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wiypt-writes · 3 years

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Stark Spangled Banner

Ch47: Use Your Words, Old Man

Intro: Jamie reaches another milestone, and 2021 ticks by with many more memories for the Rogers and Stark family.

Warnings: Bad Language words. Smut (NSFW, 18+)

Pairing: Steve Rogers x OFC Katie Stark

A/N: I adore the edit again... @angrybirdcr did good!!!

Disclaimer: This is a pure work of fiction and classified as 18+. Please respect this and do not read if you are underage. I do not own any characters in this series bar Katie Stark and the other OCs. By reading beyond this point you understand and accept the terms of this disclaimer.

Chapter 46

Stark Spangled Banner Masterlist // Main Masterlist

May 2021

“Jamie, no!” Steve swooped down and picked up the tot who had been toddling, albeit, unsteadily, towards Lucky giggling away. Lucky, however, was fast enough to understand and jumped up bolting towards the door of the room, leaping over the baby gate to avoid Jamie’s vice like grip on his ears.

“NO!” Jamie yelled and Steve stopped dead, Jamie in his large arms, as Katie looked up at them both, her mouth falling open.

“Did he just…?” she held her breath. The fourteen month old had been uttering the odd thing that sound like a word for a good few months now, but nothing that anyone would recognise as a proper term.

Until now.

“Yeah I think so!” Steve grinned, looking at her then his son. “Did you just talk buddy? Did you just say no?” “NO! No, No!” Jamie wriggled in his dad’s arms, grabbing at his shirt. Katie, who had managed to get the last few iterations of the word on her phone camera, grinned as Steve placed him back on the floor where he headed over to this play-mat and landed with a thud on the floor, picking up a pile of the large, coloured blocks he liked to play with.

“Of course his first word would be no.” She sighed as Steve sat on the couch next to her. He laughed and dropped a hand to her knee.

“To be fair, honey, that’s what we spend half our time telling him one way or another.” Katie snorted, that much was true. Since he had been fully mobile and walking unaided over the last two months, they had constantly been moving things out of his reach or removing them from his grasp, followed by the word. Nine times out of ten the tot was content to let them do so, but the odd time he would throw a temper tantrum to rival those of his Momma’s.

“NO!” Jamie called again, clacking the blocks together and Steve gave a grin, moving off the couch to drop by his son on the play-mat. Katie watched the two of them for a moment, smiling to herself. She knew it was a cliché but she literally couldn’t have wished for a better father for either of her kids. They were experiencing first parenting issues at both ends of the spectrum, with Emmy five months off her fourteenth birthday and Jamie two months on from his first. It wasn’t easy, hell, they spent half their time second guessing their decisions. Where they being too strict or too lenient with Emmy? Was Jamie developing right? Were his toys educational enough? Was the floor clean enough for him to be crawling or lying on with having a dog in the house? But, when she saw moments like this, Jamie now trying to push his large, red Mega-Block into his Dad’s mouth, Steve clamping his lips together and shaking his head making their son screech with laughter, all her worries faded away.

Jamie really was fast turning into a miniature version of his dad, which was another thing Katie loved. Steve himself didn’t see it, but there had been a moment a few weeks back where the soldier had recognised someone he knew, loved and missed daily in his Son, and it had choked both Parents up.

Steve was led on his back on the bed, Jamie cackling away as his dad was holding him at arms-length and then bringing him back down again to blow a raspberry on his cheek, repeating the motion over and over, until he paused and his eyes widened a little. Katie frowned slightly at the look on his face as Steve gulped, looking into his son’s eyes, their familiarity hitting him like a brick.

“Soldier, what is it?” Katie asked, as Steve’s eyes misted up and he swallowed thickly.

“His eyes. Erm, do you think they’ll carry on turning green?”

Katie frowned. “I don’t know, I doubt it. Apparently most babies, if their eyes are gonna change, will have done it by six months. Why do you ask?”

“I just, well, I never thought I’d see those eyes again.” He whispered, gently resuming his actions.

“I’m not following you, love.” Katie frowned

“He has my ma’s eyes” Steve’s voice was choked as he looked at her, bringing Jamie down to his chest, pressing a kiss to his head, a soft smile playing on his face.

“Then you see your mother’s eyes every time you look in the mirror.” Katie smiled, leaning over to give him a soft kiss as her own chest felt slightly tighter than normal. She wiped a tear Steve hadn’t even been aware he’d shed off his check gently with her thumb, leaving her hand trailing softly across his skin. “Because when I look at him all I see is you. Those eyes are yours.”

He looked up at her and smiled, “yeah?” “Yeah,” she nodded, “I think you’re more like your mother than you realise. Maybe not in looks completely but, well, she raised you single handed. You’re the man you are because of her.”

“She was a fantastic woman.” Steve sighed.

“Well then you should be proud.” Katie said, and he smiled looking over at her.

“I am,” he replied softly, his attention going back to his son, “and you know what else I’m proud of?”

“What?”

“That you’re a Mrs Rogers too.” He looked at her again. “I know it’s just a name but, I really am glad you took it. Jamie has a Rogers momma as good as mine, helping to carry the name forward.”

“You sentimental sap.” Katie sniffed slightly as her own tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

“I love you so much.” He beamed at her, pressing his lips to hers softly. “Even if you are still a Stark really.” She laughed against his lips,”jerk.”

Katie turned back to the laptop she’d been looking at, flicking through a few spreadsheets with the latest figures the SIDE accountants had produced. Steve and Emmy’s idea around the support groups had been well received by everyone involved with the foundation and as such they’d started drafting up the paper work and working out the estimated funding. Steve had consulted Rhodey about the programme and the Colonel had enthusiastically agreed it was a great idea, and as such they’d pitched it to the Government, President Ellis’ reaction had been the same as theirs – why didn’t we think of this before?

As such, they were currently working up the particulars such as how they set up across the country, mobilisation, publicity…and Steve had taken up control of the project, his natural leadership qualities made him a superb Project Manager. He’d also expressed an interest in actually running the ones across New York himself, another way he felt he could help.

They were aiming to open the first ones in September, running two a week for the time being, just to see how well they were received and, from a purely selfish point of view, Katie was enjoying working alongside him again and having him at home permanently instead of traveling with the Military.

“How many groups do you think you’re gonna have eventually?” She asked and Steve tuned to look at her, momentarily confused by her sudden change of topic until he realised what she was talking about.

“I dunno.” He shrugged. “I’d like eventually to maybe run them three times a week, twice a day. Give everyone who wants to come a chance to you know…why d’ya ask?” “Just drilling into these numbers. I reckon we have enough to fund that to start with,” she paused, “and if the government meet our request then we can step it up.” He nodded. “I put the design idea in for the fliers and posters yesterday. Has to be the most sombre thing I’ve ever drawn.”

“I know,” she said softly, “but it’s gonna make a difference Steve, focus on that.”

He was about to reply but he was cut off when they heard the voice from the security system informing them that the gate had been opened by ‘Emmy Rogers’. Steve glanced at the clock and frowned.

“It’s not even one?”

“They’re on half day,” Katie didn’t look up from the numbers on the screen, “teacher training or something.”

Moments later the front door opened and the chatter of two excited teenage girls hit their ears and Lucky gave a bark, his nails clicking on the wooden floor as he trotted through from where he had been on his bed under the stairs to greet Emmy.

“I know, it’s so cool, right?” Emmy was saying, as her voice grew louder. “I never thought they’d do anything like this, not after the Decimation but, oh hi buddy!”

They heard Lucky’s excited whine as Emmy continued to coo at him, before the two girls and dog appeared in the lounge doorway.

“What’s so cool?” Steve asked instantly and Emmy rolled her eyes.

“Do you earwig into every conversation I have?” She opened the baby-gate and stepped into the room.

“Yes.” Steve deadpanned. “Now spill.” “It’s a Geography field trip Mr R.” Brooke grinned. “Hamilton for the Niagara Escarpment.”

“Canada?” Katie smiled before her smile turned to a smirk as she side eyed Steve “I had a vacation in Canada once.” Steve shot her a glare and his voice dropped to a growl. “That’s not funny.” He said sternly. The memory of what she’d been through wasn’t a laughing matter as far as he was concerned. She flashed him a grin and he rolled his eyes. “So when is it?” He turned to Emmy.

“Last week of term in June.” She answered, reaching down to pick Jamie up who had toddled over to his sister excitedly chattering jibberish as he went. “Just for three nights. I know it’s really short notice but apparently they weren’t sure they could pull it off. Hi Jay!” She swung him up and kissed the little boy on the cheek as Brooke gently tweaked his nose causing him to laugh.

“Six weeks, yeah that is short notice.” Katie pondered. “Do you wanna go?” Emmy’s eyes lit up and she nodded. “I’d love to.” Steve took in a deep breath and Katie looked at him. She could see him grappling with something but Jamie spoke before he could.

“No!”

“Did he just talk?” Emmy’s eyes widened.

“Yeah, he hasn’t shut up saying it for the last hour.” Katie grinned “Look, have you got the details of the trip?” “In my bag.”

“Okay, well leave them on the table, me and your dad will give it the once over and we’ll talk about it later.”

Emmy placed Jamie down on the floor and fished in her bag for the forms before she dropped them onto the coffee table with a soft slap. Jamie wandered this time over to Katie who set her laptop down and picked him up. He sat on her lap and gently wound his hand into her hair, rubbing his face into her neck the way he always did when he was tired.

“I’m gonna put him down for a nap.” Katie stood up and looked at the two girls. “What are you doing this afternoon?”

“Pool!” They both grinned, sharing a hi-five before Emmy looked at her mom, the familiar hopeful expression on her face she always got when she was about to ask for something.

“Can Brooke stay?”

Katie arched an eyebrow. “I thought that was a given, seeing as you’re both already here.”

The two girls grinned and Emmy looked at her mom again, her smile growing even bigger. “And, can we get Thai tonight? It is Friday.” “Dontcha mean Thaiday?” Steve quipped causing Katie to groan as Emmy picked up a cushion off the couch with her spare arm and hit her dad with it.

“That is so lame.” Emmy rolled her eyes as Brooke cackled. “C’mon…”

Katie watched as they left the room, Steve still chuckling at his own joke.

“She’s right.” Katie looked at him, gently re-arranging Jamie slightly as he had started to nod off. “That was lame.”

Steve gave her a look of mock hurt, clutching his chest, before she left and he sat up to read the information Emmy had left on the table. He was struggling a little bit between wanting to let her go and also the worry that had instantly flooded his system about her being safe. He carefully read the details, the trip wasn’t cheap, not that that really mattered, the activities looked good, and a quick google showed him the hotel looked fairly reasonable and was in a nice enough area…

“I knew you’d be on that as soon as you could be.” Katie laughed and Steve looked up at her from his spot on the floor by the table and he gave a sheepish grin.

“Busted,” he sighed, “I just wanted to look into it properly. I really want her to go and enjoy stuff like this but…” “We can’t keep her sheltered, Steve.” Katie reasoned. “No matter how much we want to. She’s gonna be fourteen this time round.” “I know, I know.” He sighed “Do you think we should let her go?” “Yeah, I do.” Katie nodded “We’re lucky enough to be able to afford things like that for our kids, plenty of other families aren’t.”

Steve’s tongue poked the inside of his cheek for a moment as he considered his wife’s words. She was right. Emmy would never have been on a trip like this before, and it did look like a lot of fun.

“Alright.” He heaved himself up off the floor “You’ve convinced me.” Katie grinned “If only everything was that easy.” “It is.” He arched an eyebrow. “All you have to do is pull those eyes at me.” “What eyes?” She asked innocently. “You know damned well what eyes. Those eyes. The ones that can get me to do whatever you want.” “Is it working now?” She looked up at him, batting her eyelashes. “Why, what do you want?” He asked, smirking, knowing full well what she was implying as her hands slid up his chest.

“Well the girls are out at the pool,” her eyes followed her fingers as they started to undo the buttons of his Henley, “and Jamie’s asleep…” Grinning, Steve span her round, shoved her gently forward and aimed a smack to her ass causing her to yelp playfully. “Get up those stairs Mrs Rogers.” He growled, and the pair of them hurried off, giggling like a pair of naughty school kids till they reached their bedroom, where the giggles turned into shared moans, groans and happy sighs.

**** “Thanks for dropping Brooke off.” Jennifer placed a latte down in front of Katie.

“It was no problem, I had to come this way on my way up to the compound anyway.” Katie smiled and then frowned slightly as she noticed the look on her friend’s face.

“You alright?” She asked gently.

“Not really,” Jen sighed, sitting down. “Brooke called last night about the field trip…” “Yeah Steve wasn’t so keen but I talked him round. The girls seem to be looking forward to it.” “That’s the thing.” Jen rubbed at her temple “I really want Brooke to go but, well, business hasn’t been what it used to be before, you know, and I’m not sure I can afford it. Not at such short notice.” Katie instantly felt like a jerk. She knew she was incredibly privileged to be so wealthy but was well aware many weren’t as fortunate.

“I haven’t had the heart to tell her yet.” Jen swallowed and Katie bit her lip.

“Jen,” she leaned over the table dropping her voice, “if you want…” “No.” Jen shook her head, her lips pressing into a thin line, instantly understanding what Katie was offering “I’m not a charity case.” Her voice was clipped. “No, that’s not what I meant.” Katie hastily assured the woman. “Honestly, I didn’t mean to offend you.” “I know.” Jen shook her head “Sorry,that was really ungrateful.” “It’s fine.” Katie waved her apology off, “but the offer is there. We could consider it a loan if you liked.” Jen chewed her lip, and Katie saw her friend’s eyes begin to water.

“Look,” Katie gripped her mug, “it’s a couple of hundred bucks. And this probably sounds crass and really, really fucking shitty when I think about it, but I make more than enough and I really, really won’t notice that amount going out, trust me.”

“I just hate this, you know.” Jen hastily wiped her face. “A few years ago this place was thriving and now, well I just about make enough to cover bills and the thought she is the one that has to miss out…” “Then let me help.” Katie pleaded, looking at the red head opposite her. “Brooke’s been a good friend to Emmy and, well, from a selfish point of view I’d be a lot more comfortable if they were together.”

“That’s really kind of you.” Jennifer nodded after a pause. “Are you sure? I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.”

“Whenever, it’s not a big deal.” Katie nodded, smiling “On one condition.” “What?”

“You sneak me one of your delicious brownies every once in a while.” Jenifer laughed “Oh honey, you and Steve can get free coffee and brownies for life.” “Erm, yeah, pretty sure in a month you’d be bankrupt if I told Steve that.” Katie grinned and Jenifer smiled.

“Would you like to come over?” She asked suddenly. “The pair of you, for dinner maybe? Tonight? Emmy and Jamie as well, of course.”

“Yeah, that sounds great.” Katie smiled. “We’re not doing anything that I know of but I’ll check with Steve and let you know as soon as I can.”

“Great, well, Emmy can stay here if she likes. I’m sure once I tell Brooke she can go they’ll be planning all sorts of mischief.”

“I dread to think.” Katie mused “You know I remember my last field trip. It was to San Fran and I was sixteen. Me and my friend, a girl called Laura, I made some fake ID and we got plastered in a bar. Tony absolutely kicked my ass, before he told me he was actually quite impressed at the quality of my forgeries.”

Jennifer snorted “Yeah, this isn’t exactly filling me full of confidence.”

Katie laughed. “Emmy is much better behaved than I was at that age, Steve wouldn’t stand for her getting into the same amount of crap as I did.” She drained her mug and stood up. “I best be going.”

“Sure, see you tonight? What time will suit with Jamie?”

“Well he normally goes down about seven and he’ll just sleep in his car seat.” Katie smiled “So say six ish? I can feed him and settle him then at yours before we eat.”

“Fab.” Jenifer stood up and Katie mirrored her.“And thank you.”

“My pleasure.” Katie smiled, and she handed Jen her mug. Once the woman was out of sight she dug into her purse and dropped the customary twenty bucks into the tip jar on her way out.

****

Steve was in the kitchen when he heard his wife come home. He didn’t move though, he was too busy watching his son, trying to figure out how the hell the fourteen month old had managed to climb up on top of the breakfast bar unaided. Steve had turned his back for thirty goddamned seconds to load the dishwasher and now his son was crawling along the unit. The only explanation was he’d used one of the stools as leverage, but even that was baffling the Captain, and there was no way Jamie should have been able to manage that, at all.

