They're trying to make a Puerto Rico without Puertoricans
Puerto Rico, la isla del encanto, a land filled with rich land and sights that would make anyone who steps foot upon its wonders fall in love. It is also the world's oldest colony under the tyranny of the United States government, along with the US Virgin Islands and Guam. Keeping it undercover as a “non-included territory”, the United States have managed to silence the damage they have caused over decades of treating Puerto Ricans as second hand citizens. They own citizenship but most of the rights the constitution provides do not apply to them in legal proceedings, they have political autonomy but have an imposed board that dictates every economic decision made in the island. Ever since they washed up on Guanicas shores Puerto Rico has been subjected to a false sense of autonomy , a dictatorship disguised as democracy.
Puerto Rico is riddled in debt thanks to American investors (vultures) buying bonds to our already broke government, the debt with interest kept piling up until the island was left in the brink of bankruptcy with no way to pay back to these billionaire investors. A lot can be said on why Puerto Rico had been unable to produce its own money to pay back towards the money the government borrowed, including but not limited under the Jones act Pueryo Ricans can trade or produce goods for any other nation besides the US, but the result of all these inconveniences make it so the Puertorican government is more focused on paying the debt than actually having livable conditions for puerto ricans. Neither the puerto rican nor american government care about puerto ricans, in their own land, because they see us as a means to eradicate the debt. We’ve learnt over the past few years that they’ll always put the debt over our lives, and what's happening right now is a prime example of that. The government, in their desperate search to find ways to balance the economy, have tried to attract more wealthy Americans looking to start businesses. Part of these attempts is act 60,
Now what is act 60 and how is it harming Puerto Ricans
In simple terms, act 60 is a code of incentives that amends and measures the return of investments for all Puertorican incentives laws (like act 20/22). It's supposed to open new business opportunities to non puerto-ricans and foster tourism and development of activities to move the economy of the island. As I stated earlier, the government's main focus is attracting new vultures (investors) to Puerto Rico, relocate their businesses to the island with these attractive tax incentives. These businesses would be able to benefit from 4% corporate tax rate (opposed to the United States 21%), full tax exemption on distribution from earning and profits, 50% municipality tax evasions among others. All of these benefits align perfectly so rich Americans can come to the island and build an empire of profit with this act. To the point most Americans are calling Puerto Rico a tax haven, some even feel entitled to promote our land as a “cryptocurrency utopia”.
Most investors see this as the opportunity of their life without even taking a glimpse into the the amount of damage they'd be doing to puerto ricans
First, id like us to take a look at how this “project” is being sold by american media to americans
“Aiming to become an international hub of service providers, Puerto Rico encourages businesses and entrepreneurs to connect with clients outside the island. The exports sector, therefore, gets the main tax advantages. If an entity provides services through its Puerto Rico entity to other countries, it is likely an export-service company and can qualify for a 2% income tax under Act 60” - Sources here
“Tax incentive to foster research and development activity conducted at local universities in Puerto Rico, allowing qualified Principal Investigators or a Co-Principal Investigator to seek tax exemptions for salaries earned from eligible R&D research grants. The main objective of this incentive is to attract and retain competitive researchers to strengthen Puerto Rico’s performance in science and technology and the Island’s position in the knowledge economy” - Source here
This among many others make it seem as if the act is solely responsible for economic development and wondrous ones in a lifetime opportunities, but for us residents of the island, this act is nothing short of gentrification. Starting with the fact Puerto Ricans cannot benefit from the tax incentives as foreign investors could, it tips you off that these laws were not created to benefit us in any way. Ever since more Americans found out about the tax incentives and started moving to the island, they've started to displace native residents making it almost inhabitable for us to stay. They move and buy public spaces (like beaches) as if it had always been their right to own. Buy our ecologically protected land in order to make profit with tourism opportunities. There is no care for who or what lies within the land they buy, act 60 just wants Americans to buy land so they can create their profit enriching both the economy and themselves.
Since the arrival of this act, both housing and food prices have skyrocketed to the point many natives wonder if they can even afford to live on their own island. They want to make Puerto Rico a tourism attraction for the upper class. They disregard that the land they destroy is still the home of an entire ethnic group, we are slowly being kicked out of our island and the world is silent. They gentrify communities, erase the protection of natural resources, buy puertorican soil and displace everyone who lived in it, and exploit the culture we’ve tried so hard to conserve.
If you want example here are multiple threads to get more educated on the situation
Displacement of of residents of Viejo San Juan
Putting our situation with displacement into context
Selling of land adjacent to the Yunque national forest
I’ll also add this article, to have an example of just why I’m so terrified of what american greed might do to my land
They are re-colonizing already colonized land. Feeding on the labor and blood of millions of underpaid Puerto Ricans, taking advantage of the US thinks and treats us like second class citizens. They want Puerto Rico without puertoricans, it has been unmistakably aware to us they would rather leave us to starve than take us into consideration. We need to create awareness to the situation in order to see any change, Puerto Rico has a history of being silenced but with this new era of social media we can create awareness.
