#but that's better than when i questioned going to vet school for the first time ever during my first rotation

[weaselle]

my father is a retired doctor of internal medicine. He's very very intelligent, and so intense about it he might also be on the spectrum.

If you mention anything that gets his interest in any way, he will either info dump a deep dive, or turn it into a weird, like, shark tank inquisition.

So for example, if you mention that you, whatever, you like the sandwiches at the shop on Broadway, in which case he's likely to tell you the history of the building and the damage it sustained in the storm of whatever year and how the guy they hired to fix it ripped them off and who the last 5 owners of the business were and what their menus were and how they had to petition the city council to increase their sign height but that owner's son had been in school with the son of one of the city council members so...

OR, you might idly mention that you were thinking about, ikd, say, getting a horse. But "thinking about" means something different to him, so he'll spend the next however long asking you

"What kind of horse, why that kind of horse, where will you keep it, oh you'd have to house it in a barn that rents stalls to private horse owners, how much does that cost, how much do those costs vary from barn to barn, is there a contract, what is the duration of a typical contract with a barn for housing your horse, is it a new contract every year or what, does that include food, if it does include food do you have any control over what food you feed your horse what if you wanted to switch to a certain food, how much does it cost to feed a horse each month if you are doing it on your own dime, what are the food options and their price points, what's better about the more expensive option, how much will you expect to spend on vet bills each month, will you be getting horse health insurance, does the barn have an in-house vet, is there a horse trainer, what will you be using your horse for, how many times a month will you actually be riding your horse, is the shoeing included or do you pay out of pocket for shoeing your horse, how often does a horse get new horse shoes, does that change according to how much exercise the horse does, did you grow up riding horses, what are the details of your horse riding experience, what are your plans for if the horse...."

i mean, he'll turn anything into an ivy league final exam. Like when he asks you a question and you give him an answer he's likely to request your source. In many ways it was a total nightmare being raised by him.

ANYWAY the point is, i spent the last two weeks preparing a preliminary business plan, and i just now told him i quit my job to go into business for myself, and he spent over an hour grilling me

and for the first time in my life when talking to him about any plans of mine, i actually had legitimate real-world answers prepared for almost everything he asked.

i've never experienced this. It's honestly better than drugs

[elslovers]

chapter one

BLOOD IN BLOOD OUT

synopsis: medical school is hard you knew it would be you prepared for the long nights and breakdowns you prepared to run off only coffee and will power for four years what you didn't prepare for was Abby Anderson you thought after graduation you would be done with her but first day of your internship there she is ready to give you hell...and maybe something more

a/n this is basically going to be greys anatomy tlou version im not sure this is gonna land with people but lord I hope so doctor abby eats so lets see how this go - also this is my first not standalone fic yay for me

you had always been a healer in one way or another, mending healing sick younger siblings back to health from a cold or nasty flu turned to taking care of your friend's hangovers after discovering to never vodka and tequila

you've spent your whole life healing people mending broken hearts and broken women, and mending parents and friends during the lows of their life it only made sense that you would dedicate your life to mending the pain of others its what you do best, and if you're being honest, you loved it at first, you thought you might want to be a vet at the ripe age of eleven. You decided you prepared the company of your pets to those around you (you still do) and thought fixing them might be a decent way to spend your adult life but the concept of seeing animals in any form of pain put you off your dinner then in middle school, you thought maybe a nurse you liked the idea of a hospital, the concept of working alongside brilliant doctors and helping save people's lives by realizing you only wanted to be a nurse because you thought you couldn't be the doctor and fuck that

college, you spent every second of every minute of every goddamn day proving you deserved to be one of the doctors, and after four years of grueling pre-med classes, you were confident you deserved to be one of the doctors then came med school, which knocked you flat on your ass. You didn't go to a shabby school for undergrad, but you ran circles around your peers there - common knowledge was that you were the one to watch, but med school was different you weren't running the circles alone Abby Anderson had been breathing down your neck and your ego from the moment you stepped foot into your first class - the first question your professor asked your two hands were the only ones to fly up

it was world war three ever since that day constantly an all-out battle as to who can bruise the other's ego more you hated her stupid notes and the way she was so above using an iPad like everyone else and was insistent on surviving med school with pen and paper for notes, only using her laptop when needed be you hated her attitude. Her father is a doctor, and she always acted like she was born with a scalpel in her hand, ready to cut she always acted so above you if you were being honest with yourself, Abby made you feel weak. She was tailor-made for this life. She was stoic and hard level headed and cool under pressure. She poked fun at all the things that made you you

she made fun of the way you doodled in the edges of your textbook she made fun of how you dressed 'like an overgrown toddler.' She would say every time you sported your colorful shirts or pants, your cardigans or fun shoes- the day you wore pigtails to a lecture was one of the worst of your years there Abby always quipped that you were better-suited teaching kindergarten than in the OR, and sometimes you started to believe her

in high school, mean girls were blondes with Jeeps and low GPAs, but in med school, the mean girl was a cut-throat soon to be doctor who almost beat you out for top of the class almost

graduation day came and when and you stood on that stage beaming ear to ear - your dress may have been pink, but you were the only one with a gold cord draped over your cap and gown so suck on that, Abby Anderson was the second name to be called and the relief that flooded your body was unexpected

it was over. She was gone, and you would never have to feel that big hand wrap around your shoulder just to tug at your ponytail you had finally gotten rid of Abby fucking Anderson and you existed blissfully with that thought all summer you'd accepted your internship at Jackson Hospital and after four miserable years of med school spent proving to yourself you deserve to be a doctor, you now got to spend the next four years of your life proving to yourself you deserve to save lives when your alarm echoed throughout the four walls of your one-bedroom apartment, it felt like a gift

today was the first day of the rest of your life

it was a fresh start - a clean slate and nothing in this world could knock you off your high at least you thought

the light blue scrubs felt like a second skin right off the bat, and with your hair in a pink clip and two cups worth of coffee In your travel mug, you gathered around the other interns and spotted the only thing that could ruin your day a honey blonde braid hanging idly down the pack of the one person who could make you regret even waking up that morning

fucking Abby

Abby had a special gift for making you feel small, always pointing out the things you love about yourself as if they were the worst flaws she'd ever seen

it blew your mind to think your first impression of her was that she was stunning

"you have got to be kidding me" You meant it to sound firm and harsh, but you know it came out weak

you watched, gawking as Abby turned roughly on her heels to tower over you properly

this was going to be a nightmare

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

to say Abigail Anderson was meant to be a surgeon would be the understatement of the year

where you were born to heal

Abby was born to cut

her father was a healer,

but what she lacked in his warmth she made up for in discipline. Abby was controlled. She was hard-working. She knew what she wanted from the moment she was old enough to vocalize it and she spent every moment of every day working toward it. It would be admirable if she was humble about it but Abby was cocky, and she knew it

she was always the one to beat all throughout her life she spent most of her young childhood inside the walls of Jackson Hospital, absorbing every ounce of knowledge her mind could, and by the time she hit high school, she was a well-oiled goddamn machine Abby lived and breathed medicine, and although out college, every move she made had the sole purpose of bringing her closer to the goal - to the one thing she was made to do it is needless to say, Abby never had many friends. That's not to say she had none. Every overachieving perfectionist can attest that various social clubs help fill the void

Abby was president of the debate team Vice President of Model UN, captain of the girl's basketball team, and an active member of the gay, straight alliance per her father's request (begging) who often worried Abby didn't surround herself with 'people on your team' as he father would put it over breakfast most mornings

Abby had people but Abby was alone. She didn't play nice with others people who weren't on her level she found boring and impossible to converse with and people on her level (people like you) posed as a threat to the territory that was rightfully hers Abby walked confidently into med school posy undergrad, convinced no one could take the wind out of her sails until she met you

for every question asked you always seemed to have the answer a second faster for every quiz test or exam that she got an A on it always felt as though you got an A + she hated the way you showed her up and did so with a smile - did so with fucking pigtails

she hated how good you got and how kind you stayed she spent years convincing herself that the way she was is what it took to become bright that warm girls sweet girls girls who doodle and play nice don't become cut throat and that Abby was made to be cut throat

but there you were personified sunshine and holding a fucking dagger to her throat it seemed unfair so when you made her feel low Abby would make you feel lower she knew her teasing and taunts were pathetic and bordering on cruel but for four years taking the wind out of your sails put it back into hers

she would be a liar if she said tequila and late nights in her apartment didn't force her to think about how soft and broken your face looks when she teases you she would be a liar if she said those thoughts didn't want to make her stop but they just were never enough when she sobered up

after graduation all she could feel was relief sure you had one for a final time you pulling top the class out from under her would chase her down in her nightmares for years to come but she had the summer to nurse her pride and by the time day one of internship rolled around she was prepared to walk though the doors of Jackson hospital exactly what she was A legacy Abby was the second link in the chain of Anderson surgons in that hospital

her father was legend and now she could follow it up build her own reputation of excellence she like he had always intended when she gathered around the other interns sipping on her coffee as they all spoke in hushed whispers about how she was the daughter of THE dr Anderson she was confident nothing could bring her down until she heard your voice small and weak and taunting as she whips around her braid nearly hitting someone in the face

"oh come the fuck on" she hissed feeling the anger rising right to her cheeks

this was going to be a nightmare

[dilatorywriting]

Hi this is a weird question but I was wondering what were your gpas, stats, and hour for when you applied to vet school. I’m going to apply this year but I’m nervous my gpa and hours are not good enough.

Hello hello! Best of luck to you my friend! 😊

Here's everything I can think up, so hopefully it helps answer whatever questions you have!

My GPA was low, about 3.45, which was just above the minimum 3.4 needed to apply to the the majority of schools. That was my biggest concern, but I'd read that overall if you kept your head up and did well in other areas it would work out. And, well, I got in on my first round so I'd say it was all fine!

I took the GRE + Bio rather than the MCAT, because I'd heard the MCAT was really heavy psychology and wanted to avoid it. I don't remember what my exact score was, but I was somewhere in the 90th percentile for the regular GRE and somewhere in the 80th percentile for the Bio portion

My saving grace was that I did a LOT of work experience. I spent every summer of my undergrad working as an assistant in a Small Animal ER/Referral Center, averaging about 50hrs a week. So by the time I applied during my final year of undergrad, I had hundreds, if not thousands of hours of experience. On top of that, I was lucky enough to get into a decently competitive internship doing marine rescue and rehab, so that helped a lot as well. However, that one wasn't on my application itself because of overlap of submission deadlines and the final internship selection, yadayadayada. So you don't need something super high intense to get the interview. But I think it definitely helped during the interview

The biggest thing I've seen from my own experiences and my friends' is that it comes down a lot to your mentality, if that makes sense. Like I remember getting absolutely grilled in my interview over it to the point I thought I'd absolutely flopped the whole thing. Vet medicine is tough, especially now with the post-pandemic pet boom and the way owners seem to be getting nastier and nastier. My program started before all that went down, and I still know at least half a dozen people who dropped out in the first year. Schools want people who are going to stick around. So you have to show that this is a career you're passionate about and that you have at least a basic understanding of how the current environment in the field is. Basically, you have to show that not only do you love animals, but that you love medicine. And that the field has its challenges now but you want to be a part of improving it for the better.

It's a tough process, but it all works out in the end. Don't let bumps in the road get you down! Only about 50% of applicants get a spot every year, and it can be even less than that on a first attempt. Not to scare you off!!! But as a "it is really, really hard. And it's not just you. It's hard all around so don't think you aren't cut out for it just because you may not feel great about how things went the first time around."

Good luck <3

[roadtogracelandx45]

Mine Now| Jax Teller

masterlist

word count 3k

Mine, Now 

Summary: Ryder didn’t even want to attend the homecoming dance, it wasn’t her, but thanks to her best friend Holly and her ex-boyfriend David Hale who later ends up ditching her, she agrees to go only to be stood up. Worried about her well-being Luanne calls Jax who comes to the house and they finally admit those feelings for each other. 

Rated T for language 

*mentions of smut*

*This is conveying some of the thoughts I have had in the past about myself and my place in everything.

