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kikiyakno · 3 years

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✧ Little Star

Date → Some day during the week prior to the Masquerade event. Feb 2021 Setting → Kian’s Grandparent’s Home. Santa Monica, California Triggers → None, but does include descriptors of fish cutting so if that’s not your cup of tea... Mentioned → Yi Jae-Sang , Seong Sunwoo , Brandon Kelly, Song Minjoon , Maverick Maxwell, Yong Chul Synopsis → ★ Stars are born when large gas clouds collapse under gravity.

The invitation was weird, it was random, it definitely was fishier than whatever fish it was Kian’s grandmother was scaling on the cutting board, but Kian held the weirdrandomandveryfishy invitation close to his chest. This was it. This was exactly the shimmering gold ticket his family and their restaurant needed that would definitely turn everything around.

Except…Gyeonggi Grill was having no part of it.

Just about every eatery in Pico was on board, even the ones Kian didn’t particularly think should be serving food (looking at you Pete’s Palace) and the ones he personally considered to be competition. There was no haste in the flood of Facebook posts on his feed of businesses confirming and promoting their attendance in response to the mysterious invite. It was hard not to feel the clamoring excitement over a party at an art museum. The more he refreshed pages, the more he heard about people talking of it between deliveries, the more Kian felt that this was possibly the shining light for Gijis to be seen again. They would sign up, get paid for it, and best of all to serve new people ~rich people~ to ultimately bring business back in.

This big chance and his grandparents were radio silent. Kian couldn’t understand.

“Momo,” Kian whined loudly to his grandmother with a soft bounce on his heel. Even with his call the older woman didn’t look up from her work and feed into his melodramatic call. He huffed, the lack of response making his brows deepen further in frustration. “Momo, everyone who’s anyone will be there. They’re paying vendors to be there. This went out to a ton of people, probably everyone we know! Seriously! Everyone’s talking about it. This isn’t just something someone planned on the block, yakno. It’s a huge deal.”

The pressed enunciations of his words make Kian stop to take a breath. In consideration, he defaulted to speaking in Korean when he was at home and not surrounded by any of his friends. His grandparents had never requested that he do so, but on his own Kian decided that it was a respectful gesture. Just because English was his preferred language, forcing them to speak it with him didn’t seem fair. It takes him seconds to catch his breath before Kian starts up again.

“This party is exactly what we need, Momo. We can serve…..we can serve the soy garlic chicken! And you know people absolutely love our fried chicken. They talk about how good it is all the time! You know normal chicken places in America don’t double fry. And when they try, it sucks. That’s what makes ours so good! We can stand out with that! Guaranteed!”

His grandma still didn’t respond, head down and much busier in her re-work of separating scales from the fish. However, there was a soft smile that had made a way to her face now. The passion and sincerity in his voice tickled her ears, especially when a little twist of the accent Kian had arrived at her doorstep with slipped free. Her grandson spoke with fire but not the kind that sought to burn others. He also spoke awfully fast. Which wasn’t too out of the norm for her grandson. Years ago she noticed Jae, Sunwoo, and Kian all shared that oddity.

The lull in the room pressed in on Kian and he broke through it with a giant huff. He waited still, watching her work the knife with expertise. He bit his lip to stop the clench of his jaw and the tightness from impatience building in his throat.

“Mo—“ “Do you want to cut the fish? It’s your favorite before I clean it.”

Cut short mid breath, Kian blinked wide at the knife being placed aside for him. She still didn’t look at him, but stepped aside for him to join her. The words sitting on his tongue blew away on a sigh, obediently setting the invite away and beelining to the sink to wash his hands. He steps beside her to take the knife as he starts cutting through the skin. The silence lingers on, aside from the edge of the knife occasionally drags against the cutting board. Kian works as asked, but fast. His cuts are clean and precise despite having his conversation stalled.

“You aren’t listening to me.” He says in an undertone, looking down at his work as he goes. “I am, Ki-Hyun. I am listening.” Her voice is fond and silvery. Kian knew he was doing his cutting well. “Then why aren’t we joining everyone? Why aren’t we preparing for the event, Momo. We can serve food there.” “...” “They will give us money. They pay, it won’t be free yakno.” “...” “A lot of people will be there. A lot of people who will love our food like they used to.” “...” “Maybe it’ll be enough money to help us catch up, Momo.” “Kiki, please slow down and watch your cut.” “Please stop ignoring what I am saying.” Kian’s voice rises a few notches from his soft mutter. He pauses his cutting, noting how his clean work had suffered as he had tried to discuss. He evaluates briefly if his volume had gone too high to be seen as disrespectful, or if he could go on. Soon after he disregards his worry. He was tired of making these pleas and not getting answers. “Why are we not participating? Why aren’t we going?”

The sharpness in his tone takes her by surprise, but she is no stranger to determination. She can’t fight the look on her grandson’s face anymore, sighing herself before she gingerly responds.“...We can’t afford to close an entire day, Ki-Hyun. That’s a day’s business lost.”

“They’ll pay twice that! Maybe triple than what we make in a day!”

“We can’t guarantee that, Ki.”

“I can! It’s all over Facebook! Twitter! Other businesses saying they’ll be there and got paid! Remember when I made those accounts for us? People have tagged us—ah, mentioned us! They want to know if we’ll be there.” His voice brightens, contrasting her modulated one. His falters down instantly, however, seeing how her eyes widen then dampen in gentle confusion. Social media was still an entirely new world language for her. “Customers that are going to the party are asking about our food being there. They want us to be there too, Momo.” He defines for her with warmth. Kian can see her understand with his explanation, but she looks away from him before he can see a different turmoil in her eyes.

“We can’t gamble on something everyone else sees as lucrative. And...it would have to be more than a day to prepare for such a large number of people…that means we would have to close for longer to accommodate. Everyone on our staff would have to work longer.”

“Right, and then I’ll get Jae and DaeDae and Mason, and some of my new friends to help us all out and make things easier. And-and Minjoon loves being in the kitchen. If not, him and Chul have networks online too! I know they’d be super happy to help us find the hands we need. Maverick likes food trucks and stuff, he could talk to people! Oh, and Brandon might could help us with clothes and let us borrow something nice to go in!”

