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et-lesailes · 4 years

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iron crush

pairing: tony stark x reader

word count: 1952

summary: you’re a college student as well as roommates/best friends with peter parker, but you’ve developed a bit of a crush on his world famous, superhero mentor tony stark.

themes: age gap, smut

taglist: @evanstush, @tanyam93, @bval-1, @wonderwinchester, @patzammit, @rohaintahquil, @deidrashouseofpain, @sammyslonglostshoe, @jadedhillon, @bohemian-barbie, @whysparker, @sebastian-i-stan, @sebabestianstan101, @lille-kattunge, @teller258316, @peach-acid, @allsortsofinterests, @xoxabs88xox, @heyiamthatbitch, @cptn-sgrogers, @heyyouwiththeassbutt, @bangtan-serendipity, @troublermalik, @beardburnsupersoldiers, @bookish-shristi, @kind-sober-fullydressed, @gingerninjaprincess16, @straightforwardly, @denisemarieangelina, @frencchfries, @xlanawriter, @littlemoistcarrot, @pottxrwolff, @arianatheangelworld, @southerngracela, @nsfwsebbie, @rororo06, @savemesteeb, @raveviolet, @hurricanerinwrites, @captainamerica-is-bae, @shaddixlife, @tessa-bl, @marvelouspottering, @pppsssyyyccchhhiiiccc, @thegetawaywriter, @dwights-new-plague, @rynabarnesrogers, @fckdeusername, @doloreschanal, @ssworldofsw, @la-cey, @buckybarnesplumwhore, @hevans-angel, @chuckbass-love, @stardust-galaxies, @smyfmj

notes: in this story, peter and reader are 18! I know the opening scene is literally from civil war where peter is a minor in high school but shhh just pretend :))) also sorry if you’re tagged and don’t care for tony, i haven’t really been separating my permanent taglist and my cevans only taglist because it’s a lot of work gjfjdjg so just ignore if you don’t want to read, no worries! also as always, graphic creds go to @thewritingdoll !

You first met him that fateful day he was waiting for Peter in his apartment itself, casually chatting with Aunt May while pretending to enjoy her walnut date loaves. Being Peter’s childhood friend, you’ve known of his Spider-Man secret ever since he became the masked hero, and it hadn’t been difficult for you to figure out that Tony was there for Avengers related reasons. You remember the piercing eye contact you made, the way his brown eyes lingered over you in surprise and approval; you had felt flattered beyond belief that you were even noticed in such a way when you were in the same room as Peter’s abnormally attractive aunt.

Fast forward a few months later, and you, Peter, and your other friend Ned now have an apartment of your own. The three of you have always been inseparable; you see them as brothers and you can trust them to have your back, just like you and Ned have Peter’s whenever he’s called to save the neighborhood (and, lately, many areas outside of it).

You’re on your belly on your bed in a tank and shorts, taking notes while skimming through your psychology textbook when you hear a knock on the door. You roll your eyes- Ned always forgets his keys, which is why you tend to leave the door unlocked whenever it’s just you at home. It’s difficult to worry much about crime when you literally live with a world famous superhero. “It’s open!” you call, eyes still scanning the words on the pages before you. The door opens and you hear footsteps, louder and louder until they’ve come to your doorway. “Have you just, permanently lost your keys or something?” you ask in amusement, not even bothering to look up at your roommate.

“Didn’t get any to begin with, actually. Got a copy for me? Would be pretty helpful considering the kid never answers his goddamn phone.”

Your head immediately snaps up, your eyes widening slightly as you stare at the grown man at the entrance of your bedroom who is very clearly not Ned. “Tony!” you exclaim in surprise, moving to sit up on your knees as you gaze up at him somewhat embarrassed- and suddenly feeling much more naked. You’re comfortable with limited clothing around Peter and Ned, you’ve known them practically your whole life- but Tony is someone you’ve seen all over television, only met once… and have the slightest crush on. You’ve always loved a man with confidence, and while Tony has too much of it, you can’t help but find it appealing. You clear your throat, trying not to blush from his amused expression. “Uh, yeah, Peter’s not home right now… do you want me to text him? Maybe he’ll reply to me?”

“What? Reply to his cute best friend he drools over on a daily basis- over replying to me? No way.” Tony smirks slightly, his voice dripping with sarcasm, and you find yourself blushing deeper- though you arch an eyebrow, more than happy to confront what he’s just said. “Cute?” you repeat, and he shrugs nonchalantly, leaning against the doorframe as he takes your appearance in. “Yeah. Cute. What, haven’t heard it before? Because I highly doubt that.”

“Not from a man twice my age, no,” you tease, suddenly feeling a little more confidence as you sit up a little straighter, remaining on your knees, “and Peter does not drool over me. Trust me, our relationship is not like that. We’ve known each other for too long.” Tony keeps his eyes on you for a few moments before suddenly nodding towards your textbook. “Whatchya working on?” You blink, glancing towards your notes. “Psychology. It’s my major.”

“So how do you read me?” he asks, and you assume he’s being some type of smart ass- after all, whenever you tell someone your major is psychology they immediately bring out the “so you can read my mind” joke- but when you look up at his expression, he actually seems genuinely curious. “Lonely.” You reply candidly, eyebrow lifting slightly. “Bored, always running out of things to do so you focus way too much on work.”

“Uh, yeah, that’s because I save the world for a living. Kind of has to be on my mind 24/7, doesn’t it?”

