#Babylon's already moved a few months ago

[lilwetto]

Save a horse, ride a cowboy (18+)

Scrim x Y/N

Warnings: SMUT. Also will be written in third person BUT it might change to first since it's easier for me idk yet. might change it.

A/N this is my first scrim smut, so GO EASY ON ME. I also cannot do small paragraphs. I'M SORRY. I'm learning okay lmao, this is new to me all over again- this will not be light work, ok? Also would appreciate requests n shit, I want to actually test how far I can go with these while writing my stories on wattpad. I'll update whenever I can here, there's no hate here, only love. All my smut that I post here will be on my wattpad under LTE since I want to make an imagines book based on requests. It's difficult writing stories and trying to come up with ideas for imagines so pls give me ideas.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's been a month since you've heard from Scott, the two of you had been fighting on and off for the last three years, being in a relationship with him had never been an easy one. You had been best friends from the start to failed lovers now, he had written a verse about you in their song Escape from Babylon- talking about how you had gone from saying "I hate you" to "I love you", you've been in love with Scott since before the fame, however he had never felt the same way about you until a few years ago. 

Your last falling out, you decided to pack all of your shit and move out of the home you two shared. He was entertaining the females on tour and that seemed to be the last of your strength to stay in that relationship, leaving hurt the most since you felt like he never fought for you. 

Unfortunately, you’d have to see him again, you were their stylist for onstage attire and helping with the style of any music video any of them would be in. You knew Scott had a music video coming up, he had been writing a new album for the last year and a half. some new genres for him to try. Autotune being his best friend of course. 

You were dreading that phone call from their manager, Kyle. He knew your relationship with Scott was in fact all over the place, everyone could see that the two of you would always fall out, it was no secret that you were slowly starting to hate the person he had become. 

The last few minutes were peaceful yet horrible as you were pulled from your thoughts by the harsh ringtone of your iPhone. You groan out loud as Kyle’s name flashed across the screen, knowing you couldn’t ignore it. He paid you to do your job. 

“What?” You mumbled after accepting the call. 

“Nice to hear you’re cheery, Y/N.” His chuckle rattled your brain, rolling your eyes in disgust. “We need you to style this next video, come out to Chihuahuan Desert.” The fucking desert? Great. You think to yourself.

“When?” You mumble. You already knew the answer to your question, now. 

“Now would be great.” You look at the time. 

“Why the fuck are you guys picking closer to 11pm?” You didn’t want to leave the comforts of your bed. You managed to find a small apartment in New Mexico since your house with Scott was located in the middle of New Mexico. 

“Y/N, we’re not doing this again, be here in the next hour.” Kyle hung up on you, making you more annoyed than ever as you climbed out of bed and threw on some clothes that’ll keep you warm for the night. 

You drive your car to Chihuahuan Desert, seeing parts of the crew already setting up the lighting for this music video. Scott hadn’t released any new music yet, he had so much in the vault and was too picky to choose what he wanted to do with them all. 

You weren’t happy that they wanted to do this music video at stupid o’clock, parking your car and climbing out. You walk towards the group of people, seeing Kyle getting hands on. “Where is he?” You ask. Clearly not wanting to see or talk to Scott. 

“He’s in that trailer.” He pointed towards the trailer park looking as home. You rolled your eyes and walked up to the doors, knocking loudly as you hear a grumble and the words “come in.” 

Scott was looking over a few pieces of clothing, keeping his eyes locked onto the table as you stepped into the trailer. A part of you wanted to hug him tightly, but the other part wanted to cuss him out and cry. You were the only two in the trailer, looking over at the thousands of clothing that he couldn’t pick from. 

You grab a white oversized shirt, orange sweatshirt and a pair of his baggy jeans, placing them to the side as you looked over at his accessories. “What were you thinking of wearing?” You break the silence first. 

“Was thinking maybe this chain and bracelet.” Your hand brushes against his as the two of you go to pick up the same item. “Sorry.” You mumble quickly. 

Scott shrugs it off and plays it cool as he picks up the white cowboy hat and places it onto his head, a different look for him. He was branching out, picking up new styles from what he does in Suicideboys. 

“I want to say I’m sorry.” He started, catching you by surprise. Scott never apologized; he was stubborn as fuck when it came to him being wrong. In Scott’s eyes he was always right, who was the female in your relationship, huh?

“Doesn’t matter, I’m over it.” You say before you can even stop your words from rolling off the tip of your tongue. Scott wouldn’t like that answer and it felt foreign coming from you as you turned your back to leave the trailer to let him get dressed. 

“What?” His hand enclosed around your right upper arm, making you mentally groan. This is the last thing you wanted to deal with right now. “You don’t give a fuck about us?” 

You let out the biggest laugh as you turn your head to look at him. “That’s rich coming from you. Scott, it’s you who doesn’t give a fuck about us. I have chased you and pleaded and what would you do?” You huffed in annoyance as he turned you to face him. 

“You know I ain’t mean it like that, shawty.” He was doing his little cheesy grin, the one that would get him what he wanted as he bit on his lip. 

“Get changed, you asshole.” You wanted to leave because this always happened, it was always a cycle with Scott, and you were too tired to keep going around like a merry-go-round. 

He pulled your hands towards his belt, lingering your fingers over the cold metal piece. “I think I need some help.” He mumbled that grin still sitting on his lips made you want to slap it off. 

You thought about leaving, but somehow you were in a trance, helping him out of his clothes to change into these new ones. He reached around you, locking the door from behind you before he pressed you up against it. 

His arm outstretched beside your head, resting his hand on the door. “Suck it.” He mumbled, his other hand now holding your chin as his thumb grazed against your lower lip. 

Being the good girl that you were, you slowly got to your knees and with the help of Scott had his pants around his thighs. He was semi-hard, almost waving at you. Your eyes doe-like, stared up at him as you slowly stuck your tongue out. 

You tapped the head of his length against your tongue, you were going to tease him. Scott didn’t deserve to get it how he wanted it, you slowly run the tip of your tongue from the head to the base then back again before spitting at the end. 

He was trying not to moan, watching your every move like a predator stalking its prey. His thumb caressed your cheek as you eased him between your lips, gently nipping your teeth against his sensitive skin. This earned you a small groan from him, this was new, you hardly ever took the upper hand when it came to sex. 

“Y/N, stop teasing.” He grumbled, getting flustered by the lack of contact that he wanted. You peered up to his eyes, seeing the sparkle glistening in his eyes from the lights outside. 

Scott didn’t care much for people hearing and sometimes he didn’t care if anyone saw the two of you fuck, you were his girl and only his. He grabbed your hair in an attempt to get you to do what he asked. The game you were playing with him? Dangerous as hell. 

You pulled your head away, gazing up at him like a deer in the headlights. The look he always loved seeing on you. “Stop fucking playin, Y/N…” He was becoming agitated. 

“Who said I was playing, Scotty?” A small smirk finally appeared on your lips as his hand moved from your face to your hair in seconds, forcing you to be face-to-face with his now hardened length. 

He was throbbing, you could see it with the way it moved like it had a pulse. Your tongue touched the tip, jumping in excitement over a little bit of contact. Your lips finally making the contact that he so longed for, wrapping around his length caused Scott to groan under his breath. 

“Fuck..” Those words weren’t meant to be heard especially by you. He didn’t want you knowing that he had been missing you, his stubbornness stopped him from calling and texting you, refusing to sleep with any girl that threw themselves at him. 

He gripped your hair and slowly began to thrust his hips as he forced you to bob your head against them, taking the upper hand like he always done. You gagged slightly, feeling him hit the back of your throat. It had been awhile, moaning against him before he pulled himself out. 

He forced you up, pinning your back against the door as he roughly pulled your pants and panties off, standing on them to keep them in place so you could take them off without falling over. Scott grabbed your hand as he fell back against the couch, pulling you on top of his lap as he then eased himself inside of you. 

A low groan fell from his lips as he held your hips tightly, allowing you to move when you wanted to. The feeling of him stretching you out caused a soft whimper to burst from your throat, you had missed this feeling of him inside of you. 

You began to slowly rock your hips back and forth, each time you’d build more confidence in each roll forward. Your hands rested on his shoulders as you began to spell ‘coconut’ with your hips. 

“Holy shit… Y/N, you been watching videos or some shit?” His eyes peered from under the hat, licking his lips as he thought about devouring you right there and then.

You laugh under your breath which turned into a moan as Scott began to thrust up inside of you. His hands holding your hips firmly still as his hip movements became faster. His groans were filling the empty spaces as you began to rub circular motions against your clit, you refused to let him be the only one to cum. 

“Fuck… I can’t hold it anymore.” He mumbled, you took the hat from off his head and placed it onto your own. 

Your hips began to move faster against his own movements. Your moans becoming louder as he quickly covered your mouth, grunting as he filled you with his thick, warm load. You whimper under your breath as you feel yourself tighten around him, releasing yourself all over him.  

“Shit…” He chuckled quietly under his breath before placing a couple of soft kisses to your lips. “That was good.” 

You hum in response and slowly slide him out. “What can I say? I missed it.” You placed the hat back on his head and pulled your panties n pants back on before heading outside again. 

Everyone was staring over as you exited the trailer. “What?” You mumbled as Kyle came over. 

“The entire team heard the two of you..” He laughed, acting as if he was embarrassed for us. 

“What can I say? I like to save the horses and ride me a cowboy instead.” 

#$crim #scrim #g59 #wetto #$uicideboy$ #suicideboysfanfic #suicideboysmut #smut #ftp #slick sloth #$uicide christ

[sixhours]

Chapter 9 - The Ghosts of Babylon

Series Chapter Index | Read on AO3 | Complete

Rating: Explicit, 18+, here be smut and violence Series tags: Joel Miller x You, Joel Miller x Reader, Joel & Ellie, mostly follows canon, LGBTQ+ characters, y/n is bi/pan, y/n is ~45, violence, pregnancy, abortion, medical trauma, emotional trauma, panic attacks, sex work, suicide, smut, slow burn, angst with a happy ending, hurt/comfort, romance, no use of y/n, reader has longish hair, Joel can lift you, smallish age gap (~11 years), I've probably forgotten some so please let me know <3

~*~

The New Year arrives in a swirl of bitter cold and snow. You’ve quietly accepted that you’ll be in Jackson until at least spring; FEDRA has stopped sending all but the most basic touchpoint communications, confirming you’re still alive. The roads between outposts are snowed in; you imagine FEDRA soldiers stationed in the middle of the barren, snow-coated landscape, like statues waiting to thaw.

You’re working at the front desk when Joel shows up in the infirmary, hands in his pockets, looking stoic and lost.

“Miller? Everything okay?”

He clears his throat. “Uh…you said something about an echo…thing.”

You blink up at him, bemused. “That was months ago.”

He scowls. “M’here now.”

You consider turning him away, but the clinic is surprisingly dead. You suspect most of the town is nursing some pretty powerful hangovers this morning.

And then, there’s the orange. The one you haven’t eaten, but is stored in your fridge. The one you take out just to sniff. And now Mr. “Don’t get your hopes up” is standing in front of you looking hopelessly awkward and almost…endearing.

You sigh. “Fine, let’s do it. I’ll get the ultrasound ready.”

He follows you to the back of the clinic as you pull out the ancient machine, plugging it in, waiting for the computer to boot up.

“You’re lucky I don’t have any other patients yet,” you say. “I heard the New Year’s party was a big one. Though I suppose without fireworks, there’s less chance of someone blowing off an arm.”

He grunts in agreement, sitting up on the table.

“Shirt off,” you say. “I can turn around or I can leave, it’s up to you.”

But he’s already unbuttoning his flannel, pulling his undershirt over his head.

“Any shortness of breath? Chest pains?”

He shakes his head.

“Cold,” you say, barely a half-second of warning as you squirt a dollop of lube directly onto his chest. He sucks in a sharp breath.

“Fuck, you weren’t kidding.”

You quirk your lips. “Sorry, bedside manner’s not really my thing.”

The machine’s monitor is fuzzy, forcing you to lean in and squint at the shadows as you move the wand over his chest, pressing in, tilting from side to side to see each of the ventricles, searching for dark spots. The ultrasound speakers scratch out a steady heartbeat.

“83 beats per minute, a bit fast,” you say. “But…contrary to popular belief…you have a heart, Miller.”

“Funny.”

You’ve been moving the wand over his chest for several minutes, watching the rhythmic contractions of muscle and trying to make sense of what you’re seeing given your very basic knowledge of cardiology, when you become aware that he’s watching you intently.

You meet his eyes and the BPM reading on the monitor starts to climb, a persistent throb echoing in the air. He clears his throat with some difficulty.

“So are you, uh…only interested in women?”

“That’s a personal question.”

He shrugs, and you tsk softly. “Don’t move, I’ll lose the picture.”

“Figured we were past the whole small talk thing by now.”

“Ellie’s right. You have no social skills,” you say, biting your lip, leaning in, as though closing the gap by a few inches would make up for the fact that the poor machine is dying.

“Guilty,” he says, but he smiles as he says it, that come-fuck-me glint in his eyes.

“No,” you sigh, sitting back. “I’m not only interested in women.”

“So…are you, uh…free tomorrow night?”

You blink. “Are you asking me on a date, Miller?”

He opens his mouth to deny it but then…doesn’t. You’ve been done with the echo for five minutes, but there’s a sordid pleasure in watching macho-man Joel Miller literally squirm under your hands, half naked and covered in goop, his nervousness pounding out over the thready speakers.

“Because it would be very…unprofessional…to date one of my patients.”

He narrows his eyes, lowering his voice until it’s almost a growl. “But fucking ‘em is fine?”

“Different profession, whole different code of ethics,” you say easily. You turn off the ultrasound and wipe the excess lube off his chest with a clean towel. “Let’s say I can be free. What did you have in mind?”

He shakes his head. “Not tellin’.”

“The man likes a mystery,” you say airily, turning around to shuck your gloves into the trash and wash your hands at the sink. You hear him shrugging on his shirt. His voice comes from over your shoulder, close enough to feel his breath on your neck.

“I’ll be there at nine. Wear somethin’ warm.”

~*~

He shows up at the door with a backpack and a bedroll, dressed like he’s ready for patrol. You’ve done the same, bundled up in flannel-lined jeans, thick wool socks, and the puffy down coat that makes you look like a marshmallow.

“So where are we going?” you ask, following him out into the biting air.

“S’a surprise,” he says.

You eye the travel pack with the bedroll slung over his good shoulder warily. “I don’t like surprises, Miller.”

His lips twitch in amusement but he doesn’t say anything. He takes a left off the main drag and you realize that you’re heading for the stables. He clicks on a flashlight to guide you across the field as you leave the warmly lit center of Jackson.

“Is this a good time to tell you I don’t know how to ride?” you ask.

“Don’t need to,” he says easily. “C’mon.”

He rounds a corner and heads to the back of the stables, where bales of straw lay stacked in a stair-like formation against the wall. Without waiting for you, he starts to climb them.

“I think this flies in the face of sound medical advice for a guy with a busted shoulder,” you call, watching him test the next step, and the next, until he’s standing on the gentle slope of the stable roof.

“My shoulder’s fine. You comin’ or not?”

“Fine,” you say, testing your weight on the first bale. “But I’m not on call. If you break something, I’m not going to fix you.”

“Deal,” he says, reaching out a roughened hand to pull you up.

You walk up the roof, avoiding patches of ice, until you can peer over the edge’s fifteen-foot drop. Joel kneels, unclasping the bedroll and taking a large thermos and two mugs out of his pack. He unfurls the heavy Army-issue sleeping bag and spreads it out, indicating for you to sit, then uncaps the thermos. It releases a thick cloud of fragrant steam.

“Coffee. Real coffee,” he says pointedly, filling and handing you one of the mugs. You take the first sip, and he’s right; it’s infinitely better than the stuff at the mess hall and leagues above your crystallized stash, but you’ll never admit it. You wrap your fingers around the heated ceramic. He reaches over to clink your mugs together in a toast before taking a drink.

“What the hell are we doing up here, Miller?”

He sets down his mug and then lays back on the blanket, pulling you down. Your coffee sloshes over the side of the cup. “Wait–”

“S’time for the show.”

He turns off the flashlight, and for a moment you’re blind, eyes adjusting to the total lack of light. The sensation is so completely disorienting that you feel like you’re falling, and you involuntarily clutch at Joel’s arm to steady yourself.

When your vision returns, you see nothing but stars in an endless arcing dome. The stable roof faces away from the town; no other lights are visible out here. In the sharp stillness of the cold air, you think you can see every pinprick of light in the sky.

“Whoa,” you sigh, your breath temporarily clouding the starry landscape in front of you. Joel’s arm flexes under your hand in quiet acknowledgment. You see a flickering light out of the corner of your eye. Then another, and another. Soon you’re watching dozens of meteors trail across the sky’s black curtain.

“Ellie found this space almanac,” Joel murmurs. “It has all these dates for stuff like this. Quadra…somethin’-or-other.”

“Quadrantids,” you say, pulling from a distant memory. Camping when you were 10, your father pointing out the constellations, your fingers sticky with chocolate and marshmallows as you wished on as many shooting stars as you could see.

You edge closer to Joel’s side, seeking out his warmth but unwilling to take your eyes off the show. You feel him moving around for a minute, hear the zip of his pack opening, and then he drapes another blanket over the both of you, something thick and soft. You pull it to your chin.

“Thanks,” you murmur, willing your teeth not to clack together. “God it’s…beautiful.”

Joel makes a soft sound of agreement.

Your eyes keep trying to watch for more meteors; they flicker in your peripheral vision, always just out of reach until the last second. Eventually, you stop trying, letting your eyes go unfocused so you can see as much of the spectacle before you as possible.

“I used to feel lonely, looking up like this,” you say after a while. “Maybe lonely isn’t the right word; insignificant, I guess. But now…I find it comforting. They’ve been here for billions of years, and they’ll be here long after we’re gone. The world fell apart…and it wasn’t even a blip on the universe’s radar. But we still have the stars.”

“And sheep ranches on the moon,” Joel whispers, and you finally let your eyes drift away from the sky, facing him.

“Sheep ranches?”

“It’s nothin’. Look, ‘nother one,” he says, pointing, and you follow his gaze to a cluster of descending meteors. Your breaths mingle in the crystallized air. You watch until you can’t feel your cheeks, until your arms and legs prickle and go numb. 

The soft sounds of the stable rise up from beneath you; hooves on straw, huffing and shuffling. Suddenly there’s another sound.

Is that giggling?

Joel looks at you as if to confirm you’ve heard it, too. You nod, and he puts a finger to his lips. He rolls over and creeps to the edge of the roof, peering over the side. You follow after a beat, missing his solid warmth beside you.

In the dark you see the faint shadow of a couple–kids, from the sound of it–sneaking into the barn across from the stables.

“Idiots,” Joel says, but in the dim glow you can see he’s smirking. The sounds of little gasps, kissing, more giggles. You can see articles of clothing being removed and you shiver, wondering if you’ll be treating frostbite on some poor kid’s ass tomorrow.

“Should we say something?”

“Depends–is 15 too young to be a baby mama, doc?” And you know he’s thinking of Ellie, wondering who she’s sneaking off to the barn with when he’s not able to watch her.

You don’t tell him that’s unlikely to be a problem.

“Good point. Yeah, let’s break up the fun.”

“Hey!” Joel growls, standing. “You kids get outta there!”

There are muffled gasps, a frantic dash for clothes, a breathy, “ Shit! ”

“ Go !” the girl hisses, and you both watch, chuckling as they scramble away.

“Real ‘get off my lawn’ energy there, old man,” you say, elbowing him gently, tucking your hands under your arms to try to warm them.

He snorts, rubbing his own hands against the thighs of his jeans to brush them off. You meet his eyes in the faint light, holding his gaze for just a touch longer than necessary.

“Walk me home, Miller,” you say finally, tucking your arm under his. “I’m freezing.”

You pass the string lights in the square, the big tree, and the clinic. He’s quiet, almost shy, as you walk up the steps of your porch. You don’t know how to reconcile the man who fucked you up against the kitchen wall with the one standing before you.

As if reading your thoughts, he mumbles, “I haven’t, uh…done this in–”

“I’m pretty sure this is the part where you kiss me goodnight.”

He gives you the faintest smile before leaning in and dropping a chaste peck at the corner of your mouth. Your face has long since gone numb from the biting air, but you feel the warmth of his lips on your skin.

And then he’s backing away, down the steps, down the street, into the darkness…and you wonder what the hell you’ve gotten yourself into.

#fanfic #fic recs #the last of us hbo #joel miller #ellie williams #joel miller x you #joel miller x reader

[the-hinky-panda]

The Lens: Part V

Author's Note: So this was supposed to be the last part of "The Lens" but then...Sorry, not sorry guys! Enjoy!

“I see your armor.” 

“It’s called humor, Fin.” 

But no, the seasoned Sargent is right.  It is armor. Each joke, one liner, sarcastic flavored word, is just a gauntlet, breastplate, shield. It is the protection that Terry has painstakingly built around himself. And if other people are able to notice it, maybe it’s time to start paring it down. He can’t live his life with his guard constantly up, keeping everyone at arm's length. That night, he goes home and tries to figure out where to start with the dismantling of years of armor. What are some battles that he’s lost in the past, battlegrounds that he can pay tribute to in an attempt to heal wounds. 

He’s done what he can with Rose. That ship has sailed, especially when he hears that she’s taken up with a fellow EMT. He can’t have any more regrets when it comes to her so he packs away that unsung future and moves towards a more attainable one. When Benson offers him a permanent position on the Manhattan SVU team, he takes it. He starts to look for a place closer than the Bronx and wondering what the next step is going to be when fate throws him a bone. 

There’s an advertisement on the page across from the midtown rentals that he’s been combing through for an art gallery not far from the SVU. He recognizes your picture, The Gate of Babylon. There’s going to be an open house tomorrow night and he’s already clearing his schedule for  it. He doesn’t know for certain if you’ll be there; you don’t always attend the open houses. But he’s hoping that fate is going to smile on him again. 

His nerves start to fail him when he’s standing in the doorway of the renovated warehouse. There has to be close to two hundred people milling around the wide open space. This is three times the size of the small opening he went to a few months ago in the Bronx. This is Dom Perignon filling the glasses and Guerlain perfume filling the air. That’s why it doesn’t surprise him when he finally lays eyes on you, he barely recognizes you. 

You look like a painting, or a fashion model from the runways of Paris. Your hair is slicked back and resting in a bun on the base of your neck. You're wearing a black blouse with a deep v-cut neckline with a gold pencil skirt, and gold heels. You’re walking elegance and he’s frozen to the spot as he catalogs this moment. 

But then your head turns in his direction; your eyes immediately meet his. The surprise, shock even, reminds him of this immense gamble. Three months ago was your rooftop encounter. Three months of radio silence from him after he dropped you off at your apartment, hair disheveled, dress wrinkled, and that beautiful smile of a hopeful woman. And he had completely ghosted you. He waits for any sign that you’ll give him a chance to explain himself, apologize, and beg for a second chance but a well-dressed man in a tuxedo steps next to you and pulls your attention away from Terry’s sudden appearance. 

Terry watches as the man’s hand settles at the small of your back, as he whispers something in your ear and you smile. Your attention is focused on a reporter and her photographer who take pictures of you and the tall, dark handsome man next to you. He should have known, should have realized that someone as bright and beautiful as you would find someone who would properly appreciate you. He should have known better; he really should have. He puts his hands in his pockets and leaves the open house, bitterness very strong on his tongue. 

When he leaves the warehouse, he wanders blindly around the neighborhood. It’s an upscale part of Manhattan, wandering into an unsafe part isn’t a concern. He berates himself for letting three months pass without so much as texting you. He’s lost in his self-flagellation when he passes in front of a diner window and someone is tapping on the glass to get his attention. He looks and sees the other relationship failure from his past motioning for him to join her. Resigning himself, he goes into diner and walks back to where Rose is seated in one of the booths. 

“I was just getting ready to text you,” she greets.

“Really?” She motions for him to join her and he thinks, why the hell not? May as well rub salt in the wounds at this point. “What’s up?” 

“I wanted to tell you before you heard it through the grapevine but, Brian asked me to marry him. I said yes.” 

He expects to feel a second wave of failure and regret but as he sits there and waits for it to come, it doesn’t. Instead, he feels relief. Any chance he had at making things work with Rose are completely gone now and it’s like being set free. He’s actually happy for her and tells her that. 

Rose laughs but there’s a nervous tinge to it. “You are? Really?” 

“Yeah,” he shrugs. “I never wanted anything bad for you. I’m…I’m just sorry you were there for the shittiest time of my life. And that it rubbed off on you.” 

She nods. “Well, I guess it just shows timing really is everything.” 

Isn’t that the moral of the story? He sees Brian come into the diner and stands up to leave so Rose and Brian can spend time in peace. He knows how hard it is to find that shared time together. He shakes Brian’s hand and gives Rose a hug. But as soon as he lets go of her, he sees your face in the window of the diner. At first he thinks it’s just a figment of his imagination, your sudden appearance at this particular moment in time, still dressed in your black and gold outfit. But it’s the hurt in your eyes that makes him realize this is, in no way shape or form, an illusion. You turn immediately away and start off down the sidewalk. He says a hasty goodbye and runs out of the diner after you. 

“Snaps!” 

You’re already crossing the street to the next block. Shit, you can move in those heels and you show no signs of slowing down. He breaks into a jog and catches up with you at the next crosswalk. Now he just needs to catch his breath. 

“Snaps, look-” 

“No, it’s okay. I shouldn’t have followed you. That was just,” you sniff and wipe tears from your eyes, “it was just stupid.” 

The crosswalk sign turns and you immediately start to cross when he grabs your elbow. “Snaps, stop, please, listen to me. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I dropped you off three months ago and never returned your texts and calls. I’m sorry I screwed that up so badly.” 

