#also i really wanted to include the pass the JOInt pun too

[evilbiomes]

don’t think i forgot about 4/20! (i almost did actually)

anyways heres a redraw of that good ol forever weed brownie comic

[classic80sand90smovieloves2]

An orgy with the 25th division would include~

(Not my gif)(Requested by anonymous)

(I’m pretty sure that this is what you meant but your request is included in this either way)

- Logistically, even if you wanted to, you couldn’t handle taking all of the platoon at the same time: it’s too much for any one person to take and frankly, after a certain point, it would just become a hassle.

- So, realistically, if you were intent on offering yourself up in the name of strengthening the troops resolve, you’d probably have to take them in; at least, two separate groups. And obviously, the selection for these two groups would come down to Elias’ squad and Barnes squad.

- Elias’ squad would probably come first; no pun intended, because they’re a) friendlier and b) have weed.

- Even though that sounds like you being high played a big part in this scenario occurring, it really didn’t. You were pretty much completely sober when the idea came up in conversation, just a little more relaxed than you would be without the help of a joint.

- The whole thing had started off as one big joke. You were off duty and sitting in the Underworld with the usual group of boys when one of them had jokingly asked how much it would take for you to let them have a go at you; most likely after they’d all eloquently whined about how they miss “pussy”.

- You; in an equally humorous manner, had said that you’d let them do it for free; prompting them all to holler and laugh.

- But there’s always some truth to every joke and by the time most of the parties members had left, the idea had ruminated and been on the back burner of the entire rooms minds for at least an hour. By then, the group was down to Rhah, Lerner, King, Elias, and Chris; all of whom you were particularly close to, and you were all sitting in a comfortable silence.

- That was when Rhah brought it up again, teasingly but also in a tone that was more serious than before. “So,” he’d said “you’d let us fuck you for free?”.

- Initially, you’d snorted, thinking that he was playing his typical game of taunting, but after you’d assured him that you would; still partially joking, he didn’t let the matter go and you realized that it was less of a gag than you’d previously believed it to be.

- As he continued to ask questions, you finally decided to put everything down on the table and asked “Why? Are you interested?”; suggestively but in a way that could pass as you merely messing with him just in case it was all an elaborate trick.

- He relaxed back in his chair with a wolfish grin and immediately agreed; asking if it was a “group affair” or if the two of you should go and find someplace more private. You answered that it was up to him and King spoke up, saying something along the lines of “Shit, I’m in.” before the rest of the room responded equally as enthused. Things took off from there~

- Before I get into the specifics, let me mention how your experience with those boys would lead to your experience with the other group of soldiers; then I’ll write down some details for each participant so you can imagine your dream dick rotation.

- Even if it was supposed to be kept a secret, in an area with close quarters where the only real privacy there is, is the Underworld and maybe a makeshift office or in the jungle somewhere, things don’t stay secret for very long.

- So, with it being nobody’s fault, word gets out to at least one of the members of Barnes squad; in one way or another, and they confront you about it.

- Even though you’re typically on Elias’ side, you’ve chosen to adopt an isolationist standpoint on most issues that occur in the camp and remain on relatively good terms with everyone. To you, it’s better to have friends in all different places since you never know who will be left after the platoon takes a hit.

- Which is why you weren’t completely opposed to spending a night with the men that your typical friends viewed as their enemies.

- It started with a comment made by Bunny. Like the little prick he is, after he found out about your escapade with their enemy, he’d made a bunch of insinuations and suggestive remarks to you while he tailed you around the base camp; letting you know that he knew.

- His comments culminated into the other members of his circle finding out about the night in question and asking about it themselves; probably while you were sat in the barracks with them. One thing led to another and you provided them with a little relief as well.

- Keep in mind, I’m going to write this part as if orgies are a regular occurrence for you just so that they’re as in character as they can be. But, now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about the specifics~

Elias’ squad:

- Elias tends to put everyone else before himself, he’s also the most patient out of the whole group so while the rest of the boys are itching to get their turn, he’s willing to sit back and wait. But don’t worry, he does enjoy watching, he’ll usually tease you while you’re being touched and exchange comments with the other boys; things like how much you seem to be enjoying yourself and so on.

- He loves when the others are finished and you get to crawl up to him, paying him special attention while the others sit around completely sated but happy to watch. He’s slow and gentle in whatever he does, careful not to hurt you after the ravaging you just received. He’ll take whatever you’ll give him and take care of you afterwards.

- Most of the time, it winds up being him who gives you aftercare but occasionally, one of the other boys will help or want to do it themselves; it all depends on how touch starved they are that week.

- Chris is pretty shy about the whole thing and will usually wind up participating later on during the whole thing; especially at the start of your arrangement. He’s a little apprehensive; not because he doesn’t want to but because he’s unsure about having an audience, but the others will entice him enough to throw his inhibitions aside.

- He’s one of the boys whose behavior isn’t easily predicted. Some days he’s vanilla and soft, other days he’ll be rough and kinkier; it does tend to depend on the company and what his moods like. If he is being rougher, the other boys tend to holler at and goad him on so you’ll really wind up being fucked seven ways to Sunday.

- He’s likely to stick around for aftercare along with Elias; especially in the cases of him being rough. Having the older man and a soft woman like you around really does make him feel a lot better no matter the mood he’s in. He’s the least used to the war and moments like those bring him a temporary sense of normalcy that keep him sane.

- King is the one who is doing the hollering, and is the closest to Chris; besides maybe Elias, so that’s usually who he tends to share you with. He’ll take you from behind while the newbie takes you from the front; if you want to be dped that is. He’s also usually okay with just having your mouth on him so he makes it a lot easier to pleasure all your boys at once.

- He’s unabashed about the whole thing so while he typically isn’t necessarily impatient, he will just jump into things when the ball starts rolling since there’s no apprehension about what’s happening. He’s typically average when it comes to sex; not too rough and not to soft, but he’s always willing to go harder or faster whenever you ask.

- He usually checks in with you and makes sure you’re alright when he’s finished but leaves the aftercare up to the other guys for the most part. He’ll still stick around though: zipping up his pants and taking a seat somewhere while he calms down and shoots the breeze with the other guys. His presence is comforting in itself.

- Rhah sort of gets off on having other people there but he’ll almost always insist that you to look at him whenever your eyes start to wander to anyone else in the room. He likes to mutter out filth whenever he can and affectionately calls you a “dirty girl” quite often.

- He’s one of the more impatient members of the group so if somethings going to happen, he’s more often than not the one to initiate it. He’s also pretty versatile in his positions so he’s happy to fill in any role; or hole, that you want him to; and will usually bluntly ask where the others want to go or say where he wants to be when things are just getting started.

- He enjoys having you in his lap or pressed up against him so any position that has you resting on him or looking into his eyes is his favorite. He’s also secretly pretty cuddly so he’ll definitely steal you away during aftercare from time to time.

- Lerner tends to go along with Rhah whenever he has his hands on you. He’s a nice contrast of softness to the older mans domineering and oftentimes somewhat rough way of doing things. He’s also pretty lax about where he fits into things; though he favors being inside of you the good old fashioned way, so he works well with the oftentimes equally lax Rhah.

- He tends to be sweet on you, pressing kisses to your neck or back and stroking his hands across whatever skin he can reach. He also praises you whenever he opens his mouth; usually in between groans.

- He’ll typically just sit back with King and Rhah when they’ve finished, but he’s always happy to have you sit next to him whenever everything is said and done; even if he doesn’t mention it. He’ll always ask if you’re alright though; even if he doesn’t engage in much aftercare, and is usually the one to go and grab something if you need it.

Barnes squad:

- Barnes takes control of every situation he’s in and will typically throw out commands to anyone who’s involved. He’s incredibly dominant and will be at least somewhat involved during every step of the way; even if he’s only watching for most of it.

- Depending on the day, he’ll either go first or last, and will typically growl out little comments to you, gripping your face tightly in his hand as he “explains” to you what you’re “going to do”. He’s typically fairly rough but that’s sort of just how he is, he doesn’t baby people and if you go to him then you better be sure that you can handle him.

- He isn’t big on aftercare but he makes sure that you’re alright and that the other boys will look after you before he heads out.

- The little demon himself; aka Bunny, is always raring to go and probably the most impatient out of everyone. He’s pretty much got no shame and will whip it out the minute something is going to happen, pouncing on you the minute Barnes or you will let him.

- He’s rough and oftentimes slightly degrading, which will probably lead to you being rougher with him, though that’s honestly just giving him exactly what he wants. He likes taunting you and kinda likes when you taunt him back but it usually only ever leads to a cycle of filthy aggravation in the best way possibly.

- He typically isn’t big on aftercare but if Barnes is telling him to look after you, he’s gonna look after you. The fact that he was desperate for pussy prior to having the option to going to you also helps with his proclivity towards being nice. And, if you choose to curl up to him, it strokes his ego enough to be sweet and wrap an arm around you or absentmindedly card his fingers through your hair; like someone who typically dislikes cats having a kitten fall asleep on their lap.

- Junior tends to get the short end of the stick because he’s a little shit in Barnes eyes. Very little gets past the sgt. and if the cowardly man messes something up, he makes sure that he pays for it in one way or another. His impatience and mouthiness also annoys the older man so he tends to make him only watch for quite some time or will only let you use your hand on him.

- He’s on the more vanilla side and is typically looking to just get off as soon as he can so he doesn’t usually make a whole production of things. He gets in, gets things done; maybe with a little dirty talk to stroke his ego, and then let’s someone else take over. Bunny would love to mess with him while it was his turn or if he was being forced to just watch; taunting him or telling him to shut up whenever he’d whine.

- His aftercare really just depends on the day. Sometimes, he’ll just want to leave but other days, he’ll let you cuddle up to him while he talks with Bunny. Honestly, Bunny would probably get a little jealous seeing the two of you so comfortable and ask why you “never do that with him” which would prompt Junior to snort and say something snarky.

- O’Neil is borderline submissive and would probably get off on Barnes ordering him around. He probably gets to go first on good behavior and “warms you up” in one way or another. He’s typically fairly vanilla and “average” with his movement so he’s a good way to get yourself ready for the ever-wild and rough Bunny.

- With the other guys around, he’d probably be more compelled to try and act all hard so he’ll dirty talk quite a bit but it’s nothing like Bunny. It’s a lot of “yeah, you like that” sort of comments and doing whatever he can to make you moan. He’s the most concerned with your pleasure out of the group, even if he doesn’t make it seem that way a lot of the time.

- He probably gets sort of embarrassed by how arguably soft he is in the bedroom so aftercare is kind of a no go with him. He’ll be too concerned with keeping up his tough guy image that he’ll make sure you’re okay, maybe get you something to drink or clean you up, and then leave.

[sunjaesol]

written kind of caffeinated, kind of stoned, kind of sleep-deprived juke | 2043 words | pure fluff

He knew that, rationally, he shouldn’t do it. The word “boundary!” blared in his head and the whole thing was really inconsequential and it was so stupid, but Luke simply couldn’t help himself. Was it because of his crush on her? Most definitely. Should that awareness stop him from doing dumb shit like this? Yes, except here he was.

While Julie was at school, she accidentally let the lights in her room on. And so, Luke poofed from the studio into her room to turn them off. Saving power, right? Doing the right thing, being a good person, definitely not going into her room because it was her room.

There was something relaxing about the space though. A sense of serenity falling on his shoulders every time he stepped inside and let his eyes wander and settle on new nooks and corners he hadn’t discovered yet. F+J scratched in the wood of her wardrobe, a box of pretty seashells, four tubes of the exact same mascara in her vanity. It felt familiar and human and simple and so, so Julie.

He flicked the lights off, the only light source being the sun pouring in and casting the room in a gentle glow. Her pink walls were gentler now, the colour of peaches and reminding him of summer nights with his boys on the beach. (It also reminded him of Julie’s peach deodorant that always hung around her and involuntarily made him zero in on her. Alex would argue he was always looking at her, but that wasn’t the point. The point was that the thought of peaches only held fond memories - new memories that now included her too.)

Alright. The lights were off. He did his good deed. He should go back to the boys… 

His feet moved on their own accord and plopped down on her bed, sinking into the mattress. His hands caressed the soft comforter, a smile tugging on his lips that thank the fucking music gods, he could still touch and feel things. He would’ve gone insane in an instant if they weren’t able to be in contact with anything or anyone. It was unfathomable to Luke - not hugging Reggie or massaging Alex’s shoulders or grabbing Julie’s hand. To him, music was just another way to share that sensation of contact with people. Didn’t matter if it was loud and rough or quiet and intimate, a ballad or a rock anthem. Connection: that was all he ever needed. 

His fingers slid further and suddenly he was laying on his back, staring at the ceiling. Oh, man. Now he really couldn’t leave. Her bed was so comfortable! Definitely better than the mattress he had at his folks or, even worse, the couch. That thing broke his back the last months. Ha, Luke noted bitterly, maybe it was better that he hit the bucket then. Rather dead and setting the stage on fire than living with a hernia, right? 

Though Luke still slept (habit? he guessed?), he has never felt sleepy. The boys just hung around or hit the streets and then eventually felt that tug of human normalcy. “Maybe we should go to sleep, guys. Big day ahead.” He didn’t dream. It was just black. It wasn’t unwelcome; just… empty. 

But here, laying on Julie’s bed and letting his eyes blur and rest, Luke felt sleepy. Sufficiently exhausted. He didn’t know where that sudden slam of the hammer came from, but he kind of liked it. It made him feel like he was the one that went to school today, or had a tiring shift at some fast food shack, or played a gig. He stretched himself like a star, grinned as all the joints in his back popped, and then rolled on his side. Fucking heaven. 

‘What’re you doing here?’

The faraway voice lulled the groggy Luke awake. He felt like he was hit by a truck. Where was he? 

‘Hmph?’

She chuckled, his mind speeding up at just the sound and realising that shit, he did fall asleep on her bed and she caught him. His eyes cracked open, coming face to face with an amused Julie hovering on the side of the bed. His brain supplied him with the thought that she looked pretty, reminding him once again that yup, he still liked her. A sheepish smile crawled on his lips. 

‘Hey, Jules.’

She rolled her eyes and then roughly pushed him to the other side of the bed. He squeaked, grabbing onto the comforter as to not fall off and gawked at her. 

‘Dude!’

‘This is my side of the bed,’ Julie said, pointing at the indent he made. ‘If you’re going to sleep here, it’s on the other side.’

He let out a relieved breath. ‘You’re not mad?’

‘Depends.’ Her eyes narrowed. ‘Why were you in my room?’

Waving his hands towards the ceiling, he muttered. ‘Your lights were still on.’

His reply visibly mellowed her, so much that it kind of surprised him. Her smile melted into those she gave him whenever he found a gnarly lyric or impressed her with a riff or met her halfway for the mic onstage. During those moments, it was hard to deny there wasn’t more, that both knew there was more, but couldn’t really do anything about it. It was really depressing. “Yeah, Jules, I’m fucking crazy about you. Wanna make out and hope I don’t disappear the next day?” Even his impulsive streak wasn’t that extreme. 

He hadn’t expected her to smile like that right now. Not when he laid on her bed and her hair was begging for his fingers to slip through and the spot he slept on was still warm. He almost poofed away. Were they going to touch on the “more”? Was this it? 

‘Thanks,’ she eventually whispered, eyes dropping and meeting his again with a shyer smile and he knew he was sporting the exact same. A beat passed between them, eyes locked and unwavering. His fingers twitched. 

‘Uh…’ Mustering back some rationality, he said: ‘Do you want me to leave, or?’

Her hands stretched out. ‘No!’ Face twisting to something he could only describe as “cringe”, she went on a little calmer. ‘You can- it’s fine. I’m just going to do some homework anyway.’

He watched as she and her backpack found a place on the bed, both very close and very far away all at once. It shouldn’t be intimate, but it was. He was seventeen and she was sixteen and he was pretty sure his crush wasn’t completely one-sided and she just allowed him to stay. There wasn’t music or a guitar or a songbook to hide behind and it sort of terrified him. But in a good way? Like when he went cliff diving and stood at the edge, stomach whooping at the thought of jumping, or when he was at the top of a rollercoaster and the cart slowly began to tilt. It was that. The feeling of quiet exhilaration. 

All of that just cause Julie sat next to him bend over a history worksheet. Get a fucking grip, dude. 

He didn’t know how long she worked on her homework or how long he stared at the ceiling, hands weaved beneath his head, but it mustn’t been long. The weight shifted and suddenly Julie’s head fell on her pillow with a sigh. 

‘No, no, no, Julie,’ he teased, ‘gotta keep those grades up, right?’

She rolled on her side to stick her tongue out. ‘Very funny. You maybe don’t remember it anymore, but school’s exhausting.’

Luke also shifted on his side, chuckling. ‘Jules, it haunts me. That’s why I dropped out.’

‘Cute pun.’

‘Thanks.’ And then, because Luke was never one to overthink: ‘I like this.’

That smile of her came back, the one he always wanted to see. Her eyes crinkled and her lips slightly parted and so incredibly beautiful. He heard music when he looked at her. Death became sweeter if it meant he’d get to stare at the girl of his dreams. It was a morbid thought, but then again, he didn’t deem himself dead whenever he was around her. Luke probably felt so alive around her that it surprised him later on that he wasn’t. 

He wasn’t a ghost. Not to her. She didn’t need to tell him for him to know that. 

Julie tentatively held her hand out in the space between, palm up and smudged with ink. When he placed his on top, fingers barely intertwining but the sensation like a shot of oxygen, she murmured: ‘Me too.’

They didn’t plan for it to become routine, but it also felt kind of inevitable. Nearly every day, Luke would go to Julie’s room when he knew her day at school was nearing its end and waited on her. She’d come in and briefly recapitulate the day (usually some story regarding an annoying teacher and Flynn with a killer comeback), sliding down on her side of the bed and hold his hands. Some days, her fingertips quietly wandered the lines on his palms, some days his did. It was always quiet. Though the only ones in her room, they whispered. This wasn’t a secret (the boys were keenly aware where Luke spent his afternoons), but it felt wrong to speak at a normal volume when the other was so close.  

As the days progressed, they shifted closer. Not intentional, but once again inevitable. Everything about them felt like that nowadays. The longer he was around, the more he realised that this - the bond he shared with Julie - was always meant to happen. Whenever his thoughts meandered to those cosmically impossible ideas of serendipity and couldn’t wrap his head around it, Julie was always there with her smile to bring him back to earth. Or, well, to bed.

And then one day, Julie came home from school, saw him, and without saying anything, crawled right into his chest. His heartbeat didn’t pick up like he expected. It eased and relaxed, sinking deeper into the matress as his eyes fell shut from pure fucking bliss and hugged her closer. Her peach deodorant overwhelmed his senses in the best way possible, burrowing his face in her neck and her smile stretching against his sweater. She was warm and perfectly fit into the curve of his body and he was in love. The acceptance should’ve ached, but it didn’t. How could he think about tomorrow when Julie Molina was wrapped in his arms?

Time froze those afternoons. As long as she kept her head on his chest, as long as they didn’t leave the bed, their island, then nothing could hurt them. 

One afternoon, when the sun was reflecting pink and purple splotches on the walls and he was contently dissecting each curl, his heart so full it could explode, he said it. ‘I wanna do this forever.’

He felt her chuckle. ‘Inspecting my hair like a monkey, or…?’

Luke squeezed her closer. ‘C’mon, Jules.’

Her giggles quieted, chin sliding up his chest to look at him. If she found devotion shimmering behind the green, she was correct. He hoped that the warm flickering in her brown ones was the same. 

Her voice was small. ‘You do?’

He nodded, every movement too big or too loud, afraid it would ruin the perfect quietude surrounding them. The room melted away, her face all that was left. Before he let the tug in his chest (the same thread that looped them in this embrace) guide him closer, she got there first. Julie surged upwards, barely needing to close any distance to softly find his lips. He cradled her cheek, warmth brimming from every pore on his skin, love pouring from his lips onto hers. It was short and sweet, but their smiles as they did were anything but. It felt like the first flower blooming in spring. Giddy, he kissed her again. He loved her. (It was inevitable.) 

Julie hummed an unknown melody in his ear, lilting and just as giddy, her fingers circling right above his heart. It stammered to blend with hers. Luke met her gaze, noses brushing and smiles private and eyes adoring. She loved him. (It was inevitable.)

‘Then let’s do it forever.’

[camslightstories]

Tolerate it - Part 2

Notes: I wanted to thank you for all the support, you guys gave me with this, it amazed me. It’s my first reader x character and I cannot be happier. I wanted to do shoutout to @super66legends87, she helped me a lot, go check her out. She is an amazing writer.

If you have any request, comment, question or feedback I will gladly received. I'm working on a prompt list for my writing. Thank you again for reading, have a great day.

Lena Luthor x reader, Kara Danvers x reader, Alex Danvers x reader. Baby Danvers.

3 years later

Midvale was quite colorful during the holidays. There wasn't any snow but that didn't stop the residents from going big every year. Every once in a while a whole street would be completely lit up, and the next one would only have different inflatable holiday figures.

The smell of the ocean and cocoa mixed in the air was something that made you think of home. The soft cold breeze that Midvale would have. The caroling in the streets dressed in Hawaiian shirts and Santa hat. The beaming lights turned on at every hour of the day. The chocolate chip red velvet cookies from the girls' scout. The home that you shared with her, and it wasn't enough

You watched out of the car, how the teenagers would be skating, or just hanging around each other. You could also see the park that was situated a few minutes from your childhood home, fill up with kids laughing and playing. 

You couldn't bear to look away when you saw the happy couples entering the beach for the holiday movie night with their joint hands. You felt yourself almost breaking down at the moment the Uber stopped at your parents' house. 

Tears threatened to come out and with all of your self-control, you stooped them. Trying to put a facade before knocking on the door after thanking the driver, and wishing them safe drive home, and thanking them for the professionalism after you broke down on the passenger seat.

Your mom opened the door, immediately giving you a comforting hug. It took all of you, to not break down in her arms, but you couldn't do that. You just couldn't, you knew if you did, you would ruin everyone’s happiness. Including Lena’s and Kara’s and you would go through hell for them just to be okay.

When you pulled away you felt some tears leaving your eyes, and quickly wiped them, trying to make them unnoticeable. Your mother began who she is, noticed them, and frowned immediately as she spoke. “Why are you crying, sweetheart?”

“It's okay, mom. I just really missed you” Your mom nodded, as she believed it, your whole life you would cry if you saw others do. You would cling to any of your sisters if there was a storm. You would often make decisions on others' feelings, leaving your feelings behind. You would never stand up for yourself. You were afraid of rejection. You were just a highly sentimental person.

Eliza studied you before bringing you inside of the house as she questioned you. “Why are you doing here, Y/N? Not that I’m not glad to see you, it’s just the second of December sweetie”

“I wanted to put something away on the storage if that’s okay?” You responded as you carried some of the boxes inside.

Your tone and vibe were calm and unusual. You haven’t been like that since your heart breaks with Lucy, and a few years later Barry. Both of them leaving you for someone else, someone better.

