#for the past. two. years. our family has been having one crisis after another

[kiralamouse]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHH

[anexperimentallife]

Interracial US family w/ disabled autistic dad and toddler needs to get to the US for medical treatment

(New post because the old one was getting LONG with the updates. Details are under the "read more" to save your dash, with updates in the notes.)

TL;DR: If I'm going to live long enough to watch our daughter grow up, we need to get back to the US and get set up in a disability-friendly place where I can use my medical benefits.

Although I was already disabled (autism, adhd, and spine, joint, and head injuries), my health was stable--until four bouts of COVID left me immunocompromised, and utterly destroyed my health (including damage to my heart, blood clots that damaged one eye, neurological and joint issues, etc.), and although we started off fine, we've been hammered with one crisis after another, both medical and financial, that no one could have predicted.

Until we have enough to get back to the US, a chunk of whatever comes in has to go towards medical care that can't be put off, so the sooner we can reach critical mass on that, the better.

If you can help, or reblog, or share the links on other platforms, we'd be grateful!

The "Donate to Little or None" Paypal donation link takes the lowest fees, I think. (Kept the same link from when we were fighting to get our daughter's birth certificate fixed so we could get her citizenship affirmed.)

Then there's Ko-Fi:

And my little sister started a GoFundMe for us!

EDIT: The donation links above still work, but I removed the GoFundMe link.

IF YOU WANT ALL THE DETAILS SEE THE "READ MORE."

(There's more in my "rob gets medical" tag if you want a blow by blow account of how we got to this point over the past few years, but this is the gist.)

HOW IT STARTED:

I moved to the Philippines six years ago, after the deaths of my adult sons, in part to make my disability payments stretch further. Shortly afterwards, I was joined by my now-wife @thesurestthing (also from the US) for what was supposed to be a visit, but which turned into a permanent arrangement.

After I got a contract to license an old story for a mobile game (which tripled our income*), we found out we were having a baby, which was fine, because despite my disabilities (autism, adhd, two spine injuries, traumatic brain injury, a herniated esophagus, joint issues, etc.), my health was stable, and thanks to the contract, we were fine financially as well.

HOW IT STARTED GOING DOWNHILL:

Zoey's pregnancy was complicated, requiring two hospitalizations, and our daughter's birth was complicated, too--requiring a C-Section--which tripled our hospital bill. A few weeks after our daughter was born, the aforementioned contract was canceled without warning. THEN, when we tried to register our daughter's birth with the US embassy, we discovered an error on her birth certificate that left her stateless, and which took nearly two years, all our savings, and a fundraiser (thank you, generous people!) to resolve. Combined with medical expenses, that left us in a lot of debt.

A brief summary of went else wrong (leaving a lot out for brevity's sake):

I got COVID three four times during all this, became immunocompromised, and developed a slew of other medical issues (heart damage, eye damage and temporary facial paralysis from blood clots, persistent infections, a worsening of my joint issues, neurological issues, etc.) as a result of Long Covid.

I've had to be hospitalized a couple of times, undergo surgery, and was on an oxygen machine twice--once for an entire month, while I was bedridden. As of 24 January, 2024, I'm still recovering from my fourth bout of covid, which started at the beginning of October 2023.

There's a lot more, but you get the idea. COVID has completely wrecked my health, including tearing up my immune system.

And yes, I'm as fully vaxxed against COVID as one can be in the Philippines, with all available boosters, but again--I'm immunocompromised, plus they don't have the vax for the newest variant here yet. Zoey is vaxxed, also, and as a result, her bout with covid was extremely mild. El isn't vaxxed yet because they won't give the covid vaccine to kids under five here, but she's been able to share Zoey's antibodies from breast-feeding--which is apparently a thing.

The only way we can see for me to stay alive long enough to watch Eleanor grow up is to get back to where I can use my Medicare and VA benefits**.

WHY SO MUCH MONEY?

First, while we're still here, we need to pay for whatever medical care can't be put off. Plus, since I'm now immunocompromised, we have to get LOTS of vaccinations before we have to spend 24 hours or so in crowded planes and airports.

Second, we're going to be arriving with only what we can carry with us on the plane, and we'll need to get into a place near a VA hospital that I can easily get around in while I'm recovering from surgeries and getting various treatments. We'll need to pick up some secondhand household goods, and some kind of used transportation (because, you know, it's the US, where you kind of need a vehicle to get around).

We'll also need enough on top of my and El's disability payments to get by for a couple of months while Zoey looks for work. And all this is while we're still paying off the debt from the stuff I mentioned above.

So we're figuring that unless we catch some very lucky breaks, it'll probably cost between 20K and 36K altogether.

(We can't simply stay with friends when we get back, because literally every single close friend we have in the US with extra room and who lives close to a VA hospital has cats--to which I have a severe anaphylactic reaction. As in my entire respiratory system shuts down, and I have to be rushed to the ER to keep from dying; this has happened more than once. The only way I can be around cats is if I'm on immunosuppressants, and my immune system is ALREADY compromised, so I CAN'T do that.)

So again, if you can kick in, or reblog, or post our crowdfunding links (or the link to this post) on whatever other platforms you use, we'd appreciate it.

(*When I told social security about it, they said I could keep getting disability, too, because licensing IP rights didn't count as work income, and since it was a Moldavian company, it also fell under a special tax clause for getting paid by a foreign company while living overseas, so no taxes on it, either. )

(**VA benefits--I was a cold warrior in 1980s Germany. It was less than forty years after WWII, there was a lot of sabre-rattling--some of it nuclear--and we were there as a deterrent to prevent in Germany the kind of thing that's happening in Ukraine right now. Disclaimer because I'm tired of people accusing me of "invading" folks in the early 1980s when I was a dumb, heavily propagandized pre-Internet kid fixing generators in Europe. I wouldn't join today even if I could.)

[anotherbluesunday]

✨Moodboard Teaser: In Technicolor✨

With the release of the first chapter coming in hot with its expected release being this Friday at the latest or sooner (possibly as early as tomorrow) I wanted to take the time to acquaint everyone with the primary couples in this story. Usually I cap it at two couples and have auxilary couples and characters on the fringes. But because this is a crossover between two of my favorite shows, I have expanded it to three—possibly four—couples with auxilaries (secondary) on the fringes. These couples will include original characters i.e. Wynn Galpin who is Tyler Galpin’s younger sister. There is a crossover couple that joins the Wednesday group with the Riverdale group. This couple is where I expect to receive the most backlash but idc. Their my crossover otp and I hope you all trust me enough to keep reading and join me/the characters on this journey. I have also switched some things up with one of the Riverdale characters because the ship only got screen time in the last season and it did more for their character than their actual failed relationships did the entire season. Fight me. But don’t. Or do.

Anyway, here are the couples moodboards, as promised. The visuals were inspired by Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juilet because these past few months since January I have been on a 90’s and 2000’s kick and I am dying for how that movie captured the beauty, grit, grime, and excitement of LA. So enjoy and let me know what you think! 💜

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We open with our crossover couple who are the star-crossed lovers—Cheryl Blossom, the queen of the Palisades and star tennis player and Pugsley “Lee” Addams, the king of Elysian Heights and leader of his grunge sleeze band Texca. Born second generation to a working class defense attorny and day-time caregiver to the elderly, Lee Addams has just wants to make it through his senior year of high school and hangout with his friends on the weekend. But when he and his twin sister Wednesday step a little too far over the line at their old school their parents pull some strings to have their three children—Wednesday, Pugsley, and Pubert “Bertie” attend Morticia’s former high school. There, Lee unwittingly comes face to face with the campus queen, the indomitable and untouchable Cheryl Blossom. Born into privilege with the face of an angel and the bite of a viper, she has everything and anything. Influence thanks to her parents name. Adoration by way of her beauty. And power because of her abilities to manipulate others. But what happens when a hurricane meets an immoveable force? Will they fold? Destroy one another? What happens when the pretty vicious face isn’t all it seems to be and the cutting confidence is stripped away? Who are the real people that lie beneath it all?

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Next are our second pair of the four star-crossed lovers. While it is never a good idea to fall for your twin flame, for Tyler and Wednesday it isn’t so simple. Twin flames and soulmates fused into one as if it were a sick joke, their story begins at a party—the raven haired twin sister with her face painted like a Catrina (see: Dia de los Muertos symbols and iconography) and the Galpin golden boy dressed like Sir Lancelot with the sacred heart etched into his chest plate. Like her brothers, Wednesday grew up living a modest life where nothing was taken for granted and family sits at the heart of all major decisions. For Tyler, he has forgotten the importance of family and community after starting university where his life has evolved into an endless stream of parties and hookup’s. Never struggling but also never being challenged to be better or grow, he’s hit a wall. A mid-life crisis of sorts but at the already chaotic age of 18 with his 19th birthday right around the corner. But from the moment he lays eyes on Wednesday she is all he can think of. All he breathes and dreams of—a beautiful stranger that won’t free him. Yet when this silver tongued Casanova tries to approach the dark beauty he’s shot down. Challenged to question who he is and what he truly is doing with his life that matters. What is in store for the idealistic social revolutionist and her troubled admirer? Where will they land when the walls of his kingdom come crumbling down?

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The youngest of three siblings each yet one is protected and coddled like a greenhouse flower while the other has flourished amidst hardship and bouts of poverty. Wynn Galpin is caught in a never-ending loop of compassions to her twin older siblings, Tyler and Enid. Both are straight A students. Both star athletes with Tyler winning championship after championship for swim and Enid earning a full-ride scholarship to UCLA for volleyball. Both are charming and charismatic. Both are perfect and Wynn can never compare despite how she tries. She doesn’t have the passion for swim or volleyball so she chooses cheer. “That’s not a real sport” she’s told. Her siblings get A’s but she can hardly scrape by with B’s while battling her depression and anxiety. At all times, her mind is screaming for her to just run off and disappear. And after the loss of her friend and pseudo-sister Polly, the darkness has become more persuasive. More invasive and vicious. But it is during a spiral that forces her out of the gym during cheer practice that she runs into the new kid. The brainiac junior in her senior level AP classes. Pubert “Bertie” Addams. A carefree class clown with a heart of gold and the virgin Guadalupe drawn in vibrant neons on the bottom of his skateboard. Where will this new path take them when the class clown and the beauty queen who seems to always be in tears meet to form an oddball friendship? And what happens when their hearts begin to long for more than just friendship but their worlds couldn’t be more different? How will things turn out for the greenhouse flower and her sidewalk dandelion?

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What’s the worst that could happen when you fall in love with your best friend? What happens when you think they love someone else? When you think they could never see you the way you see them in return? Do you stand there and wait for them to turn around? Or do you walk away while piecing together your heart that will never know real closure? Reggie has asked himself these questions nearly every day for the past six years since his family moved to the fringes of the Palisades and enrolled him in the affluent junior high nearby. Archie Andrews was his first friend at his new school all those years ago. The first one to get up during lunch time and sit down next to him. The one who didn’t care that his parents weren’t from money and had only recently come into their fortune. The one who didn’t care that he didn’t have the newest clothes, phone, or hairstyle. Like a guardian angel come to save him from perpetual solitude, Archie befriended Reggie with a bright smile and a silly joke. And since that day, Reggie has kept his love for the redhaired boy wonder to himself. Has been the picture of what a bestfriend should be. Has supported Archie and defended him. Joined their high school swim team with him just so that they could live out Archie’s dream of being the one’s to break Tyler, the former captain’s, record and win more championships than him and his team did. Reggie has lived a beautiful but painful lie for nearly a decade and the cracks have begun to show. The devotion now agony. The love a barbed dagger twisted liettle by little every time he has to play third wheel on Archie’s dates with his girlfriend Veronica. But one night their eyes meet across a sea of moving bodies at a house party. Archie kissing Veronica but can’t stop looking at Reggie. There’s a spark. A sadness. Hope. But is there truth? Is there a willingness to be honest? To accept this attraction that has been there waiting from the start? Does Archie know what real love could be like if he just turned around? Or will the lovefool angel look away once again and leave the poor friend and saint in the dark?

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Stay tuned for more because this is only the beginning. Next will be the auxiliary couples, characters, and family boards for the three main ones at play. But the next next post that will be following this one will be the official titlecard for Chapter One. Can’t wait to see you all again there. 💜

[rwrbficrecs]

August Faves

Monthly Faves are back! Sorry I missed July, it became too much work for me alone 😅 So we've decided to gather recs from the volunteers as well ❤️ Here's what we all read & loved in August, hope you enjoy 🥰

we've been here forever (here's the frozen proof) by @onward--upward (book-verse)

@read-and-write-: This is an AU, where Henry is an author and Alex, after reading Henry's books, starts exchanging emails with him by asking him about his own sexual identity crisis. This fic is cute, it's emotional, it's funny. It has everything you need and more.

@inexplicablymine: Have you ever feen so emotionally fulfilled by a story you want to spoon feed it to all your friends? That is this fic right here, filled to the brim with comfort and care it’s a masterclass in strangers to lovers.

@thesleepyskipper: A fic I couldn’t put down no matter how hard I tried

@indomitable-love: I want to climb inside this fic and live in it.

Going Platinum by @cricketnationrise (book-verse)

@gwiazdziarka: Henry falls in love with a stranger on the Internet and it's camboy!Alex. This slightly ridiculous concept makes interesting things happen and it's hot. NSFW.

Who'd have known by HiguT (book-verse)

@gwiazdziarka: Alex and Henry are friends since Rio and Alex turns to Henry when he has sexuality crisis. Henry helps. It's short, sweet, a little awkward and I absolutely love it when Firstprince become friends in Rio.

The Edge of Glory by @historicallysam (book-verse)

@myheartalivewrites: This is a really sweet post canon fic, posing the question: what happens when Alex gets tapped to run for office, after he and Henry and their family have been settled in Austin for many years. It really had me by the heartstrings, I love seeing the boys grown up, talking to each other and sorting their stuff out, and this did not disappoint!

muscle memory by @stutteringpeach (book-verse)

@myheartalivewrites: Is one of those fics where the tension is unbearable between them and you just want to shake them and make them talk, but then the sexy stuff is also excellent

Body Count Baby! by @orestespdf (book-verse)

@myheartalivewrites: this is a fun look into the boys sexual history, and honestly I’m desperate to know more about Henry’s slut phase, I would read about it endlessly

Things I Cannot Accept by @sprigsofviolets (book-verse)

@suseagull04: An interesting AU where Ellen never became President during the 2016 election and how that affects our favorite prince and would-be FSOTUS and how they get together. If you love slow burn, you'll love this fic!

