Disney Aurora as a Pokemon Trainer

list of Complaints and concerns at my job

Since we have a mandatory store meeting this Saturday, March 16th, at 8 in the morning, I've decided to make a list of my complaints so that I may, with hope and luck, voice this with some clarity during the meeting.


So let's start with some basic stuff. Nearly all of the plumbing leaks. So much so, that I might as well say everything. The two sinks on the left and center have leaked since before I started working here. The third has now started to leak. And whilst I have seen two plumbers come to look at those leaks, they have never been fixed. I have been here since November 2017 and those leaks have never been fixed. I have heard that we have reached out the corporate to get it fixed. The fact that it has been over a year tells me that corporate does NOT care about this store and reflects quite badly on corporate and the store as a whole.


Next, along the same lines, let's discuss the dishwasher. It too was leaking before I arrived here. Yet we had to still use it because of the sheer number of dishes we had/have. We used it until it began leaking up towards the bowling counter within minutes. But it has always leaked water, even when NOT on. A plumber came and fix the dishwasher. Even with me cleaning it out before turning it on everyday I was here, it has began to leak again. Within less then a month of it being fixed and reusable. We are continuing to use it because as stated, there are so many dishes. They often stack above my head at the end of the day. It has gotten better only because the person before has been staying after their get off time to clean all the dishes and now pizza screens in the kitchen. This task often takes a whole extra hour. And as something you've mentioned to us in a department meeting, you are concern that we are getting awfully too close to that 40 hour mark. The dishes are the largest part of this problem as even when we close at 12am, specifically this past Sunday, March 10th, I was still washing dishes at 2:30 and was then given 8 more dishes from the lanes that I had to hand wash at nearly 3am as I just finally got started on mopping the floor. If the dishwasher can't be fixed 100% or at least be made NOT to leak whilst off, please remove the bloody thing. I see no point in having busted junk in the kitchen causing more problems.

It is frustrating to see such wretched plumbing in this store and it is reflecting poorly of corporate to allow such awful plumbing to continue to be in use. I think Mario and Luigi could better plumbing working, or at least be quicker about it, then the whole year corporate has been taking.

Now this was a petty, small thing to speak about, but it needed to be addressed. And trust, I have more to write on about.


This time, let's address the schedule. The specific fact that I am beginning to feel like that whole availability sheet is being ignored. My availability sheet says I am not available until 3pm on Sunday. So why am I being scheduled to open? Specifically without any call and/or text asking if I can open? The availability sheet is for us to tell you what time we can work, and yet, the only day I have a specific availability is being ignored. And I'm not the only one. I know for a fact that Shamiya, who used to work here, had the same problem. Our department manager had constantly scheduled her during her class hours for several weeks in a row. Even with Shamiya and I bringing it up to her, it was not changed on TimeForge (The app we get our schedule through). This makes no sense. How can you schedule someone for a shift that they can NOT work? Knowing they can't work it and still not changing it. That is disrespectful and negligent. It's like you're purposely trying to put the food and beverage department at a disadvantage!

This is a sentiment I am feeling far too strongly at this moment. Are you purposely putting your own department at a disadvantage? You take such pride and being the department manager, saying you want things to work and you don't want us at a disadvantage. But what I'm seeing is opposite.

Let's start and that rabbit whole. Openers are only here from 10:30am-2:30pm. A four hour shift. The normal shift of bowling and maybe amusement, I'm unsure. But we have to open the kitchen by 11am. This includes turning everything on, bringing everything up, and filtering the fryers. And on Monday and Friday, we have to change and boil out the fryers. Now, I don't know about the rest of my team, but it takes me 45 minutes on average to filter the fryers. About an hour and half to boil them out on Monday. So most days when I open, the kitchen isn't open completely until 11:30am. I also have to check the labels and change them. And I'll discuss the label issue later, since I just reminded myself of that one. But you want us to prep as much as we can until we leave at 2;30, that's cool. I get that.

The problem comes in here, you have NO ONE for our department until 6:30pm. Guess what, customers don't stop coming. The mod has to run our department and use what was prepped and can very well go through what was prepped in that time. We know they're not prepping for our department. Why should they? It's not their job, but you lack a person for that job on staff. So when the closer comes in at 6;30 or even 10pm sometimes, they have to clean the dishes that have built up in that 4 - 7.5 hour interlude of no one for our department being there. We have to make sure everything is in order before even considering prepping anything. A task that takes me 30 minutes as I'm also helping customers while trying to check to make sure all is in order. Then we also have to handle any weekly tasks that need to be done, cleaning the ice cream machine, the pizza oven, the bar cup fridge, etc. All of these tasks take 2 to 4 hours to do without having to prep food.


