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badbatchsprincess · 1 year ago

Text

Heated ~ pt.14

Pt.1 ~ Pt.2 ~ Pt.3 ~ Pt.4 ~ Pt.5 ~ Pt.6 ~ Pt.7 ~ Pt.8 ~ Pt.9 ~ Pt.10 ~Pt.11 ~ Pt.12 ~ Pt.13 ~ Pt.14 ~ Pt.15 ~ Pt.16 ~ Pt.17 ~ Pt.18 ~ Pt.19 ~ Pt.20 ~ Pt.21 ~ Pt.22 ~ Pt.23 ~ Pt.24 ~ Pt.25

Masterlist

Summary: This is an ABO Bad batch!Poly x Omega Reader smut with a plot. This takes place as an AU before order 66. Y/N previously served under the 501st before being transferred to Special Forces 99. This is her adventure with these rowdy Alphas in a quickly changing universe.

THIS IS AN ABO AU ABOUT THE BAD BATCH (NO CANON OMEGA!) Due to the unfortunate situation of her name being Omega… Omega the child from the canon series is not going to be apart of this fanfic/porn with a plot. I feel obligated to put this warning in because it makes my skin crawl thinking anyone could make that mistake.

Warnings: Literally only smut.... smut. smut. smut. It's Hunter's night, and Tech's night.... enjoy bbs... oh ya and some bondage! TeeHee

─ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──

Another rainy day on Ord Mantel. You sighed leaning against the window watching the droplets dowse the entire city. You liked it a lot you realized. It made the city lights glow in their neon colors and air was always cleaner the next day. It made Ord Mantel somewhat beautiful, which seemed impossible… except the little moments like this.

It’s been two weeks since the boys started working for Cid… and it was going… alright.

She had decided it was best to post you all up in the apartment above the bar as long as you helped her with the chores around the place and helped serve the customers when they’d meander in. It covered your rent, she said. You were starting to think she just liked having the company around. It gave you good cover though while the boys ran odd jobs.

You and the others decided it would be best to keep you away from potential spies and bounty hunters. You didn’t have a problem staying at Cid’s, the deal worked out fine anyways, and it could be so much worse.

After a long day scrubbing the bar down with soap for the first time in probably months, you were pooped. You had taken a long relaxing shower before curling up in the circular window over looking the main street. You had created a little nest there, where you kept your snacks within reach and your holonovel near by. The boys said they’d be home soon so you were just trying to kill the time instead of eagerly waiting.

They had been sent to rescue an ex separatist senator to Echo’s dismay. You were wondering how that was going while you read through the filthy smut on your holo screen. You could only imagine the chaos these boys were bringing to this unsuspecting plant.

The schedule system seemed to be working well too. If they were able, you’d spend the day with all of them. Echo resumed your combat training in the back courtyard behind Cid’s place, and at night you’d spend it with your alphas.

Echo says you’re making good progress. Though it didn’t really feel like it. You think he just likes wacking you around with a stick for fun. The others sometimes would join in giving you someone to spar with. Wrecker obviously was the most difficult. There was no possible option where you could ever gain the upper hand with him.

Echo had you graduate to fighting with various make shift weapons. Cid’s broom handle, a durasteel pipe, and a dull knife from the bar. It was exhilarating and part of you was really starting to like it.

You hadn’t realized how good of a teacher Echo was. He says it’s because he had extra training himself when he was a shiny. He was really able to help you strengthen your punches to the point that Hunter would actually shift backwards a bit now when you’d strike. It was giving you some hope you’d actually be able to hold your own soon.

You flexed your hands noticing the small scabs forming on your knuckles. With a sigh you set your novel and looked back out at the street watching the speeders zoom by pedestrians trying to get out of the rain.

At some point, you must have dozed off, as you woke up to the sound of your door opening and a freshly showered Hunter comes walking in looking refreshed. It was his night after all.

You smiled and stretched trying to wake yourself up like a lazy tooka.

“What time is it?” You asked realizing it was dark outside now and the city lights were glowing through your window.

“We just ate dinner, thought I’d bring some up for you.” He walked over giving you a tray with some delicious smelling tip-yip. You squealed in excitement and sat up grabbing the spork suddenly feeling awake.

He walked in front of your mirror running his hands through his damp hair trying to push it out of his eyes while you dug in.

“You smell good.” You put a piece of food into your mouth liking the way he smelled after a shower. It was so undoubtably Hunter and it made you feel so safe.

He smiled flashing his k9s at you, “You’re the one that smells good mesh’la.”

You tapped your lips and he huffed a laugh before walking over and bending down to press a kiss to your mouth. You smiled kissing him again before going back to your meal.

He flopped down on your bed in the corner giving a big sigh and a stretch himself.

“How was the mission?” You asked mid-chew.

“Exhausting.” He sighed feeling himself start to relax into your soft bed.

You giggled, “Saving separatist scum is too hard for sarge?” Your baby voice made him scowl.

“It seems that the separatists and anyone not in line with the empire is on the same side now.” He rubbed his eyes, “everything is different now.”

“That we can agree on.” You shoved another bite in, “I got to hang out with a too flirty Gungan today who absolutely has a drinking problem. Told me his wife found out about his girlfriend.”

“Quite a day for you huh ad’ika?” Hunter played along with the dramatics.

You nodded, “Mhmm. I’m doing really hard work while you’re all gone.” You shrugged with a playful smirk.

“You poor thing.” He used his baby voice making you giggle.

Eating your last piece of tip-yip, you set the tray aside before walking over to Hunter and climbing onto the bed to straddle him.

“I missed you.” You leaned down kissing both his cheek bones.

“Mmm.” He hummed running his hands up your sides, “Not as much as I missed you.”

“Show me.” You smirked running your hands over his firm chest.

Hunter gripped your hips before rolling both of you and pinning you to the mattress. He smirked as he lowered himself to kiss you again this time a little hungrier. You smiled into his mouth feeling him press his hips into yours. You felt the hardness between his legs and you whimpered feeling the fluttering butterflies in your stomach and that familiar heat begin to pool in your lower belly. He gave a satisfied groan grinding into you liking the way you responded to him to prettily.

He sat back on his heels, “up love.” He helped you sit up to peel your shirt from your body. He smirked realizing you didn’t have a bra on and leaned forwards to press you back into the mattress to leave a trail of kisses down your sternum before he licked one of your hardening nipples. You moaned pushing your chest further into him while he continued to lick and suck, making you arch your back into his hot mouth. He then went down to grab the waist band of your sweats and yank them down only pulling away from your tits to slide them off of your legs.

You were just about to reach up for him again but he pushed your arms away before flipping you over onto your belly.

“Alpha.” You whined pushing your ass up trying to make contact with him again desperate for the friction.

“Shh adi’ka .” He soothed running his hands over your ass cheeks giving them a good squeeze before he brought his palm down spanking you. You yelped looking back at him already feeling the imprint of his hand welting up. He just gave you a playful smile before reaching into his waist band and pulled out his vibro blade. You sucked a breath in feeling the cold metal press to your skin. He slid the knife along your silky skin before sliding them under the waist band of your damp panties.

“Such a good girl, omega.” With his other hand he ran his fingers over your core feeling the wetness soaking through your panties. You wiggled but he withdrew his fingers, “stay still for me mesh’la.”

You huffed and willed yourself to stay still, but it was agony. He resumed his small strokes stroking your clit through the fabric of your panties while the knife continued upwards until he twisted the blade bringing the sharp side right through your panties, slicing them like butter. He growled finally seeing how wet you were already. He chucked the blade and you watched it fly across the room before impaling into the wall before driving his finger into you.

You let out a loud moan feeling him start a consistent rhythm before adding another thick finger stretching you. You wriggled against him desperate to be filled even more. It was starting to feel so delicious you were certain he could feel you start to clench down on him.

He withdrew his fingers and sat up slightly to kick your knees apart and lift your ass up in the air. He shoved down his trousers and grabbed his throbbing cock stoking git a few times before lining himself up with your aching cunt. You pushed yourself back against him feeling his tip push inside. You moaned as he surged forwards until he was flush with your ass. You cried out finally feeling the relief of him filling you. Hunter was thick, and he was so, so hard. You mewled as Hunter set the sturdy pace.

…You loved the way Hunter fucked…

He was so deliberate making sure his strokes were steady and hitting that yummy spot inside you that made your toes curl with every stroke. He also couldn’t seem to get enough of your creamy cunt. He groaned every time he could hear just how wet you are with every thrust. You think it’s because of his heightened senses, he could probably feel and her every tremor your body made as he pleasured you and you knew it drove him wild. He could probably sense every beat of your heart, and scent the small changes in your scent that let him know you were enjoying yourself.

You tried to push yourself up onto your hands but he grabbed the back of your neck pinning you back down, “take it, omega.” He snarled feeling you clench around his cock. You moaned loudly certain the others could heard you as Hunter pounded even harder. The only sound in the room was your squelching and the slap of skin on skin.

Hunter wasn’t always outwardly dominant, but everyone and awhile his alpha side trickled through and it made your entire body sing.

He pushed himself as far in as possible, mesmerized by the jiggle plush of your ass against his lap. He sighed shaking his head still unable to believe he was able to have the omega of his dreams. Your scent was making him get lost in the fog of lust.

“Fuck, pretty girl,” He slid his hand from your neck to the roots of your hair where he tugged making you whine, “do you have any idea how perfect you look? M’fuck, you were made for me mesh’la.”

“Alpha…. Ahh!” You whined as he brought his hand down onto your ass again hearing the slap ring out into the room. You moaned feeling the warming sting again making you drip down your thighs as you took Hunter as best as you could despite his roughness.

Gripping onto your hair, he pulled you up straight arching you agains this chest as he fucked you on his lap. You gripped onto his thighs absolutely loving this deliciously brutal pace. He was so deep inside you, you were starting to feel it in your stomach. You mewled feeling so damn good, so surrounded in his warmth and affection. It made you so happy.

