#I was so busy I forgot it's almost the 28th again

[mccall-muffin]

Love vs. Hate - Part 3 // Joe Liebgott x OC

Previous Part Summary: Technical Sergeant Olivia Stark knows the military. Raised in a military family, a graduate of military school and OCS herself, she is transferring from the 82nd Airborne Division to the 101st. Between new friends and what appear to be foes, she becomes a part of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th PIR.

Warnings: Language, Angst, Self-doubt

A/N: Here is number 3 (I kinda imagined this sentence as Mr. Reginald Hargreeves would say it - Numba Threeee) This chapter has a quick change of POV, but it's marked. And I kinda love the friendship between Don and Liv. Oh and almost forgot : 100 miles are about 160 km. Just in case you were wondering, or live in a metric system country like I do.

Here is my Masterlist

Tag List: @brassknucklespeirs

28th November 1942 - Camp Toccoa, GA Bored, I sit in the lecture room, playing with my pen in front of me. Muck struggles to fall asleep to her left, and I occasionally prod him. But when the door opens, and Sobel enters with the platoon leaders, we all stand at attention. They tell us the same thing they’ve said a thousand times before.

"Listen up. Colonel Sink has overheard that the Japanese are very good at marching. We will prove that we are even better and march in three days. Pack your gear because we will not return to Toccoa," he says, looking around. "Lieutenant Winters," he then says and leaves the room again. "You heard the captain. As you've already been informed, we're shifting to Fort Benning for jump training in early December." "Sir? Where are we marching to?" then asks Lipton, and I look at him briefly. "We're marching to Atlanta. The entire battalion. We leave on the morning of December 1. From Atlanta, we'll go on by train. Carry on."

"Atlanta?" I ask in surprise, looking at Don. "That must be about 100 miles. Are they crazy?" "Shit," Don grumbles, looking down at his feet. "I've got blisters from this fucking hill already. How am I supposed to get through this fucking march with my feet?" "Maybe you should talk to Doc first?" "Maybe you're right."

30th November 1942 - Camp Toccoa, GA Two days later, we are all busy packing. "Jesus, this shit," I grumble, stuffing my things into the bag. "Women," Liebgott mumbles next to me, and I look up. "You got something to say, Liebgott? I am really not in the mood right now", I hiss at him. He looks up now, too, and our eyes meet. "Don't do it, Joe," Penkala warns him, looking at both of us with concern. Everyone around us knows it will get out of hand if he says it now. Liebgott eyes me for a moment before taking a quick breath. "I said women," again he draws breath. Don, George and Penkala groan. "Well done, Lieb. He really needs to learn the signals. I thought he has sisters too," George grumbles to Don, turning back to his things.

Meanwhile, I detach myself from my things and stand up straight. "And what exactly are you trying to say?" I jam my hands into my sides and glare at him. "What do you think? That you women are all the same. And that, once again, it's typical. You have 7000 things you always have to lug everywhere, and then we must carry your shit after you because it's too heavy for you!" "Are you fucking serious?! Do you really think that I can't carry my shit? First of all, for your information, smartass, I don't have my clothes with me. I have the same shit as everyone here, with two small exceptions. And second, I've been through the same damn training as you. So don't tell me I'm too weak to carry my shit!" Liebgott snorts sarcastically. I'm probably overreacting, but it doesn't help that it's that time of the month. "Oh yeah, we'll see about that after the 100 miles, Stark. That's the same as you being unable to defend yourself because I had to do that for you too." "But I didn't fucking ask you to, you dick! And if I remember correctly, you didn't do it for me, did you?" Liebgott's eyes turn to slits. "Damn right."

Liebgott and I are so close by now that I can feel his breath on my face. I didn't even realize we'd moved closer together during our argument, but now I can smell his scent. And it drives me crazy. "Okay, that's enough!" Don directly interferes and pushes us apart. "Why don't you just focus on your respective shit and finally finish packing. I really don't know how you two airheads can muster up the strength for this, too. Jesus Christ." I give Liebgott another angry look and then turn away from him. However, I pick up my running shoes before throwing them on the ground. "Ah fuck it!" I grumble, taking my smokes and disappearing outside. "Liv, where are you going?" Don calls after me, but I ignore him.

With no compelling destination, I trudge through the camp. Fucking Liebgott. Who does he think he is? Just lump all the women together and claim they are too weak for everything. At some point, I realize I have arrived at the other end of the camp. I stop and stare straight ahead. I don't know how long I stand there, racking my brain when suddenly I feel a hand on my shoulder. Startled, I turn around.

"My ass, are you trying to kill me?" I ask, grabbing my heart. "My ass? What kind of expression is that? And I called you like five times." I take a deep breath. "I didn't hear you." "Where are you with your thoughts?" I look up at Lip, who gestures with his head for me to follow him. "And what are you doing back here anyway? I was lucky to see you by chance, or I probably never would have found you." "What's going on?" I ask, following him. "Winters is asking for us. They want to pass us the information for tomorrow so we can inform the men." I nod and follow him until I see Winters waiting for us with Nixon and Roush from a distance. The other platoon sergeants are already there as well.

"Ah, Sergeant Stark, there you are. Thank you, Sergeant Lipton," Winters greets me, and I salute him. "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't know you were looking for us." "That's all right. So here's the deal: Tomorrow, at 0600, we move out. We are intended to cover about 30 - 35 miles in one day. After that, we'll set up the tents and spend the night. At 0600 in the morning, we move on. Colonel Sink demands that we are faster than the Japanese. That is, we should arrive in Atlanta in four days, where we then board the train. The whole battalion is participating, making it all the more important that the platoon sergeants help their platoon leaders keep people together and that the squad leaders keep their people in line, understand?" "Yes, sir," we say out of one mouth. "Good, full gear, including a rifle. You can turn in the big bags. The supply office will take those to Fort Benning." Winters looks at us in turn. Then Roush speaks up. "Sergeant Stark, Sergeant Lipton... You are in charge of the second platoon. Inform them all, yes?" "Yes, sir," we reply and salute him before stepping down.

"I'll get the men out, and you'll brief them?" Lipton asks me, and I nod. He gets the men out, and I look up. "2nd Platoon on me," I call out, and they come up to me before gathering around me. I look the men in the face and get stuck on Liebgott for a second before I break away and look at Don for a second. "So listen up... We just got the orders for the march. All men are to abide by their respective squad leaders, who in turn abide by me. Since the whole battalion is involved, it's even more important to ensure we don't lose anyone, understood? Good. The big bags can be turned in tomorrow. Otherwise, full gear. We march at 0600, as you were."

The men lapse into a conversation and disperse again. Don comes up to me. "Where have you been?" "Oh, I had to cool down for a minute. You know..." "I guess you weren't the only one. Joe was still babbling furiously for a while." "Let him. I couldn't care less what he thinks." "But you do, Liv. That's part of the reason he can always provoke you like that. What's really going on, Liv?" "What do you mean?" "Today's topic has somehow made you go 180 faster than usual. And I don't think it's because of the current circumstances. At least not completely." I look at him, confused. "I have a sister, Liv. I think I know when you are on your..." "Okay, okay! Shut up! It's not worth mentioning, Don." "Don't lie to me, Liv. Come on, let's sit down," he says, leading me to a tree before holding out a smoke. "Now, spill it!"

I take a deep breath. "Remember I told you guys that my siblings and I went to the military academy?" I ask with a sigh, and Don nods. "Sure." "Well, the school was run by my uncle, which is why The school accepted my sisters and me in the first place. Other than that, it was all boys. How could it be otherwise? Anyway, my uncle was so not keen on the idea, but my father was able to persuade him. Well, Uncle James always let us know that we were not boys. Be it because of intelligence, strength, or anything else. You can imagine what that does to a teenager's head, right?" I pluck at a blade of grass. "Anyway, I've always tried to prove him wrong. I gave everything I could to show him that we girls can be strong too and be just as good as the boys, but it was never good enough. I could be the fastest or shoot the best, but he always found an excuse not to make it count. Towards the end of my school years, my confidence was so low that I almost gave up. My brother Tommy encouraged me not to and to finish school. Which I did, even if just barely. After that, I joined a company near Newport and did my basic training. I did well, one of the best, but every time I saw my uncle, it was like school all over again. 'You're the best soldier in your company? Well, with a beautiful face, you can score points, too. / In real life, you wouldn't stand a chance, Olivia; you're still as weak as ever." I fight tears at the memories and quickly wipe my face with my sleeve. "When I read that paratroopers were the best of the best, I didn't hesitate for a second and signed up. I want to prove to him that I'm not a wimp and can be just as good as any man."

For a while, we are both silent. "I'm not weak, Don. I can do this." Don takes my hand in his and smiles at me encouragingly. "I know, Liv, and I believe in you. What he did to you is not justified. I mean, you're here, aren't you? With the best of the best and as a technical sergeant. You graduated from fucking OCS, and we're going to do this march, jump training, and fuck, this war together, sweetheart!" Don's words make me laugh. I nudge him with my shoulder and then grin. "Thanks, Don. I don't know what I did to deserve you." "That's a good question. I hear there's a surprise dessert tonight, and I bet you can find a way to pay me back." He winks at me, and I grin. "Wouldn't you like to have that Malarkey?" Don laughs and stands up before helping me to my feet. "So come on now, let's finish packing your shit, and then we'll get some grub in our bellies."

2nd December 1942 - Somewhere between Toccoa and Atlanta, GA It is now the second day of the march, and my feet are aching. I walk mainly next to Don, who also has leg problems. "Jesus, I don't know if I can finish this," he mumbles next to me, and I look at him. "Come on. What did you say to me? We can do this together, right?" Don smiles at me before James Diel walks up to us. "Liv... Roush wants to see you," he says, and I nod before following him to Lieutenant Roush. "You wanted to see me, Lieutenant?" I ask, and he looks at me briefly. "That's right, Sergeant Stark. I just got word from 1st Platoon that we're going for another hour or so and then camp for the night. Send someone to 3rd Platoon to brief them." "Yes, sir," I say and drop back down.

I let my eyes roam through the men. "Hey, Skinny," I call out as I spot him and walk up beside him. "Hey, Liv. You gonna keep us company for a change?" he grins, and I smile. I like Skinny, but unfortunately, he is very good friends with Liebgott, who is now walking next to him, so I don't mind being with them. I was able to avoid him very well in the last two days since our previous quarrel. "Sorry Skinny, but I have an assignment for you. Roush got word that we're going to march on for another hour or so and then make camp for the night. I need you to go to 3rd Platoon and inform Lieutenant Nixon so he can send someone to Fox Company, yes?" Skinny nods and grins at me. "Sure thing, ma'am." He drops back and disappears into the men.

As I'm about to pick up my pace, Tipper holds me back. "Hey Liv, why don't you stay with us for a bit," he says, and my gaze automatically wanders to Liebgott, who stubbornly looks straight ahead. "Sure, why not?" I return and walk alongside them. "How long are we walking today?" "Well, as far as I know, the plan is for us to do about 33 - 35 miles a day, and if we go another hour now and keep up that pace, we'll do about six more miles." "Thank God. My blisters on my feet will be happy," Alley now interjects. "Just make sure you rest and cool your feet tonight. If it doesn't work, contact Doc or Spina, will you?" "Sure thing, Sarge."

We chat for a while about trivial things until Tip turns to Liebgott. "Hey Joe, you're surprisingly quiet. What's going on with you?" I look at Liebgott for a moment, but he's still looking straight ahead. "There's nothing I have to say at the moment." "Wow, that's a new one," Tip laughs, punching Joe in the shoulder. "Don't you think so, Liv?" I look briefly at Tip and then back at Joe. I know that no matter how I answer this question, it will be a wrong answer. Then I glare at Tip, who must have noticed it too, but just shrugs. Joe tenses up next to me as well. "Well... I uh..." "Come on, just say what you're going to say, Stark. Let's get this over with," Liebgott now says, annoyed. "Jesus, you're a ray of sunshine again, Liebgott," I give out, annoyed. Tipper starts laughing behind us. "But watch out, Liv, you don't want to get burned." "Jesus Christ, can't you two just shut up?" grumbles Liebgott, and I grin at Tipper. "Don't worry, Liebgott. I'm going already, and I'll leave you in peace with your awesome mood." "Finally." "I'll see you later, Tip. Alley." I wave to the two and pick up my pace to get back to Don.

As we set up our tents that evening, I sit in a circle on the ground with George, Skip, Don, Penk, and Frank. "God damn, my hands are freezing now," Frank grumbles, and I look at him. "We have a fire for something, Frank," I say, and the others laugh. "Jesus, I'll be glad when this is finally behind us. I'll tell you that," Penkala says, and the others agree. "Hey, sweetheart, have you rubbed it in Liebgott's face that you still carry your stuff?" Don then asks me. "No, I haven't, and I won't, Don." "Why that would be so fun," he returns sarcastically. "Yeah, right... I've had enough Liebgott today, believe me." "What, when?" then asks Skip. "He was in the back, wasn't he?" "Yep, but Tip stopped me when I sent Skinny to 3rd Platoon. And that's when I was with them for a bit." Don shakes his head. "You guys should get a handle on this. If we're going to war, you guys should get along." "There'll be black snow before then, Malark," George laughs. "Yeah yeah, go ahead and make fun," I say and stand up. "Where are you going?" asks Don immediately. "Isn't a young lady allowed to go to the bathroom, Don?" "If you find one, you'll let me know, won't you?" laughs Skip. "Want me to go with you?" "No, that'll be fine. It's not like I have to go far, and besides, what's going to happen?"

I move away from the guys and look for a suitable bush as I pass another group of soldiers I don't know, who seem pretty drunk. When they spot me, they start whistling. "Hey, look, that's Easy's chick," one of them shouts, and the others laugh. "Hey, cutie, why don't you join us for a little company? Easy already has you usually." I try to ignore them, but they've positioned themselves so that I almost have to step over them. "No, thanks," I say quickly. "Do you mind?" I ask then, as one of the soldiers has spread himself out. He slides aside a little and grins at me. Suddenly I'm grabbed by the wrist by one and pulled onto his lap. "Hey!" I shout and try to free myself from his grip. "Come on, baby. Stay with us," he purrs in my ear, and I can smell his breath. "Like I said, no thanks." I struggle out of his lap and try to keep walking. The soldiers continue to complain and call out to me. Again and again, they hold me back.

"Stark?" I then hear a voice in front of me and look up. The other soldiers also look up and let go of me. Liebgott stands in front of us. Because of his distraction, I can quickly weave my way through the men, and then I'm standing next to him. "Hey, where are you going?" "Everything okay?" he asks, and I am slightly surprised but nod before turning back to the men. "A little tip. When a woman says no, she usually means it." With those words, I walk away, realizing later that Liebgott is following me. "What is it with you?" he asks, and I turn to him. "Jesus, what are you talking about, Liebgott?" "You and the men. Somehow they all seem to want you with them." "Well, I guess you're the only one who's immune to that," I return flippantly. I turn away from him. "Wait. Stark, that's not what I meant." "And what do you mean, huh? Because you always make it sound like a curse or something to spend time with me." "I was really just trying to say that you affect the men." I raise my eyebrows. Did he just compliment me? At least, kind of? "Now, have you ever thought that many men don't have much female interaction? Then they take the next best thing. I don't have to be Rita Hayworth for that. I'll do just fine as it is." "You don't give yourself enough credit. Rita Hayworth can hardly compete with you."

I jerk my gaze up and meet his. Liebgott seems to be startled by his statement and immediately averts his gaze. For a while, we stand there in uncomfortable silence. Then I clear my throat. "Well... Uh, I actually wanted to... I, uh... See ya."

Joe's POV: Still startled at me, I look after her. How stupid can I possibly be? Why did I say that? I clench my hands into fists and trudge back to my tent, which I share with Tip. Tip is sitting alone in front of it, and I sit down next to him before lighting a smoke. "Fuck," I grumble again. "What's wrong with you?" asks Tipper, and I look at him for a moment. "Oh, nothing... I had to rescue Stark from some soldiers once more." "Wow, you're almost her knight in shining armor, huh?" "Shut up, Tip." "And why exactly are you so pissed off now? Was it not the right time again?" " Time for what?" "To confess your love to her?" "What? What are you talking about?" "Come on, Joe. I know you, and I know for a fact that your nasty ways toward her aren't real. You like her and don't want to admit it."

For a moment, I look at the ground in front of me and take a drag on my smoke. "Maybe you should just jump over your shadow and tell her. You'd be surprised what might come back." "Oh, just shut up, Tip. I'm not into Stark... That's... Impossible!" Tipper puts a hand on my shoulder. "Listen to my words, Joe... Liv is a great woman. Independent, confident, and strong. And also very beautiful to look at, if you ask me. Sooner or later, someone is going to get her. Don't let your stubbornness spoil it for you. Or maybe I'll give it a shot myself." He gets up and disappears into the tent. I let Tip's words run through my head. I know for a fact that he's right. By the time this war is over, Liv will have many suitors courting her at the latest. I sigh deeply and run my hands through my hair. Jesus, this woman is driving me crazy.

Liv's POV: "What took you so long?" Don asks me as I sit back down in my seat next to him. "Hmm?" I ask, not hearing his question. My mind is still buzzing around Liebgott's words. "Where you been?" Now I look my best friend in the eye. "In the bushes, to..." "I don't mean it like that, but I think I know that even women don't have that long to pee... Unless, of course, you had to..." "Don! What the hell?" "What? It's a legitimate question. But then, where were you?" "I walked into my own irony." Don screws up his face and looks at me questioningly. "I was going into the bushes to pee. Then I was approached by some soldiers I didn't know. They were drunk and..." "Did they do something to you?" "No, don't worry. They just wanted me to keep them company, but I pushed them away, and then, who was standing there? Liebgott." "Oh, that's what you meant by irony. And then?" "Well, he spoke to me briefly. And then a funny thing happened..." "Tell me," Don demands, and I look briefly at the others engrossed in conversation.

I move a little closer to Don. "I think Liebgott complimented me..." "He didn't?! Impossible!" "Yes, he did... At least it sounded like it." "What did he say?" "Well, it was about me telling him that I don't have to be Rita Hayworth to get men's attention since I'm one of the few women they get to see at the moment, and then he said that Rita Hayworth can't compete with me..." Don lets my words run through his head. "Wow," is all he says then, and I look at him. "Is that all you have to say about it?" "What else do you want me to say to that? I think that statement says it all." Confused, I look at him, which makes Don laugh. "Don't worry, Sweetheart. Come time comes understanding." "Yeah yeah, whatever. I'm going to bed. Do me a favor, will you? Try not to make such a racket tonight." "Understood, ma'am," he says, giving me a playful salute. "Good night, boys."

#Band of Brothers #Fanfic #bob #bobedit #hbo #hbowar #hbo series #Part 3 :D #Joe Liebgott #Joe Liebgott x OC #Joseph Liebgott x OC #Don Malarkey #Friendship goals #Love vs. Hate #ross mccall #Scott Grimes

[credinaa]

“captain log 3, december 14th, palaven base. there have been signs of a security breach, the lower shields are damaged. we were forced to perform an emergency landing and we have two injured starfleet officers- ahhh! dad! [loud rumbling, followed by a kid’s laugh] stella, why is there all these pillows and cardboard boxes? can you not insult my ship, dad? [ian laughs] come on, starling, dinner is ready. okay, okay, i’m coming!”

sasha is not able to hide her smile as she watches her younger self focused on stopping to record everything going on in her room. her clothes are obnoxiously thrown together and the young girl is missing one of her front teeth, visible as she giggles as ian almost falls when he bumps into the cardboard ship. back then she had found her father’s old recording device, watched a few logs and had started to record her own. seeing the younger version of her father laugh as she rushes towards the kitchen makes her heart skip a few beats. she misses him so much.

“captain log 10, january 23rd, palaven base. my da- supervisor is taking me for my first training session! he says it’s going to be super exhausting and we’re even going to a real starfleet building! [lots of shuffling] he said i have to dress accordingly, so! [rumbling as the recorder gets put down and stella comes in sight, dressed in the miniature version of a starfleet uniform, lacking official insignia and some details] he says we’re running late, so.. stella!”

the recording ends abruptly and sasha laughs at her younger self. what would she think of me, she wonders, would she be proud or disappointed?

“captain log 45, august 22nd, palaven base. oh my, it’s been a while since i..did this. today i met this woman..she’s in training for starfleet. and honestly, she’s super cool, or just..i don’t know, i just wanted to talk to someone about it. aneida is visiting her family and dad’s just..on another mission. [deep sigh] he’s been away a lot lately. okay, back to business..i really hope i meet her again.”

she is older now, approximately around thirty-two, and talking about no other than general laeponia indso - she did meet her again and that more than just once. even when they were on different planets their relationship was never strained - it is only now that they haven’t talked in days, weeks, months. and she hates it. she hates that in one of her darkest moments she isn’t there with her. no one she has ever loved is.

“captain log 58, june 28th, palaven base. it’s been what? eight years? since i last did this. but can you freaking believe that this guy that i have been thinking about for weeks talked to be today? he approached me as i sat down on a bench and used a pick up line to talk to me. like what the..? but i guess he’s nice? we’re going for a run together tomorrow.”

the venpalan has to be somewhat around forty-three now, given that’s the age she met specialist vito russo. sasha considered him a little strange back then, but now she would give a lot to be able to talk to him normally again. 

she continues watching until she reaches number 68. the woman remembers exactly how many logs she did and what she said in most of them, especially her last one she remembers, so seeing there’s 68 instead of the 67 that should be there, she pauses. then she clicks on the 68th.

“stella. my little star.”

her father’s face pops up and she almost drops the recorder. 

“i vividly remember the first time you ever recorded a ‘captain log’. [gentle chuckle] you were so amazed by this old thing. i don’t know if you remember, but when i tried to buy you a new one, you declined and wanted to keep the old one. i’m not sure if it’s nostalgia or if it’s an asset you kept from your days spent in foster care, but i’m glad you kept the old one. these new ones are horribly complicated. oh, i forgot to say your usual words..captain log 68, december 29th, palaven. this is ensign ian hemnes soverall speaking, captain of the regina caelorum. i’m going on a mission right before you leave for the new planet, stella. [long pause] it’s going to take me a while. you have to know one thing, my little girl - you’re not a starling anymore, you’ve grown to become a full star. i couldn’t be more proud of you. i love you so much, stella. please promise me one thing, please, do not wait for me. keep on living no matter what happens. this is a tough one, yeah? [long pause] you won’t ever see this, anyways. but..i love you, stella. so much. okay, how do i do this? bye, stella. take care of yourself while i’m away.”

the tears come unasked as she watches her dad wave goodbye. her apartment feels horribly silent as the screen fades to black and shows the overview of logs again. there’s no words to describe how she feels, it’s a mixture of burning rage and emptiness. he knew there was something going to happen. he knew it.

sasha spends the next two hours looking through all the materials she has collected on the case, analyses everything she has put together and then throws it all in one of her drawers, 

after the 68th log, there is now a new one.