“Ki-Hyun.”

“He would find you a really nice dress. Remember I told you that’s what he does, yakno? He’s really good at it. Remember he called me from out of town? He was in a Fashion Show out of state! People love his stuff!”

“Ki-Hyun.”

“And you know Jae would probably take off all his jobs to help. DaeDae would help too. Buuttt he’s the only one we might have to pay with food, so—” “Ki-Hyun.” Kian stops. Moreso to take a breath than to listen.

“Ki-Hyun, we don’t even have enough in our inventory right now to do so.”

“Yes we do, we—” “Kiki.”

Kian blinked wide, and she simply shook her head against it. He hadn’t even finished! Each idea of his was shot down in seconds.

Excuses, excuses, excuses. These weren’t answers they were excuses. He didn’t notice how his hands had started trembling or how an ill taste of bitterness wrapped around his tongue.

“Maybe if you stopped preparing that sweet chili wing combo every Monday and Wednesday night, we would have enough.”

“Kian!”

“Momo, if Sunwoo was going to come back he would’ve by now. I told you that. But you still do that every night for two days a week. It’s been a month. That’s four weeks. Combos come with six pieces, but you give him two extra. So that’s about thirty-two pieces of meat we’ve had to throw out in the last month because of one person that could’ve fed five or more people.”

Kian knew he had crossed a line and he could see it in her face. He braced for anything, but she only fired right back at him.“And I will keep making what I want for him because those are his nights he works late. It’s too late and dangerous for him to stop anywhere else!”

“You don’t get it. He doesn’t CARE!” Exploding, Kian lets knife go to drop onto the table as his world suddenly blurs. “He doesn’t care! He-He doesn’t care and he won’t come back! They aren’t coming back. Cause they don’t care. They don’t care. And YOU don’t care!” Kian steps back, immediately remorseful but a throaty sob obstructs his apology. The busy pattern on his grandma’s shirt melds into one in the watery world. “You don’t care! You won’t let me help. You don’t think I know we’re behind! I work because I know we’re in trouble. But you and Grandpa keep...trying to HIDE it and not make me worry. But that just makes it worse! I worry anyways! I’m 27 now and you’re getting older, but I see you work every single day. Then you come home, tired, but then for ME you pretend we’re doing okay when we’re not. We’re NOT!! No matter what we do it’s not enough. I keep working and working and working and working but it’s just not enough! It’s not enough for you to stop pretending like I can’t help! It’s not enough for my friends to feeling like they don’t have to baby me and take care of me and pay for me to eat all the time! It’s not enough for me to ever see you stop working, or rest well at night, or for us to think about taking road trips like we used to or flying away on vacation!” Kian stops to wipe his face with his sleeves in a rush, face wet as though he had been standing in rain. He pushes his face into them to have his cry, only to feel his chest heave in harder when in the brief darkness he only imagines the glittering, serene lights of Paris. He shuts his eyes tighter and tears his face away in a hurry, feeling the accumulation of months of his world caving in on itself finally collapsing on top of him.

“I-I’m tired, halmeoni. I’m tired of us pretending. This is our one chance and you say no! Why are you giving it up so easily? Why are you giving up?! Wh-wh-why am I the only one who cares? N-N-No one cares! No one cares but me!”

Kian feels like he’s going to give way again before strong arms pull him close from behind. He breaks regardless, knowing now that at some point his Grandfather had come into the room. At this point Kian’s grief commanded his outburst.

“I’m sorry i’m not Kyung-soo. I’m sorry i’m not good like Kyung-soo so you could finally rest and have plenty of money and friends and nice clothes like he does. If I wasn’t here your family would love you and send you the money you need and you wouldn’t be dealing with this. They won’t even help you because of me. It’s my fault. I’m so sorry we can’t be happy and enjoy things like normal people. I’m so—!”

Kian felt warm hands take his cheeks and his body be squeezed harder. Momo had been hushing him and only at her touch had he quieted. He didn’t know how long she had been trying to, but his Grandfather’s face was buried heavy into his shoulder. Momo smiled, relieved to see that she had gotten through to him, but Kian could finally see her face was just as wet—and tired—as his. As familiar as she was to determination, her heart ached to see overwhelming frustration cripple the brightest heart she knew. She could be angry, she could be upset, but while Kian said one thing, she heard another. Hopes, wishes, blame, and shame but most of all that passion and sincerity. Yes, it hurt to be the one hit by his fire this time, but this detonation of Kian’s was different than all the others she seen before it. She swiped over his cheeks with her thumbs, still working on a smile despite her own tears.

"Don’t let go of any of those dreams of yours, little one. We will figure this out just like we’ve figured out everything else. Keep hoping. It’ll be alright. I promise.”

#— self para.#[ :) ]

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bleufrost · 4 years

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Crawl Home to Her || A Ben Hanscom Series

Chapter Two: The Call

masterlist

story summary

rating: m for graphic depictions of violence, gore, and adult themes

Nothing was making any sense anymore. After the incident in the bathroom, Ali was finding it difficult to know what she could believe. Obviously her eyes were playing tricks on her, but the fresh scars on her wrists that had not been there before told a different story and pleaded the validity of what she knew she had experienced.

The sharp ringing of her cellphone cuts through the air and startles her for what feels like the fiftieth time in the past few days. Picking it up, she looks at the screen to feel yet another sense of dread that she can't quite place the cause of. An unsaved number lit up the screen, Maine written in smaller letters directly underneath. When was the last time she had thought of Maine? Why was it causing her hands to shake and leaving her wondering whether or not she should pick up? The phone nearly comes to a stop before she quickly presses the button that answers the call. She lifts it shakily to her ear and takes a deep breath.

"Hello?" On the other end there is a quick sigh of relief before a voice responds. "Hey Ali, it's Mike. Um, Mike Hanlon from Derry."

