#not reviewing and trying to sell someone else's so like yeah

[bragganhyl]

I'm going to start posting my art with captions like this

#hablaty #yeah i got a shitty blazed post with artwork that looked clearly ai generated from a blog that looked like a scam bot so yeah #but i'm crying here wtf #and i feel like i need to clarify that yes OP was talking about what they claimed to be their own art like this #not reviewing and trying to sell someone else's so like yeah

[amber-lucca44]

Couldn't sleep and was bored, and kinda hate Drake so um

Drake's biggest fuckups I've caught on this beef

He loves trying to diss Kendrick for his height. Yk like a toddler would.

He tries to say Kendrick's Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers was a bad album. If we're talking critical reviews, it had a Metacritic rating of 85/100, compared to Drake's highest ever rating of 79/100 for Nothing Was The Same. In fact, Kendrick's lowest Metacritic score so far has been 80/100 for Section.80, again over Drake's highest.

...and if we're talking sales or streams, well first, no one ever challenged Drake's sales compared to Kendrick. I think we all know Drake is pretty much unmatched when it comes to that. Second, if sales were a factor to determine quality of music, then holy shit "Despacito" must be an all time magnum opus like nothing anyone ever heard before lol.

Trying to call Kendrick a sellout for doing songs with Maroon 5 and Taylor Swift? Drake calling someone else a sellout? 🤡🤡🤡

The line where he said Kendrick isn't on the big three because SZA, Travis Scott and 21 Savage "got him wiped down". Okay, first, I'm pretty sure this guy thinks big three means just "the three best selling" and uhhh no not quite. And second, and most obvious, SZA? SZA isn't even a rapper, why are you trying to bring her into this? 🙄

The AI to imitate 2Pac's and Snoop's voices. A few points here. First of all, the fucking disrespect to 2Pac, what the fuck. Glad Pac's family threatened him to remove it. Second, Snoop Dogg is alive. You just used his AI voice cause you know damn well he wouldn't be caught dead doing a verse on a Kendrick diss for you. And as a third point, it's just funny you felt like you had to use AI to make a diss track. Ghostwriters weren't enough for this one ig lol.

"Taylor Made Freestyle" was all just him begging on his hands and knees for Kendrick to reply something and give him some attention. Drake took almost a month replying to Kendrick's verse on "Like That". And he's begging for a response to "Push Ups" like a week after it was leaked (and the same day it was even officially released in the first place)

He tried to say the things Kendrick would diss him with. He was mostly right but oh boy did Kendrick do so much more.

Is he a Swiftie too? Cause he wouldn't let her go for "Taylor Made". In his mind, he swears Kendrick wasn't dropping a diss cause he didn't want to interrupt Taylor Swift's album's success, which is just a funny and dumb conclusion to make.

Spends the end of that track just talking, trying to praise Taylor for "managing Kendrick's schedule". 🤡

Drake beginning "Family Matters" with an n word and then going "yeah I said it I know that you mad" really came off sounding like when 12 year olds play online and say the word to seem tough. 😂

"Always rapping like you trying to get the slaves freed". Dang so making songs that actually have substance and meaning means you wanna free slaves, okay.

About these next lines...

Kendrick said he hated the girls you fuck referring to your dumbass being a pedo and hated you trying to hook up with underage girls. Not at any point did he say anything about their color tf.

"I've been with black and white and everything that's in between" okay so all underage girls okay got it. Again that was never the point. 😐

"You the black messiah wifin' up a mixed queen" Drake seriously missed the whole entire fucking point. Kendrick never said he didn't like you for hooking up with white women, what the fuck. And again the messiah thing is just funny.

He mentioned Whitney on "Push Ups", and some gave him the benefit of the doubt thinking he might have just done some wordplay about Whitney Houston being called the same as Kendrick's wife, wasn't clear enough. But these lyrics here are what made it abundantly clear he did want to try to mess with his family. I'm sorry but at this point that's not a rap beef, you intentionally tried to make it personal. Maybe you knew you never had a chance so you thought going there would make it possible to win? As if you didn't have a horrible fucking record already.

"Why you never hold your son and tell him 'say cheese'?" Maybe he doesn't want to expose him too much to the public while he raises him, decent human beings would understand that.

"We could've left the kids out of this, don't blame me" Kendrick said you don't know shit about raising a child based on information that was already abundantly public (see "The Story Of Addidon") and also based on the fact that you, despite having that child, love playing tough on IG and dropping disses using AI begging Kendrick to reply. Trying to get Kendrick's children involved is totally on you, buddy. Kendrick wasn't the one dealing with being exposed with having a child no one knew about and you wouldn't acknowledge.

He loves baselessly claiming that one of Kendrick's children isn't his. Again, baselessly, so literally just gossip lol.

And speaking of baseless stuff, he's really keeps running on his claim that Kendrick has beaten his wife. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF THIS. Like at all. In his mind, he probably thinks that since his easily provable bullshit was exposed, he'll try to invent some bs on Kendrick too to make it seem like they're both horrible people. The only piece of shit we know of in this beef is you, Drake.

Not at Kendrick but in a diss aimed at The Weeknd, Drake had to pull out his homophobic card. Disgusting. Fuck, it's so easy to dislike this guy. 🙄

Saying that Kendrick's music only "hitting hard" when Baby Keem writes on it. Is it cause he has writing credits on "N95"? He does ad libs on the song so I'm pretty sure that's why he's listed. Are the ad libs that fire? Lol

"Kendrick just opened his mouth, somebody go hand him a Grammy right now" awww he jealous bout Kendrick's Grammy's lol 🥺

He brought up Kendrick's transgender uncle, and was transphobic to try to diss Kendrick. Just plain ignorant and disgusting as hell. But of course he did. 😑🙄

Tried to blame Kendrick for 2Pac's family threatening legal action for his "Taylor Made Freestyle". Bro what you did was plain disrespectful and it was just bound to happen.

Did he really try to brag about the video leaked of him masturbating? 🤡🤡🤡

And this nonsense right here, was it cause he visited Ghana or something? He's trying to pin Kendrick as a racist? Huh?

...and follows this up with an ignorant, racist, weird ass comment dissing Michael Jackson too for no reason whatsoever. 🤡

Talking to the mirror here lol

Naming his diss track "The Heart part 6" was almost clever. Except for the fact that yk the song is fucking trash.

The first line on this song calls Kendrick "the Pulitzer Prize winner". Yeah pointing out an accolade as amazing as that one at the beginning of a diss towards him will definitely do it. 😀

Having a comment by Dave Free as the cover for the single. Is this his evidence for a kid being his? 😂

Saying you "plotted to give Kendrick information" doesn't even help you much when it's all easily believable based on your background lol.

Denying the child Kendrick is exposing him to have, again, doesn't help your case at all after Adonis.

Goes back to saying Kendrick beat his wife and one of his children is not his, again with no evidence or hint whatsoever, only to go and say he's all about "facts". 🤡

Okay so, be careful everyone, don't leave heart emojis to any child or baby post ever, cause Drake is going to think you're the father.

Why is he even bringing up Kendrick's confessions on "Mother I Sober"? How is bringing up a traumatic potential sexual abuse incident a good way to dodge your own sexual abuse allegations? And that's not even exactly what Kendrick said on the fucking song! It's just disgusting.

And then tries to ridicule Kendrick for being a victim of this. What the fuck is wrong with this mf.

Okay and this one is just cringe. He tried to spin Kendrick's jab on "Not Like Us". B sharp isn't even a thing btw. 😂😂🤡

"I'd never look twice at no teenager" there is literally video of you kissing a teenager on stage, for starters. So you just look at them once before you creep on them how does that work

"Only fucking with Whitney" ah yes the old "I'll fuck your bitch" trope very clever and original Drake

Drake believing some bullshit he saw around about Kendrick using bots to boost his view count is just hilarious. He really thinks Kenny sat down and took some time to actually do that. 😂😂

He thinks people will cancel Kendrick over his baseless battery accusations. 🤡

He ends it with another minute rant like the one he did on "Taylor Made", and starts by saying the beef was "some good exercise". Ngl it is the first time I hear Drake rap at all in a while. So yeah gotta thank Kendrick for getting Drake to actually TRY to do some good music at all. (It's not even good but yk better than whatever trash he was doing before the beef)

"Just let me know when we getting to the facts, everything in my shit is facts" *doubles down on baseless claims of battery and one of Kendrick's children not being his*

#music #kendrick lamar #drake #hip hop #rap #rap beef #fuck drake #it's okay to laugh at him y'all #he's ridiculing himself so by all means proceed #vonnie rants 😗 #vonnie talks 💕

[see-arcane]

I figured I should interrupt everyone's dash for some notes on current real life things.

This is a hefty one, so I'm tucking everything below:

A little good news. As of this writing, I’ve sold 74 copies of The Vampyres, in eBook and paperback! That’s 74 more than I thought I would ever sell! Thank you to everyone who picked up a copy or asked your library to grab some. Especially when I know I haven’t been the most stellar self-marketer. I can’t remember the last time I opened the septic tank formerly known as Twitter, so it’s all been down to this little corner here and a skinny appearance in Goodreads. Which means I owe any attention this short and sinister tale has received to you all and plain old word-of-mouth.

That said, thank you x100000 to you and any new readers yet to take a look. (And doubly so for those of you who go out of their way to leave comments and reviews around for me to reread ad infinitum.)

For those not in the know, all the info on The Vampyres can be found here, and all my author odds and ends can be found on my website here.

On a less heartening note…

As I’d already expected, the market for career writers is…rough. Copywriting—and writing in general—is technically a big open field (full of caveat descriptions about having to work with/teach AI programs to eventually swallow your job)! Tons of open positions! Most of which either pay you in pocket change while you’re working full time or expect you to singlehandedly run the entire marketing of a business for slightly more pocket change. Everything else is bloated with contract and/or freelance work*.

*Read: Gig economy schlock trying to pass for an actual job position with payment being a coin toss. I’ve also seen one too many listings on the job boards that are volunteer positions. Plenty of exposure to rake in though, right? Ha. Ha ha.

I’ve still been applying like clockwork, same as the rest of my fellow creators trying to get by in a field that seems to actively punish trying to be a professional in said field, and still no bites further than an interview. I have years of experience and a degree, but everyone’s chasing the same crumbs, so. Yeah. I’ve got to start padding things out.

Reminder that I do have a (barely peddled) Ko-Fi. It’s there for art commissions and chucking a few spare bucks at. Which is an increasingly big ask these days, I know. You can’t scroll two posts down without hitting someone else’s Ko-Fi, Patreon, GoFundMe, Kickstarter, et cetera. We’re drowning in arting starvists here. And although I have been asked before whether I would consider going full Freelance Storywriter on top of selling art, I’m still a little hesitant on it. I do occasionally send out story submissions and have even gotten published a few times, but I get nauseous thinking about:

1) Putting up a paywall on the scribbles that assail me like a baseball bat wielded by an unmerciful Muse. 2) Putting up a ‘Stories for Sale!’ sign only to wind up disappointing prospective buyers because I didn’t do their blorbos justice even after researching X background for the piece. 3) Getting duped into being a nonconsenting ghostwriter and discovering someone else has published my work under their own name.

So, still a bit iffy on that. I’ll chew on it. But what else is left?

Before you click the button!

Stop!

NOT YET!

Before you click, please know that I am being serious about this as something to potentially make 1) something of good quality and 2) earn more money than it loses. Looking around at the merch-making/selling options, there are fees involved with making an account just about anywhere in the online store game, give or take the price tweaking needed for shipping and manufacturing blah blah blah.

With that in mind, please do not automatically hit ‘yes’ because you want to be nice. I appreciate it, but this isn’t the same thing as the Ko-Fi where there’s no real loss in just leaving it up and drawing something once every few months. This will take new designs, another subscription to pay for, more logistics to untangle for quality and pricing and all the rest of the mess. Only hit ‘yes’ if you, personally, genuinely, would like to purchase some nefarious See Arcane wares beyond a book or a digital drawing.

#heaviest sigh #rolling back into my coffin #the vampyres #my art #my writing #ko-fi #merchandise #(in potentia) #dracula #polls

[accio-victuuri]

8/13/2023 : LRLG Contribution 🍓🥝

well… i didn’t expect this release today but i’m taking it and i’m happy that we have them back with us! and released on the 13th too. what a good number! 🫶🏼

you all know how this works, let’s play a game and guess what the “scenes” are referring too 😂😂😂

everything is fake. fanfiction. i don’t have the permission to transfer the whole content. so some parts will be incomplete and others i will just explain what’s happening.

It starts with WYB talking to someone, and it’s obviously XZ.

WYB: 👀

WYB: "nice"

WYB: "Will not guard XZ's freedom to dress” ( I think this means Web won’t get in the way of whatever XZ wants to wear. )

WYB: it's beautiful

WYB: “Really nice”

WYB: I haven't changed yet, don't worry

WYB: come in a while

WYB: "oh"

WYB: "good"

WYB: Just take a picture and wear it. I'll be there later.

So this is 99.9% an event where they both attended and that’s two so far, Weibo Night and that gala in HK. My money is on Weibo Night tho, because WYB said he will come later. In the HK gala, WYB was visible very early in the venue even if technically XZ flew to HK before him.

The wedding clothes 💌

and XZ can wear anything and WYB will probably go— “wow xiao laoshi!” 😍😍😍😍 some are also interpreting WYB’s words ( freedom to dress ) as a sort of comfort to XZ. He was probably hesitant to wear what he did and thought it would be better to play safe. But has a very supportive s/o ( WYB ) who knows what to say to boost XZ’s confidence.

The next part is, still not sure if this is a continuation of WB night. But a girl is saying XZ is beautiful and WYB is there with this expression on 🥹

XZ: "I told you I can not come"

WYB: “Um?"

XZ: “Just kidding, kidding"

XZ: "Do you want to shoot when you go back tonight?"

and then the girls, most likely staff told XZ they can continue and that he (XZ) should coax the child (WYB)

NEXT UP IS A RANDOM EXCHANGE, but cpfs think they are playing a game:

WYB: "Why don't I have a mask"

XZ: "Because you don't have an eyeshadow palette..”

WYB: "What to use"

XZ: "Small eyeshadow combined with big eyeshadow"

WYB: “boring”

XZ: “Don't play when you're bored"

WYB: "Who shared it with me"

XZ: "Don't order it"

(….)

XZ: "There are a lot of materials that you can't sell, but you can use them later.

WYB: "Kids don't play this.”

XZ: "Yeah, adults are playing"

WYB: “….”

Some are guessing it might be this — Dream Detective. I understand cause games like this are relaxing, you won’t be so stressed about it. Plus when I read the reviews, they said the graphics are good so maybe that’s why XZ likes it. So cute tho how WYB will try everything XZ recommends — he will also play with him even if it’s not his type of game. There are other guesses on what they’re playing but this is the one i’m going with.

Then we have another block of text from WYB.

WYB: "When will there be a holiday for you?”

WYB: "Come and see me, come and see me if you're not tired"

WYB: "So are you coming or not"

WYB: "There is nothing missing, and you can buy it here"

WYB: "You and I can't buy it"

OMG MY HEART. Come and see me, come and see me if you're not tired. He’s just so 🥹🥹🥹🥹. How can you say no to that huh XZ? and WYB knows it’s inconvenient to meet but maybe there are days that he really needs company and XZ will grant him that. I’m just so happy they have each other.

"There is nothing missing, and you can buy it here" >> CPFs also interpret this part as, we don’t need anything. You’re all i need, you are something money can’t buy. Anything else we can buy and replace.

I don’t fully understand the next exchange but it’s WYB talking to some people. Not sure if staff or cast. I can’t figure out of the context and looks like it’s not cpn-y. I could be wrong, again, some things on here are hard to connect. But what stood out is this exchange :

WYB: "You can't see both sides, right? You know whether he's skinny or fat."

👧: “Let's just say I've never paid attention to this issue"

👩‍🦳"Besides, you can see it in the video, you have to touch it to know."

So this is like Web who cares if XZ eats enough and he will know that by how XZ looks. If he’s grown too skinny or what. Years later, he’s still so attentive about XZ’s health! 😌😌😌

Then back to WYB again who is obviously talking about The Longest Promise / Yuguyao

WYB: “Didn’t eat, not very hungry”

WYB: "Will you be sad if I don't eat?

WYB: "( laughs ) they're all talking"

WYB: "they said you're good at acting, you're immortal

WYB: "If you don't believe me, ask them yourself"

WYB: “Rave reviews”

Awww. He’s such a supportive boyfriend! I’m cackling tho at how he used that iconic line. In the drama it should be will you be sad if I die?

Kidding aside, yes Yibo. XZ will be sad ( and most likely angry at you ) if you don’t eat!!!

XZ: "Don't listen to this"

WYB: "Your hair can be braided.”

WYB: "Is it hot for you to wear a wig?"

XZ: "nothing to eat"

WYB: "Brother X went to buy it, it was delicious"

Then Web tells him to lie down for a while, an assistant said she will get a pillow and then WYB said he will go out and make a call ( so XZ can rest ).

