#yes i still daily windows 7

[commodorez]

Anything I should know before trying to set up a microphone for my laptop the first time?

That all comes down to what kind it is, but for the moment I'm going to assume something for general purpose consumer use. For the moment I will demonstrate with Windows 7 because I'm old and stubborn, but 10 gives you many of the same options in the fancy newer layout. Just look for similar terms as you go. I haven't used a mic on a Mac or a Linux machine in a very long time to get specific to that.

If it's USB, plug it in and hopefully it sets itself to become the default device.

If it's a classic computer microphone with a 3.5mm/1/8" stereo TRS (that's Tip Ring Sleeve) audio jack, you want the connector on your laptop that might be indicated with either a microphone symbol OR it might be color coded pink (do they still do that for laptops sometimes?). Just plug it in. Don't plug it into the Line In port, that's not what you're after here (it might be light blue).

You want to check in your sound devices section (either in control panel/settings, or selected by the speaker icon on your taskbar next to the time).

If it isn't already the default, first go to the Recording tab, then select the device in the list, and click "Set Default". After that, you may want to do some level adjustment, so select "properties". From there, you can go to the Levels tab and adjust accordingly.

For either type, it doesn't hurt to do a test recording with something and play it back, see how it sounds. Tweak as needed.

If you're actively hearing yourself while you're testing it, that might be because you have "Listen to this device" selected in the Listen tab (just to the left of the Levels tab)

Individual programs will let you select which device you would like to use as your audio input, and it doesn't necessarily have to be your default device.

I can't really speak to using bluetooth wireless audio devices, as the only one I've ever used worked better with the accompanying USB wireless dongle on my work laptop. More or less if it's connected, it will give you the same options as before

I know modern earbuds and some varieties of headset have TRRS 3.5mm connectors carrying audio for the headphones and the microphone on the same connector. You'll have to check if your laptop has a connector that can accept that (check the spec sheet), otherwise you'll need to find an appropriate splitter cable to make it work in a standard TRS microphone connector.

Hopefully that answers your question. If it doesn't feel free to get more specific.

[kjhbsies]

The Disaster Zone

HELP PALESTINE • daily click • donation links • ways to help • why you should not buy/support TLOU2 remaster

Roomate!Abby Anderson x reader

Synopsis: Living with the hottest girl wasn't that bad, right? Except that she was completely straight and has a boyfriend you hate.

wordcount: 7, 758

note: this fiction contains (internal) homophobia and comphet as Abby explores her sexuality. if you were uncomfortable with these kinds of stories, then maybe this isn't for you. please refrain from commenting on any hate comments. thank you and happy reading!

Sweat prickled from your forehead, trickling down your face, and across your neck and you almost yelled in frustration at the feeling of getting overstimulated over everything. You sighed irritatingly, trudging your way outside of the apartment you just viewed. 

One week before the class starts and you still haven’t got a place to live and stressful is such an understatement to say. No, it’s much more than that. You never thought that finding a decent place to stay for two semesters wasn’t hard but no — it was like searching for a needle in a haystack, and the needle was just a reasonably priced apartment with no angry roommates. 

You grumbled, laying your head on the couch of your bedroom. You pulled out your phone, scrolling through the listings of the apartments available, feeling the stress building with each rejected option. 

But to your luck, you stumbled upon someone’s ad. It was a nice, cozy place that was perfect in size for two people. Her name was Abby Anderson, her last name was quite familiar but you couldn’t pinpoint where you heard it. Her place looked promising enough, and the reason she was finding a roommate was that she couldn’t pay all the house bills by herself. Under that, there was a deadline — which was supposed to be today, so you mindlessly hit the ‘call’ button with no second thought.

“Hello?” Abby’s voice came through the other line, her voice was deep and businesslike.

“Hey, uh, I saw your ad for the apartment,” You replied while nibbling through your fingertips.

“Oh, great. Are you interested in visiting it?” She asked, her tone was still cool and detached.

“Yes, please, I need it so bad.” You bit your lips while nervousness came through.

“Alright. Let’s set up a time, then. Are you free this afternoon?”

“Yes.”

“Great. I’ll send you the address.” She said before hanging up quickly.

You stared at your phone for a minute, finding the interaction a bit… awkward. A sense of relief washed over you as the thought of finally finding a place to stay for the whole academic year was done, but something about Abby made you feel anxious. Her coldness scared you for a second — even if you just talked to her for a couple of minutes. 

But no, you promised yourself that this was the last time you’d reject a place because of a bad roommate. So you don’t have a choice but to go. 

Arriving at the address, you knocked at the door thrice. Seconds later, you saw the Abby Anderson. You gulped, taking in her features. She was tall, stoic, and… unimpressed. She was wearing a simple black shirt that perfectly hugged her toned body, making you gawk mentally. Her eyes bore into yours, looking at you from head to toe. Something inside Abby’s mind twitched as she did not expect how good you looked. But she immediately strayed away from that thought, minding no attention to it. 

“Thanks for coming. I apologize for my appearance — I just got off the gym.” She says in a neutral voice, opening the door wide open. “Come on in.” 

“It’s fine.” You said before stepping inside. 

The apartment was bigger than you expected — much bigger than the photos she uploaded. The furniture was complete and the choice of its design was very intricate and extravagant — you wondered if she bought it all with her money. Maybe she spent her money buying decorations which is why she couldn’t pay the house bills.

The huge windows perfectly let the sunlight in, casting a warm glow through the whole place. You admired how neat it was, and how everything was in place. Not even a small piece of trash in sight. As Abby showed you around, pointing out every amenities and quirks of this place, you couldn’t help but admire her silently. 

“So what do you think?” She looked back at you suddenly, making you snap out of a trance.

“Oh! Uh, yeah, I like it.” You shot her a smile. “This was much better than all of the places I’ve checked.”

Abby nodded, taking your answer without further comment or questions. You looked away, feeling nervous at the closeness between you two. With the whole three hours of you and her in just an enclosed space, Abby did not look at you. Something about your presence makes her uncomfortable and she did not know what that is. 

But then she looked at you for the second time, taking a couple of minutes to stare at your features without you knowing. Abby did not know why it was so hard for her to accept that you were pretty. No, you were something more than that. And she did not know what that was, or what was doing to her that was making her heart churn.

“Damn it,” Abby looked away and cursed under her breath.

You snapped your neck to stare at her. “What was that?” You asked.

“Nothing. It seems like you are interested. Are you open to discussing the other details?” She said, gesturing at the couch.

And just like that, the deal was done. 

And oh, that was one month ago. 

You and Abby are still living with each other. But all of your admiration for her was over.

She has a whole-ass boyfriend. 

And she’s straight as hell.

Now, you hate each other to the core. 

Turns out, Abby Anderson wasn’t renting because she was poor. Technically, at that time, she was. However, you found out that her family was crazy rich and could probably buy your entire bloodline. 

The reason that she was finding a roommate to share the apartment with was that her father limited her expenses in the meantime as Abby spent a huge sum of money in the casino while on a summer break, causing her dad to deduct some money from her allowance. 

Abby Anderson was the typically rich person you’d meet. She has a puppy she recently adopted one sunny day and she named Oreo — a St. Bernard. Ever since, there has been a new joy in the apartment, breaking the awkward tension between you and Abby that was lingering in the air. You learned how to love Oreo despite his unwavering energy.

Being an only child, Abby doesn’t have anyone to share things that her parents buy her, and developing a trait of being territorial over those she owns. However, seeing you play with her puppy, and how your face lit up every time Oreo cuddled with her, Abby could not put an end to your joy for whatever reason she couldn’t figure out. She just liked to think that she was just being a kind person and to not be an asshole for no apparent reason, and nothing else.

On the other side, you were grateful that Abby was letting you play with her dog. Because, truth be told, you were still getting tensed whenever she was around. And Oreo definitely warms up the place much more. 

You didn’t know that being roommates with Abby Anderson could make everything so complicated. She was the top student in class, always ranking high in their department, and was considered one of the top notchers in the university already. Her dad was a famous surgeon in the city and was respected by many, and Abby definitely wanted to prove that she could be like her father — or better. She only has two friends — Nora and Mel, whom you only saw in the hallways of your university alongside her. Abby was a mysterious person, and even though you were now living for a month with her, you did not know much about her. 

She wasn’t a talkative person, and you two never interacted with each other so much. You could definitely count the times she has spoken to you with your one finger. Her after school would be changing into gym clothes, making and eating a snack in the kitchen, and then leaving. She would go back at 7:00 PM and would go straight inside the bathroom and into her bed. 

But let’s talk about the real issue here.

Her boyfriend.

Owen was a gym rat guy who sported short brown hair, brown eyes, and a small mustache around his chin. Abby introduced you to him when she first invited him over, and you found out that he was much older than Abby. At first, you weren’t bothered by her presence since he seemed okay and not much of a harm. However, as Abby was inviting him over and over again, something inside you grew uncomfortable.

Maybe it was because whenever he was around, you’d often see him giving you dirty looks that sent shivers up your spine, or that he liked to fully make out with Abby in different spots in the apartment outside of Abby’s room, or that every time Owen and Abby were cuddling or doing sweet things with each other, you’d caught her staring at you from time to time. 

“Really?!” Dina exclaimed through the phone as you were narrating the last line to her. 

“I really do want to know why.” You grabbed a bag of chips before walking away from the kitchen.

“Maybe she likes you?” 

You stopped walking when you saw Abby and Owen cuddling in the living room, her head was placed on Owen’s shoulder as they both watched a silly movie. You sighed, “No, I think it’s actually the opposite of it.”

It was an exceptionally good day at Pinecrest University, one of the most prestigious schools in the U.S. which everyone dreamt of attending. From the picturesque sceneries of the landscapes where it was built, and to the educational qualities it provides, it was, in fact, no doubt one of the greatest universities in the world. 

Abby did not know whether or not she would be happy that she was given an opportunity to take after her father's steps — follow his path and become like what he is — a great surgeon. In the first year, she was giddy to study, with full of hope and dreams. Everyone recognizes her for being Jerry Anderson’s only daughter, praising her for being intelligent like he was. Abby was every professor’s favorite student as she possesses exceptional skills in everything. While it was good at first, Abby did not like the pressure weighing up on her shoulders as time passed by. Being someone who everyone expects to be good at everything all the time, makes her become careful of her actions as she becomes afraid of making mistakes. 

“What?” Leah snapped her neck in Abby’s direction.

“Nothing. Thought I heard something.” Abby shook her head.

“You know what I heard earlier?” Nora looked at Abby, eyes gleaming with mischief with a small smirk plastered on her face.

“What?” The blonde furrowed her brows before sitting on an empty spot at the library.

“Y/n Y/l/n. Your roommate.”

Leah’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped, “You’re roommates with her?” She exclaimed in a hushed tone.

The lines on Abby’s face deepened as she looked at her friends, not knowing what the fuss was about. “What about her?”

Nora was about to say something when, as if on cue, you started to walk behind her, trudging away from their table but not without a quick glance at Abby, who, to your surprise, was already staring at you with curiosity. 

You were not one to back down, so you held her gaze up until you sat beside Ellie who was finishing her homework that was due this afternoon. 

“Who was that?” Dina asked, looking back. 

“My roommate.” 

“Oh! The one who–” Dina started gesturing and muttering words that you could only understand. 

“What the fuck,” Ellie cursed loudly as she stared at you two with pure astonishment.

“She’s friends with Williams,” Abby uttered with a surprise.

“Yeah, everyone’s been suspecting that they’re more than that,” Nora said.

“Than what? They’re super best friends or something?” Abby folded her arms on her chest before taking a quick glance in your direction. She found you laughing along with your friends, but something inside her was stirring as she saw Ellie’s hands crawling at your torso, dangerously close to where your hips at.

Nora and Leah chuckled loudly. 

“What the fuck? Super best friends?” Leah looked at her with pure amusement. “Oh I forgot, you don’t get it–” She turned to Nora. “She doesn’t get it.” She says, pointing her thumb at the blonde.

“Okay, in straight girl terms, Ellie and Y/n might be a couple,” Nora explained.

“But Ellie’s a girl,” Abby says, confused. 

Nora and Leah exchanged glances. “You won’t ever get it, can you?” 

“What?” Abby’s eyes widened. “Wait– Is Y/n… gay?”

“You say that word as if it’s the most disgusting thing you’ve ever muttered.” Nora glared at her. “Yes, she’s gay, Abs. Apparently, she’s a great kisser, too.”

“I can’t believe she’s gay.” Abby sighed, something inside her was growing uncomfortable.

“Abby, that’s a mean thing to say.” Nora frowned. “What if she was? There’s nothing wrong with that.” 

“I know! But I mean, I don’t know, it’s confusing.” 

“It isn’t. Y/n likes a girl and that shouldn’t change the way you view her. It’s just a sexuality, she’s not gonna bite you.”

Abby stared in your direction, contemplating and thinking about everything. months of studying different kinds of textbooks every week couldn’t prepare her for the said subject. Sexuality was something that she was not well-informed about as the topic stirred something inside of her. Being raised in a conservative and religious family who has a well-known image to take care of made her realize that her world was much different than yours. 

After a long day of work in the laboratory, doing research on different chemicals, monitoring their progress, and waiting for the results, Abby felt like she was going to collapse right when she stepped foot onto the hotel’s lobby where your shared apartment was located. 

She sighed, forcing a fake smile to greet the receptionist. 

“Hey, Liam, did you see Owen come in?” She asked, leaning at the desk. 

“No, I don’t think so, Abby.” He says, offering an apologetic smile before attending to another elderly woman who is asking for something. 

Being with Owen at such a young age means that Abby had experienced everything that is there to experience whenever you are in a relationship with a shitty person. Sure, she wouldn’t admit that Owen was a bad boyfriend to her, but she knew that he wasn’t a good person either. 

Abby sighed before dragging her feet through the floors, growing very tired at each step. Now, if this was the first time that Owen had gone through the entire day without checking up on her, being with clubs with different girls dangling on both her arms, Abby would’ve been crying all her way to her room – just like what she did before. But being the person who became accustomed to this setup with her boyfriend, Abby could only grow numb, only feeling a faint sharp pain dragging through her heart, reminding her that she chose to be with him so she had to deal with it. 

Besides, no one ever wants Owen for her. 

Not her friends,

Not her dad,

And she won’t be surprised if you’ll tell her that you hate him, too.

“Where are you?” Abby hissed through the phone, feeling the rage consuming her as she listened to Owen stumble and slur through his words, finding great difficulty to even remember who was calling him. 

“Abby baby! I’m uh- sorry, I was at a—” Owen’s voice was getting drowned by the loud music, along with different voices from his friends and a couple of giggles from different girls in the background.

“Bullshit.” Abby cursed him before ending the call. She wanted to just quickly disappear right there and then, feeling like an absolute shit so many times.

“Hey,” You greeted, placing a gentle hand around her shoulder. 

Abby jolted, almost feeling like your touch was too hot for her skin. “Yeah? You scared me.”

“Oh! Sorry! Didn’t mean to do that,” You apologized profusely, “I thought you were sick.” You gestured to your face, and Abby mindlessly touched her forehead, feeling the cold sweat on the palms of her hand. 

She cursed under her breath. Now that you’ve pointed it out, Abby felt her vision swirling as her breathing got labored. Even if she couldn’t look at her face, she could assume that she was pale already. But instead of saying that she was indeed not okay, she dismissed your question by saying, “I’m perfectly fine.”

Abby tried to walk, but then she almost tripped with her fifth step. Before she could kiss the tiled floor, you caught her body, wrapping a delicate arm around her hip to help her stabilize her stance. 

“Quit being stubborn, okay?” You said, stopping her from even uttering a single protest when she opened her lips. You looked at her sternly, making her go silent. 

As much as Abby hated to be close to you at the moment, she couldn’t move. Not when her mind had shut down the moment your warm fingertips touched her waist, not when your face inched closer to hers, and not when your smell lingered around the air and started to consume Abby whole.

