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witchy-mel · 5 years ago

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Bully AU w/illustrations

So, I’ve had this idea for a long time and idk if anyone else has thought of this, but here we go.

A Bully AU where Petey and Gary switch roles, but instead of Petey being an A.D.D manipulating-narcissist who wants to rule the school, he instead wants to ruin Jimmy and Gary’s friendship. I know you’re probably thinking “Wow, that’s so childish” or “That’s petty”, but let me explain.

Backstory

So the backstory for this AU comes from one of Petey’s lines in the mission “Race The Vale”. The line goes: “Well, for one moment I had friends, just one moment. You and Gary. Yeah, Gary’s a snake and you’re a psychopath. You both bullied me mercilessly, but at least I wasn’t left out. Now I’m back on my own…” At first, I didn’t look much into it but, after thinking about it for a while, I came to this conclusion. To me, basically what Petey is saying is that he would do anything to have a friend(he even tried joining the nerds for Christ’s sake(no offence to the nerds)). Even though his friends are assholes horrible to him, he stills considers them as friends, regardless.

And that brings us to the beginning of the AU. Before we start, I would like to state some things that I changed up a bit/added detail to here and there.

-I switched Gary and Petey’s personalities for this AU, but they still keep some of their original traits. Petey is not all sugar, spice, and everything nice in this AU. No, he’s not as mean as Gary was in the original, but he’s not as much of a pushover this time.Gary is kind of a pushover, but he’ll snap back at you harder than Petey did in the original.

-I gave Gary an eyepatch because of the trait switch between Petey and Gary, and it gave Gary a more concealed trait, so he’ll want to keep to himself more(he kinda did in the original game during the 2-5 chapters, but it’s more relevant here). His scar is still the same though.

- Like Gary in the original, Petey starts to get paranoia, but not from not taking pills. His paranoia is just as strong as Gary’s was if not stronger. Since Gary is Petey’s only real friend, he gets very paranoid about him leaving him for someone else because of the way Petey treats him, so when he see's Gary getting buddy buddy with Jimmy, it irks him.

-In this AU, the storyline goes backwards. In the beginning, everyone at Bullworth is friendly with Jimmy at this point. It’s like this because if I were to keep it the same as the original, Petey’s plan would be a little harder to explain.

Alright, back to the AU

So it starts at the beginning where Jimmy meets Gary and Petey. Instead of Jimmy meeting Petey, he meets Gary first in the Boy’s Dorm(I'm talking about when they all meet in Jimmy's room). Petey then walks in on them having a conversation and that’s basically how they meet.

A/N: As I stated before, Petey acts similar to Gary in this AU, so there are still going to be gay jokes, teasing, etc.

Time skip to a couple of months later. Petey realizes that Jimmy’s popularity has grown. He also notices Gary is hanging out with Jimmy more often. This is where Pete’s paranoia kicks in. Petey can’t have that, so he comes up with a plan to try and ruin Jimmy’s reputation(basically what Gary did in the original) to make him seem fake and untrustworthy and is only wanting attention and popularity. Unlike Gary’s plan in the original, Petey’s plan is more organized and well thought out. His plan would go like this:

1-Spread false rumors about things Jimmy said about each clique to each clique leader one by one

2-Pay them so that they rat on Petey to Jimmy

3-Get Gary to unbefriend Jimmy

4-Get rid of Jimmy

A/N: While Petey is executing the first two steps of his plan, he would still act like Jimmy's friend and make it seem like he overheard some clique members talking about how they have a bone to pick with Jimmy for "no apparent reason".

After Petey has successfully got everyone at Bullworth to hate Jimmy's guts, Jimmy travels to the roof of the school because that's the only place he has left where he isn't constantly hated and judged(it was also Jimmy's,Gary's,and Petey's hangout spot before this all happened).

It starts raining, but he'd rather stay up here than go back to the dorms. Petey then enters the scene. He's not here for friendly conversation. He taunts Jimmy and tells him about his plan to get everyone to turn their back on Jimmy and how no one will believe him if he told them the truth.

They start arguing. Since they're on the roof and are screaming and shouting at each other, it's only natural for others to hear them. It didn't take long for them to attract an audience. One thing leads to another and Petey had already pushed Jimmy off of the school building(this is taking place by the main entrance of the school).

Everyone rushes over to Jimmy to see if he is ok. He's still breathing(somehow), but is knocked out cold. Petey's sudden realization of what he just done kicks in. All the eyes of the students are staring straight at him. He flees the scene and is never to be seen again.

After the incident, Jimmy has almost fully recovered from the incident, still a few broken bones to heal up. Unfortunately,he had also gotten severe amnesia. The only thing he can remember is Petey's face before being pushed off the school roof.

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End of AU

Well that's it for the AU. I hope I explained it well because I'm not the best at story telling😅. I know it got kind of fan fiction-ny at the end but it's alright. Hopefully the illustrations will help with the storytelling. I've been procrastinating this for the longest time, so if you're reading this now it means I finally had the time to finish this up(*sigh*). Also for clarification, the events in the original storyline are still the same in this AU(like boss fights and stuff like that), but he doesn't gain any respect from any of the factions though(because he losses most of the time).

#i tried my best to explain it #so sorry if some parts are kinda hard to understand #im not the best at story-telling so forgive me #hopefully my drawings will distract you from my #crappy writing lol #it was really fun writing petey like in a different light like this #I usually depict him as this sweet innocent little boy most of the time #a breather for me I would say #pete kowalski #jimmy hopkins #gary smith #bully au #bully scholarship edition #canis canem edit

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daisychains111 · 6 years ago

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Happy Birthday Annie Cresta

Annie Cresta was born on July 28th, 56 A.D.D.

This day is more officially known as The Anniversary of Rebel Defeat but is more commonly known as Reaping Day.

July 28th, 59 A.D.D- Age 3

Adrina goes up on the stage, mommy’s crying. Annie doesn’t understand why everyone is so upset, especially on her birthday. But she never sees her big sister again, except in a strange wooden box about a month later.

July 28th, 62 A.D.D- Age 6

Ridley Zale is Annie’s favorite babysitter, she lets her eat taffy before dinner and lets Annie do her make-up. It makes Annie sad that Ridley has to go up on that stage, she doesn’t understand why people who go up there never come home, and she can’t help but feel scared of her birthday.

July 28th 65 A.D.D- Age 9

Aegir sings her happy birthday as he brushes her hair. Mommy died and can’t do it anymore but when her brother does it he pulls too hard. The Reaping takes place as normal but this time Annie knows why the people up on stage never come back.

July 28th 66 A.D.D- age 10

Annie cries as Aegir gets himself ready.

He tells her thats stupid. If he gets reaped she’ll have no one left to love her. Aegir doesn’t say anything to that, but he hopes harder that it’s not his name called.

# # #

Annie’s world shatters into a million pieces as Aegir’s name echoes around the square, but someone shouts and Aegir never steps foot on that scary stage. Instead a boy named Finnick, with sandy hair and green eyes, climbs the stairs, head held high, and this Finnick does come home, the youngest Victor in Hunger Games history according to the news reports.

July 28th 68 A.D.D- Age 12

Annie wakes up screaming at 5 o’clock in the morning. Images of cruel, slow deaths, threatening to rip her apart, her twelfth birthday bringing her first reaping. She picks up a badly wrapped gift from Aegir thats sits on the table as she slips out the door to her favorite hiding spot. She found this spot when she was 7, and comes here when she’s nervous. It usually helps her clear her mind. She wades into the water and welcomes the tightness in her chest as she goes under. Someone rips her out from the water. Finnick Odair thought she was drowning for how long she had been under.

# # #

Annie hardly notices her reaping after that. She couldn’t help but stare into the eyes of the 16-year-old victor who sits on stage. And by mid-October Finnick and Annie are best friends

July 28th 71 A.D.D- Age 15

Finnick gives her a shell bracelet and a kiss on the cheek for her 15th birthday. Aegir rolled his eyes and tells her that Finnick is too old for her.

