#more quotes since i just finished the books today

[siobhanroygirl]

— anne rice, interview with the vampire, 1976

[aethelflaedel]

waleran and cromwell hound imagery is something that can be so personal ❤️

[yusume-the-writer]

Then please may I request Rayne x reader where she fainted cause of being sick and overwork but didn’t say anything and kept going?

Know when to rest and work!!

Request made by Anon, hope you like it

I'm sorry for the delay

Warning: Quote about not eating and sleeping properly (children don't do that)

Genre: Comfort and Fluff

 Rayne Ames x Gender Neutral Reader

 Summary: (Name) was busy with work and other activities that took a toll on his health, so it wasn't a surprise that they passed out, but don't worry your amazing boyfriend Rayne is to the rescue!!!!

'How did you get to this state?' (Name) think to herself while looking at her reflection in the mirror

 The reflection showed a person with disheveled (h/c) hair and large dark circles under their eyes.

 'It looks like you didn't even sleep last night...' (Name) thinks while still staring at her reflection until she realizes something, 'Wait... I didn't really sleep last night' (Name) lowers her head and faces the sink, as if something much better than her current appearance, which really was

 How long has it been since (Name) had a proper sleep and meal? A week or two, maybe it was more, but (Name)'s pride was greater to take that on

 The main reason that (Name) was not getting adequate sleep and meals was that they were extremely busy with schoolwork and activities

 'Just put water on your face and everything will be fine' (Name) thinks while turning on the tap in the sink and takes a handful and throws it on his face

 And of course (Name) could talk about it to his beloved Rayne, but... they didn't want to burden him with things they could do themselves.

 Rayne was a man busy with his role as Divine Visionary and all that.

'And just one more day, and then you'll finally get your beauty sleep! You can do it (Name)!' They think as they leave their room ready for another day of school, and go to the library to continue researching the work the teacher asked for.

 After all, today was an important day, a work on certain types of magic and how they could be related to a specific God, just put the finishing touches on it and it will be incredible.

 "(Name)?" A male voice interrupts (Name)'s thoughts

 When they realized that the voice was in front of them, (Name) faced the owner of the voice

 Clear eyes stare at (e/c)

 It was Rayne Ames, or rather (Name)'s boyfriend

 "Ah, Ray! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in the cafeteria?" (Name) says while still looking into her boyfriend's beautiful eyes

 Rayne then stares at (Name) as if they had offended the rabbits "I was going there but why aren't you in the cafeteria" He continues as he crosses his arms and stares at (Name)

 "Ah! I-and I was going to the library to look for a book, then I was going to the cafeteria" (Name) says, it's true that they were going to the library looking for a specific book, but they wouldn't leave the library until were the classes

 "You'd better go to the cafeteria and then the library" Rayne says while still staring at (Name), he looked like a father who just found his son returning from a party he told him not to go to

"Ah... I'm kind of scared of forgetting to get the book, so I thought I'd go to the library first" (Name) says. They didn't want to stop talking to Rayne, but they didn't want to worry him

"I'm really sorry, Rayne, but I really need to get this book before it's too late" (Name) continues while staring at Rayne with her best puppy dog eyes

 "I'm going with you, so let's go to the cafeteria together" Rayne says as she turns towards the library path holding out her hand for (Name) to take

 "Okay~" (Name) says while holding Rayne's hand and the two walk together

.

.

.

(Name) never thought she'd be grateful that Rayne was so busy

 (Name) managed to get the book and when they and Rayne went to the cafeteria together, they called Rayne for a deal about the magical items

 Rayne looked disappointed, but with (Name)'s insistence, he went to help

 Now (Name) was sitting in the classroom of his first class, as he finished the final preparations for his presentation

 'It has to be perfect!!! Nothing can go wrong!!!' (Name) think as she closes the reference book and sees her colleagues entering

 'I didn't eat breakfast, but that's okay, at lunch I increase my portion' They think when they realize they ate nothing but water and a granola bar yesterday

 The teacher enters the room and goes to her place and starts taking roll.

"As we know, today we still have presentations, and now it's Mr (Name)'s turn to introduce himself." As soon as the teacher finishes explaining, she waves towards (Name) for them to start

 (Name) with the help of her magic pick up the items from her presentation and will start walking to go ahead

 'Now it's all or nothing' (Name) says as they close their eyes and smile

 But the moment they open their eyes... they find themselves faced with a ceiling that wasn't their classroom.

 They were in the infirmary

 "...What?..." (Name) says while trying to process why she's staring at the infirmary ceiling

 "You're finally awake!" Suddenly clear eyes that showed concern stared at (Name), they had already seen these eyes before

 It was Rayne Ames, or rather (Name)'s boyfriend

 "Rayne? What are you doing here?" (Name) says as they start to try to get up, but are stopped by Rayne, who puts her hands on his shoulders and gently pushes him to the bed, which makes them look at him with confusion.

Knowing that (Name) was going to ask, Rayne says, "You should rest as much as you can; you fainted while going to the front to give a work presentation"

 "Ah, that's what happened" (Name) says as he starts to think about the trouble they went through when they fainted in front of their classmates and teacher

 "...Why didn't you tell me you were overwhelmed?" Rayne says out of nowhere with a tone of voice that showed concerns

 And of course he would be worried, he was notified that his beloved had fainted as soon as they separated.

 "I kind of didn't want to worry you about something silly, you're so busy you don't even have time to rest, I thought it would be better for me to take care of it myself" (Name) says as he starts to sit on the bed, Rayne didn't interrupt him this time

 As soon as (Name) sits up completely on the bed and faces Rayne

 Then they touch Rayne's head and start playing with his hair "But I messed up, I'm sorry for worrying you" (Name) says while sending a guilty smile

 Rayne stares at (Name) as they continue to play with their hair

 Then Rayne closes her eyes as they feel the sensation of their fingers brushing her hair

 "It's okay... but next time tell me and take care of your health"

 "OK!"

 "I'll bring you lunch," Rayne says as she gently takes (Name)'s hand away and holds it in hers.

 Suddenly he brings his hand to your lips and kisses your wrist

 "Okay, I'm going" As soon as he breaks the kiss he gets up and heads towards the infirmary door

 Rayne was probably ignoring that it made (Name) a blushing mess that could compete with her little brother's friend's hair color.

 𝑩𝒐𝒏𝒖𝒔

 "Here" Rayne hands (Name) a lunch box with rabbit details around it

"You didn't need to make food for me." Even though (Name) denied it, they still took the lunch box and opened his lunch box

 As soon as they picked it up, Rayne took out a similar lunch box

 "The teacher saw your work and said you got full marks" Rayne says as she opens the lid of her lunch box and starts eating.

 "I'm glad my sweat and tears weren't wasted on this work" (Name) says as she takes a piece of her food and puts it in her mouth

After that little conversation, comfortable silence filled around the two of them in the infirmary.

[maladaptiv3]

i have found what you are like

I mean...how could I not?

Content: A nice lazy, rainy Sunday morning reading on the couch.

Warning: age gap, a little possessive, it’s kind of cheesy but I don’t really care! lol 

I started this piece a long time ago and I am just hitting a wall...so here is what I have so far. I don’t know if I will finish it. 

Word Count: 1174

*original content by maladaptiv3* please do not repost my work

(new screen name hey)

The soft patter of the rain on the roof was the only sound that filled the house for most of the day. The back door was open slightly and there was a now damp towel near the opening that had been placed to catch the bouncing raindrops from the patio outside.

Your Sundays were a ritual—his eyelashes on your cheek beckoning you to wake up, eyes still heavy with sleep as you lift your cup of coffee to your lips, arranging farmers market flowers as he finishes carrying in the rest of your treasures—but it was raining today. The rain was a welcomed distraction, it shifted your routine in a way that you had been craving. It had been a long while since you had enjoyed each other's silence. Silence seemed to be rare in his world. You only experienced pockets of it, stolen away from everyone's eyes. He woke you up that morning, pulling you into him, and melting into you, "It's raining, love." You hummed, "My favorite." The rain made the morning move in slow motion. There was no early morning coffee or having to find parking at the already getting crowded farmers market. "Let's have coffee in bed. I'll go make it," his smile was sweet. You scrunched up your nose, "I wanna watch the rain." He was amused, "Of course you do." 

Your mind wandered back to the current moment. Your back was against the arm of the couch and your legs were bent at the knee. A warm blanket was in your lap, covering one-half of you. You had a book in one hand and the other was running its fingers through his hair. He was settled between your thighs, slightly propped up on a throw pillow. His fingers were tracing lines on your shin as he turned the page of his book with the other. You mused, wondering how you had the privilege to live in this perfect moment. If you could bottle it, you would. His hand would occasionally ghost up your leg and settle on your thigh, his arm stretching slightly so he could grip it. You would slightly tug on his hair, playfully of course, "Shh...I'm reading." He would squeeze your thigh once more before going back to the words on his page, "I didn't say anything." He didn't have to say anything. This was a game you knew all too well. The rain was still falling outside and you wanted to bask in this feeling for as long as you could. The comfort of just merely touching each other was enough to keep you going for days. 