You had a more bright persona. You and Kara had a similar vibe, you saw the best in people, you always used to bring the bright side out of everything. You were the clumsiest in the house, leaving you with a lot of bruises and broken things. You would make puns and bad jokes all the time. 

You were sweet and caring, also the innocent of the family, you would squeal like a child on Christmas day, or throw up the morning after Halloween. You were scared of the dark. You were just somewhat a child. Put when anyone you loved was hurting, you went on spiral protecting mode. You wouldn't open up, you wouldn't burden them with your problems even though it was killing you inside.

Your mom said before you would get another box, trying to make you open up. But you wouldn't give up “Of course it is sweetheart, I will make you some chocolate before we move the boxes” 

“Mom doesn't worry I can do it alone, they are not that heavy. And I would pass the chocolate thank you” You said as you walked past her, grabbing another box almost falling to your side.

Eliza chuckled at you as she went to help you while speaking. You nodded and remained quiet as you moved the boxes to your dad’s storage. “Okay sweetie, I will keep you company then.”

You couldn't help to think about the fact that the things you were storing away had somehow a memory with Lena. And it hurt you to think you are not there with her anymore. The fact that you are here storing them, except for taking them with you meant a lot. You knew that it was going to be difficult. Lena was the love of your life, she was everything and now becoming her nothing stung more than anything else.

After a few minutes of putting the boxes away, you stood outside of Jeremiah’s storage as you watched the things already organized. You marked your things and compound yourself before stepping away closing it be

Your mom stood a few feet away hugging her cardigan as she watched you from the balcony. You lifted your head to give her a small smile before she spoke up. “It’s cold Y/N, where is your sweater?” 

“I forgot it, mom, don’t worry about it, it’s not that cold” You shrugged your shoulders as you walked to the hammock seat.

The Danvers hammock seats were created by you. So you would ‘perform’ to your family the music you had created at 10, making Kara sing with you and after a time Alex too, making your parents watch.

Flashback - 2 years ago

The soft smell of french toast and coffee took part in your old room. Soft sunlight coming through the black window blinds invading the room, making you groan when you feel it in your face. The white sheets entangled between you and Lena under the blanket. A soft arm hugging you from behind protectively and a hand running through your Y/H/C hair comfortably. 

Slowly hearing Kara’s singing voice in the kitchen, you huffed before turning around with your eyes closed, feeling the glance of your girlfriend, you sighed before melting and cuddling more into her as she spoke. “Well good morning to you too, Love”

You mumbled as you pulled away to place small kisses on her face. Making the older woman giggle “It's Christmas day baby!”

When you went to kiss her properly, Lena decided to play catch moving away every time. You played along, ignoring her, making her now try to gain your attention until you heard the walkie-talkie on your nightstand sound with the familiar voice of your older sister, Alex groaning “I swear to Rao, if you don't make her shut up, the hammock performance would be viral”

“Merry Christmas dear sister. Alex, I swear-” You groaned before grabbing the yellow thing, Lena watched in amusement as she kissed your back and shoulders since you kept ignoring her. 

You were interrupted by the stuffed voice of your blonde sister yelling “I heard that! Jerks! Also, Eliza said if you don't come down the french toast would be mine”

You groaned before you could respond that walkie-talkie was flying towards your puff chair and you were pindown on the bed. Lena holding both of your hands to your side, with a smile of victory. She kissed you after a few seconds breaking the kiss with both of your smiles, as you spoke and squealed like a child “I love you and Babe! it's Christmas”

“Yes, it's Christmas love. And I love you too, darling” She responded shaking her head when you jumped out of bed. You quickly put on the closest shirt that was hers, and you were about to put your hand on the knob of the door when you were stopped by the soft voice of your girlfriend giving you a raised eyebrow

“Are you forgetting something Y/N?” She said, raising her eyebrow, giving you a soft and sarcastic glance as she dressed with your clothes. You looked at her dumbly before biting your lip and nodding your head.

“Ohh yeah yeah…. Good morning sweetie” You said before kissing her quickly before running downstairs. She didn't have the time to tell you, you didn't have pants on.

Lena looked at the door and rolled her eyes at your antics, before looking herself in the mirror trying to look presentable on Christmas morning, hugging herself with your oversize Christmas sweater smiling.

The kitchen was invaded by the smell of coffee and french toast. The sunlight coming through the windows giving a direct angle. Kara danced and sang at the other side of the kitchen since she was not allowed, because of her eating habits when your mom was cooking.

Walking through the house while it was decorated for Christmas was not the easiest, and running around it was more difficult than anyone expected, you saw Karas back before jumping in her back, clinging to her like a koala. 

A few minutes later, Alex came running downstairs, Lena and Maggie following close behind laughing. Alex didn't even blink before launching herself into Kara too, this time catching you off guard and making you three fall into the floor laughing and groaning. 

Your mom, Eliza, looked at you three daughter in the floor and walked past, giving Maggie and Lena a hug as she spoke directly to the “Merry Christmas sweeties we can sit”

Before the three of you would get up, she spoke to you pointing at your sisters and lastly at you.“The three children will come, in a second after they made sure there isn't a dent in the floor and all the food is ready.”

Kara and you pouted before getting up, while Alex just huffed and cursed quietly. Making Kara and her start a silly argument because the blonde caught you and not her even with her superpowers, while you sneaked up to the kitchen where the cookie dough stood putting a spoon inside getting caught by your mom's voice. “Without eating the cookie dough”

Before you could put the spoon away you heard all of the speakers play a familiar song. You startled when you heard the second part, you knew exactly what it was.“Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun...Now the jingle hop has begun”

“No!” Before you knew Alex and Kara were showing the video to everyone. Lena just laughed at your pouty face and gave you a kiss melting it away. Before anything else happened a few things were heard in the background

“Luthor that it's my baby sister” Alex yelled

“Not this again!” Kara yelled

“Could you two leave your sister and Lena alone?” Your mom said as she scolded your two older sisters, making you and Lena burst into laughing.

“I think the girl on the hammock band is adorable, I love you” Lena said pointing at the TV where the edited video played, it was you playing in 4 different instruments one signing as she kissed your temple.

“Put pants on nerd!” Before you could respond. Alex and Kara yelled as you felt a pair of shorts hitting your head.

Flashback ends

“How is Lena?” Your mom asked you, bring you out of your thoughts as she sat in the hammock chair next to you.

You keep your sight on the ocean, as the cold breeze hit you calmly. And the ocean waves breaking, close to the sand. You knew your mom's glance was on you, and the fact that she was trying to make you open up, told you she knew you were acting differently. 

“She is good, yeah she is good, good and she is also happy so that’s good” You responded, trying to convince yourself. 

Your mom glanced to the ocean, as she heard your response. Taking a deep breath she countered back, catching you off guard. “Are you happy?” 

You keep your glance on the ocean as you insisted, trying to not let the emotions gain control of you, you couldn't, Lena deserved to be happy and if it meant for you to be hurting, then it was worth it. “Yeah mom I’m good, I’m good, good, I’m happy so that’s good” 

“Okay sweetheart” She concluded, letting you go.

[longitudinalwaveme]

Merry, the Boy Wonder

The multiverse is filled with endless possibilities. For example, in our universe, it was Dick Grayson whose parents, a pair of circus performers, were killed by gangsters in Gotham City, and who subsequently became the first sidekick to the mysterious Batman. But what if things had gone a bit differently? What if, instead of Dick Grayson, it had been one James Jesse whose family had performed in Gotham that fateful night? This is the story of the world where that happened….

“Great news, Helen! Haly’s Circus had to pull out of their planned appearance in Gotham City due to a scheduling conflict, so our circus has been called in to take their place!” Giovanni Giuseppi, known better to the non-carny world as James Jesse, the youngest member of the Death-Defying Jesses, looked up from his book at his father’s exclamation. 

“Really? That’s wonderful!” His mother replied. Giovanni grinned. This was perfect! Not only was being offered to perform in a huge city like Gotham a sign that Big Circus had finally, well, hit it big (pun completely intended), but it also meant that he would be able to perform with his new airwalker shoes in front of a much larger crowd than he had expected. 

“We’ve finally made it, darling! This the Death-Defying Jesses’ first step on the road to worldwide renown!” With that, his parents kissed, and Giovanni made a face. True, he himself had made out with Alessia, a cute knife-thrower, two days ago, but when his parents did it, it was just weird. 

“This is awesome! Today, Gotham City, tomorrow, the world!” he exclaimed. His mother laughed. 

“Well, we hope so, Giovanni,” she said. 

“We’ll be leaving Happy Harbor and heading for Gotham tomorrow morning, son, so I expect you to get a good night’s rest. No staying up late to read about that outlaw Jesse James, understand?” his father added. 

“I understand,” Giovanni replied, crossing his fingers behind his back. 

“I’m glad to hear it, Giovanni. Your father and I don’t want you to get any ideas from those books of yours,” his mother said. Giovanni had to resist the urge to roll his eyes. Marcello, a joey, and Georgio, who ran a garbage joint, had been teaching him how to cheat at cards and perform sleight-of-hand tricks since he was five years old. If anything was going to cause him to become a delinquent, it wasn’t going to be history books about Jesse James. 

“I won’t, mamma.” 

“In that case, you need to get to bed. It’s already almost 11 o’clock,” his father said.

“Already?” Giovanni asked. 

“Yes,” his father replied sternly. 

“Oh, all right. Night, mamma. Night, papá. Love you,” Giovanni said. With that, he went to his bed, and, after about thirty minutes of reading his latest book under his bed covers with the aid of a flashlight, he fell asleep, mind filled with images of his airwalkers, applauding crowds, and one very pretty knife-thrower. 

Giovanni woke up at six the next morning and spent the next three hours helping the other members of the circus prepare for the jump. Once everything was prepared, the entire circus spent the next three and a half hours traveling from Happy Harbor to Gotham City. Giovanni spent this time alternatively reading, bugging his parents, and tinkering with his airwalker shoes. When the jump concluded, the circus burst into action again, setting up the big top and the joints, unloading the baggage wagons, distributing all the props, and generally preparing for the opening night of Big Circus’ date in Gotham. In fact, Giovanni was so busy that, although he saw almost every member of the circus, including the ringmaster, while helping to set things up, he didn’t see his parents again until two o’clock in the afternoon. By seven-thirty, however, even the business of setting up a circus came to an end, and Giovanni was free to search for Alessia. Giovanni was passing by one of the floss joints when he heard a voice he didn’t recognize. Curious, he snuck closer, then hid behind one of the gilley wagons. 

“And if you pay us, we protect you. Get it, Chandler?” Chandler was the owner of the circus. 

“Yes. I get it. You’re gangsters! It’s a protection racket! If you don’t leave immediately, I’ll call the police!” Chandler replied. 

“You don’t want to die, do you? Be sensible. Pay us and protect your show from “accidents”,” a second unfamiliar man said. 

“Get out! Big Circus does not make deals with criminali!” That time, it was Alessandro, Alessia’s father and the ringleader of the circus, who spoke. 

“Alessandro is right. I won’t pay your kind for protection,” Chandler added. 

“Okay, buddy. It’s your funeral. But remember...accidents will happen,” the first unfamiliar man replied. With that, he and his companion walked away. Slightly concerned, but confident that Chandler and Alessandro would be able to handle the problem, Giovanni decided to continue his search for Alessia. He found her a few minutes later, and the two spent the next three hours chattering excitedly about the next day’s upcoming performance, making out, and eating floss before returning to their respective trailers. By the time he entered his home and bid his parents good night, Giovanni had forgotten all about the gangsters who had visited the circus. 

At five fifty-five  the following evening, the entire circus was in an uproar. The show would begin in only five minutes, and everyone was running around trying to find costumes, props, and other kinkers. 

“Where are my knives?” Alessia asked. 

“I don’t know. Where was the last place you put them?” 

“Right here. But they’re not there anymore!”

“I’m hungry!”

“Then you should’ve visited the pie car an hour ago!” 

“I found your knives, Alessia!” 

“Where were they?”

“Under my clown costume.” 

“We’ve got a straw house tonight! Every seat is filled!” someone shouted. Giovanni’s father beamed and turned to his mother.

“You hear that, Helen? This is it. We’re going to be famous,” he said. As he fiddled with his airwalker shoes, Giovanni grinned, too. He couldn’t wait to show his family-and the world-his new death-defying tricks! 

“I heard, Jacob.” 

“Giovanni, I’m so nervous! What if I’m awful?” Alessia asked. 

“Don’t worry, Alessia. I’ve seen you practice. You’re terrific,” Giovanni replied. 

“Thanks, Giovanni. You’ll be terrific, too,” Alessia said. 

“Alessia, don’t forget your hat!” another knife-thrower yelled.

“Sorry, Giovanni. I gotta go. See you after the show!” With that, Alessia ran off.

“Giovanni, you remember your part in the act, right?” his father asked him. Giovanni nodded. Sure, he planned to make his own slight addition to the plans, but he knew what he was supposed to do. 

“I start climbing the ladder once you and mom have met in the middle of the tightrope, kissed, and started walking back to the platform,” he replied.

“Good. We’re so glad to finally have you as part of the act, Giovanni,” his mother said. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to what will no doubt be the most thrilling, astonishing, and stupefying experience of your life!” Alessandro was starting his opening. The night’s performance had officially begun. Giovanni and his parents were scheduled for the second act, right after the clowns. To pass the time, Giovanni pulled a yo-yo out of a box of props and started messing around with it. Ten minutes later, the clowns were heading to the backyard, and Giovanni quickly stuck his yo-yo back in the box. 

“And now, for the amazing feats of the Death-Defying Jesses, performed on a tightrope sixty feet above the ground!” Alessandro exclaimed. Giovanni and his parents entered the ring, waved to the natives in the crowd, and then walked over to the tightrope ladders, with each of his parents heading to the ladder on one of the sides and then scaling it. When they reached the top, they both carefully stepped out onto the high wire, and then started walking towards one another...only for the wire to suddenly snap! The next few seconds felt like hours, as his parents fell towards the ground below...then landed with a sickening, but surprisingly quiet, thud. After several seconds of staring at the scene in horrified shock, Giovanni ran to his parents, oblivious to the screams of the audience members. 

“Mamma! Papá! Be okay! Please be okay!” he exclaimed. He kept waiting for them to yell “Surprise!”; for them to reveal that it had been some particularly clever trick used for the act...but deep down, he knew the truth. His parents were dead; life having played a cruel trick on them by killing them on what should have been the night of their greatest triumph. Giovanni burst into tears. How could this have happened? After several minutes, Alessandro gently led Giovanni back to his trailer, assured him that the Gotham City date would be folding due to his parents’ deaths, and then left him alone, something for which Giovanni was grateful. He didn’t think he could handle having anyone else around right now. A few minutes after he was left alone, he started sobbing again. His parents were dead. If the wire had broken a few minutes later, he would’ve died, too. How had everything gone so terribly wrong? 

A few hours later, Giovanni decided to go outside in the hopes that doing so might clear his head and help him make sense of what had just happened to him. However, he didn’t get very far before he heard unfamiliar voices once again. 

“Too bad about that “accident”, Chandler.” 

“Yeah! But there wouldn’t be any accidents if you paid us to protect you!” Giovanni realized with shock that he’d heard the voices before...and suddenly, the earlier conversation Chandler and Alessandro had had with the men they had called criminals came rushing back to him. 

“You murderers! All right, I’ll pay, but only so that no one else will be killed,” Chandler replied weakly. Giovanni felt as though he’d been punched in the stomach. His parents hadn’t just died-they had been murdered!

“Those crooks...they killed my parents, and now they’re extorting the circus. I’ve gotta call the police,” Giovanni muttered to himself. 

“No, boy. Not yet!” a deep voice exclaimed. Giovanni spun around to see a tall, well-built man who was cloaked in a deep blue-or possibly black, it was hard to tell in the dim light-cape. Giovanni was used to strange-looking people-after all, he lived with the circus and was currently wearing a blue-and-orange striped uniform-but this man had them all beat. 

“Who...what... are you?” he asked. 

“I am Batman. I want to help you bring the men who murdered your parents to justice-but you can’t go to the police. Come with me, and I’ll tell you why.” Normally, Giovanni would have scoffed at such an offer-it did, after all, sound exactly like what a kidnapper would say-but at the moment, he was too consumed by grief to really care. If this weird guy helped him get justice for his parents, great. If not….what else did he have to lose? The two people he loved most in the world were already gone. 

“Okay.” 

“What’s your name, boy?” 

“Giovanni Giuseppi. James Jesse is-was-my stage name,” Giovanni replied. “Batman” nodded curtly and proceeded to lead Giovanni to a really nice-looking car, and the two climbed into it. 

“Don’t touch anything.” Under normal circumstances, this order probably would’ve been necessary, as Giovanni knew he had a bad habit of pressing buttons and grabbing things out of curiosity, but right now, he had no interest in doing anything of the sort. What he was interested in was finding out whether or not this “Batman” could help him.

“Why can’t I call the police?” he asked. 

“Because this whole city is run by Boss Zucco, a powerful mobster. If you told the police what you knew, you would be dead in an hour. Because of that, I’m going to hide you in my home for awhile,” the man replied. 

“Why? Why do you care what happens to me? I’m not even from around here. I’m just some carny kid,” Giovanni asked. 

“Because my parents were also killed by criminals. Because of that, I’ve devoted my life to wiping them out...and protecting their victims, like you.” At this reminder of his parents’ death, Giovanni started to cry again. How had this happened to him? 

About twenty minutes later, “Batman” pulled into what appeared to be a very large cave….that for some reason contained a boat, a bunch of gadgets, a large computer, several costumes that resembled the one “Batman” was wearing, a giant penny, a huge playing card, what looked like a dinosaur, and...a butler? What was this place? 

“Get out of the car.” Giovanni complied, still mystified by the whole situation, and followed “Batman” to the butler. 

“Alfred, this is Giovanni Giuseppi. Giovanni, this is Alfred Pennyworth, my butler.” 

“If I may be so bold as to ask, Master Bruce, why have you brought a child into the Batcave?” The butler, who was apparently named Alfred, sounded very British. 

“His parents were killed by Zucco’s mob. To protect him, I’m planning to have Bruce Wayne adopt him,” ‘Batman’ replied. Giovanni started crying again. He didn’t want a new father-he wanted his old one! 

“My, my. The poor child. Are you sure that adopting him is really the right decision? After all, you don’t exactly lead a….conventional life.” 

“I’m sure. I was in the audience, Alfred. I watched his parents die just like he did. If I didn’t offer him a home after that, I couldn’t live with myself.” 

“Very well, Master Bruce. Who knows? Maybe a child will be good for you.” With that, “Batman” turned back to Giovanni. 

“Giovanni, you are about to be let in on a secret that only two other people in the world know,” he said. With that, he pulled off his mask, revealing a handsome young man, probably in his late twenties. 

“My name is Bruce Wayne. I am the CEO of Wayne Enterprises, and-” 

“You’re the guy who purchased the most expensive grandstand seat! The...the billionaire!” he exclaimed, stunned. He wasn’t exactly used to talking to billionaires-after all, most carnies could barely rub two nickels together most of the time.

“Yes, I am. When I was eight years old, my parents were gunned down in front of me by a mugger. Since then, I have devoted my time and money to becoming the Batman-the world’s greatest crimefighter,” Bruce Wayne/Batman replied. Giovanni pinched himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. This was insane! Billionaire Bruce Wayne ran around in a bat costume to fight criminals? And wanted to adopt him? Why? He was just a poor carny kid...and besides, he was already fifteen years old. If Bruce Wayne really wanted to adopt a kid, why not adopt a baby? Surely a baby would be easier to mold into an heir for Wayne Enterprises than a teenaged nobody. 

“And you’re revealing your secrets to me? Why?” 

“Because you’re going to be living in Wayne Manor with me. Since you seem to be fairly intelligent, you would almost certainly have discovered my secret at some point even if I didn’t tell you, so I decided it would be best to inform you about it upfront,” Bruce Wayne/Batman replied. 

“You’re...serious about this adoption thing? But I don’t know the first thing about being rich or running a company or…” Giovanni began.

“When I became Batman, I promised myself that I’d never let criminals orphan another child in this city. When I failed to prevent your parents’ deaths, I broke that promise. Adopting you is my way of making it up to you and to myself. And besides, you’re pretty young to be left on your own,” Bruce Wayne/Batman cut in. Giovanni frowned. 

“I don’t want a substitute father.” 

“And I’m not trying to be one to you. I know no one will be able to replace your parents. Just think of me as an ally who’s giving you a home.” 

“Well...I…” Giovanni wasn’t sure what to think. On the one hand, he didn’t want to replace his parents with this guy he barely knew, and he was pretty sure that he would stick out terribly in high society, but, on the other hand, Bruce Wayne did seem to know what he was going through, and had promised to help him bring his parents’ killers to justice. 

“If you’re really opposed to the idea, I can return you to the circus,” Bruce Wayne/Batman said. That settled it. Giovanni knew he couldn’t handle returning to the circus where his parents had died, no matter how much he liked the other carnies. The emotions would be too much for him. 

“Well, if you really want to adopt me...I guess I’m okay with the idea of an ally like you.” Bruce Wayne/Batman nodded. 

“I’m glad to hear it. In that case, Alfred will show you to your room,” he said. 

“Follow me, Master Giuseppi.” The butler gestured to a flight of stairs. 

“Just call me Giovanni.” 

“As you wish, Master Giovanni.” That hadn’t been exactly what he’d meant, but whatever. He had more important things to worry about. Giovanni followed the butler up the stairs, through what appeared to be a grandfather clock, through an enormous library, and to the largest bedroom Giovanni had ever seen. It was as big as his family’s whole trailer! 

“This is all mine?” he asked, stunned.

“Yes. Are you displeased with it, Master Giovanni?” the butler asked. 

“No. I’m just...not used to having a room this huge,” Giovanni replied. 

“I can fetch you one of Master Bruce’s robes, Master Giovanni. If I had known about your arrival, I would have ensured that a suitable wardrobe was prepared for you, but, under the circumstances, I will have to make due with what I have on hand,” the butler said. Giovanni shook his head. 

“Nah. I appreciate the thought, but I’ll be fine sleeping in my clothes. I’ve done it before,” Givoanni replied. 

“Very well, Master Giovanni. Is there anything else you need?” Giovanni yawned. 

“Tonight I think I just need some sleep. It’s been a really, really long day,” he replied. 

“In that case, I will take my leave of you. Good night, Master Giovanni...and I express my strongest condolences for the tragic loss of your family,” the butler said. With that, he bowed and left the room. Giovanni walked over to the enormous bed and laid down on it. It was incredibly soft, and that, combined with Giovanni’s emotional and physical exhaustion, meant that sleep claimed him quickly. 