She feels really pretty, in her white dress and sandals, with her brown hair flying freely around her shoulders. Her best friend Sayla bought her little sea glass clips that stand out like stars in the decorative braids that wrap around her head. Ms. Luna made her a cupcake. Annie is happy, the reaping is the last thing on her mind. She locks eyes with Finnick from on stage, he smiles wildly at her before the escort begins the Reaping, he’s gonna be a mentor this year.

# # #

Annie barely registers her name being called. A boy named Jonah joins her. She has never been on this stage before, she wishes she could have kept it that way.

# # #

She is dressed like a mermaid for the parade, she gets a 7 in training, her interview dress is pale blue. Her mentor, Mags, is an old woman. Finnick is never around, but when he is, he looks tired. The games start, Annie’s first kill is the girl from 7, her name was Nova, she was 13. Annie cried herself to sleep that night. The tributes from 1 and 2 don’t like her, but they like Jonah, and Annie and Jonoh are a package deal. Ten days in, Annie and Jonah break off from the others in the middle of the night. On day thirteen, Jonah’s head rolls at her feet. Annie screams and screams, part of her is never the same after that. The ground shakes and Annie welcomes the tightness in her chest as she goes under water. She was under so long people thought she was dead, but it was trumpets, not a cannon that follow Annie Cresta, the victor of the 70th Hunger Games.

# # #

Annie screams on stage when her games show up on the screen. This is not what The Capital wanted, Annie never sees Aegir ever again. The grey hair of her mentor and the green eyes of her friend try to comfort her. Annie throws her head back and laughs.

# # #

Annie stands up on the stage, Finnick is holding her hand. Her district claps. But there is no one in the world that loves her. Annie Cresta may have won, but once you go on that stage you never truly come home.

July 28th 73 A.D.D- Age 17

Mags is still in the hospital, Finnick is on his way to the capital. It’s funny how much time he spends there. He told Annie that he loved her, she laughed. He left her though, for that awful place, it’s funny how much he goes there.

July 28th 75 A.D.D- Age 19

Finnick wakes her up with a kiss on her nose. He stayed just for her. They go to the reaping and he holds her hand the whole way home. They pack a lunch and go to the cove. Mags watches as the two play in the water like small children. Annie has never felt so happy in her whole life. She loves Finnick and Finnick loves her, and not even the president can take that from her. This is the best birthday of her entire life.

# # #

The Quell is announced on January 2nd. Finnick locks himself in his room, Mags bakes 4 dozen cookies, Annie covers her ears and laughs like she’s never laughed before.

July 28th 76 A.D.D- Age 20

There are so few of them that they stand the Victors on the stage looking down at the rest of the district. Annie hears her name called, Mags volunteers before Annie has the chance to scream or cry or laugh. Finnick name is called and this time she drops to her knees and covers her ears. In one month, at least half of everyone who loves her will be dead and that isn’t even funny to Annie.

# # #

The poem moves everyone to tears. Finnick loves her. And she loves Finnick, but as he proclaims this the entire nation her tears are anything but warm.

# # #

The cannon echoes around her skull. Her old mentor falling to the ground in repeat in her mind. It had been Mags who held her when the world was the darkest. It had been Mags who taught her to make cookies. It had been Mags who battled Annie’s demons when Aegir seemed to vanish into thin air. It was Mags who combed Annie’s hair when Annie didn’t bother. It was Mags who let Annie move into a spare room in her house. It was Mags that she went to when Finnick was driving her up a wall. It was Mags who had seen her at her highest highs and lowest lows. It was Mags who insisted on doing everything on her own, even after she had her stroke. It was Mags who was the strongest, most powerful, loving person Annie had ever met. It was Mags who was dead. Not the blonde boy from 12, but Mags. Annie couldn’t even scream, she didn’t even laugh. She was just numb.

# # #

Annie pleads with the television. Finnick I’m safe. Finnick I’m fine. But he doesn’t hear her, he just runs through the jungle, looking for something he’ll never find, in a fashion that would make Crazy Annie Cresta look sane.

# # #

The arena explodes and Annie laughs. Take that Snow.

# # #

The peacekeepers knock on her door. She wakes up in the Capital. Annie has never screamed so loud in her whole life.

# # #

A boy with brown hair takes her and leads her to a hovercraft. When they land she hears him before she sees him. Finnick. Her Finnick, alive and well. The kiss is long and sweet. Annie’s head hasn’t felt this clear in 4 years.

# # #

She feels really pretty, in her white dress and sandals, with her brown hair flying freely around her shoulders. Tin clips, standing out like stars in the decorative braids that wrap around her head. Peeta made them a cake. Annie is happy, the war is the last thing on her mind. She locks eyes with Finnick from across their hands, he smiles wildly at her before the pastor begins the ceremony. Crazy Annie Cresta is dead. Annie Odair laughs from real joy, she’s never felt so safe.

# # #

Aegir Odair. That’s what she decides. Finnick is off in the capital, fighting the war, but he will like that, he will be happy to be a father. Annie hasn’t had an episode in two months. Maybe this baby will make things better. Maybe she will be a good mom.

# # #

She drops a vase when Gale tells her. He holds her as she screams, but it’s not the same.

Annie Cresta feels 15 all over again. Screaming her head off. Rocking back and forth. Fighting off the demons left to her by a poor dead boy. He is dead. The youngest Victor in Panam history. Her mentor. Her best friend. Her husband. Finnick Odair is dead. Finnick Odair will never know he’s a father. Finnick Odair will never meet his son. But that’s not why Annie cries. Annie cries because she will never again see his beautiful green eyes. She will never again hear his contagious laugh. She will never again be conformed by his strong hugs. So Annie screams, because there is no one left in the world that loves her.

July 28th 83 A.D.D- Age 27

Aegir has his mother's hair and his father's eyes. She smiles down at him as he sings her happy birthday. Her sweet little 7-year-old, with his missing front teeth. Annie Odair hasn’t had an episode in 5 years. Annie Odair is a good mother. Finnick Odair would have been proud. She may have lost her husband but she has never felt so much love in her whole life. Annie is happy.

#hunger games #annie cresta #finnick x annie #finnick odair #mags (hunger games)

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plastic-portrait · 6 years ago

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Do you think I could get your take on Larry dealing with a very A.D.D. s/o? Like, theyre constantly drifting between subjects, very scattered, and forgetful, and because of it they get very anxious and aggravated with themselves? (I've been fighting hard with it the past few days and need some comfort 😖)

Absolutely! Sorry that this is a bit late, but I hope it helps. I’ve kinda based this on how my s/o reacted to my situation, as they’re very, very similar to Larry in many ways.

Also, this is the second time I’ve had to write this cause the first time it deleted itself. Fun.S/O with extreme A.D.D:

Usually, normal people are getting dressed and going to school at seven in the morning the day after winter break ends. But I wasn’t, because I hadn’t slept in the first place, and I was instead staring at the texture on my wall for hours until the colors in my peripheral vision seemed to change.

Looking around myself for a minute, I was gifted the memory of raiding the cupboards at midnight at seeing the hundred or so wrappers on my sheets. Fuck it. I laid back down in the mess, thinking about the weird smell in the carpets of Addison Apartments that I could never scrub out.

Later on, I considered looking through my phone to be a good idea, until I discovered two things: first, it was one in the afternoon, and second, I had about four missed calls from Larry. I groaned really loudly without thinking.

Instead of calling back like I probably should have, I shoved myself into a tie-dye hoodie and red plaid pajama pants with mismatched socks, and then made my way to school.

The hallways were crowded, which made it difficult to sneak in through one of the side doors to avoid the office staff, due to it being a passing period. Making my way through the molasses-like crowd, I caught up with Sal at his locker.

“Hey, Sal.” my voice cracked, and I cleared my throat. “Have you seen Larry anywhere?”

“Yeah, he’s in science right now. Are you okay? I haven’t seen you all break, y/n, and we live in the same apartment complex.” Sal rested his hand on my shoulder, making eye contact.

“Yeah, yeah,” I said, a bit too fast. “Yeah, I’m good.”

