flash-hundredyarddash

[flash-hundredyarddash]

"ah, my bad. that was not very cool or groovy of me to say. i'll scratch connecticut right off the list and we'll never hear another word about it." flash felt like the answer was right on the tip of his tongue, just scratching the back of his brain. of course he knew who henrik hera was now, everyone in redwood knew each other, but this wave of de ja vu wasn't budging. "maybe, i mean, i did travel around a lot. we might have brushed shoulders there? oh, wait! hang on. did you ever get into surfing? i went through a whole coastal roadtrip phase."

flash indeed did not have it. the guy was so certain he has met henrik before and they possibly had but henrik's brain was still fuzzy from the whole coma ordeal and memories of his weren't as clear as they once were. "i don't think i've ever been to connecticut. heart attack on a plate food doesn't sound too good for the guy with a heart condition." he chuckled "did you go to any big time events or anything, you might've seen my family there"

[flash-hundredyarddash]

"That would be the real dream, my guy! I mean, besides all the true love and wishes coming true tonight." Flash grinned before asking, very seriously, "Bailey Lightfoot, are you going to join my impromptu, two-man, band?"

As a lover of music, Bailey was always down to hype up a fellow musician. “You know, I could totally see that,” Bailey nodded, imagining what that would sound like. “Maybe you could play that at the reception!”

[flash-hundredyarddash]

"So true! I defy anyone to not crush the chorus when it kicks in, yourself included. I believe in your power, Sabrina and so does my ukulele," Flash added with a grin. "Thanks for looking out. We'll let them finish off the vows before we turn it up."

Sabrina put a hand daintily in front of her face to hide her open mouthed giggle at the suggestion.

"It really is a classic," Sabrina nodded enthusiastically. "If you start playing it I'll start singing it. If I don't sound good you can just go and do me a solid and play louder!"

[flash-hundredyarddash]

"you're right, you're right... they did put a lot of effort into this, and if i was a part of the vision then i'd already be on stage. it may sting, but i will survive - another cover i can do on the uke," he added with a grin. flash was about to say something else when ellie mentioned his favourite, certain, blonde doctor. he wasn't above blushin' right on cue, you know. "now there's an idea."

"flash, darling, please leave the uke. enjoy the lovely ceremony that tina and james have planned" she smiled in amusement at her musical friends determination "maybe save the uke for wooing a certain blonde doctor?"

[flash-hundredyarddash]

"Thank you for inviting me, my guy. Everything looks awesome, yourself included," Flash grinned, shooting a finger gun in James' direction to punctuate it. He loved a wedding. Music, dancing, the all encompassing idea that true love could actually prevail. The big, scary, promise of 'forever' from the safety of your seat. He was happy for James and Tina. It'd been a long time coming.

Flash rolled his shoulders, bouncing on his heels before leaning over to ask- "So, how're you feeling? Riding high on cloud nine? Nervous? Ooh, did you and Tina do the whole 'we can't see each other before the wedding' thing?" He had to at least get in a few good questions before he propositioned James to let him sing a song for them.

thank you | open starter

James stood at the edge of the ceremony space, heart ticking steadily beneath his chest as he waited for the moment he would walk down the aisle. Each breath felt deliberate, like his body knew this was no ordinary day—this was the day everything changed. The sky above was a soft, forgiving blue, the kind that seemed to bless the day in its own quiet way. The chairs were filling with guests, all faces he recognized from different corners of his life—friends, mentors, people who had become a kind of chosen family.

His fingers brushed over the edge of his sleeve as he adjusted his cufflinks, more out of habit than necessity. There was still time. The music hadn’t started yet, the soft hum of conversation still drifting like smoke across the air. Somewhere behind the scenes, she was getting ready—his bride. The thought alone filled him with a warmth that settled low in his chest and spread outward. she had visited him prior, the nervous mess that she was, they couldn't be gone without the other soon, which filled James with a joy he couldn't put into words.

