#it's ok... we all let a gary slip through sometimes...

[fisheito]

They turned my boy into Gary...

tbh it was kind of liberating because if the devs themselves can fall to the ol' gary keytrap, then i, too, can sometimes let my mortal follicles flow downward, and allow myself to lettersmash about gary and/or kary in my accidental overenthusiasm

[carry-on-snowbazzing]

My 5 best of 2020 (in 2021 😂)

1. A summer day ☀

"Well, Baz! Do you want to move?" Penelope yelled, already in the car (a certain MG dated 1967).

Simon studied his own reflection in the rearview mirror, running a hand through his bronze curly tuft and resulting in even more messiness.

"A minute!" was the answer from a few floors above the apartment.

Penelope rolled her eyes and picked up her Iphone.

Shortly after, hurried footsteps were heard coming down the stairs and Baz, after closing the door, got into the car.

Simon leaned out of the back seat and kissed him on the cheek.

He smiled and, starting the engine, exclaimed:

"Destination: fun!"

  Later there were four of them getting out of the car: Baz with a beach umbrella over his shoulder, Simon struggling with a giant inflatable pink flamingo, Penelope with a cooler bag, and Agatha with another bag, containing beach towels and sunscreen.

"The weather forecasts were right; today’s a perfect day for the sea," Penelope commented as she slipped off her flip-flops and dropped her bag into the sand.

"Edward shines like a fairy!" Simon yelled, putting on a pair of sunglasses and pointing to Baz.

"Stop it, Snow," he laughed, "and give me my glasses back; all this sunshine stuns me."

Trying to ignore them, Agatha took off her cover-up and began to rub off the protection angrily.

"Whoever dives himself last is a pixie!" Simon yelled, throwing his t-shirt and starting to run towards the sea with Penelope at his heels.

Several splashes and laughter later, the two returned wet, smiling and hungry.

Meanwhile, Baz and Agatha had dedicated themselves to crossword puzzles and to the horoscope.

"Agatha, there must be some butter and turkey sandwiches in the cooler," Penelope said as she wrapped herself in her towel.

"I couldn't find anything better for you than beef carpaccio," she said to Baz.

He smiled making 'OK' with both thumbs.

"And for me?" Agatha asked, offended that her friend hadn't thought of her too.

"Fruit salad" she replied. "I know you're on a vegetarian diet."

Agatha blushed feeling a little guilty and muttered something like "Oh, thank you".

Everyone literally devoured their lunch, because, as Simon ruled on his fifth butter sandwich, "The sea makes you hungry."

They gossiped a bit about their old classmates, wondering if Gareth still had his belt buckle as a wand and if Trixie had a fight with his girlfriend.

  They lost track of time after falling asleep in the early afternoon sun.

It was the sound of a notification that woke Agatha, who, after seeing her mother's message ('Where are you? Coven party tonight!'), made a shrill sound that woke the others too.

"Damn, I'm in mega-delay!" she complained, sitting up and hastily gathering his things.

Seeing her so agitated, no one dared contradict her and they hurried too.

Before leaving for the return, all already in the car, Simon took out a Polaroid from the trunk (not an easy feat, given the bulky mass of the flamingo) and urged them:

"Wait! Say 'cheese'!"

Everyone posed, waiting for the flash.

Once the picture was taken, Simon reached for the film that had just come out of the instant camera, but found himself clutching a slice of Emmental in his fingers.

Baz couldn't help himself and laughed uncontrollably.

"Tyrannus Basilton Grimm-Pitch!" Simon bursted, but he couldn't bear a grudge and joined in the general laughter.

___________________________________________________

2. Shopping (Big & Little) 🥄

"They'll be emptying the mall, those two" Agatha commented, looking at the clock on the kitchen wall and adding another egg to the bowl.

"Probably" replied Penelope, who was handling the curry risotto.

"They've been away for three hours!" Agatha insisted, "and with two credit cards!".

Penelope gave her a look like 'what can we do?' and again consulted the handwritten note attached to the refrigerator with a magnet (shaped like a scone).

"Oh, I forgot the onion!" she moaned after a quick glance, "my mother would kill me if she knew!".

She went back to the stove and for a few minutes they remained silent, one intent on vigorously banging the whips, the other busy slicing the bulb.

Once Agatha had baked the chocolate cake (wiping a non-existent sweat with her glove) and Penelope had remedied her mistake, the girls dropped onto the sofa.

They were just debating which movie to watch that night when they heard the key turn in the lock and Simon exclaim from the entrance:

"We’re at home!"

The two joined them in the living room and Baz asked:

"Curry and chocolate?"

Penelope nodded.

"Sometimes I wish I was a vampire; just smell a dish to understand if the doses are right or wrong," she sighed.

"Shopping?" Agatha asked, looking at the numerous envelopes they both had in their hands and casting a reproachful look at Simon.

"There were the sales" he tried to justify himself, shrugging his shoulders.

"Hurry up; you’ll show us your spoils of war after dinner" Penelope ordered.

  "What do you think?" Simon began, smugly showing a set of jeans for Baz and a giant jar of sour cherries scones.

Penelope seemed to try not to roll her eyes.

"I stayed on the intellectual side" Baz said, pulling a stack of books and a pack of pastel highlighters out of a bag.

"I need them for the college" he explained to Agatha, who was trying to get hold of the markers.

"And you haven't seen the piece of resistence!" Simon shrieked, grabbing a smiling Baz by the wrist and dragging him into the nearest room.

They came out moments later walking backwards (in what was supposed to be an imitation of Michael Jackson's moonwalk), so they could only see their backs.

"3, 2, 1 ..." Baz counted.

"Ta daaaan!" Simon exclaimed as they turned at the same time.

They wore matching gray sweatshirts; both had a black molded spoon.

'Big' was written on Baz's, while Simon's 'Little'.

"Awww" the girls screamed in unison, in the grip of a fangirl attack (which managed to make Agatha look adoring too).

"We have a pair for you too" Baz said, handing Penelope a black t-shirt with 'Brownie' on it, while Simon gave Agatha a white one with 'Blondie' on it.

"Thanks, guys" Penelope murmured moved and Agatha initiated a group hug.

photos references

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3. Anniversary 💞

here

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4. Ops! 🧴

 Simon knocked for the tenth time on the bathroom door:

"Occupied!" Baz yelled for the tenth time.

"And sorry, but I can't hold it anymore anymore ..."

Simon abruptly released the handle, abandoning his irritated tone.

He let out a cry, muffled by the hands that he immediately brought to his mouth.

Baz was shirtless in front of the mirror, glaring at his own reflection.

Everything was perfectly normal, except for his hair: it had turned from raven to red.

Fawn red.

"If you tell anyone about this, Snow, I will end you" he growled menacingly.

Simon stood there, speechless. When he had regained the use of his mouth, he barely stifled a laugh and intoned:

“Weasley is our king

he always lets the Quaffle in ... "

From Baz's look, he knew it would be wiser to stop, so he did it.

He approached cautiously and asked gently:

"What happened to you?".

"I wish I knew; I was taking a normal shampoo shower" sighed Baz.

Meanwhile Simon had reached the sink and was looking closely at the bottle of the citron and bergamot scented blend.

"It doesn't seem to have anything strange" he then ruled, placing it back on the shelf.

"Indeed; I went to get it from my home in Hampshire; Daphne can only find it in our town's herbalist's shop," Baz replied sadly.

"I really can't explain it" he went on, unable to get over it.

"My sister gave it to me ..." he stopped suddenly.

He clapped her forehead and turned on the lock screen of his smartphone.

"Today is April 1st," he murmured.

He took the vial in one hand and, with the ivory wand in the other, exclaimed:

"Show me your secrets!".

The writing on the label changed from 'Shampoo with citrus notes' to 'Permanent color intense red'.

"MORDELIAAAAA!" he screamed as Simon rolled with laughter.

"April Fool!" he managed to exclaim between a laugh and another.

That’s totally inspired by a fanart of @vkelleyart​ 💖 :  that 

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5. Trick or treat? 👻

 "Well, Baz! If you don't move, we'll only have the sub-brand candy left!" Simon railed.

With all the peace of mind he could, Baz went down the stairs and joined his screaming boyfriend, who was immediately silent at his sight.

"Morgana, Basilton; you really mean it" Penelope commented, watching him as she lit another candle to put in the Jack o 'lanterns carved by Simon and Baz (which occupied all the flat surfaces of the apartment).

"I've been doing some accurate researches over the last week" he began, making a theatrical gesture in his vampire cloak.

"You even have the same jacket as Gary Oldman" she observed excitedly.

He, in response, gave her a perfidious look, baring his fangs.

Simon was still in his silence and couldn't take his eyes off him.

"What's up Snow, the cat got your tongue?" Baz asked, amused.

He answered with a tongue sticking out and approached him with a raised eyebrow (in perfect Baz style).

"Wow" he commented after kissing him on the cheek.

"Enjoy yourselves!" Penelope exclaimed as they came out hand in hand.

  "Where do we go now?" Baz asked.

Simon moved with great ease between one bell and another, meticulously illustrating the specialties offered by each house.

His phrases were: "Here you can always find top quality stuff", or "No, better to avoid an indigestion".

After scouring all the houses on the first five blocks, Simon had an epiphany.

"For a thousand snakes! Baz, we absolutely have to go to the 'Spooky night' party!" he screamed, making him jump.

"Crowley, Snow! Calm down!" he retorted irritably, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt.

"You don't understand," Simon insisted.

"Our loot is loser when compared to everything you can find there; Strawberry Blood Drip, Every Flavour Beans, Pumpkin PIE, Butterbeer and, hold on ... Oreo with Orange Cream!"

Baz, seeing him so excited ('like a child', he thought), couldn’t say no to him (although he wanted to go home more than anything else; his feet protested against Count Dracula's boots).

"And where would it be?" he asked, trying not to smile.

"A couple of blocks from here; hurry up!" Simon urged him, taking him by the hand and starting to run.

  "A delusion!" Simon snapped, leaving the bag full of sweets on the doormat.

"What happened?" Penelope asked Baz, who had just closed the door behind him and limped desperately as he headed for the sofa.

"In short at that damn party they had finished everything and told us our costumes sucked" he explained.

Simon was with his arms folded, all sulking, sitting in the armchair.

"Look at their costumes! And let me have something to eat, rather!" he barked.

Penelope approached him and, looking at him tenderly, reassured him:

"We always have our repertoire of horror films."

Simon shrugged, hitting the nearby lamp.

"And I was prepared for any eventuality," she went on, snapping her fingers and popping up a pack of Oreos with orange cream.

Simon's face cleared, illuminated by a huge grin.

__________________________________________________

Ty @letraspal​ for tagging me 💕

That’s all; hope u like it!  💜

Happy new Year! ✨

[stillchaoticlogic]

Such a Tease: Chapter 1

Pairing: (Aged) Gary/Blue Oak x Reader

Summary: After a tragedy, you make the decision to quit your career as a trainer and focus on breeding Pokemon for the general population. You are one of the best in the region. You aren’t expecting the have to deal with your childhood rival and crush suddenly popping back into your life. After all, Gary Oak broke your heart and now you are determined to break his… or are you?

NOTES:*This is my very first pokemon story written many many years ago. I’ve decided to revamp it and see what happens! I hope you enjoy a little Gary / Blue love! I will kinda be combing the anime and game versions and I may or may not have just bought the manga to read… It will kinda be my take on these characters. Ash may become more like Red, but I haven’t really decided yet… I’m just having fun with this!*

Getting Started The alarm sounds much too soon for anyone’s liking and groggily you roll over and hit snooze. Too bad that doesn’t work. The annoying jingling in your ear continues much to your half-asleep dismay, finally opening your eyes you see the source of the noise at such a forsaken time of the morning it’s coming from Jingle Bells your Chimecho. You sigh in exasperation at her before hauling yourself up out of bed making her promptly stop. You roll your eyes as she merely floats in front of you staring up at you with devious innocence; you swear she has been hanging around Missy, your Mismagius for far too long. You yawn as you make your way past her into the bathroom to get ready for the day. 

You had spent all of last night moving into your new center and you were dead. Jingle has been your faithful companion and alarm clock for years at this point, but perhaps she is a little overzealous at times. Especially when it’s five o’clock in the morning and the world isn’t even awake yet. 

After you have prepared yourself for a day of decorating, arranging, unpacking and sorting, you head down the stairs to the oversized kitchen, which you soon realize has yet to be stocked. Upon this realization, your tummy comes to the conclusion that it needs something and now; so to alert you to such feelings it lets out a rather large growl. You sigh for the umpteenth time this morning and grab your purse and keys as you head out the door. Lady saunters after you, since she isn’t ever too far behind, taking her sweet time to meander out the door at her dignified pace. You merely chuckle at her and close the door behind her when she finally reaches the outside. As you begin your walk to the town she matches her pace with yours easily.

Looking down at her you say, “Alright Lady dear, how about we stop at that café I saw in town for breakfast then over to the store? We’ll do some shopping to get us in the mood for decorating!”

“Espi!” she exclaims in agreement as the two of you continue through the gardens toward the forest.

You love the location of your breeding center you must admit. It is rather beautiful and so private. A decent size of the forest had been cleared to make room for it, but you made sure that all the wood that was cleared went to building something. Even a natural spring ran through your property down to a pond that was surrounded by trees and flowers. Flower gardens add to the picturesque front of the house which is at least 3 stories high with a basement as well. Of course, your house will also be housing your staff and several of your Pokémon so you had to have a large house. 

The back of the house wasn’t anything less breathtaking with herb and vegetable gardens for cooking purposes as well as medical. Off to the right side, a massive barn looking structure would be the home of the Pokémon that you would be breeding and training. The entire grounds were enclosed with a high-security system, invisible to the naked eye and impossible to enter or leave except at the designated locations. Oh yes, it is quite a sight to behold and it better be for what you have invested in it. This is your one shot at your dream. You hope that it works considering all of your earnings, winnings, and savings had gone into this sucker.

The sun played through the canopy of the trees as you and Lady make your way to town. Neither of you cares about the time or the distance, after all, the two of you have been travelers for so long that such things have merely become irrelevant. The relaxing silence is what you need considering the hustle and bustle of the past few days. Getting moved in has been an experience all in itself one you don’t need for quite some time. 

The tunnel of trees ends and you are greeted with the sight of Route one and merely ten feet away, Viridian City. The city has grown since your departure several years prior and you rather like the changes made. You allow your memory to lead you to the café you saw while walking through town a few days ago. It’s a cozy place full of big comfy couches and armchairs as well as outdoor tables and chairs under a gazebo. The lighting was bright from the rays coming in through the various windows and skylights. You could see various plants and such growing in the flower beds that surround it giving it a cheery vibe. Upon entering you make your way up to the counter and begin to look up at the drinks posted up on the sign as well as the array of sweet cakes and such that line the pastry case before you.

“Hi! How are you today?” chirps the girl behind the counter, how she chirps at six in the morning you will never know, but appreciate the sentiment anyway.

“I’m good, thanks,” You answer with a pleasant smile.

“So, what can I get for you?”

After you have placed your order and gotten something for Lady as well you make your way over to a table in the corner by a window. You begin to people watch as you sit in a more or less daze just taking in the town.