***

Homecoming was the first dance of the school year, and while it was at the top of most girls’ lists it wasn’t even on Ryder Winston’s radar. Maybe it was because she was a tomboy that would rather play with tools and grease than dress up in a pretty dress and get her hair and makeup done.

Or maybe it was because she was the daughter and the sister of members of the Sons of Anarchy motorcycle club and most residents of Charming were leery of the group and its doings. Or maybe it was because she just didn’t care but still agreed and agreed to go shopping with Gemma and Luanne who always jumped at the chance to dress up Ryder.  

“Come on Ry, this is going to be fun,” Luanne commented as she pulled another brightly colored dress off of the rack and held it up to Ryder’s body causing her to push it down while pulling a face. Ryder rarely wore bright colors, it was black, white, denim blue, and gray. Like a good future old lady should. 

 “As much fun as going to the dentist and getting a tooth pulled.” “If you didn’t want to go, why did you agree?” “Have you tried to say no to your best friend?” 

“And ex-boyfriend?” Gemma threw in, she was curious about what happened, but thanks to her son and his best friend she wasn’t able to question her until now, “Are you going with David just to piss off Jax?”

 Ryder rolled her eyes and turned the rack of dresses. 

“This has nothing to do with Jax, Gem. I am never gonna be anything more than Opie’s little sister. And it doesn’t have anything to do with David either. If anything he is trying to prove a point to his dad, that he isn’t going to fall in line and hate us because they do. Or he is just using me to get Tara back? I am not the greatest catch.”  

Since the first breakup with David happened Ryder had become more self-aware and self dissipating. And it worried Gemma that she was like this. She was 17 years old, she didn’t need to be like that.  “Don’t say that sweetie.” Luanne started, “You are a great catch. People are just idiots.”

 Ryder rolled her eyes and pulled a dress off the rack, she knew that she wasn’t a catch. She was the daughter of a war vet and a member of a motorcycle club and had served time in jail and her older brother Opie was following in his footsteps. And she, herself didn’t have much to offer and she knew that she was subpar at best. And why would Jackson Teller want someone like that? When he could have Tara Knowles? She had thought she had gotten over her crush on Jax, but she hadn’t.  But she would never say that out loud especially to Gemma and Luanne. 

They were her biggest cheerleaders and supporters and if they heard those thoughts, there would be hell to pay.  And if Gemma found out about the crush she would do everything she could get them together. 

Instead, Ryder kept her mouth shut and pulled several black dresses off of the rack, “I will be trying these on.” 

** 

3 days later

**

“Sweetheart, I am so sorry,” Gemma said reaching to touch the back of Ryder’s shoulder, the girl jerked it away and shook her head. They had been waiting for well over an hour for David to come and pick her up from the Teller-Morrow house and he hadn’t shown up. 

“Don’t be.” Ryder returned, reaching up and undoing the diamond-dangling earrings she had been wearing, “I knew it was going to happen. Why date the daughter of an outlaw? When you can be with someone that’s going to be a doctor? That looks a lot better in the political circle.” 

She dropped the earrings on the side table before undoing the matching necklace.  

“What’s so great about me?” 

Luanne, who had been standing in the doorway, took steps back and picked up the cordless phone to call the clubhouse. 

There were only three people who could talk her down from this ledge she was on. One was her older brother Opie, two was Jax, and three was her old man Otto.  

“What do I have to offer Gem huh?” Her trembling fingers were already pulling at the bobby pins that were holding her hair up. 

“My own fucking mother didn’t want me. She left me here. Why am I even still alive? There’s no point. Piney has crow eaters, and Opie has Donna. No one needs me.” 

“I do.” Jax’s voice said from the doorway, he had broken all the speed limits to get from the clubhouse to his mom’s house. Ryder turned on her heel and looked at him, the tears sliding down her cheeks. He crossed the room and pulled her into him, his free hand wiping some of the tears away and ruining the makeup that Luanne had spent hours on getting perfect. At this point Luanne didn’t care that all her hard work was going down the drain, she just wanted Ryder to be better.  

Looking at Gemma, she knew that she too was feeling the immense guilt of not seeing that Ryder had been struggling ever since Mary left. She had put on a hell of a show for them even though 90% of the time they would see right through it and call her on her bullshit. Now was not that time. 

“No, you don’t Jackson, as soon as Tara is back to being available you will be right back to circling her like a little puppy wanting to mark its territory.”  

Instead of getting angry as he would have in the past, he pulled her closer to him, his hand bunching in the material of her dress.

 “You have never been so dead wrong in your life Ryder. I started dating Tara because I was jealous that you were dating Hale.” 

“You? Were jealous because I had a boyfriend?”

 Through the tears, there was surprise in her voice, and in her eyes “I thought you thought of me as Opie’s little sister.’  He laughed, “I never thought that.” 

Sensing that this was going to be a very private moment between the two and they didn’t need an audience, both Luanne and Gemma left the two alone, going to the kitchen and hiding just out of sight. “You didn’t?” Jax shook his head, the familiar cocky smirk forming on his face. “Don’t play with me, Jackson Teller.”  She warned tapping his chest with her hand in warning. He laughed lowly before lowering his mouth onto hers. 

Once he pulled back, Ryder laughed breathlessly, her fingers clenching his kutte, “Well I guess that changes things.” 

**

The Next Morning

**

Ryder blinked her eyes open, her head felt heavy and her hazel eyes were burning with the effort of being open. 

“What the hell happened last night?” She muttered to herself, she vaguely remembered being stood up for the homecoming dance and Jax coming to be with her but everything after that was kind of blurry. 

Carefully she lifted her head up and looked around the room she was in, it was her bedroom at Gemma’s house. A room she had insisted that she had before Mary pulled the disappearing act on them, the black dress she had on was left in a pile on the floor by the door, followed by the black lace strapless bra and thong and baggy blue jeans, a white t-shirt and a leather kutte.

 Panicked she went to sit up but couldn’t, she twisted her head quickly and her eyes landed on Jackson Teller, his head was resting next to where hers used to be and his arm was holding her close to his chest. 

“Go back to sleep Darlin’.” Jax’s voice came sleep-filled, his arm tightening on her waist, “Ma will wake us up when it’s time to get up.” Ryder nodded her head and let him pull her closer to him. The heaviness in her heart was missing. But maybe this was what she was missing. Jax.  Maybe she was meant to be his old lady and she was just putting it off because she didn’t want to become like Gemma or Luanne or even worse her mother. 

And that thought scared her more than anything 

*** 

Teller Morrow Auto Shop

*** 

“What happened?” Holly Oswald asked as she threw open her car door and stormed over to where Ryder was holding a clipboard and going over the repo list with her brother, Jax, and Chibs later that afternoon. She and Gemma had come in after Opie and Piney threatened to kill Jax if he hurt Ryder. Either one of them had planned to tell the others yet about whatever this was but Clay wanting to cause more issues opened his mouth and told them what he had seen that morning. 

“You never showed up, and David came in with Tara.” “There’s ya answer lass,” Chibs answered, they had all gotten the download from Jax when the man showed back up at the garage plus what they had heard from Clay made them want to be more overprotective of her. 

“He stood Ryder up. Jackie boy had to go comfort her.” 

“He said.” Holly started feeling worse than she had after she found out. She and Audrey both agreed that Ryder stood him up and that David was right to take Tara instead. 

 “That’s your first mistake Holls.” Ryder said handing the paperwork to Chibs, “Believing the bullshit lies that David obviously told you and Audrey about wanting me back. I was the fool that got stood up, and it’s not gonna happen again.”  

The dark-haired teen nodded her head watching her friend and Jax together, something had changed but she wasn’t sure what it was. “No! Shut up! Ryder!” “What?” She asked innocently as Jax pressed a kiss to her cheek and whispered a few quiet words to her, causing her first to blush and then shiver. 

“What happened?” She motioned between the two.  Ryder shrugged her shoulders, “I don’t kiss and tell.”  The girl looked thoughtful before piecing it together. “It’s about goddamn time.” 

** 

The following Monday morning, Jax pulled his bike in front of the school next to Opie’s bike and looked back at Ryder who had just slid off of the bike and was undoing his spare helmet. “What?” She questioned with a small smirk pulling on her lips. “Nothin’.’ He returned with his own smirk pulling her to him by his baggy hoodie she had thrown on over her clothes. 

“Sure, nothin.” She returned as she raised herself up on her toes and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. 

“Oh come on,” Opie complained, leaning against his bike, Donna, his girlfriend, was standing next to him, excitement in her brown eyes. She had gotten a quick version of what happened that weekend the following day at the clubhouse but she wanted the whole dirty version of it. Except for Ryder wouldn’t give it not with Opie being around. 

 “What?” The younger Winston returned glancing over her shoulder at her older brother, “Now you know how I felt seeing you and Donna together.” Opie rolled his eyes, he and his dad had given Jax the talk about not hurting Ryder the way that David had hurt her. Even though Jax was his best friend, Ryder was his little sister and he would do anything for her. 

Even beat the shit out of his best friend. 

“Come Ry, we got to go in,” Donna said, there were students starting to go into the building. Ryder nodded her head and finished removing the helmet followed by the hoodie. Jax waved it off when she tried to hand it back to him. “Keep it.”  

According to Piney’s rules, they had to wait at least until she was out of high school for him to mark her, and sending her with his hoodie and dropping and picking her up from school every day was the best way he could show that she was his.  

“See you after school?”  She questioned as she pushed her heavy red hair off of her shoulders, having freed it from the ponytail holder.  

“Yeah.” He returned his focus as well as Opie’s on David Hale who was walking down the sidewalk with Tara Knowles on his arm.  “Ope, don’t,” Donna warned, they had been equally as furious when they found out that David had stood her up.

“Donna.’

 “It’s not worth it.” Ryder spoke as she raised herself up on her toes again and pressed a kiss to the corner of Jax’s mouth, “They aren’t worth it.”  She went to move away from Jax but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him and kissed her deeply.  

“See you later.” He grinned as she whined and stepped back, a pout forming on her mouth. Holly, annoyed, took steps off of the curb and grasped her forearm. “Come on hussy, we have to go to class.’ Ryder nodded her head and let her friend lead her away.   

Tara was absolutely furious when she had seen the two together, she had thought that she was going to be the only one for him and that he would always be waiting for her to come back around to him. But seeing them together made her angry, made her want to lash out at Ryder. 

And that’s exactly what she was going to do.

**

Ryder wasn’t hard to find in the locker room, they had gym class together and the women’s locker room was the one place she could get to Ryder without David being around to pull her away. 

“Ryder, we need to talk.” She demanded going three rows downs to where she could hear Donna, Ryder, Audrey, and Holly talking.

 The redhead already had her gym shorts on and was pulling on the white t-shirt that had the property of Charming High stamped across the chest. She could see the red marks that darted along the collarbone and the swell of her breasts, and dark hickies. 

 “What do you want Tara?” Ryder questioned, already bored with the situation, she was finally happy, and having to deal with Tara was going to bring that down and she wasn’t ready for it. 

 “Jax is mine and the sooner you realize that the better off we will all be.”

 “This is how I see it.” The tall redhead girl commented as she pulled the shirt down and fussed with it to make it straight, “Jackson made his choice. Me. And I am with him until he doesn’t want me anymore and speaking from this weekend, that is never gonna happen.” Tara went to say something but was stopped by Ryder holding her hand up, “If you try to fuck this up Tara, there will be no one that will be able to find your body.” “The club doesn’t kill women or innocents.” She started causing Holly, Audrey, and Donna to laugh. “Who said anything about the club sweetheart? Old ladies and royalty like myself,” Ryder smirked as she pushed back her hair, “don’t have the same rules about who we can take out.” 

Tara took a step back surprised, Ryder, at times could be the polar opposite of what Gemma was but this was all Gemma Teller.  “And they will never find your body,” Holly added with her own smirk, she had learned where there’s a will, there’s a way, and in this case, there’s always going to be a way. 

** 

David Hale was already outside of the building when Jax and Opie parked their bikes, and he took steps toward them. The rumors of Ryder Winston and Jax Teller being together had been running rampant around the school and even though he had hurt Ryder beyond words, it felt like it was his duty to say something to him. 

Even if he picked Tara over Ryder. 

