#Daphne has fun mom energy

[magicxc]

Hills and Valleys

Synopsis: Legend has it that Halloween is strictly for the scares. With ghouls and goblins, vampires and werewolves, witches and broomsticks, who could disagree?

However, all this friend group wanted was a little trick or treat. Sprinkle in a few party favors, loud music, and a cabin in the woods, the myth was bound to come true. 

Lurking around the corner is danger like never before, eager to bring this night to a bloody finish. 

So join these friends as they fight to make it through a Halloween they’ll never forget, proving that "the scare" is more than just a fantasy.

Word Count: 2414

Warnings: none for this chapter

Prologue

Series Masterlist

Emery (Em for short) - outgoing and friendly to most but doesn’t have main character energy in the sense that she isn’t wildly popular and chats to everyone in sight. Though she is super fun and goofy around her friends, Emery takes on a more chill and easy going vibe amongst others. A bit of an overthinker, she’s the mom of the group - displaying a good sense of level headedness and ensuring that things between them is as smooth sailing as it can be. But beware! There’s a shift after the incident and Emery becomes this shell of her former self: sad, paranoid, and borderline pessimistic. Velma for Halloween.

Lynnley (Lynn for short) - a lil slow but she means well. Sexually affirming, Lynn is the hawtie of the crew and fiercely loyal - usually the first to jump to her friend's defense. Even though she’s prissy, she won’t hesitate to clear a bitch. But beware! There’s a shift after the incident and when pushed to her limits, Lynn transitions into the ultimate mean girl, willing to do whatever it takes to survive. Daphne for Halloween.

Lorenzo (Lenny for short) - big ole gentle giant. He’s the jokester, corny, and flirtatious one of the group. Goes by Lenny cause Lorenzo sounds too proper. A little stubborn in regard to his silver spoon status, but willing to learn and do better for the sake of his friendships. Takes the feelings of other into consideration, but ultimately puts himself first in most situations. Always down to party! But beware! There’s a shift after the incident and Lenny finds himself forlorn and vengeful. Shaggy for Halloween.

Stephanie (Steph for short) - spicy! She’s the bitch of the group, sometimes mean under the guise of being blunt although she can definitely be that too. Her smart mouth didn’t exactly land her a ton of friends as she usually takes things too far, thus being the apology tour queen. Enjoys the fuck out of her own company so it’s typically the crew or herself. Yet, underneath it all she’s fair; calling out bullshit as she sees it. But beware! There’s a shift after the incident and while this tough cookie has always been so sure of herself, circumstances see Steph more hesitant and even sensitive. Scooby for Halloween.

Julianna (Julez for short) - big, round eyes are her most striking feature and the starting point for most of her friendships. Somewhat cheesy but smooth as hell in the dating department. A social chameleon, she drifts from friend group to friend group but definitely considers this one her fave. Party animal, so she STAYS with the goodies, therefore Julez is usually the first one faded at the get togethers. A genuinely sweet person, she’s quite frankly the nicest one of the group. But beware! There’s a shift after the incident and her lack of cautiousness leaves her the most exposed. Scrappy Doo for Halloween.

The cool breeze blows gently against warm skin, swaying seamlessly between the sea of people. It's about 75 degrees outside and though the sun peeks through the fluffy clouds, its warmth is inescapable, covering every inch of ground. The winds add a comfortable sensation, making the temperature feel a few degrees cooler than it actually is. 

There’s a freshness that lingers in the clean air; deep breaths satisfying the nostrils of those in the vicinity. Snacks are pulled out and the crinkling of their packaging adds all sorts of interesting aromas to the mix. There’s a foul odor to the sour cream flavored chips and a sugary scent to the caffeinated drinks. But it's the Jolly Ranchers and Hubba Bubba that add a deep sense of nostalgia.

Bench tables are filled to the brim, laughter echoing from each group of friends as they wait on their ride home. The afterschool chatter varies from crushes to beefs, to class work, and everything in between. Cliques gather around to whichever space is available - crouching under trees, standing near the cafeteria, or simply chilling on the stoop.

