#2.11 - Business as usual

[brookston]

Holidays 1.14

Holidays

Assembly Line Workers' Day

Caesarean Section Day

Cat Day (French Republic)

Defender of the Motherland Day (Uzbekistan)

Diary Day (South Korea)

Flag Day (Georgia)

George Price Day (Belize)

Human Be-In Day

International Kite Day

International Male Chastity Day

Makar Sankranti (Kite Day; India)

Mallard Day (Oxford, England)

National Dolls Doing Business Day

National Dress Up Your Pet Day

National Forest Conservation Day (Thailand)

National Pothole Day (UK) [Closest Weekday to 15th]

National Saturday the 14th

National STI-Q Day

National Undhiyu Day (India)

National Vodou Day (New Orleans, Louisiana)

Organize Your Home Day

Revolution and Youth Day (Tunisia)

Schnitzelbank Day

STIQ Day (UK)

Sultan’s Day (Malaysia)

Take a Missionary to Lunch Day

Unknown Citizens Day (Philippines)

Veterans Day (India)

World Logic Day (UN)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Cakes and Ale Day (England)

Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day

National Undhiyu Day (India)

2nd Sunday in January

Baptism of the Lord [Sunday after Epiphany]

Blessing of the Sea (Margate, UK) [Sunday after 6th]

Meitlisunntig (Switzerland) [2nd Sunday]

National Sunday Supper Day [2nd Sunday]

No Pants Subway Ride [2nd Sunday]

Volunteer Fireman's Day [2nd Sunday]

Yamayaki (Grass Burning on Mount Wakakasuyama & Fireworks; Japan)

Independence & Related Days

Ratification Day (Treaty of Paris ratified, ending Revolutionary War; US; 1784)

Journée de la souveraineté retrouvée (Restored Sovereignty Day; Mali)

New Year’s Days

Amenzu n Yennayer (a.k.a. Aseggwas Amaziɣ, ⴰⵙⴳⴳⴰⵙ ⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖ or Amazigh New Year; Algeria)

Azhyrnykhua (Abkhazia; Day the World was Created)

The Burning o' the Clavie (Burghead, Scotland)

Hen Galan (Wales)

New Year's Day (Julian Calendar)

Novy God (Russian New Year)

Old New Year (a.k.a. ... 

Alter Silvester (Switzerland)

Anul Nou pe stil vechi (Romania)

Հին Նոր տարի (Armenia)

Стары Новы год (Belarus)

Стара Нова година (Bulgaria, Macedonia)

Старый Новый год (Russia)

Српска Нова година (Serbia)

Старий Новий рік (Ukraine)

ძველით ახალი წელი (Georgia)

Παλαιό νέο έτος (Greece)

Orthodox New Year (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Yennayer (Berber Calendar New Year’s Day)

Festivals Beginning January 14, 2024

Africa Cup of Nations (Abidjan, Ivory Coast) [thru 2.11]

Cologne Furniture Fair (Cologne, Germany) [thru 1.18]

Critics’ Choice Awards (Santa Monica, California)

Fire & Ice Festival: Under the Sea (Somerset, Pennsylvania) [thru 1.14]

International Istanbul Open Backgammon Championship (Istanbul, Turkey) [thru 1.14]

Martin Luther King Parade, Walking the Talk, and Festival (Long Beach, California)

School Nutrition Industry Conference (Orland, Florida) [thru 1.16]

Feast Days

Barba'shmin (a.k.a. Barbasceminus; Christian; Saint)

Barry the Honeybee (Muppetism)

Basil of Ostrong (a.k.a. Basil the Great; Orthodox Church; Saint) [Serbia]

Berthe Morisot (Artology)

Bhogi begins (Festival to Surya, a Solar Diety; India)

Buddha (Positivist; Saint)

Circumcision of Jesus Christ (Orthodox Church)

Devasahayam Pillai (Latin Church; Blessed)

Divina Pastora (Barquisimeto)

Dondoyaki (Fire Festival; Japan)

Einar Hákonarson (Artology)

Eivind Berggrav (Lutheran)

Feast of Divina Pastora (Barquisimeto, Venezuela)

Feast of Nina (Bulgaria)

Feast of the Ass (Medieval Christianity)

Felix of Nola (Christian; Martyr)

Festum Asinorum (Medieval Burlesque Festival)

Gort Day (Church of the SubGenius)

Guido Franch Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Henri Fantan-Latour (Artology)

Hestia’s Day (Pagan)

Hilary (Christian; Saint)

Isaias and Sabbas (Christian; Saint)

Jean-Baptiste van Loo (Artology)

Macrina the Elder (Christian; Saint)

Odoric of Pordenone (Christian; Saint)

Pongol (Tamil Harvest Festival, India) [Usually 1.14 or 15]

Sava of Serbia (Christian; Saint)

Sidereal Winter Solstice (South, Southeast Asian cultures)  (a.k.a. ... 