“Yikes, getting a little defensive, hm, Tony?” you tease with a smirk, knowing he can handle it. “That’s never a good sign in counseling…”

“Oh, are you my counselor now?” he scoffs, but the corner of his lip is tugged slightly upward, clearly able to banter just as much as you. “Alright. I’ll bite.” He comes into your room and sits down at the edge of your bed right next to you, looking at you expectantly. “Tell me, O Mighty Therapist, what should I do to alleviate my pain?” he questions dramatically, and you laugh, reaching out to nudge him. “Maybe stop being a pain in the ass to other people? Let them in for once?”

He listens thoughtfully and you're expecting a snarky comment, but instead, he replies bluntly in a low murmur with a raised brow, “What if I want a certain someone to let me in?” It takes you a few moments to realize the innuendo, your blush immediately returning once you do. “Tony…”

He leans in, his eyes focused on yours. “I won’t tell anyone…” You stare up at his features, your breath slightly heavier. You feel a bit of guilt but the desperate want is overpowering it- come on, he’s Tony Stark, and he’s here in your bedroom asking you to fuck. Maybe it’s not for the best reasons, but you decide you don’t care. You grab his face and pull him down, kissing him fiercely in response.

Everything happens so fast. His lips move against yours in intense synchrony, his hands grabbing your waist to tackle you down onto your back on the bed before he reaches out to shove your textbook and notebook off the mattress entirely. You gasp but continue to kiss him, your legs naturally moving to wrap around his waist to keep his body pressed close against yours, already feeling turned on from the friction between you. Judging by the bulge currently pressing against your inner thigh, it’s safe to say he feels the same.

Neither of you even realize how absorbed in this kiss you are- you’re moving, practically rolling all over the place, until you roll off the bed itself. A squeal escapes your lips as both of you go tumbling onto the ground- thankfully carpeted- and you laugh breathlessly as you stare up at him, still underneath him. “Oops,” you whisper, but he just smirks and leans down to kiss you again, muttering huskily against your lips, “That’s alright, sweet cheeks, I can fuck you just as good on the floor too.” Your smile fades slightly, but only because of how aroused you’ve become just from hearing him. You’ve only ever slept with one guy before, and he was nowhere near as experienced or bold as Tony. You definitely needed this.

He notices your expression and smirks, staring down at you as he moves one hand down to rub his fingers against your shorts. “What’s up, Y/N? You like that idea? Me fucking you into the floor of your bedroom, with your door wide open?” Your lips open into a needy moan, though you completely forgot about the door situation. Fuck. You glance to it nervously, but he only applies more pressure to your clothed entrance, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “You’re adorable, sweetheart. Think of it as a little adrenaline rush, hm? You have to take some risks sometimes, right?” He slips his fingers into your shorts and panties, rubbing your clit directly as he breathes out, “That’s my therapeutic advice to you…”

“A-ah…! Tony!” you moan lewdly, arching your back and staring up at him with wide eyes. “Please… I need more…”

He gladly obliges, his smirk growing wider as he eyes you hungrily. His fingers pump you skillfully, sliding in and out of your entrance and stretching you out, his thumb simultaneously teasing your clit. You’re a breathless mess of whimpers and whines, your head rolling back and your eyes shutting from the pleasure. The boy you were with before definitely didn’t know how to use his fingers. Tony, on the other hand, moves at the perfect, steady pace, actually listening to you to understand what you like and what’s working. The way he slightly crooks his fingers and expertly maneuvers them in subtle but hard hitting gestures inside your tight entrance is slowly making you uncoil- when he feels you tighten around his digits, he grins triumphantly. “Go ahead,” he commands breathlessly, “cum all over my fingers so I can taste you already…”

You obey with a gasp, coating his fingers with your release- he withdraws them and places them in his mouth, looking at you with a hungry little smirk. “Delicious,” he growls, his devious eyes filled with lust.

“Take off your clothes,” you breathe out suddenly, and he blinks before chuckling, pulling back slightly and obediently starting to unbutton his shirt. “For the record, I’m the one in charge here, but I also wanted to strip anyways,” he tells you playfully and you laugh, taking your own tank off feeling thankful you didn’t wear a bra that day. That would have been way too much work- you need him now. He stares down at you amazed, biting on his lip. “Damn. Your body is something else.” You widen your eyes upon seeing his cock when he removes his pants, clucking your tongue as you mumble, “I could say the same about you…”

He smirks and presses his throbbing erection against your sensitive entrance, his breaths heavy from anticipation. “I’ve been thinking about this for a while, doll. Think I’m already addicted to you.”

He thrusts into you roughly at that moment, letting out a groan of pleasure as he pins you down against the floor. You cry out in happiness as you arch your back towards him, rocking your hips upwards against his and holding onto his back tightly. You don’t even care that you’re on a rug right now- comfort is the least of your concerns when he’s stretching you out so nicely, his brown eyes filled with hunger as he stares down at you in arousal. “You look so pretty underneath me, Y/N,” he murmurs huskily, grunting with eyebrows furrowed in concentration, his dick entering deeper and deeper inside you with each thrust. “And you feel… mm… better than words can even describe…”

“Tony…! Oh, God, Tony- mm…!” You’re at a loss for words; the sensation is overwhelming, pushing you over the edge, filling every crevice of your mind with euphoria and delight. Your body’s beginning to quiver, your walls tightening around his cock- he smirks weakly in satisfaction, knowing you’re close. “Fuck. I’m gonna cum deep inside you, beautiful, I want you to cum for me… God… damn…”

Just as promised, he releases inside you, the feeling adding to your pleasure- you gasp in delight as you cum, your head rolling back and your eyes wide as you stare up at the ceiling. He lays on top of you for a bit before slowly lifting himself off, looking down at you with his signature smirk.

Before he can say anything, though, a voice belonging to a certain web-slinging eighteen-year-old boy standing at the doorway with a wide open mouth screams:

“What the fuck?!”