He snaked his free hand down between your thighs to run slow meticulous circles bringing you to the edge. You clawed at his muscular thighs as you begged him not to stop feeling like you were going to cum. He smiled into the crook of your neck licking your mating gland and you shivered feeling yourself hurtle over the edge.

You let out a scream as Hunter’s fingers threw you over the edge. Your orgasm wracked through your body leaving you spent and shaking. He released your hair and wrapped his arm around your middle keeping you to his chest as he continued to thrust, feeling himself start to cum.

“Fuck.” He bit out. You felt him twitch inside you before his hips stilled and he spilled himself inside you.

You went limp against his chest hearing the rapid beating of his heart against your cheek. He pressed lazy kisses on all the skin he could reach before leaning forwards and gently guiding you down onto the mattress. He pulled out of you slowly making you groan at the empty feeling.

You felt his cum drip out of you, as he got up to grab something to clean you up with. When he came back from the bathroom, he had a damp washcloth to clean up your thighs and then himself before he tossed it to the side. Hunter curled up next to you pulling the sheets up to cover the two of you. You rolled over wanting to lay on his chest which he was happy to comply with.

He tilted your chin up for a kiss before letting you settle against him while he caught his breath.

You purred feeling satiated and tingly.

“I have my heat in a few weeks.” You said quietly knowing he could hear your whisper.

“We’ll need to make sure you get another implant after huh?” He said running his fingers through your hair.

You nodded, “How will that work, same like last time?”

“It’s whatever you want mesh’la, if you want all of us we’ll do that, or if you just want one of us we understand that too.” He kissed your forehead.

“Okay.” You smiled tracing the skeleton tattoo on his ribs with your finger.

“Who did your tattoo?” You asked.

“Crosshair.” He looked down at his arm, “He has a steadier hand than the others.”

“Did you do his?” You smiled poking him in the side.

“No, he did that on his own.” Hunter grabbed your hand before you could tickle him and pressed it to his mouth with a kiss.

“Should I get a tattoo?” You asked jokingly.

“If that’s you want sweetheart.” He pinched your cheek lightly.

You nuzzled into his side breathing him in. His scent was so warming and calming it made you feel like you were at home. The past two weeks had been interesting. You were sad Crosshair wasn’t with you anymore, but the burning agony wasn’t there anymore at least from what you could tell. It was like he was on a vacation and while you missed his presence, it didn’t seem as devastating as it might actually be. It was strange.

The only thing you worried about was being found. You didn’t know what the empire wanted with you, and frankly you didn’t want to find out… there was a tinge of anxiety that seemed impossible to dispel.

Hunter did a really good job of making you feel safe though. If anyone could make you disappear, it would be these boys.

“I can feel you thinking.” He mumbled with his eyes closed.

You squeezed him a little tighter, “I’m just thankful for you, thats all.”

He smiled and leaned down to kiss you again.

“My sweet little ‘mega.” He whispered, “We should get some sleep mesh’la, I know Echo wants you up and early.”

“Ugh.” You ran your hands up and down his chiseled abs, “Can’t you just tell him I’m tired and we can stay in bed?”

“No chance sweetheart, you look too good in those tight pants.” He chuckled.

You sighed and relented, securing your legs around his before closing your eyes and settling in. You just hoped the rain let up before Echo expected you in that courtyard.

~~~

Well you were wrong. The only word to describe your current state was… soggy.

You squeezed the water from your hair before twisting it up on top of your head to keep the loose strands out of your eyes.

“Echo please, I’m begging that we go inside.” You shivered. This was reminding you of Kashyyyk, even though that was significantly not as wet.

“Nope.” He squared up raising his wrapped fists, “You gotta get used to being uncomfortable.”

You pouted, “But omegas like comfort and warm things.” You groused. This was so not your element.

“It’s a changing universe Tiny, gotta make sure you’re ready for anything.” He gave his arms a little shake, flinging droplets, before getting into a fighting stance.

You mirrored him even though your mind was on sitting by the fire in the apartment warm and dry. You looked to Wrecker and the others who sat under a fabric covering staying dry, “Please Alphas.” You begged with your best pup eyes.

Wrecker and Hunter looked like they were on the verge of folding but Tech crossed his arms, “You heard Echo. Again Pip.”

Strict as always… you sighed locking into Echo’s movements. Fine…A fight it will be.

You waited for Echo to make the first move. He lunged forwards, giving you a small window to sneak under his arm, and land a punch to his side.

He hunched over, stunned you had juked him out. When he tried to retaliate you used your small size to out maneuver them. Over the weeks of the training with them, you learned that due to their size they moved slightly slower than you could. They were strong, but your small size allowed to quicker jabs.

When he was spinning around to pursue you, you used your foot to kick up one of the sparing sticks into your hand swinging the metal pipe at him. He dodged it before grabbing his own.

“Good. Use what’s around you.” Hunter coached from the side.

Echo brought down the pipe but you blocked it in time. The rain was making the concrete slippery so you decided to duck down and swing the pipe low catching Echo’s boot. You knocked the ARC trooper down onto his back and pointed the weapon at him. He surrendered giving you the victory.

“I’m going inside now.” You poked him with the stick before tossing it to the side. When you were just about to enter the back of the bar, Echo grabbed you from behind hauling you up into the air.

“Echo!” You screamed trying to wriggle out of his grasp.

“C’mon Tiny.” He growled holding steady despite your squirming.

With a growl, you brought your feet up in the air before thrusting them down changing the weight distribution and rolled the two of you into the nearby crates. You were able to get away from him but he grabbed your boot and tugged you back forcing you to slide across the ground through the dirty puddles.

You kicked at him freeing up your boot before rolling back to your feet.

“That was a dirty trick.” You looked down at all the muck on your shirt.

“Gotta make sure you’re ready.” He laughed wiping mud from his cheek.

“How’s she doing?” The trandoshan stepped outside observing from the doorway.

“She’s improving significantly.” Tech kept his eyes on you scrutinizing your every move.

“Good, because I’m going to need her to cover some shifts later.” Cid waved her claws in the air before going back inside to avoid the rain.

You groaned but put your fists back up prepared for Echo’s next attack. This was going to be a long day.

~~~

“Are you alright dear?” Tech watched you limp into the bedroom looking exhausted. You nodded before turning into the bathroom to turn on the shower. You smelled like alcohol and bar snacks. You just wanted to feel the hot water and scrub until you smelled like soap. You heard Tech outside the bathroom walking around, and you started to strip down before stepping into the steaming shower to wash the day off.

You did everything you wanted to, scrubbed, washed, exfoliated. You felt glorious getting out. Even the soreness in your muscles from training were feeling better. You grabbed your favorite body oils and began getting to work moisturizing yourself. It was such a relief.

When you stepped out you found Tech in his boxers reading something on his data pad. You tightened your robe and made your way over to him suddenly feeling a little warm looking at all of this taut defined muscles. He was so tall, just like Crosshair. They almost seemed like twins at times. You just wanted to sink your teeth into him he looked so good.

“Alpha?” You asked softly getting his attention.

He looked up from his screen noticing your loosening robe.

“Can you massage my back for me? Echo really did me in.” You said lowering the shoulder of the robe showing him your bare skin. You were dying for Tech’s skilled hands. You watched him fix too many things on the marauder not to think about them all the time. Often when you were alone, you would think about how good they’d feel on you… or in you.

“Take off your robe and lay down cyare.” He watched you untie the robe and drop it to the ground revealing your glistening oiled body. He swallowed thickly feeling himself start to harden at the site of you. You crawled up onto the bed laying down face first into the plush.

He got up to grab the lotion off the nightstand before squeezing some into his hands. He warmed it between his fingers before pressing them gently into your back before spreading it around making sure to get every spot… then he went to work. His fingers massaged every muscle and tendon making you absolutely turn to putty.

You were moaning and groaning when he worked down your legs making sure to thoroughly give you an entire body rub down. It felt so damn good. His skilled hands were one of your favorite things in the entire universe.

“Alpha… you’re so good at that.” You whined as he worked a particularly tight muscle in your shoulder.

“We might be working you too much.” He sighed feeling how tight your entire body is under his dexterous fingers.

“Echo was particularly rough today.” You sighed.

He chuckled, “Sometimes, I think we forget you’re not engineered like we are.”

You huffed, “You’re telling me.”

He continued to rub further down to your lower back where some new muscles were forming and you whined as his thumbs pushed and pulled the aching tendons.

“Cyare…” He leaned down so his lips were right by your ear, “I want to try something new tonight if you’re open.”

That peaked your interest.

You cracked open an eye to look up at him, “What did you have in mind?”

“Well with all these new credits I decided to head out to that sex shop on fifth street, I picked up a few things I think you might find interesting.”

You sat up on your elbows feeling your insides start to flutter with anticipation, “What things?” You bit your lip.

He pushed his glasses up and got up off the bed before reaching into his pack. He pulled out a red bag and walked back over to the bed.

“Go on.” He held the shopping bag out for you to investigate.

You stuck your hand inside feeling something soft. When you pulled it out you realized you were holding a roll of red satin ropes. You gasped and looked up at Tech. He nodded towards the bag, “There’s one more thing.”

You reached inside again grabbing something smooth. When you pulled it out you were confused at first, until Tech turned it on and it started to vibrate. It was a black and gold vibrator.

“Are you open to trying these cyare?” He looked at you and lightly skimmed your chin with his fingers, “You can also say no. I won’t take it personally.” He always gave you an out. You, Crosshair, and Tech had agreed to use the color system a while back, and Tech definitely stuck to it.

You chewed your lip and looked back up at him, “Green.” You answered.

He smiled before switching into dom alpha mode.

“On your knees.” He commanded and you shivered sitting back on your heels.

“Use your colors.” He reminded while grabbing the crimson ropes. You nodded and watched him double up the soft strands before bringing the center loop to your neck as he began to expertly tie the knots.

You watched him as he skillfully bound your arms behind your back careful not to touch your skin much, the angle was a little uncomfortable at first, but the more he tied the more secure you started to feel and the pain ebbed away and the heat start to enter your blood.

