#millionaire house tour

[violetadaze]

Small YouTuber Reacts: Sssniperwolf New House Tour!

[hattoriscap]

Today I'm thinking about The Gaming Channel’s Couch

The gaming channel started with them sitting on The Couch, playing console games that require controllers (donkey kong, mortal kombat, portal, bishi bashi, etc). I think it was intentional that they launched the gaming channel like that. It gave off the vibe that this was just a chill hangout. No professional gaming was expected, no serious business, this was just a fun project. 

It made sense that until they played the sims 4 (a PC game), they only ever sat on The Couch. They even acknowledged that it's a new (unexpected) territory in that video, meaning that they did not plan on it being a permanent fixture at first.

So you can tell that their intention was to play console games on the couch, and PC games on the gaming chairs. Simple enough system, had they stuck to it.

Games played on the 3DS / iPad (before Apple introduced the screen recording feature, at least) required additional setup, so I don’t think much of them playing them on the gaming chairs. 

(They played dragon city (iPad game) twice on the couch though, idk how that worked. I gave up tryna reason Why they were inconsistent about iPad/iPhone games specifically.)

In 2015, They revealed that Dan broke the couch at some point. They didn't make any effort to replace or get rid of it though.

Despite it being broken, they continued playing on the couch. Phil’s nostalgia quest videos in the 2016 gamingmas were almost exclusively played on the couch (will you be a millionaire, katamari damacy, bishi bashi, bubble bobble), all of which were playstation games.

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In Jan 2017, Phil revealed that he got a new office chair. I think getting that new chair was a turning point in the channel, as all videos filmed after that were on the chairs.

When they moved houses in 2017, they moved in the broken couch to their new (fake) apartment. Please remember that this couch was used by guests who wanted to sleepover at theirs in the previous apartment, so them moving it to the fake apartment instead of their own clearly meant that it was not for guests anymore. It was The Gaming Channel’s Couch.

I think this showed that they were really committed to still making the channel look chill. The first shot of the then new gaming room had Phil sitting on the couch, saying "I want it to look homely". I know he was talking about the lamp, but I think his comment can also be extended to him sitting on the couch.

he couch was probably too far away from the screen. I don’t even think it had any purpose but to fill the room and make it look lived in.

They played many card games (heartthrob, clickbait, santa banter, bucket of doom.. etc) in the fake apartment. These games didn’t even require them to see a monitor, but they never sat on the couch ever. Actually, the only instance where they sat on the couch in this apartment (after establishing its existence in the first video filmed there) was this:

I don’t really know what my conclusion is, just that the post-hiatus gaming room doesn’t even have a couch, and I miss it loads, even when they haven’t sat on A Couch to play a game since 2016.

(videos played on the tour bus were excluded as they were played on a couch but not The Couch, y’know)

[carppediem]

I just came across this interview Käärijä gave for an Estonian magazine before the Tallinn gig and thought I'd share it with y'all! He talks about saving money to buy a house, why he quit drinking etc. Also, there are some new interesting things he said about Tommy 👀

Since the article is behind a paywall (and in Estonian) I've put a rough, heavily Google-assisted translation under the cut 👇

There are a few minutes left until the concert. How do you feel?

I feel great, but I'm a little tired because I didn't sleep well.

Did you have a party yesterday?

No party, I'm focused on the European tour. Yesterday was a live in Sweden, from there I flew to Finland at five o'clock in the morning and from there to here. But I'm one hundred percent ready for a show. It doesn't matter how tired I am, I give my best on stage.

You recently released the single 'It's Crazy, It's Party' with Tommy Cash. When Tommy met the members of the band Little Big, they drank a lot of vodka. What did you and Tommy drink?

Haha, I haven't had a drink with Tommy yet.

Not even a Pina Colada?

No. Maybe someday Tommy and I will have a drink, although I don't think he drinks much. And you know, I don't drink anymore either. I stopped drinking a month ago. I need to keep my energy up. When you give as many concerts as I do now, you have to take care of yourself. Drinking and performing hand in hand is extremely difficult both physically and mentally, not to mention how bad it affects the vocal cords. I had the biggest hangover of my life this summer, which put the brakes on my drinking. I went to a music festival with a friend where we drank too much. The next day I had to perform at the same festival. The hangover was so bad that I really didn't know how to get myself on stage with the terrible feeling and the summer heat. But I pulled myself together and did the show. This experience is also one of the reasons why I don't drink anymore.

What kind of person is Tommy?

He is a visionary and very witty - a lot of fun with him. And of course he's cute. I think we have something in common, like we both have our own style. Tommy surprises with crazy outfits: extraordinary hairstyles, extravagant clothing, which are complemented by boleros. In short, insane costumes.

After Eurovision, you started a real concert rally - you gave 51 concerts in the summer alone. Do you want to become a millionaire?

Of course I do! One day I will definitely be a millionaire. I don't keep track of how much money I have in the bank and how much I'm short of six figures. But yes, I'm trying to collect a million euros.

Will the goal be met this year?

No, not yet. It will still take a few years. I've had an insane amount of performances after Eurovision, because I was like a kid in a candy store who wants everything at once, but by now I've drawn the line because I can't perform everywhere. I also set myself a price tag, below which I will not allow myself to go anywhere. If you do 300 shows a year, you're screwed.

What do you spend your money on?

I don't just spend it on pretty things. I have a definite goal in mind - I want to buy a house in Finland. Maybe in the future also real estate in Thailand, we'll see. I don't need a Rolex or any luxury, I don't care about that.

What has been the most difficult thing for you since Eurovision?

Everyone in Finland now knows who I am. It's hard and tiring because I no longer have my own private space at all. I can't just go to the store, to a concert, or to a hockey game, people will immediately come up to me and start taking pictures. I hate when they don't politely ask for permission to do this, but immediately start clicking.

What has been the best?

It's great to see people hear 'Cha Cha Cha' and be happy. Or when they hear the name Käärijä and their face breaks into laughter - it's a powerful feeling. And of course to see how happy my family is about this achievement. And me too!

[sidewayspeace444]

Yeah, you make a good point about her NYC post because that happened last summer and her and her friends well documented their NYC stay in a hotel.

Let’s say 🐟 really does live in NYC part of the year, LA the other half. In Jan and March 2024 she herself stated in two interviews she lives in these two cities because they provide more working opportunities.

At the GQ man of the year event where she refused to talk to reporters, the news had her living abroad for years and returning home for a bit 🤣

So if she’s been living abroad for “years” and it’s between LA/NYC, then how come her friends have to stay in a hotel when they come visit? Or is her place too small to house them? But isn’t she married to a multi millionaire who’s been building a house on every continent for her since they met?

What narrative is true?

And now that he’s actually in NYC filming - and has been for the past month, she’s suddenly back in MA or PT looking at stars and drinking in bars?

But isn’t she also heavily pregnant?

Or is she working on a secret project and has been filming in PT this whole time also while pregnant??

Do you see how the narrative of where she is constantly changes when one side can’t make their narratives work?

For the last year they insisted she was settling down in the woods to be a housewife and start a family.

Suddenly she’s showing up in PT at red carpets and LA at after parties and telling the press she lives in NYC and LA and is focusing on her career. Her agents are helping her weed out projects and she’s being picky about it because she wants longevity.

Then the narrative changes to she’s living in his LA house because she can go to auditions this way.

Then she’s shopping in NYC and going to set because he’s there.

Then she’s back in MA driving around because he’s back there.