Magh Bihu (Assam)

Maghe Sankranti (Nepal)

Maghi (Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab)

Makar Sankranti (Harvest Festival; India, Malaysia, Thailand)

Pongol begins (Tamil Nadu)

Tamil hai Pongal Day (Sri Lanka)

Uttarayan (Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Rajasthan)

Spell to Let Go Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Thai Pongal (Sri Lanka)

Thorrablat (a.k.a. Þorrablót; Midwinter Festival; Iceland)

Thorrablat (Norse/Heathen Festival to Thor, God of Thunder)

Traditional Day of Offering (Bhutan)

Wear a Colander Day (Pastafarian)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 2 of 60)

Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [5 of 57]

Premieres

Appleseed (Anime Film; 2005)

Batty Man, Parts 3 & 4 (Underdog Cartoon, S3, Eps. 31 & 32; 1967)

Belle (Anime Film; 2022)

The BFG, by Roald Dahl (Novel; 1982)

Bosko in Dutch (WB LT Cartoon; 1933)

The Boy Named If, by Elvis Costello (Album; 2022)

Bugs’ Bonnets (WB MM Cartoon; 1956)

Cape Fear, by John D. MacDonald (Novel; 1957)

The Captain and the Kids (MGM Cartoon; 1939)

Cookie’ with Gags (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1955)

Dog Gone Modern (WB MM Cartoon; 1939)

Elektra (Film; 2005)

Father Brown (UK TV Series; 2015)

5-4-3-2-1 or The Quick Launch Counter (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S5, Ep. 248; 1964)

Get Thee Behind Me Satan, recorded by Harriet Hilliard (Song; 1936)

Goof Gas Attack, Part 7 (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S5, Ep. 247; 1964)

A Helping Paw (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1941)

Home, Tweet Home (WB MM Cartoon; 1950)

The House (Animated Film; 2022)

Independent People, by Halldór Laxness (Novel; 1934)

In Good Company (Film; 2005)

Inside Llewyn Davis (Film; 2014)

Lonesome Traveler, by Jack Kerouac (Essays; 1960)

Low, by David Bowie (Album; 1977)

No Hunting (Disney Cartoon; 1955)

Other Voices, Other Rooms, by Truman Capote (Novel; 1948)

Paul Simon, by Paul Simon (Album; 1972)

Permanent Waves, by Rush (Album; 1980)

Pirates from Below (Animated Cartoon; Jonny Quest #18; 1965)

The Poseidon Adventure, by Paul Gallico (Novel; 1969)

Pueblo Pluto (Disney Cartoon; 1949)

Red Riding Hoodlum (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1957)

Sanford and Son (TV Series; 1972)

Saturday Evening Puss (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1950)

Scanners (Film; 1981)

The Today Show (TV Series; 1952)

Tosca, by Giacomo Puccini (Opera; 1900)

Waiting on a War, by the Foo Fighters (Song; 2021)

Today’s Name Days

Engelmar, Felix, Rainer (Austria)

Feliks, Malahija, Rajko, Srećko (Croatia)

Radovan (Czech Republic)

Felix (Denmark)

Feliks, Õnneleid (Estonia)

Sakari, Saku, Sasu (Finland)

Nina (France)

Engelmar, Felix, Rainer (Germany)

Nina (Greece)

Bódog (Hungary)

Dazio, Macrina (Italy)

Raitis, Roberta, Roberts (Latvia)

Auksė, Feliksas, Hilarijus, Laimis (Lithuania)

Herbjørg, Herbjørn (Norway)

Feliks, Hilary, Odo, Radogost (Poland)

Nina (Romania)

Radovan (Slovakia)

Félix (Spain)

Felicia, Felix (Sweden)

Adam, Nina (Ukraine)

Alair, Felice, Felicia, Felicity, Felix, Hilary, Hillary, Hillery (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 14 of 2024; 352 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of week 2 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Beth (Birch) [Day 20 of 28]

Chinese: Month 12 (Yi-Chou), Day 4 (Ding-Chou)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 4 Shevat 5784

Islamic: 3 Rajab 1445

J Cal: 14 White; Sevenday [13 of 30]

Julian: 1 January 2024

Moon: 15%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 14 Moses (1st Month) [Buddha]

Runic Half Month: Peorth (Womb, Dice Cup) [Day 5 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 25 of 89)

Zodiac: Capricorn (Day 24 of 31)

Calendar Changes

January (a.k.a. Ianuarius; Julian Calendar) [Month 1 of 12]

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 1.14

Holidays

Assembly Line Workers' Day

Caesarean Section Day

Cat Day (French Republic)

Defender of the Motherland Day (Uzbekistan)

Diary Day (South Korea)

Flag Day (Georgia)

George Price Day (Belize)

Human Be-In Day

International Kite Day

International Male Chastity Day

Makar Sankranti (Kite Day; India)

Mallard Day (Oxford, England)

National Dolls Doing Business Day

National Dress Up Your Pet Day

National Forest Conservation Day (Thailand)

National Pothole Day (UK) [Closest Weekday to 15th]

National Saturday the 14th

National STI-Q Day

National Undhiyu Day (India)

National Vodou Day (New Orleans, Louisiana)

Organize Your Home Day

Revolution and Youth Day (Tunisia)

Schnitzelbank Day

STIQ Day (UK)

Sultan’s Day (Malaysia)

Take a Missionary to Lunch Day

Unknown Citizens Day (Philippines)

Veterans Day (India)

World Logic Day (UN)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Cakes and Ale Day (England)

Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day

National Undhiyu Day (India)

2nd Sunday in January

Baptism of the Lord [Sunday after Epiphany]

Blessing of the Sea (Margate, UK) [Sunday after 6th]

Meitlisunntig (Switzerland) [2nd Sunday]

National Sunday Supper Day [2nd Sunday]

No Pants Subway Ride [2nd Sunday]

Volunteer Fireman's Day [2nd Sunday]

Yamayaki (Grass Burning on Mount Wakakasuyama & Fireworks; Japan)

Independence & Related Days

Ratification Day (Treaty of Paris ratified, ending Revolutionary War; US; 1784)

Journée de la souveraineté retrouvée (Restored Sovereignty Day; Mali)

New Year’s Days

Amenzu n Yennayer (a.k.a. Aseggwas Amaziɣ, ⴰⵙⴳⴳⴰⵙ ⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖ or Amazigh New Year; Algeria)

Azhyrnykhua (Abkhazia; Day the World was Created)

The Burning o' the Clavie (Burghead, Scotland)

Hen Galan (Wales)

New Year's Day (Julian Calendar)

Novy God (Russian New Year)

Old New Year (a.k.a. ... 