“Thank you Dr Erskine” Steve grumbled as he swept his son off the surface. “You’re gonna be the death of me, pal.” “No!” Jamie cackled, and Steve sighed, his son carefully held in his arms as Katie walked into the kitchen. “Hey, Doll.” He smiled, dropping a kiss to her lips.

“Hi.” She greeted him, returning his gentle sign of affection before she blew a raspberry on Jamie’s cheek. He giggled as she made her way to the fridge and Steve deposited their boy on the mat at the corner of the room.

“How was Nat?” Steve asked and Katie sighed, grabbing out a bottle of water and opening it.

“Still insisting on flying out to Nepal.” She shut the fridge. “I’ve told her Barton doesn’t wanna be found, but…” she trailed off. “And Bruce has gone again.”

“Where to this time?” Steve frowned.

“Back to the lab in Seoul.” Katie shrugged. “I don’t know what for. Anyway, I told her to come for dinner on Sunday and that if she misses it again this week imma kick her ass.” Steve smiled as Katie took a drink from the bottle “Oh, and speaking of dinner, we’re not doing anything tonight are we?”

“Not at the moment, but I’m sure you’re about to tell me we are.” “Jen’s asked us round.” Katie sat down at the table.

“That’s nice of her.” Steve poured himself mug of coffee, Katie waving away his offer of one. “You wanna go?”

“Yeah, and it’s kind of a thank you so we should do really.”

“What for?” He sat down opposite her.

“Well, she was upset about not being able to send Brooke on the Field Trip so I offered to help out money wise.She didn’t want to take it at first but she agreed in the end. As long as it’s a loan”

“I’m glad she did. I’m assuming Emmy has stayed with them for the day?”

Katie hummed a response.

“Those two are joined at the hip.” Steve snorted

“Another reason I really wanted Brooke to go.”

A movement caught Steve’s eye from the corner of the room and he looked up to see Jamie was now stood up again and was heading back towards the breakfast bar. He quietly observed his son, watching as the boy gripped the legs of one of the stools and pulled himself up. Steve was horrified to see that he was managing to lift his legs off the floor, swinging them onto the foot bar.

“James, No!” He said loudly. The use of their boy’s full name didn’t pass Katie by and she turned in her seat to see Jamie looking at his father before he let go of the stool and fell backwards onto his butt, the pout on his face reminding Steve so much of his wife that he had to stifle a laugh. Katie watched as he got to his feet and toddled towards her.

“He managed to get up onto the kitchen counter before.” Steve eyed the boy as Katie picked him up and sat him on her knee. “What?” Katie’s voice was high pitched as she whipped her head round to look at Steve. “How the hell?”

“Beats me, although from that I suspect he was using the stool as a climbing frame.” Steve sighed watching as Jamie’s attention turned to the now empty bottle of water in front of Katie. “I was loading the dishwasher and in the time it took me to put the plates in he’d made it from his play mat to the top of the damned breakfast bar.” “This is your fault.” Katie laughed, smoothing down her son’s blonde hair. “You and your damned super serum.”

“I know.” Steve shook his head. “I thought we could take him and Lucky out for a walk maybe see if that settles his energy.”

Katie checked her watch “Yeah, we could do. Maybe head to the park. If we go now then we should be back for his nap.”

“Or we can wait a while, and he can sleep in the stroller and I can take you for lunch?”

“Okay so that sounds even better” she grinned “You know, you’re not as dumb as-“

Steve never found out what he wasn’t as dumb as, because at that moment they heard a yell that made his breath catch.

“DADA!”

The parents looked at one another, a shit eating grin spreading across Steve’s face as he leaned forward across the table.

“Dada?” Katie asked, pointing at Steve, bouncing Jamie on her knee. “Dada!” Jamie babbled again, grinning. “Dada!”

“Typical.” Katie rolled her eyes. “I carry you for nine months, give birth, feed you from my boobs and you come out looking like your father and you say Dada first. That’s gratitude for you”

“Guess that means I’m his favourite.” Steve teased, slumping back in his chair, earning himself a glare from his wife. He blew her a kiss, shrugging.

Steve was pleased, however that Katie didn’t have to wait long for her turn. A few days later when she went into Jamie’s room to get him up for the morning he beamed at her and held his arms up exclaiming “ma-ma!” Steve watched his wife on the baby monitor screen and felt his heart swell to what felt like five times its normal size as Katie picked up their son, her eyes pricking with tears and held him tight.

*****

June 2021

Katie woke with a start, pausing for a moment, wondering why it was so quiet. It took her a second but then she remembered Jamie was at Tony’s, staying for a sleepover. As Emmy was on her field trip, Pepper and Tony had taken the boy to give Katie and Steve a night on their own, the first one they had had in a very long time. Tony had rung them mid-afternoon to ask who on earth had taught him the word ‘whatever’, albeit in Jamie’s pronunciation ‘tever’ and Katie had laughed, that one was firmly down to Emmy. He hadn’t quite managed the sign to go with it yet thought, despite her best attempts.

They’d taken full advantage of it too. Steve had gone into complete romantic overdrive, coming home from a meeting at the tower with a bunch of calla lilies for his wife and told her to get dressed up as they were going out. They’d headed into Brooklyn for a meal at a small Italian (Katie only checking her phone five times, which was an improvement on the twenty the first time they’d left Jamie with his Uncle) and they’d had a great time. It had been intimate, and they’d teased each other relentlessly meaning when they got home they hadn’t even made it up the stairs before they’d been clawing at each other, desperate touches and kisses shared in the hallway before they’d both tumbled into the lounge onto the rug in front of the fire. Grinning to herself at the slight tenderness between her legs, Katie turned over and glanced at Steve who gently shifted in his sleep, a sure sign that he was slowly waking. She scooted closer and rested her hand on his chest, her smile widening as he unconsciously let out a soft sigh of contentment. His eyes were moving under their lids, and as her hand started trailing down over his stomach he took in a deep breath, finally opening his eyes and meeting her gaze just as her touch dipped below the waistband of his boxers. He let out a low groan.

“You’re awake early considering the kids are away.” He murmured, kissing the skin in the crook of her shoulder, his morning stubble scratching her skin slightly as she continued her strokes, teasing him lightly.

“Force of habit.” She whispered back, sighing as he kissed her neck again and again. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close until she was pressed against him, his thigh between hers as he rolled them both over so she was nestled under him. His lips made their way to hers and he gave her a deep, languid kiss as she shifted so that her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him flush against her. Steve propped himself up with his left arm while his other hand went under the shirt she was wearing, his shirt, to her chest, his fingertips barely brushing against her nipples. She groaned loudly at his touch, and he was just about to warn her to be quiet, but then he realised he didn’t have to. With the knowledge that he really could make her scream, he hastily pulled the top over her head and his lips crashed back to hers, the kiss hot and intentional as her legs gripped him tightly in an attempt to get a little more friction between them. He went to tug at the waistband of her underwear, barely breaking his lips away from hers for a moment.

“You want me?” He asked, his voice low and raspy.

“Always,” she groaned, aware of the desperation that flooded her tone and Steve let out a low growl. Katie felt the tearing along one side of the thin lace garment he had hold of and she laughed into his mouth, remembering their first time together when he had done the very same thing. Her fingers scrambled to push down his boxers as he repositioned himself slightly, reaching down with his hand to line himself up, before he gently worked into her. Man and wife both let out a satisfied sigh as Steve’s hand grabbed Katie’s knee and hitched it over his shoulder, a move he knew drove her wild. She moaned loudly and her fingers dug into his arms as he starting pushing a little harder, a little faster, then faster, until he had reached a relentless pace making his wife curse and leaving her short of breath.

He slowed for a moment, making her look at him, letting out a noise of protest. “Don’t stop,” she begged, “Please Stevie.”

Grinning slightly he picked up the pace again, enjoying the noises she was making as she keened underneath him, her head pressing further back into the pillow a she gave another loud cry of his name before he felt her tighten round him as she came, her nails biting at the skin on his arms. He continued to thrust three, four more times before the snake in his belly uncoiled and he jerked on top of her with a loud cry of his own and let go of her leg, collapsing onto her, his face buried into her neck.

“Morning,” she mumbled, her hands tangling into his hair and he let out a soft chuckle.

“Morning, Beautiful.”

They stayed in bed for another hour or so, just laying with one another and talking before it was time to shower. They did that together too, and by the time they were climbing into the car to go and pick Jamie up, Katie was feeling literally and figuratively thoroughly fucked and fell asleep on the journey, Steve smirking to himself at the fact he could still tire her out like that after almost eight years of being with one another.

“Late night was it?” Tony quipped as Katie let out a yawn as she walked into his living room.

“Yeah, and an early morning,” she shot back and Tony snorted, shaking his head.

“Dada!” Jamie giggled as he tottered over from where he had been sat on the rug with Morgan and Pepper “Mama!”

“Hi, Baby!” Katie swept him up in her arms and placed a kiss to his cheek “We missed you.” “Nee!” He said gleefully and Katie frowned, and it wasn’t until he pointed to his uncle and repeated the word that she understood. “Nee!”

Steve let out a snort “Uncle Nee. Suits you Tone.” “Shut up, Spangles” Tony raised an eyebrow as Morgan laughed.

“Uncle Pangles!” The two year old quipped as if on cue, and Steve let out a moan

“Did you teach her that?” He looked accusingly at his brother in law.

“Of course he did.” Pepper sighed, sweeping the small girl into her arms as she stood up, smirking at Katie. “You guys eaten breakfast yet or were you too busy?” Katie let out a snort. “If there’s any going I won’t say no.”

Pepper handed Morgan to Steve as she was trying to reach him and he took her, tossing her into the air ignoring the wince from Tony as he did so, catching the girl expertly.

“Again!” she pleaded and Steve obliged happily, knowing that it was winding Tony up only added to the enjoyment of seeing his niece cackle with laughter. “When’s Emmy back?” Tony asked, tearing his eyes away from where Steve was tossing his daughter in the air like he was wielding that fucking shield to look at his sister.

“This evening.” Katie answered. “Spoke to her last night, not sure she wants to come home.” “I remember your field trip to San Fran.” Tony mused, raising an eyebrow and Katie snorted.

“Yeah, so do I.” She smirked “I was telling Jen about that the other month. My first hangover.” “Okay, can you stop that now!” Tony rounded on Steve who grinned and rest Morgan on his hip and she pouted.

“More!”

“Sorry, Moo.” Steve apologised and she gave a huff as he placed her on the floor and she headed off to find her mum in the kitchen. He arched an eyebrow at Tony who rolled his eyes.

“Dick.” He mumbled.

“Dick.” Jamie repeated loudly and Katie’s eyes widened. Steve looked at his son, utterly horrified, then to Tony whose shocked expression was fast turning into one of utter glee.

“Oh you-” Steve glared at Tony as Katie bit her lip to try and stop her laughter “For f-“ he stopped himself, took a deep breath and pointed at Tony. “You are an absolute…”

“Use your words, Old Man!” Tony grinned, delightedly and Steve’s jaw clenched as he turned so his back was to his son and raised his hand, flipping his brother-in-law off.

*****

October 2021

“Your daddy is gonna be soaked” Katie mused to Jamie as she looked out of the window “It’s absolutely pouring with rain.”

“Dada. Rain!” Jamie grinned, chanting the words back at her, ignoring the small piece of toast that was left on his plate.

Steve had gone for his morning run with Lucky before he headed out to the first of the two support groups he was running that day. He had held the first one in September in an old church hall, and at first Katie was worried that more people would attend to take their anger out on him and had wanted to be there to help but Steve refused point blank, but her concern wasn’t completely unfounded as a lot of people were angry at first, but no one else hit him, and he said it was actually therapeutic for him too, as he could answer questions, and speak honestly and openly about how he felt about the situation. As it turned out, Steve was a natural born councillor as well as a leader, and by the end of the month he had six different groups running through the week at different places across Manhattan. It was good for him and he was relishing the fact he could still be useful.

The back door opened, and Katie could hear the man she was thinking about stepping into the small utility room off the side of the kitchen.

“Ahhh thanks, pal, “his voice dripped with sarcasm as she heard Lucky’s tag tinkling along with the noise of the dog shaking, “that’s great. really great.” Katie chuckled to herself, picturing his face as he continued to grumble

“Could have waited until I got a towel.”

“DADA!” Jamie yelled at the sound of his dad’s voice, squirming in his seat, breakfast abandoned. “Ucky!”

“Hey, Buddy” Steve called back, as Katie undid the straps from his high chair and they made their way into the utility area where Steve was drying Lucky off as best he could with an old towel. Lucky took the opportunity as soon as he could to scoot past Katie into the kitchen.

Jamie glanced at his dad and excitedly wiggled his arms and legs as Steve shrugged off his sodden waterproof running jacket.

“Hi!” He screeched “Hi Dada!”

Steve’s bright smile light up his face “Hi, Son.” He kissed him once on both cheeks and Jamie squeaked happily before Katie set him down and he toddled back over to the play-mat in the corner of the kitchen.

“What, no kiss from my baby mama?” Steve asked, sweeping Katie into his arms and rubbing at her neck with his cold, damp face.

She squealed and tried to pull away, to absolutely no avail, and Steve continued to laugh and use her as a drying cloth.

“Ew! You’re cold and damp and sweaty!” She wrinkled her nose.

“You don’t seem to mind my sweat when I’m chasing your fourth orgasm.” Steve quipped cheekily, dropping his voice to barely more than a whisper, making her laugh.

“That’s different.” “How?”

“Because that’s sex sweat, this is run sweat.”

Steve laughed loudly “I didn’t realise I had different sweat pores for different activities”

“I didn’t mean that!” Katie rolled her eyes “I mean that I’m not sweaty now, I’m warm, and dry…” “Yeah, and if you give me a moment I can rectify that situation.”

“Dirtbag.” She grinned, his chuckle vibrating into her chest. "Go get showered and warmed up. I’ll make you some breakfast.”

"Kiss first.” Steve muttered before he leaned forward and pressed his mouth to hers. His lips were warm and despite herself, Katie leaned into his arms, her hands snaking up into his damp hair.

“Kissy!” Jamie giggled, and they broke apart to look at the tot who was sat on the floor clapping. “Kissy, kissy!”

“I’m gonna kill Emmy.” Steve muttered, and then he spotted Lucky expertly stealing the toast that Jamie had left on the highchair, before sidling out of the room with his precious treat. “And that damned dog.”

Katie laughed and gave him another peck on the cheek before Steve swept past his son, giving his hair a quick ruffle. She leaned back against the counter and smiled, before she sighed, her happy expression faltering a little. They’d had almost three years now of pretty much non-stop domestic bliss, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something surely had to come along at some point and turn it all upside down.

That was how things went for them, right?

“Mama!”

Her attention flew back to her son as he toddled over to her and held his arms up. “Hungry.” “Again?” Katie rolled her eyes as she picked him up.

“Yup.” He nodded emphatically.

Katie smiled, kissing his cheek, and moved him so he was perched on her hip. With one arm she placed more bread in the toaster and looked at her son, who smiled at her and pressed his lips to her cheek in a sloppy kiss.

“Love you.” He grinned and Katie beamed back at him, brushing his hair back.

“Love you too, Sweetheart.” And with that simple act, she managed to push those worries she had to the back of her mind, again, content to just enjoy what they had for as long as they had it.

