[chapter_12]
The start of the 2020 Inter-Server Championship is, in hindsight, rather anticlimactic - and it's such a shame because of all the time spent preparing for it. Or, really, the time spent preparing was nice, because Bella can say with complete confidence that Master Culler is a friend now, so she can't regret spending all that virtual time with him - but it is a shame that the tournament doesn't begin with all the excitement she anticipated.
The tournament on the NorCal server takes place, naturally, in Pacific Standard Time, so that means by the time Bella sequesters herself in her room with her laptop and headset, night is already falling. Leah and Seth are, last she heard, taking advantage of the parents working nightshifts and have settled down to stream horror flicks on Netflix, leaving Bella with a swath of uncheck time. They know not to bother her unless the house is burning down.
Fifteen minutes to eight, Bella logs on and Swansong emerges at the Arena, a space dead-center in the game map that is dedicated to dueling sprees and tournaments like this one. Special codes are given to registered participants or onlookers who bought tickets; Bella taps in her code to gain entrance, then strolls around the packed interior of the Arena, searching for a familiar avatar.
She finds Master Culler exactly where he said he would be, standing just to the side of the dueling circle. He is decked in his usual armor, except for a new chestplate and a clip in his hair, both of which she suspects are for added protection. Like Master Culler, she has similarly prepared herself - she keeps the full equipment he gifted her at Concordant Rock, but has reorganized her quick-skills with the goal of elevating her actions-per-minute.
They had agreed last night that during their tournament duels there would be no chatting - all attention focused on winning, of course - but that pact does not apply to the time before the tournament. She reaches out first, fingers tingling.
》Swansong: are you excited?
《 Master Culler: it's just another duel
Well, of course he would say that, Bella muses. After all, Master Culler is the type of person who can fabricate emotionally-wrenching sentiment to simply stretch out the timing of a video. Bella very much doubts he ever feels much in the way of nerves. He's peerless that way, a master of himself and those around him. A deft, adroit mind like that is terribly admirable.
》Swansong: well, I'm excited
》Swansong: I've been looking forward to this
《 Master Culler: these are only qualifying rounds
》Swansong: still!
《 Master Culler: fair enough
Master Culler is right, of course - these are only the qualifying rounds. Tonight will establish which pairs are even qualified to participate in the tournament, with each pair needing five wins at the end of the night to make it into the first official round. After that, each round will narrow down the pairs until the best pair on the server is decided - and then that pair will go against the other top contenders from other servers to determine who the best players are across all the hundred or so servers dedicated to Dawn of Warcraft.
Bella hasn't ever participated in something so large. This is essentially the equivalent to the Olympics for Dawn of Warcraft. She's seen some buzz online that winners of this tournament might even be scouted by E-Sports representatives for the national team - which is, of course, all conjecture and rumor. But even if it's not true, it's still an exciting prospect.
She hopes she performs well, and not only just so she doesn't disappoint her partner.
The clock ticks over to the top of the hour and the first qualifying rounds are announced. Cross-legged on her bed, Bella eagerly soaks up the first two rounds, noting how driven each of the players are. Both rounds are close calls with pairs that make up some of the names on the Top 10 and Top 20 dueling rankings, and Bella silently applauds her fellow players for such entertaining duels, even if the last one wasn't close at all.
Swansong and Master Culler are part of the third duel. They step onto the dueling circle, side-by-side, crisp white and vibrant jewel, and wait for the system to announce their opponents.
Master Culler and Swansong VS Relentless and Queen V
Bella's brows shoot up as she does a double-take. Relentless and Queen V are participating? Well, of course Relentless is - that's hardly surprising, and neither is Queen V tagging along since they're in-game partners. It's just surprising to see their names so soon after that awful video was posted. Bella pushes away the thread of dislike trying to slip through her mind.
They're just players selected randomly by computerized programming. Dueling them is inevitable.
Bella watches and waits, eyes locked on to the dueling circle, waiting for the other two players to arrive. One minute, then two passes. Each qualifying round lasts three minutes, which means Relentless and Queen V only have another sixty seconds to show up. And yet the dueling circle remains empty aside from herself and Master Culler.
Relentless and Queen V Forfeit comes the system-wide announcement, quickly followed by Relentless and Queen V Withdraw From the Inter-Server Championship.
Bella sits back, completely baffled by this turn of events. Relentless and Queen V dropped out during the qualifying rounds? Why? She can't fathom it, especially knowing what Relentless is like.
》Swansong: I can't believe they dropped out
《 Master Culler: don't think about it too much
《 Master Culler: focus on the next duel
Bella takes Master Culler's advice, because what else is she supposed to do? It's good advice anyway. No use dwelling on mysteries she'll never unravel - and it's not like she wants to waste a lot of time wondering about Relentless or Queen V anyway. If she might be a little disappointed by the lost opportunity to get some pent-up frustration related to those two players out - well, she is only human, isn't she? Even Bella, for as much as she tries to stay zen, can be angry and hold a grudge, especially for people who truly deserve it.
That video is light-years of difference between Leah being callous or Alice being absent-minded. And Bella is still a little hurt, her pride a bit wounded, by the way Relentless - her friend - cast her off because of some insipid rumors.
Swansong and Master Culler gain one qualification point because of the forfeit, but their next qualification point is one that they have to earn. Their opponents are two male players at the top of the duel ranking, Valkner and Nash, who have paired together for the sole purpose of participating in the tournament. Swansong has had the unique pleasure of battling both of these players, who regularly switch placements on the leader board, and has only ever come to a true draw with Valkner, who has a playing style remarkably similar to her own.
Bella releases a slow breath, eyes riveted forward. Weeks of training have allowed Swansong and Master Culler to have a standard default for how they duel as a pair, something which has been established with effusive help from one of Master Culler's friends, Pestulent.
Obviously, Master Culler outclasses all opponents, not just in terms of power and equipment, but also in his wider range of game awareness; Master Culler has the enviable ability to be aware of all aspects of the game, from the surrounding terrain to the skills of the other players, in real time, which is something Swansong can only do with preparation. As it is, this means that Master Culler's skill are best implemented if he can take a step back to observe and play more defensively. This works well because Master Culler, as a Night Elf Mage, has more support-related spells like arcane and teleportation that he can use to bolster both offense and defense. On the other hand, this means that Swansong has to be a more offensive player, which is fine for her because she likes to play forward in the first place. While a Night Elf Druid like Swansong might not be traditionally used as an aggressive character, her personal playing style and the skills she has spent so much time cultivating means she has a certain level of flexibility between her astral and shapeshifting skills. Together, Master Culler and Swansong make something of an odd team-up - although both are technically spell-casters, a Druid like Swansong would traditionally be used as a healer who can deal damage while a Mage like Master Culler would take the forefront. However, Master Culler and Swansong have found that works for them is a reversal of these roles - while Master Culler works long-distance to operate as offensive and defensive support, Swansong takes on a role of a streamlined decoy, even sometimes acting as a tank to give Master Culler an advantage.