After a while, you heard him sigh. You put the business card posing as your bookmark back into your book, "Something on your mind?" He laid his book down flat on his chest, "You've been reading that book for years, you think you would have finished it by now." You rolled your eyes, "I've been finished. I just like to revisit it. It's one of my favorites." He sat up to face you, his legs crossed in front of him, "Well, what about it makes you revisit it?" You were astonished, "You're telling me that Mr. Booksnob himself has never read Jane Eyre? It's a classic." "Hey! I am not a book snob." "You kind of are." He took the book from your hands and examined the cover, "So, what is it about?" You took a minute to think, "It's about a homely governess who falls in love with the older man she's working for." His fingers were drumming against the book, "What's with you and older men?" You snatched the book back from him, "That's just what's on the surface. It's a story of painful love, independence, and feminism." He nodded, "Now, that makes more sense. Read me some." "Like what?" "Read me something that reminds you of me." You had it highlighted. It was a new quote you liked. The spine was not yet used to the continuous flipping to the page every time you pulled out your beloved copy. You licked your lips and cleared your throat a bit, "All my heart is yours, sir: it belongs to you; and with you it would remain, were fate to exile the rest of me from your presence forever." He blinked a few times and seemed to be entranced by the words you just spoke, "You belong to me?" You swallowed hard, "This book isn't about us." Your breathing was shallow as you waited for him to say something. His eyes were fixed on yours, "Do you belong to me?" You were quick to nod your head up and down, "Yes." He ghosted his lips over yours, "Good answer. Kind of anti-feminist, though?" You pressed your lips against his, "Is it?"

You pulled back, "Your turn to share. What are you reading?" He took his book from its place on the coffee table, "Poetry." You wiggle the thin green book out of his grip, "I've never really been a fan." His jaw dropped, "You? Miss I Buy A Book every time I leave the house, doesn't enjoy poetry?" "I guess not." He took his book back, "Well, it's only fair I read you something." You reached out trying to take the book from him, "Can I choose?" He clutched onto it, "Absolutely not." He began to flip through the pages, "You at least know who E.E. Cummings is, right?" You shook your head, almost offended, "Obviously." He found the page he was looking for, "I think you'll enjoy this one."

You pulled back, "Your turn to share. What are you reading?" He took his book from its place on the coffee table, "Poetry." You wiggle the thin green book out of his grip, "I've never really been a fan." His jaw dropped, "You? Miss I Buy A Book every time I leave the house, doesn't enjoy poetry?" "I guess not." He took his book back, "Well, it's only fair I read you something." You reached out trying to take the book from him, "Can I choose?" He clutched onto it, "Absolutely not." He began to flip through the pages, "You at least know who E.E. Cummings is, right?" You shook your head, almost offended, "Obviously." He found the page he was looking for, "I think you'll enjoy this one."

His lips parted and he set down the book:

i have found what you are like the rain,

      (Who feathers frightened fields with the superior dust-of-sleep. wields

easily the pale club of the wind and swirled justly souls of flower strike

the air in utterable coolness

deeds of green thrilling light                               with thinned newfragile yellows

                  lurch and.press

-in the woods              which                stutter                      and

                           sing

And the coolness of your smile is stirringofbirds between my arms;but i should rather than anything have(almost when hugeness will shut quietly)almost,                your kiss

You guys just stared at each other for a second. 

Your chest was tight and tears started to well in your eyes, "That was beautiful." He look worried and cupped your face with his hands, "No, no, no -- why are you crying?" 

Your chest was tight as you tried to keep the tears from welling in your eyes, "You memorized that?" He nodded and took your hands in his, "I find myself searching for it when I'm thinking of you. Sometimes I get asked what it's like to love you and I always tell them to read this poem. I never understood what Cummings meant when he wrote about someone being like rain until I fell in love with you." You just looked at him, your thumb brushing his, "I wouldn't believe that coming from anyone else, but for some reason, I believe it from you. I also think you kind of want to get laid, but I still believe it." 

[writeblrgarden]

PLANT GROWERS - MEET THE WINNERS - RAE

Meet Rae, who got third place in our grow a plant event in november! Rae goes by she/her, has a second degree black belt in kendo, and you can find her at @koala2all. She has been writing for about 30 years, primarily YA fantasy.

Tell us about the WIP you'd like to talk about today.

I'll be talking about The Pirate Knight. Being a pirate is all Nonie has ever wanted. Freedom, camaraderie, and a beautiful girl in port to welcome her back. But returning from a lucrative voyage, she finds her home in shambles and her bonny lass missing. Desperate to find her, Nonie makes a deal with the god of the sea. In return for helping return her lost love Nonie vows to become his holy knight, saving the weak and defending the helpless. Together with a cynical sorcerer, a naive orc, and an ex-girlfriend from a rival ship who promises not to rest until their mission is a success, Nonie sets out to prove that she can be a hero in time to save the love of her life. But when a world changing secret is revealed, Nonie will need the help of her friends to navigate the tempest.

Describe your writing process. Do you like to plan everything or are you more spontaneous?

I'm more spontaneous. I usually start a bit backwards actually. I know how I want a story to end, then where it begins, and the rest is a matter of figuring out how to get from point A to point B. Music plays a huge part in my process, as well. I often get inspired by a song for a set of characters or a situation, then I try to figure out where it can fit.

What have you found to be the most challenging and/or rewarding about writing?

The most challenging part of writing for me is that I often feel like I don't know what I'm doing. I'm just kind of winging it, writing stories that make me happy about characters that I enjoy writing about… but up to a year ago I didn't know what a beta reader was. My background is in theater, so I know how to frame a story in three acts… but without the background in creative writing, the imposter syndrome is real!

Below the read more is more of our conversation with Rae

What inspires you to write?

Books were such an escape for me when I was little. All those amazing worlds and vivid characters really helped me through some tough times. And that's what I want to share with others. The world is a hard place right now. I want to give readers a place that they can escape to, with characters they can empathize with as they face trials and overcome them. And maybe take a little hope with them when they're done.

Share some advice for other writers.

The best advice I ever got was from a Terry Pratchett quote. He said, "The first draft is just you telling yourself the story." I am definitely the type of person who dreams of the first draft coming out absolutely perfect. When it doesn't come out that way, I can tend to get a little frustrated. But after I heard this quote, I realized that the first draft is going to be rubbish. That's okay, and that's what editing is for. First, I just need to tell myself the story.

What do consider your writing strength?

Dialogue and worldbuilding are my strengths, for sure. I have such a strong sense of the world my characters find themselves in. My favorite technique is to not explain too much to the reader, but let them come across the world naturally as the characters navigate through it. It's my favorite way of experiencing the world of a story! Dialogue writing is so much fun. I love bantering with my friends, and imagining the banter between two characters is just as entertaining. I myself am a bit snarky (in a delightful way, of course) and that tends to make its way into at least one of the characters speech patterns.

What has been the nicest compliment you've received or what has been the toughest criticism you've received?

When I finished my first novel, I sent it to a knitting acquaintance of mine who happened to be a book reviewer as well. It was nerve wracking, since I had only let friends and family look at any of my writing before, but I had dreams of publishing and wanted to make the story as good as I could before I started sending it out. Her review came back glowing. Four out of five stars, and compliments about the worldbuilding, the characters, the plot, the dialogue. It was such a good feeling!

What do you love the most about writing?

My characters, and sharing them. I love making characters… ever since I was little. I get such a kick out of giving a character a backstory, and then seeing how they grow through the course of the story. Sometimes they really surprise me! And seeing them become important to the readers is really exciting, too!

[bobastar]

Teenager In Love

 JJ Maybanks X fem!reader 

a/n: one of my favorite trope is book smart gf and street smart bf// Not Edited, I made some things up because I’m too lazy to look back + I liked this idea i had :p (theres two different songs to fit the mood) not edited/proofread 

-- 

You were sitting in the library peering down at your notes as you heard the little bell ring. JJ walked over to you and sat next to you huffing quietly. You looked over at him and smiled a little. 

“Hi,” you whispered as he slopped down on his chair and rested his head on your arm. 

“Hey” You could tell he was upset about something. Kissing the top of his head and putting your arm around his shoulder to play with his hair, you softly hummed. 

He smiled slightly as he looked up. “Everything okay?” you asked as he nodded. 

“Just fine, whatcha doin?” he leaned up and kissed the corner of your mouth. 

“Studying..” you rolled your eyes knowing he was gonna laugh quietly at you. “Shut up, its for Pope.” 

“Yeah yeah, you just looked cute while saying that,” he smiled. “Are you finished?” 

“Hmm..almost, why?” 

“I wanna take you somewhere, but you can finish.” 

You nodded and pecked his lips before looking back at your laptop and notes. 

JJ sat up and grabbed one of your glitter pens and started to draw on his arm. He fidgeted his fingers and rings, looking over to your laptop occasionally. 

“Is it for the gold thingy?” he whispered, leaning his cheek on your shoulder as you nodded. 

“Yeah I wanted to know more about it before we went on the ‘mission’.” you used air quotes. 

He smiled kissing your shoulder before grabbing your hand to play with your fingers and rings. It was something you were already used to, you never really mind it since you knew that JJ had a problem with sitting still. He brought your hand up to him, giving your palm small quiet kisses. Then he brought it back down and started to draw little doodles on your hand. 

As you picked up your noted and closed your laptop, you looked down at your arm seeing the designs JJ made. 

“Youre silly,” you laughed at your initials and his surrounded by a messy heart drawn on the top of your hand. He smiled, “you finished?” 