**** Chapter 48 Part 1

**Original Posting**

#stark spangled banner #steve rogers #Katie Stark #steve rogers fanfiction #steve rogers x ofc #steve rogers x original female character #steve rogers fic #mcu #mcu fanfic #chris evans #chris evans characters

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beann-e · 3 years

Text

long drabble of me dreaming my favorite haikyu characters are power hungry Hollywood stars that the industries made into assholes

also to thank everyone for 600 followers !! 😯

Tw! kuroo slander, akaashi slander, pushover y/n, emotional manipulation at its finest

I promise there was a point in time when we were I know we were I- I know I was

Yet , why are we sitting in front of a small old lady who's telling me we're both liars

That we were never that— we were never

" happy? " your voice came out short a small scoff of a laugh leaving your wide opened mouth

" y-you — he's happy — we're — I — I am happy " your eyes darted around the room looking for a shining piece to focus on for your jumpy eyes to land on

" he-he's happy I-i'm happy " your breathing quickened

" w-we — what is happy exactly anyways" you screamed

" w-what is it " you screamed at the top of your lungs rattling everything in the room ,everything , everyone ,and every nerve

" you can't feel it —you'll never feel it don’t--dont harp on it " a deep voice came out

" it's ok — really " your body tensed as you still felt everything inside you going haywire your eyes moved over to the person you once knew

the person who sat on the opposite end of the shared couch trying to move as far away from you as possible or that's what he wanted to do

" I-I - am I — why "

his voice came out stoic and short " you don't have the ability to"

his hand moved down his face " we're not happy because you can't be "

your body shook you felt the room going cold arms locking around yourself you need to be held you needed to be told you were right that everyone else was wrong this had gone on for too long

" come on get over here " he smiled softly

" come on pretty girl " he moved his head to show a smile on his face as you quietly moved shifting your body a bit over to him

" almost there come on I won't hurt you " your body stopped

" who said anything about hurting me "

he paused a small thought in the back of his mind coming to light

' damn i've screwed up '

" y/n hey — " you moved back to your end of the couch faster then he could reach out to grab hold of you " shit y— "

" do you two tend to always go back and forth like this "

the old lady sat watching " you , y/n , convincing yourself of something thats nothing shy from wrong and you , akaashi convincing her that everything's ok" akaashi's hands dropped and so did his smile

' asshole I knew he was faking '

" are you blaming me? " his voice came out tough and questioning almost as if daring her to answer correctly knowing that would ruin his image of himself and cause him to overthink your entire relationship

" i've done nothing but be there for my wife , for my love"

he turned to look at you panic spread in his eyes as the gears in his brain started to turn his thoughts already leading his mind down the path of overthinking" y/n we don't need this — let's go i'll call kuroo an—"

" no " you screamed " h-he can't help kuroos — he's just as bad please g-go away "

you pulled your knees to your chest as his eyebrow raised his eyes slowly moving down to your feet that sat on the edge of the couch a low cough coming out of his throat as he moved his gaze between the heels of your feet that were placed on the couch and the lady that sat in front of you

you dropped your feet quickly and moved back to a nice position your arms thrown over your crossed legs and back straightened your shades moved down on your nose— earrings hanging loosely to your ears and hair styled to perfection rivaling your inside appearance

Your hand came up to smooth out the dress that you wore for presentation hands playing with the fabric of the item

" you look fine y/n " akaashi’s voice came out soft. The lady in front of you smiled at the male to your left knowing a compliment could go a long way right now with the dark energy that had been placed in the room

you could feel his code for ‘ your being extra now y/n “

" really I mean it " he pressed " did you hear me "

‘ stop right now or your gonna give us away ‘

you quickly jumped " y-yes so sorry for not answering the first time I — "

" it's ok y/n we don't mind " the old lady’s voice rang out in understanding

" she's right we came here for you so — "

" no you two originally came here for you —that is what i was told by miss y/n "

he looked away and to his side staring at the window trying to calm himself down he was never one to show his anger he’d always played it off so well behind his calming persona but, his mind —his mind was anything but calm.

" y/n did you want to keep going " the old lady questioned eyes glowing and darting over you pristine appearance you really did look like the definition of money to her

your head moved in a small motion to look at akaashi out of the corner of your eye seeing his gaze on you as everything in the room slowed to a stop when his gaze moved to the door behind the older lady your eyes darted to the door seeing kuroo walking in a small smirk on his face

" actually miss y/n can't — we have an interview in 10" the old ladies face moved into a happy and excited smile you praying to the gods she wasn’t one of those people

" oh — kuroo " she screamed out In shock

the tiny bit of hope for help you’d finally thought you had a hold on left your body immediately with the knowing thought of ‘she’s a—

" I-i'm a — i'm a fan — I— "

he smiled down on the older lady pulling her into a hug as his eyes stayed locked on yours a wink coming out of the motion as akaashi turned his head back to the woman at hand ignoring his ‘friends ‘ advance on his wife " I love to meet my fans— especially when their as pretty as you "

" you are even sweeter than they show you on tv —you charmer you "

" i'm no charmer — i'm just being honest " he laughed " your pretty well set up here "

he looked to you " I see why she decided to come here —actually it's a bit nicer than I expected —inside seeing as though it's in the middle of no where and kinda I guess trashy on the outside "

he was picking on you with his words explaining codes that only you could get ‘ you picked the furthest place away from me and I still found you are you stupid ‘

the old lady smiled " yeah it's for people - like y/n here who don't want to be found out you know "

he smiled " yeah I get it — your a saint for doing things like this — y/n's never had anyone who can take care of her let alone listen like I can —I mean her husband yeah but he’s kind of unavailable but me im there always anytime any-day—she wants a lot from me she’s a beggar by nature y’know “ he sighed as you winced at his next words

“ everyone always seems to be out for her money or really just using her talents for their own benefits —making her seem stupid really. They exploit all of her—well she really only has them but her weakness—“ he looked at you from the corner of his eyes before he laughed “ like gullibility “

" I feel bad —really I'm always here if she wanted to come back "

he looked to you as she asked " do we want to come back y/n? "

‘this choice is not yours ‘

she smiled as kuroo moved a bit more to the middle of the room where the couch and chairs were placed his eyes sharply pointed at you " your always open to come back y/n "

‘ come back to another therapist and ruin your image like this again I dare you ‘

you smiled small at kuroos offer " no actually i'm fine I — I got to say what I wanted "

" that's good — that's nice — if you wanted to say more or talk when you have time y/n just call kenma he'll set up a professional ride for you "

he moved to talk with the older lady " and you — is there anything you need —- payment maybe for the time she did take up "

" oh uh no no for free on the house "

" what no —no i'll leave something for you " kuroo moved to grab his wallet as he sat a hundred yen coin on the table on top of a book that caused him to look twice with a squint his hand moving to rub over it anger obvious to anyone who knew the real him behind his outside appearance.

You shrinking when he rolled his shoulders back to you it looked like he was releasing anger to not snap at you and calm himself down but to everyone else it seemed like he was just stretching

" woah — this is actually a really cool notebook “ his voice went low “ y/n did you see this notebook”

‘ did she write anything about you in here —anything at all ‘

you shook your head slightly causing him to skyrocket and land to that space in his head that always pissed him off.

" yeah I use it for all my daily messages—everything my clients say too— it's one of a kind "

" oh really " he laughed at her words laying charm on discreetly knowing it wouldn’t take much " so I wouldn't be able to find it even if I wanted to — that's kinda cool but kinda sucky at the same time "

he smiled as she moved to pick up the book and hold it out to him " n-no you can find it look it's right here in your hands take it please free of charge "

he shook his head " I could never — you said you had stuff in there—your clients private information in —in this book of yours "

" nothing too important—they wouldn’t mind and it also has everything I wrote for y/n in there it’s up to her anyways if you read it so just take it "

he reached out and grabbed the book " see now I have to leave you with something please is there anything you want I mean— "

he looked her dead in the eyes but you could feel every word he said being directed to you " I hate to leave people unsatisfied "

she shook her head before speaking cutely she was completely out of her mind, she’d not only granted kuroo the access to your private health screening but now accepting his money and offer

‘ can fame really allow anyone to break rules ? do people love their stars this much ? ‘

" just — just an autograph would do great " he smiled moving faster than light as he held the notebook moving over to the woman's poster on the wall

" oh I see i'm already up here " he laughed as he grabbed a sharpie off her desk and scribbled his autograph all over his face on the poster " and ta-dah"

she smiled and mumbled out a thank you as he moved to hug her akaashi getting up and walking towards the door this wasn’t how this was suppose to go this was supposed to be the day you got out of their hands out of the industries hands

" thank you so much for what you did today " he said as akaashi moved to speak

" thank you ma'am for your time " the two males moved to the doorway as the lady followed them closely behind to the door to close it when they left

" no problem I have another person coming in soon so I hate to cut this short " she said as her voice came out with meaning

' oh she's talking to me ' you were still sitting there on the couch face to the floor as you hesitated to bring it up to face the two males in front of you

Your hands shaking as your finger played with your clothes again the hem of your dress in between your pointer and thumb

" love , let's go " Akaashi spoke a smile showing through his words your legs locked as you didn't move your lips trembling eyes glazed over but your shades doing you justice and covering them from everyone in the room

Or at least those who didn't know already — those who hadn't been through this already which was only one person here and she wasn't either of the 6"0 tall males that stood across from you

You body jumped as your heard a loud snap travel through the room

' those are his fingers he just snapped at me —like an animal '

you looked up to see kuroo smiling his finger made up in a snap showing he'd done just what you thought he did his hand moving to only one finger pointing to the space next to him his hand low to not pull the ladies attention to his motions

" y/n come over here " his voice was still light but held everything that you knew he meant behind it " we have an interview in 5 minutes "

your legs shook wobbly before standing

your body moving over to the males before walking out the lady smiling before closing the door kuroos grip on your upper arm strong as you three made your way to the black car parked out front as he yanked you in the backseat after him , gnashing his teeth before fixing his suit and tie body scooting over to allow more space. Akaashi scooting in to trap you in the middle kuroo hitting the drivers shoulder two times signaling them to drive

The car was quiet akaashi looking out the window his pointer finger drumming on his pants leg kuroo staring straight ahead at the back of the drivers seat

Your eyes let the tears drop that you held back in the room as kuroos hand swiped at the shades you wore flinging them across the car and straight in between akaashi's feet as he moved to pick them up and grip them tightly in his own hands going back to calmly looking out the window ignoring the scene that was about to take place next to him

" take these fucking glasses off—your not fucking fooling anyone "

your body shook at the action " are you mad—mad at me " you said softly your voice barely a whisper kuroo didn't even have it in him to scoff " I sense i've made a mistake " you kept going

" oh you sense huh " akaashi's voice came out in a short laugh before his mouth closed speaking quietly to himself“ god how can someone be so — so dense and just lack so much —” he sighed “ intelligence “

"your so fucking " kuroos voice came out loud as he gripped his pants in a strong hold

" so so so fucking stupid " he said anger present in his voice trying to put emphasis on his words that were attacking you and shaking you only making it harder to look at either men in the car

" you — I swear on my fucking life — y/n — if you go in here and fuck up — "

he put up one finger " one — one fucking time "

he wanted to make sure you understood

" ill fuck you up y/n I swear — one time that's it that's all do you understand me "

your mouth moved tears moving into it as akaashi spoke for you voice dry he was just so tired of this so tired of the constant yelling and mistreatment you were put through all because you weren’t smart enough as a child to choose a different dream job "trust she gets it — she heard it the first time "

he moved to speak under his breath " she's heard it many times "

the car stopped as kuroo turned to face you his hand cupping your cheeks his pointer on your cheek and thumb on your chin holding you in a death grip making you look at him

" i'm repeating myself because you've shown me your nothing more than a stupid chick who can read a script— so lemme say it one more time " his eyes were hard on yours his face showing no remorse for the painful emotion shown on your face

" if you go in this interview and fuck up once — even so much as take a restroom break to go sniff whatever the fuck mattsukawa had you do last time — i'll fuck you up so bad they'll think your next role is a horror movie and your the fucking monster "

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lilikags · 4 years

Text

Game Plan (Kenma Kozume)

Gamer soulmates do exist, huh.

Pairing: Kenma Kozume x female gamer reader Type: fluff, soulmate au Before read notes: The game referenced here is Epic Seven, sorry if you are confused but I think you get the idea... right?

You sighed. You didn't know what to do. It was gym class, the last class of the day. It was your least favorite class. They were doing volleyball, and you knew just about nothing about it, even though you had been forced to play it for years. You figured you'd forgotten how to play.

After changing into your gym uniform, you started to think about what you were going to do after school. It was a Friday, meaning that it was the weekend as soon as school ended. You were going to play games, since that's what you usually do. Roana's coming out today, huh. I guess I'm going to pull. She seems good. I have enough to pity in skystone, and I've got about 400 bookmarks. So, 80 summons without using skystones, and 3,800 skystones'll be used up if I do end up pitying. If I just do the daily missions, it'll take me around probably 80 days to get that back, not including the daily sign in prizes and the Re:Birth event, if I get stuff from that- (1)

"(y/n)! (y/n)! (y/n)!" you heard a voice call you. Looking up, probably after the third time you were called, you asked, "What's up?"

"Geez, your head's in the clouds! What'cha thinking about?" you best friend, (b/f/n),

"Hmm.... well, just what I was going to do later," you replied, knowing that (b/f/n) could see through you like just-polished (does that makes sense?) glass.

"What were you going-" (b/f/n) was interrupted by the teacher, who had started the class. She sorted the class into 4 groups, with 2 games going on at a time. You and (b/f/n) were separated, so you couldn't talk during class. You mostly just stood there and walked around, looking like you were trying. During your second game, your team and (b/f/n)'s teams played each other. (b/f/n) was really into it and made you participate for once.

When class was over, you went to the locker room to change, and as you were about to put your shirt on, (b/f/n) did a jump scare on you, which made you jump.

"What the heck, (b/f/n)?" You always hated jump scares, especially from (b/f/n), because her hands were always cold. Cold hands on bare skin (A/N: it sounds weird, but you're in the locker room. changing.) is always the worst.

"Heh! Got'cha again!" (b/f/n) laughed. You sighed. You finished changing and left the locker room. You started to think about your game plan for Epic Seven. (A/N: it's an amazing game, check it out!) You weren't too far into the game, and you'd just entered midgame by being able to auto Wyvern 11 and want to focus on building a golem team. You had already built and 6-starred Cermia, your nuker, and wanted to build Cecilia, your tank and defense breaker. (2) You were thinking about using either speed/hit sets or health/def/hit sets, when (b/f/n) scared you again.

"Can you just stop that already?" you asked (b/f/n), getting annoyed from her jump scares.

"Y'know, (y/n)..." (b/f/n) started.

"Yes?" you answered, curious to what she was going to say.

"Why don't we go to the mall later?" You were surprised that you didn't expect (b/f/n) to say that. It seemed very (b/f/n) though.

"Since when have I willingly gone to the mall?" you asked, not wanting to go.

"I heard there's a new anime store there~~" (b/f/n) tried to convince you. That was the reason you were going to go. You and (b/f/n) bonded over anime years ago, and you always watched every season's most popular anime. (3) So even though you spent more time playing games than watching anime, you were always on top of the trends and still loved it.

"Okay, I'll go," you answered, trying to hide the fact that you were actually excited.

Riiiiiing! Riiiiiing! The bell rang, meaning that the school day was over and you were finally free. You and (b/f/n) walked towards your lockers together, since they were right next to each other. You listened to her talk about fashion and other things like that. She'd gotten into that recently and was all over it.

Both of you finished gathering the stuff you needed over the weekend, and while at your lockers, you and (b/f/n) had decided to drop off your backpacks at (b/f/n)'s house, so that you could talk the whole day. You don't talk too much, but (b/f/n) does, and you don't mind her talking much.

(b/f/n) wanted to go to the clothing shops first. She had to go to some family reunion soon, so she had to buy something fancy. You accepted, knowing that (b/f/n) wouldn't forget about the anime store, because ever since she discovered Kimetsu no Yaiba: Demon Slayer, she's been all over it too, and you were 99% sure that new anime store would have Kimetsu no Yaiba merch.

You didn't know much about fashion, so (b/f/n) picked out the clothes for herself and asked you for a second opinion. While she was picking out clothes and trying them on, you had nothing to do, so you thought about the build you were going for. (A/N: for Cecilia, referenced earlier in the chapter) Your phone was almost dead, and you wanted to save the remaining battery in case your parents called or something. So, you borrowed (b/f/n)'s pen, which she carried everywhere for a reason you haven't been able to figure out for years, and started to write out your plan for building Cecilia.

"Hm?" Kenma noticed some pen marks on his skin all of a sudden. He and Kuroo were walking to practice when he noticed it.

"What? Did you notice something from your soulmate? ~~ Hmm~~~?" Kuroo teased him, knowing what was up.

"Mhm. She wrote something."

"Hmmm? Let me see," Kuroo leaned over to see what was being written.

Cecilia-

- Speed/hit set

- main stats: Effectiveness%, Def%, health%

- substats: effectiveness, def, health, eff. resist

"Hmmm... seems like game stats?" Kuroo figured. Kenma shook his head.

"Character build?" Kenma nodded, meaning that Kuroo's second guess was right.

"You know which game?"

"Epic Seven, I guess."

"Heh~~? So you do know. Maybe gamer soulmates do exist~~" Kenma didn't reply. The two walked into the court, and they began their daily volleyball training. Kenma noticed that there was something new written in few minute intervals. (A/n: does that make sense?) They had a common theme: Epic Seven builds. First was Cecilia, then Tamarinne, then Ravi, and so on.