How you can help?
UPLIFT PUERTORICAN VOICES
Draw attention to the situation, amplify our struggles so they can't be ignored
Reach out to legislators/ politicians to demand the repeal of Act 60
Sign petitions to abolish Act 60 like this one
Follow an interact with media about the abolishment movement of act 60 like @abolishact60 (instagram)
“Los jóvenes tienen el deber de defender su patria con las armas del conocimiento”/ “The youth has the duty to protect their home with weapon of knowledge” - Pedro Albizu Campos
Only by spreading awareness can we find a way to see change within, as a puertorican woman I beg anyone who comes across this to at least take the time to read. You don't know the power education could have.
"Daisy." James breathed. "It is lovely to see you again."
She smiled, looking up at him through her long lashes, "your sister tells me you are engaged?"
"No! I mean- no. Not yet, anyway. Grace and I-"
"You are unavailable." Cordelia stated plainly. "And that is okay, James. I did not come here to ask if your childhood infatuation has lasted half a decade. I simply wanted to say hello to an old friend."
"Well then," James smiled brightly at her, tipping his head towards her in a mock greeting. "Hello Daisy."
"Hello James."
"I've missed you."
"Did you miss me? Or did you miss having a little duckling follow you around?" She tilted her head to the side in question.
His grin got wider, "you, dearest Daisy. Your quick witt, especially."
"Stop flirting with me." She teased.
A pink flush spread across his cheeks. "I am not-!"
Her laugh cut him off, her beautiful, melodious laugh. "I'm just messing, Jamie. I know you are a one love sort of man, like your father. I should like to meet this Grace woman, I'd hate not to be friends with your future wife."
Sheepishly, he ducked his head at the thought before slowly grabbing both of her hands and bring them to his lips. "Welcome home, dear friend."
@littlx-songbxrd I blame you for this
@tessherongraystairs @lifewouldbebetteronmars @thechangeling @the-bee-graveyard @alastaircarstairsdefenselawyer I dont remember my old taglist guys pls lmk if yall wanna be added for my tlh rewrite that im doing to try and get extra credit in eng lit-
Omg hey welcome back! It's been forever. How are you? Also yeah I can't belive we finally have a release date like what do you mean this is actually happening???
I've been waiting for twp since I was 18 and now I'm 26. I'm literally in my LATE TWENTIES. The passage of time is insane.
I started waiting for this in my early teens and i am now a full on legal adult what even IS the pasage of time guys. This better be a fucking masterpiece throughly researched and thought through or else im arguing with someone.
ALSO HII. Im good!! I think. Midterms are hell and id rather be doing the work my degree is for than writting about the theoretics of my degree but oh well i do want that degree. With my minor. And my certification so gotta work through the absolute lack of stimulation this is giving me. BUT HOW ARE YOU???
You see *pushes glasses i finally got after years of pushing through being blind* i sure thought you could. By making TLKOF a social construct. But now the social construct has a cover and a release date so here we are
Well i just sae theres two different buttons to reblog now thats. Thatd interesting. But im good, burried in work and trying to make it until i get my degree. YEY VERY GOOD WE LOVE VERY GOOD
Knowing this is the last series is like grieving a guy you already presumed dead? Like youre not dead? But you ARE dying?
Your Hands On My Insides (Your Fingertips Crawling In)
The title of this fic is taken from the song Spiracle by Flower Face. A very long time ago @sandersgray came up with the prompt for Kit biting a vampire and needing to drink holy water to cure it like Will in TID, and Ty being the one to deliver it to him. So now a million years later, I’ve decided to write it, and sprinkle in some musings about addiction and craving. Also I’ve been sober a year!!!! Technically a year and one month, but holy crap! I honestly didn't think I would make it. Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that I’m not great at writing plot or remembering plot points from the books. I feel like there might be a prince of hell involved in the plot of TWP but I don’t remember if which one it would be was ever mentioned. So I’m just ignoring that for now lol.
Content warnings for mentions of alcoholism and self harm, depictions of a character under the effects of a fantasy drug of sorts, and discussions of self loathing.
When Ty heard what had happened from Dru, he wished he could have been more shocked. He wished it didn’t sound perfectly plausible that Kit would be foolish enough, reckless enough to bite a vampire in an attempt to defend himself.
But unfortunately, for better or for worse, he did know Kit Herondale.
Ty had been in the middle of collecting research material with Anush back at the scholomance on anything they could find pertaining to the first heir. Kit still knew very little about his powers or his identity, and given all the threats they were currently facing, and how many people seemed to be interested in exploiting Kit for their own needs, Ty argued that put them all at a severe disadvantage.
