#because every. single. time I see it mentioned my first thought is mayonnaise

[reasonsforhope]

When Swiss cardiologist Thomas F. Lüscher attended an international symposium in Turin, Italy, last summer, he encountered an unusual “attendee:” Suzanne, Chat GPT’s medical “assistant.” Suzanne’s developers were eager to demonstrate to the specialists how well their medical chatbot worked, and they asked the cardiologists to test her. 

An Italian cardiology professor told the chatbot about the case of a 27-year-old patient who was taken to his clinic in unstable condition. The patient had a massive fever and drastically increased inflammation markers. Without hesitation, Suzanne diagnosed adult-onset Still’s disease. “I almost fell off my chair because she was right,” Lüscher remembers. “This is a very rare autoinflammatory disease that even seasoned cardiologists don’t always consider.”

Lüscher — director of research, education and development and consultant cardiologist at the Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospital Trust and Imperial College London and director of the Center for Molecular Cardiology at the University of Zürich, Switzerland — is convinced that artificial intelligence is making cardiovascular medicine more accurate and effective. “AI is not only the future, but it is already here,” he says. “AI and machine learning are particularly accurate in image analysis, and imaging plays an outsize role in cardiology. AI is able to see what we don’t see. That’s impressive.” 

At the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, for instance, his team relies on AI to calculate the volume of heart chambers in MRIs, an indication of heart health. “If you calculate this manually, you need about half an hour,” Lüscher says. “AI does it in a second.” 

AI-Assisted Medicine

Few patients are aware of how significantly AI is already determining their health care. The Washington Post tracks the start of the boom of artificial intelligence in health care to 2018. That’s when the Food and Drug Administration approved the IDx-DR, the first independent AI-based diagnostic tool, which is used to screen for diabetic retinopathy. Today, according to the Post, the FDA has approved nearly 700 artificial intelligence and machine learning-enabled medical devices.

The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is considered the worldwide leader in implementing AI for cardiovascular care, not least because it can train its algorithms with the (anonymized) data of more than seven million electrocardiograms (ECG). “Every time a patient undergoes an ECG, various algorithms that are based on AI show us on the screen which diagnoses to consider and which further tests are recommended,” says Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, director of the Mayo Clinic’s Cardiovascular Health Clinic. “The AI takes into account all the factors known about the patient, whether his potassium is high, etc. For example, we have an AI-based program that calculates the biological age of a person. If the person in front of me is [calculated to have a biological age] 10 years older than his birth age, I can probe further. Are there stressors that burden him?”

Examples where AI makes a sizable difference at the Mayo Clinic include screening ECGs to detect specific heart diseases, such as ventricular dysfunction or atrial fibrillation, earlier and more reliably than the human eye. These conditions are best treated early, but without AI, the symptoms are largely invisible in ECGs until later, when they have already progressed further...

Antioniades’ team at the University of Oxford’s Radcliffe Department of Medicine analyzed data from over 250,000 patients who underwent cardiac CT scans in eight British hospitals. “Eighty-two percent of the patients who presented with chest pain had CT scans that came back as completely normal and were sent home because doctors saw no indication for a heart disease,” Antioniades says. “Yet two-thirds of them had an increased risk to suffer a heart attack within the next 10 years.” In a world-first pilot, his team developed an AI tool that detects inflammatory changes in the fatty tissues surrounding the arteries. These changes are not visible to the human eye. But after training on thousands of CT scans, AI learned to detect them and predict the risk of heart attacks. “We had a phase where specialists read the scans and we compared their diagnosis with the AI’s,” Antioniades explains. “AI was always right.” These results led to doctors changing the treatment plans for hundreds of patients. “The key is that we can treat the inflammatory changes early and prevent heart attacks,” according to Antioniades. 

The British National Health Service (NHS) has approved the AI tool, and it is now used in five public hospitals. “We hope that it will soon be used everywhere because it can help prevent thousands of heart attacks every year,” Antioniades says. A startup at Oxford University offers a service that enables other clinics to send their CT scans in for analysis with Oxford’s AI tool.

Similarly, physician-scientists at the Smidt Heart Institute and the Division of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles use AI to analyze echograms. They created an algorithm that can effectively identify and distinguish between two life-threatening heart conditions that are easy to overlook: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and cardiac amyloidosis. “These two heart conditions are challenging for even expert cardiologists to accurately identify, and so patients often go on for years to decades before receiving a correct diagnosis,” David Ouyang, cardiologist at the Smidt Heart Institute, said in a press release. “This is a machine-beats-man situation. AI makes the sonographer work faster and more efficiently, and it doesn’t change the patient experience. It’s a triple win.”

Current Issues with AI Medicine

However, using artificial intelligence in clinical settings has disadvantages, too. “Suzanne has no empathy,” Lüscher says about his experience with Chat GPT. “Her responses have to be verified by a doctor. She even says that after every diagnosis, and has to, for legal reasons.”

Also, an algorithm is only as accurate as the information with which it was trained. Lüscher and his team cured an AI tool of a massive deficit: Women’s risk for heart attacks wasn’t reliably evaluated because the AI had mainly been fed with data from male patients. “For women, heart attacks are more often fatal than for men,” Lüscher says. “Women also usually come to the clinic later. All these factors have implications.” Therefore, his team developed a more realistic AI prognosis that improves the treatment of female patients. “We adapted it with machine learning and it now works for women and men,” Lüscher explains. “You have to make sure the cohorts are large enough and have been evaluated independently so that the algorithms work for different groups of patients and in different countries.” His team made the improved algorithm available online so other hospitals can use it too...

[Lopez-Jimenez at the Mayo Clinic] tells his colleagues and patients that the reliability of AI tools currently lies at 75 to 93 percent, depending on the specific diagnosis. “Compare that with a mammogram that detects breast tumors with an accuracy of 85 percent,” Lopez-Jimenez says. “But because it’s AI, people expect 100 percent. That simply does not exist in medicine.”

And of course, another challenge is that few people have the resources and good fortune to become patients at the world’s most renowned clinics with state-of-the-art technology.

What Comes Next

“One of my main goals is to make this technology available to millions,” Lopez-Jimenez says. He mentions that Mayo is trying out high-tech stethoscopes to interpret heart signals with AI. “The idea is that a doctor in the Global South can use it to diagnose cardiac insufficiency,” Lopez-Jimenez explains. “It is already being tested in Nigeria, the country with the highest rate of genetic cardiac insufficiency in Africa. The results are impressively accurate.” 

The Mayo Clinic is also working with doctors in Brazil to diagnose Chagas disease with the help of AI reliably and early. “New technology is always more expensive at the beginning,” Lopez-Jimenez cautions, “but in a few years, AI will be everywhere and it will make diagnostics cheaper and more accurate.”

And the Children’s National Hospital in Washington developed a portable AI device that is currently being tested to screen children in Uganda for rheumatic heart disease, which kills about 400,000 people a year worldwide. The new tool reportedly has an accuracy of 90 percent. 

Both Lopez-Jimenez and Lüscher are confident that AI tools will continue to improve. “One advantage is that a computer can analyze images at 6 a.m. just as systematically as after midnight,” Lüscher points out. “A computer doesn’t get tired or have a bad day, whereas sometimes radiologists overlook significant symptoms. AI learns something and never forgets it.”

-via Reasons to Be Cheerful, March 1, 2024. Headers added by me.

--

Note:

Okay, so I'm definitely not saying that everything with AI medicine will go right, and there won't be any major issues. That's definitely not the case (the article talks about some of those issues). But regulation around medicines is generally pretty tight, and

And if it goes right, this could be HUGE for disabled people, chronically ill people, and people with any of the unfortunately many marginalizations that make doctors less likely to listen.

This could shave years off of the time it takes people to get the right diagnosis. It could get answers for so many people struggling with unknown diseases and chronic illness. If we compensate correctly, it could significantly reduce the role of bias in medicine. It could also make testing so much faster.

(There's a bunch of other articles about all of the ways that AI diagnoses are proving more sensitive and more accurate than doctors. This really is the sort of thing that AI is actually good at - data evaluation and science, not art and writing.)

This decade really is, for many different reasons, the beginning of the next revolution in medicine. Luckily, medicine is mostly pretty well-regulated - and of course that means very long testing phases. I think we'll begin to really see the fruits of this revolution in the next 10 to 15 years.

[deanstead]

For You

Pairing: Jay Halstead x Reader

Requested by anon: could you do one where reader is not interested in jay cause she thinks he's one who has a new girl every night but he’s constantly trying? She’ll slowly fell for him too? maybe with a little smut if you write?

Warnings: none, a lil fluff!

A/N: First one for 2021~ Happy New Year! This became a little longer and it feels a bit segmented because of the nature of the request, so I hope this turned out okay! Sorry, I’m not writing smut/NSFW currently so I replaced it with a lil fluff instead, hope that is okay! Enjoy, and feel free to send in more requests! 

---

Jay pushed the beer towards you as he slid into the seat opposite you, a small smile gracing his lips. “Y/N, how about it?”

You looked up at him, internally rolling your eyes. “I told you, Jay, no.”

Jay didn’t seem like he was giving up easily though. “It’s just a dinner, come on.”

Your eyes studied the man sitting across from you at a table in Molly’s. “Jay, you’re asking me on a date.”

“And what’s wrong with that?” Jay asked, a hint of mischievousness hidden in the tone of his voice that was almost drowned out by the noise in Molly’s.

You shook your head, although you were still smiling. “I told you, Jay, I’m not going on a date with you.”

Jay remained silent, watching you, as if waiting for you to say more.

“I’m not going to be another one of your conquests.”

The words bounced between you and Jay and for a moment and you could have sworn you saw his face fall for just an instant. “Y/N.”

You shook your head and smiled. “No, Jay. We can hang out here, but there is no way I’m going on a date with you. I’ll see you around, okay?” You pushed off your chair, waving at him as you went to re-join your friends at the next table.

Jay watched you for a little while more, as you leaned on the table, laughing at something, the dim light of Molly’s bouncing off your hair.

“You’re not a conquest.” Jay muttered to himself, before he got up and went back to the bar to join his brother.

---

In a way, you were glad that Jay had seemed to revert back to his old self... mostly. You felt you were seeing him more and more often these days but he hadn’t tried to bring up the topic of a date again.

You treasured him as a friend and really didn’t want that to change. Jay was sweet and looked out for you, but you’d be damned if you let him treat you like another one of those girls he flirted with and probably slept with every other night.

No way in hell.

So you never let it get too far, you drew a line between yourself and Jay and made sure you guys stayed as friends, not just for him but for yourself too. You might as well have a sign flashing at him that read “Not Interested”.

Yet, you allowed yourself to be dragged out here, you mused, as you looked up at Will and Natalie. Stupid Natalie.

You couldn’t believe you had let her talk you into coming for dinner with her and Will… and Jay. This smelled suspiciously like a scheme of a double date but you swallowed back a sassy comment.

“We’ll take two steaks, both medium.” You were snapped out of your thoughts by Will talking to the waiter.

Jay looked at you and you leaned over quietly to point out your order to him – a double cheeseburger.

The waiter turned to Jay as he finished taking down Will’s order. “I’ll have the beef burger. She’ll have the double cheeseburger, can you make sure there are no tomatoes in there.” Your head snapped up, surprised Jay had remembered.

“And there’s no other sauce in there, is there?” Jay asked, not noticing your reaction at all.

The waiter nodded. “Just the barbeque sauce, sir.”

Jay nodded back at him, as he handed the menu back. “That’s fine. Make sure there’s no mayonnaise on the plate, and can we have the salad dressing separate as well, thanks.”

The waiter nodded, jotting down the orders, while you continued to stare at Jay.

“What?” Jay asked, finally feeling your gaze on him.

You raised an eyebrow. “You remembered?”

Jay just smiled back without saying anything as Will smirked across the table.

You had mentioned it just once – tomatoes were a no-go and mayonnaise even more so. You hadn’t even mentioned the salad dressing, you had just wrinkled your nose at how your fries were all soaked in it.

Jay was indeed something.

---

“Heya.” Natalie slid into the bar stool next to you. “Sorry I’m late, I got held up today.”

You smiled back at your friend, taking the last swig from your beer and flashing a smile at Herrmann to ask for another.

As Herrmann pushed the new pint of beer towards you, Natalie cleared her throat. “So…”

You inwardly groaned. You should have known this was coming.

“You’re really not going to give Jay a chance?” she asked, angling her body towards me.

“Nat, come on!” You whined. “Is this why you wanted to meet me?”

Natalie chuckled. “Well, about 50%...”

You shook your head. “No, I’ll tell you the same thing I told him weeks ago. I’m not going to be another one of his conquests.” Natalie tried to argue but you continued. “How awkward is that going to be? I mean, look, he’s not some random guy I met in a bar, he’s my friend and I’m not going to… no way am I going to be another one of those girls.”

As you finished your sentence, you nodded your head further down the bar, where Jay sat. Natalie looked up just as a girl slid towards Jay. Even from this distance, you could see her batting her fake eyelashes at him and a small laugh escaped your lips.

“No way.” You repeated, enunciating each word pointedly.

Natalie didn’t say anything but instead tapped your arm. “Wait, just watch.” It was almost as if she knew what was coming, and was just waiting for it.

You and Natalie watched as the girl twirled her finger in her hair, moving closer to Jay. “Why are we watching Jay like this, Nat?”

“Because.” Nat replied, without turning. “You’ll see.”

Jay smiled at the girl and slid off his seat. “I could have told you that would happen.” You commented before Natalie cleared her throat again.

You looked back up, your eyes widening slightly in surprise as you watched Jay nod politely to the girl before heading further into Molly’s, leaving the girl with a disappointed look on her face. Natalie turned back, smirking at me.

“I swear, Jay’s trying. That’s probably the tenth girl he’s let down since.”

You cocked an eyebrow at her as you saw Jay’s eyes fall on both of you.

“Hey ladies, didn’t see you here.” Jay smiled, his eyes lingering on you a little longer. You cleared your throat and turned back to the bar as Jay slid into the seat next to you.

“Not your cup of tea?” You asked, smirking at him. Jay laughed and shot back, “You would know.”

You rolled your eyes as Natalie put a hand on your arm. “I’ll be back in a while.”

“Wait, Nat…” You tried to stop her but she was already gone.

You turned back to Jay who was still smiling. “So… do I get points for trying?”

“Yeah, nice try.” You responded as he laughed.

“I’ll get out of your hair, but this isn’t over.” Jay warned mockingly, pointing at you, his green eyes twinkling.

“Bye Jay.” You sang, as he floated off to his colleagues.

Your thoughts wandered back to the scene you had witnessed while you were waiting for Natalie to come back. That was new, seeing Jay blow off a girl that he would usually disappear out of the bar with. You couldn’t help but admit to yourself that he seemed to be changing. Or at least, trying to.

You shook your head, hoping the thoughts would be shaken out as well.

Jay looked back at you as he stood next to Kevin, smiling slightly at the way you were shaking your head. The faint sounds of his team’s conversation around him. He sure as hell wasn’t going to give up without a fight.

He might have the occasional fling here and there, but contrary to what everyone thought, he didn’t fall into bed with every single girl that flirted with him. Some nights, he merely walked them out to get a cab. But if he needed to prove to you that he was done with flings, and that he was serious about you, then that was what he was going to do.

---

You inwardly groaned as you trailed behind your colleagues. Being the only female engineer in your company sounded great but was definitely not. You could handle the regular snide comments and sexist jokes, but you hated the ‘team drinks’.

They could only be called that if your colleagues actually behaved like a team. They just used this opportunity to get drinks, force you to have more drinks than necessary and have their hands linger on you for longer than was comfortable. It never got too far but that didn’t mean it was okay.

You sighed as they pushed open the door to Molly’s and led the way in. It hadn’t even been a good day, you were tired and cranky, and you just wanted the day to end.

You spotted Jay as you followed them in. He smiled and waved but you made a face and rolled your eyes at them, which caused him to cast a concerned glance at the group before you nodded at him, turning to reluctantly follow them to an empty table.

Before long, the table was full of drinks. Ben the sleaze had brushed his hand against your thigh at least three times and you weren’t even halfway through your first beer.

As your colleagues started to get more alcohol through their system, the comments began. You tried to tune them out, staring at a spot on the wall before turning to watch Herrmann and Stella behind the bar.

“Hey Y/N, how about another drink for you? Something stronger?”

You smiled and shook your head. “No thanks.”

“See, with women, they don’t always mean it when they say no.” One of the guys at the other side of the table slurred.

You swallowed down the rise of anger from your gut and ignored the comment instead. They were rowdier than usual, though, so although they usually moved on quickly, they didn’t this time.

“Come on Y/N, we know you don’t really mean it. Just one more drink.”

You shook your head again, more firmly this time. “Guys, I really don’t feel up to it tonight, alright? I’ll pass.”

That only seemed to make them more determined to get that drink in your hand.

They pushed a fresh glass of beer into your hand. You could feel someone’s hand on your shoulder and someone else was pushing your hand upwards, as if they felt you needed help guiding the glass to your lips.

“Hey, that’s enough.”

Jay.

You weren’t really feeling threatened or scared but you still felt a flood of relief when you heard his voice.

“I could hear her say no two tables away, you guys deaf?” Jay asked.

Your colleagues looked at each other. “Hey, we’re just having some fun.”

“Fun is when all parties enjoy it. You disrespect anyone else while you’re here, we’ll have something to talk about buddy, you hear me?”

Jay turned to you. “Come on, you’re done here.” Authoritatively, he grabbed your wrist, tugging you out from your seat. You didn’t complain but followed him as he led you out of Molly’s.

“Thanks Jay.” You said, as the outside air hit the both of you in the faces.

Jay turned back to you, cracking a smile. “And here I thought you might chew me out for that.”

You raised an eyebrow. “For helping me?”

Jay laughed, “For interfering, because…” he paused and put both his fingers up in the air in quotation marks. “You’re a strong independent woman.”