#tony stark x reader #tony stark smut #tony stark fanfiction #tony stark imagine #tony stark fic

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priorireverte · 3 years

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Congratulations Hollie!

Your application for Remus Lupin has been accepted. I adore how much potential there still is to this Remus. He may be an old soul, but how much has he really lived? It isn’t going to be an easy time having that second chance.

Please look to the checklist for the next steps and reach out if you have any questions!

OUT OF CHARACTER

NAME & PRONOUNS: Hollie. She/her

TIMEZONE: EST

ACTIVITY LEVEL: varies, but i tend to post multiple times a week

ANYTHING ELSE: tw body horror involving living things

CHARACTER DETAILS

NAME: Remus Lupin

BIRTHDATE: March 10, 1960

DEATHDATE: May 2, 1998

GENDER, PRONOUNS, and SEXUALITY: Male, He/him, pansexual

BLOOD STATUS: Half blood

HOUSE ALUMNI: Gryffindor

OCCUPATION: Returned

FACECLAIM: Hugh Dancy

CHARACTER BACKGROUND

POSTBELLUM

Survivors guilt was bad enough even before somehow returning from the dead. He has no idea why he gets to return when so many others don’t get the option. Even worse Remus feels guilty for feeling guilty. He should be grateful for the chance to come back. Grateful for the few things that had been returned to him. Especially, if nothing else, for the opportunity to raise his son. A son that doesn’t even remember him, and (with no job or magic) he can’t even provide for. Yet another hurdle to overcome. Then there’s that bitter part of him that manages to feel angry, somehow grieving his chance to escape the pain that has always ensconced his life. Loss, at least, he managed to numb himself to. He only wishes he could numb himself to the wolf. Neither marauders nor wolfsbane had ever been enough to numb him to that. Death would have finally been an escape, a chance at freedom. But somehow, just like everything else, even death had been denied him.

PERSONALITY

On his surface Remus Lupin is a calm and collected man with a good sense of humor. He comes across as the bookish sort, and while none of this is an incorrect assessment, there is far more to him beneath the surface. No innocent bystander in his friends’ childhood schemes, Lupin has plenty of a mischievous side of his own. Very often it was his contributions that allowed some of the Marauders’ grander ideas to even become a reality. There is also a lot of self deprecation to the man, as well as a constant need for control over himself. The nature of his condition makes it important for him to control his image, and beyond that he struggles to distinguish in his own mind between himself and the wolf, especially when it comes to any flares of temper. Shame, regrets, and guilt all weight heavily on the man. He is many layers of complexities, none of which feel any easier with his return from the grave.

BRIEF OVERVIEW OF FAMILY

Growing up was difficult for Remus, given his condition. His parents did everything they could for him, but they were constantly moving and he was unable to have any friends. Remus was closest with his mother, likely due to the strain caused by Lyall’s guilt regarding Greyback, but both parents cared deeply for their son and would have done anything to protect him. His mother passed first, and he stayed in contact with his father, but eventually he passed away as well. The only family Remus now has remaining are his son, and the mother-in-law who has been raising him. He can only be grateful for what she’s done, but guilt eats at him that she has to be witness to his return when her own daughter is still lost.

HISTORY

Until Greyback’s attack Remus had grown up with starry eyed ideas of what it would one day be like to go to Hogwarts, just like his father. Dreams that were quickly snuffed and replaced with nightmares that literally tore him to pieces on a monthly basis, and left him and his family with no hope that he would ever get to become a proper wizard or anything more than a monster prowling beneath the skin of a frightened boy. It was Dumbledore that brought those dreams back to life, giving Remus hope once more. Hope he clung to and was terrified of ruining if the secret of his condition ever got out.

While at Hogwarts, Remus managed to find friendship in the Marauders. A friendship that was hard won at first, but Remus was far from immune to the magnetism of these wild boys that drew out the parts of Remus that he hid behind innocent features and a bookish demeanor. The Marauders discovering his secret was a rollercoaster of emotions from fear to elation. The discovery only brought the boys closer, and Remus would have done anything for the other boys. Even to the extent of sometimes keeping quiet to some of their worst antics when he shouldn’t have done so. But through thick and thin, they had become as tight knit as any family.

A family that did their best to weather leaving Hogwarts. A task that would have been difficult enough had they been any normal kids setting out for the first time on their own. But the war wore them thin. Loss and desperation took over their lives as they fought the oncoming evil of Voldemort, washing them in pain and brewing distrust among their numbers. His own missions with the wolves leaving no room for any attempts at darning the threads of their lives back together. It was always the thought that things would get better after the war, but by the end of it he was the only one left.

Remus disconnected after the war. For some time the pain was too much and he allowed it consume him. He got by from job to job, only just skimming through life. He wasn’t really aware of when he managed to surface from it all, perhaps it wasn’t ever really anything that happened all at once. It was slow and gradual, and he didn’t even notice until around the first time he was able to take wolfsbane for the full moon. He wasn’t able to obtain it for long due to price, but it brought him up for air just long enough for him to realize he was no longer drowning, even if you couldn’t properly call it living.

Becoming a professor was a bittersweet thing for Remus. A proper job, access to wolfsbane, getting to teach Harry. All of these things gave him some small spark of joy that was hard to come by. But Hogwarts was also riddled with memories, joyful memories that had been tainted with pain and betrayal. Then that betrayal flipped and convoluted, a friend regained and another lost for a second time in a way that turned his entire life upside down. He was unable to keep his job, and a war that should have been over was looming over them like a pack of dementors trying to drain until they were left with nothing.