As if that wasn’t already concerning enough, Ash had recently joined their ranks in an effort to do what he believed was “the right thing” and help keep Kit from harm as opposed to aiding Janus and his mother in their search for the first air. Only he had been missing now for the past five days and Drusilla was beyond concerned. She and Thais both suspected that he had been kidnapped by either Janus or his mother The Seelie queen, but Ty and Jaime were both skeptical. Ty knew that neither of them really trusted Ash, possibly both for their own reasons.
And as for Kit, well. Ty had no idea how he felt. He had been refusing to talk to Ty unless it was absolutely necessary. Which suited Ty just fine. He wasn’t thrilled to have any awkward or emotionally heart wrenching conversations either, especially when there were much more important things to focus on. Not only was Ash missing, and Kit was being hunted, but Livvy had been continuously acting more and more strangely of late, as well as disappearing for hours on end.
It concerned him, to say the least. But he couldn’t let his emotions get the better of him right now. He would find out what was wrong with Livvy, and find some way to fix it. Along with tackling the other several crises they were presently facing.
By the angel, he needed a drink. Or ten. But he was 3 months sober now so instead, he kept himself busy, kept moving.
His friend Alyssa accused him of compartmentalizing. He would argue that he was just being practical. Sensible. It was what he always strived to be, because when he wasn’t, if he let go, disaster always struck.
He was an addict after all. An alcoholic.
And then there was the vampire.
Not the one who Kit bit. The vampire in question was currently sitting with a sullen expression on her pale elegant face on top of the counter in their kitchen, because apparently just like him she favored avoiding chairs. One of her long legs dangled her barefoot over the edge, and the other was crossed along her lap.
Janessa, his brain helpfully supplied. Janessa was her name.
When Kit first introduced her to their awkwardly assembled, unofficial little band of misfits and soldiers, Ty was immediately concerned. Here was a woman who represented everything Ty was afraid Kit wanted. She was beautiful, reckless, and charismatic. She knew how to make him laugh, and they had many shared interests. However, he didn't want to immediately assume that they were interested in each other just because they were a man and a woman. He had a female best friend, and was endlessly exhausted by the questions and pointed comments he received when he was with Alyssa.
Coming out as gay didn’t even fully put a stop to it.
But, despite all of that he was still jealous. He was jealous and wary of the woman who was so guarded, who kept her feelings so close to her chest to the point where she was impossible to predict and impossible to trust, at least in Ty’s opinion. The interesting thing about Alyssa was that she tried to guard her feelings, but was often terrible at it. Or at least terrible at keeping it up for long periods of time. Ty could usually decipher her within a few hours at most.
Janessa was a stone wall, unless she chose to be otherwise. And that frightened him. Well, that and her unwillingness to commit to most things, hence the reason why she was not a part of any vampire clan. Ty was worried that it was only a matter of time before she got bored, or calculated the risks and realized Kit wasn’t worth it.
Not that it was any of his business anymore.
Ty glared at his sister, who was in the process of pouring bottles of holy water into a giant bucket that Ty was fairly certain was once used to hold their water balloons after they had finished filling them up for hot summer days when nothing else was happening. However as they grew up, those days became fewer and further between.
“I leave you alone for an hour, and this is what happens?” He was trying his best not to raise his voice, especially not at Drusilla which was proving difficult.
Despite his efforts, Dru immediately snapped.
“Hey, this isn’t my fault!” she protested. “Those vampires only attacked us in the shadow market because of her!” She punctuated the end of her statement with a jab of her finger in Janessa’s direction, dumping the rest of the bottle into the bucket.
Janessa immediately scowled at this, digging her black painted fingernails into the laminate, making little holes.
Well, Julian wasn’t going to be happy about that.
“It’s not your business, asshole.” she growled.
Dru laughed, without any real humor behind it, turning to face Janessa. “Oh really? Because I’m pretty sure it became my business when we got jumped in the street by a bunch of fucking bloodsuckers.”
Janessa jumped to her feet with a snarl, and Ty prepared himself to intervene on his sister's behalf, when Thaís entered the kitchen. She and Jaime had been in the other room going over the intel the others had managed to procure before said incident occurred. She immediately rushed towards the two, placing herself between them.
“Hey! Hey, enough of that! Both of you. Calm down!” She ordered, putting her hands up to prevent them from advancing on each other.
Ty let out an exasperated sigh, letting his fingers tap at his sides. People were always telling him to stop being such a control freak and let other people be in charge of the things he was working on. It was one of the main criticisms his instructors had at the scholomance. However, in his defense, what was happening now was the reason he had control issues in the first place. Other people couldn’t be trusted to be in charge and not fuck it up some how.
“So where is Kit now?” he asked.
Dru turned back to face him. “He’s upstairs in his old room. He was literally hallucinating and doing all kinds of crazy shit! We were afraid he was gonna hurt himself, so we figured it would be probably better if we could keep him away from the weapons and kitchen knives.”
