happy new year, 2084!

New Year's Eve, 2084 - Stephanie Day is 24, Justin Kim is 23, Sophie Phoenix is 61.

Soundtrack: "Drown," by Smashing Pumpkins.

Plenty of people are hosting New Year's parties this year, every year, all over the world. Aunt Sophie is hosting the usual party, and Stephanie's parents will be there, but instead Stephanie is here with Justin's parents. Because Justin's mom makes regular platters of food, sausage rolls in biscuits from the grocery store, nothing imported, nothing strange and gourmet like her Aunt Sophie serves. Stephanie is here because Aunt Sophie's house is always too crowded and noisy, because Corbin has a date which left Justin alone. She considered that they could spend New Year's in the quiet of her empty house, but she decided against it. Alone has grown on her, grown into her bones. But not tonight. She knows Justin doesn't like that much quiet.

Stephanie wonders how they're celebrating on base, or if they're even celebrating at all. Out there, tonight is just another date, a point on a calendar that's only significant to us because we make it so. Outside the Earth's spinning clock, a year means nothing. Out there, their ships whiz through the blackness and time is irrelevant except to their little electronic clocks, keeping home time like nostalgia.

extras, friendship picspam

Friends is the picture theme over at N99 this week, and I spent a bit of time putting this together, so I thought I'd share it here too so that you all could see it. Some of these friendships go back so far, and when you look at it all in sequence, it kind of even tells a story.

If I get around to doing some other groups of friends, I'll share those here too. I'd definitely like to get around to doing my Tyler/Beau/April/Summer/Lucy/Dallas group too, but I know I have many others as well.

extras, birthday spam

Just a few extras and outtakes from setting up Stephanie's birthday party. I found this bunch surprisingly photogenic while I was working on them, and I ended up with a lot more pictures than I could actually use.

happy birthday, dear Stephanie...

December 16, 2083 - Stephanie Day is 24, Willow is 16 months. (Justin Kim is 23, Lily is 10 months, Corbin Gray is 32.)

Stephanie turns twenty-four today. Her parents have spent the majority of the week packing and unpacking, making the 20-minute drive from here to the LCU campus several times. Her mother got the School Board President job, and she starts immediately following the holiday break. But she did make some time to take Stephanie out for a new haircut and a pedicure, to brighten her spirits, and then they met her dad for lunch.

Her mother also arranged for some help around the house. "You'll have a housekeeper once a week," she said to Stephanie. "And call your uncle over if you need snow shoveled. The mortgage is paid, and you have Jeremiah's stipend for groceries. Your father will bring over more, if you need it. So all you have to do is take care of Willow. You can handle that, can't you?"

Stephanie handles Willow just fine, and Justin's daughter Lily sometimes too. So she isn't sure what sticks more, the emphasis on "all," or that it's even a question?

LH stuff: Stephanie wallpapers

Okay, one more, and then this madness has to stop! But I do have two more in mind to make this weekend. After I write some stuff. I figure if I don't get this Jodie update out pretty soon, some of you might show up on my doorstep with pitchforks? ;)

But first, a wallpaper for those of us in darker moods?

pressure points

October 2083 - Stephanie Day is 23, Willow is 1. (Jeremy Nova is 68, Riley Hathe is 34, Justin Kim is 23, Corbin Gray is 33.)

She feels looked after like a child. Her father drives back and forth from the city. He says he's just prepping for the move, but he never seems to be moving anything. Justin calls her almost every day after work, and he and Lily come over when they can. Her Aunt Sophie comes by from across the street. "Oh, honey," she says, frowning at Stephanie's scorched attempt at pork chops. "You should have let me bring you something."

And then there's the real, actual child. Willow. Aunt Sophie scoops her up in her arms. "Oh, isn't she just precious?" she says. "What a doll."

one day, long-dreaded...

May 2083 - Cabe Deppiesse (41), Andy Bradshaw (56), Joel Harris (41), Alon Hutchins (27), Jeremiah Day (26), Keri Riley-Kim (22), Tyler Jackson (19), Stephanie Day (23).

