#mac had a SCORE to settle

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less than THREE minutes in and mcilrath and rempe get into it bc apparently they have ahl beef ??? go off

[daeniradraconis]

Right Where You Left Me

Hey, Lovelies! ✨

Sorry I’m a little late — my Mac decided to quit on me today 😅, and I spent the whole night saving my files. But all is well now! Everything’s backed up, so here’s hoping no more tech issues in the future. 🌙

Before we get into the first chapter of William and Eli’s story, I want to share something fun. For each chapter, I’ve chosen a song that I think fits the mood or foreshadows something ahead. If you play the song while reading (hit play on the video above the text), it can add a little extra layer to the story — sometimes you might even catch a hint of what’s coming next! 🎶

Anyway, here’s the first chapter of William and Eli’s story! I hope you enjoy! 🫶🏼

Themes/Warnings: Hannah Elise Hughes x William Nylander, love at first sight, weddings, pure fluff, mentions of a car crash and injury

Chapter 1: A Promise Under the Stars

June 27, 2014

The sun’s been sitting heavy all afternoon, warm and lazy, the kind of heat that makes the grass smell sweeter. You’re stretched out on the lawn, elbows propped, legs kicked out in front of you, pretending to read Greek and Roman History of Art — a book you’ve read so many times it might as well be your diary. But you’re not really reading. Not today.

Your brothers are at it again.

You don’t even have to look to know what’s happening. Jack’s yelling, Luke’s trying to keep up, and Quinn’s probably rolling his eyes while doing everything better than both of them. The clatter of rollerblades on the driveway, the slap of sticks, the crash of a puck hitting the side of the garage — it’s like background music you never asked for.

You glance up anyway.

Yup. There they are. Jack’s already got his shirt off like he’s playing for the Stanley Cup instead of sweating through another backyard game. Luke’s copying him, all limbs and attitude. And Quinn, steady as always, holding it all together with that calm “old soul” energy he’s had since birth.

You roll your eyes and let out a sigh. Loud enough to be heard if anyone was paying attention.

You love them. You do. Jack, all wild energy and reckless chaos, like a storm that never quite settles. Luke, the baby of the family, all big eyes and easy charm — a golden retriever in human form. And Quinn, the quiet one, steady and serious, with a calm kind of passion that runs deeper than he lets on. They’re your brothers, and they’re home. But some days, it feels like you were dropped into the wrong family by mistake. A Hughes who can’t skate? Blasphemy.

You tried once. You really did. At 11 years old, bundled in gear three sizes too big, wobbling on skates like a baby deer. Quinn held your hands, patient and kind, while Jack chirped from the bench and laughed when you hit the ice face-first. You lasted maybe half an hour before you ripped off the helmet and declared hockey the enemy.

Ellen — your mom — just smiled. “Stick to your books, Eli,” she said, brushing ice shavings off your coat. “That brain of yours will get you further than a slapshot.”

So you did. You built your world out of stories and soil — history textbooks, dog-eared art guides, a garden full of stubborn tomato plants you refuse to give up on, no matter how many times your brothers trample them chasing after a ball.

“Eli! We need a goalie!”

Jack’s voice cuts through the afternoon like a fire alarm. You don’t look up.

“We’re down a man!”

“Don’t care,” you mumble.

“Get over here, nerd!”

Luke. Of course.

You flip a page, even though you’re not reading it. “Yell one more time, and I’m snapping your sticks in half while you sleep.”

Jack snorts. “You’d probably cry if you chipped a nail.”

“I’d cry if I had to live with you forever,” you shoot back, deadpan.

Luke gasps dramatically. “She doesn’t love us.”

“Fix your helmet, Luke,” you add. “It’s halfway off your head, you walking concussion.”

From the garage, Quinn’s voice cuts in, flat and amused. “Jack, you couldn’t score on an empty net. Luke, stop trying to be Jack. And Eli, please don’t murder them before dinner.”

You smile. Just a little.

Quinn’s always been the balance. The one who sees you when you go quiet, the one who reads the room without needing a single word. Maybe it’s because you’re closest in age, or maybe it’s just the way he sees the world, but you’ve always felt closest to him. Like he just gets it — gets you — in a way the others don’t.

Still, it’s exhausting sometimes. Being the only one who doesn’t speak “sports.” Like you’re a guest in your own home.

You pull your knees up, rest your book against them, and stare out at the garden. Your basil looks droopy. One of the tomato cages is crooked. You think about moving it, but—

The sound of tires crunching gravel stops you.

You look up.

Your dad’s car is pulling into the driveway, and for a second, everything feels normal. You expect him to step out, maybe toss Luke a water bottle, ask if Jack’s broken anything today.

But then the passenger door opens.

And someone else gets out first.

He’s tall. Really tall. His golden blonde hair almost looks white under the sun, and his eyes — blue, clear, like the ocean on a perfect day. There’s something about the way he walks, the smooth confidence in his stride, that catches your breath. He looks… different. Like he stepped out of a storybook. Like the version of Prince Charming no one told you actually existed. And for a second, you honestly wonder if you’ve just imagined him.

He glances around, and then — he sees you.

Just for a second. A flicker of a glance. But it hits like a lightning strike.

You forget the book in your lap. You forget the sun on your shoulders. All you can think is: Oh.

Your heart, which was perfectly fine a minute ago, starts doing something weird. Like it’s trying to crawl up into your throat.

“Kids!” your dad calls out. “Come say hello! This is William Nylander. He just got drafted, and he’s staying with us for a bit while he settles in.”

The name clicks, vaguely. Hockey. Leafs. But honestly, your brain is busy with other things.

Like the way William is walking toward you, easy and sure, hands tucked in his pockets. Like he’s stepping straight into your daydream and bringing it to life.

Jack drops his stick. “No way! He’s a Leaf?! That’s so sick!”

Luke’s already bouncing. “Wait, like on the team team?!”

William laughs — soft, polite, a little bashful. But his eyes haven’t left yours.

And then, he stops in front of you. You.

He flashes a grin — just crooked enough to feel dangerous.

“Hi,” he says, voice low and smooth. “I’m William.”

He says it like it’s obvious. Like of course that’s who he is. And maybe it should be — with that smile, that hair, that confidence like he already knows you’re staring.

Your stomach flips so hard it might do a full somersault. Words? Gone. Logic? Useless. All you can think about is how warm your face feels and how suddenly awkward your hands are, just sitting there like they forgot how to be hands.

You manage to squeak out, “Hi.”

It’s quiet. Too quiet. You sound like someone just rewound your whole personality and left it on mute.

He looks amused. Not in a mean way — in a charming, "this is cute" kind of way. Like he knows exactly the effect he’s having on you.

Your dad’s saying something — something about him staying here for a couple of weeks until his apartment’s ready. But it’s background noise now.

He’s going to be living here.

With you.

You’re pretty sure your soul just left your body.

You glance up again, and he’s still looking at you, still smiling, like this is all some kind of inside joke he hasn’t let you in on yet.

And that’s when it hits you. You’re in trouble. Like... real trouble.

Because this isn’t just a crush. Not even close.

You're in love.

And he hasn’t even made it through the front door.

—

The next two weeks are a blur. Not in a busy, chaotic way, but in a dreamlike, everything-is-new kind of way. William’s presence feels like an added layer to everything you’ve known. He’s in your house, under your roof, sharing your space, and it’s almost surreal how easily he slips into your world.

He’s still the same charming, confident guy from that first moment. He talks with that easy, magnetic confidence that makes everyone gravitate toward him. But what surprises you the most is how he makes space for you in the midst of it all.

Every morning, he’s in the kitchen, making coffee, and when you shuffle in — hair a mess, sleep still heavy in your eyes — he’s always there with a quiet “Good morning,” and that crooked, too-perfect-for-him smile. It’s like he knows exactly how to make you feel like the only person in the room, even if Jack’s already rambling about his latest skateboarding tricks and Luke’s stuffing his face with cereal. William doesn’t mind. He just listens. Really listens, in a way that makes you feel like you could tell him anything.

And you find yourself telling him things. Little things. 

Like how you started gardening because it felt like the only thing that could grow in the chaos of your family. How Ellen once tried to teach you to skate and you cried on the ice. How you’ve read Greek and Roman History of Art so many times it’s basically your second language. How you despise salted caramel with such passion that you believe its fans deserve a short, contemplative exile in purgatory.

He doesn’t laugh. He just nods like it’s all valuable information.

“You really like art, huh?” he asks one night on the porch.

It’s late — one of those velvet-sky summer nights where time slows. You’re in your usual spot, knees pulled to your chest, hoodie sleeves over your hands. He’s next to you, hoodie half-zipped, legs stretched out, hair still damp from his shower. He smells like clean soap and warm skin.

You nod. “It’s not just that I like art. I love it. And not just paintings — I mean the whole thing. Art history. Architecture. The stories built into stone.”

He glances over, intrigued. You go on before you can stop yourself.

“I read about the Pantheon when I was thirteen. This giant, ancient Roman temple in the middle of the city — still standing. I’ve never even been to Rome, but the pictures? Unreal. The dome is a perfect hemisphere — same diameter as its height. They built it without modern tools, and no one even knows exactly how. The concrete they used? Still hasn’t cracked. The oculus — that giant hole in the roof — it’s open to the sky. Rain falls right through it. But the floor is sloped, with invisible drains, so the water just disappears.”

You pause, but he’s still looking at you, listening.

“It’s not just architecture. It’s—” You shake your head, smiling a little. “It’s art. The kind that makes your chest feel too full. It was built to honor all the gods, but they made it feel like it could touch the universe. Like they wanted to bring the heavens into reach.”

You hug your knees tighter. “And it’s still there. People walk into it every day. Into something made almost two thousand years ago. You can feel the history pressing in around you. It’s like standing in a heartbeat that never stopped.”

William is quiet for a long moment.“That’s… amazing.”

You laugh a little, embarrassed. “Sorry. I get carried away.”

“No.” He shakes his head. “Don’t apologize. I think it’s incredible that you care about something that deeply.”

You glance over, unsure. But he’s smiling — that quiet, thoughtful smile he doesn’t give out easily.

“I think that’s what art’s supposed to do,” he says. “Make you feel something you can’t really explain. Even if it’s just a building or a painting. Doesn’t matter. If it moves you, it matters.”

You blink. That’s… not what you expected. William Nylander — hockey guy, professional athlete, and also someone who actually gets art? 

“You’re full of surprises,” you murmur.

He smiles, sensing your surprise. "What? You didn’t think I was all hockey, did you?"

“I mean… kind of.”

“Wow,” he says, mock-offended. “I’m layered, Eli. Deeply complex.”

You laugh, but it sticks in your chest, warm. Because somehow, it’s true — he’s funny, confident, ridiculous… and he sees you. Not as one of the Hughes siblings. Not as the quiet one. Just…you.

That’s how you end up here. Most nights, side by side on the porch while the house buzzes behind you.

Tonight is no different — quiet air, cicadas in the trees, stars overhead like someone scattered glitter across navy velvet. Your bare toes brush his knee by accident, but he doesn’t move.

You look over. He’s fiddling with the cap on his water bottle, uncharacteristically quiet. The kind of silence that makes you want to fill it with something soft.

“I always wanted a dog,” you say.

He turns, eyebrows raised slightly. “Yeah?”

“Since I was five. Every birthday, every Christmas. I begged. Once I even made a Power Point on why a dog would help with my emotional development.” You snort. “Didn’t work.”

“What’d they say?”

“That I already had three brothers and that was enough chaos for one household.”

He laughs — that warm, low sound that always makes your stomach twist. “Fair. But brutal.”

You smile, leaning your head back. “I even had this whole Pinterest board. His name was going to be Pablo. He’d wear a little bandana and sleep at the foot of my bed.”

He raises an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Pablo? That’s kinda badass. Like a mob boss or something.”

You giggle, nudging him lightly. “Exactly! Super manly, right?”

William hums like he’s really considering it. “I’ll get you one.”

You blink. “What?”

“When I get my place. You move in. I’ll get you a dog.”

You snort a laugh, but your face feels suddenly way too warm. “William. I’m seventeen.”

He smirks. “So? It doesn’t have to be today. Just… someday. I mean—” he stretches his arms over his head, all long limbs and relaxed confidence “—I’m just saying, I could see it. Me, you, a golden retriever with too much energy. Maybe a garden. I’d build you a whole greenhouse if you wanted.”

You laugh again, shaking your head. “You’re ridiculous.”

He leans in closer, just enough that you feel the heat of him, his voice suddenly lower, teasing. “Nah. I’m serious. I think you’d look really cute walking a dog in one of those oversized sweaters. Maybe wearing my hoodie. Nothing underneath.”

“William.” You choke on a laugh, heat crawling up your neck.

He grins like he’s just scored a goal in overtime. “What? I’m a romantic.”

“You’re a menace.”

“And yet,” he says, leaning in just slightly, “you’re still sitting right here.”

You roll your eyes, but your pulse is loud in your ears. The porch feels smaller, the air charged.

He shifts closer. Not suddenly — slowly, deliberately — like he’s checking to see if you’ll stop him.

You don’t.

His hand lifts, brushing a piece of hair from your cheek. But it’s not just a gesture. It’s careful. Intentional. His fingertips graze your skin like he’s memorizing it, like this moment matters. And maybe it does. Maybe it always has.

You can’t think. Can’t move. The world narrows to the space between you — to the heat pulsing there, to the way your lungs forget how to work.

“I meant it,” he says softly, his voice a low thrum against the quiet night. “I’d get you that dog. Or anything you wanted.”

You look up at him — and this time, you don’t look away. Your voice is barely a breath.

“I just want you to kiss me.”

And then everything shifts.

He leans in — slowly, like he’s giving you every second to change your mind. But you don’t. You couldn’t, even if you wanted to. And then his lips are on yours.

It’s not fireworks. It’s not chaos.

It’s warm.

Soft at first — almost hesitant, like he’s learning the shape of you, tasting the moment. His lips are tender, sure, and it’s careful — not rushed, not greedy, but full of something deeper. Something real. The kind of kiss that makes time slow down, stretch thin. Like your heartbeat just synced to his.

You breathe him in — soap, skin, sun-warmed cotton — and everything else disappears. No porch. No summer night. Just the quiet pull of it, of him, of this thing you didn’t see coming but somehow always knew was meant to happen.

His hand slides to the back of your neck, fingers tangling gently in your hair. You melt — literally melt — into him, into that touch, into that kiss, like your body finally understands what safe feels like.

When he finally pulls back, it’s just an inch — enough for his eyes to settle on yours, lingering, as if he’s trying to memorize every detail. His thumb strokes your cheek, slow and deliberate, like he's tracing the very shape of you in his mind.

His gaze dips to your lips, his voice low, thick with something that makes your pulse race.

“Your dad’s probably going to kill me, you know that, right?”

You laugh softly, the sound escaping with more ease than you expected. You shake your head, the playful glint in your eyes never fading. “Oh, don’t worry about it. I’m his favorite. I’ll handle him. Just…don’t break my heart, okay?”

For a beat, his smile falters, just a fraction, before his eyes soften with an intensity that makes your heart skip. He leans in, his breath warming your lips, and for a moment, the world goes still.

“Never,” he murmurs, his voice barely a whisper, just before his lips brush against yours again — slow, gentle, as if he’s savoring the very moment, the very feeling of you against him.

—

The August sun spills gold across the edges of the white tent strung with fairy lights and swaying eucalyptus garlands. Toronto’s late-summer air hums warm and bright, the breeze from the lake brushing against the skin like a soft kiss. Laughter rises from the open bar, mingling with the clinking of glasses and the soft murmur of conversation. The light is honeyed, slow — the kind that wraps itself around memories, preserving them in warmth and shimmer, like a pressed flower between the pages of a well-loved book.

You’re dancing.

Barefoot now — your heels long since abandoned under the table — you move slowly in William’s arms, your wedding dress whispering around your legs with every step. His hands are gentle at your waist, your palms resting over the slow thrum of his heartbeat beneath the crisp collar of his shirt. His jacket is off, tie loose, hair a little messy. And still, he’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen.

The world fades. It’s just him, you, and the music curling softly through the late summer air.

And you can’t stop smiling.

You let your eyes sweep across the crowd — the blur of people clapping, slow-dancing, talking over champagne and cake. Familiar faces beam back at you. Jack is on the dance floor, leaning in a little too close to one of William's cousins, flashing a grin that says I’m about to charm you out of your penties — and she’s laughing, probably rolling her eyes, but clearly amused. Quinn, a little too tipsy, is dancing with your mom like he's auditioning for Dancing with the Stars, spinning her around with moves you didn’t know he had. Your mom's laughing, loving every second, teasing him about how he's killing it. Meanwhile, Luke’s found Banksy. The two of them are tucked in a corner, and you swear Luke’s sneaking him bites of something he shouldn’t be eating — probably pastry crumbs. Banksy looks up at him, wide-eyed, like he’s in on the secret. Luke’s giving him a soft smile, whispering to the dog like they’re plotting something together. It’s one of those moments that makes you laugh because Luke’s too pure for his own good.

And then there’s William’s side — Michael, laughing over drinks with your father like they’ve known each other forever, probably arguing over hockey plays and statistics. Catherine, poised and glowing in a soft sea-blue dress, watches you both with misty eyes and a smile that says she always knew her boy would find this kind of love.

