#i probably should have done something more with the outside but oh welllll

[violet-moodlet]

hollow house

for the longest time ive wanted to build a victorian house and never quite managed to pull it of (which is a shame bc i really like those type of houses) but finally in time for halloween ive come up with something that actually works!

& although its built in forgotten hollow u can definitely have whatever sims you want in here

build details:

-costs 70,310 simoleans -2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms -no cc -built on a 20x30, forgotten hollow -requires get together, vampires and paranormal stuff

download: here(sfs) or on the gallery, origin id is lilacarble

floorplan pictures:

[netheritenugget]

Alright, I'll bite. What sort of King is Eret here? And what manner of monster?

Sorry this took so long!  I had too much fun writing this post and it’s super long now.  Oops.

(I made a couple of posts about a Dream SMP Undertale AU)

If you’re good at reading between the lines this post contains major spoilers for Undertale. I know the game has been out for ages, but if you care, block the tag "Dream SMP Undetale AU"

IRL Eret is very fond of ferrets and flamingos, and they're very cool animals, but they aren’t that intimidating for a monster design.  But Eret also likes bears (their stuffed bear Ted is their unofficial channel mascot) and that's definitely boss-monster material.  So I think Eret would be a bear monster of some kind, just for the sheer intimidation factor.

I think Eret would be a good king, policy-wise.  They'd do their best to bring hope to the Underground, and they wouldn't be the one collecting human souls in this AU, that's someone else who is well-known for killing people (:  As for how people perceive them, and how they got there...  Welllll...

Eret wasn't the first King, that title goes to Wilbur, who was the King when the War of Humans And Monsters happened.  Eret was loyal back then, but that loyalty wavered when the monsters lost the war, and it fell apart when the realities of living underground made the other monsters restless and bitter.  Many people blamed Wilbur for losing.  Eret did too, and became very outspoken against him.

Dream took advantage of Eret's anger, poisoning his mind and feeding his resentment, and encouraged them to challenge Wilbur to a duel for the crown, telling them they'd be a much better king than he is. (:  Eret challenged Wilbur, but the duel was not to the death, it was points based, though of course with all duels the chance of death is there.  Eret won without killing him, though, and Wilbur gave them the crown.  He was naturally extremely upset about being dethroned, but otherwise everything was fine.

Until Wilbur ended up murdered the next day.  The first suspect was Eret but there was no actual evidence who the culprit was, since monsters turn to dust after death and there weren't any witnesses.  Eret's reputation is damaged, faith in their leadership shaken.

The Player arrives in Cogchamp (the Ruins) after their initial meeting with Dream is interrupted by Fundy before Dream can kill them.  Fundy tries to talk to him, but he just runs away, claiming that the situation is "too awkward."  The player learns that Fundy is living there to escape the emotional turmoil of losing his father and his doubts that Eret isn't as innocent as he claims.  Fundy misses Eret very much, wondering if they were alright after he left, and saying that he wants to go fishing with them when he goes back, like he and Wilbur used to.

Fundy gives us some lore about Dream.  Fundy stopped being friends with him after Dream got very suddenly "too Weirdchamp" about everything. Fundy says he's seen Dream with a human who fell down before, but he never saw the human again, even though he looked all over. Dream denied it when he asked.

Fundy also fills the role of acquainting the Player with game mechanics, though he's much more chaotic and prankish, and the Player becomes his friend.  He tries to prevent the Player from leaving Cogchamp because he's lonely, but ultimately relents because he knows he can’t bring himself to hurt someone who was nice to him.  Unless it's a Genocide Route, in which Fundy doesn't try to fight the Player, and instead flees to the rest of the Underground, to warn Eret and the other monsters. </3

But this post is about Eret, I'm getting sidetracked here.

Everyone else's reactions to current events is mixed.  Some monsters like Hbomb and Puffy stubbornly believe that Eret didn’t kill Wilbur, others like Purpled are just upset that they felt the need to overthrow him in the first place.  The Sleepy Bois want them dead for killing their family, and are planning to assassinate them.

Niki is the closest to Eret, and talks about them the most.  She talks about how they were her emotional rock during the War, and that though they're still good friends, she's seen less and less of them lately, and they don't smile as much anymore.

Despite how things turned out, Eret still tries their best to be a good King, and bring people hope.  Whenever the Player goes to a new area and finds a new box for items, they always find a piece of "you matter <3 - Eret" item inside that grants temporary defense.  Eret also built a lot of important public facilities in the Underground outside of Cogchamp, like a museum in which the Player learns of Wilbur’s heroism in the War of Humans And Monsters.  They also built several bridges and an aquarium for monsters in Waterfall (because of the water level problems Waterfall is having).