“Yeah, lets go.” He got your backpack and got up, watching you as you pushed in your chair. He hung your backpack over his shoulder carefully and let you cling yourself on his arm. 

“Where is this mystery place?” 

“You know it pretty well,” he smiled, kissing the top of your head. 

“Yeah?” he helped you on his bike and handed you your backpack. He hummed in response, getting slightly flustered as you wrapped your arms around his torso, playing with his shirt. 

“Ready?,” JJ turned his head back to look at you. You smiled and nodded, “Yeah” you said softly as you rested your cheek on his shoulder. 

He smiled and looked forward, driving off to who knows where. 

-- later that evening --

It seemed as if the pogues where still caught up in an argument while you were studying, everyone was quiet and had a frown on their face. JJ sighed and sat down on a chair pulling you down by your waist gently, setting you down on his lap. 

As the group talked among themselves, JJ kept planting kisses and playing with your shirt. You kept paying attention in case JJ missed some points of the plan. 

“Rafe has the cross, I just know it,” Pope was irritated and stressed. 

“I overheard that theres a party hes attending while sneaking into the house, maybe he’ll talk to someone about it..” Sarah chimed in. 

“Who the hell can sneak into a party?” Kiara rolled her eyes and leaned back onto her chair. 

Pope looked around and his eyes landed on you and JJ. “They can, JJ is good at lying and Y/n looks like she could fit into the crowd, she’s good under pressure too.” 

“I do lie a lot,” JJ smiled lazily “what time is the part?” 

“Today at 7, you have 3 hours to get ready.” 

“Sounds good.”

-- 

Your blue velvet dress swayed in the wind as JJ drove quickly to the party location. As you arrived you took off your helmet carefully and fixed your dress, JJ helping you off. 

“Ready?” 

“Of course,” you smiled back. 

JJ fixed his vest, sighing. “I’ll meet you back here, ‘kay?” He pecked your lips and tugged you closer. “The dress seems easy for me to take off.” 

“I made sure it was,” you kissed him quickly, feeling his smile pressed against your lips. 

“If they bother you, remember what I taught you,” he smiled. “Hit them right there, and then walk away, just walk away.” 

You laughed and nodded.  

--

The dress hugged your body beautifully making some of the Kooks at the party look at you. Luckily it was a mask party so half of your face was masked with a similar color of your dress. Sitting down you scanned the room for JJ, but was surprised when you felt a tap on your shoulder. 

“He’s by the bar, m’lady,” you could hear the smirk under the mask as he handed you a drink. You took the drink and nodded, getting up. As you were walking, you heard JJ whistle and giggle under his mask as he walked in the opposite direction. 

You sat down at the bar just close enough to hear Rafe, sure enough he was bragging about gold and the cash he could make with it. You made sure to look if the video was recording, setting your phone face down on the table. You looked around and saw waiters filling drinks/being trashed talked by ungrateful kids. 

Just then Rafe looked over at you, tilting his head. 

“Hey, are you new here?,” he smiled sitting next to you. You hardly ever hung out with JJ’s friends so it was possible he didn’t recognize you. 

“Not really.” 

“You seem new, I would’ve recognized a girl like you,” he sat next to you, moving his head slightly to look at the unmasked part of your face. You shrugged and brought the straw up to your lips taking a sip. You felt a hand creep up to your thigh, rubbing the soft fabric harshly. “I have a boyfriend,” you said sternly. 

He looked back at his buddy and scoffed, “so?”. You nodded, but he moved his hand higher. You got the information you needed, so you stopped the video, making sure he didnt see the screen, and put it in your purse. While trying to get up, he pressed his hand tighter on your thigh. As you sighed telling him to stop raising your voice more than the last, a specific waiter turned his head over to the scene. 

Rafe seemed embarrassed, almost enraged. How could a mere little girl, one he has never even seen, reject him so quickly?  That’s when he held onto the dress pushing you closer to him, a cruel smile plastered all over his face. You reached your hand over the table and splashed the cup full of alcohol over his face, the music stopped as the sound of shattered glass filled the room instead. Before he could attack you, you remembered what JJ said. You kneed him, shocked at your quick action. 

“Oops,” you smiled as he let go of you to clean himself up. You walked away from him, being careful to not step on the glass. JJ was watched, his mouth slightly gaped open as you tugged on his shirt to go before Rafe followed. He let himself be dragged by you, still shocked by his badass girlfriend, the same girlfriend who was sweet to everyone, almost never got mad. 

You took off your mask and sighed, “lets go.” 

“Yes ma’am, right away ma’am,” JJ took of his mask and handed you a helmet. You put on the helmet, and got on the bike wrapping your hands around him. 

As Rafe and his friends stomped outside, JJ and you were already gone. Nothing but broken masks and tire marks were on the floor. 

[bronx-bomber87]

Happy Weekend all :) Watched this ep last night wrote down my thoughts and thought kick off Saturday with a review. Another really good ep ahead. S2 adds onto the base built in S1 in the best way. Off we go.

2x02 The Night General

We catch our first glimpse of our fine duo at the end of roll call. Grey has a new book for Tim to read for his Sergeant's exam. Tim doesn’t look excited in the least. Lucy calls out the book for its dated title. Grey explains to Lucy it's from the 60s. Lovely. Tim asks how this book is relevant with 21st century policing? Grey tells him 'Ours is not to reason why' LOL Basically saying he has to read it whether he wants to or not Poor Tim.

They're not in the shop two seconds before Tim hands her the book to read to him. Of course Lucy is going to give him some push back. She wouldn’t be her if she didn’t. Would you love her Timothy if she was anything but who she is? haha This is how they're going to spend their shift whether Lucy wants to or not.

Lucy suggests just to let her drive so he can read it while they work. That doesn’t fly with Tim baha Lucy doesn’t understand (yet) why he can’t just read it himself. Thinks Tim is just making her do it for him just cause he can. You'll find out soon enough my dear. Lucy knows when to pick her battles at this point. So she decides not to fight Tim on this one. Gives in and cracks this old fossil open and begins to read to him.

Mini marriage scene going on right here. It's their back and forth that I love so much about them. A comfortability has settled between the two of them and it shows. Instantly Lucy is being smug and sassy about the material. One of my fav things she does with him. Pushes his buttons like only she can. Instead of being immediately grumpy he dishes it right back. Oh how they’ve grown. Giving him crap with the book saying he shouldn’t generate fear but respect.

Tim is snarky as well firing back of course she would like this book...We all know she has thrived under his leadership. She's not really taking shots at him so much as using it to mess with him. She can't help herself. Lucy is taking full advantage of this scenario. Tim is painfully aware she is using reading this book to punish him. I mean it's only fair since he's forcing her to read it between calls.

I love her face in the gif above. She’s enjoying herself far too much for Tim’s liking haha He tells her to just keep reading LOL Like Lucy wasn't going to read this book without running commentary. Come on Timothy you know better than that hehe Lucy continues on and you can see him trying so hard to absorb it as she speaks.

Lucy ends up on another quote she likes. Of course its about patrol officers having value. So she chooses this one to have him parrot back to her. She is agitating the crap out of him and knows it. Telling him he needs to repeat it in order to memorize it. Using her psych degree to justify it. He begrudgingly does it and she asks him to do it again lmao Lucy is pushing her boundaries today and is fine with it haha

They get a call interrupting her and Tim is so relieved. Lucy responds to dispatch then says 'Ok 3 min out more reading.' LMAO She is relentless and begins up again. Tim's face above I’m dying. LOL He looks like he’s being endlessly tortured by her studying methods. This episode is absolute gold start to finish. He is at her mercy with this and knows it.

We rejoin them in the shop after their call. Lucy has moved onto chapter 3. ‘The Healthy Habits Of Command’ She goes on to read out loud ‘Delegation is the key to leading men in times of stress.’ Which leads to the line above. She follows it up with That’s so true don’t you think? Tim snaps back it’s hard enough to listen to this stuff without her editorializing haha Honestly Tim what did you expect from her? She tells him she’s happy to stop anytime and get back to her paper work.

Lucy goes on to tell him that he’s going to have to re-read all this again anyways to memorize it. You see the panic in Tim’s face. It’s here Lucy finds out he learns best when he’s hears it. That response immediately gets the wheels in Lucy’s head churning with her response of Really? He then asks what? Why? She tells him nothing…. Doesn’t take Tim long to figure out she’s holding something back from him. He says ‘Boot...’

Lucy tries to mumble her reply at first. Telling him he has a learning difference under her breath. It’s kinda funny how she tries to hide her answer. She knows he’s going to take it the wrong way. Tim makes her speak up and Lucy bites the bullet. Then try’s to soften the blow by saying he’s just wired differently. That he just processes information differently than others. She is digging herself a hole and knows it. Tim is bristly af as she tries explain this to him. He tells her he doesn’t have a learning disability. Flat out refuses to accept it.

Lucy digs her hole even further when she brings up Isabel. Tim has grown but that continues to be a sore subject for him. Lucy is trying so hard for him not to take this as a bad thing. Minute she brings Isabel up and their time at the academy he shuts down. Tells her they’re not talking about this. Lucy looks crushed she’s offended him. That comfortability and banter from earlier gone. You can see how much she wants to fix it. Unfortunately they get a call before she can rectify the situation. It's about a suspicious mini van casing a house. She tries to fix it as they drive to the call but he is shut off completely. Lucy is defeated and says never mind….

