Cosimo Galluzzi
NASA
TVSTRANGERTHINGS
Claire Keane
Xuebing Du
shark vs the universe
will byers stan first human second
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ojovivo
Cosmic Funnies
YOU ARE THE REASON
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Kiana Khansmith
hello vonnie
gracie abrams
if i look back, i am lost
blake kathryn
Fai_Ryy
Sade Olutola
ellievsbear
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@journeys-forever
My parents sent me a congratulatory muffin basket for the opening of the second store from my store in Annapolis. They have good tastes in their bakeries if I do say so myself.
"Well, hey, isn't that wonderful? Congratulations on your second store! 'Ya must be real proud, sounds like a huge accomplishment."
blue box magic | journey and arelia
The more that she began to stare at Journey, the more the woman thought through the idea of her, the more interested she became in her. It wasn’t an interest that was purely knowing the girl a little more either. If she’d been some little airhead that didn’t know what she was doing in life, she would have been bouncing on her toes in excitement over meeting someone entirely new. Someone that was actually helping her out when she was so amazingly clueless. Those were the kind of idiots that never managed to keep the attention of the Southern girl for long. Arelia managed to hide the way her eyes would have inevitably narrowed upon the woman, though she didn’t bother stepping just a touch closer to her. Dee green eyes traveled over each curve in her brown eyes. There was something in the way that she acted that made her even more of a subject to focus on. Perhaps keep around for a little while longer. The girl acted like she knew something more than she really should have. That was dangerous in the world that Arelia was so accustomed to. She studied her closely, trying to see what it was that caught her attention. What was it that stopped her from just holding a hand up to tell her to shut her mouth and moving along. Even if she managed to find out what wasn’t so interesting in the girl, it wasn’t as though they would ever actually spend time with one another. Perhaps the crossing of paths, but that was it.
Keep wondering, she thought to herself when it came to the girl standing before her. Keep guessing.
"Mm." She didn’t interrupt the way the other woman continued to just wander through the topics that floated in an out of her mind. If she could see the strings of words that passed from her lips, then Arelia might have been more interested in the subject. Something about a crock pot. Actually biting down on her tongue, she sucked in a slow breath in consideration how to respond to her. Fascinating wasn’t exactly the most appropriate response, even if it was drenched in sarcasm. Crossing her arms before her chest, her hand lifted to press into the curve of her neck, just under her chin. As laid back as she looked, she knew that it was just her lazy bones. "Are you aware just how much you ramble? It’s interesting. The filter from your brain to your mouth doesn’t organize it well at all. I won’t say it’s the exactly rounding the block twice before finding your point, but it’s definitely a ramble."
She was well aware she was a bitch, even when she’d tried so hard to be nice.
For a moment, Journey was quiet, unsure of what exactly to say in response. She stood there for a couple moments, an awkward silence taking over the conversation as she tried to process everything that was going on in her head. Was she supposed to defend herself? Was she supposed to laugh it off? Was she supposed to move on and start talking about something else? She usually had a response for almost everything, but in regards to this, she was completely speechless. Journey was usually pretty good at defending herself, but she didn't want to make this a fight or screaming match. After all, she didn't want to make an enemy today. Journey wasn't a fan of making enemies; there was really no point in doing so. Arelia's comments were obviously an attempt to make a jab at her, and it kind of hurt, but Journey tried to hide that. She didn't want to seem weak - Journey wasn't a weak girl, her parents had taught her that what people said about her didn't matter - but at the same time, she didn't want to act like she didn't care. She had to address her comments. Anyways, it was true, what Arelia had said - she did ramble, perhaps a little bit too much, but that was how she was. That was how she had always been. She was a rambler, she liked to talk to people and have length conversations. Was there something wrong with that? She didn't see a problem with rambling every once in awhile, but apparently, Arelia had a problem with it.
Why did she have a problem with her rambling? Journey couldn't quite understand her problem; it was almost like she was offended by her rambling.
"Well... I've never really much thought into my ramblings. I've always rambled, maybe a little bit too much." Journey started, biting her lip as she tried to think this completely through. The problem with Journey was that she didn't always think things through - she let things leave her lips before having completely processed her thoughts. That meant that she sometimes trailed off at awkward moments, and sometimes, she talked a little bit too much for her own good. It was something that she had gotten from her upbringing - her parents had encouraged her to always speak her mind, and sometimes, that involved a little bit of rambling. She just couldn't help it. People were usually understanding, but some just weren't. Shrugging her shoulders, she added, "It's just how it comes out of my mouth like that, I guess. The rambling, it just comes out of that. Straight from my head to my mouth."