@read-and-write-: It's a new take on canon, one that doesn't shy away from talking about politics, about Ellen's relationship with her children and Catherine's relationship with hers. It's emotional and it's beautiful, every word is worth it

@inexplicablymine: What if it all happened a little later, a little more realistic, and filled with just as much heart. For those who love Angst+Fluff you will get both in droves. There is a chapter in here that made me cry like a baby it was such a good representation of the tenderness of opening yourself up to another.

Every nation ought to have a right to provide for its own happiness. by @beautifulhigh (book-verse)

@daisymae-12: I love how sweet Alex and Henry’s relationship is in this fic, and the exploration of Henry deciding to exit the line of succession is handled beautifully too!

show me all your seasons by @villiageidiot (book-verse)

@daisymae-12: I don’t know how I managed to miss this fic the past two years – it’s such a lovely gem that deserves all the love. Really loved the way we journey through the seasons with Alex and see him figure out how he feels about Henry.

With so much of my heart (that none is left to protest) by @kiwiana-writes (book-verse)

@rmd-writes: From the minute I started reading this Shakespearean actor au I’ve been obsessed with it. It’s not just the inclusion of so many epistolary which makes for a fic that looks pretty. It’s an incredible fic all round - impeccable characterisation, clever use of canon elements, a well-written, perfectly paced plot underscored by so much love and joy (even amongst the angst) that just leaps off the page. It had me laughing and squealing and crying and I can’t wait to read it again!!!

@inexplicablymine: One of my favorite retellings with chapters that made me cry tears of joy. This is the kind of work you pin your hopes and dreams to because it fills you with something you didn’t know you were missing. I can not get enough of it and it leaped to the top of my all time favorites very early on.

[yesimwriting]

Times Have Changed

Pairing: Steve Harrington x reader

Summary: After a family crisis, Dustin’s cousin finds herself moving to Hawkins. She doesn’t expect anything good to come out of the move, let alone that ‘something good’ coming in the form of her former crush that once dismissed her as another one of the kids he babysits. Two years of not seeing each other can change a lot. (Inspired by the general vibes/concept of The Summer I Turned Pretty)

Word count: 5.3K (this was meant to be a drabble, yikes)

It’s been around two years since Y/n was last in an airport, but she can still remember the swell of childish excitement she had experienced. Strange, how she’s flying to the same place, and yet now Hawkins, Indiana feels like some kind of death sentence. In three hours, she’ll be trapped there. Forever, and nothing will ever go back to being how it was. 

Okay, that’s a dramatic way of looking at things. Y/n can admit that. It’s not like the flight from Phoenix to Hawkins is the real change. The fundamental part of the change has already happened. She had her last day at the school she spent three years in, she had packed up her childhood bedroom, and she had driven out of the driveway that indicated home years ago. Surely, all of that is a greater change than getting on a plane. And it’s not like she’s never been to Hawkins. She’s been staying at least half the summer with her cousin for as long as she can remember. 

“Y/n,” her mom hums, voice low, “We should move closer to our gate. They’re going to start boarding soon.” The words feel vague, as far and unreal as this move. “Y/n, please. I know you’re not happy moving right before your senior year, but please don’t make this harder.” 

Y/n cranes her neck, watching her mother bounces one toddler on her lap while the other remains seated in, gripping her mother’s arm. A pang of sympathy finds its way into her chest. This move may have been her mother’s decision, but after what her father did, did her mother really have a choice?

She pauses her walkman, removing the headphones before shoving it into her carry on. Y/n stands before taking Diana from her mother’s lap. Her mother looks at her gratefully before picking up Dawn. Y/n wasn’t exactly thrilled when, at 14, she learned her mother was expecting twins, but now, practically four years later, she can’t imagine her life without them.

The family moves away from the window, approaching the gate just in time for boarding. 

----

 There are many reasons for Y/n to not want to move to Hawkins before her senior years. To name a few: she didn’t want to leave behind her friends and she didn’t want to exchange barely chilly, warm Phoenix winters for Indiana’s icy, slushy season. But, out of all the reasons she didn’t want to leave home, there was one thing about Hawkins that she couldn’t be mad about. There was one thing about Hawkins that she really looked forward to. Her cousin--Dustin Henderson. 

Despite their age gap, the two always managed to feel close to each other. Maybe it has to do with their mothers insisting that they visit each other as regularly as they can, or maybe it's natural considering the way they gravitate towards each other at family reunions. Either way, the one thing Y/n has even somewhat been looking forward to is seeing Dustin again. The two try to call in order to stay in contact, but with separate, busy lives, nothing is guaranteed. 

It’s been two years since she last managed to see him. Two years of slowly dwindling phone calls, and life changes she’s wanted to share with him. Strangely enough, now that Y/n’s standing at Dustin’s doorstep, she’s not nervous. She’s never nervous when it comes to him, because no matter how long she goes without seeing Dustin, nothing about their reunion ever feels forced. 

The door opens before Y/n’s aunt can reach it. Dustin cranes his neck, looking around his mom and aunt, his eyes searching for Y/n. When he finally sees her, he grins, “Y/n!” 

“Dustin!” 

He runs past his mom and aunt, throwing himself into a hug. Y/n nearly stumbles back, not expecting his sudden weight. He’s grown since the last time she saw him, which isn’t totally surprising, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t feel strange. She squeezes him back as best she can, her arm straining against the duffel bag that’s fallen forward. 

Dustin lets her go quickly. He steps back, looking her over with a focus she’s not used to. Yikes--maybe the traveling left her looking even rougher than she thought it would. “What? Do I smell like airport?” 

He doesn’t even humor that joke with a smile. “You’re not wearing your glasses.” 

“No, I went on an adventure and a kind bridge troll decided to give me the gift of perfect sight.” He draws his eyebrows together, still more serious than she’d like him to be. “That was a joke, Dustin. I just got contacts.” 

“Hm.” He leans back slightly, crossing his arm. “And you don’t have braces anymore.” 

“I’d had them in since I was like 12, it was their time.” Feeling more self conscious than she thought she would, Y/n wraps her arms around herself. “No one has braces forever--what’s the big deal?” 

“Nothing,” Dustin says a little too quickly, “You just--you look different.” 

“Different how? As in like an alien?” 

Again, speaking too quickly to really think, Dustin blurts out, “Different as in like a girl.” 

Y/n may love Dustin like he’s her actual little brother, but that doesn’t mean their relationship is perfect. Actually, all that means is that Dustin feels comfortable annoying her as perservingly as a little brother because he knows she can forgive anything. Still, though, she can’t recall a time in which she’s ever wanted to smack the side of his head more.

Y/n scoffs, pushing past him. “So when I had glasses and braces I looked like a boy?” 

“No! No,” he repeats, taking long strides to keep up with her. “You always looked like a girl, I just mean that now, you look like a girl that cares about being a girl.” One look at the glare that Y/n throws in his direction, and he knows that all he’s done is dig a bigger hole for himself. “It’s not about the glasses and the braces. I mean, it’s not not that, but it’s not just that.”  Dustin pauses as Y/n raises a curious--yet still irritated--eyebrow. “You’re wearing a skirt.” 

She pulls her duffle bag back up her arm. “And that’s why you’re freaking out?” 

“I am not freaking out.” His defense is weak, destroyed by the slight raise in his voice. “You used to not own any. You said you only had one dress, and that was only because your mom made you wear it on special occasions.”

“Sorry I still don't dress the way I did when I was like 13.” Y/n’s voice comes out smaller than she’d like. After having everything in her life change like that, the last thing she wants is for something else to be different. She thought that Dustin would be the one constant. “You look a little different, and I didn’t freak out.” 

He takes a deep breath before sighing. “It’s not about how you dress. You just look older and girlier--” Dustin cuts himself off when he notices Y/n’s death. “More girl-like,” he corrects himself, though he’s not sure that that’s much better. “And I don’t know if you’re still going to want to hang out with me.” 

Y/n rolls her eyes. Early teenhood is nothing if it's not defined by insecurity. “Don’t be such a loser.” She softly punches his arm. “Of course I still want to hang out with you, dummy. I’d still want to hang out with you if I came back as a total Barbie, or an alien.” 

Dustin grins as he takes in her words. “It’d be cool if you were an alien.” 

“Right?” Y/n grins with him as she tugs on the strap of her duffel bag. “Now let’s get inside before I process the fact that you managed to offend me that quickly.” She takes a step forward before looking back at him teasingly. “I forgot how mean 14-year-olds are. So glad I’m no longer that age.” 

Dustin sighs as he catches up with her. Their approximately four year age gap is one of the few things Y/n’s always held over Dustin’s head. “You’re not that much older than me.” 

“Maybe not, but I’m basically 18. I’m an adult now.” 

“You still have another week,” Dustin groans, following her into the house. 

Once they’re both inside, the parents completely encompass everything. Dustin’s mom takes her time hugging Y/n and cooing over her younger sisters. Y/n’s mom gushes over Dustin, claiming that he’s so grown up now while still placing a humbling pinch against his cheek. After a few minutes of the sweet, but admittedly mushy, reunion, everyone begins to busy themselves with other things. 

The moms busy themselves with family gossip as they divide the work of making snacks for the fussy toddlers. Y/n tries grabbing an already made sandwich from the kitchen, but Dustin stops her and insists they go to his room. She doesn’t get his urgency, but the way he looks at her tells her to listen, so she ignores her rumbling stomach and follows him. 

Once the two get to Dustin’s room, Dustin begins looking through his backpack. Y/n watches him. “You know I really wanted that sandwich. I’ve been up since 7:00, and I’m hungry. Airplane food sucks. Like really sucks.” 

“You’ll get to eat it.” 

“Then why did you basically smack it out of my hand?” 

“We’re eating at the park. My friend Steve’s going to be here soon,” Dustin’s explanation is distracted, uninterested as he digs through his bag, “Shit.” He pauses, looking around his room. His eyes finally land on his walkman. “It’s never where I think it is.” 

Y/n blinks at him. “Back it up a bit: One, we’re going to the park. Two, your friend is picking you up, meaning you have a friend that can drive?” 

“Yeah,” Dustin replies, not looking at his cousin. He crosses the room, grabbing his walkman from the night stand. “That’s what the sandwiches are for. There’s a skating ramp in the park and--ugh, batteries are almost dead.” Dustin shakes his walkman, banging the side of it against his open palm. “We go more often now that the mall’s gone. Steve drives ‘cause he’s older.” 

“Okay,” Y/n mumbles. “For the record, I’m more focused on the ‘older friend Steve’ part than the park part. You get why, right?” 

Dustin walks around his room, opening a desk drawer. “Wait, wh--ugh, Y/n!” Dustin cringes, finally looking away from the object that’s held his attention. “It’s not a weird thing! He’s not that much older--he’s like your age.” Dustin visibly winces. “You--you’ve met him. Steve Harrington.”  

Y/n pauses, thinking back to the only Steve she can remember meeting. He was only a little older than Y/n, and had been referred to as more of a babysitter than a friend. At one point, he had seen her while at Dustin’s house and made a joke about not knowing he was in charge of another kid. She played it off with an eye roll and a quippy insult before disappearing back into the Henderson’s guest room, but that comment had broken her heart. 

“You mean the babysitting guy?” 

Dustin lets out a sigh as he continues to look through his junk drawer. “Yes. Babysitting guy that you were totally in love with.” 

Y/n scoffs instinctively. Her face is hotter now than she remembers it being. “I was not in love with him.” 

Shutting the drawer in defeat, Dustin turns. He grins before opening his mouth, “Oh, Heather, he’s so cute. Like so cute I don’t even think you’re picturing him right. Like--he’s cuter than Aaron H. from homeroom.” 

Hot embarrassment courses through Y/n’s veins at the sound of Dustin’s high pitch impression of her. “I knew you were listening to my phone calls that trip, you weirdo.” She crosses her arms in front of her chest, glaring at the ground because she can't quite look at Dustin. “So I thought he was cute, that doesn’t mean I liked him or anything.” Dustin says nothing, but somehow that feels worse. “Y’know, I might ‘look like a girl now’ and wear skirts, but I can still kick your ass.” 

Dustin opens his second desk drawer and rifles through it for a moment before finding an already open pack of batteries. “Everyone likes him, he’s Steve.” That comment does the opposite of ease Y/n. If anything, it makes her just want to camp out in Dustin’s room for the next few days until her mom closes on the new house. Dustin tosses his walkman into his backpack along with a couple of tapes. He zips up the bag and begins to approach the door. “You coming?” 

“Not if you told some random guy that hangs out with kids he used to babysit that I’m in love with him.” 

Sighing, Dustin turns dramatically. “I didn’t tell him shit, now come on. They’re gonna be here any minute.” Y/n hesitates. “If you don’t come, you’re going to be stuck with the moms and the twins.” 

The thought isn’t terrible, but she does know that the house will feel a lot more lonely without Dustin. “Fine.” 

----

Dustin and Y/n have been waiting in the front living room for ten minutes. Normally, Y/n wouldn’t mind a bit of a wait, but she’s hungry, and Dustin has been holding his backpack against his chest to keep Y/n from stealing anything edible he’s put in it. She’d argue with him more if it wasn’t for the insistent way he’s been tapping his foot and eyeing the window. Whoever this Steve guy is now, Y/n thinks, he’s clearly important to Dustin. 

Dustin keeps tapping his foot, eyes trained on the window until a car Y/n doesn’t recognize pulls into Dustin’s driveway. That’s when Dustin stands, arm swinging his backpack onto his back casually as he approaches the door. A small part of Y/n wants to at least consider bailing. But this is important to Dustin, even if he won’t admit it, and Y/n doesn’t have a lot of options right now. If she stays here, there’s no way she won’t fall into some kind of wallowing pit of despair. 

Y/n follows Dustin outside, though she walks at a much more casual pace than her younger cousin. 

The front window of the car is already rolled down. Even though Y/n is still at a fair distance, she can make out the primary features of the driver. True brown hair that falls in a way Y/n can unfortunately only describe as romantic. She suppresses a sigh as she gets even closer to the car. She spent the entire wait hoping that her younger mind had simply romanticized Steve’s appearance. She also would have been happy to find out that Steve had become ugly over the last two years. 

But she’s never that lucky. He’s as beautiful as she remembers, if not more so.

“Harrington,” Dustin greets, already approaching the back seat, “You’re five minutes late.” 

Steve instinctively narrows his eyes. “You’re lucky I drive you around at all, Henderson.” He leans further into his seat as Dustin opens the door that leads to the back seat. “Seriously, I drove you to the movies not even--” 

The words lodge themselves in his throat as his gaze shifts forward. Every one of his instincts leaps out of his body. The sensation of the sudden loss of the ability to think practically hurts, but the pain is worth it because he swears he’s looking at a living sun ray. Yellow skirt, light top, bashfully curious eyes. 

