āø» private, dependent rp blog for valpohq āøŗ written by axel ( 27 / they/them )
muses
sarah davies āøŗ ( 40 / she/her ) arin callister āøŗ ( 24 / he/him )
RMH

@theartofmadeline
will byers stan first human second

shark vs the universe

No title available

No title available
Not today Justin

tannertan36

No title available

JBB: An Artblog!

Discoholic šŖ©
ojovivo
almost home
hello vonnie

PR's Tumblrdome

ā
dirt enthusiast
noise dept.
Game of Thrones Daily

#extradirty

seen from South Africa
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia

seen from Netherlands

seen from United States

seen from Türkiye

seen from Türkiye

seen from T1
seen from Italy

seen from United States

seen from United States

seen from United Kingdom
seen from United Kingdom

seen from United States
seen from Poland
seen from United Kingdom

seen from Türkiye
seen from France

seen from United States

seen from Türkiye
@hereforevr
āø» private, dependent rp blog for valpohq āøŗ written by axel ( 27 / they/them )
muses
sarah davies āøŗ ( 40 / she/her ) arin callister āøŗ ( 24 / he/him )
āøŗ location arin's apartment ( @caseydundrich )
he's got his entire table covered in computer parts, told casey come over to give him the overview and double check everything he wants before he actually puts it all together. he does it with everyone he builds a computer for. even though usually, people's eyes glaze over as soon he says the words 'solid state drive' and they stop listening. before casey can get close enough to actually see anything up close, arin stops him in his tracks, giving him a stern look before nodding toward his kitchen table. "don't touch anything. any static electricity could fry half this shit, and if that happens i'm charging you for the new part, plus twenty percent for not listening to me and making me go out for a new one." is that standard business practice? probably not. but he's no businessman, and the threat works well enough that he's never actually done it. so it's fine. "understand?"
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā ź°įĀ Ā ā”Ā Ā ą»ź±Ā Ā -āĀ "Ā ahĀ āĀ okay,Ā could'veĀ fooledĀ me.Ā "Ā freyaĀ shouldĀ probablyĀ feelĀ worseĀ aboutĀ sayingĀ that,Ā butĀ theyĀ can'tĀ helpĀ it.Ā headĀ shakesĀ asĀ theyĀ eyeĀ theĀ papersĀ onĀ sarah'sĀ lap,Ā gazeĀ turningĀ fromĀ themĀ toĀ theirĀ kidsĀ playingĀ onĀ theĀ swings.Ā wellĀ āĀ sheĀ hopesĀ they'llĀ beĀ ableĀ toĀ writeĀ theirĀ nameĀ better.Ā "Ā yeahĀ ?Ā maybeĀ weĀ shouldĀ startĀ teachingĀ cursiveĀ againĀ āĀ "Ā aĀ pause,Ā squintingĀ forĀ aĀ momentĀ inĀ thoughtĀ beforeĀ theyĀ continue.Ā "Ā doĀ ...Ā weĀ teachĀ cursiveĀ anymore,Ā actuallyĀ ?Ā iĀ don'tĀ know.Ā iĀ shouldĀ stopĀ talking,Ā iĀ almostĀ droppedĀ outĀ in,Ā like,Ā tenthĀ grade.Ā "Ā noĀ goodĀ reason,Ā either.Ā justĀ didn'tĀ likeĀ schoolĀ veryĀ much,Ā whichĀ isĀ crazyĀ consideringĀ freyaĀ hadĀ goneĀ toĀ lawĀ school.Ā theyĀ nod,Ā takingĀ aĀ redĀ penĀ fromĀ sarah'sĀ handsĀ toĀ theĀ paper,Ā "Ā nah,Ā s'fine.Ā whatĀ i'mĀ hereĀ forĀ āĀ don'tĀ startĀ askingĀ meĀ toĀ gradeĀ essays,Ā though.Ā TAĀ daysĀ areĀ waaaaaayĀ behindĀ me.Ā "
their reaction makes her laugh ā because they definitely aren't wrong, sarah just can't really say it. she might not have anything to do with her students' atrocious handwriting, but she can certainly make sure the kids she has a more personal day to day connection with don't end up quite as bad. she's done a decent enough job with aleksei. if he can both remember to put his name on his work and do so legibly, it can be done. "i don't think so? that was what, second grade? i don't remember aleksei learning it." which would track with most of her students being about the same age. she chuckles, passing freya a pen and grabbing an extra from her bag. "got it, let you help with the more annoying jobs and give you the essay highlight reels."