Much like Asgore, the Player's opinion of Eret is based entirely on what others have to say about them. The Player might feel strongly that they're too nice to have done something like this, and something else is going on, or that Eret definitely could have killed Wilbur and the Sleepy Bois are right to seek justice for a wrong that has been committed.

Boss Battles:

For Eret's boss fight in the Genocide Route...  Oh boy.

Eret’s fight isn't as difficult as Technoblade’s would be, but it’s difficult because you can't damage Eret in the beginning.  In spite of Eret's protests, Niki comes to try to protect them, shielding Eret from all damage until you kill her.  Then Eret goes into a sorrow-fueled rage and enters into "No-one Knows" mode, removing their sunglasses.  They use their last words to beg the Player to find enough mercy in their heart to Spare Fundy.

The last person the Player kills in the Genocide run is indeed Fundy, who Eret was hiding in the Castle.  It's not a fight, it's just murder.  It's very sad.

Before the boss fight in the Neutral Route, we're privy to a conversation between Eret and Ghostbur, in which Ghostbur comes to visit the castle. Eret tells Ghostbur they're sorry for everything they've done, and that taking his place was the biggest mistake of their life.  Ghostbur claims other people say they killed him, and asks if Eret did.  Eret avoids the question, stating that they've already told Wilbur the truth about what happened many times, there's no point if he can’t remember.  Ghostbur presses the question, stating that even if he'll forget later, he'd like to know, because he does remember being Eret's friend, and he's worried about them.  The Player is noticed before Eret can answer him.

Eret fights the Player alone.  Eret admits to the Player that they should probably be a good sport and just die, they don’t want to hurt a child, but they know the Player needs their soul to leave, and they're too afraid of death not to try and fight.

When they lose, they lament that things turned out this way because they thought they could do a better job than Wilbur, and that they can't seem to do anything right as a King or a mentor to Fundy.  They try to give up their soul to the Player, who spares them.

Only for Dream to kill them, steal the soul, and destroy it.  Because he's Dream.  Dream also reveals to the Player that he was the one who killed Wilbur, because the underground is boring and he needs entertainment. He's been collecting human souls, not to destroy the barrier with, but to become God.  Dream goes Photoshop Flowey Mode and fights the Player.

Pacifist Route:

After completing the Neutral route and starting the Pacifist Route, the Player is pointed in toward Eret's castle basement by Dream.  The Player discovers a Necromancy Lair (a creepy equivalent to the True Lab in Dr. Alphy's house) with the Wilbur resurrection shrine in it.  Once the Player finds the scattered pages torn out of Eret’s diary, it's revealed that Eret suspects Dream killed Wilbur, but they have no proof.  The diary talks about how Ghostbur was the result of a secret project by Eret, their failure to revive Wilbur.  Their diary also informs us that Dream often comes to torment them about this, taunting them about they'd just made things worse.  Eret questions whether or not to step down as King, but wonders who would be able to take responsibility, since Prince Fundy is missing.

The Player also finds a book by someone named "Callahan" about dreamon summoning that Eret was researching (and deemed too dangerous to use, due to the warnings within).

In the final fight against Dream, the Player can Save Eret by giving them pink wool, and reminding them that they matter to Fundy, Niki and the Player.

At the end of the Pacifist run, Eret and Fundy reconcile.  Eret crowns Fundy King, and declares that this is how it should have been from the beginning.  IDK if Wilbur is revived or not, depends on how bittersweet of an ending I want, maybe Ghostbur just has their memories restored without bringing them back to life?  But during the end credits, the three of them can be seen fishing together.

[fliipclaw]

session recap 4 - calling caligula

we did another d&d session yesterday and it was. a lot of fun. here’s a list of things that happened and things people said in a roughly chronological order. i’ve already done three of these, i’m sure you guys know the drill by now.

the session opens with reeliel and tarrik in the infirmary

“everything about that is just a paradox. the infirmary of the death arena”

[the game is interrupted by a phone call]

“tarrik, shut up, don’t make it worse!” “i’m already half dead, how much worse could it get?” “you could be fully dead”

this time we’re doing double battles

galle and grelynn are paired up against an ogre

“it’s been so long we’ve forgotten how to play d&d”

“so that’s 9 damage…. he hits you really hard”

“so you rolled a three” “[dejected] yeah” “you just fall over”

“we bonded! by… tripping over ourselves for a turn!”

“there are two more fights, and then hopefully, no more fights!”

galle trips a dude just for fun

“i just wanna be a dick sometimes, ‘kay?”

pluto is teamed up with ilah (an npc based on an oc)

“kill her” “noOO!”

“i already killed her once i can’t kill her again. bany might actually murder me” “i would”

“has his eye been healed?” “no, he’s still blind” “he’s not all of a sudden going to become not blind”

“you stabbed him like FOUR TIMES in the eye”

“it’s just a little bit scratched” “a LITTLE BIT?”