Ali's knees seem to go numb beneath her and she quickly finds herself losing balance. She moves to sit on the bed and swallows down the panic stirring within her. "Oh wow, hi Mike. I...really wasn't expecting to hear from you." Michael let's out another breath and the rustling of his movements echoes into the phone. "Yeah, I've heard that quite a few times recently. Ali, something's happened and I promise to explain more later but I really just need you to come meet us the day after tomorrow."

There's a look of confusion and concern etched on her face as she processes what Mike just told her. This has to have something to do with the weird things that she was seeing; there was no way that Mike calling was a coincidence when it coincided so perfectly with everything else. Just as part of her was hesitant to pick up the call to begin with, she was also hesitant to agree to meet with him again. She knew there was no way to deny him though, not when she had all but forgotten he existed until just moments ago.

"Ali, are you still there?" Mike sounds a little nervous, maybe even desperate. There was something else that he said that was gnawing at her though. "Mike, when you say 'us,' who are you talking about?"

****

Walking up to the restaurant, Jade of the Orient, was possibly the most nerve wracking thing Ali had done in years. Stopping in front of the entrance, she plays with the zipper of her jacket and does what she does best; allows her anxiety to overcome her. This may have all been a huge mistake. Mike had clarified a little more about who exactly she would be seeing here, but the details and memories were all extremely fuzzy. It was as if there was a mist layered over her childhood that no matter how hard she tried to see past, it was far too thick.

These people had not seen her in years. She had put a lot of effort into becoming someone she could look at and love; most of which was in vain, but still, there was a stark difference between who she was and who she has become. Her black glasses still framed her face and her unruly hair still blew wildly in the wind, but that was nearly as far as the similarities ended. Would they hate her for becoming someone new? Was she even someone new; or was she still the same scared little girl that allowed the opinions and eyes of others obstruct her ability to see herself the way in which she truly was? This was without a doubt a mistake and the tug of fear instantly turns from a dull pull to a sharp stab that drives her away from the restaurant; away from them. Before she can move to turn back to her car and leave, a gentle voice carries through the wind and graces her ears; acting as a beam of light that breaks apart the mist.

"You want a lollipop?" The voice halts every movement she was making and any that she was even considering. It takes her back to a time she swore that she had forgotten about long ago, yet standing here now she wonders how she could have ever allowed it to slip away.

****

It felt like yesterday, sitting on the steps of school and waiting patiently for Beverly to make her way out the front doors. It was the last day of the school year and Ali had decided to forego her last class, opting instead to sit outside and draw her newest interest. A boy named Ben Hanscom had recently started attending school here and Beverly had introduced him to her friend not long after she ran into him in the hall. He was extremely adorable and honestly interesting to talk to; much smarter than most of the other kids that went here anyway. He was quiet and really liked to read, something she found comfort in when all the rest of the school appeared far too loud.

Kids started filtering out around her, and it wasn’t long before shouts could be heard in the yard. Looking up, Ali saw Henry Bowers tormenting a group of kids that she had had a few interactions with in the past. They all shared a common habit of constantly being picked on by Bowers, Greta, and the awful group that followed the two leaders around. Greta was nowhere in sight, giving Ali a chance to breathe for once, until the commotion in front of her got a little more physical and Ali felt as though it was only right to help out the group of boys who had done the same for her on a few previous occasions.

“You have some big balls beating up on people who are smaller than you, Bowers!” Ali stood tall against the boy and his friends, staring him down as much as her smaller stature could. Henry looked back at her for a moment with shock on his face, but that lasted for only the briefest of moments before it turned into a sneer. He threw glances at his gang and erupted into laughter.

“Oh yeah you ugly fucking bitch? I bet you would love to see my balls. Too bad that easy friend of yours is the only one who can get any action. You’d know, right? I’m sure you try all the time but no one’s willing to sleep with a fucking four eyed piece of shit like you!” The sting of tears sparks within her at his words, but she refuses to let them spill; there were few things she was not willing to do in order to ensure that Bowers was not granted the satisfaction of successfully hurting someone else.

Straightening the glasses on her face, Ali looks back at him with a twinkle in her eye that Bill, Richie, Eddie, and Stan had all come to learn meant she was about to say something that would end the argument. “I can’t do anything about needing to wear glasses, but you can do something about that ugly ass mullet on your head. Seems to me like we’re both ugly, but you’re the dumbass that’s choosing to look like that.” Bowers’ eyes come alight with anger and Richie hollers about a murder having taken place. Bill, knowing that she won’t back down just as much as Henry will refuse to, starts to make a commotion that gets the attention of the police officers standing off to the side. Henry quickly looks behind Ali and makes eye contact with the officers, he reaches down and pulls the sketchbook out of her hand, ripping a few pages and throwing it to the floor before turning and motioning for his gang to follow behind him.

“Thanks for the help.” Stan nods to you and the rest of the boys offer up a smile as they turn and start running off, Richie still screaming about the look on Henry’s face. Ali also smiles, but that fades quickly when Beverly comes up behind her smelling slightly like garbage and leans down to pick up the book and torn drawings.

“Everything alright?” Ali sighs and faces Bev, shrugging and brushing off a stray piece of trash from her shoulder. “Just about alright as it usually is.” The two girls make their way back to the stairs to grab the rest of Ali’s stuff, only to find the way blocked by the new kid, Ben.

“Is there a password or something?” Beverly smiles and laughs as Ben fumbles with his stuff nervously. It was abundantly clear that the poor kid had already fallen victim to, not only the typical pains of being new at school, but also the all too common sting of being an easy target for bullying.

When it is clear that Beverly is messing with him, he returns the laugh. Ali giggles as well, picking up her backpack once he has moved a bit, and reaching in to find something that she hoped would make everyone’s day a little sweeter. Passing one to Beverly and then unwrapping her own, she steps forward and smiles at Ben, holding out her hand.

“You want a lollipop?”

****

Turning around, the face that had eluded her for years finally became clear

Tags: (im tagging everyone who has interacted with the previous posts about this story, but if you don’t want to be tagged please just send me a message, I completely understand!)