The war was a time of great confusion and turmoil for Remus. So many painful memories were brought to the surface by it all. All of this was supposed to be finished, and the loss was supposed to be done. But the hits kept coming. He found comfort with Tonks, but even that couldn’t just be simple for him. He wasn’t right for her, and he shouldn’t put her through being with him. He fought so hard to try to do what he thought was right or her, but in the end he had been convinced.

Convinced and stupid, because he became too wrapped up in finally having something that he wanted that he’d become careless, and Tonks had become pregnant. No one would choose to bring a child into a war, but it was done and he was so afraid of what would happen. His fear both times caused him to make foolish mistakes that cost him precious time with the woman he loved. Time he should have known better than to waste, but he thought he was doing the right thing when really he was just afraid. He returned in time at least to see his child born and have that precious little time as a family. Time that was so very fleeting.

OOC EXPLORATION

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO?

I love the concept of the plot and how it provides a bit of chaos for all the characters to contend with. There’s a lot of room for both joy and pain, as well as a whole spectrum of other emotions. Regarding Remus I’m looking forward to dealing with everything from his survivors guilt, raising his son, getting back one of his best friends, as well as dealing with new losses and other challenges.

#prioriacceptance #remus lupin

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smoothiegameshow · 4 years

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Hisoka x Illumi Hunter Exam pt.1

The only thing Hisoka loved more than hot showers was writing for his travel blog. But when he found that the places he wanted to visit were restricted, he decided to enroll in the hunter exam. Will Hisoka be able to pull through with the help of his new (and dreamy) friend, Illumi?

Hisoka woke up on the day of the exam feeling excited. As he breathed in the fresh morning air, his mind was alight with the possibilities this new certification could bring him. This morning, though it was the beginning to a bid day, started no different than any other morning: with the blog.

“Zaban City- your complete guide to the city of aspiring hunters,” he started to write. Aspiring hunters... Just the idea excited him, and made him giddy. Too nervous to work longer than that, he got up, took a shower, and put on his favorite outfit: Harlequin leggings, a white crop top with the four card suits on it, black platform boots, and his gold star earrings. To top it all off, he drew a pink star under his left eye, and a blue water drop under is right.

Perfect. Now that the look was done, it was time for breakfast. He thought about what he should pack... A change of clothes for sure... How long was this exam, anyway? Just as he was finishing his favorite breakfast, Froot Loops with almond milk, he got a text.

“Wishing you luck! I hope you have lots of fun! We miss you!! -Chrollo”

Hisoka couldn’t stop the rush to his stomach. The last big city he wrote about was Meteor City, a place he never wanted to go back to. But while he was there, he met a tight-knit yoga group that called themselves the spiders, presumably because they could stretch really far with their long legs. Hisoka made sure to tell them that he wasn’t too into yoga, but they let him in anyway, as Chrollo, the leader, clicked with him right away. Although, after missing a couple of meetings, Hisoka got the feeling that maybe the rest of the group didn’t like his spontaneous, fun style. Still, Chrollo and him kept in contact, and had become quite close, even over the distance.

“Thanks babes! I can’t wait to show you my new, shiny licence”

But before sending the text, Hisoka added his signature heart emoji, but this time in red. He didn’t know if it was the excitement of the morning, but he was feeling flirty, and the sole recipient of this frisky attitude at the moment was Chrollo.

Hisoka always added a little flare, and that was what Chrollo liked about him. Chrollo was a shy, bookish sort, and Hisoka was confident, brilliant, and so very metropolitan.

With his correspondence with Chrollo established, and his things packed, Hisoka left his small Zaban City hotel room for the Hunters Exam. As he was leaving the lobby, though, a delicious smell from the restaurant next door greeted him. Well... Maybe I could just indulge a little... and besides, I could give this place some exposure on my blog.

Ever the critic, Hisoka found it best to experience the food and service of a restaurant from a quiet and undisturbed portion of the establishment, so he always made sure to ask for a private room, if they had one. He walked in, ordered and noodle bowl with medium rare beef, and was surprised at how quickly he was ushered into a delightfully decorated little room with a big table.

This place seems super promising, he said to himself. Then, all of the sudden, what felt like an earthquake started to occur... well, no it couldn’t be an earthquake, but it felt so strange... as if the room itself was an elevator. He uncrossed his legs and immediately shot up from his seat and tried to open the door, but it was sealed shut and wouldn’t slide. It was then that he noticed that the table was bolted to the floor, which confirmed that this room was meant to move.

Hisoka was angry and annoyed that the server didn’t warn him that this was only an elevator leading to the real room. He was also wondering how much time it would take for them to get there to serve him, as he had somewhere he needed to be.

When the door opened, Hisoka was feeling very cross, so his arms were folded and his toe was pointed. What he saw next, he was not expecting.

An underground chamber full of chattering people, all wearing numbered badges. As a little green man walked up to him, Hisoka considered that he maybe wasn’t in a restaurant after all.

“Welcome to the Hunter’s Exam! Your number will be 44. Feel free to mingle until about noon, when we will be starting the exam. Good luck!”

Embarrassed yet impressed with his instincts, Hisoka took the badge with his number on it, and sat down to write in his notepad. He didn’t want to bring his precious computer, so paper and pen would have to do. After a couple of minutes, he looked up from his notes to see that the room was now filled with a lot more people, one of which was walking right towards him.

A short, fat man with a five-o-clock shadow and a rectangular nose was making his way towards Hisoka with a can of juice in his hand.

“Hello. Is this your first time taking the exam?” Said the man, whose number was 16.

“Yes.” Said Hisoka, not interested in entertaining someone who looked like that.

“My name’s Tonpa, nice to meet you! Would you like some juice?”

