#week 21a

[ofliterarynature]

TBR TAKEDOWN: GOODREADS, WEEK 21a

Instances of Head-Switching by Teresa Milbrodt

I'm trying to trim down my tbr list(s) and I'm asking for your help! Descriptions and more info under the cut. Please reblog and add your thoughts!

* * * * *

A middle school teacher relies on eight interchangeable heads to cope with her job. A woman tries to negotiate life with her arthritis witch and her boyfriend’s seizure elf. The Germanic goddess Berchta, tired of being a fearsome hag, shows up in a woman’s apartment wanting to be flat-mates.

In the fictional worlds depicted in INSTANCES OF HEAD-SWITCHING, sphinxes are kept as pets, unicorns are raised on ranches, and Sisyphus has escaped from Hades and is happily working as a bagger at a grocery store. But characters still struggle to pay bills, deal with cranky customers and bosses, and navigate life with partial vision, limited mobility, and chronic diseases.

Focusing on themes of embodiment, disability, and economic insecurity, Teresa Milbrodt offers witty and inventive tales full of compassion for her cash-strapped, hard-luck characters. The collection includes stories originally published in Guernica, Strange Horizons, PANK, and other journals

Date added: 2020

Goodreads: 4.15

Storygraph: 3.50

PRO:

Mixing magic and the mundane, women, disability?! This sounds so much like something I'd be interested in.

CON:

My library does not have this (they do have one of the author's earlier collections in print, but I'm less interested in it)

In fact, it only seems to be available on Amazon. I assume it's self published, at least these days? The print edition is at least reasonably priced (secondhand copies are not, jfc)

[femalestyles]

stunt (h.s.)

masterlist

TW: none

wc: ~2.6k

-

9: canada

By the time I finally settled down, it was too late to find another hotel room. Harper insisted I stay with her for the night, and after the day I’d had, I didn’t have the energy to argue. My breakdown had drained whatever fight was left in me. She even offered to grab my stuff from Austin and I’s shared room, giving me my first moment of solitude since stepping into hers.

I utilized that time to call Shelley, keeping the explanation as brief as possible. There was no point in sugarcoating it—Austin cheated on me, no one outside the band knew, Macy would call her, and we’d figure it out from there. Shelley didn’t press for details. She didn’t mention how raw my voice sounded or offer any condolences. She knew I didn’t want pity, just discretion. With a promise to handle it, she let me return to my wallowing.

It didn’t take long for me to fall asleep, my entire being exhausted emotionally and physically.

When I woke the next morning and saw no whispers of it online, I knew Shelley had taken care of everything.

Of course, I could’ve gone scorched earth—taken a page from the Russians and burned it all down. But where would that have left me? Jobless, humiliated. Sure, Austin would’ve been, too, but that felt like letting him win. He’d already stolen enough from me. And besides, any irrational thoughts ceased to exist when I thought of Macy, how scared she had looked.

I stayed in bed, keeping my phone use to a minimum. The number above my messages icon had grown overnight, but I wasn’t about to start sorting through them. Do Not Disturb stayed on, and it wasn’t coming off today.

Harper had left bright and early to take care of some assistant duties before we flew to Toronto later today. I pretended to be asleep when she left, not ready to face her after last night. Once I was sure she was gone, I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling. The light above flickered, coated in a thick layer of dust. Maybe they’d clean it when they changed the bulb.

Shame ran deep into my core. I’d always prided myself on being in control, keeping my life in order. And yet, I’d let my feelings get in the way—let myself be swept up in the attention Austin showered on me when we first met. Even when he spent weeks chipping away at me, stealing little pieces like a thief in the night, I pretended not to notice. He set off every trip wire I’d spent years carefully laying, and still, I let him. Being blindsided stung, but it was the embarrassment that kept me holed up in bed all morning.

The morning bled into the afternoon while I grieved our relationship, the low hum of cable TV filling the silence. The grumbling of my stomach could only be ignored for so long before I mustered the energy to order room service. I opted for buttered noodles, something bland that wouldn’t taste as bad if it came back up. Eating felt like a chore, but I needed the calories if I planned on dragging myself to the tarmac later.

I braced myself before checking my phone. 3:07 p.m.

As expected, there was a flood of messages from Austin. I didn’t bother reading them before deleting the entire conversation. He’d send more anyway. Niall, Louis, and Zayn had also reached out, all some variation of Are you okay? Do you need anything? I ignored those too, eyes catching on a message from days ago—Harry’s last text, the one about my hand. Nothing since then.

A small sting, sharp and sudden.

It didn’t mean anything. We were sorta-kinda friends. He didn’t owe me anything.

I pushed the thought away, sighing as I skimmed Harper’s updates from the past few hours.

8:21a: ran out for errands, b back soon!!

11:37a: picking up food!! did u eat???

12:05p: helloooooo????

12:52p: ok fr are u alive

1:48p: ?????

2:57p: JULES

As if her ears were ringing, my phone rang in my hand. The goofy picture she had put in as her contact filled my screen, one of her sticking her tongue out with both middle fingers up. I answered the phone with a grunt, laying my arm over my eyes.

“Good morning, sleeping beauty,” she chirped, the sound of wind whipping through the speaker. “I was about to call in a welfare check.”

I rolled my eyes, hoping she could feel it through the phone. “You have the hotel key. You could just come in,” I deadpanned, fumbling for the remote to mute the TV.

The background noise quieted, and I could tell she had stepped inside somewhere. “Yeah, but what if I walked in and found your dead body? That would traumatize me for life. No thanks.”

I huffed out a laugh, putting her on speaker and tossing the phone onto the bed as I dragged myself up. Every muscle ached, my body screaming in protest. Maybe I could just disappear into a dark cave for the next few months.

“Haha. Very funny,” I mumbled.

A flicker of guilt passed through me, only intensifying when she asked, “Seriously, though. How are you feeling?”

I was about to answer when I heard the familiar sound of the door clicking open.

Harper strolled in, balancing her phone between her ear and shoulder, arms full of shopping bags in one hand and a coffee carrier in the other. I reached over to my phone to end our call, Harper’s bags hitting the ground with a thud.

She took one look at me—hair a mess, exhaustion written all over my face—and said nothing, just silently handed me a cup from the carrier. I accepted it with a quiet thanks, taking a slow sip. She didn’t push for an answer to her question, clearly taking my disheveled appearance as an answer.

My beautiful, wonderful, angel of a friend had brought me a caramel macchiato.

I moaned dramatically at the taste, the will to live returning to my body momentarily. Harper tucked her phone back into her purse, removing the other coffee cup before discarding the holder.

“I hate to interrupt this moment you’re having,” she paused, gesturing between me and the cup I was clinging to for dear life. “But, we have to be on the plane in less than an hour and you look…” she trailed off, offering me a sympathetic smile. I glared playfully in response, even if no part of me was feeling jokey.

“Well, you always look radiant,” she amended, grin widening. “But maybe a shower wouldn’t hurt.”

“Bite me,” I grunted.

She was right. I didn’t need to look in a mirror to know I looked scary right now.

With a scowl, I chugged the rest of my coffee and breezed past Harper. I didn’t risk a glance in the vanity as I started the shower, waiting for the water to heat up.

“We’re leaving in thirty!” She called out, just as I shut the door to the bathroom.

~

The ride to the tarmac was tortuous.

The boys had taken separate transport—probably at Harper’s insistence—which left just the two of us in the back of a black town car. I barely noticed. Most of my shower had been spent sitting on the tub floor, staring at the tile. I’d half-heartedly washed my hair, then scrubbed my skin raw, hard enough to take off a layer of skin. Preferably the layer of the pathetic girl I had become in the last 24 hours.

Harper had braided my damp hair into a loose French braid that now clung to the back of my black graphic tee, the fabric steadily soaking through. I wore black joggers and oversized sunglasses, hoping to disappear into them. My short burst of energy hadn’t stretched far enough to include makeup, so hiding would have to do.

Harper tried to fill the car ride with normal conversation, but it was difficult to talk with the huge elephant taking up the back of the car. She also tried her best to avoid any mention of Mirage in general, which was difficult since we spent all of our time either with the boys or doing something for them. Or being cheated on by them.

Harper tried to fill the silence with normal conversation, but there was nothing normal about this. The elephant in the car was too big, too heavy. She did her best to avoid any mention of Mirage at all, which was near impossible when we spent all of our time either with the boys or doing something for them. Or being cheated on by them.

“Did Louis say anything?” I finally asked, knowing she had seen him this morning. She had tried to dodge the question before, but there was no point now.

She sighed, shaking her head. “Just said he didn’t know anything.”

As we pulled up to the airport, I only nodded. I didn’t ask about the others. I wasn’t ready for the answer. If they’d known—if they’d kept it from me—what then? I had already decided I wasn’t quitting, so maybe ignorance was bliss in this case.

Wordlessly, we transferred to another vehicle to reach the jet. I pulled my green hoodie from my bag, yanking it over my head before handing my things off to be loaded. Without a word, Harper looped her arm through mine and steered us toward the stairs.

No turning back now.

She boarded first, pausing at the top of the stairs, waiting for me to follow. I trudged up behind her, my movements slow, deliberate. Five sets of eyes locked onto us the second I stepped inside.

Harper greeted them for both of us, not breaking stride as she headed toward the back. I kept my gaze fixed ahead, hoping my sunglasses were dark enough to hide whatever was written on my face. Holding my breath, I moved past them, determined to make it through untouched.

I almost made it.

This time, I did flinch when a hand grabbed my wrist, holding me in place with a tight grip. I turned to find the likely culprit staring up at me with a pathetic look.

“Jules-” Austin started. The others stiffened, sitting up straighter, ready to jump in if needed.

“Don’t.”

The ice in my own voice startled me. I ripped my arm away and kept walking, shoving down the nausea curling in my stomach.