“captain log 69, november 23rd, sotiris, starfleet housing. [long pause] i have dreamt of becoming a starfleet member my whole life. the day i was officially declared as one of the starfleet, i felt the happiest i have ever felt. my father, ian hemnes soverall was there. he hugged me and made sure i knew how proud he was to have me as his daughter. today, i, sergeant sasha cerlan soverall, will sign the papers that declare him as dead. ian is- was the greatest father i could have ever imagined and i am thankful for everything that he has done for me. [silent scribbling as she signs the papers] may he rest in peace.”

#* ON DECK / sasha soverall #* CAPTAIN LOG / solo #ian is colin firth

[xdomi-nationx-old]

I Don’t Know About You - Grace & Max (Part 2)

Who: Max and Grace ( @gracevandixn )

When: September 28th - September 30th

Where: Los Angeles, CA and surrounding areas

Description: After growing closer via text, Max shows up in LA to see Grace unannounced. The two come to realize that feelings were present on both sides after spending time together and growing even closer.

Triggers: Mentions of type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, vomit, blood

Disclaimer: I did my best to be accurate based on what i was able to find through google (i know it’s not always correct) and what Max himself has spoken about in interviews and in his book! He’s very open about his health in real life and it felt wrong to not acknowledge it here. Title based on the song “I Don’t Know About You” by Chris Lane

thursday afternoon, after a long night and morning.