Then she’s pregnant and she hasn’t been seen for months so that must be true.

Then she’s in PT drinking at a bar so now if she’s drinking maybe she’s not pregnant anymore and must be attending the Taylor tour with her husband. But when has she even mentioned she was Taylor fan? Is he even a Taylor fan?

funny how the moment people found out the materialists was filming in upstate NY suddenly the upstate NY house gets brought up again and then when nothing comes to fruition it’s pics of the wedding due to windows and blurry backgrounds of other ppl’s photos.

My gut tells me that whenever 🐟 gets cocky she’s suddenly focusing on her career and is independent. When her auditions don’t go well and she doesn’t get any work or promotion attention, she hides so people can talk about whether or not she’s around her husband. When her husband gets work attention or public knowledges of his whereabouts, then blogs get anons of her being at the places that he is. When she has nothing to post about or even troll about she pretends to care about random causes or her home country where she couldn’t be bothered to promote any of her past year local projects or show up to their red carpets or film premieres. But she can post her outfit and GRRM for a GQ event and a PT director winning at Cannes.

Priorities. She goes where the clout is.

I think I remember Justin creating a huge post about how he wasn’t a Taylor Swift fan last July?

[rachelsimbuild]

Millionaire - Black Leo - The Sim 4 Luxury Mansion Sulani

Let's explore this extraordinary villa together, nestled in the heart of the mountainous forest. This is not just a house, but a masterpiece of surreal architecture that transcends beyond the realm of mere gaming. Experience the essence of luxury living in this enigmatic sanctuary, where every corner tells a story of elegance and sophistication. Discover a world where reality meets fantasy, and indulge in the beauty of a home that is truly beyond compare.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

Download this house here : https://ko-fi.com/s/3349ec27f8

🌟 Tour House : https://youtu.be/zBjjymAFq5E?si=XweIo0l31ZBdbs_m

[violetthekiller]

That anon has to be joking, “open their wallet”

A month in the Caribbean in a very expensive/super private island

It looks like Tom bought a vacation house in Portugal, He has been going pretty often and he hasn’t been staying in hotels but a private golf compound.

Every Tom visit to Zendaya when she was filming or shooting a commercial, included city tours, private museums visits, those concerts they went weren’t cheap either.

Yes they tried to live as regular people as possible but they aren’t. Those cars, watches, houses and jewelry are very expensive, they are millionaires

i really hope they were. they might not be the types of celebs to constantly post photos in private jets, yachts and super cars (any more lol) but they’re far from ‘reluctant to spend money’. the ‘middle class core’ notion, in terms of their spending, is funny but also is just that…a little jokey joke

[xmalereader]

Steven Grant x Male Reader x Marc Spector

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|| Masterlist ||

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Authors Note: Another short story about the sugar daddy AU, sorry if I keep writing these I just fell in love with the series I wrote and had to write some more side stories.

Summary: Steven finally tells reader about Marc after a few months into their relationship, no longer wanting to keep his alter a secret from the person they love and care.

Warnings: Fluff, mentions of kissing, Marc had a crush, mentions of DID, money, dates, first time meeting.

Word count: 1.4K

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Steven had never been in a serious and long term relationship with anyone, too afraid an anxious to start a relationship with anyone, afraid of dreaming then out if they were to find out about Marc and their situation, worried that they would grow afraid or cautious around him and perhaps change the way they feel about him.

He’d always casted those feelings aside and didn't allow it to get in the way, but after getting in a serious relationship with a multi millionaire who cared deeply about him and actually loved him for him, frightened Steven. He’s grown used to having Marc, the two talking with each other every morning and giving each other turns to front and their were times where they were almost caught by Y/n whenever he greeted them or whenever he stayed at Stevens place for the night. Steven was suppose to be careful but as he continued to keep it hidden from the person he loved it made things worse. Afraid that he’d lose someone important to him and start back to square one if he were to say anything.

Steven had stayed the night at Y/n’s place, the two sharing the bed and Steven helping Y/n with finding curtain artifacts that he could add into the museum or any other busy he had. Steven enjoyed his time with Y/n that he began to think about telling him about Marc, getting out of bed the next morning and pacing around the living space while Anpu lied by the back door, watching Steven pace back and forth as he rambled and mumbled to Marc.

“What if he gets scared? Or perhaps changes his mind about us and forced me to leave?! Oh god…” Steven groans out, head falling into his hands as he shakes his head.

“Steven, y/n has been an understanding guy since the beginning, he won’t judge and if he doesn’t feel comfortable about us and if leaving is what needs to be done then we have no choice but to leave.” Marc reasoned with Steven, knowing that his words wouldn’t help Stevens panic but had to be honest and truthful to him and letting him know that anything could happen.

“Just talk to him and let him know.” Marc said again as Steven stares at his reflection in the mirror, watch Marc shrug his shoulders and giving him a sad smile. Marc had never seen Steven so happy with someone else and it will break his heart if he is to be rejected by the person he loved. “Whatever happens, happens.” He reminds Steven before hearing the sound of tapping shoes coming down the stairs.

That day Steven finds the courage to tell Y/n about Marc and how he shared the same body with someone else, he told him all about it and expected the other man to panic and leave him on the spot or to kick him out of the house but instead, Y/n showers him with love and pulls him into a hug, glad that Steven was able to tell him this. He also grows cautious, not wanting to make Marc uncomfortable by the constant touching only for Steven to reassure him that Marc didn’t mind his presences nor his feelings. Steven had wanted Marc to introduce himself but Marc refused to do so, not today, perhaps another time.

After Steven had told Y/n he felt lighter and Y/n didn’t treat him any different, learning more about his childhood and the cause of Stevens existence, Y/n had only held Steven that day as he kissed him passionately and full of love. The two continued on with their lives, y/n running his business and Steven working at the British museum as a tour guide where he took the chance to explain and give many facts to those visiting the place.

It was two weeks later when Marc made a first appearance, fronting for the day while Steven slept, taking the opportunity to try and make something for breakfast. They’ve stayed over at Y/n’s place again, growing used to visiting, Steven had begun to leave small essentials here and there around the large house, leaving a toothbrush or some clothes in the bedroom in case he continued to stay over. Marc wouldn’t be surprised if Y/n asked them to move in, he wouldn’t hesitate to do so.

He was quietly moving around the kitchen since the millionaire still slept upstairs in his bedroom. Marc had grown used to waking up in the man’s arms, face turning red as he escaped from his hold each night. It wasn’t that he was embarrassed but that he wasn’t used to such feeling, after what happened with Layla he didn’t expect Steven to find someone that Marc would also slowly fall for, but, of course, Marc remained his distant and didn’t want to get in the way of Stevens relationship. Instead he continued on with his own life and tasks, doing what he can to make sure that Steven remains happy.

“Marc, right?”

Marc is startled, nearly spilling the carton of milk but is quick to hold it up and set it aside when he looks up to see Y/n leaning against the wall with arms crossed over his chest. His hair is messy and eyes showing a hint of tiredness. “How did you—?”

“Your posture, the way you walk and hold yourself doesn’t show that it’s Steven along with the accent too.” Y/n blurts out, pushing himself off the wall and approaching Marc carefully and still leaving some space between them. “It’s nice to finally meet you.” He gives Marc a kind smile, the same smile that he gives to Steven every morning in bed before pulling him into a morning kiss. Marc had grown used to that smile everyday.