THE HAIR! XZ’S LONG HAIR!!!!! This? In braids??? WYB i hate you for putting thoughts in my head!

THEN THIS. Everyone’s favorite Chongqing pepper strikes again 🌶️🌶️🌶️

WYB: "Didn't I say come back when you're not tired?"

XZ: "I'm not tired on the road, I'm tired when I arrive"

WYB: "Thank you for coming all this way"

XZ: "I came all the way here and you still go out with your phone"

WYB: "I didn't call. I remember there was a massager, but I couldn't find it.

XZ: “neck pain”

WYB: “i’ll give you a massage”

OMG GG. 😂😂😂😂

Don’t worry, i’m sure WYB loves your more than his phone or whatever! LOL. and you have WYB who is good at coaxing and will massage XZ. God. They are so sweet. I hate them. 💀💀💀💀

There’s also a part of this, they are talking about food and ordering and XZ said he wants an egg custard tonight, so of course WYB made it happen.

There is an exchange where WYB said “"You scared them so much that they dare not eat!” I wanna know. Who was the group or person who sensed XZ’s hangry energy / face that it scared them 😂😂😂

That’s all!!!!

I enjoyed this LRLG and there is also some feeling of relief cause we thought they would be gone for good. Or they will return but not this early. I like reading about their simple life and interactions. Some turtles are also commenting about the two sides of Xiao Zhan and how WYB is the only one who gets to see this side of him.

SO TRUE. 💯

-END.

#yizhan #bjyx #peak clowning behavior 😂😂😂😂 #there is no science here i’m just clowning like i always do

[eemcintyre]

"Seawolf: The Pirate's Curse" (2005) review

Surprisingly, honestly... why did I enjoy this? I guess after a couple of major misses for me in the form of "The Kidnapping" and "Beyond Forgiveness", my expectations were appropriately low, but this one actually had some likable characters and humor, and that always manages to rope me in. I have a soft spot for fun, silly action fare like this bc of childhood shows like "The Greatest American Hero", I think.

So, the title never makes any sense... what was it supposed to mean? what curse?

First and foremost, I must say TIG is looking oh-so-very pretty and rugged here- the necklaces, the bandanas, the curly-q hair, the tank tops, the sweaty, the ARMMMSSSS 😩

Initially had absolutely no clue what was going on in the beginning; a bunch of people with weird ass outfits in the dark and I was just like please no don't let that be him in the damn fucking cape and eyepatch and o n e l e g; I was like he can't possibly have one leg the whole time, right?? 🤨

But yeah I was definitely experiencing the "dear God what did I get myself into, cheers to another awful mess" 🫡🥂

Why does half the audio sound dubbed (particularly everything that comes out of Rachel's mouth)? Also props to Rachel for being the most emotionally unaffected person ever bc her reactions were so disproportionately calm to what would happen if my bf was constantly disappearing overseas and totaled my gorgeous pink car

We're getting some very Max Parrish-type hooting and hollering up in here; a concise summary of Thorpe is that he's basically if Max had a boat and was an alcoholic instead of a drug addict

We get another hallmark of TIG's movies with a slew of incredibly cringe one-liners that elicit a physical reaction of pain from me, but for every few there was actually a genuinely funny one here and there, so I'll allow it this time...

The whole "I'm a pirate, my father was a pirate, etc." speech had me ROLLING and NOT IN THE WAY THE WRITERS INTENDED I THINK BC HUH??

When he met Helene in that random room full of paintings I was sure we were supposed to take it that the mission was smth art theft-related. but no she just has a passion for maximalist design ig.

Why does the camera get randomly shaky for no reason? Very avant-garde of them

Am I the only one who thinks that Carlos looks like a Walmart George Clooney? Someone else pls tell me I'm not insane

Always throws me off-guard but it's such fun to see TIG in an uncharacteristically light scene like the one where he's dancing in the parade and surrounded by the circle of dancers in the bar. At least he seemed like he was having a good time in this movie 🎉

Ramon and his lil book and the bar scene of Thorpe and Helene drunkenly arguing w each other and sitting on the side of the road was what really started to sell me

anD THEN HE FKIN DR A G S HER ASS 😂

Plus I cannot go without mentioning my appreciation for the way he was holding her knee 👀💕

Love how he spends the majority of this movie just dressed like someone's hot dad who works out, in his cargo shorts, tank top and goatee- oH WAIT IT'S BC HE IS A HOT DAD WHO WORKS OUT IN REAL LIFE

Love how Carlos and all the other villains are devoid of personality or motive except for ~money~, like "the Colonel" doesn't even have a name!!!

Was genuinely stressed that my boy was going to clock himself in the head when he was swinging that rope trying to scale that building

When Helene straight-up PUNCHED HER SISTER IN THE FACE like these ladies have some beef and I need to know where it stems from

This film is another great example of TIG's grossly underutilized comedic potential- a là the map reading scene

Hilarious how Carlos just shrugs like "I don't care, whatever I guess" when who he believes to be Marlena says she wants to say a dramatic goodbye to Thorpe

Ok but how did he not die?? Thank goodness but how??

Even more hilarious how the Colonel, who has had nothing but hatred and murderous intent for Thorpe throughout, is just so touched by Thorpe's being a ✨ big softie with morals ✨ that his vengeful compulsions are soothed and he's content with taking the gold like "hey bro, we're square now <3" and just fuckin walks away

Good on them for giving the treasure back to Mexico

Was legit concerned for too long there that they weren't actually going to end up together and I was screeching

DO THEY ACTUALLY USE THE SAME SHOT OF THE BOAT AT SUNSET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MOVIE AND AT THE END?? lmaooo

Honestly, I think they could have leaned even more into the humorous aspect and the treasure hunt part of the film; made it a bit more of a National Treasure/Indiana Jones sort of thing, and I definitely would have liked some more character development, esp. for the sidekicks and villains, but overall, I award this film an unexpected 6/10. I had a good time 🙃🩷

#thomas ian griffith #the pirate's curse #seawolf #seawolf: the pirate's curse #jeffrey thorpe #film review #movie review

[firewolf-pyro]

Ughhhh I’m so frustrated with my job right now

. I have been trying to get them to train me in as a manager for a good few months now with them humming and hawing about “yeah maybe,” and “oh there could be an opening at this location” then promising that I’d be trained on at that location then backpedaling in that. I’ve been shown how to do everything from cashiering, selling animals, Picking orders, animal counts and stock counts, animal maintenance in quarantine and new arrivals rooms, fish care galore and have been shown how to access and prints out any number of papers the pet care staff need along with ordering supplies and have been shown how to go about the safe for change orders for the registers but STILL it feels like their dragging their feat about actually training me on. And NOW corporate decides now is a good time to step on the stores toes even MORE via cutting hours for the staff of which are there for your PARTIME ONLY ACCEPTING BULLSHIT status ANYWAYS!!! I’m sosooooo frustrated over this all it didn’t help that they had 4 other store managers from OUTSIDE locations come to the store today and “help” our location while also tearing into what tiny contributions the rest of my coworkers left about the bagging station to make it feel friendly and livable for us! No cute sketches on display or little doodles by the other coworkers about fish and other pets like now it’s gonna be brick and mortar boring bland bullshit who do they think they are? Why do they think it’s okay to be the way that they are????!!

Not to mention the hellish training we have to go through and the monthly videos what job makes you do monthly videos? Quizzes at the end? I’m frustrated and angry over the feat dragging and the “veg assured” treatment of the animals not to mention the vet we have attached to our store and I can’t leave an actual review because I don’t want to be out of a job but Aaauuggh !!!! Bettas in cups!!! When we have open tanks!!!! Beardies and leopards housed as multiples!!!! Hamsters housed as multiples!!! Selling CONURES of all birds at the prices they are?!!!

Not to mention the PEOPLE you have to deal with there? The regular customers who think it’s all on you? YOU as a member of the STAFF???!! As if we have ANY communication with ANYONE higher than our store manager? Bro I haven’t even talked face to face a full conversation with our LAST district manager!!!! I wouldn’t even KNOW how to get in contact with HR!!! And what if I did? Brought up the complaints who fucking cares? It would be brushed off and ignored like the reviews I see buried under “teehee my ╲╲╲┏╮┏╮╲╲╲╲╲╲╲╲╲ ╲╲╭┛┻┛┻╮╲╲╲╲╲╭━╮ ▅━╯▋┈▋┈┃╲╲╲╲╲╰╮┃ ┣━━━━━╯╰━━━━━╮┃┃ ╰━━━━┓┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┗╯┃ ╲╲╲╲╲┃┏┓┏━┳┳┓┏━╯ ╲╲╲╲╲┗┛┗┛╲┗┛┗┛╲╲ likes it there” five star reviews.

I’m so angry!!! I’m trying so hard I work so hard and I get “maybe here let’s talk about something else” sort of attitude! And I can’t bring it up with anyone because I’ll either get forced to leave or the person I confide in leaves! So many store managers have left and so many of the other managers above me have also left and I’m thinking I might have to too if this doesn’t go through.

How much longer do I wait? How much longer do I tolerate this until I leave? I’m so frustrated!!! Cooly cutter AUGH nonsense- follow the other locations via visuals bull!!! I’m so fricken done but I can’t be done!!!

Someone please help me.

#rant #review #pet fart #that one blue animal store #job review #frustrated #jobseekers #job hunting #management

[thatseventiesbitch]

In your essay, you said "Eric and Donna work through the issues that caused their break-up - their differing outlooks on their futures, and Donna’s need for more independence". How do you see them doing that?

Thanks for the ask!

The essay is here: Eric and Donna Got Really Screwed Over By The Writers During The Second Half of The Show. In the second part, I lay out how I think their storyline should have gone in seasons 5+. Season 5 should've started with Eric and Donna work[ing] through the issues that caused their break-up - their differing outlooks on their futures, and Donna’s need for more independence - and then they’re happier than ever. 

So I think by the beginning of season 5, both Eric and Donna have undergone a transformation. They've changed because of their year apart. They've seen life without the other for the first time, and they're both recommitted to their relationship - we know this because of how quickly things get very serious between them again (i.e. the engagement). Eric, as we know, was always there. Donna is the one who gave back his promise ring in S3xE25 and then giddily accepted his marriage proposal in S5xE7.

So we know this shift in her mindset happened, but we never got to see Donna and Eric talk about it. I would have liked to see those conversations.

I suspect, again, that life without Eric wasn't what Donna was expecting and that she quickly realized she didn't like it and she missed him. She got a taste of dating someone else, and it wasn't any better or she didn't feel like she was missing out on anything. I think Donna realized that even though Eric and her relationship with him was flawed, that she'd rather work on it with him than be with anyone else.

As far as Donna's need for more independence - I think we see that this continues to be a delicate issue for them in their relationship throughout the series. For instance, in season 6 when they have their pregnancy scare, Eric makes his infamously insensitive comment about her staying home with the baby and selling tupperware (I'm sorry - 🤣). So I don't think Eric totally groks it yet but that goes back to: he's flawed, but Donna's decided she'd rather work on it with him (even if it's frustrating as hell sometimes) than be with anyone else.

To his credit, Eric did realize in the season 4 finale (after his talking to from Red and Kitty) that he'd been controlling and self-centered in his relationship with Donna, and that his stubbornness had driven her away. And fifteen years later, in the '90s, Donna's got a fulfilling career as an author and Eric is supporting her like a proud husband (by sending Red and Kitty her book review).

So I think we can assume he gets there. But yeah, more storylines about Eric and Donna talking to each other about their year apart and how much they missed each other or what they learned from it, storylines about Eric realizing he's being stubborn and trying to let go or compromise, storylines about Donna exploring her interests outside of Eric but assuring him that he's still important to her, etc, would have been so much better than what we got and still allowed their relationship to continue developing in funny, real-to-life ways.

#thanks for the ask! #That 70s Show #That '70s Show #Eric and Donna #Eric x Donna #Eric Forman #Donna Pinciotti #my essays #ask #answered #anon

[wandaluvstacos]

CHAPTER THIRTEEN IS NOW UP

In the city of Yukiktrum, the hierarchy is clear even when the laws are not: Alphrim rule, betsra serve, and ometki bear young. Claiming a part of the city is easy, but keeping your territory is not, so Alprhim like Chramkut govern with talon and tooth. Maintaining power means control access to ometki, and by selling access to both them and their eggs, Chramkut has turned Themself into a ruthless and wealthy warlord.

Untkra once served as Chramkut’s prime ometki, but that time has passed, and Untkra has been replaced by someone younger. After one failed escape, it was only Untkra’s history with Chramkut that saved them from execution. Untkra knows that getting caught trying again will get them executed, but Unktra is willing to sacrifice everything if it means leaving the conflict-ridden city of Yukiktrum behind. This time, Chramkut’s prime laden ometki wants out, and they’ve begged for Untkra’s help. Untkra is done bearing offspring Untkra will never meet. It’s this way or death.

However, the desert landscape beyond the walls of Yukiktrum is hostile and unknown, and there’s no guarantee that there’s anything out there worth escaping to. What Untkra may not be ready for is what hope lays beyond the dunes, and the redemption that a new home can offer. Yet when another ometki needs saving, Yukiktrum calls Untkra back in what could be Untkra’s most daring rescue yet. 

Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: 18+

T/W: This story is dark in nature, and while nothing explicit is ever shown, there are repeated references to rape (including underage), sexual slavery, and I suppose what equates to child trafficking (is selling eggs considered child trafficking?). There is also violence, murder, drug use, and prejudice/bigotry. This story also contains the trappings of a/b/o. It’s not so closely married to the trope as most a/b/o fics, but it is quite obviously based on it. 

Excerpt:

“Skralvu asked me what an adoption process might look like should they decide that parenthood isn’t for them.”

Akche raised their brows. “Really.”

“They didn’t ask directly, but I thought it was pretty obvious they were considering it. I didn’t make a big deal about it, but when I brought them a list of prospective adopters this morning to review, they were completely shut down. Said they weren’t interested. Well, the only one who spoke to them between our first conversation and the next was Untkra. I’m pretty sure Untkra had a chat with them about it.”

“Oh. Oh, no.”

“Yeah.”

“So what’s to be done about it?”

“Nothing. It’s up to Skralvu, in the end. But I don’t want Untkra meddling in what should be Skralvu’s choice. Skralvu looks up to Untkra and values their advice, but if Untkra is trying to talk them out of certain decisions, then it can be a problem. It surprised me, the difference between yesterday and today. It’s one thing to reconsider it, but Skralvu’s demeanor was a complete turnaround. They’re usually quite open, but they were acting like Untkra about it, which is why I’m pretty sure Untkra was involved.”

“Considering how close they are, that doesn’t shock me.”

“Which is why I think Untkra needs something else to focus on. They need to discover a life outside of this one teenage ometki, because Skralvu needs to learn how to navigate their own decisions. Something can be said for Untkra’s drive and determination, but it can become a hindrance given the wrong target.”

“So what are you suggesting?”

“Provide a distraction wherever possible, I suppose.”

Now Akche’s brow truly arched. “Are you suggesting seduction perhaps?”

Tuktishikam laughed. “No! Not that I don’t think you’re capable—”

“—I am definitely not capable.”

“—but a friendly distraction is what I meant. Activities. Responsibilities. Something to capture their attention that’ll put that focus to work.”

“Hmm. I’ll have to ask Untkra if there’s anything beyond self-defense that they’re interested in.”

“Maybe with time we can wean them off Skralvu and give Skralvu a bit of breathing room. They’re so young. I just want to give them a chance to figure themself out.”

Akche nodded. “I’ll see what I can do. I’ll get Taimrak involved.”

#patreon #update #excerpt #Bright Day Blue Day #omegaverse aliens #a/b/o alien story #original fiction #my writing

[christmasintheloonybin]

dude the answer is obviously art, there's nothing for anyone in politics lol. yeah art scenes and 'creative' world suck and require you to sell yourself and be exposed for morons etc but what else are you gonna do? life is hard. i know you hate hearing it but the album you made was genuinely good, like properly good not just saying it out of courtesy. so that's the answer, what's a manifesto anyway? it's nothing, empty, sorry but it's true. making a good album is real, music, new things, expression, that's real. you probably don't want to be lectured but just saying your best path is obvious 2 me as an observer lol.

trying to think who this is because only like four people have been around long enough to remember the album, I've burned some bridges. you write quite a lot like I do. huh.

I don't hate hearing it and dont necessarily want to hear one opinion more than the other, I say it's my struggle because I'm really torn and go back and forth almost daily. I'm glad you liked the album, I want to re record some of the songs, but my passion for music is all but gone. I've still been making songs but I can't write lyrics. I'm not a perfectionist when it comes to these things but I am a perfectionist when it comes to ideas. I guess my main critique of the album is that it was really all over the place and too referential or something. if I could somehow find someone who is similarly minded and devoted to music I would consider taking it more seriously but I feel as if it's just not in the cards for me. it's for fun really so I do it anyways but I want to do something great with my life and be recognized for it, not just fuck around. I don't think pitchfork or whoever would give me any glowing reviews especially if all my songs are about Rudolf Hess and Marinetti like they were on the album, lol. thank you for your input.