GRACE: Grace smiled at him as he got back into bed, her eyes going back to the screen to watch the cartoon movie. It felt like going back to childhood a bit, being able to wash away a bad moment with an old school Disney movie, something she may have felt a bit embarrassed to show, that movies like that brought her comfort, but with him, most barriers of awkwardness and embarrassment had been pushed off the table fairly quickly. MAX: At first, he kept his eyes fully focused on the screen and only occasionally stealing glances at her. At some point, however, things had flipped and now he spent most of the time staring at her and barely watching the movie. He was starting to feel a little less embarrassed as the afternoon wore on, likely due to the fact that she didn't try to make him feel embarrassed GRACE: She noticed him staring, but she didn't wanna make a big deal out of it, so she just tried to focus on the screen and move along with the movie, the puppy still in her lap and her hands busy with petting and scratching him. At one point, she turned her head and he was looking at her, and her heart melted again, just like it had yesterday afternoon while they were driving "Hey" She said in a low voice, bumping her shoulder with his with a smile "Are you feeling better?" MAX: "A bit." he said softly, hand coming up to brush her hair back again; resting against her cheek. He wasn't sure what had come over him, but he couldn't stop looking at her, studying her face and coming to the realization that, wow, she was even prettier in person than he'd realized. He'd all but forgotten about the movie at this point, far more focused on her GRACE: "Good" She spoke, and she had no idea why, but it felt almost like a whisper. There was an aura of intimacy in the room between them, that for a moment she even forgot the dogs were there with them. She closed her eyes softly when he moved her hair and rested his hand on her face, leaning into it with a happy smile "I'm glad you're better, kid" MAX: He was quiet for a moment, before leaning in just a little closer and pressing his lips against hers. He only let it linger for a few seconds before pulling back. Immediately panic washed over him and he moved back to his own side of the bed "fuck, sorry. I don't. I didn't." He started, completely tripping over his words, he hadn't meant to do that, he'd thought about it for sure but he didn't intend to actually do it. GRACE: She saw him leaning in and for a moment, felt panic. It's not like she hadn't thought about it, it's not like she didn't want it to happen, but it was one of those things she probably could've never felt ready for until it happened. He kissed her and time froze for the five seconds it lasted, and remained frozen with a smile plastered on her face when he moved back "Max" Grace softly said in a sigh as he started mumbling and moving away. She didn't wanna kiss him again when he was feeling like that, frazzled, so she just leaned over and kissed his cheek sweetly, resting her forehead over his temple and nudging his cheekbone with the tip of her nose. MAX: He was a little caught off guard when he felt her kiss his cheek, turning his head slightly to look at her "You're not mad" he said softly, observing her for a moment. For some reason, he'd half expected to get slapped in the face; not have her kissing his cheek and leaning into him. GRACE: Grace went back to where she sat, giving him a little space as he turned to look at her "No, I'm not" She replied back with a little laugh, putting her hands over her lap now that Baby had moved to the side once she'd tipped over to kiss Max's cheek "Was this how things were supposed to go?" She asked as a joke, referencing their conversation just a few minutes ago. MAX: "I mean, not quite but I'm not mad about it" he said softly "I can't say I haven't thought about it. . .a lot. But. Yeah." He added, leaning over and pressing another gentle kiss to her lips "I really do like you, you know? and I. The truth is I was hoping if I just showed up here, I'd get to spend time with you. I know that sounds stupid and maybe even creepy, but it just. I dunno." GRACE: Grace laughed when he mentioned it not being quite as he imagined, and how much he'd thought about it. When he kissed her, she kissed back this time, her hand softly finding his jawline and resting there for a moment before they moved back. "I mean... If anything, your plan worked flawlessly, I don't think I've been this close to any of my friends for two days straight" She joked. It'd ended up in this, but at what cost? "But I really like you too... I don't know, there's something about you that makes me feel very at peace, like you make things easy... And I'm really happy you decided it wasn't stupid and creepy and came over anyway, because I don't think it is" MAX: "You mean you don't regularly sit on the bathroom floor at 4 in the morning watching movies with your friends?" He teased, nuzzling at her gently "I'm glad I decided to come anyway too, this is better than sitting in my apartment" he said quietly, even if being here hadn't been all sunshine it was still worth it. GRACE: "Mhm, now that you mention it, I haven't gotten woken up by the sound of someone being sick since high school, so I think it's safe to say I don't" She said with a laugh, moving closer to him now, resting her head on his "Mhm, as long as there's no pasta in sight, and I'll let you know when there isn't, you're welcome to come back anytime" She found his hand and took it in hers, playing with his fingers and the palm of his hand "You fly back tomorrow?" MAX: He winced slightly at that, guilt washing over him again "I'm sorry, I'm sure that's not a fun way to wake up. . ." He said softly, humming quietly when she rested her head against his. "I can have pasta, just gluten free that hasn't been cooked with other pasta" he said with a laugh, looking down at their hands for a moment "unfortunately. I don't really like flying as it is, especially not when I don't feel great but I do have to get back." GRACE: Grace laughed at the way he apologized "Noo, come on, let's laugh about it, please? About this whole odyssey. Now that all the awkwardness is gone and- Let's just- don't apologize, okay? Please?" she said with a pleading, almost childish tone and a laugh in her voice "Yeah no, no pasta for you, no gummy bears, no nothing" She joked again, now much more comfortable, even more than she was in the past. She pouted when he mentioned having to fly back, the urge of suggesting that she could fly back with him having to be repressed, she didn't want this to be too much too soon, or that he could want to be alone after feeling like hell and having to recompose himself "Yeah... You sure you're okay, right? And that you're gonna be okay for when you have to go and do the hockey stuff, like you're not gonna feel crappy, right?" MAX: "Babe I think we've established no nothing, isn't an option" he teased, pressing a little kiss to her pout "I'll be okay. Every team I've ever been on has been really good about letting me say 'hey I'm not feeling well enough', not that it's happened much but still. And my coach now was  a coach in Montréal when I was there so he definitely knows me and knows if I'm saying I don't feel well enough to play, I really don't feel well. I'm not worried about it." He said with a shrug "cute that you're worried though" he teased GRACE: "No nothing that's not... Like... Eggs and a bagel" She joked, keeping the pout once he'd kissed it. She felt a lot more relieved that he knew the staff and that he was gonna be properly taken care of when he flew back to Chicago, but then why did she keep having the sinking feeling of not wanting him to go back. She faked a dramatic gasp when he called her cute "I've been worrying about you for the past like, twelve hours, and you only now call me cute on it?" She laughed, intertwining their fingers and bringing his hand up to kiss it MAX: "Gluten free bagel" he pointed out with a smirk, nuzzling at her gently "in my defense, I felt like garbage the first 11 of those hours, it wasn't exactly high on my list to hit on you" he teased, humming softly when she kissed his hand. GRACE: "Oh God, this whole gluten thing is really... Are you sure you wanna hang out with me? I'm gonna forget this and you're gonna end up losing all your body weight in the toilet" She facepalmed herself and talked through that when he brought up the gluten free bagel. "Mhm, you did feel kinda crummy, poor kid" MAX: "Yeah. It's really that strict, unfortunately. Like if you'd had any bread or anything with your breakfast this morning, I wouldn't have kissed you." He said simply with a laugh, nuzzling at her again. "Kinda crummy is putting it really mildly babe" he teased GRACE: "really?" She asked, completely baffles about how tight these rules and regulations seemed to be "I mean... Now you can't show up on me without letting me know" She joked, kissing his cheek sweetly before finding his lips "God, you scared me so much when you woke up drenched in sweat" she confessed with a sigh MAX: "It sucks, honestly. But even getting a little bit in my system can make me sick." He said with a shrug, "my billet mom actually had a separate section of the kitchen for my meals because she didn't want to risk me getting sick from her using the same surfaces and pans and utensils for my food as she did for everyone else. She even bought me my own toaster" he said with a laugh "I know. . .I'm sorry" he said softly, gently brushing his fingers over her cheek "I could see how scared you were you know? And I felt horrible" GRACE: Grace was slowly starting to put all these things in the back of her mind, mainly because if they were gonna keep hanging out and spending time together, it really wasn't something she could afford to forget. A pastry in the morning could end up with him in the hospital, it wasn't something to fuck around with "Well, you've got all your stuff here, so you can come over anytime, I'll make sure it stays un-glutened" She joked. Feeling the soft touch of his hand on her cheek made her sigh, leaning into it lightly "I know, I should've reacted better and not freeze like a deer in headlights, but you just looked so miserable and focused, I didn't wanna make you lose track or anything" MAX: "Yeah? Maybe I'll be coming back again then eh? I have no idea when, thing are gonna get crazy but. .yeah." he said before shaking his head and kissing her cheek gently "hey, no. You haven't seen that before, you didn't know what to do and that's okay. It can be pretty scary to watch, I'm sure. But as long as I'm able to test on my own and get myself something to bring me back up, you don't have to worry. If I'm unresponsive, then that's a 'glucagon and call 911' okay? I'll show you how to use that, if you want. But you reacted normally to a potentially scary situation you've never seen before" GRACE: Grace frowned a little at the idea of things getting crazy. It was for the wrong reasons, terrible wrong reasons that made him feel like crap, but she'd gotten used to having him around. Albeit not vomiting all the time, but still, around. "Crazy like, no break at all?" She asked, trying not to sound too upset because it was his job and he loved to do it, so she didn't have the right to be upset at all. "God... The idea of having to call 911 on you, just don't do that again, okay?" She joked lightly and curled up against his chest, her face still full of worry. MAX: "Not necessarily no break, just sporadic breaks." He said softly, not missing her sounding a little upset about it. "I mean, I'll do my best but there's no guarantees." He teased, kissing her temple gently "luckily I usually have pretty good control, but every day is a new day and it can be very unpredictable" GRACE: From the spot she'd found on his chest, she sighed and looked up with a pout "Okay" She said in a grumpy, almost childlike voice before smiling up at him "Yeah, you did look like you knew what you were doing and I wanted to stay out of your way, but you do have to like... Teach me what gets you like that so I can avoid it" MAX: "And you know. . .you can always come to Chicago, if you want. There's times I'll have a lot of games but they'll all be at home." He said softly, running his hand over her back gently "babe, unfortunately there's not a whole lot you can do to avoid it. The best thing you can do, is learn how to help if I do drop like that and can't fix it myself. And if thats something you want to learn, I'll teach you" he said softly, wanting to leave that entirely up to her - he wasn't going to just throw everything on top of her if she wasn't interested and hadn't agreed to it, because it could be a lot to handle. GRACE: She curled up at the heat of his hand rubbing over her back "Yeah? You want me to come over to Chicago?" She asked with a big smile, turning her face up to look at him "Yeah, of course I wanna learn how to help you. Ideally I wouldn't ever have to use it, but I don't wanna see you like I did a few hours ago and not know what to do, kid" She felt useless and scared because she had no control of the situation and no control of herself, but if things happened again, she knew she had to be prepared. MAX: "I'd take you home and keep you there if you let me" he teased, nodding slowly and pressing a kiss to her head "then we'll learn okay? I've been doing this for more than half my life." He said softly, "and like I said, I know it probably scared the hell out of you" GRACE: Grace giggled quietly, biting on her lower lip. She hadn't felt this about someone in a very long time, and even though she didn't wanna move too fast or go to quickly, she couldn't help but feel eager and excited. "Okay, yeah, I didn't like not knowing what to do, I think that's the main thing, I just... Don't like feeling like I don't know what to do in an intense situation like that" MAX: "Then we'll work on it" he said simply, shrugging a bit "and believe me, if you're around me long enough you'll start picking up on how I get when I'm high or low. And, full disclosure. I can be a total dick if my levels are off, which -isn't an excuse. But more just an explanation. If I'm mean to you out of nowhere, I don't mean to be. . ." He said softly, running his fingers through his hair GRACE: Grace laughed at his moment of sincerity, shaking her head as she brought herself back up and sat next to him, her eyes falling on Orion when he mentioned her figuring out his levels quickly "Luckily for me, I'll have the best alarm in town" She joked, looking at the labrador resting at the foot of the bed and smiling at him "Mean? Okay... I mean, I'll see what you're talking about when it happens and I'll let you know if you need to tone it down or I'll slap it out of ya" She said jokingly with a sweet smile, running a hand over his cheek MAX: "Mean. Or well. Irritable is more like it, I might snap at you. . .which, I'm sorry in advance. I just don't act myself, it really messes with my mood if I'm high or low. Sometimes i won't want to talk or see anybody, and snap at anyone who tries to help..." he said softly, leaning into her hand "it's a lot to deal with, so I mean. If you don't actually want to put up with me, that's fine." GRACE: Grace pouted at the way he spoke about himself, her hand remaining on his cheek, her thumb moving on his cheekbone and her chest lifting and dropping with a sigh "Hey, no" She spoke and her other hand went up, this way framing his face completely "I think like, aside from hospitalization and like, really bad stuff, I've gone through a at least a part of it now, and I'd never seen you before" She joked "I wanna put up with you, as much as possible" MAX: He shrugged a little at that, unable to help but smile just a little when she grabbed his face in both her hands "the only thing you haven't seen is when I go high." He teased "and hopefully hospitalization isn't in the cards, ever." He added before biting his lip when she said she wanted to put up with him. GRACE: "Is that the complete opposite? Just all the energy all the time?" She joked, nodding when he mentioned hospitalization not being in the cards. The last thing she wanted was things to go south, so thankfully it hadn't happened now and it wouldn't happen at all. Seeing him bite his lip made her heart squish inside her chest, making her smile a little too as she leaned a bit forward and pressed her forehead against his, their noses bumping together a little "I really like you, Maxie, why wouldn't I" She said quietly before going in for a kiss on his lips. MAX: "honestly, i wish. but no, low i get really shaky, my vision is blurry, anxiety can get really bad and i get really sweaty and hungry and mean. High, my head starts pounding, my palms get really sweaty, really irritable, and i'm constantly thirsty and have to pee." he explained "and really, going high or low could technically lead to hospitalization, depending on how bad it gets. both can lead to a coma if they get to dangerous levels." he added before shrugging a bit. He could feel his cheeks get hot when she said she really liked him, though he was praying it wasn't visible, before kissing her back gently when her lips fell on his. GRACE: Grace sighed and shook her head. She started to think about what this could be moving forward, if they ever went beyond this, and frankly, the possibility of things going real bad real fast scared the living shit out of her. She tried not to let it show, to keep a serious yet calm face, but he spoke of comas and it felt like so much "So what I'm learning is middle ground, steady middles" She said with a soft sigh. Her hands fell from his face to his neck, her arms slowly going around and she pulled away from the kiss to hide her face in his neck and hug him softly, mumbling into his skin "I'm really glad you're okay, and I'm still sorry for the pasta situation" MAX: "yeah, it's best to stay in range" he said softly, rubbing the back of his neck "and i usually do pretty well, because i keep myself on a strict routine. but things like being sick or stressed, or any strong emotions really, can cause fluctuation. usually it doesn't get that bad, the last time i was hospitalized for it - was that time in juniors i told you about - and that, i was only in the hospital for a few hours before they let me go. plus it was almost 10 years ago." he added before shaking his head slightly when she apologized again "you don't need to be sorry, i'll be fine. and that wasn't your fault" he reminded her, running his fingers through her hair. GRACE: She had her head on his shoulder, her face hidden in his neck when he started talking about how honestly anything could tilt his condition one way or the other, and once again, she closed her eyes and winced when he talked about being in the hospital, shaking her head in there and sighing. The feeling of his fingers running through her hair calmed her down though, and she smiled a little "I know, but I still feel bad about it... I can't believe you didn't tell me it could kill you, you idiot" She emerged from her hiding place to give him a mean mug and then go back into her hugging position MAX: "i didn't think it mattered" he said with a shrug "most places, if they have a gluten free option i'm totally fine. that one just must have either given us the wrong stuff, or doesn't understand that cross-contamination is a real thing. but again, that's on them, not on you" he said with a laugh, stealing a kiss before she went back to hiding her face again. GRACE: Grace smiled, kissing him back once and gasping "You didn't think it mattered?!" She laughed, shaking her head and bringing both hands back to his cheeks and giving him a little squish "You're gonna give me a heart attack, Max Domi" she mumbled before kissing him again MAX: "Nope" he said simply before shaking his head with a laugh when she squished his face "you sound like my dad" he teased, kissing her back again. "Let's hope not though, I don't need anything to happen to you" GRACE: "You're crazy" She said with a laugh, shaking her head and rolling her eyes before looking into his bright blue ones. Damnit, she really was getting pulled in further by the second, she was really gonna have to start paying attention to things "I think I'll be fine, unless I get asked to do stunts, I'm fine. You, on the other hand? Menace. Absolute flight risk" She bit on her lower lip, booping his nose with every word. MAX: "Is that crazy good or crazy bad?" He questioned, carefully tugging her a little closer, onto his lap. "No stunts, they have people for that." He teased, laughing softly "menace? Me? I don't know what you mean." He teased before sighing softly "speaking of flight, I don't want to go home." GRACE: "I think it'll depend on the day, so I'm reserving judgement" She said, moving to sit on his lap, enjoying the closeness. Once she was face to face again with him, she nudged his nose with hers "Absolute menace. You go around playing a sport where you squish people into the wall for funsies... Which I think is really fun, but you're not allowed to do that anymore, because if you get hurt, Imma be throwing hands" She pulled a mean face for all of two seconds before breaking down and laughing. Sighing when he brought up the flight, she pouted "I really don't want you to go either" MAX: "Babe, contact sport. I have to do that stuff" he said with a laugh "I'll do my best to not get hurt though. Be grateful you weren't around last year, I had shoulder surgery in the summer and right after I came back I got some broken ribs" he added, nodding slowly and kissing at her jaw gently "unfortunately I've been away long enough, and we have a game on Saturday." He said softly "you could come back with me, if you wanted to." GRACE: She frowned when he mentioned having to do the stuff "I highly disagree, but fine, whatever" She added with a roll of her eyes and a silly little wiggle of her head. Of course he knew he had to do it, and she was very excited to see him doing his thing on the ice, but she wasn't excited to see the ugly part of it, especially when he spoke of the surgery and broken ribs "Okay well, that... Sounds like you're not going back to Chicago, I'm not allowing it, I'm not letting you go just to get all bumped and bruised and broken, nope" Her arms tightened around his frame, and her eyes closed when she felt his lips on her jaw, muscles relaxing on her neck and tilting to the side involuntarily to give him more space "I could? You'd want me there?" She mumbled, her brain much more focused in how nice his kisses felt "I've been on your case for the past two days, you sure you want me to go with you?" MAX: He rolled his eyes at that, laughing softly "nice try, but I have to go back. I like playing, even if I get hurt sometimes." He said softly, kissing her again "of course I'd want you there, you haven't been 'on my case' you've been making sure I'm okay, that's pretty special." He said softly, brushing his fingers over her cheek. GRACE: Grace smiled and frowned when he called her bluff, laughing a little when he kissed her and made her break the frown "Mhm, fine... Only if you go out there and win" She said against his lips after kissing him back. She closed her eyes she felt his fingers over her cheek "Well yeah, but still... I don't- You don't have to tell me to go if- Like-" She mumbled over her words "I don't wanna be an annoyance or just be there when you're crazy busy" MAX: "I can't promise every one will be a win, but I'll try" he said with a laugh before shaking his head "hey. If I didn't want you there, I wouldn't have told you you could come" he said softly, kissing her cheek gently and brushing her hair back "You're never an annoyance." GRACE: "Good, if I'm letting you get in there and get crushed, at least I expect you to go full tilt, kid" She said with a smile. Her fingers played with the hair on the back of his head when he kissed her cheek "I know... I just wanted to be sure" She said with a small shrug "But if you're sure, I guess I could spend a few days in Chicago" MAX: "I always do" he said with a smirk, humming softly "I know we're home on Saturday but I think the rest of our pre-season games might be away, you wanna be a groupie?" He teased gently, kissing her jaw GRACE: Grace smiled at the way he smirked, rolling her eyes at the innuendo and shaking her head. He spoke while going back to kissing her jaw and she had to really concentrate to actually listen to what he was saying, giggling when he mentioned becoming a groupie "I don't think I'm cut out for the groupie life, especially not now with the tiny agent of chaos coming along with me.. We don't all have the benefit of having a wonderfully trained dog" MAX: "alright, that's fair. . .but like. Maybe at least the weekend? We're home Saturday and then we have a game in Milwaukee on Sunday, but. . .then we don't have another game until Thursday. in Minnesota." he said softly, trying to convince her to come along for the ride "we love the tiny agent of chaos though, even if he's not highly trained" he teased, resting his head against hers and tightening his arms around her just a little. GRACE: Grace smiled widely when he started naming al the stops and the different places they were playing. It seemed exhausting, kinda like her during con season but constantly all throughout the year, but what made her smile the most was how adamant he sounded in wanting her to go with him, it made her feel some kind of warm inside "Maybe the weekend" She said, tightening her hug when he tightened his arms around her waist, turning her head for a second to kiss his forehead "And you go home to Chicago between Milwaukee and Minnesota?" She asked, laughing when he mentioned her dog "He does have all his vet checks and stuff, so he could fly around with me" MAX: "we do, yeah. and Milwaukee is only like an hour and a half away so the trip wouldn't even be that bad. and there's no guarantees i'll be playing both games anyway. " he said softly, "plus, you can see the hockey up close and personal." he added, kissing her jaw again "my apartment is pet friendly. . . i had to find one that was, because of Leo" GRACE: Grace smiled at the idea of making it a weekend away. Even if he wasn't gonna be around, it could be something fun for them to do after being holed up in her house the whole time he was there "Mhm, maybe I could get a car, drive there... You could drive with me, or like, drive back, I don't know if you're allowed... Or if it's good for you to like, be in a car for so long?" She was now confident enough to ask just about any question, all to make sure she wasn't gonna fuck up again "Up close and personal, I like that idea" She turned her face to kiss his lips when he kissed her jaw "I think it could be fun... I'll talk to my agent, see if I have anything booked for next week, but I'd like that, to be your pre-season groupie" MAX: "we can figure all that out later" he said softly, running his fingers through her hair "yeah? then give your agent a call and see what you can do. if you can't make it, that's fine too but the offer is absolutely there." he added quietly, pressing a kiss to her temple. The day had ended up being a pretty good one, after starting out awful, and time had flown by. GRACE: She nodded, smiling at him from above and resting her forehead on his for a moment, the kiss on her temple widening her smile and making her squint her eyes with a little "Okay". She looked out the window of the guest room and the sun was all but set again. She turned back to Max "How are you feeling, bub? You up for dinner? Or something easy and an early night?" MAX: "not nearly as bad as i did this morning, that's for damn sure." he said with a laugh, "i think i'm a little low though, dinner is probably a good idea" he said softly, giving her another kiss "good news is, breakfast....lunch? whatever it was, stayed down." he added with another laugh, "we can go figure out dinner and maybe watch another movie?" GRACE: "Good, I'm glad... And yeah, it stayed down. When you got up to go pee a while ago after the whole thing, I was lowkey terrified you were gonna go throw up, not gonna lie, but we're here and I'm glad you didn't and it's all good" Grace confessed with a laugh, kissing him sweetly "Yeah, let's go.. Hocus Pocus 2 comes out tomorrow and I haven't seen the first one in ages" MAX: "You talk a lot" he pointed out teasingly, poking her nose "I'm glad i didn't too, that's not pleasant." he added with a laugh, letting her up after another couple of minutes. "what are you hungry for?" he asked, sitting on the edge of the bed and grabbing his monitor to test and see where he was at. GRACE: Grace rolled her eyes and laughed "You just now figured out? I also talk too much without knowing what I'm saying and I talk way too fast for my tongue to process what my brain is trying to say... You sure you want me going to Chicago with you?" She said with a laugh as she stood up and watched him test himself, paying attention to the process "I don't know... Honestly, anything that doesn't leave you like you were last night, kid. What do you want?" MAX: "pretty sure i want you going to Chicago with me" he said with a laugh, turning to look at her when he caught her staring "come here, you wanna do it?" he asked, reaching a hand out to pull her closer. "and i don't care, we can do chicken and quinoa like i mentioned earlier if you want" GRACE: "Good, and yeah, chicken and quinoa sounds good" She quipped back when he reassured her. Biting on her lower lip when he mentioned doing it herself, she gave her hand to him, all but shaking and sat down next to him "I'm- What am I supposed to do?" She looked at him, the blue in his eyes making her swoon a little bit and get distracted. MAX: "breathe, for one" he teased, laughing softly and holding the pen out to her "this has a needle in it, it's ready to go so just, pick a finger and have at it. i already have a strip in the meter" he said simply "you don't like, pass out at the sight of blood do you? otherwise this might be a really bad idea" he teased, trying to make her feel a little less anxious about it. GRACE: Grace laughed at the reminder, suddenly realizing she'd been holding her breath, so she breathed out and in, relaxing her shoulders. "Okay, so just on your finger?" She said, turning the pen upside down and pricking the pad of his middle finger, flinching a little when she realized she was hurting him, even if he didn't feel it, she didn't like it "Pass out at the- No, you haven't seen Stranger Thi- I would've been out of a job if I did" She said with a laugh, handing the pen back to him "So that's it?" MAX: "yeah, just on the finger" he said softly, laughing at her little flinch before shaking his head "not quite, grab the monitor" he said, nodding at the device on his lap. "and this isn't really bleeding much, so you have to squeeze just little and get a drop." he added, letting her do pretty much everything. GRACE: She gave him a side eye when he laughed at her flinching, laughing along with him, and grabbing the monitor from his lap "Ah, I don't- Okay" Taking it comfortably in her hand, she turned his finger around and pressed on the pad of his finger to get a drop falling on the tiny strip at the end of the monitor "Like that?" MAX: "Just like that" he said softly, licking his finger off and watching the monitor - reading out a 4.4 "okay see, 4.4 is in range for me, but it's on the lower side. That's metric because. Well, I'm Canadian. but if you were to measure in the US measurements it'd be like.....80, I think" he explained, tossing the strip into the trash and putting his meter back in the case. "So we're good, you did it and survived to tell the tale" GRACE: She scrunched her nose when he licked his finger, but her eyes were trained on the monitor and watching it beep and read a number out "I have... No idea what that means, like, what unit of measurement that is and what it's really reading, but if you say that's good but low, that's good but low" She said with a laugh, taking in an overly dramatic loud breath in and sigh out when she was done "What a odyssey, and you have to do this like, a billion times a day?" MAX: "Basically for most people, you want daytime levels before meals to be between 4.4 and 7.2, which is equivalent for 80 to 130." He explained "2 hours after meals you shouldn't be above 10, which is equal to 180." He added before rolling his eyes a bit "I used to test that often, but now that I've got the dexcom, that's usually pretty accurate. That'll actually give me readings in real time every five minutes. I still have to use this if my reading on dexcom doesn't match how I'm feeling, or if the dexcom is turned off or not working but, significantly less pokes now" GRACE: Grace looked at Max with confusion written all over her face. She didn't want to laugh, this was no joking matter, but as soon as he finished talking numbers, a smile cracked on her face and she let out a chuckle "I have no idea what you just said, I'm... Gonna need you to write this down kid" She said with a laugh, leaning her head on his shoulder "I promise I'll get more used to this, but that just made no sense to me" Standing up to go head back to the kitchen, she offered her hands to him "Good thing you don't have to do that all that often... And when you do, you should really do a Band-aid... Come on, let's get you fed, Dracula" MAX: "I'll get you a chart" he teased, pressing a kiss to her head "and if I was reading 80 and wasn't having a meal soon, that would be when I'd have a snack and bring myself up a bit to avoid dropping." He explained, letting her grab his hand "I don't need a band aid, quick lick and you're good to go" he said with a laugh "after dinner we'll show you the dexcom and omnipod?" He teased, giving her a grin. GRACE: Grace grinned when he mentioned the chart, knowing full and well she'd have that with her at all times, and learn it like the bible. She wanted to know a lot more about him, and this was the biggest part there was. Helping him stand up, or better yet just holding his hand as he stood, they walked towards the kitchen "Don't lick that, that's gross. You know your mouth and your saliva have like, a million different bacteria that could be getting into your bloodstream because you just keep licking your finger when you prick it? Ew" She laughed, shaking her head as they made it to the kitchen and she hopped onto the counter "Sure, but first, you eat" MAX: "Honey, I can promise you, the vast majority of diabetics do that." He said seriously, laughing softly and shaking his head when she hopped onto the counter "first we eat" he corrected. He still wasn't feeling 100%, and likely wouldn't for at least a few days, but he was feeling more himself than he had earlier in the day. GRACE: "Well, they shouldn't" She said with a laugh, scrunching her face up and shaking her head. "Yes, we... Well, you cook, we eat" She'd kicked her shoes off and her heels were tapping on the cabinet door under her "I can do... Long distance assisting. You tell me what you need and I'll tell you where it is" MAX: "I cook so you don't try to kill me?" he teased, nodding slightly and getting out everything he needed to make their dinner. "you can just sit there and look pretty, that's plenty of assistance" he said with a laugh. "what movie did you say we were watching? i forgot" GRACE: "I'm actively trying not to kill you, so I let you cook" She said with a laugh, using her hands to show the two parts of the sentence. Nodding her head to his suggestion, one she was very happy to take, she leaned back on her hands and smiled at his question "Hocus Pocus... Or we could do Halloweentown... Or Tangled!" MAX: "so far you're doing okay" he shot back, turning to look at her for a moment "I think my vote is Tangled, but i'm sure that breaks your little halloween-loving heart huh?" he teased, "so i'll leave the decision up to you" GRACE: "Mhm, after last night, I don't think I should even be in charge of picking meals, babe" She joked, blowing him a kiss from where she sat "Tangled it is... I've got a long month to watch all the Halloween movies my heart can take, and I'd rather watch a movie that you wanna watch too" MAX: "i think we can still put you in charge of picking meals" he said simply, laughing when she blew him a kiss "I'm okay with any of them, honestly. it really doesn't matter to me" he said with a shrug, turning his attention back to what he was doing GRACE: "Mhm, not until I'm like, really used to what you can and can't eat... And if it's something that's borderline, you tell me that" She pulled her phone out of her pocket and scrolled through socials, taking a sneaky picture of Max cooking for herself "We can do Tangled... What time is your flight leaving tomorrow?" MAX: "should i make you a list of that too?" he teased, shrugging a bit when she asked about his flight "in the afternoon." he commented, the dogs coming into the kitchen with them now. "not anything we need to worry about right now" GRACE: "All the lists, please. I need to like... Google or something, but I hate Googling anything medical because it's all so like... Possibly wrong? So I'll go straight from the source" She put her phone down when he spoke about the flight "Mhm, true.. Just gotta make sure to get our tickets there, ain't it, baby?" She looked down at the two dogs who walked into the scene "They seem to be getting along really well" MAX: "at least you genuinely want to learn, instead of the really annoying people that just tell me i can't be diabetic because "you're not fat", and yes i've actually had multiple people tell me that. " he commented, setting their plates on the table a little later. "they are, Orion can get along with anything honestly. but he seems to really be taking to this little guy" GRACE: Grace rose her eyebrow and tilted her head down "Really? Dude you're an athlete, that's why you're not fat, not because you're not diabetic" She said with a chuckle, shaking her head "Some people are really fucking jerks". Once the meal was prepped, she sat down by him at the table and started to eat "Yeah... He has so much energy though, like, aussie sheps are shepherds, I don't know if I'll find all the energy in me to get it out of him" MAX: "it's not even being an athlete, a lot of people think diabetic and they think overweight, poor diet, poor lifestyle. Those can all contribute to type 2, not the only reasons of course but contributes. your body still makes insulin but it doesn't use it properly. Type 1 is different, it's autoimmune and your body basically just destroys cells that produce insulin." he explained "i know that's probably really confusing, but it's the truth like. yeah they're both diabetes, but they're two different illnesses. they have a lot of similarities, but they're not the same." he said, sitting at the table with her "he's just fun-lovin' that's all" he said with a laugh, reaching down when the puppy ran over; giving him a scratch behind the ears. GRACE: "And body weight and size doesn't even have to do with health overall, so I think that whole thing people give you, it's just absolute nonsense" She said with a little shrug and a smile at him. She'd had to deal with that kind of thing through her life as a woman, with her friends and stuff, it wasn't easy. "Fun loving... Mhm, we'll see how fun he is when he's chewing on mommy's chairs" MAX: "It does have a correlation, that's been proven but thats in type 2, only. type 1 has nothing to do with weight or diet. I eat clean, and I'm active but I'm still a diabetic. Type 1 is usually diagnosed in childhood and adolescence. It's widely known as 'juvenile diabetes' but it can be diagnosed in adulthood too" he added, shrugging and starting in on his dinner "we can find a good obedience trainer for him in the area, we'll get him there" he said softly, Orion laying at his feet while the puppy sat there and begged. GRACE: She'd been learning more than she'd ever learned about diabetes during the past two days than she ever had, and it was so fascinating hearing it from someone who lived it every day. Frankly, she could sit and listen to him talk constantly. The dog whining and begging made her eyes roll "Baby, stop that" She said with a sigh, shaking her head "I was told to crate train him, but I just don't have it in me, I see him in the crate and just feel so bad, so he's always around the house... I don't know, I think I don't know what I'm doing." MAX: "i don't think he got the hint" he said with a laugh, the puppy still whining at them. "You really should though, crates aren't a bad thing. it's not meant to be a punishment, it's meant to give him a safe space" he said softly "but then, what do i know? I got Orion when he was 2 and he'd already gone through obedience and scent training GRACE: "She gave him a death stare and then went back to the dog "I know it's not punishment or anything, and like, it's good for him, I've read it even calms some dogs down, but I put him in the crate at night and he just cries and cries and I get so upset" She pouted, looking down at the dog "He's hardly been here at home with me, but on the few days he has, he's ended up sleeping in bed with me" She sighed and pet the dog on the table "Maybe I'll get a trainer for him, while I'm doing a project and maybe can't bring him with me, send him to summer camp" She winked at him for the constant joke she pulled on him "And he'll get better... And Orion is different, he's a health dog, like he isn't supposed to be chaos on a stick like this one" MAX: "he's probably just crying because he isn't used to it yet" he said softly, rolling his eyes at the mention of summer camp "uh huh, i see you got jokes today" he teased, shrugging a bit "you're right though, Orion was trained from puppyhood on but a lot of the basic training is stuff this little guy can learn too. he only has the specialized training for scent and for public access, that's all." GRACE: "I know, but like, can you imagine this guy crying? It breaks your heart, dude" She said with a whine. He mentioned the joke and she reached over to kiss his cheek, realizing that she'd taken it as natural now, but she could really get used to it. "I know... I think it's just gotta be in puppy school or something, I don't think I've got the discipline to teach him" MAX: "I'd rather not imagine it, thank you" he said with a laugh, leaning into the kiss slightly "definitely puppy school. that'd be easier on both of you, i'm sure" he said softly, standing up to take care of his dishes. "I might shower before we put the movie on" he commented, moving to the sink to start taking care of the dishes. GRACE: "Super sad, he's definitely not sleeping in there tonight, but maybe puppy school is good for him" She said with a shrug, walking towards the sink, wrapping her arms around his middle from the back and kissing between his shoulders "I'll finish this off, you go shower so we can do the movie" She rested her forehead against his back for a moment before taking his spot at the sink MAX: "oh of course not, he'll probably end up in bed with us. . .you" he said, correcting himself at the end. He hummed softly when she wrapped her arms around him, "yeah? you sure? i don't mind doing them" he said softly, turning around to face her; brushing his fingers over her cheek. Once she'd verified she was sure, pressed a kiss to her forehead and pulled away, heading down the hall to shower. GRACE: "Of course he will, can't stay away from where the pets and head rubs are" She chose to slide around the obvious fact that they would be sleeping together tonight... Not like that, she didn't wanna move that fast, but she'd be lying if she said all their momentary naps, before they were interrupted by Max's health, weren't her favorite part of the whole movie moment. "Yeah, of course, babe" She said, giving him a bright smile when he turned around, her eyes closing when he kissed her forehead and left, so she continued doing the dishes, loading the dishwasher and making it run. MAX: He'd opted to take his time in the shower, and by the time he'd finished she was done with the dishes. He walked back into the bedroom in just a pair of shorts drying his hair with a towel. He looked up just in time to see her walking in the room, the puppy immediately running in and jumping up on the bed. "hi buddy" he said with a laugh, Orion jumping up after him albeit a lot less enthusiastically. "I guess they wanted to claim their spots eh?" he asked, both his omnipod and dexcom visible while he was rummaging through his bag for a tshirt. GRACE: Grace had gone straight from the kitchen to the bedroom, her pup and her heels and then passing her straight ahead as she looked down at her phone, sending out a few texts and checking in with her agent on her schedule for next week to see if she could head to Chicago, and for some reason, she didn't even bother to knock. There was no sound of a shower, maybe if there had been, something would've alerted her to stop and knock, but since she didn't, she was looking down at her phone and only rose her head as she heard the sound of the pup thumping on the bed, and Max was already out of the shower a pair of shorts... And nothing else. He was bent down over his bag looking for a shirt and Grace... Stared, okay, she stared. Who wouldn't have. The bare arms full of tattoos, the fact that he had more muscles than anyone she knew, the tightest 8-pack she'd ever seen and "Oh, is that the thing? The one with the app?" MAX: "The thing. The one with the app" he teased, turning to look at her "the one over here is the dexcom, yeah. The one that's more square is an omnipod. That's my insulin" he said with a laugh, watching her for a moment "you were paying attention eh?" He asked, knowing she'd been staring at him. He didn't really mind it though. GRACE: He stood up straight and it didn't make it better. Not at all. And she stared again for a few seconds. She got closer and looked at the two pumps on the side of his stomach, scrunching her nose up "Do they like, hurt?" She asked, really wanting to touch them for some reason but not wanting to invade his personal space too much. "Mhm? Yes, Max, of course I was paying attention" She shoved him a little when he teased her. MAX: "When they go in, a little yeah. I mean it is a needle piercing your skin" he teased "and sometimes if I get hit really hard, they'll hurt and bruise" he added with a laugh "you can touch them, you know? They won't explode" he added softly, noticing how she was staring at them....and at the rest of him. "Yeah but what were you paying attention to? The devices or my arms?" He teased GRACE: Again, he got hit and smashed around for a living, but at the thought of him getting stung and pricked by a needle, Grace scrunched her nose and pulled a face "And you like... Right, 'cause you have to play with them on, does like- Is it comfortable with all the stuff you're wearing?" Laughing when he mentioned she could touch them, she got even closer and brought her hand closer to where the two little devices were placed, not really touching them out of fear of moving them and hurting him, but she just saw them for a bit "Technology is so awesome" She mumbled under her breath. Hearing him tease her had Grace's cheeks going a bit red, rolling her eyes and shoving him lightly again "Shut up" MAX: "They don't bother me when I'm playing, no" he said with a shrug, rolling his eyes when she was still hesitant. "There's really not much to them though, pretty plain looking but super important. I'll have to show you how I put on a new one when it's time. Dexcom is good for a few more days, the omnipod I'll have to change tomorrow." He explained, laughing when she shoved him again "definitely my arms then, I knew it!" He teased, taking the opportunity to wrap his arms around her and pull her in closer GRACE: "Do you know when you have to change them? Like... That's a stupid question, how do you know?" She looked at the two tiny devices that kept Max basically alive on a daily for a few more minutes before he brought up having to change them. Grace grinned when he hugged her, hiding her flushed pink face in her hands pressed against his chest and laughing, shaking her head before looking up at him "You're impossible" MAX: "dexcom usually lasts about 10 days before you need put in a new site. the pods are usually about 3 days worth of insulin. my PDM will go off for my pod when i need to change it." he explained, pulling the little phone-like device out of his pocket "this is a PDM, i put my carbs in here and it'll tell omnipod how much insulin to give me for what i'm eating, that's a bolus. the pod also gives me continuous insulin throughout the day." he added, laughing softly and kissing her gently "you're cute when your cheeks are rosy GRACE: "Looking a the other device he brought out, Grace studied it. It had numbers she had no clue about, but it looked a little like most other medical monitors she'd seen in ads or in the pharmacy. "Wow... That's- And you keep those in all the time" Now that they were closer, she felt more comfortable and placed a hand over them, tracing the outline of the skin around it being careful not to pull on the skin or anything. Looking back up at him, she rolled her eyes "Smart move, Domi, flattery and ass kissing will get you everywhere in this house" She laughed, reaching up on her toes to kiss him again. MAX: "I do. I've had times where i've gone back to pen injections and took a break from the pod, but not very often. and technically if i didn't want to use these, i don't have to. they just make my life easier." he said, smirking when she said flattery would get him everywhere "oh yeah? you think so?" he asked, slipping the pdm back in his pocket before quickly lifting her up and carrying her across the room to the bed. "ready for tangled?" GRACE: "Like epi pens?" She asked curiously, scrunching her nose up at the thought of him having to do it manually, possibly being late for one and then not really feeling great afterwards. She rose his eyebrows to mimic his, rolling her eyes "Oh you'd be surprised, but you'll never know how far, so I guess you'll have to keep working on it- Ah!" She squealed when he picked her up, wrapping her arms around him and kissing his cheek "Mhm, very ready" MAX: "no, babe. not like epipens" he said with a laugh "i call glucagon a diabetic epipen, because it's a rescue medication. but the other pens are just insulin injections. i suppose it's similar mechanics, but you don't jab an insulin pen in as hard as you would an epipen or glucagon" he added, smirking when she squealed, carefully crawling on the bed with her and turning the movie on, both of the dogs curled up with them GRACE: "Yeah but they look like epi pens, right?" Her voice seemed certain but her face didn't show that, and she laughed when he mentioned jamming insulin as hard as you would an epi pen "I've never had to do that, but from what it looks like in movies, it's brutal". Once on the bed,  instead of laying her head on his shoulder, she laid down on his chest, her fingers tracing absentminded patterns over it as she watched the movie. MAX: "Insulin pens are skinnier" he said softly,pressing a kiss to her head as she laid on his chest. He was quiet for the majority of the movie, gently running his hand over her back. Eventually, he spoke up again "hey." He said softly, mostly to see if she was still awake. GRACE: Grace stayed up for most of the film, her ear over his chest, listening to his heartbeat, only starting to blink more repeatedly closer to the end of it, by the time Rapunzel was about to get rescued by the team, she heard Max's voice. "Mhm" She hummed, turning her head "Hi" Her voice soft and sleepy like a whisper MAX: ."Almost asleep huh?" He said,laughing softly and running his fingers through her hair. He was a little nervous, taking a breath. "what are we?" He asked quietly, only barely above a whisper. It was probably a bold question, they'd only just met but they'd gotten close even in that short amount of time. GRACE: "Mhm" She all but confessed with a little smile and a shrug, turning her whole body around and facing him instead of the TV when he asked the question. It threw her through a kind of loop, pursing her lips "I... Don't know" She said with a shrug "Do we have to be something?... I really like you, and I like... Wanna spend time with you" She said with a smile, bringing a hand up to his cheek. MAX: "We don't have to be anything if you don't want to be" he said with a shrug "I just. Thought I'd ask." He added quietly, leaning into her hand. GRACE: Grace smiled at how he prioritized what she wanted "I don't need to be anything, but we can... be whatever you want to us to be... I just wanna know that I'll be able to spend time with you and hang out and watch movies, and go watch your games and worry when you get squished, and... You know, just be with you" Her thumb ran over the light stubble on his face, kissing the side of his jaw that was closer to her. MAX: He nodded slowly at that, humming softly when she ran her fingers over his face "I just wanna be able to spend time with you, and take the dogs for adventures and have you there for my games. And support you in everything you do too." He said quietly, closing his eyes when she kissed his jaw. GRACE: Grace smiled at the conversation. The lights off, the movie on the background, there was a level of intimacy that they'd had the two past days but for some reason, it was deeper. She wiggled on the bed, moving up and nuzzling her face into his neck, kissing over his skin "I mean, I'd tell you to ask me out on a date, but seeing as we've spent the last two days and I've been rubbing your back while you were sick, I think we're a bit past that, don't you?" She joked, looking up at him and kissing his cheek. MAX: "I also cooked you brunch, and dinner" he teased, humming softly when she kissed at his neck "I guess we jumped a few steps though, eh?" He mumbled softly, leaning into her kissing his cheek "the good news is, I don't think you'll be spending the night on the bathroom floor with me again." GRACE: "You did, really good brunch and dinner that had no poisoning effect" She added with a laugh "I just... I don't know, I think we both talked a lot and I feel like I've known you for a lot longer than like... Two weeks?" Grace mused, her hand going back to draw little patterns on his chest, going over the outline of his tattoos "No more movie nights in the bathroom" She joked, looking up at him with a smile "I've never been one to be obsessed or needing titles. You're my Max and as long as things and like, feelings, don't change when you leave, I'll be happy with that" MAX: "I told you my whole life story and you saw me at some of my lowest points" he teased, humming softly when she started tracing his tattoos. "I like titles, but they're not make or break for me." He said softly, kissing her head "your Max, huh? Claimed me real fast" he joked "nothing is going to change when I leave, except maybe the fact that I'll have to learn what it's like to miss you." GRACE: Grace shrugged her shoulder and nodded "You've got a point... My life is hardly that exciting, but you know, I told you about my siblings and my parents and stuff" She added another shrug and smiled "Well, I'll make you a deal... You take me out on a date in Chicago and we'll be dating" She joked, looking up at him again. She hadn't realized she'd call him her Max, or at least she didn't realize she wanted it to be like that. She went beet red in two seconds "It's not... Not like that, not if you don't want that" She mumbled "I'm gonna miss you too" MAX: "Mm. I think i can manage that" he said softly, looking down at her; the movie all but forgotten by now. He smiled a little, gently squishing her cheek when her face went red  "hey. I'll be your Max, but only if you're my Gracie. Okay?" He asked softly, stroking her cheek. GRACE: Grace smiled when he agreed to take her out, biting on her lower lip for a moment "Good... Good" She smiled when he squished her face, giggling quietly "Yeah, I'd like that a lot" leaning into his hand and turning her head to kiss the palm of it. MAX: "Gonna have to tell me what foods you like though, or at least what you don't" he said softly, "and then I'll figure out the rest." He added, kissing the top of her head when she kissed his palm "good. It's settled then" GRACE: "I'll eat... Just about everything, I think, nothing too particular on my end, but if I get a craving, I'll let you know so you can adjust" She said with a giggle. She liked this, titles that meant nothing except to them, and nobody had to know about it, it was just for them "Mhm, settled. And when you take me out, you can say we're dating" She giggled again, reaching up to kiss him "Mhm... I really don't want you to go" She whined with a pout. MAX: "That's good, you're the low maintenance to my high maintenance" he teased with a grin, shifting a bit to stretch out some "Alright, deal." He said softly,  kissing her back gently "I know. Unfortunately work calls" he said with a sigh GRACE: "Yeap, a nice balancing act, good pair" She really was low maintenance... As long as she had a Switch or a gaming laptop, she could be going anywhere and be fed cheese sticks and crackers. "I know.. I'm excited for the game, like, watching you kick ass" She said with a more hopeful tone. MAX: "That's good, cause one of me is plenty." He said softly, pressing a kiss to her cheek "I'm excited for you to come see me. Hopefully you don't totally hate it" GRACE: "Oh yeah, more than plenty... I'm glad I'm not one of those people who puke when others puke, because it would've been a long ass night for the both of us" She laughed quietly "Of course I'm not gonna hate it, why would I? I won't understand it, fuck no, it'll be a mess for me, but you know, you'll be there and it'll be fun" MAX: "I would hope if you were, you would have put on noise canceling headphones and gone upstairs" he teased, running his fingers through her hair. "I dunno, sports aren't everyone's thing. Thats all" he said softly, kissing her cheek gently "but hopefully you can still enjoy it" GRACE: "And left you, behind? Never.... I would've used the sink" She joked alongside him, squinting her eyes and letting out a quiet "Ew" between giggles. Shrugging her shoulders, she hummed a little "Sports are fun, they're not bad... I'd like to understand more of it, but I'll read a few websites with rules and stuff before the game or something, don't worry about me". Wiggling around, she noticed she was still in her jeans and groaned "Mhm... I have to go change for bed" MAX: "I would have understood if you did" he said with a shrug, running his fingers through his hair; laughing softly when she mentioned having to go change. "What? Not gonna sleep in your jeans?" He teased "I gotta pee anyway, and the dogs should go out again so I'll take care of that too." GRACE: Grace frowned and pouted when he mentioned sleeping in her jeans "Mhm, I don't wanna move" She spoke while she curled up on herself like a little ball and giggled "But fine, go pee and take the dogs out, I'll change" She continued whining and complaining as she got up, mixed with a few little giggles, as she stood up and made her way upstairs, her pup following her for a second "No, Baby, you stay here, go out with Maxie, I'll be right back" MAX: "You can manage" he said, rolling his eyes playfully before getting out of bed and stretching as he headed to the bathroom while she headed upstairs. He couldn't help but laugh at the way the puppy whined when he was told to stay downstairs, shaking his head and getting him on his leash before doing the same with Orion and taking them both outside one last time for the night. GRACE: She turned her head on her shoulders and narrowed her eyes at him when he mentioned she could manage, chuckling as she dragged her feet all the way to the stairs and up to her room, changed into a pair of sweats and an oversized tee and then made her way back. She checked her phone when she got back into Max's room, smiling at the text from her agent "Agent said we're all good to go for Chicago" She told him as soon as he got in the room, sitting on the bed "So little one and I have to go and get like, a passport for him or something, right? To fly with dogs? He's tiny though, he can fly with me" MAX: "we'll double check google and figure it out" he said, crawling back into the bed "but good, tell your agent thanks" he teased, pulling her a little closer to him and pressing a kiss to her cheek. GRACE: Grace smiled wrapping her arm around Max's chest and resting her head over his shoulder, nudging his jawline with her nose "I gotta get us tickets... And the passport... And-" She was interrupted by a yawn, which made her tighten the arm she had around Max and close her eyes "The packing" MAX: "And you need to get some sleep" he said with a laugh, running his fingers through her hair and turning the TV off "you can worry about packing in the morning" he added quietly, dozing off with her just a bit later. GRACE: She kept her eyes closed and nodded "Mhm..." She mumbled quietly before allowing herself to drift off to sleep on his chest.