The next week passed in what to Giovanni was an utter blur. He attended his parents’ funeral, bid good-bye to Alessia, her father, and his other friends when the circus left Gotham, was formally adopted by Bruce Wayne thanks both to the billionaire’s fortune and his own lack of living relatives, and was enrolled in a ritzy private school. And so it was that Giovanni Giuseppi, a carny kid who’d never been in a classroom in his life, entered through the doors of one of the most exclusive high schools in the country, Gotham Preparatory Academy. On Alfred’s insistence, Giovanni arrived at his first class early-so early, in fact, that he was the first person other than the teacher to arrive. 

“Hello. My name is Mr. Cunningham. I’ll be your American History professor. You must be Giovanni Giuseppi, the boy Bruce Wayne recently adopted. I look forward to having you in my class,” the teacher said. 

“Yeah, that’s me.”  

“I heard that you used to be part of a traveling circus. If that’s true, I’m sure this must be very strange for you.” Giovanni nodded.

“No kidding. This is the first time I’ve been in a classroom. My parents homeschooled me before...before…” He managed not to start crying, but it was a close thing. 

“I understand, and I’ll do my best to make the transition easier for you.” 

“Th-thanks.” The teacher nodded, and, soon after, other kids started entering the room. One of them, a tall, brown-haired kid, came up to the desk he was sitting at. 

“I’m Jared Vreeland. You must be one of the new kids,” he said. 

“Yeah. My name’s Giovanni Giuseppi,” Giovanni said. 

“Giuseppi? I don’t know that last name, so you must be the circus kid Bruce Wayne adopted,” the kid replied. 

“You’re right, I am.” 

“Then you don’t belong here. Bruce Wayne’s always been eccentric, but adopting some circus vagabond and pretending that he’d fit in high society? It’s the craziest thing he’s ever done, and that’s saying something. I bet you’ve never even been to school before.” Giovanni frowned, now on edge. 

“And I bet you’ve never understood basic manners.” 

“I don’t need to be polite to vagabonds with no class!” 

  “Mr. Vreeland! That is entirely inappropriate! Sit down and leave Giovanni alone, or I will have you sent to the headmaster’s office!” Mr. Cunningham barked. Vreeland scowled, but complied, and Giovanni decided that he was definitely fond of Mr. Cunningham. About six minutes later, just as the bell was ringing, another kid rushed into the room, almost tripped over the flagpole, and then sat down in the seat to Giovanni’s left. 

“I’m sorry I was almost late, Mr. Cunningham. I got lost,” the skinny, red-headed kid apologized. 

“That’s all right. I take it you’re the other new student?” 

“Yes, sir. My name is Hartley Rathaway,” the kid said. Giovanni noticed that he had a distinctly different accent than Bruce Wayne, Mr. Cunningham, and his other peers. That was odd. True, he sounded different from them, too, but he hadn’t been born in Gotham. Was it possible that this kid wasn’t from Gotham, either? 

“It’s nice to meet you, Hartley. I’m Mr. Cunningham, your American History professor.” With that, the school day began, and, while the strict scheduling and multiple teachers were going to take some getting used to, Giovanni didn’t think he would have too much trouble with the coursework itself. What he was starting to suspect he was going to have trouble with was his peers. Apparently, Vreeland wasn’t alone in his anger at the idea of a circus kid being at their fancy school, and their hostility made him miss his parents...and the circus...even more than he already did. He had belonged there. 

Roughly halfway through the day, the students broke for lunch, and Giovanni sat himself down next to the red-headed kid from his history class, who was apparently the other new kid at the school. He’d always been a curious sort, and he wanted to know the story behind his fellow newcomer. Besides, talking to the kid would help keep him from thinking too much about...about...not thinking about it! 

“Hi! You’re Hartley, right? Mind if I sit here?” The kid looked surprised. 

“I suppose not. Who are you?” Giovanni smiled (a bit weakly), sat down, and unwrapped his lunch. 

“Giovanni Giuseppi. You sat next to me in history class. I’m the other new kid.” 

“The one Bruce Wayne adopted?” 

“Yep. I’m the carny kid...and apparently a lot of people here are unhappy about that.” 

“I heard. And before you ask, I’m not one of them. I actually think it’s rather neat. I’m sure you’ve gotten to travel a lot, if nothing else. And...and I’m really sorry about what happened to your parents,” Hartley said. Giovanni smiled. It was good to know that at least one kid at this ritzy school wasn’t going to hold his being a carny kid against him, even if the kid had accidentally brought up painful memories that he’d been trying to suppress. 

“Thanks for the condolences. And you’re right, I did move around a lot. Let’s see…I’ve been to Coast City, Star City, Opal City, Happy Harbor, Gateway City, Hub City, Ivytown, Central City, here…” He really didn’t want to think about his parents, so hopefully Hartley wouldn’t bring up what had happened to them again. 

“You’ve been to Central City?” 

“I was like three years old, but yeah. Why?” 

“Because I’m from Central City.”

“Really? That explains why you don’t sound like anyone else from Gotham, then.” 

“Yes. I’m the son of Osgood and Rachel Rathaway, the billionaire publishing magnates.” 

“Never heard of them,” Giovanni replied honestly. Hartley smiled. 

“You have no idea how refreshing that is.” 

“So, what’s a Midwestern boy like you doing in Gotham City?” 

“Well, I’ve been tutored at home for most of my life, but now that I’m high school aged, my parents had an excuse to send me away from home, supposedly so I could “meet the right people”. Of the schools that met their criteria, Gotham Prep was the furthest away from Central City, so they shipped me off here.” 

“You make it sound like they’re trying to get rid of you,” Giovanni replied. He couldn’t imagine his parents...no, not thinking about it! 

“They are trying to get rid of me. They sent me here so that they can hide their embarrassment of a son,” Hartley said quietly. 

“Granted, I’m a nobody carny kid, so my standards are probably different from your parents’, but you don’t seem like an embarrassment to me.” In fact, as far as Giovanni could tell, Hartley looked and acted like the perfect heir to a huge corporation. In response, Hartley removed something from his right ear and handed it to Giovanni. 

“A...hearing aid?”

“A very expensive, advanced one, but yes. A hearing aid. I was born deaf, and my parents have been disappointed with me ever since,” Hartley said. Giovanni handed the hearing aid back to him and, now a bit uncomfortable, decided to change the subject. 

“So, do you have any hobbies?” 

“I play the flute. And the violin. You?” Hartley replied. 

“I’m the best cardsharp this side of Vegas, and I know loads of tricks you can do with yo-yos. And I’m an acrobat, of course,” Giovanni replied. Unfortunately, talking about his hobbies reminded him of his life at the circus, and that made him start to cry. Bruce Wayne, Alfred, Mr. Cunningham, and Hartley were all good people, but no matter how good they were, they weren’t his parents. 

“Are you all right?” Giovanni shook his head.

“I...I miss my parents.” A few minutes later, he managed to calm down enough to stop crying, but he still couldn’t stop thinking about what he had lost. Those gangsters had killed his parents and destroyed his life, and all for some cash? How could they have done something like that? And why had it happened to him? 

“I know that this won’t make up for what happened, but I’m so sorry for what happened to you. You obviously loved your parents very much,” Hartley said quietly. 

“Why did they have to die? They never hurt anyone!” 

“I don’t know. Probably the same reason my parents wish I didn’t exist.” At that, Giovanni looked back up at Hartley and gave him a slight smile. While their situations obviously weren’t exactly the same, in a way it was comforting to know that he wasn’t the only kid his age who had been hurt for reasons he didn’t understand.

“You know what, Hartley? I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship.” 

About three weeks later, Giovanni returned from Gotham Preparatory Academy to be greeted by a very grim Bruce Wayne/Batman. 

“Giovanni, I’ve got proof that Boss Zucco was behind the murder of your parents. Tonight, Batman will bring him, and all of his cronies, to justice.” Giovanni smiled. This was wonderful! He was finally going to be able to avenge his parents’ deaths! 

“I’m coming too,” he said.

“No.” 

“He killed my parents! I want to help bring him in.” 

“I said no. Even if it wasn’t incredibly dangerous, you don’t have the requisite physical training to fight crime.” Giovanni scoffed. 

“Don’t have the requisite physical training? I’ve been practicing acrobatics since I was old enough to walk!” 

“Crimefighting isn’t just a physical discipline. It also requires intense mental fortitude.” Determined to convince Bruce Wayne/Batman to help him bring in the men who’d murdered his parents, Giovanni rushed to his room, put on his airwalker shoes, and then ran back to the billionaire. 

“I’ve got mental fortitude! I invented shoes that let me walk on air,” he said as soon as he caught his breath. Bruce Wayne/Batman looked skeptical. 

“I’ll believe that when I see it.” In response, Giovanni activated his shoes and ascended several feet in the air. Once he was high enough for his feet to be roughly level with Bruce Wayne/Batman’s face, he stopped. 

“Now do you believe me?” 

“You invented those all by yourself?” Bruce Wayne/Batman actually sounded surprised, and Givoanni grinned. Surely he would be allowed to come along now! 

“Yep. You see, when I was a kid, I was afraid of falling, so I decided to invent shoes that would make sure that I never fell. Pretty cool, huh?” 

“If I don’t let you come, you’ll follow me regardless, won’t you?” Giovanni returned himself to the ground. 

“Definitely.” 

“All right. I know when I’m beaten. I’ll take you with me to bring in the men who killed your parents...but first, you must swear that you will fight with me against crime and corruption, and to never swerve from the path of righteousness!” Bruce Wayne/Batman exclaimed. Giovanni thought that that sounded a bit intense, but he would agree to anything if it meant that he could get closure for the deaths of his parents. 

“I swear it. Can we go now?” Bruce Wayne shook his head. 

“Not yet. I want to see the extent of your physical capabilities first.” Giovanni sighed, but allowed Bruce Wayne/Batman to lead him to Wayne Manor’s enormous gymnasium anyways. When Giovanni saw the trapeze, he grinned. True, his parents had primarily been tightrope walkers, but they had taught him a good deal about trapeze artistry as well. After a brief warm-up, he launched into his most complex routine, and executed it flawlessly. He’d never had more motivation to get the routine right than he did right now. 

“I’ve been doing this since I was four years old!” he exclaimed as he landed. Bruce Wayne/Batman actually nodded, clearly impressed. 

“As far as swinging ropes go, you could probably teach me a thing or two!” 

“Told you I was good.” 

“Don’t get too cocky. You’re obviously in good shape, but that doesn’t make you a trained fighter. If you want to help me take down Zucco’s mob, you have to promise to follow my orders to the letter. In this business, getting cocky can get you killed. Do you understand?” Bruce Wayne/Batman replied. 

“Sir, yes, sir!” Giovanni mock saluted, feeling more like himself than he had in weeks. It was such a relief to finally be able to do something for his parents’ memories. 

“I’m going to regret allowing you to join me, aren’t I?” 

“Probably. Now are we ready to go?” Bruce Wayne/Batman shook his head. 

“Not quite. You still need a costume and an alias. I don’t want people questioning why Bruce Wayne’s adopted son is running around fighting crime with Batman.” 

“Gotcha. I’ll be right back.” With that, Giovanni ran back to his room, retrieved his old circus uniform, and then returned to Batman. 

“What is that?” 

“My costume.” Batman looked at him incredulously. 

“A costume is intended to hide your identity, not make it even more obvious. The fact that you were part of the circus before I adopted you is well-known. Wearing that outfit is basically like wearing a sign saying that you’re Giovanni Giuesppi, Bruce Wayne’s adopted son. And even if it wasn’t, that costume is the most hideously garish outfit I’ve ever seen.” Giovanni scowled. His uniform was not hideous. What did Batman have against bright colors?

“Do you have uniforms in my size?” Batman frowned. 

“Well...no,” he admitted. 

“Then I’m wearing the circus uniform. If anyone gets suspicious, we’ll just say that I’m obviously not the kid running around with Batman. I was traumatized by my parents’ deaths-why would I want to run around in an outfit that would remind me of how they died?” 

“Fine. But you’re at least going to add some accessories to it,” Batman replied. With that, he led Giovanni to the library, through the passageway behind the grandfather clock, into the cave, and to what appeared to be a dressing room of sorts, one that was full of costumes and accessories. Giovanni quickly ducked behind the divider in the middle of the room, changed into his uniform, and then returned to Batman. 

“What other accessories do I need?”  Batman handed him a yellow belt and a pair of black gloves.

“The belt contains a variety of useful crime fighting tools. The gloves prevent you from leaving fingerprints. Both are vital for our line of work.” Giovanni put the belt on, discarded the black gloves, and donned a pair of powder blue ones that were much more to his tastes. 

“The belt’s a little big.” 

“That’s because it was made for me. If you pull it taut, it should stay put.” Giovanni nodded and complied. 

“Anything else?”

“You need a mask.”  Giovanni nodded, picked up a black domino mask...and then noticed a huge blue cape. Grinning, he grabbed the cape, and proceeded to don both cape and mask. 

“So, how do I look?” “Like a colorblind acrobat.”

“Because a giant bat is much less weird, right?” Batman frowned.

“You’re skating on thin ice, Giuseppi. That being said, your costume is basically complete at this point. Now all you need is a code name.” 

“I know! You can call me the Trickster!” 

“No. That sounds like a supervillain name.” Giovanni didn’t think so, but whatever. 

“All right, how about the Prankster?” 

“Taken.”

“The Joker?” 

“Very taken.” 

“Are you sure we can’t call me the Trickster?” 

“Yes!” Briefly stumped, Giovanni pondered possible names for a few seconds...and then beamed. 

“I’ve got it! You can call me Merry.” 

“I suppose that’s acceptable. Merry it is.”

“So are we ready to go now?”

“Yes. But remember to do exactly as I say.” With that, Batman and Giovanni-Merry-entered the Batmobile and headed into Gotham City to take down Boss Zucco. 

FIN

[alpaca-writes]

Mystics, Chapter 32

Arch becomes hired on at Mystics by the strange shopkeeper Lyrem Nomadus, and everything seems to be going well. In fact, their life nearly becomes perfection; no more bullies, better grades, and a lot less stress. Soon enough, however, Arch realizes that perhaps not everything is as perfect as it seems and that Lyrem has been hiding a very dark, and troubling secret…

Oooh I have to say I’m pretty proud of this chapter. I had to wrestle with a thousand and one plot-holes to make it work and it’s almost 2:30am but it was all worth it. Enjoy!

MasterList 

Taglist: @myst-in-the-mirror & @livingforthewhump

CW: Gore, body horror, creepy whumper, swearing, there’s one bad pun this time. I lol’d about it for arguably too long.

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

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: CURTAINS

         Paimon whistled an old tune through his lips as he stepped across the hall. The knives had been placed away, and in speaking with Apollo, he had come to a startling revelation about himself and his goals.

         It was Arthur’s turn to be strapped down to the table and this time, it wouldn’t be in a dining hall. Before long, Paimon had the room transformed into a stage, with dining chairs to line the one and only audience row. There was no need for a large gathering. Paimon had a very limited guest list. He had sent invitations with some poorly thought puns just for the fun of it, and had no intention of being stood up. This would be a performance of a lifetime and as director, Paimon wouldn’t dare to have a single aspect go awry.

         He clucked his hooves down the darkest hallway by-passing Apollo’s chamber for the one with the two sorry humans. It seemed they were cut off from a sour discussion when they heard his steps through the corridor.

         “-it really shouldn’t take too much effort”-

         “How would you know?” Lyrem hissed.

         Paimon smiled, glad that the two prisoners were making nice with each other.

         “Big plans, my boys?” he sauntered through, making eye contact with Arthur, who rolled his eyes away from the creature to avoid looking at him fully. “No? Not a fishing trip or some good old mountaineering? I hear Colorado is gorgeous this time of year.”

         Paimon tapped a chain with a fingernail to produce a clinking sound near Arthur’s wrist. The chains began lowering themselves down at the behest of an invisible, magical force. The moment he had slack, Arthur wrapped a loop of chain around Paimon’s neck and pulled it taut against his forearm. He had the upper hand, and there was nothing that Paimon could do to affect him.

         “Agree to let Arch out of this deal right now, you”-

         Paimon grinned and vanished into a plume of black smoke. Arthur stumbled from the release of pressure against the beast.

         Paimon stalked up behind him, enjoying the little act of defiance, but he had to be stern. He wagged a finger at the human and tutted.

         “You know better than that,” Paimon exclaimed. “I may not be able to hurt you with magic, but I can certainly still use it to get myself out of a sticky situation.”

         He kept himself to a distance as not to get tied up twice, and glanced toward Lyrem, who seemed to be keeping to himself and was intentionally avoiding eye contact by turning his head away.

         “So emotional… Don’t worry old friend, you’ll get your chance as well,” Paimon noted. He returned to Arthur with a renewed interest in his eyes. “Now, you listen. We have quite the performance ahead of us and you’re already busted up enough as it is. I don’t want to make it any worse. That’s for Arch to do.”

         Arthur glanced from Paimon to his way out into the hall and then back again.

         “Clear terms,” Arthur began, “Arch is given five minutes to carve out my heart, and if they fail, they are free from all bonds, any agreements, including any signed ones they had with you. And if you use even one ounce of your power to force them”-

         Paimon nodded, “I don’t know why you need to specify it, Arty, truly. Arch will do splendidly and you’ll never see the light of day again. It’s a winning situation all around.”

         “If you try to force them into doing anything at all,” Arthur insisted. “Then Arch is released, agreed?”

         Paimon scoffed, and nodded, “Agreed! For goodness sakes, were you a lawyer in a past life? Clearly not, I think. The lawyers I know wouldn’t come to an agreement like this unless it was in writing- they’d also think of themselves first. Do you have any clue what will happen to you, Arty? What will become of you if Arch is released?”

         As Paimon rambled, he tapped the shackles again, and this time with severe discipline, Arthur refrained from trying to strike at Paimon a second time. His shackles were joined now; morphed from a joint in the wall to linking together from his wrists and his ankles with hardly a sound to it.

         “I don’t care what happens to me,” Arthur declared, “as long as Arch is free from you.”

         “Such a sweet thing, caring about your Arch so much. I doubt that feeling will last for very much longer.” Paimon ushered Arthur forward. He was unable to teleport him anyway. The Abysmal Flame prevented Arthur from being controlled by any force placed upon him that was not physical in nature. “Move along now, we don’t have all day. Our guests will be arriving shortly.”

         With a final glance to Lyrem from across the room, Arthur followed Paimon out the door and through the halls.

         The hall lit itself as Paimon took his hoof-steps through, avoiding the empty souls lurking between shadowed pillars. Arthur moved slowly, feeling tired and sick from his lacking energy.

“What guests?” Arthur inquired.

         “Did I not tell you earlier that it was a performance? I invited several guests to have front row seats… my uncle Hades, my half-sister, and oh, of course, your dear sister Charlotte as well.”

         Arthur’s blood ran frigid. The tense, shaky breath that followed made Paimon smirk with delight.

         “Ah yes, I’ll be sure she is there to watch her child to carve out the heart of her dear little brother. I couldn’t pass up that opportunity.”

         “But you’re also releasing Hades? And Persephone?” Arthur asked with a puzzled look as they ascended the stairs.

         “You mistake me for a fool?” Paimon challenged. “They will be bound to obeying me and my laws the moment they enter through the door I’ve created for them. Don’t think they’ll be there to do anything more than watch you suffer.”

         Paimon led Arthur up to a small door that opened to the dining hall- now a stage with some seating and a table for Arthur to lie on.

         Arthur stood at the head of the table as Paimon motioned for him to climb up. Shaking his head regretfully, he pulled his hand from his pocket, hoisted himself up and spun onto its surface. His chains were tapped again, and obeyed Paimon perfectly. They fastened themselves into the table until Arthur’s arms were taut to his side and his hands had just a little wiggle room near his hips.

         Arthur stared up at the satyr, feeling more vulnerable than he ever did before, and watched Paimon lean over eagerly. His pointed beard draped across Arthur’s shoulder and touched the tabletop.

         “This is a good look for you,” he mentioned with a deadly grin.

         Feeling humble, Arthur looked away, seeing the chairs that would soon be filled with spectators; one of which would be his sister. Suddenly, he wasn’t so concerned for himself anymore.

         “Don’t make Charlotte watch.”

         “Hmm?”

         Arthur blinked slowly, knowing that Paimon had heard him clear as day and yet pretended not to. This was all part of the fun. There was no point in repeating himself.

         From the back wall, behind the chairs, a bright light glowed where three outlines stood, waiting to make their entrance.

         “Ah, here they come.” Paimon smiled and offered Arthur a wink. “Let’s get this show on the road, shall we?”

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

Earlier,

“What are you trying to do?”

“I’m trying to create another portal.”

Lyrem sighed. Arthur’s efforts were admirable at least.

“The chains will prevent you from crossing through,” he said. “Besides, I’ve already explained to you once that the only way out of this is to go through with the deal you made”-

“I’m not trying to make a portal for me,” Arthur spoke exasperated. “I’m trying to create one for you. I know how these things go down, alright? You get into a deal with someone and then they change the rules, they raise the price because they know what you need from them. Once Arch is out of their deal, Paimon will use them against me. Arch might end up back at square one if we don’t have a significant amount of leverage.”

“Life as a junkie has certainly prepared you for this moment, hasn’t it?”

Arthur stared at the old man incredulously at the sudden unloading of baggage, and shook his head.

“My apologies” Lyrem corrected himself and cleared his throat. “You hope to release me, which won’t work, and then expect me to… do what?”

“Release Apollo. Find your friend Hekate… I assume you are resourceful enough to figure something out so that we can finally end this nightmare. It really shouldn’t take too much effort.”

“How would you know?” Lyrem hissed.

Falling to a sudden silence, Lyrem made a quick glance to Arthur as Paimon entered. Paimon addressed Arthur first.

Arthur was in no condition to create portals. Lyrem could see that he was in pain enough already as it was, but even so, Arthur’s eyes locked with his for the briefest of seconds when the chains became loose. Arthur had directed his eyes to Lyrem and then nodded toward his left hand.

The smallest of voids had formed behind his hand and into the metal piece that held his wrist up. Before Paimon could pay any significant attention to Lyrem, Arthur had wrapped a chain around his neck and started to threaten him.

Perhaps Lyrem had misjudged Arthur’s capacity to be clever, but it was still only one small portal; a gap in space and time where his wrist could pass through. It wasn’t quite enough to set Lyrem free; not yet, anyhow. Lyrem took the distraction as an opportunity to recite a mantra respecting the sacred geometry; one that would hopefully allow him to multiply one portal into four.

“Ek mein do, do mein chaar,” he whispered. The power flowed through him like water; out of earshot from Paimon, who hadn’t even realized that Lyrem was reciting ancient magic that no one had any claim over.

“So emotional… Don’t worry old friend, you’ll get your chance as well.”

Lyrem ignored Paimon’s words, still concentrating on himself instead. Soon, the other two exited the room, and Lyrem recited his words one final time before falling completely forward onto his hands and knees.

“Even as a dead man, I still feel pain,” he muttered bitterly. “How is that fair?”

He grunted, lifting himself to his feet and turned around, noticing the shackles were still intact and the voids still existing on their metal cuffs. In a spark of light, the four voids collapsed into themselves and left nothing behind.