We are not Sonic the Hedgehog, the Flash, Superman, Wonder Woman, Doctor Who Time Lords, or whatever you may think. I hear time management thrown around a lot. But the truth is, for all the things you want done, you're not scheduling us for enough hours to get that work done. Short, plain, and simple.


Often times while trying to be fast, I am doing dangerous, reckless things that could wind up with me being hurt because I'm trying to be fast for you. For example, I run out of gloves, cups, or something. I have to run in the back. Those things are on the top shelf that I can't reach. My step stool is up front by the ice cream machine because I'm short and can't reach most of the ice cream without it. You're smart, I'm sure you can guess what I'm doing to get that item and get back up front to continue doing the long list of tasks I have for the day. I'm stepping onto the bottom shelf, pushing my body up and grasping with one hand onto the shelf as I stretch to reach whatever the chaos I need and then hop down and go back up front. I have heard my feet make a crackling sound from this a few times with my feet going numb shortly after. I'm not the only one, I'm sure. I can just only speak of my experience.


Now, with the scheduling, let's talk about how I feel like department manager is putting us at a disadvantage on bloody purpose. Like I stated previously, the morning shift isn't here long enough to do everything that needs to be done for our department. It can only last so long. So when department manager sees messages about something not done, she goes and remove that person from the schedule for a whole week. Even though that person communicated with another manager about it and it wasn't carried over to person who wrote messages. So you're telling me, you're going to remove one our most competent team members for a whole week and weekend. and then you're going to give me their shifts. Making it where I have no day off after I'm already only getting one day off this week. Which, I'm pretty sure I stated rather clearly that I need at least 2 days off a week. As this was an issue with my previous job and a reason I left. But I digress, you want to run Friday on just 4 people total. With only maybe 2 or 3 being here at one time. Fine, Friday isn't normally that busy, we might be able to roll with that. But it'll be a tad more difficult than it needs to be and prepping will fall to the wayside which will put the Saturday staff in a bind. Saturday and Sunday are our busiest days and that will not do. We need at least 3 people in the kitchen to keep it running smoothly on those days, but we're not going to have that. Because the department manager sabotaged her own department by removing two of her workers from the weekend shifts. It is even worse, because she is not here to help in the kitchen herself. Causing us to rely on other departments to help us skate by.


The fact that I have no day off next week, means that I'll be burnt out, far more short fused, and no filter activated. This is cause my customer service to fall rapidly. Because at this moment, I will have to just call out a day just so I can have a day to rest and recharge.


I have brought up the fact that I am working EVERY DAY the week of March 17th-March 23rd to my department manager. She says she will fix it. Fact, she isn't supposed to be here and informed us that before she left, she wouldn't be reachable by phone or anything. And yet, she is making not one, not two, but now 4 different schedule changes in 1 day.


My concern is that this is not the first time that this has happened. There have been several, if not numerous, times where I've had to message my department manager about issues with the schedules. Specifically, her scheduling me to close at 2am, though I'm normally here till 3am, and then come back in at 10;30am. I'm sure you can all math and realize the jaberwooky here. I am often faced with the conundrum of either washing my one and only work uniform or sleeping. Guess what, I often choose sleep. Which means, I'm coming to work in unwashed, dirty closed. Because I only have time to take off my close, collapse in bed, and sleep. Often times waking up at 9:30am. I hurriedly throw on the clothes I wore last night, some socks, and my shoes. Debate if I should try to make breakfast as I feed my cat, and then rush to work without food. Still feeling groggy and like I need another hour or two of sleep at best. I have also been called after closing the night before to come open. Since the call has woken me up, I am just saying what will get me off the phone quickest as I get up like a drone to do what I'm told. This happened one week several times. I closed, got called in to open, closed, got called in to open. I came to work, look at the MOD and told them, I can not people. I meant it. I spent my shift in the back prepping and cleaning so I wouldn't have to see another human being that I might accidentally bare fangs at.


I am feeling like the department manager, who makes the schedule, should realize when she does something like this before sending the schedule out. I realize it quickly. I even note it when it happens to other coworkers in my department. It's rare that they are schedule to close then open, but it has happened at least 3 times to my coworkers.

This is the biggest bulk of my complaint. It feels to me, department manager is not thinking about how the schedule is laid out and where people are. Especially since now, we have been told to prep for the next day before we leave at night when we close. Which for me, can take up to a whole hour or two. So, instead of leaving at 3am. Note, we close the kitchen at 12am and the bar at 1am. And it's just one of us closing. So with that logic, and my good acquaintance Math, I would now be getting off between 4 and 5am.


I know from experience that I have still had things left to do in the kitchen at few past 3 before being told to just leave it for tomorrow and clock out because MOD had finished their duties and probably wanted to leave. And most times when this has happened, it was my department manager.


