#the extraordinary adventures of ordinary boy

[genspiel]

oh, these books are way more ableist than i remembered

#tre reads #the extraordinary adventures of ordinary boy #the hero revealed #william boniface

[who-do-i-know-this-man]

⚠️Vote for whomever YOU DO NOT KNOW⚠️‼️

#ultimate obscure blorbo #polls #round 1 #Lord Gaia (Paradise of Sinners: An Encyclopedia of Gods) #Lord Pincushion (The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy)

[littledemondani]

“the water’s so cool! come on, just come in for a dip to cool yourself down.”

Where Eddie is luring you in cool water like a mermaid 🥴

warnings: fluff, no use of y/n, fem!reader

wc: 0.3K

a/n: thank you for sending this prompt in, bb <3 as always, do not repost my works on any other platform without my permission. follow my library blog if you'd like to keep up with my writing.

still accepting these prompts.

you stand at the edge of the crystal-clear water of lover’s lake, a gentle breeze rustling through the trees around you. eddie munson, the boy with an adventurous spirit and a mischievous smile, stands ankle-deep in the inviting water. his brown eyes sparkle with excitement as he beckons you to join him.

"the water's so cool!" eddie calls out, his voice carrying on the breeze. "come on, just come in for a dip to cool yourself down."

you can't help but be captivated by his enthusiasm. his words hang in the air, luring you in like a siren's song. with a smile of anticipation, you step forward, feeling the soft grass beneath your feet give way to the coolness of the water.

eddie's eyes light up as he sees you inching closer, his excitement infectious. his outstretched hand invites you to join him in this aquatic adventure, and you willingly accept the invitation. your heart races with anticipation as you take the final steps, the water enveloping your legs, refreshing and soothing.

a wave of exhilaration washes over you as you join eddie in the water. the coolness seeps into your skin, soothing away the heat of the summer day. you can't help but marvel at the way the sunlight dances on the surface, casting shimmering patterns like scattered jewels.

as you wade further into the water, eddie's laughter fills the air, mingling with the sounds of nature. the water's gentle embrace makes you feel weightless, as if you're floating on a sea of tranquility. eddie's presence beside you adds a touch of magic to the moment, turning an ordinary day into something extraordinary.

you glance at eddie, his hair tousled and his eyes filled with joy. he moves effortlessly through the water, his movements akin to those of a mermaid, graceful and fluid. he dives beneath the surface, disappearing momentarily before resurfacing with a mischievous grin.

"isn't this amazing?" he exclaims, his voice bubbling with excitement. "just you and me out here. not another soul in sight. it's like our own secret world."

you nod, unable to find the words to express your agreement. this moment feels surreal, like a scene straight out of a fairytale. with eddie by your side, the world around you fades away, leaving only the two of you immersed in the cool embrace of the water.

#eddie munson #eddie munson x fem!reader #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson blurb #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson fanfiction #stranger things #stranger things fanfic #stranger things imagine #stranger things fanfiction

[sussyjake]

“This boy's too young to be singing the blues,”

————————————————————————

Pairing: Jake x reader

Warnings: none!

Genre: angst

Word count: no clue 🤷‍♀️

————————————————————————

Once upon a time in a small, picturesque town, there lived a boy named Jake. Jake was an ordinary young man with an extraordinary heart. He was known throughout the town for his kindness and his warm smile that could brighten even the cloudiest of days.

But there was something that set Jake apart from everyone else – his deep and secret affection for a girl named Yn. Yn was a beacon of light in the town, with her radiant personality and a spirit that was as free as the wind. She had a way of making everyone around her feel special.

Jake and Yn had been friends since childhood. They had shared countless adventures, explored hidden trails in the woods, and laughed together under the starry night sky. As the years passed, Jake's feelings for Yn grew stronger, but he never found the courage to confess his love for her.

One fateful summer, tragedy struck the town. Yn fell seriously ill, and despite the best efforts of the doctors, her condition worsened with each passing day. The entire town rallied together, praying for her recovery, but the illness was relentless.

Jake spent every moment he could by Yn's bedside, holding her hand, and trying to find the words to express his love. He longed to tell her how much she meant to him, but the fear of rejection held him back.

Days turned into weeks, and Yn's health continued to decline. One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Yn smiled weakly at Jake and whispered, "Promise me, Jake, promise me you'll always remember our adventures and the love we shared as friends."

Jake choked back tears as he replied, "I promise, Yn. I'll treasure every moment we've had together."

Yn's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she whispered, "I love you, Jake," before closing her eyes for the last time.