“he needs a bit of tlc, okay?” “he needs a new fucking eye!”

“thoth didn’t look very friendly at first, but look at him now. blind and my best friend”

“is the monster just watching this?” “yeah, it’s last in initiative order and talking is a free action”

[talking about the squirrel that my family has been feeding] bany: we have a possum that lives in the bushes outside

ilah and pluto are the worst duo in that they will maim creatures and then befriend them

“maybe pluto just makes everyone blind by default?” “maybe that’s why pluto’s so terrible as a rogue but manages to steal from everyone anyway”

bany sighs a lot during this scene it’s great

i admit to my shameless rigging of the game when my players are doing terribly

pluto: decides to befriend the monster / the party: do you want to use up your second friend slot??

“what is the creature doing right now?” “it’s probably bleeding” “but how’s it feeling?” “it’s feeling pretty bad”

ilah: befriends the creature / matt: we’re playing d&d with the fucking rspca

“this is the death arena, not the befriend the creatures that attack you arena” “it’s actually a petting zoo”

“what kind of monster are they fighting?” “it’s called an ettercap. it looks like…… i don’t even know how to describe it���

“that’s the plot of lord of the flies, pluto befriends an ettercap”

tarrik and reeliel, our resident failures, are paired up against a gargoyle

my rolls are always really terrible. it’s the d&d gods punishing me for not using physical dice.

reeliel runs up to tarrik, jumps up on and off his shoulders, and up into the air

she unfortunately misses her attack

reeliel casts thunderwave. tarrik is understandably pissed.

“hey matt, what’s your constitution like?” “not negative” “go ahead and roll then!”

there are a lot of pauses where i stop to do maths. i’m the epitome of that ‘when you’re gay and can’t calculate the tip’ video.

“you two actually did something competent for once!” “the two weakest members of the team!"

“as it turns out, everyone else was just holding us two back. that’s what it is” “are you sure?”

mikael poofs around this time. rip them.

the immediate response to being taken outside the arena is of course “making our way downtown"

bany: this sounds like a public execution / me: carries on explaining the scene

“notice how they ignored the question"

i discovered that i can’t talk and type at the same time

neriona: is there / tarrik: is flipping her off with both hands

“matt matt matt matt matt matthew. shut up”

there is an elf reclining on a chaise lounge eating grapes. tarrik drinks his wine.

“the bulla felix, come in, come in!” “oh fuck”

ilah and galle: sit down normally

tarrik: lies down and hogs an entire seat

reeliel: sits like L

cai: poofs / me: should we just carry on? / matt: i’m liking this shouting idea / bany: oh god

[the game is interrupted by a toddler]

“jax, don’t do that with your eye!”

“greetings, i am the emperor of this fine city, petpetor!” “what? your name is what?” “petpetor!” “petpetu?” “petpetor!”

[toddler noises] “cai, are you murdering a child?” “it sounds more like the child is murdering cai”

matt made a child cry in church one time just by looking at them

“go find auntie billie! take this!” “it’s not safe to go alone, take this!”

[the game is once again interrupted by a toddler]

“if that was me there would be children flying from the rooftop” “and that’s why it isn’t you”

are you stronger than a 2 year old? for cai, the answer is no!

“cai, are you made of noodles or something?” “yes”

god i’m just now listening to this character voice and it’s awful

petpetor asks them to investigate an assassination plot and find his would-be assassin

tarrik tries to wind him up and reeliel throws something at him from across the room

“i am prepared to stab this guy in the back just so you know”

“what’s in it for us?” “freedom from the death arena” “yeah okay we’ll do it”

“i want immunity for the rest of my squad" “if you stop robbing my friends, than yes” “can we rob your enemies?"

“he takes like the bowl of grapes off the table and shoves them in his mouth”

galle: idk who you people are but i’m good with not being trapped in a death arena

tarrik’s metric for liking people: the quality of their wine

the party has a private discussion and decides to investigate and then stab petpetor in the back

“regardless of whether or not neriona is actually the one behind this assassination, i say we frame her"

“do we have anyone who’s alignment is good on this team?"

“i think we will give tarrik free reign to rob the palace as long as we can also rob the palace”

“so far his suspect list is like half of the entire city”

everyone complimenting the write ups and i’m sorry this one is mostly quotes. not much action happened but we did have a lot of fun conversations.