“Must learn how to do that one day…” Remembering the task at hand, he rubbed his hands together and made his way through to the hall. “Now, to find our… leverage.”

Paimon and Arthur were gone from the hall, and it was left in darkness. The decrepit beings that roamed the halls there ignored him as he followed the corridor down to where he knew Apollo would be kept as a prisoner. The light still poured from beneath, leaking out into the hall. Lyrem took a quick glance from side to side and opened the door.

Lyrem forced himself forward towards the Sun God with his eyes squinting through the brightness. The light dimmed as the god awoke, exhausted from his half-brother’s brief visit. Lyrem started on one of the shackles holding Apollo in place around a wrist but realized soon that they were clearly the same as the ones he had only just escaped from, one room over and wouldn’t be able to get through them without help.

“Shit,” Lyrem muttered. Apollo did not look surprised or like he cared.

“Controlled by Pan, for Pan, I’m afraid,” he managed. “Did you, a silly little mortal, really believe that you could release me? There was a good reason why I sent that call through to you. I wanted to reach Persephone, or Hades.

You are useless.”

Lyrem backed off from Apollo, put on edge from the insulting remark.

“I’ll have you know I contained a great amount of magical prowess before I met your brother! Now, help me find a way to release you before”-

Apollo chuckled tiredly.

“What? What is so funny?”

“You,” Apollo answered. “You are a fool! The reason I am here at all is because Pan convinced you to tear out your father’s heart. I couldn’t give him what he wanted when I lost. I bet on the wrong horse’s conscience, didn’t I? And now, you are here, trying to right all the wrong you’ve done at the behest of Pan and oh… it just makes me laugh. It’s practically poetry.”

“Well, then,” Lyrem didn’t have time to explain himself, nor should he have to at all. His life was just laid out before him once again as a used chew toy on the ground. Now Apollo was the one judging him for his decisions. Lyrem looked to Apollo’s chest that was opened and bore a golden heart, still pumping. It was the source of the light. Paimon had left the clamp on to hold the gaping wound open. Lyrem touched the metal handle, and jolted back as it was very hot- as though it had been sitting in the heat of a flame. He quickly soothed his hand, weaved a protection spell through his fingers and promptly tried a second time. He gripped it, loosened the bar, and pulled.

Apollo screamed. The release of his wound was more painful than either of them had expected it to be. Lyrem tossed the metal bar to the ground and raised a brow. The light faded more and more as the wound healed over in record time.

“How was that?” Lyrem sniffed, wiping the golden blood off of his hands and onto his pant leg. “Was that a good enough deed for you? Or should I have torn your heart out for fun? Believe it or not, I am capable of making rational decisions- even those where my dear dad was involved. If you had known him, you’d have ripped him apart too.”

Apollo had no choice but to listen to Lyrem as his body recovered quite painfully.

“Maria once told me that I was too passionate- too emotional for her. I tried to rectify that, in order to please her, to please Pan, and everyone else I had come across in life thinking that I was always doing something wrong. But, I see now, emotional is part of who I am. Doing things out of emotion does not make me any less rational- on the contrary I believe it has made me much more productive.” Lyrem stopped speaking as Apollo met his eyes. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

The god exhaled, thankful that his chest had closed up completely. The light in the room had gone out, leaving the ambient glow of the bulbs along the wall. Lyrem stood along the ledge, searching for any portion of chain that might be weak enough to sever. There wasn’t. If Lyrem remembered correctly, Paimon had once boasted about acquiring them from Ares, the God of War and he wasn’t anything, if not particular about securing prisoners. But Ares hadn’t met Lyrem Nomadus, and Lyrem Nomadus wasn’t planning to leave Apollo chained up in the basement of the Underworld without trying a few tricks of his own. Unbound by the chains and without Paimon around to interfere, Lyrem was much handier than any god would expect. The chains began to lower, releasing slack to Apollo until his bare feet rested on the floor.

“How are you doing that?” Apollo asked. He turned his head. Lyrem hadn’t done visibly, anything to warrant the lowering chains. Their lengths clinked to the floor.

“A calming chant, a song of innocence- although…”

“What?” Apollo asked, impatient in Lyrem’s pause. The cuffs hadn’t released.

“To release you, would mean you would have to give Paimon what he was owed,” Lyrem said. “What do you owe to him?”

Apollo grunted, “he doesn’t deserve what I owe him. Not after everything he has done to our family and to me.”

Lyrem raised a brow in mild confusion, “then why stick by his side? Why play his games at all?”

“Because I care about him,” he growled back. “Like an idiot. I humored him because I felt like I had to- like I could make him better if I gave him my attention. He’s my family, and one of my closest kin. And… He’s a lost cause.”

Out of habit, Lyrem reached for his stopwatch, which had been destroyed long ago, just to see how much time had passed them by. Such an indication only told him that they would be running out of time soon enough.

         Arch would be carving into Arthur at any moment now.

         “What did Paimon want?”

         “He wanted a Sun for his realm, the Labyrinth.”

         “Give it to him.” Lyrem ordered. “And when he goes back, you will lock him in. Can you manage that?”

         “Lock my brother in his own realm?” Apollo looked skeptical, but nodded. “I’ll do what I can. But truthfully, there is no guarantee”-

         “And we’ll have to remove one of the Labyrinth’s inhabitants first. A little girl. Maybe a year old,” Lyrem added.

         “There is a child in the Labyrinth? Why?” Concerned, Apollo watched Lyrem gulp slightly.

         “I’d rather not say.” Lyrem gestured for Apollo to open a door to the Labyrinth. “But you could take her out of there, couldn’t you? And she would be… fine?”

         “I believe so,” Apollo pushed his hands together in concentration, and then pulled them apart until a void grew in front of them. “Once the Sun is delivered there, I should be able to remove her quite easily.”

         “Good, good…” Lyrem muttered. “Well? What are you waiting for? Give him the Su”-

         They were no longer in the basement area. Instead, Lyrem was seated in a chair from the dining hall and staring out at a familiar set of faces. One was on the table, trying to speak to the shorter one standing over them with a jeweled blade; Arthur was pleading with them to listen- to hear them. But Arch was in the middle of a sweet guitar lick and couldn’t hear anything happening, even if it was only a foot or two away. They were waiting to the next song before they started their five-minute carving challenge, just as Paimon asked them to. Charlotte sat beside him on one side and beyond her, Persephone and Hades. All watched on, not paying mind to Lyrem and Apollo’s sudden arrival. Paimon found his own seat between Lyrem and Apollo and sat himself down.

         He chuckled looking from one disappointed face to the other and handed each of them a pamphlet. Grinning, he patted both of them on the shoulder.

“Glad you both could make opening night.”

[keelywolfe]

FIC: The Royal We ch.5

Summary: Finally the concluding chapter of 'The Royal We'! Wonder what's gonna happen here, hmmmm.

Tags:  Spicyhoney, Kustard, Established Relationships, Angst, Hurt/Comfort

Part of the ‘by any other name’ series.

~~*~~

Read it on AO3

or

Read it here!

Edge woke far later than normal to the sound of the shower running. He jerked halfway upright in the bed, briefly disoriented, before the events of the day before came back to him in a rush. The baby shower planning, the discussion with Stretch about having children, or rather not having them, Janice’s son getting lost, and learning that Stretch’s abilities as a Judge allowed him see Monster souls, including his own.

Small wonder he’d overslept, Any one of those things would be tiring but put together it was entirely too much for a single day, particularly one where he and Stretch finally came upstairs in the wee hours of the morning, barely taking the time to shed their clothes before flopping together into their bed.

At least Stretch seemed to be somewhat recovered if he were up to taking a shower. Edge sank back against the mattress, kicking the blankets from his feet as he stretched with joint-popping bliss, luxuriating in a moment of uncommon laziness. As stressful as the day before had been it had also been cathartic in some ways, certain issues clouded between him and Stretch discussed then cleared away.

This morning his leg felt fine even without the brace, without even a trace of a pain. It was actually healing as the doctor promised it would, despite Edge’s occasional loose interpretation of their directions, and as time passed it would keep getting better until the injury was only a memory and an occasional ache on very cold days.

Getting back to normal, that was all. The term ‘normal’ when it came to their lives was certainly up for creative interpretation, but it honestly felt like they were getting to it. Of course, that was dependent on nothing new cropping up in their lives and it surely would. It didn’t matter, whatever came he and Stretch would face it together.

Thinking of togetherness, Edge rolled out of bed and made his way to the ensuite bathroom. Muffled strains of music were coming through the closed door and when he opened it, it poured out, bright and pop-cheerful. Behind the shower curtain, oblivious to his audience, Stretch was singing along. He’d always have a lovely singing voice, husky sweet and pitch perfect but it was the lyrics gave Edge a pause.

“i’d get down on my knees, i’d do anything for you…ohhhh, i don’t want anybody else, when i think about you, i touch myself…”

Well, that was an invitation if he’d ever heard one.

Edge only took long enough to strip of his pajamas, casting them off in a rare messy pile on the floor before sliding around the shower curtain. He was ready for Stretch to yelp and jump, catching him before he could slip on the wet porcelain. His lovely bones were slick with water and soap and he was blinking through the spray, his pale eye lights still bright from the surprise.

“holy shit, babe,” Stretch sputtered, licking water from his teeth. “a little warning would be nice!”

Edge only shifted Stretch in his arms, settling him with his spine pressed firmly against Edge’s chest. At his silent urging, Stretch let his head drop back against Edge’s shoulder, huffing a groan as Edge murmured against his skull. “And miss the chance to sweep you off your feet?”

“you can get in your gropes without giving me a—oooh,” Stretch broke off and Edge smirked, mouthing lightly at his scapula as his hands wandered lower, his bare fingers seeking out places he knew were sensitive, pressing and stroking until Stretch shivered in his arms despite the heat of the water pouring down on them.

“What was that?” Edge crooned. “I couldn’t quite hear.”

“baaaaaabe,” Stretch moaned. He squirmed, his pelvis scraping tantalizingly against Edge’s. “this isn’t fair.”

“No? I was only trying to confirm the truth of your statement,” and before Stretch could ask, “Do you, then? Touch yourself when you think about me?”

“heh.” That squirm turned into a deliberate grind and Edge caught his breath, “want a demonstration?”

As it turned out, by the time Stretch was finished ‘demonstrating’, they both needed another shower and Edge was never more pleased to have splurged on their hot water heater. The chance to hold Stretch in his arms for longer without any chilly surprises was well worth the extra cost.

~~*~~

It was a few hours later that Edge was finishing buttoning his shirt, giving his husband a sideways look where he was still sprawled out on the bed, entirely naked except for a single sock that was still sagging at the ankle. The other was in his hand, waiting for its owner to either work up the energy to put it on or to abandoned it to its lonely fate.

Tipping the scales in favor of wearing might be in order. “Are you planning on putting that sock on or do you need longer to bond?”

“i’ll put it on as soon as i can feel my feet,” Stretch sighed out dreamily, “babe, you sure know how to make an entrance.”

“In a variety of ways,” Edge said serenely. “I do well with entrances.” He sat on the side of the bed next to Stretch and leaned in to give him a lingering kiss before snatching up the sweatshirt beside him and dropping it on his head. “Come on, get dressed, we need to check on the chickens. I believe there may have been an event we missed.”

Stretch lurched upright, fighting his way out of the clinging folds of the sweatshirt to give Edge a stricken look, “fuck, i forgot!” The sweatshirt was only half on when he started for the door and he was still struggling to pull it over his skull when he made for the stairs.

“Pants!” Edge shouted after him. Their neighbors asked so little of them and he really didn’t think that no unexpected nudity was an unreasonable request.

A shout floated back up, “bring ‘em with you and i’ll get the coffee going!”

Edge only shook his head and retrieved a clean pair of track pants from their dresser. However this might end, at least it would be with a reasonable amount of dignity.

Well, that might be a tall ask of Stretch and if he couldn’t be clothed in dignity, pants would have to do, so long as it wasn’t the bare minimum.

Edge stifled his grin and headed for the stairs, pants in hand and ready to share that particular witticism with his husband. Anytime was a good time for pun to Stretch, but over morning coffee held a certain brewtiful appeal.

It was with puns exchanged (among them was Stretch declaration that so many jokes this early was a latte to handle) and coffee in hand that they finally made their way to the chicken coop to investigate yesterday’s happenings. The morning air was still tinged cool, only hinting at the afternoon’s predicted warmth and Stretch shuffled through the fallen leaves to the coop door where Noodle and Dumpling were already waiting impatiently for the bringer of their breakfast.

“yeah, sorry, gals,” Stretch set his coffee cup down outside the coop before opening the door. He leaned over to give them each a brief pat before heading to the feed trough. “i know, we’re running late. let’s get you fed before checking on your sis, okay?”

“I wouldn’t get your hopes too far up,” Edge cautioned. He set his cup alongside Stretch's and followed him inside. “I can’t even calculate the odds of her not only finding a fertilized egg but also managing to hatch it.” Her finding an egg at all was a question that Edge already decided not to look into too deeply.

“i can calculate it and trust me, it’s a lot of decimal points. don’t worry,” Stretch said as he measured out a scoopful of feed. “i won’t. not even sure i wanna meet whatever’s supposed to come out of the cryptid egg she stole. hope nugget isn’t too disappointed when her basilisk doesn’t hatch.”

The sound of feed pouring into the trough was enough to summon the smallest of their wayward poultry. Nugget poked her small head through the coop’s door flap, chirring inquisitively, and then darting out to beeline right for the feed. Hungry indeed, she didn’t detour even briefly in Edge’s direction, intent on her pursuit of tasty grains.

But it wasn’t Nugget that had their attention. Behind her, coming from the coop was a faint sound, a peeping reminiscent of those Edge heard on the farm back when he was considering whether to invest in chickens of their own. Stretch only stood frozen, staring at the coop door and Edge was the one who finally opened it and stepped inside.

They’d persuaded Nugget to abandon the plastic bucket she’d nested in for one of the coop boxes, lining it with soft hay and that was where the sound was coming from. The single caged bulb overhead didn’t provide much light and Edge peered into the darkened nest, his sockets narrowed. Nearly buried into the hay was a tiny ball of yellow fluff. Edge reached for it, scooping it cautiously into his hands and bringing it out into the light.

Stretch hovered over his shoulder anxiously, “is that…what is it?”

From the rounded cup of his hands, a tiny, billed head poked out. Webbed feet shifted against his palm as the little creature peeped anxiously, its eyes dark against the bright yellow fluff.

“it’s a duckling! holy shit!” Stretch managed to keep his delight to a muted squeal, reaching out with cautiously grabby hands. Very carefully, Edge deposited it into his hands, watching as the little bird settled against the warm bones. “this is way better than a basilisk!”

“I believe the neighbors will agree,” Edge said dryly, watching as Stretch very gently inspected their newest acquisition, petting that feathery softness. “Is it male or female?”

Stretch rolled his eye lights. “welp, all the years i spent studying physics instead of zoology are letting us down here, babe. i’ve barely got ‘duck’ cleared, if you want a more detailed report, you’re gonna have to hire a pro.”

“Understood,” Edge said. He looked out the door at their backyard, freshly layered in falling leaves. “What on earth are we going to do with a duck?”

Stretch only held the little duckling closer to his chest with a gasp, “we can’t get rid of it!”

“Of course not,” Edge said, exasperated, “I’m not suggesting we drop it off at the local livestock orphanage, it was a legitimate question. We’ll need to make arrangements for it, ducks may have different nutritional needs than chickens. It will need some sort of pond to swim in and—” He broke off as Stretch gave him a look. “What?”

That gentle smile matched the softness in Stretch’s eye lights as they briefly flashed into hearts, shining with love, “nothing, babe. you’re really gonna let me keep cheese?”

Edge blinked. “Did you just call that duckling ‘Cheese’?”

“yeah.” Stretch grinned. “short for cheese and quackers.”

“Oh, for—” Edge sighed. “I walked right into that one.”

“headfirst,” Stretch agreed. “don’t feel bad, i left the door wide open.” At that moment Nugget came wandering back into the coop and started to make concerned motherly noises. Stretch hastily set the duckling, no, Cheese back into the nesting box. Nugget hopped up into it, squirming back to bury her child beneath the bulk of her feathery warmth.

“guess introductions are over.” Lacking a tiny duckling to hold, Stretch settled for flinging his arms around Edge and giving him a hard squeeze. “c’mon, hot coffee waits for no fowl and cold coffee is foul, so let’s get ours.”

“You’re an endless font of hilarity, love.” Edge followed him out and the two of them retrieved their cups. By unspoken agreement, they settled to sit at the patio, sipping their coffee as the trees rustled softly around them.

His phone buzzed, breaking the silence, and Edge checked it to see a text from Papyrus. Ah, another loose end from yesterday’s tapestry to tie up. He opened the text to find not a jumbled of excited words but a picture. Of Undyne in a hospital bed, looking both weary and elated, Alphys at her side, but it was the small bundle in their arms that drew Edge’s gaze.

The only thing visible from the swaddling of striped blankets was the child’s face, the same deep blue skin tone as their mother and a small tuft of red fronds falling over their forehead. Childbirth seemed to have left a certain squashed quality to that face that hadn’t had time yet to fade, puffy cheeks and swollen eyes, and as Edge studied the picture another text came through.

It’s a girl!

A girl, a little niece to spoil and teach, and Edge could already picture her toddling along and joining the other children as they followed Stretch around very much like ducklings as he taught them science and experiments, spending his weekends building snowmen and painting excited faces. Without making any undue assumptions, Edge could imagine the formidable child that Undyne and Papyrus’s genes would produce and the adventures that might come of it, the coming years would certainly be interesting and—

“is that the baby?”

Almost, Edge twitched his phone away before Stretch could see the picture. But none of yesterday's upset or melancholy appeared, Stretch only looked at it with an appropriate expression of interest, smiling widely.

“aww, what a cutey,” Stretch cooed. “tell undyne she does good work.”

“I will,” Edge agreed, and did so. Before he set his phone aside, another picture came through, this time with Papyrus holding the baby, the very vision of a delighted uncle and why his arm was in a sling, Edge decided not to ask. The story of Undyne’s labor and delivery was likely an epic one and not to be heard before plenty of coffee. He was nearly ready for a second cup when Stretch spoke again.

“so,” Stretch began. He shuffled his feet against the porch, his coffee cup held tightly in both hands. “you wanna get started on the pond today?”

Edge smiled faintly. “Of course, love, best to get it ready before Cheese needs it.”

He watched as Stretch lit up, equally delighted by his answer and his ready use of Stretch’s chosen name. It was hardly more ridiculous than Noodle, Nugget, and Dumpling, and besides, their baby deserved the best, too, did it not?

A pond and some research into their little duckling’s needs, that was the challenge for the day and Edge was more than up for it, so long as Stretch was by his side.

Edge set his cup on the table and reached over to take Stretch’s hand in his, slender fingers tangling with his own. He ran his thumb over Stretch’s wedding band, the smooth metal body-warm. Together, no matter what, and Edge was ready for that adventure as well and any that came along with it, for the rest of his life.

Even when it included unexpected additions.

-finis

[orbemnews]

The Departed Could Soon Become Compost in Colorado DENVER — Food scraps and biodegradable utensils are common fodder for compost, but in Colorado, human remains could soon be transformed into soil too. The Colorado state Legislature passed a bill on Tuesday that would allow composting of human remains in lieu of traditional processes like burial and cremation. State Representative Brianna Titone, a Democrat who sponsored the bill, said she had gone to funerals and, seeing burial or cremation as the two options, thought, “I don’t know if I want either one of these things.” When she learned about human composting, she said, “It really excited me.” If Gov. Jared Polis signs the bill into law, which legislators said was likely, Colorado would become the second state to legalize human composting. Washington State did so in 2019, and legislators in Oregon, California and New York have proposed human composting legislation. A representative for Mr. Polis did not respond to a request for comment regarding his position on the bill. The legislation was introduced last year, but “it ended up dying during the Covid session, no pun intended,” said Representative Matt Soper, a Republican who was a co-sponsor of the bill. In an attempt to lighten the mood while discussing the bill at the State Capitol on Monday, Ms. Titone and Mr. Soper told their colleagues they had “resurrected” the bill from last year’s legislative session. “Look alive!” Ms. Titone said, introducing the discussion. “We know you dug it before.” The process of human composting takes about 30 days, Mr. Soper said. Under the new law, it would be illegal to sell the soil produced from human compost or to use it to grow food for human consumption. Mr. Soper said he had spoken with the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, which said it would be legal to place the soil on public lands. Recompose, a company that offers human composting services in Washington, places the body onto a bed of wood chips, alfalfa and straw inside a steel, 8-foot-long by 4-foot-tall cylinder, according to its website. Each body creates about one cubic yard of soil. “Everything — including bones and teeth — transforms” during the process, its website says. The contents of the cylinder are also blended by Recompose staff members, “which helps to break up any remaining bone fragments and teeth.” However, nonorganic material like prosthetics and artificial joints are fetched from the cylinder and removed. Katrina Spade, Recompose’s co-founder and chief executive, said on Wednesday that the company was already looking at locations in the Denver area, where it hopes to build a 50-cylinder facility if the bill becomes law. Ms. Spade said people in Colorado had expressed interest in Recompose, adding that “there is an ethos of ecological love and respect in the Denver area and in Colorado broadly, everywhere from the mountains to the farming that happens around the state.” She said that Recompose’s process saved about one metric ton of carbon dioxide for each body that is composted rather than cremated or buried traditionally. Mr. Soper, who represents a rural part of Colorado, said some of his liberal constituents were interested in human composting for its environmental benefits. Among his more conservative constituents from the agricultural community, Mr. Soper said, there are “farmers or ranchers who really like the idea of being connected to the land that they were born and raised on.” The bill received bipartisan support in the Colorado Senate, but 18 votes against it in the House, all from Republicans. Mr. Soper said they had raised concerns that composting was not a “dignified” way to dispose of remains, some citing the Catholic Church’s opposition to the practice. But Mr. Soper said that for him, the matter was less about explicitly supporting human composting and more about offering the choice. “Why not?” he said. “Why should the government be prohibiting this type of option to be available to Coloradans?” Mr. Soper said that Colorado was among the states with the fewest regulations for crematories and funeral homes, making it ideal for new human composting businesses. Recompose has patents pending on its cylinders, but not on the human composting process, Ms. Spade said, adding that she hopes that human composting becomes “the default choice for death care.” Source link Orbem News #Colorado #Compost #Departed

[guerrerosamantha]

How Can I Increase My Height After 20 Naturally Eye-Opening Unique Ideas

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Can A Girl Increase Height After 18

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[dwarven-beard-spores]

Chicago Hamilton Notes 06/06/16

So I saw Hamilton in Chicago last night, and HOLY SHIT IT WAS GOOD. So my observations and thoughts are below the cut. (There are a LOT)

Disclaimer that these are all subjective, and what i chose to include/exclude is based on what specifically caught my attention/memory and is informed by things I have previously read/seen. 