“No thanks, I don’t drink anything but water and coffee,” Hisoka responded.

“Suit yourself,” said Tonpa, who looked upset.

As he was walking away, a man nearby, who had been watching the exchange, came over and sat next to Hisoka.

“You have quite keen instincts. What is your name?” Said the man, whose 301 badge was now clearly in view.

“Hisoka; charmed” He replied, outstretching his hand towards the stranger, being sure to show off both his manicure and his jewelry.

When the stranger looked back at Hisoka’s ivory, outstretched hand, Hisoka got a good look at him. His eyes were massive and luminous; very dark and not very expressive. His jet-black hair was down to his elbows, and looked so smooth and strong that someone could pull taffy on top of it and it wouldn't be damaged. But more than anything else, Hisoka noticed this beautiful stranger’s dead-pan expression. Had this man shaken his hand as he was invited to, Hisoka would’ve been uninterested; But instead, the man ignored his hand and continued asking questions. Oh no, Hisoka thought, He’s exactly my type!

“...could you let me know?”

“Pardon?” gasped Hisoka, who had been daydreaming instead of listening.

“I told you that I’m looking for a boy who’s about twelve years old and has white hair and a skateboard. If you see him, could you point him out?” Repeated the man, seemingly unbothered by having to repeat himself.

“That depends,” purred Hisoka “who would I be reporting to?”

“Me. Perhaps I misjudged your ability to aid me..” replied the man, expression still unchanged.

“No, I just meant that I don’t know your name” said Hisoka, whose attempt at flirting had gotten confused for stupidity.

“My name is Illumi. What’s your phone number?”

Baffled at how quickly things were going between the two, Hisoka marveled at how straightforward Illumi was... how adorable. Hisoka loved a man who wasn’t concerned with self awareness. Biting his lip, Hisoka put his number into Illumi’s phone. Handing it back, Hisoka jested “Now I hope you know how hurt I get when I wait up for a call that doesn’t come.”

Seemingly ignoring Hisoka’s banter again, Illumi started to get up.

“Well, I won’t be too upset!” Hisoka tried desperately to keep him there, but Illumi was blended in with the crowd in a blink of an eye.

Still my beating heart, thought Hisoka, as he licked his lips and squinted his eyes. With a Man like that walking around, I need to be careful not to lose sight of what I’m here for.

#Hunter X Hunter #illumi zoldyck #hisoka morow #au

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cover2covermom · 4 years

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Goodbye May & hello June!

May was leaps and bounds better than April. Much like the rest of the United States, we spent April in quarantine here in Ohio. In May, we started slowly reopening & got back some normalcy in our lives.

Let’s see what I read & blogged in May…

After being off work for 8 weeks, I returned to work this month. While my library is still not yet open to patrons, our staff has been offering curbside service. Since our building is currently only open to staff, I took advantage and cleaned out our storage room. This was LONG overdue and desperately needed. To give you some context, I was pulling things out that hadn’t been touched in 15 years… We also just got the green light to start working on virtual summer programming! I am looking forward to getting creative for virtual programming.

» The Last (Endling #1) by Katherine Applegate

I’ve read a few of Applegate’s other books, but The Last definitely felt more mature. I’d consider this to be a crossover MG/YA fantasy.

» The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

I was delighted at how entertaining this adult romance was. The Unhoneymooners is a perfect beach/vacation read.

» Becoming by Michelle Obama

Despite the fact that this memoir is LONG, I was interested from start to finish. I adore Michelle Obama and find her so inspiring.

» Everblaze (Keeper of the Lost Cities #3) by Shannon Messenger

The 3rd installment in a fantastic MG fantasy series. I like how the content is maturing as the characters age. This book was definitely darker than the previous two installments.

» Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

*Reread*

Wishtree was selected for our community wide read along. I loved rereading this book with my children. This is a perfect book for a community read along.

» The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck

This book was just okay. I didn’t realize this was “Christian fiction” when this was picked for one of my book clubs. The religious tones came out of nowhere at the end & were very heavy handed.

» Crush (Berrybrook Middle School #3) by Svetlana Chmakova

I’ve adored each graphic novel in this series. Chmakova captures the essence of middle school perfectly. She also does a wonderful job giving us a diverse cast of characters, and tackling relevant topics.

» Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl #1) by Eion Colfer

This is an excellent MG/YA crossover fantasy book. I’m a fan of anti-hero main characters, so I enjoyed reading about a 12-year-old “evil” genius. I found this book to be very witty and amusing. I’d recommend this book to fans of Terry Pratchett.

» The Stonekeeper’s Curse (Amulet #2) by Kazu Kibuishi

*4.5 Stars*

I enjoyed this second installment even more than the first! The art style is absolutely stunning and I really enjoyed the story line. I can really see this as a TV series or movie.

» El Deafo by Cece Bell

*3.5 Stars*

This graphic novel about a young girl with a hearing impairment is based off the author’s own life experiences. While I loved reading from the prospective of a character with a hearing impairment, I had a few issues with the plot. I was also not a big fan of the art style.

» Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Another 5-star read from Elizabeth Acevedo! Clap When You Land is a heart-wrenching book in verse about loss, betrayal, and forgiveness.

» Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson

Harbor Me was a beautiful MG contemporary novel about 6 kids, all with different backgrounds, that come together every Friday afternoon to share their experiences. This felt like a diverse middle grade version of The Breakfast Club

» Sideways Stories from Wayside School (Wayside School #1) by Louis Sachar

I fondly remember this series from my elementary school days, so I bought it to read with my 6-year-old. While I love the story, some of the content & language have not held up. This isn’t exactly surprising since it was first published in 1978. My daughter did love it though.

