#Best Driving Lessons in Harrow

[commanderbuffy]

Sapphic Books Reccs

Here is my list of recommended sapphic books! There’s a lot of YA here since that’s a lot of what I read. Everything on this list I have personally read and can recommend. I’m sure there’s a TON out there I haven’t read or ones I have read and have just forgotten!

Contemporary

Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail by Ashley Herring Blake (Adult)

My favorite of Blake’s! Enemies to lovers. SO good.

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake (Adult)

A woman falls for her step-sister’s best friend. Oh, and there’s a kiddo in the mix as well.

The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth (YA)

Two girls promise a summer of fun full of rom-com worthy dates. The only rule, no relationships. Just one summer, nothing more. Sure....

Forget Me Not by Alyson Derrick (YA)

Amnesia fic where a girl forgets she ever met her secret girlfriend in their ultra-conservative town.

Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar (YA)

Fake dating between the girl who wants to validate her bisexuality to her friends and the girl who doesn’t mind the popularity boost.

Her Name in the Sky by Kelly Quindlen (YA)

Best friends to lovers! A big piece of this is also the friend group involved.

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli (YA)

Imogen thinks she’s just an Ally. Spoiler alert: she’s not. I loved the way friendship was explored in this. You see some really solid friendships as well as a subtly toxic one (that’s acknowledged as such).

Late to the Party by Kelly Quindlen (YA)

An ode to late bloomers and a journey to self-acceptance. A girl goes to her first party, befriends a gay guy who introduces her to new group of friends and one really cute girl

Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl by Brianna Shrum and Sara Waxelbaum (YA)

Super fun involving a girl asking another girl fo “Queer 101″ lessons. Bi and Autistic rep too!

Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales (YA)

A girl gives anonymous love advice and gets hired by a hot guy to help him get his ex back. Really FANTASTIC bi rep!

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston (Adult)

A sexy time-bendy romance with so much heart

She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen (YA)

My FAVORITE rom-com. I reread it constantly. Fake dating, enemies-to-lovers between the cheer captain and basketball star!!

She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick (YA)

Two girl team up to get their crushes to fall for them and start developing feelings for each other along the way.

Six Times We Almost Kissed by Tess Sharpe (YA)

Childhood frenemies forced to move in together for their best friend moms’ sake. Trauma filled and SO SO good.

Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan (YA)

A fun rom-com between an out queer athlete and the local beauty pageant queen.

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour (YA)

One of my favorite books of all time. A story about grief and friendship and love. A soft, quiet story.

Who I Was With Her by Nita Tyndall (YA)

A girl’s secret girlfriend dies and she is left to grieve alone until she finds herself turning to her girlfriend’s ex.

Science Fiction/Fantasy

Crier’s War by Nina Varela (YA)

A romance that leads to revolution by between two girls: one human, one Made

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow (Adult)

This is historical and fantasy! Suffragette witches! Another one of those books I wish I could read again for the first time. Three sisters, one of them has a WLW romance

Thriller/Horror

Hide by Kiersten White (Adult)

A high-stakes hide and seek competition in an abandoned amusement park. One of my all-over favorite books of 2022.

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland (YA)

No wlw romance in this one, but the main character and her sister are both wlw. My absolute favorite book of 2021. What I would pay to read this for the first time again.

The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe (YA)

The daughter of a con artist is finally allowed to stop running and faking her identity, only to get stuck in a bank heist with her ex-boyfriend and current girlfriend.

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand (YA)

Three girls who shouldn’t have a reason to team up together against an ancient evil. The new girl, the pariah, and the queen bee who’s been helping the evil all along. I have reread this book easy a dozen times.

Throwaway Girls by Andrea Contos (YA)

When a girl goes searching for her missing best friend, she finds a trail of other missing girls and battles with heartbreak after her girlfriend leaves her for California.

Wilder Girls by Rory Power (YA)

Quarantined at her girl’s school after a gruseome Tox breaks out, a girl must find what happened to her best friend who’s gone missing

Historical

Great or Nothing by Joy McCullough, Caroline Tung Richmond, Tess Sharpe, and Jessica Spotswood (YA)

The queer Little Women retelling we all deserve with a SAPPHIC JO! Set in 1942. Beth’s POV still haunts my heart

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (YA)

Two of the major supporting characters are WLW. This becomes more important and on the page in the later books in this series, but this is the first one.

Music from Another World by Robin Talley (YA)

1970s California. Two girls become penpals and bond over music.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Adult)

Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo famously had seven husbands. This is the story of her wife.

[twothpaste]

i'm interested to hear about Porky for that character meme

First impression: The first time I saw Porky was in Smash Bros Brawl when I was like 12, and I was probably about as bamboozled as every other kid back then. I remember being creeped out and a little captivated, wondering what the hell could possibly be up with this rampaging kid / old man / ??? In some kind of life support mech??? Like damn these Mother games must be crazy. (Proceeded to emulate Pokemon instead for the next 6 years 🤸)

Impression now: Oh, I see! He was The Best Villain In All Of Media. That's what was up with him. He carved out a corner in the back of my brain where he's been living rent free for a decade. If I think too hard about him I go off the rails and sometimes become cataclysmically sad. Awesome.