#anon

[ikemen-bully]

I think another trope in otome games that doesn't get talked about enough is the age gap romances with teenage heroines and adult love interests/ vice versa. The former moreso since it happens more often. I remember some people would try to excuse it when the setting is an older time period because "it was like that during those times" which A) that doesn't make it okay in the slightest, and B) they're fantasies anyways, their only gonna appeal to the creeps who find that hot or whatever. I don't mind large age gaps between adults (aka, what DoubleScore, Bad Medicine, and Variable Barricade should've been) but I cross the line at a teenager and adult being in a relationship. Same goes for relationships between non blood-related siblings, they are still siblings because they were raised by the same people and have an established familial relationship. I barely see otome game reviewers talk about those tropes for some reason, and they just ignore bringing them up altogether.

I feel like the issue is just that the heroine being the only one allowed to have romance in her life (the best friend can get some but they're nameless nobodies so nobody get jealous of her) make it that she have to be... Well herself but to attract the attention to a large panel of guys including those who want older ones.

As a result you get heroines dating their teachers. I don't think it's particularly because of the age gap but more about the attempt to satisfy a lot of players at once.

The solution to that would be that when games do have more than one heroine the second would be an adult to give you access to the adults. And also for me, another adult heroine who look like ones is always good to take.

But as far as I know otome game seem to have more variety when it come to set up.

For the incest it's just... The game really sell you their relationship as being siblings at first so it's normal that the heroine see the guy as her sibling and then we are supposed to believe that just because they aren't actually siblings him secretly loving her wasn't weird and her falling for him is natural (Hey Lindo that's about you!)

Well. It's not. That's just not believable to me really.

But again we both take the heroine as a character not a self insert there just to be a vessel so we live our fantasies of either having older sexy men onto us or a devoted guy you know since forever being your real love all along because it's how we are supposed to perceive it

As someone who value a lot family relationship it's just not something I can ever transpose into romance and for the older men me wanting anime female characters who look like adult make it that by design I will cringe at the vision of a high schooler with her teacher even though I like him.

You do have the teacher route in tmgs too but now like Dengeki Daisy and Takane to Hana that I used to not have issues with, the fact that I have the old of the teacher make it that I am like hmmmmmmmm... Welp

As why people don't criticize it I feel like it's just because it's accepted as fantasies and you know I feel like in general stuff in our media aren't criticized by fear maybe to show to people who belittle it on the basis that it's for women that yeah actually it's trash while it's just that the fantasies are different?

I feel like in general there's this idea of not criticizing anything feminine else it's against the feminine you are, not the issues within the story.

And also maybe these reviewer just don't want to bother with a possible controversy thinking more deeply about some aspect of the game they played.

I just feel like it's not as simple when you consider how otome game is perceived, so I guess players of it just don't want to hear more slander when the people they know will look at them weirdly for playing dating simulator.

[the-firebird69]

Florida's Condominium Market Is Becoming A Disaster Zone

Condominiums are starting to bottom out and some mystery it's a much more pleasant way to live than an apartment you can have ownership and you just pay the fee and people are upset they're saying this is a screwy way to do business and the fees are going up and the taxes and they don't seem to stop and forces people to sell and they want to turn it into apartments and have a turnover and screw around with people and try and make money and they keep doing it to our son and they get clobbered and they're stupid people and we are attacking them and they serve it.

There's too many condos it's not the case there's not enough and the ones that are there they're trying to push people around and push them out. This is a terrible place hateful people they're very mean they're terrible to be near and to wake up to someone like this idiot next to her is a very mean thing and we should think more about it and they want to keep torturing him with it and we'll keep on doing what we're doing and getting ready to stop the max and others called Satanist to from destroying everything but yeah there's a condom issue and it's all over the world and we are going to take them over one by one we're going to be the managers usually it's a larger association and they're getting beat up by tenants and no more of this foolishness. As it is we have about 33% of the condo association business outside of these Central area and we are going after it it's right now too

-there's a large number of people who are on our case all the time we are going to stop them from doing that

-evacuation continues and the population of Florida is 16% of what it was and 3% are up and getting ready to leave right now so far today it's been about one and a half percent have left last night was about 1% and it is starting to move

-around this time usually people start noticing if they're getting smaller and it's kind of hard for these guys cuz they're crushed into an area. As it is they are segregated that's not very easy they're beginning to segregate war

-we are putting warnings and alerts out on John remillard he is not to be near our son we're reviewing story after story after story and you know what hardly anybody else has a story like his and it's time for us to stop this abuser. He's in college abusing our son like it's nothing and he did the surgery because of his experience with the tape measure I mean that stupid mother f***** has to go he told them too he said if you don't handle it we will and we're going to take everything you can stick it up the max ass too and I did and they said you can't say that to us and they said it to them and they saw his reaction and they said this we're in a lot of freaking trouble and these people are killers and just said it didn't stop not one bit when he thought that the clans took over he says the clans are going to polish you off and they're going to keep track of you and he said oh yeah and also Dan is the one who knows you and it turns you into The Golden throne and you're a dead man oh yeah our son says that last part back and he's a wise ass this little s*** you're firming and you're a low life but you're bothering me and it's a big deal so I'm going to get rid of you and Dan's going to do it sucks for you huh.

So if he is a race you say finally cuz he lives like a bug he doesn't have a real life and people know it too I just say thank you and his suicidal and that's good we need them out we're going to it right now and we're going to publish and we have some more announcements

Thor Freya

Olympus

Zues

Now he's saying the backstreet boys bye bye bye bye and it's one of Trump's bands and it's back at him I really need to put up your s*** for a long time you're going to have to listen to ours stupid crackhead boy you are a freaking loser I can't believe I thought you could ever do anything you're in that case a nut case and boy you lost all these businesses in like minutes if there's no way that the macs say that you were doing something. You're an utter child a massive loser and we hate you we ate your face what you sound like your body is stink we don't want you nearest if you come near us we'll kill you and he's saying that I need to get rid of this puke for our family everyone's afraid to come near me but this stupid a****** we're not really physically here I sort of get something I didn't start working on that I can't ignore this idiot anymore

Hera

She hits you and stuff but she needs to get rid of you to shut you down and she's done it before on other people are tougher and you're a smile it's just nasty so goodbye you a loser

Zues

I'm sick and tired of this s*** we should get rid of that piece of s*** Trump oh f****** a****** he was president to show the maximum power okay we're going to check that you have me say your night put him in because of that they're like I don't think I put you in there at all I figure you attack my dad threatened me by killing him or something I'm going to check into that s***

We're a magical beans and our head cut off and he'll still kill people that's good too

Maxs

Oh shit ok

Mac daddy

Olympus

[ozma914]

Getting Ambushed By the Anti-Credit Crisis

 So, I got a letter from my credit card company, saying I was scheduled for an "account review". They wanted to let me know that, because the highest balance on my account has been significantly lower than my credit limit, my credit limit could be decreased.

Now, let's think about this for a minute.

I'm being punished for being fiscally responsible.

 This annoys me.

 It's no wonder nobody worries about the national debt. Apparently, if I continually spent more than I could afford and kept a credit card balance high enough for the company to rake in interest, I'd be rewarded with more spending power. It would be as if Congress members got voted back into office because of their skill in spending money the government doesn't have.

Oh.

Yeah, that pretty much explains it.

I recently donated to the IRS.

 Of course, a credit card company is a business, and certainly they're in it for the bottom line. You can see why they'd want to give more credit to someone who spends a lot of money, because that person is also paying interest, which goes to: the credit card company. I get that. On the other hand, you have to wonder what harm I'd doing them by keeping my cards paid off. Everything else being equal, I'm costing them the same amount of money whether my credit limit is a hundred dollars or a million.

You'd think they'd keep my credit limit up, hoping something big happens like a pet dog needing surgery (as an example). When that happened to us, I did put it on the card. Of course, I also paid it off within two months, which probably annoyed them.

"Dude: If your e-mails annoy you so much, put that thing down and pet me, instead."

 I don't really mind all that much. After all, I don't plan on running up the card, and if I suddenly needed a bunch of money I'd try for a lower interest source, such as almost anything that doesn't involve an enforcer named Guido.

But it's not the first time I was annoyed by, pardon the expression, the principle of the thing.

I keep thinking that if I sell enough books, I wouldn't need a credit card. But then I'd have to pay an accountant ... with a credit card.

  http://markrhunter.com/ https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/"Mark R Hunter"

#humor #Humorous #credit #credit cards

[newsiesarchive]

FF.Net Back Up: The Hidden Love by Sassy

Originally posted Sept. 13, 1999

Spot and Cathlyn plan a party for the strike anniversary. What's beaneath the surface?

Rated: Fiction K - English - Words: 10,308 - Reviews: 6 - Favs: 2 - Published: Sep 13, 1999 - id: 3579

The Hidden Love

It's been a year since the strike, and things were back to normal. The newsies were selling their papers, and the prices were back to the where they were. Everyone was happy again.

It was a few months before the one-year anniversary of the strike, and everyone wanted to celebrate. After getting together, they decided to have a big blow out. They wanted the party to be the best they've had in a long time, except that none of them had that kind of know how. There was only one person that did. Cathlyn Jones

She was a new newsie and had only been with the group for a few months. There were still trying to find a name for her because there were none that they could come up with that seemed to suit her.

So Jack and Spot went to ask her if she'd be willing to help. When they found her, she was on her bunk, reading her favorite book, A Little Princess. This was like the three millionth time she had read it, and it was getting rough around the edges.

Cathlyn was a little on the big side, but all the newsies liked her. She was bright, friendly and upbeat. Plus, she could hold up her own, if she was ever in a fight.

"Hey, Cathlyn!" Are you busy?" Jack asked.

"No, why?" She replied as she put a bookmark in her book, so she could save her spot.

"We were wondering if you could help us with something," Spot inquired.

"Sure, what?"

"Well, you know that the one year anniversary us coming up, and we were wondering if you would help plan the party for it. We've heard that you are the best at these things," Spot told her.

She smiled. Rubbing her chin, deep in thought, she considered the request. She really wanted to do this. It sounded like it would be a lot of fun.

"Sure, I'll do it."

They both smiled, and looked like they were going to jump with joy. They both thought, 'Now we can have a great party.'

"Ok," Jack said when they had finally calmed down. "Are you going to need any help with this?"

"Yeah, I'm going to need someone because I don't really know what you guys like. I have only been here few months, after all."

"Alright. Spot? Any chance you can help her? I would, but Sarah's been breathing down my neck to spend more time with her."

"Sure, but that means Cathlyn's probably going to want to stay in Brooklyn till everything's settled."

Turning to her, he asked,

"Is that alright? You can sell while you're there."

"Yeah, that'll be just fine,"

Later that day, Cathlyn was back at the lodging house, as she packed up her stuff. It didn't take long for her to pack, since she didn't have that much stuff. Pretty much everything fit in one small bag that she has had since she left home. Her parents died when she was 15, and there was no where else for he to go except the orphanage, and she was definitely not doing that. She's heard all the stories about kids being abused while living there.

She had just gotten finished packing when all the guys came in. They were all singing and yelling. They were her best friends. Her best friend out of the whole group was Race. He was the one who had introduced her to all the guys, and helped made her feel welcome. When he came in, he noticed that her bag was sitting on her bed, and that she was putting stuff in it.

"Hey, Cathlyn. Where ya going?"

"Oh, didn't Jack tell you?"

"No, tell us what?"

"I'm going to live in Brooklyn for a while."

Before she could continue, Race interrupted with a quick.

"Why? Did something happen?"

"No, no. Nothing happened. Jack and Spot asked if I could help with the anniversary party for the strike. They knew that I have a knack for those kinds of things, so they asked, and I agreed."

"Ok, I understand that part, but why are you going to Brooklyn? Wouldn't it be easier to plan it all here?"

Sighing, she sat on her bed, and motioned for Race to sit. When he did, she continued to tell him,

"It probably would be easier, but since Spot agreed to help me with it, he thought it would be easier to work on it there. That way, after we're done selling papers that day, we can spend the evenings planning for the party instead of spending it walking the streets of New York. Does that make any sense?"

"Yeah, I guess. I just don't want you to get hurt. You're my best friend. I don't want anything to happen to you," he said as he placed his hand over hers as a token their friendship.

She smiled, and patted his hand. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her. Even if it meant taking on the most famous newsie. Shaking her head, she told him,

"Oh, come on, Race. You should know me better than that. I know how to take care of myself. And yes, I remember what they say about Spot. I'll watch my back, and I promise not to get hurt."

He smiled, and you could tell he felt better. Just by those words had put him at ease. He patted her hand, and stood up, so he could clean himself up. She watched him as he grabbed his towel, from the end of his bed, and headed for the bathroom. Shaking her head, she finished, what little there was of, her packing.

Just as she got finished, she heard someone pounding up the stairs, and she looked up. When the sound reached the top of the stairs, the footsteps headed for the door, and Spot entered the room. Everyone said their hellos, and they talked with him for a bit.

While they were talking, Cathlyn just sat on her bed, watching him. Even though, she had seen him a lot since she became a newsie, every time she saw Spot, her breathe got caught in her throat. So much that there were times when she had trouble breathing. He turned around and flashed her one of his killer smiles.

He walked over and stood by her bed. As he sat down, he asked,

"Are ya ready?"

"Hold on, let me check one last time," she replied, as she searched through her things one last time. Once she had looked in the last spot, she turned back to Spot, and said,

"Yeah, everything's here."

Jack must have told everyone because as Spot and Cathlyn were headed for the door, everyone yelled their good-byes and good lucks. Appreciating the good wishes, they both waved, and walked out the door and towards Brooklyn. Cathlyn's home for the next few months.

An hour later, they reached the Brooklyn lodging house. It looked a lot like the one in Manhattan, only it was a tad bit more run down, and it was by the river. They both entered the house, getting greetings from everyone who was already back from their day of selling.

This was Cathlyn's first visit to the Brooklyn house and she was shy. She was great once she got to know people, but when she meets them for the first time, she tends to get a little shy. Spot must have sensed this because he gently placed his hand on her back, and steered towards everyone. When they got to everyone, he did a series of introduces, and they greeted her warmly, some of them shaking her hand.

Looking around, she saw that there were no girls. Making a note to herself to ask Spot later about this, she looked at Spot, and asked,

"Is there any place I can put my bag?"

Scratching his head, he looked towards the front desk, and sent the old man behind it an inquiring look. "Hey, Jesse, are there any more beds left upstairs?"

"Nope, sorry. Chetman over there took the last one yesterday," he said as he pointed to one of the newsies closest to him. "Remember?"

"Oh, yeah, that's right," he said, slapping his forehead slightly.

The mentioned newsie looked a little guilty and told Spot,

"She can have my bed. I can sleep on the floor."

"No, Chetman, that's alright. That's your bed, and you're going to keep it. So don't worry about it."

Chetman looked relieved, yet was concerned as to where Cathlyn was going to sleep. There definitely weren't anymore beds, and the floor was definitely not fit for anyone to sleep on.

"Then where am I going to sleep?" She asked, getting a little worried about the situation. "Down here on the couch?"

"No, way. You're not sleeping on that couch. It's as hard as a rock."

She looked at him with an inquiring look that said, 'Oh, really? And how do you know.'

"Believe me, I had to when a skunk got in here last summer."

She smiled at the image that went through her head. Shaking her head to keep from bursting out loud, she sighed and asked,

"Ok, if the couch is out of the question, then where, pray tell, will I sleep?"

Rubbing his chin, as he thought, he remembered that there was any extra bed in the house, although it was rarely used. Sighing, he realized that this was the only solution to their problem.

"Well, there is another bed that you can sleep in, but I don't think you're going to like where it is."

"It can't be that bad," she commented. She smiled and asked, "Why where is it? On the roof?"

"No," he paused, not sure if he wanted to say this, especially with all the guys around. Deciding not to worry about it, he continued, "um…it's in my room."

When he had told her where the bed was, all the guys started hooting and hollering. After a minute of this, he gave the guys one of his looks, and they quickly settled down, but there was still and occasional snicker amongst the group.

"Did I hear you right? In your room?"

"Yeah, is that a problem?"

"No, no. No problem here" she stammered her words.

"Alright, lets get your stuff upstairs and get you settled," he said as he headed towards the stairs.

Cathlyn stayed in her place as she watched him go to the stairs. She was a little dazed at what happened. 'Am I doing the right thing? Even though I like this guy, should I share his room with him?'

Spot realized that he was not being followed, and he turned back towards her. Beckoning her, he asked,

"Are you coming?" Or are you going to stay down here?"

"Yeah, I'm coming," she said, grabbing her bag from the floor, where she had dropped it, and followed him up the stairs.

When they arrived at his room, Cathlyn noticed that it was the first room at the top of the stairs. Spot opened the door, and stepped back, so she could go in. Smiling to herself, she walked in and started looking around. When she had gone in, he followed, shutting the door behind him.