I didn’t stop until I reached my seat beside Harper.

She looked like she wanted to say something, but after one glance at my face, she let it go.

I leaned my head against the window as the jet rumbled to life, waiting for sleep to take me under.

~

Toronto sucked. No offense, Canada.

Objectively, the city was beautiful—alive with fall, the skyline towering over streets bursting with culture. I had been excited when I first saw this stop on the tour schedule. It was supposed to be my first time out of the country, something I had once looked forward to.

Prior to leaving for tour, I had scrambled to get an expedited passport, receiving it with barely a week to spare. This trip was meant to be a milestone, a memory I’d cherish. Instead, I spent it barricaded in my hotel room.

At least I still had the privilege of a solo, comped hotel room. However, it was nowhere near as nice as the suite I had when I was with Austin.

Luxury—one more thing he had taken from me.

After the tense standoff on the plane, Austin hadn’t tried to approach me again. Smart choice. I rode to the hotel with the rest of the crew, practically sprinting to my room the moment I had my key.

Harper had invited me to dinner with the other team members, trying to nudge me toward new company now that I wouldn’t be spending all my free time with Austin. I appreciated the gesture, but the idea of sitting in a room full of curious eyes, dodging whispered speculations, made my skin crawl. Politely, I declined.

There were already rumors among the staff. No one knew exactly what had happened, but they had pieced together that Austin and I had broken up. Some were brazen enough to ask me outright, but Harper didn’t let them finish before she not-so-amiably told them to shove it.

I skipped soundcheck. Then the concert.

Austin’s barrage of texts slowed to a trickle, though they all read the same. Different forms of apologizing, desperate attempts to get me to talk. Interestingly, not once did he mention wanting to get back together. I took that as a sign.

I left his messages on read, hoping he’d take the hint.

Niall also texted me after noting my absence, though he had a different take on the situation.

One time. Just let me hit him once plz. I’ll make it count

I rolled my eyes, but giggled despite myself. I shot back something about the police and not bailing him out, only to receive an excessive amount of crying emojis in response.

Aside from him, the other boys had backed off. Harry still hadn’t reached out at all, though I had tempered my surprise.

I didn’t run into any of them on our day off, either, but that might have had something to do with me only leaving my room once to collect my takeout from the lobby.

~

Montreal was more of the same.

Any plans I had went out the window in favor of stuffing my face with overpriced, overfried foods.

Harper had resorted to outright begging me to step outside—just a short walk to the convenience store, a few minutes of fresh air. She claimed she was worried about my Vitamin D levels. I placated her with flimsy excuses. We were both lying.

Niall tried, too. He showed up at my hotel room, asking me in person to come to their show after I stopped answering his texts. He didn’t push, but the concern in his eyes was clear as I waved him off.

The last day, when I was supposed to be at the Notre-Dame Basilica, taking in a breathtaking light show, I watched ten straight episodes of Law and Order: SVU.

I lay curled up in bed, tracing the nearly healed cut on my hand. The wound had almost closed, a silent reminder that even as I hid away, time hadn’t stopped. Life was still moving—whether I was ready for it or not.

Through it all, I knew exactly what I was becoming. I had never been the girl who fell apart over a boy before. But the way I saw it, I wasn’t mourning Austin.

I was mourning my own ignorance.

In the week since our breakup, I’d had too much time to think. Too much time to pick apart every memory, every moment where I should have noticed the truth. When was the last time we were truly happy—free of my insecurities, free of his promiscuity? It was hard to remember.

The thing that kept me wrapped in bed all the time was the ignominy of being oblivious.

I had swallowed every lie he fed me, blissfully unaware of just how deep the deception ran. If he had been so bold, so careless with his infidelity, it must have been going on for a while.

The more I dwelled on it, the angrier I became.

I deserved to know exactly how blind I had been.

Even if the truth hurt.

That was why, on our first night in Pittsburgh, I went looking for answers.

-

taglist: @indierockgirrl @sassamanda77 @behindmygreyeyes

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

26th April >> Mass Readings (GB)

Easter Saturday 

(Liturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I))

First Reading Acts of the Apostles 4:13-21 ‘We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.’

In those days: When the rulers and elders and scribes saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognised that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying, ‘What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.’ So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.’ And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 118(117):1, 14-15b. 16-18. 19-21. ℟21a

R/ I will thank you, LORD, for you have answered me. or:

R/ Alleluia.

Give praise to the LORD, for he is good; his mercy endures for ever. The LORD is my strength and my song; he was my saviour. There are shouts of joy and salvation in the tents of the upright.

R/ I will thank you, LORD, for you have answered me. or:

R/ Alleluia.

‘The LORD’s right hand is exalted. The LORD’s right hand has done mighty deeds.’ I shall not die, I shall live and recount the deeds of the LORD. The LORD has punished me severely, but did not hand me over to death.

R/ I will thank you, LORD, for you have answered me. or:

R/ Alleluia.

Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will enter and thank the LORD. This is the LORD’s own gate, where the upright enter. I will thank you, for you have answered, and you are my saviour.

R/ I will thank you, LORD, for you have answered me. or:

R/ Alleluia.

Sequence Victimae Paschali Laudes

Christians, to the Paschal Victim offer sacrifice and praise. The sheep are ransomed by the Lamb; and Christ, the undefiled, hath sinners to his Father reconciled.

Death with life contended: combat strangely ended!

Life’s own Champion, slain, yet lives to reign.

Tell us, Mary: say what thou didst see upon the way.

The tomb the Living did enclose; I saw Christ’s glory as he rose!

The angels there attesting; shroud with grave-clothes resting.

Christ, my hope, has risen: he goes before you into Galilee.

That Christ is truly risen from the dead we know. Victorious king, thy mercy show!

Gospel Acclamation Psalm 118(117):24

Alleluia, alleluia. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad. Alleluia.

Gospel Mark 16:9-15 ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel.’

When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. Afterwards he appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[evanfordebarden]

for any fans of Robert Caro's biography of Robert Moses, The Power Broker, i am putting up a new comedy show in NYC next week called The Power Joker. it's a "late night" talk show hosted my RM himself. the theme of the show is tolls and we've got a congestion pricing expert joining us, Charles Komanoff, along with the hosts of The Climate Denier's Playbook, Rollie Williams and Nicole Conlan. Plus a bunch of other great comedians and music from Zenizen. it's in NY, but also available to stream.

Sunday, Nov 3, 5pm

Caveat, 21A Clinton St

[jcmarchi]

Rowing in the right direction

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/rowing-in-the-right-direction/

Rowing in the right direction

For a college student, senior Tatum Wilhelm wakes up painfully early — at 5:15 a.m., to be exact. Five days per week, by 6:20 a.m. sharp, she is already rowing on the Charles River, bursting through the early morning fog. 

Between majoring in chemical engineering, minoring in anthropology, and working as an undergraduate student researcher at the Furst Lab, Wilhelm’s days are packed. But she says it’s her role on MIT Crew that gives her perspective on her goals and what matters most.  

Stretching her arms after a workout on the erg, the unforgiving indoor rowing machine used for individual training, she explains, “Crew is a set time in the day when I’m not thinking about academics. I’m just focused on pushing myself physically — and the river is beautiful.” 

She was captain of her team last year, but winning isn’t the current that pulls Wilhelm deeper and deeper into her sport; it’s teamwork. 

“When I first came here, I had the preconception that everyone at MIT was a genius and super into their books,” she says. “They are very smart, but everyone also does really cool stuff outside of academics. My favorite thing about this school is the people — especially my team.” 

Fitting in

A first-generation college student raised by a single mom, Wilhelm came to MIT from California with the support of Questbridge, a nonprofit that mentors high-achieving, low-income students as they apply early decision to their top-choice colleges. She was passionate about science and knew that MIT was the right place, but she didn’t know a soul on campus. 

It’s Wilhelm’s friendships, both in the lab and in the eight-person boat, that have given her a feeling of belonging. 

“Before I got to MIT, I honestly didn’t know what an engineer was,” she says bluntly. 

But once Wilhelm saw engineering alumni solving real-world problems in the field, she knew it was for her, ultimately choosing chemical engineering. 

When Covid-19 hit the spring of her first year and remained virtual for the fall 2020 semester, Wilhelm temporarily relocated to Alaska, where she worked as a farm hand and learned about sustainable agriculture. “I am an engineer — not a farmer. I am also not that outdoorsy, and that experience pushed me way out of my academic comfort zone in a great way,” Wilhelm says. 

During that time, she began working remotely as an undergraduate researcher in the Furst Lab, logging on between shifts in the fields to meet with Assistant Professor Ariel Furst, who actively included her as one of the team from the start. 

Back in Cambridge as a sophomore, Wilhelm unexpectedly discovered a passion for anthropology when she signed up for class 21A.157 (The Meaning of Life), a seminar taught by William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Anthropology Heather Paxson.

Wilhelm admits, “I thought the class would be too philosophical, but it was actually extremely applicable to things that were going on in students’ lives. It was about finding personal meaning in work, family, and money in tangible ways.” At the time, the whole world was still reeling from Covid-19, and being able to conduct that kind of soul-searching became a powerful tool. 

“I just kept going with the anthro courses and soon had collected enough for a minor,” Wilhelm says. “They complement my chemical engineering classes, which are very technical and centered around problem-solving.” 

Real-world chemical engineering

Wilhelm spent her junior year studying thermodynamics and fluid dynamics in the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChemE), as well as class 21A.520 (Magic, Science, and Religion), a seminar with professor of anthropology Graham Jones. The contrast both stretched and soothed her brain. She says Jones’s engaging style of teaching made him her favorite MIT professor.

