#And the fact that my parents will be so upset if I am indeed a lesbian

[barclaysangel]

Computer, how do I find out my sexuality?

Quickest route, without having to admit that I may be a lesbian with comp het.

…

PUTER, DO YOU HEAR ME?!

[siena-sevenwits]

Goodness of the Day:

The butter melted perfectly on my toast today.

Everything was cancelled today because of the snowstorm. On the one hand, too bad - my parents were going to have a house showing today and my mom also had to call off the book club she hosts. But snow days are nice any which way. And we didn't have to do the mad final tidy session before the showing, so, nice and relaxed in that regard.

Helped Brother Two create a character for the Saltmarsh Christmas Special. Apparently he is an honest junior merchant working in luxury goods. A fantastical character indeed. ;-)

I'm going to sound like a broken record, but it was a thoroughly Blackberry day, and it was glorious. I'm reading very slowly, to imagine it the more clearly and savour the characterizations. "A Visit from the Murderess" especially blew me away. Though I didn't find myself in my most commenting frame of mind, that only means the comments are going to ferment. Into blackberry wine or something. Blocking the tag is allowed to avoid record scratches. You have been warned. (Also @isfjmel-phleg is the most lovely author for responding. That further exploration on Elystan and Amarantha getting a taste of each others' lives made my day.)

I did a lot of my reading in the conservatory, which sounds very Agatha Christie. Fact is we do have a room with an awfully high glass to wall ratio, and my dad's many, many plants live in there. So it's a conservatory. It was bright and pleasant in there, and I really need to do more of my reading in the armchair there. I always gravitate to the dining room, for some reason, even though it's not half as nice.

Someone said something that made me angry (in hindsight it was just me being touchy and proud,) but it made me power walk round and round and round the hallway-kitchen-dining room loop. After five minutes I realized I was in the wrong, but kept walking. After ten minutes I realized I just wanted to daydream about writing while I power-walked. Did this for about half an hour, and while I didn't get a writing idea, I'm glad it transformed from me being stupidly upset to something fun and benign, and that I didn't explode at anyone.

The shower has been re-finished, and it now has an enormous showerhead, and I am curious to try it.

People gave me some very cool book recs to try out! I am going to assemble my somewhat loosey-goosey 2025 TBR soon, and will certainly be incorporating some of them! We're going back to the reading challenge model. It works with my brain.

[generalluxun]

Honestly its kind of funny in a tragic way that elements of bad/cruel behavior seen in Chloe can also be seen echoed in her parents but also in the fact this kind of makes her even more weirdly tragic because of how normalized it is to her.

Firstly there's just the general rudeness & disregard, her mother doesn't remember her name and belittles her constantly unless she somehow interprets a slight against Chloe as against herself. Chloe still adores her.

Like when she rips up Rose's letter to Prince Ali this is undoubtably a cruel thing to do, but its also very much how her own mother responds to her own gifts and Chloe still loved her & pursued her approval.

Then there's how her father and everyone around her is just OK with this or at worst does the most minimal intervention. "Darling you can't fire our daughter" like my gods, grow a spine Andre.

What this adds onto things for me is how this plays into how Chloe perceives her position amongst her peers.

Because she seems to oscillate wildly between "Everyone loves me" & being confused & upset when they don't. Or "being "Everyone hates me and I don't know why and or how to fix it".

Because to her this is just like... Normal behavior, it does hurt her, but she still loves the one's who do it so why wouldn't she also still be loved? At least it feels that way anyway, I'm honestly not sure, especially cos of how her self awareness and self image shifts a lot.

Honestly the only out of sorts thing we've seen her do that I don't think her parents have done to her was trapping Juleka in the stall. Which was indeed a really horrible thing to do & possibly the worst she does on her own? I kind of fell off around S3 so only vaguely know the rest of the outline & don't want to offer an opinion on it due to not watching. Plus even then the stall is still learned behavior as far as "Use force to get what you want" goes so its still taught behavior.

Yeah, Chloé has learned her behavior from her parents, clearly. Most of the learned behavior is from her father (She directly references him as her role model twice when doing bad things.) her mither is more about openly aping while not being too familiar with it.

The Juleka thing I am always torn on, because people overstate it so often. It was clearly a bad thing to do but Chloé wasn't *bullying* Juleka with a purpose. She wanted to be beside Adrien. The only reason Juleka got the lock was she was the one to go to the bathroom. Anyone else? They would have gotten the same. I fully believe Chloé would have locked the photographer in the bathroom, shoved a camera in the art teacher's hands, stuck herself by Adrien and had the picture taken if she could.

Chloé had no way of knowing(and probably wouldn't care but still didn't know) how badly being left out of a class picture would affect Juleka. It wasn't malicious in that way. Like, do people think Max was bullying Juleka when he raised his hand directly in front of her face in the old picture? 🤣

[maegalkarven]

The innocence of youth.

A oneshot featuring Noah, Gurgetash child, because I am ridiculously attached to this wonderful little boy.

Noah meets the team, hugs Halsin and proposes to make flower crowns.

“You have a child,” Gale, the brave soul he is, is the first to break off the awkward silence.

Levi pushes the stupid fucking grin down.

“Yep.”

“And it’s...Gortash’s child,” the wizard insists.

“Mhm.”

“A child of a tyrant Enver Gortash.”

“Yep.”

“His child.”

“Gale, I don’t think something will change if you keep repeating it like that,” Shadowheart comments, her eyes trained on the said child currently trying to sneak on Withers with a stick. Considering the very likely fact what Withers is actually one of the old gods, Noah’s bravery and idiocy is unparalleled. Withers pretends he doesn’t see very obviously sneaking on him five years old boy.

Jaheira watches over the boy from the safe distance, a deep frown laid between her eyebrows.

Levi knows what she’s thinking about; a bhaalspawn, another child with unholy blood in his veins. But this is the river they’ll cross when they'll cross it. Like hells Father dearest takes this child into his suffocating hold.

“I can’t believe you forgot you have a child,” the cleric continues. Levi snorts.

“Well, you forgot you had parents, so-“

“It’s not the same,” she argues and the fact what they can discuss such topic as simple as that shows how much they’ve overcome. How much they’ve changed and grown. “I was stripped of my memories by a goddess.”

“My sister put a dagger into my skull and rummaged inside until I had no memories left,” he parries. “And anyway, I don’t think I was a father to Noah before all that-” he gestures around. “You know. He hasn’t even met me prior, well, two days ago.”

“I can’t believe Gortash just let him go here like that,” Wyll comments. “He seems to be a little bit...paranoid.”

“He is a lot paranoid,” Levi responds. “And I reckon he has a good reasons for that, he is a tyrant of Baldur’s Gate, after all. Wait, where’s Halsin?”

Gale looks around and chuckles.

“Your son has him,” he comments fondly. “I’m pretty sure it’s Noah’s druid now.”

And indeed Halsin is very content in being carried around in a wild shape of a cat. Noah’s stick is forgotten, as well as his quest to poke Withers with it. Everyone seems to be relieved by that.

“It doesn’t look like he minds,” Levi comments absentmindedly, watching as Karlach raises her axe. “Enver’s paranoia is about to raise to dangerous heights in three, two, one-“

The first of the scrying eyes falls to the ground, broken. Noah turns around.

“I don’t mind if you do that to the remaining two,” he offers and Karlach grins.

“You got it, kid.”

The other spying devices suffer the same fate.

“Good thinking,” Wyll murmurs. “Let’s upset the tyrant sitting on the throne of Baldur’s Gate. Nothing bad will come out of it.”

“Oh, come on,” Levi smirks. “This is my child too, he is safe with me. And if Enver doesn’t think so, well, that looks like Enver’s problem.”

They watch as Noah puts cat Halsin around his shoulders like a cloak and tugs at Karlach’s pants.

“Do you want to make a flower crown?” he asks shyly. “I have never made flower crowns.”

Karlach looks around.

“Me?”

“Yep.”

“I...I’m not sure I’m the best one for that task, kid.”

“It’s alright, we can learn together!”

The earnestness and innocence seem to win against the boy’s relation to Gortash, and Karlach reluctantly smiles.

“Alright then. But we’ll need Halsin to show us the plants we shouldn’t touch. I think your dad will bite my head off if I accidentally give you poison burn.”

Noah looks hopeful.

“He will?”

“I’m sure of it.”

“But he just met me!”

“And I know he already cares about you a lot,” a glance back to Levi, who nods. “Come on, kid, let’s make everyone flower crowns.”

“You realize whose will be the ugliest flower crowns in the world,” Astarion chimes in.

“Well, then you’re not getting any.”

“Hey, I never said I don’t want an ugly fucking flower crown-“

“It will have bugs in it. You hate bugs.”

“I’ll just make Noah pick them up and throw them somewhere into the grass.”

“You will make five years old collect bugs?!”

“Oh, come on, he lived his entire life in a tower, he would be delighted to gather some bugs.”

“How long do you think I’ll take Gortash to show up here and murder us in our sleep for destroying his precious scrying eyes?” Gale contemplates.

“I give it an hour or two, and then we’re for a feat.”

Levi walks away, leaving his friends bickering, his posture at ease, muscles relaxed. It doesn’t take long for magic to overcome his body, bending bones and changing shape.

A small black cat throttles into the forest after the woman on fire and a little boy excitedly telling her about some extremely interesting story he just read. Well, not like read-read, more like looked at the pictures and read a little, but he will learn! Father says he is a fast learner.

“Mrpm,” the cat speaks as it hits the boy’s knees gently. Noah gasps.

“A cat!” and really, where did Enver raise him, in a box? How a mere sign of a cat can be so exciting?

Karlach looks behind.

“Oh, it’s your dad,” she comments. “He does that sometimes.”