“Steve.” His name has never sounded so forced in his own ears. “I uh--my name’s Steve.” Somehow, the clarification doesn’t make it any better and he can feel Robin’s stare pressing against the back of his head. “You’re…Dustin mentioned his cousin was coming to town.” 

“Moving to town,” Y/n curses herself for the soft correction. She wanted to be instantly repulsed by him so that she wouldn’t be forced to live through freshly 16 year old hers angst. “You were right about the cousin thing, though,” she states, stepping towards the car, “I’m Y/n.” 

Y/n, Steve repeats the name in his head as she pulls herself into the car. Steve forces himself to take a deep breath. Okay, okay--everything’s fine, everything’s normal. A cute girl who just happens to be related to Dustin just got into my car and apparently she’s going to be living here now. 

“If you’re going to be around, let me introduce myself as the local designated driver, amazing advice giver, and beloved babysitter.” Steve pulls out of the driveway as Robin blatantly side eyes him. He can’t blame her, that was kind of weird. 

The comment is clearly meant to be something that’s said just for the sake of being said, but at the mention of the word ‘babysitter’, Y/n snaps out of whatever spell Steve managed to cast on her. “We’ve actually met before.” 

At that, Steve finds himself struggling to keep the vehicle straight. He thinks through his memories with Dustin, shuffling through their interactions. He remembers it a little too quickly. “Yeah, I remember now.” 

Maybe his nerves are making his words sound more forced, because Y/n replies with, “It’s okay if you don’t, it was brief.” 

“No, no, I do.” He considers trying to justify this answer by elaborating on their few interactions or by describing the jean shorts and band t-shirt she had been wearing, but decides against it. The last thing Steve needs right now is to have this girl thinking that he’s weird and obsessive. “You look a little different now.” 

“Yeah, she’s a total valley girl now,” Dustin mumbles, completely dejected like this is the most heartbreaking development he’s ever experienced. Like becoming a girl that likes lip gloss and mini skirts is the worst, most brain melting thing that can happen to someone. 

Y/n turns as best as she can. “Dude!” She says at the same time the red headed girl sitting on the other side of Dustin does. Y/n finds herself wondering if she’s met her before. 

The girl in the passenger seat turns, glaring at Dustin. “That was kinda sexist of you.” Y/n blinks, unused to having anyone defend her. The stranger then smiles at her. The look is warm and open and Y/n instantly thinks she might really like this girl. “I’m Robin.” 

She smiles back, “Y/n.” 

“Max,” the girl on the other side of Dustin says. 

“Nice to meet you.” 

----

Maybe it’s pessimistic of her, but Y/n told herself to have low expectations for the park. Today should have no good qualities. Her mom actually followed through on leaving their dad and uprooting them. Two extremely permanent, sucky things have happened. Today’s not a day for good things. She’s not sure there will ever be completely good things again. 

But when she gets to the park, she realizes that she’s not as jaded as she thought. The grass is neatly trimmed, there’s a playground in the near distance, and the skating area is facing away from the sun, so the heat isn’t overwhelming. It’s undeniably nice and she likes seeing Dustin happy, even though he’s been a total 14-year-old boy all day. 

Y/n’s surprised he even thought to ambush invite her considering how quickly he ditches her. He runs off with Max, searching for mutual friends that promised to meet them there. Lucas and Mike, who Y/n remembers from earlier summers. The three eldest members of the group are in what Y/n would consider an easy silence. She almost always finds this kind of quiet unsettling, but this is peaceful. 

When Robin isn’t watching Steve, she’s been watching Y/n as secretly as possible. Which, for her, isn’t exactly covert, but she’s not sure she could stop if she wanted to. Steve’s sputtery introduction back at Dustin’s house was the clearest sign she’s seen in a long time that indicated he liked someone. It’s been practically a year of being best friends with Steve, and Robin knows she can read him. She also knows that his confidence when it comes to girls he likes is a fickle thing, and that without a proper shove in the right direction, he’ll let any chance for a real relationship slip through hesitant fingers. 

So Robin decides to be the push in the right direction. Or, in this case, kick, because the group’s been sitting here for almost 10 minutes and Steve has spent the entire time staring at Y/n. She kicks him beneath the picnic table, and when he turns towards her, clearly offended, Robin raises her eyebrows and tilts her head in Y/n’s direction. The look she gives him is clear--say something to her or I will, and it’ll probably be something embarrassing about you.

“The weather’s nice,” he blurts out, immediately regretting it. Y/n turns her body so that she’s no longer staring at what’s behind her. When their eyes meet, Steve starts to think his embarrassment is worth it. He swallows once before continuing, “Is it nice in…” 

“Phoenix,” she replies easily, “And yeah, it’s nice when it’s not completely scorching.” 

Robin considers kicking Steve again. The weather, that’s the best he can come up with? She’s starting to wonder how he was ever an actual heart breaker. Right now, he has as much game as the crust she picked off her ham and cheese. A small part of Robin feels for him. Steve might be so pathetic that she’s his only hope for not dying alone. That’s depressing. “Do you skate, Y/n?” 

Y/n throws a partial glance behind her. “Rollerskating’s more my thing, but I’ve skateboarded a couple times.” She sheepishly chews another bite of her sandwich. “If I’m being completely honest, ‘I’ve skated a couple times’ is code for ‘my friends have tried to teach me on two separate occasions and they gave up by the time I could stand on the board.’” 

Steve hides a smile by taking a long sip out of his water bottle. The grin tries to fight its way to the surface as he swallows, like his body is desperate to show how endearing he finds her. 

“Steve’s great at teaching.” Those words are almost enough to make him choke on his water. Great is a strong word. 

One time, when they were both high, Robin found an old skateboard in the back of Steve’s closet. They both thought it’d be a great idea for Robin to learn. The two had been clumsy, but when Robin sobered up, she was still curious about it. She bought a board herself, but Steve’s patient lessons have still barely taught her the minimum. In Robin’s defense, it’s not like Steve’s some skateboard expert. He can’t remember the last time he skated for the sake of it. 

“He’s patient at least, Max gets a little tired when you don’t get something, but Steve doesn’t.” Steve kicks Robin under the table, she kicks him back. “You wanna try? I brought my board?” 

The offer is so nice Y/n wants to take Robin up on it just because. Her gut tells her that she should at least try to warn the two that she’s the world’s greatest disaster when it comes to anything on wheels. Her mother would testify to Y/n’s point and pull out speeding tickets to back up her point. “That’s really nice of you, but I'm so accident prone I couldn’t subject you both to that.” 

There’s a chance she’ll trip before her foot even touches a skateboard. She’s used to stumbling at the worst possible moment when she’s nervous, but Y/n really doesn’t want to wipe out in front of everyone here. Especially Steve. 

“There’s no way you’re more uncoordinated than me,” Robin counters, “It’s scientifically impossible.” 

Steve rolls the plastic lid of his water bottle between his pointer finger and thumb. “That’s true. No offense, Robs.” 

“None taken.” Robin’s reply is a little too happy, bordering on enthusiastic.

Y/n sets down her sandwich, considering what it’d mean to take them up on their offer. Steve has been relatively silent, but he hasn’t done anything to imply that he wouldn’t want to. “If I fall in front of Dustin, I’ll never hear the end of it.” 

“I can beat him up for you.” Steve’s offer is so casual Y/n almost wonders if he’s serious. 

After a beat of silence, and a study of Steve’s easy going smile, Y/n grins. “I think I can take him myself, but I’d never say no to some back up.” 

Steve smiles even more. “I’d be happy to do it, he’s been such a little shit lately.” 

----

Y/n wonders if Robin is the kind of person to always get her way. She must be pretty persuasive if she managed to convince Y/n to try to stand on a skateboard in public.

Steve had talked her through it as they walked away from the safety of grass and towards brutal, unforgiving concrete. By the time he had placed Robin’s skateboard on the ground, he was sure he had already talked through all the skateboard knowledge he had.

“Being able to stand on the board is half the battle.” He doesn’t realize he’s said that already until the words are out of his mouth. Steve mentally cringes before wiping his hands on his jeans. He reaches forward without thinking. His hands are gently wrapped around her wrists before he even realizes he’s moved.

Body tensing, Y/n turns her hands over in order to better hold onto Steve. Nerves that have nothing to do with what she’s about to do pool in her stomach. Y/n forces one foot off the ground and onto the board. When it doesn’t instantly roll out from under her, she takes a breath and then places her other foot next to the first. 

The skateboard shifts at her full weight. Y/n, unsure on how to distribute it, almost slips forward. Steve’s prepared for the movement, his hands moving up her arms in order to keep her stable. A small gasp escapes Y/n. She moves her hands, gripping Steve’s forearms. 

“Feet shoulder width apart.” 

Y/n nods once, head just barely tilting forward enough to glance at Steve before returning her attention to her feet. She holds onto him even tighter as she adjusts her positioning. 

The corner of Steve’s mouth turns upwards without him realizing it. Her hands steady on him, her perfume faint in the air, her soft breaths. It’s nice--all of it is nicer than he thought it’d be. Maybe Robin was onto something when she not-so-subtly manufactured this moment. Steve’s going to have to thank her, even if it means giving her bragging rights. 

“Okay.” Steve says it because he’s scared that if he doesn’t, he may never speak again. He’d just let a silence hold them there forever. “You’re standing great, you’re a great stander.” The strange compliment leaves Y/n grinning more than she should be. “You wanna try moving?” 

“Okay,” the two syllables are uncertain and almost lost to the self deprecating, gentle laugh that follows it. 

Y/n moves one foot, attempting to place it on the ground. The motion paired with the slight shake of her leg destroys the small amount of stability Y/n and Steve had managed to create. The board beneath her attempts to lurch forward. Steve tilts his foot upwards, pressing his toes against the front of the skateboard. Y/n still manages to stumble forward. Steve adjusts his hold on her arm, stabilizing her. 

He bites back a laugh. “What was that?” 

“Moving--you keep one leg on the board, and use the other leg to kick off.” Y/n’s eyebrows pinch together at Steve’s expression. “Don’t laugh.” 

Steve bites his tongue. “‘M not.” Y/n looks up without moving her head from its downwards position. The harsh look she gives him might have come off a fraction as intimidating as she wanted it to if it wasn’t for how damn cute he finds her little pout. Endearment, uncomfortably warm and buzzing, floods into his chest. “I meant I should pull you around a little so that you can get used to balancing.” 

That makes sense, Y/n thinks, her friends back home tried pulling her along once in order to make her more comfortable after a pretty bad wipeout. “Oh,” she manages, “Yeah, that does sound like a better idea.” 

He extends his arms, taking a partial step back in order to create some distance. Cautiously, Steve just barely pulls on her forearms. Y/n giggles as she moves forward. The sound is so heartwarming Steve wishes he could tangibly hold it.

The pair make their way down the sidewalk at a steady pace that a child learning to ride a tricycle could probably beat. Y/n’s a little wobbly at first, but after a few minutes, she gets used to balancing. She’s still holding onto Steve with a grip that’s a little too tight, but she’s okay enough at standing on it. She’s okay enough at it that they could probably move on to the part that involves actual skateboarding, but neither of them bring it up.

With no warning, the front wheels of the skateboard catch themselves on a cracked part of the sidewalk. Y/n’s knees nearly buckle at the sudden change in pace. Steve barely manages to reposition himself in time to prevent a nasty fall. Y/n’s hands move upwards in a panic, landing squarely on his chest.

“I’ve got you,” Steve breathes, voice lower than he thought it’d be. 

A warm feeling roots itself in the pit of her stomach and quickly expands all the way up her chest. Y/n doesn’t like it. Feelings like that lead to delusion. She looks up after a long moment. When her eyes meet his, adrenaline and nerves twist in her stomach until she has no choice but to laugh. 

Steve laughs with her, his head tilting downwards as affection pools in his eyes. Only an inch or two of space exists between them. It’d take nothing for their foreheads to touch. Being close to her reminds him of the feeling of stepping away from the shade for the sole purpose of feeling the sun’s warmth. 

He almost blurts out an admission of his fondness right then and there. You’re pretty when you laugh. The way your eyes crinkle when you smile makes me want to smile. His lips part, and he barely manages to swallow the words. 

Y/n doesn’t move. She’s not sure she can do anything that could risk shattering this moment. She told herself to not look twice at him. She warned herself of the dangers of playing into a crush on an older boy with a myriad of other options. None of that seems to hold any weight anymore.

“Steve!” Dustin’s voice cuts the strange string that was holding them together. “Do you still have band-aids in your car?” 

Nothing good comes from Dustin asking about band-aids. Sighing in a way that serves as some sort of apology, Steve looks away from Y/n and towards the group of younger teens. “On a scale of 1 to 10, how much am I going to freak out when I go over there?” 

“Lucas scraped his knee a little,” Dustin replies, his voice lowering as he approaches the two, “So probably like a 7.” 

Steve sighs once more, helping Y/n step off the skateboard before walking towards Dustin and the rest of the sack lunch gang. “I do not react that ba--oh my god, Lucas did you jump off the skateboard?” 

[safeplacesnupin]

Snupin Fanfic Year in Review

Hey friends! So I really want to start promoting more amazing Snupin fanfics and I thought this might be a good way to start. I'm going to go through my bookmarks and select one (or two, or three) Snupin fics I read for each month and bookmarked and recc it in this thread :D Sorry if I don't tag every author but if you know their tumblr PLEASE tag them! *disclaimer* I didn't get an AO3 to bookmark until July so the first few months are just ones I had favorited in my browser until I got an AO3 LONG post ahead! A bunch of Snupiny goodness!

🦔 January - Triquetra by Contrarian_Hedgehog 🦔

Summary on AO3: With the war fast approaching, Snape is forced to rely on Lupin and Black in order to secure his place in Voldemort's circle. Can they get past two decades of hostility? After a month of cohabiting, being around each other gets easier yet so much more difficult. Notes: This is actually a Snackin fic! A poly relationship between Remus, Severus, and Sirius. It has such a fantastic 'I don't want to do this but I have to' into a full blown relationship and it comes with such spicy art and scenes. 16 chapters total. Read: Triquetra

⚔️ February - Lily's Boy by SomewheresSword ⚔️

Summary on AO3: Before his third year of Hogwarts has even begun, Harry faces three whole weeks of unsupervised time in Diagon Alley. In that time he takes a trip to Gringotts - and that changes everything.

Burdened with the knowledge that Dumbledore has been blocking his family magic, and manipulating far more than he ever thought possible, Harry doesn't know who he can trust; but he knows he can't keep going that way. There's a whole world of lore and politics and history to catch up on, and the more he learns, the more Harry realises his true place in the world, and how much is being kept hidden from him. All the while, Dumbledore's twinkling eyes are constantly watching, and Harry can't let on how much he knows.

