#Best Communication Studies Graduate Programs

[eluniversity]

Best Communication Studies Graduate Programs 

Advance your career and deepen your expertise with the Best Communication Studies Graduate Programs at EL University. Whether you're pursuing a path in academia, corporate leadership, media, or strategic communication, our graduate programs are designed to empower future thought leaders and professionals in the dynamic world of communication.

http://www.eluniversity.co.za/program-management-strategy/

[reasonsforhope]

"Growing up, Mackenzee Thompson always wanted a deeper connection with her tribe and culture.

The 26-year-old member of the Choctaw Nation said she grew up outside of her tribe’s reservation and wasn’t sure what her place within the Indigenous community would be.

Through a first-of-its-kind program, Thompson said she’s now figured out how she can best serve her people — as a doctor.

Thompson is graduating as part of the inaugural class from Oklahoma State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation. It’s the first physician training program on a Native American reservation and in affiliation with a tribal government, according to school and tribal officials.

“I couldn’t even have dreamed this up,” she said. “To be able to serve my people and learn more about my culture is so exciting. I have learned so much already.”

Thompson is one of nine Native graduates, who make up more than 20 percent of the class of 46 students, said Dr. Natasha Bray, the school’s dean. There are an additional 15 Native students graduating from the school’s Tulsa campus.

The OSU-COM graduates include students from 14 different tribes, including Cherokee, Choctaw, Muscogee, Seminole, Chickasaw, Alaska Native, Caddo, and Osage.

Bray said OSU partnered with the Cherokee Nation to open the school in 2020 to help erase the shortage of Indigenous doctors nationwide. There are about 841,000 active physicians practicing in the United States. Of those, nearly 2,500 — or 0.3 percent — are Native American, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

When American Indian and Alaska Native people visit Indian Health Service clinics, there aren’t enough doctors or nurses to provide “quality and timely health care,” according to a 2018 report from the Government Accountability Office. On average, a quarter of IHS provider positions — from physicians to nurses and other care positions –are vacant.

“These students here are going to make a generational impact,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. told the students days before graduation. “There is such a need in this state and in this region for physicians and this school was created out of a concern about the pipeline of doctors into our health system.”

The Cherokee Nation spent $40 million to build the college in its capital of Tahlequah. The walls of the campus feature artifacts of Cherokee culture as well as paintings to remember important figures from Cherokee history. An oath of commitment on the wall is written in both English and Cherokee.

The physician training program was launched in the first year of the pandemic.

Bray said OSU and Cherokee leadership felt it was important to have the school in the heart of the Cherokee Nation, home to more than 141,000 people, because students would be able to get experience treating Indigenous patients. In Tahlequah, students live and study in a small town about an hour east of Tulsa with a population of less than 24,000 people.

“While many students learn about the problems facing these rural communities,” Bray said. “Our students are getting to see them firsthand and learn from those experiences.”

While students from the college are free to choose where to complete their residency after graduation, an emphasis is placed on serving rural and Indigenous areas of the country.

There’s also a severe lack of physicians in rural America, a shortage that existed before the COVID-19 pandemic. The Association of American Medical Colleges has projected that rural counties could see a shortage between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians by 2034. An additional 180,000 doctors would be needed in rural counties and other underserved populations to make up the difference.

Bray said OSU saw an opportunity to not only help correct the underrepresentation of Native physicians but also fill a workforce need to help serve and improve health care outcomes in rural populations.

“We knew we’d need to identify students who had a desire to serve these communities and also stay in these communities,” she said.

Osteopathic doctors, or DOs, have the same qualifications and training as allopathic doctors, or MDs, but the two types of doctors attend different schools. While MDs learn from traditional programs, DOs take on additional training at osteopathic schools that focus on holistic medicine, like how to reduce patient discomfort by physically manipulating muscles and bones. DOs are more likely to work in primary care and rural areas to help combat the health care shortages in those areas.

As part of the curriculum, the school invited Native elders and healers to help teach students about Indigenous science and practices...

Thompson said she was able to bring those experiences into her appointments. Instead of asking only standard doctor questions, she’s been getting curious and asking about her patient’s diets, and if they are taking any natural remedies.

“It’s our mission to be as culturally competent as we can,” she said. “Learning this is making me not only a better doctor but helping patients trust me more.”

-via PBS NewsHour, May 23, 2024

[uzumaki-rebellion]

Y'all have to admit they mammified Annie, made Pearline look like a jezebel, and then literally had Mary looking like some holy woman who was just in love and made some misguided decisions. They had Annie with barely any makeup and her hair all over her head, and they had Pearline slinking all over the stage after freshly cheating on her husband (which they constantly referenced). With Mary, they made it seem like she had no choice in her marriage and wanted "freedom" and Stack. At the end they got what they wanted and while we're supposed to see Annie and Smoke as the winners or whatever the message that the freedom and happiness is in the afterlife is nothing new, especially in the black community.

I think people are projecting the mammy image onto Annie because of their own personal anti-Black programming (which every Black person globally is raised with under white supremacy), and mainly because they don't know what the mammy image/trope truly is. Lemme help you.

The mammy trope/mammification of Black women is a desexualized image that is set in a purely domesticated role. They tend to be darker-skinned, full-figured, stripped of agency, and are often at the service of whiteness. They are never viewed as the love interest or having an erotic bone in their body. The ONLY thing Annie has in common with that definition (care of Merriem-Webster and my own university education as a Social Science/Black & Native Studies graduate) is dark skin, and a full-figure. Dassit. Ain't no mammy nowhere in her. Is she nurturing? Yes? A pillar of her community and protecting it with Hoodoo (which I practice myself)? Yes. Does she care for her man and look out for other people? Yes. But all that comes from a love of her people in the service of Black people, not whiteness. Did you not see them back shots and Smoke clapping his wife's cheeks? Mammies don't do that because that is not their function in stories. Also, Annie wore her hair in the actual style women with that texture of hair did in 1932. It wasn't all over her head (I'm smelling self-hate vibes and anti-natural hair energy). And why for the love of god would she have make-up on doing her Hoodoo work in all that heat? She was gorgeous without make up. I don't think the plantation stores sold Maybelline cosmetics that Annie would need for her customers. Maybelline didn't accept wooden nickels or plantation script for money either, so...whatever. Lol.

People can call Pearline a Jezebel all they want, but that doesn't change the fact that Sammie loved her his entire life, named his club after her, and remembers her fondly for being part of the best day of his entire life. Plus, Christianity thinks any woman with agency is a jezebel spirit, so that holds no weight for me personally cuz I don't give a fuck what a woman does with her pussy, married or not. Most men are trash anyway, so a beauty like that stepping out to a juke, oh, her husband had to be a 1932 joy-killer. Also, do we even truly know Pearline was married? Many women traveling the chitlin circuit in those days as an entertainer often pretended to be married (even wore fake rings) to protect themselves in seedy environments around men and the judgmental Christians. Whether she was married or not doesn't matter because Sammie was smitten, and that's the love of his life in the movie. Period. She didn't rub up on nobody else but him, and stayed by his side until the very end.

Mary was hoeing, jezabelling, tragic-octorooning and what not. She was not a holy woman because she acted selfish, entitled, and just as colorist/anti-Black woman as Stack (her not saying anything against Stack calling darker Black women "field bitches" is a choice. She knew her place on the colored hierarchy). That's why a lot of Black folks are cracking jokes about her saying she would beat up every "bitch" in that place, knowing she would get curb stomped had she said that to another Black woman's face in that juke. Personally, I don't see Mary as a winner because she and Stack will forever have to stay in the shadows and are cut off from the ancestors. They are the lesson of all that glitters ain't gold & stop inviting everybody to the cookout. Their life is so unappealing that Sammie didn't even want to become like them because life hadn't really changed that much from 1932 (especially with the L.A. Rebellion happening in 1992 all because of white racism/white supremacy). So while you may think Annie and Smoke didn't have the happy ending we would've preferred (being alive together), it is a horror movie and folks die, so being with the ancestors and ALL your family for eternity is a win in my eyes, compared to being stuck with no connection to anyone except another bloodsucker who didn't give you a choice to become disconnected from your people.

But that's the beauty of art, we can all have our own takes and interpretations. However, Annie wasn't a mammy. That's a personal issue for people who believe that. People gotta unpack the self-hate projection onto a Black woman character that didn't present that way to many of us who appreciate what she represented culturally as a Hoodoo practioner in 1932 America. That was a warrior/healer/lover.

[nathaslosthershit]

Long Distance (LN4)

Summary: Long distance relationships are hard, especially when they both have very time consuming careers

Warnings; Angst (a whole lot), no happy ending in this part (will happen in pt 2)

Request: hi!! requesting a lando norris x female uni!reader if possible reader being a medical student or a one of the engineers on the paddock 🧍🏻‍♀️

Lando wasn’t known for being the smartest on the grid. He, like many other drivers, had only a few years of school to his name. But that still hadn’t stopped him from being able to somehow ‘woo’ a woman quite the opposite. 

His girlfriend was currently in her last year of medical school. While he was unbelievably proud of how far she had come, the difficulties of long distance have gotten to both of them, and there wasn’t much hope once she graduated and was off to a medical training program. With her studying for finals and Lando being off to a new country every two weeks for Grand Prixs, their relationship has been rocky to say the least.

Constant lack of communication and missing each other's calls had led them to have tons of unspoken dialogue. Each unanswered call created the smallest bit of resentment that just continued to grow and grow. 

No more sweet ‘goodmorning’ or ‘goodnight’ texts, no more wishing her well before a big test, no more sending ‘good luck baby!’ before qualifying. Just a few ‘how are you doing?’ and other bland messages you’d send to a coworker, not your significant other. 

After weeks of little communication, they had finally scheduled a ‘zoom date’. Not particularly the most romantic date they had been on, but it's the best they could do with their schedules. Lando called in late at night for him while his girlfriend had a lunch break in between labs. Time zones be damned.

Lando was 25 minutes late leaving only 35 minutes to actually talk to one another.

Her wifi was spotty so it kept freezing.

Finally, with only 5 minutes left, Lando decided to make a joke that there is no reason for her to continue going to labs, as he would be happy to be her ‘sugar daddy’. This was not very well received by his girlfriend, who responded with a quick “fuck you” and hung up early.

Lando was joking, a bit. He loved his girlfriend and saw a future with her, he just couldn’t stand long distance and any job in the medical field was bound to take up most of your time. He wanted her, but he also wanted someone who could be by his side on race day. That just wasn’t something that was possibly currently. 

He supported her. He loved to brag about how smart she was and how she was so dedicated to helping people. But that came with setbacks.

After a quick message from Lando (‘I was kidding darling. You know how proud I am of you. Lighten up a little, yeah?’), which she ignored, she was off to her labs in a worse mood than before. Things couldn’t go on like this. 

He hadn’t heard from her in three days. His “how are you, love?” and “Miss you lots. Hope your class is going better than my neck training :(“ went unanswered. She knew she was being petty, but maybe a relationship was just too hard for her life currently. 

After three long and stressful days of silence, she called him. With no message asking what she needed to speak about, Lando feared he already knew.

“We can’t keep doing this” She said after they quickly exchanged a ‘hi, how are you?’ ‘I'm good, how are you?’. 

“Baby, I told you it was just a-”

“I know that Lando! It's just that this isn’t the first time you have mentioned me quitting my career to be your housewife or whatever unrealistic idea you have stuck in your head.”

“I don’t need you to be a housewife! I don’t want that for you. I just try to let you know that you don’t need to worry about your future as much because I will always be there to help you.”

“But I want a career! I want to work hard so I can have a good future. You need to get it into your head that your career isn’t the only important one.”

“I don’t think that! Me wanting to let you know that I support you no matter what isn't diminishing your career plans! It would be nice if you started to show a little more support. I am so sick and tired of all our conversations revolving around you and how your day was. If classes are rough, or you are stressed, you don’t respond to me. I never know where I land with you. But god forbid I try to mention how hard my day was. I am just as sick of it.”

She didn’t know how to respond. It seems that all the times she has been more focused on how she was feeling she completely forgot to check on how he was doing. Before she can even muster out an apology, Lando jumps back in.

“Maybe you are right. I don’t think I can do this either. Not anymore.” He feels his stomach dropping as he says the words, not fully meaning them.

There is a long silence, moments where she wants to apologize, to try and reconcile. In that moment all of the good memories of their relationship come flashing back to her, as if her mind is begging her to do something. But she doesn’t. 

“Then I guess this is it.” She finally says. 

“I guess so.”

Part 2 out now!

[arcane-vagabond]

Stranger Like Me: Prologue

Stranger Like Me: Prologue

Pairing: Dr. Jack Abbot x Reader

Summary: From a young age, the animal kingdom had fascinated you, and maybe that's why you chose to pursue that passion. You quickly became a force within the field, becoming the leading expert on ape social structures, which is how you found yourself on an expedition into the African jungles searching for a troop of gorillas. What you weren't expecting, however, was to run into the local wild man on one of your excursions... (Tarzan!AU)

Content Warnings: Talk of loneliness, Inaccurate scientific descriptions and terminology, Flirty Frank, Allusions to loss of parents, Talk of reintegrating someone into society. I think that's it, but please let me know if I missed something!

Word Count: 1,389

Series Masterlist || Main Masterlist

You had a running theory that there were two types of people in this world: plant people and animal people. You? You were most definitely an animal person. Growing up, you visited the zoo frequently, the employees practically knowing you by name. You did your best to memorize as many facts as you could about the different animals in each exhibit, knowing from an early age that you wanted to work with animals for the rest of your life.

You’d spend hours at the primate exhibits, watching the way the different apes and monkeys interact with each other, and you wished you could fast forward to the moment where you got to study it day in and day out.

So, you worked hard, graduating high school with honors before moving on to study zoology in undergrad, and then skipping straight to your doctorate program after that. It had been a long, grueling road that left little time for much else, but it was your passion, and once you had been greeted with the title of “doctor,” you knew it had all been worth it.

That didn’t stop your bouts of loneliness though. While your friends all went out to party, you were usually found with your nose buried in a book. And it wasn’t like you wanted to go out partying, but it still hurt when your friends stopped asking.

And then there was Frank Langdon, your handsome best friend of several years who knew he looked good and never failed to own it. The two of you had met in the early days of undergrad, having been partnered up in a biology lab, and you had hit it off immediately. Jake wasn’t interested in primates, his focus turned towards botany of all things, but he loved to tease you about your love of great apes.

