#Barbara and Adam are here for the long haul

[possum-quesadilla]

Blue im gonna im gonna im gonna im gonna im gonna cry

You evil evil person

😭😭😭

At least this isn't the real ending 💀

Yeah, I am pretty evil, hehehe…

Yep, it isn’t the real ending! Although it almost was

[ibelieveinharrystyles]

Chapter One: You Bring Me Home

Always Golden Masterlist

August 2019

Harry was lonely, isolated in fact. He was part of an industry full of creative and wonderful people, yet he was still alone. He lay in the bed in Anne’s spare room, staring at the blank ceiling, compared to the ceiling in his childhood bedroom it was lifeless, his old ceiling was covered in marks from all the times he had tried to catapult toys into  the air as a child, convinced they could fly. He really must have been alone if he was that deep in thought about his beloved ceiling. If he was completely honest he had no clue why he was back home, since the fallout with Ashley he had felt lost in London, opting to spend months in Japan and Italy. Half of him hoped he might accidentally bump into her, he knew full well it was Linda’s birthday, and he knew what Ashley was like, she wouldn’t want her mum spending her birthday alone. 

His lonely thoughts were interrupted by a light tap on the door, he shot up as his mum entered the room, “Morning love, I’ve got bacon for sandwiches, but no bread, you couldn’t run down to the bakery could you and grab a loaf?” Anne asked, her charm and grace echoing through the room.

“Of course mum, give me five and I’ll be on my way.” Harry hauled himself out of bed, grabbing the first pair of jeans and a yellow t-shirt from his suitcase. He slipped on a pair of vans and made his way downstairs and out into the early morning summer sun. As much as he loved the big cities he was lucky enough to travel to, Harry always found comfort in Holmes Chapel, maybe it was the people, maybe it was the pace of life, whatever it was, it put him at ease. The walk into the village wasn't a long one, just long enough to listen to a couple of the demos for his next album, something he was incredibly proud of.

“Barbara! Look who it is!” Harry stepped into the bakery, the familiar smell of fresh bread and cakes hitting him almost instantly, “How’ve you been Harry?” Claire asked from behind the counter.

“I’m good, just popped up to see mum for the weekend, she’s run out of bread, so I said I’d grab her a loaf.” Harry explained.

“Well Barbara’s just unpacking some, I’ll see if she has any of Anne’s favourites.” Claire disappeared into the backroom, leaving Harry with no one but the massive poster of teenage him for company. 

“Mummy can I get a rainbow donut?” A young voice asked as the door to the bakery swung open, not wanting to get in anyone’s way, Harry stepped back staring at the reply Gemma had sent him about what they were getting Anne for her birthday.

“I don’t think they do those here poppet, I think they’re a London thing.” Harry’s heart jumped, he looked up at the woman and her daughter stood looking at the cake counter, it was her, it was Ashley. She looked different, her once brunette hair now had a golden haze to it, and she had a different glow about her. “What do you want then monkey? The gingerbread man or the pink cupcake?” Harry admired the sweet interaction, not wanting to interrupt or cause a scene.

“Pink cake please mummy, and can we get one for Nanny’s birthday?” Harry watched in awe, the little baby he had once cradled in his arms was now an adorable little lady, the spitting image of her mum.

“Ashley! It’s wonderful to see you!” Claire chimed as she returned with Harry’s bread, “How long are you up here for?” 

“We’re heading home tomorrow morning,” Ashley glanced at Claire, who was looking straight past her at Harry who stood awkwardly at the back of the shop, with no clue how to handle the situation. She turned to see what Claire was looking at, the man who she hadn’t seen she stormed away from him in the middle of Hammersmith. 

She wavered on her feet, he looked well, he had clearly been working out more since the last time she saw him, his shoulders were broader. His hair was tousled in its usual messy yet styled way, as always he was exceptionally dressed, leaving Ashley feeling very underdressed in her jeans and Live Aid t-shirt. “Long time no see.” Harry whispered, struggling to find words to end the awkward silence.

“There’s a reason for that,” Ashley replied bitterly, handing Claire the money and taking the cakes from the counter, “And you bloody well know why.” She took her daughter’s hand and pulled her from the bakery, the pair striding back to the car where Will sat waiting. 

“Who was that man mummy?” Daisy asked as Ashley opened the car door.

“No one darling, no one you need to worry about.”

“What was that all about?” Claire asked, handing Harry his loaf of bread.

“I was an idiot a while back, I don’t think she’s forgiven me, and frankly I can’t blame her.” Harry explained.

“You two were great together, thicker than thieves, I remember when you both got your saturday jobs here. Dynamic duo we called you.” Claire smiled, she was right, Harry had fond memories of washing up beside Ashley, singing Shania Twain and Joni Mitchell songs as they made their way through a mountain of dirty trays and plates.

“Clearly we’re just not the same people we used to be.” Harry replied, handing Claire a five pound note as she passed him the fresh loaf, “Have a lovely day Claire, keep the change.”

“Daisy, sit still please,” Ashley sighed, it was a cool summer evening and she was sitting in the passenger seat of Will’s broken down car. They were meant to be taking Linda out for her birthday, but Will’s car had decided to throw a spanner in the works. Daisy, like any other three year old was grizzly, and getting restless. “Will, for christ sake just call the breakdown people.” Ashley huffed as her boyfriend stood with the bonnet up trying to work out what was wrong with the car. 

“What do you think I’ve done?” Will sighed, “They said it’ll be a two hour wait.” 

“Brilliant, bloody brilliant. Sorry about this mum, I had hoped we’d be there soon, but who knows at this point.” 

After another half an hour, Will was still adamant he knew what to do, Daisy had been through all sorts of tantrums. Just as Ashley was about to give up another vehicle pulled up beside them, expecting it to be the breakdown service, Will put the bonnet down to see the headlights didn’t belong to a van, but rather a large Audi pulled up instead. The driver wound down the window as Will approached, “Do you need any help?” The man in the car asked.

“Not sure how much you can do for me mate, think this one is passed it.” Will explained.

“In that case can I give you a lift somewhere?” He asked.

“Are you sure? there’s four of us, we’re on the way to dinner.” Will explained.

“It’s not a problem, honestly.”

“Cheers mate, I’ll let my girlfriend know, I’m Will by the way.” He smiled.

“Harry.” The audi driver smiled.

Will returned to his car, “This guy’s going to give us a lift, said he’ll drop us in town.” he explained to Ashley who was getting fed up with waiting.

“Perfect!” she chimed, climbing out of the car, she took Daisy out of the back to get her into the new car. As she opened the back door, the driver turned to face her, offering a warm smile. Talk about convenient, the one person she had hoped to avoid was going to drive her and her family to dinner. 

The car ride was almost silent, apart from Daisy talking about all sorts of nonsense. Eventually Will managed to put two and two together, realising who Harry actually was. They pulled up outside the restaurant and Linda turned to Harry, “Thank you so much for that Harry love, I owe you for that.” 

“It’s not a problem Linda, honestly, I was coming this way anyway.” Harry assured her.

“Why don’t you join us?” Linda smiled, this was all Ashley needed.

“I wouldn’t want to intrude, honestly.” Harry replied.

“I’m sure Harry’s a busy man.” Will muttered bitterly from the back seat.

“Harry it’s my birthday, and I want to say thank you, you’re joining us.” Linda insisted.

Dinner was awkward to say the least, the waiter had just come to collect their empty dinner plates, and Ashley couldn’t help but wait for it to be over. Daisy was transfixed on Harry, seeing as she couldn’t remember him, he was far more new and exciting than anyone else sat around that table. Harry sat beside Linda, who was doing her very best to keep the conversation civil. “So Harry, when are we getting new music? Ash got me a record player for my birthday and I’m itching to buy some records for it.” Linda told him.

“I’m hoping, if everything goes to plan, to have it out by the end of the year.” 

“Sounds wonderful Harry, I have missed you awfully,” Linda smiled, to her Harry was like the son she never had, she adored him completely, so when a wedge was driven between Harry and Ashley, she was heartbroken to say the least, Linda noticed the stale atmosphere, and decided to remove herself from the situation, “Tell you what Daisy, shall we go and see if we can find the puddings?” Linda asked, taking Daisy’s hand and leading her over to the bar.

“She’s grown up a lot hasn’t she?” Harry said, gesturing towards Daisy, in an attempt to make some sort of conversation.

“Yeah, she starts nursery next month,” Ashley smiled gently, appreciating Harry’’s desire to keep things civil.

“I mean you’d know that, if you’d been around for the past two years.” Will told him sternly, Ashley hadn’t ever seen Will like that before, maybe it was jealousy, maybe it was something else. He had a vague idea of the fallout between Harry and Ashley, and he knew about their history.

“Will, leave it out.” Ashley replied, trying not to cause a scene, knowing pictures of Harry would end up plastered all over tomorrow's news. 

“Well it’s not like he’s been there to see her grow up is it?” Will chimed in again.

“And I suppose you have?” Harry replied, “I supported Ashley and Daisy as much as I possibly could in her first year.” 

“Throwing money at a problem doesn’t make it go away.” Will answered back.

“I hold my hands up, I spent a fair amount of money on Ashley and Daisy, but one thing that never changed, is the love I have for them both, I treated Daisy like she was my own daughter and I would sure as hell do it again.” Ashley was taken aback by Harry’s little speech, she didn’t expect Harry to be so honest about where he went wrong.

“I appreciate the sentiment, but they have me now.” Will told him bluntly.

“You’re right, they do. This was a bad idea,” Harry stood up, taking his wallet from the pocket of his trousers, “Take this for the meal, I’ve cost you enough trouble.”

“We don’t need your money.” Will replied.

“I know you don’t, I know how much Ash earns, but I want to treat my friend, so that's what I’m doing, have a lovely evening.” Harry placed the wad of cash on the table before turning to leave. Ashley let out a sigh as he left the restaurant, rolling her eyes at Will.

“What?” Will asked.

“You just couldn’t help yourself could you?” Ashley replied.

“Hang on a minute, last thing you told me, you said you never wanted to see the face of that jumped up egotistical walking gucci campaign ever again.”

“Those are your words, not mine.” Ashley told him forcefully.

“I’m not wrong though am I? He used you and when he got bored you were hung out to dry, you’re better off out of it.” Will said sternly, taking a sip of his beer.

It’s more complicated than that Will, and I’m afraid it always will be.”

[jmnsthetic]

FINALLY MINE

~words:3000+

~tags: M/M, oral, taekook, jock Jungkook, nerd Taehyung, sub/dom, blowjob..

~Tae and Jungkook are the same age here, bare with me pls^^

*Jeon Jungkook’s POV*

Kim Taehyung…

That kid is picked on more than most people in this school. Mostly because he’s small, meek, and looks more like a girl than most of the girls in this school. I wouldn’t say he’s skinny because he’s got the widest hips I’ve ever seen, but his upper body is the stereotypical nerd torso.

His ass though… Damn, he’s got an ass most girls would be jealous of. Most of the time I can’t stop thinking of what it would feel like to have my dick 9 inches deep in that ass. Or his pink luscious lips wrapped around it.

Unfortunately, being the starting wide receiver for Santa Barbara, I’ve got a certain rep to uphold. And it wouldn’t look good if I was seen rooting for the wrong team. Especially a geek like Taehyung who’s the target of many bullies. Everyone takes a shot at that kid.

But still… it’s very tempting. What I would do to get him under me, taking my dick like a good little boy.

---

Sitting in math class is a rather bore. Fortunately, Taehyung’s in my class. Today he’s wearing those skin-tight jeans and a white t-shirt that clings to his skin.

The worst or best part of school is I’m stuck with this eye candy all day long. He’s in every single one of my classes. He is smart, there’s no doubt about that. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not the typical stupid ass jock. My parents made sure of it. My dad is a successful entrepreneur. He demands excellence from me, both on the field and in the classroom.

As we pile out of class after the bell rings, I trail that booty to our next class. A few people give me high fives and tell me what a great game I had last Friday. Some of my teammates hit me up, but I keep my eyes on that fat ass of his.

“Move it, fucking nerd,” Kyle says as he wacks Taehyungs books out of his hands, scattering all over the hall. Kyle’s a punk, but he’s my teammate. Great linebacker and starting power forward on the basketball team. We’re not friends by any means, just teammates.

“You don’t have to be an ass, Kyle,” I say as I kneel down to help the guy out. He looks up at me with those brown eyes. I can see he’s on the verge of crying and all I can think about is how hot it’d be to shove my tounge down that throat of his.

I just want to grab his messy brown hair and fuck his face with my tounge.