"Woah! Your soulmate writes their skin?! Cool! Mine doesn't! I've tried lots of times, and they wouldn't respond!" Lev noticed what (y/n) was writing.

"I think they're for herself," Kenma muttered.

"Wait, (f/n)!" (b/f/n) called out. You turned around. "Hm?"

"You're walking too fast! I can't keep up!"

"You're just slow."

"Oh, come on!" (b/f/n) had to run to catch up with you. As you entered the store, one thing caught your eye. It was an Epic Seven Poster, which you went straight to.

(b/f/n) followed straight behind, and asked what this was about.

"It's an Epic Seven poster. I don't know who made it, but I'm buying it. It has Krau, Ludwig, Aither, Vildred, Destina, Yuna, Ras, Arky, Mercedes, Karin, Iseria, and best girl Angelica in it. It's totally worth." You explained, putting on a smirk and feeling like you're the smartest around.

"Oh, you really like this game," (b/f/n) said.

"Yeah, you didn't know? All this time?" you said back, trying to get at her for those jump scares.

"I just didn't know you liked it this much. Maybe I'll give it a try."

"Wait... really?!"

"Uh, yeah."

"We're going back to your house and getting you this game once I'm done here."

"Once WE'RE done here."

"Yes, once WE'RE done here. Yes, yes."

The two of you walked around, excitedly looking at the different merch they had there. You ended up buying lots of stuff, since you're a collector and love collecting things. Once the both of you got to (b/f/n)'s house, you took her phone out of her hands and downloaded Epic Seven. You charged yours while you were at it, and you gave it back to her once you got back and it loaded. Even with the tutorial, you explained everything in detail, and (b/f/n) knew she couldn't stop you, so she just listened and figured it would make understanding the game easier.

You had tons of notes on your hand at this point, so you figured you might as well write (b/f/n)'s username on there as well. You wrote it, along with her discord server, since (b/f/n) had gotten it recently and invited you to her server.

Kuroo was staying over at Kenma's for a sleepover, and they were playing Smash Ultimate. (A/n: if you don't know what this game is, you live under a rock.) Then, Kuroo noticed some more notes on Kenma's hands.

"There's more."

"Hm?"

"Your soulmate wrote more. Let me see~." Kenma lifted his hand from the controller for once, and Kuroo spotted a discord server and an Epic Seven username.

"Ooh, maybe they want you to join a server?"

"No way. It's probably for herself again. There wouldn't be any need to tell me."

"Let's join it! I want to see who's in it. Your soulmate'll be there!"

"I don't really care."

"I know you'll join it later 'cause you're curious."

"I don't really care."

"Well, I'm joining it."

"It's rude to just join other people's servers without their permission-"

"Whoever gets the link is welcome~~" Kenma sighed. He couldn't stop Kuroo at this point.

→ kuroo hopped into the server.

(b/f/n): Uh, how'd u get the server invite? idk who u r.

kuroo: I got it from my friend. His soulmate wrote it on her hand.

(b/f/n): Ah, I know who you're talking about. I think.

kuroo: Ooh, great! Let's introduce them!

(b/f/n): OMG YAAAS. I wanna see how their ship turns out~~

kuroo: Great minds think alike, let's take this to private chat

(b/f/n): 'kay- got it!

(y/n): You know I joined the server, right?

(b/f/n): ...

kuroo: ...

→ applepi joined the party.

applepi: Well, you can write your plans here. I don't mind.

(y/n): I don't mind either.

(y/n): Hey, applepi, if you're my soulmate, text me.

applepi: later

(y/n): now.

(b/f/n): wow, hasty now, eh?

(y/n): I just want to confirm.

(y/n): and when I read the word "hasty", i immediately thought of Haste. pretty high on the tier list imo.

kuroo: what?

(y/n):

(y/n): That's mah boi Haste. Ever since Melissa event. tho W. Schuri and A. Vil are higher on the list but they're ml so they're hard to get.

applepi: He's cool, but Roana's better.

(y/n): she ain't even out yet. tho best waifu now.

applepi: well, it's because she gives the revive buff... vampiric touch isn't that great compared to revive

kuroo: can you just take this to private

(y/n): thank you

Placeskip brought to you by Haiba Lev.

Soulmate: So, you're (y/n)?

(y/n): yeah. Wanna try going out? It seems pretty interesting how people instantly fall in love with their soulmates. I wanna test a theory.

Soulmate: ....

(y/n): I'm an expert on Epic Seven. I know "cheats". well not really, but farming gear gets better when you do it my way.

Soulmate: sure. ok.

(y/n): actually, I don't know your name yet. what is it?

Soulmate: Kozume Kenma. Just call me Kenma.

(y/n): vid call?

Kenma: .... not yet.

~~~END~~~ uwu

Extra! bc this is the 1st chappie! :)

"Hello?" Kuroo answered.

"Can you see us?" (b/f/n) asked.

"Yeah, can you see us?" Kuroo asked and answered. We both nodded.

"I think he's cute! If you don't hurry up, I'll take him~~" (b/f/n), the scare and provocation master told you.

"He's mine already... baka," you muttered. Kenma heard it, and both of you blushed.

Hello, it's Lili! I hope you liked my terrible first fic!

Some notes:

- (1) This whole time, I was talking about Epic Seven. It's a great game.

- (2) Def break/decrease defense- debuff that decreases the opponent's defense by 70%

-I'm not an expert at E7, I've only been playing since the SSB (Seaside Bellona) banner (July 2019) so I'm not that great. And it was the first gatcha game I really ever played besides Food Fantasy and Love Nikki, but those don't really count.

- 2174 words

- Suggestions/comments/constructive criticism/grammar suggestions all appreciated!

Edited 5/10/20. Posted on tumblr: 7/4/20 Edited on tumblr: 10/12/20 Note: There are pics on the Wattpad chapter, but I couldn’t put them here (I lost them when I changed computers :/). Check it out there if you’d like to see the pics! Credits: Original header image is from Igor Karimov on Unsplash.

#lili kags #kenma x reader #kenma x you #oneshot #haikyuu

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star-villager · 4 years

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Ezra: Month 1 of Animal Crossing New Horizons!

Hello all! I’m here to tell my journey of the first month of New Horizons on Cillia Island!

There’ll be lots of pictures! I hope you enjoy! Future updates will probably be daily because this is... long at first... but I promise it slows down!

This post covers 32 days (skipping a few). It is indented to be a fun, long, read! I’ll say it’s a 10-15 minute read just to be on the longer side!

-Ezra; Island Resident Representative; Local Island Decorator; Mayor of Cillia (if it had a mayor hehe!)

Thursday, March 19th, 4pm -7GMT. The virus is present, but just starting. I have been home for not even 24 hours of my job that was supposed to keep me out of town all March. I make a phone call to a local Gamestop, asking if they’re still open, and how the midnight release of Animal Crossing is going to work. The worker tells me I can go pick it up right then, because they’re going to be closing early and had JUST gotten a phone call from corporate that they could give it out early - you can assume what I did /immediately/ after lol.

~~~

Starting was incredibly easy! I’ve had my dead name as my New Leaf Mayor forever, and I loved that city name so Ezra and Cillia it was! And we began! My starting villagers were Cherry and Roald with Cherry Trees (fitting!), and I said I wasn’t gonna restart no matter what... so here we go!

I picked a town that had a West Beach River Mouth as well as a South River Mouth - which matched my town in New Leaf! (The south exit, and the flow of the river - but the west exit would be where my original upper waterfall was so the shape was the same). Picked northern hemisphere (where I am). And placed my house right in a river bend (with the initial plan to section me off into my own island within an island!). Cherry and Roald’s homes were placed along the west-running river right at the top, with not much effort or forethought. Not that it was a bad thing! I knew they wouldn’t be permanent villagers, but wanted to give them some beautiful scenery while they were here.

I can definitely tell that I’m still acting and thinking like a mayor even thought I’m only an island rep. ... this doesn’t change bwahaha!

Day 1 March 19th, was all setup and prep for our REAL day 1! Blathers already was about to have a decent encyclopedia, and I was getting nook miles left and right - already expecting a house instead of a tent the next day. I wasn’t too surprised, I’ve done this song and dance before, and I’m just here to have a great time in my island paradise! Getting Blathers was definitely my highest priority!

Day 2 March 20th, was... difficult... giving 15 things to Blathers one at a time and finding 30 iron for the Nooklings was excruciating lol - but getting fossils and a pole vault to absolutely DECIMATE the weed ecosystem filled me with a glee that I’m sure you can understand. I managed to upgrade my house, get Blathers and Nooks Cranny all in one day *whew*. Now, time to have some fun!

I build my first QR code which was a cool outfit I called PRIDE Coat! It is a black coat with drawstrings and pockets on the front - a lil’ trans flag on the left arm, a bi flag on the right arm, and my (pretty decent!) attempt at a rainbow of paint (in the gay flag colors) falling down my back! And I made an Iwatobi Swim Club Beanie to match the one I wear every day!!

I then played with my Passport a bit to have my title be “Future Fish” which is Free! Eternal Summer (the second season’s) Ending Song!!!! Which I thought was SUPER cute and VERY me. (It’s my second fave anime. I plan on making a Reigisa outfit in the future!!).

Already by the end of Day 2 I had my hair customization options, the tool wheel, and the DIY that I needed to buy. Everything Nook was offering I managed to get my grubby little day 2 hands on! So you KNOW my hair went to pink pigtails IMMEDIATELY. And took /many/ photos. But since my outfits are all the same just imagine the ones you just saw but with pink instead of blonde!

With that it was time to get my 3 villagers that would accompany Cherry and Roald (This correlates to getting the iron for Nooklings!) I wanted to grab the first 3 villagers that I saw just to try some new friends this go around - as I had already planned on making my New Leaf family my permies! So my first three were Ketchup (nice!), Hornsby (Aww!!), and... GALA!?!?

Well how convenient! That was one permie immediately out of the way!! Welcome back, Gala!!! So excited to have you on the island!

Then I caught an Oarfish and saw *GASP* WISP!!!! To which, I immediately ran up to him and demanded he bring my girlfriend, Cece the Squirrel, to the island. He, instead, got spooked, had me collect his spirit, and offered me items. *sigh* Ok - can’t get Cece that way - so I decided to sleep!

How naive I was...

Day 3 March 21st, was both good and bad! I had access to Nooklings, but that was about it. Blathers was getting a crowded amount of critters outside his roped off building, but it would be all worth it, tomorrow. But!! I found my first spider island! Which I sold off to Nooklings and happily went to sleep!

Day 4 March 22nd, had SO MUCH to offer! Blathers, Daisy Mae, Harvy, WHEW. Pretty sure I had a visit from Gulliver either today or yesterday, too! Nothing could POSSIBLY ruin this day!!

Oh how wrong.

How so terribly wrong I was.

Animal Crossing New Horizons is an incredible game that lets you invite so many villagers to your island!

All of them. But 14.

14 Villagers from New Leaf are not available. The Sanrio Characters. And the Amiibo Characters.

No Felyne. No Ganon, Epona, Medli, or W. Link. No Viche or Inkwell. No Rilla, Chai, Morty, or Etoille.

No Toby.

No Chelsea.

...

No Cece.

...

To say that I was devastated would be an understatement. I was absolutely crushed. Not only were 3 of my permies out, but the one villager I couldn’t live without, wasn’t allowed in the game. She didn’t even get a poster.

So I did what any crushed lover would do, and made a memoir to her.

And it started raining. Poetic. (I was only cheered up slightly when I got to catch a Coelacanth!) I didn’t do this until much later (April 4th) but for the sake of not talking about her too much, I would open New Leaf and wrote her a goodbye love letter, which, honestly, makes me tear up whenever I read it.

And I went to sleep.

I have nothing for Day 5 other than scanning all my amiibo cards for the POSTERS which are UNDOUBTEDLY my FAVORITE new feature in the game!!

Day 6, March 24th, GALA MOVED IN! I was so excited, and it was definitely needed. My best friend also came over and we goofed off and we met each other’s villagers! Then I went to an island tour and got A PANSY HYBRID ISLAND!!!! OOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! I went crazy. Absolutely destroyed that ecosystem. I went full feral. MINE. ALL MINE!!!

And I caught my first Sturgeon!! Which was awesome because I only had the rare fish left in my March collection! Trying to get a Golden Trout, I made many many fish bait, and got the 200 clam achievement! Which was exciting because that unlocked “Mermaid” for titles!! I doubt I’ll change from Future Fish, but Mermaid would be a second pick!

For Day 7 I went to a good friend’s village and desperately tried to make Chiyuki Fujito’s blue dress from Runway de Waratte... it didn’t work... but I like the attempt! (Will send pics in messenger if you’re curious!).

Day 8, March 26th, was the day ISABELLE WAS HERE!!! Welcome to your island paradise, QUEEN. I definitely dressed for the part ;)

This, of course, opened up tunes and flag options! Flag was incredibly easy. It’s going to stay my picture of Cece until she’s added back into the game (which will probably be never, so...)

The tunes was much harder for me. But since I couldn’t think of anything else I made it “SO. NO. CHI. NO. SA. DA. ME.” from the first Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure Opening (which is, ironically, what is playing as I type this... SO NO CHI NO SA DA ME <- was written in time with the music playing. Incredible.) It’s definitely not going to be that forever, but for now it makes me giggle!

Nothing for Day 9 except for a SICK tarantula island :) love those furry babes! I also built my campsite! Tomorrow was going to be big!! Who on Earth was going to move in!?

Day 10, March 28th, now, I have what I like to call “chaotic luck”. I’ll catch the bus, but my gosh did I almost miss it. I was absolutely positive I failed that test, and I did, but the question I messed up doesn’t count and I passed! Cece isn’t in the game but do you know who’s at my campsite??

OFFICE

HETEROCHROMIA

TSUNDERE

TRANS

CAT

EXTRAORDINAIRE

RAAAAAAAAAAAYMOND!!!!

Can you even imagine my face??? Can you IMAGINE the jaw drop?? I moved him next to me IMMEDIATELY.

Day 12, March 30th, I saw kicks for the first time!!! Love that funky newsie skunk!

Day 13, March 31st, I saw Flick for the first time!!! Went on a mad tarantula hunt and made BANK. Fun story, I thought both Flick and C.J. were girls, so when I learned Flick was a boy I was really upset because I thought a canon gay ship was now straight, but WHOOPS they’re BOTH boys! 😎 Nice.

I also saw Celeste for the first time!!! Gosh how I missed her!! I actually sat and got all 200 stars in one night, just because of how much I like wishing on falling stars!!!

Day 14, April 1st, The Nightmare Begins. Love him or Hate him, Zipper was here. I won’t go on about the eggs. Everyone talks about the eggs. They sucked, fishing was a nightmare, not a big fan. I would end up not getting all the sakura DIYs which was very upsetting (but I’ll just get them next year). In INCREDIBLE news I got a golden trout!!! Which was the last thing I needed in my March encyclopedia - and it was on to April hunting! Every night thing I could get, I did! So I decided to set up my last 4 houses, and focus on getting K.K. Slider finally to my island!

The first house sold naturally to Pecan! NICE! I love squirrels so much! She was very welcome!

Day 15, April 2nd, in the interest in getting new villagers, I went on a tour and there she was: MERENGUE! She’s, truthfully, not a favorite of mine. She’s SO cute, but not someone I wanted permanently. However, she’s my other best friend’s FAVORITE and she doesn’t have a switch. So, there was NO WAY I wasn’t taking Merengue onto my island. I haven’t sent my friend pics, yet, but I hope I can soon!! She’s gonna be so happy!

Today was the first day I met C.J. which... stunning. Absolutely jaw dropping. I’m SMITTEN with a TAKEN BEAVER. He calls me fashionista. Asks about my anglersona. Takes selfies of/with me. He’s truly the ideal. I’d invite him back any day!

Over the next 3 days, Freya and Bruce move in as my last 2 villagers giving us a grand starting total of: Cherry, Roald, Ketchup, Hornsby, Gala, Raymond, Pecan, Merengue, Freya, and Bruce! Not bad not bad!

Day 19, April 6th, THE BEST GIRL IS HEEERE. LABEL CAME TO MY TOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME. I might have cried, honestly. I cannot believe someone that incredible would want to come to my island. She asked for me to give her an official look. Are you kidding me? Easy breezy. For my perfect outfit she rewarded me a Label Hat. Oh? DESIGNER? I was awestruck. The design was IMPECCABLE. The flavor was IMMACULATE.