“Hale,” Opie commented lowly as he hung his helmet up on the handlebar, his eyes going first to the school looking for Donna and his sister then back to the boy standing in front of him. Jax’s left hand which was hanging to the side tightened into a fist. “You need to leave now.” He ordered as he got off his bike, he wouldn’t cause a massive scene at school, not when this thing with Ryder was so fresh. “I just want to talk about Ryder is all.” Hale held up both of his hands in surrender. The two men exchanged a look before they both started laughing, “Ryder isn’t any of your business anymore.”

 “She is mine and I won’t make the same mistakes you made with her.”  Hale tightened his jaw up so they didn’t see it drop in surprise. “You say that now Jackson but how long can you actually stay faithful to a girl? At least I tried. You will drop her as soon as another piece of pussy comes along. You did it with Tara and you will do it with Ryder. It’s only a matter of time.” Jax had caught sight of Ryder coming out of the school with Donna and their two friends and smirked, “Yeah we will see about that. I got her now, and I am not letting her go.”  

[georgieluz]

Alright this is the last one I promise 😂

For your OC Jessica Campbell could you answer these questions please.

☕️ ❤️ 🐶 📚 💔🎻 💯 🤍 (I’m sorry there are so many 😂)

YES I ABSOLUTELY CAN. LET'S GO JESS CAMPBELL AN ICON FOR THE AGES!!!!!!!

☕️ HOT BEVERAGE — does your oc prefer coffee, tea, hot chocolate, milk, water, or some other drink? how do they like to take this drink (ex. coffee with milk, hot chocolate with whipped cream, a specific kind of tea, etc)?

she's definitely a tea drinker!! but she also enjoys a hot chocolate

❤️ RED HEART — what are three of your oc’s positive traits?

she is absolutely the friend you want by yourself when you're going through something. she is steadfast in her support for her friends and family, and not just backing them no matter what, but also calling them out on their actions when needed. she'll 100% be there for you with love and compassion, even when she's kicking you up the arse to do and be better

she has a lot of love to give and doesn't try to hide behind walls or push people away, she wants the people she loves to know and feel her affections toward them

she never judges you. she'll keep your secrets and defend you, even when it's going against societal norms and expectations

🐶 DOG FACE — does your oc have any pets?

yesss! so as you know her family own a vet practice (that's basically attached to her family home due to the nature of the profession at the time being in quite a transformative phase) and so there was always animals in and out of her house, but they also have two family spaniels as well *wink wink nudge nudge*. she doesn't own a horse herself, but she does help out at the local stables, due to her parents work there, and is pretty bonded with one of their horses!

📚 BOOKS — what level of education has your oc most recently completed/is currently in (GED, undergraduate, grad school, phd, etc)?

she originally planned to fully train in animal care under her parents, but then the war broke out and she realised that she wanted to train as a nurse to help with the war effort, so her plans changed

💔 BROKEN HEART — what are three of your oc’s negative traits?

whilst she's very upfront and honest about her opinions with her friends, she can sometimes find it hard to express her feelings to people she's romantically interested in, at first at least. this isn't negative really, not imo, but it's something she views as wanting to be better at doing. especially with eugene heading off to war before she's even finished training as a nurse

sometimes she'll let josie run away with her, often well intentioned, but not so well executed, ideas, even though she knows it's probably gonna cause trouble for them all, rather than trying to stop it happening, because it's sometimes easier to let josie see for herself rather than trying to convince her because she knows josie can be difficult to deal with sometimes

she sometimes struggles when she can't solve something with kindness or help, and doesn't like having to accept that sometimes there's nothing that can be done to prevent something happening or that she just has to be with someone through their struggles, rather than coming up with a solution to help their situation

🎻 VIOLIN — does your oc play any instruments? what is their skill level (beginner/intermediate/advanced/virtuoso/etc)?

she plays a little piano. her and julian had joint lessons when they were kids together, but when julian moved away, she lost interest bc they promised to always learn together. she still plays occasionally though, and deep down, she misses it. julian encourages her to keep playing and maybe one day she'll pick it back up properly again

💯 HUNDRED POINTS SYMBOL — share three random facts about your oc that others may not know.

she has a great sense of humour

doesn't mind getting her hands dirty when it comes to working with animals and at the stables etc

she's very good at playing cards. in fact, the three j's have been known to hustle a few unsuspecting americans out of their cash because they never expect her skills to be as good as they are

🤍 WHITE HEART — what are three of your oc’s neutral/questionable traits?

uncertainty in other's feelings toward her

second-guessing herself even though she believes in her skills and abilities

thinking she's somehow not good enough for eugene (she 100% is!!!!), and thus, hiding her feelings from him

for this oc ask game!

[ratcatcher0325]

Alexander are you happy with the life you have now. Do you look back at simple days of your life before humans got involved with longing? Are you happy with Natalie. Are you glad she found you? Even with the stone cold barrier you keep around yourself do you admit to feeling a bond with Natalie whether it be platonic or not.

Hello there, Anon. I’m glad we are just boldly psycho-analyzing me now. That’s…. Excellent. For the record I am not stone cold, okay? That makes me sound frigidly unapproachable. I may be a little defensive… at times… perhaps… but can you really blame me? I’m not exactly about to throw myself at the mercy of every human I come across, they’re extraordinarily dangerous and, to put it bluntly, quite ignorant and shortsighted. They can hurt me without even trying so… yes I put up a boundary or two.

Anyway, now that we’ve cleared that up, on to your actual questions.

Am I happy with the life I have now? You know what, Anon? Perhaps I am. I mean, please understand, I still have quite bit of work ahead of me to train Natalie properly… but to her credit, she’s come a long way. All my vital needs are met, and for the first time I’m finally able to experience a leisurely pace of life. She includes me in her studies which I find thrillingly engaging, and thanks to her I am spoiled for choice when it comes to food. It is certainly a much better life, by objective standards of measurement, than I’ve ever known. I can’t believe I’m saying this, much less admitting it to you publicly, but when Natalie holds me, gently, in her cupped palm, I feel this immediate relief, like the tension is leaving my body? She’s so warm and her fingers are soft like silk. I don’t entirely hate being held by her.

Ah, well you see, Anon, I’ve never known a life without humans interfering. I’d rather not go into details, but suffice it to say, I’ve been dealing with the unwelcome presence and danger of humans since day one of my very existence. There was a brief time where I thought I’d escaped them, only to be dragged back, trapped between a giant finger and thumb. So. Excuse me for being blunt here…. I’d just really rather not discuss it. Thank you for understanding.

Am I happy with Natalie and am I glad she found me? If you’d asked me that when we first met I’d have vehemently ranted and railed, shouting “No!” at the top of my lungs. And while I didn’t exactly ask for any of this, and it’s not what I thought I wanted, I’m finding that she’s not so insufferable after all, and that humans, while dim-witted, clumsy and slow, aren’t all bad if she’s among them. Truth be told, after that waking nightmare of a vet visit, I saw how much she cared about my well being, how she blamed herself, how careful she was with me… well, I’m not here to get emotionally compromised and weak in the knees or anything of the sort, but it made me respect her more and, if pressed, I’d say her presence in my life is more or less a positive than a negative.

And just to clarify our “bond” as you put it, is absolutely platonic. No question about that. We’ve got a mutually beneficial circumstance that we’re both taking advantage of: she helps me get back on my feet, I keep her from flunking out of law school. It’s a perfectly logical transaction of services.

I appreciate the ask. Now stop perpetuating my reputation as “stone cold” as you put it! I most certainly am not. I’m very fun and approachable… as long as you’re halfway intelligent that is…

Yours Truly,

Alexander

[harleiquina]

"May siblings be together, for that is the first law. May their union be true in anytime, because if they fight each other they'll be devoured by those outside" (José Hernández, "Martín Fierro").

So, today I found out that there was going to be a picket to support the WGA strike in my country (Argentina) and relatively close home. I wish I knew it sooner, I would've liked to join... but

I'm not a guild member (reason why I never received any kind of news about it) because...

Technically I'm not a writer (a professional, I mean. The ones that get paid to write) which leads me to...

I have a job that I hate and I can't just skip a random day because...

Even If they pay me very little, I am the breadwinner at home and every little cent counts... since...

My country's economy is a bloody mess that could be solved in over 50 years, if we are lucky.

So, here I am, making a post in solidarity to the Strike while waiting for the calls to start to ring. This might be a lenghty (and personal) one.

My journey into writing:

It was hard to answer the old question "what do you want to be when you grow up?" as a child because I wanted to be everything (except Doctor and Vet. I still don't like the idea of inflicting any kind of pain to heal someone -yes, I do know that anesthesia is a thing but it does wear off, did you know that? And painkillers too!).

At school I absolutely hated writing as homework, however I always ended up telling stories (my grandfather's folk tales) in the schoolbus for a limited audience. It wasn't until 7th grade that I realized that I was able to have original ideas and put them on paper... then I started to love writing and I would put my best effort into it. Yes, those were silly little stories usually prompted by whatever paragraph or sentence our teacher gave us (twice my aunts laughed at something I was proud of and I won't lie, it did hurt back then. Probably I would laugh now too). Still, coming up with something new was exciting.

In my senior year of Highschool I had "Applied writing" a subject that, supposedly, was there to teach us how to make our resumes, formal letters and other stuff that is "useful" in the work place or life itself. But that's not what I've learned.

I had Marcela Bullentini as my teacher. Someone that was quite scary with her desire for us to speak properly (eliminating the 'sh' sound from our bonaerense accent that changes words like "lluvia" -rain- to make it sound "shuvia", or our usual "perdón" -forgive me- instead of "lo siento" -I'm sorry- EVERYTIME she would answer with a mighty "only God forgives" to remind us that we were using the wrong term). After a few months of trying not to get on her bad side, I started to like her because I could tell that she loved writing and reading. And that's why she never gave us those boring lessons the other classroom's teacher (and school Principal, mind you) gave her students. She taught us the basics tools to write news, anecdotes, opinions and scripts for audio-drama (podcasts weren't a thing in 2009) and even TV (we did had to shoot a short film by the end of the year. Yes mine does suck). She is the reason why I considerated making a living out of writing. When the school year was coming to an end and it was time to enroll in College or the University and my classmates would ask "what are you going to study?" I answered them "I would like to be a Movie Director or Script writer". Guess what was their response... "Why?" usually followed by "that's too easy"

Too easy.

Too easy? How come? Why the Arts are "easy"? Why do you think that your dream of becoming a Sport's Journalist is better than mine wanting to tell stories? You'll still have to write something, you idiot!

Still, I did not followed my passion because making a living off the Arts is quite hard in here. You have to know someone who can "get you in" or beeing a professional boot-licker or work in the worst things ever, beeing completely stepped over and then you might ✨️MIGHT✨️ have a chance to do something true to yourself. And I wanted to be the argentinean Tim Burton, I knew nobody would've backed me up. So my aunt gave me an idea "why don't you try with Advertising? Many movie directors and writers began with Ads". So... off I went to Advertising School.

For those of you that don't know, Advertising is divided in 3 major branches: Accounting (the bridge between the Clients and the Agency), Media (the ones in charge of the budget and with the contacts to publish/play the ads everywhere) and Creativity (the ones that make the ads). I belong to the 3rd group and guess what? We're still thought off as an afterthought... as if making or writing for an ads campaing is something that is "easy", something that anybody can do. That we, the creatives, are just lazy people that every now and then receive a task, like anybody else would toss a bone to a dog, to "do something". To be fair, since I've never worked at an Agency I do not know if this kind of behaviour is present in them too... but all my classmates had this attitude and if they were meant to be the future of this profession, then I'm better off doing anything else but working as a Copywriter.

So here I am today, working as an Over the Phone Interpreter with over 20 stories locked in my head (and scribbled across many notepads and documents in my PC), too tired to write after work and trying not to sit on the computer on my free time because I spend the whole day, 5 days a week sitting in front of it. Still, sometimes I do get things done. My brain doesn't stop just because I have no time or because I'm tired. I know I'll get things done... eventually.

But Laurita, what does this have to do with anything?

This is my blog, I write what I want.

Context was needed.