“My dad is a cat?!”

“Sort of? He’s a druid like Halsin and Jaheira.”

Noah lets Halsin off his shoulders and kneels to reach for the black fur. The cat purrs and leans into the touch.

“Wow,” the boy whispers. “This is so cool. Do you think he can teach me how to do that? I want to be a cat too.”

“You can be a great many things, little one,” Halsin responds, already in his elf form. “Cat is one of the many wild shapes a druid can take. I am sure your parent will be happy to teach you.”

Levi mews, agreeing, and allows himself to be grasped into two small clammy hands.

“Is it alright if I carry you?” the boy asks. “Halsin doesn’t mind, but he said I need to ask first.”

Levi simply licks the boy’s fingers.

“I think it’s a yes,” Halsin smiles. “Now, about these flower crowns of yours...”

[haee-elia]

1x01 - extreme aggressor pt.2 “great”

pairing: spencer reid x fem!reader; read part one here!

summary: a small blurb-like continuation of part one

warnings: literally none? maybe mentions of trauma? fluff? awkwardness? second-hand embarrassment?

word count: 1463

Walking down the halls of the Seattle FBI office, you see a familiar lanky figure down the hall, facing away from you.

“Spencer?” You call out before you even realized you opened your mouth. You feel a tinge of embarrassment as you realize you are indeed, not alone in the hallway. Some other agents and workers glance at you before carrying on with whatever they were doing.

The man, in question, that you called out turns around, hearing his name and his eyes slowly center onto your figure.

Before you know it, he’s walking down the hallway towards you and you give him a sheepish look as he arrives in front of you, “Dr. Reid, I am so sorry,” You grimace and lower your voice, hoping to not embarrass him in his place of work any more.

The awkward man that you had met in your sister’s apartment couldn’t have possibly been okay with you yelling his name across his workplace and around his colleagues.

“I just wanted to say thank you,” You say before he can get a word in, “Thank you to you and your team for finding my sister.” You give him a grateful smile.

Dr. Reid chuckles softly, “It’s no problem,” He says, “I’m glad me and my team could help find your sister and catch the guy responsible,”

“And I wanted to thank you for what you said to me,” You added on, “I was panicking and it wasn’t doing my sister, my brother, or myself any good.”

He waved it off, “It was no problem at all. In fact, I would be slightly worried if someone in your shoes weren’t upset or panicked.”

He chuckled at his last sentence and you returned with a small laugh.

“I, uh,” Spencer continues to talk, “know this might be a dumb question, but, um, how is your sister doing?” He asks.

You assume that in his line of work they often don’t get to see the people they help recover and their lives after.

You shrug and smile at him, “As good as she can be doing. The doctors want to keep her for another week and then she’ll go through a therapy and recovery plan. She’s still really freaked out about what happened and even David is setting her off.”

“That’s completely normal,” Spencer replies, “It probably is just the presence of a man, not necessarily your brother.”

You nod in agreement, “Yeah, I thought so too. David’s hurt by it though. The flinching, wincing, all that.” You say.

“We’re, um, actually thinking about moving Heather away from Seattle for a bit. Get a nice change in scenery and start fresh.” You add.

“Where were you thinking?”

“During the summer growing up, we would spend a few months with our grandparents in Maryland. They had this small place in Annapolis. When our grandparents died, they left it to our parents, and when they died, they left it to us. Heather, David, and I have some good memories growing up there and the house has been maintained over the years.” You explain.

Spencer smiles, “That, uh, sounds really nice. It might help your sister to be surrounded in a place she’s felt safe before.”

You both continue to dawdle around in the middle of the hallway, awkwardly. Neither of you make the move to leave or say goodbye, its almost like neither of you want this conversation to end.

“So,” You start to say, ending the momentary silence between the pair of you, “I should let you get back to work. You must be busy and have other people to help around here, huh.”

Against your will, your cheeks start blushing a small red tint and you get embarassed that you’ve held up this man’s day just so you could talk to him again.

“I don’t work here.” Spencer replies.

You’re sure he can see the confusement on your face after you realize what he just said.

He goes to explain himself, “What I mean! That is, um, I, uh, don’t work in this office. In this building. In Seattle. Me and my, uh, team traveled from Quantico. We’re all stationed in Quantico, Virginia.”

“Oh,” You laugh a little at his stumbling to answer, “Sorry, I just assumed that-”

He waved you off and chuckled to himself, “Don’t worry about it.”

“Oh, here,” You say, drawing the business card he gave you days earlier out of your purse, “I guess I didn’t need to use this afterall.”

“Keep it.” He blurts out not two seconds later. His hands stay by his side and there’s no movement to even accept back his card.

You try again, “I don’t really have a use for it now since Heather’s found and that guy is locked away. You should really give it out to another person who needs it.”

“Keep it,” He reiterates, “I insist.” He says, even going as far as taking his own hand and wrapping it around yours which was reaching out with the card in your fingers. He curls his larger hand around yours and tucks the card deeper into your palm without hurting you.

He steps back quickly afterwards and even as he angles his head towards the ground, you can see a faint blush on his cheeks. He’s embarrassed, you chuckle to yourself in your thoughts. You could tease him a bit more, but you decide not to.

“Are you in town for much longer?” You ask, vying to change the subject.

“Um,” He starts to answer while looking at his watch, “It’ll take roughly four to four and a half hours to get back to Virginia and it’s already pretty late, so we’ll probably leave first thing in the morning.”

You bite your lip and urge yourself in your thoughts to take your shot, “Do you and your team have plans tonight then?” You ask. You hope that he starts to get the hint so he can let you down gently if you’ve got it all wrong.

“I, uh, think we’re all doing our own thing tonight. Some are staying in the hotel. Others are exploring the city.” He informs.

“Do you, uh, -” You stutter, you wring your hands around behind your back, “Would you, um, like to grab dinner together?” You ask. You push back the urge to close your eyes and wince, wanting to see his reaction instead.

It’s a little more shocked than you had hoped for on his face, but you don’t see him pulling back or veering away from you. You take that as a good sign.

“Wh-what about your sister?” He asks, a little speechless.

“Visiting hours are over and David is handling a bunch of paperwork tonight.” You chuckle nervously, “I’m sorry if that made you really uncomfortable.” You apologize.

“Just nod and we can move on, pretend that I never asked you that, say goodbye and never see each other again.” You say, preparing for the worst.

“No!” He exclaims, nearly cutting you off. “I’d, uh, I’d really like that! To do that.”

He takes a deep breath and rephrases, “I would like to grab dinner with you.” He says, looking you in the eyes. You can’t help it when a smile creeps onto your face.

“I just, uh, need to very quickly finish some paperwork, so, um, would a late dinner be okay?” He asks, carefully.

You nod, “Yeah, that’d be great. We can just meet somewhere if that’s easier for you? I can text you the address of this really great Mexican place nearby?” You offer.

He shakes his head up and down enthusiastically and eagerly rummages through his satchel bag, still perched up on his hip.

He hands you something, “That would be great. Mexican is great. I’m- that’s- you’re-” He takes another deep breath and takes a moment, “Great. Just, um, great. I’ll be done by 9 and we can meet then. It, uh, was really great talking to you again.”

Spencer’s face flushes even more and after he hands you something, he moves away and says his goodbyes, making his way down the hall in the direction he came from before stopping in his tracks, turning around and walking in the opposite direction.

You can hear him as he passes where you still stand. “Great? Why did you say great so many times? You said great five times in two minutes, Spencer!” You hear him chastising himself.

You laugh quietly to yourself as you watch him leave, waving to him when he turns his head to see if you’re still watching him (and you are). You look down at your hand and let out a larger laugh now that his is no longer in sight.

He handed you another one of his business cards.

a/n: here’s a small continuation of extreme aggressor because i felt like i left it way more open-ended than the other one shots i have since posted. this is to tide you over until 1x05 broken mirror is finished and to be posted! i might do more of these small continuations for others...

[soupedepates]

We had just gotten married and Zuza couldn't (and didn't want to) stay in bed for more than necessary, so I had the pleasure of looking at her back as she was braiding her hair and looking for a headscarf, since she's a married woman now.

"Fryderyk, my love, get up and get dressed, I can hear outside the guests of our nuptials and..." She took the time to chose her clothes just to put on her loveliest dress and her cutest pinny. She moved the curtains aside to glance outside. "...And your parents are among them to fetch us for breakfast, I think."

"The Saints bless, your mother won't gouge my eyes out for having taken your virginity and exposed it to the village", I answered as I was starting to stretch.

"She knew it was all a trick", Zuza giggled. "Come on. I've had the time to prepare your outfit when you're barely out of bed."

"It's the first and the last night we will sleep here, we could've made the most out of it..." And just like that, I started to kiss the nape of her neck. Now it was licit and we didn't have to hide nor to worry anymore. Next step was founding a family. "We could've started working haaard to conceive our first..."

She kissed me on the lips. "After breakfast and you reassuring your parents on the fact everything went well, I might consider it." Call me a simple man but by the Saints, my wife - wife, could you imagine ? - is really something else, she was making my heart flutter just by whispering those words.

Breakfast was weird. I got seated between my parents. Just in front of Zuza who was observed by everyone. That's the custom for brides, and mine is shy enough to redden immediately from her forehead to her pointy ears. She didn't need to pretend to act all coy.

So my father went: "Son, did the night go well? It sure was rewarding, the courtship lasted forever, I'm sure it was a welcomed relief", all with a bawdy laugh.

And my mother: "I hope you stayed gentle, young women are fragile and you better treat yours with that in mind, or Danuta and I will have to teach you better. Zuza, was it painful? You can tell me."