They pull up and its an old colleague of Tim's. He is a bounty hunter now. Lucy is assertive right off the bat saying they've received multiple 911 calls about him. Rex bites back calling her boot and to watch her tone. Tim steps in right away. No one calls her ‘boot’ but Tim good sir. So sexy when he tells Rex she’s the police now. Even though he’s grumpy about the studying he still has her back on this 100%. Such growth Tim. I love me some protective/supportive Tim. Lucy doesn't let Rex's behavior shake her. Lets this surly grump of a man know that. It’s like she has experience with them or something heh

Tim's face when Rex says 'You let her talk to you like that?' It’s a 'Watch it...' We all know Tim likes it when Lucy talks to him like that. It’s that assertive confidence that attracts him to her. One of many reasons But It’s far too early to delve into that fully haha We all know it’s true though. Lucy tells him his bounty Nico is a very dangerous person. Rex tries to rattle her one more time. Saying how he’s been dealing with dangerous men since she was in diapers. Lucy tells him these days you have to call law enforcement for this stuff. She cracks me up and says maybe he should read Tim’s book LMAO

Lucy tries the next day to mend fences with Tim. Asking him if he'd like her to read to him? Trying to offer up a olive branch. He instantly shuts her down. Says no. Lucy tries to implore him to let her. That he needs to learn it. He grumpily replies ‘I can do that on my own.' Oof she really hit a nerve with this one. Before Lucy can fight him some more they pull back up to Rex’s van. Tim is wanting to do a welfare check on him. He didn't report his bounty last night. Lucy calls him out for it and Tim says he wouldn’t put it that way to Rex though. But he's being a softie and she knows it.

They find blood and broken glass and call it in. Rex has been assaulted and Tim sees red. He takes off once Rex says Nico is headed to his aunt's. Lucy calls after him saying they need a warrant. Tim doesn’t listen as he takes off and Rex tells Lucy go with Tim.

Tim busts in raging says blood on the door enough reason for them to search. Lucy takes control of the situation quickly. Makes the aunt call Nico. Says they’ll arrest for aiding and abetting if she doesn’t. Does this to calm Tim down a bit. She’s so good at that. Not the first time she's taken charge to rein him a bit. The aunt calls it doesn't take long to find him in the house Then comes this bad ass fight scene. Last episode I said they’re like poetry in motion in the field. This gif is the definition of that. Look how well they work together to take Niko down. It’s a thing of beauty really.

First off let’s enjoy the fact we’re getting Tim all sweaty and guns out to play shall we? Ovary explosion for me. It's a very nice visual for me to start this scene. *fans self* Never get over how fine this man is honestly. Now let’s move onto the beautiful moment that’s about to commence. Lucy finds Tim working out. Ask's if he's training for his next re-match with Nico haha She hands him the little Audio book he looks so confused as to what this might be. His confusion continues after she explain its the audiobook version of his book.

Lucy looks so proud of herself when she explains she recorded it for him. She should be. You know she spent whatever free time she had off shift doing that for him. That is no small feat. Also the fact that she reached out to Isabel for him. I can’t imagine that conversation wasn’t a little awkward for her. But guess what? She did it anyways to help him. Even when he’s obstinate af with her she is driven to help him no matter what.

That psych degree comes in handy when she’s deciphering Tim. Why he acts the way he does. He lashed out cause he was embarrassed by the fact that he learns through listening. This is why Lucy does this for him. So he feels better about the way he learns. Doesn’t feel shame about it. He is much more receptive to her explanation this time around. You can see it in his face in that second gif above. She is so kind and gentle while she does it. Letting him know hey it's ok you learn this way. Nothing is wrong with it or you.

I can totally relate to Tim too btw. I am a Kinesthetic learner as well. I absorb audio books far more than sitting down and reading. I have to be moving while I listen or I’m instantly bored and disengage. If it’s a fic I’m fine for most part if it’s a one shot. But anything I have to read at massive length? I gotta be moving. So I get it Tim I’m same way my love.

She ends her explanation by complimenting him in the best way she can. By letting him know that the way he learns is why he’s such an excellent cop. Building him up and letting him know its why he excels the way he does at his job. Reinforcing his way of learning isn’t a bad thing at all but a strength for him. You can see it in his face he finally accepts this about himself. He replies 'Yeah.' with a small smile of gratitude. Like she's just taught him something about himself and he's not mad about it. Tim can't help but let that Lucy light of hers in.

Lucy says she will see him tomorrow. Wants to let him get back to his work out. You can tell Tim wants to say something before she goes. He builds up the courage to say 'Thanks' as she’s leaving ❤️ It's such a loaded Thanks for him. The absolute gratitude he has for her in this moment. I’ve said it many times and I’ll continue to say it. Eric says so damn much with just a look. If her recording an audio book isn’t an act of service and love to him I don’t know what is. The look on this man’s face as he says 'Thanks.' He is blown away she took the time to do this for him. Has to make sure Lucy knows how grateful he is before she leaves. Because she saw he had a need and fulfilled it for him. Put him first and took care of him in best way she could think of.

Lucy’s smile Is everything after he says this. It's the most honest and genuine 'Thanks ' she's ever received from him. She almost can't handle it. Why she nervously smiles back instead of replying. She is adorable. Gah no one gets through like Lucy does for him. Makes me wanna cry honestly. They’re written so damn well it makes me happy. Truly just make one another better in the best way.

That little smile of his when he hears Lucy’s intro. My damn heart. She truly is the best rookie he’s ever trained. Damn straight. If you weren’t shipping them before, this scene has to get you hook, line and sinker. She recorded an old outdated book for him in her personal time, built him up, made him feel better about how he learns, and reached out to his ex for clarification in order to help him better.