Favorite moment: The entire Empire Porky Building is a mesmerizingly monolithic character study unto itself. But his climactic speech when you finally reach him at the 100th floor is like. God. Fucking hell. Where does one even begin. The surprising eloquent conviction with which he speaks, after a whole dungeon of childish taunting. And then, it's actually such a thin veneer after all. He's deluded himself into thinking he's a godlike visionary, but everything he declares about "humanity" is so insecure and immature and downright wrong. The unnerving spite and tragedy of it all. The urge to pity him feels like a bellyache. How you know where he came from and what a hapless child he used to be (and maybe still is) - but to the people of Nowhere?? They've got no fuckin' clue. And he doesn't belong here, but at the same time, he embodies every individualistic capitalistic apocalyptic thing they tried to shove under the rug and forget about. Just. Agh. Turns my brain and bones to jelly.

Idea for a story:

Unpopular opinion: He's not "insane," or mind controlled by Giygas, or gone "crazy" in the aftermath of Giygas' influence. A thousand lifetimes are sure to do something to a guy's head, sure - and I'm sure his mental health ain't great - but like?? Everything about him hits so much harder if he is of relatively sound reasoning (like every other capitalist), and if he's acting on his own will. Stripping him of his psychological agency renders him so thematically & conceptually toothless to me, idk. If he was just acting zany & evil 'cause he was out of his mind or whatever, then none of the shit he does or says really means anything!! Giygas brought out the worst in him. Aloysius and Lardna conditioned him to make terrible choices. Porky chose to spend 3842389 years committing atrocities unto mother Earth and mankind.

Favorite relationship: His friendship with Ness is so bittersweet, and his use of Claus as an extension of himself is both harrowing and fascinating. I think my fav is his narrative dynamics with Lucas though. How they both faced cruelty at the hands of shortsighted adults and the world at large, but learned completely different lessons from it. How Lucas, presumably a boundlessly kind and forgiving person, gets pushed to his absolute limit with this guy. How he's gotta grapple with the ethics of Porky's fate, whether or not he deserves to spend eternity trapped by his lonesome. How Porky coerces this humble farm kid into the role of Ness, chasing the high of his friendship and rivalry. How he calls Claus his "double," right in front of Claus' actual double, just to drive the knife in deeper. How he thinks he represents the grim reality of human nature, while Lucas stands tall and faces him as a shining counterpoint. Everybody explode now.

Favorite headcanon: Uhh shit I dunno what my favorite is. The Masked Man is based on one of his original comic characters he used to draw when he shouldda been paying attention in math class. He had a crush on Ness and didn't know what to do about it and now it's the whole universe's problem. He has a laughably poorly-informed admiration for Ronald Reagan, 'cause his dad spoke highly of him. If he were just a guy in the 2020s, his goal in life would be to usurp Elon Musk by being exactly the same but "smarter" and "more competent" (he would fail because he's neither).

[moralofdastory]

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[thincdriving]

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Choosing the right driving instructor is essential for passing your driving test on the first attempt. Thinc Driving School is renowned for its high pass rates, modern training techniques, and patient instructors who make every lesson productive.

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Don't just learn to drive—become a confident, safe driver with Thinc Driving School. Book your lessons today and take the first step towards driving independence!

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[itchristchurch]

Brace Yourself: A Dive into the Depths of IT Support Gore

Whether you're an individual navigating the digital landscape or a business striving for a strong online presence, the perils of technology can strike fear into the hearts of even the most seasoned tech enthusiasts. 

In today's digital world, effective IT support is not just a luxury - it's a necessity. From hardware failures to cybersecurity threats, the challenges are real, and the stakes are high.

Section 1: The Perils of Hardware Failures

The ground trembles as the dreaded blue screen of death rears its ugly head, signalling a hardware failure in your midst. 

Common hardware issues such as malfunctioning hard drives, overheating processors, and finicky peripherals can send shivers down the spines of individuals and businesses alike. But fear not, brave souls, for there are ways to fortify your defenses against these malevolent machines.

To prevent hardware failures from casting a shadow over your digital domain, regular maintenance and proactive troubleshooting are key. Keep your hardware clean and well-ventilated, update drivers and firmware, and perform routine diagnostics to identify potential issues before they escalate into full-blown disasters.

Section 2: Software Woes and Nightmares

As you navigate the labyrinthine corridors of software, the spectre of buggy programs and system crashes lurks in the shadows, ready to strike at the most inopportune moments. The frustration of dealing with unresponsive applications and corrupted files can haunt your every move, but fear not - there are ways to exorcise these digital demons.

When faced with software woes, a methodical approach to troubleshooting and recovery is your best defence. Stay vigilant with software updates and patches, utilise reliable antivirus and malware detection tools, and always keep backups of your critical data to ensure a swift recovery in the event of a software-induced nightmare.

Section 3: Network Nightmares and Connectivity Catastrophes

In the sprawling expanse of the digital realm, the sinister forces of network outages and connectivity issues lie in wait, ready to ensnare the unwary traveller. The frustration of sluggish internet speeds, dropped connections, and network downtime can cast a pall over your online endeavours, but fear not - there are ways to reclaim control of your digital connectivity.