"Zuza looks perfectly fine to me", exclaimed my father. "Ah, finally, I can call you my daughter!"

Zuza was, at the moment, burying her face between her hands. I was myself not very comfortable. Moreover we weren't innocent, neither of us, we knew each other's body rather well before the wedding night. But if anyone were to know - besides Danuta, for that was a bit late - it would be a huge scandal in the village and would tarnish the reputation of both my family and the Czacki. I didn't want poor Dariusz to turn in his grave for everyone was doubting his daughter's virtue.

Thanks the Saints for Zuza's shyness, honestly. She passed for someone who preserved herself until wedding so good job, babe, you're amazing and I love you so much.

"You're embarrassing her!" I tried. "Is it mandatory to ask that in a public setting?"

"That's what you get for being the future village chief, Fryd, be prepared for your every move to be scrutinized", my little brother snarkily remarked.

"Can we please let Zuza out of this? My poor wife is mortified", I tried again, not wanting to let Jacenty get to me.

"P-please, I am not willing to... discuss such things..."

Oh she was indeed embarrassed. She sounded embarrassed. She looked embarrassed. There was no doubt of it.

But I knew that slight trembling of the voice. And I knew that everyone was too used to her being so stern and severe looking to notice that.

The "poor wife" was, in fact, trying not to laugh. And I feel her little foot against my leg. Oh the little...

"Oh, I have forgotten how coy newly wed girls stay", my father pensively said while stroking his beard.

"Call me debauched, Nikodem, while you're at it!"

"Rozalia, my one and only, you're the most virtuous woman I got to meet", he made up for that while winking at me. "Note that, Fryderyk, a happy wife means a happy life, never upset her or you might regret it!" On these words he got up to hug my mother from behind, starting a commotion.

For of course, everyone started smugly slip smut just to embarrass Zuza a bit more, or they wanted to give me their piece of advice on a harmonious married life.

And I really never could have thought to say that, but thanks Danuta to appear late at the wedding breakfast. People stood up from their seat to congratulate the mother of the bride.

That was our cue to leave on the sly.

We ran away, Zuza with her shoes in her hands, until we could hide in a field that hadn't been harvested yet. She made sure no-one could see nor hear us, before erupting in laughter.

"Your father was... Oh my, I'm sorry, I really like you father, but he was..."

"I know, that was so hard to keep a straight face!"

I took her by the waist, before starting to kiss her on the lips. Again, and again, and again, tightening our embrace every time until her hands met in my back.

"You said something about considering starting to try for a child after breakfast..."

"Hmhm... And perhaps you're talking too much and not taking enough action now, don't you think?" she said with a large smile and holding onto my scarf.

I couldn't be a happier man. But this day sure was something.

[precariousmadness]

Having rewatched Night at the Museum the other night, I have found that Kahmunrah is insisting to be written again, and so here I am. Please forgive the mess while I get set up.

First of all, welcome to my blog for Kahmunrah of Night at the Museum!

This blog is private, independent, and selective. It is also multimuse, multiverse, and original character friendly! Currently, it is dash only, but I intend to add a theme soon, as well as a link to his carrd.

Also, this blog may be iconless as I suspect finding icons will be impossible and making them at present would be only slightly less so.

A few general points while I work on typing up Kahmunrah's carrd:

I have never watched the animated film. Without Hank Azaria, I just can't bring myself to do it. Azaria is so pivotal to how I hear the character that hearing any other voice is unbearable.

I am very much a history geek, especially about ancient Egypt. Though I might be a bit rusty until I brush up again—which I'll likely be doing as I'm here—I do have a fairly decent working knowledge.

Specific points about my portrayal of Kahmunrah:

Despite refusing to watch the animated film, I believe I gathered that the premise of Kahmunrah appearing was that the wax statue was destroyed, but not the mummified person. I would agree with that.

My version of Kahmunrah, as the url would imply, is someone who is struggling with what would now be understood as mental illness. Specifically? I tend to lean it toward the schizophrenia and bipolar area. I do the best that I can to properly research this, but I can only be as accurate as the information available. If something is incorrect, please tell me as much as I will be glad to make the adjustment.

With that said, to be clear: Kahmunrah is not a bad person. Yes, I know he killed Ahkmenrah, but bear with me here.

In my own personal headcanons—which can, of course, be adjusted for writing partners for a verse with them—Kahmunrah and Ahkmenrah were actually close, at one point. This was the progression of events. After Kahmun was born, there were certain signs that something wasn't quite right, and the older he became, the more obvious. He had difficulty learning to read. He had terrible mood swings. Among other things that could not quite be explained or excused. Sometimes he was perfectly fine, personable and warm; at other times, he would be withdrawn and ill-tempered. There really seemed no explanation except that their son was wrong in some way.

When Ahkmen was born, Kahmun was all but forgotten. The truth is that his parents were ashamed of him. They thought him a punishment from the gods, and it was easy to focus on the newborn.

When it became clear that Ahkmen was a very bright, friendly, and normal child, it was decided that he would become Pharaoh. Kahmun wasn't upset about being passed over—most of the time. In fact, he, too, could acknowledge that his younger brother was far better-suited to the role. What could he do for their kingdom when he could not even manage himself?

Despite what could have caused animosity—again, within my own headcanon—Ahkmen was, indeed, a very bright child, very perceptive and sensitive to things that perhaps others were not. As such, he was often the only one who seemed to care anything about his brother. The two were almost inseparable, despite a gap in their ages. On the good days, Kah had infinite patience for the boy. On the bad days, Ahk was perhaps one of the most capable of navigating those treacherous waters. Ahk truly was one of the only bright spots in Kah's life.

Even during the worst of his episodes, Kah never physically lashed out at Ahk, though he could certainly say some incredibly cutting words, make statements that he would always regret and apologize for later—when he could remember them.

The fact of the matter is that Ahk, being the seemingly progressive sort of person that he was, had too many grand ideas of how to improve their kingdom upon becoming the Pharaoh. The old advisors and keepers of status quo didn't like that, and so they endeavored to solve the issue, though they had to be careful not to get their own hands dirty. How convenient that they had the perfect tool at their disposal.

The advisors first tried appealing to Kah's pride, a sense of entitlement. He should have been Pharaoh. It was his birthright, was it not? Kah did not fall to that reasoning. He knew his brother should be Pharaoh, and he knew that he should not. But that he resisted the first attempt... did not mean that it would continue to be able to do so. The unfortunate fact is that Kah's mental state meant he was vulnerable, and once they found the right catalyst, the outcome was inevitable, and the advisors took advantage of that. They began to whisper like treacherous snakes that Ahk would bring down the displeasure of the gods with all of the things he intended to change, all of the supposed 'improvements' he intended to make. It was heresy, and who knows what catastrophes might happen as a result!

Eventually, and likely following a few unfortunate events that might well have been staged, in one of his more unstable stretches, Kah succumbed to their influence.

Wound up and turned loose to do the advisors' bidding, Kah killed Ahkmenrah... and then followed the unfortunate and terrible moment of clarity... too late.

In the wake of his brother's murder, he seized power. He ordered the advisors to be executed. [ And he saw to it that Ahkmenrah was buried exactly as he was intened to be—though it should have been at a much later date—with their parents and with the tablet.

Absolutely destroyed by guilt and self-hatred, and now without the somewhat steadying influence and help of his brother, Kah's mental state further destabilized, leading him to become known as 'Kahmunrah the Bloodthirsty'. Prior to his death, he decrees that he should be buried as far as possible from his family.

My main thought for Kah returns to the living despite his best efforts to the contrary, is that the Egyptian exhibit is expanded—wherever it may be located—upon the discovery of his tomb, which he had very purposely placed nowhere near the rest of his family. He had never wanted to be returned to life, much less to inflict his presence upon the beloved brother that he murdered with his bare hands. He will actively avoid Ahk and their parents, if it is within his power, and tends to seek solitude, both to avoid being a burden on anyone, as well as because all of that guilt and self-hatred didn't vanish. He neither wanted nor felt that he deserved a second life. If left to his own devices, he will live it as though he isn't. He rises when the tablet takes effect, finds somewhere where he can be alone, and returns to his sarcophagus at the proper time. He endeavors to speak to no one, unless he is addressed. He does not attempt to engage with others, unless they approach him.

Thankfully, the tablet seems to have a calming effect on his mind, so no one has to worry of him trying anything maniacal, but... it isn't a cure either. He does still struggle, to a lesser extent, with his mind, with the moods, the delusions, the paranoia, et cetera.

[lyloneliness]

This will have nothing to do with bsd and will be very personal so those who follow me for bsd stuff you can stop reading if you want ₍⸍⸌̣ʷ̣̫⸍̣⸌₎

Actually, I don't think many remember, or have even read the tag game (edit: my bad, it was an ask) in which I said I actually have something similar to a Dissociative Identity Disorder.. Well, even if no one reads this I just wanna put my thoughts down so it's okay anyway.

I just realized that now that I'm dissociated, what is 'me' as an alter (alternative personality), or more as a person is supposed to be way more defined... Or restricted in a way. I was always a weird person, with many changes of heart, of moods, of likings and other stuff... Well, in everything really.

Back then, if I was to use only one word to define myself I would always answer "changing", or "inconsistent". One time I even got very upset at my parents and cried because they said it was a bad word, a bad thing, that I shouldn't describe myself as inconsistent... I felt like they rejected the fact that I am like this, or just basically, like they rejected me.

Anyway, now I know that it was because the different parts of 'me' that were supposed to assemble in one identity at the end of early childhood didn't assemble like with most people, those who don't struggle with severe dissociation. And with people with a 'complete' DID, they don't assemble at all, and one becomes the main while the others appear later in life to help the 'whole person'/system navigate in life, adaptating to situations by switching. But for me it was just like a child doesn't knowing how to combine many things to make a proper collage just taped a ripped sheet of paper together to vaguely maintain it, faking it being whole.