“Likewise.” Marc clears his throat. “Didn’t mean to wake you, Stevens still asleep in case you are wondering.”

“No, I figured he’d be asleep somewhere in there…I Just wanted to meet you properly and to apologize if I’ve ever done anything to make you uncomfortable if you ever fronted without my notice.” He’s quick to say as Marc shook his head. “No, it’s alright. Stevens happy and I like that for him, you’ve done nothing but make us comfortable and treat him well.”

“Thank you.” Y/n returns the soft smile. “If I ever do anything or step out of mine don’t be afraid to let me know, along with Steven—I don’t want to get him upset or do something he doesn’t like.”

Marc can only laugh, focusing back on his task. “Steven could never get upset with you, the first time he met you he was overwhelmed along with the whole money issue but after some time he figured out his feelings and here he is—“ he gestured around the house. “He never thought he’d be dating someone like you, honestly he was intimated by you at first sight.”

“Really?” Y/n cocks a brow, interested as he steps around the counter and leans against it, watching Marc make himself some breakfast. “He wasn’t used to someone being straightforward with him and when you offered to be his sugar daddy and give him money he was a little surprised.”

Y/n laughs, remembering the shocked expression on Stevens face when he provided him the offer. “Hell—when you gave him your credit card to spend money he only used it on rent and lunch.” Marc rolls his eyes. “Never let me take advantage of it.” He grumbled.

Y/n scoffs. “I’ve told Steven many times to use it for anything, I get paid enough and make enough money that it’s impossible to run out, no amount of charities and donations get rid of it.” The millionaire chuckles to himself at the idea of Steven growing flustered whenever he held his credit card that held far to much money then what he was used to getting.

“Well, if Steven won’t use then I give you my permission, Marc. To spend as much as you want.”

“Wait, seriously?” Marc is flabbergasted.

Yes, he’s tried to sneak a few purchases here and there with his credit card but never really used it, too afraid that he’d grow upset or perhaps ask questions about what he’s buying. Now, he has his full persimmon to do as he wished.

“Yes, Marc. You can use my credit card without having to ask.” Y/n grins, pulling away from the counter as he yawns deeply, covering his mouth and running his fingers through his hair. “Anyway, I’m heading back to bed it’s too early for breakfast.” He turns his gaze to Marc and smirks. “Feel free to join me in bed whenever.” He gives him a wink before leaving to his bedroom, leaving a blushing Marc behind in the kitchen.

[verdemoun]

What happens to camps in modern au? I can definitely see a few becoming tourist attractions. Shady Belle is Shady Belle, this was talked about a million times. But Clemens Point, for example? A calm lake, with a few bridges built, maybe for fishermen? A camping spot with just a few small buildings?

Beaver Hollow, now part of a legally protected forest? I don't mean national park, I'm 99% sure there was a phrase for that. But I think it'd be healing for someone (cough) Charles and Arthur (cough) to go on a hike, looking for Beaver hollow and spending some time there. The cave is probably sealed off due to safety, but probably with a tall fence or something. But the clearing is there. The memories are painful. But it's healing to see it so peaceful. No fights, no fire, no tents that'd remind them of that awful camp.

I think horseshoe overlook wouldn't share that fate though. It's close to a railroad. It probably became one of these small stations in the middle of nowhere (idk we have a lot of those here), but i doubt it'd just be left like that. Especially with limpany close. Maybe it's torn down, or reconstructed as a small tourist attraction in the middle of nowhere. I hc that Valentine is still a relatively small town. Sure, it grew a bit like most towns do, but it's still just a small town. Close enough to Limpany that people go there on a trip, and horseshoe overlook becomes a really cute scenic viewpoint? Something like that.

Colter is in the mountains. No sane person would do much with it. Hikers go there, sure. Maybe some- and i shit you not i just spent 5 minutes trying to remember the name. Maybe those are just a slavic thing. But these small cafes/hotels that are in the middle of a trail for people to rest up? Those? Something near colter? I can see that happening.

GUARMA. GUARMA IS A TOURIST ATTRACTION NOWADAYS AND NO YOU CANNOT CONVINCE ME IT'S NOT.

All of your asks are like a 1v1 where I have to write more than you.

Clemens Point becomes a very kitschy beach and tourist attraction for its naturally calm water, with long piers/bridges letting you walk out to most of the islands (with massive environmental impacts, the iguana population wiped out, and the islands themselves little more than sandbars) . Almost the entire shoreline has a timber walking platform. The field that once housed Clint and Clive's livestock sales is now a beachside campground instead of the point itself. At the point itself there are public bbqs and a viewing platform with a tiny plaque saying that 'Dutch's gang' were believed to have camped there in the early era.

Beaver Hollow is a nature preserve! Even Elysium Lake still looks semi-natural with the exception of a few lake-side holiday homes owned by millionaires who could afford to build on such hellishly sloped terrain. Arthur was mortified to learn people were swimming in the lake. While seeing the wilderness and trail trees nearby still growing, untouched and in place, was comforting, the cave itself has become a hiking hotspot and is well-lit with walking ropes and guided tours. It was very uncomfortable to see an overly enthusiastic man in his late teens give a speech about how it was believed the VDLs used the cave as an escape during the legendary assault on Beaver Hollow. But Charles and Arthur found peace hiding the mountain that had been the site of Arthur's last stand, which is now called the Arthur's Seat trail. They got to sit together amongst the red flowers where Arthur had once taken his last breath, share a bottle of whiskey, and then hike back down knowing they could go home to their little cluttered house and the gang waiting for them.

Horseshoe Overlook is private land, with someone building a McMansion on the site. The gang can no longer access it, but they looked at the property on google maps and were delighted to tell Kieran the tree he was tied to has been torn down. There is no mention of the VDLs having ever been at Horseshoe Overlook, but the bar in Valentine that Cornwall cornered them at is still standing and is very much a hotspot for vanderlindonians (middle-aged men who obsess over the gang).

Colter somehow became a ski lodge with only the original church restored and graves (including Davey's) still standing. There is also a plaque saying it is believed the VDLs had stayed in the area while escaping the law in 1899. Jack and Isaac took a selfie with it, even though Jack was too young to remember and Isaac - well, wasn't there. Isaac proceeded to break his arm skiing.

You make a literature major look at a map, you bastard. Guarma we know is the second island east of Cuba. Looking at maps, cross referencing the history of island sugar plantations, Guarma was most likely based off Puerto Rico. So yes it is absolutely a tourist destination. Dutch went with Habitat for Humanity (under Annabelle's supervision) and still complained about the humidity. Bill and Mac went on a romantic getaway only for Bill to hate it and want to go home. Javier and Kieran went and absolutely loved it (Kieran was drunk the entire trip and flexed his spanish (while drunk (which was... not good))). Arthur and Charles took Isaac and proceeded to lose him multiple times to bars and dances. By the end of the trip they kept him on a monkey backpack. Charles made many jokes about Arthur's complaints about Guarma and Arthur complained in response that it was very different back then.

[frommybookbook]

The Grass is Greener (1960)

I watched The Grass is Greener (1960) over the weekend and I can't stop thinking about it.

For starters, I watched it purely for the cast. I didn't even bother to read the description, I saw Robert Mitchum and Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr and Jean Simmons and I was in. In hindsight, I'm actually really glad I didn't read the plot ahead of time, going it without an agenda was perfect for this one. And for that reason, I'm going to put the rest of this under the cut because I'm going to completely spoil the plot.