“It’s okay, Terry. It is.” 

“It’s not. It’s not okay. I fucked up. I showed up tonight to apologize, see if we could…” he lets the question drop off because you won’t look at him. That’s when the lights of a passing car catch the diamond ring on your finger. He had been right. You did find someone else, someone to love you like he missed out on doing. 

You gently pull away from his grip and clear the tears that are stuck in your throat. “It, uh, it was good seeing you again, Terry.” 

He watches you turn around and walk down the sidewalk before getting into an Uber. 

#terry bruno x you #terry bruno x reader #detective terry bruno #terry bruno fic

[elizabethbathoryofficial]

We should get FGO review bombed for this

^About the design of Mother Harlot in Arcade

I originally received this ask on the day the design was revealed, on December 23rd. I avoided answering it right away, because I was extremely upset and my response would've just been a 40 mile long venting post about the design. So I decided to wait on it until I could calm down and give a more articulate response. I believe now I'm in a mental state where I can express my feelings better.

That being said, this will still be pretty long, so I'll write on the topic under the cut. CW, we'll be talking about transphobia, misogyny, and an uncomfortable amount about pedophilia.

My philosophy towards FGO is, and has always been, to be a critical fan of it. The fact that it has some extremely gross aspects to it has always been undeniable. Sure, I enjoyed the gameplay and the characters, and the story built around them was very compelling. But we can't and mustn't forget the fact that it has extremely fetishistic designs, designs aimed specifically to please lolicons, and blatant transphobia written across big chunks of the story, just to name a few of its issues. I like the game, but I'm aware that it is flawed. I think those flaws shouldn't be ignored, but brought to light and criticized, so that the designers start to do better and the product improves over time.

It hasn't. It's gotten worse.

For those unaware, on December 23rd, DW introduced a new character to its roster, as an Arcade-exclusive: Mother Harlot, the biblical whore whose debauchery led Babylon to its ruin. This character is one of the Beasts in-story, and has been teased as being related to Nero Claudius for years now. Not to mention how important the location of Babylon is to FGO's story! Now she's here, she's canon, she has an official design, and.....!!!! ......she's a little girl in a string bikini.

DW introduced a literal, no question about it, no room for interpretation, canon child prostitute.

At this point how important she is to the story doesn't matter. How cool it is that she's Nero Alter because the number 666 in the bible is talking about Nero and how it was teased in Nero Caster's abilities, none of that matters. None of it. Nero is already a grown woman character who lives her sexuality much more freely than others, making her the Whore of Babylon should've been an extremely easy home-run. Just make her edgy and put her in a revealing outfit, done. There is literally no reason to turn this grown-ass woman into a child, especially when the character she's turning into is a literal Harlot. This is inexcusable. This is beyond repair. They saw a character whose whole deal was that she destroyed a city by having sex with its rulers and decided she should be a child. And before they try to come and justify it like "Oh she's actually a child bc she's not the fully mature version of the beast yet so this is just a visual interpretation of that fact", or "nono you dont get it she drank a potion that made her a little kid", then it still doesn't matter because WHY WOULD YOU WRITE YOUR STORY IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT LEADS TO A LITTLE GIRL IN A STRING BIKINI. WHEN YOU COULD'VE LITERALLY JUST NOT DONE THAT AND IT WOULD'VE STILL MADE SENSE.

For me, this is the point where it becomes too much. The point where "I'm a critical fan of it and am aware of its flaws" stops being enough. The point where the bad aspects of the game overshadow the good. The point where good faith and hopes it will improve are completely dried out, and I feel like I'm supporting an awful product just by engaging with it.

Some months ago, in one of my sideblogs, I got an anonymous ask from someone saying they liked fgo bc they were a lolicon and fgo was made for them. I blocked them and moved on with my day, thinking that they were on the wrong for liking the game for the wrong reasons. Today I'm not sure that's true anymore. The game seems designed specifically to make lolicons happy, decency and the story making sense be damned. Now I feel like I'm the one who likes the game for the wrong reasons, what with me enjoying its gameplay, designs, and seemingly trans and nb-friendly character backstories. Now I feel like I'm the kind of fan DW wants to get rid of so they can appeal more to their target audience of pedophiles and people who jerk off to anime girls with no personality other than "big bobba mommy dom gf".

At the end of the day, I'm just... tired. So, so tired. I don't know for how much longer I'll be playing the game, but I don't think it'll be that long. I'm currently still mindlessly playing it when commuting or watching youtube videos, but I've been skipping all cutscenes, events, and I couldn't bring myself to give two craps about the new lostbelt. Hard to care about a story when you feel like the people who made it hate you and are actively supporting and encouraging pedophilia around the world.

I used to think fgo was the kind of game I could play and engage with for years to come, but at this point I just want to move onto other things that don't make me feel embarrassed when people find out I like them. I know no piece of media is irredeemable, but fgo keeps digging itself further down the shitter and I can no longer bear to walk alongside it. In the meantime, I'll keep casually enjoying its wholesome, well-made fanon content by reblogging it to this blog. I really want to remember it by the friendships it made me and the happiness it gave me before I drop it completely and move onto better things.

-Eli

[redsector-a]

AO3 Ask Game

I was tagged by @themarshalstale which, thank you so much! I feel like I always get missed on these (I know why, it’s been 84 years since I published anything but still). 1. How many works do you have on ao3?

46 it seems. Which...look I’m slow man so that’s not surprising. lol Also crippling depression does not make for much production, at least for me.

2. What’s your current AO3 wordcount?

309662 according to the stats.

3. How many fandoms have you written for and what are they?

So do I could only AO3 or in like life? lol I suppose it should only be on AO3 since this is an AO3 ask game. Hrm. Basically AO3 can be summed up as: Marvel (in several iterations - all Avengers related) Torchwood Highlander But isn’t it more fun to consider my entire fandom life, which, I’m sorry, I’m old so...yeah. Not all of this is was published and beyond that a lot is not available anymore...which is likely for the best. Highlander Star Wars Babylon 5 Ronin Warriors/Samurai Troopers Marvel (again, several iterations also of note Avengers and X-Men both count) Torchwood Star Trek LOTR Stargate (SG-1, SGA) Mortal Kombat I dabbled with the idea of Potter fic but never got past the ideas stage.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

1: You rearrange me till I’m sane Clint finds himself spiraling into a deep depression after the Battle of New York...until the Winter Soldier ends up saving him and inadvertently giving him a new purpose – to save the man that the Soldier had once been – Bucky Barnes. Not one to be outdone, the Soldier decides that his new mission is to ensure that Clint remains alive himself. Protecting a blonde man with a self-destructive streak is somehow very familiar to him. Through the back and forth of who is saving whom they cross the country and learn more about themselves and each other – and perhaps find a reason for living. 2: Five Dates Bucky Didn’t Realize He Was on And the One He Planned Himself To say that Bucky was surprised when Clint kissed him was an understatement. But it was nothing compared to the shock he felt when he learned they'd been dating for months without him realizing it.Clint gets whisked away for a mission before they have time to talk and Bucky is left to figure things out on his own - hindsight being 20/20 he can't help but wonder how he missed things the first go around.

3: Puck Luck Bucky Barnes is used to the ups and downs of an NHL season. He's used to the unpredictability of the game, knows that bounces don't always go your way, but that doesn't make a broken hand in the final third of the season any easier to deal with. Especially not when he ends up with an impromptu roommate/personal assistant in the form of one Clint Barton - his agent, Natalia Romanova's (rather attractive) friend he hadn't known existed before his injury.

It's just for six to eight weeks - what could possibly happen in that span of time?

4: Loose Lips Launch Ships

Based on the following prompt: “We go to school together and I think you’re cute and apparently you’re also the pizza delivery guy and my little sibling opened the door screaming hey sibling! you know that kid you’re in love with? you really weren’t kidding when you said his jawline could cut steel holy shit-” Bucky is the pizza delivery guy. Clint's younger (foster) brother has a big mouth.

5: Indelible Bucky Barnes has a pretty decent life – a good job, good friends, a cat that adores him - but something is missing. He’s always found body art to be beautiful and inspiring, and on a whim (and with the hope that maybe he can find what he’s missing) he decides to take the plunge and get a tattoo. That's how he meets Clint Barton. Clint's talented and compassionate and there is an instant spark between the two of them. It's not long before Bucky finds himself wondering and wanting more from the relationship despite the ghosts of the past that crop back up. Because Clint makes him feel normal in a way he truly hasn't for years...

(this was pre-Alpine so I was totally chuffed when canon confirmed Bucky’s status as a crazy cat lady (affectionate).

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not.

I really really really want to do it but I often times don’t end up doing it. There are a few reasons. First, I am akwward AF and bad at interaction adn I feel like just saying thank you would be...not enough? Second - I often times tend to like...turtle (aka retreat into myself) when life gets Too Hard/Busy which happens a lot to me (sigh) and then I miss the vague window in my mind in which it would be okay to respond and then it’s even more weird. I do love and cherish all of them. Like there was one months ago that made me go “hmm...I didn’t think I was going to do a sequel to that fic (You rearrange me till I’m sane), timestamp glimpses sure but a sequel hadn’t come to mind” but then the comment made me think! So...who knows? lol Anyway, I literally have been rereading some in an effort to try and get myself going again. Know that if you have commented, I love you.

6. What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

At the moment? Probably: Look at you look at me Bucky's in love with Clint - problem is he's really not supposed to be. For Winterhawk Week 2019 - Forbidden Love (I really don’t want to give away the spin in the fic but...if you’re familiar with the Secret Avengers Vol 2 run circa 2013ish (aka when SHIELD initially ‘took control of the team’) that’s a bit of a hint as to the spin). Were it done, Torch Song would be up there. ;) Torch Song Clint is sent back in time, via an alien device, to 1938. While he tries to figure out how to get back home, he takes up singing and entertaining to make ends meet and does his best to not disrupt the timeline.Then he meets a 21 year old Bucky Barnes. --- A torch song is a sentimental love song, typically one in which the singer laments an unrequited or lost love, either where one party is oblivious to the existence of the other, where one party has moved on, or where a romantic affair has affected the relationship.

7. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve ever written?

Does *wanting* to write crossovers count? lol I want, so badly, to do more crossovers and fusions (which...are kinda deeper versions of crossovers in a way). The only one I do have posted is a crossover between Highlander and Torchwood -

The Immortal Mr. Jones A series of vignettes (some long, some short) in the life of the newly immortal Ianto Jones. My most ambitions project that I have been working on since late 2011/early 2012 is a fusion of the Avengers with Stephen King’s the Stand. I will get that done at some point *shakes fist*  The Stand, for those who don’t know it, is an epic 1000+ page novel about a flu epidemic (I know) that wipes out over 99% of the population and then two figures representing Good and Evil pull the survivors in two directions for a showdown. So basically it’s a non-powered modern AU set in that universe. It’s a passion and comfort project. lol

8. Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Yes. Well, minor bitching back when I was in a prior fandom because I tagged a pairing in a fic but it was pre-slash and not labeled as pre-slash. I got hate on...I think it was Torch Song? And I’ve gotten hate on tumblr re me and my fic in general as well. Fandom! *jazz hands* Oh! And I’ve also been hit by those reviewers within Winterhawk (among general Clint pairings actually) who like rate you on either number scales or the “meh” scale. Which isn’t hate exactly but...it’s passive aggressive bullshit because I can’t believe none of them realize at this point that the authors can see their bookmarks - you know?

9. Do you write smut?

Yes. Do I write it well? I have no idea. lol

10. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I am aware of. Well...there was, I think, one of those reposting sites that had a few fics on it but I don’t think it was being passed off as someone else’s? I can’t quite recall. It’s why I have a note on AO3 about reposting my work anyway.

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

Not entirely, but sort of. Let me explain - I am part of a PBEM game; which for those unfamiliar since it’s a term that was most heavily in use 15-20 years ago, in which you basically do a round robin type writing thing but rather than everyone writing the same characters you write your own characters and you play off what other people have done. Another way of looking at it is  it’s basically DnD without dice and written down rather than done out loud. You also don’t have to all be around at the same time. It’s a lot of fun and yes I have been in it for 20 years even though there aren’t many of us left but they are some of my dearest friends and fabulous writers. Wins all around.  One of the other writers and I have actually toyed with the idea of doing a co-written fic actually, mostly because we work super well together and keep getting ideas for things but can’t really do them as rpgs since the pbem style isn’t used much anymore.

12. What’s your all time favorite ship?

Winterhawk probably. Though, let’s be real - Han & Leia are epic and amazing as are John & Delenn (from Babylon 5).

13. What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Does wanting to expand The Black Stallion books as a wee child count? lol Not much of that was written save for world building ideas but there was a great oral tradition of telling stories to my friends. Otherwise...maybe a tie between Star Wars and Highlander. Star Wars was a love since I was super young but the writing bug didn’t hit me until around the same time Highlander was a thing as well.

14. What’s your favorite fic you’ve written? You rearrange me till I’m sane for sure. Though Torch Song, if it were finished, would be tied I imagine (I suck at picking favorites). Honorable mention to Puck Luck and Indelible. Tagging: I have seen this like a million times (okay 5) so I feel like everyone has been tagged already that I know. But...I guess... @vexbatch @crazycatt71 @heartonfirewrites and @disruptedvice sorry if anyone has been tagged before.

#icyredfics #writing #winterhawk #long post

[frenchmarshmalloww]

For those who were sad over my last post, here is a bit more angst but it gets better, promise :)

The timeline is kind of hazy, a sort of post S2 in terms of timing of the relationship but without the actual events of S2. OK it doesn't make any sense, just read lol.

The rules of tricking

I stand there, lost in thoughts, admiring the man laying on the couch in front of me. His body still makes my heart beat faster, a work of art if I ever saw one. Oh, how I wish I could be immune to it by now. Life certainly would be easier for me if I had been able to just get it out of my system. To just fuck him out my head, of my heart.

“Justin”

He startles me out of my musings, eyes on me from his position on the couch, hands in the hair of the trick blowing him. Not wanting to be left out any longer, I come closer, bend over the armrest of the couch and run my hands over his chest, play with his nipples. Brian sighs contently, music to my ears. I look at the other man straddling his thighs. He’s pretty hot, perfectly fitting the rules I secretly follow when choosing them. Hot enough that Brian would want to fuck them, not hot enough that I would not want him to fuck them. It’s a tight rope but I manage.

I remember clear as day, the night we came up with this new deal.

For the umpteenth time, we were coming home from Babylon fighting. I had caught Brian in the backroom fucking some twink, or was I the one being fucked? It doesn’t really matter I guess. Once in the loft, neither of us wanted to back down until, and boy was I stunned when it happened, Brian took the first step.

“Look Justin, this is getting really old. We have to find a way to just handle this better. How about some rules?”

“Rules? Like what?”

“Like, I don’t know… No tricking in front of each other for starters, no tricks in our bed, and we have to be home by 2AM every night.”

Seemed to me like he knew very well what he meant by rules. Apparently, he’d been thinking about it for a while. Still reeling from our fight though, I didn’t want to be amicable. So, like a five-year-old I stumped my theoretical foot and said “How about no tricking at all?”. It was worth a shot, right?

The look he gave me told me all I needed to know, so I switched gears rapidly. If he wanted a negotiation, then I had to come up with a proposition of my own.

“How about the total opposite?”

“What, like more tricking? Justin, that doesn’t make any sense.”

“No, I meant opposite to your proposition. Here’s my counter offer. We trick together, I pick them, we get them here and then we share them. No one on one, no repeat.”

I should have taken a picture of his face at that moment. The perfect mix of surprise, awe and lust. Yes, I had him.

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

“OK.”

“OK.”

That was 4 months ago, and since then, we’ve shared guys about once a week. I guess I thought Brian would get tired of it at some point, that he would break the rules and I’d have to go back to watching him fucking anything that moves, but he seemed to enjoy it and we’ve never talked about it again.

Back in the moment, I glance at the pretty brunette blowing my … Brian. He’s very enthusiastic, too much if I say so and I need to reassert my control over the situation.

“Don’t you dare make him come” I snap.

Brian scoffs below me and says “Not a chance, babe”. Cocky bastard. I would have believed him too if it wasn’t for the way his voice broke on that last word, betraying how turned on he already was. Stupid trick.

I bend lower to catch his mouth with mine. The angle is all weird, being upside down, but somehow it makes the kiss better, filthier, sexier. I deepen it, pressing more of my weight onto him, until I feel his hand pushing urgently at my shoulder. I break the kiss and look at him questioningly. That’s the moment I realize he’s having trouble catching his breath. I must have been crushing his airways and he has to take big gulps of air now. I’m about to apologize when I notice how dark his eyes have gotten, how harder his dick is in the other’s mouth.

Smirking, I say to him “You liked it”. He plays dumb, of course. “What?”

“Don’t lie to me Brian” He never has, I don’t want him to start now.

“OK, yeah” then in a breath “Please”.

“Please, what?” I know I’m enjoying this way too much, but damn, it’s not often that I get that kind of dominance over Brian fucking Kinney.

“Please do it again” he reluctantly asks. Not ever having been able to deny him, I comply and for the next minutes, it feels like it’s just the two of us again.

Later, after we relocated ourselves on the bed, I find myself watching Brian prepping the other guy to get fucked. He’s got two fingers inside of him, and the pretty boy is already writhing under him. He’s still clear headed enough to stroke my cock so there’s still that. Once he’s ready, Brian pulls him up on his hands and knees, puts on a condom and enters him in one swift motion. The trick moans loudly and although I hate it, the sound makes me harder. Having Brian Kinney fuck you is a religious experience, it’s hard to focus on anything else. I’m this close to patting him on the cheek and say I understand how he feels. I let Brian get into a rhythm before I slide myself under them and shove the trick’s dick in my mouth. I’m not giving my best, it’s been a while since I did, but apparently Brian is putting in enough efforts for the both of us because the pretty boy is losing his mind, crying out loudly.

Few instants later, I feel Brian’s eyes on me. I know what he wants, same as always. He wants me to look at him when he comes. As if that would make what we’re doing more normal. I usually comply. Anything to pretend that it’s just the two of us. But tonight, I can’t. If he looks into my eyes, he’ll see. He’ll see all the things I’m not saying, all the things I don’t want him to know. That I cannot stand it anymore. That all I feel at this moment is disgust and sadness. So, I close my eyes to avoid his and I suck harder. I want this to be over already. I don’t have to wait long. A few deep thrusts in his ass and the trick is coming down my throat, taking Brian with him few seconds later. I swallow it all, out of habit at this point, and as soon as I feel his cock start to soften in my mouth I get up and leave. They are both catching their breath as I make my way to the bathroom. Glancing down I realize I am not even hard anymore.

I take a quick shower, trying to make it last long enough for the intruder to be gone when I get out of the bathroom. I perfected my timing so well over time that as I step out of the shower, I hear the door open and close. I dry up quickly, tying a towel around my waist and I get out of the bathroom. Halfway to the bed I walk around Brian, standing there only wearing his jeans, top button undone. I don’t stop, eager to put this all night behind me. He won’t let me though. He catches my wrist and pulls me into him.

“Hey, don’t.” The softness of his voice just about breaks me. I have to push through though, if I want to keep him, I need to play by the rules, he’s made that much clear.

“Don’t what?” I try. I know I am not fooling him, but I’ve been trapped in this role so long I don’t even know how to be anything else now.

He sighs deeply then lets me go and looks at me. I am not sure I know how to read his eyes. Is that pity? Suddenly panic is rising inside me. I went too far, I let him see and now he’s going to get rid of me. It happened before, when I started caring too much. It’s always the same with us. He tells me not to expect anything and I don’t for a while, and then I start to want more, and he pulls away, saying he won’t give me what I want, what I need. I leave, certain I will be better off without him, yet every time I come back, surer than ever that what he has to give is enough if it means I get to be with him. And again, and again. Except this time, he seems to be the one wanting me gone and the thought of not being able to come back to him makes my eyes burn.

“You’re unhappy.” He states. And I know where this is going, so I lie through my teeth. “No, I’m not. Look I’m sorry I wasn’t really into it tonight; this guy wasn’t really doing it for me I guess. I need better standards.” I try to joke, but it falls flat.

“Justin, we have to stop this.”

No, no, no, no, please don’t.

“Don’t worry Bri, next time will be extra hot, I swear. Might go for a blond next time. You’d like that right?” I try flirting. I never go for blonds. The only blond that gets to be fucked by Brian should be me.

“Justin, stop! There won’t be a next time.”

That’s when my heart breaks. I feel it in my chest, it’s being torn apart and shred to pieces. Then suddenly, as if something jumped started my system, I have to move, to run. I cannot be here anymore. I cannot look at him, still in the fucking afterglow of coming in this guy’s ass and see anything else than the pain of losing him, for good I suspect this time. I walk to the couch and start putting my clothes back on. When I’m dressed I grab a bag and go to the closet, I take whatever I come across, some might not even be mine, but all I think about is how I need to get out of here and fast.

A few minutes later, I’m making my way to the door when Brian stops me with a strong grip.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Getting out of here before you kick me out.”

He looks at me puzzled. Then something clicks in his mind and he smiles. The bastard is smiling at me when all I want is to be alone, so I can break down in peace.

“Justin, I didn’t mean it like that. What I meant was we need to stop with the tricks.”

“OK… “ I am really confused at this point and it’s messing with my dramatic exit so I just stand there waiting for him to elaborate.

“Shit, I’m so bad at this. Let me try again.” He’s visibly struggling with whatever he’s trying to say, and despite the overall pain I feel deep inside my bones, it’s my turn to smile. I mean, how often do you get to see Brian Kinney struggling to express himself?

“Justin, I want new rules.” He finally says with a resolve that scares me a little. OK, fair enough.

“Yeah sure, do you want to go back to fucking them on your own?” Please anything as long as I can stay.

“No.” Fuck.

“OK then…” I keep trying to delay what I feel is inevitable. He cuts me off right there.

“Would you please just shut up and let me say this?!”

“Yeah, ok, sorry.” Go ahead, break my heart, I’m all ears.

He takes a deep breath, like he’s preparing himself for the worst and then looks at me and says:

“I want the new rule to be that we only fuck each other. No tricks, no backroom, no cruising, no nothing. You and me in our bed, or well anywhere really, from now on.”

I’m having a stroke. It has to be it, right? I can’t feel my legs, my heart is racing, there’s a white noise in my ears. I want to say something but my brain’s not working, my mouth either. I’m just gapping at him like a fish out of his water bowl. A minute has passed, maybe twenty for all I know, and I manage to find my voice again.

“Do you mean that?” I hate how small I sound, but I have to make sure. I can’t let myself hope.

“Yes, I do.”

“But you need it.” I feel stupid for fighting him on this, but that’s what he’s been saying for the last two years. Monogamy is shit. I don’t believe in love, I believe in fucking. Those are his words. What kind of game is he playing now?

“I need you more.”

I realize I’m crying now. 4 words. Not the 3 I desperately want to hear but this is certainly close enough. He needs me. More than he needs to fuck random guys in a backroom. More than he needs to be the king of Babylon, of Liberty Avenue.

I jump into his arms, sobbing in his neck, peppering him with kisses. I’m so happy I could sing, dance, whatever. He wraps his arms around me instantly, holding me tight. I feel his smile against my hair and it makes me cry harder.

“Hey come on, don’t cry. You know I don’t know what to do with crying people.”

I ignore his attempt at lightening the mood and kiss him deeply, letting myself feel it all. After a few minutes, we break apart, both breathless and hard.

Brian, pulls away slightly and looks at me like he can see into my soul.

“Justin, you know I …” He trails off.

His eyes are pleading with me not to push it, not to force the words out of him. I see the fear, but also his desire to make me believe, that in his own fucked-up way, Brian Kinney does love me.

“Yeah, I know. Me too.”

Relief floods his features, he must have been really torn up over this. I’m an asshole for enjoying it but I feel like I deserve it somehow.

“So now that it’s settled, could you stop being such a drama queen and put that stuff back?” He points at the bag on the floor.

This time, I let him joke the seriousness away and throw the bag in the vague direction of the closet.

“I’ll put it back later. First, I need you inside me, seems I’m the only one who did not get off tonight.”

I take his hand and lead him to our bed. From behind me, I hear him murmur, not sure I’m even supposed to.

“Whatever you need Sunshine, whatever you need”. And for once, I know he means it the way I want him to.

#qaf #qaf us #brian kinney #justin taylor #britin

[joeyarnoldvn]

2021, February

Biden Law, Five Years Lockdown Monday the first day of February of 2021. Canada Kidnapping Themselves Tuesday. All About Hive Blog Wednesday. Alex Jones and DR. STEVE PIECZENIK Thursday. Are you ready for Weapons of Mass Distraction Friday. Amazon Spies Saturday.

Instagram Rising

I was banned on Bittrex Sunday the 8th. My Cash App is $joeyarnoldvn Monday. Cronyism Sucks Tuesday. Gold-Backed Crypto Wednesday. Protonmail problem on my 36th birthday Thursday. Just kidding. Brother Joined Hive Friday. Shoveling Snow Saturday.

Ice Killed Texans

Happy Valentines Day Sunday the 14th. President's Day. Party at Five Monday. Texas Freezing Tuesday. Vietnamese pho dinner was yummy. Travel Post Banned For Not Being a Travel Post Wednesday. Photoshop Funny Thursday. We Need County Coin Friday. Why is Sweden banning masks Saturday.

Can't Disrupt Commerce lol

Strung up pea strings. The Healthy American Sunday the 21st. Pho dinner. Musical chairs. Weekly Oatmeal Show - Episode 001 Monday. Gina Carona Interview with Ben Shapiro Tuesday. Digging up potatoes. Bible study revived. Being Dead Due To Birth Wednesday. Captain Biden Flying Around Zapping Brown Kids Thursday. My-Body-My-Choice No-Mask Sign Friday. Cleaned Out a Chicken House Saturday. DEADLY-ALLERGIC to YOUR-OWN-BODY Sunday.

