. Longer walks are even better and can also reduce the postprandial insulin spike. It has to be immediately after though; waiting even 30 minutes will suppress the effects.

7. Get Out Into the Cold

It’s the perfect season for cold exposure (in most places). Even mild cold exposure—just 18°C or 64.4°C for 2.5 hours—is enough to increase energy expenditure without increasing hunger or subsequent food intake. That’s downright comfortable for a lot of people. If you went out into sub 50°F weather, I bet you could get the same effects even faster.

8. Don’t Throw In the Towel and Continue Overeating For the Foreseeable Future or “Until the New Year”

A consistent finding in the literature is that people gain weight during the holidays and never quite lose it. They don’t do this because they had an extra slice of pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving or five cookies on Christmas morning. They gain and retain the weight because they consistently overindulge for the entire duration of the holidays. They figure “Oh, I ate badly yesterday, which means this week is shot. I’ll just do better next Monday,” and then keep that mindset going for months.

Well, one way to break that cycle is to stop that “this week/month is shot” mindset. No, just because you ate badly yesterday doesn’t mean you should eat badly today and tomorrow. That will compound your problems and dig an even deeper hole. Stop overeating immediately.

Overeating happens. It’s okay, or even beneficial if used judiciously. There’s nothing like filling your belly with your grandma’s signature dish, or really letting loose with your favorite people in the world. Humans are feasters by nature. We like to make merry and eat big to ring in the good times. Just make sure you contrast it with leaner days. (Intermittent fasting around the holidays is great for this.) A feast no longer qualifies as a feast if you do it consistently. A party’s not a party if you party every day. Contrast is the stuff of life—heed that rule and all will be well.

How do you approach holiday overeating? What do you do to counter the effects? What physical behaviors and mental models do you adhere to? Let me know in the comment board.

Take care, everyone, and happy feasting!

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window.onload=function(){ga('send', { hitType: 'event', eventCategory: 'Ad Impression', eventAction: '66572' });}

References:

Surowska A, Jegatheesan P, Campos V, et al. Effects of Dietary Protein and Fat Content on Intrahepatocellular and Intramyocellular Lipids during a 6-Day Hypercaloric, High Sucrose Diet: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Normal Weight Healthy Subjects. Nutrients. 2019;11(1)

Parry SA, Turner MC, Woods RM, et al. High-Fat Overfeeding Impairs Peripheral Glucose Metabolism and Muscle Microvascular eNOS Ser1177 Phosphorylation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020;105(1)

Leaf A, Antonio J. The Effects of Overfeeding on Body Composition: The Role of Macronutrient Composition – A Narrative Review. Int J Exerc Sci. 2017;10(8):1275-1296.

Schmidt SL, Kealey EH, Horton TJ, Vonkaenel S, Bessesen DH. The effects of short-term overfeeding on energy expenditure and nutrient oxidation in obesity-prone and obesity-resistant individuals. Int J Obes (Lond). 2013;37(9):1192-7.

Bray GA, Redman LM, De jonge L, et al. Effect of protein overfeeding on energy expenditure measured in a metabolic chamber. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015;101(3):496-505.

Ostman E, Granfeldt Y, Persson L, Björck I. Vinegar supplementation lowers glucose and insulin responses and increases satiety after a bread meal in healthy subjects. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2005;59(9):983-8.

Solomon TPJ, Tarry E, Hudson CO, Fitt AI, Laye MJ. Immediate post-breakfast physical activity improves interstitial postprandial glycemia: a comparison of different activity-meal timings. Pflugers Arch. 2019;

Heinrich H, Goetze O, Menne D, et al. Effect on gastric function and symptoms of drinking wine, black tea, or schnapps with a Swiss cheese fondue: randomised controlled crossover trial. BMJ. 2010;341:c6731.

The post Post-Binge Biology: What Happens To Your Body When You Overeat (and 8 Things To Do Afterward) appeared first on Mark's Daily Apple.

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jesseneufeld · 5 years ago

Text

Post-Binge Biology: What Happens To Your Body When You Overeat (and 8 Things To Do Afterward)

‘Tis the season for consumption.

But what happens to your body when you overeat? And what can you do about it?

In fact, research shows that overfeeding protein has little to no impact on fat or weight gain compared to carbohydrate or fat overfeeding.

But am I too late in saying this? Are you already dealing with the effects of excess? Here are 8 tips for scaling back and minimizing damage.

1. Favor Protein

2. Eat Vinegar

This is most relevant for meals containing carbohydrate.

3. Exercise

4. Accept It As a Positive Experience and Move On

5. Have Some Black Tea

6. Go For a Walk

7. Get Out Into the Cold

8. Don’t Throw In the Towel and Continue Overeating For the Foreseeable Future or “Until the New Year”

How do you approach holiday overeating? What do you do to counter the effects? What physical behaviors and mental models do you adhere to? Let me know in the comment board.

Take care, everyone, and happy feasting!

window.onload=function(){ga('send', { hitType: 'event', eventCategory: 'Ad Impression', eventAction: '66572' });}

References:

Parry SA, Turner MC, Woods RM, et al. High-Fat Overfeeding Impairs Peripheral Glucose Metabolism and Muscle Microvascular eNOS Ser1177 Phosphorylation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020;105(1)

Leaf A, Antonio J. The Effects of Overfeeding on Body Composition: The Role of Macronutrient Composition – A Narrative Review. Int J Exerc Sci. 2017;10(8):1275-1296.

Bray GA, Redman LM, De jonge L, et al. Effect of protein overfeeding on energy expenditure measured in a metabolic chamber. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015;101(3):496-505.

The post Post-Binge Biology: What Happens To Your Body When You Overeat (and 8 Things To Do Afterward) appeared first on Mark's Daily Apple.

Post-Binge Biology: What Happens To Your Body When You Overeat (and 8 Things To Do Afterward) published first on https://drugaddictionsrehab.tumblr.com/

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