#in the story she's turned in june when she's 20 years old

[stinkrascal]

Ngl that age gap does sound creepy when you realize Breanna was simply a year away from being a teen when turned. Makes me a bit gagged still love them thoo

she was actually a few weeks shy of being 21 when she was turned, but yeah its still problematic i know i know lmao

#jade answers #anonymous #straud asks #is it really a vampire story if theres not a weird age gap involved? lets be real #in the story she's turned in june when she's 20 years old #and her birthday is a few weeks later in july where she would be turning 21 #which is still problematic but you know for clarity's sake i will mention that

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Emil Ferris’s long-awaited “My Favorite Thing Is Monsters Book Two”

NEXT WEEKEND (June 7–9), I'm in AMHERST, NEW YORK to keynote the 25th Annual Media Ecology Association Convention and accept the Neil Postman Award for Career Achievement in Public Intellectual Activity.

Seven years ago, I was absolutely floored by My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, a wildly original, stunningly gorgeous, haunting and brilliant debut graphic novel from Emil Ferris. Every single thing about this book was amazing:

https://memex.craphound.com/2017/06/20/my-favorite-thing-is-monsters-a-haunting-diary-of-a-young-girl-as-a-dazzling-graphic-novel/

The more I found out about the book, the more amazed I became. I met Ferris at that summer's San Diego Comic Con, where I learned that she had drawn it over a while recovering from paralysis of her right – dominant – hand after a West Nile Virus infection. Each meticulously drawn and cross-hatched page had taken days of work with a pen duct-taped to her hand, a project of seven years.

The wild backstory of the book's creation was matched with a wild production story: first, Ferris's initial publisher bailed on her because the book was too long; then her new publisher's first shipment of the book was seized by the South Korean state bank, from the Panama Canal, when the shipper went bankrupt and its creditors held all its cargo to ransom.

My Favorite Thing Is Monsters told the story of Karen Reyes, a 10 year old, monster-obsessed queer girl in 1968 Chicago who lives with her working-class single mother and her older brother, Deeze, in an apartment house full of mysterious, haunted adults. There's the landlord – a gangster and his girlfriend – the one-eyed ventriloquist, and the beautiful Holocaust survivor and her jazz-drummer husband.

Karen narrates and draws the story, depicting herself as a werewolf in a detective's trenchcoat and fedora, as she tries to unravel the secrets kept by the grownups around her. Karen's life is filled with mysteries, from the identity of her father (her brother, a talented illustrator, has removed him from all the family photos and redrawn him as the Invisible Man) to the purpose of a mysterious locked door in the building's cellar.

But the most pressing mystery of all is the death of her upstairs neighbor, the beautiful Annika Silverberg, a troubled Holocaust survivor whose alleged suicide just doesn't add up, and Karen – who loved and worshiped Annika – is determined to get to the bottom of it.

Karen is tormented by the adults in her life keeping too much from her – and by their failure to shield her from life's hardest truths. The flip side of Karen's frustration with adult secrecy is her exposure to adult activity she's too young to understand. From Annika's cassette-taped oral history of her girlhood in an Weimar brothel and her escape from a Nazi concentration camp, to the sex workers she sees turning tricks in cars and alleys in her neighborhood, to the horrors of the Vietnam war, Karen's struggle to understand is characterized by too much information, and too little.

Ferris's storytelling style is dazzling, and it's matched and exceeded by her illustration style, which is grounded in the classic horror comics of the 1950s and 1960s. Characters in Karen's life – including Karen herself – are sometimes depicted in the EC horror style, and that same sinister darkness crowds around the edges of her depictions of real-world Chicago.

These monster-comic throwbacks are absolute catnip for me. I, too, was a monster-obsessed kid, and spent endless hours watching, drawing, and dreaming about this kind of monster.

But Ferris isn't just a monster-obsessive; she's also a formally trained fine artist, and she infuses her love of great painters into Deeze, Karen's womanizing petty criminal of an older brother. Deeze and Karen's visits to the Art Institute of Chicago are commemorated with loving recreations of famous paintings, which are skillfully connected to pulp monster art with a combination of Deeze's commentary and Ferris's meticulous pen-strokes.

Seven years ago, Book One of My Favorite Thing Is Monsters absolutely floored me, and I early anticipated Book Two, which was meant to conclude the story, picking up from Book One's cliff-hanger ending. Originally, that second volume was scheduled for just a few months after Book One's publication (the original manuscript for Book One ran to 700 pages, and the book had been chopped down for publication, with the intention of concluding the story in another volume).

But the book was mysteriously delayed, and then delayed again. Months stretched into years. Stranger rumors swirled about the second volume's status, compounded by the bizarre misfortunes that had befallen book one. Last winter, Bleeding Cool's Rich Johnston published an article detailing a messy lawsuit between Ferris and her publishers, Fantagraphics:

https://bleedingcool.com/comics/fantagraphics-sued-emil-ferris-over-my-favorite-thing-is-monsters/

The filings in that case go some ways toward resolve the mystery of Book Two's delay, though the contradictory claims from Ferris and her publisher are harder to sort through than the mysteries at the heart of Monsters. The one sure thing is that writer and publisher eventually settled, paving the way for the publication of the very long-awaited Book Two:

https://www.fantagraphics.com/products/my-favorite-thing-is-monsters-book-two

Book Two picks up from Book One's cliffhanger and then rockets forward. Everything brilliant about One is even better in Two – the illustrations more lush, the fine art analysis more pointed and brilliant, the storytelling more assured and propulsive, the shocks and violence more outrageous, the characters more lovable, complex and grotesque.

Everything about Two is more. The background radiation of the Vietnam War in One takes center stage with Deeze's machinations to beat the draft, and Deeze and Karen being ensnared in the Chicago Police Riots of '68. The allegories, analysis and reproductions of classical art get more pointed, grotesque and lavish. Annika's Nazi concentration camp horrors are more explicit and more explicitly connected to Karen's life. The queerness of the story takes center stage, both through Karen's first love and the introduction of a queer nightclub. The characters are more vivid, as is the racial injustice and the corruption of the adult world.

I've been staring at the spine of My Favorite Thing Is Monsters Book One on my bookshelf for seven years. Partly, that's because the book is such a gorgeous thing, truly one of the great publishing packages of the century. But mostly, it's because I couldn't let go of Ferris's story, her characters, and her stupendous art.

After seven years, it would have been hard for Book Two to live up to all that anticipation, but goddammit if Ferris didn't manage to meet and exceed everything I could have hoped for in a conclusion.

There's a lot of people on my Christmas list who'll be getting both volumes of Monsters this year – and that number will only go up if Fantagraphics does some kind of slipcased two-volume set.

In the meantime, we've got more Ferris to look forward to. Last April, she announced that she had sold a prequel to Monsters and a new standalone two-volume noir murder series to Pantheon Books:

https://twitter.com/likaluca/status/1648364225855733769

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/01/the-druid/#oh-my-papa

#pluralistic #books #reviews #lgbtq #pride #gift guide #graphic novels #emil ferris #comics #monsters

[shelbeetaylor]

Character Introductions (Part 2)

-> story masterpost

moodboard by @singingslayingsoprano

Genevieve Santira

Most of her life, people have only called her Genevieve, but Evie’s calling her Gena has begun to stick.

Genevieve uses she/her pronouns.

Genevieve is 20 years old at the beginning of the story, and her birthday is on May 16 which would make her a Taurus.

Genevieve is known as the Crown Princess’s maidservant to those outside the palace, but those inside know her as one of Cassandra’s best friends.

Likes: working with her hands like sewing and embroidery, helping her father in the smithy, and taking care of her friends

Dislikes: playing mother to the chaotic individuals she happens to be friends with, her inability to read or write, and Cassandra only when the princess doesn’t listen to her

Genevieve often frequents the taverns of Vale Serine not to drink but to listen to the songs played by the traveling bards. Since she cannot read or write, the lyrics of the nomadic musicians provide her with stories she wouldn’t be able to know of otherwise.

If Genevieve lived in our world, her playlists would probably be filled with songs by artists like Rihanna, Selena Gomez, and SZA.

Genevieve, though quite confident in her ability to perform her job adequately, she struggles a lot with her life at home. Her parents were forced into marriage and out of their village after having her brother--who she hates talking about-- out of wedlock. Genevieve was very young when her brother disappeared, and her home life took a turn for the worse. Now she relies on her time away at work and the adventures Cassandra drags her on to grant her reprieve.

Face Claim: Angel Coulby as Guinevere in BBC Merlin

moodboard by @singingslayingsoprano

Wesley Moonbourne

A lot of people often refer to him as Wesley, but Evie has deemed it more appropriate to call him Wes.

Wesley uses he/him pronouns.

Wesley is 20 years old at the beginning of the story, and his birthday is on October 14 which would make him a Libra.

Currently, Wesley holds no official title, but by training in Vale Serine under the instruction of Theo he hopes to earn himself a spot as one of the knights of Nevernia.

