been scheming like a criminal

to make them love me and make it seem effortless

[lucyxquinnxfabray]

text || open

Quinn: So, almost two weeks is a completely respectable amount of time to stick to a New Year's resolution, right? Quinn: Asking for a friend. Obviously.

[lucyxquinnxfabray]

I just wanna say thanks for helping me so much for Christmas. I appreciate you more than you know.

[lucyxquinnxfabray]

You’re like really pretty 😘

[ashfordvalleyhq]

ANONYMOUSLY MESSAGE ME ANYTHING YOU WANT TO TELL ME BEFORE 2024 ENDS.

The only rule is that I can’t reply, I can only post it! [x]

[thenoahxpuckerman]

Honestly, I'd love the help. It's just been me, so you just might be that breath of fresh air that I need to get more things into gear. I think you might be on to something, Fabray. Like I said, breath of fresh air. Your ideas are at least slightly better than my little assistants.

[lucyxquinnxfabray]

What can I say? I knew that at some point, all those years of watching cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies were going to pay off. It basically was bound to turn me into a professional Christmas on the farm planner.

[lennyalvarez]

Sorry, dude that... sucks doesn't feel profound enough a word, but it's all I've got right now. Wanna trade? Mine won't bug you about grandbabies because she already has a hoard or pay your electrical bill but she will she will feed you to the point of discomfort and get your buzzed on mulled wine. Honestly? It's kind of the best.

[lucyxquinnxfabray]

That actually sounds like it would be the perfect scenario. Eating and getting drunk at the holidays is what it's all truly about anyway, isn't it? Especially if I can put off the awkward grandkid conversation.

[delilahjcmes]

I know that they mean well - deep down, but goodness if it isn't nauseating to have them droan on. I understand you just want me happy but I am happy! A silly self help book isn't going to make that better.

I'm starting to wonder if we've not got the same mum.

[lucyxquinnxfabray]

It just is the same thing every year! And I try to tell her that I'm happy just focusing on my job, but I get the same, sad look from her, like I'm lying to her. It's crazy!

Either that or they meet up and discuss new ways to tell us we need to get our lives together.

[juliarose]

Being an adult anytime is weird if you ask me, but I get what you mean. I've seen where parents get their adult children like care package type things? Basically snacks they like, household essentials, so that's a start, right? But my god, I'm so thankful my mom doesn't push me on the baby front or boyfriend or anything. She gets I'm fine alone and only giving her grand-kitties.

[lucyxquinnxfabray]

Which is exactly the type of stuff I would like. But, my mom would probably laugh in my face if I asked for that. She'd tell me it wasn't a true "Christmas present" and then just force a sweater on me instead. It's the worst part. Like, I'm content in my career, I'm surrounded by kids and their situations all day at work. I don't really think I want my own when I go home right now.

[madsclarington]

'Cause it's lost some of its magic. Not to be all depressing or anything.

[lucyxquinnxfabray]

No, not depressing at all. How could the idea of the most magical time of year not being magical anymore be depressing? But, I know that you're right to an extent. It can't be the same as when we're kids. I just wish it wasn't as odd being an adult.

[lucyxquinnxfabray]

Did you get kissed last New Year’s? Do you hope to get kissed this New Year’s?

I didn't get kissed last year, no. I like the idea of getting kissed this New Year's, sure. Something about it seems romantic, so I'll stay open to it.

[lucyxquinnxfabray]

What’s your favourite autumn/winter activity?

My favorite autumn activity might sound super lame, but I still really love going to my school's football games. I have a lot of good memories cheering on that field, and now I get to go and support a lot of the students that I work with. My favorite winter activity is hands down going ice skating.

[lucyxquinnxfabray]

Do you do your holiday shopping in advance or last minute?

I usually have really good intentions of getting everything bought and wrapped early, but then life happens, and it ends up all happening a little last minute.

[jasminexsuttons]

Quite honestly, I think you underestimate drunk Scottish people. Back when I was in college, I met one guy named Coatbridge; and he had siblings and cousins named Shuggy, Thorbun, and Puspamanjari. Which doesn't even sound like a Scottish name, but apparently it is. It was weird. But I'm convinced it's the dog. It's gotta be the dog. I found this old poem that I think the nursery rhyme may be based off of, and it references Bingo as the dog so I'm going with that. You are completely right, though. I'm always being surprised by kids; the kids in the hospital caught me off guard a lot, but I didn't get these questions that made me doubt everything I knew.

[lucyxquinnxfabray]

Oh, poor Coatbridge. That just feels like you're being set up by your parents to have some kind of terrible childhood. Like, some names need to be banned at the hospital if they're going to be like that. I feel like if it's not the dog, then so many people's perception of the world will be thrown off. I work with high schoolers a lot, and some of the things they've asked have definitely been... interesting.

[stellaschue]

It kills me that they think they’re being smooth. We’ve learned not to ever actually ask my mom what she wants for Christmas anymore, because she gets this slightly manic look in her eyes — and my mom is the QUEEN of slightly manic looks — and starts in about the importance of family. Eventually she’s just going to flat out answer “grandbabies” and we’ll lose all semblance of plausible deniability.

[lucyxquinnxfabray]

And it's always some new, creative way to try and slip it into conversation! My mom has long since given up trying to always be subtle and, while she does try to, it usually ends up slipping into the 'to the point' version. I can't tell if she wants me to apologize for making her wait sometimes, or if it's just to keep the guilt trips coming.

[thenoahxpuckerman]

Nothing is too top secret, I guess. There's some tree lighting and I have to finalize the night for carolers and hot chocolate. I'm still thinking of other things I could possibly do in such little time.

[lucyxquinnxfabray]

That sounds like it'll be a lot of fun. Do you need any help with the last minute details? I wonder if you could throw in some sort of ornament decorating and s'mores. Or even do like a corn maze, but instead of corn, make it Christmas lights? And, obviously, meeting Santa at something would have to be a non negotiable.

[lucyxquinnxfabray]

Real Christmas trees or fake Christmas trees?

Growing up, we did artificial Christmas trees. My dad always claimed real ones gave him headaches from the smell. Now, I do a real tree every year.

[delilahjcmes]

You're bloody telling me. My mum was asking about what I wanted and she gave me a list of things I couldnt ask for. What's the point in that!? I need socks, and for my bills to be paid. I don't need another ruddy self helf book on how to get into a relationship.

Mothers, I tell you.

[lucyxquinnxfabray]

At that point, yeah, it would just make more sense for her to just go ahead and buy something without so many stipulations. Ugh, self help books might be the worst thing. Especially when you say something about it and then she gets offended and just says she was only trying to help. No, you were only trying out another way to be slightly passive aggressive, but thanks.