“Are you new to town?” interrupts a voice beside you.

“Huh?” you question turning to see the girl from behind the counter cleaning a nearby table. She smiles pleasantly and repeats the question.

“Oh, I’m from Pallet town originally, but have been traveling for the past fifteen years. I’ve just recently decided to move back to start my own breeding center.”

“OH!!! So you’re the owner of that new breeding center on Route One! That is sooo cool!!! I’ve always wanted to be a Pokémon breeder just like my brother. And one day I will, but right now I don’t even have a Pokémon.” You frown at how her excitement became disappointment so quickly.

“Well, I do own a breeding center…. And I do need help… And I do have plenty of Pokémon….”

She turns to you her eyes getting very wide with each statement you make.

“Really!? Do you really mean what I think you mean?!?!”

“Well do you have any experience at all with Pokémon?”

“Yeah! My brother taught me a lot!! He’s a great breeder, but he has been traveling for a while trying to get more rare Pokémon to breed. So, I haven’t really got to see him a lot.”

“That’s ok, stop by sometime tomorrow and we’ll see about getting you a job. I’m going to see how you do with some of the Pokémon before I do though ok?”

“Ok!! That sounds great!! Oh! I need to get back to work. Bye, see you tomorrow!!”

You smile and nod at the enthusiastic girl as she runs off behind the counter to serve the next customer. You are a little surprised to find a guy already sitting on the other side of the café sipping his coffee and reading the morning paper with an Umbreon sitting to his right eyeing your Espeon with interest. Lady merely ignores him as she continues to eat the bit of pastry you had given her for breakfast.

“You’re such a heartbreaker Lady,” you chuckle as you glance back over to the Umbreon only to see who his trainer is.

One: Gary Oak.

At the mere sight of him, you are quite sure that every ounce of maturity, intelligence, grace, and confidence that you had collected over the past fifteen years dissolves in a vat of childish hopes and dreams that were crushed beneath his foot. You swallow hard at the feelings swirling around inside of you at the sight of him. Fighting hard against them, you make it a point to get up and leave, slipping your sunglasses on in the process to avoid any unnecessary conflict. Lady sensing your discomfort leaps upon your shoulder and glares both the male and his Umbreon down the whole way out the door. You sigh in relief, letting out the breath you didn’t know you were holding, the moment you are out of sight of the café, your shoulders relax allowing you to calm yourself down. Lady looks up at you questioningly, concern and confusion laced in the waves she is sending you. You look down and smile in reassurance at your best friend, knowing that no matter what happens she will always be there for you.

Shaking off the surprise from seeing the boy who broke your fifteen-year-old heart you continue your day as planned. Lady helps you pick out the decor, sheet sets, and curtains. Thankfully you have already picked out appliances and you don’t need to worry about them. You head to the store to stock up on groceries and giggle when Lady levitates snacks she likes into the cart. You roll your eyes at her antics but allow her to indulge all the same. 

A very sincere part of you can’t get Gary out of your head though. You had adored him when you were younger, definitely against your better judgment. He was arrogant and stuck up, but he was smart, cool and confident as well. As he gained success as a trainer you had just fallen for him even more. Five years after setting out on your journey you ran into him at a competition and worked up the nerve to ask him out. Not only had he rejected you but he had laughed in your face. To this day you recall the embarrassment you felt as you ran from his jeers. 

Despite the passage of time, you still felt like that fifteen-year-old today when you saw him in the cafe. You groan as you roll your eyes at yourself. 

“What is wrong with you?! You went on to be one of the strongest trainers in the region! You are considered one of the best in the business. You don’t care about some stupid boy.”

With a final nod of your head indicating that this internal conversation is over you focus on getting Gary Oak out of your head onto the task at hand. You have a lot to do and you don’t have time to worry about him.

Notes: I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! I’m pretty excited about revamping this story. Please like reblog and comment to show some love! 

[cloveroctobers]

HENRIK LILJENQUIST—

IG info/Bio: @/adventuresbyhenrik | 53.1k followers — “imma wild boi🌿🌏🧗 | happily taken👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨

23 (24) years old

Parents are both Swedish and only speak Swedish, leaving henrik to also become fluent

His father Halvi is a pilot

His mother Lova is a race car driver

Siblings? Probably a brother, named Jahan & younger by two or three years + they get along quite well

Born & raised in Isle of Wight, England + loves it there & thinks it’s the best place for him to live, it’s his own private island in his mind plus he’s always finding something to do. He stays active

Climbing & wilderness survival instructor, he gets to talk as much as he wants while also teaching people AND all while being active! Sounds like the perfect job for him

Probably developed ADHD around his pre-teen age, leaving his parents to find him something he enjoys + can slow down and focus on

used to be on meds for it

Was well-known in high school, probably in the yearbook club since he was able to run around & get to know people but was kinda shit at knowing the functions of a camera

His selfie game has gotten a lot better now but he mostly posts anything but his face. You’ll see more of his face on his stories & location shots on his feed

Feels his hair is his best physical feature & his prized possession, would never THINK about cutting it. Even just a trim is a bit much for him

Always tries to be positive but at the same time can be condescending since he sometimes won’t pick his words wisely ex.) when he gave MC a backhanded “compliment” about makeup, being active, + wanting them to “think of others ” feelings — just because someone is opposite from you doesn’t mean you have to shit on the way they carry themselves...that’s my issue with him

maybe he’s a Taurus?

Loves fall & spring, more so fall since that’s when the weather feels nicest to him plus allergy season is a REAL bitch

The guy’s real Adventurous & always managing to find something to do. If you’re ever bored just hit him up, he has plenty of recommendations 

Family owns a cottage & he’s the one who goes out there more than his own family does! “You should just sell it to me at this point!” He tells his parents over dinner often & it is strongly considered

Has five birds & a husky, when he goes on road trips they’re always with him. Which can get a little hectic at times but they’re his family, he’s a, “birdog dad”

BLAKE secretly dislikes them all, feeling like they take up space sometimes (especially when she wants to cuddle) but she deals with it since she cares for the guy — yes, they’re still dating

She’s been convincing him to cut a few inches off of his hair which he took like a slap in the face, “that’s like me asking you to quit speaking up for humans!” “No, no it’s not.”

They’re polar opposites with flaws which causes disagreements between the two of them by putting each other in their places but they learn to compromise? (*insert eartha Kitt gif laughing here*] if they want this to work

His mother seems to be the only one who dislikes blake (she strongly feels he should have bought MC back home...that’s right she watched the show from time to time. Not always since she doesn’t care for reality tv but her friends encouraged her to watch bits and pieces) while his dad and brother approve

It is tense when Blake and his mom are in the same room which makes Henrik sad since he believes Blake deserves a chance. He took a chance on her and it seems to be going pretty well so why couldn’t his mother just be happy for him like the rest of the family is?

Henrik loves his low-maintenance girls who are open to trying new things with him, Blake is usually down most of the time but she likes her personal space too..which henrik struggles to understand

He wants her to live with him, he’s sure his parents will let him have the cottage if Blake decides to live with him but Blake loves her freedom in Kingston

It’s hidden but I feel like he might be one of those guys that feels like “a woman should follow a man” since that’s what his father installed into his boys— which failed because his wife isn’t just a housewife, she has goals and went after them

I feel like Blake turns to social media almost always to post about her feelings (I can’t remember what I picked the first time around as my occupation but as I’m currently playing I picked human rights campaigner so) but it’s mostly subtle shade & it always goes recognized by fans which brings drama between her, mc x Bobby

Henrik jumps in because what kind of guy would he be if he didn’t have his gf’s back? Doesn’t care for the drama but he & Bobby usually said slick shit to each other in the villa, it’s safe to say they’re not really friends but they’re not enemies either that’s mostly between their gf/wife

Henrik doesn’t care enough about Bobby to dislike him but he won’t put up with his shit any longer and what easier way to do that than online? He feels like they can settle this with a phone call but Blake & MC aren’t with the shits and don’t want their men speaking to each other

Henrik & Bobby eventually have a chat in secret anyways

Henrik warns Blake that this can effect her job status if she doesn’t calm down since she uses social media for her cause

She usually knows when to stop but can’t help it if it slips out sometimes

They talk it out and move on usually with whatever fun idea henrik may have

Owns a ford bronco from the 90’s that used to be his uncle’s who builds tree houses for a living and is still running, a jeep gladitor, or some sort of pickup truck

Knows how to make the best apricot jam

All about saving the bees

Loves animals, probably on his journey to veganism if he’s not already there

We all know this fucking guy likes eating M0sS

“Embarrassing fact” but uh big fan of twilight, feels like Seth Clearwater and him are meant to be best buds but he also stans the Volturi 😷

Him and Lucas of course remained the best of mates, since they live 2 hrs away from each other and are always busy living their lives they always have to plan out when they can hangout but that fails 60% of the time when henrik pops up at Lucas’ job or at his flat not giving him a choice but to hang out

They’re always vacationing together too? Sure Henrik is his own version of low-key while Lucas likes a bit of luxury...they still find a balance to just have a good time regardless if they live different lifestyles...they’re basically married

Always texting if they’re not hanging out, henrik with his memes that Lucas doesn’t understand & Lucas just checking in on henrik’s well being which leads the conversation to many topics

He’s actually cool with Gary now? They like/comment on each other’s posts & even text here and there

Even ran into Rocco once on a road trip, that was interesting but when life gives you lemons...we’ll just say that

Even him and Ibrahim share recommendations through text or DM’s which is nice! Henrik is always down for friends even tho they’re not like his personal friends (except for Lucas, he fits into his criteria)

Most of his work is physical and talking but he goes the extra mile by hiking every Sunday either with his friends, Blake, or family — he’s genuinely likes being one with nature

If he’s at the cottage, he’s always outside, chopping extra wood, making sure the yard looks like it belongs on a magazine, or takes the boat out on lake to nap since he doesn’t like to fish as much anymore

Currently trying to grow strawberries but some animal keeps eating them :/

Adores adventure time, the x-files, bobs burgers + animal planet, and travel channels—like he’s a real dad

If he could shower outside everyday, he would, it’s such a freeing experience to him

His outings consist of being in the woods 24/7 so in his mind when he brings Blake out there with him, it’s a version of a date, whenever they spend time together is a date to him, which she has to remind him that she wants to do something different like getting dressed up every now and then + go out to dinner which he HATES but he’ll do his best to please her, as long as the restaurant is more earthy than snobby he’s okay

100% would survive the apocalypse, he knows how to make due with what he’s got, he’s always been that way

Enjoys rom-com’s so he’ll laugh at how cringe they are but still enjoy it, indie films, ALITA was the best film of 2019 to him & currently his fav film is, “the call of the wild” with Harrison Ford

His favorite films ever are Indiana Jones, Lara Coft: Tomb raider, Terminator, and I am legend

Aliens ARE real, they’re out there and he’ll be part of the reason they’ve been exposed

I feel like he wanted to be an astronaut growing up but then realized he’d be a confined space for long periods of time and said cancel that shit lol + he isn’t the greatest at science. History? He did real well in that subject

I think he loves Lorde, listens to Bon Iver—especially on early morning commutes to work, Rex Orange County, Omar Apollo, Joji, the nbhd, the driver era, kid cudi...yktfv

Celeb crushes?/types: The main girls from Charlie’s angels 2019, Alexa PenaVega... “you know Carmen from spy kids?” Diana silvers, Dove Cameron, JAMIE CHUNG, & VANESSA HUDGENS

Anthem = Wallows, “OK”

[harringroveheart]

harringrove horror wip

promises to keep (and miles to go before I sleep) -- untitled sequel | follows on from [this]

:::

Billy drank so much chlorine. Bleach, when he could get it. Hydrofluoric acid, once. He felt sick all the time. Felt himself dissolving away out from under.

When the monster spears him through the chest, it’s a relief.

:::

Dying takes a long time. He can hear voices, feel Max shaking him. Crying. There are sirens too, just too late.

It hurts on and off. All over.

He twists in and out of worlds like overarm swimming – a breath on the surface and a stroke underwater. Light and nothingness. Pain, deep, sucking, all-encompassing, and then just—floating.

Time slips away.

:::

That fucking… beeping. Will someone please turn it off so he can sleep?

:::

His dad holds him, rocks with him.

“My boy, my boy, my boy,” he says, choked up on tears. His words are wet, rough, hot in Billy’s ear. “I’m going to make it right this time.”

Billy keeps rocking with him because he can’t stop.

It’s his first day back from the hospital, but he won’t know it for two more months.

:::

Max is shaking her head. “This one,” she says, putting the fork in his hand.

“I made your favorite,” Susan says, looking to Neil, eyes nervous. She puts the casserole down on the table.

Max shakes her head again: It’s not.

It tastes like crap.

It’s better than antifreeze.

:::

Home, Billy thinks. He keeps staring, forgetting how to blink, where he is, how he got here. His feet are cold past hurting.   

Harrington looks around and down the long stretch of asphalt disappearing into the woods, his eyes darting back to Billy, dark and knowing. The moonlight makes them look wet.

“That’s not your home,” he says. “Let me take you back.”

He’s cold everywhere except where Harrington’s palm presses against his chest.

:::

“Thanks,” he says a little while later, in the car.

“For what?” 

“For hitting me with your car.”

“Well…It wasn’t really mine.”

“Well. I wasn’t really me.”

“You’re you now, though,” Harrington says, more question than it should be. “You know that, right?” 

:::

He has to wait all day to see him. 

He finishes his shift late, when it’s already dark and the parking lot is still swarming with cars. People going to the movies. People picking up their kids. Harrington is too tired or too distracted to notice Billy at first. Does a double take.

When he sees that Billy isn’t there to chase him, he comes closer. Follows Billy into the dark corner behind the loading bay where the Chinese restaurant dumps its trash.

It’s just how he thought it would look: the sailor uniform. Billy feels something like a smile.

“What are you doing here?” Harrington asks, suspicious. Not as hard-toned as it could be. They’ve seen each other around. Eyes over headlights on the dark drive to the Byers’ house. Tense quiet shared in the locker room after practice when they’re both afraid of each other for different reasons.  

“Just felt like seeing a familiar face,” he says.

It’s the truth. It’s all he wants. Harrington’s face is familiar and new all at once, every damn time. He looks clean, rosy. If Billy touched his cheek it would leave a mark. If he touched his hair, he could never trust himself not to stop touching it.

“You okay in there, Hargrove?” Harrington asks. “You look a little…”

I’m okay, Harrington, he thinks.

It’s just sweat.

:::

They shaved his head, Max tells him, putting her hand over his on the gearshift. In, left, second, drive.

“Neil went apeshit,” she says. “No. In, left, second, drive. There. You got it.”

“Did I look stupid?”

“No. You still looked good. Not like you, though. Do you want me to cut it again?”

He laughs. “No way,” he says. “Harrington’d kill me.”

She’s looking at him funny. He stops. Looks down at his hands. Remembering and forgetting.

“Why would Steve kill you, Billy?”

The wheel is warm under his fingers like it remembers him just fine. 

:::

After dinner he washes dishes, quiet and careful, staring at his reflection caught and dulled in the opaque blackness of the window over the sink. The flower boxes outside are spilling over, heavy with big blowsy roses, petals soft and faded at the edges, their centres a vibrant rancid pink that makes his head spin.

