#it's called rolling with difficulty in case you're wondering

[snomfee-cup]

cc = (____\ Nothing quite like looking for a

(_________) dnd podcast that @comicaurora was on at 1 in the morning instead of just going to sleep like a normal person.

[webbedphantom]

🎵"You never see it cominnnnng!"🎵

He was perched on the corner of a rooftop, his mask rolled up as he chowed down on a Moon Burger as he relaxed from his usual patrol when his phone started ringing.

'Uh oh-'

He knew who's ringtone this was. He quickly swallowed down his last bite, before pulling out his phone and holding it up to his ear.

🎵"You see-"🎵

Boop

"Hi Auntie."

"Renren!!" The older woman sounded ecstatic to hear from her surrogate son. "Finally managed to get ahold of you. You been busy or something?"

He chuckled softly to himself. "You could say that, yeah."

His aunt wasn't exactly aware of his current... condition. He hated lying to her, but he didn't want her to worry. Though, he could be a bit... overprotective of her in that regard. She was barely in her 40s, yet he treated her like she could die of a heart attack at any moment.

... Course, she did the same of him-

"Well, still I wish you would keep in touch more. I worry about you sometimes."

"I'm fiiiine." He said, his tone conveying not the slightest hint of annoyance. Honestly, while she could be a bit much at times, he found it more touching than anything. "But you're right, I've been meaning to call you. I do miss you, it's just... I haven't had a lot of free time lately."

"It's alright, dear. I know you're doing your best. You been keeping up with your homework?"

"Yes ma'am! I was top of the class on my last exam, in fact."

"Ohhh good! Good! Last I heard you were struggling with that a bit."

"There's been some..." He paused for a brief moment. How best to put this? "-difficulties on that front, yeah. Took a bit of time to... adjust. But I had a good study partner to help me through it, so I think I got it figured out."

He wasn't... entirely sure on that last part, though he supposed he never really could be. Not when there could always be some supervillain attack to interrupt his study time.

"Oh! That reminds me! It's not set in stone yet, but I'm planning on coming down to visit for about a week around Christmas. Figured it was about time I met these new friends you keep talking about, and what better time than the holidays?"

Uh oh-

"O-oh, really..? That's... great-"

"... You don't sound excited. Something wrong?"

"N-no! Of course not!"

Yes! Yes, something was very wrong!! His aunt was coming over for a week?? How the shock was he supposed to hide his secret from her?? He sucked at hiding his secret identity, literally ALL of his friends found out by complete accident.

"I j-just- I mean where are you going to stay?? Hotel rooms are kinda expensive, especially around the holidays-"

"Oh, that's no problem. I'll be staying at Sojiro-san's place."

THAT IS EVEN WORSE.

"Oh, wow... that's great. You'll be... just around the corner-"

There was a moment of silence on the other end, but he practically see the face she was making, despite the large distance between them. It was that same 'Really?' face she'd give him whatever she could him lying.

"Aaron. Seriously. What is the problem? You know you can talk to me."

She used his actual name this time. That didn't bode well. Quick, think up something! Anything she would buy as to why he'd react this way.

"It's just... nerves, I think. My friends mean a lot to me, and I'm a bit nervous what you'll think of them-"

"Oh nonsense-" She replied, a bit of life returning to her tone. "For you to speak as highly of them as you do, I'm sure they're wonderful people."

He gave a sigh of relief. He almost couldn't believe she actually bought that-

"I know, I know. It's... silly of me. Just... sometimes my nerves kick in before my brain can process why."

Which was actually true... just not in this case.

"I know, dear. I know. It's just how you are." He could almost see the motherly smile on her face as she said that. A smile he did miss seeing in person, so... You'd think he'd be happy about this news. And a part of his was, but... lying to her about all this stuff, all the danger he faces every day, it's a lot easier when he doesn't have to look her in the eye as he does it.

"Alright, well I'll let you go now. I'd hate to keep you from your errands any longer. But please, do try to call more often."

He sighed. "Okay, Auntie. I'll do my best."

"You'd better. See you at Christmas, Renren. Love you."

"Love you too."

He hung up the phone and groaned, his head hanging low as he slipped his phone back into his pocket.

At least you have a month to prepare. His Persona remarked, trying to comfort him in whatever way he could. He knew how much this weighed on him all too well.

"Yeah..."

He pulled down his mask, balling up the wrapper of his lunch to shove into the pocket of his coat, before jumping off the roof to swing off into the city.

"-For whatever that's worth."

[legends-of-time]

The Journey of Living at Downton

Chapter 31: June 1922

Masterlist

"Are you sure?" Emma asks Rose as the two convene in the Drawing room, knowing no one will be in there at the moment.

"I thought you of all people would like the idea!" Rose huffs.

Emma rolls her eyes. "I do like the idea and I'd say bollocks to the lot of them, but are you sure about it? You know how the family are. They're not always as open as you think."

Rose had dragged Emma further into her plans for Robert's birthday. It's soon clear that Rose plans on using the band that Mr Ross was a part of as the surprise. Emma hadn't realised that there had been contact between the two and worries about the mistreatment the singer will receive from the family because of their unconscious racism.

"But isn't this a part of the inclusivity you always talk of?" Rose argues.

Emma sighs and rubs her head. "Yes... and I suppose everyone will enjoy it. It's not like they'll want to make a scene if they don't."

Rose grins. "Exactly. I'll contact Mr Ross and organise it."

"Remember, we need to inform Cora about this, well, sort of tell her."

Rose nods eagerly.

Emma squints her eyes at Rose suspiciously. "There isn't another reason why you are so eager to do this?"

Rose's eyes widen and she shakes her head a bit too quickly. "No! I just think it'll be a nice surprise for Cousin Robert."

"Hmm. Mary tells me that Mr Napier and his boss Mr Blake are coming next week, they'll be here for Robert's party." Emma warns.

Rose shrugs with a grin. "More the merrier!"

"I think they may be more interested in the pigs and Mary in Mr Napier's case." Emma remarks with a grin.

Rose nods. "Yes, Tamworth's. We had them at Duneagle. Daddy swears by them."

"It's a new thing for us." Emma says. "Tom's been a bit restless with waiting for their arrival. We haven't done much with pigs before."

"Not disrupting anything else?" Rose remarks with a grin.

Emma lets out a fake scandalised gasp before creasing over with laughter.

——

Tom tells Emma a couple of days later that Harold, Cora's brother, has apparently come into difficulty in his business. Emma is curious as to why Harold has written to Robert of all people about it though.

Emma and Rose knock on the door and open it to find Cora in an armchair, reading a book.

"Cousin Cora?" Rose greets her as she closes the door behind them.

"I think you can call me Cora now." The Countess says with a smile.

Emma huffs out a slight laugh. "She wouldn't dare with Robert."

"She must dare with me." Cora remarks. "How can I help?"

Rose and Emma sit down opposite her.

"I... we wanted to tell you that we've settled the surprise. For his birthday." Rose tells her.

"Since you won't tell me what it is, I don't know what to say." Cora comments. "But I'm assuming everything is alright if Emma is involved so, good?"

Emma feels a rush of warmth from how much Cora seems to trust her.

"Well, if you're alright with it. Is it okay if we let Mrs Hughes and Mr Carson know since they'll be the ones that has to deal with it?" Emma asks. "It's only on the day. And it's only till after dinner."

It's at that moment that Baxter walks in, taking away the breakfast tray. Emma watches her as she walks past. She wonders what the lady's maid's history is with Thomas. The woman seems nice enough but Emma hasn't really had the chance to get to know her.

"I suppose so."

——

Emma and Rose soon find themselves in Mrs Hughes' Sitting room.

"A band?!" Mrs Hughes exclaims in surprise.

Rose and Emma look at each other in alarm at how loud Mrs Hughes is being.

"Shh! No one must know." Rose whispers. She closes the door furtively.

"We'll get the carpets rolled up and everything arranged during dinner. So that when His Lordship walks out of the Dining room, there it is." Emma eagerly explains.

"And we're to hide them until then?" Mrs Hughes questions.

Rose lets out an exasperated huff. "Oh, 'hide' them? You just have to keep them with you. His lordship won't come down here, will he?"

"He doesn't. Downstairs is a foreign land to him." Emma remarks. This lifts a slight smile onto Mrs Hughes' face.

"So, I have to find them food and beds. How many are there?" Mrs Hughes asks, slightly disgruntled.

"Six, I think. But I'll check." Rose replies

"And Her Ladyship knows about it?"

Emma presses her lips together, highlighting her discomfort. "Well, um, she doesn't know it's a band, but she does know there's a surprise that you're helping us with. We just want it to be a surprise for her too."

"Very well. I'll see what I can do." Mrs Hughes tells them though Emma can see she's not entirely convinced.

"Thank you." Rose says gratefully.

They walk out together, and Mrs Hughes sees them up the stairs.

——

Emma walks into the Outer Hall to find Edith by the telephone, trying to hold back tears.

Emma walks up to her in alarm. "Edith. What happened? What's the matter?"

"Michael's vanished into thin air. Nobody's heard from him, no one can reach him." Edith replies shakily.

This was what Emma was afraid of. She can't think that now and mustn't worry Edith until they are sure something has happened. "I'm sure it's just a failure of communication. If anything had happened, we'd've heard."

"Maybe." Edith says unsurely. "I just wish to God he'd pick up the telephone."

"He will. Come on." She holds her hand out to Edith. "We must ought to do the important ritual of getting changed for dinner." She remarks sarcastically.

Edith smiles slightly at the comment as they walk towards the stairs, hand in hand.

——

They all assemble in the Drawing room after dinner with the exclusion of Robert attended by Mr Carson and Alfred.

Robert enters.

"You're back." Cora says from the settee she sits on with Rose and Emma. Tom, Mary, Edith and Billy sit scattered about on the other chairs. "I thought you must've missed the last train."

"No. But I only just caught it." Her husband replies as he walks into the room.

"Do you want some dinner?"

"I ate in the restaurant car." He leans down to kiss his wife.

"You weren't very long in London." Edith comments. Emma is happy to see she's perked up a little though she won't be okay until they know what's happened to Michael.