You did not know which force on the entire earth had given you the energy to drag Abby all the way to your shared apartment. To be fair, Abby’s body was toned and muscular, given the time that she was working at the gym, and not only you could feel her weight leaning upon your much smaller figure, but you were also touching her well-earned biceps and abs. 

“Okay, lean in there for a second and I’ll just open the door.” You commanded, carefully releasing your grip from Abby’s body as she leaned towards the cold wall while waiting for you to get your keys from the bag. Abby watched you silently with wandering eyes, feeling a sense of disappointment gushing through when you stopped touching her. 

“Shit.” Abby cursed loudly while screwing her eyes shut. 

“What?” You asked before lightly pushing the door, revealing a very excited Oreo who had been barking since he saw you. 

“N-nothing.” Abby stammered when you enveloped her in your hands once again. Her heart thrummed inside her chest, reaching the vibrations to her ears and all she could think about at that moment was your name.

Y/n.

“Abby?” You asked, placing her on the sofa carefully. Y/n. 

“Y/n.” 

“Is there something I could help you with?” You waved your hand in front of her eyes, making Abby snap out of the trance. She blinked rapidly, trying to focus her gaze on your eyes and your eyes only. But Abby found it so hard especially when your face were so much closer to her that she could feel your breath fanning over her lightly.

“What?” Abby asked. 

“You were calling my name.”

Shit.

“Am I?” 

“Look, just… lay there and make yourself comfortable, okay? I’m just going to cook for you.”

“Ah, there’s no need. I can order–” Abby opened her phone, face getting sour at seeing her wallpaper — Owen.

“This won’t take long. And I really am good at cooking so trust me.�� You flashed her a sweet smile before rushing to the kitchen.

“For sure…” Abby whispers, watching how your skirt dances perfectly as you walk, hugging your curves. When she realized that she was staring at your ass, Abby shut her eyes tightly, pinching her nose bridge while telling herself to get a fucking grip. 

True to your words, you were a great cook. 

Abby found herself in a blanket-clad position as she sipped at the bowl slowly, not wanting to make it seem that she was so eager to taste the soup. Which, in her opinion, was probably the best one she had ever taken. She was almost thankful that you insisted on cooking for her, instead of buying a delivery from a fast food chain — something that she has always done whenever she was sick.

“Are you feeling better?” You asked, sitting at the loveseat in front of her while brushing Oreo’s fur with your fingers. The dog wags his tail joyfully, making Abby smile. 

“Yes. Thank you.” She sighed. “I think I’m just over-fatigue.” 

“You should probably rest. Ditch the school works, it’s Friday.” 

“I know, I will.” Abby nods.

“Good.” You stood up. “I’ll clean up for a bit. Call my name if you need something.”

“Sure.” Abby put on a tight-lipped smile. You nod before making your way to your bedroom. “I enjoyed it.”

“What?” You turned around, looking at her. 

“The soup. It was the best.” Abby bit the inside of her cheek, feeling her face heating up. 

You smiled widely, heart swelling with pride and joy as you heard her compliment, “Thanks.” You said before entering your own bed, gently closing the door before you almost squeak in pure bliss. 

But that was short-lived as you realized that she’s Abby Anderson. 

And she’s way out of your league.

After lounging in her bedroom for a day while ignoring everyone’s texts and calls, Abby had never felt much alive.

Maybe it was due to the fact that she got enough sleep and rest, not seeing Owen, or maybe because of you. As much as Abby still never felt comfortable enough with your presence near her, she was thankful for being roommates with you. 

It is true that you two weren’t friends, to begin with. Abby could count on her fingers how many times she talked to you ever since you moved into the apartment. There’s not to say that she wasn’t fond of you, truth be told is — you make her think of so many things that she couldn’t name, or make her feel something she never knew what that is. 

However, as much as Abby wanted to go back to ignoring you while she was finally okay, she couldn’t help but feel grateful for helping her when she was sick. So, she decided to ask you out — and it’s just a friendly date just to repay your kindness.

Rays of sunlight pierced through the large windows of your apartment, perfectly illuminating your figure as you stood in front of the full-length mirror and examined your face. As Abby was descending down the stairs, she couldn’t help but stare at your back, trailing her gaze from the ribbons on your hair to the soft plush of your thighs. She immediately looked away, feeling a small sweat prickling down her forehead which she quickly wiped, not wanting to appear nervous or such.

Abby cleared her throat, making you look at her. 

“You’re going somewhere?” She asked silently, busying herself with removing dog furs from her shirt. 

“Yeah, uh, just going to visit this newly opened cafe. My friend says it’s good.”

Abby nodded, looking away. She tried to guess who that friend was. Was it the curly-haired girl you were talking to in the library? Or the tattooed one named Ellie? 

“Are you going with someone?”

“Just me.” You smiled. “Wanna come?”

“Yeah, I would love to.” 

Abby has never gone on a date with someone else other than Owen, Leah, Nora, and her father. So being alone with you ignited something within her.

You were sitting across from her, giving her a perfect view of your face. She probably looked at you many times that she couldn’t keep track of her fingers and it scared if you’d think that she was creepy as hell. It’s just that she couldn’t look away, or divert her attention to some other things when a gorgeous girl was in front of her. 

You were chatty, telling her some stories from your first year in the University that Abby found so adorable that she couldn’t stop herself from eliciting a small smile on her lips. You liked to joke around, giving some playful banters that Abby found witty. She never thought that talking to you was the best thing she’d ever experienced. She admired how you were so smiley, radiating light and hopeful vibes, infecting her in the meantime, breaking her out of the cold and dark shell she was caged in. 

It was fun. 

So, so fun.

And she doesn’t know why your company scares her.

“Come on, babe, I’ll do everything you want,” Ellie whined through the phone and your eyes almost rolled off at the back of your head at her dramatic ass. 

“Figure it out on your own, Ellie.” 

“I’m gonna fail!” She says, shuffling across her room.

“You should’ve thought about that before skipping your classes.”

“Come on,” Ellie answers.

“Why are you so annoying?”

“You love me.” You can imagine Ellie’s smirk. “I’m bringing snacks.” 

“You should be.” You rolled your eyes once again before hanging up the phone. 

It was 8:00 in the evening, and you were already in your pajama-clad state as you made your way to the dining room with your laptop clutched around your chest. The whole apartment was dimly lit, with only the warm lampshades as the source of light. Oreo was already sleeping on his bed, filling the silence in the air and comforting you. 

Abby was nowhere to be found ever since you got in here after school. You waited for her to appear, eating whatever she made in the kitchen which was usually at 7:00 PM, or to make her way to the bathroom, putting on an obnoxiously loud song that you could practically hear from across the room. But she wasn’t here. 

You two aren’t exactly friends. For sure, you two got closer when she was sick, but after the date you two had, Abby was back again into ignoring your presence. You did not know what to feel because you thought you were on to a good start now. Truth be told, you wanted to get to know her even more but it seems like she doesn’t really want to. 

She was a mysterious woman. You always hear things about her at school. They all say that she was a smart person, always on top of the class. Everyone adored Abby, and you couldn’t blame them for that. You liked her, too, even though she was like that. 

Three consecutive knocks on the door put you out of a trance, lightly making you flinch. You screwed your eyes shut before standing up. Of course, it’s Ellie.

She smiled widely, flashing you a toothy grin before lifting the paper bags in both of her hands. You opened the door, letting her in at the apartment.

“Jesus, where’s all the lights? I can’t see shit.” Ellie whispered. 

“Don’t be too loud,” You nudged her. “You’ll wake up the dog.” You flicked the switch, opening the big lights just like Ellie liked, revealing the well-decorated apartment. Ellie seemed to be in awe, scanning the whole house. To be fair, it really was pleasing in the eye so you can’t blame her. If there’s one thing you and Abby could agree on, it is the interior design of the place. It was a Mediterranean revival style, taking upon the beautiful Spanish architecture that you both loved. It was a very lovely house, something you didn’t expect to live in. 

“Dude your apartment was great!” Ellie complimented, sitting down beside you. She opened her laptop before gathering pieces of paper in her bag. 

“Yeah, well, thanks to my roommate.” You shrugged, grabbing a piece of fries that Ellie brought. 

You two got working afterward, not wasting any time. You did not want to stay up too late, and on the contrary, Ellie did not want to sleep. She says she has to go to the club at 10:00 PM, hence, she was listening to your instructions carefully, nodding at every word you say, and working seriously. To be honest, Ellie was a smart person. She was just distracted by too many things — girls, clubs, and her guitar which made her have a hard time managing her time. Which was why she was always late in class, sometimes even skipping them unintentionally. It was the reason why her guardian, Joel, kept scolding her. 

“You were smart, you know. You just don’t know how to properly execute it.” You said to her as you were cleaning up the mess at the kitchen table.

Ellie smirked while putting her bag on. “I’ll see myself out.” She says, ignoring your compliment. 

You nodded, opening the door quietly. “Take care, El.” 

“Thank you so much for helping me.” She says, grinning at you while pinching your cheek. You winced at her touch, immediately swatting her hand. Before you could slap her shoulder, Ellie was running through the elevator while giggling. “Bye!” You hear her say. 

You laughed, shaking your head at how childish she was. As you were about to lock the doors, Abby’s tall figure appeared in front of you, making you flinch in shock. 

“What the hell?” You cursed, placing your hand on your loud beating heart. “Where did you come from?” 

Abby’s brows furrowed deeply as she scanned your face, and back to the elevator. “Who was that?” She asked, walking past you. You can sense her irritation as she sits on the couch, removing her pair of loafers. 

“It’s… Ellie—”

“Your girlfriend?” Abby looked at you with a stoic face. 

“What? No—”

“Well then, why she was here? What could you two be possibly doing late at night?” 

“Woah, woah,” You raised your hands in surrender before walking in front of Abby. “Where was this coming from? Me and Ellie were just friends, and we’re not doing anything you’re thinking.” 

“And how could I believe that?” Abby stood up, towering over you. 

“And if we really were doing whatever you think we were, then it’s none of your fucking business, Abby.” 

“It is my business because you are living with me. It is one thing to share a house with a woman who– who likes girls—”

“You can say lesbian. It wouldn’t burn your tongue.” You stopped her, feeling an internal rage boiling into your skin. You were clenching your jaw hard, stopping the urge to punch this woman in front of you. 

“Then keep that to yourself. I am not uncomfortable with you doing that.” 

Your brows furrowed. “Doing what? Being myself?” 

The living room suddenly feels deafening as the silence consumes you two. Abby looked away, arms crossed as her eyes were fixed on the floor. You sighed, shoulders going slump before looking outside the window. Tears started brimming at the corners of your eyes, threatening to spill at any second.

“Abby you know I didn’t choose this. It’s who I am,” You say, voice trembling slightly as you gulp, silently wishing that the lump in your throat goes away. “Just like what you are. You did not choose to be straight, and I never got mad at you for that, didn’t I? No matter how uncomfortable it is to find you and your weird boyfriend doing unspeakable things every single week.” You looked and glared at her.

“What? Why are you turning this on me?” Abby’s voice boomed, face going red as anger silently consumed her. 

“If you say something about my sexuality, it’s fine? But when I say it back to yours then you’re getting mad? For a very intelligent person, you’re such a fucking closed-minded, Anderson!” You yelled, storming through your room and slamming the door with a loud thud, making the dog wake up in its sleeping state. 

Abby stood there for a long moment, staring at your closed door, the weight of her words settling in. She immediately wanted to knock on your door and take it all back. But she knew she couldn’t. The silence that followed her was deafening, a painful reminder of the distance that stretched before you two. 

The cafeteria buzzed with the usual lunchtime chatter, but at your table, the mood was tense. Dina almost spat the food she was eating as she looked at you with pure shock in her eyes as you recounted your fight with Abby last night.

“She seriously said that?” She exclaimed, fuming, as she stabbed her food with a fork. “I cannot believe she reacted like that.”

You shrugged, feeling dejected as you played with your food with a spoon, not feeling an ounce of hunger. “I know, I thought she’d understand – I mean, she should be, right? She’s smart.” 

“Not smart enough for that kind of talk.” Dina sighed. “Seriously, I cannot believe it. It’s unfair to you, and you shouldn’t deserve to live with that kind of person. Who knows what she might do to you.” 

“You’re right. I’m going to start to hunt for another place after the midterms. I just can’t fit in my schedule right now as loads of paperwork start coming and coming in.” You shut your eyes tightly while combing your hair in frustration. “I just thought we were starting to be friends, you know?”

Dina smiled at you sadly before rubbing your back. At that moment, Ellie walked in with a huge grin on her face. She spotted you and Dina at the table and she immediately started walking towards it, but not before playfully bumping and greeting all of the people she knew. She slid beside you before sitting on the empty chair next to you. 

“Thanks for helping me with my homework. I got an A.” She threw playful punches in the air. 

Dina slapped her. “Shut it.” She says before taking a glance at you. 

You smiled at Ellie, the one where it doesn’t meet your eyes. “No worries.”

Ellie frowned, her smile immediately faded as she took in your expression. “What’s wrong? You seem upset.” You sighed, feeling the weight of yesterday’s event pressing down on you again. “It’s Abby. We had a huge fight. She started accusing us of doing things at the apartment and she doesn’t seem to like that I was gay.”

Ellie’s eyes widened in anger. “That’s fucking bullshit! Out of all people, I thought she’d understand that.”

“What do you mean?” Dina asked.

“I mean, is she not gay?” 

“Uhm… no. She has a boyfriend.” 

“Well, this is now confusing.” Ellie looked at you with disbelief while leaning back in the chair. “I thought she was one of us!”

“Everyone else does. I mean, I do, too, when I first saw her.” You said, shrugging. 

“That’s fucking ironic, then.” Ellie sighed. “But she fucking needs to grow up and get over herself.”

“Exactly. Our apartment is always open whenever you need it, okay?” Dina squeezed your hand. 

You nodded, feeling a warmth gushing through your veins. You are thankful for your friends as they can ease your problems effectively. Abby’s words pierced right through your heart, but being with Ellie and Dina made it easier to bear. 

Abby sat at one of the reserved seats for her at the rooftop of a fancy restaurant that her dad picked for them to have a meal after having time for a small break in his work. Wanting to reconcile and check in with his only daughter, he arranged this small meeting with her. 

The place was elegant, with warm lighting from the big chandeliers illuminating the whole area. At the distance was a small band playing jazz music, and the gentle clicks of the silverware created a sophisticated aura. Abby sat across from her father, trying to focus on her meal. Jerry kept stealing glances at her daughter as he cut into his steak, trying to decipher what was wrong. 

“Was the food not good?” He asked suddenly after a moment of silence consuming the two. 

Abby’s gaze immediately flicked to meet his eyes. Her brows raised in confusion, trying to recall what her father said. “What? Uh… no.” Abby shook her head before sipping into her drink. 

Jerry shrugged. “Just that you seemed tensed.”

“I’m not,” Abby responds. “The place is great.”

He hummed, nodding at what her daughter said. “So, how’s life in the apartment?” He asked, his tone casual but probing. 

“It’s fine. You know, the usual. I was able to pay for all of my bills, since, well, I got a roommate.” 

“And how was she?” He raised a brow. “What was her name, again?”

Abby said your name as she was pushing off her unfinished meal. She sighed, dabbing her lips with the handkerchief. “It’s fine… just a bit tense between us.”

Jerry looked at her with narrow eyes. “It’s fine but tense? What does that mean?”

Abby hesitated, not wanting to answer the question fully. She never knew what her dad would say if he found out that her roommate was gay. Besides, they never talked about that kind of stuff. All that she knew right now, was that she doesn’t want to tell anyone about your personal information.

“Personal stuff came up. I-it’s complicated and I don’t want to talk about it now.”

He sets his fork down, leaning back in his chair. “Personal stuff? Abby, if there’s a problem, you should fix it right away. You can’t just ignore it.”

“I know, Dad.” She answered; frustrations creeping up her voice as what happened that night started replaying in her mind. “It’s not that simple. But I don’t want her out of the apartment or anything… we’ll figure this out on our own.”

He studied her for a minute before nodding slowly, not wanting to press more on that matter. “Alright, but don’t let it become worse. Things like these can get ugly the more you avoid it.”

