The Funny Thing About Artemis Fowl Is The Way My Dad Pitched It Too Me Was "Percy Jackson But With Fairies."

It is so rare, for a day of peace. So, so rare. For the Apollo cabin to be empty, for siblings to be busy, for the sun to be gentle and the birds to be sweet.

"Hey, Will."

So serene. Truly. Cecil lounging on Will's bed, remembering to have taken his shoes off for once. Quietly flipping through a comic book. Will, suffering but willingly, with his Calculus III textbook on the floor. Actually making progress this time, gunning through practice questions.

And Lou Ellen.

It always has to be one of them.

Lou Ellen watches, velvet skirts tucked under her crossed ankles, dark eyes squinting in contemplation.

Will barely looks up, scrawling something illegible over the most graphite-smudged paper maybe in the entire world.

"Yeah."

"Can we kiss for a little bit?"

That works. The slowly shifting sun through the dusty windows pauses. The chisme plants turn, slowly, shifting their stems to the center of the cabin. Will takes a full seventeen seconds to visibly separate from his textbook, process the question, and erupt into a shade of red previously unknown to man.

"Um," he says, or rather squeaks. "Yes?"

Cecil snorts, turning a page.

"Bicycle."

"Shut the fuck up, Cecil."

"Just like your father."

"Shut the fuck up, Cecil."

"I just want to try something," Lou Ellen soothes, potentially hearing the lack of breathing happening in Will's general direction. "Like, for science. That works for you, right, nerd?"

"Science generally begins with a hypothesis and due process," says Will weakly. But he dutifully crawls over to her direction, settling in front of her. "Um. Now?"

"Now would be great," Lou Ellen agrees. She tilts her head. "So do you just, like, go for it, or...?"

"I mean. In my experience?"

"Which is about to go from two to three," Cecil adds.

This time, Lou Ellen and Will are in perfect sync:

"Shut the fuck up, Cecil!"

Cecil flips another page and promises nothing.

The determination has slowed some of the blush in Will's face, containing it high in his cheeks. Or, well, spite. Cecil-branded fury. That does a whole lot of activating every modicum of ADHD impulsivity in Will's soul.

"Okay," he says, nodding to himself. He meets Lou Ellen's wide, round eyes. "Okay, so I'm gonna -- lean in. And we gotta close our eyes or it's weird. And then I'm gonna kiss you, okay? And you test."

Lou Ellen nods, serious. "Got it."

She breathes in, then out. She purses her lips, leaning forward. Her hands rest, fingers spread, on her knees. Her eyes flutter shut.

Will exhales. He squeezes his eyes shut.

He leans in, gently, and presses his lips to hers, resting a warm hand on the soft curve of her jaw.

"Hm," says Lou Ellen, as they separate. "Hm."

Will shifts nervously.

"You smell good," he offers. "And you taste like orange shampoo. In a good way."

Lou Ellen narrows her eyes at him. She reaches her hand out slowly, like how you may approach a startled horse, and grabs Will's chin with the tips of her fingers.

"Why," Will says.

"Hm," says Lou Ellen, again. She moves his face from side to side, inspecting. Will does not protest, but does choose to make an entirely unintelligible gesture with his hands. "You are hot, aren't you."

"Gah??" Will says. The confusions shifts rapidly from his face; his eyes widen, pupils narrowing, he tries and fails to pull slightly away and generally makes a collection of noises that boil down to hey, pardon. "I'm??"

Cecil choses this moment in time to tuck his comic carefully away, facing his friends in full. He also chooses to take this time to appraise Will's slightly squished face, nodding smugly.

"Yeah, he's a babe."

"Right, okay, that's what I thought. It's the bone structure, right, it totally --"

"Yeah, yeah, and the pouty lips, that definitely --"

"--you're so literally right --"

"You ever watched his shoulders?"

"They're biteable! Biteable, and when he plays volleyball it's like --"

"--yep. And his legs are approximately the length of the equator."

"Freckly, too, it's so --"

"His eyes??"

"I know??"

"Honestly wild."

They turn to him, twin dark brown eyes glowing amber in the sun, appraising him from his golden hair to his bare toes. Will, unfortunately, seems to be right on the urge of passing out, so red he has begun to glow, so warm Lou is forced to let go, and so lightheaded he has begun to sway.