This fall, Wilhelm took a class called 21A.301 (Disease and Health) with associate professor of anthropology Amy Moran-Thomas. Discussions about the biopharmaceutical industry and analyzing modes of care directly connected with her ChemE coursework and internships, and gave her perspective on how her future work can impact real-world users. She reflects, “Looking at how these treatments impact patients’ lives has provided a deeper understanding of the implications of my work. I value being able to look at very technical scientific problems from a humanities lens, and I think it has enhanced my learning in both disciplines.” 

Alongside her academic studies, Wilhelm has continued working at the Furst Lab, more recently with the support of MIT SuperUROP. The competitive program provides advanced undergraduates with independent research opportunities. 

With this funding, Wilhelm is conducting a project to examine how to potentially engineer cell-based electrochemical lanthanide sensors. Lanthanides are rare-earth elements used in several industries, including electronics and green energy, primarily due to their abundance and low cost. 

Wilhelm explains, “The current methods for the separation of lanthanides in mining and recycling are costly and environmentally damaging. This project aims to create an inexpensive and environmentally-friendly method for detecting and recovering lanthanides from complex solutions.”

At MIT, she has noticed some interesting parallels between being part of the crew team and sharing the lab with researchers of different ages and backgrounds. In both settings, failing, iterating, and ultimately winning frame the culture. 

She says, “In the lab, there is an overarching sense of purpose, which also translates to crew. In rowing, we are all working together. We train both individually and as a team. Our performance as individuals matters, but we ultimately have to all come together to move the boat forward.” 

Next year, Wilhelm hopes to steer toward a PhD in chemical engineering or material science. 

“I’m really interested in the industry applications of ChemE, but in reality, I just want to continue researching and learning new things every day right now,” she says.

[legalupanishad]

Menstrual Hygiene Management: SC directs states and UTs to file responses in a plea to frame National policy on Menstrual Hygiene

This article on 'SC directs states and UTs to file responses in a plea to frame National policy on Menstrual Hygiene' was written by Toya Sen, an intern at Legal Upanishad.

Introduction

The topic of menstrual hygiene is a sensitive one in India. Although India has progressed immensely in the context of women's rights, the taboo around menstrual health and management is still prevalent. Many individuals including parents and adolescent girls themselves, do not have adequate knowledge with respect to menstrual health and practices and these socio-cultural restrictions result in adolescent girls dropping out of school and being ostracized for the duration of their period every month. According to a recent study conducted by UNICEF1, 71% of adolescent girls in India are not informed about menstruation until they experience their first period. This lack of knowledge often leads to girls dropping out of school. A 2019 report by NGO Dasra highlighted that annually, 23 million girls are forced to leave school due to inadequate menstrual hygiene management facilities, including the unavailability of sanitary pads and information about menstruation. Additionally, public health experts and NGOs working in this field have pointed out that the absence of basic services such as clean water and access to toilets, along with social stigmas, harassment, and taboos, further worsen the situation. This article talks about an  appeal that was made to the Supreme Court by Congress MP Jaya Thakur addressing this issue. The plea sought the provision of free sanitary napkins and separate toilets in all government and residential schools. The argument was that the lack of proper menstrual hygiene management options was a significant obstacle to education.

Supreme Court’s Response

In an ongoing legal battle in the court regarding the plea made by the Congress MP, the Supreme Court recently directed all States and Union Territories to send responses and create a standard operating system (SOP), a national model for menstrual hygiene management for school-going girls. The bench comprising of Chief Justice of India, D.Y Chandrachud and Justice J.B Paridiwala, and Justice P.S Narasimha declared the issue as immensely important. The bench directed states and Union Territories to submit their menstrual hygiene management strategies and plans to the Mission Steering Group of the National Health Mission within four weeks (by August 31). This decision was made because out of 28 states and 8 union territories, only 4 States which are, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal have submitted their response as per the former decision held in the month of April this year. The apex court said that the response should include plans executed with both central government funds and their own. The Secretary of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was nominated to coordinate with state governments and Union Territories to re-evaluate guidelines. The bench also ordered all states and Union Territories to notify appropriate ratios of girls' toilets for residential and non-residential schools and steps to ensure low-cost sanitary napkins and vending machines in schools. The bench emphasized the importance of safe disposal mechanisms for sanitary pads. The Centre was directed to file an updated status report by the end of July 2023. A previous affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare claimed that they have established education and training programs and provided resources to young girls throughout the country. However, a recent plea filed in court has pointed out that girls between the ages of 11 and 18 from impoverished backgrounds struggle to receive adequate education due to limited access, which is a basic constitutional right guaranteed under Article 21A. The plea emphasized that girls aged 11 to 16 do not have access to hygienic methods. According to the ministry, menstruation and menstrual habits are typically obscured by stigma and socio-cultural constraints for women and young girls in India. This, combined with limited access to sanitary hygiene products and a lack of safe toilet facilities, makes maintaining appropriate hygiene challenging for young females. Furthermore, in the past, girls used old garments, and other materials such as a straw as pads, which not only impacted menstrual cleanliness but also had long-term consequences for reproductive health. The government has committed itself to educating young girls about menstruation hygiene, as well as to promoting self-confidence and enabling them to better socialization. The government has also attempted to improve rural girls' access to high-quality sanitary napkins.

Existing Schemes for Menstrual Hygiene in India

There are various schemes that have been introduced by the Government of India to spread awareness of menstrual hygiene in India. A few schemes have been mentioned as follows: Scheme for the Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene or Menstrual Hygiene Scheme: This initiative was one of the first schemes that was introduced in India for advocating and spreading awareness about the menstrual cycle. It was introduced in the year 2011 and worked under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). Administering on a rural level, the scheme aims to encourage awareness of the menstrual cycle and increase access to safe practices among adolescent girls. This scheme mainly puts emphases on the distribution of sanitary napkins in districts of India. Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK): This scheme came out in the year 2014 under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). It focused on the promotion ion sexual and reproductive health among adolescents. This scheme sought to train and identify Peer Educators (or Saathiyas) at a rural level to spread awareness of adolescent health issues. This scheme operated at both urban and rural levels. One of the objectives of this scheme was the distribution of sanitary napkins under the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme. Jan Aushadhi Suvidha Sanitary Napkin (JSSK): This scheme was introduced in 2019 and worked under the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP). It sought to provide bio-degradable and eco-friendly pads available at Rs. 1 at more than 8,000 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) kendras across India.

Conclusion

The fight to break the stigma surrounding menstrual hygiene is an ongoing battle. The recent decision by the apex court to implement a plan for menstrual hygiene management in schools is a step forward in reducing the shame surrounding periods. It also provides a means for girls to break taboos and empowers them to lead healthy lives and pursue education without any hindrance. As per the Supreme Court's directive, all states must create a plan for menstrual hygiene management in schools. There are existing schemes and efforts in place that aim to provide awareness and access to affordable sanitary products. By working together, we can break taboos and empower girls to lead healthy lives and pursue their education without any obstacles.

References

- The Constitution of India, 1950 - Shruti Kakkar, 'Frame menstrual hygiene policy: SC to Centre', Indian Express, 11 April 2023, available at: https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/apr/11/frame-menstrual-hygiene-policy-sc-to-centre-2564724.html - Tanya Rana, 'Menstrual Health Services in India: A Comprehensive Overview of the Public System', Centre for Policy Research, 2 September 2022, available at: https://accountabilityindia.in/blog/menstrual-health-services-in-india-an-overview/ Read the full article

[derby-art-foundation-2016]

Liverpool visit 15th September

We will be visiting the 12th edition of Liverpool Biennial, ‘uMoya: The Sacred Return of Lost Things’, along with the Tate and The Museum of Liverpool. You will see a very broad range of work that will delight and inspire, but may also confuse or not interest you. That's OK- on Foundation, you should be challenged with new ideas, concepts and methods, so be open-minded and learn something new. You will photograph and draw artworks and details- you might love a texture you see, be fascinated by how it's constructed, or be interested in what the work is about.

For the next three weeks, you will use the visit to Liverpool as the basis for a series of activities and projects, so you should photograph and film as much as you can. You should also make notes/ take photos of the accompanying text to explain WHAT the work is about. Some of the work is about social injustice, global wars and instability, an energy crisis, environmental violence, economic systems crashing, racial and gender injustices. Liverpool is a place of community, of migration, of reflecting the past and more importantly moving forward. It is a place of culture, excitement, history and personality.

As part of this 3 week block, you will consider ethics, society, sustainability in a chaotic world in your own work, so look deeper than the surface of the works you see.

What work should you do?

collect information leaflets

fill the accordion book you have made with drawings, cuttings from leaflets, notes, print outs, recording the things that catch your eye. You should complete this in private study time ready for the following Wednesday's lesson. It should be packed with inspiration

You can also add images from Liverpool- architecture, people etc

put photos and videos on Tumblr ready for Wednesday

We will visit (times approximate):

10.30 Tobacco Warehouse; 21a Regent Road, L3 OBA

get coach to 

12.00 Tate Liverpool; Royal Albert Dock, L3 4BB 

You should also visit the permanent collection at the Tate. Make sure you visit all floors

You have the afternoon to have lunch, look around the Tate and visit the Museum of Liverpool.  You can also go into the Slavery Museum and Maritime Museum if you want to (all are free)

2.00-ish: Museum of Liverpool; Pier Head

Wonderous place exhibition

'Celebrating the city’s staggering roll call of trailblazing entertainers, musicians, sports people, writers, poets, visual artists and comedians, the gallery continues to showcase Liverpool’s internationally recognised creative expression and influence through exciting new displays and immersive experiences.'

This includes a new Stage and Screen display, which examines the city as a film set and how it continues to provide an impressive backdrop to Hollywood blockbusters and award-winning TV shows. Items on display include one of Villanelle’s costumes from Killing Eve worn by Liverpool actress Jodie Comer. From iconic Beatles suits and Garry Christian’s famous hat and sunglasses, to a dreamy Lita Roza dress and Spice Girl Mel C’s stage costume, the gallery explores Liverpool’s enviable reputation for musical creativity. 

