I am currently going throooough it and the only thing keeping me going is this years Art Fight, it’s been a welcome distraction and I’m fighting for my life to hold on to motivation
Stayed in a rental space in upstate New York for a week or so and the house has two floors, the bottom floor has minimal bug issues—if you’d like to call them that—and the upstairs has spiders galore.
Keep in mind these little buggers are about the size of a dime, perhaps smaller. Their legs are relatively long in comparison to their bodies, and according to those I’m living with, they’re not poisonous(nor do they tend to bite).
I’ve had my fair share of “please help me relocate him from above my bed I’m scared to lay near him” moments. However they’ve done a few adorable things in the midst of my observations and shared space time.
I watched one of them circle around like a puppy trying to get comfy in a windowsill carving. It made a little web nest and curled up to sleep. It was rather adorable.
Then another one, most recently, circled around on the ceiling looking for a nice place to rest and kept running into his other buddies in his usual spots so he went backwards in his path and found a new resting place in a separate corner.
These are such random moments but genuinely, I’d watch an animated short about these little guys.
Look I keep thinking about CarLand angst- what if they were married before the events of the movie- Strauss calling a meeting with Carl and starts asking invasive questions about his husband and Carl’s heart drops into his stomach. Because he’s always know Ryland Grace was meant for more, of course the person who could make Carl laugh and see hope for the world would be the one to save it.
★ Warning(s); betrayal, difficult choices, no happy endings, losing a loved one (in a sense), movie adaptation, possibly a part one part two situation if anyone’s interested
★ Stratt runs across some interesting information, willing to do anything she can to save the earths sun. She uses her power to get assistance from the most hesitant of all—manipulating the love of his life into making the trickiest of choices. Save the sun, or save his husband?
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⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆ T O B E L O V E D by A S K J E L L /A U R O R A ⋆ཋྀ˚₊‧⁺
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EVA STRATT SAT stiffly at her desk. One hand covering half her mouth, as if it would further ground her. Whilst the other tapped impatiently upon the wooden surface. Eyes trained on a loading screen that seemed to have taken a billion years to finally reach completion.
A page of lengthy, and rather insulting, scientific evidence popped up. Typed neatly as if it weren’t framed to make most prestigious feel utterly incompetent in their profession.
Reading it over, front to back, again and again until it felt as though she’d tattooed the words onto her lids. She decided she knew precisely what had to be done. Dropping her hand from her mouth she grasped her phone. Nearly ripping the cord off the landline that sat at her desk corner.
She’d use her mobile, however it was plugged in halfway across the room, and she couldn’t be bothered to get it when a matter as pressing as this had come to light.
Using one of her various resources she’d been allowed, she requested a complete investigation and report on a certain scientist turned middle school teacher, Ryland Grace.
“I expect a full run-down today, This is a nonnegotiable matter”
Not even an hour later, a thick manila folder was left atop her desk. Leaving her to nod dismissively toward the agent in mute thanks. Grasping the hefty stack and sliding it closer. Moving her laptop out of the way with ease.
The first thing she noticed, was a freshly printed copy of his paper. Perfect to use as an example of why she’d surely come and collect him within the next twenty four hours.
The second? A photograph of him standing amongst a crowd of thirty or so students. Clearly a previous class he had taught at some point. If she had cared to squint, or observe it further, she would’ve seen the date scribbled along the photos edge. However she tossed it aside with ease.
All she needed was the school name, and it had been printed neatly across the shirt of the first kid she saw. Nothing else seemed pertinent to the situation.
Lastly, the third paper she saw. Trumping all further evidence was a legal document—one of utter importance.
A marriage license, alongside a rather intriguing certificate.
On one end, it showed Rylands name and signature. The other? Who else but her faithful right hand man and confidant, Carl.
Carl Grace.
It took her less than an hour to come up with an excuse to pull the man into a meeting, wording it in just the right way to get him to agree without suspicion.
He walked into her office, hesitantly. Eyeing the way she sat at the front of her desk. Barely balancing on the edge with a document he couldn’t yet see grasped tightly in her fist.
