#AJ Jones

[laylaylamode]

Chapter 15: Sold Out!

While Nia meets with her family at a restaurant, AJ meets some friends at the park.

Nia Butterfly, Astro Butterfly, AJ Jones, Uran, and Stanton Pines belong to @kururu418 !

Ezra Saturday belongs to @doomface !

[onelastfic]

Teen Mei Interactions

"Look, Rain, you might have Excalibur and your butterfly form, but I'm like the sun. I burn bright, and nothing can extinguish me," Dawn declared, his chest puffed with arrogance.

Mei, never one to let a boast pass without a retort, scoffed, "Just because you hurt people's eyes when they stare directly at you doesn't make you the sun. It just makes you ugly."

“Hah!” Rain laughed loudly. “Good one, Mei Mei!”

Dawn, his arrogance undeterred, shot back, "Ugly? Mei, you're just jealous of my brilliance."

Mei rolled her eyes. "Please, Dawn. The only brilliance you possess is blinding people with your overinflated ego."

Dawn, unfazed, shot back. "Jealousy doesn't become you, Mei. Perhaps one day you'll bask in the warmth of my glory."

Mei, unimpressed, replied. "Dawn, the only thing warming in your presence is the hot air you're spewing."

——

Once again, Mei and Dawn found themselves in a heated argument. Dawn, his patience wearing thin, took a step closer to Mei, eyes narrowed.

"You know, Mei, I've been thinking. Maybe you're so mean to me because you... well, gotta thing for me?" Dawn suggested, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

"………what?” Mei's eyes widened in disbelief, for once at a loss for words. Once the shock dissipated, she finally found the words again. "Oh, you complete and utter dunce, your ego is truly impressive if you think my disdain for you is some twisted form of affection."

Undeterred, Dawn closed the gap between them, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. "Come on, Mei. Admit it. You've got a crush on me, don't you?"

Mei, pretending to play along, leaned in, her lips almost brushing against Dawn's. Just as he closed his eyes in anticipation of a kiss, Mei swiftly pulled back and delivered a sharp punch to his jaw, followed by a knee to a much more sensitive area.

Dawn doubled over in pain, clutching his groin. Mei, smirking triumphantly, stepped back.

"Newsflash, Dawn. Not every girl who treats you like dirt is secretly in love with you," Mei quipped, enjoying the pained expression on Dawn's face as she left.

Dusk, who had been watching from a distance, shook his head with a bemused smile. "Told you she wasn't interested."

——

"Hey, Mei!” DJ smiled, bouncing his eyebrows. "I was thinking maybe we could hang out sometime, if ya know what I mean?"

"Oh, sweet convoluted Dante, I appreciate the sentiment but you're Rain's baby brother.” DJ's hopeful expression faltered, and Mei seized the opportunity. "Although, there might be a way to change my mind. What do you have for me?"

DJ, now desperate, stammered, "I, uh, got you this... um, it's a flower."

Mei accepted the offering. "How charming, Dante. But remember, next time, bring something a bit more substantial if you want my attention."

As DJ slinked away, Mei looked at the flower in her hand. It was pink like her eyes. Not a totally horrible gift, but she wasn’t about to give herself to someone for a simple flower. She was worth more than that. Besides, she kinda liked seeing Dante try so hard. It was somewhat endearing.

——

Under the starlit sky of Avalon, Mei and Rain found themselves on the rooftop, a place of solace for their unfiltered conversations.

"Raindrop, darling, you know you can tell me anything, right?" Mei reassured, her usually confident demeanor softening.

"There's this thing, Mei. A power inside me that's growing, and I'm scared," Rain admitted, vulnerability coloring her words.

"You're destined for greatness. Embrace it, and I'll be right here by your side," Mei encouraged, offering genuine support.

"But what if—"

Grabbing Rain's hand, Mei said, “Rain, stop. I have been by your side from the moment we met. And you’ve been by mine. So let’s give each other some credit here.”

"Thanks, Mei. You're right." Rain smiled, hugging Mei. "You know, you are not as heartless as you pretend to be."

"Don't go revealing that to people, Raindrop. I have an image to uphold," Mei teased, feigning nonchalance.

The two friends, amidst the city's nocturnal melody, shared a moment that transcended the facade of mean girl Mei, revealing the genuine connection beneath.

——

In the heart of Avalon's enchanted forest, Mei and Rain experimented with Rain's growing powers, attempting a spell that promised to reveal hidden secrets.