When Cathlyn saw Spot's room, she wasn't surprised to see how sparse it was. After all, Newsies don't make a whole lot of money. There were two beds, a small dresser with a mirror, and two end tables. Both of the end tables were next to a bed, which she assumed was Spot's bed. She saw him grab one of the tables, and lugged it next to other bed. That was to be her bed for the next few months.

Setting her bag on that bed, she started unpacking her stuff, which was very little. While she was unpacking, she noticed that Spot disappeared through a door, and she figured that it was a closet or something. When she reached the door, and looked in, she saw that it was a bathroom. 'Great,' she thought. Then she smiled, 'Now I don't have to share a bathroom with thirty other guys, just Spot.'

Heading back to her bed, she put her hand in her bag, and pulled out the last item in it. It was a framed picture. It was a picture of her family. She was an only child, and they were all she had. This was the last picture she had of her family. It was taken shortly before they were killed.

She was still looking at the picture when Spot came back into the room. He walked over, and looked over her shoulder and saw the picture. He saw that the little girl in the picture, and saw that it was her.

"Are they your parents?"

She jumped a little when he spoke because she didn't hear him come in. Bringing her hand to her chest, she looked up at him,

"Huh?"

"Are they your parents?" He repeated his question.

"Oh, yeah," she said sadly, turning back to the picture.

Sitting, next to her, on her bed, he asked,

"What happened?"

"One day, while I was out to get something, I don't even remember what it was. Anyway, while I was gone, my house was broken into, and both of my parents were killed. I never got to say goodbye or anything."

"Well, I know it doesn't sound like much, but if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. You can talk to me."

She smiled, and told him,

"Thanks, I really appreciate it. I'll keep that in mind when I need it. I don't right now, but thanks."

He nodded in understanding, and stood up, yawning along the way. Looking down at her, he told her,

"We had better turn in. Tomorrow is a selling day, after all."

"Alright," she said as she got up off the bed.

Going into the bedroom, she got ready for bed. When she came out, Spot was already in bed, waiting for her, so he could turn out the light. Getting in bed, she got herself settled and laid back in the bed. Saying their good nights, the light went out and they went to sleep.

When Spot woke there was nothing, but silence. As he sat up, he heard running water coming from the bathroom. Seeing that Cathlyn's bed was empty, so he knew that it was her in the bathroom. Going into the bathroom, he saw no one, but still heard the water. Then, he realized that the sound was coming from the shower.

So he wouldn't scare her, he made some noise while he was getting himself cleaned up. He made enough noise that it would wake the dead. He was just about finished when he heard the water turn off. He was about to turn to leave, when the door to the shower opened and she came out.

All she was wearing was a towel. This really made him go for a loop. Women normally don't show off that much skin, and this was the most he had seen. He realized that he was starring, so he turned his head, while his head turned a bright red.

Cathlyn either must not have noticed that he was in the room, or she was used to having guys in the bathroom. He was hoping it was the first option. She went about her routine of getting ready for her day. Since it seemed that she didn't see him, every so often, Spot took the risk of peeking at her.

Finally, Spot figured he should get his tail out of there before she did notice him. So he left the room, and finished getting his things around. A minute later, Cathlyn came in, buttoning the last buttons of her vest while humming a little tune. Strangely, it sounded familiar to him, but he couldn't place it.

She smiled when she Spot, and said,

"Good morning. Have a nice night?"

"Yes, actually I did. The best I've had in a while."

"Great," she smiled with a mischievous glimmer in her eyes. "We wouldn't want you to fall asleep on the job, now. Would we?"

He smiled, and shook his head slightly. "No, we wouldn't."

Sitting on the bed, she started to comb out her, still damp, hair. While she was taking care of her hair, she asked him,

"Who will I be selling with today? Do you know?"

"Actually, I don't. We got in so late last night that I never got a chance to set anyone up with you. They're probably all taken for the day." Noticing how late it was getting, he walked over to the door, and opened it. "It's almost time to go anyway. Maybe there's a chance that someone is still left who needs a partner. Are you ready?"

Putting the last pin in her hair, she grabbed her hat and headed towards the door. When she reached him, she said,

"Alright, lets go."

They headed downstairs, and everyone was milling around the lobby, waiting for Spot to come down. No one left for the center until Spot had given the okay. They all stood from their seats when they saw Spot and Cathlyn come down the stairs. When they both reached the bottom of the stairs, he asked the group,

"While Cathlyn's here, she's going to need a selling partner. She doesn't know Brooklyn that well, and we don't need her getting lost. Is there anyone left who still needs a partner?"

He looked around the room, but there were no volunteers, not even from Chetman, the newest newsie. 'Everyone has a partner it seems,' he thought.

"No one?" he asked, in case he was wrong. Again, no one raised their hand.

Sighing, he turned to her and she was a little distraught because she knew, as well as he did that she couldn't sell by herself. It wasn't safe or wise.

"Would you like to sell with my today?"

This surprised her a great deal. It's not everyday that the Great Spot Conlon asked someone, instead of telling them, anything. It took her a minute to come up with an answer, but when she did come up with an answer, she nodded, to afraid to speak.

He nodded to her, and turned to the guys before them. Looking at them, he could tell they were anxious to go. Finally, they heard the words they were waiting for,

"Alright, boys. Head on out."

They all cheered, and left the building as fast they could. The day was just starting and they had to get their papers sold as soon as they could. When everyone was gone, he and Cathlyn walked out the door together, towards the center, with smiles on their faces.

That night, everyone was back from their day, and they were all exhausted. Everyone was in their room, just relaxing from the long day. Spot and Cathlyn were also relaxing in their room, while they started planning the anniversary party. Sure, it was months away, but there were going to be times when they wouldn't get a chance to get any work on it done. They needed to do what work they could, when they could.

"Ah, come on Cathlyn, we don't want red, white and blue paper all over the place," Spot moaned from where he was sitting on his bed. She was sitting on her bed with a sheet of paper in her lap. "That's for the Forth of July. Besides, where are we going to get that kind of money? The guys can't pitch in a whole lot of money, you know."

"Alright, do you have any better ideas?" Asking him, when she looked up from the paper. She had a better idea, but she wanted to see him suffer a little as he tried to come up with one. He became frustrated when he couldn't come up with anything better. A small growling could be heard from him, and she smiled.

"Guess not," he said with a defeated look.

"Well, how about this for an idea?" She asked as she got up off the bed, and started walking around the room. "We could have posters all over the room with some of the stuff we call out from the paper. We can have the guys turn in their favorite headlines, and we'll pick some."

Looking at him, she could tell he liked that idea, so she continued on, "Maybe we could also have some banners made up. What do you think of that?"

"I like it," he told her. "That's a lot better than other idea you had."

"Oh, geez, thanks," she said sarcastically, but with a smile.

"Oh, you know what I mean. None of the guys are into all that fancy stuff, but this idea works."

He started rattling of more ideas, and would have probably gone on forever if she hadn't interrupted him.

"I do have one more idea."

"What?"

"A piñata."

"What's a piñata?"

"Don't tell me you don't know what a piñata is?" He shook his head, and she went on to tell him. "A piñata is an object made of paper mache and chicken wire, and it's filled with an assortment of things. Candy, small toys, maybe even a little money."

"Ok, so what's the point of having these piñatas?"

"I don't know the whole story behind them, but piñatas are used at celebration, and when it comes time for it, someone is blind folded, turned around three times, and then they are let loose searching for it. Only when they're searching for it, they have a big stick, and a rope hangs the piñata, overhead. The person with the stick tries to hit it, and break it open, then when it's opened, everyone jumps in for the prizes."

"Neat," he said with a big smile. You could definitely tell he liked this idea. Now he can beat up something, and no one will get hurt and he won't get in trouble. Clutching his hands together, he got a mischievous look in his eyes, and you could tell he was up to something.

Even though she had just moved in the previous night, she knew that look to well. Every time he got into a scheme with one of his friends, he got that same look. Almost like a cat watching a bird just ahead, just ready to pounce.

"Don't go getting that look," She said as she wagged her finger at him. "You won't be able to play with the piñata until the party."

"Why?"

"Cause we'll only have money to buy the makings for it only once," she said by pointing up one finger, so she could make her point. "If you go messing with it, then there won't be one for the others to play with."

"Oh, alright," he mumbled, giving in. He hated giving into anyone, especially to a girl.

"Thanks."

Yeah, yeah."

They heard Jesse come up the stairs, so they knew it was about time for bed. Grabbing what they needed, they headed into the bathroom, so they could get ready for bed. While they were getting ready, Spot couldn't help it when he kept looking over at Cathlyn. He still remembered that morning very vividly, and he started to feel something go through him. This was something he couldn't explain, not even to himself.

Finishing up, they both headed for their beds. Cathlyn decided to read before she went to be. So she lighted a candle, and put it on her end table. Settling herself in her bed, she pulled out her book, and started to read. This was something to get her mind off of other thoughts. Thoughts that she shouldn't be thinking about.

An hour later, she shut her book, and set it on the table. Stretching her arms over her head, she looked over at Spot's bed, and saw he was sound asleep. He was partially covered with his blanket, and he looked like a little boy when he was asleep. Getting out of bed, she walked over, and fixed the blanket around him.

When she had gotten the blanket settled around him, he mumbled something in his sleep, and opened his eyes. For a moment, she stood rooted to her place. Nothing in her could make her move from her spot. He laid there staring at her, and she couldn't breathe. Not even if her life depended on it. Then he closed his eyes, and settle back to sleep.

Finally, she was able to move. She settled herself back to her bed, and tried to go to sleep. It was hard for her because to many thoughts were going through her head. Absolutely nothing would get her to sleep. After thrashing around in her bed, she was able to get to sleep, only because of it was from exhaustion.

***THE NEXT DAY***

Jesse came up the stairs, banging on Spot's door while on his way to the bunkroom. He woke up mumbling something that sounded like a whole lot of gibberish. He rolled himself out of bed, and got himself ready. When he came out, Cathlyn was still sound asleep.

'Man, she must be a sound sleeper. I wonder how well that worked in Manhattan.'

Kneeling next to her bed, he shook her shoulder to wake her up, and she just mumbled something, and turned over on her side. He shook her again, harder this time. This time, she did wake up, and brought herself up on her elbows, as she looked around the room, not quite sure what was going on

"Huh? What happened?"

"Time to get up."

Deciding it was a dream, she rolled back on her side, and tried to get some more sleep. He shook his head, and started to shake her even harder. This still didn't wake her up, so he grabbed the ends of the mattress and yanked it off the frame.

'If anything this should wake her up,' he thought.

When the mattress left the frame, it hit the floor with a thud. This time she did wake up, and sat up, this time fully awake. She stood up, and looked at Spot, square in the eye.

"What did you do that for?"

"It's time to wake up."

"Wasn't there a better way to wake me up other than dropping me on the floor?"

"There probably was except that none of them would worked."

"Sure," she said in disbelief.

Grabbing her clothes, she stomped for the bathroom, and quickly got ready. Not speaking to Spot, she ran down the stairs until it was time to go. Again, everyone had their partners for the day, so she had to wait for Spot to come down.

When Spot came down, all the guys were silent. They knew something was wrong just by looking at Cathlyn. He nodded, and everyone left for the center. Cathlyn stayed seated where she was on the counter, and didn't budge until Spot came over to her.

"Cathlyn?"

"Yes," she said coolly.

"Shouldn't we be going?"

Just by looking at her, he could tell she was still angry about that morning. She jumped off the counter, and headed out the door without looking or talking to him. He followed her, and they headed towards the center. Even though she was not speaking to him, she got in line behind Spot, along with the other guys.

Once everyone had their papers, they all left, calling out the day's headlines. Cathlyn was not that far behind them, and Spot had to run to catch up with her. He kept calling her, but she didn't answer back. Finally, they stopped at the center of Brooklyn, and started calling out their headlines.

Over the course of the morning, Spot couldn't help, but think about that morning.

'All I was trying to do was wake her up. She should know by now how impatient I could be.' Looking over at her, she was handing a newspaper over to someone, smiling to them, and taking the money for the paper. For some reason, he wished that she would smile at him like that, all bright and sunny like. She looked over his way, and immediately frowned, then looked away.

He felt said, and thought,

'What am I going to do? How are we going to plan this party if she won't even speak to me?'

He was able to answer his question because by that time a rush of people enter their area, and he tried to sell his papers.

By lunchtime, the crowds had died down, and it was time to eat. Cathlyn headed over to a nearby restaurant without talking to Spot. Following her, he watched her walk in, and sit at an empty booth towards the back. Her head was buried in a menu as she tried to decide what she wanted. Rooted in her place, all he could do was stare at her through the glass.

Shaking himself, he walked through the door, and headed for her booth. Her head was still buried in the menu, so he didn't see him until he sat across from her in the booth. She looked up, and scowled when she saw who it was. The waiter walked up to their table, and waited for their order. Cathlyn looked up long enough to say,

"Roastbeef sandwich and a glass of water."

The water looked at Spot, and he said,

"Same thing."

The waiter nodded, and walked away as he wrote on his notepad. Spot just sat there, looking at Cathlyn as she kept her head buried. Finally, he got to impatient, and he pulled the menu out of her hands. The scowl returned to her face as she wrapped her arms across her chest and leaned back in her seat.

"What do you want?"

"I want to say that I'm sorry for what I did this morning, but it was the only way to get you out of bed. If I wouldn't have, you would have made no money, and I doubt you want to sleep out on the steam grates tonight."

"No, I definitely don't want that. I've done that before and they are not the least bit comfortable."

"So you see, I was kind of doing you a favor."

"A favor, sure, but there had to been a better way to get me out of bed."

"Didn't we go over that already? I tried to wake up gently, but all you wanted to do was sleep."

"Yeah, I know," she sighed, rubbing her eyes. She was still somewhat tired. "I probably shouldn't have read for so long."

"Maybe, but then I wouldn't have had all my wonderful fun this morning," he said with a smile.

She laughed, and it seemed that her mood seemed to pass over.

Lunch was now over, and it was time to return to the center for more papers. They still had to sell to the afternoon crowds. After they paid for their food, they walked out the door, and this time, they walked to the center together. Getting their papers, they sought out to sell them while talking to each other in between spots.

Once the day was over, everyone headed their merry ways. Many went out to have fun with their friends, while the rest headed back to the lodging house to relax. In the main bunkroom, the guys were playing a lively game of poker, and someone had just won a very wealthy hand. While in Spot's room, he and Cathlyn were also relaxing, while they did some more planning for the party.

"Alright, we have everything decided for the party except what time we should have it," Spot pointed out, when he looked at their list.

"Well," Cathlyn said as she moved around on her bed, so that she was on her side. "How about we have it about seven? That way everyone can still get some papers sold for that day, and they can still go to the party."

"That would work, except that it's going to be pretty late when it gets over."

"If the guys are going to work the next day, then they'll probably try and leave at as decent time, won't they?"

"Yeah, probably, but knowing these guys, they'll probably want to stay at the party as long as possible. Alright? Cathlyn?"

While Spot was talking, Cathlyn had fallen asleep. She was very tired, especially since she hadn't gotten much sleep the night before. He smiled, and shook his head. Getting out of bed, he walked over to hers and covered her with her blanket. Kneeling down before her, he gently stroked her cheek. When he did, she sighed happily in her sleep.

'She must be having a nice dream,' he thought.

Getting up, he got himself ready and he went to bed.

***THE NIGHT OF THE PARTY***

It was now three months later, and it was time for the party. Spot, Cathlyn, and many others were running around Medda's as they decorated it for the party. It was almost time, and they had to hurry. Finally everything was ready, and everyone left for home, so they could get ready.

Spot and Cathlyn hurried back to the house, and started getting ready. Spot decided to get ready in the bunkroom, while Cathlyn got ready in his room. He left with all his clothes, and she started getting ready. Going through what clothes she had, she decided to where her best dress. It was a bright blue dress with sparkles all over the skirt. This was her favorite dress.

Laying it on the bed, she went into the bathroom for a nice, long shower. It was nice after a long day. Very relaxing. Sighing, she immersed herself in the warm water, and made herself all clean. When she was done, she stepped out of the shower, and made herself ready.

Running into the other room, she grabbed her dress from the bed. Before she could turn around, she heard a noise behind her. Turning a little, she saw that Spot was standing behind her. He was there, holding his shirt when he should have been wearing it. All she could do was stare at him. This was definitely the most she has seen of him.

Then he turned around and headed for the door. It was then that he saw her. He stopped head in his spot. All he could do was stare, and the same was with Cathlyn. They stood like that for a minute or so, and finally came back to their senses. They both blushed, and went about their business. Spot left the room with his shirt, and Cathlyn walked back into the bathroom with her dress.

Later on, everyone was waiting downstairs because they were going to walk to the party together. Spot was leaning against the counter that was at the base of the stairs. He was waiting for Cathlyn to get downstairs because she agreed to go with him to the party, and he was getting more impatient by the minute.

