#dyson was this kid I knew back in high school

[limethechef]

We’re coming for you Dyson

[ask-marcus-cally-and-ari]

Only Human

Chapter 15: Ride or Die

The trio had been allowed to wander while the Freaks discussed their next plan. Marcus, for his part, went looking for a cot or a bed. “I’m so f*cking tired.”

“We have a few spare beds in the medical ward,” a nearby intern piped up, looking up as Marcus passed her desk.

“Thanks.”

“My nephew talks about you a lot,” the intern added. “Jackie Ruez?”

“Our small forward. Nice guy,” Marcus smiled, sitting down. “I remember he didn’t know much English when he first started.”

“You and your friends tutored him, right?”

“That was all Cal. I just taught him basketball and Ari taught him how to paint.”

“He’s been painting a lot these days. “He went through 10 packs of watercolors in just three months.”

Marcus chuckled. “I remember swapping his acrylics with finger paint as a joke. He chased me all through school that day. I probably deserved it.”

“So that’s why he came home with paint all over his hands.”

“I had to wash my hair for an hour to get it all out.” Marcus smiled, and then sighed, a look of tiredness no teenager should have had on his face.. “...look, can you just... just tell him I’m okay?”

“Of course.”

“The last time I got in trouble, it was some kids from a nearby school who jumped me. My teammates tracked down each one, took some bats and metal pipes, and put them all in the hospital. In one night. I don’t want them doing anything like that now. They could get hurt, and on my mama, I bet those *ssholes would turn them just to f*ck with me.”

“You know, if you wanted you could ask Colonel Dyson to put them under HECU Protection. It’s like Witness Protection, just with a lot more security.”

“Yeah, I’d like that.”

The intern nodded and picked up the nearby phone. “Do you want to call him yourself or do you want me to put in the request?”

“I’d like you to do it. I want to call my team.”

“There’s a phone in the break room over there.” The intern gestured down the hall to Marcus’ right.

“Thanks.”

---

“Man, this sucks! Marcus is who-knows-where being hunted and we can’t do sh*t to help!”

A young teen, no more than 14, grumbled sourly to himself while kicking over a box of wood chips in an abandoned warehouse. Another kid, a few years older than him, looked up from their phone.

“I got a lead a few hours ago. From what I can gather, it looks like he was heading to HECU Headquarters. I don’t know if they’ve made it there yet, though.”

“What can we do? These are, like, supervillains! And we’re just teenagers!”

“We could track them. Cally has a bunch of brainiac friends. Get them together and have them start looking for those *ssholes,” a tall boy, likely 17, suggested.

“Maybe we should get some of Ari’s friends, too,” another kid added.

“Yeah. The more, the better.”

The kid with the phone sat up and started briskly typing away. “Guys, you’re not gonna believe this, but it looks like Marcus has some Freaks of his own. You guys know Spyper and Intelligent Heavy, right?”

“I think so. Didn’t Spyper get his head chopped off and put on someone else’s body?”

“Yeah, he got his body swapped around with Sny.”

“Hey, Wilson. Start finding more good Freaks. The more join up, the more chance Marcus has of getting through this. Have the brainiacs help.”

“I think Marcus is way ahead of us. I found some security footage of the road outside HECU Headquarters and just take a look at who’s with him.” Wilson showed the other kids the footage, where a handful of Freaks accompanied the Trio inside, including Count Jester.

“He got the clown with him?” a younger kid piped up.

“Apparently. Now all he needs is us-” 

Ring! Ring!

“Huh? My phone!”

“Who is it, Jackie?”

“Unknown Number. Should I answer it?”

“Answer it, but don’t say anything. If it’s spam, they’ll hang up if they don’t hear anything.”

Jackie did. “Hello?”

“Jackie? It’s Marcus. Are you okay?”

“Marcus!” Jackie gasped. “Are you in HECU? We’ve been looking all over for you!”

“Yeah, I’m at HECU. Your aunt says hi.”

“Aw. How long have you been at HECU?”

“Jester teleported us here about an hour ago. Apparently they were tricked into holding us for the guy who wants to kill us, but that’s been sorted out, and they gave me a pet, so we’re cool now.”

“...I’m sorry, what?” 

“Yeah, everyone trying to kill us is working for one dude.”

“Yeah that doesn’t sound bad at all,” Jackie winced.

“Tell me about it. Anyway. I’m calling to ask you not to do something stupid.”

