protective;

[hollandbowers]

Anyone gonna come get this kid? He’s uh, ga’dammit. He’s trying to cross the street. I got him.

[hollandbowers]

alicefoss​:

Don’t apologize! You’re so handsome I didn’t even notice - and now talking about your blushing is making me blush! Okay, I am so not suave. 

You, ahahem, uh. You wanna go for a walk?

[hollandbowers]

[hollandbowers]

alicefoss​:

Oh my gosh. Yes, definitely. He’d think he died and went to Heaven. And then you and I could just spend a night somewhere too, you know, if you’d want to. 

Oh, like just the two of us? Uhm, ehah, yeah. I would really, really like that. A-ahem. Sorry for blushing.

[hollandbowers]

alicefoss​:

Yeah, I’d like that a lot.

We should go on a little getaway to the woods or something. Find us a little cabin, make a fire, eat warm treats, play games, you know, just have some fun. 

We could take Chandler camping. Canoe on a lake or somethin’... 

[alicefoss]

Yeah, Chandler’s never known a quiet house in his entire life. The first morning after everyone left, he slept in until ten-thirty! I may start putting him in ear muffs from here on out. 

[hollandbowers]

You know, it was kinda nice it just being us for a while. I, uhm, would like it to be just us more often if that’s something you would like as well. 

[hollandbowers]

rhodesnora​:

Well, to most people it’s beautiful, but it’d be your worst nightmare. It’s a giant greenhouse kind of building filled with butterflies that are just…around. You walk through this beautiful, damp indoor forest and see the butterflies fluttering around and on little sugar bowls and what not. It’s quite lovely if you’re not afraid of them.

Oh, no... I don’t think I’d like that very much. Especially if they landed on you. I think I’d cry, probably.

[hollandbowers]

stoneosborn​:

Yeah? She wants one so bad. It’s all she’s been asking Santa for and I want to get her one so her little Christmas spirit isn’t crushed. It’s just a lot to handle and take care of, obviously. I think I might take her to the stables and let her ride one around once things calm down from the holidays and everything. You like animals?

I don’t know... I didn’t grow up with any, but I think so. I hear horses are like... therapeutic or some shit. 

[hollandbowers]

alicefoss​:

Alice felt proud watching Holland easily step up onto the playground and play pretend. He was strong and well-kept, but a little bit goofy as he spoke. She could tell there was a whole other version of himself just waiting to come out, and she liked that. A gentle giant ready for a new adventure. “Yes!” Alice smiled, giggling a little as Holland helped her up onto the “ship” with one swift pull. She matched him, holding one of her hands over her eye and then pointed, “Oy! There! It’s a killer whale, matey! Do you see it?” She grabbed his hand, “Come on, we must go and hide!” Alice scurried across the wobbly bridge of the playground and into a tube, pulling Holland behind her. 

Holland pulled Alice up in one swift motion, their hands interlocking. He jumped up a few more steps to the taller part of the playground where the steering wheel was. He pretended to steer the boat, and the pointed off in the distance where Alice was pointing. “Shiver me timbers! Hit the deck!” Holland chased after Alice and they ducked into a tunnel that was far too small for the two of them. They giggled, trying to make room for both of sets of legs they were working with. Holland looked Alice up and down, and for the first time in his entire life, he felt a pull towards her. A pull he thought he’d never feel due to his past. A pull that he was sure Alice was feeling too. Blushing, Holland glanced between her lips and her eyes and asked, “Err, uh... arggh, how long do ye think we’ll be hiding out here, matey?”

[grizzing]

Some new pics of Jack Mulhern in Odd Man Rush!

[hollandbowers]

rhodesnora​:

Well, I will make sure to never take you to the Butterfly Conservatory then, sweetheart. 

Thanks. 

Wait... a butterfly conservatory? What’s that?

[hollandbowers]

gagemarcello​:

Bianca. She was the most beautiful little girl I’d ever seen. My wife and I didn’t have a name until we saw her, actually, but then it just clicked and we loved it. She had these long, long eyelashes and big, brown eyes. She looked like a little Disney princess baby. 

That’s a sweet name. Very Italian. 

[hollandbowers]

stoneosborn​:

I’d like to be a super sensitive, hyper-aware parent who makes sure his kids won’t ever see anything they shouldn’t, but, you know, I can’t do it all. TikTok worries me a little ‘cause they’re so young, but at the same time, I bet Nora’s got some type of privacy settings on for Sailor, at least. And if the girls see twerking? Eh, not the end of the world, right? A slice to the neck is a little more life-threatening. Claire’s our big reader. The boys like reading too, actually. Was the book any good?

It was very informational. She liked the pictures of the horses with braided manes. 

[hollandbowers]

[hollandbowers]

stoneosborn​:

Thanks. Yeah, yeah, I do. I appreciate the company. You can only watch Channel 3, 5, or 8 so much before your head wants to explode, you know? Jesus, this applesauce tastes like cat shit. Ah, so tell me something. How’s…the house? Any of my kids doing anything extra crackhead-y?

Jaden and Jolie are making TikToks with Kennedy and Sailor, so.... there’s that. But they’ve all been pretty good. Claire came and sat down on the couch with me this morning and asked if I wanted to read her book about horses with her. I couldn’t say no.

[hollandbowers]

gagemarcello​:

Yeah, those are really pretty. I remember taking forever to pick out my daughter’s name. We just wanted it to be perfect. Her middle name had to be special too. Next time around, if I have any more kids, I don’t know if I’ll think that much into it. 

What was her name?

[hollandbowers]

alicefoss​:

Yes, just play pretend! Just…imagine the jungle gym as if you were little, you know? Did you ever see them when you were young and passing around wherever you were? They’re just so big when you’re so small. I want you to act like that. I mean, you can act like that if you want. This is your moment. This is whatever you want it to be ‘cause you didn’t get to have it and you deserve to. You lead the way with goofiness, pretending, whatever and I am going to follow you whole-heartedly. 

Holland chucked a little bit, but tried to let the big, tough guy ego down. At 6′2″, Holland was a big guy, but he was still so easily controlled while he was being trafficked. He never got to have a proper childhood, but he did remember the other kids he lived with playing pretend from time to time. Holland nodded to himself, and with one big step, he hopped up a few steps of the playgound, placed a hand over his eyes like he was searching for something far off, and held onto the rail with the other hand. “Ahoy, matey!” He shouted from his post, “Come aboard me pirate ship! We’re setting off on a world wide adventure!” He reached out a hand to help Alice up onto the ship. “What do you say?”