#Seattle Cider

[casuallycryptidcider]

Vitae Magazine pt. 2

In honor of the upcoming fashion week, I will be releasing Vitae (magazine covers with my PCs) leading up to it!

Today’s model is Hazel King! Based on an October 1949 Cosmopolitan issue and is what Hazel would look like if she embraced the aesthetic of Seattle’s Shadows—including trying to “glamour” humans.

[cinemaocd]

I was kind of shook to see old Jayhawks and a Golden Smog post on my dash...even more shook to see how many notes they had. I was under the impression these were secret bands that only old midwesterners knew about...

[iamrootusr]

Seattle Cider Summit~!

I love food festivals. I also love drink festivals.

I love Cider Festivals specifically. The Seattle summit this year was so much fun! Lots of tasty treats! I hope next years' summit is full of even more shenanigans!

And maybe not as hot, as yesterday's temperature was mildly excruiciating. I had to cut myself off after making it through half the booths just due to the extra heat and dehydration making it impossible to safely continue. >.> I should've brought a fan....

But otherwise, very good times were had!

[addierose444]

First Class Flight from Seattle Washington to Jackson Wyoming

Hello from Wyoming! Since moving to Washington State in mid-July, this is my first time venturing out of state. Other than the early morning and busyness of the airport, the trip was pretty easy as I had a direct flight from Seattle to Jackson in first class. Yes, first class you read that correctly! I didn’t pay for a first-class ticket but managed to get an upgrade through Alaska Airlines status that I “earned” through an Alaska Airlines promotion for Microsoft employees. Earned is in quotes because this was literally my first Alaska Airlines flight and all I did was sign up for the offer with my company email and submit my mileage plan number through the confirmation email. It’s worth noting that I only have this elevated status for 180 days unless I take another round-trip flight with Alaska within this same time frame. I don’t have other flights on Alaska planned as of yet, but we’ll see how working remotely goes on this trip.

Before diving more into the first-class experience, I thought I’d share a bit more about the morning of my flight. My day started off with an alarm at 4:45 which was particularly painful because it was a Saturday morning and I’d usually sleep in. I got dressed, packed up my chargers, and ate a piece of bread with peanut butter. At 5:30 I hopped into a pre-scheduled Uber and headed to the airport. At the airport, I printed out a bag tag at a kiosk, dropped off my bag, and went through security. While there weren’t specific hiccups the busyness of the airport made this all more difficult and confusing. While I generally hate the idea of buying food in an airport because it’s usually overpriced and not particularly good, I couldn’t help but stop into Beecher’s Handmade Cheese on the way to my gate. As you’ll know from an earlier blog post, Beecher’s makes some of my all-time favorite mac and cheese. I was already planning on stopping in on my return trip, but admittedly this was absolutely an impulsive stop. That said, I did narrowly refrain from getting mac and cheese. I instead decided to try their breadzel cheese bread. While it was a little bit spicier than I’d prefer, it was very tasty and worth getting again. 

Unrelated to being in first class, but the views out the window were absolutely spectacular. What the upgrade did get me was priority boarding, two free checked bags, and of course the first class seat and experience. Given that I was able to check my bag for free and that it was a very small plane, that priority boarding wasn’t a huge perk. Checking a bag definitely wasn’t necessary for this week-long trip, but it was convenient not to need to drag my suitcase around the airport. That said, because I’m by no means guaranteed an upgrade on my return flight I still needed to make sure my suitcase could be carried on. Nonetheless, in cases where a checked bag is necessary, I’m sure this benefit would come in clutch. While I did enjoy the more comfortable seat, as a five-foot individual extra legroom really isn’t necessary. 

During the flight itself, the main advantage was the dedicated flight attendant and access to free drinks and snacks. Even though it was far from cocktail hour, I did order a hard cider. While it was a bit sweeter than the ciders I typically prefer, given the early hour the fact that it mostly tasted like apple juice was actually a good thing. I also snacked on two bags of fancy popcorn and a meat stick. This was a super short flight so folks in economy didn’t even get the standard drinks and snacks. While I wouldn’t pay extra for a first-class ticket, I did thoroughly enjoy the experience and have a greater appreciation for airline status. 

[cowgirlcherrie]

𓏲 APPLE OF MY EYE ᵎᵎ secret admirer! abby anderson

synopsis: love is a free spirit; crushing is even harder. It all started with a special delivery of anonymous treats at your door. While you were yearning that it would be your best friend sending them to you.

song(s): apple cider by beabadoobee

*LYRICS ARE BOLDED

content: takes place in game universe. follows the events leading up to seattle day 1. violence. death. repetitive mentions of apples; eating them, imagery etc. mutual pinning. implied character death by end. blood. right person, wrong time. missed connection. kinda implied fem! reader. Joel death mention. death foreshadowing. intuitive knowledge of death. Closely follows the song.

