#A) love the idea of Marc getting and giving back to Chicago

[age-of-moonknight]

“Deliverance,” Marvel Zombies: Black, White & Blood (Vol. 1/2023), #1.

Writer: Ashley Allen; Artist: Justin Mason; Letterer: Clayton Cowles

[romanarose]

Seattle: Part 6

Marc Spector x Jewish!Reader

Seattle Masterlist

Previous chapter : Next chapter

Summary: While in Chicago, Rebecca gets some news. Marc is in denial.

Warnings: uuhhhh references to child abuse, domestic violence, food, references to food restriction and weight, self harm? Like hair pulling around frustration but it’s aggressive, panic attack maybe, I’d what to call what make is going through but it’s similar to his freaking out in the duat when he didn’t want to go in the room. starts of smut but that's about it lmk if i missed anything.

A/N: Whose watched This is Us? BC im v upset i just realized that I my OC is Rebecca and her husband (a referenced alcohalic) is Jack?!?!?! how could I do this to my precious Jack and Rebecca from This is Us ;_;

Also, flashbacks are from Rebecca’s perspective. That last set of flashbacks to their childhood/adolescence

******

Marc Spector felt like he was going insane.

The rest of day one of the shiva went well. After asking Marc if it was okay, Elias dropped by Rebecca’s old house to pay his respects, greeting Rebecca with warmth “Hamakom Yinachem Etchem, mama’leh”. He greeted Asa, who he had met through the years, and confirmed plans for dinner the next day, at a restaurant of course. Marc wouldn’t go back to that house. Marc respected how his dad never pushed him.

They attended shivah the second day, but left early, when it became overwhelming for Marc’s senses. They opted to sight see places they knew from their past, avoiding anywhere with painful memories. They took a ride to lake michigan, dipping their toes in the waves, as the cold of chicago spring didn’t allow for more.

With Rebecca by his side, dinner with his dad had gone well; Rebecca was a natural conversationalist, and managed to avoid awkward pauses, steering the conversation away from upsetting topics. Marc was learning to forgive, opening his dad up to something special and important in his life; her.

It was after his dad’s teary goodbye that Rebecca had gotten a call from Asa.

Jack was dead, a mugging last night. The police had called Asa, Jack’s last phone call, who had identified the body.

And Rebecca didn’t believe the mugging bit for a second.

She had watched Marc descend from the staircase. Poor timing on her families part. It wasn’t that her family was particularly close to the Spectors, but it was a social obligation, part of temple community. She watched as his mom scream at him, blaming him for Randall’s death, and even then, Rebecca knew Marc couldn’t possibly be at fault; Marc adored his brother. 

Marc Spector was always more on the quiet side, but he had been a happy kid until this point. Up until his brother's death, Marc had been borderline popular. His dad was a Rabbi, his mom was active in temple leadership, and he and Randell did well in Hebrew school. Rebecca wasn’t so lucky. She knew people talked about her family, she just didn’t know what about. Then her mom died, and everything changed. Her dad drank more, and took out his anger on her. She was not popular by any measure in the 3rd grade. She looked at the scared, sad boy on the staircase, and resolved to try and help him. Rebecca had no idea what her act of kindness had meant, nor the friendship and love she would gain from it. It’s always the unexpected, isn’t it?

“C’mon Marcy, I’m not even hungry, I already had my food.” She insisted one day at lunch, after a year of this battle. She always tried to pack extra lunch for him when they had it, Marc usually went to school without food, and she’d try to give to him. Marc’s pride made it a fight, every day.

“No thanks, I’m fine” Gone was the happy boy she had seen playing baseball with the other kids at recess. The Marc she knew now was withdrawn, his friends preferring to play with boys who didn’t cry in math class.

She leaned over the table, whispering despite the fact no one sat near them. “When was the last time you ate?”

He hesitated, but something about her brought out the truth. “Saturday night” It was monday.

“Please eat it?” She begged, heart nearly to tears at the thought of her only friend suffering like that.

“No. I’m fine, thank you” Ever polite, the stubborn boy.

Rebecca thought for a minute, then pushed her lunch box away. “Yeah, me too”

Marc’s eyes narrowed. “What are you doing”

She crossed her arms, giving him a challenging look. “Two can play at this game, I’m going on a hunger strike”

Marc rolled his eyes. A year of this and he was not used to her antics. “Fine.” He took a bite of the sandwich, raising an eyebrow to say ‘see?’

She smiled, taking a bite of hers.

“Beccs, I swear to god, that wasn’t me!” He insisted when they got back to their hotel room, the dark settling into Chicago, the full moon visible from their vantage point despite the skyscrapers. 

She scoffed at him. “Oh yeah, and I’m supposed to believe it was Steven? I specifically told you not to touch him, Marc! I don’t care if you are Moon Knight, you don’t have the right to disregard me like that!”

Marc…

“It was none of us!” His Chicago accent always coming out more when he was irritated.

Marc, maybe-

“Oh sure!” She said, voice dripping with sarcasm. “And it’s just a coincidence that you left the room in the middle of the night”

“Yeah! It-” He stopped, confused. “Wait, what are you talking about? Steven went outside?”

It wasn’t me, mate

“When you came back, I asked you where you went, you said you needed air.”

Marc squinted. “How long was I gone?”

“YOU TELL ME!”

“I don’t know!”

“IDONTKNOWEITHER” She spilled out all at once, less annoyed with Marc than she was confused. A pause as she took a breath. “And it wasn’t Steven pretending to be you?”

No, I swear.

“It wasn’t him… We don’t keep secrets anymore…” He muttered, looking around the floor as he tried to process this. Was he insane? Had he lost it?

Listen, I think, maybe…

Marc turned abruptly to where Steven stood in the mirror, pointing at his reflection. “Stop, no, don’t even start, that’s not what’s happening”

Rebecca frowned, suddenly more concerned for Marc’s distress than she was angry or upset. “What’s he saying?”

Remember in Egypt, we lost chunks of time! We can’t just keep ignoring this!

Marc wasn’t listening.

“I would know if there was someone else in my head!” He shouted at Steven.

Yeah mate, that’s what I thought. 

“There’s someone else?”

Running his hands up his face and through his hair, he shut his eyes tight. “Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!” Marc screamed, pulling painfully at his hair. He kept pulling, something to distract him from the frustration and confusion he felt. “Fuck! Fuck!” He didn’t want to open his eyes, he didn’t want to see the fear Rebecca surely had in her eyes. Steven was something she could handle, Steven was soft and gentle, whoever else that was in there was not. She didn’t sign up for this. He couldn’t protect her if he couldn’t control his own body. And right now, hurting himself, yelling swears, although he had the body he certainly didn’t feel in control of it. She deserved better than-

Her hands on his. “Can you let go please?” Her voice was soft. Marc froze, unmoving but his screaming stopped, grip in his hair still tight. Her thumbs ran over his fingers. “I know it hurts, you can squeeze my hands, okay?” She slipped her hand under his, and he let go enough for his hair to slip out, save for the strands he yanked out, gripping her hand. Rebecca guided him, eyes still shut, to sit on the bed as she knelt between his knees, holding their hands up.

“I’m sorry” He whispered. “This probably hurts”

She shook her head, before remembering he couldn’t see her. “No, matok, it doesn’t”

A pause. “Promise? Because… I’m not sure I can stop, I’m sorry Beccs” His eyes were still squeezed painfully shut.

“I promise, wouldn’t lie to you. Take all the time you need, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart… who else in this world thought he was sweet?

There was something in her gut that screamed this was wrong. She had always trusted her gut, believing firmly it was God’s guidance, but recently it all became so blurred… Jack hadn’t done anything wrong, he took care of her, he paid for things, kept her by his side under a protective grasp… just like Marc, right?

That was the thing. Her gut said Marc. Everything was Marc, she was drawn to him in everything she did… but he didn’t want her, not like that anyway. If her gut told her ‘Marc Spector, Marc Spector, Marc Spector’ and it was wrong, it couldn’t be God… so she learned to tune it out. Still, there was a nagging voice, a bad, bad feeling… with all the voices in her head, God, which one is you? 

She couldn’t think clearly, the alcohol she had been fed all day blurring the few senses she had left. She couldn’t hear God, she couldn’t trust Jack, Asa, her dad, or any of her bridesmaids she felt like she barely knew.

But she could trust Marc Spector. 

She opened the door, finding Asa drinking with the other groomsmen in the hall. He turned to her. “Are you ready yet?” His tone long gone from the boy she raised, speaking more with the harshness of Jack when Rebecca was running late. 

“I need you to find Marc”

He didn’t say anything about the way too expensive wedding dress she was dressed up in, squeezed too tightly into, that she secretly hated but Jack's mother wanted. “Becca, no, don’t do this”

With a slight growl, she glared at her brother. “I’m not doing anything, Ace, just get him for me?”

“No! I’m not letting you throw all this away for that bum”

“Don’t talk about him like that” she glared. “I’m not coming out until I see him” And she slammed the door. When did she become this angry?

Marc had calmed down, letting go of her hands when he was able, but dodging her eyes to the floor as she sat by his side, mumbling apologies.

“I think…” he said slowly. “There may be shit going on in my head I don’t understand…“

Ever so gently, Rebecca touched his face, careful to not overwhelm him, treading carefully with the sense of touch, she guided his face to look at her. His eyes were large, wet and sad, but nonetheless beautiful. “I’m sorry sweetness, this must be really scary”

He couldn’t help scoff, his instinct being to push her away. “Yeah, scary for you.”

“No” She assured, very quickly. “I’m worried about you and Steven, not me. I don’t think there’s any part of you that could ever hurt me, you’d never let that happen, even if you weren’t aware what was happening.”

“Beccs” Marc insisted. “Whoever he is, he kills people”

She gave him a pointed look. “And Moon Knight doesn’t?” She was always sure to reference the deeds Marc enacted on Khonshu’s behalf as Moon Knight, alleviating Marc of much of his guilt. “You said you would have killed Jack too if I hadn’t insisted you leave him alone” She watched as Marc considered. He was listening, at least. “Jack was a god-awful person, and I’m glad he’s dead.”

She kissed him gently on the lips, a move that was only initially meant to comfort, to assure him she wasn’t scared away, that he was hers and she was his… But when Marc opened his mouth to her, she was quickly filled with a desire for him.

20 years. For 20 years that night occupied her mind, his mouth in her neck, the way he asked for permission to kiss her despite her having guided his hand between her legs, the thick stretch of him and the way he felt like he was made for her, molding her to him. It was her go-to fantasy for time with her fingers, a vibrator, or when Jack wasn’t bothering to try to get her off during sex.

She thought she would feel shame afterwards. That’s what all the abstinence talks told her. Sex before marriage would make you feel good for a few minutes, but the guilt and shame would last much longer. Well, first of all, sex with Marc lasted for more than a few minutes. Maybe the actual sex part hadn’t lasted very long, but it didn’t need to. He got her off once with his hands, and once while she road him… not bad for both of their first times. They were so perfectly in synch, ten years of friendship and codependency left them so in the know of each other, so connected that it hadn’t even had room for awkwardness. 

So why hadn’t he said something all morning?

Marc took a shower while Rebecca laid in bed, grumbling about the sun being too bright, that much was normal. But usually, he’d eat a bowl of cereal (in bed, they didn’t have room for chairs), occasionally calling for her to get up, kicking her leg. She’d while and beg 5 more minutes until he finished his food, throwing off the blanket or dragging her out of bed where she’d cramble to pee, grab a protein bar, slip on Marc’s clothes despite swearing she’d wake up early and put on real clothes, and Marc would brush her hair on the bus, maybe put it in braids if he was feeling festive.

Today, he was quiet. He ate his cereal in silence, but she felt his eyes on her. Eventually, he simply said .”we should get going.”

As they headed out the door, he handed her the protein bar she had nearly forgotten. So, he wasn’t mad… why wouldn’t he talk about it? She supposed she could say something… but he seemed so uncomfortable. Did he regret it? Maybe it wasn't what she thought… She had loved him, loved him for years, fuck, she couldn’t really remember a time when she didn’t. Her life began with Marc, really, a breath of fresh air, a burst of light in the darkness, even if he didn’t feel like that's who he was. They were a team, coexisting as one, and she never wanted to jeopardize that… had she ruined things? Had she pressured him at all? Was he just wanting to have a good fuck in the darkness, under the covers, then forget about it?

Yeah, that was probably it. He was horny. She was there.

He was still her best friend, they were still everything to each other. She knew that by the way he braided her hair this morning, carefully fingers weaving into the brown poof, he cared about her. He loved her.

Just not in that way.

“Beccs” He murmured, wrapping his arms around her waist.

“Do you want me to stop?” She asked, always actually aware of his comfort.

“Please don’t stop” her breathed out, strong arms lifting her up and over him as he laid down on the bed. Marc let out a load groan and she rolled her hips on him, taking the lead, making it abundantly clear that she wanted him, and with the way Marc’s wet, plush lips sloppily ate the skin of her neck, he wanted her too. Marc’s hands found her ass, clothed in the baggy, straight cut jeans she always used to wear, and gripped tightly despite the material. Fuck she felt amazing, every bit of her as perfect as he remember in the hazy memories he had. He needed these clothes off, he needed to see her, for her to see him, to be fully and completely naked to here, bare his body and his heart to her. To trust her enough to keep both safe, in a way neither had been safe before.

He had loved before. He would never discredited everything he shared with Layla. He trusted Layla with his life, she made him feel secure in a way he couldn’t before, she helped him open up, and helped him and Steven learn to exist together. There had never been anything wrong with Layla, Marc was his own undoing. Too many secrets, too many lies. There where never secrets with Rebecca, she had bared witness to so much of it first hand, banaging him up after his moms drunken fits, holding him on the nights they were homeless, he couldn’t keep a secret from her if he tried. Well, except for the fact that he loved her, but that was hardly kept. Marc told Rebecca he loved her constantly, she just didn’t know which version he meant. Rebecca let out a load moan as Marc ground her hips down over his hard erection, stimulating her clit as his hand sappriciated her body. 

As far as first times went, Marc had considered his first pretty well done, especially for two people who had no idea what they were doing, but now? Marc had learned a lot in 20 years, and although he had a lot he hated about himself… honestly? He was damn good in bed, and he knew it. He couldn’t wait to show her exactly what he knew, give her body the tenderness and pleasure it deserved. He kissed her face over the light pink scare Jack had given her, and she smiled at Marc’s reclamation of her skin. 

She took off her top, and Marc marveled at her body before him. Although he was certain it was not how she looked naked for most of her life, Jack’s pressure to change forced her into diet’s she had always scoffed at, it was still her body, and she was still perfect. Everything was perfect. 

He rolled her over, sucking a hickey into her neck, and Rebecca was so wound up after months of not having sex, she didn’t even care if he went down on her. She needed him, now. Unbuckling his dark washed jeans, she began to pull them off when his large hand stopped her, his head dropping her to shoulder.

With a pained voice, he practically whispered. “Rivkah, wait…” 

Layla was beautiful.

That was Rebecca’s first thought. When Marc called her to tell her he met someone, she was happy for him, even if a small part of her, the part she always ignored, was a tad jealous. And when he called to say he married her? Well that was unexpected. Marc had never wanted to get married, but a lot of men say that, until they find the right person. Rebecca hadn’t been the person for him, clearly, so she was happy he found someone to make him happy. Their work, which remained vague and confusing, had taken them to Seattle at the last minute, and Marc had clearly spent a lot of time rearranging plans to make this possible with Rebecca’s bust schedule. This was before Jack made her stop working. She thought for sure the lunch would be as awkward and when Jack met Marc, and the few months Marc stayed at her place. She didn’t want to cause Marc the problems him staying caused her, the way Jack had yelled and accused her of cheating, and wanted Marc thrown out. Rebecca had refused, which only lead to more yelling, things being thrown. Warning signs, she supposed.

But Layla was warm and friendly. She liked her, and she made Marc smile.

What was up with that? Who meets their husband's friend of 25 or so years, of a gender they are attracted too, and just… likes them. Was she not threatened? Well, Rebecca figured she wouldn’t be threatened if she looked like Layla either, especially if the competition was her… Rebecca had never felt much about how she looked. She knew she weighed more, her face lacked the dainty anglican features of the women Jack knew, the women she had found out he was cheating with. Confronting him had been a mistake. He blamed her: she didn’t have sex with him enough, she didn’t make herself presentable, she’d let herself go. 

Marc had tried to ask her about the fact she hadn’t eaten much and she saw Layla nudge him with her knee when Rebecca clearly shut down at the probing, an act of solidarity Rebecca always appreciated.

When they said goodbyes, Layla hugged her, telling Rebecca how nice it was to finally meet her, and she hoped to see her again soon. She sounded genuine. 

But the hug had brushed Rebecca’s shirt just enough that the peak of a bruise showed, and Marc grabbed her, moving the shirt to reveal a row of bruises on her shoulder.

“Marc!” Layla warned, but Marc was single-focused.

“That fucker did this to you, didn’t he?”

Marc would never hurt her. She knew this. But his grip on her, no matter how gentle, only brought her back to Jack’s harsh grasp after Rebecca confronted him about the cheating. Her eyes went wide as she looked at Marc’s, his face gearing for a fight.

“Marc” Layla’s gentle voice and a hand on his arm immediately relaxed his features. “Let go”

Marc realized he was scaring her. “M’sorry” she muttered, backing off, but not dropping the matter. “Tell me what happened, Beccs.”

Rebecca looks to Layla, hoping she’ll bail you out of this too, but her concerned face was waiting for an answer. “It’s embarrassing” you start laying the groundwork for your lie, the first lie you had attempted with Marc in a long, long time. 

Layla excuses herself. “I’ll give you guys a minute” and walks over to a vender a few buildings down.

“Rivkah, talk to me. No secrets between us, right?” His eyes pleaded for honesty.

Rebecca feigned embarrassment. “It’s just sex” she looked away, knowing the subject would immediately make Marc uncomfortable, hopefully uncomfortable enough to drop it. It wasn’t a complete lie, Jack had a tendency to get carried away during sex.

He shook his head, but his glance was wavering and his discomfort grew. “I don’t believe that. You’ve been acting weird lately.”

Rebecca builds the lie further. “No, it’s true, we like to get a little-”

“Okay.” he stops her, not wanting to hear about her sex life. “Fine. But…” He takes your hand. “You’d tell me if something was wrong, right, metukah?”

Rebecca faked a smile. “Of course, Marc. Now, go buy your beautiful wife that gelato she’s eyeing” She nodded over to where Layla was taste testing flavors.

Marc glanced over to her, then turned back to Rebecca with a smile. “She really is beautiful, isn’t she?”

They said goodby, and Rebecca watched Marc walk over to Layla, assumingly saying what Rebecca had told him. Layla looked at Rebecca, and she gave her a little wave. Layla didn’t buy it. She waved back.

“What’s wrong?” Rebecca asked, halting her movements.

Marc breathed, steadying himself. “The shiva…”

Rebecca paused, confused as to what her dad's shiva had to do with them having sex. “W… what?”

He lifted his face, his stunningly gorgeous face flushed with desire he was repressing. “The shiva. I know we aren’t… we aren’t staying but… You covered the mirrors, you bought the candle…”

She realized what he was getting at. Traditionally, for the 7 days of a shiva, there was no sex.

“Marc, we aren’t observing all the practices, we can have sex.”

“Love…” He kissed Rebecca’s forehead. “I’ve wanted this for so long… I want you so bad-”

“-so have me-”

“-but I need this to be done right. I messed it up badly last time… I want everything to be perfect, I don’t want this to be anything you regret”

“Marc…” She held his face. “I have never, and could never regret you”

Marc rolled off of her, sitting up on the bed. “Let me take you on a real date, lay you down right, they way I’ve always wanted too”

Well, how could she argue with that? “Okay” She smiled at him. Her sweet, caring, loving man. “I love you Marc Spector.”

Marc smiled back, briefly glancing at her tits in that simple black bra and god, god if he was even an ounce weaker of a man... “Ani mitga’gea elayich, Rivkah”

************

THANKS FOR READING!!!! Two more chapters left <3

Spotify playlist

@my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction @ninebluehearts @sofi786 @myfandomlikesandstories @tippycakes26 @ahookedheroespureheart @arsonfrogger

[belovedspector]

Moon Knight College!AU Headcanons

Pairings: Steven Grant x Layla El-Faouly, Marc Spector x Layla El-Faouly

Warnings: Mentions of Randall Spector's death, allusions to Wendy Spector

Word Count: ~700

A/N: I've had this idea rattling around in my head for a while and decided to share the headcanons I've accumulated. Enjoy! :)

Steven knows about Marc and they get along/share the body well (haven't quite figured out when/how this would have happened).

Jake is technically there, too, but Steven and Marc don't know about him yet.

Marc and Randall both loved baseball. They played together and followed the Cubs, going to games whenever they could.

Marc kind of threw himself into baseball after Randall's death. Practices and games gave him a reason to be out of the house and took his mind off everything.

He also started working as soon as he could as a teen and took on as many hours after school and over the summer as he was legally allowed to, along with mowing lawns and shoveling snow for neighbors. Again, it got him out of the house, and he was able to save up a decent bit of money before going off to college.

Marc is on his high school baseball team and is good enough to get a full ride scholarship to [insert college/university here一something in either Chicago or New York]. He ends up there instead of joining the military, at Steven's urging.

They minor in history for Steven but major in something "practical" (Marc's wording) like business.

Marc has never really liked school. He can't sit still, can't focus. He's not dumb, far from it, but just doesn't do well in a traditional classroom setting.

He hates the first day of classes most of all, when it's all ice breakers and introducing oneself. He hates the attention on him, prefers to just keep his head down and do his work.

"Do you have any siblings?" / "No," Marc lies through gritted teeth. It's easier this way. No need to trauma dump to a class full of poor, unsuspecting students.

Steven, on the other hand, loves school. He thrives in that environment.

They're co-conscious during classes, so Steven is there to absorb all the information and take notes, but Marc is still the one to participate and answer questions when necessary.

More than once, a professor has called on Marc, who hadn't been paying attention, but Steven is there to feed him the answer.