"There wasn't much to do. Just sign some papers for a trust that Billy Sheffield set up for his son." Robert explains as he takes place in front of the fireplace

"What will that entail?" Billy queries.

"Mainly telling the boy to drink less and be nicer to his mother."

"We learned at dinner that Alfred's leaving. He's got a place on the Ritz cookery course after all." Cora tells him.

"He'll be a bit behind but he can catch up." Emma adds.

"Ah?"

"I'm sorry to cut and run, M'lord." Alfred apologises.

"Don't worry about that. We're proud of you." Cora says sincerely.

"You must return one day as a famous chef." Mary remarks.

"Now you're back, M'lord, there's something I wanted to say." Alfred declares. "I've been well treated in this house, and I want you all to know that I'm very grateful."

"Thank you, Alfred." Cora says.

"Mr Carson has been a kind—" Alfred swallows, overcome with emotion, "—and wonderful teacher."

Emma feels genuinely touched and she can see everyone else is overcome by Alfred's words.

"Much more and we shall all burst into tears." Robert comments.

"I'm sorry, M'lord. Come along, Alfred. Let's get back to work." Mr Carson instructs but he is very touched, too. They start clearing away the drinks.

Robert addresses them, "How's my birthday dinner coming on?"

Rose and Emma share an alarmed look before the former says, "How do you know about the dinner?"

"The Coldhursts rang yesterday and said they'd love to come." Robert explains as he takes his drink that Mr Carson offers.

"Weren't we all sworn to secrecy?" Billy questions.

Emma huffs. "Some people just can't keep a secret."

"I don't mind." Robert reassures them. "It won't spoil it if it's not a surprise. Not for me."

"There may still be a surprise." Rose tells him.

"So, I should hope!"

——

The next day, Emma makes her goodbyes to Alfred. The boy had been nice as far as she could gather from brief interactions but most of her knowledge of him comes from Gemma who's been whinging on about the square between Alfred, Ivy, Daisy and Jimmy. Emma is glad that she isn't downstairs anymore and hadn't have to experience it. Maybe Alfred going will sort things.

Emma also hears from Anna that she and Mr Bates are going out on a date to the Netherby Hotel, which Emma is happy to hear.

That evening, they all, minus Cora, who's also at the Netherby Hotel, but for a committee meeting, come walking out from dinner. Emma notices Mr Carson approaching Edith with an envelope on his salver. She pauses as the others walk ahead.

"I do apologise, M'lady. But this came in the evening post and it appears to have been overlooked." Mr Carson tells her

"Not to worry." Edith reassures him as she quickly slits it open and reads the letter. Mr Carson moves on.

Emma watches as Edith's face morphs into panic and shock. Emma swears she sees her eyes welling up.

"Edith, what's the matter? Is it Michael?" Emma questions, startling Edith who hurriedly looks up and attempts to school her features.

"No. Not at all. Just more dead leads." Edith folds up the letter and quickly walks past her.

Emma frowns. "If you're sure..."

Edith pauses. "I am. We mustn't keep the others waiting." She quickly enters the Drawing room before Emma can say anymore.

——

Emma finally gets a chance to talk to Edith on her own when she finds her alone by the fire on the pouffe in the Library, crying. Emma immediately comes to her side and sits down next to her.

"Edith? Hey, what's the matter?" Emma questions, gripping her hand and looking at her earnestly.

Edith sniffles. "It's nothing."

"We both know that's not the case." Emma says. "Was it the letter? It was about Michael, wasn't it?"

"In a way."

"Perhaps you should get your father involved? Send someone over there?" Emma suggests. It hurts to see Edith so upset.

Edith shakes her head. "No. His office has already done that. There's a detective in Munich now, working with the German Police."

Munich... A significant place that changed the Nazi party's tactics. Emma knows Hitler hasn't led the 1923 coup yet but that doesn't mean he's not lurking. Emma hopes his brown shirts have nothing to do with this.

"Then you just have to be patient." Emma says instead.

"I want to know what's happened. If he's... trapped somewhere, or falsely imprisoned. Or even dead." Her voice catches on the last word. Emma looks at her alarmed. "I mean it. If the worst's happened, I want to know. It's just so impossible to plan in this... fog."

Emma gently squeezes her hand. "Well, I'm sure he's not dead." She hopes anyway. The fact that it's been some months since he was last heard from, but she can't share her doubts

Edith sees right through her. "No, you aren't. Because none of us can be."

——

Mr Napier and Mr Blake soon arrive and are being greeted by Cora, Emma and Mary in the Great Hall.

"It's so kind of you all to have us." Mr Napier says, turning pointedly to his boss. "Isn't it, Charles?"

"It is." Mr Blake replies. Emma can't help but feel that he'd rather be somewhere else.

"We're anxious to do our bit." Mary says pleasantly.

"What do you mean by that?" Mr Blake questions. Oh, dear.

"Well, you're here to advise the landowners on how to get through this crisis, aren't you? To save the estates that need saving." Mary replies. Emma is now feeling a bit uncomfortable.

"I'm afraid Evelyn may have given you the wrong impression." Emma is not liking what seems to be a judgemental attitude behind the mask of Mr Charles Blake.

"In what way?" Mary questions.

"The government is aware that up and down the country, great estates are being sold in large numbers." Mr Blake explains.

"Precisely."

"North Yorkshire has a lot of these estates, big and small. And many are in difficulty. We will have every variety of problem to study." Mr Blake continues.

"And you're here to help."

"Not quite. We're here to analyse the situation and ask whether our society is shifting fundamentally. Will it affect food production, and so on?" Mr Blake finishes.

Emma admits that he does have a point but it'll make an enemy out of Mary. She decides to cut into what is clearly brewing to be a sparing match. "So, it's not about how the owners feel, but the food supply?" She asks.

"If that's how you want to put it..." Mr Blake replies.

"I'm afraid that owners will not enjoy that, may see it as mean-spirited," Emma warns. Out of the corner of her eye, Emma sees Edith and Rose walk up to them and greet Mr Napier, who seems quite relieved about it.

"Mr Lloyd George is more concerned with feeding the population than rescuing the aristocracy. That doesn't seem mean-spirited to me." Mr Blake quips.

Emma can't help but feel a bit annoyed herself with his blasé attitude.

Mr Napier is quick to butt in, "I'm afraid you may find us disappointing guests, if you want us to stay up till two in the morning being witty."

"Don't worry. I don't expect Mr Blake to be witty." Mary snarks.

Mr Blake gives her a look that says 'challenge accepted'.

Robert arrives and shakes hands with Mr Blake before moving to Mr Napier. "How long will you be with us?"

"Until the job is done and we can write a report. If you'll have us." Mr Blake replies.

"You must be sure to get rid of us when we become a nuisance." Mr Napier adds.

"The gong is rung at seven, and we meet in the drawing room at eight." Cora tells them. "You know it's Robert's birthday?"

"So, you must try to be witty tonight, Mr Blake. After that, we'll lower our expectations." Mary quips.

By the look on his face, Mr Blake has definitely accepted the challenge. Emma can't help but think this is moderately similar to how Mary and Matthew's relationship began.

"The girls will show you up." Cora says.

——

Emma and Rose enter the Servants' Hall to see that they are having their tea, served by Ivy and Daisy and Emma is pleasantly surprised to see Mr Molesley as they walk to the doorway. Everyone gets to their feet as they enter. Emma still finds it very strange when they do that.

"Lady Rose, Mrs Branson! Can I help?" Mr Carson questions.

"Oh, please, don't let us disturb you. But Lady Rose and I wanted to make a speech. Mrs Hughes may have told you—" Emma begins to say. She consciously decides to keep the titles and be formal about those upstairs so as not to throw Mr Carson's nose further out of joint than they will be doing anyway.

"I haven't yet." The housekeeper interrupts. Emma is amused by the disgruntled look on Mr Carson's face.

"Well, we should tell them now," Emma says. She tries not to show her anxiousness and nerves as she turns to address the rest of the servants. "As a treat for His Lordship, a London band is coming to play after dinner."

"A London band? That's the berries." Jimmy comments.

"From a nightclub called The Lotus." Rose adds.

"A nightclub? Really?" Daisy asks excitedly.

"But it must be a complete surprise." Emma warns them. "No one knows anything. And they mustn't. That is, Her Ladyship knows that something's going to happen, but even she doesn't know what."

"And you think she'll be pleased?" Mr Carson asks doubtfully.

"She'll be thrilled." Rose insists.

"We'll look after your secret." Jimmy promises. Emma is thankful for it but she still doesn't know how she really feels about the footman.

"So, until then, if you can just make them comfortable. I know musicians are outside your daily round." Rose adds.

"Don't worry about that, M'lady. We can take it in our stride. We may be Yorkshiremen, but we do know a little of life in the city." Mr Carson says with a smile. Emma internally winces, she somehow doubts that a bit.

A male voice can be heard. It's Jack Ross, the band's singer. "Hello? Uh... is anyone there?" He comes walking confidently into the Servants' Hall. "I think this is where we're supposed to be."

Mr Carson is so struck by his appearance that he knocks over his teacup. There's a shocked silence. Emma frowns at disappointment to see even Mrs Hughes and Thomas are being a bit funny about it.

Rose, determined to save the situation, smiles at Jack. "Welcome to Downton." She and Jack shake hands.

——

Emma and Tom walk to the Nursery before dinner so that they can feed the children along with Billy and Mary. Emma knows they're already there before her, but as she reaches the door, she hears Isobel's voice and what she says gives her pause and she turns to Tom to shush him.

"When I got engaged, I was so in love with Reginald I felt sick. I was sick with love. Literally." She laughs a little. "It seems so odd to think about it now. It really does."

"It was the same for me." Billy murmurs. "As if I'd gone mad, or been hypnotised, or something. For days. Weeks. All I could think about was her."

"And me. I was standing outside in the snow, and I didn't have a coat. But I wasn't cold, because all I kept thinking was, he's going to propose, he's going to propose!" Mary reminisces.

Emma and Tom turn to each other and smile softly, thinking of their own engagement. Emma has happy memories but she always can't help but feel guilty about how she had left him hanging for so long.

