#alondra records

[nyc-looks]

Iya, 23

“The top is from For Love & Lemons, the pants from Romantic Store, shoes are Demonias, jacket and skirt are thrifted, and my hat is from Alondra Records in Bushwick. A really sweet lady crochets all kinds of hats and anything else you can think of there. What currently inspires my style definitely comes from Fruits magazine (just a little bit,) the fashion of the rococo era, and very fem/masc styles— I typically like mixing the two for comfortability. Here, I just threw stuff together, so I wasn’t expecting a picture to be taken!”

Mar 18, 2023 ∙ Williamsburg

[guess-my-next-obsession]

love in the time of covid: chapter one

pairing: frankie morales x f!reader

chapter rating: M (alternating POV, mentions of past relationships, age gap <10 years, mentions of past substance abuse, frankie being sickeningly cute w reader)

word count: 3.1k

series masterlist

“Any luck with that delivery girl?” Santi asked while on Facetime with Frankie.

“It’s only been a week,” Frankie reminded, embarrassed by the amount of take-out boxes littering his coffee table.

“Be honest—how much have you spent so far?” Santi asked with a chuckle, Frankie giving him a guilty look before switching the camera around to show him the impressive collection of trash. “Jesus!”

“I know,” he sighed and flipped the camera back around, wiping over his face with his palm. “I feel like this isn’t normal. This is like…incredibly unhealthy, right?”

“Well,” Santi shrugged and let out a chuckle. “In terms of what we’re used to dealing with from you, this is relatively normal.”

“Fair,” he chuckled and let out a congested cough, the one huff of air turning into a series of wheezing.

“You alright there, pal?”

“Yeah, just slowly accepting death.” Frankie reached for his sports drink, taking a sip to ease his throat before speaking again. “Hey, how’d everything go with the move? Is your hyna settled in?”

“Aye pues,” he chuckled and Frankie grinned at his friends blush.

“What? She’s not your girlfriend?” He asked while taking another sip.

“Taking it slow. Whatever that means.”

“I think it means she wants to take it slow.”

“Yes, let me listen to Frankie Morales about relationship advice.” He chided sarcastically, earning a wheezed laugh from his friend.

“Yeah, I do have a winning track record, don’t you know?” Frankie smiled at his own sarcasm, knowing just how unlucky in love he was. The only good thing to come from it was his little girl—who he wouldn’t be able to see again for seven more days at least.

“You talk to Viviana?” Frankie scoffed at the mention of his ex, the two of them having only spoken for Alondra’s sake since the split.

“Told her I had Covid and that I’d have to skip weekends with Alondra the next week. She wasn’t happy about that because her and her new man were supposed to be going to Miami this weekend.” Santi scoffed.

“Have you met this guy?”

“No.” Frankie was trying to hide his irritation at his ex’s sudden romance—the one that overlapped with their own.

“You think she brings him around Alondra?”

He didn���t want to think about that. Another man replacing him in the relationship? Fine. Another man acting like Alondra’s father? Hell no.

“His kid goes to the same daycare as Alondra, but I really hope she’s not bringing him around the house. That was one of the only things I asked her for. I’m all for her going off and finding her happiness and shit, but I don’t want her roping Alondra into it, you know?” Santi nodded and opened his mouth to speak but Frankie’s doorbell ringing cut him off. “Oh, wait. That’s my delivery.”

“Unbelievable,” he chuckled from his spot on Frankie’s couch, the phone left face down on the cushion while Frankie slipped on his mask and walked over to the door.

His heart fell to his feet at the sight of her waiting patiently on the other side of the door with a white plastic bag reading, “Thank You🙂” in hand. He practically whipped the door open, his eyes crinkling from the wideness of his grin as he greeted her.

•••

“Hey,” he smiled at you, shocking you with his good memory when he spoke your name.

“Frankie Morales, apartment 507. How’s Covid been treating you?” You greeted him with a smile hidden beneath your mask, excited to see him again after a week of fantasizing.

You weren’t sure what it was. He was just a guy in an apartment—you interacted with at least fifteen of them a day with this job. He shouldn’t have been anything special, anything that would make you fantasize like this. Except…he was.

Maybe it was his messy head of brown curls that lay over his forehead, begging to be pushed back and combed through with your fingers. It could’ve been those equally brown eyes that pulled you in, your heart sinking into them like a vat of warm molasses. Or perhaps it had nothing to do with his dreamy features at all, and maybe it had everything to do with the way he spoke to you like an actual human rather than a servant—the kindness he showed you all too rare in this industry.

Whatever it was, you were hooked. And seeing him now only proved that it wasn’t going away anytime soon. Maybe this time you’d find enough courage to ask for his phone number.

“Covid is as miserable as they say it is. Hopefully this takes a little bit off my karma,” he joked, a soft chuckle finding its way from your chest to your lips.

Oh, how you wanted to see his smile, the crinkles around his eyes the only tell that he was enjoying this as much as you were.

“At least you seem to have a healthy appetite,” you gestured behind him at the coffee table, a sigh of embarrassment leaving his lips as he turned back to look at it.

“Sorry, if I would’ve known it would be you delivering my food rather than Jeremy H., I would’ve cleaned up.” You laughed again—right until his eyes met yours again. Then, you were too flustered to do anything but blush. “Have you been doing okay?”

“Yeah, thank you for asking. No one really asks me that.” You chuckled, shocked by this strangers kindness. “Uh, yeah. Been trying to find a real job, but grad school’s taking up most of my time these days.”

“Grad school, huh?” He crossed his arms, seemingly getting comfortable for the conversation.

“Yeah, aerospace engineering.” You shrugged nonchalantly, his eyebrows raising in response. “I know, I know. A nerd.”

“No, I think it’s funny. I’m a pilot, actually. Well, was—working on getting my license back.” You wanted to ask more about that, but judging by the way the crinkles in his eyes went away, you could tell the topic was enough to rid him of his smile.

“So…Frankie Morales, apartment 507, has an impressive hankering for el pastor, knows how to fly planes. Super uninteresting.” You teased sarcastically, bringing his smile back.

“And you,” he repeated your first name. “Deliverer of el pastor and aspiring aerospace engineer. Also super uninteresting.” He shot you a wink, your eyes lowering to the ground as you fought away your blush. “This might…might ruin this fun thing we’ve got going on where I order too many tacos and you bring me them—which I love, by the way—but, uh…c-could I possibly get your phone number?”

“Yes!” You eagerly replied, his head tilting in amused surprise. “Sorry, that was way too eager.”

“Eager doesn’t bother me.” Your eyes locked for a moment, a chuckle leaving both of your lips at the tension you felt between you.

“Anyways,” you handed him his food before pulling out your phone, asking for his number and then texting it so that he could save it later on. “Well, enjoy those tacos for me. I should go grab some myself.”

“Oh, do you just want to take these? I—if I’m being completely honest, I’m sort of sick of them.” He chuckled nervously as he handed you the bag, your lips parted in shock at his gesture.

“W-why order them, then?” You hesitantly accepted the bag after he insisted.

“Well, I—I guess I was hoping to see you again. But haven’t had much luck, as you can see from the amount of trash littering my house.” He chuckled and tucked his hands in the pockets of his jeans, shrugging. “But your fellow Dasher Jeremy H. and I have become great friends.”

“Can’t believe I’ve got food delivery competition. Have you been giving him five stars, too?” You asked playfully, Frankie’s head shaking and his hand resting over his heart.

“Nope, I swear those are only for you.”

Jesus, this guy.

“Well, good. Jeremy H. isn’t nearly as cute or good at conversations as me.” He laughed and nodded.

“No, he isn’t.” There he went again, making your stomach flutter. “Well, I don’t want to keep you from stealing any orders from Jeremy H.. But, uh, maybe we can Facetime later? And you can give me your opinions on the food?”

“Yeah, I’d really like that, Frankie.” He looked away shyly and nodded before sucking in a breath.

“Alright, well…I should get back to my Facetime call with my friend. He’s probably going to thoroughly embarrass me in front of you if I don’t hurry up—“

“He sleeps with socks on!” You chuckled at the sound of his friend’s voice coming from his phone, Frankie sighing and pointing backwards.

“Yep. Just like that.”

“Well, you don’t mind eagerness and I don’t mind sock-sleeping. Perfect match.” He smiled at you again, or at least that’s what it looked like. “Have fun getting better. And don’t let him pick on you too much for your sleeping habits.”

“I’ll try not to,” he chuckled as you walked down the staircase to the ground floor of his complex, taking your mask off and shooting him an uncovered smile over your shoulder, shocked to see him doing the same. With a bitten lip, you hopped in your car and tried not to daydream about him too much. Though, you knew yourself well enough to ever think that would be possible.

•••

Frankie was in the middle of watching Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, wrapped up in a blanket to try and soothe the chills and muscle aches that had just set in when she Facetimed him. Blowing his nose, he tried to make himself look half-presentable before answering the call, grinning when he saw her smiling face.

“Am I interrupting anything?” She asked with a sweet voice, a voice that he could imagine stirring him awake in the mornings and soothing him to sleep at night.

“Just watching a movie and trying not to think about being sick,” he joked, earning a light chuckle. “How are you? Was the rest of your day pretty easy?”

“Well, after leaving your place, I ate the tacos—great, by the way.” He nodded and gave her a look of pride. “But then I had a customer throw her smoothie on me because it was runnier than usual.”

“Plot twist, she was only ordering in hopes of seeing Jeremy H.,” she giggled at that, his chest swelling with pride at the sound he was able to draw from her. “I’m sorry that people suck.”

“It’s okay,” she shrugged but he shook his head.

“No, it isn’t.” He watched her give him a tender look, his palm itching to splay out on her cheek.

“You’re right. It isn’t.” She breathed out something along the lines of a laugh, her eyes looking away from the screen for a moment. “So…I’m trying to figure out why someone like you is still single. Coming up short.”

Frankie let out a small laugh as he tried to think of a way to word his past without scaring her off immediately. He had plenty of skeletons in his closet, and if they all fell out at once, no one in their right mind would be able to handle it.

“Well,” he chuckled, eyes flickering to his lap. “Guess I don’t really have a good knack for finding things that are good for me. Or if they’re good, they never seem to stay that way.”

“I get that,” she spoke softly, as though she was trying to earn the trust of a skiddish animal. Perhaps she was.

“I, uh, was engaged a month and a half-ish ago. But, truthfully it hadn’t been a real relationship for almost two years.” He watched her reactions carefully, ready to stop sharing at any point if she appeared to get uncomfortable with the subject, but he was only met with an understanding nod and a softened look. “I have a kid—a baby. She’s nine months old. Anyways, she was a surprise, but we stayed together for her sake. But that ended for the best. Haven’t really thought about getting back out there until…”

“Until you met the world’s most competent DoorDash driver.” He chuckled and nodded, delightfully surprised at how well she was handling his past. “Well, I’m very proud of you for not settling. For choosing yourself. I’m sure your baby girl will be very thankful it happened early on rather than later down the road.”

“Yeah,” he smiled softly, feeling cozy and not at all from the blanket wrapped around him. It was her. Her voice, her humor, the way she strung a sentence together. “What about you? Why hasn’t the world’s most competent DoorDash driver been taken off the market yet?”

“The market is horseshit,” she chided with a dry tone, earning a laugh from him. “I don’t know. Men are so…not it.”

Another laugh. She was good at that.

“Yeah, we’re not great.”

“Nope,” she giggled and he felt his heart race. “Besides, I find it really hard to click with guys. Like, I’m not an idiot, you know? I’m not gonna pretend to be ditzy and cute to make them feel superior, and that usually is the nail in the coffin for my dates.”

“I like how smart you are. I feel like I can have a conversation with you—a mutually interested conversation, you know?” She faked a yawn and he let out a gasped laugh of shock, her giggles filling the room. “You know what? I take it back.”

“Ya know, I really like talking to you, Frankie.” Her confession quieted his laughter, his eyes softening as he looked into hers through the screen. “It feels easy.”

“It does,” he agreed with a smile. “I like how much you make me laugh.”

“I like making you laugh.”

God, his heart was already pounding on the inside of his chest, demanding to be set free so that it could go to its rightful home—the palm of her hands.

“Hey, when I’m Covid free next week, would you maybe want to go on a socially distanced date? We can go to the park, wear our masks. Try to have a normal-ish time in this very not normal world?” She bit her lip, her grin bringing the slightest of dimples in her cheeks as she nodded.

“I’d really like that.” He let out an exhale of relief, for the first time in a long time feeling excited about the future. “But until then, promise me we’ll keep having these Facetimes. I…really like talking to you. I feel like there’s so much I could pick your brain about.”

“Same here.” The pair found themselves staring at each other for a few seconds in comfortable silence, this new and budding friendship making them both feel giddy in a way they hadn’t been used to. “Starting with…what on earth made you want to be an aerospace engineer?”