@somebody-to-rock-you @spiritsent @alexther11 @floralpiper @thesmittenkitkat @goldenmoonbeam @daisysinadarkmedow @auggusst @isabellathedreamer @makbubblefandom @1988-fiend

message me if you want to be added to the list!

a/n: i appreciate every read, like, reblog, and comment so so much! feedback is always welcome and i hope you guys are enjoying this. the next chapter will HEAVILY involve ben, i promise!!

merry christmas loves!

#it chapter 2 x reader #it chapter two x reader #it chapter two #it chapter one #it chapter 2 #it 2019 #it 2017 #ben hanscom fanfic #ben hanscom x reader #ben hanscom #richie tozier #richie toizer x reader #beverly marsh #bill denbrough #mike hanlon #eddie kaspbrak #stanley uris #jay ryan fanfic #jay ryan

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esuteryc · 5 years

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Short-lived

In the building of a call center, hundreds of thousands of phone calls flooded the switchboard operators’ offices at an abnormal rate requesting for emergency dispatches. The first responders were naturally sent to the scenes. A lot of events were unfolding in various places. Somewhere in the suburbs firefighters had to put out the flames engulfing a house, at a different neighborhood medical officers were wheeling out body bags on the stretchers into their ambulances, and meanwhile a unit of police officers was dispatched to investigate a reported disturbance occurring in the nearby areas. While the media outlets broadcast the news on a daily basis, I seldom paid attention to it until I was involved in the unexpected catastrophe. I was in Chinatown when it began. My coworkers and I work in the Waste Management and we happened to end our shifts an hour before twelve. They wanted to go to "Golden Wok" for lunch today but I wanted to go home. Nevertheless, I was forced to tag along with them. The food we ordered would unfortunately be my last meal. Upon digestion I find myself in the restroom and the ten minutes I spent inside the stall was all it took. By the time I rejoined my coworkers, the world has already changed and tipped against humanity’s favor.

Chinatown, an attraction site for tourists to come experience exquisite foreign food, ironically has become a different type of attraction site and its new clients were eager to order. The new clients were rowdy, crazy, impatient, and hungry and they were already working up an appetite. When I stepped out of the restroom, the customers, including the staffs and my coworkers, were being devoured from head to toe by them. Infighting ignited between the chiefs and the uninvited customers behind the kitchen, the waitresses were being mobbed, and my coworkers were served on the table. Blood splattered on the floor, the counters, and the walls. Broken dishes and chairs were scattered everywhere as they ate. The exit was blocked by the ongoing feast. They were all goners and there was nothing I could do. The only way out was through that glass window. Without a choice, I ran through the glass shattering it with my momentum. I grunted as I got up and I rubbed the broken pieces off of me. The streets were mixed with the sounds of sirens, screams, gunshots, car alarms, and car honks. I need to get out of here. My goal right now was to get to the parking garage and into my car, which was four blocks away from where I am. While the chaos occurred, I swiftly and stealthily vaulted through the street vendors obstructing me. I also ignored the cries and the pleas of help on my way and I felt sorry but I wasn't sincerely apologetic.

At the vicinity of the parking garage, somebody thought the elevators were still convenient. Ding! When the door was opened the unlucky fool waiting for it was instantly grabbed and dragged into a slaughter. My car was at the fourth level, stairs it is. Huffing and puffing, I got in my Volkswagen, cracked open the window, covered it with my sun shades, and locked my doors. I turned on the radio to tune into 93.9, carefully adjusting the volume as to not capture attention.

"Please stay tune for the following urgent news special bulletin. We will return to our regular schedules programs following this report. Meanwhile, civil unrest is being reported throughout multiple local districts. If you are in an area with a lot of activities, please remain indoors. You are advice to lock up all windows and doors. Evacuation sites will be posted soon. There are numerous reports that riots and outbreaks has started. The cause of them is currently unknown."

It seems like the disaster was being reported nationwide and the news wasn't providing any explanation. I turned off my engine. An evacuation site sounds like an ideal place to go but I wasn't sure about the decision. If this outbreak remains uncontained, there is a hundred percent possibility that any established refuge would fall apart. It will only become more difficult to runaway if I was caught in the midst of that setting. Can I drive back home? Home is miles away and going there now is out of the option given the unknown dangers lurking. For awhile I despaired but when I thought about it again, I was thankful I didn’t act rashly as I would come to regret it later. I'll need to take my chance which is why I decided to wait for this crisis to settle down until the streets were cleared.

My activities following the days I stayed in my car were limited. I was a prepared person. In case of an emergency, I always kept a case of water bottles in my car. I also had a small portion of junk food, fruits, and canned foods which I relied on during this time. I knew this would not be enough so I had to ration and I didn’t venture too far out of my car when I had to take care of "business." As I have predicted, multiple evacuation sites were announced and the news stations were urging everyone to go there. However, within the hours and days, officials were forced to declare that the sites were no longer safe. My food supplies were gone when the news stopped broadcasting and I was near famished. I decided to head out after weeks of lying low. The only thing I had on me was my duffel bag.

I proceeded to the streets in hopes of finding a grocery store. At the intersections littered with abandon vehicles, I was able to find a loaded Mossberg 590 and some ammo near a police car. I felt a little bit safer so I continued onwards undisturbed. Everything went accordingly until I discovered a market. I tried to enter but the glass door was locked. There was nobody inside when I peered through the windows. Should I risk breaking in? What if the alarms work? I've been lucky so far but if I wasn’t careful that luck can go down the drain. I have to take some risks, I concluded. I’ll be dead either way especially if I don’t scavenge for food.

The alarms didn’t ring when I smashed the glass door by the stock of the shotgun to gain entry. Good. My thoughts were racing. I rushed in to fill my bag with as much food as I can but light enough so that I won’t be overburden. Take only what is necessary, I reminded myself. This could have been a successful raid but when I checked my back, I saw two of them upon the door followed by seven others behind. They must have heard me and wondered in despite my silent efforts. Shooting them would only attract more and I would be trapping myself in the store. There was an exit sign that I noticed. I had no choice but to escape using that door without knowing what was outside of it. I have to stay calm. Count down to three.

Three, I have to survive no matter what.

Two, get out of here as soon as possible.

One, I pushed open the door.