I think I've covered most of the scheduling issues. So let's talk about the labels thing really quick. Department manager says we should be changing them everything day. But the labels are how we date the food items. So isn't it illegal to have prepped something on say Monday the 1st, but change it say we've prepped it on Wednesday the 3rd? I feel like it's illegal. But I don't know any lawyers to ask at this moment. But shouldn't our department manager be saying, to CHECK the labels every day and throw away what is old and prep new stock to replace it? To check would not be illegal compared to the CHANGE the labels phrase I have been hearing. I'm sorry, but I don't like feeling like I am becoming a criminal.

work stories 2/15/2019

Yesterday sucked. Completely.

I work at an arcade, and I'm not sure why, but people are being more rude and entitled for no reason. A guy said he was going to throw his food in my face. While I was in the middle of helping another customer.

I went into work at 5pm. I did realize once I got there, that I left my work shoes at home. So I sent my boyfriend a text asking him to bring my work shoes to me when he gets home from work, which given the traffic from the past few days would be around 7. Since my normal shoes are black, they shouldn't be too much trouble to wear for two hours as I do my job. 

Things were going blahzai. My co-worker who didn't clock in yet, told me that we have 8 parties tomorrow. Good choas, I already know Saturday is going to be chaotic. 

I get on the floor and begin helping my lead prep. He sets me to work on pizza, and he works on wings. He gets those at the bar while I get those at the food and bev space. He goes to get water and I handle both station. Luckily, it's slow at the moment and not many people need things. My co-worker M clocks in and takes over kitchen space while I'm in the middle of helping people at the bar. I had a stream of steady people. I had two guys who wanted to get another drink. I decide to help the one at the end of the bar first because one of them has a beer 3/4 to half full and the guy next to him didn't have a drink. The guy tells me he wants two dos equis. I told them I needed to see the other man's ID. The man said something about not having a photo ID which I thought was odd, but I reiterated I needed to see an ID before I could serve him. They handed me a folded up piece of paper with tiny text on it. No photo. One of them mentioned it was a temporary ID. I explained to them that I wouldn't be able to accept the id. and because he didn't have a proper ID, he wouldn't be allowed to drink. His friend, who had a proper ID, went off saying, "But he's with me," as he got up from the bar and walked away still saying, "But he's with me."

I went to serving the rest of the people at the bar. I recall serving the party dad because we had two parties that evening. I also warned M to keep an eye on the two at the end of the bar, one to make sure the one without a wristband wasn't drinking and two, the other guy seemed to have an attitude issue. There was no one at the bar who needed anything. Other Dude, who I will not dub Jerk, still had a half full glass last I had checked. I went to take orders for M so that she could cook. Most of the people were wanting ice cream and surprisingly a lot wanted ice cream in cups. I saw K walk by at some point. So it was around 6:30pm. I had saw M walk to the bar to help someone over there since she was closest. The food counter had a steady stream of people constantly coming up to order food. I recall a sweet dad making several runs to the counter to make a few individual orders of food. 

So at some point, JERK comes over to the food counter to order. He got two 6 piece wings and then asks if it comes with fries. I reply that it doesn't. He says to add an order of fries. I ask, "2?" holding up two fingers just to make sure. He gives me major attitude going "Yes two." 

I'm just trying to do my job and make sure your order is right, no need to be all huffy, but whatever. I read the order back to make sure it's correct. I don't want to hear anything about his order was taken wrong when it wasn't. He also says he needs me back at the bar. 

I respond that there's someone over there. He states there not and I wonder where M has gone. He also accuses me of being rude for not coming back to check on him. I hold my hands up as to gesture to the food counter. "I've been here," I state. Doing my job. I kind of can't leave the food counter when there are people in the line. As a few people got in line behind me during his order. I hand him his receipt and tell him his order number is 45. I proceed to help the one lady that was in line behind him. She wanted ice cream. I look up and M at the bar. So I don't bother going to the bar, since M is a better bartender then me. I know she can handle him. I finally have a space of air to breath, so I change the ice cream scoop water. I also restock the ranch and blue cheese since there is hardly any up front. 

In the midst of restocking blue cheese, my lead asks where I am. 

"I'm in the back restocking blue cheese." 

Lead comes in the back, "Your boyfriend's here." 

"Aw! Cool. he brought me my shoes." I explain to him how I left my work shoes at him. I greet my boyfriend by the food counter and get my shoes from him, which he had put in a bag our sheets came in. I say thanks and I love you. Bf is still in work clothes, so I know he hasn't been home long. He nods and go to change my shoes. Letting my lead know on my way. I hurry to change my shoes and try to be quiet so my managers don't realize I haven't been wearing my nonslip shoes. I return within a few minutes and take back over taking orders. I've only taken a few orders when JERK shows up. He asks me if his food is done.