“Why are you being nice to me?” he asks.

“Not all jocks are assholes,” I tell him as I hand him his books. “Why do you haul all these books around?”

“My locker is on the other side of the school,” he says, brushing his hair out of his face and adjusting his glasses.

“That sucks,” I say, while I get a good glimpse of that ass as he bends over and grabs the last of his books. I just want to yank his pants down, spread them cheeks and taste him. “By the way, I noticed we’re in the same math class.”

“We’re in all the same classes,” he says as we continue on to our English class.

“Right… You know, I could use a study buddy like you,” I admit. Not that I need someone to help me with math. Math comes easily to me. I just want an excuse to get him over to my house... Alone.

“Like me? You mean, you want someone who’ll do your homework for you?” he asks.

“Do I look like I need someone to do my homework? I’m not the stupid jock you might think I am,” I tell him. “I just want someone who takes their class work as serious as I do.”

His face turns bright red as he tears his eyes away from mine. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to assume.”

“It’s all good, I’m just messing with ya. So what do you say? Study buddy?” I ask. His eyes go wide as he looks back up at me.

“Uh… sure! Okay, yeah!”

“Great! Why don’t you come over to my house after practice and we’ll finish up the math homework and study for the upcoming test,” I suggest.

“Yeah… except, I don’t have a car…” he says.

“No problem… If you want, you can wait up here and I’ll give you ride after practice,” I tell him. “Hell, you can even watch us practice if you want.”

“Really!?” he asks. “What about Kyle?”

“Don’t worry about Kyle,” I tell him. “I’ll make sure no one picks on you.”

“Really?” He looks up at me with those eyes… Eyes as blue as the ocean. His face just has that natural innocence about it. It makes my dick hard.

“Yeah… stick with me and no one will touch you.” Nobody but me.

---

As we make our way out to the practice field I see Taehyung off in the corner with his books. I can’t believe he came. He’s a gazelle in the lion's den. He looks up at us as we start stretching. “Oh my god, wow… What’s that nerd sitting on our field for?” Kyle asks.

“Hey, leave him alone, he’s mine ,” I tell Kyle.

“What!? Did you jump to the other side?” he asks.

“What if I did? I mean, you can’t tell me you wouldn’t what his lips wrapped around your cock? ”

“Wow, you are a fag! And NO!”

“If getting your dick sucked is gay then I’m gay for him.”

“He’s kinda got a point,” Adam says. “Ain’t nothing gay about getting your dick suck. Besides, nerdboy over there looks more like a girl than half the sluts you’ve slept with, Kyle.”

“Whatever…”

Coach blows the whistle and we get practice started.

After doing some sprints and drills, we ran some plays. Out of the 8 passes that were thrown to me, I didn’t drop a single one.

When practice finally ended, I was quick to tear my pads off and leave. I find Taehyung waiting for me outside. Fuck, if he grew hair out a little longer, I wouldn’t be able to tell if he was a guy. Especially with that ass. Perfect bubble butt. And his lips, definitely dick sucking lips.

Gear in one hand, I sling my other arm around his shoulder. “Let’s head over to my house.”

Leading him over to my convertible Audi, I toss my shit in the back and hop in the driver's seat. He meagerly climbs in and we’re off.

It doesn’t take long before we roll up at my house. His eyes light up as we pull in the drive. I don’t think he’s ever seen a house this big. “This is where you live?” he asks.

“Yeah, where did you think I lived, some fucking ghetto? ”

He tenses up.

“Relax, I’m just messing with you.” Fuck calm down.

We get out and head in. I put my hand on the small of his back and lead him through the large glass door.

I toss my shit down and lead him up the giant white staircase to my room. Once in my bedroom, I gesture him to sit down on the bed and start tearing off my clothes. “I’m going to take a quick shower and wash the stink off if that’s alright with you.”

As soon as I pull my trunks down, his eyes go straight to my cock. “Uhh… Yeah… sure.”

“You act like you’ve never seen a dick before.”

Immediately his face burns bright red as he looks up at me. “I… I…”

“Want to touch it?”

His eyes go wide. “What!?”

“Do you want to touch it,” I make sure to emphasize every word.

“I… uh… I’m not gay.” He stutters and his ears flush bright red. Liar.

“I highly doubt that. Come on, no straight boy would stare at a cock like that.” I try to encurage him.

The way he bites down on his bottom lip makes my dick twitch. I don’t know how much more of this I can take. I just want to dominate this little nerd boy and make him mine.

I start stroking my cock as I slowly walk up to him. My dick is literally only a couple of inches from his handsome face. He can’t take those capturing eyes off it. Slowly, I run my fingers through his soft brown hair, grabbing a handful and pulling him closer to my cock.

His luscious lips touch the tip of my dick. His reluctance shatters as he parts them, letting the head of my cock slip in.

“Mmm.. ” He moans and that almost sends me over.

His eyes look into mine as I pull his head down on my cock, shoving more of it into his mouth. He gags as my dick reaches the entrance to his throat. Both of my hands have fists full of his hair and I start slowly rocking my hips.

His dainty little hands run up my thighs my cock pushes against his throat once more. Tears well down his eyes as he spits and coughs on my dick. He tries to push off, but I held him there. “Swallow it, baby.”

Those brown big eyes close shut. My dick plunges down his throat as he opens up, swallowing it whole. His nose bumps into my pubes as I hilt my dick balls deep inside his mouth. I can see his neck bulge out as my dick clogs his throat.

I let go of him and my dick pops off his mouth as he coughs and gags. “Take your clothes off.”

He looks up at me all wide-eyed like a doe in the headlights. “You want that huh?” And smirks.

That brat! “I want to see that beautiful body of yours.” I pull him off the bed and take my seat on it, all the while stroking my dick. “Don’t be shy, let me see all of you.”

He stands and crosses his arms. I guess I’m going to have to give him a hand. I swallow my pride and pull him closer as my fingers find the bottom of his shirt. I slowly pull it up and over his head. His skin is pretty flawless. Not chubby, but not too skinny either. He’s got a flat stomach and chest. My fingers rub up against his nipple and slowly make their way down his stomach, such soft skin. I unsnap his pants and slowly drag them down. No way! He’s got on Gucci underwear. They hug his fat ass perfectly. Almost like panties.

This boy was made to be fucked.

He holds onto my shoulders as I lift one leg after the other and drag his pants off. I see the tiny bulge in his underwear, rubbing my hands over it, he is as hard as a rock. I give him the turn around sign with my fingers and he hesitantly shows that ass to me.

Sinking my fingers beneath the hem of his underwear, inch by inch, I pull them down revealing the sexiest ass I’ve ever seen. Not a single hair below his head.

I give his ass a hard slap, making him groan out. He looks back at me. “Why are you doing this?”

I pull him down in my lap. “Because I want to make you mine. Here’s the deal, Taehyung… You become my slut and no one… not even Kyle will ever bully you.”

“Wha… What’s that entail?”

“Obviously that means not only are you going to be mine , but I’m going to fuck that tight ass of yours whenever I want.”

His eyes go wide. “I don’t know… Won’t that hurt?”

“For the first time, yeah, it’ll hurt. But I promise, once that ass gets stretched out, you’re gonna love it. You’ll crave my dick.”

My hand slides down his back causing him to tense up. I grab his ass as my fingers zip down the crack of his butt finding his tight little rosebud.

“How badly do you want to be popular?” I ask him. “I can make that happen. As long as you submit this ass of yours to me and become mine.”

Before he can even say anything, I grab his hair and pull him in for a kiss. My tongue batters it’s way into his mouth as my finger sinks into his tight asshole. He squirms as my digit sinks to the first knuckle.

“Oh fuck Jungkook!”

“Now, if you want my protection from Kyle, get on your knees and start sucking my dick.”

He bites his lower lip as he looks into my eyes with those brown orbs. As the last bit of his resistance diminishes, he sinks to his knees and slips my cock between his lips. “That’s it, baby. Suck my big dick.”

I grab a handful of hair and start bobbing his head up and down on my cock. “Urrghh, fuck… Wrap those dick sucking lips tightly around my cock and suck.”

His cheeks collapse as he inhales my dick like a popsicle. “That’s it, now swirl the tongue around the tip of it.”

He obeys, giving the head of my cock a girl swirly. “You’re a natural cock sucker, you know that?”

Those eyes look up at me as his cheeks turn a rosy shade of pink. “Don’t be embarrassed, it’s a compliment.”

I slam his head all the way down, popping my dick inside his throat. His nose once again meets my pubes. He coughs and starts choking on my dick. I pull his head up off my dick. As my cock falls from his lips, he coughs and gags up spit. With my other hand, I grab my cock and start smacking those beautiful lips. Then I plunge my cock back between his lips.

With one swift move, I flip him on his back, resting his head on the bed as I stand over him, sinking my cock down his throat. I start fucking his face hard. My balls slap his chin as my cock slams down his throat. Tears fall from his eyes as I continue to hump his face. The sound of him gurgling on chock on my dick fill the room.

I slide my hand through his hair and grip a handful as I use his mouth as a fuckhole. He just takes it. To be honest, degrading him like a whore isn’t what I truly want, but I can’t help myself. Whenever I’m around this beautiful girly boy, I lose control. Primal instincts take over and all I can think about is breeding him like a bitch.

As long as I’m being truthful to myself, I actually like him. Not just as a fucktoy or because he stirs some deeply filled lust within me, but I honestly have a crush on him. I actually like all the geeky things he’s into. I’ll never admit it to my teammates or parents, but deep down I’m kind of a nerd too.

And while I’m being honest, as I sink my dick down his throat. I want to make him my boyfriend. Yes, I mean it. I think he’d look amazing in a dress with some makeup on. Some soft lace panties, maybe one of them training bras. I’d take him on dates. We’d see one of those Marvel movies. Then we’d spend all night with my dick up that tight ass of his. I’d fill his thick bum up with load after load of my seed.

Speaking of cum, I’m about to blow a load down his throat. “Fuck!”

A riptide of pleasure crashes through me as my cock explodes down his throat, shooting a thick load of cum straight into his stomach. He coughs and sputters as I pull my dick out, leaving the tip still inside his mouth. I drop another load, filling up his mouth, a little bit of cum drools out between his lips. Like a good little boy, he swallows it all. And you know I’ve got to mark my territory.

So I pull my dick from his lips and paint his face with one last load of cum. Damn, he looks so hot with my seed all over his girly face.

“Now it’s official, you’re mine Taehyung.”

He goes to wipe his face off. “Unless you’re going to swallow all that cum, leave it.”

He looks up at me with those eyes. The look on his face is one of fear, shame, and humiliation. Part of me wants to pull him into my arms and kiss him. Tell him everything's going to be alright. The rest of me wants to fuck him like a slut and continue to degrade him.

I take my finger and swipe up a load of cum just below his eye and feed it to him. He licks it up without hesitation.

“I’m going to take a shower, feel free to lick the rest of it up.”

It doesn’t take long to clean myself up. I walk back in my room to find him fully clothed and the cum off his face is mostly gone. I shed my towel and his eyes fall down to my cock. “Don’t worry, baby. You’ll get more of this dick.”

“Please… Please don’t tell anyone about this. I don't want to be just someones whore.”

“Ha… who gives a shit what other people think. I want the entire school to know you’re mine.” Wrapping my arm around his waist, I pull him close to me and press my lips against his. I stroke his cheek with my thumb as I wrap my hand around his delicate face. He melts in my arms as my tongue explores the inside of his mouth. My other hand sinks down and grabs his ass.

Finally, I let go of him and break away.

He bites his lip as he looks up at me with those eyes. “Aren’t you afraid people will find out you’re gay?”

“If the reason is you, then I don't mind If the president declares it. The trouth is Tae, I've wanted you for the longest time. I'm sorry If I was too straight forward. ”

He looks up at me with the brightest smile ever and nods.

I grab his hand and lock my fingers between his. “Now come on, I’ll take you home.”

“But… If people finf out, they’re going to humiliate me,” he says as I lead him downstairs.

“Trust, me... No one’s going to lay a finger on you or say a word.”

“What!? But… How?”

I stop as we reach the bottom of the stairs and lift his chin up to me. “I’m going to make damn sure everyone knows you’re mine. If anyone even so much as says a word to you, I’ll kick their ass. Didn’t I tell you I’d protect you?”

He nods his head. “Now let’s get you home. Tomorrow’s your first day as my boyfriend.”

“And you as mine.” He smiles.

The look on his face melts my heart. “Don’t worry, we’ll take it slow, but eventually, I want you to start wearing panties, a dress, and some makeup.”