As I said the whole "writing stories isn't serious enough" "it's too easy" "you can do something better" has been plaguing my life since day one. I was even able to see a glimpse of my favourite teacher's hopes and dreams for me crash in his eyes when I told him that I was studying to become an Advertising Creative. (I'm pretty sure all my teachers thought I would become one of them, or a doctor, or a lawyer, maybe even a scientist).

People!... Telling stories is important!

I dare to say that ours is the oldest profession (not the other one 😏) because whenever a lesson had to be taught, or something needed explanation, there was someone ready to tell a story about it.

Telling stories was never just entertainment. People seems to forget that even the silliest fairytale was meant to leave something behind with their audience. For ages my family and I wondered about the Magic Fish, a russian folckloric tale (a very lazy young man goes fishing in the ice for once in his life and catches the magic fish that promises that if he lets him go, he'll grant any wish he has. The guy ends up living in a palace made of gold and marrying a princess) and then it hit me: it was not the story itself... but the posibility of making many kids go fishing in the ice hoping to catch the Magical Fish that will grant them any wish. Well done, slavic people, well done 👏🏻👏🏻

I do not understand the constant dissmissal of our craft. Well... yes I do. People think it is easy because we make it easy for them. What's the point of creating something inaccessible? Why would anybody need to have a Post Doctorate in whatever field to understand a comic, a joke or a novel? We turn dozens (if not hundreds) of different concepts that fly through our minds into something understandable to anybody.

I watch Cinema Therapy where both hosts analize the psychology behind stories and characters. It is all in plain sight, we all know that Indiana Jones is resiliant, that Aragorn is a non-toxic man... but do you know how my family reacts when I tell them about any of their videos? "Isn't that reading too much into things? It's just a story, it's fantasy!"

It is a story, it is fantasy... but in order for it to work it has to be grounded in reality. Otherwise no-one would feel a thing for any of them!

And who does the dirty work? We do. We have to come up with real non-existent people so their fantastical escape is a good one. One that will make them forget their worries, one that might break their heart in a thousand pieces but carefully put it back with the warmest and stickyest-sweet glue you can find.

Oh! You know who killed the victim before the detective? That's because we feed you the clues so you can participate too.

Whenever my teammates in college had a "creativity attack" and started shooting ideas for ads, I'd step in to tell them why it would be impossible for us to use them (or at least why they didn't worked at all). They would get angry, of course, so I'd suggest them to do it themselves and what was their answer? "You do it, you are the creative one" So you make up your mind, buddy, either you trust me or not. You cannot have it both ways.

People doesn't realise the power that we hold, they think that we just come up with anything off of thin air. They ignore our investigations, how we observe the world and learn from it. They ignore our minds but get surprised even with the most obvious plot-twist (as it happened to mom, I told her something that was going to happen on her soap opera -so the bar was very low- and when it did happened she was like "how did you know?" I was tempted of answering with a "I'm a writer, I see what they are doing" but I just said "because it was obvious" If I actually tried to explain to her how I came up with that she would've thought that I needed help 😵‍💫). We accumulate knowledge like a dragon hoards gold. Anything is useful, anyone is useful. Don't make us turn you into a villan for our book or movie.

But still... we always get short-handed, stepped on, underappreciated.

We are the weirdos, the ones that live with their heads in the clouds, the "lazy" ones that spend their whole day on the computer "doing nothing" and can't close deals or use brute strenght to do their job. The ones that make up imaginary things hence things that have no value.

We know that it's not true. We know that we deserve better.

We had enough of that.

That's why we strike.

[fairyspheres]

15 Questions

i've been tagged again!! ty @fornhaus!!!

1. Are you named after anyone?

nope. apparently my mum had still been thinking up names when i was actually born, so there was a period of time where i just didn't have a name. eventually she went with 'abigail' bc she likes classical names

2. When was the last time you cried?

this afternoon when i got dizzy and fell into the shelf with all the cups and glasses on in the kitchen. i broke my star wars glass :(

3. Do you have kids?

absolutely not. my cats are more than enough for me

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

it's the only way i can get through life now

5. What’s the first thing you notice about people?

how loud they are. a specific tone or volume, for lack of better phrasing, makes a grating sensation happen in my head so it's hard not to notice

6. What’s your eye color?

blue-green

7. Scary movies or happy endings?

happy endings. i don't do well with scary films

8. Any special talents?

i'm a talentless husk of a person

9. Where were you born?

northwest england

10. What are your hobbies?

i like reading, playing video games, watching anime and other funnier people play games, and writing - sometimes stories, sometimes rambles on greek mythology

11. Do you have any pets?

two cats who are the neediest little things in the world and two tortoises

12. What sports do you play/have you played?

i broke my finger when someone threw a basketball at it in year five. i permanently damaged my knee in year nine hockey. i absolutely do not and will not play sports, unless chasing mira cat around the house on vet visit days counts

(though i do love swimming in the sea)

13. How tall are you?

181cm or thereabouts

14. Favorite subject in school?

i loved history in secondary school

15. Dream job?

i just wanna work with sea birds in some capacity. is that too much to ask?? let me go down to the tempest sea and pretend i'm appeasing an old god. or something idk

[mod2amaryllis]

This might be a bit out of nowhere but any advice or where to begin on becoming a vet tech? I currently have a job as a kennel assistant and I've decided I want to pursue vet work as a career but don't know where to start

that's exactly where i'd recommend you start, at a kennel! build confidence working with animals in a way lower-stakes environment (dogs are usually relaxed and happy at daycare/kennel, compared to the stress of being at the vet). unless you're already at a clinic? ok i'm gonna operate under the assumption that you're at a daycare/kennel.

all the following advice is usa specific. depending on where you live, you might need to get registered by taking the VTNE standardized test. i have an associate's degree in veterinary technology but never passed the test and am therefore not registered. in my area it hasn't been an issue because registration isn't required. nobody really cares as long as you can do the work, and i'm a shit test-taker yet a BALLER tech (also the test costs hundreds of dollars to retake). but again, i do have a degree, completed a full vet tech course, and my only option in the whole state was a private tech university which was waaaaaaaaay more expensive than it should be. like $40,000 student debt in a job that's infamously low paying. if i could do it again, i would NOT go to THAT school, because the other huge thing is: the clinical experience is where i learned 90% of what i needed to excel. if you have a more affordable schooling option like a community college or a university with scholarship options etc, do it!! but be wary of private schools, they're entirely profit driven.

if you're a kennel tech now and want to take the next step, then apply to be a kennel tech AT a vet clinic. kennel techs are usually there for janitorial duties and an extra set of hands for stuff like easy restraint. there's a big ol national veterinary staff shortage, you shouldn't have any trouble finding a clinic that's hiring. EVERYBODY hiring right now. bringing someone on as a kennel tech then eventually transitioning to vet tech/assistant is often the preferred way to hire from a training perspective, because starting with easier responsibilities and focusing on getting along with the rest of the team is less pressure than hiring a brand new TECH tech and loading them up with all the craziness right away.

now as far as the like....emotional side of things, i think i've already spoken extensively on how hard it gets. the first five years of fulltime teching was a roller coaster where the lows were a very very deep level of hell. now it's been 7 years going on 8, i'm part time, i'm the best at what i do, i've stayed with the same clinic and my pay is closer to what i deserve (it'll never ever be high enough lol), so i've finally reached a point of peace with this job. just be prepared for it to get worse before it gets better. one bit of advice from a trainer's perspective: when i'm hiring/training someone, the value that is way higher than your tech skills is how well you get along with the team. are you inquisitive and willing to learn? do you explicitly ask questions when you're not sure about something? are you respectful of doctors? do you keep a level head in a crisis? are you humble and willing to do the gross or mundane sides of the job? are you, like, cool? having those attributes makes you a good candidate, even if you're inexperienced. some of the best hires i've had were total newbies with great attitudes, and some of the worst hires i've had were seasoned techs who think they're hot shit and don't play nice with others. can't overstate how important teamwork is in this field.

if your plan is to eventually become a veterinarian, then this is where my expertise ends. <3 i have never wanted to be a vet, i'm settled in my career, i know nothing about vet school, go with god. <3

[pookha]

No Tengo las Llaves: Chapter 4

Summary:

Masha invites Vee to a sleepover. Two confessions happen. Lyuba discovers the truth about Vee.

Notes:

TW: This chapter will mention conversion camps. I believe this will actually have 2-3 more chapters as I'm still enjoying exploring it.

Vee fell into a routine. They would get up early, check everything was okay with Camila’s finances, then they would bake. After cleaning up the kitchen, there was still so much of the day. They fell into the hole of Cosmic Frontier fanfiction. After reading all of Camila’s stuff, they clicked on some of the tags and discovered that they really didn’t understand humans. They went into safe mode and searched. Their cheeks flamed and they made notes about things to ask Masha later. Curious, they logged into Luz’s laptop and found her Fan Archive account. They read all of Luz’s Good Witch Azura stories, too. Luz’s stories weren’t as well written as Camila’s, but her artwork was amazing. 

They met Masha’s Uncle Ivan (call me ‘Vanya,’ he said and laughed). It seemed to be an inside joke. He agreed to test out Vee’s goods with his vegetables and his… special herbs.

“Da, brownies are a good choice,” he’d said. He ate a brownie and then one of the piroshkis. He gave them a thumbs up. The first Saturday, he sold completely out of the brownies and conchas and had just a few piroshkis left. He handed them a fat wad of cash which they looked at in amazement; when they counted it, it was enough for them to get more supplies and still be able to have some pocket money left over. It wouldn’t make up for Camila’s pay, but Vee could at least feed herself without further draining Camila’s accounts.

Vee went to an away game with Lyuba to see Masha play. Masha came in just a few minutes into the second half. Lyuba said they were a ‘super sub,’ and explained to Vee what that meant. The other team won, but Lyuba said that Gravesfield played well and that Masha had done well, too. Vee nodded like they understood, but soccer was going to take a while to understand. Masha only had one quick moment after the game to hug their mother and Vee before running off to the locker room.

On the drive back, Lyuba asked Vee a bunch of questions about themself. Vee had the backstory all prepared: they were in foster care and Camila was trying to adopt them; their father was abusive, they were being home-schooled to catch up; and they’d been in the same camp as Luz and Masha.

“Camila sounds like a good person; maybe I will change vets to her,” Lyuba said.

“For Fluffy and Buffy?” Vee asked. Masha had told them about the two cats and how funny they were.

Lyuba nodded.

“Masha doesn’t know I’m asking, but would you, Luz, and Camila like to come for Thanksgiving? it’s going to just be me and Masha…and Fluffy and Buffy.”

Vee was silent for a long time.

“I—I’d like to, but I’ll have to ask Mom what she has planned.”

Lyuba nodded.

They passed the rest of the drive with small talk. Lyuba dropped Vee off at home and Vee texted Masha immediately.

Your mom asked me to Thksgiving dinner.

…

…

…

You should come, it’ll be just us and the cats.

Yr dad’s not coming?

…

…

….

F him,  Masha sent back after a very long pause and multiple “Masha is typing”s that appeared, stopped, then restarted..

When you’re ready, pls talk to me about what’s up, Vee texted back.

Can I txt later; too many eyes on bus?

OK, I will be up late

<3

<3

Vee sighed and sat down. This pretending to be two or more people was getting to be hard and it’d only been a few weeks.

They looked up a new recipe for caramel brownies and started making them. They burnt the caramel sauce the first time and the fire alarms went off. They counted to twenty, remade it and poured it over the still-warm brownies. While they were cooling, Vee cleaned up. They’d just finished when Masha texted.

Can you sleepover tonight? Mom will pick you up? I want to talk and it’s better in person than on the phone or text.

Vee texted back immediately. Masha didn’t usually text in full sentences with punctuation, so it seemed serious.

I can. I made caramel brownies, too.

Bring those.

There was a pause.

Mom will be there in 30.

<3

<#

*<3

Vee had never done a sleepover before, so they looked up what it entailed. They weren’t originally going to take a bag, but it would have looked suspicious, so they packed some of Luz’s clothes. They also grabbed their toothbrush and a few maxi pads, even though they didn’t need the latter. They put the bag by the door and got the brownies. At the last moment, they grabbed a jacket (because it would look weird to not take one off when they got inside) and Luz’s laptop and put it in the bag. They saw Lyuba pull up, grabbed the bag and brownies, locked up and left. 