He then tied a couple more well placed knots squeezing your tits together making you squirm wanting more.

“Tech.” You sighed starting to feel restless wanting him to touch you.

“Color cyare.” He looked at you with lust blown eyes. He was very satisfied with his work.

“Green.” You said locking into the tent in his trousers.

“Can I record you mesh’la?” He ran his finger tips over the ropes still not touching you.

You nodded, “Yes Alpha.”

“Such a good girl.” He touched the side of his goggles and you noticed the little flashing red light turn on letting you know the camera was recording.

He knelt over you gently taking you into his arms before laying you down on your back. You whimpered at just the slightest touch of his warm hands. You desperately wanted more, but you knew you were going to have to work for it.

You were forced to lay slightly on your side to keep the weight off your hands, but it seemed to give Tech the desired effect. He was staring at you like a starving man. Your cunt clenched around nothing and you were sure he caught that on camera. It made you blush.

“Let me look at you.” He placed both hands on your knees rolling you onto your back totally at his mercy.

He spread your legs wide, revealing your dripping cunt. Wet all for him. You were mesmerized by the look in his eyes, that hunger. It was making you even more horny knowing you were doing this to him. It was longer a want, but a need to have his hands back on you.

He ran a selfish hand through your folds collecting some of the wetness but avoiding the place you wanted him the most. He was testing you, to see if you’d complain and get bratty with him.

You usually did under Crosshair’s influence, but you were too desperate for him to touch you to even go there. You just wanted to be a good girl for Tech tonight and submit to him without a fight.

You stared up at him with glossy eyes as he scanned every part of your tied body. He took special time showing off his handy work behind your back. He even rolled you over to record the details and get a good shot of your round ass.

“So beautiful Mesh’la.” He massaged the cheek that still held Hunter’s hand print from the night before. He seemed to take a bit of an interest in it, massaging it himself. You were breathing heavy now, hoping he’d take mercy on you and make you cum.

“Thank you alpha.” You groaned feeling his fingers trail dangerously close to the apex of your thighs.

“Look at you, not even bratting tonight.” You could hear the smirk in his voice, “Is this all it takes for you to behave?” He tugged at the rope around your wrist with a slender finger.

You whined in response.

Usually he’d demand you use your words but he was getting impatient even for himself. Between the massage earlier and now this. You allowing him to fulfill one of his favorite fantasies had him desperate to feel you cumming around him. As Crosshair would say, it’s one for “the spank bank.”

He ripped off his shirt throwing it to the side while pushing down his trousers leaving him bare. You strained to look at him, but the restraints forbade your movements. He chuckled and flipped you back over spreading you once again.

“Now, darling, you’re going to cum for me as many times as I want before I fuck you full, do you understand cyare?” He picked up the vibrator holding it up for you and the camera to see.

You nodded, “Yes, alpha.”

“Good. Let’s begin.” He switched on the toy and slowed it down to your clit making you hum.

Immediately you were squirming around trying to push back against the ropes but obviously that wasn’t going to work. It was tiresome, but the look on Tech’s face made you even wetter. He looked like an animal with that determined squint.

Tech’s cock twitched watching you writhe around under the little toy. He was so fixated on the way the ropes bit into your skin, he almost missed you cumming on the virbator.

“One.” He counted keeping the toy on you as you rode out your orgasm. But then that turned into overstimulation and you started to wriggle around again trying to escape the vibrations. It was starting to feel like too much and you clenched down on nothing to your dismay. You desperately wanted to be filled.

“Ahh!” You whimpered feeling yourself quickly be thrown into another orgasm. You couldn’t believe it. You moaned as the pleasure washed over you, tingling all of your nerves. You had to remember to breathe letting your body try to relax a little.

“Two. Good omega.” He encouraged keeping the toy to your cunt, “Think I can make you squirt with just this?” He rubbed the toy around eliciting more cries. You flinched when he’d trace over a certain spot making you cry out for him.

“Doing so good cyare, I want one more. Can you do that for me omega?” He looked down at you with a stern look. You looked up at him with bleary glossy eyes trying to squirm away from the toy.

“Y-yes.. sir. Yessir.” You threw your head back unsure if you’d be able to take another orgasm again so soon. You were desperate for a break, but you wanted to please your alpha and decided you’d do whatever he wanted.

You greedily watched him fist himself and the drops of precum dripping from his flushed tip. The way his cock flushed as he stoked himself made you salivate. You ground your hips down onto the toy lost in your thoughts about licking him up.

He watched you succumb to the lust as you chased your high with determination. He was purring knowing you were trying to please him, it made him very, very happy.

“Almost there omega.” He was watching your movements stutter before you tried arching back as you came hard.

Tech smiled proudly and withdrew the toy letting you release a massive sigh. You twitched as the aftershocks rolled through you and you squeezed your thighs together trying to calm yourself.

“My perfect girl.” He praised leaning down, “I just have to have a taste cyare.” He gave you a few licks making you cry out before sloppily making out with your cunt.

You moaned enjoying the warmth and softness of his wet mouth it was a soothing contrast to the vibrating toy. It was so delicious you ground down into him as best as you could from your angle. Just as quickly as he started, he pulled away to kneel over you. You watched him spit on his own cock rubbing the wetness around before sliding down to tease your entrance.

“Alpha!” You whined feeling the warmth radiating into you.

“Shh, omega.” He cooed before surging forwards watching himself disappear into you inch by inch. You cried out with joy finally feeling the glorious stretch you craved so much.

“Fuck!” You yelped as he started to thrust making you purr in delight.

Tech focused in on getting a rhythm going watching how you bounced up and down the mattress and the way your bound tits jiggled between the knots. It was going to make him cum. He had to close his eyes and focus on not coming so fast despite how absolutely utterly perfect you looked tied up like this. It was glorious. You were the most beautiful thing he’d ever laid eyes on.

“Fuck baby.” He pulled out suddenly deciding he couldn’t take it anymore. You whined feeling empty but he just picked you up setting you down on the floor next to the bed kneeling you on a discarded pillow before pressing his soaked cock to your lips.

You smiled and greedily took him into your mouth letting him grab the sides of your face before he started fucking your throat.

You felt the subspace creeping up on you as you settled into his pace being mindful to breathe while you relaxed your jaw and throat muscles. The grunts and whines Tech were letting out fed the needy omega in you. Alpha was happy. You were making alpha happy.

It made your entire body flutter.

The next thing you knew, Tech was pulling out and splattering his cum on your cheek and across the bridge of your nose while the two of you breathed heavily.

He looked down at you in slight shock before coming to his senses and shutting off the camera to kneel down in front of you.

“I’m so sorry cyare.” He grabbed his discarded shirt and wiped your face, “I shouldn’t have done that.” His eyes were filled with concern.

“Hmm?” You looked up at him with bleary eyes as he cleaned you, “It’s alright alpha.” You smiled softly trying to ease him.

He rubbed your jaw affectionately studying you. When he realized you were heavy into subspace, he sighed and picked you up placing you onto the bed knowing talking won’t help much.

“You did so good for me omega.” He praised while untying the knots carefully. He took extra care rubbing the areas with indent marks with his thumb soothingly. You preened under his ministrations feeling yourself start to free up from the confines of the rope.

You stretched before clinging to Tech. He removed the last of the rope before using his soiled t-shirt to clean between your legs and settle you into the covers. You kept mindlessly reaching for him, whining when he had to clean up the space a bit, removing any objects from the bed.

Tech curled around you surrounding you in warmth, “I’m so proud of you, cyare. You did so fucking good.” He pressed a kiss to your hair. You rolled over and looked at him before pressing into his mouth for a real kiss.

He melted into you instantly and you smiled. He kept kissing you like he couldn’t get enough of it.

“Thank you alpha.” You whispered snuggling into his chest.

“Now, get some rest cyare. You’ve earned it.” He petted your hair soothing you into much needed sleep.

Uhh yeah... so that just happened bahaha...

Anyways - I wonder what Crosshair is doing right about now...

─ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──

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@sideofhorny

@sxftiebee

#crosshair #hunter #tech #wrecker #abo #echo #star wars #bad batch #omega #smut #tbbhunter #tbbcrosshair #tbbtech #tbbwrecker #tbbecho

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mollyhats · 8 months ago

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Kids Book Recs for Palestine

Are you looking for a way to aid a family in need while also getting a leg up on your shopping?

Are you looking forward to seeing friends/relatives in the next few months only to realize "oh no, what do I bring?" Have a baby shower you need to bring a book to instead of a card? Got a kiddo at home who absolutely tears through every book you give them--or, conversely, refuses to open them?

Hi, I'm Molly. In my day job, I work in the children's section of an indie book store, connecting patrons to books they and their young loved ones will love. And I'm offering the same service from the comfort of your own inbox! Unlike online rec lists (which often fall into broad categories or only offer info you could get from the back cover), I will walk you through what makes me think a certain book will appeal to your audience and what content to be aware of going in, and you can ask follow up questions and clarify what does and does not work.

How it works:

Step 1

Send me proof that you d*nated to Marah's Family's Gaza Evacuation Fund. (Tumblr post here, verification info here)

Step 2

Message or ask me proof along with as much of the following information as possible

Age of recipient

(This can be approximate; if you're looking for YA for an adult, you can say that)

Reading level if applicable

(Listing books they've read recently is helpful here, e.g. Magic Tree House for newer readers. You can also think page count, illustrations or no, etc)

Books they enjoy

(Consider especially if you have some idea of why. For example, somebody might like Percy Jackson for the snarky narration, the epic quests, OR the weaving the fantastic into modern America)

Things they like to read about (or just enjoy in general)

(These can be tropes, topics, character types, general genres. For younger kids, if you know their favorite animals or activities, that's a great jumping off point. If they prefer graphic novels, here's the place to say so.)

Any concerns

if there's anything you want me to particularly warn for (such as the dog dying), lmk here. I'll still give you some basic tws but these are ones to keep in mind through the whole process.