He heard something on the steps, and turned to see who it was. When he saw Cathlyn, he was so surprised that he fell to the floor. When he hit floor, she laughed a little. This was something she definitely wasn't expecting. He pulled himself up, and smiled at her.

'She's gorgeous. I've never seen her in a dress before,' he thought.

She was wearing the blue dress with the sparkles on the skirt. Her hair had been made up into a French braid that glistened in the light. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, she smiled at Spot, and asked,

"So you like it?"

"Oh, yes. It looks great."

Everyone was getting impatient, and they wanted to leave. Spot gave them the leave to go, and they all walked out the door with their dates. When they were all gone, Spot offered his arm to Cathlyn, and she accepted it with smile. They headed on their way for the party.

By the time they reached the party, everything was in full swing, and everyone was having a great time. When Spot and Cathlyn walked in, they saw that most of the newsies from the surrounding areas were there. They both found a table with some of the Manhattan newsies, and they all told them that it was a great party.

"This is the best party we've had in a long time," Jack told her. "It's even better than the strike rally."

"I'm not so sure about that," Cathlyn commented. She had heard about the rally from everyone over the last few months. This was one of the best ideas she's had for a party, but she wasn't very sure if it was a good idea. There were a lot of parties that seemed better than hers.

"Well, it is. You can take my word for it," Spot told her. "All we had was singing at the party. At this one we have a lot more."

Cathlyn wasn't sure why, but this made her feel better, just because it came from Spot. She smiled and immediately felt more relaxed. Leaning against her chair, she grabbed a drink, and took a sip. Looking out on the dance floor, she saw that everyone was dancing. Sighing, she returned her gaze back to the table, and everyone was gone, except for Spot. He was still sitting at the table. He had seen her gazing at the dance floor.

Standing up, he went to the other side of her, and bowed. When he came back up, he held out his hand, and asked,

"Would you care to dance?"

She nodded, and took his hand as he led her to the floor. By the time they reached the floor, the previous song was over, and a nice slow song replaced it. They started dancing, and neither of the talked. They just danced in the blissful silence.

Sighing, she placed her head on his chest, and closed her eyes. Still neither of them speak through the entire song. They just dance back and forth to the lovely music. Just before the song ended, she looked back up at him, and all thoughts went out of her head.

At that moment, Spot lowered his head, and gently kissed her on the lips. When he pulled away, she was completely dazed. Coming around, she stood up on her toes, and kissed him. He wrapped his arms around her, and the kiss went deeper. It seemed like an eternity until they decided to come up for air. Now both of them were a little dazed. So they went back to their table, and everyone had decided to return to their tables at that time, and they were all smiling. They had all seen Spot and Cathlyn on the floor, and were all happy for them.

As the evening went on, everyone had more and more fun. Everyone ate, talked to their friends, and danced some more. As the evening went on, people started leaving little by little. It was getting late, and most of them still had to sell in the morning. Finally, Spot and Cathlyn decided to leave. They walked back to the house, talking and laughing about various things.

Running upstairs, Spot started getting his stuff ready for bed. When he started for the bathroom, Cathlyn came out and she was dressed in her regular clothes. Stopping in his tracks, Spot turned around, and asked,

"Where are you going?"

"Oh, didn't you know? Jack and the guys asked me to come over after the party."

Dropping his clothes on a chair next to him, he walked over to where she was sitting on the bed, and said,

"No you're not. It's too dark for someone to be walking outside alone."

When she was finished putting her shoes on, she stood up and looked at him,

"Oh, really? Just so you know, I can do whatever I want, and you can't stop me."

"Oh, yes I can."

"Oh? And how are you planning on doing that? Huh? Are you going to strap me to the bed, so I can't go anywhere?"

"No, I'm going to do this," he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her. This kiss was different from the one at the party. It was filled with passion, and love. At first, she didn't know what to make of it, so she fought him, and tried to get away. However, she finally gave up and accepted the kiss with as much as he gave.

Spot gently pushed her back on the bed, and sat next to her, all the while still kissing her. She wrapper her arms around her neck, and started pulling his shirt off of him. He pulled away and looked into her eyes. He must have found his answer because started to kiss her again, as he started to unbutton her shirt, and pushed her back, gently on the bed.

***THE NEXT MORNING***

When Cathlyn woke up the next morning, she sighed in pure happiness. The party that she had planned was a complete success, and she had gotten a kiss from the boy she'd been in love with since she became a newsie. Sitting up in bed, she realized that someone's arms were wrapped around her, and when she looked, she saw they were Spot's. A thought of pure confusion filled her mind.

'What the heck is going on here?'

Then with a flash, everything that happened after the party hit her with a full force. Full fledge panic flooded her mind when she realized what she had just did.

'Oh, no?! What am I going to do?' She thought, then she quickly decided. 'I have to get out of here.'

Quickly and silently, she got dressed, and packed up her things. Taking one last look at Spot, she sighed. She didn't really want to go, but she didn't know what would happen if she stayed. Just before she left the room, she walked back in, and grabbed a picture off of Spot's dresser.

It was a picture that was a taken a month ago with both of them sitting on the railing of the Brooklyn Bridge. They were both laughing about something. She couldn't remember what. This was one thing she wanted to remember Spot by because she didn't know if she was ever going to come back again.

Finally, she walked out of the room, and headed for the train station to catch the next train to her aunt's house in Ithaca.

***TEN MINUTES LATER***

Spot woke up not long after Cathlyn had left, and he was confused when he found the bed empty. Normally, when he went to bed with someone, she was there the next morning. He sat up from the bed, and looked around the room. He still couldn't find her, so he looked in the bathroom. No Cathlyn.

Now he was getting worried. Grabbing his clothes, he quickly got himself dressed, and ran down the stairs. Jesse was behind the desk when Spot reached the lobby. Still, he was looking hurriedly for Cathlyn, and finding her nowhere. He ran up to the desk, and asked,

"Hey, Jesse, have you seen Cathlyn? I can't find her anywhere."

"Yeah, I saw her. She left about ten minutes ago."

"Why? Do you know where she went?"

"No, I don't know where she went, but I don't think she's going to be coming back."

"And why do you think that?"

"Well, she had her bag with her, and normally people who are out only for the day, don't take their bags with them."

Sliding against the wall of the counter, he groaned, and said to himself,

"Oh, now. Where could she have gone?"

Then he heard Jesse say something that changed his thoughts.

"Maybe she went back to the Manhattan house. Wasn't she just here only to help you plan the for the party?"

He stood up and looked at him,

"You know, you're right. Thanks, Jesse. I'll run on over, and see if that's where she went.

Waving goodbye to Jesse, he ran out the door, and headed on over to Manhattan. When he arrived there, everyone was already at the center, and they were getting their papers. Jack was leaning against the dock, reading his paper, when Spot ran in.

Jack was surprised when Spot came running in because he doesn't normally come in this early in the morning when he comes over. So when he came running in that morning, Jack started to worry.

Spot was exhausted when he arrived at the center. He had run all the way from Brooklyn, so he was exhausted. Before he could talk to Jack, he had to rest. When he was able to talk normal enough to talk, he asked,

"Did Cathlyn come back this morning?"

"No, why? Is something wrong?" Jack questioned

"I don't know," Spot said.

"Why would something be wrong?"

"Well, when I woke up this morning, she wasn't in her bed. And since the party was over, I thought she might have come back this morning."

"Nope, she's not here."

"Hey, Race?"

He walked over, and replied,

"Yeah?"

"Have you seen Cathlyn?"

"No, why? Isn't she suppose to be in Brooklyn?"

"Yeah, she was, but when I woke up this morning, she wasn't in her bed."

"What? What did you do to her?" He asked as he looked at Spot.

"I did nothing."

"Ok, whatever you say."

"What we need to do is get a search party going," Race ordered.

While they were getting people around, everyone in line overheard their conversation. One newsie, in particular, had something to tell him. It was one of the younger newsies, Snitch. So he walked up to them, and got their attention. When they were turned around looking at him, he asked,

"Where you talking about Cathlyn?"

"Yeah, we were. Do you know anything?" Spot asked.

"Well, I saw her this morning."

"What? Where is she?" Spot asked as he jumped from his seat, and stood in front of the newsie.

"I saw her at the trainyards. She was getting on a train, and it looked like she was in a big hurry."

"Do you know where she went?"

"Uh, yeah. I think I caught the name. Ithaca?"

"She must be going to see her aunt," Jack told him when Spot slumped to the ground.

"Her aunt?" He asked when he looked up at him.

"Yeah," Jack told him. "Cathlyn told us that since her family got killed, her aunt was her only family. She didn't want to stay with her aunt because she wanted to live a free life."

"Oh, man. Why'd she have to leave now?"

"I don't know. I'm sorry," he could tell that Cathlyn's unexplained leaving really hurt him, but not just because of the normal reasons. Jack could tell that Spot was starting to love her, and it hurt that he could tell her.

Spot got up without talking to any of the guys, and walked slowly out of the center. This was something he wanted to deal with on his own, and he couldn't do it with other people around. So Spot went to one place where he could think it through. The roof of the lodging house in Brooklyn.

When he arrived at the roof, he sat on an old discarded bench that had somehow gotten its way up there. Whenever he had something he really needed to think about, he went there, and most of the time, he was able to figure out his problems. Laying on the bench, he looked up at the sky, and tried to make sense of what happened with him and Cathlyn.

Normally he wouldn't have gone for a girl like Cathlyn, but there was just something about her that drew him to her. He didn't know what, but something was there. Now he'd lost it, and he didn't know why. Suddenly, he started crying, and he couldn't stop. After a few minutes, the tears subsided, and then he was tired. Falling asleep, he had dreams of Cathlyn, and what their life might have been together.

***A YEAR AND A HALF LATER***

Cathlyn had been gone for a while, and Spot had never been the same. He never sold as many papers as he did before, and he always wanted to be alone. Finally, Jack had gotten him over to the Manhattan house for a night of poker. They were playing in the lobby area, next to the fire, because it was too cold up in the bunkroom.

Spot was playing a half-hearted game when they all heard the front door open. Looking up, they saw it was a beautiful woman with long blond hair, and a baby girl in her arms. They all stood up from their forgotten game, and walked over to her, except for Spot. He just sat there.

It was Cathlyn. She all smiled at those she'd remembered, and those she did not, and they smiled in return. When she looked at Spot, she was saddened a little because of what she had done to him, but hopefully, she would be able to change all that.

"Well, hello beautiful. What can we do for you?" One newsie commented after another.

"Hello to you, too," she said as she dropped her bag on the floor.

All the newsies gather around her except the one she needed to talk to. She kept trying to break through when she was picked up by two powerful arms, and spun around. When she was put down, she saw that it was Jack. After Jack had put her down, Race hugged her. Jack and Race had just come downstairs when she came in, and they recognized her immediately. They were so glad to see her.

"Where'd did you go? Race asked.

"Yeah, you left without telling anyone," Jack commented.

"Can I talk to you later about this? Could you hold Sherrie?" she asked as she handed her to Race. Before she broke into the crowd, she said, "I need to talk to someone."

"I don't know what you can do for me, but I know what a Mr. Spot Conlon can do," she said loudly as though talking to the newsies, but so that Spot could hear her.

When he heard his name, Spot's head perked up, and looked at the lady. Something inside him wouldn't shake away the fact that he'd seen her before. So he walked up to her, and looked at her.

She smiled, and asked, "Spot? Don't you remember me?"

"No, I don't. I've never seen you in my life."

Cathlyn looked sad for a second, but then decided for one last grasp of hope. Getting her bag from the floor, she opened it up and pulled something out. She handed it to him, and said,

"Maybe this will make you remember."

He looked at the picture. It was the picture of him and Cathlyn on the Brooklyn Bridge railings. They were having fun that day. For some reason, she looked a lot like the woman that was standing right in front of him. Looking away from the picture, he looked in her eyes, and took a startled step back. Then he whispered,

"Cathlyn?"

She nodded her head

He looked her over in shock. She had changed since she left. Now she was even more beautiful then before. Wrapping his arms around her, he gave her a big hug. When he released her, he asked,

"Where did you go?"

She looked around the room, and saw that all the newsies were listening on their conversation. Returning her look on Spot, she suggested,

"Why don't we go somewhere else and talk?"

He nodded, and they both went upstairs. When they reached the bunkroom, they each sat on a bunk facing each other. Before Spot could say a word, Cathlyn started to tell him why she left.

When she was done telling him why she'd left, Spot suddenly got up from the bed, and started pacing the room. Finally, Cathlyn asked,

"Well?"

"Oh, geez, Cathlyn, why didn't you tell me how you felt? I would have never gone that far if I had know you were scared about it."

"I didn't know that I felt that way until the next morning, and I didn't know what to do. So I just left."

"I figured that much out. Do you know what I did when I realized that you were gone? Huh?"

"I don't know. What?"

"I searched everywhere. I even went all the way to Manhattan to see if you were there. There was a thought I had that maybe you had gone back there that morning."

"And I wasn't there," she said as she looked down.

"No, you weren't there," he said as he came up to her, and knelt before her. Pulling her chin up so she would look at him. "And when I didn't find you there and heard that you had left, it broke my heart."

This made her cry because this was not what she was expecting. She didn't know that Spot felt that way about her. When she had left, her heart had broke just the same as Spot's did.

Spot gently wiped away her tears, and she smiled at him. Slowly, Spot came up to her, and gave her the kiss she had been wanting for over a year now. It was sweet and passionate as she remembered from last time. She was about to wrap her arms around him when someone cleared their throats behind them.

They pulled away, and looked back at the doorway. Race was standing in the doorway and he was holding Sherrie. He walked over, and said,

"I think she wants her mama."

"Alright," Cathlyn said as she took her. Hugging Sherrie, Cathlyn said, "So you want your mama, huh? Well, here I am."

Spot watched Cathlyn and was curious about who the father of the baby was. So he asked,

"Uh, Cathlyn, who's the father of this little girl?"

"Well, Spot," she said. "Her father is a wonderful man. He's handsome, smart, and funny, plus he loves me a great deal."

"Where is he?"

"Oh, he's nearby," she told him.

"Ok, and who is he?"

"Well, you may have heard about him, he's the leader of the Brooklyn Newsies."

"But I'm the leader...Wait a second. Are you telling me that she's my daughter?"

"Yes, she's yours," she said as she faced Sherrie towards Spot.

"Are you sure?"

"Am I sure? Of course, I'm sure. She was born nine months after I left, and you were the only guy I've been with."

Kneeling down before his daughter, he touched her hand, and she giggled. She seemed like a happy child, and she looked a lot like Spot when he was in a good mood. Looking up at Cathlyn, he asked,

"What's her name?"

"Sherrie," she replied. "I named her after my mother."

"I like the name," he said as he smiled at her. "Can I hold her?"

Cathlyn nodded, and handed her to him. When he had her, he started walking around the room as he talked to her quietly. While they were walking, Cathlyn sat there watching them. She was seeing the two people she loved most together at last, and she didn't know if it would stay like that.

Bringing her back to Cathlyn, Spot sat down next to her, and looked at her. For a moment, neither of them spoke, then Spot asked,

"How long are you staying?"

"I'm just in town for a few days," she said sadly.

"A few days?"

"Yeah, I wanted you to meet your daughter. I thought it was time."

"Are you planning on coming back?" Spot asked

"I don't know," she replied. "I also came back to see if there was anything worth staying for."

By that time, Sherrie had fallen asleep, so Spot laid her on the next bunk, and sat down facing Cathlyn. Looking into her eyes, he asked her,

"Have you found anything worth staying for?"

She looked into his eyes, and found what she had fallen in love with so long ago. Reaching up, she gently stroked his cheek, and smiled. When she knew that the answer was going to say was the right one, she nodded her head and said,

"I believe I found a reason to stay. Now that I have you."

He leaned forward, and touching her cheek, and they kissed. When they came apart, Spot got off the bed, and dropped to one knee. Pulling a string off his neck with a key on it, he held it up to her, and said,

"I know that we still have some problems to work out, but I love you and I want us to be together forever. Will you make me the happiest man alive, and marry me?"

She nodded, and replied,

"Of course I will."

"Now, this key will have to be our sign of love until I can get you a ring," he said as he put the string around her neck. "Alright?"

Standing up, she wrapped her arms around Spot, and kissed him. When she released him, he took a step back as he tried to catch his breath. Finally about to talk, he said,

"I'll take that as a yes."

They smiled at each other, and were about to start back at it again when they heard the newsies stomping up the stairs. Separating, Spot sat on one bed, while Cathlyn sat on the other, next to the still sleeping Sherrie.

When they all came in, they saw that nothing really out of the ordinary, so they all went about their business. Race walked over and knelt on the floor by the bed that Cathlyn was sitting on because it was his bed, and he needed to get something that was under the mattress.

It wasn't until Race started to get up, when he saw what was around Cathlyn's neck. He stared at it for a second, then realized what it was. It was Spot's key! He never gave that away unless he was serious about the girl. Sitting on his bed, he looked back and forth between Spot and Cathlyn, then asked,

"Alright, what's going on here?"

"Should we tell them?" She asked Spot with a mischievous smile.