You laughed along with him. “There’s a fine line between helping and interfering. And you get full marks tonight for the differentiation.”

Jay smiled back, chuckling. “You okay?”

You nodded, “Yeah, I’m fine. They’re a little rowdier than usual tonight but I’m kind of used to that.”

“You should never have to get used to that.” Jay half snarled, throwing a dirty glance back at Molly’s front door.

You chuckled as Jay turned his attention back to you. “Come on, I’ll walk you home.”

The short walk back to your apartment was mostly silent, but a comfortable one. You stole a glance at Jay. You didn’t really want to admit it but you definitely felt a little flutter when he had stood up for you today in Molly’s and if you were being totally honest with yourself, it wasn’t the first time you had felt it.

“Thanks Jay.” You said again, as you reached your apartment.

Jay smiled back at you. “You sure you’re okay?” You could feel Jay’s eyes hovering over you even if you weren’t looking at him.

You nodded and then shrugged. “Just a bad day, I guess.” Jay’s eyes softened.

“I’ve got a listening ear if you need one. Anytime, okay?”

You smiled, “Thanks for being a knight tonight. And you didn’t even flirt.”

Jay chuckled, “Do I get extra marks for that?”

You wiggled your eyebrows back at him. “We’ll see.”

---

It had been a few months since that night that Jay had tried asking you on a date and absolutely nothing had gone according to your plan. You had been so sure you wouldn’t fall for him, so sure that you would stand your ground to just be friends.

But Jay had ruined it all bit by bit.

It was obvious to everyone the changes Jay had undergone the last few months. And honestly, no one would shut up about it either. Which was anything but helpful.

Natalie was talking about something and you were only half listening as you watched the door, noting with mild concern the little tug of disappointment you felt every time the door opened and it wasn’t Jay who walked in.

“Nat.” you interrupted her.

Natalie looked up at you. You took a deep breath, “I should just dive in, right?”

A look of confusion crossed her face for a brief moment before she broke into a smile.

“How long have you been thinking about this?” she asked.

You shook your head. “Too long for comfort.”

Natalie gave you a pointed look. “What are you still doing here then?”

You grabbed your bag, making a beeline for the door. As you crossed the threshold of Molly’s and stepped out onto the street, you came face to face with Jay.

“Leaving already?” he asked, a small look of disappointment crossing his face. If you hadn’t been watching him, you might have missed it altogether.

You hesitated but took a deep breath. “Actually, I was on my way to you.”

Jay smiled but looked intrigued.

“You ever going to ask me out on a date again?” The words tumbled past your lips as you unconsciously clenched your hands in your pocket. Maybe it was a good thing you had had some alcohol before talking to Jay.

You could literally see Jay’s eyes light up, his smile broadening.

“Seriously?”

You smiled. “Unless you decided you don’t want to…”

Jay didn’t let you finish your sentence as he stepped closer to you, one arm snaking around your waist and the other hand cupping your face, his thumb caressing the side of your face gently. “Not a chance.” He whispered, as he leaned forward and his lips found yours.

It was everything you had imagined and more, you could almost feel your knees buckling but Jay just pulled you in closer.

The both of you pulled away and you looked straight back into his green eyes. “Don’t make me regret this.” You whispered.

Jay chuckled, “Oh, never.” He smiled, his hand still resting on your back, his bright green eyes twinkling back at you.

[katehuntington]

Title: In Bad Waters - part eight Word count: ±2900 words Episode summary: Still in possession of the Winchesters’ belongings, Zoë meets up with the hunters on her next case. When it turns out to be a little more complicated than anticipated, she accepts their help in order to make an important deadline. Part eight summary: Zoë might have accepted the boys help, that doesn’t mean they get along. If the hostility between them isn’t enough, Sam and Dean have some unresolved issues of their own. Episode warnings: Dark! NSFW, 18+ only! Descriptions of domestic violence/child abuse. Drug use/addiction. Angst, gore, violence, character death. Description of blood, injury and medical procedures/resuscitation. Swearing, alcoholism. Supernatural creatures/entities, mentions of demon possession. Descriptions of torture and murder, drowning. Illegal/criminal practices. Mentions of nightmares and flashbacks. Author’s note: Beta’d by @winchest09​​​​​ and @deanwanddamons​​​​​. Thanks, girls! Gif isn’t mine. If you are the creator or know who made it, please tell me so I can credit you.

Supernatural: The Sullivan Series Masterlist

S1E02 “In Bad Waters” Masterlist

     A little less than an hour later, Sam, Dean and Zoë are sharing a table in In-N-Out. All three scheduled in some time to trade their business suits for their everyday clothes. The boys are comfortable in plaid shirts, worn jeans, and dusty old shoes, while Zoë looks like a totally different person now that she left her black pumps, blazer and dress pants in her hotel room. She’s wearing her hair down, her blown locks playfully curled up after last night’s shower. Her grey shirt has the famous Pink Floyd logo on it; a ray entering a triangle and breaks off into a rainbow when it exits. The brand new biker jacket hangs over the back of the bench while she plays with the loose tie of her All Stars shoe, wiggling her foot rhythmically. 

     U2’s Beautiful Day is playing in the background. It fits, considering the clear blue sky and warm sun outside. Satisfied, Dean and Zoë devour their burgers while Sam has settled for a milkshake, since they don’t have salads at this restaurant. Stunned and a little disgusted, he watches how Zoë intends to break the world record, tailed by Dean. The younger Winchester stares at them both, as the huntress swallows the last bite of the massive Animal Burger and starts on an additional cheeseburger she ordered. Apparently, Zoë doesn’t feel the need to hold back, despite having company, but then again, she wouldn’t change her demeanor for anyone.

     Dean doesn’t even notice her manners as he shares her appetite. He’s more annoyed that she finished her burger before he did. He looks up for a moment as she licks the sauce from her fingers after finishing, then continues eating even faster than he did a moment ago.

     “Dude! Seriously, a food race?” Sam chuckles.      “Wholth?” Dean says with his mouth full.      He swallows his bite, which apparently was a little bigger than he anticipated. He coughs and hits his chest with his fist, Zoë can’t help to laugh when she sees tears appear in his eyes.      “What are you? Fuckin’ five years old?” she grins.      “I wasn’t racing you,” he mutters hoarse.      “Oh, you so were.” She sniggers, dipping one of Dean’s fries in mayonnaise. “Are you gonna eat that?”      Obviously enjoying herself, she waits for his reaction. He watches her move the fry to her mouth with a look of shock and repugnance on his features. How dare she?      Zoë chews on the snack provokingly. as expected he goes for the counter attack.      “Don’t touch my fucking food,” he warns, pulling his portion of fries to his side of the table, clearly annoyed with his colleague stealing. “And I wasn’t racing you, ‘cause if I did, you would be many burger lengths behind, woman.”      “That’s what’s bugging you the most, isn’t it? Dean Winchester just got defeated by a girl,” she nags.      “I can take you with ease,” he claims, confidently.      She laughs in return.“You wouldn’t stand a chance.”      “Wanna bet?”      “Knock it off, you two.” Sam breaks it up and looks from one to the other. “Now, could we concentrate on the case? We all got better things to do.”      “I have better things to do. You on the other hand just have an unhealthy obsession with helping me,” she corrects, as she drinks from her milkshake through the straw.      “Whatever,” Sam counters with a huff. “Let’s focus here. We’re dealing with a frustrated child spirit most likely on a killing spree.”      “Yeah, but how the hell is she still here? I already burned her bones,” Zoë brings to mind.      “She must be connected to some kind of object then, are you sure you burned everything?” Dean checks.

     Zoë slightly tilts her head and glares at him with an attitude. Is he fucking kidding?      “We’re sure, I was there with her,” Sam confirms, jumping in before the huntress can snap at his brother.      “Nothing more romantic than a night at the graveyard,” Dean comments with a little grin, earning a death stare from Sam, and so he continues seriously. “We need to figure out what’s keeping her here before she goes all Mike Tyson again.”      “She probably targets the people who are directly or indirectly responsible for her death. I don’t think she’ll rest until she kills every single one of them unless we do something about it,” Zoë speaks up.      “So, who could be her next target?” Sam wonders.      “It could be anyone, but the biggest candidates for a one way ticket to the land of the dead are probably Mrs. Shire and her son, maybe even Mrs. Dawlson,” Zoë realizes.      “Who?” Sam and Dean question at the same time.      “Her teacher at Elementary School. She knew about the abuse,” she informs, sipping her shake.

     Dean seems confused. After all, he knows Zoë only arrived here last night. “How do you even know that?”      “Because I had a fucking chat with her, asshat,” she claims, snappy.      Dean bites his tongue and shakes his head slightly, letting a silent sigh slip from his lips. This woman is unbelievable. If it wasn’t for Sammy being so dead set on helping the bitch, he would get the hell out of dodge.      Ignoring her comment, he picks up a few fries and stuffs his mouth full, not noticing the exchange of looks between Zoë and Sam. As soon as the youngest Winchester makes eye contact, he knows she didn’t talk to Mrs. Dawlson; she saw something in one of her flashbacks.      “There could be a dozen more possible victims we don’t know about,” Sam states, quickly filling the void before it becomes noticeable.      “True, but to figure out who might be next, we need to find more info on what happened to Laura,” she declares.      “We already know what happened to her. Her dad abused her till death followed, nothing to add to that,” Sam says.      “No, I mean after that.”      Zoë leans forward, snitching another fry from the hunter across from her, who snaps his head up to her, staring her down and wondering where she got the nerve to steal his food twice.      “Don’t you think it’s a little strange that no one found out about this murder yet? Because that what it was; murder. Her father killed her. Child services should have been all over this, especially with another minor in the household. Laura was buried without a conviction, while she obviously did not die of natural causes,” the smart woman brings to mind. “Why is that?”      “I mean, the system is flawed. Maybe they missed it?” Sam suggests.      “No, I don’t believe that. She must have been a mess, considering what her victims look like,” she ponders.      Both boys nod as a sign of agreement; she has a point. Dean rubs his chin as he thinks. Then his facial expression changes, the metaphorical light bulb switching on in his brain. He glances up at the woman opposite of him, who watches him questioning.

     “Dr. Hughes”, he says out of the blue.      “I know that name,” Zoë realizes, trying to remember where she has heard it before.      “It’s the doc from the morgue that we talked to,” he fills in. “He did the slicing on Shire’s dead body and also mentioned Ronald was a friend of his. I thought he responded weird when Sam mentioned the Hobbit dude.”      “Is the Methodist Medical Center the only dead men’s storage in town?” Zoë asks the whizkid on Dean’s right.      “Not sure. Let me check.” Sam takes out his laptop and sets it up on the table. As he works the computer, Zoë continues their brainstorming session.

     “One way or the other, we need to get our hands on Laura’s death report and we need to figure out who wrote it. I’m guessing someone covered for Shire,” she speaks up.      “How is that even possible these days, with all the paperwork and the forensics?” Sam rubs his temple, taking in Zoë for a second, but then returns his gaze to the laptop screen in front of him.      “You think we’re the only ones who lie and deceive?” Zoë returns, smartly. 

     “We need to talk to more people. Someone who was there and experienced the abuse first hand and might know more about the cover-up. The Shire dude’s wife maybe?” Dean suggests.      “We can’t turn up on her doorstep and confront her. If she doesn’t know her husband possibly erased evidence, it’s just gonna bring a shit ton of drama and a hell of alot explaining to do when she starts asking questions,” Zoë makes clear.

     She forks her fingers through her hair and checks her phone for the time; shit. It’s almost 1 PM. Frustrated about the many blank pages of this case, she sighs, pulling at the corner of her bottom lip with her teeth. There’s so much about this job that doesn’t add up.      “I don’t get how she could still be here. There was nothing left of her remains,” she sighs.      “There has to be an explanation for that,” Sam ponders, as he stares at the address on display. “Anyway, there are no other morgues in town besides the one at the hospital on W. Kingshighway.”   

     “I tell you what.” With a neat throw Zoë tosses her empty plastic cup into the garbage can across the aisle. “Sam, you keep an eye on the Shire family. Dean’s gonna have a chat with Dr. Hughes, see if you can get some info on the death report. I’m gonna tail the teacher for a while,” she decides.      Sam nods approvingly before his brother can object. He folds down the laptop screen and gets up. “Sounds good to me.”      “Make sure you keep your eyes open, that little pain in the ass manages to beat up grown ups without the people next door noticing,” Zoë warns as she picks up her helmet from the bench.      “You think this is our first rodeo?” Dean responds with a scoff.      “You didn’t see me coming the other night in Rochester,” she counters sassy.

     As she passes him she pets his shoulder, the one she put a bullet in only two nights ago. Dean flinches when a dim pain shoots through his arm again. That fucking b--      Before he can call her names, she exits the fast food restaurant, probably expecting the Winchesters to follow like obedient dogs. Stunned, he watches her walk over to her motorcycle, huffing in disbelief. First she doesn’t want their help, and now she’s giving out orders like she rules the fucking world. He didn’t think it could be possible, but his detest for her just grew to an all time high.

     “Mark my words, one of these days I’m gonna shoot her down,” he announces frustrated.      “Ahuh,” Sam responds, cynicism on his tongue as he puts the laptop in his backpack. “Just make sure you don’t pull a gun on her in public, will you?”      “Can’t make any promises.” His brother huffs. “Anyway, you can have the car if you drop me off at the hospital. Let’s get this over with so that we can put some distance between us and the Wicked Witch of the West.” 

     Sam’s lips form a constricted smile, luckily his brother doesn’t notice. He has to admit that he’s enjoying the fact that his big brother is being told what to do by a girl, while normally he only takes orders from one person and one person only; their dad. What he finds interesting, however, is that despite a few muttered objections, Dean actually follows through with it. 

     “And you know what’s the fun part about all this?” Sam nags as they exit In-N-Out.      “What?” Dean responds, annoyed, scanning the parking lot in order to spot Zoë’s Road King.      “You have to dress like a penguin again.” The younger Winchester grins as he opens the door to the passenger’s seat.

     His brother stares at him over the top of the car, realizing he’s going undercover as the FBI Agent Young once more.      “Ah, come on! Can’t we trade?” he asks desperately.      Sam laughs and sits down. “No way, dude.”      Dean does the same and closes the door, complaining. “Man, I hate suits.”      “You think I’m comfortable in one during these temperatures?” Sam returns.      “Sam, even if I’d be freezing my ass off, I will never be at ease in that ridiculous outfit,” Dean states while turning the ignition, allowing Gimme Three Steps by Lynyrd Skynyrd to play on the cassette deck.

     “I’m not trading places. I can work some stuff out while I’m guarding the house,” Sam explains, looking outside the window, squinting his eyes to protect them from the sun.      “What stuff?” Dean questions, making sure it’s not just some lame excuse.      Sam looks aside and hesitates for a moment, but then tells him anyway. “I want to call some friends of Dad,” he admits.

     He feels Dean’s piercing gaze, but doesn’t look up. It’s only a matter of seconds before Dean pops the first question.      “Why?” Dean asks sternly.      “Why?! I don’t know about you, Dean, but I wanna find him,” Sam returns defensive.      Dean grips the wheel a little tighter; as if he doesn’t want to find Dad. Seriously? “So do I, but I don’t think it’s wise to start calling random hunters to ask where he is, Sam.”      “I won’t call ‘random’ hunters. I’ll call a few old friends, and why the hell not?” his brother questions.      “Because Dad doesn’t want to be found,” the oldest of the two claims.      “How could you possibly know that, Dean?! Seriously, do you have some kind of telepathic connection with the guy or what?” Sam reacts.      “Hey, you’re the psychic one, not me,” Dean counters. “If Dad wants us involved in his hunt, he will contact us one way or the other. You know that.”      “No, I don’t! I haven’t heard a word from him since I left for Stanford. I don’t understand the blind faith you have in the man,” the younger brother argues.      “You were the one who fucking left, Sam. And let me tell you somethin’,” Dean pauses to enforce his words. “I trust him because he’s a damn good hunter.”      “He’s human! He makes mistakes just like anyone else, only this time you won’t be around to back him up. It’s not some monster that he’s hunting, this is the monster! The one that killed Mom, that killed Jess!” Sam adds up.      “You think I don’t realize that?” The car stops at a traffic light and Dean turns to him, his piercing green eyes judging his brother, the same way John so often has. “Of course I’d rather be backing him up right now, but he decided to do this alone and I accept that.”      “Why the hell, though? Just because he says so?” Sam huffs, shaking his head disappointed.      “Hell yes, because he says so!” his brother snaps. “He leads this mission, and we stick to the orders he gives us. It’s about fucking time you show him the respect he deserves.”      “He has to earn that first,” the younger Winchester responds.      “He earned that a long time ago. Every time he protected you, protected us. Everything that we were taught, all the skills that we’ve learned. You were so caught up in the illusion that school was gonna work out, that when he objected because he didn’t want you to be on your own, you cut all ties,” Dean barks at him as he accelerates faster than necessary. “Why the hell do you want to find him so bad if you hate his guts, huh?”      “I don’t hate his guts,” Sam says, his voice a lot less hostile than a moment ago.

     Dean takes his eyes off the road again and glances at the passenger, noticing the defeated expression on Sammy’s face. Annoyed with himself he looks ahead again, shutting his eyes for a second when a pang of guilt distinguishes the anger in a matter of seconds. He meant to give his little brother a reality check, but all he did was hurt him.      “Sam, I get you want answers. But calling his friends isn’t the way to do it. We just gotta be patient.”

     His brother's jaw clenches and he looks away, not denying nor confirming that Dean is right and that he himself will listen. It doesn’t matter anyway; there’s no way he can turn his brother’s mind around. And Dean claims Sam is the one who is like their old man? Just now he was sure to sit next to a younger version of Dad. 