His sisters — Michelle, Jacqueline, Stephanie, and little Ella — are huddled near the dance floor, swaying and giggling, clutching glasses of something sparkling and non-alcoholic for the youngest. Ella looks especially radiant. She's grown so much, but you still remember the quiet, sweet girl who lived with you and William for a while, who left tiny mugs half full of tea all over the apartment and asked you questions about plants like you were a walking encyclopedia. She studies in Toronto now, living in her own dorm, but she never stopped feeling like your little shadow. Your heart squeezes at the thought.

And then there’s Alex — standing near the dessert table, deep in conversation with Auston and Mitch, probably trying to talk them into some ridiculous offseason challenge. He loves those. He was your temporary roommate, too — shared takeout dinners and hockey talk on the balcony, late-night dishwasher debates and all. He winks when he catches you looking and lifts his glass in a silent, smiling toast.

It hits you slowly — not like a wave, but like sunlight through a window. Quiet. Warm. Certain.

This is your life now.

Not just his, not just yours — but something you built together. Layer by layer. A life that started on a quiet porch, with a kiss under the stars when you were seventeen and trembling and unsure. A kiss that said, I see you. A promise he never stopped keeping.

When William moved out to play for the Marlies, it wasn’t far — just across the city, but it felt like the start of something new for both of you. A few months later, you started your degree in Environmental Science at the University of Toronto, throwing yourself into early mornings and long lectures, lab reports and field work. Your days were full of discovery; your nights, often spent curled up in his apartment, surrounded by textbooks and half-eaten takeout, with him brewing you tea and soft music humming low in the background. He never made you feel like you were chasing your dreams alone. He was there — not just beside you, but behind you, making space for your ambition and cheering it on like it was his own.

Then came the day your family packed up and moved back to Michigan. You still remember standing in the driveway, watching them go, feeling a crack form right in the center of your chest. But your parents saw it — the way William looked at you like you were the only thing that made sense in the world. The way you spoke about your classes, your city, your life here. You had already started putting down roots.

And somehow, they understood.

You stayed behind.

Not out of rebellion. Not out of stubbornness. But because your heart had already chosen a home. And he was here.

So, you and William moved in together — and he made good on another promise. Just a few months later, Pablo came bounding into your life. Curly-haired, floppy-eared, endlessly sweet. He slept at the foot of your bed and carried around his stuffed pig like it was his life’s purpose. A year later, chaos arrived in the form of Banksy — pure mischief and boundless energy, a lovable menace with paws too big for his body.

Somehow, the two of you built a life — dogs and houseplants and a garden that spilled from the balcony like your own little jungle. William, who kissed you every morning like it was the first time. William, who never once made you feel like you were orbiting his world — because you had created one together.

And then, 2019 arrived. It was Christmas Eve — your favorite night of the year. Lights strung across the living room, cinnamon in the air, your mom crying before anything had even happened — you swear she knew. William cleared his throat and then — of course — launched into a speech. Classic Willy: heartfelt, a little cocky, and so completely sincere it made your knees weak.

He turned to Jim first, asked for his blessing like a man raised right. And Jim — naturally — acted all serious and intimidating… before pulling William into a hug so hard you thought he might break a rib. Your mom sobbed so intensely she forgot to record the moment — something she still brings up every single Christmas, like it’s your fault she was too busy crying to press the red button.

Jack wasted no time. “Biggest simp I’ve ever seen,” he declared loudly, shaking his head, but grinning so sweetly at you. 

Quinn just smiled. Then, without a word, hugged William like he was his own brother. When he finally pulled back, he said, “It always felt like you were part of this family… but now it’s official.” You think William nearly cried at that part, though he’ll never admit it.

And Luke — sweet, sentimental Luke — tried to play it cool. But the moment the ring box opened, his chin wobbled. He stood up clapping and wiping his face with his sleeve at the same time. Of course, Jack immediately took a picture of Luke crying and has printed it every year since to hang as an ornament on the tree. “The emotional support elf,” he calls it.

That was the moment everything shifted — not just for you and William, but for all of them, too.

They saw what he meant to you. What you meant to each other.

And now, here you are.

Married. His wife. Barefoot under a Toronto August sky, the sun sinking low over the lake, the air thick with roses and summer and laughter.

And through all of it, William watches you like he still can’t believe you’re real. Like he’s still that boy on the porch, blinking stars out of his eyes, wondering how the hell he got lucky enough to end up here — with you.

“You okay?” William murmurs against your temple, his breath warm, his lips brushing your skin.

You nod, your voice thick with emotion. “Better than okay.”

His fingers shift slightly at your waist, pulling you just a bit closer. “You were worth every second of waiting.”

You tilt your head up, meeting his gaze. “You kept every promise.”

He grins, that soft, crooked smile that undid you back then — that still undoes you now. “Told you I’m a romantic.”

“Yes, you are. I’m a pretty lucky lady,” you tease, eyes glinting.

His hand brushes along your spine, and suddenly, you’re both laughing quietly, breathing each other in. It’s strange, really — how something can feel brand new and completely familiar all at once. How love, real love, doesn’t feel like butterflies. It feels like sunlight — constant and warm and always finding its way back to you.

A microphone crackles, and then a voice rings out — someone from the band, smiling into the mic.

“Alright, everyone, if we could have your attention—our bride and groom are about to head out for their honeymoon! Let’s give them all the love they deserve!”

The room erupts in cheers, whistles and applause. Champagne is lifted. Glasses clink. You blink back the sudden blur in your eyes as William leans down to whisper against your ear:

“You ready to go, Mrs. Nylander?”

You laugh — a bubbling, joy-soaked sound as you nod. “With you? Always.”

And as you walk hand in hand through the crowd, showered in petals and love and laughter, you look back once — just once — at the people who built you, held you, shaped this life. And then you look forward.

—

The doors of the car close behind you with a soft thud, and suddenly, the world feels quieter. The buzz of the reception is replaced by the sound of the engine, the warm night air drifting in through the cracked window. William’s hand finds yours, his fingers intertwining with yours in the way they always do — familiar, steady, grounding you.

He starts the car, and as you pull away from the venue, the streets of Toronto slipping by in a blur, you glance over at him. His eyes are still full of that joy, that soft, warm look that has been there since the moment he slipped the ring on your finger. There’s a relaxed, almost goofy grin on his face, the kind that only comes after a long, perfect day.

You turn the radio dial, and suddenly, the opening chords of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” fill the car. It’s the very song you and your brother used to sing at the top of your lungs on long summer road trips. A surge of excitement hits you, and you can’t help but start belting it out, loud and carefree, your voice rising with every word.

“Almost heaven, West Virginia…”

William glances over, his eyebrows lifting in mock horror. “Oh, no,” he laughs, shaking his head. “Not this song.”

You don’t stop. “Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River…” Your voice is full of energy, all the joy and excitement of the day flooding out of you in the form of music.

William laughs beside you, one hand on the wheel, his hair still a little messy from the dancing. “You’re unbelievable,” he says, grinning. “I marry you and now I’m stuck with a country music soundtrack for life.”

“Oh, come on, it’s a classic!” you tease, singing louder, not even trying to stay on key anymore. “You just don’t get it.”

William gives a dramatic sigh, shaking his head with a grin. “No, I definitely don’t. I never understood how anyone could love country music this much.”

You laugh, rolling your eyes playfully. “Take me home, country roads…” you sing, your voice rising with the chorus, throwing your head back as you belt it out, carefree and happy.

He watches you for a moment, shaking his head but clearly entertained. “Okay, okay,” he finally says, the teasing in his voice softening. “I get it, you’re killing it. But I still don’t get the appeal.”

You grin, leaning over to nudge him playfully. “You’ll come around one day,” you tease, eyes sparkling.

The song continues, and you sing your heart out, your joy filling the car. It feels right — this moment, this life, this love — everything wrapped up in the sound of a song that’s been a part of you forever.

William starts laughing softly, his eyes crinkling at the corners as you hit the high notes with all the conviction of a true country fan. “I don’t know how you do it,” he says, still chuckling.

You’re lost in the song now, the road stretching ahead of you, the glow from the dashboard casting a soft light on William’s face. His focus is on the road, but every so often, his smile flickers as he glances at you.

You throw your head back, still singing — louder now, on purpose. “To the place I belong…”

He shakes his head, but he’s smiling.

Then it happens.

A flash of headlights.

A horn blares.

The scream of tires on pavement.

Metal.

The impact slams through you like a punch. Your body jerks, flung forward and snapped back by the seatbelt. The airbag explodes, the sound impossibly loud — like a bomb detonating in your ears.

You can’t see.

You can’t breathe.

You hear glass shatter, the car twisting, spinning — and then stillness.

Pain hits you all at once, hot and sharp — blooming in your ribs, your shoulder, your head. Your vision sways like a curtain of water. You try to move, try to sit up, to find William, but your limbs feel heavy, unreachable.

You hear him.

Faint, but frantic.

“Elise—”

You try to answer. Your lips part, but nothing comes out. You want to reach for him. You want to tell him you’re okay, or ask if he is — but everything is fog.

His voice grows sharper, full of panic.

“Elise! Elise, stay with me! Please—”

You try. God, you try.

But the pain grows thick and distant, your head lolling as the dark swallows the edges of your sight. The world fades — his voice, the night, the music — all pulling away like waves retreating from shore.

And then—

Nothing.

Just black.

[harmonicakai]

Mr. Know It All

Pairing: Taehyun x Reader

Summary: When you finally find yourself sleeping over at Taehyun’s dorm, you start to wonder if you and him could ever be something more serious.

Tropes: friends with benefits, mutual pining, angst, fluff, college AU, tutor!taehyun

Word Count: 1.2k

Warnings: mentions of sex (mdni), LOTS of overthinking

A/N: This is unedited and I wrote it all in one go lol <3

"And the songbirds are singing Like they know the score And I love you, I love you, I love you Like never before" —Songbird, Fleetwood Mac

Taehyun doesn’t know how to tell you that things aren't and never have been casual between the two of you.

It started one rainy afternoon after a study session in the library. The two of you had run through the deluge into the safety of his dorm room, and when he peeled off his wet clothes to change, you didn’t look away.

So, one semester later, right after you’ve finished moaning his name, he struggles to find the words to ask you to stay the night.

He hates watching you gather up your things and leave, refusing to be held by him for even a moment after both of you have finished what you came here for.

“Y/N,” he manages to get out, his voice barely above a whisper. You turn away from the door, your hair still messy, eyeliner smudged. “It’s raining.”

It’s code for “I love you. Please don’t leave.”

“Right,” you say, glancing out the window. Lightning flashes throughout the small dorm, with the crash of thunder following shortly after. Only a fool would leave in this weather. “I don’t have an umbrella.”

“You can stay,” Taehyun says, patting the bed beside him. You nod, crossing over and settling under the warm blanket. Despite how often you’re here in this position, it’s never under these circumstances.

“It seems like the rain is always bringing us together,” you laugh. You’re careful not to say anything loud enough for his roommate to hear through the walls, although in retrospect, you’ve never considered your volume when in bed with Taehyun before.

It’s awkward. Before any of this started, he was just the guy who helped you out with your math problem sets. Add in the perfect distraction from actually sitting down and having a conversation with each other, and you barely knew anything about him.

“I can sleep on the floor,” he offers, already sliding off of the twin sized mattress with a pillow in his arms. “I don’t want to bother you.”

You note how between sleeping next to you and on the floor, he’s decided that the latter is more bearable. 

Usually, the two of you are in perfect sync. He knows how to please you better than any other guy you’ve been with, making sure to do things the exact way that you like. Sometimes, you worry that he doesn’t think the same of you.

Are there other girls? You don’t see him as often as you’d like to, but maybe he’s just busy with other things. Kang Taehyun, the chronic overachiever and golden boy of SNU. What would he even want with a girl like you?

Surely, he spends all of his free time studying and going to band practice, you tell yourself.

At this point, your racing thoughts are never going to let you fall asleep.

“Taehyun,” you say, hoping you aren’t waking him up. You haven’t taken your eyes off the ceiling since he moved to the floor, half out of guilt that he’s even down there, and half worried you’ll catch yourself staring at him while he sleeps.

“Yeah?” he answers, his voice low. You wonder what it sounds like when he sings with his band. Maybe, if he asks you to, you’ll go to one of his concerts soon.

You hesitate, wondering whether or not he’ll say yes. “Can you come back up here?”

When you hear him gather his things and stand up, you finally let out the breath that you've been holding. Within seconds, he’s climbing in next to you, his body warm and strong.

“Are you cold?” he asks, pulling the covers up over your collarbone. “Sorry. I think the heater is broken and I haven’t had time to call maintenance.”

“Yeah, it’s a little chilly,” you confirm, although the temperature is fine. In fact, it might even be a little too hot.

“I can, uh,” Taehyun starts. You’ve never heard him stutter before. “I can hold you, if you want. That might help.”

“That would be nice,” you say, mentally cringing at how formal the exchange is. He positions himself behind you, snaking his arm around your waist and pressing his chest against your back.

“Is this better?” he asks, his voice still shaky. You worry that this level of intimacy is making him uncomfortable, but he nestles his head over your shoulder in a way that makes you finally stop overthinking. Maybe, just maybe, he feels the same way you do.

“Yes,” is all you manage to squeak out. He lets out a quiet laugh in relief before pressing a kiss into your shoulder blade. The small gesture sends a shockwave through your body.

“You’re cute,” he says, snuggling into you further. Is this really what things would be like if you didn’t run away after every hook up? It seems like second nature to him, making you question whether it actually means anything.

Still, he doesn’t bother to touch you now like he’s always dying to after you show up to class in a short skirt or send him a risky text when you know he’s running office hours. 

“I can hear you thinking,” he mutters, startling you. You break away from his grasp to turn and face him, his piercing eyes already fixed on you. “Is something wrong, Y/N?”

“No,” you attempt to lie, although your face says otherwise. Taehyun feels you stiffen in his arms, your gaze locked on his.

“We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” he concedes, his voice icy and monotone. “But I know something is wrong.”

How could he know that? What could Taehyun possibly know about you besides what you look like with your clothes off?

When he first got assigned to tutor you, he had scolded you for being late, and again for being unorganized. If you don’t open up to him now, he might actually revert to the same cold demeanor as before. 

Even worse, he might stop meeting up with you. With the school year ending next month, you’ll have no excuse to see each other anymore. The thought of being alone again brings you to tears.

Taehyun’s expression softens at the sight of you breaking down. “I’m sorry,” you cry, burying your face into his chest. His hand reaches up to stroke your hair, the other gently rubbing your back. “I don’t know what’s gotten into me tonight.”

“I do,” he sighs. You pull back just enough to look up at him through teary eyes. “I pushed things between us too far. I should’ve known that you wanted to keep things casual. I’m sorry, Y/N.”

You stare at him, awestruck at how wrong he is. You want nothing more than to know anything and everything about him.

Still, when you search for the right words to explain this, your brain draws a blank. The only thing you can do is cup his face and kiss him, your nerves finally settling when he melts into you.

You’ve kissed him hundreds of times by now, but this one feels like the first time.

It feels like forever before he pulls away from you, a wide grin on his face. “Please, please, please let me take you out to dinner.”

“Okay,” you smile back, unable to contain your giddiness. “I’d like that very much.”

“Tomorrow night?” he proposes. His eagerness makes you giggle. He might be the busiest person on campus, but he’ll clear his entire schedule if it means he gets to spend time with you.

“Sure,” you agree. “It’s a date. If we ever manage to get out of bed, that is.”

Taehyun laughs a little before pulling you into another kiss. By now, the rain has stopped, but you aren’t going anywhere.

—————-

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[quitealotofsodapop]

We discussed in TMKATI how things might change with Wukong being pregnant, and let's just say... Macaque is a huge dick. Like even more so than usual.

Ref.

Yeeeahhh.

Turns out that in order to stabilze its own chaotic energy; the Harbinger decided to perform a split and mitosis into "twin" spirits.

Wukong is initially convinced that he managed to trap the *one* spirit in himself, but Macaque had suspicions about the weird inky residue in the comet's left-over eggshell...

Wukong, few weeks carrying the Egg: "Mihou has been so mean lately! Today he literally said he's "sick of my presence!" And then he left the apartment!" Tang, sympathetic: "Ugh, what a drag." Pigsy: "I'm telling ya, Wu. He keeps this up, you need to put your foot down and make him start worshipping you - or get him to hit the road!" (*Meanwhile*) Macaque: (*throwing up in a garbage can*)

Macaque managed to "hear" the weaker twin before Wukong turned in the egg-shell as evidence to the Jade Emperor - but he's keeping quiet about it.

Macaque is still grappling with a lot of stuff emotionally (not to mention with LBD) and he doesn't want anyone to discover this new "weakness" he has - not even Wukong.

Wukong... doesn't take Macaque's hostile attitude lightly. Lets just say, after the Big Fight, Macaque leaving to distance himself, and learning about the Bone Demon - Wukong tossed his marriage pendant at Mac's feet, breaking it into millions of pieces. Macaque is just numb for a good while, blankly ignoring the Thrall's threats when he comes for repayment.