WE BOTH LIKE APPLE CIDER

Crush and Crunch.

Crunching with your crush. 

It all sounded the same to you, the cracking of your vocal cords at the back of your throat pushing at enunciating every syllable in crush sounding like crunch; which were your teeth poking into an apple every Tuesday. Shiny Granny Smiths, on Tuesdays, Honeycrisps on Wednesdays, and Fuji on Fridays. 

You weren’t sure when the kitchen started getting apple deliveries; perhaps the never-ending garden of trees grown them with the perfect analytics to make sure they weren’t poisonous or synthetic apples but you weren’t complaining. The first time you tried an apple sounded ridiculous to say. Your first ever. You took the finely cut slice; detached from its core to your mouth, groaning in satisfaction as the flavors mixed together in your mouth like a rollercoaster. Juicy and bitter with a tinge of sweetness.  Just how you liked it.

Abby said they were even better with cinnamon. Rambling on about how sugar and spice equate to everything nice and the best finger-licking of your dreams. On apple days, during breakfast you found yourself sitting at a secluded table with Abby in front of you slicing the apples so they were easier to consume. Shared amongst the two of you as your hands reached for the same slices; Abby pulled her hand away to let you have the last. 

BUT YOUR HAIR BE SMELLING LIKE FRUIT PUNCH

You enjoyed these bittersweet moments; like the apples of course. The sun beamed on Abby’s face in marigold and marmalade, as her blonde locks blew in the air slightly disheveled from when she went on patrol that day. Her fresh scent of pine, and fruit blend from her hair which was refreshing and comforting you. She took a final bite before flipping the knife down to take it back to the utensil bin for washing. Where then the two of you would part ways. It was never awkward. Eating apples in silence; you mean — because Abby had a schedule more vigorous and deathly than yours and you had other businesses to attend to. But she never would miss out on an Apple time with you. 

AND I DON’T EVEN LIKE YOU THAT MUCH

You’ve grown suspicious in recent meters. You weren’t one to talk about love either but it somehow found some way to bite back at you like the juices of the apple splattering on your lips when you would eat them.

WAIT, I DO, FUCK.

It started with suspicious packages revealing themselves outside of your door, wrapped in a delicate ribbon, with a brown paper box tied off with the most absurd cursive handwriting that you could hardly read. But somehow making out, the delicate notion of

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Xoxo, eyes from afar.

CALL ME, AT MIDNIGHT.

So as anyone else would, at midnight, you stomped your way to Abby’s door pounding your fist into the wood until she slammed it open looking at you in bewilderment. Toothbrush in between her lips scratching her teeth; scrubbing away at any build-up as she watched you. Notioning with her hands for you to speak. She looked carefree, laidback her hair was down and she looked as though she freshly showered. 

“Thanks for the gift” you smirk, holding up the box with randomized love and self-care books with an intact nail polish set that was on top. It was a variety pack, swishes of different shades of pink and white, and even nudes to go for a clear coat; like a puff of cotton candy.

You were flattered, naturally, it was a sweet gift like a candy cane in the sweet summer breeze you wanted to just rip it out of the packaging and have a go. You also never had someone be so considerate of you. Thinking to bring you back something so pure and valuable that surely wouldn’t collect dust but you would bring out every month. You would make sure it wasn’t forgotten.

Abby furrowed her eyebrows, holding up her pointer finger motioning – one minute, running to the sink and spitting out the toothpaste rinsing her mouth off. 

“I didn’t give you that.” Abby specified, taking a washcloth to wipe at her hands and around her mouth as she let you inside.

“C’mon Abs, even if you did that’s—”

“I didn’t give that to you.” Abby’s voice was more serious this time, stern and strict with some urgency. Not that she was being rude about it, but she was trying to get you off her case. After a long day of patrolling where she did find goodies you would like along with some ribbons from a craft store along the way, Abby got to work making you a sweet delivery. After all, you deserved it. 

“But who else would know I like apples besides you!”

“Manny, Mel, Nora, Ow–”

“Okay I didn’t ask for names.” You hushed, fiddling with the box in your hand as you looked at the treats inside. Biting at your lips, it was like being given a hug but the person who gave it to you disappeared before you can offer one better, or even fully wrap your arms around them to give one back.

“This was really sweet I just wish I could give something back.” You mumbled, tilting your head down to look at the books yearningly. Amidst the violence, the blood, and the chaos, you still loved and that was what pushed you forward. That was what erupted a fire in you; triggering your passion and jumpstarting your heart like cables to a car. 