Likes: dogs, hunting, and playing chess

Dislikes: feeling like he doesn’t belong, Evie feeling bad, and being without his dog Ranger

Wesley grew up in the outskirts of Bellbury, a city surrounded by farmland, so one of his odd interests is agriculture. Most of his days in Bellbury were spent voluntarily helping around the nearby farms, much to his family’s chagrin. If Wesley wasn’t able to become a knight, his dream would be to move out into the countryside and live on a farm with his animals, his dog Ranger, and the love of his life.

If Wesley lived in our world, he would listen to a variety older music like songs by Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles.

Wesley, having just moved to Vale Serine, is really struggling with trying to fit in. He wants to be accepted by the knights and especially by his idol, his cousin Theo, and he’s trying his best to become friends with them whether it’s by acting cool or sneaking along on their adventures. Hopefully his newfound friendship with Princess Evie will lead him in the right direction.

Face Claim: Noah Beck

moodboard by @singingslayingsoprano

Terran Willows

People usually just call him Terran, but the knights are also partial to Terr-man or giving him briefly-used, more colorful monikers… Sir Enoch’s favorite at the moment is Bog Man.

Terran uses he/him pronouns.

Terran is 20 years old at the beginning of the story, and his birthday is on June 20 which would make him a Gemini.

Terran is currently studying as an apprentice to Galen, the Court Physician, and he has been working under Galen for about five years.

Likes: his mother’s yearly visits, reading, and practicing magic in his room

Dislikes: Galen’s intense exams, getting scared, and Galen’s overprotective rules about magic and going out

In the spirit of helping people, Terran dedicates as much of his time and energy into improving the lives of others. While he is working towards becoming a physician full-time, Terran volunteers around Vale Serine helping those who need it. Sometimes the knights will even tag along to help and protect him, especially if he’s making a trip into places like Serine’s Hope to hand out food, provide free medical care, or distribute clothes.

If Terran lived in our world, he would definitely be a big fan of Maude Latour, but he would listen to mostly folk music like Hozier, Lord Huron, and Noah Kahan.

While Terran is quite proud of who he is as a person, there is still a lot of turmoil inside his head about it. He grew up in the outlying villages of Nevernia where it isn’t uncommon to see friends string up friends for being queer or possessing magic. Terran managed to escape that environment with his secrets intact, but the inner demons spawned in that hell have followed him to the big city, though he’s lucky to have Galen there reminding Terran every so often that he is not a monster for the way he was born.

Face Claim: Colin Morgan as Merlin in BBC Merlin

#original story #writing #writeblr #fantasy #meet the characters #writers #author #high fantasy #fantasy author #creative writing #original character #original writing #oc #ocs #my ocs #original work #multi chapter #long fic #character intro #oc moodboard #shelbee's story #gena santira #wesley moonbourne #terran willows

[kiwiana-writes]

for the AU fun facts game? Secret relationship taken to the next level: sercretly married AU

You have come to the RIGHT PLACE my friend because I once wrote fake divorce for another fandom lmfao

ONE: It's 2024, and nobody knows they're engaged.

Every milestone they've had as a couple has been splashed about for public consumption, dissected in thinkpieces and turned into quirky 'Times FirstPrince was just like every other early 20s relationship: a thread' social media posts. This is theirs, and they want to keep it that way for a while.

Just for a while.

TWO: The thing is. The thing is.

Technically, Henry is still in the process of giving up the title and removing himself from the line of succession. Everyone knows it's happening, and everyone and their dog has an opinion about it (David, Henry is fairly certain, feels quite positively about the whole thing); but the machinations of government are slow, and as it stands right now, Henry is still legally an HRH and fourth in line to the throne.

And as such, he can't marry without the sovereign's permission.

Ironically, the only punishment for doing so would be his (and his future children's) removal from the line of succession, the very thing he's in the process of doing anyway. It seems like it should be a win-win. But he's sure that once the media get wind of the engagement, the UK media narrative will focus even more strongly on how Henry's abandonment is That Evil (Brown) American's Fault, and he'll do everything in his power to protect Alex from as much of the blowback as they possibly can.

So they'll wait to tell everyone until Henry is no longer HRH Prince Henry George Edward James Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor, but instead just Henry Fox, fiancé of Alex Claremont-Diaz.

THREE: They really don't mean to let it get as far as they do. They intend to tell Alex's family at Thanksgiving, but Oscar and Ellen start sniping at each other earlier than they usually do, and it kills the whole mood. Then Mary dies, and no family news can be announced during the mourning period unless absolutely unavoidable—and Henry doesn't want to burden his mum with news she can't share. Horrible old bigot or not, Mary was still her mother, and now Catherine is Queen Catherine I. She's got enough to deal with.

They'll try again in 2025.

FOUR: Bea announces she's pregnant at the end of January, and the rings go back in the drawer. She'd never ask them to delay announcing just because they know it will shift focus entirely, and that's exactly why Henry wants to.

"She took such a media beating for years," he tells Alex, his head resting on Alex's stomach, Alex's fingers running through his hair. "She deserves to enjoy all the positivity instead. But Christ, I want to be married to you."

Alex's hand stills for a moment. "I mean... we've kept secrets from the media before."

FIVE: Eleven weeks. They last eleven weeks before people start figuring it out, and Henry's fairly certain that's only because Nora is too busy with her job to piece it all together.

June nearly kills them when she finds out.

[Send me a potential AU and I’ll tell you five fun facts that would happen in a story.]

#au five fun facts game #ask meme response #naiveandwise #stole a little from the bonus chapter but for obvious reasons it isn't actually compatible lol

[hoodharlow]

Que Asterik pt. 2

AN: bc why not lol

Requested? No

Warnings: Jack and Miriam roasting each other on their IG stories

Word Count: n/a

°°°

@'jackharlowsource: Jack Harlow via Instagram Stories (June 22)

@'mackshipper: I just know Miriam took his phone away lol

@'spicypiscesjack: I can't with him 💀

@'jackfan: HELP the first one is still up

@'mdmxjh: why did he do her like that laugh 🤣

View all 386 comments

•••

@'mdmsource: Miriam via IG Stories (June 23rd)

@'mothermiriam: she's so unserious 😭

@'jackxmiriam: not Zack catching strays

@'mdmxjh: she's getting him back for yesterday lolll

@'jackstan: not the Hey Big Head lyrics, she's so real for that

View all 185 comments

•••

@'chismeblog: #JackHarlow and #MiriamDominguez were out with friends in Paris when a group of paparazzi began to tell the daughter of EGOT winner Isabela Miller and soccer star turned CEO Mateo Dominguez that she should get a better boyfriend. The 24 year old actress had gone inside the restaurant but minutes later she stepped outside and told off the paparazzi. We were told paparazzi were escorted off the premises after she entered the restaurant. Click the link our bio for more detials 🔗

@'mdmxjhupdates: one thing about Miriam is that she doesn't play when it comes to her man.

-> @'mackshipper: remember at the Grammys when she told off the guys who heckling Jack and saying that he looked weird and they were also escorted from the premises

@'OFbot: am i the hottest 20 year old

@'47yearoldloser: this generation lacks manners, in the bible we learn about turning the other cheek

View all 1889 comments

@'mdm: he said he want me to London and Paris him or whatever are the lyrics in 21C/Delta

@'claybornharlow: he's a lil bitch, he always flies in Spirit

-> @'jackharlow: 🖕🏻

-> @'mdm: be nice to my fave

@'zendaya: ❣

@'giahunter: girl bye 😭

@'medegutierrez: 🦦

@'saintclauds: the most unserious 🤭

@'winnieharlow: okay I see you 🤑 also fuck it up cousin

-> @'jackfan: are you and Jack really cousins? It's been almost 2 years and y'all haven't cleared that up 😭

@'mackaremyparents: can you also London and Paris me 🥺 👉🏼👈🏼

@'miriamstan: not Miriam in her sugar mama era lmao

View all 37292 comments

•••

Miriam via Instagram Stories

°°°

Taglist: @heavyhitterheaux @cherry4everrr ​ @carma-fanficaddict ​ @youngharleezy @youngharleezyxo ​ @babyharleezy ​ @that-90s-girllll ​ @alinaharlow @harlowcomehome @nattinatalia @webinurcloset @gassyandsassy1 @jackharloww @awhore4moree @noescapricho-essentimiento @a-moment-captured @neon-lights-and-glitter @purecinnamonextract @whywontyoulovemecami @camificrecs

#jack and miriam #jack harlow #jack harlow insta au #jack harlow instagram au #jack harlow fluff #jack harlow fanfic #jack harlow imagine #jack harlow one shot #jack harlow smau

[hamuchaa108]

Tranquil Flame - Introduction

'Tranquil Flame' is one of my main two OC stories. It follows the story of Red and Rein, on their attempt to reach a place they call 'Utopia'; a place where the end of the rainbow lies, which they believe it's the place where they can have a different and better life from their previous home.

A short summary of Tranquil Flame:

On a certain earth, Human coexists with another race called 'Therian', a humanoid race that can shapeshift into an animal. There has been an ongoing feud between Human and Therian, which makes them unable to live in peace together. However, as the society advances, some people make efforts to establish a harmony between the two races. While it is somewhat successful, some countries still struggle to intergrate the two races into a united society.