It’s almost midnight; a year to the day. Neil bought sparkling wine and the birthday cake Billy liked when he was seven.

A dish clinks in the soapy water, the foam itching at his wrists. 

“It’s ok,” he says dully, Susan’s reflection beside his like a smear of pale oil paint, watching, fretful. “I don’t do that anymore.”

She watches him a moment longer anyway. And when he leaves he hears her putting the detergent away in the cupboard.

:::

Heather’s house. Fran’s house. Gary Kenwick’s house. The house at the end of Dearborn and the house on Randolph Lane. The house with the rose garden and the house with the deadbolt and the house with the fridge-door left open and the milk all over the floor and the house with boys’ rooms and their dinosaur nightlights.

These are places he has been.

:::

If he goes to the steelworks and goes down and down and lies on the concrete and breathes in the dust and closes his eyes he can dream again but it’s not the same.

:::

“I don’t want it to have my mom.”

“It needs her, for its work.”

“I want to go home.”

“We are.”

He is. They are.

“Why did you lie?”

He doesn’t answer. Breathe in, breathe out. He has so many heartbeats now. So many names.

“Billy.”

Billy?

“You said it would be over soon.”

:::

He likes Robin. She works at the video store with Harrington and she doesn’t remember Billy from either of his befores. She should be sick of seeing him, day in and day out, but she likes his jokes and the nasty smile he shares with her when Harrington does something stupid.

“He told Keith The Karate Kid is the only movie that ever made him cry.”

“He told me his favorite actor is the Terminator.”

“He thinks Gremlins is ‘a classic’.”

“He thinks Gremlins is a documentary.”

“Hey,” Harrington says. “Do you two assholes want to help me here, or am I supposed to unpack these all myself?” He waves an exacto knife around at the jumble of half opened boxes and scattered packing peanuts.

Billy smirks. “Who let you have a sharp tool?”

“It’s got a safety on it,” Robin says.

:::

Every now and then they get high out the back of the store. It’s Harrington’s weed. Sometimes it’s the pills the government doctors give Billy each month to stop him from turning back into jelly. Robin and Harrington are fearless. They don’t care what kind of trip they have so long as they’re together.

“I don’t feel anything,” Harrington says, pacing, running his hands through his hair over and over with neurotic focus.

Robin gives one of her honking laughs. “Oh, I think you’re feeling it Stevie.”

“I don’t feel good,” he whines.

“You feel fine. You feel fine,” Robin insists. She’s doing something to her shoelaces, tying them into some intricate knot of vital importance. Billy laughs. It’s only fair. They got him so high last week he let them paint his nails.

“Does this feel weird to you?” Harrington asks, suddenly in front of him, sucking up all his attention, shoving his head under Billy’s hand. Billy’s fingers slide through: muscle memory. It’s softer than he remembers, and lighter too. Blond, in parts.

So, the Mindflayer didn’t get his highlights right.

Harrington calms down under his stroking hand. When Billy finally looks up Robin’s finished her task, shoelaces of both shoes all knotted together, and she’s staring at him, at both of them, surprised and then sad. 

:::

“Does your family know you’re out here?” Harrington asks, tugging the bottle out of his hands and hopping up onto the bonnet beside him. “Fuck.” He shivers. “It’s fucking freezing out here. Aren’t you cold?” 

Billy shrugs. He’s drunk. He woke up thinking about rats. Rats don’t get cold. They can probably get drunk.

Harrington is wearing a jacket pulled tight over a thin t-shirt, warm all over from sleep. He looks great. He looks too good to be true. Billy watches him take a slug of the bourbon and give it back to Billy so he can blow on his hands. 

“So…” Harrington says, after a nice enough silence. “What are we doing here?”

“Watching fireworks,” Billy says.

He can feel Harrington’s eyes on him. Confused. Pitying maybe. From up here the forest looks like a toy forest and the town looks like a toy town with tiny fairy lights. The sky is cloudless, near and black. It’s empty tonight. It’s empty every night. There’re never any stars and there’re never any fireworks.

“Well, okay then,” Harrington says. “How’d you score such good seats?”

That makes him smile. “I dreamt them,” he says. 

“Well, thanks for the invite then.”

“I dreamt you too.”

Harrington laughs. “Okay. Well, thanks for the hair, and the big dick.”

“You always wanted me to kiss you.” 

Silence.

“Oh.”

Oh.

“Were we…”

“Yes,” Billy says.

:::

A party: a basement: a couch.

“Did it hurt you?”

“No,” Billy says.

Harrington is drunk, sloe-eyed. He has lipstick on him, just a smudge, so cruel, in the corner of his mouth, like a sore that Billy wants to scrub and scrub and scrub at. He drinks his beer instead and pretends he can taste it.

“Did it lie to you?”

“No.”

“What did it offer you?” he asks. He knows. He knows.

Billy can’t answer that. He’s not here. He’s not real. He’s a wave of tar and spare parts under thin skin.

“What did it offer you, Billy? Anything? Everything?”

Kingdoms, he wants to say. Worlds and stars and kingdoms. A road that only goes where his heart wishes it could live. 

“Less,” he says.

He looks at Harrington, at the perfect inimitable color of his eyes.

Enough.

:::

[ruthoakenshield]

Gary & His Neighbor (chapter 5)

Gary & His Neighbor (chapter 4)

Gary came round the corner and found his sons standing smirking at the door waiting for him. He grinned and said, "What? Did you both forget your keys?" They smirk, "No, just wanted to see if you asked her out and kissed her yet." Trey said grinning mischievously. "And by the looks of it, that would be a yes!" Donnie replies smugly.

"Get in the apartment!" Gary scolds, smiling and pushes their heads towards the door. "So, is she a good kisser, Dad?" Donnie teases seeing his dad's lips are red and a little swollen, and his hair a bit messy in back.

Gary glares at him, "I'm not discussing my dating life or lack there of with you two!" he says with a smirk. Donnie looks at Gary then at Trey and grins. "Trey, I believe that is Dad's way of saying, "Yes, boys she is a great kisser!" he teases.

Gary rolls his eyes and puts the two boys in a headlock. One in each arm. "And now it's time for the two of you to mind your own business and get ready for bed! We have a school day start tomorrow, don't forget. I want you ready before she gets here to pick us up!" he reminds them as he drags them to their rooms. When he lets them out of the headlocks they each give him a hug.

Trey looks up at him and says, "Dad, I'm glad you met her the other day. She is really nice. I like her a lot. Do you think she will stick around?" he asks.

Gary looks down at Trey and puts his hand on Trey's back. "I'm glad I met her too, Trey, and I'm glad you both like her as well. I have no clue if she will stick around, but we'll enjoy our time that we do get to have with her and see where life takes us." he tells his youngest son. "Now get going and get ready for bed." he tells him after giving him a hug.

Trey goes in his room and closes the door. "Night Dad!" Gary hears him say as he walks to his door. "Night boys, sleep well!" he tells them.

Gary goes into his room and closes his bedroom door. He sits down on the bed and sighs happily, remembering how you looked when he kissed you. He grinned remembering you begging for one more kiss before he left and how deep the kiss became. He ached to hold you again and wondered what it would be like being married to you. You were obviously good with his boys and liked them. He was glad they liked you too.

He thought about your disabilities and wondered how you manage now that your firefighter friends are not here to help you. He grinned thinking about all those books you had. He had never seen so many books in a private library before. He wondered how many you had and how fast you read them.

Gary flopped onto the bed and thought more about you. He wondered where you were going to take him and the boys tomorrow and what they were going to be watching. He was curious and came up with all different possibilities. He sighed and then realized he didn't have your phone number. He chuckled and shook his head. "Gary, how could you ask her out on a date and NOT get her phone number!" he chided himself shaking his head and grinning like an idiot.

He got up and headed for his bathroom to get ready for bed. He stripped off his pants, shirt and socks and tossed them in the laundry hamper. He grabbed his pajama pants and slipped them on. Then brushed his teeth and splashed some water on his face. He looked at himself in the mirror and realized he looked happier than he had in a long time.

He grinned and headed back into the bedroom. He climbed into bed and flipped off the lights. He fell asleep dreaming about you and what he wanted to do for a date with just the two of you.

Later on that night, around 2 am, Gary woke up. He wasn't sure why at first, then he heard the noise again. He groaned and got up. Walking into the hallway, he checked on Donnie in his room. He was sleeping soundly. Then Gary heard Trey cry out and it woke Donnie up. Donnie startled seeing a figure in his doorway until he realized it was his Dad.

"Trey?" he asked. Gary nodded then moved to open Trey's door. Donnie followed.

They came in and saw Trey curled up in a ball on his bed with his bed sheets all over the place. He was squirming and covering his head, having a flashback to seeing the tornadoes by the church.  Gary and Donnie came and sat on opposite sides of the bed from each other. Trey was still in the midst of the nightmare and tossed and turned.

"Trey." Gary said as he shook his son's shoulder. Trey just mumbled something intelligible. "Come on, Trey, wake up! It's just a nightmare." Gary said a little firmer as he shook Trey's shoulder again. Trey still didn't wake up.

Donnie got down on the floor and knelt by Trey's head. He took Trey's face in his hands and said, "Come on Trey, wake up!" in a loud, firm tone. Trey's eyes flew open and he startled. He looked around frantically, his heart racing. "Donnie? Dad?" he asked scared.

"We're here, Trey, you were having another night mare / flashback episode." Gary says as Trey crawls into his arms with tears running down his cheeks. "Why do I keep having these, Dad?" he asks.

"I don't know, Trey. I wish I knew what to tell you to help you." he said as he rubbed Trey's head and back.

"I get them too, sometimes, Trey." Donnie tells him. "I'll wake up feeling trapped like when Kaitlyn and I were in the paper mill. I've never been so scared in my life. I honestly didn't think anyone would find us alive." he told Trey and his Dad.

"Dad?" Trey mumbles into his Dad's chest, "Do you get them? The flashbacks and night mares?" Trey asks.

Gary heaves a sigh, "Yeah. Sometimes, I'll wake up from one. Usually when it's storming outside, or if I've had a stressful day at work." he says quietly.

"Dad, can we go talk to y/n's friends and see if they can help us get rid of these flashbacks and nightmares? She said they helped her out a lot and she seems happy with them. Can we give it a try?" Trey begs.

Gary nods, "If that is something you think would help, we can go and try it. Do you want to try it, Donnie?" Gary asks him. Donnie nods. "I'll try anything to get them to go away." he replies.

Gary sighs, relieved that the boys were willing to try it. "I will ask y/n for the phone number and names of them tomorrow when we go to meet with her for wherever she is taking us." he tells them.

"You boys gonna be ok to sleep in your rooms tonight or do we want to camp out in the living room again?" he asks. The two boys grin and ask to camp out in the living room. Gary gets up and goes to get his phone from his room. He grabs his pillow and the comforter from off the bed. He drags them to the living room where the two boys did the same.

"Everyone remember to set alarms on your phones to get up and get ready?" he asked them. They both nod. He checks to make sure his is set and that it is plugged in to charge some more.

Gary lays down on the floor on his back with a son on either side of him. They look up at your painting and think about the fun camping trip they had in Colorado. "Dad, do you think we could figure out a way to go camping and take y/n with us so she can be comfortable and have fun too?" Trey asks.

Gary chuckles. "Let me think about it, Trey. Maybe I can figure something out." he replies. "For now, go to sleep. Morning will come fast for us and we don't want to make y/n late." he tells his boys. They cuddle against him and everyone falls asleep pretty quickly after that, dreaming about camping in Colorado along the river with the waterfall.

***********

Morning arrives and your alarm is playing "Good Morning" by Mandisa.  You wake up chuckling, remembering the nurse who programmed it into your phone. She made you promise to always use that ringtone for your morning alarm to remind yourself that today was another blessing for you to wake up to.

You excitedly got up and got ready. You showered and got dried off. You picked out a pair of blue jean shorts, an army green tank top, your brother's army light weight jacket with your last name on the patch, and picked up your tool to help you get your socks on so you could wear your new tennis shoes today. You got dressed and groaned at the thought of tying your shoes again. You wished you had gotten Gary's cell number or his sons' number so maybe one of them could come tie them for you. You shrugged, and decided to slip into them and see if one of them would tie them for you before you all left. You ran a brush through your hair and pulled it into a pony tail and slid on your brother's army hat.

You went to the kitchen and made a bacon, egg and cheese muffin in the microwave like your nurse friend had shown you as an easy breakfast you could make in a hurry. You made an entire pot of Peppermint tea and poured it into your thermos so you had enough to last you through the day.

You sat down with your breakfast and a glass of orange juice as you checked your e-mails on your phone. You had a message from your counselor reminding you of your appointment tomorrow, and some e-mails from your friends back home wondering how you were faring in your new home. You replied to the e-mails as you ate, telling your friends about Gary and his sons and how much of a blessing they have been to you since you met them.

Your friend, the firefighter who had found you called you and the two of you talked for a bit until you had to leave. You told him about Gary and his sons and how Gary asked you out on a date in the not so distant future. Your friend told you he was happy for you and he hoped your relationship with Gary worked out. He teased, "I want an invite to the wedding!" and you both giggled as you said goodbye.

You picked up your shoes and loosened the laces so you could slide into them and then grabbed your keys, purse and thermos. You headed out the door and down the hallway to Gary's door. You rang the doorbell and looked down at your feet, staring at your unlaced shoes. You looked up when you heard the lock turn and Donnie opened the door.

He grinned and stepped aside to let you in. "Dad, Y/n's here!" he called out. You chuckled.

"I like your outfit!" he said as he looked at your jacket.

"Thanks Donnie, The jacket and hat were my brother's. They were in his duffel bag and when the tornado hit, it flung the bag almost 50 miles away. It landed in a farmer's yard and he saw the name on it and called the Army. They somehow gave him my last known address and he brought it to my hometown. When he learned I was in the hospital from the tornado hitting, he brought the duffel bag up to the hospital and gave it to one of my nurses. She apparently dumped it out and washed all the clothes and linens and put all the important stuff like his id, dog tags, and medals into a bag and kept it in the hospital's safe until I was ready to leave." you explain.

"Wow!!! Cool!" Donnie says. You chuckle. Donnie looks down at your feet and sees your shoes are untied. "Did you need some help tying your shoes, y/n?' he asks. You look down and nod.

"Yeah, I hoped one of you might help me out with that one. I can't reach them to tie them. Usually I just have them loose so I can slip in and out of them, but I got yelled at by my PT for doing that cuz it's hard on the heels of the shoes and it doesn't give my feet the proper support they need." you explain. "I haven't figured out yet what to do for them so I don't have to ask for help every time I want to wear them." you sigh.

Donnie chuckles and kneels down to tie them for you. "Well for now, you can come ask us, at least till school starts." he says. You grin and thank him.

Just then, Gary comes around the corner from his room and sees Donnie kneeling down, tying your shoes for you. He grins and comes over to give you a hug. "Sleep well?" he asks. You nod.

"You?" you ask him. Gary rubs his neck, "Yeah, till around 2am, then Trey had either a flash back or a nightmare about the tornadoes, then we were all up for a while. Ended up camping in the living room again." he sheepishly admitted. "We're all dragging a bit this morning." he informed you.