Actions speak louder than words they say for a reason. Her actions are screaming right now. Makes you wonder if he listened at night at all? Did he ever fall asleep to her voice during his studying? Maybe he did maybe he didn't. A girl can dream though haha Such a good ep for them start to finish.

~~~~~

Side notes non-chenford

Mmm Tim laying into Jackson about the hole he’s in. Yes please. Defending Angela when Jackson makes a joke if he’s late his dad is gonna light up Lopez. Tim goes on to tell him she’s going to pay the price if he doesn’t get his shit together. That she will be the target of his fathers aggression if he goes belly up halfway through training. That Jackson owes her his career. Whew lord I love me some protective Tim.

Also Lucy and Jackson living together ❤️ such a good friend to take him in like that I love it. First thing he needed to her back on track.

[unlirise]

🖋️ 240521 • tue

i've been waking up really early lately. around 5-6am. idk what's up with my body clock doing that but i'm grateful for it because it does give me more time in the day to accomplish a lot of things.

but it all really goes to waste if i spend the rest of my morning on my phone going through social media. i can do that at any other point of the day, i can wind down by doing that tonight. i wanted to try something different, so i decided to read for an hour.

it's admittedly hard to find time to read these days mostly because i feel like it gets in the middle of something. it's a leisure activity to me, something i do for enjoyment. but there are so many other things i have to get done before i can truly enjoy myself. otherwise, i'd be procrastinating. slacking.

so, in the end, i never get to pick up a book and just read. i've been trying to read a little life since september 2022. hopefully this new thing i'll occasionally try out (i don't want to make it a routine – i find that forcing myself to a certain habit will eventually lead to it dying out) will help me to go through my reading list and reignite my love for literature.

on another note, i want to share my to-do list for the day. i'm proud of myself for finishing most of what i wrote in yesterday's list. hopefully today will be the same.

rise's tuesday tasks:

ask for tutorial form from the registrar

finish revising chapter 1 of my thesis

annotate areas for revision in chapter 3

batch cook pasta for the week

with that, i'll end with a quote i annotated:

When we choose to live in a society, we choose to live under a contract, and to abide by the rules that a contract dictates for us.

[simsinlowspace]

Freetime Posters - 12 Film & Literature Hobby Posters

Hi everyone! 120 posters later and the Freetime poster series is finally finished! Whooo!🍾 Today we wrap up with the last hobby, Film & Literature. Swatch, details and download below! 📚

So, for the last time...these are on @linacheries’ best-poster-mesh-in-the-whole-world 4t2 conversion of Simsza’s National Park Prints (mesh is included), and they feature another 12 designs made with Flaticon elements + lots of Simlish fonts. They’re all inspired by locations, items, Sims and features from the game.

Translations:

Werewolf Poster for one of the spooky movies

Subtext: A Lucien Hyde Film Title: Cat Lady Poster for the other spooky movie. I borrowed Lucien Hyde's name from TS3's Midnight Hollow; it seemed apropos

Weather Control Poster for one of the action movies

Top: Chickmate! Bottom: Chicken Poster for one of the comedy movies (y'all didn't think you were getting out of this without more bad puns I hope XD)

Top: Alan Stanley's Bubble Bath Quote: "This year's most dripping drama" -- Sim City Times Bottom: Emmy Starr Devin Ashton Tiara Angelista Poster for one of the drama movies, with more borrowed TS3 names (all from Bridgeport)

Fetch Poster for the other action movie

Desirable Discourse For the film and literature secret lot

Top: Discover the Magic of a Good Book Bottom: Bell Books Desiderata Valley Bookstore advertisement inspired by Issac Bell, Desiderata Valley film and literature enthusiast

Madeleine Mace's Book Club Named for Madeleine Mace, one of the film and literature hobby trainers

Voleskine Notebooks and Journals Since I couldn't find a name for the in-game journals, they're now Voleskine :D

Once Upon Whenever Felicity Joyeuse Poster for the in-game romance novel

Larry Owens' Writing Workshops Named for Larry Owens, another film and literature hobby trainer

A numbered swatch is included.

Icons are by Freepik, Chanut-is-industries, justicon, Smashicons, max.icons, Futuer, RaftelDesign, ultimatearm, mikan933, photo3idea_studio, iconixar, Victoruler and smalllikeart. Huge thanks to all the designers for their amazing resources!

And a huge thanks to everyone in the Simming community as well! I've so appreciated your wonderful feedback while working on these. It was a crazy project and sometimes I felt frustrated or overwhelmed, but then I'd read your kind comments or see one of these designs in your screenshots and it was always worthwhile. <3

DOWNLOAD (SFS) Recolors are ~350KB

I should be back to posting content more regularly this week. This post is scheduled to go out while I'm (hopefully) still sleeping, but I'll be getting caught up on everything I missed once I'm conscious again! 🤗 See you all very soon!

Lots of love, Spacey

UPDATE: Now that this series is complete, here is a master list of all the posts, plus a single download link for all the posters. All swatches are included, and files are sorted into folders so you can easily keep just what you like:

Tinkering Nature Arts & Crafts Fitness Science Cuisine Sports Games Music & Dance Film & Literature

DOWNLOAD ALL THE POSTERS (SFS) Recolors are ~8.5MB

You can now also get all the designs on BV's Travel Keeper!

[clay-pidgeon]

seagulls fucking SUCK man

Hello, readers who I will assume also hold a grudge against seagulls based on the fact you’re reading this knowing what the title says! Let me regale you with an needlessly dramatic tale of betrayal earlier today (by seagulls) (the betrayal not the tale) (the tale is by me) (seagulls can’t write) (I think?)

Now, before I begin, here are some Indubitable Truths that will be relevant:

I am an animal lover first and a person second.

Yesterday, I got my braces tightened. As such, my front teeth are a bit sore still. It would be hard for me to eat, say, a particularly chewy tortilla.

I have a tendency to ignore common knowledge in favor of being nice to birds.

Here is where our story begins. I am at a nice little street near the beach, with other people, on a “history” camp trip. “History” is in quotes because it’s 60% going to museums (most interactive) and 40% looking at the attractions around the museums.

So I am at this cute little street with a couple of places you can get food. So I got food. Specifically a (large) burrito, a bag of tortilla chips, apple juice, and some guacamole.

As aforementioned: it is hard for me to eat the burrito because of the chewy nature of the tortilla. And there are a Lot of seagulls near the table where I’m eating.

Are you picking up what I’m putting down?

If not, I will spell it out: I rip off pieces of tortilla to give to the seagulls. Win-win, they get food and I don’t have to try to eat a tortilla when my canines are so sore.

(pictured: 2 messages sent to @dreamsy990 before the Horrors ensue)

I would like to add I DO realize that feeding wild animals is a Bad Idea™️. Like, I read the Diary of a Wimpy Kid book where Greg gives a seagull a Cheeto and they just immediately attack him. And I listen to park rangers when they talk. (Mostly the first one.)

But alas, I am no more than a poor imitation of Icarus, flying too close to the sun that is feeding wild birds tortilla pieces. Also I just really like birds and would do anything for them if they could talk I would be so fucked

I grab the bag that the food was in—there’s still food left, I just don’t want to be a litterbug and let the bag blow away. I get up from the table.

IMMEDIATELY, they descend upon my food like the ravenous bastards they are. I cry “DUDE! WHAT!” They knock over my apple juice. One flys away with the rest of the tortilla. They leave the chips and guacamole alone (for now).

I am Extremely Pissed, but still a Responsible Citizen, so I grab the chips and the rest of the trash (which has increased since it DOESN’T HAVE ANY FUCKING FOOD LEFT IN IT) and go to the trash can. When I return, they’re eating the guacamole. I yell “YOU CAN’T EVEN RECYCLE!” (Because they’re birds, they wouldn’t know how to properly dispose of waste. Assholes.)

Tragic. However, I am a person who values rolling with the punches (there’s a good story I have about that, but it’s less interesting and harder to remember/make funny) life gives you, so I suck it up and go buy an ice cream cone to ease my sorrows. (I AM frowning the whole time, though.)

I then go eat the ice cream cone while sitting against the wall of the arcade (because I needed to charge my phone) and when I finish the ice cream I attempt to eat the chips I salvaged. Bit hard, considering the whole “sore teeth” thing. Then, I get in the bus to go home, and I write a needlessly dramatic tumblr post about the whole experience.

[twistedtummies2]

How would your twst ocs react to their s/o just dreamily staring at them and when called out, they tell them that they're just too handsome not to look at? Asking because I'm feeling good today lol

Well, part of this concept involves what the pair are DOING when the S/O gets caught staring at the OC. For the sake of this set of headcanons, I'm imagining the specific scenario is the OC in question and their S/O are in the school library. Maybe they're there to study, maybe they're just chatting in hushed voices, but either way, they're in an out-of-the-way spot of the area, and the OC stops whatever they are doing when they notice the S/O gazing upon them... Nakoda is very well aware of the fact he's absolutely freaking gorgeous, and prides himself in it. So somebody telling him he's handsome and eye-catching is nothing new. His reaction, of course, is to tease his little "sssweetheart," perhaps offering to let you see a lot more than his face somewhere more private. Don't take this to mean he doesn't appreciate the compliment though: he might even be blushing a little bit, since your praise means more to him than anybody else's. Billy is proud of his body, and has a certain amount of ego...but he's not used to someone just...sincerely and happily telling him he looks handsome. In fact, his first reaction when he catches you staring is worrying if he has something stuck in his teeth or whatever. Once you tell him that, no, you just like looking at him...he'll blush and give you a big, gap-toothed smile. "Awwww...well, thank you! I like looking at you, too! ^///^ " Elias will frown when he catches you, and calmly recommend you both get back to the books you're studying for class. When you tell him he's too handsome to focus on studying...his ears will perk up and his eyes will widen. His face will flush, and you can hear his tail beating against his seat as it starts to wag. After a bit, he'll calm down, a bashful smile on his face as he chuckles nervously and adjusts his glasses: "Heh heh...yes, well...be that as it may..." He tries to refocus, but after a moment, you can't help but hear him mumble: "Come on, I didn't even have a quote prepared for a response...you've gotta give me time to rehearse my reactions, jeeze..."