I quickly turned and left, drifting back into the sea of people behind me. I kept trying to think about science to remind myself of which class to go to, but that made me think of entomology, which is the study of insects, and then, in turn, made me want to go outside to find some bugs.

“God damn it! Focus!” I whisper-yelled to myself, pinching the inside of my arm really hard in an attempt to pay attention. I walked along the hallway, eventually seeing a classroom labeled science on the doorframe.

I peeked inside the window on the door and saw Larry, his mane of hair unbrushed as it often was. He looked up to answer a question and, in the process, saw me at the window. He answered and then asked if he could use the restroom, making his way quickly out of class.

His voice cracked terribly when he spoke to me. “Let’s go outside to the benches.”

He walked that way without checking to see if I would follow, which I did. I was yelling at myself in my head for being so fucking stupid the whole time. When we sat down across from each other, Larry sighed.

“What happened, y/n? Where have you been all break? I called you every day trying to see if you needed help or something and you just disappeared.”

“I...” I picked at a loose string on my hoodie, “I don’t know. I just lost track of time, and...”

Larry grabbed both of my hands and held them in his. “Try to focus, take your time with what you’re saying.” He was trying his best not to cry, I could tell.

“I lost track of time... and I just haven’t gotten up all break. I haven’t looked at my phone, it’s been dead for weeks... I sat and cried all of Christmas and New Years because I stayed in my room and my family is giving up on me Larry, I don’t know what to do anymore I really don’t!” I had started out slow but now I was talking too fast and I knew I was crying because I couldn’t see from all the tears in my eyes. I remembered that all of my presents were still where the Christmas tree used to sit.

“Hey, hey, listen.” Larry got up and sat next to me on my side of the bench, wrapping me in a strong hug. “It’s okay, y/n. I know that this is really hard for you, and I know you want to try to do something about it, and I want to help.”

“How can you help? It’s my brain that’s fucked up...”

“I’m gonna take you to see a professional since your parents won’t. We’ll figure out what’s going on and if what they have to help costs money I’ll pay for it, okay? I don’t want to see you suffer like this anymore.”

We were both crying at that point, sitting there and holding each other because I couldn’t think of a single thing other than hugging Larry at that moment.

“Fuck, you’re skipping class, Larry,” I said, sitting up. “You-you've gotta go back to class before your teacher sends someone to get you-”

“No, I’ll be okay. I’m taking you home, alright? And I’m gonna cook you something real to eat and were gonna figure things out from there.”

I just nodded and stopped myself after I realized I just kept nodding on and on. Larry took me by the hand and we walked back home in silence.

I really, truly was thankful for how much Larry cared, even though I had done cruel things to him before and even though he didn’t understand what was happening. I was amazed that he still stuck around, though everything, and I would work my ass off to be able to be there for him, too.

A/N: I basically imagined that Larry would care a LOT even though he didn’t really know much about what was going on. Like, he would sit and listen for hours but wouldn’t really know what to say. He’s still such a lovely boy

#sally face #sally face headcanon #sally face imagines #sf #sf imagines #sf x reader #larry johnson #larry johnson x reader

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shimospookyapple · 6 years ago

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Ok so i know i never really shared any of my personal info on tumblr, unlike my other social media accounts, so it's time I tell ya the basics.

1- I'm a 19 years old 'french' canadian woman who studies 2D animation in montreal.

2- I am super close to my relatives and they are really dear to me! And also most of my family are not even blood related but we don't care cuz love makes a family, not bloods

3- I am heterosexual yes, but I am a strong allie and i support 100% the lgbtq+ community and their cause!! (Same for my relatives, cuz they all assumed i was lesbian cuz I look like one (more like i represent the stereotype))

4- I am single. Tho it's not really relevant, right?

5- I have A.D.D but i take the medication needed to help me in my everyday life (also add and adhd are not the same! They have different symptoms, so please stop assuming that people who has add are hyperactive, cuz we're not)

6- I'm a huge geek.

7- I'm small-average, like 1m59 tall.

8- internet pet peeves: being patronized by strangers on internet or when an internet strangers 'friendly insults' you like if you were friends since forever.

There that's basic infos about me ^<^

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thoughts-ofthecollective-shadows · 7 years ago

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You freaking sap!🤭 I can't say shit though 😋

I love you too. I'll live for you.

You make me feel so warm and loved. I feel... Whole, with you. The light you give others is not something that can be compared or explained. And I adore that about you.

I adore the way your face lights up and you flap when you are happy. Your eyes look like the softest chocolate mousse and I cant help but stare into them. They hold so much love and light and emotion. Your smile lights up a room and when you are gone the entire room feels different.

Your skin is so warm and strong. You make me melt when you touch my cheeks and hands and hair... Ect. 😋

You are like a breath of fresh air after drowning for months. I feel strong with you. I feel like.... Me.

You remind me that it's ok to be weak sometimes and that I can look to myself for strength. And thats something no one has ever told me. It reminds me that I can be strong on my OWN. And I am a better person(demon but you know what I mean😜) because of you.

The compassion you show others makes my heart skip. I love watching you just be you. There's not a single thing I would change about you. Your flaws make you amazing. They make you human and I love it. I love every single inch of you 😘

@blueseraphimwings (a.d.d brain went on so many tangents and I zoned out remembering your smile 😂🤭)

#my boyfriend #this is sloppy because my add brain went on so many tangents #but i love you so much baby #i love you so much

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scaredbisexual · 7 years ago

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Pure Art | Reddie Fic

Photographer!Eddie and Artsy!Richie

Word Count: 3316

Warnings: Cursing, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Anxiety Attack, Self-consciousness

EDIT: I FORGOT TO TELL YOU BUT IT WAS PROOF-READ BY WONDERFUL @fuckboykaspbrak I’M SORRY

Chapter Three

“We are going thrift shopping? Oh my god, Eddie, you sure know how to treat a guy!” Richie squeaked when they arrived at their next stop. He crouched down to place a wet, loud kiss on Eddie’s cheek and then jumped up in excitement.

“Well, yeah, you need some other clothes for the photo shoot, I can’t have my professors knowing I took all of the photos today,” Eddie answered while smiling sweetly. He raised his hand to caress the place where Richie kissed him and bit his lip. That was nice. “Go on, find something you think is not complete shit.”

The thrift shop was not his initial plan, not really, but then he saw all of the stains on Richie’s clothes from eating and decided that the boy needed a makeover. What he told Richie wasn’t a lie though, he didn’t want his professor to know he had been slacking off the entire semester. Eddie was a good student, a boy with big dreams and even bigger ambition. It was dripping off of him, he was soaked with passion and creativity- everyone could see it.

The thing was, he was also a perfectionist. He hated half-assing things and he had to be 100% sure he liked something before letting someone else see it. That’s why the portfolio was a huge challenge for him.

They spent some time rummaging through the big shop, looking for the things they thought would look nice in photographs. Eddie had so many places he wanted to take pics of Richie in, he couldn’t decide where to go first and what he wanted Richie to wear.

“Okay, time for some fashion show, Eds!” the taller boy shouted from somewhere behind Eddie. He looked at his watch and decided that yes, it was indeed time for them to get out of there. They had about nine hours to complete Eddie’s portfolio, they could do it, yeah.

Richie’s picks were first to go. At the beginning they both agreed to choose two outfits that they thought would look nice in a photo shoot and shouted RICHIE. Eddie sat in front of the changing room, anxiously playing with his fingers. He didn’t know Richie and was afraid that the boy was going to make a big joke out of his task, and Eddie couldn’t afford losing any time. He was pulled out of his thoughts because of the fitting room’s door being kicked open, revealing Richie in his finest.

The boy’s first choice was a pair of colorful trousers with a print of sunflowers on it, a black long-sleeved t-shirt with “ALL ROCK’N ROLL IS HOMOSEXUAL” written on, tucked inside the trousers, with its sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He tied his hair into a bun, but there still were a few loose locks framing his face.