Some people choose to listen to their favorite artist, the sound of music flowing deep into their ears. Others prefer the ambiance of the school yard, the different personalities meshing together to form core memories for the future to come. Few students pull their books out to get started on today's homework, opting to spend the rest of their evening leisurely. Even fewer spend their time in solitude, comfortable with their own being. And then there’s them: The Three Musketeers.

“I’m thinking the bowling alley for my birthday this year, ohh and they just got a new skating rink too,” Emery gushed.

“Yes, but you can do neither,” Lynnley butt in.

“That, plus I was thinking dinner at The Atticus would be nice,” Lorenzo chimed. “And I know one of the waiters there who’s willing to serve us alcohol. 

“I think the hell not, besides it’s my birthday and you’ll BOTH be there. You can choose whatever you want to do when it’s your year around the sun.”

“Whatever,” Lorenzo groaned.

A comfortable silence fills the air, each person attending to their own current interest; but it’s the presence of each other that brings an added sense of solace. Emery, pen and paper in hand, is making a list of all the things that she needs for her upcoming party, including but not limited to guests, outfits, cake decoration, and skating lessons. Lynnley is currently filing her nails, ensuring that each finger has the perfect curve of a twenty degree angle; lips tutting in unappreciation of her dry cuticles. How she’s managed to let it get this bad, she doesn’t know. Lorenzo scrolls mindlessly through YouTube, enjoying whichever silly video popped up in his suggestions. Every so often, he’ll pan the screen over in amusement for the girls to get a good laugh in too, his commentary sometimes funnier than the content he shows. 

Eventually some distant yelling breaks their concentration, heads whipping in the direction of the ruckus to see the commotion. But it quickly turns into annoyance when they realised that the voice belonged to none other than Billy Badass.

“My goodness, I wish he’d get expelled already,” Emery sighed.

“Same here, if only he were into men then I could do something about it. One word from me to my parents and his ass would be done for.”

“It’s such a shame something has to be done to you directly for your parents to use their status for good, Lorenzo.”

“They aren’t vigilantes Lynn - they can’t just go around punishing everyone we hate. And I told you about calling me Lorenzo.”

“Oh yes, my good sir, shame on us for forgetting,” Emery teased, mustering up a poor posh accent.

Billy Badass is a nickname garnered by the crew for a student about two grades their senior. Though his antics skirt on the edge of sexual harassment, no one has ever really called him out on his shit; opting instead to ignore him into boredom. Billy thrives on the banter and reactions that he gets, eagerly bickering with person after person all in the name of free entertainment. However, there’s been talk that his resentment is another prime reason for the endless heckling.

It typically goes like this: Billy spits game at his latest crush, flirting and the sorts in hopes of making things official. If all goes well they get the ‘honor’ of calling each other girlfriend and boyfriend but let's be real, how long do relationships in middle school last anyway?! So this process repeats itself on end, more times than not ending in rejection, which most young girls have come to find out he can’t take. Then comes the name calling and the teasing and the spitefulness. It had gotten so bad that one of his ex-girlfriend went as far as to fight him, Billy's booming voice all but a whisper as he retreated under the guise of not wanting to get physical. And while most people can respect that he won’t hit a young woman, it pales in comparison to the constant verbal attacks he showers them with on a daily basis. 

It’s like a fisherman attaching a worm at the end of his fishing rod, ready to cast it into the water in hopes that a sea creature will bite. And when they do, the sharp end latches on the inside of their jaw, their efforts to break free painful and most times pointless as their fate has been sealed. In some cases people fish for sport, throwing them back into the water once the fun has been had and the pictures have been taken. And in other cases, they get prepared to land on a plate. For most ladies, they’ve come to be a fish thrown back into the water, a thing that Billy has no lingering interest in once his fun has been had. But it still doesn’t make the tugging of the hook, sunken inside their jaw, any less painful. 