That wouldn’t necessarily stop him from hurting himself if he really wanted to, Ty thought darkly. But he decided not to voice that opinion.
Janessa went to move forwards, but Thaís caught her, making her hold her hands up in surrender. “Look I'm sorry ok? I’m done fighting, promise. I was just gonna take him the holy water.”
Ty still couldn’t read her face, but he noticed that her voice was significantly softer speaking to Thaís than it had been to Dru.
Then Janessa looked over at Ty. “I fucked up. I’ll fix it. Sure I didn’t tell the idiot to bite into a vampire’s arm and get infected so he could become a subjugate, but they came after us because of me.” She slipped past Thais’ arm by gently moving it to the side, as if she was carefully pushing open a door made of the world’s most fragile and precious materials.
Well that was certainly interesting. Ty made a mental note to revisit later.
“I’ll take it to him.” Janessa walked up to the bucket of holy water and reached for it, but Dru made a mad dash forward and slapped her arm away.
“What the hell?” Janessa exclaimed.
“Nessie.” Thais placated her gently.
“No way. If you drop this, or if any of it sloshes out of the bucket when you’re carrying it, you’re gonna get one hell of a burn,” Dru argued. “It’ll be like acid. I’ll take it.”
Ty had no idea what possessed him, or perhaps if he was being more honest with himself, he knew exactly what possessed him. But before he could second guess himself or talk himself out of it, he was speaking up.
“Actually Dru, I could take the bucket to him if you want. I need to talk to him anyways.”
Dru looked absolutely thrilled by this. She had been trying to get the two of them to talk for weeks. “Sure!” she exclaimed, reaching for the bucket's ridge and lifting it up off the floor. Thais immediately reached for Janessa’s arm and pulled her towards her, away from the bucket.
“Here,” she passed it to Ty carefully. “Make sure you don’t spill. He needs to drink all of it.”
Well. There was no turning back now. He would have to face Kit Herondale.
Ty made his way up the familiar staircase, taking slow careful steps in order to not slosh the water in the bucket. He was not the most coordinated shadowhunter, a result of being autistic, so he needed to take extra care not to spill or drop the bucket. He concentrated on the steps he took, taking extra care to register exactly where his foot was before placing the next. As he climbed, his gaze flitted along the smooth cherry wooden railing, taking notes of little imperfections in the craftsmanship, or places where the colouring was uneven.
The weight of his loneliness set in during these moments of unfamiliar solitude. He had become so used to Livvy always being there, trailing behind him or popping up every so often to add her thoughts on the situation. Whether they were warranted or not.
Even when she was alive, they were usually never apart for very long. Always inevitably falling back into each other's orbit, like it was the most natural thing in the world. Ty tried his best to push those thoughts from his mind. He couldn’t afford to let himself get distracted. He would fix it. Fix everything. It was all he knew how to do. Solve the problem, put the pieces together and let everything finally click into place.
Don’t get sucked into the cavernous black hole swirling inside of you.
As he finally made his way to Kit’s old door, he was flooded with memories. Memories of Ty sitting in front of this very door, sleeping in front of it. He was desperate to learn more about the boy inside, desperate to see him again, to understand him. He had no idea where the feeling came from at the time, but now he can understand it as the beginning of romantic feelings that would eventually become love.
He hated admitting it, even to himself. It made him feel vulnerable and needy. Alyssa had once asked him why he didn’t want to be in love and he had told her it was because it made him feel powerless. She had responded by reminding him that romantic love was really no different than any other type of love, and if he didn’t feel powerless from loving her, or Anush, or his family, then Kit should be no different.
But somehow it felt like it was.
Maybe I just don’t know if I can trust him anymore, he had admitted. Aly told him that was probably a good call.
You can’t trust people like that. Especially if they aren’t family.
The “people like that” that Alyssa was referring to were allistic, or non-autistic. She had a pretty pessimistic view of the world. But if Ty could admit he occasionally felt himself being drawn into it and sucked down. It was hard not to be, when things kept going wrong. The only reason Ty and Aly had managed to trust each other was they seemed to have found a shared understanding through being fucked over by other people. A connection through wounds, and also occasionally through shared joy, but fundamentally it was Alyssa’s first meltdown in front of him that had made him feel for her, and had made him trust her. They understood each other through their pain. Perhaps that was a little unhealthy, but Ty didn’t really care.
He was allowed this, after everything. Something just for himself. Even if it was messy. Even if it wasn’t quite right.
Ty took a deep breath to steady himself and knocked on the wooden painted door. In theory, there was absolutely nothing remarkable about the door to Kit’s room, (he supposed he never really stopped thinking of it as Kit’s room even after Kit stopped living in the institute). It was made from the same materials as all the other doors and they looked identical. But Ty would always immediately recognize it as Kit’s door. He rubbed his fingertips against the ridges of the bucket’s side.