I am in the middle of serving an ice cream number. I ask him what the order number is as I look at the ice cream ticket I'm working on it. I'm only taking orders and serving ice cream. I'm not handling any of the food. So I need to make sure tickets match before I grab any trays of food. 

JERK simply tells me what his order was. 

I reply with that we need to see the receipt with the order number. It's so that we aren't giving people aren't giving people wrong orders and wasting food. 

He then starts going off and being rude. I just continue doing my job with the ice cream and tell him, we need the order and receipt. We often get several people ordering the same thing. So we are required to see all food receipts before we give anyone any food. 

JERK finally produces a receipt and I ask Lead if he has this number and point at the receipt. He takes over and I try to go about getting the ice cream to my customers. Jerk is going off saying we should have brought his food to him since I knew he was at the bar." I explain that we call the number and the customer is to come pick up the food. He insist that we didn't call it. But Lead assures him we did call his number as he gives him his food. 

JERK then precedes to state over and over, "If my food is cold, I'm going to throw it in your face." And he's saying it towards me. I look up at my Lead like WTF?

I tell him to let M know not to serve JERK anymore booze while I finish up an ice cream order.

I personally avoided the bar for a while. I saw security come over and I was asked to help the party host take the party food to the lanes. So I do that and try to calm my nerves. Though in the back of my head, I'm shaken and scared of JERK, but also, "Go ahead, I will call the police and file a report." 

I smile at party dad as I walk past and let him know that we are bringing his food out now. 

I go about doing my job and sticking to food counter. I don't wanna be anywhere near the bar in case he is still there. 

As a security guard walks pass me, I ask if they handled the guy who said he was going to throw his food in my face. He tells me he believes Jackson did. I saw security have to go the bar a few times that evening. 

There weren't many other hiccups through out the night. At least not with customers. K went on her ten around the same time as a bunch of people came up to the food counter. So I was taking orders and my manager was making them. My alarm on my watch went off for my lunch at 9pm. No K in sight. K tells me she'll take over after next customer and I nod. This is at 9:20pm. I breath a sigh of relieve. I finish that customer, but K isn't there. I'm stuck taking orders as I wait for K. Then at around 9:40pm, manager comes over and tells me that she's going on her lunch now since GM is only other manager and Bowling manager isn't there. I reply she must've went home because I recall seeing her with a mask on. She tells me I'll go on lunch once she gets back. I sigh. 

"I was suppose to go like 30 minutes ago."

Her response is that I should have just gone. I want to glare at her. I was waiting for someone to cover the counter. So I don't go on break till like 10:40 something. When M and K should have been going on break. But Whatever... She complains if just leave for our breaks on time or if we don't take them on time because we're helping in the kitchen. So I don't know know what she wants. 

I still recall her coming up to me to ask when I had clocked in. I rattle off, "I clocked in at 5, I get off at midnight, I come back at 10 to open." And then she finally sent M over to take over for me so I can go on lunch. 

I came back to hear that we were closing both the food and bar at midnight. So at midnight, I tell those after my last customer that we're closed and I go to do the bar count. I wipe down the bar with the tap and wine machine. Put in the plugs to the draft beers and remove the drain grid to take it to the back so it can be washed. I noticed a lack of both M and K and realized sadly that I was now alone. at 12:13am. And do the bar count.

I was finally able to leave at around 12:22 am. Since M returned, K had not, and I was trying to empty out the condiment fridge. My manager just told me to go home so I can get sleep for tomorrow. Though if she really wanted me to be rested, she wouldn't have me schedule to get off at 12am. and then come in at 10am. I mean, my clothes are going to be dirty because I don't have the time to wash them and sleep.

