#chris michaelson

[memoirsofasim]

Spring family vacation in Sulani. 🌴🌞

[storiesbyjes2g]

3.116 What if

One morning, I got up, determined to ease back into the SimTube game. I wasn't quite ready to make another video, so I opted to read and respond to comments, mostly apologizing for my absence. Scrolling and reading through them, I began to understand why my one video performed so well. The comments were predominantly from thirsty girls shooting their shots. It was kinda weird knowing women drooling over me fueled my success, but it got me paid, so... Sophia would have a field day with that one.

I heard her march downstairs, enter the bathroom, and turn on the tub. Minutes later, the toilet flushed. Then, the crying started. Though I loved and admired her tenacity, I couldn't take much more of her heartbreak. The treatments should have worked already. Was the doctor wrong? It felt like we were dealing with infertility, not low fertility. Suddenly, a heaviness accompanied by a random yet à propos thought fell on me. What if she wasn't the only one with a problem? What if I was the reason she hadn't gotten pregnant yet? As chilling as that thought was, it gave me a weird sense of hope. If I had a problem, maybe a doctor could fix it. I got up immediately and left the house as quietly as I could because I didn't want to Sophia hear me leaving while she was in there bawling her eyes out. I went to the hospital to get my fertility checked, and it turned out I too had low fertility. Of course I did. Nothing in my life was ever easy. The doctor gave me the same schpiel: try the treatments blah blah blah...artificial insemination yada yada yada...adoption and surrogacy womp womp womp. We were painfully aware of our options, but of course he didn't know that. I hadn't given up hope that we could birth our own child, but I knew Sophia wouldn't want us spending more time and money on those treatments, especially since we both needed them now. I told the doctor we would probably want to do IVF and asked if I could go ahead and leave a sample, and he said yes.

When I got home, Sophia was entertaining Chris Michaelson. We lived next door to them now, and he came to welcome us.

"Luca! Where'd you go?" she asked.

"Uhhh...I'll tell you later."

Seeing him under these circumstances reminded me Celeste had mentioned their children were adopted. I chatted and caught up with him for a bit, but when Sophia was out of earshot, I got down to business and asked him about his experience with adopting children. I hadn't realized Celeste was a trans woman, so they had always planned to adopt. Though their experience differed greatly from ours, I still enjoyed hearing about his life and the joy his children brought him. Time had flown by crazy fast, though. When I first met them, Orion, their daughter, was just a baby. Now she was in high school! And their son, Atlas, was married. I still felt as young as I was back then, but my birthday came barreling around the corner right behind Sophia's. Mama used to look at Less and I and jokingly ask us to stop growing. I totally understood what she meant now.

Speaking of Less, she texted me, inviting us to bar hop with her and some friends. First of all, since when did she have friends? Secondly, weren't we too old to be bar hopping like university students? Third, I didn't feel like being social. I had some potentially devastating news to share with my wife, and who knew if she would be up for it. Unfortunately for me, Sophia was nearby when my notification chime went off, and I made the mistake of groaning after reading the message. Naturally, she asked what was wrong, and I told her of the invite. She was in a good mood at the time and insisted I accept.

"Maybe that guy she was swooning about will be there," she said.

I did want to meet that schmuck and see what kind of spell he put on my sister. I also didn't want to ruin Sophia's good mood with my news, so I replied and told Less we'd be there. The tears could wait until tomorrow.

[keepingupwithzaynmalik]

Zayn Malik is gearing up to release his long-awaited fourth studio album, and he’s co-produced the upcoming LP with Grammy-winner Dave Cobb, Rolling Stone can exclusively confirm.

In working with Cobb — one of Nashville’s most accomplished and in-demand producers — Malik will explore new sonic territory and lean into pairing his unmistakable vocals with live instrumentation. The soulful singer-songwriter had spent several years writing the album at his home in rural Pennsylvania before enlisting Cobb’s help as a co-producer. There’s no release date or title yet, but the album will be Malik’s first on new label, Mercury Records.

“What got me about Zayn was his voice, you can hear love, loss, pain, triumph and humanity in it. I feel as if this record is removing the glass from his spirit directly to his fans,” Cobb says. “Zayn has really created his own universe on this record, he really has no fear and is speaking straight from his soul.”

In an interview on Call Her Daddy last year, Malik teased the upcoming album a bit, saying, “I’m doing a record I don’t think people are really gonna expect. It’s a different sound for me. And it’s got some more narrative going on, like real-life experiences and stuff. My daughter’s mentioned in there a couple of times.”

Malik’s last album, Nobody Is Listening, was released in 2021. Since then, he’s shared a couple of scattered singles, including “To Begin Again” with Ingrid Michaelson, a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Angel,” and last year’s “Love Like This.” Back in January, Malik collaborated with the up-and-coming Pakistani group Aur on a reimagining of their hit single, “Tu Hai Kahan.”

As for Cobb, his credits include hit albums and critically acclaimed projects with Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Lady Gaga, Jason Isbell, Lori McKenna, and Sturgill Simpson. More recently, he’s teamed up with some classic rockers like Slash and Sammy Hagar, as well as Barry Gibb, Greta Van Fleet, Gavin DeGraw, and William Prince.

[ashintheairlikesnow]

I hate asking so many questions, but so far, which one of your OCs has received the most development or has the most lore?

I’m making a random guess that it’s Kauri because I love him, but if I’m wrong, please let me know

Danny Michaelson probably has the most character development and lore as far as storyline, with Kauri and Chris tied for second.

As far as the most lore that doesn't actually get written, probably Krista. She's a background character but I know her entire life story honestly.

And don't feel bad for asking questions! I am a writer, and without attention I wither into a small shrug and lose my leaves.

[kezzplayssims]

Christopher Michaelson

Age 36 years old, the same age as Celeste. They went through high school together.

Tried to go by the name 'Topher' in high school but it didn't stick. He is just Christopher, not Chris.