There was no answer on the other end which wasn’t very surprising. Drusilla had informed him that Kit had been hallucinating. It was entirely possible he wasn’t sure if what he was hearing was real or not. Ty could hear the soft sounds of what sounded like Kit murmuring to someone else, either having a conversation with someone who wasn’t there, or possibly a ghost. However, Ty suspected the former.
He decided to forgo waiting for a response and twisted the door handle, slowly pushing the door forwards with a slight creek. This building was old and often quite vocal as a result. Ty normally disliked entering people’s rooms or residences without their expressed permission. However, this time he would have to make an exception. As Ty entered Kit’s bedroom, bucket still in hand, he surveyed his surroundings.
His bedroom was in absolute shambles, as Ty suspected it would be. Clothes, books and various paraphernalia littered the floor. The trash can had been knocked over, and garbage was scattered around the surrounding area, some of it no doubt leaving stains on the carpet. The smooth pine dresser was tipped over sideways, naturally knocking a few of the drawers open, and the mirror which was remarkably still attached to the wall, was smashed to hell. Based on the patterns of shattered glass it looked as though Kit had taken his fist to the mirror multiple times.
We put him in his room so he wouldn’t hurt himself, Dru had said.
Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous.
Oh well. At least he hadn’t gotten into the kitchen. Or worse, the weapons.
And in the center of the room, there was Kit. Ty did his best to ignore how his heart skipped a beat at the sight of him covered in sweat and blood, pacing back and forth and mumbling to himself. It almost reminded Ty a bit of Alyssa when she was stressed.
His sky blue eyes were bloodshot and strained, and his pupils were slightly dilated. It was as if he was coming down from a high, because in some ways he was. The blood of a vampire, consumed by a mortal, had an almost drug like effect. There were dark sunken circles underneath Kit’s eyes, and his blond hair was limp and mussed, also no doubt covered in dirt and oil. His normally sun kissed skin, which had become less tan since living in Devon but wasn’t quite pale and had been steadily regaining some of its almost golden hue since being back in LA, was flushed and irritated looking. The redness drew attention to his freckles and the one tiny mole underneath the corner of his right eye which sat along the orbital bone. His lips were dry, red and cracking, and Ty could still spot the faded stain of blood from when Kit bit the vampire.
He was still beautiful. Kit was always beautiful.
And he had finally stopped to face Ty, his gaze appearing distant and clouded. It was as if he wasn’t really seeing him properly. Kit blinked slowly, and Ty watched the wet tears and oil stubbornly cling to his eyelashes.
“Nessie?” he finally whispered. “Ness?”
Ty ignored the wave of boiling annoyance rising up in his chest. “No, it’s Ty. I’m here to help you.”
Kit looked even more confused. “What?” he muttered. “Where-?” He shook his head frantically, as if he was a dog drying off. “Why?”
Ty dutifully ignored the stabbing pain emanating from his heart. Kit looked so lost. It almost reminded him of when he had first come to the institute, before the rage had set in and he had locked himself in his room. Ty almost wanted to reach out and touch him. But he shoved aside that utterly insane impulse before it could sink in.
“I came to help you,” he repeated. “I have holy water for you, you need to drink it.”
Kit showed no signs of acknowledging what he had said. He only gazed at Ty’s face intently, with an emotion Ty couldn’t quite decipher.
“You can’t really be here.” Kit stepped closer towards him. “This can’t be real.”
Ty sighed. “I’m real, I promise. I’m really here. I need you to drink it.”
Kit stared at him with a dazed look in his eyes. “You look like an angel,” he breathed. Ty's breath hitched. His fingers began to flutter at his side. He arranged his free hand to grasp the bucket tighter, steadying himself.
“Then again maybe you really are just that beautiful. Maybe I didn't make this up.” Kit reached for him gently but Ty immediately snatched his hand out of the air, preventing it from reaching his face, or his body. Whatever Kit had intended on touching. Ty knew that if he let him, it could unleash a storm of unpredictability in him.
But now they were touching weren’t they? Ty could feel the damp uncomfortable sweat of Kit’s hand in his and it should have been horrifying. It was, in a way, and yet Ty still didn’t dream of letting go. He wanted…
Raziel, what did he want?
He wanted to hold Kit so tightly in his arms that he might break. Ty wanted to make Kit take a shower and clean this mess up. He wanted to trace the plains of his face, the shape of his nose and count all his freckles. Ty did it regularly, he had the number memorized but he still liked counting them. He wanted to lick the blood from Kit’s hand and mouth, kissing him so deep and filthy that Kit would be stunned into silence.
At least for a little while.
He wanted Kit to bite him like he did that vampire and stain his mouth with Ty’s blood.
He needed to stop wanting things. It only brought trouble.
“Stop it,” Ty said firmly with a shake of his head. He wasn’t quite sure if it was meant to be directed at Kit or himself.