"Hngg-what," he mumbles, eyes far away. "Wha -- I'm --"

Cecil pokes gently at him with his toe.

"I think we broke him," he observes.

"I see," Lou Ellen agrees, chin in her hands. "That's kinda cute, too."

"Oh yah. He's like -- he's never not a smokeshow, you know? Like he's hot when he's mad."

"Smoking."

"And the whole -- it's diabolical to say, but he's like..."

"Movie star pretty when he cries. Yeah, yeah, I hear you."

They turn to each other, lips pursed in thought. They turn back to their slightly dying friend.

"Hm," they say, together.

Will begins to pray. His father, intrigued, only shifts to better the lighting on Will's face. Will agonizes, shifting to pray to his aunt. This too proves useless.

"You know," says Lou Ellen. She taps her manicured finger against her cheek. "We could always share him."

Cecil raises his eyebrows. "We could?"

"Do I??" Will gestures wildly, face now glowing so brightly he is kind of hard to see. "Get a say??"

Cecil and Lou Ellen look at each other. They look back at Will.

"No."

"Nah."

"That's! I am -- taken, okay! I!"

Cecil snorts. "A long-standing crush on greasy Gerard Way does not count as --"

"It's not his fault he's greasy!"

Lou Ellen observes the boys. She hums to herself, rocking back on her knees.

"-- and he's hardly ever here, you met him like twice --"

"Four times! And he's charming!"

Hm indeed.

"I have an announcement to make," Lou Ellen announces.

Both boys stop immediately. Lou Ellen nods graciously, sitting regally on Will's bed. Will pouts a little, but says nothing.

"I am considering converting to lesbianism," she says solemnly. "I'm not sure yet, but I have been presented with a case and it is compelling."

Will and Cecil shrug, making noises of agreement.

"Yeah, fair."

"I mean, girls. I get you."

Will clears his throat. "But, uh. No boys? For sure?" His pout returns. It is indeed very cute. "Did I do a bad job?"

Lou Ellen reaches over and pats him very gently on the head. Her bangles get in his eyes a little. He blinks them away politely.

"Aw, no. You just seem very hung up, and I'm not sure how well dating Cecil would work, and no one else will talk to me yet."

"Dating me is an amazing experience, I have references," Cecil says, at the same time Will says, "Wait, still?"

There is a pause. Again, they speak at the same time:

"Stop using me as a reference, Cecil, gods."

"You want me to vandalize their possession for you, Lou? I would love to do that for you."

Lou Ellen moves to pat Cecil gently and condensendingly on the head.

"I'm good. Thanks, though. Chiron says they just need time. And perhaps an ass-kicking, if I feel so inclined."

"Sage."

"Good advice, that."

They all nod at each other. Wordlessly, they stand, returning to their earlier positions: Cecil, reclining on Will's bed, having abandoned the comic book for a nap; Will, poking at his math; and Lou Ellen, passing a green spark around her fingers and carefully Observing.

It takes her several minutes of reflection to blink and realise.

References.

Her eyes widen.

"Hey, wait a second --"

I've lost the love of my life, and my fingers refuse to write the word “death” in connection with him. I am still in denial, grappling with the harsh truth that he is gone. Now, I live amidst the ruins of memories—everything around me serves as a reminder of him. He adored the sky and the sea, always fascinated by the stars. I once told him that I wished the roof of our future home could be made of glass, so we could gaze at the stars together, dreaming of our life ahead. But all of that is now shattered, forever lost since Israel took away the soul of the one I cherished most.

My life has become an empty void, devoid of any motivation to take a single step forward. I find no desire to cry, to eat, or even to exist. Each day is a relentless cycle, repeating itself, as I wait for the moment of my death. I often find myself lost in thoughts of how it might happen: will I die whole, or will my body be scattered, pieces of me consumed by stray dogs and cats?

➡️Now, my focus has shifted to my family and the desperate need to save them from this hell we call home. This is not just a plea; it is a campaign for survival.

Please, if you can, do not hesitate to donate and help us find safety. Every bit counts in this fight for our lives.