“I think you shouldn’t worry about it,” Abby suggested, not looking at you but folding her laundry to put away for safekeeping.

“What?” 

“What.” Abby shot back, acting as if she didn’t say anything prior, but you heard her well. Your friend, heart, and soul were being shifty with you; acting as if she didn’t care about your treats or that you were being admired from afar by someone with a sweet gentle heart. 

“Nevermind I’m being silly” You confessed, taking your words back and turning on your heels to leave her room.

Abby wasn’t going to let you leave. Lips parted as she watched your feet get closer and closer to the exit of the door.

LETS GIVE, THIS, THING A TRY.

“Show me.” 

You stopped walking, turning around slowly on your heels. Part of you wished it was Abby, though she would never really know. You watched the way she looked at Owen with appreciation but also disgust. How her love turned to hatred and pain. Abby wasn’t focused on you, you would think.

Abby wasn’t focused on you.

“What?”

“I said show me,” Abby confessed, her voice as clear as day, “C’mere…” Abby patted the side of her bed where she sat comfortably. 

“G‘head tell me about it. I wanna see it too” Abby gave a smile. Truth is, behind her push n’ pull —  rigid love and aggression she still hoped for you. Amidst her passive-aggressiveness, she was giving the love she felt as though she would never feel again. The permanent hole in her heart that you kept on refiling and you didn’t even know. 

She didn’t want you to slip through the cracks of her fingers just yet. Hiding behind a mask, cowardly shying herself away from you. Owen wasn’t on her mind but having you think that especially as she set off on a spree for the man who killed Jerry, would fix that. You were a liability, she wouldn’t let you go. 

You made your way down the steps, to her bed tucked in the corner nook, sitting down as you opened the package. With that you started rambling, tossing the paper apart like a kid on Christmas, showing Abby the hardcover copies with a dopey smiley on your face. Abby couldn’t contain her own smile either. Watching as you went through each nail polish shade.

“Can I try these on you?” You held up a baby pink, it was in a ballet slipper shade, which would make a good neutral against her bright skin. 

Abby wasn’t going to resist, shrugging up her shoulders against her black long-sleeve shirt, pushing the shirt up on her arms, “Sure”

So you proceeded further with painting her nails that evening, toxic paint brushing on her fingers like a canvas —  while the two of you whisked away in laughter. It was like a red string wrapped around the two of your fingers, webbing you together and pulling you closer and closer until there was no gaps or lack of air. 

It was pure and for the moment you really valued it. What you didn’t know you had until it was gone. You wished you could have hugged her a little bit longer, and learned more about her besides what she was showing you at a service level. You wanted to know Abigail, not Abby. Before it was snatched away from you with the snap of the fingers. Get the gunpowder dust off the sea salt it was time for war. 

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ 

YOU SAID YOU LIKED MY HAIR, SO GO AHEAD AND TOUCH IT.

I like your hair today, and your necklace  xoxo, eyes from afar

Maybe it was the validation or the comments but you loved receiving the little notes wrapped in different color ribbons. Maybe you were looking forward to catching your second set of eyes. Lingering outside your door to see if they would show but it was always as if they knew your schedule. Catering to the perfect moments that you were gone to slip the delight at your door. 

The note of this week – bringing joyous to your being made you wear the delicate jewelry even more. At first, when you wore it, it was just a careless decision that you did for fun. Spontaneous and last minute as you untangled it in between your fingertips pulling out the birthstone necklace that was gifted to you from no other than Abby herself; weeks before the arrival of your secret admirer. But the moment you remembered, clasping it on around your neck was the moment you truly valued it even more. You were certainly never going to take it off. 

YOU SAID YOU LIKED THE JUMPER I WORE, SO I ALWAYS WORE IT.

But your bright radiating aura, evidently in hues of pink and purple; signs of love and wisdom was shortly dimmed by the chatter during your afternoon meal. You were set to follow Jordan to the Serevena, patrolling being the last thing you wanted to do of the evening. Endless pit in your stomach nothing felt right. The snap before everything fell apart. 

Out for blood, out for vengeance was Abigail Anderson who returned with blood on her hands. Murderer!Murderer! Red-handed girl with fury in her eyes and a golf club sharp at the end splattering everything into two. 

Wrecking havoc; causing destruction. 

That was all you heard from Jordan as you chewed through the same-old burrito that evening. That was enough to make your eardrums bleed. You could feel your heart in your ears jumping out of your chest at the whispers of Abby’s name, eyes darting from table to table to hear if anyone had caught wind of such a subject: 

I heard she… 

Can’t imagine that…

That’s terrifying…

No Abby mention.