She looked eerily calm. However he couldn’t help but notice the subtle spark that shimmered in her eye. As if she’d figured something out, something monumental.
“Please, take a seat”
Carl took a step and stood behind the chair. Weighing his options, he couldn’t help but feel the urge to stand. To feel less trapped under her heavy gaze.
Yet with one more nod and wave to the chair, he sat. Easily dropping his worries in place of being what he truly was, a loyal man. He took this job and he knew what that meant. Following along when orders were a bit too much, the sun was at risk. How could he not trust Eva to make the harder decisions? If all he needed to do was jump when she asked, he would.
“There has been a recent development with the Petrova Project, they’re in need of a capable scientist to work on the investigative stages with the Astrophage. To see if there’s anything we’re missing with the information we’ve been fed”
He nodded, following along whilst keeping his emotions closed off. Watching as she went to sit. He wasn’t entirely sure what this had to do with him. Unless she was simply informing him of a new face to expect and keep an eye on.
“We’re going to retrieve him from his work, tomorrow morning. I’ve already arranged for his classes to be covered and I’ve heard he has no transportation either way. Therefore he will be easy to catch if he attempts to refuse”
Carl tensed, he knew of Rylands background in science prior to his teaching. He knew it could get him into trouble—hence his switch over into the middle school in the first place. However he couldn’t fathom him getting dragged into his own work place without choice.
Especially with what they were working on.
“Where will we be collecting him from? Where is his work site?” Carl baited, hoping his tone wasn’t exposing his feelings just yet. Although from the glimmer in her eyes he had a sense he’d already given himself up.
“I’d say you know it better than I, considering his main transportation is sitting right in front of me”
Carls head twitches to the side, as if fighting the urge to deny everything. Eying the papers she’d been holding. The observation, the job description, Ryland.
Stratt leaned forward with her hands held in front of her. Paper long forgotten, as if she hadn’t intended to share it. Softening her features just so, to show the sliver of humanity she rarely allows anyone to see. As if she understood what she was asking of him.
“This may be hard for you to accept, but with the Petrova line in full affect. The sun will die” she paused and glanced down at the files on her computer. Photos of Ryland with his students.
“Graces students will die, he will die” she turns the screen to face Carl. “One person makes all the difference. Life or death, being willing to risk everything for a chance”
Carl stared stiffly at the photo of his husband. His heart ached in his chest. Every word felt like a string tied tighter around his heart, tugging.
He imagined his heart line like the Petrova. Connected between two worlds. Risking destruction just by having met.
If he did this, he’d lose Ryland. Whether Stratt pretended to be coy and only need information he knew his husbands worth. He was more than just an errand boy. She’d surely send him. Send him away.
The string on his heart tugged tighter as he considered her words.
“This cannot be an option, I won’t allow it” he uttered, his tone gruff and hesitant.
Eva breathed deeply and sat back in her seat. Giving Carl a solemn look. Her expression shifting back into that of her usual unbothered self.
“Im sorry that you thought you had a choice in the matter” she turned her computer back, closing down the photograph tabs. Rylands paper had been open underneath, minimized next to his biological components and DNA.
“He’s being brought in as we speak, I had a hunch that you’d be hesitant” she stood and walked around to lean against the front of the desk. “He is capable of so much more, he is capable of saving our world and you’d just hold him back from that”
Carl shook his head, “you want me to sacrifice my husband for the greater good of your project”
“No—“ Eva’s stare was harsh, her tone unforgiving “—I want to have a man of science work to save the world”
Her words tugged that string tighter. The thread threatening to snap as he flinched back. Her tone was final, taking his love of Ryland out of the equation. Showing she would not be inspecting this in any emotional capacity.
I have somehow managed to get so so sick, and I’m struggling with the need to rest because I hate sitting still for too long but I cannot breathe or swallow and AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Could you imagine??? Simon, the serious grump who yearns for more but cannot dare speak his desires, falling for Grace. Sunshine itself bundled into a human form, who longs for love and yet yearns to return to home where his comfort truly lies.
I was genuinely fighting for my life to draw Milo Thatch and Henry Loomis, so they’re a little goofy looking but you get the picture! (Squint and they’re perfect)
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