#p: grace van dien #i don't know about you - max & grace #tw: long post

[tearyeye-private-i]

Carl Perkins! At Colston Hall, in Bristol, England, May 28th, 1964.

( 12 Days of Christmas 💙 4/12 )

While I adore Carl, he could be a real scumbag. I’m not talkin’ while drunk, I mean sober too. He’d say insensitive things, like when he was struggling to put food on the table, his son needed goats’ milk ‘cause he was allergic to cows milk, and his wife was pregnant, he said, “and Valda got herself pregnant, again.” He was friends with John, Roy, and Jerry Lee, so scum sticks together.

The other side of his scumbaggery, was this weird entitlement. In his book, he talked about drunk driving, and how he never got caught and was proud to never run into the shrubs outside his house.

Here's a story of what I mean:

“So much happened between '63 and '64. First, he almost lost his fingers and bled to death from a steel fan. Then he got to perform in England, again. Between that, on his 34th birthday, he went rabbit hunting with his friends, Jimmy and Pete. He was happy to be sober and alive, and promised Valda he wouldn’t drink, but when offered, he accepted. When returning home late and she worried, he couldn’t tell if she knew since she didn't say anything, so he kept up the lie until she went to bed, and he'd left for a show in Cleveland, Ohio. It was 11:30 am. Under the car seat the bottle from the hunting trip, he drank what remained before getting to the club Pete worked at. He was already "flying high," as he said. While Pete was busy counting the night's earnings, he told Carl to take a seat, then two cops walked in. Carl said one of them was "a rookie, I could smell trouble as he glared down at me." “Don’t you know this place is closed for business?” “Sure, I know it’s closed, but I am not here to party. I was just waiting for Pete to lock up so we could be on our way.” “The best thing you can do, mister, is to get on home. You’ve been drinking, and it’s after midnight.” My temper began to burn. Who was he to order me to get out? I was about to tell him exactly what I was thinking, when Pete, suspecting what was about to happen, rushed over to the table. “Officers, I need to lock the doors. We have a show date to drive to, okay?” “Okay, Pete. Just make sure this drunk doesn’t drive.” That did it! I wanted to knock his head off. Who was he to label me a drunk? I wasn’t drunk. That badge was no protection for his smart-aleck tongue. Pete hastened them out the door. We picked Jim up and headed for Cleveland, and Jim wanted to drive first. Soon a siren sounded, and Jim pulled over. Two policemen came to the car. “Officer, was I speeding?” Jim asked sheepishly. “Yes, buddy, you were!” “We’re on our way to Cleveland. There’s no traffic. Guess I pushed the accelerator a little too hard.” “Okay, we’ll let it pass this time. Just take it a bit slower.” He was turning away when his partner spotted me. “Hold it! Just a minute! What are you still doing out?” he asked me. “He told you. We’re on our way to Cleveland. I have to perform there tomorrow,” I answered. “Okay, fellas, out of the car,” the policeman ordered. They searched the car and found my half-empty bottle under the seat and my hunting rifle in the trunk. “Whose car is this?” the officer asked. “Mine,” I said. “Okay, Mr. Perkins, you were carrying a concealed weapon.” “I forgot to take the gun from the trunk after a hunting trip today.” “Tell that to the sergeant.” Bang! The cell door closed. All night I sat, thinking. How could I have gotten to this point—to be caged up like an animal? Instead of admitting that alcohol had caused me to break the law by carrying an opened bottle and being careless with a weapon. I tried to blame it all on the cop, society, and even God.''” - Paraphrased and excerpts from "Disciple in Blue Suede Shoes," by Carl Perkins and Ron Rendleman, pg 91 - 95.

It could be the cop had known who Carl was but did everything on purpose. It could've been like when John got arrested and the cop told him he upset his wife by getting arrested because she was a fan of his. Who knows. The point is, it was scummy that Carl expected to get away with things 'cause he was Carl Perkins. That weird, entitlement.

Though, while Carl, could be a scumbag, he was self-aware. Which kinda make everything he ever did worse, but once he calmed down, he realized it wasn't the cop, God, or anyone else's fault. Just his own, and again, he tried to get better. Even if worse things were to come.

#Carl Perkins #Rockabilly #Sun Records #Sun//Perk #Perk//60s #//MyPosts

[dailyaudiobible]

12/28/2022 DAB Transcript

Zechariah 12:1-13:9, Revelation 19:1-21, Psalms 147:1-20, Proverbs 31:1-7

Today is the 28th day of December welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I am Brian and it is fantastic to be here with you today as we enjoy a sort of the final stretch of the year. Mere days, not weeks or months, mere days until we get a fresh start and a brand-new shiny sparkly new year, and we get to do it again. But that is getting out in front of ourselves by at least a few days. We have these few days to work through together. I’m excited we can take these steps toward the end of the year as a community around the Global Campfire. And our next step leads us back into the book of Zechariah. Today we will read chapters 12 and 13.

Commentary:

Okay, so we are continuing our journey through the last week of the year. This strangest of all weeks…maybe not strangest of all weeks…I don’t know…it’s one of the strangest weeks of the year for me to experience, that…that…it's like a lull before a brand-new start. And even if it's a busy week, even if it’s got travel in it or whatever's going on, it's just different than any other week of the year. It’s almost like inside in our interior lives we can sense that something is coming to a close and that there is a new beginning, which is why we begin to think of what the new beginning is gonna look like, which is why we ultimately end up forming our New Year's resolutions. I'm not sure we would do that if there weren’t this lull. It’s like Christmas comes and then New Year's comes and there's this one week gap, where even if it's a normal week it still feels a little different than any other week. And I’m starting to see things show up in the news and on social media, like these sort of reflective posts, or like a look back at the year and some of the major events that happened in the year. And then we read through those articles and go, I forgot about that, that was this year or, you know, like people we lost this year in entertainment or sports, like people who are celebrated, are celebrities, people who are known who we've lost this year. And, so, as we move through this we also look to the Scriptures, especially since we’re being a little more reflective than normal and setting some goals and making some hopes and dreams for what this brand-new sparkly year that is upon us is going to look like, we look to the Scriptures to speak into that and give us some things to carry forward, which is what the Scriptures have been doing all year and this week is no different. In the book of Psalms today we have something to carry us forward toward the new year. In the Psalms we’re told, “the Lord delights in those who fear Him who put their hope in His unfailing love.” So, hope is the expectancy, the…the longing, the waiting for something that we desire to come to pass. We have all kinds of hopes, and we have desired outcomes attached to those different hopes. Like for example, if we have a career and we have a family and we’re thinking about what the later years of our lives might look like and we’re having those kind of conversations and thoughts, we decide what we need to do is to save money. Like, we need to save money so that we can have some stability and some predictability as we get older. That's not an uncommon thought. There are all kinds of TV commercials inviting us into that…that scenario and that…that conversation. And, so, we take a little bit of money that we have, and we put it into some kind of fund for our retirement, for our later years, and we add to it and then we wait because those latter years haven't come yet. And what we’re doing is saving up, putting hope in the expectation that we will have the resources that we need later. The kind of person that Psalms is describing today is a person who has invested their hope. And what they are investing their hope in is the unfailing love of God. And what would the payoff be? That the Lord might delight in them. So, here's the deal. We might be making resolutions. Most of the resolutions that we make are focused around ourselves or include ourselves, whether…whether it's a spiritual goal or whether it's just a goal like to get more healthy or to get a better job. And that's not inherently selfish. We’re reflecting on how to improve, how to be better people. But if we stop, take two steps back from that list for a second and think, how might my life be changed if my goal were to become the Lord's delight? How can I invest in that? Put all your help chips in one basket. Put your hope in God and be in awe and fear of the Lord and then wait, wait expectantly in His unfailing love, and the Lord will delight in you. That has got to go on the list, right? And then we realize so many of our goals are outside in, right? If can rearrange things, if I can get a promotion, if I can get more healthy, if I can save more money, then…then how my life feels will be better when actually it's inside out. A piece of the Lord with in us spills out into every eventuality of our lives. And, so, let's give it some thought today in these final days of the year, that we invest our hope in God and wait expectantly in his unfailing love, and the Lord will delight in us.

Prayer:

Father, that is our desire that You would delight in us, we Your children, that we would make You proud. And throughout this year and throughout the Scriptures we have learned that we are, whether…whether we recognize it or not, we are utterly dependent upon You. There is nowhere else to put our hope. And, so, our hope is in You, and we wait expectantly in Your unfailing love, that You might delight in us. Come Holy Spirit and lead us into what that looks like for us as we contemplate the changing of the year we pray in the name of Jesus expectantly. Amen.

Announcements:

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And while you’re doing checking out, check out the Daily Audio Bible Shop. There are resources there for the journey that we are on that…that never really ends. We end years but then we start a new year and move forward. And, so, we’re preparing for what comes next in 2023. And, so, check out the resources that are available in the Daily Audio Bible Shop.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, if this mission that we've shared together to bring the spoken word of God read fresh every day and offered freely to anyone who will listen anywhere on this planet any time of day or night and to build community around that rhythm of showing up every day. And that's what we call the Global Campfire. If that is life-giving to you then thank you humbly in these last days of the year for your partnership. There is a link on the homepage at dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can hit the Hotline button in the app. That’s the little red button up at the top or you can dial 87-942-4253.

And that's it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hello DAB family it's December 22 and this is Craig from southwest Sweden __. I thank the Lord for Brian and DAB. First Corinthians 14:20 reminds me that the Holy Spirit brings out adult thinking, maturity, and innocence regarding evil. And I can hear this in the Hardin family when they read and their comments around what they read in the Bible. We stick around, we grow. I'm praying for my wife to be relieved from work stress. Her idea is to retire to work part time and I'm studying language and I haven't been able to…to…to find work so far because of needing to finish my course. I'm trying to find something I can do in the meantime in a country where English isn't the first language. I'm praying for my mother-in-law Ava to stop throwing up all of the food that she eats immediately after eating and for her heart will hold up and that she won't feel so much pain as she goes through life. So, it's for work stress of Magita and for my mother-in-law. Thank you. So, I missed family Christmas. So, I just want to say Merry Christmas to everyone on DAB. I'm remembering Victoria Soldier Blind Tony, Sister from Maryland and everyone else I haven't mentioned you are remembered in prayer. God bless.

Heidi ho siblings or should I say Heidi ho ho ho siblings it's your little sis, His little Sharie in Canada just days away from Christmas and I am sitting at my Cchapel table this morning. It's minus 30 degrees Celsius out I don't know what that is Fahrenheit something like cold, cold times 20. And God has been at work painting his diamond canvas, painting on the canvas of my window a beautiful intricate feathered diamond painting. And I think that our friend From Junk to Treasure requested that next time this happened that I would post a picture. So, I'm gonna try to do that, take a picture of this gorgeous thing and post it on the Friends page so that you guys can see how beautiful it can be when God decides to turn something bitter and harsh into something lovely. I don't know, I think He does His best artistry in really brutal conditions. So, I just wanted to remind you of that today. If it feels like it's minus 30…minus 30 in your soul look for how God might be painting a diamond picture on that canvas. I love you guys. Thank you for listening to my little chapel table reports. Merry Christmas.

Hello Daily Audio Bible this is Joy Merrifield from __. I wanna wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy new year. And as we read in psalms it says to come early in the morning.

Hi family this is Purely Pampered of Maine. Today is Thursday December 22nd and on behalf of all I wanted to call and say thank you to Brian for adding in the Revelation commentary at the end of the day's programs. I’d forgotten how you went through it in detail a few years back and appreciating how you give us a survey of the prevailing scholarly views when trying to understand what is in this letter. Listening to it again is my Christmas present this year. I'll end with the thought that Brian closed with in the end of today's broadcast about taking the Longview. And to each of us coping with loss the season maybe the thought he shared bring you peace and contentment right now. He said, “the end of our physicality isn't the end of anything.” I love you, family. Bye for now.

Hi this is Carol. I just listened to the prayers on December 22nd. And Victorious, I think I'm getting your name right, you prayer really touched me today. It was so selfless, especially praying for first responders and people who are out there in this horrible weather in sometimes tragic circumstances just helping other people while their families are at home celebrating or whatever and to those of you who are alone this holiday season as I am whose family has either rejected you or doesn't want anything to do with you or, you know, they're happy and celebrating and you’re sitting at home alone feeling alone. Please don't think you're alone. You're not. Many of us are in that position and I just pray for all of you. I could list a bunch of stuff I need prayer for but I think, you know, my way of celebrating the holidays is just saying I hope you all have a better year and that…that you're…you’re feeling comforted and somehow your prayers are answered and if not you'll…you'll have the strength to get through whatever your particular needs are this time of year. It's not joyous for a lot of us. It's very difficult for a lot of us. And I feel that with you. But Victorious, your prayer especially being so selfless. God bless you for that. And I hope all of you get touched in some wonderful way by the Lord this coming year. It may not be easy but we're in it together, we're all human, and we all are in pain in some way even those that may not seem like they are. So, happy holidays everyone. Even if that doesn't mean always a smile, it might mean a tear but you're not alone. God bless you all.

Hi this is Amy in Olympia WA and I've been following along with the…the Revelation notes at the end and wow Brian I just have to say like it has been so helpful and I feel like the overview has just been so good and your breakdown has been just really understandable. And I had kind of been like…like just put off by Revelation just like for a while because like years ago I did and inductive study with a Bible study and it just was really overwhelming and just too much for me at the time with like 2 little kids. I was already overwhelmed, and I feel like it really put me off and made like revelation really like I don't know just like kind of scary and I just, you know, I didn't even want to read it. But I just wanted to say like for anyone that's been just intimidated by Revelation I feel like you should go back and listen to what Brian has been saying at the end the last few days because I just feel like it's just made Revelation a lot more approachable for me and just…just it's been so helpful. I also just wanted to say to the dad that just put his autistic son in the…the…the states…the states care, I just want to say my heart goes out to you and I've been praying for you. I have a brother that I'm probably going to be taking care of someday. So, my heart is with you, and I just want you to know that you're in my prayers. Thanks guys. Bye.

Deep dive into the book of Revelation:

Part 10

Okay. So, clearly, we only have a few days left in this year. So, clearly we are coming to the final days in the book of Revelation as well, which we’ve been kind of diving into this year. And today we…we come to a great banquet but also a great battle in which the dark…the dark forces of the evil one are conquered and the evil one itself is done away with. And the scene begins with “a loud…a huge crowd from heaven saying hallelujah, salvation and glory and power belong to our God. His judgments are true and fair. He has condemned the notorious prostitute who corrupted the world with her sexual sins. He has taken revenge on her for the blood of his servants.” And of course, this is coming on the heels of what we read yesterday and the downfall of Babylon, this world system ruled by evil fractures, implodes, is judged, falls, is done away with. So, we should observe the contrasts that are happening in today's reading. So, Babylon, these dark forces of evil that have been controlling the world, they fall apart. They’ve been condemned. The notorious prostitute that is this whole system has been condemned because it corrupted the world with her sexual sins. So, we could certainly go like. okay this…this evil empire is very very sexual in nature and so this is definitely speaking about sexuality. But also we should understand this kind of language from an allegorical perspective or a figurative view is about union. I mean at the most basic level, that's what sex is, union, giving yourself over to someone. So, these dark forces demanded worship, demanded loyalty and allegiance, demanded the union, and the result of that was a war on God's people, a cosmic attempt to stamp out God's plan. That is in stark contrast to the second song or poem coming from this large crowd that…that is so big it sounds like raging waters. On the one hand they’re applauding and worshiping God for the judgment, the downfall of evil. But then they have more to say. “Hallelujah, the Lord our God, the Almighty has become king. Let us rejoice and be happy and give Him glory, because it's time for the marriage of the Lamb. His bride has made herself ready. She has been given the privilege of wearing dazzling pure linen.” So, contrasted with the great prostitute or whore of Babylon this bride was true and faithful and sought union with no one but God and gave her loyalty and devotion to no one but God. And then in the next scene, we see heaven standing open. There’s a white horse with a rider on it named Faithful and True and that he's going…he’s going to battle. And the armies of heaven are wearing pure white linen, like we just talked about, are following along on white horses of their own. And a sharp sword comes out of his mouth to defeat the nation's. Some scholars would say these are the Angel armies. This is Jesus with the angel armies going to finish the judgment, finish the final battle, while other scholars would say no, this is…these are God's people going along with Jesus to finish this final battle so that this banquet can begin. And an angel cries out to the birds, “come gather for the great banquet of God. Eat the flesh of kings, generals, warriors, horses and their riders and all the people and slaves, both important and insignificant people.” And it's been noted that this is probably a parody. So, on the one hand there is this a great banquet, this great wedding feast where darkness and evil have no place. And not only just have no place, it doesn't exist, this beautiful banquet, this consummation of all things being made new. And that contrasts with what the angel is saying to the birds. There’s gonna be this great banquet for you because all evil is being extinguished. So, it’s like two sides of the same coin. On the one side there's judgment. On the other side there is salvation. And, so, the battle commences and the beast and the false prophet who had done miracles for the beast were captured and were subsequently thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. So, the forces that were at work in this dark evil kingdom were cast away and the rider on the horse, on the white horse had a sword coming out of his mouth and finished the battle and a great banquet happen for the birds, even as a great banquet in heaven was getting ready to begin.