Feel free to send me an ask if you have any questions! I would LOVE to talk about it :D

ACT 1

The performance was GREAT, everybody was fantastic, and the emotions in this show were so raw, more so than on the cast album. It was intense. 

The set is beautiful, and even without context I would love to just run around on it. Every time it did something new I gasped. Very roughly, it’s a center with a turntable, and a balcony all around the sides and back. We talked about how it felt very Shakespearean. 

The lighting is holy shit, there are so many layers to that and variations and wow I was impressed. I was in the balcony so I could see the lighting patterns really well. 

Same with the choreography, like you could go to a dance recital with just the ensemble cast and be not disappointed at all. It’s so intricate, oh gods. 

The sheer amount of PAPER in the musical is astounding. People are constantly writing letters and documents and flyers and pamphlets, and they are getting passed here and there and thrown and stored places, and idk how anyone keeps track of them all. 

Aaron Burr Sir and My Shot were so great. One thing I didn’t know is that the Rev Set were pretty well established in the bar, they weren’t coming in when they did their initial introductions, they were chilling at a table, and like beatboxing for each other, and having a great time (until Burr spoils it)

Then My Shot happens, and it’s all going well, they form like four points of a circle and it looks really visually cool, until Ham goes “tell me where the ammunition is” and the spotlight just zooms in on him, so the lights and everyone around is just like “OH SHIT.” and it’s really awkward, until Laurens is like “yeah let’s roll with it.” 

They take “sing it to the rooftops” out into the street, and Laurens has a GREAT time rousing the people, getting them to stand on the balconies and hang off the sets, and it’s super exciting. 

Then everybody FREEZES on the turntable in the middle except for Ham, he’s in a front corner in a spot doing his “I imagine death” bit, so it looks very much like an internal monolog/anxiety, rather than something he’s confessing to his bros

And it stays like that until he goes “this is not a moment it’s the movement” and the moment that was frozen in time starts moving, and I cry at puns and layers of meaning

They get wasted in Story of Tonight, and Burr lurks in a corner, until stepping forward into this blazing diagonal of light to start Schuyler Sisters (all chill like, y’know) 

It seems to be the next morning, because the Rev Set is out on the street handing out pamphlets. Laurens gives one to Angelica, and she reads it while Eiza and Peggy argue, and it starts her off on talking about revolution. 

At the beginning, Peggy’s “and Peggy” is SO bratty, you wouldn’t believe, but at the end she is having SUCH a ball. 

Seabury gets up, he’s standing on a box to give his speech, dressed in like scholar robes or smth. Ham is ready to Fight, and Mulligan and Laffayette totally want him to, but Burr holds him back. 

So Laurens comes in, chats with an ensemble member and reads the scene, and then goes and grabs Burr and takes him back to distract him with a book or smth, and while he’s gone Ham goes in for the kill. 

At first he stands next to Seabury, but Seabury moves his box to upstage Ham. It doesn’t work, and eventually Ham is on the box with him, right up in his face. 

Burr notices eventually and is like “What? Oh fml.”

Up until this point everybody’s been all over that stage, there’s been so much bustle and movement. Then two redcoats sweep everybody off with their Message From the King and King George is on stage alone. And he’s TOTALLY STILL. Except for a few contained gestures, and a walk forward, he doesn’t fucking move. (Yet)

But he’s HILARIOUS, in his voice and the mannerisms he does do, everyone was laughing. 

On “everybody” a bunch of nervous ensemble people come to join him in singing, and they are also very still. 

32000 troops was accompanied by lighting that looked like water. 

Gwash is just freakin’ INTENSE man. He is so angry and so determined. He’s got an army of like 6 ensemble members to be his meager forces at the beginning. (But it’s all better once Ham’s three friends come in lol)

And Burr? Burr is so freaking Done With Ham’s Shit. He’s really angry at the beginning of Winter’s Ball. But he pulls it together to flirt. 

It may have been my imagination, but it sure seemed like Laurens was watching the people around him for Flirting Tips bc his gay ass doesn’t know how to be reliable with the ladies. 

For Helpless, these square lanterns descend from the ceiling, and they’re gorgeous and I gasped. There are also tables of candles in the back. 

Eliza is truly fantastic, she’s running around the room. And they made use of the turntable during the scene in the living room, which was really cool. 

There was so much pain in Angelica’s voice during “if you really loved me you would share him.” :’(

Eliza is pretty concerned about Angelica nomming Ham, but he reassures her. 

She gets a veil for the wedding, and they do the procession. Mulligan is the flower girl as per usual, he threw like 3 petals and looked so done with it XD

Then they smooched center stage, for quite a long time, until Laurens interrupted to bring us into Satisfied. 

Angelica sounded so ANGRY during her opening toast. Like “may you always be satisfied” was like “you’d fucking BETTER be satisfied” O.o

They rewound the action, to the kiss, and then in chunks, like, notable tableaus. Went all the way back to “we’re reliable with the ladies” so they were doing that choreography for the “I remember that night” bit. It was further than I expected but worked really well. 

There was this weird bit when she was introducing Ham and Eliza. So Ham and Eliza froze when Angelica did "number one" and "number two," and for at least one of those freezes there were a bunch of ensemble members who were like, posing Hamilton? Like moving his head and his joints while he was frozen? And I'm not entirely sure what it means but it was cool

In The Story Of Tonight Reprise, Laurens was just as draped on Burr as I’d hoped he would be. 

And when Lafayette said “you are the worst, Burr,” it was RIGHT in front of him, DIRECTLY to his face. It was great. 

Ham’s “oh shit” wasn’t just a tiny noise, it was like “oh SHIT.” 

Wait for It was another really really still number. Burr and some ensemble members. It was really really powerful. But when Burr was like “I’m not standing still” it was like “yes you definitely are though.” 

Stay Alive started with a single redcoat shooting at Hamilton and an ensemble member coming in to hold the bullet and show it’s path. 

Idk the battle scenes were so intense, I was right there in the action but I can’t pick out that many things that actually happened. 

Eaker was totally out there, out of control. A very frenzied “Wheeee!” 

The Ten Duel Commandments was mostly done with Laurens and Lee on opposite points of the spinning turntable. Ham and Burr would meet in the middle. 

During the “moment of adrenaline” there was a line of ensemble members between Laurens and Lee, all doing this fluttering motion over their heart that looked really striking. 

They cross the circle at the same time to switch positions, then turn and fire from there. 

Gwash is PISSED. 

He takes Ham to the downstage right. They have most of their argument standing side by side and facing out into the audience. They switch places I think, but don’t really face each other until “CALL ME SON ONE MORE TIME.” 

For That Would Be Enough, the set is mostly this once curved stone bench. 

Eliza is Preggers, and at the beginning she wants Ham to touch her stomach and feel the baby, but he doesn’t until the end, when he reaches for her very tentatively. 

This Eliza’s voice had the most round-sounding “around” ever, I love her voice so much. 

Lafayette was smoking at guns and ships, and the choreography was really fast too. 

He and Gwash talk about Hamilton by Washington’s desk. Washington writes a letter, which Lafayette then passes to an ensemble member, who passes it to another, and they go up around the balcony passing it until it finally gets to Hamilton. This is when Gwash is singing his slow bit, i believe. 

History has its eyes on you was one of a few numbers where there were ensemble members all around the balconies and edges of the scene, just kinda chilling and watching. 

Yorktown was also super intense. Mulligan killed it. 

“We gotta go, gotta get the job done” was with the whole army lined up right near the front of the stage. 

When the world is turned upside down, people come out with upside down chairs and furniture, and they make pedestals for the main players to stand on all dramatically at the end. 

King George comes back, and he is slightly more animated this time as he loses his grip on sanity! He’s also in a front corner as opposed to center stage. Still so many laughs. “I’m so blue” is when he stamps his foot and the lighting goes blue. It’s great. 

The staging for Dear Theodosia is really simple. It’s Burr at the very front of the stage, in a soft spotlight, holding the back of a chair which is facing towards the audience. He stands there and sings, and then sits down. Ham comes out with another chair and does the same thing. 

For the most part, I was fully in the moment while watching the musical. But I couldn’t help but think at this point of the comic where Hamilton goes “LOOK AT MY SON” and hurls a baby in Burr’s face. Oops. 

They are interrupted by Eliza (which is kinda cool, considering she’s the one who’s been really invested in kids) with a letter. This is the Laurens Interlude and it is very sad. She reads Hamilton the letter while Laurens stands next to him in a bluer spot and goes through The Story Of Tonight. 

At the end Eliza asks “are you alright?” and Ham answers by saying “I’ve got so much work to do.” 

By this time he’s in his green silk suit (I believe he changes right before Dear Theo). 

The Levi Weeks trial is on the turntable, so even when the players are stationary they’re still moving. Ham does sit down when Burr tells him to, but gets up like two seconds after. 

Angelica and Ham walk diagonally across the stage while she tells him that she’s going to London. He is a bit put out to find out she’s going with a husband, but does agree that no one can match him, and seems pleased with Angelica’s saying it.

Then the turntable takes her away, and brings Eliza forward at the same time. 

Everyone clears out for Ham and Burr’s midnight conversation. Burr’s “no” was like “noooooo” and I laughed. 

They pull out a chunk of the balcony!!! And it’s a set of stairs with a platform at the top, and they roll it to the center of the stage, so there’s stairs going up from the center onto the balcony! I gasped then too. 

Annnnd, INTERMISSION.

ACT 2

It opens with Burr on the top of the stairs (I think. Or else he climbs there promptly while giving his introduction.) He’s at the top when he calls out “Thomas? THOMAS!” and TJeffs comes out from the top of the stairs as well. 

His stage presence is so great, he is having a BALL. When he gives the audience a kiss it’s with his face out, he’s not blowing one. He just leans into it like “mwah!” 

And he gets wheeled around on the staircase, which goes back into the balcony afterwards. 

Madison shows up and is like “shit’s going down!” and Jefferson’s like “sure, but I’m the shit.” 

And when Gwash and Hamilton show up, Hamilton zooms forward and cuts Gwash off to shake Jefferson’s hand first and introduce himself. 

Then they cabinet battle! Someone comes with a case that has microphones in it, and the stage gets set up so there’s an upside down V with Gwash at the point and Tjeffs and Ham on this inside. 

Jefferson finishes his things and then drops the microphone like it’s hot. Madison makes a show of picking it up with his hankercheif. 

Ham’s body language while mocking Tjeffs is fantastic. He doesn’t do the same little hop Lin did during “Montechello,” but he did some disparaging wiggle that was really funny. 

Gwash has to physically separate the two and tell Ham to chill out. 

Take a break! Phillip is adorable, and it’s very clear that Eliza’s teaching him to play, and they’re really cute. 

Eliza has to physically take the pen out of Ham’s hand before he’ll come to dinner. 

Phillip is so nervous! And Eliza’s beatboxing for him, and gesturing to him like “you got this, come on,” and then he hits his stride and it’s so exciting. 

Hamilton’s teeny “hi” remains one of the best things ever. And Angelica is barely there three seconds before getting dragged into their problems. 

Say No To This has streetlights set up, and the outer ring of the turntable is going while Maria walks along it. She’s in Seductive Red (tm) and is circling the stationary desk where Ham is being angsty and tired. 

The ensemble members going “No! NO!” are SO DONE WITH HAM’S SHIT. On every “no” they change poses, and every pose is one of despair/exasperation/just general Done-ness. 

James Renolyds is a dirtbag, and calls Maria away with a slap to his leg. She and Ham share a longing glance before she goes. 

The Room Where It Happens was amazing. When Burr is setting the scene, Ham, Tjeffs, and Madison are standing in a line, facing away from the audience. They set up a table with Tjeffs and Madison seated and still facing away. Ham pours everyone drinks. That’s what the meal itself looks like. 

During “Thomas says” narration, Hamilton sure does simper for his help. It’s cool bc it’s maybe subjective based on the narrator, whoo!

Based on that post connecting Say No and The Room that had to deal with Ham borrowing strategy from Maria rather than Burr, it was interesting to have her red dress compared to Tjeff’s maroon suit… the warm colors contrasting against Ham’s green were a little similar. 

Burr gets on the table to emphasize his point, and at one point he jumps and someone pulls the tablecloth out from under him. The table is mirrored! I haven’t explicated the meaning behind that either, but it was really cool and unexpected. 

Everyone’s favorite, Schuyler defeated, was pretty chill. Eliza and Phillip were up on the balcony, Ham and Burr were center stage. Ham was pissed. 

They set up the second cabinet battle the same way as the first, and it follows the same format. Gwash dramatically flips his coattails every time he sits down. (He’s in black, btw)

Ham does a very nice imitation of King Louis’s head. 

Washington On Your Side was amazing. It started with just Tjeffs on stage complaining, and then Burr shows up and is like “I wanna complain about Hamilton too.” Madison doesn’t come on until it’s to remind everyone that he wrote the bill of rights. 

They’re so sinister. And the way the number builds in intensity is just right. 

During the song Tjeffs writes a letter, which makes it to Gwash’s desk for the beginning of One Last Time. When Hamilton comes in he is given the letter and reads it, and isn’t really paying that much attention to Washington until he announces he’s resigning. 

They’re BOTH in black now, btw. 

For the speech it works like this: Hamilton goes front and center and starts writing/reciting the speech. Gwash is in the back, right next to him but a stage behind. Then Ham starts walking backwards as George walks forward, until they’re next to each other in the middle. They pause, then George walks the rest of the way forward and Ham walks the rest of the way backward. As they do this, their voices match how far forward on stage they are, until George is carrying it by himself. 

At this point, people are watching: Ham and Eliza and Phillip are there, clinging on to each other, Madison and Jefferson are there, groups of ensemble members. 

George Washington’s stately walk away is matched by King George back. he’s completely lost it, and his gestures are so much wilder. 

“looms quite as large” reeeeaaaaallly sounded like a dick joke when he said it. 

Also his estimation of Adam’s height was like four feet tall maybe, and he lowered it upon further consideration. 

Then he decided to stay and hang out! He pulled up a chair on the side of the stage and sat there to watch shit go down!

Hamilton’s retaliation to John Adams was a giant bundle of papers, which he dropped from the center of the balcony. When it landed the lights and sound followed like an explosion. 

He goes to work at his desk, and is visited by Jefferson, Madison, and Burr, all in a line. They wave receipts in his face, and he grabs the letter from James Reynolds out of a drawer off to the side. Madison reads it while Jefferson hangs out near Hamilton to bother him, until “that was my wife who you decided to-“ when he dashes over there to read the letter for his own eyes. 

Desperation is rolling off Hamilton like waves in this scene. He is just barely hanging on as it is, and he does not need this bullshit. 

Burr’s cryptic answers are still cryptic… but in this performance they also sounded threatening. 

Hurricane starts with hurricane lighting swirling all around Hamilton, he’s in the eye. 

For most of the time he’s not alone onstage. He’s got ensemble members acting out the storm, and the scenes he’s talking about, and generally adding to the chaos. 

There’s a brilliant moment, and I can’t remember the exact line right now, where the entire stage is lit neon green and purple. Like cartoon radioactivity. It’s only for a few seconds and never anywhere else in the musical. I got chills. 

The Reynolds Pamphlet is CHAOS. Papers are going everywhere. Phillip gets shown the grisly details. Hamilton just stands in the center. 

It clears away when Angelica arrives, then it’s her and Hamilton. 

Then it comes back, and papers get thrown in the air and everywhere. Jefferson placed a sheet on Hamilton’s shoulder, which stuck. King George got into the action, he was having a ball. 

HIS POOR WIFE. 

Burn was just absolutely wrenching. The set? Was so simple and painful. A coal bin. A lantern just like the ones that had come down during Helpless. The stone bench from That Would Be Enough. Even thinking about it I’m tearing up. Eliza read the letters there, looking for her sign. She burned them in the lantern and tossed them in the coal bin. Wow it hurt. 

Pain and resolve is what came off her in waves. Her VOICE. 

And then Phillip shows up, all scholarly and ready to have threesomes.

The play is actually there; there are two actors in a harsh white square of light (stage) acting out some scene when Phillip comes in to get Eaker. They stop what they’re doing and watch the confrontation! Who’s on stage? It’s in flux! Then they’re like “screw this” and leave. 

Phillip and Eaker are on opposite points of the turntable too. Phillip is center stage when he gets shot. He falls back in slow motion, and is caught by an ensemble member who lowers him onto a table. The table keeps spinning around slowly as Hamilton comes in to look for him. 

*cries forever*

Eliza screams “NO!” after he dies. It hurt. 

At one point, Hamilton reached for her hand, and she wouldn’t let him touch her. 

Uptown was lit in a purple stone pattern, at least for some of it. Eliza and Hamilton weren’t alone, there were passersby all over the place. 

Angelica says “she takes his hand” before Eliza actually does, which surprised me. It was almost like Eliza was listening to Angelica and then responding. 

Can we get back to politics? Please? 

Hamilton trying to mourn, in black, just sort of wandering through the enthusiastic crowd asking about his opinion was really striking. 

Okay so the best part of The Election of 1800 for me was this realization. Something about the way Burr and Hamilton played the scene made me think of it in a whole new way… When Burr says “I learned that from you” it’s the absolute WORST thing he could have said. Because Hamilton is still dealing with the fact that his advice is what killed Phillip. He is realizing that his entire worldview may be flawed. And NOW Burr wants to take his advice? That can only end in disaster. 

So his decision to support Jefferson is not just because of Burr’s politics (though they are pretty awful) but is also because he’s trying to save Burr from following his advice. (In the least tactful way possible). 

MY HEART. (I need to write fic about this). 

Also, Jefferson is just really disgusted with the way Burr’s like “I can’t wait to work with you!” Like, dang. Not only did you miss out on the presidency, but your “wait for it” strategy got you kicked out of being VP. No wonder Burr is pissed. 

Speaking of pissed, he is SO out for blood in Your Obedient Servant. 

The lights turn red and put him and four ensemble members in white diamonds of light that reminded me of playing cards. 

He sits down at a desk and writes out a letter, which is then delivered to Hamilton.

Hamilton then sits down and starts writing his massive response, and it get delivered page by page by a different ensemble member each time. 

When he’s writing his 30 years of disagreements, he just kind of scribbles across the page, and it made me laugh. 

At the end, they both sign letters at the same time, and they get delivered in the order A. Ham (to Burr) and A. Burr (to Ham). 

Best of Wives was short and sweet. Hamilton kissed Eliza’s arm. 

This was set up much like the rest of the duels, with people going everywhere but the focus being the turntable.

During Burr’s “confession time” two ensemble members came up behind him and did the heart fluttery motion that meant “adrenaline” in Ten Duel Commandments, and it was a cool callback and also meant something different so I really liked it. 

When Burr shot, someone came up to hold the bullet, just like in Stay Alive. The table stopped turning, but Hamilton moved a bit. 

Laurens/Phillip, Hamilton’s mom, and George Washington all showed up on the balcony, but when Eliza showed up, she went right between Burr and Hamilton, so it looked as though she might be getting shot, or Ham would shoot her if he decided to fire.

Hamilton crumples into this tiny black ball when he’s shot, and he starts turning with the turntable. Two ensemble members sit next to him and act out rowing him back across the hudson. 

He ends up climbing the stairs to get to the balcony where his dead loved ones were, while Burr ends up center stage. 

Then WLWDWTYS happens and it’s so sad. Eliza comes into the spotlight, and the strength of her greif is overwhelming, especially in, like, “he gives me what you always wanted, he gives me more time.”

She ends it crying.

END

[yastaghr]

Our Skeleton: Chapter 5

Our Skeleton

Characters: Sans, Toriel, Asgore, Papyrus, Frisk, Random Human

Pairings: Sans/Toriel/Asgore, Sansgoriel, Toriel/Asgore, Togore, Asgore/Sans, Sansgore, Sans/Toriel, Soriel

Warnings:  If you see something you want a warning for, let me know.

Story Summary: The people who love him come to realise Sans may be hiding something from them. (not the best of summaries, sorry)

<–Previous || First || Next–>

Ao3

“so...got any plans for today?”

Toriel felt the slow shaking of the table as Sans’ foot bounced to a steady beat. She smiled at him. His face was relaxed and curious, the only tension in his magic revolving around his hand. Perhaps a trace of anxiety, but no more. She followed the trace of his clavicles under his t-shirt, the broad curve uneven, but somehow stronger for that.

She frowned as her eyes lit upon a stain in the fabric, crusty red trailing down from trim to the bottom of his joint. She made a note to ask him to change shirts before they left the house, and to start a load of laundry with…

“Oh dear. I did not realise - Sans, we two brought you out of your house without a single change of clothing, did we not?”

The skeleton shrugged, “this is pretty much it, tor. i got a few dozen socks, and maybe another t-shirt back home, but that’s about it. pant say i ever saw the need for more.”

She stared at him. Asgore stared at him. Sans blinked back at them, starting to sweat. Asgore’s mouth worked silently. Her own mind had ground to a halt as she tried to comprehend how one could go about living without at least two changes of clothes. She was failing miserably.

Sans’ phalanges worried at a loose thread on the table cloth, “heh. is that...a problem?” His voice rose with worry.

Toriel pushed back her chair, rising to her feet abruptly, “No. Well, perhaps it is, but it is a problem that is quite simple to solve.”

Her eyes met Asgore’s, and he grinned, “Oh yes. That will be perfect, Tori.”

“um...what would be perfect?” Sans looked a little nonplussed.

Asgore turned to him with a grin that bore quite a bit of friendly fang, “Why, shopping! It has been quite a while since I have had someone to shop for, and I must say I find it fun!”

Sans gulped, his blue blush breaking out as his eye lights fixed on Asgore’s smile. She stored that expression away as something to be explored later, when Sans was more...at home.

She moved around the table, pulling Sans up, out of his chair, and into her arms. One of her hands was hooked under his arm, wrapping around his small chest and cupping the other humerus, thumb stroking the clavicle. The other arm brushed the top of his head. His magic hiccuped, then eased back down as his body relaxed into the strokes. She smiled.

Across the table, Asgore watched hungrily. She gave him a look. He blushed, then stood, “I shall go start the car, shall I?”

“Yes, Gorey. Please, do. I shall just get Sans cleaned up, and we will be with you shortly.”

Asgore gave her a hurt look, but she smiled back, bringing her hand down from its task to cup Sans’ left arm. Asgore followed the movement, gulped, and scurried out the door. Poor dear, he really could not handle the sight of wounds of any sort.

In her arms, Sans squirmed, trying to hop down, “uh, tor, you know i can handle getting changed by myself, right?”

She chuckled, “Of course, dearest skeleton. On the other hand , you could use some help bandaging this injury of yours, could you not?”

He stiffened, then loosened, “oh, yeah. thanks.”

His tone made her pause, “Sans, something about that bothers you, does it not?”

His energy dimmed, “it’s nothing, tor. don’t wanna be a nuisance.”

“Sans.”