“No, I can’t do that! What am I going to tell my family?”

“Why not tell them the truth? You're gay and you’re finally embracing it.”

“Please, don’t make me do it.”

“Hush, baby. Don’t worry. As I said, we’ll take it slow.”

It doesn’t take us long before we’re at his house. I sink my hand in his soft hair and pull him in for one last kiss before he quickly gets out. I can’t take my eyes off that ass of his as he hustles inside, giving me one last glance before disappearing behind his front door.

I can’t wait for tomorrow!

***

Thanks for reading!

[intergalxtic]

I Thought You Were American

 a fun lil Lesbian Lydia story that I thought I could put on here instead of AO3 because why not?? ya know.

I really hope you guys get this reference,,,

Let me know if you want more Lydia stories, and more of this OC!

*beetlebabes dni*

Lydia is worried. Not just a simple worry, like a difficult test coming up. She wants to come out to her friend Adeline. She has only been at the school for a few months, and she only has one close friend. Naturally, she doesn’t want to ruin it just because she’s gay. 

Lydia doesn’t really think that Adeline is homophobic, but there is still that fear lurking in the back of her mind, waiting until she’s about to come out, then she retreats. And it’s not like Lydia’s scared that Adeline will out her, because she’s already out to her family, and they obviously accept her. 

She has discussed this thoroughly with the Maitlands, and they said that if she wants to do it, and if she is ready to do it, then she should. They both tell her their ‘coming out stories’, and even though Barbara’s made her feel good about it, Adam’s gave her doubt.

So she talks to Delia about it, and Delia gives her lots of random, oddly specific advice. Fortunately, she did throw some good advice in, including: “Have a backup plan! You know, just in case.” “Don’t come out in a room with lots of known homophobic people,” “If they love you and care about you, they won’t care if you’re lesbian,”

If her mum was here, she would know exactly how to help. She would rub her back and tell her it’s okay, or punch any kids who were bullying her. Sadness nags at her, but she’s old enough to punch the kids that bully her.

Lydia lays in bed, her thoughts trapping her from any kind of sleep. Her body aches with exhaustion, but her mind is wide awake. Lydia laughs to herself as she thinks my brain just drank five energy drinks. Yup, tired and absolutely delusional. So she calls Beetlejuice from across her room. 

“Hey BJ!” She whispers as he uncurls himself from underneath the blanket she gave him, as they are yet to give him his own room. 

“What!” He whispers back. “I can’t technically sleep, but I’m enjoying having my eyes closed here!”

“Bullshit.” Lydia sticks her tongue out, then pulls her mouth into a tight line. “I’m thinking of coming out to my friend tomorrow.”

“Well, if she doesn’t take it well, I’ll set her mum’s car on fire.” Beetlejuice crosses his legs, then floats over to Lydia’s bed. 

“BJ! I’m fifteen!” Lydia exclaims louder than she was meant to. “I can her car on fire myself! And no, I won’t be doing that.”

“Damn. Anyways I’ve met Adeline. She’s the one with half-pink hair, right? She’s to… nice to be homophobic.” He points out. “She told me she liked my suit. It hasn’t been washed.”

“Gross, and there’s still that… doubt?” Lydia groans, dragging her hands down her face. Oh my god, why does it have to be so hard? 

Her and Beetlejuice stay up even later talking about possible ways of coming out, and plans for if it goes badly. But by the morning, Lydia regrets falling to sleep so late. 

As she walks into school, she holds her breath, her hands shaking with anticipation. She just wants it over with, fearing the worst. She opted for the simple plan of just saying it to her, instead of making it a big deal. 

The instant she got to her locker, she shoves her bag away and hauls her books out. They aren’t all that heavy, but Lydia’s so worn out purely from worry. As if the bags under her eyes weren’t enough. Lydia places her books on the window sill outside her classroom, falling against the wall and sliding down. She rests her head on her knees, her eyes open. 

After a few minutes, she sees Adeline’s beaten up Doc Martens racing towards her at full speed. Lydia slowly lifts her head, to see only her and Adeline in the hallway. It’s time.

Lydia heaves herself off the ground, looking everywhere except for her eyes, which fall onto the pleats of Adeline’s skirt. 

“Are you okay, Spooks?” Adeline asks, her voice high pitched, and Lydia chuckles a little at the nickname. Adeline imitates Lydia by putting her books onto the window sill and crossing her arms against her chest.

“I have to tell you something.” Lydia finds it in her, to look in her eyes. They are serious, yet caring, and a little confused by her announcement. Come on Lydia. It’s now or never. 

“I’m Lesbian.”

There is a pause. Adeline’s face is deadpan. It is only a moment, but to Lydia, it feels like forever. Just when Lydia’s about to go “Just kidding!” a huge smile breaks onto Adeline’s face.

“I thought you were American.” She says through held in laughter. Lydia’s jaw drops to the floor, relief and shock filling the space where anxiety had taken residence. Adeline bursts into an uncontrollable fit of giggles, and much to Lydia’s dismay, she joins in.

“Did you just pull a vine reference on me?” Lydia laughs, clutching her stomach to keep her from toppling over.

“I’ve been waiting so long to use that, spooks.” Adeline gains control of herself as the teacher gives the two of them a strange look as they walk by. Lydia smacks her forehead at Adeline’s silliness. 

That night, she lays awake in bed, a smile tugging at her lips. Looking back, she doesn’t know what she was so worried about. Adeline clearly was going to accept her, and her little joke is something that they will laugh about in the future. 

Lydia’s phone buzzes on her bedside table. Lydia sighs, her curiosity taking over her brain. It’s a text from Adeline, reading:

I was going to tell you this today, but you kinda beat me to it...

I’m bi

So yeah

Gn spooks x

Lydia smiles, a warm feeling spreading through her chest. She isn’t alone. She has her family, but she also has a friend who understands. Not that everyone else doesn’t, but it’s good to have someone her own age.

[itslikethesizeofmy]

Ready, Set...

Ch. 6 ... Hey Mom

             It’s my day off and I’m sitting on the couch with Beetlejuice across my lap, the Maitlands sitting on the other side of the coffee table, playing a boardgame they found hiding in their attic.

             “I can’t believe we haven’t played this,” Adam says.

             “I can’t believe we didn’t burn it after we died,” Barbara adds.

            “I can’t believe how much you’ve changed,” Beetlejuice tells them. “Except you, Adam. You’re about the same.” Barbara laughs as Adam grumbles to himself, kissing him on the cheek when she’s done.

            “I still love him all the same,” she says. We continue our game, sitting and chatting with each other. When I hear someone knock on the door, I give everyone a confused look and they shrug. I pry Beetlejuice from my lap, and go to answer.

             “Oh,” I say when I open it. At my doorstep is a young woman, wearing black but smiling.

             “This is probably weird, but I used to live in this house, and I wanted to visit it,” she tells me.

             “You must be Lydia,” I smile.

             “So they—” she starts, getting cut off by loud footsteps running towards us.

             “LYDS?” Beetlejuice yells, pushing past me. “My BFFFF?”

            “Beej!” Lydia yells back, laughing as he pulls her into a crushing hug. Adam and Barbara come to the door after him, grinning when they see the two of them together. I stand back and let them greet each other, a smile on my face.

             “Okay, okay, you’re letting the heat out. Come inside,” I tell everyone, starting to feel the chill.

             “I take it you know,” Lydia says to me as she removes her jacket and shoes.

            “I know. Adam and Barbara introduced themselves the day I moved in. Beetlejuice took some time to come around, but I’m glad he did. I’m Jay,” I say, extending my hand to her.

             “I’m just glad I didn’t have to make a weird excuse to come inside for a bit, or have to stake out the porch when you weren’t home,” she grins.

            “Lydia, come over and sit,” Barbara yells from the living room. “We need to know everything that’s been going on with you.”

             “Okay, mom,” Lydia laughs. I follow her and tell her to sit wherever, and Beetlejuice is instantly at her side.

            “Tell me where you’ve been, why didn’t you come sooner?” he asks her, his hair an array of greens. I sit back and let them all reconnect, happy to just listen. The smile on Beetlejuice’s face is blinding, and Adam and Barbara look like proud parents. After a little while, I go to the kitchen to find something for everyone to eat.

             “Babes? Where are you going?” Beetlejuice asks me.

            “I’m coming back, I’m just getting snacks,” I yell to him. Instead of waiting, he blinks into the kitchen next to me, helping me find something Lydia will like. He kisses my cheek before walking with me back with his haul. He sits in between Lydia and me this time, sitting back and resting his arm on the back of the couch behind me.

            As the afternoon turns to evening, I’ve found myself subconsciously easing closer and closer to Beetlejuice, my hand now on his thigh and my head against his shoulder. His arm has fallen around my shoulders, keeping me close to him. Lydia turns to us, and gives us a confused look, and raises her eyebrow at both Maitlands.

             “It took some getting used to,” Adam sighs.

            “Hey! I see you two doing stupid, cheesy shit together all the time,” Beetlejuice interjects, and my face goes red.

             “We thought he had just found a new friend, but…” Barbara adds.

             “Do we have to talk about this? Now?” I ask them, not wanting to go into our relationship.

            “I think they’re in love,” Adam grins. I bury my face in my hands and take a deep breath, waiting for Lydia or Beetlejuice to say something, but when I look at his face and hair, I can see how uncomfortable and flustered he is. His hair is highlighter yellow with streaks of pink to match the blush across his cheeks.

             “Beej? In love?” Lydia says, sounding amazed and blown away.

            “Yeah, yeah, the demon fell in love,” Beetlejuice admits, his hair slowly turning back to its usual green. “It doesn’t have to be a big deal.”

             “I’m happy for you, BJ,” Lydia says to him.

             “You are?” he asks.

             “Well, yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” she laughs. “You’re my best friend, that’s all I could ever want.”

             “Aw, Lyds,” he says, wrapping his arms around her. “We raised you well.”

             “You didn’t raise her, you enabled her,” Barbara exclaims.

             “Same thing,” Beetlejuice shrugs. They laugh together, and continue their reminiscing.

            The daylight has long faded, and I can tell Beetlejuice is getting antsy. His hair is slowly turning blue, and his knee is bouncing with anxiety.

             “Come help me,” I say in his ear, pulling him to his feet and taking him into the office. “What’s wrong, honey?” He stands still for a moment, then wraps his arms around me.

             “She’s going to leave soon,” he tells me. “What if she never comes back? What if I don’t get to see her again?”

             “She’ll be back,” I say. “She knows where you are, and that she can come here without having to explain why.”

             “I know, but…”

            “How about this; I’ll get her phone number or email, and then you can talk to her whenever,” I offer, running my fingers through his hair. He nods into my shoulder and I hold him for another moment before taking him back to the living room. Beetlejuice tries to hide his hair by standing behind me, clutching my hand.

             “Hey, Lydia?” I ask her, handing her my phone. “Can we have your email? Or phone number? You know how he gets…”

            “Of course,” she says, entering in her information. “Since I don’t have to find excuses to be let in, I’ll tell my dad and Delia they can stop by too.”

             “Thanks, Lyds,” Beetlejuice says, his hair going back to normal. Everyone says their goodbyes, and Lydia spends extra time hugging Beetlejuice, and includes me in her farewells.

            As Lydia leaves, Beetlejuice squeezes my hand.

            “Thank you, Bluejay. For, you know…”

            “You’re welcome,” I say, kissing his cheek.

[lizartgurl]

Suited Up (Young Justice Outsiders, OCs)

Willow Lance returns to high society, now with her girlfriend, and tries to get her parents to talk to each other. Bruce Wayne, however, may throw a huge damper on her night.

Word Count: 3132 

“Diggle,”

“Miss Lance. Welcome back,” The ex-navy seal-turned-bodyguard for Queen Industries smiled warmly as he opened the door, holding it wide open as I stepped out of the backseat, and then as I helped Serene out of the car.

For a moment, the cameras stopped flashing as the paparazzi scrambled to recognize either of us. They returned in full force, screaming my way. With Serene’s arm in mine, I ignored them, making my stride quick and purposeful as I led her into the venue.

The glass geometric dome was bordered with gardens, plants cleverly hiding the speakers for music and raffle announcements. On the far side of the room were tables, piled high with every rich delicacy you could think of, next to the bar, which led to the kitchen (and bathrooms).

The entrance, where we stood, was a grand staircase, which led down to the dance floor that made up the majority of the venue.

Much like the paparazzi outside, many people stopped what they were doing, eyes on us in silent wonder.

I could feel Serene’s grip on my arm tightening.

“You ready?” I asked her.

“So long as you are,” She laughed lightly.