Red is a young boy from a small village in Ertose, Ezmunch. Ezmunch is notorious for a country with high racism especially to Therian Wolf, that it even segregates Therian Wolf people within a large forest named Dusk Forest. Despite the racism problem, Red manages to befriend a Therian Wolf boy named Rein in the past. However, they have not seen each other for years after an accident involving Red's brother, Snow. Until one day, Rein shows up in front of Red's house during a Werewolves Siege.

As both have turned into teenagers, Red initially doesn't recognize Rein. Rein reminds him of their childhood promise of going on an adventure together. Pondering on his current family situation where his father has fallen so low with his gambling addiction and Red wishes to get a better life for Snow's sake, Red agrees to leave with Rein. However, as they run away on a whim, Red and Rein don't have a specific place to go at first. When they find out the world outside Ezmunch, they become determined to just collect as much money as possible, then live together on a place where Human and Therian can peacefully coexist; and when that day comes, Red wants to take Snow from their old house and makes him live together on their 'Utopia'.

This story is BL, focusing on Red and Rein's relationship as their feeling blooms into something stronger. They also meet new friends as they get into different places. More info about the characters is below the cut.

• Red

Species: Human

DoB: January 5

Height: 165 cm (beginning); 168 cm (ending)

Age: 16 (beginning); 17 (second arc); 18 (third arc); 21 (ending)

Fav. food: Corn, lemon tea

Least fav. food: Oatmeal

Family: Father, younger brother, grandmother

Red is the main character of the story. As he had lost his mother at the age of 7 after she gave birth to his brother, Red was forced to mature too early. Red was the one who took care of house chores and the mother role in their house, even to the point that he became the mother figure for his brother. As a result, Red didn't have time to properly socialize with children of his age. Shouldered by the responsibilities he was not supposed to handle, Red became cold and rigid to the point that he couldn't even smile. He takes everything seriously and doesn't tolerate fooling around, or even entertain the idea of having fun. Red is also stubborn and not easily swayed, so he always goes through with his mind. Taking care of his brother for his whole childhood also caused Red to develop a protective streak to people he considers close. Red doesn't talk a lot, but is surprisingly quick to anger. Despite being rather quiet, Red is very sharp-tongued and is not afraid to voice his opinion, no matter how harsh it is. After staying with Rein and meeting a lot of new people, Red has learned to loosen up and let his emotions show more.

• Rein

Species: Therian Wolf

DoB: June 21

Height: 177 cm (beginning); 181 cm (ending)

Age: 15 (beginning); 16 (second arc); 17 (third arc); 20 (ending)

Fav. food: Barbecue, any grilled food

Least fav. food: Nothing in particular

Family: Father, mother, brothers and sister

Rein is one of the sons of the esteemed Olbrich Family, whose father was the current village chief on the beginning of the story. Growing up with a strange yet not fully understood power which makes him insanely strong (physically), Rein was forced to keep his emotions in check because his parents were afraid if Rein got sufficiently angry he could wreak havoc to his surroundings. As a result, Rein became passive and obedient yet eager to please others. Rein is not quite intelligent, and combined with his placid nature he was often bullied during his childhood. Rein never fought back because he was forbidden to raise his fist. Due to this, other children thought he was a wimp for never fighting back.

At some point, he met Red when the two accidentally bumped on each other in Dusk Forest. The two eventually became friends, although they separated ways before reuniting in their teenage years. Wishing for a world where he can have a peaceful life and accepted by others, Rein risked himself to get out of Dusk Forest and lived among humans. Rein is very patient and loves to meet new people, although due to his upbringing Rein never really talks about himself and what's on his mind. Despite living while hiding his real identity as a Therian is tough, Rein believes he can get through everything as long as he is together with Red.

• Kiriko

Species: Human

DoB: May 25

Height: 164 cm

Age: 15 (first arc)

Fav. food: Miso soup

Least fav. food: Wasabi

Family: Father

Kiriko is a human girl whom Red and Rein met when they arrived at Karmost, Ezmunch's neighboring country. Because she has been living her whole life as a sheltered daughter of a rich and famous scientist, Kiriko was excited to meet new friends and offered them a job on her house. Kiriko was a child genius who had helped with her father's inventions since she was little, and she is an expert in creating robots. However as she grew up, her father started to take more unethical experiments and forced Kiriko to be his accomplice. He put Kiriko under constant fear to make her obedient. Kiriko is not allowed to go outside without her father permission. As a result, she spends a lot of time indoor and working with her machines or computer programs. Even though Kiriko likes to tinker with machines, she really concerns about her looks. On the rare time when her father allows her to step outside, Kiriko likes to go shopping, trying new clothes, and going to beauty salon. Kiriko maintains a cheerful face and optimistic views on life despite she has her life under absolute control of her father and being constantly pressured. Kiriko admires Red and Rein for being able to run away from their place, and wants to follow their path. She believes someday, she can eventually get her freedom and lives on her own accord without needing to obey other people. That's why she endures everything and resolves to never give up.

• Marie

Species: Human

DoB: July 7

Height: 173 cm

Age: 18 (second arc)

Fav. food: Gratin

Least fav. food: Pineapple

Family: None

Marie is a quirky girl with strange powers inside her, which make her a bit unstable although she is mostly fine when Red and Rein know her. She lost her family when she was 2 years old due to an unknown accident, and subsequently taken under her aunt's care. However, Marie turned out to be a creepy child who had a terrifying obsession to dismember animals and harmed other children, so her aunt locked her in the attic. During her isolation, Marie went almost insane due to the lack of social interaction and the voices inside her head, made by the 'entities' that give her power. One day, her aunt's son, Oz, suddenly opened the attic door despite being forbidden to do so. Oz wasn't afraid of Marie and was willing to be her friend. Touched with Oz's kindness, Marie is willing to devote her whole life for Oz even though she hates the whole world for making her suffer.

After having a falling out with her aunt, Marie left her aunt's house with Oz following her. Marie kept her distance from other people because Oz told her so. As a result, both of them became outcasts. Marie worked on a slaughterhouse sometime after because she felt that it can 'sate' her sadistic urge to dismember and harm others. While working there, at some point she got to know Red and Rein. Despite her best efforts to avoid them, she eventually became their friend. Marie has a huge influence on Red's sense of humor and tendencies to prank others, because Marie herself is a prankster. When she has her sound mind, Marie is quite perceptive to her surroundings. Marie doesn't like to be ordered by other people and has a very high sense of individuality, so she always acts on her own. She is very hard to read and be understood.

• Oz

Species: Half-Therian

DoB: September 6

Height: 175 cm

Age: 17 (second arc)

Fav. food: Potato

Least fav. food: Pineapple

Family: Father, mother, younger sister

Oz is Marie's cousin. Lived with overbearing, perfectionist mother who is also a devout religious, Oz never grew a spine to stand for himself. The first time Oz went against his mother was when he unlocked the attic door and found Marie, and decided to be her friend. Despite his mother's objection, she eventually relented because Marie never harmed him. Because Oz hung out with Marie too much, he also became friendless. Oz really likes Marie and wants to stay by her side no matter what, to the point that he even decided to follow Marie when she left his house. He also befriends Red and Rein first before they become Marie's friends. Oz is cautious, diligent, and likes to plan things thoroughly. Oz is easily intimidated and sort of a doormat due to his upbringing, however he is aware about this shortcoming. As a result, he likes to write his personal opinions on his journal. Often, his writings sound very harsh and judgmental. Being raised in an overly religious environment also makes Oz hard to accept views outside of what he believes, although he sometimes tries to compromise if it's concerning his friends. Like Marie, Oz is also quite perceptive, although he never voices out his opinions.

• Iris

Species: Human

DoB: September 28

Height: 158 cm

Age: 15 (third arc); 18 (ending)

Fav. food: Stir-fried noodle

Least fav. food: Tomato

Family: Father, Mother

Iris is the daughter of a famous baker in Glessa, Bredynn. She became acquainted with Red and Rein after her father hired them to work on his bakery. While normally sweet and demure, Iris is also kinda selfish and wants things to go her way, and sometimes is prone to impulsive anger when she is upset about something. Despite having such a bad attitude, Iris actually lives quite normally and not an outcast or loner like other characters mentioned before. She is also diligent and is willing to improve on skills she is lacking. While Iris has a good relationship with Red and considers him like her brother, Iris hates Rein because she is jealous that he is popular and well-liked by people. Rein being her partner with delivery jobs doesn't help her case, and as a result Iris is very mean to him. Iris also vents her anger and frustration to Rein, unaware that her action has bad consequences. Deep down, Iris suffers from inferiority-superiority complex and believes she is inadequate to inherit her family's bakery because she can't bake well. Iris also has survivor guilt because she outlives her siblings who died after a werewolf attack. As a result, Iris is very racist to werewolf and really hates them. Ironically, Iris doesn't know that Rein is a werewolf, although she is still not amicable to him for a whole different reason.