Mei, holding a shimmering crystal, smirked, "This spell better be worth the hype, Raindrop."

Rain, fingers crackling with energy, assured, "Trust me, Mei Mei. It's foolproof."

"Just be sure to let me know if I need to take cover. This blowout cost $200 and I am not about to have it ruined.”

As the incantation unfolded, sparks flew, and a gust of wind carried their voices to unexpected ears. Dusk Butterfly, appearing from the shadows, raised an eyebrow.

"Care to explain, Rain?"

Rain, caught off guard by her brother’s sudden appearance, stammered, "Well, you see, we were just—"

Mei, ever the middle man, intervened, "Experimenting with magic. It's harmless, Dusk."

Dusk, unamused, warned, "Be more careful. Avalon's secrets are not to be trifled with."

As Dusk vanished into the shadows, Mei and Rain exchanged a glance, realizing that their magical escapades might need a bit more discretion.

——

The ethereal glow of magical chess pieces illuminated the room as Mei and Dusk engaged in a battle of wits. The tension hung in the air, thick with rivalry and the unspoken challenge each move posed.

"Dusk, your strategy is as thrilling as a rainy day. If this is how you rule Avalon, I can see why you aren’t right for the throne." She quipped.

Dusk, moving with deliberate calmness, countered, "Mei, the key to victory lies not in flashiness but in calculated precision."

Smirking, Mei replied, "Ah, precision. I prefer the thrill of crafting order from chaos."

Undeterred, Dusk responded, "Your version of chaos won't win you this game."

As the chessboard transformed with each move, Mei attempted to rattle Dusk. "Ever thought of a career in storytelling? Your moves are so predictable, I could write a book about them."

Dusk, maintaining his stoic demeanor, replied, "Predictable, perhaps. But effective, nonetheless. Checkmate."

Mei's expression remained calm, a facade of composure. As Dusk left, she waited until he was out of sight and earshot, then flipped the board in a fit of frustration.

——

Dusk and Dawn strolled along the shore. The sound of crashing waves provided the backdrop to their banter.

“Woah,” Dawn paused, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He nudged Dusk. "Check out that girl over there, Dusk. Tall. Curvy. Legs for days. She's a vision."

Dusk glanced in the direction Dawn pointed. "Dawn, we're here for a relaxing day, not a scouting mission."

As the mysterious girl in the pink bikini twirled her umbrella, her long, curly hair catching the sunlight. Dawn wolf whistled, still ogling the distant figure, mused, "Imagine having a girl like that."

The girl moved the beach umbrella away from her face, revealing the face of Evil in Human Form, Mei Long. Dawn's jaw dropped as he realized the girl he had been admiring was none other than Mei.

"Enjoying the view, Dawn?" Mei teased, enjoying Dawn's shock. "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?"

————

Rain and DJ belong to @laylaylamode

Dusk and Dawn belong to @kururu418

[busyasabbey]

Thought these pics I did back in 2021 were deleted but turns out I still had them 😀

Elkie is Moose and Tom's daughter

AJ is Sam and Elvis' daughter

They're both about 12

Both have a crush on each other

[crosscountryrally]

Chaleco López será parte de super-equipo Red Bull Can-Am Factory Team

El piloto chileno Francisco Chaleco López fue anunciado como uno de los cinco pilotos de un nuevo super equipo oficial de Can-Am para el Dakar 2023. López, vigente campeón del Dakar y del Mundial de Rally Raid FIA W2RC, formará parte del nuevo Red Bull Can-Am Factory Team en la clase T3 que será la principal carta de Can-Am para conseguir el título dakariano en Arabia Saudita. El Red Bull Can-Am contará con el apoyo técnico del South Racing. Además de Chaleco, el nuevo equipo Red Bull Can-Am contará con grandes figuras del mundo de los Side by Side como Austin Jones, Cristina Gutiérrez y Seth Quintero en la clase T3 y Rokas Baciuska en la clase T4. Este nuevo equipo seguro será gran favorito para asegurar el Dakar en T3 y habrá gran competencia interna entre los cuatro pilotos que lo integran, todos consagrados pilotos de la disciplina y que antes integraban equipos distintos, con Red Bull liderando un equipo con el Overdrive OT3 y Chaleco en South Racing. Austin Jones sube de categoría de T4 a T3 y será nuevo candidato. Chaleco contará nuevamente con Juan Pablo Latrach como navegante.