They use this strategy against Valkner and Nash, two total tanks, to great success. Something about their arrangement must be surprising, but Bella isn't naïve enough to think that novelty will last long enough to be a true advantage. Other players are watching. Other players are taking notes. The element of surprise is one that can only be used precious few times. But this time, for this qualifying round and the ones that follow, the way Swansong and Master Culler weave their spells around each other, the way Swansong darts forward to attack while Master Culler teleports around for some truly nasty surprise drops, is something that works beautifully.
By the time ten o'clock rolls around, Swansong and Master Culler have wracked up the required amount of qualifying points to be included in the actual tournament, which will start in the next week. Bella is satisfied, her heart rate slowing as the adrenalin in her blood begins to cool.
《 Master Culler: you did well
》Swansong: thanks!
》Swansong: your strategy worked like a charm!
《 Master Culler: naturally
》Swansong: you're so modest
《 Master Culler: of course
《 Master Culler: I have a talented partner - success was inevitable
Bella smiles, her cheeks heating up at the compliment. It's a very Master Culler type of compliment to give, too.
《 Master Culler: are you logging off for the night, or do you have quests?
》Swansong: I thought I would join my siblings movie marathon
》Swansong: what about you?
《 Master Culler: I can hear my roommates arguing downstairs
《 Master Culler: I should probably break it up, or they might never be quiet
》Swansong: my plans sound more fun lol
《 Master Culler: you're not wrong
》Swansong: meet up tomorrow for training?
《 Master Culler: of course. see you then. goodnight
》Swansong: goodnight
Bella bites her lip as she logs off, slowly laying back on her bed, arms stretched out at her sides while her laptop balances precariously on the tray on her bed. Her back pops with the stretch, a delicious unwinding of tension she didn't know she was carrying.
It had been a good night. She's wholly contented to know that she and Master Culler are officially qualified for the tournament, but there is something niggling in the back of her mind, something that she can't quite place, something that isn't allowing her to fully relish the streak of recent wins.
Ah. Right - Relentless and Queen V forfeiting the entire tournament. It's one thing to forfeit a single round, and entirely another thing to literally run away from a great opportunity. It's perplexing. She hasn't ever known Relentless to be afraid of confrontation, and yet…
She doesn't understand it. In fact, she understands this less than that awful video, because that at least made some kind of mean-spirited sense. Dropping out of a competition, though? The Relentless she knew would never.
Bella sighs. How much did she even know Relentless, anyway? Apparently not well enough for him to have any sort of faith in her. He's a former friend. It should be easier to brush him off, to stop wondering about his motives, but Bella has always been a bit too soft-hearted. Even Mike Newton, for all his annoyances, hadn't earned true scorn from her - instead, she simply went out of her way to avoid him. Like Leah sometimes teases, Bella wasn't born with a single bad bone in her body. She can't even stop caring about people who don't deserve it.
Hearing the television blasting with screams downstairs, followed by Pistachio's confused barking, Bella summons the energy to carefully pack away her laptop and gaming equipment. She goes downstairs, lingering in the doorway of the living room, squinting at the television screen to assess if the horror flick is too scary for her. Deeming it to be one of the ridiculous parody screamers Leah loves so much, she ventures further into the living room, picking her away around the sprawl of Seth's overgrown limbs on the floor, and seating herself beside her sister.
Leah looks at her, glancing away from the movie just long enough that her eyebrow lifts at whatever it is she detects on Bella's face. Her words, although whispered, are weighted. "So, how was your game thing?"
Still bemused by the entire ordeal, Bella shakes her head and shifts, stretching across Leah's lap and turning her head just enough to see the television. "It was weird," Bella laments, cheek pillowed on Leah's knee, because weird is the only word that captures the odd swirl of happiness-confusion-satisfaction swimming through her head.
"Poor baby," Leah says mockingly. But her actions bely her words as she runs her fingers through Bella's hair.
On the TV, one of the Final Girls, the chicks who make it to the end of the horror movie, wails about how unfair everything is, while another mostly screams in confused horror at the killer hacking them to pieces one-by-one. Bella can relate. Life can be like that sometimes.
Piping Hot Tea (Group Chat)
Short Cake
Granny says hi!
(Picture Attachment:
Alice in a flowered linen hat, wearing a floral
frock in soft blues with lace gloves, smiling at
the camera sitting beside an elderly woman with
the same round eyes and silver, short-cropped hair,
also wearing a floral dress and lace gloves; there is
a fine China tea set and finger sandwiches on the
table behind them.)
Sleep Talker
Hi Granny!
How are her roses?
Short Cake
She won the county blue ribbon!
:D Granny has the best rose garden in Jackson
Sleep Talker
That's great! :)
Thorny
What did I miss?
Oh
That's a lot of floral
Hi Granny, too
Paparazzi
Holy shit lol
Why do you look like an extra in The Help?
Short Cake
It's fashion!
This is how you dress for Society
Thorny
Are you wearing matching earrings?
Sleep Talker
I think it's sweet
None of us have living grandparents
Thorny
I didn't say it wasn't sweet!
Short Cake
Thank you!
Paparazzi
You is smart
You is kind
You is important
Thorny
You is an asshole
Paparazzi
Ikr lol
Short Cake
Guess I'm not sending YOU any blueberries
Bella can have them all
Paparazzi
Wait I take it back
It's all very cute
Please share the blueberries
Thorny
Oh how the tables have turned
Sleep Talker
You guys don't even know
She's trying to bargain me into sharing
Paparazzi
You're a goddamn traitor of a sister
I want a refund
Sleep Talker
Sorry not sorry
:)
Short Cake
Granny says The Help is a good movie
She wasn't even mad
So I guess you can have some blueberries
Paparazzi
Granny is the literal best
Short Cake
I know! :D
The rugged beauty of Quileute Nation will always be a breathtaking wonder - the entire reservation is unlike any place Bella has ever seen, and she always feels the honor of being allowed to stand on this scarce sacred land. In all her life, she has only been invited into the inner sanctum a handful of times, and she is fine with this, because the areas that the tribe open to the public are endlessly amazing. By the virtue of growing up with Leah, by being tied to the tribe through Sue's marriage to Charlie, by being charged to babysit Seth as he toddled recklessly around, Bella has perhaps spent more time on the reservation growing up than she ever had in Forks. She doesn't think it's a bad thing. She cherishes every memory she has of this place.