“Thank you for picking me up, Lyuba,” Vee said politely.

“You’re welcome; Masha’s never had a sleepover before, so when they asked, I said okay.”

She sniffed.

“Those caramel brownies that Masha said you were bringing smell good.”

“I’ve never made them before, so I’m not sure how they came out.” Vee put their pack in the footwell, buckled up and balanced the pan of brownies on their lap.

It wasn’t far to their apartment, and Lyuba just made small talk. When they got there, Lyuba turned and looked at Vee.

“Masha’s upset about something, but they won’t tell me; I think that’s why they called you. I’m so happy they’ve got a good friend to talk to.”

She squeezed Vee’s hand.

“You seem nice. Please don’t break their heart.”

Vee blinked and Lyuba looked at her sharply.

“Are your eyes okay?”

“Oh, I’m fine, they just look weird sometimes in certain light.”

Vee followed Lyuba to their apartment; Masha didn’t seem to like to spend a lot of time in it and preferred to work, play soccer or visit Vee.

Lyuba unlocked the door, and Vee followed her in. Vee hung their coat up on the hooks inside the door next to Masha’s, then went to the tiny kitchen and put the pan of brownies on the counter.

Masha met them in the hallway on the way to their room. They hugged Vee tightly. Vee could see that Masha wanted to say something, but maybe not here. Lyuba poked her head out from her room.

“Go ahead, if you need me, I’ll be in the kitchen eating all the brownies.” She laughed and closed her door. Masha and Vee went into Masha’s bedroom. Vee sat at the chair by the desk and Masha flopped on their bed bonelessly. They both heard Lyuba’s door open and Lyuba walk to the kitchen. A small tabby cat came out from under the bed and jumped up onto Masha’s stomach and curled up there. Masha petted Buffy absently.

“Ugh,” Masha said and put their arm over their eyes.

Vee rolled the chair close to Masha’s bed so they could take their hand.

Masha opened their eyes, then took their arm from over their eyes and gripped Vee’s hand with both of theirs. Buffy let out a small ‘meow’ and jumped back down and went under the bed.

“Thank you,” Masha said.

“Um, you’re welcome.”

Masha sighed.

“Sorry, I didn’t want to talk about my dad on the bus.”

“You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to.” Vee squeezed Masha’s hand.

“No, I have to tell you a couple things.” Masha sat up, still holding Vee’s hands in theirs.

“My parents are separated…”

“I guessed that since you never talked about him,” Vee said quietly.

“It’s because of me,” Masha said quietly.

Vee slid off the chair and sat next to Masha on the bed.

“Well, not entirely I guess, but the camp was the final straw for my mom. My dad sent me there because he thought it was a conversion camp.”

“I—what is that?”

“It’s a camp where the ‘counselors’ try to change kids orientations or gender identities to conform to what they think is ‘normal’.”

Vee squeaked.

“That’s—that’s awful. Do humans not understand that’s just how people are?”

“Some people don’t; my dad’s one of them. Where he’s from being queer is actually illegal and he’s very…old-fashioned would be one way to say it…or close-minded.”

Vee put their free hand around Masha and pulled them tight. Masha buried their face into Vee’s shoulder.

“I was supposed to spend the summer with him, and mom didn’t know I was at the camp until I called to have her pick me up. I thought they had agreed on it together, but I should have known that mom would never have…” Vee felt a small trickle of tears on their shoulder.

“Mom picked me up and we came home and she had a big blow-up with dad over the phone. Long story short, my mom has sole custody now and dad is in the shit-house.”

“I’m so sorry. Any way I can help, I will.” Vee kissed the top of Masha’s head.

“Thank you, but that’s just one thing.”

Masha let Vee hold them for a few minutes, then sat up, and turned to face them directly.

“I—I think I’m in love with you, but it’s the first time for me and I just realized something recently that I think I’ve been lying to myself about.”

They lowered their eyes, then raised them to meet Vee’s.

“I’m ace,” Masha said simply.

Vee blinked a couple of times, once showing their true eyes.

“It means asexual,” Masha explained, seeing that Vee didn’t understand.

“I have romantic feelings toward you, but no sexual attraction. I love being with you, being held by you, kissing you even, but I don’t have that…that oomph that most people seem to feel when they look at the one they love.”

Vee was silent for a moment.

“That’s okay,” they said finally.

“Actually, it’s a relief because I feel pretty much the same way.” Vee smiled, leaned in and kissed Masha on the forehead.

“I—you don’t hate me?” Masha asked.

“How could I hate you?” Vee kissed the tip of Masha’s nose and they both laughed.

“I don’t have those sorts of feelings in my natural form and when I’ve been in human form, I haven’t felt them either.” Vee sighed.

“I was so worried that I was strange somehow, or something was wrong with my shifting, but it’s just who I am. I think I love you, too.”

They paused.

“No, I do love you, and I want to see where this goes.”

They laughed.

“Even if it means that more than just making out is off the table?” Masha asked.

“Even then,” Vee said and kissed Masha gently on the lips.

They were still kissing lightly when Lyuba burst into the room.

“Who are you?” she demanded, pointing at Vee.

Vee and Masha broke apart, both blushing.

“What?” Vee asked.

“Who are you? Did you run away?” Lyuba rushed to the bed and grabbed Vee’s arm.

“Mom! She’s all right,” Masha said.

Lyuba yanked Vee upright.

“I just called to change vets and they said that Dr. Noceda has been out of the country for weeks and they don’t know when she’ll be back.”

“Please, mom, let her go!” Masha yelled.

“I can explain,” Vee said.

“I’m a shapeshifter and I was at camp as Luz, because Luz had gone to another dimension. I took her place with Camila because I didn't know what else to do. After a while, Luz made contact and it all came out.”

“Don’t bullshit me!” Lyuba shouted.

“Are you squatting at the Nocedas? Do I need to call the police? Are you a criminal?”

They sighed and shifted form.

“Bozhe moi!” Lyuba shouted and released Vee’s arm. She took two steps back and bumped into the desk. Her breathing became ragged.

Masha stood and went to their mom. They hugged her and whispered, “Vee’s okay, I promise.”

Lyuba turned to Masha.

“You knew?” she asked.

“I knew when I saw Luz at school and Vee came to the Historical Society.”

Vee shifted back to human and Lyuba gasped again. Buffy came out from under the bed and started brushing Vee’s ankles.

“Please, I can explain,” Vee begged again and sat on the bed. Buffy immediately leapt onto the bed and climbed onto their lap.

Vee and Masha told the whole story of how they met at camp while Vee was taking Luz’s place. They explained the Demon Realm and what Vee was and finally they told Lyuba that Vee was just trying to hold it together for Camila while Camila was with Luz in the Demon Realm.

“If they wanted to hurt me, they could have anytime,” Masha said.

“I’m a pacifist,” Vee said, spreading their hands, “and I hate conflict. I would never hurt you or Masha.”

“This is so much to take in.” Lyuba’s eyes still twitched back and forth to Vee, but she no longer trembled so violently.

She pointed at Buffy on Vee’s lap.

“That also is good; Buffy doesn’t like bad people, like…” she trailed off.

“Dad,” Masha finished for her.

Lyuba sighed and nodded.

“I—I love Masha,” Vee said.

Masha stepped back from her mom and sat next to Vee on the bed again.

“And I love Vee,” Masha said

“Wait, I’ve eaten your food, am I cursed?” Lyuba asked.

Vee could tell she was serious.

“No, it’s just food. I make it because I like it and other people like it and I can make a little bit of money, so I’m not just using up all of Camila’s money while she’s gone.”

Vee sighed again.

“Really, I’m just a lost kid, far from home.”

Lyuba seemed to come to a decision.

“Nyet, I don’t think that’s true; you seem at home here.”

“I’m hoping to, if Camila comes back.”

“How long have they been gone?” Lyuba asked.

“Since Halloween. I’ve gotten one text, which means they had a portal open for a moment, but it cut off part way through.”

“How long do you think they’ll be gone?”

Vee shrugged helplessly.

“You can’t keep this up on your own; you’ll need an adult sometimes. Let me be that adult,” Lyuba said.

“Thank you.” Vee stood, stepped to Lyuba and hugged her. Lyuba went stiff then relaxed. A few seconds later, Masha joined the hug.

“Mom, I’m ace,” Masha said in a choked voice.

“I know, dear,” Lyuba said. “I’ve suspected for a few years, but I never said anything because I didn’t want to upset…”

“Dad,” Masha finished for her again.

“Da, your father.” Lyuba kissed the top of Masha’s head, paused, then kissed the top of Vee’s head, too.

She pushed Vee to arm’s length and looked at them.

“Wait, if you’re a shapeshifter, where do your clothes go?”

Masha met Vee’s eyes and they laughed until they cried. Eventually Vee was able to explain it all to Lyuba through gasping laughs that kept recurring.

[fluffyfluffemz]

‏I am mohammed Ayyad, I am 17 years old, high school student, I have 7 brothers, including 4 girls and 3 boys and my mother.

‏Since the beginning of the war, my family and I have been displaced 4 times, each time more severe than the other.

‏The first is from Gaza City to Khan Yunis, and the second is from Khan Yunis to the shores of Bahr Khan Yunis, then to the city of Rafah, and then to an area called Al Qarara .

‏My house was completely destroyed , everything is under the rubble my childhood, my memories, my books, and my ambition and Many relatives and friends were killed and life was completely destroyed.

‏ so l please you to help me and help my family collect donations to evacuation the war zone, get out of Gaza safely, and complete my school studies, via my donation link.

‏‎

Hi, Mohammed! As someone who is also trying to finish her education, I know how important it is for a future. Yours was interrupted by senseless violence, and now you're having to fight so hard for yourself and your family. This is not a burden children should have to carry. Please take care of yourself as well. You're important.

Mohammed's campaign is not verified. He may already be in the process of obtaining one, but I'm wondering if anyone knows the process and how long it would take? Even if he doesn't benefit from it, I'm also considering sending my wonderful, kind Gazan friend Abeer to Tumblr, since her donations over Instagram have been slow. They're slow everywhere, but I know the people of Tumblr are especially passionate about collective aid.

We are broke here on Tumblr. I know. I think that's why we are so willing to make donations even when it affects our personal comfort, but we all have our limits. And because Gaza is far away, it's not like you can just volunteer to show up and hand out water bottles. Money is the most immediate way to provide relief, and while, yes, it's overwhelming to be faced with so much need when you cannot possibly help *everyone*-- hear me out, guys.

It doesn't have to be your money.

Plug into your local community of people who care. Organize. Hold fund raisers. Rub elbows with all those liberals who played the capitalism game. Many are willing to help, and the fund-raisers also serve as a chance to educate the people who just showed up for donuts or to look at art.

And if you can't do that? Just exist. Show up at pro-Palestine demonstrations, as you are able. You don't have to do anything; your presence alone signals that this matters to you. It gets people asking questions. Why are all these people here? What's going on? And if you can be visibly, obnoxiously pro-palestine, even better.

You still need to take care of yourself and know your limitations. But everything is so much easier when you realize you're not alone

Mohammed has his go-fund me on his blog. Donate if you are comfortable, and if you know the vetting process or where to go to find it, please share.

[snowkissd]

Sιҽɳɳα Bαι ;; 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒻𝒶𝒾𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓉

Heterosexual ⋆ She/Her ⋆ Twenty-Eight ⋆ Magic

Powers ;; Animal Communication, Visions

Occupation ;; Veterinarian 

♫ Currently Playing ♫ ;; Lost in Yesterday by Tame Impala 

☀ Virgo ☾ Libra ↑ Cancer

As a child she knew exactly where she belonged in the world which was beside her father, having lost her mother during childbirth. This meant it was only her and her father growing up. For the first decade of her life all she wanted was to make him proud though it turned out life had other plans. Everything seemed perfect between them until she realized that there was more going on with her besides puberty. Sienna could feel it beneath her skin, like an itch she couldn’t scratch, a thumping with no end. She craved silence in her own head or some sort of answer of what was going on with her. Her father never took these delusions of hers well, a fear that she was more like her mother than he thought. Turns out she got more than just her looks from her mother. Not only could she speak and understand animals but she would get visions from them, as if they heeded a warning to her before things happened. She wasn’t sure why they communicated with her, though she saw it as a gift and a way to connect to her mother so she protected it. Sienna’s father had told her to never tell anyone of this, as she could be hunted for her ability and it wasn’t safe to be magic here. In reality, he was also ashamed of his daughter who he feared would be considered a freak. They had an appearance to uphold and he wanted nothing to tarnish the image of his life with his perfect daughter. For most of her life she laid low due to that very reason, that was until he met Gracelynn and Sienna’s world changed forever. 

