A true knight always finishes a story...

Getting approval for my short-term disability pay is out of my hands now. It took three attempts for the State's fax of forms to be noted by my doctor's office (possibly because the State had my name spelled wrong!); the office actually called me on Thursday past for clarification of what it was about. Doctor is out of the office for the holiday weekend until Tueday, so I'm praying that means it'll be submitted by the end of this coming week. I have calls into the personnel office at my store to ensure they complete and submit a Certification of Employment on my behalf.

In the meantime, I have shelter through Monday morning before I'm back to sleeping in my car. Any contribution to help me extend my stay would, once again, be heaven sent. With tax and fees, the total is $73/night ($66/night weekly rate). I hate asking again, but the nights I spent in my car the week before last were the absolute worst of my life, and I'm praying hard to avoid that if I could.

Bath and Body Works Moodboards // Gingham All-American

a romantic little blurb for @doctor-stephenstrange​

[ what came before 1 2 ]

Two good friends (both of whom are missing their long absent significant others) and a matchmaking Cloak watch the Macy’s 4th of July fireworks from the NYC Sanctum roof. What happens after…well, Cloak saw it coming a while ago…

…a quiet breeze eventually wafted away the smoke that had lingered after the fireworks spectacular finish. The sky was clear of any cloud cover, allowing them to see the bright pinpoints of distant stars, spurring Stephen to amuse Beauty with stories about some of the far off worlds that he had visited. But only good stories; only those which he knew would elicit the pleasant music of her laughter.

After a while, they lapsed into a companionable silence, each pondering the stars, the infinite cosmos, and their own small place in the grand scheme of things. Beauty had begun to pack the remains of their meal into her picnic hamper, and once that chore was done, she settled back on the fluffy blanket that he’d conjured so they could watch the fireworks display in comfort. Cloak had withdrawn, its matchmaking efforts complete for the evening. It had done what it could to bring these two lonely souls together; a temperate night under starlight should be enough for them to finally see what had been staring them in the face for weeks now—so if they refused to acknowledge it, it would be their loss. It was no miracle worker, after all, and could nudge those it cared about only so far. The rest must be up to them.

Stephen and Beauty sat leaning against the wall that surrounded the Sanctum roof, shoulders just an inch or so apart. They’d been silent for so long, he’d been about to ask if she was alright, when she spoke unexpectedly. “Doc, do you believe that if someone wishes something hard enough…with…with all their heart…” Beauty hesitated a breath or two, uncertain of the wisdom of her question, “…that there’s enough magic in that wish, so that it might come true?”

Stephen nodded silently, his thoughts flying back to the earliest lessons The Ancient One had bestowed upon him. “Wishes. Hopes and dreams,” he began, choosing his words carefully, “Like thought shapes reality, it’s possible there’s power in them as well. Though they’d have to be singularly focused on a concrete goal. The kind of focus most people aren’t capable of.”

“Oh.” A single syllable that sounded like a world of disappointment. Beauty sighed hopelessly, and rested her head upon his shoulder. “I wish upon a star every night, Doc…I’ve wished on countless stars for months and months now. And always the same wish. That he’ll come home, safe and sound. That he’ll come home and take me in his arms, and for a little while at least, I won’t feel so sad…and so…terribly, terribly lonely…”

Stephen turned his head enough to brush his lips against her hair—the most familiar he had ever been with her. “I know, honey…I know how that feels.” The ache which Beauty had described was the mirror of his own; it felt to him as though hers echoed in the hollow places of his chest. Echoed, and as he took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, felt like it merged with his. Surely, two lonely souls together was better than each suffering on their own. He twined his fingers through hers, the warmth of her skin soothing against his scars.

Do you suppose there ever was a better duo?

A character who has been the source of excitement and love along with a great deal of emotion for so many of us (looking at you MCU). But today is about celebrating the brilliant character brought to life by an equally brilliant Benedict Cumberbatch.

The Doctor

The Sorcerer

All while making it look so damn good.

PETER CLAFFEY

Your Grace. I am your man. Please. Your man.

America's Day Off - (2026)