To conquer network nightmares and connectivity catastrophes, optimising your network performance and implementing robust connectivity solutions are paramount. Invest in reliable networking hardware, utilize quality service providers, and employ network monitoring tools to identify and address connectivity issues before they haunt your digital domain.

Section 4: Cybersecurity Horrors and Data Disasters

Amidst the digital shadows, the lurking spectre of cybersecurity threats and data breaches casts a chilling pall over the sanctity of your digital assets. The prospect of falling victim to malicious hackers, phishing scams, and data theft can send shivers down your spine, but fear not - there are ways to fortify your defenses and emerge unscathed from the clutches of cyber peril.

To shield yourself from cybersecurity horrors and data disasters, educate yourself and your team on best practices for digital security, implement robust cybersecurity measures such as firewalls and encryption, and maintain diligent data backup and recovery protocols to ensure the resilience of your digital fortress.

Conclusion

As our harrowing journey through the depths of IT support Gore draws to a close, it's crucial to heed the lessons learned along the way. From the perils of hardware failures to the horrors of cybersecurity threats, the digital landscape is fraught with challenges, but with vigilance and preparedness, you can navigate these treacherous waters unscathed. Source By: Brace Yourself: A Dive into the Depths of IT Support Gore

[canvaswolfdoll]

you know what? i want to talk about my dog!

this is Emi! she's the most important being in my life!

it became known when i was about seven how utterly necessary a dog is to me. doing first grade lessons, whenever prompted to provide a word or topic or whatever, little canvas would suggest dog or something dog related. it got to the point that my teacher told my parents i needed a dog because how utterly obsessed i was.

for their eighth birthdays, both my siblings received their own scriptures.

for my eighth birthday, i got Christine, the adorable black dog wearing a paper hat that is my tumblr avatar.

let me reiterate: getting a dog supplanted a religious rite of passage.

she's named after the phantom of the opera character because i was also going through a phantom of the opera phase at the time.

anyways, Christine was a good girl for many years, saw me through school until i moved away for college, leaving her with my parents was heartbreaking, but i knew she was back home whenever i could get away to visit.

then i visited over a break, and she was showing her age but did her best. she passed away the day after i returned to my dumb first apartment.

i was emotionally devastated.

and once i worked through the emotions, the yearning for a dog returned. i need a dog.

i moved to an apartment that would allow pets, started trying to get my life in order and stable enough that i felt comfortable having a dog again. eventually moved into my current house, got a non-retail job, and was rapidly approaching my 26th birthday despite promising myself i'd get a dog when i was 25.

so i started browsing the pet shelter and adoption sites, considering the various rescue options available.

eventually there was an adoption event at a petsmart several cities over. i had work that day, and i typically am the sort of person who can't do much before work.

but there was a promise of some nice looking beagle mixes with promising descriptions.

so, despite my usual anxiety, i went! it was a harrowing drive to a location i'd never been to while the clock ticked towards a shift i had to be on time for.

i walked into the petsmart, and saw the collection of dogs up for adoption.

the small doggie family i came to consider weren't there. i asked one of the workers, and they said they were at a vet appointment and would be arriving later.

i had work sooner than i would like.

i looked at the other dogs as i considered my options.

sitting in a wire crate, between some other dogs, was a terrier whose info card said was named 'batty' who looked absolutely miserable to be there. so pitiful, alone in a cage while plenty of other dogs were granted open kennels and such.

i asked about this batty. the attendant took her out and lead me to the side to discuss her.

the dog stayed close to the attendant, or wandered away to investigate away from the strange humans and dogs.

now, i don't know if the attendant was being truthful with me or if they knew a mark when they saw one, but i was told about how they hoped to find a home for batty as she'd been adopted a couple times, only to be returned soon after because the prospective owners couldn't handle her or their roommate objected, and this two (or three) year old dog wasn't housebroken, and so batty was unadopted.

anyways, it was nearly a done deal at that point. batty looked so forlorn in her cage, and she'd been rejected so much, and she was so afraid of getting close to me, that i couldn't leave the most miserable dog without knowing it would work out.

however, i had work pretty much as soon as i got back to town, and thought it would be pretty awful to adopt a dog, drop her off at my house, then leave for several hours. especially since she wasn't housebroken.

so the attendant called batty's foster, handed me the phone, and we arranged for me to fill out the paperwork that day, and pick batty up the next day from a park even further away.

so i paid the fees, signed the paperwork, let the organizers take a picture for their facebook page (i am very opposed to photos of myself, especially shared online, which is a further sign of what i would do to have a dog), told batty i would see her the next day, and went to work.

the next day, i drive to the park, met with the foster, awkwardly admitted i didn't have a leash or anything for dog care because i was going to get those things with this dog.

i was also told batty gets car sick.

i had about an hour drive back home.

i took batty into my car, thanked the foster, exchanged numbers, and started driving away.

i informed batty that i was changing her name, because it felt a little cruel to name her after her large ears.

i had previously tried to look up popular japanese dog names because, when you have a phantom of the opera phase from the ages of 5 to 9, you're condemned to be some sort of massive nerd.

anyways, i had learned cliche european names were very vogue in japan, so i decided to turn that around and give a japanese name to my dog.

i decided on Emi.