     He can't agree with the reasoning behind Dean’s actions, though. His older brother dragged him out of school to find Dad and now that it’s coming down to that, he doesn’t want to go out on a search. Sam on the other hand, he has to find him. Not only does he have some unresolved issues with his father, John is also the only hunter who has been tracking the thing that ruined their lives. He is the key to finding answers. It’s all he can think of; hunting down the bastard that killed Mom and Jessica. 

     Without saying another word, Dean drives his Impala to their motel, convinced he made his point, even though he hurt his brother’s feelings to get the message across. But Sam isn’t going to let go, neither will he trade places with Dean on their jobs. During his hours of watching the Shire family, he’s gonna make those calls and he is going to find their father. Whether Dean likes it, or not.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate every single one of you, but if you do want to give me some extra love, you are free to like or reblog my work, shoot me a message or buy me coffee (Link to Kofi in bio at the top of the page).    

Read chapter nine here

[laylacooke]

Back To The Future || Mina & Layla

timing: during the weeks the carnival was in town  parties: @drowningisinevitable & @laylacooke summary: Mina and Layla decide to visit the Hall of Mirrors at the carnival. warnings: death mention, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, self harm, & animal cruelty [proceed with caution!]

Why Layla had wanted to go back to the carnival after the past three experiences was beyond her, but there was just something that continued to pull her in. Something about the mysteriousness of it all, and instead of making anyone else experience her own twisted curiosity, she opted to go alone yet again. However, this trip she would be avoiding Hanyo, the Merry-Go-Round, and the Mime Fun House, as it seemed time spent at the hellish carnival didn’t offer much in the way of fun. At least not on those last three goes, but there had to be at least one thing, and she was determined to find it.

Paying to get in, Layla stepped past the gate and began scanning the area. It was, once again, filled with many townsfolk both human and non-human as her nose alerted her to, but they all seemed to be having a good time, which was making it hard for her to register where not to go. Seeing someone walk by, she spoke up hoping for some advice of what to try, “I’ve been here three times already, but I always seem to choose the wrong thing. Any ideas on what could actually be fun around here?”

In hindsight, if Mina were to look back on it all, coming to the carnival was a terrible idea. She’d only barely made it through the gate before she was filled with the overwhelming desire to turn around and leave. For one, it was far too crowded. Several people bumped into her in a matter of seconds, causing her to call out a rapid, “Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!” as they walked away. Second, there were Fae around. She could feel them, though she didn’t know where or who. If there were Fae, then there were probably other supernatural creatures, peoples. She was trying to do better about thinking of them as people, not monsters. It was a work in progress. Still, she was reminded of her father, her promise, and the fact that she hadn’t brought any sort of weapon with her into the carnival. She should leave.

Instead, Mina walked further in. The smell of strange, fried foods filled her nose, causing her to wrinkle it a bit. Everywhere she looked, there were families with laughing children, friends playing games. People looked happy. Perhaps that was why she kept walking in; Mina wanted, just for a moment, to feel that joyous and free. She just walked for a bit, taking everything in, when she heard a voice. Mina turned to face a redheaded girl. She rubbed the back of her neck a bit, looking sheepish. “Ah, well, I’ve actually never been to a carnival before. I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”

The sounds surrounding her had made her ears perk. The first night she had gone, Layla was on edge. The noises of people screaming for various reasons and bb guns being fired at tin cans had left her nervous. It’s partly why Hanyo had been the only thing she had stuck around for. The next time she had Rio with her, but even then, it seemed as though chaos just couldn’t leave them alone, even on a Merry-Go-Round. And if the Mime Fun House, ironically with Nell, hadn’t been enough, she was back one last time to see if this carnival was as cursed as it had seemed from the beginning (aside from winning her beloved Catfish Monster plush, of course).

“Really? Well, I can tell you three places you don’t want to go.” She eyed every single one of them suspiciously, before looking back to the girl in front of her. “I thought I’d give this place one final try if you want a buddy. Otherwise, I’m thinking I might turn around and go home. Which is probably the smartest move to make.” Layla laughed, but a hint of nervousness was apparent in her voice.

Following the other girl’s eyes, Mina made note of the places she seemed to linger on. None of them seemed like her cup of tea, anyway. She hated the kind of motions that merry go rounds went through, mimes just reminded her of her doppelganger that had tried to kill her, and the people gathered around… was that a jar of mayonnaise? How strange. It was a bit too crowded for her taste, though. Instead, she gave the girl a smile. “I wouldn’t mind a friend to help at all. I’m afraid I’d get a bit lost on my own.” She was already incredibly turned around just from walking into the carnival. Knowing this town, as well as herself, she’d likely get herself lost and in trouble if she was left on her own. At least with another person around, she would have back up. And, Mina was learning, she always seemed to do better with other people around. Whether they were pulling her out of danger, or she was doing the same for them, it helped to have another person. “My name is Mina, by the way. It’s very nice to have a carnival buddy.”

Layla nodded in agreement, “You know, at this rate, I would be afraid to venture any farther into this place by myself as well.” She had been lucky the last few times she had come, if you wanted to call it that, but even having a stranger by her side was better than no one. However, when the girl mentioned her name, Layla’s eyes grew wide, “Mina...Like Broadway/West End loving Mina that has never listened to Lady Gaga?” A smile spread across her face, “It’s me. Layla. We’ve talked on the internet a few times!” White Crest really was a small town and knowing that she remotely knew her carnival buddy had eased some of the worry that was in her mind. At least if something bad happened the pair had already built somewhat of a trust between one another. “It really is a small world.”

“I don’t blame you”, Mina mused. “Are all carnivals like this? It seems… odd.” Maybe it was just her. Too many people always tended to break Mina out, scales forming on her arms under her sleeves. She was alright, now, though, especially when the other girl told her that she was Layla. Mina smiled brightly, pleased with her luck. “That would be me! And you’re Layla who loves Lady Gaga and wants to travel one day!” This was good. It couldn’t have turned out better, really. Layla seemed so nice online that she had to be similar in person. “It is a small world, a small town, really, but I think I’m quite thankful for it, this time around.” There were perks, she was realizing, to getting to know people. She was basking in the feeling of relief at being at the carnival with someone that wasn’t a total stranger when something caught the corner of her eye. Sunlight glinted off the sign for the hall of mirrors, drawing Mina in. She’d never really liked mirrors, not really, always picking apart her flaws, especially the more monstrous aspects of herself after a long swim, but… it could be fun? In any case, it certainly couldn’t be dangerous. “Would you like to try that out,” she asked Layla, motioning towards the entrance with the carnival worker waiting with a patient smile.

She thought for a moment, “Carnivals are a mixed bag, but nothing like this one. I mean there’s usually creepers at carnivals, but this place is just creepy.” She gave it a once over, before turning her attention back to Mina, “That is totes me! Oh, thank goodness you’re here, because honestly I was having second thoughts.” The minute Layla stepped through the gate, she had thought about turning around and leaving. Why did she keep doing this to herself? Why did any of these people, unless the residents of the town just liked pain. But humans who were unknowing about the supernatural had to have seen the world differently. She did when she was little, until she had found out about things that went bump in the night. She could remember the day her parents told her that werewolves and things were real. And it became solidified in her brain when she became one. “I think the fates were watching out for us this time.” She laughed nervously, until she noticed what Mina was suggesting. The Hall of Mirrors. While looking at herself in passing, unless she was getting ready, what would it hurt seeing herself in all different shapes. It could be fun, and she had needed a good laugh, “And okay, yeah. Let’s do it. Lead the way, Friend.” She had already had the crap scared out of her twice by moving animals and mimes. Call her skeptical, but she was going to approach this little adventure differently, instead of just diving in headfirst.

“It does suit the town, though,” Mina murmured. Of course, it made sense that things in White Crest wouldn’t be similar to things in the rest of the world. It could be such an awful place, she thought, remembering the mime version of herself that tried to kill her. But she’d also met a lot of nice people, Layla included, it seemed. So, Mina smiled at the redheaded girl and agreed. “I think you’re right. Fate seems to be kind today.” She decided to lead them into the Hall of Mirrors, avoiding the way the worker watched them all the way in. Truthfully, and she tried to always be truthful, Mina had never been in a hall of mirrors. She had no idea what to expect. But, as they stepped into the area, she startled a bit at seeing her reflection before she started laughing. Her body was stretched and twisted in ways that were silly to look at. Most of the mirrors were like that; silly in appearance, strange but amusing to look at. But when she looked in one… Mina had to peer in closer. The version of herself in the mirror was much younger, maybe eight, her hair pulled back tightly. There was an iron wound on her arm, both bloody and burning, and in her hands were claws. She was trying not to cry. Training exercise. She looked away, only to see herself a few years older, leading a glaistig woman into an alley while her father was lying in wait. “No,” Mina said quietly, eyes darting around wildly, as she realized the mirrors no longer seemed silly but sinister. She looked over to Layla, hoping the other girl wouldn’t notice the scenes playing on repeat.

“It really does.” With Mina leading the way, Layla followed her inside. Eyes narrowed at the worker watching them go in, the redhead couldn’t help, but turn back to get one last look at him, before they had entered. As she stepped into the deceiving room, she found a mirror that had made her look super tall and really skinny causing her to laugh, before moving to one that made her look short and round. So far things were going well. You mean there’s actually a normal carnival attraction to participate in around here? The thought settled in her mind, but before long, she had come across a mirror, except she wasn’t tall and skinny or short and squatty. She was a little older than she was now. Maybe late twenties, early thirties. There was a smile on her face as she held someone’s hand, but she couldn’t quite see who it was. Suddenly, running around behind her, Layla noticed a little boy. Out of reaction, she turned around to see if he was behind her, but when she realized he wasn’t, she looked back into the mirror. It wasn’t long, however, that the images in the mirror started to fade into something sinister. With nightfall lingering in the reflective glass, Layla noticed a full moon in the top corner, but it was the screams following it that caused her breath to hitch in her throat. And when the image shifted again, she noticed a woman...Frankie, maybe? Standing over a motionless animal with red fur. Layla. The unknown woman was sobbing; blood on her hands.

Tears coming to the teenager’s eyes, she gasped and stepped back. Was this her future?

Eyes shifting to Mina, she noticed the girl, too, had a shocked look on her face, but was it for some other reason? “Uh, maybe we should move onto the next room?” She quickly wiped the tears from her eyes hoping her new friend hadn’t noticed.

This was no longer fun. Mina was no longer enjoying the hall of mirrors, and all she wanted to do was get her and Layla out of there. The other girl was crying, clearly distressed by whatever was going on in the awful space, and Mina hated seeing other people upset. “Yeah, let’s, ah, let’s get out of here.” She led them away, only to encounter more mirrors. Lovely. Mina saw herself, years older, eyes bright and teeth sharp, looking at her in the window. A nix, not a girl. The nix winked, and the next thing Mina knew, she was drowning someone, their short, curly hair disappearing beneath the water. She looked away from the monster that she feared she would be, the creature she knew her mother and her kind and herself to be. Glancing at another mirror, she saw another, older Mina, this one with a knife in her hand, iron burns bubbling on her skin. A fae, one that seemed both impossibly old and you, trembled before the mirror version of herself. Mirror Mina raised the knife, and Mina snapped her eyes shut, unable to watch anymore. Scales broke out on her hands, nails extending into claws. She balled them into fists, skin breaking on her palms as she threw a solid punch at the mirror in front of her. It shattered. It didn’t stop the pounding in her ears, the tightness in her chest. She refused to let herself become that. Either of those things. She turned to Layla, a bit dizzy, realizing that she probably looked a bit crazed. Hopefully, her nose wasn’t bleeding. “See an exit?” she asked, her voice higher and a bit out of breath.

Following Mina to the next room, Layla wanted so badly to avoid the mirrors, but something caught the corner of her eye. Something she hadn’t seen in quite some time and left her heart racing. Moving forward to another mirror she saw the reflection again and quickly checked behind and around her, only to find an empty room aside from Mina. But the image, the person, was still there. In fact, when she finally looked at the mirror, she noticed two very familiar people staring back at her; her parents. By now Layla was on the verge of having a panic attack, and then her eyes went to a smaller version of herself. Her mother had a tight grip on her hand, one that felt like the bone was being crushed. The small child was screaming with tears fiercely rolling down her cheeks as she was pulled outside and into the backyard. “Kill it.” The words echoed in her mind as she refused and continued to cry, “I said kill it, Layla.” The words were firm and scary and as little Layla tried to pull away, she soon felt her mother pressing her down closer to the animal, “I swear to God, Layla Elizabeth, if you don’t do as you're told…”

Slowly, and with shaky hands, picking up a nearby knife laying near a cage that held a small rabbit, the redheaded child crawled forwards, but as she went to do as her mother was telling her, something deep inside stopped her. “Dammit, Child. Why are you so difficult?” Snatching the little girl up, she laid a firm hand on Layla’s cheek, before pushing her back to the ground. Taking the knife herself, Eliza opened the cage up and grabbed the rabbit. As both child Layla and the present version of herself watched in horror, a cry slipped from her lips leaving her sinking to the floor as suppressed memories seemed to come flooding back.

It was the shattering of glass and Mina’s voice that pulled Layla out of the place she was in. Wiping her eyes with her arm and remaining quiet, she got up off the floor. Through hazy hues, she scanned the room finally seeing an exit sign, and without saying much, began moving towards freedom, “This way.”

Claws retracting, webbing fading, scales nothing more than a few errant patches on the backs of her hands, Mina follows after Layla carefully, concern casting shadows over her features. The other girl seems even more shell shocked than Mina is, whatever she saw in her own mirrors just as if not worse than Mina’s visions. Mina reached out to touch Layla’s shoulder before she noticed her hands were covered blood and decided against it. Instead, she waited until they finally exited that hell of a hall of mirrors, her eyes blinking in the bright sunlight, before she turned to Layla. “Are you alright?” Layla didn’t look alright, and Mina was highly aware that it was a stupid question, but she had to ask it anyway because she certainly wasn’t alright, either. This furthered Mina’s dislike of mirrors, and it was likely that she’d managed to get herself cursed after breaking a magic one. What was the saying? Seven years of bad luck for breaking a mirror? Was it doubled if the mirror was a sinister creation designed to torment the minds of those that looked in it? Tripled? Quadrupled? At least other mirrors just showed her present flaws, not past or future ones. “This, ah, isn’t quite what I expected from a hall of mirrors.”

As the bright lights of the carnival overtook her sight, Layla found little relief in being outside. The visions of both the past and future had haunted her greatly. Mina’s question went through one ear and out the other, before she could fully process it, but when she finally did, she forced out a small lie not wanting to worry the girl next to her. But it was evident by the smell of blood coming from Mina’s hand, that her new friend wasn’t okay, “Uh, yeah. I’m fine. You might want to go get that looked at though.” She scanned the area for a first aid tent, before giving one last glance to the hall of mirrors, “I don’t know what kind of sick fucking joke that was, but whoever cursed those mirrors...let’s just say karma’s a bitch.” She forced back the anguish she was feeling as she spotted a tent with a cross on it, “Looks like medical is over there.” She pointed in the direction, “Do you want me to go with you?” Layla looked back to Mina waiting on an answer. 

“Medical?” Mina asked. Honestly, she hadn’t even been thinking about getting her hands treated. She’d planned on just wrapping them up until the next time she went swimming, which, most likely, would be after she left. But she was in public. “Ah, right, probably.” She willed the remainder of the scales to sink below her skin. She looked completely human, even if she wasn’t. “That was cruel and incredibly uncalled for, those mirrors.” She had no idea what the other girl might have seen, but it clearly affected her more than she was willing to say. Mina didn’t want to leave her alone. “You can come with me, if you’d like. And then perhaps we could grab some food here? The food can’t be bad, right?” 

The images from the mirrors had dredged up memories she thought she had repressed. The only thing holding her together was the fact that she was standing in front of Mina in a public place. Glancing around the carnival, Layla’s appetite and mood had gone out the door. Instead, she had just wanted to be home snuggled up with Indy. She looked back to the brunette and spoke, “I, uh…” She didn’t want to be rude, and she knew she hadn’t been the only one to experience whatever heartache the mirrors had revealed to Mina, “Sure.” With a soft, sad smile, she began walking further into the carnival. At least she wouldn’t be there alone and while the night had been horrific, so far, at least she had made a new friend. Nothing like bonding over traumatizing experiences brought on by cursed mirrors to get a friendship going, right?

[purplesurveys]

921

LOL was gone for a while to attempt doing that ridiculous 5000 survey myself again and I really thought I was going to breeze through it this time. 2 1/2 weeks and 2500 questions later, I need a fucking break. Need normal surveys plz.

What was the best thing to happen to you this week? Got to visit Gabie today! I brought Cooper as well so that she, her sisters, and their puppy Tofu could finally meet him. Fun day, but I am beat. The blackout yesterday also made me revisit painting, and that felt so good too.

Where do you put your keys when you get home? It always differs, idk why I never picked up a routine. Sometimes I set it on the dining table, other times on the decorative table in the living room, and other times I bring it up with me to my room.

Do you prefer hot coffee or iced coffee? I preferred hot (warm would be more accurate) for the longest time but once I went iced, I never wanted to go back. 

What's your phone background picture? I recently changed my lock screen to one of Audrey Hepburn. My home screen is still Hayley Williams.

If you could move to any country, what would it be? Anywhere with a clean and honest government sounds like heaven.

Have you ever seen a snake in the wild? No. Can’t say there’s a lot of them here in the city, and I’ve never seen any in my trip to provinces either.

What's your favourite movie from the 80s? Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

Do you have any posters, paintings or other artwork on your walls? I have at least one of each of these, yes.

What would your dream wedding be like? Huge. I’d want a long guest list, expansive food choices, and acts that can provide good music throughout the evening. I never really throw parties for myself, so I would want at least my own wedding to be big.

Would you ever take a trip to space if given the chance? Yesssssss.

How do you cope with anxiety? I'm lucky to have found different outlets, so that said I usually choose from taking surveys, watching a favorite channel on YouTube, turning to my dogs, going to social media to see dumb memes, or taking a nap altogether. Of course there’ll always be those days where none of these work out and I’ll have to just cry through the anxiety attacks until they’re over.