February of 2021

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28

2021

January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

2020s

2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029

Join My Communities

[Directory] | Art | Comedy | Dreams | Encouragement | English | [Groups] | Health | History | Questions | Vietnam | Etc

My Autobiography

History | Future | 1900s | 2000s | 0000s | 1000s | 2000s

About Me

Contact | Support | Art | Articles | Audio | GIFs | Hobbies | Memes | Music | Photos | Videos | Websites | Etc

February of 2021

Oatmeal Monthly - 2021-02 - February of 2021 Published in February of 2021

I enjoyed watching season 1 of Tell Me Your Secrets

By Oatmeal Joey Arnold

Directory | Timeline | Home | Accounts | Categories | Channels | Favorites | Geography | [Links] | People | Topics | @OatmealEnglish | @OatmealHealth | @RsArnold316 | [List of my Favorite Websites]

Contact Me

Social Media | Address | App | Blockchain | Blog | Chat | Comment | Discord | Email | Facebook | Forum | Message | Phone | Telegram | Text | Twitter | Video | Website | YouTube | Etc

Biden Law, Five Years Lockdown Plan

2021-02-01 - Monday

Hello Pocahontas

Americans to be placed under Extreme Lockdown House-Arrest for at least 12 months, that is the plan. You will be stuck in your house like they did in China. You will starve to death and die. The plan is to begin this before 2022, as in as soon as possible. Your loved ones will die from Covid Vaccines which is already murdering hundreds to thousands of people. This is a hole straight down to the pits of Hell.

Canada Kidnapping Themselves

2021-02-02 - Tuesday

Biden, Harris, Napoleon Dynamite Voting Meme

When Canadians return to their home country, Canada, they're federally kidnapped, imprisoned in Covid Concentration Camps for many days, and then charged at least $2,000. Wow. Justin is so liberal. Let's all move to the Land of the Moose. 2 masks at least says CDC. Go to their website and read the article.

Try To Withdraw Money

If you try to take your money out of your bank, they'll flag you, stick the IRS up your butt. Just try it, I dare you. When you try to withdraw cash, watch what happens, and don't get me started with if you ask for gold when you try to cash out. Paper money was supposed to be an "I-Owe-You" check which is supposed to be exchangeable for actual gold, a place-holder.

All About Hive Blog

2021-02-03 - Wednesday

Picture of Joey Arnold

Hive is like Facebook except it pays you to post. Did you know Covid is also called SARS-COV-2? Wait a minute, whatever happened to SARS-COV-1? Did we have a pandemic for the first one? How are we already in the second one? Was I sleeping while the first one was going around? How many years ago was the first one? Is China stealing oil from Texas? Why was Joe Biden refused a Pentagon security clearance? There has been documented cases where people were missing over 90% of their brain tissue but where still able to function like a normal person. One person to even had just a thin layer around the inside of the skull. Literally an empty head and yet could still function as a human. They are destroying the second amendment right now. You have no idea.

Alex Jones and DR. STEVE PIECZENIK

2021-02-04 - Thursday

Trump Terminator

Big interview between Alex Jones and DR. STEVE PIECZENIK today, 2nd hour of the show. The dollar could lose over 20% of its value under Lord Biden before 2022 and much more the following 12 months. It is likely the dollar will die sooner or later meaning you must convert your dollars into something else while you still can. This is financial advice. You have been warned. Your money is on fire but not in a good way. You're leaking value each day. You might as well give me your money as you're losing your money each second. You're wasting your money as you let inflation destroy the value of fiat. Was the Burma Election stolen like it was in America? If you think Biden won, then you do NOT know who won in Burma. I don't care what military is doing. Who won the election in Burma? I'm asking who got the most real votes excluding the fake votes. I want to know who really won. Please let the REAL WINNER be the leader of what you call Myanmar. Whoever actually won should be allowed to run that country, period. Military should help whoever got the most legal votes in that nation. Period. I don't know who won. I am just saying let the real winner have the power, good or bad.

Fall or Rise of Empires

This is what Mike Adams said today. He said something bad could happen over night, that is to the extent the dollar crashes, they'll try to blame the crazy Redditters, the conservatives, for destroying the money, they'll come up with crazy excuses, conspiracy theories, and then say how they saved us by giving us Biden Coins or whatever they want to call it. They are trying to have one centralized global digital currency, no cash, no decentralized cryptocurrencies. So, I agree this could happen at any time, especially if three or more stimulus checks come out in 2021, as they spend more and more money, as people demand silver, gold, etc. The centralized banking system could fall in the next few years or sooner. As that happens, either the good guys or the crazy globalists and baby eaters can take over as that happens. So, in other words, we are in a major transition in global history similar to the rise or fall of other great empires like that of Rome, Babylon, Persia, England, China, etc. But I can't say if we are in the middle of the fall or the rise of an evil authoritarian regime.

Are you ready for Weapons of Mass Distraction?

2021-02-05 - Friday

Alex Jones

Happy birthday brother. Are you ready for Weapons of Mass Distraction? In order to buy guns in 2021 in America, you either have to right now or potentially soon will have to pay too many taxes, additional taxes, including gun related taxes, and pass a test which includes questions relating to if you want to own a gun. If you answer you want a gun, you fail the test because only crazy bad guys want guns. If you want a gun, pass a test. The only way to pass the test is to answer you do not want a gun. Once you answer you do not want a gun, then the genie in the bottle comes out and says in the voice of Robin Williams in Disney's cartoon movie, Aladdin, "As you wish." There were at least two 2020 USA General Election court cases which heard evidence meaning the other dozen or more cases were unconstitutionally dismissed by compromised judges. There is one case in Arizona which is leading towards potential ballot auditing. There may be other legal cases pending in other states in the United States of America. New court cases may rise. Others are ongoing. Some may be, if they haven't yet, potentially, refiled or retried. In some cases, you can do that. It's not double-jeopardy in some cases. It depends but you can sometimes do this depending on the details. A federal case for example could be then tried on the state level. That is not double jeopardy. You can pressure your local counties to call for ballot audits today. Join the revolution.

Nullifying Federal Executive Orders

North Dakota is planning to nullify (on a state level) unconstitutional federal executive orders. If you're not living in this state, you should either go there or encourage your state to call up North Dakota. Hello Texas, Idaho, Wyoming, Arizona, etc. In the world of rock paper scissor, you can see state and federal power. However, never underestimate the power of the county sheriff which trumps over them. You should make friends with your local sheriffs and talk to them about the rule of law regarding what you have to do in your county, legally speaking. Don't go against the sheriffs. Find out what they expect from you as a citizen of the county you're living in.

Amazon Spies

2021-02-06 - Saturday

Trump

Amazon vans have cameras actively spying on people, as in anybody and everybody as they drive around delivering packages, not just their customers but also neighbors and everyone else as well. They collect the data in order to develop a China Social Credit Score Database. Even if you're not on Facebook, they'll still have your data. If you do something that our overlords deem not right, your social credit score begins to go down and down. A lower Social Credit Score means you will not be able to buy and sell, travel, have food, have protection, have safety, have a job, have schooling, have a house, have children, have parents, have organs, have water, have power, have Internet, have apps, have trash, have doctors, have hospitals, have health care. When you call 911 and say somebody cut off your arm and you are bleeding to death, the operator will answer the phone and say, "Sorry, your social credit score is too low, please raise it to an acceptable level and try your call again. Have a good day. Good bye."

I was banned on Bittrex

2021-02-07 - Sunday

I was banned on Bittrex

Banks and big tech companies are making special cities all around the world. Covid to End on the 31st of March of 2025 according to WorldBank.org.

My Cash App is $joeyarnoldvn

2021-02-08 - Monday

Facebook Restricted

My Cash App is $joeyarnoldvn and what is yours? Let's have a party before the dollar dies. Let's come up with backup plans and come together in local communities while we still can. Now is the time.

Cronyism Sucks

2021-02-09 - Tuesday

Cronyism Sucks

George Washington did NOT say, "My fellow Americans, read my lips, I hereby grant you some rights which we can then take away if there is a pandemic or if you feel a little unsafe regarding your neighbor's cannons." You can either help your state leave the United States of Satan or you can leave that state. A woman in Vancouver, Washington went to a hospital. Nurses and doctors tried to stick a needle in her arm against her wishes. She said no. The hospital called the police who came and kidnapped her for not breaking the law. No crime. The hospital and the police committed crime against her. And believe all women. And what if I told you she was black and black lives matter. And police are bad. The police might as well sell her to sex trafficking. Don't we want to defund the police? And I am Pro-Choice too. My Body My Choice. And none of your business. Thousands of people go to Oakes Farms Market in Florida daily without masks in 2020 and many of them go there seven days a week because it's the new Disneyland, the happiest place on earth, even some of their staff are 80 years old or older and yet are not getting sick. But if you do want to wear a mask, have at it. Hundreds of new customers come in each day from out of state, some come as far as like New York. You can tell they're new because when they enter the store, their jaws drop like as if they're cartoon characters.

Cash App

My Cash App is $joeyarnoldvn and what is yours? Let's have a party before the dollar dies. Let's come up with backup plans and come together in local communities while we still can. Now is the time. I will invest in a gold-backed cryptocurrency, as much as I can. Is there such a thing yet? Sign up to be a First Responder today, just call, not toll-free, at 1-800-Get-A-Gun-Duh. Don't kill your chickens, wait until they die of old age, say a little prayer to remember the wonderful life Chicken Little had and then get out your knife and prepare for a feast in honor of the life of the little guy. Study shows over 80% of Covid-19 Patients have vitamin D deficiency. Nurses stick stuff inside babies causing hearts to stop. After that, they try their best to restart the infant's hearts. Too many do die. It is covered up. You don't hear about it. Most viruses die in the air within seconds. Over 85 percent of child trafficking related things seem to be happening on Facebook Messenger.

Gold-Backed Crypto

2021-02-10 - Wednesday

Find me on Instagram at Joeyarnoldvn

Gold and silver are accepted as legal currencies in Utah, Oregon, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Missouri. Before 2030, globalists will most likely murder over 6 billion people. The good news is, number one, we can try to stop some of that, and, number two, regardless, you don't have to be one of them, you don't have to die, there may be only a billion people left on our planet soon. Come join me and survive this coming Holocaust. The greatest Holocaust ever. Save as many people as you can. But at the same time, you don't have to die. Get out of the big cities. Find a farm while you still can. You are running out of time. Find a community of like-minded people and get a room, I mean a community, a neighborhood, a state where you can find like-minded people. Do it while you still can.

Genocide Coming

Because there may be over 7 billion people who support the globalist agenda, they will end up dying most likely in the next few years. You must be prepared for this probability or worst case scenario. Every day you're still not dead yet is precious. You get what you promote. Justice is coming. There are consequences and rewards for the actions we take in life. Will you buy smart underwear which will be connected to the NSA? How do we detox from the lead which is in the soil? I have a friend named Tim Osman. Please don't Google his name. You can make money posting to blockchain social networks, I can help you sign up for free, no credit cards, no money required. I post on these websites and I make money. I did not put any money into them. You can take the money out. You can wire the money to crypto exchanges, banks, wallets.

Protonmail Banned Me on my 36th birthday.

2021-02-11 - Thursday

Protonmail Banned Me on my 36th birthday.

Protonmail Banned Me on my 36th birthday. Step one, find out how many people died annually for the last ten years in your country. Step two, please post those statistics for each individual year including 2020 in your report. We will copy and paste what you find everywhere. Thank you very much. Leftists say you have to say chest, can't say your baby is sucking on your breasts. You have to say human milk. You cannot say it is the milk of the mother. Oh My God. Russia killed the ALL-MIGHTY DOLLAR! I hate you RUSSIA! Are you happy America is becoming Venezuela in the next few years or much sooner because you do nothing, isn't that really cool that you're helping this republic and the world crumble? Are you excited as millions of people die? Do you wake up each morning happy that you don't care about this? Covid Vaccine has over 5 different viruses which it programs and mass produces in your cells to eat up your body from the inside-out, to attack the proteins, to kill your babies, to give you HIV, to kill your immune system and cause you to die from the common cold within months to the extend you're lacking enough essential vitamins.

Regarding Gold-Backed Cryptocurrencies

But the idea of a gold-backed cryptocurrency could at least in theory become a 2-in-1 deal where it might be backed by gold and yet as a fail-safe if all else goes wrong, if governments and others come in to confiscate the gold, you would still have something like Bitcoin or whatever type of cryptocurrency it may be. I see that as a potential two in one deal. Of course the risks, liability, privacy risks of having governments seek to imprison people for having gold which might be connected to a cryptocurrency, I understand that might be too big of a risk in some situations, it may be harder to be anonymous if police were to spot you holding some gold. Finding ways to stay as anonymous online in the mist of tyranny is a worthy cause and that is why I value the 4th amendment of the U.S. constitution. Cartoons and other children shows are actively singing songs and otherwise encouraging toddlers to wear masks, to not shake hands, hug, or get close to other people; to simply not be humans at all, this will scar these kids for the rest of their lives, deep intellectual abuse.

Brother Joined Hive

2021-02-12 - Friday

My brother joined Hive - When I Was Young, Busted Knees, No Helmets, No Limits

Mother cries as insulin for his son who could die without it costs more than $500 even as it only costs pennies to make. Biden did this. Watch the video of this mother in her car video. Listen to her passion as she speaks truth. They say even after everyone on the planet is vaccinated, we still must have lockdown globally, even in ten years from now. Are you happy for living on Planet Wall-E as Fat People stuck in The Matrix? Over ten million starved to death in 2020 thanks to people staying at home and being safe. We kept ourselves so safe, we ended up dying because we had no food. We are so scared, we make the problem worse. The odds of coming up with the exact numbers of the 2020 U.S. General Elections, Mathematician Expert Edward Solomon says there aren't enough stars in the known universe to have it come up by chance apart from electronic manipulation, statistically, it's astronomical, he went on to say there aren't even enough atoms in the universe. Biden won exactly the same percentage points across multiple precincts at designated times a day just long enough to put him in the lead. One example in Fulton County, Georgia on starting at 12:54 AM on Wednesday, the 4th of November of 2020, the percentage was set 5.5555%, and every 30 minutes to an hour plus a few times on Thursday, that is eleven separate times, each time it was exactly 5.555% percent, and that is humanly impossible to replicate by hand without the help of voting software.

Elmo Vaccine

Elmo got the vaccine and people on Sesame Street are locked in their homes like as if they were living in China. Children are being brainwashed. This is worse than sexual abuse. Green means you can travel. Different colors means different things under the Chinese Credit Score which is going to Europe, Australia, Canada, and is also slowly getting into America. If the centralized powers don't like you or your friends, then you can't work, school, travel, buy, sell, have your kids, have Internet, have a phone plan, health care, police care, fire care, water, sewer, garbage, food, etc. There is an alleged James Clapper interrogation audio tape which I'm listening to right now.

Shoveling Snow

2021-02-13 - Saturday

Michelle Obama, "Joe Biden, get your hands off my dick."

Before getting the Covid Vaccine, read the ingredients, the insert. And tell yourself, oh, I am putting this thing in my body, that is awesome. And oh, I am putting this other thing in my body. It is not a vaccine. Ignorance is Bliss. It's cool when you don't know you don't know something. It's cool when millions of people are likely to die or very close to it in 2021 because of Covid Vaccines.

Money is Dying

Cannot wait for the dollar to die. A study found that over 80% of those who got Covid were vitamin-D deficient. And the Flu magically disappeared during the winter. If you're going off the CDC website, you should make a list of the exact numbers.

Happy Valentines Day

2021-02-14 - Sunday

Joe Biden in like 2003

Happy Valentines Day. America has been dead for 209 years. They try to kill people via nano bots which goes into the body to cause flu like symptoms. That is fused with 5G, geoengineering, chemicals, waves, a variety of things working together. You must actively try ten times harder to counter as much of it all as you can, your ignorance is bliss, your children will suffer to the extent you try not to counter things you are yet to know. I repeat, things you are yet to know. Apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons a day but broken up gradually throughout the day, can help you. Encouraging healthy pH blood level balance minimizes cancer, detoxifies the liver, dissolves viruses, and helps the heart. The brain-gut connection. Is it true the last U.S. President to take the oath for the united states for America was back in around 1812? Has America been dead for over two centuries now? Did you know there is a star inside our earth? Biden is telling Americans to wear masks until 2022.

Reducing Zombism

Candida is a type of fungus which helps decompose dead bodies but the problem comes when the people are still alive while Candida is excessively growing and eating up your body even before you are actually dead. Therefore, you want to look at fasting, at starving those little guys at least once every ten years if not as often as you can to minimize how much of them you have inside of your biology. Borax detoxes fluoride from the brain. Inside your body are the bad guys, the fungi, which wants your body to die, and the good guys, which are the bacteria which wants your body to live, that is the civil war within your chemical makeup. The pineal gland in our brain is a spiritual window into the Supernatural Internet which transcends space and time, it truly is the third eye, but fluoride blocks it. Does the earth have two moons?

Party at Five

2021-02-15 - Monday

Star Wars Luke Kenobi Father Vader Anakin Floor is Lava Game Sucks He Was And Died Hahaha Meme

Party at Five. RINOs are Republican In Name Only and PINOs are Patriots In Name Only. Thousands of refugees are being allowed into California and Texas from Mexico but without being tested for Covid, no masks, no safety. But if you want to go anywhere or do anything, you have to get tested. When immigrants come in, as they do right now, they are NOT being tested for anything really, they can pass on diseases to you and you are not allowed to do anything period.

Texas Freezing

2021-02-16 - Tuesday

Girl from Firefly show

A 28 YEAR OLD WISCONSIN MOM DIES DAYS AFTER SECOND PFIZER SHOT. Why are kids sneaking out of the White House? Is Tom Cruise part of an off-planet corporation called Umbrella? You can find really old videos on the Internet of really tall people, some of them may be 14 feet tall or taller as you can see people and horses almost reach the height of this man's knees. Did you really think those videos were fake? Many times you'll find truth hiding in plain sight. Truth is often lying underneath your nose all along. This takes the Mandela Effect to a whole new level. Is the South Pole actually the North Pole? It's below zero degrees in Texas right now, they refusing to turn the power back on as people freeze to death, they're shutting down stores as people starve to death, and they're refusing to plow roads. You can literally watch videos of giant semi-trucks crashing into other trucks, at least three giant trucks, one which was going at least 70 MPH and the others were going pretty fast too, several people died in just that pile up alone.

Who is Oatmeal Joey Arnold?

I am single, 36 years old, I live in Shelton, I am Christian, no kids, I live with my parents, I don't wear a mask ever, I listen to Alex Jones, I love Trump, I am a little bit crazy, I don't work. I don't have a job. I just sit on a computer all day writing on my blog and that is it. Was the inspiration behind the Star Gate movies and shows stolen from the Native American Indians? Weather manipulation meetings at your local town hall in a county or state near you, why are you not there to ask them questions? Things got so bad in India that they created a task force and then ended up banning the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. That's how EVIL India is. Hey folks, how could India keep out our SAVIORS? We all know Bill Gates is the second coming of Jesus Christ. Kissinger wrote a report back in the 1970s regarding how to control the African population.

Travel Post Banned For Not Being a Travel Post

2021-02-17 - Wednesday

White Culture Dont Have Any Joke Yes We Do

Texas Dark Winter to last for weeks, people are freezing and starving to death, people are so excited as the globalists take over the world, Biden said the Dark Winter was coming, he was right. Be prepared for a new biological weapon, a new Covid disease, coming either this year in 2021 or at least before 2025. It will kill at least 4 billion people. Don't tell me I didn't warn you. I'm on record trying to tell you how bad things are. If you're reading this, you're guilty of not caring. Please, do something. The clock is ticking. Will China be aiming nuclear weapons at 24 targets across the globe, will it be real, will it be staged, will it be an excuse to lockdown the world, what is going to happen? Will it be exactly 24 different places in different countries around this planet? Will this be a good thing or a bad thing? Will the good guys or the bad guys be able to take control of whatever that might happen in February of 2021? Will it be any day now? Will people fall for false flags? Is there anything we can do right now?

Bill Gates Over Biden

Biden won't speak to world leaders. Boris Johnson said Bill Gates is really the head of the G8. This is how globalism works. They're getting the general population used to the world being run by technocracy. In a secret video, Mark Zuckerberg told his Facebook staff he didn't trust the Covid Vaccine. So, why isn't Mark telling his 2 billion users this? Why keep such a thing a secret? In the 1960s, America asked Russia to start a world war against China but Russia declined. That was declassified.

Photoshop Funny

2021-02-18 - Thursday

1776 Put Mask On Americans No Way

Funny story today, somebody used photoshop to try to fool me ahahahahhaaa! Biden is taking over the Texan Power-Grid, red alert, warning warning. We know their plan. We know the patterns. They'll say deadlier strands are out there now. This will likely be by the fall of 2021 if not a lot sooner. The strands will generally be less deadly. But it's extremely coordinated, scripted, they will all try their best to make you gulp down this Kool-Aid of Death. Shifting into Techno-Scientific Dictatorship, they're phasing the general public to accept this shift in world history globally, most people are stuck in a trance and they do NOT even know it. Even if you tell them, they will say to you, "You are crazy." THEY'RE PUTTING CHEMICALS IN THE SKY THAT MAKES THE SNOW GAY. The power grid was an attack on water-power devices, especially in the 1930s. Some people had water-powered devices. They didn't need electricity because they water-powered devices.

Scaring Children to Death

A ten year old was admitted to the hospital because he was losing weight because he was refusing to eat for so long because he was afraid he would get Covid and die. Sergeant Major said they don't call it a Lie-Berry for nothing. Did you know they used to have water-powered mechanical devices? You were not told real history. A lot of stuff covered up. Why not get back to water power? Aren't you even just a little bit curious? People had free electricity thanks to tap water in the early 1900s. So, why would people give that up? What happened? Why trade that in for a monthly electricity bill?

We Need County Coin

2021-02-19 - Friday

Lauren Chen was on Friday Night Tights

Steele mentioned the idea of CountyNet. Also, he mentioned an idea of a CountyCoin which loses value the farther away from the county the coin moves in order to incentivize investing back into the same community as opposed to going excessively and obsessively overseas aggressively, as in too much and too often. I confess I fell for fake news when I thought Babbit died. I was wrong. Steele says Wall Street and others stolen 100 trillion dollars. People in power plants in Texas were ordered to lower down, to power down to zero percent in most cases, the documents are here, you can read the documents, they were ordered to do this on purpose, this is KILLING PEOPLE, and YOU DO NOT CARE. Do you have no friends or family in Texas? 2021-02-14 - Sunday - 08:51 PM EST - The 14th of February of 2021 - DOE Order Number 202-21-1 was issued for Texas (ERCOT), for more info, go to Energy dot gov, their official government website.

Texas Being Murdered

The Department of Energy (DOE) was ordered to turn off the power in Texas which is causing people to die. They're literally murdering people and nobody cares. The evidence is right there, we can all grab and share it. But nobody cares that thousands to millions of Texans are starving and freezing to death. I said, to death. The Department of Energy told Texas they CANNOT produce more energy, that is why people are dying. DOE Order Number 202-21-1 mentions ERCOT (ISO), this document can be read on their official government website, you can go there, you can read it, you can pass it on to your friends, or you can let your friends die in the cold in Texas with no power. Texas electricity bill for your power, just this week now, went from $50 per Megawatt to over $9000 per Megawatt. Breaking News,  Megan Fox is an Anti-Masker which means she is Pro-Vitamin, we are all going to die.

Why is Sweden banning masks?

2021-02-20 - Saturday

Alpha Heater

Why is Sweden banning masks? Many times, they ban people from YouTube but then let other upload the same videos or similar videos and profit from them. The Covid Vaccine is not a remedy but an operating system.

The Healthy American

2021-02-21 - Sunday

We Stole It Fair & Square

Stores are not legally allowed to discriminate or disrupt commerce which comes from even the customers who refuses to wear masks. Stores can say it's private property. However, because the stores are open to the public, thanks to the 4th amendment, thanks to other things as well, prohibiting customers is discrimination among other things as well. The maskless buyer is not trespassing if he or she is not disrupting commerce. Moreover, when you prohibit customers from stores, then you are engaging in the disruption of commerce which may be illegal among other things as well partly because the customers are part of the free market exchange system which we call commerce. Stopping customers means you are disrupting commerce. That is illegal. You should go to jail for disrupting commerce. It may be many different things, not just that. Stores and states must be held accountable for violating laws. Stores are public. They cannot enforce masks. Churches however are legally considered to be private and can enforce masks.

Weekly Oatmeal Show - Episode 001

2021-02-22 - Monday

Coco Cola White Polar Bear Fired For Being Too White

Sound of Freedom is a great movie. The only preparedness that counts is the preparedness that happens when you don't yet need it. One day without notice, you will wake up and you will go to an ATM and it will not work. You will have no food in your house for many weeks to many months or longer. It takes less energy to walk on two legs than it takes to run four legs. The majority of suicides are from white male adults. Second spot is held by black male adults. Why was Bill Gates thrown out of 32 countries? New monthly vaccines for the virus of the month. Are you excited? He said now we have to difficult work of "Untying this knot," that is code for crazy people have to be sent off to re-educational FEMA camps where they will either recant or be murdered.

Gina Carona Interview with Ben Shapiro

2021-02-23 - Tuesday

Gina Carona Interview with Ben Shapiro

Gina interview. Why did NASA stop looking for life on Mars in 1976, why did they transition after that to geology, to looking for rocks? Trump got over 80 million votes while Biden got less than 40 million. Why are so many world leaders saying Covid-19 is permanent? They refuse to test it on animals because it kills animals or worse. No animals were harm in the making of this post. God save the animals. I'm glad we skipped animal-testing.