3.45- Meet at Albert Dock, and head to coach.

6.30- Return to the JWC.

[cookierunrebaked]

Progress Update (08/21/2023)

This week was a total doozy, since it involves… Well, you'll see, but also I (e.g. the organizer writing this) recently obtained a new kitten! So, creative endeavors have fallen by the wayside as a result for the most part. That's not to say there's nothing to show, though--quite the opposite, so please stay tuned!

GingerBrave's Tale: Page 43 is available in #solidified-ideas! Why don't you take a sneak peek if you're on the Tumblr?

Panel 4: Another shot of the Jelly Worm, looking down dramatically as if it isn't sure what it just saw. "<fairy cookie silhouette> <fist pointing right> <fairy cookie>?! <4 fairy cookie silhouette> = <fairy cookie with big red X over it>!? <4 fairy cookie silhoeutte> = <triangle danger sign>!?!"

City of Wizards 1: Pages 21a and 21b are in the drafting stage. Yes, A and B--these pages were so different across the two sides that they really got their own labels! Why not take a look? Just be aware: there's more than meets the eye!

Panel 1: Shot of Cinnamon and Wizard from behind, nearing the vent; Cinnamon is gripping the magic powder intently and Wizard's scarf is flapping in the "wind". Cinnamon: "Almost... There...!"

Panel 2: Shot of the bone-in meat approaching from behind, now visible behind Cinnamon and Wizard. Cinnamon looks behind him, and looks terrified. Cinnamon: "...Oh no."

[avengerscompound]

Plus Two - Chapter 21

Plus Two:  A Pepperony Fanfic

MASTERLIST PREVIOUS //

Buy me a coffee with Ko-fi Word Count: 1705

Pairing:  Pepper Potts x Tony Stark x F!Reader

Warnings:  pregnancy

Synopsis:  Tony Stark- Genius, Billionaire, Playboy, Philanthropist, Pepper Potts, his long-serving and overworked assistant, and you, their on-again/off-again girlfriend and lead singer of the hit band, Arctic Fire.  Three very different people navigate a world of fame, addiction, betrayal, and superheroes, while they move from having a plus one to a plus two.

Chapter 21

As far as pregnancies went, Pepper's was pretty breezy.  Her morning sickness was relatively mild and it didn’t last long.  She had a lot of energy and she seemed to love planning all the appointments and following all the rules.  It meant that the three of you were free to just enjoy it and worry about all the other strange little quirks of navigating a pregnancy when you were three of the most famous people in the world who also happened to be in a polyamorous relationship.

There were a lot of NDA’s being signed and even more sneaking around.  Pepper - who hadn’t started showing yet at all, had started to gradually alter the kinds of clothes she wore to the kind you might wear while trying to hide a baby bump, but while making sure she was photographed in ways that made it very clear she didn’t have one.  You shopped for land and when you found the perfect place with a lake, you broke ground and the new house started construction.  You found the best obstetrics team in the city and made sure that you only arrived at the hospital via private entrances where no one could see what you were going for.

You were doing your best to try and be the calm between Tony’s hyperactivity and Pepper’s hyper-organization.  There were times you would annoy Pepper by being a little too chill, or you’d let yourself get freaked out when Tony went on a panic spiral, but generally, you were finding that because everything was going well, you could relax.

You would sit on the balcony of the Upper East Side penthouse and you would write about family and the excitement of expecting.

Millions of people are born every year, They’re met with excitement, with love, and with fear, We’ll keep it a secret until you do appear

It’s life. Life. It’s life.

Miracles happen to people each day, Birds and the bees, or that’s what they say, We’re getting things ready now you’re on your way

It’s life. Life. It’s life.

Pepper would come to you worried about some appointment she couldn’t make at the exact right time or if she ate something on the list of prohibited food, or Tony would come to you freaking out about whether he’d be a good dad or not, and your laid back and confident attitude seemed to relax them.  You realized that rather ironically, you’d become like a calming drug for them.

By the time you made it to the twenty-week ultrasound, you were all happy, excited, and ready to find out the gender of the baby.

“Well, it’s definitely going to be a boy,” Tony said, as the ultrasound tech moved the paddle around on Pepper’s belly.  She was obviously pregnant now, though her belly was still easily hidden in an empire-cut shirt or a dark skirt and a flared jacket.  Not that she was going out as much these days.  She was determined to keep it secret for as long as possible.

“I mean, I dreamt it was going to be a boy.  So - clearly,” Tony continued.

“Since when were you the one that believed in omens and portents?” Pepper asked.  “Give me back my practical atheist.”

Tony chuckled.  “Well, we’ll see.  If I’m right…”

“Hey, there’s a fifty-fifty chance of you being right.  If it is a boy, that’s just confirmation bias,” you argued.

Pepper looked between the two of you with her eyebrows knitted.  “Did you two body swap or something?  This is getting weird.”

You and Tony laughed and you leaned in and kissed Pepper on the cheek as you watched the screen with the staticky-looking image of the baby growing inside her.  “Well,” said the bubbly tech who had been doing the imaging.  “I’ve got them into position, did you want to know?”

“Yes, please,” Pepper said. “Let’s see if my boyfriend was suddenly gifted with prophecy.”

She giggled and shook her head.  “I’m sorry Mister Stark,” she said.  “The dream got it wrong.  You’re having a girl.”

Pepper smiled and relaxed back on the bed and you bounced a little where you sat.  It was strange, you would have been excited either way.  Besides gender and sex were two very different things and what that screen said didn’t tell you anything substantial about the baby growing inside Peper, but hearing it - it just felt a little more real.  You looked over at Tony to see how he was taking the news.  His eyes shimmered and he blinked up at the screen.  “A girl?”

“That’s right,” the tech replied.

“How can you tell?” Tony asked.  “Is it just that she doesn’t have…”

“Oh no,” the tech laughed.  “See here -” she circled a spot on the ultrasound.  The view was from underneath, almost like the baby was sitting on the wand and she’d circled the part between the legs.  “See how it looks a bit like a hamburger.  Well, that’s -”

“Oh!” Tony said, his eyes going wide.  “Got it.  Right.”  He turned to you and then to Pepper.  “A girl!  We’re going to have a daughter!”

“Are you happy?” you asked.

Tony nodded and wiped his eyes.  “I am so happy.  We’re gonna have a little girl.”

Your heart felt so full that all you could do to express the joy at Tony’s words was to lean over and hug him tightly.  You nuzzled into his neck as he in turn hugged Pepper and showered her in light kisses.

“Can you please print a copy of those out?” Pepper asked, under the rain of kisses.

“Of course,” the tech said cheerily.

By the time you and Tony had finally calmed down the tech had finished taking her measurements and was packing up.  “Here are your photos,” she said, handing Pepper the printouts.  “Congratulations.  It was so nice to meet you all.”

Pepper cleaned herself up and you and Tony helped her down off the bed.  “Guess we need another name then,” Tony said.  “I was sure the baby’s name was Morgan.”

“I don’t see why it can’t still be Morgan,” you said.  “Morgan would be an adorable girl's name.  Like Morgan Le Fay.”

“Pepper?” Tony asked.

“I still think Morgan is a beautiful name,” she agreed.  “The baby is Morgan.”

Tony grinned and wrapped an arm around both yours and Pepper’s waist.  “I am so fucking excited to meet her,” he said.

“We know,” you teased.  “Us too.”

It was less than a week later when Pepper came out to you on the balcony where you were strumming your guitar.  “Can you come inside?  I need to ask you something.”

There was something in her tone that worried you and you had to take a deep breath and noodle out a small refrain before grabbing the neck of your guitar and getting up.  She waved you inside and you followed after and as soon as the door was closed she took your free hand.  “Tell me if you can feel this,” she said, putting your hand against her stomach.

There had been a lot of excitement around the baby kicking and yet every time Pepper said that she could feel it happening, neither you nor Tony could feel it.  So as she held your hand against her stomach you weren’t expecting anything to happen.

There was a flutter under your hand and your eyes went wide.  “Was that it?”

“You felt it right? Right there?” she asked, her eyes lighting up.

“It’s soft.  Like a flutter,” you said.  “Tell me when she kicks.”

There was a pause, where Pepper furrowed her brow in concentration and you felt the flutter under your hand again. “Now,” she said.

“Yes!” you squealed, wrapping your arms around her and bouncing on the spot.  “Oh my god!  FRIDAY?!  FRIDAY, where’s Tony?”

“He’s in the workshop,” she answered.  “I’ve summoned him.”

You crouched on the ground and pressed your cheek against the spot on her stomach where Morgan had been kicking.  “Hey, Morgan,” you whispered.  “Are you gonna be a superhero like your daddy?  Are you gonna go around kicking all the bad guy's butts?”

You felt the flutter against your cheek and you squealed happily, hugging Pepper around the middle as she looked down at you and played with your hair.

Tony burst through the door and looked around.  “What?  What’s happening?”

“Come quick,” Pepper said, waving him over.

“I can feel her kicking, Tony,” you said.

Tony rushed over and pushed you, so you fell onto your butt.  You laughed and kicked him, but he completely ignored it as he put his hands where your cheek was resting.  “Tony!” you yelped.

“Shh…” he said.  “I’m trying to feel.”

Pepper moved his hand a little lower and you got onto your knees and moved back next to her.  “There,” Pepper said.  “Did you feel that?”

Tony’s eyebrows knitted together as he tried to decide if what he felt was a real thing and not his imagination.  “It just feels like a flutter,” you said.  “Really soft.”

“Now,” Pepper said.  “She just kicked!  Did you feel it?”

“That was it?!” Tony gasped, practically bouncing up and down on the spot.

“Yes!  She’s kicking so much.  It’s crazy,” Pepper said, excitedly.