“Well,” she chuckled and looked mildly embarrassed. “It’s gonna sound silly, but I watched Iron Man when it came out—I think I was like…14? Anyways, I just thought engineering was so cool, but I didn’t want to do the normal shit. And I’ve always had an affinity for space, so…it all just clicked.”

“You’re so cool.” He couldn’t help but to tell her that. He really did find her so interesting and…cool. Whatever that word meant, she was it. “So you’re wanting to go into NASA or something like that?”

“Hopefully! I interned at a Boeing factory last summer and decided that it was too…I don’t know. Too corporate for me. But the year before that, I volunteered at a STEM Camp for high schoolers and one of the guest speakers was from NASA, and it felt like a better fit. But I’ve got to finish my grad degree first before I can even think of applying to one of their programs.” He could listen to her talk about this all day long, her passion for her career matching his own. “What about you? Have you always wanted to be a pilot?”

“Pretty much,” he smiled at her ability to bring him back into the conversation. “I grew up in a Latino household and we never really had a ton of money to go on planes and all that, but I remember my first plane ride was when I was ten. I just got such a high being in the air. Sat by the window and pretended that it was me flying the thing, and ever since then I’ve been hooked.”

“You mentioned getting your license back?” She asked, and he could sense her hesitation in bringing it up.

“Yeah, I, uh…got into a little bit of trouble about a year ago.” He scratched the scruffy beard on his chin, debating on whether or not to tell her the whole story.

“Frankie, you don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to, but I just want to tell you that I’m a very understanding person. I’m not easily scared off by skeletons and ghosts from the past. I care more about the you that’s in front of me presently—and he seems pretty great.” He bit his lip to try and hide the smitten grin trying to grow on his face—one that would give away just how into her he really was.

“Well,” he took a deep breath, putting all of his pride aside in the name of honesty. “I’ve struggled with addiction, and I got drug tested…so, bye-bye license. But, uh, I’ve been sober since then. Since the baby arrived, I just…I don’t see it being an issue anymore. When it was just me, it was easy to be destructive like that, but…not anymore. I don’t want her to grow up without a dad, or worse, with a dad who’s a deadbeat.”

“Thank you for trusting me with that,” she gave him a gentle smile, one that assured him his admission hadn’t shaken her. “And I’m very proud of you for choosing sobriety. I come from a long line of addicts, so…I know exactly how difficult it is to beat.”

“You’re sickeningly likable, do you know that? Like…nauseating, really.” She laughed and flipped her hair over her shoulder, making him chuckle. “I’m glad we met.”

“I’m glad we met too.”

He needed to sleep, he could feel it in his aching bones and dry eyes, but god, did he wish he could force himself to stay awake just to hear her go on about anything. But, the sleep was beating his heart’s desire, a yawn slipping from his lips.

“You should get some rest, Mr. Covid.” He smiled and nodded, his eyes studying her pretty face for a little bit longer. “Feel free to call me or text me in the morning, okay?”

“I will,” he nodded and took a deep breath. “Thank you for…being you.”

“What a sap,” she teased. “Thank you for being so open with me. You’re a breath of fresh air, Frankie Morales, apartment 507.”

“Goodnight, querida.”

“Goodnight, handsome.”

•••

taglist: @joelmillerscoffee @ajeff855 @wildemaven @axshadows @sherala007 @browneyes-issac @tooflef @mariasabana @tae27 @kimm4710 @stxrrylunatic @sara-alonso @paulalikestuff @jbh-castaway @oceandolores @mandomover @chxpsi @auberosier @mashomasho @vanemando15 @wickedmunson @marvel-sw-lover @jediknight122 @harriedandharassed @star-wars-fan-2005 @alwaysdjarin @jalobro @trickstersp8 @mccn-bcys @manuymesut @trinkets01 @tanzthompson @jlmaddinson @hopeamarsu @fanofverymanythings @lovesbiggerthanpride @pinkything @fireproofmarta @spettrocoli (please let me know if you’d like to be removed/added to future frankie content!)

[greensagephase]

ALONDRA I’M SCREAMING!!! NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION PART 12 IS JUST-THE PLOT HERE??!! READER STAYING WITH MIGUEL??!! I LOVE THIS PART!!!! and before I get into this I might (no I did 😭) have written so much and I tried to brake it into separate parts but theres so many scenes I love and needed to discuss!! Have to start with Peter though… every time he’s included I’m like yes Peter’s here!! But then i get emotional too 🥺 you get me every time!! These small flashbacks provide so much to say about how he was, such a loving person 🥺 And when reader dreams of Peter, only for him to wake her up, almost like warning her from the fire 😭 he’s watching over her!!!!, the way Peter still has such a huge impact on the story is a huge testament to how important is really was, really is!! Ok this line is towards the end but this right here!: "You turn to the sky, thinking that if it wasn’t for him, you wouldn’t be here now. Even in death, Peter has guided and supported you throughout the years." 😭😭 I love Peter!! I just- this was beautifully written.

And when reader was clearing out everyone from the building I was on edge!! I felt the sense of urgency as the scene played out and when the flames break out I swear- freaking out, only to find the juxtaposition of the next scene being Miguel sleeping peacefully with readers sweatshirt??!! 😭 AND THEN I FREAKED OUT WHEN HE SENSES SOMETHING IS WRONG, ALREADY KNOWING ITS READER Alondra, you really did it, THE PARALLELS AGAIN??!! And Miguel being so concerned the whole time while reader is still evacuating everyone from the building- retracting and extracting his talons because of the stress 😭 you know it’s crazy that you even hinted in the previous parts that this would happen because I remember reading the New Years’s one-shot when reader was overhearing two people discussing not leaving their holiday lights on and the landlord saying not to leave the lights on- still not over your ability to plant ideas like this throughout your story, how do you manage all these ideas??!! Also, I was worried that readers apartment would be damaged but I’m glad she was able to get important items like Peter vinyls and photos!! (with the rest of her things later) But the fact she just redecorated it too 😭 I’m actually really sad that this happened to her apartment, as I’ve imagined it so vividly in my mind and the memories she’s had there with Peter… 😭

Okay but when Miguel suddenly shows up and IMMEDIATELY offers reader to stay at his place??!! THIS. MAN. Alondra!!! I can’t, he’s so caring for reader 🥺 he is so concerned for her well being and seeing if she was injured in any way- and when he says he just sensed her being in danger. I swear, this special connection they have just makes their whole friendship (and future relationship 🤭) so much more interesting and AHHH loved this aspect sm when you first introduced it! (Especially with the fact Miguel doesn’t even have spider senses!) and will continue to love it and see just how this connection shows between them! AND THE FACT MIGUEL IS NO LONGER AFRAID OF IT AND ACTUALLY EMBRACES IT AFTER SOME TIME!?!? no omg and when Miguel compliments reader and tells her she’s amazing, got me blushing too 🤭 but the fact it also reminded her of when Peter said the same thing??!! (With Miguel thinking he may have said something wrong when reader gets sentimental about Peter 😭) Alondra, you’re hitting me right in heart with these parallels between Peter and Miguel 😭 

Okay… Alondra, I swear how long have you been planning this idea for reader to stay in Miguel’s apartment because I wasn’t expecting this and AHHHHH!!!!! SCREAMING!!!!! Okay I knew reader would have an influence in Miguel’s apartment now that he’s actually there more and adding personal touches, like the record player and her sweatshirt but the fact SHE HERSELF is there now??!! 😭 the fact Miguel was so adamant on reader staying as long as she needed to!! reader is also so caring for Miguel in this moment too, wanting to make sure he is really okay with it. I have to mention just how proud I feel of Miguel too, his character development in this story- I love seeing his caring side as he opens up with reader 🥺 (he’s always been this way, reader just brings it out the best in him!!)! omg the way Miguel wanted to help reader with the rest of her furniture and asking if she packed up some clothes for a few nights at least for a few changes AND makes sure reader is the one who holds Peter’s record player 😭 I love him!!!

This line right here: "He’s especially caught up in the words you said just now - how you don’t want to disturb his peace and space - and thinks to himself about how this penthouse only truly feels peaceful and homey when you’re here." 🥺 it still makes me so sad how lonely Miguel was after losing so many loved ones, reader has brought him so much peace in his life. I just- I started tearing up here, and I always say it but their friendship is just so special, one that you only hope to have really 😭 

OK WHEN MIGUEL TRAILS OFF IN SAYING READER COULD STAY DAYS, WEEKS, MONTHS, implying YEARS??!! ALONDRA- SCREAMING!!! Ok right here: In fact, Miguel realizes right now that he’d be perfectly happy with it, which makes his cheeks feel hot. He clears his throat gently. “What I’m trying to say is that - My home is your home,” AHHHHHH!!!!!! I can’t!!!! THIS MAN!! I’M GONNA KEEP SAYING IT!!! I LOVE HIM!!! He’s just so loving, I mean, the fact he doesn’t want reader to worry about anything of the sort- WHY IS’NT HE REAL??!! 😭 but yes at the same time reader would absolutely do the same for him too (ok we all would 😭) but they both- these two I love them sm!!!

Everyone at Miguel rn:

And I have to mention this little moment with Lyla when Miguel is cooking breakfast and he says “Hm, didn’t know she had that term in her vocabulary,” when Lyla says reader to please rest and Lyla mentioning she only uses that word for special members 😂 omg the way Miguel thought about the top five members and the fact spider-plushie might be up there 😭 Will never not bring up how much I love how you write Lyla’s quips and their banter!!

AND EVERY TIME Miguel cooks for reader now, it brings him so much joy 🥺😭 HE. LOVES. HER. i mean, AHHHH!!! I’m here in my room screaming!!! I mean right here!!: "His face softens at the sight, and he’s suddenly overwhelmed with a feeling he’s had ever since you first stepped foot into his home this morning, and one that has stayed with him. He feels the need to stay here with you, to work from home so he can keep an eye out for you while you rest. He doesn’t want to tell you this though." WHEN HE SAYS SAYS HIS HOME IS HER HOME??!! AND WHEN HE USES WE WHEN SORTING THINGS OUT FOR READER??!! When reader tells Miguel just how thankful she is for him AND ok I’m not joking when I say I cried when reader mentioned how she could hug him, this made me so sad because they respect their boundaries so much. When Miguel thinks about if they actually tried They are- okay I need to calm down here because I just love them!! If not for Miguel helping reader now her circumstances would be quite different, and vice versa. Their mutual understanding, genuine care, and respect they have for one another, it’s just beautiful. It’s things like this which make me love your story!! Ok I have to just highlight this part: “Dios,” Miguel whispers as he stares down at his hands. He can feel a tingling, almost as if his own hands are asking - begging - him to go and feel. I can’t imagine holding back on physical touch for so long after so much loss, to feel comfort physically, the warmth it brings 🥺 when he checks in or reader sleeping, I just know the look on his face was so full of care and love for her, a softness that he has just for her 🥺 and when his index finger reaches for readers cheek and pulls away, because he has so much respect and is just a gentleman I just- 

And when the gang is so concerned for reader as well 🥺 I love how reader has truly found a group that truly cares about her and wants to support her!! Such a contrast to the years before, I’m just so happy for reader!! And when Jess and Peter B. already knew what Miguel would ask them and tells him to go and check on her😭 WITH THE KNOWING LOOK THEY GIVE EACH OTHER?! Ok in the gang, I wonder if all of them just talk about Miguel and reader’s friendship? like, you know they know 😭

When reader wakes up and hears billie holiday’s “blue moon” play on Miguel’s record player 😭 and she feels embarrassed when she remembers what she told him- and he feels a rush of ternura rush through him 😭 and when he actually talks about physical touch with her and is trying 🥺 SO MUCH PROGRESS ok ok and let me calm down because… WHEN MIGUEL INTENTIONALLY WRAPS HIS PINKY AROUND READER’S, INTENTIONALLY??!! No loopholes anymore!!! I’M SCREAMING!!! CRYING!!! THE ENERGY WE HAVE HERE??!! THIS WHOLE MOMENT, AS HE SLOWLY MOVES CLOSER, HIS EYES ASKING IF IT’S OKAY??!! This moment- A HUGE MILESTONE!!! And you know the size difference… totally normal about it (no I’m not) the way I took my own pinkies and tried to recreate this as it was written 😭 THE WAY THE TIP OF HIS FINGER IS ENOUGH TO WRAP AROUNDS YOURS??!! I’m fine, I’m fine 😭 AND HIM BLUSHING??!!-indirectly calling himself her friend 😭 I have to stop or else i’ll never finish typing!!! But the spider o’s reference!!! thank you for tagging me and including this little detail in!!! 🥺 I got so excited reading that!!! i’m just so happy these little ideas get put into your writing!! Thank you!!!