Are you expecting any phone calls or emails? I’m expecting an email from my college, yes. I’m currently applying for civil service eligibility and they’re asking for documents that only the college can provide, so I emailed them a couple of days ago asking for assistance, and that’s considering we’re still under a lockdown and most offices are still under skeleton staffing.

What's the weather like in your part of the world right now? LOVELY. I actually wear oversized sweaters to bed now and I even managed to wear a thick denim jacket out today. The rainy weather has settled beautifully, and I’m perfectly fine with 24ºC-28ºC everyday.

What was the last takeout food you ate? My mom bought me and my siblings a chicken sandwich and chicken nuggets each from McDonald’s last week.

Who makes you laugh the most? Definitely someone from my college barkada. I can’t decide whether it’s Aya, Kate, JM, or Jum; they’re all equally hilarious as fuck.

Do you know anyone with the same middle name as you? See these questions are always weird to me because my country has its own naming customs; it’s basically a mix of American and Spanish customs. We have two first names (where Westerners would understand their second ‘first’ name to be their middle name) and our actual legal middle name is our mother’s maiden surname (which I think doesn’t apply at all in the Western world). So to answer this I’ll go with our own customs and say that no, I don’t know of anyone who has the same middle name as me. It’s not a very common surname anyway.

What did you have done the last time you saw a dentist? Had a tooth removed. I don’t think it was a wisdom tooth; it was just a tooth at the back of my mouth that had been in pretty bad shape for years but was only discovered at that time.

What does a successful relationship look like to you? I believe the formula is different for every couple. Like I value constant communication and checkups, but others might not feel the need to be clingy or update their significant others all the time.

What do you like to put on your baked potato? Don’t really have these a lot, but I remember when my mom used to make baked potatoes with bacon and cheese and those were unbelievably good.

What field of science interests you the most? Biology. <3 I’m sure I would’ve taken up medicine if I only wasn’t so bad in the rest of the sciences.

What's the closest shop or restaurant to your house? There aren’t any nearby shops since I live in a gated community, but once you get out of the village’s main gate, the first thing to the left is a McDonald’s. To the right is a small complex with a hair salon, burger place, music school, and one of those boujee stores that sell hype clothing.

Do you have any family that live in another country? So many relatives. We’re Filipinos, man. We migrate everyfuckingwhere. As far as I know I have family living in the US, Canada, Vietnam, Japan, China, Australia, and New Zealand.

What colour is your couch? Gray.

Do you know how to care for plants and keep them alive? Not at all. Every single plant that I’ve been given as a gift or party giveaway has died on me.

What was the most memorable birthday you've had? 18th was awesome. Cruise trip, hotel stay with friends, Tiendesitas + noodle date with Gab. How I got away with three separate celebrations without my parents saying anything about it I’ll never know.

Would you rather go to the beach or the mountains? Beach. The area where I live is mountainous as it is; as someone who’s always lived and studied in the city, a trip to the beach in the province never gets old.

What do you do for work? I don’t have any yet but I’m waiting for openings for our national agency for either history, or culture and the arts. My plans have shifted recently and I’m now eyeing to work for either instead of rotting away while underpaid at a corporate agency.

Have you ever been to see the circus? No. I wouldn’t be interested either; they all just seem so harsh and unethical. 

Are there any words that you hate or make you cringe? Sure.

What is the best house you've ever lived in? The one we live in today has been the most comfortable; but I also hold a lot of nostalgia for my dad’s parents’ house in Tondo because of how raw Manila life was there. Life wasn’t pretty, but it did feel real.

What was the first CD you ever bought? The first CD I actively wanted my parents to buy for me was probably the High School Musical soundtrack, heheh.

Do you look in the mirror before you leave the house? Yeah, always. Wanna make sure my shirt is tucked in properly (if it is), or that my jeans aren’t cuffed funny or whatever else.

What's the most unusual thing you've ever eaten? I’ve mentioned this before but it was the Indian dessert gulab jamun. Really did not expect the flavor that came in when it hit my mouth.

Have you ever seen someone quit their job in a dramatic way? I’ve never had a legit job, but when Jeuel quit the org a couple of years ago because of ~irreconcilable differences~ between him and us officers in the executive board it did feel a tad bit dramatic and passive-aggressive.

What movie reminds you of your childhood? Shrek 2 or The Game Plan.

Do you know why your parents named you what they did? The singer named Robyn was really big then and they ended up being fans of the name.

Do you have any bills that need to be paid? None of my own. My parents usually pay the family bills immediately, so I don’t think we have any pending payments for now.

What do you like to dip your fries in? Mayonnaise.

Is your house clean or messy right now? It’s always clean as my mom is extremely tidy.

What was the last email you received? It’s one of the job-hunting websites I’ve signed up for, giving me job alerts for new openings in my chosen industries.

Do you know someone who speaks without a filter? Yeah and I know people who do it responsibly and those who just come off as tactless.

Are you in any social groups? We call our college group the Daydrinkers, since our friendship began when we started constantly hanging out at nearby bars at like 2 PM, during our breaks lol. I used to be in a barkada in high school but Angela and I broke apart from that since we couldn’t deal with Athenna’s toxicity anymore, though I still keep in touch with most of them, like Chelsea and Kaira. Since then Angela and I have formed our own group consisting mostly of Angela’s friends from architecture and Hans’ friends from Ateneo.

How many hours of sleep did you get last night? Sigh, around 4. I don’t know why it was so few, but it also means that I’m currently drowsy as all hell at 9:03 PM. I will most likely turn in for bed after this.

What's your favourite kind of museum? Those that cover history, so museums that have artifacts and fossils and shit.

Do you believe in alternate universes? I like the idea, and I love literature that explores the idea of alternate realities, multiple universes, pocket universes, etc. Whether or not I believe they exist...idk. I don’t think about it that much in literal terms. < Yeah pretty much. Gaby Dunn wrote an amazing piece on multiverses and that was what got me to find comfort in the idea.

Whose house did you last visit? I was at Gabie’s place this afternoon. We had burritos, talked about career prospects, and puppy-sat our babies.

What games do you play on your smart phone? I turn to 1010 when I’m bored or anxious. I have like 30 other games but I never touch them lol, but I do keep them should the time be right to whip them out.

Have you ever been to Los Angeles? I have not.

What was the first concert you ever went to? Paramore, February 2013. I was a late bloomer; kids my age started going to concerts at least three years before that.

Do you know anyone who is colourblind? I don’t think so.

What's your favourite season and why? The wet season, because it’s colder and I hate the heat during the dry season.

Are you the youngest, middle or eldest child in your family? I’m the eldest.

If you had to make something for a potluck, what would you make? I recently watched this phenomenal recipe for 48-hour chocolate chip cookies that looked absolutely bonkers when they were done baking. I’d for sure give those a try for dessert. If that fails I’d just buy the food so that what I bring is more guaranteed to be good.

What kinds of decorations do you put up at Halloween? My family has never cared much for Halloween. It’s not even a legit holiday, so as much as I love Halloween I don’t think I would spend for decorations myself to decorate my own place. The only instance I imagine doing so would be if I have kids of my own who may want to get into the Halloween ~spirit.

How many tabs do you have open right now? In my current window, eight.

What's something you've been meaning to do but keep putting off? Taking another online course, just because it’s great to learn new things and earn free certifications while at it. I haven’t been doing a good job at being consistent with them, though.

What's the first thing you check on your phone at the start of the day? Facebook since it’s my primary social media now. Literally never thought this day would come.

Have you ever flown a kite? Yeah but it’s been a while.

Who was your favourite music artist when you were 16? This was the time I was slowly moving away from my punk phase and inching closer to Athenna’s music tastes, so I was into acts like Hozier, Banks, Daya, Twenty One Pilots, etc.

What are three things you usually always have in your fridge? Water, bread, eggs.

[brittaden]

They Kiss Gilmores, Don’t They

They Kiss Gilmores, Don’t They

(FF) (A03)

"Your shoe will be ready in a minute."

"Thank you."

Lorelai smiled Luke's way before turning her head and watching the remaining dancers stagger around on the dance floor. Their conversation had fallen into a lull after all the 'right person' and discussion of possible future kids. But her mind was still incredibly busy, pinging with the thought of possible having another kid at some point in her life. It was something she had put some thought into before; raising another kid with someone else. A chance to find someone she deeply loved to marry and raise a family with. It was a nice thought.

Of course, the right guy had eluded her so far in life. There was Max who was by all means a great guy and someone that someday could make some lady very happy but she wasn't that lady. And then there was Christopher which seemed like a bigger mistake every time he deemed it to be the right time to come around. She had always thought it might happen one day but, as time went on, that slipped further and further away. There wasn't much more than that, a few dates here and there but no one that came close to being the right person for her now.

It was Luke's voice that broke her out of her thoughts.

"This glue isn't working," Luke said, shaking his head.

"What?" Lorelai asked, her voice frantic. "It can't be not working; I need that glue to work. There's a big trophy hanging in the balance here."

"Relax, will ya," Luke replied. "I have more glue. Better glue."

"Better shoe glue?" Lorelai asked. "Better shoe slash earning a rightful trophy glue?"

"Yeah, back at the diner."

"Then come on, what are you waiting for?" Lorelai popped up from the bleacher with the energy of someone who hadn't been awake for almost twenty-four hours straight. "Let's go, time is ticking."

Lorelai had already managed to pull Luke up from the bleachers and drag him to the dance studio door before he fully realized what was happening. He yanked his arm back from the death grip she had him in and trailed behind her as she hurried down the steps and along the walkway leading to the diner. Surprisingly fast for a person whose main move at the moment was hobbling.

"How are you moving faster than me with one broken shoe?"

She looked at him over her shoulder as she approached the diner, "Have I not mentioned the big, big trophy?"

"There's a trophy?"

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Just open the door."

Luke grabbed the keys from his pocket and unlocked the diner door with Lorelai squirming around behind him and encouraging him to move a little faster. The second the door was opened, Lorelai was pushing at his back and circling around him, still hobbling on her one still in-tact shoe.

"Upstairs or downstairs?" she asked.

His mouth twisted into a smile. "Dirty."

"Not the time!" Lorelai shouted back, catching him by surprise. "Where's the glue? Upstairs in the apartment or do you have it stashed down here behind all the coffee cups?"

"Storage room," Luke informed her.

Her reply was tinged with sarcasm. "Right, because that's where everyone keeps their glue; stored right next to the jar of pickles."

"It's a jar of mayonnaise and if you want your shoe fixed, you'll stop questioning my glue storage habits."

She held her hands up to surrender. "I am the question-less girl, no more questions just some good old-fashioned shoe fixing."

"Follow me."

She thanked him once again before following him back to the storage room. While he retrieved the glue, not actually next to the mayonnaise she noted, she leaned back against a small wooden table as he covered the broken part of her heel in glue and attached it back to the shoe. She mentally tried to calculate how much time had passed since she had thrown her yellow card into the ring but everything was foggy and even simple math was escaping her.

She watched as Luke held the heel to her broken shoe tightly. "Please tell me this one is working."

"It just needs another minute and that trophy will be yours."

She smiled. "Have I said thank you lately?"

"That'll make a million and one times."

"Well I'm very grateful so, thank you."

"Anytime."

"By the way," she segued, "That comment back there, I didn't appreciate at the time, but it was very solid."

"What comment?"

"Upstairs or downstairs, the dirty one," Lorelai replied as she leaned in closer to him as if it was a secret. "Truly underappreciated in its time. Not one that everyone would catch the first time around."

"I'll add it to my standup act," Luke replied dryly.

"As long as my shoe gets fixed."

"Almost there," Luke promised.

"Good."

Testing the weight of the table behind her, Lorelai hopped up on it and gave her feet a much-needed break. After the marathon was over and the trophy was proudly displayed in her living room, she would be treating herself and Rory to a fabulous spa day, mainly consisting of a pedicure as an apology for twenty-four hours straight of vintage shoes.

"So, Luke," Lorelai began, "What did you mean earlier? Who's your right person?"

Luke looked up from her shoe and at Lorelai, "I thought you had no more questions."

"I had no more questions about glue but I have plenty of questions about other things, like what I just asked."

"What are you even talking about?"

"Your right person," Lorelai clarified. "You said kids would be a discussion with your right person, so who would that be? What's your type?"

"Why do you want to know?"

Lorelai shrugged her shoulders. "We're friends, I'm just curious. What if I'm somewhere and I meet the right person for you but I don't know they're the right person for you because you've never told me your type and you miss out on a chance at love all because you never answered my question."

"You have a lot to say for someone suffering from a lack of sleep."

"I'm well caffeinated."

Luke caught her eye. "So, I'm to blame."

"Yep," she punctuated with a nod of her head. "Back to my original question, what's your type? Because I've only ever really known you with Rachel and that was a surprise to me. She didn't seem like your type."

"What was wrong with Rachel?"

"Nothing was wrong with Rachel, I mean she was nice and funny and pretty, and we got along great, which is always a plus, she just wasn't who I would think of if I happened to think what your type was," Lorelai admitted. "It's not a bad thing. It just wasn't the picture I had in my head."

"And what was the picture you had in your head?"

"I don't know, someone who also owned stock in a flannel company and thought red meat was the devil," Lorelai fumbled her way through an explanation. "I'm not the one that's supposed to answer the question, I asked you for a reason."

He chuckled. It was amusing to watch her sweat.

"And now you're laughing at me, great. Is my shoe ready?"

With a smile still on his face, Luke checked the shoe to make sure the heel was firmly secured back to the shoe. When it didn't budge with his wiggling, he declared it ready. "You can have your shoe back now."

"Great!" She lifted her foot just high enough that she was still decent with her dress on. "See if it fits."

"I'm not putting your shoe on you."

She wiggled her toes. "Please? I don't have all the energy for the bending and the buckling."

Luke sighed and began to slide the shoe onto her foot. "I'm adding this to your next diner bill."

She waved her hand, dismissing the thought. "Sure, just add it to my tab."

Lorelai watched as she handled both her shoe and her foot carefully, sliding the straps onto her foot and securely buckling them. She held her breath as his hand lingered on her foot for just a moment after he buckling it but released the breath when he looked back up at her and offered his hands to her. She placed her hands in his and eased off the table.

Taking a few steps away from him, she tested out the shoe. "Good as new! Or good as new as in the condition that I bought them in since they were made sixty years ago."

"They're sixty years old and you're surprised they broke?"

"Not surprised just caught off guard," Lorelai explained. "Two very different things."

He scoffed. "In your world, maybe."

"It's a fun place to live in, pal."

"A little delusional."

"Aren't we all?"

"Can't argue with that."

"Hey, I didn't mean anything by the Rachel comment earlier, I know that was a serious relationship for you, I was just saying that she surprised me a little," Lorelai said as way of an apology.

"Don't worry about it, it's in the past," Luke replied. "And you're right, she wasn't really my type."

"You do have a type!" She playfully accused, "A flannel-wearing, turkey burger eating, thinks camping is a thrill type."

"You hit the nail on the head," he deadpanned. "What about you?"

"I don't like camping; I prefer the indoors."

"I already knew that," Luke said. "What's your type?"

Lorelai thought for a moment and then blew out a breath. "I honestly don't know, not like I had a whole lot of time to figure it out, what with being a single mom and all."

"But you know the type of person that you want to find one day," Luke prodded her.

"I guess." She looked away from him and then at the floor. "I think my ten minutes are about up."

He nodded his head. "I'll walk you back."

She smiled gratefully, mostly for an escape from this conversation, and wrapped her arm around his as he escorted her out of the storage room and through the diner. Their walk through the diner and out onto the sidewalk was silent until Luke decided to speak up.

"I think I know your type."

"Oh, you do?" Lorelai teased, "Well please enlighten me because I'm over here wasting all my prime years not knowing my own type. I mean beauty doesn't last forever, even mine."

"Well you're going to need someone that knows how to cook," Luke started out.

"Because I'm a hazard around ovens."

"Precisely," Luke agreed. "Someone that knows how to make a decent cup of coffee but you don't settle for sub-par."

"Only if I'm truly desperate."

"And sub-par isn't something you want for the rest of your life," Luke added on. He took a moment before continuing on. "But really you'd just want someone that is there for you. That you can count on, not matter what. Someone to protect you, knowing that you're independent. Someone that gets you."

They stopped just short of the dance studio.

"Wow," Lorelai said, a wry chuckle danced with her words. "I'm counting on a lot for my type."

"But most importantly," Luke tacked on.

"Yeah?" she asked, a little breathless and eagerly awaiting his answer.

"You want someone who cares for Rory as much as you do, someone that's going to take an interest in her life and treat her almost as if she were their kid too," Luke answered. "You're not going to settle for anyone who doesn't care for her."

"She's the most important person in the world for me."

"I know," Luke said with a smile. "She's a pretty great kid."

"That she is."

"She has a great mother too."

She beamed at that comment. "Couldn't agree with you more."

Her smile was infectious so Luke couldn't help the grin that crossed his face. "So, how'd I do?"

"I say you were pretty spot on. You were just missing one thing."

"What'd I miss?"

"No mentions of Bono," Lorelai said like he should've known the answer already. "Your guy sounds amazing but he's no Bono. Your guy is a strong number two though."

Luke shook his head. "Well who wouldn't be compared to him?"

"That's what I'm saying." She turned ever so slightly to head to the dance studio because her ten minutes had to be dangerously close to being up, but she ended up turning back to Luke. "Just one more question before I go?"

"If it's about glue or my storage habits, I'm gone."

"It's not."

"Go ahead."

"This guy you described, my type guy, my right person guy," Lorelai filled in the gaps if he happened to be the littlest bit confused. "Do you know him?"

"Lorelai," he sighed.

"What? It is a valid question, if I knew someone that was your type, I would let you know so you could go find your little chicky and start the rest of your life with her," Lorelai replied. "It would be a courtesy."