Abby exhaled a relieved sigh. “I know. I’ll handle it.”

There was a brief, uncomfortable silence before her father cleared his throat and changed the subject. “And what about Owen? How’s he doing?”

Abby’s face softened at the mention of his boyfriend — wait, she wasn’t even sure if she could still call him that, knowing what happened. She ignored his calls for days, not wanting to be in his presence to get a lot of time thinking about things. Abby thought it’d be best if she could calm down first, set aside her emotions, and be rational for once. She sighed heavily, keeping in her mind to talk to him once her father dropped her off after dinner. 

“He's good. Busy with work, as usual, which was why we don’t see each other as often.” She lied, not wanting her father to pry on their relationship. You knew he was skeptical of him since the very beginning. He liked to say that Owen was up to no good and that he was just an older man who didn’t think about his future. As much as Abby tried to argue with him at first, Jerry already formed opinions about him — one that Abby couldn’t alter. But deep inside, she knew he was right. She just doesn’t want to admit it yet.

“I really hope he’s taking good care of you.” He says, eyeing her once again with glaring eyes. “If I ever got the news that he was being a bad influence on you, I’m going to cut all of your cards.” Jerry threatened her. 

Oh, right, Owen was the one who insisted on gambling that night, making Abby almost lose all of her savings in her bank account. He also taught her to drink, smoke, and go into different kinds of clubs. You bet how mad Jerry was when he found out everything about it. 

Abby only offered a tight-lipped smile, trying to change the subject to lighter topics. Throughout the whole dinner, Abby’s mind was always shifting into your unresolved fight as guilt starts to consume her whole. She knew her father’s advice was great, but she couldn’t bear to do it. Besides, it was easier said than done. For now, she decided to enjoy the meal in front of her, pushing away her worries at the back of her mind. 

That night, Jerry decided to drop his daughter off before going into his office. She sat in the backseat of his car, staring out the window as the city lights they passed were blurred by with the speed of the vehicle. Abby tried to maintain her composure, as she tried calling Owen’s phone for the nth time but he wasn’t answering. Each unanswered notification on the screen made her anxiety slowly skyrocket. 

When they finally reached their destination, the car came to a stop. Abby immediately opened the car door. 

“Are you sure you don’t want me to wait for you?” Her father asked as he pulled up in front of Owen’s apartment.

Abby shook her head, “It’s fine, Dad.” 

“Alright. Give me a call if you need anything.” 

“I will,” She assured. “Take care.” 

With that, Jerry nodded before uttering a small ‘good night’ to his daughter. Abby followed the car's gaze before deciding to head to Owen’s apartment with a heavy sigh.

Abby hated this feeling. 

For someone who has been cheated on by the same guy, she did not know why she couldn’t turn numb. She hated the confrontation between her and Owen because she knew that it didn’t always end well. However, she did not know why she couldn’t just walk away from this relationship forever. It was like there’s some force between her that keeps on tangling herself with Owen — no matter how shitty he was. Abby hated how her father’s words, along with her friend’s advice kept on replaying in her mind right now. It made her feel like she was the dumbest person in the whole world. 

“For a very intelligent person, you’re such a fucking closed-minded, Anderson!”

Your words rang in her ears repeatedly. 

“Fuck it.” Abby cursed, trying to shake those thoughts before knocking on Owen’s door. She stood there for a couple of minutes before speaking once again. “I’m coming inside.” She notified him before fishing out his apartment’s key in her bag. 

As Abby came inside, she noticed how the room was romantically lit up — where different pieces of scented candles and dimly lit lanterns were on, casting off a warm glow throughout the room. An unfamiliar woman’s perfume filled her nose, breaking her heart little by little as she strode through his room. 

Abby pushed Owen’s bedroom door, revealing him with another woman in his bed.

“Owen?” She asked, voice tensed. 

He scrambled to sit up, a mix of shock and fear written through his face. “Abby… I — I can explain.” He immediately grabbed his boxers, putting it in just a couple of seconds. 

“Leave,” Abby commanded the girl who quickly complied. She grabbed her clothes before running past Abby, a pure horrified look was written on her face as she left the bedroom.

“I was checking in if you were still alive. And right now, I wish you were dead.” Abby’s jaw clenched. 

“You don’t mean that,” Owen huffed, trying to grab Abby’s hand but she quickly moved away from his touch. He shrank, feeling dejected. 

“How many times do you have to do this, Owen?” Abby snapped, tears brimming on the corners of her eyes. “What was something I don’t have for you to crave on another woman’s body?” 

“It’s a mistake. I wasn’t thinking straight.”

Abby sniffed, nodding at his words sarcastically. “Yeah, we’re done. It’s all done forever.” Abby started walking, but Owen was tailing her from behind.

“What? What do you mean?” He asked, completely alarmed.

“I can’t keep wasting my time with you. I should’ve done this a long time ago.”

“You can’t possibly mean that.” His voice boomed, making the blonde face him with bloodshot eyes. 

“I fucking do! I am so tired of putting up with your shit. Don’t ever come near me, alright? I am so disgusted at you.” She says before storming outside. 

Owen tried calling her name, and a feeling of sudden fear washed inside of him. Of all the times you two broke up about this, he hadn’t seen Abby so mad that she fully said that they were finally done because he knew that she couldn’t bear to part ways with him for good. This was the reason why he was so confident to do those. But right now, she sounded determined, and Owen knew that it wasn’t good. 

Abby’s thoughts were spiraling by the time she got back to the apartment. A mix of emotions started forming in her mind, making her heart clench as she stumbled inside. Tears started streaming down her face, making her barely notice that you were fully wide awake while staring at her in the kitchen with a curious stare. 

“Are you okay?” You asked, breaking the silence. 

Abby’s gaze flicked to your face, down to the food that you were cooking. Pasta. It was midnight and you were cooking pasta. 

“W-what?” She asked, trying to focus, but her stomach started grumbling as the aroma of the food filled her nose. “I’m fine.” 

You nodded, biting your tongue to ask further questions at her. 

 “What’s that?” Abby asked, making her way to the kitchen.

Your brows rose as you took a good look at her face. She looked like… a mess. And that’s not like her. 

“Are you sure you’re okay?” 

Abby sighed heavily before shaking her head. “We broke up.” 

“Oh…” 

A short silence filled the air as Abby watched you put two plates on the island, filling it with the pasta you’d made. You pushed one in front of her, and Abby looked at you with wide eyes. “For me?”

“I know we’re not on good terms right now. But I don’t want you to sleep like that. Why don’t we eat past and watch movies in the living room? I can sit across from you in case you are uncomfortable and we don’t have to talk with each other.”

“I won’t be uncomfortable…” Abby said in a small voice while looking at the food. 

Your brows rose at her comment. You hummed, not buying her words. “Okay.” 

“I’m sorry for what I’ve said before. It’s not right.” 

You scanned her face, “I don’t know about that.”

“I want to make it up to you.” 

“How?” 

taglist: @gaptoothedlesbo @st4r-b3rries @ofalcaodacolinablue @sleepydrr @yurixxiii @seraphicsentences @bambishaven @k1ngpin42 @buglikean-angel @eringranola @sennagf

[storiesforallfandoms]

just for us ~ johnny depp

word count: 1790

request?: yes!

“Hii can you please write a Johnny Depp imagine where its the 90s, you are both famous, and the press keeps beging you  expose your relationship?”

description: being famous at such a young age makes it hard to keep anything a secret, but you’re determined to make sure your relationship is just for the two of you and not for the media

pairing: young!johnny depp x female!reader

warnings: swearing, use of y/n, rpf

masterlist (one, two, three)

I started acting when I was five years old. It was a commercial, and I had all of 30 seconds of screen time. But that 30 seconds was enough to impress the director apparently, because two years later when he was hired to direct some new sitcom, he called my parents looking to cast me as one of the main kids. The show only lasted one season, but one season was all it took to kickstart my career.

Becoming an actor at such a young age meant losing a “normal” life. I never went to normal school, normal prom or graduation. I never really had normal friends, just co-stars and other child actors. And I never had any privacy. Once I became a household name, privacy went completely out the window as I was followed by paparazzi and fans daily. Not to mention the creeps who came out in droves when I turned 18.

Nothing in my life was private. Nothing except Johnny.

We met on set of a movie we were working on together, and I knew from the moment I laid eyes on him that I was going to fall for him. I tried not to. Dating as a celebrity was basically impossible, even more so when it was with another celebrity. But i couldn’t stop myself, and when he told me he had fallen for me too, I was a goner.

Being a fellow actor, Johnny knew exactly how to keep our relationship a secret. He knew which restaurants had the most hidden away seating, which ones had the most private parking so we could actually show up and leave together. He knew how to sneak in and out of my place without paparazzi noticing, and how to do the same with me at his place.

It worked for a long time. Like, two years at least. No one had any idea we were together. Until a fan spotted us out together. They didn’t see us acting like a couple, but apparently us hanging out together years after our movie had come out was suspicious enough to get the rumor mill going. Suddenly, every interview we did had us asked at least once about our relationship. But we never broke. We kept insisting we were just friends, and we kept our relationship a secret.

It was early in the morning when my alarm clock started to blare. I groaned as I rolled over to turn it off. The bright red numbers read “7:00am”. I groaned again, sleep fighting to take me again.

I smiled as Johnny wrapped me in his warm embrace and kissed my neck. “Why are we awake so early?”

“I have a morning interview at 9,” I told him. “I gotta get up and get ready.”

He squeezed me a little tighter. “Absolutely not.”

“I have no choice, J. I can’t cancel so close to the interview.”

“Just don’t show up. Problem solved.”

I turned in his arms to face him. His eyes were still drooping with fatigue, but he was trying his best to focus on me. I smiled at him and kissed his nose.

“You can stay here and sleep,” I told him. “I’ll be back by the time you wake up.”

“You better be,” he sleepily muttered.

I chuckled and finally wiggled free from his grasp.

Getting ready for interviews never took long. I didn’t have to do my makeup because the studio makeup artist would do it for me when I got there, and an outfit was chosen for me by my stylist prior to the day. All I had to do was get breakfast, clean myself up, and get dressed in my pre-chosen outfit. I was brushing my teeth when I heard a car horn honking outside, signaling that my ride to the interview had arrived.

I took one last peak into my bedroom. Johnny was sound asleep again. I smiled and quietly moved to my bed. I placed a gentle kiss on his cheek before rushing out the door as the car honked again.

I was rushed through the makeup and placed in an uncomfortable chair within 20 minutes. I tried not to shift too much in an attempt to find a comfortable position. Morning talk shows always had the worst chairs for some reason.

The host walked onto set and greeted me cheerily. I smiled back at her, wishing I had her chipper energy for so early in the morning.

I wonder how many cups of coffee she’s had.

She sat down across from me and we were given the five minute warning. I adjusted myself in my seat one last time, then smiled as the cameraman announced we were live.

“Good morning everyone, and welcome to our special guest, (Y/N),” the host said, gesturing to me. The crowd cheered as I smiled and waved to them. “Thank you for being here.”

“Thank you for having me. I’m so excited to be here!”

The host asked me about my new movie, and I went over the talking points I had been given for every interview. It was going as smoothly as most interviews did, until the host said, “I have to ask, is there anyone special in your life?”

I kept the smile on my face, but I was sure it looked much more strained now. “Nope. I’m absolutely single pringle.”

“Really? There’s not even anything going on with you and Johnny Depp?”

I glanced over at my manager, who looked about ready to shut the whole interview down. Most celebrities have a few off limits questions that interviewers are told they can’t ask about. It’s usually super personal and private stuff that they want to keep private. For me, the one topic that was off limits was Johnny. It wasn’t just because we wanted to keep our relationship a secret, but it was also because my management and I didn’t want all my interviews to suddenly be just about Johnny and not about my work.

It was clear from the look on my manager’s face that this host was told my limitations, and she was choosing to ignore them. This was her attempt at getting a huge scoop before anyone else so that she could boost the ratings of her show.

I knew I couldn’t just stop the interview. It was a live show, stopping would just cause a scene that I knew would do more harm than good. So, I took a very subtle deep breath and said, “Johnny has been my friend since we worked together years ago. There’s nothing more between us besides friendship.”

“Oh, come on. I know you’re aware of the rumors about you two. Everyone is dying for you to finally confirm that you’re together.”

“Well, everyone will just have to keep waiting because I am not confirming what’s not true. Also, I think it’s incredibly disrespectful and invasive to keep pushing this topic when Johnny and I have both said we aren’t dating and like to have our privacy. I don’t get many things that are just for me, but I want my relationship to be one of those things.”

My manager whispered something to the cameraman, who then signaled for the show to go to commercial. Once the cameras were off, my manager demanded for me to be un-miced so we could leave. I ignored the host’s apologies as the crew took off my mic and my manager beckoned for me to come with her.

As we left the studio, she nudged my shoulder and said, “You handled that amazingly, kid.”

I had no other obligations for the day, so my driver took me back home. I was happy to be back in the comfort of my own home after that interview.

The smell of food greeted me at the door. I smiled at myself as I made my way to the kitchen. As I expected, Johnny was stood at the stove, cooking up some breakfast. He was still in his pajama pants with no shirt on. I came up behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist. He leaned into my touch, allowing me to place a kiss on his bare shoulder.

“You’re back early,” he said.

“The interview was cut short,” I responded.

“So I heard.” I looked up at him in confusion. “I woke up just in time to turn on the interview.”

I groaned. “So you saw the whole thing?” He nodded. I buried my head in his shoulder. “We told her not to ask, I swear.”

He moved in my arms, turning so he could face me. He wrapped his arms around me, too, as I moved mine around his neck instead.

“I think you handled that whole situation very well,” he said. “It was pretty clear you were caught off guard by the question, but you still handled it maturely and with more respect than I think she deserved.”

“I wasn’t going to cause a scene over it, even though I really wanted to just walk out if she had asked.”

“Would’ve made for better television if you had just stormed out.”

“You’re right. It’s probably best that I didn’t then.”

He chuckled and leaned down to kiss me. Any tension I had left from that day immediately melted the moment his lips touched mine.

“We’ll have to tell people eventually,” I said with a sigh, resting my head against his. “We can’t keep this a secret forever.”

“We’ve done so for two years.”

“Yeah, but we’ve already gotten caught once. There’s just no proof of us actually being together for the tabloids to run with. But if we slipped up once, it can happen again. Then we’ll have to tell people about us.” I sighed and added, mainly to myself, “We’ll ever get a moment of peace again.”

“It’ll happen eventually, but until then I’m happy to have our private moments,” Johnny said. He kissed the top of my head and added, “But the day I get to loudly say you’re mine will be a good day for me. I want everyone to know eventually that I have the most amazing woman as my girlfriend.”

“You’re gonna make me blush.”

“Good.”

He kissed me again, but pulled away quicker than I wanted. I tried to pull him back in, but he just shook his head and smiled. “I don’t want the food to burn. The last thing we need is everyone finding out we’re dating because I burned your house down.”

I chuckled. “Okay, you have a point.”

“Are you hungry? I made enough for the two of us.”

I nuzzled close to him as he turned back to the stove. “I’ll never say no to your cooking.”

[matan4il]

Daily update post:

Yesterday, there were hints in the Israeli media at what the IDF has found in the Shifa hospital in Gaza, and that was linked to a statement by its director that Israeli soldiers had removed bodies from the hospital complex's refrigerators. I was sure that the director's words would be used to paint Israelis as inhumane, and sure enough, that's what happened (I even saw one tweet implying the Israeli soldiers took the bodies to posthumously rape them). Last night and today, it was confirmed that among the bodies taken from Shifa, two had been identified as those of hostages murdered in captivity by Hamas.

One was 64 years old Yehudit Weiss, whose husband Shmulik was murdered in front of her eyes before she was kidnapped. She was a cancer patient, in need of medications, it's possible Hamas realized that she's going to die anyway, and finished her off.