Even with his heart beating a little faster, James found the grace to step toward a few guests who had arrived early and stood near the back. He didn’t want to seem too closed off, even though every part of him was tuned into the anticipation of seeing her.

“Thank you for coming,” he said with a gentle nod, offering a small smile. His voice was soft, but grounded, carrying a quiet sincerity that spoke more than just the words.

@happieststarters

[flash-hundredyarddash]

"I know we just got here, but I am ready and willingly to pull out the uke at a moment's notice," Flash started, tapping his back where the ukulele sat. "This whole vibe is begging for an acoustic cover of Hilary Duff's seminal classic 'This Is What Dreams Are Made Of'." @happieststarters

[flash-hundredyarddash]

"Wait, hold on. Hang up. I think I've got it this time!" This was maybe the ninth time that Flash had 'got' it. He was so, so sure that he and Henrik had crossed paths before Redwood Hollow. It wasn't on the waves when Flash had spent the summer in Malibu, it wasn't in that brief traveling theater group he'd been in and it wasn't from salsa class. "Did you ever have the Sal's Special in a little diner in Connecticut? Heart attack on a plate but soooo worth it?" @henrikhera

[flash-hundredyarddash]

"you're both so good, aren't you? so smart. aw man, you gotta love 'em," flash grinned up at mary. he took a grateful bite of the corn dog, giving both kitty and doggo and pet with the other hand. "excellent! love to hear it. and how's the hand? must be getting a real workout with that rock on it. oh, i'm great! lovin' life. yes, i am indeed. i've got a couple of hours volunteering locked in for this evening - i've got the uke ready and waiting. just finished up a driving lessons as well. only a few cones injured so far."

she laughed at the scene unfolding of her two dogs trying their most to get kisses and corndogs. "alright you two, leave uncle flash to eat his corndog in peace" she warned the dogs who took heed and sat down, tails wagging. "i'm good thanks, how are you? are you working at the hospital today?"

[flash-hundredyarddash]

"uncle, uncle! i give up, little dudes. please, have mercy on me and my corn dog. i wish i could give you it, really but it's the only thing getting me through the rest of my shift," flash pleaded with kitty and doggo, knowing he'd never win against those puppy dog eyes. it was one of the many reasons the only pet he had was a turtle. way more his speed. holding the corn dog higher, he flashed a grin at mary- "hey, mary. how's it shakin'?"

mary was out taking kitty and doggo on one of their many walks of the day. she loved seeing the two running around together and hoped to see her eventual children with them years down the line.

she smiled at the dogs darting around and she tossed their tennis ball for them to fetch but apparently they'd found something else that they decided to divert their attention to.

"kitty! doggo!" she called out, running after them "sorry, they love people"

@happieststarters

[flash-hundredyarddash]

[flash-hundredyarddash]

Favourite movie you've watched this year?

"Push in Boots: The Last Wish, hands down-- feet up!"

[flash-hundredyarddash]

"Now that wasn't very cool and groovy behaviour. Are you okay? You did everything right, they did everything wrong. Let's hope they have to deal with a very minor but very annoying inconvenience for that," Flash said in total solidarity. There was nothing worse than a bad customer-- universal facts. He raised his eyebrows at Ella's question then before remembering what the whole point was of him being here. "Ah, right. Yes. Me. Well... I was looking to get something new, you know? Something, ah, a bit more... I don't know. Je ne sais quoi. Impressive. And-," he swallowed back his fears- "Not covered in pineapples."

"If you can't say somethin' nice…, don't say nothin' at all," Ella said with a sigh. She didn't enjoy arguments, especially when she couldn't do anything about it. But rough customers happened from time to time, and as she watched the other storm off, she politely turned to the next customer and said: "Sorry about that, what did you need help with?"