And unfortunately the crew knew all too well what that felt like. It happened to both Emery and Lynnley earlier in the school year, the two bonding with Lorenzo after he stepped in to tell Billy to fuck off. Faced with another conflict, his tail was swiftly tucked between his legs; the group coming to understand that it’s not that he won’t fight, it’s more like he can't fight - and thus, the name Billy Badass was born. 

“Ughh, that poor girl, can’t we just kick his ass? I'm sure we can make it look like an accident.”

“A three on one is far from accidental Lynn,” Emery laughs. 

“Yeah,” Lorenzo agreed. “Besides as much as the prick deserves it, it wouldn’t sit right with me to assault him like that.”

“Oh my gosh Lenny, when did you become Mother Teresa?”

“Right after third period. Now come on let's see if that chick needs some help.”

Shuffling from their seats, the three amigos approached the scene, Billy scurrying away as soon as he saw them out of the corner of his eyes. Left behind was his latest target, cheeks beet red and fuming. Both fists tightly clenched together, she takes a few steps in his direction, stopped in her tracks by Lorenzo’s harsh grip on her forearm.

“Easy. Trust me we all want to hit him, but you throw the first punch and it’s lights out for you; in the form of expulsion of course.”

“I don’t care about that,” she huffs.

“Well you should. There’s no need to let Billy get under your skin.” “And you are?”

“Em-”

“She’s Emery, he’s Lenny, and I’m Lynnley,” she interrupted. “And you would be?”

“Out of here, I have a practice to get to,” the mystery girl spat over her shoulder.

“That’s how you treat the people that tried to help you?”

“I didn’t need it, Lenny, is it? I can hold my own, but thanks anyway.”

“Ok miss girl, well I hope you can hold that homework too. You conveniently left for your bathroom break right before it was assigned,” Emery sneered.

Stopping in her tracks, the young lady peers over her shoulder, pride on full display as she contemplates asking for the homework. How badly will this one score affect my overall grade? she thinks. How strong willed do I need to be really? she ponders even further. Would it hurt that bad to let her guard down? New to town and new to school, Stephanie isn’t exactly a hit with the people here. Most of them have formed friendships that spent years in the making and she blows off the few people whose attempt at a conversation with her didn’t immediately result in a favor. Could it really be that bad to try being social for once?

“Lorenzo, Emery, and Lynnley, right?” she asks, hand scratching behind her ear.

“YEAH, YOU BETTER RUN YOU FAT FUCK,” yelled Julianna, who conveniently just showed up.

“Julez baby, thank you, but I believe they’re called plus sized these days.”

“Em, I’m not tryna be considerate with the enemy.”

“And that’s Julez,” Lynn interjected.

“Julez, got it. Well I’m Stephanie.”

“Stephanie is the town's newest hard ass,” Lorenzo teased.

“Welcome!”

“Speaking of Julez, you’re welcomed to come to my upcoming birthday party at the bowling alley.”

“Ohhh the one with the new skating rink?” Julianna gushed.

“I still think you should consider dinner.”

“Or at the very least bowling lessons.”

“You shits, it’s her birthday!”

“THANK YOU, Julez, and just for that, you’re getting the first piece of cake,” Emery promised.

“Sure, whatever. Steph, are you game?” Lorenzo asked.

“She better be, how badly do you want that homework?”

“Just say the word and I can get you the homework WITH the answers to match,” Lynnley winked.

“Besides, you’re gonna love it,” Julianna encouraged. 

Chuckling, she agreed to go to the bowling alley for Emerys birthday AND to the homework answers Lynnely promised. Surprisingly enough, she passed the homework with flying colors, briefly wondering how Lynnley had managed to get her hands on the material, not that she cared enough to ask. Stephanie never did make it to practice that day and neither did she have any trouble with ole Billy Badass moving forward. 

That afternoon, the group fell into a natural conversation, catching Stephanie up on the latest tea; practice long forgotten. This day would be the first of many for the newest addition to this friendship quartet. Settling into the steps, they each leave one by one, their rides in tow. And though today will serve as a core memory, many more like this eventually become the norm - the five-person clique banding together, day after day, for what they will soon realise will be their last.