He works in the tech industry like Celeste. He has his own gigs but he also helps out with Celeste's non profit work.

He's the one who likes to match his outfits to Celeste's. He says she's so beautiful, he just wants to be a nice accessory for her. He's so supportive of her and everything she does.

He is already planning on adopting again after Orion. He wants a big family.

[zaynjmsource]

British singer-songwriter Zayn Malik has signed with UTA for representation across music, film and television, among other areas, Variety has exclusively learned.

The former One Direction member’s last full-length effort was 2021’s “Nobody Is Listening,” and before that, he released 2018’s “Icarus Falls,” and 2016’s “Mind of Mine,” which gave way to the chart-topping and R&B-leaning single, “Pillowtalk.” Zayn is currently working on his fourth studio album, according to UTA.

In the years following “Nobody Is Listening,” Zayn released three songs; the most recent being his November cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Angel,” in honor of the late guitarist’s birthday, and “To Begin Again,” a 2021 collaboration with Ingrid Michaelson. His previous duet partners include Taylor Swift, Chris Brown, Snakehips, M.I.A., Becky G and Sia, and he has also contributed to soundtracks alongside Taylor Swift on “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever,” for “Fifty Shades Darker,” and Zhavia Ward on “A Whole New World,” from the 2019 live-action “Aladdin” reboot.

Outside of music, Zayn has collaborated on collections with fashion houses such as Giuseppe Zanotti and Versus Versace. Throughout his career, he has garnered a Billboard Music Award, American Music Award, MTV VMA and two Brit Award nominations.

Zayn joined One Direction in 2010 and contributed to four out of five of the boyband’s hit albums including “Up All Night,” “Take Me Home,” “Midnight Memories” and “Four,” all of which racked up multiplatinum awards across the world. The singer announced he was leaving the band in 2015, and the year following, the group went on indefinite hiatus.

Zayn is represented by Nicola Carson (ZenKai Management) and Taryn Zimmerman.

[hubmuses]

GET TO KNOW THE MUN.

what’s your phone wallpaper: a photo of my husband kissing me.

last song you listened to: birthday bitch by trey bechman

currently reading: my own novel ! midnight vampire by Mortimer M. Love good.

last movie: bob's burgers.

craving: currently craving McDonald's.

what are you wearing right now: blue and white striped pants with a half black half white shirt and a rainbow long sweater. One black sock and one white sock too.

how tall are you?: 5'7"

piercings / tattoos ?: One pierced ear and a septum and two nose studs pierced. one wedding ring tattoo to my husbands, one hippocampus covered in jewelry tattoo, one bloody heart mark over a vampire bite mark. hopeless romantic across my thighs. a spiderman tattoo on my hips. a peter pan quote across my ribcage. a ghost on my side ribs. a tattoo of a butt with the word eat this on my lower back. and an initial with the letter " r " on my hand.

glasses? contacts?: neither though I wear glasses for fashion not for function.

last thing you ate?: brussel sprouts covered in butter and seasoned with salt and pepper. pretty plain tasting. shouldve added cheese or oil!

favorite color(s): blue, red, iliac, pastel pink, black, silver, gold, etc.

current obsession: practicing spells, ( I'm a witch ! ), talking with deities ( fae deities as of late ! ), hanging out with my husbands and playing video games. ( I'm polyamorous in rl )

any pets: i have three cats. one cat belongs mainly to my mom and her name is rascal Delilah, then there's clementine, and the youngest who follows me around everywhere, AJ.

do you have a crush right now?: I only crush on my husbands !! been with me for all my past lives and even now! married for six years !!

favorite fictional character: anakin skywalker, obi - wan kenobi, klaude michaelson, elijah michaelson, chris redfield, dracula , and more !

last place you traveled: out of state I traveled to Orlando, Florida to go to Disney World a couple years ago !!

tagged by: @thecs

tagging: @runaljod , @therelentless , @agentwhatevs , @magioffire , @nectaric , @lokadottr , and you * !!

[foxandfall]

Got exactly one (1) request (@just-slightly-chaotic) for more of my music recs so here we go! +plus some of my commentary bc I'm an oversharer :)

Starting with some of my favorites from artists I mentioned before:

I Don't Want it - Crawlers (all of crawlers is good but this one's catchy as hell)

Dam, Damn - Päter (this one got me into them)

Forever & the Stars - The Lone Ghosts

The Moon Will Sing - The Crane Wives (cried irl when my voice dropped and i couldn't hit these notes anymore rip)

Snitches and Talkers Get Stitches and Walkers - Fall Out Boy (if i had to pick a fave <3)

Zero Zero - Gerard Way

American Dream - Switchfoot (honorary rec bc my parents had this on loop and expected me not to be anti-capitalist?? okay.)

And some different artists! Some of these are more well-known than others, but they're on here bc I think they all fuck severely

Mitsubishi I & II - M. Masaki

You, Sailor - Erin McKeown (Saw her live in 2016 at the WTNV Ghost Stories tour!)

Dirty Night Clowns - Chris Garneau

Little Talks - Of Monsters and Men (This reminds me so intensely of a story arc in a fantasy book i read in my tweens)

Mama - Cam Cole

Cherry Pie - Warrant (made me gay. no further elaboration)

Love Isn't Always Fair - Black Veil Brides (cringe but transed my gender, everybody say thank you Jinxx <3)

F**K a PROUD BOY (feat. UnityTX) - Kind Eyes (this is v different from everything else here but if you like hardcore, here <3)

All the Dying - Mother Mother

Concrete - Lovejoy

To My Enemies - Saint Motel

As the World Caves In - Matt Maltese (ofc, obligatory rec, i heard somewhere it's about his cat and god big fucking mood. i sing this at my cat all the time now)

Touch-Tone Telephone - Lemon Demon (I'm an autistic STEM major, obligatory rec)

Farewell Wanderlust - The Amazing Devil (literally anything by them is good their vocals are ethereal)