Work stories - 2/9/2019

So 2/9/2019 was a hectic day at the arcade. So I arrived at around 9:47am, only to find all of my opening co-workers outside waiting on the opening manager. This is really weird because the store opens at 10am and the others are all scheduled to be clocked in at 9:30am. Since I work the kitchen and bar, I don't come in til 10-10:30am, since the kitchen doesn't open until 11am and bar at 12pm.
One of the openers sent a message in the store group chat asking where opening manager was. I had noticed that my phone had dinged with the message when I was pulling into the parking lot, but didn't read it until I was walking up. I waited a few minutes outside with everyone until around 9:55 and sent a message in the group chat myself stating we were all there and asking in the opening manager was on the way. After all, only managers have keys to the building.
The opener for amusement called the amusement manager to figure out who was supposed to be there. That manager tried calling the opening manager, but got no response, so she called and told us to go inside the mall food court to get out of the cold and that she would be there to open shortly.
I don't know what happened exactly, but the opening manager finally showed up at around 10:30 ish. We were instructed to write in out times today so that we would get paid for the time we spent waiting for her.
I had to rush to get the chairs down and get the kitchen set up. The filter bag for the fryers is torn and unusable (We're still not sure how that one happened), so I had to use a pizza screen to filter both the fryers. Unfortunately it causes some of the oil to splatter and several splashes of hot oil hit my legs and feet. It hurt lots because I could feel it going through my shoes, socks, and both layers of pants I was wearing.
After I finished getting the kitchen set up, I answered the phone and gave a customer information about booking parties. It took a long time. During this time and older lady, she looked around 40 or 50 at most. She spoke to the girl at the bowling counter while I handled the customer on the phone. Once I was done on the phone, my coworker informed me that the lady had apparently peed on the floor. Apparently she didn't look before she sat because the lids where all down. Especially since we don't have facilities in the morning. So apparently, she just sat began to piss and then realize her mistake as she felt and noticed piss on her pants. The bowling opener whined that she didn't want to clean it. So the opener from amusement wound up doing it. I remember she came by and spoke to me as I was rolling up the cord for the oil filter. The oil filter has a piece of metal that connects to the tube, and while rolling up the cord, my arm made connect and burnt my arm. I ran it under cold water after cussing and put burn cream on it. I also grabbed burn cream for my legs from earlier. I also announced on the walkie to the manager that I had burned myself as is protocol. I got no response to it.
A little while later, I had a polite lady at the bar. She wanted to get a drink for her and a her friend. I informed her, he would have to come up with his id so that I could confirm he was of age and the id was valid as well as give him a wristband. She was super polite, I had no problem with her. She told me they had rented billiards, but didn't know the number, but told me the guy with a red and black jacket was standing at the table. I'm blind, so he was the only guy I saw, so I believed he was the one she was getting the 2nd drink for. She got her drink and took the menu to show her friend to figure out what they wanted. She came up and told me they were billiards 3. They were actually billiards 2, and I let her know and the name I read was Jeffery Jeffers. That'll be important later. Since the id was good and he was old enough, I let her buy the drink and told her to send him up here so I could give him the drink and put the wristband on him. She nods and walk back to the table.
Now I hung by the bar for about 5 to 10 minutes waiting, but the guy in red and black didn't come. So I go back to the kitchen to work.
I served a lady who already seemed to have an attitude for no reason and didn't listen when I explained things, so I had to explain things about 3 to 4 times before she understood, but I did my best to be polite. This was about 15 minutes. A few more minutes afterwards, and I guy in a green jacket, white shirt, and white hat comes up to the bar. He just stands there, but I go over to greet him and he flips open his wallet to show me his id. I think, "Oh he gets it," because not everyone realized or think that they need to show their id at the bar before I can serve them.
The id however expired October of 2018. I inform him that I can't take an expired id. He looks confused and begins going through his wallet and pockets, I stay at the bar waiting for him to find his non-expired id. Then he realizes that he has rented Billiards and his id is at the bowling counter. I ask which billiards set he is so I can ask over the mic for the id check. I'm awful at repeating names especially over the mic. He just randomly gestures and says he doesn't know. Which I think is stupid. Should should know what number set you rent for many reasons. Especially since you since I rental agreement. I told him I need to know which set so we can find his id. He hasn't said anything about a friend buying him a drink or anything. But he begins getting irate with me for not serving, but I tell him I need his id and that in order to find it is for me to tell him what his billiards set number is. He yells and says he doesn't want to go back over there and then back up there. Mind you, it's not that far a walk, a few yards at best. But for some reason, he wanted me to go and check. I told him I'm not allowed to leave the bar or kitchen area, as that is my department, and not the billiards area. He becomes even more irate, rude, and frankly aggressive. I back away and my lead comes over to try to talk to him and calm him down. He continues going off and screaming. He finally says his name, because to be honest, when shown ids. I only look at the years not the names. He says Jeff Roys. Or at least that's what I heard.
I get on the mic and ask if anyone at bowling counter as an id with his name and I tell the bowling manager that I have a guy saying he's that person and that he's being really aggressive. I also ask if she still wants me to serve the rude man. My manager tells me that as the bar tender that it's up to me to use discretion and basically that it is up to me to decide rather to serve him or not. I nodded. I don't think he needs any alcohol of any sort. I turn around and the the polite lady from earlier is up there talking to him. I say hi to her. And she explains that this was the guy she bought the beer for.
I go "Oh! I thought it was for the guy with the black and red jacket."
The guy still fuming and rude as my lead goes back to the kitchen. I grab the wristband. I figure, since the polite lady already paid for the drink, I would let him have it since one drink won't get you drunk. But that would be all he would be having. Especially since I'm the only one working the bar.
However, the guy wanted to fuss about the armband. I explain you have to wear the armband in order to drink at the arcade. I hold the armband up to put it on his wrist and he jerks back.
"Give it to her," He gestures to the lady with him. "I don't want you putting on it.
"I can't do that," I shake my head. "I have to do it." I am so fed up with this idiot. I'm pretty sure I also stated I was the only bartender.
The lady grabs his hand and arm and held it on the bar. I state it has to be the right hand and the man still fussing, but I just want to get it over with. The whole time, the lady telling him to calm down so he can get his beer and let me do my job. He is also rudely telling me not to touch him as I'm putting the wrist band on him. Hearing the lady telling him, "She's not touching you," was amusing him.
The idiot was acting like I was going to hurt you. I went to pour the drink, which was a Heineken  and I kind of wished it had foamed up a bit more. When I walked back to where they were standing, it was just the lady. I placed it in front of her and I let her know.
"Due that behavior of his, he is not going to be served anything else." I made sure to put on my most serious face. I also inform my lead and the manager about it. I really only gave them the beer because the lady had been so polite and I can't do refunds.
The poor woman looked a bit embarrassed but nodded with understanding.
Later, mall security showed up. Apparently the bowling manager had called them. I was confused because he asked me where the drunk person was. It took a few minutes to realize they were here about the guy from earlier. My manager spoke to them and explained the situation to them and what happened. The officer asked where the guy was currently and I pointed him out and described him.
I found it almost joyous as the officers went over to talk to them. I was concern they would come over to the counter to ask why they called security on them, but luckily they didn't. They went back to playing their pool game. I did seem them in a small huddle a few times. I didn't see them leave, but I'm glad that was the last of dealing with them.
A lot of other hectic stuff happened today, but the main part I wanted to get down was about the rude guy.