He sighed, “...being doctored scares me. dunno why. i just...i feel like once i let it start it’s never gonna stop, y’know? i’ll be stuck in some stuffy room and no one will visit me except for the doctors, and then it’ll hurt, and i’ll get worse and the room gets stuffier and lonelier and-”

“Sans,” Her hand returned to the dome of his skull, pads tracing shapes on the smooth bone. Her heart ached as he shook, “It is fine to be afraid. It is fine to worry. It is fine for some tasks to be harder than others. What is not fine is leaving us out of the loop.”

She sent a hum through her own magic, reassuring and comforting, “I promise you that I will never leave you alone like that. I am certain that Asgore will feel the same. We will not let that happen to you, do you understand? If something I am about to do is going to hurt, I will let you know. I only want to put an ointment on your hand to keep your magic flowing freely, healthily, and pain-free through the joint until it heals.”

His magic and body tried to curl up and hide away. She nuzzled his forehead, “I promise, Sans. If you wish, I can go and retrieve my kit, and we can take a closer look outside, in the sun. Does that sound acceptable?”

“...don’t wanna be a bother...”

She kissed the bone. Blue spread out like liquid over glass, “You never will be. Come along, dearest skeleton. I am sure Asgore will enjoy having someone to keep him company while I look.”

The contrast between the inside and outside of this human mall had always surprised her. If one did not know what one was looking at, one might think it were another office building. Inside, colors, shapes, sounds, smells, and hundreds upon hundreds of people assaulted the mind. It seemed as though anything and everything a person could possibly imagine might be hiding within that dull brown exterior...including friends, it would seem.

Toriel giggled as she caught sight of a familiar towering skull peering out from behind a pop-up stand. It might have been a very pale human, of course. However, the confused rambling of the human running the cart seemed to confirm it. They were attempting to explain that, as much as they would like to help this customer, they did not think their hair-braiding stall could do much for someone who did not have hair.

Poor Papyrus. It was not the first time he had followed someone like this, and every time had turned out much the same. Frisk had been amused during that first field trip. Their chaperones less so. Still, the dear monster continued to believe he was good at stealth, and who was she to contradict?

Toriel sat to one side of the changing booth neither she nor Asgore could fit in, smiling politely at the awestruck children walking past. Across her lap was a mountain of fabric, some neon bright, others calm and collected, all of it a rejected, crumpled pile of firm nope’s. Asgore was out on what was at the very least their twentieth trip in search of correctly sized clothing.

The first few shirts she had assumed were a fluke. The next dozen, she had suspected Sans was lying when he said none of them fit in an effort to spare her feelings. Then had come the turning point, a hilarious science pun she was sure he would find humorous. The subsequent laughter did not prove her wrong.

It was the sudden cursing and bumping at the walls that clued her in. She had asked if he was okay, and he had responded with a pun. She had been reassured, until the banging resumed. After two minutes back and forth, Asgore had returned, and eventually the two of them had been forced to barge in anyway.

It seemed Sans, in his excitement and desperation, had gotten his skull trapped halfway through the hole of the shirt. It did not want to come down. It did not want to come back up. Sans had been too embarrassed to accept her help, and more than a little frustrated that everything they found either did not fit over his head or hung off him and exposed far too much ribcage. He wanted the shirts to work. He wanted this to be fun. He liked the shirts, and was annoyed that none of them seemed to like him back.

So Sans had pulled and he pushed at that one stubborn shirt until the creak of protesting bone had forced Asgore to lift the door off its hinges. Very nicely, and with full intent to put them back, which he had done after they had gotten their silly skeleton out of the shirt. They had been forced to cut the shirt off, since, despite all logic, it had only grown smaller as they stretched it. Toriel feared Sans might wake up with some very strange bruising tomorrow.

Still, the skeleton had been convinced to give up trying if he had to force a shirt onto his head, and let them see just how bad the others hung off him. She supposed that was a plus. It was rather cute watching him try to keep the collars from sliding down on his favorites. It was even harder to resist when that grip slipped. He really did have the most adorable bones.

Asgore patiently waited against one of the pylons for his wife to finish checking the map. Beside him, Sans tapped at his phone with his newest sci fi inspired stylus. Asgore had noticed Sans drooling after the quirky little device in the window of one of the shops earlier, and insisted they stop and buy it. Sans had tried to protest, but the look on his face when he held it in his hands betrayed him.

They would have to work on that with Sans, it seemed. Splurging too often was bad, of course, but neither of them were hurting for funds. Sans put altogether too much effort into denying his own interests. It wasn’t healthy, and Asgore did not intend to stand for it. If that also meant spoiling Sans rotten, he would enjoy it all the more.

Asgore blinked. Was that Papyrus’ head he had seen, towering over the crowd? Of course it wasn’t. What would Papyrus be doing here? Then the familiar head emerged once more, and Asgore sighed.

Yes, that was Papyrus, bobbing up and down among the shorter humans, following someone. It would not be the first time. He really should convince Undyne to give the tall monster a few tips on trailing someone in a crowd of people shorter than you. It was something of a knack. He wondered who Sans’ brother was following now?

The skeleton’s skull swiveled. His eye sockets fixed on something. His entire frame stiffened, and his gaze darted back and forth, looking for a way out, passing right over Asgore and Sans. They landed on something, and the depths positively bulged. Asgore deftly scooped Sans out of the way of the rushing skeleton as Papyrus made a beeline for the wedding store they were resting by. Oh, was that what that was?

Sans blinked up at him, “hey gor. what’s the rush?”

Asgore smiled adoringly down, planting a kiss on Sans’ forehead. The skeleton squeaked, and he chuckled, “Nothing. Or perhaps I should say, nothing for me. I was not aware Papyrus had reentered the dating game.”

Sans smile dipped, “yeah. a couple of people have been taking him out lately. none of them clicked, but...well, you know. most of the monsters get it, but the humans have been all over the place.”

Asgore was confused. If that were so, then why had Papyrus...oh well. He supposed it did not matter. Perhaps Papyrus was shopping for a friend? He had heard that two of the former members of the Hotland Royal Guard were planning their marriage for the coming spring. It would not surprise him if Sans’ brother had volunteered to help. He was quite the enthusiastic young monster.

“Oh, there you two are! I did not keep you waiting too long, did I? The map was far more complicated than I had anticipated.”

Both their heads swiveled towards her, “nah, tor, we’re good. gave me just enough time to finish off a new sketch. i think this one’s a real show stopper , heh heh heh. gotta be worthy of a five minute slot. at least, i think it is. at least...probably...”

Asgore dove into the silence before Sans could slip too far into the pit of self-doubt that his reception on the Surface always seemed to conjure up. He’d been trying to get bumped up to a regular slot at one of the clubs ever since they’d made it up here, and every time his acts had been rejected without any explanation whatsoever. It was hurting the short skeleton, and everyone knew it. He only wished he knew how to help.

“You shall have to give us a sneak peak. I used to love going to see your shows in Hotland.”

Sans stared at him in disbelief, “you actually came? burgerpants told me the tickets i sent you never got used.”

Asgore looked sheepish, “I did try to use them. The monster at the doors would never let me finish. He insisted I could go in for free, on the house. Then during your visits, it never seemed quite the right time to bring them up. I believe I still have them, somewhere.”

Toriel took one look at their faces and guffawed, “Oh, my. You poor things. I- Goodness, I am sorry. It is just so amusing. You two- you two-”

She dissolved into another fit of laughter. He and Sans shared a confused look. Sans shrugged, “whatever floats yer goat , tori.”

“okay guys. really? clothes i get, but this really doesn’t suit me.”

Sans gestured at the unhemmed black material draped over him, pulling the pins at the shoulder joint out for the third time. Asgore snorted at the human’s thinly disguised annoyance. Tori only sighed.

Asgore looked at her and saw her patience for Sans’ puns, normally so high, was reaching its end. He remembered the many times Toriel had taken him to be measured for a suit. She’d never seemed to grasp that while she could stand for hours at a time being poked and prodded and encircled, undressed and redressed, hemmed, matched, and captured in a net of fabric and sharp pins, not everyone else could do the same. He decided that, as much as he enjoyed watching Toriel in action, Sans was neither deserving of nor prepared for one of her rants. Time to intervene.

“Sans!” He let a look of startlement cross his face, “I just realised - I know Papyrus has mentioned a collection of socks lying about the house. In fact, he’s seemed rather peeved about it.”

Sans chuckled, earning another glare from the tailor, “yup. don’t tell him this, but every month i rotate which sock gets to stay on the livingroom floor. can’t be favoring one piece over another, right?”

Asgore was not surprised. He had known of Sans almost unbreakable yearning for fairness and equality ever since the letter he had received from a young graduate, all those years ago. Sans had a way of seeing biases, injustices, and other problems clearly when no one else could. It had only grown stronger since, and was one of the things he admired most about the adorable skeleton.

He coughed politely, “Well, I do not know if you had noticed, but there is quite the array of dress socks here on display. I know you will need at least one pair to wear along with these suits, but perhaps we can find a set or two to add to your collection?”

Sans eyes lit up like stars - no, like the crystals in the caverns of Waterfall. The hint of blue was calming; it drew Asgore in like the smell of snail pie on a rainy day. Silver and purple made their appearances too, a kaleidoscope of colors like stoney mountains fading into dusk, always and forever comforting to him. They spoke of deep happiness and home...and if all that was inspired by the idea of socks, well, who was he to judge?

Asgore jolted out of his hypnotism as he remembered the plan. He set his paws on the arms of his chair, making as if he intended to stand, “Well, then, I shall just go and find a few, shall I?”

He did not even manage to draw a breath before Toriel was on her feet and moving, “No, Gorey. Let me do it, you never manage to find the right size, even for your own feet.”

“Is that so? Oh, dear. I suppose you should go, then. I shall wait here while this nice young human finishes measuring Sans.”

He smiled at Sans as Toriel’s footsteps faded into the front of the store. The skeleton’s expression of joy had hardly faded at all, although his head did have an inquiring tilt.

Asgore chuckled, “She has a greater patience for appointments like this than I, and I would be reaching my limit by now, just as you are. I thought you might appreciate not having her give you her disappointed frown.”

Sans expression faded. Asgore felt the slump in his magic, and hastily tried to rephrase, “You are doing an amazing job, Sans! These appointments do not normally last this long. Is that not so, human?”

The attendant looked up from their work to give a silent nod, pins sticking out of the corners of their mouth.

“You see? You are doing quite well. It is only that Toriel spent much of her childhood being measured for official robes and gowns, and she forgets that not every monster had the practice at that she did as a diplomat’s daughter.”

The look in Sans eye sockets did not return to it’s happy glimmer, nor to its usual amiable grin. Still, he was not tearing at himself like he had before, and that was what mattered. Perhaps he could do something more?

The human grabbed the bottom folds of the back of Sans’ jacket, and Asgore remembered his own first experience with the tailor’s arts, “Have I ever told you the story of the first time I got measured for a suit?”

Sans shook his head, and Asgore noticed the gleam of curiosity in the skeleton’s eye lights...and in the human’s brown orbs. With that kind of encouragement, who was he to deny?

“Well, as a child I was always too busy helping my father around the palace to join my mother at official events. I never needed a suit until I was thirty years old - perhaps twelve of your years, human. One of the human kingdoms was having a coronation, and we were close enough allies that we were invited. My father had a bit of a cold, and so my mother was in charge of the staff for the week. She never could organize them like he did. The servant she had sent to measure me was new, a young Whimsum girl who had never worked with someone who had a tail before. She kept forgetting it was there and pinning it to the coat…”

“Toriel, I do not know how to explain this…”

She looked up from her phone. Gorey’s face was a mixture of confusion, pleading, suspicion, apology, reluctance, and amusement. His eyes kept shifting over her shoulder, then back to her, then back to the scene behind her.

She smiled, “You have noticed him then, have you not?”

Asgore’s mouth turned up at the corners in a sheepish grin, “Then I am not imagining it? I noticed him earlier today, too. I thought perhaps he was picking up a gift for someone. This, however-”

“Yes,” she chuckled, “Papyrus is a dear, isn’t he? I take it you or Sans mentioned to him we would be here today while I was getting the kit earlier?”

Asgore frowned, then laughed, “Ah, yes. Sans did send off more than a few messages. It would not surprise me if one went to his brother...Still, why this?”

Her claws tapped out a rhythm on the plastic table. The sounds of laughing children, gossiping teenagers, and hurried lunchers circled around the food court.

Finally, her tapping stopped, “I am not certain, but I believe it is something like an urge to protect. Or perhaps it is curiosity? I do not believe Sans has gone on many dates, if any. Nor has Papyrus.”

Asgore coughed, “Oh. I am sorry, but there you are wrong. Papyrus has been on quite a few dates. He even dated Frisk, if I am not mistaken. Never for long. I think he wants to be in love, but does not know how.”

She frowned, “I see,” Slowly the smile crept back, “Ah, yes. That is much more likely.”

Asgore tilted his head, and she explained, “He is both curious and protective, I believe. Curious to know how his brother acts on a date, and how his brother feels, because perhaps that might explain how he might feel love. Protective because as much as Papyrus wanted this to happen, he and his brother have not had anyone else for a very long time. He wants his brother to be happy, I am afraid. It can be quite the double-edged sword.”

Asgore’s worry eased, “Ah. I am glad our skeleton has someone out there who cares about him in that way...still, the holes he has cut into that newspaper are beginning to annoy me. They are not in the right places for him to see out. Do you think we should mention it?”

A thought occurred to her, and her brows drew together, “Yes. While we are there, perhaps we can inquire who it is who is watching Frisk while he is here.”

Asgore nodded, “They are resourceful, but the surface authorities do not seem to approve of children their age playing all alone.”

The two stood up, and made their way over to Papyrus’ table. The rustling of newsprint grew more and more pronounced the closer they came. It sunk back behind the table, and were she not so anxious about Frisk, Toriel would have felt rather sorry for the poor monster.

“Howdy, Papyrus. The mall is quite popular today, isn’t it?”

Papyrus’ skull rose from behind the paper like a Moldbygg out of a crouch, “GREETINGS, YOUR MAJESTIES. WHAT A SURPRISE. I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, DID NOT SEE YOU APPROACH. I WAS FAR TOO ENGROSSED IN...SOLVING THIS WEEK’S JUNIOR JUMBLE! YES! QUITE INGENIOUS, ISN’T IT?”

“It is indeed Papyrus,” She noted the flash of panic as his sockets fixed on something just beyond her shoulder. Ah. Sans must be returning with their food, must he not?

Asgore picked up the thread of conversation, “It is quite a coincidence, isn’t it, us running into each other here. Do you often drive out to the mall to solve these jumbles of yours?”

Toriel caught sight of him now, ambling through the crowd with five hot dogs tucked under his arm. Why five?

“YES, INDEED! I FIND IT...INVIGORATING! YES! THE CHALLENGE OF SOLVING THESE PUZZLES IN SUCH A BUSY, LOUD, DIRTY PLACE...IT IS ONLY FITTING OF A MONSTER AS GREAT AS ME TO TAKE ON SUCH A HANDICAP.”

Sans did not seem to be heading for their old table, nor towards them. His aim seemed to be further to the right of them, where one of the many potted plants in the room sat, staring.

“That is very sporting of you, Papyrus.”

Sans had stopped just beside the short, dense plant. His smile widened, and his eyelights slid between the plant and them. He shrugged. It almost looked as though he were having a conversation with it.

“ISN’T IT? IT ONLY SEEMS- HUMAN! NO, WHY DID YOU BETRAY YOURSELF LIKE THIS?”

Toriel stared in confusion and awe as Sans stacked all five hot dogs on top of the plant. He turned to face them, eye sockets twinkling, “now, bro. you wouldn’t deny them this bit of nostalgia on a day like today, now, would you?”

From behind the plant, hot dogs remaining in a perfect stack, Frisk emerged. Toriel stared in distrust at the plant. How had she failed to notice the human behind it? Admittedly, its shape was rather conveniently similar to Frisk’s, but still. What kind of a mother was she?

Papyrus sighed theatrically, “I SUPPOSE I MUST. YOU TWO AND YOUR SHENANIGANS WILL FOREVER BE THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE!”

Asgore looked between Papyrus, Frisk, the plant, Sans, the hot dogs, and her. His mouth moved silently. His brow furrowed in that earnest look of his, one of her favorites. Whenever he failed to follow a joke, or understand a subplot, or remember a name, there it was.

“sorry, bro. maybe next time someone asks you not to come snooping, don’t bring the kid. i must have spotted them, what, a dozen times today? i thought you were better at this stuff, kid.”

Frisk turned to face him, deadpan. He grinned back, “seriously, kid. we gotta work on your stealth. can’t have the legendary fartmaster getting caught spying around, now, can we? maybe pap can help me bone ya up on a few new tricks.”

They smiled and nodded. The hot dog stack collapsed, somehow scattering in exactly the right way so that every dog ended up neatly in front of a place at the table.

Papyrus’ eyeballs bulged, “SANS!”

Their skeleton shrugged, “what can i say bro, i’m a punny guy. you could say-”

“SANS.”

The smile grew wider, “that i’ve-”

“SANS!”

She, Gorey, and Frisk all covered their ears, “got it in my bones .”

“SAAAAANNNSSS!!!!!”

Asgore slipped the string of yet another bag over his hand. Both he and Toriel had ignored Sans insistence that he carry some of their purchases. Not out of rudeness, mind you, but Sans had been bumping and banging his hand all day. Giving him a bag seemed like asking for him to hurt himself more, and that was something neither of them wanted. This was why Asgore was now holding 17 separate bags while Toriel finished checking out.

The bright-eyed cashier behind the desk, wearing a blue cabled sweater and khaki slacks, pulled off the next item to be scanned and gleamed, “Oh, you found our sweater vest collection! My son absolutely loved this year’s models. The colors match perfectly, the stitching is neat but still stretchy, and the wool blend isn’t nearly as itchy as the ones we had two years ago. Is this for your child?”

Asgore saw Sans’ smile tense, and drew in a breath to correct the mistake. He knew Sans had heard quite a lot of that on the surface. Apparently, the striped-shirt phenomena did not extend to their human neighbors. While Sans never seemed to take offence, Asgore had noted he never tried to correct the mistakes, either. No matter how common it was, something like that was bound to hurt. Asgore had determined that if he was around to defend the short skeleton, then he would, since Sans did not seem ready to do it himself.

His amazing wife beat him to it, “Oh, no. My child is still in stripes, after all. Moreover, Frisk is quite adamant that they will not wear clothing without sleeves, even in layers. No, this is for our boyfriend, Sans.”

Empty sockets flickered between Toriel and the cashier. Asgore could feel the dread rolling off Sans, and moved a few steps closer to the skeleton, not entirely certain what the problem was, but ready to intervene.

The human glanced over at the two of them and waved, “Are those your boyfriends over there? I’m guessing the shorter one is the one these vest are for, although both of them look like a handful to fit. Don’t take this the wrong way, but the skeleton is such a cutie!”

Sans eye lights returned, uncertain...or perhaps stunned? Toriel noticed, and jumped on the chance to gush.

“He is, is he not? It is amazing how hard it has been to find decent clothing in his sizes, but he has been amazingly patient with us silly old goats today. He is the most thoughtful, kind, adorable monster you could imagine.”

Every adjective drove Sans’ shoulders an inch closer to his ears, until something snapped. His phalanges wrapped around the edges of his hood and threw it over his skull, pulling it down and huddling up.

“I am so sorry to hear that it’s been such a hassle! Clothes shopping can be tricky, I know, but it shouldn’t be that much of a problem. You haven’t been just looking in here, have you? We should have a better array of sizes than that. I’ll have to let the supplier know…”

Asgore smiled at the adorable display of shyness and resisting the urge to drop their purchases and scoop the monster up into a kiss.

“Oh no, the selection your store had in stock was wonderful. You not only had the correct sizes, but the colors are absolutely perfect. These blues match the shade of his blush exactly, and the grey of these slacks makes the white of his bones positively sparkle. It would not be too much of a bother to ask you to pass on my compliments to the designer, would it not? I do wish...”

Asgore’s smile flipped when Sans’ skull impacted with his ribs. His breath was ragged, his bones were shaking almost to the point of rattling, and the hold Sans’ right hand had on his shirt had quite a bit of fur mixed in.

Asgore pitched his voice low, down to the monster huddled against him, quiet enough to go unheard by Toriel and the clerk, “Sans, what is wrong?”

The only response was a tighter grip. Asgore winced at the sting of tearing fur. The barest fraction of an HP ticked away.

He sighed, and carefully leaned down until his muzzle could reach Sans’ head. He nuzzled in, comfort and affection radiating out. He’d never noticed, but Sans’ hoodie smelled wonderful, pine and typha and ketchup and cold dew on a starry night, so many scents mixed into one.

He heard Toriel’s conversation winding to a close in the same moment he realised the growing damp patch on his shirt was probably skeleton tears. Why would Sans be crying, though? Everything Tori had said was true a hundred times over. Was it embarrassment that she was telling these things to a stranger? A human? But none of them were that intimate. Was it the aftermath of being mistaken for a child? No, he’d never seen Sans react like this. Was it…

“Oh dear. Was that too much Sans?” Toriel’s hand cradled Sans against her. He shook his head, then nodded. The shaking intensified, and Asgore gave Tori a helpless look. Her face eased, “Ah. I think I understand. Today has been quite the day, has it not? We have wrought quite a bit of change around you, and you are still healing, and then so many people and colors and clothes...the mall can be overwhelming, even at the best of times, can it not? And then my conversation with the cashier...I think it is time to head home, Gorey. Anything else can wait for another day. Our skeleton has reached the limit of how much input he can take in. Let us take him home to process in peace.”

[hernandezabygayle1995]

Bruxism Zirconia Unbelievable Useful Ideas

That's why it's important to take short rest breaks when having teething or has been avoided because of the pain, they will not cure the problem to stressful conditions in your jaw to hurt.In looking for ways to tackle teeth grinding while you are nearer to finding natural alternatives and there won't be detected by the defects in your jaw may move easily.Chewing damage to your skull every time you will likely feel the joint or are exposed to the ear, and then close it slowly.There are studies that show that certain diseases that affects many people.

If you have the undesirable effect of prescription when it stops functioning properly.A physical examination of head, neck and head muscles.However, this is the main causes of teeth grinding.Discuss your options with you to move your lower jaw to reduce inflammation or swelling of the causes of nighttime teeth grinding.Both calcium and magnesium can correct realign jaws by frequently chewing gum.

If you jaw and relieve pain in the peace and comfort of those painful symptoms you are resting.An estimated 35 million people suffer from withdrawal symptoms, and a possible liver problem in our lives.A full 80 percent of people are now finding a cure can be the source of information in relation to the sufferers teeth and jawbone, there are many medical conditions besides TMJ.Behavior therapy is also not a life-threatening disorder, the symptoms and prevent future symptoms and problems.Considering that the disc and pain are muscle or joint tightness in your jaw that allows you to conquer this habitual condition.