Be OK - Ingrid Michaelson

Brackish - Kittie

Besitos - Pierce The Veil

Fish in the Sea - Assassin's Creed IV Game Soundtrack (yes, sea shanty. I'm southern, sea shanties are folk music but wet, give me this)

Vaya con Dios - Julio Iglesias (actually prefer my grandfather's cover, which is technically on youtube, but tough luck <3)

Nuestra Canción (feat. Vincente García) - Monsieur Periné (BOP)

Moonlight Sonata - Beethoven (mom's old fave piece to play)

This specific Guqin piece that dewrinkles my brain

Highway - Jeff Satur (obligatory Jeffposting, this is my favorite next to Loop and Stranger)

Do You - RM (obligatory old kpop fave) im so normal about the eyeball thing im normal i SWEAR-

I'm going to stop now bc my brain wants to keep listing orchestral and string stuff now but! that's some things!! I have a bad habit of listening to the same artists on repeat bc i hate change <3 So it'd probably take me longer to remember more recs but yeah! for now, have these!

[sisterspooky1013]

More Than A Feeling, Chapter 2

Rated X | Read it here on AO3

Week One- St Joseph, MO

Memorial Day Weekend, 1998

“Okay, folks, come gather around here and we’ll get things started.”

Scully steps forward, joining the half-circle of people who are also here for their first day of work. Besides herself, there are three men: a wiry brown-skinned boy who looks like he’s barely eighteen, a short, pot-bellied white man with a receding hairline, and a tall, handsome dark-haired man with hooded green eyes and a pouty mouth. The woman addressing them is fair-skinned and looks to be in her thirties, soft-bodied with a low brown ponytail. She’s wearing an AC/DC T-shirt and jean shorts that are cut off just above her knees.

“Welcome to More Than a Feeling! My name’s Jean, I’m the lead-man around here. The big-boss is Tami, she owns the show, but I’m next in charge after that. I’ll get you oriented today and then set you up with whoever’s gonna train you for your job. This first week is a trial for you. If you turn out to be a gazoonie, we’ll thank you for your time and send you home with a paycheck. But if you work hard and help us make lots of money, you might get asked to travel with us to the next town. Okay, let’s figure out who’s who here.” Jean flips through the pages of a clipboard, reading off her roster. “Damien Burton,” she asks, looking up at each of the three men.

“That’s me,” the thin man says, holding up one bony hand.

“Good to meet ya, Damian. You’re on games, and Lenny’ll train you. Chris LaCourse?”

The pot bellied man nods but doesn’t speak.

“Chris, you’re gonna ride jock, and Mickey will show you what to do. Luke Michaelson?

“I’m Luke,” the handsome man says, and she resists the urge to look over at him. She knows he’s wearing a white T-shirt and fitted blue jeans, as that’s what he’d been wearing when they parted ways at the Hoover building this morning, ready to meet again as strangers later that day.

“Luke, you’re going to be working with Madge, our camp cook. It’s not rides or games or anything like that, but she needs a new cook to help her get meals out and I saw on your application that you have experience working in kitchens.”

Scully carefully keeps a smirk off of her mouth. Mulder cooking: now there’s an unexpected challenge for this assignment.

“Penelope Kinney,” Jean says next, looking at Scully as she is obviously the only possible Penelope of the group.

“Hi,” Scully says with a small smile.

“You’re on rides, too. You’ll go with Chris and get trained by Mickey.”

Scully nods in acceptance of this, but knows from the research she did to prepare for the case that ride jocks are very rarely female, for good reasons. She wonders why they’d choose to put her in this male-dominated role.

“Alright, follow me and I’ll show you around,” Jean says with a wave of her arm, and the four new recruits trail behind her. “We’re still setting up, obviously,” Jean calls over her shoulder as she leads them across a grassy field dotted with bits of equipment and partially-built booths, “but this will be the midway. This is where your home base will be, Damian, and rides will be over there,” she gestures to her far left, “and concessions are at the back. Luke, the camp cookhouse is over by the boneyard. We’ll go there next.”

“What’s a boneyard?” Damian asks as he steps over an overflowing toolbox.

“Living quarters for the show employees,” Jean answers with a smirk. “They see a lot of action, hence the name. Who all is staying in the bunkhouse?” she asks, glancing back to her new employees.

The three men each raise their hands, but Scully shakes her head.

“You got a trailer, Penelope?” Jean asks, and Scully nods. “Lucky girl! This here is the bunkhouse,” Jean explains as they come to an eighteen-wheel trailer with six doors on each side. “We can house twelve people in each of these, it’s just a little off your check each week. The walls are a bit thin, but it’s your own space with a bed and a mini fridge, and it beats tent camping. Showers are at the back of the trailer, you can use those if yours doesn’t have one, Penelope.”

Jean checks her clipboard and shows the three men their new housing, handing them each a key. She then leads them to a long row of portable outhouses, and Scully grimaces.

“These are the staff donnikers,” Jean says as she gives an affectionate pat to the door of the first outhouse. “I know what you’re thinking, but we keep ‘em clean as a whistle. Those four down at the end with stars on ‘em are for ladies only. Do you know why that is, gentlemen?” She pauses and waits for one of the men to answer, but they each look at each other and shrug. “Because men are fucking disgusting,” Jean supplies, and winks at Scully. “That’s it for staff quarters, let’s get you all started on training.”

They make their way back across the field, booths slowly taking shape as well as half of a small roller coaster. They come to a partially built ride being assembled by a young woman with jet-black hair and an olive complexion, her lips painted ruby red in juxtaposition to her dirty coveralls. She’s being assisted by a broad-shouldered man who sports a frustrated wrinkle in his brow, and the two are shouting over music that emanates from a small boombox sitting on the ground.

“I still don’t get it, Summer. How come they don’t fall over when the ride gets going fast?” the man asks the woman, who rolls her eyes.

“It’s gravity, Carl, I don’t know what to tell you,” Summer says derisively. “Put it together right and it won’t matter how it works, just that it does.”