Tails x Amy fanfic

It was a scent that made my brain fuzzy. It was the same back then when we first met. It's been years and not much has changed.
I glanced up at Antoine who was planting flowers a few feet from me. I smiled as he handed me another flower to plant.
I only had five more minutes before she arrives. I had best make use of my clear brain while I can.
Plant the flowers. Plant the flowers. Repair the forest to it's former glory.
I repeat the phrase in my head as a sutra to help me focus. The soil was rich with nutrients, so I'm sure the plants will thrive. The few trees we planted a few years back were getting along ok. They were still small, but growing steadily. I just hope they'll stay long enough to create a wonderful shade.
"We've brought more flowers!" Bunnie's voice called from the hill.
Antoine smiled as he greeted his wife. "We're almost done with this flower bed too."
Bunnie smiled as she pulled the wagon full of plants behind her.
"What kind of tree is that?" I point at the sapling. No one had told me about planting another tree.
"Oh I brought it!" Amy beamed as she stood next to the wagon. "I thought adding some fruit baring trees would be nice."
"We already have apple and plum trees. What other trees could you add?" I could smell her scent all around me. Like a suffocating presence. And yet I had missed it while she was away. I must have an addictive personality to crave her scent so badly.
"This is a pear tree." Amy beamed. "And this is an orange tree."
I laughed as I nodded. "Ok. Ok. It's too late for you to take them back."
Amy beamed as she walked around the clearing. She wanted to plant the saplings in a good spot. Nice and sunny and freedom to grow.
My eyes follow her far too closely. Like a predator watching a meal. I quickly get back to work.
Plant the flowers.
I hum to myself. I just need to keep busy and by being busy I won't spout stupid stuff to her.
"Hey Tails, let's go get something for lunch," Amy appears right in front of my face.
"I'm good. Why don't you grab lunch with Antoine and Bunnie?" I suggest. "I'll just plant these last few plants." I gesture towards to the wagon that held the the flowers. "I'll join y'all after that."
Amy pouted. "But they already left."
"They did?" I glance around and sure enough the married couple was gone. Plus the sun was setting. I sigh. "Isn't it time to for dinner not lunch?" I muse as I finish planting the flowers.
"I know, but you've been so busy humming and planting it was hard to get your attention." Amy stated.
"You could've just nudged me a little." I gave a nervous chuckle. The last thing I needed was Amy to be angry at me.
Amy rolled her eyes. "That's the last flower," she stated as I finished. She grabbed my arm and pulled me up. The years had been kind to me, I was now easily taller then her. "Dinner time now. So let's go eat." She demanded.
"Ok. Ok." I agree as I feel swallowed by her scent once again. I grab the wagon and pull it back to Knothole. "What do you wanna eat for dinner? Uncle Chuck has been working on his spicy chicken wings since you've last been here."
Amy laughed. "I heard. Why don't we eat at his cafe then?"
The cafe wasn't too packed. Most people were already heading home. Knothole really didn't have much of a night life after all.
Sonic greeted them from behind the counter. The blue hedgehog did help out there when he had spare time. "How are the flowers?"
"Growing nicely." I tell my big brother.
"Tails got into a trance of planting. He was even humming this cute melody. What song was it?" Amy teased.
I give a nervous smile as I shrug. "Who knows? I don't remember.  Maybe it was something from one of Mina's old albums. One of them did play on random in my workshop the other day." I really couldn't recall what I was humming. I could have been singing Call me maybe or Friday and not realize it.
Amy chuckled as she sat down. I took the seat across from her. I pick up the menu. I really don't need it. I know everything on it. I have been coming here since I was a kid. I even named a few items on the menu too! But it gave me something else to focus on. Something else to stare at that wasn't her.