“Wow, that’s awesome!” Eddie sighed happily and clapped his hands in excitement. He was truly relieved that the other boy decided to put some effort into it and actually did what he was asked to. His heart swelled a bit while watching Richie smiling proudly and biting his lower lip. He looked really adorable, his skinny frame was hidden under the loose top, his fingers anxiously playing with fabric of his trousers. “But wait-” he smiled wickedly while watching Richie’s hands and ran across the store, looking around frantically in search of something he had seen earlier. He came back with black rings and a plain pendant, he also carried a pair of sunflower-shaped sunglasses with him.

Richie smiled so widely at the sight of it, and then even more when he put the stuff on. He looked ridiculous. But also, like, totally hot and in his element? Eddie couldn’t help but reach for his camera when Richie started making silly poses and acting like he was at a music festival.

“Oh-ma-gawd, Rebeccca! Can you like, believe it? We’re gonna see ‘em live, bitch!”

Click. Click. Click.

Richie stilled for a moment, his hand raised to his face in a mock shock, his sunglasses sitting in his hair. He turned around to Eddie and shot him a look that screamed embarrassment. Oh no.

Eddie raised his eyebrows and scanned Richie’s frame in search of any other indications of shame or regret of doing it, but he found none. There was some anxiety visible in the boy’s moves, what made Eddie smile softly and step closer. He knew damn well how it was to not believe in himself and feel intimidated in front of the camera. A few months before he and his friend, Mike, were assigned together to a task in photography class and Mike would take pictures of Eddie all the time. The smaller boy would react the same way Richie did- hide his face and blush furiously in embarrassment, it is, until Mike told him:

“You look stunning, man,” Eddie said, hand resting on Richie’s shoulder and his own eyes searching Richie’s. The taller boy smiled bashfully and shook his head.

“Yeah, get out of here, it’s only my first outfit!” he shouted, trying to turn this situation into a joke. And who was Eddie to stop him? He just raised his hands in surrender and backed out of the small space.

While the taller boy was changing, Eddie got consumed by his thoughts. He started noticing small things about Richie, how he would bashfully touch curls behind his ear when Eddie was looking at him for a bit too long, how he always took some time to get comfortable with the other boy taking pictures of him, the way he blushed and turned everything into joke. Eddie didn’t know him too well, one could say he didn’t know him at all, but he felt a strong connection between them all the same. He felt something weird when their fingers brushed while walking, his anger seemed more tame than usual, but awake all the same when Richie was pulling his strings a bit too hard.

Have you ever been in a museum by an accident? Have you walked past some and decided to go inside, explore it, get consumed by art? Well, Eddie has. When he was starting his escapade with college and this whole “big city life”, he would sometimes go out of his apartment and just stroll through parks and colorful streets. Once he got to another side of the city and discovered a small museum situated in the suburbs. The building was beautiful itself, monumental and surrounded by different kinds of flowers. It felt like being inside a photograph, that’s how beautiful it was.

Anyway, Eddie went inside, not knowing what to expect at all, bought a ticket and started his journey with art inside. He saw some nice painting, some awful ones too and the road and money he spent on it didn’t really seem worth it, but then he found himself in the last room, at the very end of the building. You see, there wasn’t a lot of people in that particular room. Most of the visitors got bored or tired, maybe even annoyed with the low-quality-art they saw and decided to leave earlier, not willing to explore the rest anymore. And what a shame that was.

In the last room hang the most beautiful painting Eddie had ever seen. It was beautiful no matter how you looked at it, the lights and colors making an impression of the art becoming alive, taking the viewer inside on its way. And the boy was the happiest he had ever been, his cheeks hurt from smiling and eyes watered a bit when he sat in the room for hours, taking in the painting from each and every side, enjoying every little thing about it. It was pure art.

When Eddie met Richie he felt like he was entering the museum all over again. He felt as if his time would be wasted, wanted to resign as soon as they started. But as the time went, he seemed to be going through next rooms, exploring the beautiful thing that was Richie’s soul and mind, and he felt himself nearing the last room. There was something making him go, not allowing him to stop and Eddie decided to follow it in his search for pure art.

He got pulled out of his thoughts by awfully loud shriek coming out of the changing room. Eddie quickly got up and ran towards it, wanting to check if his companion was okay.

Of course, Richie was only joking to get some attention on him and then continue the fashion show. Eddie sighed so loudly, that an elderly lady shot him a surprised glance and shook her head in annoyance.

Richie’s next outfit was awfully normal, a t-shirt with some cartoon characters on it, black jeans and leather jacket- Eddie shook his head in boredom and gave him thumbs down. Richie only pouted and went to try on the other boy’s choices. Eddie was fidgeting on his seat, nervously picking on his lower lip, waiting for Richie’s reaction. It was a bold choice and Eddie was afraid that Richie would laugh in his face and throw it away. To his amazement the taller boy walked out of the changing room with the biggest smile and amusement visible in his eyes.

“Fuck, Eds, that’s sick!”

Richie was wearing bright pink overalls with a black, Trasher t-shirt underneath that fitted his body like a glove. He also had a black cap with “I have A.D.D. A Delicious Dick” written on it with capital, white letters, Eddie gave him also a pair of socks with daisies on them.

He looked perfect, the dark colors complemented his complexion and brought out freckles and the overalls made him look incredibly soft and pretty. Eddie was sure he didn’t speak for a few minutes because he was so hypnotized by the sight.

There were a few moments in that day that made Eddie wish his relationship with Richie could be something more. He was entranced with him, the awful jokes, never-closing mouth and over-expressive, beautiful face made him think about Richie as something more than a friend. Hell, he didn’t know if they even were friends, but he felt himself helplessly falling for the boy. But this exact moment when Richie cupped his own face with his big hands, titled his head and smiled sweetly and it was the moment that Eddie would remember as “Officially Wanting To Be His” moment.

They finally chose the outfits and left the shop, Richie dressed in his pink overalls. They chatted, really excited about the next place Eddie was taking them.

“Your friend really owns a sunflower field? How awesome is that, oh god!” Richie groaned and hang his arm over Eddie’s shoulders, pulling him closer when they got inside yet another bus. Eddie smiled and looked at his feet while blushing furiously. He liked the heat of Richie’s body against his and the smell of his cologne mixed with thrift shop. Some men tried to push past the pair, making Eddie stand face to face with Richie, their chests almost touching. “That’s comfy, isn’t it?” Richie joked and winked down at the smaller boy. Eddie wanted to punch Richie’s stomach but the bus stopped in the same moment and he ended up tripping over his own feet. He landed in Richie’s stretched out, ready to save him, arms, their faces inches apart, noses almost touching.

“I want to scream, that’s how cliché that shit is,” Eddie huffed, pushing himself away from Richie and standing straight. And maybe, just maybe his body tingled from the contact they made.

They got to the field in few minutes, it not being that far away from the city. Mike, his dearest friend, agreed for them to use it when he talked with Eddie on the phone, while Eddie was waiting for Richie to gather his things in the thrift shop. He was the sweetest boy on earth and Eddie knew he would agree, but he also had a lot of respect for him and wanted to get his consent.

“Listen, I, I need to move you around a bit-” Eddie muttered when they settled somewhere in the middle of the field. The sun was on its way down the sky and the light that illuminated them was truly magical. The air was thick with tension, mostly because of Eddie’s nerves connected with the whole assignment thing, but there was also some negative energy flowing out of Richie. “-Okay, lay down and, yeah, turn your head a bit, that’s good, aha!”

Richie was situated on the floor, his head turned towards the sky, chin high and eyes closed. Eddie pulled his hands up, so that he looked like he was making a snow angel in the sunflowers. Richie’s eyes fluttered nervously, his cheeks heated up noticeably and his hands grabbed some grass to calm himself down. Eddie didn’t notice it, too focused on some settings on his camera, so when he looked up and saw a single tear running down Richie’s cheek, he felt all the air leave his body.

“Oh no, no, no, no, no, no,” the smaller boy muttered, putting his camera aside and crunching down next to Richie. He still had his eyes tightly closed, lip quivering a bit and chest heaving. “Hey, hey Rich, look at me, come on,” he whispered, a bit uncomfortable. He had never comforted anyone while crying, well, anyone that he didn’t know well. His mind was spiraling, there was no information about what could make Richie calm down and that’s what made him so scared. He didn’t want to fuck it up.