That's why I was like that, I was literally different persons stitched together and coexisting throughout my life.

And now that each of us is separated from the others, and well defined, they all know what they like, how they are, who they are. Well, they don't even have to acknowledge it, they just ARE like that.

All but me.

I'm the 'main', the one to whom all this life is attributed to, the base of our existence until now. And all the memories I have are supposed to be mine. My feelings, my likings, my relationships, my behaviors.. But now I know most of them were the other alters', and I don't know anymore what I like. What is 'me' in all of this?

I don't know how to make the distinction. I don't know what I like, how I'm supposed to act like. The person I was supposed to be wasn't really me all this time, so the image I had of myself is crushed.. I always felt like I wasn't properly someone, I never knew who I was, so I made efforts. But turns out all the progress I thought I had made over the years to construct my personality just split at the same time as us, I'm back to before I constructed everything I'm supposed to be. There is nothing left for me..

I can't even say what my favorite colour is.

I don't have an identity.

I feel like a digital painting to which all the layers were took away to make a complete painting out of each, and all is left is the blank canvas. That's indeed a weird comparison but well, I'm supposed to be an artist so I couldn't think of something else.

I feel like I'm a middle schooler in the middle of an existential crisis when I'm supposed to be 19 in a little more than a month. Everyone always said I was a mature one, turns out one of my alters was 4 years older all this time, and now I can't seem to see things from a distance, cool my head and try to understand anymore. Everything is blurry and I'm scared. Honestly, I forgot what it was to be lost and scared. 'I ' almost didn't feel anything in a year and now I'm blending with a big mess of feelings that I don't even know are mine or not, and how I need to react to them.

I don't even know if I'm tired of being in this void, or sad, or disappointed by this loss of self... I drown myself in hypersomnia to avoid existing like this and thinking about what I'm gonna become and how I'm supposed to become it (well, I don't even know what I want to be to begin with.. ), only to have weird dreams that I don't know are whose since I switch even in it, and deciphering it all seems exhausting.

I don't know what to do. I don't even know if I actually want to do anything..

Well, this is all for the rambling! (≡^∇^≡)

I kinda feel sorry for anyone who'd get until here reading all this mess... If you wanna say smth or ask questions I'm all open really. Even if it's quite unlikely.. but yeah, "just in case", yknow (=ㅇ༝ㅇ=)

Oh! And something that made me laugh (bitterly but still) :

*Incoming screenshot of when I was writing*, for those with the blue theme like me

Auto correct didn't even consider this possible 😹😹😹

[wromwood]

Something happened in therapy recently that has definitely happened to me before, and I wanna think about it for a bit.

So, I'm transitioning from one social worker to another because the new one will likely be a better fit for me. During our last session, I answered a few final questions in the previous social worker's assessment of me. In a past session, I'd mentioned that I was autistic, so she asked if I'd had any specialized learning plans or teachers/tutors during elementary/grade school, particularly after any evaluations I'd had. I answered no, but whether or not I needed that kind of help, an evaluation would've been amazing to have at that time.

The social worker looked a little surprised and asked when I had my autism evaluation. She got even more surprised when I answered that it happened a couple of years ago.

"But that's so recent," she said, double-checking my age to confirm that I had, indeed, been a legal adult two years ago.

"Uh, yeah," I said. I explained that I'd only gotten my evaluation at all because I was fed up with failing to convince my parents to do anything since I'd started asking about this in my teens, and finally realized "Wait a minute, I'm a legal adult now. I can schedule my own damn autism evaluation."

After confirming that I'd been evaluated in a legitimate medical setting (in fact, it was a research center in the clinic's own larger medical system), she asked what sort of autism I had. I had to explain where on the spectrum I was, how I didn't have "special needs" as most people understood them, how I could be independent, the whole thing.

I guess the reason this stuck out to me so much is that she didn't ask all these questions when I first mentioned that I was autistic, or when we discussed how an ideal social worker would be one who was experienced with autistic people. We talked about this, but she only asked further questions when she realized I wasn't someone who had been diagnosed in childhood. I suppose the assumption was that if I'd been diagnosed in childhood, then it would've shown in my schoolwork or social life in a very noticeable way, but as an adult, I would've worked through it and become the relatively-not-very-autistic seeming adult I am now. Or that I only would've sought out an evaluation as an adult for more "severe" signs of autism that would be more apparent when talking about my life.

I dunno, I'm not upset about it or anything, and otherwise, the social worker is great at her work. I just it's just a clear sign that there's still a stigma (perhaps lighter now than it used to be) about when and why someone would get evaluated for autism.

[nightmaremp]

Weremayhem: Song of Beasts. Ch 20: Phases of the Feline

  “Why?” asked Dr. Teeth as he lay his head on his keyboard. His voice is sad. The keyboard plays a sad tune each time the good doctor plays a note. He kept repeating “Why?” over and over. 

“Huh,” said Zoot, who was next to him. “Maybe the next line is Z.” he added. 

“After the phase of malaise, comes musical self-doubt” said Janice. Her, Floyd, Nora, and Moog were in the recording part of the basement. They were watching the doc and Zoot through the glass. 

“Yeah, who am I kidding? I’m no ivory tickler” said the ginger haired male. 

“I can’t even ding the dang triangle” he added as he pulled out the triangle and tried to play it. No sound was made from the metal triangle. 

“What?” asked the dark blue haired male. 

“See? Doesn’t sound good” replied Teeth, his voice sounding so upset and stressed. “See?” he added. 

“And after he dings the dang, then comes explosive rebellion” said Floyd. 

“Enough! I don’t need you!” snapped the good doctor as he slammed his hand on the keyboard. His fingers had some long sharp nails on them. He points at the saxophonist. 

“I don’t need my parents! I don’t need triangles!” he added with a hiss of a cat. 

“In fact, I rejectify shapes of all kinds. Even the rhombus” said the doc as he moved his hand in a sassy, bossy way. 

“Then comes explosive regret,” said the blonde female. The red haired male nods his head. 

“Oh, I am so sorry,” said Dr. Teeth as he brought Zoot into a bear hug but it felt like a snake was squeezing him to death. He groans as his lover hugs him so tight. “I’m so sorry” said the ginger haired male as he hugs his short lover to death. 

“And this is nothing compared to the next phase, which is a very abrupt flashbac-” Floyd Pepper started to say before the flashback cut him off. 

The flashback starts. Pomp and circumstance was playing in front of a dental school for dentists. Teeth was probably 20 or in his early 20s. He had graduated from the school to be a dentist like his mother wanted him to be. The ginger haired male was wearing his graduating outfit which was a black robe with some purple on it. His hair had grown out where now it was in a small man bun under his hat. He was now up to his father’s shoulder in his height. 

Tina was filled with so much joy, she was proud of her son.  She was wearing a pink and orange dress suit with a gold necklace with a gold tooth on it. Her earrings were white fangs of wolves, they were real. Her sleeve of her dress suit was short which revealed a huge scar on her right arm. A wereanimal hunter cause the wound when Teeth and his siblings were three weeks old kittens. 

“Oh, my baby boy is a certified tooth doctor,” said Tina with a smile as she gently pitched his cheek. 

“Like your late great granddaddy said, “May your spit cups always overflow with good fortune” she added. 

“Ain’t that right, Gerald?” asked the ginger haired female. 

“Yep,” replied her husband. He was wearing a baby blue suit with a red bow tie. The dark brown hair male had his camera with him and was smiling with happiness for his son. 

“Aww, thanks for all those wonderful words, mama” replied Teeth. His voice had the deep growl to it now but is ain’t loud like his present self. “And that nice one from you, too, Daddy,” he added. 

“Well, it is about to get nicer,” replied his mother as she revealed a solid gold floss case. Tina chuckles as she sees her son’s eyes go wide in shock. 

He gently took it out of his mother’s hand. “Great Granddaddy’s solid floss case?” asked Junior. 

“Indeed” replied the ginger haired female. 

“Now, you go say bye to your dental friends while we go get the Molar Express” she added. 

“Come one, Gerald” said Tina as she and her husband leaves. 

“Thank you, mama. Thank you, daddy” replied their son. 

“Move your little tushy, Gerald” said Tina to her dark brown haired lover. 

“Hey” said Luna, one of Teeth’s sisters. She was holding Flora, his younger sister. Luna has long dark brown hair that was in a bun. She had a pink nose like their mother. Luna was chubby like Junior. She had on was a light purple dress with some dark purple high heels. 

“Hey” replied the doc. 

“Great job on becoming a dentist” she replied with a smile. 

“Brother!” said Flora as she reached for her older brother. He chuckles as he picks her up. Flora had long hair that had dark brown at the roots and the bottom of her hair while the middle was ginger color. Her nose is pink like Luna’s nose. She was wearing a light blue dress that had some flowers on it, she also had some black dress shoes with white socks under it. 

“Hey Flora, happy to see your big brother become a dentist?” asked Teeth with a smile. 

“Yeah!” replied his little sister with a smile. The moment was cut short when Liam, Teeth’s other brother came running and hid behind him. They look to see what scares Liam and it was Xavier, Teeth’s little brother who was holding a full on rat. 

Xavier is Flora’s twin brother. They were both six years old. He has ginger hair with brown fluffy eyebrows like their father. His nose was pink like his sisters’ noses. He had a shitty grin on his face as he tried to get Liam to scream like a girl. “How the hell did he catch a rat?” Junior asked himself. 