The alarm echoed throughout the city taking me by surprise. This is a bad! I thought it were disarmed but I was mistaken. I’ll just have to head to the direction that my feet were taking me. I glanced to the left and my eyes widened. The alley way was beginning to be blocked and at the right there were at least five of them. I raised my gun, here we go. My uncle taught me how to shoot a rifle when I was a kid but I didn’t take it serious at the time. I’ll have to stick with the basics of what I remembered. My eyes locked onto the closest target and I aimed for the stomach.

Boom! The blow grazes my target’s shoulder and he makes a twirl motion. He was still on his feet. I felt the sting on my shoulder from the result of the recoil. I need to get closer. I got in close range for a clearer shot. Four foot from my enemy, I aimed for the neck.

Boom! The recoil of my shot allowed me to hit his face. My first victim went down. Two of them were staggering so I skipped them considering their threat level was zero. Regardless of that I ran into another pair anyways. I took aim.

Boom! Double kill. I managed to do this because they were lined up. I made it to the end of this alley way but my situation didn’t improved. They have formed a horde and have occupied both sides of the streets. There was no way I could evade any of them. My breathing is getting heavier and my heart is pounding harder. I was tired and out of stamina. This will be the end for me, I closed my eyes.

“No!” I shouted at myself. Don't give up, I thought. I am a fighter, there has to be another way. I looked around for an opportunity and I found my answer. There it is! It was an alleyway. I ran for it while I reloaded the shotguns. The moans and groans grew louder behind me as they gathered. There was no turning back anymore. I pumped the forearm of this shotgun and took a few deep breaths. This is a dark alley. Exposed in darkness, I couldn’t even count how many there was ahead but I know my fourth victim is coming to me. I raised my gun and took aim.

Boom! My fourth kill went flying. I pump the forearm and aim at the next shadowy figure.

Boom! Headshot! I took a deep breath, pumped the forearm, and aimed again.

Boom! I grazed my target’s face almost missing my blast. Slow and steady now, I mumbled under my breath, pumped the forearm, and aimed.

Boom! I was getting good at this but it wasn’t over yet. Another one is approaching me so I kicked her and pumped the forearm.

Boom! She’s dead. This is what it comes down to now. I kick, I shoot, and therefore I live. I need to start treating this like a new daily routine. If I can do that then I might be able to make it out alive. I pumped the forearm and took aim.

Boom! I hit the shoulder blade but he wasn't going down. Still standing and inching closer to me, an idea hatched in my mind. I grabbed the shotgun by the barrel and with every ounce of my strength I whack his head against the stock. He drops before me but he continued to move. I pump the forearm and shot him while he was on the ground.

Boom! How is he still alive? I repeat and boom! Finally, he’s dead. I was feeling invincible. Nothing can stop me! I smiled for the first time ever since this epidemic commenced. My kill count is increasing. This one advancing to me is getting closer and she looks cocky as she gets ready to bite my face off. As soon as I pump up my shotgun, I'll send her dead along with the rest. I was so fired up and I was feeling a tremendous amount of confidence. Perhaps I can really survive in this new world. Deep breaths, take aim.

Click!

@esuteryc‘s first short story and post!

#short story #zombie #writing #first person view #first person #creative writing #survival

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turtlekz · 7 years

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Annual Writing Self-Evaluation 2016

Saw this going around and then next thing I knew, J, @paynner tagged me! Thank youuuu (you had a great writing year!)

1. List of works published this year:

Behavioural Ecology

Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology

Day 13: Relax, Take It Easy

2. Work you are most proud of (and why):

Definitely Behavioural Ecology! I’m just really proud that I actually finished a fic to be honest. Especially one that had a deadline (what with it being part of the Big Bang). I was very surprised I was motivated to write it, I for sure thought it was going to be daunting!

But I really loved how everything came together with this fic regarding primatology, ecology, and of course the 1D boys. It somehow just all slipped in place in terms of structure and the order of the scenes. I wasn’t lacking ideas for it, which is something I’m currently struggling with right now.

3. Work you are least proud of (and why):

It’s funny, I’m sensing a theme from other author’s who completed this, and I’m going to say the same: My 30 days of smut, and it’s because I struggled getting in to the mindset of Harry and Louis already being together, having kids, careers, and etc. It’s difficult throwing yourself into the middle of a story and trying to keep consistency with other author’s. Was definitely challenging.

4. A favorite excerpt of your writing:

Gotta go hunt for this one...from Behavioural Ecology:

Pebbles of silver sparkled at him in clusters all throughout the black canvas. There were no city lights obstructing the view, no light pollution to cover up the brilliance of the natural light. His breath hitched, and he suddenly felt dizzy at the enormity of the sky. Even in the countryside away from London, nothing had ever been quite like this. He had never known that the number of stars up there almost cancelled out the blackness. You could never see this much down in the city, you were perhaps lucky if you could spot a constellation or two. You almost didn’t need the moonlight, as the stars here were overpowering, with light radiating off of them onto the landscape below.

Harry suddenly felt small, standing there on the dock of boat that was gliding its way through arctic waters to location rumoured to be a spot where a sunken ship could be hidden down below the ice.

-Raise your hand if you hate re reading your writing!- Ahem, anyways.

5. Share or describe a favorite review you received:

Definitely the one’s where people commented and said they learned something! A few people stated they learned a lot about primates, which was definitely my goal! I wanted to teach a little bit from what I had learned in school without it being too boring or overbearing ya know? I’m glad there are those who felt I accomplished this, and that makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

6. A time when writing was really, really hard:

I’m-struggling-right-now-tbh. Honestly, anything after publishing a fic. I find there’s a lull of time where I truly cannot go near a blank document.

7. A scene or character you wrote that surprised you

My 30 Days of Smut chapter. I didn’t think it was possible to write that many orgasms in one go!

8. How did you grow as a writer this year:

Definitely learned a lot about myself and how I write. Reading through Beta’s commentary opens your eyes to not only all the little mistakes you make, but also to the lines or quotes that they really enjoyed which you may have not put much stock into.

I also pretty much learned how to post fic to ao3, making your photo board, the editing process, all about it.