Anyway, to the story:

Maybe one evening Steven is stopping by the coffee shop on campus to grab a coffee/tea before heading back to the library to study.

The coffee shop is playing the college radio station, and Layla is the host/DJ for the evening.

That day, the station is running a trivia contest for listeners.

Steven's not really paying attention as he waits in line, but he can't help but perk up at the mention of ancient Egypt.

He mentally answers the question himself. The contestant gives a different answer, and, to Steven's horror, the host rules them correct.

Steven is lowkey fuming, so he ends up calling the station and speaking to Layla. They argue over it for a bit.

(It would have to be something that's contested among scholars, because Steven and Layla both know their stuff. Steven is an ancient Egypt buff, and Layla is an archaeology major.)

Steven starts tuning in to Layla's show after that. He only knows her voice, sure, but he's quickly developing a crush on her. Her voice is just so nice to listen to, and she's smart and cool and kind. He becomes a regular caller.

Layla looks forward to Steven's calls. He's a bit dorky but also so charming. She's crushing on him, too.

Maybe Layla and Marc have run into each other before, so when she and Steven finally do meet irl, she's confused.

(Maybe she has a friend whose boyfriend is on the baseball team, or she tags along to the games with a friend who writes for the school paper.)

Steven may or may not panic and tell her that Marc is his identical twin brother. That'll be fun to clear up later. (It's not a total lie, though, is it?)

Anyway, Steven and Layla start dating.

Eventually the truth comes out about the Marc/Steven situation and Layla is hurt that she was lied to, but also ultimately understands that Steven was trying to protect himself and Marc.

She ends up also getting to know Marc better, and soon enough she's dating him as well.

Maybe over summer break they go to Egypt together and visit Layla's family? Steven absolutely loves it.

Also, I had nowhere else to put this, but Marc drives a 90s Toyota Corolla. It's not the coolest car, but, hey, it's reliable.

Okay, I think that's all for now.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading! Please feel free to let me know what you think! :)

[bigbadripley]

Chapter 1 - Slide

Marc Spector/Steven Grant x Female!OC

Summary: Marc never expected to see his childhood friend Simone ever again. To Simone, Marc may as well have been dead. However, when Simone met Steven 15 years after Marc disappeared, she couldn't help but notice how familiar he was.

⚠️ 18+!! | 2,816 Words | Third-person omniscient | Dark?fic/Angst/Eventual Smut | AU/AT | Warnings: Heavy language, OC with religious trauma, childhood trauma, sexual trauma. Mention of childhood sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, the effects of child abuse in adulthood, murder, suicide, alcohol use, description alluding to smut

A/N: I update warnings with each chapter. Only proceed if you can handle the themes included in the warnings. I wrote this entirely as a trauma dump.

Minors DNI, DL;DR, if I miss a warning, please let me know.

Chapter list

"I don't care if we on the run Nothin' matters when we one on one Lookin' at us 'cause we goin' dumb We on the same wave, you the same way You know I be down if it's with you Where we goin'? Baby, what's the move? We should take a trip up to the moon Get a room" -"Slide" by H.E.R. 

It was a face-off from the second the door closed to the apartment. The kind of argument Marc and Steven had only face-to-mirror, locked in the bathroom. 

Steven wanted to call her, ask her out, and get to know her for himself. 

Marc wanted to throw her number away, change his name, and flee the city. 

"She didn't recognize us!" Steven exclaimed, trying to build a case for himself. Marc detested this,

"She will. You give it time, and she will. She's smart as hell. No wonder she's a goddamn doctor."

"This isn't one of those situations where you poofed, and she never heard from you again, is it?" Steven asked, reflecting on Marc's track record. Though with Layla, it wasn't his fault, Steven didn't know the whole story of what happened with Simone. 

Marc wasn't sure where to begin or if he even should. His history with Simone goes back to when his brother was still alive and conveniently ended when he left town at 18. 

"Look, when I left Chicago, the last person I spoke to was my dad. She didn't know." Marc finally answered. Steven looked at Marc in the mirror with disappointment,

"Damnit, Marc!" He shouted. Marc tried to defend himself,

"Moni's family wasn't the greatest either, and she had all these plans so we would leave together, but she had dreams and ambitions. I didn't wanna drag her down. Now look where she is."

Steven turned away from the mirror and left the bathroom, ranting about how, once again, Marc ruined their chances of companionship before Steven ever had the opportunity. Marc sat back, listening, knowing Steven would never understand no matter how many ways he explained why it wouldn't work. 

"It's really something, innit? I get keen on someone only to find out you broke thei-" Steven stopped pacing and ranting abruptly. Marc could have sworn it took him a full minute to finally speak up again. "Did you love her?"

Marc took control of the body to answer. "Man, she was the only love I knew then. We were the closest you could get without being family or dating," Marc started. Steven couldn't believe what he was hearing. "I can't believe she's here, of all places," Marc said in a whisper to himself.

Steven refused to give in. He wanted to see Simone again, and he was going to make sure he would. "I'm calling her."

"Like hell you are, Steven! You think you can have a happy relationship and hide the fact that you live in the body of a ghost from her past forever?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there. I'll go out with Simone, you'll remember all the good times you had, and you'll want to work it out. We all win."

Marc started to realize how mental it all sounded. The very idea of talking to Simone after all these years seemed gut-wrenching, but he supposed there was a reason Steven existed.

"You're serious about her, eh?" 

"I really am, mate."

 While Marc and Steven went back and forth over what to do, the woman they argued over was eating a salad and texting her flatmate about the encounter. 

Joyce: Sounds weird. Probably a stalker, be careful.

Simone: Idk he was attractive and lovely as can be 

Joyce: So are most serial killers lol

Joyce: Or was that not your thesis? 🤣

Simone: Remind me again who the psy is here ?

Joyce: Fuck off. Just don't let a creep get in your snatch again, or in my flat. Ttyl

Simone: 🖕

Simone chuckled to herself, thinking about the ex that Joyce was referring to as she forked up bits from her salad. Lettuce, cucumber, tiny tomato. She actually wanted Harbo's twin snakes, but she couldn't figure out where the craving came from. 

The sweet and sour candies used to be her favorite as a kid, but she hadn't had them in a decade, maybe more. 

Well, that's not true. I had some last time I was in Chica-

Her phone dings, causing a disruption in her thought. She saw it was a text from an unknown number instead of Joyce this time. 

Hello, It's Steven. Just making sure you have my number, also.

Simone read the text in his voice, even following it with the nervous laugh she imagined him doing. 

What a sweetheart. 

 When Steven called Simone to see if she was free for dinner that Friday, he didn't expect her to say yes, even if he was hopeful she would. He could have jumped for joy when she took him up on it. 

Now, he was getting ready to meet her, and he felt a lump in his throat that wouldn't go away.

"I'ma be sick, bruv." Steven said nervously as he buttoned his shirt. Marc stared back at him in the mirror,

"You're gonna be sick? I can't believe you're dragging me into this."

"I'm the one she's expecting, not you." Steven scoffed. 

Marc wanted to punch him but realized Moni might end up doing that instead. "Yeah, and when she realizes, you'll be getting that hook."

 Though Simone still felt that he was familiar, she knew she was with someone entirely different. So different; she was relieved to take a break from the ordinary shitty men she was used to. 

We may have known each other in a different life. She thought.

Regardless, Steven couldn't believe how quickly his cares and nerves melted away once they started chatting. At first, he was even more anxious when he saw her in the most stunning dark blue dress, but she quickly loosened him up. 

"Can't help but notice the American accent. Where're you from?" He asked.

"Chicago, Illinois, born and raised." She answered. 

Steven only asked because he needed to get to know her for himself, no matter what Marc told him. One question left both of them curious, though. "What brought you to London?" He wondered, tearing a piece off of the appetizer rolls.

Simone knew the question would come up, but she wanted to avoid getting into heavy stuff on the first date. She decided to answer honestly but without detail. "I have an internet friend from here who offered me a place to stay when I was having a rough time, and I fell in love. I couldn't stay away."

"In love with the city or someone?" Steven asked, interested in everything she had to say. Maybe her voice made things seem easier to listen to. He was convinced he could hear her read the phonebook to him.

She shrugged, "Oh, gee, I haven't been in love for as long as I can remember." She said. It wasn't exactly the answer to his question, but it was truthful nonetheless. 

Dinner conversation became more casual as they became more comfortable with each other. Simone still could shake the feeling that she knew this man, but she wasn't convinced she had ever met anyone with such kind eyes. 

She got into some banter but continued to crack jokes and get to know him. She was confident that he was too good to be true and knew she had to pull out the big guns to test his integrity. 

"Can you keep a secret?" She asked, leaning in closer to him. They had long since finished their meals but were far from leaving, too interested to part yet. 

Steven leaned in closer as well, "Who would I tell?" He asked. Simone thought for a moment, realizing it didn't matter much unless they knew people mutually. 

Only Steven and Marc knew they would be in on this secret together.

She felt it would either be the biggest mistake to tell him this so soon or the best idea she ever had. She took a deep breath,

"I was a dominatrix to pay my way through university." She spilled. 

Steven's eyes got wide, making Simone nervous about his response. 

Have I piled on too much too soon? 

"Wow, really? What's that like?" He asked. He knew what it meant but wasn't entirely sure how it worked. Still, the image of her in leather was strangely arousing to him. 

Simone kissed her teeth, having never been asked that before. "Well, I never let the clients touch me or anything. Wealthy men would pay a ton to just be humiliated. I didn't do all that for long, though." She explained, not once diverting her eyes from his. She needed to get a read on his honest feelings, as the last thing she needed was someone in her life who wasn't sex-positive again.

Steven was interested and didn't mind the fun fact about Simone. "Did you... like it?" He asked. She shrugged,

"Weirdly enough, yes. It was a good change of pace. I spent so long out of control of my own life, and I was finally able to take charge of something." She admitted. 

Marc was listening to get talk about this nonchalantly and was in shock by it. The girl he knew would have been embarrassed to speak of these things, even if she thought about them. She was taught these things were terrible, unholy, immoral, and ugly.

How long did it take for her to figure all this out?

Having just met Simone, Steven was delighted at how carefree and open she was. He was very fond of everything about her, down to the snort when she laughed. 

 Simone offered Steven a ride home at the night's end, and he accepted. The car ride was just as lively as the dinner conversation, though not nearly as long due to him not living far from the venue. 

"How about I pick you up at the same time next Friday?" Simone asked as they pulled up to his building. Steven's heart fluttered at getting a second date, and he accepted happily. 

 The week passed as any other week would: Simone had her appointments, and Steven had Marc in his ear, trying to get him to cancel the date before it was too late. 

None of these things stopped the pair from having the other in their mind, and the days leading up to the date were consumed by sending memes back and forth. 

Steven: Have you decided what we're doing on Friday?

Simone: Still stuck between a couple options. You'll love them!

Steven: I'll be happy to do whatever so long as you're there. 😋

 The real issues started after the second date. Simone and Steven had a fantastic time bowling, Simone wiping the floor with him and bragging incessantly about it the whole ride to Steven's apartment. 

When they got there, however, the air in the car felt thick and hot despite the cold weather. Once Simone's eyes locked onto Steven's and their laughter died down, there wasn't a single person on the planet left. For Steven, there was only Simone, and vice versa. 

Marc knew what was coming. He saw it in her eyes.

Steven felt like he would almost drool on himself, staring into those big doe eyes.

"Can I kiss you?" He asked her, sounding slightly timid. 

 Though he was the one who asked, Simone wasn't one to waste an opportunity to leave a mark. She unbuckled her seatbelt and lunged for him, leaning over the center console and meeting his lips with hers. 

Never had Steven felt a kiss that warmed him all over like this. At first, he was surprised but found himself guided into it by her. When her tongue slipped between his lips, he was delighted it still faintly tasted like the fruity candy they shared at the bowling alley. 

Simone was thrilled by his eagerness to kiss back, yet she felt a strong familiarity with it. Maybe it was his lips, hands on her back, or the tenderness of the whole thing. 

It was new, yet not. 

Had to have been in another life.

She pulled away with a grin that plastered itself on her face, feeling like it was stuck there for the foreseeable future, and she proposed a third date, just the same as she did before. Steven agreed once again.

 Though Steven was on cloud nine, Marc was pissed and didn't waste any time letting Steven know. 

"Do you have any idea how far up shit's creek you are?"

Steven shrugged, "The creek's quite beautiful from where I am. Jealous?" he asked. 

Marc had never known him to be so careless. Like he hadn't thought any of this through. Like Steven expected a normal, happy relationship. 

Marc was okay with letting him play the boyfriend for a bit, but it was clear that it would get out of hand, and Steven would end up heartbroken. 

"I was gonna let you crash and burn and learn your lesson, but you need to know something. Simone's been giving you the eyes." Marc warned.

Steven, carefree for a moment, suddenly cared a lot more. "The eyes?"

"If she gives you the eyes, she wants to sleep with you, and Steven, you have no idea what to even do with a girl like her," Marc warned.

He only knew from experience. How she gave him those eyes once before, he acted on it, and it ended up being one of his biggest mistakes.

Back then, she wanted to, but they didn't. She's different now. 

Steven was quiet after that, panicking internally over this information. It occurred to him that, aside from the body he resided in having experience, he, as a consciousness, has never slept with anyone.

"You gotta help me, Marc."

"Fat chance, man."

"That's bullshit! If it were any other woman, you'd help me."

"No, you're right, but I specifically asked you to keep Simone out of this, and now here you are, the third date planned, and you haven't even considered the fact that she'd wanna have sex with you at some point. You dug this hole. You figure it out." Marc snapped. 

Steven started to feel guilty for being selfish about this. He had considered the prospect of sex but didn't think he would make it this far. He expected to be rejected by now. "I'm sorry, Marc."

"Oh, no, it's okay, buddy. Still not helping you." He replied in a tone that didn't seem like it was okay at all. 

Marc was jealous after sitting in the background of every interaction with Simone that Steven had. 

Every time he made her laugh, every time she gave him those eyes. He wanted to take over for the kiss but knew that would be hard to explain. 

Simone was just the same as when they were teenagers, but now she's come out of her shell. She was successful, confident, and her own woman in every right. Marc felt that if he had kept her around back then, she wouldn't be anywhere near where she is now. 

But no matter how much he tried to tell himself it was a bad idea to have her back: he missed her so much it hurt. 

 It was every bit Simone's intention to sleep with Steven as soon as he allowed. She felt the chemistry was undeniable, and if that kiss indicated how that would go, it would be a great time. 

Simone knew how most men thought, and in many ways, she had conditioned herself to think how a man would but with the rationality of a woman. This developed for her when she finally left home, started university, and got to know people outside her community. 

She spent a great deal of time pondering having sex with Steven, almost enough to make her believe she was a nymphomaniac. 

Mama would say I'm a whore. A jezebel with impure thoughts. 

Simone hated when her mother's voice popped into her head, but she was typically successful in drowning her out with her own thoughts.

Does he top or bottom? Doesn't matter. Does the bump in his pants deceive me? Probably won't matter. Does he know where the clit is? That matters. A lot.

Simone couldn't imagine him being a mediocre lay with looks like his but wondered if she could get past it if he were. She had a great time with Steven and hoped, prayed even, that he wasn't as shy in the sack as he was outside of it. 

If he was, she wondered, would he let me take over?

[rmoonstoner]

Lovely Little Sky

***

18+

I saw that someone requested this. Then a few others. No one actually asked me specifically, but I wrote it.

Khonshu and Jake x Reader

Summary:

After Khonshu 'released' Marc and Steven, Jake takes over as his Moon Knight, driving a large white limo with the investment money that Steven had made, with Marc's last name on the license plate. 

Please note: I do not speak Spanish, and as such, Jake will be speaking English, but with a Spanish mixed with a Chicago accent. Also, I am going to be lazy, and use US currency. I had some help with @mics59 with some Spanish. Thank you!

Trigger Warnings: Mentions of blood, gore, and death. Reader is a crime scene cleaning and sanitation inspector.

***

"Now that we have served justice, the world is much safer. You understand that this is your burden alone to bear, right Jake? Steven and Marc must never find out." Khonshu remarked as he sat in the back seat facing the window to where Jake was driving. Jake glanced at the rear view mirror, his mouth in a tight line as he slowly nodded in regards to the suited moon God.

"Excellent. Now. We should prepare the manor for when we move those fools out of that shit attic they call a flat. We can set things up so Steven thinks one of his investments or relatives have got him and Marc a new house." Khonshu continued to make plans, all the while Jake sat there in silence. When he was done speaking, Jake piped up.

"The basement is mine, boss." Jake's voice was rough with a deep Chicago accent. He didn't sound like he was bargaining. He sounded like he was making a demand.

"Yes, the basement will be yours. You've got to make sure it's hidden well. That worm is too smart for his own good. He is overly observant, and he'll tell Marc."

"I'll hide it in a broom closet, or a storage cellar. Maybe I'll just label it with 'Groundskeeper storage.' Both of them don't like going through old gardening equipment." Jake nonchalantly remarked as he turned the car down a long street that led to an upper-class residential area.

"I don't care what you do, just keep it a secret from them." The God replied. They drove in silence until they got to the large gated mansion that Jake had procured from Steven's investments.

Once inside the gates, and the car parked, Jake got out and opened the door for Khonshu, not that he really needed to. Khonshu simply nodded and got out, and they made their way into the house.

***

It had been two weeks of Jake constantly waking up the moment Steven and Marc went down for the night. Two weeks of the man going out of his way to prepare the building for his alters arrival. Two weeks of setting up basic furniture for the top two levels to make it appear like the house came fully furnished, complete with its own library for Steven, and a lounge area with a bar for Marc. Two weeks of making the basement completely undetectable to his other two personas.

The only thing left, was to hire a maid of sorts. He didn't want either Steven or Marc to have to worry about the upkeep of the manor. He didn't want to give them any reason to turn down such a prize of a home, just because those two were disorganized and messy.

It was Khonshu's idea to hire a maid. He suggested that whoever was hired, should be beautiful enough to be pleasing to the eye for Steven and Marc, but also be professional enough to be intimidating and almost unapproachable.

He had put an ad out halfway through the second week of his preparations, with clear and specific times to contact him. Only at night, after 11:00pm, and to never call after 5:00am. Of course, several applicants had not listened to the times, and they called Jake's number when he wasn't able to answer it. All of them were discarded for not being able to follow the simplest of instructions. 

Until the very last night of the two weeks.

***

It was about 9:30pm when you got home from a hard day of scrubbing up a gruesome crime scene. You were getting sick and tired of your job, working as a crime scene and sudden death cleaner. Normally you would go days with no work, weeks even, but the last week had been spent cleaning up a local bar after a bunch of drug ring leaders and nightclub patrons had been gunned down. You were so done.

The crime scene had been cleared for the next step, cleaning and sanitation. It was released to you and the crew that you worked with. It took about a week of long shifts and so much overtime, but it was done. The club was ready to be opened once more. The last thing that you did that day was a final inspection of the place, using special tools to see if all the blood and gore had been properly cleaned up. You were the inspector, and you were very thorough and very strict about removing any traces of death.

You were growing tired of working day shifts. The days were hot and muggy, and there were too many people around for your liking. The smells were worse during the day as well. You had been working the same job for the past ten years, and it was now growing boring and confining. You hated all the paperwork. You hated working with most of the police force in this area. At least your coworkers weren't so bad.

But now you were at home, freshly showered and in your summer pajamas. You were sitting at your computer, in front of the squeaky air conditioner. You weren't really planning on quitting, but you somehow wandered onto the employment classified ads. At first you were looking at the free ads, then the pet section, and soon it led to reading through the various jobs posted.

You went through terrible sounding jobs that only offered minimal pay. You saw people asking for house cleaners, but they were requesting ten years of experience for entry level pay. Then there were jobs you could do at night, like security, but again, the same problem of cheap employers kept popping up. It was about an hour of scrolling when you stumbled onto a very plain looking ad.

***

Live in maid and personal meal maker requested to tend to the manor of an eccentric and wealthy man. Absolute quiet from the applicant is required from the hours of 5:00am until 2:00pm, as the client works the night shift. Client is a vegan, and the applicant will only have to make one meal a day for the client. Job is more suited to a night person that doesn't mind being alone in a large house most of the time.

Preferred time for the cleaning aspect of the job to be done, is Monday through Friday, 11:00pm-5:00am. Meals can be made around 6:00pm, and if the client is not around, set aside in the fridge. Applicant will receive full medical and dental benefits. Applicant must be able to uphold complete confidentiality for the client.

Please be advised the home has been outfitted with security cameras in every room except for the bathrooms. The applicant's living quarters will not have cameras inside, but be advised there is a camera on the private deck attached for security reasons.

Smoking and drinking are fine.

Absolutely no visitors are allowed inside the building or the grounds, and any visitors will have to wait outside the gates.

$500/night cash to start, with the possibility of raises with good service.

Please text a photo and resume to Jake Lockley, building manager for inquiries. 11:00pm-4:00am only. If you contact me outside of these hours, your application will be immediately refused.

***

You read that posting over and over. That was more than you were making now, for a lot less work, stress, and responsibility. You would be working for a single man in a large house, so how much of a mess could he make? And only having to make one vegan friendly meal a day for the man didn't seem so bad. You were a vegetarian, so it wouldn't be too hard to cater to this guy's needs. Plus, he could afford the expensiveness of the eating lifestyle that he chose, and it wouldn't cost you anything.

You glanced at the clock and saw it was 10:45pm. You waited around, made yourself a tea, and then came back to see it was only five minutes to 11:00pm. You paced around the room as you typed up your text and waited for the time to pass. Five minutes past eleven, you fired off the text and then went to go sit on your deck with a joint.

***

Ding ding!

Jake was just tossing his duffle bag into the limo as his phone went off. He unhooked it from the charger and looked down to see he had received a text. When he got to his messages, he saw dozens of texts, all asking about the job, but mostly every single one was sent long before 11:00pm. All except one. The most recent that caused him to check his messages in the first place.