Emi threw up in my car.

i stopped at a convenience store for paper towels and water. Emi didn't want any water. i tried to clean up as best as i could.

she threw up several more times on the way.

i started to wonder if i made the right choice. what if i couldn't actually handle this? i had my parents to help me take care of Christine, what if i wasn't meant to care for a dog? i knew i don't want to deal with a human child, what if i'm over my head on this? she'd been rejected several times for not getting housebroken!

Emi was also unsure of this human that had abducted her.

i got back to town, stopped at the much more local petsmart, decided she'd be color coded with purple things, so got her a purple collar and leash, food, a bed, piddle pads, stain cleaner for the car, and tried to get her to select a toy, which she didn't really seem invested in so i got her a dragon, then headed home where my brother had bought treats and a chipmunk toy for her.

Emi was, in fact, not housebroken, so i took care of that as i could. she also remained hesitant about this new environment.

spent the day trying to get her happy and comfortable.

at bed time i had made up my mind that Emi would sleep in her bed outside my room, and proceeded to leave her out in the hallway as i went to bed.

i lay in bed and listened to pitiful whines.

i let her into my room and she curled up.

fine, but she sleeps on a blanket on the top of the covers.

i woke up the next morning to poop on the floor and Emi pressed against me under the comforter.

the next several nights i refused to let her crawl under the comforter, only to wake up to find her there.

anyways, i got Emi housebroken in a week, she insists on being in the same room as me at all times unless my brother's upstairs, in which case she lays at the top of the stairs to be equidistant to us, her favorites toys are small unstuffed plushies, we've gone on several road trips to california where she didn't throw up, and now i hold up the comforter so she can crawl under and cuddle against my back only for me to wake up in the morning with her on top of a blanket at the foot of the bed.

and she has never looked as sad as she did in her cage all those years ago.

Emi's the best thing in my life.

[super-emilyjones]

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[kradogsrats]

tumblr user @raayllum is a HUGE enabler so here's some "Harrow and Viren are married and raise Ezran as their son" AU garbage

After Ezran is a year or two old, Sarai returns to her full-time military career (which was put on hold after Callum's father died). Callum is raised alongside Ezran, but is always hyper-aware of their difference in status, which makes their relationship a bit less close than in canon.

"Your highness." "Callum, you know you can call me 'Ezran,' or even 'Ez.' We're brothers." "Half-brothers, and you're the prince."

Viren does intend to teach Ezran magic, but Ezran ultimately refuses to learn (to varying degrees, depending on whether it's ultimately important that he NOT be susceptible to Aaravos's control). He also doesn't believe Ezran's explanation of his ability to understand animals, and is hurt and resentful of what he perceives as personal rejection. Harrow has to intervene and it's a big point of contention in their relationship.

Viren also has a deeply toxic rivalry with Sarai because, being hyper-aware of status dynamics, he's insecure about not being Ezran's "real" father and that tends to manifest as him being extremely possessive of Ezran and trying to drive a wedge between him and Sarai. Sarai, for her part, is very protective of Callum in that she trusts Harrow to ensure he's taken care of in her absence, and... tolerates Viren, at best. (She definitely looks at the royal portrait of him like "I've had enough of this dude".)

This is important because it's Callum who Viren winds up training in magic, because Ezran refuses but Callum is open to it. Ezran went through a phase before he began outright refusing lessons where he demanded Callum be present for them, so Callum learned enough to be interested and also demonstrate that he's potentially very good at it. He may not be a prodigy like Claudia, but he's desperate for something to be good and useful at, which is both deeply resonant with and exploitable by Viren.

Since Soren never exists, Kpp'Ar doesn't have his major falling out with Viren. @raayllum wants him to be around as a grandfather-like figure to Callum, which I acknowledge would be awesome. However, I am a bad person and want him to stop Viren from riding out after Neha and Annika during the Titan Heart expedition like "your son needs you, mine no longer does" and go himself.

On the geopolitical front, a mage king in the human kingdoms is a big red flag for Xadia. Without Sarai (and Sarai's early death) as a moderating influence on Harrow, tensions continue to escalate on both sides, to the point of actual dragon attacks on Katolian border outposts and settlements.

Sarai is killed(?) during one of these escalating skirmishes. (I say ? because it would be kind of fun for Callum to have Rayla's "my dead parent is alive" arc.)

Out of both genuine feeling for Callum and also knowing a golden opportunity, Viren convinces Callum to provide the blood and hatred that will kill Thunder. (The spell here would have to be tweaked a bit, since Sarai's last breath is not available, but I don't think that's insurmountable.)

Killing Thunder at a point where open warfare is basically already beginning is less out there than randomly showing up to do so in peacetime, but it does kind of complicate stealing the egg. The problem here is that either the egg still needs to be stolen, or there needs to be something else that convinces Rayla to not go through with the assassination mission. Coming up with a way for the egg to still be stolen is probably the easier option, but I'd try reeeeally hard for some other Rayla pivot point just because it would be a lot of fun to have her character dynamic also changed by the fact that her parents are still alive and not disgraced. Maybe something to do with Ezran's abilities?