9. How do you hope to grow next year:

I! Hope! To! Publish! Two! Of! The! Three! Fics! I’ve! Started! But also, I’d like to get better at incorporating my main POV’s inner dialogue. I definitely struggle at this, and I’m in awe when I read other fics and the author does it so ~flawlessly. *whispers* teach meeee.

10. Who was your greatest positive influence this year as a writer (could be another writer or beta or cheerleader or muse etc etc):

Amber,

@loveloveolivia

(she’s going to kill me for this just watch), but I HAVE to mention you. I find you’re my biggest inspiration because I always, always, read excerpts of your writing and say to myself, ‘damn, I want to write like that.’ I want to be as descriptive as you are, and make the readers feel the way you make your readers feel.

You’re also a phenomenal cheerleader, and you give the best constructive criticism that I take and (try to) apply. Thank you for being here to bounce ideas off of <3

11. Anything from your real life show up in your writing this year:

There’s a little bit of me in every fic (maybe except for the 30days of Smut...). But whether it’s character’s mannerisms, or hobbies, or jobs, or etc, I take things from my real life and incorporate them. (There’s a lot more of this in my three unpublished/unfinished fics - whoops!)

12. Any new wisdom you can share with other writers:

Make friends! Just tag people in headcannons, or drabbles on tumblr. I love bouncing ideas off others, and I find it helps tremendously when feeling blocked in your writing.

13. Any projects you’re looking forward to starting (or finishing) in the new year:

Well my three working titles are as follows:

Tinder!AU

CowAU!

Baseball!AU

-Maybe one dayyyyyy-

14. Tag three writers whose answers you’d like to read. ;)

Not sure if I’ve seen @loveloveolivia , @karamelised do this yet?!

*All answers should be about works published in 2016. Also, you can skip any questions you hate or don’t want to answer, but please leave them on the list so that others can do them if they want. :)

#writing evals #writing is hard #:(#lol

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marclefrancois1 · 5 years

Text

Working With a Sleep Coach — 6 Tips for Success

The article e0a9e1e9e6412908cf53cee25f32209b62d23d03e119cd2df63e6855e8fc22eee0a9e1e9e6412908cf53cee25f32209b62d23d03e119cd2df63e6855e8fc22eepostlinke0a9e1e9e6412908cf53cee25f32209b62d23d03e119cd2df63e6855e8fc22eee0a9e1e9e6412908cf53cee25f32209b62d23d03e119cd2df63e6855e8fc22ee was originally seen on Marc Le Francois' Sleep Blog

You have finally decided that bedtime and night wakings have been hard enough for long enough. And naps are a wrestling match you feel like you just aren’t winning. Now you’re ready for sleep coaching and have decided you’re ready to see your child really sleep well — and to catch up on sleep yourself! You’re ready to hire — and work with — a sleep coach and you can’t wait to get started.

Your enthusiasm is a great first step. What else can you do to make sure your work with a sleep coach pays off and really works? Consider these tips to make the most of your sleep coaching session.

1. Perfect Timing

Make sure you start your sleep coaching when you’ll have time to give it your full attention. You should ideally have three weeks with no travel, no visitors, no major moves or construction before you start any plan to change your baby’s sleep.

Plan on starting sleep coaching within one week of your initial consultation. That way, you can be sure that the plan is using accurate information and details about how your child is sleeping now.

Many families find it easier to start their sleep coaching on a Friday night because both parents may be home for the weekend, making it easier to tag team the project and catch up on sleep during the day.

2. Take Notes

Before starting a sleep coaching plan, take notes about how your child is sleeping, eating, and even their behavior. The more information you have to share with your coach about what your family’s days and nights look like and about your child’s temperament, the easier it will be for her to make a sleep plan that really works for your family.

Be diligent about keeping a sleep log once you get started. Log details about when you put your baby down for a nap, how long it took for him to fall asleep, what you did or didn’t do to help him go to sleep or back to sleep. Do the same at bedtime and throughout the night.

If your child is under 18 months, consider logging feedings too. We’re all a little bleary when we aren’t getting enough sleep so set yourself up to take good notes. Keep a pad of paper next to your child’s bed or outside the door to their room and jot down quick things like what time they woke up and went back to sleep. Consider using a baby tracking app like Gentle Sleep — it even has free sleep content on it!

Make sure both parents and any care givers are all keeping good notes on how your sleep coaching plan is working. Be sure to share your notes with your coach as you go along, especially if you find yourself frustrated during the process or if you change anything about how you are using your sleep coaching plan.

3. Talk About It

Even if you and your partner are champing at the bit to start sleep coaching, or if you’re a single parent who wishes you’d hired a coach yesterday, it’s important to slow down long enough to know why you’re hiring a coach and what your goals are. Do you hope to get your baby sleeping 12 hours uninterrupted at night? Or do you want him to sleep in longer stretches but still be fed once or twice before morning? Give yourself and your partner a chance to answer the question “why are we hiring a sleep coach?” and “what do we want our child’s sleep to look like at the end of the process?” Are you both on the same page?

Many couples find themselves on different pages when it comes to sleep. If you and your partner have different goals for your child’s sleep or one of you is more prepared to start sleep coaching, you’re not alone.

Consistency is the single most important key to successful sleep coaching. Spend some time exploring your different feelings and finding strategies that make you both comfortable. In some cases it’s worth talking to a counselor to help you get on the same page before you start sleep coaching your child.

Make sure that everyone who helps your baby or child get to sleep day or night works together by including them in the process

4. Work as a Team

Your child will learn new sleep habits quickest and best when you use a good sleep coaching plan consistently. Make sure that everyone who helps your baby or child get to sleep day or night works together by including them in the process.

Does your child have a nanny or babysitter that puts them down for naps during the day? Or does your child go to daycare while you work? It’s possible to have your sleep coach explain your sleep plan to them.

Talk through how you and your partner will use your sleep plan to make sure you are a united front before you get started. How will you respond to your baby’s crying when you put her to sleep at bedtime? Will one of you respond to all of her night wakings, or will you divide the night? It’s much easier to discuss and decide those things in daylight than in the wee hours of the night.