He stressed her name again, this time softer than before. "Lorelai."

"It would be excellent if you knew him because Rory is leaving soon and I'll be lonely but if there were a Mr. Right that you're hiding from me and just allowing me to dwell in my loneliness, well that you be on you buddy, and I..."

She was cut off by Luke's lips on hers.

"And I..." she muttered once they parted, losing all track of what she was going to say before.

He kissed her again, pulling her closer to him this time. She responded in kind, wrapping her arms around his waist and melting into the way his lips felt against hers. So soft and just the right amount of pressure. The kiss was brief, ending almost as soon as it began but he still held her in his embrace.

She looked up at him. "You were describing you."

"In a way, I guess I was," Luke admitted. "But I also know you and who you'd want to be with."

"You're no Bono."

He chuckled. "I'm here if you're willing to settle."

She didn't answer him with words, instead she brushed his lips with hers and pulled him into a soft kiss. She was dimly aware that they were in full public view of anyone that cared to see them and how much Luke would hate the pda but that didn't matter at the moment. What mattered was this kiss that was interrupted all too soon by a blowhorn.

"The dance marathon!"

Lorelai stepped back from Luke's embrace to see the very beginnings of Kirk's victory lap. Stunned that once again Kirk had beat her, she darted up the steps and pulled out the yellow card she had been waving around earlier. It was when she stepped foot in the building that it occurred to her that she had left Luke completely in the dust. She hurried back down the steps to where he still stood just outside the dance studio.

"Can we put a pin in this?"

Amused, he nodded his head towards the dance studio. "Go find out what's going on. I'll be waiting."

She leaned up and placed a kiss on his cheek before looking him in the eye. "This isn't me settling."

"I know." He nudged her towards the dance studio. "Now, go trip Kirk and get your trophy."

She nodded eagerly in agreement before once again dashing up the dance studio steps and waving her yellow card around while Kirk began to run circles around her, waving the trophy in the air. All the while, Luke remained outside watching as Lorelai began to argue with Taylor and Kirk about how she wasn't really gone that long and had a pretty good reason for being gone her for her allotted ten minutes.

He stepped back from watching the scene unfold and headed back towards the diner. Where he would be waiting with the coffee and the breakfast that would come after the crashing on the respective couches that would afflict all of Stars Hollow once the dance marathon was officially over. And he would be waiting for the morning when stories of how it's unfair that Kirk won once again with plans to steal and hide the trophy from Kirk once be became obnoxious with it. Which was going to be sooner rather than later. But, most importantly, he would be waiting for the pin to be picked out of their conversation and that would be met with a first date.

[razberryyum]

A Gintama episode a day keeps the ending away...Episode 86

Episode Title: It's Often Difficult To Sleep When You're Engrossed With Counting Sheep

MY 23 FAVORITE MOST EMOTIONAL MOMENTS IN LESSON 86 (chapters 129 and 130):

Of course I love the Mitsuba Arc: one of the most important arcs in the series, not to mention one of the most emotional.  It always leaves me in a weepy mess, and my heart heavy with sorrow for Mitsuba, Sougo and Hijikata.  

1) The fact that she is Sougo’s sister already made me pre-disposed to love her, but her unrequited love for Hijikata followed by her unexpected fate made me cherish her more. SPOILERS under the cut:

I say unexpected because at the beginning, I truly never thought Mitsuba would die. Such a sad ending didn’t seem possible for such an obviously sweet character who was also so important to someone like Okita. I assumed she would be saved by some miracle cure, so I was pretty devastated when no such miracle occurred. Total gut punch.

2) I loved seeing how different Sougo was around his beloved sister. It hurts my heart that we may never see this side of him ever again.

3) Of course I loved this. 

4) Sougo’s very innocent expression as he’s threatening Gin-chan.

5) I loved that the sadism was obviously hereditary in the Okita family.

6) Bless Kondou for taking this lonely little bean under his wing. 

7) Although, to be honest, he looked a bit like a predator in the moment. Surprised Sougo didn’t punch him in the balls or something.

8) I loved Mitsuba more for recognizing the similarities between Gintoki and Hijikata immediately. I firmly believe that in a different universe, Mitsuba would’ve totally been a GinHiji shipper...if she wasn’t busy trying to play match-maker between Gin-chan and her little bro.

9) Their first meeting after being apart for so many years. Ugh, my heart. 

10) This subtly gut-wrenching moment: how Hijikata pretended he didn’t give a shit about Mitsuba but then that slight movement of his eyes that totally gave away how he felt, that he still cares about her. Every time I watch this scene now I wish so much he had just stopped, if even for a minute, to SAY SOMETHING to her. Ask if she was feeling better. Or just say hi. 

11) Grumpy baby Okita is just CUTENESS TIMES 1000!!!! The fact that he was being grumpy about Hijikata made it even cuter!

12) I love Hijikata no matter what, but I WORSHIP Hijikata with long hair.

13) I couldn’t stop screaming at the cuteness! Seriously, how freaking PRECIOUS is grumpy baby Okita????

14) Droooollllll. Also, important moment since that’s when he first noticed Mitsuba...his attraction to her was probably instantaneous.

15) It really hurts my heart to think of this: when Mitsuba was still alive, Hijikata probably slathered his food in mayonnaise because it reminded him of Mitsuba and the gesture most likely filled him with happiness. After she passed away, he still thinks of Mitsuba every time he does it, but the gesture now only fills him with sadness at her passing.

16)  Gin-chan being a total sweetheart to Mitsuba just made me love him more. It’s so sweet that he was especially nice to her because he knew how important she was to Sougo.

17) Yamazaki is a horrible spy but his obvious content from eating crappy sausages is just too adorable. 

18) I love that Yamazaki easily told Gintoki because he obviously doesn’t think of him as just anyone. It’s like he understood Gintoki is always the exception.

19) Sougo’s vulnerability just broke my heart to a million pieces.

20) I could never hate Hijikata, but the cold way he rejected Okita’s plea for Mitsuba’s happiness made me feel something dangerously close to that emotion for that one second, especially seeing the shocked look on Sougo’s face.

21) Poor baby Sougo. I can understand his resentment at the time, but little did he know he would also grow to love Toshi one day too...he just won’t show it.

22) The emotional weight of this moment just kills me. Mitsuba giving up her pride to make her plea to Hijikata; Okita’s shock at realizing that his sister was in love Hijikata. All of it just made Hijikata’s response all the more brutal.

23) Even though I know Hijikata’s heartlessness both times may have been  bourne from his love for Mitsuba--in the past he didn’t want to put her in danger since they were essentially going to an unknown setting and in the present he didn’t want her to marry a monster--it doesn’t make it any more palatable because it really was so damn cold and cruel.

SHIPS TALLY: 

Hijikata x Mitsuba: I was so sure that she was introduced to be Hijikata’s endgame when we first met her. After knowing her and knowing what happens to her, I truly wish they would have been able to enjoy some happiness together, regardless of how short their time together would have been.

Gintoki x Okita: one of my alternate OTPs so of course their interaction made me happy, even though technically Gintoki was being friend zoned to the max. 

Mitsuba x Toma: she was way out of his league in the looks department but because he seemed so sweet to her, I really hoped that in the end we would find out he’s actually a nice guy. I hate him so much now that I hate even acknowledging him as a partner for Mitsuba. She deserved so much better in every single way.

Hijikata x Yamazaki: Yamazaki was uncharacteristically insightful about Hijikata and it was cute how he was just dragged away by him cave-man style.

Kondou x Mitsuba: I have a feeling if Kondou was the one Mitsuba had fallen in love with and had asked him to take her to Edo, he would’ve married her immediately and taken her with him and now she would be a happy wife and a happy mother of his children. [sigh]

Disclaimer: Gintama is not only about shipping. Gintama is hilarious, clever, exciting, poignant, heart-breaking, loving, brilliant, and just completely unbelievably amazing.  It is only due to Sorachi-sama’s immense generosity that I am able enjoy Gintama on an extra another level, the shippy level, and I am forever grateful for that. GINTAMA IS LIFE AND LOVE.

3/27/2019

[cuddlycolby]

Sick Day - Colby Brock Imagine

POV: Second person (Y/N) 

Word count: 2066

A/N: Here is more fluffy Colby... got this idea from watching one of his old videos when he had a cold and was losing his voice, and it was honestly just so cute. 

@topthis808

@j-ust-l-ive

@imprettysleepyhonestly

@themichelledavis

@cold-hearted-bish

@prettypattie

@sometimesiimaginethings

Sorry if you didn’t want to be tagged! Just let me know for future reference! :)

****

Colby: Babe

I feel like shit

Like stuffy and my stomach blahhh

You: Aww baby I’m sorry :(

Colby: Do you have to work today?

You stare at his message, knowing he wants you to come over. You did have a morning shift at Target and you’re about to clock in, but it does pain your heart that he’s not feeling well and probably alone right now.

“Are you okay, Y/N?”

You look away from your phone screen and at, Sally, one of your managers. “The boyfriend isn’t feeling well.”

Your phone vibrates, so you look back down to see another message from him.

Colby: Please come overrr

I really want you around.

“And now he’s begging me to come over.” You turn a slightly devilish smile on Sally. “Could I possibly...not work today?”

She shoots you a look.

You sigh a little and punch your four digit code into the monitor. “Yeah, I know.”

You: Sorry, Colby Jack, I just started my shift

I’ll be over right after

Colby: 😭😭

THATS SO LONG THO

You: I’m sorry!!!

But guess what??

Colby: ...Not sure I wanna know but what?

You: I LOVE YOU BUNCHES BABY😘😘

With all of my cold dark heart that you opened and warmed up

Colby: Stop playing cute with MEE!!

You: I don’t play cute?

Colby: Right and I haven’t looked the same for ten years straight.

Fucking walrus over here.

You: Shush

Stay wrapped up in your bed and watch something until I get there

Colby: Am I allowed to go pee or poop?

You: No, Colby..you can’t do any bodily functions

Colby: Get ready to have to clean up some shitty boxers then

You: Not the worse thing I’ve ever had to clean up 🤷😂

“Y/N, no phones out and get over to your area. More shirts and tanks need to be added in the women’s department.” Sally ordered from behind you.

You hold up a finger. “Okay, I swear I’ll head over, just one more quick message.”

You: I gotta go. Stay warm and drink some fluids, okay? I’ll be there before you know it❤

Colby: Fine. I love you too btw❤

You smile, but it quickly fades when you see the wrath Sally is about to unleash and you pocket your phone before heading over to the women’s department.

***

“Brockster?” You call as you enter the mansion, carrying a plastic bag of some sick essentials; the boys never have any of it.

You head straight upstairs and can hear him grunting and whining until you open his bedroom door. Then he flops around from facing the wall and sits up with disheveled hair and a smile.

“You’re here!” His voice was definitely nasally, and he was losing it. But it was kind of adorable and made your heart ache with happiness.

You bite your lip to stop from laughing too hard at how cute he is being and looks right now. You hold up the bag that had sinus congestion relief, pain reliever, orange juice, sprite, chicken noodle soup, and saltine crackers in it and set it down on his desk. “Of course, baby. I brought some essentials.”

You walk over to feel his forehead with the back of your hand. “How are you feeling?”

He moans momentarily, then sniffles. “Better now that you’re here.”

All you do is roll your eyes before turning around to hide the pink in your cheeks. You grab the DayQuil sinus congestion relief from two Day&Night pack you bought and pour some of it into the clear small measuring cap it came with.

“Here, this should help with the sinus. I don’t understand how you guys never have any in this damn house.”

He swigs it down, cringing, and he sticks his tongue out as he squeezes his eyes shut and shakes his head. “AHH!” He hands it back, coughing into his other hand. “Thanks, baby. Hey, ask the other girl who lives here why we don’t.”

You shoot him a raised eyebrow look and he hides his face into his hands, then looks up at you with sorrowful eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. Really, all of us guys are just bad at being prepared for this. We believe in the ‘sucking it up’.”

“I know, and it’s stupid.” You reach out to ruffle up his hair some more and he grabs your wrist to pull you down into his lap. He pretends to try and kiss you. “That was until we all got girlfriends. I love you, baby.”

You fight him a little with a small laugh. “That’s sweet and I love you too, but Colby Jack don’t kiss me. I don’t want to get sick.”

He laughs and only tries more. “Does that mean you won’t lay with me?” He was giving the biggest puppy dog eyes ever and jutted out his bottom lip.

“Why you gotta pull out the puppy dog eyes, bro?”

He gasped and set a hand on his bare chest. “Why you gotta pull out the bro, bro? You know, every time you say it, it makes me feel a little less like your boyfriend and little more like just a friend.”

You roll your eyes, which makes him lightly lick his lips and smile, his tongue slightly sticking out between his teeth and he giggles. “I’m joking. It’s hot when you say bro.”

“Shut up.” You start to head out of the room to go to the bathroom.

“Hey, hey, hey!” You look over to see him stretching his arms out towards you, wiggling his fingers.

“Yeah?”

“Where you going?”

“To the bathroom. I gotta pee.”

“Oh.” He flops arms back down on the bed. “Pleeeaaase don’t be gone too long, okay?”

You shake your head. “I won’t be, you newb.”

***

“Hey guys!” Colby shouts, causing his voice to crack, into his phone. “Guess who is the best girlfriend on this planet? Yes, I want you to actually guess, comment on my most recent... Here’s some hints. She’s beautiful, has great music taste...takes care of me when I’m sick..” You look over at him and he smiles bigger. “She calls me bro, brosky, brockster, Colby Jack, aaaand she’s sitting right here!”

“Colby, stop!” You groan into a laugh.

He pulls his phone away with a hoarse laugh, wipes under his nose, and coughs shortly. “I’m posting that on the story.”

You don’t even bat an eye. He posts the most random shit on his Instagram story, and since he’s been open about your relationship, you show up or get a mention at least once every other day.

He sighs heavily and rolls back onto stomach, but so he could rest an arm over your lap. “I could take a nap.”

“You literally just took one.” You reply. “You were out so hard I was able to draw a duck and turtle on your back with a sharpie.”

His eyes shot open. “You did what?”

You shake your head and look back at your phone. “Nothing.”

“I don’t believe you for one second.” He actually gets out of the bed and hurries to the bathroom that has all the mirrors as walls. “Y/N! Why the fuck-?”

You bust out laughing and don’t say anything.

He comes back into the bedroom, his jaw dropped, but he’s amused. “You think you’re so funny. Prank wars are over, babe, but I’m not afraid to start one with you because I distinctly remember me winning.” He crawls onto the bed and places himself back where he was.

You play with his hair now and bite your bottom lip. “I think we know the real reason why you won those.” He looks up at you as you point to yourself and mouth “me”.

He pretends to be offended. “Not true!” He cracks out and clears his throat. “Not true.”

“Hmm...a majority of the pranks I thought up of that you used got all of the boys at once, every time, and got the most views. Like filling all of their individual shampoos with mayonnaise, play-doh gum, using bungee cords to connect all the door handles to their closet doors so they couldn’t get in their rooms, period blood fakeout, edible makeup.. Do I need to say more?”

“Damn,” he smiles like a goof, his eyes being the most blue they have all day, and moves to  kiss your hip, “I forgot how savage you were with helping in that. I kind of miss us pranking them together.”

You smirk lightly. “I’d say we could do another idea I have, but I do not want us to start another prank war.”

Deviousness fills Colby’s features and he sits up. “Let’s do it.”

“Did you hear anything after I said that I had an idea?” You cock a brow, reaching for a saltine cracker to munch on.

“Come on, babe.”

You groan. “I’m warning you, it’s gonna start something.”

Colby smiles wider and hops out of bed. “What is it?”

***

You carefully watch from the window in the backyard as Aaron walks inside, whistling some tune to himself. Perfect, everyone is back now. As far as they know, you’re not here.

“Water balloons ready?” You look back at Colby, still wearing only boxers and a pair of baggy joggers, and notice him shivering a little. Yes, it’s the middle of the summer in LA, but he’s sick; you advise he wear a top of some sort, yet he didn’t listen.

He nods. “Yup.”

You help carry the balloons up to the roof of the shed they had and where you built a makeshift slingshot launcher. Colby helps hike you up there on his shoulders. You test one of the balloons on it to make sure it works and watch as it flings to land in a break in front of the back door.

Colby claps his hands with a laugh. “Oh, this is gonna be awesome, baby!”

“Right. You good to film?”

“Yeah, gonna tell them I’m doing a follow my voice bit and lead them out here.”

You smile. “Good.”

Colby jogs back inside with his camera and you had his GoPro setup on the tower to get your view of the slingshots. You prepare one of the water balloons filled with water and a plaster mix; yes, a store run had to be done for this, but it wouldn’t be as great if it was just water.

Colby peeks out the clear glass door, looking dorky as ever with giving you two thumbs up, and he opens it to lead Aaron out first.

Oh, sweet, sweet Aaron who doesn’t have a single bad bone in his body. Ringing him in on certain pranks in the past made you feel bad, but it was either all or no point. You wait until after you’ve launched the bomb to yell, “Can you hear my voice?”

Aaron lifts the blindfold just in time for the mess to unleash on his right shoulder. He looks shocked at first, but then laughs. “When and how did you get up there, Y/N?”

“Magic?” You offer with a shrug, then load another and let it rip. It lands and breaks open near his feet.

He jumps and yells in one of his goofy voices, “Hey, th-that’s not..not nice! I-I don’t..want..want to play wi-with anyasdlkfad-anymore.” Then he “storms” back inside.

You and Colby laugh and prepare for the next victim.

***

Despite being outside and getting wet, Colby’s temp was gone and he says his stomach felt better. The cold is still there though.

Colby’s hand with newly painted black fingernails done via you rubs your hip. With his face mostly snuggled in his pillow, he muffles, “Can you stay the night here?”