-ĖĖ ź° š ź± āā rohanĀ grimacesĀ atĀ theĀ thought,Ā shootingĀ herĀ aĀ sympatheticĀ lookĀ overĀ hisĀ shoulder.Ā he'sĀ alsoĀ gratefulĀ thatĀ heĀ foundĀ theĀ classroomĀ beforeĀ theĀ bellĀ andĀ theĀ hallwaysĀ wereĀ swarmedĀ withĀ teenagers.Ā it'sĀ notĀ thatĀ heĀ hasĀ anyĀ realĀ issueĀ withĀ kidsĀ orĀ tweensĀ orĀ teens--Ā heĀ getsĀ it,Ā they'reĀ basicallyĀ justĀ littleĀ people,Ā andĀ theyĀ wantĀ toĀ beĀ treatedĀ justĀ likeĀ everybodyĀ else--Ā butĀ heĀ alwaysĀ feelsĀ likeĀ he'sĀ rightĀ onĀ theĀ vergeĀ ofĀ sayingĀ theĀ wrongĀ thing,Ā andĀ heĀ neverĀ getsĀ theĀ joke.Ā notĀ thatĀ heĀ interactsĀ withĀ themĀ often, really.Ā it'sĀ onlyĀ momentsĀ likeĀ thisĀ whereĀ he'sĀ standingĀ inĀ frontĀ ofĀ anĀ audienceĀ ofĀ theirĀ bored,Ā glazedĀ overĀ eyes and he pretends he isn't.
"Ā no,Ā i.Ā .Ā .Ā i'veĀ beenĀ burnedĀ before,Ā "Ā heĀ laughs quietlyĀ atĀ herĀ comment,Ā sinkingĀ intoĀ hisĀ shoulders,Ā āĀ printersĀ especiallyĀ canātĀ beĀ trusted.Ā theyĀ canĀ smellĀ fear.Ā āĀ heĀ quips,Ā āĀ doesn't matter though. theyāreĀ allĀ goingĀ outĀ ofĀ fashionĀ anyway.Ā beforeĀ youĀ knowĀ it,Ā everythingĀ willĀ beĀ thisĀ farĀ fromĀ ourĀ faces with VR glasses,Ā āĀ heĀ holdsĀ aĀ handĀ upĀ inĀ frontĀ ofĀ hisĀ face,Ā asĀ ifĀ toĀ proveĀ hisĀ point,Ā beforeĀ heĀ returnsĀ toĀ untanglingĀ theĀ wiresĀ heĀ pullsĀ outĀ ofĀ hisĀ backpack.Ā afterĀ aĀ pause,Ā heĀ feelsĀ theĀ needĀ toĀ addĀ :Ā āĀ notĀ thatĀ iāmĀ againstĀ updatingĀ technology.Ā iĀ justĀ getĀ whyĀ theyĀ havenātĀ changedĀ outĀ theĀ projectorsĀ whenĀ weāllĀ haveĀ individualĀ hologramsĀ inĀ no-time.Ā āĀ
sarah glances up at the clock as she settles back at her desk ā- not long until the next bell, but still long enough that rohan should be able to get set up before her next period kids start showing up and start getting in the way and asking him questions. they're at least a well meaning group of kids. they won't give him too hard of a time. "they must be able to smell anger than too." she laughs lightly. would certainly explain the printer in the staff room acting up even more the longer she had to deal with it.
"oh yeah, i've got a kid doing their end of semester project on that new apple headset thing?" at least she thinks that's what they were talking about ā it was the first she'd heard of it, whatever it was. she's relatively offline, with most of what she knows about pop culture and the like coming secondhand from students or her own son. and none of them are particularly reliable with their sources. "hey, anything they wanna invent that saves a headache, i'm all for it. so long as it's cheap and useful enough that admin can't whine about it being an expensive replacement for something we already have." she only has a little bit of a grudge about still having a whiteboard to clean and markers for it to replace when smartboards have existed for twenty years already.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā luna Ā extended Ā their Ā arms Ā at Ā her Ā side Ā and Ā gave Ā him Ā a Ā look Ā of Ā confusion, Ā " Ā that's Ā basically Ā what Ā i Ā said. Ā " Ā it Ā wasn't. Ā but Ā it Ā would Ā be Ā a Ā cold Ā day Ā in Ā hell Ā before Ā luna Ā admitted Ā that Ā arin Ā was Ā right Ā about Ā something Ā they Ā were Ā wrong Ā about. Ā even Ā when Ā it Ā was Ā something Ā he Ā was Ā clearly Ā the Ā expert Ā in. Ā they Ā would Ā just Ā have Ā to Ā call Ā it Ā an Ā ego Ā thing Ā and Ā leave Ā it Ā at Ā that. Ā " Ā because Ā you're Ā not Ā the Ā the Ā power Ā point Ā god. Ā " Ā she Ā said Ā at Ā the Ā same Ā time Ā as Ā he Ā started Ā listing Ā off Ā his Ā great Ā ideas. Ā " Ā you Ā gave Ā me Ā that Ā trick Ā last Ā time Ā and Ā i Ā fear Ā i've Ā started Ā to Ā abuse Ā it. Ā " Ā they Ā explained, Ā taking Ā a Ā look Ā at Ā the Ā cord Ā he Ā left Ā on Ā the Ā ground Ā and Ā then Ā back Ā up Ā at Ā him. Ā he Ā didn't Ā get Ā the Ā hint Ā though. Ā " Ā i'm Ā already Ā down Ā to Ā 8 Ā point Ā font Ā and Ā if Ā i Ā go Ā any Ā lower Ā it's Ā going Ā to Ā go Ā against Ā 508 Ā compliant Ā guidelines. Ā " Ā another Ā glance Ā is Ā offered Ā to Ā the Ā cord Ā on Ā the Ā floor, Ā this Ā time Ā they Ā lingered Ā a Ā little Ā longer Ā before Ā looking Ā pointedly Ā at Ā him. Ā the Ā cord Ā remained Ā on Ā the Ā floor Ā though. Ā " Ā that's Ā just Ā propaganda Ā ! Ā " Ā luna Ā declared Ā and Ā gave Ā up Ā on Ā any Ā more Ā hints. Ā with Ā a Ā huff, Ā they Ā reached Ā down Ā and Ā picked Ā up Ā the Ā cord Ā themselves Ā to Ā shove Ā in Ā her Ā laptop. Ā " Ā you Ā could've Ā at Ā least Ā handed Ā the Ā cord Ā to Ā me Ā y'know. Ā i'm Ā about Ā to Ā educate Ā you Ā on Ā one Ā of Ā the Ā greatest Ā dead Ā legends Ā of Ā our Ā time, Ā you Ā should Ā be Ā nicer Ā to Ā me. Ā "