Ok when they were investigating the fire in reader’s apartment, I can’t help but wonder with the name of the tag being “OBRN” on the wire, and that this will lead to something more in the future- the name that popped for me was Norman Osborn with the letters being very close to his last name but I’m still thinking- I’m suspicious 🤔

I’m just so happy that reader got settled into Gabriels room quickly, having all her things laid out and making that room feel like hers 🥺 and the pictures displayed on the floating shelves, some with Miguel in them 😭 ok and the fact Miguel planned out a little rooftop dinner after she comes back from her patrols in her universe 😭 and of course he orders a few of each and didn’t want to disturb reader on her patrol and surprise her with this because it’s him, and he loves her!!! 🥺 and the fact he got tacos because being in Gabriels old room reminded him what his brother used to say about tacos (and agree, tacos can cheer anyone up!!) and their whole conversation about reader having the gang and him to help and support her, (their friends, their little family 🥺) with Miguel even thinking back to her time alone, wondering about things like if she ever gotten sick and that there was no one there to comfort her 😭 I keep saying it but I feel they were destined for one another, and it makes me so sad seeing Miguel think about wanting find her universe sooner. But when reader said she wanted to negotiate some terms, and Miguel not wanting her to worry about anything like paying rent or buying groceries 🥺 also, I have to mention how realistic you made this conversation, and bringing forth that communication like this is so important!!! They’re so cute, I can’t!!! Their whole relationship is rooted in so much deep understanding and care for one another’s wellbeing!!!!! AHHHH!!!! I CANT BELIEVE WE’RE STAYING AT MIGUELS PLACE WHAT??!! 

I always sound like a broken record when saying this but THANK YOU AGAIN FOR WRITING SUCH AN AMAZING PART TO NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION!!! I always freak out when I see the next part posted, and I’m still so happy you took the time to take a break from social media and writing!!! (Please rest and take breaks and take care!! 🥺 I don’t want you stressing about posting at all!!) I’m just so thankful you’ve continued to develop this amazing story as it holds such a special place in my heart, no other story has made me so invested and I just love your writing!! (I’ll never stop saying it!!) 🥹❤️ it makes me wonder if you’ve ever thought about publishing books because that would be amazing!, I mean it, I think you’re an amazing writer!!! Also, I meant to write sooner but time slipped by with school and other things this week and I wanted to make ample time to read this thoroughly and talk about it because I always love to talk about my favorite parts with you and discuss the story as it progresses!!!! And AHHHH!!! Still obsessed with the official playlist you made for NC!!! I saved it right away and have been listening to it when studying and working!!! Did you also draw the cover art for the playlist? Because it looks amazing!!! THE SIZE DIFFERENCE WITH THE HANDS??!! AND THE SAGE GREEN BACKGROUND WITH THE COFFEE CUP??!! The aesthetic matches the story perfectly!!! I hope you get to rest well, friend!!! Especially with posting this and being busy with other things!!! I loved reading it so much!!! I’m really not gonna stop thinking about this!!! and I’m already adding to the (long) list of scenes I want to draw!!! 😭 (I’m fighting the urge until I post the older sketches I’ve been meaning to share I will, I promise!!) I’m so in love with this story, and how much you give so much care and attention to your writing, and also how much care you put into writing these character we love so much!!! It’s crazy how much Miguel and reader have come, almost 2 years has passed??!! I have such an attachment to them, and Peter too!! 🥺 Have an amazing weekend and also an amazing month as we head into February, friend!!! (I hope it isn’t too cold still where you are still, but if it is stay warm and safe!!) Always wishing you the best and rooting for you!!! ❤️🥹❤️✨

Hii @sunsetdoodler !!! I want to start off by saying I’m sorry for how long it took me to answer your ask!! I got caught up with some things like cleaning up, family events, and reading a new book that came out last week. I also wanted to make sure my response was not rushed with everything going on, so I took my time. I’m going to try and keep it short because I know you’re so busy with school right now (mission failed successfully, I'm sorry!!), but I'M SO HAPPY YOU LOVED THIS CHAPTER!!!

I love that you still enjoy all the little parts that include Peter!!! I love including them every single time!! It's actually amazing because I swear I thought that at some point I'd stop including him or mentioning him this much, but here we are! 🥺 I find myself thinking about him and little details (like, little bits of his and reader's lives. I don’t know why I make myself sad with that 😭) and coming up with ways to include him more, even if it's just a little mention, but it really does add more to his story and he just continues to develop as a character!! 😭 I never imagined that would happen, but I’m so happy to be able to include him!! And omg, this quote: “You turn to the sky, thinking that if it wasn’t for him, you wouldn’t be here now. Even in death, Peter has guided and supported you throughout the years." Let me tell you!! When I wrote that, I was trying so hard not to get emotional but failed!! 😭 It really is so amazing to have the opportunity to include Peter, even if he’s gone, and see how much impact he still has in the story and in reader’s life, so you're absolutely right!! The fact that he's still playing a role in the fic, shows how important Peter is, and will continue to be!! About the dream - I was inspired by @faretheeoscar to include that portion as a hint/nod for future purposes, but yes, Peter was warning her about the fire - he’s just so!! 🥹 I truly loved including him here and talking about him smiling, his scent, and his warmth - ugh, I miss him so much (and he’s not real, why?)!! He really won our hearts!! 🥺❤️

I’m so happy that the evacuation scene and the flames jumping out had you feeling on edge, hehe!! That's the energy I was hoping to achieve! I've said it before with Miguel's own action scene in part 8 - I don't feel confident with these scenes. I personally believe that I need more improvement with action scenes (especially for future writing goals outside of fanfiction, I'll talk more about this later on in my response), but I felt more confident with this one as I had part 8 under my wing! But no, I'm really happy you felt the sense of urgency and feeling on edge - I can say “mission accomplished!” Okay when the flames break out and then it cuts to Miguel sleeping peacefully with reader's sweatshirt but waking up and sensing something is wrong, his heart telling him it's about you and finding out it is - I've been waiting to include this parallel since part 8 with reader sensing Miguel's trouble!! 🤭 I had it planned since then and I’ve been dying to include it!! Miguel's talons extracting and retracting while he keeps an eye on reader - it's my headcannon that he does this unconsciously when he's under a lot of stress or anxiety, and I decided to include it here as a sign of how much Miguel cares for reader and how worried he was!! About the hinting of the short circuit - once I made up my mind about writing the one-shots, I realized they were the perfect way for me to drop some hints about it so that it could save me from having to figure out how to put those hints in part 12. Plus, it was so nice to leave hints there and then have you guys realize (if you read the one shots) that those possibly unimportant details turned out to be important!! I was plotting! 😂 As to how I manage the ideas, I have a piece of paper (all my notes and chapter outlines are always on paper; I like the feeling of paper and a pen) where I write interconnecting ideas so I don't forget them (though sometimes I do forget to write them, so I just keep them in my head and hope I don't forget it)!! About reader's apartment - it never crossed my mind to have it become damaged!! I'm going to be honest, it's a fictional apartment, but I'm very attached to it 😭 I think it's because it's where so much with Peter happened. Also, I think reader would be so devastated to lose one of the few physical objects/spaces linking her to Peter, if that makes sense. I think she loves this apartment for what it is, even if it's a little older and rundown in some areas, she finds its flaws charming, so that aspect alone would make her very sad, but to lose a space in which she shared and lived so much with Peter would be devastating and I couldn’t have reader go through this when things are going so well for the first time in many years. I didn’t and don't want to take this away from her, even if she'd gain some growth from it. I just - I refuse! 🥺 As to reader saving Peter’s belongings, this made the most sense to me!! I just imagined in this situation, nothing else would matter to me but preserving those items!!! Also, I'm sorry for making you sad about reader’s apartment and the fire 😭 I promise her floor is okay!! The fire didn't reach it and the building isn't falling apart (I have no plans for that to happen either!). The worst is the smoke smell but according to some small research, most of the things should be okay once the apartment is aired out (this was one single Google search, so I could be wrong, but I'll be searching further to confirm. It's really funny the things I had to research for this chapter though! I learned of the many ways an electrical fire can start; how to overload a circuit; how smoke moves through a room; when fire alarms were invented and required in buildings; how long people have to be prohibited from entering the building; what if it was arson and the rebuilding/reconstructing; and even the position reader used to drag the firefighter out! My Google search was weird for a few days lol) but don't worry!! Her apartment is otherwise fine!! She might have to replace a few items but at least the most sentimental items are safe!

Okay - Miguel showing up and immediately offering his place and checking reader to make sure she's not injured!!!! I LOVED writing this part!! It was a moment in which Miguel could finally express everything that he was feeling and show his support after standing by and letting you do your thing at your request!! Miguel admitting that he woke up because he sensed the danger, can we talk about how he even admitted this? I think the Miguel of the past would've been afraid to admit this but he did it 🥺 but I love this concept as well!! I think it's so interesting, too, because of the fact that Miguel doesn't have a spidey sense and yet, Miguel sensed this situation because of this connection between him and reader. It really is a special bond, and AHH I'm so happy that Miguel has embraced it much more. He's not as fearful of it as he used to, which is just another sign that Miguel is moving forward, and more open to being close with someone. 😭 I'm also very excited to explore how this connection develops and shows in their friendship and their relationship later on!! 🤭 Ok and Miguel complimenting reader!!!!! I was like - let me add this right here (this was such a treat 🤭) because I need Miguel to show his admiration for reader! I also wanted to give a little nod to Peter and how supportive he was of reader all the time 😭, and of course, make the parallel that Miguel is supportive as well!!! Also, Miguel worrying about offending her and questioning if he said or did something wrong (I was like “you did nothing wrong!!”) - and apologizing !!!! He's just so!!!! HE’S SO CUTE AND THOUGHTFUL AND !!! But then him saying he’s sorry that Peter isn't there with her - the way they care for each other so much!! This little part had me emotional fr!!! And I'm sorry about hitting you right in the heart with the parallels!! I'll go ahead and apologize for any other future parallels because 😭😭

Regarding how long I've been planning this idea for - let's just say, a while and I've been ready for it 🤭 but omg, yes!! The way reader has had a bit of an influence/presence in Miguel's penthouse and now she's there!! I'm not gonna say anything else about this, but I've left some clues in previous parts regarding this topic!! 👀 and Miguel being so adamant about reader staying there!! He really wants reader to be comfortable and safe, even if he knows she can take care of herself but this man just cares so much about her that he can’t help but worry because he’s just a big softie!! 😭 and then when he indirectly says that he’s offering his place because “you know what we are” - every time I write this I scream internally, I swear- but he’s trying so hard to say that they’re friends, and this is what friends do!! Miguel just wants to be there and support reader however he can!!! And reader, as always, trying to make sure that he's comfortable with this!! They really do have so much respect and care for each other!! 😭 I'm so proud of Miguel, too!! He’s really opened up so much and has allowed reader to see this sweet, caring, and soft side of him (because yes, he's always been like this, he's only being through so much that he's being hiding it 😭)- I’m so so proud of him!! Ok, and Miguel asking reader about packing clothes - you know Miguel noticed reader hadn't packed that stuff, so this was a gentle reminder for reader because he cares about her well-being. Also, the fact that he had reader hold Peter's record player!!! He knows how important it is to reader and he never wants to mess with it!! He's so understanding and respectful !!!!!

The line "He’s especially caught up in the words you said just now - how you don’t want to disturb his peace and space - and thinks to himself about how this penthouse only truly feels peaceful and homey when you’re here." The way I was so sad writing this line and really, the entire part of him talking about his "lonely peace" - like why did I do that to myself? 😭 I was just hurting myself imagining a lonely Miguel in this big place that used to feel like home because of Gabriel, and even because of his mom, whilst also comparing the home he had settled into at Gabriella’s universe - and now only having this place that feels so big and empty, so cold and void of loved ones - it makes me so so sad but I feel happier when I remember that he has new happy memories attached to this place now. He has the old memories with Gabriel and his mom, ones that in my head, he has been blocking because they’re too painful, but little by little, he’s been "unlocking" them again. There's also the moments with reader and the Thanksgiving dinner with everyone. And... I can't give spoilers, but he will make many more happy memories that will make his penthouse feel like a home !!🥹❤️

OK MIGUEL REALIZING HE'D BE "PERFECTLY HAPPY" WITH READER STAYING WITH HIM FOR YEARS, BASICALLY LIVING WITH HIM INDEFINITELY- no, it's like SHSSJHAH the fact he's open to the idea?!?!?!?! Almost makes me wish they somehow became roommates fr, but I don't see reader leaving her apartment (again, she’s so attached to it, I just don’t see her giving it up right now), and also, for some reason, I've always imagined her apartment being a one bedroom apartment, so Miguel can't move in (unless I changed my mind about that? I’m thinking here but- I don’t know), but ahhh, imagine them being roommates!! This would be so cute, I can’t!! Also, the way he says his home is her home - I'm not even joking when I say that I screamed, blushed, and giggled and kicked my feet when writing that line every time he said it because you know he MEANT it!!!!! His home is her home, period and now I want to cry but they’re happy tears, of course!! And then him not wanting reader to worry about anything else!! I just - THIS MAN, WHY IS HE NOT REAL?!!! And yes, omg, the way we would all do the same for Miguel if this happened to him!! You know it's true!!! We wouldn’t even debate it, it’s done, he can stay at our place for however he needs to if he feels comfortable with us!! Hahaha the "in conclusion: we're getting married" meme - REAL!!! Like, he's so sweet and caring, and I’d MARRY him!!!!