With help from unexpected places, Harry starts on a journey to end the war, and reshape the wizarding world. With how much he looks like James Potter, people have forgotten one important thing about him - he is Lily Evans' son, and she was one hell of a witch.

Notes: Buckle up for a long, fantastic fic my friends! Lily's Boy is 109 chapters! This focuses a lot on Harry as I'm sure you could guess (Drarry specifically), but Snupin is a huge focal point in this fic and I would not call it background. It's brilliant worldbuilding earn it this February spot!

Read: Lily's Boy

🧁 March - Have Your Cake and Eat It by Cunegonde 🧁

Summary on AO3: Lying in hospital after the Battle of Hogwarts, Remus Lupin has a lovely lucid dream that he's gone back to his school days at Hogwarts. Only the day passes, then another, and another, and soon he must face the terrifying possibility that it isn't a dream — that he has irreparably altered the events of the past.

Please be advised, this one contains Adult Themes. Just, not so much in the fun flirty way, more in the midlife existential crisis way.

Notes: Primarily following Remus around as he gets transported back in time to his school days?! And how he falls for our lovely Severus Snape while trying not to mess up reality. YOU WILL CRY. Bittersweet ending warning on this one but so worth the read. 33 chapters

Read: Have Your Cake and Eat It

🦡 April - For Once Seen by diandrastrikesback 🦡

Summary on AO3: “Get the shutters,” he said stiffly. 

“Want to see you,” Lupin whispered into his hair. 

Snape’s panic rose. He fumbled with his words as his heart beat up his throat. “No. Erm…oily hair…you know, bad skin,” he stammered quietly. 

Notes: A short drabble and first ever time something of mine inspired anything. ToT <3 Set in the summer, Remus sneaks over to Sev's house to have some fun. Sev isn't confident in his appearance though.

Read: For Once Seen

🐍 May - The Heir to the House of Prince by A_LoveUnlaced and elphi13 🐍

Summary on AO3: Summer of 4th year and Harry's all alone, dealing with his grief and the sudden revelation that James Potter is not his father. Support comes in a strange form. The form of Theo Nott, son of a death Eater. A strange friend who says he'll help him find his true father, whoever this Lord Prince might be.

Notes: Back to the long fics; 87 chapters AND this is a part of a currently ongoing series. Sev is actually Harry's father and wow is that a shock to Harry! This fic features Snupin and a Theo/Harry pairing and does a brilliant job focusing on both. Extremely compelling read. Severitius.

Read: The Heir to the House of Prince

🩺 June - Not Quite What the Doctor Ordered by Arionrhod and McKay 🩺

Summary on AO3: Severus Snape is a brilliant diagnostician, but it turns out that Remus Lupin is a very difficult case, in more ways than one.

Notes: I'm not usually one for super AU fics but this one takes the cake. Severus is charactarized fantastically and the story is so very good! This is completely non-magic and the relationship between these two is just chefs kiss! 4 chapters.

Read: Not Quite What the Doctor Ordered

🥇 July - With Every Step I Rise and Fall by @miffmiff 🥇

Summary on AO3: After the war, Remus thinks that all hope is lost of ever reconnecting with Severus. He may be in for a surprise though.

Notes: So I have this secret extra ranking I call 'The Golden Shelf.' It's the best of the best, and while many of these fics in this list hold that rank, THIS is the fic that inspired me to make that ranking at all. The very first fic on my golden shelf! This takes a look at how Severus and Remus grapple with the past and embrace each other. Charactarization feels real and so spot on. 1 chapter.

Read: With Every Step I Rise and Fall

Honorable Mention for another fic I read in July: Because He Really Knows Me by flyfreewithme776 is an AU fic where Remus is a cute barista and Severus is pining even if he keeps making his drinks wrong!

🎁 August - The Great Hogwarts Christmas Gift Exchange Debacle of 1996 by Snegurochka 🎁

Summary on AO3: Ron wants Luna, but Luna wants Ginny, and Ginny wants Harry, and Harry wants Hermione, but Hermione wants Lupin, and Lupin wants… Snape? Oh, what tangled webs we weave, when Dumbledore sets up a little seasonal fun for a group of hormonal teenagers spending their Christmas at Grimmauld Place – with two angsty thirty-somethings who have quite enough of their own problems to be getting on with.

Notes: This was a very long 1 chapter fic that was such a delight to read! The summary doesn't do it justice and I'm not sure that my little notes can either, but please give this a shot! In August like me, or right now; perfect for the holidays! Hilarious misunderstandings and a wonderful ending await you.

Read: The Great Hogwarts Christmas Gift Exchange Debacle of 1996

Honorable mentions for a few other fics I read in August:

Batten Down the Hatches by @diandrastrikesbackk is a heartbreaking, fantastic little fic that pays homage to many other Snupin fics. A look at the life of the Snupin fandom as seen by the duo themselves <3

Drifting Satellite by the_throwaway_account is a slight AU with an angsty Remus trying to cope with his lycanthropy with no supportive family or friends. Enter: Sev

🛶 September - I Lie In Your Charms by KALA @kalainthecanoe 🛶

Summary on AO3: When Severus Snape banked on being dead at the end of a war, it was as much of a shock as a burden to find out he was very much alive. He'd rather welcome oblivion and be known as a hero, than watch himself become a listless ghost of his former self. He never expected his Life After Death would contain much but living an isolated, quiet, life. Instead he somehow ended up returning to Hogwarts to teach, becoming involved in student affairs he'd rather stay far removed from, and most importantly, having copious amounts of sex with his old childhood enemy- Remus Lupin.

Recovery is a fickle and long road, and he certainly didn't expect his would involve accepting Remus as part of it.

Notes: KALA is an incredible writer in every fic they craft, but this is one of my favorites. As the summary suggests, spice fest! But this is no plotless hotness by any means. Who doesn't love using sex as a distraction from trauma? Wonderfully written 12 chapters.

Read: I Lie In Your Charms

🎂 October - October 1984 by @bluesundaycake 🎂

Summary on AO3: Severus knows something is wrong at Hogwarts, but he can't quite figure out what.

A story built from the daily prompts for Snapetober 2022. Accidentally snupin.

Notes: So I loved this one so much I had to draw art for it. Seriously I can't say enough good things about this fic! Snape has an adorable crow friend and has to figure out what the heck is going on at Hogwarts while also pining for Remus. Rumored by BlueSundayCake to be a part of a series! :o 32 chapters.

Read: October 1984

Honorable Mentions for fics I read in October:

A Door Left Ajar by Hera_Invictus takes a great look at Sev and Rem's past when Remus comes to Hogwarts to teach during POA. I don't know if they invented the word sexpilogue but uh, yeah...

Fuel the Pyre of Your Enemies by DivinityInMotion took the 'paired for school project' hook and sunk me in a fantastic story with slow burn Snupin.

🐺 November - Artemisia Absinthium: The Wolf and the Moth by Gertrude_Crow @princeandcrow 🐺

Summary on AO3: When Severus Snape uncovered Peter Pettigrew as a traitor before Voldemort attacked the Potters, it changed the course of many lives - his own included.

Relationships are forged and broken, as those that survived the war now have to learn to live, find new paths, and build new futures. And though their leader is gone, not all of the Death Eaters are willing to accept defeat.

Notes: Part 2 of Gertrude_Crow's Artemisia Absinthium series; READ THEM ALL! This is an AU during the first wizarding war focusing on Snupin with intriguing other relationships. Drama, intrigue, and a few dark spots make this series an incredible read. Part 2 is my favorite, coming in at 30 chapters.

Read: Artemisia Absinthium Series

💰 December - The Inheritance by Shadowycat 💰

Summary on AO3: Things hadn’t gone well for Remus Lupin since the end of the war, so he didn’t think he could afford to pass up an unexpected inheritance from someone he’d never met. Of course it turned out there were a few strings attached, including having to share his surprise windfall with Severus Snape. Not that Snape was particularly happy about that...

Notes: It's a 'we have to live together and go on a treasure hunt and now we love each other' fic! Not going to lie, the writing reminds me of a modern day Jane Austin and the story line is so compelling. A little mystery and some great reading! 24 chapters.

Read: The Inheritance

Horoable Mention for another fic I read in December:

Ne'er-Blue-Well by @diandrastrikesbackck was written for a prompt I gave, but it took my usually serious, not a fan of comedy self and had me laughing out loud with a truely genius string of puns said by Severus Snape himself after a potion accident.

WHEW! Hope you find a new fic to enjoy! This was just whenever I read the fic, but did you have any you read this year that should be on next years list? -or- are you a writer working on one?! Leave them in the comments please! Here's to many more in the new year!

[five-rivers]

Ancestral 8

There were two more visitors after that.  The Speaker for the Assembly, a woman whose popularity had been derived from her position as poet laureate many years before, and Father Gylefa, who wasn’t quite the head of the rather informal Church of Avlynys.  Like Matthew, they wanted to go over coordination and what, exactly, would be said.  

“Are you sure you want to do this before Alicia gets here?” asked Father Gylefa, tugging at his cross-and-eye necklace in a familiar nervous gesture.

Matthew gave him a long-suffering look.

Father Gylefa raised his hands.  “It would be a reasonable excuse.  I stand by what I said about you needing time to process.”

“The country can’t afford it,” said the Speaker.  “We only stayed out of the economic crisis the Faroes are having by the skin of our teeth and the efforts of the School of Heroes.”  She curled her lip.  “And I just heard from the First Shadow that we have some billionaire tech mogul trying to bully his way through the flight lockdown.”

Danny felt his stomach drop.  Vlad.  Couldn’t he mind his own business for five minutes?  The list of things that Danny didn’t want was very, very long at this point, but he had the impression that Vlad coming to Avlynys would be explosive one way or another.  

(Especially given that harassing a princess was technically still on the books as a capital offense.)

The Speaker looked apologetic, but she continued.  “We need a king.  Or a queen.  And a Secretary, which we can’t elect without a monarch.  I’m a legislator and advisor, I’m not supposed to be directly receiving spy reports.”

“I know,” said Matthew.  “God and all those gone before help me, but I know.”

Father Gylefa patted his shoulder, then looked past him at Danny and Jazz.  “Ah,” he said, “it has been a while, Danny, Jazz.  You’ve grown.”  His expression grew a touch colder.  “Madeline.”  Then, frostier still.  “Mr. Fenton.”

The Church of Avlynys came into being when, upon being given the cover of Henry VIII’s founding of the Church of England, the entire archipelago leapt gleefully into open heresy.  As such, in addition to being only loosely organized, it was also distinctly heterodox… and had been a staunch opponent of witch trials.  

That wasn’t to say it didn’t have problems and had never, ever, participated in any form of religious oppression (it had, sadly).  But it could pull out a very plausible moral high ground now and again.

No one in the family had really approved of Maddie marrying Jack, a ghost hunter.  The extensive background check turning up witch hunters in the family tree hadn’t helped.  

Most of the family had… lost some of their hostility towards Jack over time.  Father Gylefa hadn’t.  

And, unlike the situation with Vlad, Jack was very aware of it.

“Mr. Gylefa,” replied Jack with the exact same intonation.  

“Haha, yeah,” said Danny.  “That’s us, just shooting up.  Maybe we’ll beat the family height record, yeah?”

One of their medieval ancestors was supposed to have been seven feet tall, so…  that was unlikely.  But Danny wasn’t sure what else to say.  

The Speaker sighed.  “I’ll go get things started.  It won’t be long before we call for you, your highnesses, lords and ladies, Mr. Fenton.”

Jack watched her go with an expression of resigned offense.  From there, Father Gylefa made small talk with the rest of the family while Matthew fretted, Maddie watched silently, and Jack attempted to make friendly overtures.  

It was so painful that Danny was almost glad when they were called out into the Assembly Hall, leaving Sophia, Irene and Jack to watch from the doorway.  

The huge room resembled an amphitheater in some ways.  There were seats in curved tiers around the sides of the room, and in the center was a circular raised dais with a small moat-like channel cut between it and the first rank of seats.  The dias had a mosaic map of Avlynys set into it, the nine islands picked out in surprising detail.  

The Assembly itself didn’t take up all of the seats.  In less grim circumstances, the upper ranks would be filled with a wide variety of observers, from schoolchildren, to lobbyists, to would-be politicians, to ordinary citizens there on a whim.  Right now, the only observers were local journalists and a singular camera crew.

(Danny hoped that no one he knew back in Amity watched the governmental news channels of tiny nordic countries as a hobby.  This was the first time he and Jazz were publicly appearing as part of the royal family, and he hadn’t really thought through what that entailed.)

Behind the seats, the walls of the hall were filled with traditional Avlynyse heraldry.  The Tree and Pond, nine stars picked out among the curling branches and reflected in the blue-green waters.  The Ancestors’ Eye, bright green and multiplied.  The Nine Sisters, standing on the islands they anthropomorphized like stepping stones.  The Hero’s Arms, rendered variously as a spear and scroll or a knife and a book.  

It was an impressive room.  Not as big as parliament, or congress, but still impressive.  

Also very intimidating.

The family gathered around the edge of the dais, with Matthew standing tall in the middle of their line.

The Speaker walked out along the walkway to the center of the dais and began to speak.  “Hyr, todag, sy folk sal coronyn Mathyw Alfryd sy Bisige yf sy Hys Dyryse Avlynyse, Sunn Ynyse…”

Danny mentally translated for himself: Here, today, the people shall crown Mathyw Alfryd the Diligent of the House of Dyrys of Avlynys, Son of the Isles, Blood of Kings and Heroes.  Are there any of the House of Dyrys who would oppose this?  One who speaks would call those of the blood to bear witness.

There was a beat of silence.

“Athlyng Yonna Loryn Dyrys Avlynyse, do thou beryn wytnes?”

Lovely thing about Avlynys was that everyone born there had a completely legal English name, and an equally legal Avlynyse name.  

Joanna stepped forward, spine ruler-straight, hands clasped in front of herself.  “Yn beryn wytnes ekyn sagyn no agyn.”  I bear witness and say nothing in opposition.

“Athlyng Madlyn Myra Dyrys Avlynyse, do thou beryn wytnes?”

Maddie took her place next to her cousin.  “Yn beryn wytnes ekyn sagyn no agyn.”

“Ledyn Yugyn Kartyr Dyrys, do thou beryn wytnes?”

Eugene took his place significantly more gingerly.  “Yn beryn wytnes ekyn sagyn no agyn.”

“Ledyn Lwys Theydyr Dyrys, do thou beryn wytnes?”

Lewis nodded before answering.  “Yn beryn wytnes ekyn sagyn no agyn.”

“Ledyn Irys Yvlyn Dyrys, Ledyn Georg Lyk Dyrys, do thou beryn wytnes?”