“Xavier! Stop!” whimper Laim as he hides behind the doc. He had long dark brown hair that was put in a ponytail, also brown fluffy eyebrows like their father. He had an orange nose like the good doctor. People get confused between Liam and Gerald because they look like clones of each other except for their heights. Their father was the tallest one out of their family. 

“Xavier! Leave Liam alone!” hissed Luna as she picked up the small boy with her free hand. She groans as their little brother starts to throw a tantrum. 

“We’re going to catch up with mama and daddy” she said to Teeth before leaving. 

“Thank you” said Liam to Junior. 

“Of course, no problem,” he replied with a chuckle. 

“See you” he said before following their other siblings. 

After they leave, Teeth suddenly hears a guitar strumming nearby. He looks over to see Floyd who look so different now, on a bench. He was playing his guitar. 

The red haired male had a full mustache that he has in the present. He isn’t wearing any glasses. Floyd Pepper was wearing a green army jacket with a gray t-shirt under it.  Also had some blue jeans on with some brown boots. The red haired male had his long red hair in a ponytail like Liam and was wearing a dark green hat. 

Floyd was vocalizing as the good doctor walked over. He suddenly stopped while he noticed Teeth. “Oh! Hey there! I know you. Future Doctor Man, right?” said the red haired male. Junior looked around before he realized he was talking to him. “Or should I say, Present Doctor Man? Remember me from the music shop?” asked Floyd Pepper with a smile. 

“Oh, yeah” replied Teeth. “I barely recognize you with the mustache and no glasses,” he added. 

“Yeah, well, I grew them out and threw them out,” replied Floyd. The ginger haired male chuckles. 

“Do I walk into walls sometimes? You bet” he added with a chuckle. 

“But now, I just let the music be my guide,” said the red haired male. 

“Well, I salute that, Sarge.” replied Junior. 

“Actually, I got dishonorably discharged from West Point for turning Taps into a jazz odyssey.” replied Floyd. They both laugh. 

“And now I’m just following my dreams. Kinda like you?” he added. 

“Yeah. Yeah, I suppose so” replied the doc. 

“Yeah” replied the red haired male. He mess up a note on the guitar which causes the note to be discordant. 

“I still can’t get the hang of that last string” said Floyd Pepper. 

“Say, have you ever thought about playing the bass guitar?” asked the ginger haired male. 

“Mmm. Less strings, less fingers. You are smart, Doc” replied Floyd with a soft smile. They both chuckle. 

“Hey, that reminds me. I’ve been holding on to something for you” he added as he reached to get something out of his guitar case. It was the harmonica that Teeth played at the music shop when he was 16. The good doctor’s eyes got wide. He couldn’t believe that he kept it for him. 

“Here you go” said Floyd as he held it out to the other male. 

“Come on!” replied Junior in shock. “I can’t believe you have that” he added as he gently take the harmonica from the red haired male. 

“Well, I always wanted to thank you for that bridge you gave me,” replied Floyd Pepper. 

“You know…” he started to say before he played it. “How about taking it for another spin?” asked the red haired male with a smile on his face. 

“Oh, no, thanks. No, no, I’m no musician. I don’t even know how to…” Junior started to say before he started playing the harmonica. 

“That’s it,” said Floyd. Teeth chuckles. “Come on, now” added the red haired male. 

Suddenly, the sound of the Molar Express’s horn filled the air. Teeth’s parents were back with the bus. Teeth’s siblings look at their brother who was with Floyd Pepper. Luna couldn't believe her brother was that good at music. 

“All aboard, Junior” said Tina as she opened the door to the express. Junior stops and looks at his mother in fear. She gasped when she saw the red haired male again.

 “Are you fraternizing with that music hooligan again?” asked the ginger haired female with venom in her tone. 

“Well, your father won’t allow it. Ain’t that right, Gerald?” she added. 

“Yep” replied Gerald. 

Teeth look at the solid gold floss case then the harmonica. He hands the harmonica back to Floyd. “Thanks again, but you best keep that. And good luck with your dream, Sarge” said Junior. 

“You, too, Doc. You, too” replied Floyd. 

The flash back ends, Teeth’s fingers move quickly across the keyboard. He was playing frenetically. “Nothing like a fantabulous little flashback to get those fingerlings aflying!” said the doc. “Whoo!” he added. 

“Whoo is right!” replied Nora with a smile. “Does it mean this whole process is done?” she asked. 

“No, no,” replied Janice. “This is just, like, his phase of manic prosperity” she added. 

“You know what? I’ll take it” replied the black haired female. “I mean, look at him go!” Label Lady added. 

“Moog, please tell me” she started to say before he cut her off. 

“Recording every note” replied Moog. 

“Dude, I could kiss you right now,” she replied. The black haired male blushes. 

“Yeah, I’m just doing my job,” he replied. 

“Nora,” said Animal. 

“Oh!” replied Moog. “Yep” he replied. 

“We all know you dig Nora” said the black haired male. The drummer was breathing heavily. He slowly put his hand on Moog’s chest. 

“Nora” replied the wild man.

“Oh, wow. Your hand on my heart now” replied Moog in a nervous tone. 

“Nora,” replied Animal. 

“Okay” the black haired male replied. 

“Hey, look, I got work to do here, buddy. All right? So maybe no more Nora-ing?” he added. 

“Okay” replied the drummer before leaving. 

“All right,” he replied with some nervous chuckles. The wild man start repeating “Nora” over and over again. 

[lorspolairepeluche]

Fun fact: Alphinaud and Alisaie are (legally) (on the Azim Steppe anyway) Oday's kids.

It was an impulse decision in the wake of Fourchenault's disowning of them at that meeting in Gridania to speak up and ask for a point of clarification -- not on Sharlayan's decision, but on Master Fourchenault's other, more personal reason for the meeting. "You are...relinquishing all familial claim to Alphinaud and Alisaie?"

"They are no longer part of my house."

"Indeed. Then I see no reason to not make their adoption into my family official, should they consent." They spared Fourchenault not another glance as they turned to the twins. "Do you?"

Alphinaud and Alisaie kind of just...stared for a second, but they both recognized that gleam in Oday's eye as the particular kind they got when sticking it to some uppity bastard for the sake of their loved ones. So they both nodded.

Oday nodded back, face never changing from a mild, diplomatic expression, and looked back to Fourchenault. "Then, Master Leveilleur, I must ask you to hasten your exit. You have insulted and demeaned beloved and respected members of the Solongo tribe, and as its khan, I cannot abide such behavior toward those in my care."

Fourchenault, as Fourchenault does, kept his composure, asking only a clipped, "...I beg your pardon?"

"I believe you heard me, ser." Oday folded their arms, never breaking eye contact. "You're upsetting my kids."

(This was supported and made slightly less ridiculous of a situation by literally all of the Warriors of Light leveling stares on Fourchenault that all had the same intense degree of our kids now in them.)

After the meeting, as they went to prepare to battle lunar primals, Oday said to the twins, apropos of nothing, "Let's get ice cream after."

They did, indeed, treat Alphie and Alisaie to ice cream, and Oday talked with them about their childhood for the first time. They explained that their mother disowned them too, in all but name, and they had an honest heart-to-heart about forging your own path when your parents turn their backs. Finding those who will support and care for you and whom you will support and care for in return, working through the grief of distance from those you looked up to. Oday had been through the lack of support and love from those who were supposed to care for them, and they were absolutely not going to let that happen to these two. And they assured Alphinaud and Alisaie: "That wasn't performative, that declaration. You are Solongo now, and I am honored to be a part of your family and to have you as part of mine. Beyond that, I'm your godsdamned friend. You know you can call on me when you need me, 'cause I love you. That hasn't changed. Never will. This just made it official. Made me honor-bound to love you. Easiest promise I've ever made."

It was less "official" than other Steppe adoptions, but the twins are legally, on the Steppe, Alphinaud Leveilleur Solongo and Alisaie Leveilleur Solongo, first children of the tribe and most beloved of Oduyanga Khan, and if Oday takes anything seriously in their life, it's found family. They made themself a steadfast support for Alphie and Alisaie, counsel (such as it was) and guardian.

[star-dot-net]

My thoughts & feelings on Loki

Thought I should give my two-cents given the debate occurring right now. I will discuss:

Sylvie

Kevin Wrong

Lokius

Sylki(e)

This is just my thoughts! None of this is objective (none of this is fact, necessarily) it is simply my take on the situation(s).

Sylvie

No sugarcoating it; they majorly fucked Sylvie’s character this season. The writing seemed off, and if you removed every scene with Sylvie in it, the story would still make perfect sense. I hate that, because I love Sylvie. First season she was so badass! She was a strong character. This season she was a filler. She did not have any development, which would be fine if they had written her as a static character this season. But they didn’t. They wrote her dialogue at the end as if she’d gone through some revelation of some kind, when in reality she was literally returning to where she had been at the beginning of the season. They wrote her like shit. I am very upset about it.

Sylki(e)

I would not call myself “anti-sylki.” However, I personally feel uncomfortable by the incestuous nature of the ship (they have the same parents). I am not uncomfortable with it because it “ruins my ship,” because shipping wars are fucking dumb. I can admit part of me just… doesn’t like the ship. That being said, there is something to be discussed with the Lokius vs Sylki ship debate; I have seen a few Lokius shippers being sexist about Sylvie. I have seen many more fetishizing MLM relationships. I hate that. You should not SHIP something and use your ship as an excuse to be a bigot or a creep. Another point I see some people bringing up is related to queerness. There’s this ridiculous argument that Lokius shippers are only wanting queer relationships; that they don’t like Sylki because it’s het. My question is: Is Sylki straight? Because, in my eyes, we have two bisexual genderfluid characters. That is, inherently, queer. Regardless, because of the presentation of the two characters as cis in the show, it also feels a bit like queer erasure. What I’m saying is: if they had explored the identities a bit more, the queerness of both characters? I still wouldn’t be comfortable. It just doesn’t feel right to me. Having said that: ship away! My discomfort should not (and does not) dictate your ship. Not when, in technicality, there isn’t truly anything harmful about Sylki. I may make an entire post discussing the queerness of Sylki, so stay tuned.