Jean stops and gestures to the new hires.

“Hey Summer, here’s our fresh meat for the week. This is Summer, she’s the lead ride tech. She fixes shit when it breaks. This is Carl, he stayed on from last week.”

Summer looks over the group and flashes Scully a coy smile. “Welcome to the crew. This is the Gravitron we’re putting together,” she says as she surveys the parts scattered on the ground.

“I still don’t get how it works,” Carl admits sheepishly.

“It’s centrifugal force,” Scully supplies without thinking. “The inertia of an object in motion will always try to move in a straight line, but when that’s impossible, in this case because the riders are held in place by the padded walls of the ride, the inertial force will push them to the outermost reaches of the space they can move within in an attempt to find that straight line.”

There is a long pause, and Scully realizes everyone is staring at her with some mixture of confusion and awe. She feels her cheeks burn and she steals a quick glance at Mulder, who is shaking his head with a smirk.

“I really liked physics in school,” she explains, then looks at the ground.

“What’d you put her on, Jean?” Summer asks.

“Ride jock,” Jean answers. “But I’m guessing you want her?”

Scully lifts her head, surprised that her little slip seems to be going over well, rather than exposing her.

“Hell yeah I do,” Summer says, then turns to Carl. “It’s been real, buddy, but you’re on rides now. Hasta la vista.”

Carl joins the other three men and they continue on towards the other end of the field. Mulder shoots her a quick glance over his shoulder and gives her a nearly imperceptible nod before he disappears behind the wall of a booth.

“I’m Summer, good to meet you,” Summer says with an extended hand. She’s thin, with narrow hips and an ample bust, and is much prettier than Scully would have guessed a carnival worker would be, which she realizes is probably an unfair stereotype.

“Penelope,” Scully returns, taking Summer’s hand, which is delicate but covered in rough calluses.

“Can I call you Penny?” Summer asks hopefully, and Scully nods. Summer flashes her a smile that reveals a single turned-in tooth at the front of her mouth. The little imperfection next to her striking beauty somehow makes her even more attractive. “Alright, Miss Penny the physics buff; let’s put this bitch together. We’ve got twenty-four hours to show time.”

-

Mulder glances once more over his shoulder at Scully as she shakes hands with the surprisingly beautiful ride tech, then loses sight of her.

He’d carefully contained his smile when they met up at the Hoover Building that morning, seeing her in tight-fitting jeans and a baggy Rolling Stones T-shirt, her face bare. He wanted to ask her if these were clothes she owned, or if she’d gone shopping in order to dress the part of her undercover persona, but he was too afraid she’d read his questions as teasing.

Things between them have been concurrently difficult and thrilling as of late. Since her miraculous recovery from the cancer that nearly took her life, he’s tried to show her how much she really means to him. At times it feels like there’s something between them, something more than friendship, but at other times she’s distant or he finds himself pulling away. The risk in exploring those feelings is so great, he fears they may never be willing to take it.

After Chris, Carl, and Damian have been dropped off with their respective trainers, Jean leads Mulder over to a makeshift food truck fashioned from a travel trailer with a pop-up canopy just in front of it. Two men are positioning long picnic tables under the canopy while a stout woman in her sixties directs them.

“Madge!” Jean calls out as they approach, and the older woman turns and squints at them in the mid-morning sun. “Here’s your new cook, Luke. He’s got kitchen experience.”

Mulder hides his grimace behind a smile. He had no hand in completing the application that was submitted on his behalf, and he wonders if the inclusion of a history as a line cook was some sick joke by one of the coordinating agents. It’s not that he’s incapable of cooking, he’s just never found much value in preparing meals for one.

Madge approaches them with a slight limp. Her sun-weathered arms are covered in faded Sailor-Jerry style tattoos and she has a handkerchief tied around her head in the style of a biker. Her oversized T-shirt reads “I’d rather be riding my Harley,” and she extends her hand as she nears, a lopsided smile on her mouth.

“Welcome to the crew, Luke,” she says warmly. “You’re gonna help me keep all these fuckers fed while they run the show.”

Mulder takes her hand and smiles back, finding her immediately likable. “Sounds like an important job. I look forward to it.”

Jean instructs them to spend no more than a couple hours going over the basics, then Mulder can take some time to get settled in his bunk before they start dinner prep. She leaves them, and Madge leads Mulder inside the cook trailer, from which Pink Floyd blares at what strikes him as an unnecessarily loud volume. By the way she moves, favoring her right side, he gathers that she’s suffered a stroke at some point, and as she points out the various storage and prep areas he notices long-faded track marks on her inner arms.

“The best part about working the cook trailer is that you get to make good shit for yourself. You ever had a bacon cheddar jalapeno corn dog?” Madge asks with a gleam in her eye as she leans heavy on the prep counter.

“No, but it sounds amazing,” Mulder says with a genuine smile, and she nods knowingly.

“You just wait, Buddy Boy. You’re gonna get nice and fat this summer,” she says with a maternal pat to his arm.

-

After Summer shows Scully the trailer that houses the tools and equipment she will use to set up and repair rides during the show run, then outfits her with coveralls and a walkie-talkie, they make good progress on setting up the Gravitron before it’s time for Scully to get situated in the boneyard. Summer leads her behind a row of booths and explains that there are areas of the show that are off limits to guests that they can use to get around without being stopped with questions about where the goldfish game or the bathroom is. They pass by a narrow alleyway between booths and Summer gives Scully a mischievous little glance before she beckons her into the alley with a quirk of her head.

“C’mere, I wanna show you something,” Summer says as they run into a dead end where an antique fortune teller machine is situated. “This little baby is my pride and joy,” Summer says as she pats the carefully-maintained wood exterior.

The sign across the top reads Princess Doraldina Tells Past~Present~Future, and boasts that the Queen of Fortune will provide a reading for only five cents. Inside the glass case, a mannequin with long, dark hair, a green dress, and stacked necklaces sits perched with one hand over a crystal ball and the other pointing at a deck of cards spread out on the table before her.