"Tell us what?" Jack asked as he walked over to them, along with the rest of the newsies.

"I guess we're going to have to tell them, since someone blew our cover," he said as he looked at Race, but smiled.

"I guess so," Cathlyn repeated.

"So what's going on?" Race repeated his question, insistently.

"Well, if you will be patient, I will tell you," Spot said.

He got up off the bed, and stood next to Cathlyn. Holding out his hand, she took it and stood next to him, as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

"I just want to tell you that I asked Cathlyn to marry me, and she accepted."

They were all stunned for a minute. Then, the whole room erupted with noise. Everyone started to congratulate both of them. It got so noisy that it woke up Sherrie. She woke up crying, and everyone had to quiet down until she was calmed down.

Finally, she was all quiet, and everyone started talking again, but not as loud. When everyone went off to do whatever, Spot and Cathlyn sat on the bed, while she rocked Sherrie, talking. They talked about everything and anything.

Race was getting a poker game started when he heard them laughing. He looked up, and saw that both of them had smiles on their faces. Shaking his head, he chuckled and couldn't help but notice the change in Spot. When she had left, he changed overnight, now that she was back, he was back to his old self.

'This is great,' he thought. 'Spot and Cathlyn are finally together, like they should have been. They had it all along. It's just that it was hidden beneath the surface, and they had to look harder for the love they both had.'

THE END

[aziraphales-library]

Hi! I was just wondering if you had any more fic recs like Adventures In Attempting To Purchase A Book From That Weird Old Soho Bookshop, A. Z. Fell & Co, So You Need To Get Into A.Z. Fell & Co.; Now What? (A Guide For Unfortunate Bookworms), The A.Z. Fell and Co. Conspiracy, and The Official Mr Fell Quarantine Thread? Basically outsider POVs, but on social media?

Hello! I have a fair few, anon. A fair flipping few. Enjoy!...

Unusual Occurrences at A.Z. Fell and Co.'s by WritesEveryBlueMoon (T)

azfellandqueers Customer: It’s an outrage that you would sell these books *gestures to shelf of LGBTQ fiction* alongside the word of God Fell: I’m very sorry to hear you think that way. The door is right over there. Customer: You don’t understand - You could go to Hell for this! Fell: Oh, I assure you, the forces of Hell wouldn’t dare return to this shop

pretty-pansy Obviously his reaction is king shit but I'm sorry Return???

-

When the bizzare and amusing habits of Mr A.Z. Fell, bookseller, begin to trend on the internet, those who dwell on various social media sites share their frustrations, confusion, and extraordinarily unusual stories.

Anthony J. Crowley, Retired Demon and Airbnb Superhost by TheOldAquarian (G)

What are you supposed to do when you've been fired from your sweet job in Hell for thwarting the schemes of Satan, you've got a swanky flat in Mayfair, and you're looking for an excuse to spend all your time in someone else's bookshop? Obviously, you turn to the dubious world of short-term vacation rentals.

The resulting Airbnb property has been variously described as "an instagram trap," "a vampire den but make it botanical," and "the weirdest bed and breakfast in the shared history of beds and breakfasting."

Reviews of AZ Fell and Co Antiquarian and Unusual Books by IneffableFangirl_writes (NR)

Based on the amazing image (linked as the inspiration). Each chapter is the story of a different Yelp review in the image.

A Guide to Fame for the Enterprising Demon by asideofourown (T)

tildeathdoustogether ok friends so i know we all joke about, like john mulaney and keanu reeves and hozier being immortals, but… i really think we gotta add anthony j. crowley to that list

thelongest27yearsofmylife reblogged and said: Christ, Beth, Anthony Crowley is an increasingly popular, openly queer creator with explicitly queer rep in his work that’s really important to some people, can you not make this into a meme for ONCE in your life?

tildeathdoustogether reblogged and said: you think i’m joking but.  i’m not.  l i s t e n  i did not get a history degree for nothing, i have RECEIPTS. buckle in kiddos this is a wild ride

[Crowley accidentally gets a bit famous, and the internet figures out he may be a bit immortal]

it’s a new craze by attheborder (T)

CROWLEY: I try not to make a habit of gratitude, but I must give our appreciation to everyone out there who’s been listening and subscribing to The Ineffable Plan. AZIRAPHALE: Ooh, yes, we’ve become quite popular, haven’t we? CROWLEY: Yeah, just hit number eight on the advice charts … No advertising at all. AZIRAPHALE: Mm. How … miraculous. CROWLEY: … Aziraphale. You did not.

***

Crowley and Aziraphale are very possibly the people least qualified, on the entire planet, to start up an advice podcast.

But what else is there to do when the world isn’t ending anytime soon, you’re technically on indefinite sabbatical from your lifelong careers, and you need a plausible excuse to spend more time with your best friend who you’re definitely not, absolutely not, maybe just a little, actually maybe overwhelmingly in love with?

twitter cryptids by doctormissy (T)

Crowley's latest brilliant idea involves ranting about his undying love tiny crush on Aziraphale on Twitter instead of actually dealing with his feelings now that the world didn't end. Because he will never find out, right?

Right?

I live next door to a haunted bookshop owned by an immortal cryptid bastard. AMA! by kyaticlikestea (T)

Before anyone reports this post, I got this AMA authorised by posting proof to a mod, so there.

Hi, Reddit! I’m no-one special, but about 6 months ago, I moved into a flat above a cafe next door to a bookshop, and my life has never been the same since, because the man who runs the bookshop is some sort of ageless (mostly) benevolent eldritch being. By all accounts, he hasn’t aged a day since at least 1944, sometimes he seems to have just too many eyes, and I once saw him turn water into wine (a nice rosé). His coworker / best friend / boyfriend / shadow entity is also definitely some kind of cryptid, but despite trying harder to be a bastard, he’s somehow less successful at it.

So, if you have any questions about what it’s like to live next door to an eternal bastard man, AMA!

Or, a cryptid bastard man haunts Reddit, trying to find out how to ask out his crush of the past 6,000 years and getting downvoted to literal oblivion. Just normal stuff on the world wide web.

And the ones you mentioned...

Adventures In Attempting To Purchase A Book From That Weird Old Soho Bookshop, A. Z. Fell & Co. by Quandtuniverse (G)

A rare book collector posting on a niche internet forum is dismayed to discover the last missing book is only available at the best worst bookshop in London.

So You Need To Get Into A.Z. Fell & Co.; Now What? (A Guide For Unfortunate Bookworms) by c4llistrad (G)

London’s antique enthusiasts and rare lit nerds alike know that if you’re looking for a specific vintage or antique book, you have a good chance of ending up in A.Z. Fell & Co. as a last resort. And if you’ve ever been in (or are currently in) this predicament, you know how much of an absolute nightmare it is trying to even get in the door. Luckily, this handy guide, the fruit of a months-long collaborative effort to create the perfect formula for gaming the A.Z. Fell system, will tell you everything you need to know, complete with a comprehensive breakdown of what, exactly, the opening hours are. Compiled by pageknight and inky of the Rare Antique Forums.

The A.Z. Fell and Co. Conspiracy by WritesEveryBlueMoon (T)

brokenbibliophile Okay everybody, we already know that A.Z.Fell and Co is a difficult place to visit (to put it mildly) and that the owner is a tad eccentric. However, I was digging through some old records of 1900s Gentleman’s clubs and I swear I've found a picture of Mr Fell (Soho's resident book hoarder)

theBooksteer #immortaldemonconfirmed

-

A bunch of wacky strangers theorize about our favourite immortals' personal lives.

The Official Mr Fell Quarantine Thread by argentconflagration (T)

It is with an exasperated sigh that I introduce you to an official thread for this guy. We've discussed it and we've decided that this is the only way we can stop you guys from derailing threads to complain about this guy. By mod decree, all Mr Fell complaining, griping, bitching, grousing, and miscellaneous butthurt now belongs in THIS THREAD AND THIS THREAD ONLY.

The forumgoers of The Codex, a forum for rare book hunters, come to some very interesting conclusions about the personal life of one Mr Fell of Soho. (Inspired by a tumblr post.)

- Mod D

#good omens #ineffable husbands #outsider pov #social media #cryptid aziraphale #cryptid crowley #mod d #cryptids

[sleepwalkersqueen]

Chapter 299: Review

First of all: this was a ride! On a rollercoaster! I’m sorry, but you’re now the person sitting next to me. ENJOY MY SCREAMING!

LET’S GO! :D

Ladies and Gentlemen (and everyone else!) In this corner of tonight’s arena we got: Baby Keigo! 

Quirk: birb Height: smol Armor: ragged clothes + endeavor plushie

With a bodyweight of estimated one whole pound; our fighter is armed with all of his concentrated preciousness! WILL HE BE ABLE TO DEFEAT HIS FATH-?!

ok, nevermind he kicked him.

What an investing fight; Mr. Takami really went for the strongest here, huh.  Hurting my Keigo-shaped heart oh god

Also h i m:

Sir, you might be pitiful, but I appreciate your sacrifice of leaving all the eyebrow to your son. Hori, U just killed months of suspence with this bastard. C’mon dude. He looks like he stapled his pubic hair into his face.

I can and will accept the canon Takami thief design.

Will I stop drawing/writing Takami Shinyo?

HELL NO.

But back to the chapter!

God, Hori reaches Fanfiction levels of pain here. Keigo’s lil cheek is bruised and we see him getting abused physically and mentally by both parents... Aparently, he doesn’t believe in heroes, because none of them ever protected him from the hell that is his life. Just.. Just look at him being so tiny and though.

Okay, so Keigo gets told that his father got off-screened by Endeavor. And I just love his reaction; BECAUSE LOOK AT HIM:

Look at him being a child! Reacting like a child! His Endeavor doll litterally comes to life in his imagination; because a hero finally safed him from being kicked and beaten by his bastard father!!

This is so dam wholesome yet such an irony, I could cry!

Yet “Endeavor’s light” doesn’t last long; because here is when I really lost my shit:

Suddenly his they are homeless, and his mom needs money desperately. AND SHE MAKES HIM ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY.

“I don’t care how you do it.”

Madam, you don’t say that to anyone. Especially not to a child. Children still have to learn moral values, so if you tell him to do anything as long as it brings money, what do you fucking expect?!

If he’s lucky he manages to steal from someone without getting hurt, if he’s unlucky he finds some kind of “work”. Wtf madam.

Not to mention all the mental abuse. You can see in his whole body how fucking tight his tiny heart clenches now, because you make him feel worthless and useless:

Ah god. Hori is so good at conveying emotions.

Remember how she gave him his plushie and said “Be strong like this guy!”, and how he clenches it tighter to his chest, because he is trying so hard.

But he’s a tiny homeless child.

And even though he got kicked and abused, we never saw him cry.

I’m fucking sobbing, Hori.

Back in the now. Looking at the oxygen mask, Hawks has trouble with breathing. Ugh, I can imagine that being painful. He can’t speak, because Dabi burned his throat; just like Shoto’s.

(Ah yes, do I love some narrative parallels. Dabi temporarily silenced their voices, by raising his.)

Ah yes; Citizens looking angry at Hawks.

Resembling the post-Dabi society, huh.

At least the Goat and the Fish still seem to post on their Hawks fanfictions. (Not gonna lie, tho, I’d probably read the hell outta them.)

Then they visit his mom in her pent house which she buyed by selling her son.

That living hall is so huge you could hear the echo of your cat’s fart.

It’s so huge, it looks like the Interior decorator simply took some XXXL carpet and said fuck it, no one will notice if it doesn’t even reach the two tiny chairs over there. 

But ah look, his mom left him a letter!

Rest in Peace Touya/Keigo Childhood-Friends-theory. 2020 - 2021

(*OK, NOW DIG IT OUT AGAIN; WE’LL KEEP WRITING FICS*)

Because, yeah how did Dabi find out about Tomie’s adress? If you go through all the trouble to erase Keigo Takami’s name from all documents, how could you let his mom’s adress get leaked? Did Dabi seriously pay black hats for that? That’s kinda dissapointing.

But yeah, I’ll bow for you, Dabi; you really found out his name.

AND FINALLY: HAWKS’ WINGS ARE GROWING BACK BABY!! :D

Thank you for reading, and may you have an amazing night! Let me know your thoughts, I’d love to read them!! :D

#bnha #mha #bnha 299 #bnha hawks #mha hawks #dabihawks #pro hero hawks #toukei #bnha hotwings #keigo takami #takami keigo #dabi #mha 299 #bnha299 #dabi x hawks #mha hotwings #touya todoroki #dabihawks au #bnha meta #hotwings #bnha keigo #bnha takami #takami shinyo #shinyo takami #the takami thief #takami thief

[study-coffee-chicago]

Seasons of Med: Season 4 and Seasons of PD: Season 6: Of Loss and Letters (A Halstead Brothers + Halstead Sister! Imagine)

As always, I do not own any quotes from Chicago Med 4x02.

Y/N's age: 17

Jay's age: 31

Will's age: 33

You sat in your English 11 class and wrote and wrote an essay for your test. Your hand was starting to cramp. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw someone's phone light up from the phone caddy.

Yes, that's right. Your high school now had a phone caddy where students had to put their phones every class. Each student was assigned a number and then that's where they put their phone during that hour. Some teachers didn't care and let you keep it on you, but some did.

Your phone lit up again. You so desperately wanted to look at your watch that was connected to your phone, but you knew that doing so would look like you were cheating, so you decided against it. And, you turned your attention back to your test.

It lit up again and this time your teacher had had enough and stood up to grab your phone.

"Sorry to interrupt your tests," she started, "but how many times do I have to tell you guys to put your phones away with the screen facing the whiteboard. That way it's not dis--" She sucked in a breath as a text came across your screen. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw one word: hospital. And, this caused her to read the text. "Y/N, please come with me."

You stood up, utterly confused, and then left the room.

"Firstly, let me say I didn't try to read your texts. I just saw it out of the corner of my eye and...it's important."

You believed this teacher. She was young, pretty fresh out of college, and one time when you came in for a review session, she made all of you guys brownies to snack on while you worked.

She handed you your phone. It was a text from Jay.

Dad's in the hospital.

Your breath caught in your throat. Was it something with his heart? Had he started drinking again?

"Can I--"

"You can go, Y/N. I'll call the office and have someone bring your books down there after class so you can pick them up there when you come to school later. Drive safe."

"Thank you."

You practically sprinted down the hallway and to your locker as another text came in from Jay.

If you don't answer in the next ten minutes, I'm calling school to get you out.

You finished shoving stuff into your backpack and then started on your way to the office. You went to sign out when one of the secretaries stopped you.

"I've got it, hun. You just take care of yourself." Your teacher must've called down.

"Thank you," you choked out and then left the building, dialing Jay's number as you walked.

"Jay!" you exclaimed when he picked up on the first ring. "What happened to Dad? I was taking a test and then my phone started blowing up. Is he okay?"

"Y/N, there was a fire at his apartment. He's in the ED at Med. Will will fill you in more when you get here." You could tell by the tone of his voice that it wasn't good.

"Jay, you can't just tell me that! There's gotta be more!"

"Y/N, you're about to drive. You'll be at Med in twenty minutes. I don't need you to get in a car accident. Do you want me to stay on the phone with you?"

"Please." You got in your car and then turned your phone on speaker and started your car. "Can you tell me stories on my way there?" you asked Jay. "I need something else to focus on."

"Focus on the road."

"I mean listen to. I need something else to listen to."

"What kind of stories?" he asked.

"Can you tell me how Mom and Dad met?"

"You know how they met: it was at a White Sox game. Dad saw Mom stand up to buy some popcorn and said he fell in love with her at first sight. He must not have been a pain in the ass then. And, his favorite pastime probably wasn't yelling at people like it is now. Probably smiled more, too."

"Technically, he doesn't yell at me," you said. "Except when he was drunk before you started taking care of me and he finished the twelve steps."

"Oh, right. I forgot. I'm his favorite person to yell at," Jay said sarcastically. "He wasn't always an ass, though. He was actually excited to have a daughter at first. And then, his asshole buddies in construction changed his mind and made him think that women weren't his equals."

"Dicks," you muttered. "What did you and Will do when you found out that Mom was going to have me? Were you mad you weren't going to be the youngest anymore?"

"Nah, I was happy I'd have someone to pick on like Will picked on me."

"Hey!"

"Obviously I didn't follow through with that line of reasoning," he laughed. "Mom was telling us how we'd have to play tea parties with you and all that girly stuff. Me and Will obviously weren't too thrilled about that."

"Well, you're lucky I'm not a girly-girl then and didn't really play tea parties."

"That's because I taught you how to kick a soccer ball the minute you could walk. Shocked you didn't play that in middle school and now in high school," he added.

"I'm not competitive enough for that."

"Oh, believe me, we know. That's why you didn't play goalie: because one game you were goalie, you just sat down in the goal and started playing with the grass."

"Goalie was boring. And, you don't get a break; you don't get to sub-in. My favorite part of kiddie soccer was the snacks and juice boxes at the end."