Reno will scowl and sneer, and actually look behind and around him, as it literally doesn't even remotely occur to him you could be admiring his face. He might even snap his fingers in your face, growling for you to focus up: you agreed to play cards with him if he agreed to study with you a bit here. He'd like to finish and get to the game ASAP. When you tell him what distracted you...his eyes will widen...then he'll snicker and shake his head: "Yeah, right. Ya don't hafta lie to me, y'know." When you make it clear you are NOT lying...well...you've got a blushy bug boi on your hands now. Do with that what you will. ;) James will be somewhat similar to Elias in response, but with one key difference: when you tell him what distracted you, his response is basically this: "...I...I am? I mean...OF COURSE! Yes, I know, I'm devilishly handsome to behold! But, ah...perhaps we can admire my splendid features later?" He'll be blushing, but he'll be filled with more pride than ever for the rest of the day. He might even brag about it to Smitty: "My darling thinks I'M the most handsome creature in the world! They can't take their eyes off me! Ha HA! Take that, Satyr, Mr. Can't-Keep-a-Mate-to-Save-His-Sorry-Life! Let's see you top THAT! >:D " Smitty...will be confused what you're staring at, and might even be a bit concerned. Once you explain to him...he immediately covers his face with his hat while making flustered sounds. Precious little dear. Maelstrom will be looking through a book of art, and glare over the rims of his reading glasses. He growls about how you don't have to stare at his glasses like that, it's not like you haven't seen him wear them before...he's not fond of when people bring attention to them. However, you tell him it's not his glasses you're looking at. Just him. All of him. And as far as the glasses go, you think he looks good in them. He'll just...stare at you, somewhat slack-jawed, startled, even stunned...before coughing into a fist and blushing as he mutters, "Wh-Whatever. Just...focus on what we're supposed to be lookin' at, got it?" You do notice, however, that after that point, he seems a lot less bothered about wearing his glasses in class. Theodore and Grit, I'm not sure yet, but I can guarantee they're another couple of boys who get blushy to some degree or another. Running theme with the whole team. ;)

[hee0soo]

Study Session

Summary: Jisoo finds a very frustrated Felix in the living room

Masterlist

The last thing Jisoo expected to see when she came back to the dorm was the amount of notes and textbooks that were spread out in the living room.

It was a little past midnight, all the members had already went home and Jisoo had been the last one to finish her vocal lessons that day.

Usually the younger members would gather in the living room for a couple rounds Mario kart after a long day of lessons, but today none of them were in sight. None of them but Felix.

The younger Aussie was sitting in the middle of what seemed to be the eye of a paper and energy drink tornado, his hair sticking up in every direction from running his hand through it and a heavy frown on his face.

He was reading silently from the book that was perched on his lap, while his lips moved a little.

“Lix-ah? What happened here?” she gasped out.

Felix´s head flew around so fast that Jisoo was a little worried about his neck.

His brown eyes were wide, which made him look a lot like a deer caught in headlights.

He was obviously surprised that she was already home and the rest of the boys had decided to go to bed early, so the prospect of Jisoo finding the nervous wreck that was Lee Felix at the moment bothered him a little.

Turning back to his notes he grumbled a little but ultimately ignored her presence.

Worry started to creep up on the female member. It wasn´t normal that the resident sunshine had a frown placed on his face and this was unnerving.

“Hello, Earth to Felix? What is this? I thought you were finished for the day?” Jisoo tried again.

“My language teacher told me to study this, because and I quote: “We noticed you were lacking a little so we want you to study these texts. Tomorrow we will have a test ready for you.””

Nodding her head Jisoo put her bag down, tried not to fall over the masses of sneakers in the hallway and made her way to the kitchen. Understanding filled her mind as the girl pulled out her favorite mug and a second one for the troubled boy a few meters away.

She filled the electric kettle on the counter with water, turned it on and choose two bags of tea from one of the drawers.

If one of the members understood what it was like to learn a new language under pressure, it was her and Chan.

The tests the teachers would sometimes throw at her would often times be scheduled on short notice, just like they had done with Felix today it seemed.

“How long have you been on this text? If I remember correctly you were done for the day 3 hours ago.”

“Ever since I got back here. The members wanted to give me peace to study but this is ridiculous! Giving me one day to go through all of this! How am I supposed to remember it all?” Felix moaned while gesturing to the book he was reading.

Jisoo had to sigh. It was clear to her that Felix was exhausted and belonged in his bed, not in the living room studying.

The kettle turned itself off when the water was done boiling and the girl filled the mugs before walking over to her fellow 00-liner.

“Here take this. It´s better then all of the energy drinks laying around.”

She pushed the mug into his hand and sat down next to him.

“I´m so tired but I feel like if I go to bed now i´m going to fail tomorrow. Or more  like today.” He whispered and layed his head down on the girls shoulder.

Tears of frustration filled his eyes and Jisoo watched as the boy whipped them away.

The small sniffles he let out broke her heart.

“Do you want me to question you a little about this and then we can go cuddle in your room?”

Instead of answering he just nodded.

Half an hour later they were done studying and the tea was empty. He had answered most of her questions correct and Jisoo could feel him nodding off on her shoulders every once in a while.

“Come on Lixie, it´s almost 1 a.m ,go to bed. You need it.”

“Only if you come with me.” He pouted and blinked slowly at her.

“Of course. Just let me get ready to sleep and i´ll meet you in your bed in a couple of minutes.”

Jisoo pulled the sleepy boy up and directed him to his room, before cleaning up the books and notes they had used a couple minutes ago.

The mugs found their place in the dishwasher and the empty energy cans were thrown out.

After freshening up Jisoo made her way to Felix´s room and she wasn´t surprised in the slightest that the boy was already fast asleep.

[andivmg]

(big paragraph rant ahead thanks to madison beer’s memoir)

okay so i finished reading The Half of It today and i have a lot of thoughts. but i’m gonna post just the pages that spoke to me the most in regard to online stuff and rant

i remember 2021 as being literally one of the worst years of my life this far because of twitter (obviously a bunch of personal stuff too but yk). to this day i’m mildly afraid of the internet which is very silly but very real. because of the part of the internet i was “famous” in i was forced to see every single thing people wrote about me and at first it was super fun super cool but it very quickly shifted into people picking me apart for everything i did or said. then i started associating myself with my ex and his circle of people and it only got worse. their audience was welcoming at first but after a week i would see people call me annoying and a pick me on a daily basis. and this was before i got “called out” for some stuff i don’t wanna get into now because i feel like it has been discussed enough but iykyk. so when that happened people latched onto that and to this day i still get the one off rude message about it. and when people tried to stick up for me i was reduced to sex. which was so demeaning in so many different ways. like the only reason i would ever be worth defending was because of my “pussy”. like that was the only thing about me that mattered. and as a woman on TWITCH of all places i was already hearing that enough. it was even more infuriating knowing that my male counterparts had done so much worse than me and faced maybe half the backlash. and even then had their mistakes and behaviors excused to the point of them not having to own up to them at all. as a woman of color i was held to a much higher standard than a lot of my peers. i was expected to know everything and to never make a mistake. so yeah, i wish i had been kinder to myself at the time. because no matter how mean the internet was to me, i was meaner. at the time it literally felt like my life was over. i would go online and only read bad things about myself. it was such a small group of people though, but i was so chronically online that it felt like the whole world was against me. and it sounds dumb and self centered but it’s how it felt as a teenage girl whose whole life was centered around twitter, tiktok, and twitch. once a big group of us went to universal and i tried to stay out of as many pictures as possible. whenever a fan would approach us as a group i would always offer to take the picture for them because i didn’t want to be in any of them. my friends told me i was being dramatic but i was trying to avoid what ended up happening anyway. people quote tweeting the pictures and making comments about me. i expected every fan that came up to either not know who i was (ideally), or worse, to know and hate me.

madison also talked a lot about being paranoid about her personal life being leaked online and talked about and i felt that deeply as well. once on stream i accidentally showed my lock screen (a picture of me and my ex) for like half a second. then immediately after, i ended stream and deleted the vod along with most of the clips but people had already had seen it and a week later my ex called me up mad as hell because people were posting screenshots of it on twitter and he was not happy about it. people were speculating on our relationship and making fun etc. and i just felt so powerless. like nothing i could do or say would change their mind. now i realize it literally does not matter what people say.

anyway yeah clearly madison’s book brought back a lot of memories for me. it was honestly oddly comforting to read. i know so many people that have gone through similar things and it’s never handled well by anyone involved. i feel a lot more comfortable talking about it now and especially here because i know it won’t become a huge thing since i’m irrelevant now and this is old drama. it’s just nice to write to the void sometimes (you guys aren’t a void i promise but yk what i mean). but yeah i’m over most of the stuff that happened that year. my therapist is amazing and helped me through it all. and now i can talk about it without feeling any type of way. it is something that happened. and i am okay now.

in conclusion, i love madison beer

[chimini3]

MAKEUP THE BREAK UP

Park Jimin | Chapter 4

SERIES MASTERLIST

Pairing: Park Jimin x OC

Synopsis: What happens when Park Jimin's biggest what if comes back into his life? His friendly neighbor, childhood best friend, high school lover, and now his makeup artist?! Amidst the 2020 outbreak, the last thing he needed was Seong Areum making his heart skip a beat and fill his stomach with air. What will he do when unspoken words threaten to slip past his tongue? Would he take the chance of ruining a healing past? Or would he let her slip away once more and let himself get lost in the lights?

Note/Warning: Messy Timeline with real events (once again), not beta read, chapters are going to get shorter now since I’m only writing a few chapters ahead from the ones getting released. I’m posting the next chapter on weekends to slow it down and give me time to finish more chapters :))

Word Count: 2.3k words

A Welcomed Fever Dream

Behind The Scenes of BigHit’s Group Photo

(For better context on the events happening in the following chapters, please refer to the link above)

[2020] Late January

“Everything can change at any moment, suddenly and forever.” - Paul Auster

That was a quote I read from a book Namjoon left unattended on the desk of the BTS waiting room.

I was growing fidgety as I waited for the other members. Most of us had barely slept last night just from the excitement for today’s photoshoot, though it was also partly due to remnants of jetlag and our bodies refusing to rest after extensive Map of The Soul: 7 promotions.

We were all working hard to achieve the goals we had set for the album, though we still wanted to do it moderately and planned to work harder in the last weeks of January to compensate for a break for a late celebration of the Lunar New Year in February. We all had planned personal trips for that week just to spend mentally healing and perhaps fit in a trip back to Busan.