"Well. Aren't we the lucky ones?" Isobel remarks.

Emma can't help but feel guilty that, unlike Isobel, Mary and Billy, she still has Tom, and that she has what they have lost.

She decides she and Tom have heard enough. The three in there turn to them as Emma says, "Isobel, are you here to join us in the chaos of feeding time?"

"I thought I might." Isobel says with a smile.

The door opens, and the nannies come in with George and Michael in their arms and leading Ivy and Sybbie by their hands.

"Oh! Look who's here!"

"Hello!" Isobel greets them.

"Come here, Sybbie." Billy gathers up his daughter.

"Daddy!" Ivy squeals as Tom picks her up while Emma scoops Michael into her arms.

——

A large dinner party has been assembled for Robert's birthday with Mr Carson, Thomas, Jimmy and Mr Molesley attending them, the latter being a pleasant surprise. While Emma usually hates them, the guests are seemingly alright so far. Thankfully she's at the end of the table with Mary, Edith, Rose and a couple of gentlemen while Tom is next to Mr Napier and Cora and Billy are sitting with Isobel. What's worrying is that Mary is sitting next to Charles Blake.

"But I can't help feeling sorry for the poor pigs." Mary says.

"Do you eat bacon?" Mr Blake asks.

"Yes."

"Sausages?"

There's a layer of irritation underlining Mary's features. "Yes."

"Then you are a sentimentalist who cannot face the truth." Mr Blake remarks.

Mary rolls her eyes at him. "I'm not often called sentimental."

Emma huffs a quiet laugh and quickly takes a sip of her wine to hide her amusement. Her smile dims when she sees the unhappy look on Mr Napier's face. Seems to have realised that he has, yet again, brought a man to this house whom Mary infinitely prefers to him.

"Carson," Emma hears Robert call to the butler, who's assisting with clearing away the plates, "you don't mind if we go on calling Molesley Molesley, do you?"

"Of course not, M'lord." He clearly does, but he doesn't say a word.

"I'm catching the ladies' eye." Cora says after a short while. Everyone rises to give the ladies the chance to withdraw.

Rose and Emma share a look of alarm and the former quickly stands, protesting, "Oh, no!"

"Rose?" Cora questions in surprise.

"No. We're not splitting tonight. We're all going out together!" Rose then darts out of the room.

"What on earth is she talking about?" Edith wonders.

The dinner party are still on their feet, clueless while Emma waits amusedly.

Rose comes rushing back in as the music starts up. "Happy birthday, Cousin Robert!"

Robert laughs. "I say!"

——

The dinner party enter the Hall to find a band has been set up and the carpet has been rolled up. Rose is pulling Robert out into the Hall by his hand. Jack Ross is singing 'I'm just wild about Harry'. Robert is willing enough at first, but he stops dead when he sees it's a black singer. His family and guests come walking out after him, looking on uncertainly. Rose, however, has already found another dance partner.

"Who is this singer? And how did he get here? Isn't it rather odd?" Edith questions causing Emma to frown.

Robert snaps out of his stupor. "No, I think it's fun." He and Cora start to dance, too.

"Don't be disappointing, Edith." Emma warns. She moves on to dance with Billy as Isobel has snatched Tom away – they're absolutely enjoying themselves. More and more couples join the dance floor.

Emma and Billy soon begin discussing her and Tom's plans to move to America.

"Maybe I should follow what you and Tom are doing, making a new start elsewhere." Billy remarks.

"You don't think you will make a life here? That you have one?" Emma questions.

Billy gives her a pointed look. "Don't you?"

Emma shrugs, fair point. "Maybe. But I know Tom doesn't feel like he's one of them and I want him to be happy."

"That's what I always wanted for Sybil. That's gone now." Billy murmurs sadly.

Emma gives him a sympathetic look. "Perhaps not forever. You might find someone one day."

"Would there be another earl's daughter who'd be keen to take me on, do you think?" Tom remarks doubtfully.

"Well, I don't know. It would depend on her." Emma admits.

"No. She wouldn't." Billy corrects. "There aren't many as free as my Sybil."

"Well, I agree with that." Emma concedes. "Maybe Tom can introduce you to one of his cousins?"

"Not sure an Irish working girl will make everyone comfy." Billy remarks and Emma chuckles at that.

The song soon ends, and everyone claps.

——

Emma is dancing with Tom now. The band are playing a slower instrumental number now.

"Isobel said something interesting earlier." Tom remarks as they brush past Mr Napier and Violet dancing.

Emma looks up at her husband questioningly. "Oh?"

"How this, the band, shows how things can happen at Downton that no one imagined even a few years ago."

"She's got a point, I suppose." Emma ponders for a moment. "There's so much development here that was definitely not the case when I first came here."

"Yes. She says we should listen to that before giving up being here entirely." Tom adds.

"Do you think we should?" Emma questions as they move around Mary and Robert.

Tom lets out a quiet hum before replying, "Maybe, for now."

——

A/N: Please leave comments on how you're enjoying this story and what you think.

[twoidiotwriters1]

Copycat: Cryptomnesia —(Marvel Fem!Oc)

A/N: I tried to make it emotional and I feel like I failed am I incapable of being nice to my characters now?? -Danny

Words: 2,019

Phase Five Masterlist

Previous Chapter // Next Chapter

Listen to: ‘We Might As Well Be Strangers’ -by Keane

xxxiv: The Scarlet Witch

Cat had been walking for an hour when the mist dispersed: a stone castle rose into existence.

It looked old, and it fitted the scenery perfectly. That alone was enough confirmation to know Wanda was alive, Kate had never mentioned a castle being there.

"Wanda!" She called.

The massive front door opened and Cat walked in, even if this was frightening, it wasn't as scary as the things she'd left behind. She looked around, the chamber had a high roof and there was a lit chandelier in the middle, but no one was there.

"Oh God, I'm in a horror movie..."

"Good news is you can be the monster or the final girl," said a voice ahead.

Wanda was standing at the end of the hall across the room, tense, but she didn't sound passive-aggressive, so the mutant didn't know how to react. "I think I'd rather be girl number three at the coffee shop."

Before Cat could apologize for everything she'd done, Wanda rushed up to her and enveloped her in a hug. She would've warmed her about the inhibitor, but there was a strange air all over the redhead that she couldn't quite place, and it distracted her.

"Hi," she said clumsily.

"I've been wondering when you'd show up," Wanda cupped her face, she was all serious.

"You— what?"

The collar went off and Cat cried out, falling out of Wanda's grip... and through Wanda. Confused and in pain, she rolled over and stared at the projection.

"Am I dead?" She gasped.

Wanda looked down at her with a guilty smile. "Sorry. I'm astral projecting, that's why I didn't get electrocuted. Why are you wearing that?"

"It's not a fashion statement," Cat sat up with difficulty. "I'm in trouble."

The girl looked at her with interest. "Come with me, I'm in the library."

The real Wanda was floating in the middle of the room, Cat stared at her in awe.

"You've been practicing!"

"Oh, you have no idea," Wanda said, then floated down and opened her eyes, landing back on the ground gently. "I made mistakes in the process— I'm not proud of it."

"I get it," Cat smiled at her awkwardly. "My list is as big as your castle— the latest was killing Spider-man."

"Oh, you guys broke up on bad terms?"

Cat's eyes lit up. "What do you remember about me and Spidey?"

"I remember Pietro telling me you were dating," Wanda frowned. "He was the only thing you'd talk about back when we lived at the compound."

"Yeah... well, I've had a rough couple of years. Wanna catch up?"

"How much time do you have?" Wanda looked down at the collar.

"About a day and a half."

"I'll make us drinks."

"I don't understand why I froze. I might've been faster than Kraven but... I couldn't do it. I thought 'not again' but I don't even know what I meant by that! I need to get my memory restored so Edith works, it's the only thing that'll help."

"Okay," Wanda replied, finishing her drink.

Cat looked up at her. "You'll do it?"

"Well, I've had a lot of time to think about our past, and then some more to grieve what happened after..."

"Really?"

"I see one difference between you and me, C. The moment you prioritized your happiness, you sealed your fate. You've felt alone, but you've never been, you realize that now?"

"My killing list wouldn't be this long otherwise, right?"

"Then there's me," Wanda was absently making her glass twirl in the air. "Prioritizing my powers..."

"You can't compare yourself to me, we've been walking this road parallelly for ages. In any case, no hero's ever lived an unproblematic life, so it's not like we could've skipped over our bad moments."

Wanda looked at her smiling. "How old are you, Copy?"

"Twenty-five... I think. My birthday was at some point last month, but I was busy trying not to die, so I'm not sure when it happened."

"I still can't believe you're older than me now," she chuckled. "But you sure sound like it."

Cat sighed. "Nothing good came from growing up. I longed for a life in the real world... and this is what I got."

"No use to carry all that bitterness to your death..." Wanda finally forgot about her glass and looked at her. "Are you sure you want to carry on with your plan?"

Cat supported her chin in one hand and gazed a the witch. "It's the only way my friends will have fewer worries. I've had enough life, anyway."

"But what if you die and nothing changes?"

She shrugged. "I won't be here to see it."

Wanda got up and she did the same, the redhead guided her to the next room, a wide sitting area with wide windows looking out at the snowy scenery.

"You might see bad things... things that were better off in oblivion."

"I already remember plenty of ugly things. I can handle it."

Wanda pointed at the larger couch. "Lay down." The girl sat in front of her. "Close your eyes and think of when Strange erased your memory—"

"According to Webs, it was right at the end of December— no, November. But it was snowing already..." Cat continued to speak but heard less and less, and instead saw what she was describing.

The statue of liberty, the broken scaffolding... time started going backward. Spider-man said they'd met before... she looked at all the familiar faces until one person stood out: A boy, nose buried in a chemistry book, she could barely see his mop of brown curls and the upper brim of his thick glasses.

There was a time-skip, and Cat was standing in front of a boy much taller and bigger than her, and behind them, there was a boy, so small and scrawny, he had his back turned... his books were scattered all over the pavement... Cat approached him, she knelt in from of him...

"What's your name?" She was reaching out to help him stand.