[doubleddenden]

I haven't slept and I'm watching Be Cool Scooby Doo on Boomerang and I have opinions

The art style is disgusting but I do like the characterization they give the gang and especially Daphne. This is an exact polar opposite to how I feel about Mystery Inc: gorgeous art style, terrible characterization.

Let me explain by saying this: Daphne is so much better just being a weird silly bitch than a love sick teenager.

BCSD Daph will literally talk with only puppets for an episode

MI Daph will obsess over Fred

BCSD Daph will try to steal a jewel from her own family hotel using high tech jewelry thief tech

MI Daph will obsess over Fred

BCSD Daph makes silly beards out of her own hair and weirds out her best friends on a regular basis

MI Daph will obsess over Fred- and look really amazing as a Hex Girl band member, but still obsess and obsess over Fred

For the record, Velma is just a nerdy asshole in BCSD but that vastly beats her bitchy "I'm really going to force my boyfriend/close friend to choose me over an ACTUAL TALKING DOG THAT IS HIS ACTUAL AND MAYBE ONLY ACTUAL BEST FRIEND and get pissy about it and treat my friends like absolute shit" self in MI. Maybe also the tired mom friend in BCSD.

Fred is still obsessed with traps but is no longer a himbo and is more or less the tired dad friend forced to play the straight man. This is actually less annoying and plays off better believe it or not.

Shaggy and Scooby are actually kinda low key comedy relief in BCSD like usual but they lean towards hipster nerds. But they're about as stale as American Dad characters. This still beats how weirdly they were portrayed in MI by just being the Team Screamers and occasionally being forced to expunge edgy teenage romance plot that has no business coming out of a hippy and dog's mouths.

These are almost entirely different characters but for the better imo

And you know what? They are entirely different characters compared to the past iterations in almost every regard. That's not a bad thing at all.

Silly and weird girl Daphne is the best personality for her since What's New Scooby Doo. Not only is she allowed to emote about things that aren't fashion or Fred or whatever, she's actually a character! She has a personality! A fun one! Not that I disliked her personality when she was finally a capable investigator that could also kick ass- I just like silly himbos and SHE TOOK FRED'S HIMBO ENERGY

If only the series didn't look like it was animated by the guys behind those very bad, low effort comedy central cop/forest ranger shows. Call it a unique art style thats subjective, I call it "ugly for the sake of being ugly" like most Adult Swim shows. If it was animated like Scooby Doo and Guess Who? Or What's New Scooby Doo then I'd be much happier.

[the-scooby-gang]

Us... But not quite

Part 7

Summary: After falling thought a portal while they were being chased by their most horrifying monster yet, The Scooby Gang finds themselves in a place they have never been before. A place called Crystal Cove. 

“We are here!” Younger Fred said.

Here, is a large white Spanish style building with red roofs were the front wall read City Hall in big brass letters.

The trip over here was mundane. It was a nice town, composed of small buildings, built like a picturesque Spanish village. Most buildings were painted either a soft cream or vibrant welcoming colours. If it wasn’t for the “Most haunted place on earth” sigh at the beginning of the town they would have happily stayed there relaxing a little and taking their sweet time researching until they found a way to go home.  

“I will go inside. You guys wait for me here?” Young Fred was already outside the van. He had the coffee holder in one hand, one foot on the steps of the building.

“You got it, Little Me.” Older Fred gave him a thumbs up. The gang made their way outside moving towards the young man who by now had walked up the steps, looking at them expectantly.  

“Ok, be right back” he waved at them as he went inside.

“He’s such a cutie,” Daphne said when young Fred was no longer on hearing range. “Remember when we used to be his age?”

Fred and Velma sat down on the third step, leaning against each other. Scooby laid on the sidewalk by their feet while Daphne and Shaggy perched themselves on the stone bannister. They took a deep, long breath, taking in the sea air into their lungs.

It was indeed a beautiful town.

“Like, bold of you to assume I remember anything at any point in time” Shaggy turned his head lazily towards his girlfriend.

“What you had for breakfast yesterday?” Velma’s left eyebrow disappeared under her bangs.