The general plot of the movie is: Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr are a married, titled British couple who have begun allowing tours of their family estate to keep the lights on; Robert Mitchum is an American oil millionaire who gets nosy on the regular tour and decides to barge into the family's private quarters, where he meets Kerr. Over the course of about 10 minutes, they get to chatting, he's very flirty, and they share a pretty passionate kiss. Grant then arrives and the afternoon is over...until Kerr decides to go to London to "get her hair done" and ends up staying for a week having an affair with Mitchum. Simmons plays Kerr's best friend, whom she stays with in London and who decamps to the family home to see how Grant is holding up.

That last part is important: everyone in this movie knows exactly what's happening with Mitchum and Kerr from the very beginning. Grant can see the moment he walks into the room that this stranger is into his wife and that his wife is intrigued. Simmons knows that Kerr isn't spending any time at her apartment, she's spending it with Mitchum.

Everything comes to a head when Grant, in a display of passive aggression that would make generations of Midwestern church ladies proud, calls Mitchum and invites him to come back out to the house for the weekend. Oh, and while he's at it, would he mind giving his wife a ride home, she's been in London all week too, you see.

From there we have the world's most awkward dinner party, a legitimate duel at midnight in the estate's long hallway, and a genuinely keeps-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat questioning of who Deborah Kerr is going to choose.

And it's this denouement that makes this such a wonderful movie and has it rattling around in my brain days later. Weirdly, and wonderfully, no one in this movie is treated as a villain! This is a story about love and adultery and passion and complacency and everyone just gets to be human.

It would be so easy for Deborah Kerr's character to be treated as a harlot and a whore and a loose woman for seeking out an affair with another man. It would be so easy for Robert Mitchum's character to be simply made a homewrecker and an aggressive American jackass and a playboy for showing clear interest and affection for a married woman. Cary Grant's character could have so easily been made out to be the cold, distant, unloving husband who drove his wife away. And yet none of that happens.

All of these characters are treated sympathetically and respectfully. I spent the whole time rooting for all of them and feeling conflicted every way about who I wanted Kerr to choose. It felt real and honest and like something that wouldn't be told in 2024.

Plus it was absolutely hilarious. Because as poignant as this was, it was also so damn funny. Cary Grant still had so many opportunities to break out the slapstick and prat falls and quippy one liners. Deborah Kerr and Robert Mitchum got to trade dry repartee, and don't get me started on Jean Simmons. Jean Simmons absolutely stole the show as the somewhat flighty, airheaded, divorced best friend and I couldn't stop laughing every time she was on the screen. I'd never seen her do comedy before and it was just incredible.

So, yeah, go watch The Grass is Greener.

[violetadaze]

Marketing Expert Reacts: Zedd's $23 Million Skittles Mansion | Architect...

[mydarllinglover]

Alone || Better Man

Previous

Settling into the Commonwealth was a strange experience for the Dixon family, for starters, it was like being in the old world again, with electricity, stores, parties, and money, yes, the US dollar was the currency used in this place, and for the children who had never seen something like this, it was especially weird to explain.

Another thing that had made Natalia want to run for the hills, was being reintroduced to her parents, who she believed were both dead on a cruise in the middle of the ocean, but as luck would have it, they had wound up here of all places.

Not only was she surprised to find out that her mother had lasted ten years, but also that she had left her husband alive, instead of sacrificing Natalia's step father a long time ago.

The woman who had initiated the couple in, had been very thorough in where she was trying to place where she had seen Natalia's face before, and then it hit her, that one of their upper class elites, had to be of relation.

Apparently, due to their rankings, and how well off they were before, Natalia's parents had earned themselves a level of importance in the Commonwealth, because that was how things were done around here, who cares about walkers when you can have classism and capitalism.

Considering the parentage of Natalia, and her schooling, she was seen as a "well of" Person, from what she told them, at least, though Daryl, obviously, was not, which put them at not complete bottom, but they weren't becoming millionaires anytime soon, this had helped them at least get a house to fit their five children and Dog.

Evelyn, their eldest, had decided she didn't want to join her parents on their move to the Commonwealth, even though they had pleaded, and begged, and bribed, she'd stuck with her decision to go back to the Hilltop, with Maggie and Lydia.

When Natalia had finally met her parents, accidently, whilst on a tour of the community, it hadn't ended as sweet as you'd reckon a thirteen year reunion would go.

Natalia's mother had made a scene in the crowd, over the appearance of her daughters husband and children, the woman could not believe it, and had left in a hurry, not before delivering a slap to the adult woman's face, for her "whorishism."

It was late at night on their third day in the Commonwealth, the kids were all tucked up in bed, after a long day of unpacking, leaving Daryl and Natalia to finish exploring the downstairs part of the small house, changing things to fit their old one, until a knock at the door.

"I'll get it." Daryl told her, as she stirred her herbal tea, hoping to lift up her spirits.

"Okay, baby." She sighed.

She dipped the teabag once more, before draining it and tossing it in the trash.

"Nat." Daryl hissed from the front door.

"Who is it?" She asked, leaning against the wall, looking at him.

"Yer step dad." His eyes widened in urgency as he revealed their late night visitor.

"What?" She gasped.

"Nah, I just made it up." he rolled his eyes "He's right outside, alone."

"Okay, here's what we're gonna do, just back away from the door, turn off the lights and pretend we're not home, problem solved."

"Talia." The old man called through the door. "I know you're in there, could you open the door, my old bones can't handle this weather."

"Stop lying, you ain't that old, Peter!" Natalia clapped her hands over her mouth as soon as she spoke, her eyes shooting wide.

Daryl threw his hands in the air, sick of her shit, always running her mouth.

She rolled her eyes.

"Please, honey, I just want to make sure you're okay, y-y'know, we thought you were dead, this entire time, and I still never managed to get over it... too painful." He stammered.

Daryl looked at her, and she sighed.

"Open it." She folded.

Daryl did as told, opening their new front door.

"Thought you guys were dead, too."  Natalia told the man, that had been her step father, longer than her real father was alive in her life.

"Oh, Tally." He sighed, rubbing his balding head, his eyes meeting hers, realising the daughter that he had spent years mourning, was alive, and well, and somehow, had travelled hundreds of miles to end up in the same place as him.

"Nat?" Daryl asked, quietly, wondering if this was too much for her, he'd kick the old man out of his home, if he had to, he didn't give a shit.

"S'fine." She nodded at him, but her focus didn't leave the old man. "Pete, how- what happened?"

"Do you mind if I sit down, this, this is just..." He couldn't finish his sentence.

"Sure." She waited for him to sit down, before she decided to sit down on the opposite couch. "Daryl, you mind getting Michael a hot tea?"

"'Course." He patted her shoulder, moving towards the kitchen.

"So, that's...?"

"Daryl." She answered.

"Looks nothing like Harry."

"And he ain't nothing like him, either."

"Thats good, never did like that boy. But what.... what happened... to him and- and Winnie?" He stumbled through his sentence, trying to speak through the clog in his throat, that man had loved her daughter, as if she were his own grandchild, it was something she had always admired and respected him for.

"They didn't make it." She whispered. "Was early on, I'm sorry."

"Honey, don't say that, I am incredibly sorry, I'm just thankful that you're here, and I hope they didn't suffer too much."

"They didn't, I promise." She lied, but what could she actually tell him? Definitely not the truth. "So you and Mom, how?"