By the time we’d reached the floor, the live orchestra had started back up again, and all the donors had gone back to their own business, except for the two middle-aged blondes who hurried to greet us.

“Willow,” Dinah gasped, hugging me tightly.

“You look stunning,” I told her. Dinah’s hair was pulled back in a sleek ponytail, and her slim, midnight-blue dress sparkled with a thousand glittery stars.

She smiled, wiping something from the corner of her eye with care not to smudge her eyeliner. “You too.”

“Hey chickadee,” Oliver hugged me too, “Glad you could make it.”

He glanced at Serene, “That you both could.”

I smiled at my girlfriend, sliding my arm around her. “Mom, Dad, I want you to meet my girlfriend, Serene. Serene, my parents, Dinah and Oliver.”

Dinah grasped Serene’s hands. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Serene.”

“You as well, Mrs. Lance.”

“Call me Dinah,” She insisted.

“How’s Olivia?” I asked.

“With Will and Lian for the evening,” Oliver grinned, “Why? Were you hoping to get away with babysitting duties? After that entrance?”

“Maybe,” I teased right back.

I could see it in their blue eyes, in their aching smiles. They had millions of questions pressing at their polite appearance, but I couldn’t get away with explaining everything now. It would have to wait for a quieter time, where we weren’t surrounded by the well-to-do of society.

“If you’ll excuse us for a moment,” I led Serene over to Emma, watching me with a huge smile to go with her brother’s trollish grin.

“Wow,” Emma couldn’t stop smiling, looking me up and down, “Just...Wow!”

“You like it?” Serene lifted my arm to give me a spin.

��I think you rock a suit better than any guy,” Emma shook her head.

“Even me?” Rick begged.

“Especially you, Mister Fashion Disaster,” Emma hummed in satisfaction.

“Why, if it isn’t Little Miss Willow!”

I winced, vaguely recognizing the creaky voices of Gretchen “Granny” Goode, of Goode World Studios, the same studios that produced the Logan twins’ show, and once upon a time, M’gann’s ancient favorite: “Hello Megan!”

“Good to see you, Mrs. Goode.”

She gave a hoot of laughter, “As if I haven’t heard that one before. And call me Granny, Willow. And that goes for all of you as well,” She pointedly eyed Richard, Emma, and Serene. Funny, I don’t recall giving her permission to call me by my first name.

“How’s the fundraising going, Granny?” Emma asked, handing Granny a glass from a passing waiter’s tray.

“Oh just wonderful! I only wish Bruce could be here, he always brings in such a haul,” Granny sighed melodramatically.

“He’ll be here. You know Bruce, fashionably late as always,” Rick promised her.

“As if any entrance he made could top Willow’s!” Granny held out her arms, as if she expected a hug from me.

“Thank you,” I nodded awkwardly, holding out my hand to Serene instead.

“Would you care to dance, my love?”

She smiled softly, eyes glittering and reflecting the lights, the bubbles from the champagne, everything in the room all at once. It felt like the whole world was contained in her eyes.

“I would love to.”

I swept her up with the swell of the music, both of us floating across the floor, lost in each other’s arms. And that’s how most of the evening was spent, dancing with my girlfriend to avoid awkward rich people who tried to claim some sort of connection with me in an effort to rebound off the attention I received from entering with Serene. We finally managed to catch Emma and Rick by the appetizer buffet after they’d successfully ditched Miss Goode, loudly laughing at inside jokes to drive away any intruders.

“Bruce is gonna kill me for being so rude,” Emma snorted into her small plate of shrimp.

“Nah, he’ll think it’s hilarious,” Rick said, now on the lookout for anyone making a beeline for our table.

“Dinah’ll be mad, but she won’t go as far as grounding.”

Serene shrugged, “My dad would be the one hiding from everybody.”

We all fell into laughter again, and I waved over the waiter for another flute of champagne.

“This is definitely the most fun I’ve ever had at a gala,” Emma sighed happily.

“Even more than when Mara, Livvy, and Stephanie stole all the cream puffs?”

“I was panicking for half the evening wondering where they were before we found them. Under the bar of all things.”

Richard shrugged. “Miss Serene, would you mind to terribly if I asked you to dance?”

“Oo, watch out, Will, Rick’s gonna steal your girl.”

“As long as you understand that I am taken,” Mister Richard,” Serene giggled, taking his offered hand.

Emma shrugged, the two of us alone at the table with four empty plates, and Carmine Falcone heading straight for us.

“Wanna dance?”

“Thought you’d never ask.” We ducked into the crowd, leaving Falcone scratching his head in our wake so that we were almost laughing too hard to joined in the foxtrot they were playing.

“You look so much happier nowadays,” Emma observed.

I nodded, “Serene says I’m even better now that I’ve started talking to you guys again.”

Emma tilted her head back and forth, “Well that, and you look so much better in a suit than you ever did in a dress.”

I snorted softly, “You sure?”

“Well, it could be a combination of that and you don’t look nearly half as awkward dancing with Serene as you did with Kaldur.

“That was seven years ago! And he was your boyfriend!” Emma giggled as I spun her.

“Are you happy with him?” My tone serious as Emma came back to land in my arms again.

Her face serious, but with a smile slowly etching into the corners of her mouth, Emma nodded. “I love him, Willow. And he loves me too. I see it every day.

“We’re thinking of getting married.”

“Married?” My voice squeaked, too late to stop us from running into six-foot-four Bruce Wayne, immovable and unfazed.

“Bruce,” Emma gave him a quick hug, “How is everything?”

“It’s all well, Emma, Barbara has things well in hand.”

His gaze looked up from his adopted daughter, focusing in on me now. “Miss Lance.”

“Mr. Wayne,” I folded my arms across my chest, as if he were Superman with the x-ray vision and could see right through me.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your dance, Emma, but I need to speak to Willow.”

“Alright,” I shrugged, and leaned back on my right leg.

“Alone, if you wouldn’t mind.”

“I do,” I growled, following him back by the bar. I glanced back over my shoulder, seeing Richard and Serene stopped by Emma, watching me retreat after Bruce.

“Two bourbons, please,” Bruce asked the bartender, taking a seat at the end of the bar, away from the gossiping drunks. A Batman-esque glare was enough to drive anyone else away.

My drink came, but I refused to drink it, watching Bruce drink his first.

“What do you want, Wayne?” I asked.

Bruce downed the last of his glass, but when he went to put it down, he winced and nursed an area by his ribs momentarily.

“Where have you been, Willow?” He asked with a grunt, struggling to breathe evenly.

“STAR Detroit. I’m surprised you don’t know that.” I huffed.

“When you left, you said you needed space. I decided to give you that, so long as you didn’t go crazy and burn down Lexcorp headquarters in Metropolis.”

I was surprised that he’d actually managed to stay in his own business for two years, but annoyed that he thought so little of me. Then again, my tantrums over the teams first few years didn’t give him much reason to.

“So, still in STAR Detroit. I assume with Doctor Silas Stone?”

I glared at him.

“He is the leading expert on alien technology, two fields you are uniquely familiar with. And after all, you are here with his daughter.”

“I thought you said you stayed out of my business.”

“I did, but I make it a point to background check anyone who the league trusts with alien technology such as a Father Box.”

I froze, hand around my glass.

“It was only decided last night. When Jeff returned from deep space after what happened on Rann over the summer, he brought with him a Box Diana and her team had captured from a fleet of parademons they’d fought.”

He held up his phone, showing me security footage one of the Leaguer’s off in space had recorded of a dark Father Box healing a parademon’s half-missing limb and repair the staff he was holding. I felt a surge of pride in my chest noting Doctor Adam Strange in the background, having master his jetpack and his laser gun as he fought alongside Alanna, daughter of his scientist friend.

Bruce only played the clip once, on silent, before hiding it back in his pocket. “When Steel and the Lanterns couldn’t figure out how to make it work, Kaldur decreed that it would go to STAR to be studied. Of course, with Strange in space and Dorado now managing the metahuman youth center, that leaves Doctor Stone. And you, as his brilliant underpaid internist.”

I sighed. “What do you want, Bruce?” I emphasized again. “How do you even know all this? Emma says you quit the League, and so did Ollie.”

“I had a hand in creating every piece of technology that the League uses. I modified everything on the Watchtower myself.

“But this isn’t just for me, Willow, it’s for the League, for Richard and Emma’s team, for all of us still trying to make the world a better place. We don’t know Stone like we know Strange, and we know he’s a little...irrational at times. Rationalizes too much, loses himself in his work. We need you to keep him on track, to keep him from using the Father Box in the wrong way, or at all.”

“What do you think I’ve been trying to do since I became his intern?” I snapped suddenly.

“Excuse me-” I spun about to tell whoever was interrupting us to buzz off, when I saw Ollie smiling at me.

“I’m sure you won’t begrudge me the opportunity to dance with my own daughter, Bruce. Would you?”

Bruce sighed heavily. “Think about it, Willow.” Without gracing Ollie with an answer, he left a sizable tip for the barkeep and disappeared into the crowd.

“What was that all about?” Oliver asked, offering his arm.

“Just Bruce being Bruce,” I sighed.

Oliver chuckled, bringing us into dance position for a waltz, “Figures.”

“Anyone else I should be worried about running into?” I asked, trying to remember the lady’s steps instead of the gentleman’s this time around.

“Well, Granny insisted on inviting Luthor, but he declined, insisting that his focus was needed on the UN’s efforts to eradicate meta-human trafficking.”

The short bark of laughter that painfully tore itself from my chest drew the attention of several other dancing couples for a second.

“You look happy, Willow.”

“I am happy.” I told him.

“I’m glad,” He smiled beneath his dopey goatee, eyes crinkled sadly.

“What about you? Are you and Dinah happy?” I asked.

“That...” He sighed, spinning me around. “That’s a tough question to answer, Willow.”

“Why’d you leave?” I asked, a sudden edge to my voice, “I could’ve told you and Bruce years ago that Luthor was going to make things harder for the League. The people love him too much, you’ve seen it.”

He nodded stoically. “But that doesn’t mean we stop trying, chickadee. When we told you and the team to stay behind in the cave, did you guys listen?”

“No,” I said. I stared down at my feet to make sure I was putting them in the right spots.

He smiled again. “You have a heart for good, and a smart head on your shoulders. You’re going to do whatever you need to make sure that people get the help that they need, in whatever way that may be.

“With the League, we were able to keep reaching people on a wider range, at least for a while. That tsunami in Rhelasia was the last straw for me, personally, and when Bruce offered a way to keep reaching those people, I had to take it.”

“So why didn’t you tell Mom?” I begged, “Olivia called me the night you left the League. She saw Dinah drinking, and she’s terrified that you two are going to get a divorce.”

Oliver’s face was slightly pale in the already white lightning of the dome.

“I’m not sure, chickadee,” Ollie sighed. “I love your mother, I always have. I don’t want to leave her, but she cares about you guys so much, I couldn’t ask her to betray Kaldur. At least until it was too late.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Bruce seems to think you’re still working with the League,” I glared over at the bar, my face hot.

Oliver chuckled, “Bruce thinks a lot of things, not all of them true.”

I sighed, resting my head on his chest.

“What are you thinking now, chickadee?”

I pressed my lips together. “I’m just glad to have a dad again.”

The dance ended, and Oliver kissed my forehead. “I’d love another dance with you, but I think your gal pal is a little anxious to talk to you.” He attempted to grin, and gave me a little push toward Serene, who waited at a table with a glass of champagne and one solitary cream puff.

“May I?” I asked.

She slid the plate towards me with a giggle.

“I spoke with your mom, you know,” She nodded over my shoulder, and saw that Ollie had headed in Dinah’s direction. She stood on the edge of the dance floor, surveying everything while swirling her glass, which had a potent lipstick stain on the rim.

“Did she interrogate you or anything?” I asked.

Serene chuckled, “No, no, she was very nice. In fact, she told me a very fun story?”

“Oh?” I raised my eyebrow at her.

She nodded, smiling slyly. “It had Emma in it too, I think, about the time that she got sick and you tried to make her a pot of soup to make her feel better?”

I shoved the cream puff back her way, hungry no longer. “She swore she would never tell that story.”

Emma and Richard, having a drop too much to drink, danced past us, twirling elegantly. “She comes bearing soup!” Emma laughed.

“You’re all awful and you know I can cook much better now.”

“Yes, but can you make soup?” Richard wiggled his eyebrows before dancing off with his sister again.

Serene giggled, “Is that why you never make soup?”

