Here there be Dragons.

Dear anon friend,

To be honest when I logged into tumblr this week again and read your message I cried a little because I had a really hard day at work and then your message was so nice, and then the next day I felt really good because I had your words with me, so thank you. Maybe fandom can seem silly to other people but isn't it great that we are still connected in some way after 10 years because of a BBC Sherlock adaptation and get each other through hard days? (´꒳`)♡

I am so happy to hear what your last decade has been like! Thank you genuinely so much for sharing!! I can't wait for the next one and all the great things you will do. You wrote that you were "trauma-dumping". I just want to say I'm really glad you reached out 10 years ago. You were a child and needed help, and you got that child help. I'm really proud you did and I hope you are as well. (´｡• ᵕ •｡`) ♡

And just like this it is may 31th again!! Where did the last year go? What happened to me wanting to post more comics?? Well, let's try again this year!! (°□°;)

I hope it was a good year for everyone. Sherlock will always be here. And John too! (*ˊᗜˋ*)

The European Union already forced Apple to abandon its proprietary charging port and adopt USB-C across its entire iPhone lineup. It just did something bigger. A new EU mandate requires every smartphone sold in Europe including Apple devices to feature a battery that can be replaced by the user without specialist tools, without voiding a warranty, and without sending the device to a manufacturer approved service center. Batteries must maintain a minimum capacity threshold after a set number of charge cycles and replacement parts must remain available for up to ten years after a model goes on sale.

The consumer electronics industry built its current business model around batteries that degrade, cannot be replaced at home, and create a natural upgrade cycle every two to three years. The EU just legislated that model out of existence in the world's largest regulatory market.

Apple, Samsung, and every other manufacturer now faces a choice between redesigning their devices for the European market or accepting that their current hardware architecture is no longer legally sellable there.

Morse code: AEEEEE FELL DOWN AND TROKE MY PENIT TODAY YEOWCE OUCH YOUCH!!!! SENT FROM MY TELEGRAPH

And Shane is like, “yeah, I’m married to you.”

This is the greatest news Ilya has ever heard. “What?” He asks, happy tears springing to his eyes. “Me?”

“Yeah.”

“For real?”

“Yeah, Ilya, of course. I love you; we’re married.”

“You love me?”

“Yeah,” Shane laughs. “A lot.”

“Wow. Wow.” Ilya is stunned. “I really married you?”

“Yeah look.” Shane takes his hand and shows him the wedding band on his finger before showing off his own. He presses a sweet, chaste kiss to Ilya’s mouth and the poor guy melts.

“Oh wow,” Ilya sighs. Then pauses. “Wait, come back here. We’re married, come—”

He is Freaking Out bc he doesn't actually know what Ilya's phone number is. His SIM card got crushed underneath a pair skates, so there's no recovering "Lily's" contact card.

On top of that, his old Ottowa number won't transfer to his Montreal provider. So "Lily's" texts will now be delivered into the ether. Or to some random person's phone if his old Ottowa number gets given out again.

Ilya of course has literally no idea this has happened and is sending his usual flirtatious messages to...silence. No response. He's not even getting left on read. Because the messages aren't even getting read. He goes through the five stages of grief. Fuck Shane Hollander, he doesn't need this shit. They're supposed to play against each other Tomorrow for fucks sake. His resolve lasts for about....two hours? And then he's on social media. What's this fucking asshole up to that he can't even read Ilya's texts?

He pulls up the first interview, the one right after Buffalo. Shane looks....really stressed out. Which is confusing given that they've just won.

"Yes of course I am super happy to win. Unfortunately the locker room celebration did get a little out of hand though."

He holds up his mangled phone.

"So if you're trying to contact me, sorry about that!"

He's blushing and smiling and seems so flustered and embarrassed. He's looking at a camera, millions of people can hear him, but he's speaking directly to Ilya. Ilya's face breaks out into his "you have a stylist?" smile. He feels....a little embarrassed about his crashout, but also super fucking relieved. Ilya swipes through a couple more videos and watches the most recent interview.

"We are absolutely looking forward to facing off against the Raiders. Also I brought this up last time but, turns out I can't keep my old phone number. So if you're texting me and I'm not responding, it's because I can't!"

He laughs, but it seemd a bit forced. Like he might tear up if he gets pushed the wrong way. Ilya goes back and watches through all the interviews since the Buffalo game. Shane has found a way to bring up his broken phone in every single interview for the past two weeks. It's so sweet...and also a little heartbreaking. He knew exactly what was gonna happen, and was terrified of Ilya thinking that he didn't want to talk to him. He didn't want Ilya to feel alone and confused and upset. He's so fucking ernest and endearing.