Coincidentally amongst Abby’s absence; the snarky girl was gone with the wind, and so was your secret admirer. The deliveries stopped coming, you were alone, with a set of eyes ‘watching you’ and apples to now peel on your own. . . you found it odd, but one thing for sure was that Abby would hear from you later, where you would gush about this admirer of yours and what you imagined them to be.

IT’S REALLY NICE TO TALK TO YOU, IT’S REALLY NICE TO HOLD YOUR HAND

“Abs on a scale of 1-10 how attractive do you think my admirer is” You pondered, hands entangled in the pages of a fashion magazine. Fingers dusting away at the thin layer of grime and grey from the dust and dirt; signs of age.

“Probably like a 3” Abby confessed bluntly as she walked around her room moving vastly to pack away her belongings. 

Abby’s side of her room was neater in comparison to Manny’s, her laundry was folded, memories stored away for safekeeping, and everything was where it needed to be. Including your ribbon and the scissors she used — the bad duct tape she stole for security. 

“Really?”

“Okay, maybe a 5, it could well off be a creep,” Abby muttered as she continued to push different survival items into her bag, jacket first, followed by flashlights and extra batteries. 

“I don’t think it is though,” Abby froze, panicking instilling in her, it was like a vicious game of hot and cold, you creeping closer and closer to her and it was time for Abby to fall back and bring on the passiveness. 

“What?”

“I mean imagine this, they send me a final letter asking me to meet by the gardens where they reveal their identity to be no other than —”

“Save that for a fantasy, I’m leaving” Abby spat, cutting the happiness in the air with a thick knife which was her voice that evening. It felt like a safety net for her to drop off bad news right after you gave the good ones, almost debunking it creating a hostile environment, and shattering the rose-tinted glasses off. Then you remembered who you were talking to, what you were doing. A flower in the middle of an apocalypse, Abby being covered in thorns. 

“Is it because you killed that man”

“What makes you think it’s…who told you?” Abby furrowed her eyebrows stopping her movement to let you get a good look at her face.  Abby was looking you up and down like you ripped the bandaid off her arm like you were digging your fingers into a cut infecting it with your fingertips and any active bacteria. 

“Word travels around here pretty fast, this isn’t knew information”

A beat. And then another.

“Are you satisfied” You perk up, not breaking eye contact with the blonde in front of you. The fresh azul orbs dilating under the words that left your mouth. She looked at you with such admiration, but the mention of Jerry was enough to make Abby swing hard as she was back in the room holding her weapon of choice. Who was she to play god? Be the bearer of death? Call of evil? Abby thought back to what she was fighting for: was she satisfied? It wouldn’t bring her father back but there was a price on her head. Preferably until her life was obliterated and gone with her head. 

“Hmm”

“Because you don’t look satisfied” Your voice cracked, you were cutting into her skin and Abby was growing steadily uncomfortable, shifting her weight. Cracking her knuckles and rolling her head as she looked at you. Like a pretty Jem stone in a dimly lit room; all eyes on you she didn’t want to talk about this with you. Someone she was so emotionally connected with, god — anybody else but you.

“I…I need to go.” Abby stood up, swinging her backpack in her arms as you followed suit in the silence.

You stood up mimicking her actions taking your magazine in between your fingers and holding it close to your chest. 

“When will you be back?” you whispered, picking at the skin surrounding your nails as you rubbed your lips against each other as you rocked your body forward and backward. Abby’s eyes softened, looking at you up and down as she stuck her tongue in her cheek, clenching her jaw tightly. It almost pained her to say. 

AND EVEN IF WE’RE JUST FRIENDS, WE CAN BE, MORE THAN THAT.

“Soon…I hope, I’ll be back soon” Abby asserted. Abby bowed her head, cusping your cheeks in between her hands as she gave a chaste kiss to your cheek. Calloused fingers rubbing at your soft skin, It was a friendly thing, right? Nothing more?

She didn’t even like you that much.

But you on the other hand weren’t sure of your own feelings.

Like a tough game of tug-of-war, you wanted her, then you didn’t, then you couldn’t shake yourself out of it. You liked her and you wanted her. You wished and hoped that the admirer of yours would be her. The person you had sleepovers where you would laugh about your events and enjoy the delicacies delivered by your admirer you would have it no other way.

When she pulled away you struggled to find the words, hands jittery somewhere between reaching to grab your cheek or to wipe off her kiss with your hand. You weren’t sure how to feel. It was as if someone held a gun to your head telling you the right pill or blue.  

“May your survival be long” you reminded, holding a hand at your arm scratching at your sleeves.

“May your death be swift” 

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ 

CALL ME AT MIDNIGHT, LETS GIVE THIS THING A TRY.

If you could do it all again you would. 