Thankfully, an eavesdropping little bull prince steals the Skeleton Key from his shadowy uncle's pocket, and drives madly to Megapolis to kidnap the Tang Monk and Uncle Wukong to resurrect his Baba and save the world from evil bone ladies!

Wukong has his breakdown at failing to lift the Staff, officially admitting to Tang, Pigsy, and Sandy who he really is. And what Macaque really means to him.

The divine connection Tang manages to forge can't release the Bull King, but it manages to let Wukong pass through to the Underworld to settle a score. Skeleton Key in hand, he's escorted by a shocked DBK to the Ten Kings to confront them personally with the Bone Demon's plans.

But the Ten Kings now know that Wukong is carrying the Harbinger of Chaos... and they aren't just letting him go without a full inquiry to the Jade Emperor. Wukong begs for them to spare the child in his place, but is trapped in a holding cell for the time being.

Macaque quickly senses that something is wrong after losing the Key. He can't hear Wukong any more. He rushes back to the gang, only to get a chewing out from Pigsy for bailing on his mate in his time of need (and getting tied in a geas to an evil bone demon but thats less important).

The Noodle Gang learn that Wukong is trapped-trapped in the Underworld via the Bull Family - DBK was rewarded a "one astral/phone call" for helping bring LBD's plan to a halt, and choose to call his wife to reunite with her + warn her and the others about Wukong's situation.

Macaque realises that they only way for both of the monkeys to get out of this; is for him to do something more... Wukong-esque. Nezha comes with as his guide (rebirth spirit = can't be touched by death gods).

Clutching his mate's repaired marriage pendant in hand, Macaque stands before the Ten Kings and demands that they allow the owner of the pendant to leave with him unharmed.

The Ten Kings... are kinda impressed with this monkey's nerve. And Wukong (mid-escape with Nezha's help) is star-struck by Macaque's sincerity.

The Ten Kings amass a bunch of celestials to the court for a proper Trial for Wukong and Macaque's freedom + a decision on whether or not to spare the Harbinger from destruction. (This is also how Li Jing discovers whats actually going on with the monkeys, and that his son is still alive, albeit in a weaker form).

Macaque manages to argue that chaos isn't inherently evil/negative, and that really none of them know what will become of the Harbinger. None of them, not even the gods of children, know what a child will grow into.

The court comes to a decision; both monkeys are allowed go, and the Harbinger's spirit left unharmed-

IF!!

The two can prove their devotion to one another and their child. Walk from the deepest pit of the Underworld to the exit without their trust faltering once. One of them blinded to prevent the use of Gold Vision, the other deafened to cover all Six Ears. They can't receive any help from their allies (so Nezha and DBK are benched), or try and just brute force out of there.

Macaque and Wukong agree.

The Bodhisattva of the Dead, Kshitigarbha, acts as the challenge's referee.

As this Orpheus/Eurydice-esque challenge progresses, Wukong and Mac do come close to failing a few times. They cannot hear/see one another, and the Underworld plays tricks on their mind even if they manage to hold hands.

Until they come to the fated Naihe Bridge.

And there's a sheer sea of monkey spirits, cheering them on!

Those who passed from age and sickness, those who perished in the Burning, those who were lost to hunters, even those who passed long before Wukong's stone egg cracked - all cheering for their true King and his mate to finish their journey!

Wukong is overwhelmed and crying with joy through his blindfold, hearing the shouts and praise of his people long past. Macaque in turn tears up, seeing just how many of their people still believe in him as his mate's Equal.

DBK is the last soul they meet before leaving the Underworld for good, giving his xiandi and sworn brother-in-law a gruff but soft smile. And not-so-subtly implying that the pair should consider him and PIF the godparents as repayment for his imprisonment.

Of course, this is where it comes out that there's not just one "Egg".

Wukong: (*flickering his gold vision back on after being blinded in the Underworld. looks at Macaque, sees a familiar mass in his mid-section*) ( ˶°ㅁ°) !! Macaque, defeated/fond sigh: "Yep." (ᵕ—ᴗ—) Wukong: "Baby!" Macaque, comes closer: "Yes." Wukong, too stunned to move: "Since when?!" Macaque, nuzzling him: "Same time." Wukong: "Same time!? Then- oh yeah. chaos likes to separate into heavy and light energy... So the being sick of my presence thing?" Macaque: "Yup. Morning sickness. I found the lil guy in the eggshell after you fell asleep the first night." Wukong: "Why didn't you say anything?!" Macaque, shrugs: "Guess I didn't want you to pretend you cared about me just because of the kid." Wukong, little annoyed: "Hypocrite! I've been panicking the last two months that you only stuck around for the Egg! Macaque, light smirk: "Well now we can't get rid of each other so easily." Wukong, happy worried tears: "You idiot." Wukong & Macaque: (*press foreheads together and nuzzle*) The rest of the gang present: (⊙_⊙) Pigsy: "THERE'S TWO OF THEM!?!"

The twins are Mozhi/Inky (named for the black-point fur on his hands and tail) and Xiaotian/MK (the "little heaven" to his greater-than-heaven-Baba). PIF and DBK are made the godparents of Mozhi, and Pigsy and Tang are made MK's.

The pair are complete yin-yang siblings if there ever were a pair. XD

(The Nine Headed Demon still lurks, only now even more intrigued that the Harbinger managed to split itself into two parts...)

[anora-mac-tired]

TALLON TABRIS MAC TIR

The half-elf bastard son of Teryn Loghain, in the flesh!!

Headcanon Time!

So, Adaia Tabris was a Chasind elf, who lived in Gwaren for a time. There, she met the gorgeous Teryna Celia Mac Tir, and they grew close. Then Loghain was around, and they hit off two in the worlds messiest throuple.

Loghain wasn't around very often in Gwaren, so Adaia stuck around to help Celia with the running of the Terynir and no one really batted an eye because Gwaren is a very mixed Brecillian Clayne and Chasind place (with a couple of Dalish in the mix too)

He was effectively raised by Celia Mac Tir and Adaia. (Yay two moms!)

He does have a complex about his relationship with Loghain. He was never starved for any affection, but never really got any from Loghain. He sees the version of Loghain from the stories, knows his father's legend, and wants to emulate it. When Loghain does all the things, like leaving him to die at Ostagar, Tallon is furious, broken, and bent on settling that score.

As for his relationship with Anora, they barely got to spend a lot of time together when he was older, as she was whisked away to be tutored in Highever shortly after he was born. But she put two and two together pretty quickly, since Adaia and Celia didn't exactly hide their relationship, more just kept it low-key.

It wasn't really made public to the Landsmeet, although rumours did spread. Anora, being good at lying, managed to shield her brother from too much scrutiny, and for all intents and purposes he could have had a quiet life as a hunter or fisherman. But then Adaia was killed by human bandits, and he swore vengeance. Celia had passed a few years before, and now he affectively lost his other parent.

He tracked them down to Denerim. He was following leads when he went into the alienage, on the day of a wedding... And you guys know how that ended.

Tallon is a mix of Loghains cunning, stubbornness, and sense of crushing responsibility. From Adaia, he got a hot-temper and a firm sense of independence and freedom.

He does not hold any Chantry beliefs, practicing a combination of Chasind and Brecillian spirituality. (More on the Brecillian Clayne and their version of Andraste in a different post sometime promise)

[ubescoups]

Run To You

Chapter Three

February 2023. 

Elle looks at distant buildings and spaces as she walks to the Magnus building. She has been like this since the first comprehensive exams were done. She’s just worried about the results, knowing she has guessed more than twenty items due to her poor management of the three-hour limit per test that they were given. She had to solve fifty problems and answer fifty multiple-choice questions. 

“Hey,” a somewhat familiar voice calls her out when she bumps into them. 

She murmurs an apology as she looks up to see Seungcheol with a smile. Elle immediately recalls that he’s the guy introduced by Mingyu and Vernon to him when she joined them for some drinks in Pop Up. 

“Ikaw pala ‘yan,” he says with a soft smile. 

“Sorry,” she says once again. 

“Haharang-harang na naman kaming taga-Ruaño, ano?” He jokes. 

She just chuckles. 

“Looks like you’re not really chatty in the morning, Elle. See you around,” he says. 

“See you,” she replies with a smile before walking away.

Seungcheol watches her walk away before going on his way to his building. Elle is still walking briskly, her attention is almost non-existent. Her wired earphones are blasting Mac Ayres. She has always been like this in the morning—in her giant bubble, mind full of thoughts that would eventually overwhelm her as she finds her way to the classroom. A junior or a batchmate would call her attention, greeting her with a side hug or a smile that snaps her back to reality, breaking the trance her chain of thoughts would bring her. 

As she arrives inside the classroom, she pauses the music. 

“Good morning, Elle,” Colleen greets. 

Denise greets her too. 

“Alam niyo na ba kung kailan ilalabas ni Sir Richard results ng exams natin?” She asks. 

“Pangit naman ng bungad mo, Mama Elle,” Denise jokes. 

They all laugh as she settles down. 

“Next week pa ata, Elle,” Colleen answers with a smile on her face. 

She nods to acknowledge the answer given by her. Elle opens her iPad to ready herself for the only morning class she has which falls on a Wednesday. Jun is not with them as he’s a regular student who has no backlogs. He only attends comprehensive review courses for this semester. This class reminds her that no matter how close they are and how he can understand her struggles, they’re still not on the same level. 

She has always observed how regular students and some teachers would look down on irregular students like her. 

Truth is, it is not just an isolated case in their college but it’s a universal experience for irregular students all over the country. It’s what happens when a big chunk of people’s validation comes from academics as they were raised by generations who focused on achievements from education. It is evident in her own family. She’s a victim of it, too. While her mother has always assured her that doing her best is enough for her, her aunties do not. She would always give them a shy smile whenever they compared her field to her other cousins, making them feel she was highly favored by everyone when she was not. Being the only one who succeeded in pursuing the field of accounting in the third generation of the family gave her a lot of high expectations she should meet. She has become afraid to fail in meeting them and this fear feels paralyzing for her. It’s the one that puts her in a trance, in a drowning spiral of thoughts that she keeps to herself. 

She only smiles and laughs to mask all the thoughts she has inside her. 

The class concludes and Elle is off to the carpark to buy food. She’s usually with the three but she wants to choose her food as she can’t focus on buying what she wants if she has three other people to listen to. She’s not usually like this as she enjoys the company of her friends but she has been overwhelmed lately. From what she would read online, she might have what they call “sensory overload” or overstimulation. Yet, she knows that the impending release of the test scores is what is keeping her in this state. She knows she failed and wants to finally see it on a tangible piece of paper so she can understand how bad it is. 

“Tulala again?” A voice says. 

She looks behind as she queues for the famous Bacsilog. It’s Seungcheol. 

“I’m not usually like this. Sorry,” she replies with a sheepish smile. 

“Wala ‘yon. It’s nice that we keep meeting up like this after that party,” he tells her. 

Elle nods, trying to entertain the guy who seems to be around her since that Saturday night. They would see each other in the pathways across Ruaño and Magnus, the carpark, and the Lovers Lane. Maybe it’s because of the proximity of the buildings where they go to almost daily or maybe they tend to bump into each other now and realize it because they finally know each other.

“Araw-araw ka ba pumapasok?” Elle asks. 

“Yes. Marami pa ring units eh. May mga minor subjects pa nga,” Seungcheol answers. 

“Ano pala program mo?” She asks as she points to the man behind the counter her order. 

She gets a hundred peso bill to pay him. 

“Electrical Engineering,” he replies.

“I see,” she replies as she steps to the side for him to be able to order his lunch. 

“Eh ikaw?” He asks. 

“Management Accounting,” she answers as he joins her to the side. 

They both watch the men behind the counter prepare countless orders. 

“Are you okay?” Seungcheol asks, much to Elle’s surprise. 

Maybe it’s because attending programs that are mentally and emotionally taxing led Seungcheol into asking her that question or is it evident in Elle’s face that she’s anxious? 

“I am,” she gulps.

“Bakit mo naman natanong?” She asks back. 

“You look like you could use a friend since earlier,” he replies. 

“I am okay,” she says once again. 

While she said that to appease Seungcheol’s mind, it’s more like convincing herself that she is okay. She bites the flesh of her cheek as she waits for her order. Seungcheol feels the discomfort of his sudden question to the lady beside him. Yet, before he starts another conversation, another gentleman approaches Elle. 

It is Wonwoo. 

“Elle! Uy, Seungcheol! Magkakilala kayo?” Wonwoo greets them both with confusion. 

“Pinakilala ni Mingyu at Vernon sa akin noong Saturday,” Elle replies with a smile as Wonwoo pulls her into a quick side hug. 

“Well, ito kasing si Seungcheol ay tropa ko sa block, Elle. We hang out sa condo niya from time to time,” Wonwoo explains as they pat each other’s back. 

“Small world,” she comments in amusement, earning nods from both lads. 

“By the way, Elle, sabi ni Trish sa Friday raw baka pwede ka raw sa hapon? After ng class niyo?” He asks. 

“Sige. I think pwede naman,” she says to her friend. 

Wonwoo nods with a smile, relieved to hear his friend is agreeing to join their group’s café dates after almost three months of not joining them. Elle has been a lifesaver to him and Trish. The two have put together that it has been their friend who supported them in realizing the feelings they have for each other. 

“Bacsilog po,” the man behind the counter says as he reaches out to hand Elle’s order and Seungcheol’s. 

“Saan na kayo?” She asks the two lads. 

“Ruaño na,” Seungcheol replies. 

Without saying anything, they all walk to get out of the carpark.

“Dito na ako,” Elle says as they’re finally in front of her building. 

“Nice talking to you, Seungcheol,” she says as she side hugs Wonwoo. 

“Cheol na lang,” he tells her. 

“See you around,” he adds as he also invites her for a quick side hug. 

He watches her get inside the building like he did earlier when they bumped into each other. 

The Elle he met back at the party is different from the woman she just spent almost half an hour with at the carpark. 

“Kilala mo pala tropa ko,” Wonwoo says as they approach their building. 

“Noong Sabado lang,” Seungcheol tells him. 

“Siya yung nakwento ko sa’yo na dati nang alam about kay Trish,” he says, referring to his bestfriend that he is finally courting. 

“Dapat pala pasalamatan ko rin siya dahil nakakapagod mangumbinsi ng torpe mag-isa,” he replies with slight annoyance to his close friend for taking too long to have balls and admit he’s in love with his bestfriend. 

“Alam mo magkaugali nga kayo ‘non,” Wonwoo laughs. 

He doesn’t expound on this statement as they enter the building. 

“Saan ka pala kakain?” He asks Seungcheol who’s holding the food he had bought. 

“Sa loob na ng klase,” he responds. 

On the other hand, Elle is finally inside the classroom. She goes on her day, trying to grasp the new lessons for the comprehensive review class. She scribbles notes on her iPad, maximizing the expensive gadget she bought using the money she got from her two internships. She’s seated in front of the class to make sure she absorbs the lessons being taught by her professor. She knows she has to bounce back from the first exams despite not knowing how bad the results are. She’s anticipating the next scenario already. 

It has always been like this. Elle works herself to the bone to make sure her family knows that all of their sacrifices are worth it, to make sure her father up there is proud that she is his daughter—to make sure that they won’t regret supporting her even if it means forgetting her happiness. She has not even asked herself what she wanted for a long time except for that tablet she’s using for her studies. She only wants to hear her family that they’re proud of her. 

When they were given a half-hour break, Jun faced Elle who was still busy fixing her notes. She’s properly writing her scribbled notes to save time as she’ll be stuck in the traffic for at least two hours later and will surely go home tired. She’s trying to financially recover from the weekend splurge as she doesn’t have an allowance from her internship as it concluded two weeks ago. 

“Pahinga mo muna mata mo, Elle,” Jun says with a smile on his face. 

“Inaayos ko lang. Makakatulog din naman ako mamaya sa jeep,” she chuckles. 

“Are you joining us later sa study session sa Discord?” He asks. 

“Yeah. Sa Discord lang pala? Akala ko sa study hub,” she answers. 

“Well, hindi pa naman exams ulit. Sa kanya-kanyang bahay muna tayo para iwas sa traffic at gastos,” he tells her. 

Elle chuckles once again. Denise and Colleen go back to their seats and greet the two. They discuss their plans to go over the handouts they were given earlier and are currently discussed by their professor. 

This day is one of those days when Elle would feel anxious over her future as she’s supposed to be in her last year of college. She’s aware of the statistics that only 40-60% of the batch for the program will graduate on time. While that fact keeps her up at night, she’s thankful she has friends to help her study. 

When Friday came, she looked forward to joining Trisha, Wonwoo, Alia, and Margie at the café Trisha discovered. 

As she walks at the pathway going to Dapitan where she’ll meet her friends, she finally sees her test score despite being told that it will get released by next week. 

35/100

Her eyes widen in horror and she clutches her hand over her mouth in disbelief. 

It wasn’t supposed to be that low. She knew she flunked but not this hard. Her vision blurs as tears come out of her eyes. She does not care if anyone is looking at her. She’s just heartbroken. 

“Fuck,” she exhales as her chest heaves as she quietly sobs. 

“Hey,” a voice calls her out. 

It’s Seungcheol. He levels with her and gives her his handkerchief. For some reason, Elle accepts it when she usually hates being around people whenever she cries like this. 