Either way, Zubeia's reaction is basically "This was Avizandum's war, not mine. Fighting it won't bring him back. Cut off the head of Katolis and end it." She gives the order to assassinate the entire royal family--the blood king, the dark mage, and the heir. Series plot kickoff ensues. (OR maybe the directive is to kill the kings and capture/kidnap the heir, since that uncertainty would be even more crippling to the kingdom than a decisive end to the royal line.)

Who goes after the prince(s) and egg if Soren and Claudia don't exist? Well, I think it would be fun for novice dark mage Callum to have to face off against one of his teacher's powerful spells, and for Rayla to have to fight her lost comrades, so--shadow assassins.

Where's Aaravos? Shhhhhhhh. I want him to get to Callum first.

[forabeatofadrum]

I’d cry a river just for you (13/24)

AO3

–

ARROW - 35MM: A Musical Exhibition 

2020

“Heck yeah, lekker met de meiden worteltaart!” Femke throws her arms around Bella and Adeola, “Are we ready for this, I am so excited. Have you guys travelled by train before?”

“I travel between Rotterdam and Amsterdam on a daily basis,” Kurt deadpans.

“Right. Forgot about that,” Femke says.

The five of them check in at the central station of Rotterdam. Femke is chatting and it’s clearly driving Bella mad, but she’s too polite to curb the enthusiasm.

“Can’t believe we’re going to spend an entire day with her,” Blaine mutters and Kurt elbows him.

“Be nice,” he hisses. Blaine rolls his eyes.

Blaine knows that he didn’t have to come along. This shouldn’t have happened, but everyone stupidly agreed to it.

“We have to change trains in Utrecht,” Femke reminds everyone, “Utrecht Centraal is the biggest train station in the Netherlands, since the city is the center of the country. If everything goes according to plan, it’ll take us one hour and forty minutes.”

“If?” Blaine asks.

“De NS is kut. Remember that, Blaine. That’s one of the most important sentences of the Dutch language!”

--

Nijmegen is nothing like Rotterdam. Even the Mariënburg, which some call the Nijmeegse equivalent of the Koopgoot has nothing on the real one. But the city is lovely and the vibe is different. The five of them walk towards the Grote Markt and Femke is talking a lot.

“Als je een frikandelbroodje plant, het begiet met een blikje energy, dan krijg je een 5 havoër genaamd Mitchell. That’s a very important lesson to know!”

She says it with so much conviction that it makes you listen, even when you don’t understand it. Even Bella’s all ears. Kurt and Blaine are trailing behind the three women and Blaine learns that Femke went to university in this city, but that she moved to Rotterdam for her job.

It’s weird, to be honest. Blaine’s walking next to Kurt in a somewhat comfortable silence. It’s not ideal, but it’s fine. And Cupid isn’t flying around, pointing an arrow at Blaine’s heart. Maybe all those years of repressing the feelings have paid off. Maybe all will be okay.

“Oh, look at those!” Femke points towards some big stuffed bears in the shop window of the Hema, “God, imagine getting a real life bear hug!”

Kurt laughs. “Oh, my brother was the best at those!”

Kurt continues to tell everyone how tall Finn was and how his big arms would almost crush you and Blaine is focusing on his breathing. He remembers those hugs. He remembers roughhousing and video game nights and Friday Night dinners.

He remembers that Finn is dead. Finn. Finn. Finn. Finn. Finn. Blaine hasn’t let himself think about him in so long, because he knows what he’s done wrong.

And suddenly, the lyrics of Cut You A Piece fill his head. He’s listened a lot to this song when he first discovered 35MM: A Musical Exhibition.

His life was scattered, and soon was her ash I cut you a piece of me, I cut you a piece of me. And where you go I will go too. I lost my life when I lost you.

This always reminded him of the moment he heard the news.

Everyone laughs about something that Kurt just said, but Bella looks over her shoulder and her face falls when she sees Blaine’s harrowed expression.

She lets go of Adeola’s hand so that she can reach out to him.

“Are you okay?” she says quietly. Bella’s even smaller than Blaine. They often joke that it’s due to their Asian genes. It makes it easy to look over her. Blaine does that and he sees Femke, Kurt and Adeola staring.

“I’m sorry,” Blaine blurts out when his eyes land on Kurt. Kurt’s face hardens. Blaine can feel the tears welling up. “I’m sorry. About Finn. I’m so, so sorry.”

“You’re seven years too late,” Kurt snaps.

“I’m still so, so sorry. And I’m sorry that I’m late. I shouldn’t have blocked you a second time, but I was- so much was going on in my life.”

“You’re not the one whose brother fucking died around the same time your best friend blocked you.”

Silence.

Kurt and Blaine are staring at each other, both with tears in their eyes. Kurt looks livid. Bella’s fidgeting with her gloves. Adeola and Femke are suddenly very interested in the cobblestones on the ground.

“Alright, maybe the three of us…” Femke doesn’t finish her sentence, since Bella and Adeola are both nodding eagerly before she can. Bella gives Blaine an apologetic look before the three of them dash away.

“You want to talk about this, now?” Kurt says angrily when the three women are out of sight.

“No!” Blaine says loudly, “You brought it up-”

Kurt holds up his hand to silence Blaine and it stupidly works.