Alter Silvester (Switzerland)

Anul Nou pe stil vechi (Romania)

Հին Նոր տարի (Armenia)

Стары Новы год (Belarus)

Стара Нова година (Bulgaria, Macedonia)

Старый Новый год (Russia)

Српска Нова година (Serbia)

Старий Новий рік (Ukraine)

ძველით ახალი წელი (Georgia)

Παλαιό νέο έτος (Greece)

Orthodox New Year (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Yennayer (Berber Calendar New Year’s Day)

Festivals Beginning January 14, 2024

Africa Cup of Nations (Abidjan, Ivory Coast) [thru 2.11]

Cologne Furniture Fair (Cologne, Germany) [thru 1.18]

Critics’ Choice Awards (Santa Monica, California)

Fire & Ice Festival: Under the Sea (Somerset, Pennsylvania) [thru 1.14]

International Istanbul Open Backgammon Championship (Istanbul, Turkey) [thru 1.14]

Martin Luther King Parade, Walking the Talk, and Festival (Long Beach, California)

School Nutrition Industry Conference (Orland, Florida) [thru 1.16]

Feast Days

Barba'shmin (a.k.a. Barbasceminus; Christian; Saint)

Barry the Honeybee (Muppetism)

Basil of Ostrong (a.k.a. Basil the Great; Orthodox Church; Saint) [Serbia]

Berthe Morisot (Artology)

Bhogi begins (Festival to Surya, a Solar Diety; India)

Buddha (Positivist; Saint)

Circumcision of Jesus Christ (Orthodox Church)

Devasahayam Pillai (Latin Church; Blessed)

Divina Pastora (Barquisimeto)

Dondoyaki (Fire Festival; Japan)

Einar Hákonarson (Artology)

Eivind Berggrav (Lutheran)

Feast of Divina Pastora (Barquisimeto, Venezuela)

Feast of Nina (Bulgaria)

Feast of the Ass (Medieval Christianity)

Felix of Nola (Christian; Martyr)

Festum Asinorum (Medieval Burlesque Festival)

Gort Day (Church of the SubGenius)

Guido Franch Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Henri Fantan-Latour (Artology)

Hestia’s Day (Pagan)

Hilary (Christian; Saint)

Isaias and Sabbas (Christian; Saint)

Jean-Baptiste van Loo (Artology)

Macrina the Elder (Christian; Saint)

Odoric of Pordenone (Christian; Saint)

Pongol (Tamil Harvest Festival, India) [Usually 1.14 or 15]

Sava of Serbia (Christian; Saint)

Sidereal Winter Solstice (South, Southeast Asian cultures)  (a.k.a. ... 

Magh Bihu (Assam)

Maghe Sankranti (Nepal)

Maghi (Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab)

Makar Sankranti (Harvest Festival; India, Malaysia, Thailand)

Pongol begins (Tamil Nadu)

Tamil hai Pongal Day (Sri Lanka)

Uttarayan (Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Rajasthan)

Spell to Let Go Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Thai Pongal (Sri Lanka)

Thorrablat (a.k.a. Þorrablót; Midwinter Festival; Iceland)

Thorrablat (Norse/Heathen Festival to Thor, God of Thunder)

Traditional Day of Offering (Bhutan)

Wear a Colander Day (Pastafarian)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 2 of 60)

Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [5 of 57]

Premieres

Appleseed (Anime Film; 2005)

Batty Man, Parts 3 & 4 (Underdog Cartoon, S3, Eps. 31 & 32; 1967)

Belle (Anime Film; 2022)

The BFG, by Roald Dahl (Novel; 1982)

Bosko in Dutch (WB LT Cartoon; 1933)

The Boy Named If, by Elvis Costello (Album; 2022)

Bugs’ Bonnets (WB MM Cartoon; 1956)

Cape Fear, by John D. MacDonald (Novel; 1957)

The Captain and the Kids (MGM Cartoon; 1939)

Cookie’ with Gags (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1955)

Dog Gone Modern (WB MM Cartoon; 1939)

Elektra (Film; 2005)

Father Brown (UK TV Series; 2015)

5-4-3-2-1 or The Quick Launch Counter (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S5, Ep. 248; 1964)

Get Thee Behind Me Satan, recorded by Harriet Hilliard (Song; 1936)

Goof Gas Attack, Part 7 (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S5, Ep. 247; 1964)

A Helping Paw (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1941)

Home, Tweet Home (WB MM Cartoon; 1950)

The House (Animated Film; 2022)

Independent People, by Halldór Laxness (Novel; 1934)

In Good Company (Film; 2005)

Inside Llewyn Davis (Film; 2014)

Lonesome Traveler, by Jack Kerouac (Essays; 1960)

Low, by David Bowie (Album; 1977)