One of my villagers also happened to gift me a Pink SPRITE COSTUME??? I, honestly, have never been more in love with an outfit in my entire life??? A pink Peter Pan outfit??? LEGENDARY.

Day 20, April 7th, I don’t quite remember what day K.K. Slider visited the island when I hit my 3 star rating - so we’ll say it was today lol. That meant ISLAND EDITING, but I didn’t know what to do, yet, so I didn’t worry too much about it!

Label’s hat came in MORE COLORS in the store today. YOU BET I bought all of them. The talent. But this meant that I had a pink hat to match my pink sprite costume and you bet I was LIVING my best life. I had also finished the Anklyosaurus which is my FAVORITE dinosaur so I was LIVING it up.

Later, Ketchup would approach me and ask to move. I was happy for her to explore new lands and bid her farewell, and gave her a sweet goodbye. With that, it was hunting time, and I found the perfect villager that would set everything in motion.

Day 22, April 9th, Label VISITS AGAIN!!!!!! Unfortunately, she asked for a sporty look, which I couldn’t pull off perfectly :/ So no new item from her... but my OUTFIT WAS FIRE AND WE WERE MAD CUTE TOGETHER.

Day 23, April 10th, the villager has moved in, the cryptid gyroid herself, COCO!!!

And her moving in gave me a BRILLIANT idea. I’d like to keep it under wraps for now, but I’m so, so, SO happy she’s here!

Day 24, April 11th, The Fishing Tourney. The Summer tourney will be significantly easier for me, now that I know you can double your points by fishing with someone else, but it took me HOURS to collect all the clams and get to 300 points. It wasn’t really worth it, but I love fish so much so I wasn’t going to miss a SINGLE thing. I got that gold trophy and I’m SO proud of myself.

Also my fishing outfit could slay for MILES

Straight Fire.

Day 25, April 12th, With a golden trophy in hand and the last day of eggies, I was feeling really confident. I had the means and the idea to change cliffs + water for a couple days and just... made what my brain came up with! I’ll keep this vague for now, because I’m really excited about the final results! Just know that everyday I edit a little bit more and come up with more ideas!

Day 26, April 13th, Happy Homestuck, Neil Bangs out the Tunes, and Thomas Sanders goes to the Wedding Day!! And it did NOT disappoint. Label for A 3RD TIME!!! She must like me as much as I like her >w<!! Today she gave out her cap!!! It’s, honestly, not my thing, I’d rather stick with the brim hats, but I do think they’re cute!! So I would buy them all the next day! The Able Sister’s haul on Day 27 was oh my gosh amazing!!! They had the cap, of course, but they also had THE OTHER SPRITE COSTUMES!! Which I bought all of them. And now I wear, near exclusively, this outfit in 5 different colors bwahaha!

Day 30, April 17th, I got my first golden item!!! The slingshot! Nice! Over the past few days, I’ve just been designing, moving houses, and building ramps! Learning new myth debunks, stuff like that!

I was also blessed with 3 encounters :OOOO I didn’t know this was even POSSIBLE!?

Day 31, April 18th, Disaster Strikes. I’ve been moving so many homes that I didn’t consider that a villager couldn’t move in because you were already doing a home thing for the day. So when I went to invite camper Gonzo to my town he declined!? I was devastated. He was SO cute and I thought he could move into Bruce’s house to keep the peace of personalities! I think he’s someone in the future who I’ll ask for a poster of or ask for an amiibo card of! I know I’m going to check the campsite first before moving any buildings from here on out! D’:

And that brings us to today,

Day 32, April 19th, one month from the day I started. I’ve been having the TIME of my life! There’s definitely been some ups and downs, but I have a goal in mind and it’s keeping me so focused! I organized an entire flower field today!! Due to a turnip mishap, I happen to be 2 days ahead of everyone, but I have been good about time traveling other than that. This means that I am fortunate enough to get my Nooklings upgrade 2 days early and they’ll be open tomorrow!!! I’m... I’m so excited!!! I NEED more flower seeds!!!!!!!

The future looks incredibly bright on Cillia island, and I cannot wait to hear about everyone else’s month!!

Thank you for your time. Please enjoy these random favorite photos of mine!

#Animal Crossing #ACNH #My Post #Cillia #Town of Cillia #Ezra #Island Rep Ezra #Mayor Ezra #Star-Villager #LONG #LONG POST #Animal Crossing New Horizons #Pictures #Photos #New Horizons

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ghostbustershq · 4 years

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Ghostbusters: Afterlife - Trailer A Breakdown

“Troy, wondering what you thought about that new Ghostbusters trailer?”

Well, I’ve waited thirty years for this moment. Something tells me that my long-winded and verbose writing sensibilities won’t be able to convey my thoughts in a text message or 140 characters on Twitter. Welcome anyone that I’ve pointed in this direction. I’ve been waiting an awful long time for this. And that’s not to be dismissive of the wonderful experience and entertaining film we received just three short years ago. This is something different. But the same. Something new, but also something familiar. In one word?

Wow.

Quite a bit to unpack in a trailer revealing the first details on what has otherwise been a very tight-lipped production. Needless to say, the first real look at Jason Reitman’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife blew me away. The direct sequel to Ghostbusters II looks to take some twists and turns, while incorporating the iconography and elements that made the original film and its sequel so popular in the 80’s. To be completely honest, it’s quite difficult to sit here and put into words my reaction to seeing a trailer for a movie I’ve been waiting 30 years to see. Excited doesn’t even begin to describe just how fun and exciting this trailer release has been. Not to mention just how special this film release will be.

But you’re not here for a review or my sentiments, you’re here for a breakdown to the trailer with a few comments and screen grabs.

Let’s do it, eh?

Hitting the Road

Right out of the gate, some stunning cinematography from Eric Steelberg on full-display here as a car full of teenage kids approach what appears to be an old mine elevator at the top of an incredible looking vista. Kids being kids, golden hour in full effect, it’s a lovely first introduction to the world in which this film will inhabit. Finn Wolfhard’s character Trevor answers a pointed question that his family has moved to Summerville because they’re completely broke. To the point that he’s getting a haircut at home by his own mother, Callie (played by Carrie Coon). We’re meeting a family on some hard times, forced to make a hard turn in their lives because of finances.

Grandpa’s “Creepy Old Farmhouse”

The family pulls up to a farmhouse and barn that looks like they’ve both seen better days. A giant barn with a collapsed roof and several silos surround a Gothic looking weather vein riddled house that may as well be out of the Addams Family. Dire circumstances have forced them to move to a family farm inherited from an, as of now, unknown grandfather. Phoebe (played by Mckenna Grace) gets out of the car with a look on her face that says it all. And those eyeglasses… well, we’ve all talked about who those look like they belong to at great length.

Something’s Amiss

Trevor’s tender moment with a new friend (Celeste O’Connor’s still as-of-yet-unrevealed character) is interrupted by the mine elevator they’re sitting on shakes violently and a green glow emanates from the mine below them. All is not picture-perfect Americana in Summerville as we’ve been led to believe. An entity explodes from the mine, escaping into the air and pushing the teenagers back in the process. That glimpse of our paranormal haunting kicks us into the studio and production company logos.

Bron Studios/Bron Media Logo

Interestingly, no Ghost Corps logo attached to the trailer. But there is a newcomer to both the trailer and the teaser poster released on Friday, Bron Studios. A Canadian company, Bron gets a logo right after Sony/Columbia possibly suggesting they’re a financial backer of the film or a large partner in some shape or form. A quick look at iMDB shows that Aaron L. Gilbert of Bron Media has been added as an Executive Producer to the film as well.

Earthquakes and Mr. Grooberson

Here’s our first real taste of how Paul Rudd’s character will factor into the film. He’s intrigued by Summerville’s seismic activities, given the fact that it doesn’t lie on a fault line, nor does it have any of the telltale signs of locations that should be moving and shaking. The protagonist family huddles under a table during a quake where we get a good taste of the film’s humor courtesy of Trevor with a quippy one-liner about the summer that they died under a table. So what is happening? Stay tuned. Also, admittedly I was too distracted by the beautiful lighting in the shot with Trevor to notice the symmetrical book stacking visual gag in the background until others pointed it out. Well played, set dec team. I’d expect there will be visual easter eggs like this throughout the entirety of the film.

Mystery Box Revealed

Following one of the quakes at their new home, Phoebe seemingly finds a loose floorboard and a sliding puzzle that has been left behind by their grandfather to hide the presence of a familiar ghost trap. Which Phoebe takes to school and shows off to her still unnamed friend, played by Logan Kim. The sight of a ghost trap tickles Mr. Grooberson, who connects it with the famed-Ghostbusters who saved New York City back in the 1980’s. The kids have no idea of the existence of ghosts, nor what occurred back in 1984 near Central Park. Grooberson is more than happy to educate them.

Jason Reitman Front and Center

After the ghost trap’s appearance, Jason Reitman (deservedly so) gets a card proclaiming the film coming from him as a writer-director hyphenate. The credit comes over an industrial space with a whole lot of Ridley Scott creep-factor going on. If I had one nit to pick with the trailer, it’s the producer in me that is concerned poor Jason’s credit never resolves with the “R” in Reitman not obstructed by the light blooming in the center of the frame.

A Free-Roaming… Something?

Right after Jason Reitman’s card, comes a panning shot across the same industrial space where a gelatinous blob is in the distance doing something. It’s tough to make out exactly what type of entity we’re looking at here, but it seems to appear (and move) like a microscopic organism or something found at the depths of the sea. Which I quite enjoy. A ghost that looks unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. Also worth noting that the movements feel practical - there is weight and almost a rubbery movement to it just like the creature designs from the shop in the 80’s. Love it.

New York Was Like the Walking Dead

Mr. Grooberson shows Phoebe and Logan Kim’s character archival footage from the 1980’s where he remembers seeing the ghost trap utilized as a kid. The Ghostbusters were a phenomenon 35 years ago, but have been forgotten. As history tends to move on and generations aren’t impacted by the events of their elders, they’re learning about who the Ghostbusters were. Phoebe comments that her mother has never spoken of the events that took place in New York and that their father isn’t in the picture.

Of note, these two shots are incredible angles that I don’t believe I’ve seen before. Perhaps the result of Jason Reitman and his post production team digging into the mines and finding the original dailies and negative from the 1984 film for use in Afterlife?

PKE Readings and “Does This Pole Still Work?”

Phoebe seems to have found other Ghostbusting equipment and uses it to trace readings back to a makeshift shed. Presumably a continuation of the scene based on the editing, Phoebe slides down a fire pole (!!!) to a subterranean hidden space. She continues to follow readings on the PKE Meter, finding equipment including the orange piece of machinery taken from the original Ghostbusters at Columbia University, a Betamax recorder in the far distance, an oscilloscope, and a whole lot of fungi growing in jars. The camera pans over sample dishes of spores, molds and fungus collections, (subtly cued with Phoebe talking about picking through the rubble of her grandfather’s life) and then continues past a proton pack in progress of assembly.

Admittedly, this was the first moment in the trailer where I could feel my heart doing backflips. We’re seeing the past through Phoebe’s eyes and everything looks, feels, and sounds like Ghostbusters. I love it. This movie is about discovery, as we’ve heard over and over. To me, it feels a bit like we’re (the viewer - the broader public outside of us fans) are rediscovering our love for what made these movies so popular.

The Shoe Drops

This is where any other trailer would take the opportunity to pepper in the bass drops, kick in the soft-breathy cover version of Ray Parker Jr.’s theme song, or some other overused trope. But Ghostbusters Afterlife takes a pretty bold stance and tries something different. And to me, it really works. When Mr. Grooberson discovers that the ghost trap isn’t a replica and is, in fact a real ghost trap (and may be occupied still), he questions who Phoebe is, as there’s a cut to Phoebe’s hand grazing over a rack of flight suits revealing the name tag, “Spengler” barely having enough time to resolve before a smash to black.

In what is absolutely a stroke of genius of whomever is responsible for this wonderful trailer, Bill Murray’s line for the original movie as Venkman and Stantz share a bottle of Apricot Brandy talking about going into business for themselves takes on a whole new meaning: “Call it fate, call it luck, call it karma. I believe everything happens for a reason,” is said while - - to my ear - - a new rendition of the same Elmer Bernstein cue that plays under the scene swells.

A Certified Genius or an Authentic Wacko

After a “Next Summer” sell card, another beautiful Americana (c/o Calgary) vista of the Shandor Mining Company. Interesting, perhaps Ivo Shandor from the original film fancied himself an entrepreneur at one point before he became an architect? Or perhaps this is a result of his interest in metallurgy mentioned by Stantz? Perhaps he mined his own supplies for projects? Either way, I’m starting to think that Sumeriaville… ahem… sorry… Summerville might be following in a classic trope of some of the best horror stories. A town with an incredibly horrible secret. Warning signs don’t matter to Phoebe and Logan Kim’s character as they trudge ahead.

Hello, Beautiful

Meanwhile, in the narrative of our trailer, Trevor follows in Phoebe’s footsteps into the fields of the farm and finds something of his own: a beautiful (but a little rusty) 1959 Miller-Meteor Cadillac as the ground shakes again, something shatters through a row of school buses seemingly attacking Phoebe, and the town goes into high-alert. Amid the chaos, there’s a striking 20 frames or so of Phoebe staring into a horrifying fire pit of arms - lost souls? Something else? And immediately after that, Mr. Grooberson frantically tries to escape from a snarling beast that slams a foot on the hood of his automobile. Trevor’s Ecto-1 adventure continues as he turns the key and an homage that would make Laszlo Kovacs proud reveals the familiar license plate and front grill emerging from the garage and into the field for a joy ride. The ol’ Ecto has a whole lotta horsepower left in the tank.

Damn Right, This Thing Has a Gunner’s Seat

And that’s when the trailer hits us. What can and should be the most amazing surprise in the trailer (if not unfortunately spoiled for you by a few self-interested rotten apples with horrible cell phone photos) - this isn’t the Ecto we’re familiar with. Perhaps an explanation as to why it’s the ol’ Ecto-1, or maybe the car was always being changed throughout the duration of the Ghostbusters’ longevity, THIS Ectomobile looks to have been heavily modified for field work. Phoebe, with a thrower in her hand, swivels out into an attack position and we’re off to the races. The Ecto-1, with Phoebe in the gunner position, looks to be chasing the microscopic entity seen earlier in the industrial space - though some people have speculated that might be Slimer, I don’t think that’s the case. Either way… Dear Hasbro, take my money now. My goodness, what an awesome set-piece (and toyetic moment) that looks like it will be.

Everything about this movie speaks to me. It’s playing with my nostalgia. It’s also giving us something new and the promise of the next generation discovering the Ghostbusters both on-screen and off. The fact that a main character is named Trevor for some reason immediately made me think of my amazing former boss and now guide to the next generation of comedy Trevor Albert, who was a long-time friend and colleague of Harold Ramis. Phoebe’s an intriguing character and the friendship that we saw Mckenna Grace and Logan Kim develop via social media throughout the course of the production seems to have carried over to their on-screen performances.

Of course, noticeably absent are any of the original cast members. But, as the theme of this trailer and seemingly the movie as a whole is discovery and things slowly unfolding, I can imagine that moment will be saved until the absolute very end of the marketing campaign. If the cast isn’t kept in secret similar to Mark Hamill in The Force Awakens completely. To be completely honest, I don’t want to see another frame until opening day of the film itself. And if this is the only trailer they release, that would be a wonderful mystery box. Particularly for this Ghostbusters podcast host who would have to break another TV spot or trailer down frame by frame. I get the sense that the less we know and see about this movie before the first viewing experience, the better.

But most of all - - the iconography, the designs from Stephen Dane, Michael C. Gross, and so many other artists has carried over successfully and looks authentic. This is no replica, as the trailer blatantly tells us. This is the real deal.

#ghostbusters afterlife #ghostbusters (2020)#trailer #Jason reitman

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dawnthecreator · 6 years

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An Open Letter to Beemoov

This is my letter to Beemoov. It’s very long, but I just couldn’t stop thinking of things to add to it and it took me three days to compose it.

Dear Beemoov,

Before I start, I want to thank you for all of your hard work and everything you and your game have done for us. Without you, we wouldn't have My Candy Love and all of the wonderful things that came with it. I know that in this letter I'm going to come across very angry, but it's only because I care so much about it.

I am a loyal fan who has been playing since my registration back in 2012. I found your game back when I was just discovering what otome games were and My Candy Love was the most intriguing. With it's in-depth customization of Candy and the illustrations she appeared in along with a steady build up to relationships with the NPCs, I was hooked almost immediately. You set the bar very high for what an otome game should offer.