[fictionalheroine]

VHS CHRISTMAS CAROL: LIVE!

[misagenda]

Listen Up Starkids

if you continue taking advantage of Team Starkid’s tireless generosity and loyalty

they will no longer work as hard to provide accessible theatre and FREE content to fans

but more importantly, it’s fucking disrespectful

just look at the many faces of disappointment ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

feel shame & do better

[man-down-in-hatchet-town]

VHSCC OH MY GOD

(no spoilers)

Starkid nation, you aren't ready.

So let's start with the obvious. Look, I spent thirteen years growing up with Starkid. That initial Michigan gang are deeply special to me and I will always miss Dylan, Brian R., and Corey in any show they aren't in. And this one's no different. But just as Janaya came in and took over Belle from Britney so flawlessly, Curt, Brian, and AJ were all WONDERFUL in their new roles. The gentle-but-high-energy, truly decent, romantic himbo charm Curt brought to our Springsteen boy Jim (you all are going to LOVE Jim, I promise) perfectly offset the defiant, sneering anger of Young Scrooge in "That Scrooge." Brian's reactions (particularly to the "rather take my own life" line) were so funny and some of my favorite parts of the show. And AJ... this is now my favorite thing AJ has ever done. And that's saying something. The smaller casting shake-up moments (Joey as Fezziwig, other little line re-distributions) were so fun as well!

The new act 1 is PERFECTION. I was actually surprised by how absolutely hysterical it was? Like, I won't tell you what was up with that clip on Instagram of Brian, Lauren, and Joey doing a freak-out dance, but I can tell you that their whole Act 1 deal threatened to steal the show every. Single. Time. I already mentioned Curt as Jim, but you will also love Della, who is so funny and real and truly carries us through the start of the show (Janaya is a STAR and she Curt have brilliant chemistry). Ali did a terrific job of balancing the sadness and hope that are both at the center of the devastating little Match Girl. And Jamie's Grandma... well, honestly I have no idea how to talk about Jamie's song without giving stuff away.

But the real star of the show in Act 1, as he should be, was our man Clark. I can't emphasize enough how much he nailed the writing of this whole new act. I mentioned that the new stuff is hilarious, but it's also deeply heartfelt, and also sad exactly when it needs to be. Like, the transition after Jamie's song? I can't really talk about it yet, but what that moment does with emotion is unreal. And, as expected, every song is a banger! My one complaint about this show, and it IS a big one, is that there is no cast recording of the Act 1 songs. I want to listen to them all the time.

But the good news is, I CAN listen to Christmas Carol as much as I want! The classic that started it all is back, with so many people reprising the hell out of their truly iconic roles (God I love the VHS Cratchits), and better than ever. I traditionally hate change, and I love the version of VHSCC Live! we already have so much, but I think I somehow loved this version even more? The staging is alive and clever and there are some additions and changes, particularly in "Final Ghost"/"Christmas Day," that frankly blew my mind and somehow managed to elevate the material even further. I can't wait for the digital ticket to come out so that I can talk about them. To put it simply, James Tolbert mastered his Starkid directorial debut like you won't believe. I'm so proud of him and grateful for the larger role he's taken in Starkid since they moved base to LA.

Also, the Ghost of Christmas Past is extra unhinged this year? Jaime pulled out all of the impish stops and it was the BEST.

Basically, everyone more than delivered. I haven't talked about Meredith yet but she rocked it in the band and continued to validate the hell out of my opinion that "3 Spirits" is the dark horse best song in the show.

And a special shout-out to June Saito for continuing to be a costuming GENIUS. I always love her work and this production is no exception. I honestly wanted to give the return of the Bob Cratchit costume its own round of applause.

You know, the world is a mess and everything is pretty much terrible. It's been a hard year in an impossible decade. But every once in a while you come across some art that takes all of that, acknowledges the truth of it, and somehow pulls back the curtains to harness the joy and hope that's still there under the rubble. To me, Starkid in particular has always been about finding and holding onto the hope and the beauty and humanity that allows us to endure an existence that can so often feel bleak. And VHSCC is maybe the most perfect encapsulation of that idea.

So thank you Clark, James, Meredith, Brian, and everyone who worked so hard on this little bit of magic. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Let's make a little light.

[south-of-heaven]

When it Rains it Pours || AJ Styles x Reader

Summary: What really happened after LA Knight showed up at AJ's house?