Haha, the short scene with Lyla when Miguel is cooking breakfast was so short but so fun to write!! Their little banter always makes my day when I get to include her! I told you, I was going to try to do it more and this was such a good time to do it and lighten up the mood after the fire scene. I loved Miguel's response tho and him wondering about the other top five members (spider-plushie is definitely top 5 for Lyla!!!) And even having guesses, haha!!! Maybe those guesses are his own preferences? Reader would def be #1 and we also have to include Lego Spider-Man somewhere in there, I think. The other spots could be his guesses? Maybe? 🤔🤣 but thank you!! I'm so happy you enjoy their little banter and Lyla's lines, haha!!

Every time I write Miguel cooking for reader is just - 🥺🥺 HE REALLY DOES LOVE HER!!! I swear, I never thought that I was going to have this scenario repeat so many times after the first chapter when he cooked pasta for her, but here we are because this is a way for Miguel to express his feelings - and yes, I get so emotional about it!!! Also, Miguel wanting to stay home to look after reader - having this need from the beginning 😭 this was my way of hinting back to part 11, I think (or was it in one of the one-shots? I can’t remember), when reader reflects on the fact that Miguel has made progress regarding his sleep with going home and resting and taking breaks but acknowledging he still goes to HQ on the weekends and that she doubts he’ll stop any time soon unless there’s a big, important reason or some big change in his life… and then, this happens! Miguel stays home on a week day for HER!!!! And the way he didn’t even want to be gone for that one hour but he did it because he knew reader wouldn’t want to “disturb” his schedule, or avoid sleep and work with him from his penthouse - I’m okay, really, I’m just fangirling about this little point because AHH!! And omg, I loved having Miguel say “we” when he was talking about sorting things out!! Again, the CARING!!! Miguel wholeheartedly loves and cares for reader so much!!! And the moment when reader admits for the first time she wishes she could hug Miguel !!! I loved this part because I felt like it was a realistic moment, having someone that’s so exhausted in many ways (mentally, physically, and emotionally) and just being unable to filter your words the way you normally would but it being such a genuine and pure wish!! The fact that reader’s situation would’ve been so so different without Miguel and the Spider Society - the thought alone makes me so sad, but I’m so happy reader has Miguel and the gang (and that Miguel has them, too!!)!! I’m just so happy they have each other and that they have changed each other lives so much!! 🥹 And then Miguel feeling like his hands are begging him to go feel - I got myself with that one!! You already know that I believe Miguel’s primary love language is physical touch, so just imagining how long it has been for Miguel without it, and continuing to hold back because of his loss but still yearning for that feeling, for the warmth and the comfort not only in receiving but also giving - I’m unwell 😭😭 but it’s so amazing that Miguel is now thinking about it, yearning for it so much more to the point he would’ve probably initiated or offered physical touch if he had found reader awake!! Also, the fact that he didn’t brush reader’s cheek with his finger because as always, he’s a gentleman and AHHHDHH - just thinking about Miguel being a gentleman always makes my heart speed up !!!!!

About the gang - I love including them so much and incorporating the found family feeling !! It really is so much different for reader. Her lonely days (and Miguel’s) are over!! She has this amazing support system that’s always there for her!!! And omg, Jess and Peter B. knowing what Miguel was going to ask - you know they could sense and see it in Miguel’s face - this man wanted to be back home ASAP!! And, of course, they know how close Miguel and reader are so they just wanted reader to have someone there with her during this hard moment. And the knowing look between Jess and Peter B. - they know!! As to the whole gang and whether they talk about Miguel and reader’s friendship - I want to say, yes, they do!! I want to say some of the gang members see it for what it is right now - a friendship, but the others… they see something more and probably won’t be surprised once Miguel and reader… you know!! 🤭

Omg that entire part from the moment that reader woke up to find Billie Holiday playing to the pinky squeeze - SO MUCH PROGRESS!!!I l loved this entire scene so much!! The way that reader apologizes for what she said, feeling so much embarrassment and worry from possibly making Miguel uncomfortable but Miguel feeling ternura and telling reader that he’s honored she wants to embrace him - to touch him!!!! THEM!! 🥺 The fact that Miguel actually talks about physical touch - making it the first time he’s ever addressed it - I’m so proud of Miguel!!! And not only does he take this step forward - which, once again, I felt like this was such a big step for him - but, he also initiates physical touch without loopholes!!! The fact that he asks for permission - I can’t!!! Once again, he’s A GENTLEMAN!!!!! THE SIZE DIFFERENCE!!!!!!!!! I’m perfectly normal about it (no, I’m not 😭😭)!! Omg you recreating it with your own pinkies is literally me!!! Every time I’ve written a pinky squeeze, I always pause my writing to try it out and just imagine what it would be like (why is he not real?)!!! Okay Miguel blushing about it and then him indirectly calling himself reader’s friend when he says “your other friends” - Miguel is slowly working himself up to admitting it out loud, believe me!! 🥺 About Spider O’s, ABSOLUTELY!!! I told you so long ago that I LOVED your idea and that I wanted to include it in the story at some point. I decided to introduce it in this chapter, and it’ll make another appearance in the future, hehe!! Thank you so much for the inspiration and again, for drawing that beautiful fanart that I still think about (I think about the fanart all the time 🥹 ) !!!!

Regarding the “OBRN” tag… I cannot say anything!! 🤐 But I’d love to hear your suspicions on this!!

Reader getting settled into Gabriel’s room and making it feel more like hers - and Miguel encouraging it - I’m gonna cry!! I think she’s going to make it more hers in the following weeks, but we’ll see!! Okay and this amazing moment (the way this one scene was my motivation to get through the fire scene because as I’ve mentioned, I’m not too confident with action scenes) with Miguel getting tacos and agua de horchata and planning that little rooftop dinner!! I’m just gonna say it - I would marry Miguel right on the spot, not even joking!!! I’d ask for his hand in marriage so fast!!! 🤭🥺 But yes, the way he didn’t want to disturb her and also wanted to surprise her, so he ended up buying of each kind of taco!! Again, I would marry this man right there and then!! He really does love her!! Also, the little bit of Gabriel saying tacos cheer everyone up was a spur of a moment idea and I’m so happy with it!!! It’s not much, but I really do love the little character building I’ve given Gabriel in this fic, and I hope to do the same for Gabriella in future chapters because of how much they mean to Miguel!! 🥺❤️ But back to the tacos (I want some now fr), I do wholeheartedly believe tacos can cheer anyone up and it sounds like such a Gabriel thing to say, too (at least in my fic!)!! Their conversation about reader having him and the gang - this was a little moment for Miguel to once again indirectly state that he’s reader’s friend and that he’s there for her just like the rest of the gang!! Their little family !!!! I’m growing so emotional over this omg 😭😭 they deserve this - a little family!!! Okay your comment about reader and Miguel being destined for one another has, once again, made me emotional!!! I like to think so, too!!! The way they have impacted each other’s lives so much is just so beautiful, and their friendship - it really is the kind of friendship one can only hope to experience in life!! Also, Miguel thinking about the previous years with reader being alone!! I swear I get so sad thinking about these years for both Miguel and reader. It just breaks my heart so much, but I’m so happy they have each other and the gang, their little family!! And as I said earlier, their lonely days are over!!!! 🥺🥺 Also, thank you, I’m so happy you found their conversation about groceries and bills, and reader’s terms, realistic!! It was so important for me to include that conversation for various reasons. I really wanted to have Miguel show that he doesn’t care about any of that - he’s not looking for reader to pay back because all he cares about is reader’s wellbeing and again, they’re friends!! But then, there’s reader and how independent she is, and also not wanting to make this situation uncomfortable for Miguel or make it seem like she’s taking advantage of the situation!! Then, back to Miguel understanding reader so much he knows she doesn’t want to not do something, so it really just shows how much they care for each other, and how much understanding there is between them!! Also, I know I’m the writer but I can’t believe we’re staying AT MIGUEL’S PLACE, too!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH @sunsetdoodler !!! It means so much to me!!! I’m so happy to see that you loved this part and I always appreciate your support and lovely word!! It means the world to me!!! 🥺 And I’m very happy I took that little break, too!! Thank you for convincing me, too!! I probably wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t for your words and encouragement!! I realized I really did need it and because of it, I’ve been taking it easier and planning better so I can give the writing my 100%!! And aww, I’m so thankful I’ve been able to continue and further develop this story, too!! I wish I could post more often so I don’t keep you guys waiting for so long but hopefully with my new plan, I can still rest and post more often!! But it truly has been such a pleasure and honor to write and to share my writing. Especially since the last time I was writing this consistently and posting online was when I was 16, so it’s been a while. I’ve always loved writing (since I was a teenager) and in the past I’ve always left it in the back burner to focus on other things like school, so this journey has been so fulfilling to me!!

About publishing books - YES!!! I have thought about it, too many times!! As I’ve mentioned, I’ve loved writing since I was a teenager (honestly, probably since I was like 11, haha! I think that was the first time I wrote a story) and I dreamed about becoming a writer but essentially went into another career that was “safer.” Anyway, I do have a few original works, most are incomplete because I always get a new idea and I start writing that, lol. But the one I’m most proud of, in terms of it being an original everything story (Nonviolent Communication is my pride and it holds such a special place in my heart; this story is my baby, I swear!!), is a fantasy genre story that I hope to write into three parts. It’s this story that will require me to improve my action scenes since there’s kingdoms and battles, and all of that stuff. So yeah, I do need some improvement for this story but so far, I’m really proud of my original characters and the worldbuilding I’ve done!! I truly hope to one day finish it and hopefully publish it. It would be a dream come true!! And thank you so much for the lovely words on my writing!!! It really does mean so much to me, more than you realize!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!! 🥹❤️

Also, don’t worry about writing sooner!! I totally understand, so please don’t worry!! I hope your schooling is going well so far and that it’s going smoothly!! But yes, don’t worry about it!! It doesn’t matter when your ask arrives, I’m always so so happy to read your thoughts on the new chapter and what your favorite parts were!! It makes MY DAY!! About the playlist, omg, yes!! I had been thinking about it and then a reader said they always looked forward to see the music I listened to because they like the vibes for it, so that was my push to do it, hehe!! I hope you’ve been enjoying it so far!! Also, I didn’t draw the cover :( I wanted to but the hands would’ve not turned out good, so I made it with Canva lol but I had a lot of fun playing around with different designs until I came up with this one! THE SIZE DIFFERENCE - the way I was giggling to myself adjusting it to make Miguel’s hand bigger, I was blushing and everything!! And haha the sage green background was an immediate need! I knew I wanted to include the color and coffee somehow (I also thought of including a record player but I couldn’t through Canva without it looking weird. Drawing it out would’ve definitely been better for this kind of layout but maybe I’ll try to bring my original vision to life later on with more practice!) - since coffee is such a big theme in the story (it’s really funny how I made coffee a big statement in this story but I guess it’s not surprising since I love it so much), and then sage green, well we know it’s one of my favorite colors so it just felt natural to go with it!!

Thank you, friend!!! I’ve been resting and relaxing after posting this chapter!! I was really motivated to post the chapter because I wanted to update in January, but I had another motivation to post! A book that I had been waiting for like two years came out Tuesday and I knew I was going to get lost in the reading as soon as I got my hands on it, so it was great motivation for me to get through the editing and publish!! So, I’ve definitely been relaxing and resting, and got to read my book as a reward (I’ve finished it already, three days after getting it Tuesday. Now we wait two more years for the next one 😭 I’m okay, really) but thank you for your well wishes as always!!!! And omg, I’m so happy that you have added new ideas to your long list of drawings!! I’m so so so ready to see everything you’ve drawn!!!! It always makes my day, and I’m just so thankful to you and everyone that has drawn fanart for this story. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this happening!! It makes me so HAPPY, and I’m so honored that this story has been worthy of fanart!!! I’m never going to forget this - EVER!!! And as this story goes, I promise I’ll continue to give it my 100% and give these characters love through my writing because they deserve it!! Also, yes, I was thinking about how much time has passed in the story and it’s insane that we’re at two years now (almost)!! I’m like where did the time go? It feels like it was just yesterday when I was writing about Miguel showing up at reader’s apartment and finding her celebrating Peter’s birthday on her own (crying about this but at least she has Miguel now!!) and now they’ve done it twice, and are close to celebrating it three times!! It’s insane but also so comforting to think that they’ve had each other for this long (the way tears actually formed in my eyes just now because of this!)!! Omg, thank you @sunsetdoodler - seeing you saying that you’re attched to Miguel, reader, and Peter makes me so happy!! It makes me feel like I’ve done a decent job with these characters’ growth and their stories, so your words truly do mean so much to me!! I’ve said it so many times but THANK YOU!!!!