5. Check in With Your Pediatrician

While most sleep challenges in children and babies are behavioral and not medical, check in with your pediatrician before starting a sleep coaching plan. Review a few typical eating days with your doctor and ask how much they should be eating in 24 hours, given your child’s health and weight. Ask how many feedings she needs at night. Knowing this will help reduce your stress if you plan on weaning any night feedings.

It’s also essential to know that there are no underlying medical conditions such as: Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Restless Leg Syndrome, Periodic Limb Movement, and good ole ear infections. Any of these may interfere with your child’s sleep.

6. Cover the Basics

Set yourself and your child up for success by investing in a few basics to help create a sleep-friendly environment. Room darkening shades and a sound machine can help make a room dark and quiet.

Make sure your baby has diapers that will keep them dry overnight and jammies appropriate to the season.

Sleep coaching is hard work no matter how ready you are to get started. Using these recommendations can make a huge difference in whether your sleep coaching is a struggle or a super success! Need help finding a sleep coach in your area? Use the Gentle Sleep Coach registry to find the help you need.

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Kim West

Kim is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been a practicing child and family therapist for more than 24 years, and the creator of the original gentle, proven method to get a good night’s sleep for you and your child.

She is the author of The Sleep Lady's Good Night Sleep Tight, its companion Workbook and 52 Sleep Secrets for Babies.

Click here to read more about her.

Did you find this article helpful? Please share it with your friends by clicking below, or ask a question on The Sleep Lady Facebook page.

The post Working With a Sleep Coach — 6 Tips for Success appeared first on Baby Sleep Coaching by the Sleep Lady.

from Blog – Baby Sleep Coaching by the Sleep Lady https://sleeplady.com/baby-sleep/working-with-a-sleep-coach-tips/

from https://www.marclefrancois.net/2019/01/30/working-with-a-sleep-coach-6-tips-for-success-2/

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bikechatter · 7 years

Text

Two PBOT advisory committees oppose Portland Art Museum pavillion plans

Doug Klotz voiced opposition to the plans at Tuesday’s Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting. (Photo: J Maus/BikePortland)

Two influential City of Portland advisory committees oppose plans by the Portland Art Museum to create a new structure that would limit public access on a downtown block.

As we reported on March 29th, the Portland Art Museum’s $50 million Rothko Pavillion plans would further restrict public right-of-way between Southwest Park and 10th Avenues. On March 14th, at a joint meeting of the Portland Bicycle Advisory Committee and the Portland Pedestrian Advisory Committee, members overwhelmingly opposed the plans in an informal straw poll. Before taking an official position on the matter, the chair of the bicycle committee invited a representative from the museum to a subsequent meeting.

“PBOT really stresses the need for connectivity. We’re really struggling with this issue.” — Christine Leon, PBOT Development Permitting and Transit Group Manager

On Tuesday Portland Art Museum Chief Advancement Officer JS May made his case. After introducing himself as a bicycle rider and former board member of The Street Trust (formerly the Bicycle Transportation Alliance) and current board president Cycle Oregon, May told the committee, “I rode through Madison plaza on my way over here tonight. I’m one of the people this is going to inconvenience.” But May added that he’s not going to be around in 125 years and this project is about something larger. “What does the city want in terms of its vision? People can look at this as a pedestrian issue or a bicycling issue or an arts access issue — what we’re trying to do is balance those three things.”

For the museum, the goal is to “Create one of Portland’s grand public spaces.” But the crux of this issue revolves around whether or not the public will have adequate access to that space — and how that space will limit connectivity, a bedrock of good urban planning.

The crux of the issue as written in the city ordinance up for debate Thursday.

According to the official city ordinance up for adoption at City Council this Thursday (4/20), the Rothko Pavillion would restrict public access through the block for an additional four to eight hours per day. It would also completely prohibit bicycling. The museum currently operates with an easement on that block first granted in 1968. That easement required an eight-foot minimum path for the public 24 hours a day. In 1984 the museum requested — and was granted — permission to close the plaza at night due to security and vandalism concerns. Museum officials now want to build a new structure and limit public access to only museum hours.

The letter jointly signed by the chairs and vice-chairs of both advisory committees, lists the following concerns:

● The amendment diminishes the usefulness and network connectivity for people who walk and bike along SW Madison utilizing the vacation between SW 11th Avenue and SW 10th Avenue adjacent to the YMCA. ● The presence of small, walkable (and publicly-accessible) blocks are critical to a pedestrian-oriented city, especially downtown where the standard block size is 200×200 feet. ● The proposed creation of a superblock, even with the described access, fails to live up to the city’s adopted goals of a walkable city. ● Public access to this block has been incrementally eroded over the years, and the proposal is an unacceptable further limitation of public access. ● The renderings and proposed language regarding the new Rothko Pavilion creates the appearance of a private building entrance blocking a vacated street, which will create the perception that only paying Museum customers will be able to use this connection, and that all other individuals not using the Museum should walk around the building. ● Allowing this exception to the city’s street vacation policy will set precedent and prompt future requests that would further compromise Portland’s renowned pedestrian and bicycle network.

New pavillion would enclose a plaza.

PBOT is feeling pressure from both sides. “PBOT really stresses the need for connectivity,” said the city’s Development Permitting and Transit Group Manager Christine Leon at the Bike Advisory Committee meeting on Tuesday. “We’re really struggling with this issue.”

Bicycle Advisory Committee member Elliot Akwai-Scott shared similarly conflicted feelings: “We all support what the museum is trying to accomplish; but not the way they’re trying to achieve it.”

“We all support what the museum is trying to accomplish; but not the way they’re trying to achieve it.” — Elliot Akwai-Scott, Bicycle Advisory Committee member

While the museum won’t charge a fee to use the new pavillion or travel through it, there are worries that most people will see a building structure and will assume it’s only for paying museum customers. Other committee members expressed worries that granting this easement would set a dangerous precedent for other central city developers who’d want to limit public access — resulting in less connectivity and eroding Portland’s efforts to encourage biking and walking.

PBOT Project Manager Caitlin Reff said they get many requests to close public access through private property and the city’s current stance is to “maintain connectivity standards at the highest threshold we can deliver.”