» The Cloud Searchers (Amulet #3) by Kazu Kibuishi

I’m loving this graphic novel series!

Goodreads Challenge Update: 60 books!

April 2020 Reading & Blogging Wrap-Up + Book Haul

Mini Book Reviews: May 2020 – Part 1

Mini Book Reviews: May 2020 – Part 2

Mini Book Reviews: May 2020 – Part 3

Mini Book Reviews: May 2020 – Part 4

ARC eBooks:

» The Time of Green Magic by Hilary McKay

From acclaimed author and Costa winner Hilary McKay comes The Time of Green Magic: a beautiful, spell-binding novel about a new families, a magical old house and a mysterious cat . . .

When Tom and Polly marry, blending their single parent families together, their children find it hard to relinquish their old lives. Max realizes his birth dad will never come home now, while Abi suddenly finds herself a middle child, expected to share far too much – especially with grubby little Louis. The family start over together, stretching their finances to the limit and renting an eerie, ivy-covered house, big enough for all of them.

But when the children are alone there, strange things start to happen. Worried, Louis summons comfort from outdoors, and a startling guest arrives – is it a cat, or an owl, or something else? Abi reads alone, tumbling deep into books. Max loses his best friend and falls in love.

Meanwhile, Louis’ secret visitor is becoming much too real. And when Max and Abi too start to see the great spotted cat-thing that arrives in the night, it becomes a problem the three of them must find a way to solve – together. But where has the creature come from, and how will he get back?

» The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

A Life No One Will Remember. A Story You Will Never Forget.

France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.

Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.

But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.

Much to my surprise, I was approved for an ARC of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue via NetGalley! This is my #1 most anticipated book of 2020!

Which books did you read this month?

Have you read any of the books I read or hauled this month? If so, what did you think?

Did you buy any books? If so, which ones?

Comment below & let me know 🙂

May 2020 Reading & Blogging Wrap-Up + Book Haul #BookBlogger #Bookworm #BookNerd #Bibliophile #Bookish #Books #Reading Goodbye May & hello June! May was leaps and bounds better than April. Much like the rest of the United States, we spent April in quarantine here in Ohio.

#Am Reading #Bibliophile #book blog #book blogger #Book Chat #Book Nerd #Book Talk #Book Worm #Bookish #Books #Bookworm #Reading

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lakeham · 5 years

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CHARLOTTE DAVENPORT is 28 YEARS OLD, resides in GRANDVIEW and has lived in Lakeham for 18 YEARS. She is FEMALE and works as a FREELANCE WRITER. She is portrayed by MARGOT ROBBIE and is played by NATASHA.

Trigger Warnings: Death, drugs, depression.

The son of one of the most influential families in a wealthy Connecticut town falling in love with the daughter of a British lord was almost too perfect of a match. Jeff Davenport and Caroline Dormer met at Columbia University while they were pursuing master’s degrees; Jeff’s future working in his family’s company was decided for him while Caroline, who had no real desire to return to England to live as a noblewoman, had dreams of becoming a professor. Once the pair graduated and were engaged, there was no question that they were going to live in Jeff’s affluent hometown of Lakeham while he worked his way to being the CEO of his family’s Bridgeport-based cybersecurity company. Caroline taught mathematics at Lakeham University for some time, leaving the workforce entirely when she gave birth to their son Henry. Two girls followed in the subsequent years, Charlotte and Olivia. The Davenports had always wanted many children, not because they loved the idea of parenthood, but because they had a legacy to secure through them. They reminded themselves that a marriage like theirs, although based in love, was far too powerful to waste in any way but creating their own dynasty, a subset of the one that Jeff’s ancestors had begun when they settled in Lakeham.

Henry was the pride and joy of their family, the one who would eventually take over the family business, and the youngest daughter Olivia was the baby of the family who was constantly adored by both her parents and siblings. Charlotte was just that, Charlotte. She was seen as being beautiful and bookish, but no one else knew how to describe the black sheep of the Davenport family. Although she suffered from middle child syndrome and felt as though she was living in the shadows of her siblings, it would have been a lie to say that Charlotte was not loved by them. Jeff and Caroline tried their best to be the ever-loving parents, but they both had other priorities that took precedence over being there for their offspring. But if there was one thing that they had ensured to teach them, it was that their image and reputation were everything - only enhanced by associating with people of the same caliber as them. Valley Prep School was an easy time for Charlotte, with friends that her parents had deemed appropriate including her in their social circle. Insecurity plagued her brain as a teenager, knowing that had she not had the Davenport name backing her, she would not be friends with the people whom she called as such. Not that it mattered, as the young girl internalized that to be among them was a privilege that she should never question and should instead show gratitude for. So many teenage girls would give anything to be in her position, and she would be a fool to not acknowledge that. Henry played the role perfectly, and it would be an utter shame if she could not hold a torch to his performance.

Instead of following in the footsteps of her parents and older brother in attending Columbia when the time came, Charlotte flew across the pond to attend University College London in her mother’s homeland. Pursuing a degree in Comparative Literature with a concentration in French, Charlotte had no idea what she wanted to do with her life - just that there was more to it than the cushy confines of her family’s manor back in Lakeham. With Henry set to take over the family business, the middle Davenport child was free to make whatever life choices she wanted - within reason, of course. Caroline’s family was ever present in London, and welcomed their American relative with arms wide open. Her cousins invited her to social gatherings among London’s upper class, and for someone who had such distaste for her New England aristocratic upbringing, Charlotte ironically adored the British high society lifestyle and even thrived as an honorary socialite for some time. London had become her second home and she vowed that she would be back once she had seen enough of the rest of the world. As much as Henry and Olivia begged her to come back, Charlotte had no intentions of returning to Lakeham. In her eyes, she would have been returning to exactly what she wanted to escape: a stagnant and elitist society, where she would never be seen as anything but Jeff Davenport’s beautiful and introverted daughter. Although her older brother Henry especially kept bringing up the topic, Charlotte reassured him of her affection for him but also her reluctance to return to the life she once knew and did not enjoy, not when there was a chance to create a future independent of her family name, the future that she chose for herself.