La Push is, and probably always will be, a home of her heart. Even though she is an outsider, the generous and harmonious Quileute people have never made her - or any other visitor, for that matter - feel like they do not belong on the land. Bella respects that hospitality by religiously observing the etiquette asked of all visitors, which is why she keeps her phone on silent and tucked away. Bella has no intention of disturbing the peace. Not now, not ever.
This is a place of escape, a place where the spirit can rest. She has no need to stay plugged in when her senses are filled with the tang of salty ocean air, the sound of waves crashing against the craggy cliffs, the sharp breeze whipping through warm, muggy air.
La Push itself is a village that has been shrunk to only one square mile, although many members of the tribe have built homes just outside the reservation proper. Quileute Nation has taken great pains to keep the glory of their culture alive by creating a tourist industry, one that showcases the wonder of the natural world without undermining the glory of the land and the people living there. First Beach is, perhaps, the most trafficked area of the reservation during the day, and host to precious few tribal celebrations in the evening.
Today is Wednesday, which means the Healing Circle drums will begin promptly at six, just as they do every week. She looks forward to standing on the fringes later, on the beach just close enough to hear the drums but not close enough to encroach. Leah so rarely gets to indulge in her culture these days. Bella is here to support that, in any way she can. Today, that means hanging out on the pebbly beach until the moon is high in the sky and driftwood fires are burning. She commits to enjoying every moment she can. She always forgets just how keenly she misses the simple peace she feels here.
Or how she could feel peaceful, if not for the teenage boys running amok. Bella closes her eyes, curling her bare feet deeper into the roughhewn sand, standing still as cold water laps over her ankles, splashes at her knees and thighs.
"Bella!"
She turns at the sound of her name, eyeing her soaked-to-the-bone baby brother with some concern. Seth looks younger, a perpetual baby face with a beaming smile, water-logged clothes hanging off his lean frame.
"You're supposed to swim in the ocean," Seth says, slogging forward in the water, lifting his knees high to move faster. He looks ridiculous. "Just standing there isn't any fun."
She makes a face when he inadvertently splashes water up near her hips. She's been trying very hard to enjoy the water without getting wet, but she should have known better. "I'm not good at swimming," she reminds him.
"Yeah, I guess it would be bad if you died."
"I think so, too," she agrees dryly.
Seth grins, unrepentant, then hooks his thumb over his shoulder to where Jake and the other boys are in a cluster, shoving each other around as they stand knee-deep in the water. "They think it's about time to go cliff diving."
"Seth…"
"Oh, come on, Bella!" Seth pleads, latching onto her arm and swinging it around. "It's totally safe."
It isn't, Bella knows. She remembers when Jake got too cocky one summer and scared the hell out of his sisters when he came sputtering out of the water, blood dripping down his face. He still has the scar, only barely hidden by his hairline. Like Rachel and Rebecca, she isn't eager to see her own little brother make the same mistake, or worse.
But at the same time, it's a teenage right of passage. Even Leah cliff dives when the mood strikes her. Until now, Seth has only half-heartedly expressed an interest in it - but he must be old enough, or maybe more aware that he's missing out on something.
"Just…" Bella sighs, tugging Seth into a brief hug. "Be careful, okay? Don't do anything Jake would do."
"I can hear you!" Jake shouts in mild outrage, not ten feet away.
Bella releases Seth, sloshing her way to shore. "Good!" she yells back, equal parts worried and amused. "Because if something happens to Seth on those cliffs, you know exactly what's coming for you!"
"I'm not afraid of you!" Jake returns.
"Not me!" Bella calls back.
"I'm not afraid of Leah, either!"
"Not Leah!"
"Then who el-" Jake cuts himself off, suddenly looking a little wan. "Sue wouldn't hurt me."
Bella, now standing at the shoreline, props her hands on her hips. She doesn't say anything, sure that her doubtful expression is saying enough as it is. Sue Clearwater is the epitome of a mother bear. If Seth gets hurt under Jake's supervision - well, Sue works in a hospital, doesn't she? She would know where to put the body.
Jake, surely distracted by the possibility of an untimely demise, is promptly dunked into the ocean by Quil and Embry, and Bella laughs despite herself.
She turns, feigning lightness as she reaches the triangle of driftwood logs serving as seating on the beach. She sits beside Leah, who is fiddling with her camera, which has been wrapped in plastic to protect it from the water. Across from them, Emily Uley is perched on a log, one hand resting on the slight swell of her abdomen. Bella's arrival has cut into some casual chatting between the cousins, although neither of them seem bothered by her interruption. Bella is just glad Leah and Emily are speaking civilly to each other - it's a vast improvement to the tension that sprung up four years ago, when a lopsided love triangle made for a lot of awkward silences and terse avoidance.
Emily smiles sympathetically at Bella. "He'll be okay. Seth is a strong swimmer," she says reassuringly, and it does work to settle Bella's nerves a bit. Emily has always been like that, sweet as spun sugar but with a quiet strength like steel wire.
"I know," Bella says. "Really, I do."
Leah purses her lips. "If you're really that worried, we'll go up there in a bit and supervise," she offers, and Bella deflates, sending her a grateful look. Leah, summoning tact some somewhere, doesn't make the obvious tease that Bella should give it a try so she won't be so worried.
Bella is many things, but brave enough to jump of a cliff into roiling waters she is not.
"Anyway," Leah continues blithely, looking right at her cousin with a vaguely mystified expression. "You're, you know, super pregnant. Guess you guys didn't waste any time after the wedding, huh?"
"Oh, my God, Leah," Bella breathes, mortified on Emily's behalf. She presses her hand to her face, partially hiding even as Emily remains nonplussed.
In fact, Emily smiles, slow as syrup. "Before the wedding, actually."
Leah laughs, as if she has won a private victory. "I knew it! I knew my math was right!"
Bella supposes it is very much a Leah Clearwater thing to do to calculate a date of conception, if only to use it as material to tease with at a later date. She can already picture Leah embarrassing her second-cousin-to-be with the fact that their parent had a shotgun wedding. Poor kid, honestly.
Emily shakes her head, still smiling peaceably. "It's not like we were trying to hide it. Although, there is some willful ignorance with my parents," she admits ruefully.
"Sounds like the Youngs," Leah agrees.
A belated realization washes over Bella. "Oh. Is this why Jake said you were looking for guinea pigs?"