"I don’t recommend it to anyone. Taking risks is part of life, but sometimes you have to trust that fire burns instead of actually putting your hand into it just to make sure.”
He shook his head. “Where I come from, heart is just as good as brains.”
"Mum was a free spirit", Aidan said with a small smile. "My father is a total arsehole though. I love that man."
He laughed, squinting his eyes in disbelief. “If you say so, who am I to disagree?”
"Okay, okay... That's true. But, people should know that fire burns, that's obvious." Journey replied completely deadpan, placing her palms on the table as the words left her lips. "But for the less obvious things, like... Oh, trying out new restaurants and joining a book club, just for the heck of it? That's worth taking the risk, at least in my mind."
"Yeah, it was the same kind of deal in the Torres family, 'ya know. It doesn't matter who you are or how you got here - what matters is your heart and your actions towards other people. That's what I believe, at least."
"Yeah? Oh, man, he sounds like a real riot." Journey replied, shaking her head in disbelief. She was lucky when it came to her family - she and her parents were extremely close, and her parents were still madly in love, even after almost thirty years together. Not many people were so lucky.
"Exactly! You don't know my nanny skills. I'm practically the best in my class."
"A tough lesson to learn," he smiled. "What can I say? Some people just learn through trial and error."
Aidan shook his head. “If there’s one thing I’ve learn in these almost thirty years of experience… it’s that everything is circumstancial. I, for one, would be a lot more interested in getting to know a caring, nice nanny like yourself over any rocket science.”
"Well, my father is a Diplomat so I think I’m allowed to dislike politicians for the amount of social events he puts me through."
He snickered. “I know you wouldn’t get me to take a nap by being bossy.”
Nodding her head, Journey let out a chuckle, replying with, "Trial and error, man. People really do learn from trial and error. They always tell you in math class not to do guess and check, but it's actually a really great method to use in life." After all, people were supposed to learn from their mistakes.
"Yeah? Me: the caring, nice nanny? Well, I'm honored, I really am. I think that most people 'round here would pick one the rocket scientists, but I don't know... Maybe that's just me. Some people are different, especially here in Alexandria."
"Yeah... That's completely different territory, man. Stuffy social events, they don't seem like a ton of fun. I mean, I don't have a lot of experience with them... My parents, they weren't the type to drag me to those things... But, I was a lucky girl. My parents were free spirits."
"Oh, you don't know that, Aidan. You don't know that. I'm pretty good at making people take naps, y'know. I don't back down, and these kids... They really don't like taking naps unless they have to." She was a nanny, after all - she was practically certified in the art of getting people to take a nap.
"That’s a terrible idea, trust me, those vases are just… disasters waiting to happen, a single tanthrum and you can kiss them goodbye. I’d know, I had a father with fancy stuff around. He doesn’t leave the important shit laying around to this day because of me! I’m very proud of that.”
"I don’t think people are bland, no one is bland at all, it’s a matter of perspective. Two rocket scientists in a room with a nanny, who stands out?" He shot her a smile. "Oh, not the politicians, I get enough of them… I’m thinking about doing something new, something fresh, maybe that’ll keep things interesting."
"Don’t thank me, I’m just bossy—this is what I do, I tell people what to do, telling you what to eat? It’s my pleasure. I’m so selfish, I’m so sorry." He breathed out a chuckle.
"Exactly! I really don't want anything in the house to break, but I feel like if something did break, my employers would finally learn to put that stuff in storage." Journey sighed, shaking her head as she twirled the straw in her soda glass. A cheeky grin forming on her lips, she added, "Though, Tyler once spilled juice all over my boss' paperwork... Oh, God, it was bad. He never leaves paperwork on the dining table anymore because of that."
"I guess you're right about that. And, well, I dun'no... Rocket scientists are pretty interesting people, 'ya know. They're extremely intelligent, for one. Probably a lot more intelligent than me." Journey jokingly replied, a small smile curling on her lips. Letting out another laugh, she shook her head, adding, "Not the politicians? I work for a politician, y'know. He's not that bad, really. He's actually a pretty decent guy. But, yeah, that's a good idea! It's worth a try at least, right? For all you know, it could work out really, really well."
"Nah, don't worry about it. There's nothing wrong with being bossy. It's actually a good thing, at least in my book." Journey replied with a shrug, a grin forming on her face. "'Cause, you know, the only way I'll get the munchkins to take a nap is if I'm bossy."