No Hunting (Disney Cartoon; 1955)

Other Voices, Other Rooms, by Truman Capote (Novel; 1948)

Paul Simon, by Paul Simon (Album; 1972)

Permanent Waves, by Rush (Album; 1980)

Pirates from Below (Animated Cartoon; Jonny Quest #18; 1965)

The Poseidon Adventure, by Paul Gallico (Novel; 1969)

Pueblo Pluto (Disney Cartoon; 1949)

Red Riding Hoodlum (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1957)

Sanford and Son (TV Series; 1972)

Saturday Evening Puss (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1950)

Scanners (Film; 1981)

The Today Show (TV Series; 1952)

Tosca, by Giacomo Puccini (Opera; 1900)

Waiting on a War, by the Foo Fighters (Song; 2021)

Today’s Name Days

Engelmar, Felix, Rainer (Austria)

Feliks, Malahija, Rajko, Srećko (Croatia)

Radovan (Czech Republic)

Felix (Denmark)

Feliks, Õnneleid (Estonia)

Sakari, Saku, Sasu (Finland)

Nina (France)

Engelmar, Felix, Rainer (Germany)

Nina (Greece)

Bódog (Hungary)

Dazio, Macrina (Italy)

Raitis, Roberta, Roberts (Latvia)

Auksė, Feliksas, Hilarijus, Laimis (Lithuania)

Herbjørg, Herbjørn (Norway)

Feliks, Hilary, Odo, Radogost (Poland)

Nina (Romania)

Radovan (Slovakia)

Félix (Spain)

Felicia, Felix (Sweden)

Adam, Nina (Ukraine)

Alair, Felice, Felicia, Felicity, Felix, Hilary, Hillary, Hillery (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 14 of 2024; 352 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of week 2 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Beth (Birch) [Day 20 of 28]

Chinese: Month 12 (Yi-Chou), Day 4 (Ding-Chou)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 4 Shevat 5784

Islamic: 3 Rajab 1445

J Cal: 14 White; Sevenday [13 of 30]

Julian: 1 January 2024

Moon: 15%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 14 Moses (1st Month) [Buddha]

Runic Half Month: Peorth (Womb, Dice Cup) [Day 5 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 25 of 89)

Zodiac: Capricorn (Day 24 of 31)

Calendar Changes

January (a.k.a. Ianuarius; Julian Calendar) [Month 1 of 12]

[nashibirne]

Against all odds - 2.11 + 2.12

For everyone who’s waiting for it ( @willkatfanfromasia maybe?), here are the next chapters. I decided to post two at a time, I hope you like them.

Thanks for your comments, reblogs and likes!

Pairing: Henry Cavill x ofc Summary: Date night! Warnings: not really…mentioning of sex, dick size, masturbation…

Beta by the wonderful @hell1129-blog  Thank’s again for your help!

Part 2.1, Part 2.2, Part 2.3, Part 2.4, Part 2.5, Part 2.6, Part 2.7, Part 2.9, Part 2.10

Against all odds - 2.11/2.12

Milton was absolutely right with his prediction of Henry’s upcoming week. It was hard and it was very lonely. Of course they stayed in touch by WhatsApp, but Anna’s days were packed with meetings and presentations so they didn’t chat as much as usual. So besides going to his rehearsals at the Royal Shakespeare Company -which went really well and were a welcome distraction- he didn’t do much but think about her, missing her awfully. He had stopped listening to her playlist after two days because he started feeling guilty for jerking off to these songs, taking her in the smuttiest ways in his imagination. It felt like objectifying her, like experiencing something in his fantasies he should only experience with her in real life. One on one. Together. So there was a lot of bottled-up energy and tension he tried to relieve by working out even more than usual. Running, weight training, riding, cardio on the elliptical or the rowing machine, playing hide and seek with Kal in the woods. He did everything possible to be completely knackered by the end of the day so he would fall asleep immediately before starting to torture his brain with thoughts of Anna and Milton Arnold alone in Brankhurst Castle.

And then on Thursday he got a text from her that turned frustration into anticipation.

“Hi Henry. You know I’ll be back tomorrow night and I was wondering if you might want to come over for dinner on Saturday.”

Woo-hoo…that sounded promising.

“Are you asking me out?”

The time it took her to answer seemed to expend to infinity.

“Yes, I’m trying to. So please don’t turn me down.”

Her insecurity was adorable.

“I never would. You know I can’t resist you.  So dinner sounds good. What’s on the menu?”

“Pasta all’ amatriciana maybe? I know you like it hot and saucy 🔥💦”

To his big relief the flirty tone of their last phone call had carried on in their WhatsApp chats since then which meant that she hadn’t changed her mind about opening up to him. And he was willing to make the most of it.

“You know how to make a man happy, Baby. And what’s for dessert? 😏”

“Tiramisu and if you’re a good boy you’ll maybe get an extra treat 🍬”

“I’ll be an angel! Can’t wait to see you again.”

“Well then… I’ll see you around, Cavill.”

And with these words the countdown started for both of them.

Henry literally counted down the hours till their date. He went to the barber’s to get a little trim. He shaved his beard so it would have the perfect two day’s growth on saturday night. Clothes were no problem. Jeans and a shirt would do. He even put a condom in his wallet - just in case. He really racked his brains over that topic. Would this date end with sex? The thought made him quite nervous. Usually he didn’t really think about it too much. He just did it and up to now -as far as he knew- he had never disappointed.

