#Black Girls Love Letter to The Power of Fashion

[nutonmydraco]

✶ 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧. . . 📜 .ᐟ

📂 ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ ━━ includes: matt sturniolo, chris sturniolo, and more. . .

🪞fluff / 🧚🏻 smut / 🧷 angst / 🐇 a wattpad original

𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗦 ‧₊˚ 🎞️ | short series

🎟️ ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ ━━ in which i write a few short series based on iconic romance and rom-com movies we all know and love <3

i. the proposal ✷ matt sturniolo x fem!reader

y/n is an executive editor for a book company in manhattan, new york. while she may be a powerful woman, many of her workers despise her. when y/n learns that she’s going to face deportation and has to return to canada, she does the unthinkable. she lies through her teeth and reveals to her boss that she’s getting married to her assistant, matt sturniolo.

🪞 / 🧷 ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ ━━ coming soon in theatres.

ii. 10 things i hate about you ✷ chris sturniolo x fem!reader

on the first day of school, finn instantly falls for the most popular girl in school; cassie. his plan to ask cassie out is destroyed when he learns that she’s forbidden to date until her ill-tempered, hates-all-men, un-dateable older sister, y/n, does. desperate, finn finds a possible match all over the school for y/n until he comes across the perfect one—the ‘bad boy’ with a bad reputation, chris sturniolo.

🪞 / 🧚🏻 / 🧷 ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ ━━ coming soon in theatres.

iii. to all the boys i’ve loved before ✷ conrad fisher x fem!reader

five times. that’s how many times y/n has fallen in love and for each guy, she’s written a love letter that she keeps hidden in an old box. the letters remain a secret until y/n’s little sister sent all five letters to each guy it was addressed to. y/n was unaware of it until conrad fisher walked up to her one day, the folded paper in his hand. in an attempt to get his ex-girlfriend back, conrad proposes an idea that they should date. well, pretend to.

🪞 / 🧷 ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ ━━ coming soon in theatres.

iv. roman holiday ✷ matt sturniolo x fem!reader

it’s 1953 and princess y/n has arrived in rome, italy. overwhelmed by her suffocating schedule, princess y/n escapes from the palace in the middle of the night and into the cobblestoned streets of rome. lost and frightened, she runs into an american freelance journalist, matt sturniolo, who shows her what it’s like to live a normal life.

🪞 / 🧷 ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ ━━ coming soon in theatres.

v. the parent trap ✷ harry styles x fem!reader

divorced parents. two daughters—twins. after meeting at summer camp, anya and juliette devise a plan to switch identities to give each other a chance to spend time with the parent they’ve missed. if their scheme goes well, they have a chance to bring their mom, y/n, and dad, harry, back together and become a family again.

🪞 / 🧷 ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ ━━ coming soon in theatres.

+ more. . . <3 soon.

𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗣𝗦𝗜 ‧₊˚ ⛪️ | one shots

🪽₊˚⊹ ━━ in which i write one shots for you! my inbox is open, so if you want to leave a request, feel free to let me know!

NOTE . . . .ᐟ requests that include certain kinks (e.g., piss kink), incest, anal, threesomes, and any other topics i find uncomfortable will be ignored.

i. little black dress ✷ chris sturniolo x fem!reader

❛❛ i wanna see the way you move for me, baby. . . ❞

in an attempt to move on from a brutal breakup with her piece-of-shit boyfriend, y/n gets dolled up for a frat party her friend had begged her to come to. hoping to just forget about it all by getting wasted, y/n is taken by surprise when she meets a frat boy, chris sturniolo, who had his eyes on her and her little black dress from the moment she walked in.

🧚🏻 ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ ━━ coming soon.

one night stand, fratboy!chris, nsfw

ii. only angel ✷ harry styles x fem!reader

❛❛ it turns out she’s a devil in between the sheets. . . ❞

famous popstar, harry styles, is performing at the 2017 victoria’s secret fashion show and he’s more ready than ever. while performing ‘only angel’, harry is captivated when an angel herself, y/n, steps out to walk down the runway. after the show, harry takes it upon himself to ask if he could take her out for dinner—only to end up stumbling into harry’s hotel room to do more french kissing than talking.

🧚🏻 ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ ━━ coming soon.

famous!harry, model!y/n, nsfw

iii. juno ✷ chris sturniolo x fem!reader

❛❛ give me more than just some butterflies. . . ❞

rumors have been going around that famous popstar, y/n, and rapper, chris sturniolo, are dating after months of being spotted together by fans and paparazzis. attending y/n’s show for the first time, chris is taken by surprise by the ‘freaky position’ she does on stage, all while looking at him. of course, fans go insane.

🪞⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ ━━ coming soon.

singer!y/n, nflplayer!chris, fluff

iv. i can see you ✷ matt sturniolo x fem!reader

❛❛ and i could see you up against the wall with me. . . ❞

y/n has been thinking about this guy in her english class—his hair, his face, his glasses. they’ve never spoken before, but y/n can’t help but develop feelings for him. maybe it’s the way he talks, or walks, or maybe it’s just his face. y/n finally gets the courage to talk to him, lying that she needs help with an assignment but he sees right through her. the only problem is that he’s her professor.

🧚🏻 ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ ━━ coming soon.

professor!matt, student!y/n, older!matt, both are consenting adults, y/n is 21+, nsfw

+ more. . . <3 soon.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗔𝗟𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗬 ‧₊˚ 📰 | series

☁ ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ ━━ in which i write multiple series filled with angst, fluff, and smut!

i. don’t blame me ✷ chris sturniolo x fem!reader

❛❛ lord, save me, my drug is my baby. . . ❞

y/n has had a secret admirer for months. every morning is the same thing—a note falls out from her locker, talking about her smile, her beauty, her everything. she throws each note away, and never thinks about it again. after being partnered up with chris, the quiet boy, in chemistry class, she forms a genuine bond with him. things begin to change when boys she has ever dated and her enemies were found in the woods, lifeless.

🧷 ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ ━━ coming soon.

obsessed!chris, killer!chris, quiet!chris, nsfw, angst, thriller

ii. sweet relief ✷ matt sturniolo x fem!reader

❛❛ it’s just something only we know. . . ❞

y/n has despised her brother’s best friend for years, but no one seems to know why. every time matt comes over to their house, y/n’s mood turns sour. growing tired of it, her brother, jax, forces y/n and matt to spend time together by leaving them at their family’s beach house. with no choice, the two spend the night together, learning to get along. as unexpected feelings surface, both agree to keep their new understanding a secret from jax—for now.

🪞 / 🧚🏻 / 🧷 ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ ━━ coming soon.

brother’s best friend, enemies to lovers, nsfw, angst

+ more. . . <3 soon.

𝗦𝗟𝗜𝗣𝗙𝗔𝗦𝗧 ‧₊˚ 🩹 | fics

⛓️‍💥 ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ ━━ in which i incorporate my wattpad fics on tumblr and continue them <3 and also make new fics with designated names for oc’s instead of ‘y/n’ !

i. fool’s gold ✷ chris sturniolo x fem!oc

❛❛ i know your love’s not real. . . ❞

bianca sinclair is the new girl in somerville high school. this being her senior year, she vows to not let boys distract her. that is until she meets chris sturniolo, the football player who’s known for also being a player outside of the field. things take a turn when bianca is asked to tutor chris in spanish and they spend more time together outside of school. in attempt to make his ex-girlfriend jealous and hide the fact that he has a tutor, he asks bianca the unthinkable—for her to be his fake girlfriend.

🪞 / 🧷 / 🐇 ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ ━━ coming soon.

fake dating, footballplayer!chris, madison beer fc

ii. the great war ✷ matt sturniolo x fem!oc

❛❛ my hand was the one you reached for. . . ❞

ellsworth, maine became a silent town days after the sturniolo brothers moved in across the street from adelaide westwood. adelaide can’t help but become more curious about the enigmatic boy who smoked more than he talked, matt sturniolo. fear hovers over the town when a series of murder is reported, and she suspects that matt is the killer. surely, he’s hiding something, right? adelaide makes it her mission to unravel the truth matt seems to be secretive about, that is if he is hiding anything at all, before the whole town drowns in a bloodbath. or worse, before she’s next.

🧷 / 🐇 ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ ━━ coming soon.

thriller, biker!matt, cindy kimberly fc

© . . . all rights reserved. no part of this publication is allowed to be reproduced or copied. i put a lot of my time, effort, and energy into making all of these possible and the last thing i want is for someone to take my hard work, copy it, and claim it as theirs. in other words, plagiarism isn't tolerated.

💌 below are clickable tags i’ve included to make it easier for you to navigate through my page when i start posting more!

ᥫ᭡.

gian <3

[richincolor]

January's New Releases

2024 has already started off right with a strong list of new releases of debuts, a few sequels and trilogies, and a whole slew of highly anticipated novels. Which book will you start your 2024 TBR list with? Click below to read all that has come out so far.

Week of January 2nd

Stay with My Heart by Tashie Bhuiyan Inkyard Press

From the author of Counting Down with You  and  A Show for Two comes a new YA contemporary about a girl who accidentally sabotages an up-and-coming local band and falls for the guitarist while secretly trying to make up for her mistake.

Liana Sarkar lives and breathes music, hoping to follow in the footsteps of her A&R coordinator father. Maybe if she succeeds, he’ll finally give her the time of day instead of drowning himself in work to distract from the grief of her mother’s passing.

When Liana accidentally sabotages an up-and-coming local band, Third Eye, she makes it her mission to steer them towards success—without them discovering her role in their setback. But as she gets closer to Third Eye, especially their enigmatic leader Skyler Moon, it becomes harder to hide the truth.

With both her heart and their futures on the line, will Liana be able to undo the damage she’s caused?

Just Happy to Be Here by Naomi Kanakia HarperTeen

In this YA standalone perfect for fans of Tobly McSmith and Meredith Russo, the first out trans girl at an all-girls school must choose between keeping her head down or blazing a trail.

Tara just wants to be treated like any other girl at Ainsley Academy.

That is, judged on her merits—not on her transness. But there’s no road map for being the first trans girl at an all-girls school. And when she tries to join the Sibyls, an old-fashioned Ainsley sisterhood complete with code names and special privileges, she’s thrust into the center of a larger argument about what girlhood means and whether the club should exist at all.

Being the figurehead of a movement isn’t something Tara’s interested in. She’d rather read old speeches and hang out with the Sibyls who are on her side—especially Felicity, a new friend she thinks could turn into something more. Then the club’s sponsor, a famous alumna, attacks her in the media and turns the selection process into a spectacle.

Tara’s always found comfort in the power of other peoples’ words. But when it comes time to fight for herself, will she be able to find her own voice?

Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White (Song of the Last Kingdom #2) by Amélie Wen Zhao Delacorte

Years ago, the Elantian colonizers invaded Lan’s homeland and killed her mother in their search to uncover the Last Kingdom’s greatest the location of its legendary four Demon Gods. Lan’s mother devoted her life to destroying the Demon Gods, and Lan is determined to finish her mission. Yet, there are others searching for the gods, too.

Zen knew his soul was forfeit the moment he made a deal with the Demon God known as the Black Tortoise, but he’s willing to lose himself if it means saving the Kingdom–and the girl–he loves. But to crush the colonizers who have invaded his land he needs more power than even a single Demon God can provide. He needs an army. And he knows exactly where he can find it–in the undead army his great grandfather lead decades ago.

The Elantians may have stolen their throne, but the battle for the Last Kingdom has only begun.

Ghost Roast by Shawneé and Shawnelle Gibbs & illustrated by Emily Cannon Versify

For as long as she can remember, Chelsea Grant has tried everything she can think of to distance herself from the disastrous damage her father does to her social life. It’s not easy to shake her reputation as Ghost Girl when Dad keeps advertising his business as a “paranormal removal expert” in big, bold, loud letters all over New Orleans!

This year, Chelsea’s all grown up, attending one of the most prestigious high schools in the city, and she’s finally made friends with the popular crowd. Things are looking up—until a night on the town backfires spectacularly, landing her in hot water at home. Her punishment? Working for her dad at Paranormal Removal Services. All. Summer.

Worst of all, her new job reveals an unexpected secret she has to keep: While Dad hunts ghosts with his own DIY tech, Chelsea can actually see them. And when she meets Oliver, a friendly spirit, at the fancy mansion her dad is getting a handsome fee to exorcize, she realizes she has to save his after-life, even if it risks everything her father’s worked for.

Week of January 9th

Somewhere in the Deep by Tanvi Berwah Sourcebooks Fire

Seventeen-year-old Krescent Dune is buried under the weight of her dead parents’ debt and the ruinous legacy they left behind. The only way she can earn enough money to escape her unforgiving island is by battling monstrous creatures in an underground fighting pit. After a fight goes terribly wrong, she’s banned from the pits. Now hopeless, she is offered a deal: in exchange for the erasure of her debts, she must join and protect a hunting party for a rescue mission deep within the mining caves beneath the island.

Krescent is determined to keep her head down and fulfill her role as the dutiful bodyguard, even though she is trapped underground with her childhood enemy and a company of people who would gladly kill her if they knew who her parents were. As they come across creatures she believed only existed in legends, it becomes clear they are in far more danger than she could have imagined. But someone doesn’t want her to make it out alive. And she’ll have to figure out who before she’s left alone… in the dark.