as much as he loves arguing ā and he really does ā he knows well enough that he's not winning this one. "yeah, sure, lets go with that." he shrugs, ( over ) dramatically rolling his eyes. besides, he's got more important things to argue about. "the fuck, if i'm not why come to me first? who is then?" his pride being what's far more important than technical arguments. but only ever so slightly. arin leaned back against his tv cabinet, arms crossed his chest listening and waiting in case there was anything else she was going to send him to do. "but have you made the entire slide a wall of text yet? decreased the line spacing so that they're just barely not touching? made the margins tiny?" admittedly, he doesn't even notice them giving him any looks. he's looking more in her general area rather than making direct eye contact. never has been a fan of staring back at people. he blinks back at them, dumbfounded. "you invited yourself in. you could, you know, ask." why does he have friends again?
ifĀ thisĀ wasĀ fourteenĀ yearsĀ earlierĀ andĀ thereĀ wasĀ aĀ randomĀ childĀ -āĀ okay,Ā she'sĀ notĀ random,Ā butĀ youĀ knowĀ āĀ Ā inĀ hisĀ guestĀ room,Ā akselĀ wouldĀ likelyĀ beĀ freakingĀ out.Ā butĀ timeĀ changesĀ everythingĀ ;Ā hearts,Ā perspectives,Ā life.Ā soĀ hereĀ heĀ stands,Ā thinkingĀ aboutĀ theĀ kidĀ that'sĀ likelyĀ goingĀ throughĀ soĀ muchĀ moreĀ thanĀ theyĀ thinkĀ sheĀ isĀ andĀ doingĀ itĀ aloneĀ (Ā again,Ā onlyĀ kindĀ ofĀ āĀ theĀ pairĀ hasĀ offeredĀ theirĀ support,Ā thoughĀ sheĀ hasn'tĀ exactlyĀ takenĀ it.Ā teenagersĀ areĀ pickyĀ aboutĀ theseĀ kindsĀ ofĀ things,Ā andĀ theyĀ wantĀ toĀ giveĀ herĀ theĀ freedomĀ toĀ doĀ thingsĀ onĀ herĀ terms.Ā mostĀ things,Ā really,Ā butĀ theyĀ tendĀ toĀ haveĀ aĀ line.Ā sheĀ hasn'tĀ crossedĀ itĀ yetĀ )Ā .Ā theĀ thoughtĀ ofĀ itĀ breaksĀ hisĀ heart,Ā havingĀ beenĀ theĀ kidĀ doingĀ itĀ alone,Ā butĀ akselĀ knowsĀ betterĀ thanĀ toĀ pry.Ā notĀ hisĀ firstĀ rodeo.Ā andĀ byĀ theĀ looksĀ ofĀ it,Ā notĀ hisĀ lastĀ (Ā looksĀ pointedlyĀ atĀ theĀ gaggleĀ ofĀ 20Ā -Ā somethingsĀ thatĀ comeĀ overĀ everyĀ weekĀ forĀ dinnerĀ andĀ followĀ himĀ aroundĀ likeĀ ducklingsĀ theseĀ days.Ā christ.Ā )Ā
heĀ grinsĀ inĀ aĀ wayĀ heĀ tendsĀ toĀ onlyĀ doĀ aroundĀ herĀ āĀ boyish,Ā likeĀ he'sĀ tenĀ yearsĀ younger,Ā andĀ aĀ divorce,Ā addiction,Ā andĀ familyĀ issuesĀ hadn'tĀ agedĀ himĀ asĀ much.Ā there'sĀ aĀ blessingĀ thatĀ sarahĀ hasn'tĀ seenĀ theĀ entiretyĀ ofĀ hisĀ darkĀ sidesĀ -āĀ thoughĀ sheĀ knowsĀ aboutĀ them,Ā ofĀ course,Ā butĀ beingĀ activelyĀ presentĀ andĀ simplyĀ hearingĀ itĀ secondhandĀ areĀ entirelyĀ differentĀ things.Ā "oh,Ā onlyĀ aĀ fewĀ minutes?Ā what,Ā youĀ haveĀ aĀ hotĀ date?"Ā yes,Ā thisĀ weekend,Ā ifĀ noahĀ behavesĀ andĀ canĀ handleĀ makingĀ sureĀ theĀ nowĀ twoĀ -Ā teenagersĀ don'tĀ throwĀ aĀ projectĀ xĀ inĀ theirĀ home.Ā they'reĀ teenagers,Ā yes,Ā butĀ alekseiĀ ....Ā thatĀ boyĀ needsĀ aĀ leash,Ā andĀ probablyĀ parentalĀ controlsĀ onĀ hisĀ phoneĀ atĀ thisĀ rate.Ā movesĀ closerĀ toĀ theĀ bedĀ toĀ sitĀ besideĀ her,Ā andĀ grinĀ turnsĀ intoĀ aĀ frownĀ whenĀ sheĀ speaks.Ā "seriously?Ā outĀ ofĀ theĀ freezerĀ āĀ notĀ cooked?"Ā noseĀ scrunchesĀ inĀ whatĀ isĀ onlyĀ mildĀ concern.Ā thereĀ isĀ somethingĀ seriouslyĀ wrongĀ withĀ thatĀ kid,Ā andĀ itĀ canĀ onlyĀ comeĀ fromĀ theĀ hÄrouxĀ genes.Ā sorry,Ā bubba.Ā Ā aĀ lowĀ humĀ asĀ heĀ pondersĀ whatĀ toĀ sayĀ aboutĀ theĀ girl.Ā it'sĀ nice,Ā thatĀ sheĀ seemsĀ toĀ trustĀ sarahĀ (Ā akselĀ hasn'tĀ gottenĀ thatĀ farĀ āĀ butĀ it'sĀ aĀ process,Ā andĀ he'sĀ willingĀ toĀ letĀ herĀ haveĀ theĀ spaceĀ sheĀ needsĀ )Ā andĀ wantingĀ toĀ beĀ aroundĀ her,Ā forĀ theĀ mostĀ part.Ā enoughĀ toĀ notĀ beĀ completelyĀ ignoringĀ bothĀ ofĀ them.Ā "doĀ youĀ thinkĀ it'sĀ likeĀ ā"Ā pondersĀ theĀ wayĀ toĀ sayĀ itĀ withoutĀ soundingĀ absolutelyĀ ridiculous.Ā "likeĀ somethingĀ permanent?Ā noĀ reunification?"Ā heĀ hatesĀ theĀ idea,Ā andĀ theĀ wordsĀ makeĀ hisĀ ribcageĀ twistĀ inĀ aĀ wayĀ heĀ doesn'tĀ like,Ā butĀ it'sĀ theĀ bestĀ he'sĀ gotĀ withĀ theĀ informationĀ they'veĀ gotĀ :Ā whichĀ isĀ none.Ā