Being Dead Due To Birth

2021-02-24 - Wednesday

Tell Me Your Secrets

The only time your name is written in all uppercase capital letters is on your tombstone and yet that is how it's formatted on birth certificates, when parents sign it IN CURSIVE LETTERS when you are born, that is necromancy. When they say you can't leave the hospital with your own newborn infant baby without signing it, that is theft or worse. Legally speaking, it is a literal death sentence as you are literally selling away your baby. You need to live in groups of at least ten people. Zombies will be coming from the big cities. Protect your family from the walking dead. Why are so many big people being arrested around the world each day? Why?

Who Controls The Military Right Now?

Was an executive order or other items signed officially in 2019 authorizing a former (allegedly incumbent) U.S. President full control of the military even up to 60 days after an alleged inauguration of a alleged new administration (that is the new but fake President of the possibly defunct United Corporate States of America) which would end in or around, approximately, on the 20th of March of 2021? Please let me know such things were not signed. Please let your friends know nothing at all happened in 2019 at all. I'm only asking. I have no idea what happened.

Captain Biden Flying Around Zapping Brown Kids

2021-02-25 - Thursday

Captain Biden Flying Around Zapping Brown Kids

My gender is oatmeal. That is the kind of sex or gender I am. In India, doctors are saying women who get the Covid Vaccines are showing signs of the beginning stages of sudden breast cancer. Wow. This is amazing. Sign me up. Now we can all be Booby-Free Angelina Jolie. Please stick ten of those things in my arms today. Quick, this cannot come fast enough. Make boobs not great again. Please tell your friends how awesome this is. Learn To Say No Just For One Day Article. Tree Court Article.

Globalist vs Brazil

In Brazil, they're trying to force the government to not only waive all liability for the Covid Vaccines but also to sign over military bases over to them as well, it's insane but crazy things happen daily if only you knew the half of it. Back to American news. The Supreme Court has committed treason against the constitution and the republic of these American states. They've ruled saying whoever cheats the most in an election gets to be the alleged president of this defunct fake corporation which we illegally call in all caps THE UNITED STATES OF [not 'for'] AMERICA. Cheating is not only allowed but now also endorsed by the highest court of the land.

My-Body-My-Choice No-Mask Sign

2021-02-26 - Friday

My-Body-My-Choice No-Mask Sign

Masks Causes Bacteria Pneumonia. My-Body-My-Choice No-Mask Sign. Their goal is to make all humans unable to naturally reproduce by 2030. Why is South Africa cancelling the Covid Vaccine? There is also related news in Brazil, India, etc. See, people are dying from vaccines. They've been spending billions to trillions of dollars covering up vaccine deaths for decades globally. They murder people who expose this or worse in most cases. You have no idea how bad it is. Bill Gates and others are involved in giving vaccines to people around the world. That is why Bill Gates is banned in so many countries. In other news, there may be someday selling cloned synthetic children meat to encourage people to eat. Hell, they may have it ready already. Celebrity meat actually. The only we defeat this invisible enemy is to decide our own destiny. 80% of people who died of Covid in Canada were in nursing homes. 101 Pocketball Journal Scans Uploaded.

Covid Vaccines Are Murdering People

Why are over 75% of U.S. military troops refusing the Covid Vaccine? Because vaccines kill people. But more than that, the Covid Vaccine is not a vaccine. It utilizes mRNA which turns your cells into virus factories. That is what mRNA is. See, the M on mRNA means MESSENGER. This is Basic Biology & Science 101 For Dummies here. The vaccine literally sends messages or mRNA into the cell nucleus to tell it to make specific items. Covid-19 and the alleged vaccines in response to it are both GMO-like chimera monsters. They're a combination of different viruses, different things, I'm talking Frankenstein on a microscopic level. I've been talking about this many times. That is why so many people and so many countries are saying no to the vaccines. And again, the Covid Vaccines are not even vaccines to begin with. I wouldn't even be surprised if nano-tech is involved among other things in regards to these things which are murdering people right now. Sadly, they're blaming the mRNA deaths on Covid. So, they're trying very hard to make you think that you need to take monthly vaccines. And the more people die, the more they'll say, "Hurry up, you need even more vaccines, etc." Remember, they have spent billions to trillions of dollars covering up vaccine deaths. They murdered many people who tried exposing them. Fake news would never tell you all of this because they're fake news.

Cleaned Out a Chicken House

2021-02-27 - Saturday

Alex Jones Predicting Covid-19 Back in 2010

Wear a mask or I'm calling the cops. Alright, call the cops. I'm suing them. In 2020, over 40 million alleged votes for Biden were fake. In 2008, it was reported that HAARP was learning how to steer hurricanes via high-atmosphere heat injection, kind of like guiding a kitten with a string. Watch out for Bioterrorism says Bill Gates. Which reminds me, kind of funny how Texas was suddenly colder than Montana. Wow. Out of nowhere. What happened on this day in 1933? Reich Fire. Hitler. Germany. Klaus Schwab says you will ONLY ONLY ONLY eat bugs and will love it.

What is in the Covid Vaccine?

Some of the ingredients for the mRNA Covid Vaccine includes some of the most commonly consumed things including vinegar, salt, sugar, plus a few very common preservatives found in so many food items. Too many people buy processed foods which includes preservatives in them. So, why are these commonly consumed items in the vaccine? It is there to trigger autoimmune responses in your body's immune system. It may takes years for your body to get there, but slowly over time, your body will begin to develop allergies to salt, sugar, vinegar, etc. These allergies may spiral out of control into even worse problems over time. Now, that is just the tip of the iceberg. But it is a good thing to start with and share with others. Don't believe me. Don't take my word for it. Go get a list of the ingredients to these vaccines and post them here. I will wait for your awesome responses. Thank you so much in advance for responding with the real list of ingredients. Prove me wrong. Easy to do. Just show me the ingredients. Show me these items, like salt, is not in the vaccine.

DEADLY-ALLERGIC to YOUR-OWN-BODY

2021-02-28 - Sunday

Covid Vaccine Ingredients

Your body will become DEADLY-ALLERGIC to YOUR-OWN-BODY. Why is Pfizer giving their customers one thing but their staff a different thing? Pfizer got a new drug out which is going to help people deal with one of the side-effects of their own vaccines. So, they make money trying to fool you into getting one and then even more money when you have to come back to take some of their drugs to deal with the deadly side-effects. Have fun, kids. You WILL swell up like a balloon. I warned you. Why were thousands to millions of 2020 ballots had computer-printed vote marks as opposed hand-written vote marks all for Biden and none for Trump?

Trump 2024 is Retarded

Downvote because Trump won in 2020. See, they can steal it from Trump in 2024 too. We have to call for FORENSIC-STYLE ballot audits in each county each day. Call people. Email people. You can make a difference. Call the military. Call Congress. Call judges. Write letters. Protest in person. Make videos. Write articles. Share things everywhere. Do something. If you are reading this and you are doing nothing, then you deserve Biden and the Chinese takeover of America.

Who is Oatmeal Joey Arnold?

Telling The Truth in a World of Lies

Biden Law, Five Years Lockdown Plan

Canada Kidnapping Themselves

All About Hive Blog

Alex Jones and DR. STEVE PIECZENIK

Are you ready for Weapons of Mass Distraction?

Amazon Spies

I was banned on Bittrex

My Cash App is $joeyarnoldvn

Cronyism Sucks

Gold-Backed Crypto

Protonmail Banned Me on my 36th birthday

Brother Joined Hive

Shoveling Snow

Happy Valentines Day

Party at Five

Texas Freezing

Travel Post Banned For Not Being a Travel Post

Photoshop Funny

We Need County Coin

Why is Sweden banning masks?

The Healthy American

Weekly Oatmeal Show - Episode 001

Gina Carona Interview with Ben Shapiro

Being Dead Due To Birth

Captain Biden Flying Around Zapping Brown Kids

My-Body-My-Choice No-Mask Sign

Cleaned Out a Chicken House

DEADLY-ALLERGIC to YOUR-OWN-BODY

[roselukes]

Almost Forever - Ch 5 - c.h.

Previously

Summary: Feelings make things difficult

Warnings: swearing, brief violence, mentions of violence

Tag List:  @lashtoncurls @wildhearthood@rosesarered516 @dweebluke @heartbreakashton94 @calsfrontcurl @calumspeachy @dukehoods @cosmocalum @wrappedaroundcal @monsteramongmikey @glitterprincelu @irwinkitten @hereforlukescruff @astroashtonio @catchinqcalum @irwinvalentines @kinglycalum @calumculture @angelmikeyy @hotmessmichael @curlyhairedpopstars @meloncal @heavenlyhemminqs @24kcalum @calsjackets @boytoynamedcalum@alyssarester @ssophisticated-simplicityy @mycollectionofnuts @mysteriouslycali @calteahood @cakesunflower @ohhmuke@lukesflaredpants @slimthicccal @ghostofch @norawashere @calthesensation @caffeinatedcalum @calinthewatermelonshirt @caswinchester2000 @cthoodaf @singt0mecalum @letsfuckndance @calumscorgi @rosesfromcth @c-sainthood @softforcal @talkfastfletcher @talkfastcthood @cal-pal-cuddles @honeyedhood @moonlightgodcalum @maybe-a-fangurl @asht0ns-world @pagesuponstpages @burncrashbromance @colourfulcalum @flannelpunkcalum @fallfrxmgrace @calumsmermaid @5-secondsofcolor @cunnillucas @babylonduke @babylon-corgis

“Please, tell me you didn’t.” Crystal sighed, looking at Kayla.

“I did.” Kayla whined, burying her face in her pillow.

“Kayla, if Michael finds out you and Calum fucked, he’s going to be pissed. Do you remember how mad he was when Ashton accidentally touched your boob?” Crystal raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, which is why Michael can’t know that Calum and I hooked up.” Kayla sighed. “He also can’t know that I want to do it again.”

“Stop it. You can’t do that.” Crystal said, kicking Kayla’s shin gently.

“Crystal, you’re fucking my brother. You don’t get to tell me not to fuck Calum, you’re not related.” Kayla rolled onto her side and leaned up on her elbow, her head resting on her palm. “I just really enjoyed being fucked by Calum.”

“Stop saying that out loud, Michael’s gonna be home any minute.” Crystal laughed quietly. “Has he seen your new tattoo yet?”

“No, and I don’t think he will. It’s not exactly in a spot Mike sees.”

“What’s not?” Michael asked, standing in the doorway of Kayla’s room.

“Kayla’s new tattoo.” Crystal said, turning to look at Michael.

“Lemme see.” Michael said, sitting on the bed next to Crystal. Kayla lifted her shirt and showed Michael the fresh ink, a detailed arrow above the wispy words “follow your arrow.”

“Calum did it for me.” Kayla said, hoping he wouldn’t press the issue of the placement.

“He knows you’re yee yee.” Michael said, and Kayla scoffed.

“You’re the yee yee that moved us here.” She huffed, hitting Michael with her pillow.

“Cut it out.” Crystal said, taking the pillow. “My God, you’re like children.”

“No, we’re like siblings.” Michael grinned as he sent a gentle punch to Kayla’s arm. “Anyways, I have to take care of some stuff, so I need you to drop Kayla off at Calum’s office.” Michael said, looking at Crystal.

“Why Calum’s?” Crystal asked, side glancing at Kayla.

“Can’t I go with you?” Kayla asked, looking at Michael.

“I have to do this alone. Calum’s the only one available right now. Ashton’s booked with clients and Luke’s managing the bar.” Michael said, getting off the bed. “Get her there now, please.” Michael pressed a quick kiss to Kayla’s head and one to Crystal’s lips. “I love you both.”

“Bye, Mike.” Kayla sighed, rolling off the bed as Michael walked out of the apartment.

“He’s really putting you back with Calum as if Calum’s gonna do anything other than fuck you senseless.” Crystal shook her head and stood up.

“Should I put on something a little more sexy?” Kayla wiggled her eyebrows, causing Crystal to giggle.

“You’re a freak.” She laughed softly. “You’re fine in that, let’s go.”

*** “What do you mean nothing got delivered?” Calum asked into the phone. Kayla spun around in her chair, nearly dying of boredom. She had been in Calum’s office for a little over two hours now, and all she had done was listen to Calum argue with various employees and customers. “Alright, just keep an eye out, okay? Precious cargo.” Calum said, nearly slamming the receiver down.

“Your job is so boring.” Kayla sighed, continuing to spin around in the desk chair.

“You’re gonna make yourself throw up doing that.” Calum said, his eyes not leaving his computer.

“Throwing up would at least give me something to do.” Kayla whined, pressing her feet into the carpet to stop her chair from spinning.

“Why don’t you go help Millie with the filing? That’ll give you something to do.” Calum said, picking up the office phone. Kayla sighed heavily before getting out of her chair and leaving Calum’s office. She closed the door behind her and walked over to the receptionist’s desk.

“Do you guys have a break room here?” She asked, leaning against the desk.

“Down the hall, to the left.” The receptionist, April, said. Her voice was monotone and her dress was bland. Kayla sighed to herself and walked down the hallway and entered the break room, opening the fridge. She saw a container with Calum’s name on it and swiftly pulled it out. She opened the tupperware and giggled to herself.

“Always was a fan of Michael’s cooking.” She mumbled before grabbing a fork and taking a quick bite of the cold marsala. She closed the tupperware and placed it back in the fridge.  

“Hey, there. Would you mind helping me out with something quickly?” Kayla looked up at the unfamiliar voice.

“Uh, sure.” She shrugged, walking over to the tall man.

“I just need you to stand here and watch for a delivery. I have to take a call for a client.” The man said, leading her down the stairs.

“Oh, okay.” She said, looking around the dock. The man walked away, leaving Kayla alone. She sat on one of the boxes and rested her elbows on her knees and her chin on her palms. “I was more entertained in Calum’s office.” Kayla huffed to herself, tapping her foot on the tile. She had hoped the man would be back before the delivery came, but with her luck, the truck came and the man was nowhere in sight.

“You work here?” The driver asked, handing her a clipboard.

“Yes.” She lied, signing off on the delivery. She handed the clipboard back to the driver and he glanced down at her signature.

“You’re Michael Clifford’s sister?” He looked at her.

“Yeah, how do you know Michael?” Kayla asked, looking at the driver.

“We’ve got beef, and you’re gonna help me end it.” He said, pulling out a gun and pressing it against Kayla’s stomach. “Make a sound and I’ll kill you right here.” She wanted to scream, but she was frozen. The driver grabbed Kayla’s arm and ushered her into the back of his truck.

“Please..” Kayla tried to beg, but the sound was caught in her throat. Flashbacks raced through her mind as the driver tied her hands behind her back and closed the back of the truck. She felt paralyzed as the truck began to move. She knew it had been a mere few minutes since the truck left Calum’s office, but it felt like hours. She could feel her heart pounding and her blood coursing through her veins, the sound deafening. Then, the truck stopped.

*** Calum was frantic. He looked everywhere and Michael was going to be there any second. “Have you seen Kayla?” He asked, stopping at the receptionist’s desk.

“Who?” April asked, barely making eye contact with her boss.

“Tall, blonde hair, green eyes. She was wearing a neon green sweater and black leggings.” Calum rolled his eyes.

“She asked where the break room was about 2 hours ago. Haven’t seen her since then.” April shrugged.

“I checked there.” Calum groaned.

“Then, I don’t know.” April shook her head and turned back to her phone. Calum slammed his fist down on the desk as he stormed away.

“Enrique, have you seen a tall blonde girl wearing a green shirt?” Calum asked as he passed his shipment supervisor.

“Yeah, I asked her to watch for a delivery. The boxes are there, but I figured she just left.” Enrique said, handing Calum the package slip.

“Are you fucking stupid?! This packing slip is from Heinz Mills. They haven’t delivered to us in nearly 5 goddamn years. You didn’t think that was fucking suspicious?!” Calum yelled, the vein in his neck pulsing.

“I didn’t sign for it, I didn’t notice it until she was already gone. I didn’t even know who she was.” Enrique pleaded.

“She’s about to be fucking dead.” Calum said, crumpling up the packing slip. “Clear out your desk. You’re fired. If I ever see you back here, I will not hesitate to rip you apart.” Calum seethed.

“Calum, where’s Kayla?” Michael asked, walking into the bullpen where Calum stood in front of Enrique.

“She’s fucking gone, Mike. The Raiders took her and they’re probably bringing her to Dixon.” Calum said, storming past Michael and into his office.

“I gave you one simple instruction. You weren’t supposed to let her out of your sight!” Michael yelled, following Calum into his office.

“She was getting restless just sitting her, so I told her to help Millie with the filing. Clearly, she didn’t listen. Fucking Enrique made her sit and wait for a delivery, but Taggart got her instead.” Calum said, sitting in his chair. He picked up his phone and dialed Ashton’s number.

“I trusted you to look out for my sister. It hasn’t even been a month since the last attack!”

“You don’t think I know that?! Mike, I thought she would be safe with Millie. I gave her the most isolated job in the building to keep her occupied. This isn’t my fault!” Calum yelled, before turning back to his phone. “Ash, Kayla’s gone. The Raiders got her and they’re taking her to Dixon. Cancel your appointments and meet us down there.”

“I should’ve taken her with me.” Michael shook his head, following Calum to the parking garage.

“No, that would’ve been more dangerous. She can’t go with you to your sales. Do you know how many times you’ve been jumped while supplying? Imagine what would happen if your junkies saw you with a girl like her. She’s safer with us.”

“She’s clearly not safe with you.” Michael rolled his eyes, sliding into Calum’s Range Rover.

“She’s safer with me than she is with you. Now shut up and track her phone.” Calum said as he pulled out of the garage, speeding down the side street. He parked in front of Dixon’s bakery, a front for the narcotics he sold with each donut.

“Her phone says she’s at the office. She must have left it there.” Michael sighed and got out of the car. Ashton pulled up behind Calum’s car and got out, Luke getting out of the passenger seat.

“What the hell happened?” Ashton asked, walking over to Calum and Michael.

“Calum was negligent and let my sister get fucking taken.” Michael said, walking into the bakery.

“Well, if it isn’t Michael Clifford and his ratpack.” Dixon smirked, pulling off his gloves. “What brings you to Sunshine Creamery today?”

“You know exactly why we’re here.” Michael glared at him. “Where’s my sister?”

“Oh, you mean little Kayla? She’s doing just fine. In fact, I think she’s enjoying some quality time with a dear friend of mine. Perhaps you remember him from the day you shot his eye out.” Dixon smirked at Michael.

“Where is she?!” Michael yelled, pulling out his gun.

“Fuck this.” Calum said, jumping over the counter and grabbing Dixon by the collar. “Where the fuck is Kayla?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” Dixon smirked. “You have fun in Ashton’s tattoo shop?” He raised an eyebrow and a sense of concern floated across Calum’s eyes.

“How do you know about that?” He growled lowly.

“I know everything.” Dixon smirked. “Now, unless you want Michael to know what you and his baby sister have done, I’d suggest letting me go.” Calum hesitated for a moment before releasing Dixon’s collar.

“Bring her out here.” Calum said, his hands over his gun.

“This is gonna be fun.” Dixon smirked to himself and walked into the back room. He came out, pushing Kayla in front of himself as a human shield, his gun pressed into her side. Her arms were tied behind her back and her mouth was taped shut. Blood dripped from her temple and the dried tear tracks on her cheeks showed her pain.

“Let her go.” Calum said, pulling out his gun.

“You think your guns scare me?” Dixon laughed dryly. “If you want me to let her go, you’re going to have to put your guns on the counter. All of you.” Kayla whimpered as Dixon tightened his grip on her sore wrists and pressed the barrel of his gun deeper into her ribs.

“Okay, okay, just don’t hurt her.” Michael pleaded, putting his gun on the counter. The boys followed suit, their eyes never leaving Dixon.

“Perfect.” Dixon smirked, removing his gun from Kayla’s side. He pulled the tape from Kayla’s mouth and wiped her tears. “Save those for when you really need them.” His smirk widened as he lifted his gun, pulling the trigger.

#5sos #5 seconds of summer #5sos smut #5sos fanfic #5sos fic #fanfic #fic #imagine #imagines #5sos imagines #5sos imagine #Calum hood #Michael clifford #Ashton irwin #Luke hemmings #my writing #5sos writing #Calum fanfic #cal fic #calum writing

[143-rememberthosedays]

time is ticking away (and there are too many things i wanna say)

my entry for the b99 summer fic exchange, hosted by @b99fandomevents. written for @johnnydora (tumblr)/annamoon (ao3) who requested a jake x amy soulmate au

The clock didn’t stop. Oh god, Amy wished it would but it didn’t. She sat at her desk, staring at her medaillon. 8 days, 4 hours and 56 minutes left. The fucking medaillon had controlled her whole life, she had tried to respect it as much as possible and tried to find her soulmate before she ran out of time. She had tried everything: she had a live countdown on ClockMate, a platform where you could share your clock. The platform matched you with people who’s clocks ended around the same time as yours. Unfortunately, there were a lot of people on the planet and not everyone shared their clocks, so she’d had a hard time finding someone who could maybe be her soulmate. She was also on several dating apps, but all the guys she’d met up with had been creeps.

Last week the panic attacks started. She’d had several in the last few days. Only eight days left to find her soulmate. Only eight days to find that one person who was right for her. One person out of billions. And she only had eight days left before they would both die. The universe was a fucking asshole. She checked ClockMate again, hoping she would have new matches. Matches who didn’t live in France or didn’t know the difference between your and you’re. No new matches. Suddenly Gina was standing next to her.

‘What are you doing Santiago? That doesn’t look like police work.’

‘It’s not,’ Amy sighed, too sleep deprived to notice Gina’s mocking tone.

Gina gasped and whispered: ‘Have you become a bad girl, Santiago?’

‘I’m not in the mood for this Gina. Please leave me alone.’

‘Can’t. Captain said he wants to see you, something about a murder.’

‘Oh no! The strangling case! I completely forgot about that,’ Amy panicked.

‘What is going on with you lately? You’re doing stuff that isn’t work during your shift, you forget about your work and yesterday you forgot to capitalise your name in an email.’

Gina sounded genuinely concerned.

‘It’s this damn clock,’ Amy sighed, pointing at her medaillon. ‘It just keeps counting down.’

‘Isn’t that the whole point of it?’

‘I only have eight days left Gina.’

‘Oh damn. That sucks girl. Can I do anything to help you?’

‘Help me?’

Amy couldn’t hide her confusion. Did Gina Linetti, her coworker who constantly made fun of her, actually just offer to do something nice for her?

‘Yeah. I have a lot of followers, maybe they can help us find your soulmate.’

‘Why are you being so nice to me all of a sudden?’

‘Bitch, you might actually die in eight days. I might make fun of you a lot, but I don’t want you to die.’

‘I don’t know if you can actually help, Gina. I’ve tried everything.’

‘Have you seen a psychic yet?’

‘I’ve tried all rational things.’

‘Why don’t you give it a try? She told me I’d meet my soulmate someday and they’d have hair and look at me now.’

Gina had found her soulmate a few months ago with over a year to spare. So had Rosa. They have been together ever since. Amy doesn’t know how exactly it happened, Rosa refuses to tell them and Gina weirdly respects it.

‘I don’t know Gina. I just don’t think it would help me. I’d only waste more time.’

‘Your choice. Don’t forget to talk to the captain,’ she said and left.

Amy got up and walked into the captain’s office.

‘Ah, Santiago. Do you have an update on that murder I assigned you?’

‘I don’t, sir.’

‘And why is that?’

Amy sighed and let herself fall on his couch. She told him about her soulmate situation. Holt looked at her with a concerned look on his face.

‘Why don’t you take a few days off? It might help you with the search, you will not be wasting any more time. Diaz can take over your case when she comes back to work tomorrow.’

‘Thank you sir,’ Amy said, hurrying out of his office. She grabbed her stuff and walked towards the elevator. It dinged and the doors slid open, revealing Peralta inside.

‘Amy! Where are you going?’

‘Home.’

She pushed the button to close the elevator doors, leaving a very confused Jake behind.

‘What’s up with her? She never leaves work early,’ he asks Gina.

‘Holt sent her home.’

‘But why?’

‘I don’t know if I’m allowed to tell you this, but she has to find her soulmate.’

‘Why would you not be allowed to tell me? You’ve been saying she needs a boyfriend since the very first moment you met her.’

‘You don’t get it Jake. Her time is running out. If she doesn’t find her soulmate in, like, a week, she and her soulmate could die.’

‘Oh shit. That’s not good.’

‘What about your soulmate Jake? How much time do you have left?’

‘I don’t know actually.’

‘What do you mean you don’t know? Where’s your medaillon?’

‘I lost it a while ago, I have no idea when or where.’

‘Jake! That could be dangerous!’

‘Relax, when I lost it I still had about nine months left to find my soulmate.’

‘But you don’t know when you lost it, nine months is not a lot of time.’

‘Tell that to Sharon. Don’t you remember when she told us about how being pregnant with the twins was the longest time of her life? That was nine months too!’

‘Jake.’

It was only one word, but Jake heard a lot of other things than just his name in the way his childhood best friend said it. He heard the concern and frustration. He could tell Gina hated how nonchalant he was about the risk of dying somewhere in the near future.

‘Okay fine, I’ll try to find it.’

‘But how? You don’t remember when or where you lost it.’

‘I’m a detective Gina, I can solve a missing medaillon case.’

‘Sure you can,’ Gina said, rolling her eyes.

‘Yeah, it can’t be that hard. I hardly ever leave my house. I’ll just start looking for it there.’

‘Did you have a countdown on ClockMate?’

‘Nah, I actually forgot I had to find my soulmate before the clock ended. I guess I just thought they would find me.’

‘I’ll help you look for your medaillon. It could be at my place. Did you still have it after you moved?’

‘I don’t know. I think so, yeah.’