Playtimes and a puppy // Jasper and Journey
Chuckling to himself, Jasper turned the puppy in his hands so he was facing Journey, and nudged his head gently with his thumbs to make him shake his head. ‘Nah, he’s real sorry, see? Big puppy dog eyes, he’s super duper sorry for takin’ the kiddo. It was an accident, he swears.’ Sparing a playful grin and joking wink, Jasper set the puppy back on his lap where he settled quite happily curled up across his owners legs. A huffed sigh and a look up at Jasper led to tattooed hands scratching his ears gently, humming a little under his breath. ‘Sorry, he still gets sleepy real easy, ‘cause when I found him, he was real unhealthy. He’s doin’ pretty good, an’ he’s way better now, but he still sort of.. he needs his rest. He’ll be bouncin’ around again in no time, though!’
'Oh! Hi, hi, it's you! Usually, I remember people, but I guess I'm jus' like him today,' Jasper grinned broadly, gesturing to the half-asleep puppy, rolling his eyes at himself. 'Yeah, that joke needed explainin' to me, but I still reckon it's like, the best one I heard in ages! The atoms. Dammit, atoms.' He laughed cheerily at the joke, entertained by the simple idea of it, and leaned back against his tree still chuckling. 'Why d'y'never trust an atom..' he mumbled to himself, only bringing on another little fit of giggles before he calmed himself down enough to wave, a half-laughing grin still spread across his features. 'Hi, Journey. Pretty name ya got, but a bit unusual- you got a cool story for it or nah? Hi, Isabella. Apollo likes you a whole bunch, too, but he's jus' a teeny bit sleepy. Y'can still pet him if you want, though!'
He nodded amiably to the girl taking his hands away from the puppy so she could pet him if she wanted. He wouldn’t move him, though, for fear of waking up the small creature, which Jasper just didn’t have the heart to do. He was naturally kind, and though naturally loud and fairly boisterous, possessed an inexplicably gentle quality that came with the more adult side of his coin. ‘Yeah, he’s real good. Hardly makes a sound, though, he’s.. he’s real quiet.. It’s sort’a weird, methinks, but I guess it’s just how the little guy rolls or somethin’.You got any pets?’
"Aw, it's okay, sweetie. I knew that you didn't have any bad intentions... This little one just decided that she wanted to follow 'ya because you're just too cute to resist." Journey cooed, petting the puppy on his ear and scratching him behind the ears. She had always had a soft spot for dogs. Though not a particularly big fan of cats or other common household pets like rabbits and fish, dogs would always have a special place in Journey's heart. The Torres family had owned a labradoodle while Journey was growing up, and that little brown mophead - her name was Lily - had been Journey's best friend through it all. They were best friends, that mophead and her, and Journey still really missed her. Nodding her head, Journey grinned as she added, "Well, it's good that he's gaining strength! Feed him well, and make sure he gets lots of rest and exercise, and I'm pretty sure that he'll become a lot stronger real soon."
"Yeah? Well, I can't blame you... Has it been a long day for you too? I know it has been for me. Chasing after three kids, it's a real work-out." Journey sighed, grabbing a stuffed toy from out of her bag and handing it over to Isabella. The little girl, as was common with toddlers, had a very low attention span. Sweet as she was, she got bored pretty quickly, which meant that Journey always had to have something in her bag for her to play with. A coloring book, a toy, an empty wallet - practically anything could tame the little girl. Chuckling slightly, she nodded her head, replying with, "It was a funny joke! Atoms do make up everything, after all. It makes sense!" Then, a grin formed on her face as she rested her elbows on her knees, adding, "Thank you! And, uh, 'ya know the band? Journey? The ones who sing "Don't Stop Believin'". I was named after them. They were my dad's favorite band, actually, so they thought it was a good name." Then, Isabella looked up from the toy in her hands, a grin forming on her tiny lips as she piped in with, "Does he need naps twoo, Mister? 'Cause I have nap time everyday! Naptime's gon'na make me bigger and stronger and taller and faster and better!" She then reached to pet Apollo, bonking him on the nose in the process. Journey couldn't really blame Apollo... Sleep was incredibly important, after all. Isabella and Layla's naptime was the only break Journey was going to have for the next couple of weeks, at least until summer vacation was done, so she was kind of thankful for their need to sleep.