From the author of Monsters Born and Made comes an action-packed South Asian inspired fantasy that will have your heart racing at every turn.

Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment by Arushi Avachat Wednesday Books

Shaadi preparations are in full swing, which means lehenga shopping, taste testing, dance rehearsals, and best of all, Arya’s sister Alina is home. The Khannas are together again, finally, and Arya wants to enjoy it. So she stifles her lingering resentment towards Alina, plays mediator during her sister’s fights with their mother, and welcomes her future brother-in-law with open arms. (Okay, maybe enjoy isn’t exactly right.)

Meanwhile at school, Arya’s senior year dreams are unraveling. In between class and her part-time gig as a bookshop assistant, Arya struggles to navigate the aftermath of a bad breakup between her two best friends and a tense student council partnership with her rival, the frustratingly attractive Dean Merriweather.

Arya is determined to keep the peace at home and at school, but this shaadi season teaches Arya new realities: Alina won’t always be in the bedroom down the hall, Mamma’s sadness isn’t mendable, friendships must evolve, and life doesn’t always work out like her beloved Bollywood movies. But sometimes, the person you least expect will give you a glimpse of your dream sequence just when you need it most.

Structured like a Bollywood film (entertaining intermission included!) Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment will make you swoon, laugh, cry, think, nod your head in agreement, and quite possibly make you get up and dance.

Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and illustrated by LeUyen Pham First Second

Valentina Tran was named after Valentine’s Day, which used to be her favorite holiday. But when Val learns the truth behind what happened with her parents and why she’s being raised by a single father, she realizes true love is a lie. This is reinforced when she meets the spirit of Saint Valentine, who tells her she and her family are cursed to always be unlucky in love. Val is ready to give into her fate, until one Lunar New Year festival, where a mysterious lion dancer hands her a paper heart, and ZING. Val becomes determined to change her destiny, prove Saint Valentine wrong, and give her heart to the right person.

Meanwhile, lion dancing is the only thing that has given Jae peace after his dad passed away. It’s also what keeps him connected to his father’s side of the family. Both Jae and his cousin Leslie notice Val at the Lunar New Year festival, and for some inexplicable reason, Jae hands Val a paper heart. But it’s Leslie, with his K-Pop good looks, who starts to date Val. Jae still feels this connection with Val and feels it’s somehow tied to how he feels about losing his father.

Both Val and Jae struggle with the spirits who haunt them as they are inextricably brought together in a love story that is satisfying, sweet, and moving.

Week of January 16th

Escaping Mr. Rochester by L.L. McKinney HarperTeen

Jane has no interest in a husband. Eager to make her own way in the world, she accepts the governess position at Thornfield Hall. Though her new employer, Edward Rochester, has a charming air—not to mention a handsome face—Jane discovers that his smile can sharpen in an instant. Plagued by Edward’s mercurial mood and the strange wails that echo through the corridors, she grows suspicious of the secrets hidden within Thornfield Hall—unaware of the true horrors lurking above her very head.

On the topmost floor, Bertha is trapped in more ways than one. After her whirlwind marriage to Edward turned into a nightmare, he locked her away as revenge for withholding her inheritance. Now his patience grows thin in the face of Bertha’s resilience and Jane’s persistent questions, and both young women are in more danger than they realize. When their only chance at safety—and perhaps something more—is in each other’s arms, can they find and keep one another safe before Edward’s dark machinations close in around them?

Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa Feiwel & Friends

London, 1812 . Oliver Bennet feels trapped—not just by the endless corsets, petticoats, and skirts he’s forced to wear on a daily basis, but also by society’s expectations. The world, and the vast majority of his family and friends, think Oliver is a girl named Elizabeth. He is therefore expected to mingle at balls wearing a pretty dress, entertain suitors regardless of his interest in them, and ultimately become someone’s wife.

But Oliver can’t bear the thought of such a fate. He finds solace in the few times he can sneak out of his family’s home and explore the city rightfully dressed as a young gentleman. It’s during one such excursion when Oliver becomes acquainted with Darcy, a sulky young man who had been rude to “Elizabeth” at a recent social function. But in the comfort of being out of the public eye, Oliver comes to find that Darcy is actually a sweet, intelligent boy with a warm heart, not to mention attractive.

As Oliver spends more time as his true self, often with Darcy, part of him dares to hope that his dream of love and life as a man can be possible. But suitors are growing bolder―and even threatening―and his mother is growing more desperate to see him settled into an engagement. Oliver will have to choose: settle for safety, security, and a life of pretending to be something he’s not, or risk it all for a slim chance at freedom, love, and a life that can be truly his own.

So Let Them Burn (Divine Traitors #1) by Kamilah Cole Little, Brown Young Readers

Whip-smart and immersive, this Jamaican-inspired fantasy follows a gods-blessed heroine who’s forced to choose between saving her sister or protecting her homeland.

Faron Vincent can channel the power of the gods. Five years ago, she used her divine magic to liberate her island from its enemies, the dragon-riding Langley Empire. But now, at seventeen, Faron is all powered up with no wars to fight. She’s a legend to her people and a nuisance to her neighbors.

When she’s forced to attend an international peace summit, Faron expects that she will perform tricks like a trained pet and then go home. She doesn’t expect her older sister, Elara, forming an unprecedented bond with an enemy dragon—or the gods claiming the only way to break that bond is to kill her sister.

As Faron’s desperation to find another solution takes her down a dark path, and Elara discovers the shocking secrets at the heart of the Langley Empire, both must make difficult choices that will shape each other’s lives, as well as the fate of their world.

A Drop of Venom by Sajni Patel Rick Riordan Presents

Sixteen-year-old Manisha is no stranger to monsters—she’s been running from them for years, from beasts who roam the jungle to the King’s army, who forced her people, the naga, to scatter to the ends of the earth. You might think that the kingdom’s famed holy temples atop the floating mountains, where Manisha is now a priestess, would be safe—but you would be wrong.

Seventeen-year-old Pratyush is a famed slayer of monsters, one of the King’s most prized warriors and a frequent visitor to the floating temples. For every monster the slayer kills, years are added to his life. You might think such a powerful warrior could do whatever he wants, but true power lies with the King. Tired after years of fighting, Pratyush wants nothing more than a peaceful, respectable life.

When Pratyush and Manisha meet, each sees in the other the possibility to chart a new path. Unfortunately, the kingdom’s powerful have other plans. A temple visitor sexually assaults Manisha and pushes her off the mountain into a pit of vipers. A month later, the King sends Pratyush off to kill one last monster (a powerful nagin who has been turning men to stone) before he’ll consider granting his freedom.

Except Manisha doesn’t die, despite the hundreds of snake bites covering her body and the venom running through her veins. She rises from the pit more powerful than ever before, with heightened senses, armor-like skin, and blood that can turn people to stone. And Pratyush doesn’t know it, but the “monster” he’s been sent to kill is none other than the girl he wants to marry.

Alternating between Manisha’s and Pratyush’s perspectives, Sajni Patel weaves together lush language, high stakes, and page-turning suspense, demanding an answer to the question “What does it truly mean to be a monster?”

Beasts of War (Beasts of Prey #3) by Ayana Gray Nancy Paulsen Books

Once a prisoner to Fedu, the vengeful god of death, Koffi has regained her freedom, but she is far from safe. Fedu will stop at nothing to hunt her down and use her power to decimate the mortal world. Koffi knows when Fedu will during the next Bonding, a once-in-a-lifetime celestial event. To survive, Koffi will have to find powerful new allies quickly, and convince them to help her in the terrible battle to come.

Once a warrior-turned-runaway, Ekon has carved out a new life for himself outside Lkossa, but the shadows of his past still haunt him. Now, alongside unexpected friends, Ekon tries to focus on getting Koffi to the Kusonga Plains before the next Bonding. If he fails, Koffi will be consumed, either by her own dangerous power, or the terrible fate Ekon is doing everything he can to prevent. Ekon devotes himself to protecting Koffi, but the lingering threats from his own past are more urgent than he knows.

As Koffi and Ekon race to the Kusonga Plains—and try to garner the help of Eshōza’s ancient gods along the way—they must face a slew of dangerous beasts old and new. In the end, destiny may unite Koffi and Ekon for the last time—or tear them apart for good.

Week of January 23rd

Into the Sunken City by Dinesh Thiru HarperTeen

In the slowly sinking city of Coconino, Arizona, the days are long, the money is tight, and the rain never stops.

For Jin Haldar, this life is nothing new—ever since her father died in a diving accident, she’s barely made ends meet for her and her younger sister, Thara.

Enter Bhili: a drifter who offers Jin and Thara the score of a lifetime—a massive stash of gold hidden in the sunken ruins of Las Vegas.

Jin knows it’s too dangerous. She stopped diving after her father’s accident. But when her sister decides to go, Jin’s left with only one choice: to go with her.

A ragtag crew is assembled—including Jin’s annoyingly hot ex-boyfriend. From there, a high-stakes heist ensues that’s beyond even Jin’s wildest fears. Crumbling ruins, sea beasts, corsairs, and a mysterious figure named João Silva all lie in wait. To survive, Jin will have to do what she promised herself she’d never do again: dive.

Out of Our League: 16 Stories of Girls in Sports edited by Dahlia Adler and Jennifer Iacopelli Feiwel and Friends

A compelling YA anthology from editors Dahlia Adler and Jennifer Iacopelli about the trials and triumphs of girls in sports.

Ambition. Drive. Determination. Talent. Courage. Teamwork.

Every athlete knows what it takes to win. But for teen female players, the stakes are so much higher. In this anthology, the voices of these athletes come alive, highlighting the ferocity of those who are often shunted to the side. From navigating rampant misogyny to forging a sisterhood through sweat or just reveling in the love of the game, the stories in Out of Our League address the phenomenal physical and emotional power of teenage athletes as they compete, persevere, and thrive, on and off the field.

The Colliding Worlds of Mina Lee by Ellen Oh Crown

When a Korean American teenage artist gets sucked into the world of her own web comic, she must find a way out with the help of a cute boy all while facing off against a villainous corporation. Inspired by the A-ha’s “Take on Me” music video, this entertaining YA novel is a grounded speculative fiction adventure from the co-founder of We Need Diverse Books.

Mina has become the hero of her own story. Literally.

When Mina Lee woke up on Saturday morning for SAT prep, she did NOT expect to:

1. Nearly be fried by a superhero who turned out to be a supervillain. 2. Come face to face with Jin, the handsome boy of her dreams. 3. Discover a conspiracy involving the evil corporation Merco that she created.

And it’s all happening in her fictional world. Mina is trapped in the story she created. Now it’s up to her to save everyone. Even if it means losing Jin forever.

Barracoon by Zora Neal Hurston, Adapted by Ibram X. Kendi, Illustrated by Jazzmen Lee-Johnson HarperCollins Childrens

In the first middle grade offering from Zora Neale Hurston and Ibram X. Kendi, young readers are introduced to the remarkable and true-life story of Cudjo Lewis, one of the last survivors of the Atlantic human trade, in an adaptation of the internationally bestselling and critically acclaimed Barracoon.

This is the life story of Cudjo Lewis, as told by himself.

Of the millions of men, women, and children transported from Africa to America to be enslaved, eighty-six-year-old Cudjo Lewis was then the only person alive to tell the story of his capture and bondage—fifty years after the Atlantic human trade was outlawed in the United States. Cudjo shared his firsthand account with legendary folklorist, anthropologist, and writer Zora Neale Hurston.

Adapted with care and delivered with age-appropriate historical context by award-winning historian Ibram X. Kendi, Cudjo’s incredible story is now available for young readers and emerging scholars. With powerful illustrations by Jazzmen Lee-Johnson, this poignant work is an invaluable contribution to our shared history and culture.

[sodapunked]

🌙KONG-REY REF SHEET🌙

Name ☆ Kong-Rey Queenie Ronanio

Gender ☆ Male

Age ☆ 43 [29 at the start of the webtoon]

Species ☆ Vrobot

Birthday ☆ June 23rd

Likes ☆ Mooncakes, selfies, hot girls with big butts and boobs, himself, being sexy, fashion, fighting, extremely gory and violent films and shows, tequila

Dislikes ☆ Galveston, Mangkhut, being touched on his shoulders/thighs/hips, kongphobia, cheap clothing, root beer, flat girls, soy sauce

Basic info☆

Kong-Rey is the emperor of Thayas, or as he calls himself "the most sexiest person alive" and "the supreme ruler or Thayas". Unlike most rulers that live in Fairone, he can be described as a narcissistic person that would imprison anyone that calls him or says words like ugly, stupid, weird, etc. Because according to him, that's Kongphobic, even if it wasn't towards him.

Despite his blatant narcissism that he doesn't hide, he does have a wife and son that he loves dearly. What he also loves is hot girls with big booties and boobs.. that's literally his type of women. Which his wife Wipha fits in that type.

What he also hates is two people by the names of Mangkhut and Galveston. Galveston, because he said that kongphobia isn't real (which is true) Mangkhut because he won the undefeated champion title. Kong-Rey losing to him. Kong-Rey loves fighting and the idea of winning 24/7 to prove he is powerful and strong.

Overall, he is both a good and bad person. Narcissistic, delusional, and just mean-spirited to some people, but a caring father and faithful husband to his wife and son. If you anger him in anyway, just prepare to be imprisoned or just be labeled kongphobic.