‘I’ll just double check for you.’

‘Thanks, Gines.’

‘Now go find your stupid medaillon, I don’t want you to die!’

Jake nodded and left the building. Gina rolled her eyes and knocked on Holt’s door.

‘Come in.’

‘Hey Cap, just came in to say Jake left. He forgot to tell you.’

‘Why did he leave? I did not give him permission.’

‘He’s trying to find his medaillon. He lost it a while ago and he has no idea when or where, but when he lost it he had about nine months left, so knowing Jake he now has about a week left, best case scenario a month, but I wouldn’t count on it.’

‘Thanks for telling me Gina. You may leave now.’

‘Didn’t need permission for that boo,’ Gina said as she closed the door again.

Amy was sitting on her couch with her laptop on her lap. She was texting all her matches on ClockMate, regardless of gender or distance. She had 8 days, 1 hour and 14 minutes left, so she had to try every option. She was desperate and she actually just wanted a friend by her side. She didn’t want to bother Kylie, because she was on a citytrip in Barcelona. Amy sighed and scrolled through the contacts on her phone. The first friend she saw was Diaz.

‘I could give it a try,’ she mumbled to herself and called Rosa.

‘What,’ Rosa asked, not even bothering to greet Amy first.

‘Rosa, it’s me, Amy.’

‘Yeah, I know. I saw the caller ID. What’s up?’

‘Are you doing anything right now?’

‘Not really, why?’

‘Could you please come to my place? I need your help.’

‘Did you finally snap and kill someone?’

‘What? No! Why would I?’

‘I don’t know, you could have. I’m on my way, I’ll be there in ten.’

Amy wanted to say goodbye, but Rosa had already hung up.

Ten minutes later, Amy’s doorbell rang. She went to open the door and saw Rosa. Without waiting for an invitation from Amy to come in, Rosa entered and threw her leather jacket over a chair.

‘So what’s wrong?’ she asked.

‘Do you want something to drink?’ Amy asked, trying to postpone the news. She wasn’t ready to share it yet. She had to get used to Rosa’s presence first.

‘Water is fine.’

Amy left to get a bottle of water from the fridge. When she came back, she saw Rosa sitting on her couch, feet up on the coffee table.

‘Here you go. Do you mind taking your feet of the table?’

‘I do, actually,’ Rosa said, but she put her feet back down anyway. ‘So what’s up? What did you need me for?’

Amy took a deep breath.

‘I might die in eight days. My clock is at 8 days and 54 minutes,’ she said, showing Rosa the medaillon.

‘Oh damn. That’s not good Santiago. But what can I do? I’m obviously not your soulmate.’

‘I know, but I just needed a friend,’ Amy said, looking down at her hands in her lap. She hoped Rosa wouldn’t get weird because Amy called her a friend. Rosa wasn’t good with emotions and Amy thought this might have been a bridge too far.

‘Oh. Okay.’

They sat in silence for a minute.

‘How did you know Gina was your soulmate?’ Amy asked.

Rosa seemed to consider whether or not she should tell Amy.

‘I’m only telling you this because it might help you figure things out, but if you ever tell anyone else I will kill you, understood?’

Amy nodded, slightly terrified.

‘I found an old bathroom in the precinct a few years ago. No-one used it, nobody even knew it was there. I made a few adjustments to make it functional again so I could have a place to get away from all you dum-dums. I kept it to myself for about two years, until Gina showed up to work sick. She had to puke, but as you know the ladies bathroom upstairs is nasty. I told her about my bathroom and took her there. She spent almost the whole day down there, I went in to check on her every few hours. At the end of the day I took her home and she told me the bathroom needed a name, so she had named it Babylon.’

‘I don’t really understand where you’re going with this Rosa,’ Amy said.

‘We started sharing Babylon, I made Gina swear to never tell anyone about it. She never did. One day, we were both there. Gina broke up with some boyfriend and she didn’t want to be alone. We just talked and talked and talked, and suddenly I realised I didn’t even mind talking about emotions with her. Gina must have seen the look on my face, because she kissed me. I panicked and left Babylon. On my way upstairs I noticed my clock had stopped counting down.’

‘Did you go back to Babylon to talk to Gina?’

‘Didn’t have to. She ran after me and kissed me again, she had also noticed her clock had stopped.’

‘That’s actually kinda cute. Who would have thought the badass Rosa Diaz was secretly a softie?’

‘One word about this and I will slit your throat.’

‘Sorry, I’ll shut up about it!’ Amy screeched. Rosa might be scary sometime, but Amy was glad she wanted to help her. Internally Amy was having a little party for being the first person to be able to uncover the story of how Rosa and Gina had found each other.

‘So, do you have any idea who your soulmate could be?’ Rosa asked, interrupting Amy’s train of thought.

‘No. I’ve been texting ClockMate matches all day, but nobody feels right.’

‘Have you ever considered the obvious?’

‘Huh?’

‘I don’t know. Peralta maybe? He’s the only one in the precinct apart from you who hasn’t found their soulmate yet. You get along pretty well.’

‘He is way to immature for me Rosa. He can’t even spell right and he’s so messy. How would that ever work?’

‘Dunno. Your head would probably explode. Would be fun to watch.’

‘It’s not him Rosa, I’m sure about that.’

‘So what else can we try? We could go to a bar, I’m sure four-drink Amy can find her soulmate.’

‘Rosa! This is serious!’

‘Do you have a better plan?’

Amy didn’t say anything. She hated to admit it, but right now Rosa’s idea was the best they could do.

As it turned out, four-drink Amy had a big mouth, but didn’t actually dare to do anything. Rosa tried encouraging her to talk to some hot dudes at the bar, but Amy just kept making comments about Rosa’s boobs and about how they should just make out. Rosa finally gave up, offering Amy her fifth drink. She was hoping maybe over-confident Amy would have the balls to actually talk to people other than Rosa herself. Amy seemed to have other plans, because she immediately downed a sixth shot, making her sad a few minutes later.

‘What if I don’t find my soulmate, Rosa?’

‘You will find them.’

‘But what if I don’t? I’m going to die Rosa. What if nobody shows up at my funeral?’

‘Amy, you are not going to die.’

‘How can you be sure about that?’

‘I’m gonna be honest with you: I can’t be sure. But something tells me you’ll find them. I’ll help you. Now come on, let’s get you home, sad Amy is not gonna find her soulmate here.’

Rosa paid for their drinks and helped Amy to go outside. She called an Uber and a few minutes later it arrived. She and Amy got in. Rosa gave the driver Amy’s adress and when they got there, she paid and took Amy inside. After that, she walked to Gina’s apartment.

‘Hey babe, I’m home!’ she yelled as she unlocked the door.

‘I’m in the bedroom!’ Gina yelled back.

Rosa walked over there and was shocked about what she saw for a moment.

‘G, what is this mess?’

The entire floor and the bed were covered in clothes, shoes and other stuff, like books and all 12 of Gina’s phone chargers.

‘Jake told me he lost his medaillon a while ago today. He doesn’t know when or where he last had it, but he had about nine months left when he lost it.’

‘And knowing Jake that means he only has about a month left now,’ Rosa filled in the blanks. ‘But why are you looking for it here?’

‘He might have left it behind when we switched apartments. You know how messy he is.’

‘Where have you not looked yet? I’ll help you.’

‘This is the last place. I’m actually cleaning up already, I didn’t find it,’ Gina sighed.

‘I’ll help you clean up then.’

They put everything back in place, both not saying anything. They were both worried about their friends. When everything was semi-cleaned up again, they switched into their pajamas and crawled in bed. Gina pressed herself against Rosa’s body and Rosa put her arms around her.

‘They’re gonna be fine, right?’ Gina asked.

‘Ofcourse they are. We’re gonna find Jake’s medaillon and Amy is gonna find some nerd she actually likes.’

‘Should we try setting them up on a date?’

‘I tried telling Amy she should keep Jake in mind, but she said he was too messy and immature for her.’

‘I mean, she’s not wrong. Jake is a literal child and the complete opposite of Amy, but they make a great team. When they work a case together they always seem to have fun and still remain professional.’

‘Damn babe, I didn’t know you were that invested in them.’

Gina softly slapped Rosa, as far as that was possible, seeing how Rosa was behind her and the were cuddling.

‘I’m not. I’m just looking out for Jake. He once told me he had a crush on Amy and I saw Amy double tuck on the security footage after Jake made a joke or something. I don’t really remember. They’re madly in love with each other and I’m actually pretty sure they’re soulmates, but we have to find Jakes medaillon to prove it or they’ll never believe it themselves.’

‘I’ll look for it at work tomorrow. Maybe you can go help Jake?’

‘I don’t think Holt will appreciate me not showing up to work.’

‘I’ll make up an excuse for you, Jake’s life is more important than your job.’

‘You make a very good point. Just tell Holt I’m on my period and my cramps are killing me. He’ll be too uncomfortable to question it.’

Rosa laughed.

‘You’re cute Rosie.’

‘You too,’ Rosa said, kissing Gina’s neck. ‘But I have to work tomorrow, so can we actually sleep now?’

Rosa felt Gina nod and switched off the light. She pressed one more kiss on Gina’s lips and then she closed her eyes.

The next day, Gina showed up at Jake’s apartment at 9 a.m.

‘Gines? What are you doing here this early?’ he asked.

He was still in his pajamas and looked like Gina had woken him up by ringing the doorbell.

‘I’m here to help you. We need to find your soulmate.’

‘I already told you I still have plenty of time. I can find the stupid medaillon on my own.’

‘You’re just in a bad mood because I woke you up early.’

‘Uh, yeah. Why are you not in a bad mood? You’re not supposed to be a morning person.’

‘What are you gonna do, sue me for being happy in the morning?’

‘If I could, I would. You are never this happy in the morning.’

‘Rosa made me blueberry pancakes for breakfast. Don’t tell her I told you though. Now chop-chop, get dressed! We’re gonna find your medaillon!’

Jake groaned and walked into the bathroom to shower and get dressed, while Gina made him breakfast. Jake didn’t have a lot of stuff left in his fridge, so Gina just made him scrambled eggs and toast.

After breakfast, they started their search.

‘Where did you already check?’ Gina asked.

‘I didn’t check anything yet. As I said, I still have a lot of time.’

‘Jake, stop saying that. I’m pretty sure you only have one week left.’

‘Why would you think that?’

‘Because Amy only has one week left and you dumbasses are in love.’

‘Amy and me? You’re crazy! There’s no way the universe thinks we’re perfect for each other. We’re too different.’

‘Have you seen Rosa and me? Yeah sure, we’re both stunning, stone-cold bitches, but she’s super secretive and I’m an open book.’

‘But you two are still pretty similar. Amy and I have nothing in common.’

Gina was getting annoyed. How did Jake not see this? It wasn’t rocket science, everyone could see they were head over heels in love with each other, except them.

‘Uh, you’re both detectives. And also, who gives a shit about being similar? Don’t you remember that night we were watching “A Good Day to Die Hard” here and you actually started crying because you loved Amy so much?’

‘In my defense, I was drunk. I can’t control my emotions when I’m drunk, you know this.’

‘Yes. Which is exactly why I’m convinced you love her. Drunk people say what sober people are afraid to say. Face it Jake. You love her.’

‘So what if I would? I’m still saying it’s not true by the way, you’re out of your mind. She wouldn’t love me, her medaillon is still counting down.’

Gina sighed loudly.

‘Because you dumasses don’t realise you’re made for each other!’

‘Can we just start looking for this stupid medaillon? I don’t want to talk about this anymore.’

‘Fine. I’ll look in the living room, you take the bedroom. Be thorough.’

Jake walked away without saying anything. Truth was he actually thought he might be in love Amy, he just didn’t want to accept it. He didn’t want to fall in love only to realise he’s not Amy’s soulmate. This is also why he “lost” his medaillon. He couldn’t care less about it. If Amy was his soulmate, she’d be able to find him. If Amy wasn’t his soulmate, Jake didn’t really care about dying. It sounded dark, even to himself. He was just so stupidly, madly in love with his coworker and he didn’t want anyone to know.

Jake kneeled in front of his closet and took out a Die Hard VHS tape. Inside the box, he saw his medaillon. The clock was at 7 days, 11 hours and 31 minutes. He just sat on the floor, staring at it for a while. He saw how the minutes changed. Time was ticking, slowly but surely.

‘I can’t find anything in the living room,’ Gina said as she walked in the bedroom.

Jake jumped and quickly hid the medaillon.

‘Did you find anything here?’

‘Nope. Nope, nothing. Just some old Die Hard VHS I had forgotten about.’

‘I’m gonna go check the bathroom, you keep looking.’

Jake nodded and waited for Gina to leave the room again. Once she had disappeared, he looked at his clock again. 7 days, 11 hours and 17 minutes. He contemplated whether or not he should shoot his shot with Amy. He’d given her lots of signs that he liked her, but she didn’t seem to have picked up on any of them. Maybe she just didn’t want to, she could be ignoring them on purpose. Jake was just Jake after all. They were just too different. But then again, he didn’t want to die without at least telling Amy about his feelings. He had nothing to lose: if she said no, he’d die soon anyway.

‘Gines? I’ve got it.’

‘You do?’ Gina yelled, while storming into the bedroom.

‘Yeah, here.’

Jake held up the medaillon so Gina could see it.

‘How much time do you have left?’

‘I’d rather not tell you. I’ve decided I’m gonna tell Amy I like her. Like, like her like her. After that I’ll tell you. I just have to do this first.’

‘Okay. Should I give you a ride?’

‘No, I’ll just walk. I need to clear my head and figure out what to say.’

‘Okay. I’m just gonna go home then, if you need me, you know where to find me.’

‘Thanks Gina.’

Jake walked over to Gina and hugged her. It took Gina by surprise, but she hugged him back almost immediately. They said goodbye and left Jakes place, each headed in their own direction. Before getting in her car, Gina texted Rosa to tell her Jake had found his medaillon, so she could stop looking for it at the precinct.

While he was walking, Jake tried to think of ways to tell Amy he loved her without sounding stupid. He was quietly muttering to himself the whole time, which made other pedestrians look at him like he was crazy, but Jake couldn’t care less. He only had seven days left and he had to shoot his shot. It might actually save his life. After a 30-minute walk, he arrived at Amy’s apartment. She didn’t immediately answer the door after he rang the doorbell and Jake was worried she wouldn’t be home.

‘Jake? What are you doing here?’

Jake was pulled out of his own head by Amy’s voice.

‘Oh, hi Amy. Can I come in?’

Amy stepped aside so Jake could enter her apartment. He hung his jacket over a coat hanger and walked into the living room.

‘What’s up Jake? You look worried.’

‘Come sit with me,’ he demanded.

Amy went to sit on the opposite side of the couch, looking at him expectantly. Her laptop was still on the coffee table with the ClockMate webpage open.

‘I know this is not the right time because you’re looking for your soulmate and all that, but I have to tell you this or I’ll never forgive myself. I kinda wish something could happen between us. Romantic stylez. And I know you want to find your soulmate and that can’t be me because we’re too different, but I just wanted you to know.’

‘Jake—’

‘I’m sorry for bothering you Amy.’

‘I just need a moment to think about all this. I’m sorry. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, Jake.’

‘It’s fine. I’ll just— I’ll just go home.’

Amy nodded. Jake got up and let himself out, Amy just sat on her couch, blankly staring at a wall. She didn’t know about Jake’s feelings, but looking back she should have figured it out a long time ago. All the flirty teasing, the way he always volunteered when she needed a partner for whatever thing she was gonna do, the time she called him in the middle of the night because she had a panic attack over never finding her soulmate and he showed up at her door almost immediately. She should have known. She felt so damn dumb. Dumb for not noticing, but also dumb for sending Jake away. Dumb for not telling him she loved him too. She had never admitted it before, but she did love him. She just didn’t want to start something she couldn’t finish. He couldn’t be her soulmate and they both knew it.

Amy walked into the kitchen to get a glass of wine. She needed a distraction. Right before pouring a glass, she changed her mind and went for iced tea instead. Amy looked at her medaillon. 7 days, 10 hours and 9 minutes. She sighed, walked over to the couch and continued texting more matches. Her time was running out and this was all she could do. After a few minutes, her mind started wandering off again.

‘If only one of them was Jake…’ she whispered to herself. She didn’t even notice what she was thinking until it actually left her mouth. It shocked her. She grabbed her phone and tried calling Jake, but it went straight to voicemail. Then she tried calling Gina, maybe she knew where Jake was.

‘Who dis?’

‘Gina, it’s me, Amy!’

‘What’s up girl?’

‘I can’t reach Jake, he’s not picking up his phone and I need him!’

‘He was here a few minutes ago, but he ran out. He said something about his soulmate, I didn’t really understand what he was saying.’

‘Oh, okay,’ Amy felt her heart sinking in her chest. ‘Thanks Gina.’

‘No problem girl. Bye!’

Gina hung up the phone, leaving Amy alone, feeling like she wanted to die. If Jake left in such a hurry and screamed something about a soulmate, he had probably figured out who it was. The hurt feeling she was experiencing right now was exactly the reason she didn’t want to fall for him in the first place. She jumped at the sound of her doorbell. Confused about who it could be, she went to open the door. She was even more confused when she saw Jake standing on the other side of the door, out of breath as if he just ran a marathon.

‘Wha—’

‘It’s you!’ he said, still trying to catch his breath.

‘What is me?’

‘My soulmate! It’s you!’

‘Huh?’

‘After I left, I checked my clock. 7 days, 10 hours and 9 minutes. I didn’t want to be alone so I went to Gina’s apartment. I promised her I would tell her how much time I had left after I told you about my feelings. When I showed her the clock, it was still at 7 days, 10 hours and 9 minutes.’

Amy was in shock. She looked at her own medaillon, which showed her exactly the same time as Jake’s.

‘It’s you,’ she whispered.

‘Ames, if you don’t mind, I’m going to kiss you now. I’ve waited for this for such a long time and I can’t handle it anymore.’

‘I don’t mind,’ Amy smiled, gently placing her lips on Jake’s.

#b99 summer 2019 fic exchange #b99fandomevents #fanfic

[phroyd]

For 63-year old U.S. Post Office carrier Peggy Frank, that Friday marked her first day back at work after recovering from a broken ankle. At 3:35 p.m., Frank was pronounced dead after paramedics found her unresponsive in her non-air-conditioned truck. In September, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office confirmed what seemed a forgone conclusion: Frank died of hyperthermia — she overheated.

A few months later, in November, the Woolsey Fire swept through Malibu and parts of the San Fernando Valley. The blaze killed three and forced the evacuation of almost 300,000 people, burning 96,000 acres and destroying 1,643 structures. Then, after heavy rain in areas scarred by the fire, came the mudslides in December and January that killed one person and closed portions of the Pacific Coast Highway.

For most of the population, climate change is too big a thing to grapple with. As the theorist Timothy Morton argued, it’s a “hyperobject” — it is too big, too sprawling in time and space, and too complex to see fully from any single vantage point. It’s numbing. But by narrowing our focus, we can catch more than a glimpse. It may be easier to understand climate change at the regional level, says Katherine Davis Reich, associate director of UCLA’s Center for Climate Science. “We can all appreciate what climate change impacts would be in our backyard and act on that, much more than at the global level.”

Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the United States, is perched precariously on the edge of the Pacific. Not long ago, it was the nation’s frontier; today, its cultural industries produce the globe’s films, music, and television, always hunting for the next new thing. Here, the line between the present and the future has always been thin. As it swelters, burns, erodes, and collapses, that barrier may have been swept away altogether. For L.A., 2018 was not a sign of things to come. It’s a sign of things that have arrived.

That Los Angeles should exist at all is itself a tale of the extraordinary becoming commonplace. An underpopulated backwater until the discovery of oil in 1892, today’s L.A. is a thick smear of civilization over what may not actually be a desert, but what certainly has the mythic feel of one. Precariousness is the resting state of L.A.’s collective unconsciousness.

The city has been grappling with ecological collapse since its beginnings — and not just in films like Chinatown or San Andreas. In 1927, the Los Angeles Times warned of an environmental reckoning: “I was pessimistic enough to imagine that self-confident Los Angeles had forgotten Babylon, Palmyra, Palestine, China and Timgad. What I now saw was our own beloved land. And I saw sand dunes, sage brush, aridity, stately ruins, idle derricks, desolation.”

“By the end of century, a distinctly new regional climate state emerges.” This climate includes a new, fifth season: a super summer.

Even the most dire predictions don’t suggest that Los Angeles will go the way of Timgad — a Roman colony in modern-day Algeria that is now covered by sand. People will still flock here, and even if the city were to collapse, it would happen over a much longer time scale. Still, by 2069, Los Angeles could well be on the way to a new season of misery.

“With the exception of the highest elevations and a narrow swath very near the coast, where the increases are confined to a few days, land locations see 60–90 additional extremely hot days per year by the end of century,” one study concluded. Downtown Los Angeles could experience up to 54 days measuring 95 degrees or higher by 2100, a ninefold jump. By then, temperatures in Riverside could reach over 95 degrees for half the year.

“By the end of century,” the authors of the study found, “a distinctly new regional climate state emerges.” This climate includes a new, fifth season: a super summer, driving people indoors for weeks at a time, stressing the power grid with heavy demand for air conditioning, and wreaking havoc on agriculture and, by extension, the food supply.

Climate change plays favorites, and the heat increase would not be evenly felt. In fact, its unequal distribution could create an “environmental justice story,” explains Davis Reich. “Areas like the San Fernando, the San Gabriel Valley, or the Inland Empire, where the extreme heat burden is already greater, are where the season of extreme heat will occur — parts of the region that are arguably less well-equipped to deal with compared to places like Santa Monica.” There’s a dark irony there, since wealthier people produce more carbon emissions. “The people who have contributed to the problem the least are going to suffer from it earlier and more,” Davis Reich says.

Meanwhile, beaches in Los Angeles will be facing their own threats. Rising sea levels will attack the coast in at least two ways: inundating beaches and eroding cliffs. “Our beaches are compromised. Not just from overall sea level rise, but also coastal storm events,” says Lauren O’Connor Faber, the city’s chief sustainability officer.

In 2017, scientists modeled the effects of sea level rise on 500 kilometers of shoreline in Southern California. A sea level rise of 0.93 to two meters, they predicted, would result in the loss of 31 to 67 percent of beaches in Southern California, including some of its most well-known. A separate USC studyconcluded, “In Malibu, both low and high sea level rise scenarios suggest that long segments of beach will essentially disappear by 2030.”

“Those beaches are the basis for a lot of California’s identity,” said the first study’s lead author, Sean Vitousek, an assistant professor of civil and materials engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Vitousek was part of another research project predicting that because of rising sea levels, sea cliffs in Southern California would erode, on average, up to 120 feet over the next 80 years. By comparison, the rate of cliff erosion in California over the past 80 years maxed out at 1.5 feet. At the end of the century, the model predicted an increase in cliff erosion of “27–185% above historically observed retreat rates.”

Those changes put more than just surfers and beachcombers in peril. In 2060, sea level rise will likely put between 414 and 3,979 homes along the coast in the L.A. region at risk of flooding — up to $3 billion in value. Beach nourishment — artificially adding sand to bulk out the shoreline — is one option but may not be enough. The coast could be armored with sea walls, cliffs shored up, and sea gates constructed. Vitousek says that a shoreline retreat strategy might be needed — but it won’t be easy. “Because there is so much money involved in all of this, people will fight tooth and nail to keep themselves on the coast for as long as possible,” he says.

And as the coastline advances, the forests around Los Angeles have already begun to burn.

In December 2017, a series of 27 wildfires ignited in Southern California, including the Thomas Fire, which burned more than 281,000 acres across Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, resulting in two deaths and the evacuation of more than 200,000 people. Less than a year later, the Woolsey Fire burned 96,949 acres, spreading south from the mountains into Malibu, where it destroyed hundreds of homes and killed three people.

If you think think of 1994’s Northridge earthquake as L.A.’s signature disaster, the coming decades may make you reconsider. Because while climate change may not have much effect on earthquakes, it will lead to more — and more destructive — wildfires. The area burned by Santa Ana fires is predicted to increase by 64 percent by the middle of the century, compared to 1981 to 2000, while non–Santa Ana fires, which occur from June to September and are concentrated inland, will increase by 77 percent. The number of structures destroyed will rise as well — 20 percent for Santa Ana fires and 74 percent for non–Santa Ana fires. Santa Ana fires currently threaten 3,400 structures in an average year, while non–Santa Ana fires put 440 structures at risk per year.

Eventually, all that risk adds up.

“One thing that often gets lost is that wildfires are perfectly natural,” Davis Reich says. “These landscapes were made to burn and need to burn periodically to be healthy. When we build into our wildlands, there is a risk that our buildings will burn. We have to confront that more seriously than we have in the past.”

After fires destroyed a neighborhood in the Bay Area in 2017, local politicians debated the wisdom of rebuilding homes in high-risk areas. There was little appetite for such a move there (or for similar efforts in parts of Southern California), but eventually it may become too expensive to continue rebuilding in high-risk spaces. The Los Angeles Times mapped the 1.1 million buildings in California located in zones at highest risk for fires, showing clusters in the Santa Monica Mountains, the Palos Verde Peninsula, Mission Viejo, and Yorba Linda. Nearly all of Topanga, Paradise, and Malibu were also at risk. Few political leaders want to discuss managed retreat yet — but in 50 years, they may have to.

Climate change is no longer on the horizon. It has arrived.

The masterstroke that allowed Los Angeles to grow may be the one that causes it to retract: Los Angeles depends on imported water, whether from the Owens Valley or farther abroad. As the globe warms, those supplies will dwindle and become harder to manage. Sixty to 70 percent of the water used in Southern California comes from the San Joaquin River and Tulare Lake basins, the Sacramento River basin, Mono Lake, and the Colorado River basin. (The bulk of the remainder is pumped local groundwater.) Of that, 75 percent is drawn from spring snowmelt from the Rockies, the Sierra Nevada, and other mountain ranges.