There yours was. Received at 11:15pm. He opened that one up, and was pleased to see a photo of a beautiful young woman. She was smiling brightly, but her eyes held a certain sadness to them. Like life wasn't all that wonderful, and he could tell the smile was only there as a formality.

He studied the photo for a bit. He noticed there was a small corner of the badge from your work there. He knew exactly what you did for work and when he opened the resume, it confirmed his suspicions. He grinned wickedly, pleased that you had an extensive work experience history.  What intrigued him the most, was that you did clean up for people who had died, removing any trace of what had happened. He deemed this extremely useful. If things worked out, he might be considering offering you a promotion and a substantial raise sooner than intended. He turned to his car and got into the driver's seat. Khonshu materialized into his spot in the back.

"You're looking quite pleased."

"I've found the perfect housekeeper."

"Oh? Have you now? Let me see." The God replied. Jake turned and showed Khonshu his phone. Khonshu hummed and nodded his approval. 

"So it seems that you have. Call her immediately and have her come to the mansion as soon as possible."

And so Jake did. He called you, and you answered. You were surprised when the call was from the man you just sent a message to. When you picked up the line, a deep and sultry accent hit your ears. He asked you if you could start tonight and have a meet and greet. You agreed, and now you were frantically getting dressed as he told you that he would come to pick you up on his way to the rich guy's manor. He said he could be there in just under ten minutes, and now you were quietly fussing about with your hair and trying to choose some shoes.

Once in a plain black dress, some comfy work pumps, and a light touch of makeup, you darted outside to wait for your potential employer.

A white limo rolled up precisely at the time that was given and the back door popped open, seemingly by itself. You peered inside, seeing no one in the back at all. A gruff clearing of a throat could be heard, and you looked through the small window divider to see only the dark brown eyes of a man with curly black hair tucked into a flat cap.

"Hola. My name is Jake Lockley. Please, get in and sit down. We shall discuss your application." He said, and you got in. You were surprised by his sudden use of Spanish.

Jake explained that he was the chauffeur and groundskeeper to the client, a man named Marc Spector, who sometimes went by the name of Steven Grant. That puzzled you, but the ad did state the client was eccentric. Maybe this rich guy was an author, a singer, or an actor. They all had separate names to distinguish work life from their personal life.

Jake drove you around for the better part of the night. He asked you about your current job, and why you wanted a new one. You said you didn't like working during the day, and that you were more of a night owl, with more energy during the time when less people were out and about. You even said you loved being awake at night, just so you could stare at the night sky to study the constellations and the moon phases. Jake seemed happy with your answers and before you knew it, he was parked at a twenty four hour shopping market.

"Here. Take this. Go inside and get what it says on the list. Mr. Spector and Mr. Grant have specific tastes." He handed you a wad of cash and a shopping list. He was now straight up treating the client like he was two separate people with entirely different tastes. You didn't question it at all, and you took the cash and the list, before venturing into the store.

Fifteen minutes later, you came out with a few bags. Jake had jumped out of his seat, going to take the bags from you as he opened the back door. You sat down as he shut it, then he went to put the bags into the trunk. You barely got a look at his face, as his collar was flipped up. All you could tell was that he had dark eyes, olive skin, and he didn't look very friendly.

Again the car was moving, with Jake being silent as he drove. Soon the car stopped once more, and he leaned out the window to punch in a few numbers on a keypad, before driving up to a very large house. You suspected this was the place you would be working and living in. A lot of the windows were open, and the curtains were moving in the gentle breeze.

"This is their home. They have yet to move in. They have just inherited it from a distant relative that they didn't even know they had. The top floor with the library is Mr. Grant's. The main floor is Mr. Spector's."

"Why do you say it like this guy has multiple personalities?" You asked while half joking. Jake gave you a deathly serious look.

"They have Dissociative Identity Disorder. Mr. Grant is the mild mannered, kind, and polite personality. He's the smart one. Mr. Spector is the rough and tumble, risk taker. He likes to be blunt and a bit crass. You will be able to tell who is fronting by the sound of their accent. Mr. Grant is British, while Mr. Spector is American. I wouldn't worry too much, they sleep a lot during the day, and you'll probably only see them in passing." Jake replied as he went on to tell you about your client. You nodded and he gave you the tour of the entire place, then showed you the area you would get if hired. It was huge, much bigger than your current apartment. You were excited, hoping to get the job.

As luck would have it, Jake hired you on the spot, and he gave you enough time to quit your old job to prepare for this one. It was another two weeks when Jake came rolling up at your door at precisely 11:00pm. All of your things were moved into the suite you were provided with, and he informed you that your clients had just moved in a week ago. They knew you would be starting work today, but Jake claimed they would be gone until quite late, and that you were not to go looking for them. Apparently Steven had gotten a promotion at his work after his boss found out he was rich. Something about him now replacing the bitchy manager that didn't like him.

***

Another week had passed. You found Marc's floor was messy in a classic jock kind of way. His bed was never made, his clothes were strewn about all over the floor. Empty liquor bottles littered nearly every surface, and his fridge was full of junk food. His bathroom wasn't too bad. It wasn't disgusting, but the sink and shower were covered in hair, and the toilet was looking like it needed a good scrubbing. In the living room, he had some old sports trophies, some military memorabilia, and a few basic looking decorations. His lounge area had a display of military equipment over the bar. Jake explained that Marc used to be a soldier for a long time, until his disorder had forced him to be discharged.

But Steven's floor was immaculately clean, but cluttered with weird looking nic nacs and old books. The worst area, was his library and office, with shit cluttering nearly every counter and table. A lot of it was paperwork, and it appeared to you that Steven was indeed the smart one. He had mountains of stuff on ancient Egyptian times. The bathroom was completely clean, and only needed the mirror to be washed. The only things in the rest of his space that needed to be cleaned, were the floors and a light surface cleaning. His fridge was packed with healthy and nutritious food.

The entire week you hadn't seen or heard from this odd individual with two personas. You supposed that was good, because Jake had explained that your employer could switch personalities at the drop of a hat, and sometimes would talk to himself. At least Jake had been decent enough to warn you.

Speaking of Jake, you hadn't seen him either. Sometimes you would catch a glimpse of him just leaving in the white limo from your window. Other times, you would catch him working in the yard.

You spent your free time in your suite, reading a book that Steven had left for you one morning about ancient Egyptian Gods. When you got to the chapter about the moon Gods, a large gust of wind blew through your room. Your curtains flew about, and you shivered at how cold the air suddenly was.

Just as you were about to get up to close the window, the wind suddenly died down. You shrugged, just happy the air wasn't freezing anymore. You went back to reading the chapter about Thoth and Khonshu, taking in all their attributes.

"Wow. This book was quite interesting. I shall have to leave Mr. Grant a thank note for allowing me to borrow it." You murmured to yourself as you flipped the page back to a full length photo of Khonshu. This book had been released just a week prior, and it contained photos of the recent odd occurrence by the major pyramids last month.

The epic battle of what appeared to be Ammit and Khonshu battling to the death.

You had been around when that event had occurred, and you got to see them fight first hand. You remembered the rumbling earthquakes from their blows, and the loud noises of things breaking when they fell. It was one of the best times of your life to witness such a sight.

"That guy is definitely the coolest God ever. He's much better than Thor or Loki." You said as you reread what Khonshu's powers supposedly were. The wind flared up again, and you stared at the window. Just as quickly as the gust came through, it was eerily still right after.

Later, you prepared a crispy fried tofu dish that had chickpeas and homemade Thai peanut sauce, over top of vegan friendly noodles. You made a sprout salad and a raspberry dressing to accompany it, then as a final touch, you made a salted caramel chocolate torte, which was vegan as well. You made sure to make enough for yourself, Jake, and two helpings for the rich dual personality guy.

It was about 7:30pm when you finished cooking and just as you were sitting down to eat in Steven's kitchen, the door opened and Jake walked in. That was odd, as he never showed up to work before 10:00pm.

"Ah, good evening, mi Cielito." Jake greeted you as he came into the room and checked the fridge.

That was the first time you saw him smile.

"Steven and Marc send their regards. They enjoyed the meals you prepared, as did I. Tonight's dinner looks amazing. Is that… A chocolate torte?" His smile turned into an excited grin. The first thing he reached for, was the plate with his serving of dessert. He came over to sit down across from you. His grumpy looking visage was now full of happiness as he ate the decadent sweet dish. It was gone in under a minute, and you wondered if he even bothered to chew, yet he hadn't dropped a single crumb.

"That's good to know they like my cooking. Thank you for letting me know. I take it you enjoyed the chocolate torte?" You asked with a giggle, and he nodded as he finished chewing the last bite.

"You know, you didn't have to make me anything. I did say you only had to make one meal for-"

"Nonsense." You interrupted him with a sweet smile.

"You live here too. Why shouldn't I make you something? It's really no trouble for me. And if what you said about the owner of this house is true, he might not remember that his other personality even ate anything."

"Thank you. I did notice that you put Mr. Spector's meals in his fridge downstairs, and you kept Mr. Grant's separate in his up here. I would like to request that you leave mine in the garage fridge, por favor." Jake requested as he got back up and took the dish to the sink. He went back to the fridge and grabbed his meal, then came back over to sit in front of you again.

"I can do that."

You ate dinner in silence, with Jake making small noises of appreciation until his plate was completely clean.

"So, I didn't know you were also a vegan." You casually remarked as you grabbed the dirty dishes and put them into the sink. He sat back with a toothpick, patting his stomach.

"Sí. It is much easier if I follow what they do." Jake replied with a small smile. You nodded as you filled the sink to do the dishes.

"I haven't seen either of them. Steven left me a book to read, and it was very nice." You casually said.

"Oh? What book did he leave you?" Jake asked.

"One on ancient Gods and Goddesses of Egypt. I rather enjoyed the book."

"Which was your favorite?"

"Honestly, it was a tie between Thoth and Khonshu, but I think Khonshu is just badass. God of the moon, time, vengeance, healing, and keeping people safe at night? Plus he is also known for helping out with bountiful crops and the fertility of all life on earth." You answered his question with excitement as you scrubbed at a dish. The wind picked up a little stronger.

"Plus, they say he was the great serpent that brought life to the Cosmic Egg, which brought Earth into creation. A God like that, seems to be the best choice to worship, don't you think?" You finished up with the next plate, and placed it on the drying rack. More wind came rustling through, making the curtains dance and sway.

"You think so?" Jake asked, and you turned to him with a wide grin.

"Oh, yes. I also saw him with my own eyes. I watched from my window. I absolutely dig that bird skull he chooses to have as a head, and those tight fitting wrappings definitely showed off his assets, if you know what I mean." You said as you drained the sink and came back over to the table. Jake stared at you with one brow raised. He looked very interested in what you just said.

And then the wind came rushing through the kitchen, just the same as it did in your room. You could feel a low humming, almost like the central air had just kicked on, but you knew it was turned off.

"Wow. The wind has been crazy today." You said as you went to close the window. When you turned around, Jake was standing right behind you. You squeaked, finding him so close, that you could feel his body heat radiating off of him.

He reached out and used his thumb to remove a smudge of chocolate from your cheek as he mumbled something in Spanish that you didn't quite catch. You watched him lick the chocolate off his thumb, his eyes never leaving yours. Your knees suddenly felt incredibly weak at hearing his deep voice speaking another language. He stared at you, eyes flicking to your lips and back again. You could feel your heart thudding in your chest, and a small blossoming of arousal at your core.

You waited for him to speak, but he seemed to just keep staring. You gulped and caught the movement of his tongue wetting his thick and full lips. He had a kissable mouth…

In the blink of an eye, Jake had moved forward. A second later, he was kissing you. It didn't take very long for your eyes to flutter shut and you melted into the kiss. His hands came up, one cupping your cheek, the other trailing his rough fingertips down your side. You squirmed as he deepened the kiss, feeling his hand on your hip. He pushed you back against the wall next to the window sill, while you clung to the lapels of his jacket.

This was certainly an unexpected occurrence, but a welcome one all the same.

His hand came back up, slowly testing to see if you would protest to him copping a feel of your chest. When you didn't, his large hand gave you an experimental, yet gentle squeeze. You moaned into his mouth, bringing your hands up to rest on his shoulders as you felt one of knees push between your thighs. You found yourself heating up the second his leg grazed your groin.

Oh fuck. What if the rich guy showed up? Usually the food was gone by 8:00pm, and it was almost that time, yet no one had come into the kitchen, except for you and Jake.

Almost as if Jake knew what you were thinking, he pulled away just enough to get a good look at your swollen lips, and the haze of lust forming in your eyes.

"Mi cielito… Mr. Grant isn't here tonight, nor is Mr. Spector." He rasped as he took his hat off and flung it behind him. You watched it land perfectly on one of the obelisks on a buffet hutch. Your chest and pussy clenched at that seamless display of dexterity. It also helped that this gorgeous hunk of a man was holding you against the wall, clearly with the intent of seducing you.

"But, there's cameras-"

"I'm the one that monitors those cameras. They'll never know." Jake murmured as his hand on your face slowly moved to the back of your head. His thumb ran up and down your neck, causing you to shake a little from how good that felt. You were trying so hard not to rock yourself against him.

But Jake had other plans.

He could see the desire welling up in your eyes, and he knew you wanted him. He also knew you were a professional woman, and that you were possibly considering telling him off, strictly because you thought he was your coworker. He decided to push you a bit closer to the edge of letting go, by resting his forehead against yours to look into your eyes.

"Do you want me to stop?" He rasped. The tone of his voice sounded like he didn't want to, like he was restraining himself from taking this to a higher level of intimacy. You didn't really want him to stop, but you were scared that you'd get fired for indulging with him.

"I don't want to get fired… I haven't even met our boss yet."

"They won't fire you for this. If you don't want me to continue, I'll stop." That was all you really wanted to hear from him.

You pulled him in, kissing him once more. His hands gripped you tighter, and he grunted as he pressed his tongue against your lips. You opened your mouth, letting his tongue slip inside as you made a small noise that sounded like a desperate whine.

Then he started to rub his knee against you, causing sparks to fly from your center all the way to your vision. You became dizzy with lust, rocking yourself against his leg. It was enough of an indication that you wanted more, that Jake's hand on your hip slid to your front and he slipped his hand down your thigh. His other hand came down to grab at the other side of your waist. In an instant, he pushed his other knee between your legs, making a perfect seat for you to sit on.

You whined at the loss of something to grind on, but it quickly turned into a sharp wail as his hand came into contact with the juncture of your thighs. His fingers caught a hold of your underwear, pushing them to the side.

"Querida… So wet…" Jake growled as he stuffed one of his thick calloused fingers into your sopping wet hole. You squirmed as he leaned down to kiss your neck. The kisses turned into a heavy suction on your skin, sending more pleasing jolts of arousal through you. He left a large bruise as he nipped at your flesh, which you knew wouldn't be easily hidden. He was not being gentle at all, but you enjoyed it.

"Ah, Jake…" You groaned as he probed you, then he added a second finger, swishing them back and forth.

You dropped your head to his shoulder as he pumped his fingers in and out of you. He chuckled darkly as you started to grind against his hand. It didn't take very long for him to find the most sensitive spot inside. He curled his fingers as he flicked his wrist, and that's when you moaned loudly in his ear. He did it again, and your head snapped back, nearly hitting the wall, but his hand flew up, stopping that from happening.

"Careful… Don't want ya to get a concussion." He said softly. His thumb brushed up against your clit, and your head went back as you bucked against him.

"Fuck, Jake… Please…" You begged him for more, and he laughed again.

"Please what, mi cielitonis?"

"Please, fuck me…"

"Ah, Sí…" You didn't have to tell him twice. He removed his hands from your body, and quickly went to work unbuckling his belt. You sighed as you looked down to see him pull his cock from his underwear, and you nearly squealed at the size of him.

You reached down, and grasped him, smoothing your fingers around his soft skin that encased his hard cock. You gave him a few strokes, watching as precome leaked from the tip, before he reached out to grab your underwear, shoving it aside so he could enter you. He alternated from looking at how he easily slid inside, to looking at your eyes.

Your eyes slid halfway closed, mouth hanging open as he filled you. You sighed, feeling him pulse and throb as he stayed still for a moment, allowing you to adjust to his size. After a while, he tested the waters by giving you a good buck. You whined for him, squeezing his shoulders from the wonderful sensation. Jake grunted and pushed his forehead against yours, staring at your eyes as he thrust in and out of you.

"H-harder, please…"

With each push, he got a little bit rougher, and you got a little bit louder. Soon your moans and very loud sloppy and wet noises were echoing throughout the kitchen. Jake was barely making any noises, aside from the occasional grunt and random words in Spanish. All the while he just kept looking into your eyes and kissing your swollen lips.

"Fuck… You're so tight… Oh God…Feel… So good…" Jake finally broke the silence with words you could understand. You felt yourself clench, squeezing him and making it hard for him to hold onto his resolve. He seemed to twitch ever so slightly, like he was desperately trying to stay awake or focus, which was odd, as he was quite active and appeared to be fully awake.

What you didn't know was that Jake had been awake for the past forty eight hours. He hadn't eaten, and he knew you would have something waiting for him in Steven's fridge. He was excited to eat, mostly because your food always hit the right spot and satisfied him, giving him the proper amount of nutrients and flavor, but he also had to make sure there weren't two fully loaded plates to confuse Steven when he woke up.

Then he was not prepared for the chocolate torte tasting as good as it did. He could have sworn it tasted exactly like his grandmother's, only she used dairy and eggs. If he didn't know that you followed the vegan rules down to the letter, he would have been certain that it contained eggs and milk. That had set him off. He knew Steven and Marc would agree when they got around to it.

Then when he sat there in near silence with you, he had eaten his meal quite slowly as he looked you over. You had gotten bold over the past week, wearing whatever you wanted to wear, instead of a professional cleaner's uniform, or business attire. The dress you had on was black, with a shimmering layer filled with iridescent ribbon woven into it. He decided it made you look especially stunning. Then when he watched you get to your torte, he saw such happiness as you munched away. He would watch you eat from your fork, and then you would lick it nice and slow to enjoy every bit of the chocolate. 

It made him excruciatingly hard. He was certain you weren't doing it on purpose, mostly because he already had his, knowing how good it was. Then the wind picked up, and you made your way over to the window. You had to pass right by him. He could smell all the lovely food scents, and then an underlying sweet aroma that was your perfume or your shampoo. He found himself turning and watching you walk away, and he nearly had a nose bleed right there. That dress was so fucking short, he could see the lace of your knickers on the curve of your ass. Those heels weren't helping with the hunger he was experiencing. 

He leapt up from his chair so fast, his feet almost gliding along the floor. He was ready to assist you, should the window not wish to cooperate. But the window did cooperate, which just left him standing unnecessarily close to you.

Which led up to this moment where he was slamming himself into you repeatedly, while you dug your nails into his shoulder and back. He wasn't really tired at that moment, but he kept hearing a gravelly voice demanding to give in.

Jake grit his teeth and tilted his hips, going to dig and stir himself deeper into you. His grip tightened, feeling a wave of fluids coat him as you clamped down all over his cock. He sucked his lower lip between his teeth and hoisted one of your legs up as far as it could go with one hand, while the other dug into your side to keep you where he needed.

'Jake. Give me body.' The voice spoke up again. Jake buried his face into your shoulder, muttering in Spanish on how he wasn't going to do that until he was finished with you.

'Fine. Once you fill her, then give me the body.' The voice rang through his head. Jake was still reluctant to give up control, even though he was quickly becoming extremely exhausted.

'If you give me the body, I'll replenish your strength. Like you've just had a good rest. We can take turns. I'll even allow you to watch.'

That did it.

Jake sighed at the prospect of not succumbing to sleep just yet, and maybe spend the night fucking you instead. He happily drilled into you, making sure to rub his pelvis against your clit. He felt the sting of your nails down his back as you came for him again. He heard your lust filled sobs and moans as you shook for him, saying his name over and over.

He hissed, letting out a bunch of curses in Spanish as he pressed himself as deep as he could go. He bit into your neck as he filled you with his seed, his whole body shaking and vibrating. You clung to him, feeling how he kept moving to give you one last orgasm as he emptied himself entirely.

"Gracias, mi cielitonis." You heard Jake groan, before he dropped your leg to the floor and hugged you tightly as he nuzzled your neck. He sighed heavily and held you for a few moments, relishing in the tender moment post coitus. It felt nice, and he was so warm. You rubbed his back in a silent thank you, trying to sooth him after a job well done.

In an instant, his back straightened up, and he reared his head back to look at you. You lazily raised a brow, wondering why he looked so smug all of sudden.

You realized he hadn't gone flaccid yet. He was still very much stiff, and buried nice and deep inside of you.

"What?" You panted at him, and Jake snickered darkly. Without speaking, he lifted you away from the wall and started to walk over to the kitchen counter. You were very surprised at how strong he was. As your ass connected with the cool countertop, he pushed you flat against its surface, grabbing for each ankle. He hoisted them up and pushed both legs together, then he turned them sideways as he bent over you with a wide grin. His eyes seemed different, like there was a sparkling of the night sky as he began to mercilessly fuck you against the counter.

You could feel his previous load oozing out of you, and down to the counter. It was surprising how quickly he recovered, and that excited you. The way his brows were furrowed as his hips pistoned into you was hot.

He went about like this for a long while, with you locking up and coming twice. You clawed at his skin as he rotated his hips, your head tossed all the way back to the counter. It was a lucky thing no one else was home. You were moaning so loud, and the thumping from his thrusts was equally audible.

Jake suddenly stopped, going to withdraw from you, before he turned you over. Your legs wobbled as he hiked your hips back up and reentered you, thrusting right back to that same maddening pace. He leaned down and whispered into your ear, his voice deeper than it was before.

"You like that? You like it rough, hm?" Gone was his accent, replaced with a silky smooth rasp. You whined as he found your clit with his fingers. You were too far gone to think about why his accent was missing.

"Y-yes!"

"Should I let you come again, you greedy little harlot..?" He asked huskily. You whimpered as you nodded.

"Then tell me. Use your words." His fingers stilled, and you almost sobbed at the loss of friction.