"I can't exactly test the product right now," Emily confirms, patting her round stomach. "And neither can Sam, really. He's so busy trying to learn the ropes on the Tribal Council, even as a junior. He's been put in charge of coordinating the school, bringing everything up to date for the fall."
Leah snorts, lifting the strap of her camera around her neck and shaking her hair loose. "Yeah, I could see how being stoned out of his mind all the time would make his job a little hard."
"My thoughts exactly," Emily says. She sighs, a faint crinkle in her brow. "The dispensary is a godsend, really. We have plenty of funds to prepare for the baby and contribute to the tribe, but keeping up with the demand…"
"You don't have help?" Bella wonders.
"Oh, I do," Emily is quick to say. "Kim is still learning the recipes and Jared, bless him, shouldn't be anywhere near a kitchen. But neither of them are twenty-one yet, so I'm a little short on taste testers at the moment."
"Legal taste testers, you mean," Leah says.
"Being legal is the important part," Emily points out primly.
Bella knows Emily is right - aside from her own father being the Chief of Police, Bella has always known Emily to be responsible for what she grows and sells. After all, Emily's dispensary is the only legal source of recreational and legal marijuana in the area, with the next nearest dispensary being down in Port Angeles. The dispensary made itself into one of the most successful and reputable businesses in the Forks-La Push area, largely because Emily is so diligent - and that diligence means that anybody testing Emily's products is going to be at least the legal age, especially if they are taste-testing on purpose.
"I guess I'll be missing out this summer," Bella says. "I'm not 21 until September."
"Lucky me," Leah cackles. Her birthday is only a few days away, something she has been lording over Bella since they were little girls.
"And Paul," Bella adds, knowing his birthday was sometime in May.
Emily nods. "Two guinea pigs are better than none."
Leah's expression sours. "I better be getting first dibs, cousin," she says warningly. "I can't stand that asshole, always having to be first in everything."
The irony of that statement is not lost on Bella, but she doesn't comment. Instead, she looks around, realizing how suspiciously quiet the beach has gotten, and feels her heart drop when she spies a rowdy group trekking up to one of the higher cliffs hanging over the open ocean. She stands abruptly, tugs on Leah's elbow much to her displeasure, and says to Emily, "Talk to you later. We have a little brother to watch over."
Emily waves with a giggle, even as Bella carts Leah away, dragging both of them hastily to join the group of cliff-divers.
They make it too the top just in time to watch Paul, true to character, take the first dive. And although she remains anxious each time Seth flings himself off a cliff, she does find herself enjoying the familiar slightly-caustic banter of the La Push boys she'd grown up with. By the time they are done risking their lives for a thrill and the sun has set, she is basking in a sense of nostalgia.
The feeling persists even as the Quileutes peel off to join the tribe in the private area of the beach, leaving Bella to her own devices while the drum circle begins. The solitary experience is also one from her childhood, something she has come to cherish. Being alone and quiet is something she still craves, if only for the chance to recharge and gather her thoughts.
She spends the better first half of the drum circle gathering wood and kindling into one of the rocky firepits on the beach, lighting a modest fire that burns with flashes of blue from the scant pieces of driftwood that managed to sneak into the kindling. Bella wisely stands upwind of the fire until the blue burns itself out; it had always been a message of caution growing up that while the driftwood fire might be pretty, the smoke itself is harmful. When the fire settles into a dance of common reds, she drags the cooler of water, sausages, and s'mores fixings beside a log and settles down to wait for her friends to rejoin her.
The rhythmic thump of the drums lulls her into a space of heady serenity. Occasionally, she can hear words thread from down the beach, tales of kwalla, the mighty whale the first Quileute dared to challenge. Growing up, her favorite tales were about bayak, the old Raven who placed the sun in the sky and acted as a trickster spirit to teach the Quileute important lessons. Sue used to tell one about the Raven demonstrating to the Quileute that being true to the self was more important than imitating others - a lesson Bella has always carried and tried to emulate.
Bella leans back on the log, balancing her weight with her hands, and gazes up at the clear sky, letting the cool ocean breeze wash over her, battling the warmth from the fire. All the stars are out, constellations she half-recognizes matching the limpid beauty of the near-full moon. She is utterly at peace, languishing in the calm.
Dimly, she wonders what Master Culler is up to tonight. Is he busy running his fledgling company, or is he relaxing? Is Master Culler is looking at the moon, too?
It's a nice thought. She hopes it's true.
Piping Hot Tea (Group Chat)
Paparazzi
So okay I need to tell you guys a thing
We need to be talking
We need to be talking so much right now
Short Cake
What is it?
Is something wrong?
Paparazzi
Wrong?
No
Everything is right
Except for like one thing
Thorny
Just spit it out
Paparazzi
Do you guys ever wonder about your bellybutton
How weird are they right
And we have four
Four bellybuttons in the dorm
Isn't that too many
We should have less
Nobody needs that many
Thorny
Ok
What the fuck lol
Short Cake
I don't get it
How do we get fewer bellybuttons?
Paparazzi
That's what I want to know!
We have too many
Thorny
Are you okay Leah?
Paparazzi
Me?
Im fine
Im great
I have only one bellybutton
But it doesn't eat any more, because I grew a moth
*moth
*mouth
Thorny
What kind of effed up biology lesson is this?
Paparazzi
We have too much biology too
All the genitals who needs them?
Bellybuttons are just fine
Short Cake
I'm a little worried
Thorny
Yeah me too
Entertained but worried lol
Sleep Talker
Sleep Talker
Sleep Talker
Paparazzi
No! Bells can't come
She'll bring her bellybutton
Short Cake
Sleep Talker
Sleep Talker
Hi
Busy
Hold on let me catch up
.
OMG Leah
Paparazzi
This is what I'm talking about
See the bellybutton got to her
Thorny
What the hell is wrong with her lol
Short Cake
Is Leah okay?
Sleep Talker
LOL
She's fine
She might be a little high
She's over at our cousin's shop for taste testing
Thorny
Oh so she's healthy
Sleep Talker
Yeah
Thorny
Then I can use this for blackmail
Excellent
Brb need to screenshot everything
Short Cake
Isn't that a little mean?
Thorny
Of course it is!
That's why its fun
Sleep Talker
Leah would do the same
Short Cake
I guess that's true lol
She's being real quiet now
Where did she go?
Sleep Talker
I texted Emily, told her to confiscate the phone
She sent a picture
For the sake of Leah's dignity I won't send it
She's sleeping it off now, according to Emily
Thorny
Was she looking at her bellybutton
Sleep Talker
I can neither confirm nor deny
Thorny
She totally was lol
This is great
Best day ever
Short Cake
Lol
Sleep Talker
Lol
Nurse Weber's son isn't bad at math, which is something Bella realizes after their fourth tutoring session. His problem is something else, something that tutoring can't fix. Twice a week finds her at the Weber's modest home, siting at the kitchen table with a fifteen year old boy who, in a fit of frustration, says that he doesn't need a tutor, he needs to stop feeling like a freak. It startles Bella, makes her put down her pencil and really look at Joshua Weber.