Tony sank to his knees, keeping his hand in the same place as he pressed his forehead to the middle of her stomach.  “Hey there, Morgoona.  Are you really excited?  I’m super excited too.  You go, kiddo.”

“Make room for me, Tony,” you said, trying to push in beside him.

Pepper started laughing and she reached down and ran her fingers over both of your scalps.  “You know it kind of looks like you’re both worshipping me right now.”

“I mean, we definitely do,” Tony said, looking up at her.

You nodded in agreement and Pepper laughed harder.  “Alright, alright.  Can we all go sit down maybe so I don’t just have to stand here while you both talk to your daughter?”

“Yep,” Tony said, jumping to his feet.  You got up grabbing your guitar so you could put it away properly.  Your daughter.  You’d seen her and now you could feel her.  Morgan was on her way and you couldn’t be more excited.

// NEXT

[yehet-about-it]

I Like Me Better | Series Masterlist

~ A WayV Social Media AU Series ~

Synopsis: You’ve just moved into a new apartment with your best friend Yangyang, but you’re immediately faced with a problem: your incredibly noisy upstairs neighbour Xiao Dejun, or to friends, Xiaojun. You spend the first few weeks of your acquaintance hating his guts, but after a sincere apology and a fascinating revelation about his passions and motivations you slowly begin to see past his cold exterior to discover the real him. What will happen as you get closer to this troubled boy and how will those closest to you react?

Pairing: Reader x Xiaojun

Themes and Warnings: Explicit language, mild sexual content, mild violence and references to drinking/alcohol. Deals with themes of toxic masculinity, insecurity, gaslighting (sort of), and jealousy…

Start Date: 5th Nov 2020

~ Updates every Thursday and Friday @ 9pm GMT/3pm CST ~

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Introduction/Overview Character Profiles: 01 | 02

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01 - Ready? 02 - Moving Day 03 - When's the housewarming? 04 - He Doesn't Even Go Here 05 - First Impressions 06 - Party Time 07 - The Housewarming (written post 1.4k words) 08 - New Followers 09 - Stubborn 10 - An Evening Interrupted (written post 2k words) 11 - No More 3am Bruno Mars 12 - An Invite 13 - Maybe He's Not So Bad 14 - More Noise? What A Surprise... 15 - You of All People (written post 3.5k words) 16 - Not Today 17 - Apology (written post 2.2k words) 18 - It's Not a Hickey! 19 - Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire 20 - 5 Seconds to Run 21a - The Feeling's Mutual 21b - When I'm Around You 22 - Worth It 23 - Bear Hugs (2.4k words) 24a - Babysitting Duty 24b - A Night to Remember (1.6k words) 25 - ACTUALLY 26 - Lock Your Doors and Windows 27 - Silent Treatment 28 - A Good Show (1.4k words) 29 - Anything For You 30 - Something To Tell

Xiaojun Ending: 1 - Official 2 - As Long As You're Happy

To be continued...

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Please message me, send an ask, or reply to posts to be added to the taglist!

[beloved-death]

 Reading “The Things Dr Bright Is Not Allowed To Do At The Foundation” page made me think there should be a list of “Things Nul’Sirah Is Not Allowed To Do Whatsoever No Matter What Circumstances May Occur.”

Not allowed to fish in the River Styx, especially not because you’re bored and want to find someone with a good life story.

Is no longer allowed to reap people by impaling them, the world STILL hasn’t recovered from the Wallachian Incident.

Following the release of Crusader Kings 2 he is not to allow the dying to gamble their lives on a chess game. 3a: Or Shogi 3a1: Any game whatsoever ESPECIALLY HIS DARK SOULS MOD.

While giving someone a “timeout” in Hell sounds like a good idea to deter their misbehavior but in practice it has only led to an excessive amount of screaming.

He is not allowed to let the anomaly known as Barbor “Bor” to go “feral”. 5a: If he encourages them to go “feral” his ass is dead (Eriquira Sarkahnis is not allowed to edit see this list)

Is prohibited from throwing entities from alternate universes at Barbor just to see who would win. 6a: Especially characters from 40k ANY Sci-Fi universe ESPECIALLY 40k. 6b: Teleporting Bor to the center of a star is an excellent idea, but such an option is not for YOU to decide.

Sending Olivia back to her universe properly is an extremely complicated procedure that we are hesitant to attempt for good reason, deliberately sending her to an alternate timeline of her universe is a dick move. 7a. You know what, your outer-dimensional privileges are revoked period

 The deceased are not allowed to fill out their own paperwork, stop being lazy. 8a: This includes lawyers and doctors 8a1: Especially lawyers

Not allowed to raise a skeleton army again. 9a: Except on Halloween. 9a1: The entire month of October and the first week of November is not Halloween. 9b: No longer allowed to raise ANY ARMY OF THE UNDEAD following the Thriller episode. 9b1: Is banned from ever making another Thriller reference.

Nemiel does not have an OnlyFans, stop telling people that they do.

Not allowed to posses, mind control, bribe, blackmail, threaten game moderators to get his accounts unbanned. You knew what you were doing when you played online FPS games with superior reflexes.

No longer allowed to kill people with high fives.

Nul is not Nolan North, nor is he allowed to impersonate Nolan North

Nul does not have a degree and is not allowed to refer to himself as Dr. Death, Dr. Doom, and especially not Dr. Feelgood 14a: Actually he has legitimately received an M.D. on two occasions. 14a1: Be that as it may he may not refer to himself as such either. He can refer to himself using a real name. 14a1a: Don’t even think about it.

Elon Musk isn’t scheduled to die for a long time stop trying to kill him.

Is not allowed to collaborate with Dr. Bright to create “a better list”

He is not “The Cooler Daniel” and is not allowed to tell people he is.

Breaking the 4th wall is fine on occasion but breaking the 16th wall is prohibited.

“Meatbags” is not an acceptable answer to official ANY question.

Anthrax Gamma is one of the deadliest contagions ever devised by immortals, it is not for casual use.

Of course they expect the Spanish Inquisition when you keep repeating that overused meme. 21a: Nul’Sirah is not a part of the Spanish Inquisition 21a1: Nor the Imperial Inquisition

No longer allowed to write episodes for or guest star on the Simpsons. 22a: Or Futurama 23b: Or Venture Bros

Please cease telling tourists that the Adriatic Gojira Skull is from a rare species of hermit crab it’s been extinct for 400,000 years.

Turning reaping into a game of Papers Please is a complete waste of time, you should know better. 24a: The loud speakers he installed at the Gates were very much appreciated though.

Stop raiding Europe’s most valuable wine cellars to satiate your “refined” tastes, you’re not even replacing them with real wine. 25a: None of you can stop me, fuck the bourgeois wine culture 25a1: Yes we can, also Nul’Sirah is not allowed to edit this document.

Is outright prohibited from making cursed music and recording it, even if it is labeled it’s not going to stop people from listening to it.

Organic disguises belong in storage not lying around where someone can stumble across it. 27a: Using spare disguises as Halloween decorations or for jumpscares is cause for confiscation.

Your Scythe is a tool not a golf club, even if you unironically hate golf.

Nul’Sirah is prohibited from making garbage games and advertising them as Free when they most certainly are not. any videogame whatsoever. 29a: This now applies to board games and card games as well. 29a1: Tabletop games especially those involving expensive miniatures are fair game though. Just don’t ruin our deal with GW.

Skateboards (like you) have never been cool, and no matter how many “sick tricks” you pull off you have no business wasting time.

Is not allowed to play Tetris with the souls of the damned 31a: or their skeletons

He may not use Heaven’s supercomputer to create “the world’s greatest minecraft server”, even if it was the 19th wonder of the world. 32a: Nor may he use it to Deathmatch with 5 million John Romero clones. 32a1: Nor the real John Romero. 32b: Under no circumstance can Supreme Techno-King and Almighty Warrior God of the Pixel Realm John Carmack be allowed to see the computer.

Nul’Sirah may not take alternate universe versions of himself outside of their respective dimensions. 33a: Nor is he allowed to cause trouble in their universes 33b: Nor save them

Is not allowed to weaponize the Yakuza series’ soundtrack for anything other than workout playlists. 34a: Heaven does not have karaoke night, the sirens were offended when we tried. 35b: Not allowed to make a Nul Reaper Kira ANYONE Everywhere System.

Nul’Sirah may not use his “Mad Skills” to break dance in public to win money admiration tournaments a lucrative contract a TV deal. No public breakdancing whatsoever.

No longer allowed to temporarily kill people to subject them to the existential horror of nothingness.

[phiixomath]

fics i read this week | 28/06-4/07/21

a little theme in the first few...

organised by rating, then length favourite is marked with an *

.

*three years and a lifetime @lvecean​​ rating: g | word count: 7.5k+ | 1/1

To Keith, it all seems so painfully obvious. The way his breath had hitched as those words were spoken into reality. Finally leaving the bounds of silvery ink on Keith’s inner wrist. We are a good team. Just like that. He lifts his hand close to his face. Twists it in every direction so the sun will allow him to read the barely-visible ink on his skin. We are a good team.

. 

in the afterglow @alysfancosm​ rating: t | word count: 5k | 1/1

Keith's never had much time for soulmates; not until he realises whom his is. Lance has dreamt of finding his soulmate his whole life, but he's looking in the wrong places.

.

i’d choose you (in a hundred lifetimes) @various​​ rating: t | word count: 33k | 8/8

When Keith and Lance's squabbling leaves them crash-landed on a strange planet, Slav decides to show them just what a good team they can really be...