The other was 19 years old Noa Marziano, who Hamas forced to tape a vid for Israel, asking not to bomb Gaza, so the hostages wouldn't be accidentally killed. Despite having filmed this 4 days into Noa's captivity, Hamas only released the vid a day before the IDF was able to confirm that the terrorists had murdered Noa in captivity. Yesterday, Noa's mom was still begging Israel to retrieve her daughter's body, so there could be a funeral. Today, it was held in the city of Modi'in, with the presence of thousands of people.

May their memory be a blessing.

In a Hamas terrorist's home in Beit Hanoun, they found weapons hidden in children's beds:

Some of how the IDF knows to locate these weapons is based on intercepted phone calls between Gazan terrorists. Here's one exposing how two Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists are going to use a baby stroller to hide weapons:

I can't believe we've gotten to that point, but... apparently it's now socially okay to come out against condemning antisemitism at a US Ivy League university. Condemning antisemitism. This is at Harvard, where anti-Israel speech is still very much allowed.

I don't have a good enough response, so have an excellent one from Daniel Ryan Spaulding, who isn't even Jewish, but apparently does have a soul:

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A post shared by Daniel-Ryan Spaulding (@danielryanspaulding)

The Israeli who was mortally injured in the terrorist attack on the road to Jerusalem is a soldier, who has later died of his wounds. His name is Avraham Fatna, he was 20 years old, and he's a hero who saved countless lives, by stopping the terrorists from executing a much bloodier attack on civilians inside Jerusalem. On a personal note, my mom was out and about in the city yesterday, so I feel this very close to home.

May his memory be a blessing.

This is Reut Karp and her son Lavi:

On Oct 7, Lavi and his sister Daria were staying with their dad (Reut's ex husband) Dvir in kibbutz Re'im. Hamas' terrorists murdered Dvir and his girlfriend Stav right in front of the kids, who were hiding in the bomb shelter. Daria called her mom, and for three hours, Reut stayed on the line with her, calming them down, until a neighbor came and saved the kids. Reut said that all she knew was, that if she wouldn't stay calm, neither would her kids. This is a part of the conversation she had with Daria:

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A post shared by ימית אברמוב (@yamitavramov)

- Daria, where's Dad? - He's dead on the floor. - He's dead on the floor? - Yes. - Are you sure that he's dead? - Yes, he's lying on the floor. - He's not moving? - Mom, I'm scared. - Shhhh... Is he next to you? - Who? - Is he next to you, Daria? - I don't know. - Shhhh... Don't talk, don't talk, don't talk. How did they get in if he locked up [the house]? How did they get in if he locked up [the house]? I can't understand how they got in. Daria, did you lock up the house? - Yes, but they broke in. - Where did they break in from, from the window? - I don't know. - Okay, shhhh... I'm with you. - Mom, I'm scared. - Daria, I'm here, don't talk, don't talk.

(for all of my updates and ask replies regarding Israel, click here)

[lovebillyhargrove]

***

It is that time in the early morning hours when nothing seems quite real.

You open your eyes and still don't understand if you're awake or still dreaming and whether it's time to get up and start about your daily routine or there's still a chance to fall back into sweet slumber.

It is still dark and what makes it darker is rain outside.

Gently tapping on the roof and against the windows. Lullabying.

Neil isn't at home. He is on a night shift, working as a security guard in a bank some blocks away. He'll come home at 7.

She still has enough time but she needs to hurry.

She grabs the bag she packed the previous evening. She doesn't need much.

Quietly puts the bag on the floor near the door.

She'll be out of this burning house in no time and

She'll be free.

Of Neil.

What a mistake. What a huge fucking mistake and such a waste.

Of her time, of her youth, of her strength and love.

Before grabbing the door handle, she knows, she must say good bye.

To her boy.

She can't make herself do that, it's too hard, it's impossible. She can't look at him.

She has to.

She's gonna settle and come back for him, but how much time will it take before she can do that?

She doesn't know for sure.

It's time to go, however,

She must take a look at him and whisper him goodbye.

It's not goodbye, I'll see you soon, I'll come back for you, I promise.

She goes to her little son's room, cracks the door open.

There he is, sleeping peacefully. The blanket is down on the floor, he often kicks it off in sleep.

She should put the blanket back on him, it's a chilly night.

Just don't wake up, please, don't wake up.

"Mom?" His voice so thin, so fragile

..

"Mom, is that you?"

"Yes, honey."

"Is it time to get up?"

"No, baby, you close your eyes and sleep, it's not morning yet."

She touches his hair and tries not to look at his face.

Into his eyes.

"Okay. Mom?"

"Yes, baby?"

Billy sighs, half in drowse, closes his sleep-enchanted eyes

"Why are you in my room?"

"Just .. just came to check on you. I love you, baby. Go back to sleep."

"Love you too. Can you make pancakes for breakfast?"

"Sure. Sure I can."

Damn it. She should leave. Dale is waiting for her a block away from their house.

Dale is nice. He's taking her to Utah with him, and they'll ..

They'll get settled and she'll come back

For Billy.

Dale is not so keen on the idea of taking care of her son that she has with Neil, but .. she'll try to convince him. She will.

Billy has already slipped back into deep sleep.

She shouldn't look at his face, but she can't help herself.

Her eight-year old son's face is so beautiful.

A kid's face.

Untainted.

God.

She shouldn't have done it, cause now tears are running down her face and she doesn't want

To leave him.

But the hell they've all been living in for the past year?

A year and a half ..?

It has to stop. Maybe they'll be better off, just the two of them, without endless ugly fights

You're leaving him in the hands of a monster.

The twilight of the early morning hours is soft and dim

And grey. The rain makes it darker

And sadder. Mournful.

She's clutching at her bag, as she runs, and keeps the other hand close to her heart - to help hold it together, to help it not to break.

The twilight is quiet and pale,

And sorrow is cutting her in half.

***

A wip? Billy's mother POV. I understand her motives and reasons. But that doesn't mean that I consider them a valid excuse for leaving her son. Is there one? Kids are ours, ties thicker than ropes attach us to each other, and it's all on us. Cause we had them, and they are little.

And so, she'll pay.

[mikkyss]

Note : I’m not used to making this kind of stuff so ye it might be bad

Morning with them!

・Characters: Diluc, Xiao, Heizou

・Fluff, Modern AU 

☆ Diluc

It was early in the morning, and surprisingly you had a great night sleep! Not that it wasn't like that everyday, but this time it was so much better. You turned around, spreading your arms waiting for your daily morning hugs but the bed felt kind of empty. You opened your eyes to see that diluc wasn't there.

"Diluc? Where are you?" You thought he was in the bathroom but you recieved no response. You rubbed your eyes and stretched your arms.

You got up to fix your bed, and as always some of the pillows were laying on the ground.

As soon as you were done, you opened the door and you instantly smelled bacon and eggs. Your favorite breakfast! And of course there could only be one person that was cooking, Diluc.

You saw that he had just finished cooking so you quickly went to him and hugged him from behind. He was startled but a soft smile appeared on his face knowing that it was you.

"How was your sleep?" He asked. You loved hearing his morning voice, it was soothing for you.

"It was great! Actually this time it was much more better. Do you know why?"

He hummed, "Why is that?"

You chuckled hugging his waist tighter. "It's because you were there, beside me. We don't usually get to sleep together because of how busy you are at work. Me finally being able to cuddle you last night before sleeping after weeks made me happy!"

He hugged you and kissed your forehead, "I promise, I will make it up to you now that I have taken a week off."

"That's why I love you so much!"

"I love you too. Now let's eat, you look pretty hungry."

"Oh I'm starving! Thanks for cooking breakfast!"

☆ Xiao It was 7:45 am, you woke up pretty early today. You turned around and saw xiao facing you, still sleeping. He looked absolutely adorable while sleeping. It was mornings like this that you love, the sun is bright, the sunlight seeping through your window, the birds chirping, and of course being beside your lover, Xiao. You smiled and cupped his face, you were pretty happy that these past few days, he slept well! No Nightmares and he was able to sleep properly! You were about to get up and cook the both of you breakfast but he quickly grabbed your waist and pulled you closer to his chest. 

"Good morning-" He suddenly kissed you, making you shut up. 

"Stay here a little longer. Please?" He was willing to beg you to stay. He wanted to cuddle you more but he won't ever admit that to you of course. 

A part of you wanted to get out of his grip, but you didn't want him to get all grumpy early in the morning. Another part of you wanted to also stay with him in bed a little more. "Fine. A few more minutes." Of course you chose the 2nd option!

It was saturday anyway, and the both of you don't have any important things to do today, so the 2nd option was the best option!  ☆ Heizou Your boyfriend Heizou, isn’t really much of a morning person. Not until he has fully woken up, that’s when he gets all energetic. You opened your eyes to see him asleep, you were about to get closer to his face but you noticed a small hint of smile that he was trying so hard to hide. “Oh heizou, I know you’re awake.” You giggled, seeing that he was trying so hard not to laugh. “Hm, if you’re really sleeping then you wouldn’t mind me tickling you?” He groaned and pulled the blanket over his head in defeat. You giggled and got under the blanket with him. “Don’t tell me you feel upset because you didn’t trick me.” “I’m not upset!” “Sure, whatever you say.” You got up to check the time which made Heizou frown. He didn’t want to get up yet since it was still early. You opened up the curtains and went to the bathroom. When you were done, you saw that heizou was still in bed. You wanted to start the day early because you and heizou made plans to go somewhere today! “Heizou, get up. We have to go somewhere today!” He whines and covers his face with his pillow. “5 more minutes.” “No.” The last time you listened to him saying 5 more minutes, the both of you ended up waking up again at 11 am, when he literally promised that he would get up early to help you clean the house! You weren’t that mad at him because at least you got a few extra hours of sleep. “Heizou.” “Fine!” ———————————————— THIS SUCKS BYE CRYRING

[coquitokisses]

Trusting Again | chapter 013: nightmares

Word count: 2628

A/n: we’re back to the povs for a brief moment lol also, it’s been a month since last chapter (again, yes) it’s March, Bucky’s bday <3

series masterlist • previous chapter • next chapter

~ C A T ‘ S P O V ~

“I don’t understand, there are some very pretty girls who work at the compound, why didn’t you asked one of them out?” I said to Sam as I stretched my arms over my head

It’s like 7 pm and I came with him to his daily walk. Yes, I walk every morning with Bucky, but I wasn’t doing anything when Sam asked me so I just came with him to keep him some company. And because I was bored.

“Dude, I wasn’t looking to date any of them.” He shrugged “Besides, they’re younger than me.”

“Maybe that’s what you need.”

“No, what I need is to not look for a girl.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re just like Steve.”

“But Steve has only had one girl and it’ll always be that way.” He replied

“Yeah, true.” I smiled a little “That’s kinda cute.”

“It is.” He nodded “You want something like that?”

“Well, not exactly like that, but it would be nice.” I shrugged

“What about Ryder?”

“Did you know he was older than me?” I turned to look at him

“Yeah, five years, right?”

“Yeah, something like that.” I nodded “I don’t think it was gonna last anyways so.”

“What are you talking about? He was totally into you.”

“I was into him too, but I think that eventually we weren’t gonna keep going.”

“But why? You worked together.”

“Because of that exactly.” I replied “I’ve seen other agents and people from work that have dated and it doesn’t end too well.”

“I like Ryder, he’s a nice guy.”

I nodded. “He really is.”

And I wasn’t lying. He’s a very nice guy. And very cute too. But at the end of the day, we were kinda different and I know that it wasn’t gonna last very long because of that. Even tho it was starting to get serious when I left New York. But oh well, nothing I can do now really.

“Let’s go home, I’m getting hungry, dude.” Sam spoke

“Wait! Can we go to that bakery you went the other day?” I said

“Yeah, sure, it’s not too far from the apartment, we can make a quick stop.” He replied “Why?”

“Tomorrow’s Bucky’s birthday!”

“But he said that he didn’t want us to sing him happy birthday.”

“I know, but I just wanna get him at least a muffin or something.” I said “Is it open? Can we go?”

“Yes, it’s still open and of course we can go.” He nodded “You guys are not arguing as much anymore.”

I laughed. “Well we kinda made a peace treaty.. sometimes I wanna hit him with a pan, but yeah, we get along pretty well.”

“That’s good.”

“Or maybe he just pities me because of everything that happened after I let him go in Austria.” I shrugged

Sam just laughed. “Nah, I think he just likes you, that’s all.” He said “He’s a nice guy.”

“Well look at you, saying nice things about him after you were opposed to the idea of saving him.” I tilted my head a little

He rolled his eyes. “Alright! I was wrong, I admit it.”

I just laughed at his response.

We decided to walk back to the apartment, stopping at the bakery first to get the muffins obviously, and once I bought them, we left.

* idk what to write now so let’s just skip this part lmao *

* hours later *

(also, this is written in 3rd person)

2:43 am and Cat just got up from the bed after having one of the most vivid nightmares she’s ever had. She looked out the window taking deep breaths to try and calm herself down and after a few minutes, her breathing went back to normal and her hands were no longer shaking. She looked down to her dark blue colored toenails before taking a deep breath. Every time she has a nightmare she feels like something is going to happen and she hates that feeling. She’s aware that she’s not completely safe and that one day the other shoe will drop.

She shook her head slightly trying to shake away those thoughts and decided to get out of her room. When she was walking towards the kitchen, not much to her surprise, she saw Bucky sitting on the couch with his head rested back. She walked to the living room and sat right next to him. He already knew it was her even though he had his eyes closed.

“Hi.” She said softly

He turned his head to look at her. “Hi.” He replied, his voice a little raspy than usual after being quiet for so long “Trouble sleeping?”

Her lips curved into a little smile because she remembered that she asked him the same thing back when they were still in Denmark. “Yeah.”

“Still having nightmares?” He asked and she just nodded in response

“How about you? What’s keeping you awake?”

“Same thing.” He replied turning his head in the same position it was before Cat got there

She looked at him, brows frowning a little feeling a bit worried because she knew how it felt. “You had a nightmare?”

“I’ve been having them.”

“Been having them?” She questioned “Since when?”

He shrugged. “Since I’ve been myself basically.”

So technically, since 2014.

“So that’s why you can’t sleep.” She said and he nodded “Why didn’t you say something?”

“I thought they would eventually stop.” He looked back at her

“But they haven’t.” She added and he shook his head “What are they about?”

“Like memories.” He let out a sigh “From when I was the winter soldier.”

“Do you.. wanna talk about it?” She asked softly

“Not really.”

“Do you want me to go?”

“No.” He replied and just stared at her for a few seconds “Wanna talk about yours?”

She shrugged. “If you wanna hear it.”

“I’ll always hear you, doll.”

That made her feel really good deep inside. She has been noticing that he’s very attentive and she really likes that.

“Well.. it was about this girl I had to kill.” She replied “My first kill, actually.”

“How old were you?”

“Seven, I think.” She said pulling her legs up to the couch “They made the more agile ones kill the weaker ones.. I was the first to kill one of the weaker ones.”

“You were literally kids.”

“Yeah, well, they didn’t really cared.” She shrugged “They were turning us into weapons basically.”

“You didn’t turn out like that.” He looked at her

“Well, I’ve managed to leave that behind.” She nodded slightly “But I, uh, I’ve done some.. horrible things at such a young age that it shocks me sometimes.”

“But it wasn’t because you wanted to.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know, what if they dug enough to get that side of me out?”

“I refuse to believe that.”

“You don’t know the things I’ve done..”

“You don’t know the things I’ve done either, in fact, I don’t think you know half of them.”

“That’s different.” She shook her head “You weren’t in control.”

“You weren’t either, you were just a kid, they literally manipulated you into thinking that that is what you are.” He said “And after all these years, after all the good things that has happened to you since you got out, it’s still affecting you.”

“You know, Steve asked for my help to find you because I was willing to do what he couldn’t, right?” She told him “He said that he needed me because I was just as ruthless as you were when you were the winter soldier and he said that I was the perfect person to help him because I don’t hesitate, I would’ve done anything to bring you with us, even if I had to kill you.”

“Yet here we are now.” He turned his body a little so he could face her more “You didn’t even made an effort to kill me, on the contrary, you tried to talk to me, that shows that you’re not what they made you.”