it never ceases to impress her how far aksel's mentality has shifted in ten years. not that she can ( or even wants to, he's done a lot of work ) take all the credit for it, but she knows he never would have dreamed of taking in an extra kid back then. and the fact that he was just as interested as she was? well, that speaks volumes. the grin on his face from the doorway is contagious, and when she hums in a sort of confirmation at the question, she has the same teasing smile on her face. "maybe, what are you doing tonight?" can practically hear the kids rolling their eyes with all the theatrics that come with hearing the two of them flirt from here. good thing they don't actually have to hear it. the look on his face makes her chuckle ā as if aleksei's ... quirks are even remotely anything new. "in his mouth before he even closed the door." she knows better than to question it. can never really tell if it's the teenage boy of it all or just that aksel is his father. ( said with all of the love and affection physically possible, of course. )
in truth, as far as their guest down the hall goes, she doesn't have a much better sense of what to expect than aksel does. even with the borderline excessive amount of reading she'd done ahead of time. it kind of figures that their first go-around would have a less than obvious road map. "see, that's what i don't know." she sighs. it doesn't help that her parents are even less open to communication than she is. and sarah had tried. for a while before their daughter had ended up in their house. at this point, she's fairly sure they don't check their voicemails. or their emails. "from what i've gathered she doesn't seem particularly interested in that." and while she's sure that has some weight in whatever happens next, she's not quite sure how much. "but she's also not particularly interested in talking about it period, so it's hard to tell."
-ĖĖ ź° š ź± āā sheĀ extendsĀ herĀ handĀ andĀ heĀ relaxesĀ his fidgetting,Ā reachingĀ outĀ toĀ shakeĀ it.Ā "Ā sarahĀ davies,Ā "Ā rohanĀ murmursĀ underĀ hisĀ breathĀ toĀ commitĀ itĀ toĀ memory.Ā atĀ theĀ sameĀ time,Ā heĀ knocksĀ intoĀ aĀ coupleĀ ofĀ theĀ desksĀ inĀ theĀ firstĀ fewĀ stepsĀ intoĀ theĀ roomĀ andĀ quicklyĀ jumpsĀ toĀ slideĀ themĀ backĀ intoĀ place.Ā hisĀ jawĀ setsĀ inĀ anĀ uncomfortableĀ grimace.Ā "Ā sorry,Ā "Ā heĀ apologizesĀ again,Ā moreĀ carefulĀ thisĀ timeĀ asĀ heĀ stepsĀ pastĀ theĀ rows.Ā makingĀ itĀ safelyĀ toĀ theĀ frontĀ ofĀ theĀ room,Ā heĀ pressesĀ hisĀ palmsĀ againstĀ eachĀ otherĀ asĀ heĀ speaks,Ā "Ā everythingĀ isĀ aĀ lot.Ā .Ā .Ā closerĀ togetherĀ thanĀ iĀ remember.Ā "Ā heĀ jokesĀ uneasilyĀ becauseĀ it'sĀ trueĀ :Ā heĀ doesn'tĀ likeĀ howĀ crowdedĀ everythingĀ isĀ togetherĀ inĀ thisĀ labyrinthianĀ mazeĀ ofĀ hallsĀ thatĀ makesĀ himĀ feelĀ aĀ lotĀ smallerĀ thenĀ he'sĀ usedĀ too.Ā butĀ that'sĀ aĀ weirdĀ thingĀ toĀ sayĀ toĀ aĀ stranger,Ā soĀ insteadĀ heĀ tries to shakeĀ theĀ apprehensionĀ off.
heĀ glancesĀ behindĀ himĀ towardsĀ theĀ podiumĀ atĀ herĀ mention,Ā lookingĀ forĀ theĀ techĀ inĀ question,Ā andĀ heĀ nods.Ā loweringĀ hisĀ bagĀ (Ā movingĀ gentlyĀ thisĀ timeĀ asĀ ifĀ toĀ notĀ knockĀ anythingĀ elseĀ overĀ ),Ā heĀ startsĀ diggingĀ outĀ hisĀ laptopĀ andĀ drive.Ā "Ā projectorsĀ don'tĀ workĀ veryĀ well anywhere,Ā "Ā heĀ admits,Ā "Ā allĀ theĀ technologyĀ isĀ decadesĀ oldĀ andĀ probablyĀ wasĀ cheapĀ toĀ beginĀ withāāĀ evenĀ theĀ stuffĀ theyĀ useĀ inĀ fancyĀ corporateĀ offices.Ā likeĀ printers.Ā "Ā
"you're alright, don't worry about it." truthfully, the only reason anything is halfway in order is because she straightened up while the room was empty. "i'm glad you could find it before the bell, it doesn't get any better when the halls are crowded." she shakes her head, remembering her own first year teaching at this particular school ā- you do not want to be in the halls lost right after lunch periods. teenagers aren't exactly the most ... forgiving about people who don't move at their pace or know their way around.