Kit seemed to gain an ounce of clarity in that moment and dropped his hand. He swallowed hard, and Ty watched the muscles in Kit’s throat contact and tried not to think about running his tongue along the surface. He was almost successful.
“Listen to me!” He tried again, lifting the bucket slightly. “You have to drink this. You’re infected with vampire blood.
Kit’s eyebrows furrowed slightly as he appeared to be digesting this information.
Very Very slowly.
Eventually he groaned, running his hands through his dirty hair. “No, I don't wanna do it. It's gonna be fucking gross.”
Ty fought the urge to smile at the disgruntled little expression on his face. “Kit,” he said softly, forgetting to sound forceful. But when the name left his lips, he forgot what he was going to say.
Kit. Ty hadn't said his name in so long. Years. He refused to. When Livvy tried to get him to talk about Kit, he never said his name. When Alyssa asked about the necklace, about what was bothering him, he always avoided calling Kit by his name. It was too painful.
But now…
Kit.
He almost missed saying it.
“You have to,” Ty fought to keep his voice steady and impersonal.
Kit groaned and stumbled a little, plopping himself down onto the bed. “Ugh. Fine.”
Ty felt the smirk slip onto his face before he could stop it. “You will thank me when you’re not a subjugate in the morning.”
Kit made an indecipherable noise that may have been a whine of protest or grunt of acknowledgment. Ty honestly couldn’t be sure. Kit looked to be slowly falling asleep as his eyelids drooped.
Ty placed the bucket down at the foot of his bed. “Hey you aren’t allowed to fall asleep yet!” He reached for Kit before the action fully registered in his mind, touching his shoulder and shaking him gently. Kit was even warmer than he had been a few moments ago, touching his hand.
That couldn’t be a good sign.
“Kit?” Ty kneeled in front of him, trying to see his face. He wasn’t a fan of making eye contact in the best of circumstances, let alone being in a room, just him and Kit after not speaking for years. But he was worried.
“Kit you need to keep your eyes open,” Ty stated firmly. Kit winced and blinked a few times before opening his eyes fully, or at least as much as he was able to. Ty immediately became aware of how close their faces were and leaned back as much as his position would allow without tipping and falling backwards.
Kit made a grimace that could have been an attempt at a smirk. “Whatever you say Ty.” He lifted his head slightly and their eyes met. Kit’s pupils were so large they nearly swallowed his blue irises. The whites of his eyes were reddened and irritated.
He was still hauntingly beautiful. Even in shambles. Even at his worst.
Ty let out a shaky breath almost instinctively. It had been so long since they had made eye contact. His fingers rubbed against themselves, yearning to tap.
“Always whatever you say.”
Ty bristled. “What is that supposed to mean?” He knew logically that he couldn’t take anything Kit said too personally. He had never been high on vampire venom before, but he had been blackout drunk enough times to know people had a tendency to display the worst of themselves when they were inebriated. However, there was usually still some truth to all the cruel, careless things he had spat at his friends.
It was what Alyssa had said to him when he had tried to apologize the first time it happened. Drunk speak. Sober thoughts.
By the fifth time she hadn’t even bothered saying anything. She just slammed the door in his face. Two weeks later he received a voicemail telling him that she loved him, but he needed to stop drinking or she would never speak to him again. She told Ty that she would do everything she could to help him, but he needed to try.
That was the hard part. Trying.
But she had also told him that he was ridiculously stubborn and when he really wanted something, there was nothing that could stand in his way. Which was true. So if he let himself really want this, he could make it happen. Even though it would be difficult and painful.
It was strange being on the other side of the equation. Even stranger when Ty was already angry with Kit. But it was a different kind of anger now. Less raw and consuming. It had dulled over the years due to time and reason. He knew why Kit had said the things he did, and why he left. He still had a difficult time wrapping his head around why Kit had gone along with the ritual just to back out at the last minute. But logically he could see that Kit was probably scared.
Ty understood that. However, the problem was that logic wasn’t what was driving him every time he looked at Kit. Every time he heard the sound of his voice. Ty was close enough now to smell something beyond the sweat, something uniquely and strangely Kit. Ty wanted to bury his face in Kit’s neck. Being around him also had a way of making him start to forget why he was ever really angry in the first place.
All it left in its place was sadness. Because that’s what it was really all about wasn’t it? Grief. Alyssa had taught him that. Wounds that refused to heal.
Not for the first time he wished Livvy was here. Even just having her there, by his side, made a world of difference. Even if she couldn’t hug him. Even if she didn’t know what he should do, or they didn’t agree. It was just better with her there. Ty tried not to let terrifying what ifs creep in, but sometimes he worried one day she wouldn’t come back.
Kit hadn’t responded to his question. He just stared at Ty, low lidded and mouth slightly parted.
“Does it hurt?”