BACKSTORY ☆ (warning for abuse, ptsd mentions)

Kong-Rey was made in June 23 in the year 1977 by the emperor and empress of the time Malakas and Chaba. A few minutes later and he was announced as prince and future emperor of Thayas. The first few minutes of Kong’s life were normal. That was until the next day, when Malakas was given the news that his father supposedly died yesterday, the news completely destroyed him as he was close to his father, Malakas, for some reason thought that it was somehow Kong-Rey’s fault that his father died. This is where the abuse started. as it all started with a hard slap in the face.

As time went on Kong-Rey had to suffer under the hands of his father and mother. His father would punch and beat him if he did one thing wrong, even if it was a small mistake, or if he got bad grades at school, he would be locked in the closet if he was caught messing around in the kitchen or living room. He would be thrown around if he dared to get anywhere next to him for comfort, his mother did the same to him. CPS would be involved due to concerned calls from people who saw him walking out with black eyes, scratches, bite marks, etc. but everytime they came, his father would always coach him to saying that nothing was wrong and that he accidentally got hurt, and it was successful, the CPS would close his case as they thought it was all a misunderstanding.

Kong-Rey only had one person that loved and cared for him, and that was none other than Fengshen. He looked out and cared for Kong-Rey and tried his best to protect him from Malakas. Fengshen was the only one to teach Kong from right to wrong, being kind to animals and people, letters, English, etc. which could explain why he didn’t displayed any violent behavior or lashed out a people, or being a bad kid in general.

Despite all of he went through, he still had love for his parents but hated what they did to him.

At age five is when he was first exposed to violent and gory movies, at the age of twelve was when he found out about the existence of tequila (his love for it went on, even now).

The abuse ended when he turned eighteen, as it was the same year he was crowned as the new emperor of Thayas. But there was one thing he now had to deal with, and it was none other than PTSD from his childhood. Fengshen took him to therapy to undo the trauma he had to suffer with. But unfortunately it would only work a bit as it undone an estimate 53% which would explain why Kong-Rey would suffer the symptoms here and there (when a robot has PTSD they don’t have memory gaps as they remember everything, while a living VFox with PTSD would have memory gaps like a human would).

Some time later in 1998, Kong-Rey began to feel lonely, and wanted someone to be with for life, someone to love.

This gave his father the idea to search for a wife for him, he couldn’t find any eligible women in the middle of the street as most of them are home or working high paying jobs, so he decided to go to the local flower market mostly run by women. This is where he will find the woman soon to be wife of Kong-Rey, Wipha.

When he was called over to see his new partner for life, he saw her and was instantly in love, so did she, they both talked a bit, introducing themselves, and they both agreed to get married. Some time after the wedding, Malakas said to Kong-Rey “you might as well go ahead and run away, that’s all you’re good for”, Wipha heard him and decided to kick him where the sun didn’t shine.

A DAY LATER IN 1998:

Kong-Rey decided to use $3000 for a cruise trip, why? To make his move and get to know Wipha. Which she did agree to go on the trip with him as she also wants to know him more. He told Wipha about his childhood, his love for tequila, literally everything going far as his love for fashion and how he can make all the clothes she dreams of. Some time later, he told her one last thing, that thing being to wanting to start a family with her someday. Wipha was astonished, she always wanted to start a family so of course she was getting herself ready to take care of a child with him. It took a long time because she had to take parenting classes for about three times to fully get the hang of it.

In 2004, Kong-Rey and Wipha welcomed their son Krosa into the world. He was over the moon and got to hug him. Unfortunately they now have to do one thing, and it’s to make sure Malakas and Chaba are to never go anywhere near Krosa, in fear that they might come after him. Kong-Rey loved Krosa so much, he would stop whatever he was doing to be with him and to do things with him, he even made him clothes that are fit for him, he would give him the entire world for him to be happy.

In the same year, there was a lot of drama between Galveston, himself, and Mangkhut. As Galveston was blacklisted and banned from Thayas for saying that kongphobia wasn’t real. Mangkhut and Haiyan used to work for Kong-Rey as servants, because they were looking for high paying jobs. They were the best ones in the palace. That was until Mangkhut went to participate in a live match in BattleVerse where he fought against Kong-Rey. Mangkhut won and became undefeated champion which made Kong mad because he wanted to be the one that won sand assumed that Mangkhut won to make himself look better than him.

He decided to send his guards out to kill Mangkhut, Haiyan and their older brother Utor because of this, which lead all three of them also including Mangkhut’s twin sons to flee Thayas, currently all five of them live in BubblPop City, hiding from Kong-Rey, hoping that he wouldn’t find them.

HOW KONGPHOBIA CAME TO EXISTENCE:

One cool and rainy night ago in 2004, Kong-Rey was in a deep sleep minutes after he did what he called his "fabulously sexy" night routine. He kissed his wife goodnight, and went to bed seconds after she fell fast asleep, of course it wouldn't be behavior from Kong-Rey without sleeping with barely any movement and in positions you'd expect would be painful to some, Kong-Rey's main sleeping position? On his stomach with some of his limbs sprawled out like a person attempting to make snow angels on a cold snowy day. Just only three or more minutes in, and he started dreaming, what was this dream about? Well, it's probably the most weirdest and wild dream you've probably ever heard of, this dream he had revolved around him, about to leave a high end store that sells expensive clothing that, he's very fond of those types of stores, like really fond of them, the dream seemed to start off fairly normal, but the normalcy would eventually end minutes later, as after he went back home, he decided to take a breather in the garden after a long walk in the store he was at minutes ago, as he went to the nearest chair in the garden, he started to feel tired, tired after looking straight into the sky only for a few minutes, and took a nap.

after he woke up, he felt small, like really small, both literally and figuratively, and thin as well, he looked into the pond, and he realized that he turned into a beautiful, and elegant butterfly, with long slender wings with dazzling star and moon motifs both front and back, he was astonished and in disbelief, in a way that he didn't expected this weird and peculiar moment to happen, he decided to use his wings to fly around and explore a bit as a butterfly, he jumped off the chair he took a nap on and soared high and fast into the sky, flying as gracefully as possible, looking down below at the serene and dazzling empire he rules. All was normal, and a tad bit bizarre, and at the same time, refreshingly beautiful for him. That was until his entertainingly fun dream abruptly ended as soon before he was able to fully enjoy it.

Seconds after the dream ended, he started hearing a voice in his head, that was saying negative words, hurling one insult after another, with the main four insults he kept hearing as he slept were "Idiot", "beggar", "attention pig", and "Freak". These words kept on repeating as he slept, taunting him in a way, in a derogatory manner. He couldn't sleep, and as a result, he just couldn't take it anymore, he awoken in an extremely angered state, he never felt so heated and furious in his entire life, as a result he jumped out of bed went on a very angry tirade on how insultingly Kongphobic it is, he never used that word before, and his mind focused on that one word he said during his tirade "kongphobia", that night would be the night where Kongphobia was born into the world. As soon as it turned morning, he decided to make it a law in Thayas that if you were saying anything negative about Kong-Rey, regardless if it's jokingly, or honest or not will send you to the dungeon for one hour.

-SodaPunked

[rainbowxocs]

Name: James DuPont.

Alt Names: C.A.T, Pluto, Charon, Jane Doe.

Special Titles: Dr. James DuPont, Grandmaster, God Killer, Cat Burglar, EOD, Lieutenant Colonel, Sharpshooter, False God, The Star.

Old Titles: Knight, God of Duality, God of Judgement, God of Eternity, God of Chaos, Servant, Empiric.

Username: @kitty9lives

Nicknames: Bad Omen, Kit Cat, Cat Boy, My Rose, My Star, Stray, Blue Bird, Kitty, Chaton, Bunny, Phoenix, Holmes, My Beloathed, Final Girl, The Prophet, Schrodingers Cat.

Chronological Age: 4.5 Billion.

Vessel Age: 605.

Age: 45.

Pronouns: Switches between He, She, and They. Depending on what gender he is that day. (Switches between il or elle in French)

Sexuality: Gay.

Gender: Genderfluid, Catgender.

Base Species: Starling.

Current Species: “Human” (Pure Hybrid)

Hybrid Info: (Sphinx, Litch, Witch.)

Disorders: CPTSD, Autism, Insomnia, Selective Mutism, Night Terrors, BPD, Anorexia.

Physical Disabilities: Blind, Deaf (Has a Cochlear Implant), Ambulatory Wheelchair User (Occasionally uses crutches or a cane as well), Has two arm prosthetics and two leg prosthetics, Chronic Pain.

Recovering Addictions: Alcohol, Weed, Nicotine (Cigarettes), LSD, Self Harm.

Religion: Pagan.

Job: Professional Villain, Chemist.

Degree: M.D, Chemistry, Robotics, Computer Science.

Lives in: NYC, New York, 2306.

Languages: French, English, Hindi, ASL, LSF, Spanish, Italian, German, Danish, Dutch.

Height: 5’7”.

Ethnicity: French, Portuguese.

Accent: Brooklyn Accent with a hint of French.

Other Form: Purple Goop.

Animal Form: Giant Purple Isopod.

Spirit Form: Headless, Covered in Roses.

Spirit Level: Acceptance.

Powers: Reanimating, Creation Magic, Death Magic, Prophetic Visions, Judgement, Potions, Alchemy, Shapeshifting, Strings, Pandora’s Box, Lightning Magic, Technology Manipulation, Lie Detection, Time Magic, Forbidden Fruit.

Tech: Holograms, Robotic Minions, Smoke Bombs, Paint Bombs, Teleporters, Lock Picks, Lazers.

Weapons: Sword, Pistols, Sniper Rifle, Bombs, Rocks, Scissors, Various Witchcraft Supplies such as salt, wards, etc, Scissors.

Also Can Use: Muskets, Rifled Muskets, Rifles,

Wand: Uses his hands.

Alignment: Chaotic Good.

Text Color: Purple, Sometimes Black.

Main Animal: Cat.

Main Hobbies: Reading, Video Games, Sculpting, Yugioh, Violin, Otamatone, Puzzles, Robotics, Scientific Experimentation, Coding, Chess, Letter Making, Tambourine, Photography.

Favorite Drinks: Peppermint Tea, Coffee, Classic Boba.

Favorite Snacks: Queso, Saltines, Apples.

Favorite Meals: Garlic Bread, Dino Nuggets and Fries, Mushroom and Olives Pizza, Pancakes, Veal Stew, Pigs in a Blanket, Hot Dogs, Tuna, Chicken Wings, Mac and Cheese, Ham Sandwiches, Maki Rolls, Sashimi, Bagels.

Favorite Candy: Pez, Oreos.

Favorite Dessert: Gingerbread Cookies, Frosted Sugar Cookies, Birthday Icecream.

Favorite Flower: Roses, Purple Forget Me Not.

Scent: Roses.

Handedness: Left Handed.

Blood Color: Bronze, Sometimes Red.

Awareness: Very Aware. (Effect: Negative.)

Birthday: December 1st 1701.

Theme:

Playlist:

Fun Facts: He is always wearing cat patterns and tends to have toe beans on his shoes and gloves.

Special Interests: Technology, Robotics, Chemistry, The Sims, The Path, Sailor Moon, Disney Fairies, The Owl House, Steven Universe, FNAF, Kitty Love: Way to Look for Love.

Stims: Tangles, Cat Noises, Lazer Pointer, Yarn, Pressure Stims.

Stimboard: COMING SOON.

Moodboard: COMING SOON.

Fashion Board: COMING SOON.

Comfort Objects: Wedding Ring with Gold Band and Amethyst, Journal, Furby, Freddy Plush, Old Cat Plush, Gloomy Bear, Fuggler.

Family: Unknown Birth Parents.

Eurydice DuPont (Daughter.)

Eeshani Dupont (Daughter.)

Aurora DuPont (Step Daughter.)

Friends: Joan (Henchman.).

Romance: Jonah Francois, Aditya Ravi. (Spouses.)

Enemies: Jonah Francois (Mortal Enemy), Michael Ansley.

Patrons: Bastet, Santa Muerte, Hecate.

Pets: Eyeball (Robot), Chain Chomp (Roomba), Mr Terminator (Black and White Cat),

Reincarnations: 𒆠𒋫 (Kita), חַוָּה (Eve), Πανδώρα (Pandora), दिया (Diya), Juliet, Other Unknown Reincarnations.

Brief Personality: James is a bit of an enigma. He doesn’t get close to many people, often his ramblings about taking over the world push people away. However if you are persistent, he will warm up to you like a stray. He is incredibly intelligent, and also very very VERY stubborn. But he is incredibly loyal to the people he loves. If you are able to gain his trust he would let the world burn for you, without any hesitation.

Brief Backstory: [COMING SOON]

[nikrei]

September Comics Round-Up

Did not make my schedule of one year per week but also 1967 had 17 titles to read so I think that's okay.

Action Comics (336-371) (1966-1969)

The superman understanding of the ancient Greek pantheon/mythos is the messiest bullshit i have ever seen. 1! Never acknowledges that wonderwoman exists! 2! Completely mixes up greek and Roman names for gods. 3! Sooo many randos get upgraded to gods usually Achilles but most notably just now: prometheus???