The Fourth National Climate Assessment, released in November 2018, projected “substantial reductions in snowpack, less snow and more rain, shorter snowfall seasons, earlier runoff, and warmer late-season stream temperatures.” Snowpack reduction in Southern California mountains could reach as high as 50 percent by the end of the century. At the same time, water flow in the Colorado River could be down 35 to 55 percent.

Water demand in 2050 is projected at 1.4 million to 1.7 million acre-feet per year, while supply is projected at 1.4 million acre-feet per year. At best, it’s break even. At worst — well, ask Cape Town.

And those estimates may underrepresent the risk to L.A.’s water supply. A 2015 study concluded that “the mean state of drought in the late 21st century over the Central Plains and Southwest will likely exceed even the most severe megadrought periods of the Medieval era,” causing “an unprecedented fundamental climate shift with respect to the last millennium.”

Another study conducted in 2016 found “a pronounced increase of droughts and aridity in the Southwest during the latter half of the 21st century.” A megadrought — one that would last multiple decades — “could become commonplace.” Droughts of that magnitude were associated with collapse of the Angkor, Anasazi, and Maya civilizations.

“There are two futures in front of us,” says O’Connor Faber, CSO of Los Angeles. “One in which we do not act, do not take leadership. We let the disasters happen. That’s an untenable future. The good news is that’s not at all the future that L.A. accepts.”

It’s not a future that the state of California hopes will come to pass. In 2006, the state enacted a cap-and-trade system to reduce its carbon emissions. A new state law mandates that by 2045, California will rely solely on clean electricity. In recent sessions, state legislators have begun to reshape the laws that govern the state’s housing market, hoping to encourage denser buildings oriented around mass transit, rather than sprawl that forces drivers onto jammed freeways.

For its part, the city of Los Angeles has embarked on an ambitious effort to do what it can. As Mayor Eric Garcetti told Rolling Stone in September, “We’re not waiting for Washington. The cavalry isn’t coming.”

So the city is building up local water supplies and curbing demand, increasing the tree canopy and building out cooler infrastructure to reduce its heat island, spurring the installation of solar power, and armoring its beaches and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Progress has already been made: Emissions at the port have dropped by double digits, tens of thousands of electric vehicle chargers have been installed, and improvements in public transit are coming.

As she works through the list, Faber O’Connor says she recognizes the magnitude of the task but has reason to hope. “I’m feeling very positive,” she says. For her city, climate change is no longer on the horizon. It has arrived. And like a car speeding down a clear freeway, the city is racing to catch up.

Phroyd

#climate change

[bxcketbarnes]

Surprise Trip

Pairing: Luke Hemmings/Reader

Words: 1864

Author's Note: I saw these gifs and I wanted to write something cute, obviously. So, my lovely best friend, @h0tsos, gave me an incredible idea! I hope y'all enjoy ❤

The obnoxious sound of my alarm going off woke me from my pleasant slumber. I squint my eyes after slowly opening my eyes, the sun shining through the blinds. Petunia let out a short and I smile softly, petting her head. I rub the tiredness from my eyes, picking up my phone to turn off the alarm.

happy two year anniversary, lu. I love you so much and I can't wait for you to come home from tour. ❤ xoxo

I smile at the text I sent, closing out of the app to see the picture of Luke and me at my cousin’s wedding six months ago. I set my phone back on the nightstand while I get up and get ready for work.

After my quick shower, I step into the bedroom in the nude, squeezing the dampness of my hair into the fuzzy white towel. I look towards my phone, not seeing any notification and I frown a bit. He should be awake by now… maybe he's busy or something.

I slip on my work clothes, a pencil skirt and a blush colored blouse along with a pair of black heels, before making my way towards the kitchen after grabbing my phone. I ate my breakfast at the island, sipping on my hot coffee as I scroll through the various types of social media.

The time on my phone read 7:15 and I sigh, still not receiving anything from Luke. I let Petunia outside after I set my dishes in the sink, letting her do her thing before I go to work. I let her back in after ten minutes, giving Petunia kisses on her nose before walking towards the front door.

I grab my purse and keys, saying goodbye to Piggy. I walk out of the house, locking the door behind me before heading to my car. I check my phone one last time after I buckled up, pursing my lips together before taking a deep breath.

He’ll text back… he'll text back…

-

The day has gotten progressively worse if that was even possible. I had to work late because my computer crashed and lost all the documents for the report I was writing, I almost got hit by a car while walking to the parking lot after I rewrote everything, and Luke still hasn't fucking texted or called once today.

I'm beyond furious. I had Steff stop by the house earlier to feed Petunia and let her outside since I didn't finish work until almost seven at night. I unlock the front door of Luke’s place, letting out a tired breathe as I heard Petunia's nails clattering against the hardwood.

A small smile came to my lips as she walks towards me, wagging her small nub of a tail. “Hi, baby. Were you good for Steff?” I ask whole crouching to her level after setting my stuff onto the table beside the door.

Petunia pants while I scratch her neck, pressing tender kisses to the spot between her eyes. I need a long bubble bath with wine. I slip my heels off, leaving them by the door before making my way upstairs towards the bedroom. I take my hair out of the bun it was in, combing my fingers through it as I step into the room while Petunia followed.

I came to a stop when I saw my suitcase sitting on the bed. I furrow my brows, slowly heading towards the luggage to see it filled with clothes. What the…? A note sat on top of it and I gingerly picked up the piece of paper.

My love,

I know I haven't replied to your message this morning but I have been running around all day like a chicken with their head cut off. So much press stuff, so little time. Anyway, happy two year anniversary. You're probably wondering why or how stuff is packed, but I had a little help since I'm not home.

I called work and managed to get you a few weeks off. Steff packed some of your clothes and in the envelope that sat under the note lies a plane ticket. Your flight leaves at nine o'clock. I can't wait to see you, darling. I've got a surprise for you.

I love you so much,

Luke x

Tears came to my eyes as I notice it was Steff’s handwriting. Luke must've sent her what to write for her to leave here. I call my best friend, listening to the ringing noise as I sift through the clothes in the suitcase, making sure she packed everything I needed, which she did.

“Hey, girl! Did you get the note?” She asks as soon as she answered.

I zip up the suitcase, setting it on the floor. “I did. I can't believe he did this. Uhm, I have to leave like immediately and I was wondering if you could either stay here with Petunia or bring her to your place?” I ask, holding the phone to my ear with my shoulder as I carry my suitcase down the stairs.

“Yeah of course. I'll head over soon Have fun and give me details!” Steff mentions and I laugh, telling her I will before hanging up.

“Okay, baby. Mommy’s going away to see daddy, but I'll be back before you know it. Be good for Steff,” I tell Petunia, kissing her head before grabbing my keys and purse once again, leaving the house to head to the airport.

-

I step out of the cab, looking up at the gorgeous hotel and I look around for any sight of the boys. I pry my suitcase out of the trunk, rolling it into the hotel as I walk up to the receptionist.

“Hello. Can I help you?” He asks and I nod my head, tapping my fingers against the surface of the counter.

“Ah, yes. I don't know if Luke told you I was coming,” I mutter awkwardly and he furrowed his eyebrows a bit.

“Y/N! You're here!” I heard Calum call out and I turn towards him, seeing the brunette walk up to me with a large smile on his face.

I gave the receptionist an apologetic smile before walking towards Calum. “It's so good to see you, Cal!” I grin, wrapping my arms around his shoulders to hug him tightly. “Where are the other boys?”

He points towards the ceiling. “There upstairs. Luckily I came down when I did. Why didn't you text any of us?” He asks and I shrug, the thought not even coming to mind as we head into the elevator.

We got to the fifteenth floor, following behind Calum as we come to a stop in front of 1545. I watch as he shoved his hand into his pocket, pulling out a key card before handing it to me. “Isn't Luke in there?” I ask, confused as to why I haven't actually seen or heard from him yet.

Calum just shrugs, retreating to his room and hearing Ashton’s laugh once the door opens. I chew on my bottom lip, placing the card into the door before it unlocks. I head inside, my eyes widening at how gorgeous the room looks.

“Luke? Baby?” I call out, going deeper into the room to see it completely empty. I huff out a breath, noticing a dress and a pair of heels sat on the bed with a note on top of it.

A small smile comes to my lips as I run my fingers over the light lavender bodycon dress. I shed the clothes I'm wearing, noticing it's an off the shoulder type dress.

I set my suitcase on the bed, sifting through the clothes to see if Steff packed a strapless bra. I let out an aha, grinning as I found the only strapless bra I own. I quickly change into it before slipping the dress on.

My hands run over my sides, stepping towards the mirror to make sure I look alright. A knock on the door snaps me from my thoughts and I walk over to it, opening it to see the boys on the other side.

“Hey guys,” I smile, letting them in as Ash lets out a whistle.

“Wow, Y/N! You look fantastic. Who knew Cal had such style,” he laughs, patting Calum on the shoulder. My eyes widen, looking towards the tall bassist.

“You picked out the dress?” I ask and he nods his head.

“Well, Mali helped a little bit,” he informs me and I nod while letting out a small chuckle.

I grab the nude heels that laid on the bed, slipping them on my feet while picking up the note.

Love of my life,

Hi, baby! I'm pretty sure, well hoping, you've made it. Put this dress on and meet me in front of the Eiffel Tower.

I love you almost as much as Petunia ;)

Luke x

I laugh at his note, folding it before setting it in my suitcase. “Does Luke know what the dress looks like?” I ask Calum and he shakes his head, smirking a bit.

“Nope. He's going to be blown away,” he smiles.

-

The hotel wasn't that far from the Eiffel Tower so I decided to walk. I crossed my arms over my chest, biting the inside of my cheek as I saw the light up the fixture. Wow. It's more beautiful in person.

I saw my tall, broad-shouldered boyfriend standing about twenty feet from me. A rose was twirling between his fingers while he combs his curls back.

“Luke!” I yell, grinning ear to ear as his head snaps towards you. A large smile comes to his lips and I quickly walk towards him. I can already feel the tears coming to my eyes as I ran up to him, throwing my arms around his neck.

Luke's hands wrap around my waist, letting out a small breath of relief. “I'm so sorry I didn't message you back. I had no time,” he mumbles into my ear.

I lean back from him, shaking my head before gripping the front of his leather jacket, closing the gap between us. One of Luke's hands moves to my face, cupping my cheek while our lips move against one another.

He pulls away after about a minute, stroking my cheek with his thumb while keeping his blue eyes on mine. “Happy Anniversary baby,” Luke whispers, handing me the single rose he's been holding.

“Happy Anniversary, Lu,” I smile, taking the rose from him before leaning on my tippy toes to press a short kiss to his lips.

The cool wind brushes my skin and I shiver slightly. Luke notices immediately and takes his leather jacket off, draping it over my shoulders. I lift my head up, butterflies filling my stomach as he provides me with a small smile.

“I love you,” I tell him after slipping my arms through the sleeves. The curly haired blonde drapes his arm over my shoulders as mine wraps around his waist.

He presses a kiss to the top of my head. “I love you, Y/N,” Luke returns and I rest my head against his chest.

Best Anniversary ever…

-

Taglist: @gotta-try-something-new @twilightparker @h0tsos @ashs-cheergirl @kinglyhood @babylon-lrh @dashlilymark @morningfears @thebookamongmen @maddz-world @lukeskisses @thatcheekychic @therainydays4 @crownedbyluke @shower-me-with-roses

#luke hemmings #luke hemmings imagine #luke hemmings imagines #luke hemmings blurb #luke hemmo #luke hemmings x reader #luke hemmings x reader imagine #luke x reader #luke x reader imagine #luke blurb #luke drabble #luke imagine #luke hemmings drabble #luke hemmings angst #luke hemmings fluff #luke hemmings x y/n #5sos #5sos x reader #5sos x y/n #5sos imagine #5sos imagines #5sos blurbs #5sos drabbles #5sos angst #5sos preference #5sos preferences #ashton irwin #calum hood #michael clifford #5 seconds of summer

[myfirstsearchengine]

Where in the world is Ananke SanKLLK?

This is my favorite kind of issue, lots of information, lots of world building. 

Spoilers!

Not only do we get a list of every recurrence, but we get to see how Ananke adapted through the years. Also, she certainly travelled a lot during those 90 years!

Just for sake of completionism, I’ll include the original one.

Probably 3954 BC, probably Sumer

Original Ananke kills original Persephone. Although I’m not entirely sure if this really was around that time. Given that this was the first time, it’s unlikely there was a Minerva until the next one. Ananke intended to use those rituals before the whole “game”, so she wasn’t planning on being young again. Perhaps the ritual prolongs her life, even as an elderly person?

3862 BC, Upper Nile (92 years later)

The first time she encounters neoPersephone. She’s partially covering her face, but interestingly, not her eyes, like she does in the future. She awakes Persephone and right away asks her to sing. Night time. NeoPersephone says it’s what she has always wanted. Since she’s the last, she knows about the other gods. It’s interesting that Ananke was already planning ahead when she decided the rules. Having her go last makes her want to “sing” more, making it easier for Ananke to get her.

3770 BC, Mesopotamia (92 years later)

She didn’t really travel far, essentially came back to where she started. Her body language implies that she’s confident, as she had already done this once before, so she expects it to go down easily. This time her eyes are somewhat covered. Night time again.

3678 BC, The Indus Valley (92 years later)

With a hand on her waist, she seems really confident now. Once again night time, and with a mask.

3586 BC, The Yellow River (92 years later)

She keeps moving east. Once again night time, wearing a mask, with a confident body language.

3495 BC, Uruk (91 years later)

The first time it goes wrong. I wonder if her being a year ahead made a difference. Uruk is part of Sumer, this is her third time in this region. I wonder if that meant they somewhat knew about her? Maybe that’s why this Persephone reacted? It’s night time again, and she’s wearing a mask.

Persephone seemed to know how to use her powers right away, I guess that’s also a risk of having her go last, she knows that the powers are activated through finger clicks, and perhaps it also gave her a chance to be weary of Ananke.

Persephone does get hit though, so it’s likely she died shortly after from the hemorrhage.

3403 BC, The Fortaleza Valley (92 years later)

Ohhh, apparently I was wrong about the Darien Gap. She did cross it before the spaniards came. Which is funny because this is actually in Peru, where I’m from, and relatively close (about 150 kms) to where I grew up. I didn’t really know this place by that name though, but I’ve been to the archeological site here a few times, last time was last year.

Anyway. This is the first time Ananke came to the Americas, and she sure did make quite the trip in 92 years. I wonder if after what happened the previous time, she wanted to go as far away as she could.

It seems this is the first time she adds the hug. I think it’s to make Persephone feel safer, so she doesn’t react badly.

Also, does anyone else think this Persephone is actually a guy? Hair’s short, and those arms look kinda big.

Night time, with a mask.

3311 BC, Western Europe (92 years later)

Quite a big trip again! And once again to a region she hadn’t been before. She’s certainly being careful now. This is the first time she does it during the day time. Hmmm, I guess she’s getting more confident in her new method. Once again, masked.

3219 BC, The Indus Valley (92 years later)

She comes back to a region she has been before. It seems to be day time, but she does it indoors, and underground. Once again, with a hug, and masked.

3128 BC, Egypt (91 years later)

I can’t quite tell if this is sunrise or sunset, either way, there’s daylight. Hug, mask, seems to go okay. It seems she’s confident enough to stay in the general region.

3036 BC, Crete (92 years later)

Hmm, as others have pointed out. I think that’s young Ananke. She’s shorter, and her skin looks young. Her arms are much leaner. Given what we saw in #35, both Anankes can do the teleporty thing, and can be active at the same time. Maybe some events lead to the old one to die prematurely, or maybe the young one ran into Persephone before. Day time again, but in a cave. Mask.

2942 BC, Japan (92 years later)

Quite a trip once again, all the way to Japan. Ananke has no right arm, I’ll have to do some research here, but for now I’ll just assume there was some altercation with the other gods. Day time, mask.

2849 BC, Northern China (93 years later)

She didn’t travel that far this time. Day time, although during the rain, masked.

2757 BC, Egypt (92 years later)

Quite a trip again, and back to Egypt. It looks like night time, once again masked.

2666 BC, Northern China (91 years later)

Back to China. Looks like she’s going back to night time fun. Masked.

2574 BC, Egypt (92 years later)

Back to Egypt so quickly. She’s getting comfortable, and she pays for that. Persephone evades the head KLLK, and attacks (and likely kills) Ananke. I’m guessing young Ananke finished the job eventually. Night time, and masked.

2483 BC, Wrangler Island (91 years later)

Things are not going well for Ananke. Despite traveling quite far, once again, she fails, and Persephone gets her. It looks like this Persephone partially evaded the attack, as it looks like it took her arm, and then she counter attacked and killed Ananke. The young one likely finished the job again. Night time, masked (as it looks like Persephone’s vines break her mask)

Also, Wooly Mammoths still existed in that island during this time. They went extinct shortly after, I blame Ananke.

2391 BC, Harappa (92 years later)

What’s with Ananke and her right arm? Ohhh, I wonder if this has to do with Nike, the greek goddess of victory. She usually stood on Athena (Minerva)’s right hand.

Anyway. I think she looks relieved it worked this time. Night, partially masked.

2299 BC, Akkad (92 years later)

Back to form. Masked, during the daytime. Still within the general region.

2207 BC, The British Isles (92 years later)

Hoodie, daytime. Looks like she got her game back.

2115 BC, Canaan (92 years later)

Somewhat masked, during the rain at daytime. Same as usual. She seems to really like this region.

2024 BC, Northern China (91 years later)

And Northern China. She likes Northerns China. Night, masked, and business as usual.

1932 BC, Australasia (92 years later)

Quite a trip again. Daytime, and this Persephone seemed to be somewhat compliant. She was looking towards Ananke.

1840 BC, Egypt (92 years later)

Back to Egypt. Night time, masked, and KLLK.

1748 BC, Babylon (92 years later)

Double kill! Both Persephone and Ananke die here. Young Ananke likely carried on, and she had the head anyway. Daytime, unsure if there was a mask.

1657 BC, North America (91 years later)

Back to Americas. It’s been like 1800 years. I’m confident that Ananke gets as far away as possible when something goes wrong. Night time, masked.

1565 BC, Northern China (92 years later)

Back to China. Same as usual. Daytime and masked.

1473 BC, Northern Indus Valley (92 years later)

First time we see the shield (actually, it’s the second time, we see Minerva use it in 1923, but the first time chronologically). It seems like Ananke has prepared for such an issue, although given that this is her first time using it, the shield isn’t strong enough, as Persephone breaks through it. She doesn’t seem to die, but she certainly managed to get the head, or kill Persephone, eventually. Night time and masked.

1381 BC, Central America (92 years later)

Yup, she goes back to the Americas every time it goes wrong. These are likely the “missing Pantheons”. Night time, masked.

1289 BC, Egypt (92 years later)

Back to Egypt, and once again the shield doesn’t quite hold, but it does stop some vines. Night time (?), masked.

1197 BC, Hattusa (92 years later)

First time she doesn’t run away to the Americas, or somewhere very far. She likely got the job done despite getting hurt. This time her shield stops all of Persephone’s vines.

Night time and masked.

1106 BC, Greece (91 years later)

Confident. She does this during the day, masked. Everything goes right.

1014 BC, Central China (92 years later)

She doesn’t get the head, but kills Persephone. She uses the shield and the KLLK at the same time.

922 BC, Assyria (92 years later)

Business as usual. Night time, masked, and a head.

830 BC, Carthage (92 years later)

Same as always, except during the day, masked.

739 BC, Northern ChinA (91 years later)

Back to China, and a head. Daytime, masked.

647 BC, Persia (92 years later)

She’s good at this now. She got the KLLK and the shield, and it held against Persephone. Night time, masked.

555 BC, Eastern India (92 years later)

Yup, she’s got this now. Night time, masked.

463 BC, Athens (92 years later)

Persephone tried to turn towards her, but didn’t quite get there. Night time, masked.

372 BC, Macedonia (91 years later)

Not masked! During the day, and KLLK.

280 BC, Central India (92 years later)

Night time and masked. Except this time Persephone escapes into the underworld. She probably got her eventually.

188 BC, Eastern China (92 years later)

Night time, masked, and KLLK.

96 BC, Etruria (92 years later)

Day time, I think, masked. KLLK. Could be a guy again? Actually, so could Macedonia, from a few recurrences back.

4 BC, Judea (92 years later)

Day time it seems, masked, though not the eyes. We see the hug again. Although I think she always does the hug.

88 AD, Teotihuacan (92 years later)

First time she goes to the Americas without a particular reason (unless 4BC went wrong as well, hmm, gonna have to do some research). Night time and masked. 

Now that I live in Mexico I got to visit this place a few months ago, incredible experience.

181 AD, South East Asia (93 years later)

Back to the old World, and business as usual. Daytime, and masked.

271 AD, Eastern China (90 years later)

Night time, masked and KLLK.

364 AD, Eastern Europe (93 years later)

Day time, masked and KLLK.

454 AD, Germania (91 years later)

Day time, masked. This is a year before the events of the 455 special. It seems like she gets Persephone about a year into the recurrence, after she has awakened the other gods. Hmm, she wasn’t wearing a mask during the special. Maybe she takes it off after she gets Persephone? Although she was still wearing one during the other specials, so probably not.

546 AD, Tikal (91 years later)

Back to the Americas. Given what happened in the 455 special, I think she had a reason to run away again. Lucifer made quite a mess. Night time and masked.

637 AD, Iraq (91 years later)

She certainly looks impatient and bored. She’s confident again. Night time, masked.

729 AD, Constantinople (92 years later)

This time she isn’t even looking at Persephone. Night time, not masked. Getting too confident…

820 AD, France (91 years later)

This is what happens when you get too confident Ananke. Somehow Ananke lost half her body, and Persephone ran away. Hmm, I wonder if Persephone had help? It doesn’t seem like her powers let her do that. Although there are marks beneath Persephone, maybe her vines did it. Night time, and masked.

912 AD, Egypt (92 years later)

Interestingly, she didn’t run away to the Americas this time. And it’s young Ananke who gets the head, AND this Persephone is offering it to her. Weird. 

Night time, and not masked, but somewhat covered.

1003 AD, Japan (91 years later)

Back to the usual. Probably night time, masked and KLLK.

1095 AD, Syria (92 years later)

Same as always. Day time, masked and KLLK.

1187 AD, Jerusalem (92 years later)

The hug again! Day time and masked. I am guessing it ends up as usual.

1279 AD, Northern China (92 years later)

Back to China, it seems like China works well for her. Night time and masked.

1371 AD, France (92 years later)

We’ll see more of this during the next special. Looks like Ananke is sick with the plague, so gods aren’t immune. She still gets Persephone. Not masked, and during the day.

1463 AD, West Africa (92 years later)

I think this is the first time she goes to sub-saharan Africa. Daytime, masked (really masked), and KLLK.

1554 AD, Cusco (91 years later)

The first time she comes back to the Americas after the “discovery”. 1554 is about 20 years after the Spanish Conquest of the Inca Empire, although before the fall of the Neo Inca State. Cusco by this time was occupied by the Spanish, while the Inca resistance had moved to Vilcabamba.

Interestingly, Ananke looks to be wearing a Spanish outfit while Persephone is dressed in traditional Inca outfit. Metaphor.

Night time, masked, and KLLK.

1646 AD, Japan (92 years later)

Business as usual, can’t tell what time it is, but she’s masked and she gets the head.

1738 AD, North America (92 years later)

I’m not that familiar with North American history, so I don’t really know what was going on in 1738. It’s daytime, and she gets the head, and the shield holds up. She hasn’t had to use it in a while.

1830 AD, France (92 years later)

She got the head really early, seeing as the end of the recurrence happens two years later. I wonder who that could be. Night time and masked.

1922 AD, North America (92 years later)

Looks like it was Persephone in #34. Ananke got her early on, about a year before the events of the last special. Persephone even got a glass of wine to celebrate. Bad Ananke. Night time, and masked.

2014 AD, Great Britain (92 years later)

Except for maybe that time Ananke got cut in half, it looks like this is the first time someone else interfered. Without Inanna and Baphomet, Ananke was going to get Laura. Night time and masked. No KLLK.

Ok, she gets better at it as time passes.

She adds the hug to make Persephone lower her guard, and gets a shield to protect herself, and strengthens it as time passes. 

She tended to run to the Americas when she failed, probably so enough time passed so people forgot about her. These are likely the “missing Pantheons”

The recurrence really happens every 92 years, give or take a year.

Even if old Ananke fails, young Ananke finishes the job.

Which is what Minerva will attempt. Although, given how much information is available nowadays, and people know about Ananke, I don’t know how Minerva will be able to succeed in the next century. Perhaps she’ll just present herself as Minerva. 

This took like 2 hours. I’ll do a map later today.

#wicdiv #ananke #the wicked and the divine #The Wicked + The Divine #persephone

[the-hinky-panda]

He want lipstick, lip gloss, hickeys too

Warning: Explicit (sexual situations) Also, there is one last part to this series.

He hates fancy events. He hates the snobbery, the trying to outdo the Jonese and not just keep up with them. The art gallery is made up of tiny rooms, people constantly bumping into each other. The air is heavy with expensive perfume and idle chatter. It’s claustrophobic. 

Terry recognizes a photo when he turns a corner. It’s a dynamic picture made to look black and white because of the early morning light. There are skeletal branches of the trees in one of the many parks in the Bronx that make a band across the picture. The sky is lightening slightly but the full moon appears in the top corner. The sun must have just broken the horizon because the wrought iron entrance gate to the park is a stunning gold color, the only splash of color in the photo. He finds the title of the piece on a small plague under the left corner. 

The Gate of Babylon. 

“Terry?” 