Jake's heart shattered into a million pieces. He never had the chance to tell Yn how deeply he loved her. He mourned her loss, and the pain of regret gnawed at him for years.

But as time passed, Jake realized that even though he couldn't tell Yn how he felt, the love they shared as friends was a precious gift. He honored her memory by living his life with the same kindness, warmth, and love that she had shown him. And in his heart, he believed that somewhere, somehow, Yn knew the depth of his love.

And so, in the small, picturesque town, the memory of Jake and Yn's friendship lived on, a testament to the power of unspoken love and the enduring bonds of friendship.

the end.

#Spotify #enhypen x reader #sim jaeyun #enhypen imagines #enhypen angst #sim jake #jake x reader #enhypen #enhypen smut

[disneytva]

Disney Europe Animation Gives New Previews To Dragon Striker and The Doomies In Annecy Film Festival Panel

Serialized Animation at Disney has a new home at Disney+ and Disney Europe Animation has joined the fun with new concept art from DRAGON STRIKER and THE DOOMIES slated to debut 2024 only on Disney+.

“DRAGON STRIKER”

Creator/Producer: Sylvain Dos Santos

Produced by: Cybergroup Studios and La Chouette Compagnie for Disney Europe Animation

When the world’s most popular sport combines with magic, awesomeness escalates quicker than a dragon-powered strike! In this action-packed adventure full of comedy and high-stakes sports drama, elite players have magical signature moves they can use on the pitch. Twelve-year-old Key is a farm-boy fanboy who can only dream of entering the famous school where the greatest players train before joining the big leagues — until he discovers he has his own ultra-powerful spell and may even be the legendary “Dragon Striker.” Key joins a team of hapless underdogs who band together to take on the school champions, all the while fighting to prevent an ancient evil from resurfacing.

THE DOOMIES

Creators: Andrès Fernandez & Pozla (aka Rémi Zaarour)

Produced by: Xilam Animation for Disney Europe Animation

When best friends Bobby and Romy mistakenly open a gateway to another world, they turn their sleepy coastal town into a hotspot for terrifying creatures of doom. Roped into an epic supernatural mystery, they will cross paths with the so-called “Chosen One” and do battle with both literal and inner monsters. “The Doomies” is a spooky comedy that combines thrills, chills and surprises with character-driven comedy from an odd couple of ordinary teens engulfed by extraordinary circumstances. Its fast-paced humor and high-stakes action take place in a quirky French town in the heart of Brittany, imagined with moody flair and graphic style.

#Dragon Striker #The Doomies #Sylvain Dos Santos #Andrès Fernandez #Rémi Zaarour #Disney Europe Animation #Disney+ #Disney Plus #Disney+ Originals #Disney Plus Originals #Disney+ Original Series #Disney Plus Original Series #Disney+ Original Animated Series #Disney Plus Original Animated Series

[ashspecter]

All Boxed Up

@aggressivelyclueless's prompt: Backstory: pick your favorite ghost and flesh out their history a little. How did they die? What do they miss most about being alive?

Summary: Barnaby Boxton falls in a box.

Warnings: Death

Words: 485

Box Ghost, born Barnaby Boxton in the city of Amity Park, was an ordinary man with an extraordinary love for all things cardboard. In life, Barnaby owned and operated Boxton’s Box Emporium, a modest but beloved shop that specialized in boxes of all sizes, shapes, and purposes. Barnaby wasn’t just a businessman; he was a craftsman who could tell you the history of the cardboard box, explain the intricate process of corrugation, and debate the merits of various types of packing tape.

Barnaby’s love affair with boxes began in his childhood. He was an introverted boy with a wild imagination, finding solace and adventure within the confines of the cardboard constructs he built and inhabited. Forts, castles, and spaceships made from discarded appliance boxes filled his backyard. As he grew older, his passion didn’t wane; it only deepened. His enthusiasm was infectious, and soon he was the go-to expert in Old Churnwick for anything box-related.

The turning point in Barnaby’s life came unexpectedly. Late one night, while working on a special commission— a life-sized cardboard replica of the Apollo 11 Lunar Module— he accidentally sealed himself inside a particularly intricate assembly of reinforced boxes. Unbeknownst to him, a rare chemical reaction between the adhesive he was using and the recycled material of the cardboard created a toxic fume. By morning, when the error was discovered by his concerned assistant, it was too late. Barnaby Boxton had passed away, surrounded by the objects of his greatest affection.