*note: box of tissues warning!*

They felt it coming, there were rumors, there was an atmosphere in the news reports of preparation. They're getting ready for the first contact. They've built up the bases to support a troop surge, so now they need the troops.

Protect the planet is their mission, their first and most important order. They need all the help they can get, and they'll take it from every available unit around the globe. As far apart as they might be in culture or distance, they are all in this one together. Some units went ahead of them, and later more followed. Then last week, one long-dreaded day, there were these pamphlets in the mail: Your Loved Ones on Active Duty.

Soon after, Lake County unit 212 was called to duty.

one day, when she might be able to cheer...

March 2083 (mini-update) - Stephanie Day is 23, Tyler Jackson is 19, Jeremiah Day is 26.

One day, while Stephanie was out walking, she picked up a sad and lost little puppy dog. His name was Tyler Jackson. He saw her first actually, walking past his house. She's still working off that last ten pounds of baby weight, which her mother has informed her might not ever go away. She was always such a tall and slender girl. She's become a woman now. It can't be taken back.

She and Tyler just missed each other last summer, when she moved back to Lakeside Heights, and he moved out to the city for college. But he saw her walking down the street past his parents' house, pushing Willow in a stroller, and he ran out to them. Since he's trying not to smother Summer too much these days, he's happy to reacquaint with an old friend.

He couldn't have come along at a better time. She should have figured a college student might be available to hang out when most grown people are working. She begs him to grant her a game, but she doesn't have to beg. He helps her carry out Willow's bouncy swing.

here on dirt

March 2083 - Jeremy Nova is 67, Alice is 61, Jeremiah Day is 26, Stephanie is 23, Willow is 7 months. (Justin Kim is 23.) Last update, June 2082.

He's at Fort Bluewater, and he has an appointment with General Deppiesse. Of course, he didn't give his real name. This is where they had him wait, a library of sorts, not a typical waiting room. Outside there are soldiers playing basketball, but that isn't even the interesting thing. Jeremiah doesn't wonder why he isn't waiting in the perfectly good waiting room. He doesn't worry about the fact that he is an army deserter waiting to speak with a top military general. What's killing Jeremiah, more than anything is, what is that thing on the table?

2082, extras

Extras, misfits, and outtakes from the year 2082 :)

happy birthday to you...

August 2082 - Welcome to Lakeside Heights: Willow and Quinn!

Stephanie Day thinks she just might have been pregnant forever! Of course, that's not realistically possible, but it sure does feel like it. So when Stephanie goes into labor at 2:00 in the morning, she doesn't mind one bit. She just wants this baby BORN! But happy as she is that this is finally happening, she thinks maybe Jeremiah could smile just a little less. It's kind of annoying, given the pain and all.

these kids

June 2082 - Jeremy Nova is 66, Alice is 60, Jeremiah Day is 25, Stephanie is 22. Last update, February 2080.

"He's barely any more than a stranger," Jeremy says, and he means his daughter's surprise husband. Stephanie called a couple months ago, to say she was pregnant, and that they needed to come back home for a while. They've met Jeremiah about a handful of times before the two of them ran off on spring break and eloped two years ago. But Alice wouldn't care if Stephanie was bringing home big foot, because she just wants to see her daughter again, and meet her soon-to-be very first real grandchild!

This wouldn't be the first time Stephanie didn't think things through. Moving back home with her army-deserting husband, and where did she think they would live? How would they work? Of course, the answer being that her parents would take her back home, and that who knows how they would contribute to the household. Who knows how Jeremy would explain to his brother-in-law, Captain of Police, Micah Phoenix, that they were hiding an army-deserter in their home?

Stephanie broke her poor mother's heart, you know. Alice prides herself on education, and Stephanie dropped out of college after just one year. And then she goes on spring break, gets married, and never comes back? But still, what do you do when she calls and asks to come back home, with her delinquent husband and soon-to-be baby, but say "welcome back?"

this rustic life

March 2082 - Jeremiah Day is 25, Stephanie is 22. (via phone, Bella Bradshaw is 25). Welcome to Lakeside Heights, baby Skye. Last update, March 2080.