Richie’s face scrunched up and he shook his head, still not moving from his position.

“Come on, ‘Chee, please, what’s going on?”

“I can’t do it, Eds, I’m so sorry.” he finally sat up and opened his puffed eyes. He scanned the area wildly, not wanting to look Eddie in the eye. He wanted to stand up but Eddie quickly pushed him down, holding him tightly.

“What, Richie? What can’t you do, hmmm?” his voice was soft and soothing. Eddie’s hands slowly rubbed circles into Richie’s scalp, massaging it and trying to make the other boy relax. He knew what an anxiety attack looked like, he had had his own share of them when he was younger, and knew what to do to calm someone down, but at the same time it was Richie- a boy he hardly knew. The not-knowing was really driving him mad, so he decided to just go with his instincts and slowly reached for Richie’s face. He delicately cupped his sharp jaw and stroke a thumb under the boy’s eye, wiping away some of the tears.

“I can’t be pretty, Eds,” he murmured and Eddie’s heart clenched painfully. It physically hurt him when Richie scrunched his eyes closed again and tried to back away from Eddie’s touch. “I really want to, but, but-” he hiccuped, panic taking over his body almost entirely. “-I just don’t want you to look at the photos and decide that your time wasn’t worth it, ya know? I don’t want to fuck it up for you.”

Richie looked completely wrecked. His whole body was shaking, wet eyelashes got glued together because of the tears and cheeks got an angry shade of red. He was picking at his fingernails and the skin around them, making it break and bleed. Eddie tsked and shook his head, then moved closer to the boy and took his hands into his own.

“You won’t Richie.”

“But-”

“You won’t, okay?” the smaller boy shot him a sweet smile and waited for Richie to calm down. He breathed slowly and loudly, gesturing for the other one to do the same, he then proceeded to rub Richie’s shaking shoulders, his hands and even chest, trying to sooth him. “Richie, you are beautiful, trust me.” Richie shook his head and tried to draw back again, but Eddie didn’t let him.

“How can you say that, Eds? My face is so, it’s so weird an-and my body? Oh god, I’m no Chris Hemsworth, Eddie, don’t lie to me,” he tried to turn his outburst into a joke, but all the self-pity and insecurities were palpable for Eddie.

The smaller boy smiled sadly and lowered his head for a moment, thinking of good words to express himself. He wasn’t good with them, he preferred actions instead, liked to show emotions through gestures, but that wasn’t an option. Richie was in a clear need of verbal praise and Eddie’s job was to deliver.

He took a deep breath and looked Richie straight in the eye, wanting to get to the bottom of his soul with what he had in mind. The taller boy looked a bit scared, his eyebrows were furrowed and lips parted. He seemed a bit calmer, but still fidgeted with, this time, Eddie’s fingers.

“You-um, were you-have you ever seen Vincent’s Van Gogh’s paintings, ‘Chee?” Eddie asked in a small voice. He furrowed his brows, unhappy with how he sounded, and cleared his throat. “When he was alive, everyone said that, you know, that it was ugly and shitty, ‘cause it didn’t fit into some, well, labels-” he continued, even though he didn’t get a response. Art was the way he understood world, how he somehow got through his life and it was the best metaphor for him. He wanted Richie to get that, and, given his suddenly dreamy eyes, it was kind of working. “-but then he died and-um- some other people saw his works and decided that he was actually pretty-fucking-fabulous.” Eddie took a deep breath and rearranged himself, so he could fit between Richie’s widely spread legs. “What I’m trying to say is, his art didn’t change. It was the same it was, but then came some people with different opinions and decided that it was worth something. It’s all about the way of thinking, Rich. And those people that don’t find you attractive? Fuck them. You are simply too- you are art, Richie.”

Richie’s breath hitched and he stopped crying. He was looking at Eddie with fascination written all over his face, searching for something that could indicate he was telling lies, but there was no such thing. His face was expressive, eyes shining with unshed tears and lips pink and wet from constant biting on them. The taller boy’s hands found their way onto Eddie’s hips and he gently pulled him closer. Not one person had ever taken so much time and effort to make Richie feel better and it was making his head spin.

“Art?” he asked shyly, head propped on Eddie’s chest, looking up at him. Eddie’s cheeks were pink from the unexpected contact, but he let himself thread fingers through Richie’s curls and nod.

“Yeah. You make me feel so many things, just like art. You-you make me furious whenever you open your big mouth and-” Richie chuckled, slightly taken aback. “-and then I see you looking at the world with such child-like fascination and I can’t help but smile. You have the weirdest style but it fits you so good, your pretty face is so stupid and angular but it, it just kind of works? You make me want to kill you, but then I want to just pull you closer and protect you from the world.”

Many times, when Eddie thought back to this moment, he wondered if he hadn’t said too much. It seemed too bold, too weird for almost-a-stranger to say. But all those thoughts always left him when he remembered the big smile on Richie‘s tear-stained face and the way he hugged Eddie- so hard and close the smaller boy almost couldn’t breath.

“Let’s take some photos,“ Richie mumbled, his voice thick with emotion. He pulled back and stood up, ready to face another challenge.

Oh my, my, my

This one was some kind of emotional roller-coaster, wasn’t it? I hope you like it anyway!

Let me know, I’m such a slut for feedback!!!

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greetingsfromnashville · 7 years ago

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◖◖ GREETINGS FROM...HANNAH BETH PUCKERMAN ( ZOEY DEUTCH ) ✈ ◗◗

AGE & BIRTHDAY: 22, November 29 ORIENTATION: Pansexual HOMETOWN: Nashville, TN BIRTH ORDER: Youngest

OCCUPATION: Intern at Turning Publishing YOU MIGHT SAY SHE’S: ambitious, excitable, and passionate BUT ALSO: anxious, forgetful, and uncoordinated

◖◖ DIGGING A LITTLE DEEPER ◗◗

Growing up Hannah was always known as the quiet member of the family. Most of the time she was lost in thought or daydreaming about something that kept her from paying attention to anything else that was going on. Their mom insisted that it wasn’t a big deal and that she’s grow out of it. It wasn’t until she was in high school and still struggling with things that they realized maybe it was something more than that. During her sophomore year they started her on medication for a.d.d. and it drastically made a difference on her life.

Reading and writing were always two of Hannah’s favorite things to do. No one was shocked whenever she declared her major in English and decided to go Vanderbilt University. Now that she’s graduated, she’s considering going back for her Master’s degree if her internship doesn’t work out. She has no idea how she’ll find the ability to actually write the books that she has a desire to and she’s hoping that working close with writers will somehow teach her how they managed to do it.

Her brother has always been one of her favorite people, even if sometimes he seems a little too cool for her. There was a lot of moments growing up where the two of them only had each other and she’s proud of the things he’s done with his life. Getting to live with him again has reminded her that she’s always had one of the best siblings ever and she hopes that nothing happens to come between the two of them.

Relationships have never been Hannah’s strong suit and she’s almost certain that she’s destined for a life raising fifty cats instead of finding someone who actually wants to be with her. She knows it’s mostly her fault for only being interested in people that she can’t actually have. What isn’t her fault is the fact that every decent person out there already seems to be in a relationship so no one can expect her to settle for less than the best.

◖◖ THE STORIES SHE’S TELLING ◗◗

STORY 014, MUSE A

STORY 033, MUSE A

#puckerman #puckerman: hannah #*

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josephinebardot · 4 years ago

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What are the reasons to go dolphin watching

With dolphin and whale sightings galore and a vast array of many more beautiful creatures to be seen, the best dolphin watching tour can be experienced by boarding on a dolphin cruise in St Pete Beach, FL.

Connect with Animals

There is something absolutely remarkable about connecting with a marine mammal in their natural habitat. Whether you come aboard a whale watching tour in the fall, winter, spring or summer months, your chances to spot a whale, dolphin, sea lion, or one of the nearly seventy species of wildlife in our area, is incredibly high.