As the Box Ghost, Barnaby found himself still tethered to the physical realm, unable to leave the confines of his beloved shop. His specter was not menacing but was instead characterized by a mournful wistfulness. What he missed most about being alive was not the thrill of creating or the joy of collecting; it was the simple pleasure of touch—the feel of a smooth, freshly cut piece of cardboard, the sensation of a perfectly executed fold, the resistance of a flap being tucked into a slot. He missed the warmth of human contact, the handshake of a satisfied customer, the hug of a friend, and the occasional pat on the back for a job well done.

In his afterlife, Barnaby, now the Box Ghost, became something of a benign presence in Old Churnwick. He was occasionally spotted in the aisles of local stores, his translucent form gently caressing cardboard displays or rearranging boxes during the quiet of the night. To some, he was a figure of local folklore, a gentle reminder of the passion that once filled Boxton’s Box Emporium. To others, he was a spectral helper, ensuring that every box was perfectly placed and cared for, just as Barnaby would have wanted.

As time passed, tales of the Box Ghost inspired others to find passion in the mundane, to seek joy in simple pleasures, and to remember that legends are sometimes made from the most unassuming of materials.

#danny phantom #box ghost #crack fic #phic phight 2024 #dp events #phandom #phandom events

[alolanrain]

But also like… I’ve had this Au for a while now that Rotom Dex or a version of it has been in use for years. But instead in use for normal trainers, their given out to extraordinary trainers and people that work in the gym circuit. Like champion for equally as close gym leaders.

It the idea is to mostly capture videos or photo’s of what these people do day to day or extraordinary experiences such as coming in contact with a Marshadow or a Latios. Something that absolutely doesn’t happen to ordinary people.

This would absolutely be something Ash would have, receiving one after his Johto circuit in Hoenn on behalf of Lance’s insistence. Though it proves him will when he comes in contact with Legendaries and mythical’s alike through his journey. All of these are accumulated on a private and very secure data cloud because for some reason Ash’s interaction with the God’s give scientists and historians a lot more data. Especially when these Legendaries and Mythical’s show up on their own term, speaking out the boy for one reason or another.

Ash had forgotten about that little tidbit. He’s so used to forgetting his Pokédex actual exists in the heat of the moment and usually when it’s done flying around and catching video and pitot evidence, it’s back in his pocket before anyone can really see. It isn’t until Alola when he comes face to face with a talking Rotom-Dex. He’s never seen one so… clunky before either.

All this adds up to when he finally beats Leon and becomes the World Champion. A video is soon played on all of the Regions Tv stations as a monument celebration for Ash, showing just how far he’s come. It shows off extraordinary battles both in and out of gyms, amazing sights people of have rarely ever come across and have little to no knowledge of its existence.

Even other worldly and dangerous stuff like angry Legendaries and Mythical’s. Regardless the PG rating is way pass R at this point and there’s not much that anyone could really do to edit what the people watching at home see. A very big hindsight to the International League.

But that means everyone gets to see kind of like a movie view of Ash defeating Zero and saving Giratina or glimpses of Kalos’s Doomsday, especially including Ash getting zapped by the same rays controlling Zygarde and that cool water thing with him and Greninja. They see Ash trying to keep the Alolan class safe while also dealing with the Ultra Beasts, Dealing with Groundon and Kyoger with Lance and his traveling partners by his side, and don’t forget the most important one which is the entirety of Shamouti island and Ash being referred to as the Chosen One. The little details like Celebi’ sand Mew’s coming to greet Ash randomly through his travels or Ash relaxing in the sun with Solgaleo. His time traveling adventures and mishaps and everything else in between.

The world gets to know Ash more then they’d probably like but it’s clear to see just how far this kid has come to claim the title of the World Champion.

#ash ketchum #go-pro!au

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb: A painfully average teen’s life is upended by a magical apocalypse in this darkly atmospheric and sweepingly romantic novel perfect for fans of The Raven Boys, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and The Rest of Us Just Live Here.

High school is hard enough to survive without an apocalypse to navigate.

Sid Spencer has always been the most normal girl in her abnormal hometown, a tourist trap built over one of the fault lines that seal magic away from the world. Meanwhile, all Sid has to deal with is hair-ruining humidity, painful awkwardness, being one of four Asians in town, and her friends dumping her when they start dating each other—just days after one of the most humiliating romantic rejections faced by anyone, ever, in all of history.

Then someone kills one of the Guardians who protect the seal. The earth rips open and unleashes the magic trapped inside. Monsters crawl from the ground, no one can enter or leave, and the man behind it all is roaming the streets with a gang of violent vigilantes. Suddenly, Sid’s life becomes a lot less ordinary. When she finds out her missing brother is involved, she joins the remaining Guardians, desperate to find him and close the fault line for good.