“after the endgame, after we kill not caligula, what’s going to happen?” “don’t you worry about that”

“am i on reasonable terms with the party now?” “you’re getting there with me” “welllll…." “tarrik shut up, we don’t need anymore foes”

“i have 300 buried and 50 in a pair of dark pants on the edge of a road”

“bye!” “i’m glad we’re sorta friends now!” “well, kinda, not really"

[punkscowardschampions]

Buster & Edie

Buster: I need to talk to you Edie: hot Edie: shoot Buster: Are you in a state to hear me or not? Edie: i got eyes n ears mckenna Buster: You know what I mean Edie: am i high, what you asking yeah Buster: Well, are you? Edie: when am i not, if you waitin for me be sober u gon be blueballed forever Buster: I just don't want to be talking to a brick wall Buster: Or repeating myself like it's my job Buster: Can you give me that or should we do this another time? Edie: i ain't indie i stay functioning unless i'm nodding Edie: and we wouldn't be flirting rn if i was so off you go Edie: i'm listening Buster: Alright Buster: Drew got lifted on St Paddy's night carrying fuck knows how much Buster: He could get as much as 14 years but I doubt it Edie: ha Edie: s'funny Buster: Do you want me to hit you up again when we know how long he's getting? Edie: nah i'll just pretend he got 14, fitting Edie: how old indie is yeah Edie: paroled himself into pen, ha Buster: No way that cunt'll get max Buster: He never does Buster: But sure Edie: you ain't need to tell me Edie: 'bout to be 16 right here Buster: I was more speaking my own frustrations, babe Buster: But you know Edie: tell me all about 'em Edie: peak daddy issues right now, i'll see u right init Buster: Shut up Buster: You've got a man for that Edie: you ain't Edie: omg are you coming out to me rn Buster: Obviously yeah Buster: Your sister's my beard, like Buster: Don't be an idiot Buster: Also I ain't got daddy issues yet so why we talking about me? Edie: makes more sense than what u playing as truth Edie: wanna talk about mine some more Edie: cool Buster: I wanna make sure you're okay Buster: So sue me, babe Edie: sweet Edie: makes no odds to me does it Buster: You tell me Buster: I ain't speaking for you Edie: he ain't been about Edie: i ain't about Buster: I know that's bullshit 'cause they saw you Buster: You could've come in, had a drink Buster: You still can Buster: Fight your way through the tourists, like Edie: i dun wanna cover up your homo ways w you boy i'm soz Buster: Fuck off Buster: You love it Buster: What are you doing that's better? Edie: my mans Edie: like you said Buster: I'm so offended right now Buster: But fine Edie: gutted Edie: any more sad news to get me juiced Buster: I don't reckon Buster: You did talk my sister into therapy though so nice one Edie: whey Edie: slainte Buster: Yeah Edie: vulnerability all round Edie: get u some ur so welcome Buster: What is that meant to mean? Edie: u tellin me my daddy going gone so u can pipe me, so sayin Edie: uncovering all her trauma Edie: 🙌 Buster: Bullshit Buster: Don't be like that Edie: like what Buster: Fucked Edie: boring Buster: If that's your threshold Edie: for your boringness Edie: yeah Buster: Fine Buster: I'll go then Buster: See you later Edie: toodles Buster: Yeah yeah Buster: You know where I am if you actually need anything or wanna talk, babe Edie: desperate Edie: what you actually wanna say Edie: babe Buster: 'Course Buster: You're that irresistible, Eds Buster: I've said what I came here to say Buster: You can't blame me for wondering if that boy can string a sentence together, like Buster: Who else you talking to? Edie: fun times Edie: lots of people Buster: Yeah? Buster: Good Edie: 'fact Edie: one of my lads 'bout to go in Edie: 🤞 they get the same pen, visit 'em both ay Buster: Someone's got to Edie: you know indie will Edie: probably ro too Buster: Nah Buster: They're both over it Edie: nah Edie: indie likes her free gear and ro likes her bit of rough Buster: You're out the loop, kid Edie: you're kidding yourself you think anything changed Edie: been here many times, u weren't about Buster: I know they have Buster: I've seen them both, you ain't Edie: oh babe Edie: no smart mckennas left Edie: so sad Buster: Don't patronise me, babe Buster: You wish Edie: don't play dumb Buster: Don't play like you know anything that's going on Buster: I'd say you'll see but we both know you won't Edie: i got bored of it Edie: wait til you on your thousandth rerun of everyone's shit, you will too Buster: Bored ain't the word for what I am Edie: nah Edie: go on then if ur so smart Edie: impress me with that vocab Buster: Fuck that Buster: I don't need to prove anything to you Buster: I'm smart enough to know it's not worth bothering Edie: that riveting is it Edie: well enjoy his downfall whilst it lasts Edie: dun expect me to join in celebrations Buster: I ain't celebrating nor waiting on you Buster: I've got plenty of other shit to do Edie: clearly Edie: clogging up my inbox inviting me for drinks Buster: I'm here for Rio I ain't here for you Buster: She wanted me to tell you so I have Buster: End of Edie: now u have Edie: probs suck ur dick well done u Buster: She doesn't need the incentive Buster: But thanks for caring Edie: disgusting Buster: You brought it up Buster: Don't if you don't wanna hear about it Edie: yeah just ignore it like it ain't happening with the rest Edie: cool Buster: There's not ignoring it or talking about my sex life as the only two options Buster: Again, you wish Buster: None of this is being ignored by any of my fam Edie: it ain't being dealt with either is it Buster: Speak for yourself Buster: I'm dealing with it