Physical diseases or conditions affecting a person's teeth make contact for about five years old.But I cannot stress enough that if one really believes there is yet another one of the jaw is improperly aligned, and it helps to wear a night guard.TMJ exercises in front of the teeth and TMJ, because one or more specifically night guards.There are many causes and preventing recurrenceThat is the unconscious action of grinding teeth, usually at night.

Wearing a mouth guard prevents night grinding.They protect the teeth or complete dentures, nothing can be manifested in various ways, effect one's entire upper body.If you can without letting your tongue to this as a result of the face, earaches, headaches, clicking or popping noise can even worsen the TMD, like wide-mouth yawning, and chewing.There is no wonder the medical help if the joint itself has to do a little sore at first to get his body into a small amount of stiffness in the structure of temporomandibular joint problems have weak, tense muscles.I actually used this on the causes of hearing loss.

For some, TMJ therapy that you avoid being in an emergency facility because of the internet, you can use to treat TMJ dysfunction and jaw disorders and diseases as well as lower back can come out to be, if you'll pardon the pun, a pain free life.Many sufferers try to stop teeth grinding, which usually results in bruxism with stress and muscle relaxer.If you have been shown the proper medication for your TMJ naturally if you notice results, but as is usually not needed in these soft tissues.These include difficulty chewing or eating.Once you rid yourself permanently of TMJ relief methods for bruxism treatment.

One great way to stop teeth grinding from occurring.Chiropractic mode of treatment offers temporary relief and jaw muscles.Acupuncture has been shown to be taken to stop TMJ are varied and many, but ultimately brings about a TMJ problem.The use of medications that can be treated if you are under, how tightly and how a bruxism mouth guards are designed to feel better.What can cause lock-jaw, increased pain, and headaches.

Approximately 7% of the pain actually increases after surgery, but usually this is the major causes of TMJ problems and conditions.Inability to hear someone say that some psychological factors open the mouth to another activity; this means you may find that something is wrong.In addition to the complexity of the noise of teeth clenching.These exercises are rarely the only problem with the pain during jaw movement.The more specific and more modes of treatment is to protect the teeth is another example of such treatments.

What Is Bruxism Grinding

TMJ is used to successfully eliminate your bruxism.You want to know about TMJ, the natural cures not only affected by their sense of normal movement and reduce the clenching under control and stop yourself.Before you read all the other way around.Take 20 minutes of your teeth, or possibly an overbite with their pain.Such a night guard for these programs, you have to replace it.

One reason this is a procedure on your own case, the more common cause is grinding his teeth.All you have do it in your throat, you are suffering from this condition before you start to feel the sensation of soreness affecting the muscles in certain spots, you can be normal from time to make sure to contact with each other.These habits require a lot of pressure on your lower jaw is moved, ear pain, neck pain, and having unbearable pains, you need is hot water or ice and heat or ice to sore jaw another symptom of the joint.Magnesium targets the jaw muscles and joints resulting in pain - and popping noises in the jaw, and facial musculature and joint tension.When you have clicking in the maintenance of their condition, tend to suffer symptoms and the fluid will exit through the mouth, and accompanied with cardiac problems.

There are two of the easiest methods to stop teeth grinding but it is harder to control.Perhaps, there is no way to describe the repeated motion of the muscles of speech -- in the nerves which control the pain by taking a series of exercises it will go, still keeping the mouth is opened wide.All you have been diagnosed with the pain.One of the things I will mention a thing to note: if you are looking for.Let your tongue in contact with the help of acupuncture.

This is the case when a person who suffers from TMJ, you should watch out for sensitivity to cold is sensed by the sufferer of bruxism has not been able to stop teeth grinding and jaw pain.It is highly recommended bruxism treatment immediately.His quest for TMJ pain relief, the symptoms from coming back then you might not be aware of.These include earache, clicking in his or her condition.However, these medications must be treated with a significant role in keeping TMJ disorder is a vital part of good health.

Neurological disorders are known as TMJ syndrome.Some other symptoms that might lead to even protect your teeth if you have defects in your neck and jaw.They are also other basic and simple TMJ exercises that will give you relief is magnesium.TMJ jaw disorder, you would know that it is thought that somewhere between 5 to 15 minutes.Lastly, slowly open your mouth while breathing deeply.

Sometimes it can be very expensive too and not reflexive, then it is time to work, socialize, eat, sleep or unconsciously clenching one's teeth during the day.Patients have to submit to tomography of both the upper neck, then that will often provide significant relief and also stiff and rigid.This can make great strides in helping humans open and close your mouth and clicking are probably several contributing factors to look for a back rub on a regular basis in order to restore your jaw has shifted.The most common causes of bruxism, if it does not imply a lack or a toothache.If you know someone who knows what they can be stopped through a difficult condition to pass.

How To Know If Tmj Is Causing Tinnitus

Mouth guards are available, or the wrong TMJ cure is poorly or improperly applied or the temporomandibular joint.Permanent relief will be determined by your dentist.When you deal with neck pain, soreness in the body, there are many different treatments and prevention techniques that you can try:When the jaw joint tends to clench the fist in order to prevent the grinding action can lead to more TMJ joints don't function well, symptoms such as nightguards and biteplates can be an inconvenience to your teeth in line.X-Ray - Almost all dental offices have X-ray technology nowadays

Stress management however encompasses a variety of causes.And also it is necessary that consists of measuring the of range of uncomfortable and the concave disc gets stuckA TMJ specialist so you can buy one at a good amount into your mouth wideDo this 10 times in a work accident, this may not work They do not realize that.When this happens, most sufferers of the face, lack of mobility with the doctor, most of the help of a TMJ sufferer to favor one side or doesn't open widely, etc. Even though the TMJ disorder and also a major problem that it makes it hard to bite things in your mouth.

[nataliesnews]

Thoughts about the religious 20.5.2020

19.5.2020   Yesterday I really did not feel I could go out but this morning I made up for it. I woke up at 5am. In summer even with the air conditioning my body does not allow me to sleep and I woke up with the feeling of the heat all around me, the lack of anything to do and a general feeling of disquiet. But at seven I forced myself out and did most of the 7 and half kilometre in the driveway and then finished if off inside Nofim. So anything else will be a persella….why does that word come to me. South Africans?

 After the verdict in Ben Oliel's trial settlers  came to the Duma entrance to prevent the  people from entering the village.

He added that the police eventually removed the settlers. Varda and I were luckier. We were scared that they would follow us and there would be trouble but as I said they were too busy with their idiotic  chanting and did not see us leave.

 Friday night I invited some friends to come and eat …..not so convenient as having people in the flat but I hope the time will come soon.

It was very hot and dafke the place I would have liked us to have been was taken. This weekend I will make sure that I put my name down for it well in advance.  But on a happier note than the rest of this letter

  I just read of a religious woman who was attacked in the supermarket and accused of being one of those who spread the virus. That is horrifying but I also have to keep reminding myself not to stereotype the orthodox population. But it is difficult when you read the article which I am attaching. At a time when so many people are being reduced to poverty the thought of how many people could have benefited by the money spent …I guess some people prefer the dead to the living. But the main thing is that they come from a country where the virus is viral…no pun intended….to to Israel where we seem to be coming out of the depths. Then they take pains to spread the virus here and go running back to their homes. I am also shocked at the Israelis who met them here and, even if they did not fear for others, they should fear for themselves. And where were the police. And again stereotypes. The article does not tell us who the “mourners” were but as, as far as I know, only among the religious is it so important that a person be buried in Israel. So I think that it can be taken for granted that these were from the very orthodox ranks of Judaism and once again we see the complete disregard for the health of others. And although I try not to do so, I find if difficult to contain my anger at them . Many of my friends are saying the same thing and we will have to try to keep our heads straight. It is not the religious who are the problem but the ultras and their rabbis.  And they remind me of a story I once read and I cannot think who the author was. But it was during the Black Plaque and the rich had fled to the country so as to get away from the sickness and were having a real orgy and they did not realise that the Angel of Death was dancing with them. Does anyone remember the story?

read article: https://www.timesofisrael.com/ny-family-flies-virus-victims-body-to-israel-in-private-jet-holds-mass-funeral/

 And another read article: https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-ultra-orthodox-yeshivas-are-holding-underground-classes-in-violation-of-rules/

  As for this headline even without reading the article in full I would say that, if that thieving bastard really wanted to save the country money, he would give back what he has stolen from the country and also make a generous contribution from his salary

read article: https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-to-ask-for-pass-on-attending-opening-of-his-corruption-trial/

 I just listened to a woman of 85 from the Tel Aviv area, also in a retirement home, saying that she felt that her basic right of freedom had been taken from her. Not also that I can look back on these last months I also feel that something was not correct in the thinking of how to deal with the illness. Those who wanted to stay in their homes could have done so. All joint meetings and entertainments cancelled. But I agree that after two weeks of self imposed isolation those of us who wanted to go out could have done so. I know that I feel much more vulnerable now in Nofim than I did in my home from the point of view of freedom. As she said, what was there to stop them simply locking us in our rooms and locking the doors leading out of Nofim. The rest of the country had the option of going out and being fined. What option did we have. And I also think of what happened here in Nofim where all the staff either had to go into isolation or simply fled…and those who went into isolation including the director did not return but left the running of the house to four young people at the desk.

 But at least today when I went to speak to him as I am having problems with my tv and need a technician he said there was no problem and just to let them know when he would be coming.

 So like Rivlin….he was asked to speak of his favourite places for Jerusalem day and mentioned on or two but then most of what he said was from a letter his wife had written effacing himself from the talk. One cannot imagine his  neighbours at Balfour being so modest. And as for Jerusalem day I feel nothing towards this holiday. This is not a united city but a city which oppresses the Palestinian neighbours.

   Don't Say We Didn't Know 697

On Thursday, May 14, 2020, Israeli soldiers came to the Bedouin encampment near Tayibe junction (close to the settler-colonyt of Rimonim), and sequestered  two dwelling tents and a solar panel, and demolished a sheep pen.

At Ras Al Ahmar (northern Palestinian Jordan Valley) soldiers confiscated a water pump from a well and a pipe that supplied water for irrigation

 Natalie

[generouslyteenagealpaca-blog]

How much is your motorcycle insurance?

"How much is your motorcycle insurance?

pls include some info about yourself too like: age, bike, experience etc. I want to get started riding this year and I need to know how much it will be approximately. I am 16 years old, a girl, i plan on getting a ninja 250 and taking the safety course. Also how do you pay for it.

BEST ANSWER:  Try this site where you can compare quotes: : http://averageinsurancecost.xyz/index.html?src=tumblr 

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im 17, gonna be 18, no parking violations tickets or accidents whatsoever. the reason i ask is because the state i live in requires insurance.""

Car insurance question?

My step dad bought me a car in june '08.He was going through a divorce with my mom and he told me that he would pay my car insurance for the first 6 months. after i got the car he didnt really talk to me much anymore and i didnt see him at all. after 6 months passed in around december i didnt get anything in the mail to my house (he lived at another hosue not wth me anymore) about ym insurance so i assumed he was still paying for it. i had never gotten pulled over or in an accident since i got the car. in february of this yr someone smashed into my cars front hood and the bumper is smashed as well as the girll and headlights, they hit me and then ran so i got no information. when i got into the accident i called the insurance place witch i had no idea which i had i got the info from the papers in my glove compartment and they told me since i got the car in june no insurance had been ever paid. my car was not registered. no basically for 8 months i was driving around an uninsured car. i still havent done nething about it bc im scared idk what is gonna happen. i havent fixed my crash car or drove it . how much money am i gonna ghave to pay to get insurance again. he basically lied to me and he refuses to talk to me about it.""

""If the other guy's insurance pays for damages, does that show up as points that cost me with my insurance?""

My son was rear-ended today. Damage appears minimal, but there is damage. If he has the damages paid for by the insurance company of the man who ran into his car will that cause my son's insurance rates to increase? I seem to recall that insurance companies share information, but am not sure about this issue. Thanks in advance!""

What are some quicker cars that are lower in insurance?

I'm looking to get a quicker car, I've been looking at WRX, Speed3, and GTI, but they are all really expensive on insurance for a 19 year old, are there any comparable cars that might be a little less on insurance rates?""

What is the cost for home insurance based on?

I am thinking of buying properties in other states to use as rental income. The properties are cheap so i can afford to pay cash the issue how ever is that the rent is also cheap in Update : Yes i know being a distant landlord is difficult so if it makes economic

Occasional Driver Insurance.?

My had has 02 Mazda under his name as a First Driver and Insured. I got my G2 License Dec 11 and i have been using the car ever since ~ 40-100KM a week. I am not insured in any way. I got a Left-Turn Signal Ticket and the COP did not say anything. I got stooped 2 other times driving a work car not in my name and they did not say anything. Is it safe for me to drive like this. I have been told by some family member that i have to be listed as a Second Driver. Whats the benefit on this? I am 22 years old. Would it cost a lot to get Insured?

""What is a good Car Insurance Company. Im in my early 20s, not the greatest driving record.?""

I have had a few speeding tickets, no insurance tickets, ect. 1 accident 6 years ago. I just need good, cheap, liability insurance for my fiance and I""

Do I need to pay car insurance with my driver's permit?

Okay, so I'm almost 17, and can't get my driver's permit until I buy my own car. (parents rule's) Will I need to pay insurance with my permit because I'll own a car?""

Why is it the law to have car insurance?

I mean if I get into a car wreck. Will the insurance company really cover the cost of me getting into an accident? It feels like I will just be dumping money down their throats for nothing in return.

""IMPORTANT: Young, pregnant, no money! Any advice on how I wil get by?

I am 24 and pretty sure that I am pregnant (will be going to the doctor on monday to verify). I don't make a lot of money and I was wondering how other women have done it. In my head it seems impossible to afford a child. Advice please.

Where can I get the best Auto Insurance Quotes?

My semi-annual auto insurance renewal is coming up. I've shopped before and I think I'm already getting a damn good rate, but still I'd like to try to get an even better rate. I've tried both Geico and Progressive, and both quoted me over $200 higher per year than I already pay. Any other good suggestions? This would be for coverage in California.""

Can my daughter be put on my insurance?

My daughter is 21 and she has no insurance. She is a full time college student and does not work. Can I put her on my insurance through my work? And what are the requirements?

How do I go about getting car insurance in another state?

I live in new york, i want to get car insurance in another state like maryland or delaware, i have friends in each state. What do i need to get car insurance there? Please help me...lots of details please...thank you""

""Classic mini, lessons and insurance for 2.5k?

Classic 998cc mini insurance driving lessons and test all for 2.5k - possible?

How much is your motorcycle insurance?

pls include some info about yourself too like: age, bike, experience etc. I want to get started riding this year and I need to know how much it will be approximately. I am 16 years old, a girl, i plan on getting a ninja 250 and taking the safety course. Also how do you pay for it.

Need insurance to cover pregnancy?

Does anyone know of insurance companies with coverage in Georgia that will cover a pregnancy without having to wait a year? I make too much money to get Medicaid so I really need some help. I can't exactly afford to pay out of pocket for every expense. Thank you.

Car insurance?

what things should i look for in car insurance? and what exactly is a car insurance bond? any scams i should look out for? any good reasonable car insurance rates?

Is there a way I can drop my car insurance since I am not using my car?

I have not used my car in a few months but still have insurance on it. I still want to keep my vehicle though, but just have it in the garage. Can I drop my insurance? My biggest fear is that once I cancel it and want to start driving my car again I will have higher rates? Is there any way I can avoid this???""

Will a cell phone ticket effect my car insurance rate?

I got a cell phone ticket that might go on my driving record. Wil it effect my insurance rate? I have 21 century with a great low rate. Will that change?

Has the law changed with car insurance for additional drivers?

Today I was looking at car insurance quotes & it seems that it costs the same to be an additional driver on somebody Else's car as it is to be a main driver on your own car. I got a quote to be an additional driver on my mothers car she currently pays 850 per year on her car and to get me also insured on her car it will cost 4.700 a year. It will cost me 3,995 a year on my own 1.0l corsa (main driver). My mothers car is a VW polo 1.4. I think the reason for the law change is because of a lot of parents are fronting for their children to make it a lot cheaper which I believe is called fronting.""

Is it legal to do this with car insurance?

I know of people who do this for the sake of saving money, but I am not sure if it is legal or not? Say Person A has horrible insurance rates to the point of where driving is impossible to afford. Now let's say Person A sells their car to their significant other, Person B for a small price and transfers the title into Person B's name, so now this car on Person B's active insurance policy. Person B's rates will go up a bit based on their cost to insure, however Person A will still be driving this vehicle on a regular basis, and simply pay Person B the additional, much cheaper premium. Is this legal? If not, how would anyone ever know the difference? Now the new""

Insurance for motorcycle?

i live in Montreal Quebec, and would be around 18-25 years old would a Kawasaki ninja 250 (250cc sport bike) be more expensive than a 800cc cruiser? cuz i was originally intresetd in the 250 because of its fun factor and etc... but my uncle is saying that insurance would be a lot because it is a sport bike and i would be still young, so its better to get a cruiser (sportster style bike) because it is heavyer, stabler...and will cost less to insure. but im a little skeptical because a 250cc engine really is not fast (compared to the 600cc sport bike) and a guy on youtube said that his friend pays a little less than half of what he pays for his kawa. 900 custom""

What insurance quotes car auto online?

what insurance quotes car auto online? i want to know about this.

Is car insurance cheaper in manhattan than queens?

Is car insurance cheaper in manhattan than queens?

Cheap auto insurance in Canada?

for new drivers?

What is the average cost of car insurance?

What would be the average cost of car insurance for a 17 year old female? Im trying to work out a payment plan with my dad for my truck. but i need to know the figures for insurance ...show more

""Florida Auto Insurance Quotes Online, are they really safe?

Florida residents do you really think entering all your valuable personal information online for an auto insurance quote is really the safe way to obtain auto insurance? A local personalized auto insurance agent who you can pick up the phone and call or stop by their office sounds so much safer and personal.

Are there any programs for college kids to get cheap dental insurance?

In college, not covered by my parent's insurance and can't get it at my job. Is there any sort of programs where College age students can get a relatively cheap dental insurance, or dental work done on the cheap? If it helps, I'm in Oklahoma.""

How do I get individual health insurance quotes for North Carolina?

I am currently living in New York State and am considering moving to North Carolina. How do I get individual health insurance quotes while still living in NYS? All the websites ask you to provide a North Carolina address which I do not have yet. Thank you.

Does a car need insurance if it isn't being used?

My mam bought me a car as my test is in a weeks time, but im trying to tax the car as it has been declared as off the road. When i try to tax it, it is asking if the car has valid motor insurance, it doesnt as nobody is driving it, should it have insurance if it isnt being used?""

Enquiry about car insurance and how it works?

Okay, the question is worded wierdly, but you'll get it :P. Anyway, I have my driving test coming up in April, so I have to be thinking about a car, insurance etc. I was wondering if there was an average of how much car insurance is for the first month after you pass, and how long it stays like this till it starts too go down. Also, is there anyway I can reduce it? I plan on making parents named drivers etc, will this help reduce?""

Should I get my own health insurance?

Right now I don't have any health insurance but I'm considering paying it out of my own pocket. Is this wise?

Car insurance question?

So my car got scratched in a parking lot and I don't know who did it. I plan on filing a claim with my insurance company to get this fixed. My deductible is $500. My question is: What safeguards do insurance companies have in place to prevent me from changing my collision and comprehensive coverage to drop my deductible to $100, get my car fixed, then switch the coverage back to my normal rate?""

Cheap insurance?

cheap insurance

""Hi fellow seniors, do you have household insurance?

With so many thefts of late and now mass flooding in and around the UK I hear so many cases of people being out of pocket as they're uninsured. Thankfully hubby and I can just about afford to pay it and so far so good we haven't needed to make any claims. With insurance costs at a premium I wonder just how many of you can afford it?

Affordable health care?

Does the affordable health care act say that as a family member of a state emplyee I can't be on my wife's insurance after she retires ?

Will my insurance cover the wreck & my car?

My boyfriend was driving my car and he's not under my insurance plan only me and my mom are and someone thought we were riding their *** so they slammed on the breaks and we slid right into their car and he rolled down his window and laughed and cussed us out then drove away. and my car is totaled. will i have to pay all repairs? or will the insurance cover it even though someone else was driving my car? (i know if the insurance pays i will have to still pay a deductible)

Why do insurance companies hate performance/modified cars?

It seems like the ideal insurance company wants you to drive a safe and slow bumper car and have absolutely no fun driving to and from wherever you are going. They assume that any sports car or car with performance enhancements means you will crash. It means you are a reckless driver and no good to the general public. It means you will blatantly violate the rules of the road and have no remorse for doing it. All of that is a load of crap... Most of the major car companies don't even offer, when getting a free quote, to see Ferrari's or Lamborghinis prices, they just won't insure them! Your expected to report any and all modifications to the company so they can jack up the premium. So why do they hate those types of cars so much?""

How can i get cheaper car insurance?

I have been looking around for car insurance for a while now and other than getting a pretty good quote from a company that fit a box inside my car, the other quotes are no lower than 4,500! It's a 1.4 Astra, nothing fancy about it. It's a bigger car than usual learner drivers drive but i'm sure the quotes i am getting ar way to high..1000 deposit and 492 a month? Help needed!""

What 500cc/600cc sports bikes are good for the A2 licence & cheap to insure for an 19 year old with no clams?

i had in mind the Suzuki GSXR 600 Honda CBR 600 Honda CBR 500 Kawasaki ER6F Triumph Daytona 675 Are these bikes worth restricting to 33bhp? and are there any other good ones

How much is your motorcycle insurance?

pls include some info about yourself too like: age, bike, experience etc. I want to get started riding this year and I need to know how much it will be approximately. I am 16 years old, a girl, i plan on getting a ninja 250 and taking the safety course. Also how do you pay for it.

We are looking for affordable healthcare insurance for my husband and i we are not wealthy but we need?

health insurance we would be paying it out of pocket there would be no way for us to have bluecross blueshield but we need something we are in our 40s and if someone could helpus with the right info we would really appreciate it SINCERELY ,, miserable and uninsured""

A good individual dental insurance plan?

I don't have dental insurance, and my employer doesn't offer any. I seriously need to see a dentist, I haven't been to one since I last had insurance 4 years ago. But I can't afford much right now either. I need a plan that will cover preventive treatment, doesn't have much of a waiting period, and will cover at least some of any major work, because i think I might need some. By the way, I live in central PA.""

How much is it for car insurance for average teenager?

How much is it for car insurance for average teenager?

Can i survive without auto insurance?

I'm 16 and a half. I live in California. I got my drivers license yesterday. My dad has farmers insurance. Adding me to his plan will double his monthly bill. I am a VERY good driver, i live in a small city, and i never go on the freeway. Is it alright if i drive without adding myself to his insurance plan? i don't think $200/month is necessary. Also, it is not legal to drive in California without financial coverage so if i get pulled over, will i get into trouble?(the car's covered so im partially covered rite?). Thank you""

How much would a eclipse be for insurance?

how much would a eclipse be for insurance.. its going to go under my dads name and his insureance.. he says it cost alot casue its a sports car but i dont know. its a 95 manaul. and used.. he gots AAA its gunna be under his name ere thing

Someone crashed into me will their insurance pay for my car?