From the very beginning she sensed something off about the woman but tried not to judge, though most of her animal friends would run at the very sight of her. Sienna tried to see the best in her as hard as it felt. No one could ever replace her mother but if her father was happy then so was she. Then like that he was gone, dead, and the pieces didn’t fit together. She had questions no one had answers to and excuses Grace provided whenever there was a lack of information. Most of her father’s estate went to his new wife except for what was set aside to finish putting her through school. That perhaps being the only way she was able to follow her dream fully of becoming a veterinarian. His mining business went to his second and command, Sienna breathing a sigh of relief that she’d been able to avoid getting married off for “the better of her family.” After graduating and starting at the clinic she used her free time to start diving into what truly happened to her father. She knows there is something else going on, having never gotten along with the woman anyway and his sudden passing becoming all the more suspicious. It was a closure the girl lacked in her life, always wondering if it was the woman she’d sensed darkness in from the beginning that was behind his untimely death. Sienna is trying to live her life as normally as she can, making sure no one finds out about her abilities while still using them to take care of animals every day at the vet clinic. All the while in the back of her head knowing something else is afoot in not only in her own life but the world around her.

- Sienna’s father ran a mining business which is where she met the Dunn brothers who all worked for him. They ended up taking her in after his passing when she wanted to avoid Grace. She cares for them like her own family. 

- Through the mining she knew the Finnegan family which included Finnick who was almost her age. He was her best friend, still is, though in her teen years she harbored a secret crush on him. Sienna never told him about these feelings in fear that he didn’t feel the same and it would ruin their friendship.

- Lately she’s been sleep walking into the forest, something pulling her towards it that she isn’t able to explain. 

- She is exceptionally protective over her people and animal friends. Even though people wouldn’t expect it of her, she knows she is more capable than people think. 

- The family business was something she had been thought to take over but it was never what she wanted. Upon the passing of her father it became clear that she wouldn’t be and she took her future into her own hands when going off to college. Even though Grace got all that her father worked for she knew he supported her dreams and would’ve wanted Sienna to do what made her happy. She tries to live each day she can for him since his were cut short.

- She fears losing Finnick suddenly, the same way she did her father. Some nights she’s awoke and called him to make sure he was still there. Others they would have sleepovers to help with his own delusions. Even though she knows it isn’t her job or what he wants, she can’t help but worry about him. 

[drscruffydog]

So my mental health hasn't been amazing during my clinical year so far. Obviously, fourth year is a hard adjustment but I've had some exceptionally awful rotations where I've just been so frustrated and tired. And recently I have been moving around a lot so I haven't been able to take Onyx or Lup with me...

But today, some stuff just worked out and my next two rotations sound like they are going to be excellent (and they'll both have a lot of exotics!!)

I just have been feeling a little lost in vet med recently but I am starting to be reminded why I fell in love with this profession

[chichiscloset]

𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞

𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐚 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫!

A new semester has begun for us, Young ladies! It is important as Divine feminine young ladies, to take pride in taking care of our wellbeing, Appearance, surroundings, Network, & meet like-minded individuals. No matter what program you end up taking!

I just entered my second year of Uni in September, so far it's been going by super fast! I won't lie to you, It's been a bit of a bumpy ride! Managing balancing my school work, running my blog page and extra-curricular activies. Thankfully, I am managing quite well and just finished writing all my midterms! I wanted to share with you girlies some of the few ways I've been able to fully embrace my femininity while in University+ the best ways to mingle with potential bachelors on your campus community.

𝟏. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆!

Yes, I know! This is a bit superficial. But I need to give you the truth! We are all judged by our appearances first in life! so why not start by leaving a good impression! On your classmates, lecturers, and staff on campus. You don't want to be that person, rolling into class with the same PJ's worn last night. Unkept hair & nails.

People address you based on your appearance so always making sure you look well kept and put-together is a must.

My mother always taught me "you dress the way you want to be addressed!". If you look like a princess you'll be treated like one and if you look unkept.. people will treat you as such".

If you are like me and hate planing out outfits for the day of your classes. Try planning them a day, or two before your actual lecture. So you won't feel like you are pushing yourself. If you wear makeup. Try waking up an hour or two earlier. To pamper yourself & wear put on a light beat of makeup.

Since we wear masks on our campus my time is cut in half! only light concealer, light blush, and mascara (when I don't have lash extensions.)

Since my semester started in September people have just been treating me 100% better. I've had both men and women open doors for me. A random guy paying for my lunch, and had way better feedback from my professors during class time! Trust me you don't want to slack on your presentation! You are your brand and you must treat yourself in the highest regard.

𝟐.𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞-𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐬!

Network, Network, Network! Think about it you’ve paid thousands of dollars to attend the college/university you are enrolled in now. As a student, you have access to upcoming doctors, engineers, nurses, business owners, lawyers, etc. You mingle with some of the best people in academia in your city, people with MSC's Ph.D.'s and so much more! This is the PERFECT opportunity, for you to meet other leveled-up feminine women, future associates, bachelors, or even a future spouse 😍. Listen, you only have four years so make it count! Join clubs, societies, sororities (if available)& meet as many people as possible! You’ll never know who might come in handy after graduation.

Getting good grades and a high GPA is important. However, having good connections with people will take you further in life. It holds more weight than your degree alone. So make the best of it while you're still in there.

For the love of all things good! Stay away from Hook-up culture!

I do promote that you date in college. it’s an excellent way to practice how to properly vet the men who seek interest in you. Don't be fooled, some of these guys on your campus are simply looking for “a good time." It is up to you to fish out the serious men, from non-serious men. Find out what their goals are in life, where they see themselves in 5 years? Do they want a family in the future? ask as many vetting questions as you can before and during your date.

Make sure that guy takes you on a PROPER date! “Netflix and chill” IS NOT A DATE! Yes, I know your roommate might be doing it, your classmates are doing it and those hormones are flowing. But, you don't want to be given a bad label! Honestly... it’s not worth it. Need some game when it comes to dating? Check out this post here.

𝟑. 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭/𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐦-𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲!

You will be spending A LOT of time in your dorm room/apartment during the semester! Wouldn’t you want your room, to have a “homey” "Calm" welcoming appearance when you walk inside? Your room is a reflection of how you treat yourself both inwardly and outwardly. People will notice! If there is dirty laundry on the floor, dirty dishes & you haven't changed your bedsheets. Take this as a sign to change the way you live ASAP! 

You might be living with someone else. So it's important to learn how to take care of your surroundings! Fill your room with nice things according to your aesthetic! Put flowers in your room, have a candle to add a bit of character or a diffuser turn a plain old dorm room/apartment into your version of what luxury is! If you're looking for some dorm room/apartment ideas check out my Pinterest board for some ideas. 

𝟒. 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲!

Being in Uni/College can be stressful! Especially during midterm and exam season. I can remember myself pulling all-nighters, with a double espresso in my hand, reading old notes & memorizing the terms I needed for my exam. However, please don't overload yourself!

If you haven't already bought yourself a planner or use an Online one ASAP!

Planning your weekly, daily, monthly routines is essential for us college girlies! I'd recommend that you set out at least one day of the week, specifically for working out, self-care, hanging out with friends & Family, and doing extra-curricular. It is important to focus on your studies & pamper yourself. It is essential to reconnect yourself with your divine feminine energy. if you are more interested in "Ways to reconnect with your feminine energy check out my post by clicking here!

𝟓.  𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐮𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬

Regardless, if you are working a part-time job, taking out a student loan, or getting an allowance from your parents. It is super important to be on top of your finances! Mastering this skill at your young age (18-23) is necessary! This will have an impact on your finances post-college. Like I mentioned above, a planner will become your best friend! Plan out how much you intend to spend on groceries, eating out, shopping, miscellaneous items, rent, etc. 

Take a financial literacy class, invest the money you have, and watch it grow over time, start a 41k account, retirement saving account, life insurance stocks, crypto, Begin building up your credit score, etc. You might be on a tight budget now that you're in school. But once you graduate, you'll be making way more money! With the financial skills you’ve learned, you’ll be able to manage your money 100% better than if you didn't.

Have any lovely tips you’d like to share? Are you currently in college right now? 

Start a discussion in the comments bellow!! Until next time my loves 💛

Chichi xo

Want to see more posts like these? Follow @miss-femme-fatale​ for more!

[criminalmindzjunkie]

Love Sick

Masterlist

Summary: A story about how Spencer’s worst decision ever somehow ends up being his best.

A/N: Happy Valentine’s Day, my loves! This fic is loosely based on a request I got about Spencer faking an illness to keep the reader from going on a date.

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem!Reader

Content Warning: swearing

Word Count: 4k

Spencer has done a terrible, awful thing.

He wants to argue that he doesn’t know what came over him, but that would be untrue and he’s already met today’s quota on little white lies. Spencer knows exactly what possessed him to call you up at seven thirty on a Saturday night, and it wasn’t so that the two of you could discuss the weather or the recent upward trend in the stock market. Spencer’s spontaneous (panicked) phone call to you was a brazen attempt to abate the green-eyed monster that had been whispering dreadful things in his ear for the better part of a week.

To put it simply; Spencer is jealous, and he’s dealing with it rather poorly.

So poorly that he’s resorted to sabotage.

As he sits on his couch and worries at a hole in the bottom of his designated lounging sweatshirt, Spencer attempts to justify his actions. His tiny fib won’t hurt anyone . . . except, perhaps, one annoyingly perfect and stupidly handsome veterinarian. But Spencer can live with that. Potentially scorning an animal care specialist isn’t the thing that has his stomach in knots. That, he can live with. Spencer doesn’t even have pets, so there’s no longterm consequences as far as the vet is concerned. The notion of lying to you, on the other hand? 

Spencer is positively sick with nerves.

He’s not sure why. Spencer’s gotten rather good at lying to you. Several months of pining for you from across the hallway of your shared apartment complex has turned him into quite the master of deceit, after all. He was a sucker from the moment he opened his door and lay his eyes on you, arms outstretched and wielding a plate of homemade sweets. The cookies were lovely, but the breathtaking smile on your face is what really did him in.

Since that first day, Spencer’s gone out of his way to ensure that he’s on the receiving end of that smile as often as possible. His efforts are never in vain; for reasons unbeknownst to him, you seem to enjoy spending time with him just as much as he did you. This mutual fondness results in most of Spencer’s off days being spent in your company. Spencer was certain that, with time, he would work up the nerve to ask you out on a date. He’s halfway to convincing himself that you might even say yes when your cat makes the unfortunate decision to steal a brownie from your plate and gulp the whole thing down.

Enter, aforementioned veterinarian.

The sound of your door opening from across the hall has Spencer breaking out into a cold sweat. His hand is halfway to his forehead, ready to wipe away the perspiration when he pauses. His body’s anxious reaction might just help him sell his story. Yes, Spencer thinks, this is a good thing. Authenticity, and all that.

Several soft footsteps are muffled by the door that separates him from you, and then his doorknob jiggles as you struggle to fit your key into the lock. A jolt of adrenaline surges through Spencer and in the blink of an eye he’s on his feet and sprinting to his bathroom in the name of authenticity. If he wants to keep up this ridiculous façade, and he really, really does, Spencer is prepared to fake it until he makes it. The alternative is far too mortifying. Failure is not an option.

Spencer cringes when he lifts his eyes to meet his reflection. He’s been told more than once that he’s an absolutely terrible liar, and the wide, guilty eyes that stare back at him confirm this. All it will take is one look at him and you’ll know something’s amiss. Perhaps it isn’t too late for Spencer to come clean. It would be embarrassing, yeah, but no less embarrassing than it would be an hour from now when you call him on his shit. But then again, there is always the possibility that you will get angry with him and leave, and Spencer isn’t willing to risk you walking away from him. Not tonight.