every day Edie: no one making u do it Buster: Nobody's making you do anything you are either Edie: welllll i ain't fucking my cuz either so i'm good Buster: That don't make you good Buster: Hilarious maybe Edie: soz ill get to work so i can be up to standard Edie: options ain't limited Buster: Tell me something I don't know Buster: I can do anything I want Buster: How about you? Edie: you can Edie: i am Buster: Proud of you, like Edie: should be Edie: mixed messages otherwise Buster: That's not about to worry me Buster: I only came to deliver one message and it's done Edie: 💔 Edie: obvs Buster: Good to know Edie: relay that if you like Edie: get 'em all feeling good Buster: I don't chat shit anymore Buster: Sorry Edie: why u sorry Edie: idc Edie: they won't love it Buster: 'Cause I know you'd love me to pass this whole convo on but I ain't Edie: aw bummer Edie: so sad Edie: hit 'em with the round robin Buster: You always want me to be your errand boy Buster: So transparent Edie: you wanna be around em so much Edie: i don't Edie: both get what we want Buster: I wanna be here, I don't want them in my face Buster: And especially not on your account Edie: sure Edie: so transparent Buster: Funnily enough, your fam are really annoying Buster: You think you're the only one who knows that? Edie: also your fam but go off Edie: makes it weird when u think on it huh Buster: No, I'm talking about your mob Buster: They ain't my immediate Buster: I'm not seeing them all at breakfast like Edie: me either Edie: i'm as related to them as you are Buster: Bullshit Buster: Your saw your brothers the other fucking day Buster: What was that? A coincidence Buster: Come on Edie: Could be Edie: they were out on street alone Edie: i coulda been anyone Buster: They were outside the pub Buster: Lie better if you're gonna try Edie: on st paddys day Edie: do better if you really dont want ur kids missing Buster: If you were my kid I would Edie: hearteyes Edie: ain't that just what i wanna hear Buster: I don't give a fuck Buster: We're having a convo I'm not playing to an audience Buster: Your parents are shit, what do you want me to do? Edie: i dunna ring social Buster: Ring them yourself Buster: You're the one they failed Buster: It aint your brothers or me Edie: oh yh rest of em are golden Buster: Yeah, as good as they can be Buster: Nobody's perfect Edie: ha Edie: now u bullshitting Buster: No I ain't Buster: What's so fucked up about any of them? Go on Edie: long Edie: u wanted this list u should've given me 3 working days Buster: Keep stalling while you make up your bullshit, babe Buster: I'll be here then Edie: what i gotta make up Edie: your whole thing is evidence of the first and worst, like Edie: why i wasting my time telling u when u don't wanna hear Buster: There's nothing wrong with Rio Buster: But feel free to hit me with that list on the rest of them when you're ready Edie: oh god Buster: Is that all you've got? Buster: Good then Edie: all needs telling to u Edie: u dont care bout the rest of them and how fucked up they are 'til they of age Edie: end of Buster: You don't care about any of them so don't lecture me Edie: sure don't Edie: who lecturing you want the list so bad Edie: k bundy Buster: Whatever Edie: 😂 Buster: I'll see you around on your brother's twitter feed, like Edie: cute u care Buster: Yeah I know Buster: I've been told Edie: i bet Edie: ⭐ Buster: Feel free if you need the cash Buster: Low risk Edie: huh Buster: I'm a safe bet, babe Buster: Don't you know? Edie: u make me wanna throw up in my mouth a bit Edie: not rlly my thing but u make it work 4 u Buster: Yeah I do Edie: ick Edie: stop Edie: i just ate Buster: Good to know Buster: At least you're not gonna starve to death Edie: such a drama queen too Edie: how do u actually get laid its impressive Edie: b4 the whole incest vibe Buster: Talk about mixed messages Buster: Stop flirting with me, babe Buster: I liked it better when you were playing hard to get Edie: boiiiiii Edie: u think that flirting u need to watch out Edie: calling u repugnant Buster: Yeah yeah Edie: oh that's who u remind me of Edie: american psycho Edie: what was his name Edie: gets horny over card stock Buster: Good one Buster: You're funny Edie: i know Edie: imma rewatch Buster: Cute Buster: You don't have to miss me you can just come see me Edie: ew Edie: bateman Edie: ha Edie: funny Edie: indie would laugh Buster: I'll tell her Buster: See if she does Edie: aw Edie: domestic bliss Buster: Yeah Edie: gotta give it to yuh Edie: hustlin on the next Edie: been there Edie: clever Buster: What? Edie: got her good to go when u get bored of ri Buster: You're fucked Buster: She's a kid Edie: whatevs Edie: 4 years ain't a big deal Buster: Yeah it fucking is Buster: When she's 14 Buster: Don't fucking say shit like that to me or about me Edie: dry Buster: Sort your head out Buster: Seriously Edie: what Edie: i don't wanna fuck a 14 year old Edie: n i ain't Buster: Neither do I Buster: Fuck you Edie: cool Edie: keep it legal but dubious Edie: that's how u rollin Buster: Shut up Buster: You don't know what you're talking about Edie: sadly do Edie: u really splash it all over socials Buster: I'm not doing anything wrong Buster: Unlike that boy fucking you Edie: what u gonna do call garda Edie: who cares Buster: You have enough of an opinion about my moral code Buster: Sort yours Edie: oooo victim blaming hahaah Edie: have u for that the feminazis Buster: Give a shit Buster: What are you gonna do, tell on me? Edie: they sense that shit from mile way Edie: dun need to Buster: I'm so scared Edie: same Buster: It's been fun Buster: I gotta go Edie: it hasn't Edie: ✌