“A cute girl like you studying monkeys?” He had chuckled with a shake of his head, bright, blue eyes glimmering with mischief. “You must have had a wild fascination with Boots the monkey, huh?”

“First of all, peabrain,” you scowled at him, fighting back the smile that threatened to take over your face as his jaw dropped, “I study apes, not monkeys. Second of all, my fascination with Boots is none of your business.”

“Whatever you say, Boots.”

And the nickname had stuck. It followed you through undergrad and all the way through to your now budding career as one of the leading researchers in gorilla social structures. Which is also how you found yourself invited to the North Island Research Camp in the Republic of the Congo.

The camp wasn’t some grand research center, but it was well respected amongst the scientific community for gathering the most up-to-date research and hands-on experiences between researchers and local fauna. The camp was run by Dr. Michael Robinavitch and Dana Evans, both legends within the field and rarely opening up their camp to other researchers. You had been thrilled to receive the invitation, and even more thrilled when you found out that Frank had also received an invitation to the camp to continue his research on tropical plants.

The two of you had made plans to fly out of New York at the same time, even choosing to stay at his place the night before your flight.

“The early bird gets the worm, Boots!” He chirped, loading up the trunk of the Uber with your luggage. How he was so cheerful at three in the morning was beyond you.

“I don’t even think the worms are awake,” you had muttered, earning a snicker.

The flight to your destination was uneventful, choosing to catch up on some of your reading as well as sleep for the majority of the flight. The two of you were greeted by a timid, young man once you departed the plane, his demeanor relaxed but his face shy as he helped you with your bags.

“I’m Dennis,” he said, loading the back of his jeep with your belongings. “You can just call me Whitaker, though. Everyone else does. I’m helping out Robby and Dana with their research. The other researchers are already at the camp. They got here about a month ago.”

“Robby?” You asked him, hopping into the front seat of the car as Frank clambered into the back.

“Yeah,” Whitaker nodded, already making his way through the city and towards the jungle. “Dr. Robinavitch prefers it if you call him that, actually. Says it saves time, though I don’t know if you can really waste time out here.”

“Who’re the other researchers?” Frank asked, eyes scanning the crowds of people as the jeep zoomed towards the edge of the city.

“Yeah, uh,” Whitaker stuttered, narrowly veering out of the way of a cart. “There’s, uh, Victoria Javadi. Her research focuses on ants and their effect on nutrient cycling and seed dispersal. Then you have Trinity Santos who’s doing research on the impact of big game hunters on the ecosystem. Then we have Melissa King and her research into termite colonies.”

“Mel’s gonna be there?” Frank asked, leaning forward with a grin. You rolled your eyes at him. Mel and Frank almost went as far back as you two did, having first met in a chemistry course his junior year and her freshman of college. While you and Frank had gone to the same university for your doctorate programs, Mel had ventured elsewhere, making a name for herself within the world of entomology. The two together were almost insufferable.

“You two better behave,” you groused, settling into your seat with a glare in his direction.

“Boots,” he gasped, placing a hand over his heart in faux hurt, “I am absolutely shocked that you think we would be anything other than complete professionals.”

“Don’t give me that crap,” you snapped, turning to face Whitaker who glanced at you two wearily. “Those two are going to be a nightmare, I’m just warning you now.”

“I’m almost afraid to ask,” he chuckled.

The three of you settled into a comfortable conversation as Whitaker continued to drive towards the camp, the jungle becoming denser the longer he went. Soon, the sun was hidden behind the canopy, and you got the sense that you were truly in the wild.

“Are you sure about this, Dana,” Robby hummed, hands clasped firmly in front of him as he eyed his fellow researcher. Dana spared him a smile, running a hand through her hair as she sat on the bench opposite her companion.

“He’s been on his own for decades, Robby,” Dana grimaced, glancing into the trees. “He deserves to know companionship beyond just us.”

“He has Whitaker.”

“He deserves more than just three other people in his life,” she amended, rolling her eyes. “We’re lucky we found him when we did, otherwise I’m not sure he would have survived much longer on his own. Besides, he’s growing more and more curious, and I think it’ll be good for him to meet new people. Let him learn about the world.”

Robby hummed at that. Of course, Dana had a point. They couldn’t keep the man isolated for forever. He was already butting heads more and more with the troop leader and spending more nights in the observation tower as a result. It also wasn’t like Robby wanted to keep him isolated for selfish reasons. No, quite the opposite in fact. The man had spent most of his life right there in the jungle, never having contact with another human being until the two researchers had opened up the research camp once more twenty five years before.

And that’s what had Robby so apprehensive. The man had little to no experience with humans, and what he did have was from the time spent with the two researchers who weren’t exactly the greatest of company at the best of times. How would he react to a camp full of people younger than him? Would it be too much?

“Jack is smart, Robby,” Dana continued, knocking her knuckles against the table. “He’s already been asking questions about the people in the movies and photos he sees. He wants to know about the outside world. Let’s let him have that chance.”

Robby didn’t answer. Instead, he sighed, leaning back in his chair. This would be good for Jack. It had to be.

A/N: posted this today as a treat for @baezen my beloved lol Let’s see if it’s as popular this time as it was with the TGM fandom…

As always, reblogs and comments are greatly appreciated. I no longer do taglists, so if you would like to be notified on when I post, please follow my sideblog ( @arcanevagabond-library ) and turn on post notifications! You can find me and my works on AO3 under the username arcane_vagabond. Until next time!

[dragqueenstarscream]

If the Transformers characters belonged to a series about school, what kind of students or teachers would they be?

i'm actually working on a tfp college au right now, so i'll share some of my ideas here:

optimus - out of town country boy who moved to iacon for his master's degree in engineering and works in the library to help pay his tuition

ratchet - med school student gunning to be a neurosurgeon once he graduates; one of optimus' friends from back home

arcee - bumblebee's best friend and a business major who also kicks ass on the track and field team (she's also in the gaming club but she won't tell anyone that)

cliffjumper - arcee's boyfriend and majoring in history; currently in rotc

bumblebee - sophomore getting his bachelor's in environmental science, sees optimus like a big brother; head of the robotics club

bulkhead - junior in architecture while also a wide receiver on the football team

smokescreen - freshman getting his degree in engineering, also on the basketball team; has tutoring sessions with optimus

wheeljack - bulkhead's long term boyfriend at a different college studying computer programming

megatron - political science major and captain of the debate team; no war in this au so he isn't evil, but his intensity can freak people out

starscream - out of town rich kid majoring in biochemistry with hopes to join the medical field (also has a FAT crush on optimus but that's just me)

soundwave - quiet kid and megatron's close friend majoring in communication; has dirt on literally everyone at that college

shockwave - psychology major and member of the robotics club; tends to scare the shit out of everyone but soundwave

knock out - starscream's insufferable roommate and also on the medicine track; annoys the hell out of ratchet

breakdown - knock out's bf and majoring in english (i always hc that he's not as dumb as he seems); on the football team and has a friendly rivalry with bulkhead

airachnid - majoring in physical therapy and on the track team; chronic mean girl who has a not so friendly rivalry with arcee

[ausetkmt]

Pharmacist Lunsford Richardson made Vicks a household name throughout the nation, but his popular product did not do the same for him.

Even in his native North Carolina, where his most celebrated of chemical concoctions has been right under our stuffy noses and on our congested chests for generations, the mention of Richardson’s name elicits blank stares from all but those who study and cherish history.

Richardson’s salve, Vicks VapoRub, helped the world breathe easier during the devastating influenza pandemic of 1918 and during the countless colds and flus of our childhoods, yet most of us couldn’t pick Lunsford Richardson out of a one-man police lineup, much less a who’s who of medical pioneers.

Why didn’t Richardson — by all accounts a creative inventor and smart businessman — ever become as famous as those vapors packed into the familiar squat blue jar?

Because his name wouldn’t fit on the jar.

That’s one version of the story. According to company and family lore, Richardson initially dubbed his promising new product Richardson’s Croup and Pneumonia Cure Salve. Realizing that this name didn’t exactly roll off the tongue nor fit when printed on a small medicine jar, Richardson changed the name to honor his brother-in-law, Dr. Joshua Vick. Another account suggests the inventive druggist plucked the name from a seed catalog he’d been perusing that listed the Vick Seed Co.

The truth may never be known. What is known, though, is that Lunsford Richardson created a medicinal marvel for the ages, the likes of which may never be equaled.

Croupy beginnings

A Johnston County native born in 1854, Richardson loved chemistry and hoped to study it at Davidson College. The college’s chemistry program at the time wasn’t as strong as he’d hoped it would be, so he studied Latin instead, graduating with honors in three years. He returned to Johnston County and taught school, but it wasn’t long before the young man’s love of chemistry got the best of him. In 1880, he moved to Selma to work with his physician brother-in-law, Dr. Vick. It was not uncommon in those days for doctors to dispense drugs themselves, but Vick was so busy seeing patients that he teamed up with Richardson, allowing him to handle the pharmacy duties for him. Richardson relied on his knowledge of Latin to help him learn the chemical compounds required to become a pharmacist, and that’s when he began to experiment with recipes for the product that would become Vicks VapoRub.

It wasn’t until Richardson moved to his wife’s hometown of Greensboro in 1890 that his magical salve and other products he created began to take off.

“He was a man of great intellect and talent,” says Linda Evans, community historian for the Greensboro Historical Museum, which has an exhibit devoted to Richardson and Vicks.

“Druggists at the time fashioned their own remedies a lot, and he created a number of remedies, in addition to his magic salve, that he sold under the name of Vick’s Family Remedies. He was obviously a man of such creativity.”

In Greensboro, working out of a downtown drugstore he purchased (where he once employed a teenaged William Sydney Porter, the future short story writer O. Henry), Richardson patented some 21 medicines. The wide variety of pills, liquids, ointments, and assorted other medicinal concoctions included the likes of Vick’s Chill Tonic, Vick’s Turtle Oil Liniment, Vick’s Little Liver Pills and Little Laxative Pills, Vick’s Tar Heel Sarsaparilla, Vick’s Yellow Pine Tar Cough Syrup, and Vick’s Grippe Knockers (aimed at knocking out la grippe, an old-timey phrase for the flu).

These products sold with varying degrees of success, but the best seller in the lineup of Richardson’s remedies was Vick’s Magic Croup Salve, which he introduced in 1894. And by all accounts, necessity was the key to its success.

“He had what they referred to as a croupy baby — a baby with a lot of coughing and congestion,” explains Richardson’s great-grandson, Britt Preyer of Greensboro. “So as a pharmacist, he began experimenting with menthols from Japan and some other ingredients, and he came up with this salve that really worked. That’s how it all started.”

Another version of the story suggests that all three of the Richardson children caught bad colds at the same time, and Richardson, dissatisfied with the traditional treatment of the day, which included poultices and a vapor lamp, spent hours at his pharmacy developing his own treatment.

Richardson’s salve — a strong-smelling ointment combining menthol, camphor, oil of eucalyptus, and several other oils, blended in a base of petroleum jelly — was a chest-soothing, cough-suppressing, head-clearing sensation. When the salve was rubbed on the patient’s chest, his or her body heat vaporized the menthol, releasing a wave of soothing, medicated vapors that the patient breathed directly into the lungs.

Vicks in the mailbox

In 1911, Richardson’s son Smith, by now a successful salesman for his father’s company, recommended discontinuing all of the company’s products except for Vick’s Magic Croup Salve. He believed the salve could sell even better if the company stopped investing time and money in the other, less successful remedies. He also suggested renaming the salve Vicks VapoRub, according to the company’s history timeline, to “help dramatize the product’s performance.” Richardson agreed, and a century later, the name’s still the same.

Meanwhile, Richardson intensified his marketing efforts by providing free goods to druggists who placed large orders and publishing coupons for free samples in newspapers. He also advertised on billboards and sent promotional mailings to post office boxes, addressed to Boxholder rather than the individual’s name, thus earning him the distinction of being the father of junk mail.

In 1925, Vicks even published a children’s book to help promote the product. The book told the story of two elves, Blix and Blee, who rescued a frazzled mother whose sick child refused to take nasty-tasting medicines. Their solution, of course, was the salve known as Vicks VapoRub.

Expanding and experimenting

As successful as the marketing campaign was, nothing sold Vicks VapoRub like the deadly Spanish flu outbreak that ravaged the nation in 1918 and 1919, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans. Loyal Vicks customers and new customers stocked up on the medicine to stave off or fight the disease.

According to the company’s history timeline, VapoRub sales skyrocketed from $900,000 to $2.9 million in a single year because of the pandemic. The Vicks plant in Greensboro operated around the clock, and salesmen were pulled off the road to help at the manufacturing facility in an effort to keep up with demand.

As the flu spread across the nation, Richardson grew ill with pneumonia in 1919 and died. Smith took over the company. Vicks continued to grow, buying other companies until Procter & Gamble bought it in the 1980s. Through the years, Vicks continued adding new products to its arsenal of cold remedies: cough drops, nose drops, inhalers, cough syrup, nasal spray, Formula 44, NyQuil. And whatever success those products attained, they got there standing on the broad shoulders of Richardson.

Richardson will never be a household name, but his salve has held that status for more than a century — and may do so for the next hundred years. And for Richardson, were he still around, that ought to be enough to clear his head.

A cure-all salve

Vicks users have claimed the salve can cure and heal many maladies. Even though Vicks doesn’t say the salve works for these problems, people still believe.

Toenail fungus: Rub the salve on your toenails, cover with socks, and sleep your fungus problems away. Cough: For a similar fix to a nagging cough, some believe rubbing Vicks on the soles of your feet can fix the problem. Dandruff: Rub Vicks directly on the scalp, and your flakes may just disappear. Chapped lips: Petroleum jelly is one of the ingredients in Vicks, and some say the ointment can help heal cracked lips. Mosquito bites: If you smooth Vicks on the red bumps on your legs and arms, it can supposedly take the itch right out. Warts: Dab Vicks on the wart, cover with duct tape, and it may fall off in a few days.

Greensboro Historical Museum 130 Summit Avenue Greensboro, N.C. 27401 (336) 373-2043 greensborohistory.org

See historical Vicks VapoRub bottles and learn about Lunsford Richardson.

[thefreakandthehair]

@eddiemonth prompt, oct 10th: College | Loser Denial - Heyrocco | Determined a/n: steddie, college au, really just fluffy getting together. un-betaed because I’m challenging myself to write these in under an hour. read on ao3 | link to masterpost on ao3

They say that the most basic human need is to feel a sense of belonging, to feel welcomed. Eddie’s yet to find that acceptance at Ivy Tech Community College in Fort Wayne, about 25 miles southeast of his hometown. He’d hoped that getting away from Hawkins and joining a program for automotive technology would give him a good shot at meeting some like-minded people but so far, it’s been nothing short of a bust. 