“You know? This is how you should talk to yourself.” She rested her head on the backrest of the couch “You’re not what they made you either, James and this is enough proof, stop torturing yourself.”

“This is how you should talk to yourself too.” He replied “Stop torturing yourself, Giselle.”

She couldn’t help but smile a little, not only because he called her by her middle name, which no one ever does, but because she found that it was sweet of him to say that back to her. “Maybe we both should start taking that advice more seriously.” She said

“Yeah, we should.” He nodded

Just a few seconds later, she gasped sitting straight. “Holy shit.”

“What?” Bucky frowned confused

“It’s tomorrow!”

“What’s tomorrow?”

“No, today is tomorrow.” She said getting up from the couch

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s almost 3 am.” She walked to the kitchen “It’s March 10th.”

“Uh, yeah.” He replied although it sounded more like he was questioning it

“It’s your birthday! What the fuck?” She said opening the fridge and taking out one of the muffins she bought yesterday

“Is it?”

“Are you okay? You literally told us yesterday, while we were eating breakfast, that you didn’t want us to sing you happy birthday.”

“Oh that’s right, I did.”

She grabbed the little candle that Sam chose and the lighter before heading back to the living room.

“I don’t know if you like blueberries but I got you a blueberry muffin because, well, it’s the most common.” She sat on the couch again “And we’re not singing happy birthday, but it’s a must that you make a wish so we bought a candle.”

“We?”

“Well Sam chose it.” She put the blue candle in the muffin and then grabbed the lighter to light it up “Make a wish.” She put the muffin in front of him

“You believe in that?”

She pulled the muffin back. “Don’t be so pessimistic on your birthday.”

He laughed. “Alright, I won’t! Sorry.”

She put the muffin in front of him again and just a couple of seconds later he blew out the candle.

“Did you make a wish?”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “I did.”

“Don’t tell me what it was or it won’t come true.”

“Okay, I won’t.” He nodded

“Happy birthday, James” She took out the candle and handed him the muffin “You’re officially 100 years old.”

“I am, that’s crazy.” He took the muffin in his hand “Thank you, doll face.”

“That is the most old fashioned pet name I’ve ever heard.”

“People don’t use doll face anymore?”

“Not really.” She chuckled “Babe it’s more common.”

“We used babe back then too.”

“I think babe it’s just too basic.”

“It kinda is.” He nodded “What’s your favorite pet name?”

“I don’t know if I have one.” She replied “But some pet names in spanish sound pretty fucking cool.”

“Oh right, that’s your first language, I forgot.”

“It is.”

“The accent never went away.”

“I’m glad it didn’t.” She smiled “Natasha says I sound like Sofia Vergara sometimes, which, to be honest, I don’t think I do.” She shrugged

“I don’t know who that is.”

“Right, sorry.” She chuckled “She’s a colombian actress that has an accent too and it’s something that stands out.”

“Well I don’t know how she talks, but you do have an accent.”

“I know I do.”

“But it sounds really cool.”

She couldn’t help but laugh a little. “Well thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He chuckled “You want some?” He showed her the muffin

“It’s okay, there’s another one in the fridge, I bought one for each of us.”

“You sure? You can have half.”

“Do you wanna give me half of the muffin?”

“Honestly yeah, it’s too much sugar and look at the time.”

She started laughing. “You’re such an old man.” She shook her head lightly “Alright, give me half of it then.”

Bucky parted the muffin in half with his hands and then gave one of them to Cat.

“And I like blueberry muffins by the way.” He said “So thank you, again.”

“I’m glad because the other ones didn’t look quite as appetizing as this ones.” She replied

They ate the muffin and actually stayed in the living room for a while just talking. Both of them started to get kinda sleepy, but neither wanted to leave to their room so after a while, they both fell asleep on the couch unintentionally.

The next morning, as usual, Steve was the first to wake up. Once he used the bathroom and brushed his teeth, he made his way to the kitchen to make coffee when he saw his two friends sleeping on the couch. Bucky actually fell asleep in the same position he was last night, Cat was curled up next to him with her head resting on his right arm and Bucky had his arm over her knee.

The scene took Steve a little by surprise, but he still went and grabbed a blanket from Cat’s room to cover them since he saw Cat all curled up like that. He put the blanket over them, careful not to wake them up and then went back to the kitchen, thinking that it was kinda cute to find them like that.

Odd, but cute.

(…)

Three hours later, it was now 9 am and Cat was the first one to wake up. She opened her eyes slowly trying to adapt to the light and remembering that she never went back to her room. She looked around the living room and the kitchen, but neither Sam or Steve were there.

She moved a strand of her hair behind her ear and noticed her head was laying on Bucky’s arm. “Oh god.” She said under her breath pulling away from him but careful and slow enough to not wake him up

But that was in vain since he woke up anyway.

“Sorry.” She apologized

“It’s okay, don’t worry.” He ran his hands over his face until he realized that he was on the couch “Wait, we slept here?” He immediately looked at her

Cat nodded. “We did.”

“Did we really?”

“Yeah.” She nodded again

“And who brought this?” He grabbed the blanket

She shrugged. “I guess Steve, Sam would never cover me or you with a blanket while sleeping.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“Oh my god, I can’t believe I fell asleep on your arm, I’m so sorry.” Cat covered her face with one of her hands

“It’s alright, I didn’t even noticed.” He chuckled a little

“How’d you sleep?” She asked

“I slept fine, you?”

“I did too.” She replied “Oh my god, imagine Steve’s face when he saw us here”

He laughed. “Relax, I’m sure he’s not gonna say anything.”

She smiled a little after hearing him laugh. “Well hopefully.” She shrugged “Are you hungry? I’m making us breakfast.”

He nodded in response as he stretched out his arms and legs. “I am kinda hungry.” He replied moving to the side falling onto Cat

“Oh my god!” She let out a squeak “Get off!” She giggled trying to push him away

“I’m so tired!” He said yawning “So so tired!”

She laughed. “You’re heavy, dude!” She used all of her strength to push him off to the floor

“Ah shit! I hit my head.” He grumbled

“Oh my god, you’re crazy.” She said laughing and then threw the blanket on his face

“I’m crazy? You’re crazy! You pushed me off the couch and made me hit my head.”

She just laughed. “You almost crushed me to death!” She replied standing up from the couch

“You’re so dramatic.”

She looked down at him. “You’re dramatic.”

previous chapter • next chapter

likes and reblogs will be appreciated!

[megumi-fm]

this week fortnight on megumi.fm ▸ the last leg

is that a pun referring to my aching ankle? yes. is resting at home for another week gonna ruin my mental health? yes. but am I exaggerating and throwing a tantrum for something that's probably not a big deal? also yes.

📋 Tasks

💻 Internship // progress tracker ↳ biopython model replication ✅ ↳ code for obtaining single fasta from overlapping sequences ✅ ↳ running HMMer and superfamily script✅ ↳ output analysis 🔁 ↳ literature review on transport proteins 🔁 ↳ transport protein family analysis 🔁 🎓 Uni ↳ our paper is finally out! there's a doi and everything now <3 it's not open access though :/// I might do some totally legal things to ensure more people can read it ↳ collected the hardcopy of my LOR ↳ collected my gradecard ↳ visited my advisor and updated her on stuff 🩺Radiomics Project ↳ radiomic features finalized✅ ↳ data cleanup 🔁

📅 Daily-s

🛌 consistent sleep [14/14] 💧 good water intake [14/14] 👟 exercise [/14] just basic stuff to maintain ankle mobility

Fun Stuff this week

💗i went to uni to watch one of my friends present something to the juniors! then I spent the afternoon chatting with my guide and later on went window shopping with my best friends (in retrospect i should not have done this because my ankle got infinitely worse the next day and now I'm stuck resting at home for an additional two weeks) 🎮playing undertale with @muakrrr 📺 ongoing: Marry my Husband, Cherry Magic Th, Perfect Propose, Doctor Slump, Flex X Cop 📺 binged: Blueming, Roommates of Poongduck 304 📹 Started watching Going Seventeen // so I've been listening to SVT for a while now and I did watch their Don't Lie II eps like two years ago but I never really checked anything else... however, considering that I'm stuck at home and that @zzzzzestforlife (who has impeccable taste) has mentioned it often on their posts, I decided to check out GoSe properly and. wow. I started with their mystery episodes [fav scenes under cut] and now I'm watching GoSe2020 in chronological order and !!!!!! The concepts, the storylines, the acting, the humour, the editing, even the subtitles are all so so good. I've been watching this show for two weeks now and I am now officially a cubic <3

📻 This week's soundtrack

Wk1: The Best of ATEEZ // I've been real obsessed since their 2024 world tour clips started showing up on social media; I was a casual enjoyer up to this point and then I went and checked them out and it's all so dystopian and immersive. My favourites would be Intro: Long Journey (which makes me feel like I'm in Pirates of the Caribbean), the Symphony version of Wonderland (for its musicality and Jungho hitting those notes), MATZ (that is insane in it's the visual storytelling in the MV) and Wake Up (whose performance choreo ended me) Wk2: The Best of BTS // in an attempt to revive a project I abandoned a year ago, I spent wayy too much time curating this playlist to get the most satisfying BTS transitions ever and I can confidently say that I'm nowhere close to my goal T-T but I kind of like the way it is now so I am simply going to give up

---

[Feb 12 to Feb 25 ; week 7+8/52 || this was not supposed to be one post but then... idk what happened... I feel very dull lately because of my ankle and just when I thought it was getting better it's become painful again... my friends and parents keep chastising me (and fairly so) for trying to move around even before I fully heal but patience has never been my strong suit. sitting still is really the biggest punishment for a hyperactive ADHD kid like me... i'm sure plenty others have it worse but... yeah... GoSe really carrying my mental health right now ]

my fav GoSe scenes

---

[elvenbeard]

During his time working at Arasaka, Vince lives in a company-issued apartment, obviously, and so far, for VP purposes and such, I've always gone to the Corpo-Plaza apartment for that. I thought, maybe it is a little too fancy, but then again, the view isn't all that great, it's not that high up, and it doesn't even have a bathtub, so, it works xD

I feel like it would kinda fit that Arasaka has their employees close by (iirc, the Counterintel agents gotta be "on call" basically 24/7 in case of an emergency, so even Charter Hill would be pretty far away, Wellsprings might work still, but yes). Also, you have Arasaka Tower right in front of your window and only very flimsy shutters, so you can always be reminded of your work duties and loyalties basically from the comfort of your living room XD

Anyway though, I wondered, how would Vince get to work every day? I don't see him having a car at the time, cause I imagine parking in City Center to be hellish and/or expensive af. Delamain would work, but when Vince still lived in Charter Hill, he and his friends used the metro to get around most times, so I think he might go back to that. So I tried it out, since there's a station nearby, and the closest stop to Arasaka Tower is Memorial Park. The walking to and from the stations also takes up some time though, and so the fastest and most direct way is actually just walking directly xD

So I walked his way to work, and *the shortest* most direct way on foot between Corpo-Plaza apartment and entrance of Arasaka Tower is through the 2023 memorial site. And idk. I love that on multiple levels.

Obviously, it's not gonna be the shortest way for everyone, but imagining that visitors and others who are able to walk to work have to go through the memorial to get in sends a super strong message imo (one of shifting the blame away from themselves completely, as you do as a big evil corporation). Level-design-wise it's *chef's kiss*, too. And storytelling-wise that gives me a whole bunch of new ideas for Vince's and Johnny's already-strained relationship as well xD Like, for a couple of years, twice a day often, Vince has listened to how these vile terrosists killed millions of innocents with their actions, and how Arasaka will never forget about that, etc etc. And then, of all possible people it's *the* terrorist that gets stuck in his head because Arasaka took the "never forgetting" a little too far on too many unethical levels.

With that in mind I feel like all the interactions with Vince and Johnny that revolve around the "terrorist" thing in the beginning have a much stronger impact. If Vince hadn't had that daily walk to work (or if he had had a different background altogether), there really would only be the information Viktor gives on Johnny post-Konpeki-heist. While that works, too, it's not a super deeply ingrained conviction V has, just something their trusted Ripper told them and they just accept as truth (not that Vik would lie, but you get my meaning).

But with Vince, Johnny would actually have to claw his way through years of subtle brainwashing to have Vince stop calling him a terrorist without a purpose deeper than causing death and destruction. And idk... I sometimes just love how little headcanons that start out with no big thoughts behind them ("Where would he live? well, Corpo Plaza apartment maybe, cause that means I don't have to build my own scene for this lil VP idea") lead to bigger and bigger ideas and work really well with what the game provides already xD

[wiselyghost]

Bros the type

@simonsdoll said: "If your accepting request can I request any ghost head canons and him having a crush on y/n? SFW and NSFW head canons. Please?"

This should be fun⏖

Ghost x Solider! ReaderFem!

[Sorry didn't know if u wanted male or gn :/]

c/n = codename

SFW

Bros the type to stare into your eyes when you first joined 141

Bros the type to always have a weird fuzzy feeling in his stomach when ever he is around you

Bros the type to stay around you even if your a couple feet apart to always make sure your safe

bros the type to help your wounds from a rough battle blushing a tiny bit when you have to take of your shirt to show where the bleeding is coming from

Bros the type to let you say his first name after a few years giving you trust

Bros the type that likes having his knees brush against yours when you are squished between him and soap in the jeep

Bros the type to chuckle about your little jokes through out missions and tells you some of his own to (He likes to hear you laugh through the coms)

"Two gold fish are in a tank.."

"Go on"

"one turns to the other and says.. do you know how to drive this thing?"

…

"little army humor"

"Very little"

Bros the type to get those warm gloves you wanted for a while and gifts it to you in private making an excuse saying how it will be useful when the next mission is somewhere cold.

Bros the type to confess to you after a very deadly misson thinking if something happens to you or him he will never tell you his true feelings

Bros the type to caress your face and gently press his lips against yours if you agree to be his and his only (bros being waiting for this moment FOREVER)

Bros the type to be heartbroken if you turn him down on his confession and be really more cold hearted towards you and everyone on missions he would be rough with you but still worry if anything happens to you PLEASE SAY YES TO THIS SAD BOY

NSFW

Bros the type to be rough with you during love making time like bro THROWS you onto the bed doing doggy while pulling your hair not like you would complain 😏

One time on a misson 141 meets Graves for the first time and you can tell he was checking you out and your ass he started flirting with you in front of ghost and bro was ready to murder that guy right there and then everyone felt that tension between them

Ghost know you can handle yourself but mannnn can this guy get jealous

Tells Graves to back the fuck off and that your already taken but he still can tell that Graves is still taking a good long look at your ass when you guys walk away

Bros the type to grab your arm and lead you somewhere private where a jeep was located where 141 was transport from

Locks the Door behind him was kinda upset that the windows were dark he wanted to show that little shit who you belong to

Takes your gear off but almost rips your daily clothes like he hadn't had you for yearss

Leaves TONS of hickeys all over your neck, collarbone, stomach, thighs, ass, and tits. You could basically be called Violet Beauregarde with how much the color purple was covered over you (it's the girl from Charlie and the chocolate factory)

141 and others saw the car shaking not Graves being jealous 🤭

Bros the type to huff and gruff rather then moan but would get later for you if you were into that

Bro is a ASS man so he would be really into doggy or any position to see your cute ass bounce when he slides his hug cock into you

Bros top he likes to take control and is dominant in bed and would take alot of convincing if you decide to want to be top

Dick is about 7 in a half when soft 8 in a half when hard

Love height difference

I personally think he would really like shower sex like just imagine it

After a long day you guys get to go home and both need to shower and you guys haven't touch each other in days so you guys were both hot and bothered

Hot water sprays on you while ghost wrestler with you tongue trying to win dominance while he pumps your wet cunt with his cum

"Your lose cunt can't take all my cum can it sweetheart?"

"Your one lucky whore that l even show you my cock so what makes you think you get to come?"

