Vipera Berus;

“It’s your fault because of how cute you’ll always be no matter if you have a mangled face or not.”

“I’m sure I could find a level of grotesqueness that would drive you away.”

“Okay, first fuck off with your fucking ‘gotcha’ crap, I’m really not in the mood to deal with more straight people privileged bullshit. Second, saying 'I hate straight people’ after a straight person has used a homophobic slur and accused me of bigotry for correcting them is not 'heterophobic.’ Obviously, I do not hate every fucking straight person. I said it because I’m pissed off right now. LGBT+ people have to deal with this crap all the fucking time, and it’s frustrating, and sometimes, for just a minute, you just want to say fuck it all and hate them and their stupid fucking mentality that correcting them or, god forbid, expressing frustration about them is the same thing as queerphobia, which reminder, literally kills people, gets kids kicked out, and gets us fired from our fucking jobs.”

"You know who uses the word 'privilege' as a weapon rather than discussing it as part of a conversation ‘bout inequality? People who don't want to have a proper dialogue ‘bout inequality. You're right-- the gay community has it rough, and if you wanna' use the hardships of the community as a way to feel righteous in spreading hate, whatever your reason, that's your prerogative. You have to live with the shit you say and the people you hurt, so if you think it somehow balances the scales or is acceptable 'cause things ain’t fair, you're wrong, and you're wrong to think your personal anger towards one homophobe warrants you the right to say you hate an entire group, whether you “mean it” or not. Of course, I'm wasting my breath 'cause all you're gonna' do is scream that I have privilege over you 'til I walk away, so I'll just save you the breath."

“So I asked a guy at work to stop using the word faggot and he got mad at me for being heterophobic. I fucking hate straight people so much.”

“I get the asking someone to stop calling you a slur... but how is fighting homophobia with ‘heterophobia’ going to solve anything? ‘Cause ain’t that what you’re doing by saying you hate straight people? Ain’t you just basically saying: ‘I want you to accept me for who I am, but since you’re not, I’m going to be a jerk right back’? I guess it might make you feel better, but what does it solve?”

“Well, you might as well blame yourself. It’s all your fault anyways.”

“How’s it my fault? I tried messing my face up, it’s not my fault the doctors managed to save it!”

“I’m quite aware of what jogging does for someone. It just didn’t look like jogging to me.” Maura told him honestly. “What kept you from it?”

“I wonder what sort of jogging you’re used to seeing, then.” He shrugged. “I broke my orbital bone and collarbone a while back.”

“Oh, no problem.” Natalie said quickly as she watched the man hand the receipt back to the barista and handing the pen back to her. “Thank you.” 

He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “You don’t have to thank me, you’re the one who was doing something nice.”

“No, no, just maybe have this kind of nerve thing going on when they see someone they love.”

“That sounds even more terrifying, a nerve condition triggered by arousal.”

“Yeah, you know I think it’s time the cat comes out of the bag.”

“I don’t know, isn’t that dangerous? If we had a kid,would it come out all goopy with tentacles?”

“You showed up and…well you know, my body goes all flip-floppy.”

“So you’re telling me I’m with a woman who’s part jellyfish?” 

“Oh well, you know I think I might have trouble doing that. My arms, you see, they’re like jello right now. I can’t seem to lift them.”

“Oh yeah? And what were you doing to make your arms all jello-y?”

“Here, do you need help with something? I’m sure no one else has even dared to ask you that yet.”

“Uh, yeah. I need a hug. Think you can help me with that?”

“Oh, yeah – I think I might have a pen. Hold on.” Natalie grabbed her bag and searched for the pen, so she could hand it to the stranger who asked for it. 

“Thanks, love,” he offered a quick smile before turning to put his signature on the receipt the barista had given to him, handing the paper back to her before returning the pen to its owner. “Appreciate it!”

Having little to no inspiration for the assignment that was do in just over two weeks, Sadie decided to hit the streets in search of a little muse. Usually, if she took pictures of people in passing or of the scenery, she could find something to paint. Completely wrapped up in a world of her own, with the lens acting as her only line of vision, she was shuffling backwards on the black top. Her attention was entirely fixed on a small bird perched upon a business front. It was this act that was her undoing in the situation, as she had managed to back up into a stranger. “O-oh my god,” she stammered, turning around to gawk at them with a guilty face. “I am so sorry. Are you alright?”

Sidney was more than happy to be back in the saddle when it came to his fitness routine. Jogging alone was doing wonders for his demeanor, which was why he was on his normal route, earbuds blaring rock music as he focused on the pavement in front of him. He only took his eyes off the sidewalk for a moment as he caught sight of a squirrel attacking a mailbox, but it was enough of a moment for him to bump into the girl who simultaneously backed up. He stumbled back some, catching his balance quickly and offering a smile as he pulled the earbuds out to rest around his neck. “Oh, no, it was partly my fault too. Besides, no harm done, yeah?” 

Of course not. But it’s a state of mine. 

And I assume you’re going to tell me it’s easy to change said state of mind?

“What are you doing?”

“Jogging. It keeps you in shape, and I haven’t been able to go on a proper jog for a while.”