I loved the characters, even if I struggled to get most of them to love me back in the beginning. I wanted to get to know them, I wanted to help them with their problems, and I loved seeing my accomplishments reflected in the illustrations.

This game has done a lot for me. It's given me inspiration for new art styles, it's allowed me to meet new people and become part of the fandom, it inspired me to to create blogs dedicated to the different aspects of the game like Fandom Confessions, Outfit Guides, and Illustration Guides. Your game got me through some tougher times as well. When the real world was getting to be too much for me, I could go to this game and find an escape.

So much time and money has been invested into this game, not just by me, but countless other players, some who've surely poured more money into this than I have. We were teased that this would be a continuation of the characters and that our relationships would continue on into this new season, but it's not, and we were never given a reason to believe that we would be separated from them, especially after reaching one of the biggest milestones possible in a relationship.

The fandom is a mess after ChiNoMiko announced that out of all five boys only Castiel would be returning to the game, and none of her responses to the fans' questions and complaints have been helpful or reassuring – some of them coming off as rude and unprofessional. The fans feel hurt, like you don't actually care about how much this effects us, how much these characters you made mean to us. Your own way of handling the situation hasn't been much better, with dropping only one answer a week, and addressing the insignificant questions over the most important ones until much later when everyone pretty much already knows this information. Your responses to the fandom thus far have been rude and unprofessional as well, and it's not right for you to treat your clients like this.

You want us to trust you, trust that you know what you're doing and that everything will be okay if we wait and see. But the thing is I don't trust you, not anymore, and I'm certainly not alone in feeling that way. You rushed the last several episodes and character arcs, giving us little to no breathing room, you ended the “First Season” with an underwhelming conclusion and jumped right into one of the biggest and worst timeskips we've ever had, and we've been forced to break up with our boyfriends without an option to do so. You got us excited to continue the story in the next season thinking we'd be doing so with our boyfriend and closest friends, but you lied.

I'm a Beta Tester and I have to say that I don't trust you to handle this new season well either. Through just a few lines of dialogue we're told we broke up with our boyfriend, which from the player's perspective is coming right off the heels of us finally giving ourselves to the boy we love most, which is such a huge deal even in real life.

The reasons for the break up are ridiculous as well, saying that it was the distance that ultimately made them end it, even though in this day and age, technology has done wonders to bring people closer together from all parts of the globe and long distance relationships are not only possible, they're becoming increasingly common. Not to mention the personalities you made for these characters and the dynamic of the relationships being so strong that Candy and her boy would've done whatever it took to stay in touch, no matter how difficult.

With more dialogue, we're even told what's happened to the boys, and I have to say it sounds like you've butchered Nathaniel's character. Whatever character development he had in the last game seems to have been thrown out the window for a more self-destructive character for whatever reason, to the point that none of his old friends like him anymore.

As for Kentin, as it was pointed out to me by one of his fans, you already had him and Candy break up once before near the end of the game and now you're forcing them to break up again. I can't understand why you'd make such a cruel decision like that to make Kentin fans suffer more.

The most heartbreaking of them all is Lysander, though. On his route, Candy said that she would be there for him as his father was dying, but now she's left him even though both of his parents have passed away and he had to move onto their farm. He would need Candy more than ever, but because she left him in his time of need, that makes her such a horrible person.

It's been hinted at by Chino that at the very least, the boys will be mentioned, but no cameos are currently planned. But the game hints that we'll see them again in passing. But I don't want to see them in passing, I wanted them to still be with us and go to college with us. Looking back at all the illustrations I've gathered over the past six years, remembering all the tender moments my Candy shared with her boyfriend, I have to wonder what it was all for if we're just going to break up with them and only hear about them from our friends? What was it all for if you're just going to make it all null and void in the second season? Why not just make a new game entirely?

It may sound stupid, but I've cried over this. Many of my friends have been crying and still are with each new bit of information we receive. We've been playing this game for so long, and now it feels like you're tossing your old customers aside for new ones that haven't even discovered your game yet. I can't even begin to understand how that's a good business move. The fandom is in flames, the “silent players” are actually coming out to voice how much they dislike these decisions. In all of the six years I've been playing this game, I've never seen this fandom overwhelmingly reject something you've done with this game. Even the complaining about Nathaniel's awful bird shirt doesn't compare. And it feels like you're ignoring us. It feels like you're ignoring the complaints, the fans who say they're leaving, and the mods that are resigning. I have been loyal for six years, even when you stumbled with your stories, I still played the game. But now I have no reason to continue into this second season if you're just going to take away everything I worked hard for.

Also, please for the love of God, change the AP system back to how it was. It was fine the way it was. Not perfect, but far better than what you've done to it. It's bad enough that dialogue costs AP now, but the cap on AP has made it so much worse. The Beta episode alone was just under the 1000AP cap and it's not even finished. It's going to be even more difficult to play just the current episodes, it would be even more difficult to try and do any replays. It'll discourage people from doing replays, and it'll discourage loyal players from logging in everyday to get their free AP and money. Players are going to lose momentum and interest very fast and it could make them quit altogether just out of frustration with having to stop so frequently in episodes. Please, just change it back, or if you're feeling generous, change it back, but leave the new daily 20AP.

The reason for this new AP system is transparent, it's to get more money. Maybe you weren't making a lot before, but this isn't the way to do it. You should invest in your merchandise, put faith in it. Most of My Candy Love products are only available in France, with a whole manga series that hasn't been translated in more than two other languages as far as I'm aware. It's so difficult for fans outside of Europe to get a hold of the merchandise. Try investing in easy-to-make items, like calendars and posters of varying sizes. I know so many people, including myself, would eat that up like candy, paying real money to get our hands on it, but you'd have to make it available everywhere, not just a few countries. I've seen people shell out $20 or more for posters, there's no reason you couldn't jump on that opportunity.

I don't want you to fail or be shut down. I want you to consider harder that the decisions you're making are the wrong ones, probably the worst ones you've ever made and need to be changed. We want you to succeed, but we also want you to deliver the best possible product My Candy Love can be, and this isn't it. Thank you for being so patient to read my lengthy letter all the way to the end.

Sincerely,

- A Long Time Player of My Candy Love

#My Candy Love #Open Letter #Beemoov #University Life

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artdjgblog · 4 years

Photo

Innerview: David Hudnall / The Pitch

August 2011

Photo: NA / Posters: DJG Design

Note: Featured news article.

Danny Gibson’s Quiet Contributions

Forty hours of Danny Gibson’s week are occupied by a data-entry job, but when he’s not at work, he’s often putting together an art project of some kind in the basement of his house, which sits south of 39th Street in the shadow of the old Loretto Academy building. Gibson is a collector of things — gloves, old toys, obsolete technology, office paper, corn husks, helicopter leaves — and he stores his prized finds in this colorful subterranean lair. That he is an artist who uses much of what he collects in his work cushions him from the label of the collector’s less endearing alter ego: the hoarder. But a case could be made. Gibson is best known for DJG Design, the name under which he has been designing poster art for local and national bands for the past decade. Starting September 2, he’s displaying somewhere in the neighborhood of 400 original pieces of work in an exhibition, Quietly Contributing, at 1819 Central Gallery. None of them are for sale. After the show concludes at the end of the month, he’ll haul them all back to his cave. “I’ve only sold a few originals,” Gibson says, sorting through a dusty stack of notes, sketches and old prints. “A lot of this stuff I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of. They mean too much to me.” Nosing around Gibson’s basement is like flipping through an old yearbook of the Kansas City and Lawrence music scenes. Anvil Chorus, In the Pines, the Stella Link, Namelessnumberheadman, Doris Henson, the Afterparty, and about a hundred other local bands’ names — many defunct and mostly forgotten — are inventively fashioned onto show posters. In this way, the 1819 Central show isn’t just a celebration of Gibson’s work. It also serves as a kind of retrospective of the past 10 years in our local music scene. “There’s a sort of timeline or history involved with these posters,” he says. “Lots of stories, lots of other people’s bands. Promoters, venues. Posters have such a short life span, and then they’re kind of forgotten. So it’ll be neat to line it all up.” This winter, Gibson made the decision to retire DJG Design in order to focus more fully on visual art, which also makes the show a bit of a memorial. “I had been wrestling with the design thing for several years. I’ve always been more into visual art than design,” Gibson says. “And I’ve been kind of moving out of the music scene in some ways. A lot of my friends in bands have grown up and moved away. I don’t get out as much as I used to. I woke up one morning in February and was like, ‘I’m done.’ It felt good.” Gibson grew up on a farm in north-central Missouri — barnyard imagery is a recurring theme in his work — then studied art and design at Missouri State University in Springfield. After four years, he dropped out and relocated to Kansas City, where he moved into a house (“a rathole by where Costco is now”) with some Elevator Division band members, whom he knew from Springfield. The house became a sort of revolving door for local musicians, and Gibson converted the basement, used by a previous tenant as a photography studio, into his own art studio. He started making posters for Elevator Division shows, which led to work with other bands. “A lot of people knew Elevator Division, so people would see my stuff and come to me and be like, ‘Hey, will you make us a poster?’ ” he says. “I got paid a lot of times in cheeseburgers. There’s no real money in making poster art for your friends’ bands. But it was exactly what I wanted to do. Make art, mix it with music. I had a really great time with it.” Working for design and advertising firms was never appealing to Gibson, partially because of his aversion to computers. (He has a very old-looking desktop in his basement that contains a version of Photoshop’s 1999 5.5 version, which he uses sparingly.) For many of his DJG years, Gibson was employed as a janitor at the Kansas City Board of Trade, an occupation that allowed both his collector’s instincts and his artist’s instincts to run wild. He once intercepted 15,000 sheets of office paper headed for the Dumpster and took them home. Plant clippings he discovered in a trash can were repurposed as the font for a Billions poster. “I’m big on process, and being a janitor allowed me to work out a lot of my daily thoughts and ideas,” Gibson says. “I’d end up writing and sketching things on paper towels. Sometimes I’d put the paper towels, or whatever I was writing on, into the final posters. I love midcentury Polish poster art and folk art. The hands-on, cut-and-paste approach. I like including my notes or even my e-mails on posters. It gives it a more human element that I think is missing in a lot of computer design stuff these days.” Gibson’s imaginative worldview makes it easy for him to artfully convert cat hair into lettering, but self-promotion comes less naturally. I spoke to a number of people who consider Gibson one of the most talented artists in the city. But Gibson largely lacks ties to the local art establishment. “I like to sort of exist in my own little world, I guess,” he says. “In some ways I don’t think I really understand the adult world. I can survive in it. But I prefer to be down here in the basement, working on my stuff.” Lately, though, some friends who believe strongly in Gibson’s work have emerged to assist him in getting his name and work further out into the public sphere. Some of them, not surprisingly, are musicians. Coinciding with Quietly Contributing is DJG Was Here, a 35-song compilation album (downloadable for free at noisetrade.com/djgwashere) featuring music from many of the musicians for whom Gibson has designed posters over the years: Darling at Sea, Max Justus, Sam Billen, the ACBs, Thom Hoskins, David Seume. “Danny puts sweat into everything he makes,” says Bryan Lamanno, whose band, the Tambourine Club, appears on the compilation. “He’s not just sitting at a computer. I always just let him do whatever he wants when he designs stuff because he always comes up with something fun and interesting and intricate.” Though Gibson is a collector, he also likes to share and is eager for others to see what he’s put together for Quietly Contributing. “There’s some great moments that I’m excited for people to see,” Gibson says. “Sometimes I look at these posters and I’m like, ‘What was I doing? How did that happen?’ There’s something much bigger to it all that I can’t really explain.”

We asked Gibson to pick a few of his favorite posters and talk about the process and ideas behind them.

001) Darling at Sea, Anvil Chorus (New Year’s Eve at the Brick) New Year’s Eve being such a big night, I wanted to shoot for an epic poster. I had an idea of the post-party: the contents of an insane partygoer’s stomach or the contents on the floor the morning of January 1. So, I set a rule for myself and just grabbed whatever I could at arm’s length around me at my studio desk. I threw it all on the scanner and created a sea of strange things swimming. The posters were printed in black on Wall Street Journals I saved from my day job, and I hit them up with a red heart rubber stamp. I’m pleased with the typography on these, especially for a computer font, which I’ve used very sparingly over the years. 002) Violet Burning, the Billions, Gabriel Yard I was working as a janitor, wondering to myself about a unique, springlike concept for a poster for this show. I had been away from my cart cleaning something and came back to it and found plant clippings and prunings anonymously placed in it. I instantly saw this poster. I pushed my cart down to my little dungeon desk, decided to go on break, and started making the typography. 003) Onward Crispin Glover, the People, Elevator Division At the time I made this image (2002), I was more aggressive about incorporating political-social messages into my work. It was my early 20s, and I guess it was the post-art-school political-poster-making in me talking? I think the news at the time had some major headlines about American importing and exporting. So, I have a backwards American monster eating a ship. The image was made in ink, and the boat was cut from a very old book. I ran this through an old fax machine to get the dirty look and then printed it on old green-and-white-striped computer paper. Notice this show was at the Pub, which is now the Brick. I always forget that. It’s interesting to see a bit of history in something as short-lived as a concert poster. 004) Flattery Leads to Ruins, James Dean Trio, Roosevelt I had a ton of fun with this one in a pop-art kind of way, I guess. I also enjoy a chance to throw celebrities or notable people into art. I was literal with playing off the band names James Dean Trio and Roosevelt. But the other, Flattery Leads to Ruins, came out of the headlines at the time. Martha Stewart was on trial, and I would watch CNN every day while cleaning a lunch area at my day job. This is a great example of taking visual liberty with a batch of bands on a concert bill. With the printing I made black-and-white photocopies and then ran them back through an oversized printer to get the color. 005) Atom and His Package, Brazil, Pixel Panda, Mail Order Midgets This is one of my personal favorites. I love a good visual pun, and I like to spin ideas off of band names. Here we have a guy named Atom carrying a package of Mail Order Midgets and a Pixel Panda (the panda is based from my childhood drawings of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). The original art will be on display at my poster exhibition, and it’s fairly big compared to the small print the final poster ended up as. I’d love to revisit these characters; there’s a good road-trip story there. I’ve always had visions of being cursed or challenged to journey cross-country carrying specific heavy things in my arms along the way. I think about that with this poster. Poor Atom.

#innerviews

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crimsonrevolt · 7 years

Photo

Congratulations Sierra you’ve been accepted to Crimson Revolt as Florence Wilson!

↳ please refer to our character checklist

The way you fleshed out Florence and made her entirely your own was something that really struck us -- given that there’s not a lot to go on with canon information for her. But you built her up in our heads, and it was beautiful to see a fully formed and fleshed out character come to life in our imaginations! We’re so excited to see her on the dash and see what potential plots you come up with for her! *your faceclaim change has been accepted

application beneath the cut

OUT OF CHARACTER

INTRODUCTION

Hey there! I’m Sierra, I’m 22, and I use they/them/their pronouns. I live in the EST (GMT -5) time zone! I also play Hestia here.

ACTIVITY

I try to post at least four out of seven days of the week, though I’ve been getting better at time management as the semester winds down! I’d probably give myself a 7 out of 10? .

TRIGGERS

*removed for privacy

HOW DID YOU FIND US?

I think I originally found the RP through the HP RP tag, though I’ve been playing Hestia here for a while now!

WHAT HARRY POTTER CHARACTER DO YOU IDENTIFY WITH MOST?

Most frequently I identify with Luna Lovegood; she is fiercely loyal, intensely kind, and willing to fight for anyone she cares about. She has a unique point of view and may not quite understand the world around her at times, but at the end of the day she is one of those people who wants to listen to the people around her and make the world a better place.

ANYTHING ELSE?

Nothing at the moment! But if you want some fun facts about me … here we go? I want to be a Rabbi and I’ve been teaching myself Hebrew, German, and Dutch over the past year or so. I also have read the Harry Potter series in Spanish.

IN CHARACTER

DESIRED CHARACTER

Florence Irene Wilson;

Florence, from the Latin Florentius or Florentia, means “flourishing” or “prosperous.” It is also the name of the city where Mr. Wilson proposed to his wife.

Irene, from the Greek Eirene, means “peace” and is derived from the name of the Greek goddess who personified peace, or one of the Horai. It is also the name of Florence’s late maternal grandmother who died months before Florence was born.