He looks a lot like his older sister, Angela, who had been a classmate of hers in high school. Like Angela, Joshua has an olive-toned complexion and an astigmatism that keeps him wearing black framed glasses, medium-toned brown hair falling in his face in the way of all other teenage boys. His twin, Issac, is much the same, just without the glasses and the nervous habit of picking at his cuticles.
Joshua Weber doesn't say anything after his outburst, seemingly frozen, and Bella frowns at the top of his bowed head.
"You aren't a freak," she says after a moment, internally wincing at how trite she sounds. But she isn't sure what to do. If this was Seth, she would already be folding him into a hug, probably while Leah goaded him into spilling his secrets.
Joshua, somewhat predictably, scoffs and says, "What do you know?"
Teenagers, Bella thinks faintly. Always so sure that they're alone in the world.
Still, she manages to hum placidly, reaching across the table to close his math textbook. "Well, I'm your tutor, aren't I?" she asks lightly. "I know a lot of things."
"You don't know about this," Joshua insists, glaring at her behind his glasses.
Bella stares back, expectant. "Try me."
For a long moment, it doesn't look like Joshua will be saying much of anything. But then, like bursting dam, he starts talking about how confused he is - how distracted he is when the guy who sits in front of him in math so much as breathes, how it makes him angry and nervous and a hundred other things that he thinks are wrong. Joshua is a minister's kid. He's been raised a certain way, and while the Lutheran church ministered by his father has never outright condemned homosexuality - well, like Joshua alludes, there is a lot of grey area in what is and isn't welcomed by the church. It's an additional stress, because on top of being uncertain about his own sexuality, Joshua Weber isn't sure his own family will love him if he is in fact gay.
It's awful. And honestly, it's no wonder he's failing math. Bella is surprised he's not failing other subjects, too. She distinctly recalls a time in high school where Leah was so caught up in her own confusion that she failed more than half her classes. Bella had barely scraped her own passing grades not long after, when it dawned on her that she was confused about certain things, too.
Growing up is stressful - and sometimes its worse for others. She doesn't think anyone can really, truly relate to that kind of realization, not even people who have gone through it themselves. It's all so personal, and nobody walks the same path the same way. But even still, she feels a keen sympathy for Joshua Weber.
Is it her place to offer advice? She isn't sure. But spurred by the sight of this kid, who is younger than her own brother, being so torn up about something he can't control, she finds it difficult to hold herself back. And so she starts talking, sharing her own experiences.
Because she has been there, in a way. As a teenager, she felt so out of step and out of place with her peers, who were driven by lustful hormones and jumped between crushes week by week. She would listen to Jessica Stanley and Lauren Mallory drool over boys and celebrities, sometimes with frankly graphic language, and struggle to offer any input when they asked her opinion. She hadn't any idea how to offer input - she simply couldn't relate. Naturally, any teenager would be confused, even start to worry. It wasn't as if Bella didn't have an interest in sex or romance like Leah; for Bella, the problem seemed to be the people part of it. Bella had to come to terms with the fact that she couldn't feel that way about people unless she had some connection to them - and even then, as her single ill-fated kiss with Jake had proved, it wasn't a foolproof thing. It's hard not to feel a little broken, like her pieces didn't add up, when she couldn't seem to physically love someone she is truly close to. Coming to terms with that, even with support from family and friends, is something that takes time. And she's all too aware that for some, making peace with it just doesn't - or can't - happen.
Maybe it's being back home, being near the places where she made peace with herself, that inspires some wisdom for her to pass down. Or maybe she doesn't want to learn that Joshua Weber is another kid who never finds acceptance within himself, if not with his loved ones. She just wants to help, and so she shares her own experiences as succinctly as possible.
"It's always going to be hard, but you aren't alone," she adds honestly at the end, after she's sketched the bare bones of her younger self's confusion. "It does get better. And I think, knowing your family, you might find more support than you expect. But there's nothing wrong with you, Joshua. You aren't a freak. And, you know, you're not even bad at math. You just need to remember that all problems can be solved."
"All problems can be solved…" Joshua looks at her with glassy eyes, then sniffles, wiping his nose. "Yeah, okay. Okay."
Bella isn't sure if she helped. Maybe. Maybe not. He seems a little more settled, either way.
Of course, given the delicacy of their topic, he naturally jumps like a skittish cat when the front door slams and a feminine voice calls, "I'm home! Is anyone here?"
Bella turns right as Angela Weber, still as thin and honey-faced as ever, steps into the kitchen, watching out of the corner of her eye as Joshua fidgets, then springs up with an excuse that he left something in his room. Both Bella and Angela's eyes follow him as he races up the stairs, and then the kitchen settles into the type of quiet that only happens around old acquaintances.
Angela slips her Northface jacket off her shoulder, folding it over her arm, and smiling slightly at Bella. "I heard what you said," she says after a beat. "About…you know."
Bella hesitates. "Oh…"
Angela leans forward, just a bit, as if she is about to tell a secret. "I think you're right, you know," she whispers, glancing at the stairs. "Between you and me, we all know about Joshua and his - And, well, anyway, it's been hard watching him struggle with it by himself. He's never been a scared kid, you know?"
Bella relaxes into the wooden chair. "Then, your family is accepting…?"
"Of course we are," Angela answers simply. "Love is love. Dad ministers from the ELCA, anyway."
"Oh, that's good then," Bella says warmly.
Angela nods and smiles, the subject dropped easily. Angela has always been like this, always open but never pushing, and Bella has always appreciated how refreshing that attitude is.
Seeing that Joshua has apparently abandoned their tutoring session, Bella starts gathering all of her materials, shrugging into her jacket to ward off the steady rain outside. All the while, Angela engages her with causal small talk. Apparently, Angela is heading back to the University of Washington sometime next week, and she heard her mother mention that Bella would be going back to Stanford around that time. Much to Bella's delight, Angela offers a ride to SeaTac since it's on the way, and Bella accepts happily. Angela offers a hug before Bella leaves, a solid, if brief embrace that radiates Angela's own gratitude.
Bella smiles all the way home, even as the rain starts pelting her shoulders and thunder rumbles distantly overhead. It has been a good day overall, if not slightly more emotionally charged than she anticipated.