Looking down at the puppy, Journey shrugged her shoulders, reaching to pet the puppy herself. His fur was soft, and he was clearly very tired - he was starting to snore a little - but he was very, very adorable. Jasper was a lucky puppy owner. Biting her lip, she replied with, "Maybe that's just the way he is? Dogs are kind of people - they have different personalities. Some dogs are loud and energetic, and some dogs - like this little dude - are more chill. I don't think it's a bad thing." God, she wished that Layla and Tyler and Isabella were as behaved as Apollo. That would be a dream. Shaking her head, she frowned slightly, replying to his question with, "No, I don't have time for pets! I have to take care of three kids round-the-clock! But, maybe someday, when the kids grow a little older. I had a dog growing up, y'know; she was the best. I'd like to adopt one, one day."
"Oh, trust me, if their parents have three kids and don’t lock the expensive stuff away, they must be prepared for heartache." He laughed. "But it’s amazing that they trust you with their kids. This is terrible but these days it’s hard to find trustworthy people, let alone one to look after your children—would it be rude to ask how old you are?"
Aidan smiled at her reaction. “Weird is good—in healthy amounts,” he added after a short pause. “It has peaks, like any other place, but I wouldn’t say it’s exactly cheap, the price matches the quality of the service. Not everyone is willing to pay for that.”
"Good taste!" He said, straightening his back. "Next time you visit, ask for me and I’ll select a series of dishes that go great together just for you."
"Yeah, you would think that, right? I mean, those things are crazy expensive, you shouldn't trust kids with those sorts of things. But, my employers still have all this fancy stuff in the living room, even though the oldest boy really likes kicking around his soccer ball around the house." Journey explained, letting out a sigh, shaking her head. "Yeah, y'know... It took them awhile for them to completely trust me, but they trust me now, I think. I've been with them for two years now? Almost two years, yeah. So, they pretty much trust me now. Oh, and I'm twenty-four! I've been working for them ever since I graduated from college."
Letting out a chuckle, a smile formed on her lips as she added, "Oh, definitely. It makes you unique, y'know. Being different sets you apart from the rest." Nodding her head, she responded with, "Yeah? Well, you'd figure that people would still come, since the food's great and the service is great. Politicians have that kind of money, right? I mean, I definitely don't have the money to come here every night or anything like that, but but it's a nice treat."
"Just for me? Aw, you're so sweet, Aidan! Thank you, I'll have to keep that in mind next time I come." Journey replied, a beaming smile forming on her lips. "I'm sure that you have great taste."
"Hersheypark’s closer to Harrisburg than Philly, so… I think it would take about two or three hours? So it’s not that bad. Oh, definitely! The kids’ll go bat-crap crazy, I bet. Ooh, hey, you should take them to the Boardwalk. That one’s my favorite!”
The doctor let out a sympathetic chuckle at her long, tired exhale. “Go sniff around for that Hershey bar, sister. It won’t be too hard to find. And get some sleep, for crying out loud. You look even more tired than me… and that’s really saying something!”
"Two to three hours? Eh, that isn't actually that bad... I should take them there, I'm sure they'll love it." Journey replied with a shrug, a slight smile forming on her face. She wasn't too big of a fan of driving and road trips, to be honest, but a trip to Hershey Park kind of sounded appealing. They had three months of summer vacation; Journey had to find something interesting for them all to do. "The Boardwalk? Hey, it's summer, that sounds like a fun place! I'll put it on the list, so that I don't run out of things to do."
"Sniff around for it? Haha, very funny." Journey chuckled, shaking her head. Rubbing her eyes, which were beginning to flutter in her tired state, she shook her head several times, adding, "Dude, you don't even know... It's the life of a nanny, man. You don't get a whole ton of sleep, you just can't. It's impossible. I wouldn't be at this job if I didn't love those kiddos."
Playtimes and a puppy // Jasper and Journey
Having always been fairly good with children, Jasper offered a grin and a little wave to the kid, showing himself friendly enough for her not to run away screaming (probably a bad idea- he’d be hated by everyone, and who knew where the parents were? They might never find her!) and leaned over to grab his uke again, strumming absently enough to pass time as he watched the puppy and toddler, half keeping an eye to make sure the girl didn’t play too rough. He worried about Apollo easily, especially seeing how easy he tired; he was fragile, at least now. He’d get stronger, he knew, but the worry remained, though the pup seemed quite content to just be petted and have his fur, tail and ears tugged on gently by Isabella’s little handsd.