“That’s, like, different and you know it” Shaggy pointed his finger at the sweater-clad woman.

“Rood is unforgettable,” Scooby added from the ground.

They chuckled, a soothing silence fell over them. Scooby made himself comfortable, his head on Velma’s lap with Fred scratching behind his ears. Daphne turned Shaggy’s back to her and resumed braiding his hair. It was past his shoulders again, she noticed. They would have to decide what style they were going to cut it this time.

“What are we going to tell his gang, man?” Shaggy asked, looking at the street while Daphne’s fingers carted through his scalp.

“What do you mean?” Daphne asked, halfway through a five-strand braid.

“Well, are we going to tell, like, everything to them? Everything? ”

“I don’t see why not, it’s not like we have been the face of secrecy with him, you know,” Fred said, gesturing with his one remaining hand as the other was occupied turning Scooby into goo.

“Dude, I ain't talking about the powers and college degrees, that is a different can of worms, I’m talking about us.” Shaggy also started gesturing with his hands, pointing them towards his chest at the end of that particular statement.

“Us?” Fred was confused until Shaggy took his hand, a meaningful look on his hazel eyes.

“Us.”

“But Shaggy, what would be so bad if they knew about our relationship? For all we know, they may be right in the path of starting their own version of it.” Daphne questioned, undoing the five strand braid and starting a french one.

“And that is the problem. We don’t know anything about them. They may be us, but, like, not really us. Maybe nothing goes as they did back home. Then we parade into their lives, like, without knock or warning…”

“And you are afraid that we may accidentally start influencing their decisions or something.” Fred completed, his eyes wild when the information dawned on him.

Velma sprung to her feet, pacing furiously in front of them, her serious face on. “Jinkies, Shaggy is right! At that age, the world was new to us. If an older version of me had appeared to my fifteen old self and told me about my future, I would use all of it as a guideline.”

“But we are not even their future selves, we are from a different dimension altogether. Our lives were shaped by entirely different circumstances.” Daphne contra argued, finishing the french braid carefully to not pull Shaggy’s hair too much.

“It won’t matter. They will see in us models to follow, versions of ‘what could’ or ‘should be’.” Velma sat down once again, both hands under her chin.

“But Shaggy, if you had all these concerns, why didn’t you stop us from talking about our cases? Why expose him to your magic?” Fred asked, looking at his boyfriend expectantly.

“Because these types of things are, like, manageable on the long run, man” Shaggy rubbed his face “Dude, there is a difference between ‘things that I may do when I’m older’ and ‘My future relationship status’. What if we tell them we are together and then they, like, I don’t know, try to force it to happen between them? We,” he pointed to all of them “Clicked together after years of knowing each other, and like, late-night star seeing, but for them? I don’t know where their destiny was going to send them, man. Maybe they end up together. Maybe they would pass the rest of their lives in a harmonious platonic relationship. Maybe they will find love outside of the gang, I don’t know. We could inadvertently cause a sea of heartache.”

Silence fell between them. Fred had to admit that he hadn’t thought about it like that. Daphne hugged Shaggy from behind, her chin on his shoulder, pushing the now made french braid over the other.

“So you think we may cause them harm just by being here?”

Shaggy shrugged “That’s the thing: I don’t know. Not for sure. That’s the problem with interdimensional magic, the rules aren’t as clear cut as, like, time travel ones.” he groaned, resting his head against Daphne’s  “Dude, I hate interdimensional magic. This shit is, like, way trickier than it has any right to be.”

Velma put her finger over her chin. After a minute of silence, she turned towards the gang “I think I get it. In time travel, everything you do affects you personally because you are meddling with your timeline. But once you start interacting with a different dimension you-“

“Your timeline is no longer in the equation.” Daphne completed.

“Exactly, but we are still present in a sense, so our actions will affect the world none less.”

“Just with zero consequences to us.” Fred laid lack on the steps of the city hall entrance, dissociating after such a bomb was thrown in his lap.