"With a whole lot of luck, actually." He chuckled, but he didn't even find anything funny. "It was about two weeks into our cruise, they started getting this weird message on the radio feedback, but when they tried to get a response, there wasn't any, then we saw all these helicopters flying over the waters, none of them took notice of the large ship full of people, well, eventually, one had thought we were worth being filled in on, what was going on around the world, they had told the captain, over the bullhorn to redirect to Virginia, here, because of that Helicopter, they accepted us in, let us join the community, me and your mother, we helped set it up, we helped establish the same systems as the old world, matter of fact, you remember your mothers old friend Pam?"

"Yeah, sorta?"

"Well that's the Governor?" He smiled brightly.

"Yeah, I knew one of those, once..." Natalia commented, bitterly. "So, you and Mom have been here, the entire time?"

"Can you believe it, I'm just glad that you're finally here, but tell me, what have you done in the last ten years?"

"Here." Daryl set the tea on the small table in front of the man, he went to head upstairs, give them some space, but Natalia grabbed his arm, tightly, pulling him to sit down beside her, refusing to let go as she pinched the skin, in her grasp, without even looking at him.

Daryl got the message, she didn't want to be alone with the man.

"I see you have a ring." Peter looked at Daryl, "Did you have a wife before?"

He patted his thigh, looking at Natalia.

"Nope."

"Oh." He realised. "Well, congratulations."

"Uh huh."

"Y'know, your mother would be glad to know that you found happiness."

"Don't ruin this by lying to me." Natalia stared him down. "You were there the other day."

"Your mother, she doesn't know much about the outside world, we were very sheltered from it all, she thinks that you just simply left him, and moved on with... another man, that's all it is."

"Who gives a shit? Think I'm a bit old to need my mothers approval."

He laughed, "You haven't needed your mothers approval since you started middle school."

Natalia heard a scuffle In the hallway, but apparently the two men had missed it.

She held up her hand, twisting to look at where the noise was coming from.

"Girls? Why aren't you in bed?" She called.

"Told you to be quiet." Daisy hissed.

"Alright, come on out." Daryl called to the twins. "Now."

"We weren't eavesdropping, promise." Daisy told them, when they shuffled out, Bambi stood quietly behind her sister.

"Then what were you doing, should be asleep." Natalia said.

"Couldn't sleep." Daisy shrugged, as they both walked towards their parents.

"You got your first day of school tomorrow, you wanna fall asleep during class?"

"But, Mommy, I'm scared, you said it's gonna be different to regular school, what if the other kids are mean."

"Or what if they think we're weird, cause we ain't like them, we ain't soft."

"Honey, they're not gonna think that." Natalia shook her head. "And they ain't gonna be mean, either, cause if they are, then you tell me and I'll deal with it."

"But, Dad said that they're not like us, they're weak, and they won't like us, cause of it." Daisy huffed, pushing her hair out of her face.

"Well, your dad should keep his mouth shut, sometimes." Natalia looked over her shoulder at him.

"Mommy, who's that man?" Bambi whispered.

"That's..." She gave it some thought. "Babies, I want you to meet your Grandfather, Grandpa Pete." 

"What's a grandfather mean?" Daisy asked, confused.

"Well, honey" Natalia ignored the teary eyes of her stepfather. "You know how you have Daddy, one day, if you have children, they will have a daddy, maybe, and then, he" She pointed at Daryl, "Will be your children's grand daddy, the daddy of the parent, does that make sense, yeah, well Grandpa Mike, that's my step dad, so that's your grandad."

"Where's Daddy's dad?" Bambi asked.

"Dead, sweetheart." He answered. "Watched it happen, too, don' worry, he ain't coming back."

"Pete, you okay?" Natalia asked, finally paying attention, but making a mental note to bring up Daryl's dead dad talk, later.

"Yeah." He blinked. "Uhm, what are your two's name's?"

"Girls." Daryl urged them to answer, prying Bambi off of him to face the man.

"My name's Bambi."

"Daisy." Natalia warned her.

"Fine." The girl rolled her eyes. "My name's Daisy."

"I'm Bambi." Bambi gave him a small wave.

"Hello, it's nice to meet the two of you, I just- you both are just as beautiful as your mother, when she was your size."

"What was Mom like at our size?" Daisy tried.

"An angel." Natalia answered, quickly, earning a snort out of Peter.

"Y'know, I could tell you girls some story's about your mother." He chuckled, gleefully.

"We love story time!"  Bambi cheered.

"Aunt Nat, He's awake, again!" RJ called, from upstairs.

"He's crying for you." Judith reported, also from upstairs.

"Would you look at that? No time for stories, I gotta go settle your brother again, and you should be asleep too, so I think it's time for Pete to go home, as well."

"You have a son?" Peter asked, his jaw slack, his eyes wandering to Daryl, who gulped.

"Yes, who apparently needs me."

"And the other children, they are?"

"Our niece and nephew, look, it's really late, and I gotta deal with these lot." Natalia sighed, taking the twin's hands, leading them towards the stairs.

"Right, right, my apologies, but, Tally, please, I would love to take you to lunch, maybe the both of you, or all of you, I just want to get to know you and your beautiful family, if you'll let me."

"And what about..."

"Your mother doesn't need to know, not until she or you are ready to make amends, I promise."

"I'll think about it, Daryl, would'ya." She nodded at the door, and he took the hint, moving to open it once again.

"Mommy." Daisy started, as they walked up the stairs.

"Yeah, honey."

"Even though your Mom isn't great, I think you're the best mom in the world."

"I do, too." Bambi agreed.

"Girls." Natalia felt her cheeks get hot, as she smiled to herself. "I love you both, so much." She hugged them tight, as they walked to their room. "But I don't wanna see you until the morning, goodnight, and I love you, your father will be up to resay goodnight, in a minute."

"Momma!" Archie screamed from his bedroom.

"Aunt Nat." RJ repeated.

"Yeah, sweetie, I can hear, I'm coming." She turned back to her twins. "Lay down, go to sleep."

But before she could walk out the room, she rushed back in to tuck them in tightly and kissed their foreheads and cheeks, just as Daryl walked up the stairs.

"Your turn." She patted his chest, going towards the boys room. "Jude, go back to bed, lovey." She shut Judith's door.

"Momma." Archie whimpered, his tiny hands reaching for her, when Natalia entered his and RJ's room.

"Babyboy, what's wrong?" She asked, picking him up, wiping his tears, kissing his cheek.

"He just kept crying for you, guess he just misses you." RJ shrugged.

"I'll take him to my room, so you can get some sleep, buddy." Natalia gave the boy a side hug, kissing his head.

"Night, Aunt Nat." He yawned, climbing back into his bed.

"Night, sweetie." She walked out his room, closing the door. "Sleepover with Momma and Daddy, baby?"

"Yeah." Archie pouted.

"What's wrong?" Daryl asked, closing Judith's door, again, after saying his goodnights to her.

"Missed me." She answered, entering their room, the last one for the night.

"Ya missed yer dad?" Daryl asked his only son.

"Momma." He snuggled into her chest, making the woman smirk.

"It's okay, Mommy and Archie cuddles." She dropped him down on the bed.

"Hey, you alright?" Daryl asked, pulling his shirt off over his head.

"About what?" Natalia asked, pulling off her own top, exchanging it for a comfier one, for bed.

"Him." He nodded his head to the door. "Coming to the house."

She shrugged.

"Dunno how to feel, honestly, I'm too tired, what's the point of feeling, shit's just gonna happen anyway." She pulled off her jeans.