“Sama ka sa akin, Elle. Let’s get you somewhere more private,” he says as he guides her to get up from the bench of the pathway. 

She follows, not caring anymore as she’s just heartbroken. Seungcheol guides her to the passenger seat of his car and he turns it on so he can turn on the aircon. 

They both sit in silence. Elle just cries her eyes out, not minding that she’s in somebody’s SUV wailing and not explaining what had transpired. 

Seungcheol just watches her phone beep with messages from everyone but he lets her cry her eyes out, knowing she should let it all out. 

[mitchbeck]

WOLF PACK BATTLE TO KNOCK OFF THUNDERBIRDS 6-4

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack SPRINGFIELD, MA—On Saturday night at the MassMutual Center, The Hartford Wolf Pack earned their fourth straight victory and a split of the 'I-91 Rivalry' this season. The Wolf Pack came back on four different occasions before eventually completing the comeback in the third period, winning 6-4. Brennan Othmann gave the Wolf Pack their first lead of the night 12:04 into the third period, scoring his 21st goal of the season. Othmann weaved his way into the slot before rifling a shot by Vadim Zhernko's glove. The goal proved to be Othmann's fourth game-winning goal of the season. The Thunderbirds opened the scoring 6:15 into the game, as Mathias Laferriere fired home his seventh goal of the season. Laferriere worked his way into the right-wing circle before beating goaltender Hugo Ollas with his blocker. Just 57 seconds later, however, the Wolf Pack countered. Othmann snapped a shot by Zherenko's glove from the left-wing circle, lighting the lamp for the 20th time this season. Victor Mancini was credited with the lone assist on the goal at 7:12, the first point of his professional career. The T-Birds regained the lead at 14:04, as the Wolf Pack failed to clear a puck. Matthew Kessel stepped into a blast that beat Ollas for his third goal of the season. Once again, however, the Wolf Pack had an answer. Jaroslav Chmelař potted his second career professional goal at 17:27, converting on a breakaway. Chmelař went backhand-to-forehand before roofing a shot over Zhernko's glove. The Wolf Pack pushed hard for their first lead in the middle stanza, but Zherenko held firm before things settled down heading into the final five minutes. Zhernko made 13 saves in the period, preventing the Wolf Pack from gaining a lead. Jakub Vrana gave the Thunderbirds their third lead of the night at 15:01, using his speed to gain a partial breakaway. Vrana drew a penalty on Nikolas Brouillard but didn't need the man advantage. He finished it off right there, going to the backhand and beating Ollas through the five-hole for his 16th goal of the season. The Thunderbirds were awarded the game's first powerplay at 17:20, as Othmann was whistled for boarding. After a solid kill, Mac Hollowell nearly sprang Othmann in on a breakaway after he exited the penalty box. The pass harmlessly fluttered into the offensive zone, or so it seemed. Othmann turned on the jets, collected the puck, and fed Hollowell. Hollowell cut to the net, went to the backhand, and stuffed home his third goal of the season at 19:31 to tie things up again. For the fourth time, the Thunderbirds took the lead. This time, a powerplay strike from Zach Dean at 2:50 of the third period made it a 4-3 game. Sahil Panwar had the Wolf Pack's fourth response, as he tipped in his first career AHL goal at 9:58. Blake Hillman stepped into a shot that Panwar deflected in front to make it a 4-4 game. Othmann gave the Wolf Pack their first lead of the night at 12:04, completing a three-point effort (2 g, 1 a). Hollowell picked up his 40th assist of the season, the first defenseman to accomplish the feat for the Wolf Pack since Andrew Hutchinson during the 2007-08 season. Adam Sýkora completed the comeback at 18:36, hitting an empty net for his eighth goal of the season. Ollas made 14 saves to collect the victory in his professional debut. Hartford concludes the 2023-24 regular season tomorrow with a trip to Providence to take on the Bruins. The puck drop is set for 3:05 p.m. # # # About OVG360: OVG360, a division of Oak View Group, is a full-service venue management and hospitality company that helps client partners reimagine the sports, live entertainment, and convention industries for the betterment of the venue, employees, artists, athletes, and surrounding communities. With a portfolio of more than 200 client partners spanning arenas, stadiums, convention centers, performing arts centers, cultural institutions, and state fairs around the globe, OVG360 provides a set of services, resources, and expertise designed to elevate every aspect of business that matters to venue operators. Service-oriented and driven by social responsibility, OVG360 helps facilities drive value through excellence and innovation in food services, booking and content development, sustainable operations, public health and safety, and more. ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since its inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers' newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOWLINGS Read the full article

[colleenmurphy]

"Hey Mackey you and I have to talk. Stop by the Gaelic Club tonight after 9. I'll be closing early."

She kept her voice in check as she inhaled sharp and deep from her hand rolled joint. Somewhere below her the jukebox whirled through some song that reminded her of the summer she turned 21. Hairspray, Sun Coast tan oil and Wink's Harvest Wine Coolers. What she had to talk to Mr. Mackey about what important. There was a line that could not, no, absolutely would not be crossed if she could help it with her entire being. She'd cash in every favor she'd ever tucked away for a rainy day. Her father had connections all the way back home and her Frank, well, his work portfolio always allowed time to dedicated to his wife's sudden passions. Colleen was after all, an artist and quite given to her creative and Irish temperament. It was this very temperament that made her so protective of her best friend in the world. She never had the chance to have a sibling as her father, Reg Murphy had died suddenly back Home, as it was called. Minnie had never remarried, or rather taken up residence with another man since then so she was always Minnie MacKeen.

By some grace she's wandered downstairs and taken over cleaning duties. The entire place soon smelled of Country Garden cleaner and lemon furniture polish and she, well, she was stoned. Rueing over her feared reaction to Mackey's reaction to Helene's news she scrubbed the bar top until it shone. Moving on quickly to bar prep she took note of the garnish trays, sticky with red grenadine and finishing sugars.

'That won't fucking happen to Helene.'

Colleen vowed fiercely as she sliced lemons behind the bar at the tiny prep station. The entire time her knife snipped with cold efficiency as her father had showed her. She then moved on to peel garnishes with the same determination.

"There's my little aggressive garnish maker! Woah...what the hell did those lemons do to you, Colly?"

"I called Mackey to talk...I'm all over the place about how he's going to react and I swear to god Frank...if he tries anything with Helene I'll fucking kill him."

The way that his wide green eyed rosy cheeked wife said this with such cold determination scared Frank a bit. He remembered the mess with Benson and how her father's legal team 'cooperated fully' with the Sloughbridge PD.

"Frank Mackey's not Joel Benson. Frank Mackey's a scared scarred little boy who got dealt a shit hand in the father department. Joel Benson was a psycho piece of shit whose mother should have kept her legs closed. There's a difference. You of all people should see that."

"Touche, Flannery."

"Why not let me handle this and you can get started on...lunch? a sandwich sounds good about now."

"I've got a knife in my hands, pouring my worries out to you and you want food?! What the hell kinda man did your mother raise?"

"Ma raised four strapping Flannery men, thanks much."

"Your sister Mo doesn't count!"

"I'm tellin' her you said that!"

"No! No! Don't! She'll kill me. What kind of sandwich?"

"The Everything with Mac Salad."

"Fine."

"You ever think of just talking openly to Mackey? Make him a plate, settle him down with a drink and just talk. You can do that, Col."

"I'll think about it."

A fist pump from Frank Flannery as he went about cutting lemons. Score one for the peaceful approach.

[the-firebird69]

It says 50 Grand have to check and see if it's the toy but all the other cars are priced wrong I'm pretty sure that they mean the car it's like a 1961 phantom silver phantom and my mind is with 10 million dollars or $20 million dollars somewhere in there if they auction and it's different and it matters what the history is and what number in production and what actual condition is but still how could they say 50 Grand and the other cars the new Cullen and phantom and all those 350 grand for each of them that's ridiculous I don't think that they've ever cost that much ever and now they're not being made and people are demanding them and they have money that's ridiculous all they have is money. And the one that is in Arthur someone said 20 grand so I'm wondering if this is a toy metal toy but I don't think so cuz the the new cars are supposed to be worth more and they're they're not and really excuse I don't understand I don't think they had any left and they want to try and say they're worth more and 300 Grand isn't really the same much and really this car above is with a lot of money because they're very rare and Rolls-Royce will get made once so I don't understand that

Zues Hera

He was talking well and he learned and he's paying attention his numbers are not bad maybe a little low but he's right though he doesn't know the condition or anything and what if it's coming up for bid and he's smiling because those people will try and get it. He's saying met him Albright but no it was actually owned by Winston Churchill it's his own car and they changed the color is not true either you see the picture but it's hard to tell what color it is and he's upset he helps slander these things and he's a moron now and he used to be the wealthy elite. But boy this car is worth a lot of money it would be worth upwards of maybe $80 million dollars and it says wow I don't see I didn't know who it was and that's kind of low for Winston Churchill because of the world war II association so we're both playing something and now it would be worth more especially to Max and it's not the toy I checked what a reaction by a lot of people it's old and crappy and they don't know when you go up and up to it and you open the door it's heavy the car rides like a cloud and go pretty fast like a hundred if you hit something whatever you hit is pretty much getting it destroyed it's real steel and it's meant to be armored it's meant to be a nice ride and safe and kind of fast that's what they were for the big motorcycle front and some motor coach and my grand nephew called that just now and he knows all about it his dad is the one who founded Rolls-Royce no it was me and he designed it and I fun to be near perfect so you should know something damn it but wow Winston Churchill how the mighty have fallen he says and to what level Charlie Manson that's terrific not even Charles and he says he has a score to settle have a great nephew tells him to go piss in the corner of the apartment. And he agrees he probably should. But this is a period piece this is a wonderful vehicle Arnie did a great job and it was for Winston Churchill and a security and the glass of safety glass and some bulletin at once no but they knew that it could do and he had a wonderful time in it and enjoyed it and he did I do some job but now he's so horrible person and I don't want this back in his hands and my grand nephew so stop at a replica... The prices on all these rolls royces are too low these guys are raising their price first and I can see it online and no not yet and they're going to there are other high value cars that can check and they have them sure the waiting for something but they probably shouldn't have the building right and I looked and it's amazing and he has a right to have them make them and he's in the family and they're not for him and he knows it

Mac Daddy

We're going to make fun of you no I went to phantoms and I'm going to put the particular sin I know which place is yours I believe and I can ask Mac. Besides to get the towing package that's why I can get a chopper from the chopper company that's ridiculous to say you don't have a towing package on it instead of course not but it might be on the rambler I'm having those made and he's and I'm saying this what are you talking about I might call that it's that thing and it's really part of the Australian military and it's converted a little and I'm interested in that that sounds nice and the chopper I have a style I like I might order one those things kick butt they're real fast too and that's what their names are famous and they're getting out there so I'd like to order two and I'm going to check where and he says they'll build them and it doesn't take long and by hand and they have a way of showing the new owner and they also put the stamp on like Arnie used to and that was him and I'm encouraged

Bob marsh he says he gets no proceeds and Arnie used to and we did it on purpose

Bob Mars is not a Mac proper to go get the wrong idea it's just he likes to live that way and a lot of people do and a friend is making Harley-Davidson we're not producing any it's about a million a day which is really piss poor and not really selling and a friend knows why they're too heavy they're too big most of us are not big yet we might not be and most of the bikes are too big you just can't do anything with and it's absolutely true so he's saying that Victory is the way to go. No we agree with him that victory motorcycle would be and it's this guy Trump in the way and it's a perfect bike it's big though but no no where near as big as Harley they're not they're like a sport cruiser and they're very fast and powerful and that's why and Bob March wants to be involved oh so he says I think I get the idea and I'm going to open shop so I used to have them and we'll get to Ken potato to open some and he says say my name right and my grand nephew says my name right so I guess that's correct it says no so he says Frankie lupena he says yes but I guess I'll sell them as Kenneth petito it's like a small potato and what's the frequency Kenneth and it's not right and it says great I'll go in there and look around sit on them ask you about him and walk out cuz I have to unless they make a car I guess it would be what do you think one front wheel like a trike you make it wide enough and long enough and it works like The Addams family and Hera wants to take a look at it. We're going to get with Bob Marsh to make sure it's real and he wants to have her work on it and it's this idea that we're using to make a knock off or a replica. We agree it's about to go it's going to attract Trump and Bob Mars gets it and higher ups too

Mac Daddy

Is it always financial districts and has more funds than we do

We give permission to print

Olympus

I just think of this stuff you and I are working on the Bradley GT and we haven't done anything with that I can't find anybody to do it you're saying you will I don't want you doing that we will find someone but we got to look at it again this is great I want to do the victory and I'm putting in to do it and to have our kids run it some of them do we have a volunteer and he is not new to us is new to volunteering for this and he's like speed racer but he's from the motorcycle atmosphere and my husband your father asked me what other genre and he says he's like the guy it is a guy phantom or something and that's what it is and you see him in some of the movies and videos and he has seen him in his fighting and you couldn't tell who he was. It's captain phasma but my name is Phantom and that's weird but phasma is not a name or something so I get that. And he wants me to sell by Marsh the two phantoms so I'm going to meet up with zig zag and get in touch with him and start talking about this this is perfect and he says yes and strange and Bob Marley is excited and this is how it goes when you have a life

Mac Daddy

[iyumeu]

Pillow Fort Movie Time! - with the Brothers

After begging, pleading, wheedling, and scoring As for all your tests, Lucifer had finally given in and allowed you to use the House of Lamentation's common area one (1) time to do whatever you wanted.

And you wanted to build a pillow fort.

However! You were not content with just a pillow fort. No. You wanted a Cinema Pillow Fort: large, extravagant, and with a television you could watch a movie on.

And so you went to Mammon, knowing that he had a large flat-screen television hoarded somewhere within his room that he wasn't using at all.

⭒☆━━━━━━━⸜₍๑•⌔•๑ ₎⸝━━━━━━━☆⭒

> When you asked Mammon for the television, he was somewhat reluctant to part with it at first. After all, it had cost him a pretty penny and it was fragile!

> However, after telling him what you wanted to do with it and inviting him along (because he would be part of your pillow fort movie party. C'mon. He never leaves you alone and it'll be better to invite him rather than have him try to squeeze his way in. Inviting him would make him feel wanted and you definitely wanted him there!), he had blushed and said that it wasn't that he wanted to help you, but you had asked and he just so happened to be free so he would help you set up both the television and the fort! But he wasn't being nice! He was just... making sure that your pillow fort didn't suck! Because he'd be in there too! (Because he was your first! Your man!) And he didn't want to be in a pillow fort that sucked!

> Mammon had no idea what a pillow fort was. But he wasn't going to tell you that.

> He plugged up the television and hung up the canopy of the pillow fort, layering the blankets and cloth (and why had Mammon been hoarding so much good cloth?) and attaching them to the part of the ceiling where Lucifer usually strung him from so they were nice and secure.

> Your excitement and joy was rubbing off of him and he found himself looking forward to seeing the end result of the pillow fort the two of you were building together.

> Meanwhile you placed some futons and thin mattresses — whatever you had lying around, really — on the ground before covering them up with a few layers of plush and fluffy blankets for the base of the pillow fort.

This was when Belphegor trailed down the stairs, sleepily rubbing at his eye with one hand and holding his pillow in the other, pausing in his step when he saw caught sight of the utter mess you and Mammon had turned the common area to.

⭒☆━━━━━━━ʕ -ᴥ-ʔ━━━━━━━☆⭒

> Belphegor's first thought was honestly to just leave you guys be. It looked like more trouble than it was worth and he couldn't really muster up the energy for it.

> But then you smiled at Mammon so openly and so sweetly, thanking him for his help, that Belphegor suddenly sound himself standing next to you, arms around you and his chin resting on your head.

> "MC... what are you doing?" he asked, ignoring Mammon's demands for him to keep his hands to himself.

> "I'm building a pillow fort!"

> Despite having a demon hanging off of you, you move with a practiced ease as you shifted the futons and mattresses around to ensure that there were neither bumps nor gaps in your base.

> With a similarly practiced ease, Belphie nuzzled his face into the crook of your shoulder.

> "What's a pillow fort?"

> You briefly explain to Belphie what a pillow fort was (pretending to ignore how Mammon listened in on the conversation as well): a construction made out of blankets, pillows, and other soft material resembling a sort of den or nest. It was supposedly very comfortable and cozy.

> This piqued Belphegor's interest. He asks if he can help. He wants to be praised too, like how you praised Mammon.

> You tell him to bring all the pillows he's willing to part with. This was something he could do. He had a lot of pillows, after all, and he would ask Beel to help him drag them all down.

> While Belphegor went to retrieve his pillows, you already had a few beanbags chairs that you bought specifically for this day that you placed around the fort. You piled your pillows together with them to create a few sizeable and steady piles to either lean back or bury yourself in.

Eventually, Beelzebub came down the stairs along with Belphegor, arms pull of pillows and cushions.

⭒☆━━━━━━━ᙙᙖ━━━━━━━☆⭒

> After setting down the pillows and watching Belphegor lie face first into a pile and fall asleep, Beelzebub's attention was immediately drawn to the pile of snacks you had set aside for your movie night.