Step 3

I'll get back to you with some recommendations, and we can go from there.

Short example conversation

(this was a casual conversation with a friend 2 years ago. My repertoire has grown exponentially since then)

TL;DR give to a family stranded in Gaza, and get professional, personalized assistance in finding the perfect board, picture, middle grade, or YA book(s) for you or a loved one.

#books #book recommendations #book reccs #book recs #book recs wanted #kids books #kidlit #gift ideas #childrens books #gifts for kids #middle grade #young adult #picture books #board books

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aidenwaites · 1 month ago

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10 books to read for 2025

Tagged by @scribblingface !! Thank you!! I always want to talk about books <3

1. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones - look, I love everything I've read by SGJ so far, especially his other epistolary novel. And then he came out with a historical vampire story told through the transcribed confessions of a Blackfeet man to a Lutheran priest. I just have to wait for my copy to arrive

2. The Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas - Another historical vampire novel. It kept popping up on my storygraph feed while I was looking for other books between my SGJ reads. I prefer to keep up with reading from a variety of authors and stories for the sake of my job, and this one grabbed my attention. It also recently showed up in a list someone here on tumblr gave me of their recommended horror/romance books, so that gets it bumped up the list, too.

3. Metal from Heaven by August Clarke - posted about by a mutual here on tumblr who's recommendations have never led me astray

4. Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins - the Hunger Games has remained my favorite YA series over the the years, and Haymitch was always my favorite character from that world. I really enjoyed reading A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes last year and I expect I'll love this one, too.

5. The Lesser Dead by Christopher Beuhlman - this one came up in the author talk I tuned into with SGJ last week. And I'm always down for a vampire novel <3

6. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang - this one has been on my list for a long time, thanks to another tumblr mutual's blogging about it. R. F. Kuang is also generally a favorite for my coworkers. I wanna finally get to it this year!

7. Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones - what can I say, the guy also wrote a roadtrip werewolf novel, of course I'm gonna read it

8. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix - another horror author who's works Ive really enjoyed in the past, this time with a novel about a group of girls in a group home in the 1970s, who find a book of witchcraft falling into their hands.

9. Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle - Chuck Tingle's next horror novel, set to come out in just a few months. I really, really enjoyed Camp Damascus and Bury Your Gays, and this time it's a story with Las Vegas Casinos involved. I'm so down

10. Your Favorite Scary Movie by Ashley Cullins - written by an entertainment journalist, this is a deep dive into the Scream franchise and the ways it revived and reshaped the slasher subgenre.

Some honorable mentions: The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones, the rest of the Murderbot Diaries, If We Were Villians by M.L. Rio, probably whatever Adrian Tchaikovsky does next

Tagging @memecatwings @barkingbarghest @orlamccools @westenra97 @vampgf @areyouwho-ithinkyouare

and anyone else that might want to do it!! I don't really know who's got a backlog and who doesn't so feel free to just tag me if you want to do it 🤷‍♂️

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taybatwo2 · 11 months ago

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Monster High IDW Comics Review: Part 1 of ?: Free Comic Book Day 2024 Issue

A late review, but I wanted to review this and the Pride Comic together.

Part 2: (Pride Comic, Summer Fangout, Part 1)

https://www.tumblr.com/taybatwo2/754406053729452032/monster-high-idw-comics-review-part-2-of?source=share

Part 3: (Pride Comic, Summer Fangout, Part 2)

https://www.tumblr.com/taybatwo2/754555603918127104/monster-high-idw-comics-review-part-3-of?source=share

Part 4: (Pride Comic, Valentine’s ENTIRE background before the comic)

https://www.tumblr.com/taybatwo2/754946130507333632/monster-high-idw-comics-review-part-4-of?source=share

Part 5: (Pride Comic, I Put a Spell on You)

https://www.tumblr.com/taybatwo2/755042011333132288/monster-high-idw-comics-review-part-5-of?source=share

Part 6: (Issue 1, Part 1)

https://www.tumblr.com/taybatwo2/772726504008384512/monster-high-idw-comics-review-part-6-of?source=share r

Part 7: (Issue 1, Part 2)

https://www.tumblr.com/taybatwo2/774080101466931200/monster-high-idw-comics-review-part-7-of?source=share

Part 8: (Issue 1, Part 3)

https://www.tumblr.com/taybatwo2/774166018162671616/monster-high-idw-comics-review-part-8-of?source=share

Part 9: (Issue 2, Part 1)

https://www.tumblr.com/taybatwo2/783682088164540416/monster-high-idw-comics-review-part-9-of?source=share

Part 10: (Issue 2, Part 2)

https://www.tumblr.com/taybatwo2/783682092716425216/monster-high-idw-comics-review-part-10-of?source=share

Part 11: (Issue 2, Part 3)

https://www.tumblr.com/taybatwo2/783682098833833984/monster-high-idw-comics-review-part-10-of?source=share

Comic Overview: The Free Comic Book Day MH IDW preview has an almost completely different staff to the Pride Issue; the writer is Jacque Aye (she/her, writer who has her own series of novels and likes to “spin tales about woeful women with a surrealist, magical touch.” I don’t feel like that necessarily fits with MH, but her novels look good).

She is interviewed in the back of this preview and it sounds like she has about 40 dolls from various toy lines, and loves her Skullector Series Beetlejuice and Lydia (she used to be afraid of them).

She says that the comic “is YA and inspired by the darkness Wednesday and the drama of Gossip Girl.” Aaaaaand the only thing people need to know about the comic beforehand is to watch the G1 animated webisodes, read the new Once Bitten, Twice Dead novel (it comes out in mid-July) and “to buy a few dolls for your collection ;)” The artist is Siobhan Keenan (she/her, also did “Summer Fangout” in the MH Pride Comic and has a ton of GORGEOUS art on -Twitter- “x” and Instagram: @ siobhanchiffon).

The colorist is Rebecca Nalty (she/her, also worked on “Summer Fangout,” and has beautiful artwork on her own website and Instagram: @ sharkberri). The cover artist (and the MonsterNet artist) is Luciannys Camacho (she/her, again, BEAUTIFUL artwork -including some G3 Venus- on Instagram: @ opal_lines).

Lettered and design is Kielamel Sibal (she/her, another artist on Instagram @ labis_lemaleik). The editor is Riley Farmer (she/her, I think, I can’t access her LinkedIn profile), with the production done by Johanna Nattalie (she/her and has worked on a lot of IDW Sonic titles). They are the same team that also worked on the Pride Comic Issue).

The full series will be rated “T” for teen.

In the back of the preview, it lists a “schedule” for the upcoming releases in the IDW New Scaremester” G1 comic series (I assume they didn’t want to call it Boo Scaremester due to the G1 doll line of the same name).

The floppies will be releasing every month starting in August-May and all 10 copies will probably be collected in the listed “Monster High Fearbook 2024-2025” also in May. ….I assume.

There are three more One Offs: Halloween 2024 (in “Fangtober”), Snow Ball (in December 2024…only October gets a pun), and Spring Break (in April 2025). I don’t know if these will be collected in the Fearbook too, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they were.

The “2025-2026 Scaremester” will start its new set of floppies in August of 2025. If this schedule is followed to the “t.”

Some information on the G1 canon to date, because G1’s canon is kinda a mess that contradicts itself EVERWHERE (unlike the EAH books, which all kinda mesh pretty well with another and a pretty good read) and can be broken down into several categories:

The Doll’s Diaries 2010-2022 (I consider these to be the most important as they delve into the characters internal feelings and we get a deeper look at them and their relationships with one another. I wish they continued making them, but not everyone has read them). You can lump UK’s MH Figurine Collection Mini-Diaries, and Nessi Monstrata’s MH Diary Series in with these as they follow the same premise.

The Monster High G1 Animated Webisodes (175 webisodes, 2010-15)/Commercials/New Ghoul at School (these seem to be what most people still imagine the G1 characters acting and sounding like. It’s kinda a mixed bag of episodes -especially the first and ending seasons- and I feel like the diaries do a better job at characterization, but I have a nostalgic soft spot for these webisodes. It does sometimes contradict itself and the diaries).

Monster High Supplemental Books/Web Stuff: Books that mostly just repeated facts/pictures from the Webisodes and Diaries (such as the MH Annuals 2014-2016, 2013’s MH Fearbook, 2013’s MH My Monster Life, 2013’s MH Meet the Monsters, and the 2014’s MH Collection) or LIGHTLY built-off the canon that was mostly explored in the webisodes and diaries. (For some reason the movies were not mentioned quite as often). These include 2015’s Scare-ific Secrets (this one was a great read for a G1 fan), the Monster High website’s 2012 Boo Year’s Eve Countdown, 2012’s-2013’s Freaky Fab 13, and the 2014 Dance the Night Away: A Night in Scare-adise Prom.

The 13 G1 CGI Monster High Movies (these would contradict themselves. Like MH’s Ghoul’s Rule involving a lot of more of New Salem/Salem’s normies, or the Great Scarrier Reef forgetting a lot of Lagoona’s characterization. They do have some of my favorite MH moments in them).

Could MOSTLY fit into the lore. These are stories that can technically fit into the main timeline, but may not be mentioned again by other characters (the Ghoulfriend’s Book series -has a whole new villain, some new side characters, and MH dorms, and the two Graphic Novels: “I Only Have Eye for You” -it is mentioned off handedly in Kieran’s Diary, but doesn’t fit in chronologically- and “Hopes and Screams” -basically a collection of original webisodes in comic form, and Shannon Hale’s EAH/MH crossover: “The Legend of Shadow High,” EAH is hinted at in “13 Wishes” and “Boo York, Boo York”). Or they are just slightly off from the main canon (2011’s MH Ghoul Spirit and New Ghoul in School games have in-game only main characters).

Information given by the creators (such as Garrett Sander’s Q and A’s and Instagram doll breakdowns). They’re really fun and interesting but teeeechnically not canon.