“Come on,” I took her hand, “Let’s dance over there, there’s more room.” Serene laughed as I led her across the dance floor, and sure enough Emma and Richard followed us, but fortunately for me, not another word was spoken of soup for the rest of the evening.

-------

“She’s very happy,” Oliver said as he approached Dinah.

“I can tell,” Dinah said stiffly.

Oliver gently lifted the glass from her hand, letting a waiter take it away, before bringing his wife onto the dance floor. Though she didn’t resist, she seemed determined to stare at the floor, at the ceiling, at the bar, anywhere but at his face.

“I spoke to Serene. She’s a brilliant woman, and she loves Willow very much.”

“Dinah, we’ve been married for almost ten years now. When are we going to talk to each other?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” Dinah quipped.

“Dinah,” his hand left her back, coming up to hold her cheek, “I couldn’t ask you to leave the kids.”

“You could have told me what you were planning.”

“I could have, and I should have.”

“Then why didn’t you?”

It was Ollie’s turn to look away. Across the room, Willow and Serene were spinning around, and emma was probably recording it on her phone.

“It was Bruce’s idea, of course.”

“Since when do you listen to Bruce?” Dinah huffed.

“He had some pretty good reasons. He was asking each of his potential recruits one on one, and he didn’t want them to join just because of peer pressure. And he never said it outright, but I don’t think he wanted Kaldur to get wind of it either.”

“Why not? We don’t have the power to keep people from leaving the League.”

Oliver shrugged. “And this one’s more personal, but I didn’t want you knowing that I was leaving to drive us apart so soon.”

“Some good that did,” Oliver spun Dinah around, bringing her back around to land in his arms.

They stopped dancing.

Dinah gripped his lapels. “I...I know that you look out for the little guy. You always have. That’s why I fell for you in the first place.”

She held up one finger to keep him from interrupting, “I can’t leave the League. You’re right. I won’t abandon Kaldur when so much has already gone south for us.”

She glanced over at Willow and the others, “And second, you need to talk to me. No matter what, if we really love each other, we can’t be keeping things like this from each other.”

“Deal. Anything else you’d like to get off your chest, Pretty Bird?”

A wicked grin etched itself into Dinah’s mouth. “Oh, I can think of a few things, Mr. Green.”

[zwei-the-penguin-with-a-pen]

‘Stars’

So, this one isn't going to be much of a narrative story, really, just an account of my experiences meeting the cast of RWBY at NebKon. I'll try and make an actual story out of it, but no promises. You guys know, ZweI is a bit of a spazz when it comes to stuff like this.

ANYWAY, two days before the Kon our saga begins!

"ZWEI!" I hear after roaming the bus station for more than a few minutes. I look across the street and lay my eyes on Regular-Sized Jimmy. I say 'regular-sized' because in some circles I'm known as Little Jimmy. This Jimmy doesn't actually know me by either of those names and calls me my real one, but that isn't really anyone's business but mine.

So I grab my bag and haul across the street once the crosswalk lights permit me, and before I can even get in the car Jimmy begins to complain. This, that or the other, just general Kon stuff and things. This wouldn't be a problem if we hadn't had to drive all around Omaha during high-ish traffic and do fifty thousand errands even though one of us just got off a damned day-long bus ride.

RSJ's errands include picking up the Bobb, one of the housemates, bringing her to Omaha Oriental THE COOLEST SHOP KNOWN TO MAN BY THE WAY IF YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF IN OMAHA YOU SHOULD MAKE THE SCENE so she can acquire Kon supplies, a phrase which here means 'all manner of Asian junk food', and stopping at Lowe's for something or other for RSJ to finish his cosplay.

Finally, we make it to their house. My bestie is still at work, most unfortunately, but the wonderful Mick is home. She'd stayed home sick from work, which is never a good thing to have to do, but she felt better by the Kon. Good times to be had by all. After a hug and a few words, I go straight to 'my room' which is in disarray because it's only a storage area.

Mick apologizes for not having the room cleaned and ready for me, and I tell her to do no such thing. Also, I have just realized, as in just now at the time of this writing, that I'm writing in present tense. It fits well, even though I don't like the style, so I guess I'll keep it just this time.

Around 11, my bestie texts me that his occupational imprisonment has ended. I'm so glad he'll be home soon. Once he makes the scene he knocks on my door and proceeds to crash into my bed. Hang time ensues, as it's easier to stay awake with him talking to me. The rest of the roomies are quieter than I'm used to, so I had been dozing off here and there.

DAY BEFORE CON! RSJ works frantically to finish his cosplay, enlisting much help from Mick and at one point trying to recruit me. I inform him that I'm terrible with a paintbrush and would do more harm than good. Ooh, did I mention the Bobb bought takoyaki and shared with us? Good stuff, as far as fried balls of cabbage and octopus go. That was the night before. Anywho...

I try and get a jump on my writing challenge, knowing full well the Kon will swallow all my time the next three days. Bestie has work again because EFF BUCKY AND HIS CONVENIENCE STORE I mean what? I said no such thing! How dare you incinerate that I can't use big words!!

Sorry... not sorry at all. WAHAHAHAHA

FRIDAY, FIRST DAY OF CON!!!

Get packed, stop for breakfast at two in the afternoon, and suddenly we're at the Kon.

And I see cosplay before we ever even park the car. A Garnet from Steven Universe walks by us and we cheer for them. A Doctor Mercy, like from Overwatch but not in her battle gear, parks next to us.

We finally make it into the hotel and I'm completely mystified. There's cosplay everywhere. Did I mention this was my first nerd convention? I go to the check-in area and show my three-day pass to acquire my t-shirt. Then, whatever my bestie and I try to do after that repeatedly becomes entirely derailed as I become enamored with every other cosplayer that walked by me.

RWBY cosplayers seem to be the order of the weekend. I see more Noras and Yangs and Rubys than anything, but there are Torchwicks and Neos and even the occasional Adam. As the Kon goes on I see more Blakes, which is never a bad thing as she's my fave, and Jaunes and Rens and PYRRHAS. I miss my waifu. It's a shame she was murdered, but it was destiny or something.

She was based on Achilles...

Bestie and I make a couple of panels, including 'Walking in Godzilla's Footsteps' which is basically constructing a city out of cardboard boxes and destroying it over an over again. We meet Avatar Aang and Toph Beifong as well as Lord Raiden and even the real Nora Valkyrie. She worked on the Kon staff and was ALWAYS in character. Someone even asked me if she was Samantha Ireland because she had the voice down so well

She wasn't. I tell you, SHE WAS THE REAL NORA! She escaped into our world and wreaked havoc upon us. Unfortunately, she didn't break my legs. Oh well, maybe next time.

Next panel we make is Voice Acting 101, featuring Erica Lindbeck and Arryn Zech. MY BAE IS IN THE SAME ROOM AS ME YOU GUYS! And she's talking to Barbie, apparently. Yep, Erica Lindbeck is the voice actor for Barbie. Every time you see those Target holiday commercials, THAT'S MY GIRL! Also, we find out that Arryn is a massive Digimon fan. Ah, can I count the reasons I love this woman?

The first RWBY signing is right after this panel. We make the scene to find that the line has wrapped around two hallways. After nearly two hours of waiting they close the door on us. We never even got close. Good thing they were signing all three days.

Bestie and I make a short trip to Runza. Good eats, by the way. 12/10 would recommend. When we get back, we finally go to the hotel room and release most of the stuff we've been carrying and decide what we're to do next. I decide to take a rest before whatever the next panel I'm interested in, and I ended up crashing until after midnight and missing it. I catch up with bestie around 1:30, and we make the IT'S 2 AM AND WE'RE STILL GOING panel.

We roam around a bit longer after that before retiring to the room for all of two to three hours of sleep.

SATURDAY! The RWBY signing for this day is stupid early, so we leave the room by 8 and make the scene, and there's already a bit of a line. We end up in line behind a Penny, a Nora and a Ruby that are all friends. This Nora becomes known as 'Nora with the Hammer' because she had a Magnhild prop that was twice her height. Also, I need a title to differentiate from Duct Tape Nora who I met the day before and had an incredible cosplay.

Behind us are a couple fellow muggle folks, and Bestie gets to talking with them about My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I pop in and out until they start talking about RWBY, at which point I spazz. Naturally. Oh yeah, the line finally starts moving, and before long we can see the doors of the room. Omaha D was the room in question.

Sometime during this wait, I see two professional cosplayers dressed as Ren and Pyrrha and beg for their picture. This happens a lot with different cosplays. Before much longer we're in the room and I can hardly contain myself.

Lindsay Jones notices my bestie's Rainbow Dash shirt and proclaims for the whole room to hear that RAINBOW DASH IS BEST PONY! Bestie warns her that she's in a gigantic den of nerds and that saying such things could start a rumble. She's Lindsay, though, so she should be fine.

I come next, and she thanks me for supporting the show. I tell her it's shaping up to be my favorite anime but that it will be tough to top Yu Yu Hakusho. "Excellent choice! I love Kuwabara!"

"HE'S ON YOUR SHOW NOW! OF COURSE, YOU LOVE HIM!!" I shriek as she signs my sketchbook and the poster for my niblings.

Kara comes next, and I mispronounce her name. She says nothing about it, instead lightly complaining about how the staff wants the signees to cut conversations with the guests short and that her favorite part of signings is the talking.

I'm swiftly approaching my bae, you guys. I'm shook that I'm this close to her. I'm clutching my drawing of her for dear life. Bestie mentions that we went to the VA 101 panel, and she apologizes. He goes on to mention the Digimon thing, saying that he's also a superfan.

"Ooh, Bob's Burgers!" Is the first thing Arryn says to me, noticing my favorite shirt. She asks where I got it after she signs my things, and even asks for a picture of it. THERE'S A PICTURE OF ME ON ARRYN ZECH'S PHONE YOU GUYS!! I'm still shook.

She mentions her boyfriend, as his name is Bob, and I say that I used to watch his show, The 100, but I lost track of it because I'm terrible at watching shows. "So, I made you something..." I say, passing her the picture.

SHE WIGS OUT THAT I DREW HER! "WHOA! SHUT UP! THAT'S SO SWEET OF YOU!"

"I'm sorry I made your eyelash game so strong, but I'm glad you like it!" And then I ask her for a picture. And my soul leaves my body as I snap the photograph.

On to Barbara, still buzzing hard from Arryn. Barb makes puns at my bestie, as he made a joke about the Yang cosplayer a few people in front of us. "DUDE, YANG'S ABOUT TO MEET YANG! tHE UNIVERSE WILL IMPLODE!"

"Yeah, especially if they start cracking jokes..." I mention. Barb signs us and makes puns at us. Lovely times.

And finally, we reach Elizabeth Maxwell. In addition to Winter Schnee, we find out that she voiced Lady Urbosa from Breath of the Wild. Bestie tells her that she's her favorite Gerudo. I get an Urbosa poster for her to sign, planning to give it to Bestie. She notices my shirt and we talk Bob's for a minute.

And our mission is complete, so we make our way to the nearest eats we can find. After filling our faces we find our way to the vendors' block and proceed to spend more money than is humanly necessary. Soon we catch up with RSJ and Mick at a panel on cosplay fabrics. Later we catch the RWBY Q&A, and times are great until that business with that one guy that is not our friend.

We also see Her Majesty the King leaving the bar as we're heading into the jam with Bard and friends. THE BARD LET ME PLAY HIS GUITAR! WE JAMMED SO HARD YOU GUYS! So did everyone in the place. It was a beautiful time, it really was.

On Sunday, Bestie got signed by Todd Haberkorn for a friend of ours, and as he waited he found a Weird Al cosplayer WITH AN ACCORDION! Dance party shenanigans ensue, naturally.

We catch up again later and make the 'How'd We Do' review panel and Closing Ceremonies. We're super bummed that the Kon has just ended. We eventually make it back home, and I crash on his floor before I realize what's going on. The next afternoon I catch a bus back to Louisiana, still spinning from everything.

So yeah, that's how Remnant was made... or something.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I MET MY BAE!!!

*makes heart eyes for forever and a week*

\/\/\/\/\/

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Day 18: A VA dressed as their character

For once, I have more than a rant for this day. XD

But yeah, meeting them all was glorious.

Oh yeah, i’m finally caught up. Well, i will be when I finished the next fic. Formal wear. Hmm...

[chaospirations]

Bigfoot, Mothman and the Chupacabra may be some of the most widely known cryptids in modern society, but another fascinating cryptozoological classification of mysterious “monsters” are giant animals. Contrary to popular belief, creatures that are considered to be cryptids don’t have to be of a supernatural nature.  They don’t all have to have some hidden power attributed to them. They don’t have to have the power to sense and draw out your deepest fears, to disappear on command or control the environment around them. Some of the paranormal attributes given to cryptids are most likely due to the emotional state or psychological upheaval experienced by the observer after witnessing something totally unexpected or unbelievable to them.  Sometimes, they’re just big.