"It's ok, I allotted enough time so we'd get there early anyway. We can pick up breakfast for you guys on the way if you want." you offer. He grins and thanks you.

"Trey, you almost ready?" Gary asks. "Yeah, I'm coming." Trey replies as he comes walking into the kitchen with a yawn. "Rough night, Trey?" you ask. He nods. "yeah." is all he says.

"Well I think you'll like where we are going and what you'll see." you tell him. Hinting at the day's plans. He looks at you questioningly. You grin.

"Come on, I'll get you all breakfast. Let's get going." you tell them.

"Would you mind if I brought my video camera with, Y/n?" Donnie asks.

"No, you can bring it if you want."  You tell him.

Gary chuckles. "Donnie likes to take videos of stuff we do as a family." he explains.

You smile and nod. "Come on then, lets head out." you tell them.

Gary opens the door for you and the four of you head out. Donnie locks the door and you all head to the parking lot. You walk over to your gold 2003 Honda Accord and unlock the doors for them with your key fob.  You open the skylight and they all climb in. You laugh as Gary has to slide the front seat back a bit for his long legs. Much to Trey's dismay. "DAD!!! You're squashing my legs!" he teases. Gary just laughs and scoots the seat up one notch.

You chuckle at the two of them. "So what do you guys want for breakfast?" you ask. They decide on a fast food restaurant so you head there and go through the drive through, they place their orders and everyone gets orange juice to drink and Gary also gets a coffee.

"Aren't you gonna eat, y/n?" Trey asks after you pay for the food and hand them the bags of food and the drink trays. You chuckle, "No, Trey, I ate already." you tell them, "You guys go ahead and eat. I have to drive anyway."

They eat and try to figure out where you're taking them. Once you pull into the parking lot, Trey's eyes get huge. "Are you getting your dog today, y/n?" he asks excitedly.  Gary looks over at you and you try not to smirk. But the twinkle in your eyes and your grin tell him that is exactly what is going to happen. "You'll just have to come in and see for yourself, Trey." you manage to get out. Gary just chuckles.

You all hop out of your car and head over to the building. You hand Gary your keys and tell him that if the boys get bored, he can take them to go do something else but to leave you his cell number so you can call him when you're done. He grins and looks down at you. "I realized last night, I didn't have your phone number." he chuckles. "Felt kinda dumb, knowing I asked you to go out with me and forgot to get your cell number." he teases.

You giggle. "Here, give me your phone and I'll put mine in yours and you can put yours in for mine." you tell him. The two of you swap phones and enter your phone numbers and names into the cell phones. Donnie and Trey are looking around at all the people and dogs. They see you and their dad messing around on cell phones and come over to see what you two are doing. They both get huge grins when they see the two of you hand the phones back to each other.

Donnie claps and teases his dad, "So ya finally got her number huh? I suppose that means you two are dating?" he pokes his dad's arm with a grin.

Gary blushes and looks at you. You nod and he says, "Yeah, Donnie, we're dating." Donnie grins a huge grin. "Good! So, y/n where is your dog?" he asks looking back to the line of dogs.

You look for the one that looks like a gray wolf but don't see him yet. "I'm not sure. But we are here about 10 minutes early, so he may not be here yet." you tell them. "Let's go find a place for you guys to sit and watch. I need to go check in and let them know I'm here." you tell them.

You all walk over to some seating that has been set up. You introduce yourself and Gary and his kids to the attendant and she instructs Gary and his sons to have a seat on the bleachers or in the chairs on the floor. She tells you to head over to the table to get the paperwork that will need to be filled out and get registered.

You give Gary a hug and then they head over to sit and watch while you go to the table to fill out all the paperwork. You come back over to them after a few minutes with a pile of papers. You sit down and start reading through them. The boys ask you questions and you let each of them read the paperwork after you finish reading and signing them. They hand each one to Gary when they are done reading them and he takes a look at them as well. Once you all have read through everything, you head back over to the table to turn in said paperwork. You are given a number and told to come up to the podium when your number is called and you will be matched up with your dog and it's handler.

You head back to sit with Gary and the kids until your number is called. You all have fun looking at all the different kinds of dogs that people are getting. Some of the people are veterans of war, some are missing limbs, some are civilians who are needing the animal for a variety of reasons. The four of you watch in rapt fascination as you are able to observe the different people learning how to handle their dogs and give them different signals. Some of the ones who are helping people with missing limbs are even able to help them get from the floor to a sitting or standing position, which fascinates Trey.

You are one of the last people called to be trained with your dog. You head over to the arena's podium when some of the other recipients and their dogs head out. Your handler explained why they saved your dog for last.

"Because he was trained to help with your anxiety, flashbacks, and also as a guard dog, we wanted to wait till the other dogs had left the arena." the handler explained. "Your training will be different than the others'." you asked the handler if your boyfriend and his children should also be trained to handle Zeus should something happen to you where you need help. He thought for a minute, then replied, "If you think it would be beneficial and you see this being a long term situation, then yes, they should also be trained to handle him. That way he will consider them part of his 'pack'. " the handler replied.

You went to tell Gary and the boys and they were surprised, but agreed to come and be trained. They followed you back to the arena where Zeus sat patiently with his handler. The handler had you all line up and introduced each of you to Zeus and showed you how to introduce him to people you deem ok. He sniffed each of your hands and then licked them. The handler told you that when he does that he is learning your scent and him licking your hand is his way of learning the taste of your skin and strengthening the scent marker for him. He instructed all of you what to look for when Zeus realizes you are having a panic / anxiety attack, flashback and tells you what to do as far as how to handle him. Donnie asks the handler if he would mind if he video taped the training, so if they have a question or can't remember something, that they can go back and rewatch the video. The trainers nodded and gave him permission.

The trainer shows you all how to put on Zeus' service animal vest for when you are out in public and shows you each patch signifying what all he is trained in. Companion animal, Service animal, scent tracking, and guard dog / body guard. He explains to all of you how to handle the public when they approach you while Zeus is "working" and instructs you all not to let the public pet Zeus when he is working unless you feel it is okay. He reminds you all of the proper way to introduce Zeus to people and has you all practice it.

Then he informs you what businesses can and can not do to both you and Zeus. He tells you to always keep Zeus' paperwork in his holster on his vest so you have it with you all the time. He gives you the information to report a business that violates the laws regarding service animals which you enter into your phone immediately.

He shows you all how to care for Zeus and then starts to teach you all the hand signals / commands for the dog. "We taught him with nonverbal commands so only you and those you choose will be able to command him. He will only respond if it is people in his 'pack' giving him the commands." you all are told. "You may train him with verbal commands as well if you like but use the hand symbols to reinforce the command so he makes the connection between the two." you are instructed.

The trainers and handlers spend the rest of the morning with you all as you learn the commands and practice them with Zeus. The last thing they show you before lunch is how he was trained to protect you. They teach you all what to look for as his warnings when he senses something or someone he deems isn't safe to be around.

They also show you how he is trained to attack, how to give the command for him to attack and how to get him to stop. Trey is fascinated by the trainer in all the padding until he sees the handler give Zeus the command to attack the trainer in all the padding. The dog lurches forward at a run and is snarling and growling and barking as he charges the trainer. He jumps and grabs the trainer's arm which was holding a gun, and the dog brings the trainer to the ground and keeps him from being able to use the gun. Once the command to stop is given the dog immediately stops and backs up, letting another trainer in a police uniform help the trainer up.

Next they show how he attacks if you are attacked by someone from behind. Another trainer in padding comes up behind you with a rubber knife and holds it to your throat. The trainer tells you to give Zeus the command to attack and to just stand still after that.

You do so and Zeus attacks the man's legs and gets him away from you and then goes after the hand with the weapon.  When you are instructed to tell Zeus to stop, you do and he stops immediately and backs up between you and the attacker while he waits for the trainer in the police uniform to help the other trainer up.

Finally they show you what to do if you are being mugged by someone who is standing in front of you with a knife. You are instructed to give Zeus the signal to attack and he charges the person in the padding attacking them in the arm first to disarm the knife then when the attacker starts to struggle against the dog, he goes for the groin, making Danny, Gary and Trey cringe and unconsciously cover their crotches. You try not to giggle. Zeus drops the attacker with that move and keeps the trainer pinned to the ground. They tell you to give him the command to stop. You do it and again Zeus backs up to allow the trainer in the cop uniform to help the other trainer up.

They go through a few more pieces of information with you and then emphasize to Gary's boys, that the attack commands are meant for your protection and are ONLY to be used in cases where you are truly in danger.  They emphasize to all of you, that Zeus will not attack unless given the signal, but he WILL raise his heckles, growl and act menacingly to try to scare off anyone he senses is a danger to his 'pack' and that you all should never ignore those signals from him.

They recommend you teach him a command to "Go get Gary... Go get Trey... Go get Donnie." once you get home and show him how to get from your apartment to theirs and to show him where the doorbell is for each apartment. They told Gary and his sons, that Zeus will ring the doorbell incessantly until someone answers and that if that happens to tell him to "find y/n" and that they should follow him immediately to wherever he leads. They nod, wide eyed at the dog and Gary looks at you amazed.

They give you all some time to get to know Zeus and they take his "Work vest" off. They tell you all that he knows what is expected of him when he has his vest on, and that he knows that when he has it off, he is allowed to play and be a normal dog, but that he will still do all his training if the need arises.

They let you all play with him in the arena and let him get used to his new 'pack'. He seems to have a particular affinity for you and Trey and repeatedly nuzzles the two of you often. He goes to Gary and Donnie as well, but seems to favor you and Trey more so at the moment.

Gary asks the trainer in the officer's uniform about that. The trainer tells him, "Zeus can sense different things, for some reason, he senses Trey is struggling with something and is trying to give him comfort like he was trained to do."

Gary asks the trainer if the training Zeus received to be a guard dog is any different than what a police dog gets. The trainer chuckles. "Well I'm a K-9 officer here and I help train our dogs for the city's PD. Zeus' training is very similar to what our police dogs go through. The only thing Zeus didn't get trained for is 'search and rescue' and 'drug sniffing'. Otherwise it's pretty much the same training as the K-9's get for the PD. You can rest assured, she is well protected." he tells Gary with a chuckle.

Gary's eyes widen for a moment. "Oh! I was wondering if you were a real officer or if you were dressed like one as part of the training." he replied.

The officer chuckles. "No, I'm a real officer. We get called on every once in a while to do this kind of training for special cases." he explained. "We heard about y/n's story from some friends in the Fire Dept and they asked us if we'd train y/n's service dog to be a guard dog as well since she is new here and has no living family left to help protect her. They wanted to be able to assure their comrades in her hometown that had rescued her from the apartment that she would be kept safe here. So we did the training, free of charge as a favor to them." he explained with a grin.

Gary thanked him. "I just met y/n a few days ago, and we've fallen in love with her. We are from Silverton and realized we had a lot in common with her once we got to talking. We were out in Sillverton when the tornadoes hit last summer. Trey and I were trying to find Donnie when the storms hit our community during graduation. Donnie got trapped in a paper mill that had collapsed on him and his friend. Trey and I ended up traveling with storm chasers to try to get through Silverton and the storms to rescue Donnie. We almost lost him and each other. A few more minutes delay and Donnie would've drowned in the pit they jumped into. It has filled with water by the time we got there and yeah, it was real scary. The boys and I have all battled with the flashbacks and nightmares from it." Gary told the officer.

The officer looked at Gary surprised."Wow. Well I'm glad you all survived. Y/n seems like a great gal and I hope Zeus serves her well. Hopefully he can help you three also when you are with her." he tells Gary. "Don't be afraid to ask for help though, with yours and your boys' flashbacks and nightmares. Even we officers, go to counseling to help us cope with a lot of the shit we see on the beat. It helps immensely to be able to talk about everything and be able to get a fresh perspective on things." he mentions to Gary.

Gary nods. "My youngest had a bad one last night and asked to go and talk to the ones that y/n sees." he informs the officer. The officer puts his hand on Gary's shoulder, "Then I suggest you schedule an appointment soon. Zeus will help him when he's around, but the best thing you can do for your boys is to take them to see the counselors y/n sees. It would also encourage them if you went and participated as well. They have different options. There's sessions you can do as a family, or you can let the boys do individual ones, and so can you if there's things you need to discuss that you don't want your boys hearing about." The officer recommends. "Talk to y/n and have her help you set it up." he suggests.

Gary nods and thanks him. "Any time, Gary, any time."

Zeus comes running up and drops a ball at Gary's feet and sits down and gives him a quiet "wuff". The Officer chuckles. "He wants you to throw the ball." he tells Gary.

Gary squats down and picks up the ball. Zeus nuzzles his hand and licks it as he picks up the ball. "wuff" Zeus says to Gary and Gary chuckles and tosses the ball over by Trey and you.

"Ok, folks, I think that's enough play time for Zeus. Do you have any other questions before I let you leave with your new dog?" the officer asks. No one has any questions so he puts Zeus' vest back on and hands each of you his card. "If you have any problems or questions about Zeus or his behavior, don't hesitate to call me and ask." he tells you all. "I will also put my card in here on Zeus' vest so if you lose your card, or someone needs to know who trained him for the body guard aspect you can show them this card in his vest pocket." the officer tells you.

You nod and thank all the handlers and the trainers. They all wish you luck and let you head out with Zeus. You clip the leash onto his harness and you take your supplies they gave you and Zeus' toys and you head out into the sunshine.

"So what now, y/n?" Trey asks. You think for a minute. "Well, I need to go to the pet store to get him food and supplies. So I guess you're all coming with!" you giggle. Trey and Donnie cheer. "Can he sit in back with us while you're driving?" they ask, making you chuckle.

Well, I don't think your Dad would enjoy having a big dog like Zeus sitting in his lap in the car, so yes, Zeus can sit in back with you two." You tell them.

Gary chuckles when they both cheer. You unlock the car and hit the button for the trunk release. You put the bag of paperwork and Zeus's toys and supplies in the trunk of the car. Then everyone piles in and Zeus hops up next to Trey in the back seat, then Donnie gets in and closes the door.

"Everyone in?" you ask.

"Yup!" Trey replies.

You pull up the closest pet store place and head there. Gary studies your face for a bit while you're driving. You glance over at him and chuckle. "What?" you ask him.

He just grins, "It's nothing." he says and looks back at the two boys with the dog. Zeus is sprawled across both of their laps. His rear on Donnie's lap and his head on Trey's. They're both petting him and looking out the windows.

"I think that's the quietest I've seen them in the car in quite a while." he says quietly.

You grin.

You see the pet store up ahead and pull into the parking lot. You park and look back at the two boys, who are thoroughly enjoying the dog's presence. "Well, we're here. Now to find all the stuff I'm gonna need." you sigh.

I'm gonna have to take one of you shopping with me when I need to get food for him. There's no way I'm gonna be able to pick up those big bags of food!" you tell them. The three of them just grin. "Anytime y/n!" they say and then laugh.

You all get out of the car and Trey holds onto the leash until you walk around the car to join them. "Here, y/n." he tells you holding out the leash. You think for a moment, "How about you hang onto him for me, Trey. I'm gonna need my hands free to push the cart and grab the stuff he will need." you suggest.