Prayer:

Father, we thank you for your word. This is the 362nd day of this year and every day we have feasted upon your word and there are just a few days remaining and we invite your Holy Spirit to continue to speak deeply to us, transforming us on so many levels. We are most certainly at the place that we can look in the mirror and see that were not the same as we were when we started this journey on January 1st and we’re thankful for that. We’ve been through plenty. It's been a challenging year, but you have been faithful, and you have guided us through your word and through the power of your Holy Spirit and we’re grateful. This builds confidence in our faith. You are maturing us. And, so, we welcome this to continue. And even though we will finish this year and we will finish it well we look forward to all that you will speak to us through your word in the coming year. Come Holy Spirit we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

[larrysballetslippers]

The 28th is in two days....

#oh shit #I was so busy I forgot it's almost the 28th again #bluewinnerangel thank you for the pic #it fits my mood perfectly

[hongkongaton-imagines]

valentine s/o hcs? :3

since today is valentine's day, i thought it'd be nice to post!

murdoc niccals

motherfucker has NO idea what to do

he's all like "i-i-i gotta get 'em a gift but...what??? what do you even get someone????"

the rest of the band are tired of him

he gets pretty annoying after awhile though

he gets more overbearing than anything, which is surprising

seeing him run around trying to figure out what to do is funny but tiring all on it's own

"what about ros-" | "BAD IDEA. IT'S A BAD IDEA, FACEACHE- SHUT UP."

he eventually figures it out though...maybe

once he does, he takes you out to go stargazing on the local hill (it's like one of those stargazing cliffs in the movies)

"the light compliments your beautiful eyes very well, luv. we should do this more often, hm..."

stuart 2D pot

he didn't even know valentine's was the 14th

the man thought it was like...the 28th or something

he does everything incredibly last minute

"so, stu, what are you doing for valentine's?" | "valen...tine's?" | "you forgot....didn't you?" | "i'm sorry, noodle..."

he forgets a lot of things so once you find out that he forgot for a bit, you really don't mind

he gets all dressed up like a little waiter though

he looks like a 7 year old getting ready for his piano recital in the year 1996

"aww, you're so cute!" | "does it really look good? i worked pretty hard gettin' this suit!"

he takes you out to dinner at this fancy italian restaurant and then performs a ballad for you while you sit on your shared bed (covered in rose petals, of course)

you remark that it was all very cheesy but he simply says "i did it all for you. i was willin' to act like a 9th grader on his first date for you! you're just so special to me, luv..."

russel hobbs

a master at valentine's!!

he just...doesn't really know where to start with your surprise

he wants to do so much but most of it is kind of impossible

"i want to buy them the moon...and the stars! how about that, babygirl?" | "russ...i don't think you can do that" (noodle)

he plans way too much

down to god damn seating and time of day (hour, minute, and second)

he just wants you to feel like royalty, or even better, his majesty

he's the best dressed out of everyone in the band though

when you first see him, you wonder if he really just outdressed you on the day he planned for you

he takes you out to walk along the beach and then a picnic under the stars with your favorite drinks and your favorite snacks

"i wish i could freeze time for the both of us so we can stay in this moment forever, my darling"

noodle

she's good at remembering but she's a become a bit of a procrastinator in recent

she makes a plan but can't really figure out if it's....your type of thing

"what do you think, katsu? would they like this?" | *cue some very happy katsu noises* | "hm...you're right. i'll switch out shopping spree and racecar driving.."

she wants to impress you more than anything

she doesn't go for a dress, like you may assume

she tries out multiple outfits and eventually goes with a red button down dress shirt with one of those short skirts and some sneakers

"heh, i somehow knew you were gonna go for that. typical noodle." | "ah yes! typical murdoc shoving his nose in my business again! like the nosey old man he is!" | "now wait just a minute-"

she wants to go all out but...should probably stick to more simple ideas, just like russ

she doesn't ask the others for advice or anything

and if she does, it's more for a pep talk

she kicks the rest of the band out of the house and feeds you the three course meal she's made (with russ's help, of course) and watches movies with you for the rest of the night

"you know, you're one of the only things in my life that makes sense. i love everything about you so easily, my love."

bonus (for a special someone: 🍓) -

ace copular

oh, ace...

he gets oh so insecure

but in a sorta good way

he wants everything to be perfect and worries till his hair practically falls out but of course, he makes it seem like he has everything in order

he asks the rest of his family (the gangreen gang) what they think he should do

they give him horrible answers but he takes them into consideration

"take them to the dmv!" | "why...would i do that?? i jus' don't unda'stand you guys sometimes..."

he tries every option he can think of before valentine's day comes around

he tries to cook and burns water (impossible? not for ace d. copular it isn't-)

he ends up arriving to your house with a bouquet of flowers and takes you out for a night drive on his motorcycle, which he cleaned just for the occasion

the drive is silent but you swear you almost heard him say "if only i could do dis' every night. then i could have you and the stars for the rest of my life..."

#gorillaz #murdoc niccals #ace copular #murdoc x reader #gorillaz fandom #russel gorillaz #murdoc gorillaz #2d gorillaz #gorillaz headcanons #gorillaz noodle #ace gorillaz #gorillaz phase 6 #valentines #valentine's aesthetic #happy valentine's day 2021 #happy valentine's day #valentines day #ace copular x reader #russel x reader #russell hobbs #2d x reader #2d #stuart pot x reader #stuart pot #stuart 2D pot #noodle x reader

[1ddotdhq]

🖕Mon Sept 28 ‘20 👓

First things first: see ya Psycho! Music Week published an article confirming Syco’s “low-key” demise. Music Week tells us two interesting things - the first is that “artists from [Cowell’s] TV show will now be free to sign to any label, with Sony no longer enjoying first refusal”. The second interesting tidbit is that “all Syco Music employees and artists have now either been redeployed within Sony Music, or have left the company”. Happy days!

More like busy days - for Harry, at least! He was seen yesterday evening in LA, taking pictures with a fan. He was wearing a mask (sexy) and a mini hair clip (less sexy, but adorable nonetheless). We can take this as an indication that pre-production for Don’t Worry Darling is likely underway, and as he’s the lead male role (!!!!!!), he has RESPONSIBILITIES and so he had to be there before the day of the actual shoot. Your intern spent a few hours reading up on film set guidelines, so I’m going to tell you that at some point between the UK, Italy, the UK again, and LA, Harry got himself screened and tested negative for COVID, as is mandatory to do before entering a film set. These sets are closed, and any visitors must also undergo screenings, as far as I could tell. Anyways, hopefully that keeps him safe and busy for the next few months! 

His Grammy campaign is ALSO underway, as his team told Music Week that they’ve “got a few more things up [their sleeve] for the rest of the year, but [we’ll] have to wait and see”. Is it the Golden video? I bet it’s the Golden video. Some more information about Harry’s accessories also became available to the public today: his custom vampire wife blue HS bag was VERY custom-made, apparently, as he specifically requested that color blue for his initials (the letters are normally done in a ~golden~ thread, which makes it funner, imo). In case you’re curious - it IS the same color as his Light’s Up costume, the Vespa, the room that Falling was shot in, and on and on and on. He does seem to rather have a fascination with that color, doesn’t he? Almost like...he gets so lost inside it? Can you believe it??

Hahaha okay moving on: Zayn ALSO keeps on keepin’ on to make Z3 a more tangible reality: he registered two new songs today: “Different” and “Look At Me Now”. And even #better (last time, I promise haha) - “Better” was featured on Amazon Music’s “song of the day”! I have to hear the songs before I say anything about it, but I do sort of hope that things will be “Different” this time around - “Better” - and that he’s telling us “Look At Me Now”. To use twitter terminology, I’m manifesting good things for him.

Liam had a feature in Esquire Mexico, where they talked about his early aspirations as an Olympic runner changing into his decision to give up running to focus on music. I wish they had talked about this a bit more, because I can’t expect that was an easy decision, but also, he would have been around 14 when he made it. That’s a BIG responsibility for a kid, and I want to hear how he felt about it then, and how he feels about it now, some thirteen years on. About his music career, he says: “The effort is what really counts. Having tried it was fundamental, but also understanding that if it didn’t work, it just wasn’t for me”. He does, however, attribute his success to his obsessive attitude (hmmm). At any rate, you’re a JOY to have around, Liam, so I’m glad it DID work out!

The feature also came with PICTURES, of course, in which he looks better than anyone reasonably has a right to - I have to keep reminding myself that if I want to stay impartial, I can’t be attracted to any of them, but DAMN did Liam test my resolve in these! They had him in glasses and a knitted hoodie/jumper/sweater thing holding a guitar on the cover photo. There are other pictures in which he’s wearing half undone button up shirts and too cool for school shades and looking moodily off into the distance (while holding his guitar) and a few where he’s looking pensively down in a blue paisley shirt and glasses (whew!). I think it’s the glasses that killed me, tbh, but go check them out, because I’m certainly not doing them justice! 

In some sunny news, Free My Meal popped up again to thank Louis for raising awareness for their cause, calling him a legend (we been knew, but it’s nice to see!) and using hashtags like “#noshame” and “#justask”, and I have to say - sometimes, you would be surprised at how kind people can be if you ask. ALSO, I am bringing this charity up literally ANY TIME I have the opportunity to, because I think it is doing phenomenal work, and I wish there were more programs like this one.

I also have a little bit of a Clown Car update for you: yesterday, Nick Gordon posted a “#theysaidyes” picture, featuring both Briana and Freddie, and captioning with a quote from...wait for it...When Harry Met Sally!!! He then went on a comment reading spree, liking such comments as “Although you are not the real father, you will be the best father, believe me” and “*** **”. I...am actually speechless, which never happens to me. AND THEN! Briana followed and account called “thepropertybrokers” which is an “Investment Property Specialist” account in Beverly Hills. Are you...going somewhere, girl? Don’t be shy, *** **. 

And, hmmm, let me think - what day is it? Oh, yeah, the 28th, I almost forgot! You know who DIDN'T? Paul Higgins, former One Direction bodyguard and bona fide Tour Dad, who went around Instagram liking “Happy Anniversary, Harry and Louis!” posts, including my favorite, which was captioned: “Happy 7th anniversary love birds! 28th September 2013 - it’s so great to see how two beautiful friends finally did it!...”. Yeah, guys, nothing to see here, they’re just celebrating 7 years of a beautiful and committed BROMANCE, doncha know? 

#harry styles #zayn malik #liam payne #louis tomlinson #the clown car #briana #nick gordon #also you can now buy Harry's daffodil necklace on Eliou's website #they're calling it the Harry Necklace but tbh i like my name better #idk if anyone else cares about the filming guidelines in LA but i spent a ton of time reading about it so here you lol #*here you go lol #ngl I’m a little disappointed about no new Louis merch but it’s probably the best thing for my bank account #song of the day! #Waking in the Dark by Only the Poets #yup thats it from me today i think thats more than enough #hahaha

[emmy-writes-sometimes]

H emmy, can I get a Chris x teen daughter were he forgets her birthday. You can write it however you want But fluffy ending please! Thanks hun

Doing this one as a headcanon!

Your family was the best about birthdays. They always threw huge parties, invited all of your friends, and they always pitched in to get you one big gift. But this year you hadn’t really talked about it because everyone had been really busy.

You of course brought it up with your dad, but all you got was a “Hm? Yeah, okay, sure.” 

You thought he was bluffing. Because he was your dad. There was no way he could forget about your birthday, or even joke about it. The man lived for birthday parties. 

You still hadn’t heard anything as the weekend approached and you didn’t invite any of your friends over, assuming that your dad was already planning something with all of them like he’d done the year before. And your friends said they hadn’t heard anything, either, but you assumed they were lying. 

Finally your birthday came and you woke up expecting the big family breakfast you always had, but no one was there. You went downstairs and your dad hadn’t even made breakfast. He was just sitting there eating eggs he made only for himself. There were no stupid gag gifts or cards in sight. 

“So what time is dinner tonight?” You asked, trying to hint at something. He looked up at you and shrugged.

“Depends on what you want. I can make that chicken you liked again.”

“I thought we were going out?” Your dad blinked at you a few times. Most of the time either he cooked store bought food or you ordered in, so asking to go out was a little odd. 

“I mean, we can if you want. I’ll let you know when I’m done with the meeting and then we’ll go.” 

“Oh. Okay,” you said. Usually it was whenever you wanted to go, you’d go. You went back upstairs and texted your friends, and they assured you that there was no surprise party or anything. How could that be? Your dad had just forgotten your fucking birthday? Your birthday? The day he said was the greatest day of his entire life because it gave him you?  

Maybe it was all just a fluke, you thought. But it made you sad enough that you just curled up in bed and started watching TV. You still didn’t make plans with friends because most of them already had plans, so you just kind of sat there and wondered if you did something to deserve it. 

You texted your family group chat to see if anyone could come and they all had plans, too. So not only did your dad forget about your birthday, your whole entire family forgot about your birthday. What the fuck? 

Eventually it was 6 and you were not only starving, but you'd been crying for a good portion of the day, so you went downstairs to confront your dad. You looked through the mail and there was one single birthday card from your grandparents, so you left it out on the table where your dad would see. Your plan worked, because he walked past the table and then his eyebrows furrowed and he frowned. 

“I thought your birthday was next weekend? They usually don’t send the card ‘till the day after,” he said, half-under his breath. 

“No,” you admitted. You sat down on the couch, crossing your arms. “It’s today.” 

Your dad’s eyes FLEW over to you and you could see right away that he felt guilty. You felt bad about it, almost, because he was clearly beating himself up. 

“What? It’s not the 28th!” He tried to say. You opened your phone calendar and showed it to him. “Oh my god, baby.” 

“It’s okay,” you responded. “You’ve been really busy lately.” He sat down beside you and pulled you into a hug. 

“No, it’s not! It’s not okay. You’re my daughter and I forgot your fucking birthday! What kind of dad forgets his only child’s birthday? What kind of dad does that?” 

“Dad.” 

“That’s why you’ve been mopey all day and you wanted to go out for dinner,” he thought out loud. 

“Yeah.” He hugged you tightly and promised he’d make it up to you. So you went upstairs and got ready for dinner and in a few minutes you came back down.

He took you to your favorite restaurant without you even asking. He got you dessert there AND took you to an ice cream place and got you the biggest scoop even though you’d probably only eat half of it. 

He promised you he’d make up for it the next day, and he did. He invited the whole family over, and your friends, and even though it wasn’t the traditional birthday party, it was still your favorite one. 

When you were cleaning up the next night, he hugged you tightly. 

“I’m sorry I forgot your birthday. But you know that doesn’t mean I love you any less, right? You’re still my favorite person.” You hugged him back.

“You’re my favorite person, too.” 

#chris evans x daughter!reader #chris evans fluff #chris evans headcanon #headcanons

[busterkeatonfanfic]

Chapter 10

The last two-and-a-half weeks of August went by in a pleasant blur. Buster almost forgot about Harry Brand’s gripes and grudges as he indulged his inner boy with the cyclone sequence. He spent the days slipping through mud, battling wind, clinging to an uprooted tree swung by the enormous crane, and clambering all over the Colusa. The production team landed a building on top of him and splintered it to pieces just after he walked out. They tore another building away from him, leaving him looking bewildered in a hospital bed. They slid buildings and piers into the river and rammed the steamboat into a building floating in the river. The more the sets collapsed around him, the more buildings were destroyed, the better he felt about Steamboat. He felt sure that next to The General, it would have the best finish of any of his pictures.

Louise, Jingles, and Myra took a train up one day so that Louise could double for Peanuts, who couldn’t swim, in the rescue scene. He put them up in the Senator where they played cards in the evenings and reminisced about Muskegon and life on the road. When his family wasn’t there, he spent the nights dining in good restaurants and playing bridge. If he tired of these activities, there was always a pretty girl nearby for added recreation.

Every week, a postcard from her mother arrived. I never hear from you. Are you sure everything is okay? Please write or telephone me as soon as possible, Nelly dear.

A spare moment came on Sunday the 28th, the day after filming wrapped and also the day before she was to begin arranging the shipment of the entire contents of the prop house back to Hollywood. Joe and Maggie were at church and had given her permission  to use their phone. She called her mother at ten o’clock, knowing that it would be noon back in Evanston and both church and lunch would be finished.

“Hi, Mother,” she said, when Lena picked up.

“Is that really Nelly? Well I’ve been wondering where you’ve been,” said her mother. “Your father and I have been worrying our heads off about you.”

Nelly suspected they really hadn’t, but didn’t say so. “I’m sorry, I’ve been so busy here. I’ve hardly had a minute to myself. I work practically from sun-up to sundown.”

“Are you famous yet? Is that Keaton going to put you in his next picture?”

“No. And not as far as I know,” Nelly said. Her mother knew that she was acquainted with Buster and that he was a big name in pictures, but was too out-of-touch with the film world to be as impressed by it as she might have been.

“Well I wanted to tell you that Ruthie’s going to have a baby again,” said her mother. “Isn’t that wonderful?”

Nelly’s stomach sank. “Oh my, that’s marvelous!” she said, forcing a smile into her voice.

She and Ruthie had been close as children, but drifted apart as they matured. Nelly liked books and the theater, Ruthie liked boys and homemaking. The younger by two years, Ruthie had always been her mother’s pet. That relationship had only strengthened when Ruthie married auspiciously at nineteen and had her first baby by twenty. This would be baby number three. Nelly loved her niece and nephew, but there was a stiffness to them that she didn’t like to see—as though they were an extension of Ruthie’s big, clean house with all mechanicals and servants running in regimented order.

“She thinks she’ll have it in February,” her mother said. “A St. Valentine’s Day baby. Wouldn’t that be something?”

Nelly agreed that it would.

“You know, Harold Jenkins still asks after you every Sunday at church.”

“Does he?” she said. She had not been to church since leaving Evanston, something she’d never tell her mother, and was very grateful to not have seen the loathsome Harold Jenkins for as long.

“Are you seeing anybody out there in Sacramento?” said her mother.

“Of course not. When would I have the time?” she said.

“Oh, I don’t know. I suppose there are dances on the weekend, aren’t there?”

“I’ve gone to see the pictures a few times, but mostly I’m too tired to do anything on weekends. I work Saturdays, you know.”

The conversation was headed where it invariably did, the lines so predictable Nelly could recite them in her head.

Mother: When are you going to get married?

Nelly: When I find the right man.

M: Are you looking?

N: No, I am not.

M. Time is running out on you having children.

N: I know it is, Mother.

M: I just want to see you happy and settled down.

N: I know, Mother.

Marriage had never factored into Nelly’s plans as it had Ruthie’s. She assumed she’d get there eventually, but her real dreams had been built around the theater since she’d been ten years old and seen her first play. The possibility of having children seemed even hazier than marriage. She knew she was getting older and wouldn’t have forever to decide, but she also knew that marriage and children would put an end to her theater career. She wasn’t eager to declare the dream deceased before it ever lived.

“When are you going to settle down?” her mother asked.

Nelly did not attempt to conceal her sigh. “Just as soon as I find the right fellow.” She was half-tempted to add how bad she’d been at choosing men of late, what with the near brush she’d had with Tommy and the other workmen.

“I just want to see you happy. You’re already twenty-six. I had you and Ruthie by then,” she said.

“I am happy, Mother,” she said, frowning. “I’m working for a big star and I’m going to try out for a role in some of the other pictures just as soon as this one’s wrapped up. I don’t mind being an old maid. I’m happy. Who says happiness is marrying and having babies. What if I married the wrong fellow? I’d be a lot worse off than I am now.”

“I know you have more sense than to do that, dear,” said her mother, brushing aside her argument. “And you will be happy! I was when I met your father, and Ruthie and Gerald couldn’t be happier. It only gets better when the babies come along.”

Nelly rolled her eyes and withheld multiple sarcastic replies. “I’d better be going now. I’ve got a lot of cleaning to do. I promised Maggie and Joe I’d help.” She felt bad lying to her mother, but there was a danger of her losing her temper and that undoubtedly was a worse sin.

“Okay. I do hope you can make it back to Evanston in time for the baby to be born. Your father sends his love.”

Nelly sent her love in kind and said her goodbyes. She went upstairs and sat in her open window after she’d hung up the phone.

“She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house, my household stuff, my field, my barn, my horse, my ox, my ass, my anything,” she muttered. Spoken previously by John Barrymore in one of her fantasies, the words had seemed romantic, but they didn’t seem that way anymore. She never wanted to become a man’s chattel or ass, his anything rather than everything.

The breeze was warm and the lemon tree outside the window was plump with still green fruit. No matter what her mother said, this was happiness. She was earning her own wage and working in pictures, and she didn’t have to go to church every week and endure Halitosis Harold’s clumsy attempts at courting. There was also Buster. Just being near his genius made her feel like a piece of dry tinder next to a spark. If they were acquainted long enough, she felt certain that she would ignite with the same ingenious fire that burned in him.

#Buster Keaton #Fan fiction #Fan fic #RPF #Actor RPF #Golden Age Hollywood #silent film

[agentsofshieldfamily]

Daisy was walking around the base, trying to find something to make her warm. The weather is extraordinarily cold, because why not? It's December 23 at around five o'clock in the morning and the winter holidays are not being subtle. She walked into the kitchen to make some warm chocolate drink, there she saw FitzSimmons seated around the table, having breakfast.

Jemma: Daisy, good morning. We have some coffee, sausage and egg toast. Grab a bite?