ASK YOU IF ITS OKAY,

You were alone, deep into your ocean of thoughts as your happy moments were coming to an end? Did you take it for granted? 

TO HAVE A SLEEPOVER,

The burrito you ate that evening wanting to come up, mouth sticky with bile. You suddenly didn’t want to patrol the Serevena and help Nora move supplies. It felt wrong – almost impractical like you were in the wrong place. Foot cemented into the floor as you stood at your bed. Shoving supplies into your backpack, tying a strand of the ribbon from your admirer's box around the handle of your bag. You wanted to be back at the base with Abby where the two of you would have your sleepovers, cut your apples, and have competitive matches in the shooting range where you would tell Abby she missed a shot and she would tell you, you held the gun wrong. 

Preparing to leave, doing one final spin at your place of comfort. Freshly made bed and sorrowful grey sheets, you wished for a happier time and a great release. Opening your door, you were met with one box before you would go. Picking up the lightweight box it almost felt impractical to even be wrapped. 

TO DRINK SOME APPLE CIDER, OR MAYBE SOME FRUIT PUNCH

Parting gift for the one I stole these for… don’t forget me Xoxo, A. Anderson Your eyes always 

You smiled to yourself, it was all you ever wanted. Your best friend really was your admirer and you just hoped you could reach her before she was gone and it truly could have been your last time seeing her. Unwrapping the terribly wrapped paper object revealed a shiny sharpened knife with a brown handle. It was Abby’s knife, the one she savored and used only for your apples that she would cut during your lunch breaks. Tears brimmed your eyes moving the object around as if it were malleable, smiling gently to yourself at the irony of it all. Quickly locking the door and throwing the paper that was used to wrap the gift away in the hall trash you ran to try to catch Abby who was already on the truck, across from Mel as she set off on her journey. As the sun was getting low, so were you who had to travel adjacent from your new fount lover. 

What were you gonna say?

Besides: I knew it, of course, you wanted her to know that you felt the same; in fact even more.

AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT HOW WE DON’T LIKE EACH OTHER THAT MUCH.

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ 

“There’s no real you are real right now”

“Shh– baby, I’m real” Abby hushed bringing up her hand to your mouth to silence you. “I’m real.”

You were currently carrying a tray of med supplies but soon it all crashed to the ground; metal tin hitting the floor as Abby backed away into a corner. She looked disheveled different than you had last seen her; whispies around her face. Like she cared a little bit more, but maybe it was because she was with you. 

You couldn’t help but bring Abby into a tight hug head against her shoulder, resting your eyes in full solitude. You were home amidst the violence and her going AWOL that had made Isaac angry with all of you. You lied thickly through your teeth when Isaac dragged you in asking questions about the location and conspiration Abby had going on.

All you could say was you didn’t know.

And it wasn’t a lie but in fact the truth there was not much you really did know. 

Abby held onto you as if you were going to be snatched out of her hands as the both of you cried. Sobbs shaking the both of you. Abby couldn’t stop herself from applying gentle kisses to the side of your head and holding at the nape of your neck during the hug.

“You look like shit!” you acknowledged pulling at the sleeve of her jacket to which Abby rolled her eyes and pulled your hand away.

“Ahh could be worse”

A beat. And another; comfortable silence filling the air between the two of you. You didn’t wanna ask but for your newfound knowledge, you had no other choice but to. You wanted her to know, hell you haven’t seen her for very long and this well could have been the last time you would ever. 

“So it was you? All along” you sputtered, snickering under your breath as you brought your hands across your chest, licking the base of your lips as your eyes wandered off.

“It was – hey! You opened the letters” Abby gave you a look of disbelief, half of it was due to her being scared shitless, others it was the fact that Abby could feel her own hands getting clammy as she rubbed them against the base of her jeans to get it to stop.

“It said 2 —”

“Weeks I know” “I was desperate”

There was silence again. 

“I could just kiss you right now I can’t believe you are alive” You blurted out, giving Abby the most gentle smile. Abby for a second felt her world move in slow motion as she stared with such unconditional love. 

“Then do it”

So you did, rushing forward, throwing your body against Abby’s as the two of you leaned in for a swift kiss. Her lips were chapped, slightly rugged but you didn’t mind applying your smooth ones to her as the movements of your body synched together in eternal sunshine. Nothing in this moment mattered, besides her lips on yours and her hands against your body. Abby’s fingers stroked at your cheeks eventually moving down between your jaw and your neck as she continued. No breaks; no air, until the sound of boots stomping closer to the room rang your ears, forcing you to pull away.