Lokius

Heads up— I’m a Lokius shipper. That being said, I also have the ability to go about an analysis without being too biased (I hope). Continue with this knowledge in mind.

I despise the MLM fetishization aspect of this ship. There are a lot of cishet girls doing this in the fandom. If that sentence makes you feel defensive, you might be one of them. Look into that.

Additionally, I want to stress so hard that Loki is not a man. He is genderfluid. Even Kevin Wrong confirmed that much. Lokius is still queer. It was always queer. It is, however, definitely not just MLM. Just wanted to point that out.

Continuing from the Sylvie sexism— while I’m sure some Lokius shippers are indeed being sexist, think about it the other way around, too. Why does Sylvie need a love interest? So many women in film and TV are cast simply as love interests. Sylvie doesn’t need to be. She doesn’t DESERVE to be boiled down to that. She’s powerful, and the writers took that away from her this season, and it makes me angry. Regardless of my feelings, the idea that she must be in a relationship with a “man” (again— neither Sylvie nor Loki are “men” or “women”, but for the sake of simplicity I’m just going to refer to them as such since Marvel&Disney can’t take their heads out of their asses). That idea— doesn’t that feel a little demeaning? Can’t she live her life without a romantic connection to a man? I don’t know. I just think the situation has much more nuance than “Lokius shippers sexist!11!!1!!1!”

Kevin Wrong

I don’t really have much to say about him, to be honest. “We can’t see inside Loki’s head” made me actually laugh out loud. What, in the everloving fuck do you mean by that, sir?! You are his thoughts, in a manner of speaking. You WRITE HIS THOUGHTS. It’s the most bullshit excuse for queerbaiting I’ve ever fucking heard, actually. Absolutely ridiculous. Again, however, this one’s biased because of my Lokius shipper status as a person. It just feels like a lame excuse for lack of representation.

Thank you for reading my word vomit!! Altogether, I loved this show. It’s just flawed, like most shows are. It could have been more inclusive, like most shows can be. Writers are people, too, though, and not everyone has as much freedom of speech in that field as you’d think they do— regardless of what the writers might have wanted, Disney’s S&P most likely would not have okay-ed the queer relationship. Kevin Wrong was one writer; keep that in mind. He’s one cishet writer in the writer’s room with many other people. He might just be a bumbling idiot, guys. He might just be.

ANYWAYS! Ship what you want (as long as it’s not harmful)! Don’t harass other people for their ships!!!!!! BE KIND. ETC. IT’S ALMOST NEVER THAT DIRE— FANFICTION EXISTS, HEADCANONS EXIST!!! I understand it’s disappointing if your ship doesn’t go canon, but sometimes you don’t get what you want. And that’s okay!

[professorlegaspi]

Buckle up kiddos because you’re about to get an in depth character analysis of our favorite unnamed character ever: Josh Rumble’s sister!

Major disclaimer before I start: info on this girl is few and far between. I did not reread the whole series and I could have missed something. If you find something unmentioned in this essay TELL ME. Do not be shy. No, I will not be mad. Yes, I will want to hear. I am rabid about this woman. [EDIT: I forgot about the tag-teen interview when writing this analysis, so it does leave out some (potentially important) info on Josh’s parents that was revealed there. Make of it what you will].

The biggest source of information we DO have about Josh’s Sister (from here on referred to as JS) is her conversation with Celia in the Gathering Storm. The bulk of this essay will focus on that scene, but I want to mention the other small tidbits that exist.

We basically have 3 facts found outside of The Summer Tournament.

1) JS is older than Josh Rumbles

2) JS taught Josh how to dance

3) JS gave Josh an e-reader for Christmas in The Final Word.

This tells us a couple more things.

1) Her family celebrates Christian holidays

2) JS is good at gift giving

3) JS has disposable income

Okay cool. So JS is in contact with her family who are either Christian or culturally Christian, she knows how to dance, and she loves her brother. Baseline stuff.

Now the spicy bit - the Summer Tournament.

For those who may have forgotten, Josh’s team won the Renasci Soccovolle tournament so now they’re going to nationals. The one that year is in Florida, and all of Josh’s friends have come out to watch him play.

Yes, you are remembering correctly. This is the stage of The Kiss. Josh kisses Celia, she slaps him, it gets caught on camera, it’s on the front cover of every newspaper. Josh is pissed, Celia is pissed, and JS is pissed.

Celia and co. are staying at a hotel for the tournament. They have nearby rooms, and Josh is staying with his teammates, presumably in the same hotel. It is unclear what JS’s rooming situation is.

Josh apologizes to Celia in the hotel lobby, and it ends with him storming away. JS confronts Celia directly afterwards, so we can infer the JS has seen the conversation.

The first thing we learn about JS is her appearance.

She is tall, and gorgeous. She has blue eyes, mahogany hair, and her two most notable descriptors are “cool” and “sophisticated.” If there is any archetype she fits it is “The Bitch.”

Fittingly, she starts off the conversation bitchy.

She “stud[ies] her fingernails” for much of the following conversation. She is an absolute drama queen.

JS goes on to explain why she’s there. “I was here to watch my brother play. Our parents couldn’t make it.”

I would like to take a minute to remind everyone that Josh, for much of the summer, had been complaining because the one year he made it the Summer Tournament it was in Florida, the state where he lived.

The summer tournament is in Florida - where Josh lives - and his parents couldn’t make it. I think we all can agree that that’s a little weird.

They’re either poor and can’t veherate, thus making travel difficult, Josh’s tournament isn’t considered a priority for them (:/).

This next part is interesting:

“I guess he talks about you a lot.” On the surface, this tells us that JS and Josh communicate frequently.

However, that clause “I guess” is strange. There’s no real reason to add it. Her message still comes across - indeed, is more impactful - without it. So the fact that it’s there speaks to habit. She’s used to either tempering herself and her opinions, or she’s used to hiding her relationship with her brother.

And then, and THEN!

“You didn’t have to make it so public.”

That is a loaded sentence. The implications there are scalding. This changes everything.

This sentence is pivotal because it tells us why she’s upset - why she’s picking a fight.

JS does not care that Josh has a crush on Celia. That is for him to work out. She does not care that Celia turned him down. That is for them to work out. She does not even care that Celia slapped him. Look at the sentence above. “Are you often in the habit of humiliating your friends?” she asks. Not ‘hitting’ not ‘injuring’ not ‘slapping.’ Humiliating.

JS does not care that Celia hit her brother. She cares that it happened publicly.

JS cares about Josh’s reputation.

With that revelation, I want to return to her descriptions. “Polish and sophistication” is what Celia notes about her contenance. Knowing that JS cares deeply about how her brother is seen, and therefore cares deeply about how she is seen, the air of “polish” cannot be anything but deliberate.

JS either wants to, or feels like she has to, be exceedingly presentable even on a Sunday morning travel-day.

This could be a result of being overlooked as a woman, but I think especially because her reaction to Josh’s “humiliation” was so strong, it is probably a quirk of her upbringing.

Contrast that with Josh. He’s constantly choking on his own masculinity. He’s a jock, he doesn’t know how to communicate his feelings, he is uncomfortable even when other people communicate their feelings, he has a fairly gruff exterior and feels threatened by other men.

Something about JS and Josh’s upbringing has caused them to feel that they have to perform gender roles very hard, and has also made JS see violence coming from a loved one as less important than reputation.

WHAT is their home life???

Genuinely. Something is Going On.

Whatever it was, it caused Josh to almost never mention it. He never calls his sister by name, and it is only though passing comments that we know they have a relationship. And we know nothing about his parents [EDIT: this is rendered false by the overlooked TAG Teen interview].

So, to conclude.

JS comes from an … interesting home life. She cares about her brother. She is protective of her brother. She buys him expensive Christmas presents. He tells her about his friends and Celia. She listens.

She cares about being taken seriously, and beyond being very beautiful seems to have secured a well-paying job. She is very curt when she speaks, and likes to let people come to their own conclusions. She doesn’t offer her name and Josh never mentions it.

After the Gathering Storm she is never seen again.

[justhyunhoer]

Midnight surprise ♡

Masterlist

Pairings : hwang hyunjin X Lee min ho , hyunlix and minsung as besties.

Warnings: it's an AU, kisses, anxiety(not really), midnight date, holding hands.

Mid winters were going on when suddenly out of the blue minho and hyunjin decided to share the bucket list they made for the season , cause they didn't had any better thing to talk upon during their brake. Usually they sit with their group but today it turned out that they all were gone for some reason.

Minho's was simple : visiting his parents, buying toys for his cats , going to an amusement park with his bestie jisung , and a movie date with his friends.

Hyunjin was quiet upset cause the other didn't had anything to do with him, but anyways it wasn't like he was his boyfriend or something cause Hyunjin was too shy to confess, morely scared .

"What are your plans hyunjin? "

"Aghh, it's nothing much hyung . I just want to have a hot cup of noodles,late at night, when it's really chilly at..you know those red snack carts ?"

"Those type they show in dramas ?" Minho asked with an amused smile, which in response hyunjin bite his lips out of nervousness thinking whether the older found his wish weird or something.

"Yes, it's simple right..." His voice trailed down ,as this particular wish is always left unfulfilled at the end , and probably that will remain unchanged for this year too.