Stephanie is talking to her brother, long distance, while Jeremiah sets lunch out on the table. Lara had the baby - it was a girl, and they named her Skye. Stephanie can't even believe how much she's missed. She has four little nieces and nephews now, who aren't so little anymore. Liza is in junior high now, Shaun just started preschool, and Raine is starting preschool next year! Stephanie says, "The last time I saw Raine, she was still in diapers!" Oh, Patrick mentions, Raine still is in diapers, they've got to get that potty training done before the fall. Still potty training at three and a half! Sheesh! And they say girls potty train faster?

Stephanie says, "I can't wait to meet Skye!"

"Are you coming home then?" Patrick asks.

"Well, we kind of have to, I think. I'm kind of pregnant."

"Well, either you are or you're not," he says. "There's really no kind of about it."

"I am then," she says. "Yeah, I guess I am."

LCU, spring break 2080

2080, LCU, spring break

Stephanie comes home from spending a weekend with her family, and she is so excited, she can't even contain herself! "The cabin is mine! It's really mine! We should totally go see it!"

Keri agrees, not that Stephanie had given her any real choice, and they inform the guys of their plan. They order their tickets, and pack up some bags, and Justin and Jeremiah say they have a few things to tie up before they go.

aftershocks, like ripples in water

February 2080 - Jeremy Nova is 64, Alice is 58, Stephanie is 20. Talin Collins is 65, Abigail is 64.

content warnings: suicide attempt, death mention, grief, depression.

 
A quick synopsis of the Nova family tree, if you need it ;)

• Jeremy Nova, (married/deceased Trista) married to Alice
• (by T.) Patrick Nova, married to Lara
• Raine
• (by T.) Riley (Nova) Hathe, married to Chad
• Liza
• Shaun
• (by J.) Stephanie Nova
• Abigail (Nova) Collins, married to Talin
• Sophie (Nova) Phoenix, married to Micah
• Jackson Phoenix, married to Nessa
• Hayden Phoenix, (married/deceased Rhianna)
• Summer
• Ryanne

LCU, everybody needs a soul buddy

LCU, fall semester, 2079

*** Sorry, again SO LONG! LCU proves to be anything but boring, even if Bella Bradshaw has grown up. ***

Mariah and James have been dating for two years now, and though they adore each other, they're still experiencing technical difficulties. The huge problem in their relationship is that his chosen line of work is not any kind of work her family could approve of - and there's no budging on either side. "It's not valid work," she says. "I can't tell my parents you do that. What am I supposed to tell them?"

the lofts, big fat chances

August 2079 - Paul Gallagher is 29, Cameron Gibson is 28, Charlotte Centowski is 25, Amelia Bradshaw is 24, Bella Bradshaw and Jeremiah Day are 23.

Bella and Amelia are actually getting along here in the lofts together. They're becoming almost something like friends. They never imagined the day would come, when Alon Hutchins had become inconsequential to them both, and long forgotten. We suppose that's part of growing up.

LCU, the end of an era

LCU, spring semester, 2079

LONG post! Take a potty break if you need one! :)

At the start of spring semester, the most pressing matter for Bella and Mariah is to win a dance competition. James was there to root for Mariah.

(Joel and Aurora Harris were there, on their first date night since baby Zachary was born, watching at first, but then they got bored and decide to flirt with each other instead.)

LCU, love, all around

LCU, fall semester, 2078

Bella and Mariah are living in Academy Hall this year. In her sophomore year now, Mariah declares her major in philosophy. Not because she's known to be a big thinker, but because... well, because her guidance counselor told her to.

2078, we don't need no education!

Another school year starts in Lake County!

Lucy Harris is starting sixth grade at Lakeside Heights Junior High School. She is looking forward to making all kinds of new friends, and is dying to get a cell phone for her birthday. She takes an interest in fashion, in an unconventional sense. Don't let those dog-collar bracelets scare you though, she's sweet as pie.