she finds the power cord for the projector and ducks back behind her desk to plug it in, looking back up when he starts speaking. finding some kind of conversation seems like a solid enough way to hopefully get him to relax. it's not so much that any of her students can be mean, they're very well behaved for guests, but they definitely know how to sense nerves. "oh, i believe it. i'm pretty sure this thing is the same as the ones my teachers were using in high school." which she made the mistake of mentioning to a class once. horrified them to find out that was only a couple of years before they would have been born. "i really hope you don't need the printer, because the one in the staff room down the hall does not like me." that ā and she's a little concerned about him finding his way back.
status / open (@valpostart) location / the streets where he belongs (kidding or not)
ĖāĀ·ā̳ĶĶĶā”. ENZO WAS DOING WHAT HE DOES BESTĀ ā RUNNING AROUND SHIRTLESS.Ā Sweat glided down Enzo's body, tracing the lines of his tattoos, a sight that could easily be mistaken for a scene from a movie. Like he was Jacob Black from Twilight or something. (Better than Edward's glittering skin in the sunlight anyway.) He had his attention fixed on the path ahead, unaware of his surroundings. His footfalls matched the rhythm of the beats of aĀ Fergie song playingĀ in his headphones.
As he rounded a corner, his path unexpectedly intersected with that of another person, leading to an inadvertent collision. The sudden impact jolted him, and he stumbled back a bit, out of his reverie, bringing him face to face with someone he had failed to notice until that moment. For a split second, Enzo's instinctual response was to react with frustration or even annoyance. However, he quickly checked himself, remembering his commitment to maintaining a new attitude. A better man if you will. Taking a deep breath, he composed himself before offering his hand out to help the other person who had fallen on the ground. ā Shit, sorry. You good? ā
in reality, its his own stupid fault for paying more attention to the loose rocks and cracks in the sidewalk than anything happening around him. but in his defense, it's a relatively quiet street. and though he's moving relatively slowly, his skateboard makes just enough noise he assumed he'd be heard. proves himself wrong when he rams head on into what feels like a wet brick wall and hits the ground himself while his board keeps on going, finally coming to a stop at a crack in the pavement a few yards away. looking up, he starts reaching to grab the hand being offered to him, but his eyes follow the arm attached to the hand being offered to him to meet enzo's and he pauses. glances at his hand and then back to his face. "you're being nice today?" said right before his filter can kick in and tell him that likely isn't a great idea, and naturally right as he finishes reaching to accept the hand up.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā ā.Ė ā Ā ugh.Ā switchĀ marioĀ kartĀ isĀ soĀ notĀ upĀ myĀ alley,Ā butĀ itāsĀ ok.Ā iāllĀ botherĀ leiaĀ intoĀ givingĀ meĀ aĀ crashĀ course,Ā itāsĀ soĀ overĀ forĀ them.Ā ā Ā sheāsĀ moreĀ thanĀ awareĀ thatĀ suchĀ bigĀ talkĀ isĀ unbecomingĀ ofĀ anĀ adultĀ especiallyĀ whenĀ givenĀ theĀ contextĀ ofĀ playingĀ videoĀ gamesĀ withĀ herĀ friendāsĀ youngerĀ siblings.Ā still,Ā astridĀ couldnātĀ turnĀ itĀ offĀ sheĀ wasĀ competitiveĀ byĀ natureĀ andĀ itĀ wasĀ allĀ inĀ goodĀ funĀ anywayĀ arinĀ knewĀ asĀ much.Ā ā Ā youĀ shouldĀ putĀ themĀ ontoĀ theĀ classicsĀ orĀ theĀ classicĀ consolesĀ atĀ least.Ā thereāsĀ noĀ oneĀ outĀ thereĀ whoĀ canĀ resistĀ ogĀ tombĀ raider,Ā horridĀ graphics,Ā andĀ all. ā Ā itĀ wasnātĀ likeĀ astridĀ wasĀ someĀ well-versedĀ videoĀ gameĀ godĀ butĀ sheĀ moreĀ thanĀ knewĀ herĀ wayĀ aroundĀ aĀ fewĀ well-knownĀ titles.Ā sheĀ canātĀ holdĀ backĀ aĀ laughĀ ā Ā iĀ thinkĀ beatingĀ olderĀ peopleĀ atĀ gamesĀ isĀ likeĀ anĀ egoĀ rightĀ ofĀ passage.Ā iādĀ paradeĀ myĀ winsĀ aroundĀ tooĀ !Ā ā Ā herĀ mindĀ fliesĀ throughĀ theĀ bakedĀ goodsĀ sheĀ bothĀ knowsĀ howĀ toĀ makeĀ andĀ feelsĀ confidentĀ enoughĀ toĀ serveĀ arināsĀ family.Ā ā Ā iāveĀ beenĀ workingĀ onĀ myĀ alfajores..Ā butĀ againĀ youĀ canātĀ goĀ wrongĀ withĀ aĀ classicĀ cake.Ā ā Ā sheĀ letsĀ outĀ aĀ hmmĀ stuckĀ betweenĀ theĀ twoĀ optionsĀ ā Ā whatĀ doĀ youĀ thinkĀ ?Ā iĀ canĀ evenĀ doĀ berlinesĀ ?Ā thoseĀ areĀ just like..Ā jellyĀ donuts !Ā Ā ā Ā ā ā¶ā.Ė