“Okay, I need supplies miserably Nora brought me to you, I have to go, I don’t know if this will be my last time seeing you: I hope it’s not, I’m not exactly in Isaac’s good graces – I think we both know that” Abby spoke with urgency, distrust but also sadness. Abby wasn’t sure but recently she’s been feeling as though things were slipping in between her fingers. She wasn’t sure how long this ecstasy and rapture would last, or the longevity of her contentment. Abby was certain the girl from the room; with the golf club and joel would show her face again.

“It’s okay” you assured, hands now at Abby’s biceps, lips rubbing against each other as you turned your head away from her face, shaking it slightly. 

“But don’t forget. . .” “I’m so incredibly infatuated by you” Abby whispered as she moved in closer to give a swift kiss to your forehead.

Now wasn’t the time for formalities or titles, but you wished with your fingers crossed and your eyes closed shut, that she would return for the conversation worth having. Full honesty and confessional where your girl that smelled of pine would tell you all her rushes of thoughts that nagged at her as she closed her eyes.

“Knife to the chest sweetheart, swing with your right not your left…it’s your better arm” Abby cautioned, pretending to bring her arm up to swing, giving a final squeeze to your cheek as she was headed for the door preparing for ground zero.

“Bye Abby” 

That was the difference, it was as if your body knew. Saying Bye instead of a see you later or, playfully threatening her to come back to you in one piece. Your eyebrows furrowed; your face scrunched as you cringed at your words, as mediocre as they sounded. You caught yourself doing that a lot and you weren’t sure why. Going from present tense to past tense. “I am” to “I did” to “I was” , this happened after you started dreaming. Dreaming that your body was against a cold tile, scrunching into a ball as you let out your last breath alone.

You knew. 

“This is not goodbye — don’t say that, it’s see you later!” Abby snapped, giving you a hand motion as she swung the door open, crouching down as she moved steadily through the room as it closed behind her with a loud CLICK! From the lock.

“I’ll see you later” Your hand went from waving to at your side as your smile dropped and abruptly the warm room felt cold. Very cold.

But you weren’t going to see her later. Body paralyzed to the floor as the bullet wound in your stomach bled crimson all over the floor. As red as the Honeycrisp apples you ate on Wednesdays. An auburn-haired girl rushes past you following the footsteps of Nora. You were crashing and your body was failing you. Whimpers of pain escaped your lips as you held onto your stomach like you had a bad stomach ache, rolling onto your side as your vision became a nuisance and blurry mess. During your last few moments, you thought of Abby and her bright smile, all the plans she had for the two of you, and how you were finally happy that you got your happy ending, 

But at what cost?

You weren’t going to get to drink apple cider with her or hug her again, and that’s what destroyed you the most as a salted tear fell from your eye. Apple was placed on the table rotting from the inside out, With Abby’s knife poked into its core. Death has met its match.

You were the apple of her eye, and you were destroyed and eaten whole indefinitely. 

taglist

@beforeimdeceased @starologist @destielcore @rarestdoll @luvrgalore @ellsss @zahraaziza @emluvselandabs @abbyily @elliestrwbrry @mossc0vered @spacewlf @as2rid @ariianelle @spaceshipellie @lottiematthewsceo @emonopolyman @imamybubbles @mikasbby @trulygnomed

© cowgirlcherrie

[radiofreeslowzone]

post job interview that my life mildly depended on that went pretty well off the ritalin and one (1) 12oz Seattle Cider Co.®️ Dry Cider and I am VIBING. DOES ANYONE WANT TO COME OVER. I didn't mean to type that last part in all caps I just forgot to turn caps lock off but it's funnier that way because like. why are you yelling man come on. so I'm leaving it like that

[kickthecanrevolution]

Things I’m looking forward to

1. A Chipotle taco (burns my mouth right now)

2. A hot steam shower

3. A Starbucks apple cider with caramel

4. Trick or treating in Seattle

5. Walking anywhere without being winded

[hopetorun]

18 20 22!!

18. A memorable meal this year?

gosh well @msmargaretmurry made this harder by already giving three of my most memorable meals of the year! but here was a good one: in anchorage mom and i just walked into a ramen place (no reservation, no dinner plans, we were fully walking around like idk what to do for dinner tonight) and had one of the best meals we've ever had. i don't even have a picture of mom's ramen but it was even better than mine (and mine was great)

20. What’s something you learned this year?

i learned a bunch of knitting stuff! several new cast-ons and a new cast-off and how to do cables and a funky lace thing that i just started learning this month! i'd like to learn some basic crochet stuff before the end of the year but that depends on whether becky feels like trying to teach me again 😂

22. Favorite place you visited this year?

with apologies to british columbia and seattle, it was definitely alaska. i saw so much cool stuff and learned so much and i feel like i barely scratched the surface and would love to go back!

look under the cut for pictures!