#heeqocs #oc #original character #illustration #heeqocs_lore #original writing #artists on tumblr #heeqocs_art

[ameliatheamazing]

here’s what i think the birthdays are of everyone in the study group (and how i came to my conclusions)

troy: december 4th 1989

this is canon. easy

jeff: november 20th 1974

had to do some digging for this one. in s2e15 we see jeff’s drivers license, which lists his birthday as 11-20-1971. in G.I. Jeff (s5e11) it’s shown again, but his thumb is covering the exact year because ‘71 is now wrong. since he’s turning 40 in 2014 he would’ve been born in ‘74. nice save on the animators’ part. The episode aired on april 3rd but I guess it takes place in november, the time frame of s5 is really up in the air.

abed: march 24th 1989

for his birth date i just used the air date of his birthday episode. the year was tricky bc there’s debate about his age but here’s my reasoning. we know he’s at least 21 in mixology certification. we can assume he’s around the same age as troy and annie just bc it would be weird if he wasn’t. like also in season 1 jeff and britta are compared to his parents, and that would be weird if he was nearly as old as them. so i decided he’s turning 22 in critical film studies which means he’s 20 when he starts college. this makes sense because like troy, he had to repeat a grade in elementary school (1st grade- robin vohlers says this in s2e17), and then he probably waited a year before going to greendale just because. he’s drinking (slightly) underage in communication studies. so yeah long story short he’s basically the same age as troy. can you tell i’ve thought about this a lot

britta: october 14th 1980

in the pilot abed says she’s 28 years old, birthday in october. I decided she has the same birthday as me bc why not. she gives libra energy

annie: december 30th 1990

ok this was kind of the hardest one here bc at first her birthday made no sense. she’s 18 in season 1, 19 in season 2 as of mixology certification. but we also know she was born in 1990. (she says these 2 things in like the same scene.) so for that to work her birthday has to be in that window between december 4th and 31st. i decided she’s a capricorn which kinda makes sense (i don’t really put too much stock into zodiac signs, but it’s fun to consider with this stuff)

shirley: june 1972

we never see shirley or annie’s birthdays mentioned or celebrated so it makes sense for them to be over school breaks. and gemini works for shirley. i don’t think she ever has an exact age in the show but I decided she’s about 2 years older than jeff, 37 when the show starts.

pierce: late november 1944

bro he’s so old. in mixology certification he says his birthday was last week. and at the end of season 1 he’s “66, dick.”

#INSANE COMMUNITY NERD POST #also this is just my opinion! you dont need to take this as canon or anything #i just love being able to celebrate characters bdays so sometimes i make them up #ive had this sitting in my notes app for a while #i also have a lot more stuff like this in there that i might inflict on ppl #community #community nbc

[libra-stellium]

Personal Zodiacal Releasing - My coming of age???

ZR story from when I was 18 which I think literally shows me “growing up.” Based on my lot of courage and lot of necessity, which are both in Leo.

I started a new L1 on June 17, 2014 and I feel like that started the time in my life where I was facing my first serious situations and making my own decisions and being like okay I need to take my independence.

All this revolves around me getting run over by a car (that my aunt was driving) that summer!! I survived with a small fracture on my leg so it’s all good LOL

L4♋️ May 22 2014 (Cool down period) - I found an email from the IB program director at my high school and the attachment was a profile/testimonial thing for the IB program just saying that I got my diploma and how it helped me in college. I graduated high school June 2013. I’m also pretty sure this is the last thing high school related that happened to me

L4♋️ June 11 2014 (LB) (Cool down period) - my aunt runs me over bc her car hydroplanes as she’s picking me up in front of my driving school in the rain lol to set the scene the driving school has a glass wall and glass door in the front so my whole class, the instructor and the front desk in the lobby area watched this happen 😭 The driving school instructor didn’t know what to say when I came to class the next week 😂

L1♍️ June 17 2014 (Peak period) - I can’t find anything specific to this day but since my driving class was from 6/9-6/20 I think that’s probably the day I went back. I remember having to make up a couple missed classes

From 6/26 to 8/7 I traveled to Haiti while my leg was recovering.

L4♓️ July 11 2014 (Major peak period)- I found an email where I was saying that I could bend my leg and cross it and I was going to carnival later in the month

L4♓️ July 31 2014 (LB) (Major peak period) - I didn’t find anything for this date but I posted on Instagram on 7/30 saying I had fun at carnival on 7/29 and I remember not wearing by leg brace for it because I felt better

L4♓️ August 25 2014 (Major peak period) - Two days before this I have an email from Geico asking for documents relating to my claim bc at that point I think I had already been cleared by the doctor and I moved back on campus 3 days after to start my sophomore year

L4♉️ September 18 2014 - I called geico because they needed to ask me questions and I ended up arguing with them bc they were about to not pay me anything bc it was my aunt driving the car and I had to say how I’m 18 and she’s no longer my legal guardian and what they’re saying isn’t even in her policy. Which I think took a lot of courage!!

L4♋️ September 24 2014 (Cool down period) - they send me the settlement offer and it’s 3x what they tried to make me take before the phone call and I accept that! There was another L4♋️ on July 22 2014 which idk if it's the completion of the LB period I started with since it got cut off by me starting a new L1 period. Either way I have no idea what happened that day.

September 25 2014 - I turn 19!

L4♈️ October 20 2014 - I open my first bank account! Not part of an LB cycle but Aries is my 2H!

What I realized about the L1 sign change is that it was necessary for me to separate myself from my aunt and “become an adult” basically! I’m a pisces rising with 8H libra placements and my family has used money and favors a lot as a form of control. I found an email from May 2014 where I was asking her for permission to go to a concert and 28yr old me is like why??? You’re 18!! And I went to the concert in August 2014 after the L1 change and me and my friend I went with still talk about it because my aunt gave us a ride and it was sooooo stressful to coordinate and she was yelling during the ride. I remember thinking this is the last time I ask for anything! Even during the phone call with Geico I was asserting myself as an adult! And when I got the settlement money my family took 50% of it (after medical expenses) and used it for family costs including a funeral. My aunt even said the accident was necessary because the money was a gift from god lollll I’ve been managing my own money since I opened that bank account! No one in my family knows how much I have or how much I make and I'm gonna keep it that way!

Also the fact that I received the settlement check right after starting an 8H year 🤯 I love astrology lol

I'm still trying to figure out how to interpret ZR things that are coming up instead of using it to reflect on the past! Idk why but I feel like for me the peak periods are not peaking??? Wym I got run over by a car during a cool down period??? But my major peak period is my leg healing?? loll I feel like it should be the other way around.

#astrology #astro #astro tumblr #learn astrology #astro community #libra stellium #pisces rising #libra #zodiacal releasing #loosing of the bond

[lgbtqmanga]

New Releases June 20, 2023

Assorted Entanglements vol. 2 by Mikanuji

After meeting through an online game, Heke and Lala have become close enough that they can gripe to each other about work—but it turns out the boss Heke’s always griping about is actually Lala...!? This is the love story of two awkward girls who have nothing but complaints for each other in the real world and can only convey their true feelings online...

Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?! vol. 7 by Yuu Toyota

Adachi’s job transfer to Nagasaki hangs over his relationship with Kurosawa like a harbinger of doom! But true to form, the pair reaffirm their feelings for each other and come to the decision that they can make it through anything, long distance included! Will absence make Kurosawa’s and Adachi’s hearts grow still fonder? Is that even possible?!

Meanwhile, Adachi’s novelist friend Tsuge continues to nurse his feelings for part-time deliveryman and aspiring dancer Minato. Can Tsuge’s support get Minato through his big audition with his dream on the line?!

Eiji and Shiro: From Zeroes to Heroes by Kaya Azuma

A collection of fantasy and supernatural shorts with a heavy comedic tone from one of the Boys Love world's most infamous comedic writers.

Mobuyama “Eiji” A-Ji and Mobuyama “Shiro” C-ro have lived their entire lives as nothing more than “extras” to other people’s stories. It can’t end like this, right? There must be a way out! Both sharing a common goal will try anything that allows them to change their destiny, ANYTHING.

Happy Crappy Life vol. 2 by Harada

Former elite banker is now living in the boonies with a full-time NEET and these days the two mostly spend their time drinking heavily and being very kinky with each other.

Kasuya's future looks seriously in doubt as he has been demoted to the boonies. His social life is also looking poor given how there are not many people his age in the area who are single, his age or even remotely share his interests. ...Outside of maybe his neighbor, Kuzuya. But while they both share the same kinks and both enjoy drinking heavily, they'd both rather make it big in the capital (hopefully in the arms of a strong dominating lady!!) Well, at least in Kasuya's case, that "dream gal" has come searching for him! His ex is back and she's about to discover his secrets.

Happy of the End vol. 2 by Ogeretsu Tanaka

After constant moving, Chihiro and Haoran may have settled down, which means a house-warming party. This sudden sense of "normalcy" is a little strange for the two of them as their lives are far from it. Whether it's the scars all over Haoran's body or the violent people in their past, finding moments of peace is their only solace in life today.

A Hero in the Demon's Castle by Inutoki and Syohei

A modern take on a classic trope, Syohei and Inutoki's DEMON'S CASTLE challenges the Boys Love genre with western inspired art and a relationship that can only be described as heroic.