Daisy: Mornin' twins. Sure, sure. After I find some hot drink that could stabilize my chilling body.

Fitz: Ahh! We made coffee. Still hot.

Daisy: That would do. I just need it. Thanks.

 Daisy went straight to the coffee maker and poured it on her mug.

 Fitz: I might be back on the 2nd of January.

Jemma: Oh perfect, I might be back on the 3rd. Mack'll be back on the 3rd also.

 Daisy sat beside the two.

 Daisy: Where's Mack now?

Fitz: He left this morning and went home for the holidays.

Daisy: Oh.

 Daisy kept silent. She grabbed some toast and ate some.

 Fitz: Let's just meet on the 28th.

Jemma: We could do that. Dinner, London. Awesome.

Daisy: Almost forgot, I have to tell Piper something. See you, guys, later.

Fitz: Sure.

Jemma: See you, Daisy.

  Daisy stood up with her coffee on one hand and a saucer containing two toasts on the other, one she already took a bite, then she went out of the kitchen. She is feeling uncomfortable with what FitzSimmons are taking about. Sure, they have families to go home to, but she doesn't. She walked and went to the gym. There she saw Piper and Davis, they are having an early exercise.

 Piper: Daisy!

Daisy: Oh, hi guys!

Davis: Since when did the gym become a good place to eat?

 Daisy, Piper and Davis laughed.

 Daisy: Has any one of you seen Coulson?

Piper: He left at around 1am, he has some business transaction he needed to attend to.

Daisy: When he'll be back?

Davis: I heard, he'll be staying there until next year.

Daisy: That's awesome. See you guys.

 Daisy felt sad, she walked out again and went to the Armory. Nobody was there. She sat on the mat and started consuming the remaining toast.

 Daisy felt alone. She is the only one who doesn't have a family here, yes she has a dad, but he does not even have an idea who she is, so that doesn't count. She is the only one who does not have anybody. Well, she and Coulson. But he left, Coulson left her. Of course, he will. She is nothing but an employee to him. Why would he think she'll need him?

 Daisy is holding back her tears, and trying to calm the pain she's feeling in her heart.

 Jemma: Daisy!!! I've been looking all over for you.

Daisy: Jemma, what's up?

Jemma: I just want to say good bye and happy holidays.

 Fitz entered the room too.

 Fitz: See you on the 2nd of January, Daisy. Happy holidays!

 Daisy stood up, and gave Fitz a hug.

 Daisy: See you, Fitz. I would never forgive you if you'll be back without good presents for me.

Fitz: Copy.

 Daisy then hugged Simmons.

 Daisy: Merry Christmas, Jemma.

Jemma: To you too, Daisy.

Daisy: See you next year.

 FitzSimmons left. Daisy felt empty.

 She went back to the kitchen to wash the dishes she used. There she saw May, taking some wine.

 Daisy: Very early for some wine.

May: This is grape juice.

Daisy: I see.

 May grinned.

 Daisy: Did FitzSimmons bid goodbye to you, they just left.

May: Yes, they did.

 Daisy started washing.

 May: My mother called.

Daisy: Oh.

May: I will be leaving at 10 this morning, spending the holidays with them.

 Daisy wants to cry, but she kept washing the dishes. May noticed that Daisy's shoulder stiffened when she announced her trip. She knew what Daisy must've been feeling right now. Christmas holidays, all of the people in the Light House leaving for the vacation, and she isn't, they are the only family she's got. And Coulson, well, he'll be back by next year because of some mission he needed to do.

 Daisy: When will you be back?

May: On the 6th.

Daisy: Happy holidays!

 Daisy immediately finished and walked out. She went to the gym, wanted to punch something, hoping nobody's in there.

 She hit the punching bag again and again. She's feeling lonely and hurt. She's alone, nobody wanted to be with her. She poured her anger and kept on punching.

 May: You will hurt yourself if you don't stand properly.

 Daisy was taken aback, surprised, she didn't notice May come in.

 Daisy: I’m good.

May: It's 7 am. I have to pack my bags.

Daisy: You came here just to tell me that?

 Daisy is annoyed, she felt like May is rubbing it on her face.

 May: Yes.

Daisy: Fine. Then pack your bags, and leave then.

May: Alright, but after your anger management, make sure you pack yours too, because we'll leave at 10. Sharp.

 May walked out. Daisy was speechless, she chased May.

 Daisy: What?

Daisy: May, wait!

 May stopped walking and turned to face Daisy.

 Daisy: What do you mean?

May: Pack your bags, I don’t want you to be late.

Daisy: Me?

May: Why? Do you think I'll just leave you here? Alone?

 Daisy was surprised and speechless.

 May: We leave exactly at 10.

 Then May walked away and never looked back. Daisy didn't know what to say or what to think.

 Xxxxxxxxxx

 Daisy went back to her room and started packing. She has to pack a lot because they will be staying at the “Mays” until the 6th of next year. In just a matter of minutes, she finished packing, considering she doesn't have a lot of stuff.

 She lay down on her bed, closed her eyes just to rest.

 When she opened her eyes, she jerked when she peeked at the clock, it's 11:57 am. She fell asleep for nearly 4 hours. May told her they’ll be leaving at 10 o'clock, sharp. Daisy knows May, she is, has been, and will always be particular when it comes to time.

 Daisy: dammit!!!

 Daisy went out of her room and ran. She chanced upon Piper.

 Daisy: hey, Piper! Have you seen May?

Piper: I talked to her this morning, she already left for vacation Daisy.

 Daisy felt like something stabbed her in the chest. But she didn't show it.

 Piper: she told us that she'll be going home for the holidays, and will be leaving at around 10. She didn't tell you?

Daisy: she did. I just forgot. Anyway, thanks.

 Daisy went back to her room and sat on the bed. She wants to punch something again. She's so pissed at herself. She shouldn't have slept. She hates herself.

 She punched her pillow, the base then shook a little. Daisy's anger is quaking the base.

 There was a knock on the door. But Daisy is not in the mood to talk to someone, so she ignored it. But the door opened.

 May: Finally, you're awake.

 Daisy's eyes widened. The sound of May's voice never felt this good.

 May: I thought you were awake ‘cause you’re causing the earthquakes.

Daisy: Piper said you left.

May: I told them I'll be leaving at 10.

Daisy: You didn't.

May: ‘cause you're asleep.

Daisy: I thought you left me.

May: I went here around 10, but you were sleeping soundly, peacefully. I decided to let you rest. I couldn't wake you up.

Daisy: I really thought you left me.

May: I wouldn't. I.. (pause) couldn't.

 There was silence between them. It wasn't awkward. It was just silence.

 May: so, you ready, now?

Daisy: yup.

May: let's go.

 Xxxxxxxxx

 Daisy: Do your parents know that I’m with you?

May: Yes.

Daisy: Really?

May: I told you.

 Daisy kept quiet, looked at the surroundings and smiled.

 May: It'll take us 6 more hours. You can stay at the back so you can sleep, if you're tired.

Daisy: No, I'm good.

May: Okay.

 Daisy is excited. Nobody, except Coulson, has ever met May's folks. It's like meeting the 'grandparents' for the first time, she thought.

 May: By the way, my parents thought you're my daughter. Just ride with it.

 May said it very casually. Daisy jolted.

 Daisy: I'm sorry, what?

May: You heard me. Just-- ride with it.

Daisy: W-well-- w-why-- h-how--

May: Daisy.

Daisy: How did they think that?

May: I told them.

 Daisy started having butterflies in her stomach. She felt good, and embarrassed by the thought.

 Daisy: You did?

May: I told them I'm bringing you home with me. They just assumed you're my daughter. I didn't want to talk a lot, so I just agreed.

Daisy: But— Why— But--

May: Coulson is, supposedly, your dad.

Daisy: I’m still processing everything you just told me and--

May: Don't worry about it. Just be yourself.

Daisy: I don't think we can pull this off.

May: You don't need to sell it. Just be you. And if they ask you, tell them the truth. At least I don't have to do the talking.

 Daisy rolled her eyes.

 May: And never roll your eyes on me!

 Daisy's jaw dropped. She smiled. The last sentence that May told her is funny. She just saw what kind of a mom she will be, or she is.

 Daisy felt her heart aching. She never thought she wanted May, as a mother, this much.

 May: You're staring.

 Daisy came back to reality. She didn't realize she was staring at May. Daisy looked down then outside.

 Daisy: Sorry.

 May looked at Daisy for a second.

 May: Anything wrong?

Daisy: Nah.. Just a little tired.

May: I told you to take a rest. I brought a blanket, you can use it.

Daisy: It's okay. I can rest from here

May: You sure? You want to have a stop over?

Daisy: No need.

May: Alright.

 Daisy leaned on the window. She closed her eyes. Blushing because she was embarrassed. She never wanted anybody to know she longs for May as a mother. Hell, she, herself is still in denial with the fact that she sees May, and Coulson, as her parents. It is embarrassing, for May, or anybody for that matter, to find out she feels this way.

 But she does, she wants them. She wishes they're hers. She hopes for it. Questioning fate why it brought them into her life and not making them hers, or making her theirs. Why?!

 Then, she felt a blanket covering her body. The car went slower, then into a full stop. She didn't open her eyes. May is fixing the blanket, making sure she's covered. Then she felt May's hand brushing the hair away from her face.

 Daisy wants to cry. This woman, who taught her so much, practically raised her from nothing. She has been, with Coulson, raising her. Why aren't they her parents, she asks.

 The car started moving again.

 Xxxxxxxxxx

 May: Daisy. Daisy.

 Daisy woke up. Hearing May's voice.

 May: We're here.

 Daisy looked around and saw a very huge house with a very big lawn. It's like a mansion.

 A man, in a black suit, opened the car's door on Daisy's side. May just alighted their car.

 Two more men, both in a suit, approached them, one of them took out their luggage out of the car, the other one, talked to May.

 Daisy looked around. The house is too huge, she couldn't believe it. It was even bigger than Ian Quinn's mansion.

 Man1: You must be-- 

 May: Come on Daisy.

  Xxxx

 Daisy: Where's May?

Lian and William May looked at her.

Daisy: --Mom!!! Where's "MaY" Mom.

William: Your mom must've taken a nap. Sit down with us.

Daisy sat down beside the couple on a chair of a round table where Lian and William were also seated.

Lian: Do you want any drink, hun? Tea? Coffee? Anything?

Daisy: Soda?

William raised his hand and a butler approached him.

William: Soda for my granddaughter.

Daisy cringed for being called as "granddaughter", then the butler nodded then left.

Daisy: *whispers* cool.

Lian: Food? Bread, hun? Take anything you want from the table.

Daisy: Yup. Thanks.

 Daisy took a bread and some spread and started eating.

 William: Have you liked your room Daisy?

Daisy: Yes, gramps. It’s awesome. How many rooms do you have here?

William: 15 rooms, for sleeping. Excluding the master's bedroom, and your mom's room. But all in all, 21.

Daisy: Whoa! You can make this a mini hotel.

 William and Lian laugh.

 Lian: I used to bring some trainees here, but since I retired, it became just guest rooms.

Daisy: Still..

Lian: The room that you chose, that's yours. I won't let anybody take it, from now on, it's yours and yours only.

 Daisy felt sad and glad at the same time.

 xxx

 May was about to go outside to go to the garden where the others were eating, but decided to spy and listened to them first and hid herself behind the wall.

 William: What's wrong sweetie? Why do you look so sad?

Lian: We're so sorry you got to spend your holidays with old people like us, than with your friends back in the city.

Daisy: No! It's not that.

Lian: Then what is it?

Daisy: It's--- this. Everything. You.

 Lian and William looked confused.

 William: Us?

Daisy: The way you look at me. The way you smile at me. When you hugged me earlier. The way you make me feel special.

 Lian and William were still confused.

 Daisy: I have spent just a couple of hours with you two, but I can already feel that you care for me, REALLY care for me, and that you.. (long pause) love me.

 Daisy holding back her tears.

 Lian: Then what is wrong with that, hunny?

Daisy: Bacause I don't deserve it.

 Lian and William's eyes widened. They both want to rebut what Daisy had said but Daisy continued speaking.

 Daisy: I don't. I'm sorry. I just--

 William: You deserve it. You are our granddaughter, of course we love you.

Lian: And I have always wanted a grandchild.

Daisy: But that's it. I am-- Because I'm not--

 Lian and William have no expressions.

 Daisy: --your granddaughter. I am not even remotely related to any of you. I am not your daughter's daughter.

 Daisy felt like someone's crushing her chest. The words that came out of her mouth were killing her, she did not know why it hurt that much.

 William put his hand on top of Daisy's head and gently caressed her hair.

 William: We know sweetie.

 Daisy was surprised.

 Daisy: You do?

Lian: Of course, we do. I was a spy, for crying out loud, how can you think I wouldn't find out?! (Laughs)

Daisy: It's just.. Because of the way you treat me. It's as if I was--really, your granddaughter.

William: Because you are sweetie.

Daisy: I'm no--

Lian: DAISY.. You are.

 Daisy was speechless.

 William: You knew Milly as a very quiet person, who doesn't want to open herself to others.

Daisy: and deadly.

Lian: Sure, that too.

William: She got it from your grandmother. Anyway, when your mom left for SHIELD, we obliged her to call us every now and then, just to update us.

Lian: She used to do that, but stopped after Bahrain. But we let her move on.

William: She never did. Until..

Lian: She met you.

Daisy: Me?

William: You, and FitzSimmons.

Lian: You became everything she ever wanted to have before Bahrain. You made her that one thing she wanted to become before that tragedy.

Daisy: What was it?

Lian: A mother.

William: Sure, blood and relationship is important in a family. But remember, you do not have to be biologically related to become a family. As long as you care about each other and that you love them, that is all that matters.

Lian: My Milly loves you, all of you. FitzSimmons, you, Philip.

William: You are, now, her immediate family.

Lian: Dysfunctional! But a family. That's why, we do not care if she has given birth to you or not, for as long as in her heart, you are her daughter, that makes you, the three of you, our grandchildren.

Daisy: How can you say that? She is just my mentor, my SO, my boss.

William: Hun, don't act stupid. I know you know, and I know you feel it.

Lian: You long for it, you just don't want to admit it because you are afraid she doesn't feel the same way about you. But I am telling you hunny, she does.

William: She'll give her life to anyone of you kids, not just because it is her job, but because that's what parents do, they'd do everything for their kids, willing, to even sacrifice their lives for them. To protect them.

Lian: And Melinda, YOUR mom, she would do that.

 Daisy was left speechless. Lian reached out for Daisy and hugged her, William stood up and hugged them both.

 May went outside and walked towards them.

 May: You’re gonna suffocate her.

 The three were surprised. William immediately went back to his seat. Lian did not immediately let go of Daisy. May sat on the vacant seat beside Daisy, thereafter, Lian completely let go of Daisy.

 May: What's happening here?

Daisy: Nothin'. Gramps and Grams just missed me.

 Lian and William both laughed.

 May: Funny. You haven't even met before today. How come they'd missed you? (smiling)

Daisy: Because I'm VERY adorable.

May: *chuckles* oh, are you now?

Daisy: Yes. And clearly, I got it from Dad.

Lian: Obviously, hun.

May: Oh you just wait Mom, ‘cause she's stubborn.

William: Well, that, she must've gotten from you, Milly.

 Daisy and Lian laughed. May rolled her eyes.

 When the night arrived, Daisy, who stayed in the garden with her computer, decided to go to her room to rest. After taking the stairs, she was about to enter her room when she heard voices from another room, the master's bedroom. She went there and noticed that the door is slightly open. She was about to touch the knob but retreated and walked away.

 The door suddenly opened, she was a little surprised and walked hastily. She saw May walking out of the door and she saw Daisy.

 May: You alright?

Daisy: Yeah, yup, yes.

 May narrowed her eyes.

 May: What's wrong?

Daisy: Nothing. I was just surprised with you coming out of there. Good night.

 Daisy went straight to her room and closed the door behind her.

 She put down her laptop on the table near the TV, then she sat on her bed. She can't believe how happy Lian and William make her. She felt loved, genuinely loved, by them, and she already do love them.

 She thought of May, of how awkward it must have been for her. Deep inside, she knew May is hoping this would end, soon.

 Daisy heard a knock on the door, then it opened. It was May, she went inside her room.

 Daisy: Hey! What up?

 May closed the door behind her and walked inside.

 May: I just want to know, how you doing? Are you good? Bored? Tired?

Daisy: I'm fine, great, actually.

May: Good. I'm glad you are.

Daisy: How about you?

May: Me?

Daisy: Yeah, you.

 May didn't answer immediately. She was confused and intrigued by Daisy's question.

 May: Good?

Daisy: Okay.

May: Wait, why? What do you mean?

Daisy: Nothing, it's just-- I'm.. kind of.. invading your space. I’m bothering you, so, I was just thinking--

May: You aren't.

Daisy: Stop it, I know I’m overstepping, especially with, you know, your private life, and I am--

 May was a little annoyed.

 May: You are here because you should be here. And for the record, you are not, and have never been a bother to me, you got that?

 Daisy was overwhelmed, she is so happy. She never thought May's words would feel this good, but it did.

 May approached Daisy, hunched, and then held her arms.

 May: Got it?

Daisy: Yes--

 May stood up, about to leave.

 Daisy: (whispers) --mom.

 May felt like a heavy brick is dragging her heart. The last word Daisy said felt so good it's hurting her.

 May reached for the door knob and turned it, and without even looking back.

 May: Have some rest. Granma will expect you tomorrow for breakfast cause then she'll probably bring you with her to the market.

Daisy: Okay.

 May went out of the room and closed the door behind her. She leaned on it, closed her eyes and sighed. When she opened her eyes, a tear fell from it. She didn't even realize that the word "mom" that daisy jokingly uttered would make her this heavy.

 She walked to her room and immediately sat on the bed. She repeatedly hears the word "Mom" in her head, and it's in Daisy's voice.

 The heavy feeling in her chest keeps on dragging her. It makes her feel happy, but sad at the same time. It's overwhelming.

(To be Continued)

#agents of shield #AgentsofSHIELD #AOS #PhilCoulson #Phil Coulson #ClarkGregg #Clark Gregg #MelindaMay #Melinda May #MamaMay #Mama May #MingNaWen #Ming Na Wen #DaisyJohnson #Daisy Johnson #Skye #Quake #ChloeBennet #Chloe Bennet #Jemma Simmons #JemmaSimmons #Elizabeth Henstridge ElizabethHenstridge #FitzSimmons #LeopoldFitz #Leopold Fitz #Iain De Caestecker #IainDeCaestecker #TheBusKids #The Bus Kids #Philinda

[fishball-and-sweet-potato]

Zero O'Clock - BirdCop Celebration + GIF Challenge (MLQC AU)

I just wanna join. I actually want to post this fic at ARMY day (9th of July), but here it is anyway!

Pairing : Leah Hong (MC) x Gavin Bai

Warning : triggering events (containing insecurity and anxiety)

Disclaimer : Leah is MC in this AU. In this AU, there is no Evol.

Genre : fluff

Words : 1,542

NB : this fic is also inspired from this song

“Leah, you should go home now. You just left the hospital yesterday, your body still needs time to be fully recovered,” Anna slowly shaked my body, waking me up.

Leah corrected her posture, “yeah, I know I should. But I don’t want to become a burden for all of you, and especially that’s because I’m in charge of this company now. I just feel like I’m the one that should be my fellow workers’ strength, and I failed you all, even my father…” unbeknownst to her, her eyes felt hot. Leah wanted to continue but her brain couldn’t process her emotions right now.

“No, you’re not. And believe me, we all have made mistakes when that talk show was supposed to be aired live. But still, we managed to do it well at last thanks to the content and technical errors,” Willow tried to assure her. Three days ago, Leah had a chance to interview Mrs. Peng, the owner of a well-known bak kut teh* shop named Seventh Heaven. The topic was about business’ survival strategies for small and medium enterprises amidst the economic crisis. Suddenly, her stomach felt painful and she couldn’t suppress it despite all her efforts, until she fainted. The first thing she thought when she gained my consciousness was, she was such an unprofessional disgrace for this show.

“I want to see the editing process for a while,” Leah replied, still refusing to do nothing.

“Boss, we can also lend you a shoulder. I’ll send it straight to you when it’s finished. Okay?” Kiki patted her shoulder.

Before Leah nodded in defeat, Minor continued, “Boss, I’m sorry for the shift of topic, but Gavin said to me that he will come to your house around 10 pm.”

She yawned, “why didn’t he tell me directly?”

Minor rolled his eyes, but suddenly he had a flustered look on his face, “eh, sorry, he already contacted you several times, but no answer from you.”

Leah checked my phone, it had no power. “Oh God, why am I so stupid? Gavin is definitely angry with me now,” she said resenting herself. The fact that she had done this earlier consumed all her sanity. She immediately turned on her phone, and her eyes almost popped out from their sockets seeing the amount of missed calls. The fact that this day was July 28th made her more shocked. “Okay, I gotta go now,” she said after her friends kept telling me the editing was almost finished.

Leah went to Seventh Heaven. Amidst the crowd, she could still hear the voice she knew really well greeted her first, “Leah, are you feeling better?”

“Mrs. Peng!” Leah slightly raised her voice and fastened her pace towards the middle-aged woman. “Yeah, I’m healthy now! I’m… I’m sorry…” suddenly the scene flashed her mind, her body felt heavy.

“You don’t need to. Let’s go inside,” Mrs. Peng replied, dragging her into the shop.

“I think the technical errors are made up…” Leah couldn’t help but loathed everything around her.

Mrs. Peng patted her, “we can’t prevent unexpected things from happening. Instead, the only thing we could do is to find ways so it would be meaningful.”

While Leah was digesting her words, Gavin’s smile entered her thought and erased her anxiety, “I want to buy two portions of pork tenderloin soup, one portion of fish soup, and one braised pork belly. All takeaways, please.”

“For who?” Mrs. Peng giggled. “Let me guess, your policeman friend…”

Leah blushed and tried to hide her embarrassment with all her might, “uh, Gavin, tomorrow is his birthday.”

Not long after, a waitress handed her orders. Leah waved goodbye at Mrs. Peng. Her home was quite far from her company and the shop, so she had to take a bus ride. She was listening to her favourite song, not realizing that she dozed off.

You know those days

Those days where you're sad for no reason

And it looks like everyone else except you is busy and fierce

Those days where your body is heavy

My feet won't set off, though it seems like I'm already too late

I'm hateful of the whole world

Yeah, here and there are click-clacking speed bumps

My heart grows crumpled and my words lessen

Why the hell? I ran so hard

Oh why to me

A bell sound gave her consciousness back. Finance Street Halt, Leah could read the sign clearly and hear the sound of the broadcaster telling the passengers to pay when they intended to leave the bus repeatedly. She hurriedly ran to my home, opened her phone. She just realized that she hadn’t replied to Gavin's messages. Without a second thought, she spammed him her apology. Not seeing any signs of his reply, she attempted to sleep because she was really beaten up. The only thing that kept her awake was the clock, reminding her of her faults and it was already 10.30 pm. She continued listening to the song, so she could relieve her stomach pain and irregular, fast-paced heartbeat.