Wilson, from the English ‘son of Will.’ It is a surname that has been in the family for generations.

FACE CLAIM

If possible, can I change Florence’s faceclaim to Felicity Jones? I feel like she has a lot of similar aesthetic qualities to Troian Bellasario but is more of an underused faceclaim. My second choice of a faceclaim for Florence would be Willa Holland; my third choice would be Camila Mendez.

REASON FOR CHOSEN CHARACTER

Florence has always found a reason to fight. She is too strong-willed and too outspoken to let something that bothers her go unnoticed. There are beginnings of a fire within her, sparks flying, hoping that a fire will catch on and burn through the darkness of her current world. As a girl who cares far too much about justice, Florence is never satisfied with the way that things are. She is the first to stand up when someone asks for help and the last to step down when things look bleak. Still, despite all of this, Florence doesn’t just want to fight. She wants to make some kind of a difference, to foster real, tangible change. The Order wasn’t doing enough to satisfy her; they were careful, slow, and too under the radar. After leaving Hogwarts, it became clear to Florence that there was too much at stake. She is a Muggleborn, the only witch in her family. With her right to existence on the line, this war is far too personal for her not to join in Aversio’s efforts.

PREFERRED SHIPS // CHARACTER SEXUALITY // GENDER & PRONOUNS

Florence/Chemistry

Florence dedicates herself wholly to a cause, whether it be her work with house elfs or her dedication to Aversio’s cause. It isn’t often that someone catches her eye romantically; sure, there are people she doesn’t mind looking at … people too good-looking to ignore. While she isn’t entirely opposed to having a one night stand or a fling, the idea isn’t the most attractive in the world. She would prefer a long-term relationship, but only if it was with the right person. For most of her life Florence has been too occupied with her work and special interests to truly pursue a relationship, though, and she doesn’t see that changing any time soon. That being said … things can always change!

CREATE ONE (OR MORE!) OF THE FOLLOWING FOR YOUR CHARACTER:

-A MOODBOARD

https://68.media.tumblr.com/42a4f4abdd52d83c7d191732289cee6c/tumblr_or3oq4nFbX1vgn58eo1_500.png

- A FEW HEADCANONS

Myers-Briggs Personality Type: ISTJ-A, The Logistician

“Logisticians don’t make many assumptions, preferring instead to analyze their surroundings, check their facts and arrive at practical courses of action. Logistician personalities are no-nonsense, and when they’ve made a decision, they will relay the facts necessary to achieve their goal, expecting others to grasp the situation immediately and take action. Logisticians have little tolerance for indecisiveness, but lose patience even more quickly if their chosen course is challenged with impractical theories, especially if they ignore key details – if challenges becomes time-consuming debates, Logisticians can become noticeably angry as deadlines tick nearer.” Wand Type: 10.5 inches, Cedar wood, unicorn hair core

IN CHARACTER QUESTIONNAIRE

The following section should be looked at like a survey for your character. Answer them in character and feel free to use gifs. Or, if you’d rather, answer them in third person or OOC without gifs. Answers do not have to be extremely lengthy.

♔ If you were able to invent one spell, potion, or charm, what would it do, what would you use it for or how would you use it? Feel free to name it:

“This sounds absolutely ridiculous, but I would love to create a spell that could check my writing for any sort of grammatical errors. It’s not that I’m a horrible writer – it can just be so time consuming to go through something twice, three times, or even more, only to find that I’ve messed up something as simple as a semicolon. I’m sure someone’s thought of it before … though I’ve never heard of it, so … maybe it doesn’t?”

♔ You have to venture deep into the Forbidden Forest one night. Pick one other character and one object (muggle or magical), besides your wand, that you’d want with you:

“Merlin, that’s a tough one. I suppose I’d have to go with Ted Tonks, though. He’s just one of those people that I trust implicitly with those kinds of things. He seems pretty smart and levelheaded, and he just gives off vibes that he would protect someone and stand by them no matter what. – and I guess I’d bring my pepper spray, seeing as it hasn’t failed me yet.”

♔ What kinds of decisions are the most difficult for you to make?

“When I know that something is right for me personally but isn’t best for everyone else, it can be difficult to prioritize things. I don’t like putting myself first … but there are times when its necessary.”

♔ What is one thing you would never want said about you?

“I never want people to say that I don’t try or that I’m fighting a meaningless fight. People who can’t try to understand what I’m doing probably haven’t had something to fight for in their lives.”

WRITING SAMPLE

Sitting alone in her parents’ living room, Florence felt a burning inside of her. It started in her head, rearing its ugly, searing pain each and every time she recalled a Missing Person poster or read another obituary describing a thoughtless, unnecessary death. It travelled down to her cheeks, red and filled with a kind of fury that she hadn’t felt before. There were no tears left inside of her. Even if she wanted to cry, she couldn’t bring herself to let a single tear drop from her eyes. To cry would be to surrender to the pain, to let it overwhelm her and take away any agency that she felt left. And yet, no matter how much Florence wanted to fight the pain, to stand up and shout, to throw something across the room just to watch it break, she couldn’t bring herself to do so. It weighed her down, pressing on her shoulders with the pressure of a thousand heavy bricks. At school, just a few short years ago, ignoring news from the outside world seemed easy. She didn’t care as much for updates from the Daily Prophet as she did for letters from her mother and father. The Wizarding World, even after all the years she’d spent at Hogwarts, still felt a little foreign to her. Florence connected more to news about Parliament than the Ministry and wanted to hear more about ongoings at home than the winner of Witch Weekly’s Most Charming Smile. But now that she had graduated and returned back to the comfort of her Muggle home, she yearned for a way to stay in the loop about the war in the Wizarding World. While the Prophet’s updates came steadily, they were impersonal, reducing people with families, hopes, and ambitions to nothing more than a name and a ‘Last Seen’ date. Panic set in nearly every time she opened the paper. Which of her friends would be the first to appear on the list of missing or murdered people? When would the war finally hit her too close to home? Florence tore the Obituary page from the paper, crumpling it in her fist. Kenzie Blair. The young woman’s face swam in her memory. It must’ve been at least a year since they spoke; Florence never considered the younger girl to be more than an acquaintance, a somewhat-annoying, bit-too-chatty Hufflepuff that just wanted to make friends. In her mind, Kenzie had always seemed a bit younger than she actually was, eternally fourteen no matter how old she actually turned. Now, of course, the younger woman would always be seventeen, barely old enough to apparate, much less to make a name for herself. Florence got up from the bed and crossed the room to throw away the balled-up paper. Looking at it only infuriated her, making her want to scream. Almost without thinking, Florence headed to her own bedroom, slamming the door behind her. The letter from Kingsley Shacklebolt lay on her desk, just where she’d left it for the past month. Taking a piece of paper, Florence shakily wrote three short words on the page before shoving it into the envelope and sending it off to Kingsley with her owl. “Let me fight.”

#florence wilson #hp rp #hp rpg #marauders rp #lsrpg #accepted app

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acenancy · 7 years

Note

They're advertising the show more yeah? More than previous years?

You know what, I don’t even think they are? I wasn’t a part of The 100 fandom when they were doing promo for S1 (though I don’t think anyone was at that point) or S2, but there was a lot of talk surrounding S3. More screeners were sent out so we received more spoilery info, Jason teased us with his daily tweets, the writers were more chatty all around, and I’m pretty sure we even got the poster waaay earlier than we’re getting it this year too. They really hyped up S3. But everyone was pumped and prepared for all of the wrong things lmao. No doubt that played a huge factor in our disappointment.

This year we actually didn’t get that much! We got general info regarding plot at cons earlier in the year, not much else until the trailer came out in December, and then the screeners were sent out about two weeks ago? Maybe an article was posted to rouse us from our slumber here and there? Aaron has been the only writer talking about this season really, and even he isn’t saying much at all. Oh, and we’ve gotten the PS4 teaser and extended trailer in the last two weeks as well, I guess. But those are things they kind of have to put out there.

Nah, I’m chalking the hype for S4 up to the fans. The writers know what we want:

The delinquents together

Hope

More of a focus on character than plot

Immediately after S3, that’s what they told us we were getting. So we’ve been excited! We can’t stop talking about it, even when there’s nothing new to talk about. We’re literally begging anyone who is anyone to quench our thirst with a single drop of S4. We’re constantly analyzing everything, writing meta, theorizing, memeing, squealing, planning trends. Things we’ve always done, but this time x100. And really, this last month aside, what have we really been given to work with?!

They’re leading us on and it’s working. Like, I have never seen a group of people so anxious for a poster in my life. But here we are.

We’re their advertisement.

#the 100 #the 100 s4 #Anonymous #qna #even if you do nothing but express your hatred for the show #you are creating a buzz

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sending-the-message · 7 years

Text

My Son was a Guest Star on Buddy Wellington's Playtime Jamboree by JayGetsHazy

Have you heard of this show?

Probably not.

It came on one of those viewers funded Public Access type channels. You know the ones. Channel 989 or some shit. Right above the scrambled porn. The kind you remember from your own childhood. Think Mr. Rogers or Thomas the Tank Engine.

Just a twenty-two-minute bloc of no frills educational entertainment aimed at kids.

Anyway, my son Bradley stumbled upon it one morning while channel surfing between commercials and it quickly became a fixture of his daily routine.

Every Saturday, from 8:00 to 8:30, the jangle of off-key music and silly sing-song voices emanated from the hand-me-down Panasonic in my son’s room.

Welcome to Playtime Jamboree

A whole lotta fun for you and me

Step in-side and you will see

The friend you’ve got in Buh-uh-dee!

The theme song was maddingly simple and repetitive. Anyone who grew up watching Barney the Dinosaur knows whereof I speak. The kind of catchy nonsense that got under your skin after the thousandth re-playing. Often times I’d catch myself humming it softly while I worked.

But Bradley loved it.

The music. The simple story lines. The cheap cardboard sets painted in bright pastels. The titular character--Buddy Wellington--in his rumpled oversized anthropomorphic bear suit. Bradley couldn’t get enough.

His mother and I humored his new Buddy Wellington craze as best we could.

For his sixth birthday, he insisted on a cake crudely decorated with images from Playtime Jamboree and for Halloween that same year his grandmother made him a tiny brown bear costume with buttons for eyes.

“I’m Buddy Wellington,” he told me proudly with a growl. “I’ll eat you if you misbehave. Gobble you up, in my cave.”

I’d snapped a few pictures with my phone and beat a hasty retreat before he could run through the whole song about minding your elders and behaving.

Now, I can hear some of you silently judging me. Why not more enthusiasm for your son’s interests? Why no interest in something he loves? It wasn’t like I wasn’t there. No absentee parenting from me. No, sir. I’d watched a few episodes with Bradly early on.

It was nothing special, I assure you.

Just a guy—probably in his mom’s basement—wearing a cheap homemade bear suit of mismatched faux fur and dancing around with a tambourine or ukulele and talking in a shrill Mickey-esque voice about dental hygiene and the like.

Harmless.

Familiar.

So, when my son brought up the contest, I didn’t think much of it.

Enter Now For A Chance To Appear As A Special Guest On Buddy Wellington’s Playtime Jamboree

The hand drawn, canary yellow letters, scrolled slowly across the bottom of the screen as the credits rolled—listing a PO box for entry’s to be mailed to.

“Please, Dad. Can I do that? Pretty please?” He pointed at the TV.

“You want to be on the show? What for?”

“It’d be so cool. Please? I just have to write in saying why I love Buddy Wellington. I can do it by myself. Please, Dad? Pleeeeassseee?”

I thought about my own mother—harassed into letting me order a Nickelodeon Magazine subscription from TV all those years ago, and smiled.

“Make sure you write down the address next time it’s on. We’ll have your mom buy some stamps.”

After all, surely hundreds--if not thousands-- of kids were writing in to this contest every day.

What could it hurt?

<><><><><><><><><><><><>

Bradley agonized over his letter all week.

First, writing out a rough draft in pencil on an old yellow legal pad before transferring it painstakingly in pen onto a blank two dollar JUST BECAUSE card that featured a dancing bear in a leotard.

We dropped it into the mailbox Friday morning on our way to his school. Postmarked for somewhere in Nevada.

Bradley was a ball of energy in the backseat. Just couldn’t stop talking about how excited he was to meet Buddy Wellington and all the adventures he was going to have in Jamboree Valley. His mom and I tried to gently brace him for the likely bitter outcome.

“Honey, just remember, a lot of other boys and girls are going to send in letters too,” my wife told him. “So even if Buddy doesn’t pick you, that doesn’t mean he didn’t like your letter.”

“He’ll like it,” said Bradley thoughtfully. “He just has to. Mine was special.”

Another week went by. Or maybe two. It’s hard to remember.

Bradley watched his program religiously—learning to mind his please and thank you’s—the contest seemingly forgot. I’ll admit, I checked the mailbox in vicarious anticipation those first few days to my own slight pangs of disappointment.

Nothing.

And then came the news that Buddy Wellington was being cancelled with one final episode to air.

Bradley was inconsolable.

I tried to explain about ratings. Demographics and market shares and the like. But Bradley’s eyes had a tendency to glaze whenever I said things like ROI, profitability or gross margin.

“But what about the horses,” he moaned, burying his face in a couch cushion.

“What horses?”

“The horses of Jamboree Valley. If Buddy Wellington goes away who will take care of them?”

“They’ll be fine,” I said, without looking up from my phone. “Horses are smart. Maybe we can find a new show?”

He didn’t seem impressed with my suggestion.

“I don’t want a new show I want Buddy Wellington!”

He shrieked like a cat on fire and beat his little fists and heels against the carpet. I carried him to his room and dropped him on the bed, popped a VHS recording of Playtime Jamboree in the VCR and left him to self-soothe to the silly singing of Buddy Wellington.

Come with me

Have no cares

There’s fun to be had

When you play with bears

<><><><><><><><><><><><>

By dinner that night things were back on an even keel.

Bradley’s tantrum had subsided to a minor sulk. He was pouting, sure, but talkative, as we tucked into a chicken casserole.

Afterward, we put on a family movie and Bradley played with his Legos.

By nine o’clock it was his bedtime; my wife took him upstairs for a bath and tuck-in. By nine forty-five she came creeping back down the steps.

“He’s really upset about this whole Buddy Wellington thing,” she said.

“This time next month it’ll be Power Rangers or something,” I assured her. “Kid’s fads come and go all the time. He’ll get over it.”

We switched the DVD out for something a little more age appropriate and climbed into bed a little after eleven.

I peeked my head in Bradley’s door on my way to the bedroom. A small snoring mound shrouded in blankets and lit by the greenish-blue glow of the old Panasonic as another taped Playtime Jamboree episode wound down softly.

I hit the power button on the base of the TV before I closed the door to his room.

<><><><><><><><><><><><>

I was awoken by my wife’s frantic shouts.

“Bradley? Bradley get out here right now! Bradley, I’m serious.”

I rolled onto my side and squinted through bleary eyes at the bedside alarm clock. 7:38 AM.

My wife appeared in the doorway looking frantic. “Have you seen Bradley?”

I rubbed a hand across my eyes, not really comprehending her. “Is there coffee on, babe?”

“Bradley! Has he come in here? He’s not in his bed.”

“What?”

“He’s not in his room! He’s not anywhere! Are you listening to me?” She bolted from the room and hurried down the hall shouting his name.

Something hot burst in my bowels and shot through my extremities like a coil of hot copper wiring. I threw back the covers and raced to his room in my underwear.

“Bradley? Where you at buddy?” I whipped the rumpled coverlet off his bed—exposing a host of tangled sheets and pillows, stuffed animals and empty air.

A little voice—soft and unfamiliar—had begun a terrible mantra inside my head.

OhmyGodOhmyGodOhmyGod

Again, and again in time to my quickening heartbeat.

The closet

I pulled the sliding double doors apart hard and thrust my head into the small dark space that smelled like my son.

“Bradley? You hiding? Come out come out. You’re gonna be in big trouble, mister.”

I pulled out shirts and little pairs of jeans. Nerf guns and baseballs and bags of Legos.

Nothing

Downstairs my wife had torn the living room apart. Couches stood away from walls with cushions strewn about. The coat closet by the front door was empty—the vacuum standing sad sentry beside a pile of our winter wear.

"Bradley, where are you baby?” She was hysterical; her face twisted and red with tears and snot. “Please come out. You’re scaring Mommy.”

“Have you checked the garage?” I demanded. “The attic? The yard?”

She could only sob. “My baby! My baby! Bradley!”