Minho noticed that hyunjin was quiet down after that and he knew that this simple wish of him was quiet difficult as their hostel restricted them going out of the university premises after 8 pm to avoid any kind of nuisance that would ruin their reputation (problems of the prestigious ones). Bit crazy but facts.

Challenge accepted

This was the perfect chance for minho to ask hyunjin out in a romantic way which he himself never thought of. It is challenging cause sneaking out of their dormitories wasn't easy at all but minho have to take the risk for his crush.

"Are you sure you want to do this, hyung!?" Jisung exclaimed after minho asked him for help . "I am , that's why I asked you sungie." Minho sighed and plopped down on his bed as already a week passed after their chat and the homework they gave was immense. But still minho managed to study the possible ways that they could sneak out,  but they were all too dangerous,  that's when he remembered that han mentioned something about his friends sneaking out or so not too long ago,

" Okay,  let's meet Chan , changbin and seungmin first, and then you can decide whether it's a good idea or not."

***

Now the task was easy as he just had to butter the security guard properly and done!

He'll  probably meet him around 9 as he had a night shift.

***

Minho left the room when jisung was still fully engaged in completing a work of music that their department assigned them.

"Ajjushi,  pleaseee..."

"No means no."

"I've never ever sneaked before ! Just this time , please."

"You want me to fall for that?"

"It's matter of love! Just this once, I promise I wont create any trouble,  pleasee..."

"Aghh, kids these days! "

With lot more pleading , minho received the permission . But there was a condition that if they won't return until 5 , they would get into a problem cause that's when his shift ends. This indeed was the safest way to sneak out without ending up into the principal's office.

Okay now I have to find a location and text hyunjin. Perfect!

-----

[12 :00]

Minho : hey, jinne. Are you free right now?

(few minutes later)

Hyunjin : yes, what's the matter?

Minho : nothing much , dress up warmly and come over to my dorm.

Hyunjin : why hyung? Is something wrong?

Minho : just come here! Stop questioning!

Hyunjin: okay hyungiee <3

-----

"What's up jinnie at this hour?" Felix questioned as hyunjin paused the drama they were watching on lix's laptop.

Hyunjin started jumping on the bed happily, making noises, leaving Felix confused. he decided to look at his bestfriend's then displaying mobile screen.

"OH MY GOD! HWANG HYUNJIN!" Felix got up and shook his shoulders with a wide amused yet happy grin. "Hurry up jinnie! You have to doll up!" Felix said pulling the taller down the bed and rumbled through their closet, looking for a suitable clothing.

"You have to make him fall for you today!" Felix said picking an outfit "But lix...WhY he wants me there at THIS hour?" Hyunjin said , thinking about every possible reasons , but found none. "Dunno, stop overthinking, jinnie." Hyunjin nodded and did his hair , honestly just combed it and ran his hand through them . Clean yet messy look. Perfect.

"Lix this won't do ! He told me to dress warmly " hyunjin whined and threw the crop top at the other's face . Felix just giggled and selected a creamish knitted sweater and regular blue pants. Hyunjin applied his cherry lip balm and nothing else. Finally after 15 mins he took his jacket and left .

His heart was beating abnormally if that's what it's said , he read the digits 501 and knocked twice. Minho opened the door and instead of giving hyunjin way in, he came out and locked the door behind him. His assumption was correct ,hyunjin came without a muffler and it was pretty chilly out there...more than usual.

Minho handed him two hot hand packs and settled a muffler around his neck , this action startled the younger. "H..hyung why these- What are you planning!?" His eyes widened at the time when minho said , "Emptying your bucketlist."

Minho held his hand and started walking away, "Are we- hyung! Noo!" He whined "Yes we are , you whiny baby." Minho smiled in his direction, feet never forgetting their way.

On their way down hyunjin again interrogated "but what If we get caught ?" His hot breath making little white fog appear in front of his lips. "Remember, I have muffler instead of tissues here." "You are tough lee min ho. " hyunjin teasingly sighed . "I know right." Usually minho would bicker back but today was different, right?

"Why are we following the normal way out?"

"Trust me jinnie, will you ?"

"I was just curious though..."

He pouted and followed him like a baby duckling following the mother duck. He felt weird when the security gave them a thumbs up when minho mentioned his name but also received a questioning look where the brunette nodded in response with a wide smile.

____

Felix : hey, sungiee

Jisung: yes ,lixiee

Felix : where are you ?

Jisung: at the dorm, why? ...Okay hyung took jinnie on a date !

Felix: date? You mean he's gonna propose him !?

Jisung: yes! And he didn't wanted to spoil it hence, I didn't told you.

Felix: you meaniee

Jisung : lol sorry, an don't you dare text hyunjin!

Felix : I won't!

Jisung : go to bed now, they'll be late...

Felix: are they ....

Jisung : nope.

Felix : oh okay

Jisung: go to bed nowww!

Felix : nope, gotta complete the drama first!

Jisung : I just can't-

Felix : heheheh byeee

_____

***

Minho never imagined the situation that they are in right now : walking side by side with hyunjin on a cold winter night with beautiful night sky , illuminated by the stars and moon. Cold breeze hitting their skin where hyunjin's half face is covered with the muffler that minho gave him, his pink tinted cheeks still slightly visible though an him taking little glances at the younger during their little talks , here and there. Everything was just perfect.

Right now they were laughing on a random joke minho said , to minho the laughing hyunjin in front of him was all he needed at te moment. The way his eyes almost disappeared and that smile he was flashing right now did things to minho .

"You look pretty, jinnie."

The sudden compliment from the older made hyunjin's heart skip a beat. A red color covered his cheeks which wasn't because of the cold weather.

"You didn't meant that, did you?" Hyunjin said hoping a 'I did' just to get disappointed by "You're smart hwang hyunjin !" Minho joked and laughed to recieve a "Yaah!" And a playful slap on his arm .

It was now hyunjin's chance to admire him... From last 20 mins he's trying to suppress the urge to hold minho's hand and honestly that was the only thing he needed to make this moment perfect, after all he won't ruin this already perfect moment , which was a night date with him by asking that . Well, that's what he thought.

"We're here! " Minho joyfully exclaimed and turned off the maps when he spotted a red snack cart and turned off the maps. Just few steps and hyunjin's wish would be fulfilled.

***

"Two hot noodles please! " minho cheerfully made the order when hyunjin was looking for a table which were settled there. They were 4 in total , two empty, and the remaining two had one couple and a group of employees. He finally picked one which was around a tree, which was a small round table with two chairs .

Minho came with their bowls on a tray and returned it later,

"Mmmm, yummy!" Hyunjin expressed with his entire body and the older giggled. "Eat well !" Minho said taking his first bite an had same expression as him.

"By the way, what were you doing when u texted you?"

"Watching a drama with lixie."

"Really ? Even when the work they gave to our departmentwas hectic? " minho widened his eye.

"They can always wait , lol." Hyunjin laughed and minho sighed, shaking his head in disbelief.

Their bowls were half empty by the time hyunjin halted their talks and beautifully smiled at the other, he was never this expressive (being dramaticis other thing ) but the happiness he was feeling today was just too much for him to contain. This sudden action of the younger made minho bit self conscious. Few seconds them admiring eachother and this time minho was the one who was flustered.

"Thank you hyung, I really mean it." Hyunjin broke the silence and it was one of the rarest times when minho's brain wasn't able to process a answer, just mesmerized by the boy sitting in front of him.

"W..wellcome....?" He blamed himself for stuttering and not looking in hyunjin's eyes. Before hyunjin can ease him for the same he clenched his fists and took a deep breath in order to muster up the courage for the thing he was planning to do.

Whereas hyunjin was just starting at his face trying to read what the other was up to.

"Hwang hyunjin, I know it's not the best way to ask anyone out , probablythe worst, but I like you and will you be my boyfriend ?" Minho literally rapped and white fog appearing in front of his lips as he relieved a sigh. He opened his eyes to meet the boy with widened eyes and a hand over his lips. Hyunjin's brain was malfunctioning right now.

Nothing changed for the last 5 seconds and then...

"It's okay hyunjin if it's a n-"

He was cutted off by something soft as cloud and plump, they were hyunjin's lips. Yes, right now he is being kissed by hyunjin who was bending over that small table to reach him , which minho gave in. He was on cloud nine right now. The kiss wasn't deep , just their lips pressed against eachother.

They pulled away soon when they heard cheers and claps around them, only to find out that people around them were cheering for them. They both were flustered for a second , blushing and smiling at the strangers.

Then hyunjin realized what he actually did, actually when minho stared speaking fir the other time, hyunjin's lips made their way to minho's without hyunjin knowing, in a hurry because his mind stopped functioning properly and the kdrama style response was all it thought about at that time.

They finished their remaining bowls without uttering a single word. Cause both of them needed some time to digest what just happened.

"I'll pay."

"O-okay."

Hyunjin prepared himself when Minho went to pay.

Hwang hyunjin, you got this. You're now lee minho's boyfriend. Calm down, calm down. He likes you too. YOU'RE DATING HIM NO-

His thoughts were halted when...

"Let's go." Minho smiled and offered his hand to hyunjin , which hyunjin grinned and held, now he was relieved, completely.

They started walking, hands in hand. This was a like dream to hyunjin: his crush asking him out, his pending wish (since years) getting fulfilled, more importantly him kissing his crush (now boyfriend) and right now walking hands in hands with him on a chilly winter night.

"Hyung, we're dating...?" It was a more like a question.

"Let me clear your doubt." Minho said , facing hyujin.

Hyunjin was confused, "hu-" it was now his turn to be cutted off with a kiss.

Minho tilted the younger's face with one hand and grabbed his neck with another and engaged him in a kiss, this one was a lot different than the previous one. This one was deep and passionate, filled with love. It wasn't a heated one but indeed was deep.