Not only is he yet to touch a car because he’s had to focus on meaningless general education classes first, he’s made one friend. One single friend in the form of a lab partner, and he’s not actually sure if they’re even friends so much as they are two people forced into talking on a regular basis. But Eddie counts it, because it’s all he’s got for now. 

Without his high school reputation and the safety of a familiar environment, college is an ominous beast with sharp teeth. Each day feels like stepping into a pasture with no shepherd, but he’s determined not to fail. Three attempts at graduating high school is enough failure for a lifetime. So yes, he counts his lab partner. 

Besides, if they aren’t really friends yet, Eddie would like to be. Steve’s a good dude— not quite his normal type in company, sure, but he’s studying to become a nurse, he’s smart in a quick-witted non-traditional sort of way, and Eddie can’t imagine anyone being on the receiving end of that smile and not going a little wobbly in the knees. 

Alright, so maybe Eddie wants a little more than friendship but he’s only greedy when the end goal seems possible. And determined as Eddie may be, he can’t imagine that he’s Steve type. Some days are harder than others though, like the days when they’re crammed next to each other in the library at tiny tables, or the days when they hang back in the lab to work through their latest experiment. 

Today though? Today is downright painful. 

Today, he’s in Steve’s fucking apartment. Steve’s tiny, off-campus apartment that he shares with someone named Robin who Eddie can only assume is his girlfriend. There are pictures of the two of them all over the place, distracting Eddie from the lab report they’re supposed to be working on. Words jump off the page in front of him as he sits cross legged on the floor with his back against the couch Steve’s sitting on. It doesn’t help that Steve’s sitting so close, his foot occasionally grazing Eddie’s side, his thigh close enough for Eddie to rest his head against. 

Twice now, Steve’s leaned down over Eddie’s shoulders to get a closer look at the data chart, turning to face him close enough that their noses nearly touch. Eddie’s just about stopped breathing both times because his hair tickles Eddie’s ear and he smells so good. 

Molecular weight. Boiling point. Propanol. 

He tries his damndest to focus on his section, opting to take on the procedures and data analysis while Steve works on the lengthy conclusion section, but he just— 

He can’t. Maybe he can’t be friends with Steve after all. Not when he’s sitting in his apartment, surrounded by happy pictures of Steve with his girlfriend, feeling his disappointment grow stronger and stronger. Through his haze, he barely recognizes Steve asking him a question. 

“Hello? Eddie? Earth to Eddie Munson?” Steve nudges him gently in the shoulder with his knee. “We have to rank the order that the pure substances traveled through the column from fastest to slowest, and you’ve got the data.” 

Eddie shakes his head, trying his best to hide his disappointment that Steve can’t be a friend because of his own stupid crush and that Steve can’t be more because well, he’s clearly spoken for and why wouldn’t he be? Who wouldn’t just fall ass over ankles for Steve? 

Apparently, he already has. 

“Uh, hey man, you good? Seriously, you’re kinda freaking me out.” Steve drops his papers on the coffee table and slides off the couch to kneel in front of Eddie. He reaches out and gently tips his chin up, probably checking for some kind of medical issue. 

Stupid nursing program, Eddie thinks. But he just looks up, lets himself be guided by Steve soft, practiced hand and makes eye contact. Hazel, he thinks. I’ve never been close enough to notice that. 

But he still hasn’t spoken and can see that Steve is truly starting to panic so he swallows and finds his tongue again. 

“I’m fine, I’m good, promise. Just uh, just lost in thought. That’s a thing that I do a lot, you’ve seen my notebooks,” he tries to laugh it off but Steve doesn’t drop his hand. He simply slides it to the side, resting carefully on Eddie’s cheek. Eddie’s sure that Steve can feel it growing warmer beneath his touch. 

“What about?” Steve asks, inquisitive. Eddie must be going insane because he swears he sees Steve’s eyes flicker between his gaze and his lips. 

Eddie smiles, mostly fake but there’s something about Steve’s touch that does give him a reason to. 

“Didn’t know you had a girlfriend, that’s all. Got a little lost looking at all the pictures, she seems awesome.”

Not that he’s thought too deeply about how Steve would react, but hysterical laughter wouldn’t have been one of them if he had. But that’s what he sees: Steve falling to the side, his face turning red, his hand slipping from Eddie’s cheek to his chest, and his elbow leaning on the coffee table as his entire body shakes with laughter. 

What the fuck is going on here? Eddie wonders.

“That’s—” Steve tries to speak but takes several tries to get audible words out. “God, she knew that was gonna happen, I owe Robin $20.” 

Eddie sits, stuck in place, his eyes wide and brows knitted tightly above his nose. “Robin? What was gonna happen? $20?” 

“Oh my God, Eddie, I’m— no. Robin is the girl in these pictures, and she’s my best friend. She bet me $20 that the pictures were gonna throw you off and I thought I’d been obvious enough by now that you wouldn’t go down that route. But no, we’re definitely not dating. I’m uh, I’m not exactly her type.” Steve grins and slowly sits back upright, this time cross-legged to mirror Eddie’s position, their knees touching this time. 

“How the fuck could you not be someone’s type?” Eddie lets slip, his mouth moving faster than his brain. No surprise there. 

Before he can take it back, Steve just quirks one eyebrow up. “Well, unless I wake tomorrow a woman… not gonna happen. Did you miss that picture?” 

Eddie follows Steve’s finger that’s pointing to the largest picture hung on the wall, one of them at a Pride event. Robin sits on Steve’s shoulders, wearing a flag of varying shades of reds, oranges, and purples like a cape around her neck. Steve’s smiling from ear to ear, otherwise dressed as he does every day save for the pink, purple, and blue stripes painted on his cheek. 

It’s the largest picture in the room, and somehow, Eddie’s missed it completely.

“So yeah, not really her type. Is that why you’ve been so quiet? And completely ignoring all of my attempts to make a move?” 

“A move? On what?” Eddie asks, incredulous. 

Steve shrugs and leans forward, resting his palms on Eddie’s knees. “You, dumbass. Why else would we study here instead of the library?” 

“Gonna level with you here, I didn’t even think about it. I figured you were just tired of me almost getting us kicked out for being too loud or something! That was not obvious, Steve.” Eddie’s heart pounds in his chest, hope clawing its way through a graveyard of isolation. 

Steve just huffs a small laugh through his nose and bites his lower lip. “Let me be clearer, then. I like you. And maybe we can see if we’ve got as much chemistry as propanol and… whatever the fuck else was on that list, I don’t remember.” 

It’s Eddie’s turn to laugh, wild and free as he throws his head back against the couch. When he looks back at Steve, his laughter lulls to a soft smile. “Jesus Christ, that was so bad and I can’t believe it’s about to work on me.” 

“Yeah?” Steve grins, leaning closer, almost closing the distance. 

Eddie nods, breathless. “Yeah.”

Terrible chemistry puns and pick up lines aside, kissing Steve does feel like a chemical reaction, one that deserves its own lab report. 

His lips are soft, a little chapped to match Eddie’s, but he moves with intention and care, two things Eddie isn’t familiar with. He’s kissed before but not like this, not like his partner is trying to pour affection into him with every movement. Over time, he’ll grow to learn that that’s just how Steve is, all-in on everything he finds worth his time and energy. 

Their lab report goes forgotten in favor of learning more about one another until Robin comes home hours later, thankfully after they’ve washed up and settled in on the couch in a much less precarious position. 

“Aw, man,” she bemoans, dropping her bag next to the door with a loud thud. “I really thought the pictures were gonna cockblock you.” 

Eddie elbows Steve in the side. “Pay up, Stevie. Be a man of your word. I don’t date men with poor integrity.” 

“You two are gonna be the worse fucking tag team, goddamn it,” he mutters under his breath as he lifts his hips up to fish around for his wallet, tossing a $20 on the coffee table. “I don’t think it should count because it was fine once I explained!” 

Robin grins, walking over to the couch and grabbing the bill off the table before making herself comfortable in the free corner next to Eddie. 

“Eddie, I’ve heard a lot about you and I think we’re gonna be really good friends.” 

He finds himself sandwiched between Steve and Robin for the rest of the night, comfortable and welcomed, as though he’s belonged there the whole time. The evening doesn’t end with Eddie making a friend out of Steve, but how can he complain when he finds so much more?

[nerodivergentgrimreaper]

Castle Audio's HighSchool HC's

(Poll Winner!!!!)

Highschool Claire was definitely the hot jock that everyone wanted but no one could get. She would spend a lot of her time studying or she was at lacrosse/hockey practice so outside of those and pack activities there wasn't much seeing her. Because of her dedication she became captain of both teams her senior year.

Highschool Beth was an absolute party animal of a jock. Her grades were ok but she only put in what was required for her to pass by. When she wasn't also at lacrosse practice she could be found either at some house party or in the theater costume department. To most people's surprise she only had one short relationship (despite her being a known flirt) that was broken off shortly after her mom died.

Highschool Knight was awful at school and only passed thanks to Evie's genorouse tutoring. They ran track and took a break during the winter. They tried their best to stay under the radar especially after Claire and Beth graduated. But no matter how much they kept to themselves they were still always found sitting off to the side during Evie's cheer practices waiting for her to finish

Highschool Seer was the type of person who was never at class but still somehow managed to get straight A's. Because of frequent migraines and other magic related issues they were regularly absent. When they were present however you would commonly find them in the schools art classrooms sketching and painting, they were commonly described by their teachers as an "Artistic Visionary"

Highschool Ranger was apart of a lot of clubs especially ones that involved a lot of fundraising. Not only were they in student government, but they were also in the school nature appreciation club and on the yearbook committee. They loved organizing bake sales and would spend their summers at a local summer camp alongside their friend Isaiah.

Highschool Evie was not only a cheerleader but also participated heavily in her high schools tutoring program. She was a little shy as a freshman which earned her some unwanted attention but was surprised when one day the bullying just stopped. It almost seemed like the bullies were afraid of her for some reason. She never did find out why but Knight also seemed to redirect the conversation if it was ever brought up.

Highschool Rose was always very quiet and well read. She tended to keep to herself and always had her nose in some kind of literature. She was a "pleasure to have in class" according to her teachers and fell in love with english and writing based courses. When she wasn't at school she spent a lot of her time working or studying.

Highschool Abigail was the type of student that was taken to a seperate room to take tests because she had a difficult time focusing but she had great grades and loved to learn. She did morning announcements for her school and tried to establish a cryptid club (but it never became official). She didn't have many in school friends and was unfortunately picked on throughout most of highschool but in her senior year she found a great online community and started her podcast.

Highschool Bud was an average student but they were the type of person to be "friends" with everyone. They didn't have any close friends but they always had a place to sit at lunch and people to talk to just no one to really know them beyond basic friendship. They did also have a great relationship with their english teacher and would often spend their lunch or free period's in said teacher's classroom

Highschool Chloe was the kind popular girl that everyone wanted to be friends with who also had great grades. She was on her schools swim and debate teams and always ready to help when one of her friends needed someone. She graduated salutatorian and is still to this day a little peeved about coming in second

Highschool Dewdrop was an incredible swimmer on their schools team but they unfortunately had to drop the sport their senior year due to their chronic pain becoming harder to deal with. With all the new free time they put all their time into their studies and fell in love with biology and the other sciences

[wintfleur]

⚘ ˖˙𓈒ִֶָ☾.˙ ᰋ ── WHERE’D ALL THE TIME GO?

aka ophelia’s timeline

━━━ ❛ it’s starting to fly

ᯓᡣ𐭩 EARLY LIFE & SCHOOLING !

april 11th, 2002: ophelia is born on a bright and sunny Thursday afternoon in Vernon, British Columbia.

may 9th, 2006: ophelia (4) takes her first ballet class

2008 - 2013: early childhood / elementary school

august 2010: ophelia (8) joined the soccer team and met her now best friend Amber Jameson; they have been inseparable since.

october 2013: ophelia (11) got an ankle injury during a soccer game and sadly had to quit the sport. Her love for ballet was stronger and she didn't want to risk not being able to dance again.

She had to stop dancing for the rest of the year so her ankle could heal, it was miserable for her.

2013 - 2016: start of her teenage years / middle school

march 2015: ophelia (12) joined the theater club and helped make the costumes for their play, in turn finding her love for fashion designing.

april 2016: ophelia (13) went to get her photos taken for her ballet portfolio and was approached by a teen modeling agency.

summer 2016: ophelia (14) went to south korea for a ballet summer intensive program.

She was housed by a sweet family, where she met one of her bestest friends seunghan and his younger brother park sunghoon who is her age. Seunghan is a fellow ballet dancer and went to the training camp with her.

Ophelia became very close with the family, only becoming closer with them as the years go by, she's an honorary park! Seunghan’s parents think of her as their own child and his little sister thinks of her as her big sis!

2016 - 2020: teen years / high school / start of her modeling career

december 2016: Ophelia (14) was on the cover of pointe magazine.

june 2017: ophelia (15) won first place in the Helsinki international ballet competition, in juniors for women.

august 2017: ophelia finished her first wedding dress that she made for her cousin's wedding.

may 2018: ophelia (16) won first place in the american ballet competition

july 2018: ophelia won first place in the varna international ballet competition

was invited to be on jimmy fallon after her win.

february 2019: ophelia (17) made her debut by walking the catwalk and attending the New York fashion week.

may 29th - june 2, 2019: ophelia walked and attended the miami fashion week

september 2019: ophelia walked and attended the paris fashion week

october 9th 2019: the creation of ophelia's youtube channel

Ophelia created her youtube channel so she could have another way to communicate and become closer with her fans.

She mainly posted vlogs of her days as a model and a ballet dancer, and her just traveling and doing random activities with her friends.

december 2019: ophelia walked and attended the NYFW: December pre-fall and fall-winter, fashion week.

february 2020: ophelia walked and attended london's fashion week, fall-winter.

Ophelia meets Ryan James, a fellow model, they exchanged numbers and Ophelia then got in a relationship with him in may.

June 2020: Ophelia (18) graduated highschool with honors.

july 2020: ophelia moved into her apartment/loft in manhattan, New York. With her best friend seunghan.

Throughout 2016 - 2020 ophelia modeled for many different high end brands, her favorites being Dior, Dolce and Gabbana, and GQ.

She was given the nickname “the next model it girl” for her sudden dominating presence in the modeling world.