But still, he wondered if Anna would like his equipment and the way he used it. He knew about the rumours on the internet about his dick. Nine inch? Ten inch? He often wondered where this came from. Sure, he was above average, but ten inch? That was a fairy story. Did Anna know about these rumours? Maybe she would be disappointed when he couldn’t come up to her expectations. Or maybe the expectation of 10 inch scared her and she wouldn’t even want to do a reality check. However, he couldn’t do much but wait anyway. So he tried to stay calm and relaxed.

When the big day had finally come, Anna was a nervous wreck, spending half the day making herself look best possible by doing scrubs, face packs and intensive hair treatment. Removing every unwanted hair from her body, she shaved and waxed and plucked till she felt like a naked mole rat. She put on her makeup and got dressed, wearing her sexiest lace underwear, including suspenders and stockings. Due to her height she hated wearing tights that were always much too short for her long legs. A plain black fifties style dress completed her look and when she saw her reflection in the mirror she almost felt pretty.

************************************

An hour before the date Anna rushed around preparing the sauce and finishing the tiramisu, setting the table with her best porcelain on a fine table cloth, decorating everything with flowers and candles.

Henry arrived on the dot, standing on her doorstep with a bunch of flowers and a bottle of wine, being just the gentleman he was. He looked fantastic and once more Anna was knocked back by his absolute gorgeousness. The curly hair, the unbelievably blue eyes, the charming smile his sexy lips formed. Not to mention his hot, fit body, hidden underneath a pair of jeans and a white button down shirt.

“Hi.” she said, sounding shy. Somehow she managed to look him in the eyes.

“Hey Honey”. Henry seemed insecure too. Smiling sheepishly he gave her the flowers. “For you.” “Thanks. Why don’t you come in. Take a seat, while I’m putting these in a vase?”

“Sure. You look really wonderful tonight.” he said and it was a huge understatement. The truth was she looked so absolutely breathtaking, it left him almost speechless.

After a few quite awkward minutes both of them started to loosen up and from that point on the evening went very well. Better than Anna had imagined. The food tasted great and after a week apart they had a lot to talk about. Drinking wine, they were chatting and laughing and flirting and everything seemed perfect till that stupid moment when everything went down the tube.

“So you really enjoyed your time at Brankhurst, didn’t you?” Henry smiled, already feeling a little tipsy.

“Absolutely. The consultant gave me a lot to think about. Some really good ideas that we could translate into practice here at Braxton. And spending a little time with an old friend was wonderful too” Anna explained.

“That’s what he is to you? A friend?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Nothing more?”

“No. Nothing more.” Anna replied, shaking her head, raising one eyebrow slowly. She didn’t like the implication.

“Ok. It’s just… I mean according to Google his Lordship is quite attractive.”

“Don’t call him that. His name is Milton.” Anna snapped. “Did you really google him?”

“Sure. Had to do a background check on the guy you were about to spend so much time with.” Henry grinned but Anna’s expression remained still.

“Is that so?”

“Listen, it’s just… I thought you and him…that might be a thing.”

“Do you really think I would be sitting here with you on a date, if Milton and me was "a thing”?“ She asked doing an air quote.

"No, I don’t. Of course not. I just assumed you and him might have a history or something.” Henry tried to shrug it off now, realizing he was about to piss her off.

And he was right, Anna was really annoyed because his jealous undertone triggered something in her. Lestat’s jealousy had been one of the biggest problems in their relationship. She had never given him one good reason to justify any kind of distrust - in contrast to him who had cheated on her several times. But there had been no logic in his behaviour, his jealousy had been pathological.

“Yes, we do have a history. And the story goes like this. I know Milton all my life. He’s 3 years older than us, so when we were little Jonas and I most of the time were a pain in his ass but he still looked after us, played with us, like an older brother or cousin. When we were teenagers I had a massive crush on him and he hardly noticed I existed because he was to busy flirting with girls his age. Later at Oxford he finally did notice me. And if you must know. Yes, we had a fling back then. One night, a party, too much alcohol and a foolish game that ended up with sex. This happened only once 17 years ago. And today he is one of my closest friends. He’s like a brother to me and I’m a sister to him. And that’s it.”

There was no mistaking the anger in her voice now.

“Anna, I’m sorry. I know this is absolutely none of my business. I didn’t mean to irritate you.” Henry’s voice sounded soothing and he reached over the table to take her hand, but she got up from her chair abruptly, going to the fridge, fetching a bottle of water, suddenly feeling the urge to literally water down the alcohol in her blood. Not used to drinking, she was a little woozy and hated the thought of losing control.

“"No, no… It’s all right.” she said. “I am sorry. I’m overreacting. The idea of me and Milton is ridiculous anyway.” She added, sitting down again. The anger in her voice  gone now.

“Really? Why? He’s not you’re type?” Henry winked, the allusion to their conversation a few days ago obvious.

To his big relief Anna laughed.

“Well, Milton is not a man for only one woman. And I don’t like being one of many. It would never work out. As I said, I love him like my own brother, but to be honest, he’s a cheater, unable to be faithful to any woman. But then again, show me a man who is.”

“Excuse me?”

“What?”

“Are you trying to tell me you think every man cheats on his woman? You know I’m am man, too, right? Do you think I’m a cheater?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. Experience says yes. But you tell me. Are you? And what about your friends, your co-stars, your brothers. All loyal and faithful husbands and boyfriends? No affairs? No one-night-stands?”