[goldenwilliamson]

Hi! Could I please request 21A, 26A and 28A and 40A with George? So sorry if that's too many I just feel like they would all work together well. I had in mind obviously a breakup instigated by the reader, but George tries to convince her to stay? Thank you! I love your writing X

a/n: prompts 21A: “we can’t keep this up forever,” 26A: “don’t push me away,” 28A: “i think i need a break from you,” and 40A: “please stay.”

pairing: george harrison x reader

summary: george has been distant due to working so you decide maybe it’s best for the two of you to take a break (it all works out in the end, though.)

warnings: angsty, swearing and fighting

word count: 1021

You felt as if you and George had been going around in circles, repeating the same saddening cycle of him coming home grumpy from the studio, the deafening silence and he getting up to leave you in the morning with barely a word. 

You were tired of it, and that scared you so much because you were afraid you two were falling out of love. It was even worse because you knew it wasn’t necessarily George’s fault either, work was just overwhelming him. But it seemed no matter what you did to try to help him calm down, he wasn’t taking any of it and would just protest that he needed to be alone. 

It was a Thursday night and George had gotten out of the studio early for a change. It was around 7pm when you heard him walk through the door, his boats meeting with your wooden floorboards and his keys jangling in his hand. 

He walked through to the kitchen, obviously smelling the pasta that you had been making because that boy had a nose like a hound and an appetite large enough for a family of four. 

“Hi love,” he says quietly, walking around towards you to give you a hug and kiss hello. This gesture broke your heart even more, because you knew your George was still there, he’d just become so caught up in the Beatles stuff you’d almost forgotten him. 

“You’re home early,” you note happily, holding him, with your chin resting on his shoulder. 

“Yeah, we had kind of all just had enough and so we all decided to call it a day,” he says, sounding rather sad.

“Another fight?” you ask him, leaning back to meet his eyes.

“Yeah,” is all he says, clearly not wanting to go into it as he lets go of you and walks over to lay down on the lounge, one hand covering his eyes.

“Did you want to talk about it? Might make you feel better,” you suggest just ini case, trying to figure out what he wanted, you were so desperate to do anything to make him feel better. Without a word or a glance, he just shakes his head to tell you no.  

You continue to cook the pasta and serve it up into two bowls for each of you.

“George there’s some pasta here,” you tell him, not really sure if he’s asleep or not.

“Thanks, but I’m not hungry, I think I’m going to go to bed,” he says, standing and making his way swiftly out of the living area.

You stand there dumfounded, before following him towards the bedroom.

“George you really should eat darling,” you tell him, just trying your best.

“I don’t want to y/n! I’ve had a shit day I just want to be alone!” He snaps, which takes you back. You stand still in the doorway of the bedroom that the two of you share as George continues to walk around changing out of his clothes from the day into something more comfortable. You try to muster up something reassuring to tell him, but right now you’re just upset.

“We can’t keep this up forever,” is what you can manage and George shakes his head. 

“Keep what up?” He says, finally stopping what he’s not and facing you, looking you dead in the eye.

“This. This fucking cycle of you coming home being pissed off, this isn’t even a relationship anymore, I can’t even remember the last time we had a conversation. Do I even mean anything to you?,” you say, getting things off your chest, and George just sighs, rubbing his face in his hands. 

“I’m sorry,” he says, still staying in his position stood on the opposite side of the room.

“I never wanted to have to do this George, but I think I need a break from you,” you say softly, not even wanting to admit it to yourself, let alone him. 

“Y/n,” he speaks your name softly, walking towards you. He embraces you in the same hug he had not even 15 minutes ago.

“Please darling, don’t push me away. I know I haven’t been anywhere near the man I should’ve been over the past few months, I know that, but it’s been so hard with the band,” he says and you can feel yourself getting emotional but you force yourself to hold it together. 

“George, if it’s going to be like this, I don’t know if I can do it,” you explain, your voice slightly cracking.

“We can, I promise I’ll make things right. It breaks my heart to know I’ve hurt you my love, but whatever you do, please stay. I need you,” he says, rubbing your back soothingly and planting a kiss on your head. 

“I’m sorry George, I know how hard it must be for you, I was being selfish-,” you start.

“Stop. You weren’t being selfish, you were being reasonable and I was being mean. I shouldn’t bring the stuff from the studio home with me, I need to be able to let it go and give myself to you entirely,” he says and you feel so much more at ease knowing that you two have talked this out.

“You can bring it home with you George, just don’t bottle it all up because it’s not good for that pretty head of yours. Talk to me sweetheart, it’s what I’m here for,” you explain to him and he holds you even tighter.

“I love you. So much. I’m sorry I ever made you doubt that,” he says, pulling back to look you eye to eye.

“I love you more than anything George and I’m sorry too,” you tell him, giving him a kiss and he hums in appreciation, smiling into it, a sensation you’ve missed. The two of you just bask in each other for some moments, making up for the lost time over the past weeks and months before George speaks up again. 

“So is that bowl of pasta still there for the taking?” He asks, a smile playing on his lips and you roll your eyes, the mood feeling much lighter now.

“I knew you’d be hungry!” You laugh and he does too, and it’s a sound you’d been longing to hear for too long now, but in this moment everything feels right again. 

[elizabethboatman]

2013-2016

Not a lot changed over the few years that I worked at 21st Amendment. The giants won in 2012 and 2014 and it was amazing to be working just two blocks from the stadium during those years and to continue going to as many games as I could. I learned how to plan large events. I learned how to home brew beer. Scotty moved to SF to live with us. Amy moved to SF to start a new job. I traveled to Joshua Tree, Vegas, Portland, Europe, and South America, which was always fun to figure out with only 2 weeks of PTO/year, but that was part of the fun. We continued to live in the basement apartment until 2015, when we moved back in to our rebuilt apartment on duboce. That was, of course, after we hired a lawyer because our landlord was trying to fuck us over. Elisabeth and Sergio got married and it was so beautiful and fun. Nikki and Andrew got married and it was so beautiful and fun. I learned how to rock climb, started planning our snow trip tradition, baked, bowled, hiked, and dressed up with the 21a crew every chance I got. I was 25 years old at the end of 2015 and was worried about very little- all I wanted to do was make enough money to pay rent and have fun, and that is very much what I did.

[chuffyfan87]

Hiding. Part 21a

Cowritten with @disastrousintention.

-x-

Finally the time came when, aged 13 weeks, one week after her original due date, Emily was ready to be released to go home to her family. The doctors had arranged for her to be ready to be discharged at 11.30am.

It was 6am as Duffy lay staring at her bedroom ceiling. She'd barely slept but hadn't wanted to wake up the rest of the house.

Charlie was tossing and turning, unable to sleep. He was so nervous to finally bring Emily home! It had been a long time coming but now she was finally coming home, with her parents and brothers where she belonged.

She saw him roll over again. "Are you awake?" She whispered.

“No.” He joked.

"Liar!" She giggled.

He opened his eyes. "Can't sleep either?"

"No." She sighed.

“Nerves about Emily?” He asked.

She sat up slightly and nodded. She was about to speak when she suddenly clutched her hand to her mouth and ran for the bathroom.

He got out of bed and followed her, “Darling, are you alright?”

She vomited twice before replying. "No." She sighed. "Hopefully it's just nerves."

“Hmm, here’s hoping.”

She threw up again. "What else could it be?"

He stepped towards her, crouched down behind her and held her hair out of the way. “Pregnancy is a possibility.”

She glared at him. "You're not funny!" She threw up again. "We have a 13 week old daughter. I can't be..." She groaned.

“I’m not trying to be funny.” He replied.

"But you said... You said we weren't going to..." She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly, trying to avoid being sick again. "You said no to more kids."

“I know I did.” He smiled sadly.

"What are we going to do?" She began to panic. "We're bringing Emily home today."

“For starters, please don’t panic.” He replied.

"Are you angry with me?" She mumbled.

“Why would I be angry, baby?”

"If I am pregnant and something goes wrong..."

“If you are pregnant, we just have to deal with it.” He sighed, “I can’t lose you. You know that, don’t you?”

"What if you had to chose?"

“Between what?”

"Me and the baby."

He didn’t answer for a moment, “You know my choice.”

"I feared you'd say that. You know I don't agree with you though?"

“I know.”

She started to push herself back up to standing. "I feel a little better now." She slowly walked over to the sink.

“I’d choose you for one reason only. Because the children need you.”

"I understand." She sighed as she peered at her reflection in the mirror clearly seeing how pale she looked.

“This time because the doctors know what happened, you won’t have a natural birth. And no doubt you’ll be monitored regularly so we’d be ok.” He got up and flushed the toilet, heading to the sink to wash his hands.

"It could all just be a false alarm. I haven't even had a period yet since I had Emily." She said in a tone that implied she was more trying to convince herself rather than Charlie. She twisted to look at herself in the mirror.

He placed his hand on her lower back, “If you are pregnant, we’ll find a way of managing. I promise.”

"How are you so calm about this?"

“Inside I’m anything but calm.” He admitted.

"How do you feel honestly?"

He laughed gently, “It could only happen to us, couldn’t it?” He sighed. “I’m scared. You?”

"We do seem to attract these kind of things." She sighed. "I'm... Confused is probably the best way to explain it."

He kissed her cheek, “Me too.”

"What are we going to do?"

“We go and pick up our beautiful daughter from the hospital and, on the way back, pick up several pregnancy tests? So we know for sure. ”

She nodded. She was about to add more when she heard the boys running down the stairs shouting for her. "Duty calls." She sighed, pushing herself away from the sink.

He kissed her cheek, “We'll be ok. We’re strong.” He reassured her.

Three hours later Duffy was pacing the kitchen full of agitation once more. The boys were at school and it was still another two hours til Emily would be ready.

“Will you please relax?” He sipped his coffee, glancing up at her.

"I am relaxed!" She snapped back.

He sighed at getting snapped at. He rubbed the back of his neck.

"Can you please not just sit there looking so bloody gormless?!"

“Duffy, I’m trying to enjoy a cup of coffee.” He sighed and put down the mug.