With the toddler happily petting Apollo, who was near enough starting to fall asleep on Jasper’s thigh from the attention, Jasper carried on looking around him, sat upright and trying to spot any adult who seemed slightly more distressed than the rest. Losing a child, even for a little while, was probably quite upsetting and worrying- not that Jas would know, of course. His parents hadn’t cared, and he’d never had a kid under his responsibility, but he at least assumed it was insanely worrying. Nevertheless, though, he decided the best option was probably to stay put and make sure the kid didn’t do anything dumb, although he doubted that’d happen. Apollo attracted most of her attention.
As such, Jasper was relieved when Journey arrived to claim the toddler, and picked up Apollo in a similar fashion. He recognized her, of course, and couldn’t resist the urge to make a joke, mimicking the telling-off Isabella got sternly towards Apollo, and, having layed his uke aside to pick up the puppy, mock glared at the puppy as he spoke. ‘What did we tell you about kidnapping children, Apollo? It’s still the same rule, even when that child is small and pets you! No kidnapping.’ He gave the little dog a very gently shake as he broke into a grin, and was rewarded with a wagging tail and playful wriggle as the puppy realized he wasn’t really being told off (or at least that it was all better, now).
Still in cheery good natured, Jasper then turned his attention to Journey and offered an apologetic smile. ‘Sorry, we was playin’ fetch, an’ then.. well, the puppy came back wi’ a new friend! ‘M Jasper, that’s Apollo. Well, y’might’a guessed that one, but hey, intros are super cool.’
Thank god she's okay.
Though Journey wasn't Tyler, Layla or Isabella's biological mother, as their nanny, it was kind of her duty to act like one. Whenever they got out of her sight, she panicked. Whenever somebody picked on them, she intervened. Whenever they went through something that hurt them, she cried. It was simply second nature now, since she had been working for the Parker family for two years. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she had really grown emotionally attached to these kids, and couldn't even bear the thought of leaving them. So, when Journey lost Isabella, she couldn't help but freak out a little inside. Her blood pressure still hadn't gone down completely.
Laughing out loud, Journey couldn't help but let a wide grin form on her lips, replying with, "Well, I really do hope that you weren't intending to kidnap her, Apollo! I know that she's adorable and tiny, but her parents wouldn't like it very much, y'know." It really wasn't too big of a deal, after all. She had only lost Isabella for a split second, and had found her almost instantly. Isabella had not been harmed, and was actually quite content with petting and playing around with the very tired-looking puppy, much to Journey's delight. She was definitely having more fun with the puppy than when she was on Journey's lap. Plus, the puppy's owner and the puppy himself clearly had no intentions of harming the little girl, so everything was going to be fine - well, as long as her employers didn't find out. They would raise hell if they ever found out.
Taking a closer look at Jasper, Journey pursed her lips, feeling as though she had met the man before. And then, it clicked. "Hey... I remember you! At least, I think that I remember you... You're the guy who told the really funny atom joke the other day, right?" Journey asked, tilting her head to the side as her eyes squinted, as if trying to get a better picture of the man sitting before her. After a few moments of that, she shook her head, a bright smile replacing the quizzical expression on her face. "Well, regardless, it's wonderful to meet you, Jasper! Oh, and it's nice to meet Apollo too, of course. He's a very good dog, and the two of them really seem to be getting along. I'm Journey..." She trailed off, tickling Isabella's stomach as the little blond-haired girl piped in with, "And I'm Isabella! And... And I weally, weally like your puppy, Mr. Jasper. Thank you for letting me play with 'im!" Smiling widely and letting a giggle leave her lips, Journey added, "He is a very well-behaved puppy; I'm impressed."
Journey's "Munchkins"
"The Baby" - Isabella Joy Parker, 2 years old (FC: Babytard) "The Future Steve Nash" - Tyler Elliot Parker, 8 years old (FC: Davis Cleveland) "The Drama Princess" - Layla Michelle Parker, 5 years old (FC: Elise Blake)
He laughed when it became obvious she wouldn’t give in. “I’m sure it is. I’ve got a friend who has twins and, shite, it’s a whole lot of work just keeping those two from setting the house on fire. I wouldn’t believe it if I weren’t one of them a couple decades ago.” Aidan shook her hand. “The pleasure’s mine, Journey.”
He raised his brows when she leaned closer to him, curious, and once she was done, he granted her with a smile. Leaning forwards, Aidan lowered his voice as well: “Why are we whispering? Are you afraid if the word gets around you won’t be able to get a table? I assure you we’ve got plenty of those.”
"I’m glad to know it’s to your liking. Do you have a favorite?"