You bolted upright in bed, heart hammering against your chest at the sudden cacophony of honking outside. Disoriented, you glanced at the clock – it was well past midnight. What could possibly be happening at this hour?

Your mind raced with worry as you stumbled out of bed, heart pounding in your ears as you hurried to the window. Pulling back the curtain, you gasped at the sight before you.

In the glow of the streetlights, you could make out the figure of your husband, AJ in the front yard, tense with fury. And there, standing in front of him, was LA Knight, a sneer twisting his lips as he goaded AJ on.

Panic surged through you as you watched the two men exchange heated words, their voices rising in anger. Without hesitation, you darted for the phone, fingers trembling as you dialed 911.

As you waited for the dispatcher to answer, you prayed fervently for help to arrive swiftly. The last thing you needed was for this confrontation to escalate any further, especially with the children sleeping soundly upstairs.

With trembling hands, you pressed the phone to your ear, relief flooding through you as you heard the dispatcher's voice on the line. Frantically, you relayed the situation, pleading for the police to come quickly.

As you hung up the phone, you could hear the sounds of a struggle outside – the dull thud of fists connecting, the grunts of exertion as the two men clashed.

Rushing back to the window, you watched with bated breath as the police cruisers rounded the corner, their sirens wailing in the night. With a surge of hope, you prayed that they would arrive in time to defuse the situation.

Finally, the flashing lights of the police cars illuminated the front yard, casting long shadows across the lawn. With a sense of profound relief, you watched as the officers swarmed in, separating AJ and Knight before things could escalate any further.

As the police officers managed to subdue Knight and lead him away in handcuffs, you felt a wave of relief wash over you. You rushed down the stairs and out the door to get to AJ, who was still seething with barely-contained rage.

Rushing out to the front yard, you approached AJ cautiously, your heart pounding with concern. His fists were clenched at his sides, his chest rising and falling with each ragged breath. He looked ready to explode.

"Allen, please," you said softly, reaching out to gently touch his arm. "It's over now. He's gone."

But AJ's gaze remained fixed on the retreating police car, his jaw clenched tight with fury. "That son of a…" he muttered under his breath, his voice thick with anger.

You knew that AJ was itching to give Knight a piece of his mind, to show him the consequences of crossing him. But you also knew that escalating the situation any further would only lead to more trouble.

"Come on," you said gently, taking AJ's hand in yours. "Let's go inside. You need to calm down."

For a moment, it seemed as though AJ might resist, his gaze still fixed on the police car. But then, as if realizing the futility of his anger, he finally relented, allowing you to lead him back into the house.

Once inside, you guided AJ to the kitchen, where you fetched a bag of ice from the freezer and handed it to him. He accepted it silently, pressing it against his split lip with a grimace of pain.

Sitting down at the kitchen table, you reached out to gently brush a stray lock of hair from AJ's forehead, your heart aching at the sight of him in pain. "Are you alright?" you asked softly.

AJ met your gaze, his eyes softening as he looked at you. "I'm fine, baby," he said, his voice filled with remorse. "I just… I couldn't stand the thought of him coming after you and the kids."

You reached out to take his hand in yours, squeezing it gently. "I know," you said quietly. "But we're all safe now. That's all that matters."

With a heavy sigh, AJ leaned forward, resting his forehead against yours. "I love you," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

"I love you too," you whispered, wrapping your arms around him in a tight embrace. And in that moment, as you held each other close, you knew that together, you could weather any storm that came your way.

[tigertummyaj]

Gelly Jones Animal Jam absolutely fucking it

[laylaylamode]

Quick, pick a next gen ship! Got them in your head? Good! Now pair them to an 80’s love song!

Oooh what a cool question! For Jia, Nia and AJ...!

Don't Think Twice by Utada Hikaru!

I hear this song and imagine them every single time! Especially from Jia's perspective of how she feels about Nia and AJ, like a love confession that she's too afraid to say out loud.

[onelastfic]

Playing With Dolls

Nia: (in a high voice, holding barbie) Hey ken! I was thinking about going back to school and starting a career!

Jia: (in a deep voice, holding ken) Nonsense, barbie. You’re staying home and having my kids.

AJ: What the fuck are you guys doing?

Jia: Playing systemic oppression

——

Jia belongs to @laylaylamode

AJ and Nia belongs to @kururu418

[writernotyetauthor]

Alfred: I’m just saying bro, maybe you should’ve opened a history book before getting all butthurt about Jan getting back with his ex.