"Please… Please, Jake… Please let me come again." You begged him, still drunk off the pleasure he was giving you with his cock. He grinned, and lifted his hand up to grope at your ass, palming the soft flesh there.

"Yeah?" He grunted and then lifted his hand, staring right into your eyes as he brought it back down, open palmed with a loud slap. You yelped, shuddering in delight as he started to fuck you again. The familiar feeling of his cock pulsing was telling you he was getting close to coming again, as did the urgency of each slap of his hips against yours.

"Then come for me. Come all over this cock." He groaned as his hand went back to stimulating your bundle of nerves. You shrieked, trying to grind yourself against him as he fucked you hard and fast. With a sharp jolt, you clenched all around him and came.

Jake groaned loudly, slamming himself into you as hard as he could as he came again. You felt his come fill you up, and you spasmed, prolonging your orgasm as you milked him of every last drop. He panted against your ear, whispering something intangible, but recognizable as a language other than Spanish.

A moment later he slumped against you, and you almost thought he had passed out.

But another moment passed, and he raised his gaze to you, that mischievous grin plastered to his mug.

Good Gods above…

He was still hard and ready to go.

That night was spent with Jake fucking you in all sorts of positions and places. You did it on the couches and chairs in Steven's living room. He dragged you into the office and fucked you on Steven's desk. He even fucked you in the library, causing an entire bookshelf to fall backwards. He assured you he would clean up the mess, and that Steven would have no idea what had happened. He ended the night with fucking you in the shower, and then bringing you to your room, where he tucked you into bed.

***

mi Cielitonis and mi cielito 'my little sky', or 'my little piece of heaven' as I understand them. If I am wrong, please point it out.

@johnny-simpfinger

[highly-flammable]

I’m trying to keep expectations low for the Moon Knight finale but here are the things I think will happen:

Layla will get Taweret’s message and fight to take Marc to the Pyramid of Giza where Khonshu’s ushabti is. Then she will get Khonshu to resurrect Marc.

Ammit will have already risen and she will be killing people.

Harrow and co. will either follow Marc and Layla or will be lured into a trap to get them exposed in front of the Egyptian gods, and a fight will occur. The setting will be both the pyramid and the city since there is a shot of a maskless Marc surrounded by bodies in a courtyard, and another shot of Marc in full MK costume jumping over a car and shooting his crescent darts with both hands.

I don’t see Layla taking on the Moon Knight mantle unlike many fan theories, because I just feel like it would both nullify Marc’s sacrifice for her and be a jarring conclusion considering Marc is the Moon Knight we are watching the show for. If she takes on the suit, it will probably be temporarily to somehow help Marc but she will give it back.

Some magical things will happen which you really can’t really predict from here, but I feel like going by the puzzle theme of this show, some level of outsmarting the villain using Egyptian mythology will occur.

Harrow’s probably gonna die, yeah. I doubt he will die by Marc’s hands though because the previous episode made a big point of showing how Marc already has too much pain from killing.

I have no idea whether Khonshu will stop standing on Marc’s shoulders and abusing him but I sure hope he just gives Marc the suit and leaves him TF alone. I can see Marc addressing Khonshu’s treatment of him to some degree and also addressing that his blackmail ended up throwing a wrench in his marriage.

There might be more flashbacks with Marc’s parents (both actors are credited for episode 6 on IMDb apparently) and a younger Layla with her father (they have a photo together in the credits and fleshing out those looks sounds like too much effort for just an obscure picture)

Marc and Layla will lowkey make up. I don’t think there will be any epic declaration of love considering how much work the relationship needs, but Marc will certainly apologize and let Layla know he married her out of love (which is what I am 99% sure he was going to say in episode 4 before they were rudely interrupted by Ammit gang) and they will agree to talk in detail later I think (Oscar and May hinted as much in the interviews). I really hope they build back their life together, but knowing Marvel, there is also a possibility that it will be left hanging :))) (MCU sucks at romance after all)

Marc will go home to Chicago to his dad to get some closure. If Layla totally gets back with him then she might join.

What I think will be briefly shown:

Some more foreshadowing of Layla becoming the Scarlet Scarab, or Layla finding the Ruby Scarab

Jake Lockley either making a full appearance or just being confirmed very offhandedly along with Steven’s return (I really don’t think taking a dive into your memories on your own is enough to merge alters if you have DID, no matter how honestly you share your trauma)

[krakenbait]

kraken bait 3.5: this is why we can’t have nice things

me on july 11: yes! the expansion draft is in 10 days, my last kraken bait list is finished, everything is good!

me on july 15: gravy to the devils? ok, ok i dig it! messes up my kraken bait list, but oh well.

me on july 17: why are the gms are having a panic sale and fucking everything up

me on july 18: *looks at the protection lists* well fuck.

welcome back for the actual last kraken bait list! the last several days involved a lot of chaos and now a good chunk of my previous list is defunct. lovely. 

you guys know the drill by now. it’s a mock expansion draft with some actual predictions and a few funny theories, i had help from my buddy corwin (@chaos-hockey) and a few other folks. i’ll try to keep this short today, so there will be minimal commentary for anything that hasn’t changed from the last list.

*sigh* let’s get on with it. list under the cut.

Anaheim Ducks: Haydn Fleury

going by casey’s reaction, anaheim fucked up their protection list and leaving fleury exposed was a surprise and a mistake. guess it makes sense that the next expansion team also has a fleury (even if marc-andre and haydn aren’t related)

Arizona Coyotes: Christian Fischer

same as last time. next!

Boston Bruins: Jeremy Lauzon

see above. next!

Buffalo Sabres: William Borgen

i went with rasmus asplund last time around, but he got protected by the sabres. guess they want to keep all three rasmi (rasmusses?). so let’s go with... this dude, who is a defenseman one of the writers from The Athletic picked.

Calgary Flames: Mark Giordano

the flames picked tanev over giordano, but i had a feeling that might be the case. giordano will be a good veteran presence in seattle, etc. next!

Carolina Hurricanes: Nino Niederreiter

brady skjei, my pick last time around, got protected. kinga is probably happy, but i had to take a different route. i had a few other ideas (jake bean, petr mrazek), but corwin liked nino to seattle, so here we are! here’s hoping i spelled his name right.

Chicago: Nikita Zadorov

i had adam gaudette here last time around, and while he’s still available, i just think zadorov is a more interesting option to take from chicago. i might have said dylan strome if he wasn’t protected (sabs’ dreams are crushed)

Colorado Avalanche: JT Compher

as i mentioned in my intro, ryan graves, my previous pick, got traded to the devils (woohoo!)- savy joe sakic didn’t want to give him up for nothing. it was between compher and joonas donskoi to take gravy’s place, but i went with JT since he’s a little younger and his contract is a little less. donskoi is the better performer though, so honestly it could go either way.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Dean Kukan

boone jenner was protected, so there goes corwin’s idea. sticking with the same pick from last time. next!

Dallas Stars: Jamie Oleksiak

jason dickinson got traded to the canucks instead of being kraken bait, so that pick was toast. i didn’t really know who else could go here, but corwin liked the idea of oleksiak, so that settled it.

Detroit Red Wings: Vladislav Namestnikov

i’m sticking with it. next!

Edmonton Oilers: Tyson Barrie

this pick is maybe a little more likely now than it was last time since barrie wasn’t protected, but the odds aren’t necessarily great. i still enjoy my wishful thinking. next!

Florida Panthers: Chris Driedger

i think this is my slam dunk pick now, considering it seems like driedger’s already been talking to seattle. next!

Los Angeles Kings: Olli Maata

viktor arvidsson got protected (corwin was wrong), so it was back to the drawing board for the kings. i wanted to pick andreas athanasiou here, but i needed another player who wasn’t a 2021 free agent and i wanted the same forwards/defensemen ratio as last round, so i went with maata instead.

Minnesota Wild: Kaapo Kakhonen

matt dumba got protected, so my wild pick was toast. i also had to make up for a lost goalie spot (more on that soon), so i went with the young goalie out of minnesota.

Montreal Canadiens: Philip Danault

the habs protected jake allen after carey price waived his no move clause, so i was tempted to pick price to fill that goalie spot, but i don’t think it’s gonna happen on account of price’s hefty contract. instead, i went with ufa but good performer danault. i heard his name a lot watching the cup finals, so it works, right?

Nashville Predators: Calle Jarnkrok

calle jarn-kraken. it’s happenin’

New Jersey Devils: Andreas Johnsson

i will talk about my resentment and anxiety that nate bastian was exposed another time. in the meantime, i am trying to hypnotize ron francis from across the country into taking mango.

New York Islanders: Jordan Eberle

keeping it the same. next!

New York Rangers: Colin Blackwell

i honestly can’t believe the rangers protected kevin rooney. so i’ll go with my second choice for the pick from the rags, which is definitely seeming likely right now.

Ottawa Senators: Chris Tierney

didn’t change. next!

Philadelphia Flyers: James van Riemsdyk

corwin got their wish and nolan patrick got traded. this pick stayed the same regardless. next!

Pittsburgh Penguins: Zach Aston-Reese

i briefly considered changing it up here, probably for brandon “sees ghosts” tanev, but why complicate things? next!

San Jose Sharks: Ryan Donato

keeping it simple. next!

St Louis Blues: Vince Dunn

i’m running out of snappy ways to say “i didn’t change the pick.” next!

Tampa Bay Lightning: Blake Coleman

no more likely than it was last time, still enjoying my wishful thinking. next!

Toronto Maple Leafs: Travis Dermott

another static pick. next!

Vancouver Canuck: Zack MacEwen

i didn’t have to change this pick, i just felt like it. he has a cute dog, so i think macewen makes decent kraken bait.

Washington Capitals: Vitek Vanecek

second verse, same as the first. next!

Winnipeg Jets: Mason Appleton

kept the apple pie in a mason jar on skates around. won’t say “next!” because that’s it.

and there we go, a somewhat coherent response to all the recent chaos. in summary, it’s 3 goalies, 16 forwards, and 11 defensemen, which is the same ratio as the previous list, and a cap hit of 72.3M, which is actually less than before (it was 76.4M last time).

this is decidedly the last kraken bait list, but i may have some more commentary on the expansion draft on wednesday and an analysis of who, if anyone, i got right. in the meantime, hope you enjoyed!

credits, or thank you to everyone who helped me on the last list and therefore this one: @dantonheinens @summerteukka @doubleminor @jakejuentzel @bigmouthnatebastian @18minutemajor @powerblais @heddy

[zaritarazi]

002 with mixen <3

002 | send me a ship and I will tell you:

when i started shipping it: okay so i went deep into my archives and i found my first mixen gifset, here, from october 26, 2016. it is then followed by this gifset from october 28, 2016, a complete stroke of genius i’d forgotten about. and HERE is the first post i made about them while watching legends, also from october 28th, 2016. i’m assuming that the clip of her trying to kill him was released as a preview which is why the gifset predates the text post. so then in november 2016 is good it’s not really ramped up yet and then we get the chicago way and that, in a lot of ways, changed my life? for the better? unclear. am i being sarcastic? also unclear. there’s just so much about it that did me in. first the “i’m clyde that’s bonnie” because s3 of dusk had JUST ended and that was a RAW fucking nerve. just the exact shit i was looking for. the scene where mick puts his finger to his lips while looking at amaya’s mouth and you just know he’s internally like i am... going to hell. i am GOING to hell. amaya kissing him on the CHEEK? [mick’s certainty of going to hell intensifies] and the real piece de resistance was len descending from the ceiling shrieking in gay rage like. that’s what really solidified mick’s relationship with amaya to me: he was willing to defend her to literally, literally his husband. he says amaya is his ONLY friend because leonard is GONE, implying that amaya is len’s EQUAL in mick’s eyes. mick is a complex character and he’s actually very sensitive but when we had him in season 1, he came as a packaged set with len. and he grew and formed new relationships and listen we all know i can and will ship mick with anyone dominic purcell this is a threat but amaya is, in canon, not just implied by dominic’s choices for the character, the time where mick is declaring his affection for someone out loud. and i also want to reflect on like. leonard, be he real or be he a figment of mick’s mind, despite being WILDLY jealous of amaya, had one goal in that episode: to keep mick alive. like mick was so reckless in season two and with amaya he seems to finally almost want to... pull back? he tells leonard “i’ll be dead like you” which says he isn’t objecting to the idea of being dead, but that amaya is giving him something that makes life exciting, and he’d rather have that than fall into his old self-preservation instincts. you can MARK that mick starts trying to die less after the chicago way until len comes back in the world war i episode.  like i guess i started shipping mixen when they became the epitome of “god said love your enemy so i obeyed her and i loved myself” are you HAPPY? is this what you WANTED? 

-

my thoughts: you accidentally had a baby with him. i am the reason he is able to feel love. we are not the same

-

what makes me happy about them: as much as i’ve focused on amaya’s positive impact on mick i want to emphasize that this is a two way street because mick is someone who taught amaya to embrace herself and what makes her happy. amaya has so much pressure riding on her shoulders and mick is never deterred by it. amaya has always been brilliant beautiful incredible etc but when we first meet her in s2 she is so tightly wound and she is so in the mold of what she thinks she needs to be and what she thinks the legacy of the anansi totem requires of her and when she’s around mick she realizes she can be... amaya. just amaya. like did she say to mick “what would a criminal do” because she was being horny on main? yes. but she also did it because she was genuinely open to learning how he saw the world. like it’s truly incredible that amaya meets mick and in the span of 30 minutes is like actually, mick is the most interesting and enticing person i have ever met and  [mick’s certainty of going to hell intensifies] but actually there are just little things they do even when they don’t like each other that show a certain level of respect- mick tells amaya he’s not an idiot and amaya tells him not to call her “girlie” so amaya actually spends the rest of their relationship uplifting mick’s ideas and his accomplishments and mick POINTEDLY never gives amaya a nickname. the nickname one is especially funny bc i geniunely think she just didn’t like “girlie” and may have been fine with a different nickname but like. the fact that mick remembers to NOT give her a nickname EVER when everyone else gets one? the way he paid attention to amaya and respected what she was saying? the way they could be open with each other? like okay they weren’t canon-canon but a part of me is glad bc. this ship was originally marc’s idea and what is legends s2 if not phil and marc fighting for control of the story like the one ring? if marc had been allowed to make them romantic i fear he would’ve done his normal bullshit that he does with his couples where basically mick never changes in a positive way and keeps chipping away at parts of amaya until she feels like she is at “his level” and then he essentially takes over the rest of the parts of her life he hadn’t already taken control of and just, disgusting. like let me be clear on mick rory’s worst day he is still a better person than oliver queen on his best day i don’t care if he’s roasting people alive he is STILL a better person. but with that relationship choice being taken out of marc’s hands, we instead get a relationship where amaya offers mick the starting blocks to build himself UP, and he takes them and is able to keep building himself even without fully relying on her. when he tells her in season 3 “we’ve all done things we’re not proud of” and she just brightens so immediately, and the same thing happens in the pirate episode - and he is able to do these things for her because he let her help him, but did not make her his only lifeline. the person mick is in s3 onward is a person he feels better about being because amaya has always seen good in him and like. not to be dramatic but i am literally, literally crumbling into ash as we speak

-

what makes me sad about them: FROM SEASON 4 ONWARD SHE ISN’T THERE ANYMORE AND MICK IS JUST LEFT WITH ALL THE FUCKING EMOTIONS SHE MADE HIM FEEL AND THE WAYS SHE HELPED HIM AND ALL HE CAN DO IS TRY TO KEEP HER ALIVE, IN HIS MIND AT LEAST, BY HELPING PEOPLE (CHARLIE AND MONA) THE WAY AMAYA HELPED HIM. 

-

things done in fanfic that annoys me: i have no issue with mixen being in fic with OTHER ships but to my fucking detriment it always seems to be a secondary pairing in captain canary fics and like 1. hate crime 2. mick is a bisexual he can have a husband and a wife he can have them at the same time he can have them at separate times but if you’re writing capcan i’m assuming you have a heterosexual agenda and i want that kept away from ships i like at ALL times

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things I look for in fanfic: a genuine understanding of mick’s character. he can be kind of tricky to strike a balance with but you can just tell when he’s being written too aggressively or when he’s being written just as too much of a bastard or a former criminal and like, i also look for amaya not being helpless and emotional bc quite frankly mick is way more expressive emotionally than amaya and it is so vital that this is understood. also if it’s sad i like to read it and then cry myself to sleep

-

who i’d be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other: OKAY FINE nate for either. nate for both! final ot3 of nate/amaya/mick is good, pure, canon supported, and legally required. but also amaya with zari 1.0 and mick with ray or, honestly? zari 2.0. DON’T @ ME

-

My happily ever after for them: they just get to like. live life together. mick takes in ese as one of his own and amaya does the same for lita and they have a 3rd child together that’s in the bible look it up but like. not giving up the time traveling life and the heroics and the adventures fully but being a family even when their kids grow up and they can be old together even if it’s them popping on and off the waverider sometimes together sometimes they do their own thing always put the kids first and sure mick has 22 wonderful years on amaya but he’s on a timeship he can wait for her to catch up so they can get old-old together. also nate is there romantically, sexually, raising the children, let’s have mick and nate make a fourth child, this is absolutely non-negotiable

-

who is the big spoon/little spoon: amaya is AGGRESSIVELY the little spoon. like flinging herself into mick’s arms and like HOLD ME and mick just reflexively wrapping his arms around her bc she small. sof. smells nice. pretty

-

what is their favorite non-sexual activity: amaya like why be having not-sex when you could be having sex? and mick like i don’t know. sleeping? photography? long drives? (it’s long drives & going to museums don’t @ me)

[fmbishop]

*  I'VE   GOT   MY   VEINS   ALL   TANGLED   CLOSE . 

                       *      ╰         chicago’s   very   own  𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐣𝐚𝐡 𝐛𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩  has   been   spotted   on   madison   avenue   driving   a   1960   vintage   jeep   bronco   ,   welcome   !   your   resemblance   to   𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒔𝒐𝒏   𝒅𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒏   is   unreal   .   according   to   tmz   ,   you   just   had   your   twenty   -   first      birthday   bash   .   your   chance   of   surviving   new   york   is   uncertain   because   you’re            𝒄𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉   ,   but   being   𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒕   might   help   you   .   i   think   being   a   taurus   explains   that   .      3   things   that   would   paint      a      better   picture   of   you   would   be         𝒑𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒅   𝒔𝒌𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒃𝒐𝒂𝒓𝒅   𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒑   𝒕𝒂𝒑𝒆   ,   𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌   𝒄𝒊𝒓𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒔   𝒃𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉   𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒅   𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔   ,   &   𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒔   𝒂𝒏𝒅   𝒑𝒂𝒍𝒎𝒔   𝒓𝒖𝒃𝒃𝒆𝒅   𝒓𝒂𝒘   .            (   i   cut   ties   with   my   best   friend   and   collaborator   because   i   was   secretly   in   love   with   her   ,   but   our   publicist   had   her   date   my   brother   instead   .   )      &   (   cis   male   +   he   /   him   )   +   (   ruby   ,   18+   ,   she   /   her   ,   pst   )


𝒊       .        𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒔       .

𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆   :   elijah   alexander   bishop 𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔   :      eli   ,   e   .   from   his   loved   ones   ,   he   recieves   variations   on   ellie   ,   ugly   ass   mustache   head   ,   tony   hawk   ,   and   zumiez   employee   of   the   month   . 𝒂𝒈𝒆   :      twenny   -   won 𝒛𝒐𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒄   :   taurus 𝒐𝒄𝒄𝒖𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏   :   professional   skateboarder   and   youngest   x   games   gold   medalist   in   history   ,   brand   ambassador   for   several   skate   fashion   brands   ,   established   youtube   vlogger   ,   and   aspiring   filmmaker   . 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓   𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒚   /   𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒔   :   cis   male   /   he   him   his 𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏   :   heterosexual   ,   heteroromantic 𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕   :   5’11 𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒔   :   the   black   sheep   ,   the   despondent   ,   the   fallen   angel   ,   the   isolato   ,   the   intangible   concept   ,   the   dirtbag   ,   the   doryphore 𝒌𝒆𝒚         𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒔      :      -   churlish   ,   emotionally   reserved   ,   hesitant   ,   resentful   ,   self   -   sabotaging +   steadfast   ,   benevolent   ,   chivalrous   ,   reliable   ,   down   to   earth   𝒉𝒐𝒈𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔   𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆   :      hufflepuff 𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒈   𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒔   :   that’s   on   me   -   mac   miller   /   obstacle   1   -   interpol   /   just   my   luck   -   marc   e   bassy   &   blackbear   /   EARFQUAKE   -   tyler   the   creator /   superfast   jellyfish   -   gorillaz   /   here   comes   a   feeling   -   louis   the   child   /   horseshoes   and   handgrenades   -   green   day  /   boys   don’t   cry   -   the   cure   /   SUGAR   -   brockhampton  /   slow   dancing   in   the   dark   -   joji   /   come   back   to   earth   -   mac   miller   /   swing   ,   swing   -   the   all   american   rejects  

𝒊𝒊       .    𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚    .

harold   and   lillian   bishop   welcome   the   heirs   to   the   bishop   throne   on   an   early   may   morning   .   ceo   of   the   multi-billion   dollar   bishop   industries   construction   empire   ,   and   partner   of   the   bishop   &   franklin   international   law   firm   respectively   ,   the   boys   enter   into   the   shadow   of   a   last   name   prepared   to   build   onto   its   own   legacy   .   eli   comes   into   the   light   moments   after   his   brother   ,   a   hand   firmly   grasped   onto   the   ankle   of   his   twin   ,   victorious   to   emerge   into   the   world   first   .   parallel   to   the   biblical   brothers   jacob   and   esau   ,   his   nurse   notes   ,   but   his   parents   pay   no   mind   .   on   the   whim   of   a   meaningless   sequence   ,   the   elder   twin   is   delegated   as   the   champion   of   the   bishop   legacy   ,   to   bear   the   weight   of   their   family   empire   and   its   subsequent   legacy   on   his   shoulders   with   pride   .

elijah   ,   on   the   heel   of   his   brother   ,      isaiah   ,   by   a   mere   fraction   of   a   second   ,   bears   the   weight   of   his   second-coming   due   to   such   a   christening   for   the   rest   of   his   upbringing   .

the   black   sheep   is   perhaps   too   delicate   of   a   phrasing   to   explain   the   conflict   stirring   daily   in   the   bishop   household   ,   a   family   of   perfection   —   and   elijah   ,   the   foil   to   them   all   ,   a   failure   by   definition   ,   perhaps   crafted   simply   to   emphasize   the   feats   of   his   twin   brother   .   he’s   smaller   ,   scrawnier   ,   slower   to   pick   up   school   work   and   requiring   relentless   tutoring   and   support   throughout   his   elementary   school   years   .   sensitive   and   introverted   ,   he   spends   the   first   decade   of   his   life   cowering   behind   isaiah   as   a   shield   ,   receiving   constant   critiques   of   not   enough   ,   not   good   enough   ,   not   close   enough   to   —

he   tries   not   to   focus   on   his   shortcomings   ,   as   plentiful   as   his   parents   may   convince   him   that   there   may   be   .   any   expression   other   than   a   stoic   compliance   is   seen   as   contumacious   ,   swiftly   corrected   with   a   ‘   i   wish   you   would   be   more   like   your   brother   .   ’      eli   withers   into   himself   shortly   after   his   12th   birthday   ,   the   onset   of   puberty   and   a   discovery   for   a   natural   athletic   inclination   giving   him   some   semblance   of   musculature   ,   his   jaw   sharpening   and   gaze   taking   a   similar   harshness   .   his   body   becomes   a   fortress   ,   the   only   protection   he   can   implement   as   his   brother   begins   to   split   from   him   ,   taking   on   more   responsibility   as   the   twins   are   brought   increasingly   into   the   spotlight   of   their   family   name   and   fortune   .

each   moment   harboring   a   critique   only   stokes   resentment   behind   each   clenched   jaw   and   tight   lipped   smile   eli   has   to   fake   .   he   knows   its   all   for   show   ,   his   brother   is   the   only   true   heir   written   into   their   legacy   regardless   of   what   path   he   chooses   to   take   .   bearing   the   weight   of   a   whole   family   tree   of   disappointment   ,   eli   takes   on   odd   hobbies   and   begins   to   compose   bits   and   pieces   of   himself   as   the   him   he   wants   to   be   ,   dismantling   the   illusion   composed   by   expectations   to   mirror   his   infallible   brother   .   by   13   ,   his   secretive   hobby   becomes   an   increasingly   viable   career   in   skateboarding   ,   by   17   ,   he’s   hired   his   own   agent   and   moves   out   on   his   own   to   escape   the   increasing   burdens   of   being   the   bishop   legacy   disappointment   .   his   parents   all   but   excommunicate   him   ,   and   he   spends   spans   of   month-long   silences   between   them   with   only   his   brother   to   bridge   such   gaps   .   eli   is   gnarled   and   hidden   away   from   the   glitz   and   glamour   he   had   grown   so   comfortable   with   ,   navigating   his   shattered   self-image   and   desire   to   amount   to   something   entirely   on   his   own —   but   at   the   very   least   ,   he’s   free   .

it’s   a   tabloid’s   dream   ,   the   black   sheep   of   the   bishop   family   ,   reuniting   with   his   herd   for   their   move   to   new   york   .   eli   is   resentful   and   bitter   at   the   idea   of   uprooting   himself   ,   but   it’s   his   brother’s   impassioned   pleas   of   a   reunion   that   soften   eli’s   resolve   and   cause   the   young   skateboarding   sensation   to   follow   the   rest   of   his   distant   family   to   new   york   .   his   brother   assures   him   with   honeyed   promises   of   a   family   reunited   ,   a   change   of   heart   of   their   parents’      callousness   ,   a   desire   to   see   the   bishops   as   one   .     their   father’s   upcoming   retirement   and   a   supposed   reflection   on   the   cruelty   imposed   on   his   brother   are   all   cited   as   reasons   why   eli   should   just   come   with   them   .      and   eli   ,   hardened   and   bitter   to   all   but   the   implorations   of   his   brother   (   and   perhaps   a   gnawing   desire   for   some   sort   of   familial   validation   after   a   lifetime   of   being   dubbed   the   disappointment   ,   )   begrudgingly   follows   through   .

their   parents   do   not   .

it   awakens   a   particular   emotion   within   eli   to   see   his   parents   for   the   first   time   in   nearly   2   years   and   be   received   with   the   same   coldness   he   had   been   seen   off   with   at   their   last   meeting   .   backhanded   compliments   follow   fronthanded   insults   and   it   ends   with   eli   and   his   father   in   a   screaming   match   ,   fingers   jabbed   dangerously   into   chests   and   tempers   on   full   blare   .   the   betrayal   comes   not   from   a   set   of   parents   who   didn’t   want   him   —   eli   knew   it   was   entirely   too   good   to   be   true   to   be   taken   as   the   prodigal   son   .   the   betrayal   ,   he   laments   ,   is   in   the   falsities   told   by   his   brother   ,   the   one   person   who   had   spent   so   long   protecting   him   and   had   now   allowed   him   to   walk   without   guard   into   the   lion’s   den   .   eli   knows   his   brother   had   nothing   but   the   best   of   intentions   and   keeps   him   as   the   sole   bishop   contact   :   this   is   the   last   he   talks   to   his   parents   after   years   of   torment   .

they   stay   in   new   york   together   and   fill   their   time   with   work   and   the   occasional   youtube   video   at   the   behest   of   their   management   ,   random   vlogs   that   surprisingly   take   off   .   the   bishop   twins   become   something   of   an   internet   sensation   —   isaiah   a   charming   and   composed   law   student   ,   eli   a   brooding   and   unkempt   skater   boy   ,   with   a   dynamic   that   viewers   are   quick   to   fall   in   love   with   .   they   turn   out   content   on   a   regular   basis   ,   building   a   fanbase   through   their   vlogs   that   begs   for   collaborations   and   ‘   linking   up   .   ‘   they   go   through   the   motions   of   collabs   until   one   particular   set   of   youtubers   have   a   chemistry   with   the   twins   that   their   fans   eat   up   .   quickly   hired   to   the   same   management   team   ,   the   bishops   create   a   mini   vlog   squad   with   their   friends   ,   a   dynamic   that   finds   eli   more   emotionally   invested   than   he’d   care   to   admit   .   but   forever   the   self   -   saboteur   ,   he   keeps   himself   from   admitting   these   feelings   to   their   collaborator   ,   repressing   them   until   an   email   from   their   publicist   reveals   plans   to   have   her   date   isaiah   for   the   sake   of   views   .

eli   ,   despite   having   kept   his   feelings   from   practically   everyone   in   his   life   ,   takes   the   move   personally   and   cuts   off   all   work   with   their   collaborator   ,   the   ensuing   drama   being   enough   to   keep   his   publicist   happy   despite   whatever   happens   between   her   and   his   brother   .   their   group   goes   back   to   being   a   duo   ,   a   secret   for   eli   to   keep   perhaps   to   his   grave   ,   and   he   pushes   to   forge   on   with   creating   a   name   for   himself   out   of   the   shadow   of   his   family   .

(   um   for   context   slash   anyone   who   knew   version   one   of   eli   we’re   gonna   say   he   got   sick   of   the   celeb   world   and   went   backpacking   through   southern   asia   w   no   phone   n   no   outside   contacts   ,   just   recently   returned   to   ny   after   the   past   2   months   of   isolation   !   )

𝒊𝒊𝒊       .       𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

i’m   so   excited   to   bring   eli   back   .   …      i   love   wealthy   sm   lemme   give   y’all   a   few   bullets   for   the   rundown   of   the   uglie   mean   sk8r   boi   that   u   should   all   say   ‘   see   u   l8r   boi   ‘

as   the   bio   implies   ,   he   had   a   really   tough   upbringing   in   the   shadow   of   his   perfect   brother   .   a   lot   of   his   parents’   cruelty   resulted   in   the   personality   he   has   now   .

eli   is   most   known   for   his   resentment   of   wealth   and   fame   .   in   the   celeb   world   ,   he’s   always   known   as   the   one   who’s   just   a   normal   guy   .   super   down   to   earth   and   constantly   critiquing   ppl   who   let   the   fame   get   to   their   head

in   a   way   ,   he   gets   this   weird   sense   of   superiority   that’s   super   hypocritical   ?   like   he   thinks   he’s   better   than   the   rich   ppl   bc   he   doesn’t   act   boujie   ..   .   .   .   but   ?   he’s   rich   too   ?   just   bc   ur   chinos   r   ripped   doesnt   make   u   better   than   anyone   else   u   dumb   bitch

super   ,   and   i   cannot   emphasize   this   enough   ,   SUPER   emotionally   constipated   .   he   acts   like   he’s   above   it   all   to   serve   as   his   defense   mechanism   bc   on   the   real   he’s   terrified   of   being   rejected   by   people   the   way   his   own   parents   rejected   him   .   his   solution   ?   if   u   act   like   u   don’t   give   a   shit   ,   nobody   can   hurt   u   .

if   he’s   not   angry   ranting   ,   he’s   honestly   p   stoic   .   nobody   knows   what   he’s   thinkin   or   feelin   which   is   how   he   likes   it   .   it   gets   real   annoying   when   he   keeps   playing   the   cool   disconnected   guy   n   ur   like   ‘   what   do   u   want   for   lunch   ‘   n   he’s   like   ‘   i   dont   give   a   fuck   ‘   n   ur   like   ‘   we   know   dumbass   edgelord   we   still   gotta   EAT   tho   ‘

on   that   ranting   note   ,   he’s   usually   pretty   reserved   and   calm   during   things   like   interviews   or   talking   to   fans   .   when   he’s   in   touchier   situations   ,   his   defense   mechanism   is   to   switch   to   his   hairpin   trigger   hostility   .

ig   he   feels   like   he   has   something   to   prove   by   being   the   tough   guy   so   he   just   ?   gets   mad   super   easily   instead   of   processing   his   feelings   like   a   normal   person   ?   he   detaches   himself   from   his   emotions   bc   he   has   a   really   fucked   sense   of   self   -   worth   and   has   an   eternal   belief   he’s   not   worthy   of   happiness   so   he’ll   sabotage   himself   to   no   end

shockingly   sensitive   and   will   hold   onto   his   pain   as   if   to   fuel   him   .   he   takes   disloyalty   personally   and   will   often   hold   onto   abandonment   or   slights   that   happened   years   ago   because   they   genuinely   affected   him   ,   even   if   he   didn’t   show   so   at   the   time   .

in   terms   of   the   celeb   life   :   he’s   p   low   key   .   isn’t   much   of   a   partier   bc   he   has   social   anxiety   sdfsd   but   he’s   comfy   sipping   a   beer   on   the   patio   as   long   as   everyone   else   stays   inside   lmao   .   he’s   cool   w   hookups   but   isn’t   actively   sleeping   around   ?   like   he   could   prob   live   like   a   fuckboy   but   rlly   surprises   u   when   he   doesn’t   do   the   fuckboy   thing   ..   …   .   it’s   the   sensitive   boy   in   him   or   somethin   idk..   .   ..   mayb   he   just   can’t   care   enough   ..   ..      it’s   the   apathy   …   .

when   he’s   not   seeing   red   ,   he’s   rational   man   meant   to   BUST   everyone’s   stupidity   .   usually   the   only   mfer   w   common   sense   in   the   squad   to   plan   ahead   n   shit   but   if   someone   pushes   his   homies   ?   eli   comes   out   SWINGING   n   then   avoids   all   the   tabloids   about   him   sloppy   fighting   in   the   club   like   he’s   mariah   carey   n   can’t   read   or   somethin

cannot   flirt   for   the   life   of   him   ,   says   dumb   shit   like   ‘   u   smell   nice   ‘   and   hopes   his   muscles   do   all   the   talking   lmao   fuckin   BEEFCAKE

on   the   real   ,   when   he’s   calm   n   collected   he   can   be   surprisingly   sweet   and   this   is   when   the   down   to   earth   comes   in   .   doesn’t   get   attached   to   many   but   to   the   few   he   does   ,   he   defends   to   the   end   and   is   the   type   to   sacrifice   whatever   it   is   to   protect   them   .   this   mans   LOVES   his   friends   and   ppl   are   surprised   to   see   how   kind   he   can   b   bc   he’s   usually   masking   his   kindness   with   his   brutishness   lmao   .      

he’s   also   ?   surprisingly   funny   ?   we’ll   see   abt   that   tho   bc   most   of   his   shit   is   deadpan

most   of   the   time   :   just   fuckin   .   mean   as   hell   sdfsdf

anarchist   mfer   !   he   said   FUCK   the   system   ,   it’s   a   big   skate   energy   and   he   tries   to   be   as   creative   and   undefined   as   possible   .   follows   random   whims   as   he   learns   to   be   less   self   conscious   bc   now   he’s   his   own   brand   and   doesn’t   have   to   always   think   about   ‘   whats   best   for   the   family   ’   and   all   that   bs   !   he’s   rlly   passionate   abt   skate   culture   and   originality   and   is   a   really   big   outspoken   feminist  /  social   activist    bc   what’s   more   punk   than   dismantling   the   patriarchy  and  other  oppressive  power   structures  ?

on   that   note   .   lowkey   .   a   simp   KWHRJWE   he   acts   hard   and   won’t   let   any   man   come   after   him   but   he’s   afraid   2   be   mean   to   girls   n   lets   most   of   his   female   friends   bully   him   while   he   does   the   office   stare   in2   the   camera   .

i   always   stick   random   blurbs   downhere   but   the   mans   is   vegan   ,   cares   more   about   his   car   than   anything   ,   spends   most   of   his   time   in   his   ratty   skate   clothes   that   barely   get   washed   bc   they   ‘   hold   the   energy   better   ’   (   nastie   )   ,   if   it   aint   sk8   shoes   its   socks   w   sandals   n   he   doesn’t   get   whats   wrong   w   that   ,   he’s   a   hufflepuff   n   a   ISTJ-T   myers   briggs  (  The  Logistician  )   ,   n   tbh   he   really   just   appreciates   the   little   things   in   life   ?   thats   eli   my   lil   meat   head   .

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Pluralistic: 21 Mar 2020 (Cool Tools, scientists predict cooperation, Don't Look for the Helpers, after the crisis, a people's bailout, judge vs unicorns, Marc Davis's Haunted Mansion)

Today's links

My appearance on Cool Tools: My favorite gadgets.

UK emergency science panel predicts mass altruism: Reality has a well-known collectivist bias.

Don't Look for the Helpers: The text version of my essay for the new Nightvale anxiety podcast.

After the crisis, a program for transformative change: Pandemic reveals the systems' failures, and what to do about them.

Pandemic stimulus, realpolitik edition: Stephanie Kelton and AOC on a people's bailout.

Beautiful judicial snark: "No, your unicorn trademark is not an emergency."

Marc Davis's Haunted Mansion: What if Marc Davis had sole control over the ride's design?

This day in history: 2005, 2010, 2015, 2019

Colophon: Recent publications, current writing projects, upcoming appearances, current reading

My appearance on Cool Tools (permalink)

This week, I appear on the Cool Tools podcast to discuss my favorite, most indispensible gadgets and services and why I love them.

https://kk.org/cooltools/cory-doctorow-science-fiction-author/

My top picks were my Crkt Snap-Lock knife – a one-handed-opening, lightweight, super versatile pocket knife that I carry everywhere.

https://www.crkt.com/snap-lock.html

I also chose my Chinese OEM underwater MP3 player. I swim every day for my chronic pain maintenance and this is how I make it bearable, getting through 1-2 audiobooks/month.

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00GWV6GUO/cooltoolsshow-20

My third choice was Libro.fm, the DRM-free, indie-bookseller friendly way to listen to audiobooks. Basically the same catalog as Audible, at the same price, the only difference being that buying from them supports neighborhood booksellers, not Amazon.

It was a really fun! @Frauenfelder and @kevin2kelly are super smart about gadgets.

Here's the MP3:

http://tracking.feedpress.it/link/7810/13374488/779800513-cool-tools-218-cory-doctorow.mp3

UK emergency science panel predicts mass altruism (permalink)

SAGE is the UK Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies. This is their hour to shine.

They have just published a spectacular, plain-language set of technical reports on the pandemic.

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/scientific-advisory-group-for-emergencies-sage-coronavirus-covid-19-response

This is the most interesting: "on risk of public disorder."

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/873736/08-spi-b-return-on-risk-of-public-disorder.pdf

The expert panel affirms the conclusions of Rebecca Solnit in her indispensable book "A Paradise Built in Hell," a closely researched history of disasters that finds that they are the moment in which people spring to the aid of their neighbors.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/10/05/a-paradise-built-in-hell

SAGE's expert panel on disasters: "large scale rioting is unlikely. It is rarely seen in these circumstances. Acts of altruism will predominate, and HMG could readily promote and guide these."

"Where public disorder occurs, it is usually triggered by perceptions about the Government's response, rather than the nature of the epidemic. A perception that Government response strategies are not effective in looking after the public may lead to an increase in tensions."

"Promote a sense of collectivism: All messaging should reinforce a sense of community, that 'we are all in this together.'"

For decades, Britain has been poisoned by Margaret Thatcher's sociopathic maxim, "There is no such thing as society."

It turns out that reality (and pandemics) has a well-known collectivist bias.

Don't Look for the Helpers (permalink)

I wrote a short essay about how I'm coping with The Current Situation for Our Plague Year, a new podcast from Joseph Fink of Welcome to Nightvale, called "Don't Look for the Helpers".

https://pluralistic.net/2020/03/17/pluralistic-17-mar-2020/#ourplagueyear

Today, PM Press published the essay in a new digital collection, "All We Have Is Each Other."

https://www.pmpress.org/blog/category/blog/all-we-have-is-each-other/

"Assuming things will break down does not make you a dystopian. Engineers who design systems on the assumption that nothing could go wrong aren't utopians, they're idiots who kill people. 'Nothing could go wrong' is why there weren't enough lifeboats on the fucking Titanic."

"Every disaster ends with mutual aid. By definition. That's the only way a disaster can end: with people pulling together. If there's one lesson to take from Mad Max, it's that pulling apart only deepens the crisis, and the it will not end until we pull together."

"I've been telling stories of humanity rising to crisis for decades. Now I'm telling them to myself. I hope you'll keep that story in mind today, as plutocrats are seeking to weaponize narratives to turn our crisis into a self-serving catastrophe."

https://www.pmpress.org/blog/2020/03/19/dont-look-for-the-helpers-by-cory-doctorow/

After the crisis, a program for transformative change (permalink)

The Current Situation has revealed deep cracks in our system: replacing public transit with gig economy drivers who don't get health care or sick leave; the gig economy itself; the lethal inadequacy of private-sector broadband and private-sector health-care, and beyond.

The fact that we can simply abolish data-caps (without networks falling over) and the liquid ban (without planes blowing up) reveals that these supposed existential threats were, in fact, arbitrary, authoritarian, rent-seeking bullshit.

https://pluralistic.net/2020/03/14/masque-of-the-red-death/#security-theater

The people who've spent 40 years convincing us that we're just not free-marketing hard enough continue to insist that all of these problems are merely the result of not having fully dismantled the state (so much for "state capacity libertarianism"):

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-03-20/coronavirus-killed-the-progressive-left

They're licking their chops for a 2008-style reboot: eviscerating public services, immiserating workers, fattening plutes and dissolving regulatory safeguards.

It's a playbook developed by Milton Friedman: the scheme to have "ideas lying around" when crisis strikes.

But as Naomi Klein reminds us, the Shock Doctrine cuts both ways. The manifest failures of plutocracy in the Great Depression got us the New Deal and the "30 Glorious Years" of shared prosperity and growth.

https://pluralistic.net/2020/03/17/pluralistic-17-mar-2020/#disaster-socialism

We haven't been idle since 2008. We have "ideas lying around" too. Ideas for a just and resilient society that reorients human life around sustainable and just practices. Motherboard's editorial staff gives us a manifesto for that society, so that this crisis doesn't go to waste:

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/wxekvw/the-world-after-coronavirus-healthcare-labor-climate-internet

Free and universal healthcare ("healthcare is a basic human right" -B. Sanders)

Abolish ICE and prisons ("ICE is now a public health hazard")

Protect and empower labor ("Without these protections, everyone's safety and health is put at risk")

A healthier climate ("If the 2008-09 financial crash is any indicator, carbon could shoot right back up as soon as the crisis is over")

Fast, accessible broadband ("Community owned/operated broadband networks, long demonized and even prohibited by law are looking better than ever")

Smash the surveillance state ("This pandemic mustn't be used to infringe on the civil liberties and privacy of millions")

Billionaire wealth ("They're sending people to work while jetting off to luxurious doomsday bunkers, getting Covid-19 tests while normal people can't, and also singing 'Imagine' from bucolic getaways.")

Public transit that works ("Congress is poised to prioritize bailing out airlines and the cruise industry before it takes a look at public transit")

The right to repair ("Right-to-repair has become a matter of life and death.")

Science for the people ("We were caught flat-footed by a fixation on 'innovation' and lack of public options")

The future will not be like the past. Whether it is worse or better is our choice to make. It is in our (well-scrubbed) hands.

(Image: Jolove55, CC BY)

Pandemic stimulus, realpolitik edition (permalink)

I've been thinking a lot about what a covid stimulus package could and should look like, and what the possible failure modes and transformative changes could be. Obviously, there's real risk of inflation if handled wrong, because production has halted, so more money could end up chasing fewer goods. That gets ugly quick.

https://pluralistic.net/2020/03/18/diy-tp/#covid-stimulus

Then there's the risk that we just infuse trillions of no-strings-attached dollars into the finance sector, who use it to make our society even more brittle and unstable by hollowing out reeling companies and grinding down brutalized workers.

https://pluralistic.net/2020/03/19/gb-whatsapp/#peoples-bailout

Writing about this stuff in public makes a lot of Twitter people with "investor" in their bios very, very angry. They want giant bailouts for the companies they own stocks in, not transformative change. They use the neolib tactic of throwing out a lot of jargon to instil a sense of your technical illiteracy. Complexity is a con-artist's go-to tactic, after all – it's why proposition bets are so complicated, so you can't do the odds in your head (see also: craps tables).