"You want my kids in you huh? Oh l know you do you slut"

Bro loves to degrade 😩😫

King in aftercare

Would clean you up and whisper sweet nothings in you ear saying how well you took him still have his cum in you though

In the end he always want to show you how he appreciates you and cherish you and would tell you that everyday even thought it was the 7 time today

OK that is all for today l hope that you like this sorry l was busy with college and work but l finally got it done! Love you all have a good night/day/noon :)

[deafsignifcantother]

hound dog

♥ summary: vox has an infactuaion with a very religious woman and he's trying to win her approval. ♥ relationships: vox x deaf, religious gn reader ♥ word count: 1.9k ♥ notes: the draft was called 'hound dog' and i have no idea why but i'm keeping it, i proofread it but it still might be off bc i'm high rn

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:13-14

.

Like miniature mirrors, the puddles on the street reflect the vibrant lights emanating from the clubs and electronic stores, creating a mesmerizing sight. The monolithic tower looms over the city, its windows glinting in the moonlight, a beacon of power and mystery.

As a faith-filled woman, you whisper prayers to nobody in particular, looking down at the floor.

Vox is charming, you tell yourself. The necklaces he gifts you lay around your neck and the blouses he's bought you cover your body. But is he genuinely charming? You haven't spent many days around him, and you haven't been able to spend as much time with him as he wishes.

Vox, a mysterious figure, resides in a tower that must be at least forty stories high. What were all those floors even for?

And what's more, as soon as you enter the V tower, his assistants lead you to the elevator. They've been expecting you.

Their elegance takes you by surprise. They go out of their way to match your footsteps; one of them even goes into the elevator and presses the buttons for you. It's as if you're royalty. As happy as you are to be treated this way, you can't help but feel something is off.

You go to his bed and smooth out the lines on his blanket, aligning his layers of pillows to the headboard, picking out the one he bought for you. You've never slept over. What's better: the red sky outside or the blue light in his bedroom?

You look at the clock. Vox'll be back soon. You thought of sitting by the window and looking down at the people below, seeing if you could recognize anyone by this distance. It's like you're on top of the world. No wonder his ego is so high; he looks down on the people around him daily. What an insane life to live. Do you really want to be a part of it?

A little after 5, his arms wrap around you from behind. One of his hands holds your stomach while the other signs princess against your body. You let your stomach relax against his hand; he's applying firm pressure, but his fingers are careful to stay in place.

You place a hand over his. His warmth is contagious.

With a slow caress, he turns you around. His eyes linger before flicking up to your face. Absolutely ravishing, an enchanting figure and an equally beautiful face. He reels his lust back until he can give a comfortable, small smile. You aren't able to concede the thoughts behind that smile.

He reaches away to start signing. That's what he intended, but you interrupt him, holding his waist and pulling him into a hug.

His gloved hands stay in place only briefly, and he wraps them around your neck, holding you against his suit.

He pulls away again, holding your shoulders and keeping you at arm's length. He decides not to comment, considering the possibility you'd slip back to your typical avoidance. His grip falls to your biceps and forearms before reaching to your palms.

You gently remove yourself from his grasp.

"Are you going to surprise me with something?"

"Where is that coming from?"

"Your employees were acting strange."

"Don't let them put thoughts into your head, princess." His smile is strained, his screen glitching enough to be more noticeable than his signs. What a deceptive, alluring surface he shows you.

"I won't." You tuck the topic into your pocket for later.

Like he usually does, he places his hands on your waist and steps forward, forcing you to match his footsteps as he pushes you backward. Once close enough to the bed to find impatience, he picks you up, your arms around his neck and thighs pressed against his hip bones.

Within only a few strides, he throws you onto the plush mattress, not giving himself enough time to bask in your position before he fills his senses with you. He submits to the idea that he will not be allowed to do anything salacious with you; he will need to work with that truth, not against it.

The toes of his short heels hang off the bed as he cages you between his knees, his best attempt at manners. However, as you squirm between his forearms, he struggles to save his balance.

It's the assemblage of decency—feelings pushed away for the 'greater good of self worth.' Because of his challenging stare, your legs freeze, reaching iceberg status. Your hips stop their writhing, and the closing of your fists gives away your opinion on this position.

He moves one arm to his chest. "How much time do you have?"

"Schedule is cleared for you."

It's almost like shivers go through his entire body. For you, you said. Those simple blots of affection feed his ever-blooming interest. He chooses his footing carefully, putting one knee at a time between your thighs. Your legs spread for him, but don't wrap around his hips.

And that's all he does. Your face is almost unrecognizable from his angle. He's never been so close to you like this. You look down at him, shoulders relaxed on his bed, both hands resting on your chest. The look you give him is an unsolvable puzzle.

"Let me stare at you." He almost pleads.

"Do you really like me that much?" There's no way you didn't know the answer.

"You don't need to ask that question, baby. Of course I do. Since I saw you, I knew then that I needed to have you."

.

"Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy." Ephesians 4:28

.

"When you were alive," you start, sitting on his bed. "Did you really preach the word of God?"

The question is a little awkward, considering how suggestively close you two were only hours before. Vox clears his throat, a discomfiting sound unheard, and he even adjusts his tie.

"How do you know that?"

"Val told me."

That drama-loving cunt.

"Uhm, yeah. I tried to, at least."

"You've never told me that." There's a smile on your face as if you have a genuine hope for his faith.

"It's something from the past," he tries to save himself, "I don't worship anymore. Not really into that kinda stuff."

"What denomination?"

"Protestant."

You purse your lips together and nod. That's not what Val said. "Really?"

The two of you stare at each other for what feels like, to him, an eternity. Why would he lie about his beliefs? Your lips remain pursed together, but now hiding a smile.

"Tell me," you start. "What's the name of the service where bread and wine gets consecrated?"

He squints, holding up one hand, each letter becoming more and more hesitant as his brain tries to find the reason behind your question. "...Eucharist."

"Interesting." You look away only for a moment. "And what translation?"

"KJV, obviously."

"Very good."

"What's this interview for? Marriage?"

You scrunch your nose up. "Why are you lying to me about your religion?"

His head tilts. "What does it matter?"

"Exactly. What does it matter?"

He ignores your question, his eyes flickering around the room with thought before settling back on you, "'Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.'"

Your eyes investigate his. He has verses memorized. "Okay?"

He gets on one knee, looking up at you, his smile crooked. "Did you believe me?"

"About what?"

His longer fingers grab yours, and he kisses your palm. "That I don't worship?"

Your breath catches in his throat, and you swallow the saliva that pools. Woah, woah, woah.

Sometimes, it feels like more than one person is inside of Vox. You never realize this trait when you watch him on television, but depravity takes over when you're close to him. Seductive, bruting, desirable but enticing. He stares up at you, seemingly unbothered by your lack of response. "I'll take that as a yes."

You remove your hand from his. "What was the gift you were going to give me?"

A hum of confusion leaves his throat as if he's been caught with his hand in a cookie jar. 'Your employees were acting strange.'

Vox's eyelids flicker close to hide his rolling eyes. He stands and doesn't fix how his pants start wrinkling around the knees. The gift is either going to be a win or a loss. You may already have gotten such a rare treasure like this. Still, at the same time, he would have definitely heard you talk non-stop about it.

You both move around the room. You sit on his plush bed while he disappears into his closet. A dress? You hope not; there's no reality where it wouldn't be entirely salacious. Else, new shoes, he's known for spoiling you. A skirt, a purse, a fur coat?

But he emerges with a box, a cheap bow placed on top of it. You can only smile. "Wow," you raise your eyebrows. "Thanks."

He stands tall, holding it out to you. For him, it's big enough to hold in one hand, but you have to use two to grab it.

The bow comes off with one swift movement, and the box is opened by lifting the lid. You lift it slowly, taking in the anticipation. Truthfully, you're ready for a bummer.

But the sight of it stuns you.

A holy bible, worn but beautiful. The black cover is lifted to show use and is unstained, unaltered.

And before you show excitement, you put the box aside and open it, flipping through the pages. Quite a few books were missing. A few pages were annotated, and many verses were highlighted. Your eyebrows furrow. It's natural, not anything hellish or fake. An actual bible in the depths of hell.

"How did you get this?"

The brightness in your eyes makes everything worth it. He caught a combination of priests, pastors, and nuns, forcing them to write what they remembered. He knew some verses himself, of course. And perhaps you'd be able to fill in the blanks.

He even listened enough to know your favorites. They are highlighted and mixed with his favorite scriptures.

"Uh, I found it somewhere."

You hug it close to your chest. The Lord's love radiates into your heart; you can feel all the prayers you've made, and the days you've spent being loyal to Jesus Christ.

Your eyes, glowing with love, look up at him. "Thank you so much. I owe you my life."

If you were any other person, he'd grab your hand and force you to honor his corrupted glory for eternity. But instead, he sits next to you, tilting his screen to make you keep eye contact. "Anything for you."

.

"I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!" John 16:33

i couldn't find a way to fit this in but this one too:

"If I say to the wicked, "You shall surely die," and you give them no warning, or speak to warn the wicked from their wicked way, in order to save their life, those wicked persons shall die for their iniquity; but their blood I will require at your hand." Ezekial 3:18

[shivunin]

Fanfic Writer Questions

Tagged by @greypetrel - thank you so much! 💗

I know this has made the rounds already. If I tag you and you've already done it, please feel free to tag me in the replies or disregard!

Tagging: @nightwardenminthara @vakarians-babe @transprincecaspian @star--nymph @blightbear @inquisimer @dreadfutures @scribbledquillz

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

43

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

688,185

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Published? Just Dragon Age. But I have some unfinished/unpublished Mass Effect and Baldur's Gate stuff as well.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

All of these are Cullavellan fic:

Your Fate for Mine (129,681 Words | E)

More Than Memory (5,214 Words | E)

Search Your Hands (13,581 Words | E)

Unyielding (3,083 Words | M)

The Epaulet Mate (7,303 Words | E)

5. Do you respond to comments?

Yes, though more slowly than I used to!

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Ooh. Probably The Scourge of Sundermount, though it wound up less angsty than the original ending (in which Cullen and Lavellan are turned to stone forever)

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I'm a sucker for a happy ending, so this is much harder to answer! I am avoiding answering this with the obvious innuendo haha. Maybe In Any Life? I feel like the vibe of that last chapter is so very soft, with a spring breeze blowing through the window in the house Fenris and Maria made together c:

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I've gotten some snarky comments, but never outright hate (thankfully!)

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Yes--not sure what is meant by "kind." M/F and F/F--soft and gentle, hard and fast, mildly kinky, plot-relevant and pwp, etc. A variety of smut, haha.

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

Not really. Crossovers aren't really my jam, but if I wrote one it would probably be Inquisition characters in Mass Effect (like a genre switch thing, not picked up and dropped into our solar system).

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

When I was like 13 on FF.net, yes. It's why I stopped writing fic until I was 28.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Not that I know of!

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Only in a sense! I have a few pieces sharing an OC with a friend that were largely rp first before I set them down as a narrative c:

14. What's your all time favorite ship?

God. Don't ask me this haha. My first DA ship was Fenris/Hawke and it still lives so closed to my heart, but Cullen/Lavellan got me into the fandom and Zevran/Tabris brought me someone very dear to me. I don't think I could ever judge any of them by the merits of the ship alone at this point!

15. What's a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

Hmmm more than I'd like to admit :/ Probably The Red Crossing Arrangement, which is an arranged marriage/Halamshiral still belongs to the elves AU. It took so much more world building that my ability to write it slowly petered out. The odds are high that it will remain at roughly 80k for the foreseeable future (unless I suddenly want to get back to working out trade routes and governance and commerce, which is what did me in; I'm good at world-building culture on account of the degree and all, but the semantics of daily life don't really interest me as much) (tragically, this means the Adalene and Elandrin fix-it portions of this story may never be published :C and this does honestly make me so sad :C)

16. What are your writing strengths?

Voice and characterization/internal dialogue. I've been told that the canon characters I write feel very similar to canon and that's something I'm really proud of c:

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Physical space. I forget to define the setting very, very frequently. It's the next thing I want to focus on in my writing, actually, when I get back into it!

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

Eh. I think it can add flavor, especially in fantasy settings where the cultures and worlds are built dissimilarly to the real world. I don't think there's anything especially fun about not being able to discern what's happening in conversation---I think it's most effective when it's a handful of phrases that repeat (hello, I'm sorry, I love you, etc.) or when followed by a translation of some sort. As a lover of Latin, I especially find google translations very unreliable and often incorrect. Better to just italicize it and indicate it's another language, imo.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Code Lyoko

20. Favorite fic you've written?

Oof. It depends on when you ask me this haha. For the moment, I think I'm loving As Two Reflected Stars a little extra right now c: I just love wound-tending and idiots in love and this is definitely both!

Blank version below!

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

3. What fandoms do you write for?

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

5. Do you respond to comments?

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

8. Do you get hate on fics?

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

14. What's your all time favorite ship?

15. What's a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

16. What are your writing strengths?

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

19. First fandom you wrote for?

20. Favorite fic you've written?

[pokemonunderdogtournament]

Hey everyone!

Assessing the amount of work it would take me to cover the queue until I know for sure I'll be done moving*, I think I need to modify the number of daily posts and when they post.

Until the end of October (not including the next 7 days, which are already in the queue), we will switch to 8 posts a day, and posting will shift to a every-30 minutes schedule from 8:00 - 11:30 AM.

This will give me a substantially larger window to handle queueing and will reduce the number of posts I need to queue from 500 to 400, which will likely save me 5-10 hours of time, which is extremely helpful given I am already working on a quite tight schedule with an uncooperative brain. 😅

Unfortunately, I think this also means that certain tournament themes that require some thought or sorting from me will probably not debut until much later.

(I think this is the biggest downside for me, personally, but I simply do not have the ability to sort these with everything else going on. If someone is particularly inclined to try to undertake this themselves, see below the cut**)

I would prefer for there not to be a lapse in poll posting because these polls are already a week long and we have much to get through.

After October 31, I expect for posting to resume as it is currently (10 posts a day, 8-5)

*Yes, I am taking almost two months to move 😭 Unfortunately I am working around a full-time work schedule, and there is a lot to move over a distance that is short enough that it is not worth renting a moving truck but long enough that I couldn't possibly move everything all at once, my lifestyle requirements aside. I hope to be done by at least mid October at latest, though if this is the case, it will also provide me with a necessary window to build the queue back up as we head into November.

**First, it would have to be done in the upcoming week. After that, I will have difficulty incorporating it into the schedule. If you do not have time between now and noon PST Saturday 9, then please disregard this, though ideally it would be done in the next few days, again for ease of scheduling. Second, it will require a lot of data entry-like work. This is tedious and boring. I will outline exactly what you need to do for this portion, so there shouldn't be any confusion. I do enjoy this type of thing when I have time, but I know any people don't. Third, we would have to discuss how to break these up into sub-tournaments, it is not immediately clear. This is the most logically complex part, I think... You'll also need access to spreadsheet viewing/editing software like Google Sheets or Excel. Doesn't matter too much. Anyway if this somehow still appeals to you, you can DM me at any of the following blogs: @birbs-in-space, @ljuerlav, @pokemon-tournament-directory

[georgiapeach30513]

Stained Like Georgia Clay, Part 7

Summary:  Cole takes you out riding

Pairings:  Cole Turner X Reader

Rating:  explicit

Warnings:  explicit sexual content, explicit language, smut, skinny dipping, fingering, oral sex (F&M receiving), swallowing, 18+ ONLY

Word Count:  4.8K

Previous

Series Masterlist

*dividers created by @firefly-graphics​

Cole walks through his parents garage, not looking for anything in particular, just looking.  Digging through a few old tools when he comes across something he hadn’t seen in years.  His dad’s old motorcycle, covered up and still looking every bit as new as the last time he’d seen it.  It was beautiful and kept, and just the perfect thing to enjoy time with you.  Cole would never just outright take the vehicle.  Tapping his fingers on the body of the bike, he decides it’s best to just go and ask his parents.