“So, we could tell this younger gang about our relationship and then go back to our dimension unaffected…” Daphne turned her body away from the bannister, no longer using it as a seat but as a support. Her arms crossed and her face contorted into a frown as she looked at Fred on the ground.

“But live behind a gang that may not be compatible romantically with each other trying to force themselves together and end up with a nice bucked off emotional issues” Shaggy also turned towards the gang, but remained seated on the bannister in a lotus position.

Daphne covered her face with both hands, her voice muffled “God, I hated having this kind of discussions in Philosophy class, applying them to real-life doesn’t make them better.”

“Well, we have left the room of hypotheses and entered headfirst in an actual ‘non-consequences free’ zone, so is bound to suck harder now. Be glad that you are not being graded by this particular dive into madness.” Velma smirked at the purple-clad girl who threw one of her patented glares.

“Thank you, Velma, for your kind words.”

“I’m here to serve” she mockingly bowed.

They laughed over the girls’ shenanigans. They were giggly since they arrived in this weird new world and they sure hoped it was no psychological effect of being so unceremoniously launched into the unknown. They, still laughing, set all in the steps of the city hall, side by side. Scooby was giving them worried looks. Not a good sight.

“So, what do you guys suggest we tell them?” Daphne was the first one to sober up from the laughing fit, cleaning the tears from the corners of her eyes.

“What they ask of us. Our best tactic now is to not lie. Lies have short legs and can easily trip” Fred said, rubbing his hands over his eyes.

“Especially when you are lying to a bunch of junior detectives.” Added Velma.

“Exactly, so if they ask about something that we deem reality shattering we tell half of the truth or we find a way to change the subject until we figure out if the information could or not have lasting effects. That way we would not be technically lying to them and at the same time we avert any emotional fallout.” Fred had a faraway look in his eyes, probably thinking about all the topics that he simply didn't want to touch again even with a ten feet long pole.

This dimension Jones Sr. better not be a masked villain too or he was going to deck him in the face.

“…When I had that one dream about becoming one of the faes, these were not the circumstances that I thought it would go down.” Daphne had a disbelieving look on her face, looking at her back as if she was expecting a pair of wings to sprout from there.

“I, like, will have to explain the magic, even if not all of it. Even if I erased his memory of the van merging -with by the way I will not do- magic always finds a way of being discovered. It’s, like, better we explain to them now instead of them finding out later by other means.” Shaggy said, remembering that one memorie in Salem where he and Daphne were accused of witchcraft. He was partially offended that the thing that put her in the stake by his side was not any magical prowess on her part and it was more in the line of “Adult Woman With Opinions Are The Devil”.

“Yeah, you said something about mind magic being volatile” Velma turned to him, always curious about magic and its applications and side effects. She was dead set in proving that magic was just another form of science, albeit more flashy. Shaggy thought that if anyone was going to prove that would be the small woman.

“It’s like magical brain surgery. Like, one wrong move and I give the boy an aneurysm. This kind of spell is for casters that have, like, one-third of my anxiety and nothing more.”

The day barely began in Crystal Cove and they had all these problems to think about. The exhaustion was slowly but surely creeping on them. Fred was feeling old. They were all feeling old. Everything was moving at a breakneck pace and seemed to never stop. A new world, new people, new gang, new problems. They prayed that nothing more was added to the list.

“I can wait for this all to settle down so I can find the closest bed and bloody shut down all my bodily functions.” Fred groaned, covering his face with his hands.

“Same.” Was the unison response.

Silence.

Is either silence or laughter. That could not be healthy.

“Wait, does this mean no kissing???” Shaggy exclaimed which earned three hands flying over his mouth.

“Not in public, at least. It's a small town on the coast, isolated from major cities by some good miles, most people know each other one way or another” Fred said, removing his hand slowly.

“Yeah, and they would especially notice if the mayor's son was caught kissing all four of his friends” Added Velma, her hand leaving his mouth to find a place on his shoulder.

“Or, like, kissing said friend’s necks and behind their ears” Shaggy sighed, resigned to the ‘non-affection beyond normal friendly’ future.