Their own thing (the Lisi Harrison novels were MH in name only and the Monster High Anime: Scary Cool Ghouls, a fun watch, but their own continuity). I’m also going to guess that the just announced Universal Live Action G1 movie will hang out here too.

I’m going to assume (after my breakdown of the FCBD IDW preview that the main IDW comics and Once Bitten will be in the last category…oh…joy…)

Okay, that was a lot of information. Time for my personal thoughts/review and more pictures under the cut!!!!

First off …I don’t have much confidence that I will like it due to:

1. Being out of the age range of “YA” (I still like some of it, but it’s not guaranteed).

2. The writer comparing it to two shows I didn’t personally care for.

3. It sounds like it will be in the same G1 continuity as the Once Bitten, Twice Dead novel and that novel screams NOT FOR ME (it honestly sounds like my least favorite YA fiction tropes: overly angsty and dark…and in a cringy way to try and make it sound more adult. Like CW shows! Or that cancer live action Power Puffs reboot/ continuation). It’s not continuing the G1 MH canon I was personally connected to.

4. Despite all the artists having great looking artwork in their instas, I personally do not care for the artwork….or maybe the layout…both…(?) in the comic. I think it looks a bit generic looking (where is Frankie’s boxier head, Clawdeen’s larger nose, Cleo’s sharp angles?!). Like, it’s not necessarily bad, but the art style just doesn’t grab my attention in this comic (maybe it was rushed…?).

I will probably check out the first full floppy volume for this run, but otherwise I don’t collect floppies (single issue released comics) because they’re so fragile and it’s more affordable for me to get their collected versions.

5. I am not the biggest western-comics fan and generally prefer independent graphic novels or manga/manhwa due to their stories feeling more cohesive (I generally don’t have to worry about different runs being picked up or dropped by different artists and writers) and I like knowing the inside/panel art will look very similar to the quality of the cover art (generally different artists will work on ongoing western comic series and I find it disappointing to pick up a comic with a beautiful cover to only be met with a different art style inside -like this comic-).

Soooo taking that all into consideration, let’s delve in:

The opening letter is from Headmistress Bloodgood (using her original G1 signature, what a fun detail). Remember how Bloodgood would fight for her students and was a fair, but lightly strict Headmaster? Maybe the school board gave her absolutely no choice.

Speaking of Bloodgood, is she a reanimated normie? Or does she come from a long line of headless monsters….ghosts?? I’m pretty sure Hexiciah is mostly human (besides the little bit of fairy blood in him), and Victor Frankstein is most definitely human….

I would be surprised if Jackson/Holt are going to be in this continuity. Their mom definitely broke the “no romance with normies claws” to have made them and Jackson is often considered a normie. I’m guessing the Ghouls Rule movie didn’t happen in this continuity either…

This letter is alluding to a bunch of fuuuuuun (aka dark angsty shit with normies) that went down in Once Bitten and that this comic series is going to be dealing with the blowback from that.

Geeze, for being the most “inclusive and accepting school for monsters” it is hardcore against the real monsters….THE normies. DUN! Dun! DUUNN!

I feel like these “no normie rules” are influenced by G3’s NO NORMIE policy; or the Lisi Harrison books. I’m getting a whole lot of vibes reminiscent of the Lisi Harrison books. Woof…

“”The School Board has voted to more stringently uphold these claws moving forward.”” I do find it funny that the Monster High Universe seems to be run by Monster High’s school board.

If the artwork in the corner is anything to go by, it looks like the G1 CGI movie version of the school will be used for this iteration.

I might have to re-upload the comic pages without the speech bubbles for copyright reasons, but since this one was a free issue, I thought it would slide:

Page 1:

The actual comic starts off with a very distraught Frankie wanting to spend time with her dad this summer, but he declines. He’s too busy with his research into trying to make a perfect reanimating process….?

Whoaaa buddy I’ve got some bad news for you. I think you are a bit late to the party.

G1’s Victor Frankenstein reanimated you and your wife, I believe you guys both made Watzie for Frankie, Frankie created Hoodude and the gingerbread boy and that’s just the Steins. Hexiciah Steam created Robecca, and I’m sure some of Monster High’s Zombies were reanimated and not born naturally!! Another change in this comic, they decided to call Viktor Stein (Frankie’s dad) just Frankenstein. Aaaand make him both conventionally attractive and constantly in partial shadow (is he going to be super broody in this??). I remember him being a lot more playful towards Frankie in the diaries and liking dumb puns.

And, I mean, I’m not against more dilfs in MH (Hexiciah *cough cough* and G2’s Dracula *cough cough*), but I was kinda hoping for a more interesting/fun-take on the monster-y design.

MH already has these designs kicking around!

A small nitpick: they used a distractingly large/thick brush to ink-in the black parts of his hair, and I don’t like how it messily covers the finer lines of hair.

““The day I sewed your parts together and zapped you to life was the best day of MY life.””

From this line, it sounds like G1’s Viveka Stein is going to be MIA in this series as he doesn’t mention her at all in creating Frankie. This man is either taking all the credit here or Viveka was taking a snooze or something…

Pros: Frankie looks very cute in the second panel (except for the fingers which look a bit off) and Siobhan can draw hot older men VERY well.

Page 2:

“Frankenstein” explains to Frankie that he’s too busy trying to get his (redundant) research ready for the “World’s Scare Science Exhibition.” Frankie interrupts and sees that her ghouls need her. Frankenstein once again alludes to this version of G1 being a melodrama ��let me know how they’re faring.”

I find Frankenstein’s: “I could never create another you my dear. You’re one of a kind.” Kinda silly.

Alivia has entered the chat (shhh I know she’s G2).

“What I am doing here is something different. Something that’s never been done before.” Again -Vik- Frankenstein, you’re a bit late to the party there.

Personal Nitpick: Why use “Scare Science Exhibition,” when you’ve been using the “Mad Science” pun in G1 already. IMO, I think it also sounds better.

Pro: Frankenstein’s face looks well drawn (especially in the fourth panel-ignoring his blotchy, black hair streaked- look at his cute little bolt eye-glasses).

so does his armchair in the first panel,

and Frankie’s face in the first and second panel.

Con: I think all of their hands look off (especially the fingers). I don’t know if it’s the line work or the coloring, but they all read as awkward and oddly sharp (Frankie’s thumb in the first panel, and whole left hand in the third panel).

Page 3:

Sounds like the ghouls are fighting again, Frankie is caught in the middle, and Draculaura is dealing with the brunt of the shit show from the “Once Bitten” book.

Personal Nitpick: Draculaura is drawn REALLY tall in this photo (in the webisodes and CGI movies, she is teeny).

Pro: Frankie looks great in the first panel, I like her and Clawdeen’s smile in the photo, and her expression in the fourth panel. Con: Frankie’s hands look janky in the first panel.

Page 4:

Apparently Frankenstein remembered electricity being vital to reanimation, and rushes to find his notes (that were apparently not on his desk). But his notes are missing. Dun! Dun!! I wonder who the brains in the jar belong to?? Perhaps Vivika and Victor Frankenstein are in this version of G1 after all…

Pro: I liked his exclamation: “by Mary Shelly’s ghost.”

I really liked how Frankenstein is drawn in the third panel and how he breaks out of the frame of the panel too. It just feels a lot more “alive” and energetic.

The lightning bolt is drawn well and the toppled mug of coffee in the background of the fourth panel is a nice addition. Page 5 (the last of the paneled comic in this preview):

A super eeeevillll person suddenly sprouts up from nowhere (was this guy squatting down in the corner of the room; waiting for Frankenstein to figure out the key to reanimating life) and grabs Frankenstein’s “life’s work;” threatening to destroy it, unless he agrees to work with him. Frankie-boy agrees. Meanwhile, Frankie is still talking to her boos, while flipping through her photo album.

I also wonder if the ghouls are not allowed to fang out during summer break and can only see each other during the school season?? Otherwise, why can’t they all fang out. :/ Personal Nitpick: how did that burglar get into that room?? Was he there the whole time (pretending to be a table) or did he sneak in after Frankie left?

Frankenstein’s “life’s work” is entirely made up of a two whole envelopes(?) and two spiral notebook pages. That’s it Frank?!? That’s all?!? And is Lagoona not part of the main squad in this version of G1 (maybe she WAS actually boiled alive in the previous book)?

Pro: Frankenstein’s hand (once again breaking the panel’s outline) looks very well drawn. Frankie mostly looks great in the last two panels (I love her pose in the fourth panel

and her cute smile in the last one). Con: Cleo’s face doesn’t look like herself in the last panel (where did all of her sharp facial angles go)??

They gave Frankie yaoi-sized hands in the fourth panel. Haha! They’re huge!

This is the last “comic page” in this FCBD preview. There are four Monster Net profiles of the main ghoul, a Schedule (I covered this earlier), an interview with the author (also covered earlier), and another picture of the cover art. The Monster Net is a clever G1 upgrade, I like these and the details that went into them (even if I don’t like the implication of what written here). The artwork is done by the cover artist: Luciannys Camacho, and looks great.

In Frankie’s her dad is confirmed to be her only parent… :/ Boooo!!!

Draculaura’s profile is just…very sad. The poor ghoul apparently has had a bad year with her dad (who may or may not be dead) making her drink blood (to save her life…? Was it a ritual..? He was begrudgingly okay with her vegan life style beforehand) and going to meetings (is she taking over a business, is she being called in to testify what happened the last year at MH)? I am so not looking forward to what’s going down in “Once Bitten”….

I guess that her new step mom from the Diaries Series (Ramoanah) is also not a thing in this either (none of these ghouls get moms). Draculaura also looks super cute in this artwork!!