At home, Pistachio is the one who greets her at the door. She looks at the dog, who is yipping and wagging his tail in greeting, and suspiciously asks, "Did you do anything weird?"
It's a valid question, considering more than one of Bella's socks have been sacrificed to the puppy's playtime, But after a cursory inspection of the house, it seems like Pistachio is simply very happy that someone has come home. Apparently, Bella is the first to return. She supposes Leah is down in La Push again, and Seth is obviously still at summer school, while the parents are, of course, still at work.
Maybe she should make dinner so that nobody will have to cook when they come home? No. Bella dismisses the thought quickly. She isn't allowed to cook - she shouldn't even be allowed in the kitchen, honestly. She's an honest-to-God disaster and can't be trusted near a stove.
I'll just order pizza later, she decides. She knows her limits, and ordering pizza is about as culinary as her skills get.
Bella looks down at Pistachio, considers the weather outside where the rain is letting up, and smiles. "Well, it's just you and me," she says, reaching for his leash, which is just as green as his namesake. "How about a walk?"
Pistachio wiggles and barks in excitement, which Bella takes as approval.
It's been a good day.
Piping Hot Tea (Group Chat)
Paparazzi
Okay I know you have them
Now delete them
Thorny
Idk what you're talking about
Short Cake
Hi Leah!
Feeling better?
Paparazzi
I'm great
Except for one thing
Sleep Talker
Oh?
Paparazzi
Yeah, oh
I know what you did Rose
Now delete them
Thorny
I'm totally innocent
Paparazzi
Bullshit
Thorny
It's true!
But you know…
I don't think your name suits you anymore
Paparazzi
What
(Thorny has changed Paparazzi's name to Bellybutton)
Thorny
That's better
Don't you agree
Bellybutton
This bitch
Short Cake
Uh oh
Sleep Talker
Yeah, ditto
Bellybutton
Okay first shut up geek
I can SEE you LAUGHING
Sleep Talker
:)
Bellybutton
And second I know I have Regrets
But I don't need the reminder!
Change my name back!
Thorny
Pass
This one matches my blackmail
Bellybutton
Oh I see how it is
Fine
(Bellybutton has changed Thorny's name to Instahoe)
Instahoe
What, is that supposed to hurt my feelings
Can I help it if I'm good at my job?
(Bellybutton has changed Instahoe's name to Raging Bitch)
Raging Bitch
Oh, wow, let me go cry a river
My poor feelings
I may never recover
Bellybutton
Screw you
Just DELETE THE SCREENSHOTS
Raging Bitch
What screenshots?
I don't know about any screenshots
Short Cake
What about what you sent me?
Raging Bitch
Alice damnit!
Bellybutton
HA!
I knew it!
Alice has the goddamn receipts!
Now delete them!
Raging Bitch
And why should I
Bellybutton
If you don't I'll be forced to release the
blackmail I have on you
Raging Bitch
You'll do what now
Sleep Talker
Not to butt in here
But
How can you use blackmail to get
your own blackmail deleted?
Raging Bitch
She brings up a Good Point
Just what blackmail do you have on me anyway
Bellybutton
I'd rather not disclose that information
Raging Bitch
Then why should I delete my blackmail?
Sleep Talker
Here's a wild idea
How about we all just not keep blackmail?
Short Cake
I second this!
Raging Bitch
I will if she will
Bellybutton
I will if you change my name back
Raging Bitch
Fine
Deal
(Raging Bitch has changed Bellybutton's name to Paparazzi)
Paparazzi
Okay
Deleted
Your turn
Raging Bitch
Not so fast
Bella for verification
Sleep Talker
She deleted it
She had a lot on you, btw
Paparazzi
Shut up traitor
Rose, your end of the deal now
Raging Bitch
Its been deleted
Paparazzi
How can I believe you?
Raging Bitch
If I lied and Alice found out, she would cry forever
Nobody wants to deal with a crying Alice
Short Cake
Hey!
But also true
Paparazzi
I'll accept it for now
Sleep Talker
Glad that's settled
Short Cake
:D
(Short Cake has changed Raging Bitch's name to Thorny)
Short Cake
:D :D :D
Swansong and Master Culler's first official tournament duel goes relatively well. The tournament, which will take place over the course of 1 month for each server before the winners enter the inter-server competition, consists of six rounds. For this first duel they are pit against players on the lower dueling ranking, and that ultimately means that the match is over within minutes. Swansong stays in her cat form the whole time, drawing their opponents into the range of Master Culler's attack. It is almost laughably easy, though she would never admit it out loud.
She and Master Culler are simply too strong of a team. They've trained well and they are prepared - combined, their skills are like solid steel walls. She thinks it might be a bit early to tell, but they might have this whole competition locked in the bag. There is one player, Amuunn who ranks second on the dueling list and who might present a problem, but only if they have to fight against him. Privately, Bella is a little doubtful. Like Relentless, Amuunn's in-game partner is ranked significantly lower than him, meaning he has to work twice as hard protecting her and dealing damage to opponents. Amuun is good, but having a partner that taxes his efforts so much won't help him win.
Swansong and Master Culler have the best shot. According to Janeway, the best of the server agrees. Apparently, players in the NorCal server are already buying tickets for the final match just to see Swansong and Master Culler fight together.
It's some added pressure she hadn't anticipated. But as always, it seems like Bella never can quite predict expectations. And by the time they are halfway through the first bracket, she learns that she can't quite predict her interactions with Master Culler, either.
》Swansong: have you ever owned a pet?
《 Master Culler: goldfish
》Swansong: did they have names?
《 Master Culler: of course they had names
《 Master Culler: One, Two, and Three
Bella giggles, unabashed. Master Cullen gave his goldfish numbers instead of names. It's clever in a way, but also dispassionate enough to be hilarious.
》Swansong: lol
》Swansong: those aren't names
《 Master Culler: those are perfectly valid names
《 Master Culler: or was I supposed to learn how to tell identical fish apart?
》Swansong: no lol
》Swansong: but anything is better than ripping off Dr. Seuss
《 Master Culler: so you say
《 Master Culler: why are you asking about pets?
》Swansong: oh its my brother's dog
》Swansong: cute, but driving me crazy
Pistachio is, at the moment, jumping on and off her bed, running down the stairs and back to carry socks and her dad's slippers between rooms. The dog had spent the duration of the tournament match trying to worm his way onto her lap, which had caused her to make mistakes that might have been critical if not for Master Culler's expertise. Somehow, even though Pistachio is supposed to be Seth's dog, Bella has wound up taking care of him instead, simply by the virtue of being home more often than not.
It's a cute dog, but Pistachio has a lot more energy than Bella. She is so very much not a dog person.