"Peter..." The image glitched, but Cat held onto his hand tighter until it stopped."Parker."

Cat started to see him with new eyes, he was taller, she found him sweet-looking... Peter was everywhere. He was more than just a friend, she'd built her life around him.

Then another face showed up, but it was still him... Parker. She remember their weekend together, and the beeper she'd given him...

Cat's eyes snapped open, five minutes had passed, but she'd witnessed a whole decade through her mind's eyes, and she felt like she'd just gone back from months of being away. Wanda carefully sat beside her, pushing a few locks of hair away from her face.

"That was easy."

Cat blinked rapidly. "My god... am I crying?" She cleaned her face in disgust. "That's embarrassing."

Wanda laughed. "Same old C.C."

Cat hugged her, but it was brief, she was once again aware of her collar. "I owe you so much... if this works—"

"You'll die," Wanda concluded. "You shouldn't thank me. Your friends will hate me for this."

"You're saving more lives than you think... they'll understand."

"Not really... but I'm glad to see you're still you."

"You think so?" Cat looked at her hands. "I've lost so much heart along the way..."

"It got lost, yes," Wanda held one of her hands. "But I saw your mind, your goodness carried you forward, and you can get your heart back if you make things right."

"Just like May said," Cat smiled, beyond happy when she felt her memories coming to her with ease.

"Now..." Wanda grazed the inhibitor with her fingertips. "I could get rid of this if you want."

"Can you do it without turning off the GPS?"

"I'm not sure."

"I'll stick to my original plan, then. Save Kurt, and then... whatever happens after that, I don't care."

"Which reminds me!" Wanda stepped away. "You need a head, right?"

Cat's eyes brightened. "You can make me one?"

"Better yet!" Wanda did a couple of graceful hand movements and a head materialized before Cat. One moment it was rotten, the other it looked fresh and just like Kate.

"Holy shit!"

"Not pretty, but these hikers are everywhere, they were already dead when I got here, by the way, don't worry."

"This is amazing— thank you so much!" Cat grabbed her satchel and stuffed the head inside. She remembered what she'd brought with her and stopped.

Wanda looked at her with amusement, even if she was two years younger than the mutant she still felt like Cat was the kid sometimes. "I feel like I should go with you..."

"No. They could try to hurt you or catch you. Sergei is a good tracker, I fear."

"He's never tried to catch the Scarlet witch."

"Maybe not... but I still think it's better if you stay."

Wanda sighed. "If you survive please do visit me from time to time, I'm not as popular as you are, and most people prefer to stay away from me."

"If I survive you'll have me here every weekend," Cat then remembered Kate had asked her to move out with her and stopped smiling. "Hey, before I leave... I brought this for you... it's worn out and old, but I thought you might like to have it..."

Cat pulled Pietro's old jacket from the satchel and offered it to Wanda.

"I always felt like he was watching over me whenever I wore it, so that's why I didn't throw it out... you should have it. I'm sorry it's nothing useful, I don't have money to spare, and I didn't have time to grab some pictures before leaving."

Wanda held the jacket tenderly, she was looking at her brother through the piece of clothing, and in the blink of an eye, she restored it. Good as new. She put it on. "Thank you, Copy. I think we're even."

Cat got to her feet. "I should go, Kate and..." she stopped, feeling weird now that she remembered Spider-man's name. "Kate and Webs are waiting for me, they're probably freezing to death."

"More hikers for me," Wanda joked, then she got up and looked at Cat in a motherly manner. "Think this through... I know you feel like this is the only solution... but there are many paths sprouting out with every step you take, and they're all as likely as the next."

"I've taken them all except death," Cat said with a smile. "I'm starting to get real curious about it."

This time she was able to teleport back to her friends. Kate and Peter (wearing the mask) rushed toward her, and she moved out of their way before they could hug her.

"Kate, can you wait inside the car for a moment?" Cat requested politely.

The girl looked at her with curiosity. "Wanda did it?"

"I'm about to find out," she looked at Spider-man. "But you definitely got taller."

Peter tried to stop himself from sounding too happy. "Yeah well, I'm no longer a teenager."

Kate left them alone, she also put the scarf over her eyes for good measure. Peter drew out from his pocket the little plastic square he'd brought along, the one he claimed had "their life" and that she now remembered clear as day. It was the present he'd given her on their first Valentine's day.

She saw their moments together: the first birthday and the last, the one where she'd gotten her face smeared with icing from a cupcake Ned, MJ and Peter had bought for her. There were also pictures from Pietro's graduation party, and from their visits to Stark Expo, the first time Peter drove them to school...

"My God... you were right— we were so happy," she said tearfully. "I can't believe I forgot... my happiest time..."

"I'm so sorry, C..." he was looking at her.

"You had to do it, to save everyone," she beamed at him. "Can I look at you now?"

His hand moved up to the edge of his mask: First, she saw his mouth, then the nose, then they locked eyes. He was exactly as she remembered him, and yet something entirely different.

A twenty-year-old Peter Parker smiled at her, eyes teary, shaking lightly thanks to the cold, but so happy she felt her own smile growing at the sight.

"You listened to me," she approached and cupped his face. "Told you you'd grow into your looks, Pete."

The young man laughed, he was crying. "It's so good to see you, C.C."

Their foreheads touched, and without caring about the collar, Cat wrapped her arms around him and hugged him as tightly as she could.

Next Chapter—>

Taglist.

@mikaelsonwhxrebae​​ @ieatpanicattacksforlunch​​ @jesuswasnotawhiteman​​ @siriuslysirius1107​​ @greengarsstuff​​ @itsyagirl01 @23victoria​​ @espressopatronum454​​​ @jkthinkstoomuch

[earhartsease]

so I've just been diagnosed with either DID or OSDD (I won't know which until yer man has finished the "scoring"), and I just want to say again how incredibly important it is to be asked the right questions

in the last six years I've been diagnosed with this and also adhd and being autistic - and in each case I've got to say the process of assessment was more valuable to me than the actual diagnosis (though those are also vital for support in the future)

it's just taught me so much about myself, being finally asked a set of questions that make me reassess my experience compared to that of people who don't have those experiences, and to realise they're not the Normal™ I assumed they were until now - the difficulties and challenges I've lived with and assumed were somehow my own "fault" (reinforced of course by the opinions and comments of people who don't live with these experiences)

I took a risk and told a good friend a few days ago that I'm diagnosed with DID/OSDD and she came back at me with some "I guess everyone's a bit multiple" platitude, and I had to reply along the lines of: cool story sib, like everyone's legs are a little bit broken? the reason why they're called "disorders" is that they impact on your life enough to cause suffering (whether that's from within or it's inflicted by a society that isn't interested in accommodating your differences)

anyway back to my point *rolls eyes at self* which is that being asked the right "how often do you x" and starting to see lifelong patterns in me has transformed for the better how I see myself, and I'm grateful, and I encourage people who might be wondering about themselves to find online tests and see what happens when you're asked the good questions too

[lonepiper5758]

Royai Week 2021 - Day 5

Illicit Affairs

[Song prompt] illicit affairs, taylor swift

An essay exploring the ways in which Royai is not described by this song.

AN - I completely respect both the inclusion of 'Illicit Affairs' as the song prompt for Royai Week 2021, and the method in which it was selected by the Mods. When I first listened to it, and then listened to it again, I wanted to write something inspired by it. However it failed to give me any inspiration to write creatively about Royai. Instead what it inspired was the urge to write a critique of why this song is not reflective of Royai.

Please don't think that I am having a go at anyone who likes this song or feels that it gives off a good Royai vibe. I'm just responding to the prompt in the way that it prompted me to do so.

That 'Illicit Affairs' by Taylor Swift is a good song is not being disputed, as reviewed by Angie Martoccio in a Rolling Stone article -

"And on “Illicit Affairs,” she (Taylor Swift) expertly packs a tale of infidelity into just a few short verses, complete with abandoned perfume, secret language, and the lies that seamlessly stitch it all together."

Any song that includes the lyric 'A dwindling, mercurial high' has got to be given credit. It's musically beautiful and lyrically powerful. But is it Royai?

One of the intriguing things about Royai is that it's such a subtly expressed relationship within canon. We know for sure that Mustang and Hawkeye have known each other for a long time, and have a profound understanding of each other communicating at times with a mere glance. They share a deep trust of, and commitment to each other to the extent of risking great physical harm and personal hardship for each other. And they know each other well enough, despite their relative rankings within the military, to blow up at each other occasionally. Their deep care and love for each other is evident.

Extrapolating beyond what is explicitly expressed in canon is what fandom exists for, and many within the fan community see Mustang and Hawkeye’s relationship as also being a sexual one. Whether you see their relationship as expressing itself sexually or not does not change the premise that this song isn’t truly Royai.

'Illicit Affairs' contains some images which are no doubt reflective of Royai, a shared secret code language, and a relationship that has many details which are kept hidden. This gives the song a nice Royai vibe. However that vibe is superficial, and whether you hold to the more canon defensible position that Royai is a profoundly loving and loyal relationship with no sex, or that it is full of lustful moaning and sweaty bonking, either way the overarching sentiment of this song is far from expressing the nature of our beautiful ship.

There are three significant points at which this song not only fails to express Royai, it actually expresses the antithesis of Royai.

Firstly, Royai is not an illicit affair.

‘Illicit’ in this sense can have two meanings, illegal and relating to infidelity.

As for Royai being illegal, we all know, Arakawa cites the pesky ‘fraternization laws’ of the Amestrian Military as the reason why Mustang and Hawkeye can't be together in a physical relationship. If you take the view that Royai is a non-physical relationship, then there is no illegality and the song misses the mark.

The only place the song lands is if you hold to the idea of a sexual relationship, in which case Royai would transgress the ethics and rules of the military. It could also be argued that Mustang and Hawkeye have broken faith with their own morals as they would have sworn to be bound by those rules, and have broken that oath.

This is a pretty technical application of the term 'illicit affair’ and not really in keeping with the feel of the song, which is far more about interpersonal relationships than the keeping of rules and institutional ethics.