These animals may include a majestic blue whale, sperm whale, pilot whale, or possibly a pod of killer whales. Other whale species include Humpback whales, fin, minke, and gray whales during their whale migration.

Not to mention five species of dolphins that can number up to 5,000 strong.

Connect With Nature

In addition to the magnificent mammals out at sea, another top reason to take part in the best whale watching is the opportunity to connect with nature. Apart from connecting with the wildlife, simply being out on the open ocean with the fresh air and serenity that accompanies it, bring in an array of health benefits.

Scientific studies have proven that exposure to nature has both physical and mental benefits including improved mental clarity, improved A.D.D. symptoms, and accelerated healing.

Physical benefits also include enhanced immune function which can lead to less cancer, fewer migraines, less respiratory disease, and lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

Connecting With Each Other

“We are hardwired to connect with others, it’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives, and without there is suffering.” Brenee Brown

The best whale watching can’t be done without our fellow passengers and shipmates. This is why one of the top reasons to go whale watching includes connecting with the people around us.

This is done on comfortable vessels that do not feel overcrowded, claustrophobic, or uncomfortable. This provides a setting where you can share a connection to the people around you while enjoying your surroundings.

Connecting With Ourselves

Whether you’re planning to enjoy the best whale watching with your friends, family, or while flying solo, one of the top reasons to do so is to connect with yourself. Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. stated, “When we connect to ourselves we’re also able to create lives that are meaningful and fulfilling.”

Being aboard the best whale watching can enable you to harness that connection. The peace, tranquility, and time apart from a busy day can give the recipient a state of being grounded, thus helping them to unplug from the stresses of life and be more centered and aligned within themselves. This can then cultivate that life of meaning and fulfillment.

Fun!

One of the main reasons to take part in the whale watching comes down to one simple thing, it’s fun! Everyone, everywhere, deserves to enjoy life to the fullest and going aboard the whale watching can get you closer to doing just that. With year-round sightings of the most majestic animals on the planet, an open ocean to explore, and joy to be had while alongside a cetacean loving crew, your fun-filled day is truly one boat ride away.

#Dolphin cruise #dolphin activites #sea beach #cruise

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robertmontanoblog · 5 years ago

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#Overheard at the coffee shops… Remember those?

WE MADE IT TO FRIDAY!!!

GO US!!!

I wish I had something exciting to reward you with, but I suppose it’s rewarding enough just to read my clever notes here, eh? ;) Can’t be too bad out there if The Sexy is still around! Lol…

(okay, that was bad)

In all seriousness, though – I miss coffee shops like a mother, so thought we’d go down memory lane and share some of the last #overheards I managed to grab before the chaos struck. Not many financial gossips in this batch, but I sure am saving more now that I’m not visiting cafes every single day! So that’s worth something, right?! RIGHT???!

Hope you get a good laugh out of these…

And that I didn’t catch any of you here in the act ;)

********

“A beard is like sweatpants for your face”

Nothing truer has ever be spoken, haha…

“Inside of every man there is a little junior high guy inside of them.”

Okay, except for this one :) I admit I still see myself as a pre-teen still trying to figure things out! I’m certainly not a FATHER OF THREE as it appears to everyone else?! I still look around for the adult in the room whenever one’s needed!

“Do you have a radiator I can dry my hat on?”

Now this one was the highlight of my day…. :) Just imagine a dripping wet 70-year-old coming in from a sudden rainstorm and asking the barista to dry his hat out for him. With a radiator no less! But while they couldn’t appease him in that regard, they did have something else that could do the trick – an oven. Lol… A few mins later it was dry and crispy again :)

“My husband finally got his PHD! I think I need a certificate for not divorcing him throughout it… He’s been A.D.D. for awhile now – All But Dissertation”

Low blow!!! But as a spouse who also lived through this, it def. does seem to go epically slow, haha…. Do NOT miss those days one bit while our growing family was living off my dwindling blog income at the time… But all that work’s since paid off and the Mrs. continues to climb and bring home that health insurance!! Oh, and also an income!

“Don’t make me cross the street just to kick your ass.”

From BJ:

Overheard on the streets of Brooklyn, New Yawk…

More than 10 years later and it still makes me laugh when I think of it!

“OK ping pong”

From Shnugi:

I’m on the train and a guy keeps saying “OK ping pong” as a catch phrase.

“If you are saving for retirement, you must be dead inside.”

From James:

Two young women having dinner together… Overheard at a restaurant by a friend who found it so ridiculous and knew I would appreciate it. I have many questions for this person! – James

“Sparkle Carcass.”

From Paula:

My favorite #overheard turned out to be a band name. I couldn’t figure out where my acquaintance came up with the name, and it turned out he loves to ride the trains and (possibly) mishear random things.

The band name? Sparkle Carcass.

And yes, there have been a few bourbon-tasting evenings where a few of us competed in a sketching contest for their new logo…

“STOP COMPLAINING! There are only two people in the world, those who don’t want to hear your problems, and those who are glad you have them!”

-“Mad” Max Speedwell

And then the line that still echoes strong all these years later:

“The challenge is not to touch it.”

Told to a 13 y/o by a 65 y/o trying to instill some good lessons while in the check-out line at Target, lol… Never a bad place or time to spread the financial gospel! And just as relevant today than ever!

Keep on keeping on everyone…

Life is still good despite the disruption!

****** For past posts in this series –> #overheard

******** [Prefer to get these blog posts *weekly* instead of daily? Sign up to my new weekly digest here, and get other thoughts on life/business/money as well: jmoney.biz/newsletter]

#Overheard at the coffee shops… Remember those? published first on https://internetowyportfel.tumblr.com/

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joie-university-rp · 6 years ago

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Dear, HANNAH PUCKERMAN,

It is with great pleasure we invite you admission to Joie University! Welcome to the Thunderclap family!

–

Congratulations, JESS! Please be sure to check the New Members’ Checklistand send in your character’s account within 24 hours from now. We cannot wait to see all that you will bring to this roleplay! We love you already!

OOC INFORMATION:

Name/Alias; preferred pronouns: Jess / she/her

Age, Timezone: 25+, est

Activity, short explanation: 6-7/10, I’m generally around daily, but I do work full time and sometimes that includes working 40+ hours a week so some days I’m just too tried.

Ships: /Chemistry

Anti-Ships: /No Chemistry

Triggers: n/a

Preferred photo for Character’s ID (please give a link): here

Anything else: I hope I didn’t miss something that goes here, but thank you for reading!!!

IC INFORMATION:

Full Name (First, Middle, Last): Hannah Beth Puckerman

FC: Zoey Deutch

Age/Year at University (Freshman [1st Year], Sophomore, Junior, Senior, or Graduate Student): Freshman

Birth date: August 17th, 2000

Hometown (please be sure to check the hometowns listed for characters your muse is related to!): Nashville, TN

Gender/Pronouns: She/Her

Sexuality: Closest/Unsure Bisexual

Major(s): Creative Writing

Minor(s) [optional]: English (literature)

Housing request (remember, only the president of a Greek Organization is required to live at a Greek House to be in it!): Pillsbury Dorm - Room 119 (double)

Extracurriculars (Click here for the list. Be sure to specify any executive board positions [i.e. president, secretary, etc.] If something isn’t listed, please put it here and we will add it to the masterlist!): Literary Magazine

Greek Life Affiliation [optional] (Please be sure to specify any executive board positions [i.e. president, pledge educator, etc.] or if your character is not yet a member, but plans to rush): n/a

CHARACTER PROFILE:

Her brother has always been one of her favorite people, even if sometimes he seems a little too cool for her. There was a lot of moments growing up where the two of them only had each other and she’s proud of the things he’s done with his life. Getting to live near him again has reminded her that she’s always had one of the best siblings ever and she hopes that nothing happens to come between the two of them.

STUDENT CENSUS SURVEY:

(Please answer the following questions IN CHARACTER. Responses can be as long or short as you see fit!)