[betsjuggiecooperjones]

The Plan

Edited by the lovely Christine!

Veronica Lodge was standing behind Kevin Keller’s locker door when he closed it, ready to go meet his friends outside for lunch. Raising an immaculately groomed black eyebrow she offered her arm which he quickly accepted and linked together as they began to walk.

“So our dear Betty has been getting awfully close to Jughead lately” she started, a playful, knowing glint in her eye

“I noticed,” he started before he noticed the smirk on her face, “Wait, what do you know that I don’t? Ronnie, spill!”

“Welllll,” she drawled slowly, teasing him with a gloating smile dawning her perfectly lined lips

“Betty may have mentioned that he’s ‘really been there for her’ lately....” she hinted

“They’d make a cute couple” Kevin concluded tilting his head slightly, brown hair coming out of place as he considered the possibility, before giving his dark haired companion a mischievous smile.

“I’m glad we’re on the same page Kev.” A playful glint came to dark her eyes as they met his.

                                                                 **********

A red-headed boy leaned back in his chair, simultaneously shaking his head and rolling his eyes at his two friends that were standing over him- refusing to budge with their propositions.

“Please Archiekins? You’re the only person besides Betty that Jughead actually says more than two words to!” Veronica urged pouting with less than a hint of subtlety- a sight that she knew Archie found too adorable to ever say no to.

“Fine”, he sighed with lenience, “But I don’t think we should be getting involved at all, it’s none of our business.”

“Come on Arch, since when is the happiness of our dearest friends not our business?” Ronnie looked at him and laid it on thick; pouting and fluttering eyelashes combined relinquished the fight in the already smitten boy. Kevin tried hard not to chuckle at the obviously caught Archie whom gulped loudly at Veronica’s heavy persuasion.

Finally after clearing his throat a few times and regaining his bearing with reality, Archie responded,

“I already said yes V, you don’t have to keep trying.”

                                                             *************

It was finally free period and the core five sat in a circle in the student lounge. Veronica, Kevin, and Archie sat in the chairs, while Betty and Jughead lounged on the sofa. Betty sat up with one of Jughead’s legs propped in her lap.

“So...Jughead, what are you wearing to formal? Are you going classic black and white, or are you going to surprise us with the new colour trend? You can’t always be Wednesday Adams; sometimes you’ve got to be Amanda Buckman- fire style, minus the actual fire. I think I might wear a purple suit, it’d Janis Ian positively die.” Kevin looked at his friend, lips pursed yet again in consideration “I could help you and Archie get ready this year? As much as I love our dear ladies here, I kind of want to get ready with the guys for once.”  He smiled hopefully.

Jughead’s brows furrowed in confusion as he sat up, taking his long leg off of the blonde’s lap before squinting his eyes at the perfectly coiffed boy and replying.

“I never go to dances, Kev. What makes you think I’m going to go this year? I mean, I’m sure Archie would be ok with you getting ready together, but it’s likely I won’t go.”

“You’re Betty’s boyfriend now, you have to go!” Veronica interjected, in a commanding tone that befit only a Lodge woman.

Both Betty and Jughead’s eyes snapped to the raven haired girls face, but neither uttered a word.

“Come on guys” she chuckled at the silent response, “It’s just a word that starts with B”

Kevin nodded to Archie at the statement. Betty and Jughead’s eyes were alternating between glaring at Veronica and looking shyly at each other, both unsure of how to reply. Archie stood up, making all eyes train on him.