To an immortal, all-powerful Demon Lord like Wisped, fending off heroes is a daily occurence. However, as he was not born to be in battle, Wisped's heart was filled with nothing but loneliness, until one day when he met with a hero named True. Thinking that the guffawing, unarmed man had come to defeat him, the boy instead asked him an absurd question... "Could I live in your castle?"

The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady vol. 4 (manga) by Piero Karasu and Yuri Kisaragi

In slaying a dragon, Princess Anis received its curse—the transplantation of the dragon’s knowledge into her own mind. Now, in order to put the curse to use for “a certain goal,” Anis and the others must set off to find Anis’s old friend, a woman known for her cruel and inhumane ways…the abominable Marquise Tilty Claret.

Monster and the Beast vol. 4 by Renji

The journey of the hideous monster Cavo and his dapper companion, Liam, continues. When Liam’s murky past is finally revealed, will Cavo be able to guide him out of the darkness? The fate of two lost souls comes to an end in this stunning conclusion!

OTUS vol. 2 by BitterSweet and Kei

Under the SOTUS system, where freshmen undergo hazing from their seniors, Arthit continues his harsh instruction as the head hazer of the Engineering Department. But Kongpob is starting to figure out that it's all just Arthit's awkward way of showing kindness, and he's charmed by it. Meanwhile, the hazers’ final task, "The Scramble for the Flag," is soon approaching…

Until I Love Myself: The Journey of a Nonbinary Manga Artist vol. 1 by Poppy Pesuyama

A bravely blunt autobiography about confronting the tangled traumas of gender dysphoria and workplace sexual harassment.

Nonbinary manga artist Poppy Pesuyama is excited when forms offer the option to choose “neither” for gender and thrilled about their new job working as an assistant for manga artist X!

But then he sexually harasses them, treating them first like a girl and then like something less than human.

It only lasts a few months, but in some ways it never ends.

Born into a body they hate and still reeling from the abuse they faced seven years ago, Pesuyama begins to rail at their past, their friends, and even their mother as they try to come to terms with who they are and what happened to them.

#new releases #manga #lgbt manga #queer manga #light novels

[zedpercyfan]

Pokeshipping Week '23 - Day 3 - Romantic Gestures

The Bundles of Flowers

MISTY WATERFLOWER paced back and forth and forth and back.  “Where is he…?” she muttered.  She stuffed her hands into her shorts in annoyance at being kept waiting.  She checked her phone, 20 minutes past their agreed time.

As a girlfriend she knew could stand to be more patient with her boyfriend, she does love him enough to be forgiving of minor inconveniences, but they were still early in their relationship, and it was annoying that he was tardy.  At last, footsteps were heard as a familiar voice shouted apologies.

“Jeez, Ash Ketchum, where the hell do you get the bravery to think I want to wait around for almost half an hour?” she said as she turned to face him.

“How ‘bout you find out?” said Ash breathlessly as he pulled out a bouquet of carnations from his backpack.

“Oh, t-thank you.”  She blushed as she held them.  “Why carnations?”

“Well, you did once say you wanted to sere-…seren- sere-thingummy with flowers.  I figured you’re the type who wouldn’t want just the average rose…or at least that’s what I thought…”

“Consider yourself correct,” sighed Misty as she held the bouquet, lowering her eyes affectionately at them.

It seemed Ash took the flower thing to heart after that.  Soon, he began gifting her more and more bouquets of flowers.

On her birthday month he presented her with honeysuckles, saying that with their inherent sweetness as symbol of affection, it was his for her.

Misty sighed as she sniffed it.  “You’re very good at this,” she said.

“Thank you.”

“I’m honestly surprised you’re capable of it, meanings and all.”

“Well I don’t consider myself that bad at- wait, that wasn’t a compliment, now was it?”

Misty rolled her eyes.  “Took ya long enough.”

***

Then one day he approached with a bundle of larkspurs.

“I picked larkspurs because I read that they represent a beautiful spirit and strong bonds of love.”

“Aw… But Ash, we…we already have a deep bond.  As your girlfriend I love you, from the bottom of my heart.  Why double down with flowers?”

“I’m doing it because I want to.  I want to do more stuff like this for you.”

“Thanks, that…that means a lot to me.  But why all this for me?”  She frowned a bit, feeling bad for always being on the receiving end of those gifts. “I mean, I like it, but save your money…”

“It’s all for you,” said Ash softly.  “Because…I like you, Misty.”

She blushed but decided to verbally bite back.  “You’re no Romeo,” she huffed.

“…and that’s when your Grandpa pulled out yet another bundle of larkspurs.  Their beautiful blue hues instantly took my breath away.  Then he said ‘Misty, the color blue is both sad and glad, and it fits you to a T.’ ”

“He did?” said a young boy in awe.  He turned to face forward.  “Aw, that was sweet of you, Grandpa!”

“Wait, Grandma, are you telling June that story again?” interrupted a slightly older boy’s voice.  “Hey, pipsqueak, come look at this!”

“Um…”  June looked to Misty.  She sighed gently and nodded.  “Bye, Grandpa!”  With that, the boy stood up and ran in the opposite direction.

“Young’uns…” said Misty wistfully.  “Never enough patience for anything, just like in our youth, huh, Ash?” she said to the photo and gravestone in front of her.  The candle whose fire was disturbed by the boy’s quick exit soon stabilized again.

“Mm, so we’re alone once more.”  Her eyes lowered to a soft gaze.  “I prefer it.  Reminds me of when it was just you and me, so simple, so turbulent too…  Gives me time to think.”  The wind picked up and a tree branch above the grave rattled.

Misty laughed.  “Yes.   I still can’t think without some peace and quiet.  Gives me time to remember when it was you and me.  How long has it been since I lost you…?”  A tear welled into her eyes.  “Oh…nearly 35 years now.  You were only 50 when the accident happened.  There’s not a day that goes by when I don’t miss you.”

A small whistle was heard from the tree.  “I still have your old cap of course.  It’s here…well, on Penny’s head at least.  Her hair’s been growing, she looks a lot like you, even at just 15 months old.  I’m sorry, though, our Crystal forgot to buy me a bundle of carnations for me this week, even though I told her before she went shopping...”

The wind picked up.  Misty winced as a leaf fell and brushed her face.  “Now, now.  Calm down, calm down,” she said, trying to soothe the wind.  “Look, I still brought the usual tributes.  You must be hungry.  Here, your favorite: rice balls with nori.”  Misty had reached behind her and produced a plate with three rice triangles with a seaweed wrap.

“And your favorite filling,” she went on, “Magikarp flakes!”  The wind gave a subtle sort of puff.  Misty smiled gently.

“Grandma!” yelled two voices.  “Come look at this Pokémon.”

A woman with black, slightly wavy hair walked within a few yards of where the 85-year-old woman was sitting on her knees.  “Need help getting up, Mom?”

“No need, Crystal,” replied Misty.  “Mama’s not that old!”

Crystal nodded.  “Boys!  Go easy on your Grandmother!  She’ll look when she’s ready.”

The wind picked up and blew some leaves at Misty’s daughter.  “Ash, go easy on our daughter,” said Misty very quietly.  She heard a ‘weird weather remark’ from behind.  “She forgets from time to time, no different than you every now and then…”

She sighed.  “Right, young boys wait for no one.”  She smiled at the stone column.  “Goodbye for now, my love.”  She stood up, wiping the autumn leaves from her pants as she kept her eyes on the grave.

“One day we’ll meet again.  It’s not long now.”  She said, clutching her heart.  With that, set off to join her grandkids.  “Right.  What is it?  Oh, a Pidgey…and an unusual one too…!”

***

Author’s Note: Okay!  Bit of a tonal whiplash here with the ending…honestly, at first I couldn’t really distinguish this theme from yesterdays (okay, I know I’m running late with these but exhaustion has me by the throat) so the ending kinda had to happen like this to make me feel like they were different enough for my own sanity.

I should note that no, I don’t headcanon Ash’s death as that early.  I wrote the ending first before all the rest and it’s a homage to Chizuru’s grandparents from Rent-a-Girlfriend.  So it was influenced by that.

#pokeshipping #Pokeshipping Week 2023 #zedpercyfan #fanfiction #pokemon #SatoKasu #ash ketchum #misty #pokeani #AAML

[doublel27]

Fic Origin Story

Many thanks to @reyesstrand and @marwani-strickland for the tag. Did I think villain origin story when I read it? Yes. Is my life as a fic writer villanous? IDK.

What was your first fandom (reading or writing)?

My first fandom was General Hospital. I began reading and writing fic in that fandom circa 1999-2001 So, you know, before some of y'all were born. It's fine. I'm fine. You're fine.

It was back in the days that you had to join like an EzBoard to post and share fic. yes I'm old. And, and, like a lot of EzBoards were specific to your pairing of choice (I was a member of several) and you had to actual pass a quiz to get inside the ezboard to prove you were a fan of said pairing because antis would infiltrate and sow chaos. Flame wars were a thing and such. I learned so much in those days. I still had dial-up and my chapters were super short. I saved my fic to floppy disks, so...you know...it was a time.