In 2005, George M. Eberhart wrote an article in the Journal of Scientific Exploration in which he placed cryptids (or reports of cryptids) into ten distinct categories.  Eberhart explained his categorization in the article in reference to his book Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology. In this article we’ll focus on the category “Undescribed, Unusual or Outsized Variations of Known Species.” These may be common animals with notable deformities or attributes.  This may also include known animals that are the rare giant of that species, or suffer from a form of gigantism.

Krystyna ‘Krys’ Pawlowski and the 28-Foot Crocodile

You may have seen this photo floating around the internet and thought it was a photoshopped crocodile.  However, this is not the case, and the story behind it is surprisingly terrifying. 

Ron and Krystyna Pawlowski were Polish immigrants who arrived in Australia in 1949.  The Pawlowskis struggled to make ends meet while caring for their children on a rural patch of land in Kaumba, in Queensland’s Gulf Country.

That all changed on a hot day in 1955. In a nightmarish scenario, three-year-old Barbera Pawlowski was playing near the water’s edge when her brother witnessed a horrific sight.  A massive crocodile was stalking the toddler, and was about to make her it’s next meal.

“My brother came out and saw it and yelled “Barbara, crocodile!” and my mother grabbed a rifle and shot it between the eyes…”

-George Pawlowski

Krystyna Pawlowski had never shot a rifle before in her life, but in that instant she managed to dispatch what remains to be the largest crocodile ever captured or killed in Australia, a monstrous 28-foot croc.  

“One Shot” became Krystyna Pawlowski’s famous nickname, and the family found fortune hunting crocodiles.

Additional link: The story behind the biggest crocodile ever caught in Australia: How a petite Polish immigrant with perfectly manicured nails nailed an 8.6metre monster – Daily Mail

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Hogzilla and Monster Pigs

There has been a noticeable increase in the number of media stories involving wild or feral hogs in recent years.  The latest story at the time of this writing is of a lethal attack in Chambers County, Texas by feral hogs on a woman arriving to work in the early hours of November 24, 2019. 

“Feral swine are the same species, Sus scrofa, as pigs that are found on farms. Feral swine are descendants of escaped or released pigs. Feral swine are called by many names including; wild boar, wild hog, razorback, piney woods rooter, and Russian or Eurasian boar. 

No matter the name they are a dangerous, destructive, invasive species. Feral swine were first brought to the United States in the 1500s by early explorers and settlers as a source of food. Repeated introductions occurred thereafter. 

The geographic range of this destructive species is rapidly expanding and its populations are increasing across the nation.”

United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Feral hogs, as their domesticated counterparts, if given sufficient food and cover can grow very large. To get an idea of how potentially large a feral hog can get, here’s a domestic analogy. Big Bill was raised from the runt of the litter into a record-smashing 2,552-pound hog. Big Bill’s incredible weight was validated in the Guinness Book of World Records. Bill met an untimely death in 1933 at the age of 3 while en route to the Chicago World’s Fair.  He was subsequently stuffed and put on display as his titanic carcass changed hands to various individuals willing to haul his earthly shell around for a quick buck.

Buford Butler standing with “Big Bill” post-taxidermy

Domesticated hogs are not usually raised to achieve such great weights, as an agricultural commodity, larger pigs are more difficult to house, transport and slaughter.  Moreover, younger, smaller hogs are more appealing to the meat industry and have generally better quality than older, larger market hogs.  However, the outbreak of African swine fever has decimated the pork industry in China, and some Chinese pork producers are beginning to raise hogs “heavy as polar bears” in order to counter the significant losses of their pigs to disease.

Hogzilla male hybrid of wild hog and domestic pig that was shot and killed by Chris Griffin in Alapaha, Georgia. On June 17, 2004, on Ken Holyoak’s fish farm and hunting reserve, Griffin shot the beast and reported it to be at least 12 feet long and over 1,000 lbs. Photos of the kill went viral and caused an overnight media sensation.

A forensic investigation of the animal was conducted revealing it was around 8.6 feet long and approximately 800 lbs.  Although this diminished the initial report, “Hogzilla” was still an unusually large specimen.

Related: list of pigs of significant size.

Monsters In Print: A Collection Of Curious Creatures Known Mostly From Newspapers

by Adam Benedict

This collection of over 170+ articles, direct from newspapers of the 1800s and 1900s, brings some of the most bizarre, amazing, and incredible stories of true monster encounters out of the past and into your hands! Presented with zero spin or bias, this book delivers just the facts and allows you, the reader, to decide for yourself if the stories within actually happened or not. From the funny to the frightening, the sincere to the weird, there is something for everyone within these pages!

Giants of the Deep: Giant Squid

Maritime legends depict all manner of sea monsters from the terrifying to the fantastic.  One of the most famous monsters from the lore of seafarer’s is the Kraken.  Described as a giant, multi-tentacled cephalopod that could wrap its incredibly strong arms around any vessel it desired and drag it and her occupants to the depths of the ocean.  Many now believe that the Kraken of sailor’s stories are most likely sightings of the Giant Squid, genus Architeuthis.

Giant Squid usually reside deep in all of the world’s oceans, and are rarely seen near the surface.  It is estimated that Giant Squid can reach lengths of over 40 feet long and they have the largest eyes in the animal world.  However, being so elusive and mysterious, it is impossible to tell how big Giant Squid are capable of growing. One of the best video close encounters with the giant squid occurred on Christmas Eve 2015 in Toyama Bay, Japan (video clip below) when a juvenile made a rare visit to surface waters.

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Giant Discovery Channel Hoaxes vs Real Giant Sharks

Remember when MTV played music videos?  Also remember when the Discovery Channel used to feature science documentaries and not “mockumentaries” like Animal Planet’s “Mermaids” embarrassment? During “Shark Week” in 2013, the Discovery Channel aired a segment called “Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives.” In the segment, there is a grainy photo that you may have seen floating around the internet.

Still from “Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives”

The photo was alleged to be taken on December 18, 1942 near Capre Town, South Africa gathered by “Nazi archives” and displays a dorsal and tail fin behind a few U-boats with a measurement marker of 64 feet. Without knowing the documentary was fictional, many viewers assumed this photo was powerful evidence for the existence of the Megalodon in modern times.  However, there were also those who questioned the photo, and ultimately proved it to be phony.

George Monbiot of the Guardian began investigating the claims made by the Discovery Channel show, and with a little help from his readers, managed to debunk the photo as a total fabrication.

“Before I wrote the article I conducted an image search, and found nothing. Now I know why. It wasn’t a still picture. A sharp-eyed reader found the frame in some footage of U-boats on Tarrif.net. The footage was shot in the Atlantic. Take a look 12 seconds in.

It’s the same shot. But guess what? No shark. And no swastika. And not off Cape Town. Or anywhere near.

I wrote to the company handling media inquiries, putting it to them that the production company which made the film, Pilgrim Studios, doctored the image and misled the audience. I have not heard back from them.”

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-George Monbiot

Another photo that has been misrepresented as a Megalodon is the now-famous “Sleeper Shark” video.  Having been re-edited and re-packaged by YouTube as “The Mariana Trench Megalodon,”

The Pacific Sleeper Shark

The claims that this is a shark of stupendous size comes from the assertion that the cage in question was a large diving cage when in acttuality it is a small bait cage designed to draw in sharks and fish within the range of the camera.  Also, this was not filmed in the Mariana Trench, the encounter was actually recorded by a submersible in Japan’s Suruga Bay and uploaded in 2008 (see video below).

Thete are many historical accounts of giant Great Whites.  In the 1870s, a 36 ft specimen was captured in southern Australian waters, near Port Fairy, and an 37 ft shark  was trapped in a herring weir in New Brunswick, Canada, in the 1930s. Both of those size estimations remain unverified.  However, there are still giants that roam the water to this day.

The largest Great White ever captured on video so far has been Deep Blue, and she’s our modern equivalent to a real-life “Jaws” with the exception that she’s pretty tolerable about having divers around her.  Deep Blue is approximately 20 feet long and weighs an estimated 2 tons, making her the largest known Great Whites sharks alive. She’s estimated to be around 50 years old and the first documented encounter with this particular shark was about 20 years ago.

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The Lake Michigan Mothman: High Strangeness in the Midwest

This book represents over two years of research by a dedicated team of investigators who have taken dozens of reports of a weird, winged humanoid seen around Lake Michigan. Author and investigator Tobias Wayland has collected these reports for the first time in one volume, along with his analysis and insider perspective as a member of the investigative team. The phenomena described within represent the continuation of a decades-long series of events first recorded in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, in the late ’60s, but that has likely been with humanity since our advent, and seems just as likely to be with us until our end.

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Nature’s Monsters, Giant Animals and Fantastic Beasts Bigfoot, Mothman and the Chupacabra may be some of the most widely known cryptids in modern society, but another fascinating cryptozoological classification of mysterious “monsters” are giant animals.

[freonsuit52-blog]

Review: JetBlue Mint, one of the most luxurious ways to travel domestically

If you’re flying internationally and are looking for a premium business class product with all the familiar trappings — a lie-flat seat, full meals, complimentary drinks, and a huge in-flight-entertainment screen with plenty of high-quality viewing options — you don’t have to look too far. But if you’re traveling domestically, your options are far more limited. JetBlue’s Mint offers all of the above and is widely regarded as being up there with the best premium-class domestic offerings (Delta One is also pretty great), and we recently had the opportunity to put it to the test on a flight between New York and San Francisco.

JetBlue planes have a Mint cabin on a variety of long-haul domestic flights, in cities including Boston, New York, Fort Lauderdale, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Las Vegas. On my flight, as on most Mint flights, there were five Mint rows in the front of the plane, alternating between a 2-2 and a 1-1 layout. (The four single seats have their own sliding doors, making them essentially private minisuites.)

There’s no dedicated JetBlue lounge at JFK (though there’s an AerLingus lounge in the same terminal, so it would be great if Mint passengers were allowed access), but priority boarding allowed us onto the plane first. I was unfortunately not seated in one of the single-seat “thrones,” but there was a small privacy divider between me and my seatmate.

Waiting at my seat were a blanket, pillow, and amenity kit as well as a welcome note from the two flight attendants, a nice personal touch. As I was getting situated, one of the flight attendants came by to introduce herself and acclimate me to the seat; she also offered a refreshing welcome drink of mint, lime, and club soda, with or without vodka. 

The amenity kit contained all the essentials: moisturizers, socks, an eye mask, earplugs, toothbrush and toothpaste, and a pen.

For someone who’s used to being crammed into an economy seat, the Mint offering was incredibly spacious, 22 inches wide and converting into a 6-foot-8-inch lie-flat bed. Power outlets, a nook holding a bottle of water, and a reading light were to my left, a remote for the TV and seat controls were in the left-side armrest, a large table swung down from between the seats (which were also separated by a small cocktail table), and a mesh pouch beneath the screen provided enough space for the essentials.

The in-flight entertainment monitor was also absolutely massive, 15 inches across and operated by touch as well as a remote. I love that JetBlue offers live TV through DirecTV, and the selection of about 60 movies was also well-curated.

But onto the food. The menu here is created by the well-regarded New York restaurant Saxon + Parole, and it’s clear that a lot of thought went into it.

A welcome snack of onion dip and taro chips were served after takeoff — nothing special, but a nice way to start the meal.

Next, we had our choice of three of five entrees, served as small plates: a butter lettuce salad with orange segments, creme fraiche dressing, and pistachios; roasted butternut squash salad with arugula, pomegranate, pumpkin seeds, and cotija; shrimp and grits with tomato ragout, mascarpone, cheddar, and pickled peppers; roast chicken breast with parsnip puree, Brussels sprouts, pickled blackberries, and chicken jus; and five spice-braised short rib with Parmesan polenta.

I opted for the butternut squash salad, the shrimp and grits, and the chicken, and — no exaggeration — it was the best meal I’ve ever eaten on an airplane. Just the fact that I was served three individual dishes was very appreciated, but I would have been very satisfied if I’d received any of these as standalones (either on a plane or at a nice restaurant). The roll was warm and soft, served with a bright, high-quality olive oil. The salad was fresh and bright, with a little crunch from the pumpkin seeds and pomegranate and plenty of chunks of nicely roasted squash. The chicken was tender and not dried out at all, the parsnip puree was creamy and flavorful, the blackberries gave it a bright pop, and the rich jus tied it all together. The shrimp were large and perfectly cooked, the grits were nice and creamy, and the tomato ragout and pickled peppers helped kick the flavor up a few notches.