Gary smiles when he sees Trey's face light up. "Really? I can walk him for you?" he asks. You give him a grin and nod. He just beams and says, "Come on Zeus, lets go get you some stuff for your new home with y/n!"

Zeus looks up at Trey and says, "Wuff." which makes Donnie giggle.

You all head to the door of the store and Gary grabs a shopping cart. He lets you push it and you ask the employee standing by the door where the section for dogs starts. She points you over to the left side of the store and says, "That whole half of the store is for Dogs. Oh! What a beautiful dog! May I pet him?" she asks

"Thank you, but not right now. He is working and we just got him and are still getting used to him and his mannerisms." you tell her. She nods. "If you have any questions on what you'll need, feel free to ask any of us working here." she tells you. You thank her and the four of you head over to the Dog section with Zeus.

Gary watches Zeus' reactions to everything carefully. He is surprised that Zeus stays right by Trey's side and doesn't try to go wandering around and doesn't try to chew on the toys that are right next to him. Whenever you stop to look at something, Zeus just sits down and watches you, patiently waiting for you to move on with your shopping.

You look at the different dog foods and wonder which one Zeus would eat. "Zeus, which food do you want?" you decide to ask him. He gets up and comes over to you and looks up at you. "Get your food, Zeus." you tell him.

He cocks his head to the side and you repeat yourself to him. He stands and walks over to the food bags and starts to sniff each one looking for the one he is familiar with. Trey follows him holding onto the leash, letting him smell each bag. When Zeus finds the one he wants, he sits down by it and says, "Wuff" then noses the bag.

You look at Gary and Donnie and shrug. "I guess that is the one he was fed by his handler." you reply. "I wonder how much he will be eating?" you ponder. "Let's get two bags and see how long it lasts him." you say.

Donnie walks over and picks up one bag and plops it into the shopping cart, then goes and gets another one and drops it in too. You notice the metal garbage looking cans for storing dog food and point to one of them on the top shelf. "Can one of you guys grab that for me?" you ask. Gary goes over and pulls it down. "I'll just carry it for you, y/n. I don't think it'll fit in that shopping cart." he chuckles.

You nod and thank Gary. You all wander through the aisles, picking out a de-shedding comb, and shampoo and clippers for the toe nails, a dog bed, dog bowl for food and one for water.

"Dad, can we get him a water bowl and some toys to have at our place for when he comes to visit?" Trey asks. Gary shrugs. "If you want to get them you can, Trey. You're earning money with the paper route you do in the mornings." Gary replies.

"y/n, do you mind if I do that?" Trey asks.

You chuckle, "That's fine, Trey, that way I won't have to lug toys and such back and forth. Trey takes Zeus over to the toys and tells him to pick out some toys.

You all watch as the dog sniffs at different toys and noses some of them. He picks out a frizbee, a ball, a big rawhide bone and a squeaky duck. He proudly carries the duck back to you squeaking it repeatedly with a goofy look on his face. You laugh and try to take it to put it in the cart and he tries to "Wuff" with it in his mouth. Trey giggles and tells him. "Zeus..." when the dog looks at Trey, he motions to the dog to 'drop' the toy. Zeus huffs and drops the duck. Trey picks it up and carries it with the other stuff Zeus picked out for toys.

Trey takes Zeus back to where the food and water bowls are and picks out a water bowl for Zeus to have at their place. Then they come back to where the rest of you are at.

"Hey! Look at these!" Donnie says as he grabs something and brings it over to you. "Look, they clip on the leash and it's a little roll of bags you tear off to put his poo in when you take him for walks!" He says as he shows it to you.

You giggle and tell him to toss it in the cart. "Does it have refills?" you ask. He goes back to look and nods. "Better grab a pack of the refills too. I'll need them eventually." you reply.

"Is there anything else we need?" you ponder. You spot an employee and call him over. You explain you just got Zeus and don't know what all you will need. He looks at what all you picked out and asks, do you have a flea and tick collar for him? They need to be replaced every so often. He shows you where they are located and you pick one out. Trey looks to see if he has one on now and he does. "When that one wears out, depending on when it was put on him, just replace it with this one when the time rolls around." the employee tells you.

"You might want to consider getting a tooth brush and tooth paste for him, they are over here and it's really easy to get them to let you brush their teeth. Don't forget treats and I might suggest getting a tag for his collar with his name on one side, and yours and your phone number on the other side. In case something happens and he gets separated from you." the employee suggests. "It makes it much easier for people to return the pet if they can just look on the collar instead of having to take him to a vet to have the microchip read." he informs you. You nod. "Well, he is a working dog, and not just a pet, but I think that is a good idea anyway." you reply. "Thank You!" you tell him.

You grab the toothbrush and paste, and show Zeus a few different packages of treats. "Zeus, which treats do you like?" you ask pointing to the bags. He goes over and sniffs them he picks up one bag and brings it to you. You motion for 'drop' and he drops it then walks back over and sniffs the bags again and picks out another one, bringing it to you and drops it. "Good boy!" you praise him.

Donnie grins and puts the other treat bags back in their spots on the shelf, and grabs another one of the bags of treats that Zeus picked out to keep at their apartment. He tosses it to Trey who grins and catches it and adds it to his pile in his arms. He spots a basket and dumps them all in the basket then picks it up and carries it.

You all head up to the till area and spot the name tag machine. You head over to the machine and Trey and Zeus follow. Gary offers to stay in line with the cart and wait for you with Donnie. You and Trey pick out a fire hydrant tag and you type Hi, I'm Zeus!  for the front of the tag, and on the back you type in Y/n and your phone number. Trey watches in fascination as the lazer engraves the information on the tag, flips it over and engraves the name and phone number on the back, then drops it into the grab bin. He reaches in and pulls it out and looks at it.

"Cool!" he exclaims and hands it to you. You head back over to the Cash register and stand in line with Gary and Donnie. You show them the tag and then spot a little medical information booklet that you can keep in your purse and put all of Zeus' info in it. You grab one and toss it in the cart too.

Zeus sits patiently by Trey's legs, careful to keep out of the way of other people and shopping carts. "What a well behaved dog!" a lady behind you says.

You turn and say, "Thank You! We just got him as a service animal for me." You reply.

The lady huffs and looks at you, "Why do you need a service animal?" she says snidely. "You look fine!"

You hear Gary growl under his breath. You put a hand on his back and give it a gentle rub.

"I have spinal and pelvis injuries which required massive surgery and months of rehab after a tornado ripped through my hometown last summer, causing my apartment building to collapse on top of me. I suffer from PTSD and also have difficulty doing some everyday tasks. Zeus here is my service dog to help me with those things that I need help with." you patiently explain. My boyfriend and his two wonderful sons, here offered to help me shop for supplies for my new dog. That is why Trey is holding onto Zeus for me." you tell her.

"Oh." she replies. You turn and move forward when you see the line shift up. You look up at Gary and he is smiling at you. He wraps an arm around your shoulder and kisses the top of your head. You lean into him and wrap your arm around his waist. Once you reach the cashier, Donnie unloads the stuff onto the conveyor belt and you move to pay for the supplies. "Will you let me get these for you this time?" Gary whispers to you as he watches Donnie unloading the supplies. You look up at him surprised. "Why?" you ask quietly.

"Because I'd like to and can afford it, and want to help you out." Gary replies. You shrug. "If you want to, I guess you can." you tell him. He kisses the top of your head again and pulls out his wallet. He hands the cashier his card and pays for the supplies. Trey puts his basket on the belt behind your purchases and the cashier rings them up as Donnie loads the cart back up. Trey pays for his purchases and then you all head out to the car. "Thank you, Gary. You didn't have to do that, you know." you tell him as Trey pushes the cart and you hang onto Zeus' leash.

"I know. But I wanted to." he says, giving you a gentle hug. You smile and give his waist a squeeze as the two of you walk to the car. You pull out your keys and push the button for the trunk. "Think you two can load that stuff into the trunk for me?" you ask. They grin and nod. You unlock the car and you let Zeus in the back seat and motion for him to sit. He does so and waits for Donnie and Trey to get in the car. You and Gary get in the front and hold hands. "So now what do you wish to do for the rest of the afternoon?" he asks.

"I'm hungry. How about we go get some food and ice cream for dessert?" you ask. Gary grins and nods. Trey and Donnie hop into the car and Zeus is excitedly licking their faces. They both start laughing and pull the doors closed.

You start the car and head to your favourite restaurant that serves food and icecream. You all order and the waitress asks if you got a new dog. You tell her yes, and introduces her to Zeus. You explain he is your service dog. She asks if you would mind if she brought your dog a little treat. You nod and tell her that is fine. She heads off to place the orders. She brings you all your beverages and a bowl of water for Zeus. Then she leaves you all to talk and after a while she brings your all your food. She even has a little plate with some steak cut up in bite size pieces for Zeus. He gives her a soft "Wuff" and goes about eating his treat while you all eat. You feel him lie down by your ankle and grin.

The server comes back over and asks how your food is, and takes the empty plate that had Zeus' food on it. You all finish eating and then order ice cream for dessert. They have an ice cream bar where you can pick from different flavors, so you all go over to see what they have. You pick out a mint chocolate chip and a chocolate and marshmallow swirl ice cream. Donnie picks a moose tracks ice cream, Trey picks the superman rainbow swirl ice cream and Gary picks a double chocolate chip ice cream. You ask the server if you could have a small scoop of plain vanilla for your service dog and he smiles and scoops out a small scoop, puts it on a doggie sized ice cream cone and lays it in a bowl for Zeus. He hands you the bowl and smiles.

You all walk back to the table to enjoy your ice cream and you all chuckle and look under the table when you hear Zeus grunting and crunching on the ice cream cone. "I didn't think he'd actually eat the cone!" Donnie said chuckling. "He seems to really like it." Gary said chuckling as Zeus looked up and licked his chops.

"Are you guys ready to head home? I could sure use a nap!" You ask. "Donnie and Trey nod, but you notice Gary looks bummed. "Y/n, could you come over after your nap and watch us play some video games again?" Trey asked. You looked at Gary and he smiled and nodded.

You grinned. "Sure. I just need to get a few things situated with Zeus and then we will be over after my nap." You promise, making Trey grin.

You all stand up, and Zeus backs out from under the table where he was hiding. "Come on Zeus, let's go home." you tell him. His ears perk up at the word 'Home' and he sits patiently for you to get ready to go. You take the leash and start heading for the cashier. You hand her your debit card and pay for everyone's food. Then you all head out and pile back into the car. You listen to the two young men in the back seat talking about the video games they were playing and you glance over at Gary. He is grinning and looking at you. You blush and pat his hand that is resting on the arm rest next to you. He smiles and takes your hand in his and brings it up to his lips and gives it a gentle kiss.

You grin and give his hand a squeeze as his kiss sent butterflies loose in your belly. You are tired from all the activity you aren't used to and sigh contentedly.   Gary chuckles and gives your hand another gentle squeeze. Soon enough you all are back at the apartment. You let Zeus and Trey and Donnie have fun exploring around the outside of the apartment. While they are doing so, Gary leans against one of the trees and pulls you close to him.

"Thank you for taking us with you this morning." he tells you. "I think Trey might be hanging out at your apartment a lot in the forseeable future. He always wanted a dog, but his mom was allergic to them and always told him no." he explained.

You grinned. "You and the boys are always welcome at my place, Gary." you remind him and give him a hug. "Thanks for coming with, and helping out with the shopping." you say with a wink. Gary grins and kisses you gently. "Want me to have the boys carry up the bags of food for you?" he asked.

You nodded. "Well I certainly can't lift them!" you chuckle. He smirks.

You hit the button to open the trunk and Gary moves over to take out the can and the bags of dog food. He hands you the bags with your other purchases and the stuff from the Trainers. Gary  calls the boys over to carry the bags of Dog food up to your apartment and he takes the metal Can for you. You all head up and you let them go first so you can let Zeus sniff around and get familiarized with the apartment building.

You see the manager of the building and introduce him to Zeus and explain he is your new service dog. The man happily holds out his hand to Zeus who sniffs it and gives it a lick. The manager asks if he can pet Zeus. You tell  him he can this time, but normally you aren't going to let people pet him when he is 'working' in his vest. He gives Zeus a scratch on the head behind his ears and you giggle as Zeus' leg starts thumping on the floor as the manager hits an itchy spot. He chuckles and welcomes Zeus to the apartment.

You thank him and head up to the landing where the guys are waiting for you. You tell Zeus that this door is where Gary, Donnie and Trey live and show him the doorbell. Zeus sniffs around the door and the doorbell then sniffs Trey's and Donnie's and Gary's feet. They chuckle and you head down the hall with them until you get to your apartment. You open the door and head in with Zeus. Gary and the boys following.

"Where do you want the can for the food, Y/n?" Gary asks. You think and tell him to put it in the storage room and to have the boys fill it with the two bags." he nods. "Gary, put one of the empty bags between the can and the wall so I remember which bag of food I need to get for him next time and so the can won't scratch the wall.

"Ok, Love." he replies and they go to take care of the dog food. You sit down on the couch and take Zeus' vest and harness off. You let him snoop around and get familiarized with the apartment.

Soon Gary and the boys are standing in the living room watching you interact with Zeus. "We'll head out, Y/n, so you can take a nap and rest up. Come over when you're ready to hang out and watch us play some video games." Gary tells you.

You look up, smile and nod. "Thanks again you guys, for coming with and all your help!" You tell them.

"Bye Zeus," Trey says as he squats down and motions for Zeus to 'come'. Zeus trots over and Trey gives him a good scratch along the collar and smuches his face into the dog's fur. "See you after a while. Be good for y/n now!" he tells the dog. Zeus licks his face and puts his chin on Trey's shoulder like a hug. Trey melts and looks up at his Dad, who just chuckles.

Gary comes over to you and gives you a peck on the cheek and tells you. "See you later, Love. Go to sleep now and get some rest."

You nod and follow them to the door. Zeus follows and you motion for him to 'sit' and 'stay' before you open the door. He does so and the guys step out of your apartment and the two boys head down the hallway. Gary looks over his shoulder and then looks back at you and gives you a steamy, passionate kiss as he pulls you close for a hug. You grin and bring your hands up in to his hair and he lets out a quiet groan and pulls you up against him and nibbles at your lower lip.

His phone starts to ring and he groans, "Brats! They have keys and can get in." he mumbles into the kiss. You giggle and he pulls away. "I will see you in a few hours, Sweetie." you tell him and give him another kiss. Go spend some time with your boys. I'll text you when I'm on my way." you tell him. He sighs and nods. He gives you one more peck on the cheek and turns to leave. He stops at the corner and looks back at you and Zeus standing in the doorway. He gives you his panty melting grin and nods before turning the corner and heads down the hall.

You sigh happily and close the door and lock it.

"Come on, Zeus, let's get your bed set up so I can go take a nap!

@fizzyxcustard​ @queenofmankind​ @dumbassunderthemountain​ @deepestfirefun​ @thetherianthropydaily​ @daisy-picking-lady​ @spookybunny​ @ellavaneck  @emrfangirl​ @midnight-reader-morning-sleeper​

[imagines-all-day-everyday]

Golden Girl

Requested by: Me bitches

Summary: It’s your first Golden Globes and Harry wants to be the supportive little bean of a boyfriend he is, but doesn’t want to take the attention away from your big night. 