"Oh, gosh, yeah. I take care of three kids, and I'm not going to lie, it gets really hard sometimes." Journey admitted, placing her elbow on the countertop. Using her hands to explain what she was saying, she added, "They're great kids... But they're kids all the same. They're kind of reckless, and they like having fun. There's so much fancy stuff in the household I work for, like big paintings and vases and that sort of thing, and I'm scared that it's all going to break! I always have to be on my game."
Laughing out loud, she shook her head, returning to her normal volume as she replied with, "Well, I don't know! I thought I was being dramatic or something by doing that, y'know. I dun'no, I'm weird like that sometimes. But, yeah, it's kind of crazy how this place is kind of... Empty. I mean, the food's really amazing, people should be coming in by the troves!"
"Oh, gosh, that's a hard question to answer, man. I've had, like, almost every single one of your pasta dishes and they're all really good. I can't choose! I'm indecisive."
Playtimes and a puppy // Jasper and Journey
Jasper strummed his uke again from where he was sprawled out under a small tree, grinning at Apollo’s bouncy, happy reaction. The pup was still underweight and skinny, yes, but now had energy and the will to play and cuddle, rather than the inability to really move by himself. Jasper was proud of this, and had bonded with the dog incredibly through looking after him- he loved the creature to pieces, and now he was interwoven quite steadfastedly into the busker’s life, and obviously wasn’t going to leave.
Well, not leave his life, anyway, but the dog would certainly abandon Jasper as it suited him, though he wouldn’t go too far. That was proven as the small, fluffy creature heaved himself up off of Jaspers stomach (previously used as a sort of pillow for the animal to curl up on) and wandered around the tree once or twice, eventually stopping by Jasper and snuffling in his ear until he was sat up, stowing his ukulele in his backpack and, instead, produced a small, red-and-white striped rubber ball. This earned an exited bounce from Apollo, who, though he tired easily, did love to play, especially fetch- which so far, seemed to be his favourite.
Therefore, Jasper tossed the ball only a short distance, watching Apollo run after it and trot happily back, depositing the object into his owner’s lap and sitting with a happy, panting expression in wait for the next throw. The dog was surprisingly well-versed in these mannerisms for his age, and this stemmed from a couple of factors: one, that he loved fetch, and two, that Jasper had gone about training this on the earliest rainy day he’d had with the puppy, tossing the ball gently down the hall and teaching him how to play. It had gone slowly, yes, but it had definitely payed off, as now there was little need for tug of war- Apollo liked that game, too, but Jasper always worried about hurting him in his still-weak state, and so didn’t usually play.
The second toss of the ball, however, led to two creatures returning with the ball, one of which was not Apollo. In fact, she wasn’t even a dog, and was actually a small child, who seemed perfectly content to plop down next to Apollo and pet him. The puppy didn’t mind this, and contented himself to lie down with his head balanced on Jasper’s thigh as his owner sat up straight and looked around for anyone who had lost a child- finding and adopting a puppy was one thing, perhaps, but Jasper was pretty sure a child was a different issue, and the guardian should probably be found.
There was no doubt about it, at least in Journey's mind - warm, sunny days like this were simply meant to be spent at the park. Tyler was playing soccer with some of his buddies, Layla was on the swing, and Isabella was with her, sitting on one of the benches watching her siblings play. It was a nice, relaxing way to waste time, of which there was much of now that it was finally summer. Sure, they had been going to the park quite a lot this week - the park and the library, if she wanted to be specific - but neither Journey nor the kids minded. The park was a nice place, after all. There was an ice cream man who sold all sorts of delicious frozen goodies, a nice playground with all the crazy parts and a soccer field, a basketball court and a baseball field all in the same general area - basically, Journey's dream come true. What better place to spend the day at? Everybody was entertained, everybody was having fun. So, to be honest, her day had been perfect so far...
Until Isabella had escaped from her arms, that is.
"Ohmygosh, Isabella! Don't run away from me like that, crazy girl! Get back here!" Journey cried out, running as quickly as she possibly could on the wet grass. Why had she worn ballet flats today? If only she had worn Converse shoes today, it would have been so much easier for her to run on this freshly cut grass. Not only were these shoes incredibly uncomfortable, but the buckle over her toes often got tangled in the grass, making her gait even slower. God, if she lost Isabella, Mr. and Mrs. Parker would kill her. The mischievous little girl had a tendency to run off whenever she got a chance, and while Journey had been lucky and found her eventually in the past, what if she didn't find her this time? Isabella was a cute kid, and there were some real creeps out there. This wasn't exactly Journey's idea of a fun afternoon. In fact, it was extremely stressful, and all Journey wanted to do was sob. Finding a two-year old girl in a huge park definitely wasn't going to be easy.