You sigh heavily, feeling a wave of exhaustion hitting you, and rub your hand over his elbow and forearm. “I could.” You toss the bottle of nail polish on the floor; you’ll pick it up tomorrow. You snuggle down under the covers, closer to him, and poke his cheek. “Hey?”

He pops open one eye and lifts his face a little. “What?”

You lean over to press your lips on his for a moment. “I’m glad you’re feeling better. I love you, Colby Jack.”

He blushes with a giggle into the pillow. “I don’t deserve you, Y/N... I love you too, baby.”

[More stuff]

[incorrectdeceptionquotes]

It Takes Two

In collaboration with @s4karuna, she introduced this idea by striking up a conversation with me (so glad she did) and we’ve been building on it for a couple months and we finally decided to actually write it! XD

Hope you like it guys!

...And Happy New Year!

O'Leary's was the last stop on Team Deception’s bar hopping night, their usual homecoming tradition when they came back to New York after a national tour. Dina had somehow managed to wrangle Gunther into doing a duet with her while Cameron and Jordan were downing shots in a corner booth, occasionally heckling Gunther.

“Okay...” Jordan slurred. He was a bit of a lightweight and despite having matched shot for shot with him, Cameron didn’t seem as drunk, only slightly tipsy. “Cameron...”

“Yes Jordan?”

“I got a challenge for you.”

“Oh?” Cameron raised his eyebrows, “What are the stakes?”

“If… If you win...” Jordan garbled, “I… will dye my hair… hot pink again.”

Cameron was intrigued, “And if you win?”

“You… will do whatever I say.”

Cameron raised an eyebrow at that. “Uh Jordan, I don’t know where you’re going with this, but I just wanna be friends.”

“Ha!” Jordan slapped the table, “You wish you could land this… but no.” Jordan looked to be thinking, “If I win… I have something else in mind...”

“Are… are you going to tell me?”

“Nope! I'll… I’ll only tell you if I win.”

Cameron smirked, “So that’s how you want to play it?” He did another shot, “Fine. What is your challenge?”

“I... dare you... to take a shot.”

“Wait, that’s your challenge?” Cameron snorted, “We've been doing that all night.”

Jordan wagged his finger, “Oh-ho-ho-ho... no, my friend. Not just any... shot.” He downed another, “I’m talking about... the infamous Smoker’s Cough.”

“The Smoker’s Cough?”

“It’s a shot of Jagermeister... topped off with mayonnaise.”

Cameron scrunched his face at that, “Ew, mayonnaise?”

“It’s not… not too late to back out.”

Cameron took another one of the shots in front of him with a shake of his head. “No way.” He swiftly downed the drink, “Take that as an ‘I accept your challenge’.”

“There’s only one rule.” Jordan stated, “You’re not allowed to gag or spit it back after drinking it.” He got from his stool, “I’ll be right back.”

Cameron downed another shot. How bad could this drink be? He’d had worse things before so it couldn’t be as bad as Jordan had implied. A few minutes later, Jordan came back with a shot in hand and sure enough, it was topped with good old fashioned mayonnaise.

“Here… you go.” Jordan shakily placed the drink in front of his friend. He really was a lightweight.

Cameron picked up the shot and eyed it for a moment, “Okay… here goes.”

Jordan watched him as the blue-eyed man shrugged and downed it in one go. He seemed to be alright at first. Then his face scrunched up in disgust as he clapped a hand over his mouth to contain his coughing.

“G’ugh! It's vile!” He wheezed. “What the hell is in that?”

Jordan laughed as Cameron let out a couple of coughs, “I had the bartender…” Jordan slurred, “M-make the drink with Andong soju instead. Packs quite a punch, doesn’t it?”

“Oh yeah. Can’t help but think--” He coughed again, “That might have be cheating. Not even your hal-abeoji can drink it and he could give vodka guzzling Russian ex-soldiers a run for their money at his age.”

“You never said I couldn’t change anything.”

“Well played Kwon. Well played.” Cameron mumbled, “So what is it you want me to do?” Cameron would be lying if he said that the gleeful look on Jordan’s face didn’t make him feel a little nervous.

Three years later…

The Archive had been host to many Team Deception celebrations over the years, but this had to be a first. Helping the FBI break a major case by doing what the team did best had... sparked something in him for lack of a better word. Through the din of the party, Cameron spotted Kay in the corner, her phone to her ear as--was she smiling just now?

It wasn't like he hadn’t seen her smile before, but this one was different. It was one of pure joy, her eyes radiating every ounce of love in her heart.

It was beautiful. That smile was beautiful.

He was so caught up in his thoughts that he only managed to catch Kay saying “--okay, I’ll see you in a minute, honey.”

Wait, what?

Honey? Suddenly, Cameron was very interested to know who she had been talking to. He just wasn’t expecting there to be anyone who would make someone as cool and professional as Kay call them “honey” of all things. He shook his head and escaped to the balcony.

Kay noticed him walk out as she hung up before her eye caught one of his show posters. The past couple of days had showed her that he wasn’t just some playboy illusionist. Magic really was his life. It really meant something to him… and his brother meant everything to him, she could tell. It reminded her so much of her and Caroline in the past, she mused as she joined him on the balcony.

“Hey.” She said as she walked up next to him.

He grinned, “Hey.”

“You did good Cameron.” Kay told him, “Thank you.”

His smile only widened, “Don’t mention it. Sorry we didn’t get off to the best start.”

“Water under the bridge.”

They were silent for a moment. Cameron opened his mouth, about to ask something like so who were you on the phone with if you don’t mind my asking, when he suddenly heard what sounded like little kids squealing in the other room.

“Uh Kay? Are you babysitting or something ‘cause whose kids am I hearing?”

Kay's lips twitched in amusement. “I’m not babysitting, it's a completely different thing.”

Well, if they were going to start working together, she might as well tell him now.

“You don't babysit your own kids.”

Cameron’s jaw dropped. “You have kids?!”

Kay nodded. “Twin girls.” She had been a little hesitant to tell him that part, worried that it might hit a little too close to home. “The sitter’s just bringing them here for me.”

Cameron was about to respond, say anything other than since when do you have kids and when you gonna let me meet them, when he heard shrieking giggles as a pair of tiny toddlers holding hands, dressed in pink and purple tumbled onto the balcony.

“Oh my God,” he gaped, shocked by the sight of two identical girls with round apple cheeks and adorable little dimples waddling over to Kay, “there's two of them.”

It was impossible not to see the resemblance to Kay when they had the same feathery dark curls and bronze skin. They were perfect little copies of their mother... except for the eyes. The girls’ eyes were opal blue and star-like and Cameron’s smile was fading fast because he never considered the possibility of her being married with kids. Even though he had secretly checked her hands several times for a ring only to find nothing.

Kay laughed as she picked up one of the giggling toddlers, who had purple overalls and a gold bunny shaped clip in her hair. “Well, I assume that as a twin yourself, you’d understand that twins generally come in twos.”

Still, he had to admit that even he and Johnny weren't this cute at that age. Kay's genes were truly magical.

“Soooo…” he drawled, “Who’s the lucky guy?” He wasn’t going to try to beat around the bush this time. If she was with someone then he didn’t want to step over any boundaries.

Kay was silent for a moment as she settled her daughter on her hip. “Donor #478.”

Cameron scrunched his nose in confusion.

“There’s not really a father in the picture,” Kay explained, straightforward as always. “I honestly couldn’t tell you who he is if I wanted to. Kind of the point.” That wasn’t the part that confused him. It was just… there was something about that number. Something familiar.

“You’re a single mom?”

Kay nodded, unashamed. She decided a long time ago that she wasn't going to have a partner and ended up with two when she went in for one. She suspected that identical twins ran in the donor's family. Kay's mother had helped take care of the girls until her strength had failed and she would've been completely alone if it weren't for Mike and Lara.

“That’s… kind of amazing,” he grinned in wonder.

Kay chuckled, “Well not everybody thinks so.”

“Eh, screw what other people think.”

He suddenly felt a tiny hand tug at his pant leg. He looked down and found a familiar pair of blue eyes staring up at him in wonder. The girls had obviously inherited Kay's impossibly long eyelashes and he was positive that they would destroy hearts someday just like their mother.

He crouched down, smiling at the little girl, still amazed at the power of genetics. “Hi there.”

The girls were nearly identical, but this one had hair that was a shade or two lighter than her sister and a pink penguin print headband that matched her overalls.

“That’s Liya.” Kay explained.

“Hi Liya.”

Liya eagerly raised her arms up and her tiny voice squeaked, “Up. Up.”

Cameron gave a quick look to Kay, “Do you mind?”

Kay looked a little surprised. Liya wasn’t usually so friendly with strangers. The agent shook her head before she thought much of it. “Uh, no. Go ahead.”

Cameron scooped up the little girl and she beamed up at him. He paused as he noticed Kay’s unreadable expression, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. It’s just… Liya usually isn’t so welcoming to new people.”

“Well, maybe she can tell I’m not so bad.” Liya rested her head on Cameron’s shoulder. He briefly caught the comforting scent of baby powder as she did so and it made him melt a little. “Who’s this other little lady?”

“This is my oldest, Ayana.” Cameron smiled at the toddler and Ayana gave him a tiny smile. “Ayana, you can say hi.”

Ayana waved and squeaked a little, “Hi.”

Cameron grinned at the little girl, “Hi Ayana.” The little girl buried her face in her mother’s shoulder and yeah, he was just about dying from the sheer cuteness of the Daniels girls.

“So Liya and Ayana, huh?”

“My mother's Ethiopian. Her grandmother came here from Addis Ababa all by herself to start a new life and I think she would've had some very strong words with me if I didn't follow the Assefa family tradition.”

Cameron chuckled as a thought popped into his head. “Does this mean that Kay's just a nickname?”

Kay rolled her eyes. “Cameron Black, you can't expect me to give away all my secrets.” She'd keep her birth name to herself for a while.

“Eh, between Mike the fanboy and Jordan’s hacking, I'll figure it out eventually. How old are the girls anyway?”

“They just turned two a couple of weeks ago.”

“Wow. Well, I should get them something then. How do they feel about stuffed animals?”

Kay chuckled, “Cameron, that’s sweet but--”

“No, no, I’m serious. Two is a big milestone.” He grinned. Somehow, for a moment, he wasn’t feeling hopeless.

“So what's next?” Kay asked, “You go after the mystery woman who framed Jonathan? I still have to prove she did it.” Cameron figured she was right, “What about your show, your team?”

“When we were kids,” Cameron started, “I was the performer, the onstage persona, but Johnny was ‘The Disappearing Boy’ hidden under the stage, behind the curtain, but he was always there for me...” He turned to face the agent he’s decided he’s befriended, “I have to get him out, Kay.” He could feel Liya’s little arms wrap around his neck in a pseudo hug, almost like she was trying to comfort him.            Kay nodded in understanding, “I did notice something. Jonathan's illusionist copied every detail from your disappearing-jet trick except one.”            Cameron raised his eyebrows in surprise. “You watched my special?” He turned his head to the toddler in his arms, “Did your mom watch my special?” Liya just giggled.

Kay laughed, “Okay. I saw it. It was fantastic.”            Cameron grinned in disbelief, “Fantastic? Wow.”            “After you made your jet disappear, you left something behind. Deck of playing cards.”            Cameron nodded in realization, “We should go back to the hangar and make sure she didn't--” He was cut off by Kay pulling out an evidence bag with a deck of cards in it. He chuckled, “You already went.”            She grinned. There was that smile again, “This is where I say ‘ta-da,’ right?” Ayana giggled at the way her mother was speaking. Despite being so young, Ayana and Liya never heard their mother sound so playful.

“Yeah.” Cameron smiled as he reached for the deck, “May I?” She handed him the bag. He pulled out the deck. It made a few beeping noises before it started to ring. He answered.

“Hello Cameron.” A woman’s voice came from the other line.            Cameron could feel his frustration flare up. “Who are you?”

She shook her head. “Always asking the wrong questions.”            “Why are you doing this?”

She raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. “You don't remember? Don't worry. I don't blame you for that. But I've thought about you and Jonathan for years.The show's about to begin my show. Are you ready?”

Cameron heard the sound of Beethoven’s Fur Elise being played in the background. “You're in the Frankfurt International terminal. Spent the last twelve months flying around the world, and airport acoustics are pretty distinctive. Plus, Frankfurt pumps muzak Beethoven like they're afraid someone might forget he's German.” Cameron could have sworn he heard this mystery woman’s breath stop for a split second. “Tell me, did you look over your shoulder?”

She raised her eyebrows. “Goodbye Cameron.”            “Get used to looking. We're coming for you.” It was all Cameron could say before the call disconnected.

“Hey.” Kay said as she adjusted Ayana in her arms, “You alright?”

Cameron pursed his mouth and nodded as he put the deck in his pocket and adjusted Liya just to make sure he wouldn’t drop her. “I’m fine… just can’t believe that after all this time, there’s a lead.” Kay gave him a sympathetic smile, “Believe it or not, this is the first time I can confidently say that Johnny’s going to come home.”

“You know, it’s really admirable that you’ve kept hope for all this.”

Cameron gave a small smile, “I’ve always believed that hope can be a powerful thing.”

They gave each other a smile and spent a moment in silence, watching the city lights before Ayana tried to wiggle out of her mother’s hold to join her sister in Cameron’s arms. Kay tried to get her to calm down.

“Ayana honey, be careful.”

Cameron chuckled, “If Ayana wants a hug too, I don’t mind.” He opened his other arm as a sign to the little girl that she could join her sister.

“You sure?”

Cameron nodded, “Positive. It’s a good thing I have enough arms because if you had triplets then things might be a little difficult,” he joked.

Kay helped him adjust both girls in a way that would be easy for him to hold them both at once. What really surprised her was just how fast her girls warmed up to him. She knew that Cameron was a good man, but it was still a little odd that Ayana and Liya could see that so quickly too.

“Hey there Ayana. You didn’t want to miss out on the fun either, did you?”

The older twin giggled as her tiny hand gripped his shirt. Kay smiled. It wasn’t often she felt comfortable letting her daughters be held by someone else, but she trusted Cameron.

“Hey Kay?”

Kay raised her eyebrow. “Yeah?”

“We have some chocolate chip cookies.” He didn’t notice the way the girls perked up at the word ‘cookie’. “Do you mind if I give them one?”

“Cookie?” Ayana squeaked.

Kay smiled. “Well, they already heard the word ‘cookie’ so you kind of have to give them one now.” Cameron laughed at that. “Why do you have chocolate chip cookies in the first place?”

“Agent Daniels,” he gasped in mock offense, “I might be a man of fine tastes, but I can enjoy a good chocolate chip cookie once in a while.” Kay rolled her eyes at his childishness.

“Cookie!” Liya babbled.

Kay’s chuckle turned to laughter. She knew the girls’ sweet tooth would distract them. “Well, we should probably get them their cookies.”

She reached to take one of the girls when Cameron just cuddled them closer to him. “You know I don’t mind holding them for a little while.”

“Are you sure?”

He nodded, “Oh yeah. You’ve had a long day too, let me help you by carrying around these adorable little ladies.” Kay couldn’t help but smile as they made their way back inside.

Three years ago…

Cameron and Jordan pulled up to the building they asked the cab driver to take them. “Why are we here?” Cameron narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

“Why do you think?” His friend responded, “This is your punishment.”

“Oh my God, Jordan, you don’t mean...”

“Oh… but I do.” Cameron rolled his eyes, “Hey! You lost our wager.” Jordan retaliated, “If you had won, you so would have watched me dye my hair pink!”

Cameron paused. “...You’re not going to come inside to watch me do this are you?” Jordan gave him a look. “I’m sorry Jordan, but the way you say things all sound very suggestive!”

“Just go do it!”

“Fine.” he huffed. They both got out of the cab and went inside the building. It was a bank and all Jordan had dared him to do was make a donation. He stayed at the front desk until the deed was done. There was nothing to be ashamed of. It wasn't as if Cameron was the first person to make a donation like this.

In fact… he was the 478th person to make a donation for that particular bank.

[thetravellingvagrant]

Day 8- Lviv: In Which I Am The Man In The High Castle

I spent the vast majority of my morning catching up on blog business, various pieces of travel admin and sleeping for longer than I should have done; consequentially (and shamefully), it was veering close to one in the afternoon by the time I removed myself from bed.

I walked, bleary eyed to the bathroom. The toilet was still running from the last time I had pressed the flusher. It was, I had learned through experimentation, possible to fix this problem, though each time I did, it would relapse at the next push of the plunger and require ever so slightly more drastic action for its next repair. Not willing to eventually have to dismantle the entire cistern, I had begun to just let it run in between uses; a barely acceptable, though mildly infuriating solution at best.

Barely acceptable, though mildly infuriating is actually not a bad way to describe this apartment in general. It hadn't taken long for the shiny white veneer of the place to crack apart, revealing the poo-brown mankiness that lay underneath (Not literally, though give me time...). The constantly howling toilet and genuinely stomach-turning décor of the place were among the steadily more and more irksome irritations which had begun to surface at this point and in no area was this more apparent than in the kitchen.

The kitchen had been stocked in a genuinely mind-boggling manner, boasting far, far too many of certain items- something like 20 plates, 15 shot glasses, a single pastry brush, because even one of those is too many in an AirBNB kitchen- and far, far too little of others. Zero bowls being the most egregious offender, though an utter lack of any kind of bread or butter knife also ranked fairly high on that list. Two types of spoon were available; teaspoons and giant-ass serving ones. Nothing in-between that you might, say, want to eat cereal with. Also whenever you turned the hob on, touching any of its corners would immediately result in a mild electric shock, which. You know,. Not great.

And so I found myself on my first morning in this apartment, in a bad mood, pouring cereal into a mug. I cracked open the milk I had bought the previous night, gave it a customary whiff to check its freshness and immediately wretched.

“Thaaaat is not milk” I spluttered to myself.

I took the time that I should have taken in the supermarket to translate the Cyrillic on the carton.