Superman (183-213) (1966-1969)

Okay one of the oddest conceits that they like to have superman do is, when he needs an emergency Clark Kent double, he finds a random amnesia patient about the same size gets them to dress up as him, and then afterwards cures their amnesia, which almost always wiped out their memories of portraying Clark Kent (i don't think it works that way??) Where is he finding all these people just wandering around?

Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen (91-117) (1966-1969)

Whelp, it's more Jimmy, nothing really new to say.

Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane (63-89) (1966-1969)

They are getting a bit more modern and experimental with Lois's fashion and hair and I'm really enjoying it. On the other hand I had to read, with my very own eyes, and editor letter response that said "everyone knows women can't keep a secret" in answer to why Jarvis gets to know Bruce's identity but Lois can't know Clark's.

World's Finest Comics (156-182) (1966-1969)

I think WF is #1 for number of "imaginary tales" but I particularly liked the one where the Kent's adopted Bruce after his parents death. Jimmy and Dick's friendship continues to delight.

Superboy (127-153) (1966-1969)

I love Insect-Queen Lana more than anything else going on in this run, lana's love of bugs and whole-hearted embrace of the weird body horror transformations adds such an interesting facet to her character I love her. Also it is extremely funny of them to deage ma and pa by editorial order via an alien tv director deaging them to please his possible sponsers.

Adventure Comics (342-376) (1966-1969)

This is starting to get a little bit plotty almost! I'm enjoying it a lot. I'm also enjoying that we are starting to get character building moments out of uniform. The Ghost of Ferro Lad story about had me in tears! However! Save me from anti-feminism sixties story that is supposed to be happening a thousand years from now.

Aquaman (26-43) (1966-1969)

Garth nickname collection: Little Sardine, Sardine, Tadpole, Little Minnow, Minnow. Orm has shown up! I'm really liking him actually his unknowing uncleness to aquababy is v cute and fun. Speaking of aquababy I am expecting him to die any day now I am constantly surprised that he's still alive.

Green Lantern (43-58) (1966-1968)

Loving the artist team on this honestly, everyone is so fluid and expressive, and Hal's waist is snatched all the time. The split into two bodies issue really made me fall in love with plain old Hal Jordan, he's just so good even/especially when he is just a guy. Also, I love it when Hal uses the invisible power lantern as a weapon.

Justice League of America (34-60) (1965-1968)

Same old justice league stuff. Issue 57 is one of the worst things I've read in a while and I'm so not surprised that it hasn't been collected in any trades (judging by its lack of digital colors)

The Brave and the Bold (58-81) (1965-1969)

1967 is truly a guessing game of "which flavor of racist will we be today?" Will we be anti-indigenous? Anti-asian? Anti-black (no, no then we'd have to admit black people exist, better scratch that and make it "anti-robot") I'm so tired they think they're being so progressive with these storylines about "look at how well this culture is assimilating! The mystic old ways of their people are at once the enemy and something to be revered. From a distance tho. Wouldn't want to get too close." Its not just a Brave and the Bold problem but a bunch of it just happened in a row in that title so this is where I'm complaining.

Doom Patrol (94-121) (1965-1968)

Okay I knew it would happen but i still cried when they died... literally took me two pages to go from "la-di-da" to tears damn..... Rita my darling I'll miss you!!! I can't believe that we don't get a reaction comic for Gar and Steve tho.... just bam, they're dead, it's over. People in the sixties u've really let me down by letting it end this way.... more people should have written in.

Hawkman (12-27) (1966-1968)

This continues to be really good! Despite being extremely 60s-brained they try as hard as possible to show katar and shayera as equals in everything they do, its not katar saving her every time (tho he does a lot of the time it is still 60s brained) recommended if you are interested in the hawks and thanagar!

House of Mystery (156-173) (1966-1968)

Dial H for Hero is a v fun little set up, and I am sort of obsessed with Robbie's little catchphrase/ exclamation "sockamagee!" They gave me one (1) issue where his friend who is a girl finds out his identity and gets to try out the dial herself, only to them have her bungle everything and lose her memory of it because she's "just a girl" I hate it here (the 60s). J'onn J'onzz continues in the backups and continues to boot be what i expect. He's investigating crimes now but he is also committing identity fraud to do it (impersonating a millionaire that he saw die)

Metamorpho (1-17) (1965-1968)

Rex <3 Sapphire forever i love them! They really go overboard on the 60s slang in this title to the point where I am really not sure that anyone actually talked like that. The way smaller titles bend over backwards to pretend superman doesn't exist for their plots to work is honestly a little endearing. Rex literally hanging out with the guy in JLA, but noooo aliens are mysterious and uncommon, and the president is Definitely gonna call Rex Mason about them. Not a huge fan of the love triangle introduced, and it gets down right bizarre at the end with a bit of a cliffhanger, but overall worth a read if you are into Metamorpho!

Teen Titans (1-13) (1966-1968)

Rereading because the titans are my darlings. I especially love the little bits at the start of the issue where they are just kids hanging out.

The Spectre (1-10) (1967-1969)

I really love Neal Adam's art it's got a really delicate touch and dramatic shading, and he does figures really well. Also a shout out to Jerry Grandenetti/Murphy Anderson for some truly inspired panel layouts and lettering stuff, you don't get a lot of this back in the 60s. They decided to tell an entirely different sort of story for the last two issues and it is not a neat transition tbh.

Showcase (73-80) (1968-1969)

Some fun character intros for the creeper, hawk and dove, bat lash (surprise fave, what a guy), and dolphin, and some other guys too.

Anywho, that's that for September! Here's how my spreadsheet is looking:

As u can see I have given in and decided to go back and pick up The Atom, so I have that to look forward to in October!

[lilwomansanctuary]

📖The Color purple by Alice Walker.

A classic bildungsroman.

Adorned with yearning for sweet freedom, a testament of raw desires of the feminine heart, filled with fierce female characters- The Color Purple is a bold and one of a kind feminist novel.

Celie, our main protagonist, writes letters to God describing the major and sometimes minor events taking place in her life. Through her very first letter we learn how her stepfather "Pa" sexually, physically and verbally abuses her.

The sole person she was loved by while growing up was her younger sister Nettie. But to their dismay, their relationship was tore down by Celie's abusive husband Mr______.

After getting separated from Nettie, it was Shug Avery, a fashionable and fiercely independent singer, who brought a new dawn to the perpetual moonless nights of Celie.

Shug is the woman who shows Celie the path to self love and self discovery.

The letters are very sensitive and demonstrates vivid and heart wrenching descriptions of abuse.

Celie's feelings find crystal clear expression in her letters and she acts as a spokesperson for every single woman who are made to feel imprisoned in the cage of their own gender. For every Black woman whose color is seen as a curse.

Sofia is the first female character in the book who boldly forbids the men around her from treating her like an object, as an unequal. Her actions ans words-SHE SLAYS.

When Harpo, her husband, beats her for the first time, she doesn't give in. She fearlessly asserts in front of Celie "But I'll kill him dead before I let him beat me."

Nettie, oh I love her personality!

Educated unlike her sister, Nettie eagerly learns about Africa, about the "land for which our mothers and fathers cried-and lived and died-to see again."

After travelling to Africa as a Christian missionary, she leaves no stone unturned to help the people and educate them. To aid the women to live a dignified and equal life. Even after facing constant protests, tackling numerous hurdles, Nettie stays firm on her values and ideals.

The ending was so satisfying!

Celie conquers every battle that came her way.

Breaking her silence, she realised the might of her mortal wings with aid from Shug Avery, the woman she falls head over heels for.

She receives a love-so liberating, a home-she forever longed for, and freedom from every social and emotional barrier holding her back.

In the concluding letters to Nettie, Celie states how she feels "at peace with the world."

I'm so happy for my girls!

Not every book has the power to make the reader feel enraged and content at the same time. My soul needed this book. I'm so hopeful and content.

P.s: The book is written in southern dialect, which kinda made it an easy and fast paced read.

✨6/5 stars✨

[booksandwords]

Prose and Cons by Amanda Flower

Series: Magical Bookshop, #2 Read time: 1 Day Rating: 4/5 Stars

The Quote: There was a war going on in Charming Books as the crow and the cat positioned themselves against each other: a tight for shop mascot. Both Faulkner and Emerson thought they were deserving of the title. Faulkner, who had been a resident of the longer, had seniority on his side, but Emerson had him beat in crowd appeal. — Violet

I enjoyed Prose and Cons though not as much as Crime and Punishment. Though it's nothing to do with the characterisation and story perse more to the writing and the classic literature was used. Violet, Daisy, Emerson and Faulker are all still fantastic. Prose and Cons picks up in the 3rd week of October four months after the conclusion of Prose and Cons. Charming Books is all decorated for fall and Halloween. It's a busy time for Cascade Springs, it's their annual Food and Wine Festival. Being as it is Violet in Cascade Springs something inevitably goes wrong and someone dies. The death was entirely unexpected to me, Anastasia Faber. Anastasia is the literary fiction author from the Red Inkers we met previously. The prime suspect is another member of the Red Inkers, Sadie (the bubbly fashion queen). Worse still the death happens at Charming Books.

It was nice to meet some new faces during Prose and Cons especially Danielle and Aster Cloud and EMT Keenan all of whom I think will make further appearances. I'm hoping Renee does too. Renee does all librarians justice. She's loud full of passion and personality and is really not a shusher. The epilogue is adorable. I adore Aster. She is just too cute, the best Joan of Arc I can think of. As an aside, I am now convinced there is no signposting for the killer or the motivation though it's Anastasia she was not particularly liked, unlike Benedict who was well-liked and respected. This is all about the reading and the journey.

The story of Prose and Cons is self-contained though perhaps a little less pleasing for me than Crime and Punishment, potentially due to an accessibility problem. It might due to the use of Dickinson's The Carriage vs Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher and The Purloined Letter, as a poem The Carriage the can be replicated with ease giving us the most relevant parts for the story as they are needed. Whereas The Fall of the House of Usher and The Purloined Letter are both approx twenty-page short stories that rely more on themes and impressions than words. If you haven't read them you are likely to understand less. I'm likely to see similar problems with Murders and Metaphors which uses Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. As with the Poe works I've never read Allcott's classic but it won't stop me from reading the next book in the series. That said using Poe was a great choice it does allow Faulkner to indulge in some raven yelling (no one wants to tell him he's a crow, not a raven).

The tree is interesting, protective of Violet and healing. They don't hide its power from David but David himself says in the course of the story that as important as Charming Books birch tree is to Violet they are sacred to David's people. They hide the secret yes but with him, he observes more and notices that something near-impossible has happened. Have some David and Violet quotes just because.

My gaze glossed over Trudy and Richard and locked with the amber-colored eyes of the village police chief. As a member of the Senca tribe, Rainwater had coal black hair, which he kept short, honey-colored skin, pronounced cheek bones, and eyes that were like pools of warm maple syrup. It went without saying that he was a handsome man. The fact was he was an aspiring writer of children's books could topple a book-loving girl like me clean over. — This is a lovely descriptive passage. And yeah just ditto to that last line. There is just something truly appealing about children's book writers. (p.26)

"My work is fiction for kids, true, but it's still a peek into my deepest thoughts. In a way, isn't that what all writers allow readers when they share their work, a window into another person's mind? Poe, the tortured soul that he was, was the perfect example." — This is David's reason for not letting Violet read his draft well the final reason he settles on after she calls bullshit on the others. The line is accurate but I would love to see what is in that book. What truth is he hiding from her? I mean at this point it could be anything. (David, p.40)

My eyebrows shot up a little father with this new information about the chief of police. He sounded like a true Renaissance man. Chief, writer, role-playing game aficionado. It just seemed a little too good to be true. I wondered what else I didn't know about Chief David Rainwater. — This is after Violet founds out from Keenen that he's in a D&D group with David. But before we meet Danielle and Aster. That just adds a whole other level of oh wow. (p.66)

""You do realize everyone else in the village, including my own grandmother, is pushing me toward Nathan, not David." She clicked her tongue. "The mayor is all wrong for you," she said with conviction." — While Violet may not like this conversation at least someone is saying 'oh I can see that'. Also, I like Renee in this scene, she makes me smile. (Violet and Renee, p.192)

More quotes to finish this very, very messy review.

The pounding came again, and Emerson seemed unconcerned by it, so I felt myself relax too. In the last few months since I had adopted the small tuxedo cat, I had begun to trust his instincts about people. He always seemed to know who was friend and who was foe. It was nice to have a feline litmus test, — This is a great take on pets. And Emerson is the best when it comes to an indication of good faith. (p.24)

"Adrian boxed up some more cookies for you. He copes with bad news by feeding people." I took the box from her and smiled. "Since I cope with stress with sugar, we are well matched." — And this is why we adore Adrian. I know Lacey is the suspect for bk 3 so it is going to be interesting to see hope Lacey and Adrian cope with that level of stress. (Lacey and Violet, p.85)

Despite growing up in wine country, I wasn't much of a drinker myself. I'd never acquired a taste for alcohol. If I was given the choice, I would much rather eat my calories in the form of sugary baked goodness like the cookies from Le Crepe Jolie than from a glass of wine. — I feel this on a deep level. I did grow up in wine country (and brewing area now). I too would rather eat my calories, or drink them through something close to designer tea. (p.159)

I could use a ruler-high stack of chocolate chip pancakes after the night I'd had. On second thought, Grandma Daisy could hold the pancakes and just hand over the bag of chocolate chips straight up was the only medicine that would do the trick. — Oh my god yes to this. (p178)

A student strolling the sidewalk did an about-face when the librarian screeched at me. Perhaps a yelling librarian was even more alarming than a running librarian. Nat that Renee was your typical librarian, with her tendency to be loud and her infectious laugh that could be heard all over the library building multiple times throughout the day. She wasn't one to whisper, and I had seen her shush a student only once, when a group of football players was especially rowdy. — It has been so long since I saw a librarian written this well. Renee is loud. Personality plus. And I can see why Richard is intimidated by her a little.