However, today was thankfully her lucky day. After just a couple moments of running, Journey found Isabella a couple feet ahead of her, sitting on the ground and petting an unfamiliar puppy. This was just like Isabella - the girl had a real soft spot for puppies. Her parents would never let them get one, though, which meant that whenever Isabella saw a puppy, she had to pet it. Figures. This wasn't anything out of the ordinary, really. Letting a tired sigh pass through her lips, the tension in Journey's shoulders slowly melted away as she trudged over to the puppy and the blonde toddler. Kneeling down to Isabella's level, she gently picked her up from under her armpits and placed her on her lap, shaking her head as she spoke. "What did I tell you about not running off with strangers, Bella? It's still the same rule, even when that stranger is a cute puppy dog!"
blue box magic | journey and arelia
The look on her face deceived the way she really thought about the situation. On the outside she looked friendly and even personable. Despite the fact that she was only telling the woman what she should be doing, there was still a warmth on her face that only she knew was really feigned. How fortunate for her that she would find the one person in the entire town that might actually looked through her veil of a welcoming nature and see the harsh woman beneath. It was something that was likely to bite her in the ass later on, but she would deal with it now as though it didn’t really matter to her.
Holding the basket in her own hands, she looked over the woman and the look of complete shock on her face. Someone dared to just drop things into their basket like they’d known them for years. The comfort, while was the only thing natural to her, was built on a foundation of curiosity. She found the ways people acted in certain areas of the states she’d been to interesting. Little did she mind pretending to be nice to observe. She did so now with a slight cant of her head to see the look on the woman’s face just a touch better than she did before. Now that her earthy gaze settled completely on the woman, she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Lazy boned, it was the only move she found necessary, not wanting to use any pent up energy that she could spend elsewhere. With a curl forward of her shoulders, she gazed down into the basket and then back to her woman’s face. Every move was as though she were studying her.
"Consider it a set it and forget kind of meal. Once the noodles are in the oven with the rest of the ingredients, you don’t even have to think about it for another half an hour. Once it’s all boiling then it’s done. Take it out and let it rest." As she spoke her hand lifted to press fingers against the thin curve of her collar bone, hidden under the fabric of her halter as it was. The useless necessity to tell her life’s story to a complete and utter stranger seemed odd to Arelia. She didn’t know how that ever justified someone’s need to hear their own voice. It was a selfish and extremely vain thing to do. A waste of energy, if you asked her. Lifting her hand, she used more of her own energy to cease the woman from continuing any further than was necessary. It was a shame she had already passed that point. Words betrayed her thoughts, coming out softer and more affectionate that she actually felt. She sounded nice, and honey sweet. How the honey was much like the quicksand that took so many lives. "You don’t need to explain, really. I understand life can get hectic. Most people don’t consider the need to give real food instead of feeding children plastic and pieces of cardboard to find any kind of nutrition."
Okay, maybe this woman really wasn't her idea of a friend. Sure, the woman's words seemed warm and friendly, and it was clear that she was trying to make Journey feel a little bit more comfortable, but she could see right through it. Journey had always been fairly good at 'reading' people - she had taken more than a couple psychology classes in high school and college - and could see something a little sinister in this girl's eyes. The honey-sweet tone and kind smile would make her seem like an angel, but there was something in the dark-skinned girl's that made Journey do a double-take. Journey was a happy and bubbly girl, but even though many people thought of her as a bit of an airhead, she wasn't a complete fool.
Still, it wouldn't hurt to try to be friendly to her, right? She seemed to be trying, and Journey was naturally a friendly person, so a little small talk definitely wouldn't hurt her. It wasn't like it was possible that they would bump into each other often after this encounter. Anyways, Journey didn't like really making enemies, and she didn't want this girl to be one. She needed all the friends she could get, really. Even though she had been home in Alexandria for almost two years, she still didn't have a whole ton of close friends since she was constantly caught up with work, and it was always nice to meet people who were actually her age. Plus, even though the girl wasn't one-hundred-percent kind, she was still trying to be kind and giving her tips for an easy dinner, and Journey had to be thankful for that. At the very least, this girl hadn't spit in her face and stormed off. Maybe, she was just over-thinking all of this. Yeah - she was definitely over-thinking this.