To quote the Rolling Stone article again 'Illicit Affair' is a 'tale of infidelity', and that's the meaning the word 'affair' evokes; infidelity, betrayal, adultery. An ‘illicit affair’ is most readily going to be understood as a relationship in which the participants are being unfaithful to an existing partner, in order to secretly be with a new partner.

This is the first point at which this song expresses a relationship that is the antithesis of Royai. There is absolutely no infidelity in the relationship between Mustang and Hawkeye. Neither of them has a significant other who’s trust they are betraying in order to be together. Rather, Royai is all about fidelity. The loyalty and trust these two show towards each other is the absolute bedrock of their relationship. If you take the view that their relationship is non-physical then it is their fidelity to each other that both defines and expresses their relationship. So to say that Royai is an ‘illicit affair’ is to completely mischaracterize their relationship.

Secondly, the relationship in this song is dying, as illustrated in the lines -

It's born from just one single glance

But it dies, and it dies, and it dies

A million little times

This is the constant theme of the lyrics from the outset, that what started as a wonderful thing is corrupting and dying.

Again this is the complete opposite of Royai. Exactly when the ship started is a subject for debate. Whether you hold that Royai started pre-canon, during Ishval or sometime soon after, there is no time at which we see it diminishing in its strength, let alone dying. Far from Royai diminishing over the course of canon, their relationship just gets stronger and closer. To illustrate two images from the Manga.

Chp 58

Above is the earliest point in the narrative that we see Hawkeye and Mustang together. Following is one of the last times. These two images indicate a relationship that is coming together and becoming stronger and more dynamic. Not one that is dying a million little times.

Chp 108

Thirdly, the last lines of the song pose some difficulty in accepting this as a Royai song.

And you know damn well For you I would ruin myself A million little times

If you interpret ‘ruin myself’ as to risk physical injury or endure a harmful situation for the other, then this is a plausible Royai sentiment. However times such as Hawkeye’s preparedness to shoot Mustang if he destroyed Envy, or Mustang’s acceptance of Hawkeye’s death in refusing to perform human transmutation, show both understand that holding to their shared sense of the right thing to do is paramount. If they betray those truths they hold most deeply, or ‘ruin’ themselves, then they will have ultimately betrayed each other and their relationship. So in that sense they would not ‘ruin’ themselves for the other because to do so would be the end of themselves and their relationship.

So while this is a really cool song, Royai’s qualities of steadfast loyalty, longevity and the character of the relationship being intrinsically tied to the characters of Mustang and Hawkeye mean that Royai is far from being an ‘Illicit Affair’

____________________________________

Resources

1. “The Godforsaken Mess of Taylor Swift’s ‘Illicit Affairs’”

By Angie Martoccio

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/taylor-swift-illicit-affairs-1033805/

2. Song Lyrics via LyricFind

Make sure nobody sees you leave Hood over your head Keep your eyes down Tell your friends you're out for a run You'll be flushed when you return Take the road less traveled by Tell yourself you can always stop What started in beautiful rooms Ends with meetings in parking lots

And that's the thing about illicit affairs And clandestine meetings And longing stares It's born from just one single glance But it dies, and it dies, and it dies A million little times

Leave the perfume on the shelf That you picked out just for him So you leave no trace behind Like you don't even exist Take the words for what they are A dwindling, mercurial high A drug that only worked The first few hundred times

And that's the thing about illicit affairs And clandestine meetings And stolen stares They show their truth one single time But they lie, and they lie, and they lie A billion little times

And you wanna scream Don't call me kid Don't call me baby Look at this godforsaken mess that you made me You showed me colors you know I can't see with anyone else

Don't call me kid Don't call me baby Look at this idiotic fool that you made me You taught me a secret language I can't speak with anyone else And you know damn well For you I would ruin myself A million little times

Songwriters: Jack Michael Antonoff / Taylor A. Swift

illicit affairs lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

3. Fullmetal Alchemist Manga - Images from Chp 58 and Chp 108

[def-initely-soul]

Can I get the "we team up for the couples contest every year as friends but this year you’re with someone else and i’m definitely Not Jealous and definitely Not Realising Feelings" prompt with taeyong? I'm asking it to be cute cause I know if I ask for sexual tension you're gonna write a novel 😂😂😂😂 so could you make it fluffy and light? :3

AHAHAHAHHAAHAHAH I-

*ignoring your jab at my inability to write anything small xD* 

ofc i’ll make it fluffy and light!

pairing: taeyong from nct x reader (f.)

prompts: we team up for the couples contest every year as friends but this year you’re with someone else and i’m definitely Not Jealous and definitely Not Realising Feelings

genre: fluff; angst; f2l; PG-13

warnings: mature language

words: 1.8k

.

.

“So how you holdin’ up?” Johnny asks you and you resist to throw your drink at him.

You’re getting honestly tired of having people ask you that. It’s the sixth time someone did! For heaven’s sake, you’re fine!

You chuckle. “I’m fine, Johnny, why wouldn’t I be?” you respond, casually taking a sip of your apple cider as you walk down the food stalls, the scents of cinnamon and pumpkin filling your nostrils.

Your town has a Halloween fair every year to celebrate the holiday, days before it’s even Halloween. It’s a great opportunity to go out during this month, as families find some time for some quality time bonding and couples walk around to bask in the crisp autumn wind. There are food stalls everywhere, having some of the most delicious treats for the holiday, a haunted house at the end of the food stalls for anyone daring and a corn maze as well. As for those more willing to take a step back and use this opportunity to relax, there is a carousel, faded and dark to fit the mood, a fortune teller’s stall, as well as a ghost train ride.

Honestly, it’s not much compared to other funfairs but you enjoy whatever you can get. Every year you and your friends come here to walk through the corn maze, to board on the ghost train ride, to eat until you’re full. And also to join the couple’s costume contest with your best friend Taeyong. You’re not a couple, not even close but you both had such magnificent ideas for couple's costumes that you decided to give it a try. And it became something like a shtick. You and Taeyong being known among your friends as the ones that joined the couple’s contest together and enduring merciless teasing at that. Even if you said numerous times there’s nothing going on between you.

But this year Taeyong decided to join with someone else. A girl from his work named Dara.

You scoff. You didn’t even know her before he announced he was gonna join with her this year. And it was completely out of the blue too! He never hinted he was interested in someone, let alone tell you might want to stop dressing up with you.

Johnny cocks an unimpressed eyebrow. “Really? Then why are you clenching at your cup like a witch draining her victim?”

Your eyes widen as they immediately fly at your hand to confirm this; only to realize Johnny is lying.

He’s smirking at you as if catching you on the act. “Made you look…” he teases and you roll your eyes, refusing to answer him.

“I don’t get it though, why won’t you admit that you’re-”

“What?” you interrupt him with a stiff voice, “Jealous? It’s because I’m not!” is your zealous reply though Johnny’s features are drawn in, in a mask of suspiciousness. 

“I would’ve said mad…” he admits and once again you freeze, realizing you’ve dug your own grave.

“But now that you’ve mentioned it… Are you jealous?” he looks at you curiously, not an ounce of teasing colouring his voice and you purse your lips together in a stubborn attempt to not give him an answer.

You desperately want to say you’re not. You can’t be. Taeyong is your best friend and who he decides to involve himself with is none of your business. You want to say those spiteful feelings inside of you are simply because he ditched you. You really do.

But somehow the words won’t come out your mouth. Somehow you can’t find it in your self to speak them into existence, instead resting heavily on your tongue and burning you.

“I-... No! Of course not…” you manage to say instead, swallowing the lump in your throat with great difficulty as you result in looking anywhere else but Johnny.

But your actions, unfortunately, lead your eyes to a much more unwanted sight. Towards the end of the stalls, near the haunted house, your eyes rest on a particular couple dressed as dead Bonnie and Clyde that talk enthusiastically, the girl’s hand resting on the guy’s shoulder.

Your chest constricts painfully, sucking in a breath as you bite roughly at your bottom lip to stop the sound that was about to leave your mouth. Your hands instinctively move upwards to hug yourself, partly telling yourself it’s because of the cold but partly knowing the actual truth.

You actually have feelings for your best friend. And it sucks to see him with someone else, doing a thing you used to do together, only they do it as a fucking actual couple.

Fuck, it seems to hurt more now that you’ve admitted it to yourself.

Your eyes sting as you struggle to not let your face fall and reveal your current state but your eyes don’t move from Dara and Taeyong, not even when Dara leans in to whisper something close to his ear with a deadly smirk. Not even when a few seconds later, Taeyong turns around to look straight at you with wide eyes. 

Shit.

You turn around immediately, knowing you won’t be able to keep the tears at bay and you spew a ridiculous excuse to Johnny before storming off. Wanting to go as far away as possible. To just disappear.

.

.

A few minutes later and you’ve hidden inside the corn maze, too late for anyone to attempt to enter it, much less the one person you’d actually want to.

Taeyong is ridiculously afraid of corn mazes, not much like you. You adore them, finding your way out of one being both thrilling and challenging for you and you’ve never had been lost in one. That’s why the only time Taeyong ever went inside one was with you.

You sniffle at the memory, wiping your tears away and try as hard as you can to not shed another. You refuse to cry anymore over something that can’t change even if it hurts like hell.

And it does. It fucking does.

But purely will isn’t enough to help you stop the tears.

You hear a shuffling coming from somewhere in the distance, signalling someone entered the maze but you pay them no attention. You only hope that in the case they see you, they will be discreet about it and leave you to your misery.

You can’t handle being around people for the time being.

“Y/N? Are you here?” the shuffling is now accompanied by a voice, a voice you know too well and you panic realizing it’s much closer now.

You hurry to get up, brushing the dirt off your bride of Frankenstein costume before walking with a fast pace deeper into the maze. 

Why the fuck is Taeyong here?! And more importantly why in the world did he think going into a maze would be a good idea? He’ll get lost!

Taeyong’s eyes catch you slipping away and at once he runs after you. “Y/N, wait! I need to talk to you!” he calls after you, following you and you curse at his stubbornness. 

You refuse to answer him as you run deeper into the maze, hoping he’ll get the hint and leave you alone. You don’t want to face him right now, not when he probably wants to call you out on your little staring earlier or tell you how he got together with Dara.