“Whaaaat? Psh, nah, we’re not gonna do anything stupid. Right, guys?” Jackie said with a snide grin, winking at the rest of his team.

“You worry too much, Quinn. Chill.”

“Yeah. Rest easy, we’re not gonna pull some sh*t.”

“Alright. Stay safe out there. And don’t go near any emo Snipers you see.”

“Sure thing, man.”

Jackie hung up, still grinning. “So. Who’s ready to hunt an emo Sniper?’

“I’ll get the others. Viktor. Does your family still have all those weapons?”

“Yeah. Which ones do we need?”

“As many as you can get. Especially long-range. We did tell Marcus that we wouldn’t approach the f*cker, so sniping is the way to go.”

“There’s nothing quite like exploiting a loophole,” Viktor grinned, heading out of the warehouse.

The other boy nodded and dialed a number. “Hey, Olga? Gather the brainiacs. We know where Marcus, Cally, and Ari are.”

“Wait, really!?”

“Yeah. A buncha Freaks are trying to kill them.”

“WHAT!?”

“Yeah. Apparently”

“Holy sh*t... Alright, what do you need help with?”

“Hacking. We need you to track down as many Freaks as you can.”

“On it.”

“And get Ari’s friends. We need numbers.”

“Gotcha.”

Hanging up that call felt heavy, like the life-changing moment it would be for everyone involved.

“Should we have anyone over at HECU to keep an eye on Marcus?”

“No. Then they’d know what we’re doing and try to stop us. We gotta stay off the radar. Wear masks. Disguise our voices. Make sure nobody can identify us.”

“I had a feeling we’d need these!” another kid shouted from the bottom of the warehouse, pulling along a rack of all black disguises.

“Hey, you’re the theater kid, right? I knew you were useful for something.”

“Yep! I had these costumes ready for awhile but we never needed them. UNTIL NOW!”

“Awesome. Guys, get home. We’ll meet back here tonight.”

“Alright. Nobody die overnight!”

“Don’t jinx it.”

The theater kid knocked on the side of the warehouse on their way out.

---

“Thank you all for coming. As you know, a bunch of superpowered *ssholes have decided to kill our friends, and we, the students of Dade City High, cannot allow this to happen.”

As the student body president spoke, Viktor handed weapons to everyone in attendance. 

“You are being given weapons now. If you do not know how to use them, Viktor will teach you on the way.”

“What’s the current plan of attack?” A younger student piped up among the crowd.

“We go to HECU. Its location is confidential, but our hackers have found it. We also have a van we stole from a junkyard and fixed to be our ride. You know, to make it harder to track.”

“How are we all gonna fit in one van?” Another student called from the back of the crowd.

“Like sardines.” 

“Also, I have a trailer. We can use that for training and extra space,” added a rich kid.

“Couldn’t we just use an old school bus?” One of the engineering students pondered. “Wouldn’t take much to jumpstart it, and nobody would be suspicious of a school bus going through Evo City.”

“From Dade City? That’s two states away,” put in a chess club student.

“What about an activity bus? It’s not uncommon for students to go on field trips that take them across state lines,” another engineering student added.

“That works. You two go steal it. We can take both.”

The engineering students nodded and gathered up their bags before leaving for the school’s parking lot, their bags clinking with metal on the way out.

“Did everyone pack some clothes and supplies?”

“Yeah, but why not electronics?”

The rich kid spoke up again. “I got a cheap phone plan. Everyone gets a phone. This way our parents can’t track us.”

“And they can’t be tracked by anyone else, can they?” a skeptical student inqueried, looking their phone over.

“I was kinda hoping you tech whiz guys could take care of that,” the rich kid replied sheepishly.

The small group of tech students all glanced at each other before sharing a collective nod. “Give us 10 minutes.”

“Good.”

“What do we do once at HECU?”

“Find out where our friends are. By force if necessary.”

“And if any hostile Freaks show up while we’re doing that?”

“Why do you think I’m giving you weapons?” Viktor deadpanned, holding up his own gun.

“Ask a stupid question,” the class clown teased.

“I mean like, one of the really bad ones. Like Painis. I don’t even think our weapons would work against him.”

“Probably run. Or run him over.”

“Let’s pray that Freaks like Nightmare Medic or HOOVYDUNDY aren’t part of this whole thing.”

“Hmm... hey, I just remembered. I have an aunt that works at HECU.”

“Uh... who are you?” the student body president asked.

“Melissa James.”

“Oh no,” the student body gasped in unison.