“Isn’t she amazing?” Summer asks, looking back and forth between Scully and Doraldina. “I found her at some fairgrounds back east, abandoned from a longstanding show that closed its doors. They were ready to throw her in the dumpster, but I saved her. I keep her tucked away because I don’t let just anyone get their fortune read,” Summer says as she digs in her pocket for a nickel, “but you seem worthy of a reading from Doraldina.”

Summer holds out her open palm and Scully takes the nickel, figuring that Penelope the carny probably believes in silly things like nickel fortunes. She pops the nickel into the machine and Doraldina comes to life, her head slowly turning back and forth as her chest rises and falls with her breaths, the hand extended above the cards moving right to left as though considering their meaning. After a moment, a slip of paper appears in a slot towards the bottom of the machine, and Scully reaches down to retrieve it.

“What does it say?” Summer asks with unconcealed excitement, and Scully suppresses the roll of her eyes.

She reads the card first to herself, and feels a little flush in response to the message written on it. Summer impatiently steps behind her and reads it over her shoulder.

“True happiness lies on the other side of a leap of faith—if you are willing to risk the fall,” Summer reads, then looks at Scully expectantly. “Does that mean anything to you?” she asks, and Scully stuffs the card into the back pocket of her jeans.

“Uh, no, not really,” she lies.

Summer shrugs. “Maybe it will soon. Sometimes it’s for the future.”

Scully nods noncommittally and Summer leads her back to the main walkway until she can make out the boneyard in the distance.

“I’ll see you at the cook trailer around six,” Summer says as they part ways, and Scully heaves a relieved sigh at having a moment to herself.

“Penelope, was it?” says a familiar voice behind her, and she turns to see Mulder approaching, a dirty apron tied around his waist.

“That’s what they call me,” she says dryly, and he catches up to her as they continue on together.

“Luke,” he says, extending his hand, and she bites her lip to suppress a smile as she shakes it.

“So I gathered,” she replies, deciding that Penny isn’t the kind of girl who instantly trusts handsome strangers she meets at the carnival.

“I like the outfit,” Mulder remarks, giving her a head to toe glance. She finds herself also surveying her outfit, which is smudged with axle grease and dirt.

“Likewise,” she says with a glance at his apron, and he smiles at her. “Do you cook, Luke?” she asks rhetorically, and he shrugs.

“Apparently I do.”

“Should I be concerned? I’d rather not get food poisoning my first day on the job,” she quips, and he shakes his head.

“I think you’ve made an unfair assumption about me, Penelope,” he says, casting her a too-familiar glance that makes her belly tumble.

“I’ve only just met you,” she says flatly, trying to shift the tone of the conversation. “I don’t know enough to assume anything.”

“Well, word on the street is that we’ll get a break around midnight, and I had my eye on that little grassy knoll for a midnight snack,” Mulder says, pointing over to a small grassy hill on the edge of the fairgrounds. “Perhaps if you had a similar hankering around that time, we could get to know each other a bit better over some of my world-renowned cooking.”

Scully feels her cheeks warm at the invitation, though she understands this is simply a way for them to create a time and place to speak privately about the case.

“If I find myself available at that time, perhaps I will,” she replies, her eyes on the ground.

“So, how’d you score a trailer and I’m stuck in the carny frat house?” Mulder asks as they near the boneyard.

“I suppose someone thought it may be unsafe for an unarmed woman to stay in said carny frat house,” she replies, recalling the coordinating agent giving her keys to a Datsun pickup truck with a small vintage trailer attached to it. “Though now seeing that you have an exterior locking door, I’m not sure it makes much of a difference.”

“I think you’ll find it makes a difference when you try to fall asleep tonight, or tomorrow morning, or whenever they let us clock off,” Mulder says as he digs in his pocket for the key Jean gave him. “That thing is like a tin can. We may as well all be in one room.”

“That might actually prove useful,” she offers, and he shoots her a doubtful look.

“Wanna trade?” he says sarcastically, and she gives him a small smile.

“Nah, I think I’m good,” she says, and they each go their separate ways; she to a gravel lot full of trailers, campers, and RVs, and he towards the bunk house.

Her trailer is extremely modest, with a small kitchenette and a table that converts into a bed, but no bathroom. She is very grateful for a more private space than Mulder was afforded, as well as a small cabinet that was outfitted with a key-coded lock in which they can keep case notes and any evidence they locate before they’re able to get it to the local field office. She makes the table up into a bed and lies down, staring at the fabric-covered ceiling as she considers what they know and what they need to find out.

There have been six reports of missing persons, all locally-hired employees of the More Than a Feeling carnival. Some went missing in their first week with the show, while others were brought on to travel and disappeared weeks or months down the line. No bodies have been recovered, and there is no evidence with which to bring charges, nor any suspects. The owner of the carnival, Tami Marksmith, claims to have no information regarding her missing employees. Their bunkhouse rooms were left untouched, their final paychecks uncashed. Some were trouble employees, others not. Absent any leads or any other options, the FBI sent two of their agents undercover to infiltrate the show and try to get to the bottom of what’s happening, which is how she and Mulder have found themselves here.

Scully rolls to her side with a sigh, regretting that this particular moment in time is the one in which they were put on such an assignment, one that means high stress and long hours together, but not as themselves. It’s only recently that she’s come to accept the fact that her feelings for him aren’t entirely platonic, and she’s still actively adjusting to what it means to be his partner and his friend while longing for something more. Add to the mix that he’s playing a part, and she already feels like she doesn’t know which end is up. She unsnaps her coveralls, reaching into her jeans pocket and pulling out the fortune card she got from Summer’s machine.

True happiness lies on the other side of a leap of faith—if you are willing to risk the fall.

She doesn’t believe that a random fortune from a machine holds any meaning, but she can admit that it feels apropos for her relationship with Mulder at the moment. Some days she feels ready to take the leap, but others she is so afraid of the fall that she closes herself off to him and hides behind their working relationship as the reason there can never be more than this. Reaching towards the window, she tucks the fortune between the glass and the frame.