“Nice just what we- Wait a second, ‘behind their ear’? Since when does Fred kiss behind ears??” Daphne turned her head so fast that Shaggy was afraid she may break her neck with the speed. When her head didn’t fall off her shoulders, Shaggy finally registered what she said.

“Like, since that one afternoon in grad year, on the roof of the culinary building. I thought he did it to all of us ” Brown eyes looked confused between blue and purple eyes, while said purple eyes were now glaring a hole thru the blue eyes owner's skull.

“Fredrick Jones, what affection partiality bullshit is this?”

“Yeah, Fred what gives?” Now pair of brown eyes was glaring at him, the glare somehow amplified by a pair of glasses, and Fred wanted nothing more than to flee towards the nearest desert to avoid vaporization.

“Ok, in my defence, none of you girls does the little shiver that he does when I kiss you guys there and believe me, I checked” He could feel the intense blush in his face and he just knew that he looked like a blond tomato right now.

“Shivers?” Daphne’s glare lost some of its intensity, her curiosity about new information about one of her lovers superseding her perceived slight.  

Velma’s glare also mellowed down, her eyes now zeroed on Shaggy, who was doing his best to turn into a strawberry from how red he had suddenly turned.

“Yup. They run up and down his spine like a bolt of electricity. He gets all flustered, the most beautiful shade of carmine I have ever seen.” No longer under fear of vaporization via death glare, Fred perked up, a smile of one thousand volts on his face. He loved talking about his loved ones.

“Like, Freddie, man, come on” Redder by the second, Shaggy’s shoulders were perked, covering his ears. God, why didn’t he study those morphing spells more? He would give anything to be a rock right about now.

“Oooooh, so our Norvy darling is a shivery shiver boy, huh?” Daphne smirked, leaning against Shaggy, one arm going around his shoulder, essentially caging him from any last-minute spring to the mountains.

“I will pay you actual money to never say that again” He turned his head in the redhead direction, officially reaching ‘completely red’ status.

“Oh? But is the truth, isn’t it? Freddie is not one for lies.” Velma piped in, a mischievous look on her face.  

“Are you lying, Freddie?” Daphne turned towards him, her own mischievous look making her purple eyes shine.

“I would never. Scots honour” Fred, the traitor, put a hand over his heart, the picture of sincerity. On second thought, maybe instead of turning into a rock, he could turn Fred into a rock.

“What do you say to me and Daph test it out? Just to see it for ourselves…” Velma gravitated to his other side. With Fred right in front of him, he was completely trapped.

Note to self: LEARN THE GODDAMN ROCK MORPHING SPELL!!!

Giggling like the villains they are, his lovers got closer and closer, their minds probably a mile a minute in all the ways they are going to make him have a cardiac arrest from the blushing alone when...

“Ah, ruys? Rhat rabout that rhing rabout rublic?” Scooby, the one that was the current owner of the brain cell of the gang apparently, commented from the ground. Those kids took too much influence from that Addams couple they met all those years ago. It had to be, because Scooby could NOT, for the life of him, remember them being THIS horny.  One of these days he was going to get a cardboard box and write ‘HORNY JAIL’ in it to live them in time out.

The trio deflated, the wind completely blew out of their sails while Shaggy signed in relief, no longer trapped in the soon to be kiss cocoon…

And he was disappointed for some ungodly reason!

Lined side by side on the stone bannister, the gang groaned in frustration.

“I hate this already,” Shaggy grumbled, his red cheeks puffed.

“Yeah.” The other three agreed.

Scooby muffled a laugh. God, these next days are going to be an amazing shitshow to watch unfold. He gave them one week before they broke down.

Another groan came from the young adults, shoulder to shoulder, their heads touching, soaking in the small scrap of contact that they could have.

On second thought, a week may be too generous.

All of sudden, they could hear footsteps approaching from inside the building. Young Fred had a smile on his handsome face, putting his phone away as he walked.  

“Hey, guys. Hope I didn’t make you wait too long” He was waving at them, smiling.