Warnings: PURE ADORABLE FLUFF, swearing, you’ll probably fall even harder in love with harry styles after this fic too

Here’s an aesthetic based off this fic!

When you first found out about your golden globes nomination you went through a vast arrange of emotions.  

The first was surprise. 

The second was extreme happiness, obviously. It was your first award nomination, well, ever. And it wasn’t just any award - it was the golden fucking globes. 

The third and final emotion you felt was probably the strongest - pure and unbridled terror. 

You’d literally only done one red carpet before this one, and it was for the film you’d been nominated for. You were not a great public speaker, and were certainly not equipped to handle having cameras shoved in your face or socialising with legendary actors and actresses. 

In your mind, you weren’t famous at all. You were just a girl from New York who had somehow managed to land a lead role in a film. Hell, you’d only been acting for two years! All you’d done before this film was work as an extra in a few films, the biggest one being Dunkirk, and a few tv shows as a minor character. 

Then all of a sudden your movie blew up, talk of Oscar nominations were being thrown around and all of a sudden everyone seemed to care about who *yn* *yln* was. It was a total whirlwind, one second it seemed like you were walking down the street completely unnoticed and the next you couldn’t even leave your house without being bombarded with cameras and questions.

“I can’t do this.” You had affirmed as you paced around the living room of your apartment. “I’ll just say I’m sick and can’t go, I won’t win anyway so there’s no point of me being there! Yeah that’ll work! Ok I’ll ring my agent and-”

“Would yeh just sit down for a minute love? Yeh making my head spin.” 

You paused mid ramble and turned to your boyfriend, Harry, who was sitting on the couch observing you. “Sit down? Yeah right ok, I can do that.” You mumbled, sitting down beside him stiffly. 

Oh yeah, you were also dating the Harry Styles. Yeah, you had no idea how that happened either. Never would have you thought in your wildest dreams that being an extra in Dunkirk would end up with you dating one of the most famous singers in the world. 

“Jus’- take a deep breath ok.” He chuckled lightly, placing his large hands over your fidgeting ones. “C’mon, with me.” He guided, inhaling deeply with you, holding it for a few moments before releasing. 

“I know you’re nervous love, but you’re going to be fine.” He spoke softly. 

“Easy for you to say! How many interviews, awards shows and red carpets have you done!” You exclaimed. “Your right, but I had to have my first one too y’know. Got so nervous before my first award show I threw up beforehand.”

“You? You were nervous?” You reiterated in disbelief. You couldn’t believe the man sitting before you, who literally oozed confidence and sex appeal, had been nervous about an award show.

“Still do sometimes. Nearly shat myself before the Dunkirk premiere.” He explained which made you giggle lightly. 

“You’re smart, funny and sexy, you’re gonna be totally fine.” He continued as he brushed his thumb over your hand comfortingly. “You deserve this nomination love, just as much as every other actress in that category. You probably deserve it even more, but I’m a little bias.” He spoke which made you smile softly.

“You’re too smooth for your own good, Styles.” You shook your head before leaning in and kissing him thankfully. Harry hummed into your mouth in appreciation and you felt your heart flutter as his stubble brushed against your chin.

“Come with me.” You mumbled, once you’d pulled away from his pink lips. There were a few moments of silence as his green eyes bore into yours intently. The pair of you had only been dating for a few months and so far had kept everything very private. This would definitely change that.

“I can’t love.” He shook his head and you felt your heart sink in disappointment. “Oh...” You trailed off, pulling away from him slightly.

“Hey, hey, hey!” He cooed, tugging you back around to face him. “Not cause I don’t wanna be with yeh, pet. Trust me, there’s nothing more I’d wanna do then walk the red carpet with yeh.” He assured you which made a small blush form on your cheeks.

“It’s jus’ I don’t wanna take away from your moment. This night’s all about you and how talented you are. Not about our relationship.” 

“You have a point.” You sighed and you couldn’t help but roll your eyes at the triumphant smirk on Harry’s lips. So damn competitive. “I just wish you could be there though, would make me feel a lot more comfortable.” You explained, pouting out your bottom lip slightly. Harry swallowed and mulled over your words, guilt washing over him at the sight of your anxiety filled features.

“How about if I was there?” 

“Wha- how?” You asked him. There were a few moments as Harry thought deeply before his eyes lit up. “I could go with Chris!”

“Chris? As in Christopher Nolan?” 

“Yeah! Dunkirk’s nominated for some stuff ‘innet? I could sit with him, walk the red carpet by myself and still be there for you!” 

“Harry....” You trailed off, noticing the way his face fell at your tone. All of a sudden your mouth split into a huge grin before you planted a huge kiss to his mouth. “You’re a genius.” 

So, that was how you’d ended up on the red carpet at the golden globes. You hated to admit it, but so far it hadn’t been that bad. Actually, it had been really freaking fun. You’d found interacting with the other actors surprisingly easy, happy to find that everyone you’d spoken with had been relaxed and friendly, normal even. You'd even managed to meet the Stranger Things cast (and may or may not have geeked out in the process) and were secretly dying to post the picture you had all snapped together.

“*yn*! *yn*!” A voice shouted and you turned from your conversation with the Gal Gadot to see an interviewer waving their hand frantically at you.

“Go, go!” Gal assured you when you glanced back at her with doubt written on your features. “And good luck for tonight, darling!” She murmured, flashing you a friendly smile and hugging you, pecking your cheek before disappearing into the throng of people.

“Oh my fucking god!” You whispered under your breath, touching your cheek in excitement as you headed over to the interviewer.

“*yn* thank you so much for coming over! I have to say you look absolutely stunning tonight!” The interviewer gushed as you wandered over. 

“Thank you, it’s my pleasure!” You smiled back at her. “I see you’ve gone with the all black theme tonight, who are you wearing?” 

“Of course, I’m always willing to support such important causes.” You answered, glancing down at your tight, black strapless gown. “I’m actually wearing a custom Versace tonight, so I’m very lucky.” 

“Well I think we can all agree you’re absolutely rocking it.” She beamed. “Now, you’re only nineteen, correct?” She asked to which you nodded. 

“This must be all so crazy for you, being so young and being thrusted into the spotlight?”

“Yeah crazy is definitely the right word.” You laughed lightly. “I mean I never expected to ever even be cast in a movie, let alone a lead role. So this has all just been a total dream for me, I honestly pinch myself every morning because it doesn’t feel real.”

“I can imagine! Now, I also couldn’t help but notice you walking the red carpet alone. No date tonight?” 

“No, no. Just riding solo on this one. I’ve got the rest of my cast with me though, so I don’t feel too lonely.” You joked.

“Well since we’ve got you here, I have to ask or else our viewers will kill me, are you seeing anyone right now?” 

Oh god.

Before you could answer however, an eruption of screams echoed from the start of the red carpet causing the interviewer’s attention to move away from you. As she cranned her neck to see who it was, a security guard sidled up to you and leant into your ear. “Ms *yln*, the show will be starting shortly, if you wouldn’t mind following me....” 

You paused, glancing over at the interviewer before you gave your answer. “Um I think I have to go...” You trailed off awkwardly. “Gary!? Do you know who that is?? Can anyone see who that is?!” The interviewer was shouting frantically at her crew.

“Ok let’s go.” You murmured to the security guard, following after him quickly before she could notice you were gone, silently thanking whichever celebrity it was that had just arrived.

And a small part of you knew exactly who that celebrity was....

Harry let out a small sigh slip past his lips as he adjusted his suit jacket absentmindedly. He knew he was supposed to be focused on the interviewer in front of him but he couldn’t help himself scan the crowd looking for you. 

“Well I’m sure everyone at home agrees with me when I say you look very dashing in that suit!” The interviewer said, bringing him back to reality.

“Thank you, thank you.” Harry grinned, glancing down at the all black suit he was wearing. 

“If I’m correct, you originally weren’t planning on attending the awards tonight, what changed your mind?” She quizzed him. “Oh you know me, any chance to get my photo taken.” He chuckled which made her let out a high pitched laugh.

“Now, I have to ask, the up and coming *yn* *yln* is actually here tonight. The pair of you were spotted at a cafe about a week ago, how do you guys know each other?” She asked, her laugh cutting off abruptly as she shoved her microphone in his face. 

Harry let out a breathy laugh as he ran his hand through his hair, he had absolutely no idea that you and him had been photographed together. Guess you weren’t as sneaky as you two had originally thought.

“Actually, not many people know this but *yn* was actually an extra on Dunkirk and that’s how we met.” 

“An extra?! Really!”

“Yeah if you rewatch it you’ll see her hand me a piece of jam toast, it’s quite riveting cinema.” Harry winked playfully. 

“Well I have to say that in these photos you two look very cosy, are we right in assuming you two are an item?” 

Fuck. Harry was just about to open his mouth to splutter out some bullshit excuse when a loud bell rung out over the carpet. “Attention guests, the Golden Globes ceremony will be commencing in five minutes, please make your way inside promptly.” A voice over the loud speaker announced.

“Phew, saved by the bell.” Harry joked, wiping his brow sarcastically. “Thanks for having me!” Before the interviewer could press further, he waved at the camera and blew a kiss. 

“Thank fuck for tha’.” He mumbled under his breath as he hurried away.

“And the award for best miniseries or tv movie goes to.... Big Little Lies!” The room erupted into applause as the cast jumped up, hugging each other and crying.

You inhaled a sharp breath as you numbly clapped, your heart pounding against your rib cage as your nerves increased. Only three more awards until your category. You bit your lip and glanced around the room, your eyes immediately finding Harry due to the fact you had looked over at him about three hundred times already.

He too was clapping politely and whispering something to Christopher Nolan as the cast made their way up to the stage. It was then that you noticed that one of the cameramen was making his way towards your table. You quickly averted your eyes to the stage and painted on an admiring smile, knowing that he would soon be filming your tables reaction to the speech.

Despite the fact that your eyes were on Nicole Kidman, you had absolutely no idea what she was saying. No doubt, saying something about how she was so deeply in love with her cast, Keith Urban and then some more crying. As the cast continued to speak, you stole another glance at Harry from across the room.

This time, he was looking at you. You knew you could only look at him for a few seconds before you would have to act like you were paying attention. And he knew it too. You spluttered when he opened his mouth and smiled and saw that his front teeth were coated in chocolate, intentionally of course. You slapped a hand over your mouth to stifle your laughter and forced a cough to emit from your throat to not look suspicious. 

Once you had recovered and the speech was over, you looked back over at him and raised a brow at him. He simply sent you an all too innocent shrug which made you shake your head slightly and look back up at Seth Meyers.

The rest of the awards seemed to whiz by at a ridiculous pace and before you knew it your category was being announced by none other than Angelina Jolie and Isabelle Huppert.

“You look fuckin’ beautiful, love.” A voice whispered into your ear causing you to jump and jerk your head around away from the two women’s opening skit to see Harry sitting in the spare seat beside you.  “Jesus Harry, how did you-”

“Told yeh I’d be here for you didn’t I?” He murmured into your ear as he placed his hand on your thigh. Your eyes darted around your table to see the rest of your cast and the director smirking at the pair of you and laughing amongst themselves. Yeah, you were never going to hear the end of this one.

“Sure Chris didn’t mind his date ditched?” 

“I managed to charm my way out of his bad books.” He smirked cockily. “Now why does that not surprise me?”

“And the nominees are...Jessica Chastain, Molly’s Game...”

“Oh fuck.” You whispered under your breath, every other thought vanishing from your mind. “Just breathe, love.” Harry mumbled, rubbing your now shaking thigh with his thumb.

“Lastly, *yn* *yln*, Three Doors Down.” Angelina spoke, polite applause following. You mustered up a small smile and waved at the camera, well aware that Harry would be in the shot but finding yourself not caring in the slightest.

“And the golden globe for best actress in a drama film goes to....” Isabelle Huppert spoke. You inhaled a sharp breath as Isabelle opened the envelope, grinning before showing it to Angelina.

“*yn* *yln*, Three Doors Down!” The women shouted. The room exploded in applause as you stared up at the stage, totally numb. They must have read the card wrong.... there was no way that you could have-

“Get up there!” Alie, one of your cast members squealed, breaking you out of your shock fuelled state. You could feel Harry subtly nudging you up onto your feet and off your chair. Finally, you felt a huge grin spread across your lips as the reality that you’d actually won started to sink in. Your whole table of film associates rose from their seats as they applauded. You felt herself squeeze Harry’s hand before blindly hugging Alie. 

You felt like your legs had a mind of their own as you made your way from your table up onto the stage. “Congratulations!” Isabelle smiled warmly and then Angelina fucking Jolie hugged you and handed you the large award. It was a lot heavier than you expected. All of a sudden you were standing there by yourself in front of the microphone, a golden globe clutched in your hand and a room full of incredible actors staring up at you.

“Uh- I honestly have no clue what to say, seriously I was so convinced I wasn’t going to win that I didn’t even think about preparing a speech.” You admitted and much to your relief, the room broke out into light laughter. “I guess the first thing I have to say is thank you so much to the Hollywood Foreign Press, not only for gifting me this award, but for all of the hard work you do. None of us would be here without you.” 

You opened your mouth to continue but faltered when your eyes fell on your idol, Tom Hanks, staring up at you. “Um - wow you guys really are intimidating, has anyone ever told you that?” You asked, and your heart fluttered when you noticed that Tom Hanks had laughed at your joke. You quickly averted your eyes to Harry and you felt your stomach instantly settle when he flashed you a smile and an encouraging thumbs up. 

"Of course, I have to thank my beautiful cast and amazing director. Three Doors Down is the first movie I’ve ever done and without such supporting and loving people by my side every step of the way I don’t think I would have performed as well as I did. As corny as it sounds, I went into this film thinking I’d make some new friends, but I ended up with a whole new family.” You spoke, finding yourself growing more confident as you spoke. “So guys, this award is just as much yours, as it is mine.” You smiled, surprised to find yourself tearing up as  your table let out shouts of appreciation. 

“Sorry, I know I’m rambling, but give me a break this is my first one alright?” You joked as you glanced down at the award briefly before continuing. “Of course, I have to thank my amazing parents to nurture my passion for acting, without their amazing support and unconditional love, I wouldn’t be here.”

“And lastly, I want to thank a person that is very, very special to me. In fact, it was this person that convinced me to come here tonight, because I was so bloody nervous.” You laughed lightly. “They’ve only recently entered my life, but have changed it for the better. Well, that’s what I think most of the time.” You smiled softly, people’s laughter echoing in your ears as you swallowed tentatively. 

You kept your gaze fixed on the crowd in front of you, knowing if you took one look at Harry that you’d burst into tears. “Thank you for always being there for me, through the good and the bad, and for being so unwaveringly loyal and loving. So, to this special person, and you know who you are, thank you again and I love you. Thank you again everyone, have a good night!” 

Whistling and cheering filled your ears as you flashed one last smile at the audience before turning and quickly moving off the stage so that Seth could introduce the next segment. Your cheeks felt numb as you smiled and thanked about a hundred people who were congratulating you as you walked back to your seat. 

You were so damn exhausted from that whole saga that a part of you was grateful that Seth had already started talking because your table could only briefly congratulate again before they fell quiet. 