“I didn’t bring up his death,” Kurt snaps, “I just want a nice day out, but I am starting to regret agreeing to this. What are we doing?”

“I don’t know,” Blaine says and he lets out a sob. He puts his hand in front of his mouth. “Why is this so difficult?”

“You ruined us. I wasn’t perfect either, but I never wanted to give up on you!” Kurt says harshly.

Blaine nods. He knows that. Kurt also said that in the voice message that Mercedes sent. Christ, Mercedes! Does Kurt still talk to her?

“Look, fuck, I’m sorry, okay! I know that what I was going through was probably nothing compared to your shit!” Blaine says back. It’s true. Cooper is very much alive. “But I was feeling like crap and you hammering down on me didn’t make it any better and I know-” Blaine quickly says, because Kurt’s opened his mouth for a counterargument, “I know that I was wrong. And that you were just trying to help, but I was too fucked up to accept that help so instead I lashed out!”

People are staring at them and Blaine’s suddenly very aware that they’re having a scream fest in front of the Hema in Nijmegen.

Blaine grabs Kurt’s arm and they turn the corner. Luckily, there’s an alley next to a phone accessory shop.

“Let go!” Kurt says angrily and Blaine does as he’s told. Kurt’s breathing hard and he’s staring at his feet. Blaine’s own head is spinning.

“Why do we keep trying this?” Blaine mutters. The anger is slowly leaving. Now he just feels hollow. “Kurt, why did we go to this city together? Why do we keep talking to each other? Why did I ask you to come over to my place? It’s just like the last years where we couldn’t have a proper conversation without it turning into a fight why are we doing this?”

“I wanted to see you. I hate that I wanted to see you.”

“You’re really fucking messing with my head right now. You wanted to see me, but you also don’t want to be my friend?” Blaine says, indignantly, “You give me an invitation to text you but you also don’t want to talk about anything. I thought you hated me. You said that losing me is the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”

“Because… it is. And I hate that that’s true!” Kurt finally looks at him, “I never stopped thinking about you. I never stopped wondering how you are. I never stopped… hoping to see you again. I don’t know. I don’t know. I hate that I miss you. I hate that I… never stopped thinking about you. I hate that I-” Kurt’s words get caught in his throat and he sniffs “-sometimes feel like I shouldn’t have to… I hate- I hate that I still want to be your friend!”

“But…” The ‘But you said’ dies on Blaine’s lips. He’s too shocked to form words.

“Don’t get me wrong. Ditching you was one of the best things I’ve ever done. We both know it wasn’t… It wasn’t okay between us.” Kurt sniffs again. “We both knew that it had to end. But even though I- I- I still stand by it, even now all these years later I really stand behind it but… that doesn’t make it any less painful. That doesn’t make it any less hurtful. And I hate this. This was never supposed to happen.”

Another sniff. Then Kurt lets out a sad sigh.

“I don’t want to be friends. I don’t think I can- I don’t think I can get… hurt all over again.”

Blaine closes his eyes. The way Kurt said the word ‘hurt’ was so painful.

“I can’t risk feeling this pain-” Another sniff. Another sigh. Blaine’s also sobbing.

“Kurt…”

“I always wished the best for you. I’ve always… I know, I know that I’m the one who ended it but I always would dream, like what would happen if we see each other again. Maybe we wouldn’t go back to being best friends forever – I don’t care – but I still wanted to know what was going on in your life. I still… needed to know if you were doing alright. And I think that’s why, even though I should know better, that’s why I’m doing this.”

He lets out a teary laugh.

“I don’t know what I’m doing.”

The two of them stand in silence, crying. It’s clear that these words were an accumulation of seven years of pain. Blaine also has something to say about the last seven years.

He decides say it out loud.

--

End notes: Yes, yes, angst, angst, this chapter was difficult to write yada, yada, but I need to show you this Dutch masterpiece. (Context: it’s kind of a joke song, but it’s also a legit bop!)

Speaking of Dutch things, the only damn reason I moved the setting of this fic to another place is because I needed someone to bitch about the NS, aka our railway system. As Femke says, that’s very important to the Dutch identity!

[thincdriving]

Find the Best Driving Instructor in Harrow for Your Needs

Finding the best driving instructor in Harrow is key to building your confidence on the road. Look for an instructor with a proven track record of successful student passes and a teaching style that matches your learning pace. Personalized lessons tailored to your specific needs can make all the difference in your driving journey. Whether you're a beginner or seeking a refresher, choosing the right instructor ensures a smoother, stress-free learning experience.

[mosaicofdreamsanddragons]

First Lesson

Pigsy teaches his kids to cook.

ao3 here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27769003

It was a well-known fact that Pigsy was at war. Every day he struggled to guide his troops toward excellence. Every day he worked tirelessly to build up the stockpile necessary for a campaign into enemy territory. And every day he poured his heart and soul into the techniques that would carry his crew to victory.

Oh and there was the whole saving the city thing, but that was really his second priority. He liked to think of that life as existing in a separate spears of his mind. He only had so much brain power he could devote to Monkey nonsense. When he was at war, such things were far from his mind and when he was a superhero, war was the last thing he thought of.

Until the day it wasn’t.