[jonquildove]

starkmatriarch:

You will be a far better queen than Cersei Baratheon, Catelyn thought, wishing that her daughter did not place such weight upon the lioness. Cersei moved with grace and carried a remarkable beauty, but she was cold and her eyes appeared to hold nothing but secrets and darkness. She moved lithely, with her green eyes glowing in the darkness, her yellow mane of hair in a southron braid. Catelyn did not trust Cersei, as she trusted no Lannister, and she wished that her daughter would be as cautious. Yet since Robert and Ned were good friends, she met with the Lannisters more oft than she had wished, they hanging out in dates like tennis playing. Robert was strong and handsome, hitting the green soft tennis ball with its green hair shining in the morning, very well with the racquet, to where Ned was, on the other side of the net. She wishing her daughter did not braid her hair, as now she may haunt her dreams. Ned was more traumatised ever since he came back from the war, despite him winning and trying to see what he had won. He sometimes scared her, as he experiences nightmares of the cries of the Targaryens and his men alike, thinking it terrible Jaime would slay Aerys like that, as he was the King's Hand. He had walked to the throne room, going inside, as Aerys huddled in the darkness, frightened and scared, he ordering guards at the door which he said to built strong iron on. Jaime, having sided with Robert now, had gotten a battering ram with a sharp steel hook, to bang down the door. He then killed Aerys, where he sat on the throne. I just want to do well and support you, Cat, he had said when sitting at the mountain side with her, she brushing the hair from his face. She knew he felt guilt for abandoning her at her time of need, abandoning her when she fell pregnant, yet he had not known nor she him, otherwise he would not have gone off to war. Once, when Sansa was typing on her fashion blog on her laptop, someone had commented something mean to her, saying she looked ugly in her dress, and he had seen her cry -- he angry, as he sees her screen to where her blog was open of the computer through the black rune stones with golden letterings. She was to marry into the family, of that she knew there was but little choice, Ned saying Robert had merely asked him if Sansa and Joffrey to marry when down in the crypts of Winterfell, but she did not desire Sansa to enter such a union blind to the Lannisters’ true nature. “They will love you, my girl,” Catelyn assured Sansa, never more certain of anything in her life. Sansa was kind and gentle, a pure soul who anyone would warm to. As Queen, she would be loved, she would be admired. “Of that I have no doubt, but you must look to your Father as example. How to lead, how to be fair and just” Ned always treated those who worked for him well, he now working as the Hand for the King, and there was honour in all that he did, including once being a taxi driver, he driving people to where they would like to travel. He did not make any decision lightly, yet with far more tremor since the war which had broken him in all his strain to be honourable, for every decision had a direct effect upon someone and thus must be taken with heavy consideration and deliberation. Ned was who Sansa should turn to in her aspirations to be a good Queen, not Cersei. Ned would show her how to be just and true, Cersei would only show her power. She was an ambitious queen.

“Thank you, Mother…” Sansa smiled radiantly, at how certain her lady mother seemed about that. She nodded. “Yes, Father is very honourable and just…” She recalled all the deeds he did, and also remembered that he had to chop a man’s head off, for the punishment of deserting the Wall. It had been a white walker, a wight, the man had clamoured in breath, she not believing his words, for weren't white walkers gone? Just a story Old Nan spoke of, along with the elves and children whom wandered the forest in the age before the men. She hadn’t been there at the time, but she’d heard about it from her brothers. She remembered him saying once to Robb something similar to the lines of; the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. The man had not felt safe around her father, she knew, as he had not believed him. Father was a bit crazy at times, he wanting to meet the boy who said a cruel word about her fashion pose, saying he had an annoying voice. She admired Cersei so, but she supposed it wouldn’t hurt to learn more from her father as well. “I would like that very much…is Father busy, at the moment?”

[lucindactalkalot]

cheesy romantic comedies. carnivals. uncertain paths. hoodies and jeans. blasting music late at night. worn out sneakers. talking too much. flower crowns. family dinners. handwritten letters. always learning something new.

DETAILS.   

name: lucinda sloane talkalot. meaning: light; raider and warrior. birthday: april first. age: twenty-two. pronouns: she + her. sexuality: pansexual. siblings: ness talkalot (older sister). cara talkalot (older sister) other family: aisling quinn (birth mother). torin quinn (birth father). extended talkalot family. languages: english.     current residence: london.  hometown: galway, ireland.

WIZARD FUN.

affiliation: neutral. blood status: pureblood. species: witch. patronus: black swan. thought to have been rarer than a unicorn when first discovered, black swans represent loyalty, monogamous love, and caring for loved ones. they may have a wild youth but remain monogamous later in life. black swans represent the healing power of love and romance. boggart: seeing the talkalots dead. occupation: potioneer. pet: rat named george. wand type:    

length: 10 ½". flexibility: swishy.

english oak: a wand for good times and bad, this was a friend as loyal as the wizard who deserved it. wands of english oak demanded partners of strength, courage, and fidelity. less well-known is the propensity for owners of english oak wands to have powerful intuition, and, often, an affinity with the magic of the natural world, with the creatures and plants that are necessary to wizardkind for both magic and pleasure.

core: unicorn. unicorn hair wands are not very powerful, but they were the least prone to accidents and the least likely to change loyalties. they are also the most difficult to turn to the dark arts. they are prone to wilting if mishandled.

APPEARANCE.

height: 5'2". hair color: red. hair style: bouncy wavy curls. fashion style: cutesy and sweet. distinguishing features: her bright hair.

PERSONALITY.     

positive traits: + family oriented + committed + loving + unique negative traits: - hesitant - overly competitive - impulsive

theme song: rainbow by kesha.

BIO.

once upon a time there was a babygirl with red hair and curls that challenged shirley temple. her name was lucinda sloane talkalot. she grew up in galway, ireland with lovely, doting parents, brady and fiona. she played in the fields and king of the hill with her older sisters, cara and nessa. lucinda always strived to win. despite her small size and young age managed to knock her sisters down once she reached the top, throwing her arms up in a fit of success. Life was good. she knew nothing of magic and the wizarding world. lucinda was merely a child; normal, ambitious, strong  and skilled in whatever she put her mind to. she was loving. the talkalots were the perfect irish family. 

lucinda did not expect her life to change so dramatically when she turned ten. her birthday party consisted of her constantly smiling family but something was different and the young girl could tell. it wasn’t their normal behavior. when she blew out her candles lucinda wished to share stories with her family, things they held near and dear to their hearts. her introspective self wanted to know more about where they all came from. 

her wish came true. 

the entire talkalot family sat in their warm living room, the fireplace crackling. lucinda smiled excitedly as she asked her father to go first. brady looked at fiona with uncertainty before asking lucinda to sit between him and fiona while cara and nessa sat slumped. this was the day lucinda found out she was adopted. 

the young girl’s face fell and asked one word: “what?” fiona explained to her that she had a friend she grew up with, aisling, and what a wonderful person and friend she was but the two were separated when they turned eleven because aisling had to go to a special school that fiona wasn’t allowed. another one word question: “why?” fiona explained that aisling was able to do special things. like magic. lucinda’s eyes widened at the fantastical thought. then the ball dropped. “one day aisling came home with a boy named torin and they were pregnant. unfortunately they weren’t able to care for the little one. they named her lucinda, a girl as special as the woman who carried her. a girl who could do special magical things too.” lucinda didn’t know how to react. it was a mixture of excitement, sadness and confusion.

she had a year to digest what she had learned before receiving her letter from hogwarts. and meeting her birth parents, aisling and torin quinn, a pureblood family. when lucinda laid eyes on the two she saw a different set of parents than the talkalots. torin was stiff and emotionless and aisling stood behind him, unable to stop looking at the redhead she had to give up with tears in her eyes. it was a brief meeting where she was given bucket loads of money to get her through school. they -- torin -- coldly explained they could not be in lucinda’s life at that moment in time. when they walked out the door, lucinda looked down until an unfamiliar set of arms quickly wrapped around her. “i will write to you, darling.” aisling rushed out the door before lucinda could say anything.

she maintained her happy nature but with an air of wondering what would happen next and if there would be yet another thing would change her life forever -- which hogwarts would.

her cunning mind landed lucinda into slytherin house. when her peers talked about blood status, she admitted she was a pureblood herself, discovering that was the best answer she could have given so she ran with it. lucinda spent her time at hogwarts befriending anyone she could, although she never quite clicked with many. she was always different, but it was something she enjoyed about herself. she felt quirky and unique. the young woman grew into a competitive, skilled quidditch player and eventually quidditch captain. it was where she found herself most at home being a leader and part of a team, something she unexpectedly enjoyed.

it helped lucinda get through her seven years getting to know her birth mother, aisling quinn. she received more letters than anyone around her. love was showered on her from the talkalot family and her birth mother. she couldn’t have been more appreciative for having an actual family that cared as opposed to what she saw the other slytherins having. it gave lucinda a sense of solace in a place she felt she didn’t necessarily get along with.

lucinda also wanted to be among the crowd of pranksters. she was sarcastic and witty with a mind that wanted to make people laugh. the problem was that her fellow slytherins weren’t of the same mindset. on the whole, they were serious to the core. lucinda didn’t have anyone to have silly fun with -- not like the boys who became part of the so-called marauders. she watched the gryffindors from afar knowing it wouldn’t be appropriate slytherin behavior to engage in such things, especially with those four. it was difficult to watch them enjoy each other’s company and do as they wished when lucinda felt she couldn’t. however, she also felt a certain enjoyment in living vicariously through them. she had a few close friends she was able to be her absolute, true self with and enjoyed that for what it was worth. that was enough.

following school, lucinda wondered if she should pursue a quidditch career but had doubts. she was always waiting for the other shoe to drop, just as it did on her tenth birthday but reminded herself what that life change had given her: an immense amount of love and acceptance. it wasn’t something she was able to give as freely as she would have liked, even if she felt for many people. ultimately lucinda decided to wait on the quidditch career, giving herself time to think about it. in the meantime, lucinda found a job as a potioneer, having potions being her best and most exciting class at hogwarts.

the tension and war in the world she chose to live in was tangible. lucinda didn’t know how to choose a side or if she even should. the talkalots were muggles but raised her with more care than anyone deserved. and aisling not only taught her about the wizarding world but grew to form a bond lucinda didn’t know she was missing. her two worlds collided and there was no getting around it. lucinda now finds herself at a crossroads with no answer except to have no answer.

LINKS.

ABOUT | MIRROR | INSPO | AESTHETICS | TAGS | CONNECTIONS

[soberfructosecornsyrup]

X-Files, Season 1, Episode 18: Miracle Man

I was right, there is a Miracleman, created by Alan Moore, also there's an Ozzy song by the title of Miracle Man.

Great we got a creepy religious boy, bringing crusty, deepfried burn victims back to life. I'd be so mad if I died in a fire, and someone brought be back to life, looking like a Fourth of July grilled hotdog.

Faith healers are so wild to me, like watching...I think it's Benny Hinn force push people over and do like mast healings is so fucking funny to me. Maybe they aren't healings, and they're getting knocked over from the Spirit.

Being a fraudster faith healer looks fun as shit though, if I'm being honest.

Leonard Vance looks like the Invisible Man covered up in makeup. And he's wearing sunglasses at night. Probably a dickhead with a coke problem.

As someone who is very anti-religion, I mean I am wearing a shirt that says "CHRISTFUCKER" in giant letters on the sleeve, I find it also very fascinating. Like the idea of punishing yourself in extreme manners when you've done something wrong is wild.

(Proof I'm about that life)

I love the random people in the tent church wearing trucker hats that say "It's a miracle" in plain black font on a plain white background. FASHION

Leonard Vance also looks like my mind's eye version of Corey Feldman.

The faith healer skipped over the...I say this knowing full and well beautify is in the eye of the beholder...the ugly girl and homegirl looks sad.

And now the woman he went to instead of the ugly girl is dead. Shouldn't have just skip over home girl.

A local cop telling an FBI agent he's out of his depth is so fucking bold lmaooo

Them dudes beating the brakes off of Sam.

Can Sam use his powers to bring himself back?

Leonard Vance has the shittiest wig on. No wonder why he's always wearing that hat.

See, Leonard didn't want to be brought back, looking like he was on a chicken rotisserie. He's a victim.

Looks like Sammy can bring himself back. Morgue worker saw Sam walk out himself, but ain't no cameras?

Another good episode. Not as good as the previous one, but good none the less. So far, first season has been a strong season, as far as first season of shows go.

Take it away, Ozzy!