Clawdeen’s bio really plays up her being a fashion influencer and I think that perfectly works for her. Her bio is also hinting at everyone being sad, distant, and off. It confirms she has a girlfriend: Toralei….which I have mixed feelings on. I really like G3 Clawdeen and Toralei and I have seen REALLY cute artwork for G1 Clawdeen and Toralei. But that’s about it. Besides their dog/cat theme, I haven’t been swayed to ship them just yet (Toralei did some horrendous things to the ghouls and while I’m a sucker for enemies-to-lovers they haven’t done enough flirting with each other for me to hop on board yet). I assume they will have their relationship built up in “Once Bitten” and not just “Summer Fangout” (because that still just felt like it was skimming the surface).

Her artwork also looks great (her outfit especially looks well drawn).

Cleo’s profile is also fine. But WHY did the newest Monster High Diaries (from the Haunt Couture line) and THIS comic want to break up G1 Cleo and Deuce?!? They are a great power couple and have already gone through so many ups and downs in G1 to prove that they love each other. Since when does Cleo care about who Nefera has dated (apparently Nefera has dated someone in another dimension….is she dipping into the fairy tales and dating someone at Ever After High or the Barbie verse? Is this what happened to Blaine after Barbie dumped him to be with Ken again?!?).

Final Thoughts:

Well, that was certainly a preview of what’s to come and I’m super wary of it. :/ Again, I might’ve just aged out of G1’s YA melodrama that they’re leaning into. But I was hoping for a semi-proper continuation of the MH G1 continuity. Maybe see the ghouls graduate (after following them around their senior year) and head to college…? See some of their family members start MH…? G1 Monster High has some good bones and ideas to play around with (it’s far from perfect-I already mentioned how confusing the lore is). Plus, writers now can be inspired (or know what to avoid) by what’s happened in G2 and G3.

I already stated that this fits into the last category of MH G1 Lore “It’s Own Thing,” and this IS just a peak into it, and MAYBE I’ll be swayed, but so far, I’m just not super impressed. I give this preview a 5.8/10. The artwork is mostly pretty good, the paneling is not groundbreaking, but also not bad, it flows well. The story is what’s holding me back (but it is a free issue and it got me to finally go into our local comic book shop for Free Comic Book day).

Anyways, those are just my thoughts. What do you think of the story so far? Are you excited about “Once Bitten”/IDW MH comics living their best alternate G1 lives? Are all of my takes awful? Let me know!

Part 2 of this series of reviews will be part one of (hopefully four posts of) MH’s Pride Issue’s Comic: “Summer Fangout.”

#Aleta’s reviews #IDW Monster High comic #IDW monster high #Monster high #g1 monster high #IDW monster high comics #IDW free comic book day 2024 #IDW FCBD 2024 #IDW free comic book day Monster high #IDW FCBD Monster High #Long post

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ripjeff · 4 months ago

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Minds Collide - Logicality Ch 1

Chapter 1 Word count: 1680 words

Logan sat in his favorite spot in the back of his local library. It was quiet, he loved the quiet. He spent most of his days in this spot. He sat in a comfortable chair and read his books, helping the librarians put away returned books when they needed it. He spent most days in his spot in the library while his dad was at work and his other dad took care of things at home. He worked on his online college work on his laptop, then read his books or enjoyed his lunch. It was a simple routine, but one he enjoyed nonetheless.

Today was different, however. He noticed that there was a chair set up near the children’s books that wasn’t usually there, and a sign that read, “Papa Patton’s Storytime Hour.” Logan furrowed his brow in confusion before making his way over to the librarian. “Hello, Jess.”

Jess smiled at him, “Hey Logan, how are ya today?”

“I am content today, thank you. May I inquire as to the events in the children’s section today?”

Jess smiled at his formality. “Yeah, of course! So we have a gentleman coming today at 2 o’clock to read to some homeschooled kiddos. We thought it would be fun and so we called and set up an event on Facebook so that we could see how many people would be coming to be prepared.”

Logan frowned, not a huge fan of children. “May I ask how long the event will be taking place?”

“Um.. we’re not sure? A while. I mean I know it’s not really your scene, you’re more than welcome to sit in the back office if it becomes too much.”

Logan nodded, “I appreciate the offer, Jess.” He made his way back to his spot, dreading the inevitable group of loud children. He put his headphones on and scrolled through his phone, only looking up when a cupcake was placed in front of him on a small place with a napkin. The cupcake was decorated to look like a puppy, with fondant ears and paws. Smiling brightly at him was a pale man wearing a blue polo shirt with a cat cardigan wrapped around his shoulders. He was simply adorable in every way, although he looked like the stereotypical image of a white dad.

“Hi, I’m Patton!” he extended a hand out to Logan to shake, still sporting the bright smile on his face. Logan hesitated for a moment, analyzing Patton’s face and wondering how is he so expressively cheerful? He shook Patton’s hand, “Hello, I am Logan.” Patton nodded, “Well it’s nice to meet you Logan, I hope you like cupcakes!” Patton took a seat, speaking excitedly. “Jess told me you are in here every day so I figured I’d introduce myself since I’ll be coming in to read to my kiddos a few times a week… we’re reading puppy-themed books today so I made the cupcakes puppy-themed!” He giggled, pointing at the ears on his cupcakes.

Logan nodded, pushing his glasses up. “I’m not one for baking but I do enjoy the occasional treat, so thank you.” Logan noted how bright Patton’s smile was, a dimple present on either side and freckles delicately scattered across his nose and over his cheeks. “You’re welcome! I LOVE baking! It’s so much more fun than buying sweets from the store.” He giggled, his gaze falling upon Logan’s novel and laptop on the table. “So is this what you do every day? You like reading?” Patton was looking at him intensely, curiosity and intrigue evident on his face although Logan didn’t quite notice.

“Yes, reading is an enjoyable pass-time for me. I read and learn something new every day, and the library is a good place for such objectives. It is… quiet.”

Patton nodded, resting his chin on his hands as he listened to Logan speak, his smile still plastered on his face. He’s barely just met Logan and he’s unlike anyone he’s ever met before. He’s never met someone, especially not someone his age, who sounds so smart (to put it simply.) It fascinated him that someone just had all these big words in their brain all the time and knew what they meant and when to use them. Patton’s not stupid, but his intelligence lies elsewhere. “It is quiet, I bet the quiet’s nice. I don’t get a ton of quiet every day since I work with kids but it’s nice when I do.”

Logan shook his head slightly. “I wouldn’t be able to work for children. I am… not much of a fan of children. I do not enjoy being around overly loud people or things often.” Patton listened intently, shrugging when Logan finished speaking. “That’s fair! I mean that makes sense but I love my kiddos and I super love my job! It’s so fun, and kids are so creative, speaking of which.. Oh wow,” he exclaimed as he checked his watch, “I need to go set up before the kids flock in! It was nice meeting you Logan, I hope to see you next week?”

Logan nodded courteously, watching as Patton rushed over to get his books ready and set up the table with the snacks and cupcakes for the kids. It didn’t take long before the kids and their parents started arriving, Patton greeting them cheerfully. Logan watched him from his spot, having turned on the noise-cancelling setting on his headphones to make this time more bearable. He found himself just watching Patton and studying his mannerisms. He watched how Patton worked with the children, being patient and caring of each child there. He watched how Patton interacted with the parents, mature and respectful. Patton fascinated him in every way and he wasn’t sure how to feel about the energetic man.

Logan sat at the dinner table with his dads that night. He was 19 years old and in college but he saw no reason to move away from home so he still ate dinner with his dads most nights. His dad, Remy, was a thin man of average height who always seemed to have bags under his eyes. He set a plate of food down in front of Logan and his husband before finally having a seat in his chair. His husband, Emile, was a healthy-looking man with caring eyes and an inviting nature (unsurprising considering he spent his days working as a therapist). “Thank you, darling,” Emile said to his husband before taking a bite of his food, turning to Logan after he had finished chewing. “How was your day, son? Anything interesting happen?”

Logan nodded, looking at his papa. “Yes,” he said without any emotion in his voice.

Both of his dads perked up after hearing this. Logan didn’t often deviate from his daily routine so to hear that he may have experienced something new today, and didn’t seem upset about it either, makes them quite joyous. They wanted the best for their son, and with Logan being autistic they took victories where they could get them. Remy nodded encouragingly, “Yeah? What happened?”

“I became acquainted with someone new today. His name is Patton and he is going to be reading to children at the library twice a week.” He took a bite of his food before continuing. “He said hello to me today and asked about my novels… he was smiling. He was friendly.”

Emile nodded, setting his fork down. “You said he’s going to be coming to the library a few times a week? Do you think this could be a potential new friend?”

Logan shrugged, “I don’t know. He’s not like Virgil.”

Remy took a drink from his glass before offering his son a dinner roll and a caring smile. “Well, maybe it would be good for you to have a friend that isn’t like Virgil. We love Virgil, but variety doesn’t have to be a bad thing, love.” Emile nodded in agreement with his husband. “Your dad is right, Lo. Maybe someone bright and friendly as you said could add a different perspective to your life and friendships.”

Logan sighed softly, “Perhaps you’re correct. We aren’t very similar to each other, though.”

Remy laughed softly at this, “That’s not a bad thing, I mean- I’d hate to be around someone exactly like me. I think I’d go insane.”

Logan was quiet for a second before humming softly, “I did not consider that perspective.” Logan thought about the happy boy in the library as he and his parents fell into a comfortable silence, finishing their meal. After helping clean up dinner, Logan was about to head upstairs when his dad called to him, catching his attention. “Is Virge still coming over hun?”

Logan nodded and replied with a simple ‘yes’ before heading upstairs to his favorite room in the house, his bedroom. His bedroom was his safe space. He kept the room dark, usually only lit with his special lamp that shone constellations across his ceiling. His walls were a dark blue, his carpet an aesthetically matching gray. His bed was made neatly with a space-themed comforter. He sat in his large beanbag chair in the corner where he usually resides, reading his current novel and waiting for his best friend to arrive.