Spencer barely has the time to splash some cold water on his face and dive to the bathroom floor before you’re pushing open the door to his apartment and calling out his name. His brain, the part that isn’t rendered useless in his panicked state, reminds him of just how many germs can be found on the average bathroom floor. It’s enough to make him pause, but only for a moment. He takes a deep breath before slumping over against the toilet.

Showtime.

“M’ in here,” Spencer calls out in his croakiest voice. It comes out exactly as he intended, all rough and pitiful. Maybe he can pull this off, after all.

The soft pitter patter of your bare feet makes his heart rate increase exponentially. Spencer steels himself, recites a reassuring mantra in his head. I can do this; I can do this.

Spencer’s poor, overworked heart gets a much-needed rest when you step into the doorway. In fact, he’s almost certain it stops completely at the sight of you in a tiny red dress. A tiny red dress that leaves very little to the imagination. Spencer can’t even see past his mounting panic to enjoy the way you look. That damn red dress serves as a brutal reminder of why he’s sitting in his bathroom floor, clutching his toilet bowl and damn near drowning in a nervous sweat.

The thing is, Spencer hadn’t intended on sabotaging your date with the vet. He had every intention of staying in, wallowing in his sorrows and waiting up for you. Spencer even said this to Derek, who was kind enough to call him and remind him of how big of a jackass he was. Spencer didn’t need the reminder. He was well aware.

But then Derek said something that made Spencer’s blood run cold.

“And what exactly do you plan to do if she doesn’t come home?”

So, really, it’s Derek’s fault that Spencer promptly ended the call and dialed your number. It’s also Derek’s fault that Spencer is about to give the most convincing performance of his entire fucking life.

“I’m sorry I called you, but I didn’t know what else to do. I just feel so awful.” And he does feel awful, just not in the way you think.

You’re quick to close the distance between the two of you, dropping to your knees and brushing stray pieces of hair away from Spencer’s clammy forehead. His skin sings where your hand grazes it. If he didn’t have a fever before, he will if you don’t stop touching him.

“Don’t ever apologize, Spence. I wish you’d have called me sooner,” you murmur. Warm, concerned eyes drag across Spencer’s bedraggled appearance. “How long have you been feeling sick?”

Spencer gulps. “A few hours, I guess. I ate my leftovers from last night for lunch. Maybe that’s what’s wrong.”Lies, lies, lies!

Your brow furrows. “That’s strange. I ate mine, too, and I feel fine.”

Spencer doesn’t really have an argument for that, so he fakes a pained groan and rests his head against his arm. He closes his eyes and prays the intro to theater class he took in high school will pay off.

You must deem his act convincing enough because you press a soft kiss to the top of his hair and stand. Spencer hears the sound of a cabinet opening, followed by the sound of running water.

The tender touch of your hand on his shoulder has him raising his head and looking up at you, inquisitive. You place a cold washrag to his forehead, and Spencer melts into the touch. It feels heavenly against his hot skin.

“Do you think you could manage to take a shower?” you prompt, earning a feeble nod from Spencer. He doesn’t even have to fake the way he trembles as you run the damp cloth down his neck. “I think I have some broccoli and cheddar soup at my apartment. I’ll go change and grab it while you shower.”

Elation spreads through Spencer, pouring from his heart until it reaches the very tips of his extremities. He can’t believe his scheme hasn’t blown up in his face already.

With the help of your outstretched hand, Spencer rises to his feet and braces himself against the shower door. You make no move to remove your hand from his, and that gives him the courage to ask his next question.

“What about your date?”

You shrug and an easy smile spreads across your face. Spencer feels faint. He blames it on his imaginary illness.  

“Don’t worry about that. The only thing I’m concerned with right now is taking care of you.”

Spencer bites down hard on the flesh of his cheek to keep a smug grin at bay. This is a victory he’ll have to celebrate at a later date.

--

Spencer enters his living room, freshly showered and donned in clean pajamas, to the sound of your voice speaking quietly into your cellphone. He halts just before he enters his kitchen, straining to catch a snippet of your conversation. As he leans closer to the sound of your voice, Spencer halfheartedly chastises himself. First, he deceives you, now he’s resorting to eavesdropping. Rock, meet bottom.

He’s just about to wrench himself away and retreat to the couch, when:

“I really am sorry about cancelling, especially on such short notice.” A short stretch of silence follows. “Next Saturday? Oh. Um, yeah, I’ll let you know, okay?”

Spencer is very much like a popped balloon; the earlier feelings of elation leave him in a harsh gust. Next Saturday? He barely managed to derail this Saturday’s date! No way he could get away with it a second time.

In the midst of his inner turmoil, Spencer misses you exchanging goodbyes with the vet before collecting Spencer’s bowl of soup. He’s still standing there, absolutely crestfallen, when you round the corner. You nearly collide with his chest, narrowly avoiding it by skidding to a halt in front of him. Your eyes run up his frame, assessing him, until they rest on his face.

“You scared me, Spence,” you chuckle. You cock your head to the side. Spencer imagines his expression is none dissimilar to that of a disgruntled frog. “You feeling okay? You’re not going to puke again, are you?”

Honestly, he might. The idea of you rescheduling your date with the vet is about as vomit inducing as it gets.

“I’m fine,” Spencer says on an exhale. Funnily, it’s probably the biggest lie he’s told all day. “The shower helped.”

His delivery is flat, but you don’t seem to mind. You smile up at him, relieved, and Spencer’s chest aches.

“I was thinking you and I could watch a movie?” you offer, and Spencer nods his assent. He can’t fathom turning you down. Not when you’re wearing an old sweatshirt you stole from his closet and a pair of fuzzy socks with little hearts on them. The ache intensifies.

“What are we watching?”

You plop down on the couch and look at him expectantly. He follows in suit, settling in beside you.

“I was thinking that you could choose,” you murmur as you place the bowl in his hands. Spencer shoots a teasing smile your way as he raises the spoon to his mouth.

“You mean, you’re actually going to let me pick the movie? I should get sick more often.”

His cheek earns him an exaggerated roll of your eyes.

“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” you mutter. “You always pick the movie.” 

He can count on one hand the amount of times he’s gotten to pick the movie.

Spencer is about to launch into an impassioned rebuttal when the feeling of your fingers scratching against his scalp renders him speechless. His eyes dart to your face as you concentrate on scrolling through the TV guide, seemingly unaware of the effect the simple act has on him. Meanwhile, Spencer’s brain is short-circuiting.

You begin to read off a list of potential movies to him, but Spencer barely hears you. He’s practically purring as you twirl his curls around lithe fingers, his eyes threatening to flutter closed as an intense feeling of euphoria washes over him. Maybe it’s because he’s touch starved, or maybe it’s because it’s been so long since someone just looked after him. Whatever it is, Spencer embraces it wholeheartedly.

“-heard it’s pretty good. So, what do you say, Spence?”

Spencer pulls himself back to the present, blinking lazily at you. You’re looking at him, expectant, and Spencer’s eyes flit to the TV. His eyes skim its contents, reading briefly about a movie in which some family moves into a haunted house.

His face breaks out into a grin and he nods, because Spencer’s known you long enough to recognize that watching a horror movie usually results in you pressed tightly to his side and clinging to his hand. He also knows that nine times out of ten, you choose to watch a horror movie over anything else. No wonder he always lets you choose.

And sure enough, not even ten minutes in, Spencer is ditching his bowl of soup and pulling you into his arms. Once you’ve draped a blanket around the two of you settled in, you glance up at him.

“How are you feeling, Spence?”

Spencer responds by saying that he’s suddenly feeling much better. 

Spencer Reid - 1, Veterinarian – 0

--

Spencer’s not sure at which point he fell asleep. All he knows is that he certainly does not remember sprawling out across your body, nor does he remember tucking his head into the crook of your neck. But this is how he finds himself when the sun begins to pour in through his windows the next morning, and Spencer can’t bring himself to care about how he came to be there.

Spencer guesstimates that it’s no later than seven in the morning. You’re still fast asleep underneath him, your chest rising and falling rhythmically with every breath. It’s early, and it’s Sunday, and Spencer can’t think of a single reason to wake you. Instead, he snuggles in closer, because he’d be a fool not to enjoy this while it lasts.

Unfortunately, the shrill sound of Spencer’s ringing phone shatters the serenity. He prays that it won’t disturb you, that you’ll remain oblivious and continue to sleep, but that hope is shattered when you begin to shift underneath him. Spencer makes quick work of peeling himself off of you before dashing to his kitchen and snatching his phone off the table.

He’s prepared to verbally assault whoever has the audacity to defile the sanctity of lazy Sunday mornings when a quick peek into the living room finds you still fast asleep on his sofa. He smiles, soft and fond, before pressing the accept button and bringing the phone to his ear.

“Hello?”

“I was beginning to wonder if you were still alive.” Spencer’s smile transforms into a grimace. Apparently, Derek Morgan doesn’t believe in lie-ins. “I was preparing myself for a rescue mission.”

“It’s seven in the morning. I was asleep.”

Derek lets out a low whistle. “Who pissed in your Cheerios, Pretty Boy?”

“You, when you decided that it was acceptable to ring me before eight,” Spencer whisper shouts. He knows that he’s being touchy, to say the least, but who can blame him? Five minutes ago, he was cuddling with the most beautiful girl he’s ever had the privilege to lay eyes on. Now, he’s shooting the breeze with a colleague. Obviously, Spencer would prefer the former to the latter.

“Jesus, kid. I’m going to take a wild guess and say that girl of yours didn’t make it home, after all. You okay?”

The guilty feeling returns and Spencer cringes. “Uh, define ‘okay.’”

Derek curses on the other end of the line. “I’m sorry, kid. Try not to beat yourself up about it, okay? There’s plenty of fish in the sea, you’ve just gotta put yourself out there. How’s this; you and me will go out next weekend and bar hop. I’ll teach you some Derek Morgan tricks of the trade. Soon enough, you’ll have forgotten all about her.”

“I don’t know, that might be hard.” Spencer scratches the back of his neck. “She’s asleep on my couch right now.”

A long stretch of silence comes from the other end of the line, and Spencer thinks for a moment that the call dropped. Unfortunately, he isn’t that lucky. A booming laugh erupts from the speaker and makes him jump out of his skin.

“My man!” Derek laughs, incredulous. “I didn’t think you had it in you, I’ll be honest.”

“It’s not what you think-”

“How did you manage that? Did the Good Doctor make a grand romantic gesture? Damn, I really hate that I missed that.”

“No, there were no gestures. And it’s not-”

Derek cuts him off. Again. “How’d she take the news? I’m assuming she took it well, if she stayed the night.”

“I didn’t tell her anything!” Spencer spits out, frustrated. “I… I told her I was sick. She came over to take care of me, and we fell asleep on the couch.”

Spencer’s proclamation is met with another long silence.

“So, you sabotaged the date?”

Spencer winces. “I did not sabotage it. I just… manipulated the situation a little.”

“Oh, you certainly did,” Derek chuckles. “How did you pull that off? I’ve seen you try to lie. That shit is laughable.”

Spencer opens his mouth to defend himself, but the pitter patter of socked feet approaching him from behind has his mouth running dry.

“Yeah, Spencer. How did you pull that off?”

Spencer had been correct in his earlier assumptions. The inevitable moment in which you called him out on his shit has arrived, and it’s every bit as mortifying as he expected. So mortifying that he can practically feel the blood drain from his face. And the thing is that he knows he deserves whatever you’re about to throw his way… it’s just that the thought of you being angry with him kind of makes him want to cry. And that would only add to the mortification.

He turns around slowly, his body rigid, until he’s met with the adorably rumpled vision of you with your arms crossed and your hair sticking up in all directions.

Spencer’s never seen anything quite so mesmerizing, and it hurts because he knows he’s ruined everything. He’ll never get to watch another scary movie with you tucked neatly against his side, or wake up in your arms again. He’ll never get to kiss you.

And the worst of all; Spencer will never get to tell you how he really feels. It’s a crying shame, because he thinks he could have been really good at loving you.