“Betty, Jug, can I talk to you in the Blue and Gold office? I think I might have a story...” Archie trailed off, awkwardly rubbing at his neck.

“Of course we can go there right now!” Betty leapt from her spot on the couch a little too enthusiastically, nearly losing her balance. Being acutely aware of Betty at all times Jughead placed a slender hand on her lower back to ensure she didn’t fall. After making sure Betty was stable, Jughead followed suit, tucking a black strand of hair back into his beanie with his free hand, never taking his other hand off of Betty’s back. She blushed a deep scarlet as his hand kept its place as they began making their way to the Blue and Gold.

“So... what’s the story?” Jughead asked Archie casually

“I think Coach might let Chuck try out for the team again next year.” Archie said with a heavy sigh of resignation

“WHAT?!” Betty practically screeched. After all the work that her and Veronica had done to expose that creep for what he had done, he was still going to be allowed to play football? He was essentially going to get off scot free. And to hell with it Betty Cooper was NOT going to let that happen.

She picked up the pace as they rounded the corner to the Blue and Gold, anxious to hear what Archie knew. Jughead and Archie ran to catch up as her swinging honey blonde ponytail stormed towards the office.

Archie reached the door first, opening it and gesturing for Betty and Jughead to go in first. After the two of them had entered the office, Archie quickly slammed the door behind them, not entering himself. He locked the door with a quick motion, the snick of the lock seeming much louder inside the room.

“Did he just lock us in?” Betty asked, bewildered

“I think the story about Chuck was just a ploy to get us in here.” Jughead let out with a loud sigh, flopping down into his chair and leaning back.  

“Why though?” Betty’s lips pursed to the side as she pulled herself up to sit on his desk. Jughead glanced up but was immediately captivated by her lips- the very lips he remembered feeling soft and wonderful beneath his own.

“It probably had something to do with what Veronica said.” Jughead theorized, his eyes leaving her lips to look into her soft green eyes.

“Oh.” Betty returned his stare, eyes never wavering from his.

“I’ll go to the dance, if you want me to.” He offered, trying to decode how she felt by searching her eyes. Betty was the first to break their gaze, staring down at her hands fidgeting together on her lap,

“I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to do.” She stated sighing slightly.

Jughead sat up straight in his chair, pulling it closer to the desk so his hands could grab hers, his head ducking so their eyes could again meet.

“Betty, as much as I hate dances, I would love to go if I got to go with you.” He said, gently but firmly.

“You’re amazing Juggie” She removed her perfectly manicured hand from his and brought it up to softly place it on his cheek.

“Nah, I’d only do it for you” He grinned impishly to hide his fear at her reaction to his words.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” her green eyes seemed to glint with hope. Jughead took a deep breath before replying.

“You’ve brought light to my world and you make every day brighter. You’re incredibly kind, sweet, intelligent, loving, caring, and beautiful. You have a fire in your soul that not even Cheryl’s hair can rival. Elizabeth Cooper,” his lower lip chewed lightly between his teeth before pressing onward “Bets, I love you and I want you to be my girlfriend. I know I’ve got an incredibly screwed up life and I’d understand if you just wanted to be friends regardless I want-“his rambling was cut off by the press of her soft lips to his. His eyes fluttered closed as he leaned further into the kiss, hands rubbing the outside of her jean-clad thighs as hers tangled into his hair.

After a few moments they came up for air, Betty’s hands returning to his face.

“Yes.” She said simply.

                                                               ********

Outside the open window to the Blue and Gold office, Veronica turned to Kevin and they high fived.

“How did you know that would work?” Archie asked with surprise.

“I’m a Lodge woman, and Lodge women always get what they want.” She smiled before flipping her hair and waltzing away.

[pittsburghbabe-21]

Two years ago, I thought I was celebrating my first Mother’s Day of many, and then I had a miscarriage 8 days later. I wasn’t out of the first trimester and I’ve since learned that it’s fairly common for women to lose their first pregnancy with it often occurring before they even know they’re pregnant. It’s like the body says, “What is this new thing? No thank you” and rejects it. A majority of women who experience this spontaneous early miscarriage with their first pregnancy go on to have successful, issue free pregnancies. Thankful this is thus far the case for me. Mother’s Day welcomes in week 30 of this pregnancy. The past month has been full of changes both emotionally and physically, as well as in my relationships with my boyfriend and my family.