2. What was the first story you ever wrote (even if it was never posted) and what made you write it?

The FIRST story I ever wrote, that I remember, as a fanfic was probably a Little Women fix it fic where Laurie and Jo got married instead of Laurie and Amy and Jo and Professor Behr at like, ten years old. I wrote it one of those hardcover blank books you could buy. I have since reconsidered my position after learning more about Louisa May Alcott and WHY she made the choices she made.

The first story I ever published as a fandom fic was a Jason/Robin sweeping get back together story in the General Hospital fandom (have they been together since 1998 - no, do I think it's one of the biggest mistakes the show has ever made - maybe). Robin was still in Paris and I think she maybe had a secret baby. There were kidnappings, shootings, and many other things that fit a daytime soap fic written by a high schooler in the margins of her notebooks.

I think it's still on floppy disks in my parent's house.

3. What's a pice of advice you would give to your younger fic writing self?

Care less about what other people are doing. Care more about how you treat others. Constructive critism is a gift, take it as it's meant and have your friends read your work and tell you that you NEED A PERIOD or DO YOU KNOW WHAT COMMAS ARE or YOU'VE USED THIS WORD THREE TIMES THIS PAGE or MORE FEELINGS HERE PLEASE or I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS. They make your writing better.

4. What is an early fandom interaction that has stuck with you (be it a nice comment, a friend you made, a fic that got a lot of feedback)

Oh man, there's so many. Some are wonderful, like the reactions to every chapter I posted of those early fics.

Some are things I learned the hard way, like being a teenager who made friends with another teenager and some women in their 20s and 30s and one of them was very much a bully who had us turn on one of the friends we had by telling lies and got us to harrass her. I learned a lot about how to trust people online and how to spot people who might tell lies to play people on the interent like puppets for their own power. It makes it far easier to spot now that I'm old. Also, I remember how very compassionate the woman we harrassed, my friend Dani, was, and she was a little bit younger than I am now. and How she really accepted our apology, told us how much we hurt her, and allowed the two children she'd befriended to do better when they figured out how they'd been played. I hope to have half her grace as a fandom old these days.

5. What is a sentence or two from one of your older fics and a sentence or two from a newer one (if you want)?

For y'all, let's do 3. The first from around 20 years ago, then we'll grab something from 10 years ago, and something from now? Sound good? You do know that by now you're getting more than a sentence or two from me. From Choices - a fanfiction following X2/X3 movie verse -posted on Fanfiction.net on June 1, 2003.

Jubliee stared at the young man across from her. There was something so familiar about this one, something she couldn't put her finger on just yet. Then it hit her, "St. John?" The spark in his eyes, the fire that matched his talent was unmistakable. No wonder the armored car was burning at such a rapid pace.

From Ruined - A Legend of Korra fanfic centered on the breakup of Tenzin and Lin Beifong posted on AO3 on January 5, 2014

He’d asked her to move with him to Air Temple Island and she’d laughed.  Thinking on it now, the sound of it was harsh and cruel to her own ears. 

“Why,” she’d laughed, “when you have all of your Air groupies?”

He’d sighed and steepled his fingers in that serious thinking pose he had. “They’re not groupies, Lin,” he had reproved her. “They are people who have been keeping my father’s culture alive for the better part of a century and they are continuing to sustain it.  What if—” A sadness had entered his eyes.  “I could be the last one, Lin.  There might never be another.”

“Tenzin—”  She couldn’t have brought herself to lie and say that she would ensure that he wouldn’t be.   Lin wouldn’t even suggest that Bumi could miraculously have an illegitimate child that was an airbender out somewhere.   “Then come here.  Live in the city.  You already work here and we could find a good space for Oogi.”

“I want to marry you Lin,” he had said, quietly. 

Lin had looked up from her paperwork and given him a pointed glance.  “Does that marriage include children?”

“I am the last living airbender, Lin,” Tenzin reminded her. “I do want children one day.”

From let me be the one at day's end - a 911 Lone Star (more cow eyes series) fic posted on AO3 on June 30, 2022

Carlos snaps off the radio, unwilling to listen to the continued banter as they joke about this. There’s too many containers of flammable gas in the back of a bus to make light of a bullet ricocheting in there. He pulls out his phone before looking at his mother in the seat beside him. Her brown eyes are wide and worried and he can’t look at them for too long.

When he looks back down at his phone he realizes his hand is shaking. “I’m just—He’s on a shift and he probably can’t pick up—”

And from a personal favorite, You Can Have My Back - a Schitt's Creek Twylexis 911 AU posted on AO3 on October 14, 2022

Alexis looks over the turnouts, which happen to be an unfortunate combination of khaki and orange. The fabric is rough and heavy, which makes sense for protecting one's body from a fire, but there are plenty of fire-resistant clothes that aren’t these ancient heavy things. “Don’t they have, umm, like those cuter black and yellow numbers that are a little thinner?”

“Beggars can’t be choosers, princess. Does this department look like it’s made of money?” Ronnie takes a moment to wink at her. “Besides, orange is the new pink.”

“Mmm, totally,” Alexis murmurs.

Ronnie narrows her eyes, and jerks her thumb at the gear. “You know how to put this on in time?”

Being underestimated is something Alexis is well used to. In fact, being underestimated has saved her life countless times where people thought she was too stupid or too thoughtless or too pretty to know her way around a gun or a fancy car or out of a pair of handcuffs. Normally it didn’t sting.

She pulls herself up to full height and sniffs. “I passed the volunteer qualifications exam, didn’t I?”

Tagging: @marjansmarwani @petalwritesx @blackandwhiteandrose @missgeevious @sunshinestrand @strandnreyes @lilythesilly @maxbegone @tailoredshirt @beautifulhigh

Feel free not to, friends, but I'm curious.

#xmen #legend of korra #911 lone star #schitt's creek #fan fiction #my long fandom life #doublel27 talks #doublel27 writes #the many lives of doublel27

[no-side-us]

Dracula Daily Liveblog: September 27

This scene is great. I sometimes wonder whether people who read this in Stoker's time would be surprised or not by moments like this, whether they would understand all the evidence the story has provided so far or whether Van Helsing is needed to connect the dots for them.

What Van Helsing says here seems to coincide with what he said when Lucy first died on September 20:

"She is dying. It will not be long now. It will be much difference, mark me, whether she dies conscious or in her sleep. Wake that poor boy, and let him come and see the last; he trusts us, and we have promised him."

This would suggest that if Lucy had died outside of her trance then the situation would be different. I don't know if that means Lucy would have died permanently, or if it might mean that she'd have her own personality as a vampire.

Van Helsing also seems to be saying that vampires normally look really evil when they're sleeping in their coffin, kind of like how the Count looked when Jonathan first saw him in his coffin on June 25:

I thought he might have the keys on him, but when I went to search I saw the dead eyes, and in them dead though they were, such a look of hate, though unconscious of me or my presence, that I fled from the place, and leaving the Count's room by the window, crawled again up the castle wall.

Perhaps this means that Lucy would also have the "look of hate" if she had died outside of her trance. Or maybe Van Helsing is suggesting that Lucy doesn't have such a look because she was just so sweet when she was alive?

I like to imagine that each of those things were from separate vampire myths Van Helsing studied, but he's going to do all of them together just to be safe.

You know, if someone were ever to write a version of Dracula where the protagonists were actually crazy the entire time, the idea of being buried alive would probably be a good way to do it.

Would this mean that the older the vampire, the more resistant they would be to garlic and crucifixes and such?

Maybe that's one of the reasons why the Count left his castle now instead of years before; he grew old and strong enough that the charms of the villagers had less of an effect on him and he could move pass them. Maybe that's also why his roommates didn't leave with him; they were still young. But that's just conjecture.

So the "home" of vampires is also shelter to the vampire which turned them, which would suggest that the Count would be keen to turn more people than just Lucy. Although he does have all those dirt boxes which also act as shelter for him.

More conjecture: maybe the Count used to have more vampires that he turned back in Romania, but over time they were eventually hunted down and killed. So with few "shelters" back home, he decided to move his base of operations to England.

Lucy's hunting ground is near the park where she was buried, presumably because it's close to where she has "shelter." However, the Count's natural "shelter" is back in Romania, so that's why he has all those boxes of his homeland's dirt moved to London, so he too can have "shelter" prepared for him in case of emergencies.

Okay, I think this confirms that Van Helsing doesn't know the exact way to kill a vampire, but he knows of many possible ways, which is why he has this "either/or" line here, which doesn't even mention the garlic method he mentioned earlier.

It's a nice use of the epistolary format that Van Helsing's farewell letter in case he died is labeled as unopened. But it still says a lot that Van Helsing even wrote a farewell letter in the first place. He knows the risks and what might happen to him, and he's going to do it regardless.

#dracula daily #liveblogging dracula 2022 #jack seward #abraham van helsing #dracula #bram stoker

[adreamareads]

Adreama Writes

I have been thinking for a while that I need to have a pinned post describing my stories. So here we are! These are all Red White and Royal Blue (all book verse unless otherwise specified!) with one Percabeth, you know, as a treat.

Adreama Writes on Ao3 : 20+ works and counting!