ᯓᡣ𐭩 JUILLIARD & JACK !

september 2020: ophelia (18) starts her first year at juilliard

february 23 - march 1st 2020: ophelia walked and attended milan’s fashion week

march 2 - 9th 2020: ophelia walked and attend paris fashion week

Throughout the rest of the year ophelia really focused on her ballet career, putting modeling to the side, and focusing on her studies.

march 2021: ophelia (19) won the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP)

may 2021: ophelia won first place in the american ballet competition

july 2021: ophelia won first place in the varna international ballet competition

for the rest of the year, Ophelia modeled for many different brands, but she really just focused on her ballet career and getting more known in the fashion design world.

2022 : breakup era

april 11th 2022: Ophelia (20) broke up with Ryan after finding out he has been cheating on her for many months.

april, may, june, july 2022: ophelia took a break from anything that evolved with modeling during those months, trying to heal from her breakup. Throwing herself into training, practices, and her studies.

august 2022: ophelia modeled for celine as her comeback into modeling

was invited back on the jimmy fallon show where they talked about what she's been up to, the celine shoot, and her comeback to modeling

october 6-9th 2022: ophelia walked and attended los angeles fashion week

november 2022: ophelia was interviewed by WIRED where she talked about ballet and modeling and her love for fashion design

2023: meeting jack

march 3rd 2023: curtis gets traded to the new jersey devils

march 28th 2023: ophelia and Jack meet for the first time at a club and share a kiss.

april 18th 2023: ophelia joins curtis out at a bar to meet some of his teammates, and she sees jack for the first time since the club.

they keep what happened at the bar to themselves (besides Jack freaking out about it to Luke), and pretend to just meet each other for the first time.

april 25th 2023: ophelia and jack run into each other at a bar, things escalate and jack ends up bringing her back to his place where they hook up for the first time.

the next morning they talk about what happened, and how they need to keep what happened between them a secret. They want to keep seeing each other, so they decide to become friends with benefits.

july 2023: ophelia models for calvin klein

july 17th 2023: jack confesses his feelings to ophelia after 3 months of being friends with benefits.

Ophelia didn't take it well and left his apartment in haste (girly was afraid of her feelings and commitment) and they didn't talk for two weeks.

july 31st 2023: ophelia goes to jack’s apartment where she apologizes and asks him on a date.

august 1st 2023: jack and ophelia have there first date and officially start dating (secretly)

november 6th 2023: curtis holds a dinner at his home for his teammates, curtis finds jack and ophelia kissing in the garage and did not take it well.

curtis gives her an ultimatum ‘him or me’ in a moment of anger and that leads to ophelia not talking to either of them for a week, locking herself in her apartment.

november 14th 2023: curtis comes to see her early in the day to apologize for his reaction and what he said, later in the day jack comes to see her and they have a sweet moment, happy that everything is now okay between them.

january 12th 2024: ophelia and jack said i love you for the first time

january 24-28 2024: ophelia walked and attended miami fashion week

february 9-14th 2024: ophelia attended new york fashion week fall-winter

february 16th 2024: ophelia and jack's relationship is exposed to the media when videos and pictures of them at the njd’s family skate go viral.

february 26th - march 5th 2024: ophelia walked and attended paris fashion week

may 2024: ophelia did the 73 questions with vogue

june 2024: ophelia did the “10 things I can't live without’ with GQ

may 6th 2024: ophelia (22) attended the met gala for the first time

ophelia did a get ready with me / last looks with vogue for the met

june 2024: ophelia did diary of a model with vogue

july 2024: ophelia and jack do a couple quiz with GQ

may 2025: ophelia (23) graduates at juilliard

ᯓᡣ𐭩 WHAT'S TO COME !

aka phia and jacks future

. . . to be added

ᝰ.ᐟ 𝓇oro's note. I didn’t add every detail about her modeling and dance career in the ‘julliard and jack’ section, it would have taken forever for me to do that 😭 I will update the timeline as time goes! I hope this helps give you a better understanding about the AU >.<

au masterlist

˖ ་ feel free to send in any thoughts/requests you have !! And please let me know if you want to be added to the taglist mwah

˖ ་ taglist : @yoontwin @toasttt11 @winterbarnesblog @iceflwers @cixrosie @bunbunbl0gs

[eluniversity]

Best Communication Studies Graduate Programs

EL University is offering Best Communication Studies Graduate Programs Online. The Programs offer students the opportunity to delve deeper into the field of communication, honing their skills and knowledge in areas such as media studies, intercultural communication, public relations, and more.

For details, visit the website.

http://www.eluniversity.co.za/program-communications/

[sheisjoeschateau]

"...at the Chateau, we'll be alright."

Steve Harrington x Jonathan Byers x fem!reader A crossover au inspired by Saltburn and Call Me by Your Name. Additional inpso from Joe's college theater performance as in Spring Awakening.

Song Inso: "Chateau" by Djo

Strangers to best friends to lovers. Slowburn. Angst, angst, angst. Fluff, fluff, fluff. Hurt/comfort. Romance, with polyamory themes and schemes. Smut with hella plot.

Summary: The reader lives with her parents at a fancy chateau, in France.  This year, her father offers their home as a housing sanctuary to a select student or graduate.  He decides to invite two graduate students to live with their family over the summer, coming from different working class backgrounds, and help with their academic paperwork as a professor of archaeology.

Steve Harrington: a rich kid from a swanky boarding school with a bad boy reputation and too much charm for his own good.  Surprisingly, his grades say otherwise.  A’s and B’s, his parents claim that is seeking one-on-one tutoring so that he can progress in his studies — but it sounds more like an excuse to ship him off for longer periods of time, giving them an out for having their son around during the summer.  The pretty boy’s all about ladies…but that’s only because he hasn’t met a boy who awakens his bisexuality.  Yet.

Jonathan Byers: a kid from the lower working class, excelling in his studies and AP programs at the same boarding school as Steve which he only got into because of community sponsorship and grants.  Quiet wallflower, little to no friends, a bit cynical.  A closeted gay, he’s more determined to stick with being perceived as “ace” than come out of the closet.  Until he goes to stay at a chateau with a handsome boy, and a beautiful girl who understands him.

Twists, turns and terrifying risks, you all put your hearts on the line that summer at the Chateau. Add the reader's cousin Eddie into the mix, along with her best friend Robin, Steve's ex-girlfriend Nancy, Jonathan's estranged mother and your progressive parents alongside Steve's absent parents -- it's a cruel summer.

But here, together at the chateau, you'll be alright.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊ ⋆SNEAK PREVIEW⋆ ⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ This will be another series of mine, dedicated to my boy. Coming soon.

[excerpt from the story]

There was something about the way you twirled in your sundress that reminded Steve of the bible.

He wasn't religious, nor did he think any god truly loved or believed in him. But here, watching you exist in your garden of eden at the Chateau, the good book almost seemed real.

You resembled something otherworldly.  Heavenly, sent straight from above.  Innocent, yet wise.  Kind, yet strong.  Powerful and delicate at the same time.  Your laugh was soft, feminine and pure.  Your spirit was whole.  Your smile blinded him with joy.  Your beauty was divine, angelic and overwhelming.  You were too much…and yet, you could never be enough.

But that wasn’t because you yourself weren’t enough.  No, rather it was because Steve would never be able to get enough of you.  He could never be close enough.  He could never be near you enough.  He could never tell you enough words that would accurately describe the way that you made him feel.  

The word ‘enough’ simply did not apply when it boiled down to you.  

And yet, as Steve swept you up into his arms — discarding his books and his education down onto the lawn, much more driven to study you — holding you felt like that was all that he would ever need for his life to be considered enough.  The feeling of your waist in his grasp, his strong arms circling your petite torso as your hair flew in the wind of the circle he spun you in, felt like a tornado.  A cyclone, sweeping you both off your feet so that it could take you far away from everything and everyone.  You were this fragile flower in his hands, yet unbreakable.  Real, but too good to be true.  A true story, but a fairytale of the mind.

Jonathan saw you this way — but from a more niche, almost platonic point of view.  It was just as codependent, yet approached with more independence and the ability to exist on his own two feet.  He’d do whatever it took to keep you, no matter what the hell that took.  And he knew that to some degree, a pretty scary degree, that he needed you too.  But he was content with the need.  Satisfied, at peace.  Completely grounded, secure.  Unlike Steve, who smiled out of fear and loved with his whole heart on the line.  Because Byers knew how to be alone.  He knew how to rely on himself, fill his own cup even when it was empty — which was all the time.  Byers was the epitome of “I walk alone.”  The human embodiment of solitude.  He preferred your company, your grace and your presence.  It made him better, and stronger — because he’d known prior how to operate without it.

Harrington didn’t.  Harrington needed someone, all the time.  As an only child, the loneliness had suffocated him in his big house with no parents.  He’d had no one to shush the nightmares away, no one to hold him whenever the monsters felt near.  No one to run to and trust with any secret that he had.  No true friend who would listen to his most intrusive thoughts without casting him away.  No girl that wanted him in the ways that he so desperately sought to be loved, not just lusted after.  Until you came along, sheltering him from all his deepest and darkest fears, childhood traumas and the ever-looming possibility of rejection.  He had been a threat to himself, and you put that threat to rest with just a soft brush of your lips against his knuckles and the touch of your tender hands.  

Whereas with Byers, you made him feel seen but not disturbed.  You allowed him to be present without needing to overcompensate.  You granted him refuge, earning his trust with your actions instead of your words.  He didn’t need your touch to calm him.  Rather, he felt steadied by just knowing that you were here.  You knew that touch was never a friend to Jonathan, which is why you never pushed yourself in.  Instead, he found himself drawn to you.  He didn’t recoil at the physical contact made between the two of you.  A hug, a warm embrace that lingered just an extra second or two.  A gentle squeeze of a hand as you shot him a wistful smile.  The most feather-like of kisses pressed to his cheek to say hello, good morning, good evening or goodnight.  It felt…nurturing.  Assuring, fostering.

Out on the outstretched lawn in front of the Chateau, acreage upon acreage, Jonathan watched your hair gleam underneath the golden glow of the setting sun.  He let the Marlboro in his mouth dangle between his teeth, the curriculum resting upon his lap as the scent of nicotine and fresh air filled his senses.  The mixture of it was perfect for the scene laid out before him: Steve spinning you around, his white collared shirt unbuttoned just enough to wear his tie swung in the breeze as he continued swirling you around like a princess.  And when he’d placed you back onto your feet, he peppered every single inch of your face with an obscene amount of stolen kisses as you giggled like the darling that you so effortlessly are.  Jonathan felt his lips tug upwards at the corner, unable to help himself when it came to the two of you.  His shoulder angel and shoulder devil.

He turned the page of his literature books, revealing his unfinished letter that he’d begun writing at lunch in response to his mother.  Joyce had written to him, asking him to tell her everything about the summer.  How was it in France?  What was it like?  Were the hosts kind, was he being polite towards them?  What about you?  Were the two of you getting along, as well as the other student?

Jonathan glanced up from his scribbled cursive, back at the two of you.  Steve was cupping your cheek, placing a flower in your hair with his free hand before moving to cup your other cheek so that he was cradling your face.  His perfect, sharp nose nuzzled to the tip of yours sweetly.  Jonathan felt his heart swell as the two of you turned to look at him with pure love.  Your arms stretched out towards him, along with Steve’s, beckoning him.  Come play with us.  He grinned at you both wholeheartedly, holding up a hand — which you both knew meant he would, just a little longer.  You’d all learned each others’ love languages by now, along with how to communicate through gestures and expressions.  Body language was all of your specialty, in a multitude of ways that no one else could ever possibly understand.  Jonathan didn’t mind that.  It was only meant for the three of you.

Flicking his cigarette, he glanced back down at the incomplete letter he was ready to finish writing for his mother.  He took his pen, letting the ink spill onto the parchment. He'd already written down things earlier, telling her that your parents had taken them in as their own. He wrote about how much your father made him adore his studies in ways he never had before, and how he'd been inspired to help Steve study alongside him as an assistant tutor of sorts. He wrote to her about an Aperol spritz had somehow become the drink of the summer, using fresh citrus from the gardens of your estate, and how it made uncharacteristically sappy. How you and Steve made him that way too, even without the poison coursing through his veins.

Something about them makes me feel like I can, Mom.  I keep asking myself if this all just a dream.  Or maybe, it’s the past?  Not sure.  Either way, just thought I’d ask.  Not because I am seeking the answer, from you or the universe.  Rather, I’m simply existing and letting it all just happen.  C’est la vie.  I know…so very French. Perhaps I'm running a fever. A lovesick sort of fever.

Jonathan grinned down at his writing with wry amusement at himself.  At his life.

He turned over his shoulder, glancing back at the majestic chateau behind him.  Chateau Chalamet.  Your childhood home. His new home, as of that summer…which was dwindling away, day by day.  Every day that passed meant that he had less time.  All of you were losing time.  He sighed, resuming his writing.

I’ll turn back the time whenever this all ends.  In my mind, this will always be a home away from home.  Which is something I never thought I would say.  I’m not really sure what my future holds.  But it doesn’t really concern me at the moment. Now right now. Right now, I'm at the chateau and I feel alright. Love, Jonathan

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

[twohearts-hs]

Always & Forever Fourteen - Marshall Mathers x Reader Series

Words: 8.9k

Pairings: Marshall Mathers x Fem!Reader Series

Synopsis: They loved each other with every fibre and being. They knew that they were meant to be together, but it seemed like every obstacle came in the way. She was twenty-one, he was forty and they knew that it would be hard. Therefore, they promised forever and always as they were meant to be together despite every turmoil that came their way.

Warnings: Swearing, Alcohol, Smut, & Angst.

|| Masterlist for Series ||

Hope you enjoy :)

February 2013

Y/N held her bag over her shoulder as she opened her mailbox. It was Friday and she was about to end her reading break for the month. However, she just came from work and it was nearing ten in the evening when she checked the mailbox. When she got the mail out, instantly her heart dropped. There it was…her future right in front of her.

Columbia University

116th St & Broadway

New York, NY 10027

Her hands began to tremble. She hadn’t heard anything from Professor Beau about his position, but her acceptance was right here. Or her rejection?

Y/N went upstairs where her house was covered in boxes. Half her stuff was packed so far. She poured herself a glass of wine and sat down on the couch as she thumbed the letter. Taking a sip of the wine, she took a deep breath and then opened the letter.