[j-j0urnal]

Book Review: Dressed In Dreams: A Black Girls Love Letter To The Power Of Fashion

Dressed In Dreams: A Black Girls Love Letter to Fashion is a book by Dr. Tanisha C. Ford. Tanisha C. Ford is an award winning writer, professor, and cultural critic. According to her professional biography, “Her work centers on social movement history, philanthropy and the cultural politics of money, Black feminism(s), material culture, the built environment, black life in the Rust Belt, girlhood…

[unicyclehippo]

I've been on a palindrome kick lately so how about "tenet" for a prompt?

definition—tenet: n. a principle or belief, especially one of the main principles of a religion or philosophy

//

The rumour that the Dreamscape Theatre was haunted had been around ever since its construction began.

The actual story changed depending on who told it—older folk who had been around when it was going up solemnly shared the story of the poor tradesman who had been pouring the basement cement when they were killed and buried beneath the floor by - and here they would tell the best story they could - the scorned wife, the betrayed best friend, the jealous lover, or the wicked boss; the younger crowds, meanwhile, whispered about the girl rejected by her highschool crush who hung herself from the cinema balcony, or the bassoonist crushed by a wayward curtain weight, or the kid who tried to swim in the popcorn machine and got cooked—but while the narrative changed with the generations, the persistence of the rumours never did.

That could be blamed, perhaps, on the fact that it looked the sort of place that ought to be haunted.

The Dreamscape was beautiful, in a spooky sort of way. She was tall and turreted, with a black-tile roof that rose in angular spires, each topped with an iron spike; the same ironwork caged the windows with bars and continued throughout the interior of the building used in graceful, ornate bannisters and guard rails. She looked more like a small Gothic cathedral than a theatre, all fashioned from light sandstone that at once seemed brutish and artful. Along the length of the front wall, the bricks were carved with hundreds of masks, each showing a different emotion—anguish and delight, joy and anger, jealousy and love, laughter—and all turned to watch the entrance to the theatre, a tall and heavy arched door with gleaming bronze handles. Above the entranceway crouched two stone gargoyles. On their shoulders, they carried a big sign that read, in tall red letters,

DREAMSCAPE THEATRE—NOW SHOWING

The space beneath that was blank, as the movie titles were taken down late on Sunday night and now, early Monday morning, they hadn't yet been put back. That was the job of Imogen Temult, who was late.

Again.

//

Imogen Temult, part-time worker at the Dreamscape, was late to work and fretting about it.

Neither lateness nor fretting were particularly uncommon states for her, something that her manager—Mike Hunt, a boy who almost deserved all the bullying he got for his unfortunate name, and who wore his plastic Manager's pin on his chest like it was a medal of honour, and who was terribly smug about the fact that he was the manager and not her, even though he was a full two years younger than her—took great care to note down in his little snitch book. He'd do the same today, she knew it, she just knew it. He'd stand at the front of the theatre waiting for her instead of getting on with his own work and he'd note down how many minutes late she was, and he'd click his tongue at her, and she would somehow have to keep from murdering him in any of the myriad ways she dreamed of doing when he was being particularly smug, or when he sent her off to clean the toilet stalls after a busy Saturday shift.

She was hurrying as best she could, but the rain and the pavement, slick underfoot, were conspiring with the steep hill to drop her on her ass (again) if she went any faster than a dedicated power walk. So she hurried—cursing the rain and the hill and the damn heat and the damn mist that meant she couldn't see further than a few metres ahead of her—and hoped that Mike was distracted enough that she could creep past him to the backroom and pretend that she'd been there for ages.

Ahead, the Dreamscape sign shone bright and even her strained relationship with Mike couldn't stop the wash of calm that travelled through her, the sign like a beacon through the mist.

In the very moment she sees the sign, her attention is caught by a voice—soft, gentle—from the alley that ran parallel to the Theatre. Barely a whisper. Head snapping toward the sound, Imogen caught a glimpse of a girl in a ragged dress, barefoot, holes where her eyes should be before she stepped back and dissolved into the mist.

'What the—fuck. Fuck, shit, fuck.'

Imogen flipped her wrist to check the time—still resolutely late—and gnawed at her bottom lip. The theatre beckoned but... If she had seen the girl, someone else might have as well. There was no sign of Mike outside the entrance so, swearing again under her breath, Imogen turned on her heel and slipped down the alleyway after that vanished spirit.

'Hey,' she hissed, loud as she dared. 'Are you in here?'

No answer.

Imogen squinted into the dark shadows deeper within the alley. Did they move? Did they seem darker than normal?

'We talked about this. You can't make visions were someone might see them.' Imogen glanced at her watch—late, late, late. 'I don't have time - just, please, no more visions. Okay?'

No answer. Imogen sighed.

'I'm sorry,' she added. 'I know I promised to get here before my shift but I got held up.' She glanced nervously back over her shoulder—it wouldn't do for anyone passing by to see her talking to nothing—and turned back to find herself face-to-face with an enormous rat. A rat man. A tuxedo-ed rat man.

'What did I just say? Cut it out.'

The rat man gave a deep bow. His tail—greasy and grey—flicked around from behind him to curl around her ankle; where it touched, Imogen felt a little tingle of cold air, like the mist had wrapped its creeping fingers around her ankle - except, of course, that the mist here was humid, nothing chilling about it - and then the image faded like a dream upon waking, details growing hazy and then gone entirely.

From the depths of the alley, within a spot of shadows Imogen was vindicated in thinking had been a little too dark, came a voice so bright it could have been made of sunlight.

'So. You're not afraid of rats. Interesting.'

'This again? No, I'm not scared of rats—I grew up on a farm, remember? We had heaps of them.'

'Proximity does not necessarily mean familiarity or fondness.'

Imogen conceded that point easily, remembering the way her father always shuddered when he saw one. 'I guess not. But no, they don't bother me. Never seen a rat man, though—but that's not the point!' she reminded herself sharply. 'You can't - I don't want to spend all day worrying about if you're out here spooking people and drawing attention. I don't want - I don't want to come out and find that you've been...' She trailed off, not wanting to finish her sentence. There was no need to, either. They both knew what would happen if she were to be discovered.

'You're right, of course,' the shadow said and, much diminished, much dimmed, added, 'I'm sorry, Imogen.'

Imogen shook her head. 'It's not you, Laud. You're - you're amazing and your visions are so good and getting better every day. That girl, in the alley? She made me jump two feet straight up, I swear.' The delighted laugh that earned her soothed the tattered edges of Imogen's worries. They would grow ragged again, but for a second she melted, smiling into the dark. 'It's everyone else I'm worried about. Just - promise me you'll stay in the attic? And wait for me? Please.'

The shadows burbled like someone was blowing bubbles into ink. Then,

'I will stay in the attic and wait for you,' the shadow promised, repeated. 'And -'

'No more visions.'

'And no more visions.'

'Okay. Okay. Good. Thank you.'

//

The heavy doors to the theatre groaned as Imogen opened and closed them behind her, hinges sticking in the humidity. She was braced for one of Mike's famous, irritating scoldings but the entrance was empty of staff. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, she strode across the foyer to the service door, steps muffled by the thick carpet. Though she passed it every day, she stopped when she reached the ticket hub, eyes drawn to the glossy sign stuck to its window.

NO SHOES, NO SERVICE NO ANIMALS (SERVICE ANIMALS EXCLUDED) NO ABNORMALS

Imogen lifted a finger, tracing the letters. She thought of her friend outside, hiding in the shadows of an alleyway that smelled faintly of urine and wet paper; she thought of a train thundering past fields of tall corn, the smell of hot iron wheels threw up sparks, the way dirt coated her throat, stung her lungs as she panted, running as fast as she could, pushing Laudna up first onto the car and throwing herself after. Heat crackled under her skin and, in the reflection of the window, she watched her eyes flash with purple light.

She flinched. Pulled her hand away, fingers curling into her palm, and fled into the service hallway. Behind her, the smell of melted plastic lingered in the foyer, acrid, and would for most of the morning.

[collarbonekissesandasylumwitches]

hello hi, hope y'all are doing ok :)

this is just my take on this aesthetic, my personal brand if you will, so please don't come at me if it isn't completely accurate

(i do not know where a few quotes are from so if you do, please lemme know so that i can list them)

poetcore // chaotic academia // downtown girl

vibes: grocery stores, existential poetry, psychology/english major, iced caramel lattes, old bookstores, anatomical heart emoji, thunderstorms, wired earphones, art museums, dyed hair and a nose ring, vintage posters stuck on bedroom walls, blue hour, ink stained hands, latin curses, 3 am showers, voice notes, smudged eyeliner, cocoa lotion, choco chip cookies, silver rings that clink against ceramic cups, native language nicknames, annotated books, commentary videos on youtube, forehead kisses, candles, love letters, lullabies, sunlight through curtains, libraries at night, homoeroticism, angry girl music, pressed flowers, coffee cake and coffee eclairs, glitter pens, lipbalm, dog cuddles, super specific playlists, daily outfit pictures

fashion: small shirt big pants black nailpaint mismatched earrings signature perfume hair sticks black turtlenecks cardigans fingerless gloves nose rings high waisted jeans linen shorts lipgloss cotton dresses waist jewelry heart shaped locket moss coloured bralettes bandanas tank tops crystal necklaces white eyeliner oversized earth toned sweaters cargo pants vintage band tshirts charm bracelets and anklets crop tops smudged eyeliner harem pants claw clips fairy earrings tote bags doc martens with everything lots of antique rings

songs:

ribs - lorde

coffee breath - sofia mills

movies - conan gray

how long - hadestown

sunflower - post malone, swae lee

i want you to want me - letters to cleo

bookstore girl - charlie burg

sappho - frankie cosmos

achilles come down - gang of youths

girl from the bookstore - jack jones

poet - bastille

all too well 10 minute version taylor's version - taylor swift

artists: mother mother, bon iver, girl in red, arctic monkeys, daughter, florence + the machine, hozier, the neighborhood, taylor swift [folklore and evermore in particular]

movies: shutter island, dead poets society, lady bird, 10 things i hate about you, five feet apart, potrait of a lady on fire, kill your darlings, fleabag, perks of being a wallflower, all the bright places, loving vincent, call me by your name, eternal sunshine of the spotless mind

books:

crush - richard siken

a little life - hanya yanagihara

the song of achilles - madeline miller

ode to aphrodite - sappho

the bell jar - sylvia plath

and then there were none - agatha christie

envelope poems - emily dickinson

the secret history - donna tartt

the picture of dorian gray - oscar wilde

a room of one's own - virginia woolf

the robber wife - margaret atwood

the yellow wallpaper - sam vaseghi gilman

quotes:

what we love, we mention. - Marie-Helene Bertino

you said i killed you. haunt me then. - Emily Bronte

loneliness is still time spent with the world.- Ocean Vuong

let me stay tender hearted, despite despite despite.

that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. - Walt Whitman

i love you. i can't tell you. the sun on your face will do it for me. - tumblr user tturing

i will love you if i never see you again, and i will love you if i see you every tuesday. - Lemony Snicket

someone has to leave first. this is a very old story. there is no other version of this story. - Richard Siken

nothing ends poetically. it ends and we turn it into poetry. all that blood was never once beautiful. it was always just red. - Kait Rokowski

love is real. i saw it once outside my window and it stopped to look at me but kept on walking and i thought it'd come back but in the end maybe it was just passing through.

in ten years' time, i want to live in a house with big windows, i want the house to be large enough to have a kitchen table with four chairs but not too roomy to ever feel the depth of my aloneness. because i'll probably be alone. but i think aloneness won't feel so all-consuming with windows that protect me from the world but still let me watch it. - Maeve Wiley, Sex Education

male fantasies, male fantasies, is everything run by male fantasies? up on a pedestal or down on your knees, it's all a male fantasy: that you're strong enough to take what they dish out, or else too weak to do anything about it. even pretending you aren't catering to male fantasies is a male fantasy: pretending you're unseen, pretending you have a life of vour own, that you can wash your feet and comb your hair unconscious of the ever-present watcher peering through the keyhole, peering through the keyhole in your own head, if nowhere else. you are a woman with a man inside watching a woman. you are your own voyeur. - Margaret Atwood

take care, love love >3

[primergon]

okay imagine

it’s late and I’m half asleep, but hear me out

I’m a girly girl, and I am tired of girly-girl erasure. being feminine has always been portrayed as some kind of a crime in modern media. Hollywood has demonized feminity for ages now. girly girls are always portrayed as these two-dimensional characters with no worth or substance to the story. she’s either a bully, a spoiled brat, a bimbo, or all three. as lovely as it is to see headcanons and imagines of brave, kick-ass readers/characters, I want to see headcanons of girly readers/characters in transformers. let’s say tfp :

give me a reader who is your typical preppy cheerleader minus the bad attitude. give me a reader who loves pink, wears skirts, listen to modern pop, and applies lip gloss every once in five minutes ( honestly with the weather in Jasper, I wouldn’t be taking any chances)

give me girly reader on a recon mission with the bots, give me girly reader saving the day, give me girly reader calling out Megatron to his face for how rude he is.

give me girly reader swapping fashion tips with Miko ( even if they both have different tastes, let me have some girl bonding damn it ), give me girly reader having a playful banter with knockout ( “ ew fleshy is that dolce ? so last season” “ hello ! it’s Chanel, asshole. don’t tell me you don’t know the difference”), give me girly reader listening to Britney with smokescreen.

give me girly reader driving ultra magnus insane by being his human charge because she’s always asking him to drive her to the mall ( “ we just went yesterday, humans don’t die if they don’t shop.” “ well i do !”) , give me protective magnus scaring off high school boys trying to give love letters to girly reader by honking at them in the school parking lots , give me girly girl reader who plays ‘ legally blonde ‘ and ‘ clueless’ on movie nights for bumblebee and bulkhead, give me human reader who comforts arcee whenever she gets sad and thinks about cliff jumper, give me girly reader who roasts Starscream whenever he gets too cocky.

give me a girly girl who uses the power of friendship to save the day miraculously, it’s a cartoon with giant robots from outer space, this is not the most ridiculous thing you’ll hear. it’s realistic to have characters that reassure kids or fandom members that it’s okay to be feminine, it’s okay to care about fashion trends, and kick Decepticon ass with blush and lipstick on. it doesn’t mean you can’t contribute to the team, doesn’t mean you’re not a valuable member of a rebellion, and it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy sci-fi while being a girly girl.