I was admitted to a high risk NICU hospital for a possible stroke on the 25th last month. I was at work and started feeling really weird. My eyes got really sensitive and I couldn’t focus on what I was seeing, I couldn’t form my words correctly or make my mouth say what my head wanted it to. I had some tingling and numbness in my hand and jaw. It was a really freaky incident and then I had a massive killer headache for the next 14 hours, including the whole time I was in the er at my local hospital and being transported to the high risk hospital. It wasn’t a stroke. The neurologists are calling it a complicated migraine episode. I have to see a neurologist once a month and they prescribed me some stuff to take should I feel one coming on again. I’ve had one episode since, but other than that I’ve been doing well. My OB has me taking magnesium and iron also. They aren’t super concerned about anything because all my vitals are good. My doctors said as long as my blood pressure is good and baby is fine the pregnancy should continue til full term. That’s really all that matters to me, that she’s okay. I will say I miss being hooked up to the monitor all the time and hearing her heartbeat. It was so reassuring to hear her and know that my baby girl is doing just fine.

This all happened at a really crazy time. My baby shower was the weekend after this, on May 5th. My grandpa and his wife were coming for the whole weekend. The 5th was also his 64th birthday so yay Grandpa! It was his wife’s first time coming to Florida and they went to the beach and we went out to dinner and it was just a lovely, but exhausting weekend. Let me tell you something about planning a party. At the end of the day, the party is happening whether you have every box checked or not. You’re going to forget things you meant to get, the food won’t always be finished as planned, everyone’s not going to show up and some people might be late. It’s just so many things that you can’t control. I put so much thought and sweat and tears and stress into the darn party for nothing. I made the theme watermelon since we were doing a coed barbecue. Pinks and light green were the color scheme with some watermelon things here and there. We made hamburgers and hotdogs, pulled pork, macaroni salad, potato salad, chips and french onion dip, spinach dip, watermelon, a veggie tray, and then his mom and I made red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing and vanilla cupcakes with french buttercream icing. Everyone had a great time, I had a great time. The gifts were all things that we needed, the food was great, the weather cooperated. It was lovely.

I haven’t gotten any pictures from the shower yet. His mom took all of them. I was so busy moving from one place to another and talking to people and just enjoying myself that I barely knew where my phone was half the time.

Cute watermelon plates that we paired with additional pink and lime green dishes to keep the theme alive!

One of my sisters gifts to us for my baby shower. I love nautical themes but it was so hard to find anything girly. All anchors and whales and stuff are usually darker blues for the boys so I asked her to make a girly whale for our little one coming in July. His daughter is going to be 9 this summer and loves mermaids so we went with a mermaid resembling her. I want to make sure she feels included in our family at all times, even though she only lives with us a couple months out of the year. 

The baby shower kind of made things seem more real. It’s one thing to be told for months that you’re going to become a parent. It’s something completely different to have other people asking you about how the nursery is coming along, if you have a name yet, if you have holiday plans, etc. I’ve been living next to a room with baby clothes and furniture in it for two months now but it still hasn’t seemed real. I feel her moving every day but I’ve just gotten used to them. I’m wondering if it will seem even more real when I start my weekly appointments. It’s like I’m going to have a baby in two months, but I still can’t accept that. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve had a miscarriage so I’m terrified of something happening in these last 10 weeks or maybe it’s because I’ve never gone through labor and stuff before so I don’t know what to expect. I really have no idea. I set up her closet with all her receiving blankets and soft fuzzy blankets. I washed everything and have all her size newborn to 3 months hanging up and folded in her dresser.

The lighting sucks because it’s pouring outside and we need a new light bulb in the ceiling fan but here’s her closet so far. We’re not done shopping for clothes and stuff but this is the beginning.

The other sizes are folded in a little tote until she’s big enough to wear them. We have enough socks and towels and washcloths and they’re all put in their designated spot. His mom bought us our travel system, we went with the Graco Travel Modes with Snuglock 35 carseat. I absolutely love the stroller. I can face the baby either way in the carseat on it and in the actual seat part of the stroller, I can flip it to face me or to face out so even when she’s a toddler, if I want to have her facing me, I can. I’ll have to take pictures and show you guys once I get it out of the box. It’s currently just sitting in the middle of our kitchen because, unfortunately, we still haven’t gotten our cabinets or island yet. The designs are complete, it’s just getting them made and delivered. It’s taking a bit longer than expected because the family business got a bit busier and paying customers come first. All I know is the day we finally get rid of these raggedy old cabinets is going to be a day of rejoicing, and probably day drinking.

I’ve been giving so much thought to how much of each size she will need and everything. It’s taken a lot of reminding myself that she has everything she needs for when she comes. If we need anything else we can get it then. I’m too much of a planner. And it’s helping me distract myself while the time passes. Welllll, there’s a trillion other things on my mind but dinner calls and hubby will be home soon so maybe later. 🙂

Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms and I hope everyone is having a good weekend! (:

Oh, The Places You’ll Go Two years ago, I thought I was celebrating my first Mother's Day of many, and then I had a miscarriage 8 days later.