You try to pat your face dry as you rush away, hoping you didn’t mess your makeup much. After all, you’ll need to get out at some point, let’s at least save as much dignity as possible.

“Y/N, can you just wait!” Taeyong yells exasperatedly, before murmuring to himself “great, I had to get lost as well…”. You can almost hear the pout in his voice and a giggle escapes you. 

At once Taeyong snaps his head towards the sound before rushing towards you again. You curse yourself before moving again, refusing to get out of the maze cause at least this way it won’t be easy for him to find you. 

“Y/N, please wait, I have to tell you something important!” you hear him say and your heart almost stops. You were right, he wants to tell you he finally got together with Dara. Oh, god, you’re gonna cry again, shit.

You pick up the pace, running once again away from him and you hear him curse in exasperation before-.

“I LIKE YOU!” the declaration fills the empty air and it takes you a second to realise Taeyong was the one speaking. But when you do, your feet stop. They get stuck to the earth beneath you as if you’ve stepped on glue and you can’t move to save your life. Your heart beats erratically, almost out of your chest as you struggle to comprehend what he just said.

“I-... I like you and I only went out with Dara cause I’d thought it’d make you jealous enough to admit you like me too and spur you into action. But it seemed to have the opposite effect…” he reveals with a wary voice, as he sighs, tired.

You stay alert, for everything he says as you struggle to understand. So he’s not with Dara? This was all a ruse?

And most importantly, he likes you?

“I know, it was pretty stupid of me and I’ll understand if you want to stay mad at me and refuse to talk, but please can we just get out? I’ll like to look at you while I’m talking to you and, besides, you know I’ll be probably stuck here if left alone…” he jokes lightly, uncertainty in his voice.

You take a breath and your chest fills and blooms with lightness. The heartbreak from before disappears and gives its space to a wonderful feeling of lightness and hope.

You turn around to find your way to him.

After a few seconds, Taeyong sees you coming up behind a corner and he exhales in relief. Before he sees your intense stare and your firm, decisive stride as you practically march towards him and now he fears for his life.

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to tell you like that, please don’t-” he pleads quickly but is soon halted by your hands grabbing at his collar and your lips on top of his.

You take him by surprise as he makes a startling noise, but then as he finally realizes the predicament he’s in, he’s quick to drive his hands on your waist as he reciprocates.

It’s a soft kiss, tender as if enveloping you in his warmth and you bask in the comfort and elation that appear with his lips. You sigh in content as you press closer and his palm cradles your cheek lovingly, his thumb running over the apple of your cheek.

You stop kissing to catch your breath, staring at each other breathlessly with the widest smiles you’ve ever seen on each other.

Because this feels right. It feels like home.

[ambssssssssss]

The Swan-Mills Family Discovers Kingdom Hearts

Part 1 of ?

I don't go here but anyway

One day, after the last curse is broken by True Love's Kiss shared between Emma and Regina, the two of them are at the Mills household with a tumbler of apple cider split between them debating on letting Snow plan them a huge extravagant wedding or just sneaking off to the courthouse one day, when Henry comes home. He's absolutely buzzing with excitement as he walks straight into the den and turns on his PS4 (he's probably more than a little spoiled by now, which annoys Regina to no end but he's still her little prince so she actually doesn't mind all that much) without so much as a hello to his mothers.

Emma and Regina follow him and blink curiously as the opening credits for a game they don't recognize begins to play. The style is a little outdated but it looks like the animation had been updated recently based on Emma's very limited video game knowledge. Curious, Regina picks up the case the game came in and turns it over in her hands.

"Kingdom Hearts?" She reads the title aloud, her inflection morphing as the words change into a question. Henry hums.

"I know everyone is pretty tired of the fairytale thing but I couldn't resist getting this. It looked like so much fun."

"I don't really think we can get tired of fairytales considering the fact that we're living one," Emma says, but her curiosity is peaked and she seats herself on the arm of the couch next to Regina. "But this game is about fairytales?"

"Kinda. It's hard to explain Ma," Henry eyes don't leave the screen as he sets the brightness, difficulty level, and controller vibration intensity. "But there's a ton of save slots if you want to play too."

"We'll just watch for now kid," Emma tells him , absently rubbing Regina's back with one hand. Henry nods and presses the button to start the game.

The family of three all find themselves almost immediately engrossed in the story of the game. The beginning is a little slow, though the choices and questions are interesting. Henry had accepted the staff and given up the sword, leaving the shield alone. The Heartless, the enemies Henry had to defeat, were actually pretty cute. At least, they were until an enormous, shadowy figure of the main character, Sora, appeared. Henry made a few comments on how the fighting style would improve as Sora gained more skills but Regina was more interested in the surface the character stood on. Each one depicted a different princess and Regina wondered what they might symbolize.

Another round of questions and Henry was told that his journey began at dawn and then the game finally, truly began. As Henry directs Sora to explore the place called Destiny Islands, Emma repositions herself so she's sitting on the couch cushion instead of on the arm. Regina settles against Emma's side with her legs tucked underneath her and her head against Emma's shoulder as they continue to watch. Henry, seated on the other end of the couch closer to the television, is leaving forward with the controller in his hands. His brow is furrowed in concentration as he races against Riku, for the 7th time, and loses again. Emma has to hold in a chuckle as Henry groans and begins the race again. Regina is relaxed in her arms and if not for the way she had maneuvered their hands together and was absently playing with Emma's fingers, Emma would have thought she had dozed off. Henry let out a little cheer as he finally beat Riku in the race and the family watched the next cutscene with interest. There seemed to be quite the mystery to solve, people in strange robes, and even the makings of a love triangle between Sora, Riku, and Kairi.

By the time Emma remembered that they were supposed to meet up with her parents for dinner like they did every Tuesday, Henry had already beaten the huge shadow figure for a second time, gotten a weapon called the Keyblade, and was wondering around a world called Twilight Town after a long cutscene that revealed more familiar Disney characters in the game. Thankfully, these were characters that Emma was certain were just fictional. She had no idea what she would do if she ever met a real Donald Duck or Goofy.

"Time's up, kid. We've gotta meet you're grandparents for dinner." Emma called when Henry found a save point and he groaned good naturedly but complied. After donning shoes and jackets, the Swan-Mills family made their way to Granny's diner chatting about the game.

"I think we should restrict this to a non-school night game," Regina commented as they stepped through the door to Granny's. Charming and Snow had already claimed a table for the whole family so they made their way over. "Clearly it is easy to lose track of time playing this."

That was an understatement. Regina and Emma hadn't noticed the hours passing, three of them to be exact, and they were only watching Henry play.

"What's this?" Snow asked curiously after pulling each of then into a hug one by one. Charming did the same for Emma and Regina but traded a fist bump with Henry instead as Emma greeted her baby brother.

"A new game Henry is playing," Regina answered as they all took their seats again.

Henry launched into a startlingly in depth run down of how the game came into existence, its reputation of having a hopelessly convoluted storyline, several branch off games that were not necessary to play but would fill in a lot of gaps outside the two main games, and the much anticipated release of the third game in the main franchise, Kingdom Hearts III.

"Sounds interesting," Charming said after Henry finished his long winded explanation and began to devour his food. Regina was glad that the explanation was over if only so Henry could eat his food while it was still somewhat warm. "And it's about fairytale characters?"

"Sort of. The game was developed by Square Enix but they collaborated with Disney for this. Most of the characters are either from Disney or another video game series called Final Fantasy."

Snow asked about the plot of the game but Henry shrugged his shoulders. In it's most basic form, the game was simply about light versus dark, good versus evil. Henry didn't know how much this game would delve into the shades of grey between good and evil but he was eager to find out.

"You'll have to let us know how the game goes," Snow said after they finished their meal and were walking out. Henrt nodded enthusiastically as he gave his grandmother a parting hug.

"I thinks its gonna be awesome," Henry said as he pulled away. Then he looked over his shoulder at his moms and smiled his most charming smile. "Even if nothing can be as great as your story."

Emma chuckled. "Nice try kid, but you're not getting extra game time tonight."

"As soon as we get home its homework, shower, then bed. You have school tomorrow," Regina completed, taking Emma's hand in her own as they walked out.

Charming laughed as Henry shrugged his shoulders, "Worth a shot."

The Swan-Mills family walked back to Mifflin street and Henry, as instructed, grabbed his bookbag and went up to his room to complete his homework for the night as his moms retreated to the study to finish the cider they had started earlier.

"He's right you know," Emma commented sometime later from her spot on the couch in the study. Regina, sitting at her desk and reviewing a few documents she would need for a meeting the next day, looked up curiously.

"What are you talking about darling?"

"Henry," Emma rose from the couch and made her way to Regina's side as she spoke. "He was right about us. No story will ever be better than ours."

"He was sucking up so we would let him play more video games," Regina rolled her eyes but still put the papers she was reviewing down in favor of pushing away from the desk and pulling Emma down into her lap.

"Doesn't mean he was wrong," Emma placed her arms around Regina's shoulders, one hand tangling in long, dark hair as the other caressed Regina's cheek.

"I suppose so," Regina tilted her head back slightly to look Emma in the eyes. "As long as our story has a happy ending, I think it will be the best one ever told."

"Our story has the happiest ending of all because it's not an ending. It's a beginning. The beginning of us."

Emma leaned down and kissed Regina then, slowly and surely and with the confidence that she'd get to do so every day for the rest of her life. As Regina poofed them up to their bedroom in a cloud of light purple magic, videogames could not have been further from Emma's mind.

[windless-hurricane]

Pennywise and the Dancing Girl

Chapter 1: The Shadow Girl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SUMMARY: At the moment, I want this to be solely mysterious. I will say though that the "Shadow Girl" isn't who she seems and this will eventually become a Henry x OC (or reader) fanfic.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Before I begin, this story takes place in the 2017 IT universe. I also shifted some pieces of information around. So before I'm scolded for inaccuracies, I'll say them now. First off, I combined the Derry Middle School and High School. I wasn't sure if that was the case in the movie, but it wasn't stated. Nevertheless, I will still refer to it as Derry High. The main character is 14 and a freshman (going on sophomore). The entire Losers Club will be in 8th grade (going on to be freshmen) and all 13. The Bowers Gang are all sophomores (going on juniors) and 15, excluding Henry who is 16.