The ordinance language released Friday states that the easement must be “unobstructed” and “include clear wayfinding with no visual obstruction.” It’s unclear if the city would allow an enclosed pavillion like the museum has proposed (we’ve asked PBOT for clarification but have not heard back).

Rithy Khut, chair of the Bicycle Advisory Committee, wants the museum to find a different solution. “There’s a possiblity that the design team could design a building that the public could pass through, isn’t that correct?” he asked May. “We’ve looked at that,” May replied. “One of the design goals is to make this ground floor a community commons, a place full of art… It’s very hard to also make that be a pass-through that would be open all times of day.”

Noted walking advocate Doug Klotz spoke up in opposition to the museum’s plans. He brought a diagram with current access routes highlighted and told the committee, “If it has doors, it won’t work. It has to be open. I’m not in favor of putting any structure there.”

Khut and other advocates agree with Klotz and think an elevated structure that leaves the ground floor open is the answer. They point the Chazen Museum in Madison Wisconsin, the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington D.C. and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam as examples of museum expansions that maintained through access for the public. May shot down the Amsterdam example, citing its $500 million price tag. “It’s a different world,” he said, about a country with more money and more taxes to spend on projects.

But it appears the biking and walking committees aren’t taking no for an answer. Here’s an excerpt from their letter:

“We believe that PAM and their architects have a unique opportunity to meet the policy goal of Policy 9.46 within the proposed Central City Plan for 2035 [which states that projects should, “Differentiate the character of key streets to offer a diversity of urban experiences and connections, reflect the character of unique districts and expand open space and recreation functions in the right-of-way where possible.”]… By maintaining unfettered access throughout the day, no other location in the Central City can provide this experience where the Right-of-Way can be directly intertwined with the cultural and artistic urban experiences. We are confident that the excellent design team at Vinci Hamp Architects can design a Rothko Pavilion that will allow continuous access… we feel confident that Vinci Hamp Architects can design a building that meets both the requirements of continuous access while connecting both museum spaces, ultimately creating a space that meets the goals of the Portland Art Museum, the City of Portland Transportation System Plan, the Central City Plan for 2035, and most importantly, people who walk and bike along SW Madison Avenue.”

Bicycle Advisory Committee member Dan Bower (executive director of Portland Streetcar Inc), agrees. “I think we should push this as a design challenge to the museum… they can solve it.”

The new easement is up for a vote at City Council this Thursday at 2:00 pm.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and [email protected]

BikePortland is supported by the community (that means you!). Please become a subscriber or make a donation today.

The post Two PBOT advisory committees oppose Portland Art Museum pavillion plans appeared first on BikePortland.org.

via bikechatter http://ift.tt/2pKyh7W

#IFTTT #bikechatter

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marclefrancois1 · 5 years

Text

Working With a Sleep Coach — 6 Tips for Success

The following post e0a9e1e9e6412908cf53cee25f32209b62d23d03e119cd2df63e6855e8fc22eee0a9e1e9e6412908cf53cee25f32209b62d23d03e119cd2df63e6855e8fc22eepostlinke0a9e1e9e6412908cf53cee25f32209b62d23d03e119cd2df63e6855e8fc22eee0a9e1e9e6412908cf53cee25f32209b62d23d03e119cd2df63e6855e8fc22ee is available on https://www.marclefrancois.net

You have finally decided that bedtime and night wakings have been hard enough for long enough. And naps are a wrestling match you feel like you just aren’t winning. Now you’re ready for sleep coaching and have decided you’re ready to see your child really sleep well — and to catch up on sleep yourself! You’re ready to start working with a sleep coach and you can’t wait to get started.

Your enthusiasm is a great first step. What else can you do to make sure your work with a sleep coach really pays off and really works? Consider these tips to make the most of your sleep coaching session.

1. Perfect Timing

Make sure you start your sleep coaching when you’ll have time to give it your full attention. You should ideally have 3 weeks with no travel, no visitors, no major moves or construction before you start any plan to change your baby’s sleep.

Plan on starting sleep coaching within one week of your initial consultation. That way, you can be sure that the plan is using accurate information and details about how your child is sleeping now.

2. Take Notes

3. Talk About It

Even if you and your partner are champing at the bit to start sleep coaching or even if you’re a single parent who wishes you’d hired a coach yesterday, it’s important to slow down long enough to know why you’re hiring a coach and what your goals are. Do you hope to get your baby sleeping 12 hours uninterrupted at night? Or do you want him to sleep in longer stretches but still be fed once or twice before morning? Give yourself and your partner a chance to answer the question “why are we hiring a sleep coach?” and “what do we want our child’s sleep to look like at the end of the process?” Are you both on the same page?

4. Work as a Team

It’s much easier to discuss how you and your team plan to respond to your child’s nighttime needs in daylight than in the wee hours of the night.

5. Check in With Your Pediatrician

While most sleep challenges in children and babies are behavioral and not medical, check in with your pediatrician before starting a sleep coaching plan. Review a few typical eating days with your doctor and ask how much they should be eating in 24 hours, given your child’s health, weight. Ask how many feedings she needs at night. Knowing this will help reduce your stress if you plan on weaning any night feedings.

6. Cover the Basics

Set yourself and your child up for success by investing in a few basics to help create a sleep-friendly environment. Room darkening shades and a sound machine can help make a room dark and quiet.

Make sure your baby has diapers that will keep them dry overnight and jammies appropriate to the season.

Kim West

She is the author of The Sleep Lady's Good Night Sleep Tight, its companion Workbook and 52 Sleep Secrets for Babies.

Click here to read more about her.

Did you find this article helpful? Please share it with your friends by clicking below, or ask a question on The Sleep Lady Facebook page.

The post Working With a Sleep Coach — 6 Tips for Success appeared first on Baby Sleep Coaching by the Sleep Lady.

from Blog – Baby Sleep Coaching by the Sleep Lady https://sleeplady.com/gentle-sleep-coach/working-with-a-sleep-coach/

from https://www.marclefrancois.net/2018/11/07/working-with-a-sleep-coach-6-tips-for-success/

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