> First, there were the snacks you had specifically imported from the human realm. Popcorn with various flavors, marshmallows, potato chips, ice cream... you even got yourself two buckets of cotton candy!

> Apart from those, you had spent the day cooking large servings of mac n' cheese, mashed potatoes, and warm soup (in a thermos!). You had also baked cookies and although half of them "mysteriously" disappeared when you were cooling them, you still had quite a sizeable serving left.

> Why did you have so much food? Because you planned ahead of course! From the very beginning, you knew that even though pillow fort movie night was something you planned for yourself, your wonderful, beloved, amazing, clingy demonic housemates would somehow become a part of it.

> The only thing you weren't sure was the number of demons joining you.

> It didn't matter though, considering Beelzebub was here.

> You had to stand between Beelzebub and the food, sternly holding your ground and talking him down. It was an extremely difficult endeavor, considering the lethality of Beelzebub's puppy eyes, but you pulled through. Just barely.

> You lied. You gave Beel the mashed potatoes.

> When you noticed that Beelzebub was still eyeing the rest of your food, you firmly told him that the food was saved for your movie night and that if he wanted to eat it, he had to wait until then.

> "When will movie night start?" he asked.

> "When the pillow fort is set up," you replied.

> +1 helper, get!

> He helped with most of the heavy lifting, bringing the high-backed dining chairs to act as boundary wall for the fort, tying the blankets to them.

> Your pillow fort was taking shape!

> However, it seemed a little too dark. You had completely forgotten to order the fairy lights you planned to use as mood lighting. Thankfully, you know someone who definitely had what you were looking for.

⭒☆━━━━━━━₍ᐢ ̥ ̞ ̥ᐢ₎ ♥━━━━━━━☆⭒

When you knocked on Asmodeus' door to get some of his charmed candles (spelled to keep the flame to themselves! no more burns! no more accidental fires! no more fire hazards! get yours from akuzon now, for only—), he demanded to know what it was for.

> "Is it for a date? A candlelit dinner, maybe?" Asmodeus sidled up next to you, wrapping his arms around one of yours and snuggling close. "Or perhaps to set a romantic, sensual mood for certain... activities?"

> Was it just you or was Asmodeus' grip getting tighter?

> "Since when did you get a paramour anyway," he pouted. "I thought we were friends? Close friends, even! We're supposed to tell each other our secrets!"

> "It's for my pillow fort," you answered. "I'm making one downstairs with Mammon, Belphie, and Beel. You're welcome to join if you want to."

> "I'd love to join!" Asmodeus let go of your arm to grab his candles. "Scented or non-scented?"

> "Non-scented please, we'll be eating snacks while we watch the movie."

> Asmodeus gasped. "A movie? We're going to have a movie date? Ooh, I want to sit next to you! Can I?"

> "Uhhh, I don't mind, but the others might—"

> "It's settled!"

> Asmodeus looked so happy that you decided that you had to make space for him by your side, even if you were faced with ten thousand puppy eyes.

Just then, you saw that Leviathan's door was open and he was looking at the both of you with a pinched expression on his face.

⭒☆━━━━━━━～>º˵)ニニニニ>━━━━━━━☆⭒

> When he realized that you were looking at him, he panicked.

> "MC!!" he blurted out. "I wasn't eavesdropping!"

> His face was flushed red but you noticed that his gaze was still enviously fixed onto you and Asmodeus.

> "Do you want to join us in the pillow fort as well?" you offered. Levi's face turned redder and his grip on the door tightened. Ahh Levi, you're warping the wood.

> "I don't need to join in on your normie activities!" he spat out and then immediately regretted it. "I mean, I don't need to, but I don't mind it! Since you've asked, I suppose I can join in on your movie night and pillow fort!"

> "You don't have to if you don't want to," you said. Half of you was trying to be nice. The other half just wanted to see Levi flustered. You couldn't help yourself. A flustered Levi was a cute Levi!

> Levi mumbled something under his breath. You blinked and leaned in closer.

> "What did you say?"

> "I said I want to!"

> You grinned at him and discovered a brand new shade of red.

> You reached out to link your arms with Asmodeus and Levi.

> "C'mon, let's get back down. The pillow fort should almost be done by now!"

> "Oh right MC," Asmodeus suddenly said. "I've been meaning to ask; what exactly is a pillow fort?"

> "..."

When you were done explaining to Asmodeus and Levi the intricacies of building the Ideal Pillow Fort, you saw Satan standing in the common area, looking curiously at the fort.

⭒☆━━━━━━━(=🝦 ༝ 🝦=)━━━━━━━☆⭒

> You swear, if you had to explain what a pillow fort was one more time—

> "Hello MC, is this... a blanket fort?" Satan asked.

> Oh thank god.

> Or the devil?

> Religion is hard when you're in hell.

> "Yes! I call it a pillow fort but blanket fort is one of its names as well."

> "I see."

> Satan had come across blanket forts — or pillow forts, as MC called them — before in some of the human romance novels he's read. Usually they were used during terribly intimate moments between the romantic leads, or between two very close friends.

> Huddling together and trading hushed whispers, intertwined fingers and shoulders brushing against each other, a small part of Satan has always wanted to try it out with someone.

> Try it out with you, you, it could only be you.

> But he hadn't known how to make a blanket fort and if he were every to do something like that with you, he would want it to be perfect.

> He couldn't find any books on the subject of making blanket forts either so he eventually gave up on his fantasy.

> But now, here it was. The blanket fort.

> It was a little bigger than how he imagined it to be, but it was fine.

> There were also more people compared to how things were in his fantasy but that was also fine.

> He took careful notes in his head. Next time, he would be able to replicate a blanket fort and hopefully you would be willing to share it with him.

> "Would you like to join in?" you asked because Satan was really eyeing the pillow fort with a strange intensity.

> "If you don't mind," Satan replied with a smile.

It was just then that Lucifer came home.

⭒☆━━━━━━━[ᓀ˵◇˵ᓂ]━━━━━━━☆⭒

> "When you said that you wanted free reign over the common area, this was not what I had in mind," Lucifer commented.

> "Haha," you said. And because you already had like six out of seven of the brothers agreeing to join you in your fort, you decided to test your chances with Lucifer. After all, it would suck for him to feel left out. "We're all gonna watch a movie together, would you like to watch with us?"

> There was a long pause as Lucifer looked at you, at the pillow fort, at his brothers, and then at his suitcase.

> Just as you were sure that Lucifer was going to turn down your invitation, he sighed and gave you a small smile.

> Tiny, miniscule, microscopic softening of the eyes, but you knew him well enough to tell that it was a smile.

⭒☆━━━━━━━✿ᏊㅇꈊㅇᏊ✿━━━━━━━☆⭒

> It took a while but eventually you all got yourself settled into the pillow fort. It wasn't a very tight fit, but it certainly was cozy with your clingy demon housemates squeezed tight all around you.

> Each of them had to have a part of their body touching yours, like you were their life source and it brought back memories to the time you went to the beach and, in the hotel, they all formed a circle around you to sleep like some sort of deranged ritual.

> Still, they wouldn't be your beloved demon housemates without all their oddities and quirks and you love them all dearly for it.

> It also helps that not all of them ran hot; some of them actually ran cold so you didn't have to worry about getting overheated anytime soon.

> Anyway, you were comfortable and once you made sure everyone else was too, you loaded your movie and hit play.

"I'd never given much thought to how I would die—"

[the-al-chemist]

When Stars Ignite - Chapter 59

HPHM Rockstar AU

A/N:

Song lyrics used in this chapter are all from Fleetwood Mac’s Songbird, written by Christine McVie. Talbott Winger’s bodyguard Talia Hayes belongs to @whatwouldvalerydo. I’ve been pretty nervous about publishing this specific chapter. Enjoy.

General Warning: This whole fic has a general warning of being NSFW / 18+. We will give specific warnings for every chapter in itself, but several adult themes will be more or less present in every chapter, may it be explicitly or in mention. These include sexual topics, drug abuse, (ab)use of alcohol, smoking and a whole lot of cursing.

Specific Warning: smoking (cigarettes), brief mentions of alcohol/drugs, language, and Artemis gone completely rogue…

~~~

Find the masterpost here, the previous chapter here and the next one here. The songs featured before every chapter can be found on this pretty badass playlist here.

~~~

This work is a collaboration with @lifeofkaze

Taglist: @slytherindisaster @night-rhea @carewyncromwell @thatravenpuffwitch @anthamariemayfair @whatwouldvalerydo

And the songbirds keep singing

Like they know the score

~ Fleetwood Mac - Songbird ~

Artemis wasn’t sure what to do with herself. She knew she couldn’t go back to the soundcheck, and she didn’t really want to go back, either. She left the wings of the Pyramid Stage, and kept walking, not knowing where she was going, or why.

She stepped outside and found the quietest spot she could, and stopped there, her breathing still shallow, her heart still racing. She lit a cigarette, and felt her chest move slower and more widely as the smoke burned its way through her lungs. While one hand held the cigarette, her other remained on her lighter, and she fiddled with it, watching the little flame bob about in the morning breeze.

With each inhalation and exhalation, she felt her anger start to dissipate, and give way to a sense of regret. What had she done? What the fuck was wrong with her? Why had Ethan’s words bothered her so much? Why the fuck had she been so stupid? In shouting at him, she had risked losing a job she had grown to love, with people she had grown to… enjoy the company of. Like. Trust. Why did she always have to ruin everything that was good in her life?

She had an overwhelming urge to get away from reality. Luckily, Glastonbury Festival was as good a place as any for her to lose herself in the crowds. After she finished her cigarette, and pulled herself together somewhat, she set off again. Lunchtime came and went - though Artemis felt too sick to eat - and still she was not ready to return to the yurts, or to spend time with anyone she knew. Instead, she spent the afternoon exploring the less mainstream areas, where she’d be less likely to bump into anyone who knew her.

Even in the quieter zones, crowds had gathered. There were families doing arts and crafts, a group of bohemian-looking people in their middle age doing yoga in the mud, and many teenagers barely out of sixth form already on the alcohol - or, more likely, stronger substances.

Unable to settle in body or in mind, she didn’t stay anywhere for long. The scents of stale alcohol and weed hung in the air, and a mixed cacophony of sounds swam past Artemis’ ears as she meandered past the various tents and stages: the strumming of acoustic guitars, heavy beats of drum and bass, a cheerful-sounding ukulele, the harmonising voices of a gospel choir, and Latin music that, at any other time, might have made her feel like dancing. But not today.

It wasn’t until the evening, when she heard a group of girls a few years younger than herself talking about going to the Pyramid Stage that she remembered that she still had to work that night, and that she had left her morning’s work unfinished. Not only that, she’d agreed to watch Talbott Winger perform with Charlie and his girlfriend. Ava.

Although she still wanted to put off seeing everyone for as long as possible, she had been looking forward to seeing Winger’s set. Frowning for a moment, she decided what she would do. She had a pass to get backstage, and there was bound to be plenty of crew around. No one would notice her in the wings if she kept herself to herself.

She took a route to the back of the Pyramid Stage that avoided the areas where any of the members of Equinox or their crew were likely to be, and flashed her pass to a security guard on the gate. Her head held high, as if she were meant to be there, she walked straight through the backstage areas to the sides of the stage itself. No one stopped her.

In the wings, Talbott Winger was preparing to start his set, taking deep breaths and smoothing his tawny brown hair back off his tanned, pointed face.

“You’re not meant to be here.”

The voice had come from directly behind Artemis. She turned around to see Winger’s red-haired security guard bearing down at her, her face passive but hardened. Artemis shrugged, and took out her pass.

“Not yet, but I’m allowed to be her,” she told the bodyguard, refusing to be intimidated by her cold stare.

“Most people prefer to watch from the crowds. Better view. Better company.”

“I don’t want company.”

Perhaps it was the tone of Artemis’ voice, or something in the expression on her face, but something made Talbott Winger’s bodyguard relent. Although her eyes remained narrowed, she nodded her head.

“Any trouble, and you’re out,” she told her. “I don’t give a shit about that pass.”

She backed away, and Artemis set herself up by a speaker from which she could see most of the stage, and a large section of the arena, trying to make herself as small as possible. The noise from the crowds echoed through to her as Talbott Winger walked out onto the stage, and started to sing a selection of his new songs.

Listening to the music, far from the crowds, hidden from everyone except the taciturn bodyguard, Artemis finally felt almost free from the niggling feeling at the back of her mind, and the tightness in her abdomen that had lingered with her all day. But, now that she was becoming relaxed, she felt a strange pricking sensation at the backs of her eyes. She blinked, and focused her sight on the wings that were embroidered on the back of Talbott’s jacket, watching the way the stitches caught the spotlight.

A scuffling noise from behind her pulled her attention away from the stage, and she turned her face to see what was going on. By the doorway, Winger’s bodyguard was having a hissed conversation with another person with red hair.

Artemis’ stomach flipped as Charlie and the bodyguard looked pointedly in her direction, and the bodyguard reluctantly waved Charlie towards her.

“I thought you might be here,” he whispered as he approached her. Not wanting to look at him, she turned her face back to the stage without saying a word. “Is he any good?”

“He’s okay.”

“Right. And you, are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Artemis lied. She could feel Charlie’s eyes boring into the back of her head, but she didn’t look back.

“Artemis.”

“Yeah?”

“Look, I’m really sorry,” Charlie said, his voice soft. “I let you down earlier, I know. I’m sorry.”

Artemis said nothing. She had nothing to say. Charlie continued:

“I didn’t want to bail on you like that, I swear. And I’m sorry if you didn’t think the meeting went well. I’m sure it went better than you think.”

“The meeting went fine,” Artemis told him.

“Oh,” said Charlie, a note of surprise in his voice. “Oh, right. That’s good. I thought that maybe because you came back so upset that you might have… You know, it’s only natural that you’re nervous.”

“What?”

“About the display tomorrow. It’s a big deal, and a lot of pressure, I get it. It’s no wonder you’re feeling-”

“I’m not nervous.”

“Right. Yeah,” behind her, Artemis heard Charlie sigh before he started whispering again. “Well, about your cousin and the rest of your family, I’m sure they’ll be so happy to see you. You don’t have to be worried about this barbecue-”

“I’m not worried about the fucking barbecue, Charlie.”

Artemis hadn’t meant to raise her voice at all, but she heard Talbott’s bodyguard clear her throat, and turned to see her glaring at her. Charlie must have seen the threatening look in the woman’s eyes too, because he placed his hand on Artemis’ elbow and pulled her backwards, away from the stage and deeper into the wings.

“Alright. So what’s up?” he asked. They were standing face to face now, so Artemis couldn’t avoid eye contact. She shrugged, and shook her head. Charlie tilted his own. “Obviously something’s bothering you, the way you went off on one at Ethan and went AWOL all day. What’s the matter?”

Artemis closed her eyes and inhaled.

“I don’t know,” she whispered. “I just… I really don’t know.”

“That makes it harder to find a way to help,” Charlie replied. Artemis opened her eyes and nodded slowly.

“Yeah. That’s the problem.”

Charlie frowned, silently thinking for a few moments.

“Have you eaten today?” he asked, eventually. Artemis blinked, staring at him incredulously, and he shrugged. “What?”

“For fuck’s sake, Charlie. I’m not just fucking hungry.”

“I just thought that maybe… I don’t know. Never mind.”

Artemis watched Charlie’s eyebrows furrow even deeper.

“You genuinely don’t know what to do now, do you?” she asked him, and he shook his head. In spite of herself, Artemis laughed, placing her hand over her face and lowering her gaze to the ground. She sighed. “I can’t believe that’s really your solution for everything.”

“In my defence, it usually works,” Charlie smiled sheepishly. “You know, I think you’re probably just more stressed about tomorrow night than you realise. It’s a massive gig, after all.”

Artemis frowned. She didn’t think that was it at all, but she nodded anyway. “Maybe. I dunno.”

“I bet you that’s what it is,” Charlie leant back against the speaker they were now standing behind. “Trust me, I know. I had my first solo run as a pyro on the Pyramid Stage.”

“You did?”

Charlie nodded, and Artemis turned to lean against the speaker next to him, tilting her head expectantly.

“Six years ago. Same year Equinox made their debut at the festival. I was shitting it,” he looked at Artemis out of the corner of his eye. “What are you grinning about?”

“Oh, nothing,” said Artemis. She hadn’t even realised that she had started smiling. “Sorry. Just… That was the summer I came to Glastonbury, just before I started training as a pyro. That’s all.”

“You were here?”

“Technically, I was out there,” she gestured in the direction of the arena, “but yeah. I would have seen your effects. I saw the band’s set, too. It was brilliant. Was a fan of Equinox from there on in.”

“Who would have thought that from the way you were when you first met them in person?” Charlie muttered, with a smirk. “What about my pyros? Did you like those, too?”

“Well, I decided to train as a pyrotechnician after watching them, so…”

“Really? I’m flattered.”

“Don’t be. I saw them and thought that I could do a much better job than that.”

Artemis raised her eyebrows at Charlie, who laughed and shook his head.

“I’d take offence, but it’s true,” he said. “You definitely could. And you will. So you don’t need to be all aggy, alright?”

“Alright.”

“No more shouting at Ethan or calling him a… see you next Tuesday?”

Artemis couldn’t help but laugh at that, but she nodded, “I’ll try.”