Getting certified to teach English as a Second Language was not difficult, and getting a placement to teach in France at first was simple as well given her knowledge of the language. Being based in a small town in southern France teaching teenagers for two years, Charlotte embraced the culture and immersed herself in the French language before deciding that she wanted to move on to her next destination. The next four years were spent as an expat, from teaching English in South Korea to doing humanitarian work in Costa Rica to spending time on a working holiday visa in Australia. While she worked, Charlotte did some freelance writing jobs over the years, writing pieces mostly for lifestyle publications and even started her own blog. Her brother’s continuous pleas for her to return home fell on deaf ears, as the blonde ignored them and continued to embrace the life that she was meant to live. Her living conditions were not luxurious by any means, but she was truly happy with her life and the spontaneity of not knowing what country or project it would lead her to next.

It was in Australia that she crossed paths with a British expat who was also working there, and for the first time in her life, Charlotte was falling in love with a person instead of a place. Like her, David was also from an affluent family but wanted to forge his own path in the world, which led him to Sydney and right into Charlotte’s life. What started off as just them having fun turned into a serious courtship, with the pair becoming engaged just a little over a year into dating with plans to go to London for the time being, where they would marry in the presence of their friends and families before embarking on their next journey together. Once again, Henry’s desperate pleas for his sister to return home were met with an exasperated sigh, with Charlotte not knowing why a thirty-year-old man was so insistent on his sister being in the same place as him. Could he have not respected her newfound independence and desire to be on her own, regardless of how she felt about him? Their last conversation would haunt the young woman forever, as it was a week later that she received the call that no one had wanted to: Henry had died of a drug overdose in a Bridgeport hotel room. Charlotte’s world crumbled with that news, how long had he been using? Were his pleas for her to come home also a cry for help? Had she really been that selfish to ignore her older brother’s issues and focused on her own goals too much to see that she was needed by one of the people she cared about the most?

Charlotte and David were only supposed to have been in Lakeham for two weeks to attend Henry’s funeral and offer support to her family. It was the first time that the blonde had stepped foot on American soil since she was eighteen years old, and she was a changed woman since then, given her experiences and growth over the prior decade. The night before their transatlantic flight back to London Heathrow, Charlotte told her fiancé that she needed some more time in Lakeham and that he should go back to London and she’d join him soon. She was lucky to have such an understanding and patient man by her side, who was more than willing to give her the time she needed. The couple parted ways for the time being while David headed home, wanting to give Charlotte some the opportunity to collect herself and be at peace with her family - if only she knew how to do that.

❝ I'M OUT WITH LANTERNS, LOOKING FOR MYSELF.❞

It has been one year since Henry’s death, and almost a year since Charlotte has been back in Connecticut. She is still in a strained long distance relationship with her fiancé, who has grown frustrated with her reluctance to return to London or even set a wedding date, always telling him that she is “ not ready”. Quite a jump from the months prior to losing her brother, when she knew that she was ready to settle down with David and fairly sure of herself. She has since moved back into the Davenport manor in Grandview, although it had become a shell of the home that it once was. Her parents were devastated after having lost their only son, and Olivia… Charlotte did not even know where to start with her younger sister. She has been trying to read the youngest Davenport’s true emotions regarding their family and would like to rekindle their relationship, but also knowing what it feels like to need space she did not want to stifle her.

Charlotte’s career has been paused, but she has been keeping somewhat busy with continuing her freelance career while falling back on her financial stability, credited to her own savings and her family’s money that she was given. Being a jack of all trades but a master of none, she has yet to choose something to focus mostly one from her extensive resume of teaching, volunteering, and writing. She is contracted to write various pieces for publications and websites, sometimes thinking of starting an actual career but not knowing exactly where to begin.

Anyone who knows Charlotte is waiting to see which country she flies off to next, or what her next job would be. Surely she would not be staying in Lakeham, as she has enjoyed her time away from it far too much and had a life waiting to begin in England. She is definitely not a contender to take over the Davenport business, and the only person she would have stayed behind for is deceased. But Charlotte cannot bring herself to leave Lakeham yet again, as the sadness and guilt have consumed her and made her unsure even of what her purpose in life is. Death changes people, and she had been unprepared for it. She only hopes that she can keep her head above water long enough to find a life jacket, unsure as to how to ask for the help that she so desperately needs.

Charlotte has been running a travel and lifestyle blog for the past five years, documenting her various stints in different countries and the lives she leads in each one, seeing no two as being the same. But her online life has been on a hiatus since she returned to Connecticut, with only throwback photos being posted. She is not ready to come out to her followers about the pain that she is enduring currently. Her blog is her happy place, why should she ruin it? That being said, she hates the term “influencer” despite having a significant social media following due to her blog.

Ever since she left home for university, Charlotte has always wanted a pet but has never had the time to actually take care of one, with being so busy and moving from country to country. She is definitely more of a cat person than a dog person, and plans on adopting one soon now that she’s settled for the time being.

Charlotte loves being by bodies of water, and she can often be found on the beach or by Lake Marin relaxing peacefully. However, she is not much of a swimmer.

(+) Intelligent, compassionate, open-minded. (-) Guarded, self-righteous, hypocritical.