My campaign has been verified

@\nabulsi here @\el-shab-hussein here

gofundme.com

Donate to Help Nesma and her family evacuate, organized by Mena K

Nesma Ahmed is raising funds to help her family evacuate from Gaza. Currently, Gaza has been… Mena K needs your support for Help Nesma and h

@fancysmudges @brokenbackmountain @zigcarnivorous @z-moves @tittyinfinity @aleciosun @fluoresensitivearchived @khizuo @schoolhater @timogsilangan @appsa @buttercuparry @sayruq @malcriada @palestinegenocide @sar-soor @akajustmerry @annoyingloudmicrowavecultist @feluka @tortiefrancis @flower-tea-fairies @tsaricides @riding-with-the-wild-hunt @visenyasdragon @belleandsaintsebastian @ear-motif @kordeliiius @brutaliakent @raelyn-dreams @troythecatfish @theropoda @tamarrud @4ft10tvlandfangirl @queerstudiesnatural @northgazaupdates2 @skatezophrenic @awetistic-things @camgirlpanopticon @baby-girl-aaron-dessner @nabulsi @sygourie @junglejim4322 @heritageposts @chososhairbuns @palistani @dlxxv-vetted-donations @imjustheretotrytohelp

why did he do this

israel’s military and government has known for 300+ days that the bibas family was dead and used the faces of BABIES to promote and justify their genocide. how fucking morbid. i wish the family and friends of family a very safe healing journey

Urgent: Mahmoud needs a new laptop!

Can you imagine taking exams in an active war zone? That is the reality for Mahmoud @ma7moudgaza2. Please take the time to read his story:

Who among us does not remember University Street, the alleys of halls, the park, the cafeteria, and the coffee sellers on the roads.

How can a person forget his home?! His comfort, after returning from university, was to enjoy a cup of coffee, his ritual for completing his tasks, and at the end of the week in front of the television watching a comedy movie.

The house and the road to it were beautiful. Life was lived with sincerity and warmth of moments. It was our happiness to return to our homes.

Happiness became a wish, and a loaf of bread became a miniature happiness.

I am writing to you in extreme pain. My house has been damaged, and I have lost my university laptop. I currently need an MSI laptop to complete my university studies, and its price is $2000 due to the war and the extremely high prices. I ask for a donation as soon as possible so that I can solve the final exams that begin at the end of the week.

gofundme.com

Donate to Help Mahmoud's Family Rebuild Their Home, organized by Annie Hall

There is something in the word “summit” that tells you, “Get up.” I am Mahmoud Ham… Annie Hall needs your support for Help Mahmoud's Family

His fundraiser only has $3,475 donations so far, and much of the money has already been spent just to survive. We have to raise $1525 as quickly as possible! Please share and donate!

Very urgent

The situation is very dangerous. My children’s lives are in danger. Their skin is melting and peeling from diseases. There are no medical points or doctors to treat them. There is no food available for them. Israel is killing us. Please do not help it with that, but rather help me. I have nothing left but my children. After I lost my family, my home, and everything I have, I have no hope left but you. Imagine that you In my place. Please, with a heavy heart, I ask for your support

gofundme.com

Donate to Save Maryam's family from war, organized by Alicia Augusto

I am Maryam, the mother of three children, the youngest of whom was born during a time of… Alicia Augusto needs your support for Save Maryam

“girl dinner” “girl math” “i’m just a girl” okay but I am an adult I am six feet tall I am loud as fuck I take up space I am smart and capable. So are you. Why would we want to laugh at jokes where the punchline is that women aren’t? Why would we want to make jokes about being small and childish and incapable? Who do you think laughs at those jokes the loudest?

every couple of days someone makes a post on here that's basically "watch out for those scamming palestinians! they're really annoying and i don't like them, which disproves the extensive vetting efforts, because my discomfort is the most important thing in the universe" and everyone in the reblogs is like "thank god someone finally said something! i knew it! i had an inclination in my heart that those palestinians are dirty scammers all along and i was waiting for someone to confirm it! and now that you said you find them annoying that finally confirms it! wait shit that sounds racist i mean uhhhh it's so tragic that those scammers are taking advantage of a tragedy :( pretending to be real palestinians :( we all know real palestinians don't know how to use the internet :( thank you for talking about these fakers :(" i hope you all die

( @beatricebidelaire 👁️ )

Thierry Mugler: ‘Les Insectes’ Spring (1997)

AP News

Former Philippine leader Duterte arrested on an ICC warrant over drug killings

Police took him into custody on orders of the ICC, which has been investigating the massive killings that happened under the former presiden

wow, hope we see more strongman leaders arrested, thoughts and prayers