He wonders who said his name because it takes a moment to recognize you. Your hair is pulled back into a neat bun at the base of your neck, not a messy pile on top of your head held together with a pen. You’re in a 40’s style dress, a short sleeved buttoned bodice, wide belt around your waist, and a full skirt that hits you mid calf. He’s never seen you in a dress before. You’re also wearing makeup, cat-eye wings around your already large eyes, your lips painted a sinful red. 

He’s overcome with want. 

Ever since the diner, ever since he took a shot and reached for you, you have consistently reached back. Texts and phone calls at all hours of the day or night. Little knowing looks at crime scenes, a brush of hands here and there. Is it love? He doesn’t know. His heart is still too wounded to be able to answer that. But it’s something and judging from the nervous twist of your hands, you feel something too. 

He leans forward and you copy the movement so his lips are next to your ear. “Do you want to get out here?” 

“Yes,” your answer is immediate, confident. 

He takes your hand, your fingers slipping smoothly between his. “I’m getting really good at ducking out of these types of situations.” 

You smile, genuine and hopeful. “I’ll just follow you.” 

He winds through the building, through the different displays and exhibits, until he finds the back stairs. A quick climb up a few flights and he shoulders open the door to the roof. Cool night air hits him in the face and he breathes fully for the first time this evening. There’s a small rooftop patio: a settee and table, strings of lights that are turned off since clearly the party below wasn’t meant to spill up into this private area. You take a chair from a little bistro table and put it under the doorknob so no one will interrupt…whatever this happens to be. You don’t let him guess for long; you never do. Your arms twine around his neck, fingers sliding through his hair and gently encourage him to bend his head. 

You’re the first woman he’s kissed since Rose. That’s the reason why this kiss feels like a lightning bolt has been fired through him, or so he tells himself. His hands curl around your ribcage, his fingers fitting neatly into the dip of your spine. He likes the way you fit into his hands, warm and sweet. Your mouth opens to him and you taste of citrus and alcohol, a lemon drop martini. You pull back slightly and even in the dim light he can see the flush on your cheeks, your wide pupils, the rise and fall of your chest. 

“I’m really glad you showed up tonight.” 

Terry presses his forehead to yours. “Me too.” 

A smile, genuine and full of joy, breaks across your face. “I’ve been waiting to kiss you since that night in the diner.” 

That night had been over a month ago. And he would be lying if he said he hadn’t wanted to kiss you that night too. Kiss you, hold you close, feel you move under him. You were the first woman that inspired these desires in the last year. No, year and half. God, has it been that long? Is it long enough? 

“Terry?” 

The nervous tremble in your voice pulls him back from the mental spiral. Now that his mind is back, his mouth is refusing to work and you misunderstand his silence. 

“I’m sorry,” you step back. “I’m so sorry, I completely misunderst-” 

His mouth slams down on yours as he drags you back towards him. It’s too much and not enough all at once. Your dress is covering too much of your body and the taste of your skin makes him forget where he is. The slender column of your neck, scented with lavender and thyme, bends perfectly against his mouth, vibrating with your moan. 

He maneuvers the two of you down onto the settee, him wedged in the corner of it, you straddling his lap. You fluff out the skirt, yanking the extra fabric out of the way so there’s minimal layers between you. His head hits the back of the couch when you grind down on his hard cock. 

“Fuck, Snaps!” 

Your still painted lips curve into a smile. “That’s the idea, Bruno.” 

You don’t look like you though. Your hair is too neat, the make up hiding the natural color of your skin. He reaches up and pulls the clip from your hair, letting it fall in cascades over your shoulders. That’s better. Next, he tries to swipe at the lipstick with the pad of his thumb but the bright red color stubbornly stays on. You take the opportunity though to draw his thumb into your mouth, your velvet tongue curling around his finger. 

“Sn-Snaps, babe, you gotta either slow down or speed up.” 

You release his thumb with a wet pop. Sweet Jesus. Speed up it is then. His hands reach for the buttons on the front of your dress. He wants to see you, as much as he can in the given circumstance of a rooftop quickie in the early morning hours. He manages to get the bodice of your dress unbuttoned and pushed down your arms, the floral fabric bunched around your waist, to reveal the pale green lace bra. The flush on your skin, across the swell of your breasts, contrasts with the  sage color of the lace. You look so soft and delicate. 

“God, you’re beautiful.” 

Your clever hands have already undone his belt and pause in their unzipping of his pants. Your head dips down and you scoff. “Terry, you don’t have to…” 

You really don’t know, do you? You have no concept of what you’ve done to him and over half the men on the force in the Bronx. In a world full of fake airs and plastic wear, your authenticity stands out like a shining beacon. The fact that you have an easy smile, sparkling eyes, and softest skin he’s ever felt is just a bonus. He wishes he had a bed to lay you out on and properly show you just how much he does have to. But maybe later you’ll let him show you how he sees you. Drag you out from behind the lens you hide behind so much and give you a clearer picture of the world around you, including how you fit into it. 

He pulls you back down to capture your mouth with his, tries to pour his thoughts and feelings into the kiss. He must be at least partially successful because you return the kiss, lips, tongue and teeth. Your spine bends, curling around him, your hair creating a curtain around both your faces. It brings back the intimacy of the moment, sealing you both off from the world around you, allowing you both to refocus. His hands trail down the slender slope of your neck and over the swell of your breasts. Your hands go immediately back to his zipper, pulling down the tab and reaching inside. The first brush of your hand rips a groan from his throat. It’s been so long, too long, since he’s done this. Which reminds him. 

“Wait, Snaps,” he reaches behind him and grabs his wallet, pulling out a condom. “Here.” 

You stand up quickly, reaching under your skirt and sliding your panties off while he rolls the condom on himself. He’s thankful for there being a barrier, hoping it’ll make him last longer than a riled up, horny teenager. You deserve better than that. You deserved better than a quick fuck on a rooftop too but before he can give that much more thought, you’re climbing back into his lap. Once again, you spread out the full skirt as you lower yourself down onto him. His fingers dig into your hips to keep you from moving. 

“Need a minute,” he pants. 

You press your forehead to his, the triple sec and lemon from your martini wafts across his face. “Feels so good, Terry.” 

“No shit.” 

And it does. Even through the condom, he can feel your tight, slick grip on him, and it’s perfect. You’re not too tight but tight enough for him to feel when you clench around him. Instead of rising up, you grind against him, and his vision almost blacks out. There’s something about not being able to see him disappearing into you, all he can do is feel it. Feel the circular motion of your hips, the rise of his own to get as deep as possible inside of you. There’s a beautiful blush that spreads across your lace covered breasts and up your neck, spilling across your cheeks. The red lipstain is finally coming off, the natural deep pink hue of your lips coming through again. Your pupils are blown wide and you’re the loveliest thing he’s seen in such a long time. 

Your fingers slide through his hair, trace over the sides of his face. There’s such tenderness in your touch and it forces him to swallow down the lump of emotion that rises up in his throat. This is more than just a quick fuck or two lonely people coming together to blow off steam. There’s emotion, desire, and want all behind the gentle touches. This is much more serious than what he originally believed. 

“Ter…please...” you whine prettily. 

“What do you need, babe?” He’ll give you anything, anything you want. 

Your lips ghost over his, featherlight in touch, as you grind down against him. “You.”

He buries his face against your neck and comes so hard he has to bite his tongue to keep quiet. He can feel you tremble as your own orgasm overtakes you, pulls you closer to him as the aftershocks of your pleasure dissipate. Your head rests on his shoulder, a short puff of air emitted from a laugh. 

“Fuck, that was amazing.” 

He laughs in response. “I concur.” 

You reluctantly remove yourself from him, taking your slip off and using it to clean the sticky mess on the inside of your thighs before sliding your underwear back on. You turn the fabric over to a clean section and offer it to him. He removes the condom and ties it off, cleaning himself off as well. You find a small trash can over by the door and he disposes of the condom. You fold up the slips and tuck it behind the wide belt to hide the soiled fabric. 

“So,” he starts to say, “do you want to go back down to the party?” 

You smile kindly, happily, your eyes glinting in the dim moonlight. “No, I’d rather stay here with you.” 

He is glad for the poor lighting now, to hide the flush of embarrassment that flashes across his face. He props himself again on the settee and you lay beside him, head on his chest and fingers tracing patterns on his shirt and hands. You both must doze off at some point because when he opens his eyes again, the sun is just starting to  peek between the skyscrapers of the New York skyline. 

He recognizes you in the light of the sunrise. Your hair loose and mussed, the lipstick kissed from your mouth finally, and the cotton fabric of your dress wrinkled. He recognizes you now and realizes with the dawning of the new day and the slow smile crossing your face as you look up at him, that he loves you and you may be so inclined to return those feelings.

So when he drops you off at your apartment that morning, he runs as fast as he can from yet another heartbreak. 

#terry bruno fic #terry bruno x you #terry bruno x reader #the lens series

[lurkernolonger]

Dear Gallagher

This was supposed to be a short little nothing, but it got away from me. Now it is a long lot of nothing. 5,000 + words. Sorry.

Summary: Rae and Finn have broken up, but their child keeps them connected.

Dear Gallagher,

Happy Christmas buddy! Saw these at the shop and thought of you. Reminds me of all our trips to the park. Couldn’t help but get ‘em.

I know mum’ll tell you “only one”, but don’t you worry. When she thinks no ones looking, she’ll sneak into the lounge to watch Top of the Pops, so just snag another one then! Trust me, she’ll never know. Used to do it all the time with her choc chip cookies, and she never had a clue! ;)

Hope you get the wishbone at dinner! I know what I’d wish for.

Miss ya, Dad x

Rae shakes her head with a fond laugh, as she reads over the note for the third time. She glances at the box of biscuits shaped like squirrels, and smooths a hand over Gallagher’s head.

“Lamb and gravy. Your favourite, innit? Finn still remembers.”

The pup sits up at the familiar name. Quirking his head to the side, his tail starting to wag excitedly. Rae can’t help but grin.

“Don’t get any ideas about an extra treat now,” she warns before feeding him one of the biscuits. “Always knew when your dad did it. Thought he was so clever, the dickhead.”

And then she can’t help her small sad smile, or the tears welling up in her eyes.

“Yeah, Da’ I’ll be there. 7 o'clock sharp. Got it.” Finn cradles the phone between his ear and shoulder, reaching for the pile of post that’s spread on the welcome mat below the slot. “Look, the longer you take to tell me to be there on time, the later I’ll be!”

As his dad goes through the plans for Finn’s birthday weekend for the umpteenth time, he shuffles through the mail. Bill. Bill. A flyer for the garden centre. Fairy lights are on offer for the post holiday season. Bill. A yellow envelope. No stamp, no return address. Finn turns it over and guffaws when he sees the seal covered in a single muddy paw print.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing Da’. Look I gotta go, see you in a bit alrigh’?”

“Don’t be late!”

As soon as he’s hung up Finn rips open the envelope, hands shaking slightly from happy anticipation. His eyes move across the front of a card, and he throws his head back to laugh, harder than he’s laughed in the last three months.

“YOU’RE MY FAVOURITE FACE TO LICK WHEN I’VE FINISHED CLEANING MY BOLLOCKS” is the message he’s greeted with, and if it wasn’t so funny he’d be sad that only she could make him this happy.

The inside is much sweeter, a simple “Happy Birthday to my Doggy Daddy!” Below that, Finn can tell Rae has used her wrong hand to messily scrawl “ur the most PAWesome dad eva xx” before forcing Gallagher to press another muddy paw down as a signature.

Inside the envelope he finds a photo. Gallagher in front of the Christmas tree, tongue out, teeth bared in what can only be classified as a smile. A tartan gift bow is stuck precariously to his ear, and the tin of mostly eaten squirrel biscuits sits next to him.

Half in shot is Rae, hand out as if to adjust the bow. She’s beautiful as always, and Finn wonders who snapped the photo. Hopes it was Linda or Karim, maybe even Chloe; just no one new.

He examines the rest of the scene, trying to commit it to memory. Maybe if he can memorize it, it’ll be easier to step into it and pretend that he had been there Christmas Day, instead of sat on his dad’s lounge over a turkey sarnie. He’s able to make out a few of the baubles hanging on the tree in the background, and he feels his chest fill with a dangerous cocktail of hurt and hope when he spies the glossy black of the set of decorations they’d bought together; tiny vinyl records, engraved with “R&F”. Finn traces his thumb over the image, over the part of Rae that’s visible. Scoffs at himself for thinking that’s exactly what he has left of her: just small parts. Carbon copies of what life was before.

Moving into the bedroom, he wedges the photo into the frame of his mirror, right below the one of them the day they moved into that flat. Their flat. Chop had captured the moment perfectly. Rae is scowling at Finn as he holds up the Babylon Zoo record, about to add it to the shelf of vinyl in their new music room. He can still remember how she’d tried to snatch it from his hand, threatening to use it as a pot coaster. They’d play wrestled until they were both on the carpet and the grappling had shifted to tangled limbs and mingled lips, when Chop had yelled “I’m still ‘ere you dirty fuckers!” before leaving the room. It’s one of his favourite memories and, when he’d moved out, the photo was one of his top priorities to pack.

Finn sighs and lays back on the bed. He misses that home, that room, that girl. If things hadn’t gone to shit Rae would be coming with him to his Dad’s; Gallagher in the back seat, head stuck out the window panting into the wind. He can imagine it perfectly and it makes his eyes sting. He almost lets the hurt take over, until he remembers that she’d put up their baubles, so Finn lets the hope win out instead.

Finn rearranges the two gift boxes on the passenger seat, repeating to himself that the purple one is full of Rae’s favourite chocolate, while the black one has liver treats for Gallagher. He’s antsy about this whole thing already, doesn’t need the added worry of poisoning the both of them with a nerve induced mix-up. He was annoyed at the shops for only carrying the cheesy love-heart shaped carriers, knowing Rae would find it campy, but it’s Valentine’s Day after all.

He’s sitting in his car, outside the building that houses the magazine Rae works for. Glancing at his watch, he’s timed it perfectly; knows from experience that in a couple minutes Rae will walk out with her coworker Rob. Finn’s legs bounce nervously, his knees hitting the steering wheel that he’s gripping firmly. This could go wrong in so many ways, but he’s been holding on to the baubles on the tree for the last fortnight; the tinsel-shiny prospect of them keeping him afloat, and he’s sure deep down that she’s thinking of him too. When Finn sees Rob emerge from the front doors alone, his brow furrows and he jumps out quickly and jogs to meet him at the entrance.

“Finn!” Rob is cheerful, but obviously surprised to see him, and Finn wonders how much he knows about the last few months. “What’re you doing here?”

“Alrigh’, Rob?” Finn tucks his hands in his jeans, shoulders bobbing up and down in greeting. “Just wanted to catch Rae. Is she running late?”

Rob’s face morphs into a mask of confusion and the tide of Finn’s nerves threatens to drown every one of his internal organs. His pockets feel too tight for the fists his hands have formed.

“No. I mean, she left about an hour ago. Thought she was meeting you?”

Right, he doesn’t know anything about the break up then. Finn is baffled into silence, unsure of how much to say, and the air grows heavy with awkwardness.

Rob clears his throat and continues, “Outfit she had on, we all figured she had a hot date or summat!” Rob chuckles, clearly hoping his quip would lighten the mood, but all it does is snap the already too-taut string holding Finn together.

Finn’s not sure what his face looks like – he’s feeling too many things at once: hurt, disappointment, jealousy – but it’s definitely not the neutral expression he’s aiming for based on Rob’s wide eyes and the concerned step he takes towards him.

“Is everything alright, mate?” Rob’s voice is worried, and now Finn’s angry at himself for putting them both in this uncomfortable situation.

“Yeah, ‘course. Must have just gotten our wires crossed. Thanks.” Finn hurries out his explanation, already turning back towards his car to escape this whole embarrassing exchange. Thanks all that is holy that he had left the stupid gifts in the car. Didn’t need them there to decorate his humiliation.

“Do you want me to give her a message?” Rob yells after him.

Finn immediately pivots mid step to stumble over a “NO! No, that’s alrigh’ mate. Don’t worry about it. I’ll talk to her me'self!” After returning Rob’s unsure nod, Finn fights the urge to run back to his car. Instead he measures his steps, trying to appear calm and unaffected; the complete opposite of how he actually feels.

*

Finn had driven blindly, leaving his hands and feet to navigate, as his mind was too wrapped up in imagining Rae dressed up and sat across from some wanker who probably didn’t know how much she hated going out on Valentine’s. His heart is pounding and all the blood in his body must have found it’s way into his head, because he feels like he’s about to erupt.

He’s not surprised when he looks up from where he’s parked to see he’s outside her flat. Knows he shouldn’t be there, but she’s on a bloody date and Rae being with anyone else is so wrong that he needs some familiarity. He can tell from the street that her lights are out and he lets go of the tiny hope he’d held on to that Rob had been wrong.

He still has his set of keys. Rae never asked for them, and Finn couldn’t bring himself to loose them from the ring. It was like he needed the heft of them in his palm and pockets; a physical reminder of their commitment that he could keep with him at all times without seeming mad. As he uses them to unlock the main door, he finds himself bitterly doubting that commitment. He knows it’s not fair, they’ve been broken up for months, but he hasn’t even looked twice at another girl and he can’t believe she’s moved on this fast.

Finn takes the two flights quickly, eyes down, silently hoping none of the neighbours spot him. The last thing he needs is Ms. Dewhurst telling Rae that “the boy with the too long fringe who used to live here was lurking about”. Once he reaches the door, he knocks tentatively just in case Rae really is home, maybe listening to a record in the dark like she used to do. Finn cringes at the thought of startling her as he essentially brakes in, but his relief of her being there would be greater than the embarrassment. However the only sound from inside the flat is the panting breaths and scurrying paws of Gallagher. The pup’s clawing lifts his spirits and Finn unlocks the door to greet him. Gallagher barks before jumping to his hind legs, front paws landing on Finn’s hips. Finn swears he can see the recognition in the dog’s wild eyes, and it hits him then that Rae’s not the only one he’s been missing terribly.

“Hiya, buddy!” Finn drops down to his knees to give him a proper petting, scratching at Gallagher’s neck while he licks at any part of Finn he can get at. “Just finished cleaning your bollocks?” Finn chuckles, scrunching his eyes shut as Gallagher’s tongue takes a swipe at them.

Gallagher is frantic, breath panting, and he jumps up again knocking Finn on his back so he can climb onto his stomach and continue his assault. “Alrigh’, alrigh’, I’ve missed you too!” Finn pushes him away from his face and Gallagher hops off him, settling instead on Finn’s side, head resting on his chest. The two boys remain sprawled on the floor, catching their breath. Finn strokes the top of his head gently, as he stares up at the ceiling.

“So your mum’s on a date, huh? Have you seen him? What’s he like?” Finn lifts his head to look Gallagher in the face, and the pup tilts his head to the side like he’s really contemplating a response. Finn rubs one of his floppy ears between his fingers. “Never mind, don’t answer that. Don’t wanna know nothing about the tosser. Hope they’re having a shit time. Hope the Spice Girls come on in the car and the twat knows all the words.” Gallagher lets out a low growl and Finn laughs. “Glad you still agree.”

They lay in content silence for another 10 minutes until Finn figures he should go before Rae comes home to find him lying on her rug. “I gotta get going, mate. But do me a favour and attack his leg or summat, alrigh’? I know we sent you to obedience school and all that, but I won’t be bothered if you wee on his trousers.”

Gallagher licks at his face again, and Finn suddenly feels like crying. “Not sure when I’ll get to see you again, Gall’. Thought maybe I’d be coming 'round more after tonight, but guess I was stupid to think Rae was missing me 'ey? She was always the stronger one.” Gallagher gives him a pitiful whine and Finn smiles dolefully. “I know, mate. I’m sad too.”

“Thanks for taking me out. Even if it was on Valentine’s.” Rae playfully rolls her eyes and holds the door to her building open for him.

“I knew you’d complain about that! But of course I’m gonna take out my favourite girl on this day of love!”

“You’re ridiculous.” Rae shakes her head with a small laugh as she leads the way up to her flat. “But really, I appreciate it. Glad you’re spending the night too. It’ll be nice to have someone besides Gallagher around.”

“Yeah? So I’m the only bloke who’s lucky enough to have been invited?”

Rae scoffs. “Please, Arch. You know I haven’t even thought about another guy since…you know.”

“Yeah, I know.” Archie gives her a soft smile. “I’m sorry about that by the way. I know today didn’t go how you thought.”

Rae just shrugs. She had gotten all dolled up and left work early, hoping to “catch” Finn at home while she was dropping off a card from Gallagher. But he wasn’t in. She sat on his front step for a good ten minutes before deciding she didn’t want to be that pathetic, and called Archie to pick her up.

“Yeah well, it was daft of me to think Finn Nelson would just be sat at home on Valentine’s Day. I guess I just hoped…I don’t know what I hoped.”

They’ve reached her floor now and Archie clocks the heart shaped box propped up against her door. “Maybe you were hoping for something like that?”

Rae blushes when she sees what he’s pointing at, and her pulse quickens and she bends to pick it up. She bites her lip to stop her manic smile as she recognizes the scribble she’s long since memorized from countless mix tapes. She presses the black box to her chest as she rips open the card.

Dear Gallagher,

Don’t think I forgot about you! You know you’ll always be my second love, even though you probably met some lucky lass down the pet shop. That reminds me, we need to get ya fixed. Don’t need to be a grand dad any time soon.

Dad x

P.S. Soz if the liver breath cock-blocks ya.

“It’s from Finn right? What does it say?” Archie asks excitedly.

Rae tips her head back and releases a short wry laugh. “It’s not for me.” She shoves the box into Archie’s arms before unlocking the door and going straight to the fridge for a  beer.

“He always sends Gallagher stuff like this?” Archie leans a hip on her kitchen counter, frowning down at the note.

“Yeah. He loves this little guy.” Rae is on her knees, scratching at Gallagher who has come to greet them in the kitchen. “At least he still loves one of us, hey Gall’?”

“Rae,” Archie starts.

“No Arch, it’s fine.”

Rae waves him off but Archie hears the wobble of her voice, and even though her face is turned away, he knows it’s probably wet with tears. Archie throws the box and note on the counter and sits down on the floor next to her.

“Move over, Gall’.” Archie pulls Rae towards him, wrapping his arms around her shoulders which are now shaking as she sobs. Rae tucks her face into his neck, and Archie’s shirt is instantly wet.

“I’ve been so stupid, Arch.”

“You haven’t.”

“He’s probably on a date with some beautiful girl who likes shit music but can get away with it 'cause of her stupid pretty face.”

“We don’t know where he was, Rae.”

“I’m an idiot.”

“No, you’re just… in love.”

“Same shit. How stupid am I to think he still feels the same? I must be mad to hope that I could keep someone like Finn. That stuff doesn’t happen to girls like me. I don’t get the happy ending. I get crying on the kitchen floor.”

“Rae, this is not what your life is going to be forever. It’s hard right now, but you’re strong. You’ll get past this.”

“I don’t want to get past him, Archie. I want him back.”

“I know.”

They’re quiet for a long time, only the sounds of Gallagher’s soft whines and Rae’s sniffles filling the room. Finally Rae sits up, wiping her face with the sleeve of her coat.

“Sorry.”

“Hey, don’t ever apologize for snotting on me. That’s what best mates are for.” Archie nudges her knee with his.

“Would my best mate be willing to help me break into Finn’s and get that card back?”

“You and I would make the worst burglars. Can you imagine? But maybe if we get arrested I would finally get some action in jail.”

“Didn’t know convicts were your type.”

“Rae, it’s Valentine’s day and the closest to intimacy I’m gonna get is your dog slobbering on my leg. Don’t think I can afford to be choosy.”

Rae scoffs. “Yeah well, welcome to my world.”

They share a laugh before Archie asks, “You alright?”

“No, but I’m used to not being alright.” Rae sighs before reaching for the box of treats and retrieving one for Gallagher. “C'mere, boy. Enjoy this token of a man’s affection. You’re the only one here getting it.”

“So how was yesterday? Did'ya get the ‘V’ in Valentines?” Chop laughs at his own joke before scooping another heap of curry into his mouth. He’d come round to Finn’s for a take away after their shift at the garage.

Finn scowls and takes a swig of beer. “No. It was crap.”

After leaving Rae’s he’d stopped at the off licence for a 12 pack before heading home, only to find a red envelope on his welcome mat. When he saw it was stamped with another messy paw print, he’d chucked it straight in the bin. After beer number two he’d taken Rae’s keys off his chain and thrown them on top of that. Beer number four had him tying up the bag roughly and hauling it to the garden because he couldn’t stop thinking about them sitting there. And once half the pack was gone he’d been drunk enough to forget about everything except the melancholy lyrics of Morrissey.

Chop’s brows meet in the middle at Finn’s rough reply. “Yeah, who’s that from then? Secret admirer?” He nods his head at the purple box lying on the coffee table between them.

Finn groans and rubs at his face. He’d forgotten about the stupid chocolates he bought Rae. “They’re your pudding. Have at 'em.” Finn stands to walk to the kitchen for another drink.

“Hey, aren’t these Raemundo’s favourites?” Chop yells from the lounge and Finn has to hold the cold can to his forehead to calm him down.

“Leave it alone and eat the damn chocolate Chop,” Finn growls back. He cracks the beer, awaiting Chop’s inevitable piss take but he’s quiet. Too quiet. Finn turns to see him frowning down at the box, and he realizes Chop’s reading the other part he’d forgotten: the foolish note he’d written.

“Shit.” Is all Chop says once he’s done, flicking the card towards Finn.

“Yeah. It is shit.” Finn replies, picking it up to read it over.

Rae, “But tonight I miss my girl, mister tonight I miss my home.” I know you hate today, but love makes you mean all those crazy things.