What made you want to attend Joie University?

So my older brother goes here, which is kind of a lame reason to go to a college, I know. But we’ve always been kind of close and I sort of miss having him around so I’m hoping he doesn’t totally hate the idea of his little sister coming to the same school as him. Plus I’ve heard they have an awesome creative writing program so that’s my main reason for coming, he’s just an added bonus.

What are at least 3 positive or neutral and at least 3 negative traits that you believe you possess?

Most people would say I’m ambitious, excitable, and passionate, but I can also be anxious, forgetful, and uncoordinated so they kind of balance each other out.

Which of your traits do you value most?

I think my passion for things is definitely one of my favorite things about myself. If I love something, it’s like all I can think about. That’s sort of why I’m so set on becoming an author. Writing is like my favorite thing in the entire world.

How can that trait benefit the University (or its student body) as a whole?

I think having a passion for things can benefit others a ton. Sometimes you need that extra motivation from someone to take the steps to do something new. That would probably be the best way it could benefit other people here. I’m definitely the kind of person who likes to try to get people to try something new whenever they might be a little afraid to.

What do you hope to gain from your experience at JU?

I’m hoping that it’s going to make me an even better writer and hopefully lead to me ending up with my dream career. I also really want to start meeting new people because people always say college is whenever you meet your ‘lifelong friends’, that is something I’m definitely looking forward to.

What is a quote or song lyric that describes you?

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” ― Oscar Wilde

#accepted

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uterusclub · 6 years ago

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I think it goes without saying that Sharon and I were well-aware of the infamous town of Alton, IL for quite some time due to our extended ghost-hunting research. The only detail daunting us from execution was the 5 hour drive down state. It wasn’t until Ghost Adventures recently released a few episodes investigating the spooked town that our fire was fueled! The itinerary was, shortly thereafter, drawn up (thanks to Sharon) with inclusions of Saint Louis, Missouri as well.

Our journey jump-started at a departure of 7:30 a.m. With freshly burned CDs in tow for music accompaniment, we headed out the door with much excitement. First stop – Grafton, Illinois to check in early to our hotel, Ruebel Hotel where we had prebooked an allegedly haunted room #11. Driving into the small town, we noted but dismissed several ‘road closed’ signs as they had no effect on our commute to the hotel. Upon speaking with Moe at the front desk, we were informed that our check-in was actually scheduled for the night before and that our reservation was for 2 nights? Whoops! This conversation had taken place a few weeks earlier as I recall trying to verify this detail with Sharon who assured me we were only staying for 1 (she later redacted and apologized for miss-remembering). In any case, we checked out our room very briefing concluding it didn’t ‘feel’ haunted before heading back out to soothe our aching bellies. Next stop? Grafton Harbor for food and drinks!

On the way to the car Sharon scoffed at her GPS. “This wants us to go all the way around which is 18 minutes, but it’s a 7 minute walk!” We prepared to depart but happened to look back at a ‘road closed’ sign which now made sense. It was then that we noticed the backdrop to our hotel – high waters submerging the streets below it. “Guess that’s why it’s telling me to go this other way” Sharon concluded. Leaving with minimal annoyance, we made our way to a flooded roadway of unpredictable depth. Sharon reluctantly backed the car up to return back the way we came, only to notice several cars behind us. “Wait, wait, wait, let’s see what they’re going to do” she said. So we sat and waited as one ballsy car at a time drove through the wading tides to the other side. We watched in awe and terror. And while tempting, decided in the end, it wasn’t worth it. The panic, that is. So no food.

Venturing forward with a slight chip on our shoulders, we skipped to our next scheduled stop: Piasa Bird. As Sharon drove along the shoreline we continued our perfect view of the high waters. We also noted several barriers stating ‘road closed – local traffic only’ which Sharon concluded didn’t apply to us for some reason. Bi-passing without a thought, we continued our journey hoping upon hope that there was indeed an end in sight as there was really no way of turning back on this one-way road. As we anti-climatically reached the Piasa Bird and climbed out of the car, our enthusiasm dwindled as we both half-heartedly took turns reading the backstory to it. I can’t even recall it now (and this occurred yesterday) so clearly, it was too much detail for my a.d.d. brain or just uninteresting. You decide. A couple photos later, we jumped back into the car and headed to the downtown area of Alton, Illinois!

Next stop? My Just Desserts! The thing is, we hadn’t even had what I refer to as ‘normal’ food yet so by the time we got to this little town and found the joint, I didn’t care much for pie or baked goods. I’ll also blame my questionable stomach but we ended up splitting a spinach, bacon, and chicken salad with an amazing poppyseed vinaigrette that Sharon ended up purchasing. Having fed the hunger demons, our demeanors quickly simmered. The majority of our ‘activities’ for the town were based around the local shopping area. We visiting the Mineral Springs Antique Mall where we saw some gorgeous ceiling-lined umbrellas and had far too much fun in the Historic Museum of Torture Devices! Several random shops later, Sharon had a Doodle Bear ($1.50) and I, an awesome corduroy hippie dress (definitely not $1.50). Shopper high complete, we now made our way to Elijah P. Lovejoy Monument or what I’ll refer to as, ‘pretty cemetery’ for all intent and purposes.

Cemeteries. You’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all and if you’re Sharon, they’re all ‘pretty’ so there’s really not much to say about the stop. Literally. We can move along now. To St. Louis, specifically.

Now my only recollection of St. Louis, Missouri was occasionally visiting childhood friends of my family ‘back in the day.’ That and it being hot as balls during the summertime. Outside of that, nada. First and most regrettable stop – Gateway Arch. So I guess it’s a thing now that you can ‘ride’ inside an elevator to the top? Sounded cool. SOUNDED. Foreshadow much? Anyway, after a confusing debacle over the ‘parking’ situation ie. being in a ghetto ally and asking a random ‘officer’ looking dude for assistance, we parked in a nearby garage and walked over to the grassy grove encompassing the Arch. I wont knock the splendor of the shining sight and absorbing all the un-obnoxious people enjoying themselves around us, however, I WILL take a few jabs at our attempts at finding the goddamn entrance to the illusive ‘ride.’ There was no ‘pot of gold’ at the end of either rainbow for these unlucky leprechauns. It wasn’t until we actually FOLLOWED the random arrows painted on the ground that we discovered an underground mound. Victoriously entering the ticket line, I glanced at the pricing monitor: ‘Trams sold out for the day.’ Mother****! ALL that effort. Though I will add that we mysteriously ended up departing our parking garage without paying which I can only assume was karma’s apology to us.

So now what? BOOZE. Much much deserved BOOZE. A quick ride took us to Brick River Cider where we were greeted immediately and provided with an oratory comparison of all draft ciders. Sharon and I settled on different, favorable choices which resulted in a growler and 6-pack for the homefront. With inebriation healing past wounds, we moved ahead to the City Museum of St. Louis. Sharon had briefed me on this but I couldn’t recall much – save for it looking interesting.

Upon arriving to the City Museum of St. Louis and parking across the street, you could see a whole, structural display on the very top of the building which we hoped would be open for the season (it wasn’t). You could also see and hear the shrills of lots and lots of children playing outside on the interactive displays. Normally this would put me off but the booze had muted the sounds and annoyance for the moment. I suppose I should take this time to mention Sharon’s wardrobe change from a dress into a different dress with pants for what she claimed was ‘comfort’ purposes. Entering this playground from hell, I can only describe it as a poor man’s attempt at a children’s Meow Wolf inside the locker room of a YMCA. Between the chaotic amount of children, the dingy apparatuses and the confusing layout (which was suppose to be a ‘schtick’ of exploration’), sobriety became king. I’d like to also point out that the main form of ‘travel’ was through slides and tunnels – the likes of which were most inconvenient for probably the only individual at this place wearing a dress! Still, I attempted to ‘play nice’ and took a turn on a ‘slide’ which I’m fairly sure, resulted in me flashing one very happy man (he owes me at lease $5 for that). Fixated on annoyance, we didn’t last long and decided our only salvation now was food.