Fighting through hordes of living corpses and uncontrollable growths of forest, Sid and a ragtag crew of would-be heroes are the only thing standing between their town and the end of the world as they know it. Between magic, murderers, and burgeoning crushes, Sid must survive being a perfectly normal girl caught in a perfectly abnormal apocalypse.

Only—how can someone so ordinary make it in such an extraordinary world?

Review:

In a world where there are lay lines and guardians who have special abilities and are charged with guarding them, one girl will find herself fighting to find her brother and save the other guardians as well as discover her own powers. Sid Spencer never expected to face the apocalypse (the literal one) in high school. She was navigating losing her best friend, having her love letter exposed, and dealing with her own insecurities while being one of the very few asians in town. Her town is known for it's lay lines and being a tourist destination for anyone interested in magic. These lay lines are guarded by Guardians, individuals with magical abilities and keys connected to those. When one of the seals are broken and someone kills one of the Guardians, one of the seals is broken and magic is unleashed. The killer is after the rest of the Guardians and wants to steal their powers. Sid wakes up to discover that her brother is not only missing but he has been keeping a secret, he's a Guardian. Sid is desperate to find her brother but finds her entire town trapped inside and that the killer is trying to find her brother as well. She finds herself joining the remaining Guardians fighting against hordes of living corpses, the killer and his group, and possible falling in love with the one boy she never expected to fall for. For someone who has always felt ordinary, she's going to have a very extraordinary journey. This was a really fun apocalyptic magical journey with a dash of romance, friendship, and navigating the apocalypse. I loved Sid and her relationship with Brian so much, as well as the other ragtag crew of Guardians. The book works as a standalone and wraps everything up really nicely. It felt like a fast paced read and had me holding on onto the very end. It had a bit of Raven Boy vibes which I adored. i would definitely recommend this book for anyone who enjoys magical survival stories and a bit of apocalypse adventure.

*Thanks Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

#book review #bookish #dead things are closer than they appear

[authenticaussie]

Tagged by @suzukiblu !! 😳❤️ Thanks!!!!

List 3 ships I like:

mas.....mas always and forever my beloved 😔😔 also atm tim//kon and kon//bart? They're. They're so cute. Wtf. 🥺 Bart's a silly lil guy and he DELIGHTS me

First ship ever:

Hdkshddj honestly I don't entirely remember? I THINK it was probably naru//hina?? At the least that's the first I remember like, consciously looking up ship art for. I think one of the first where I was like, an actively involved shipper would be rose//kanaya from homestuck tho, or zolu.

Last song I heard:

Had youtube on shuffle while I was doing work stuff, so it was, Heather on the Hill by Nathan Evans

Favourite childhood book:

Tamora Pierce!!!! I use to reccomend Song of the Lioness to everyone. Either that or the Mysterious Benedict Society, or The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy. EAOB my beloved....when will they FINALLY come out with the book that discusses the fact that your superpower is common sense 😔😔😔 and that everyone in your town is just stupid as fuck......they were very childish and fun books and they had SUPERPOWERS from eating POTATO CHIPS and it was GREAT.

Currently reading now:

Sb'94 and the YJ omnibus!!!! I'm actually taking the omnibus pretty slow bc it's SO heavy that it's hard to read but they're all so 🥺🥺 cute 🥺🥺

Currently watching:

My roommates and I are finishing off White Collar and Batman: TAS. White Collar is ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ - start was really good, ending we are kinda Powering Through (it's very well done! Very well written, everyone is great! Just also getting a bit less fun I think). But I'm glad we managed to stick through with the first ten of Batman: TAS because it has grown on me. Also. Tim!! (Tim that's mostly Jason lol so we've been calling him Timson 😂)

Currently consuming:

I've got a stomach bug right now 😭 so unfortunately, nothing

Currently craving:

nausea my belothed 🔪 anyway, idk, craving to finish spiderkon so I can post this BEAST of a chapter one. Craving for writing time because last week I had to move my brother's stuff with him so he could move. Craving something fruit-sweet. Mmm smoothie...... let's see if I can keep that down 😂

Tagging: @midnightluck @rockingthegraveyard @touchmycoat @mewsefet @knittinganarchist @12freddofrogs

#bip bop nari drops #ask games #tag games #suzukiblu

[extraordinary-jane]

Extraordinary Jane: Adventures of a Lost Girl

Prologue: When Wendy Grew Up

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 1- Ordinary Jane

A Dreary Day in London Town

The Pirate Plan

Forgotten Faces

Ordinary Jane

You can Fly!