mountains in the yukon from the plane window

local cider the first day we were there

a little guy at the anchorage museum

a painting i loved that they didn't have a print of at the museum store

reindeer sausage (eaten in the dining car on a train we took that was like. one of the most beautiful ways i've ever spent four hours. just STUNNING views nonstop)

a glacier!

kenai fjords national park

humpback whales

denali

denali national park (mountain not pictured)

fireweed

arctic fox trotting home with dinner

[radiantcircle-if]

classic question, what are the ROs favorite beverages?

classic for a reason 💕 to make it a bit of fun, i'll do non-alcoholic & alcoholic faves. their ultimate fave will be on their profiles.

non-alcoholic ⟢ césar drinks coffee at all hours, black of course. rafa is a coke drinker but not the cheap plastic bottle stuff, gotta be the glass bottle, ...or dr pepper. deniz drinks tea like water, any tea will do the trick. gazi likes anything with bubbles and doesn't care if there's an up-charge for sparkling water at restaurants, it's getting ordered. noel is a tea drinker, probably with a slight preference for green tea.

alcoholic ⟢ césar enjoys beer, the darker the better (he has also been known to have espresso and coffee-flavored cocktails). rafa goes for tequila, clean and simple (and quick). deniz likes rakı for special occasions but will drink beer typically, usually some seattle IPA cause there are lots. gazi doesn't like the taste of alcohol but likes cider and prosecco and anything that'll be sweet enough to mask the liquor. noel loves has a fondness for soju.

[fake-ascension]

im not gonna go into too much detail since its my business that doesnt need to aired out in the open

but this weekend was absolutely worst case scenario. i was no contact with my father for 3 years before he contacted us shortly after my mom's cancer surgery and because me and my sibling were both so vulnerable we decided to give it one last chance.

I made a mistaking thinking things would be different, he has his fair share of trauma and one of the first things he said to us on the phone a few months ago that no matter what he loves us and supports us with 'living our lives they way we want' and that was not the case at all

he brought his new wife and step daughter with him ( i realize now that he guilt tripped me into letting them come even when i said it should just be us) and i'm pretty sure they have NO idea about our baggage

he just acted like nothing had happened the past 3 years. we didnt have a conversation lasting more than a minute at a time. his new normal family didnt even talk to us or try to get to know us, i still dont even know what his wife's job is or his step daughter's college major is

they made me cry on the ferry to seattle yesterday, trying to convince me and brother to just get odd jobs or find work online rather than go through with disability benefits and at that point i just mentally clocked out. once we were out of the car in seattle i decided to stay at a near by cafe so they could go to tourist-y stuff (i do not do good in big crowds) and i just ended up ubering to the ferry terminal and went home on my own. And i have not talked to them since, he know i was upset and feeling sick and didn't even send me a text asking how he was doing. instead he dropped my sibling back home in the afternoon, didn't even take him out to eat, and then sent us pictures of the drinks he got at this local cider place that me and griffin were dying to try out. he was 20 minutes away and went out with his new family and took pictures to shows. i repeat. he was 20 minutes away from my house.

so i cut my losses and ended up writing a long ass letter last night. i wasnt mean, calling him a horrible person or calling him names. just how i felt so utterly unimportant to him and had no idea why he even reached out to us again, i told him i felt like he played a horrible cruel joke on me and brother

and thats that i guess. i was absolutely appalled by his step daughter and wife. I have never met such a group of entitled people before, the two of them are 1st gen ukrainian immigrants. They were absolutely disgusted that there were public needle disposal stations and pro-palestinian signage in the area. I cannot believe that they experienced the horror and pain of the current on-going conflict of their home on such a personal level yet roll their eyes at the current genocide happening in gaza. 'im glad the college protesting fad isn't popular on tiktok anymore' 'no one talks about ukraine anymore because of this' like. absolutely abhorrent.

so yippee i guess i have my final closure!!!!! theres no more second chances (this was like, the 10th chance at this point the past 20 years lol)

ok i realize i went into Too much detail but i feel better posting this thank god

[chaletnz]

Welcome to Chicago!