"Well if it's that important you can go 'enjoy' it in a different room!"

“Fine, maybe I will.” He got up, grabbed his mug and went to the living room.

She threw the tea towel she was holding down onto the worktop, slumped into a chair with her head in her hands and started crying.

Hearing her cries, he stopped in the hallway and returned to the kitchen. “Baby? What’s wrong?” He asked as he moved to her side.

"I don't know. One minute I was so angry and then... Suddenly all I wanted to do was cry." She sobbed.

He held her, “I’m sorry.”

"At least you didn't try to suggest that I was hormonal." She looked up and smiled weakly through her tears.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” He replied and kissed her forehead.

"Good!" She stood up once more. "I'm going to get changed. I don't like this outfit."

“You look fine, beautiful.”

"It'll give me something to do. Unless you have any suggestions?"

“How long have we got until we see Emily?”

She looked at the clock. "About an hour and a half."

“How about I go to the shop and get a pregnancy test? That way we can know for sure? You might just be late, and you’re sick with nerves.”

She chewed at her bottom lip as she nodded. "OK." She mumbled.

That’s exactly what Charlie did, he went to the shop and brought two pregnancy tests even though he was scared.

By the time he arrived back home Duffy was pacing around the downstairs moments away from going completely mad.

“What’s wrong?” He asked, stepping through the door and closing it behind him.

"I was sick again while you were out."

“It sounds like nerves.” He replied, “But I brought these.” He handed them to her.

She took them from him and disappeared upstairs. She reappeared a minute or so later holding the test she'd taken having left the other one unused upstairs just in case. She placed it down on the table and curled up on the sofa.

He sat on the sofa beside her and swallowed. “Is it positive?” He asked with a whisper as he reached for the test.

"I didn't look." She confessed.

He picked up the test and looked at the result.

She tried to read his face but couldn't. Growing frustrated she grabbed the test from his hand.

He was about to say something when the test was taken out of his hand.

She looked down at it and blinked twice to ensure her eyes weren't deceiving her. "Shit." She muttered.

“It’s positive, isn’t it?”

"Looks that way to me. What do you think?" She asked, her hands trembling as she held it out towards him.

He took the test and read the result. “Oh shit.” He nodded, “Definitely positive.”

"The night by the lake." She surmised.

He shook his head fondly, “Should've guessed something like this would happen to us.” He smiled sadly.

"I should probably speak to my doctor shouldn't I?"

“Yeah.”

"I get the feeling she won't be impressed."

“What gives you that idea?” He asked.

"She told me to take things easy for the next six months or so."

“We had good intentions too.”

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions Charlie."

“That’s true.” He paused, “I want this baby Duffy.”

"Really? You're sure?"

“That’s not to say I’m not going to spend every minute of the pregnancy terrified that something will happen to either of you.” He took a breath, “Do you want to keep it? Because I’ll support your decision 100% if you don’t.”

"I've been wrestling with that question all morning."

“I will support your decision, no matter what.”

She placed her hand against her stomach. "Crazy as it sounds I feel like I'm already falling in love with this baby." She smiled.

He smiled, “Me too.” He placed his hand over hers, “I’ve booked a doctors appointment for me, next week.”

She chuckled. "That's probably a good idea."

He playfully tapped her belly, “Two’s enough, wouldn’t you agree?”

"Not forgetting the three boys we already have..!"

“We’ve populated the planet enough. I’m retiring from baby making.” He smiled brightly.

She giggled as she snuggled into his arms.

“Duffy?” He wrapped his arms around her.

"Mmhmm?"

“I love you.”

She smiled broadly. "I love you too."

He kissed her cheek.

"I'm really comfy but we need to head out very soon." She sighed.

“I’m really nervous.” He admitted.

"About bringing Emily home?"

He nodded shyly.

She kissed the tip of his nose. "We can do this. Come on!"

He nodded although he was unsure. It was normal to feel scared though right? Emily had spent a lot of time in neonatal. He nodded again, “Come on, shall we go?”

She nodded and they made their way to the car. The journey to the hospital was quiet, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Once they arrived Duffy moved around to the back door to retrieve Emily's carseat.

Climbing out the car, Charlie took another deep breath. “Duffy?”

"Mmhmm?" She reached into the car to pick up the seat.

“I don’t think I can do this.” He mumbled. Why was he so afraid to pick up his daughter and bring her home?

Placing the seat on the ground she circled around the car and stood in front of him. She placed her hands on either side of his face. "You can. You've done this before remember?"

He met her gaze and swallowed. He didn’t speak.

"She's just a baby. They're not that scary."

“I know.” He took another deep breath, “Let’s go and bring Ems home.”

Duffy went to pick up the carseat whilst Charlie locked the car. She then reached for his hand as they entered the hospital.

[mirkwoodshewolf]

Somebody to love pt.1; Queen x reader x oc male

*Author’s note*

Alrighty party people here we go, the second to last chapter I have for you all today. Now there is something new I wanna try, for some chapters like these two and some in the future based on what I write, I will include a music playlist for you all to listen to in order to help set the mood based on whatever is going on in the chapter. So below the tag list I’ve included the music playlist.  It would be great if you all listened to the playlist but again you don’t have to, it’s just while I’ve been reading and making changes to these last two chapters, this idea’s been playing in my head. And if any of you have suggestions for music choices, don’t be shy to send me an inbox. Cause I’ll be needing some in the near future.

Taglist (open as always)

@onebigfangirlworld

@mr-badguymercury

@phantom-fangirl-stuff

@labessieisallama

@starswin

@naturalswifty89

dj-lowkey

@isbellan-bby

@5sos-wdw

Music Playlist: *recommended to listen to the following songs to fit the chapter*

Somebody to Love- Queen

All out of love- Air Supply

****Cant fight this feeling- REO Speedwagon

Careless Whisper- Wham

_________________________________________________

*August 21st, 1983*

It was too late.  Jack was leaving today and with the Angel-Queen tour kicking off in London tonight, there was no time for me to say goodbye to Jack one last time before he went back to America.

It was 5 minutes till showtime and 5 minutes till Jack left for America.  I was still in my dressing room when I heard a knock at my door.  I turned around and said.

“It’s open.” Peeking in was Rog.

“Hey, how you doing darling?”

“Compared to the first time that Freddie and you lot had me sing for the very first time. I’d say I’ve got some butterflies.”

“You’ll do fine as always, we’re right there with you. And this time you won’t be touring alone so I hope you can deal with sharing the spotlight.” I smiled softly but Roger seemed to notice that something was off. “You okay love?”

“Yeah, I’m great Rog.”

“No you’re not. C’mon the boys and I know you better than you think. Every time I crack a joke your smile always reaches your eyes, this one didn’t. So come on tell me what’s going on?” He sat down on my mini loveseat right by my makeup dresser where I was sitting at on the chair.

“Jack’s heading home tonight.” With that his face grew solemn and he understood where I was going.

“Do you—do you wish to say one final goodbye to him? We can hold the concert as long as you need to.”

“No, besides he’s probably already on board the plane right now. Roger can I ask you something? And can you be brutally honest like how you are when interviewers ask you about different music.”

“I’m almost afraid to answer but go ahead.”

“Was it a mistake? Seeking a friendship with Jack the way I did, knowing that I may never see him again.” He sighed deeply and he said.

“God I wish you asked this question to Brian, he’s better at stuff like this than me, but I’ve told you before and I’ll keep telling you; seeing you with Jack I’ve never seen you happier. When you first started working for Jim all those years ago when Adam was still in the picture, any mentions of him there was just this dull look in your eyes and your face never glowed, not like when you would work or when it was just the five of us. But this summer, ever since meeting Jack it’s like you’re a brand new woman. All smiles and giddy like you’re still that school girl we met. And we’re glad that he saved you from that rotter reporter and that we could trust someone to look after you when we couldn’t.”

I looked at Roger at his confession.  Even with the bad boy reputation he’s always made himself to have, I’m lucky to be one of the most fortunate people to see this caring side he has.  This loyal, protective yet pure nurturing side of him.

“And like Brian sometimes rambles on, the stars always align back in some shape or form, if you really care for Jack then maybe this won’t be the last time you two will see each other.”

“Thanks Rog, that really means a lot.”

“I’m always here for you love, no matter what.” He said as kissed my forehead before embracing me into a warm bear hug.  I felt him rub my back then he said. “Come on, Fred wants to run some vocal warmups with you before the show.” I nodded and followed him to the guys dressing room.

The concert soon began and the boys started off first by opening up the arena with “We will Rock you” followed by “We are the Champions.”  As the night went on and I was introduced on stage to sing a duet with the boys for one of my favorite songs of theirs, “Somebody to love.”

As Freddie began on the piano and I was backup vocals for the first part of the song, I began to think back on this entire summer ever since I met Jack.  In fact I was so deep in thought that I had completely missed my cue to sing.

Suddenly realizing, I did the only thing that I could do to get some space from the audience as well as the boys, I ran off stage.

From the wings I could hear the crowd crying in commotion demanding to know what the hell was happening, I was then stopped by one of my agents who said.

“(Y/n) get back up on that stage now!”

“Ian I’m sorry but I have to get to the airport and fast!”

“You are not going anywhere unless it’s back on that stage! You’ve already caused an uproar now go back up there and fix it!”

“(Y/n)!” I turned around and saw the boys running towards me and Freddie asked me.

“(Y/n) darling what happened up there? Are you alright?”

“No I—I have to get to the airport. I’m….I’m in love with Jack!” The boys looked at me before looking at each other before all four of them screamed out.

“About bloody time!!!”

“What now?” I questioned.

“Darling you really are dense sometimes. We all knew you were in love with the boy even when you kept denying it.” Explained Freddie.

“Although if you had mentioned a week earlier, I would’ve won the bet.” Deacy piped in.