“Good enough for me,” Charlie smiled, and stood up straight. “Come on. Shall we go back and see the others before we have to be here to do actual work?”

“I was listening to the music,” Artemis said. Charlie looked in the direction of the exit with a hesitant expression on his face. Artemis tilted her head at him, her eyes wide.  “We were always going to come and watch Winger. And the set’s nearly over, there can only be a couple of songs left.”

Charlie sighed and nodded, and they both walked back around the right hand side of the speaker to where Artemis had been standing watching before. She got as close to the stage as she could without physically standing on it, and Charlie stood slightly behind her, the left side of his chest just touching her right shoulder blade.

It turned out that there was only one song left, and to perform it, Talbott Winger had picked up a semi-acoustic guitar. He plucked a few strings, checking the amplification, before speaking into the microphone.

“This is a song you might know,” he said, and his eyes flicked momentarily to the side of the stage where his red-haired bodyguard was watching, her arms folded across her chest, her face unreadable. “It’s a very special one to me.”

He looked down at his guitar and started to play a set of chords. Artemis smiled, and turned her head to the right.

“Told you we should stay until the end,” she whispered over her shoulder. “This is a great song.”

“I don’t think I know it,” Charlie replied, his voice equally low.

“You do. Everyone knows this song.”

As the intro finished, Artemis turned her face back to the stage. The sweetly melancholic tune had started to give her a very strange sensation, one that she couldn’t place, and the feeling only grew as Winger lifted his gaze from his guitar to sing into the microphone.

“For you, there'll be no more crying.”

All day, she had felt like she was about to cry, and now she was fighting back the tears once more. Don’t cry, she told herself. And she didn’t cry.

“For you, the sun will be shining.”

The sun was setting over the hills in the horizon, and in front of the Pyramid Stage a thousand people were waving lighters above their heads, the tiny flickering dots of light dancing in the dusk like fireflies.

“And I feel that when I'm with you…”

And here she was, with Charlie, again. But why did her feet want to carry her far, far away from him?

“…It's alright, I know it's right.”

She didn’t feel alright. She didn’t feel at all right, she felt… wrong. This was all wrong. She shook her head, trying to clear it of thoughts.

“To you, I'll give the world.”

Her head started to spin, though she stood stock still. Perhaps it wasn’t her head spinning, she wondered, vaguely. Perhaps her head was still, and she was feeling the world turning on its own axis, switching days into nights and nights into days as it rotated. It never stopped. She wished it would stop. It was making her dizzy.

“To you, I'll never be cold…”

She’d always been a cold-hearted bitch. She knew that. For fuck’s sake, she’d been told that. But recently, she’d felt the ice around her chest start to melt, and now she realised it had gone too far, that her heart was so warm it was burning, like something inside her had ignited in her very core. She barely dared to breathe.

“…'Cause I feel that when I'm with you. It's alright.”

Now she could feel the fire inside her heating her whole being, the warmth spreading through every inch of her, from her heart to her lungs, through her diaphragm, up to her collarbone, through the pit of her stomach, in her throat, in her groin, her mouth, her knees, head, feet, hands. The roots of her hair felt as if they were being lifted with it, and she could feel her fingertips tingling.

“I know it's right.”

And Charlie was still standing to her right, and she could feel him, too, and she didn’t know if he could tell what was going on inside of her. Did he know about the fire that was currently blazing, lighting her up, making her feel as if she were about to explode? She wanted the feeling to stop, but she couldn’t make it stop…

“And the songbirds are singing…”

…because the song on the stage was playing through the speakers just behind where she stood, and its lyrics were branding themselves on her brain; she couldn’t stop thinking about the music, and the quick beat of her heart, and the fact that she wanted to run, but somehow she knew that her feet wouldn’t carry her, even if she did manage to get past Charlie.

Charlie…

And just like that, the fire was extinguished, and the burning heat was replaced by an icy chill that sent a shiver all the way up her spine.

“…like they know the score.”

Oh, no.

“And I love you.”

No.

“I love you.”

No.

“I love you…”

Her heart dropped like a stone.

“…like never before.”

Never before had Artemis wanted so much to… Never before had she wanted so much, and yet, so little, all at once.

The soft guitar melody started to play the instrumental section, the gentle tune drifting through the air, wordlessly. Finally, the lyrics had stopped, and now that they had, Artemis couldn’t help but miss them. Her own thoughts were flying around her mind, too fast to catch hold of. And Charlie’s hand was so close to her own, and she couldn’t take hold of that, either. She couldn’t. But she wanted to. God, she wanted to.

“And I wish you all the love in the world…”

She did. She really did.

“…but most of all, I wish it from myself.”

But that was the problem, wasn’t it? She wasn’t the one who could reach out, touch him, love him, even.

“And the songbirds keep singing like they know the score.”

This was it. This was what she’d been trying to ignore all day. Maybe longer. How long had this feeling been there, stirring like a bird on a branch, just waiting to take flight? She didn’t know. All she knew for a fact was-

“And I love you.”

Fuck.

“I love you, I love you…”

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“Like never before.”

Before she had thought her heart was racing, but that was nothing compared to now.

“Like never before.”

Before she couldn’t bring herself to breathe, and now she wasn’t sure if she even was able to breathe.

“Like never before.”

That was it. The song had ended. The crowd was cheering, clapping, roaring, and Artemis was soaring, and falling, both at the same time. She was weightless, and she was heavy, and she was whole, and broken, and tired, and yet she was alive, so very alive.

“We should go back.”

The sound of Charlie’s voice snapped Artemis back to where she stood to the left of him. She trembled at the feeling of his breath on the nape of her neck as he whispered in her ear.

Charlie must have mistaken her silence for her not having heard him, because he repeated himself, “Artemis? We really have to-”

“I know,” Artemis said, somehow. She was surprised by her own ability to speak; her throat was so dry that she hadn’t thought she’d be able to make a sound. Yet, her voice sounded distant and unfamiliar to her ears, with a hollow quality that she hated.

Her heart heavy in her chest, she closed her eyes and drew a shaky breath. When she opened them, the bright shine of the spotlights from the other side of the stage stung the backs of her eyes and made fuzzy white spots appear in her vision. Still, she kept looking at them as she brought herself to speak once more.

“Ava will be wondering where you are.”

[peralta-guaranteed]

Wishing I could read something about Peraltiago talking about how they feel on all Teddy's proposals to Amy. They are really akward, uncomfortable moments and Teddy really crosses the limits every single time, and wish we knew more on their takes about it. Once I read a fic about Jake sending Rosa to stop Teddy and take care of Amy but it just not the same.

lol I have a fic on that topic exactly - I have a proposal for you - where I had the cathartic experience of writing about Rosa breaking Teddy’s hand for being so awful, but I agree with you, Teddy reappearing in the show is so uncomfortable each time ugggh. I thought the wedding one was the worst but then he shows up literally fathering a child with someone else and still does it, disgusting.

So maybe take this as taking place before that fic of mine, where Jake does mention how bad Teddy's proposals make them feel!

Jake can tell, just from the simple drop of her purse in the hallway, that it wasn't a good day.

Weird, how it's these tiny things that he's learned to read instantly - or maybe not, given that he's a detective trained to focus on details others would overlook, and being unable to stop the habit when it comes to the most important people in his life.

She tries to be all smiles when she comes into the living room, though, where Mac is happily rolling around in his playpen while Jake is folding laundry on the couch, the very picture of domesticity as she leans over the pen to kiss their squealing, giggling little baby. The view of her in one of her old pantsuits instead of her Sergeant's uniform is already making his hearts do little leaps even before she makes her way over to Jake for their customary Welcome Home kiss.

"How was that inter-department meeting today?" He asks as she shrugs off the suit jacket and continues her pace into the kitchen, setting aside a set of Mac's bibs that can't be folded anyway.

"Okay." She replies, and that's enough to make him abandon the laundry alltogether and follow her (one eye on Mac, of course, but he's not even crawling yet, and couldn't roll himself into any danger on his foam-based playmat - probably). It's rare that she doesn't have at least one inspiring, 'interesting' or just generally informative story to share from her meetings, the only person in probably all departments looking forward to them.

She's staring into the fridge when he reaches the room and leans against the counter, trying to gauge her level of upset. From the raised shoulders and the fact that she doesn't need to check the fridge to know they were going to order Chinese tonight, he guesses it's at a solid 8, at least.

"Teddy was there." She mumbles into the cold, bright space in front of her, and Jake's shoulders tense up just as much as hers even as he tries to sound as chill as possible.

"How is he?"

"Still extremely boring." Then, after a pause. "Still hung up on me."

So much for chill.

"Did he propose again?"

She nods and sighs, her shoulders dropping as she closes the fridge, but doesn't turn toward him.

"I don't know what's wrong with him." She says through gritted teeth, suddenly. "He has a child with someone. He has a wife. How can he look at them and turn around and-"

Mac's little happy cooing from the living room interrupts her, as do Jake's arms as they wind around her middle, his chin dipping into the space between her shoulder and her neck.

"That's probably a question only a therapist could answer, babe."

Amy sighs as she leans back, falls into the warmth and support of her own husband, the father of her child that she can hear happily babbling to himself from a room over, and wonders some more how Teddy could ever think he would be a better option for her.

"He wasn't like this when we were dating." She muses, and feels Jake's kiss against her jaw - a reflex action she's noticed whenever she mentions a past partner or anything, frankly, that reminds him that there was a point where he wasn't Jake Peralta-Santiago yet. But she kind of needs to finish this thought, and she knows he can handle it. "He was nice and kind and he wouldn't- he wasn't manipulative, pulling something like that in public, or deluded enough to think he was in the right for it. I mean, he thought he was pretty great, but he wouldn't have -"

"You musta broken something pretty major in his brain when you left him." Jake's voice is joking, luckily, but she can sense a hint of something more. "The absolute devastation of a Santiago break-up speech, rehearsed or not."

"Harsh, Jake."

"Remember manbun musician? He went downright insane after your split - not that he was probably the sanest person around before that, but-"

"You promised we'd never mention him again."

"I'm just saying. I don't think any man left by you is going to be completely right in the head after that."

"You're making me sound like some black widow monster." She smiles, though, hearing the awe and affection in his voice bleed through.

"I'm not judging those guys, anyway." He continues, and that tinge of something else in his words is back. "I mean, I can't imagine what I'd be like if you ever decided to take Teddy up on one of his proposals."

She straightens up from her lean on his chest, twists in his arms without breaking the hug, and stares right into him as she studies his face - his actually slightly scared face.

"Jake, you know that's not ever-"

"I was joking babe."

"No. Jake. That's not even an option. Not even an idea. Never. Not in a million years. Not if-"

She grabs his shirt where it's unbuttoned, right next to his heart, and his hand reaches up to squeeze hers like it always does, thumb swiping along her rings.

"I know, Ames." The soft kiss that follows calms her just as much. "I cashed out that jackpot and I'm not giving it back."

She hums as she kisses him again, leans her forehead against his for a deep breath.

"It's just... sad." She returns to her original train of thought. "That he can't move on despite his life doing so. I mean, it's been years. He's got a new job and a new partner and a new baby, and he's willing to, what, dump all that? For me? For that idolised image he probably has in his mind of me now, because nothing between us has been real since ages ago?"

"Wow, this is really bugging you."

"Yes! He's barging into my life and thinking he knows what's best for me and that it's him, like I'm some love-struck silly dreamgirl who's going to drop her entire world because he's romantic enough to go down on one knee in front of our colleagues and superiors who have no idea what's going on-!"

Mac's noises from the next room turn from content to disagreeing, growing into what is sure to be a cry any minute now, and it's the only thing that can make them break apart from their hug. He calms down immediately when Amy lifts him out of his pen, and holds him close while she settles on the sofa next to the half-done laundry basket, snuffling against her chest in a very obvious I’m hungry mom couldn’t you tell?! move before she can even unbutton her dress shirt.

He latches on immediately when her shirt is open and her bra pulled down - not a nursing bra today, considering she got ready for an important work meeting - while she feels Jake rearrange the pillows behind her and to her side to get her comfortable, without a second of hesitation or having to think about it. He moves on to pick up the jacket she's dropped onto a dining room chair, drapes it on a hanger in the hallway, and she feels the soft prick of tears in her eyes before he settles down again next to the two of them with a glass of water for her set on the coffee table.

Jake only hums as he notices the shine in her eyes too, and wipes across her cheek. He knows that nursing can get her into a pretty emotional state sometimes, but this is probably a bit more than that.

"I love you." She says, and barely waits for his return of I love you too to continue. "I can't believe Teddy expects me to look at Mac, and look at you, and still think he could ever be a better offer for anything I want."

"Aw, babe." He grins softly in return while playing with Mac's foot that is kicking in his direction, covered in the fuzziest green socks with red apples on them. "You scored a pretty dope 2-for-1 deal with us, I admit."

“Before that, too.” She insists, leaning to unlatch Mac and hand him over to Jake to burp as they always do while she buttons back up, thinking about Teddy’s many proposals before Mac was even planned on. “Jake, you know that, right? You alone were the best deal first and foremost.”

He smiles at her, Mac’s soft little curls right next to his cheek as he sways and pats his back, but it doesn’t fully reach his eyes.

“Jake-”

“You were happy with him.” He says, quietly, while Mac lets out his usual milky burp and smiles at him much wider when he wipes him clean with the linen cloth pulled from his shoulder. “I know it’s in the past and I - I’m not jealous or anything that stupid, but. Like you said... He wasn’t like this back then, and you were happy.”

His eyes seem forlorn, even as he smiles at the now sleepy baby in his lap that looks so much like him it always makes her heart twinge, that little bundle of joy with Amy’s dark hair and skin that seems to know the Cuban sun without ever having been there.

“And I know it’s not - and it doesn’t make sense to think about, but - sometimes his stupid proposals made me wonder what would’ve happened if he’d done that while he still made you happy.” His voice turns low, and it’s probably not just to avoid waking Mac back up as he falls asleep. “And that just makes me think about how I had to watch you be happy with him, and that’s not - that’s never a good memory to revisit, honestly-”

“I wouldn’t have said yes.” She leans over into his field of vision, the most serious look on her face. “Even back then, I wouldn’t have said yes to his proposal.”

Jake’s eyebrows scrunch up in question, his eyes turning into those puppy dog eyes that she knows as a direct hit to her heart when he’s actually sad or worried, and she can’t not hold his face in her hands again.

“Yes, I was happy with Teddy for a while, but looking back at it I realise I was- there was always this feeling of waiting for something. Hoping for something to be different.” She kisses him, careful and short and barely there, but enough to make him close his eyes and lean towards her a bit more. “And maybe back then I thought I was waiting for him to change somehow, but really I was only waiting for him to change into you.”

“Teddy couldn’t change into me if he had major brain surgery.” Jake scoffs, and Amy huffs a laugh with him.

“Yeah. And that’s why he’d never been right for me. That’s only ever been you.”

He finally, properly smiles now, eyes open again and set on her with a soft shine to them before he leans over more, as much as he can without waking the deeply asleep baby in his lap.

“I’m glad you figured that out when you did, in the end.” He quips and earns himself a shy nod. “And said yes when it came to the only good proposal you got.”

She snickers at that, thinking about the gaudy but wonderful boxing belt in her mementos box, and leans in the last few inches she needs to kiss him again, neither careful nor short this time, but equally as soft. 

“And the next time I catch Teddy trying to propose to you again I’m going to punch him out before he can even get down on one knee.”

“You are not assaulting a fellow officer.”

“Kick in the balls?”

“How very mature, Mister-I-have-an-actual-child-now.”

“Can I at least tell him where he can stick his ridiculous ideas of marrying you at any point in the future, no matter the circumstances?”

She hums for a second.

“You can. If you add in how ridiculous the idea was in the past as well.”

“Oh now, that’s a good deal.”

[futurebicon]

Family Skate Through The Years

2021

“Heads” Sirius called like always. Dumo called tails.

“Heads” Finn announced as he turned over the coin in his hand. “Siri-”

“Remus” Sirius chose before Finn could finish talking.

“No!” Dumo shouted.

“Sorry Pascal, but he’s my boyfriend” Sirius smirked, kissing Remus when he skated over.

“Kasey” Dumo chose.

“Good, Loops can beat him again”

“I’m not letting him score this year” Kasey demanded.

“James” Sirius picked.

Remus got 2 goals. Each time pissing Kasey off more and more. He was skating down the ice beside Sirius, waiting for a pass. 

Sirius passed it to him, letting him score with ease for the third time. Sirius skated over and pulled their helmets off, kissing him hard as Kasey continued to yell that it wasn’t fair.

2022

“Heads”

“Tails”

“Tails”

“No” Sirius stomped his skate against the ice.

“Sorry Cap. I’m stealing your fiancé” Dumo patted him on the shoulder.

“Se dévisser“ Sirius shrugged him off. 

“Sorry baby” Remus kissed the pout off his face before going over to Dumos side.

Dumos team won. Sirius had chosen Kasey, Dumo had let him. His anger had become a new tradition. 

“Good job baby” Remus kissed him.

“You too, l’amour”

“You got the venue yet?” Lily asked them as they ate.

“No” They both answered.

“Why not” she whined.

“Because it’s stupid.” Sirius said as he shoved cake into his mouth. Remus nodded in agreement.