Columbia University Department of Art History 116th St & Broadway New York, NY 10027 February 22, 2013

Dear Y/N Y/L/N,

I am delighted to inform you that you have been accepted into the Master of Arts in Art History program at Columbia University for the Fall 2013 semester. Your application demonstrated an exceptional understanding and passion for art history, and we are excited to welcome you to our academic community.

Your impressive academic background, thoughtful research interests, and dedication to advancing the field of art history made your application stand out among a highly competitive pool of candidates. We believe that you will bring valuable perspectives and insights to our program, and we are confident that you will thrive in the intellectually stimulating environment that Columbia offers.

As a graduate student in our department, you will have the opportunity to work with renowned faculty, access our extensive art collections, and engage with a vibrant community of scholars and artists. We are committed to supporting your academic and professional growth, and we look forward to seeing the contributions you will make to the field of art history.

Please review the enclosed materials for important information regarding your enrolment, orientation, and other essential details.

Once again, congratulations on your acceptance to Columbia University. We eagerly anticipate your arrival and look forward to the academic journey ahead.

Warm regards,

Dr. Jody L. Bain Director of Graduate Studies Department of Art History Columbia University

 Her heart dropped. Her body went frozen as she read the letter. She got accepted… She was going to Columbia University. Her hand was over her mouth as she read the letter over and over again.

She was going to Columbia. Her mind raced as she read the words again and again, each line confirming acceptance into one of the top art history schools in the country. Excitement and fear intertwined within her, a whirlwind of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.

Y/N thought for a moment, contemplating the path laid out in front of her. Columbia represented more than just an academic opportunity; it was a chance to learn from some of the best in the field, to immerse herself in the bustling energy of New York City, and to push herself beyond her comfort zone.

But intertwined with the excitement was the weight of uncertainty. She thought of Marshall, of their tumultuous yet deeply meaningful relationship. His reaction to her potential move to New York City was still fresh in her mind – the tension, the unspoken fears, and the difficult conversation they had to have.

She was going to Columbia. She was moving. She was leaving Marshall.

Y/N knew she could not ignore this opportunity. It was a pivotal moment in her career, a chance to pursue her passion for art history in a way she had always dreamed of. Yet, it meant uprooting her life in Detroit, leaving behind Marshall, his daughters and the life they were slowly building together.

She needed to tell him.

-

Y/N invited Marshall over to help continue packing with her. She ordered take out for them and bought mocktails they could share. She was leaning over a box when the door opened, and Marshall came in.

He had his overnight bag in his as he placed it down.

“Looks like a bomb went off,” he commented with a chuckle before walking around to the kitchen.

Y/N got up and walked over to him, leaning into his embrace and kissed his lips. “Hi, honey,” she hummed. His hand wrapped around her hip, pulling her in. “I got takeout and mocktails,” she said softly.

“Lovely,” he said.

The two of them ate and began packing her things. Y/N’s small apartment was filled with the warmth of laughter and playful banter as Marshall joined her for the ordinary evening. After an hour of packing, they decided to lie on the couch, lounge comfortable as they shared jokes and stories in front of the television. As they chatted, Marshall got up to get another drink. On the counter by the kitchen under a magazine, he recognised the crest of Columbia University.

He glanced up, seeing Y/N watching the movie they put on. Curiosity piqued, he reached for it, his fingers brushing against it as he pulled it out.

It was for Columbia and instantly, he hoped without admitting it she got rejected. Even if it made him a evil person, he wanted Y/N to stay here.

“Y/N,” he said taking the letter and walking back to the living room. “What’s this?” Marshalled asked casually, taking the letter out of the envelope.

Y/N’s smile faltered slightly when she saw the envelope. She looked at him as he read the letter, the weight and tension of this discussion beginning to get heavy in the air.

“It’s my acceptance letter,” she admitted quietly watching Marshall’s expression.

“It is dated from a week ago,” he responded. “You’ve known for a week?” Marshall was slightly hurt from her not telling him. “I told you to let me know as soon as you know. Have you heard from the university here?”

“Yes, and Vancouver too.”

“Vancouver? Canada?” he exclaimed. Marshall’s expression turned dark as he absorbed the news. He stood up abruptly, pacing the room in attempt to contain his frustrations.

“I feel like you’re keeping secrets from me,” he whispered.

Y/N’s expression changed to a state of shock. “Secrets? I have kept no secrets from you.”

“This was a secret. When were you going to tell me?” he barked. “A month from now, six months or when you’re leaving.”

“You knew this was probably going to happen, Marshall. I have been debating my options and when I figured it out, I would tell you. I have not heard from Michigan yet.”

“Detroit,” he spat, “is your home. I am your home. You cannot just leave and leave the life we have. We are meant to be, Y/N.”

Y/N got up and took his hand to try to calm him down. “Marshall, maybe I am supposed to move away and then we reconnect. Or we do long distance. I can fly back every month and you can fly to me. I can drive. It’s a nine-hour drive. I used to drive to Calgary from Ladysmith in a day and it’s fourteen hours.”  

Marshall pulled his hand away, his face a mask of pain and anger. “I don’t want to reconnect in a few years. I don’t want to do long distance. I want you here, with me, now. If you go, it feels like you’re choosing your career over us.”

Y/N’s eyes filled with tears, her heart breaking at the sight of his anguish.

 “Marshall, this isn’t about choosing one over the other. It’s about following my dreams and hoping that our love is strong enough to survive the distance. I want a future with you, with marriage and babies. I want to grow old with you. But I also need to pursue this opportunity. You did this once. You chose your career over your love.”

Marshall’s eyes darned, a hint of regret and sadness in his expression. “Y/N, I can’t give you that. I can’t wait for the ‘if’ of us. I am forty and what we met in ten years. I am not having babies at fifty. I don’t even want marriage again. I want you though.”

The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of their emotions pressing down on them. Y/N took a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. “I have to go, Marshall. I can’t turn down this opportunity. But, that doesn’t mean I love you any less.”

Marshall’s eyes were filled with a mix of sadness and resignation. “Then I guess we have our answer. Maybe we weren’t meant to be after all.”

Y/N’s heart shattered at his words, but she knew this was the path she had to take. “Then leave.”

Marshall nodded, walking over to his bag and grabbing it. “Goodbye, Y/N. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

As he walked out the door, Y/N felt a profound sense of loss. But beneath the sadness, there also a flicker of hope. She was going to Columbia, and she was going to chase her dream.

-

Y/N could not sleep that night. She tossed and turned.

Were they broken up? Were they over-over? Or was this Marshall having a tantrum and throwing threats? Does he expect her to get back to him and tell him that she was going to Detroit? He expected her to be threatened, to choose Detroit and choose him. However this was her future to think about.

Y/N turned to look at the time, 1:53 a.m. in the morning. She might have had an hour sleep tops. Marshall was going to stay over tonight, and they were going to make breakfast together. They were going to studio and Y/N was going to do some art for the upcoming show she signed up for while he finalised the album.

What now?

Y/N rolled over and grabbed her phone to see texts from Marshall. She smiled instantly.

1:02 a.m.

From Marshall <3: I fucked up. You were right. You need to think about your future. I want this to work.

1:05 a.m.

From Marshall <3: I miss you. Please call me.

1:10 a.m.

From Marshall <3: You have absolute control over me. I will do anything for you. We can do long distance.

1:20 a.m.

From Marshall <3: You’re probably asleep. I can’t sleep without you. I am lying alone and all I think about is you.

1:22 a.m.

From Marshall <3: I can’t do this anymore. I am coming over.

Her lips twitched into a smile, and she turned around to look out the window to see the road. There it was the Aston Martin pulling up and Marshall getting out.

Y/N rolled out of bed in her underwear and shirt, walking towards the front door. She heard noises behind it and just went she opened it, Marshall stood with his hand up ready to knock.

“You’re here,” she whispered.

“I am here,” he responded but he glanced down to her body then to her lips. Instantly, he cupped her cheeks tight and tilting her head to kiss him. The kiss was passionate and heavy, filled with emotion and lust.

Y/N walked backwards as her hands grabbed his lips, pulling him close as she rolled her hips against his. Her back hit the bed as their lips assaulted one another with so much power. They had so much power over each other. The devotion, adoration and the lack of separation as they needed each other like water and oxygen.

“I am sorry,” he whispered against them as his hands slipped to pull her shirt off her head. She let him. “I am the asshole. I am the fucking jerk.”

Y/N moaned as his lips trailed down her jaw, sucking and nipping, leaving art as if he was the painter and she was the canvas. Y/N sat on the bed hands back as she laid on them. Marshall pulled his hoodie and shirt off him.

Y/N tugged her underwear down, throwing them somewhere in the room. Their eyes were focused on each other, direct contact as their lip connected to one another with such passion. His hand glided down her stomach, cupping her heat before rubbing circles on her clit.

“Marshall,” she moaned, “are we about to have angry sex?”

“Shut up,” he said as he continued to suck her throat before attaching his lips to her nipple, sucking it and nibbing it. Her back arched, as her head rolled, and eyes closed.

“Marsh-“ she tried but his hand went over her mouth.

“I said, shut up,” he said. “I don’t want to hear you.”

Y/N nodded, as his hand held over her mouth as his other worked wonders on her heat. He pulled away from kissing her breast before throwing her legs apart and lowering himself down. Instantly his mouth found her cunt, kissing and licking it before sucking it.

Y/N tried to stop her moans and screams, but she could not.

Just when she was about to come, Marshall pulled away and slapped her cunt earning a strong yelp from her before the pleasure settled in.

“You and me,” he said as he kneeled on the bed, “we belong together. I am yours and you are mine.” Y/N nodded as his lips attached to hers. “We are going to be together…forever,” he whispered the last part. Then he pulled away. “You belong with me. Maybe in another world or lifetime, but I know you belong with me.”

Y/N nodded again, however Marshall pulled away and got off the bed. He grabbed his shirt and hoodie off the floor and threw them on.

He licked his lips and Y/N looked at him in utter confusion.

“Pick what you want so badly,” he whispered before turning around and leaving.

Marshall left. Marshall used sex against her and left.

Y/N laid on the bed, stunned and breathless, as the door clicked shut behind Marshall. She felt the weight of his words and actions crashing down on her. The passion they just shared left her feeling more confused and vulnerable than ever.

She pulled the covers over herself, curling into a ball as she tried to make sense of everything. The intensity of their connection was undeniable but so was the reality of their situation. She knew she had to focus on her future, yet Marshall’s presence in her life had become so significant that the thought of losing him was unbearable.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she replayed the night’s events in her mind. The anger, the desperation, the intimacy – it was all a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She knew she had to make a choice, but it was impossible to balance her dreams with the love she felt for Marshall.

Hours passed, as she lay there, lost in thought. The sun began to rise when she fell asleep.

-

Morning came. The sun shined through the curtains making her glow. Y/N’s eyes fluttered open. Everything hit her in that moment, and she sighed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. However, she needed clarity and the only way to find it was to face her fears head-on.

Y/N got up and made herself a cup of coffee before looking down at her phone. No messages from him.

Instead, she pulled out a notebook and began to write. She wrote about her dreams, her love for Marshall and the future she envisioned. She wrote about the sacrifices she was willing to make and the ones she was not. It was a stream of consciousness, a way to untangle the mess of emotions inside her.

As the morning wore on, she felt a sense of determination building within her. She knew what she had to do. She had to talk to Marshall, to lay everything on the table and see if they could find a way to make it work. She loved him deeply, but she could not ignore the call of her dreams.

Y/N picked up her phone and sent him a text.

9:23 a.m.

To Marshall <3: Can we talk? I need to see you.

Moments later, her phone buzzed with his reply.

9:26 a.m.

From Marshall <3: I’ll be there in 20.

Twenty minutes which felt like an eternity to Y/N. She paced the room, rehearsing what she wanted to say. When the knock came, her heart skipped a beat. She opened to door to find Marshall standing there, looking as conflicted and exhausted as she felt.

“Hi,” she said softly, stepping aside to him in.

“Hi,” he replied, his eyes searching her for answers.

“Wanna sit?” she asked as she went to the couch.  They sat down, the silence between them heavy with unspoken words. Y/N took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. “Marshall, I love you,” she began, her voice trembling slightly. “I love you more than I can put into words. But I also love my dreams and my career. There are so many galleries in New York City for me to work at. I can’t choose but I don’t want to lose you. Is there any way we can make this work?”

Marshall looked at her, his expression pained but resolute. “Y/N, I don’t want to lose you either. But long-distance…it’s going to be hard. Really hard. I don’t know if I can handle it.”

“I know,” she said, reaching out to take his hand. “But I’m willing to try if you are. We can figure it out together. We can visit each other, call, or video chat. It won’t be easy, but nothing worth having ever is.”

Marshall squeezed her hand, his eyes softening. “I want to believe we can do this. I want to try. But you have to promise me that we communicate, that we won’t let the distance tear us apart.”

“I promise,” Y/N said, her eyes filling with tears. “I promise we’ll make it work.”

“I just feel second to everything,” he whispered. “I am second to you.”

Y/N sighed. “I am like third in your world, Marshall. Your daughters, your music and then me.” Marshall’s brows furrowed. Y/N reached out, her hands trembling slightly as she touched Marshall’s cheek. “Marshall, I know it’s not easy. And it’s not fair to either of us. But I can’t give up on this dream. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Just like your music is to you.”

Marshall closed his eyes, leaning into her touch for a moment before pulling away. “It’s just…I’m scared, Y/N.  Scared that the distance will change things, that we’ll grow apart. I’ve seen it happen before, and I don’t want that for us.”

“We won’t let it happen,” Y/N said firmly, trying to instil a sense of hope in their conversation. “We’ve faced so much already, and we’ve always found a way through. This is just another challenge we can overcome together.”

He looked at her, the internal battle evident in his eyes. “I want to believe that. But seeing you pack up, knowing you’ll be gone…it hurts.”

Y/N’s heart ached at his words. “I know. It hurts me too. But think about what it will mean for us in the long run. Think about the experiences we’ll both have, and the growth we’ll undergo. And when we’re together, it’ll make our time even more special.”

Marshall’s gaze softened, and he reached out to hold her hands. “I don’t want to lose you, Y/N. If this is what you need to do, then we have to find a way. But promise me one thing.”

“Anything,” she whispered, squeezing his hands tightly.

“Promise me that if it ever becomes too much, if either of us starts to feel like we’re losing ourselves in the distance, we’ll talk about it. We won’t just let it fester and tear us apart.”

Y/N nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I promise Marshall. We’ll face everything together, no matter what.”

He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as they both cried, the weight of their decision pressing down on them but the hope of their future shining through.