@happieststarters

[flash-hundredyarddash]

Flash looked up from his double chocolate milkshake at the question, immediately breaking out into a grin. "No need for excuses, my guy. Come on in here, the parking spot is clear-," he started, holding his arms out wide to emphasis just that. What was it about his hair today that had people reading his mind, huh?

"Wild you should mention it but I definitely have. I mean, if these walls could talk-," he said, tapping his own temple- "But ya'know, who has the time, right? No- Nay, the motivation. Or is it the concentration? Either way, I think this would-be masterpiece is gonna stay locked up tight for the foreseeable future. It blows 'cause you just know the Netflix adaptation would be iconic."

A cozy day called for a cozy day at the cafe. It was about an hour and a half before closing for the night. This was one of Benak's favorite times to be here, especially with the holiday decor still illuminating the room.

Hot tea beside him, he glanced over to the person sitting beside them. He knew it was best to leave people alone, usually, but often Benak failed to take his own advice. The person seemed in decent spirits, if he was judging correctly, although he worried he could also be wrong.

"Excuse my forwardness, I know this is a rather odd question, but I was wondering if you had ever considered writing a book?"

@happieststarters

[flash-hundredyarddash]

Flash had taken to fatherhood as smoothly as could be expected. Turtle fatherhood, that was. 'Speedy' had been his cohabitant and favourite son for almost two years now. Flash was never very good with pets. He was too aloof, ultimately forgetful. The vibes were never right, you know? Until Speedy. They'd made it this far without incident which verged on a miracle with Flash at the wheel but now...

The unthinkable. The unspeakable.

He was loose. Somewhere, out there, in Redwood Hollow. His own son, lost. Flash had been frantically making his way through town, shirt half buttoned up, hair a mess, when he thought he caught a glimpse of shell. He'd barreled up to Arista's door, hoping she'd answer. He let out a sigh of relief when she did, unable to fight off a smile when she spoke. "Hot chocolate sounds a dream but I'm afraid I've come here on official business-," he sighed- "Speedy's loose."

When there was a knock on her door at 10:15pm, Arista had nearly missed it, between her loud screaming and giggling as her team won their round of League. With almost not consideration, Arista jumped up to see who was at the door.

Now, Arista's father would have insisted, no, demanded, that a young woman such as herself, living alone, should ever open the door at night unless it was him or one of her sisters.

The face on her door step was familiar enough, Arista decided, and she opened the door.

"It's like sooooo cold and windy tonight, and isn't it like, supposed to like, snow?? I hear it's gonna be a mess, I think some people have lost power--Oh. Is that why you're here? Do you need a place to stay? Or like, can I at least get you some hot chocolate? This house is way to big for one person."

@happieststarters

[flash-hundredyarddash]

VANESSA KIRBY & TOM CRUISE

Behind the scenes of Mission Impossible: Fallout

[flash-hundredyarddash]

"... i am talking about game of thrones. oh, man. shivers--," flash replied, shaking out his arms in response. "you think you've made your peace with something and then before you know it, you're playing the theme song on the ukulele in town square, again. sorry about that, daisy. what vibe are you getting from the whole thing?"

without much time to respond to his initial greeting, daisy just stared at him with a furrowed brow as she tried to understand what on earth flash was talking about. "uh huh. see, i'm not really getting that vibe. and i'm not sure what you're-" daisy cut herself off, rolling her eyes, "are you talking about game of thrones?"

[flash-hundredyarddash]

"Huh...," Flash mused, truth dawning on him. "Yes, I think it was. Man, you think you're over a thing and then it sneaks back up into your subconscious-," Flash replied, tapping his forehead for emphasis. "Sorry about that. How were you doin' again? Good? Enjoying the whole boujie vibe?"

"Hello?" Aphrodite tilted her head. "I'm Well-" She started, but was interrupted with a quick and ridiculous question. "What dragons? What type of fairy tale nonsense -" She opened her mouth. "Wait, is that like a Game of Thrones reference?"