“What’s stupid?” James asked as the rest of the team came over.

“These two think it’s stupid to pick a place to get married at”

“What?” Everyone let out sounds of confusion.

“We didn’t say that” Remus rolled his eyes. “We just think it’s stupid to make a big deal out of it.”

“Lily, you and I are taking over wedding planning. Nat and Dumo you’re helping too” Celeste announced. Those named nodded in agreement.

“But it’s where you’ll get married. That’s a big deal” Finn pointed his fork at them.

“Fine, we’ll pick a place.” Sirius said. “Kasey pick a place.”

“The Zoo”

“Perfect, our weddings at the zoo. See, settled.” Remus nodded. 

“No” Dumo told them.

“Olli pick a place” Remus called down the table.

“Here” 

“Great idea” Sirius clapped his hands together. 

“That’s actually a pretty good idea. You’ve already picked your best mans. And your ring bearer and flower girls.” Nat nodded.

“See, done” Remus took a bite of cake.

“Oh my god” Dumo put his head in his hands and shook his head.

“Wait so it’s not at the zoo?” Kasey asked.

“No babe”

“Aww man”

2023

“Heads” Dumo called out before Sirius could call it.

“No” Sirius scowled. 

“Tails” Finn told them.

“Haha, thank you Dumo” Sirius smirked. “Re” 

Remus skated over and kissed his husband before standing behind him and wrapping an arm around his shoulder. Picking all of the newly engaged Cubs. 

Remus got 4 goals under Kasey this year. 

“C'est quoi ce bordel“ He shouted after the fourth one went in the net. “No, no, no” He groaned. 

“4 goals? Damn” Sirius smiled.

“Think it’s newly weds luck?” Remus smirked. 

“Hmm, probably” Sirius kissed him. 

The wedding had been 2 weeks ago, they wanted to get married quickly and would go on their honeymoon in the offseason.

2024

“Fizzy” Sirius called over to the bench. “Heads or tails?” He asked his 2 year old daughter, Felicity.

“Tails” she shouted with a giggle.

“Tails” Finn turned over the quarter.

“Thank you Fizzy” Sirius smiled at her. “Re”

“You’ve gotten him for 2 years in a row.” Dumo whined. “Let me have him”

“He’s my husband, Dumo. Too bad”

Dumo rolled his eyes.

Remus got 2 goals in. Dumos team got 1.

“Good job, baby” Remus kissed him with a smile, keeping up with tradition.”

“Good job Daddy ‘n Papa” Felicity clapped as she skated a little wobbly over to them. Even though they had only adopted her at the beginning of the year she fell in love with skating and made Sher parents teach her every night for months.

“Thank you Fizzy” Remus scooped her up. Kissing her cheek as he tickled her stomach, causing her to shriek with laughter.

Sirius smiled at his little family and pecked Remus’s lips.

“Fizzy, no.” Sirius pulled her hand away as she tried to reach for her cake. “I know it’s good but you have to eat your lunch first.”

She whined but ate the bite of ham Sirius held in front of her as she sat in his lap.

“You guys any closer to have one of these soon?” Remus asked the newly wedded Cubs as he ruffled his daughters brown hair.

“Trying too. But, you know it’s pretty hard when you’re gay and being poly doesn’t help at all. Plus with our schedule with games and practices...” Logan trailed off sadly.

Leo kissed his temple as Finn squeezed his hand. Logan loves kids and the team knew how much he wanted a few of his own.

The team hated that they had told them they actually started the adoption process while they were engaged so that they could adopt a kid very soon after they got married but haven’t gotten anywhere with it.

“If any agency’s reject you they’ll be attacked by the best team in the NHL and their fans” Sirius told them. It had happened when they were going through the adoption process and were rejected for ‘being sinners’ as the rejection paper told them.

“You’ll have a kid of your own soon enough” Remus promised.

“New friend?” Fizzy gasped with a wide smile as she picked on bits and peices of the conversation.

“Yeah, Fiz. You’ll have a new friend soon” Finn told her. All of them smiling at her innocence as she cheered and took a final bite of mac-and-cheese.

“Cake now?” She asked Sirius with puppy eyes.

“Yes you can have cake now” Sirius smiled as he kissed her cheek.

2025

“Heads” Sirius called out.

“Tails” Finn smirked.

“Haha, Remus” Dumo chose.

Remus kissed him. “Should of stuck with Fizzy’s answer” he smirked, earning an eye roll from his husband.

“Kasey” Sirius picked.

“I’m not letting him score this year.”

“You’ve been saying that for the last 5 years babe” Nat kissed his cheek.

“Well I mean it this year.”

He didn’t mean it, Remus got 2 goals in.

“Yay” Fizzy cheered as her and her basically cousins skated out onto the ice to congratulate or comfort their parents.

4 year old Harry was scooped up by Lily and laughed at James who was pouting at his lose.

Jay, the Cubs 2 year old son was scooped up by Logan and kissed on the cheek by Finn and Leo. Jay clapped at their win.

“It’s so sad” Dumo sighed at lunch.

“What is?” Remus asked as he took a bite of salad.

“Sirius was that closed off stern faced 18 year old skating God that feels like my son. You were that PT that came out of nowhere that we really didn’t know much about but then the team all just kind of accepted as one of our own. Logan was a loud, obnoxious rookie that we all still loved, living in my basement and who is also like a son to me. Finn was the red haired semi nerdy boy who screamed and punched the air when Logan was drafted to the Lions. Leo was the tallest rookie I’d ever seen, a little shy but still fun to be a round. And James was- still is the loud, insane, mind of a 5 year old player.” He said.

“And now I look around and all of you have kids and are married to the loves of your lives” Everyone was crying at the words.

“And it just makes me feel really fucking old” he sighed.

“Oh my god Dumo.” Logan laughed as he wiped his tears away.

“You give this tear jerking long speech about us just to end it by saying it only makes you sad because it makes you feel old? Wow glad to see you have your priorities straight, Pascal” Sirius shook his head.

“I does” he laughed.

“It is crazy though” Finn sighed.

“Did you two think 8 years ago that this would be your life?” Lily asked Sirius and Remus. “Best player in the NHL with a team that’s your family. First openly gay couple in the NHL. Married to the teams PT and teams Captain. And have an adorable daughter?”

“God no, never in a million years.” Sirius’s smiled at his husband and daughter. Kissing Remus and then their daughters head.

“And you three” She looked at the Cubs. “Ever think that you’d be playing for one of the best teams in the NHL. “Married to 2 people. One of them the man that you loved for 8 years but never said anything. And have an adorable son.”

“Never” Finn smiled kissing both his husbands and son like Sirius had done.

“Okay. Enough of the sappy stuff.” Celeste said a few seconds later, wiping the tears from her eyes. “Who wants cake?”

This is longer then I planned but I like how it turned out.

@lumosinlove

[melmac78]

Two bracelets, Two Brothers, Two medals.

(Inspired by the TAG Olympics challenge, but own spin.)

•••••••••

The 2060 Vienna Olympic Games were the talk of the world.

Especially the two Tracy brothers from America competing in 50m Rifle and Skeet.

Both men were naturally well known for their famous astronaut father, and both for their own military years.

It showed in the popular - almost matching - cuffs they wore.

A concho based on the US Calvary of old shined in gold and silver. Two smaller brass rivets held the parts of the band secure.

The leather bands were decorated in two different designs, dyed two different colors.

Each designed half represented a brother.

Scott’s was subtle - a medium brown side and briar brown side. No one could see the difference unless looked at closely.

Gordon’s? - well after being told by his brother nothing ostentatious, especially the original color pairing, settled for mahogany and a muted down blue. He thanked Virgil for figuring out a cobalt blue dye.

No one knew the patterns symbolized the brothers though.

Scott chose arrows in his design half, the closest thing he had to looking like his beloved Thunderbird One.

Gordon had teardrop like scales on his side, a nod to his last Games as a swimmer and the closest thing he could use for Thunderbird Four.

No one said anything - much - about the accident that could’ve ended his life but lead to a decision to not continue an Olympic swimming career. They celebrated instead his recovery and focus on a different sport.

First, the 50m, three position rifle event was days one and two of the Games. Both made it to the medal round.

40 shots in prone position, 40 kneeling, 40 standing.

Two hours, 45 mins.

Both men were drenched in sweat under their special jackets, unable to see each other due to blinders, but both excited they were competing for a medal.

The scores tabulated, and announced.

G. Tracy - U.S.A. - 458.6 - gold

S. Tracy - U.S.A. - 458.2 - silver

J. Lazuli - Great Britain - bronze

The brothers however celebrated both medaled. Scott hoisted Gordon up and spun him around, shouting in glee his brother won.

The family was ten times louder than the crowd… if it were possible.

Both brothers received their medals, and after the anthem finished, locked hands and raised them to the sky. The bands glinted in matte and reflective colors.

•••••

A few days later came skeet.

Both men excelled in the qualifiers again, hitting an impressive 123 and 121 out of 125 targets to qualify for the finals.

That was just the first five rounds of 25 targets each in three days for the brothers.

Then came the finals, and they were two of the six remaining.

Three rounds, 20 targets each.

Both brothers were tied going into the last round, and when Mac Fluorite of Italy had 8 misses to only secure bronze, it came down to the final two.

Gordon had an impressive 18 of 20.

Scott missed one on his next to last shot. If he missed again, they’d go to a shootout for medals.

The call of pull - a shot - and a pink puff secured the gold for Scott Tracy.

S. Tracy - USA - 59

G. Tracy - USA - 58

M. Flourite - Italy - 52

Another set of hugs - as Gordon couldn’t lift Scott, ceremony, medals, and pomp and circumstances.

With their last ceremony finished, it was time to face the media.

A question was asked about the bands and if they had any meaning.

It was Gordon who talked at first, as Scott choked up on memory.

“Four years ago, I was nearly killed in the hydrofoil accident. I worked hard to walk again, but we knew my days as a member of WASP and… harder for me … an Olympic swimmer were gone,” he said.

“It left me angry at the world, the life I was given…

“But Scott, who is a retired Air Force Captain himself, suggested I put that anger to good use and fire at it instead.”

Scott then spoke up. “I suggested he try air rifle and skeet, as well as trap, as he still had excellent vision and agility,” he added. “It was some time after the accident we started, just to be sure he was ready, and we practiced, hard.

“When I found out both of us qualified for these Games, I had my brother Virgil make the bands you mentioned,” the eldest continued. “Alan chose the gold and black rivets, and John, being John, chose star closures…”

“And we chose the dye colors… though I thought about Orange and Sky Blue,” interrupted Gordon.

Scott chuckled and gently cuffed his brother on the back of the head. “Right, because USA has orange in the flag,” he teased, knowing it was actually rejected more due to it being IR colors.

The reporter however didn’t catch the possible connection, and continued. “But you both were right on the gold and silver US button - gold and silver for both of you. Congratulations,” said the woman, shaking their hands.

Yes, the brother had an incredible experience and a gold and silver each at the Games.

Yes, both would enjoy the closing ceremonies since they were unable to attend the opening in prep for their first contest.

And yes, Scott - along with the rest of the US delegation, said to Gordon that no, he couldn’t go shirtless and be oiled up like that Tonga flag bearer years ago for it.

But the fact both brothers were there celebrating each other’s accomplishments after all they went through four years prior was worth more than either medal around their neck.

[maxismatchccworld]

Patch Notes

Update 06/03/2020 PC: 1.63.133.1020 / Mac: 1.63.133.1220 Console: Version 1.25

The Sims 4 Eco Lifestyle Expansion Pack drops in just a mere few days, and since we know that living your best Eco Lifestyle can take a little extra elbow grease, we’ve added some exciting quality-of-life improvements to help pave the way.

Between Inventory updates, new CAS assets from a surprise partnership with M·A·C, the return of two beloved NPCs, as well as some really cool new Build features, we hope you enjoy the update.

-SimGuruJill & SimGuruRusskii

NEW & IMPROVED FEATURES

INVENTORY UPDATES

Fellow hoarders, this one’s for you: We have updated the Sim Inventory with the ability to Filter, Sort, Favorite, Multi-Select, and Multi-Sell in one easy flick of the wrist. Managing that cumbersome pile of collectables you’ve been racking up for the past five years has never been so easy!

FREE PLACEMENT OF DOORS AND WINDOWS

Following in true Eco Lifestyle fashion, Door and Window placement is now also Off-the-Grid. But not that kind of grid. The limiting kind of tile grid that used to keep you from placing your windows and doors precisely where you wanted them. By holding down the Alt key while dragging, you can enjoy the smooth sensations of free Door and Window placement.

LADDERS

Ladders have been added as part of the Build System. Find your free Classic Wooden Ladder in the Build catalog in the Stairs (& Ladders) category. Unlike Island Living’s Dock and Ladder objects for use on water lots, these Ladders can be placed anywhere on your lot and like stairs, they can be used as a means for Sims to traverse from one floor to another.

M·A·C COSMETICS

Did you say you needed some fresh looks for your Sims? We’ve collaborated with none other than M·A·C Cosmetics to bring you 12 fashion-forward makeup assets suited for everything from everyday to night out glam. If you’re not already using it, on PC and Mac we recommend trying out the “Uncompressed Sim Textures” setting in the Options Menu, which is now enabled by default on the High and Ultra graphics settings profiles in order to see these looks really shine. While console versions of The Sims 4 do not have the setting in the Options Menu, each console spec is automatically using the optimal graphical settings based on system resources.

REPO PERSON NPC

The Repo Person NPC has graduated with honors from Discover University’s University of Britechester with a Degree in Villainy and has comfortably taken up residence in Base Game. Now everyone can taste their wrath if Bill payments fall behind.

BILLS UPDATE

Speaking of Bills, we’ve added a cohesive breakdown of Sim’s Bills information that can be accessed via an interaction on the Mailbox or Phone. Now instead of lumping everything together, you can see what percentage of your Bills go to Water, what percentage go to Power, insight into any Fees, Reductions, or Penalties. All this and more, calculated and cleanly presented for your finer understanding.

LEGACY NEIGHBORHOOD MAP TAGS

We have gone back and added Map Tags with Neighborhood Descriptions to existing neighborhoods that didn’t yet have them. We now have delightful icons, names, and descriptions for the no-longer-forgotten Willow Creek, Oasis Springs, Newcrest, and Windenburg. Ok, feel free to freak out now.

OFF-THE-GRID UPDATES

This one is tricky to list out in a single paragraph with attempted wit, so I’ll just drop this bullet list off right here:

The Off-the-Grid Lot Trait now ties into our new Bill updates, drawing from Water and Power utility. Without excess utility, lots function off-the-grid as they did before. With excess utility, they function more like an on-the-grid lot.

There is a new Off-the-Grid Build category that will allow players to find Off-the-Grid and survival-esque objects.

We've done a pass on candles to ensure they properly work when electricity is out.

Off-the-Grid supported Fridges now have an "Add Ice" interaction that will allow them to keep food preserved—so long as the ice remains!

Sim will now autonomously use stoves and fridges when Off-the-Grid, not just grills.

Harvestables now grant unique buffs when consumed off-the-grid.

Dogs and Toddlers now have a unique interaction to be bathed in Bathtubs even when Off-the-Grid.

Objects can now be cleaned using the "Use Elbow Grease" interaction. Yummy.

Players are able to gather Water utility from fishing spots in base game. With Island Living they can gather from the waterfall. Water can also be gathered from any world with swimmable 'ocean' water. With Seasons, water can be gathered from snow drifts.

Off-the-Grid specific buffs will now take into account motives and Sim traits when determining if a Sim should receive a positive or negative moodlet when living Off-the-Grid.

We've added multiple new recipes that can be cooked while Off-the-Grid given a Sim has the proper cooking skill level. Some recipes require special ingredients like the Boiling Frog Hot Pot—which adds a really neat survival element to off-the-grid gameplay, while providing Sims with powerful new moodlets that will help them survive in the wild.

NO TRESPASSING

Some people who have the Vampires Game Pack appreciate Vlad’s antics more than others. I personally love receiving a charming visit from Vlad, and sometimes I could really use a kind compliment about my neck. But we’ve heard there are a select few that don’t quite like having their Sim’s necks bitten and motives tanked by an invasive nighttime visitor with no respect for boundaries. Keep Vampires and other unwanted visitors at bay with a new No Trespassing interaction we’ve added to the Door.

SEND HOME INTERACTION

Speaking of unwelcome visitors, we’ve also added a new Send Home interaction that’s available on visiting NPCs or as a self-interaction in the case of multiple visitors. How is this interaction any different from Ask To Leave or Go Away, you might ask? Convenience. Unlike its less efficient predecessors, this interaction is nearly instantaneous and leaves your visitors with no hurt feelings or Relationship impact. We added it as a useful tool for players, not necessarily as a story-telling mechanism.

BUILD MODE ITEMS GRANT GAMEPLAY EFFECTS

How you build your lot can now affect your gameplay. Certain objects such as wall patterns, floor patterns, fences, and columns bring different gameplay modifiers. Some of these modifiers affect how your Bills and utilities are calculated by decreasing or increasing your Power or Water utility production or usage, as well increasing or decreasing the price of bills. Environment Score can now be impacted by certain objects and materials. Drywall walls without wall patterns applied now decrease environment score like they did in The Sims 3! The choice of floor and wall materials used can also affect the ability to spread fire or puddles at an increased or lessened rate. And if you’d rather build your lot without having to think about these things, don’t worry. There’s an Option in the Gameplay menu to turn all of this off.