Cue the 5th of February 2020 and it would be BigHit Entertainment’s 15th anniversary, a milestone worth celebrating as the company managed to reach for the stars despite everything it had gone through. It was also time to celebrate the newest addition to our small yet happy company family since TXT was only over a month away from their one-year anniversary since their debut, and from what we can tell they were doing great.

So it was decided for us to do a cute family photo shoot with all BTS and TXT members and the oldest of BigHit artists, Lee Hyun. We also planned on going for dinner after the photo shoot, but we hadn’t confirmed if the rest of the artists and staff were free for the rest of the day.

I stood up from my seat at the corner of the room as a few staff members looked in my direction though I only took my phone to place inside my front pocket before taking steps to leave the waiting room.

“Ya, where are you going?” Namjoon asked as I turned back to look at him sitting beside Hobi with makeup artist noonas touching up their hair.

“I’ll just check up on Lee Hyun Hyung’s waiting room.”

“Wait for me—“

Jin added though I already took a step out of the room as soon as I explained my leave. I laughed and looked back at Jin groaning at me before I went through the hallways of the warehouse in which our photoshoot was taking place.

We had three sets for the day so we expected it to go through smoothly despite the volume of members in the photoshoot. We were always used to just being the seven of us, but now we had Lee Hyun hyung and five TXT members that had to all cooperate for the shoot. Yet at the same time, I was filled with excitement as this is time spent getting to know old and new artists. Lee Hyun hyung has always been a good friend of ours since before our debut and we’d met TXT around the studio and backstage of our tours in the past year, so it wasn’t at all going to be awkward.

I opened a door that had Lee Hyun’s name on it and went through a small corridor as a cameraman followed behind me. I could see a glimpse of the solo artist standing in the center of his room with a staff member fixing his clothes whilst simultaneously adding more pieces of clothing over his black turtleneck.

“Wow! You look so…”

I didn’t finish my statement as I couldn’t stop my cheeks from rising. Lee Hyun greeted me with a handshake as I took a look around his waiting room. It was only a little smaller than ours but a lot more spacious considering a soloist doesn’t have members and their own makeup artists working around.

“I’m not even fully dressed yet! You can’t judge my look right now!” Lee Hyun had a smile on his face though I made no move to leave the room and wait for him to get fully dressed.

As far as I can tell, he still had a white button-up to put on and a dark gray suit jacket on top of his turtleneck and jewelry. His clothes were hung on a rack to make sure no wrinkles appeared before he wore them and there was a box of glasses and jewelry sitting on the sofa, similar to the boxes staff gave me to choose my jewelry. However, I opted to go for a cleaner look for the first set.

I wore a fully black attire. Chelsea boots, fitted pants, a fully buttoned-up suit jacket with a black button-up as my undershirt, and a sparkly black tie that I thought of putting on at the last minute as it caught my eye as soon as the staff brought in options that could spice up our planned outfits. My neck, hands, and wrist were bare, and the only jewelry I had was the earrings I had on my ears. Like I said I wanted to be clean, and my full black attire puts emphasis on my blonde shadow roots.

I sat backward on one of the empty chairs in front of the mirror before watching Lee Hyun get suited up.

“I’ve never seen you dressed like this. It’s amazing and weird.” I teased with a smile on my face as it was meant in goodwill. Lee Hyun was just someone I wasn’t used to wearing such formally dark attires.

“Why? Is it like looking into a mirror?” He teased back and I couldn’t help but laugh.

It has been a long time since I’ve seen the artist, though we regularly kept in touch. He is one of the few artists I can tease and not feel as though I have disrespected them in any way. That is just on how much we’ve known each other and gained respect towards each other through the years.

“Are you going to put some glasses on?” I asked as both our eyes settled on the box of glasses on the sofa.

“I don’t know yet… I don’t think glasses will fit me.”

“Try them out! You just need to find glasses that will fit your head shape.”

I walked towards the box and picked out a few that I thought Lee Hyun would fit the most, though I wasn’t forcing him to wear them for the photoshoot.

I set the glasses aside beside him before going back to the chair I sat on and we continued exchanging jokes and jumped from topic to topic.

“Didn’t you have much longer hair?” I said just in time as Jin walked into the room with his unfinished attire.

I knew he wouldn’t be able to wait to join us. After all, Lee Hyun was Jin’s fishing buddy. Most probably his only fishing buddy considering none of us willingly went on a fishing trip with him.

“Ooh, are you a composer? More like a conductor. You look stunning.” Jin teased.

“Composer or Conductor?”

The more I thought about it, Lee Hyun did look like someone who would lead all BigHit members to perform a choir or something like that.

“It’s like I’m wearing my dad’s clothes.” Lee Hyun looked at himself in the mirror as Jin fiddled with something in his ear.

“Is that a clip-on?” I asked as a metallic ring looped around his Conch.

“Yeah.” Lee Hyun nodded.

Maybe I should get a conch ring.

“Ah hyung, are you free tonight?” I asked as I was reminded of the dinner we planned.

“Why? Are you taking me out on a date?” Lee Hyun joked as we laughed along with the staff letting out a chuckle under their masks.

“Seriously though.”

“Yeah, I am. Why?”

“We were planning on going out for dinner after this. With TXT and the staff.” Jin explained as the eldest formed an o shape with his mouth before nodding.

“You know, I’ve never properly met them before. Dinner would be nice.” Lee Hyun smiled.

“Let’s not get too drunk though? We need to act professional.”

“We are professional, Jin ah.”

We chuckled as we knew deep down that we were most definitely not the most professional people out there.

“Ten minutes.” A man spoke at the doorway of the waiting room.

“You look professional though. Clothes really do make a man.” I said while I stood up after seeing a makeup artist point to me before gesturing for me to come to the BTS waiting room.

“I’m not sure if that’s a compliment.” Lee Hyun said before we laughed and parted ways.

It always felt great reconnecting and talking about light subjects that weren't heavily focused on work.

I walked on our first set of the day. It was an all-white floor and background with white steps and shapes for us to lean or sit on. It wasn’t anything special though it definitely made our black attires pop out from the white backdrop.

The five TXT members were already on set lined up as if they were about to formally greet us like they did the first time we met, though thankfully that didn’t happen and only bows and words of greetings happened.

I leaned on one of the white center block pieces, only a few paces away from Hobi, Taehyung, Yoongi, and Namjoon as the TXT members mostly stayed on the other side of the set. We were now only waiting for three other members to start the shoot.

Jungkook was still waiting for his shoes to arrive. Apparently, he called for his pair of Prada Chunky Sole Combat Boots instead of the planned more formal look of Oxford shoes, Loafers, or my personal favorite… Chelsea boots. But we’ll let him do whatever he wishes.

Jin and Lee Hyun were most probably still busy chatting and getting the layers of their attire all sorted, so we still had a few minutes to touch up our makeup and get a feel of the set, or as much of a feel as we could get as the set was filled with staff, cameramen, security, stylists, and makeup artists.

However, once everyone was ready and on set, everything was bound to be smooth sailing.

Except for a few bumps and loose hats…

After a slight camera adjustment we were forced to pose with a look to the side and I might've not seen it happen but when a manager called to stop the photoshoot for a touch-up, I couldn’t help but look around for the person who needed it especially in the middle of the shoot.

Jungkook to my right was ducking in his position to tie up a loosened lace of his boots. Hobi to my left was fixing his suit jacket and cleaning up a piece of lint he saw. TXT’s Taehyun to the left behind me was comfortably resting his hand in his pocket whilst sparring a glimpse at Beomgyu behind to the right of me.

“Can someone pin Beomgyu’s hat to his head properly?” The camera director sounded a bit annoyed as his momentum of photos had to stop abruptly as I turned to look at Beomgyu behind the space in between me and Jungkook.

He was crouched down on the floor to pick up his black Brenton Sailor hat that had seemingly fallen off his head during the shoot. He stood up straight with a cringed smile on his face though sending apologies to us and the staff.

I smiled at him to reassure him that it was no problem at all before I turned back to face the camera. Little did I know that what I was about to see would make me believe in that quote Paul Auster wrote.

It was her.

Not once had she crossed my mind in the seven years we had split. Perhaps being an idol left no room for such thoughts.

She was different, but I know her eyes when I see them.

Doe dark brown eyes that always shined and made my insides curl more than the workout I’ve done in my debut days.

She carried a packet of black hairpins as I removed my legs from her path in between the props to reach the TXT member behind me. Another makeup artist followed behind her with an unplugged though already heated straightening iron.

She had her dark hair kept in one big braid that ran behind her neck to her back and a striped white and blue sweater over a pair of dark jeans. She wore a thin white mask though it was a bit too big for her face so it laid lower down her nose and made the mole right on the side of her nose bridge visible to confirm that it really was her.

Why did I feel the need to take note of every detail about her? I don’t know.

But her walking past me with a scent so unfamiliar yet similar felt surreal. Like a fever dream that wasn’t unwelcomed though uncalled for.

“The pins don’t hurt, do they?”

I can hear her faint voice speak to the younger member before getting drowned out by the chatter around us. I’ve never wanted to yell shut up to a whole room before, but I shouldn’t, it was unreasonable.

I clearly hadn’t expected this. I mean, who would?

The last time I heard of her name was when my parents informed me that she and her whole family had moved to the States. It wasn’t as if it was that big of a deal before either. I merely shrugged at my parents before replying something along the lines of “good for her” before I excused myself since I didn’t particularly feel like eating dinner when it was already closing into my debut and abs were needed to perform a routine.

I hadn’t thought much of it. The news even came as a relief to me.

At least, we broke up face-to-face instead of having a long-distance relationship. I don’t think 17-year-old me would do well in that. I’d probably hurt her more than I already did by prioritizing my passion over her. The fact that we were bound to break up anyway comforted me through all these years.

So the question lies on what the hell was she doing here?!

[starcastlesinthesky]

Libraries are for EVERYONE

One of my favorite quotes of all time is from librarian Jo Godwin:

"A truly great library contains something in it to offend everyone.”

Insane that someone would just go ahead and keep on with the fake narrative that libraries are only bastions of liberal ideas only. I beg people to come here and look at our library, and the books that we have. There are so many that I roll my eyes at. But hey, that means that those books are not for me.