“I told yeh that you’d win.” Harry whispered and you could literally hear his grin as he wrapped an arm around your waist. “I know you told me, I just didn’t believe you.” You whispered back, grinning from ear to ear as you stared at the award now placed on the table. “Yeh should’ve, you’ve my golden girl.” He spoke causing your smile to widen.

“’M so fuckin’ proud of yeh, pet. So proud.” He breathed out, squeezing your waist tightly and placing a gentle kiss to your cheek. At his words you turned in your seat to fully face him, a love sick grin on your lips.

“Thank you so much Harry, for everything.” You murmured before leaning in and placing a gentle kiss to his lips, not giving a single shit if there was a cameraman near you or not. “I love you.”

“Love yeh too, pet.” He mumbled against your lips before kissing you again. This time neither of you pulled away for a few moments, and when you finally did there was a cheeky grin spread across your face.

“Wanna go get so shit faced at the afterparty that I start grinding on you in front of some of the most legendary actors in Hollywood?” You asked, making a smug smirk spread across his now bright pink lips.

“Do yeh even have to ask?”

WHEN U LOVE HARRY STYLES AND THE GOLDEN GLOBES THIS IS WHAT YOU GET!!! As always, positive feedback would be super super appreciated and you can give it back HERE!

[hucc]

Hackney Umpires v Brixton Barbarians

The Gentrification Cup Final

Sunday 23rd June 2019, Millfields

Sorry to be a bit unimaginative but I thought I’d start this match report by talking about cricket.  Specifically Steve Harmison, the Ashington Express, and the 2005 Ashes, the defining cricket experience for anyone born too late for ’81 but before 1990.  And, almost inconceivably now, the 2005 Ashes was live on actual normal telly (note for people born after 1990 ‘normal telly’ means the 4 ‘terrestrial’ free-to-air channels and, grudgingly, channel 5).

Yeah, so Steve Harmison and 2005.  After a decade and more of utter domination by the Aussies the series begun unsurprisingly with them beating us at Lords, despite some signs of resistance. But instead of folding meekly in the second test at Edgbaston, England were fighting hard.  As the day 3 reached its close things were in the balance: Michael ‘Pup’ Clarke, the youthful blond-haired batting machine, was on 30, Warney at the other end on 20. Australia are 106 runs away from victory with three wickets remaining. It was exciting.  It was tense.  But we knew the Australians didn’t give a Castlemaine XXXX for the warm foam of our cricketing hopes.  So while we hoped, it was more the hope that we could keep on hoping for as long as possible until the inevitable calamity of defeat arrived.

I like Steve Harmison.  He didn’t sound much like a sportsman, he didn’t seem to have the single-minded flinty-eyed certainty that every Australian in the 2000s possessed. He seemed like a nice fella, but with the great skill of being 6’4” and letting go of the ball at 90mph.  The faster and the bouncier the better. And so, late on that 3rd day in Birmingham, with the light of my 2005 reminiscences turning a lush golden hue, the big man comes loping in from the boundary. He gets to the wicket.  He bowls.  It’s a useless full toss. Clarke readies to punch it away.  He flinches.  The stumps are broken. It wasn’t a useless full toss…it was a brilliant slower ball that totally fooled Michael Clarke. Pup is in the doghouse and we jump to our feet in celebration as the wicket brings the day’s play to a triumphant end, and sets up a nail biting finish that we win by just 2 runs on the way to a joyous series victory.  I don’t think I ever saw Steve Harmison bowl a slower ball before or after that. It appeared to be a perfect one-off.  The ultimate surprise, executed perfectly.

Why am I telling you about this?  Good question.  As ever with cricket there’s a fiddly bit involving a sequence of numbers to get us to where we need to be but there is a connection.  So we move forward 14 years to 2019 to find the Brixton Barbarians chasing down a lowly 138 for victory against the Hackney Umpires. 

Gary ‘Yesno’ Aubin,  after a year out probably due to disciplinary matters, is in the midst of an excellent spell of bowling, troubling the batsman with accuracy and surprising one-liners. But despite this and Kieran’s superb 7 overs 1 wicket for 19 runs Brixton are close, needing just 23 runs from 8 overs and they have 6 wickets left.

Dijon Malla the Brixton no5 has been the chief thorn in our side, compiling 40 runs, the highest score on either side on a pitch that was difficult to bat on. 

Gary comes loping in from the boundary.  He gets to the wicket.  He bowls to Malla.  The batsman’s eyes light up he swings.  He might have even had a chance to swing again such was the sheer lack of pace.  Slower ball! Deadly straight.  The ball hits the stumps and it is out. 

A slower ball, particularly a disguised slower ball, is not an easy thing.  I know because that’s my secret weapon delivery.  Just been hit for 6? No problem, run in harder and let it go with maximum arm swirling but as little effort as possible.  Doing that bit is fairly simple, it’s doing that and getting it on the right trajectory that’s the difference between the rankest filth and pure genius.  Gary Aubin take a bow, this was genius. In the blink of an eye 115 for 4 is suddenly 119 for 7 as left arm spin then accounts for 2 in two balls. And then, the same over, another stonewall LBW (happy 50th anniversary) right in front of the stumps, back pad, not playing a shot. So out that the appeal, although spontaneous and hearty, felt something like of a formality…oh, OK then... not out.  I mean it looked out to me is all I’ll say ,but on the other hand I have stood as umpire quite a few times and I can count the number of LBW decisions I’ve given on that self-same finger that gave the decision. 

If you live by the inscrutable shake of the head then sometimes the boot is on the other foot.  Mixed metaphors aside the point here is that Gary’s slower ball has unlocked the door, the collapse is on, 19 runs from 4 overs and just three wickets and that boot that was on the other foot is bearing down on that inscrutably shaking head like a metaphor out of control.

Earlier that day the Hackney Umpires, representing north London, were put in to bat on a warm and cloudy June day against the Brixton Barbarians, an unknown quantity from south of the Thames, in the so-called final of the Gentrification Cup, which I think was something someone said by mistake at our previous match and then we seemed to end up playing it.

First impressions count and my first impression of our team was: there’s only 9 of us.  My first impression of the opposition: why have they all got matching club kit, with squad numbers and their names on? Including a dedicated scorer!  Also with kit, number and name. 

The classic sign of gentrification did not take long to arrive: our skip in the skip, bowled by Denton for a disappointing 18 by one that he had no chance to defend.  Dave F was next. He struggled to time it on the pitch and the bowlers didn’t give him much.  Bowled Denton.  Matt Veal the Bournemouth Bulldozer in, then out, bowled Denton.  Ol changed things up, being bowled by Shaw, for a duck, bowled via glove and then box. Painful.  And so the architrave of our top order was ripped out and consigned to the dustbin of history thus revealing, somewhat prematurely, the startling original features of our middle order.

Dave Fawbert is often ahead of the curve.  A former A&R man he can spot the next trend quicker than even the most zietgeisty millennial.  So when Nostrafawbus turns to me and, with us being about 60-4 all clean bowled, and says: ‘well at least we haven’t had a run out’ it did set a bit of an alarm bell ringing.  That ringing swiftly transformed into the bell of Notre-Dame as the spark of Dave’s speculation took hold in the vaulted ceiling of our innings and Kieran hunched back towards us having been dismissed short of his ground amongst the burning ashes of a sorry collapse.

If Anthony and Dave F are the load-bearing wall of our batting.  The David Dawkins and Manny Hawks would be the party wall. Dawks and Hawks set off on a rebuilding mission, and though Manny played around a straight one, David top scored as the wickets continued to fall reaching 28 before he unerringly picked out the fielder at mid on. 

With 8 down and having run out of players the opposition took pity on us and offered to allow a batsman back in.  Ol’s pride, and other places, were sufficiently restored for him to retake the field.  He avoided a second duck and ended not out with a 20 run last wicket partnership.  In some ways it felt wrong to accept the invitation for a batsman who had been out to go again.  Wrong but helpful.  It could only be hoped that the cricketing gods, those cruel arbiters of fate, had already been satisfied with the run out and would not also single out Ol for some painful retribution at a time of their choosing. 

So 137 all out.  Bit crap but what can you do. Go out and bowl them out was the answer. And bang Ol was on it straight away taking out their opening.  Bang again at the start of his third over.  Only this time it was the sound of his hamstring.  And we were hamstrung without Ol’s hamstring, leaving us deprived of the club’s all-time leading wicket taker and effectively reduced to 6 fielders. Dave F made up for goading the cricket gods by single-handedly covering the entire leg side for long periods. Matt Veal troubled the batsmen but could not break through. Despite wickets by David, Manny and Kieran the Brixton middle order held firm. 

It is partnerships that hold the key in cricket and Brixton’s 4th and 5th wickets added 84 runs between them.  The Barbarians were now at the gates. 

But then as we know, the slower ball, the double wicket maiden, just 4 overs remain, 19 runs still needed the opposition scrabbling around for equipment, panic on. Could this be a famous victory for north London?

Another Harmison anecdote occurs to me now. As brilliant as that slower ball was, in some ways Harmy is much better known for another ball he bowled.  This one at the very start of the 2006 Ashes, the first ball six months on from that triumphant home series. The big man loped in at the Gabba, an expectant hush around the ground, that turned instantly to derision as he bowled what was officially dubbed the worst ball in history fielded by Freddie ‘Pedalo’ Flintoff at second slip setting the tone for a series that started badly and fell away from there.

But wait I need to finish this match report, enough of the Steve Harmison anecdotes. Where had I got to?  Oh yes, 19 runs with 4 overs to get them in.  Gary Aubin lopes in, an expectant hush…OK maybe you’ve guessed what’s coming.  If Ol had been able to bend over at slip then maybe he would have stopped it. I’m not sure it was the worst ball in HUCC history, but it certainly wasn’t the best. The ball scoots through slips and on to third man.  But with just 6 fielders there is no third man.  Matt Veal sprinting from mid on makes a valiant attempt to stop the thing but it trickles gently over the boundary for five wides.  15 runs in total from the over and well it wasn’t to be.  It would be harsh to blame the loss on that over.  Don’t get me wrong I’d like to try but it wouldn’t be right. Brixton played well, they simply bowled and batted better than us, took a couple of excellent catches had the top scoring batsman and the bowler with the best figures.  So let’s just remember the slower ball as the defining one yeah, just don’t get carried away Gary because I can re-edit this to focus more on the 5 wides.   

HUCC 137-9 29 overs (Extras 30, D Dawkins 28, K Kumaria 26)

BBCC 138-7 34.1 overs (M O’Brien 2/18)

Brixton Barbarians win by 3 wickets.  HUCC man of the match Gary ‘Harmy’ Aubin

Up the Umpires!

[sherlocks-bitch-moriarty]

MUSIC SHUFFLE

Rules: Put your music on shuffle, list the first 9 songs and your favourite lyrics from each. Then tag 9 other people to participate! Tagged by- @olivineonyx Its gonna be 18 songs woot. More fu n. (Also, I don't delete songs form my phone. Beware the terrors of musicals and big time rush) Shampain - Marina And The Diamonds Elderly stars slide down the morning sky Slipping away to find a place to die I wonder when the night will reach its end The sleep is not my friend Drinking champagne meant for a wedding Toast to the bride a fairly tale ending Drinking champagne a bottle to myself Savor the taste of fabricated wealth Show Me - Big Time Rush (fuCK) (I just like the opening?? For animation?) Guys like me, like girls like you An girls like you like guys like me (you know) If I Were A Bell - Guys And Dolls From the moment we kissed tonight Thats the way I've just got to behave Boy, if I were a lamp I'd light And if I were a banner I'd wave! Ask me how do I feel, Little me with my quiet upbringing Well sir, all I can say is I were a gate I'd be swinging! And if I were a watch I'd start popping my spring! Or if I were a bell I'd go ding dong ding dong ding! Deja Vu - CircusP Bring on the excuses Tell me that I deserve this Don't let me open my mouth Don't stop the rain from pouring down So why does this keep on happening? We're crashing down with the lightning. You smash our hearts into pieces ad then sing These moments are your fault I'm losing a rigged battle And you restart the cycle And you restart breaking me again I Feel The Earth Move - Carole King Oh darling, when you're near me And you tenderly call my name I know that my emotions Are something that I just can't tame I've just got to have you baby Pretty Women - Sweeney Todd What more? Can man require then Love sir More than love sir What sir? Women. Ah yes women. Defying Gravity - Wicked I'm through accepting limits 'Cause someone says they're so Some things I cannot change But till I try, I'll never know! Too long I've been afraid of Losing love I guess I've lost Well, If that's love It comes at much too high a cost! I'll Be Yours - Those Dancing Days We lie on the clouds And we're kissing the sky The raindrops are falling But we're staying dry And I'll be holding on I'll be holding on Love - Eyeris P Oh, loving you was as simple as chewing needles Wanting you was a complete waste of m damn time Needing endless care, your ego so small and feeble Loving me, filling your facade, it was all just a lie. The Only Exception - Paramore Maybe I know somewhere Deep in my soul That love never lasts And we've got to find other ways To make it alone But keep a straight face And I've always loved like this Keeping a comfortable, distance And up until now I had sworn to myself that I was content With loneliness Because none of it was ever worth the risk Give My Regards To Yotsuya-San - Himeringo I hate it I hate it, I hate it. I can't breathe The spring breeze is too strong I had a bad feeling When I'd turned that corner It hurts, It hurts, It hurts I'm being strangled By a bundle of lukewarm air In this cruel play I'll leave the rest to you, ok? Burn - Hamilton You, you, You! I'm erasing myself from the narrative Let future historians wonder how Eliza reacted when you broke her heart You have torn it all apart I am watching it Burn Watching it burn The World has no right to my heart The world has no place in our bed They don't get to know what I've said I'm burning the memories Burning the letters that might have redeemed you You forfeit all rights to my heart You forfeit the place in our bed You'll sleep in your office instead With only the memories Of when you were mine I hope that you burn. Eyes - Broadway Karkat You can't escape from your own shadow I can smell your fear The venom on those honeyed lips still burn Oh it burns How it burns Because when I arrive I I'll bring the fire Make you come alive I can take you higher Can you tear your gaze Away from your reflection And see me Look at me Promise me Top To Toe - Fenne Lily So I'm changing all my day sot make your night It's just not right And you tell me I'm a child And the my light To smoke your mind But I don't smile like before And you take him to your bed I should have said I need you more... Mad World - Gary Jules And I find it kinda funny I find it kinda sad The Dream sin which I'm dying are the best I've ever had I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take When people run in circle sits a very very Mad world, Mad world. Between The Bars - Elliott Smith (V sent this to me, and f u ck. ThaNK you WrIter BeHIND V I owE yOU) Drink up with me now And forget all about The pressure of the days Do what I say And I'll make you okay And drive them away The images stuck in your head People you've been before That you don't around anymore That push and shove and won't bend to your will I'll keep them still Drink up baby, look at the stars I'll kiss you again between the bars where I'm seeing you there With your hands in the air Waiting to finally be caught To All Of You - Syd Matters I cry sometimes walking around my own place Wondering why she cries sometimes talking about her own place Somewhere around the mountains No one could dry her fountain Till she got tired to complain Thats when I fly to the wild land, to your land River Flows In You - Yiruma (No Lyrics but holy shit another song from V wow.) I tag- YOu YOU INNCOENT UNSUSPECTIGN PASSERBY DO IT DO IT FOR V Or not I dont judge I'll prob ably forget OoPS

[mrlylerouse]

Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Building a Team

Kevin Kauffman and Fred Weaver are the co-founders of one of the nation’s most successful real estate teams and companies, Group 46:10 Network. Training-focused, fast-paced, technology-driven, 46:10 has been recognized as one of the top 250 real estate teams in the nation, year after year. While the average real estate agent sells around 6 houses per year, this team has a group of specialists who sell more than one house a day, ranking them in the top 1% of all real estate agents in the United States! But…It hasn’t always been easy.