Hyunjin started feeling light headed, fully submitting himself to his boyfriend, resting his hands around his waist. After a minute or so ,both of them pulled apart to refill their lungs.

"Clear?"

"As Crystal."

"Good."

Minho ruffled hyunjin's hair and started walking away, hands in his pocket, leaving hyunjin behind. "Hey! Wait for me." Hyunjin caught up , clinging onto the others arm. "Your little rap was pretty good hyung! You can even beat Jisung if you try." Hyunjin joked, nudging.

"Muffler"

"Algetseumnida."

To minho, the sound of their laugh was beautiful, the night was beautiful, hyunjin's smile was beautiful, the way hyunjin felt was beautiful, his scent was beautiful, everything was beautiful, hyunjin himself was beautiful.

Their way back was full of jokes and teasing, no matter what their relationship with eachother is, one thing was for sure that they'll never miss a chance to tease eachother, specifically hyunjin.

***

Minho's room number was 501 where hyunjin's was 608. So today hyunjin got the chance to drop his boyfriend off (so drama-ish).

"Stop it hwang. "

"Let me walk you hyunggg, pweasee." Hyunjin tugged onto the others jacket with a whiny pout.

"Got it , got it."

Even though minho was acting this way from the outside, but truth to be told, he was loving it.

At minho's dorm:-

When minho entered the room , jisung was sleeping peacefully. But by the time he removed his jacket and shoes jisung was up on the bed. Ready to shoot loads of questions.

"It's 3 in the morning sungie, go to sleep, I'll you tommorow." Minho said knowing his friend way too well, adjusting himself I'm his comforter and turning off the lamps.

"Dang! Just tell me how it went then,"

"It was well. Wait, well is an understatement. "

"You better tell me each and every detail tommorow! "

"Got it, goodnight~"

Seems like neither minho or hyunjin were gonna sleep tonight.

At hyunjin's dorm:-

Hyunjin expected Felix to be waiting for him, excited to know what happened between them two. But as soon as hyunjin entered the dorm, he saw that te lights were off and Felix was sleeping like a 2 year old in front of the laptop screen, where drama was still playing on it.

He tucked the boy under the comforter on his bed properly.

Hyunjin went to his own later , somehow his hand unconsciously touching his lips. And te man was smiling like a weirdo , feeling of minho's soft lips was still lingering on his own. He spent the remaining night burying his face in pillow and throwing his legs up and down, remembering the events.

His head was replaying the scene where minho tilted hyunjin's face and the way his-

STOP IT HWANG HYUNJIN !

STOP IT LEE MINHO !

The case was the same with both. But eventually they drifted to sleep , thanks to the work their university gave.

(I saw a tiktok where hyunjin mentioned about his bucketlist and him wishing to have a late night snack at those red snack cart...)

[bingwriterxo]

As always I am amazed. Your writing never ceases to make my brain explode in the best possible way. I know this may sound odd, but I actually appreciated Mindy asking Tara about amber. I feel like the way you write Mindy is done so perfectly. She never ceases to make me laugh and I love how she’s alos a very serious character in times when needed. I also loved seeing Tara’s point of view on the conversations. The hurt and grief at a lost of a best friend is still looming for tara, but I feel like in time the wound will heal. I believe it’s more of a betrayal then anything else. Tara interacting with readers doorman was absolutely everything I needed at 12 am. The saluting was my favorite 😂😂 and I didn’t feel bad because in grade school I had a teacher who I would salute everyday as I walked into class…yes I was indeed the nerd who fact checked history dates 😂 maybe that’s why I love reader so much, she’s a character close to my heart. I love the fact that reader put effort into there date. Her cooking…even when she doesn’t have much experience makes my heart beat! How cute is she!!!

I need a reader. Seriously. Oh how hard is it find a Shakespeare lass.😂

And the fact that she said I love you first took my surprise!!! In all my thoughts and ideas I had about museum tara I always thought tara would be the one to say it first. Mostly because in the early chapters she’s such a simp. Really. She is. As for there first time you do not disappoint. Everything was so well written and I absolutely loved reader turning her Shakespeare bust! 😂😂 I honestly think this was your best chapter yet. Truly! As for the mentions of my favorite brothers I love hearing that Nate is taking his role in the play seriously, and that Edmund hates it. 😂 readers parents asking about tara made me so happy mostly because I know tara will grow to love them with time. I’m writing this currently at 12 am so I hope this is coherent enough.

bing….you are a amazing writer. Simply the best. I cannot wait for what you have in mind for tara and reader. I hope you had a great day and continue to do so!!!

i wanted to make sure that anyone who doesn't really look at the asks knows that tara 100% does not love amber anymore. plus, i just feel like most friends would talk about that kinda stuff anyway

tara and Carmine are besties now, u cant tell me otherwise. and R tried her very best to cook...too bad they barely ate any of the dinner tho

to me, really, tara 100% fell first but R 100% fell harder. obvi we don't see as much from R because we can't read her thoughts, but that's what i think

i think R was real upset that tara turned shakespeare around--not because she wanted him to see, but how dare she put him in the corner

there will be more of Nate and Eddie in the next chapter! dont even worry!!

thank u so much bb 🫶 my love goes out to u, and i hope ur also having a great day!!

[billconrad]

Trying to Be Offensive

    I was born with little self-esteem, and building it to the modest amount I have today took great effort. This growth was not achieved naturally; instead, I forced myself to man up, be outgoing, try new activities, go places, talk to people, accept mistakes, gain a voice, date girls, and form my own opinions.

    What is the overall self-esteem improvement between 10-year-old Bill and today’s Bill? He is more confident. What is confidence? One could argue that confidence is managing and encouraging offensive behavior. “I’m right; you’re wrong.” “You overcharged me.” “This is the way we’re going to do things.” Young Bill would have never uttered such bold statements.

    Is it wrong to be offensive? People need to push back in this modern age, or society will squish them. Is the term “you overcharge me” offensive? Let’s review the statement from the receiving perspective. An angry customer is complaining. While the tone may be pleasant, the hostile intent is clear. So, indeed, the statement contains some offense.

    From my mid-twenties on into middle age, I mellowed out. Life is too short to be upset about the little things. I am now a family man who regrets past arrogance, and I try hard to be a pleasant, upstanding individual.

    That is until I start writing. Stories must be larger than life, unrealistic, and controversial. Does this mean they are offensive? No matter what happens, some people will be offended, but a bold story requires offensive elements.

    On the far end of the scale is a light romance with a timid hand-holding scene. “They briefly grasped hands to share their love.” It’s not steamy, but some people could consider this statement radically offensive. “How dare you expose my children to public displays of affection!” This is a valid concern. We must remember that not everybody can handle raw emotion, and people have different values. For example, the Amish certainly would not approve of public affection. Side note. How are Amish babies made? Some hand-holding must be going on.

    My works contain murder, torture, intimate scenes, and underage relationships. To date, I know that four people were offended by my words. Is this bad? I feel deep regret and wish they had not read my books. Did I intend to upset them? Of course not. I tried to write exciting books that everybody enjoyed, but this effort pushed my boundaries far outside my comfort zone. I did so knowing there would be consequences.

    Writing offensive material is not natural or easy for me. When creating such works, I care to be as tasteful as possible. For example, I limit vulgar words to the absolute bare minimum. In addition, I show how a character’s morals became corrupted to justify their offensive behavior and make sure the law catches up with them.

    Yet, my view on this topic is representative of a limited slice of our society. Many people go out of their way to act offensively and are clearly aware of their actions. For example, the television show South Park pushes the limits of society into bold new realms. Their Barbra Streisand episode was particularly mean.

    Let us not forget that life is offensive. Earth has (and will have) wars, slavery, brutality, crime, corruption, bad parents, and inequality. Refusing to write or read about these offensive topics causes readers to repeat past mistakes. For example, letting a dictator take over a country is not a good idea. Why? (Insert fact-filled genocide description here.) That’s why.

    Writing about offensive topics, if often entertaining, educational, and overall, is a positive experience. Take the movie Saving Private Ryan with Tom Hanks. The story is set in WWII and depicts facts mixed with fiction and gory action. What did I think about that movie? I enjoyed every scene. However, my Uncle Al chose not to watch this movie. He even turned away from the movie preview because it reminded him of his time in Vietnam.

    Let’s examine that concept. My late Uncle Al was a big, tough guy. Why would a strong-willed person like him get offended by a trivial movie? The answer does not matter. Al had the right to decide what he liked and did not like. In this case, the movie offended him even though he did not see it.

    What do I say to the people I offended? I can only say that I am sorry. Should I keep apologizing? Should I stop writing? Should I only write fluffy, good material?

    The answer is that I need tougher skin. No matter what I do, I will offend somebody. That’s life. My choice is to move forward. This includes pushing story boundaries even if they might cause problems. Dang that is a hard pill to swallow.

    I must remember that my work has also delighted readers, and they left many excellent reviews that have deeply touched me. Overall, writing has been 30% frustrating and 70% positive. Now, I need to concentrate on making it 71% positive.

    You’re the best -Bill

    January 25, 2025

    Hey, book lovers, I published four. Please check them out:

   Interviewing Immortality. A dramatic first-person psychological thriller that weaves a tale of intrigue, suspense, and self-confrontation.

    Pushed to the Edge of Survival. A drama, romance, and science fiction story about two unlikely people surviving a shipwreck and living with the consequences.

    Cable Ties. A slow-burn political thriller that reflects the realities of modern intelligence, law enforcement, department cooperation, and international politics.

    Saving Immortality. Continuing in the first-person psychological thriller genre, James Kimble searches for his former captor to answer his life’s questions.

    These books are available in softcover on Amazon and in eBook format everywhere.