"Don't forget those few times you scored goals during the games," Jay pointed out.

"Yeah, I guess that part was kinda fun."

"See? You had fun."

"Not really. But, I'm pulling into Med now. I'll gonna park and then I'll be in the ED."

"Okay, make sure you remember where you parked."

"Don't worry, I will."

You parked and then made your way into the ED waiting room.

"Miss, I'm going to need you to take a seat and wait to be seen," a nurse you didn't recognize said.

"Oh, no," you started. "I'm not hurt. It's my dad. He was in the fire and my brother called." You looked down at your feet, finally realizing the gravity of the situation. "My brother called and said he's in the ED. Um, one of my brothers is Dr. Will Halstead."

"Oh, I'm sorry, honey. Go right on in." She gave you a sympathetic look.

"Thank you."

You hustled into the ED and looked for Maggie or one of your brothers. You spotted Maggie first.

"Maggie where's--"

"Your dad's in Treatment One." She pointed you in the direction of the room and you made your way over there.

You entered the room at the same time as Dr. Rhodes. "You guys wanna fill her in?"

"What's going on?" you asked, worry evident in your voice.

Your dad started coughing and spit some bile into a bin, causing you to wrinkle your nose in disgust.

"Dad tried to play hero," Jay started to explain, "He forgot he was in his 60s with a bum ticker."

"Yeah, well, this is your fault to begin with," Pat Halstead said.

"Me?" Jay asked.

"Yeah, you stuck me in that fire trap."

"Please, can you two just not fight for once?" you complained.

"Pop, stop talking," Will urged.

Dr. Rhodes started doing an EKG and then ordered some tests, finally shutting your dad up...and saving you from another argument between Jay and your dad. Then, after he was done, he got called out to consult for Dr. Choi.

"I don't need all this," your dad complained once Dr. Rhodes had left the room.

"Calm down," Jay told him rudely. "You're getting yourself all worked up."

"What do you know? You're no doctor."

"Dad," you said.

"You had no right to sell my house!"

"You wanna talk about this again?" Jay practically yelled. "It was a wreck. You couldn't take care of the place."

"You just wanted my money!"

"Hey!" Will yelled, but it didn't stop the two...nothing ever did.

"You don't have any money you thankless old prick!" Jay yelled and then started to walk out.

"Jay!" Will yelled as you started to follow him out, hoping to calm him down. "Y/N, stay here," Will told you.

"Why?"

"I know you're gonna try to calm him down, but he needs to cool off by himself right now."

You huffed. "Fine." You turned back to your dad. "I don't think he really meant it. He was mad. Both of you say things you don't mean when you're angry. You two are a lot alike that way. Like when you said he wasn't a son of yours."

"Yeah, you should apologize for that one," Will agreed.

"Not until he apologizes for what he just said to me. Only then will I--"

Alarms started sounding and lights starting flashing. Will hit a button on the wall and two nurses rushed in.

"Will, what's happening?" you screamed. "What's happening to Dad?"

Will lowered the bed and then put his fingers to your dad's neck. "No pulse. Bag him."

"Wait, he's your dad," a nurse, who you recognized as Monique, said. "Shouldn't another doctor run the code?"

"You got one handy?" Will asked as he started chest compressions.

"Will, what's happening?" Jay asked as he re-entered the room.

"Jay, I need you to take Y/N out of here. Now."

"No, I wanna stay. What's going on?"

"Jay, now," Will stated again.

Jay placed on hand on your back. "Y/N, c'mon."

The alarms were still sounding, the lights still flashing.

"No!" you yelled.

"Y/N, I need room in here," Will told you. "The best thing you can do for Dad is to leave this room."

"No! I wanna stay!" you yelled again.

Jay looked at Will and he nodded. Then, you felt yourself being lifted off the ground by Jay.

"Put me down! Put me down!" You started kicking and swinging your arms, but he didn't budge. "Let me go back in there!"

Once safely out of the room--and having drawn the attention of most people in the ED--did Jay finally put you down. You tried to run back towards the treatment room, but Jay scooped you back up.

"Nope. We're going outside," Jay told you.

"Fine. But, once we're out there, I'm not walking with you."

You crossed your arms in frustration. After that little stunt he pulled back there, there was nothing he could say that made you want to be around him.

"That's fine. Just keep your phone on you."

***

As you kept walking down the sidewalk to the right--Jay had went left as soon as you walked outside because you didn't want to be around him--you spotted none other than Kelly Severide sitting on a bench, looking like he was currently throwing himself a pity party.

"Hey," you said as you walked up to him.

"Y/N? what are you doing out here?" he asked as he looked up.

"I could ask you the same thing."

"Well, have a seat. You look like you've been crying."

"So do you," you pointed out.

"Stella's in the ED," he admitted. "She had a nasty inhalation injury. They uh, they might not be able to save her lung...which means she wouldn't be able to be a firefighter anymore." He looked back down.

"I'm sorry, Kelly. But, Stella's a fighter."

"Yeah, I know. She left home when she was eighteen and she didn't have the best home life before that either."

"She told me."

"She told you?" he asked, looking back up at you.

"Yeah, when she helped me get ready for homecoming, she told me that she gets it. She gets what it's like not having a mom to help you get ready for dances."

"Dude, we have a problem," Will said through the phone to Jay.

"Which is...?" Jay asked.

"Nat got called in. We don't have anyone to help Y/N get ready for the dance."

"Shit," Jay cursed. "Yeah, that really is a problem. Let me make some calls."

Jay hung up the phone with Will and then scrolled through his contacts. He thought about asking Hailey, but he wasn't super close with her yet, so she was off the table.

Then it hit him: Stella.

But he didn't have her number.

But he had Kelly's.

"Please don't be on shift, please don't be on shift," he muttered as the line started ringing.

"Hey, Halstead," Kelly answered.

"Hey, man. Listen, I've got a huge favor to ask you. Well, actually, it's more you asking Stella for the favor."

"What do you want me to ask her? She's right here."

"Well, it's Y/N's homecoming dance tonight and Nat was gonna come over and help her get ready and she got called into work. I was wondering if maybe Stella could come over and help Y/N out."

"Okay, I'll ask her."

He heard mumbling which he guessed was Kelly talking to Stella. "I'm gonna put her on," Kelly said after a minute.

"Okay."

"Hey, Jay," Stella said into Kelly's phone.

"Hey, Stella. Kelly explain everything to you?" Jay asked.

"He did. I'll be over there in an hour. Unless you need me sooner, then I can make it half an hour."

"An hour works great. Thank you so much. You're a lifesaver, really."

***

Jay had left to run to the store and had told you that Stella would be there in an hour. So, when someone knocked on your apartment door twenty minutes later, you were utterly confused.

You got up from the couch and looked through the peephole in your apartment door, seeing none other than frick and frack...otherwise known as Adam and Kevin.

"What are you two doing here?" you asked as you opened the door. "If you're looking for Jay, he went out to run some errands."

"No, we're actually here to see you," Kevin said.

"Me?"

"Yeah," Adam confirmed. "Aren't you supposed to be in a dress or something?"

"I'll put it on after Stella dose my hair," you told them. "Sorry, c'mon in."

The two entered the apartment, but you were still confused as to why they were here, and why they were here for you and not your brother.

"I guess we can teach her like this," Adam said.

"Might be better, too," Kevin started. "That way she won't rip her dress when we're first teaching her."

"Uh, excuse me. Right here, guys. What are you planning on teaching me?" you asked, annoyed that they were talking about you like you weren't even there.

"We are here, little Y/N, to teach you how to fight," Adam answered.

"First of all, don't ever call me little Y/N again. Second of all, no you're not. What's the real reason you're here?"

"That's it," Adam laughed.

You raised an eyebrow, so Kevin decided that he needed to clarify. "It's just for self-defense. Just in case a horny teenage boy comes up to you and starts grinding on you at the dance, so you'll know what to do."

You were still skeptical about this, but they did have a good point. You had to give them that.

"Okay, so what do I do? And, did Jay put you two up to this?" you asked.

"He didn't," Adam answered. "We came of our own free will. First thing you need to know about throwing a punch is doing it with a closed fist." You closed your fist. "Perfect. Now, when you throw the punch, make sure your arm is locked out."

You did as he said and your punch was a little flimsy, but you worked on it.

***

"Is this the right color you think? I tried my best," Jay said as he met Stella in the elevator on their way up to his apartment. He pulled out a sparkly black bottle of nail polish. Stella had asked if your nails were done, and when he said no, she asked if he could pick up some nail polish while she packed up all her hair stuff and makeup to help you get ready. He had reluctantly agreed. By looking at the picture of your dress he had on his phone--it was a two-piece dress where the skirt portion was long enough that it covered your belly. The skirt was white with a floral design and the top was black with sequins--and used that to figure out what color nail polish to pick. Stella told him to keep it simple, so he just picked up a black bottle with some sparkles.

"Perfect!" Stella exclaimed as she looked at the color.

They got off the elevator and then walked to your and Jay's apartment. When Jay opened the door, he was met with one of the weirdest sights he had seen in his life: Adam was rolling around on the floor in what looked to be pain and you were jumping up and down and celebrating and then giving Kevin a high five.

"What happened here?" Jay asked.

"Oh, hey bro," Kevin said.

"Hey, Jay," Adam gritted out from his spot on the floor.

"We were teaching Y/N self-defense in case someone grinds on her at the dance," Kevin supplied. "And, we got to the kneeing part."

"So, she kneed him where the sun don't shine?" Jay laughed.

"Yeah," Kevin confirmed.

"Good job, Y/N. Adam, I'll get you ice and a beer. Kev, you want one?" Kevin nodded and Jay handed the small bag containing the nail polish to Stella.

"So, here's the deal," Stella started. "Natalie got called into work, so you're stuck with me helping you get ready. I've got some nail polish that your brother so generously went out and picked up for you, a straightener, a curling iron, tons of bobby pins and little hair ties, and tons of makeup. Just tell me what you want and we'll get the ball rolling."

You helped Adam up off the ground and then started towards your room, Stella following close behind.

***

"You know, I never had a mom to help me with this kind of stuff either," Stella confessed as she was twisting your hair.

"You didn't?" you asked. "Who helped you?"

"My mom was in and out of my life in high school, so usually one of the nice neighbor ladies helped me with my hair. The makeup was all me."

"So, you know how it is. I feel like it's harder for me than for Will and Jay because they both had Mom for over twenty years. I only had her for nine."

"Well, if you ever wanna talk about girl stuff, I'm your girl. Now, anyone special you wanna dance with? Or are meeting him at the dance?" Stella asked.

"Well, there is someone." You blushed.

"Girl," she dropped your hair. "You can't just leave me hanging like that. Who is it?"

"His name's Caleb. He's really good friends with my friend, Andrea." Stella knew who this was. She knew that you had saved her life during the shooting half a year ago. "He's really cute. Tall, Brown hair. Blue eyes. One of the star players on the football team," you told her wistfully.

"Ooh, you got it bad," Stella laughed.

"I got what bad?"

"Your crush on this Caleb kid. You are crushing on him so hard, Y/N. Can't say I blame you. The popular kid is always the way to go...as long as he's not a douche."

"He's actually not. He's actually really nice."

"Well, does Caleb have a date to the dance?" Stella asked.

You sighed. "He does. Her name's Sasha and she's a total bitch. Excuse my French."

"Well, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret: sooner or later, the dude sees his girl's true colors."

"I, uh, I thought about asking him to dance. I remember Jay saying when I was like four and he was going to his senior prom, that if he wasn't dating Allie and a girl asked him to dance, that he'd dance with her because it takes guts to ask someone to dance. But, since Caleb's got a date, that probably won't happen."

"Hey, if he's dancing solo and a slow song comes on, you gotta ask him to dance. Shoot your shot, girl."

"You're right. I'm gonna ask him to dance. I will ask Caleb to dance."

"That's the spirit! Now, we gotta get you looking extra hot so he falls in love with you when he's staring into your eyes while you two are slow dancing the night away."

You laughed and Stella returned to your hair.

***

Later that night, a slow song came on and Sasha was nowhere to be seen with Caleb. But, he was on the dance floor, near the back wall, all by himself. So, you asked him to dance. He said yes, and after, he even gave you a hug. Best dance of your high school career so far.

After you texted Andrea to tell her that you danced with Caleb because you had no idea where she was, the next person you texted was Stella. You knew she'd be hella excited for you.

You crushed on Caleb for a few months after that. But, then he got a new girlfriend and ended up cheating on her with not one, but two different girls. Needless to say, your crush on him died the second you found out this information.

"She loves you, you know," you said to Kelly.

"She told you this?" he asked.

"She didn't have to. Every time Stella sees you, or even when she talks to you, her face lights up."

"She's good for me. That's for sure."

You paused. You knew Kelly didn't have the best relationship with his dad and neither did Jay, Will, or even you. You also knew his dad had died a few months ago, around October and it was currently February. "Did you ever get mad at yourself?" you asked.

"About what?"

"When your dad died. You knew he wasn't the best person, but you were still sad."

"I'm sorry, Y/N. I don't understand where you're going with this," Kelly apologized.

"I know my dad wasn't the best person, hell he was neglectful and unfit to be a parent, still is. So, why do me and my brothers still see him? Why do I still feel sad and scared that he might die?" you asked. You knew this was something you should be asking your school counselor--you had started seeing her a lot this past year because of the shooting--but Kelly was here now. And, maybe he'd understand because he didn't have a very good dad either.

"It's because you remember how he used to be," Kelly said. "You, Jay, and Will all remember when he was a better person. When Benny died, I didn't feel like I was grieving current Benny. I was more grieving for the Benny I knew when I was five years old when he was a good dad. And, I never gave up hope that he'd become a better father as I grew up. When he died, I knew it would never happen. You're grieving the dad you used to know and the hope you might lose of him becoming a better man."

You nodded because you really had no idea what to say. You thought Kelly was right; maybe that was the reason why you were sad and fearful about the possibility of your dad dying. You two sat in silence after that, finding comfort in each other's presence, each hoping for the best, but trying to prepare yourself for the worst.

***

You walked into the ED, to be met with Jay storming out and Will quickly following after him. You ran after them.

When they finally stopped, you made your presence known. "Okay, someone wanna tell me what the hell's going on?"

"Dad's brain dead and Will, Will doesn't want a second opinion and just wants to let Dad die," Jay spat.

"A- Are you sure he's brain dead? Maybe you read it wrong?" you asked. There had to have been some kind of mistake. Your dad couldn't be brain dead; he couldn't be a vegetable.

"Y/N, I know this is a lot of information to take in, but the EEG, the thing that reads brain waves, showed that Dad's brain dead. Dr. Abrams read it and he's our top neurosurgeon."

"I still want a second opinion," Jay restated.

"Abrams is our top neurosurgeon, Jay. The opinion doesn't get any better than that," Will told him.

Jay scoffed. "So all your degrees, all that money, all those years in school, this is the best you can do?"

"Jay, Dad almost died two years ago. He's been living on borrowed time."

"Abrams didn't say Dad had no chance!" Jay protested.

"One thousand to one is no chance."

"So you just want to give up?" Jay clenched his fists at his side.

"I've seen a lot of patients in his condition--"

"There goes that doctor voice."

"I'm sorry, but I am a doctor," Will retorted.

Jay scoffed. "Yeah, we got that message. And Dad knew you thought you were better than us. We always came in second. Hell, Y/N came in second because you were away at med school! Who was looking after her when Mom was dying? Me and Dad. Who took her in because Dad's a shitty parent? Me. You weren't there, and now you wanna decide what happens to Dad?" He stepped closer to Will.

Will took a step closer to Jay as well. "You know that's not true, Jay."

"Yes, it is!"

Will opened his mouth and started to say something, but you weren't listening, you were too busy stepping between your brothers because you sensed a fight about to break out.

"Enough!" you yelled. Both Will and Jay looked down at you, shocked at your outburst. "Dad's fucking dying in there and you're fighting about old shit! Don't you see that it doesn't matter? Do you really want to spend your last moments with Dad fighting? Because I sure as hell don't."

Then, you moved away from them and made your way to the bathroom before you started bawling. You really didn't want to do that in front of the other people milling around the hospital.

Jay sighed and put his hands behind his head as he watched you walk off towards the bathroom.

"I never thought I'd say this," Will started, "but she's right. We can't be fighting right now."

"Yeah, I guess we shouldn't be doing that," Jay said. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I know you didn't mean it."

"Guess me and Dad really are alike. Stubborn and quick to yell things we don't mean."

"I'm pretty sure all of us got the stubborn gene, even Y/N."

Then, The COO of the hospital, who Will introduced as Ms. Garrett walked up to them and told them that they had the full support and all the resources that the hospital had available to help their dad. This didn't seem like her at all, so Will excused himself to go talk to Ms. Goodwin. And, Jay figured this was as good a time as any to see how you were doing, as he hadn't seen you leave the bathroom yet.

***

Jay popped his head into the bathroom and since he only saw one stall in use and saw your shoes in that one, he entered the bathroom and locked the door.