WARNINGS (for the entire series): Explicit language, violence, graphic scenes involving blood and/or death, some sexuality possibly, and some underage drinking and drug use.

WORD COUNT: 2.7k

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was the last day of school. I couldn't lie and say I wasn't somewhere near excited. I knew it wasn't the last day of school altogether, but it would definitely be a step up from my current status as a freshman. All 8th graders dream of becoming freshmen; but once they realize the difficulties of dealing with upperclassmen, they want to join them. That had been the same mindset for me. Not only was I freshman, I was a transferee. That normally wouldn't be such a big deal, but it was at this school.

See, Derry High wasn't a typical high school. It included middle school as well. So, almost all the children here were attending this school for half their lives. They started in 6th grade and ended as seniors. Everyone knew everybody. Due to that, I thought I'd become a perfect candidate for teasing. I was practically fresh meat. However, that didn't happen. Why? Because I was barely noticeable. I kept to myself, hardly spoke a word to anyone, and moved swiftly through the halls like a shadow, avoiding certain people. It soon had become an objective to avoid four sophomores in particular: Henry Bowers, Patrick Hockstetter, Victor Criss, and Reginald "Belch" Huggins.

They were douchebags who got a kick out of tormenting anyone they saw below them. As a result of their animosity, even the juniors and seniors were afraid of them. You never messed with the "Bowers Gang" as they called themselves. I, a rarity, was not afraid of them and never would be. I just wanted to stay the shadow that I liked being and it became a promise to myself.

I kept to that promise for the entire year and now all I had to do was get through this day like any other. Then, it would be summer vacation, which was full of reading and...reading. I didn't have any friends, but I was satisfied with that. It was better to not get too attached to people you would end up leaving. In a way, that was my curse: the inability to care for anyone because you are not worth caring for. But it would be ok.

I walked through the front doors of the school, clutching the straps to my bag. Other students were already situated inside, engaging in morning chatter and shenanigans. I...went straight to my locker. I knew I had to empty it out and it would be better to do it now than later. So, I put in the combination and got to work. I wasn't necessarily the neatest, but it didn't look like the aftermath of a hurricane. Just messy. There were notebooks, textbooks, and a bunch of scattered and crumbled pieces of paper. It didn't take long to stuff these into my bag and throw what was left away. I closed my locker with a slam, but it didn't echo like it normally would because of background conversation.

I glanced around and my eyes ending up following the scene of two boys running away in the direction opposite to mine. Moments after, Henry Bowers and his gang of misfits were in the shot. He had an apparent smirk on his face. Probably from gloating because of the amount of power he had over the kids here. The thought of it was enough to make me roll my eyes; but I continued to watch, seeing if he would do anything else. He didn't. Just as I was about to turn away, his eyes met mine. He knew I had been staring and didn't have the intention of letting me go.

His eyes were crystal blue and they contradicted mine: my chocolatey brown. However, they still managed to be darker than mine and mine brighter than his. He didn't hold any expression in his face and neither did I. It was just blank staring. This wasn't the first time we did this. Occasionally throughout the year, we'd find each other's eyes, but never did anything about it. He didn't know me and he assumed I didn't know him. We had never been in the same vicinity as each other because if he was ever too close, I would've found a way out. All we had was this.

I hated to admit it, but he was quite pretty to look at. It didn't throw my hormones out of whack or anything. I stared at him because of his eyes. His eyes were dark, beautiful, and so familiar to me. I couldn't put my finger on it. It seemed I had looked into those eyes even before I knew him. There was something that intrigued me about them. I knew there was something hidden there. Even if I already had an idea, I longed to know myself.

I gulped out of my trance and released the handle to my locker. I stared just a bit longer until I turned away, losing sight of him and those eyes. Who would've known that days later Henry would tell me himself that he saw me as this mysterious girl that he wanted to crack. A girl that actually drew him in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was able to make it through three classes of Algebra, English and History. Since it had been the last day of school, we hardly did anything. There was clearly no homework to assign or assignments to finish. It was either a free for all with limited volume or we watched a movie on the projector. I was only interested in the movie. Currently I had one more class until lunch and no doubt, it was going to be the same as the others. It was actually quite a relief. Relaxing felt...nice. It nearly brought a smile to my face before I was interrupted.

My head snapped up on impulse as I heard a loud smack echo through the hallway. It didn't startle me, but it certainly caught my attention because before I knew it, I was rounding the corner quickly with a newfound purpose. It was a boy and he was lying on the ground. Getting a clearer shot, I saw that it was Eddie Kaspbrak, the local hypochondriac. I never knew him on a personal level, but I always saw him around. As you can tell, I knew a lot more about him than he did me. That's how it usually was with people. I knew along with him being a hypochondriac, he was a germaphobe who constantly expressed his paranoia to his friends. Other than that, he was quite funny and would never shut up about the evils of sickness and blessings of cleanliness. I sometimes found it rather cute.

He was also a favorite plaything of the Bowers Gang, along with the rest of his friends, Bill Denbrough, Stanley Uris, and Richie Tozier. I saw them around quite often too, either goofing off or arguing. I wonder where they were to have left Eddie alone. To have left him alone with Bowers and the dick squad. Maybe he was just unlucky. Henry had been manhandling Eddie's fanny pack and dumping its contents onto the floor beside him. I could only assume Eddie tried getting it back, but was only met with a shove to the ground. All I did was stare. It seems that's all I was good for.

Even though they deserved a good beating, I never interfered. It was part of the promise and it hadn't been difficult to maintain until now. I nearly wanted to break it. I don't know why, but the feeling was there. It wasn't enough to push me though as the fanny pack was already empty. I watched as Henry threw the pack at Eddie's face and mouthed something that I couldn't make out. Most likely it was some humiliating insult. I looked to Eddie and his expression killed me. Was it - sadness? Anger? Disappointment? It could be helped.

I walked over quietly and squatted down near him as he sat up. He gave me a shocked and questioning look before I began to gather his belongings into the fanny pack. He wasn't moving or saying anything, just watching like I had been moments ago. There was an inhaler, a few containers of pills, bandage. I guess this also served as a small first aid kit. Nice. I stood up and glanced around, making sure I collected everything. I had, expect for Eddie. I zipped up the pack before reaching my hand out to him. His expression managed to change. Why was he looking at me like that? It's like I was some miracle. Then, he looked to my hand and I smiled softly,

"Don't worry. I just came from the bathroom. It's clean."

His gaze switched between my face and hand until he finally took it. His was oddly soft. I helped him up gently and let it go as soon as he was up.

"Um, here," I muttered out, handing him his pack. He was still staring at me and finally, he snapped out of it. He took it quickly.

"T-thanks...um..." he cocked an eyebrow.

"Emma," I finished. "Emma Gray."

"Thanks, Emma." Red found its way onto his face. Was he really blushing?

"It's no problem. No one should face a jagoff alone." He smiled and it made me smirk. I reached into the side pocket of my bag and pulled out my mini bottle of hand sanitizer, showing it off to him. "I noticed you were almost out and you're definitely going to need a lot more to get rid of the stench of Bowers and his goons." I breathed out a laugh. "Here." I handed it to him and he took it almost joyfully.

I smiled completely and for once, it felt real. However, it was short lived. The bell rang.

"Shoot," I groaned. "We should get to class, like, now. It was nice talking to you. See you around, Eddie." I know I didn't give him time to respond, but there wasn't time for a response. I turned around and headed the opposite direction to class.

(EDDIE'S P.O.V.)

"Wait," I called out, but she was already gone.

"Damnit." How did she already know my name? I looked at the bottle she gave me and her name was written across the label in black marker. Her handwriting was beautiful. I let my thumb run over her name as I smiled to myself.

"Emma - Emma Gray."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(BACK TO EMMA'S P.O.V.)

I made it through Biology and as expected, we watched a movie - a real boring one about the inner mechanisms of a cell. It was over and time for lunch. I was looking forward to it because of what I packed today. If I did it right, it was going to be delicious. I began to fantasize about the greatness of my meal until I was forcefully pulled out of it. Could the world just not leave me to my mind today? Geez.

It was a noise and a deafening one at that. It came from down the hall and it was loud enough to make me wince, slight pain being brought to my ears. Who was it this time and why do they keep interrupting me? Thinking about it more, should I even ask? Knowing this school and its students, it was without a doubt Bowers. Did I want to find out? No. Would I inevitably end up finding out? Yes. This was the only way to the damned cafeteria.

I inched slowly down the hall, not in any rush to get an answer. I wasn't a nosy person. I actually considered myself quite considerate of other people's business. Then, I heard whimpering. I rolled my eyes harshly as I quickened my pace. What's wrong with you, Emma? Why are you being so interactive today? Why the hell do you even care? No one else in this god forsaken school does, why should you? Don't you remember the promise? You're too good for this, but maybe there was a reason not to be too good. Maybe it was Eddie and his call for help.

I rounded the corner and it wasn't Eddie, loosing a good amount of motivation. It was Ben Hanscom, the other new kid. Chubby, adorable, vulnerable, and being pushed up against the lockers by Bowers while his goons watched in amusement. I scoffed. This was the second time today. Was this really his way of celebrating the last day of school?

"Hey!" Oh, Emma. What the hell are you doing? You know you could care less.

All five boys turned their attention towards me with different expressions on each of their faces. Ben's eyes were pleading and hopeful while he was completely red in the face. Patrick was smirking creepily and it was enough to make me shudder. Victor and Belch actually held a similar look that reeked of 'Who the hell is this girl?' For the main star, he just looked pissed.

"The fuck do you want," he questioned deeply, his eyes peering into me.

"For you not to be a conniving dickhead," I stated proudly, stopping in front of them with my arms crossed. I don't know where this surge of confidence was coming from, but I kinda liked it.