The twins moved forward together.  Born at the same time, they had the same rank in traditional rituals.  “Yn beryn wytnes ekyn sagyn no agyn,” they said together.

“Ledyn Leo Alfryd Dyrys, do thou beryn wytnes?”

“Yn beryn wytnes ekyn sagyn no agyn,” said Leo, his voice cracking.  He looked past Lewis and the twins to where Vivian would usually stand during something like this.

“Ledyn Yazmyn Roz Dyrys, do thou beryn wytnes?”

There was some whispering from the Assembly, but Jazz stepped forward, leaving Danny alone at the edge of the dais except for Matthew, apparently unaffected.  “Yn beryn wytnes ekyn sagyn no agyn.”  She broke protocol by just a hair to look back at Danny.  

“Ledyn Dannyl Ymaz Dyrys, do thou beryn wytnes?”

Danny, full of nerves, almost tripped over his own feet, but he managed to reach his assigned place.  “Yn beryn wytnes ekyn sagyn no agyn,” he said, echoing all the others, but very aware of how American his accent was.  What else was he going to say?  That he should be declared king?  

That was ridiculous.  

The Speaker bowed to them, “So, kumyn, Athlyng Mathyw.  Syon thy folk.”

Matthew walked past them, to the opposite edge of the dias.

“Athlyng Mathyw, wel thou sweryn…”  Prince Mathyw, will you swear to your people to serve and defend them, in all ways written in the law, in body and spirit?  To lead them in the dark and the light?”

As far as binding oaths went, Danny thought it was simple and elegant.  The metaphor might be used by someone being a literal genie like, say, Desiree, but as far as humans went, it was understandable and clear.  

“Yn wel sweryn so,” replied Matthew.  

The Speaker nodded sharply, and called for the Cup of the Oath.  The Cupbearer - yes, it was an official position, but it didn’t hold all that much responsibility… or at least, it hadn’t - hurried in from the wings, holding up the ancient gold goblet.  Other aides followed in his wake, moving to distribute more modern glasses among the Assembly.  

Danny hardly noticed them, however.  His attention was on the furious and frightened-looking ghosts following the Cupbearer.  Danny hadn’t even noticed when Vivian and Gwensyvyr had slipped away, too caught up with his own nerves, but now…

Vivian flew up into his face, teeth bared, cuts on her skin bleeding pink.  Danny looked at her, looked at Gwensyvyr’s broad and exaggerated pointing at the goblet, looked at Matthew, who was even now reaching out to take it, reached a conclusion, and made a decision.  

“Wait!” he said, stumbling forward, one hand raised.  “Stop!”

One of the servers dropped a wineglass.  Matthew turned to face him, every inch of his skin drenched in consternation.  Maddie grabbed his elbow and dragged him back into line, albeit in the wrong spot.

“Don’t,” said Maddie, quietly.  “You don’t want to expose yourself to the pol–”

“I’m probably just being paranoid,” said Danny, loudly, clearly, projecting his voice.  He tried not to look at the ghosts, more than one of whom had taken on a distinct posture of relief.  “But, cousin…  Will you test it?  Before you drink?  Just in case.”

The Cupbearer’s mouth, already open, dropped even further.  “I tested it!” he objected. 

“Danny,” said Matthew, quietly, clearly trying to salvage the situation.  “Dannyl, we’ve tested everything here dozens of times, after what… happened.  It’s fine.”

The ghosts seemed to think otherwise.

Danny pulled away from Maddie and took a couple quick steps forward, wanting to make his case again - or be in a position to knock away the cup if Matthew suddenly grabbed it - whereupon the Cupbearer threw the contents of the goblet at Danny.  

Wine dripped down his face.  

Matthew inhaled deeply and pressed his hands together as if praying for patience.  Danny wasn’t paying too much attention, having noticed something much more disturbing than Matthew reaching the end of his rope.  

“Your Majesty,” squeaked the Cupbearer.  “I’m so sor–” 

“Not crowned yet,” said Matthew.  “Danny–”

“I can’t feel my skin,” said Danny.  Belatedly, he remembered basic lab safety - a common problem in his family, apparently - and started stripping off the clothes that had been soaked by the wine.

“Oh, god,” said Maddie, barely audible.  

“What?”  

“I can’t feel my skin,” said Danny.  “I’m going numb.  I can’t - ow, heck.”  Formal clothes were hard to get off when your vision was doing funny things.  

“Medics!” snapped Matthew and there was a small commotion that Danny could hear but not see.  “Security, arrest this man!”

“Sir, we have to move you to a safer location.”

“I will not–”

“Danny–”  

“Don’t!”  Danny told Jazz.  “I don’t want you to get any of this on you.”

“Danny, are you–?”

“Dad, don’t!”  The words came out slurred.  The wine was still on his face, on his hands, dripping and dribbling down his neck.  Was it safe to use his clothing to try and wipe it off?

Danny could feel his heart and breathing start to slow.  Not to the point where it was dangerous to him, but he didn’t like the implications.  

“Jazz,” he said, “my kit–”

“I’ll bring it to you, as soon as I can.”

“Sir?” said someone.  “My name is Emily, and I’m trained in first aid.  If you could turn towards me…”

[watsondcsj]

History of the Hypercube and How it Saved Jon Kent From a Volcano

Superman (2016)

#8 & 9

After a vivid dream, Jon Kent constructs a device that when completed assimilates Kryptonian knowledge and reconfigures itself into a cube.

Krypto attacks the cube and it warps Clark, Jon, Krypto, and itself to Dinosaur Island. It is a place outside of time where they find countless extinct species and Captain Storm, a Golden Age war comic character from Our Fighting Forces that ran from 1954-1978.

They spend the next issue finding the cube so they can return home. Captain Storm sacrifices himself so the Kryptonians get home safely.

Superman Reborn

Mr. Mxyzptlk warps reality around the Kent family causing the timelines of Post-Crisis Superman and The New 52 Superman to merge into one.

The next few issues of Action Comics would explain how this all works and moves Jon Kent’s birth to Earth-0, but later in Infinite Frontier #0 The Spectre, God’s Hand of Vengence, would reinforce Jon’s original origins from the Convergence Earth and hint that this teen may become like a tyrant.

Special #1

The final issue of the run sees Clark use the cube to open another portal to Dinosuar Island to rescue Captain Storm.

They assume the cube itself came from Manchester Black as he had technology that was controlling the beasts of the island and on monsters he used to attack Hamilton County.

Adventures of the Super Sons

In the final two issues, Jon and Damian are trapped inside the cube by the main villain of the series, Rex Luthor. Inside is a white void, not dissimilar to how The Source has been protrayed. The Source is more or less DC’s in-universe mythos of the paper its stories are printed upon. Earth 2 Society and Dark Crisis Young Justice are some examples of The Source being manipulated.

The Hypercube itself manifests in the place and explains to Jon and Damian that it has existed in one form or another since the dawn of time in the DC Universe. Finally unable to stand being used as a prop for someone else’s story, it began to move and create under its own command. 

Cube admits it created the galaxy the villains of the series came from, and it seems to imply it has knowledge of all things that have happened and will happen as well as that they are in a comic book but spares the boys of that burden.

Cube takes The Puppeteer, a villain killed earlier in the series, and brings him into itself with Jon and Damian alive as if nothing had happened to him. The boys use his technology to break out of the cube. It seems the only limitation to Cube’s phenomenal cosmic power is his box-shaped lamp.

The Flash #797

Apparently, moments after defeating Rex Luthor, Jon and Damian find themselves in the future on another Earth to help Jai and Irie West and Maxine Baker beat some multiversal baddies.

I assume Cube was attempting to save the boys from the events of Teen Titans 2018, Superman 2018, and beyond into what was going to be 5G by skipping them past it. The boys return to their proper time, however.

Action Comics #1054

In chapter 4 of "Lois & Clark 2," Jon is badly burnt by a flame. This story takes place between the handoff from Jurgens, Tomasi and Gleason to Bendis in Superman and Action Comics. This is somewhat of a discrepancy if this Jon is intended to be the same Jon who survives in a volcano for 5 whole years.

Injustice #1

The Joker nukes Metropolis killing Lois Lane and her unborn child. 

Cube takes this child from the currently unknown Earth-49 and recreates the abandoned Superman: Reborn composite timeline for this version of Jon and Lois to live and grow.

The Man of Steel 2018

Jor-El picks up Jon and Lois for a little space road trip.

Superman 2018

Everything Jon explains to his father about his experience happened to him, however the Jon that returned to Earth-0 is truly the Jon from Earth-49 the alternate timeline from "Superman Reborn" with most of the memories of Earth-0 Rebirth Jon in place including those up to Cube’s wormhole the black hole. The amount of time Jon was out with Jor-El as described by in Superman #8 is now a completely useless measurement of time. Jon and Jor-El may truly have only been in space for three weeks by the Earth-0 clock before encountering the wormhole.

Jor-El tracked the only Jon Kent in the known multiverse through time and space to Earth-3 in the universe and hypertime he now found himself where Cube placed him five years in the past. Earth-0 Jon would fall through Cube’s time and space wormhole to a world that was currently uncharted but known to exist, Earth-49 the world of Injustice. 

Having scanned all possible futures, Cube opens a portal for Rebirth Jon to escape through. This is why Jor-El thinks that Jon ran from him before they fell through the black hole. A version of him did, just not the one he ended up with. 

Superman: Son of Kal-El

Jon is shown on a world that does not conform with the reader’s knowledge of past events in multiple flashbacks. His birth in the Fortress of Solitude is similar to the events in Action Comics #978 but not the same. Dick is wearing his New 52 outfit at a time when he should be presumed dead and acting as a secret agent or back in blue. Jon claims he was able to fly at age 9 when the bare minimum amount of reading comprehension would tell you he couldn’t fly until he was 10. Jon remembers his grandparents farm house after its destruction in a way the audience has never seen before. Not only were his grandparents not alive when that book was published, but these panels are reminiscent of the New 52 Superboy’s origin story.

Pa Kent would later describe the events of Superman 2016 #1. This is notable because it seems to again reinforce that this world was not changed during Superman Reborn and that Jonathan Samuel Kent was not the one to reiterate these events.

Superman & Robin Special

As Jon and Damian remind the reader of Superman 2016 #8&9 and Adventures of the Super Sons, Cube demonstrates its power once again by opening a door through space for an alien that ages years in minutes and through time for a platoon of Nazi soldiers. 

This serves a double purpose to show the reader what is in store for these two. Damian is no longer destined to become like Hitler. Teen Jon will find his double and return with him to where they came from. Teen Jon has a younger double lost out there somewhere.

Adventures of Superman Jon Kent

Jon states it is easy for him to see when someone is from another universe by looking closely at their molecules. 

Val-Zod states that time moves at a constant rate. Jumping from one multiverse to another alone would not throw the traveler through time as well. More importantly, Val-Zod then states that in the whole multiverse, there are many Jon Kents that are children and only two that are old enough to be able to assist with their mission.

Ultraman recognizes Jon confirming the volcano imprisonment did happen. 

Injustice Clark makes a double-take at Jon and claims he has his mother’s eyes, implying that this Jon is his own biological son.

This mini should see the Earth-0 Jon perhaps around age 12 at most appear on this Earth.

In the final issue of the mini, Jon states that he has practiced sneaking up on Damian for years while holding the Lasso of Truth, yet for this would be a stretch to be fact. Jon met Damian at 10 and left Earth at 11 making their friendship truthfully less than a year in length before Jon became much older.

[sonsofbal]

Prologue: Falion’s Journal

4E 199 First Seed

Entry One:

I'd be lying if I said everything was fine in Morthal when Seth, that strange boy, arrived in our town. The past few years have been grim; Necromages and vampires have been prowling our region, and with the mist season, their cruelty intensifies, ravaging our lands. At first, I thought the shadows were following me, drawn to my studies of the magical cure for advanced stages of vampirism. But now my suspicions turn elsewhere: to the family of Lami, our local alchemist.

The story of Lami's husband, Jorgen, is a constant topic of conversation in the village. Some say he left his wife and daughter, while others whisper that the mist consumed him for failing to pay his respects. But after much research, I have discovered a startling connection: Jorgen is descended from the heroes who fought the Mythic Dawn during the Oblivion Crisis. That would explain his strange disappearance. Did he flee to protect his family, or was he captured by enemies of his lineage?

Entry Two:

What motivates the Necromages and vampires to attack our village so relentlessly? They are not fanatics of Mehrunes Dagon, but sons of Bal. I've come up with a heretical hypothesis: that which is symbolised by Mehrunes Dagon is yet another facet of Malag Bal. It's the rebellion of the slave, ready to impose his will and wrest the throne from the master. I believe their division is a power play, a dichotomy created by the powerful to maintain their dominance.

But why do these attacks continue? An ancient legend states that after the Daedra was defeated, one of its artifacts was destroyed to prevent the corruption of mortals. The heroes who defeated the Mythic Dawn swore to keep the fragments separate. Could it be that one of thse fragments has been hidden here, in Morthal, all this time?

Entry Three:

The possibility that Jorgen is a descendant of these heroes, and that he left his family to protect them from a dark legacy, is beginning to make sense. It would also explain Athan’s interest in Jorgen's young daughter. It was a devastating blow to all of us to lose Alicent during the Necromages' attack last year.

Though the village sees me as a monster, swayed by the lies of this diabolical child and their own ignorance, I know the truth: Seth is another son of Bal. And if my suspicions are correct, may Akatosh protect us, for this can only mean that the cruel Daedra is one step closer to the reconstruction of his cursed artifact.

[news4dzhozhar]

Plymouth couple told they can leave Gaza — but not their kids

A Plymouth, MA family that has been trapped in Gaza since the Israel-Hamas war began is still inside the enclave, after being told at a border crossing that the children would not be allowed through to Egypt.

Hazem Shafai, 47, Sanaa Shafai, 36, and their children, Seera, 13, Yomna, 10, and Jaser, 2, had already been turned away at the Rafah Crossing at the Egyptian border with Gaza multiple times over the past few weeks. Diplomatic talks produced a breakthrough earlier this week, allowing injured Palestinians and foreign nationals to escape the war zone. 

So the Shafai family traveled to the crossing again Thursday but “they were expected to leave the children behind,” Hazem’s brother Hani Shafai told The Boston Globe. 

According to Hani, Hazem and Sanaa’s names were on a list of people who would be allowed to enter Egypt, but their children’s names were not. They made the decision to return to the place where they had been sheltering. 

The fact that the children were not given safe passage baffled the family. 

“Nobody is going to just leave a 2-year-old, a 10-year-old, and a 13-year-old behind,” Hani told the Globe. “These kids were born in the U.S., they’re citizens just like everyone else, to say ‘leave them behind’ is just inhumane.”