We chose to eat at Square One Brewery & Distillery solely based on my pre-researched discovered of them having a goat-cheese artichoke dip appetizer which was the best part of the entire meal. My salmon with potatoes and broccoli was beyond basic (shame on you) and Sharon’s ‘barbecue’ pork sandwich tasted of funky, spiced ketchup (I still can’t believe she ate as much of it as she did after trying it myself). The only saving grace to this most egregious meal was our next stop down the street – Bailey’s Chocolate Bar. Surely, no wrong can come of chocolate!

This cute little bar was situated atop an escalating stairway into a dim, intimate dining area. The menu consisted of ice cream booze drinks, booze drinks, or desserts. Both deciding upon ice creamed, booze martinis, we partook in some mini, complimentary chocolate chip cookies which were divine! Drinks were strong AND delicious. I’ve actually never heard Sharon confess something to be ‘dangerous’ so many times.

Feeling much better after chocolate intoxication, the only thing left now was to continue boozing for the remainder of the evening! We headed over to W Karaoke Lounge which I had previously researched and observed a super cool looking ‘performance’ floor that lit up beneath the performers. We stayed just long enough for me to get one rendition of ‘Just a Girl’ in and finished up one drink before moving along to the next booze endeavor.

Thaxton Speakeasy. Another place I had previously researched which looked super cool inside. We arrived a few minutes after the place ‘opened’ and were met by an older gentleman outside the door advising us that the place was closed for a private party. Goddamnit! Foiled again! Guess we didn’t need that drink. Onto the next!

Our last stop for the night was at The Monocle & The Emerald Room where we had purchased tickets to a see a Burlesque show a few ladies I knew were in. We sat, drank and bided our time for an hour and a half – despite the show time scheduled for 10pm. Once 10:30pm hit and the performances began, we knew we wouldn’t last long. Sharon’s mentality drastically switch from ‘if your friends are in the second half, we have to stay’ to ‘yeah, I’m sorry, no, if they’re not on the first half, too bad, I’m tired.’ We were glad to stand in line next to a super buzzed, hilariously friendly gentleman who had absolutely no filter. The theater gods granted us the delight of seeing my wonderful friends during the first half of the show after which we immediately took our exit for the long journey (hour) back to our hotel in Grafton, Illinois.

Suffice it to say, we were absolutely exhausted by the time we got back to the hotel. Ironically, I had a difficult time falling asleep after falsely identifying paranormal activity of my toiletries. My heart was literally in my throat for quite some time. I could hear Sharon had no problem getting to sleep. At some point, tossing and turning throughout the night, I caught some portion of sleep and roused at the usual, ungodly hour of 7am Tired still but forcing the will to journey for more immediate comfort at home, we showered, packed and departed in optimal time. Discovering no roadside coffee availability nearby, save gas station coffee, we waiting patiently (2 hours) for the reward of Dunkin Donuts. I took the reigns for the rest of the drive home and played road tag with a Kia whom I’m not sure when I divulged from. I can only hope that some day – definitely not today – definitely not tomorrow but in the very, very distant future, we may meet again in St. Louis.

Meet Me In St. Louis Or Rather, Don’t I think it goes without saying that Sharon and I were well-aware of the infamous town of Alton, IL for quite some time due to our extended ghost-hunting research.

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blakeohare · 9 years ago

Text

How to Write a 20-Page Research Paper in Under a Day

This is another post that I brought over from one of my other sites that I’m re-purposing. I’d like to say that this post was primarily just meant to be funny and is NOT how you should actually write any sort of composition that requires ACTUAL research. But in theory, you could write a “research” paper this way. I know this because I did this for a paper for a city-planning course I took in college, but I’m not proud of it...okay, maybe a little proud. Seriously, under a day.

So you've procrastinated again. Two months ago, when your professor assigned this to you, you told yourself you wouldn't wait till the end like this. But you procrastinated anyway. Shame on you. It's due in a few hours. What are you going to do?

In a sentence: write a long fiery rant and then cherry-pick sources. Yeah, it’s dirty. And you’re selling 3 grams of your soul. But hey, you chose Netflix binges over your paper these past few months, so this is where we are, one day before the deadline.

Pick a Topic

The more controversial your topic is, the better. This generally results in a long history of court cases which works well for this format.

It has to be something you feel strongly about, as in it makes you want to open your window and yell and shake your fist about it at joggers passing by. That strong.

It also has to be something that you already know some stuff about.

It also needs to have some depth to it. It can't be like "We should have free pizza in lecture every Friday". That's lame. Unless you're really creative, then that could possibly work if your professor has a sense of humor and you really can write 20 pages about something silly like that. Generally that will only work in a creative writing class.

Make a list

...of every possible outcome that this issue could cause in

...the near future

...the far future

...of every person that this topic affects.

...of any instances where this topic has come in the news that you can remember.

...what you would personally do about this topic if you had the chance/power/enough-sugar/genies

...any little detail you can think of

The important thing about this is to think of ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING, no matter how silly or far-fetched. It'll make your professor go "hmm, didn't think about that one". You can even get your friends to help you with this one. The more the merrier.

Reorder everything

Put your most obvious argument first.

Then put weird off-the-wall stuff, in any order, regardless of importance.

Put the strongest argument for your case next.

Now list the incidents that will help argue for your point. Don't know of any incidents in the news to help argue your point? That's ok. Make up some, except keep it really really generic. When it comes time to quote the source, remember this: There are over 7 billion people in the world. There are countless newspapers and other sources that document people doing...stuff. If you list incidents that are generic enough and your topic isn't extremely weird, at least one person out there has done something notable/stupid/crazy enough to make it to the news. Also, people have sued each other over everything imaginable. Find a court case database. Your topic has SOMEHOW manifested itself in court at some point in history. I can almost guarantee it. Just make sure that the situations you come up with are physically possible.

Now, list everything that could be construed to be the answer to the question "if elected, what would you do about this issue?"

It's best to keep all this in the form of an outline.

Spaces

Now add several lines of space under each bullet. Keep adding spaces until your text document has reached the goal size of your paper (e.g. 20 pages).

Now print it out. On paper.

Get the hell away from your computer

I'm serious.

Go outside and sit under a tree. If you hate outside, or if it's too cold for humans to survive, or if there's a pack of rabid dogs roaming your neighborhood, good. It'll help you write faster.

The reason why you should do this is because everyone magically becomes A.D.D. when they are near a computer. You can check Facebook later.

Write

Write a fiery rant in each of the spaces you allotted. Get pumped. Just don't begin every paragraph with "I swear upon my father's grave..." Also try not to repeat yourself too much. Be very specific. Talk to your reader as though they've never heard of your subject before. Write at about the same size that your typed version will be. Don't worry too much if you don't fill in all the spaces. But if you feel strongly enough about your topic, then this really shouldn't be a problem. If you're like me and can't think linearly you can skip around as much as you want.

Go Back Inside

Type everything. You'll also notice more things occur to you as you type. Go ahead and throw them in in the corresponding categories. Don't jump around too much at this point though. Maintain focus and bash out that essay as fast as possible. Because at this point, that’s all this is: an essay, not a research paper. Although you should do this as fast as possible, be militant about correcting typos. Those little things really make it evident you did this at the last minute if left unchecked.

Time for that whole "research" part

Believe it or not, nothing you said in your rant was original. Remember what I said earlier about 7 billion people? That applies now. Pick each topic/case/scenario/sub-point. Anything you had to say about those has already been said by some scholar or professor or newspaper. Google it up. It won't take long. Take a few key words from your main argument of each section and see what you get. Paraphrase their main argument or quote a few lines. Add the proper citations. Do NOT plagiarize.

Formatting

Some word processors are capable of non-integer spacing. Try 2.1 or 2.2 spacing.

There's also the margin trick.

If your text editor allows, adjust the kerning so even the letters are spaced further apart.

Did your professor specify to use MLA citations? She/he didn't? Good. APA citation guidelines are much more friendly with website sources. Check it out.

Print.

Turn in.

Good job. Have a cookie.

Never again. Do it right next time.

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