“Yuh...ooooh...guh...urt...” For fucks sake.

I tipped the contents of my mug back into the packet from whence it came and decided to have a sandwich instead.

Five minutes later, I was rewarded for my effort with a piece of mangled bread, torn up initially in the cutting and later in the butter spreading process- given that, as I mentioned, I was sans bread and butter knives respectively- topped hastily with clumps of butter, a couple of slices of plasticy Emmental cheese and a few bits of some thinly sliced, cured sausage. It wasn't the prettiest sandwich ever made, but begrudgingly I will admit that I still enjoyed it. Somehow. Nyerr.

And so I left my apartment, full of starch and rage, close to two in the afternoon, with only a few hours before darkness and the freezing cold of eastern winter set in. Unlike Brest, Lviv boasted a great number of worthwhile attractions and museums and whatnot, so I had had rich pickings for the day's plans. A great number of the things I really wanted to do were positioned in the area immediately adjacent to the city's Russian consulate, though, and so I decided to perhaps postpone them for a day or so, pending a check up on that whole pesky martial law thing. Instead I had opted to have a little walking tour of the city, taking me past some of the cooler statues (and this city has some very cool statues...), around High Castle park- which, as the name suggests, is a park, on the top of a hill with...a castle. I think, at least, I didn't see a castle, but I bet there is one- and finally to the arsenal museum, positioned right next to my flat, to gawp at all old weaponry and that for a bit.

I decided to head to the park, first and foremost, as time was getting on and I didn't fancy climbing a big hill in the dark. It was located around half an hour's walk outside the core of the city, so I had hoped the walk would give me an opportunity to take the city in, properly, this time after straight up forgetting nearly everything I had seen and done, the previous day.

I wasn't disappointed; Lviv is a nice city, seemingly walking a line in its aesthetics between its eastern neighbours and something altogether more...Scandinavian. The best of both worlds, really. Particularly, if like me, you enjoy wide open, freezing cold, borderline dystopian spaces. Mmmm.

Anyway, I progressed through its relatively lovely streets, freezing away- it is still routinely around -5/6 every day- and soon found myself at at the base of the High Castle.

The park was as pleasant as the city, itself and, save for a weird greenish, mustardy colour that the well trodden snow had somehow taken on, was an altogether lovely experience. I clambered my way to the highest peak, which was, I dunno, pretty high, I guess?

...I guess?

snapped a few pictures, as I am wont to do, before, after around twenty minutes, finding myself becoming just a little too cold to justify hanging around any further and unclambering my way back down. Despite the feeling in my fingers fading alarmingly quickly, I decided to continue around the rest of the park, having seen a sign pointing to a thing called a “grot” and having very little idea what that could have been but knowing that I absolutely needed to find out.

TELL ME YOUR SECRETS.

The rest of the park was equally lovely, save for the grot- which was actually a bit rubbish in the end-

Genuinely thought a troll would live here. Beyond disappointed.

though did, by the time I found myself leaving, strike me as being all a bit samey thanks in no small part, I imagine, to the snow covering everything, like the big white bastard blanket that it is.

After another half hour walk back to the city, time was marching on and I knew I needed to move quickly, if I was to make it to the arsenal museum with enough time to ooh and ahh at its pointy wares. My stomach, however, was growling with hunger and my core temperature dropping to genuinely uncomfortable levels and so I took a calculated risk to drop into a cafe quickly to refuel and warm up.

By the time I had made it to the museum, there remained only around half an hour before it was due to close. Perhaps just enough time for a whirlwind tour of the place (which, realistically was all I had really anticipated in the first place). Even this blitzkrieg visit was not to be, however, as I watched in (admittedly minor) dismay as the couple entering the museum ahead of me, were immediately turned away, presumably as they wouldn't have enough time to make it around the entire exhibit before the staff effed off home. I breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that the minorly awkward bit of social interaction had fallen on these other people rather than me and vowed to come back tomorrow, instead. All that was left to do, then, was pick up some food for the night and go home. My next stop was to be the supermarket.

I went to a different supermarket than I had the previous night; a necessity, given that I couldn't find the last one I had gone to and had since entirely forgotten its name. This new supermaket was the fucking worst. Tiny enclosed aisles, bustling with genuinely quite rude people who had seemingly very little in the way of awareness of the space their body occupied or how the way in which they used that space may come off as slightly antisocial; this coupled with the shop's bizarre, almost one way circular circuit of a layout and mind-boggling insistence to not stack like products together, saw me spending the better part of half an hour, walking round and round, being knocked into, tutted at and side-eyed in the pursuit of three paltry items, by, to put it as kindly as I can, wankers; a phenomenon not entirely localised to Lviv's supermarkets, by the way- there appears to be a general culture of being just honestly a bit rude and refusing to get out of other people's ways, here.

Audibly grumbling to myself, like a nutter might, I returned home to warm up and continue my desperate efforts to chip away at the mountain of vagrant admin.

My dinner for the evening was to be a hearty bowl of tuna-pasta. I boiled my fuisilli, diligently for as long as I could be bothered waiting and set about mixing two new additions to the vagrant larder- tuna and mayo- into some kind of grim, almost edible paste. I cracked the top off of the little pouch of mayonnaise I had just bought and, for some weird reason, thought it prudent to give it a taste before I let it touch my precious tuna. Be it due to some kind of weird psychic vagrant-sense, or because the packet, on closer inspection looked like it might not actually be mayonnaise in the strictest sense, I slurped a glob of it into my mouth. For the second time today, I wretched. I wretched hard. I wretched so hard that I was nearly immediately sick as my very nice and also total bastard of a girlfriend with whom I was skyping at the time, laughed herself feral at my obvious discomfort. My mouth was filled with a weird, putrid sweetness that immediately hit the back of the throat. It was like drinking a death milkshake.

[REDACTED]

“...are you sure its in date?” she queried, except more Geordie than that.

Again, I was fairly sure that it wa-ah, no. There it is. Mystery solved. It was more than one month past its sell-by date. I had just eaten a mouthful of rotten mayonnaise, with an audience. Perfect. What a perfect day this was. I put the mayonnaise in the bin, right next to that fucking yoghurt and the Arsenal museum. Fuck this.

Thinking on my feet, I ended up mixing the remnants of my sandwich fillings into the pasta, creating a sort of cheesy, meaty brick of carbohydrates, which I grimly and dilligently munched my way through, on the verge of tears before, almost immediately afterwards heading to bed, with an ominous churning beginning in my guts...

[minky-beta]

Dating Jake Fitzgerald Would Include...

Request: What would dating Jake Fitzgerald be like? 

A/N: I thought that this one was gonna be hard, but once I started writing it, it became easier. I actually had a lot of fun writing this, sot hank you for requesting this! I'm considering writing a oneshot that's kinda based off this but idk yet. Sorry it took so long, I hope you all enjoy it. Also, I'm picturing a relationship that spanned a couple of years that started off in high school. There's a few mentions of NSFW stuff, but mostly this is just fluff tbh

You weren't sure if he was serious when he asked you out for the first time because of 

"Is this some kind of joke Fitzgerald?" 

"No. I promise it's not a joke. I really /really/ want to go out with you Y/N" 

"Why don't I believe you?" 

"Just give me a chance, please... One date, and if you don't want to go out again, I won't ask" 

The first date ended up being amazing. He took you out to dinner and then went out to a carnival. At the end of it, you turned over to him, "If you're up for it, a second date sounds nice," He gave you a huge smile. "Next week. I'll text you with the details, okay?" "Okay," 

Brooke not liking you at first, because she's the protective best friend 

After dating Jake for two months with her not liking you, you confronted her. "I just- I don't want to let him to get hurt." "Brooke-" "You two could break up, and I don't want to see that." "I can't promise that we won't break up or that it won't hurt him. But I can promise that I'm going to give this my all, and I never want to hurt him." 

Brooke tries to be nicer after that, and you two eventually become friends

During the killings, one of you would sneak into the other's house to comfort each other

"It's okay. It's okay... We have to believe that everything's okay." "Then everything's okay." 

You practically slept in his hospital room after he got stabbed in the bowling alley (you heard the nurses talking about how they thought the two of you were cute in the hallways later) 

You actually climbed into his bed after he healed up a little bit, and you guys cuddled the entire night. "I was really scared for you, ya know?" "I know, but I wasn't going to die, not when I know you're here." 

You two always made up elaborate stories of how you wanted your future to go whenever it became a little too much (It was your glass castle) 

He joked around with you all the time 

The two of you could go all day just trading your inside jokes with each other, which can make you unbearable when you're with the others 

Jake's a pretty big fan of puns (bad ones are his specialty, and he'll be happy forever if you laugh at them) 

You've lost count of the amount of sexual innuendos he's told (most of the time he's kidding... most of the time) 

He has actually told them to you /during/ sex (He likes to make you laugh)

After Piper died, you two called each other almost every night because you were the only ones that could comfort each other 

On weekends, you two would sometimes stay up the entire night talking 

On school nights, you would still usually stay up the entire night, but you guys would pretend that you weren't going to ("We should be going to bed." "Yeah." "What about..." every single time) 

He would be the type of boyfriend who posts stuff about you all the time 

*Blurry picture of you where you can't recognize you* Aren't they so cute?

There's more pictures of you on his Instagram than him 

You two give each other compliments all the time. Like 24/7. 

Jake would totally be the cuddling type 

Sometimes you guys would go a few days without actually physically seeing each other, and he would literally tackle you in hugs and kisses 

A lot of times you two "hanging out" would just be you two cuddling and staring at each other, talking about stuff (your guys' dream future was your favorite topic) 

You and him are probably the couple that everyone knows is together because you're constantly cuddling or kissing each other (If you're not big on PDA, he'll at least try to hold your hand a lot) 

You two rarely have fights 

Like you'll have arguments often, but they're rarely serious and don't really make either of you mad. They’re usually just banter

But when you guys have actual fights, they blow up. 

You guys will scream at each other for hours, before one of you decides to leave the room 

There will usually be a day or two of the silent treatment, where the two of you will just try to think it through in some reasonable manner

When you two do finally talk to each other, it's actually a logical conversation where there's compromises and apologies. 

If Brooke gets a call from your parent(s), she just automatically says that you're staying over because you've used her as an excuse so many times (you just want to hang out with your boyfriend, is that too hard to ask?) 

You guys have a list of shows and movies that you both want to watch 

There are weekly meet ups where you guys pick something from that list and just binge it the entire night 

Most of the time you guys don't actually make it through the entire night, falling asleep tangled up with your blankets and each other

Every once in a while, when there's a particularly steamy scene, you guys will get... distracted by something else 

You guys actually try to avoid having anyone else over for these, because these nights are your thing (you have had to explain this multiple times to both Noah and Brooke)

You two plan out the pranks for April Fools in like, January 

The entire group tries to avoid you like a week beforehand, but you always get them, every time

Noah’s had pink hair. You’ve convinced Emma that her Mom’s pregnant. Told Brooke that you’ll go elope. Audrey’s gotten mayonnaise in her shampoo at least twice. 

After you guys have been together for a few years, he gives you a promise ring

"Y/N, I know we're young and I know this sounds crazy, but I know for a fact that I want to be with you for the rest of my life. So I'm not asking for you to marry me now, next week, or even next year. You make me happy in a way that I didn't even know was possible. I want both of us to know that we're going to last. So just please... promise me that one day, we'll go get married, with all our friends there, I call Brooke as my best-man, you don't get her. And that day will be one of the best days of our lives. So please, promise that to me?" 

"I love you Jake," you said as you grabbed the ring. "I want that too." 

A week after that, you gave him his own ring to wear, giving your own speech

Literally being high school sweethearts, and everyone knowing that you’ll be married after two months

Basically being the dream couple

[jobsearchtips02]

Past Turkey Sandwiches: 30 Methods to Revive Your Thanksgiving Leftovers

Thanksgiving, how do I like thee? Let me rely the methods. 

Really, let me not — not less than not completely. There are far too many. 

I like the crispness within the air (nonetheless refined it could be down right here in Florida) and the ever-present soccer video games on each TV display screen (though I don’t care about, and even completely perceive, the sport).

I like the way in which the home swells and bustles with relations I haven’t seen in far too lengthy (though after a day or two, I’m able to cease explaining the present occasions of my skilled and romantic lives to individuals who, primarily, stay strangers for many of the remainder of the yr). 

And, in fact, I like the meals: the ridiculous, magnificent unfold of meals we make approach an excessive amount of of, yr after yr.

It’s not like we don’t study. We all know there might be leftovers. Actually, they’re among the finest components of Thanksgiving!

However even essentially the most avid turkey sandwich fanatic will get just a little bored with them after just a few days.

After all, “I’m sick of it” isn’t any excuse to throw away completely good meals. Goodness is aware of we now have sufficient of a meals waste drawback on this nation already.

So earlier than you’re tempted to toss the stays of your feast within the trash, take a look at these scrumptious and inventive methods to reimagine your Thanksgiving leftovers. 

30 Impressed Methods to Repurpose Your Thanksgiving Leftovers

From classics like soup to surprisers like nachos, you’re positive to search out one thing to reignite your vacation urge for food.

Though many of those dishes comprise multiple conventional Thanksgiving ingredient, we’ve organized them by their important part so you may simply discover a recipe that matches your distinctive leftovers scenario. 

That mentioned, a few of them look so good, you would possibly need to make Thanksgiving dinner yet again… 

Turkey

The principle occasion can also be the one almost definitely to go away rather a lot behind — irrespective of how insistent mother is that every visitor take some house. 

Right here’s how one can rework that pile of turkey meat right into a scrumptious new dish.

1. Turkey Salad

Sharon Steinmann/The Penny Hoarder

The day after Thanksgiving, an enormous, hearty meal is likely to be the very last thing in your thoughts.

Loosen up your menu by making that leftover turkey right into a salad — both the creamy, mayo-based sort you serve on bread, or the type with precise lettuce. 

This cranberry pecan model from Carrie’s Experimental Kitchen seems to be beautiful, and Self Proclaimed Foodie’s Krissy substitutes Greek yogurt as a substitute of (or along with!) mayonnaise. 

2. Turkey Frittata

What’s eggy, scrumptious and completely acceptable for breakfast, lunch or dinner?

In case your reply was frittata, you converse my language — and if it wasn’t, put together to find out about your new favourite meals.

Jackie at Home Suits gives a recipe that’ll expend your leftover turkey and rolls in a snap, and Yasmin Fahr suggests dipping her frittata in leftover cranberry sauce combined with just a little little bit of dijon mustard. (Mainly, she’s a genius.)

However identical to an omelette, the chances are limitless. Simply crack some eggs and put in your pondering cap!

three. Leftover Thanksgiving Nachos

Now right here’s a dish I’d by no means have thought up alone. 

Meals Community gives on your consideration this appetizing tray of Thanksgiving leftovers-laden nachos, together with turkey, roasted Brussels sprouts and butternut squash. 

It even makes use of up the final of that may of French-fried onions you set in your inexperienced bean casserole.

four. Turkey Tetrazzini

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What’s a greater mate on your leftover chook than mayonnaise?

Attempt a creamy, tacky mushroom sauce — full with spaghetti. 

Tetrazzini, a traditional American pasta dish, works effectively with all types of poultry and fish, and turkey isn’t any exception. Plus, The Pioneer Lady’s model requires a whole block of cream cheese.

Give. Me. That.

5. Turkey Milanese

This fancy-sounding dish by Bobby Flay truly seems to be fairly darn straightforward to place collectively. 

And in the event you skip the pomegranate molasses, you in all probability have already got most of those elements in your pantry.

6. Turkey Pizza

Sound unconventional? Positive — however the very best half about making pizza at house goes past your native joint’s drained repertoire. 

If you happen to’re nonetheless unconvinced, take a look at ReadySetEat’s artichoke turkey pizza. Simply seize a premade crust and add some diced tomatoes, canned artichokes and olives, and two varieties of cheese (as a result of, sure). 

7. Turkey Enchiladas

Repurpose an American traditional right into a Mexican dish that approach predates the beginning of our nation.

There are many recipes on the market, however former senior editor Heather van der Hoop shares her father’s time-honored model, which the household makes yr after yr. 

Right here’s what you’ll want:

1.5 onions 2 cloves garlic four cups cooked turkey, shredded eight tablespoons gentle chili powder 2 contemporary jalapenos 1 cup smoked barbecue sauce 1 can tomato sauce 1 teaspoon every cumin, oregano and sugar three cups of hen broth (or your personal do-it-yourself turkey inventory; see merchandise #13 on this checklist!) 1 cup half-and-half 2 tablespoons of cornstarch dissolved in four tablespoons half-and-half 1 cup shredded monterey jack or cheddar cheese 12 tortillas salt and pepper cooking oil (comparable to olive) frying oil (comparable to canola) bitter cream inexperienced onions 

First, create a scrumptious do-it-yourself enchilada sauce by pureeing the gentle chili powder, contemporary jalapenos, barbecue sauce, one quartered onion, one clove of garlic, the can of tomato sauce, the cumin, oregano and sugar, a teaspoon of salt, an eighth of a teaspoon of pepper and two tablespoons of cooking oil. 

Fry the combination up in sizzling oil for about 5 minutes, stirring continuously. 

Then add the broth, a cup of half-and-half, plus the 2 tablespoons of cornstarch dissolved in a further four tablespoons of half and half. Simmer for 2 minutes.

Then, saute the remaining half onion and clove of garlic, diced finely, in sizzling oil. Add the shredded turkey, brown barely, and stir in sauce (reserving some) and salt and pepper to style. Warmth, and hold heat.

Fry the 12 tortillas shortly in sizzling oil. Drain and hold them heat in a casserole dish. Dip the tortillas in heated sauce, put a strip of filling throughout every, and roll tightly. Prepare side-by-side in pan, sprinkle with cheese and warmth in a 350 diploma oven for 10 minutes. 