Another Massachusetts family, also with a young child, was allowed to leave Gaza Thursday morning. Medway residents Abood Okal; his wife, Wafaa Abuzayda; and their 1-year-old son are now safely in Egypt, planning a way to return home. An attorney and family friend of theirs, Sammy Nabulsi, shared some details of how the border crossing process works. Nabulsi had been advocating for the Okal family and other U.S. residents to be let through the crossing. 

There are two lists of people who are allowed through, Nabulsi told the Globe. One is maintained by U.S. State Department officials and the other by Palestinian officials. It is Nabulsi’s understanding that those looking to escape must be on both lists, and that the Palestinian list is subject to frequent changes. 

The children’s names were apparently not on both lists, forcing the Shafai family to head back into Gaza and hope that the situation changes in the future. They are in touch with the U.S. Embassy, the State Department, and congressional representatives to coordinate an exit plan, the Globe reported. 

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to spiral out of control, even with a slow trickle of aid now allowed in from Egypt. The Okal family described staying inside for days on end, surviving off canned goods and, occasionally, saltwater as bombs rained down outside. 

The Shafai family has also had trouble getting clean drinking water, Hani told the Globe. Dehydrated already, their situation was made worse when many of them contracted the flu last weekend. Most of them have recovered, but 2-year-old Jaser still has a fever and is throwing up. While he works to care for his family, Hazem is also on the hunt for desperately needed diabetes medication. 

Palestinian officials released a list of almost 600 people that were approved to leave on Thursday, Reuters reported. Those names were all checked by Israel, with the country reportedly vetting lists to make sure no Hamas fighters escape. Residents of Belgium, Greece, Sri Lanka, the Netherlands and more were included on the list. But many others were turned away, despite having valid passports. 

Egyptian national Ghada el-Saka told Reuters that she was visiting relatives in Gaza when the war broke out. She and her daughter wept in frustration at the Gaza side of the Rafah Crossing Thursday after being told that they could not cross. 

“Why are you leaving us in this destruction? We’ve seen death with our own eyes,” she said, according to Reuters. “I want to pass. We are not animals. I have Egyptian rights, we are Egyptian.”

[jennymanrique]

A Tale of Three Cities – How Bakersfield, Columbus, and Houston Tackled Homelessness

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, around half a million individuals nationwide are currently experiencing homelessness. Yet three cities have been able to make dramatic gains in tackling the problem with important lessons for the rest of the country. 

Among these lessons: housing and homelessness are community issues requiring community solutions. 

In March, 2020 the city of Bakersfield, California achieved “functional zero” chronic homelessness, while Houston, Texas placed more than 25,000 people in permanent housing, resulting in a 64% decrease in homelessness. And in 2018, Columbus, Ohio had successfully housed 70% of its homeless population. 

During a July 22nd Ethnic Media Services briefing, front-line workers in all three cities explained the strategies that led to their success.

With that new mindset, organizations, government agencies, landlords, and homeless residents were able to partner to create support services and permanent housing for the community, Scott explained. 

Work began with a comprehensive register of every person in the county experiencing homelessness, with names listed under the following categories: chronically homeless, veterans, youth, elderly, and families. 

“We with the different organizations and go one by one to each person, to find out what the service provider is providing, what their status is, and what are the barriers,” Scott said. 

Housing vouchers, low-income units, landlords working with housing locators, and the ‘Milestone project’ – which is refurbishing motels and turning them into permanent housing units – are all part of the strategy. 

“Some of our continued challenges are the lack of affordable housing: we have a 2% vacancy rate, and we identified 1,603 unduplicated homeless individuals in our 2022 headcount,” she continued. “It is also a struggle finding landlords and property owners who are willing to rent to our clients who have little to no income.”

Evictions are another challenge. In Columbus, Ohio, addressing the homeless crisis meant “getting ahead” of eviction filings. 

“We are bringing more landlords on board, not to sell them on the tenants themselves, but on the support services that we have in place to keep people housed,” said Marcus J. Salter, housing stability specialist at the Community Mediation Services of Central Ohio. 

His agency is one of several that form the Homeless Prevention Network, a collaboration of housing providers and mental health agencies created after the pandemic to connect homeless residents to support services.

“I’ve heard landlords say, ‘We had a tenant here, a situation happened, and we didn’t know who to contact.’ We can make those support services more accessible,” said Salter.  

Currently, the Homeless Prevention Network is working to reduce demand at the city’s five single adult centers and two family shelters, all of which are filled to capacity, by moving people into more permanent housing. 

According to Scott, the network “diverted 311 people away from entering shelters” between January and March of this year, with a total of “2,035 long-term homeless residents served by permanent supportive housing.”

Houston took a similar approach, moving 25,000 people from the streets and into permanent housing over the past decade. Back in 2012, the nation’s fourth most populous city had the sixth largest homeless population in the country, with service providers operating in silos. 

“We were not looking at our data to make sure that the decisions we were making were in line with what the community needed. And our recidivism was very high,” said Ana Rausch, vice president of program operations at the Houston Coalition for the Homeless, an umbrella organization that brings together more than 100 nonprofits and local government agencies. 

“Our partners and funders all came together to identify the common goals for the homeless response system.”

The results: since 2011, the city has seen a 63% decrease in overall homelessness, a 69% decrease in chronic homelessness, and an 82% decline in family homelessness. Veteran homelessness ended in 2015, and in the current year, of the 3,124 individuals experiencing homelessness, 1,622 are now residing in a shelter. 

And according to Rausch, 95% of individuals supported stay housed.

“We use the Housing First model: we take someone from the streets and we put them into a place and then once they feel safe, having a roof over their head and food in their belly, then they can begin to focus on the issues that might have led to them becoming homeless,” she noted. 

Harris County, where Houston is located, also managed to decommission 57 homeless encampments, thanks in part to additional COVID resources from the federal government, with individuals being moved into permanent housing. Matthew Lewis, director of communications at California Yimby

“We had a lot of market-rate units,” said Rausch, “but it’s gotten to the point where there’s really not many vacancies left.”

California now holds the dubious distinction of having the nation’s highest homeless population, tallied at an eye-popping 60,000 people. 

“And that’s not because they’re mentally ill, on drugs, or because they’re criminals,” said Matthew Lewis, director of communications at California Yimby, a statewide housing policy organization. “It’s because they lost their homes.”

YIMBY is the acronym for Yes In My Backyard and refers to those who support greater housing developments in their own neighborhoods.

Despite California’s continued economic growth – if it were a nation, California would rank as the world’s fifth largest economy – zoning law restrictions and a legacy of redlining, which prohibited minorities including Asians, Latinos and African Americans from purchasing homes in certain neighborhoods, are impeding the construction of affordable, multifamily housing. 

California Yimby works at the state level to try to reform the legislative framework around housing, which, according to Lewis, stands in the way of serious attempts to address the homeless challenge.

“The legacy of segregation lives on in these neighborhoods and our cities have made it virtually impossible to add housing at all ends of the income spectrum,” he said. “We’re trying to reverse those historic mistakes.”

Originally published here

Want to read this piece in Spanish? Click here

[otter-love-asl]

(Delayed) Evil Author's Day

So I have weird hours at my job, so I lost track of days, but with all the WIPs I have going, this felt up my ally. Here's like 7 snippets from different things I have going. There's more, but I figured this was enough.

Chicago Fire #1

“Javi,” Joe calls to the ten-year old.  When Javi looks up from his bowl of cereal, he continues, “Remember, we have a home visit with Eddie after school today.”

“Okay,” he responds, before hesitantly asking, “Joe?”

“Yeah?”  Joe gives his attention to Javi, after putting his sandwich in his lunchbox.

“I can stay here?”

“We’ll find out more when we talk to Eddie,” Joe tells him, not wanting to lie.

“I know they’re still looking for an aunt… but I like it here with you and Chloe and Otis.”

Joe smiles sadly, “We like having you here too.  Last time we saw Eddie, they hadn’t found an aunt and the chances of finding one wasn’t going to get bigger.”

“But what if they found her?”

“If they found an aunt and you still want to stay with us, then we can figure out what options we have.”

“Okay,” Javi responds quietly into his cereal.

“Hey,” Joe waits until Javi looks at him.  “I want you to have a good day at school.  As long as it’s up to Chloe and me, you're not going anywhere.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.  Finish your cereal, we need to get moving,” Joe squeezes Javi’s shoulder.

Chicago Fire #2

“With no family able to take them, we have no other choice nut to place the boys into foster care,” Griffin overhears the case worker tell his friend’s mom.

“They can stay wit us until Heather gets out,” she argues.

“I’m sorry,” the case worker apologizes, “but we can’t do that.”

“Are they going to be in the same home?”

“No, at this time we don’t have a foster home who have two open spots, who can take two boys,” he tells her.

“So what is going to happen now?”

“We place them in an emergency placement for now and hopefully we can get them in a more permanent placement by the end of the week.”

“Please these boys have been through a lot in the past year.  Let them stay here until you can get them a more permanent placement.  It would be moving them around less.”

He’s about to answer when his phone goes off, he glances at it before quickly responding, “I need to get going, one of my kids are n crisis.  Since this isn’t urgent either myself or another will be in contact by tomorrow.”

When the case workweek leaves, Griffin walks into the room, “Mrs. Carter, can I use your computer?”

“For what?”

“We have an uncle back in Chicago.  He took us in last time mom went to jail.  Maybe we can stay with him again.  He’s our guardian if anything happens to my parents. My dad is dead and mom’s in jail again.”

Chicago PD #1

“Okay, it’s just us,” Hailey looks to Jay while they cuddle on the couch.  “What’s going on?  You’re still acting off.”  Jay opens his mouth to answer, but is cut off by Hailey, “No lying.”

Jay sighs, “I’m just tired. And I don’t feel that good.”

Hailey’s brow furrows with worry as she reaches a hand to his forehead.  “You don’t feel warm,” she comments.

“Well, I still feel sick,” Jay mumbles annoyed.

“I know.  And I believe you.  Can I do anything to help?”  Hailey asks running her hand through his hair.

“Can we just stay like this?”

“Okay,” Hailey agrees pulling Jay down so he is laying across her lap.  No sooner does she have Jay laying down when Jay moves to get up.  “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.  Bathroom,” Jay answers.

When he is out of her sight, Hailey knows that she has waited long enough and that something is really wrong with Jay.  Hailey grabs her phone and calls Will to see if he can come by to check out his brother.

“Hey Hailey,” a familiar voice picks up.

“Hey, Will,” she greets.  “Listen, Jay’s safe, but I think somethings wrong,” she tells the red-head while looking at the bathroom door.

“What’s going on?”

“Jay was sick earlier this week.  Today was his first day back at work after being out for five days, but he still seems off.”

“Okay, what are his symptoms?”

“He’s been pretty tired and has had no energy-”

“That would be pretty normal if he had the flu.”

“I’ve seen Jay with the flu before.  I couldn’t get him to eat anything.  He’s been eating everything in sight and still seems hungry.  And it looks like he’s still been losing weight.”

“Is he staying hydrated?”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure in the last week he’s drank half of Lake Michigan.”

This catches Will’s attention.  “Has he been urinating more than normal?”

“Probably, but with how much he’s been drinking, isn't that normal?”

Will doesn’t answer her, instead telling her, “Listen to me, I want you to bring him to Med right now.  I’ll meet you there, but I’m going to call Maggie and let her know to be expecting you guys.”

“Will, what’s happening?”

“I’ll explain when you get here, just get to Med.  If you’re not here in a half hour,” Will gives her, knowing the amount of time it takes to get from Hailey’s place to Med, “I’m going to send an ambulance to your place.”

Chicago PD #2

The intelligence unit takes a collective breath when they close their latest case.  Everyone’s worse nightmare when dealing with child victims.

“I don’t know about you guys but I could use a drink,” Adam looks to the rest of the team.

“I have to go home to Makayla,” Kim answers.

Vanessa and Kevin look to each other before agreeing to go to Molly’s with Adam.

Jay looks discreetly to Hailey before giving his answer, “Sorry, Adam.  I haven’t had much time with Lucas since we got this case.”

“Rain check,” Jay adds.

“Come on, Jay.  You got a date?”

“No, headache,” he lies.  “Just going to go home and sleep it off.

Hailey looks at him concerned for a second before her attention goes to her phone that just went off, likely a text from Lucas, Jay guesses.  Jay takes her being distracted as an opportunity to get out of the bullpen, normally she’d be the only one to notice his behavior.

Jay takes a deep breath once in the safety of his tuck.  He can feel himself starting to spin out, but knows he can’t bother Hailey.  His second option is his other best friend, Mouse, but he’s in a war zone overseas; so he decides on the only other option he has, his brother.

Jay pulls out his phone to shoot Will a text, but his hands are shaking too much.  Sighing in defeat, Jay decides on calling his brother instead.

“Hello?” Will answers a little distracted.

Chicago. PD #3

Jay takes off his shirt to revel dark bruises on his back, shoulders and torso.  Hailey gasps when she sees the state of her partner.

“Oh, Jay,” Natalie whispers, shocked by all the bruises.  “Put this on,” Natalie orders him handing him the thin hospital gown.  “I'm going to take care of the cut first and then we can figure out what’s going on with the bruises.”

Natalie gets what she needs for the stiches while Hailey pulls Jay’s attention to her.  Jay flinches when the needle with the numbing agent enters his skin.  She waits until his arm is numb before giving the stiches to close the cut.  The whole time, Hailey keeps Jay’s attention away from his injured arm.

“All done,” Natalie announces after seven stiches.  She puts a gauze pad over the injury and reminds him not to get it wet and to keep it clean.  “Hailey switch sides with me,” she asks so she can give the tetanus booster.

“Can I leave now?” Jay asks as soon as the needle is out of his skin.

“Not yet, we need to figure of why you have so many bruises.”

“I told you- I don’t exactly have a desk job.”

“Jay,” Hailey scolds.  Jay gives a mumbled apology.

“It’s alright.  I'm going to see if your blood work came back.  That could give us a starting point,” Natalie tells them before leaving the treatment room.

“Jay, why don’t you lay down?  You look tired and this might take a while,” Hailey asks Jay.  Jay looks at her unsure, “I'm not leaving,” Hailey answers his unanswered question.

Jay lays back on the bed staring up at the celling.  Hailey places her and on his forehead feeling the heat coming off of his skin.  Jay leans into her touch, the same way his mother used to check if he’d had a fever.  “I'm sorry.”

“For what?” Hailey asks confused.

“For being stuck here,” Jay answers guiltily.

“Don’t apologize for that,” Hailey stops him.  “Now, do you want to tell me how you got all these bruises without Natalie here?”

“I don’t know.”