《 Master Culler: can't say I'm a fan of dogs
《 Master Culler: cats are much better
》Swansong: right?
》Swansong: cats are great!
》Swansong: they were worshiped for a reason
Part of her is infinitely pleased that Master Culler also prefers cats over dogs. It's not like it matters, not even a little bit, but she likes learning where they're interests match up. Master Culler becomes more real to her that way, more than just a handle and an avatar on a screen. He's a person, a crafty, clever person who can't name his goldfish and likes cats, kind and thoughtful in his own way. And Bella likes this person, her friend and her partner.
《 Master Culler: they're still worshiped now, in a way
》Swansong: that's true
》Swansong: who didn't love Grumpy Cat?
《 Master Culler: me
》Swansong: oh really?
《 Master Culler: my brother once compared me to Grumpy Cat
《 Master Culler: it was offensive
Bella bites her lip, trying to hold back the smile. The Grumpy Cat meme had been popular from her time in high school all way until last year, and is one of her personal favorite memes. If Master Culler is only a little older than her, then he probably got a lot of ribbing from his brother. But more than that, learning that Master Culler has been compared to Grumpy Cat tells her so much about him, gives her a little something extra to learn. After all, not just anyone is compared to a perpetually scowling cat.
She pauses, tries to imagine the person on the other side of the chat dialogue, pictures Master Culler in the flesh with a permanent scowl etched on his face. From what she knows of him, it almost fits. Master Culler, she thinks, would be the serious type - and according to his stories about his roommates, he probably is the voice of reason, the adult in the room.
Master Culler as Grumpy Cat. Yes, it seems fitting.
》Swansong: not if its true lol
《 Master Culler: do I remind you of Grumpy Cat?
》Swansong: if you did, I don't think it's a bad thing lol
《 Master Culler: mark your words
Bella, although she can't help smiling at the screen, wonders what Master Culler means by that. She chalks it up Master Culler's shrewdness and writes it off.
They chat late into the night.
Google Search
Grumpy Cat
About 53,700,000 results (0.47 seconds)
Grumpy Cat - Wikipedia
Tardar Sauce, nicknamed Grumpy Cat, was an American Internet celebrity cat. She was known for her permanently "grumpy" facial appearance, which was caused by an underbite and feline dwarfism…
Only a few days before Bella is set to return to campus, the results of the video contest are announced. Although the results are posted to the Dawn of Warcraft general forum, she first learns the outcome from an email sent from the HQ of the company that develops the game letting her know that the video she posted won, and that Volturi would be in contact soon to discuss the grand prize.
So when Janeway practically leaps on a chance to tell her the news, Bella is proud - and maybe a little smug - to be able to say that, for once, she already knew what was happening in the forum. Or at least, she knows most of what's happening on the forum.
Janeway, of course, manages to know more, trolling the gossip mill as she does.
《 Janeway: everyone is talking about how you guys scared those asshats away
《 Janeway: and by asshats I mean Relentless and Queen V
《 Janeway: but mostly Relentless, bc he let it happen
Bella shakes her head, a little exasperated. Leave it to the forum to find a dramatic spin that doesn't exist. Sure, she and Master Culler are a good team, but they aren't scary. That's a bit of an exaggeration, isn't it?
》Swansong: we didn't scare anyone
》Swansong: we aren't scary
《 Janeway: right okay
《 Janeway: because neither of you are playing to win? Pssh
》Swansong: well….
It's true enough, isn't it? Bella thinks, sucking her teeth in consideration. But then again, who would play a tournament, let alone a game, without the intention of winning? Better yet, who would do anything without the expectation of success? Isn't that the whole point to, well, everything? Nobody likes to lose.
Is it possible that she and Master Culler especially don't like to lose? Well. Maybe. But that's just something they have in common - and she doesn't think its anything out of the ordinary for gamers. Not really.
《 Janeway: anyway it's a good thing
《 Janeway: really seals in the idea that Relentless and Queen V are shitty
《 Janeway: first that video, then to be total cowards? Smh
》Swansong: is that really what people are saying?
《 Janeway: would I lie to you?
No, Janeway wouldn't lie to her. She has no reason to. If Janeway says that the chatter is scorning any perceived cowardice on the part of Relentless and Master Culler, then that's exactly what's happening. Whether it's deserved or not is another question. Bella isn't sure how she feels about it, or even if she should feel anything at all.
With the grand prize from the video contest fresh in her mind, she mostly feels like any scores between herself and her previous partner - and his new partner - are settled. Aren't they? She doesn't get why any of this is dragging on any more than it has to, other than the fact that people just like to talk and speculate. Leave anyone alone on the internet long enough and these things happen - that's how both conspiracy theories and baseless rumors are born.
Several pings of the private chat's dialogue draws her attention again.
《 Janeway: but tbh them losing and being ashamed?
《 Janeway: couldn't happen to nicer people
》Swansong: wow you're mean lol
《 Janeway: lol ikr
《 Janeway: its why you love me right
》Swansong: I mean, I guess…
《 Janeway: oh okay I see how it is
《 Janeway: now that you have Master Culler you don't need me
《 Janeway: he's your everything now and I'm nothing, I get it
A hot flush of blood rushes to Bella's cheeks. Her mouth drops open, then snaps closed as she hastily taps at the keyboard, jumping for denial because it is not like that, not at all!
》Swansong: he's my friend!
《 Janeway: and I'm a monkey's uncle
《 Janeway: aunt
《 Janeway: whatever, the point is I'm calling it now!
》Swansong: calling what now?
《 Janeway: that you're gonna make some rumors true this year
《 Janeway: I'm so glad I get first row seats!
Bella huffs at Janeway's insistence, ignoring the flutter between her ribs at the barest implication of what she's suggesting. Janeway has it so wrong. But if this is what Janeway is saying, then what is the rest of the server saying?
Bella doesn't want to know - and she has a feeling that if she keeps talking to Janeway, she's going to find out whether she wants to or not.
》Swansong: okay, I'm logging off now
《 Janeway: lol byeeeee
Bella logs off, closes the lid of her laptop with a fine click. Regardless of whatever is churning on the forum and Janeway's teasing, she's still beyond pleased with the results of the video contest. Taking the high road works, something she hopes to impress upon her own partner - Master Culler is a little too keen on brisk solutions, like how he handled Hive. If Master Culler can impart wisdom on protecting a reputation and seeking appropriate retribution, then she can lead by example on how the more delicate path is equally as prudent.
Her lips turn up in a private smile. She titters at the thought of how he might react if she started to lecture him about how to handle people tactfully.