Come home and lie in bed

Dizzy night, looking at the clock

Thinking if it was my fault?

Soon it will be midnight

When her mind was about to drift off, the bell rang. “Coming,” Leah said, running to the door. The first thing she saw after opening the door made her heart want to leap, but getting crumpled instead. Gavin was in his casual clothes, but with a solemn look on his face. “Gavin, you’re late. Come in,” she said, inviting him to enter her home. He only followed her without uttering any single word.

After both of them sat, he started speaking, “I’m sorry for not telling you, I just finished my work. Leah, have you eaten?”

Leah shook her head, “actually, I bought food from Seventh Heaven. Mrs. Peng is really generous despite all my mistakes.”

Seeing her held back her tears, Gavin approached her, then she felt a pair of warm arms encircled her. “You have done your best, Leah.”

“I’m just a nuisance,” she said coldly. “And yeah, the audience wasn’t really impressed because the airing time was rescheduled. That makes me think that I should get lost forever. And I even forget to return your calls...”

A pair of amber eyes pierced through her soul’s window, his hand patted her head gently, “I’m hateful of the world too. But, about the last thing, that makes me dead worried. Have I done something wrong? Because all I got is my own echo.”

Somehow, she finally managed to let out a laugh, “Minor told me that too. No, actually I’m just dumb. I forgot to charge my phone.”

Gavin sighed, a small but sincere smile curved from his mouth. “I’m here to accompany you tonight.”

Thanks to him, Leah felt much better. “Let’s eat now. I’ve been waiting for you so we can start making our tummy happy!” She was beyond glad because he loved the bak kut teh.

After the dinner was finished, she held his hand while guiding him to her bedroom. Gavin always gave her warmth despite his cold exterior. “Listen to this song with me, it really helps me cope with the present situation.”

Gavin was confused when he put one side of my earphones, “what song?” 

God, how Leah wished she could cuddle him. She showed him the English translation in order to make him understand the meaning better. He was a bit sulky that she liked the boy group that sang it a bit too much, but he tried hard to hide it by cuddling her tight.

It won't be something like that

Will something be different?

But this day will be over

When the minute and second hands overlap

The world holds its breath for a little while

Zero o’clock

Her reminder popped up. It was already July 29th, zero o’clock. They kept listening to the song.

(Ooh-ooh) And you're gonna be happy

(Ooh-ooh) And you're gonna be happy

Like that snow that just settled down

Let's breathe, like the first time

(Ooh-ooh) And you're gonna be happy

(Ooh-ooh) And you're gonna be happy

Turn this all around

When everything is new, zero o'clock

Leah paused the song, pulled herself from his cuddle, “happy birthday, Potato. I hope at this new year of your life, you’ll be happier and healthier.”

Gavin cuddled her again, “thank you so much, my Pumpkin. My wish is the same for you. I hope I’ll be the one who makes you get the happiness you deserve.”

She blushed, how could he be so smooth at times. He laughed at my reddened face. “Why are you laughing? Let us pray,” she said to divert her embarrassment.

They were holding hands, silently pouring all their wishes.

Put my hands together to pray

It'll be better, for me

Hoping that tomorrow I'll laugh more, for me

When this song ends

May a new song begin

Hoping that I'll be a little happier, yeah

Gavin caressed her hair after he saw her yawned. “Sleepy?”

“Yeah, finally. But I’m joyful because it’s the tranquility that makes me sleepy, not the usual tiredness,” Leah snuggled closer to him.

“Sweet dreams for us, then,” he closed his eyes, hugging her in their sleep.

*bak kut teh : a pork ribs / meat soup dish with salted vegetables (this is how it looks like)

This is the GIF :))

#Spotify #birdcop celebration #birdcop #bird cop #mlqc #mldd #mr love queen's choice #mr love mobile #mr love dream date #mlqc au #mlqc fanfic #mlqc fic #mlqc songfic #mlqc gavin #gavin bai #bai qi #mlqc bai qi #mlqc mc #mr love mc #mlqc youran #i purple you #zero o'clock #bts fic #bts #mlqc fluff

[btswishes]

I will adopt you.

Monsta X (Shownu) hybrid au

Part1 / Part2 / Part3 / Part4 / Part5 / Part6 / Part7 / Part8 /…

A/N: I finally got through part2, thank God.Hope you like it there are more parts to come.Sorry for any mistakes made.

Word count:   2,123

Warnings: I mean ,just normal 21 century teen cussing.

                                  ——————————————–

  Mornings were the toughest for most of us. The sun peeked through the windows and lightly woke you up from the long night sleep.

“Mmmm.”you rolled over and rubbed your eyes, before expressing your annoyance.Rolling out of bed, you messed your hair up a bit and casually walked to the kitchen. Half a sleep yet still being able to start the day. You made some breakfast and sat down to eat. Before the first bite touched your mouth you facepalmed yourself.

“Nunu, ugh I forgot about Nunu.”with all the power than was waking up with you, you stood back up and pulled out your phone. You were leaning against the kitchen counter and googling food that is ok for dogs “Ok...lets see.” scrolling through the many posts, you got some helpful info “No sweet stuff, ait, veggies good for him, noted.”

  Placing the phone onto the hard surface, one of your hands was on your hip while you were biting the finger nail on your thumb. “Do you I have anything at all from those lists?” it took some time but in the end you shrugged it off “Eh, who cares I ma wing it. DIY never hurt no body.”

  Whipping up some veggies mixed with imagination and boom, looked pretty nice. “Hey now!”you stepped back to look at the plate “Looks good enough even for me. Any college kid would feel like they are eating in a 4 star restaurant if I gave them that.” it’s always nice to hype yourself up.

  Grabbing the plate you walked into your room to find the big cuddle bear look alike ,still sleeping on the side of your bed. You were about to wake him up with a pat on the head, but a smug grin formed on your lips. You bend over and moved the food in front of his nose a few times. At first there was no reaction, but slowly his nose started moving up and down before his eyes shot open.In the nick of time you pulled the plate back up and lifted your finger.

“We are eating in the designated eating space of this house. No one wants their room to smell like breakfast even if that sounds good......” you drifted off into thought “Anyways, kitchen, now.”

  The dog just walked past you. For a second you were shocked and followed. Placing the plate on the floor, you sat back down.”It feels like you understand me, somehow.” you were about to dig in when your eyes met the pup, he was sitting on the chair in front of you “No, bad Nunu. Down.” he looked at you and his ears stood in a confused position.

  You tried to pull him down, but he kept coming back up. Since the sheer size of this dog it was way too much of a workout to keep trying to lift him up, so you just put the plate on the table and pointed at the food. “Well then since you will be joining me for breakfast, please dig in.” immediately after saying that he started eating, for a dog he ate so clean and proper. “Wow now, you are making me feel like the animal here.”

  The storm had passed by since yesterday and the sun finally shined onto the freshly fallen snow. You leaned onto your hand and looked out the window thinking about what to do today. After washing the dishes, you grabbed a pen and paper and sat down on the living-room floor.

“What to do, what to do?” you looked around the house to see if there was something in particular pulling your eye.”I got food yesterday....but” the fluffy ball of fur sat down next to you, staring at the sheet between your fingers “I also got a dog.” patting Nunu’s head you made a firm decision “Alright! Today is Nunu day!”you squished his cheeks between your palms, but using his paw he pushed them down “You aren’t cute at all sometimes.” sighing you leaned onto the couch behind you “I have to get some dog stuff, better google necessities and jump out while it’s still sunny.”

  You didn’t take long to get ready at all unlike yesterday. You locked the door behind you and jumped onto the elevator. You could feel the cold slowly creeping up as you were going down. The outside world was very bright and you covered your eyes with one hand and Nunu’s with the other.

“Don’t look up too much Nunu, it’s not good for your eyes.I think...”  people were looking at you quite openly, but who wouldn’t keeping in mind the dog walking with you was huge. Kids were pointing, some would come up and ask if they could pet him and you would say that he is very lovable. It was more attention than you were used to, but strangely it didn’t feel like you were drifting through life anymore. It felt like this dog came out of nowhere and pushed you into the real world, it was a warm feeling you were yet to fully understand. 

 Deep in thought you would pet him from time to time, it was in a way comforting for you.Soon you found yourself at the destination. 

“Luisa’s pet shop.” you read out loud “Well let’s go in and meet this Luisa then.”you opened the door and Nunu followed you in. The ring at the top of the entrance signalized the owner of your arrival.

 The moment you made your first step you were hit with that oh so familiar pet shop aura, the sound of many different birds and animals just calling out to you. Most were just beautiful creatures. 

 The boy behind the counter introduced himself as Ace and after finding out about your needs he didn’t waste even a second and jumped right into the explanation. There were so many options that you weren’t used to ,so since Nunu reacted understandingly today, you decided that maybe if you let him chose what he wants it would be better. and faster Ace was quite interested at the scene in front of him. You were talking to the gigantic dog like a human and it was responding accordingly.

 As you were paying, Ace commented on something “I have never seen a dog act like he does. Almost feels like he understand you 100%, fascinating to be honest. Extremely smart one for sure.”

  You grabbed the bags and opened the door “Really? I thought ever dog was like that. Could it be because of his breed?”

“Ask the vet, i don’t know what kind of dog he even is.”

“Ok, well thanks a lot. See you later probs.”you said your goodbyes and walked out of the store. The cold wind surprised you. Being in the closed space for so long made you forget about the season it was outside. You took a double take at the business card Ace passed you and tried to orientate yourself to the vet.It didn’t take too long thanks to some lovely people you asked for directions.

“Oh wait, it’s here.” it was filled with pets and owners waiting for a check up. You walked up to one of the people working and explained what you had to. In just a matter of seconds they took Nunu and asked you to wait for a bit. You were sitting there for not too long when someone called your name.

“Yes, here!” walking into the cabinet you saw Nunu laying in a defensive position and his fur standing up. “OMG I am so so so sorry for this. Bad dog! Stay down! Nunu!” his teeth were out but you didn’t think much when you grabbed his mouth and turned his head towards yourself “The doctor is trying to help you now sit down a be good!” the pup’s eyes were wide open, but he calmed down on the table. It was as if he didn’t expect your bravery, putting your hand directly next to his razor sharp teeth. 

 You bowed a few times and continued saying sorry. The vet started laughing and assured you that it was normal and ok. She asked you to take a seat and have a talk with her. After the introductions, you shook hands and she pulled out some papers.The nurse left some doggy snacks in front of your pup for being good.

“So, we registered him in the system and you are officially his owner, so congratulations. I heard from one of the nurses that you don’t have any information about him other than gender ,since you picked him up a few hours ago.” you nodded “Ok then, I would shed some light onto these issues if you would like.” you were focused onto her “So, his breed is a caucasian shepherd, usually their highest is nothing compared to the one you have here.We did some over all health tests and he is as healthy as can be, pure breed as well even for his massive bear like size. He is 3 years old so around 27-28th human years.”

“Wow, so he is older than me? That is....a shock.” your eyes got wide for a second there

“Over all healthy pup you got there, he got all his shots didn’t even flinch.” the vet closed up the folder and smiled at him

“Wait, but then why did he become all defensive awhile ago?”

“Well, I think your dog has a very high masculinity level. He didn’t like it much when I lifted his tail.” 

“Come to think of it he reacted like that when I was giving him a bath. I think he just might be shy or something like that.” you were about to stand up when the vet spoke 

“Oh and, I know this is a touchy subject for some, but by law very big dogs like in your case have to always wear a leash. No matter how well behaved they are.” you pulled the one you just bought and placed it onto him 

“Sorry Nunu, you heard what the vet said.” you gave him a treat after so it wasn’t super uncomfortable “I will come again next month right?” the vet nodded “Great, have a nice day and sorry again for his reaction. Nunu had walked out of the office before you ,when in motion the doctor stopped you “Oh I almost forgot. Some full moons can cause changes in a dog’s behavior, for the first few full moons ,I advice you to keep an eye on him so you know how he reacts.Basically get familiar with the actions and responses. He is quite the big dog and the masculinity issue can make him more aggressive.So in the future it will be a lot more easy for you if you just find out his behavior patterns early on.” you noted everything the vet had told you and soon said your goodbyes.

  As you were walking casually with him, the leash was around your wrist as one of your hands was holding the bags and the other was keeping warm in your pocket. Nunu seemed pretty tame to you, but of course the vet had way more experience, so you were thinking about tonight. Not long after ,you unlocked your apartment door and threw the bags on the couch.With a long sigh of relief you plopped next to them and relaxed your head back.

“Pew, that was one hell of a journey we had today.” as much as you didn’t want to get up, you had to change “Come here for a bit boy.” Nunu followed you and you took off his collar since you were worried it was too tight. You placed it next to your jewelry nice and neat.

“Look, now both of us can use this vanity.” still sitting on the chair you began taking off your shirt, but once you fully removed it, you noticed that Nunu had left the room without you noticing. Shrugging it off ,you put some comfy and warm clothes on and went back to the living room, turning on the TV. Time was flying by when you noticed the sudden movement around your legs. 

 The pup couldn’t seem to get into a comfortable position, which made you laugh out a bit under your nose. Not even a second later you remembered the conversation with the vet and saw the sun already setting. After a quick google search you opened your notepad app. With a fast finger motion you typed in Becomes uneasy the moment the sun starts to disappear. “Interesting.” Since his movements stopped you tried to concentrate on the show again, but he had become way more interesting.What else could he be doing tonight ?

#monsta x fanfics #monsta x fics #monsta x fanfic #monsta x fic #monsta x scenarios #monsta x scenario #monsta x au #monsta x aus #monsta x stories #monsta x x reader #monsta x x you #monsta x you #monsta x reader #monsta x fanfiction #monsta x fanfictions #monsta x hybrid fic #shownu fanfiction #shownu scenario #shownu scenarios #shownu fanfic #shownu fanfictions #shownu fanfics #shownu fic #shownu fics #shownu au #shownu aus #Shownu x reader #shownu x you #shownu hybrid au #hyungwo

[chilling-seavey]

Anything But Mine (d.s.) - Chapter Twenty-Three

A/N: A chapter just in time for Daniel’s birthday! 🥰 Maybe I’ll post two to celebrate? 🤔

T/W: brief mention of abortion

Tuesday, July 28th, 2020

“Well it’s good to see you have some company this time around.”

Florence smiled at the doctor from her place on the white clinic bed. Her blouse was pushed up past her swollen stomach, the clear gel spread messily over her skin. Emilio stood on her other side, a gentle hand on Florence’s arm.

“So, thirty-five weeks, we got a solid heartbeat here.” The doctor stated, dragging the wand across the gel, the rapid rhythmic beating echoing gently through the room. Florence watched the screen with wide eyes, seeing the almost fully formed baby there.

“I think it has my nose.” Emilio whispered to her. She smacked his chest playfully.

“You didn’t want to find out the sex after all?” the doctor asked.

“I don’t know. I’m still on the fence.” Florence chuckled.

“No harm in that.” The doctor shrugged. She took a few notes on her paper as she checked the baby’s movement, breathing, muscle tone, and amount of amniotic fluid. The hour went by quickly and smoothly, filled with suggestions for the next month by the doctor in preparation for the birth. Florence held onto a few pamphlets she was handed as they left, Emilio leading her to the car as she flipped through them.

“Oh my God.” Florence sighed as Emilio helped her into the passenger side of his black BMW.

“What?” Emilio asked.

Florence shoved an open pamphlet in his face, a list of post-partum creams and routines listed in bold font. “I forgot my vagina turns into a post-apocalyptic world after birth.” She stated plainly.

“Ew, did not need that visual.” Emilio shuttered and gently pushed the pamphlet away from his face. He closed the passenger side door and let himself into the other side.

“And you bleed for like…six weeks straight.” Florence added as he reversed out of the parking spot.

“Way too much information.” Emilio shuttered. “Again, did not need to know that.”

Florence shrugged, looking back at the pamphlet in her hand.

The previous seven months had gone by fast and a lot had changed as well. Emilio and Grayson soon fell into a civil and friendly relationship, realizing they were both sort of stuck under the certain situation. Tensions had since eased and Florence felt more comfortable around both young men since everything had settled into a unique reality. She was still extremely nervous, however, as she was carrying around the silent burden of who was the father of her unborn child. It was a sticky spot to be in and the guilt she had was heavier than the twenty-five pounds she put on by the start of her third trimester.

Florence’s apartment was arguably the one consistent thing in her life. Although expecting her second child, she could not afford to upgrade to a three bedroom and was therefore stuck with the place she had. Callum was still sending a consistent amount each month for her rent which helped greatly.

Emilio parked in the underground garage beneath the apartment building and the two took the elevator to the familiar 25th floor. Grayson had already arrived earlier that morning, gladly offering his assistance in putting together the crib in the master bedroom. That’s right where Florence and Emilio found him, quiet music playing through a Bluetooth speaker as he sat on the floor surrounded by tools. Clementine sat nearby, a small plastic bowl of cut up strawberries set in front of her as she watched Grayson work.

“We’re back!” Emilio called, falling onto the neatly made bed on his stomach, glancing over Grayson’s work.

“How was it?” Grayson asked, looking up from the floor, pushing his messy hair back from his face. “Everything still okay?”

“Everything is perfect.” Florence nodded, setting her hands on his shoulders. “This looks great, Gray.”

“We’ve been working hard, haven’t we, Clem?” Grayson looked over to the eighteen-month-old who nodded excitedly.

“I knew I shouldn’t have gotten rid of the old one.” Florence sighed, sitting on the end of her bed.

“New is fun.” Emilio shrugged.

“I agree.” Grayson nodded, pressing the screwdriver into the last beam and turning it clockwise. Clementine crawled over to him, her small hands pressing onto his light blue pants with white stripes as she got herself to her feet. She reached for the screwdriver as Grayson pulled it back.

“All done!” he told her, tickling her sides.

“Please.” Clementine whined, reaching for the bright orange handle that he held behind his back.

“Grownups only, remember, Clemmy?” Grayson said, starting to pack up his tools.

“The nap was okay?” Florence asked as she picked up her daughter from climbing over Grayson.

“Yep. She slept a good hour. I got her up at 2.” He said, also getting up from the floor. “We’ve been having fun. She’s been a big help. I think she’s going to take after me with her building skills.”

Grayson tickled the toddler’s side and she giggled loudly, slinging her arms around her mother’s neck.

“We should get ready to head out.” Florence said as the group headed into the living room. “I’m going to throw on a dress.”

Clementine was passed over to Emilio and Grayson set his tool box on the kitchen island before unzipping his bag that was on the stool. He took out a new shirt and slacks and the two separated to different rooms to change in preparation for their plans for that night.

Once dressed and touched up, Florence came back into the living area where Emilio had Clementine situated on the floor with a puzzle. Puzzles were Clementine’s new favourite toy.

Florence set her purse on the island and shuffled through it, “So-“

“I got dinner at 5, bath at 5:30, and bedtime at 6 if you aren’t back.” Emilio finished without even looking up.

“And there’s-“

“Left over spaghetti in the box in the fridge and I should warm it up but make sure its not burning.” Emilio sent a small smirk in Florence’s direction.

“Yeah.” Florence sighed. “What would I do without either of you?”

“God only knows.” Grayson tisked playfully as he emerged from the bathroom dressed in a black t-shirt tucked into olive green slacks and finished with his usual designer belt. He set a hand on Florence’s shoulder, his other ruffling through his mess of brown waves.

“We’ll be back as soon as we can.” Florence said.

“Don’t rush.” Emilio assured her. “We are going to be just fine.”

“Like every time.” Grayson added.

“Tell mama that we’re fine.” Emilio whispered to Clementine.

“Fine, mama.” Clementine whispered through a grin, leaning into Emilio’s side.

“Now let’s get a move on. Daniel didn’t take it well the last time you were late for a meal with him, remember?” Grayson shook his keys in the air, ushering Florence towards the door.

“Wait! I can’t forget my pamphlets.” Florence grabbed the small stack from the table and rushed after him.

“Good luck.” Emilio said more to Grayson than anyone. The other boy rolled his eyes teasingly before closing the door behind himself and Florence.

~~

It was approaching 4pm as they arrived at the restaurant, Grayson’s light blue Porsche earning many glances from on lookers as he handed the valet his keys and helped Florence into the building. The casual restaurant was bustling as the hostess led the pair to their table. Daniel was already there, sat next to a brunette girl on one side of the booth. The girl was named Cayleigh and she was Daniel’s new girlfriend. 

They had been dating only a couple months, meeting near the end of the school year on an app that Florence didn’t care to know the name of. Cayleigh was a nice girl and Daniel seemed to really like her but there was something about the whole situation that just made Florence annoyed. She was not looking forward to sitting through an entire dinner with them and having to deal with Cayleigh’s overly chipper personality.

When Grayson and Florence got to the table, the friends greeted each other happily, Florence plastering on her best fake smile that she had perfected over the years of attending boring functions and dinners with her parents and brothers.

Cayleigh was quick to start with an excited, “How was your appointment today, Florence? I haven’t seen you in so long! You look like you’re ready to pop!”

Grayson shifted awkwardly at the slightly controversial statement and Florence gritted her teeth through her offence, replying with a simple, “It went well.”

While she was pregnant with Clementine, Florence’s body was going through massive changes for the first time, meaning she was barely showing well into her fifth month. Now, with a second child, Florence was shocked to see the difference in how easily her body stretched, the massive weight gain and large, round belly being a sensitive topic to the still young girl. Of course, having Cayleigh of all people point it out so bluntly made Florence’s cheeks flush with anger more than embarrassment. She covered it with a long drink from her water glass and hid her pamphlets deep in her purse.

“How have you two been?” Grayson asked, trying to turn the subject away from Florence as she was clearly already on edge and dinner hadn’t even begun.

“We’ve been fine.” Daniel said. “I’ve managed to pick up a few gigs around the city this summer.”

“And I’ve been working as a sports camp counsellor. It’s so fun.” Cayleigh boasted. “The kids are so crazy but literally relentless. Plus they all love me, so it’s good.”

“I wish we could see each other more but things have been busy.” Daniel said quietly, offering Florence a gentle smile from across the table. She could barely force one in return, her eyes focussed on the minimal space between the two love-birds across from her, Cayleigh’s hand rubbing against Daniel’s thigh. Florence drank more water.