"He uh, he wanted me ta give ya this." He hesitated before holding out his hand, a silver chain on his palm.

"Oh my god." She gasped. "He gave this to me at their wedding, said he was trying to buy my approval." She couldn't help the small smile that slipped on her face, as she held the top of it, to examine it, the N dangling in the air. "I left it at my mothers, I can't even remember why, but I was so mad that I did, and he had it this entire time, help?"

She passed it back, grabbing her hair and holding out of the way, so that he could put it back on, which he did, kissing her shoulder when he had done it, but he wasn't expecting her reaction to be shrugging him off and moving to climb in their bed, holding their son, who layed in the middle.

He evaluated anything he could've done to earn that, before getting into bed on his own side.

Archie had fallen asleep pretty quickly and easily, in the comfort of his parents, but Daryl watched out the corner of his eye, how Natalia dragged that initial across her lips, her brows furrowed as she seemed deep in thought.

"You sure you're okay?" He whispered.

"Fine." She dismissed, the chain falling from her fingers, instantly, as she turned over, her back facing him.

A month had passed, with them living in the Commonwealth, Natalia had agreed to meet up with her stepfather, Peter, but she hadn't allowed her children, she decided she'd be keeping her family away from her parents, until her mother wasn't such a large question mark, on whether she would "attack" them or not, until she had joined Peter on one of their lunches, making the man double back on his promise.

Apparently, Monica, her mother, had given up on her daughter, but not her grandchildren, Peter, the weasel, had shared the news about their twin daughters, their two "adopted" daughters, and their son, she especially wanted to meet her biological grandkids, is what she had said in her own words.

It had taken Natalia a week, to finally approve of her mother joining them for dinner, in the instance that she pays, to be near her kids, letting them meet the wicked woman, this had only been, as Monica had kept appearing in the places they were, trying to make her own meet and greet happen.

"There's my lil cowgirls!" Natalia cheered, her Pumpkin, Archie, in her arms, as the twins were the first to emerge from the haunted house, dressed in identical cowboy outfits, Daisy sporting a green scarf, and Bambi in blue. Judith, who was dressed like a witch, followed, RJ and Daryl were the last to come out.

The Commonwealth had thrown an whole festival to celebrate Halloween, and it was the first time the kids would be even celebrating a holiday, which had made Natalia very, very giddy.

"Here, Luicfer, here's your devil mask, did you enjoy it?" She asked, handing RJ his missing part of his costume.

"RJ cried like a lil baby." Daisy told her, tilting her cowboy hat back.

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Dais, didn't you scream for your daddy, when the fake walker came out?" Judith asked her, raising a brow.

"Yeah, only cause he didn't let me bring my bow, I woulda handled it." She rolled her eyes.

"Well, you ain't seeing that bow of yours again, since ya decided ta bring it to yer class." Daryl weighed in.

"It was an accident." She argued.

Judith nudged her head to go get a cake, from the bakery Carol works at, whilst Daisy argued her innocence, and Natalia smiled at her agreeing she could go off, on her own.

"Mommy, I wasn't scared of the house."

"I know you weren't, baby." Natalia told Bambi, petting one of her braids.

Carol had then walked over, with a tray of baked goods, letting the three pick off it.

"What do you say?" Natalia reminded.

"Thank you." All three kids groaned.

"Thanks, Carol" Natalia spoke for Archie, snapping bits of the cookie off so that he could eat it.

"So, what do you think?" Carol asked.

"Takes a minute to get used to all this, you know?" Daryl spoke.

"You know, this place was up and running long and before we ever got here." Carol commented.

"We're aware, my mother never lets me forget it." Natalia rolled her own eyes.

"Point is, maybe we don't have to do anything to make it work."

"No, there's always something you gotta do to make it work." Daryl slightly tapped the swinging apple, as the kids played around it.

Cheers erupted as Pamala Milton emerged from her building, her assistant, Maxine followed behind, with a tray of candy floss, as the Governor chucked candy into the crowd.

"Kids, scatter, where she is, your grandmother isn't far away." Natalia warned the twins.

"Well, she isn't gonna miss the pumpkin you're lugging around, if your idea is to hide from her." Carol warned.

"Yeah, but the perk of that is that Archie doesn't know many words, compared to his sisters, so he can't do or say anything to cause anything. He's just my sweet lil adorable pumpkin." Natalia kissed the poor boys cheeks, whilst he ate his cookie.

Next, the Governor had started the costume competition, a little girl who was dressed as Michael Mercer had won 10 lottery tickets, he was the guy who was in control of the "Military/ police force" at this place.

"I always thought she was so classy." Carol smiled as everyone clapped for the woman.

"I never knew anything about her." Daryl added.

"She shouted at me once, cause I got juice on her expensive rug, I was seven." Natalia sighed.

"Hey, you two look busy." Carol caught Connie and Kelly's attention, as they walked up to the three.

Connie smiled at Archie, waving her finger at his costume.

"Connie's a reporter for the paper, and we've got a full day, so..." Kelly explained, signing as she spoke.

"How's work?" Daryl asked.

"It's nice to be reporting again, but Commonwealth news isn't exactly... hard-hitting." Kelly translated as Connie signed.

"Have you met Pamela yet?" Daryl continued.

"I've interviewed her once before the world fell." Kelly translated again. "Yeah, and you also got her uncle kicked out of Congress, so..." Kelly said for herself.

"That was you?" Carol asked.

She shrugged with a smile.

"We got to go. We have a lot to do before the masquerade ball, so..."

"See you later." Daryl nodded.

Natalia watched her husband as he looked after the woman, with her sister, holding their son rather tightly, a weight on her chest, that had been there since a month ago, felt rather heavy.

"I hear the both of you are going to this ball." Carol smiled.

"We got to get to work." Daryl spoke for her, taking Archie from Natalia.

"Yeah. See you guys later."

"Yeah, see you, Carol." Natalia smiled politely.

They had dropped Archie off at the Daycare before getting ready for work at their home, where they had also met up with Rosita.

The three of them had ended up working at the military, Daryl and Rosita were troopers for the army, whilst Natalia, with her college degree's, had ended up becoming an interrogator/ detective, something she was planning on becoming, before she had become pregnant, of course. But it meant that they all worked at the station together.

"Hey, there you guys are." Rosita smiled as they walked up. 

"Hey to you, too" Natalia jogged forward, hugging the woman tightly.

"You want to tell me about any cases?" Rosita asked.

"Oh, you know I can't do that, that's for the big leagues to know, sorry, but Mike asked about me helping out with your guys training today, so, there's that."

"Mike? You're calling him Mike?" Daryl asked. 

"Well, yeah, we do work together, a lot, same as he calls me by a nickname." Natalia looked over her shoulder at him, holding Rosita's hand, as they walked in the rain. "Not a big deal."

"Yeah, yeah, I bet it ain't." He grumbled.

Once they had reached the abandoned houses, Natalia went off to speak to Mercer and the other lieutenants.

"Hey, you guys doing okay?" Rosita asked Daryl, watching him watch his wife.

"Yeah, yeah, we're fine, why do you ask?" He replied.

"I don't know, you guys seem pretty tense with each other, you hardly talk with out making things awkward."

"I don't know, neither." He sighed. "Probably got something ta do with her parents being around, gotta be weird for her."

"Yeah, yeah, could be that, or maybe it's just something to do with finding out her husband left her alone for months to go live with some woman in the woods, then lie about it for years to come, whilst she was pregnant, with his kids." Rosita said, thoughtfully.