They spent the morning making love to one another passionately. The apartment was filled with noises of pleasure and devotion, and promises were told.

-

March 2013

Since February, a lot had happened. Between the drama of Marshall and Y/N, Paul came out talking about an album that will come later this year. Which caused an uproar of excitement.

Y/N moved into her new apartment with the help of Marshall and once her belongings were in, they christened every room they could, putting their own touch of love to it. Life was good. Y/N and Marshall were good…they were happy. However, they could not help but feel like they were on a time crunch in their relationship, but they chose to ignore it.

-

Y/N took a deep breath as she approached Dr. Beau’s office. The art history department at the University of Michigan was a familiar place, but today felt different. Today, she would discuss her future in a way she had not before.

She knocked lightly on the open door and peeked in to see Dr. Beau, a very distinguished but young professor with a kind smile looking up from his desk. He had a toss of brown curls, a light beard and glasses perched on his nose. He must be in his late thirties and Y/N could not deny that he was on the verge of handsome, but she was Marshall therefore she did not pay much attention.

“Y/n! Come in, come in,” he greeted warmly. “Please, have a seat.”

Y/N entered and sat down, placing her bag on the floor. She felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. “Thanks for seeing me, Dr. Beau.”

“Of course,” he replied, leaning back in his chair. “I hear you have some exciting news about joining the upcoming art show and plans for the future. I am glad you took my advice. Let’s start with the art show. Tell me about it.”

Y/N’s eyes lit up as she began to speak. “It’s a show at the Detroit Institute of Arts. I’ve been working on a series of mixed media focusing more on oil paint and charcoal that explore different human bodies. The theme is ‘Diverse Forms’, celebrating the beauty and uniqueness of each individual.”

Dr. Beau nodded appreciatively. “That sounds fascinating. Your work has always had a unique voice, and I think this show will really highlight that. How are preparations going?”

“It’s been intense,” Y/N admitted. “I just moved but now I have a art corner in my place. However, balancing the final touches on my pieces with my job at the diner has been challenging. But it’s coming together. The opening night is in two weeks, and I’m both excited and nervous.”

“That’s completely understandable,” Dr. Beau said with a reassuring smile. “Now, let’s talk about your plans for after graduation. I understand you’re considering Columbia University for your master’s?”

Y/N nodded, her expression becoming serious. “Yes, I’ve been looking into their art history program. It has a fantastic reputation, and the faculty there are doing some groundbreaking research. But the cost is a significant concern.”

Dr. Beau leaned forward, clasping his hands on the desk. “Columbia is indeed an excellent choice, but you’re right; it can be expensive. Have you looked into scholarships or assistantships? They often offer financial support for promising students.”

“I have,” Y/N said. “I’m applying for a few scholarships, and I’m also looking into potential teaching assistant positions. I’m hoping that with a strong application and portfolio, I might be able to secure some funding.”

Dr. Beau nodded approvingly. “That’s a smart approach. And remember, your work and dedication here have already laid a solid foundation. Your participation in the upcoming art show will be a significant addition to your portfolio. Have you thought about how you’ll present your work in your application?”

Y/N smiled, feeling a bit more confident. “Yes, I’ve been working on a digital portfolio that includes high-resolution images of my pieces, descriptions, and my artist’s statement. I want to make sure it reflects my growth and my vision as an artist.”

“That sounds perfect,” Dr. Beau said. “You’re on the right track, Y/N. And if you need any letters of recommendation or support in your application process, don’t hesitate to ask. You’ve been a dedicated student, and I do not doubt that you’ll succeed.”

“Thank you, Dr. Beau,” Y/N said, feeling a wave of gratitude. “Your support means a lot to me.”

Dr. Beau smiled warmly. “Speaking of Columbia, I haven’t had the chance to tell you that I did accept the position at Columbia University. I’ll be joining their faculty in the fall semester.”

Y/N’s eyes widened in surprise. “That’s amazing! Congratulations, Dr. Beau.”

“Thank you,” Dr. Beau said. “And here’s the best part: I would love to continue working with you on your thesis if you decide to Columbia. We could develop your project further and take it to new heights.”

Y/N felt a surge of excitement. “That would be incredible. Having your guidance would mean so much to me.”

“Well, it’s settled then,” Dr. Beau said with a smile. “Focus on your art show and your applications. We’ll make sure you have the support you need to succeed at Columbia.”

Y/N left Dr. Beau’s office, feeling a sense of purpose and determination. She could not believe how everything was just working out.

-

The weekend came and Y/N walked into Marshall’s house with her overnight bag and already dressed in sweats and a hoodie. She could hear distant chatter from the kitchen. His daughters were over for dinner tonight and Marshall invited her.

Y/N came into the kitchen to see Marshall cooking and his daughters surrounded.

“Hey,” she said softly as she put her bag down on the floor and walked to him. He was dressed down and Y/N wrapped her arm around his waist and kissed his cheek as he stirred the pot in front of him.

“Hi, doll,” he responded, turning to kiss her lips. It was a short kiss before focusing back on his cooking.

“What are you making?” she asked as she walked around to say her hello to the girls.

“Some pasta dish,” he commented.

“I am going to take my bag to the bedroom,” she said, picking up her overnight bag and walking out of the kitchen.

“Enjoy,” he smirked looking over his shoulder.

Y/N wandered up the steps and going into the bedroom where she spotted a pink bag with tissue paper coming out on the bed. Y/N put her bag in the corner where she wandered over to the bag. Connected to it was a little envelope with her name on it.

Curiosity piqued and she took the envelope out.

Y/N,

Forever & Always,

M.

She pulled out the pink tissue paper and looked inside the bag to see black lace…no he did not. Y/N pulled out the risqué outfit and a smile came to her lips. Marshall did not…

Never in her life had she ever bought herself lingerie but her boyfriend of just a few months just bought her this lace little outfit. Y/N laid it out and stared at it.

It covered nothing, but she was intrigued to try this on.

Later she decided. The idea of trying this on and putting her clothes over top then going downstairs to be with his daughter…that is just plain naughty. She was not that way. She had some respect for his daughters.

However, she could not get over just how sexy it was…

How did he know her measurements? Her bra size and panty size? He must had done some digging in her draws.

Y/N came downstairs, and the aroma of freshly cooked pasta filled the air as Y/N joined Marshall and his daughters in the kitchen. He turned when he heard her footsteps and smiled.

She mouthed a, ‘thank you, it’s beautiful’ and he sent her a wink with a mouthing of ‘later’. Stevie, Alaina and Hailie were animatedly chatting about their day, and the warmth of their laughter made Y/N feel at home. She glanced at Marshall, who was serving the pasta dish on some places and smiled.

“Dinner smells amazing,” Y/N said taking her seat.

“Thanks,” Marshall replied, smiling back. “Hope you’re hungry.”

As everyone settled at the table, Marshall handed each of them the plates before sitting next to Y/N. They all began eating and having a conversation about their day.

When it got quiet, Y/N felt like it was the perfect time to announce her announcement. She cleared her throat and everyone’s eyes turned to her.

“So, I have some exciting news,” Y/N began, her eyes bright with anticipation. Marshall’s brows furrowed, thinking it was the Columbia news which was not the time for her to announce her departure.

“Y/N, I think we should wait-“

His daughters’ brows all furrowed as well, curiosity piqued however Y/N looked over at her boyfriend.

“You don’t know what I am talking about as I have not told you yet,” she said as a matter of fact.

“Oh,” he said, “then continue.”

“Thank you,” she grinned. “I am going to be part of an art show at the Detroit Institute of Arts in two weeks! My pieces were picked, and they will be displayed. It’s my first show,” she announced with a wide toothy grin.

“That’s awesome!” Hailie exclaimed. “Congratulations!”

“Thanks,” Y/N said, her smile widening. “I was wondering if you would like to come. It would mean a lot to me to have you there. As we are a family.”

Alaina nodded enthusiastically. “We’d love to! Right, Hailie?”

Hailie smiled. “Absolutely. We wouldn’t miss it. I have never seen your art, but it must be amazing if it’s going to be in a show.”

“Her art is phenomenal. Very creative and detailed,” Marshall said as he took a bite.

Y/N smiled and turned to her boyfriend, heart racing. “And, Marshall, I was hoping you could be my date for the show. It’s a big night for me, and I’d love to have you by my side. I am building my portfolio for my master’s as I will be specialising in art history.”

Marshall’s expression shifted, and he looked down to his plate, a hint of tension in his posture. He took a moment before responding, finding the correct words. “Y/N, you know I support you, your work and your career. But…going to a public event like this together, it could attract a lot of media attention. I’m just worried about what that might do to us, to you?”

“Oh,” Y/N muttered, a pang in her chest. She had anticipated his concern but hoped it would not be a barrier. “Marshall, this show is incredibly important to me. It’s a culmination of my work and having you there would mean so much. I understand the risks, but it would be nice for you to be there…supporting me. You can meet Dr. Beau.”

Marshall sighed. “I get that, I do. But the media can be ruthless and I am not sure I am ready to go public like that. They could twist things, bring up my past, you know. We are not a normal couple and I need you to understand that. It could overshadow your moment.”

Stevie, Alaina and Hailie all exchanged glances, sensing the gravity of the conversation.

“Jake would have,” Y/N whispered not intending for him to hear that.

However, Marshall heard that comment loud and clear. His jaw clenched at the mention of Jake. His eyes flashed with a mix of anger and hurt, but he quickly masked it with a sigh. He placed his fork down and leaned back in his chair, taking a deep breath to steady himself before responding.

“Y/N, this isn’t about Jake. This is about us. I just want to protect you from the chaos that comes with my life,” he said, his voice strained but earnest.

Y/N’s eyes softened, and she reached out to touch his hand. “Marshall, I know you’re trying to protect me, but I don’t need protection from you or from your past. I need your support in my present. This art show means everything to me and having you there would make it perfect.”

Marshall looked at her, the conflict clear in his eyes. He wanted to be there for her, but the fear of his past resurfacing and affecting her was something he could not shake off easily. His daughters watched the exchange quietly, knowing this was an important moment for their father and Y/N.

“Dad, we’ve been through a lot as a family,” Hailie said gently. “We’ve faced the media before, and we’ve come out stronger. If this art show is important to Y/N, we should support her. Together.”

Marshall glanced at his daughters, their encouraging smiles giving him a sense of reassurance. He turned back to Y/N, seeing the hope and determination in her eyes. He knew she was right. He could not let his fear hold her back.

“Ok,” Marshall said finally, his voice softening. “I’ll be there. We’ll be there. I won’t let anything ruin your moment; I promise.”

Y/N’s eyes lit up with relief and joy. She leaned in and kissed his cheek, her heart swelling with love. “Thanks, M. It means the world to me.”

Marshall squeezed her hand, a small smile playing on his lips. “Anything for you, doll. Let’s make this art show unforgettable.”

The tension in the room dissipated, replaced with a sense of unity and excitement. They continued their dinner, the conversation flowing more easily now. Y/N felt renewed confidence, knowing that Marshall and his daughters would be by her side for her big night.

Alaina and Hailie left around eight o’clock and Stevie retired to their room. Y/N and Marshall sat in the living room in each other’s arms as they watched trashy television and had a light conversation. Marshall’s fingers rubbed circles on her shoulder as his arm was wrapped around her. However, Y/N could not help but think about the pink bag waiting for her upstairs. The thought of the black lingerie made her blush, and she caught Marshall’s eye, giving him a playful smile. He winked back, knowing exactly what she was thinking.

Around ten o’clock they went upstairs. Marshall locked the doors, turned off the lights and set the alarm as Y/N walked into his bedroom. The lingerie was still there, laid out on the bed with her name written all over it. She took it and slipped into it, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. She looked at herself in the mirror, the delicate fabric accentuating her curves. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door from the bathroom and stepped out.

Marshall was sitting on the bed waiting for her and when she came out, his eyes widened as he saw her. His breath caught in his throat, and he could not tear his gaze away. “Wow,” he murmured, standing up and walking over to her. “You look stunning.”

Y/N did a small twirl. The two pieces of pure lace was beautiful on her. The lace bustier covered nothing and her nipples poked through while the thong left little to the imagination. Marshall’s fingers grazed her thigh and made its way up to her chin, tilting it up and kissing her.

“Thank you for this beautiful gift,” she said softly.

“No need to thank me. It was made just for you,” he whispered, eyes filled with adoration.

Y/N cupped his cheeks, kissing his lips again. “Am I just going to be artwork to admire or are you going to rip it off of me?” she whispered into his ears.

His hands wrapped over her waist, hands setting on her ass as he slapped it lightly.

“Such naughty words,” he whispered back. “I am going to take full advantage of my present wrapped in lace.”

Y/N smirked, biting her lip but his thumb pressed against her lip, pulling it so it would release. Then he pushed it into her mouth as her tongue lapped over it.

“You are something, aren’t you,” he cooed removing it and placing it in his mouth sucking it before cupping her breast. He squeezed them, thumb over her nipple feeling it hardened from the sensation.

Y/N pushed him lightly, the back of his legs hitting the bed as he sat down. Y/N stood between them, hands wrapping around his neck as she leaned down and kissed him.

“I love you,” she whispered as she straddled him. “And I love that you’re coming to my art show.”

“What is the art?” he asked.

She began to rock her hips over his groin as she licked from his jaw to his ear. “It’s called Diverse Forms and it’s just naked people. But don’t worry, you’re not part of it. Could not have an explicit, risqué,” she whispered, “detailed picture of Eminem’s junk and body on display in Detroit.”

Marshall chuckled before kissing her shoulder. “As much as I enjoy knowing you have drawn pictures of me like that. I am glad that those won’t be public.”

Y/N pulled away, hands running through his hair as she leaned down and kissed him. “Love you, baby,” she cooed.

Then he pulled away. “Who did you draw?”

“Just whatever came to my mind.”

“Jake in it?” he said lowly.

“Never drew Jake before.”

“Sam?”

“No.”

“Anyone you have slept with?” he said deeply.

“No. I don’t draw exes,” she hummed. “Now, I sense jealousy coming from you.”

Marshall pulled away and took her arms from around his neck. “Why did you bring your ex up at dinner?”

She knew where this was going…a fight.

"I am standing here in very expensive lingerie. We are going to have sex, hot and heavy, loving sex and we are not going to have this conversation,” she stated.

Marshall took her arms and placed them back where they were before. “Proceed.”

Y/N smirked, leaning down and pressing a kiss to his lips. “You know,” she whispered, “you listening to me is very sexy.”

“Oh?” he mocked. “Is that so?”