I hope you’ve had an amazing week and that you get time to relax this weekend!! I also hope February has been treating you well, friend!!! It hasn’t been too cold here where I live (we actually had a week of high 50s F and some rain, but we’re supposed to have another wave of cold next week, so yayy (I actually don’t mind the cold except when it makes driving conditions dangerous)! Hopefully we don’t have warm weather until May because I can’t take the heat lol! But I hope you’re doing well, and that it hasn’t been too cold for you! If it has, I hope you’ve been able to stay warm, safe, and cozy!! Thank you for the well wishes, friend!! I’m wishing you the best as always and rooting for you!!! And I’m sending you a warm virtual hug, friend!!! ❤️🥹❤️✨

[desert-bluffs-and-me]

WTNV quick review - 110 - Matryoshka

Staring Hal Lublin as the voice of Steve Carlsberg.

Wanna see more of the reviews? Go over your fave episode perhaps? Track down some vague info you kinda recall and think it's probably from around this or that part? Click here!

I once was lost, but now am fine with that. Welcome to Night Vale.

In this episode, Cecil's usual segments are interjected with Steve speaking to a crowd at the Hall of Public Records to help validate the existence of the angels.

He says that he heard the broadcast from Huntokar (although apparently noone else did instead hearing static over inhuman screaming) and has been trying for years to get people to acknowledge the reality of the charts in the sky to no avail.

He encourages the acknowledgment of the angels and says that he knows people believe him they just don't want to actually acknowledge anything which scares them.

Steve suggests that if people stopped trying to ignore what was happening, starting with the angels, it would help process the rifts in reality (he's right). He mentions that he finally stood up to Cecil and told him that all the mean jokes and comments hurt and needed to stop. Cecil in turn opened up about his childhood and why he felt it was easier to keep Steve at a distance than to risk getting hurt by more people again. This marked a turning point in their relationship.

The meeting ends with the angels being declared legally real.

Weather: "Everyone I Know Will Die" by Four Eyes

The many rips in the sky have merged into one big rip in reality, merging many realities all together with many citizens choosing to abandon their reality for another which is easier/better. When the angels are acknowledged, a part of the sky returns.

Hiram returns to NV to encourage the dragons to leave. Dana returns from the other reality and acknowledges the mistake that was made killing Violet. A piece of the sky returns.

Alondra Ortiz is moved by the angels passion for her mother and has decided to only take some personal items and heirlooms, negotiating the rest with the angels and perhaps staying in NV longer. A piece of the sky returns.

They acknowledge that it's not normal to be followed by agents all of the time. A piece of the sky returns.

They acknowledge that most towns are not run by monsters and heavily armed 16 year olds. A piece of the sky returns.

Cal (muttering about 'the bomb' and clearly dying of radiation sickness more so than ever) disappears and Dana acknowledges and accepts that her father is dead. Many people do similar acknowledgments and the sky fully returns.

Cecil speaks passionately about his new found respect for Steve. He says that Abby and he only started to get close again after their mother died and during Janice's infancy. Even though it was stressful, he saw Steve coming into the picture as making him useless and unfairly resented him for it. He now acknowledges that Steve is a good person that he loves.

Cecil also states that their reality was fragile because they were pretending it was something that wasn't, and by acknowledging it they will prevent rifts.

Stay tuned next for eye contact and breathing in unison. And as always, and for as long as I can keep saying it. Good night, Night Vale. good Night.

Proverb: "If you only read one book this year, then you have reached your approved book quota."

[astra-galaxie]

“An elephant?! That’s so cool! I like penguins!” - Milagros Santiago

Biographical information

Full Name: Milagros Santiago

Nickname(s): Mila

Gender: Female

Status: Alive

Age: 6 (season 3)

Birth: 2010

Race: Human

Nationality: Puerto Rican-American

Origin: Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A

Residence:

McMurdo Station, South Pole

Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A (formerly)

Profession(s): Penguin Enthusiast

Family:

Alondra Santiago (mother) (deceased)

Unnamed father

Camila Martinez (adoptive mother)

Unnamed grandparents

Carmen Martinez (aunt)

Sanjay Korrapati (cousin)

Affiliation(s): McMurdo Station

Profile

Height: 3’5”

Age: 6 (season 3)

Weight: 40lbs

Eyes: hazel

Blood: A+

Hailing from Baltimore, Milagros Santiago is a young girl with caramel skin, hazel brown eyes, and bouncy curls of long black hair. With her favourite colour being purple, she wears a dark purple parka with matching boots, black snow pants, a lilac hat, scarf, gloves and darker lilac earmuffs.

Synopsis

McMurdo Station’s unofficial penguin expert, Milagros, is the adopted daughter of Camila Martinez.

She is a curious young girl who loves asking questions to learn about new things. She loves science and learning about biology, physics, chemistry, and weather patterns. But she's also a big fan of fantasy novels and can easily get lost in an imaginary world as she reads her favourite books.

Milagros lost her mother at a young age. She doesn't remember much about Alondra, but she remembers her singing lullabies to put her to sleep and having princess tea parties with her and Auntie Camila. She's lucky to have recordings of her mother, and her favourite ones are the videos of Alondra singing and dancing with her as they reenact the dancing scenes from fairy tale movies.

After Alondra passed away, it was just her and Auntie Camila in their little apartment. The place seemed cold and empty without her Mommy, but soon, their family became bigger. She and Camila moved into a rental house close to Camila's parents, and Milagros loved visiting her new grandparents. Her Mommy's parents also visit from Puerto Rico, and while she only sees them a few times a year, she still treasures their time together.

A few weeks after her sixth birthday, Camila announced that she had been offered a job in Antarctica and Milagros was invited to come along. Despite the cold weather, the girl was ecstatic to move to the South Pole. She couldn't wait to see her newest favourite animal, penguins, and make lots of new penguin friends.

Several weeks after moving to Antarctica and befriending the penguins, Camila informed her that Auntie Carmen and her team would be visiting them. Milagros was excited to show Carmen and her friends around the station and penguin reserve but was even more excited to meet her new cousin Sanjay.

After Camila had been cleared of murder, she and Milagros took the Bureau out to visit the penguin reserve. Milagros introduced the penguins to the team by name and taught the humans everything she knew about the animal. While she might still have a lot to learn, she felt proud of herself as she saw everyone smiling and listening to her ramble.

But after a few days, Auntie Carmen, Sanjay and the Bureau needed to leave. Milagros didn't want them to go, but she knew there were bad guys out there they needed to take down, so she didn't try to stow away on the plane. But she still made Auntie Carmen and Sanjay promise to take pictures and get her souvenirs from everywhere they visited.

Months later, near the end of The Darkest Hour, Milagros and Camila returned to celebrate the defeat of SOMBRA alongside the rest of the Bureau's family and friends.

Story Information

First appeared: Death Below Zero

Trivia

Inspiration for her came from Encanto. Her name means miracle (miracle candle), and her Puerto Rican heritage comes from one of the movie’s (also one of my favourite) music composers being of Puerto Rican descent (Lin-Manuel Miranda)

Her stuffed penguin, Pip, was a gift from Camila when she told Milagros they were moving to Antarctica. Milagros sleeps with Pip every night and claims he keeps her nightmares and the cold away

When living in Baltimore, Camila takes Milagros on weekly trips to the cemetery to visit Alondra’s grave. Milagros updates her mother on everything that happened during the previous week and sometimes brings along things to show the grave

Once they return from Antarctica, Milagros plans to bring her scrapbook to her mother’s grave so that she can tell Alondra all about her adventures and penguin friends

She loves dressing up as characters from her favourite movies, especially princesses. Sometimes Camila will dress in matching costumes

Mila hopes that she'll be able to convince Sanjay to dress up with her for Halloween so they can get extra candy for their matching costumes!

She enjoys visiting the beach to build sand castles, swim, play in the waves, and take the pets Camila fosters for walks

Whenever they have a new pet to foster, Milagros makes them a bow or bandana to wear. Each one uses a different combination of fabrics, so no two bows or bandanas are the same

Her favourite animals to foster are dogs, cats, birds, and lizards

She also likes when they get to pet-sit people's fish. It's fun to watch them swim around in the tank

She was born without the lower half of her legs from just below her knees. She has prosthetics to help her walk, run, swim and dance

Grandma Martinez makes her special socks/sleeves in fun patterns that fit over her fake legs to cover the boring metal and plastic

Her favourite ones are the flower pattern socks that make it look like her legs a wrapped in flowers and the sparkly ones because she likes the way they shimmer in the light

Disclaimer: Character design was created using Rinmarugames Mega Anime Avatar Creator! I have only made minor edits to the design! Background courtesy of CriminalArtist5

Links to my stories:

The Case of the Criminal (Ao3/Wattpad)

Killer Bay (Ao3/Wattpad)

Where in the World are the Killers? (Ao3/Wattpad)

[girldraki]

this is tremendously bad game dev practice but enable us by helping to name this secret girl who is legally distinct from any former series 1 coolgirls and who also unrelatedly is a technopath nerd who lives in and streams from the void where deleted articles go and her name starts with a. Also for the record under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, commenting, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and rese

hypothetically her stream username is _nickname_inwonderland (e.g. amyinwonderland) so pick with that in mind etc

[pedros-immaculate-vibes]

Re-listening to Ghost Radio

(For obvious reasons)

BUT I THINK I FIGURED OUT WHAT THE HELL THE ENTIRE CONCEPT IS ABOUT

SPOILERS

Joaquin can go between dimensions.

he had the near-death experience not once, but TWICE, and can now commune with the dead (Gabriel) as well as jump to other realities without intending it.

Examples of characters sidling between two realities that exist simultaneously:

The shaman/Christian priest who can somehow juggle BOTH religious realities at once

How Alondra can juggle both being a professor who is grounded in logic, but dabbles in illogical, supernatural existences

the concept of the same exact thing happening to two boys (Joaquin and Gabriel both lost their parents in the exact same way at the exact same time).

The early chapter where the woman was with her husband/children, then suddenly her family belongs to her neighbor instead

The two separate men who have records of radio shows (reality) in Texas

There are SEVERAL examples of dualities co-existing, and I think that was intentional to give the reader a subtle preparation and to expand the way the reader’s mind can hold more than one truth at a time.

Joaquin doesn’t know why or how his reality keeps shifting. Each time he jumps to a different reality, it’s like he’s tuning in to a different channel (dimension) of reality; however, he can’t control it.

Alondra has the seizure/fit when she sees herself/Colette in the photograph bc she isn’t supposed to see proof of alternate realities; essentially, her program crashes when it’s presented with an alternate reality, unlike with Joaquin bc of his two Near Death Experiences.

Essentially, because he almost died twice, Joaquin is a conduit for some weird shit, and when Gabriel comes back into his life via the radio station, he becomes more sensitized to all of this weird multidimensional shit.

The way they describe his loss of control while driving, how he was “floating” and “sliding” without the ability to control his car after leaving the scene with Barry and the shaman/pastor is a parallel to him “sliding” from one reality to another, like a radio dial.

ALSO, Time is a dimensional construct, so he can fuck with where he is in time accidentally, too. And I think the same is true with death, bc he ends up going to the afterlife at the very end and watching a dimension where Alondra is happy with Watt and never knew he, Joaquin, existed.

Im gonna relisten to this book a third time now with this in mind, and see if it makes more sense.

[songtwo]

hi alondra 💖 i keep seeing videos of damon in mexico and genuinely i think this is the gayest hes ever acted since like 1999 all the other videos of him performing in like the last 23 years are Fine but they arent as gay as this, im so jealous u got to witness him like that live ur so lucky 🙏

omg hiiiii ur literally so rightttt did u see the video I posted where he's w his tongue out making horny faces basically shaking ass????? he was rly gay at the Argentina show too but yeah he outdid himself here <3333 I'm also loving the pink era it's just so slayyy did u see Jamie dyed his hair omg <33 omg i just remembered Damon kissed the guitarist at my show :3 sadly i didn't record it but it's still clear in my brain and 4ever will be i think . i hope his gay era remains and u get 2 see him like that too it's everything rly <3

[alondraxnarvaez]

[ @ofmelcdies ]

The consequences of the fire months ago still bore its effects on the outside of the record store, Alondra for the most part tried to ignore it, though. Thinking about the fire meant thinking about Dyson and the grief hitting her and she became pretty good at compartmenalizing about this (like so many other things - otherwise she wasn't sure she'd be able to keep going normally).