Kit didn’t react for a moment. Ty was about to ask him again, or better yet just force him to swallow the contents of the bucket, but then Kit shrugged slightly, immediately wincing afterwards.
“I can handle it.”
Ty swallowed down a groan of exasperation. “That isn’t what I asked. I asked if it hurts.”
Ty froze, blood rushing to his cheeks. “You're delirious.”
“Maybe, but it's still true,” Kit mumbled. “How am I doing this?” He nodded at the bucket, then seemed to regret the motion, wincing.
“I don't know,” Ty confessed. He hadn't entirely thought this through, which was rare for him. It was as if the mere mention of Kit had the power to make him lose all sense.
His eyes wandered from Kit's drooping head to his fingers gripping his thick duvet.
“Dru told me to make sure you drink all of it.”
Kit sighed. “Fine.”
Before Ty could make a move to retrieve a glass for him , Kit seized the bucket off the ground and tilted his head back, bringing the bucket to his lips.
“Wait!” Ty exclaimed. But Kit was already pouring the liquid into his open mouth, poking his tongue out slightly.
Ty concentrated very hard on not fixating. He watched as Kit swallowed a giant mouthful and immediately made a face, flinching away from the bucket.
“That's fucking disgusting!” Kit whined.
Ty fought the urge to laugh with very little success. “Well what did you expect?”
“I'm really glad you're enjoying yourself,” Kit replied in what was most likely not a genuine tone.
“That was sarcasm by the way.” He confirmed a beat later.
A little smile slipped over Ty's lips at Kit's clarification. He still cared enough to remember.
I miss you. He wanted to say. But Ty just couldn't form the words. Couldn't bring himself to admit it.
He hated that things felt so wrong now. That he was sitting right in front of Kit and still feeling miles apart. Desperately searching for a way to reach him again.
He envied Livvy in that way. For her easy going conversation and jokes with Kit. Even recently, he had seen them together talking like no time had passed. It made something awful and bitter rise up in his chest and throat. He shouldn’t feel this way. He hated being angry or upset about the two of them getting along. Livvy was a part of him. At one time he would have said she was his other half. But then there was Kit, and as much as he was loath to admit it, Kit was a part of him as well. Sometimes he felt as though Kit and Livvy were the only good parts of him. The only worthwhile parts, and he should just let them…take over if such a thing was possible. Just fade away and leave the rest as a husk for them to fill.
Livvy had told him a long time ago that there was nothing between her and Kit and the kiss was just to see what it was like. But it wasn’t romantic jealousy he felt now. It was jealousy over the easy going intimacy. Ty rarely had that with anyone, and he worried he may never have it with Kit again.
Kit had committed himself to gulping down another mouthful of holy water. This time, Ty kept his gaze off of him, eyes drifting half-heartedly around the room. His eyes landed on one of the things Kit had managed to not knock over. A corkboard filled with collages of photos. Some were of Kit, Tessa, and Jem. Some were of Kit and Mina, or just Mina. Some were of him and Janessa, often posing in ridiculous ways, often in places they shouldn’t be. One was of Janessa standing on top of a statue Ty didn’t recognize of a man. The words “Fuck colonizers” were scrawled across the statue’s plague in black marker, obscering the original text. Another photo was of Kit and Dru at the beach. It looked like it might have been taken in LA.
Ty’s heart clenched. Here was the evidence that Kit had been living a whole fulfilling life without him. Filled with joy and friendship and memories that had nothing to do with Ty.
It was evidence that Kit didn’t need him.
“Did I ruin us?”
Ty hadn’t meant to ask the question out loud at first, but it tumbled out of him with unexpected desperation.
Kit didn’t answer at first, and Ty feared that was more or less a conformation. Then he exhaled forcefully.
“Honestly Ty, I think you ruined me.”
Ty's chest seized, oxygen completely evading him for a moment. He wrenched his eyes upward onto Kit’s face once again. He didn’t even look particularly angry. Not that Ty could always tell. Just resigned.
As if this was inevitable.
Ty took in a giant gulp of air, his breathing unsteady. The words I'm sorry felt incredibly hollow and lackluster. Along with, I didn't mean to, and I broke myself too.
It all felt so meaningless now. Not because Ty didn't feel those things, but because he was afraid that there was no fixing this anymore. No solving it.
But Ty didn’t know how to give up. Didn’t have the language for it, or the ability. It was like looking strangers in the eye, he just couldn’t make himself do it. It had gotten him into trouble more times than he could count, with Kit in particular. But, it was also the only reason he was still alive.
When he spoke next, the words came instinctively. This was something Ty often refused to let himself do, out of fear of saying the wrong thing. But he had already said the wrong thing, far too many times, and he was desperate to fix it.