I wished someone had told me this earlier on in life, instead of making me choose as if my femininity immediately deems me as someone too shallow or stupid to understand sci-fi media like transformers. girly girls are smart, girly girls are independent, girly girls are badass, girly girls are nerds ( and we love that ) 

this doesn’t mean I hate the idea of tomboy, ass-kicking ladies who prefer to wear black from head to toe. I love them, and I’d love to see them side by side with a character who maybe doesn’t know how to fight that well, nor do they know anything about cars, but they sure do know how to speak up for others and care for them while looking absolutely fabulous. I hope this makes sense lol

[cursestothemoon]

All My Love, Dad

Requested: Yes

Fred Weasley x Sirius Black’s Daughter 

Warning: Death, alludes to sex, suggestive moments

Word Count: 3218

Summary: Fred Weasley is dating Azkaban escapee’s daughter Y/n Black. They are hiding their relationship form her ever fear inducing father, Snuffles. Though the unexpected happens leading Fred and Y/n to almost drown in guilt.

✧✧✧

“Wait, Fred-”

“No one’s up here, love, I checked.”

“No Fred, I think someo-”

“Hey!”

Fred let out a loud gasp before shoving you off of him. You stumbled back, both your hands shooting out to smooth out the wrinkles in your clothes hoping to Merlin it looked as innocent as you hoped.

The girlish giggle was what made you slump your shoulders realizing who it was, the bright pink hair a dead give away.

“Tonks! Merlin I thought y-”

She cut you off, “Thought I was your dad.”

You nodded sheepishly.

“This is cute,” She gestured between Fred and yourself. “Anyway, you’re not in the clear yet. He was coming up right behind me.”

Her words were enough to light a fire under you, making you stumble out of the closet and to the otherside of the room. Just in time too, seeing as your dad waltzed up the steps to the second floor.

“Sirius!” Fred said, hand coming up to pat down his hair that you ran your hand through just moments before.

Your dad looked at him, face creased with confusion, before mimicking his tone, “Fred!”

Fred gave a nervous laugh but kept quiet, your dad continued.

“Breakfast is going to be ready soon. I’d get in before anyone else, today we have pancakes.” He smiled before turning and leaving, the hall back to just you, Fred, and Tonks.

Fred let out a breath, shoulders slumping as he moved from in front of the closet to your side. He let his head fall to your shoulder, a loud groan coming from him as you laughed.

“Smooth, Fred.”

He winced, “Shut up.”

Fred and you had been dating for nearly five months now, having been friends for well over a year before. You were sorted into Gryffindor and both of you had been aware of the other but it wasn’t until your fourth year (his fifth) that you two became friends. He had fallen for you before you even thought about him any way other than platonically. The Yule Ball was what made you realize your feelings, he had asked Angelina Johnson to be his date and the little green monster bubbling inside of you at the sight of them dancing was too powerful to deny.

With all events following, it wasn’t until the near end of your fifth year when you decided to make a move. Luckily, he and Angelina were just good friends and nothing more came of it. You noticed his subtle hints and more than friendly gestures, all while being Sirius’ daughter you were well aware that you weren’t ugly by any means. You just hoped you weren't wrong.

You weren’t.

It had only been three months of dating at Hogsmeade, one month apart over summer, and since a week ago you have been living together until the start of term. This brings you to just twenty five minutes ago when you had been on your way to the kitchen when a mysterious force pulled you into a closet off the side of the hallway. The mysterious force turned out to be a very handsy Fred Weasley. He told you everyone was already down and it was just you two up there before he attacked your lips.

You two had to play innocent this past week, your ever protective father still unknowing of your relationship with the gentle giant. It definitely didn’t help that Fred was deathly afraid of what your father might say when he finds out that he had been romantically involved with his only daughter.

“He was in Azkaban, Y/n! Who knows what he's learned or seen in there!” Fred said, eyes wide.

You shook your head with a laugh, “Fred, he’s harmless really.”

“He’s got tattoos on his chest! And- and he was raised in a very well off household. He could kill me then scoop my eyes out with a spoon worth more than me and George combined!”

“You are overreacting just a tad, how scary could he be? He goes by Snuffles.”

Fred was adamant on keeping his eyes so he was very well behaved, that is until today when he felt as though if he didn’t kiss you soon he’d combust. Poor boy nearly had a heart attack, though, when the closet door opened.

You were now sitting at the kitchen table with Fred across from you. Breakfast had been finished and now everyone (members of the Order and such) were all in their own conversations. The only one not partaking in communicating being you and Fred, preferring to play footsie under the table whilst smirking at each other.

“You two make me sick. Enough I had to deal with it at school, now where I eat? Disgusting.” George teased from next to Fred making him shoot up immediately and look over to your dad who was, thankfully, still in the middle of a conversation with Remus and Harry.

“Don’t be so loud!” Fred whisper-yelled.

George laughed, “Your bedroom eyes were loud enough.”

That comment earned him a sharp kick to the shin from you. He sent you a playful glare before moving to stand up.

“Well, I’m going to work on some products. Fred, feel free to join.”

Fred watched as George left then turned to look at you with a smile, “You know if I don’t go one of us will end up with green hair.”

“Please, not again.” You begged with a smile playing on your lips as Fred started to walk out of the room, turning back to blow you a kiss just as he passed through the door and was hidden from Sirius

The rest of your time at Grimmauld Place went by in the same fashion. Fred and you had gotten a bit more confident with sneaking around right under your father’s nose. The day had finally come for you to return to Hogwarts and while you were excited, a part of you dreaded it. You weren’t allowed to send or receive letters from your father seeing as it would be far too risky considering everyone still saw him as an escaped murderer.

Sirius wasn’t allowed to go to King’s cross initially, but he found a loophole and was fed up with being cooped up at home so you got to say goodbye to him just before boarding the train. The shaggy haired black dog had led you into an empty room at the train station, luckily the area that seemed to be a lounge had been empty allowing your father to turn back into a man rather than bark out his farewell.

You were quick to wrap your arms around him, face nuzzling into his hair as he held you tightly.

“Be good, my girl. And take care of Harry, I can’t imagine the stress he’s under.”

He smiled as you nodded, your eyes welling with tears. His hands came up to cup your face, thumbs brushing away the few tears that had fallen.

“We’ll see each other again, don’t cry.”

“It’s just hard knowing I won’t be able to write to you.” You said looking down.

Sirius smiled gently, “Here, I've got something for you…”

His hand dipped into the pocket of his robe, pulling out a mirror.

“It’s charmed. If you say the name of the person who has the other mirror you can see them. There are three mirrors, I have one, now you, and I’m thinking of giving Harry the third one for Christmas.”

The smirk on your father’s face made you smile, he was a thoughtful man, confident, boisterous, and thoughtful.

Your farewells were short, needing not to miss the train back to school. It was with a final pat to the black dog that you boarded the train, stepping into a compartment with Fred, George, and Lee.

Fred pulled you toward him as you walked in, grumbling out, “Finally.”

--

Umbridge was revolting, classes were as mundane as ever with no OWLs to worry over, and Fred and George had told you their plans for after Christmas holiday. To say you were feeling rather ruddy would be an understatement. Of course you supported Fred and George, more than anything in the world, but you worried that if you couldn’t tell your father about your relationship with the older twin soon, the very relationship would crumble under the stress of not only distance but also paranoia.

“What are you thinking in that pretty little head of yours?” Fred asked, finger coming up to gently poke your forehead.

“You, of course.” You smirked, his expression mirroring yours.

You were in the train on your way back to Grimmauld Place for the Christmas holiday, and neither you nor Fred were feeling excited about having to start acting as good friends with each other.

“I knew it, you had a twinkle in your eye.”His voice was smug, making you roll your eyes.

“I did not you twat.”

Fred pulled you into his side with one arm, the other going to tickle your sides with vigor.

“Let go, you’ll ruin my hair!” You stated, words muffled by his sweater.

Fred stopped for a moment though his hold persisted, “Mmm… only if you promise me your New Years kiss.”

“Alright, I promise.”

“And say I’m the best and smoothest boyfriend in the whole wide world.”

“No.”

His fingers inched closer and closer back to your side.

“Fine! You’re the best and smoothest boyfriend in the whole wide world, please let me go, love.”

Fred smiled, letting you go from his grasp only letting you get far enough so he could pull you into a kiss making the other two people in your compartment groan.

“You think this is bad? I’ve got to live with them over holiday, and when I’m not seeing her I’m definitely hearing about her.”

George dodged Fred’s fist as he snickered, but wasn’t so lucky when his older twin stood up and tackled him. Lee yelped and made his way over to you on the other side, out of the way of flailing limbs and rowdy twins.

“Are they always like this?” Lee said in a low voice, leaning closer to you.

You nodded, “It’s worse when they are hungry.”

Lee laughed, starting to chant ‘fight’ as the twins smacked each other around andyou couldn’t help but chuckle along.

The house was the same as you left it, old and dusty, but your father had taken it upon himself to decorate almost every square inch of the house in handmade Christmas decorations, surely a product of his boredom.

Christmas had gone by far too quickly for anyone's liking and your dad’s once joyful caroling that could be heard throughout the house fizzled out, replaced by a more somber mood due to the impending solitude. He seemed to chiper up today, rightfully so, it was New Years eve.

Everyone had gathered around the fireworks in the main sitting room, the twins had conjured up sparkly gold fireworks that would countdown to midnight, they shimmered at eleven now.

“Ten!”

You smiled, hand going to grab hold of Harry’s and Ron’s forearms in excitement.

“Nine!”

The giddiness was undeniable.

“Eight!”

Sirius caught your eye and winked with a small smile.

“Seven!”

You looked around trying to find Fred.

“Six!”

He was standing with George and Ginny.

“Five!”

“Four!”

“Three!”

He looked at you, lips curling into a smile.

“Two!”

You moved to walk toward him, if this was how people found out then so be it.

“One! Happy New Year!”

Fred seemed to understand the look in your eye and maybe it was the way everyone else seemed to lean to a loved one for a kiss, or the adrenaline of a New Year and waiting war but he wasn’t going to back down. Instead he stood there, leaning his head back ever so slightly as his hands went to rest in his pockets and he gave you a look that said,

Come on. Do it.

And you were going to, really you were, but your father had gotten to you before you could reach Fred.

“Happy New Year, my girl.” Sirius smiled, leaning down to peck you forehead.

It seemed as though no one wanted you to kiss Fred for the New Year because you were then pulled into the kitchen by Molly and Tonks to help pass out the pastries. You looked to Fred with an apologetic look as you were being guided to the kitchen, but he just smiled and motioned for you to go do what you needed to do.

It wasn’t until everyone had gone to bed and you were putting away the last few dishes that Fred had found his way to you. You jumped at the feeling of hands wrapping around your waist from behind but relaxed once you felt the familiarly calloused hand slip under your shirt and rest on your bare hip.

“I believe you have a promise to fulfill.” Fred whispered, warm breath hitting the shell of your ear.

You decided to play coy, “I do? Shame I can’t remember what it was.”

Fred spun you around to face him, grabbing the plate out of your hand and placing it on the counter behind you.

“Guess I’ll just have to remind you.” Fred smirked.

His hands came up to cup your face, pulling your lips closer to his as you both closed your eyes. But he stopped just as your lips had brushed and you had to force yourself not to groan.

“Or maybe I’ll just wait until you remember.” His lips were so close you felt each word as he said them.

“Kiss me or I swear to Merlin Weasley I’ll scream.” You said, eyebrows raised and a devious smile on your lips.

Fred let out a breathy laugh before smashing his lips to yours, one hand sliding down your side to snake behind your waist to pull you closer, your body now completely against his as the kiss deepened. Your hands traveled up his torso before finding their way to his neck, thumbs gently caressing the soft skin. You could feel Fred start to smile into the kiss, inevitably making you start to do the same before he pulled away slowly.

His eyes sparkled with an emotion unknown as he grinned down at you, his thumb moving against your cheekbone.

“I love you, you know?” He said, voice soft.

Your breath hitched ever so slightly. Sure you knew you loved him and you only hoped he felt the same but your relationship was never heavy on verbal affirmations of love, both of you preferring to show each other your love rather than say it. So the proclamation of love was a bit shocking to you.

“This would be the time you said it back, Y/n.” He laughed, but the nervousness was now radiating off of him in waves as you realized you took a bit too long to respond.