But not every economist believes that sociopathy is pareto optimal. Leading lights like Stephanie Kelton, the mother of Modern Monetary Theory, who can go toe-to-toe with oligarch-apologists from the Chicago School, explaining how public debt really works.

Kelton and AOC appeared on this week's Deconstructed podcast with Mehdi Hasan to discuss the true scale of the bailout that will be needed (far more than $1T) to get the economy working again. That number can come down (by lowering working peoples' outgoings through rent/mortgage/student loan holidays, etc). But the lesson of 2008 is that to be credible, stimulus must be transparent and aimed at the public good, not the donor-class.

https://theintercept.com/2020/03/20/deconstructed-podcast-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-coronavirus-economy/

https://dcs.megaphone.fm/FLM7803427023.mp3

Otherwise, Congress risks having its hands tied: it might inject an inadequate and corrupt stimulus that benefits its cronies, then be unable to follow that on with a people's bailout that would help us all.

AOC: "Look at this kind of trash pile of legislation the Republicans have just introduced. I've never seen such a thing in my life of, we're going to give the neediest people less. And we're going to give people who are you know, need help but don't need as much help more."

Kelton: "What people mean when they say, you know, oh, Senator Sanders, you want Medicare for All or you want to make public colleges and universities tuition free, you want to cancel student debt, how are you going to pay for it? Where is the money going to come from? What that means in beltway speak is how are you going to offset all of that spending with new revenue from somewhere else, or by spending less in defense or some other category, the budget?"

"When you do a piece of legislation that's 'paid for,' it means you're putting the 50 billion in and it goes to some parts of the economy, and you're taking 50 billion out of some other parts of the economy so that you're not deficit spending."

"We've been so badly educated to respond to deficits as something that's fiscally irresponsible, reckless. It isn't. The government is committing to dropping dollars into the economy without ripping them right back out again. It's exactly what we want them to do right now."

Kelton's work on Modern Monetary Theory is transformative. Her lectures present both a powerful descriptive account of how money works in the economy and a prescriptive account of how we can use that knowledge to make a better, more prosperous world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS9nP-BKa3M

She has a new book about this coming in June, The Deficit Myth. This would be a good time to pre-order it. These are scary times for writers with books about to come out (signed, I have three new books out in 2020).

https://stephaniekelton.com/book/

Beautiful judicial snark (permalink)

As Ken "Popehat" White is fond of reminding us, no one snarks quite like a federal judge. And despite being a Trump appointee, Steven C Seeger manages to rip off a couple zingers in this ruling.

http://loweringthebar.net/2020/03/unicorn-case-not-an-emergency.htm

At issue: Art Ask Agency is upset that someone is counterfeiting their unicorn-logo merch, such as this unicorn-scented candle:

https://artaskagency.com/our-licenses/anne-stokes/unicorn-candle/

But Illinois is in covid lockdown, so its case against a bunch of John Doe (alleged) counterfeiters is on hold. Their lawyer has sent a string of motions to the court asking for an emergency hearing so they can proceed, despite the fact that the court clerks are operating on reduced staff and only dealing with matters of the utmost urgency.

The judge is Not Impressed: "At worst, Defendant might sell a few more counterfeit products in the meantime. But Plaintiff makes no showing about anticipated loss of sales. One wonders if fake fantasy products are experiencing brisk sales at the moment."

The judge takes notice of the time a telephonic hearing would consume, "especially given the girth of the Plaintiff's filings."

"Plaintiff argues that it will suffer an 'irreparable injury' if this court does not put a stop to the infringing unicorns and knock-off elves."

"The world is facing a real emergency. Plaintiff is not."

(Image: Karen Neoh, CC BY)

Marc Davis's Haunted Mansion (permalink)

Along with Passport to Dreams Old and New, the Long Forgotten Blog is the best source of information on the history, design, and evolution of Disney theme-parks.

https://passport2dreams.blogspot.com/

But Long Forgotten focuses on a single ride, the glorious, brilliant Haunted Mansion.

The history of the Haunted Mansion was completely upended in late 2019, when Christopher Merritt published his "Marc Davis in His Own Words," a two-volume compendium of journals and interviews with the legendary Imagineer, who was Merritt's mentor.

https://books.disney.com/book/marc-davis-in-his-own-words/

This is probably the best book of Disney/theme-park history ever published, and that's no surprise, as Merritt has already written the definitive history of Knott's Berry Farm:

https://www.angelcitypress.com/collections/authors-christopher-merritt

And Pacific Ocean Park:

https://www.yesterland.com/pacificoceanpark.html

Merritt is an Imagineer, an artist, and a historian, who has direct, lifelong connections with the original Imagineering team. He has unparalleled access, inside knowledge and perspective. So yeah, that is a fucking great book.

Marc Davis was the best character designer in the original Imagineer cohort: he created the Country Bears, the Pirates, and the Haunted Mansion ghosts. He was a spectacular visual gag master, too. And he was one of the (many) legendary Imagineers who had a hand in designing the Haunted Mansion. That ride had so many different iterations, drafts, plans and schemes, and the final product is so wonderful in part because of their remnants.

But Davis actually designed a full-on Haunted Mansion attraction, from start to finish, and those plans are kicking around. Based on those, Long Forgotten has created a narrative account of what it would be like to tour "Marc Davis's Haunted Mansion."

https://longforgottenhauntedmansion.blogspot.com/2020/03/marc-daviss-haunted-mansion.htm

It's…interesting. Davis had some really fun ideas like meeting up with a talking bust (or raven).

And there are great gags (Davis designed the "three-part" stretching portraits, after all).

I mean. this would have been so freaking boss.

But the real meat is something called "The Most Dangerous Ghost":

"The final picture is perhaps behind black drapes which raise as the ghost host calls out attention to it. As the drapes part we see a painting that has everything in it except a figure. There is perhaps a vague image where the figure should be. The ghost host reacts in a frightened manner. He explains that this is terrible because this is the most dangerous ghost in the mansion. When he climbs out of his picture he mingles with the guests until he has turned one of them into a ghost. He describes the ghost's appearance and its omnipotent powers. He suggests again that everyone should stay in a tight group; this evil ghost loves to pick off stragglers. He suggests that the group be wary of sliding panels, gusts of cold air and etc."

Long Forgotten: "The MDG character undercuts the intellectually sloppy notion that all Davis cared about was making the HM funny."

LF goes on to make a good case that Davis wanted to incorporate many of Rolly Crump's gorgeous "Museum of the Weird" designs into his Mansion.

Davis's seance room seems to flirt with MDG some more: "The presence of the villain ghost makes itself felt and these older retired ghosts are frightened. Whatever we have used to indicate the nearness of the villain ghost would be repeated here."

Davis once planned for a Mansion filled with "working class ghosts" (carpenters, soldiers, boxers, etc). The only ones that survived were the coachmen in the graveyard sequence.

And his bride sequence was very explicit about wedding-night murders, culminating with MDG manifesting amid the guests: "He starts a wild mocking laugh. It clouds up outside. The curtains blow inward. It starts to rain along with thunder and lightning. "Outside we see a figure take form and it moves into the room. The rain comes into the room with the figure and a pool of water forms around its feet."

This is gorgeously scary, but as Long Forgotten points out, it has little re-play value (similar to Tomororwland's Alien Encounter): "The gag about the Ghost Host revealing himself as the Most Dangerous Ghost has the obvious disadvantage that it can surprise you only once. Pretty soon everyone knows the 'secret,' and as its usefulness as a genuine shock or scare tactic fades its status as pure camp inevitably increases."

That all said, "We learn what we should already know but sometimes forget: Marc Davis was never an imperious, one-man show. He was a team player. He interacted creatively with the work already done by previous Imagineers, displaying in this outline nothing but respect for what was good in what they had done."

This day in history (permalink)

#15yrsago Disney busts amateur Disneyland tour guide https://web.archive.org/web/20050323133504/http://jimhillmedia.com/mb/articles/showarticle.php?ID=1356

#10yrsago James Randi is gay http://archive.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/914-how-to-say-it.html

#5yrsago Windows 10 announcement: certified hardware can lock out competing OSes https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/03/windows-10-to-make-the-secure-boot-alt-os-lock-out-a-reality/

#1yrago Two arrested for hiding cameras in motel rooms and charging for access to livestreams https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/20/asia/south-korea-hotel-spy-cam-intl/index.html

Colophon (permalink)

Today's top sources: Ok børge (https://twitter.com/forteller), Beyond the Beyond (http://www.wired.com/category/beyond_the_beyond/).

Currently writing: I've just finished rewrites on a short story, "The Canadian Miracle," for MIT Tech Review. It's a story set in the world of my next novel, "The Lost Cause," a post-GND novel about truth and reconciliation. I've also just completed "Baby Twitter," a piece of design fiction also set in The Lost Cause's prehistory, for a British think-tank. I'm getting geared up to start work on the novel next.

Currently reading: Just started Lauren Beukes's forthcoming Afterland: it's Y the Last Man plus plus, and two chapters in, it's amazeballs. Last month, I finished Andrea Bernstein's "American Oligarchs"; it's a magnificent history of the Kushner and Trump families, showing how they cheated, stole and lied their way into power. I'm getting really into Anna Weiner's memoir about tech, "Uncanny Valley." I just loaded Matt Stoller's "Goliath" onto my underwater MP3 player and I'm listening to it as I swim laps.

Latest podcast: The Masque of the Red Death and Punch Brothers Punch https://craphound.com/podcast/2020/03/16/the-masque-of-the-red-death-and-punch-brothers-punch/

Upcoming books: "Poesy the Monster Slayer" (Jul 2020), a picture book about monsters, bedtime, gender, and kicking ass. Pre-order here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781626723627?utm_source=socialmedia&utm_medium=socialpost&utm_term=na-poesycorypreorder&utm_content=na-preorder-buynow&utm_campaign=9781626723627

(we're having a launch for it in Burbank on July 11 at Dark Delicacies and you can get me AND Poesy to sign it and Dark Del will ship it to the monster kids in your life in time for the release date).

"Attack Surface": The third Little Brother book, Oct 20, 2020. https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250757531

"Little Brother/Homeland": A reissue omnibus edition with a new introduction by Edward Snowden: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250774583

[liunaticfringe]

Lucy Liu is chuckling quietly on the other end of the phone line as she muses over the question inspired by the title of her new series, Why Women Kill.

"I don't think every woman could be pissed off enough to actually become a killer," the 51-year-old actor says, referring to the SBS series about three women living in different decades who must each decide how to deal with infidelity. "But does it make you think about the times where you've been really angry at someone – like, what it would take? Maybe."

She adds with another giggle, "Obviously I've never gone to that extent, but I've had many opportunities in my career to carry out death sentences. So I guess you could say, for good or bad, I've been able to get it out of my system somewhat!"

Lucy – who recently wrapped a seven-season stint as Dr Joan Watson to Jonny Lee Miller's Sherlock Holmes in the modern-day TV revamp Elementary (2012-19) – is talking to Sunday Life from her New York City apartment, where she's been busy trying to keep her four-year-old son Rockwell amused during the city-wide COVID-19 stay-at-home order.

"New York is usually vibrant, because it's a walking city, but now everyone is wearing masks and avoiding each other," she laments. "It's difficult because Rockwell likes to be moving around all the time. It's just impossible to have him not put things in his mouth when I turn my back!"

Why Women Kill is creator Marc Cherry's latest series to showcase a female ensemble. He started out in 1990 as a writer and producer on the The Golden Girls and its short-lived spin-off, The Golden Palace. He also co-created the female-driven sitcom, The 5 Mrs Buchanans, went on to create the Golden Globe-winning series Desperate Housewives, and followed that up with Devious Maid.

Why Women Kill is a 10-part series detailing the lives of three women living in the same California home over three eras: Beth Ann (Ginnifer Goodwin), a '60s housewife; Simone (Lucy Liu), an '80s socialite; and Taylor (Kirby Howell-Baptiste), a present-day lawyer. There's bisexuality, open marriage, adultery, a closeted spouse, an overdose, a front-yard brawl and a choking incident involving meatloaf – and that's just the first episode!

Ultimately, the show examines how the roles of women may have changed through the decades, but their reaction to betrayal remains the same.

The actor had just wrapped Elementary when Cherry called to pitch her the character. "He said he really had Simone in mind for me, then he walked me through the actual storyline," she recalls. "It definitely changed a little bit from what we talked about at the start, but during the writing we got to know each other more and I felt like he had a great way of telling a story.

"I also loved the idea of Simone living in the '80s with the hair and shoulder pads, and what the relationship to the cheating is for each character, as it has an unexpected ending."

The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, Lucy was raised in the Jackson Heights neighbourhood of Queens, in New York City, and initially planned to pursue a degree in Asian languages and culture at the University of Michigan.

But she also secretly dreamed of becoming an actor, studying old Charlie Chan movies, and finally raised the nerve to audition for a supporting role in a college production of Alice in Wonderland in her final year.

Lucy was astonished when she landed the lead role, and it was all the encouragement she needed. As soon as she graduated, she broke the news to her parents that, despite her freshly inked college degree, she was moving to LA to become an actor.

After appearing in a string of TV shows including E.R. (1995, three episodes) and Ally McBeal (1998-2002, 79 episodes), she landed film roles in Charlie's Angels (2000), Chicago (2002) and Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003).

Lucy looks back and sees her young self as more guileless than driven, hardly the Asian trailblazer breaking stereotypes in Hollywood that she's become.

"I think I was just too naive and didn't know what was ahead of me or what I was going to be up against," she admits. "I had some idea when I got to LA, because a friend of mine would have 10 auditions in a day or a week and I would have maybe two or three in a month, so I knew it was going to be much more limited for me.

"But then I got really lucky with a few jobs, which put me in rooms for auditions where I looked like no other woman in the room. I thought, ‘I don't even understand why I'm here, but I'm going to give it my all.'

"I think when you are somewhat the black sheep, you don't really have anything to lose, because they are not necessarily looking for you. So you may as well go for it!"

Some reviewers have compared Why Women Kill's catty Simone to uber-bitch Alexis Carrington (Joan Collins) in the iconic '80s soap opera Dynasty. "I didn't really watch Dynasty because I couldn't relate to it as a child of immigrant parents, and I didn't understand that kind of wealth and the claws coming out to scratch you," says Lucy.

"But as you go on in life, you start to understand a little bit more what that pop culture was. When I started doing Charlie's Angels and went back to that era to see the representation of those women at that time, I realised they weren't just all kitschy, but they were also incredibly smart and sexy."

As friendly and accessible as Lucy is, she's also full of pride when asked about her son. Has she used some of their isolation time to introduce him to her voice work as Viper in the animated Kung Fu Panda films? Definitely not, the protective mum replies. "He doesn't know what I do. All he thinks is that I'm an artist and I'm a mommy – and that's enough for now."

Rockwell was born in 2015 via gestational surrogate after Lucy made the decision to become a single parent. "Elementary was the longest job I ever had and it gave me the ability to stay in one place, because we were syndicated and we knew we were going to be making a certain number of shows," she explains.

"So that was also the impetus for me to think, ‘Maybe I can have a family of my own.' It wasn't like I was making bad decisions before that, but I had made the choice to prioritise my career. Then, one day, I just felt like it wasn't enough. I didn't want to look back in 30 years and realise I was still having the same conversations about my job every day. I wanted more."

Lucy gets emotional while talking about how motherhood has changed her. "It's almost become this cellular feeling of connecting to the universe in a way where you understand the idea of the cycle of life and the responsibility of having another being who is a part of you but outside of yourself. It's a very different feeling to doing a project where you know you will finish and move on. This is a life-long decision that changes your life and prioritises things in a very positive way."

Given how candidly she has spoken about going it alone as a parent, it's surprising how little she's volunteered about her personal life. She explains it is all by design: she has never spoken publicly about her relationships, although online stories have flagged a handful of boyfriends, including a three-year relationship with actor Will McCormack that ended in 2008, and a relationship with Israeli-American shoe tycoon Noam Gottesman in 2010.

"I've always been very private and I fly under the radar as much as possible," she says. "I do that in a very specific manner. I don't bring people I'm dating to any public event because it's a big responsibility that I'm not sure anyone wants.

"Your work is your legacy and you want to be able to do more each time, and change so you can continue to have some kind of value," says Lucy, who has also been a producer and director. "You don't want people thinking of you as just someone who dated someone and getting distracted from your work."

For now it seems Lucy Liu's legacy is doing just fine, thank you.Lucy gets emotional while talking about how motherhood has changed her. "It's almost become this cellular feeling of connecting to the universe in a way where you understand the idea of the cycle of life and the responsibility of having another being who is a part of you but outside of yourself. It's a very different feeling to doing a project where you know you will finish and move on. This is a life-long decision that changes your life and prioritises things in a very positive way."Given how candidly she has spoken about going it alone as a parent, it's surprising how little she's volunteered about her personal life. She explains it is all by design: she has never spoken publicly about her relationships, although online stories have flagged a handful of boyfriends, including a three-year relationship with actor Will McCormack that ended in 2008, and a relationship with Israeli-American shoe tycoon Noam Gottesman in 2010."I've always been very private and I fly under the radar as much as possible," she says. "I do that in a very specific manner. I don't bring people I'm dating to any public event because it's a big responsibility that I'm not sure anyone wants."Your work is your legacy and you want to be able to do more each time, and change so you can continue to have some kind of value," says Lucy, who has also been a producer and director. "You don't want people thinking of you as just someone who dated someone and getting distracted from your work."For now it seems Lucy Liu's legacy is doing just fine, thank you.

[secretradiobrooklyn]

SECRET RADIO | 9.26.20

Secret Radio | 9.26.20 |  Hear it here.

“We don’t know where you are but we’re glad you’re here”

Liner notes by Evan, except * means Paige

1. Ayalew Mesfin - “Hasabe (My Worries)”

This track comes to us via Marc Hawthorne in San Francisco and is some hot Ethiopian stomp. Marc has been turning me on to crucial music for years, but I feel like both of our palates have expanded in unexpected directions lately. I love how foreign and how relatable this song sounds at once — “hasabe” really does sound like a guy singing about his worries, which makes it feel like he’s speaking the same language. 

2. Witch - “Introduction”

Such a commandingly hip voice announcing the band and getting us all in the groove. Witch is Zambian rock in a pretty unhinged style — apparently WITCH stands for “We Intend To Create Havoc,” which if true is basically the greatest band name ever. 

3. Erkin Koray - “Cemelim”

Every time I hear this track I think of Jefferson Airplane’s foreboding sense of dark anticipation. The added frills of shifting into Turkish bent-note vocals takes it up another level. This track is from 1974 but carries the whole psychedelic ‘60s wave forward in an unbroken wave. As we mentioned, the video is worth checking out not just because the singer/guitarist is mesmerizing or because the bassist is inherently hilarious but because their outfits are legendary. Our thanks to Brian and Mona for the heads up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-k_Fr67bPQ

4. The Velvet Underground - “Coney Island Steeplechase”

“Lies and betrayals / fruit-covered nails” — naw, just kiddin, this song happens long before Pavement, or the Strokes for that matter. I never really understood what people meant when they said that the Strokes sound like VU, but listening to this song in headphones it kinda feels like the Julian Casablancas built an entire career off Lou’s vocal delivery on this song. And who could blame him? Lou wasn’t usin it anymore.

Hailu Mergia - “Sintayehu”

We got this record during the pandemic and it has been like a stress dissolver. There’s a tape that we got in Manhattan Kansas at a house show we played, a band called Casino Gardens, that I think of every time we hear this album. Not the same in particulars, but very much the same in spirit.

5. Divino Niño - “Melty Caramelo”

One of Sleepy Kitty’s first tours was with Divino Niño (thanks, Brandon!) just as they were assembling, and they have always been a band of fellows we enjoy as much as the music that they write. I did this set of dates with a broken bone in my swole-up, purple right hand, which I wouldn’t recommend to any drummers out there. I will say though that every single drummer in the bar that night told me that they had broken the same exact bone the same way. Not by drumming but by punching an inanimate object. 

6. Moodoïd - “Je suis la montagne”

I think this song is a benefit of Paige learning French for the last couple of years. Found it on a 3.5 hour French mix on Spotify.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCuthCn8zxs

7. Sleepy Kitty - “Dreaming of Waterfalls” demo *

There are like, 7 people who have heard this song until now. This song came pretty mysteriously to me after a completely transformative trip to Kauaʻi for the wedding of ace folks and dear friends Stewart and Trenton. People who have gone to Hawaiʻi have always told me how amazing Hawaiʻi is and how it’ll change your life and it’s the best place in the entire world, and I was always like, “ok, sure whatever” until we went and now I am forever changed. I won’t get too into it here, but it’s all totally true and as amazing as they say. I can’t remember if this song was literally in the dream I had in San Diego the night we returned to the contiguous 48, or if it somehow emerged out of thinking of that dream, but it basically just appeared and I thought about it and thought about it and kept it in my head the whole plane ride back to St. Louis and recorded it pretty much immediately when we got back. I played 2 songs at our friends’ wedding on uke (where I was relieved to get approval from the Hawaiian family, ha ha) and it’s still a very unfamiliar instrument to me but it was the only answer for this song.

This is also one of a few recordings I made shortly before the first of 2 vocal surgeries around that time. It was kind of a stressful time musically; I was still figuring out what was going on, knowing something was wrong, getting hoarse all the time but not knowing what was going on yet.  Learning the songs for the wedding, and this song and this recording are positive memories in what was a very uncertain period in Sleepy Kitty life. I can definitely remember the challenges and limitations of that time, but it’s great to have this beautiful little moment that came out of that time too. When I hear this now, I like it and I’m glad to have it. It transports me back to that magical place and I’m thankful to Stewart and Trenton for having us there to celebrate with them.