“The bet? You guys made a bet on me!?!?”

“We’ll explain later darling, right now let’s get you to the airport and find Jack.”

“I can’t no it’s too late he’s probably thousands of feet in the air by now. His flight took off at the start of the concert.” I said.

“We may not know that, remember all global flights usually are delayed nine times out of ten, remember all the delays we had. If we hurry we can get you there and to Jack before it’s too late.” Said Roger.

“Great idea Rog, everyone to the car!” Freddie cried as the five of us raced out of the arena and to the garage parking lot.

We all piled in one of the limo cars and Roger took the wheel and turned the engine on before flooring it out of the garage and onto the road.

“But how do we know his flight wasn’t one of the ones to be delayed? God I wish we had phones that we could carry wirelessly so that I could get a hold of him and find out.”

“Well right now we’ll have to improvise,” Deacy then took the in-limo phone and began dialing the number of the London airlines airport. “Yes hello this is John Deacon and I would like to know the situation of a non-stop flight to Kansas City?” There was silence as John nodded and he said. “Uh-huh, flight delayed by an hour, okay,” he pulled the phone away and said to me, “You are so lucky, and for what its worth a 2 hours early notice would’ve been sufficient to.”

“I’m sorry alright, now what else do they have to say?” John put the phone back to his ear and he said.

“Okay, anyone I want to get in contact with?” I shook my head no but the boys egged me on and I refused because I wasn’t going to do a phone confession, I wanted it to be face-to-face. “No, no but do you mind telling me the gate number?” There was silence again. “Gate 21A, okay thank you very much, have a good evening too.” With that he hung up the phone.

“So do we have time?” Brian asked.

“Yes, they’re boarding now because of the delay, apparently there was a storm and the plane had to wait for bad turbulence to clear out of Kansas. We can make it.”

“Step on it Rog!” Proclaimed Freddie.

“Alright hang on back there.” With that the limo sped faster as we tried to reach the airport in time.

Finally we arrived at the airport and we raced through the gates trying to find the one that Jack was going to be one.  Once we found his gate, I saw a whole bunch of people in line blocking any hope of finding Jack.

“Do you—do any of you see him?” I asked frantically.

“I can’t see him.” Brian said.

“Jack? Jack Kline?!” I cried out.

“There he is!” Roger shouted as just going through the doors was Jack.

“Jack! Jack!”

“Whoa, whoa excuse me ma’am, do you have a boarding pass?” The gatekeeper stopped me from going through the doors.

“No, no I just need to talk to the boy who just walked through those doors.”

“I’m sorry, but you cannot go any further without a boarding pass.” He told me.

“No, no you don’t under—”

“JACK GET YOUR ARSE BACK HERE!!!” Never have I heard Deacy scream so loud before in my entire life, and I’m betting the boys hadn’t either.  Suddenly Jack came out confused but his confusion soon turned to shock as he said.

“What the….Oh my God what are—what are you guys doing here? I thought the kickoff tour was tonight?”

“Okay, tell him now.” Deacy demanded as he gently pushed me towards Jack.

“What? Tell me what? (Y/n) you’re scaring me, what is it?” I pulled Jack aside away from the gate as I said.

“Okay the thing is……”

“Yeah?” He asked.

“Don’t go.” I finally confessed.

“What?”

“Please, please stay with me, I am so in love with you Jack Kline. Please don’t go.” He looked at me in shock as he muttered.

“Oh my god.”

“I know, I know. I shouldn’t have waited till now to say it but I was stupid. Okay I was stupid and scared because of my last relationship but I can’t deny it anymore. I’m in love with you Jack Kline. And I know I’m asking you to leave everyone at home behind you but please, please stay with me. Come on tour with me.” I took his hands in mine as I finally whimpered out, “Please don’t get on this plane.” He looked at me sadly then before he could answer the gatekeeper said.

“Sir, are you boarding the plane?” Jack turned to him but I turned his head back around to face me and said as I cupped his face in my hands.

“Hey, hey. I know you’re scared. But we can make it work, just please. Please stay.” I stroked his cheeks with my thumbs as tears brimmed in my eyes.

“Sir” the gatekeeper stated firmly one last time.

“I—I….I have to get on the plane.”

“No you don’t.” I whimpered out.

“Yes I do.” He choked out.

“No you don’t.”

“I do, my family’s waiting for me (y/n). I can’t do this right now, I just can’t I’m sorry.” He broke away from me. I stepped towards him whimpering out his name and he said as he gave the gatekeeper his ticket before turning back towards me and he whispered one last time. “I’m so sorry.” With that he walked through the gates and they closed up behind him.

The gatekeeper locked the doors and walked away without looking at me going back to his job.  

I lowered my head as the boys slowly walked up to me.  I felt Deacy’s hand on my shoulder and I looked up at my boys and I whimpered out.

“I thought they always said yes when you’d do stuff like this?”

“We’re so sorry love” Brian said.  I sniffled and the first one to hug me was Deacy.

I wrapped my arms around him as I fell to my knees and sobbed.  Soon the rest of the guys joined in the group hug, each of them whispering words of comfort.

But it still didn’t fix my broken heart.

With my heart completely shattered once more and with no hope of it ever coming back together, I just asked the guys to take me back home.  After my stunt big stunt at the live kick off tour and probably the sighting of me with Jack at the airport, the news people were gonna have a field day with my ‘Heartbreak airport book scene.’

So I just had the guys drop me off at my flat so that I could just hide from the world and not want anything to do with anyone. They wanted to cancel the tour so that they could be with me but I told them no and threw Freddie’s famous words “The Show must go on” right back in his face.

Without another word, we arrived back at my flat and I solemnly thanked the guys for all that they’ve done for me and they said their solemn goodbyes, each telling me that they would have the girls check in on me.  I soon entered my flat.

*3rd Person POV*

As the boys watched their little rock angel go into her flat, they couldn’t help but feel awful about what had just happened. The first chance at a real relationship and happiness and it was snatched away from her.  Her second failed relationship.

“Poor baby” Freddie said.

“I know, god I feel so awful. I wish there was something we could do for her.” Said Brian.

“Do you think she’ll be okay?” asked Roger.

“Yeah, with time. But we need to fill her command and continue the tour, as much as I hate to leave her like this.” Deacy said. With that Roger put the car on drive and the boys left (y/n)’s drive through and headed back to the concert arena to pack up their stuff and get ready for their flight to Paris.

*My POV*

As I now came into my flat, I took off my jacket and tossed my hat aside as I noticed I had a voicemail on my message box. I went ahead and pressed play thinking it was probably Jim or someone from the arena completely pissed at me or some reporter wanting the dirt on why I ditched the concert.

‘(Y/n), hi. It’s me.’ Jack’s voice soon came on. His voice solemn and filled with regret.  I fell to my couch and gripped onto one of the pillows and listened to the message. ‘I just got back on the plane, and I just feel awful. That is so not how I wanted things to end between us. It’s….it’s just I wasn’t expecting to see you again and then all of a sudden you left your concert and were standing there saying these things….Now I’m just standing here thinking, of all the things I should’ve said but didn’t. I mean I didn’t even get to tell you that I love you too.’

I whimpered out as I buried my face into my pillow finally hearing a confession from Jack but I knew by now he was probably in the air heading back to America.

‘Because of course I do. I love you. I love you…..I love you.’ His voice soon perked up almost as if a lightbulb had gone off.  I looked at my machine in confusion as his voice continued in the same realization tone, ‘What the hell am I doing? I’m in love with the Rock Angel. Oh, I’ve got to see you. I’ve gotta get off this plane.’

“Oh my god” I said as I crawled towards the phone.

‘Okay, excuse me.’ Jack’s voice said.

‘Sir, please hang up the phone and take your seat.’ I heard a woman’s voice say, probably a flight attendant’s voice.

‘No, I’m sorry I’m really sorry but I need to get off this plane. Okay I just need to tell a girl that I love her’ Jack’s voice said urgently.

‘Sir, I can’t let you off the plane.’

“LET HIM OFF THE BLOODY PLANE!!!” I shouted as I stood up from my couch.

‘I’m afraid you are gonna have to hang up the phone and take your seat right now!’ the flight attendant’s voice demanded.

‘Oh please miss you don’t understand!’

“TRY TO UNDERSTAND! HE LOVES THE ROCK ANGEL!!” I cried out.

‘Oh come on miss, isn’t there any way that you can just let me off the—’ with that the line went dead and the phone beeped indicating the end of the message.

“NO! NOOOO!!” I raced towards my machine and frantically tried to rewind it as I whimpered out, “Oh my god. Did he get off the plane? Did he get off the plane?” I rewind the tape hoping to hear the rest of the message when suddenly a voice said behind me.

“I got off the plane.” I turned around and standing there with the door wide open with his suitcases right at his side was Jack.

He stood there with that precious smile on his face and his eyes filled with tears as he looked at me with nothing but pure love. My hands flew to my mouth as I stared at him, almost not believing that he was standing there until I finally whimpered out.

“You got off the plane.” I sobbed again and couldn’t even move so Jack came up to me and he cupped my face and his lips came down onto mine in a passionate kiss.

I wrapped my arms around him and even hopped up and wrapped my legs around his waist as our kiss got deeper.  He spun me around my living room until air became a burden and we were forced to separate.

“I love you (y/n) (l/n).” He said as he wiped my tears away.

“And I love you Jack Kline, and I never want to let you go again.”

“Me neither because the only girl I want to hold in my arms for the rest of my life is you, you my Rock angel.” I smiled and laughed softly.

I then leaned forward and kissed him once more, this time more sincere and softer than our last kiss.  My heart pounded as he kissed back.  This was by far a better kiss than any that I have ever shared with Adam throughout the entire course of that relationship.

I’ve finally found somebody to love, and this time I knew it would last for all eternity.