"She- she told you-"

"Of course she did, said she forgave you... but, I was with her, when you wasn't, I had to see the pain she was going through everyday, Michonne might've lost Rick on that bridge, but Nat lost you, and you never were really gone."  She left him with that, before joining the other trainees.

"Welcome to the kill house." Mercer began, when ready. "In this exercise, killing is not your primary goal. I'm looking for speed and teamwork. Two teams of two will start the course simultaneously. One team goes through the house on the right, the other team takes the house on the left. There's one weapon per team, that must be shared. Your objective; get through the house, and all the rotters inside. There will be a rotter marked in red at the end of each house. First team to take out their red gets one step closer to earning their stripes. But fail to work as a unit, see what you get. Dixon, wanna tell them the teams." Mercer waved for Natalia to step forward.

"Alright, Hart, your with Tomas. Espinosa and Green. Quintana, Johnson. Dixon and Daniels. Team up, and lets get to it, we ain't got all day."

"You mind if I go with Espinosa? We make a good team." Daryl asked, as Natalia handed him a knife, looking at Mercer.

"Daryl, I didn't choose the teams, we did it by random, there's no switching." She looked at him through her brows. "So work well with Daniels, you guys are up first"

"We got this. I know you're the fastest and I'm the baddest, so we're good." Rosita laughed with her team mate, Green.

"Let's do this." He nodded back at her.

"Hey, I'm Jake." Daniels introduced himself.

Daryl put the knife in his open hand.

"What's up, Jake?" He grunted.

"So, I'm guessing that's your wife, heard she's Mercers new deputy, or something." He nodded at Natalia, who checked with the rest of the duos, before walking away to stand by Mercer, again. 

"Your guess is as good as mine." He replied.

Mercer raised his hand, before blowing his whistle, letting the two teams start.

"Taking it he doesn't work well in a team."

"Neither of them, really,  but they're good at what they do, can get creative when need to."

"But that's not what this is about, its about teamwork."

"That's the part which scares me." She sighed.

Daryl had ended up failing the mission, when Daniels called out for him, Mercer had to shoot the walker.

"Man, what was that, He was good, I was right there." Daryl told him, as they walked out the house.

"I said speed and teamwork." Mercer replied. "Green, Espinosa, nicely done. Dixon, You're with me."

"You're an idiot." Natalia snapped at her husband, following behind the large man.

Next

[what-else-is-there]

What Else Is There? Weekly :: 2024.03.21

// Kacey Musgraves drapes her impeccable voice atop a lush and enchanting bed of chilled out dream pop to remind us that money can't buy true happiness on Lonely Millionaire.

// Flamingosis delivers the most struttable song of the summer with a delicious slice of instrumental future funk full of jangly guitar and syncopated synths on Nebula Gazer.

// Justin Timberlake may have ruined his world tour, but at least he left us with this call to action on the dancefloor built from propulsive bass and acrobatic vocals on F**kin' Up The Disco.

// B.D.B. is a collaboration between techno artist Benjamin Damage and the progressive house duo Bicep where they melt a trancelike voice across burbling bass on Chroma 002 L.A.V.A.

// Four Tet programs a digital garden full of subtle details and intricate interactions for us to woozily stutter step through on 31 Bloom.

Spotify Playlist YouTube Music Playlist

[a-solitary-sea-rover-backup]

Woah, hold the phone! Did you know JFK’s mom and grandfather knew Sir Thomas Lipton?!?

I had no idea until I visited the house where President Kennedy was born in Brookline today!

The photograph of Rose Kennedy with Lipton is hanging in the second-floor hallway of the house. The Park Ranger giving the tour said it was taken on “one of his yachts”, but there’s not really enough background to tell if it’s one of the Shamrock racers or Lipton’s motoryacht, the Erin. It was taken in 1909, when Rose Kennedy and her father, John “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald, were part of a Boston Chamber of Commerce delegation touring Europe, and happened to be in Cowes at the same time Lipton was.

The Kennedys kept a tea set (what else?) given to them by Lipton in their dining room, viable right when you enter the house. Here’s a clearer picture— the flag on the right is Lipton’s “shamrock” personal flag, the one on the left looks like a blue version of the Royal Cork Yacht Club pennant. (Maybe it was blue back then?)

Lipton also gave the Kennedys pins with his shamrock insignia on them— Mrs. Kennedy displayed hers in a frame in her study. I’d love to know what the note underneath says!

Obviously it makes sense that Joseph and Rose Kennedy, as prominent Irish-American Bostonians, would celebrate a connection to one of the most famous Irishmen in the early-20th-century US. As a self-made millionaire who had entered elite society through charisma and determination, Lipton may have also been something of an aspirational figure for Joseph Kennedy with his own high ambitions for himself and his sons.

(John F. Kennedy himself would have been 14 when Thomas Lipton died, but I don’t think there’s any evidence they actually met. JFK’s most famous America’s Cup connection would be attending the 1962 competition and giving a speech for the competing crews.)

[tallulahneale]

Title: Who really lives their dream?

Summary: Vince as a pharma tech, alternate reality!

A/n: This is a fluffy wuffy story.

Part Ten

Vince wakes up early and shoots a message to Lula asking if she awake. He hears a knock at his door. It’s Lula fully dressed and ready to go somewhere.

“Everyone wakes up early here” she replies, “The view is scenic around this time.”

She barges her way inside before continuing “Hurry up and freshen up. We’re stopping at my apartment, it’s more private there.”

“Wait,” Vince starts “Does Pierre not know the ‘business’ that we were running.” Lula smirks at him “He asked me what my occupation is, I’m a pharmacist.”

Vince laughs loudly at her.

“Relax Vince. I told him that I use to do extra curricular activities. He knows that it wasn’t something I wanted to talk about so yeah…”

Vince gets in the shower, freshens up and sorts out the gifts going to his relatives. Lula says thank you as she collects her snacks and drops it in the main house. She goes to waits for him in the car.

“Ready?” She asks as he slides in.

“Ready.”

Once they get to the apartment Lula tells the chauffeur to go, she’ll call him once she needs him. She unlocks the door and goes in with Vince right behind her.

“You got a really nice place. Why you living Pierre?”

“It’s more lively at our home” she replies, “plus I need to get comfortable with having lots of people around.” Lula rubs her tummy.

“Are you pregnant? Already?”

“Sikee nigga!!” She laughs, walking to her bookshelf to retrieve a notebook. “I just wanted to see your reaction.”

She hands him a notebook titled ‘p-p memorabilia’.

“I thought you wanted out” he states, flipping through the pages.

“I do. Your mom called a few days back saying that you looked stressed and I supposedly ‘grew it into an empire’” Lula boasts “I kept this book because I still want to have the memories… for when I’m old and grey I guess.”

Lula shows Vince her system from the first month up until she left. Managing the operation alone was hard but it was doable with patience.

“You make this look easy Lula” Vince grumbles.

“Oh it’s definitely not easy, why’d you think I wanted out as soon as you got back?” She replies “Can I suggest something?”

“Yeah go ahead”

“You should cut off the lower clients. It’ll ease up the work load.”

“Hmmm…” Vince ponders.

“You’re not a greedy man Vincent. I’m pretty sure you’re a millionaire right now because I’m not too far behind.”

“You sure you don’t want back in?”