After their team imploded in 2012, Fred and Kevin were left with a crippled business and no idea how to rebuild. They did it anyway, and learned a lot along the way. At BoomTown Unite, they took the stage to present their findings, and we’ve detailed their top “don’ts” when building a team for success:

  Underestimate How Long Things Take & How Much They Will Cost

Kevin and Fred created what they called the “perfect plan.” They had talked to others in the industry about how they had created success, given themselves clear timelines and goals, and were ready to start seeing results.

Unfortunately they had fooled themselves into thinking things would move quickly and easily towards success. They may have indeed created the “perfect plan,” but didn’t anticipate roadblocks.  And yes, there were many roadblocks and lots of failure along the way.

Goals are critical to real estate success, but setbacks are inevitable. When you hit a wall (and alas, you will), bounce back and be agile.

Continue writing down the small tasks you need to complete each day to get you to your weekly, monthly and bigger goal.

Know the plan if something gets in the way, and keep it simple.

Take advantage of technology to help you time block. Use quiet space to knock out your task as soon as possible.

If you see yourself start to slip, evaluate what is causing this, and create a trigger that will keep you on track. This could be as simple as a phone reminder or a calendar invite.

Determine if it’s time to delegate.

Have a $hitty Training Program

As new employees were hired, Fred and Kevin were faced with the exhausting task of training them and getting them ramped up with their mission, systems, expectations, what-have-you. They took things case-by-case, and didn’t have a set training curriculum.

This meant reproducing lessons and onboarding processes over and over again. Haphazard knowledge-sharing, and very little consistency. 

They knew it wasn’t working, so they hired a consultant, and as Fred explained “paid someone a lot of money to tell us we needed a training program.”

It can take months for agents to close a deal once they’ve joined your team. With more intensive and strategic training from the get-go, you can hopefully shorten this time frame. From mastering the systems that you use to aligning with your business goals – a formal training curriculum will lay the foundation for your team’s future performance.

As Kevin has learned, “new hires need coaching and accountability on top of any training curriculum.  When you say “I wanna scale” whatever that looks like to you, you have to have a consistent onboarding and training program.

The current program at 46:10 is an intensive onboarding curriculum that leverages learning automation software to help new hires stay on track and complete all the necessary training. It doesn’t stop there though.

  Think You Are Great at Hiring and Can Spot Talent Easily

We all are susceptible to thinking we know how to scout out top talent and nail the hiring process. This is a relationship business after all!

The resume looks great, the candidate whizzed through the industry and job-specific questions, so you’re confident they can perform XYZ. Good, right?

Not necessarily. After many many hires (and attempted hires) Kevin knows otherwise.

“It doesn’t work this way. If it does work. You’re lucky, and it won’t continue. It’s something you have to spend time getting good at. It can’t be just ‘going with your gut’ You HAVE to have a formal vetting process.”

When addressing that blurry zone of character and culture fit, how do you ensure this potential new hire will share your passions, gel with the team, drive everyone forward?

At BoomTown we conduct a series of  “culture interviews.” A casual conversation-centered sit down with some folks in various positions in the company. They get to know the candidate on a more personal level, ask some questions to seek out their values, and share their thoughts on the “fit” for each person.

Implement a vetting process that will get more team members involved, more casual conversations, open discussions of values, and don’t hurry!

Make Little-to-No Investment in Systems, Tech, and People

When you hire the right talent, you must fuel them with the right compensation and empower them with the right technology partner.

“You have to invest and build on a great system, people, etc. Don’t cut corners and nickel and dime here. You have to see it as an investment and not a cost.”

This means compensating your team members appropriately. It means not relying on a piecemeal system of sticky notes and whiteboards, but investing in tools and technology and a system to handle it all. Otherwise, your people and your processes won’t deliver the growth you want.

Forget to Track the Metrics that Drive your Business

“Appointments set. Contract signed. I’m constantly shocked that people have no idea how their team is performing! It’s crucial to track and understand it a a higher level.”

When you have an intelligent CRM that work with your website, you can eliminate the guesswork on tracking every metric in your business and your team’s performance from a single centralized reporting function. This means you can see what’s working and when it’s time to change course, and you can make better decisions, faster.

Try to be Perfect and Avoid Making Mistakes

In 2014 Fred and Kevin traveled to visit Ben Kinney’s office and see how they were operating their business. They found themselves walking through the office picking apart some of the systems and processes. They noted how they would be doing things differently. 

It then occurred to us that in fact they were not doing things “wrong.” Their production was 2x what ours was. Ben and his team were OK with taking risks. They were OK with making bigger mistakes because they could lead to bigger and bolder things.

Sometimes your idea or your plan won’t work, but it’s all about testing, trying and failing forward. If you work to constantly maintain the status quo, you’ll never see the growth you want.

Have a Calendar that Doesn’t Promote Success

Not reaching goals?

Not getting your key tasks accomplished?

Not moving to the next level?

According to Fred and Kevin, your calendar is probably crap.

“Show me on your calendar where your priorities are.You have to commit to the calendar and commit to your business. Don’t take it too far- too tightly scheduled, but pick your biggest priorities and TIME BLOCK. Create a calendar that promotes success no matter what your role is. Ask to see your team members’ calendars. Some only work on what��s most urgent in the moment.”

When people decide exactly when, where, and how they will fulfill their goals, they create a link in their brains between a certain situation or cue and the behavior that should follow. “If or when X happens, then I will do Y” This helps to establish powerful triggers for action. You have to strategically structure your time to reach your real estate goals.

Place too Much Emphasis on Early Success or New Things

New hires that are going to be rockstars.

New shiny toys that are going to change your business.

A new mantra that will surely take your team to the next level.

A new idea that saw success right out of the gates.

Celebrate wins, for sure, but Fred and Kevin warn that you definitely want to stay away from putting labels on things too quickly, focusing too much attention on something that only deserves a trial period, or abandoning tried and true strategies for something another team has used to succeed. 

Spend Time Getting Ready to Get Ready

Too often we’re trying to be too perfect with what we’re rolling out.

This is how you start talking yourself out of growing. You become too afraid of failure. What I can tell you is that you’re lying to yourself if you think there’s a state of mind that exists where you’re perfectly happy with everything the way it is.

The key to success is a mindset shift. Tell yourself that even though it may not be perfect, it’s a start, and you’re heading in the right direction.

Accept Minor Setbacks as a Complete Failure

It can feel completely defeating at times in real estate. There’s no solution to this, but it’s critical to remember it’s never final. Just look at how far 46:10 came from what looked like total business devastation.

Don’t give up. Shut up and fix it. Learn from you mistake. It’s easy to recognize when team members let something minor completely derail them, but team leads and owners do this too. And, as Gary Keller says, don’t ever make a big decision in a valley!

There are plenty of pitfalls to avoid when you’re building your team, and there are just as many ways to ensure your success. Powering your company with the right technology and systems is one of them. The right technology partner, like the right hire, makes you better for working with them. They share your values and will move you forward. They offer you a smart business strategy, and they back it with a proven track record, and the heart and passion to grow your business.

      The post Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Building a Team appeared first on BoomTown!.

from BoomTown! https://ift.tt/2vonUyl

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Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Building a Team

Kevin Kauffman and Fred Weaver are the co-founders of one of the nation’s most successful real estate teams and companies, Group 46:10 Network. Training-focused, fast-paced, technology-driven, 46:10 has been recognized as one of the top 250 real estate teams in the nation, year after year. While the average real estate agent sells around 6 houses per year, this team has a group of specialists who sell more than one house a day, ranking them in the top 1% of all real estate agents in the United States! But…It hasn’t always been easy.

After their team imploded in 2012, Fred and Kevin were left with a crippled business and no idea how to rebuild. They did it anyway, and learned a lot along the way. At BoomTown Unite, they took the stage to present their findings, and we’ve detailed their top “don’ts” when building a team for success:

  Underestimate How Long Things Take & How Much They Will Cost

Kevin and Fred created what they called the “perfect plan.” They had talked to others in the industry about how they had created success, given themselves clear timelines and goals, and were ready to start seeing results.

Unfortunately they had fooled themselves into thinking things would move quickly and easily towards success. They may have indeed created the “perfect plan,” but didn’t anticipate roadblocks.  And yes, there were many roadblocks and lots of failure along the way.

Goals are critical to real estate success, but setbacks are inevitable. When you hit a wall (and alas, you will), bounce back and be agile.

Continue writing down the small tasks you need to complete each day to get you to your weekly, monthly and bigger goal.

Know the plan if something gets in the way, and keep it simple.

Take advantage of technology to help you time block. Use quiet space to knock out your task as soon as possible.

If you see yourself start to slip, evaluate what is causing this, and create a trigger that will keep you on track. This could be as simple as a phone reminder or a calendar invite.

Determine if it’s time to delegate.

Have a $hitty Training Program

As new employees were hired, Fred and Kevin were faced with the exhausting task of training them and getting them ramped up with their mission, systems, expectations, what-have-you. They took things case-by-case, and didn’t have a set training curriculum.

This meant reproducing lessons and onboarding processes over and over again. Haphazard knowledge-sharing, and very little consistency. 

They knew it wasn’t working, so they hired a consultant, and as Fred explained “paid someone a lot of money to tell us we needed a training program.”

It can take months for agents to close a deal once they’ve joined your team. With more intensive and strategic training from the get-go, you can hopefully shorten this time frame. From mastering the systems that you use to aligning with your business goals – a formal training curriculum will lay the foundation for your team’s future performance.

As Kevin has learned, “new hires need coaching and accountability on top of any training curriculum.  When you say “I wanna scale” whatever that looks like to you, you have to have a consistent onboarding and training program.

The current program at 46:10 is an intensive onboarding curriculum that leverages learning automation software to help new hires stay on track and complete all the necessary training. It doesn’t stop there though.

  Think You Are Great at Hiring and Can Spot Talent Easily

We all are susceptible to thinking we know how to scout out top talent and nail the hiring process. This is a relationship business after all!

The resume looks great, the candidate whizzed through the industry and job-specific questions, so you’re confident they can perform XYZ. Good, right?

Not necessarily. After many many hires (and attempted hires) Kevin knows otherwise.

“It doesn’t work this way. If it does work. You’re lucky, and it won’t continue. It’s something you have to spend time getting good at. It can’t be just ‘going with your gut’ You HAVE to have a formal vetting process.”

When addressing that blurry zone of character and culture fit, how do you ensure this potential new hire will share your passions, gel with the team, drive everyone forward?

At BoomTown we conduct a series of  “culture interviews.” A casual conversation-centered sit down with some folks in various positions in the company. They get to know the candidate on a more personal level, ask some questions to seek out their values, and share their thoughts on the “fit” for each person.

Implement a vetting process that will get more team members involved, more casual conversations, open discussions of values, and don’t hurry!

Make Little-to-No Investment in Systems, Tech, and People

When you hire the right talent, you must fuel them with the right compensation and empower them with the right technology partner.

“You have to invest and build on a great system, people, etc. Don’t cut corners and nickel and dime here. You have to see it as an investment and not a cost.”

This means compensating your team members appropriately. It means not relying on a piecemeal system of sticky notes and whiteboards, but investing in tools and technology and a system to handle it all. Otherwise, your people and your processes won’t deliver the growth you want.

Forget to Track the Metrics that Drive your Business

“Appointments set. Contract signed. I’m constantly shocked that people have no idea how their team is performing! It’s crucial to track and understand it a a higher level.”

When you have an intelligent CRM that work with your website, you can eliminate the guesswork on tracking every metric in your business and your team’s performance from a single centralized reporting function. This means you can see what’s working and when it’s time to change course, and you can make better decisions, faster.

Try to be Perfect and Avoid Making Mistakes

In 2014 Fred and Kevin traveled to visit Ben Kinney’s office and see how they were operating their business. They found themselves walking through the office picking apart some of the systems and processes. They noted how they would be doing things differently. 

It then occurred to us that in fact they were not doing things “wrong.” Their production was 2x what ours was. Ben and his team were OK with taking risks. They were OK with making bigger mistakes because they could lead to bigger and bolder things.

Sometimes your idea or your plan won’t work, but it’s all about testing, trying and failing forward. If you work to constantly maintain the status quo, you’ll never see the growth you want.

Have a Calendar that Doesn’t Promote Success

Not reaching goals?

Not getting your key tasks accomplished?

Not moving to the next level?

According to Fred and Kevin, your calendar is probably crap.

“Show me on your calendar where your priorities are.You have to commit to the calendar and commit to your business. Don’t take it too far- too tightly scheduled, but pick your biggest priorities and TIME BLOCK. Create a calendar that promotes success no matter what your role is. Ask to see your team members’ calendars. Some only work on what’s most urgent in the moment.”

When people decide exactly when, where, and how they will fulfill their goals, they create a link in their brains between a certain situation or cue and the behavior that should follow. “If or when X happens, then I will do Y” This helps to establish powerful triggers for action. You have to strategically structure your time to reach your real estate goals.

Place too Much Emphasis on Early Success or New Things

New hires that are going to be rockstars.

New shiny toys that are going to change your business.

A new mantra that will surely take your team to the next level.

A new idea that saw success right out of the gates.

Celebrate wins, for sure, but Fred and Kevin warn that you definitely want to stay away from putting labels on things too quickly, focusing too much attention on something that only deserves a trial period, or abandoning tried and true strategies for something another team has used to succeed. 

Spend Time Getting Ready to Get Ready

Too often we’re trying to be too perfect with what we’re rolling out.

This is how you start talking yourself out of growing. You become too afraid of failure. What I can tell you is that you’re lying to yourself if you think there’s a state of mind that exists where you’re perfectly happy with everything the way it is.

The key to success is a mindset shift. Tell yourself that even though it may not be perfect, it’s a start, and you’re heading in the right direction.

Accept Minor Setbacks as a Complete Failure

It can feel completely defeating at times in real estate. There’s no solution to this, but it’s critical to remember it’s never final. Just look at how far 46:10 came from what looked like total business devastation.

Don’t give up. Shut up and fix it. Learn from you mistake. It’s easy to recognize when team members let something minor completely derail them, but team leads and owners do this too. And, as Gary Keller says, don’t ever make a big decision in a valley!

There are plenty of pitfalls to avoid when you’re building your team, and there are just as many ways to ensure your success. Powering your company with the right technology and systems is one of them. The right technology partner, like the right hire, makes you better for working with them. They share your values and will move you forward. They offer you a smart business strategy, and they back it with a proven track record, and the heart and passion to grow your business.

      The post Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Building a Team appeared first on BoomTown!.

from BoomTown! https://ift.tt/2vonUyl