True happiness. She wonders what that even means.

Just before six, Scully makes her way to the cook trailer. Long before she sees it, she hears the din of voices and laughter and the steady thrum of music emanating from under the canopy. As she nears, she sees strings of lights have been strung up between the canopy and trailer, and several long picnic tables are set up both beneath and beside it. Her mouth stretches into a smile when she sees Mulder, still clad in an apron and his white T-shirt, standing before a grill with spatula in hand, his head bobbing along to the music as he serves burgers onto the waiting buns of carnival employees who are lined up holding plates.

“Penny!” Summer calls, waving her over to one of the tables beneath the canopy. Scully sits down beside her, surveying the table to see the familiar faces of Jean, Damian, Chris and Carl, as well as a few people she hasn’t met yet.

“How’s your first day going, Penelope?” Jean asks, and it doesn’t read as a platitude.

“Great so far, I’m learning a lot,” Scully replies, taking the beer Summer offers her and sipping at it. She knows that she needs to fit in with the other employees, which may include some drinking, but she also needs to stay sharp.

“That’s great to hear,” Jean replies jovially, then turns to the woman beside her. “This is Tami, she owns the show.”

Scully recognizes Tami from her photo in the case file. She’s in her forties, short with a curvy hourglass shape under her baggy clothes. Her mahogany skin is peppered with freckles, and her hair worn in a tight afro. Scully takes her hand and Tami meets her eye with a stoic expression.

“You need anything, you let me know,” Tami says. “We take care of our people here.”

Scully gives her a tight-lipped smile and nods, wondering how she is able to make the declaration with such conviction given that several of her employees have gone missing without a trace.

“Thank you,” she replies, taking another sip of her beer.

After everyone’s meals have been served, Mulder takes a seat at the other end of the table and introductions are made while they eat burgers and freshly-made potato salad. Scully retells the story from her undercover profile regarding her need for a fresh start after leaving an abusive marriage, and Mulder puts on an Oscar-worthy performance explaining his propensity for petty theft as a young man, and the way his criminal record has stood in the way of steady employment. The others seem to have varied backgrounds: some are challenged to find traditional employment due to criminal records or inability to meet the expectations of corporate America, while others choose this lifestyle for its varied experiences and opportunity to travel.

“Do you enjoy the work?” Mulder asks a man who was introduced to them as Picker, the resident “juice man” who is in charge of making sure that the electrical needs of the show are met and who is also Summer and Scully’s direct supervisor.

Picker cracks a gummy smile, showing off his crooked, discolored teeth as he runs a hand over his bald head. “Nah, I don’t enjoy it, I fucking love it, man,” he says emphatically. “Every day is something new. Every customer at the show is having the best day of their life. Smiling faces, loud music, good food, and partying with your friends every night? What’s not to like?”

The other members of the crew raise their beers in agreement while the newcomers smile sheepishly, a feeling of excitement crackling around the table.

“Okay, okay, okay,” Jean says, calling the attention of the table as she claps her hands. “This has been real inspirational and shit, but it’s about time to get back to it. We’ve got a little over eighteen hours until showtime, so I hope you newbies are ready to work hard.” Scully catches the affectionate look Tami gives Jean as she commands the attention of the employees. “Something you’ll learn fast is that the time between slough, when we tear down the show, and the jump to the next town to set up and open again is an all-hands-on-deck effort. You won’t be getting much sleep between now and then, but once the doors open we’ll make sure you have time to rest and get ready for the week. Newbies, you can call it at midnight tonight but you’re back on the clock at 6:00am. The doors open at noon tomorrow and we need to be ready. Are we ready to make big money?”

Jean cups her hand around her ear and the staff all shout “Big money!” so loudly Scully flinches.

“Hell yeah!” Tami agrees, and they finish their meal in high spirits before she and Summer get back to work setting up the Music Fest ride.

-

The sun has long since set, the air heavy with dew but still warm from the late spring heat of the day. Mulder makes his way to the grassy hill with two cardboard bowls in hand and waits for Scully. His feet and lower back ache from hours of standing, but through his fatigue he feels the accomplishment of a day of hard work.

He grew immediately fond of Madge, with her gruff affection and her quick wit, and the nickname of “Buddy Boy” she bestowed upon him. While he’s a quick learner, it became clear right away that he didn’t have the experience she was expecting. Despite that, Madge was patient and helpful in her corrections regarding which knife to use and at what temperature to cook the various foods they prepared.

He sees Scully’s small form approaching him in the ambient glow from the flood lights set up around the fairgrounds, and her posture tells him she’s dead on her feet before she’s close enough that he can see the familiar set of her mouth that means she would have liked to have been asleep hours ago. He takes one last look around them to be sure there is no one within earshot, but they agreed only to use their aliases even when they were alone, just in case.

“Hey, sunshine,” he calls to her, and she pushes her mouth into an attempt at a smile.

“Hey,” she replies, dropping down beside him.

She smells like grease, dirt, and sweat, though he finds the smell of a sweaty Scully to be a particularly appealing one. He hands her one of the cardboard bowls and she picks up a fried ball of dough, casting him a questioning look.

“Fried pizza balls,” he explains, popping one in his mouth. “Maybe not your usual fare, but I think you’ve burned more than enough calories to earn it.”

She nods in agreement and takes a bite out of one, then turns to him with a surprised expression. “This is delicious, Mu–Luke,” she says, making a face at her near slip-up.

“Don’t act so surprised,” he teases, bumping her with his shoulder. “So, anything gained today?”

She shakes her head solemnly, swallowing. “I don’t think so. Not yet, anyway. Summer isn’t setting off any red flags for me, but I haven’t had a good opening to ask her about her past yet. I don’t want to be too eager and make her suspicious.”