FIREFIGHTER NPC

Oh hey, and speaking of Fire, that reminds me. Did you hear that we’ve added Firefighter NPCs to the game? We took nods from classic Firefighter NPC behavior from The Sims, The Sims 2, and The Sims 3 and added a few small twists for The Sims 4. When a fire breaks out, Firefighters will come automatically to your lot if you already have a Fire Alarm installed. That way, if you still like to let things burn baby burn, you can just “accidentally” forget to place a Fire Alarm. It’s okay. We won’t tell anybody. If you honestly did forget to place a Fire Alarm, you can call the Fire Department from the Phone or by clicking on the fire itself. If the Fire Department is called, but there is not an active fire, they will call you on your lapse in judgement and charge you a fine. You won’t be punished if there was legitimately a fire that was extinguished before they arrive though. The Firefighter Uniform can be accessed in CAS and gives any Sim wearing it the Fireproof Buff, which gives them some extra protection against fires as well as make them more efficient at putting out fires themselves. It’s worth noting that Firefighter NPC’s do not show up in Island Living’s Sulani. Sulani already has their local Fire Brigade to handle these kinds of emergencies and besides, who wants to wear all that heavy Firefighter gear in the tropics?

STYLED LOOKS FOR TOTS AND KIDS

More than 20 New Styled Looks have been added for Children and Toddlers, using existing Base Game CAS assets to better flesh out some outfit categories that previously felt sparse.

BALANCING PASS OF PHONE CALL INVITATIONS

After five years of Expansion Packs, Game Packs, and Stuff Packs our phone call invites were admittedly starting to get a little spammy. Moments after moving in, you’ve got Lucas Munch hitting you up, asking you to go to the Bluffs with him. Then not long after, you might have had Vivian Lewis asking you to join her at The Spice Festival. Jeez, let me get settled in first, why don’t ya? We’ve done a tuning pass to rebalance all of these previously competing Phone invites to give you a more meaningful and holistic experience.

LESS INVASIVE EARBUDS

In the same vein as the above balancing pass, we wanted to smooth out one of our more pressing notifications. The free earbuds pop-up that comes with Fitness Stuff has been changed to a more passive TNS and gifts your Sim the earbuds automatically when it triggers. The days of telling the game over and over that you don’t want free earbuds, or worse - hitting OK by accident - is a thing of the past.

CONSOLE UPDATES

Eco Lifestyle releasing on the same day across all platforms marks an important milestone for The Sims 4 as Simmers get to play the same content and share new creations on The Gallery together. In this update Console Simmers have a few additional features to improve their quality of life:

We have added a new Controls Overlay Reminder that shows up throughout CAS, Gallery, Live Mode and Build Mode which should make it easier for new Simmers to jump in and not need to remember all the controls.

If you don’t want to be reminded and you know all the controls by heart, you can turn off the Controls Overlay Reminder in the Game Options > Other menu

The controller overlay screens remain available for those who want them.

Now onto the fixes and updates:

The Sims 4

macOS players should no longer encounter the setLocale.zsh error. However, both Origin and TS4 must be up to date.

Sims will not have random accessories or clothing pieces when changing into towels.

Style Influencer Sims can now remove trends they have created, with the Reset Trend interaction.

Fixed an issue where Sims were not able to Care for Self after they had been in daycare when they were a Toddler.

Some roofs were updated to remove the appearance of black sides when placed on ceilings.

Active Sims will no longer get a Tense moodlet for lack of exercise when finishing exercising. Do you even push up bro?

Sims will no longer get the Fatigued moodlet immediately after starting a workout. Now, we know that endurance takes time to build, but we decided to give Sims a chance to enjoy their workout before being completely fatigued right away.

Child Sims will now be able to unlock the Video Gaming Skill after they have maxed out their Mental Skill instead of their Motor Skill, which was causing adult skills to reset for Child Sims when they completed aspirations.

Fixed an issue in which some Households did not have their names displayed in Manage Worlds.

Corrected requirements for completing the Great Landscaper task that is part of the Mansion Baron Aspiration.

Fixed an issue in which when utilities are shut off (either because of past due bills or Off-The-Grid) adding objects from Build Mode such as Lamps, would add them turned On.

The Water Pump, Fishing Holes, Romantic Garden’s Whispering Wishing Well, and Get Famous’s Luminary’s Exotic Water Garden now have the Gather Water interaction when the Off-the-Grid Lot Trait is applied.

Fixed an issue in which the Subtle Saucer Light was not being so subtle and made objects added from Build Mode be placed randomly when dragged near it.

Teen Sims will now see the appropriate tooltip when trying to acquire the Fertile Trait from the Rewards Store. No, they are not Robots.

Fixed an issue in which some Roof Eaves were clipping into enclosed blocks.

Fixed an issue in which the Clean Up interaction would drop off the queue if dirty dishes were placed on a counter.

Since we added a new trash bike to Eco Lifestyle, we’ve made the bicycle helmet available for everyone in CAS. Now you can outfit your Sim in a helmet, regardless of owning a pack that includes bikes.

Sims will now not receive occasional text messages asking them for a Date from other Sims that they are not romantically involved with. Because it was aaaakward…

Toddler Sims will not be able to Ask for Mentoring on some in progress mentoring interactions to strangers. Except for “Invite to Bob to Music” because we can dance if we want to, we can leave our friends behind, ‘cause your friends don’t dance and if they don’t dance well... they’re not friends of mine.

Fixed an issue with textures for the tops and landings on some Staircases.

Fixed an issue that did not allow randomizer to work correctly when Male Sims had Makeup on Create a Sim.

Plants can now be placed closer to foundations with moveobjects cheat enabled, as long as most of the plant's footprint is outside of the foundation.

Fixed an issue in which Simoleons were not added to Household Funds when moving and selling furniture.

Fixed an issue in which previewing certain windows on diagonal walls reverted their color back to the default color swatch.

Simmers on macOS Catalina and Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 GPU will no longer experience seeing a squared shadow under their Sims.

Fixed an issue with the Wooden Prairie-Style Two-Panel door in which color swatches were not displaying correctly on both sides of the door.

Sims now can dispose of packed lunches that have spoiled. Out, foul food!

Fixed some oddness with disappearing Stairs within enclosed courtyards.

Fixed a Stair issue with Landings not working properly on lots with raised foundations and basements. Sims will no longer walk through walls and things should now look appropriate.

Fixed missing Career Promotion screens for careers in various packs.

Fixed User Interface elements and Icons across multiple packs.

Spandrels can now be properly applied on Fences.

Stairs will now not shrink when increasing Foundation heights.

Get Together

Fixed an issue in which non local Sim Townies would spawn in Windenburg’s Island, now named The Crumbling Isle.

Fixed an issue that caused an error to occur when deleting or editing Clubs.

As much as Windenburgians (Windenburgers? Windenburguese? Windenburglites?) love visitors from other worlds, they have voted them off the Island. Sorry, not sorry!

City Living

Fixed an issue that caused time to be desynchronized at Speed 3. Bending the space time continuum no more!

Vet Clinics can no longer be placed in Penthouses.

Yard Sale customers will no longer wander inside Sims’ houses and interact with their belongings. While prospective buyers are nice to have in any sale, this was just rude, this is NOT a Welcome Wagon.

Cats & Dogs

Game progress will no longer be lost when editing/adding/deleting career outfits in Create a Sim.

Fixed an issue that made Pets’ needs to not be fulfilled if not playing an active household.

Pets’ ehm… poop is now able to be used as plant fertilizer. Happy gardening!

Seasons

Sims can now sell Flowers in stacks from their Inventory.

Sims will now appropriately put their Umbrellas away before performing some interactions. Because WooHoo while having an Umbrella out in the open, seems complicated, we are not judging… but seems complicated.

Fixed an issue that made Simmer created Holidays in the Calendar populate after a season ended.

Father Winter will now be able to remove his beard and change in Create a Sim if he is part of an active Household. But who would dare shave Father Winter’s beard?? Who?!

Get Famous

Fixed the issue with the Actor Career where Sims were unable to complete their gig when they would travel and return home before it was time for the gig.

Island Living

Lotta Cocolatas will now be made with actual Coconuts taken from Sims’ Inventories. What were they made from before? We will never know! Never accept imitation Lotta Cocolatas… never!

Fixed an issue in which some quick meals were requiring a Microwave while being Off-The-Grid when it is not needed. Yogurt needing a microwave? I think not!

Mermaids in Create a Sim will no longer be able to have their Traits randomized. This allows them to keep their Mermaidism, as well as their air of mystery and charm.

Mermaids now will wear appropriate career outfits when going to work. So I can picture this now, Mermaids as Doctors would be a great TV show.

Fixed an issue in which some Island Living Tank Tops were categorized incorrectly in Create a Sim.

Mermaid Children made in Create a Sim will now grow up to be fully-functioning Mer-dults.

The Go To Work button for Odd Jobs has been fixed for Sims on Vacation.

The Eyedropper tool will now work on Stilts instead of only working on the Foundation Trims.

Fixed an issue in which Sims in Off-The-Grid lots were showering constantly. Now they will shower when appropriate. Though, with this heatwave, anything goes in my opinion!

“Dr. Mermaid/Merman, what do you recommend?

“I am prescribing some Vitamin Sea”

Give Russkii more coffee please...

Discover University

Student Sims will not lose their Term Presentations Boards when signing up for another term.

Simmers with Seasons additionally installed: Student Sims will no longer receive Academic Probation if they were on planned Holidays through the Calendar.

Student Sims will no longer be labeled as Graduate after completing the Graduation Ceremony. Congratulations!

Fixed an issue in which homework assignment progression was too slow and timers might have been missing in some instances.

Fixed an issue in which Sims were taking showers fully clothed. As much as the current heat wave is giving us creative ideas to cool off, it would be more efficient to not be fully clothed when showering.

Hair Style ymHair_EP08MensShavedPonytail_Black has been updated for Teens, Adults, and Elders to display all swatches. Similarly yfHair_EP08ShortBobBraid_Black has been fixed to appear as an option for Teens.

Sims that re-enroll in University after graduating or dropping out, can now rejoin their Secret Society. Likewise, if Sims get suspended and re-enrolls their progress will not be lost.

Fixed an issue with the "Gameday Glute Accommodator" chair that occasionally could make Sims invisible if they placed it in their Inventory. We don’t know what other powers the "Gameday Glute Accommodator" may have but invisibility is now not one of them.

Sims in the Law Career can now Attend Depositions from their Computers and Phones. Because you don’t need to break your computer to complete an assignment, that seems impractical.

Vampire Coffins and Sleeping Pods can now count as Beds in University Dorms.

Fixed an issue in which the Write and Publish Research Paper interaction would disappear from the options if it was cancelled midway. I mean, I understand rage quitting something but not to the point of my options to do it disappearing...amirite?

Fixed an issue with yfBody_EP08DressParty_SolidPurple in which pendant necklaces were not able to be seen if this asset was worn by Sims.

Fixed an issue that could make the Soccer interaction Study Plays with drop out from the interaction queue.

Corrected Final Exam Requirements for Elective Courses to say that for studying they need to do so on Computers or Research Machines.

To anyone who may have noticed the tiny head effect in the thumbnails if you wore the Dragon or the Lobster mascot costume without their hats, that issue has been fixed.

Humanoid Robots will no longer be able to have Traits or Aspirations modified in Create a Sim. You are a real Sim to me Robot friend, you are to me.

If a Sim already knows about the Secret Society, is it still a secret? Time will tell.

Outdoor Retreat

Herbalism recipes can now work while Off-The-Grid, however only on Off-The-Grid supported stoves.

Dine Out

Random NPCs will not leave Hamburgers on tables at restaurants anymore. As much as we like to receive free food, we don’t think it is proper to get them randomly from a stranger.

Vampires

Vampire Sims working on the Master Vampire Aspiration will no longer have the task “Survive for an Additional 20 Days as a Vampire” reset after traveling.

Vampire Sims with Full Sun Resistance are now able to properly tend to gardens and not tend to plants one at a time.

Fixed an issue in which you could set the Registered Vampire Lair Lot Trait for Venues.

Vampire child ears can now be changed after being aged-down from adult Dark Form.

The Rustic Candle Chandelier now has flame effects on the candles.

Jungle Adventure

Fans/Stans will no longer follow their adored celebrity into the jungles of Selvadorada.

Realm Of Magic

Spellcasters have regained access to Styled Looks.

Fixed an issue in which a Tank Top belonging to this pack was not categorized correctly in Create a Sim.

Hot Tubs that have been upgraded to unbreakable will no longer be broken upon performing the Zipzap Spell.

A Spellcaster is never not in vogue, but it’s always nice to have options.

Moschino

We fixed an issue in which some hotkeys in Photo Mode (particularly E and Q) were not working.

After popular demand, the Libearian bookend will now cost Simoleons. Nothing’s for free, nothing’s for freeee... take it away!

Tiny Living

Murphy beds will now be more resilient after first use. Warranty terms pending.

Fixed an issue in which Game Consoles were not usable with the all in one entertainment systems.

Fixed an issue in which Hair Styles from this pack appeared with their color swatches out of order in Create a Sim.

Fixed an issue in which Sims could not Put Bed Up their Murphy Beds after WooHoo.

We have also adjusted their pricing and comfort levels, bang for your buck!

Now the “Media Marathoner All on the Wall” will be actually the Media Marathoner All on the Wall.

[ohblushes]

The worst thing about Jonny's hippie motivational New Age nonsense was that he occasionally expected Patrick to participate. Patrick was always the first to admit that the whole schtick worked for Jonny, who could probably figure out how to carbon offset the entire United States if he weren't too busy being the captain popularly considered the best leader in the league, but sometimes Patrick just didn't want to think about geothermal energy or eating for your blood type or people-centric engagement strategies while he was trying to make his boxed macaroni and cheese. 

For an otherwise intelligent man who was probably the most emotionally perceptive person Patrick had ever met, Jonny sure knew how to take it too far. Right now, hockey and Patrick were the only things holding him in check, but Patrick was one hundred percent certain that after they retired, Jonny was going to start experimenting with microdosing psychedelics, and then the only conversations Patrick would ever get to have were going to revolve around geothermal energy, eating for your blood type, people-centric engagement strategies, and, if he was lucky, fishing.

"Just take it," Jonny says.

"No. Leave me alone." Patrick's butter is almost melted. He carefully opens the cheese packet, empties it into the pot, discards the wrapper, wipes a little bit of powdered cheese off the counter, rinses his rag, and finally adds a quarter of a cup of milk. When he was a kid, his mom had used margarine, but Patrick, now being a rich hockey player, sometimes experiments with butter. Once he'd even used whole milk instead of skim, but that had thrown off the entire flavor profile.

"C'mon," Jonny says. "Don't you want some insight into our relationship?"

"I have all the insight into our relationship I need," Patrick says. "Move, you're blocking the TV." He's rewatching the first round Blue Division series from the 1980 Winter Olympics, and Jonny's talking over the 11-3 blowout where Czechoslovakia hammered West Germany into the ground. Patrick has a bootleg of the German broadcast, and he's conversational enough in German hockey words to be able to mostly follow along after watching the tape six or seven times.

"It won't take long. Seriously, Kaner." That's how Patrick knows Jonny's getting pissy; Patrick's almost never 'Kaner' in the sanctity of their own home. "I'll even read the questions to you."

"Why don't you answer it?" Patrick dumps his noodles into the pot and starts stirring. "You probably know what I'd put anyway."

Jonny gets a mulish expression on his face, and Patrick rolls his eyes. "You already filled it out for me, didn't you?" 

Jonny grunts.

"And now you want to see if you got it right," Patrick concludes.

Jonny's stubborn expression is starting to turn furtively guilty. "Yeah, I did. But I really do want to see how you'd answer. Maybe there's something we don't know about each other, eh?"

"Nice try, man." Patrick transfers the mac and cheese to a large bowl and then starts washing his pot. Jonny likes to 'let things soak,' which is disgusting and probably not good for their pans, either, or at very least for the bacterial content of the sink. "You know there's no factual basis for that thing, right?"

"The Myers-Briggs is a well-regarded tool - "

"It's modern-day astrology," Patrick cuts in. He's briefly distracted when he catches Ebermann scoring over Jonny's shoulder, but then he refocuses. "There's no evidence that proves it means anything."

"Horseshit. You read your horoscope every morning."

"That's because I'm gay, Jonathan, not because I believe in it," Patrick retorts. "Not all of us have your prestigious academic career and love of filling out tests."

"As an FJ, I'd expect you to be more invested in connecting with your partner."

Patrick sticks his fork in his bowl and wanders out of the open kitchen into the living room. Jonny follows. "I don't know what that means," Patrick says, "but I'm not taking it." 

"Yeah, Peeks, you are," Jonny says.

Patrick waits for Jonny to sit down and then settles against his side. "Good luck making me."

"I'm not dropping this."

"You know why you can't drop it?"

"Why?" Jonny asks.

"Because you're a typical Taurus," Patrick says. "That's why."