It had been an ordinary day: fight whatever demon or demon bull king minions who wanted a piece of his kid and then get back to his real life of noodles and plotting campaigns.

But today, today he’d slipped up. Today he’d almost been squashed by the remains of some demon bull minions and had barely been pulled out of the way by Tang. The attack wouldn’t have even come close to killing him but it could have done much worse.

He’d kept his fretting to himself of course. No point in scaring the kids, they were freaked out enough by the near hit. If a few smiles and gruff reassurances were all they needed to bounce the close call off their shoulders as only the young can, he would provide them.

Tang was no so easily fooled. “Something is bothering you,” he said, glare on his glasses preventing any eye contact. It was not a question.

“I…When we were on the mission…” he began and then stopped.

“I saved you,” said Tang firmly.

“Yes but you almost didn’t save me,” said Pigsy. Tang’s hands clutching the noodle bowl turned white and Pigsy quickly amended his statement. “Not that it would have killed me, calm down.” He waited until Tang let go of the bowl placing it on the table before continuing. “If you hadn’t, I would have broken my arm. And that would mean disaster for my business. I couldn’t cook, so MK would have no food to deliver. And soon we’d lose customers and who knows how many regulars would come back when I healed, what with the enemy always upping his game…we’d starve. And I can’t do that to MK, he’s starved enough in his life.”

“You wouldn’t starve,” said Tang with a hint of anger. “Even if the worst happened, you’d still have me to help and Sandy. Heck even Mei would chip in.” He took a deep breath and grabbed his bowl back. “And you’re missing the most obvious solution. If you broke you’re arm, you could run deliveries…” Pigsy raised an eyebrow at Tang. He snorted “….I’ve seen you drive one handed, don’t give me that look…” Pigsy raised his eyebrow even higher and Tang made a huff into his leftover broth “…fine. I could run deliveries. Then all you’d need to do is teach MK how to cook for you. You’d be able to be back in business in a day!”

“Teach MK how to cook?” said Pigsy. “Not in a day I wouldn’t. Cooking takes art and art takes time.”

“So start now,” said Tang. “Give him the time he’ll need to learn and grow. You could bring in Mei too, make a day of it.”

Pigsy looked down at his hands. “I’m not….the best instructor. Last time I tried to teach…well….Sandy and I ended that with a mutual agreement to never be in a kitchen together again.” He closed his eyes against sudden memoires of a time before Sandy had started therapy.

“Well that was a long time ago,” said Tang. “I’m sure you’ll be a great teacher now.” Before Pigsy could retort that Tang hadn’t been there and didn’t really know the extent of the disaster he caught a glance at Tang’s face.

He was gazing out the shop to where the two children had left. “And I don’t think they’d mind having a normal type of legacy,” he said barely above a whisper, “one without any magic or monkeys or dragons. Something they can learn an fail and the world won’t fall apart,” Pigsy opened his mouth to protest that was Tang not taking the noodle war seriously enough when Tang said, “…like their dad’s secret noodle recipe.”

Pigsy opened his mouth. And shut his mouth. And turned back to the table. “Okay,” he said quietly. “Lessons begin tomorrow.”

Pigsy had seen many things in his life. He’d befriended Sandy before he gave up his fighting ways. He regularly aided his children with saving the city. He’d had to create a noodle business from the ground up and used it to wage war against all who would stand in his way. But never had he been faced with such a challenge as this.

Before him, in the heart of his kitchen, stood only the freshest of recruits, neither who had ever so much as held the weapons of this war in their hands. Beyond them watching expectantly with notepad in hand was his acting secretary, who was far more interested in the potential noodles then jotting the recipe down. Farther back was the emotional support, who was not allowed near this kitchen for reasons both knew and would not discuss. Together they would create a mock battle, with Tang and Sandy as the customers and Mei, MK, and Pigsy as the chefs.

“Okay,” he said to the eager faces of his children. “Today you will be taking your first steps onto a harrowing battlefield.” He paced back and forth moving his spoon and feet with the beat of his words. “Today, you will face trails like you have never faced. It will be the most difficult thing you have ever attempted to do, magical Monkey business included.” He turned to meet the eyes of Mk and Mei. “But I have complete faith, that under my guidance you will pull yourselves from the muck and mire of mediocracy and into success.”

“Pigsy its just noodles,” said MK hands behind his head. Mei shoved her hand in her mouth to stifle a giggle.

“Just noodles!” said Pigsy throwing his spoon in the air and advancing on the boy. “Just noodles! Those noodles are the backbone of our livelihoods! The result of countless years honing my technique to perfection!” he caught Tang’s eyes and took a deep breath. Then in a gentler voice he continued, “And today I will be passing that legacy onto you. Now no one is expecting you to get it on your first try.”

“I make noodles all the time at home! How bad can it be?” said MK.

“You make instant noodles,” said Pigsy stepping back and rubbing his temples. “That’s completely different. No technique, no finesse. This, this will push you to your limits.” He waves towards the assorted vegetables and meat. “Mei, you will be on toppings,” he gestured to a large pot, “and MK you will be on broth. Now I will need both of you to listen to what I say and only do what I tell you. Do you understand?”

The nod in unison. He takes a deep breath and hands the kids the knives. He can do this.