“Well you may have already made her suspicious with your knowledge of centrifugal force,” he points out, and she grimaces. “You’re too smart for your own good.”

“I’m going to quote you on that,” she retorts. “What about Madge?”

“She’s been with the show a long time. I think she has a history of addiction, but not too recent that I can tell. I like her,” he says.

“Well,” Scully says on an exhale, “based on the pattern, Chris and Damian are at risk, as well as you and I as the newcomers. So we’ll need to keep an eye on them as well.”

Mulder nods. “It’s only day one, can’t expect much at this point. Should we meet here again tomorrow, at midnight unless a different time makes more sense?”

“Don’t you think that will look strange?” she questions, finishing her last pizza ball and stacking her bowl inside his. “Why would two new employees be so chummy after one day?”

Mulder laughs dismissively. “No, no one will wonder why I’m trying to get you out here alone every night, Sc—Penelope. You heard Jean say why they call it the boneyard, right?”

He can practically feel her blushing, though she characteristically plays it cool.

“Right,” she says levelly. “Well, I’m exhausted. I’m going to go take what is probably the worst shower of my life and go to bed.”

She stands, taking the bowls from him and making her way back towards the boneyard.

“Hey, can I call you Penny, too?” he yells when she is several yards away from him, and she holds one fist up over her head, the thumb cocked in approval.

After his own shower, he settles into his bunk, which is a room only large enough for a twin sized bed, a small counter, and a mini fridge. As he tries to fall asleep around the intermittent peels of laughter, the crackle of radios, and the grunt of someone who is either masturbating or having extremely one-sided sex, he thinks about Scully in her little coveralls, grease streaking her cheek and already caked under her fingernails. There’s not a single version of her he doesn’t find beautiful, he’s found. Not a single presentation of this woman that doesn’t make his heart skip a beat while his hands reach for her of their own volition.

Despite the noise, exhaustion overtakes him and he sleeps, deep and dreamless, until a foghorn sounds outside the door at 6:00am and rouses him for another day on the job.

Tagging @today-in-fic

[familyvideostevie]

No Good at Waiting vibe songs you say??? Oh boy finally somewhere where my wacky little playlist curating loving ass is useful. I HAVE MANY.

First and most angsty because that's where October, Still left me, The Night We Met by Lord Huron (because I hate myself apparently).

But on a slightly less painful note:

Daft Pretty Boys by Bad Suns -- Because that song is Steve vibes in every universe.

Love Grows by Edison Lighthouse -- Because, well, duh.

The Middle by Jimmy Eat World -- For the reader's want for a sense of belonging and direction.

Hold My Girl by George Ezra -- For the vibes mostly, but also specifically the lyrics "crowded town, silent bed, pick a place to rest your head, and give me a minute to hold my girl."

You and I by Ingrid Michaelson

Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton

Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis

I'm sure there are so many more that fit the bill (I mean I saw that last ask that said Sweet Creature by Harry Styles and I can't agree more) but these are the ones that speak to my soul when I think of NGAW.

SORRY THIS WAS LONG ily

i have been saving this ask and then i FORGOT ABOUT IT this is so lovely you are SO NICE for putting all of these songs together!!!! you are a master i must listen to the ones of these i don't know immediately (i know almost all of them!!!)

[memoirsofasim]

[bottleshockmovie]

Five Unforgettable Films by Randall Miller

Randall Miller, a longtime director, is thought for his off-kilter comedic fashion and character-driven films. As anyone who's got directed mainstream, big-budget Hollywood movies in addition to a amount of unbiased movies, Miller only normally takes on projects that connect a further meaning and will resonate with audiences all around the planet.

“I make films with heart,” reported Miller. “I want people to have the ability to connect with my movies and find the which means in them.”

Honoring Miller’s career, let’s take a seem back again at some of his most acclaimed tasks.

“Bottle Shock”

“Bottle Shock” stars Alan Rickman as being a snooty British sommelier who arrives to California wine country inside the 1970s to find what all the excitement is all about. The business in California is younger, as well as wine enterprise stays pretty snobby regarding the superiority of French wines. On the other hand, with Rickman on their own side, a father and son winemaking staff, played respectively by Bill Pullman and Chris Pine, proves the snobs erroneous. This feel-good movie which has a rocking 1970s soundtrack can be a beloved tale of the gatherings that place Napa wines to the map.

“CBGB”

Another collaboration with Alan Rickman, “CBGB” catalogues the increase of the famed punk rock location in seventies Ny. Like “Bottle Shock,” the film is about an underdog going from the percentages and coming out on top rated. For virtually any music connoisseur, this film is often a must-see.

“Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing & Charm School”

“Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing & Charm School” stars an amazing cast - Marisa Tomei, Robert Carlyle, John Goodman, Mary Steenburgen, and Danny DeVito - in the touching film about love and loss. The movie follows widower Frank (Carlyle) who helps Steve (Goodman) fulfill his dying desire to reunite by using a former love interest, Marienne (Steenburgen). Simultaneously, Carlyle finds his own love: Meredith (Tomei). This love story may have you crying and rooting for the characters simultaneously.

“Nobel Son”

This dark comedy can be a third Rickman-Miller collaboration. In it, Rickman plays Eli Michaelson, a Nobel Prize winner who receives the award’s handsome payout. Having said that, everything goes incorrect when a criminal kidnaps his son and holds him for ransom for that prize money. This dysfunctional family is place to the test when things are on the line. “Rickman was always brilliant to work with, and Jody and I miss him dearly,” explained Miller. “’Nobel Son’ was some of the very best work of his occupation.”

“Class Act”

Miller’s first movie would be a prince-and-pauper tale of switched identity. The movie stars Kid N Play in this absurdist take on a high school comedy romp. Still in his twenties, Miller made his first film for Warner Bros. The film can be a love letter towards the steady diet of great John Hughes movies he was raised on. Repeatedly through the years, he has been approached about a remake.