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KRISSIE: I wanted to try writing something for this pairing.

ShadAmy fanfic chocolate

Shadow stared at the chocolate Amy Rose had handed him. "What is this for?" He asked bluntly.
"Well..." Amy trailed off a bit. "Today is a holiday."
Shadow arched an eyebrow. He quietly walked over to the closest calendar.  "Ah. It's February 14th." He remembered today's holiday. Valentine's. He didn't much care for it. But Amy made sure to make chocolate and a card every year. It probably said you're an awesome friend or something. Shadow just hoped the card didn't contain a pun. He wasn't too big on those.
"Thank you Rose," Shadow examined the box for the card. He was never going to turn down free chocolate. "What kind a of chocolate did you make this year?"
"A few different kinds." Amy began to play with her fingers. Tugging at her gloves.  "Yours is dark and milk chocolate. You can eat it whenever you're ready."
Shadow nodded. "Thank you Rose. It is really nice of you."
"Well I like you. And there aren't many times I get the chance to show you." Amy stated as she looked at a spot on the ground.
Shadow nodded with a small smile he reserved for rare occasions. "I am honored to be on the list of people you like Rose."
Amy smiled as she nodded. Her face was flushed as she moved from one foot to another. "Well I better get going," she checked her watch nervously.  "I have lots of chocolate to deliver." Shadow nodded as he began to walk back to the shooting range. "Make sure you drink plenty of water Rose. You're looking flushed."
Amy began to jog away with a quick, "I will."
Shadow placed the box of chocolate on the table in the room were he had placed his gun. He picked up the gun and walked back to where he had been practicing.  He fired off the rest of the round before picking up another clip to load. He went through two more clips before stopping to clean the gun. He picked up the box and returned the gun to the weapons room.
"I see your girlfriend has already given you chocolate, " Rouge tease as she came up beside the black hedgehog.
Shadow rolled his eyes. "Rose isn't my girlfriend."
Rouge pouted, "Aw! I missed her. She always makes the best chocolate."
Shadow nodded in agreement, "Rose is a wonderful cook."
"So what kind did you get this year?" Rouge leaned in close.
Shadow moved the box out of her grasp. "Dark and milk. If you want your own, you should go find Rose so she can give you some."
Rouge pouted. "I wish she had waited for me to get here."
"Rose probably thought you were with Knuckles. She did look flushed too. She might be in a hurry to get to everyone." Shadow stopped by the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. "Here, give this to Rose and make her drink some of it. It'll be bad if she catches a cold."
Rouge smiled as she took the bottle, "You could give it to her yourself?"
"True, but you're the one wanting chocolate." Shadow shot back as he left the kitchen.
Rouge rolled her eyes as she flew after him. "Well maybe you should try returning the favor to Amy. It's not fair that every year she makes everyone chocolate and she never gets any in return."
Shadow's ear twitched at that statement. "Rose gets chocolate from Cream every year and Tails gives her a gift on the 14th of March in return for chocolate." He informed. "She doesn't get much, but she gets something."
"Yeah, but every girl would like to get a little more. I mean if I made you chocolate every year, I'd like it if you gave me a little something back every other year at least."
Shadow shrugged as Rouge rolled her eyes before flying away. Shadow got to his apartment and thought about it.
Rose never did ask for too much. Not of him at least. She used to beg Sonic for a date, but that had ended a few years ago. Now a days, Rose baked in between missions of stopping the doctor's insane plots of world domination. He knew Rose also had a job, but he didn't know what it was. He had never bothered to ask.
He wondered what would Amy like to get as a return gift. Since Rose seemed to be flush earlier, he pondered if getting her some medicine would be beneficial. Maybe not the best thank you for all the chocolate she's given them over the years. But at least it would show that he cared. He would through in tea and a few flowers too. Rose did like flowers.
Shadow knocked on the door. He heard a slight shuffling as the door slowly opened. Amy tilted her head as she greeted him with a kind hello. She didn't seem as flush as before. Shadow handed her the small basket he had placed medicine and tea inside.
"Rouge suggested I get you a return gift for all the years you've given me chocolate. As a thank you gift," Shadow stated simply.
Amy giggled as she accepted the basket. "If you really wanted to thank me, you could've just given me a hug."
"A hug?" Shadow placed a hand on his hip. "Is that all it would take to please you Rose?"
Amy became flush with embarrassment. "Maybe," she turned her head. "I'm a simple person after all."
Shadow nodded in a agreement. His eyes scanned the area before wrapping his arms around her. Amy let out a yelp as he lifted her off the ground by a few inches. He held her there a moment before placing her back on the ground.
Amy blushed as she stared at Shadow a moment. A smile soon over took her face. "Thank you Shadow."
Shadow nodded. He brushed her bangs out of her face with the back of his hand. "Now go rest Rose. You're face is looking flush again."
Amy chuckled as she nodded. She took a step back before going inside. "Thank you for everything Shadow," she spoke softly as she laid the gift basket on the coffee table in the living room.
Shadow shrugged. "A hug is a simple request to full fill." He placed his hand on the door handle of the front door. "Have a good evening Rose." He softly pulled the door close as Amy waved at him as she pulled the flowers out of the basket. 