No, she wasn't thinking about Dyson as she stepped inside the story, she really really wasn't, instead she focused on her actual intentions. She found the owner of the store with her eyes, Lavinia and gave her a smile as she stepped up to the other woman. "Hey, do you have a few minutes to spare to help me? I am looking for some good, upbeat music that could pump up a bunch of hockey players, but something they might not actually know so it doesn't distract them."

[lubashivaya]

#FernandoRomano - POR DEBAJO DE LA MESA - Spring´2022 (Recording) Sueño Latino Collection «Por debajo de la mesa» es una canción escrita por el cantautor mexicano Armando Manzanero e interpretada por el cantante mexicano Luis Miguel La Serie. Con arreglos de BEBU SILVETTI, fue una de las dos composiciones originales escritas para el 12°. álbum de estudio #Romances (1997). Fue lanzado como el sencillo principal del álbum el 14 de julio de 1997 y se convirtió en su decimotercer número uno en la lista Billboard Hot Latin Tracks en los Estados Unidos. El vídeo musical muestra al cantante en un restaurante de alta cocina en la ciudad de Nueva York interpretando el tema. La canción recibió una reacción negativa de Achy Obejas, del Chicago Tribune en español, que la calificó de «floja». Fue nominada a canción pop del año en la 10.ª. entrega anual de los Premio Lo Nuestro y Manzanero recibió un Premio Latino de Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) por escribir la canción. Manzanero cantó el tema como dúo con varios artistas como Tania Libertad y Susana Zabaleta. Fuente: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Por_debajo_de_la_mesa ---------------------------- Letra: Por debajo de la mesa, acaricio tu rodilla Y bebo sorbo a sorbo tu mirada angelical Y respiro de tu boca, esa flor de maravilla Las alondras del deseo cantan, vuelan, vienen, van Y me muero por llevarte al rincón de mi guarida En donde escondo un beso con matiz de una ilusión Se nos va acabando el trago, sin saber qué es lo que hago Si contengo mis instintos o jamás te dejo ir Y es que no sabes lo que tú me haces sentir Si tú pudieras un minuto estar en mí Tal vez, te fundirías a esta hoguera de mi sangre Y vivirías aquí, y yo abrazado a ti Y es que no sabes lo que tú me haces sentir Que no hay momento que yo pueda estar sin ti Me absorbes el espacio, despacio me haces tuyo Muere el orgullo en mí Y es que no puedo estar, sin ti Me absorbes el espacio, despacio me haces tuyo Muere el orgullo en mí Y es que no puedo estar Sin ti ---------------------------- Créditos: Música: Por Debajo De La Mesa Autor: Armando Manzanero Produtor: Luís Miguel País: México 🇲🇽 Álbum: Romances (Luís Miguel) 👇🏽 (em MetaBiz) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck9383GNyud/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ljovadotcom]

Natalia Lafourcade - Que te vayo bonito Nicolás (with arrangements by Ljova)

Grateful to have written a string arrangement for Natalia Lafourcade's new album that was released today! #natalialafourcade #graciasvida

I first met Natalia Lafourcade in 2010 when creating arrangements for the Mexican bicentennial with conductor Alondra de la Parra. Here are some of those first arrangements. Since that time, Natalia and I have worked together on many orchestral projects, including twice with Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil, and during the pandemic I had the honor of recording strings for her video of “Alfonsína y…

[guess-my-next-obsession]

Love In The Time of Covid: Chapter Two

pairing: frankie morales x f!reader

chapter rating: M (talk of Covid/early pandemic, one racy picture, dad!frankie, talks of lockdown, mentions of a previous addiction, i think that’s it?)

word count: 3.6k

authors note: this story is set literally right before the world was sent into full lockdown (march-ish), hence why Frankie is still hanging out with Santi. also, as a swiftie i know Folklore came out in July of 2020 but we’re gonna pretend like it came out in March instead bc i can’t get enough of folklore!frankie :)

series masterlist

Today was the first day after Frankie’s two week quarantine, the negative test result sheet in his hand bringing a smile to his face as he left the clinic to head back home. He had a very busy weekend ahead of him, but before he could enjoy it, he had to break down and clean up his now trashed apartment.

The first thing he did when he got home was fix himself a bowl of cereal, devouring it in record time—something he never seemed to unlearn after his time in the military. After he was finished, he turned on his speaker and connected his phone, his music shuffling until he landed on his favorite song at the moment, singing out the lyrics unabashedly.

“SWEET TEA IN THE SUMMER, CROSS MY HEART WON’T TELL NO OTHER—“ Frankie was in the middle of scrubbing the pile of dishes in his sink when his phone stopped playing music, his ringtone blaring instead. Wiping his hands on a paper towel, he walked over to it on the table and grabbed it, seeing his ex’s name on his screen. With a sigh, he slid the green arrow and lifted the phone to his ear. “Hello?”

“Hey, you’re supposed to have Alondra this week.” He rolled his eyes at her tone.

“Yes.”

“Okay…so…where are you? I’ve got shit to do, Frankie. Can’t wait around all day for you to decide to pick up your daughter.” Frankie lifted the phone from his ear and flipped the screen off before bringing it back.

“I’m cleaning my apartment up, Viviana. I’ll be at your place in a fucking hour. Is that fine? Can your shit wait until then? Or would you like our child to come back to my dirty apartment?” He only heard a sigh in response before she ended the phone call, tossing his phone back onto the table and pressing play. “PACK YOUR DOLLS AND A SWEATER. WE’LL MOVE TO INDIA FOREVER.”

He shuffled around his one bedroom apartment with purpose, excited to not only have Alondra back in his arms this weekend, but also because of the park date he and Mariposa—a nickname he so lovingly bestowed upon his new love after learning that she had not one, but five different butterfly tattoos (though he had yet to learn their locations)—set for the next afternoon.

Walking into his bedroom, he scratched his head as he took in the boxes of un-assembled furniture—a crib, a changing table, and a dresser. He let out a huff and rubbed the hair on his chin, feeling that familiar itch to soothe his stress with illegal substances. He shook his head at the mere thought of relapsing and turned around, heading into the kitchen to grab his phone, ignoring the urge to call Mariposa up—he didn’t want their first date to be assembling furniture—and instead choosing Santi’s contact.

“Look who it is!” Santi beamed through the video call, Frankie chuckling at his enthusiasm. “You covid-free finally?”

“Yeah, I’m picking up Alondra in a half hour, but I still need to put together the furniture I got for her. You get tested recently?”

“Yeah, me and la novia went yesterday because we’ve got a flight to Texas coming up this week.”

“Could I possibly steal you away from her and get some help tonight?” Frankie asked with his best smile, Santi groaning dramatically. “C’mon, I have beer.”

“Oh, sure then, yeah. I’m down. Come pick me up after you secure the bebé.”

“Alright be there in about an hour.”

•••

“Frankie,” Viviana greeted him with a glare, arms crossed over her chest as she stood in the doorway. “You’re late.”

Frankie looked down at his watch, brows furrowed.

“I’m three minutes late.” He argued through his mask, only receiving an eye roll before she was walking him inside the home he used to share with her.

It hadn’t always been this way with Viviana. When they first met five years ago, she was a carefree grad-student studying to be a veterinarian. Kindness and affection radiated from her, catching his eye immediately at some house party Benny dragged him to. What began as a coked-up fuck in a strangers bathroom soon evolved to a full on relationship full of a lot of ups and downs—mostly downs—until the surprise conception of their baby girl. Now, all he could see when he looked at her were the many red flags he chose to ignore right up until a few months ago when she made the choice for him—and thank god she did.

“Oh hey, man. Nice to finally meet you.” Frankie’s jaw clenched as he spotted his replacement sitting at the kitchen table he helped pick out feeding his daughter with a casual smile. Frankie turned to Viviana, whispering to her with his back turned to her boyfriend.

“I asked you to not bring him around—“

“You’re not around, Frankie. I needed help.” She spat, Frankie scoffing at her argument.

“I was sick. With fucking Covid. Remember? The shit going around killing people that we know like nothing about?” She breezed past him, ignoring his valid defense and lifting Alondra from her high chair. Frankie accepted his daughter into his arms gladly, kissing her cheek through the cotton of his mask a few times before looking down at her, her grin growing wide until she let out a laugh. He kissed her forehead again, having missed the sound of his happy baby girl more than he’d ever missed anything.

“Remember, she’s allergic to bananas so look at all the labels before—“

“I know, V.” He shrugged on her diaper bag, allowing his ex to say goodbye to their daughter before the two were on their way.

“Hola cabrón!” Santi greeted Frankie with a smile, slipping into the passenger seat and patting his shoulder before turning around to look at Alondra in the backseat, reaching to pinch her foot. “Hola, muñecita.”

“We gotta stop at the store so I can grab some baby shit.” Frankie was still tense after his not-so nice reunion with the mother of his child, Santi quickly taking note of his attitude.

“Didn’t go well?” He asked carefully, Frankie looking over at him with an unamused look.

“She had her guy over. Fucking feeding Alondra like he’s her dad.” He shook his head, keeping his eyes on the road as he drove to the nearest Target. “And V was finding any fucking reason to make me feel like shit. I never realized it back when we were together, but she’s so fucking…annoying.”

“Yeah, we all caught onto that pretty early on.”

“And yet no one thought to tell me?” Santi couldn’t help but chuckle at the question. They all very much had told Frankie about their distaste for Viviana, he just never listened.

“You’re ridiculous,” he chuckled again, shaking his head as he looked back at Alondra squawking in the backseat. “Que pasa, niña? What’re you squawking about?”

Frankie’s phone lit up as it rested on the dash mount, Santi chuckling and teasing him as he read the contact name, “Mariposa 🦋”.

“Who’s that, huh? Frankie’s got a girlfriend?” He teased, nudging Frankie’s side with a shit eating grin, Frankie rolling his eyes and chuckling against his will.

“It’s the delivery girl,” he told him your name and Santi ooo-ed at the blush on his friends face. “Can you stop smiling like that and be useful? Open it for me, man.”

“Sure thing, pal.” Santi kept his grin on as he lifted the phone off the mount and opened it up, his eyes going wide at the sight of a racy photo on the screen. “Jesus, Fish!”

“What?” Frankie looked over at caught a glimpse of the picture, quickly snatching it from Santi’s hands and locking it. “What the fuck man?”

“What the fuck to you! You told me to open it!” He laughed through his defense, Frankie’s cheeks now flushed red.

“I didn’t know that…I—fuck off.” Santi looked back at Alondra, getting the baby girl to join him in his laughter.

“Papá tiene una novia, mija.” Alondra giggled without having a clue what he was saying. “Yeah, that’s funny, huh?”

“I shoulda called Benny.”

•••

You weren’t exactly sure what came over you.

Frankie had been a complete gentleman the entire week that the two of you had been talking, never once pulling anything or pushing you into the typical sexting shit that men usually tried this early on. He was consistent and honest, interesting and funny—checking every single box you had, which wasn’t an easy feat.

Somehow, your appreciation for him turned into horniness which then turned into a mini-photo shoot in front of the full length mirror in your bedroom, eager to reward him for his very gentlemanly behavior and possibly get a glimpse of what he was like beyond it.

Your modesty was covered only by a skimpy thong and your arm over your breasts, your makeup and hair done up more than it would usually be on a Friday afternoon. You took a few different photos from different angles, but landed on an angle that showed off your curves best, pressing the blue arrow without second thought so that you wouldn’t lose your nerve.

“What the fuck did you just do, idiot?” You scolded yourself as you laid face first on your mattress. The last thing you wanted was to scare him off or come across as a creep who only wanted to fuck.

Thirty minutes had passed, your hands busy baking copious amounts of banana bread to keep the anxiety at bay. You felt like shit, ruining the first genuine connection you’d felt in a long time because you were horny? Idiot.

Right as you stuffed the next few loaf tins in the oven, your phone buzzed on the counter, your heart sinking to your feet at the sound. You almost didn’t want to look at it, your hope far too high to be let down by someone else’s name on the screen, but you couldn’t keep your curiosity at bay. Reaching for the phone, you gasped at the sight of “Rocketman ✈️” gracing your screen, your nickname for him after the two of you watched the film together over Zoom a couple days ago.

F: Mariposa, you’re so fucking beautiful. You trying to give me a heart attack in Target?

You giggled, looking around you at the mess of your panic baking as you thought up a witty response.

M: No heart attacks until you see me in person.

F: Deal.

F: What kind of wine do you like, bebita? I’m getting stuff for our picnic tomorrow.

You melted onto the counter, groaning at his sweet thoughtfulness.

M: Are you real?

F: Unfortunately yeah

M: I like you a lot, Rocketman. And anything pink, please!

F: I like you, Mariposa. A shit ton. My friend is here laughing at me as I type this because of my stupid fucking grin.