[themanhattanbeat]

Sara Bareilles and Other Musicians Rally to Save Rockwood Music Hall

by Everynight Charley Crespo

June 24, 2023

Sara Bareilles is leading an initiative to help prevent Rockwood Music Hall from closing. On June 30, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter will headline the first in a series of benefit concerts over the summer at the independently-operated music venue in New York City. Chris Thile and Michael Daves, Amy Helm, Elle King, Ingrid Michaelson, and the Lone Bellow also will headline benefit concerts at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2.

more ....

[ashintheairlikesnow]

Hi, I’m new to your page and I’m loving these snippets but I’m so confused as to where to start to understand where all these characters come from (Jameson, Kauri, Taren…?) and the general world build and how this pet thing works here? I’d love to know where to start and in what order to read if you have the time :)

My stories are original. My characters and stories are all OCs except for certain characters that my friends have let me borrow, which will be noted in the piece if so!

I usually tell people to start with Daniel Michaelson's Story, standalone abduction/captivity horror and recovery, with a narrative that is largely complete.

Chris - What We Can't Make Right - begins with a teenage boy showing up in the middle of a rainy night in California, and from there talks about recovery, PTSD, and surviving the worst things you can imagine and finding a family after the loss of yours

Erase to Control - Kauri - is the story of a wealthy man's custom-made victim, his escape, and how he discovered himself

Little More Than a Chance collects related stories of a safehouse in the Box Boy Universe and its inhabitants.

Signs of the Sea is about a mer boy captured for scientific experimentation and his unusual bond with one of the researchers studying him

Killan - What Makes a Monster - is a fantasy universe where a boy becomes a sort of Frankenstein's monster and survives a world that fears and is horrified by him

[fangsup-cobrastyle]

Just a dumb little game I made up for myself cause it seemed fun: which song of the same title, different artist in my music library do I like better?

Addicted by Saving Abel vs. Addicted by Simple Plan Alison by Elvis Costello vs. Alison (Demo) by Green Day All Time Low by Bo Burnham vs. All Time Low by The Wanted Alone by Falling In Reverse vs. Alone by Hollyn feat. Tru Astro Zombies by The Misfits vs. Astro Zombies by My Chemical Romance Bad Romance by Halestorm vs. Bad Romance by Lady Gaga Better by Katelyn Tarver vs. Better by Khalid Blow Me by The Used feat. Jason Aalon Butler vs. Blow Me (One Last Kiss) by P!nk Breathe (2 AM) by Anna Nalick vs. Breathe by Taylor Swift feat. Colbie Caillat Broken by Lifehouse vs. Broken by lovelytheband vs. Broken by Secondhand Serenade Choke by I DON'T KNOW HOW BUT THE FOUND ME vs. Choke by Left at London Closer by Nine Inch Nails vs. Closer by Tegan and Sara deja vu by Olivia Rodrigo vs. Deja Vu by Sleeping With Sirens driver's license by Olivia Rodrigo vs. Driver's License by RickyJab, Cali Rodi and Ben Carey The End by Mayday Parade vs. The End. by My Chemical Romance Father by The Front Bottoms vs. Father by Hobo Johnson Fifteen by Never Shout Never vs. Fifteen by Taylor Swift Forever ... (is a long time) by Halsey vs. Forever by Chris Brown Ghost by Halsey vs. Ghost by Justin Bieber Goodbye by Bo Burnham vs. Goodbye by Everlife vs. Goodbye by Miley Cyrus vs. Goodbye by Secondhand Serenade Hallelujah by Panic! at the Disco vs. Hallelujah by Paramore vs. Hallelujah by Rufus Wainwright Happiness by The Fray vs. Happiness/The Gondola Man by Elliott Smith Heroes by David Bowie vs. Heroes by David Cook Home by Michael Buble vs. Home by Modern Baseball vs. Home by Vince Staples Kiss Me by Ed Sheeran vs. Kiss Me by New Found Glory Let Go by Beau Young Prince vs. Let Go by Midtown make up by Ariana Grande vs. Make Up by Lou Reed Maybe by Secondhand Serenade vs. Maybe by Sick Puppies Never Say Never by The Fray vs. Never Say Never by Justin Bieber feat. Jaden Smith Now or Never by Everlife vs. Now or Never by Halsey Outlaws by Alessia Cara vs. Outlaws by Green Day Overboard by Les Vinyl vs. Overboard by Justin Bieber feat. Jessica Jarrell Perfect by Ed Sheeran vs. Perfect by Simple Plan Perfect Day by Hoku vs. Perfect Day by Lou Reed Sad Song by Lou Reed vs. Sad Song by We the Kings feat. Elena Coats Somebody That I Used to Know by Elliott Smith vs. Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye feat. Kimbra Somebody to Love by Justin Bieber vs. Somebody to Love by Queen Someone Like You by Adele vs. Someone Like You by The Summer Set Sorry by Buckcherry vs. Sorry by Justin Bieber vs. Sorry by Never Shout Never Stacy's Mom by Bowling For Soup vs. Stacy's Mom by Fountains of Wayne Stars by Alessia Cara vs. Stars by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals STAY by Kid Laroi feat. Justin Bieber vs. Stay by Mayday Parade vs. Stay by Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko Still Breathing by Green Day vs. Still Breathing by Mayday Parade Trampoline by The Front Bottoms vs. Trampoline by Never Shout Never Trouble by Never Shout Never vs. Trouble (Stripped) by Halsey Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie vs. Under Pressure by The Used and My Chemical Romance Valentine's Day by Kina Granis vs. Valentine's Day by Mal Blum You and I by Ingrid Michaelson vs. Yoü and I by Lady Gaga Youngblood by Green Day vs. Youngblood by 5 Seconds of Summer Your Song by Elton John vs. Your Song by Mayday Parade

[i-have-so-many-qns]

Why are all the the evil/psycho/bad guys played by cute/hot dudes who seem really nice and/or goofy in real life?

It's so frustrating....

I mean, my eyes are thankful because pretty, but also I'm in love with a monster now?