Dinner progressed slowly, lighthearted chatter filling the space between the group of four as they ate. It had been a while since Florence and Daniel had a moment to talk once summer started, although their relationship was never quite the same after their little hiatus in the fall. She knew he was always there for her but things were simply different. Plus, Cayleigh coming into the picture put even more of a strain on their already weak relationship. At least from Florence’s point of view.

But Daniel adored Cayleigh and that was clear. They were almost never apart and whenever they were seen together they were always touching. It was like they couldn’t keep their hands or eyes off of each other. Daniel would stare at her when she spoke, seeming to absorb the way her lips moved and how her brown eyes would squeeze closed when she laughed. Florence hated that she noticed that.

She was glad Grayson was there, though. Even in their simply platonic standing, Grayson’s presence always made Florence feel calm. He told the group a story of how he had been getting into building in his spare time that summer. Grayson always spoke loudly, especially when he was excited about something and a few customers at other tables glanced their way as he continued his story of his recently constructed coffee table. Florence leaned into him, her hand falling to his leg. He shifted a little, almost in a movement to get Florence off of him but he didn’t miss a beat with his story. Florence frowned but turned quietly back to her meal.

Florence pushed the remining food around her plate with her fork before breaking the conversation with a gentle, “I have to pee.”

Grayson stopped his story and quickly got up from the table, letting her slide out of the booth ungracefully.

“I’ll join you!” Cayleigh said, getting up from the table as well.

Florence sent a small glare in Grayson’s direction but he merely smiled in response as he sat back down in his spot. The girls walked slowly across the dining room to the washroom and Cayleigh held open the door for them. Florence thanked her quietly before getting herself into a stall, having to wiggle her swollen stomach through the small door opening.

“Isn’t Daniel amazing?” Cayleigh spoke from the stall next to her.

Florence, now shielded by four walls, rolled her eyes, “He is.”

“He’s literally so sexy. I have no clue how you haven’t snatched him yet, girl.” Cayleigh’s voice echoed through the empty bathroom.

Florence’s eyes widened at her statement and she ran a hand over her face. The whole dinner was tiring her out. Cayleigh was tiring her out.

“We are only best friends and that’s all we’ll ever be.”

“So I don’t have to worry about you stealing him from me?” Cayleigh teased with a laugh although Florence could tell there was a hint of seriousness in her tone.

“No.” Florence could hear Grayson in her mind telling her to be nice. She then asked a question she could have cared less about, “How are you two doing?”

“So good!” Cayleigh’s groan made Florence physically cringe. “Although we haven’t slept together yet. I’ve been trying!”

Florence gaped at the stall door at the girl’s bluntness.

Cayleigh flushed and Florence heard her approach the sink as she continued, “I mean I don’t know why he won’t. Sleep with me that is. He’s a literal man, shouldn’t they want sex all the time?”

Florence exhaled deeply, wishing she could have just gone to the bathroom alone, but she got herself out to the sink as well, starting to wash her hands. She caught Cayleigh’s expectant gaze in the mirror.

Clearly wanting an answer, Florence complied, “Daniel is not much of a physical person. He shows love in different ways. Don’t take it personally if he’s not jumping in bed after three minutes.”

“I guess.” Cayleigh shrugged, pulling a tube of lipstick from her purse and applied a generous amount of pink to her pursed lips. She fluffed up her light brown hair and made a face in the mirror that reminded Florence of early pubescent girls. Florence glanced at herself in the mirror, stood next to such a unique character. Florence’s knee length blue floral dress was pulled tight around her belly, and her blonde hair hung loosely over her shoulders. She couldn’t help but compare herself to the happy, wild, free-living twenty-year-old girl beside her; the girl who’s biggest worry in life was why her celibate boyfriend didn’t want to sleep with her.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Cayleigh speaking through the mirror, “Okay but honestly though, have you seen Daniel’s fingers? Like, holy shit, can he put them to use yet?”

Florence forced a small laugh to hide her disgust, turning for the door so Grayson could keep her from screaming.

Much to her relief, dinner concluded not long after that, and with a quick one-armed hug from Daniel, Florence was back in the passenger seat of Grayson’s car. The exhausted sigh that she let out once the doors were closed made Grayson chuckle.

“That was awful.” Florence shifted in her seat, rubbing her hand over her belly.

“It wasn’t awful.” Grayson shrugged, pulling the car out of the parking lot.

“You didn’t hear what I heard in that bathroom trip.” Florence held her hands up. “I think I am traumatized.”

Grayson’s laugh filled the car and, like it always did, it made Florence crack a smile. She let her two hands intertwine on her lap, her gaze drifting out the window as the city lights zipped by.

“Well while you girls were bonding in the bathroom, Daniel and I had a nice chat.” Grayson spoke after a moment.

“That’s nice.” Florence said, not turning her attention from the window.

Grayson glanced at her before turning back to the road, “He asked how you were doing. Have you not been talking?”

“No.” Florence shrugged, nervously playing with the hem of her dress. “It hasn’t been the same. Not since Cayleigh is around. She takes all his time.”

“He says he misses you. That you haven’t been calling as much.” Grayson spoke gently.

“Because I don’t want to call him just to hear all the new details on his girlfriend and her new fucking lip gloss she bought.” Florence said sharper than intended.

“Why don’t you like Cayleigh?” he asked. “She’s nice.”

Florence held onto her two hands like it would save her life, “She’s taking him from me.”

“What do you mean?”

“We were starting to be better again and she took him away. Now we don’t talk anymore. I miss how things used to be, Gray.” Florence sniffled. “When I was pregnant with Clementine and there was no Matt and no drama and it was just Dani and me. And I was happy.”

Bright lights flooded the car as they pulled into the parking garage, Grayson’s soft sigh at her recently consistent tense emotions barely audible. He pulled into the parking space and put the car in park before turning to face her. The hormonal girl let out a soft sob into her hand.

“Are you not happy?” he asked quietly.

Florence took a trembling breath and shook her head slowly, almost ashamed at the admittance of it. “I keep hurting you. And that doesn’t make me happy. I’m stressed, Gray. So stressed. And I-I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself when this baby is born and one of you is going to get hurt. I can’t do this! I just want to go back in time and change so much! Change my choices and my actions and everything! Fuck! I wish none of this happened! I just want this baby gone!”

The panicked inhale that followed her sentence made her choke on her tears, her free hand tightly grabbing a fistful of her hair as almost to punish herself for admitting such a thing out loud.

Grayson simply watched her cry, staring at her expressionlessly. His silence made her heart ache in her chest and she tried to smother her ridiculous sobs into her hand. Grayson ran a hand through his hair, his gaze falling to his lap with a sigh.

“I-I should go.” Florence hiccupped, reaching for the door.

“No.” Grayson said quickly, reaching for her wrist to keep her from leaving. “I just…this is a lot. And I don’t know what to think or what to do. It’s hard on me too. On both of us.”

“I should have gotten a fucking abortion when I had the chance.” Florence grumbled angrily at herself.

“Don’t you dare say that.” Grayson replied sharply. “I’m allowed to still be hurt, you’re allowed to be upset, but you cannot say things like that. That is not how you better yourself and that is not how you solve this situation.”

Florence took a shaking breath and wiped her eyes with her the back of her hand as she turned away from him slightly.

“Everything is going to be okay.” Grayson whispered, but he sounded more like he was convincing himself rather than her.

Florence wanted to believe him, she really did; but even his gentle words of assurance didn’t spark comfort in the girl. She was stuck in her own mind, spiralling to where she felt she was unable to be saved. But she let herself stare at the wall of the parking garage, missing what life was like before everything changed.

#daniel seavey #wdw #why dont we #daniel seavey fanfic #why dont we fanfic #emilio martinez #martinez twins #limelight #martinator #daniel seavey fic #wdw fanfic #happy birthday daniel #jonah marais #jack avery #zach herron #corbyn besson #college!wdw #writing #anything but mine

[kiridork]

Kyoru Week Day 6: Birthday Wishes

I couldn’t figure out anything to draw for today, so I ended up writing something instead. It was supposed to be just a list of headcanons that was based off of this drabble that I wrote but it merged into a fic and it’s not this weird headcanon list/fan fic thing. I don’t really have enough time to edit it and have a beta read it before work so for any mistakes I’m super sorry. I hope you enjoy!

Word Count: 2054

For @kyoruweek19

When Tohru asks Kyo when his birthday is, it was because of a conversation that she had with Uo and Hana about Uo’s birthday coming up in January.

 She had already knew when Yuki’s was, considering his fan club won’t let everyone forget with their over the top celebrations that they had. 

Shigure’s had already passed in November. She remembered because he was out all night and came home not looking so well. Something about him being hungover.

She never could get the courage to ask Kyo when they were just starting to become friends. He was intimidating and she didn’t want to over step on any boundaries that would lead to him hating her. Now they were closer and more like friends, but with school getting busier and New Years coming and going, all of her attention concerning the question was put on hold.

But now that it was brought back into the light. When Kyo said that his birthday was back in December (the 28th to be exact), she couldn’t help but to exclaim that it had already past and felt super sad that they had missed celebrating it.

The thing is, Kyo was never one to celebrate his birthday. He thought that there was no need to celebrate his birth, one that brought not only suffering for himself but for his parents. There was no need to celebrate the cat who shouldn’t even be around to begin with.

He always thought it either ironic or a small blessing that his birthday was only three days from New Years. It usually meant that the others were busy preparing for the banquet and easily forgot about it. The only one who would remember was his Shishou, but he hadn’t heard from him since he last saw him in September.

Kyo told Tohru is wasn’t a big deal and that he never celebrated it anyways. That only left Tohru with hatching a plan of her own.

The next year rolls by and many things have happened between last December and this one. That doesn’t mean Tohru has forgotten what she planned a year ago.

At this point it was already decided that Yuki and Shigure were going to the banquet this year and that Kyo and Tohru would celebrate at Shishou’s house.

Now at this point Tohru knew Kyo well enough that he wouldn’t want anything big. He is more practical and a big party would make him uncomfortable. So she tried her best to make it a good day.

The morning of his birthday, Shigure and Yuki were both out of the house. Shigure at the main house spying the preparations for the banquet again and Yuki being dragged by Kakeru to a Christmas party (which Yuki kept on saying that Christmas was three days ago, but none of it got through to the other boy).

Kyo and Tohru are both ones to get up early in the mornings. Tohru being the one to get up about an hour later while Kyo took that time to take a jog. Today Tohru made sure to wake up earlier than he did. 

The night before, Tohru made cupcakes and made sure to make them after Kyo went to bed so he wouldn’t know. She got up that morning to decorate them spelling out “Happy Birthday Kyo!” on them. 

She then went straight into making breakfast. She ended up making pancakes. It wasn’t one of Kyo’s favorite meals, but she couldn’t help but recall the time they made them together this past summer.

It’s a lot of sweets for them, but it was a special occasion

Kyo didn’t even say good morning to her. He went straight out the front door to go on his jog. She recalled that he was like this last year as well, but never really thought about it until now. Maybe his birthday put him in a bad mood? She’ll have to change that.

After she gets breakfast ready and sets it up at the table, that’s when Kyo comes back from his jog. He comes in through the back this time. 

He finds Tohru underneath the kotatsu, waiting for him to return home. He also noticed the cupcakes on the counter, but doesn’t say it to her.

He’s in a better mood now than before his jog.

They both eat breakfast together and make small talk.

It’s then that Tohru brings up going hiking today. She knew that Kyo loved exercise and nature and had a good idea to go hiking with him to celebrate his birthday. Maybe go out and get lunch afterwards (she had saved up her money to go to the ramen restaurant she knows he loves) and come home and eat the cupcakes she made.

Kyo looked at her like she was crazy. “You do realize that there is like four feet of snow outside, right?”

Tohru, who went to looking dumbfounded to complete shock, scrambled up to grab her coat and boots and stepped outside.

Sure enough, there was four feet of snow on the ground.

Kyo, who had followed her out, told her that it was also icy out (he almost slipped and fell on his jog). It would be a terrible idea to go out let alone hike in this weather.

Tohru’s face fell as she realized her plans for the day were ruined.

Kyo, who sees this and doesn’t want Tohru to be upset, bends down and grabs a handful of snow and shoves it into Tohru’s face.

Tohru, stunned by the action sees Kyo smirking at her and proceeds to grab her own thing of snow.

They end up having a snowball fight. 

Tohru is the one that ends up wetter than Kyo (she tried to hit him, but wasn’t very successful). They are both out of breath at this point, Kyo deciding to plop onto the snow to try and cool himself off. Tohru giggles and finds herself laying down next to him. He watches her move her arms and legs up and down in an attempt to make a snow angel. It ends up looking like a blob. He chuckles at her confused face and she looks down at her work to find that she didn’t get her desired outcome.

His mind wanders to last summer when she gave that same look at the sand castle they attempted to make together. How her eyebrows creased and her lips were formed into a cute pout. The wind from the sea messing up her long beautiful hair. The way that the light hit her in just the right way to make her look angelic. 

Kyo doesn’t tell her that, but his thoughts of summer and sand castles leads to him asking her if she was better at making snowmen than she was at making sand castles. A pout from his teasing and him laughing at her reaction to his teasing later, they find themselves making one.

Tohru makes the head (as it’s the lightest one) while Kyo makes the mid section. They both end up rolling the bottom together and stacking them both up. Kyo has to give Tohru a boost (he can’t pick her up, so she steps on his knee to be able to reach that high. She almost topples over but Kyo quickly holds her into place by her hips and balances her. He can’t help but blush at how small her frame is) to put the head on the snowman. Tohru then runs inside as Kyo looks around the frozen pond for stones to use as eyes. She comes back with an extra scarf and a leftover carrot that wasn’t used from the previous nights dinner. She then wraps it around the neck of the snowman and sticks the nose in. Kyo then comes over with the stones he found and places them where eyes would go. The stones aren’t the same sizes but they worked out well enough. 

They both were admiring their work when Kyo looks over and sees Tohru shivering. He then suggests that they go back inside. She nods and they head on in. They both go to their separate rooms and change into dry clothes. By the time they were dressed and underneath the kotatsu once more, it was already a little after 12. 

Tohru asks if Kyo was hungry and he nods. She then realizes that she never planned on having lunch at home and doesn’t know what to make for lunch. She goes into the kitchen and wracks her brain for an idea on what to cook. She then remembers that they have somen noodles and ingredients for the broth that she can cook up. When she goes and suggest this idea to Kyo, she finds him sleeping underneath the kotatsu. Tohru find herself smiling and thinking about how calm and peaceful he looks while he’s asleep. She lets him sleep while she cooks lunch.

After they eat lunch, she finds herself not entirely sure what to do. Even in her previous plan she didn’t think of what to do after lunch. They still had hours until dinner and her bringing out the cupcakes. It was bad enough that it was too snowy and cold out to go do anything. What could they do to pass the time? Maybe there was something Kyo wanted to do.

She ends up asking him to which he shrugs his shoulders. He mutters something about getting homework done while he has time to do so. She knits her eyebrows. Why would you even want to do that on your birthday? Though she understands then next few days will be busy and they were assigned quite a bit of homework over this short break. When he asks if she has even started on hers, she realizes she hasn’t and starts to panic a little. 

They end up working on their assignments together. Surprisingly enough, Kyo was good at explaining problems that she couldn’t figure out. He seemed like he knew what he was talking about, and Tohru praised him on how well he knew the material. He ends up scoffing and saying that his scores were better than that damn rat’s. Thinking back on how much he studied, she understood why he would do so well.

They both however got stuck on physics and spent the remaining hours before Tohru has to prepare dinner trying to decipher the mathematical equations they were given.

Tohru ends up making katsudon for dinner. It’s something that Kyo usually gets when they order take-out and she wanted to try making it from home to see if it would taste better. She thinks Kyo likes it, because he doesn’t talk much while they eat and he has this starry look in his eyes. It makes her smile.

After dinner is put up is when Tohru brings out the cupcakes she made earlier. She explains that while she knows that he doesn’t like celebrating his birthday, she felt bad for them skipping it last year and wanted to make up for it. She then goes into apologizing for not being able to do the things she planned (to which Kyo knew nothing about) and he hopes it was a good day anyways. Kyo then tells her that there’s no need to apologize and that he ended up having a good day despite Tohru’s plans failing. It was actually pretty fun. Hearing that makes Tohru smile brightly, the way that makes Kyo’s heart flutter.

After putting the cupcakes onto the table, she realizes she forgot something and runs back into the kitchen. Tohru comes back with a candle and a lighter. She tells Kyo that it’s good luck to blow out a candle on your birthday as she sticks the candle into one of the cupcakes. It makes Kyo nervous when Tohru uses the lighter, but she successfully lights the candle without burning herself. She then softly hums Happy Birthday to him and tell him to blow out the candle and make a wish. He thinks for a second and then blows it out.

Tohru asks what he wished for. Kyo tells her that it won’t come true if he told her. Little does Tohru know that Kyo’s wish had already come true. And that was to spend the day with her.

#fruits basket #kyo sohma #tohru honda #kyoru #kyoruweek2019 #fan fic #fic #headcanon

[big-sky-crypto]

Could There Be Another Financial Crisis on the Horizon?

I wrote this article back in Sept. of 2018 but thought it was worth republishing with everything that is happening right now. I first republished it on Medium back on Feb. 28th but forgot to republish it here so I am doing that now. And since I republished this on Medium things have gotten a whole lot worse. I won't go into all of the details here but basically, everything seems to be shutting down, Schools, businesses, sporting events, it feels like the whole world is coming to a halt.

The paragraph below was added before republishing it on Medium on Feb. 28th.

I have a feeling that the financial impact from the Coronavirus could be much greater than many people believe. Many corporations are already lowering their forward-looking revenue estimates and some are saying that their China revenue could drop by as much as 50%. IMO the Coronavirus has the potential to be that trigger or domino leading to a recession or at worst another financial crisis. I want to also say that I am not republishing this to scare anyone. If we panic then this could become a Self-fulfilling prophecy. My reason is just as food for thought, just to make people aware of one possible side-effect of this outbreak.

Below is the original blog post from Sept. 2018

It has been about 10 years now since the 2008 financial crisis and we are currently riding the 2nd longest economic expansion on record. Most places you look things look very good, the US stock markets are near all-time highs. The S&P 500 is up over 300% since bottoming early in 2009 and nearly double what it was at the peak in 2007. The unemployment rate is sitting at just under 4% near historic lows, the improving jobs market has been pulling more people back into the labor force and even with all the economic momentum inflation still seems to be under control. The US GDP for the second quarter topped 4% which is the highest growth rate since the third quarter of 2014 and US corporate profits are at an all-time high. Personally, I see help wanted signs almost everywhere I go and have read numerous articles about a labor shortage here in the US so to me all of this points to a very bright future.

But hold on! Are there dangers to our economy and financial system lurking below the surface? Could there be a domino waiting to fall which could trigger a chain of events leading us into another economic meltdown? I have already listed some of the positive indicators which point to further prosperity, so now let’s look at the possible dominoes out there that could possibly derail the US or even the global economy. So first let’s look at the very first thing that I wrote, we are currently in the second-longest economic expansion on record, now does that mean that it is going to end tomorrow or next week? Of course not, it could end up becoming the longest on record, but chances are it is closer to the end than the beginning. Economies move in cycles referred to as the economic cycle or business cycle. These cycles are identified as having four distinct phases, expansion, peak, contraction (or recession) and the trough.

We can see by economic indicators that the economy has been expanding for quite some time, so we are obviously in the expansion phase and I would argue that we are getting close to the peak. I am not saying the expansion will end tomorrow, but it could be only a matter of months before it does, and we then transition into another recession.

So, I think we can all agree that sooner or later the US economy will eventually transition into another recession. But that fact alone will not be enough to trigger a financial crisis, so what could be the domino that could trigger a crisis? Besides the danger from a black swan event, in my opinion, the biggest threat to our financial system right now is debt. More specifically, corporate debt, government debt is also out of control in my opinion but for this article, I will be concentrating on Corporate debt. Currently, by many analyst estimations, the corporate bond market is now in a bubble, and what is the most likely cause of this bubble? Ultra-low interest rates are a result of actions by the federal reserve to try and stimulate the US economy after the great recession. A recent report by S&P Global found that the debt held by US corporations has reached a record of $6.3 trillion which is higher than it was in 2007. As you can see by the chart below corporate debt to GDP is also once again reaching extreme levels.

This second chart shows another problem, a great deal of that corporate debt is going to be maturing over the next few years. It is true that U.S. corporations have amassed a record 2.1 trillion in cash to help service their debt but most of that cash is held by a few giant companies. In my opinion, the real issue here is that interest rates are on the rise making it more expensive for these corporations to not only service this debt but also more expensive to roll this debt forward. According to Wells Fargo Securities, corporations will need to refinance about $4 trillion worth of bonds over the next five years which is about two-thirds of all their outstanding debt. With interest rates rising these corporations are going to have to spend enormous amounts of money just to service this debt.

Now enter a recession into this mix, so now you have corporations dealing with servicing an enormous amount of debt and then due to a recession their cash flow and profits start to shrink. It is not too hard to imagine that this could push the balance sheets of quite a few corporations to the breaking point. Now one way the corporations could deal with this would be to shrink, layoff employees, reduce inventory, stop investing, sell assets, but if this happens on a large enough scale the only thing it will accomplish is to further deepen the recession, so this then become a vicious circle.

Another issue is the size of the financial markets, just prior to the 2008 financial crisis the global financial markets were many times the size of the global economy. They had tripled in size over the prior three decades until they were 347 percent of the global GDP, today they are even larger having grown to 360 percent of the global GDP, which is a record. In my opinion, the reason for much of this growth is due to actions by central banks around the world following the financial crisis. In an effort to help the recovery world central banks have massively expanded their balance sheets with much of this newly printed money ending up in the financial markets.

Many corporations have also been using money from debt to buy back their own shares thus boosting their stock prices. There is expected to be over $1 trillion worth of share buybacks this year after the passing of the tax reform bill. So, in addition to the bond or debt bubble, in my opinion, we also have a bubble in the financial markets, I don’t think you need to be a rocket scientist to see that this is a real problem. I have mainly focused on issues here at home but there are also other “dominoes” out there in the rest of the world that could just as easily trigger a global crisis, number one on that list has to be China’s debt bubble. In my opinion, it will only take one domino to fall starting a chain of events that could spiral us into another financial crisis.

So, I am not writing this to try and scare anyone, and I am not saying that this could happen tomorrow, just that “it” is out there. I believe we all need to be aware that no matter how great things seem right now economically, there are issues with our corporate and financial systems that combined with the right trigger could change things very fast, and not for the better.

I hope you found this article interesting and thought-provoking.

Until the next article, Take care!

BigskyCrypto

Website: https://www.bigskycrypto.com

Questions or comments? Email me at [email protected]

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