“How would you like if I am in charge and you listen tonight?” she cooed, finger going down his nose and tilting his chin up to her.

Marshall’s eyes widened. Never thought he would hear those words come from her, however, he liked that idea. “Then kiss me, Madam.”

“No.” Y/N put her finger to his lips. “It’s please can you kiss me?”

Marshall smirked and pulled away. “I am not going to beg. That’s your job.”

Y/N then shrugged and pulled away. “Fine, enjoy your hand and lotion.” She got off of him and walked to the bathroom and Marshall watched bewildered.

What was that?

He quickly got up and ran to the bathroom, opening the door to see Y/N pulling her panties down.

“Please fuck me, Y/N,” he said with confidence.

“I need a little more,” she cooed arms over her chest.

He gave her look of surprise and she raised a brow.

“Go out there and patiently wait for me.”

“I have never said words like this to you,” he fired back.

“Let me have my fun, Marshall,” she barked back. He threw his hands up in surprise as she pulled her panties back up. “Now patiently wait for me on the bed in your boxers.”

He nodded. “Yes, Ma’am.” Marshall turned out of the bathroom and walked to the bed, stripping his shirt and pants before throwing them in the laundry. Only thing he wore was his boxers, his sobriety pendant and a chain bracelet.

Y/N came out eventually when he was very close to losing his patience. She was hyping herself up in the bathroom. Her saunter was sexy as she stood in front of Marshall. His hands were on his knees as he stared up at her.

“Goddess-like,” he mused and went to reach her, but she took his hand and placed it on his thigh.

“You don’t touch me until I tell you,” she commanded. “You’re my plaything now.”

Marshall was suddenly aroused. The way she was with words, demanding and commanding made him shiver in arousal. He nodded.

“Words?”

“Yes.”

“Good,” she whispered licking her lips. “I am trying to figure out how I want to do this,” she admitted. “I am not normally-“

“Shh,” he shushed her, “you’re ruining the roleplaying. I am getting horny from this. Continue the scene. 3…2…1… Action!”

/N chuckled before going serious. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she leaned down. “Give me a kiss.”

He pressed a kiss to her lips, and she pulled away. Her fingers trailing from under his jaw down his shoulder and arm taking his hand and placing it on her hip. She did the same to the other one before straddling him. She looked down through her lashes as he stared up at her. His hold on her tightened as she pressed a kiss to the side of his lips.

“I am going to ruin you,” she whispered.

“Likewise.”

She bit her lip as she licked it then she pushed him onto the bed, his back hitting the mattress as her hands ran down his chest, fingers curling over his boxer’s hem.

“Y/N,” he whispered, elbows going back to push him up so he could look at her. “Continue.”

“Shut up,” she stated placing a finger to his lips. “Shut the fuck up.”

Marshall did as she threw a leg over his torso and settled herself down. She leaned down and kissed his jaw as her body began to rock. Her core hit his thigh, the panties thin and he could feel the wetness from her heat. Marshall felt it on his thigh and held his moans as she sucked and bit his neck.

“Y/N…” he moaned.

She smirked as her hand went to his groin, cupping it as she assaulted his neck. Marshall bit his lip holding his moan as she delivered wet kisses down his throat to chest.

Her hand held his groin, making effect to get it hard. Once satisfied she pulled away and got off him. There was an obvious tent in his boxers, restraining against the fabric. Marshall waited patiently which took everything in him. It was usually him in control, but seeing his hot, sexy, beautiful girlfriend in lingerie made him wither and bend in ways he never thought he could.

Y/N’s fingers hooked onto the band of his boxers, pulling it down and relieving the hard, veiny cock that had pre-cum dripping from it. Marshall hissed when it hit the air as the cold bit it.

She kneeled on the bed, hand wrapping around his cock as her thumb swiped the pre-cum, bringing it to her tongue.

“Divine,” she whispered.

He swallowed hard and nodded watching her every move. Her hand wrapped around his cock as her mouth came closer. Her lips touched his tip, kissing it with love before her tongue darted and licked it with such need.

It took everything in Marshall to not grasp her hair and push her down, but he was the submissive in this scenario and he was enjoying it.

Y/N took his cock, his tip hitting the back of her mouth before she released it. Her head bobbed as her mouth hallowed, granting him pleasure beyond his own hand. She was terrific and skilled. As she gave him the blowjob, he could not help but release noises of pleasure, moaning her name and biting his lip.

He was close. So, so close and she knew it too. Y/N pulled away and took her bra pulling it down and letting her breasts be released. Plump, hard and juicy, Marshall swallowed.

What was she doing?

Y/N leaned down, taking his dick and placing it between her breasts, pumping them and instantly, it was not too long before he came. White lines of seed covered her breasts and she let go, letting them be painted.

Marshall screamed her name and watched with such wonder.

She was dirty…so dirty and he loved it.

Y/N kneeled back, and he looked down to her chest where he coated her in himself. Marshall moved to kneel in front of her. She smirked, dumbfounded almost.

“Holy fuck,” he whispered more to himself. “Holy fucking shit.”

She smirked as his hands came to cup her breasts, fingers spreading to touch and rub his seed into her skin. He swiped it and took it to her lips.

“Tongue.”

She placed her tongue out and he wiped himself onto her. She swallowed and smiled.

“You’re fucking something.”

His hand went down to her thong, pulling it by the hem fast and enough force to rip them.

“Marshall!” she snapped. “I like them.”

He shrugged. “They are mine. I bought them. I will buy you another pair.”

“They are expensive.”

Once again, he did not have a care in the world. “Come here.” His finger darted out and he made a motion for her to come. Y/N straddled him, her wet heat hitting his hard cock which earned both members to moan.

“Sit on my face,” he whispered in her ear.

“No!” she hissed.

“Why not?”

“Because I will suffocate you.”

“Rather die that way. Now do it,” he commanded. Marshall leaned back, head on the pillow as his hand reached out for her. “Grip the headboard and balance on your calves. If that makes sense.”

She nodded, scooting up to his face. She was on top of him, looking down as he tapped her thigh. Y/N slowly lowered herself till she felt him on her head.

Her hands grasped the headboard.

“Be quiet,” he stated, “don’t need my daughter to know what we are up to.”

“It’s late.”

“Y/N,” warned, “quiet as a mouse.”

She nodded as she began to feel his mouth against her core. She held her moans, gripping onto the headboard as his grasp got tighter, nails digging in. Her body began to rock with the rhythm of his tongue, and she whispered his name over and over again.

The knot in her stomach began to tighten and grow as he continued lapping and sucking on her cunt. Y/N felt her insides tense up as the growing pleasure sensation grew. Several moments later, it released, and she covered her mouth screaming his name.

Marshall smiled against her heat, guiding her in her own orgasm. Once she rode it out, Y/N rolled off Marshall, lying next to him as she tried to catch her breath. However, he did not give her long until he was on top of her, taking her legs and spreading them.

Y/N was on birth control again. She got an IUD inserted a while ago which made Marshall elated that he could go bare. To feel her was like heaven.

“Marshall,” she whispered, gripping onto his bicep.

“Yes?”

He looked down on her. “You ready?”

“Yes.”

Marshall pushed inside her, feeling her tight walls welcome him with such love. He hit her cervix, and she closed her eyes in pleasure. Then slowly he began to fuck her slowly, his balls hitting her and the sounds of slapping filling the room.

His head came to her neck as his lips attached to them. His rhythm was strong, his thrusting powerful as they moaned one another’s names. Y/N’s legs wrapped around his waist, ankles dipping into his ass as she rolled her head back and arched her back.

“I love you,” he whispered, “so much and I need you.”

She nodded. “I want you more than anything,” she replied in the heat of the moment.

“Then don’t go to Columbia.”

She heard those words, and she tried her best not to ruin the mood or the moment. Instead, she shook her head. “Not the time, baby,” she cooed, kissing the side of his lips. “I am going to Columbia.”

He pulled away. “Did you accept already?” he spat.

“Marshall, can you keep fucking me and we can talk about this after.”

“I can’t.”

“Marshall Mathers,” she bit. “Give me a fucking orgasm.”

“So, demanding,” he whispered and continued to fuck her.

Moments later, they were both at their peak, hands grasping anything they could find. Her eyes were rolled back, and she yelled his name as his hand went over her mouth. Marshall moaned hers as well as they came together.

Marshall rolled off of her, catching his breath as Y/N moved to look at him.

“Bath?” she whispered. “You and me? Hot water? I bought a bath bomb and bubbles in my bag. You can wash my hair and we can do all types of gross-loving things.”

He chuckled, getting up and walking to the bathroom on his command. Y/N pushed up onto her elbows as he watched his sculpted body saunter to the bathroom. He was naked and he was hers.

Marshall turned the bath on as Y/N walked into the bathroom, he glanced over and chuckled. “You have cum running down your leg,” he stated.

Y/N glanced down and saw it. Rolling her eyes she went to the toilet paper and swiped it off her and threw it in the toilet. Marshall checked the water and Y/N did her business of peeing in front of him.

She got to her bag and found the stuff she was looking for before throwing it in the bath. Marshall got in and he helped her in too. Her back hit his chest as she sat, head rolled onto his shoulder as his arms wrapped around her.

“Did you then?” he whispered, playing with her hair.

“Did I what?”

“Accept?”

She sighed. “No. I haven’t accepted, nor have I put money down. Until I figure out scholarships and bursaries, I won’t accept. Dr. Beau told me that he is going to Columbia and will mentor my thesis. So, to factor that.”

He nodded.

“And my mom is pushing for Vancouver. My grandparents said they will pay for my master’s if I stay in Canada.”

He nodded again. “I will pay if you stay in Detroit,” he stated as if it was nothing.

She sighed and closed her eyes. He was doing anything and everything for her to stay.

“Marshall, I can’t accept your money. Plus, it will be expensive. I am an international student.

“Name the price and I will have the cheque drawn up.”

“Nearly ninety grand,” she whispered. “Might as well buy a house.”

He swallowed and nodded. He said his piece but hearing the numbers.

“Fuck,” he whispered, “that much, huh?”

“See why I am looking for financial aid. Columbia is a little more.”

He nodded. “You really want this,” he stated as he dipped his hand into the water and dripping droplets onto her skin.

“I do.”

“It’s only two years?”

“Yeah, you will be releasing the album soon and then what…you’re going to be on tour for a year?”

“Possibly.”

“Then if I stayed, you would leave me for a year,” she said but he tried to open his mouth. “I know you. ‘Come with me’…I can’t, M. Masters. So, maybe we take a two-year break and then talk again.”

He sighed. “There are so much more opportunities in NYC for you with your career than Detroit.”          

Marshall tightened his hold onto Y/N, resting his chin on her shoulder as he pondered for a moment. The warmth of their bath and the closeness of her body made the conversation feel more intimate, but it also made the reality of their situation more pressing. “New York City offers so much more for your art career. I just the idea of being apart from you.”

Y/N turned her head to look at him, her eyes soft but resolute. “I know, and I hate it too. But it’s only two years, and it’s such an important opportunity for me. We can make it work, M. We have faced bigger and grander challenges.”

Marshall sighed, his heart heavy with the thought of their separation, but also filled with admiration for her determination. He took a deep breath and then finally came to terms with all of this. “I’ll support you whatever decision you make, Y/N. I just want you to be happy and to succeed. We’ll find a way to make it work, even if it means being apart for a while.”

She smiled, reaching up to cup his cheek with her wet hand. “Thank you, Marshall. That means a lot to me. Who knows… maybe we’ll surprise each other with visits. New York is not far.”

“What about Vancouver?”

“I don’t want to be this person, but you have money and a direct flight.”

He chuckled, nodding. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll be the best long-distance boyfriend there ever was. “

Y/N kissed his lips as he began to wet her hair and wash it in the tub. He began to massage her scalp, getting the shampoo in their before he took the bucket and washed it out. He continued with conditioner very meticulous with his work as he focused. Y/N closed her eyes as she felt his hands in her hair. It was lovely. It was intimate. It was pure devotion.

They finished their bath and got ready for bed. Closing the lights off, she found herself with her head on his bare chest whispering sweet nothings as they soothed each other into sleep.

-

Sorry for the delay of posting! Still on vacation.

This was a long one! Hope you enjoyed it :)

Much love,

Ava <3

[mamasbakeria]

hey, what's your major again?

summary: my credible expert opinion on what the aot characters would study in university. what are my qualifications? the dozens of hours i’ve spent staring at my school’s program bulletin trying to figure out what i’m majoring in

genre | includes: headcanons, sfw, minor language, uninformed percy jackson reference (pls don't hate me if im wrong)

characters: eren jaeger, mikasa ackerman, armin arlert, sasha braus, jean kirschtein, connie springer, historia reiss, ymir, reiner braun, annie leonhardt

author’s note: had this in my drafts for months now. i just need to post it so it stops haunting me. might do the rest of the marleyans and vets in the future! lmk your thoughts, my only tumblr notifications are from p*rn bots, so i'd love to hear from real people lol. enjoy <3

eren: sociology and public policy, 4+1 program for a social work masters

there’s only so many times you can hear “you’re gonna be a doctor just like your dad” before you start to believe it. that’s why eren started out with biology on the premed track. the thing is, he really didn’t care for it. eren is really passionate about lessening equity gaps and is a firm believer in “if you want something done right, do it yourself”. this is why i see him making the switch to a double major in public policy and sociology. he wants to know about how society got to the point of perpetuating disparities so that he can fix them. but he also knows that the government fucking sucks and thinks its naive to expect policy change to be the only method of change. and like the maniac he is, eren is enrolled in a 4+1 program so he can get his master’s in social work when he’s done with his undergrad. he’s determined to graduate with both degrees in just 4 years though. rip his summers.

armin: international relations and military ethics, minor in communications or smth

everyone always says armin would study marine biology or oceanographic studies, but i honestly think that it’s a passion that he pursues on the side. he takes marine bio courses for his breadth requirements, but knows he’d end up hating the ocean if he spent the rest of his life studying it. he also strikes me as someone who would rather run buck naked into traffic than sit through multiple semesters of organic chemistry. armin was always a good public speaker, though, despite being a bit insecure. that’s why his speech and debate teacher during sophomore year of high school recommended model united nations to him. he was hooked after his first conference and now genuinely sees the path of international diplomacy as his calling. that’s why he’s majoring in international relations. his concentration in military ethics is something he tacks on in his junior year after taking some courses and publishing research with dr. erwin smith. he probably minors in communications because he can.