“Nope and I’ll explain why later” she says “Keep the big spenders and inform the others that stock is down. It’s more believable as you’re already on a break till next week. Right?”

“This is why I fucks with you Lula” he taps her head “You’re a little brain box. I appreciate you for real.”

“I know.” She giggles. “So you got this, right? No more worrying miss Anita or myself…”

“Yeah, I know what I need to do” he assures her with a salute.

“Yay! Now get ready to tour Haiti!” She exclaims.

——

The chauffeur pulls up with Pierre in the front seat holding Lula’s favourite snacks and treats.

“Morning Vince” Pierre says, opening the back door for Lula and handing her the bag. “Hey baby girl, everything sorted?”

“ Wi wi amou” Lula replies, giving him a peck.

They drive off as Lula starts the tour, showing Vince around Haiti.

“This is what I put my share into” Lula tells him “All the new tourist attractions including the food spots are Lula funded.”

Vince nods Of course she didn’t invest a dime in Cali, “But before you judge me, our economy needs it more than the USA. Plus lots of employment opportunities for the youth.”

“I ain’t judging you. Here’s your home, I respect it.” He nods.

“Have you told him about the hotels?” Pierre adds, “That’s what made me fall deeply in love with you mon kèr.”

Lula giggles and Vince shakes his head. She so sweet on him, looks good on her He smiles in approval.

“Tell me about hotels cuh” Vince replies.

“My accountant said we may have a competitor, someone trying to get into real estate.” Pierre continues, “30% of hotels across the capital belong to her. Exceptional!” He finishes as he stares longingly at Lula.

——

The following day Lula drives to drop Vince off at the airport, without the chauffeur.

“Just adjust the clientele, minimise orders from one of the wholesalers and you’ll be good to go” She reminds him.

“I’ll think about it.”

“You could manage 2 wholesalers, it’s less hassle.” She suggests.

Vince gives her a reassuring hug to let her know not to worry so much.

“You know I started this without you Lula.”

“But I was factored in from the startttt” she sings. “Let me know when you land and please call if anything.”

Vince boards the flight back to Cali, left to manage the empire by alone.

Epilogue

*4 months later*

Vince and Anita are invited to Haiti for the wedding of Pierre and Lula. Turns out Pierre is an infamous businessman across the Caribbean islands and North California too.

“I knew I recognise his face” Anita says to Vince “He’s the son of Martin. Y’know? Jean’s grandpas last born.”

“Ma I don’t know anyone” Vince laughs.

The reception is beautiful and energetic. Lula steps aside to have bestie talk with Vince.

“Thanks for coming!”

“You’re welcome” He replies. “You know what Lula?”

“What’s up bestie?”

“I guess being a pharmaceutical technician wasn’t my dream. I just wanted to be rich.” She giggles at his outburst and he laughs too.

It’s been a fineeeeee day, he says to himself.

—The End—

~~

Translations: (n/b not fluent in Creole)

Wi wi amou = Yes yes my love

~~

Note: Thanks for reading! Hope y’all enjoyed it!! TN xx

[gaslightgatekeepgirlbosscombat]

Group F, Round 1, Poll 2:

Propaganda under the cut

Fink

She's an evil little rat girl, she regularly bullies a boy for being a "mamas boy", and she slays 24/7

Mr. Peanut Butter

Gaslight: he is a conniving and ignorant man. He uses his wealth and charisma to attract young women and marry them when the relationship starts to go downhill. He forces his wives to do whatever he wants and gets pissy when they are not happy about it. He never listens to his wives and when he does he blows it out of proportion, humiliating his wives and when they raise their concerns to him he says “sorry I’m such a bad husband everything I do for you isn’t good enough” until eventually they divorce. He has had 3 ex wives. Gatekeep: Mr Peanut Butter is a popular tv personality and so can influence the public easily. He manipulated the public into thinking that he is a mental health professional and that he suffers with depression with the sad dog meme that he created and planned to go on a worldwide depression tour to advertise his depression. He was chosen to host the Oscar Academy Awards but he lost the golden envelope with the names of the nominees so he made them up causing his friend to spiral when he found out he wasn’t actually nominated for an Oscar. He also briefly ran for mayor and convinced the public that fracking is good no matter what it does for the environment (which resulted in his house collapsing into a sinkhole). Girlboss: he is a self made actor and millionaire. He starred in a tv in the 90s (that is a complete copy of his friends tv show) that got him attention where he eventually gained project after project being in movies and game shows.

[besidesitstoowarm]

"The Voyage of the Damned" thoughts

put this off forever bc i didn't want to see it. in the end it was fine even if i keep mixing the title up with "planet of the dead"

ten slaying in his tux-with-converse look that had the 2007 girlies in a chokehold. troy bolton wears the same thing in high school musical 3 btw. if you even care. he gets interested in the angel statues that to me look like craghas "crabfeeder" drahar from hit hbo drama "house of the dragon". do you think the doctor would support the greens or the blacks

we meet max capricorn who is the most "john waters from wish" looking person i've ever seen. and max capricorn as a name sounds like a discount drag name. i like that everyone is wearing 10s-20s era clothing, the mix of titanic-era set dressing with typical sci-fi machinery actually blends really nicely. the two "low class" contest winners are in cowboy clothing which i also like since a lot of the nouveau riche around the turn of the century were oil millionaires from out west (in america anyway). they seem extremely nice and i would love to hang out at a buffet with them

the doctor flirts with kylie minogue, who actually does a really good job in the role, she's very wide-eyed and charming and the character felt fully realized. doctor who is really good at one-offs. he offers a "brand new sky" and she takes it and off to london where we meet WILFRED MOTT, MY GRANDDAD!!!! i completely forgot he was in this one. i screamed "GRANDDAD" when he appeared and scared my bf

the captain is on a suicide mission and apologizes to alonso. i have never seen alonso's actor in anything but he looks so familiar. the actor is gay btw. i loved the captain's "they promised me old men" speech, he's dying and needed the bribe money to take care of his family once he's gone but he was trying to limit the collateral damage to his crew ASTEROID ATTACK

we learn that the doctor is 903 years old. i think this is the first time his age is stated? nine had the whole "900 years of time and space" but i'd assumed he was just rounding. does he celebrate his birthday? i love the idea that he has no idea how old he is and is just guessing. the second doctor was canonically ~450. anyway they're trying to navigate the ship and the cowboy couple try to repair a broken angel bc they were like mechanics back home. i think it's interesting that in sci-fi, robots are stuff for poor people

cyborgs were recently granted rights and "can even get married" which is nice for them. the doctor says "you should see me in the morning" and astrid says "okay" and he looks like he stuck a fork in a socket. they're both sooo down bad this ep. i'd like to have seen her as a companion for a few episodes, adam-style except adam sucked and astrid is cool

max capricorn is a head in a jar. i'm not kidding that this is the exact same twist as the movie "prometheus" did ridley scott steal that from this episode?? it's the same goddamn thing. that movie was awful. i rejoiced when astrid killed him with a forklift, barbara-style (running over bad guys is always barbara-coded for me). the doctor brings the tour guide professor to london cause he's a millionaire on earth and he just like. cries with joy cause he can have a HOUSE with a DOOR and a GARDEN and DISHES and wow he's just like me fr. he refuses to take him with him cause he "travels alone" tenth doctor voice what kind of time lord takes a companion you can't fuck

this episode was in memory of verity lambert who had recently died when it was released. i had no idea who she was last time i saw this episode so i never noticed that. always famous to me verity <3