“I love you too.” Seth smiled in response. “And I know you love me because you eye roll every other thing I say.” He whispered as he leaned in, pressing their lips together again. “Just a really good perk.” Seth snorted.
Elliot smirked. “If I didn’t, we’d have problems because you’d think I was lying.” he assured, hands moving to start unzipping the pants Seth wore. “A perk we both enjoy.” he mused, sliding one hand into his boyfriend’s pants to tease his fingers between his legs.
“Thank you June.” he said softly, followed by a chaste kiss to her temple. These were the moments she would cherish forever. It made her feel useful to be able to help someone, to be some sort of consolation while he grieved. “Anything for you Steve. I wish I could be of more help. Sadly I do not possess the ability to find someone. I can only feel your feelings.” she frowned, scooting closer to Steve.
Her hand clasps tighter around his. She listens closely to the timely thump of his heart as they sit, legs grazing against each other. If she couldn’t find his friend, at least she could provide a distraction. Gently, she raises his hand and presses her lips to the back of it. “You look tired, why don’t you lay down?” she suggests as she pats the bedspread with her free hand.
Steve gave a weak laugh. “I don’t think there’s anything that can find him right now.” He answered. “He’s been the Soldier for so long, likely tortured, brainwashed…” The possibilities of what could have happened to his best friend ran through his mind and it was enough to make him feel sick. “Finding him isn’t going to be easy, June. I accepted that after I woke up in the hospital when he pulled me from the river.” He went quiet, wondering if in some way, he could draw the real Bucky back to the surface.
Blue eyes lift to look at her, tilting his head at the gesture. He was still adjusting to the new way so many thought in the day to day, so he waited before wanting to ask. Before he could, however, she suggested he lay down and for the first time in days, he let his body give into the exhaustion and he adjusted to lay down over the blankets, one arm moving to rest under his head. “Are you gonna sing to me?” He teased with a light smile, the movement just barely curling his lips up.
Steve watched him for a moment then nodded and smiled, leaning back in his chair a bit. “I’m glad everything went so well. It’s always good to get some good news after the kind of week we had last week.” He dragged a hand through his hair, sighing softly. “So, anything else I need to be aware of before I try to enjoy the rest of my day off?”
Loki shook his head, frowning dismissively. “Nothing at all.” he mused, crossing one leg over the other. “How was your trip to the tailor?” he inquired, watching Steve with green eyes. “Will you look as delicious as you do right this moment?”
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) Directed by Stephen Chbosky
Okay so the first two are pictures I snagged of my coworkers (or two of them at least) wearing the wig from one of our design contest pumpkins on their hats. Then me wearing it (me as a redhead one day? Just maybe.) And then three of our 5 design contest pumpkins. Please tell me you guys can recognize them, cuz no one I worked with tonight could. The last one? That’s the pumpkin for another manager (cuz each manaver got a pumpkin), that I was chosen to do the design for cuz the manager can’t draw. Rofl. Can you guess what the deaign he chose was?
Tonight’s adventure went a long way in making me feel like myself after yesterday. Now to dive into my 30 or so drafts! If anyone wants plots or something, let me know or post a starter and tag/mention me!
Alright guys!
Made it home, and I have tomorrow off (my first Thursday off in MONTHS – what am I gonna do with two full days off in one week?! O.o) so I’m gonna be around for a while just goofing off. I think first I’m gonna get a bunch of replies done and just like…semi-mass post them?
We also had a mini adventure at work tonight – pictures to follow.
I lived far from my family for seven years. I got married during that time, and my son was born shortly thereafter. I would never have used the word at the time, but my husband abused me from day one. He belittled me, isolated me from family and friends, forbade me from leaving the house, and took away my control of my own finances.
He was an alcoholic and would shout at me for suggesting he address the problem. I felt unsafe, small, and powerless every day. I witnessed him physically and verbally assault children in our family. I thought that because he was not hitting me, he was not abusing me — but he was.
In 2015, I returned to my home town with my toddler son to find work here, expecting to bring my husband with me soon after my arrival. As we spent more time apart, I began to realize how much better my life was without him, and was shocked when people I met liked me. Regardless, I was convinced that we had just been having a rough patch and that I needed to toughen up.
During our marriage, my husband was personally offended if I ever wanted to have an appointment to be tested for STDs, despite the fact that I was almost certain he was having sex with other women. When I came home, I decided to make an appointment for the STD testing that I had been forbidden from getting. I went to the only place I knew I could go hassle free: Planned Parenthood.
At my appointment the nurse asked, “Do you feel safe at home?”
I burst into tears on the spot. I realized that I DID feel safe at home — for the first time in years. The thought of him joining me and my son filled me with dread and fear.
The nurse asked me what was going on, and listened to what I had to say. She encouraged me to get help, and to find a good therapist. She took me seriously, which nobody else had done. She made me realize that my experience was real, my feelings were real, and the abuse that I experienced was real. Now, two and a half years later, I am divorced, and am dealing with the PTSD that I was diagnosed with shortly after that appointment.
The emotional and verbal abuse that Lizzie experienced is a form of domestic violence (sometimes called intimate partner violence). Sexual and reproductive control, like preventing someone from getting health care, is also a form of domestic violence. Sexual and reproductive control includes things like:
preventing you from getting health care, like STD tests
forcing your partner to have sex, or do something they don’t want to do sexually
threatening to break up with someone if they don’t have sex with you
refusing to wear a condom, or pressuring your partner not to use one
hiding or throwing out birth control
taking off or purposely breaking condoms (AKA stealthing)
lying about using birth control
threatening a partner who doesn’t want to get pregnant
forcing a partner to have an abortion when they don’t want to
forcing a partner to carry a pregnancy to term when they want to have an abortion
All of these actions prevent you from making decisions about your own body — and all of them are abusive behaviors.
If you’ve experienced sexual or reproductive control in your relationship, or any other kind of abuse, you’re not alone, and there’s help available. You can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline, or if you’re a teen, check out Love Is Respect. Or, like Lizzie, your local Planned Parenthood health center may be able to help you find the best resources for you in your area. Planned Parenthood health centers also offer birth control methods that are private, like the implant and shot, as well as STD and pregnancy testing.
If you’re worried about someone in your life who may be in an abusive or unhealthy relationship, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is also a great resource to help you figure out how to help.
themusechronicles 