“...is that bad?”

“Are... are you related to Anita James, by any chance?”

“Yeah! That’s my aunt! She taught me how to build bombs. And tasers.”

“Holy sh*t! You’re related to a mad scientist! THE mad scientist!”

“Yeah, she’s a bit... eccentric. But the point is, she could be our in. And get us better weapons when we get there.”

“Isn’t she under constant surveillance though? I heard she blew up HECU twice in the last three months. That’s not something you just leave unmonitored.”

“In the same three months, she built a weapon that can level cities, a teleportation device, an army of attack microbots, and a shield generator. We could use those against stronger Freaks.”

“Would she even let us use them?”

“She’s a mad scientist who needs her weapons tested, and I hear her boss won’t let her give them to HECU soldiers. I’m not worried.”

“Well…”

“What choice do we have, Todd? Do you want them to kill Ari? Or Marcus? Or Cally? We’re desperate, and beggars can’t be choosers.”

The student sighed. “Alright. Give her a call.”

---

RING! RING!

“Hello?”

“Hey, Aunt Anita.”

“Oh! Hi, Melissa! How are you?”

“Not good. My friends are in danger. I think you may have seen them. Marcus, Cally, and Ari?”

Anita paused, lifting her pen off her notepad. “...yes, they just came in earlier today.”

“Some friends and I are coming to help him out, and we were wondering about using your weapons to do it.”

“Hmm... Come around the back of HECU. I’ll keep the door unlocked for you.”

“Heh... thanks, Aunt Anita. Also, could you maybe not tell those three about this? We told Marcus we wouldn’t do anything crazy, and if he finds out we’re doing this, we’re gonna get our *sses kicked.”

“My lips are sealed.”

“Thanks.”

There was a nod, and Anita, the mad doctor who sent people running with a smile and a wave, hung up.

[jonasmaurer]

Stay-At-Home Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Sharing a stay-at-home Mother’s Day gift guide with lots of ideas for the women and caretakers we love so much.

Hi friends! How’s the day treating you so far? I hope you’re having a good morning. The weather has been warming up a ton here in Tucson, so the girls have been staying cool by playing with the hose, the unicorn sprinkler, and I ordered them a little inflatable pool that should be here today. If this continues, we’ll be hopping the wall at my parents’ houses to use their pools.

I was brainstorming Mother’s Day ideas since it’s just around the corner. It’s going to be a different kind of Mother’s Day this year and some of the things I’d usually request (a great restaurant brunch, nap, get-together with our whole family, and a spa service gift card!) are pretty much off the table for now. I thought I’d share some of the ideas I’ve thought of if you’re trying to plan something special, or if you want to send it along to the hubby as a “wink-wink, here are some ideas” kinda thing. There are lots of lower-cost and free options included in this gift guide, too. I’d love any ideas you have for Mother’s Day (especially for our moms and grandmothers!) during this weirdo time.

Stay-At-Home Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

The daily uniform! Fashion is a liiiiittle different (at least for me!) these days. I’m living in loungewear and athletic clothes. Here are some of my fave picks:

Athletic clothes:

– My fave sneakers ever. I wear them for workouts and for life. The kids also have pairs and LOVE them. The kids’ ones wash extremely well – I throw them in the washer and let them air dry- and they’ll continue to be their go-to sneakers when/if we ever go back to school. *laugh emoji* *cry emoji*

– These are the best everyday tees. I have so many of them and they’re awesome for lounging/everyday. If you’re in between sizes for lululemon, definitely size down (I wear a 4 or 6 in lulu and order 4s for these).

– Athletic shorts that aren’t too short and are available in different colors and patterns. I’m wearing these in the color Cassis while I write this post. I also got paint on them during our cabinet painting, which is totally my fault, but still a bummer.

– The best leggings!! They’re not see-through, are supportive, and have a super flattering high waist.

– Lightweight workout tanks.

– New sunglasses.

– A comfy tie dye sweatshirt. These are all the rage right now and I’m HERE for it.

Comfy pajamas and loungewear:

– The best everyday summer pajamas. I have a few pairs of these and love that they feel put-together (like hey, my pajamas match! #littlewins) but are very comfortable and practical.

– A simple nightgown.

– Cute cactus PJs.

– Slippers. These ones are water resistant and feel like walking on clouds.

– A new robe.

– A baseball cap.

Beauty + spa at home:

Moms love Beautycounter! This is such a great opportunity to try out some of our bestsellers for yourself, or gift them to someone you love.