Henry hesitated, because he knew that one of his friends had an affair and that some of his male colleagues tried to get in every woman’s pants no matter if they were in a relationship or not.

Anna took his silence as consent.

“See, I just knew it.”

“No, you know nothing. I can only speak for myself but I am faithful and loyal, okay? Our parents taught us to always play fair. In sports, in our jobs and in love. We were taught respect too, and cheating is the most disrespectful thing I can imagine. I would hate it if my woman did this to me and therefore I wouldn’t do it to my girlfriend or fiancee or wife. I have never ever cheated in any of my relationships. And that’s nothing but the truth.”

Now it was Henry who was pissed by her hidden accusation. This was something he heard often. He was a good looking man, famous, popular, with so many opportunities to meet attractive women for meaningless impersonal sex. How could he ever be faithful. People called him a player, assuming he was screwing around and this made him angry because it was unfair and untrue.

“Ok. If you say so.” She didn’t sound convinced.

“You don’t believe me?” Henry asked in bewilderment.

“All I’m saying is, I heard statements like this many times from Lestat. And in the end it always turned out it was nothing but lies.”

“All right.”

He got up from his chair so fast it almost fell over. “I better go now.”

“What? No. Why?”

“Anna, you’ve just called me a cheater and a liar and that’s a lot to process.”

“I haven’t” she said in protest.

“Yes you have. Between the lines maybe, but still. And I really have to think about this. Alone.”

“Henry, please.”

“No. You know what your problem is? You left Germany to escape Lestat and the shadows of your relationship. But he’s still here. In your heart, on your mind and in your thoughts. As long as you allow him to take so much space, he will always be around no matter where you are. Like a ghost clouding your vision so you can’t see that there are good men out there. Men that would never hurt you, men that would die to make you happy.”

And with that he left her cottage, slamming the door behind him.

********

So that’s it. Did you like it?

[paintedphoenix]

Noticed MC’s back was breaking from the weight of carrying the diagnostics team, so I decided to count exactly how much of the team’s solves so far are down to them. up to 3.2

Total cases: 12

Solves by MC alone: 6

MC with help (mostly Ethan but lowkey Baz once since he did Leland’s biopsy): 5

June: 1 although mc was literally a patient

Honestly this hurts to type since I literally worship June but wtaf is up with June and Baz they literally solved none of these cases

The sheer absurdity of a second/third year resident solving all (yes I’m saying all bc they only didn’t solve one since they were slightly busy with dying) of this world famous diagnostics team’s cases shocks me. Unless I guess MC is the reincarnation of Einstein and has an IQ of 200. The entire concept of this team is literally nonsensical anyway so idk what I was expecting really

ALSO please lmk if I have my facts wrong or missed anything! Specifically contributions from June and or Baz because I really want to be wrong there lmao

Specifics of each case:

Chapter 2.1-2.2

Patient: Eric

Diagnosis: kikuchi disease + cholecystis

Solve credit: MC

Extra: MC notices he complained about stomach pain specifically after eating

-

Chapter 2.3

Patient: Lamar

Diagnosis: tertiary syphilis

Solve credit: MC

Extra: Just had a lightbulb moment when he was hallucinating

-

Chapter 2.4

Patient: Evelyn

Diagnosis: a scotoma

Solve credit: MC and Ethan (I’m guessing  Ethan only if no diamond scene)

Extra: noticed it other art show when the landscapes she was painting had missing parts compared to the reference. Put them together chronologically and realised she had a growing blind spot

-

Chapter 2.5

Patient: Gwyneth

Diagnosis: tapeworm

Solve credit: MC and Ethan (mc only if no diamond scene)

Extra: they were going through her channel and saw she made steak tartare and came to the conclusion.

-

Chapter 2.6

Patient: Leland Bloom

Diagnosis: aggressive Berger’s disease

Solve credit: MC, Ethan, and lowkey Baz

Extra: they run tests and MC and Ethan decide to do a kidney ultrasound. They do it then say he needs to go to the hospital, Baz does a biopsy then they get the answer. Any of them would have figured this out, it’s just who was around.

-

Chapter 2.10

Patient: Ed Farrugia

Diagnosis: lead poisoning

Solve credit: MC (bonus points for figuring out that it was Travis later)

Extra: MC notices Ed’s memory issues and connects the timing to when he bought his house then puts it together I guess. Then after the paint from the house comes back with a negative test for lead they figure out that Travis poisoned Ed via google search.

-

Chapter 2.11

Patients: Danny, MC and Rafael

Diagnosis: exposure to maitotoxin

Solve credit: June

Extra: MC reports Rafael’s hot cold reversal symptom and it reminds her of a journal she read. She figures out what it is. I’m going to cut mc slack here for not  getting the diagnosis for once bc they were literally dying

-

Chapter 2.13

Patient: Farley

Diagnosis: Lyme disease

Solve credit: Doesn’t really say. Ethan talks about waiting to see if any bacteria shows up in his cultures. MC goes into Farleys room with test results so I guess the bacteria one was positive. I guess I’ll give credit to Ethan and MC. Again, this wasn’t a hard to solve one since it probably just came up on their basic tests and any of them could have got it.