F: And you got it, anything else you want? Fruit, sweets, cheese? You name it, bebita.

M: I’m blushing like a fucking idiot, Frankie. You’re too cute. And no, your company and a glass of wine is perfect.

F: Sounds good, sweetheart.

A half hour passed before your phone buzzed again, Frankie’s contact on your screen again. You bit your lip as you opened the message, chuckling when you read it.

F: Hey this is Santi, Frankie’s real novia. Here’s your man.

M: Tell the guy on the right he’s hot

F: He’s blushing

F: Now he’s trying to take the phone awafbdhsu

F: Santi is an idiot, sorry you had the misfortune of talking to him, Mariposa.

M: Sounds like I’m gonna have to share you 🤨

F: He wishes.

F: I’m driving right now, but I’ll call you later on, pretty girl. Miss your voice 💞

M: Miss your voice, too. Be safe, pretty boy. 😘

•••

“Did you hear they’re talking about forcing everyone into fucking quarantine? Like shutting shit down?” Santi asked as he and Frankie sat together on his sofa, Alondra bouncing in her playseat while the boys drank beer and watched Frankie’s current comfort show, Nathan For You. “Can you imagine? Not being allowed to see anybody, having to stay in your fucking house all day long?”

“Sounds like what I’m already doing,” Frankie shrugged.

“No, puto. You wouldn’t get to hang out with me or the guys, wouldn’t get to see your girl, and I’m sure it’s not gonna make your split custody situation any easier.” Frankie turned to him with a concerned look. “Hey, but it’s all just talk for now. I’m sure it’s not gonna get that bad.”

“Let’s hope,” Frankie turned back to the screen, lifting his beer to his lips before pulling his phone out of his pocket. The realization that there might come a day soon that he wouldn’t have physical access to Mariposa made him all the more excited for their date tomorrow. “Hey, I’m gonna go down for a smoke. Can you watch Alondra?”

“Sure thing, Fish.”

Frankie made his way downstairs to the parking lot of his apartment complex, taking a cigarette out and lighting it as he waited for her to pick up his FaceTime.

“Hi, Rocketman.” Mariposa beamed at him through the screen with a playful grin.

“Hey, Mariposa,” he smiled back, leaning against the bumper of his jeep. “Are you busy?”

“No, just finishing up a paper. What are you up to? Is Alondra settled in?”

“Yeah, she’s inside with Santi. We just put together her crib, her changing table thing, and now we just have to finish up with the dresser.” He took an inhale of his cigarette and breathed it out, eyes fixed on her undone state, blown away that she somehow looked even better like this—hair in a bun, reading glasses on, an oversized sweatshirt with a stain on it. “Santi, uh, he just killed my mood a bit. He’s pretty good at that, you’ll come to realize when you get to know him.”

“What did he say?” She asked with a furrow in her brows, tone laced with concern.

“He just reminded me about the fact that we might all go on lockdown soon. Gonna make it a bitch to see Alondra…and to see you.” Mariposa gave him an empathetic smile, tilting her head at him. “If that happens, you know, mandatory quarantine or whatever…I guess I just wanted to let you know that I’m not going anywhere. You know? Even if we can’t see each other in person for a while, I, uh…I really like you, so—I guess I just wanted to tell you that I’m here. I’m in it.”

“I’m in it too, Frankie,” she beamed again. “Seriously, I…haven’t ever connected like this with someone before. So…a little lockdown isn’t gonna change that.”

“Good,” he chuckled shyly and nodded, eyes bouncing across her features adoringly.

“So…about that picture I sent earlier,” she bit her lip and looked away from the camera as she chuckled. “It wasn’t too much, right? I don’t want you to think that’s all I’m after or anything. I just…was in a mood, I guess and you’ve been such a gentleman, I just got a little…worked up over the thought of you.”

“Worked up, huh?” Frankie smirked and looked around at the empty parking lot before speaking again. “No, bebita, it wasn’t too much. Believe me when I say I’ve been thinking about it since you sent it.”

“I could…send another? If you’d like?” She gave him a hopeful smile before biting her lip again, Frankie having to calm his lower half at the sound of her voice turning just a bit more sultry than usual. As much as he wanted to see more of her, he also wanted to take it slow, not rush into anything and ruin the good thing that they were building.

“Mariposa, I’d love to see more of you, but what do you think about us taking it slow for now?” She looked shocked by his response, his heart rate speeding up as she went speechless. “Trust me, I want to see you. You’re so beautiful, baby, but…I’ve jumped into a lot of shit in the past really quickly and I don’t want this to be rushed like that, you know?”

“No, I get it,” she nodded, her eyes meeting his again. “I’m just not used to men treating me as good as you do, Frankie. Gonna take some getting used to.”

“I just care about us creating something lasting, Mariposa. I like you too much to risk ruining it for sex,” she smiled at him, all trace of her earlier disappointment gone. “So…on another note, tomorrow we’re gonna have a third wheel, I hope that’s okay.”

“Well, it depends on if it’s Santi or Alondra. Santi—not okay. Alondra—very okay.” He chuckled and asked out his cigarette, smiling at the thought of Mariposa and Alondra together. If Viviana was going to have her partner around their kid, he no longer felt guilty over the thought of his new love meeting his daughter.

“Bebe, I can promise you, I wouldn’t subject you to Santi this early on.”

“How’d you two meet?”

Frankie sat outside for another half-hour talking to Mariposa about his past in the military, how he met Santi and the rest of the boys, how he ended up here in Florida. It wasn’t until Santi came walking over with Alondra in his arms that he realized how long he’d been gone, suddenly feeling incredibly selfish for leaving his baby girl with his friend for so long.

“She made a poo-poo,” Santi whispered, handing over the stinky baby to his friend.

“Is that Santi?” Mariposa asked and Frankie sighed.

“Yeah,” Santi looked full of mischief as he plucked the phone out of Frankie’s hands and ran through the parking lot, knowing that his friend wouldn’t try to chase him with his daughter in his arms. “Well, hello there,” Santi greeted with his winning smile. “Nice to finally meet you.”

“Did you just kidnap me?” She asked with an amused smirk, eating popcorn.

“Yeah, he’s keepin’ pretty mum about you besides the blushing and grinning. So I guess I gotta figure out if you’re a killer or something myself.” Santi watched as Frankie walked at a careful pace towards him. “You collect dead animals or anything like that?”

“No, no dead animals, unfortunately. Just one live one.” Santi watched as the camera was flipped around to show off her cat that Frankie had already come to love, Miles.

“Frankie’s a dog guy, babe. It ain’t gonna work.” Santi shrugged, unimpressed.

“Oh yeah? Frankie says otherwise.”

“Well, yeah, he’s trying to butter you up. Trust me, sweetie, daddy knows him better than you do.” She laughed at that, Santi taking it as a green flag that she was so at ease with his teasing.

“Are you daddy?” Frankie reached him in time to hear her question, giving Santi a confused smile and a head tilt.

“She keeps calling me daddy, I don’t know where it’s coming from.”

“Yeah, right.” Frankie heard her scoff as he took his phone back, shaking his head into the camera, watching proudly as her eyes lit up at the sight of him. “I’m so glad you’re back. I think Santi’s trying to scare off his competition.”

“Yeah, he’s obsessed with me.” Frankie pushed Santi away from him playfully as they reached the stairs up to his apartment. “Mariposa, I gotta finish up this dresser so that I can send Santi back home and out of my face.”

“Okay, tell daddy and Alondra I said goodnight.”

“He’s not daddy. Don’t—that’s gonna go straight to his fucking head. Already too big,” Frankie chuckled and set Alondra down on her playmat. “Goodnight, mi Mariposa. I’ll see you tomorrow at 10?”

“Can’t wait, Rocketman.” With that, Frankie reluctantly hung up and tucked his phone back into his pocket, feeling a little better about his lockdown panic knowing that she was on the same page as him. It didn’t feel like they had a ticking countdown on their budding relationship anymore, both in it regardless of how often they got to see each other in person.

“I like her,” Santi spoke up as they started back on the dresser.

“Shut up.” Frankie was used to Santi’s sarcasm, not once hearing him genuinely compliment one of his past girlfriends aside from their looks.

“No, seriously. I like her. She’s funny, she seems like she’d be cool to hang out with. Nothing like the girls you usually go for.” Frankie smiled to himself, his friends approval meaning more to him than he’d ever care to admit.

“She just like…gets me? And likes talking to me? It’s wild.” Frankie focused on twisting the screw into place as he spoke to prevent a boyish grin from creeping onto his lips. “Just feels like her and I could sit and talk forever, you know? Haven’t had that kind of connection before. Like…Viviana? That was just sexual and coke-fueled, but I swore it was love. This isn’t like that, and it’s really nice.”

“Does she know about all that? The coke and shit?” Santi asked, dropping his typical playfulness to have a real conversation.

“Yeah, told her about it the first night we talked.” He set down the allen-wrench and looked at his friend with a smirk. “She was so understanding. Her parents were both addicts so, she gets it, ya know? And, anyways, it just makes me want to not slip back into all that even more. I don’t want her to have to deal with that shit from me.”

“That’s good, man. I’m glad you’re with someone who brings out good shit in you rather than…well, whatever Viviana brought out.” The boys stood up to lift the dresser upright, moving it from the living room and back into the bedroom. “Also doesn’t hurt that she’s hot.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Frankie chuckled and rolled his eyes.

Mariposa was hot. And nice to talk to. And fucking funny. She was the total package and there was no way he was letting his ghosts or a little bug going around ruin that. He wasn’t about to let something this good slip from his fingers. He’d cure Covid himself if he had to.

•••

frankie taglist: @joelmillerscoffee @ajeff855 @wildemaven @axshadows @sherala007 @browneyes-issac @tooflef @mariasabana @tae27 @kimm4710 @stxrrylunatic @sara-alonso @paulalikestuff @jbh-castaway @oceandolores @mandomover @chxpsi @auberosier @mashomasho @vanemando15 @wickedmunson @marvel-sw-lover @jediknight122 @harriedandharassed @star-wars-fan-2005 @alwaysdjarin @jalobro @trickstersp8 @mccn-bcys @manuymesut @trinkets01 @tanzthompson @jlmaddinson @hopeamarsu @fanofverymanythings @lovesbiggerthanpride @pinkything @fireproofmarta @littlenosoul @tryonmyworld (please let me know if you’d like to be removed/added to future frankie content!)

[greensagephase]

Happy holidays Alondra!!🎄❤️ It was a wonderful surprise seeing this Christmas oneshot for Nonviolent Communication!! I read part 7 recently so it was so cool seeing the callbacks to their first Christmas together and now this one, with all the progress they’ve both made since then 🥹 (I just realized that was the first time Miguel invited reader for dinner too!)!! Miguel is just so sweet!! the fact he wanted to cook and host everything!!! And the fact he’s a great cook- this man made so much food for reader and I love him for that (with the fact he loves seeing reader’s reaction to his cooking)!! I’m just imagining how happy he must’ve been cooking and preparing the food for reader 😭 oh and the little appearance with Lyla!! Always love how you write their banter even if it’s just a small part! and the Christmas card!! That was the one Sony made I think? yeah Miguel looked so done in that 😂 but the other Christmas card with reader- with the small smile at reader wait a second 👀 And the fact Miguel expresses his appreciation and care for reader through what he does for them, especially with it being hard to express out loud, is just so sweet 🥺 he’s really trying his best and he just cares for reader so much! I’ve loved reading every bit of progress Miguel has made in every part of NC, and the fact his dreams have gotten better, he just sleeps better now! (I’m still so happy reader was able it help him with that 🥹) the fact he dreams of Gabriella, Gabriel, and reader in his dreams!!! The fact he doesn’t feel heartache for the first time in years because he doesn’t feel alone anymore?!! 😭 I also think it’s so sweet he kept reader’s Christmas ornament from last year, and I’d really love to relax and design an ornament with Miguel, that sounds so fun (and Lyla roasting Miguel tho 😂)

Ok this whole part here: “The two of you stand there for a little while longer, admiring the Christmas tree, silently thinking about how much has changed in a year, and deciding that you wouldn’t change anything about it.” So much has happened between them, I can’t get over how their friendship has evolved so much and how much they’ve both grown in a year, their friendship really is so special, they deserve all the love!!! 🥹

reading about the other times they’ve had a bit more physical touch over the last few months!!! SCREAMING I’m so happy Miguel is more comfortable with it now, especially ever since he initiated that little pinky squeeze in part 11 (which I’m still not over) and the fact he does it again!!!