9-1-1: Lone Star #1

Detective Paul Strickland walks into the 21st district, mentally trying to prepare for the day knowing that his sergeant and partner have been going off the rails a bit… again regarding police reform.  He shakes his head, hoping that Halstead is already in so they can work out a plan.

Before he can make it a few steps into the building, Sergeant Trudy Platt calls him over to her desk, “Strickland!”

“Yes, Sarge?”  he greets, used to the nickname.

“You got a visitor,” she jerks her head towards a conference room across from them.

Paul follows her glaze to the conference room across from her desk where a man about Voight’s age is sitting at the table.

“Who is he?”  Paul asks, looking from the white shirt to Trudy.

“Some bigshot from Texas,” she answers.

“Texas?”

“Did I stutter?”  Trudy in a way only she can.  “He was pretty adamant that he sees you,” she adds.

“Why?”

“I didn’t ask,” she answers.  When he doesn’t respond she gives him a pointed look, “Go!”

Knowing that Platt is done with him, Paul makes his way into the conference room.  “Sergeant Platt said you wanted to speak with me?  I’m Paul Strickland.”

The man looks up from his files, “Detective Strickland, I’m Deputy Chief Clayton Carter, of Austin PD.”

“Nice to meet you, sir,” Paul shakes his hand.  “If you don’t mind me asking, what brings you to Chicago?”

“I’d like to recruit you,” Carter gets right to the point.

“Recruit me?”  Paul echoes.

“Austin PD is putting together an Intelligence Unit.  You have experience in such an elite unit, your record is impressive, and you have a natural talent as a detective.”

“You want me to leave Chicago PD?”  Paul questions.

“I see your potential and want to pull you in as second in command.”

“Why me?  I’m sure there are plenty of people from Austin, or even other places in the country.”

“You’ve got a stack full of Lifesaving Commendations, which tells me you’ve got a gift for threat assessment,” Carter answers.  “Would you say that has anything to do with being trans?”

“Growing up the way I did, there was a lot of folks who wanted to hurt me, so, I guess I learned to figure out who they were before they figured out who I was.”

“How would you feel about relocation to Austin?  “Austin PD is striving for change from the inside, we believe you can bring something with your style of policing.”

One Chicago #1

Hailey walks down the hallway of the Hogwarts Express, trying to find somewhere to sit for the journey to her new school.  Hailey pokes her head into a compartment where she sees two boys; both with brown hair and a bit on the scrawny side.  One has blue eyes and the other has green eyes and freckles across his face.

“Can I sit here?”  she asks.

The two boys stop their conversation.  “Yeah,” the boy with green eyes answers while the other nods.

“Thanks, everywhere else was either full or the people in there looked,” she hesitates not knowing who to word it.

The boys share a knowing look, before answering.  “Yeah, we know what you mean.  I’m Jay Halstead and this is Mouse,” the green-eyed boy introduced them.

“Mouse?”

“It’s a nickname.  I’m Greg Gerwitz.”

“Hailey Upton.”

“So, what House do you guys think you’ll be in?” Jay questions.

“I think I’ll be in Ravenclaw, but I wouldn’t mind Gryffindor or Hufflepuff,” Mouse answers.

“House?”  Hailey questions.

“When we get to the school, we get sorted into one of four houses.  Its where we will live for the next seven years.”

“Oh.  How do we get sorted?”

“My brother said we get sorted by a hat,” Jay answers, face skeptical.

“Muggle-born?”  Mouse asks curiously.

“What?”  Hailey asks confused.

“Your parents aren’t magic,” Jay clarifies.

“Yeah, they're not; neither are my brothers.  Is that bad?”

“No.  There are a lot of muggle-borns,” Jay answers

“I wouldn’t say a lot,” Mouse corrects his friend, “but there are defiantly more than you think.”

“So, there’s a word for what we are?”

“Like witch and wizard?”  Jay clarifies.

“No, like muggle-born.”

“Yes,” Jay answers cautiously, “but it doesn’t really matter.  The only people who care are pure-blood supremacists.”

“Are you?”  Hailey looks to Mouse.

“Muggle-born?  No, I’m a pure-blood.  My mom is a witch and my dad is a wizard, but my stepdad and his family are muggles.”

“No, I meant a pure-blood supremacist.  But I guess you're not since your stepdad is a muggle.”

“No, I was just asking since you didn’t know about the Houses.  I figured that you were either muggle-born or muggle-raised.”

“Some are,” Jay adds.  “Some like to disown the muggles in their family and pretend they're a true pure-blood.  But this one isn’t.  He will even watch soccer.”

“Hey, its good.  And my cousins taught me, so there’s always a game going when we go to my grandparents.”

“I guess, but it’s not as good as quidditch.”

“What’s quidditch?”

“The best wizarding sport there is,” Jay answers.

“Okay?”

[fuzzypanda2009]

USSR - translated

The Soviet Union once embodied an ideal: the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. People sacrificed for it, enduring hardships and bloodshed. It rose like lightning, only to collapse abruptly. Its birth pointed the way forward for us, while its demise taught us a final lesson. For China, the Soviet Union might not have been a good neighbor, but it was undoubtedly a good teacher.

World War I shattered four empires and broke the backs of two nations; from their ashes arose the Soviet Union. Founded by the laboring people, it had no capitalists, no nobility. From its inception, it withstood the encirclement of European powers. It developed amidst blockades, rapidly industrializing through successive five-year plans. In just 20 years, it transformed from the weakest link of imperialism into Europe's leading industrial power.

During the global economic crisis of 1929 to 1933, only the Soviet Union maintained rapid growth. Then came World War II, where the Soviet Union decisively defeated mighty German fascism. The red flag flew over the Reichstag, liberating half of Europe's people. After the war, the Soviet Union faced a profound sense of insecurity, with significant population loss and industrial strength lagging behind the United States. It urgently needed a security buffer. At that moment, a socialist giant emerged in Asia with a population of 450 million. This country dared to confront the United States and the United Nations coalition head-on and emerged victorious. The Soviet Union was astonished; in the face of Western encirclement, there was a formidable ally within the socialist camp itself. Thus, the Soviet Union provided a gift to the newly founded nation—the 156 Project.

Thus began an unprecedented transfer of intellectual property in human history. Besides providing funds and materials, the Soviet Union taught China how and why to build. It replicated its entire industrial system, centuries of Western civilization's essence, in China. It transformed China from a backward agricultural nation into an industrial powerhouse.

In those passionate years, the socialist camp achieved one great feat after another. They not only invented the world's first intercontinental missile but also launched the first artificial satellite. Even in the 1970s, during the worst period of Sino-Soviet relations, when China sought to regain its rightful seat at the United Nations, the Soviet Union still cast a supportive vote. In times of family dispute, brothers may quarrel fiercely, but in the face of capitalist enemies, we remain steadfast allies. Even when the Soviet Union withdrew its experts from the 156 Project, we still remembered their earlier assistance.

In the 1990s, whenever we read about the history of the Sino-Soviet honeymoon period, we were deeply moved. At that time, we sang "Katyusha" around the campfire together. We discussed our common dreams and struggled for the liberation of all humanity. Young people in the 1980s loved the book "How Steel Was Tempered." Many used a quote from Pavel Korchagin as their early signature:

"The most precious thing a person has is life, and each person only has one. Life should be lived in such a way that when one looks back on it, there is no regret for wasted years or shame for trivial past actions. When one is dying, one can say: 'My entire life and all my energy were devoted to the most magnificent cause in the world— the struggle for the liberation of humanity.' One should live fully and quickly, as unexpected illness or tragic accidents can end one's life at any time."

Soviet rockets soared into space, carriers sailed the seas, tactical nuclear bombs paved the way—who could resist? In Europe at that time, just like the Southern Song Dynasty of old, at the mere mention of Soviet military might, hearts trembled with fear. They hurried to negotiate, just like Prime Minister Zhou Enlai. Compared to military strength, what made the Soviet Union more formidable was its ideology. The Soviet Union was a nation without any geographical or ethnic color. It was not Russia, nor any ethnic nation. It did not exist as a nation based on ethnicity. It was a unique alliance in human history, with socialism as its national system. Ideology was its foundation.

The Soviet Union always proclaimed itself as the arsenal of world revolution. It burned itself to save humanity. In the Soviet official declaration, the happiness of the Soviet people was never the ultimate goal of their struggle. Their ultimate goal was to sweep away global injustice and achieve human unity. The attention represented by the Soviet Union spread throughout the world. From factories in Europe to rubber forests in South America, from farms in Asia to ranches in North America, devout followers existed in every corner of the world.

The powerful ideological influence of the Soviet Union made countless elites in opposing camps willingly serve it. The intelligence systems of the United States and Europe were infiltrated by Soviet spies like a sieve. These spies were not bought with money but were voluntarily formed by a large number of supporters of communism. No matter how strong a country's power is, it is difficult to radiate deeply into all regions of the world. But communism is a belief that transcends race, ethnicity, and nationality. Comrades from different countries, speaking different languages, shook hands because they shared the same worldview and were willing to fight for the same goal. Therefore, the borders of the Soviet Union were not geographical but in people's hearts. Proletarians all over the world regarded the Soviet Union as their hope and worked hard to transform the world into a Soviet-like state. Countless scientists and politicians risked their lives to help the Soviet Union obtain nuclear weapons because they believed that even if they did not see it, their descendants would.

This ideology was so powerful that it frightened the United States. The Cold War erupted because the United States and the Soviet Union, the twin offspring of modern human civilization, reached a fork in the road that determined the fate of humanity. Both countries believed their path was correct and felt obligated to lead all of humanity toward enlightenment.

To prove its systemic superiority, the Soviet Union, with the strength of the Warsaw Pact, engaged in a global market integration struggle with the three major industrial centers of the United States, Europe, and Japan. If you have something, then I must have it all. If you don't have it, I must strive to have it. Not only could there be no relaxation in military affairs, but there could also be no neglect in technology. The living standards of the people must not be too low. Otherwise, your social system is backward.

Under competition, capitalists dared not exploit workers arbitrarily. Eight-hour workdays, weekends, medical benefits, and retirement benefits were established. The reason why people in Western countries live happily is because of the existence of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union's strong foundation lies in liberating human thought and in the determination to create a new world for the proletariat.

When it chose to engage in imperial hegemony with the United States, its defeat was already inevitable. That was the domain where the United States excelled. Do not follow others' pace; take your own pace to lead others' pace. Playing with equipment, comparing enjoyment, competing in the media—how could the Soviet Union surpass the United States? The West had billions of people in colonial territories to exploit. There were centuries-old financial families to rely on. There was the experience of aristocratic rule for hundreds of years. When the Soviet Union reduced its cross-national class power to national power, it had already lost.

In the Cold War, the United States didn't even need excessive propaganda. Just showcasing its lifestyle was enough. Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Michael Jackson, Hilton hotels, and so on. The Soviet people felt a strong sense of disparity. They were supposed to be the big brother of the first world, the core of the world's economy, yet they struggled even to buy decent toilet paper. TVs would explode with use. Families of five squeezed into old 60-square-meter apartments, sharing bathrooms and kitchens with others. Naturally, questions arose. Did they need me to liberate them? Why couldn't I have these things? What was the point of liberating humanity if it meant living like this? This sense of contrast was like a guru teaching you success, only to be instinctively mocked.

The Soviet Union wasn't defeated by the Americans; it collapsed because the Soviet people didn't want it anymore. The dissolution of the Soviet Union was a massive celebration for its people: we don't want a superpower; we just want the dignity of ordinary people. However, it was later proven that without a superpower, the Soviet people didn't gain the dignity of ordinary people either. Some elderly people who had devoted their lives to the Soviet Union, holding labor medals they received in their youth or the belongings of husbands who died in the war, sold them to passersby on the street, hoping to exchange them for some food to sustain their lives.

Human civilization will not forget that red country. It will not forget the term full of idealistic sentiments— the Soviet Union. Nor will it forget the countless Red Army soldiers who bravely fought to eliminate fascism, protect human civilization, and destroy imperialist fortresses. Although the Soviet Union is no more, Moscow's Lenin Mausoleum is still adorned with flowers. The flames still burn brightly in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Red Army Soldier statue in Berlin, Germany, still stands tall. The hammer and sickle flag still flies proudly in an ancient country in the East.

[maguro13-2]

Darkness Reborn ~ Origins of the Ink Demon Final Chapter Pt.8 (3/3)

[Cars running]

Mamimi : So where are you taking us?

Drawcia : To the biggest places that you'll ever find in Japan!

Mamimi : Never thought that Japan would be this beautiful at night.

Maron : Quite say that Tokyo has been the largest city in all of Planet Earth. Who knew that one the world's greatest cities had this kind of scenery?

Drawcia : Here we are. Home sweet home, Drawcia Family Corporation.

"Drawcia Family Corporation, Japan's largest science corproation."

"This place was founded and owned by the legendary witch Drawcia, who was that actually a painting created by a human that is one the many friends of the great star warrior."

"Drawcia thought have been defeated by five legendary heroes of Popstar and returned Dreamland to it's normal self."

"However, not only long, she was then resurrected as a human being modeled by Hiromu Arakawa, the Author and creator of Fullmetal Alchemist, to become that founder and owner of the world's largest science corporation. Their science became a very advance and so does their technology that Japan's successful entity that shared 95% percent of the Science industry, roughing it without a few favor to pick on."

"But unknown to Drawcia, the corporation itself is rivaled with another corporation called Gadd Science Industries, a science tech corporation in the USA owned by that science Professor E Gadd who Luigi first encountered at the mansion 9 years ago."

"E Gadd is a man of science and he contacted a Shrine Maiden in Ise City, the home of the legendary Jingu Shrine."

"Well they do share the same influence as science rivals, but their connection between Drawcia and Gadd is a fin astonished crossover of Nintendo. Hope they least expected that was worth trying."

Mamimi : You know, you hardly threw a good punch. I heard that I'm no fan of a Boxer, so, what's the latest deal with no hesitation and no relations on any involvements with the Kusakabe. Wait, I did remember that you had involvements with the Kusakabe family members, did you?

Drawcia : Correct. To be honest, I hardly fact that I was responsible for Death the Kid's creation back in '94, that so-called hero who created the world of Soul Eater, is just another "Devil is a lie" guy. Not my cup of tea if you what it means to tell you something Real World AU's forbidding crisis of Ohkuboverse being a destructive force.

Mamimi : So how's the project going?

Drawcia : Stil completed. But I've managed to use amount of data that will help you to restore these fictional characters' colors. With the help of this Magical Brush that I've been using it by my family for generations and that puffball became it's guide to destroy me, which I originally was once before I resurrected as a human.

Mamimi : So your family and is responsible for the creations of "these" fictional characters, Homura Akemi was created in the past, Death the Kid was modeled after the legendary, Black Rock Shooter and her other models were modeled after the singer, and who were the last two?