He heard a sniffle. "Short Stack? You okay?" He paused, mentally kicking himself. "Stupid question, of course, you're not okay. I know you're in here," Jay said gently.

"Go away," you said through your tears.

"Y/N, you know I can't do that."

"I just wanna be alone...and for you and Will to stop fighting."

"We made up. Me and Will are fine. Can you please come out?"

You swallowed and frantically wiped your tears away and the snot that ran from your nose. Then, you walked out of the stall and immediately over to Jay and hugged him. "I'm sorry," you mumbled into his brown jacket. "I'm sorry for yelling and swearing. I just wanted you guys- I just wanted you guys to stop."

"I know, I know. Neither of us is mad at you. You had every right to be pissed at us."

"It's just- It's just... nevermind. It's stupid."

"Y/N, it's not stupid. Just tell me. I promise I won't laugh."

"You promise?"

"I promise," he confirmed.

You sighed. "I didn't get as much time with Mom as you two did and now I'm not getting as much time with Dad. You guys had both of them--" You drew in a shaky breath. "You guys had both of them at your high school graduations. I won't have that. I won't have that, Jay."

And that's when you crumbled and you just sobbed into Jay's jacket. When you were nine, you never really comprehended the number of things your mom wouldn't be there for, like your first high school dance, your first date, your first kiss, your high school graduation, your college graduation(s), your wedding, your possibly having a kid and her possibly having grandkids. Granted, your dad wasn't the best dad or even the best man in general, but now you'd have neither parent at any of those things, at any of those milestones.

Jay just held you as you continued to sob about all the things your parents wouldn't be there for, holding you just as your mom would hold him whenever he cried when he was younger.

***

You and Jay sat next to each other by your dad's bedside, the sounds of the vent that was currently keeping him alive were the only sounds that could be heard. Will came in and motioned for Jay to meet him outside the room.

"Be right back." He placed a hand on your shoulder.

"Be right outside," Will promised.

Outside of the room, Will explained that the reason Gwen Garrett wanted to keep your dad alive was that his bypass was 29 days ago. And that she just wants to keep your dad alive for one more day just so the hospital didn't take a hit.

"You think Dad would want this?" Will asked. "To stay alive just to buff some numbers?"

"No, no he wouldn't. But, me and Y/N talked while you tried to figure out what that Garrett lady wanted. Uh, Y/N didn't get as much time as we did with Mom and now she's getting less time than we are with Dad."

"Because she's a lot younger than us. What are you trying to say, Jay?" Will asked.

"I think Y/N should decide. She should decide whether or not we keep Dad on the vent because she had the least amount of time with him. She should get to decide whether or not she gets more time with him."

"Jay, I'm not trying to argue with you, but do you really think that's a good idea? Her decision could cause her a lot of trauma down the road if she ends up thinking she made the wrong choice in the future," Will pointed out.

"We could tell her our opinions and what we want, but tell her that ultimately, she gets to make the final decision. That way, she doesn't feel like it's totally on her," Jay suggested.

"And if she doesn't want to make that big of a decision?"

"We decide between ourselves."

Will sighed. Jay did make a good point. "Fine. But if she feels like shit for months, I'm blaming you."

"Add you to the list of people blaming me for bad shit in their lives."

"Are you lumping me together with criminals you put away?"

"Basically."

Will and Jay re-entered the room. "Why does it feel like he's squeezing my hand?" you asked.

Will sighed. He didn't want to crush your hope of your dad coming back, even though he knew it wouldn't happen, but he also knew that he couldn't give you false hope; he knew he needed to explain this to you.

"Those are just reflexes," Will answered. "I'm sorry, Short Stack, but they don't mean anything."

"They don't? He doesn't know I'm here?" You sniffled.

"He doesn't know," Will confirmed.

You nodded and continued to hold your dad's hand.

"Y/N, we have something to tell you," Jay started. You tore your eyes away from your dad and up to your brothers. "Me and Will decided that you should decide whether we keep Dad on the vent because you got the least amount of time with him."

"You- you guys want me to decide whether Dad lives or dies?" you asked.

Will nodded. "If you don't want to, me and Jay can decide between ourselves, but you can still tell us what you'd prefer. If you want to decide, we can let you do that. Or, if you want our opinions before you decide, that's fine, too."

"What do you guys think? I don't want to decide all by myself," you practically whispered.

And so, they explained to you how Garrett just wanted to keep your dad alive for one more day just to buff some numbers and how they didn't think he'd want to be alive just to do that, just to save the hospital from liability.

You also knew that there were one thousand to one odds against your dad coming back and that those weren't odds at all. He'd need a miracle. And, if there was one thing you knew about your dad, it was that he didn't believe in miracles. He believed in hard work, not miracles.

It was for these reasons that you said what you said next: "Let him go."

***

"Just when I thought you couldn't get any dumber," Will started when you and Jay arrived at your dad's apartment a few days later to go through his stuff. Surprisingly, most of it had been spared during the fire. "You went after the person responsible for the fire, didn't tell anyone, and ended up getting shot."

"You got shot?" you yelled as you walked in.

"Nice going, man. She didn't know," Jay said, annoyed. He turned to you. "It hit the vest. I'm totally fine. I just have some bruising on my chest. Nothing to worry about."

"And you two tell me to be careful," you mumbled. "I should be telling you that."

"It's no use, Y/N," Will said. "I tell him all the time. He just never listens."

"You know you're not a cat, right Jay? You don't have nine lives."

Jay rolled his eyes. "Where are we starting?"

***

Jay looked down at the pictures he was going through. He always thought that his dad didn't make it to his police academy graduation. But, the photo in front of him proved him wrong: there, in his hand, was a picture that his dad took of him on stage, getting his badge pinned to his chest when he had graduated from the police academy with the date written on the back.

He put a hand over his mouth to stifle his sobs and keep you and Will from hearing them. But, he didn't know you were on your way to find him.

"Jay, Will's wondering if you want us to order pizza? You good with--" You stopped talking when you saw Jay sitting on the floor, staring at a photo with silent tears streaming down his face. "What's wrong?" You knelt down next to him.

Jay frantically wiped his tears away using the hand that wasn't holding the photo. "Sorry, yeah, tell Will he can order pizza."

"Jay," you said sternly. "What's wrong? And, don't you dare say nothing. Because you wouldn't let me say nothing, you'd bug me until I told you. So, if you don't tell me, I'm going to keep bugging you about it, just like you'd do to me."

Jay chuckled. "I really screwed myself over by using that parenting tactic, didn't I?"

"Yeah, you did. Now, what's wrong?"

Jay sighed. The Halstead stubbornness was starting to show more and more now that you had been living with him. And, because of this, Jay knew that you wouldn't let up.

"I always thought Dad never went to my graduation from the academy." He set the picture on the floor between you guys. "But he did."

You furrowed your eyebrows. "You didn't know that?"

"Why would I? Did you know?" he asked, turning to look at you.

"Yeah. He had to leave early because he had to make sure he was home when I got home from school. That's why he couldn't congratulate you after. He never told you?"

"No, he didn't."

"You know the first thing he said to me when I walked inside?" Jay shook his head. "He said: your brother's a Chicago police officer. I'm proud of him. And your mother would be, too."

"He- he said that?" Jay asked, getting choked up once more.

"He did. He might not have said it, but he was so proud of you, Jay. So proud."

***

Will opened a cabinet to grab some paper plates for you three to eat your pizza off of. As he was grabbing them, his hand brushed up against something leaning up against the back wall of the inside of the cabinet. It wasn't one something, but multiple somethings. He furrowed his eyebrows and took out the entire stack of paper plates, causing the multiple somethings to fall to where the paper plates had previously been. Then, he took the mystery things out of the cabinet.

He gasped when he read the first one.

In his hand, he held six letters, two addressed to each of you, one from your mom and one from your dad.

"Will, what's taking so long?" Jay asked as he flipped open the pizza box. "Food's getting cold."

"I think the pizza's gonna have to wait, guys." Instead of grabbing the plates and bringing them to the table, he brought the letters instead.

"Those don't look like plates to me," Jay pointed out.

"Because they're not." He set the pile of letters on the table. "They're letters. Addressed to each of us."

"But, that's Mom's handwriting," Jay said, flabbergasted.

"What do they say?" you asked.

"Only one way to find out," Will said and reached for the two addressed to him.

You and Jay did the same.

You swore you could hear a pin drop as each of you slowly ripped opened the yellowing envelopes. The seals were easy to open because, since they had been sealed for so long, some of the stickiness was gone.

Will first started with the one from his dad.

Dear William,

I know I said a real man goes right to work. And, I know I was mad at you for doing what you wanted to do and becoming a doctor. But, I guess I just have to think of med school as on the job training...that you pay a ton of money for. You will never hear me say this out loud to you because you know as well as I do that I am as stubborn as they come and I hate admitting I was wrong. But, you did good, kid. Both you and Jay did.

I'll keep this short because, if you're reading this, that means I'm gone and I'm assuming you, Jay, and Y/N are busy with the arrangements. But, just know that even though I don't say it a lot, I love you and I'm proud of you, son.

Love, your father,

Pat Halstead.

Will wiped below his eyes. His dad did say he was proud of him when he was out of surgery two years ago. And, Connor had told him everything his dad had said about him before he went under the anesthesia. But, it was nice to have that in writing because it would be there forever.

It was like all three of you had the same idea to open the letter from your dad first. Your logic was that you figured your mom's would make you cry more, so you figured you'd open that last.

Jay fought to keep his eyes dry as he read the letter from his dad. He regretted the last words he had said to him, now more than ever.

Dear Jayson,

I know you think I hated you for going into the military straight out of high school. But, I didn't. I was just scared, scared I was going to lose you. One thing you don't know is that I tell everyone I work with that you're a war veteran. I love bragging about you and telling people about your accomplishments. They always say I should be so proud of you. And, I'm sorry I never tell you that, but I am proud of you, really proud of you. You fought for our country and saved countless lives over there. Just keep saving the innocent, Jay. That's what you seem to do best...and fight against the people who tell you that you can't do it, just like how you fought against me when I told you not to join the military.

I'll keep this short because if you're reading this, that means I'm gone. But, always remember that I am so proud of you and that I love you so much.

Love, your father,

Pat Halstead.

His dad was proud of him. And now he had a reason as to why his dad didn't want him to join the military: he was scared. And, Jay told himself that if he had his own kids, he'd probably do the same thing because he had seen the horrors of battle and he wouldn't want any of his kids to go through that.

Finally, you read yours. And, as you read it, you were crying more than your brothers. You really didn't care, though.

To my daughter,

As I am writing this, you are nine years old and want to be a doctor. I don't know how that will pan out or if you'll change your mind on what you want to do. But, I am here to tell you, don't let anyone or anything stand in your way of what you want to be. Don't let Will stand in your way and don't stand in his shadow if you become a doctor. Strive to be better than him. Compete with each other if you end up going into the medical field; a little friendly competition never hurt anyone. Be smart and keep your brothers in line because Lord knows they're both as stubborn and as reckless as they come.

Love, your father,

Pat Halstead.

So, Jay was right: Dad wasn't always a sexist pig. And, Kelly was right as well: you missed your old Dad, the one who believed you could do anything, not the one who you knew when you were 13 to now, who was drunk, unfit to parent, and sexist as hell.

Then, Will opened the letter from his Mom.

To my first baby, Will,

First of all, let me say that I love you so much, more than you can ever imagine. I know you'll be a great doctor. Just, be smart, and try to be a little less stubborn because I'm assuming you're going to have to work with other doctors. Find it in you to compromise. I don't know what to say in this because me and your dad agreed that you and Jay and Y/N will get these letters when he's passed as well, so I don't know how far into the future you'll be seeing this. So, I figured I'd leave you with some life tips.

Mom's life tips to Will:

1. Never, ever lay your hands on or disrespect a woman. If you do, I will come down from heaven and smite you myself. This goes for Jay, too.

2. Make sure you help your girlfriend or wife with the household chores, like cleaning and cooking. You never leave all it to her. Again, same goes for Jay.

3. I'm sorry to say this, but never grow out a long beard. You have red hair and if you grow out a beard, you'll look like an overgrown leprechaun. Sorry, sweetheart.

Love,

Mom (Amelia Halstead).

PS. In this envelope you will find $500. This is to help you with med school loans, malpractice insurance, or if you're reading this way into the future, to help you with bills, and your own little family.

Will let out a small chuckle as he read the last life tip. And, thankfully, he had never decided to grow out his beard. And now he never would.

Jay looked down at his mom's loopy cursive handwriting and began to read.

To Jay, my second baby,

First of all, I love you more than you can ever imagine. And I am so, so proud of you for choosing to serve your country. I don't know whether you'll decide to stay in or leave the rangers, but I'm sure you'll be amazing at whatever it is you choose to pursue. And Jay, please keep in mind that you only have one life. Don't be crazy and reckless out there. I don't think you will be, but I'm just reminding you because I'm your mom and that's what moms do, they nag you and they worry about you no matter what. And, if you're reading this, that means your dad has passed away as well. Don't take this the wrong way, but please go see a therapist. You've fought in a war and seen terrible things overseas (I know because you once had a nightmare at home. I just didn't tell you that I knew this) and you've lost both of your parents. You should talk to a professional, sweetheart. But, always remember that I will be with you when your nightmares get rough. And, if Y/N wants to follow in your footsteps and go into the military, talk to her about it, but don't fight her on it like Dad did to you. Finally, I will leave you with some life tips.

Mom's life tips for Jay:

1. Never, ever lay your hands on or disrespect a woman. If you do, I will come down from heaven and smite you myself. I already wrote this in Will's letter as well.

2. Make sure you help your girlfriend or wife with the household chores, like cleaning and cooking. You never leave all it to her. Again, this is in Will's letter, too.

3.  I know you want to save everyone, Jay. And, you have a big heart, but you also take things personally. Just know that you can't save everyone and that is okay. Be kind to yourself and think of all the people you did save as opposed to those who you couldn't. It's okay to grieve for them, but don't let your grief last forever.

Love,

Mom (Amelia Halstead).

PS. Also in this envelope is $500. Use it towards therapy. But, if you already made the leap to go to therapy, one I am proud of you, and two, use it for something else. Donate it to veterans in need maybe. Or, use it to help pay off loans if you decided to go to college if you ended up leaving the military. Or, if you're reading this way in the future, use this money to help with bills and your own little family.

Maybe Jay would start therapy again now. He had gone a while ago, but after his meds stabilized his nightmares again, he stopped going. Maybe he'll go again because as he always said, his mom was a smart lady.

You were ugly crying as you opened the envelope and read the first few words that your mom had written.

To my baby girl,

Y/N, I love you so much and you will always be my baby girl no matter how old you get. I know I only got nine years with you, but know that I will always be with you in your heart no matter where you are. I was so excited when I found out I was having a girl and I'm so sorry we didn't get as much time on earth together as we should have. Continue doing what you love. Don't let your brothers take Beary from you. And, don't take no for answer when someone tells you that you can't do something just because you're a girl. Us girls are strong. As for the future, sweetheart, you have the kindest little personality right now. Never lose that. But, at the same time, don't let anyone take advantage of that. Stand up for yourself and stand up for others in need. I am going to leave you with more life tips than I left your brothers because they're older and should know a few more things than you at the moment...and they aren't girls.

Mom's life tips for Y/N:

1. And, don't laugh at this, but it works. When shaving down there, apply deodorant down there after. It helps to keep razor bumps and itchiness at a minimum.

2. Don't go for the first man that says I love you. You need to make mistakes before you fall truly and madly in love.

3. Girls can be cruel in middle school and high school. It's okay if you only have one or two true friends because having a few super close friends is better than having lots of distant ones.

4. Don't depend on any man for anything. Before moving in with your boyfriend and/or getting married, make sure you are financially stable all by yourself. That way, you will be able to leave him if things go south.

5. When you do get married, always keep money hidden away or have a secret bank account that your husband doesn't know about. That way, if things get really bad really fast, you can get out of there as fast as possible.

6. Finally, and I'm assuming Dad, Will, or Jay has already told you these things, but if they haven't, here they are. When drinking, watch the bartender make your drink. Don't take drinks from anyone. And don't leave your drink unattended.

I love you, sweetheart.

Love,

Mom (Amelia Halstead).

PS. Also in this envelope is a $20 gift card to Build-A-Bear. If you are too old to use it, save it for your kids. Or, if you have kids, give it to your kids. There is also $480. This can be used to pay for dresses for school dances, for college, and if you're reading this way in the future, to start a stash of money that your husband doesn't know about, or to help with bills and your own little family.

All three of you were in tears. But, you always knew that both of your parents would be with you and that they were so, so proud of each of you and that they loved each of you more than the world itself.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading! Leave a comment if I made you cry! I got a request of Kevin and Adam teaching Y/N how to punch, so I incorporated it into this imagine. To the anon who requested that, I hope you liked it! Anyway, please reblog/like and comment to tell me what you think! As always if you want to be added to my taglist, just tell me and I’ll add you! Finally, liked the imagine? Buy me a coffee here. 

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