A New (And Improved) Pirate Plan

Walking and Talking

These are the Things That Lost Boys Do

Treasure

Part 2- Extraordinary Jane

Lost Girl

Extraordinary Jane

Lost Boy

Returning Home

Another Dreary Day in London Town

Epilogue- When Wendy Grew Up

Part 4

#peter pan #wendy darling #jane darling #neverland #return to neverland

[evermorehqs]

CATCHING MY BREATH, STARING OUT AN OPEN WINDOW

Bloom Pekel is based on Bloom from Winx Club. She is a 25 year old fairy, museum employee , and uses she/her pronouns. She has the power of healing, flight, and fire manipulation. Bloom is portrayed by Nilsu Berfin Aktas and she is taken.

CATCHING MY DEATH, AND I COULDN’T BE SURE

Bloom used to think she knew her own backstory. She grew up in a small town called Gardenia and was a normal teenage girl. She had two loving parents and lived a really ordinary life. She loved to take care of animals and she loved to sketch and paint and she thought that was the most extraordinary thing about her. And then she met Stella Solaria. Stella was blonde, beautiful, and a fairy princess from another realm! She met the girl in the middle of the woods battling an ogre and when the instinct to help kicked in, fire blasted from her hands scaring the ogre away and stunning both of the girls. She learned that she was not human at all, but a fairy like Stella, and was whisked away to Alfea immediately to learn more about her abilities and her fairy nature. Alfea was incredible, but of course between her studies, there were plenty of adventures to go on. She met her best friends through Alfea, different fairies with very different personalities, and together they were the Winx Club. In this world witches and fairies didn’t get along too well and a trio of witches called the Trix were constantly meddling into Bloom’s life and trying to steal her power, which she learned was called the Dragon’s Flame. The longer Bloom spent in Alfea, the more of her origins came to be. She learned she was basically fairy royalty and that she held way more power than she ever found herself capable of. Finding out her parents weren’t her real parents was hard and she wanted to go back to Earth and pretend things were normal on more than one occasion, but she powered through for the sake of peace between all worlds. She thought she knew it all and she thought that after many battles and many trials to test her abilities that she was done with surprises. Turns out, she was more than wrong. One day things were fine and good and the next Stella was missing and no one knew where she could have gone. Bloom and the rest of the girls tracked her down to a town on Earth called Evermore and the moment they stepped foot into the strange town, Bloom’s memories of her origins and her knowledge of the Dragon’s Flame was gone. All she could remember was that she was a newly discovered fairy and that she arrived into town with her friends to look for Stella. Now Bloom works at the Evermore Museum & Gallery, daydreaming about submitting works of her own and still looking for Stella. What Bloom doesn’t know is that this was a scheme orchestrated by the Trix to once again try to steal her Dragon’s Flame for themselves. It’s been five years since they all arrived in Evermore and Bloom has made a bit of a life for herself there. She still hopes to find her friend and figure out what the next step is, but until then she tries to keep her head held high and do the best she can.

I HAD A FEELING SO PECULIAR

❀ Peri Winsdor: She was the first friendly face Bloom had met in Evermore. The two are polar opposites it seems like, but they get along pretty well. Bloom has been grateful for Peri’s guidance around town over the years. ❀ Antoine Lewis: A lot of people don’t think Bloom understands rage, but she can be a bit hotheaded more often than not. Safe to say she frequents the Rage Cage to keep herself centered and Antoine ended up being someone she grew close with there. ❀ Maximillan “Max” Desai: Bloom knows this isn’t the time for boys, but he is just so cute that she can’t really help herself. Every single time she runs into him she gets tongue-tied, but she is determined to get to know him better.

THAT THIS PAIN WOULD BE FOR EVERMORE

#winx club #disney skeleton rp #bloom #nilsu berfin aktas fc #has powers #female bio #taken female #taken bio

[dramaticviolincrescendo]

It never ceases to amaze me how phenomenally written Sora’s story is.

All this time, he’s been nothing but an ordinary person. He’s always been pure, kind, and compassionate, but there’s nothing exceptional about him from the very start. He’s not a Prince[ss] of Heart like Kairi or the inheritor of the Keyblade like Riku. Besides his heart hotel, he’s just some kid going about his life, looking for adventure with his friends.

He’s in the right place at the right time with someone he’s closely connected to, and his entire world changes.

Sora goes through so many stages throughout the games. In KH1, he’s cautious. It’s his first time away from home and he’s alone but for these new friends he’s made, so he stays on task and observant, though there are still moments of goofiness. (Pun intended.) It’s a big change from the little kid we met in BbS, who was in his element in that tiny world.

Through CoM, KH2, and DDD, he follows the advice of the people he meets: he follows his heart. He doesn’t plan ahead too much—or plan at all, much of the time—since he has his goal in mind and is going to ride the waves of what feels right in pursuit of that goal. It worked before, so why shouldn’t it now?