The next hour passes quickly. But for him it goes swiftly jumping between:

“No Mei do not hold your knife like your sword. Watch me, like this.”

“Don’t touch that pan, you aren’t invincible anymore you’ll burn yourself.”

“You need to sauté the vegetables first. No those aren’t ready, you haven’t turned the stove on so they aren’t cooking…”

“Don’t poor boiling oil down the sink! &*@#$ Get on the counter NOW!!!” Both children climbed onto the counter in confusion and even Sandy and Tang pulled their feet up. “The pipe melted,” he told the confused kids. “We stay up here, until I get the boiling oil of the floor.”

“It’s like the floor is lava!” said Mei.

“Don’t try anything crazy!” said Pigsy. “I’m just gonna head over to the broom closet…” he began carefully picking his way across the counter, careful not to step near any of the food or utensils. It was harder then it looked, as the counter was covered with the mess only three chefs could bring. He picked his way across only to discover what he’d thought to be a solid footing turn out to be pan which slipped out from under his foot and sent him toppling down, down…

Something hard and round stopped his fall before he could make contact with the oil slicked floors. “I’ve got you Pigsy!” he heard his kid yell as he slowly became aware of the enormous iron staff now wedged from one side of his kitchen to another, and preventing him from a landing with third degree burns.

He took a deep breath and pulled himself across the makeshift bridge to the counter where Tang, Sandy, and MK were all waiting. And even though he was fairly certain he had got the hang of it by the time he reached them, Sandy still reached out and lifted him onto the counter.

“Real battle we got here,” said Sandy. “But I think the troops are getting the hang of it.” He nodded and Pigsy looked up to see MK carefully maneuvering the staff-bridge to bring Mei towards the broom cupboard.

“They’re ingenuous,” said Pigsy. “That’ll help them with creating new things down the line. Once they master the basics…” he glanced around his kitchen, now covered in oil, with food scattered everywhere and possibly contaminated by the people climbing around it waving their newly discovered brooms and mops and bit back a groan. This was not how this lesson was supposed to go.

Sandy rose to retrieve the one of the mops from Mei but before he left he turned to Pigsy, “No one learns any skill in a day. Give ‘em time. They’ll get it. They have an excellent teacher.”

Pigsy closed his eyes as Tang dropped down beside him. “Sandy’s right, no one learns a skill in a day, not cooking, not teaching.” Pigsy opened one eye to glance at Tang. He grinned smugly at him. “But a little disaster never stopped your campaigns before, eh Marshal? And whatever the result of this campaign, I’ll eat it.”

“You better,” he mock-growled at Tang’s smirk.

Between Sandy, MK, and Pigsy they managed to get the no-longer-boiling oil off the floor. Mei helped as much as she could but all she could really bring was her enthusiasm since she’d never seen a broom in her life and really didn’t know how to clean (and Pigsy made a mental note to teach her later). Sandy even fixed the melted pipes. With the kitchen newly sparkling and all that could be salvaged out and ready, Pigsy got up and fetched the noodles.

“Okay kids,” he said. “Mei, I want you to get the toppings ready to go. MK hold this in the boiling water for three minutes, do not touch the pot again. When the three minutes are up, pull it out and pour the noodles in it in the bowl. Mei, I want you to add the toppings on top once MK’s added the noodles and then poor in the broth. Take your time both of you, you’ll have time to add speed to this later.”

Face squished in concentration, MK slowly lifted up the noodles and placed them in the bowl. Then Mei added the toppings and very slowly and carefully poured in the broth. Now finished their faces broke into relieved grins and they both reached for the bowl, only for Pigsy to yell “Order up!” and place the bowl in front of Tang.

Pigsy turned back to the disappointed faces and handed MK another batch of noodles, nodding back to the broth and stack of toppings. “The point of cooking is to make it for others, not yourself. And besides, we’re not done here until we’re out of ingredients.”

The broth lasted them two more bowls, one which Pigsy handed to Sandy. The two children were left staring at the single bowl. They seemed to be having a silent conversation before turning and pushing it towards Pigsy. And Pigsy found two pairs of wide eyes turned up to him expectantly. He steeled himself and reached up to bring the noodles to his mouth.

It was…not bad. Not to his standards and not ready for sale yet. But it was made with his kids sweat and tears and he loved every bite. “Delicious,” he said, “We’ll make chefs of you yet.”

Sandy applauded. “Much better review then the first time I ever tried to help him! Have we told you that story? It started many years ago and ended with an explosion…”

With the kids happily listening to Sandy regale them with their first cooking disaster, Tang happily listening nearby sipping his soup and stealing some of Sandy’s noodles, Pigsy sat back and drunk the site in. This was something he wanted to savor, a memory he could call up after scares like yesterday or on bad nights.

His kids’ first bowl of noodles, one more step towards growing up. A milestone greater than any of the saving the city they did. He was so proud.

[loverhondarhodes]

If you are planning to attend driving lessons in Harrow anytime soon, then you are likely to find today’s discussion pretty helpful, which briefly touches upon the issue of driving safely at nighttime.

[super-emilyjones]

If you want to make yourself the professional and reliable driver, then get the best driving lessons in Harrow. Numbers of driving schools are established just for the welfare of their society