Ty dug his fingers into the carpet, running his fingers across the harsh matted wool. “Sometimes I regret it,” he admitted. “Sometimes I regret raising Livvy the way I did. I love her. She’s my twin sister. I don’t know how to survive without her. But she’s been having problems. She keeps disappearing. And even if that wasn’t the case, I think a part of me would still regret it, because of what raising her did to us,” Ty confessed shakily. “If I had known you would end up hating me-”.
“I don’t hate you Ty,” Kit muttered bitterly. “I could never hate you.”
Ty felt his shoulders tremble. He could hear the echoes of Kit from three years past, standing on the beach at Lake Lynn.
I love you Ty. I love you.
You shouldn’t, he wanted to scream. I never asked for it and nothing good will come of it.
“You need to drink the rest of your holy water,” was what he said instead.
Kit scoffed and shook his head slightly, making no move to reach for the bucket.
I love you. I love you I love you you're impossible and infuriating I love you I love you you’re a mess I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I-
“Kit please.” Ty fought to keep the desperation out of his voice. “You need to-”
“Oh my god, shut up about what I need!” Kit snapped. He ran a jittery hand through his dirty hair.
A frustrated sound slipped past Ty’s lips. He wanted to yell at Kit to stop being so stubborn and listen, but that had about as much chance of success as forcibly pouring the remaining liquid down Kit’s throat.
“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to tell you what to do,” Ty said softly. “I just know that if you do not finish drinking the holy water in that bucket, you will become a subjugate. And from what I have heard, it’s very unpleasant.” He avoided Kit’s gaze, staring at his fingers absentmindedly stroking the carpet.
Silence. Kit remained still.
Ty slowly lifted his head to meet Kit’s feverish blue eyes once more. His chest heaved with rapid breaths.
“Alright, I’ll go,” Ty breathed. “If you don’t want me here, then I’ll go.” He dragged himself to his feet. His muscles felt like lead. With a sigh, he turned his back to Kit and headed towards the door.
“Wait.”
Ty froze in place.
“Stay with me?”
There was only one real answer.
Ty walked back to his original spot and curled up at Kit’s feet once more.
My name is Safaa. I am a Palestinian from Gaza. I am 21 years old. I study at the university💚.
I am raising money on behalf of my family of ten (my father, mother, brothers, sister and her children 🥺Adem👶, Nasser🧒 and Baraa👧). We are trapped in Gaza and living in tents with minimal access to water, food or basic necessities. My family and I are at risk of death at any moment, if not from bombs, then from hunger, dehydration or disease.
It is embarrassing that the only glimmer of hope is that I am appealing to you to fund us. To travel and cross to safety. ❤️🍉❤️🍉❤️
I would never have imagined myself raising money from the masses for such a solution. 🙏🙏
But I will never forgive myself for not doing everything possible or imaginable to save their lives and get them to safety.❤️🩹
I will not abandon any of them, and I still hope you will donate and share my fundraising campaign to raise enough money to fund their evacuation.
I appreciate your generosity.❤️❤️
Hello kind souls
My name is Safaa. I am a Palestinian from Gaza. I am 21… Safaa Yasser needs your support for Help Safaa Family to trav
HelpNasser Baraa and Adam🍉🤍
my family🩵💜
Fear began to overtake me... I never imagined that I would forget any of the memories of my beautiful home. I had a house in the northern Gaza Strip, in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood... a beautiful house with two floors. I return to it after every ordeal to find myself in the arms of my family, my home that had memories in every corner of it... My family's shelter has become a pile of rubble.💔💔❤️🩹🍉❤️🍉❤️🍉❤️🎗
Before . After
A side of our meaning 💔💔
Now, my family and I are facing a difficult choice. We need to evacuate for the safety of our lives, but the cost is beyond our means. Each person requires , and without your support, our options are painfully limited.
I humbly ask for your compassion and generosity. Every donation, no matter how small, brings us closer to safety and a chance to rebuild our shattered dreams.
Please, if you can, consider donating through the link . Your kindness could make all the difference.
[Thank you for standing with us in this ]🥺🌹🌷
Vetted by @el-shab-hussein 🍉 link
Hello kind souls
My name is Safaa. I am a Palestinian from Gaza. I am 21… Safaa Yasser needs your support for Help Safaa Family to trav
I’m reaching out with a quiet hope in my heart. These days are heavy, and my family is living through a reality filled with uncertainty—but I’m still here, doing my best to hold on and keep going.
If you have a moment, please check out my pinned post.
A simple share could help it reach someone who might be able to make a difference.
If you’re able to give, even the smallest kindness can bring light into the darkest places.
Your time, your voice, your compassion — it all matters more than you know.
With deep gratitude,
@nadinfamily
Hello, Quick boost here, I'm going right over to check your pinned post. Much strength. Praying for safety and peace
happy belated birthday zia!!! i hope you had a good one <333
The fact you remembered really got me tearing up when i found this however if MY memory serves me your birthday was earlier july so HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY
"make my messes matter, make this chaos count" @littlx-songbxrd - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