Finn x

P.S. Sorry this is so cringe. At least it’s not Backstreet Boys lyrics right? Not that I know any…but you probably would ;)

Chop shakes his head. “I ain’t no Casanova, but even I know that’s romantic. Fuck, I’m tempted to date ya! Fucking Springsteen? Why didn’t you give it to her?”

“'Cause she was out with someone else.” Finn lets out a humourless laugh, tossing the card back on the table. “I was ready to move back in and she was on a date with some other bloke.”

“No she wasn’t,” Chop says in between bites.

“What?”

“Well, she was with another bloke, but since Archie fancies lads I don’t think he’s much of a threat.”

“What are you on about?”

“Izzy told me she was having a catch up with Archer but he dipped out half way because he had to meet Rae.” Chop says it with a shrug as he continues to pick through the chocolates. He’s so casual, as if this info doesn’t alter Finn’s whole life.

Finn stares incredulously at him, trying to comprehend the gift of information he’s just been handed. Chop looks up and gives him a confused look before lifting the box of chocolate in offering. Finn shakes his head and scrambles for the back door, nearly tripping on the bin bag he’d thrown out carelessly the night before. He rifles through it’s contents to find the now damp and slightly sticky envelope.

Inside is a white card sporting a drawing of a derpy dog that looks just like Gallagher. Underneath it says “I’ll sniff your arse, if you sniff mine” in loopy font and it makes Finn smile for the first time in the last 24 hours. Inside is Rae’s familiar bubbly printing that he’s learned from grocery lists and sneaky notes in his packed lunches.

I told Gall’ this was an inappropriate card to get his dad, but he insisted. Though, I can understand the attraction to your arse :p

We both know this day is for mainstream people who listen to boy bands, but it never hurts to remind someone you’re thinking of them.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Finnley.

We miss you. Love, Rae and Gallagher xx

Finn reads the message six times over searching for any double meanings or misinterpretations, but all he registers is “miss you” and “love”, and maybe the comment about his arse. He hates that the card (that he’s definitely keeping forever) now smells of the mushy peas he’d thrown out after his fish and chips the previous day, but that doesn’t matter. None of it matters because Rae wasn’t on a date and she misses him and maybe loves him and still thinks “the curve of his arse is the solution to every impossible maths problem in the known universe.” (She’d drunkenly confessed this to him after two months of dating, which also happened to be the same night Finn knew he was in love). So he shovels through the rest of the bag’s contents to find his set of keys.

Rae trudges slowly up to her flat. It’s been a long day, after an even longer night. All she wants to do is get inside, put on a record, take off her bra, and cuddle with Gallagher.

Her and Archie had stayed up watching films and dunking Hobnobs into hot toddies; the perfect night for two sad and singles. One of the comedies they’d put in turned out to be a romantic one, and Rae had another cry before they’d fallen asleep in front of the tv. She woke up cold and alone in the middle of the night to find Archie snuggled up to Gallagher at the other end of the couch. Story of my life. Every guy prefers the bloody dog, she had thought but was secretly glad they hadn’t moved to the bedroom. Best mate or not, Rae wasn’t ready for another man in her bed.

Work was no better. Rob had acted strange around her but when she asked if anything happened he shook his head and asked about her night, which she promptly lied about. She tried to focus on the article she was writing, but it seemed like every new band she researched only served to remind her of one person.

“Rae dear, you’re home late.”

Rae looks up to find her elderly neighbour at the stop of the staircase. “Hiya Ms. D. Been a long one. Y'alright?”

“Lovely, dear, just lovely.” Ms. Dewhurst replies airily.

“That makes one of us,” Rae mumbles under her breath as she takes the remaining steps.

“Think your day is about to get a bit better, love.” Ms. D pats her shoulder, a broad, knowing smile on her face before turning to her door.

Rae watches her go, confused by the cryptic message until her eyes fall on a rectangle box sat by her door. Now she is even more confused. She bends to pick it up, a mix of déjà vu and nerves filling her. She has a curious prickle on the back of her neck, like she’s being watched, and turns to look behind her; swears she sees Ms. D vanish from behind the peephole. Rae decides she doesn’t need an audience to witness whatever this Pandora’s box contains and hurries to unlock the door.

As soon as she’s inside, Rae leans against the door and takes a deep breath. She had gotten prematurely excited over the box from last night, so she tries to reason with herself that this delivery could be anything. Perhaps the candles she’d ordered, or the adorable flannel harness she’d bought online for Gallagher because it reminded her of one of Finn’s coats, maybe even the vibrator Chloe had convinced her to invest in the other week. Any of those seemed much more likely than what her heart was holding hope for.

That optimistic heart jumps into her throat when she opens the card to find the familiar perfectly untidy printing.

Rae, “But tonight I miss my girl, mister tonight I miss my home.” I know you hate today yesterday, but love makes you mean all those crazy things.

Love, Finn xxx

P.S. Sorry this is so cringe. At least it’s not Backstreet Boys lyrics right? Not that I know any…but you probably would ;)

P.P.S. Figured if I waited a day, you’d like this more. Bonus: no heart shaped box.

P.P.P.S. I got your card. I’m thinking of you too. I miss you too. And your arse is also great.

Rae’s smile has broadened with every word and her knees suddenly can’t handle the weight of that blossoming hope, so she slides down the door to fall on her “great” arse. Gallagher comes running to lick at her and Rae lets herself dissolve into a fit of giggles.

“Maybe he still loves us both, Gall’.”

Gallagher bounds down the hall, bumping in to balloons that scatter the floor. He barks at the offending objects attempting to pounce on them, but only manages to kick them away so he chases them into the kitchen instead. A stray chew left by his food bowl distracts him on his quest, and he settles at  Chop’s feet to gnaw on it.

“Can’t believe you threw your dog a birthday party!” Chop shakes his head and playfully kicks at Gallagher’s rump.

Izzy scowls at him and bends to stroke Gallagher fondly. “He’s part of the family! Besides he’s sooooo cute!”

“He’s a dog! Doesn’t know how old he fuckin’ is!”

“Didn’t stop you from drinking the beer or eating the food, did it?” Chloe shoots back. “Besides it’s just an excuse for us to get together. We haven’t all hung out since…you know.”

Rae clears her throat before she smirks at Chop and continues to plate cupcakes. “Let me guess, you’d prefer a 'sexy’ party?”

“Raemundo, you know me too well. Now, what have we ‘ere?” Chop reaches over and grabs a cake off the tray, already unwrapping it.

“Think you’ll like it. It’s has cream cheese and peanut butter icing.” Rae gestures for him to take a bite, which he does. A big one. “Topped with lamb treats. They’re pupcakes for Gallagher.”

Chop’s eyes bug out and he spits his mouthful into the sink. The gang erupts into laughter, and then Chop is chasing Rae through the lounge trying to smear the icing on his face and hands onto her. He manages to tackle her down on the sofa, Rae squealing through her laughter for him to “stop, stop, get off”. Gallagher barks at Chop clearly defensive over Rae, and starts to pull at the cuff of his jeans, growling low. Chop rolls off Rae, his hands up in surrender.

“Oi mate, it’s jus’ me, your favourite pork-Chop!” Chop bends to pat him and Gallagher’s act of protection drops as soon as he sniffs the peanut butter on him. Instead he jumps up onto his lap, excitedly licking off all the icing from Chop’s face. “Christ, it’s like the first time I snogged Izzy!!”

“You horrible boy!” Izzy complains, smacking Chop. “You get ‘em, Gall’! Bite his face off!”

“Alrigh’, there will be no biting of anyone’s face! Even his ugly mug,” Finn laughs, walking into the room with Archie. “C’mere Gall’, time for presents.” Gallagher runs towards him, sniffing at the boxes and barking. “Easy now, sit!” Gallagher sits up, tail wagging happily. “Good boy!”

“Here, let Uncle Archie read you the card.” Archie plucks the envelope off a random box, and starts to read.

“Dear Gallagher,

Happy First Birthday! Seems like just yesterday we spotted you at the shelter. Always thought you were cute, but when we drove you home and you started howling along to Oasis, we knew you were the perfect fit.

Thanks for ending the debate over which brother is better, because now you’re our favourite Gallagher.

Love, Mum and Dad x”

The gang exchange surprised looks before they all turn to Rae and Finn, who are too busy looking at each other to notice their knowing smiles.

Concept inspired by this story and my general love of dogs. Apologies for it being lame, cheesy, and late. Thank you for reading!

@bitchesbecrazy89 @crystalgiddings1993 @emmatationsforall @eveerez @finn-nelson-for-the-win @fyeahsharonrooney @hey1tskat1e @i-dream-of-emus @isthistherightwayround @karinskyme @kingbeeyonce @kj0504 @kneekeyta @likeashootingstarfades @lilaviolet @l88cym @mallyallyandra @milllott @milymargot @mmfdfanfic @nutinanutshell @protectfinnnelson @raeonashadowcaster @rockinthebeastmode @stinemarine @tinakegg @2muchtosee2littletime

#mmfd #mmfd fanfic #mmfd fan fiction #mmfd fanfiction #mmfdfanfic #rinn #dear gallagher #i wrote this #my mad fat fandom #my mad fat diary

[benbarnesescape]

To the End of Love

A/N: Sometimes I listen to a song and it inspires me to write about our dear Ben. This is for @padfootagain – she submitted this request literally a month ago and has been patiently waiting for me to update so here it is finally! Also I love the Civil Wars and think that Ryan’s voice would intertwine beautifully with the right vocalist, like this duo does well. This song is inspired by the Jason Cohen cover this lovely duo did, which you can listen to here.

Ryan pulled his hat over his eyes, taking one last drag of his cigarette before throwing it on the ground and stamping it out. He bent down to grab his guitar case, ignoring the light drizzle as he took a breath exhaling and looking into the dim club.

You were there.

He didn’t know how or why but you were inside, laughing and joking with friends, a glass of whiskey on top of the piano you were playing fervently, your deep soulful voice carrying throughout the small club.

He didn’t think you sang anymore.

The last time he kept track of you, on one of the few occasions where he checked the internet he had inevitably reconnected on your Facebook page. It had been a couple of months back and out of habit and memory he had remembered it was your birthday. He knew it was bad, tried to will it from his thought as his fingers typed out your name but he couldn’t stop himself.

He missed you. Always missed you but when he thought of your birthday, of the memories shaped around your special day and his mind began the deep dive of thinking of you.

He had learned that you had gotten your dream of getting into Berkeley in California. You were a business major with a focus in marketing. You had joined a business sorority and had organized volunteer events. Now you lived in an apartment with two other people. You worked for a prestigious marketing company in San Francisco. You liked to travel and, as far as your Facebook status was letting on, was single. Your smile was the same, no change in the way your brow furrowed when you concentrated deeply. You were the same and yet so different.

He had spent an hour going through your photos before he had decided he had to get away, go down to a city where he could escape from the memories of you. Caught a train and took it all the way down south to the sweet city of New Orleans. A place where someone like him could sing because it was true to him and people understood that. Didn’t worry too deeply about his next meal or place to sleep because the city was populated with drifters – forced out of their homes by the people like you – the ones who choose to sing their souls to the masses instead of their true beings. 

Like a drug, he wanted to spend hours singing and mourning after her.

So he did, deciding to go to bar he always went to and that’s when he saw her, laughing and drinking while her voice carried over the busy bar.

He had debated leaving. It would probably be smarter to leave what was to be.

Instead, despite his best instincts, he found himself walking into the packed bar. A few of the regulars he saw around the road were in tonight, laughing and singing along as he slowly made his way to a space at the bar.

“Didn’t expect to see you here Ryan.” The bar owner smiles at him, turning toward him as he gestured toward his guitar case.

“Plan on showing these young boys how it’s done. I can keep your guitar case behind the bar for safety.

Ryan smiles, nodding as he pulls out his guitar before handing it to the older gentleman who takes it tenderly.

“Let me guess – a Russian mule.” Samuel smiles and Ryan nods, turning back toward you. He watched as you finished your song, a man vying for your attention take you off guard as he threw his arm over your shoulders. You roll your eyes, obviously unamused with the man’s drunk ramblings as you walk to another part of the stage, checking out the guitars.

You had always been a talented musician. Probably had enough talent to become famous.

You wouldn’t have it though. It had caused you both to drift apart in the first place, old high school sweethearts that grew up in a small town trying desperately to claw out to freedom.

“Not like you to give too much interest to a woman.” Samuel says, gesturing toward her from across the room. “She’s a pretty one. Kind too.”

Ryan shakes his head, standing up and grabbing the mule, digging in his pocket for a few dollars. Samuel immediately threw up his hands.

“Don’t worry about it Ryan. You help out around here and never ask for cash. Drinks on me. Let me know if you want something from the kitchen, Eta’s back there. She’ll whip you up something nice and warm.”

Ryan smiles and raises his glass in thanks, his free hand wrapping around his guitar as his feet carried himself to you. He kept willing himself to walk away, to not get bogged down by the idea of you but his heart kept winning until he was inches from you.

“Y/N….” he says lowly and you turn, your hands already around an old guitar as you strum it.

“Sorry, was just looking through some of the instruments here….” You mutter before you freeze. He can see the way your brain works, re-collecting all the memories as your eyes widen, your mouth slightly agape as you take him in before you breathe out,

“Ryan?”

He gives a small smile and before he can registers you’ve dropped the instrument in your hands, your arms wrapped around his neck as you press your body into his and the whiskey drink sloshes in his right hand as he uses the left one to hug you back. And then, she pulls back and slaps him.

“Ow! What the hell was that for?” he asks, bringing his cold drink to his cheek as you cross your arms, shaking your head.

“You said you’d stay in contact when you left town. Said you keep tabs on me.”

“I did!” he says and you quirk an eyebrow. “I followed you on Facebook, checked in with the boys around town.”

“That’s not the same.” you say, your lips pouting in frustration and he chuckles nodding, placing his drink on his bar stool.

“Fair. I just….I couldn’t –“ he stops and you nod, understanding. He left and you didn’t come with him. You left and he didn’t follow.

He loved you and you loved him.

But you both didn’t go after the other.

“Sing us a song you too!” someone yells and she turns to the large crowd that has gathered around the small stage, your eyes drinking them in as he begins to mutter,

“No, no, no we aren’t –“ he begins but you shake your head, walking up to the mic and nodding.

“All right.”

You turn toward him, moving past him with finesse as you pick up the old guitar you have been admiring.

“We can sing a song, can’t we?” you ask him with hope in your voice, tenderness in your voice and he nods as you begin tuning the guitar.

“Of course we can.”

You walk back up to the mic, smiling at the small crowd, ignoring the whoops and hollering from a rowdy corner to your left, presumably your friends.

“I’m going to play an oldie but always a goodie,”

Ryan grabs a bar stool, leaning against it as his fingers dance over the strings as you continue. “For my oldest and dearest friend Ryan.”

He looks up at you as you adjusted your fingers against the spine of the guitar, strumming to the strings before picking up the beat you are looking for. Then, with your eyes closed, you allow the words to take over,

“Dance me to your beauty, like a burning violin,” you begin to sway as the words overtake you 

“Dance me to through the panic, ‘till I’m gathered safely in.

 Lift me like an olive branch, beat my whole world deaf.

And dance me, to the end of love. Please dance me, to the end of love.”

You turn toward him as he picks up the next verse, his melodic voice matching your tune.

“Oh let me see your beauty, when the witnesses are gone.

Let me feel you moving like they do in Babylon

Show me slowly what I only know the limits of.”

You both pick up the single verse line, your voices harmonizing perfectly.

“Dance me to the end of love

Please dance me to the end of love.”

Ryan looks at you, forgetting about the present. Remembering how much you love you had for each other. When you were younger, your love had been built on safety and necessity. As time went by and you got a bit older it had been built out of circumstance. By high school you had both denied it, until one night at the end of a football game. You were fresh off a break up and crying to him before he pulled you to him and kissed you by the bleachers, a southern rain rolling through as your salty tears mingled with your tongues. You had both been inseparable ever since.

Until he decided to go. And you didn’t want to follow.

He picks up the beat, the melody picking up as you both turn to each other as you begin to pick up your humming, forgetting about the faces in the room. Forgetting about everything else except the other.

“Dance me to the wedding now, dance me on and on Dance me very tenderly and dance me very long We're both of us beneath our love, we're both of us above Dance me to the end of love Dance me to the end of love”

You both end the song, looking deeply into the eyes of the other before you turn to the crowd that is cheering and clapping.

Then you turn, moving off the stage, moving past your tables who are cheering louder as you bustle by. It only takes him a minute before he registers this. Then he’s on his feet, scrambling past everyone with his guitar still around him, depositing it effortless on the bar as he follows you out of the dim building.

The rain has picked up again and your standing there, hands wrapped around your body sobbing. He grabs your shoulder, turning so you’re looking at him and you choke on your words. Old feelings and insecurities flooding to the forefront of her emotions.

“You didn’t come back and you didn’t come after me. I loved you and you didn’t give a damn.”

His dark eyes watch you carefully, piercing into you before he bends down and presses a kiss down onto your lips. When he pulls away, his hands carefully placed on both of your shoulders.

“I loved you – love you - so damn much I couldn’t breathe. But I also knew I wasn’t good enough for you and you needed to live your own life.  A life that didn’t involve me. Because if you settled and didn’t do what you’ve accomplished - I couldn’t live with myself. I really couldn’t.”

You knew all of this was true. Knew it even though you hated that he was right. You watched him as you sighed out.

“So where does that leave us now?”

He smiles, a hand going to your waist while the other grabs your right hand. He pushes you closer to him, the heat from his body warming you up in the humid rain as he starts to move you from left to right. He hums, the faint lyrics of the song you shared carrying in the rain as he mutters,

“We dance to the end, my love. We dance to the end and see where it takes us.”

#ben barnes #jackie and ryan movie #requests #benbarnesescape

[dailyaudiobible]

11/1/2017 DAB Transcript

Ezekiel 1:1-3:15; Hebrews 3:1-19; Psalms 104:1-23; Proverbs 26:24-26

Today is the first day of November, the first day of the 11th month of our year. So, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian. It is great to be here with you as we take this step into the new month. And this next step forward takes us into a new book. So, having wound our way through the warning prophecies of Jeremiah and then seeing those prophecies come true in the fall of Jerusalem and the carrying off of the Jewish people and exile in Babylon in the book of Lamentations, we find ourselves at the threshold of the book of Ezekiel. And Ezekiel is the first of two prophets from the Babylonian exile. Ezekiel prophesied to the Jewish people for the first two decades of their exile in Babylon. And true to form, the prophet prophesies and the people are too busy assimilating themselves into the new culture to listen. Ezekiel also contains descriptions of almost cinematic visions that in many ways parallel the visions of John on the island of Patmos when he wrote the book of Revelation. And these parallels are often cross-examined in eschatological studies, the studies of the end times, but this doesn't make it a lofty and unapproachable book. These visions have a great impact, personally, on Ezekiel and if we’re able to allow ourselves to approach the book and the imagery from the perspective of what it speaks to our hearts, rather than trying to force it into a timeline of some sort or a linear ABC list, we’ll be able to revel in its deep and rich textures, allowing it to speak to us as a sunrise would rather than how the morning newspaper does. The book of Ezekiel holds much promise for us today and is one of the most relevant books of prophecy we have. Ezekiel may have spoken these words thousands of years ago, but it is as if he is saying them now. And, we, once again, have the opportunity to ignore or embrace what God is saying. And with that, from the Good News translation this week, Ezekiel chapter 1 verse 1 through 3 verse 15. And we’ll begin with Ezekiel's first vision of God.

Prayer:

Father, as we begin this brand-new month, this 11th of the 12 months that are the revolution through a year, we look back, as we do at the beginning of most months and we see Your continued faithfulness and counsel and guidance through Your word each day. And as we begin the book of Ezekiel and begin to move our way through those prophetic utterances, we invite Your Holy Spirit to speak to us. As we continue through the book of Hebrews, we invite You to speak to us. And of course, we are led into your faithfulness and worship and adoration in the book of Psalms, but we also find ourselves there, for they speak true, the cry of the heart. And we receive Your counsel from the book of Proverbs. And we continue to meditate on Your words in the way that we use them, the way that we use them for good and the way that we use them falsely, as You have been challenging us. So, come Holy Spirit. We consecrate this month and our hearts to You and Your service in this world in this brand-new month. Come Jesus. We pray in Your name. We ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is the website. It’s home base. It’s where you find out what's going on around here.  

So, couple things. As we bring to the closing, the Global Campfire initiative. I just want to thank those of you who participated. Thank you for hearing me and understanding what we’re trying to do and why we’re trying to do it, in building out this platform and the new integrated app that goes along with it and making it free, free for anyone. We are full steam ahead and kind of our wrapping up development of phase 1 of this. Those of you who participated will be getting an invitation with instructions on how to access the app and begin to use it. And it'll take a couple of days for the us to get that all organized together and out but we’re beginning that today. Super, super excited, like perma-grin on the face about this day because it's been a long slog forward to get this point. So, I can't thank you enough. And I’ve already said it all, but it just bears repeating. Thank you for sewing into the lives of those who are coming in making a better way to experience the spoken word of God in and among this community. Thank you.

And then, I haven’t mentioned the calendar in a few days, but coming up on the 19th of this month, so in a couple weeks, we will be in Shreveport, Louisiana, in Bossier City, Louisiana, to be specific, and we will be bringing the Sneezing Jesus message at River Valley church in Bossier City. So, if you are down south then come say hello. For sure, come say hello. You can get all the details at dailyaudiobible.com. Just scroll down to the events section and you’ll find everything you want to know there and we’ll see you soon.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible can do that at dailyaudiobible.com. There's a link and it's on the homepage. And I thank you, thank you every day for your partnership. If you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app, you can press the More button in the lower right-hand corner and if you prefer the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill TN 37174.

And as always, if you have a prayer request or comment 877-942-4253 is the number to dial.

And that's it for today. I'm Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayers and Praise Reports:

Hey DAB family this is Byron calling from Florida. I’m calling for Lee in New Jersey. Hey brother, I’m so sorry that your family is going through this difficult time, this conscious moment, where it seems to be coming apart due to your anger issues. You know I’m praying for you and that we’re all praying for you coming together as a community to cover for you guys man. But here’s the thing, do you deserve, perhaps, for your family to leave because of your anger issues? Yeah. Maybe. But is it in God’s will for your family to stay together? Yes. Yes. 100% absolutely yes. You need to understand that those two things are not related to each other. We are Christians. The very story of our live is that we are getting from God what we don't deserve. So, take all that anger, all that frustration, and all that screaming and direct it upward, direct it towards God, direct it toward Your Father because He can take it and moreover, He can do something about it. Don't take this lying down. Don’t resign yourself that you have to lose your family because you deserve it. Our God is bigger than that, stronger than that, and more merciful than that. So, trust Him and wait for Him and allow Him to show up and do something awesome to you so that when it’s done, all you can say is, God is gracious, He is merciful and He’s done so much for me. That’s all of our story. And I know, particular to my family, that’s my story too. I have a family I don’t deserve and I praise God for it. Praise Him for it to man. Love you. Praying for you.

Hello global campfire. This is Drew from Dallas. Today is October 28th and I'm calling to express gratitude because last week marked one year since I began listening to the Daily Audio Bible. And last week we also celebrated my son's first birthday. And those two milestones are related because I learned about the DAB from our doctor, who told us about it as he delivered our son, whose name is Jack, into this world. And, so, over the past year, as baby Jack has grown, so has my love for God, thanks to the Daily Audio Bible. Jack and I often listen together. And, so, he is quite familiar with Brian’s voice. And I can't wait to see what God has in store for us in year two. So, thank you so much Brian and everyone else who’s behind the scenes for sharing the spoken word of God with us. It has made such a difference in our lives and we continue to be deeply grateful.

This is Peg in Texas. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, I lift up the one who called from Kentucky. I think her name is Karen and yet I’m not sure I remember correctly. But you know exactly who she is and you know the concerns of her heart before they were even shared with the DAB family, a part of Christ's body on earth. Now I pray for her and all those who have expressed tremendous loneliness. Father, You understand better than we understand ourselves. You understand that there is a sadness in not being connected, there is a sadness in being surrounded with one's thoughts and not having feedback. Sometimes we need to hear that our requests are taken seriously. Sometimes we need to hear our name placed before You. And, so, now I place her name and I just ask for the others that have expressed the same thoughts of loneliness that You will minister to each one. Even in being alone, I pray that she and others will begin to experience the truth in that You have said that You will never leave and that You will never forsake. How grateful l am that You are ever present, that You see, that You hear, that Your spirit invades, and that You convict and convince through the Holy Spirit. I pray that Karen and for all those who are lonely. I pray that they will make the choice to talk with You, to listen to You as You speak through Your word. I pray that You will grant her and others, and even myself, the joy of friendliness whenever and wherever we rub shoulders with others. I pray that You will grant her an interest in those that cross her path, nurses and doctors and other patients, maybe family far away or maybe someone down the street or maybe someone at church.

Hi Daily Audio Bible. This is Paul from Houston and I'm calling in response to a September 3rd call by Tony the painter from London. And he was asking for prayer regarding his marriage with his wife from North Carolina that they hadn't seen each other since January. So, I was just wanting to pray that God would open the doors for Tony and for his wife and that they will be reunited and I ask that God would just orchestrate that and that openings would come at the right time and his green card would come at the right time. And I just thank God and ask that his marriage would just be the whole and it will be together and I thank you Lord for blessing his marriage and I thank You Lord for being with him, with Tony and with his family. I thank You Lord for blessing them wherever they are, whether it’s in London, North Carolina, or wherever they end up. Thank You God that You ordained it and that You orchestrated it and I thank You God that You are in control of him and of our lives. I thank You Lord for the marriages out there, Lord, that You would unite husbands and wives. And I thank you Lord that You would orchestrate these different things. In Jesus’ name. Amen.