But Sora is an ordinary boy, and he’s up against an enemy so extraordinary that the guy even thought of using replicas and time travel to make sure he got what he wanted no matter the setbacks he might face. No one is prepared to face that, but Sora doesn’t realize it. Regardless of warnings, that confrontation didn’t scare him. (See what I did there.) Following his heart and winning time and time again did something that happens to every ordinary person at one point or another: it made him cocky.

Terra was cocky, manipulated by Xehanort’s compliments rather than taking his master’s criticism to heart. Riku was cocky, believing himself to be so strong—strong enough to protect what mattered—that nothing could stop him. They paid the price early on and have been clawing their way to recovery ever since.

Sora pays it later, and when he does, it shatters his confidence. The people around him underwent the trials that conquered their hubris already, so in the wake of being thoroughly tricked and manipulated like a puppet in DDD despite following the path that’s always worked for him, he’s surrounded by competent and extraordinary people who seem to have themselves put together when he doesn’t. People who were special from the start in one way or another. And so Sora spends KH3 trying to get back what he lost while being painfully aware of how inadequate he is (or feels that he is) next to everyone else.

Because he’s a normal guy, and he knows it now that he doesn’t feel so invincible. He learns what every normal person does as they leave adolescence and enter adulthood: bad things happen, things that can’t be avoided or fixed with good intentions or teamwork alone, and sometimes there’s nothing you can do about it but pick yourself up and learn for the next time.

He pushes himself too far. He pays the ultimate price.

But he learned. Pure, kind, and compassionate he remains—but he learned.

Twenty years of character development artfully woven to reach this point. Well played, Nomura.

#kingdom hearts #kh #sora #replaying the series and just eternally floored at his journey

[isfjmel-phleg]

Rachel 23, Rietta 29, Elystan 6, and Josiah 15 and 36 (I'm trying to figure him out!)

Also, whichever one you want to answer for Tamett (best boy <3)

Rachel: 23. Are they a reader? What do they like to read?

Rachel gets judged by a customs officer for having "too many books" in her bag, is easily distracted by a bookshop window even in urgent circumstances, and sets the plot in motion when she tries to find a quiet place to read in a crowded house. So, yes, she is a reader!

She is particularly fond of the Yew books (The Marvelous Magician of Yew, The Enchanted Land of Yew, and The Princess of Yew), a fantasy series about an ordinary girl who travels to a magical land, befriends unusual people, and eventually becomes the confidant of a fairy princess. Think the Oz books, but a little to the left.

Rietta: 29. What do they consider to be their greatest strength? Is this actually their greatest strength, or is there something about themselves they don’t see?

I think she considers her strong will her greatest strength. Since her mother is so conflict-averse, Rietta feels that she needs to be the assertive one against people who try to control the two of them. This trait does help her--as long as she controls it well--but ultimately her greatest strength is her fierce compassion.

Elystan: 6. Which song off of your most recently played playlist are they?

That would be the giant Spotify playlist of stuff I like, and out of those, "Extraordinary Machine" by Fiona Apple reminds me the most of Elystan. Although "Here With Me" by Dido reminds me of him during his breakdown between Books 2 and 3 (I think it's meant to be a love song, but it's vague enough to be recontextualized as addressed to his father).

(I need to make proper OC playlists but my pool of known music is rather small and maybe overly eclectic.)

Josiah: 15. What superhero are they most like?

Let's see...Josiah is full of his own superiority but privately feels inadequate, prefers intellectual pursuits, lacks social skills because he's detached and arrogant, has been raised to project an image of flawlessness and competence to further his father's agenda, is carrying around far too much stress and responsibility for a child, has no close or loving relationships, and is ultimately surprised (and pleased) to be taken under the wing of a kindly adult.

It's not a precise fit, but the closest parallel I can think of for him is Inertia (whom I'm going to count as a superhero because he pulled off impersonating one for so long).

36. Which of their parents are they most like?

He is far more like his ambitious, critical, demanding father than his mother, who was outgoing and adventurous and wore her heart on her sleeve. He had a much closer relationship with his mother, though, when she was still alive. His younger brother Mikaiah is more like their mother, and that's a major factor in why Josiah doesn't want to connect with him in any way.

Tamett: 18. What are they terrified to lose?

As much as he hates his job and hates having to be around Josiah all the time, his position as companion is his rut, it's where he's comfortable, and it's something that helps his family (especially his beloved elder sister Emenor). So, although I don't think he's ready to admit it to himself, he is terrified to lose his position, which is why he mostly has resigned himself to being a doormat. Even though it's slowly eating away at his soul.