8. The Fall - “Arms Control Poseur” (Bonus Version) (whatever that means)

“What do you fear?”

“Being found out.”

“The why do you always give yourself away?”

After initially being repulsed by The Fall, I eventually had what felt like essentially a religious experience after falling asleep listening to them on repeat in the tour bus — somehow their perverse aesthetic had become grafted into my DNA. I became an avid proselytizer for the band, with few takers, for years. Eventually I kind of gave up, baffled both by how intensely I felt their music and how immune everyone else apparently was to it. 

Cut to years later in an apartment on North Ave in Chicago, watching Paige bike up the street towards the window where I stood. She apologized as she walked her bike up the stairs. Sorry I’m late, she said, I just got caught up in the Fall. I don’t know how to explain it. You don’t understand, The Fall is not like other bands.

I literally thought that she was teasing me, and that I must have talked her ear off about the band at some point. But NO — she’d had the exact sort of conversion experience as me. In her case it was to “Extricate,” which was one of my very favorite albums, being the second one I personally owned. 

Still, this record’s aesthetic is completely dominant in my life. I couldn’t even guess how many times I’ve listened to it, and it still fascinates me every time.

“I quite very very much enjoyed 

his jovial lies

lying”

9. T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - “Wodeka Kpoe”

The day I found this track I was completely distracted by it. It’s so muscular and lean and intense. I love everything about the almost metallic drum sound, the dry vocals, the guitar telling its own narrative, the sharp little shaker going the whole time. It’s the closest thing to punk in Beninese music that I’ve heard. I read recently that this was on a 1983 Albarika Records comp LP (the person referred to the as “legendary,” but I don’t know to whom, or when), and when I looked it up a lot of other tracks that we love from the Soundway comp were there. But as far as I know, it’s not on any of those 21st century collections. So good!

10. Orchestre Abass - “Haka Dunia”

The cover of this 6-song burner shows a guy with a guitar behind a keyboard called TIGER 61, with his foot up on… what? the keys bench? There’s a single pedal on the floor that leads up into the keyboard. The sounds that come from that board though! This is a tone I think of as completely desirable. I guess this is also punk, this one from Togo. I mean, I have no idea what he/they think they’re doing, but to me it feels like it has all the stuff that I love in punk music.

Hailu Mergia

11. T.P. Orchestre de Cotonou Benin - “Moulon Devia”

I just realized this track can be found elsewhere, but I found it on a record credited to T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou Benin, with a great photo of Yehouessi Leopold and Zoundegnon Papillon Bernard on the cover looking like the coolest dudes in the world cos they are. There are some great stereo panning effects, no doubt done live, on the horns at the beginning and the keys solo in the middle, which really enriches the headphone experience. This keys solo uses a suite of sounds that I absolutely love from them — and which are apparently the work of Papillon himself! I knew he was the guitarist who builds sand castles in the air of T.P. songs, but I only just realized that he’s also the guy throwing down those supper trippy Farfisa sounds! Holy smokes, that’s just ridiculous. He and Yehouessi are probably my favorite rhythm combo ever. PLUS they’ve got Bentho Gustave on bass, whose T.P. album was the first one we bought abroad. I mean, this track is so epic.

12. Patrick Juvet - “Où sont les femmes”*

I have a new awesome French teacher, who sends me cabaret songs to check out and says things like “I’m an old queen! What am I to do!” He played this song over Zoom for some live hold music while I was printing something for a recent lesson. I’m excited to hopefully hear more French music from him and also to hear more of his stories of discotheques in the 80s.

Evan adds: The video is well worth your attention as well, especially if you like red sequins glinting disco diamonds beneath deeply feathered hair. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zqc7mVZQNFo

13. Le Tigre - “Deceptacon”

This is one of the all-time top art school party songs as far as I know. And why the hell not? It’s pure Olympia, and all the hooks line up all the way down.

I video that someone made for school has essentially become the official video of the song because it’s totally awesome and fits like a pure expression of the song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SyBR-M2YvU

14. Themne Song Track 1  

I don’t know who performed this track or what it’s called — it’s just identified as “Themne Song Track 1,” Themne being the name of a tribe in Sierra Leone. I think it might be a “comedian story teller” called Miranda T Denkenneh, but can’t tell.

I’ve been into Janka Nabay and the Bubu Gang for a couple of years now. Nabay is a Sierra Leonan musician who came to NYC and put together a band of hip NY musicians who make this rhythmically complex yet somehow austere dance music that I find totally fascinating. Reading up on them, he was described as translating the music he came from into a more electric style. Well, it turns out that is indeed the case, based on this track from Sierra Leone. This sounds like Janka Nabay but warm and large where his music is focused and tight. I totally see both how damn danceable this Themne 

One of my favorite things about discovering this song is: the notes on the YouTube track are exclusively from ex-pats loving music from home and the old days, calling out their tribe and checking in from wherever they are. One guy, Ibrahim Noah Koroma, writes from Senegal:

tears fall down in my eyes when I listing dis song missing u SL 🇸🇱🇸🇱💪💪💪 I'm proud of my tribe temne 💯💪💪💪

15. The Sugarcubes - “Regina”

The setup of this song is such an angular, proggy spiky comic thing, definitely cool in its own way, but man, when it hits the chorus, it’s absolutely the most gorgeous thing. The lyrics are truly bizarre, and they’re making me appreciate how this band impacted Bjork’s later work. One thing I don’t understand: does she pronounce “Regina” with a hard G because that’s how that word is pronounced in Icelandic? Or is that just something she does?

16. Gétatchèw Mèkurya - “Ambassèl”

The more we learn about Ethiopian jazz and popular music before and after their political strife, the more there is to learn. In fact, one thing I learned about Mèkurya is that he played with Dutch socialist punks The Ex, a band I have admired for a couple of decades now, though mostly because I’m stuck on their album “Scrabbling at the Lock.” They apparently toured together in the aughties… and all of a sudden I can hear how their very different sounds actually relate very aptly. Man. That’s enough to fall in love with music all over again.

Also, one fact that must be acknowledged: Gétatchèw is maybe the best first name ever.

17. Jacques Dutronc - “Et moi, et moi, et moi”

I just dropped these lyrics into Google translate and it turns out he’s got a very identifiable brand of humor — wry, confident, diffident. He always makes me think of Dylan with his delivery.

18. Meas Samon - “Jol Dondeung Kone Key (Going to Get Engaged)”

So much feel! Those key dives just to open the song, man, I don’t even know. And the vocals are spilling over with character — it’s like watching a movie unfold. This is Cambodian, from the late sixties or early seventies. Every time it gets to the keys solos I think about how much I want Dave Grelle to hear this track, like, right now. It’s between this and Abass for sickest keys distortion to be found.

19. T.P. Orchestre - “Senamin” *

What is up with this song? We came across it and kind of set it aside, and then it was just in my head all. the. time. At first I wasn’t sure about the 1996 movie version “I’d Be Surprisingly Good For You” style sax (my LEAST favorite song in Evita) But, even so this song is so...majestic! And mysterious! The haunting melodies dancing around together at the end really got me.  

20. Hallelujah Chicken Run Band - “Alikilula”

The constant interaction of 3s and 4s in Chicken Run songs never fails to delight me. The shapes of the songs are almost like Guided By Voices tracks — one good idea perfectly expressed, and then they’re outta there. 

21. Antoine Dougbé - “Nou Akuenon Hwlin Me Sin Koussio”

If I could pick one album for all of my friends to spin a few times in a row… that would not be easy. But lately, that record would be “Legends of Benin,” the totally headspinning comp put out by Analog Africa. Every track is a deep insight into what rock music can be. In the liner notes, Samy Ben Redjeb takes the listener on a whole record-buying expedition through the southern coast of west Africa, describing where he picked up particular LPs, falling into conversations with some of the musicians, and generally providing insights both romantic and invaluable. (His notes on Dougbé are worth the price of admission.) In one note he mentions talking to a friend about how Africa doesn’t seem to deal well in reggae, and he considers “Nou Akuenon” one of the best attempts on the continent. It hadn’t occurred to me to think of this as reggae… and I still don’t hear it that way. But I like thinking of the band reaching for reggae and making this instead. 

22. Francoise Hardy - “Les temps de l’amour”

23. Ros Sereysothea - Chnam oun Dop-Pram Muy “I’m 16”

I love how fully developed these Cambodian songs are. They’re not aping a particular song or building replicas of songs in English or French: they’re working in pop music just like anyone else. The arrangements are so tight and well structured, and everybody is adding in more than their share on their instruments. Though Ros’s voice steals the show, the backing vocals on this song are especially good as well.

24. Aerovons - “Say Georgia”

Man, one of the pleasures of living in St. Louis was learning the story of The Aerovons, a group of high school kids who got flown across the Atlantic to record at Abbey Road with all of the same gear and technicians who were busy putting together records for The Beatles… only to have the album go unreleased for decades. It’s truly a reminder to appreciate the experience itself and not just the results. These guys experienced the absolute pinnacle of the studio recording dream — there is none higher — but that’s it. None of the fame or the attendant glory, just the knowledge of what they’d been able to do together.

“Texas Thunder Soul 1968-1974”

25. Ravi Shankar - Jazzmine - “Mishrank (Finale)”

The whole “Jazzmine” album is a mindblower, and it’s almost a shame to cut right to the finale of an album that builds its case song by song, illustrating the paths that Shankar’s raga and jazz take toward each other, from “Melodic Moods” to the amazing tabla solos of “Taalank” to “Deshank (Folk Patterns)” to crest with “Mishrank,” where Zep meets jazz club meets Somalian backroom in an Indian realm. Every solo brings a ton of new information about whose voices are adding to this total experience. And more than anything, it sounds like fun.

One thing I dig about this recording is that, as far as I can tell, more than one performance of this song is spliced together into this single track. That seems like a big no-no among jazz folks, but I really don’t mind it one bit — if anything, that helps me hear the song relative to more jarring experimental tape manipulation bands. 

[gourdeous-vladdy3790]

RP Idea!!!

I've been in the mood recently for Role-Play writing... However, I wanted to take a twist of sorts on the RP adventure. With the aid and advice from @art-and-the-hockeys I'm gonna just see who all I can get based around a plot I already generated and the characters and their personalities involved who will be in this RP:

Short Summary: 37 players join a Group Chat app game called Circumstances. Little do they know that a few of them has teamed up for mal-intentions.

Extended Summary: There’s a new app game out for iPhone and Android users. Similar to Fortnite, a bunch of NHL players find it and begin playing around. When trouble in the Atlantic Division ignites, Division leaders host meetings to discuss the boundaries and rules. But there are a few players defiant and with malicious intentions. When the targeted player goes missing, the rest turn to the game to find clues and figure out where the player is before there are more victims.

Characters: Eastern Atlantic Boston Bruins: Patrice Bergeron — leaderly and fatherly Buffalo Sabres: Jimmy Vesey — kinda arrogant and sassy not quite evil yet Detroit Red Wings: Dylan Larkin — arrogant at times, not afraid to speak his mind Florida Panthers: Vincent Trocheck — pompous and arrogant in a dick way, hates being told what to do Montreal Canadiens: Jesperi Kotkaniemi — giggly baby just wanting to have fun Ottawa Senators: Vladdy Namestnikov — all about his appearance and flirts with everyone Tampa Bay Lightning: Yanni Gourde — protective white tiger with the common catchphrase “butterflies” (because of his ADD) Toronto Maple Leafs: William Nylander — must not damage just prettiness and no one looks at HIS Kasperi! Other 1: Kasperi Kapanen — loves Nyla and would do anything to protect him Other 2: Brayden Point — leaderly, team-oriented, people look up to him all the time

Metro Carolina Hurricanes: Janne Kuokkanen — wants to impress the hell out of everyone, sucks up to leaders in a good way tho Columbus Blue Jackets: Alexandre Texier — baby who just enjoys playing, a bit clumsy New Jersey Devils: Jack Hughes — baby who loves life and is always smiling New York Islanders: Mathew Barzal — thinks he’s hot af and tries to persuade everyone he can New York Rangers: Lias Andersson — prankster, underrated, looks pretty but isn’t afraid to get dirty and punch anyone giving him a look he doesn’t approve of Philadelphia Flyers: Claude Giroux — sly, sneaky villain player, thrives off his cunning ways Pittsburgh Penguins: Evgeny Malkin — hates anyone not Russian and will give traitors hell to pay Washington Capitals: Tom Wilson — very physical and mean, loves to bully others cause it’s fun to see them squirm Other 3: Brett Howden — loves himself and carries around a mirror just to see himself, hates blood and is jumpy but man if you mess his hair up you’re gonna get hell on Earth!!

Western Central Chicago Blackhawks: Alex DeBrincat — small feisty sweetheart Colorado Avalanche: Nikita Zadorov — prankster like Lias only he’s a pest! Dallas Stars: Roope Hintz — cowboy who loves his flow (yeehaw) Minnesota Wild: Mats Zuccarello — analytical, goofy Nashville Predators: Rocco Grimaldi -- constantly annoyed St Louis Blues: Colton Parayko -- joking Babysitter type, similar to Burkie Winnipeg Jets: Neal Pionk -- manchild, depending on his mood and the circumstance, he’ll either act like a kid speaking in third person or he’ll be more of an older brother

Pacific Anaheim Ducks: Trevor Zegras -- kid, most of the time goofy, he flirts around the league but he’s a kid at heart Arizona Coyotes: Clayton Keller -- kid, who is easy to cry Calgary Flames: Matthew Tkachuk -- annoyed at the world, dark humor Edmonton Oilers: Connor McDavid -- leaderly Los Angeles Kings: Tobias Bjornfot -- child, easily to cry if others cry, often questions things San Jose Sharks: Timo Meier -- protective white tiger, who doesn’t play around and defends the “kids” all the time Vancouver Canucks: Elias Pettersson -- child, who is often the subject of Tkachuk’s dark humor/jokes and “dislike” Vegas Golden Knights: Marc-Andre Fleury -- a shy prankster

AHL Syracuse and Orlando: Syracuse Crunch: Jimmy Huntington -- flirtatious sweetheart who will battle back if provoked but he’s a little ignorant toward danger Orlando Solar Bear: Colby McAuley -- easily spooked but thinks he’s tougher than he is, isn’t afraid to fight back with his sharp tongue Other 4: Boris Katchouk -- ignorant towards sarcasm and dry humor, kinda clumsy but man don’t mess with him or his friends

Comment (or reblog) if interested!! And also select a player (you may RP up to 3)!

[thegrimllama]

plot twist

I’m a miserable twerp at the moment, but I managed to wrangle this into being over the last few days.  The song that sparked the idea is Plot Twist by Marc E. Bassy.  

It wasn’t often that Chloe got home late from the clinic.  She usually had a set 9-5, but today had been a field call to the zoo for their three-monthly checkups.  It had been a long day.  A seven am start and now she was walking through the door at half past six, with aching arches and a wombat bite to the left boob.

She could hear Beca singing loudly in the kitchen.as she unlocked the front door and let herself in.  

I always thought it would only be one kiss

One became a hundred

Oh, all of a sudden, I'm saying, "I love you"

Quietly, so as not to startle her housemate, she slid her tote onto the floor and made her way into the kitchen, following the scent of italian herbs and fresh bread.  She watched Beca moving around the kitchen, dropping low and swinging her hips as she stirred the simmering pasta sauce, her headphones, hung low around her neck.  

Chloe had always thought Beca was attractive.  That was not news.  Hell, she’d fully considered asking Tom to excuse them, that first day in the Barden showers.  Now, she was thankful that she’d gone with her gut and just let their friendship grow at it’s own pace.  She smiled into her hand, stifling the giggle that threatened to expose her spying as Beca dropped to the the floor and swung her ass out into a spin.  

Beca’s eyes caught Chloe’s and widened, the spoon in her hand flying onto the bench with a shriek.  

 “What the fuck, Chlo?”

She watched Beca fumbling to pause the song on her phone, “That was the hottest slut drop I’ve seen since Emily had too many tequila shots at Aubrey’s birthday party.  I especially loved the little…”

 “Okay!”

Chloe took a seat on the counter, completely ignoring the barstools and Beca’s pointed glance.  “New song?  It’s catchy.”

Beca stuttered slightly, turning back to the pasta sauce on the stove, “Just… New artist at work.  We’re working on lyrics to help it flow a little better.  We have a chorus and maybe a verse. I dunno.”

Chloe smirked and tugged Beca back by the belt loop.  “Sing it for me?”

Beca rolled her eyes, “Why are you like this?  I’m cooking you dinner like a good housemate and…” Chloe locked her ankles around Beca’s waist, fixing her with a raised eyebrow.  “Beca fuckin Mitchell.”

 “Ugh!”

The poppy melodic had Chloe bopping along as Beca laced their fingers together, crooning through the chorus of the song.  

Chloe felt the familiar tug of in her chest, that usually made itself known around Beca, or when she heard a song that really just resonated.  She watched Beca get into the verse, freeing herself from the trappings of Chloe’s legs.  

Since you came into my world

I had to leave that in the past tense

 “Oh! I love that…”

Beca smirked, “You love everything I write.”  

Chloe fought down the blush fighting its way into her cheeks.  “You’re talented.  If only you could cook too…”

Beca gasped and shoved the spoon at Chloe’s mouth, “Bitch what’s this?”

Chloe held eye contact, slipping the spoon between her lips, “I’ve had better.”

 “Get out of my kitchen.”  

***

All my life I've been a player, player, player

But I don't wanna play no more

Beca was blaming this project.  This damn song.  The damn lyrics springing to mind, reminding her of Chloe.  The artist’s ideas for the direction of the song foring a lovely little fantasy in Beca’s mind, twisting her relationship with her housemate until she was powering out lyric after lyric, all about Chloe.  

She tossed and turned, watching the clock on her nightstand move from ten, to eleven, to midnight, her brain filled with images and words and rhymes.

One am and Beca picked up her phone, opening the Bella group chat.  

Bmitch: @Junkem how the fuck do you sleep when you have a hook in your head…

Junkem:  *smirk emoji*

Bmitch:  *High five*

She clicked on the call coming through from Emily’s private chat.

 “‘Sup lil Junk?”

 “I don’t.  That’s my answer.  Who’s the subject? Or is it just a song?”

Beca stretched out groaning as her back popped, one, two, three times.  “Well, here’s the thing…  It started as just a song.”

 “Oh!”

She could hear the smirk in Emily’s voice, “Yeah.  So the artist pitch for the song was a journey from nothing to something.  So far it’s gorgeous, but like…  I just keep thinking about…”

 “Who!?”

Beca rolled her eyes at the shrill whisper, “Jesus Emily, it is one am.”

 “Yes, and I’m in a steady relationship with my music so can you please just let me live vicariously through you?”

 “Fine.  Let me sing you what we’ve got so far.”

Two verses and a chorus later, Emily was cooing into the phone, practically squealing about how cute it was.  

 “Please tell me it’s Chloe…”

Beca froze.  “What?”

 “Listen, Beca… I’ve been waiting for you idiots to sort your shit out since Chloe broke up with Boston…”

 “Chicago,” Beca chuckled.

 “Whatever.”

Beca groaned.  “I swear to God, she’s just in here all the damn time.  This song just… It’s making me wonder what would happen if I just….”

 “Ask her out?”

 “Maybe.  But… I’m going to get this song finished and maybe these thoughts will just… fade with it.”

 “Maybe they will.  But what if they don’t?”

Beca was honestly not sure she was ready to find out.

***

The first thing Chloe noticed when she woke the next morning, was Beca and Emily’s interaction in group chat.  The second thing, was the sound of the blender buzzing lightly through the thin wall.  Beca clearly hadn’t slept.  

She rolled out of bed, flipping her hair up into a messy bun as she trudged into the kitchen.  

 “Hey sleepyhead!”  

Yep, Beca hadn’t slept at all.

Chloe leaned on her housemate’s shoulder, “It’s so early.”

 “I have an 8am start at the studio this morning,” Beca said, reaching up to scratch the nape of her friends neck.  

Chloe groaned contentedly, nuzzling her face into Beca’s neck.  “Did you get any sleep last night?”

 “I’m fine Chlo.  Nothing a few cups of coffee won’t fix.”

 “My boob still hurts.”

Beca laughed, “I don’t even know what a fucking wombat is, but it’s still hilarious.”  

 “I hope your smoothie tastes like kale water.”

 “Well, it’s your smoothie, and I have to go,” Beca said.  She spun around, catching Chloe completely off guard with a quick kiss on the mouth.  It was chaste, the kind of kiss that usually landed on a cheek, or a forehead, but still a kiss.  And it still ripped through Chloe, turning her stomach with a flurry of butterflies that really felt like they were probably the size of Hercules Moths.  The front door to the apartment had clicked shut, silencing Beca’s melodic humming before Chloe had completely registered what had just happened.  A tidal wave of Holy shit and oh my god’s looping through her brain. What the fuck was that?

***

Beca was still humming to herself as she entered the turnstiles to the subway.  She’d typed out what she hoped was probably the last verse of the song as she was standing on the platform, and spent the fifteen minute trip playing with the lyrics on her phone.  Unfortunately for Beca, not having her mind occupied by words and melodies meant her brain went straight back home.  Straight to Chloe.  

Chloe.  

Who Beca had kissed.  

She stopped dead in her tracks, lurching forwards as impatient commuters collided with her back.  She started walking, quickly trying to exit the noisy platform so she could gather her thoughts.  What the fuck had she been thinking?

Clearly, she hadn’t.  

She flipped her sunglasses down, muting the glare filtering through the doorway and opened her contacts.

 “Emily, I need help.”

 “Beca?  It’s like 7:30? Have you even tried to sleep yet?”

 “I have an early session at the studio.  Look, I know you’re sleeping but I’ve… fucked up.”

She crossed the pavement, well away that the suits around her were ignoring most of her conversation, “Like, really.”

 “What’d you do?  Kiss Chloe?”

Beca froze again, this time nearly being thrown to the pavement in her stupor.  “How did you….?”  Beca paused, waiting for the laughter to subside.  “You done, Junk?”  Another snort from Emily, followed by an apology, “I don’t know why, but it just happened.”