This isn’t happening, I thought as I punched through the back door and out onto the patio. This kind of thing doesn’t happen in real life.

Oh, it’s real, said the little poisonous voice inside me. He’s probably dead, you know.

The grass was slick with morning dew and my bare feet sank with a squelch. I didn’t care.

“Bradley? Come on out, buddy!” I called his name over and over. BradleyBradleyBradley. Until the words and letters ran together into a string of nonsense. A holy chant. A magic spell.

I was on my second circuit of the houses perimeter when I saw it and froze.

A disturbance in the muddy flowerbed outside the living room window. Footprints—long, unnaturally long—sunk deep in the dirt. Smudgy indistinct handprints on either side of the window pane. A fat serrated tear made in the mesh screen.

I started screaming in horrible understanding.

<><><><><><><><><><><><>

Local cops showed up within thirty-five minutes. Guys from the FBI and local news rolled in a few hours after that.

It’s big business when a six-year-old boy disappears.

We put up posters with his smiling face on them.

MISSING: BRADLEY L. THEILS

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BOY

We searched the surrounding woods arm in arm with volunteer searchers. We had candlelight vigils. We set up hotlines and websites and billboards. We went on Larry King and cried and pleaded for our son’s safe return.

Tips and calls flooded in. He was seen at a Florida gas station. No, he was living out of a homeless youth shelter, somewhere. No, he'd been taken by a Satanic cult as a human sacrifice.

But the leads went nowhere. No fingerprints. No signs of a struggle. Whoever it was had taken Bradley right out the front door.

And a little over a month later authorities called off the active search for my son.

It was heartbreaking.

We kept up the website and the billboards as long as we could afford to. But as weeks turned into months as fewer and fewer people came forward with leads, it began to feel like a siphon on our bank accounts.

My wife moved out the day the last billboard came down.

I don’t blame her, really. It was hard on both of us.

I tried to keep up my old routine. Find some new normal. But the not knowing gnawed at me. Kept me up at night. Was Bradley alive somewhere? Lost? Did he miss us?

Don’t kid yourself, he’s dead

That little voice was never quiet long. I did my best not to listen.

And then one day I got the package.

I found it jammed in my mailbox after work. A large manila envelope with my name written on the front in fat black marker. Funny, I didn’t remember ordering anything. It had no postal markings and felt strangely heavy for such a small thing.

Inside, I found an old VHS tape. The words ‘1:12 “Goodbye,”’ were written on a new white sticker across the front of the tape.

Some part of me knew I should call the police. Or agent Fields from the FBI. Someone. Anyone.

But another part of me knew I had to watch. To see what was on the tape.

At first, I thought it was broken. Nothing but static filled the TV screen as the VCR whirred and clicked. Maybe heat or age had warped it.

The static cut away suddenly to a large room with wet concrete floors and cinderblock walls half hidden in shadow. Something could be heard dripping steadily off camera. I squinted at the screen—tried to make out more detail of what I was seeing. A table and folding chair and a few oil drums. Not a lot else.

Then the music started. Faint and distorted. Like something being piped to a mic from an old boombox.

Welcome to Playtime Jamboree

A whole lotta fun for you and me

Step in-side and you will see

The friend you’ve got in Buh-uh-dee!

The camera angle shifted slightly, as if the tripod were jostled, and into view from stage left shuffled Buddy Wellington.

Only, this wasn’t the friendly smiling bear I’d come to know from Bradley’s descriptions. Or maybe it was and I’d only ever seen him peripherally.

The costume was old. A dirty patchwork of pelts stapled roughly together at the seams—threadbare in places it was soiled and wet with odd glistening stains under the arms and across the belly. The head, bulbous. A crude approximation of a bear’s face with an elongated snout and open snarling mouth covered in grayish fur and yellow taxidermized teeth. Big eyes—black flinty marbles about the size of my fist—were sewn into place with rough thread.

Buddy Wellington stopped in front of the camera and waved a furry paw.

“Hey, boys and girls. Welcome back to Jamboree Valley. It sure is great to see you all for our last show!” His voice was muffled by the mask. Low and throaty. Like sandpaper over rocks.

He clapped his hands together in excitement and did a kind of jig around the room.

“Today we’re gonna have lots of fun, right?”

I stared in silence.

“But before we get down to fun and games—“he paused and glanced about mischievously, “—let’s bring out our Super Special Guest. Buddy’s bestest friend and the winner of the ‘Why I love Buddy Wellington Competition’…little Bradley Theils! Come on over here Bradley!”

Icey fingers flitted nervously about my heart and my breath caught in my throat.

There was Bradley. My Bradley.

Dressed in his Transformers pajamas and barefoot, he stepped awkwardly in front of the camera.

“Bradley!” My scream caught in my throat and I grabbed the TV by its edges as if proximity to the screen might somehow bring me to my son.

“Bradley!” Screamed Buddy Wellington. “Bradley, everybody! Isn’t he just the greatest? Say hi to everyone watching at home, Bradley.”

Bradley raised an arm and waved. “Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad. HI everyone.”

Buddy Wellingotn held something up. It was the ugly blue and white JUST BECAUSE card Bradley had mailed off. “Bradley really loves me, don’t you Bradley? Tell everybody what you told me in your letter.”

A long string of drool oozed from the corner of Bradleys mouth when he spoke. “I said you’re my bestest friend and I wanted to come live with you and everybody at Jamboree Valley.” He didn’t wipe it away.

“Awwww! I love you too Bradley. And now you’re here how do you like it?” Buddy Wellington laid a fat greasy paw on Bradley’s shoulder.

“It’s pretty cool. I love it.”

His voice sounded lifeless. Slurred.

Buddy Wellington caressed Bradley’s neck—ran a paw down the front of his chest across Optimus Prime’s stern face.

“Well now you’re here as my Special Guest, Bradley! And you don’t ever have to leave! Oh, what fun games do I have planned for you. Now say, so long!”

Bradley waved again. “Goodbye.”

The monstrous bear waved animatedly as he dragged my son off screen.

I'll eat you if you misbehave

Gobble you up

In my cave

The screen went black.

I never saw Bradley again.

<><><><><><><><><><><><>

My son was a Guest Star on Buddy Wellington’s Playtime Jamboree.

Have you heard of this show?

God, I hope not.

#reddit #nosleep #scary #story

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astorplaceriots · 7 years

Text

D is for Do Zobaczenia (See you later): A Peak From Behind the Old Iron Curtain

My final days in Poland are always bittersweet. On one hand, it’s a part of me and one of the places I call home where I can unwind, reset and ignore obligations that otherwise await me upon my return. On the other hand, I can’t wait to get back on the saddle fast enough.

It’s bittersweet for my friends and family here as well. Not only us, but any visitors are a catalyst for excitement in this small town. Friends have admitted that they haven’t seen one other as much as they do during our visit. Unfortunately, and/or out of necessity, people revert to their regularly scheduled programming and go about their days and weeks tending to their homes and immediate families moreso than to neighbors or friends. Obla Di, Obla Da, right?

Old, abandoned house but rest assured the lawn is mowed.

People here go at a snail’s pace (HUGE-AS$ snail though! Cig for reference)

They sometimes lament that despite minor shifts and adjustments, nothing truly changes here. This is true. I can confirm this after approximately 36 visits across 39 years. I’m sure someone can argue the details, but on its surface Poland has rightfully been the poster-child for EU success. In a brilliant way, modernization, the internet, access to capital, goods and social media have improved the infrastructure, commerce and transport in Poland without fundamentally altering its essence otherwise. I think a lot of that is due to towns like Goniadz, which seem to marinate like my favorite Polish dill pickles; in a conserva (preserve) that’s made from a timeless and simple recipe, in a no-fuss container, using homegrown ingredients. The result is a balance of flavor that’s a little crisp, salty, tangy and ultimately just right so that you have no need to alter things next time around.

Where the streets have no name

Actually, they do. It’s not THAT primitive! This way to a New World. (Literal translation)

One of my dearest friends back home recently introduced me to a basic personality construct that she, and now I, find quite useful. You have to temporarily ignore the source (Tony Robbins). He has a notion of 6 human needs/truths: Certainty, Uncertainty, Love & Connection, Growth, Significance and Contribution. All of these are important, but everyone can rank their top three as a fundamental driver of ‘self’.

I think a lot of people are tempted to say Oh Love & Connection, obviously! And yes, having TLC is vital to humanity and is, again, why Robbins claims all of these are important. But I find that making the affirmation of TLC is a cop-out approach to the ranking. To truly test which were THE MOST important, I applied two logic exercises; one of extremes (consider each in their most extreme case), and second, a logic of negation. All else considered equal, in the absence of X would your personal algorithm to happiness still hold true?

I used Goniadz as my test for Significance and realized how high a value I actually placed on that. Its not my top need, but it’s surprisingly up there. All else considered equal, would I be happy in this remote corner of the world? It’s not to say that this place isn’t significant, nor is it a matter of my ego in needing to feel important. People here determine their own definition of significance: perhaps by what service they provide to the town, (pharmacist, baker, cosmetologist); perhaps by their material surroundings (a nicer home here than what they might have elsewhere). Or perhaps significance doesn’t rank as high as — lets say — certainty. You can be quite certain and predictable about what the next few months here will look like. The commute itself in New York City makes each-and-every-day as precarious and often unusual as you could possibly imagine.

I’m a bit like Fleischman here. Like him, you take the same person/work/weaknesses/strengths/everything and drop me into the far corners of the planet - I can truly enjoy and appreciate the experience! For a while. But at the end of the day, the absence of the city and its accompanied significance (whether validated or fake) would leave my soul unsatiated.

Dr. Joel Fleischman. I LOOOVED this show and crushed on his Woody Allenesque quirky, witty NY character. I’m not so rough around the edges when it comes to being outdoors though; I can pull off flannel and a fur hat quite well thankyouverymuch.

As I cuddled Olin to bed last night, he muttered that he wished we were staying longer. That’s how I know it’s time to leave. He’s becoming annoyingly combative with his sisters out of boredom and exhaustion from doing language translations all day, and all the kids are beginning to retreat too frequently to iPads in the house when they should be outside. But they’ve loved the freedom of having zero daily agendas, guaranteed love and friendship as soon as they open the front door, multiple babcias feeding them an assortment of homemade eastern european staples, 11pm bedtimes and at minimum two ice creams per day (forget communism, this place is fucking anarchy)! Which means they’ll look forward to coming back next time; as I always do too.

Moje Polskie serce

#poland summer17 astorplaceriots

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kimberlyrupert · 7 years

Photo

At the hospital with this little one - he would finally agree to let me hold his hand.

June 2015

We had just gotten back from a long family vacation, and waiting nearly a year on the adoptive placement that we believed would complete our family. We received the call at Epcot, and we were all so excited that we could hardly focus on anything else. He was our son’s age, and he had been in foster care nearly four years. We spoke to him daily via Skype until we arrived home. He would arrive from his respite placement the day after we got home. We rushed around preparing, gathering things he would like, and looking for things that would make him feel like part of our family.

My three kids, two of them biological, spent almost 8 hours making a poster. They designed every letter in SpongeBob characters, and spent hours coloring, cutting and creating. They were considering everything: what would make him feel welcome, wanted and loved.

Dan was sent on a business trip the day we returned home so he wouldn’t meet our new son for three more days. The doorbell rang around 8 am, and we all went to the door. There he stood, tiny-framed for an eight-year-old, the pain of loss and abandonment heavy on his little shoulders. His loving case worker smiled her biggest smile and introduced us. As our crowd backed into the air conditioning, they pointed to the sign hanging on the wall. He didn’t look at it.

We moved into the living room and what began has left permanent marks on all our hearts. As I signed paperwork, gathered up medications, prescheduled doctor visit information and a brown box with everything he owned in it, the kids tried to engage him. He went on to share every swear word he knew, pooped his pants on the couch, threatened my son, and told me and his case worker to shut up. He wanted so much to be part of a family. This was so not human. I had had many hours of video conversations with him at this point, but he was exceptionally mentally unstable.

The case worker left and I felt a nagging fear start to shadow over my heart. We consider ourselves very loyal people, and are determined to honor commitments. I immediately felt that we had ruined our home and future. He went on for two and a half days, escalating as he stayed. He hurt the dog, he hurt the kids, he threw and broke things, and he used the entire house as his restroom. He cussed continuously and had no shame addressing me like we were in an adult movie. Over that two days, my children became more and more sad. I started crying around day two and couldn’t get my composure back. In the afternoon, my mountain girls (part of my Tribe) sent me a big package full of Spiderman things and gifts for our family. I added a new emotion to my fear list: failure.

I called Dan who felt horror over the words I was using, emotions we were feeling, and the threat of permanency. He couldn’t get home any sooner. Day three was the crescendo. My girlfriend reached out and asked me to bring the kids over. I told her I was too afraid we would wreck her home. She said that she would manage the newest one, and the rest of us could just eat a meal. Even now, remembering her kindness gives me new resolve to raise up the arms of every foster parent that I can.

We went over, Dan landed at the airport, and my girls cried. My face was swollen from crying, and I hadn’t eaten in three days. Dan knocked on their front door, and I collapsed into his arms. We put our children in the car and came home. When we arrived, our foster son threw a clay disk at our daughter, slapped her, cursed and I ran up as it happened. The most painful part of this incident is that she was sitting next to him trying to read to him. Despite the horror of all we had been through, the physical injuries and the words, she had Jesus’ love left in her to give. She was holding her teenage neck and crying where she had been hit, and ran to get away. I reached for him and tried to get him to sit down and reason with me. We were at the top of the stairs, and he would not calm down. I was so afraid he would fall down the stairs. He punched me in the face, bit me and cursed. In this moment, Dan was running up the stairs after me and we looked at each other. Both us were sobbing, but fully knew we were not able to parent this child and keep our other children safe. He softly shook his head “no” to me and I knew it was over.

I had to file the physical incidents with the county, so I made the call. They asked me if we needed him removed tonight. I begged them to wait to change his placement until the next day. He had gotten his medicine taken and I knew he would fall asleep soon. We sent our teens to our neighbor’s home, where they were met with shoulders and tissues and love by another foster family who could help them talk through this trauma. We put our son in our bedroom and locked the door. We focused on getting this one to sleep. He refused, saying that he would only lay down if he could have the dog bed. The dog was hidden in our room and we decided not to fight about the appropriateness of that spot for sleeping. He curled up on the dog bed, refusing covers, love, words or any human interaction. As he lay there, he talked about killing our son (whom he called “poop boy”) to a person not in the room, discussed taking our keys and driving away in the van, and burning down our house while we slept. I don’t think I could ever accurately describe the horror of this situation to me. He weighed about 40 pounds, curled up on the dog bed, yelling out obscenities and refusing sleep. When he finally dozed off, we held each other and cried. The effects of sin are horrible. The effects of sin he didn’t commit on this innocent child burned my eyes.

We spent 12 hours the next day holding on to this child in the emergency room at Children’s Hospital. The agency didn’t have anyone to take him there, so they asked us to. Dan took off work, people took care of our children, and we went with him. After trying everything, they attempted to transport him in an ambulance to a psych facility, and asked me to ride with him. He had known us for 2 weeks, but ironically, we would be the closest thing to parents he had. Before the ambulance took off, he had climbed out of the bed, bit me again, and was heading for the driver. We had to abort the plan, head back inside the ER, and force sedation.

He fought sleep for 20 minutes. I stood beside him, attempting to pet his hair, touch his cheek and hold his hand. He refused every gesture of love and mothering I could offer. My mother’s heart is still so wounded at the thought of a small boy who could not receive love from me, even in those desperate moments fighting sedation and terror. I saw the terror in his face multiple times that day. When he was finally asleep, I kissed him, touched his hair and face, and we had to say goodbye. We knew when he awakened we would not be his parents anymore. That is still a tough spot to wade through in my heart.

The Hospital team told us they had never seen anything like us. They said normally “these” children are dropped at the door by foster parents, and no one comes inside. Oh, Jesus, the brokenness of this world. Even as we drove our swollen eyes home, picked up our children, and piled onto the couch to hold each other, we knew we had made the right decision for our family. Peace had settled again over our home almost supernaturally.

That day of watching him fight doctors, nurses, bite an aide, punch, kick, yell and curse was one of the worst days of my life. But I do know now that I needed to be there. I could never had known how broken a small abandoned child could be, how much pain foster parents could experience, or how to let God heal our family and bring us closer to Him and each other.

#rupert7 ap2.0 adoption failedplacement fostercare

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