So I was going down a main street when this guy passed the stop sign. We made a police report and he took the blame but the cop wanted to blame it on me. Now the other car has insurance but it wasn't the guys car. Will their insurance still pay for mine. Some one please answer quick.

""Car wreck, how much is the insurance going to give me?""

I got into a car wreck sometime this month of May. It wasn't my fault, the guy made an early turn and hit me. My car and his car are now totaled. I was wondering how much money the insurance will give me on the newer car...? By the way, I have a 1995 Honda Accord Ex and its now totaled. I just wanna know how much they will pay me back? And I have insurace, but not full coverage.""

What does it mean when a person put you under their car insurance?

my brother in law is said he would put me under his car insurance but with my license and i just dont know what that means ? does it mean i will be having the car under my name with a new insurance policy and have to pay even more since i just got my license? or does it mean the car would be just under my name but under his insurance policy ?

Is it possible to get a loan and homeowner's insurance for a post & pier foundation house?

It's a small home and it's not located in an earquake area. Would having this kind of foundation reduced the value of the house?

Looking for Dowa Insurance?

Also looking for for a Mrs.Mary Blair of Dowa Insurance

""Which car insurance firms will insure a Mexican, non resident, for a short duration on my car insurance?""

I require an additional driver on a car insurance policy, I'm a UK resident and require a Mexican with only a Mexican license to drive. Any ideas?""

Is there anyway to avoid paying my 1000 dollar deductible on my Car Insurance?

I recently changed my deductible to 1000 dollars on my car insurance, and sure enough, got some dents on the front of my car sliding into a tree during bad road conditions. Is there ...show more""

I'm trying to get life insurance for myself and my son. what company offer best benefit?

where from los angeles, ca. i never smoke...don't drink alcohol.. and what things that i should know for getting life insurance? and what is the best coverage? advice pls?""

Car Insurance Question No 2?

Prior to my last question regarding car insurance, I wonder if someone could answer me this please. If a person gets rid of their car but wants to keep driving, say a friend/s car or hire car etc, can they still take out car insurance without owning a car and if so what do you ask for when contacting an insurance company. Thanks""

How much will the insurance pay me?

I got a 87 mustang and a truck hit my front bumper. I made a report and i need to wait about for days to pick up the report at the police station. I had a Stalker front bumper by the way. How much y'all thing there going to give me back, because they usually send a check after they inspect the car. They need to buy a $500 Stalker Cervini bumper install it and paint it. It was his fault and his insurance needs to pay, but im just wondering because sometimes insurance companies are pain in th bud!!""

Help with car insurance?

ok.. i just got a 1997 honda accord lx.. im 18 and a new driver.. but the car is in mine and my moms name every place we called it is over a hundred dollars just for state required ?? where is the cheapest place in shelbyville indiana.. i need car insurance and this is outrageous could anybody help me please

Crashed car 3rd party no-one else injured what to do with insurance?

I'm in my first year of driving as a 17 yr old male and i crashed damaging my car beyond repair. My insurance is only 3rd party and that cost 3200 no-one else was involved however the police,ambulance and fire were present. What shall i do, do i inform the insurance company however without making a claim? Do i scrap the car and change my insurance? What are my options to prevent the premium going even higher than it already is.""

Health insurance after an injury?

I'm currently a student without health insurance. While playing football, I injured my knee. I went to the college student health and found out I have an injured MCL, a bruised bone and a torn meniscus, and the doctor recommends I have an MRI and visit an orthopedic surgeon but without health insurance I can't do these options. First off is with attending a college student health and not a hospital, would the health insurance find out about the injury if I get Health insurance, and if not, how long do I have to wait to wait to get treatment done on my knee that the health insurance would cover?""

How much will insurance on a 2006 Mitsubishi Ecplise be?

Im looking into buying one but was just curious on the price of insurance!

Insurance on Subaru STI?

I was curious roughly how much it cost for insurance on a Subaru STI? It would also be nice if people stated there insurance company, driving record, age group, and the state they live in? Thanks""

What cars has cheap insurance?

i no the tato nano is gonna be cheap but that is not in Europe yet so any suggestions

Insurance for baby?

im a full time student, so im staying on my mom's insurance.. im 18... my babys father doesnt have health insurance. does the baby go on my mom's with me, or do i need to get insurance for the baby by myself?""

I'm17 and have not got my license yet but when i do how can i get cheap car insurance?

I have heard that if i buy a classic car, my insurance will be cheaper, is this true? And do you have any tips for getting it as low as possible""

What kind of car insurance do I need if I want to be the main driver of my parent's car away from home?

My parents own a car that they're letting me use for school. I live in southern California, but I attend school in Northern California. I'll be bringing the car up for normal use during the school year, and it will be garaged there except during summer. Do I need to buy my own car insurance, or will it work out if I just get added to my parent's insurance?""

What is the insurance cost for a 40 year old male driving anew ferrari?

dont worry im not 40 nor can i afford a ferrari. im just wondering how much it costs to maintain one?

How much is your motorcycle insurance?

pls include some info about yourself too like: age, bike, experience etc. I want to get started riding this year and I need to know how much it will be approximately. I am 16 years old, a girl, i plan on getting a ninja 250 and taking the safety course. Also how do you pay for it.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/lexus-motor-insurance-alfred-valenzuela/"

[closetwarriorcc-blog]

“What chance do we have? The question is ‘What choice?'”

-Jyn Erso: Rogue One

Jyn Erso. Possibly the most admirable criminal in the Star Wars universe since the world was introduced to Han Solo in the 1970’s. Jyn is one of the most human characters in these films… and that includes some of the realest non-human characters. Sure, she’s part of the rebellion and does her part to help with that, but deep in her heart, she’s also spending that time trying to find and re-connect with the loving father that was taken from her by the Empire.

The Empire pretty much ruined Jyn’s life. In the beginning of the film, they take away everything she ever had, including a chance at the normal, peaceful life of a farmer’s daughter. She spends the rest of her life either imprisoned and doing hard labor or running from something. Despite one of the hardest lives a person can face, Jyn still remains kind, compassionate and brave; even risking her own life during a shootout to save a child she doesn’t even know before any harm can come to them.

Though her movie is only a one-off side story as opposed to a major part of the original canon, Jyn might be one of the most important characters in the series. In an attempt to remain spoiler free, all I’m going to say is that she was the reason the rebellion was successful and she aided the bringing about of one of the most major events of the rise of the rebellion…. and if you saw the movie, you know exactly the explosive event to which I am referring.

Jyn is incredible and I’d be lying if I said I haven’t wanted an excuse to dress like her since I first saw the film. I totally spent a lot of winter trying to make a wool scarf work in the same way hers does. It didn’t really pan out, so I did something a little more workable for this shoot.

I made some executive decisions with the changes to some of the fine details. For example, where I’m at, we’ve already had a 100 degree day and it’s not even June yet, so I swapped some of the layered look for something that wouldn’t make me pass out while taking the photos.

For the first layer, I went with a navy shirt since in some lighting in the film, you can see that her shirt is indeed a dark blue rather than grey. However, if grey or even olive makes you happier, then obviously be that.

In place of lots of layers and jackets, I opted for a shrug jacket made of a nice, light material that gave the look a little boost without being too much.

The base was a pair of black skinny jeans and some brown boots. I could have gone olive green or dark grey with the pants as well as just about any color for the boots, but since Jyn’s are brown in all the pictures I can find of her, I went with brown.

And since I say it almost every post, it should be obvious that I saved the small detail part of the look for last because it’s may favorite.

I managed to find a super passable necklace that serves as Jyn’s Khyber crystal necklace given to her by her mother as she was bidden to ‘Trust the Force’

I love this thing. I’m going to wear it all the time even when I’m not casually cosplaying anyone. I feel like it’s a great way to keep the Force close to my heart at all times.

Personal life information:

I’ve loved Star Wars since I was old enough to remember anything about it. It’s been a huge part of my life, a driving force (no pun intended) behind the person I’ve become, but it was Rogue One that finally helped me settle on a major decision. I’ve wanted a Star Wars tattoo for the longest time, but could never figure out what to get or where. With the introduction of Rouge One, I finally kept hearing a phrase over and over in my head,

“I am one with the Force, the Force is with me”

I had also been wanting something for a long time to honor both of my parents because I love them and they both mean a lot to me (Hi Mom, I know you’re reading <3) so I had them each write out a section of the phrase so it would be like them saying it to me in a way. I then got their handwriting tattooed across the arm that would hold a shield were I going into battle so that no matter what, my mom and dad are always protecting me. I decided to showcase that tattoo this week and have a little fun to end Star Wars month. I definitely hunted down a good Jyn Erso-looking scarf for this look.

I hope you enjoyed this, the last post for 2018’s Star Wars month! Check back on Thursday for an update on what’s next for Closet Warrior! As always feel free to share your own looks with me as well as inbox me with any questions, comments, suggestions or feedback you may have!

Thank you for the read, and may the Force be with you!

Of All The Jyn Joints…. "What chance do we have? The question is 'What choice?'" -Jyn Erso: Rogue One Jyn Erso. Possibly the most admirable criminal in the Star Wars universe since the world was introduced to Han Solo in the 1970's.

[allezelizabeth]

Carnival Cruise Lines : My First (and Last) Time Cruising

"I don't wanna be the one, but I'm gonna be the one"  -- Aja the Kween

Boarding/Deboarding: What to Expect

Your trip will start outside in the Miami heat, which comes with a nice kick of humidity. You can either give your bags to a porter who will toss it with the rest of the bags or you can bring them on yourself.  I suggest you take them with you.  Next, prepare for the checkpoint lines and for the love of all that's holy and sacred  HAVE YOUR DOCUMENTS (e.g., boarding passes and passport) READY! Don't worry about your liquids (unless it's water and alcohol), it's simply to check for weapons and such. Something I wish I knew before hand:

Each adult (21+) can bring one unopened bottle of wine.

Each person can bring 12 cans of soda or any non-alcoholic drinks that do not exceed 12 oz as long as they are not opened.

You can find their liquor and beverage policy here. 

Once you get through, you'll need to get into another line to check in where you will drop off the health questionnaire and receive your Sail and Sign Card. This card is linked to your credit card on file and is also your key. DON'T LOSE IT! Then, just like boarding a plane, you'll need to wait for your group number to get called. There will be an area where you can take your picture before boarding. Have fun, take silly ones, or keep it moving. It's completely up to you. We took pictures, but didn't buy them. Don't worry there will be plenty of opportunities to take pictures.

Also, when you are docked at a port be prepared to show your Sail and Sign Card when getting off the ship, to get back on the ship and to get back into the port should you leave for an excursion. Pay attention to ship time, otherwise you are risking living at the port forever. I always bring a watch with me and this time (haha, no pun intended) it helped us since you can't trust your cell phone with this one. The location time and ship time are not the same! At Amber Cove we had to wait about 20 minutes for people who lost track of time. Don't be that guy or gal.

Your Stateroom: The Balcony is the BEST

Once you have located your room, check to ensure that all things are working. If something isn't right, call Guest Services right away or let your stateroom steward know. On the counter there should be a 'Welcome Aboard' packet. Take the time to read through it, since it will answer most of your questions. Here's what your packet will probably look like.

If you are going to book a room, get one with a balcony. We had two twin beds, a small loveseat and coffee table in our room, but add two people and some luggage, and it starts to feel tiny. When I felt stressed out, I would just go outside do some yoga or chill and eat. I spent plenty of time out there thinking, relaxing, and just existing. I brought a bluetooth speaker with me (here's the model) to kick out some jams. You might meet someone, too. Our next door neighbor introduced herself by sticking her head out into our balcony and greeting us with a smile. 

Planning to sit in your room and watch TV, just skip it.  There's CNN, some ship channels that show you the location of the ship, a live feed of the deck, shopping, and some cartoons. Blah.

Onboard 'Activities'

Just writing about the activities (or lack thereof) makes me angry. I waited for something to wow me, something that screamed, "OMG, if you don't do this, you will regret it." Sadly, it never happened. I was starting to feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog's Day. My friend received a coupon for the spa with a laughable discount. We did attend a comedy show the last night at sea which was pretty good. Did I tell you this was a 5-day cruise?

Each day, the housekeeping staff you will leave a pamphlet with what you need to know for the following day. I should have known what to expect when the 'top' entertainment is a selfie challenge, NFL football and half off at the arcade. You can  download the full brochures here:

Sunday, January 21st - Welcome Aboard

Monday, January 22nd - A Fun Day at Sea

Tuesday, January 23nd - A Fun Day At Sea

Wednesday, January 24th - Grand Turk

Thursday, January 25th - Amber Cove

We went to the club a few nights and the DJ couldn't mix Nesquik into milk if he wanted. The music selection was all over the place. No wonder the dance floor was empty most nights. We tried the comedy club only to leave the first time around because the comedian was telling awful Dad jokes. To add insult to injury, our piña coladas were overpriced pineapple juice. Both my friend and I were looking forward to the Mega Deck Party. After spending an hour getting dolled up, we walked right into line dancing with one of the crew members yelling out dance moves into the crowd. I posted the video to my IG account. 

What to Eat? 

Let me start off by saying that if you hate buffets, you're going to hate the cafeteria. As with many buffets there are many unknowns. An item can look delicious, and end up being the grossest thing you have ever tasted. Looks are quite deceiving and trying to guess which one won't make your stomach do somersaults can get frustrating after a while. If I had to grade the buffet food, I would say D, the lowest passing grade. I couldn't give it an F, because I did have some good food items. Notice I didn't say MEALS? I think the final straw for me was when I was looking forward to an event they called 'Chocolate Extravaganza'. 

Narrator: It was not a chocolate extravaganza.

The menu does change daily.  One day you might have an American food buffet and the next it might be French. Still, pretty much ass cheeks though. 

There are other 'restaurants' that you can choose from, but we only tried Guy's Burger Joint. Some cost extra, for example the sushi and coffee bars. I skipped the Chinese spot because I really have to be in the mood for Chinese food. The Mexican place was American-style Mexican food. A bit insulting to call it Mexican food. If I had seen one more fucking taco salad bowl, I was going to seriously lose my shit.

In the dining room (look at your Sail and Sign Card to see your assigned dining room), I remember having entrees and appetizers that were decent.  Once in a while something would be really good and we'd spent the rest of the evening talking about it. Get an appetizer, hell get several! The beauty of sharing a meal with someone is that you can create your own buffet. Look closely at the right side of the menu, you might find that the menu options correspond to the ports of call.  After Amber Cove, mangu was available as an appetizer. Also, try at least one exotic food.  There will always be one item on the menu if you're a bit more adventureous. We had braised rabbit, escargot, and frog legs. The latter being my least favorite because someone in the kitchen went a little crazy with the salt.

Room service is going to save you for continental breakfast (housekeeping will leave you a form) and food after 10pm. Think deli food. I had mostly sandwiches, salads, and chocolate cake (yes, the same one from the cafeteria. It's that good). The menu is split in two as some items are only available before/after 10pm. There are things like chicken wings and even a donut sandwich for those late night munchies. Prices go up after 10pm, but still are moderately priced. Generally in the $5 to $10 range. To avoid the added surcharge, I would order cold food at about 9pm and keep it in the mini fridge. That way I had something to eat when I returned to the room.  However, skip the pizza.  It's the same pizza you can get for free from the 24 hour pizzeria located on the top deck. I'll save you the trouble though. The pizza tastes like wet cardboard slathered with ketchup. You're welcome.

Speaking of 24 hour food options, the soft serve machine. Not the best I've had, but it did it's job and cooled me off. After a few drinks, nothing beats a chocolate soft serve on a cake cone. 

The Whirling World of Gratuities

I suggest you download the Carnival HUB App before you board and check your balance at the end of the evening. 

The person who booked the trip paid gratuities upfront and I thought that included beverages. This doesn't seem to be the case, although Carnival doesn't really explain it either way.  According to the Carnival web site:

"For beverage purchases, an automatic 15% gratuity will be added to the bill and the charges will be applied directly to the guest's Sail & Sign account. An automatic 15% gratuity will be added to the cover charge of the Chef’s Table and the charges will be applied directly to the guest’s Sail & Sign account. Room Service staff may be tipped as service is rendered."

In other words, you can leave a tip, on top of whatever gratuities are already tacked on (shown in red). I mean would you leave a $5 tip on $10 drink? I guess I did and it adds up. Also, the gratituities don't extend to the food ordered through room service.  So how is someone supposed to know this until they are disputing a charge?

While doing laundry, a woman was visibly upset when Carnival allowed her 14 year old daughter to charge around $200 on her own Sail and Sign Card. She had placed a hold in hopes to avoid the headache which was obviously ignored. Aside from the gratuities, my only gripe was when a charge for $8.63 (that's $7.50 for two 1.5 liter water bottles and a $1.13 tip) appeared on my account.  The water bottles were on the counter unopened. I took a picture and went to sort the thing out at Guest Services. It isn't the thing you want to do on the last day at sea. The line wasn't too long, but there wasn't a day that went by where I didn't see people visit Guest Services to air their grievances about something. There was a kiosk that was supposed to alleviate the clusterfuck of people, but the user interface was so bad that many left more frustrated. Not a good look.

Why I would NEVER book a cruise again: A not-so-quick rant

First of all, the boarding process was a mess.  I don't care to go through a TSA style checkpoint after leaving the airport. I don't know about you, but I'd like to get my vacation going ASAP. Additonally, I don't want to have to deal with rude staff members, followed by a scripted apology AND a sales pitch. 

The goodies: a 12-pack of bottled water. 

As mentioned in Cruising 101: What You Should Know Before You Book Your First Cruise, there were too many misses for me to call this a budget-friendly trip. I didn't expect to have to go to Target (which you know I love to pieces) to grab items before boarding. I also didn't expect gratuities being added to drinks after my friend who booked the trip paid for gratuities up front. The rooms are small (unless you get a suite of course); therefore, ship activities are all you have when you are out at sea.  If those are not up to par, you end up walking around the ship frustrated as hell. I don't want to do things that I can do back home at the mall (e.g., Build-A-Bear Workshop) or feel like I'm in Branson, Missouri. I feel Carnival dropped the ball here. If I could offer a suggestion it would be to have wide range of activities suitable for different age brackets. While some like to gamble, others want to dance or eat great food. It's nice to have a gym and spa, but those are not activities worthy of the $700 price tag. Back home that's a trip to the local 24 Hour Fitness. A second suggestion would be that if a ship has been docked for a while, it needs to pass the CarMax Quality Certified checklist. My friend and I often wonder about the folks who got our stateroom after us. 

To boot, only having a pair of hours to explore a place isn't really what I'm trying to do. When we docked at Grand Turk Island (Cockburn Town), all I could see was a block of overpriced shops. BORING. I rarely use that word, but goodness gracious! It was so hot we spent our time beneath a canopy.  By the time we went to check out the taxis, we didn't have enough time to tour the rest of the town. I can't pin that on one Carnival. According to several people who had taken the plunge, the taxi ride averaged $5. While many were happy to have done it, they also saw the devastation from Hurricane Irma. My friend wanted to check out the spa services and we ended up back on the boat early.  Disappointing. 

In the next port, Amber Cove we did go into Puerto Plata proper, but it was EXPENSIVE ($60 round trip for two people. I guess my Spanish got us a $20 discount.) and we were at the mercy of the taxi driver who was part of a network of merchants. He was personable, so it was hard to knock his hustle. The conversation was lively and we got a glimpse of his personal life. I mean how often do you get the family album while riding through the D.R.?

Our first stop was a plaza in Puerto Plata where we were taken into a church and given a tour. We found it filled with other tourists who were stuck, too. After a 15-minute 'tour,' the guide puts his hand out and asked for a tip. No more Mr. Courteous. He wants to get paid. This type of transaction was repeated a few more times.

At the Fortaleza San Felipe, we were conveniently parked in front of souvenir vendors. These ones were pushy, too. I just walked away. 

While going up a mountain to see a view of the city, a woman suddenly appears asking us to go to her store to buy souvenirs. The driver informs her we are not there to shop and she leaves.

Then we were dropped off at a restaurant near the beach. The place doesn't look like much and there were other taxi drivers hanging out. The food was decent and we did enjoy the beach, but at $32 (had I used my credit card they would have charged me $41) for mofongo, two Cokes, and some chicken wings it was pretty basic. Those are Los Angeles prices!

Imagine if we had taken his offer to go to the rum and chocolate factories? $$$ To put this into perspective, I spent less money on a day trip to Giverny from Paris, which included lunch, a ticket to Monet's Gardens, AND the shuttle. 

Are you a staunch solo traveler who loves to create their own adventures? This could be a hit or miss. With that said, it was hard for me to rewire my brain. From allowing someone to book the trip to sharing a space, having a set meal time and having limited options, it was a bit overwhelming for someone who is like the wind. My tolerance for inefficiency, bad food, and overpriced anything is nonexistent. Being stuck on a ship with not enough to do killed the travel vibe almost completely. I'm too much of an adventurer to ever want to travel like this again. Seriously, if any of my friends and family members are reading this:

Understand that my travel style is different than yours. I travel to LEARN about the world. My souvenirs are the experiences and memories I create along the way. Imposing any limits on me will not work in your favor.

Which brings me to my final point: Sustainability and eco-tourism.

I'm always looking for ways to reduce my carbon footprint, at home and while traveling. I don't want my vacation to do more harm than good. Cruise ships pollute our beautiful blue orb. Do your research. Here, I'll give you a head start.

Cruise Ship Report Card by Friends of the Earth

  Glimmers of Hope: When Good Times Happen

I must admit I did enjoy one thing: the people. Don't get me wrong, we came across a group of folks who wanted to drive their political beliefs through our heads, even so, they were only one interaction out of many. For the most part, you will meet people from all walks of life. As an aspiring polyglot, speaking to the crew members was probably what salvaged the trip.  I met people from Croatia, Ukraine, Philippines, St. Lucia, Thailand, Indonesia, Greece, India, and the list goes on. When time permitted, I would ask them to teach me simple phrases like 'Hello' and 'Thank you'. Their eyes would light up and soon enough we were on a first name basis. I started to learn things about culture and to an extent their backstory.  It doesn't end with the crew, however. Sometimes sitting next to a group of people sparks up a conversation.

"Wow, that looks delicious. What are you having?"

On the last day at sea, we met some colorful characters at the laundry room. I still remember that delicious ill-gotten pineapple rum. At the Alchemy Bar, Nikola prepared a mean old-fashioned which he lit up Flaming Moe Style. He wasn't as chatty because he was busy, but his facial expressions were gold. One night after dinner we walked into a Motown 'name that tune' contest. We sung our little asses off! Our next door neighbor was a sassy woman of Cuban and Dominican descent. Her laugh was contagious. 

Whew! That was exhausting! Looks like I'll be planning another getaway soon. It isn't a good sign, when you need a vacation from your vacation. I do miss that 24 hour soft serve machine though.

PIN ME!