Virgil eventually arrived and they went through the usual steps of their routine. Virgil played some My Chemical Romance at a low volume on Logan’s TV before curling up in Logan’s bed and taking a nap, Logan continuing his reading in his chair. Logan liked these nights he had with Virge most weekends. He liked being able to keep his peace while still being in the presence of someone he was comfortable with, and Virge tended to be a quiet person in general so it just worked out. Virgil has been his best friend and one of his only friends for most of his life. He found comfort in Virgil’s company and wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to see that same comfort in someone else, much less someone more energetic and upbeat—someone like Patton.

{Alrighty y'all, that's chapter 1 done. I am open to any and all constructive criticism. I'll see y'all next Monday!}

#prinxiety #logicality fanfiction #logicality #deceit sanders #logan sanders #thomas sanders #sanders sides #fanfiction #smut #fluff #roman sanders #Virgil sanders #demus #remus sanders #autistic!Logan #trans!Logan

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jenyifer · 11 months ago

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I’ve read 10 more books let’s get a rec list here for future use for people to look up on my page or alone.

Disclaimer:I think reviews and opinions show a lot about who you are and your life exp so. I am a woman lover who is 30 with ADHD. I am cisgendered she/her. I like listening to books on my drive in and out of work. I’ve read and watched a lot of scifi and fantasy and these books reflect that too.

In order of most loved:

1. Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈⏳ Historical Romance. this beautifully crafted novel moved me to tears. Set in a historical, mundane world, it captures the essence of the original while offering a fresh perspective.

2. Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh 👯‍♀️🏳️‍🌈👽🚀now MC Romance very very low I like to think she’s a little bit some where in the ace spectrum but 🥹🥹 Avicenna gives you enough gay vibes trust me. It is a real journey. MC is broken out of her brainwashing and tries to save the Earth and Universe. It’s high Sci-fi fun. I really loved it.

3. The Last Binding Trilogy by Freya Marske 🏳️‍🌈👯‍♀️🏳️‍🌈🪄⏳🔎 Alright each book is from a different intertwined couple’s POV. Each book is very much historical wizard mystery’s found family. Each book has steamy interesting spicy scenes. I find this series more impressive now because I still think about the couples and its universe was fun. Side note the last couple is the best.

4. The Tithenai Chronicles by Foz Meadows 🏳️‍🌈⏳🪄🔎 it’s more historical than super magical but both books have decent mysteries. It’s about an arranged royal marriage one comes from a conservative country suffering from trauma which we get to see but is treated respectfully and not harped on and the other is a warrior who is a little neurospicy. So Velasin is so dear to me I forgive a lot because he’s baby and I love him. They have non binary characters and disabled characters in the story being treated like people. There is some very spicy scenes in these two books. The new character in the second book so amazing they reminds me of Tennal from Oceans Echo in spirit anyway. I liked them. But his spicy scenes had me blushing for days. A con of this book is it’s very emotional so depression trauma warnings.

5. Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🦹🦜 I can’t believe I forgot to do a review of this one considering I really enjoyed it. So it’s YA dystopian Latin America folklore kind of like superhero and god goddess. Really heart warming found family coming of age. Also in the vein of hunger games etc. I loved the universe and the structure of the world. Each character was well developed throughout the book. Main character is someone you want to see succeed. I’m so excited for book 2. Lots of neurospicy peeps represented in my opinion.

6. Simon Snow Trilogy by Rainbow Rowell🏳️‍🌈🪄🧛🏻🐲 Also YA feel book one has a lot of Harry Potter jabs but it’s not a direct parody. I also think in book 2 3 they take jabs at diff genres which was fun. The series is very funny has perspective from all the characters. The universe is interesting. Romance is decent. Lovable characters. It isn’t good to think too hard about anything.

7. The Unbroken by CL Clark 👯‍♀️⏳👑🪄 this book would be higher up if I wasn’t iffy on the main couple individually I’d rank both leads pretty high on best characters. It’s a book about colonialism political magic rebellion found family. It’s action packed it’s interesting with a good mystery. A disabled main character and a more male presenting lesbian with is something new. Touraine is going to do what Touraine thinks in her heart while Luca serves with her brain and wallet.

8. So this is ever after by f. t. Lukens 🏳️‍🌈👯‍♀️🪄👑⏳ Does what it says on the tin is YA. Medieval setting with standard fantasy quest group. Very easy read.

9. Out of the Blue by Jason June 🏳️‍🌈🧜🏻‍♂️🎬🎓very YA vibes. Very romance. About a nonbinary mer person on their journey out of the ocean to help a human and a film obsessed gay chubby human on his journey to get over a relationship. I would have this book ranked higher except for the ending and School vibes do kind of make me cringe.

10. Temperature of You and Me by Brain Zepka 🏳️‍🌈🦹🔎 about a boy whose skin is fire and human who works at a dairy queen. Mystery is weak some holes in the plot.Romance very immature. School age kids.

Okay so audible had a sale anddd I got a couple titles on there (if I have to spend a fortune on gas and tolls I’ll spend a small one on the books that keep me sane) and I have 4 Libby audiobooks checked out. I still have a hard time with wlw books. Or too much thinking. It needs to hit a sweet spot for me since I’m usually driving in hard conditions so can’t use the super brain on the story. Anyways any suggestions or recs would be welcomed!!!

#lgbtqia books #lgbt book list #book list #lgbt books #lgbt book recs #most ardently #some desperate glory #a marvellous light #a strange and stubborn endurance #the sunbearer trials #simon snow series #the unbroken #Jenny’s books

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theeccentricraven · 5 months ago

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The 13th Day of Writemas 🤶🎅🍒❤️🎀🛷

Another day of Writemas thanks to @agirlandherquill 💚🤍🫂 I feel that Friday the 13th in December isn't so scary because the Christmas cheer cancels out bad luck, and because I have bad luck everyday anyway 😄

For the Day 13 Writing Prompt list, I chose the narration prompt: "The damage was done. The ruin irreparable. It would leave scars and plenty of them, but at least, along with the pain, there remained a story to tell." I liked this and thought of how I could use it in the opening of Brigid Aideen. This novel is a YA Scifi fantasy superhero story. I tried to write Draft 1 about ten years ago, but it miserably failed. So now I'm going to try again. I like how these writing prompts have helped me work on Draft 2 AND Draft 3 of my main WIP and helped me get started on three other WIPs. Ah 2025 will be a fun year 😃Content warning: The story deals with a sensitive topic. I'll be careful with what I sample and post.

Also if you'd like to join this tag game, check out the invitation post.

__________________________________________________________

Chapter 1

That’s me, the dark-haired teenage girl you see on the hospital bed in the trauma center. You may see that my eyes tell of the invisible blows hitting my essence. I curl in a fetal position and cry. I tell the hospital staff to leave me alone. I know I need to see a counselor soon. No backstroke or healing touch can stop a girl’s cry. I know that I’m not alone among the other patients - women and girls who emerged from the darkest moments of their lives. I still feel alone. I don’t understand why I had to survive to live with this hell in my head. I look back to the moment mere hours ago that changed my life forever and brought me here. The damage was done. The ruin, irreparable. It would leave scars and plenty of them, but at least, along with the pain, there remained a story to tell. And so I tell that story, all the way to where it began. How did I come here? How did this all happen? Where did I come from? How did everything come down to this? Why? Who am I really? Why don’t I bleed when reason says that I should? Imagine a slim, dark-eyed sixteen-year-old girl, nervously carrying a box of Mom’s favorite Delft Blue up the stone stairs to the new house. That same ginger-haired mother carries my crying two-year old sister right behind me. My dark-haired Dad carries a box of books. My younger brother closest to my age, who looks almost exactly like our dad, carries the Samsung TV. My other frisky junior high brother carries the boxed bookshelf that will house the books in my Dad’s box. My little sister and little brother play on the lawn, him proudly holding the ball that our youngest sister cried over losing. Actually, I have to go back further to what my brother said before hell broke loose. We are in our family van, big enough to hold my parents and us six kids. Dad is driving. Twelve year old Tyler sits in the passenger seat, playing Skyrim on his Switch. Mom is in the middle seat with the two youngest, six year old Roger drawing in a color book while two year old Ashley eats her Cheerios. In the back, nine year old Kathy sits by the window reading Anne of Green Gables. Fourteen year old Patrick sits in the middle, reading a Naruto book. As for me, I’ve held two things for much of our trip. My Samsung Galaxy in one hand. My lacrosse stick in my other hand. When I’m not looking at the things in my hands, I’m looking out the window. Watching the country before me has given me a lot of time to think. Did Paula stop caring for me? Did she have a problem that she never told me? Will Alana continue to message me? Will I share her pictures in my lacrosse gear at my new school? Will Alana dump me like Paula did? What is my purpose in life? I swing around my stick. I’m going to show my new school that I’ll be a rockstar player. ____________________________________________________________

Happy Holidays to the writing mutuals I tag 🎄🦌❄️👼☃️🎶🕯️🔔⛸️🧝🥁🏂⛷️🎁

@sunflowerrosy @furrywrit3r @wyked-ao3 @selenekallanwriter @drchenquill

@revenantlore @whatwewrotepodcast @jay-avian @constellationandcompendium @olivescales3

@ryns-ramblings @primroseprime2019 @illarian-rambling @kaylinalexanderbooks @kitty-is-writing

@kitkins13 @buffythevampirelover @willtheweaver @poethill @acmartin

@apolline-lucy @elizaellwrites @gioiaalbanoart @orphanheirs @pluppsauthor

@cowboybrunch @leahnardo-da-veggie @dandelion-jester @aalinaaaaaa @faeriecinna

@brynwrites @somethingclevermahogony @rickie-the-storyteller @raevenlywrites @winterandwords

@happypup-kitcat24 @the-golden-comet @ddgraywrites @autism-purgatory @mxxnwishes

@tildeathiwillwrite @screamingatanemptyroom @kbwritesstuff @spookyceph @pluto-murphy-writes

@talesofsorrowandofruin @kaylark @sleepywriter00 @americanfemcel @fairy-tales-of-yesterday

@inkednotebook @the-letterbox-archives @laureleavess @simonnebethel @forthesanityofsome

@melpomene-grey @creatrackers @stephtuckerauthor @theink-stainedfolk

@g0ttest0d @infinnative @little-peril-stories @lyneidas @late-to-the-fandom

and Open!