He trots into the kitchen, making sure to give his mom a cheek kiss, and then he goes into the living room.  Running his fingers smoothly over his dad’s hand, and he looks up at his only son smiling, “Found the old bike,” Cole tells his dad, and grabs the pipe out of his father’s hand who glares at him.  “Really?  More tobacco?”

“Let me die in peace.  I smoked, let me smoke.”

“Why are you mentioning the bike?” His mom brings her husband his breakfast.  Her hands pet over his cheek, and then moves to brush the hair away from his weathered face.  

“I was wanting to take it out,” his dad looks up at him curiously, but nods his head.  “I’m pretty sure everything is still in working condition.”

“You’re very eager.”

“Dale,” his mother giggles at him.  Taking a seat at the couch beside her husband she looks up at her handsome son.  She was so proud of him, and beyond excited to have him back in her life.  “Would this have something to do with the girl you had a date with in the orchard?”

“Yes,” he had been waiting for this conversation.  He was a grown man, but still the idea of having this conversation with his mom made him cringe.  He had been trying to just enjoy his time with you.  By enjoying his time, he was learning to care for you.  It definitely wasn’t love, but he knew that it was growing.  Wanted to make any excuse to see you.  It had become a daily thing at this point.  You or him was always showing up on each other’s doorsteps.

“How many weeks has this lasted?”

“Mom.” “Rachel.”

“I’m just saying.  You’re a handsome man, I don’t know why you felt the need to be a philanderer,” Cole sighs embarrassedly, looking away from his mother.  His crystal blue eyes staring at the ceiling and refusing to make a comment on that.  “Oh, come on, Cole.  It is what it is.  Had I had known you would have taken all the time to get married or give me grandchildren, I would have had other children.  So tell me about this girl that has captivated more than just your body?”

“She’s adorable,” Rachel tilts her head to the side with a proud smile towards her son.  “She doesn’t want to leave here, but she wants to take time off to be able to travel and go.  She likes the ambiance of the small town life, but she doesn’t think like these people.  She actually takes no crap from men.  No matter how hard they try for a date.  She hasn’t dated, and honestly that scared me.”

“How old is this girl, son?” Dale lifts his hand up as if to take a drag from his pipe, only to realize it wasn’t in his hand.

“Twenty.  I know, but in my mind I’m probably twenty.  It takes a long time for men to fully develop, and yes, I’m taking my time with her.  So quit judging me.”

“How did you meet her?” Rachel lifts up a glass of sweet tea, and sips on it a moment.  “You don’t get out too much, and then this happened.  So I’m curious, how did you meet her?”

“Her parents own the general store,” while Rachel wiggles around a bit, her smile getting larger, Cole turns around to look out of the window.  Their house sat right in the middle of the orchard, high on a hill.  Nothing but apple trees as far as the eye could see.  Except over in the distance, you could see a driveway lined in peach trees, and a small quaint farmhouse.  It was like he was destined to have you in his life.

“I had to go in to get some things for the house, and she was there.  There was something about her.  She doesn’t get involved in the small town talk or the congregation chats.  She does her job, smiles, and then works on a book.  She wants to be a writer.  And she has this sweet little distant look in her eyes, and yeah, I can’t help it, there’s this part of me that wants to take care of her.”

“Maybe because she’s twenty,” Dale chuckles at his own joke, but then with a deep and painful cough, he stops to take a drink of sweet tea.

“No, it’s more than that.  She needs me.  Like we went to the swinging bridge, and she tried to be all cool about it, and she’s terrified of heights.  I had to carry her away from the situation, and I have never felt more — needed or wanted.  In that moment she allowed herself to be vulnerable with me, and she barely knew me, and she didn’t care.  She just needed me.”

“Son,” Rachel starts, setting her glass down to fully look at her son.  He lit up while he was talking about you.  She didn’t even know the names of the other girls, and here her son was telling her things about you.  What he liked, and maybe even why he liked it.  “She sounds young and inexperienced.”

“Wow.”

“No, listen.  With girls, it’s different.  It just is.  You’re literally letting someone into your body.  Tread lightly with this.  I’m sure her parents wouldn’t think kindly of you making their daughter the talk of the town because of a mistake.”

“She’s not a mistake.  She’s…well, she’s different,” Cole bites at his lower lip.  It was easy to have sinful thoughts of you dancing around in his head.  But honestly, his favorite thing was thinking of the way your smile looked in the sun.  The way your melodic giggle always made him laugh right along with you.  You helped him forget for a moment how uncertain his father’s life was.  

But his favorite was the way you looked while you drifted to sleep on his chest.  He had never had that level of intimacy.  Completely clothed, and things felt so raw and sweet.  And he had never taken the time to notice what someone looked like on him.  He was usually calling a cab to get them.  You were different.  If he could find a way to keep you with him all night, every night, without freaking you out, he would.

“She’s not a mistake, mom.  She’s…she’s…”

“Son, you’re going to hurt yourself trying to think of another word besides love,” Cole shakes his head rapidly, trying to deny what he had growing within him.  “Fine, keep pretending.  The key to the bike is in dad’s office.  Have fun today.  Take a blanket.  You know where would be nice?”

“The pond,” his dad’s voice scratches out.  “It’s secluded.  There’s a big field there, plenty of trails to go on, and no one to bother you.  I think that’s a great place.  And it isn’t far from here, in case that stupid bike breaks down.  We’ll come and get you.”

“The pond?” Cole thinks about how it was in fact away from everyone.  Beautiful untouched land, and one where he had hoped one day he could have his own house built there.  It was in a valley, plenty of shade and trees, and complete privacy.  No neighbors.  It would be amazing.  And just perfect to show you around.

Taking a bite out of your sandwich, Loretta stands at the door, pawing on the floor.  Her brown eyes turn back to look at you before she starts barking loudly, “Loretta Lynn, you quit that right now,” she continues her barking until you walk out on the porch with her.  That handsome man comes up the driveway on a motorcycle, and you can’t help but to feel those pesky butterflies in your stomach.  He made you happy.  

Stopping only to lean forward on the handlebars, smiling from ear to ear.  “What cha doing, Bee?”

“I was eating a sandwich.  Would you like one?”

“I think I would,” there was something about the way his foot pushed down the kickstand, and he throws his leg over the seat that had you gulping, and turning quickly to walk inside.  With a quick pounding of his feet he comes up behind you.  His arms wrap around your waste, and he pulls you flush against his hard body.  Cole peppers kisses over your shoulders, and you tilt your neck to the side where he hungrily nibbles on your sensitive skin.

“You thought you were going to walk back inside without giving me a kiss?”

“I didn’t know you wanted one,” it was almost impossible to choke those words out.  Your hand reaches behind you, and you weave your fingers through his fluffy locks.  Obsessed with the way he was making you feel.

“I always want a kiss from you, Bee.  You got some peanut butter and jelly?” With him still wrapped around your waist you waddle the two of you over to the table, and slide a bowl towards him.  “What’s this?”

“Peanut butter and apple jelly.”

“Aw, honey, you shouldn’t have.  You know a way to a man’s heart, huh?”

“It’s a classic.  Don’t flatter yourself,” despite your words, you were softly rubbing your fingers over his forearm.  The other hand, back to playing with his hair, and when he pulls off you quickly, he has to look away, pretending he didn’t see that pouty face.  “When did you get a motorcycle?”

“It’s my dad’s.  I thought you might like to ride around the property.”

“Is it safe?”

“Do you think I would hurt you?” You exaggerate a thinking face, pretending to contemplate if this gentle man would ever hurt you.  “Brat.”

“Uh!” There that little stomp of your foot was.  You were definitely a brat.  “That isn’t fair.”

“Then get on the back of my bike, and go with me.  After I eat my peanut butter and jelly though.”

“Fine.  But…Do we get to kiss?”

“Whenever you want to kiss, Bumblebee, you just lean in and kiss me,” you bite at your lip, and take a step forward, your finger weaves under a belt loop, and you pull his hip forward, but hesitate, “You can’t be doing that if you’re not going to…” you don’t want him to finish.  

With a hand wrapped around his neck, you pull him down to your mouth.  Not hesitating to brush your tongue on his lips and tasting the sandwich on him.  Cole reciprocates by sucking on your tongue, causing a spew of whimpers to release.  Laying his sandwich down, both hands grab at your hips, and he picks you up to sit on the counter.  His thick frame pushes in between your legs, and you pull him tighter to you.

Cole can’t help but to pull you closer.  Have your ass sitting right at the edge of the counter so you’re forced to wrap your legs around him, and cling tight to his waist.  This felt right, and better than anything he could remember.  Just kissing you felt better than any woman.  Grabbing onto his hand, you place it on your tit, and he pulls off of you with a pop, “We should probably go,” smirking as he glances down at where you put his hand before dropping it.  

“Just let me finish my sandwich,” he takes a big bite and smiles through his chewing.  “What?”

“Nothing,” you were annoyed.  You don't know what you were doing, but you wanted things to go further.  You spent every evening with Cole and it was always kissing.  Just kissing.  You wanted him to touch you.  Cole, however, enjoyed seeing you frustrated.  There was something about the way you would turn your chin up, and try to act like him pulling away wasn’t bothering you.  When in fact, it got under your skin.

Finishing up, he pulls you out of the house, and you leave the lazy Loretta laying in her bed.  And you follow an excited Cole out the door.  Waiting for him to get on the bike, before you join him.  Arms wrap around him immediately as you enjoy a nice summer ride.  There wasn’t a destination, just Cole showing you his family property.

He drops his hand randomly, so he can caress it on top of your hand.  Your fingers was dangerously low.  Settled over his crotch, and he was supposed to not think about it.  Had to keep his mind on the trail, and make sure he wasn’t going to hit some tree.  He was almost positive you were completely oblivious, and if it wasn’t for your chin resting on his shoulder, he might have lost it all together.  Thankfully the pond wasn’t far away, because he could use some cooling off.

You had never been to this part of the town, due to it being private property, but it was gorgeous.  Almost wild, untouched, and more than once you saw a few rabbits, turkey, and deer.  Cole slows down the bike, before stopping at the edge of water, “Come on,” laying down a large blanket, he pulls off his shirt, and starts kicking off his shoes.

“What’re you doing?”

“I’m going swimming,” undoing his belt and jeans, he pushes them down, and stands in nothing but his boxer briefs holding out his hand.  “Come on.  You can do it, Bee.”

“I don’t have a bathing suit.”

“Neither do I,” he drops his hand and runs out the dock before diving into the water.

When he disappears, you try to calm yourself.  You weren’t prepared for this, but it didn't seem like he was either.  You wanted him to touch you.  Wanted to do more than kiss, and if you wanted that, you had to quit pushing these moments away.  Cole comes out of the water, slinging his hair to the side right as you pull off your shirt.  Getting down to nothing but your bra and panties, but with a deep calming breath, you take the bra off.

Arms wrapped around your chest as you walk out the dock.  Cole’s head was barely above water, just his eyes as he watches you, and you jump in.  The water was colder than expected, but mixed with the Georgia summer sun, it was refreshing.  Coming back up to the surface you swim over to the man you were willing to give everything to.  

There was a calmness here.  The slight breeze mixed in with your heavy breathing and the odd chirp from a bird.  “You okay?” Cole asks wading closer to you.  

“I can’t touch.”

“It’s deeper than you thought, huh?” Pulling you into his body, you yip as your bare skin touches his, “Hey, I got you,” he peppers kisses over you face.  One sweet peck after another.  Reaching for his hand, you place it back on your tit.  Your eyes wide as you pull back from him.  “Is that what you’re wanting, hmm?”

His calloused thumb moves over your hardened bud, gripping tighter until he pinches you, and you lay your head on his shoulder, “Bee?  You gonna talk to me, pretty girl?”

“I like it,” lifting you up out of the water a bit, exposing your tit.  With his eyes only on you, he inches closer, looking directly at your eyes before his mouth closes around your nipple, “Mmm,” you moan out.  His hand kneads your tit while his tongue kitten licks your pebbled peak.  Continuing to suck until pulling completely off.

His nose nuzzles along the sensitive area, before readjusting your weight, “Let’s try the other one,” Nearly the same motions, but he keeps a hand on the other breast.  Groping and teasing the other.  You were mesmerizing.  For once you were letting your body do the thinking as you roll your hips on him.  Your hot cunt over his abs, and using the ridges to grind over.  He pulls off you, and watches you for a moment.  

Jaw slack and making the most beautiful sounds, “How does that feel, Bee?  You like that?”

“Yeah,” leaning back, letting your tits float out of the water, you smile knowing that Cole was indeed enjoying the view.

“You want a little bit more?”

“Yes, please!”

When his hand goes under water, you were for sure this was the day.  It was the moment that Cole was going to take your virginity.  He reaches out to the gusset of your panties, and pushes it aside.  You feel the pressure of two fingers pushing into your walls, and your head falls back on your shoulders, whimpering.  This wasn’t what you were expecting, but you weren’t completely upset about it.

“How’s that?  You like fucking my fingers?”

“Cole…”

“Does it feel good?” You nod your head.  With your body still moving over him, he looks down into the water.  It was a bit murky, but he could see your cunt swallowing his fingers down to the knuckles.  His cock hard and neglected, but he didn’t care.  The only thing that would make this better would be to have your juices leaking down his wrist.  You were loving it.  Your fingers could never compare to his thick beefy ones.  

“God, you’re beautiful, but that pussy…keep doing that Bee.  You’re doing such a good job.  You like that don’t you?”

“Uh huh.”

“I bet you would taste just like candy.”

“Taste?”

“Oh, I’m sure no one has feasted on that pretty cunt.  It’s a shame I can’t hear how wet I’ve made you,” his tongue pokes out of his mouth, and he draws his lip in.  Each word out of his mouth has you riding his fingers with more enthusiasm.  Had you taking even more of him.  Your walls were so tight around him.  He could almost feel you hugging his cock.  Letting your walls mold to him.  The only man that had ever done it.

“I wanna taste you, Bee.  These fucking cotton panties are blocking my view.  Will you let me lick on you?”

“Y-y-yeah.”

“You would?  You’re fluttering around me,” he pulls his fingers out of you, and you glance up at him pouting.  “Don’t worry, Bee.  Let’s get to the dock,” but you couldn’t stop, you were so close.  “Bee!  Quit your pouting, or I might have to fuck you right here.”

“Will you?” Dammit, those eyes.  You didn’t know.  You couldn’t know, but the look you were giving him, he almost didn’t make it to the dock.  

“I’m not fucking you, until you’ve touched my cock.  I can tell you want to, but for whatever reason, you’re denying yourself.  Let me taste your sweet sweet honey between your legs, and then I’ll show you how to pleasure me, okay?”

“Okay,” you squeak.  He lifts you up to the dock, and your legs start spreading.  Damn those white cotton panties.  They left nothing to the imagination wet.  Hauling himself out of the water, you admire his beauty.  Beads of water drip down the hills and valleys of his muscles.  You could see the outline of his thick cock perfectly.  It was amazing he hadn’t ripped through his underwear with the strain it was causing.  Reaching out your hand, you palm him, and his eyes roll back in his head.  

“Not yet, eager girl,” getting to his knees, one hand on each of your knees, he splits you open.  His body lowers down, and he presses chaste kisses over your covered core.  Up and down your slit.  Looking up at you as he continues.  Flattening out his tongue, he licks up your slit, and your hands hold over your tits.  “There ya go,” he whispers, sitting up.

Cole’s fingers move under the elastic of your panties, and he pulls down the innocent little panties.  Looking up at you as you settle on your back more comfortable, until he stares at your weeping cunt.  He thought it was pretty before, but when your legs drop to the side, and he sees the conflict in your face, it makes it that much sweeter.  “You’re not doing anything wrong, Bee.”

“I know.”

“I’ll stop whenever you want me to, okay?” Nodding your head he inches closer.  His tongue laps up your juices, and he moans at your tangy sweet taste.  “I’m addicted,” whimpering out his name, he shimmies closer.  Kitten licking up your tight hole, right over your sensitive bundle of nerves.  “I want to taste this everyday,” he leans forward, letting his lips circle around your nub, and gives it a hard suck, and your head leans back.  Panting at the feeling.