"The fuck did you just say to me," he let go of Ben and started lurking towards me. This was the perfect chance for him to get away. The boys were entirely focused on me. I looked passed Henry's shoulder and my eyes met Ben's. He was terrified and astonished. I nodded my head up slightly, gesturing for him to go. He didn't get it the first time; but after repeating it, he got it and ran away. I looked back to Henry,

"You heard me." This is the closest I've ever been to him. We were nearly a foot apart. He was significantly taller than I was, not a giant, but taller. Had surprisingly muscular arms and I never noticed the upturn of his nose before. He broke the distance with one more step. I wanted to step away because of the awkwardness, but I also didn't want to give him the satisfaction. I simply kept my arms crossed and craned my neck up to look at him. He did the opposite with his neck, but also crossed his arms. Maybe this was a way of establishing dominance.

"I don't think I heard you quite right. Mind repeating what you said," he pushed. He was trying to scare me, but I don't scare easy.

"I said, I don't want you to be a conniving dickhead."

"I don't care about what you want," he retorted.

"You're the one who asked, honey." He let out a breathy laugh.

"No one gets away with talking to me like that, sweetheart."

"I think I just did."

"I like her," a voice called out. I soon realized it belonged to Patrick. Shame because I didn't like him. "What're we going to do with her, Henry?" Henry opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off.

"I'll tell you what's going to happen. I'm going to walk away and enjoy myself a lovely meal in the cafeteria, while you four stand around and play with each other's dicks. And then you're never going to bother me ever again. Got it? Ok." I moved to walk past him, but he grabbed my bicep instead.

"It's not that easy," he told me, squeezing roughly. I yanked my arm away harshly, catching him off guard.

"It is that easy because I'm not afraid of you, Henry," I let out through gritted teeth. With that, I pushed past him, hitting my shoulder with his purposely.

(HENRY'S P.O.V.)

Patrick scoffed, "You're just going to let her get away with that? She deserves to be taught a lesson to." I agreed. I completely agreed, but she wouldn't be easy.

"I know," is all I managed to say before I turned to face them. "Do any of you know her?" They all shook their head uselessly, causing me to roll my eyes.

Vic was the only one to speak,

"I know she's a freshman, just not the name." I nodded,

"Lets get outta here." I walked ahead, knowing they would automatically follow. It was that girl. She knew my name, but I didn't know hers. It bothers me, but a lot more than it should. How could I not know the name of a girl like that?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THAT IS THE END OF CHAPTER 1. Hopefully you enjoyed it! This is the first chapter of a definite series :)

[nityarawal]

12/15/22

"Dismissed"

Evening Songs 

It Was A Court Day

From "Hell"

Judge Davis

Tried Over 15 Victims

On My Time

Atty Christopher Stapleton

2.5 Hours Late

We Chatted After Call Began

And I Tried

To Conference His

Voice-Mail

And The Whole World 

In

Was He Scared

Almost 5pm

(Little Milly's Is Rolling

All Over

Wild By My Story!)

He Showed Up Late

Where Judge Davis

Wondered Why

Then Had Technical

Difficulties

She Couldn't Hear

Puppet Atty Public Defender On Screen

I Explained I Was

Pro Se - 6 Years In

Would Prefer Supervisor

Kristin Scogin

On The Line

Stapleton's Voice-Mail

Been Full For Months

Never Returned

Calls

Over Promised

Lies

Shows Up With

No Documents

Lots Of Bribes

Promises To "Dismiss"

Today

Dragging His Feet

Did He Get A Bribed

BJ Or Happy Ending

On Way

Forgot To Look At Case

And Bring What You Need

Hey- Hey

Why We Dealin

With Incompetent

Staff

We Would Never Hire 

You

I Told Judge Davis

That

But She Ignored

Your Request

To "Dismiss Case"

Because

You Were Late

Remiss

Only I Was On

The Line

Implementing This

Pro Se

I Don't Want A

Lying Public Defender

Whose Never There

Never Reads His Files

I Don't Want A

Lying Public Defender

Representing Me

Or Court Judges

On Bribes

I Don't Want A

Lying Public Defender

Showing Up Late

Making Deals 

On The Side

Representing Me

Or Court Judges On Bribes

District Attorney

Lies

#WeHeard

You're Involved In Murder

Officers' Discriminated Against

15 Others On The Line 

Divorcees To Rich

For Your Glutinous Team

To Behave Ethically

In Fidicuary Duty

To Any Of Them

Not Realtors Would Have

Or Any Legal System 

Your Ethics Went

Down Toilette

Suiciding Civilian Lot

Why You Disappointed

I Was Raped 18

Months In Court

You Forgot To Review

Over 6 Doctors Reports 

Over 6 Years

Over Hundreds Of Attorneys Lies

You Forgot Your Words

Again

"Dismissed"

Christopher

It's A Bad Luck

Namesake

On Defense Team

For X's Middle Name

Is Same

And His Shriveled Up

Attorney

Christopher Sunnen

Who Grates On My Nerves

A Mediator Coach

Who Never Performed

How Can 'Ya All

Take Christ's Name

In Vain

For Us

My Children Wonder

How Christopher

Got Lost At Sea

No Different

Than Colombus

And Beg

For Peace

For Us

And Harmony

Ple-ee-aase

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Nitya Nella Davigo Azam Moezzi Huntley Rawal 

[cookfleurculture]

One Can Be Forgetful.

I literally keep FORGETTING that I'm moving to NYC. In literally 6 freaking days, I'll be leaving Paris 🖤 and moving into a lovely, way too small, east village walk up and I couldn't be more excited (and nervous). I'm basically putting everything on the line and going for broke here. I have a few interviews and trails set up, food handlers test (which hopefully I'll pass because I can't sit through the part 1 online/tests again 😴) , and a few bags of clothes packed and a knife roll. Sounds about right, sounds very 'me' like. Which is good. I'm writing this because I needed time to check in with myself today. Make sure the moves I'm making are being done for me and not for anyone or anything else, making sure that these moves ACTUALLY help me and progress me to my end goals. We forget to do that in life. We go day by day and forget what were actually doing and what we actually want, for OURSELVES. Not what your job needs from you, nor society or even your family, yep. I said it. Because ya can't pour coffee from an empty pot people. Trust me! I've tried, for years and years. The typical people pleaser. Guess where that got me? Stressed out, way too underweight, couldn't gain a pound, miserable, hating myself, wondering why I'm not good enough. The list is endless. But guess what? So are your choices. So cut the crap and b.s. excuses you're making right now, like today that enable you to continue on with your mediocre/slightly miserable life style if you're stuck in one. And start doing things that bring YOU happiness; that help YOU get to your end goal and dreams. They don't have to be big or crazy outgoing, they can be simple. Drink more water, get to the gym (or even just start by going for a walk outside), get healthier food in your house, check your closet & get rid of those skinny jeans that have been haunting you for 4 years now. Because BYYEEE. Nobody needs that reminder and I GUARANTEE you that the size of those jeans is seared into your brain anyways, so if you ever do get to that point of fitness and health, you can celebrate by going to get a NEW pair. But really if you're having difficulty taking things away from yourself like candy after dinner (that's definitely mine) try ADDING SOMETHING POSITIVE instead. Like more water and walks and calling someone you need to catch up with. Trust me. It feels good to do so. So by adding all of these positive things to your life you start becoming better. Because when you take care of you, you take care of your surroundings and it's literally a world wide domino effect. So go do it up. And make your changes for today 🖤

Mine include ADDING a new calendar/journal because I have way too many 'things' to keep track of currently and it's giving me a headache. So what do we do? Eliminate the headache. In my case it's getting outside, going for walk to find a bookstore, getting an organizer, finding a coffee shop and going to town with some new pens. I know, my nerd is showing. With all of that being said, I hope some of it stuck with you and will help you get through your day, and transition into a daily reminder to check yourself.

🖤 XO -Al.

[elegant-ouran-heartbeat-blog]

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He even served our contractor fix the subfloor (for no further cost to us)! We are thrilled Along with the final result. We've numerous other concrete desires and definitely want to use Brian for all of our future perform.

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I visited a wonderful Do it yourself house in Glen Rose, TX where the house owners laid the flooring on their own. They simply bought distinctive sized pine 1Xs from regional lumber lawn/house improvement shop and randomly laid them out inside the house. It looked magnificent and they’ve lived there for 15 many years. They mentioned it was low-priced affordable.

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Sealing safeguards the constructions from h2o and also other fluids that can seep into the muse and lead to deterioration and staining. Differing types of sealants are utilized for precise applications.Penetrating sealers, as being the title implies, penetrates on the material to shield it from humidity. This sort of sealant is often made use of outdoors with matte finishes.

The wood for your new floor generally comes a few days right before any get the job done starts. This allows the wood to acclimate into the relative humidity inside your house, which prevents it from shrinking or expanding just after installation and causing gaps or buckling. The actual wood installation may well take several times or maybe more, depending upon the size of your home and what sort of custom made slicing and designs are preferred. If the flooring is not prefinished, the unfinished wood need to then be sanded and stained in the house to take care of and protect your new investment. Commonly, stain normally takes a full day to dry, and a number of coats are utilized. Baseboards and trim must even be mounted. With all these variables at Enjoy, you may see why it’s crucial for just a wood set up Professional to offer an estimate only just after viewing your home.

 about our head, so we will have to find a method of getting the look for your good deal much less expensive. Among the reclaimed wood businesses despatched me a 12 thirty day period calendar that showcased households with magnificent previous floors, and each and every month in 2016 I drooled about that matter like other women would drool above a calendar full of chiseled fireman.

Hardwood floor installation normally takes anywhere from a few days to greater than two weeks, depending on demolition, wood style, the ailment of the subfloor, overall sq. footage in the venture, and installation system. Demolition is essential For those who have existing flooring you should replace with hardwood floors. New-development properties do not call for this move, because the subfloor is primed and ready for floor installation. For the duration of demolition, the flooring crew could uncover that your subfloor has damaged wood, uneven surfaces or other difficulties that has to be dealt with before the new wood is often laid down. Crews may cost on an hourly fee for subfloor restore, as well as the work can take some hours to various times, dependant upon what’s hiding beneath your floor.

Gypsum concrete is a combination of Portland cement, gypsum and sand. It is often Utilized in residential house development due to its fireplace resistance capabilities.