Nora and Shabbat

Rating: T | word count: 2848 Nora hosts a Shabbat dinner for June, Alex, and Henry, sharing her Jewish traditions with them as they all celebrate the Jewish Sabbath - but in the Nora way. Some tradition, some tweaking tradition, and a lot of fun and friendship between the White House Trio + Henry.

Yrs 

Rating: G | word count: 4078 14-year-old Hudson has been at the Fox Foundation Shelter for LGBTQ+ Youth for nearly six months. He volunteers to clean out the former office-turned-storage-room, and finds remnants from a love story that starts with a piece of a note or a letter. The only thing that remains on the letter is the signature: “Love you. Yrs, A”

Yrs for ever (sequel to Yrs)

Rating: G | word count: 3709 When he was 14 and staying at the Fox Foundation shelter for LGBTQ youth, Hudson had found remnants of Henry's relationship with Alex. Now, ten years later, Hudson is attending the Fox Foundation 30th Anniversary Gala and he seeks to connect with Henry again, to show him that he understands what it means when someone says yrs.

Nora and the High Holy Days 

Rating: G | word length: 3152 Nora returns to DC with June for the High Holidays: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. While she's there, she makes a new friend who looks out for her safety.

Nora and Chanukah 

Rating: T | word count: 13,962 | 8 chapters Eight days and nights, eight chapters of Nora celebrating Chanukah! Featuring heavy doses of Junora, lots of friendship and family time. Nora gets to share her Chanukah celebrations with June, as well as with Alex & Henry, with her family, and other friends.

Gentle Fires

Rating: T | word length: 2647 Alex doesn't know where this new thing that Henry has with candles came from, but he's not complaining. They are pretty nice.

Nora and Purim

Rating: T | word count: 2454 Nora gets ready for a Purim celebration and tells June all about her holiday, with a feminist twist, of course - that's the Nora way!

Super Six Seder 

Rating: G | word count: 8153 Nora leads the rest of the "Super Six" (June, Pez, Bea, Henry, and Alex) in a Passover seder, livestreamed for charity.

Sisterhood 

Rating: G | word count: 6597 Martha would love to be close with her sister-in-law Bea but all Bea ever talks about is her friend June. (or 5 times Martha is jealous of Bea’s sisterhood with June and 1 time she is sisters with Bea.)

Nora and Sukkot

Rating: T | word count: 5707 Nora enlists June plus Alex & Henry to help her build an official government sukkah at the Vice President's Residence (AKA where her grandparents live) for the Jewish holiday Sukkot in the fall.

Fiercest Protector

Rating: T | word count: 11,586 | 6 chapters June and Bea want nothing more than to protect their little brothers. Here are 5 times the sisters were there for their brothers, and one time the boys were there for their sisters.

Nora and Tu B'Shevat 

Rating: G | word count: 1309 June surprises Nora on her holiday with plans and a gift. Happy new year for the trees!

March Book Club

Rating: T | word count: 17,388 | 2 chapters A kid at Henry's shelter inspires him to pick the Little Women series for his book club with June. Meanwhile, Alex is there, by his side, supporting him always, and Henry starts thinking more about their future in all the good ways.

Blanket Fort 

Rating: G | word count: 600 Alex is anxious during a storm, and so is David. Henry has a late night at the shelter.

of fathers and sons 

Rating: T | word count: 7245 Henry stays with Oscar Diaz his father-in-law while he's getting the new LA shelter up-and-running. It's a bit of an adjustment, but it's actually nice. He even picks up a few new skills in the kitchen to show Alex!

June and Weddings 

Rating: G | word count: 1216 5 weddings June is in + 1 time it's her own

talking about feelings is a sapphic cliche 

Rating: G | word count: 1200 Nora and June have a serious talk about the future after June makes a big decision.

Christmas Visit 

Rating: G | word count: 3525 It's Christmas Eve at Kensington. Alex's niece tells him about the ghost she saw the other day. Then, in the middle of the night, Alex sees him too.

end of an era 

Rating: T | word count: 4602 It's New Year's Eve 2024, and it's the last "Legendary Balls-Out Bananas White House Trio New Year’s Eve Party." Alex, Nora, and June are co-hosting with the President-Elect's kids. Alex and Henry reflect on the last four years and what's in store for them.

H. Fox Live at the Strand

Rating: G | word count: 3007 Join us for an in-person event with bestselling author H. Fox for the launch of his new book Dreaming of You. Joining Henry in conversation will be journalist June Claremont-Diaz. This event will be hosted in the Strand Book Store's 3rd floor Rare Book Room.

"...and then they became friends!"

RWRB MOVIE-VERSE! Strictly Movie! Rating: M | word count: 6783 It's Henry's birthday, and Alex surprises him at Kensington. He gets to crash Henry's birthday plans which include tea with Bea… and a visit to the children's hospital.

Watch it All Unfold 

ratings: varied | word count: 100 per chapter A series of mostly unrelated drabbles. We jump around in time, visiting different characters at different times. Each chapter stands alone and complete.

Fandom: Percy Jackson/Heroes of Olympus

The Question

rating: T | word count: 5552 Post-graduation from college together in New Rome, Percy & Annabeth are spending one more summer at Camp Half-Blood, and Percy is working on a Plan, one worth of a daughter of Athena, to ask her an important question. 

#adreama writes #rwrb fic #rwrb fanfic #firstprince #red white royal blue #red white and royal blue #red white & royal blue #percy jackson #percabeth

[hmbright]

( ellie bamber, non-binary, she/they ) — Look what the werecat’s dragged in! If you take a look at our records, you’ll find that HOLLAND BRIGHT is a twenty four year old BARTENDER that’s been in Cromerth Woods for A SHORT WHILE. According to this file, they’re a HUMAN hailing all the way from AETHYRIA. That must be why they’re QUIET and GUARDED. If you ask me, they remind me of punk rock music, ripped clothing, rollerskates, and bright red hair in a messy bun. They are allied with THE REFUGEES.

Name: Holland May Bright

Nickname(s): Holly

DOB: 15 June

Age: 20

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Sexuality: Unknown

Occupation: Bartender

Family: Daniel Bright (Father) — Deceased, Morgan Bright (Mother) — Deceased, Cassidy Bright (Older Sister) — Deceased, Daniel Junior Bright (Older Brother) — Missing

APPEARANCE

Height: 5′6"

Eye Color: Blue

Hair Color: Red

Aesthetic: https://www.pinterest.com/vexishere/holland/

Tattoos: None 

Piercings: None, she wears clip on earrings 

There was nothing assuming about Daniel Bright and Morgan Lee. From the outside they were nothing more than two young adults that met, fell in love, and decided to start a family. Sure, all their friends and people close to them said they had good work ethic and it was no wonder the two fell in love and everyone who knew them sang praises about them. But they were, for all purposes, two people who no one would think twice about, who no one would expect cruelty from. Both of them landed jobs in their respective fields, though no one could really say what the two of them did for a living, even their own parents. When their first child, Cassidy was born, the two went right back to work, not bothering to take the time to truly bond with their child, busy with their projects. Their son who followed Cassidy three years later was given the same cold and distant treatment. But it was Holland, the accident, that brought the change.

No one ever considered the Brights to become terrified of the worlds beyond their own, but they were. Holland will say her childhood was particularly boring and not of interest to anyone, as she was mostly raised by her siblings, Cassidy nearly eighteen by the time she was born, and until she turned three, things were relatively normal. Although her parents did their best to shelter their children from the world beyond their four walls, the two older children were never really blind to everything around them—good or bad. Holland was too young to understand what her parents were scared of, but even she eventually noticed the changes and her parents pulling away from society more and more. Life for Holland passed by normally, but when her older brother turned eighteen and left home, their parents snapped becoming more unhinged. They opened their remote home to other like minded people, creating a community that no one knew about, a society behind closed doors, those who wanted to be ready in case something happened.

Instead of going to a normal school, Holland was homeschooled and then the other people in their community taught her with a few other children. The people in their small community were well vetted individuals. Holland never knew the word for the place she grew up in, but she would learn it eventually: cult. Unlike her brother, Holland never had the curiosity to look beyond her four walls. She liked her community, she understood it, and she was able to entertain herself with stories. Her childhood never felt like a trap to her, at least until she turned fifteen. Although, she always felt like a bit of an outsider, with no real explanation. She grew into a kid surrounded by money, surrounded by people, but isolated and lonely to a point that she was sure other people couldn't live like this. For years she asked why she wasn't allowed to leave home—answers were met with the same thing every time: you'll end up like your brother. She assumed he was dead.

When she was eighteen, Holland had hoped that she could move out and away, but she was met with resistance. Her parents refused to let her leave, going as far as barring her windows and locking her door every night. But soon her parents explained that the rest of their world wasn't like it was at home. People were ugly, cruel, and would hurt her if they ever found her. Holland believed this to be true, but in her soul knew it wasn't. Who was she to question the only two people who had ever cared about her? But she knew they weren't telling the truth. If people had the capability of protecting, then surely not everyone was a monster. It wasn't until it was almost too late did she figure out the truth.

On her twentieth birthday, Holland decided that she would sneak out and make her way to the nearest town. It was a tradition she would keep up for three more years. Holland realized that her parents weren't right. People could be chaotic, sure, but rarely were they ever cruel. And Holland found that they loved the chaos and beauty of the world they lived in.

tbc because i can't rn but long story short, everyone died.