Matthew: Okay, A.J.

Alfred: 😑 You know my initials are A. F. J. bitchass.

Matthew: Yeah, stands for “A Fucking Joke”.

Alfred:

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

AJ Foyt

On May 31, 1967 with just 10 miles to go, it looks like Parnelli Jones will win the Indy 500 as he has more than a 50-second lead. But then his turbine car's engine fails and he limps into the pits with a failure in the gear box. After leading 171 laps, a $6 bearing prevents Jones from receiving the first-place prize of $105,052. Taking advantage of Jones' hard luck is AJ Foyt, who wins the 3rd of his 4 Indy 500s. The victory is all the sweeter because Foyt Enterprises had built the winning Coyote Ford to Foyt's own specifications and because he had a miserable season in 1966 involving 3 wrecks. Foyt avoids a 5-car pileup on his final lap and coasts to the finish line more than a lap ahead of runner-up Al Unser Sr. In spite of 64 minutes of yellow lap time, Foyt averages 151.207 mph, the fastest of the 51 Indy 500s. The race has taken 2 days to complete. It was stopped yesterday because of rain, with Jones and his turbine special looking sensational in taking the lead through 18 laps.

[honeyspawn]

I finally watched VHS Christmas Carol Live last night, and I loved it! I wanted to give some initial thoughts:

The music SLAPS! Like, so good! I'm not usually much of an 80's pop person, but honestly it was bop after bop the whole time. Bah Humbug, That Scrooge, Christmas Electricity, and Priceless were all highlights for me. I think what sold it for me was how lyrically tight it was, and how strong the emotions were. Telling a story entirely through song is no easy feat, but they absolutely nailed the structure and pacing.

Speaking of the emotions, Christmas Carol has been adapted so many times, that it's really important to hit all the emotional beats to sell the spirit of the story, and VHS delivers. I feel like many adaptations go all in on the misery, regret, and sorrow of the story, and only really bring the cheer and warmth in at the very end. VHS really embraces not only the somber parts of the tale, but the joyful parts too. Fezziwig's Chistmas party, Fred's party, and the Crachit's family dinner all really portray the joyfullness of the season and how that joyfullness can come from many places. It really strengthens the message of the story in a way that adaptations focused only on the bleak aspects miss.

In terms of actual story decisions, VHS really sticks to the classic story very closely and does it really well. Actual story changes are few and far between, but the ones they included I really liked. I loved the addition of the couple who are thankful that Scrooge died because it relieves their debt. It really highlights that Crachit and his family are not the only people affected by Scrooge's greed. Many adaptations either like to forget he's a landlord, or don't unpack the ethics of landlords, so it was nice to see some sort of acknowledgment of Scrooge's less direct and more systemic impact. I also really liked how Scrooge delivered the turkey to the Crachit's in secret, and didn't give Bob his raise until after Christmas instead of barging in unannounced. I had never really thought about it before, but in most versions he does just kind of barge in on their celebration and make a big production of giving Bob a raise. I like how he let them have their celebration in peace and spent more time with Fred.

The performances were all killer. I know it kinda goes without saying at this point, but everyone in the cast in Starkid shows are always so talented. Special mention to James Tolbert, because I feel like he doesn't get enough recognition for what a talented actor, dancer, and choreographer (and director) he is. This was also my first time seeing Janaya Mahealani Jones in anything, and her Belle really blew me away. Other stand-outs for me were Dylan Saunders' Scrooge, Lauren Lopez and Joey Ritcher's Crachits, and Jaime Lyn Beatty's Ghost of Christmas Past, but really everyone knocked it out of the park.

June Saito's costumes! The 80s themeing was outstandingly executed, and the quick changes were really impressive. I've gotten used to the more realistic and toned down costumes that fit the Hatchetfield shows' setting (which are also fantastic, not trying to minimize those), but between this and the LiB's in NPMD, it's wonderful to see June Saito get to really go over the top. Special mention to Marley's costume (silver chain pants? silver chain pants!), the 3 spirit's silver and blue color themeing, and that sequined suit jacket Scrooge wears at the end of the show.

Overall, really good. Might pay for the VHS Carols digital ticket later today and watch it.

[hjbirthdaywishes]

April 18, 2024

Happy 53 Birthday to David Tennant.

[maxipowell]

locker room celebration in polaroids