For dessert, we were served a fruit plate with lots of fresh blackberries, orange slices, strawberries, and fresh mint, as well as scoops of caramel and vanilla ice cream from Brooklyn’s acclaimed Blue Marble. It was a stellar cap to an essentially perfect in-flight meal.

It’s notoriously difficult to nail down in-flight dining because the dryness of the cabin dulls our palates, but each dish was perfectly seasoned and full of big, bold, and vibrant flavors in some unexpected places. (Seriously, who would think to pair chicken breast with pickled blackberries?) The wine selection, chosen by wine writer Jon Bonné, was also on point, with a dry sparkling Raventos rose from Spain, a bright chardonnay from Leo Steen in Santa Cruz, a floral gruner veltliner from Santa Barbara County’s Tatomer Meerseboden, a bold young zinfandel from California’s Turley, and berry-forward, easy-drinking Sonoma Coast pinot noir from Failla on offer.

Snacks, fruit, cappuccino and espresso from Brooklyn Roasting Co., coffee and tea from Dunkin’ Donuts, and drinks including Angry Orchard cider, Brooklyn Lager, Lagunitas Pale Ale, Sam Adams IPA, Bacardi rum, Bombay Sapphire gin, Bulleit bourbon, and Grey Goose vodka were also available on demand. Flight attendants were always nearby, were always very friendly, and always remembered my drink order.

After the meal (and a jaunt down the aisle to help with digestion), I decided to settle in for a nap and lowered the seat down to lie-flat mode. There’s something insanely novel and luxurious about being able to lie completely flat, with a comfortable pillow under your head and a warm blanket covering you, 35,000 feet in the air, and it’s something that everyone should experience at least once. (A word of warning, though: It’ll completely spoil you for ever sitting in economy again.) Cocooned into my little space, I dozed off and got a couple hours of blissfully uninterrupted sleep before repositioning the seat into my best approximation of a La-Z-Boy recliner, ordering a bourbon, and watching a movie in the deep blue mood lighting. A cookie from Christina Tosi's Milk Bar was served as we begun our descent, another nice touch.

When we landed shortly after the movie finished, and I got up from my seat and emerged blinking into the bright and hectic terminal, my thoughts weren’t of the days of sightseeing ahead of me, but on the insanely luxurious and comfortable flight I’d just had. From the friendliness of the flight attendants to the size and softness of the seat to the absolutely delicious meal, flying JetBlue Mint was one of the finest flight experiences I’ve ever had, and I’m certifiably spoiled for all other economy flights I’ll ever take.

An upgrade from economy to Mint was provided at no cost to the author.

Source: https://www.thedailymeal.com/travel/review-jetblue-mint

[marcusliams-blog]

shark tank keto diet

As one of the greatest common wellbeing and health sites on the Internet, we normally get a considerable measure of asks and criticism from the field about what is inclining on the tip of customer's tongues. Also, as time went on, gradually and without a doubt, we could never again disregard what number of our esteemed guests connected about "Shark tank keto diet " and said would you be able to audit regardless of whether these keto eating routine weight reduction supplements were really highlighted on Mark Cuban's Shark Tank TV appear or not.

 Since the numbers have been expanding and the point is of developing interest, we chose to bolstered the reason by conceiving a 2-piece survey on the real Ketogenic Diet and additionally Keto supplementation (Shark Tank or not).

 Section 1: Keto Weight Loss Supplements on Shark Tank

 Shark Tank is a fiercely fruitful TV program that permits business people and business-disapproved of society to go ahead the show and contribute their thought trade for financing and forthright capital speculation. Furthermore, clearly, as indicated by the Internet, Shark tank keto diet items are additionally searching for investment subsidizing from multi-tycoons and very rich people.

 Here are a couple of regular characteristics to focus on keeping in mind the end goal to recognize what is happening:

 You will ordinarily observe these sites showing a $4.95 free preliminary offer

 Some place will be a photo of Barbara Corcoran, Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John, Kevin O'Leary, Richard Branson and Sara Blakely

 counterfeit client tributes appearing when pictures of Shark tank keto diet weight reduction clients

 no less than one superstar embraced subtitle/quote/picture (Ellen, Oprah, Kim K, Khloe K, Drew Carey, Melissa Mccarthy, Megan Mullally, Miranda Lambert, Sandra Bullock, Eva Longoria)~ yes, nobody is beyond reach

 counterfeit facebook remarks that appear to be constant

 More often than not we have gotten reports that Anna and Samantha Martin were the business visionaries who "prevailed upon" the Shark Tank board.

 Presently, all together not to squander your chance totally with this Shark tank keto diet weight reduction supplement being included on Shark Tank, how about we check whether we can take in some things about Ketogenic Diet which has burst into flames in the wellbeing scene and keeps on advancing as an essential convention for health food nuts to take after.

 Section 2: Everything To Know About the Ketogenic Diet

 Nowadays, an ever increasing number of individuals are experiencing stoutness and unending ailments in all parts of the world, and the figures of weight related passings are expanding at a fast rate. Wrong eating routine that incorporates unreasonable protein, sugar, and carbs and in addition insignificant fat is principally in charge of this developing wonder.

 Keeping in mind the end goal to get in shape and keep up a sound body, you have to strike the correct harmony between your sustenance utilization and your exercise schedule.

 Be that as it may, a few people still find that they are stuck at weight levels and can't achieve the weight expected to deal with their corpulence or other heftiness related medical issues.

 This is the place The Shark tank keto diet program proves to be useful. Here's all that you have to know before going Keto.

 What Exactly is Shark tank keto diet Program?

 It is imperative to bring up that the Shark tank keto diet and a low carb weight control plans goes as an inseparable unit. Getting more fit and keeping up a sound body while limiting your starches can invigorate your body to achieve a state known as ketosis.

 This is the place your body starts consuming fat as fuel rather than glucose. Investigate another May 2018 examination on ketogenic eating regimen and practicing for competitors here.

 The Keto eating routine is a famous supper program that is intended to enable you to accomplish long haul wellbeing. As you begin following this ketogenic eating regimen program, you won't just upgrade your wellbeing, yet in addition lose and keep up a solid weight.

 You will have the capacity to shed those adamant pounds while as yet devouring heavenly sustenances. You will have the capacity to change yourself into a radical new individual inside simply an issue of days.

 In only a couple of days, you can begin to appreciate the staggering advantages of this program. As you limit your admission of starches while expanding your utilization of fat, you will encounter the astonishing impacts of this basic way of life change.

When you lessen your carb admission, your body will be constrained to modify its digestion and to search for other vitality sources, and thusly, it begins to utilize the amassed fat.

This enables the body to consume the put away fats while expanding the measure of synthetic compounds known as ketones, which are consequently discharged through the lungs, pee and sweat.

This urges you to diminish your caloric admission without food cravings and begin to shed those adamant pounds.

The formulas, supper designs and assets found in the Keto eating routine program will enable you to accomplish finish body certainty, controlled digestion and better heath without having to radically cut your caloric admission.

 Is the Ketogenic Diet Supplementation Right for You?

 The Ketogenic eating routine program is perfect for overweight (large) people who are attempting to get thinner regardless of rolling out more advantageous eating regimen and way of life improvements. This one of a kind eating routine framework may likewise be suitable for you if:

 You have effectively rolled out more beneficial eating regimen and way of life improvements yet are not accomplishing your weight reduction objectives.

 You have endeavored to take after a normal low calorie slim down with no achievement.

 In the wake of following a general eating routine program for a sensible timeframe, you are as yet encountering food cravings.

 You are not getting in shape any more.

 You are as yet large or extremely overweight.

 What is Included in the Program?

 For people, living on a Keto eating regimen program seems to be a feasible option for those hoping to shake things up and take a stab at something else that numerous individuals are enjoying. All the more imperatively, you will realize why you have to take after this eating regimen design and how it will encourage you. The guide likewise gives you different recommendations as you start your own weight reduction trip and know precisely what's in store.

 The guide likewise records control supplements for every one of the 30 days and exercises on exercises, perseverance, eating timetables and exercises that expansion ketones, to say yet a couple.

 The Keto program additionally offers shopping records, supper designs, tidbits and formulas for you to attempt at home. What's more, you will get to Studies and Links, demonstrating a portion of the best logical and research discoveries on this issue.

 Aces of Shark tank keto diet Supplementation

 There are various advantages of following the Keto eating regimen program, some of which are recorded underneath:

 Malignancy Prevention: inquire about has demonstrated that the Ketogenic Diet can help diminish and even anticipate tumor development. (truly solid claim)

 Get in shape quicker: you will have the capacity to get more fit quickly due to its capacity to consume any aggregated fats in the body (additionally look at MCT oil benefits).

 Improved bulk: ketones increment the level of leucine in the body, which upgrades bulk.

 Diminished hunger: inquire about discoveries have demonstrated that the Ketogenic Diet program can help decrease craving and take out food cravings and in addition sugar yearnings.

 Improved subjective capacity: inquire about has demonstrated that the Ketogenic Diet can help with psychological capacity issues

 Decreased irritation and relief from discomfort: look into has demonstrated that diminished glucose digestion can lessen agony and aggravation.

 Enhanced Irritable Bowel Syndrome: the Keto eating regimen has appeared to help with IBs indications.

 Settled Energy Levels: the Ketogenic eating routine can help expand vitality levels of the client.

 Cons of Using Shark tank keto diet Products

 As per numerous assets on the web, before you focus on a Ketogenic slimming down program, take note of that it might bring about certain reactions, including:

 Here and now exhaustion

 Visit inclination to urinate

 Stomach related problems

 Last Verdict on Keto Shark Tank Products and Shark tank keto diet Benefits

 Things being what they are, Is the Ketogenic Diet program justified, despite all the trouble? Indeed, it seems like an awesome choice for the individuals who have attempted other trend abstaining from excessive food intake conventions. Regardless of whether you are vegetarian or a continuous jock searching for muscle, Ketogenic eating regimen appears to have a place for everybody.

[jackdoakstx]

Colorado Book Award finalists announced

The Colorado Humanities and Center for the Book last week announced the finalists for the Colorado Book Awards.

Finalists will read from their nominated works at the BookBar, 4280 Tennyson St., Denver, on April 6, 20, 22 and 27, as well as May 3 and 4. For the schedule, click here. 

The winners will be announced on June 2.

ANTHOLOGY Beautiful Flesh: A Body of Essays, edited by Stephanie G’Schwind (Center for Literary Publishing, Colorado State University) Blood Business: Crime Stories from This World and Beyond, edited by Mario Acevedo and Joshua Viola (Hex Publishers) The Last Stand of the Pack: Critical Edition, edited by Andrew Gulliford and Tom Wolf (University Press of Colorado)

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE Blue Corn Soup by Caroline Stutson, illustrated by Teri Weidner (Sleeping Bear Press) Can An Aardvark Bark? by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Steve Jenkins (Beach Lane Books, Simon & Schuster) Wild Zoo Train by Carmela LaVigna Coyle, illustrated by Steve Gray (Muddy Boots, Globe Pequot)

CREATIVE NONFICTION Guidebook to Relative Strangers: Journeys into Race, Motherhood, and History by Camille T. Dungy (W. W. Norton & Company) The Long Haul: A Trucker’s Tales of Life on the Road by Finn Murphy (W. W. Norton & Company) The Newcomers: Finding Refuge, Friendship, and Hope in an American Classroom by Helen Thorpe (Scribner) No Barriers: A Blind Man’s Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon by Erik Weihenmayer and Buddy Levy (St. Martin’s Press)

GENERAL FICTION Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore: A Novel by Matthew Sullivan (Scribner) Rush: A Novel by Jayme H. Mansfield (Heritage Beacon Fiction, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas) Wishing Caswell Dead by Pat Stoltey (Five Star Publishing, Gale/Cengage Learning)

GENERAL NONFICTION Bugged: The Insects Who Rule the World and the People Obsessed with Them by David MacNeal (St. Martin’s Press) The Loyalist Team: How Trust, Candor, and Authenticity Create Great Organizations by Linda Adams, Abby Curnow-Chavez, Audrey Epstein, and Rebecca Teasdale with Jody Berger (Public Affairs, Hachette Book Group) Megafire: The Race to Extinguish a Deadly Epidemic of Flame by Michael Kodas (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) Where the Water Goes: Life and Death along the Colorado River by David Owen (Riverhead Books)

