Writing, probably

here is a map of the path of the eclipse (from timeanddate)

When she catches Rumi staring AGAIN this time her gaze is trained on Zoey's arms. Once again Zoey looks to see if there's a bug crawling on her, a rip in her sleeve, anything out of place that would have Rumi so intensely concentrated yet unwilling to say WHY she's staring.

It happens again later that night when Zoey is getting ready for bed and her tank top exposes her shoulders which Rumi cannot tear her eyes from. "Ok you have got to tell me why you keep looking at me like that! It's starting to freak me out."

Rumi, like evey other time she's been caught, lightly coughs and pink dusts her cheek. "Your um, freckles...there's more."

Zoey looks to her shoulders and down her arms and starts laughing. "Yeah, they do that sometimes when it's sunny." She can tell Rumi is confused by this so she explains, "when I am overexposed to UV rays my freckles darken and appear to multiply, in a way they're kinda like my patterns."

Rumi steps closer into Zoey's space so she can examine the freckles that dot across Zoey's nose. She ghosts a finger over Zoey's cheek still bewildered by just how many more freckles there are than usual. She whispers, "they're beautiful"

Now it's Zoey's turn to blush. She lets Rumi trace over the dots like she has to Rumi's patterns numerous times before. And if she weren't so paralyzed by the anxious butterflies im her stomach she'd probably say something stupid like "wanna count them?" Instead she just watches the way Rumi's eyes rake over her shoulders and down her arms. She's relieved when Rumi asks what she can tell she's thinking is a silly question, "do you have any favorites?"

Yes she does, numerous ones, and for different reasons. She points each and every one out to Rumi with increasing enthusiasm, including the lone freckle that's a little too close to somewhere she probably shouldn't be showing off willy nilly.

Years later you find yourself in the middle of a raging battle. Your allies are precariously balanced between life and death. You are wounded, but can still fight, albeit not as fast or as swift as you would like. On the opposite side of the battle field, you see your friend engaged in combat with the leader of the enemy. It does not seem good. Your friend is trying to get up, but their body is shaking. Their hair is matted and coated with blood. The enemy leader has his sword drawn, ready to strike down and kill your friend. You will not get there in time. Tears well up in your eyes.

Not them.

Not like this.

If only you had just a few minutes.

mushroom: can you feel your heart burning? can you feel the struggle within? the fear within me is beyond anything your soul can make. you cannot kill me in a way that matters

SQ Time Travel Enemies to Lovers. Emma Swan, art teacher, 2 years into teaching at a new high school, loved by all the students - “one of the gang”, struggles with connecting with tenured 11th grade English teacher, Regina Mills. Emma has no trouble befriending any of the teachers or students, but reserved, cold, Regina remains her biggest enigma.

SQ Holiday Idea. Henry’s class is asked to construct a project with their parents. Fully aware of how both of his moms are into each other yet neither are willing to make the first move, Henry asks Emma and Regina to participate in the project separately until his deviant schemes force their feelings to the surface. And just in time for the holidays.

XenaGab MLiM/XWP Crossover. Alexa is Xena reincarnated but doesn’t know it until a mysterious soon-to-be uncovered murderer arrives at her door, a strawberry blonde bearing significantly familiar features to one familiar Greek bard.

SQ Horror fic. There exists a room made from only mirrors. Nobody lives in the house anymore. And nobody visits the room. Until one night, a scream is heard. A wail, rising from the house from within the room. Emma and Regina investigate this house one evening to find they cannot see their reflections in any of the mirrors. They’ve lived two houses down for years. The cycle repeats itself every time they revisit the home and turn a mirror around. Never able to see their reflection. Never able to see beyond the cool surface - seemingly endless. Until one day, Emma sees her reflection.

SQ. Currently thinking about the juxtaposition between Snow White's relationship with birds and Regina living a life beside a child she never wanted to raise and a husband she never loved. And I don't know what is more heartbreaking, that Regina's home was a cage she never chose or that Snow - as much as she loved birds - didn't realize that she unknowingly set the trap that would one day prune Regina's wings.