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zahri-melitor · 4 months ago

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New Comics (the actual spoilers edition)

DC's Lex and the City #1:

Honestly this has been a pretty ordinary anthology. I did hiss quietly to myself that the percentage of Bat stories in this was higher than at least half the issues of Brave and the Bold, but it is what it is.

I thought on top of the stories themselves I’d talk about who got to write them, as I’ve got another post percolating about that.

Lex and the City (by Sina Grace): I swear I've seen versions of this story before (think one had Cat Grant instead of Trish Q). Can't remember where, would have to dig, it's probably in an anthology around Rebirth.

I also can think of at least one episode of Lois & Clark with approximate this plot (Lois is doing the interview), and presumably it's happened in other tv versions of the Superman franchise.

It's...fine. It's the sort of Sex and the City joke story that you'd presume from the title.

Grace's other work includes the Claire Clover backups from the end of Tamaki's 'Tec run, a Hartley story from the first Pride anthology, and the opening story of Beast World Tour Atlantis, among others. I think the best piece I’ve read from him is the Atlantis story, which balanced a fair amount of plot and characters simultaneously. He’s also the guy getting that Shazam fill next month about Jon Kent (after working with Nicole Maines on Absolute Power: Super Son).

A Valentine’s Day Gift For Poison Ivy (by Maggie Tokuda-Hall): this felt very informed by BTAS characterisation rather than main continuity, and set *handwave* some time when they both were still villains (Alfred is alive too, as another data point).

It’s exactly the sort of puff Harley/Ivy story that inevitably ends up in at least 2 anthologies a year.

In terms of characterisation – I don’t read Harley focused stuff, but I can definitely say it’s not written by someone who feels like they read Wilson’s Poison Ivy. This is because the characterisation of both Harley and Ivy feels like it’s from the general osmosis vibes: Ivy is ‘a die-hard environmentalist’ and so might have ethical objections to an ‘infant leopard sealskin’ coat, but Harley’s just fine wearing it and running off with it. Which: Ivy cares about PLANTS. Her environmentalism strains have always revolved around the plant kingdom, not animals, while Harley’s the one who keeps animals as pets. It’s a weird villainous Cruella DeVille sort of note to add to the story for Harley, while these sort of fluff shorts are usually going out of their way to excuse both Harley and Ivy as ethical criminals only committing victimless crimes against big business.

I also rolled my eyes at what seemed to be a period piece taking a wide swipe at Cybertrucks. When do you want this to be set? (Part of me wanted to give the story props for playing up the ‘using Lex as a Musk insert’ tendency that’s happened in the last handful of years, part of me is mourning the loss of the ‘Lex as Trump insert’ of earlier years, part of me is unsure that Tokuda-Hall knows that Lex has a ‘Lexla’ brand in comics)

I will give the hat tip to it being a lesbian love story in this anthology, because I’ve dinged DC in previous years for managing to avoid showing a single openly queer relationship in the Valentines anthology.

This is Tokuda-Hall’s first DC work, and she only has two other credits on LOCG (both for independent YA graphic novels). And I have to say, that background shows. Good on her for pitching, but I would like to see more evidence she’s read recent main continuity works. They should talk to her about the teen graphic novels line where it matters less.

Beautiful Lies (by Jon Rivera): Victor Fries has been getting a bunch of solid stories recently, and this one joins the pack. I don’t think I’ve seen him used as a joke to dunk on for AGES. On the other hand, this is written in reaction to contemporary economic problems, but Victor’s got Nora in a tube here. So we are very much running with background default ‘what people know about Freeze’ for the story.

I thought the commentary on Batman v Bruce Wayne’s work in Gotham for ordinary people was fairly straightforward in this, but it definitely hewed straight to the classic tropes of whenever it’s brought up (Batman with the ‘call this number, they’ll help you find a job’ business card!) The tragedy at the centre of this felt very in conversation with various economic downtimes, as it raised ‘what will you do for economic security’.

I also need to get around to writing about my feelings about the way various writers use the concept of gentrification in comics, particularly in regards to Gotham, but that’s a bigger project than just this so I’ll just stick a pin in it here that this is another example I need to come back to.

Jon Rivera did a bunch of work in the Young Animal line with Cave Carson. This is the first story he’s had with DC for almost 7 years. I feel it’s pretty obvious, reading the anthology, that he’s one of the writers with the most comics experience in here.

Together Again (by Charles Skaggs): finally, a piece in this anthology that feels like it’s written specifically in reaction to real, published comics. This is a World’s Finest: Teen Titans based story reflecting on their first mission as a team. It’s not based off their original Silver Age original team up as far as I can tell, but it is very much in the updated vibe of Silver Age stories that the World’s Finest stories use. It’s also using old post-Crisis factoids, like the fact that Dick and Wally used to have standing guy’s camping trip arrangements (we end up feeling like this is riffing several issues from Titans 1999).

I enjoyed it! The way Dick, Wally, Roy and Garth were bouncing off each other felt very similar to the diner scene in Titans #1 1999 (obvious parallels are obvious). You can tell they’re friends.

Charles Skaggs’ other DC piece that I can find is a period-set JSA story from DC’s Terrors Through Time in 2022. He’s clearly a DC fan who actually reads comics and understands how to fit things into continuity, and the person top of my list in this for DC to offer more work to.

To Live and Date in Gotham (by Brendan Hay): Is this generally kinda meh fanonish characterisation? Yes. Does everyone need to chill? Also yes. Look, I knew this one was going to be controversial from when the anthology was solicited. And now that I’ve read it, it’s just generally the sort of light fluff you see in anthologies, where everyone feels a bit skewed from their main writers.

Personally what I think everyone should be up in arms about is the ‘Teen-Bats’ line, because while you might THINK on first glance this might be the glorious return of Becky and Aaron Langstrom to canon, I strongly suspect this is actually referencing Tristan Grey, given the various age differences (Aaron should by any standard still be a kid; Becky if she’d aged consistently might have reached her early teens by now, though I think preteen is more likely). Anyway, Man-Bats and Tim are a flavour that go great together with plenty of backstory, why are you faking me out on suggesting I might have got my Langstrom kids back?!? How dare you Brendan Hay!!!! (Tongue firmly in cheek for all of this)

Yes, Brendan Hay wrote that Tim and Damian story in Brave and the Bold that everyone already whinged about, but what I personally want to note is that he also wrote “Say Yes To the Mess” in last year’s Valentine’s anthology, which was that story about Diana getting propositioned by a random assortment of characters, Diana explaining why people didn’t really want to date her, they just wanted connection with another person, and then declaring ‘actually what’s Galantine’s Day?!?’ in what felt like the most awkward out on having Diana go on an actual date with a woman.

And I think that’s probably worth looking at in context of the ho ho ho Steph and Cass aren’t dating, they’re just anti-Valentines Day together! stuff in this story. Will write Tim/Bernard. Will also just stick two female characters together and go wink wink wink. Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. (This is not a trend I’m fond of)

I don’t think Hay’s views on characterisation match this section of tumblr’s, and I think from some of the commentary dug up that this is another example of ‘writer has spent noticeable amounts of time in fandom and been influenced by it’ plus he’s explicitly said he just wrote parts of the story in his head and excused not explaining things because he decided they happened off panel. Which…look. I’ve certainly noted that various writers before him have done that (Devin Grayson’s approach to Dick, Megan Fitzmartin’s approach to Bernard) but generally you don’t ADMIT IT straight out, especially as he clearly worked through ways it could have been told better, yet failed to use them.

Riddle Me Kiss (by Sabrina Futch): look, the oddest thing about this is that this doesn’t really track with any of the common lines on Eddie as a character that have been written over the last several decades. It’s definitely not the Snyder version of Ridder, which was adopted by Tom King, which is probably the most prominent that’s not Eddie just having a fun time being a criminal or busy doing high level work. It’s treating his riddles as more like Baffler levels of jokes rather than actual challenges. It’s really framing him as a pathetic villain, rather than a high level Rogue. (Also as has been mentioned by others, Ram V. did a far better Riddler Valentine’s Day story a couple of years back).

Sabrina Futch is currently working as an editor on a bunch of DC books; mostly as an associate editor, so pretty junior. This is her second writing credit for DC – she got to write the text for Batman Uncovered. Honestly I just think she’s a developing writer.

Roses are Red…Blood Is, Too (by Callie C. Miller): I think this is supposed to be set during the 2003 Teen Titans run (apparently the version of Brother Blood in this is specifically from that run and Outsiders at the time), especially as it’s set in San Francisco. Both characters feel pretty young. But fundamentally, I don’t really care about Gar and Raven’s relationship, so I can’t analyse how well it’s drawn as I don’t read much about them.

It’s…fine. This ship has been everywhere for a few years now, which is probably got a lot to do with people who were kids when the Teen Titans 2003 cartoon came out now getting work at DC.

This is Callie Miller’s first credit anywhere, and it’s exactly the sort of first credit you see that may or may not translate into further work. I don’t think it’s got the spark that’s going to have people clamouring to see more.

Heartbreak Lake (by Dave Wielgosz): you know when you’re reading a story that feels like it’s setting up a bunch of explanations to fit various sections of canon together or retcon a few things? That’s what this is. I haven’t read a lot of Hawkman stuff, but this is obviously doing some work with the present situation with the Hawks and their older stories, and look, is it really a Hawk story if some sort of massive confusing retcon isn’t being navigated?

It’s the very loved-and-lost story of the set and refocusing Carter on the present.

Dave Wielgosz is a mainstay DC editor. His writing credits include Man-Bat 2021 (which I thought was a really well considered Kirk Langstorm story compared to a lot of other uses of the character since Rebirth outside of JLD) and a bunch of anthology shorts. He’s a ‘can get a story in an anthology any time he asks’ sort of guy, and works with a wide range of characters.

#z canon read throughs #newish comics #wednesday spoilers

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