#asks #brown-little-robin #thank you! #The Blackberry Bushes Q&A #Rachel Doncath #Rietta Valencourt #Elystan Liddick #Josiah Callon #Tamett Lockridge

[swiftletinthecloud]

Recommended Shows & Dramas

I made this very curated short list for my coworkers so I figured I shared it here as well. 

Amazon

The Romance of Tiger and Rose (2020, romcom/period drama, Chinese drama, 24 episodes, completed) - Modern day screenwriter is transported into the world of her script as the 3rd princess of a matriarchal kingdom

FC Bayern - Behind the Legend (2021, sport documentary, 6 episodes, completed) - shameless documentary plug for the German soccer club I support. Recommended to watch with the original German audio & English UK subtitles over English US subtitles otherwise you'd miss this great quote, “Everyone here is already special, because we’ve all managed to assert ourselves in this rat race… To stay on top, you sometimes have to be unpleasant. That’s not what I strive for but… not dying in beauty is kind of my philosophy.  Not everyone appreciates that, but who likes people who always win? In all honesty?” — Thomas Müller | Episode 1

Alex Rider (2020, action/adventure/drama, British, 2 seasons, ongoing) -  "Alex Rider is an ordinary teenager enlisted to work on behalf of MI6, where he uses skills he didn't know he had to become an extraordinary spy."

Netflix

A Business Proposal (2022, romcom, Korean drama, 12 episodes, completed) - Office Romance, Fake Dating, Fake Identity - "In disguise as her friend, Ha-ri shows up to a blind date to scare him away. But plans go awry when he turns out to be her CEO — and makes a proposal."

Into the Badlands (2015, wuxia/action/drama, American, 32 episodes, completed) - "A mighty warrior and a young boy with supernatural powers search for enlightenment in a ruthless post-apocalyptic America as feudal barons battle for control of the Badlands"

Kingdom (2019, horror/thriller/period drama, Korean drama, 12 episodes + 1 special episode - Kingdom: Ashin of the North) - "While strange rumors about their ill king grip a kingdom, the crown prince becomes their only hope against a mysterious plague overtaking the land." (zombies)

Light the Night (2021, crime thriller/mystery, Taiwanese drama, 24 episodes, completed) - "In the red light district of 1980s Taipei, women at a popular Japanese night club navigate jealousy, heartbreak, friendship and love."

Rookie Historian: Goo Hae Ryu (2019, romance/period drama, Korean drama, 20 episodes completed) - "Free spirit Goo Hae-ryung embarks on a new life as a scholar in the Joseon royal court after hearing about a government post for women historians."

The Uncanny Counter (2020, fantasy/thriller, Korean drama, 16 episodes, completed)- "Noodle shop employees by day and demon hunters by night, the Counters use special abilities to chase down malevolent spirits that prey on humans."

The Crowned Clown (2019, political/period drama, Korean drama, 16 episodes, completed) - "Standing in for an unhinged Joseon king, a look-alike clown plays the part but increasingly becomes devoted to protecting the throne and the people."

Hulu

Timeless (2016, sci-fi/adventure, American, 2 seasons, completed) - "This high-octane drama follows an unlikely trio who travel through time to battle a master criminal intent on altering the fabric of human history with potentially catastrophic results"

Mr. Queen (2020, fantasy/romcom/period drama, Korean drama, 20 episodes, completed) - "A free-spirited modern day man wakes up one day as a queen of Joseon Dynasty."

Youtube

Reset (2022, sci-fi/mystery/thriller, Chinese drama, 15 episodes, completed) - Two bus passengers are trapped in a time loop only they are aware of, in which the bus they're on explodes, and they must work together to stop the inevitable.

Fall in Love (2021, political/romance, Chinese drama, 36 episodes, completed) - In the midst of a power struggle for Shanghai, love between a young marshal from humble beginnings and the daughter of the richest man in Shanghai blossoms as they work together to outwit their enemies.

#personal #cdrama #kdrama #the romance of tiger and rose #fc bayern: behind the legend #fc bayern munich #tv: alex rider #a business proposal (2022) #tv: into the badlands #netflix kingdom #series: light the night #rookie historian goo hae ryung #the uncanny counter #the crowned clown #queen cheorin #reset (2022) #fall in love (2021) #timeless #soccer/football #when i say very curated i mean what i'm comfortable sharing with my coworkers

[pitifulfortune]

Inktober - Drip

My entry for day 7 of Inktober - "drip"

The Magical Dripping Basin

In the town of Drippsville, there was a peculiar basin that had long been the talk of the town. Not because of its unique design, but because of the mysterious liquid that dripped from its faucet.