Sonic Fanfic Random

I was reading a fanfic and I got super into it until a few chapters in and they turned Sally into a total bitch. It was a shame. Just because Amy is the main person in the ship doesn't mean Sally has to be the wicked witch. Like wtf? So I'm going to write a fanfic were Sally is at least some what in character, since we're lacking so many of those.
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Amy hummed as she brushed her hair. She had yet to be able to go to bed. It was like her brain didn't want to sleep. So Amy decided to brush her hair in a vain attempt to lull herself to sleep.
Her phone chimed as a new message came in. She picked it up and smiled at the text.
Can't sleep. Get dressed so we can go eat.
She nodded as she sent back a quick, 'k.' She got out of bed and pulled out a t-shirt and the put on some jeans. There was no need to be dressed up. She pulled a jacket out as she grabbed her keys. She quickly slipped on her signature boots before stepping outside. It wouldn't take him long to get there.
A part of Amy wondered where Shadow would be taking her for their late night snack.
The other part of her got lost in the feeling of the wind going through her quills as she sat on the porch swing.
"Amy?" A quiet voice broke her out of her thoughts.
Green eyes found a red headed chipmunk on her porch.
"Hi Sally?" She greeted with a smile.
Sally arched an eyebrow at her. Did the pink hedgehog not realize that it was past midnight?
"Is something the matter?" She asked as she took a seat beside her on the swing.
"No." Amy shook her head.
"Did you fall asleep out here?" Sally placed a hand on her head. There wasn't a fever.
"No." Amy chuckled. "I'm just waiting."
"It's much too late for you to be going out." Sally frowned.
"We're just going out for a midnight snack." Amy chuckled nervously.
Sally frowned. "Sonic is going to wind up giving you the flu taking you out for a snack this late."
Amy tilted her head.
"Do you have a thicker jacket?" Sally asked. "If Sonic runs carrying you in that light jacket, you'll catch a cold." She walked over to the door. "If you, I can put a bit of eye shadow amd lip gloss on you do you can surprise him with that."
"Huh..." Amy bit her lip, "I'm not going out with Sonic."
"Then with who are you going out with?" Sally placed her hands on her hips.
"Shadow," Amy answered.
Sally arched an eyebrow. Shadow did always seem to be nicer to Amy and other small children. She briefly wondered if Amy had any similarities to Maria. "The same problem about running is still a concern."
Amy nodded in understanding. "I think we'll be taking my car when he gets here. We normally do, but if he wants to take his bike, I'll put on a thicker jacket."
Amy opened the front door and the two girls walked in.
"Where do you keep your jackets?" Sally asked as she examed the small coat rack. It was mainly empty with only another small jacket there.
Amy slid off the one she had been wearing as she walked to a small hall closet in next to the laundry room. "They're right here," she gestured.
Sally smiled as she walked into the small closet. She grabbed at the jackets to check their thickness. She finally pulled one out and handed it to the pink hedgehog. It was large on  Amy, but she smiled as she put on the worn jacket. It was thick and would be plenty warm.
"Who gave you that jacket?" Sally mused. It was obviously a men's jacket.
"My uncle gave this to me." Amy smiled, "It was a long time ago. I used to be able to use this as a blanket."
The two girls laughed.
"Well it's nice and warm, so you shouldn't catch a cold," Sally placed a hand on Amy's forehead. "No fever. So you're good to go out."

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Krissie: This has been sitting in drafts for over a year, so I'm just going to post it.