I had an unexpected 5 day weekend before the start of the winter season so I decided to take a trip to Chicago, and cross off another US state. The flights were very cheap on Frontier if I took only carry on and I got my roundtrip tickets for about $70. Summit Express took me again for free to the Denver airport and then once in Chicago I could take the train into the city. I arrived at Midway in the afternoon and made a very long walk through the terminal and out to the train connection. The ticket was only $15 for 3 days of public transport access so super cheap! I decided to do some shopping/sightseeing on State Street before I retired to the hostel later since my bag was pretty light. I stepped off the train at State and Lake and walked down to see the iconic Chicago theatre sign immediately! It was very warm, and my down jacket became a bit annoying to carry around with me but I walked down to Uniqlo as my first destination. I experienced some sticker shock as the prices were so much higher than Uniqlo in Japan that was always very affordable! I bought a couple pairs of the boxers anyway and then walked over the road to Primark (careful to avoid the scam artists trying to get ‘donations’). The Primark certainly delivered and made me miss Ireland and my amazing housemates Shannon and Sorcha. When I emerged from Primark it was starting to get dark and since I was unfamiliar with the city and safe/dangerous areas I decided to make my way to the hostel to check in. When I’d been in Seattle I unknowingly had walked through a scary block of homeless/drug users at about 9pm while following Google maps and didn’t want that to happen again… I checked into my room and while it was small it was only about $50 a night so I couldn’t complain! I emptied a lot of my bag into the locker and then headed out to catch the Second City show tonight so I wouldn’t have to try and cram it in on another night. The bus stop was close but I waited about 15 minutes and it never came and with the updates saying 24 minutes I decided to walk to a train station and catch that instead. Now I’d arrived later my plans for McDonald’s were canceled and I decided to buy something for dinner off their menu at the theatre. With my ticket in hand I headed inside early and got lucky upon arrival when they told me the show was undersold and they moved me from my cheap seat to second row from the front! Gradually everything filled up around me and I think if I’d arrived later I would’ve been sat further to the back but being early and alone I snuck into a free upgrade. My waiter was a guy called Ray and he was nice and his timing was very good, I ordered a Korean fried chicken sandwich with fries and a blackberry cider. It all arrived right as the show was starting so I could eat in the darkness and enjoy the show. It was absolutely hilarious, a live sketch comedy style. They even brought up a guy from the audience who was a really good sport and allowed them to improvise a bit for something fresh. After the show I headed straight back to the hostel as it was almost 10pm and I was exhausted. The roommates were there when I got back so I quickly changed into my pyjamas and brushed my teeth and then made quick introductions with Allie (from Idaho now in LA) and Andre (from a small town in Illinois) before heading to bed. The final roommate whom I never met must’ve been working in the city as he was out all day and then came back very late to snore his head off…

[acelessthan3]

Went to the zoo and Slightly Furry Cider's Taphouse in Seattle for Mousewife's birthday and got to meet up with @zerojokes and @cartoondog in person (as well as a couple friends and family if you didn't guess from the size of our group)

[persnickety-doodles]

🌦 and 🍂 :)

🌦️ - What’s your favourite weather?

Chilly rain 😅 (That’s why Seattle has been my favorite so far)

🍂 - What’s your favourite season?

Autumn!!! I mean it has everything! Halloween, state fairs, apple cider, fair weather. I love everything about it! ☺️

Get to know me!

[1c1cf0]

🪵🍁🥧☕️

:3c Happy First day of fall, you two!!

~🍑

[POITING] THATS MY SISTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

🪵: You and your f/o have a bonfire. What’s the experience like?

stus hair catches alight when all the gel + hairspray + shit he uses is exposed to th fire. this happens every time. he never learns

🍁: What is your favorite thing about autumn? What’s your f/o’s favorite thing about it?

we both love halloween + th cooler weather ^_^ horror movies on cable is such a magical experience

🥧: What are you and your f/o’s favorite autumn treats?

aside from halloween candy ... im big into apple cider donuts <3 i feel like stu would eat anything pumpkin spice

☕️: What are you and your f/o’s favorite autumn drinks?

FUN FACT th caramel apple spice at starbucks is year round. my bf thought i was insane for drinking it in summer in seattle but it hit SOOO good in 70 degree mountain air lmao. its always my fall go to <333 stu is whatever god awful sugary monstrosity the local coffee shop is doing and then is surprised when his tummy hurts after he chugs it

[bropunzeling]

favorite fic you've ever written? 2. favorite sex scene you've ever written? 3. fundamental seattle experience?

it might have to be girl!leon, my first ~novel~ and a fic where i was like oh shit i CAN write something long (though perhaps with time and when i enjoy rereading it again marriage bets will have a late surge)

oh man there are TOO many good choices. gonna declare a tie between soulbonds sex scene where matthew is having an emotional breakdown because he is in love and leon doesn't realize; and the pre-playoffs sex in girl!leon that spurs leon to have an emotional breakdown because matthew is in love (and she is maybe in love back). are we sensing a theme yet

ok this is not the most touristy thing you could do but my absolute fave is to go to green lake, have some coffee, walk the lake and avoid the geese, then go to duke's chowder house and have chowder on the deck with a drink. my second fave is to go to capitol hill to the cider bar and then get molly moon's and then go to elliot bay bookstore. my touristy rec is to take a ferry somewhere.