-

Chapter 2.14

Patient: Paula

Diagnosis: altitude sickness caused by drug interaction between ibuprofen and lithium in bipolar medication, and rash caused by poison sumac

Solve credit: MC for altitude sickness and Ethan for poison sumac

Extra: MC and Ethan notice the lithium in Paulas blood and realised that her son was dosing her with bipolar medication. Ethan suggests that she is bipolar first. Also that portrayal of bipolar was offensive bordering on actionable anyways

Im giving MC extra points bc mc first suggested altitude sickness and everyone told them to stfu but they were right. So it was mostly MC imo

-

Chapter 2.16

Patient: Marisa

Diagnosis (cause of her sepsis): intestinal cryptosporidiosis

Solve credit: MC

Extra: mc must have solved this off camera because they literally don’t show it since ch16 is the Ethan’s mom show. Anyways Ethan says that mc’s hypothesis was correct so I’m just gonna them all the credit as per usual

Mc also gets extra points for getting the guy to give a lobe of his liver. I mean they did pressure him into it and it was a bit uncomfortable but whatever they saved the patient extra points for mc

-

Chapter 2.19-2.20

Patient: Caroline

Diagnosis: selective IgA deficiency and an IgA allergy

Solve credit: MC?

Extra: again mc apparently did some magic off camera since baz says ‘we’ve’ discovered her deficiency, and Ethan says ‘we’ suspect that the recent attacks were caused by an external bacteria, but later Ethan says ‘tests confirm your theory, MC. Let’s tell Caroline the good news.’ and they don’t all her anything new other than they identified a number of bacterial strains that they can prescribe treatment for. And Baz literally says that?? Idk what’s going on really

However it was mc that figured out her allergy to immunoglobulin A and that her exposure to it was coming from Leland so all props to them absolute unit

-

Chapter 3.1

Patient: Martha

Diagnosis: hypothyroidism

Solve credit: MC

Extra: MC figures it out because Sienna shows them deceiving cake videos lol and says ‘good decoration can mask almost anything…’. They have a book 1 esque brain baby moment and rush back to the hospital knowing wtf is up

-

Chapter 3.2

Patient: Andrew

Diagnosis: i forgot lol

Solve credit: MC. minus points for ethan and harper sorry

Extra: mc figured it out after talking to aurora and elijah about camping and woods and bugs. another brain baby

[fluffydragon22]

2.11 : Panda named Kimmy

Our plane finally landed right when the sun was almost on the horizon. The flight attendant announced her usual end-of-flight phrases to the passengers. Saying thank you and telling the passengers to keep sitting as the plane was taxing on the runway en route to the terminal. It was a beautiful way to end the day before the night came.

As the passengers tried to get their bag from the overhead compartment, all 3 of us decided to keep sitting because it was too crowded, even to just stand up. The rest of our friends sit on the front row so we guessed that they already got their stuff.

"Hey, just sit down, we are not in hurry." Sarah held me back as i tried to stand up.

"You ain't gonna go out any faster than us bro." Naoki added.

"Oh well, you guys are right." I said after looking around, then decided to sit down again.

"Good boy." Naoki said, Sarah laughed so hard but she tried to keep it as quiet as possible around the other passengers. I just stared at her while laughing a little. I'm not going to lie, those two words sounded funny when Naoki said it with her own joking tone.

After about 10 minutes, we finally got off the plane. As usual, i walked behind them while they both talked about things that i thought should only belong to the girl's conversation. After lots of steps and going down the escalator, we finally arrived at the baggage area. Lucas stood behind the crowd while calling somebody, perhaps his girlfriend. With some eye gesture, he pointed at my suitcase that stood beside his. I thanked him by giving some nod.

Within 5 minutes, we all had gotten our suitcases and proceeded to the exit door. There was some sense of different feeling the moment i stepped out of the building.

"Finally, some fresh air." I whispered to myself.

My mom arrived just in time. Before we departed, we made an arrangement based on the direction of our houses. There were eight of us and three of them would be picked up by their respective parents. Those three were Rachel, Lucas, and Me.

As Sarah and Naoki's home were within the same direction with mine, they suggested that they would go with my mom. Of course she gave a big yes for it. After all, my mom and Sarah's mom were close friends, and Naoki had helped me a lot before i entered university.

David decided to go back home with Rachel and her dad as their houses were basically 300 meters apart. Lucas was picked up by his sister, with Philippe and Natasha went along with them. So then, we said goodbye to the rest of our friends.

i decided to sit at the back. I asked the girls to sit in the front and they literally needed to flip a coin to decide who would sit beside my mom. In the end, Naoki won and she sit in the front passenger seat, with Sarah sitting beside me. The road was a bit empty because we came home on Tuesday, the least busy day of the week in my hometown.

Along the road, Naoki, Sarah, and my mom talked about many things. I practically didn't listen to much of their conversations because i was so tired. I just decided to text Lily that i was on my way home.

"I'm on my way home, mom picked me up. Can't wait to see you in a few days." I sent the message followed by some love emoticons.

"Let me know when you're arrived, i hope we can meet tomorrow because it's been too long." She replied.

"Sure thing. Be patient, okay Lily. I love you." I replied.

"Ummm okay then, i will wait. I love you too." She replied, then i decided to put my earphone and played some music.

But then, Sarah suddenly pulled the earphone from my left ear.

"Hey why you do that?" I asked her while trying to find the tip of the left side.

"Mom, do you know that Adrian now has a girlfriend?" She gave a bit of that "watch this" look to me before saying it.

"Oh is it true? Mind to tell me more about this girl?" My mom asked everyone in the car.

I shaked my head while looking towards Naoki and Lily, telling them to shut up about it.