The whole Christmas show that was introduced in part 7 and then this part sounds so amazing to watch, the world building you add to Miguel’s universe is just so fun to read!!! can really imagine the Christmas show show going on! The little flashback to Gabriel and Miguel as children watching the show was so bittersweet. but I really do love the flashbacks you include of them with Miguel’s happy childhood memories. But when Spider-Man 2099 showed up in the show! And the fact the hologram gives reader a high five and a wink 😭😭 and Miguel blushes and thinks about it too 😭 this man- omg this this was so cute to read! And this leads me to the next part- the gift giving!!! The fact they were both hesitant at giving each other their gift 😭 (ok the fact they wrapped their gifts similarly too is so cute and I totally do the same thing!) and the gifts he gave reader!!! Every one of them is so sweet and the records 😭😭 the way I’d be smiling so much if I was there!! And reader’s gifts to him!?!! No that’s so, so sweet!!! gifting Miguel his own record player I can’t- it’s so perfect!! And the custom made mittens!! That’s so cute!! And gifting Miguel some record he liked from readers universe that he enjoys 😭😭 he felt tenura for reader again- I really I love this!!!! 😭❤️ (I saw your post with asking what to give Miguel and loved seeing all the sweet answers people put in- for some reason I had a hard time deciding!) Ok have to include this whole part: “He smiles softly at you, filled with ternura. Your gifts are so thoughtful and sweet, and the fact that you've paid attention to what records he enjoys when he’s mentioned it in passing, makes him feel heard, appreciated, and… loved” 😭😭❤️ YESS LET THIS MAN FEEL LOVED!!! HE DESERVES IT!!! 🥹

I hope you had an amazing Christmas Alondra, thank you for writing this wonderful part for NC, especially with how busy it is and your migraine when writing this! I loved reading it so much, and I still love the other Christmas part you wrote too! Spent most of Christmas eve cooking with my mom and made Pancit Bihon (which is a Filipino noodle dish with different veggies and chicken or pork), cassava cake (made with shredded cassava and coconut and it’s really good!) and Pan de sal (like a Filipino bread roll) so it was so nice to unwind and read this!!! (Also gonna make some agua de Jamaica today!) I just have to say thank you again for writing Nonviolent communication, as it has truly become my favorite story to read this year. Thank you for everything Alondra, truly. I really can’t thank you enough for what you do, and I’ve loved how you’ve incorporated your culture in your writing as I’ve loved learning more about the food and language! Also, I think I said this before but it really did make the rest of my year so much better. I hope you have a wonderful time with loved ones, rest, and have some amazing food!!! Merry Christmas Alondra!!!! 🎄❤️✨

Also, OMG i love your Spider-Man 2099 figure!! That’s the one I was eyeing too! Didn’t get it… yet but in your picture it looks like he’s admiring your writing and it’s adorable!! 🥹

Happy Holidays, @sunsetdoodler !! 🎄❤️ I'm so happy you found the Christmas one-shot a surprise! I wasn't going to write anything Christmassy for Nonviolent Communication, but it was like the 20th when I started having thoughts and I knew I was in trouble 🤣😭 also, sorry for my long response! 😭

I'm just glad I got it out on Christmas Eve and that we got cozy and soft NC Miguel! 🥺 Also, I did see your reblog of part 7!! I was working on the one-shot when I saw it, and I was like "hopefully she likes today's little one-shot!!" Also, the little callbacks to last year, yes!! It felt so bittersweet to bring up the differences. I'm glad I wrote this though because I can actually compare them from one Christmas to the other and their progress!! Lowkey crying over here!! Omg, Miguel cooking everything, wanting to host so reader doesn't have to worry about it, and trying to please her with his cooking - THIS MAN!!🥺😭 He's the sweetest!!! Lyla's appearance 💀 If I do more one-shots I'm going to try and include her more because it's so much fun to include the banter between Miguel and Lyla!! Yes, the Christmas card was the one Sony released! I couldn't help myself and created a little backstory for it to include in NC, haha!! It was just too cute not to! And the other Christmas card with Miguel staring at reader smiling...🥺👀 I just... yes. Miguel doing things to express how he feels !! He's trying his best and this is his way of doing it, which that alone is such a big step for him (I'm so proud of him 😭)! Also him having more pleasant dreams and dreaming of Gabriella, Gabriel, and now reader!! It's just another silent sign of how much reader means to Miguel (it highkey makes me wish reader could've met them - just imagine how cute it would be - I'm okay, really)! Miguel not feeling lonely nor feeling as much heartache - I made myself tear up with that one. I'm just so, so happy Miguel has reader in his life- that they both have each other, really - after being alone for so long. No, omg the ornament designing made me want to sit down and actually draw one. If I was in that dimension I would still go for a traditional tree because nothing beats decorating a tree physically (even if it means going up and down the ladder a million times 🤣) but I'd still get a holographic one to design ornaments, especially with Miguel! Also, Lyla's roasting had me laughing and Miguel's "You're so encouraging" - their banter is just so funny but yes, I LOVED including that little detail that he kept reader's ornament from last year. It's just.. a little something!

Omg that quote about them not changing anything! I wanted to highlight not only Miguel's progress but also reader's! The fact that they wouldn't change anything about it just shows how much better they're doing in their healing and I'm just so proud of them. They deserve to be happy and to feel loved! 🥹

The pinky squeeze and it happening three times over the months!!! I didn't want to give up too much in the Thanksgiving one-shot (I found out two days ago a drabble is less than 100 words, so I had to go back and change it 😓), so I just had to include the fact that Miguel has thought about physical touch more after some brushing of fingers here and there knowing that there has been some intentional touching on his part, hehe!! I'm just glad he's finding a way to build himself up to full physical touch and that he finds this little gesture comfortable to do!

Omg, thank you for the comment on the worldbuilding of Miguel's universe!! I have way too much fun thinking about these little details, sometimes even doing research (very important research, of course) to see if it fits or if it's something already in existence. It was just really fun and I loved including hologram Miguel this year, haha! I was just like - how can I make this year's show better? And then hologram Miguel came to mind! Omg, the little flashback with Gabriel - I was going to make it longer but I was writing that part on the 23rd and I still had the gift exchange moment plus helping with holiday cooking preparations, so I decided against it but I do love the little moment between them. I just love including Gabriel whenever I can!! I really hope we see him in BTSV!! But haha, back to hologram Miguel 🤭 him giving reader a high-five and a wink and Miguel just blushing about it - I have no regrets for making Miguel blush over this!! He's just too cute when he gets flustered !! The gift giving scene - I WAS LIKE AHHH??! I loved writing this part!! I wanted it to be this really soft and vulnerable yet big and significant moment between the two of them. As we've mentioned before, their thoughts and feelings aligned so much sometimes but they don't share or act on them because they're not ready to or don't want to push the other's boundaries but in this moment, they did it - they decided to go for it even through their shared hesitation! Them wrapping up their gifts similarly, I just love having them do similar things - maybe it's cliche but I have no regrets!! Also all their gifts to each other, I hoped it would be sweet!! My favorite thing was the record player and the mittens (I'm just imagining Miguel with them now and 🥺🥺), and Miguel just being so excited over them!! Them just giving each other's gifts that mean something to them - I'm gonna cry real quick don't mind me, please!! @sunsetdoodler that last quote you mentioned - I was laying in bed like -

"totally okay about this! So normal! Not gonna get emotional - nope, oh never mind.." because HE FEELS LOVED!!! I was just silently thinking of the line "to be loved is to be changed" and I - I'm just gonna leave it at that, I'm sorry!! But yes LET THIS MAN FEEL LOVED, HE DESERVES IT!!!

@sunsetdoodler I hope you had an amazing Christmas, too, and that you enjoyed your day with your loved ones!! Thank you for your lovely support as always with my fic, it means so much to me!!! ❤️ omg, I just looked up all the food you mentioned, and now it's midnight and I'm just here wishing I could try everything right now!!! It all sounds and looks so yummy!!! I also think it's so sweet you cooked with your mom for Christmas!! I did, too with my mom and siblings 🥺 Also, I'm happy you got to unwind after cooking because it can so exhausting. I personally got a blister on my finger from a spoon when I was making tamales, haha!! And omg @sunsetdoodler thank you so much!!!!! You're so sweet and your kind words mean so much to me!!! Thank you for your support on my writing and NC especially!! It means the world to me and of course, I love sharing a bit of my culture and language!! I've been writing other stuff in the past (original projects with OCs and such) but this is the first writing project in which I've been able to include so much of it and it makes me so happy!! Thank you so much for your kind words, and honestly, this fic has made my year so much better to!! It's made me write more and have the opportunity to have some amazing moots like you!!! Thank you, thank you!! I hope you had an amazing Christmas and that the rest of the year is peaceful, restful, and relaxing for you and your loved ones!! ❤️✨ Also, I will reply to the fanart from part 11, just needed to get past the Christmas one-shot haha but yes, I did get that action figure and I'm probably a bad influence here but.... get it!! 🥺 He's so cute!! And omg I went back to look at the photo and it does look like that 😭 didn't even plan that but it was just so fun to have it with me!! I think he's a great companion and you should get it for when you're drawing and studying!! Thank you so much @sunsetdoodler !!! I hope you have an amazing day and make sure to rest and relax!!! Wishing you the best as always and sending you a warm virtual hug!!! ✨❤️✨

-Alondra

[desert-bluffs-and-me]

WTNV quick rundown - 97 - Josefina

Featuring the voice of Retta was Old Woman Josie Ortiz.

Check out the other stuff I've done like this here!

Why do birds appear every time you are near? It's likely they planted a tracking device on you. Welcome to Night Vale.

Cecil decides to spend this episode focused on Josie (full name Josefina, as in the title) and her life in NV. He's been missing her, especially on league night, since her broken hip and subsequent series of infections.

Alondra (Josie's daughter) and the Erika's are still looking after her. This is good, since the doctors of NV seem incredibly behind in the times (thinking there's no cure for polio, for example, despite that being untrue and irrelevant). As part of the episode, Cecil calls Josie so she can tell her life story.

Josie tells us that until she can get back to boiling, Sarah Sultan will be filling in because despite being a fist-sized river rock she's a fast learner.

We learn that Josie's father used to run the Old NV opera house (since it was built in 1904). Until listening to music was decriminalised in NV, they had to put on operas without music. After listening to music was legal again, Josie asked her dad to put on the opera 'Tosca' (plot changed in the NV version ofc) as this is her favourite opera.

The opera houses last performance was in 1983 and it was demolished because of a puppy infestation in 1994. This was when Josie first met the angels but they wouldn't fully manifest to her until 18 years later.

Josie's mother died when she was 28 and her father not long after that. She joined the NV Board of Culture in order to stay active with the opera house and to support other artistic endeavors in town. In her 50 years on the Board of Culture, they started a Youth Orchestra Society, founded the Night Vale Community Theatre, ordered the removal of all French Horns from the high school marching band, and supported a performance art initiative to put tarantulas in bags and leave them in the back seats of unlocked cars.

The Erika's also wanted to join, but they weren't allowed due to 'not existing', something Josie didn't understand. She didn't believe in angels then but knew they loved art and that was enough for her.

She says she started to fully believe in them as angels when they helped her change her lightbulb and knew they'd help her rebuild the opera house. She retells us that Marcus was turned into an angel, and then they bought StrexCorp and liquidated it's assets to turn it into the StrexCorp Foundation which is still managed by the angel who was once Marcus.

Josie says she's grateful to Alondra but that Alondra is treating the visit like Josie is going to die soon and keep asking about a will and which stuff is going to whom. Cecil asks if he can have Josie's bowling ball and she says yes.

Josie says that Alondra never liked NV and if her assets go to Alondra because the angels are not legally acknowledged as existing then Alondra will just sell everything, which isn't fair to the angels who built and managed everything. She asks Cecil to admit that the Erika's are really angels but he can't bring himself to do so. Josie ends by thanking everyone who has been bringing her food and praising Earl's cooking in particular.

Weather: "Everywhere" by Ex Hex

Josie mentions that Strex had 'control collars' and that Cecil and Earl used to be 'joined at the hip' and in the boy scouts together. Cecil does not remember that.

Cecil accidentally reads Intern Kareem's 'off the record' report from Hiram, who has an elaborate escape plan following the stalling negotiations of his sister and Dana.

The subway is being reopened by the Transit Authority, which seems to be the same followers of Huntokar we've seen before. They distribute cockroaches that have single words written on their backs that if found and collected will probably detail the press release about the reopening.

Cecil states he 'always wondered what happened to Marcus' despite directly seeing what happened to Marcus.

Stay tuned next for the sound of a balloon popping. Stay tuned. It will happen. Eventually. Any minute now. Stay tuned. And as always, good night, Night Vale. Good Night.

Proverb: If there's not a race to get to the dance competition on time, then your screenplay isn't finished.

[sometipsygnostalgic]

gotta love how shadow weaver says "lord hordak sees great potential in you" adora goes "omg lord hordak said that about me???" and " we are going to reclaim etheria in the name of hordak!" meanwhile hordak thinks her name is alondra

Hordak: I've looked at the training records, and I agree that you should give a promotion to... *checks smudged writing on hand* Dorado.