#intro #about: holland. #this is copy/pasta basically

[rextheravenous]

An Analysis of Blue Bayou and Dixie Landin

I've been SUPER fixated on this park and its issues since I went with Batz a few weeks ago, so here's a glimpse into my neurodivergence at its finest <3

Blue Bayou and Dixie Landin is a theme park located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Opening in 1999, the park boasts 20 water rides- previously making the park known as ‘Land of the Giants’ for sporting 5 of the world’s largest waterslides-, 3 coasters (currently), and 24 more fair-style rides. Blue Bayou and Dixie Landin currently has a few major recorded incidents and I’m here to discuss those combined with the underhanded shady business practices going on behind the scenes because 🤷 what else do you do on a sunday

Blue Bayou and Dixie Landin has been a huge part of my childhood. I went there for the first time when I was 6 or 7 years old, and ever since then I have had a massive hyperfixation on theme parks. However, happy memories turned sour as I went there recently for a family vacation; the entire Dixie Landin half of the park was completely shut down, Blue Bayou was severely understaffed, and the most horrifying part of it all: the ticket prices (/hj). When you went in, it was five dollars for parking, fifty to get into the park (twice as much as full price used to be even with half the park shut down), and overpriced merchandise all throughout the waterpark. From what we could see of Dixie Landin, the rides looked worn down- like nobody had cared for them for years . We had a great time with what was open, but I couldn’t help but wonder: who or what made this once-great park end up in such a state of disrepair?

So there’s a lot to unpack here, I will be honest. I will go over the labor and pay violations last, as it still happens to this day and is getting worse each year. To start this analysis of the park’s flaws off, I will start with the thing I found the funniest in my research: a failed P!ATD concert.

In July 2015, Panic! At The Disco had a scheduled performance on the Coca-Cola concert stage. Thousands of people traveled from several hours away to see this concert, only to be met with a park that was not prepared for the overwhelming crowd of fans. The park was packed, the event gates opened an hour late, and there was no easy access to drinking water which left a multitude of folks dehydrated, some passing out, and one even having a seizure. Looking at BBDL’s reviews online, this was the start of the park’s bad reputation to the public. However, an incident in 2010 trumps this and is horribly overlooked, in my opinion. This is where we get into less-funny territory.

Around 4 PM on July 11th, Lindsay Zeno rode her last roller coaster in DIxie Landin. The 21 year old woman was riding on the ‘X-treme’ coaster with her friends when a restraint bar supposedly failed on the ride. There is no clear reason as to what happened, but stories vary from the locking mechanism not pushed in fully to her somehow tampering with the restraint. No matter how it happened though, she plummeted 30 feet to her eventual death after she was seen trying to pull the restraint down before a sharp curve. Experts were brought in and several critical investigations were performed on the ride, but no conclusion could be reached. This was the park’s first fatal incident. In 2006, there was another incident, but the victim survived and his family sued the park for it. A 2-year old (4-year old according to wikipedia) boy named Kobe Carter fell at least 25 feet on June 9th off of the ‘Over the Rainbow’ ride, breaking his arms and legs.

Surprisingly, those are the only two major injury/death related incidents. The final issue I would like to discuss is all of the financial issues surrounding Blue Bayou and Dixie Landin. This includes prices, employee payment, and how they spend their money regarding the park.

As I mentioned in the first bit of this analysis, the ticket prices are insane. Only half of the park is open, but the tickets are full price (and even higher than they used to be due to inflation). This was even more insane in early 2021-22, when they were only able to open a few of the rides at Blue Bayou, and only offered a small discount to make up for it. The staff were- and still are- being severely underpaid, causing a ton of negligence (Surprise! People don’t like to work for free!). Further research led me to one of their shady business practices: employees (who were mostly high school age just looking for summer jobs) work for minimum wage with the promise of a big bonus at the end of each season. Sounds great, right? It would be a decent payment plan, if it weren’t for the higher ups cutting the employees loose right before the bonus can be issued. (I don’t have an official source for it, but read this in a few of the park reviews and overheard it from some of the lifeguards on break).

The park owners also overcharge for everything with none of the earned money going back into the park, and will find any way to make and keep money they can. A few reviews from 2021 even said that they were in the waterpark for ten minutes maximum before a weather warning stopped the entire park for the rest of the day. This would be understandable if guests would get some sort of compensation for the $40-50 they just spent to get in, or if they would let them back in after the weather is clear, but they did nothing of the sort. No refunds, extremely rare price decreases, and cutting corners where they can manage it. The park need serious work to be done on it, such as repainting and making rides safer (some of the other guests while we were there had said they had been scratched up and injured by the waterslides as screws had come up and the sharp edges of the piping had come up in some spots.. And.. um. I can vouch for them because I too was a little beat up after some of the rides) and it has needed these repairs for a while now, but the owners want as much money as they can flowing into their pockets so they spare every expense they can.

Sad to say it, but if the park keeps raising prices with no improvements the way it has been, people will eventually just have enough and stop going, making Blue Bayou and Dixie Landin the eventual next star of a Defunctland video. If you look at the reviews online, it’s not hard to find people who have sworn to never go back. I personally hope the park gets new owners and can return back to the greatness it was when I was a kid, but I’m not sure how many more years it can hold up.

I’m tired after writing all of this (it's been like 4 hours now) so I hope it all makes sense. This isn’t a critique or a report or anything, just an analysis of what I’ve been hyperfixating on for the past few weeks because I was going to explode if I didn’t infodump about it <3

#Blue Bayou and Dixie Landin #I HIGHLY doubt anyone will be following that tag but oh well lol #also shoutout to the animalese typing addon I installed before writing this. so slay #theme park #water park #wth else can I tag this as. um #long post #ask to tag #rbs appreciated!!! #also they had a gorilla locked in a small enclosure for entertainment that just died recently but I wasnt sure how to lead into that

[penname-artist]

Dusty’s Family Tree

I shit you not, I have a fic titled “Crophopper Family Reunion” that has been a WIP for almost two YEARS. At this point I’m more inclined to just rewriting the entirety of what’s already there. But with that story possibility in mind, I want to discuss Dusty’s, ahh, upbringing:

-Dustin Liam Crophopper is the youngest of two boys, born June 6th of 1990 (that’s right, he’s a Gemini. Y’all are in trouble)

-His older brother is Chase Aaron Crophopper, born two years prior on September 8th of 1988 (Easy to remember: it’s 9/9/88)

-Both boys are the pride and joy of parents Tess and Charlie Crophopper, both lifelong farmers

-The family lived in Wyoming (where both kiddos were born) until Dusty was about 2, when they decided to move their stead into Minnesota for better job opportunities. They lived in a patch of land a little ways from Propwash Junction, but just close enough to make a drive up there or a decent walk

-The saying “One child’s an angel, the other’s a demon” rings very true for Tess; she loves both her children and would never pick favorites, but let’s just say Dusty gave her a LOT more gray hairs on her head than Chase ever could. That child was accident-prone.

-The boys basically grew up knowing Dottie and Chug; all of their families were local business owners, and being from such a small place they all got thrown into the same homeschool cirriculum. (That’s right ya boy’s HOMESCHOOLED, just like ME. ...FUN FACT. and it all makes fucking sense now don’t it)

-Despite the distance between the family at this point in their lives, the Crophoppers were all from pilot families, and flew in to meet up around the holidays. Dusty and Chase were the babies of the family for a long time, given all their cousins were older than them. Dusty took it all in stride. Chase? Well, he could have lived without the cheek-pinching.

-They had all the classic redneck homeschool children works; a self-made treehouse, a tire swing over the pond, a pile of random scrap items in a field that they turned into an obstacle course, free access to cattle fields, corn fields, and a forest of trees to climb, and at SOME point they had a four-wheeler too, but they kind of sort of crashed it into a mudpit and never saw it again (well actually Charlie had to tow it out and it was busted but the point still stands)

-They also had an old Nintendo console. Dusty loved the Mario games no matter how much he sucked at them (he still sucks at them)

-Dustin goes by a few different nicknames to his family; “Dusty” of course has always been the most prominent, but several family members also call him by his middle name, Liam, because it’s his middle name which came from his grandfather (Tess’s dad)

-Dusty started working his first official job when he was fifteen, when he earned his pilot’s license to help Leadbottom out with his own crop fields. The family was trying to help him out since he was the last living member of his family and didn’t have anyone else to take on the job for him. He did promise that the fields would eventually be inherited to the Crophoppers given that now they’re essentially family friends.

-Chase moved back to Wyoming in his early 20s to work on a cattle ranch, and eventually married and had a daughter. Her name is Piper, and she is the world to not just her parents, but also her Favorite Orange Uncle.

-Tess has the literal short end of the stick in the household; not only is she the only female of the house, but she’s also the shortest, at 5′3″, while her boys are both about the same height as their dad (Charlie and Chase are both 6′1″, Dusty’s 6′0″). But that doesn’t really stop her, she can still grab earlobes from that height.

#disney planes #disneyplanes #disney planes 2 #dusty crophopper