Actually, she reconsiders with no small amount of glee, realizing that Master Culler might have his own strong opinions on the matter. I would enjoy that debate!
She'll have to remember to bring it up.
Alice Bee ʘaliceseesyou
I'll miss home cooking at the dorms :( why can't granny fit in my carry-on? #byebye #gumbo
Bella Swan ʘthelittlecygnet
Big mood #missmyfamily #missmyfoodmore
Sue won't release her from the hug, but Bella doesn't mind too much. The last two days have been full of fretful worrying, with Sue double-checking her luggage and making sure that Bella's summer semester isn't going to be too stressful. It's the kind of overbearing motherly attention Bella sorely missed from Renee, so she cherishes what Sue freely gives.
And it isn't as if Sue is the only one - Charlie had pulled her aside not twenty minutes ago to pass along a thin envelope of cash and a brand new can of pepper spray, along with a gruff reminder to not walk alone at dark and stay in public areas during the day. He'd done it all in with the same gruff, awkward flair he does everything else, and it only makes her appreciate it more, knowing how much her dad struggles with emotional anything.
Her siblings, on the other hand, had been heavy-handed with the teasing, even if Seth had looked crestfallen anytime he thought nobody was looking. Leah, knowing she would be back in California within the next month or so, hadn't been half as tearful about the good-byes - but Bella can see it, just a little, right in the clench of Leah's jaw.
Nobody likes the departure. It's probably the worst thing about going to an out-of-state college, this repeated scene between semesters when the reunion is over. Bella used to think it would get easier, but she's reminded every time that it's always just as hard as the first time. The only difference is she's gotten a little better at not letting anything except an even-keel calm ripple across her expression - the few tears of upset are always saved for the car or the plane.
"Do you have everything you need?" Sue asks, probably for the third time.
"I have everything, Mom," Bella says placating. "And I know if I need anything, I can call."
Sue releases her after one final squeeze, stepping back to stand beside Charlie, who reaches out to ruffle her hair with a simple, "Atta girl."
If Charlie looks a little red around the eyes, nobody says anything. Bella just smiles slightly, then turns to raise her palm in a subdued wave to her siblings.
"Don't let Alice mess up the dorm," Leah reminds her. "She can be a slob in her own room."
"How would you even know if the dorm got messy?" Bella teases.
"Oh, I'll know," Leah says smartly, if not a little ominously.
Bella shoots Seth a pointed look. "Take care of Pistachio," she says. "And don't let Leah bully you too much."
Leah's undignified hey is ignored as Seth beams, jiggling Pistachio against his chest. "Yeah, yeah," he says. "Go be smart and stuff, okay?"
Bella titters, just a bit, and with one final wave at her family she jogs down the driveway where Angela has been graciously and patiently waiting, her little Camry idling on the street. Bella stows her luggage in the backseat, pops into the passengers seat, and buckles herself in, all while firmly keeping her eyes forward. If she looks at her family while she leaves, she might really start crying. The burn behind her eyes is enough.
It isn't until they exit Forks proper that Angela lets out a sigh of her own, reaching over to flip on the radio to fill the mutual silence. "Parting is such sweet sorrow, huh?"
"It is," Bella agrees, and settles back to stare at the trees as they speed onto the highway.
It really is.
A/N: Ah, Bella is finally starting to catch come kind of feeling about Master Culler - she's thinking about him on the beach, she's growing fond of their chats, she's well on her way to feeling the kind of emotional tie she needs to fall into romantic love, even if she doesn't quite realize it yet. Who will point it out to our oblivious girl? Who knows! I do know that some smart people can be incredibly dense - IQ doesn't equal EQ, you know?
Re: some concerns readers have about how much information Masen has access to about Bella, do not forget that she already knows ALL about Masen Cullen, has admired his accomplishments from afar for 2 years, and has downloaded his independently released software. Do they know the same amount? No, of course not, because Bella has authorized Leah to use her as a documentary subject and Bella herself has a public persona as Swanning. But that doesn't mean that Bella doesn't know anything about Masen Cullen, even if she doesn't realize yet that Masen Cullen and Master Culler are the same people. The balance isn't as unequal as you think, so don't be fooled!
Re: eagerness for Bella and Masen to meet soon...LOL Yeah, okay, sure they'll meet real soon :) :) :)
So many additional fact-type notes on this chapter!
We'll start from the top with Quileute Nation - all information has been gathered directly from the Quileute Nation website, which has some resources for information regarding Indian Country Etiquette, tribe news and events, and some Quileute creationism lore surrounding the old Raven. Representing that information accurately was important to me, and I encourage everyone to read up on the history of Quileute Nation when you have time.
Second, the legalization of marijuana in Washington State. Recreational and medical use of marijuana has been legal in Washington for several years, so long as the buyer and user is at least 21 years old. Washington cracks down on underage use or possession, as well as selling to those who are not of legal age, unless otherwise determined by a medical professional for medicinal use. As it is, dispensaries that produce edibles - cookies, candies, etc. - have to regulate products, which means that any taste testers must also be of legal age for consumption. There is, of course, a difference between intentional and accidental ingestion (see: previous references to accidental high). It is also common practice for dispensaries to grow their own marijuana plants, which are regulated by the state. And of course, marijuana has several different strains, which people react differently to; some strains are engineered to produce a calming reaction, others to relieve pain, and recreational strains to stimulate brain activity.
Third, homosexuality and the Lutheran Church. As indicated in-story, there is a huge grey area on this subject in Lutheran churches. The official stance of Missouri Synod is that homosexuality is not in line with the bible, but that Lutherans are encouraged to "compassionately minister" to homosexuals - basically, the essence of "hate the sin, love the sinner". However, other branches of the Lutheran religion have a vastly different view. Since 1991, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has been the most accepting branch of Lutherans to the LGBTQ community at large. Like all religion, it's a bit of a crapshoot between what is "sin" and what isn't. For Minister Weber, he follows the ELCA, which means he would still love and accept a gay son.
Grumpy Cat is, of course, a popular meme that came about because a cat named Tardar Sauce had a grumpy face. The Grumpy Cat meme really hit a peak sometime in 2014-2015, and held strong all the way until the time of Tardar Sauce's death in 2019. Grumpy Cat is probably one of the more enduring memes, probably because it was able to gather a social following through constant updates on Tardar Sauce's life. I highly recommend looking up Grumpy Cat memes on Google Image, because a lot of them are hiliarous!
Anyway! That's it for the day! I'll probably have another update tomorrow, a shorter one because this beast was 10k. Until then, stay safe, stay at home, and wash your hands!
As always, be brutally honest. I can take it.
~Rae