"So..." Sarah started the explanation.

I pretty much gave up and decided to sleep. But i could hear Sarah and Naoki explained everything to my mom. But soon, i couldn't hear a thing as i fell asleep.

I fell asleep for about 30 minutes, then when i woke up, i saw Sarah sleeping with her head on my thigh. A usual thing she did almost everytime we were on the same car. I didn't have any problem with it, after all, we were already like brother and sister since a long time ago. Naoki and my mom still talked about Lily.

The journey took about 3 hours and Naoki was the first one to got down the car. Then Sarah got down, she slept soundly until i woke her up saying that we have arrived at her house. I went down to say hi to her mom (which also i called mom). Sarah then gave my mom a hug while saying thanks, then hugged me as well (again, usual thing everytime we said goodbye).

We arrived at home about 10 minutes later. After about an hour of taking a bath, having dinner, talking with my mom and my dad, and reading bed time story for my youngest sister, i got into my bedroom to sleep. Before i closed my eyes, i saw a figure in the darkness of my room.

"Welcome home." The observer said

"Thanks, talk to you tomorrow, okay, i'm so tired." I answered.

"Don't worry, i just miss this place." He said, but i didn't have enough energy to give any reply.

Meanwhile, the observer didn't show up until the day when i supposed to go out with Lily

--

A few days later, i went for a date with Lily. It wasn't easy to get the permission to go out from my mom. Especially this was the first time she knew that i was in a relationship. But i managed to get it this time. So i went out, with Lily. I also brought a surprise gift for her. Kind of like a late birthday present because we were on different places when she turned 18.

The gift was a stuffed animal, more precisely, it was a Panda. Not a big one but not too small either. I managed to make the box for the gift and also a hand-written letter for her. That was the first time i ever wrote a letter for someone. The panda itself i got when i was still outside of town, so i brought it inside my suitcase so nobody would notice.

I left my home at 9.25am, then went straight to pick her from her house. The observer decided to show up, and as usual accompanied me along the way.

"So you are going for a date?" He asked me.

"Well, sort of." I answered as i overtook a lady with a brand new Honda HRV.

"Don't be nervous, you got this!" He added.

"Thanks, i appreciate it." I answered. But no answer came.

I arrived at her house at 9.46am. While waiting for her, i introduced myself to her mom and talked for a bit. Then we left her house at 10am with my old Corolla. I was kind of nervous, but Lily was quick to notice it and opened up a conversation.

"How did you feel?" She asked me.

"Well I feel different." I answered awkwardly.

"why?" She asked while tilting her head.

"Ummm maybe because I have never done this before." I said, trying to find the right words

"Don't worry, you'll get used to this. Trust me." She answered. A smile appeared on her face.

We went to a nearby park to have a long walk. She once said that she wanted to talk, hold my hands, all while walking around the park on a sunny day. Meanwhile that day, the sky was a bit cloudy so it was actually a good one because we could spend more time outside without being afraid of the heat.

Lily talked about many things. Her college life, her friends, what she ate yesterday, and many other things. I was being a good listener while offering my thoughts once in a while. The perfect combination, don't you think?

Then we spent our time at my favourite local restaurant to have our lunch. I ordered a grilled chicken with chocolate milkshake. Lily ordered a fried chicken with ice tea. We continued to talk a lot while enjoying our meals.

After that, Lily asked me to take the longer route to her home. So i did. The usual route would take about 30-35 minutes. The longer one would take about an hour or even an hour and half depending on the traffic.

Along the road, we talked about what we will do tonight, tomorrow, and other stuff about when we will meet again. No, actually it was me who started to ask when we will meet again.

"So, when we will meet again?" I asked her. We were a few blocks away from her house.

"Soon? Ya? But i can't decide it yet." She answered.

"Yes, soon. Okay? I already miss you, to be honest." I told her.

"But i'm still here." She asked with some curious look on her face.

"But we will be apart again in a few minutes." I answered.

"Wanna stay in my house?" She asked with a wink.

"If only i could, but i can, someday, right?" I answered.

"You have to, okay?" She demanded another answer.

"Of course, my queen." I answered. Then we both laughed.

Before she went down, i gave her the gift that i've prepared before. She looked so curious and said that she would open it that night and i had to watch it. So then, i went home and the night came. Lily called me around 9pm, then quickly changed into video call.

She showed me the unopened box. Then she tried to open the wrap. We talked a lot while she tried to open it. Then when she found out what's inside it. She quickly pulled it out and gave it a hug. I was so happy when she did it. Then she read the letter (not with loud voice, of course).

"Thank you so much Adrian. I really love these." She said. She sounded genuinely happy.

"Special gift for a special person. But i'm sorry i was too late." I apologized to her.

"No no that's totally fine. These, these were more than enough." She said.

"That Panda would serve as me whenever we get separated again. So he would protect you, just like me." I said to her.

"Then it needs a name, right?" She asked me while holding the panda.

"Of course. You are the one who'll give it." I told her.

"Kimmy sounds good, right? Yes it is. That's his name." She answered.

"Yes i agree. So from now, Kimmy will be your protector. Later, i will replace him. Sounds good?" I asked her.

"it does, i really like it Adrian!" She answered. A genuine, happy smile appeared on her face.

"I'm glad you like it. Take care of her, Kimmy." I said to her, and to Kimmy, indirectly.

[cookiedoughmeagain]

For the Dwight + Duke fans ;)