"pretty big guns for a first and a fifth grader." he chuckles about it, but can't help but respect the hustle. "hey, i've done pretty good with that on pc. i made sure the first video games they played were putt-putt and pajama sam." though he did draw the line at hooking up a crt monitor for the full ( albeit steam version, he wasn't about to trust them with the physical disk ) 2003 experience. once a pc guy, always a pc guy. nintendo being a close second. "we're working on the gamecube. so alternatively, haven't gotten them into double dash, but they love nascar thunder '03." don't ask. "just remind me to make you play my dad, show you how easy he is to beat." asking him to make choices is almost never easy, and about fifty percent of the time you're going to end up with something along the lines of 'all of the above', but he has just enough manners to not suggest that to the person offering him ( his family ) treats. "what kind of jelly are we talking?"
are you mad at me? would you like to be
status / closed , @hereforevr location / arin's place
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā " Ā stop Ā whatever Ā it Ā is Ā you're Ā doing, Ā what Ā i Ā need Ā is Ā more Ā important. Ā " Ā luna Ā had Ā strolled Ā through Ā his Ā living Ā with Ā his. Ā the Ā key Ā to Ā his Ā place Ā was Ā often Ā abused Ā by Ā them, Ā using Ā it Ā for Ā more Ā selfish Ā reasons Ā than Ā selfless, Ā but Ā it's Ā not Ā their Ā fault. Ā he Ā shouldn't Ā have Ā given Ā her Ā a Ā key. Ā " Ā i Ā get Ā to Ā give Ā a Ā presentation Ā on Ā our Ā lord Ā and Ā savior, Ā la Ā llorona, Ā but Ā it Ā can Ā only Ā be Ā 12 Ā slides Ā and Ā i'm Ā currently Ā sitting Ā at Ā 45. Ā " Ā luna Ā hated Ā the Ā academic Ā restrictions Ā to Ā their Ā thought Ā process. Ā for Ā a Ā bunch Ā of Ā people Ā who Ā prided Ā themselves Ā of Ā the Ā importance Ā of Ā thought, Ā they Ā really Ā didn't Ā want Ā you Ā thinking Ā too Ā much. Ā dumb. Ā " Ā where's Ā your Ā h&m Ā or Ā whatever Ā ? Ā i Ā need to connect to the tv so you can get the full experience. help Ā me Ā get Ā it Ā down Ā to Ā at Ā least Ā 25 Ā today Ā before Ā i Ā go Ā to Ā a Ā power Ā point Ā master Ā for Ā the Ā rest. Ā "
"the hdmi?" arin sounds almost bored he's so calm. hasn't yet bothered to move from his position on the couch how he'd been since realizing it was luna and not someone breaking in. ( or worse, one of his other friends with a key. ) he really needs to stop giving out free access to his apartment so freely. it's his mother's influence. "ok first of all, i resent the implication that i'm not the power point god." it sounds like they're done filling him in, so he finally gets up to fish around behind the tv for the cable. not like he's got anything better to do all night. he's down to listen to her talk for a few hours. "i'm great at power points and full of great ideas. like making the text smaller to cram more information onto one page. it's a page count not a word count, hold them hostage. and second of all," pauses to pull the right cable out of the tangle hidden behind his tv stand, dragging it to the middle of the room and stuffing all the other cables back. "la llorona. that's the one who cries and makes people end up dead, right?"
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā ź°įĀ Ā ā”Ā Ā ą»ź±Ā --āĀ birdieāsĀ eyesĀ watchĀ himĀ putĀ theĀ diceĀ back,Ā notĀ unlikeĀ aĀ hawk,Ā andĀ sheĀ givesĀ anĀ approvingĀ nod.Ā theyĀ knewĀ theyādĀ raisedĀ himĀ betterĀ (Ā asĀ ifĀ heĀ wereĀ theirĀ fleshĀ andĀ bloodĀ andĀ notĀ someĀ kidĀ sheādĀ adoptedĀ aĀ fewĀ yearsĀ agoĀ ).Ā āĀ theĀ whatĀ ?Ā peopleĀ areĀ shuckingĀ oystersĀ onĀ tiktokĀ liveĀ forĀ scamsĀ ?Ā āĀ birdieĀ rarelyĀ feelsĀ olderĀ thanĀ sheĀ doesĀ whenĀ talkingĀ toĀ arin;Ā theyĀ likeĀ toĀ considerĀ themselvesĀ wellĀ versedĀ inĀ popĀ culture,Ā butĀ heĀ alwaysĀ managesĀ toĀ stumpĀ them.Ā sheĀ handsĀ himĀ hisĀ lunch,Ā thisĀ timeĀ sobaĀ noodlesĀ withĀ theĀ sauceĀ onĀ theĀ sideĀ soĀ theyĀ donātĀ getĀ soggyĀ āĀ somethingĀ easyĀ toĀ eatĀ cold,Ā theyĀ knewĀ heādĀ probablyĀ beĀ tooĀ hungryĀ toĀ feelĀ likeĀ microwavingĀ it.Ā āĀ ohĀ āĀ IĀ actuallyĀ likeĀ that,Ā iĀ thinkĀ itāsĀ cute.Ā butĀ youĀ needĀ toĀ rememberĀ diceĀ comeĀ inĀ sets,Ā soĀ shouldĀ theyĀ justĀ beĀ mixĀ andĀ matchĀ ?Ā aĀ buildĀ yourĀ ownĀ setĀ kindĀ ofĀ thingĀ ?Ā youĀ canĀ helpĀ meĀ advertiseĀ it.Ā āĀ sheĀ laysĀ outĀ theirĀ ownĀ lunchĀ asĀ sheĀ speaksĀ āĀ aĀ glazedĀ donutĀ andĀ aĀ monster.Ā goodĀ times.