mikasa: forensic science

mikasa had no idea what she wanted to do when she started uni. she’s good at nearly everything. like never gotten a B in her life and is the student who the curve is based off of. but excelling in every environment you’re put in often means you don’t know what you’re best at. she knew deep down that she wanted to do something justice related like her childhood best friends did, but she’s no public speaker and has no interest in political reform. she was, however, emo in high school and heard a fair share of undertaker jokes at her expense. it wouldn’t hurt to look into right? as cool as the title sounds, morticians don’t make enough money for the job they have. fortunately enough, forensic pathologists do and mikasa looks good in a lab coat. she would never admit it to spare armin and eren’s feelings, but when they, as children, recreated the crime-solving shows mrs. jaeger always had on, mikasa always wanted to be the brains. so criminology and forensic science it is. (side note: she definitely joins the military and they pay for her education)

jean: structural engineering and industrial design with a minor in studio art

more than anything, jean wants to provide for his mom and knows he can’t guarantee a retirement of luxury for her as the freelance artist he wishes he could be. he’s decent at math when he tries and doesn’t hate physics, so he decided he’d give structural engineering a try for at least a semester or two. he wasn’t expecting to get much from it, to be honest. he had a plethora of backup plans waiting for his supposedly inevitable distaste for engineering, but he found that he didn’t hate it at all. someone once told jean that he had the makings of a great leader and he didn’t believe them until he started taking the lead on design projects and producing incredible results. his only qualm is that he just doesn’t get to be as creative as he wanted to be. that was easily rectified by an additional major in industrial design and a minor in studio art. he’s unbelievably busy, busier than he anticipated when he started his post-secondary journey, but he’s content and there’s nothing some extra coffee can’t solve. 

sasha: environmental science and sustainability

sasha spent her childhood ankle-deep in mud and fighting her way through forest thickets without a compass. an upbringing like that doesn’t leave your spirit, no matter how far into the city you go for school. so sasha’s always been passively passionate about the environment. that passiveness became significantly more prominent when part of the woods she grew up in was cleared out to build an industrial complex. it was then that she started researching and writing petitions about preserving wildlife and making environmentally conscious decisions. her work actually got her the scholarship she’s on (because god knows it wasn’t her grades). and she genuinely loves what she does, so why wouldn’t she keep learning about it? the environmental science and sustainability program at the school is small, but tight-knit and known for churning out changemakers. sasha knows she’ll be one of them one day. just hide your plastic straws from her, okay?

connie: computer science and chinese

stick with me here okay? everyone expects connie to be a douchebag marketing major whose hardest assignments are graphing functions and making posters on photoshop, but he’s a lot more invested in his education than he looks. don’t get me wrong, connie has always struggled academically, but that’s because so much of early education is pre-determined. he performed way better when he could choose what courses he took. it’s kind of like percy jackson being dyslexic in english because he was wired to read in greek. connie can’t keep his eyes on a history textbook for shit, but will gladly sit in front of the c++ code on his pc for hours. he doesn’t even get mad when he realizes that he was missing a semicolon. connie loves how versatile of a future he could have with a compsci degree, because, let’s be real, he could never survive in a typical office environment. definitely takes a bunch of chinese classes and doesn’t realize that he has enough credits for it to be a minor until his second to last semester.

historia: political science with a minor in international relations and child development

historia is a lot like eren in the sense that she knows her time is best spent doing hands-on work in the fields she cares about. she realizes this sometime after reconnecting with her estranged father and volunteering at the orphanage she grew up in. but now that she’s publicly associated with a powerful political figure, historia doesn’t get to do what she wants, only what is expected of her. that’s how she ends up on the pre-law political science and public policy route. the nickname “ms. president” that connie and sasha give her only further reminds her that she’s heading down a path she never wanted for herself. after lots of encouragement from ymir, historia decided to take child development courses on the side. even if she doesn’t take on the full minor, she’s taking some classes she cares about. maybe she’ll find use for it someday. at the very least, it’s her first step in becoming the most selfish girl in the world.

ymir: data science and business management

ymir is smart. much smarter than she presents herself to be, almost as a form of protection. nobody expects much of someone who is aloof, so it makes it easy to slip through the cracks to remain safe and comfortable in the shadows. business management is notoriously low commitment and easy to skate by with. guaranteed internships, post-graduate employment, and so on. To anyone who doesn’t know ymir well, it’s perfect. but they have her mistaken, ymir will do as little as possible to go as far as possible. sure, she can live comfortably with a business degree, but it could be better with a little bit of data science in her arsenal. she’s intelligent enough to pick up on it, and determined enough to make it her bitch. yeah, academia is a money-sucking pipeline into the capitalist hellscape, she doesn’t believe in it yada yada, but at the end of the day, ymir’s gonna get the bag. so what if she’s gotta sleep through some stats classes to get it?

reiner: behavioral economics

reiner’s mother had convinced him his whole life that getting a high paying job would fix their lives and bring his father back. believing “perfect grades lead to a perfect life” made high school tough for reiner; gifted kid burnout is no joke. it really messed him up. he wasn’t sure if he could withstand the pressures of university, but here he is. reiner was never allowed a therapist, so he figured pursuing psychology would, at the very least, give him some answers and be a good pathway to a medical degree. he loved getting to understand how people work and why they act the way they do, but something was missing. he found out what it was when a guest lecturer spoke in his economics class. he knew making the switch would be risky, it’s a new field and his current career options are really only research, academia, or government, but the interdisciplinary study of behavioral economics is calling reiner’s name. 

annie: biomedical engineering and kinesiology

annie’s entire life revolved around her father, including the injury he was never able to heal from. the one she gave him. he’s claimed to be over it, she’s forgiven, but annie will never feel like she’s earned that forgiveness until she gets rid of the problem entirely. how is she going to do that exactly? with biomedical engineering. she has years of hell in front of her, especially with her concentration on biomechanics, but she doesn’t care. annie will throw herself into her work to get the results she wants. she takes the highest amount of credits possible every semester so she can graduate early. you’ll most likely find her chained to a study cubicle at the library at all hours of the day and running on 2 hours of sleep, but it doesn’t faze her. she tacks on a minor in kinesiology because it makes sense and she had most of the credits for it anyway. and as if it couldn’t get worse, she probably TAs for a thermodynamics course or something crazy like that.

© mamasbakeria 2023. do not repost, translate (without permission), or modify

[phillipjaekwoncoulson]

Welcome to my current hyperfixation, creating as accurate a timeline as possible for the life (until 1st death) of one Phillip J Coulson, under the cut for your convenience

July 8, 1964

Born in Manitowoc WI to history teacher and football coach Robert, and homemaker Julie Coulson.

Summers 1970-73

Played Little League (batted .400), fixed up a cherry red 62 Chevy with his dad

1973

Death of his father, circumstances unknown, but was considered a Defining Moment in his life. He's "forgotten more about [his dad] than he remembers." He and his mother then moved away from Manitowoc.

1982

First contact with SHIELD, right out of high school. Canon differs on whether he was recruited straight out of senior year or simply tapped and recruited after some college (reported history degree which got him on SHIELD's radar, but Coulson personally said "younger than [Skye, early 20s] when I was recruited, straight out of high school." My personal thought is that he was approached during/just after high school, but was encouraged to get a degree to help him get into SHIELD Academy

1986 (likely)

Formal recruitment into SHIELD Academy of Communications, to study data analysis and become "The analysis expert" -Agent Tripp.

1990

Coulson + Melinda May's first mission, in Sausalito, CA, with no proper exit plan that ended with May stuck in the bay for 5 hours.

(this year, presuming he entered SHIELD Academy after a 4 year college degree, is exact and lines up better with him being a Junior Agent in Captain Marvel, 1995. According to Jemma Simmons' stated biography, the Academy is a 4 year program. When undercover in HYDRA she stated she started at SHIELD at 17. She was born in 1987 and graduated the Academy "in 2004, 3 years early" meaning she only spent 1 year there max. She could not have entered the academy any younger for multiple reasons (had at least 1 PhD, and to gain a visa to study/work younger than 17 would have been nigh impossible))

1990s

Ran multiple missions with Katherine Shane and presumably had a casual relationship

1995

Junior Agent Coulson, along with Nick Fury, is tasked with investigating an unusual circumstance at a Blockbuster in LA. Plot of Captain Marvel happens here, along with the first mention of the (currently unnamed) Avengers Initiative. At this time Coulson does not know the true story of how Fury lost his eye

1996 (likely)

First meeting with Audrey Nathan (the cellist and proclaimed Coulson's true love). Proceeded to start a relationship, including trips to Hawaii (to get a tie as a gift and eat some poi) and dinners at The Richmond

Marcus Daniels' wiki says he was in a lab accident at college sometime between 1992-96. Watsonian logic, Coulson was likely picked for the case because of his previous experience with light-based powered persons

2001 (likely)

Recruitment of Clint Barton

Wiki says he was hand-picked by Fury in the early 2000s. He met Laura working with her at SHIELD and his oldest daughter was born around 2004.

2002

Coulson stationed in Cusco, Peru alongside Camilla Reyes, a member of Policia Militar del Perú, with whom he formed some form of romantic/casual relationship.

Best guess, Coulson considered all his relationships casual/incidental, saying goodbye to Audrey each time and hoping to be able to come back but making no promises of fidelity. Either that or he's a prolific cheater because Marvel can't get their stories straight. I prefer option A.

2003-5

Promoted to training teams of agents

Between being an attache to a foreign governmental body and gaining Akela (next bullet), a notoriously difficult recruit, he had to have cut his teeth training other teams/agents. Akela's training absolutely falls under this timeline as well, given how well she knew him

2006

sent his recruit Akela with a small team to raid a gulag owned by criminal Vanchat, where Akela was either captured or killed somewhere in the Shanxi Province, according to record.

2008, likely early spring

Coulson and May were sent as the Welcome Wagon to talk to a possible gifted in Bahrain, resulting in the birth of The Cavalry and May's cold personality change

2008, June

Word of The Hulk reaches SHIELD. Coulson questions whether Fury wants to fold him in, to which he's told the Hulk is "Thunderbolt Ross's problem"

2008, October

Sent as the Welcome Wagon to recruit Tony Stark to SHIELD after his return from captivity under the guise of a debrief

2008, early winter

Sends Agent Barton on a mission in Russia in which Barton runs across the Black Widow. Barton is then sent back to kill her, resulting in a standoff in Budapest, days off grid, the death of a young girl, and the recruitment of Natasha Romanoff

2009

Takes up overseeing the TAHITI project (in 2014 one of the agents who had taken part and was wiped was officially declared dead 5 years previous). Also shuts down the project due to the insurmountable issues presenting in the subjects.

2010, May

Sent to babysit Tony Stark on his house arrest, threatening to "tase him and watch Supernanny while he drools into the carpet"

2010, May/June

Sent to investigate an 084 alongside a science team and Agent Barton, resulting in the plot of Thor

2011

Captain America found in the ice. Defrosted and set up in a 1940s dummy hospital setup, presumably planned by Coulson, the resident expert on Captain America, history, and gifted recruits. Plus he "watched Steve while he was sleeping"

2012, pre-May

Hawkeye is assigned to infiltrate the helicarrier under Fury's orders and learns of the Avengers Initiative, as well as Coulson's involvement.

2012, May

Coulson dies. Had a date planned with Audrey in Portland, missed it due to gaining a new piece of Asgardian hardware in his chest

2012, June/July

Coulson undergoes multiple invasive surgeries in an attempt to revive him using Kree blood as part of the TAHITI project.

2013

Starts up a new team composed of Melinda May, Grant Ward, Jemma Simmons, and Leopold Fitz to take on interesting problems, functioning as a quick-response unit (and to allow May to keep a very close eye on Coulson)

[thejoyfulfairy]

The Thrylix Club

Throughout the three years of attending Alfea, these seven fairies will have to improve their fighting skills, become stronger and learn to work together. But they will also have to learn from their friendships and grow as people

Open to learn more about them!

Holly fairy of plants

Holly is from Limphea and so her powers are nature themed, she specifically controls plants and greenery.

She is a kind person that wants to make everyone around her happy. She doesn't like changes so she was hesitant to go to Alfea. Her mother was the one to sign her up so she agreed to go to make her proud. She eventually realises that sometimes plants are not enough for company and that new friends and a change of environment were actually what she needed

Krista fairy of electricity

Krista is the daughter of two owners of a big electrical company in Zenith

She loves to try new things, in contrast to her best friend Holly, and she's happy with her newfound freedom in Alfea, as her parents were very strict. Out of her friends she's the most acquainted with technology, since she grew up in Zenith, so she's always left in charge of any technological stuff even though she hates it. Don't worry though, She will slack off every chance she gets

Laurie fairy of love

Laurie is the princess of Azalia, a small planet dressed in flowers and good weather and that's most known for the Harmosyni Festival that takes place there once a year during the summer.

She's a very outgoing and loving person, something that's to be expected from the fairy of love but ironically she's a hopeless romantic. She's very unlucky when it comes to dating because every person she's interested in always turns out to be evil and gets her and her friends into dangerous situations

Carmen fairy of knowledge

Carmen's homeplanet is Eraklyon, where she grew up with her father, an accountant.

She is the mother of the groop and always the voice of reason. Her goal is to graduate from Alfea on the top of her class although this might appear difficult because she always gets caught up in her friends' antics. Fortunately for her the knowledge she gets from the adventures they go on turns out very useful!

Adelyn fairy of beauty

Adelyn is from Melody and she aims to become a successful model like her mother.

At first she would seem like a hotheaded and arrogant person but after she becomes friends with the others and opens up to them more, she turns out to be a very loyal friend and the first to take their side defending them

Zarya fairy of darkness

Zarya is from Callisto with powers related to night and darkness

She was originally attending Cloud Tower to learn to become a witch since she thought it would suit her interests and personality. During the second year of her studies, though, she was selected to take part in an exchange program with Alfea that, like many other witches, she hated the idea of. There, she was grouped with the other, five at the time, members of the Thrylix Club as a trust exercise since fairies have to learn to work together with convergence spells. She ended up enjoying the teamwork aspect of magic training, that she felt like Cloud Tower lacked, and decided to transfer to Alfea and become a fairy

Isla fairy of snow

Isla was born in Magix but her and her family moved to a snowy faraway planet called Neve-IV when she was very young.

She is a very extroverted and welcoming person. Where she lived there was only a small community of people so she's always happy to meet new friends! She met the other girls when they were sent on an mission on her planet during their 3rd year of Alfea. She insisted in returning to Magix with them and to be there to help with any future difficulties

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