Spoon heated sauce over enchiladas and serve with bitter cream and chopped inexperienced onions. Muy bien!

eight. Turkey Chili

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What higher solution to climate the chilly winter months than with a hearty chili? 

And because you’ve seemingly bought extra turkey than you realize what to do with, this lightened-up model from Bold Kitchen is an ideal match. 

And in the event you’re feeling fiery, take a look at Meals Community’s leftover turkey chili recipe, which brings the warmth with fire-roasted tomatoes.

9. Turkey “Shepherd’s” Pie

So, let’s assess the leftovers scenario. You’ve seemingly bought the next gadgets at your disposal:

Scrumptious, tender meat Completely paired gravy A crunchy, exquisitely carb-laden stuffing or dressing Mashed potatoes

Clearly, you want to put all these issues collectively in a single dish with mashed potatoes on high.

Though it’s referred to as “shepherd’s” pie as a result of it historically comes with lamb, this dish — poulterer’s pie? — is as easy and cost-effective as it’s tasty. You don’t have to make use of any elements aside from the leftovers themselves. 

TPH editor Caitlin Constantine made particular person servings together with her Thanksgiving leftovers “by layering turkey and stuffing and gravy in ramekins, then putting mashed potatoes on top and baking them until the taters were golden.” Um, yum.

And if you would like a full-sized pie, take a look at Martha Stewart’s recipe, which sweetens the cope with leftover cranberry sauce and glazed carrots.

Significantly, how lame does that sandwich sound now?

10. Turkey Pot Pie

Received a leftover pie crust or two…  or sufficient butter to pump out just a few extra?

You possibly can make a excellent turkey pot pie, crammed stuffed with all of your favourite fixings. This one, for instance, will expend your leftover inexperienced bean casserole, too.

Need one thing a bit extra handheld? 

Try this recipe for “pocket” pies, filled with cranberry sauce, candy and mashed potatoes, stuffing and, in fact, turkey. Make them forward of time and pop ‘em within the toaster oven to carry your youngsters a contemporary Thanksgiving chew for lunch each day this weekend!

11. Turkey Quesadillas

I imply, in the event you take actually something and add cheese, you just about can’t go improper.

This one requires brie and cranberry chutney, and I’m formally drooling on my desk.

12. Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole

Picture courtesy of The Seasoned Mother

Don’t overlook this time-honored traditional; it earned that standing for a motive! Casseroles are low cost, filling and scrumptious, to not point out an effective way to get these leftovers into hungry tummies.

There are tons of how to make your Thanksgiving leftovers right into a casserole, however this recipe seems to be notably good — and requires canned soups and frozen peas, which you in all probability have already got at your disposal.

13. So Many Scrumptious Winter Soups

First issues first: If you happen to’re not making contemporary turkey inventory with that picked-clean carcass, you’re doing it improper. 

Relying on its eventual use, turkey inventory recipes fluctuate… however the fundamental recipe is simply that: fundamental. 

Throw some root veggies, spices and what’s left of the chook in a pot, cowl with water and simmer so long as you may stand it — it’s going to odor unbelievable. (This recipe says two to a few hours, however I’ve gone so long as six, including further water as wanted).

Then, make that inventory into scrumptious soups! It is a frequent Thanksgiving custom, so you’ve got tons of types to select from. Would possibly I counsel Alton Brown’s super-simple “bird to the last drop” or this kale-and-white-bean model from Entire Residing?

And take a look at Pinch of Yum’s Simple Turkey Pho, which requires savory fish sauce and candy spices like cinnamon and cloves. (Yummy and in addition good: You completely purchased extras of these spices for all that vacation baking, proper? Time to make use of ‘em up earlier than they lose their taste!)

14. OK, Nice, Turkey Sandwiches

I get it. Some issues are conventional for a motive.

However after your compulsory Surprise-bread-and-Hellman’s model, contemplate elevating your turkey sandwich recreation with the next inventive recipes.

This Thanksgiving leftovers membership sandwich stacks the whole lot that was in your plate between three layers of dinner rolls. 

Martha Stewart suggests three sandwich variants to make use of up your chook: the turkey and onion (which seems to be approach higher than it sounds), the turkey cobb, and the turkey, cheddar and inexperienced apple.

Meals Community chef Tyler Florence’s turkey sandwich requires apple butter and brie (swoon) — and I’ve a hunch that fresh-carved turkey breast will substitute for deli slices simply nice.

Mashed Potatoes

Samantha Dunscombe/The Penny Hoarder

Within the class of meals that make you go, “I made too much of this and I’m not sorry,” mashed potatoes are second solely to the turkey itself.

And though they’re simply as yummy reheated and piled up with gravy the subsequent day, listed here are some extra inventive choices to play with.

15. Potato Pancakes

Potato pancakes would possibly already be the proper Penny Hoarder meals. 

They’re scrumptious, filling, versatile and, in fact, cheap — particularly when you’ve got a ton of leftover mashed potatoes to make use of up.

Gown this fundamental recipe up along with your favourite toppings… like, say, all that leftover cranberry sauce. (Thanks, Oh, Candy Basil!) 

Meals Community Chef Giada De Laurentiis get eggs and parmesan concerned in her “eggs in purgatory” dish.

Or, you possibly can experiment with throwing extra elements proper into the combination earlier than cooking. 

Kelly, who blogs at Only a Style, properly suggests cheddar cheese and scallions. However even in the event you simply eat ‘em plain, trust me: You’re gonna have a cheerful stomach.

16. Mashed Potato Soup

Sure, extra soup. Come on, it is the proper winter meals, proper?

Plus, you’d be hard-pressed to argue in opposition to this loaded mashed potato soup from Mommy Hates Cooking. 

Bonus: Skip the hen broth and sub in that scrumptious turkey inventory you made.

17. Mashed Potato Muffins

Who knew that in the event you add an egg to mashed potatoes, they’ll bake into fluffy, scrumptious muffins?

Now promise to make use of your newfound data for good. Only a Style’s Kelly gives this crazy-simple recipe for mashed potato muffins, or attempt Religion’s barely extra concerned recipe for mashed potato “puffs,” accessible at The Kitchn. 

By the way in which, once I say “involved,” I imply “there is a lot of cheese and bacon in it.” So it’s positively the great sort of concerned.

18. Croquettes

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Need a fast and straightforward approach to make use of up your turkey meat, mashed potatoes and leftover cranberry sauce multi functional go?

Try Martha Stewart’s recipe for turkey croquettes. They’re deep-fried, so we’re betting you may substitute more cost effective dried herbs for contemporary. Don’t fear, nobody will inform Martha.

Already used up your turkey in one of many delicious recipes above? John Torode’s “bubble and squeak” croquettes name for bacon, turnips and cabbage for a complete repackaging of a Thanksgiving fave.

19. Gluten-Free Cake

Guess you didn’t know mashed potatoes may have a spot on the dessert desk. 

This lemon drizzle cake ditches flour in favor of floor almonds and — you guessed it — mashed potatoes to remain fluffy and flavorful, though it’s gluten-free. 

Informed you we have been gonna get inventive.

Stuffing

Samantha Dunscombe/The Penny Hoarder

It’s sort of a rarity to have any of this left, not less than in my home.

That mentioned, in the event you do have leftover stuffing, you’re in for a deal with.

20. Fried Stuffing Bites

As quickly as I noticed this recipe, I knew I used to be in hassle. 

I do know everybody says this, however my mother’s stuffing is the precise finest on the planet. As proof, I supply the truth that it consists of a whole pound of sizzling breakfast sausage and a full loaf of slightly-stale white bread. 

Mainly, there’s no approach I’m getting by means of the vacations with out deep-frying bites of these infants and dredging them by means of cranberry sauce. 

Thanks, Sunny Anderson — however for the sake of me nonetheless becoming into something I personal come January, please cease writing recipes. (However probably not.)

21. Stuffing-Stuffed Mushrooms

Stuffing inception: Far more scrumptious than the film, though there’s much less Leonardo DiCaprio. 

This Meals Community recipe is super-simple and appears loopy tasty. Do your self a favor and spring for contemporary parmesan — the stuff within the inexperienced cardboard tube has no place on a dish this handsome.  

Cranberry Sauce

Sharon Steinmann/The Penny Hoarder

It’s not usually you get to have what’s mainly dessert in your precise dinner plate. 

And I do know it’s one among my favourite Thanksgiving components: candy however tangy and an ideal praise to that overzealous mound of different savory dishes.

However shockingly, many individuals eat solely a tiny little bit of cranberry sauce, or contemplate it merely compulsory. 

Which is possibly fortunate for you, contemplating these recipes for its leftovers.

22. Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

Final winter, I made a cranberry-pecan upside-down cake and took it to the resort the place my dad and mom have been staying on the town.

We ended up sharing it with three or 4 folks on the resort bar, whose vacation spirit — and smiles — grew with every ensuing chew.

I can’t discover the recipe I used (drats!), however this model from Baked In’s Julie seems to be, admittedly, approach higher than mine did. Simply substitute your sauce for the contemporary cranberries it requires — or use that leftover bag that didn’t make it to your desk within the first place. 

23. Cranberry Tartlets

Calling for little greater than dough, an egg and a few sugar, these cranberry tartlets are as elegant-looking as they’re scrumptious, and make an excellent aid from heavier, custard-based desserts like pumpkin pie. 

24. Cranberry Pancakes

Thanksgiving leftovers for breakfast doesn’t should imply hash — not that it’s a nasty possibility! 

Think about spooning your cranberry sauce into pancake batter for a candy breakfast which may change into your new favourite Friday-after-Thanksgiving custom. 

25. Cranberry Muffins

Wish to rework that cranberry sauce into subsequent week’s breakfast for the entire household?

Whip up a batch of muffins! This recipe from Kitchen Treaty’s Kare seems to be delectable, as does Wes Martin’s cranberry-carrot model. And hey, you’ll get a serving of fruits and greens in each!

Inexperienced Bean Casserole

Samantha Dunscombe/The Penny Hoarder

Actually, we didn’t discover a complete lot of how to repurpose this one — in all probability as a result of it’s so darn good simply reheated and eaten as-is.

However other than spooning it onto salads (or just into your mouth) do this straightforward approach to make use of up your inexperienced bean casserole.

26. Inexperienced Bean Quiche

This quiche has 9 elements, one among which is your leftover inexperienced bean casserole — and two of that are cheese. 

That’s the sort of math I’m completely satisfied to do, English main or no.

Candy Potatoes

Whether or not you sweeten your dinner with candied yams or go for a savory dish, this spud in all probability has a spot at your Thanksgiving desk.

Right here’s what to do with the leftovers. 

27. Breakfast Hash

Picture courtesy of Consuming Properly

This suggestion comes straight from our CEO, Kyle Taylor.

“I always make a breakfast hash with leftover sweet potatoes, turkey and poached eggs,” he wrote in a Slack message. I all the time knew that man was good.

I’m positive any hash with these elements would come out spectacularly, even in the event you simply threw the whole lot on the pan.

However in the event you’re on the lookout for a extra structured recipe to observe, contemplate this model from Jan’s Sushi Bar, which includes kale and bacon fats (yum), or EatingWell’s lightened-up hash, which brings in an apple to stability the combination.

28. Candy Potato Biscuits

Need a barely sweetened roll to go along with your Saturday dinner, as soon as all of the Thanksgiving crescents have been eaten up?

Check out Angela’s candy potato biscuits, courtesy of Spinach Tiger — and be sure you click on by means of to her unique recipe for candied candy potatoes, too. I do know I’ll be making an attempt that recipe for my subsequent large vacation meal!

29. Candy Potato Pie

Transfer over, Patti LaBelle. 

Reworking your yams right into a candy potato pie is just about so simple as including crust — and a few evaporated milk or eggs to get the pie’s texture proper. 

Attempt Style of House’s model, full with pecans, or Angela’s at Spinach Tiger. (Her recipes look so good, we needed to embody her twice!)

30. Candy Potato Cake

Right here’s yet another solution to make these candy potatoes even sweeter: Remodel them into cake!

This recipe seems to be harking back to good, do-it-yourself gingerbread. You’ll want to modify the quantity of sugar you add to the combination relying on how a lot sweetness is already in your yams!

Jamie Cattanach is a contributing author whose writing has additionally been featured at The Write Life, Phrase Riot, Nashville Overview and elsewhere. Discover @JamieCattanach on Twitter to wave whats up.

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The App Development

I decided that the best way to show the App was on phone mock-ups, but I had no idea where to start design wise, plus I have never designed an App before. So I decided to look at some videos on YouTube, where one mentioned the website called UI8 which allowed you to pay and download App templates. I chose a set that included all of the types of screens, that I needed, and more, including one that allowed you to create an account, some that included credit card information and many different styles of graphs.

Before deciding to use the App templates I had a look on YouTube at ways to make phone mock-up’s and how to make the phone look 3D. However, with my basic After Effects knowledge I knew this would take me a long time to do, I was running out of time and needed to get moving with my designs. The first video was the one that mentioned visiting the website for the App templates, he stated that its what he uses for his phone mock-ups and gives you a professional outcome. 

Another website that I looked at, but the templates that were featured on the website did not include all of the page styles that I needed to include in my App.

This is when I found UI8 website which had some really cool mock-up template designs, plus the colours looked really appealing, they looked like a professional App. I paid and downloaded the IoWallet template as it had everything I needed it to, the price of the download was $14 so not too expensive. 

As the download was in a PSD format I opened it up in Photoshop. These are what the templates looked like, single screens which were able to be adjusted. 

As each one had hundreds of different labelled layers for each piece of text, object, colour, effect and background. I am just glad that they had their own name so I knew which layer to select. All template designs featured lots of layers that were adjustable. I made adjustments to every single design that I chose.

In Photoshop I selected the phone template that I wanted to work on. For the first one I chose this design to show how you would create an account. I adjusted it by firstly adding the Piggy logo, I decided not to include the strap line as I thought it would look at bit out of place at the top of the screen. I also changed the text by selecting the layers one by one and using the text tool. Some of the text I changed to pink using the fill tool, I thought this worked nicely and linked with the logo. 

For this one I used the same template but changed the text using the text tool. This was because I couldn’t fit all the sections to create an account in the first mock-up. This one featured gender, phone number and Facebook which would allow AI to work.

I thought this template would work well when explaining about adding the debit/credit cards. It shows how you can view your account through the App and what it would look like on screen. All I did for this was change all the text, including the numbers at the top, the details on the card and the information at the top this is because most of the amounts were in dollars or because the amount of money available in the account was unrealistic. I decided to keep everything else the same as it worked well for my App. 

This one I kept everything the same apart from the text. I adjusted the amounts to show the idea of buying something and then the App rounding it up to the nearest pound. Like buying a burger for £5.40, the App will round it up to £6.00 and put the difference into a savings account. For the burger I used an icon which I found on Flaticon, I downloaded it and then placed it into Photoshop.

I decided to create a few more mock-ups which showed the debit/credit card accounts. Again I kept everything the same but changed the text using the text tool so it included the information that I wanted it to. Here it shows the idea of generating a report of your spending by clicking on the purple button.

This was perfect for showing what the report would look like. It gives a run down of things you have bought, your outgoing expenses like phone contract and transport. It also counts income. I adjusted all of the text in this mock-up to made sure it looked as real as possible. This included labelling the mobile as EE and changing the amount to £ rather than $. 

Again this shows a run down of all your expenses and transactions if you are worried where your money has gone. Again I changed all text to make it relatable to the UK as some of the names that were previously featured I had never heard of before. All of the money was in $ so I had to change them to £ and make the outgoing and incoming money more realistic as some of the amounts were in the £1000′s. I liked how the incoming money was labelled green so I decided to keep that, it was a nice touch. 

This shows the idea of being able to add any account that you wish, including debit/ credit cards or even ApplePay. In the mock-up I showed that all types of accounts were linked to the App to show people how they would look, but also to make it easier when explaining it in the video. To make it a bit more realistic I added the type of phone that uses the ApplePay. 

This was probably one of the more difficult ones to design. The first thing I did was find a picture of an iPhone screen on Google. I saved it to my desktop and then opened it up in Photoshop. To create the drop down I used the rectangle shape tool and filled it white as that is the actual colour used for drop down notifications on iPhone. I then created a section rectangle and filled this white but lowered the opacity which made it slightly see-though. In the left hand corner of the top rectangle I placed the logo and on the right using the text tool I added ‘1min ago’ to make it look a bit more realistic. Lastly using the text tool I added the notification message which was ‘do you really need to go out for another meal, that’s 3 times this week’.To get people to save!.I placed the image onto a phone mock-up PSD which I previously found on Google and dowloaded to my desktop.

This was again one of the more difficult ones to design. The first thing I did was find a picture of an iPhone look screen on Google. I saved it to my desktop and then opened it up into Photoshop. To create the notifications I used the rectangle shape tool and filled it white as that is the actual colour used for  notifications on iPhone. I then created a section rectangle and filled this white but lowered the opacity which made it slightly see-though, I repeated this process twice. In the left hand corner of the top rectangle I placed the logo and on the right using the text tool I added ‘1min ago’ and the other ‘10 mins ago’ to make it look a bit more realistic. For the first on it says ‘you have an upcoming electricity bill of £50.00′ this is to show that Piggy gives you a reminder of when you have upcoming bills. The second one says ‘Heinz mayonnaise at ASDA £1.99 compared to Tesco £2.20′, showing that the App uses interconnections of data to find you the best deals. I placed the image onto a phone mock-up PSD which I previously found on Google and dowloaded to my desktop.

As you can see at the top the templates were a different colour to start with. I felt that this colour colour scheme did not work well with my logo design. Therefore I found a way to change the colour. I found the background layer and using the hue and saturation tool I adjusted the colour to make it blue. I was planning on using a pink colour but then decided against it as it would make the App too girly, so I made it blue. I changed the colour on every design. 

I previously downloaded an iPhone screen mock-up psd which I found on Google. I opened this up into Photoshop and placed each screen individually onto the screen and saved them as PNG’s ready to place into my video.