HISTORY American Eclipse: A Nation’s Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World by David Baron (Liveright, W. W. Norton & Company) Plundered Skulls and Stolen Spirits: Inside the Fight to Reclaim Native America’s Culture by Chip Colwell (The University of Chicago Press) The President’s Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, from the Washingtons to the Obamas by Adrian Miller (University of North Carolina Press)

JUVENILE LITERATURE The Last Panther by Todd Mitchell (Delacorte Books for Young Readers) Path of the Thunderbird: A Grand Canyon Adventure by Sara Miller and Pat Toole (Grand Canyon Association) The Player King by Avi (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Simon & Schuster)

LITERARY FICTION The Blue Hour by Laura Pritchett (Counterpoint Press) Celine: A Novel by Peter Heller (Alfred A. Knopf) White Plains by David Hicks (Conundrum Press)

MYSTERY Dead Stop by Barbara Nickless (Thomas & Mercer, Amazon Publishing) Fractured Families: A Lottie Albright Mystery by Charlotte Hinger (Poisoned Pen Press) Hunting Hour: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery by Margaret Mizushima (Crooked Lane Books)

Related Articles

Regional Books: C.J. Box’s “The Disappeared”

Staff picks: Brass, by Xhenet Aliu

Regional Books: “Evening Road,” “All I’ve Done for You” and more

PICTORIAL Mountain Ranch by Michael Crouser (University of Texas Press) Once Upon a Time … The Western: A New Frontier in Art and Film edited by Mary-Dailey Desmarais and Thomas Brent Smith (5 Continents Editions)

POETRY Hum of Our Blood by Madelyn Garner, photography by Bradley Braverman (3: A Taos Press) Stray by Adam Houle (Lithic Press) Trophic Cascade by Camille T. Dungy (Wesleyan University Press)

SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY A Borrowed Hell by L. D. Colter (Shirtsleeve Press) Graveyard Shift: A Novel by Michael F. Haspil (Tom Dougherty Associates, TOR) Souls for the Phrenii: A Novel of the Broken Kaskea by Laura E. Reeve (Cajun Coyote Media)

THRILLER Broken Slate: A Sean Coleman Thriller by John A. Daly (BQB Publishing) Red Sky: A Thriller by Chris Goff (Crooked Lane Books) Trafficked: A Mex Anderson Novel by Peg Brantley (Bark Publishing)

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Life in a Fishbowl by Len Vlahos (Bloomsbury Children’s Books) A Messy, Beautiful Life by Sara Jade Alan (Entangled Publishing) When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon (Simon Pulse, Simon & Schuster)

from News And Updates https://www.denverpost.com/2018/03/22/2018-colorado-book-awards/

[jimblanceusa]

Colorado Book Award finalists announced

The Colorado Humanities and Center for the Book last week announced the finalists for the Colorado Book Awards.

Finalists will read from their nominated works at the BookBar, 4280 Tennyson St., Denver, on April 6, 20, 22 and 27, as well as May 3 and 4. For the schedule, click here. 

The winners will be announced on June 2.

ANTHOLOGY Beautiful Flesh: A Body of Essays, edited by Stephanie G’Schwind (Center for Literary Publishing, Colorado State University) Blood Business: Crime Stories from This World and Beyond, edited by Mario Acevedo and Joshua Viola (Hex Publishers) The Last Stand of the Pack: Critical Edition, edited by Andrew Gulliford and Tom Wolf (University Press of Colorado)

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE Blue Corn Soup by Caroline Stutson, illustrated by Teri Weidner (Sleeping Bear Press) Can An Aardvark Bark? by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Steve Jenkins (Beach Lane Books, Simon & Schuster) Wild Zoo Train by Carmela LaVigna Coyle, illustrated by Steve Gray (Muddy Boots, Globe Pequot)

CREATIVE NONFICTION Guidebook to Relative Strangers: Journeys into Race, Motherhood, and History by Camille T. Dungy (W. W. Norton & Company) The Long Haul: A Trucker’s Tales of Life on the Road by Finn Murphy (W. W. Norton & Company) The Newcomers: Finding Refuge, Friendship, and Hope in an American Classroom by Helen Thorpe (Scribner) No Barriers: A Blind Man’s Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon by Erik Weihenmayer and Buddy Levy (St. Martin’s Press)

GENERAL FICTION Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore: A Novel by Matthew Sullivan (Scribner) Rush: A Novel by Jayme H. Mansfield (Heritage Beacon Fiction, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas) Wishing Caswell Dead by Pat Stoltey (Five Star Publishing, Gale/Cengage Learning)

GENERAL NONFICTION Bugged: The Insects Who Rule the World and the People Obsessed with Them by David MacNeal (St. Martin’s Press) The Loyalist Team: How Trust, Candor, and Authenticity Create Great Organizations by Linda Adams, Abby Curnow-Chavez, Audrey Epstein, and Rebecca Teasdale with Jody Berger (Public Affairs, Hachette Book Group) Megafire: The Race to Extinguish a Deadly Epidemic of Flame by Michael Kodas (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) Where the Water Goes: Life and Death along the Colorado River by David Owen (Riverhead Books)

HISTORY American Eclipse: A Nation’s Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World by David Baron (Liveright, W. W. Norton & Company) Plundered Skulls and Stolen Spirits: Inside the Fight to Reclaim Native America’s Culture by Chip Colwell (The University of Chicago Press) The President’s Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, from the Washingtons to the Obamas by Adrian Miller (University of North Carolina Press)

JUVENILE LITERATURE The Last Panther by Todd Mitchell (Delacorte Books for Young Readers) Path of the Thunderbird: A Grand Canyon Adventure by Sara Miller and Pat Toole (Grand Canyon Association) The Player King by Avi (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Simon & Schuster)

LITERARY FICTION The Blue Hour by Laura Pritchett (Counterpoint Press) Celine: A Novel by Peter Heller (Alfred A. Knopf) White Plains by David Hicks (Conundrum Press)

MYSTERY Dead Stop by Barbara Nickless (Thomas & Mercer, Amazon Publishing) Fractured Families: A Lottie Albright Mystery by Charlotte Hinger (Poisoned Pen Press) Hunting Hour: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery by Margaret Mizushima (Crooked Lane Books)

Related Articles

Staff picks: Brass, by Xhenet Aliu

Regional Books: “Evening Road,” “All I’ve Done for You” and more

PICTORIAL Mountain Ranch by Michael Crouser (University of Texas Press) Once Upon a Time … The Western: A New Frontier in Art and Film edited by Mary-Dailey Desmarais and Thomas Brent Smith (5 Continents Editions)

POETRY Hum of Our Blood by Madelyn Garner, photography by Bradley Braverman (3: A Taos Press) Stray by Adam Houle (Lithic Press) Trophic Cascade by Camille T. Dungy (Wesleyan University Press)

SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY A Borrowed Hell by L. D. Colter (Shirtsleeve Press) Graveyard Shift: A Novel by Michael F. Haspil (Tom Dougherty Associates, TOR) Souls for the Phrenii: A Novel of the Broken Kaskea by Laura E. Reeve (Cajun Coyote Media)

THRILLER Broken Slate: A Sean Coleman Thriller by John A. Daly (BQB Publishing) Red Sky: A Thriller by Chris Goff (Crooked Lane Books) Trafficked: A Mex Anderson Novel by Peg Brantley (Bark Publishing)

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Life in a Fishbowl by Len Vlahos (Bloomsbury Children’s Books) A Messy, Beautiful Life by Sara Jade Alan (Entangled Publishing) When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon (Simon Pulse, Simon & Schuster)

from Latest Information https://www.denverpost.com/2018/03/22/2018-colorado-book-awards/

[janetoconnerfl]

Colorado Book Award finalists announced

The Colorado Humanities and Center for the Book last week announced the finalists for the Colorado Book Awards.

Finalists will read from their nominated works at the BookBar, 4280 Tennyson St., Denver, on April 6, 20, 22 and 27, as well as May 3 and 4. For the schedule, click here. 

The winners will be announced on June 2.

ANTHOLOGY Beautiful Flesh: A Body of Essays, edited by Stephanie G’Schwind (Center for Literary Publishing, Colorado State University) Blood Business: Crime Stories from This World and Beyond, edited by Mario Acevedo and Joshua Viola (Hex Publishers) The Last Stand of the Pack: Critical Edition, edited by Andrew Gulliford and Tom Wolf (University Press of Colorado)

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE Blue Corn Soup by Caroline Stutson, illustrated by Teri Weidner (Sleeping Bear Press) Can An Aardvark Bark? by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Steve Jenkins (Beach Lane Books, Simon & Schuster) Wild Zoo Train by Carmela LaVigna Coyle, illustrated by Steve Gray (Muddy Boots, Globe Pequot)

CREATIVE NONFICTION Guidebook to Relative Strangers: Journeys into Race, Motherhood, and History by Camille T. Dungy (W. W. Norton & Company) The Long Haul: A Trucker’s Tales of Life on the Road by Finn Murphy (W. W. Norton & Company) The Newcomers: Finding Refuge, Friendship, and Hope in an American Classroom by Helen Thorpe (Scribner) No Barriers: A Blind Man’s Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon by Erik Weihenmayer and Buddy Levy (St. Martin’s Press)

GENERAL FICTION Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore: A Novel by Matthew Sullivan (Scribner) Rush: A Novel by Jayme H. Mansfield (Heritage Beacon Fiction, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas) Wishing Caswell Dead by Pat Stoltey (Five Star Publishing, Gale/Cengage Learning)

GENERAL NONFICTION Bugged: The Insects Who Rule the World and the People Obsessed with Them by David MacNeal (St. Martin’s Press) The Loyalist Team: How Trust, Candor, and Authenticity Create Great Organizations by Linda Adams, Abby Curnow-Chavez, Audrey Epstein, and Rebecca Teasdale with Jody Berger (Public Affairs, Hachette Book Group) Megafire: The Race to Extinguish a Deadly Epidemic of Flame by Michael Kodas (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) Where the Water Goes: Life and Death along the Colorado River by David Owen (Riverhead Books)

HISTORY American Eclipse: A Nation’s Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World by David Baron (Liveright, W. W. Norton & Company) Plundered Skulls and Stolen Spirits: Inside the Fight to Reclaim Native America’s Culture by Chip Colwell (The University of Chicago Press) The President’s Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, from the Washingtons to the Obamas by Adrian Miller (University of North Carolina Press)

JUVENILE LITERATURE The Last Panther by Todd Mitchell (Delacorte Books for Young Readers) Path of the Thunderbird: A Grand Canyon Adventure by Sara Miller and Pat Toole (Grand Canyon Association) The Player King by Avi (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Simon & Schuster)

LITERARY FICTION The Blue Hour by Laura Pritchett (Counterpoint Press) Celine: A Novel by Peter Heller (Alfred A. Knopf) White Plains by David Hicks (Conundrum Press)

MYSTERY Dead Stop by Barbara Nickless (Thomas & Mercer, Amazon Publishing) Fractured Families: A Lottie Albright Mystery by Charlotte Hinger (Poisoned Pen Press) Hunting Hour: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery by Margaret Mizushima (Crooked Lane Books)

Related Articles

Staff picks: Brass, by Xhenet Aliu

Regional Books: “Evening Road,” “All I’ve Done for You” and more

PICTORIAL Mountain Ranch by Michael Crouser (University of Texas Press) Once Upon a Time … The Western: A New Frontier in Art and Film edited by Mary-Dailey Desmarais and Thomas Brent Smith (5 Continents Editions)

POETRY Hum of Our Blood by Madelyn Garner, photography by Bradley Braverman (3: A Taos Press) Stray by Adam Houle (Lithic Press) Trophic Cascade by Camille T. Dungy (Wesleyan University Press)

SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY A Borrowed Hell by L. D. Colter (Shirtsleeve Press) Graveyard Shift: A Novel by Michael F. Haspil (Tom Dougherty Associates, TOR) Souls for the Phrenii: A Novel of the Broken Kaskea by Laura E. Reeve (Cajun Coyote Media)

THRILLER Broken Slate: A Sean Coleman Thriller by John A. Daly (BQB Publishing) Red Sky: A Thriller by Chris Goff (Crooked Lane Books) Trafficked: A Mex Anderson Novel by Peg Brantley (Bark Publishing)

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Life in a Fishbowl by Len Vlahos (Bloomsbury Children’s Books) A Messy, Beautiful Life by Sara Jade Alan (Entangled Publishing) When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon (Simon Pulse, Simon & Schuster)

from Latest Information https://www.denverpost.com/2018/03/22/2018-colorado-book-awards/