Drawcia : The Last two were my sons Ryo and Shiro. I met a beautiful a man who was really a painter and that man is a named Kurosaki, not the father of that Shinigami fella, but the Kurosaki I know and he is Ryo and Shiro's father.

Mamimi : Oh yeah. I've kinda didn't noticed that you mothered a son, no Idea of how that tied a knot, but Ryo and Shiro are basically your sons and I found that you have relatives what were their names?

Drawcia : Claycia, Vividria, and Paintra, but her real name is Painticia.

Mamimi : So, you have a family of artistic witches, but who was your mother?

Drawcia : Articia, the universe's greatest art witch of all from Gamble Galaxy and our mother. This was her idea of bringing things to life with the power of her magic we got off on the wrong foot after our family's enemy Dark Crafter was defeated and is turned into pair of sunglasses for good. Lucikly had some occasions that Ryo's father told me that I would keep an eye on him with every monitor that I've cornered throughout Tokyo and Japan.

Mamimi : But I'm very shockingly surprised that we have that terms of new expectations from those obligations to those that the world's colors might be a little source to this point.

[Limo stops at the Drawcia Family Corp building]

Drawcia : Oh, look we have arrived.

"Drawcia Family Corp, Tokyo"

[Binary Domain OST : Amada Corporation/Halls of Amada]

Mamimi : So this is it. Drawcia Family Corporation, so this is where all your science and business became into one big entity. So...big and huge. Yep, this science place is huge with all technology. Is there where fictional characters get there colors or where they created here?

Drawcia Family : So, what do you think of my scientific genius self? After all, you were expected that this is where I get all the data collected from of these characters that I contact, In fact that lucky son of the devil had contacted me to create his own son that modeled after him back in 94, luckily the illustrator for Metal Gear had an original character that I modeled after that singer Miku, and I would be the resposnible for the creation of Homura Akemi.

Mamimi : Homura Akemi was your family's creation, a creation that was part of the Time Eater. Ayumi Shiraishi, our animator of Gainax had given you contract to create of world of Witches set up by you?

Drawcia : Well, umm...That was no concern of having a contract of one of them famous animator from one of them japanese studios of animation, Drawcia Family corp was highly doubt that I would be responsible for those kind, yes, I foreshadow Ayumi Shiraishi to be leader of that group called Gekidan Inu Curry. Just a few covers up to think that there is a world of witches, ha! that young girl Homura Akemi is such a fool!

Mamimi : Man, you have no idea how much money you've kept, you realized that it's only the beginning of time before we hit 2011. Is there a way that we can fix all of this? Or I'm just asking that we might find a way to stop that demon's reign of terror?

Drawcia : Well, probably I managed to cure all of humanity with the simple minds of a color that I gathered from each rainbow, somewhere in Ireland, Somewhere at the end of it, probably that I found in Hawaii. Researchers that the world's corlors that I brought back was a lonely bucket that gathered Rainbow Juice to create a simple tree that brings enough color power. Our researchers also discover that Rainbow may not be the power since I gave them Pretty Patties that were highly contaminated and sued his pants off!

Mamimi : I crack myself up with the Pretty Patties thing. Eating those will change your colors and there highly contaminated, that's what you getting for eating colored food that is like Green Eggs and Ham.

Drawcia : [grunts]

Mamimi : Oh, right! You know, the book from Springfield, Massachusetts, that Dr.Seuss book that is about a guy who eats ham and eggs that are green. I get that. It's like I would read it like it's a cup of tea.

Drawcia : Finally. You know professionally don't ready any controversial stuff that are way too offended, I just don't know why their parents think that Shounen Mangas would be bad for their health, It's what said Freddy Krueger, "Comic Books and Mangas was bad for ya."

Mamimi : So, I guaranteed that it's all the way of how America took the blame of everything, America wasn't had much greatness of a country, it's humanity's own stupidty. Putting the blame on Video Games? Nah. Shows contains graphic violence, sex, and nudity? Bleh! And them disliking Animes and Manga that also have the gruesome violence, sex, nudity, and of course the fanservice? Pfft! whatever!

Drawcia : Yeah, America is always the asshole that was to Japan's Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but then Japan treated the country back in World War II when they have the chance to bomb Pearl Harbor. I did some research in history back when the world was in Black and White, before I gave the world it's colors from the rainbows itself. Time changes a lot when it comes to history, I've managed to secure the minds that all of humanity was surely aware that Inky Albarn ruled the world against them before she tried to cover the world in Inky Darkness, before she stopped by the technicolor toons.

Mamimi : Wait, Inky Albarn spared her time during World War II as Demon Queen of the Monochrome World? Real World AU was once known as the 1930s World AU, where ficitional characters were toons that really existed before Anime and Manga existed in this world as well. So what do you think that there might be a chance that how did these technicolor toons that defeated Inky Albarn for real?

Drawcia : It's simple, to put a stop to the demon queen's reign of terror and restore the world's colors, we need all seven colors to combine the rainbow's ultimate attack that has ever brought magic from these pot of golds that Ireland has. We call this attack "The Final Color Blaster".

Mamimi : An ultimate attack that combines all seven colors, Or I bet that might be the key to where all seven the colors might be at. Check this out. I just discovered something from my telescope at night.

[scene transits to a flashback of Mamimi looking at the stars through telescope]

Mamimi : When I looking at the stars to get a good glimpse from my Homestar Theory, I just discovered that amusement park has chained up four planets that could be the work of that Mad Scientist who was keeping it a secret after the Dark Gaia Incident around four years ago when Soul Eater debuted as a show. The four chained planets had these names Sweet Mountain, Aquarium Park, and Asteroid Coaster, and what did I find was that a planet is being consumed by two machines, it's the homeworld of those aliens called Wisps, a colored space creatures that have ability to use the power of colors called Hyper-go-on Energy.

Drawcia : I've known those planets, they mysteriously appeared in Sonic's World after that Dark Gaia Incident around four years prior. Two years before the Olympics, Eggman decided to bring cover ups to secretly capture the Wisps and corrupt their Hyper-Go On Energy with this. [holds up a wisp capsule that contains a Purple Wisp]

Mamimi : Hmm. I never seen one of things before, you sure Eggman did those to turn into what are they called?

Drawcia : There's only one explanation for that, they're called the N... [attemtps to say the "N" word, butter stutters] Oh no, I'm about it to say it.

Mamimi : What is it that they're called?

Drawcia : I believe that the purple and violet wisps are called...The...The...[determined] They're called the "Nega" Wisps.

Mamimi : [in shock] OH NO!...Okay about the word "Nega" you said, that would be something to that to minor racial slur.

Drawcia : Yeah, I know the word for that is Negative for short, no wonder that is called "Nega" for short.

Mamimi : Because...[outbursts] THE WORD "NEGA" HAS BEEN NOTHING MORE THAN A RACIST JOKE! AND I PREFER THE TERM "NEGROS" IF YOU KNOW WHAT MEAN IN GEORGIA! Promise that we will never say it again and again, let's just keep our tolerance in place and it was outlined in the dictionary. Never use those kind of words, we dig?

Drawcia : I understand, Eggman should call these things "Negative" Wisps Is what I like to prefer and not say such bad things in a way of racial tolerance, and for the Eggman Nega part, they should called him "Eggman Negative" from the beginning of Rush. That's how we say it properly. So anyway, these wisps Purple and Violet have serious side effect that contains higly dangerous powers, watch this video of a blue hedgehog replica that I created as a test dummy. [a video shows Sonic gets possessed by a Purple Wisp]

Mamimi : Wait, what's it doing? What did that Purple Wisp just turned that replica of yours into...?

Announcer : FRENZY!

Scientist [heard from video] : Oh God! It's attacking us! [sounds of the Purple Frenzy attacking the scientists]

Mamimi : Okay, that was kinda creepy. Where can we find a planet that has the power of a wisps and their Hyper-Go-On Energy?

Drawcia : [Thinking] Hmmm...Let's just say that SEGA has their minds of where do that have a planet that has wisps and Hyper-Go-On Energy. Maybe it's time that we pay a visit to their planet.

~ Eighty-Sixth Scene : Rainbows of Hope ~

[wiw3]

Cataclysm of Victimhood

"I just need to decompress for a while" is a sentence I've been utilizing quite frequently, as of late. After nearly running out of gas on Interstate 75 today, I arrived home to find that three of my most awkward friends had finally cut their losses with me. One doesn't want to participate in the group without their pwecious widdle boyfwend, and the other doesn't want to participate if the other isn't participating. It's an expressly "all or none" attitude toward what is ultimately a complicated, nuanced relationship between a second family for those of us who have our needs neglected by our origin-families.

Hosting D&D as a hobby has become a mainstay in my 20's. At times, it feels like it's the only thing that I can rotate my week around steadily, and even then, sometimes things happen. My entire life has been about managing expectations and today reveals itself to be no exception to that rule. I trust my friends to show up on time, ready to play games with one another. I ask them to forgive me if I take it too seriously at times, because with the tunnel-vision I'm capable of having toward certain things, it can be helpful to have friends around to tell you that you're too drunk and need to sit down, when you're too incapable of seeing it, yourself, or... myself, in this case.

I need to get out of that habit, denying accountability by proxy of saying the royal You, instead of just... well, me.

One of them takes issues with the jokes I make, the things I choose to joke about, and would rather see my right to make them stripped from me than to learn to cope with the things they find unpleasant. I don't pander to my friends, I don't sugar-coat or powder-puff anything, but I'll gladly crack a joke or two just to help someone get through something. Traditional love doesn't suit me, giving or receiving.

I'd rather just make art that makes people happy. I'm far too susceptible to pressure and changing as to fit into a specific scenario. Doing so, I've forgotten who I am, which is the same magnetic polarity that has enraptured me, yet again. I let friends of a specific nature in, in an attempt to challenge my perspectives, then they try to change me too much, they keep pushing, and inevitably I snap, or they snap. It's the nature of things.

I'm personally in a perpetual cycle of self-improvement and then crashing right back down to the same (or worse) bad habits. It's my own fault, but I think we're living in one of the most self-righteous crises we've ever faced as a nation, which is the crisis of victimization.

Everyone's a victim, everyone. Doesn't matter what you've gone through, everyone I've met finds one thing or another to get them down, a woe-is-me pattern isn't particularly destitute on my own blog, either, I've come to find. Not to make it any more metatextual than it already is, but God knows I play the victim just as much, if not more than anyone else. The difference is that it's done here, and to get it out of my system. I don't think it's healthy to find victimization in every little thing, as these few I've met in recent years have.

It all stems from their "trauma", wah-wah, you're weak for not being able to move past things in your past, simple as. Things are rarely black and white, I'll admit, but there comes a point where you have to stop making your problems everyone else's problems with which to deal. I've had to grapple with people like that for my entire life, and it's getting *old*.

It's not my fault that things happened to you and that you can't handle jokes about it, especially when they aren't even directed at you. Grow up, get over yourself, stop making this shit my problem and killing the vibe because you're selfish and your feelings and comfort are more important than the enjoyment of the event. There's no such thing as perfect inclusivity. We all have to be a lot closer to being on the same page for that, which takes so much communication that it kills any attempt at humor or universal fun, unless you're finding the fun in controlling others' behavior, in which case I think that serves as more of an indictment on your issues over mine.

You show me a non-emotionally-stunted individual in North America today and I'll show you a million dollars.

I just need to decompress for a while.

[atlanticcanada]

Nova Scotia woman living with chronic illness leaves province for help due to long waits

A Nova Scotia woman who believed she needed a colonoscopy and couldn’t wait months on a list has left the province for the procedure.

For nearly two months, Crohn’s patient Amanda Rafuse suspected something was wrong.

"I’ve been bleeding, and having no bowel movements. That is not normal for anyone and when you have Crohn’s that’s not normal," she said.

As her gastrointestinal issues worsened, so did her worries.

Rafuse wanted a colonoscopy but says the office of the G.I. specialist she had for nearly 10 years told her in order to be seen, she would need another referral as her last appointment was more than a year ago.

She added getting in to see her family doctor would also take weeks.

During the first of her three trips to the emergency department this past month, she received an X-ray which showed there was no blockage but she still had concerns she wanted to rule out.

She said while admitted to the emergency department, she was told the wait for a colonoscopy could be four to six months or even a year.

This week she went back to emergency, but after waiting five hours in Halifax without being seen and then driving to Bridgewater to wait another five hours only to not be seen, she went home.

Fed up and in pain, she decided to fly to Montreal to a private clinic.

"I basically have to self-advocate, right, because I know that this is an issue and there’s something wrong so I know that I need it, I need it right now. I can’t wait six months because it could be something serious," Rafuse said.

She said the cost of the colonoscopy will be at least $1,600 plus the expenses that come with a flight and hotel.

She posted about her problem and the reaction from others revealed there are many more in similar situations.

"The system is broken," Rafuse said. "I feel like when I was in the ER the nurse made a comment that kind of stuck with me. She said, 'We used to be the last resort but now we’re the first resort.'"

Nova Scotia Health spokesperson Brendan Elliott said Nova Scotia Health empathizes with anyone seeking care for a chronic medical condition.

"We can’t comment on individual patient cases however, we want to reassure the public that urgent care continues to be available in Nova Scotia to those who need it," Elliott said. "We encourage the patient to be in touch with our patient relations service."

Crohn’s and Colitis Canada Spokesperson Angie Specic said access to care in Nova Scotia has had a number of challenges, many of which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and a shortage of primary care clinicians.

"Access to primary care clinicians, urgent care, specialist care, as well as medical procedures and tests is clearly a challenge for many Nova Scotians," Specic said. "Unfortunately, colonoscopy is one of those procedures experiencing long wait times"

The Houston government campaigned on a promise to fix healthcare.

"I think the system is under incredible strain. I think our healthcare workers are under incredible strain as well,” said Nova Scotia’s Minister of Health and Wellness Michelle Thompson.

Thompson notes work is underway to streamline referrals.

"A single entry access point so that primary care providers have one place where you refer," she said.

The opposition has concerns about the government’s record on healthcare.

"When there was 60,000 people on the need the doctor registry, the premier said there’s a crisis. Now that there’s almost 120,000, we’ve almost doubled that amount, he’s saying the work they’re doing in healthcare is remarkable," said Zach Churchill, the leader of Nova Scotia’s Liberal Party.

"Every time you hear of a story of someone who paid to go and receive healthcare, what I think of are the hundreds of people who cannot afford to go receive healthcare," said Claudia Chender, the leader of Nova Scotia’s New Democratic Party.

Rafuse is scheduled to get her colonoscopy Friday morning in Montreal -- two days after she booked it.

Crohn’s and Colitis Canada commended the patient for raising awareness.

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/JoFTBxa