 “And why did you call me and not Chloe?”

 “I don’t know dude.  Probably because I’m freaking the fuck out that I’ve ruined the best damn relat… friendship I’ve ever had.”

 “Relax.  Go to work. Text Chloe.”

Beca stared at the phone, slightly miffed that Emily had hung up on her.  “Rude.”  

She felt the phone vibrate in her hand.  

New Message from Chloe <3

Plot Twist?

Damn.  How could one message give Beca the link to the entire damn song that had kept her up all night.  

Becs:  I love you

Becs:  Don’t be weird, but you literally just finished the song for me.

Chloe <3:  See you tonight?  

Chloe <3:  Amy’s at *not*bumper’s.

Chloe <3:  Bring wine.

Becs:  Yes, dear.

Chloe <3:  I like the sound of that...

Beca wasn’t going to hyperventilate.  

Except… She probably was.

[frontproofmedia]

Eddie Hearn Previews Canelo-Yildirim and Estrada-Chocolatito Cards

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Published: February 12, 2021

Eddie Hearn is expecting fireworks in Miami and Dallas as Canelo Alvarez defends his World Super-Middleweight titles against Avni Yildirim at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on February 27 and Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez clash in a unification rematch at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on March 13, both live worldwide on DAZN (except Mexico for Canelo-Yildirim). TICKETS FOR CANELO VS. YILDIRIM ARE ON SALE NOW FROM TICKETMASTER – TICKETS START AT $55 (PLUS FEES) – FANS CAN VISIT HARDROCKSTADIUM.COM FOR MORE DETAILS TICKETS FOR ESTRADA VS. CHOCOLATITO ARE ON SALE NOW FROM TICKETMASTER – TICKETS START AT $35 (PLUS FEES) Canelo (54-1-2 36 KOs) makes a rapid return to the ring at the home of the Miami Dolphins, taking on his WBC mandatory challenger Yildirim (21-2 12 KOs), with the WBC, WBA Super and Ring Magazine titles on the line. The Mexican pound-for-pound king defeated former undefeated 168lber Callum Smith in clinical fashion in San Antonio, Texas in December and the 30 year old looks to stamp his authority on the division, with Hearn looking at pitting Canelo against WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders next should Canelo win. “It’s great to see Canelo so active, especially in the world we live in at the moment, I think it’s a real statement from him,” said Hearn . “He’s mixing it up by fighting in Miami at the Hard Rock Stadium, to be promoting Canelo at the home of the Miami Dolphins is pretty special. We’re going to have around 15,000 in there, Avni is the mandatory challenger and it’s a great opportunity for him and a big opportunity for Canelo to stay active hopefully before a big Billy Joe Saunders fight and on a huge night on February 27.” Chief support on the night comes in the form of Canelo’s stablemate Julio Cesar Martinez defending his WBA World Flyweight title against his mandatory challenger, McWilliams Arroyo . Martinez (17-1 13 KOs) has been frustrated by injury ruling him out of two previously scheduled defenses, so Hearn expects the pintsized tyro to be at his thrilling best in a classic Mexican-Puerto Rican war with Arroyo (20-4 15 KOs). “Julio Cesar Martinez is special,” said Hearn . “I think he can go through everyone in the division and even move up to Super-Flyweight and start looking at Estrada and Chocolatito, he’s so exciting and I can’t wait to see him in February 27. “He will fight anyone, and Eddy Reynoso is confident in his ability. He was supposed to fight on the Canelo card in December so he should be hungry. Arroyo was a fantastic amateur with good pedigree and he’s a smart fighter, but I think that the footwork, strength and unpredictability of Julio will see him victorious.” Elsewhere on the bill…. Zhilei Zhang (22-0 17 KOs) faces Jerry Forrest (26-4 20 KOs) over ten rounds: “I’m really excited about Zhilei Zhang, he punches very hard and he’s something different for the division. Forrest is a good Heavyweight and I expect a stunning KO and hopefully it’s from our man Zhang. I think he is getting to the point now where Zhilei needs to fight some of the guys in the top 15 like Derek Chisora, Joseph Parker, Filip Hrgovic and so on.” Marc Castro (1-0 1 KO) faces Raul Corona (4-2-3 1 KO) over four rounds: “Marc was waiting for so long for that debut that he was a little over-excited in the first round, but when he settled down his shots were fantastic, and I loved the aggression from him. The kid is a star and it’s a big opportunity to have his second fight on a second Canelo card. Diego Pacheco (10-0 8 KOs) faces Rodolfo Gomez Jr (14-4-1 10 KOs) over eight rounds: “Diego is still so young that you want to hold him back, but we have to progress him forward and we have done so on this card. It’s a big step up and he’s getting a great wave of support growing, Diego is a big star. Sparring is so important for young fighters and Diego is getting great sparring with the likes of Canelo and David Benavidez; Diego has been out for a while, but I expect a big performance. Alexis Espino (6-0 4 KOs) faces Ashton Sykes (5-3 1 KO) over six rounds: “Alexis has had a nightmare with injury and then COVID, it was a frustrating 2020 but he’s out of that now and onto a busy 2021. He’s a good puncher, exciting and someone that in one or two more fights he’ll be ready to step up.” Keyshawn Davis makes his pro debut against Lester Brown (4-2-3 1 KO) over four rounds: “When we announced Keyshawn was on the bill, I got 20 or so messages from amateurs and pros saying ‘this kid is the real deal’. It’s the biggest platform in boxing and Keyshawn is ready to go. Aaron Aponte (1-0 1 KO) faces Harry Gigliotti (6-1 3 KOs) over four rounds: “It’s always great to have local talent on bills. Aaron has sold lots of tickets, I met him at our GGG show in December. Good amateur, tall, good looking, and with these guys you don’t know how they are going to progress, so you give them the platform and wait and see.” The next action for Matchroom in the USA comes two weeks later and it doesn’t get much bigger than the mouth-watering rematch between Estrada (41-3 28 KOs) and Chocolatito (50-2 41 KOs). The pair first clashed in November 2012 in Los Angeles, with Chocolatito successfully defending his WBA Light-Flyweight title via unanimous decision, and now over eight years later, they will meet again for the WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine World Super-Flyweight titles in a fight that has Hearn salivating. “This is a great card, probably one of the best we’ve ever done,” said Hearn . “Everyone in boxing knows Estrada-Chocolatito is one of the fights of the year before the bell has rung - two legends, pound-for-pound greats, in a unification fight - this is everything that’s great about boxing. Juan Francisco wants to avenge his defeat and unify the division, but Chocolatito, who sprung back to life against Kal Yafai, has other ideas. The winner will fight Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, providing the Thai star is victorious on home turf the same weekend.” Chief support action is provided by a rematch for the undisputed Welterweight World championship – repeat or revenge as Jessica McCaskill defends the belts against Cecilia Brækhus . McCaskill (9-2 3 KOs) ripped the titles from Brækhus (36-1 9 KOs) on the streets of downtown Tulsa in August, with the Chicagoan becoming a two-weight World champion in just her 11 th pro fight and handing the Norwegian star her first career defeat. “Jessica doesn’t get the credit she deserves,” said Hearn . “She took on Katie Taylor when she was vastly inexperienced and gave her one of her toughest fights. Came back to win the World title in Chicago and she’s never turned down a challenge, she unified the division and beat Cecilia to become undisputed at 147lbs. Jessica is a star, but Cecilia looks like she’s got the bit between her teeth and this is her last chance.” There’s a Matchroom debut on the card for Hiroto Kyoguchi as he defends his WBA and Ring Magazine World Light-Flyweight titles against Axel Vega . Kyoguchi (14-0 9 KOs) defends the titles for the third time against Vega (14-3-1 8 KOs), and Hearn is looking forward to introducing the 27 year old to a global audience. “Kyoguchi is a top pound-for-pound boxer, the number one in the Light Flyweight division and such a good fighter,” said Hearn . “Vera is an all-action guy and Kyoguchi is a class act so this will be a great fight – we would love to do something in Japan with him, but the plan is to unify the division and probably move up to Flyweight and you are going to enjoy watching him fight on an amazing card.”

[theliberaltony]

via Politics – FiveThirtyEight

Welcome to FiveThirtyEight’s weekly politics chat. The transcript below has been lightly edited.

micah (Micah Cohen, politics editor): Greetings, friends. It’s a snow-day politics chat! This week, we’re pilfering a great idea from RealClearPolitics elections analyst Sean Trende (dear readers, if you don’t read Trende, you should).

Imagine you're placing a large bet on the outcome of the House, but you can know who will win any one House race beforehand (but not the margin). Which do you pick?I might say TX-32. @Redistrict @nathanlgonzales @NateSilver538 @Nate_Cohn @geoffreyvs @kkondik @databyler @DavidNir

— Sean T at RCP (@SeanTrende) February 28, 2018

So that’s the basic idea. We’ll each offer a district one by one and then discuss why we think it’s likely to capture the national mood in 2018.

I drew names out of a hat. Clare, you’re first.

clare.malone (Clare Malone, senior political writer): I choose California’s 45th Congressional District.

It’s held by Republican Mimi Walters, but Hillary Clinton won it by 5 percentage points in 2016. It’s in the general Los Angeles area, and it has the suburban voter types who I think are the sort that we’ve seen be more persuadable to the Democratic side in the special elections we’ve had since President Trump’s election. I’m interested in that particular group of voters this year and think the California 45th would give me a decent handle on them if it were the only race I were allowed to know the result of.

The midterms could be a fascinating time to see if it’s a trend — college-educated voters moving more to the left on the political spectrum and finding a more permanent home with Democrats, especially after a tumultuous couple years of President Trump.

micah: To be clear, these suburban voters moved toward Democrats in 2016, and seem to have stayed there in the special elections, but haven’t moved more toward Democrats since 2016.

I think?

nrakich (Nathaniel Rakich, FiveThirtyEight contributor): Well, in Pennsylvania 18, Conor Lamb outperformed Clinton in suburban Allegheny County — the most suburban part of that district — by 19 points. Of course, he outperformed Clinton everywhere, but it shows that Democrats can do better among suburban voters than Clinton did.

micah: And yeah, college-educated voters could be pivotal in 2018 …

nrakich: Yeah, they are going to turn out.

I agree with Clare that California 45 is an ideal test case for them.

perry (Perry Bacon Jr., senior writer): So Walters won by 17 percentage points in 2016, though. It would take a big swing for Democrats to win it.

clare.malone: The Democratic candidates who are opposing Walters, or running in the primary, will get a fair amount of attention. You’ve got Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris endorsing Katie Porter. I think especially because it’s in California, a Democratic stronghold, you’re going to see a big turnout effort and a lot of organizing as the year goes on. (The primary hasn’t happened yet, by the by, and there are other candidates.)

I think that gap will narrow, Perry, is my general point.

nrakich: And Republicans are in danger of getting shut out of the general election in both the gubernatorial and Senate races in California, thanks to the top-two primary system. California could have two Democrats facing off in the general election in statewide races.

Without a Republican at the top of the ticket to drive GOP turnout, House Republicans like Walters could be in real trouble.

micah: Yeah, the GOP seems to have overperformed there in 2016? California 45 has a FiveThirtyEight partisan lean of just 1 or 2 percentage points in the GOP’s favor. (I’ll add a chart showing where California 45 and every other district sits according to our partisan lean metric once everyone unveils their pick.)

clare.malone: I guess this is also a good time to point out a piece from our dearly departed Harry. He wrote about how Democrats focusing on Republican-held seats in a few very blue states could swing the House for them. It’s another reason I’m more confident about this being a close one.

nrakich: Well, Walters seems like a strong incumbent. But I think it’s also going to be valuable to know how strong incumbents do in 2018. Will they get swept away in a broadly anti-Republican wave, or will voters still consider the merits of individual candidates?

That’s why I think California 45 is a better pick than California 49, for instance.

perry: Where Darrell Issa is retiring.

clare.malone: Yeah. I skipped a lot of races in the toss-up categories in Cook Political Report’s ratings because I thought the incumbents were too well-known. I kinda want an under-the-radar candidate to tell me something.

Not like, Dave Brat or Karen Handel.

micah: OK … Nathaniel, you go next.

So far, Clare is winning!

nrakich: In the proud FiveThirtyEight Slack chat tradition, I am going to cheat and pick two districts!

micah: You see what kind of example you set, Clare and Perry?

clare.malone: Micah, I am a consummate rule follower.

micah:

nrakich: Partly because I don’t want to repeat the points that Clare and Perry have/will make, but also partly because I am interested in this question of whether 2012 or 2016 is the correct baseline for the nation’s default political makeup/geography going forward.

The two districts are the 2nd in Maine, home of Republican Bruce Poliquin, and the Illinois 6th, home of Republican Peter Roskam.

Maine’s 2nd District is the epitome of a white, working-class district that shifted from then-President Barack Obama (who won it by 9 points in 2012) to Trump (who won it by 10 points).

According to census figures, it’s less well-off and has lower levels of education than the nation overall, with a median household income of $46,638 and only 23 percent of residents with bachelor’s degrees.

Going by election results from 2012, when Democrats did not quite as terribly with voters with less education, this should be an easy Democratic pickup. Going by results from 2016, when Democrats did much worse among voters with less education, it’s a reach.

So knowing who wins it in 2018 would tell us pretty clearly whether Democrats can compete in white, working-class areas again.

Illinois 6 (northwest of Chicago) is sort of the opposite principle: It is very well educated (52 percent bachelor’s degrees) and wealthy ($97,387) and went from supporting Mitt Romney (+8) to Clinton (+7).

If we know Democrats are winning there, maybe the suburbs are the true path forward for them.

micah: Are we getting competitive races in both, you think?

nrakich: Well, that’s the question!

Right now, yes, both are rated as competitive by outlets like Inside Elections/Cook Political Report.

micah: Lemme rephrase: Are we getting contested races in both?

nrakich: Yes. In Illinois 6, scientist Sean Casten will be the Democratic nominee. And in Maine 2, Democrats have two interesting candidates in conservationist Lucas St. Clair and former Susan Collins staffer Jared Golden.

clare.malone: By the way, Nathaniel, you’re not the only one who thinks Maine 2 is interesting! I went up there in September 2016 and did a story about its shift.

nrakich: I loved that story, Clare! Maine 2 is beautiful and interesting, and I love visiting there whenever I can.

clare.malone: And you’re right: The Obama-Trump voter is the big question mark, not just for the midterms, but also for two years from now for any Democratic candidate.

nrakich: One more thought: If Democrats win BOTH of my races, then “whoa, Nelly.” Wave time.

And if Republicans win both, it’s clearly been a disappointing night for Democrats.

micah: So I guess because Trump is so unpopular, I would sorta expect the GOP’s gains among white, working-class voters to revert to the mean a bit in 2018 and for Democrats to still overperform among college-educated suburban types.

nrakich: I agree that it will be a mix of both.

micah: That might not get Democrats both districts, but it’s not like they have to pick one or the other.

nrakich: No, of course not. But I purposefully chose districts that were roughly equally Obamay-Trumpy and Romneyey-Clintony.

micah: Yeah.

nrakich: Whereas a district like the 32nd in Texas (Pete Sessions’s district, which Romney won by 16 but Clinton won by 2) might flip only if 2016 results are MUCH more predictive than 2012 results, only a slight bias toward one of those years would probably be enough to lift either Maine 2 or Illinois 6 closer to the top of Democrats’ target lists.

clare.malone: This whole question of flipping voters in Maine 2 back toward Democrats … it’s basically what Joe Biden’s potential candidacy will be based on. Not to turn this too much toward 2020, but it’s why you saw him stumping hard for someone like Conor Lamb in the Pittsburgh area with a lot of white, culturally conservative voters that Maine 2 has a lot of (big Second Amendment place). Anyhoo!

micah: From Politico’s Playbook on Wednesday:

JOE BIDEN is scheduled to meet with the Blue Collar Caucus, a group of House Democrats led by Reps. Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania and Marc Veasey of Texas. This is subject to delay, if the Capitol is closed today.

clare.malone: Very 2006 Howard Dean Dems!

micah: I didn’t know there was a Blue Collar Caucus!

perry: I didn’t either.

clare.malone: I mean, it just sounds like a rebranding of the Blue Dogs.

micah: They should rename it the “Blue Dog Collar Caucus”

ZING!

I’ll be here all week.

nrakich: Hm, I would be careful conflating Blue Dog and Blue Collar. Bernie Sanders appealed to a lot of blue-collar folks, for instance.

But I generally agree with Clare re: Biden.

clare.malone: What’s your differentiation?

micah: Blue Dog is more moderate.

Bernie is a socialist. (jk

)

nrakich: Right. Blue-collar can refer to hard-core workers’ rights voters, for instance.

Less the Second Amendment voters.

clare.malone: That’s the basic gist — a lot of union politics of years gone by could be called “socialist” in today’s politics. I think they’re both groups that are moving to appeal on economic issues

micah: Yeah, that’s fair — maybe similar demographics but Blue Dogs are more conservative on social issues while Bernie-types just de-emphasize them.

nrakich: Right.

But blue-collar can refer to both.

clare.malone: 2018, baby!

micah: lol

clare.malone: Same Coca-Cola, just a new bottle.

micah: ok, Perry, you’re up!

perry: I chose Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, currently held by Republican Barbara Comstock.

This is somewhat similar to Mimi Walters and to the broader theme that Republicans might have trouble in districts near big cities (Comstock represents a suburban area near Washington, D.C., that is full of federal workers.) She won by 6 percentage points in 2016, but Trump lost there by 10.

I picked this one because this is the way Republicans hold the House I think …

Strong incumbents like Comstock survive by saying that they are not part of the broader party (she voted against Obamacare repeal, for example).

Incumbents hold onto some districts that are drawn favorably toward Republicans.

This won’t necessarily happen in Virginia 10, but maybe Democratic primary voters in several districts pick candidates that are too far left to win in the general election.

clare.malone: I like that you’ve picked this since it’s an anti-Democratic wave angle, and it deals with the problems of “progressive Dems vs. establishment Dems” that could harm them in a move from the primary to the general.

nrakich: Who do you think their best candidate is?

perry: State Sen. Jennifer Wexton, from Loudoun County, seems like a most ideal candidate for the general election. Gov. Ralph Northam endorsed her, I assume in part because some of the other Democrats in that race are raising a lot of money.

nrakich: FWIW, the Wexton campaign just released a poll giving her a 26-point lead in the Democratic primary.

perry: Interesting. I had not seen this poll.

micah: Well, it’s from the Wexton campaign, though.

nrakich: I mean, it’s a campaign internal, so take it with a grain of salt.

clare.malone: jinx

nrakich: Although that’s a big lead.

Nate (Silver) found several years ago that internal campaign polls overstate a candidate’s position by about 6 points.

micah: This is interesting. Democrats chose the ideologically “safer” bet in the Illinois 3rd primary on Tuesday. So maybe they’ll limit self-destructive impulses.

perry: I’m not totally convinced that voters in a general election care about or can tell who is a moderate versus a liberal Democrat (or a moderate versus conservative Republican), but I tend to think that people who have run before are better candidates generally, like a state senator has done some of the basics of campaigning and has won a general election before.

micah: Totally.

perry: Broadly, I think if a Comstock-type candidate can survive, that tells me that maybe a few other smart GOP incumbents will and that maybe Democrats will fall four to five seats short of winning control of the House.

nrakich: I agree that knowing that Comstock will win would be valuable information today. But if the info we gain is that the Democrat beats her, I’m not sure how much it tells us about whether Democrats are going to flip the House.

Going by FiveThirtyEight partisan lean, Virginia 10 is the 179th-bluest seat in the country. So Democrats could win it and still fall short in other areas.

micah: Well, but maybe Comstock winning is one of the few routes the GOP has to keeping the majority. So it’s sorta like — incumbents overperform or bust.

nrakich: I think her winning would be a very good sign for them. But I think there are lots of ways that Republicans could keep the majority even while losing Comstock’s seat.

micah: OK, to wrap up, here’s everyone’s chosen district by partisan lean:

And let me throw some reader suggestions at you all and tell me if any stand out.

IA1, ME2, NY19 or MI8

— Seth D. Michaels

(@sethdmichaels) March 21, 2018

MN-08, PA-01, FL-26, NV-03.

— Arjun Jaikumar (@ArjunJaikumar) March 21, 2018

TX-7 as long as Lizzie Pannill Fletcher wins the runoff

— Joel Gluskin (@jagluski) March 21, 2018

I would pick my district, CA-25. It’s been Republican for many years, but went for Clinton in 2016. The district is shifting from white/rural to suburban with more diversity.

— Lindsey Giersch (@Geek_MomLG) March 21, 2018

Mentioned in the other thread, but I’m currently most interested in NY-19.

— } (@dtmasterson) March 21, 2018

OH 12 weighted R but retirement means may open but only to true wave.

— Chris Tremains (@ctremains) March 21, 2018

nrakich: The Ohio 12th! Bold.

What about your pick, Micah??

micah: I’m not picking!

clare.malone: Texas 7 is interesting. Trump lost by small margin, suburbs. It’s kinda the same thing as my California 45 pick. Will educated conservatives swing?

perry: So some suburbs (the Florida one is Miami area, for example) but some interesting ones. I don’t know districts by number, Minnesota 8 is not a suburban one really and is very white.

clare.malone: I think they just picked Ohio 12 because it’s open? That one will probably go Republican.

nrakich: Open seats aren’t useful info to know, though. The vast majority of seats up in 2018 will have incumbents.

Democrats will have to beat Republican incumbents to win the House. We already know they do well in open seats thanks to special elections.

micah: Perry, I can’t believe you don’t have all the districts memorized.

perry: People do!

Don’t you, Nathaniel?

nrakich: Haha, I wish.

Only the important ones.

I couldn’t tell you who reps New York’s 5th.

micah: It’s Gregory Meeks. (And no, readers, I didn’t add this while editing the chat.)

OK, final thoughts?

perry: Kentucky 6 was one of my wild cards. Lexington area.

nrakich: If we could know the margin of the seat we picked, we would know a lot more … obviously.