"oh yeah. it's like a pyramid scheme. they go live with a whole bag of oysters and they open them up when people buy the pearls. i think the pearls are fake though. because they're all like, weirdly round for being natural pearls. and weird colors." he really spends far too much time online. food in hand, he makes himself at home leaned half over the counter. still grinning from the look of approval ( never beating the golden retriever allegations ) while he fiddles with the lid on his sauce container. "and then they recruit other people to shuck oysters on live and they get a cut of the money they make. and then the people they recruit recruit people. and argue with people about whether or not its a pyramid scheme. even though it totally is." yep, that's what an mlm is. good job arin. "yeah, kinda. and if you get a bunch that look ugly together or duplicates that's your own problem, just buy more. it's a sales tactic." probably not a great one, but one could certainly do business that way. he looks up from his own lunch at hers, fork full of noodles still hanging out of his mouth when he chooses to speak anyway. "very balanced meal there, by the way." as if they've never seen him eat a brick of dry ramen and call it dinner.
"she could but she's not rude so instead i just get passive aggressive stares from her. we're connected like that." salem teased, she probably sounded like a crazy cat lady but she was kinda okay with that. "things like music, my thoughts....nothing too crazy. i figured instead of doing impulsive things when i'm in a weird headspace i should write first and see where that takes me." she nodded. "does the old guy at least pay well? and you should have definitely taken the lizard as a pet."
"passive aggressive stares kinda sound rude to me, personally. i think you're being too charitable to the cat." or maybe he's just giving her a hard time. kind of hard to tell with him sometimes. "if the impulsive thoughts are dying your hair or giving yourself a haircut you should absolutely do that though. it's pretty freeing." unfortunately he would know. about the haircut thing, at least. he's not exactly someone to go to for advise, and he knows that. precisely why he isn't offering any more specific help. "for the amount of work it is? extremely. last time i fixed it he just needed the brightness turned back up. and i got paid for the hour." which isn't much, and the only reason he doesn't feel bad for still charging him. "i tried, i couldn't catch it." he frowns. "but don't tell anyone i admitted that, got it?"
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā ź°įĀ ā”Ā Ā ą»ź±--āĀ esmeĀ freezesĀ āĀ she'dĀ beenĀ proofreadingĀ oneĀ ofĀ aleksei'sĀ essays,Ā takingĀ aĀ redĀ penĀ toĀ mostĀ ofĀ it.Ā shouldn'tĀ thisĀ kidĀ beĀ betterĀ atĀ writingĀ whenĀ he'sĀ gotĀ aĀ teacherĀ forĀ aĀ (Ā basicallyĀ )Ā step-momĀ ?Ā theĀ penĀ stopsĀ atĀ theĀ sameĀ timeĀ herĀ eyesĀ flickĀ upĀ toĀ meetĀ sarah's,Ā though,Ā andĀ itĀ takesĀ herĀ aĀ momentĀ beforeĀ sheĀ shrugs.Ā "Ā absolutelyĀ noĀ clue.Ā iĀ meanĀ āĀ we'reĀ hangingĀ out,Ā soĀ we'reĀ friends,Ā iĀ guess,Ā butĀ everyĀ timeĀ iĀ lookĀ atĀ himĀ iĀ wantĀ toĀ punchĀ himĀ inĀ theĀ throat.Ā whichĀ isĀ kindĀ ofĀ confusing.Ā "Ā aĀ sigh,Ā headĀ shaking,Ā "Ā howĀ areĀ peopleĀ everĀ normalĀ aboutĀ theseĀ thingsĀ ?Ā iĀ feelĀ likeĀ i'mĀ dyingĀ atĀ anyĀ givenĀ moment.Ā "Ā soĀ dramatic.Ā
she pauses to dry her hands, looking back at esme nodding along while she speaks. "sounds to me like you must like hanging out with him, doesn't sound like you to keep going along with it if you really didn't." can't say she knows how to handle the ... violent impulses. that one's aksel's job ā she's the feelings one. "i think a lot of people are just pretending to be normal." how much she's speaking from experience when she was that age? don't worry about it. same general sentiment, just manifested differently. "i take it you haven't talked to him about it at all, right?"
CLOSEDĀ Ā :Ā Ā missĀ sarahĀ daviesĀ hÄrouxĀ (Ā @hereforevrĀ )Ā .
WHEREĀ Ā Ā :Ā Ā theirĀ sharedĀ bedroom,Ā probablyĀ likeĀ 10pm.