"Yeah, thanks so much! It sounds like the perfect 'bake and forget' meal, like one of those crockpot meals... And, you know, I should totally bring down that crockpot. I could probably put it to good use." Journey noted, biting her lip slightly as she remembered the box that sat at the top of the pantry, mostly untouched. It was a heavy thing, but you could put meat in that thing and leave it for the rest of the day, right? That's what she heard, at least, and it sounded quite tempting. God, did Journey need one of those things in her life. The girl always had a tendency to ramble on about things that didn't really matter; she wasn't really good at being succinct. Even in her writing, Journey had a hard time getting her message across in the least amount of words possible; that was part of the reason why she didn't pursue a degree that involved a lot of essays in college. She liked to be creative and use big words and ramble on and on, not be clear and boring like essay assignments usually required. It just wouldn't have worked out, if she had pursued English or something of that nature. "Oh, yeah, yeah, I totally get you, girl! Some people just don't seem to care about what they feed kids. Some kids' stuff is just... Ugh, so gross. Ew. Does that stuff have any nutrition? Most of it just looks like gray mush."
'I reckon scorpions are way scarier, they're like.. lobsters with a goth issue, y'know? Oh, dude. What’s weird ‘bout politicians is that y’never know when they’re insultin’ ya. Like, I’ve talked to a bunch before, an’ some of them seem real nice an’ real, but especially the older ones have so many layers that y’never know what’s spinnin’ in their heads. I been a lot of places, a lot of places.. I never usually stay for more than a few weeks, but I been here for like, a couple of months now? So I’m on a record, an’ I’m even set t’stay! Oh, I ran away from home when I was seventeen, an’ I touched down in Chicago, an’ I jus’… never really stopped, I guess.’
"Yeah, they are pretty scary... Spiders are really scary too, and fire ants! Urgh, I just don't like bugs in general - they freak me out. Oh, yeah, that's definitely a big problem. Actually, my employer is pretty chill with me and he pays me well and all, but he's been in the news a lot and not-so-nice things have been said about him... I dun'no, I think that's what scares me. Politicians seem to hide a lot of things about themselves, 'ya know, and that kind'a bugs me. They're so hard to read sometimes. Oh, now that's really cool! I'm the kind of person who just kind of settles down in one place and sticks there for a pretty long time, so that actually sounds really cool. So, you like Alexandria, then? I mean, it's a really nice place... I lived in New York for, like, four years, and I definitely prefer Alexandria, even just by a little bit. New York was just not the place for me. It's the perfect place to settle down. Oh, um... Where are you originally from, then?"
'Yeah! But so are things y'shouldn't trust, like politicians an' angry lookin' scorpions, so it's pretty eve, I reckon. Woop! I'd never heard it, but there was a guy who was tellin' jokes for tips way back in like, California or somewhere that way, an' so I listened to a lot of them, 'cause he was real funny. That was the best one, though, an' I can't remember the others.'
"Well, okay, that's true... Though, some politicians are a whole lot scarier than scorpions, at least in my book. My employer, for one, kind of scare me, and he's this big politician who works in DC. California, huh? That's pretty cool, and it is a very funny joke! I've never been to California, only places around the East Coast, but it sounds really fun, like there are a lot of cool people there. I'd like to go there someday. Have you been to a lot of places? And how did you end up in Alexandria?"
Yeah that’s what I’ve been doing. I just about had a heart attack when she said Mama the first time. It was the most precious thing. Oh I have no doubt she’ll be talking up a storm by the time she gets a little bit older. That will certainly be interesting. I’m glad you agree. Kids need to make friends. My brother and I were very close in age when I was little so it was like I had a built in friend, but Grace doesn’t have that. She needs to make friends outside of her family.
Oh, gosh, yeah... The first words are always the most precious. When Layla started talking, she couldn't pronounce my name quite right, and to be honest, neither can Isabella... But, the way they say it is really precious, so I don't mind! Jour-neh. Kind of cute, right? Oh, gosh, yeah! Layla's five now, and my gosh, that girl can talk up a storm! Not gon'na lie - it's hard to keep up with her sometimes. And, yeah, I totally agree. I was an only child, so I never had that experience of having a sibling as a friend, but having friends outside of the family is really, really important. It's good to stay close to your family, but you need to break away sometimes, right?
'Why would ya? Annyway, the punchline is 'cause they make up everythin'! Gettit?'
"Well, I dun'no... We're all made up of atoms, right? They make up everything in the universe; that's what special about them! And, haha, well, you're very good at crackin' jokes, mister! I've actually never heard that one before."