“Hey, Derek, I gotta go.”

Spencer presses the end call button and immerses himself in what has to be the most awkward stand-off of all time. You stand there, arms crossed, head cocked to the side with one hip jutted out. Spencer isn’t sure how you manage to look intimidating and endearing at the same time. He supposes the fuzzy socks are to blame.

Minutes pass, but they feel like hours. Spencer is approximately three seconds away from dropping to his knees and groveling when you finally speak.

“You sabotaged my date.”

Spencer lets out a strangled laugh. Perhaps humor is the way to go? It couldn’t hurt to try. In his opinion, the situation couldn’t possibly get any worse. “I think sabotage is a strong word. I prefer the term obstruct.”

You let loose a laugh of your own, but this one holds no humor. “And I prefer keeping the company of people who don’t lie to me.” Okay, maybe it can get worse.

Spencer visibly deflates. It was a stupid idea. He’s never been a funny guy.

“I am so, so, so incredibly sorry.” Sorry for lying to you, that is. Spencer isn’t in the least bit apologetic for ruining your date. Given the chance, he’d do it again - in a more tactful way, of course. Preferably, in such a way that didn’t involve him laying in his bathroom floor. 

Spencer attempts to take a step forward, only to be rooted to the spot when you fix him with a look. He’s not funny but he is smart – smart enough to know better than to push it. 

“Why did you do it?”

Spencer was really hoping you wouldn’t ask that.

“I-I…”

Apparently, an eidetic memory doesn’t stand a chance when it comes to confrontations involving pretty girls. One quirk of an immaculately plucked eyebrow and Spencer loses the ability to recall a single word of the English language. It’s tragic, really.

“Spit it out, Spencer.”

“I didn’t want you to go on the date.” It’s like ripping off a band aid, the way the words tumble from his lips. It’s painless at first, but then the sting sets in when he realizes what he’s done. 

Your lack of reaction doesn’t help. Your face remains passive, as if he didn’t just offer himself to you on a silver platter. Spencer squirms uncomfortably.

“Why didn’t you want me to go on the date?”

God, this is excruciating. You’re clearly out for blood, and the twinkle in your eye shows just how much you’re enjoying this. Spencer would have never taken you for a sadist.

“Because…” Spencer trails off and allows his eyes to drift closed. If he’s going to do this, he’s going to do it his way. With his eyes closed, because he can’t bear the thought of looking you in the eye when you reject him. “B-Because I like you. A lot.”

Spencer hasn’t had a lot of practice at being wrong. In fact, he’s spent the majority of his life being right. It seems the universe is making up for that now, because he can’t seem to get a single goddamn thing right today.

You laugh at him. You actually laugh in his face. Mortified doesn’t even begin to cover it. 

“You like me.” It isn’t a question.

Spencer keeps his eyes shut tight.

“Y-Yeah.”

You know how they say if you take away one of a person’s senses, all of the others are heightened? Spencer couldn’t disagree more. In the midst of his despair, he’s completely unaware that you’ve crossed the room and are now standing directly in front of him until you speak again.

“Well, that’s rather unfortunate,” you sigh. Spencer inhales a sharp breath when he realizes you’re close enough to touch. Still, he keeps his eyes closed.

“Uh, why is that?”

Spencer nearly jumps out of his skin when your hand reaches up and caresses the side of his jaw.

“Because, Spencer,” you murmur, silky and sweet. “I was hoping you just might love me.”

Spencer’s eyes fly open and he’s greeted by a lazy, contented smile. It’s similar to the one that greeted him when he opened his front door on that very first day, but it’s better somehow. Later reflection will determine that it’s better because it’s the kind of smile reserved just for him. And that’s all he’s ever wanted, really.

“W-What?”

“You heard me.” You tilt your head up and rest your palm on Spencer’s chest. His heartbeat is erratic, thundering hard against his ribcage. He’d surely be embarrassed if he wasn’t about to faint from shock. “Do you love me, Spencer Reid?”

Spencer doesn’t even have to think twice.

“More than anything.”

“Good.” Your thumb brushes across the apple of his cheek, eliciting a full body shudder. “I was beginning to think you would never catch up.”

Spencer must be hallucinating. That, or this is all a dream and any second now his alarm is going to go off. He subtly pinches himself on the thigh to test the theory. You can imagine his surprise when nothing changes. He doesn’t wake up in a pile of his own drool, and now the skin on his thigh stings.

“You . . . You like me, too?”

You shake your head. “No, Spencer. I love you, too. Why do you think I bake you cookies and spend all of my free time in your apartment?”

“Because my couch is better than yours?” Spencer deadpans.

“I mean, that certainly doesn’t hurt. But it’s not the only reason.”

“What about the vet?” It must be his guilty conscious talking, because Spencer cannot conjure up any other reason he has for asking such a moronic question. He, personally, could not care less about the vet. Full offense intended.

“Cameron is a nice guy, sure,” you trail off. Spencer doesn’t miss the way your eyes drift down to his lips before returning to his eyes. “But he’s not really my type.”

“And what is your type, exactly?” A giddy grin finds its way to Spencer’s face. He’s notorious for being chronically clueless, but even the master of imperception himself can see where this is going. 

You snort, and it’s adorable. “Liars, apparently.”

It’s impossible to determine who moves first, but that doesn’t really matter. What does matter is the end result of Spencer’s lips colliding with yours. It’s earth-shatteringly lovely; slow and sweet and tentative. There’s no rushing, no frantic fumbling of hands. Just the reverent drag of your lips against his, warm and intoxicating. 

Spencer eventually regains the use of his limbs and when he does, he’s snaking one arm around your waist as the other entangles itself in your wonderfully unruly hair. 

You sigh a happy sigh against his lips and Spencer’s heart soars. In a completely unforeseen turn of events, the possibility of more lazy Sunday mornings is now back on the table. Thank God he’s better at lying than he gave himself credit for. 

God, and Derek Morgan’s meddling ass. 

-

-

-

[thewritetofreespeech]

Hello! This is a funny yet cute thought that came to mind but can I request head cannons of the Brothers and Nowdateables reacting to an Mc that was actually pregnant throughout the program?

She wasn’t showing at first but as the months go by, her stomach is larger as well as her noticeably odd cravings and waddle. So when asked who the dad is or if it happened through the program, she’s like “I was already pregnant and there is no father, I’m inseminated. I’ve always wanted to be a Mom.”

As her stomach shows, she doesn’t mind letting the boys touch her stomach and feel the kicks, attend baby checkups with her, etc. Until God forbid being with her when her water breaks and she goes into labor during RAD or at one of Diavolo’s parties. It’s up to you if you want this to be romantic (For the Brothers + Datables w/o Luke to see the baby as their own child) or platonic for all of them and be protective uncles + Brother to the child.

I debated not doing this one. Not because I didn’t like it, but because I was nervous about all the Obey me baby requests I’m probably gonna get now. LOLOLOLOL XD

Obey me Boys + Pregnant!MC

Lucifer

Disappointed in himself for not knowing about this before hand. It should have been in your file, but he also should have done his due diligence in vetting you.

Once he’s made aware, he takes great care to make sure you’re taken care of.

No highly strenuous activities. No stress. Well balanced meals and soft surroundings.

Schedules and goes to all your doctor’s appointments with you. Takes notes.

Has a trust set up for you & the baby to make sure you’re taken care of for the rest of your lives

Nervous about holding the baby at first, after it’s born, but gets used to it.

Mammon

Shocked when you first tell him, and scared

He’s “Baka-mon” after all. He doesn’t want to accidently hurt you or the baby.

Works really hard to be better for the both of you. No more yelling. No more gambling or late nights. He does all his work on time and some of yours too.

Loves to rest his head on your stomach and feel the baby move.

100% the one that gets the an expensive crib, designer clothes, and a Waterford crystal bear for the baby when it’s born.

Wants the baby to call him “Uncle Mammon” when they can talk. If not Dad

Levi

Nervous. What’s he gonna do with a baby?? Or a pregnant MC???

Tries to stay away from you as much as possible. Something he feels bad about, but he’s just scared of doing something wrong.

Also, not gonna lie, he’s a little jealous that you’re having someone else’s baby. Even if it is from a donor. (avatar of envy ladies and gentleman)

Reads a lot of Slice of Life family manga to be more prepared and in tune with this new ‘family friendly’ genre he’s found himself in

Puts his headphones on your stomach and plays music for the baby, because he read that they can hear it

Nicknames the baby ‘chibi-chan’ after they are born, because they are so small

Satan

Not sure why you were keeping it a secret, or agreed to come to the Devildom if you were pregnant, but handles the news rather well.

Immediately looks into every book on the subject. ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’, pregnancy health books, child rearing.

He wants to be informed so he can help you with this process

Makes all your favorites when he’s on kitchen duty. Takes over your days so you can rest more

Incredibly impressed with how well your managing being pregnant, school, and well.....them all at the same time.

Buys every children's book he comes across for the baby when he sees them. They’ll have a library as big as his by the time they can read.

Asmo

Actually really loves babies. They are the product of love, which he is all for. And they’re so cuuuuute!

Immediately offers to take you maternity clothes shopping. Every time you need new clothes.

Decorates your room and the nursery for the baby so it’s a warm, inviting space for the both of you.

Always ready to pamper or give the expecting mother a spa day when she needs it

Desperately tries to have their first word be “Asmo”

Beel

He’s very happy for you. If this is what you want, and you’re following your dream, he’s happy for you and to help wherever he can

King of the weird food craving brigade. He’ll bring you whatever you want, any time you want. He’s probably hungry too anyway

Extremely protective of you. He was already, but now that he knows you have a defenseless life in your body he’ll do anything to keep you safe.

Often decides that walking is too strenuous for you, and carries you around school or House of Lamentation

Best baby sitter. I voted. No take backs.

Belphie

Not the biggest fan of the news.

Babies are loud, and need a lot of attention. And he’s the baby of the family so there can’t be two of them

Tries to be supportive, but it is a struggle for him. I mean...there’s nothing he can do so might as well get on board.

Gives you one of his old blankets to have as the baby blanket. It’s very sentimental

When the baby is born, his attitude changes. He’ll murder anyone who gets too close to the baby or even look at them too long. He’s like one of those cats that curl up with newborns and swat at anyone that gets too close while they are sleeping.

Solomon

Surprised to hear that you are pregnant, but wishes you well all the same

He’s not exactly thrilled you’re having another man’s baby. But you made the decision before you met, so what’s done is done.

Mixes you up a lot of morning sickness relief and joint pain potions to help with your pregnancy

Creates an ever lasting, floating mobile of stars for the baby’s room. Along with protection spells out the wazoo

Decides he will make the baby his new apprentice in magic. When they’re older.

Simeon

Elated to hear the good news!

A new precious life in the world. What could be better than that?

Always ready to help with anything you need. Shopping, cooking, helping to relax, or even just to talk, he’s there

First to buy the baby there own Baby Book, to record all it’s precious first moments and photographs

Petitions on high to be the child’s official Guardian Angel

Luke

He obviously has no experience with this, so he’s interested in where babies come from

Also eager to help. He’s always been the youngest angel, so he’s never had the opportunity to help care for someone else. He really likes the idea of being a ‘big brother’ figure.

Asks a lot of questions. Like....a lot of questions.

Bakes a lot of sweets for you so you can be happy and make sure you’re eating properly

FINALLY! He’s not the smallest anymore!!

Diavolo

Thinks it’s wonderful!

Children are the future. Plus, he is fascinated by human breeding. (not in a creepy way just as a general interest in all things human)

Loves seeing your body grow and change throughout your pregnancy. Is always eager to touch your stomach

Anything you need is yours. Diavolo personally sees to it

Calls your child his little ‘prince or princess’. No matter if you’re romantically involved or not.

Barbatos

Given that he can see the future, he knew that you were pregnant before you told anyone

Puts you on a strict regiment of healthy foods & diet once, you’ve announced it, to make sure you’re getting proper nutrition

Also sneaks in some sweets now & then. He’s a demon, not a monster.

Handles everything from setting doctors appointments to getting the nursery organized for the baby’s arrival

His life’s mission is to make sure you and the baby are cared for. Next to his prince, you two are his top priority now.