he'sĀ triedĀ toĀ keepĀ hisĀ mouthĀ shutĀ whenĀ theĀ kidsĀ areĀ awakeĀ -āĀ whileĀ notĀ unusedĀ toĀ kidsĀ makingĀ themselvesĀ atĀ homeĀ inĀ theirĀ houseĀ (Ā which,Ā frankly,Ā isĀ aĀ bitĀ somethingĀ he'sĀ proudĀ ofĀ āĀ happyĀ toĀ beĀ aĀ safeĀ spaceĀ outĀ ofĀ theirĀ ownĀ homes,Ā wheneverĀ aleksei'sĀ friendsĀ need.Ā somethingĀ heĀ wishĀ heĀ hadĀ asĀ aĀ childĀ himselfĀ )Ā ,Ā akselĀ doesnātĀ particularlyĀ knowĀ whatĀ toĀ sayĀ aboutĀ theĀ girlĀ thatāsĀ madeĀ houseĀ inĀ theirĀ guestĀ roomĀ theĀ pastĀ twoĀ weeks.Ā sheāsĀ aĀ niceĀ enoughĀ kid.Ā oneĀ ofĀ alekseiāsĀ friendsĀ whoĀ apparentlyĀ hasĀ hadĀ itĀ roughĀ theĀ pastĀ fewĀ years,Ā andĀ whileĀ sheāsĀ neverĀ beenĀ anĀ ever-presentĀ figureĀ inĀ theirĀ home,Ā sheāsĀ definitelyĀ notĀ aĀ stranger.Ā keepsĀ theĀ teenagerĀ theyādĀ alreadyĀ beenĀ housingĀ occupiedĀ enoughĀ toĀ leaveĀ himĀ beĀ moreĀ thanĀ usual.Ā
aksel'sĀ leaningĀ againstĀ theĀ doorwayĀ ofĀ theirĀ sharedĀ bedroom,Ā watchingĀ sarahĀ forĀ aĀ momentĀ asĀ sheĀ seeminglyĀ gradesĀ yetĀ (Ā whatĀ akselĀ canĀ onlyĀ assumeĀ isĀ aĀ terriblāĀ )Ā anotherĀ paperĀ byĀ oneĀ ofĀ herĀ students.Ā "thinkĀ youĀ canĀ spareĀ someĀ timeĀ forĀ meĀ andĀ stopĀ beingĀ missĀ honeyĀ forĀ aĀ second?"Ā it'sĀ teasingĀ andĀ theyĀ bothĀ knowĀ itĀ -āĀ it'sĀ takenĀ themĀ aĀ longĀ timeĀ toĀ figureĀ outĀ howĀ toĀ beĀ playfulĀ withĀ eachĀ other,Ā butĀ they'veĀ finallyĀ gottenĀ itĀ afterĀ aĀ decade.Ā "anyĀ moreĀ infoĀ onĀ theĀ tenantĀ downĀ theĀ hall?Ā i'mĀ halfĀ convincedĀ toĀ startĀ askingĀ herĀ toĀ payĀ rentĀ āĀ sheĀ keptĀ eatingĀ myĀ frozenĀ wafflesĀ withoutĀ asking."Ā thatĀ wasĀ actuallyĀ hisĀ son,Ā butĀ akselĀ doesn'tĀ knowĀ that.Ā
true quiet is hard to come by in their house ā between their own kid, his friends, and the half dozen ( or something like that āā she's genuinely lost count ) twenty-somethings who've made themselves comfortable. nothings changed really since they welcomed in the most recent semi-permanent resident. aside from talking to aleksei, she mostly keeps to herself. already a pretty quiet kid, her current circumstances can't be helping much. whatever those circumstances are. most of what they know is pieced together from secondhand information and sarah's own observation. understandable honestly, not wanting to talk about it, but it does make helping a little difficult.
it's about time she took a break from reading what she's about halfway convinced is half-baked fanfiction of some sort anyway. ( these kids certainly understand the creative part of creative writing, she'll give them that. ) "i suppose i can fit you in for a few minutes" which is to say ; for him? always. said in the same sort of light teasing tone he'd used. "baby, i watched aleksei eat one of those straight out of the freezer two days ago." she pushes the binder being used as a makeshift table off her lap and onto the bed, sitting up a little straighter to stretch. settling back in with a light sigh. "but not much. she's still having lunch in the classroom with me, but she's not exactly chatty." nothing too different from how she is at home, truthfully. "i don't want to push her about it too much. but if someone has to, i'd rather do it than someone she doesn't even know."
CREED III (2023) dir. Michael B. Jordan
"i know! i've been such a hermit lately and i'm sure if my cat could talk she would yell at me to get out of the house." salem joked before shaking her head. "not really busy, just kind of trying to kill time and jot a few things down." she nodded, taking a sip of her coffee. "i figured i should actually be around other people you know? if anything i was bound to run into someone i knew here and i was right!" she gave arin a small smile while closing the journal and moving it aside. "but anyways what are you up to today? how have you been?"
"the cat could, kinda. could just scream at you until you got the message." at least he assumes. never had a cat himself, but seems like something they would do. "things like?" sue him for being curious. "errands. killing time until the old guy who wants me to fix his laptop decides to call me." joys of self-employment. or something like that. he shrugs, settling into his chair "i saw a lizard outside on my way here, so pretty good all things considered." god forbid he think back more than 20 minutes for that answer.