I had a woman who called the library today when I was working the phones. She was immediately irate about the fact that she had to wait since December to read a book on Libby. She started reading it last month, but only got 43% of the way through it in 21 days. (That's definitely not a fault at all.) She has to turn it in tomorrow because there is someone on hold for it, and she is incensed that she has to wait to finish reading it again.

I explained to her how the holds process worked, especially regarding rechecking a book, and how it has to go to the next person in line. I let her know that she can get back on the hold list again, so that when the next person is done, she can get it back.

This woman, who I've never spoken to before nor did I recognize her name as a regular patron, proceeded to yell at me that "this library has such a liberal bias, because there's only one copy for this book, but 14 copies of Michelle Obama's book!" and "They knew this book was going to be popular, so they should have asked for as many as they got of Michelle Obama's book!"

The book she was reading is The Great Disappearance: 31 Ways to be Rapture Ready by David Jeremiah. She was comparing this book to The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama.

I kind of let her rant for a little bit, but as I tried to suggest things to her, she raised her voice at me, yet again. If you know me, that's one of the worst things you can do. I used to cower, but I've learned how to deal with people like that.

I told her the following when she finally took a breath:

"I am sorry for how frustrating this is for you. I would like to offer you what assistance I can, but I will only do that if you can calm down. If you are still this upset, I will disconnect the call."

I reiterate her about going back on hold for the book, how long at most she can expect to wait for it, then suggested to come to one of our library Board meetings. They are open to the public, and she can sign up to make a public comment to the Board.

The call ended with her crying because she was so frustrated that there "weren't as many religious books as there are liberal books" and "it's such a liberal agenda." I again apologized for her frustration, and directed her to attend a Board meeting, followed up with:

"If you have felt this way for a long time, it's best to actually say something rather than not saying anything at all."

She stated that nothing will change, but that I was right. I told her it helps to have others that feel the same way involved in a Board meeting. That's the best way for them to be heard.

*Now, time for my personal thoughts on the incident*

You cannot seriously tell me that you think that a pastor, who goes by Dr. but has only an honorary doctorate, is going to sell more books than a former First Lady. According to her, we should have as many books by this man as the former First Lady.

Also, if it was that important to her that she read it, why not buy it? Looks like a book that, as a good Christian, you would want to have. Then again, evangelical Christians are something else. A lot that I have met have been lovely, but more than that have been stupendously judgmental and racist. Some of them have learned, and many have not.

But I'll tell you this:

It's so important, as a public library, to have things for EVERYONE. And we really do. But if it's a matter of how many much media we have available for a certain item, that's determined by how much the author is checked out. If not many people are checking out this author's books, it's obvious that we're not going to order as many copies that we did a book by Michelle Obama. I guarantee the numbers are very different. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with subject, and all to do with popularity. If the community isn't interested, we won't have it.

[ashleysalcove]

Title: The Outsiders

Author: S.E. Hinton

Publication: April 24, 1967

Synopsis:

No one ever said life was easy. But Ponyboy is pretty sure that he's got things figured out. He knows that he can count on his brothers, Darry and Sodapop. And he knows that he can count on his friends—true friends who would do anything for him, like Johnny and Two-Bit. But not on much else besides trouble with the Socs, a vicious gang of rich kids whose idea of a good time is beating up on “greasers” like Ponyboy. At least he knows what to expect—until the night someone takes things too far.

First Line:

When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home.

Favorite Character: Dallas Winston

OTP: Dallas and Cherry ☺️💕✨💖

Favorite Quote: “I could fall in love with Dallas Winston,” she said. “I hope I never see him again, or I will.”

Rating: ★★★★★

My Thoughts:

*SPOILERS*

Life is funny isn’t it? Funny in the way the things we like sometimes change as we age and mature. I think Taylor Swift is the only musician from my early teens that I still love, probably even more now than I did back then, at twenty-eight. I can’t tell you a single book I’d read back then that I would still enjoy today that isn’t for nostalgic reasons.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a book that I was supposed to read at fifteen years old for my advanced English class, but at the time I had so much going on at home that I wasn’t interested in anything and by my last class, which was Science, I was fighting to keep my eyes open. Years later I bought it again to read on my old iPad, but I only got through 1 and a half chapters. I wasn’t paying attention to what I read and I guess I just wasn’t interested in those types of stories at that time. I loved the Twilight Saga and Fallen and etc.

Today, at twenty-eight, I was able to read and finish it thanks to my kindle. I think that’s one of the drawbacks of being a ‘mood reader’ and one of many reasons I love my kindle. Being able to read the books I’m in the mood for the second I’m in the mood for them has helped me become a more voracious reader. Before, I’d always be in the mood to read something else by the time the book I ordered arrived.

I am of the belief that everything happens the way it’s supposed to. Everything happens for a reason. I don’t think that the meaning and the themes of The Outsiders would have resonated with me at fourteen or even twenty-two for that matter the way they have today. There’s something about being in your late twenties and reading a book like The Outsiders and thinking back on your childhood and the people you’ve interacted with or grown up around that makes this book more meaningful. Of course, those who read it back in high school and reread it today as adults might have differing opinions.

S.E. Hinton’s writing is so simple and beautiful and lyrical even which is surprising since she wrote The Outsiders in High School. That is amazing and quite an impressive accomplishment for a teenager to have especially since it’s considered an important piece of literature today. How many 16 or 17 year olds can say that they wrote a book that would be read over and over for years and in some cases even banned for, in my opinion, showing the hard truth of realities? Probably not many.

I love the characters so much. I love Dallas Winston. I can fix him (no really I can). I think Johnny Cade had a better understanding of the insides of people than Ponyboy does. Maybe it’s because Johnny had a more difficult home life than Ponyboy or maybe it’s because Johnny has seen a lot more than he has. I don’t know, but what I do know is that Johnny Cade deserved better than the ending he gets.

I love the foreshadowing S.E. Hinton does throughout the book. I think it’s very impressive she was able to do so on her first book and at such a young age too. I feel like there were times she could’ve gone into a little more detail like the fatal fight between Ponyboy and Johnny and the socs in the park. I feel like there could’ve been more emotion than there already was.

I think S.E. Hinton is incredibly skilled at dialogue. The dialogue and relationships between the characters just flow so beautifully throughout the book. My favorite scene is when Two-Bit, Johnny, and Ponyboy are walking Cherry and Marcia to Two-Bit’s so he could give them a ride home. I love the dialogue between Cherry and Johnny and I love how real it felt and how you could feel the pain Ponyboy feels when he shouts that it’s not fair that the greasers have all the rough breaks and how you could feel the figurative slap Johnny feels when Pony tells him that Johnny’s parents don’t care about him.

I love Ponyboy’s thinking that Darry hates him and I have to wonder if I would have thought that too had I read it when I was younger and if I had thought that how would I see things if I reread it as an adult? I guess I’ll never know. When Darry slaps Pony, as a reader, you can feel the hurt on both ends. As an adult I knew that Darry behaved the way he did and treated Pony the way he does partly because Darry loves him and is afraid to lose him but also because Darry wants Pony to be able to have the opportunities he had but was unable to explore.

I love the scene after everything goes down and the boys look for Dallas and find him at the one guy’s place, I forget his name, and the way Dallas came out to talk to them even though he was tired and sore from having his ribs cracked. I loved the way Dallas smiled when he realized Pony thought he had been with a girl. That way he smiled, I could see him so so clearly, and I think that’s when I started to love him. I love how Dally helped them out and the way he keeps his mouth shut and takes the blame for something Two-Bit did when he could have easily ratted him out. The hair on his chest. The way Dallas opens up to Johnny after Johnny says he and Pony are going to turn themselves in. The way he talks about Cherry and how she hates him and when I read that all I could think to myself was: if only you knew!

God, I fucking love Dallas Winston.

In the beginning of the book Pony only sees people on a surface level. He doesn’t see past their roughness and thinks of them in almost the way socs do. Pony grows up so much throughout the book. I love his relationship with his brothers and how soft all of the guys in their little gang are for each other. You can feel the love between all of them.

To Dallas those guys are the only family he has. They mean the world to him and it shows. I mean, how many people would you go to the door to see with freshly cracked ribs? How many people would you help run from the police to protect them from the hardness that jail can bring you?

Johnny didn’t deserve to die the way he does. Johnny Cade didn’t deserve to die at all. The final moment with Dallas and Johnny in the hospital is heartbreaking. The way Dally hoped that telling Johnny that the greasers beat the socs would make everything better. He thought for sure that if anything could have saved Johnny it would’ve been learning that. Reading it reminded me of Jennette McCurdy talking about how she naively thought that telling her mother she finally reached their goal weight would bring her back. And when telling Johnny that doesn’t work, Dallas tries again and harder this time because now it’s urgent. It was urgent before but now it really is because the thing Dallas thought for sure would save him wasn’t saving him. He tells Johnny that he’s still being called a hero and that he and the boys are proud of him.

Dallas has the biggest heart out of all of them and I think that’s why he prefers to be so hardened or to make people think he was. It was his way of protecting himself from more heartbreak but he’d let his guard down when it came to that lost little puppy that was Johnny Cade who idolized him and admired him so much. He didn’t even see it coming. I think the line that sums up Dally is one he speaks himself: “… you get tough like me and you don’t get hurt. You look out for yourself and nothin’ can touch you.”

I want to say that Dallas didn’t deserve to die the way he does, because he didn’t, but it’s hard because it was his choice. He wanted to die. He lost the one person he let himself love and I have to believe that it was also guilt that led him to dying the way he did. Guilt for being the one who told the boys about the church and how to get there.

God, I fucking love Dallas Winston.