My top picks:

– A neutral palette that can be used for daytime or nighttime looks.

– Our all-new Vitamin C serum. It has two ultra-stable forms of Japanese vitamin C to help brighten skin and reduce age spots. It also contains antioxidants to help protect the skin and gives an awesome dewy glow.

– Our top two sellers: the charcoal mask and the overnight peel.

– The most luxurious night cream.

– Color Intense Lipsticks (brunch is my go-to pink nude color!)

– Melting body balm. This smells beautiful is a nice way to hydrate hands with the constant hand washing.

** Everything on the site is safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding. We also have a generous 60-day return policy if for some reason you don’t like your purchase! If you place an order over $50, it’s worth it to join Band of Beauty. It’s like our version of Nordstrom Rewards or Amazon Prime. It’s $29 for the year and you get free shipping on orders over $100, 10% back in product credit, and a free gift on product purchase over $50 when you join. (It’s the charcoal mask this month!) Click here to check it out.

– Static Nails liquid glass lacquer. I’ve been using this for the last couple of months and love it! Their polish is vegan, cruelty-free, nontoxic, and also has healing ingredients, like coconut oil, rosehip oil, and green tea. It doesn’t last quite as long as the advertised “Up to 10 days!” but I find I can go about a week without extremely noticeable chipping. (I CAN’T WAIT to get dip polish again!)

– Silk hair ties. These don’t damage hair or leave a giant ponytail crease.

– A Dyson airwrap. This is a huge expense but everyone I know that has one raves about it.

– These “pack your bags” undereye patches. These are my go-to when I wake up with bags or feeling sleepy.

– A jade roller and gua sha set. I notice a huge decrease in swelling and puffiness when I use these!

– Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Set.

– A CBD gift set. CBD is saaaaaaving me right now, especially on the nights where I still feel wound up and like I won’t be able to fall asleep. The oil under my tongue instantly calms me. CBD does NOT get you high or impair you in any way, and can help to decrease inflammation in the body. It’s help a ton with my anxiety! Check it out here and enter the code FITNESSISTA for an extra 15% off. (I love the flavored oil drops!)

– This sleep mask! They’re a bit pricey but I’ve had mine for a couple of years and it’s still in great shape.

Jewelry and personalized gift ideas:

– A mantraband for a boost of hope and positivity.

– A beautiful birthstone bracelet.

– A hand-illustrated family portrait. Ughh I love this!

– A gorgeous letter necklace.

– A floral pendant necklace.

– Muud handmade earrings. This is my SIL’s (Meg’s!) new business and she makes the most gorgeous handmade clay earrings. She’ll be doing another drop on her IG page this Friday at 2pm PST, so be sure to snag some for yourself or for a gift! She’s doing some beautiful shimmery moons and rainbows.

Tasty treats + experience ideas:

– Write her a nice note/card/text message. My friend sent the sweetest supportive text message (short and sweet, like, “Hey, I know you have a lot going on, but you’re crushing it and I love you”) and it made me cry. Supportive words mean the world, especially right now with everything going on.

– A future date! Plan out something in the future for when things settle down again.

– Order brunch or dinner take-out from her favorite restaurant.

– Husbands can offer to watch the kiddos for a couple of hours so mom can nap or take a walk/drive by herself for a bit.

– Draw a bath. Tom did this for me when we were in Valdosta and it was amaaaaazing. He knew I had a hard day, so he filled up the bathtub with a bath bomb, set out a glass of champagne, strawberries, and chocolate, and lit candles. It was such a beautiful act of care and something that didn’t cost any money.

– Leave a bouquet of flowers or succulents and some chocolates on the doorstep! (Going to do this for some friends with a mini bottle of champagne.)

– Order some tasty desserts or treats from somewhere she loves!

– Daily Harvest. These have been SO incredible over the past couple of months, especially for quick and healthy breakfast and lunch options. The smoothies are my very fave, but I also love the flatbreads, bowls, soups, and overnight oats. Check it out here and enter the code FITNESSISTA for $25 off your first box.

What are you going to do for Mother’s Day this year? Any gift ideas or something that’s on your personal wish list?

xoxo

Gina

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Note: All of the above items were curated by yours truly and companies are unable to sponsor spots on my gift guides. Affiliate links are included above, which don’t impact purchase price, but enable me to earn a small kickback that I use to help keep this lil blog running. Thank you so much for supporting me and the companies who help to support our family!

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