“You aren’t gonna last long, huh?  You gonna taste me?  Or you just wanna touch me?”

“T-t-taste.”

“Good girl,” he dives in and gorges himself on you like a man starved.  Sucking on your clit and pulling off.  Two fingers move into your cunt, and he pumps into you.  Your hands are still fondling your breasts.  Your hips rocking up into his hungry mouth.  You were beautiful.  Eyes blown full of lust, and finally letting your primal need for pleasure take over.  

Your body thrusts with his motions, and he knows that his cock is going to be a tight fit, but he has no problem devouring you, and stretching you out everyday until then.  You were beautiful. He could get used to this.  Could see himself waking you up with pleasure.  Could almost hear your sweet raspy morning voice moan out his name.  

Your thighs tighten around his head, and you try pushing him away.  You were almost there, but denying yourself a true toe curling orgasm.  No words tell him to stop, so he keeps pushing you.  Your back arches off the dock, and your walls squeeze around his fingers.  When he gives your little pearl a nibble, your hand grabs at his head, pushing him more into your warmth as you completely come undone.

Falling back on the dock panting, Cole slurps up your honey, before moving to his knees, “How was that?” He chuckles, as you narrow your eyes up at him, unable to speak.  Words just didn’t work anymore.  “You still want to touch me?”

“Yeah,” sitting up eagerly on the dock, nodding your head, “Please?”

“Trust me, I will never deny you my cock.”

“Then fuck me.”

“Haha, you’re funny.  I said, you needed to touch my cock before that pretty pussy did.  Besides, I’m going to enjoy stretching you out a bit longer.  Now, open up,” your face falls, and he stands up taking his thick and heavy cock out of his briefs.  A bead of precum on the tip, and he steps closer.  “Not gonna open your mouth?”

“Uh-uh,” oh you were playing coy now.  Your mouth turned up into a mischievous smile, but you also had your hand resting in between your thighs.  Oddly pushing your cunt against it.

He presses his spongy tip on your lips, and paints his salty essence on them.  “I hear you, Bee.  Breathing hard, and making a mess.  Quit playing games with me, and just open up.  I’ll make sure you know what to do.  Go on.  You can do it.  Open that pretty little mouth,” you let your jaw go slack, “Stick your tongue out.”

You followed directions so well.  Letting your tongue stick out as he softly pushes through your pillowy pout.  His hips thrust him into you gently.  Brushing back your stray hairs.  “There ya go, pretty Bumblebee.  Now, grip the base with your hand,” you hesitate.  The last thing you wanted was to disappoint him.

“Hey, I’m gonna teach you exactly how I like it.  You’re perfect.  And my cock is in your mouth, so I’m not complaining.  Now, that arm that’s getting covered in your juices, yeah, that one you keep hunching on,” you pull him out of your mouth, getting embarrassed.  “Bee!  It is fine.”

“You’re making fun.”

“No, I think it’s hot that sucking my dick was making you horny.  Now, take your fingers, and get some of that mess in your cunt.  I want your slick on my cock,” you smile, but can’t look at him.  “Bee, my cock is hard and right there, baby.  Later tonight, I’ll let you ride my face if you want.  Just get some of your juices on your fingers, we’ll use that as lube.”

Sighing, you move your fingers to your cunt.  Cole watches as you gather up your juices, letting your fingers get all shiny and pretty with your arousal, and you raise your hand to his cock, “There ya go.  Wrap that sloppy hand around me,” you grip around his cock, and it terrifies you when your fingers don’t touch.  He was thick.  And you look down at your hole, and have your doubts.  “Don’t worry about that now.  I want your hand tighter.”

You grip him with more force, and he moans.  So tight you could feel his cock throbbing.  A vein right under your finger makes you have a need to feel it under your tongue.  Holding his cock up, you let your tongue follow the trail until you get to his tip, and you lick at his hole.  His musk was intoxicating as you sink over him.

“Oh, yeah, that’s good, baby.  Now, mouth and hand work together.  Pump me in your fist, and bob your mouth over me,” you followed directions so well.  Naturally looking up at him through your lashes has him struggling.  This felt so much better than his hand.  You definitely looked so much better.  Your body is still moving with your motions.  Everything was so much.  Too much.  “Uh!  Yeah, right there.  Fuck yeah.  You’re perfect.  Yeah — Yeah,” he says out your real name as he spews into your mouth.

Hot cream fills your mouth, and you swallow it.  Letting your tongue lick up any spillage, and still those sweet eyes stare up at him.  “Fuck, Bee, I’m sorry.  That…perfection.  It was just perfect, and I couldn’t hold on.  Fuck.”

Cole takes a moment to steady his breathing.  Stuffing himself back into his underwear, before he holds a hand down for you to stand with him.  Completely nude, you stand up, and his hand goes to your cunt.  “I believe you’re wetter now than you were earlier.  You enjoy that?”

“I did,” he pulls you in for a bruising kiss.  Letting the both of you taste each other’s arousal.  It mixed perfectly.  Like the two of you were meant to be.

“Why don’t we go in the shade, and take a nap.  I know you got to be exhausted.”

“Okay…can…would you want to stay with me tonight?  I won’t pressure you to have sex.”

“You’re calling it sex now, huh?  You were saying fuck earlier,” you try to look away, but he holds your chin up, “Look at me when you’re asking questions, darling.  I’d love to stay with you tonight.  Clothes on.  No church tomorrow?”

“No.  I haven’t been going.”

“Feeling guilty?”

“Not when I’m with you.”

Cole nods his head, but doesn’t respond.  Still holding your hand, he leads you over to the shade, and helps you put on your clothes, leaving your bra off, because he liked the way your nipples poked through your shirt.  His hand holds over your tit as the two of you become a mess of legs and arms.  Keeping turned towards each other, because you didn’t think you could ever get tired of his handsome face.  

“You okay, Bee?” You smile nodding your head, and he starts to relax.  Cole didn’t want to admit it, but he was falling, and falling hard.  He doesn’t close his eyes until your breathing steadies out.  He liked watching you.  This was not what he was wanting when he came home.

He thought this summer was going to be filled with mundane everyday activities.  A bit of heartbreak, because it was inevitable that his dad would pass soon.  But then there was this pretty thing sitting in the back of a rusty old ford with baskets of peaches and jars of honey.  The prettiest smile he’d ever seen.  An odd familiarity surrounded you, and he wanted nothing more than to protect you, and keep you all to himself.  

He wanted to make your traveling dreams come true.  Let you explore the world, and then wanted to read everything through your eyes.  You had captivated him.  You first scared him, because he’d never been with someone so innocent and inexperienced, nor did he want to.  Until you.  You not only were worth it, but you were breaking down his walls of wanting to play the field.  He didn't know why you were different, but he saw a future with you.  He was willing to put in the time and patience with you, and he just hoped you were willing to do the same.

He brings you closer to his body, and gently kisses your forehead before he settles down.  Even your body fits perfectly in his arms.  He sighs as his eyes flutter closed.  Feelings he had never felt were rising up, and he didn’t know what to make of them.  He just knew he liked it more than anything.  The sexual part was just an added bonus.  You were becoming everything.

Next

Masterlist

Taglist: @tis-thedamn-season @marveloustaylortot @pono-pura-vida @sstan-hoe @infatuatedjanes @whiskeytangofoxtrot555 @peaches1958 @thedarkplume @rebekahdawkins @seitmai @patzammit @openup-yourmind @elrw24 @bxdbxtxh15 @buckysteveloki-me @lilac-tea-time @smile1318 @andydrysdalerogers @feyfantome

[hyperlexichypatia]

World Autism Day -- "Shifting the Overton Window Even Further" edition!

I'm pleased and heartened that the message of autism acceptance has started, ever so slightly, to become mainstream. Great! Now let's push for more. Here is a list, in no particular order, of principles I want to affirm for World Autism Day.

1. Autistic people are people.

2. Autism is not (classified as) a psychiatric disability/mental illness, but almost all autistic people also qualify for at least one psychiatric diagnosis.

3. Therefore, civil rights issues of psychiatrically disabled/ mentally ill/ mad people are also autistic civil rights issues.

4. It's common for autistic people to have exceptional talents in specific areas. It's not okay to call those talents "splinter skills" or "savant skills."

5. Our human value and right not to be exterminated does not come from having exceptional talents. It comes from our personhood.

6. Autistic people whose talents you can't identify, whose talents you don't see as important, or whose talents aren't economically valuable are still people.

7. All people have the right to be presumed competent to make their own decisions in life.

8. That includes autistic people.

9. That includes people who can't talk well and who type to communicate.

10. That includes people who can't talk well and who need assistance typing to communicate.

11. That includes people who don't have a job or a traditional source of income.

12 That includes people who need help with daily self-care tasks.

13. Yes, even people who need help using the bathroom.

14. That includes people who get low scores on IQ tests.

15. That includes people who have never been given an IQ test because it's just assumed that they'd get very low scores.

16. That includes people with psychiatric disabilities.

17. That includes people with the really "bad" "scary" "serious" psychiatric disabilities.

18. "Functioning" isn't a thing. It isn't a meaningful concept. Humans aren't machines. We don't have a "function" beyond existing.

19. What people generally mean by "functioning" is "meeting certain arbitrarily-selected culturally normalized goals in socially acceptable ways."

20. Because the concept of which skills and goals constitute "functioning" is socially constructed and fairly arbitrary, the concept of "functioning" is inseparable from institutional discrimination.

21. There is no such thing as an intrinsic ability, separate from external social constructs, to do things like "hold a job" or "graduate school" or "live independently," since the definitions and requirements of institutions like "job" and "school" and "independent living" are all socially constructed.

22. Saying "Some of the challenges of autistic people are from functioning impairments, and others are from institutional discrimination and ableism," while well-meaning, is Not Even Wrong, since the definition of "functioning" is also a product of institutional ableism.

23. Attempting to redefine "functioning" to encompass intangible qualities like "happiness" or "fulfillment" is similarly well-meaning but Not Even Wrong.

24. "General intelligence" is also not a thing. People have different degrees of natural aptitude for learning many different kinds of concepts and skills.

25. Most people with a low natural aptitude for learning certain skills can still improve those skills with time and practice.

26. Making decisions about one's own life does not require any particular aptitude for analogies or shapes or math.

27. A person's age is the amount of time that has transpired since that person's birth. That's it. There is no such thing as "mental age," "emotional age," "developmental age," or "developmental level."

28. There is no such thing as "developmentally appropriate."

29. There is no such thing as a "fully mature" human brain.

30. It's okay for adults to like media aimed at younger audiences.

31. Allistic (non-autistic) adults sometimes get judged for enjoying "children's" media, too, but allistic adults who like children's media get concern-trolled in clickbait articles, while autistic adults who like children's media get stripped of their civil rights.

32. Believing that one type of genetic trait is better or more desirable than another is bigotry.

33. Trying to prevent a genetic condition is eugenics. The belief that certain genetic conditions should be prevented is eugenics.

34. Eugenics is morally wrong.

35. Yes, always.

36. Eugenic goals are sometimes achieved through reproductive practices like sterilization or abortion, but that isn't what makes eugenics wrong. What makes eugenics wrong is the belief that some genes are better than others.

37. It is okay for informed, consenting adults to try to change their own cognition (through drugs or other methods).

38. It is also okay to refuse interventions designed to change cognition.

39. Both choices are equally valid. Neither choice should be framed as "doing the right thing" or "being responsible" or "setting a good example."

40. It is not okay to force drugs, therapies, or health practices on other people against their will.

41. Not even if they're psychiatrically or intellectually disabled.

42. Whatever hypothetical scenario you're about to ask "But what about...?" -- no, not even then.

43. Most autistic stereotypes made up by allistic people are dehumanizing, offensive, and inaccurate.

44. Except the ones about autistic people liking trains. Those are pretty much true.

45. Autistic (and otherwise neurodivergent) people have always existed, so historical figures and other dead people should not be presumed allistic by default. Neuroqueer your history.

46. Autistic people are between 1% and 2% of the general population, so you probably know at least one. If you don't think you know any, they're probably closeted.

47. The correct terms for autistic people are "autistic people" or "people with autism" (some people prefer one over the other, but neither is inherently offensive) or, if you want to be a bit more florid, "people on the autistic spectrum." The correct terms for people who are not autistic are "allistic people" or "non-autistic people." The correct term for people whose cognitive patterns are considered "normal" and privileged by the society they live in is "neurotypical people."

48. Universal design should be default design.

49. Autism Speaks is a hate group, ABA is dehumanizing in theory and often abusive in practice, institutions shouldn't exist, guardianship is a civil rights violation, 95% of violent crime is committed by neurotypical people, regulating brains is not equivalent to regulating guns.

50. Trains actually are awesome.

[concerningwolves]

Thank you for all your help with this! your solution for the project totals worked perfectly :D

As for the difficulty deleting projects, thanks again for looking into it. I’m using Google sheets, and when I delete a project - any of them - the top stats sheet starts looking like this:

(The clipped words image was already like that) The chart sheet otherwise deleted the data just fine, but looks like this:

And totals like this:

The 2024 word count in yearly comps has that same REF image instead of a number, and the chart instead says ‘Add a series to start visualising your data’. In totals and comps data the information for the deleted project also shows the REF message, unless I manually delete that column as well (idk if that’s an issue but best be thorough). Daily graph and chart remove the data fine, and if I delete a project that has its own sheet it’s replaced with the add a series message, which I assume is supposed to happen. I haven’t noticed and other adverse affects.

(Seriously, thank you for helping me so much. You’re amazing, and even if you don’t find/know a work around for this you’ve been a huge help!)

Ah, okay, I seeeeeee. So, anywhere you see that #REF! message, it's because it's trying to reference information that's not there any more. In this case, you did the right thing by deleting the project column from the Totals sheet! If you delete a project column in the Daily sheet, you also need to delete its corresponding columns in the Comps. Data and Totals sheets. This is because both of those sheets pulled information from the deleted project column in the Daily sheet, and they'll still be trying to fulfil a formula that no longer has the necessary information to work.

Once those columns are deleted, follow the instructions for deleting a series from a chart on page 7 of the instructions booklet, and delete the project's series from the Totals chart.

Something you could do in the future, instead of deleting project columns from the Daily sheet, is to hide them (right-click on the letter above the column and choose "hide column" from the drop-down menu). Choosing this method means that a) you don't need to delete any project columns elsewhere, and b) "adding" more columns, should you ever need them, becomes a matter of unhiding the column. The only change you'll need to make then is deleting the project series from the Totals chart, as explained in previous paragraph.

(And yes, deleting a project column will affect its corresponding sheet, if it has one. Pages 23–24 of the instructions explain how to make a new project-specific sheet, and you can follow those same instructions to link the sheet to a different project column, if you want to. Otherwise, feel free to hide/delete the sheet.)

However. I noticed that for some reason, removing any data from the totals chart converts the previously-invisible line for the totals into a stacked column instead. To fix that, right-click on the chart and select "Chart style" to open the Chart editor window. Then, under the "customise" tab, scroll down and click on the option that says "series". Pick "Totals" from the drop-down menu of series, and change where it says "column" to "line" and set the line opacity to 0 (Shown in the left image).

Below this section, there is a list of three tick-boxes labelled Error bars, Data labels and Trend line. Click the box for Data labels, and make sure the text colour is set to black. You'll then get a number for total words written that month appearing above the stacked columns. (Shown in right image)

Fixing the Top Stats sheet:

In the case of the current streak counter, the issue is in two places: with the formula that counts the current streak:

and the formula that decides whether to say "to date" or "as of yesterday":

I've underlined the bits you'll need to change. You can find more details on how to do this and how it works on pages 9–10 (Top Sheets explanation) and 18 (how the streak counter works) of the instructions document.

also. if those squashed "words" textboxes are annoying you (they would drive me nuts lol), I think the problem is that the text box isn't set to resize itself with the text (even though I thought i did that...). Try clicking on the box, then on the little three dots symbol and choose "Edit" from the menu that appears. When the Drawing window opens, select that icon next to the box (circled), and choose "Resize shape to fit text".