#charlotte davenport #margot robbie #female #all #grandview #tw drugs #tw depression #tw death

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nellie-elizabeth · 7 years

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Outlander: Freedom & Whisky (3x05)

I have to wait two weeks to see the continuation of that scene? Arghhhhhh.

Cons:

Okay, so this episode stays entirely with Claire, Brianna, and Roger the whole time, and we don't learn anything more about what Jamie gets up to after he leaves Helwater in the last episode. This is true to the books, in that the next steps in Jamie's journey are something we've got to find out alongside Claire, now that she's finally back in the eighteenth century. That's all well and good, but spending the entire episode in the twentieth century highlighted for me how much less interesting it is than the stuff in Scotland's past.

This becomes especially true when we look at Brianna. God, I feel bad. I want to like Sophie Skelton in this role so badly, but she's not very good. She has a very monotone delivery, and she's expected to carry some pretty heavy and often hokey dialogue. When she's talking about how Claire gave up Jamie for her, and now she has to give her back to him, or how Jamie doesn't know Brianna, and Claire owes it to him to go tell him everything, I was just not at all invested. She comes across really stilted, and just cannot carry the emotions of these scenes.

Also, I felt like the transition at the end, where Claire arrives in the eighteenth century, was really abrupt. They don't show her going through the stones, they don't show her finding her way to Edinburgh. She's just in a taxi on her way to Craigh na Dun, and suddenly she's stepping out of a carriage onto a cobbled street. I under stand the efficacy of this move, but since everything else has been drawn out, I felt a little startled at the suddenness of this. The stones are such a symbol for the show, and to not get a chance to see them here felt like a missed opportunity.

Pros:

There are plenty of good things going on in this episode, though, and that's even before we get to the ending.

Roger is so charming and sweet. I love him. He's awkward and bookish but he doesn't come across like he's desperate or thinks he deserves a woman's affections, either. He's just a genuinely good person and he's also a huge nerd. As I've mentioned before, Sophie Skelton's best moments as Brianna come when she's interacting with Roger, and that gives me hope for the future. They really do make an adorable couple. Roger also serves as a good reason why Claire feels able to leave her daughter - possibly forever - and journey into the past to find Jamie again. Roger is Brianna's future. I'm going to ignore the fact that it still seems like an odd choice that Claire would consent to leaving her daughter forever. That's a complaint from the books too, but it's necessary for the story, so... what can you do? Roger is there for Brianna. He's the only one that knows the full truth of what's going on, and so is the only one who can properly be there for her as she says goodbye to her mother.

Also, there's Joe. I love this guy. He's not a huge part in the books and he's not huge in the show either, but he's undeniably wonderful. I love the moment when he reassures Claire that she's attractive. That was just such a hilarious and truthful thing for two old friends to discuss. And of course we've got the creepy skull that gave Claire weird murder vibes. I guess I won't spoil this for anybody who doesn't know where it's going, but suffice it to say... pay attention. I was actually pleasantly surprised that this scene made it into the show, as I wondered whether that plot thread would be cut. It was so heartbreaking to see Claire say goodbye to Joe without his realizing what was going on. She's never going to see her dear friend again.

This is turning in to a bit of a short review, but I really don't have much more to say before we get to the ending. I think Outlander made a really smart decision to delay the reunion. It's true to the books, and it makes for really great tension. We actually do get to see the moment of reunion at the end of this episode. I wondered if that would be the case, or if we'd have to wait until episode six. We did indeed get The Moment, but of course it's cut short and we have to wait two whole weeks to see them actually speak to one another. Noooo.

Anyway. Here's what happens: Claire enters Jamie's print-shop in Edinburgh, he hears the bell and starts talking to a man named Geordie, who he believes has just come in. Claire approaches from an upper floor, sees Jamie's back, and speaks to him: "It isn't Geordie. It's me. Claire." Jamie turns around very slowly. He sees her. He has to steady himself against the table behind him. Claire looks joyous and terrified. Jamie looks like... well, like he's just seen a ghost. And then he passes out and crumples to the ground, and we get a brief glance of Claire's shocked face before cutting to black.

Okay this is too good, you guys. The fact that they kept Jamie fainting from the book just makes me so happy. That's such an iconic moment. Also, Caitriona Balfe did such a good job with this moment. She hears Jamie's voice and she's almost deranged with the strange mixture of nerves and happiness. She doesn't smile gently, or give a longing sigh. She has a strained look on her face as she approaches. You can really imagine that a hundred different things are going through her mind. I cannot wait to see the immediate aftermath of that moment. I really hope they don't skip past it.

And so the waiting begins! I'm so upset that we have a week off next Sunday... I need more!!! All that being said, this was unfortunately not a particularly strong installment of Outlander. A lot of it felt like just a way to pass the time until we get to the good stuff in the next episode.

6.5/10

#review #outlander #outlander review #outlander starz

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krissysbookshelf · 7 years

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Free Ebooks (6/11/17)

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE FREE PRICING IS ONLY A SPECIAL FOR THE DIGITAL FORMAT OF THE BOOK THAT IS LISTED AND IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME, SO BE SURE TO PURCHASE THE E-BOOKS BEFORE THE PRICE RETURNS TO ITS NORMAL LISTING. (Unless you want to buy them at full price:)

Don't forget to check my Free Ebook page on Pinterest for more Free Ebook titles and genres not listed below!

Aesop’s Fables on Stage: A Collection of Plays for Children by Julie Meighan: This book is a collection of plays that have been adapted from Aesop’s most famous fables. They can be used as performance plays, readers theatre, or just used to promote reading in groups. Each play is between five and ten minutes long. The plays can be adapted to suit the various needs of the group. The cast list is very flexible – more characters can be added if desired!