One sunny day, a young boy named Timmy, known for his insatiable curiosity, approached the basin with a container. He wanted to collect some of the liquid and investigate its properties.

As the drops filled his container, they began to move and dance, swirling in different patterns. When Timmy touched the liquid, a tingling sensation traveled up his arm, and the next thing he knew, he was floating a few inches above the ground!

Startled, he dropped the container, and as the liquid splashed onto the nearby flowers, they began to hum a cheerful tune, their petals swaying to the rhythm.

Realizing he had stumbled upon something magical, Timmy decided to share his discovery with his friends. Together, they played with the enchanted liquid, painting the town's walls and watching as the bricks and stones came to life, sharing stories from ages past.

Soon, Drippsville became a tourist attraction, with visitors coming from far and wide to experience the magic of the dripping basin. The town's residents set up stalls selling enchanted art supplies, musical instruments, and even floating shoes!

The magical basin didn't just bring joy and wonder to Drippsville; it also brought the community closer together. People of all ages gathered around the basin, sharing stories, creating art, and dancing to the melodies of the enchanted flowers.

And so, in a town that was once quiet and ordinary, the magical dripping basin added a splash of magic, turning everyday moments into extraordinary adventures.

#inktober #inktober2023 #drip #water #drawing #basin #story

[mercerislandbooks]

50 Years of Island Books: Elise Hooper

A native New Englander, Elise Hooper spent several years writing for television and online news outlets before getting a MA and teaching high-school literature and history. Her debut novel The Other Alcott was a nominee for the 2017 Washington Book Award. Three more novels—Learning to See, Fast Girls, and Angels of the Pacific—followed, all centered on the lives of extraordinary but overlooked historical women. Elise now lives in Seattle with her husband and two teenage daughters. You can read a great interview she did with Kelleen back in 2020 for the release of Fast Girls here.

Miriam: I loved The Other Alcott and Fast Girls. We're big fans and happy to have you on the blog. Let's start with your first visit to Island Books. Where were you in your career then, and what stood out about the store?

Elise: If I remember things correctly, I was on Mercer Island because my younger daughter had swim practice at the Mercerwood Shore Club. This must have been sometime in the winter of 2017 because it was already dark and rainy and my first book, The Other Alcott, had not yet been released. Usually when my daughter had these practices, I'd find a spot in the clubhouse and work on my second book, but I was feeling restless and had just heard about Island Books, so I decided to drop off the swim carpool kids and go on a little literary island adventure. Because, duh, why work when you can visit a bookstore? 

When I walked in the bookstore, I found the staff gathered around an opened bottle of champagne and they were celebrating, although I can't remember what the occasion was. The amazing part was that they poured me a glass and we started chatting. Instantly I felt at home. Books, bubbles, and smiling, welcoming faces on a dark and rainy night? Clearly the store was my kind of place. That evening marked the beginning of a great relationship.

Miriam: Seriously, why work when you can visit a bookstore? I love that you jumped right into our party. One of the reasons I enjoy your books so much is they bring often-overlooked stories of female perseverance into the spotlight. Do you have a theory as to why those stories resonated so much with our Island Books customers?

Elise: People always seem to enjoy stories about ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things. I think it's because we all hope we're capable of extraordinary things--and for the record, I firmly believe we are! We like to be inspired and what's more inspiring than a good underdog story? Let's face it, most of us, especially women, can relate to being underestimated. All my books are about women who are underestimated, but who then strike back to defeat the odds stacked against them, and sometimes we all need a nudge to remember that we too are capable of greatness. Does this mean we all need to run out and become Olympians, award-winning photographers, or survive a world war to be great? Nope, not at all. Each of us needs to figure out what greatness means for us. 

Miriam: That's insightful, and when I think about it, some of the bestselling titles over the years at Island Books have been underdog stories, like the The Boys in the Boat and The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo. The survival of an independent bookstore in the age of Amazon is also an underdog story, so it's no wonder we like to champion those books. Perhaps a 50th anniversary is the nudge we all need to remember that we, too, are capable of greatness.

To our Island Books customers, we're getting dangerously close to the big 5-0 anniversary, so it's almost time to wrap up this series. For my next-to-last installment, I dragged the Island Books staff into a conference room and played detective. If we went to work with them in the store for a month, what would we learn about bookstore life? What are their biggest challenges? If they had a million dollars to improve the book industry or promote literacy, how would they spend it? All this and more will be revealed next time we meet.

—Miriam

#miriam landis #island books #Elise hooper #50 years of island books