“I love- I love you Freddie.” You stuttered, still shocked that by the words you were hearing.

Fred loved you.

It was with a few more kisses and quite a few more whispers of loving the other that you two tiptoed to your separate rooms, hand in hand. And maybe if you weren’t in such a lovesick haze you’d notice the silver lighter on the floor by the doorway.

--

The crowd that had gathered in the courtyard was electric, everyone was clapping as Fred and George rode off into the horizon on their brooms, a shimmering ‘W’ left in their wake. You could’ve only hoped that the day would’ve continued on just as light hearted.

Instead, you were now fitting death eaters in the department of mysteries at the Ministry. All hope seemingly being lost until the Order arrived, and you and your father fought in great synchronicity Harry even joining in exceptional smoothness. You guys were sure to win.

Right?

And suddenly…

A victory didn’t matter, not as you watched a spell hit your father in the chest sending him stumbling through the eerie veil. It was immediate, as he crossed through the silvery tendril of mist he was pulled away, almost like a handful of sand in the wind.

You pushed and shoved the arms that had found their way around you, he couldn’t have just...gone away.

“Y/n, no!” It was Tonks, her voice sounded like it was coming from inside a fishbowl.

Harry’s screams combined with yours as you were both held back by someone. You couldn’t help but feel the guilt rise in your belly, you didn’t even tell him…

--

“Just a few more boxes!” You called down to Remus from your room.

You and Fred were packing your things to leave Grimmauld place. You were set to move in with Remus, your godfather, due to the passing of your father. Term had ended and both you and Fred had decided to let everyone know about your relationship. Fred felt insanely guilty about keeping you from telling your father, but you were quick to tell him that there was no way of knowing what would happen, he had no reason to be so hard on himself.

“Darling, here are your letters.” He said, passing you a stack of letters.

You looked at them quizzically, “These aren-”

The words were caught in your throat as you looked at the writing on the first letter, it was your name in your dad’s handwriting.

“They’re from my dad.” You muttered looking at Fred.

Fred walked over to you and placed a soft kiss to your forehead.

“I’ll give you a minute.” He smiled gently before leaving you alone in the room.

The next fifteen minutes was spent reading the letters, starting from the oldest. By the time you reached the last one, dated a week before he died and the only one written after Christmas holiday, you had already laughed and cried at your dad’s words. You never knew he’d write you letters he couldn’t send, the thought of him hunched over the parchment all alone in the house while you were at school made your heart ache.

You let out a sigh, ready to open the last letter.

Dear Y/N,

It’s been awfully lonely in the house since everyone has left but I’m managing, at least all the mirrors seem to have a very handsome man living in them. I do miss you, my girl, and count the days until we can see each other again. Kreacher has been very quiet lately, though the occasional grunts tell me he is still, unfortunately, alive.

I hope school is going well for you. It really is a shame that I won’t get a response to my letters, but I guess it is sort of therapeutic to write them to you. Merlin, your poor old father is starting to sound like a ninny. I’ll work on that before you get back, don’t worry.

Kreacher woke up your dear Granny again, so I apologize for such a short letter though you aren't going to receive it so I guess it won’t matter much, huh? Make sure you take care of Harry, you two really only have each other in these odd times.

Also, tell Mr. Weasley that him and I ought to have a chat if he is going to snog my daughter in my own kitchen.

All my love,

Dad

[olivia-anderson-fanfic]

Into The Unknown, Part 5

First

Previous

Tim finished up pretty quickly.

After all, all the baby toys seemed to just be different variations of each other. Some crinkle, some make sounds, some squish, some… do nothing at all? Tim had no clue how he used to get by as a kid.

He ended up getting Damian three toys:

A tiny rubber duck. He’s almost completely sure that Marinette would have bought one if Tim hadn’t. At least when he was the one buying it he could opt to get the Darth Vader one (Damian had always been woefully uncultured, this was his one chance to make the kid watch sci-fi without risking getting stabbed).

A plush cow with crinkly ears. He had to hope that this could maybe jog memories of Batcow and, in turn, everything else. Tim had tried to think of something a little more relevant but all he could think of were things related to Batman, to Superboy, to the League of Assassins (did their lives really revolve around vigilante-work that much?)... and, unfortunately, this reality didn’t have merch that he could give the kid.

And a squishy plastic baguette. Because that was all he could think of to get back at Marinette for the duck thing.

When it came to little kid books he hesitated for just a bit before getting the basics -- stuff like animals and the letters and Spot The Dog. He wondered, vaguely, if he’d have to teach the kid numbers since they already used the Arabic numeral system. He got a book on it just in case.

Then he got a couple of books on parenting.

He checked out and then walked back to the sitting area where he was supposed to meet Marinette.

… she was taking forever.

He sighed quietly and skimmed through a book on parenting.

… oops they were supposed to breastfeed until Damian was about two. No clue what to do about that. Maybe the kid was already used to a bottle? He hoped so. He’d watch him more carefully while Marinette was holding him to see. In the meantime, he’d get a bottle and some formula on top of the baby food they’d been getting so far.

Alright so the kid was supposed to learn behaviors and language through observation. Good. That, hopefully, solved that problem. Tim probably would have just given the kid a textbook and said ‘good luck’. Marinette… he didn’t really know what Marinette would have done, but the woman wasn’t a teacher as far as he could tell and asking her to teach the kid properly was a little unfair.

Babies around his age are supposed to speak in something called… protowords? Like… a baby language? Damn, he has a miraculous and it seemingly allows him the power to understand every language but apparently ‘baby-speak’ didn’t count as a language. Tim called bullshit.

He felt a weight settle down on the bench next to him and absently glanced over.

Marinette sent him a slightly tired smile. She was wearing a new, dark red scarf.

He opened his mouth to say something only to have her shake her head and adjust her scarf a little to show him something.

Ah. It looked like Damian had fallen asleep on her shoulder so she’d fashioned the scarf into a makeshift baby sling.

“Could’ve used the stroller,” he whispered, setting his receipt in the book to mark his page.

She snorted. “And risk waking him? He cries every time he wakes up, I’m not dealing with that right now.”

He bit his lip. “You know… this book says he’s supposed to cry for, like, an hour to an hour and a half a day.”

She tipped her head to the side a little. “He’s cried like… three times.”

“Yeah, and he was really easy to shut up. Decidedly not normal.”

They looked back down at Damian, identical frowns on their faces.

“Does it have an explanation for why he’d be like this?” Marinette asked, her voice soft.

Tim hesitated.

“The only reasons I can think of are that he doesn’t think we’d help him if he cried or he thinks crying is something he’d be punished for. Considering how he was raised… it could be either. Or both.”

~

Marinette yawned as she sat back on the hotel bed. She leaned back against Tim, leaving him to bear the weight of both her and Damian.

He, to his credit, barely even blinked. He turned slowly until they were both leaning back against each other.

She tipped her head back to rest on his shoulder.

She could fall asleep like this, she thought. Propped against Tim. Damian, in her arms, watching an episode of something called True and the Rainbow Kingdom… it was nice.

Or, at least, it would be if Tim could stop that infernal tapping.

“Ugh, could you stop that? Some people actually sleep.”

He gave a tiny puff of laughter that acknowledged that he heard her but, alas, he continued typing.

She groaned a little and reached a hand behind herself to give him a tiny bap to his side.

“Hm. This may shock you, but hitting me really hasn’t helped your case.”

She huffed and twisted around to try and see over his shoulder. She’d given up on sleeping, anyway.

“What are you even doing?”

He shrugged just slightly. “Trying to figure out what to do about money.”

She nodded slowly, looking over his shoulder as he scrolled through jobs they could do with zero experience or degrees. That could sustain a family of three and pay for the daycare they would have to take Damian to. The options... weren’t great.

Damian tugged on her shirt for her attention and she looked down as he pointed at his screen with a bright smile. There was a black cat on the screen. She didn’t really know what he wanted until he kept saying ‘ma’ over and over. She nodded and said ‘cat’ in both Arabic and English, which seemed to sate him as he went back to watching… the giant green yeti monster stealing a basket of candy? What the fuck was even going on on this show? Were kids’ shows like this in her own world, too? Or was this one’s shows just especially weird?

A thought occurred to her and she looked back over at Tim.

“You exist in this world, right?”

He nodded absently and opened a tab that, despite its claim that it was an entry level job, apparently required two years of experience and a degree. He closed it quickly.

“Why don't we just mooch off of the other you?”

Tim sighed. “Because that’s illegal?”

“You’re a vigilante. I don’t think that ‘borrowing’ money from your alternate self is where you should draw the line on illegal activities.”

“I draw the line when it harms innocent people.”

She laughed at that. “He’s rich. It’s not like he’s going to miss it. Think of it as… giving the money to people who need it.”

“You’re a regular robin hood,” Tim said sarcastically.

“I know. I’m so kind,” she agreed, grinning.

There were a few moments of silence.

Then, finally, he shook his head. “Even if we could somehow do that -- which I can’t guarantee because I’m not completely sure I could guess my passwords -- the fact that we’re in Texas… he’d notice.”

She shrugged. “Then let’s move back to Gotham.”

He blinked and finally looked up from the computer. “What?”

“We don’t have much of a life here, really, so why not move?”

He considered this for a while before sighing and flopping back on the bed. “Let me see if I can even get into the account. There’s nothing to say that I even have the same social security number here...”

She nodded her understanding and laid back next to him. Damian whined a little at the sudden displacement but just ran a hand up and down his back absently until he was watching his show again, completely silent as he stared at the screen. Now the main girl was reaching into her bag for a weird orb of light that was, apparently, sentient. Was this the Dora of their world? God help their children.

Speaking of helping their children...

She picked up a parenting book to read while Tim tried to guess his otherworldly counterpart’s passwords.

~

Tim managed to get in.

He rested his head in his hands, cursing quietly.

She glanced over and smiled at his slightly flushed face.

“What was the password?”

He grumbled under his breath.

This only seemed to encourage her more because she started nudging his shoulder, the soft smile morphing into a cheeky grin.

He sighed and took a moment to gather himself before looking over at her. “It’s… ‘<3Richard<3graysons<3little<3brother<3’.”

“... I don’t get it.”

“Good. So you can’t tease me about it,” he said, sticking his tongue out at her.

She scoffed. “That’s not fair.”

“Totally is.”

He set the computer down beside himself and stretched his achy old bones. He’d had a baby for approximately two days now and he could already feel the bad back setting in. Tomorrow he would have gray hair.

“I’m going to look it up if you don’t tell me.”

“... he’s a celebrity,” Tim said quietly.

Her grin wavered back towards that genuine smile for just a second before spreading into an even wider grin. She reached out and pinched his cheeks. “Awwww, Tim, that’s so cute --!”

“Shut up,” he complained, batting her hands away.

She snickered. “No. I’m going to write that password on your tombstone.”

“You’re assuming I’m going to die first.”

“I have an extended lifespan. You’re only going to have that for another fifteen years. After that? Unless I’m really stupid you’re gonna die first.”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m going to find out how to be immortal now. Purely to spite you.”

She snorted. “Okay. Good luck with that.”

“Thank you.”

With that, he pushed himself up with a groan. “I’m going to get him ready for bed.”

She nodded her understanding and continued with her reading.

Damian whined a little when Tim tried to take him away from where he had curled up next to Marinette but that seemed to be more because he was tired and cranky than genuine distress.

Tim was the one to bathe him. It wasn’t a bubble bath, he wasn’t eager to repeat the previous night’s mistakes, but he did give Damian the rubber duck. This seemed to work for all of them, since Damian now allowed them to take him out of the bath as long as he got to bring his duck.

Marinette grinned when she looked over at where Damian was chewing on his rubber duck as Tim struggled to click the annoyingly difficult buttons of the onesie into place.

“Told you he would love it.”

“We both know that wasn’t why you wanted to get it.”

“And we both know you didn’t get that squishy bread-thing just because you thought he would like it, either.”

He smiled. “Maaaaaybe.”

The onesie finally allowed itself to be buttoned and Tim picked Damian up so he could get into bed.

Marinette frowned. “This book says we shouldn’t let him sleep with us every night. Says it creates a bad habit that’s hard to break.”

Tim raised an eyebrow at her but, reluctantly, carried the kid over to the crib so they could sleep separately.

“Fine. But I’m going to sleep before him so I don’t stress out all night.”

She snickered. “Fine. Fine.”

He climbed into bed, set a pillow between them, and promptly dozed off before he could get woken up by Damian whimpering through the night.

… Tim woke up a few hours later -- his body wasn’t quite used to sleeping through nights just yet -- to find that Marinette had brought the kid into bed with them again.

He smiled a little and moved the pillow out from between them. Even if Damian was currently too trapped in Marinette’s arms to even reach it, it was best to make sure it couldn’t happen.

Damian whimpered a little in his sleep again and Tim tipped his head to the side. He reached over and gently combed his fingers through the fuzzy little tufts of hair that the kid had so far. Damian relaxed.

Tim sighed and shifted in the bed until he was closer to Damian, then maneuvered through Marinette’s mess of limbs to press a tiny kiss to the top of his head. The baby smiled in his sleep and, though the kid couldn’t see it, he returned the smile. He rested an arm around the kid as well in hopes that it would keep the kid feeling safe before allowing himself to drift off.

~~~~~

Next

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