Young Fred was really happy with the presence of this new gang. They seemed so comfortable together, he hoped that they could all hang out. They could go to the beach, eat some Fruitmeir’s. They could even build traps together! He should ask them later.

“Nah, we barely noticed.” Daphne waved back “We were just chatting a little bit, nothing big.”

They had become really good liars along the years, huh.

“So, where now? Did you talk with your gang?” Fred, the older, asked his younger counterpart, making his way towards the van, Scooby softly head butting his left hand earning him a nice pat.

“I called them and told them to meet me at the radio station. It’s owned by a friend of ours that helps us from time to time”

“Groovy! Lead the way” Shaggy smiled, snapping his fingers in rapid succession, making Young Fred laugh. 

We talk about this more later after we meet their gang and take a good long nap.

Three different winks of affirmation. Morse code is coming in handy in these weird times.

“Hey, does that radio station have any maps of the town? Not that I don’t enjoy you helping with directions, but I was hoping to familiarize myself better with the place” Daphne casually hopped to young Fred’s side, looping her arm over his shoulders, a sweet smile on her purple lipstick.  

“Sure thing, Angel must have some lying around. I could show you the library too so you could look for them yourself” Young Fred suggested, lining on the embrace. He and his Daphne should do this more, it was nice.

“Really???” Her smile got impossibly brighter, bouncing in place like a child at a candy store. Young Fred soon found himself locked in a bear crushing hug, the older woman long red hair tickling his nose. “Thanks, Little Freddie, you’re the best”

He hugged her back, a soft look on his face. He had hugged his Daphne before, but this hug felt fundamentally different. Maybe it was her age difference with his best friend or the way she looked at him like he was the most precious thing she had ever seen. Maybe it was the effect of having talked with her about all his trap ideas during the journey here, her attention never wavering.

Maybe it was a combination of all of them. He didn’t know.

That didn’t stop, however, the small part in the back of his mind telling him that this is what a mother embrace felt like.

“Ah chucks, it’s nothing really. What are friends for?”

[lukealvezhimboextraordinaire]

Daphne+ simon

okay this took me way too long and i apologize! i could seem to find the right theme for them but must admit i had fun writing this one.

so here it goes, a little snippet into simon and daphne's life

As most things in Daphne’s life, it all started with a conversation with her siblings. While she didn’t exactly have many complaints regarding her life as a married woman, she had to admit that she missed the loud family at Bridgerton House. The multiple conversations going at once, the having to make sure Colin was the last one to get to the food or else no one after him would get to indulge in that dish, the ongoing antagonizing game between her youngest siblings, the yelling from across the table, the savage teasing paired with the sarcastic and always on point snarky comments coming from Francesca and Eloise’s witty remarks.

Speaking of Eloise, she was the sole culprit. Well, her and Hyacinth.

Ever since Amelia had been born she had been the centre of every conversation around the dinner table whenever the Bassets had enough energy to put on semi-decent clothes and drive all the way down to Violet’s house. Having a baby was exhausting. Daphne was slightly surprised she had never quite realized how much work babies were considering she had seen her parents go through the same four times. But Amelia was older enough for the hype to have died now and the Bridgerton brand of chaos was slowly returning to the table.

It had started innocently enough. A casual comment about how they barely saw Daphne anymore. Then someone had mentioned that she was probably too busy with the baby. And then it happened. Eloise had leaned back in her seat with a huff, shrugging one shoulder before very solemnly looking at her sister.

“Daphne is no longer fun.”

That seemed to catch everyone’s attention as all conversations died down and the room suddenly grew quiet. Eight pairs of heads turned to look at her. Daphne raised her eyes from her plate, stared at the eight pairs of wide, expectant eyes and pulled her shoulders up into a casual shrug. A dismissive wave of her hand before focusing back on her food sealed her half-decent performance at pretending to not be bothered by it.

“Hey leave Daff alone, she is busy!” Between mouthful and mouthful of food, Colin tried his best to defend his sister. He had a special bond with Daphne and had decided a long time ago that the only person allowed to tease her was, in fact, him.

“Busy being boring,” added one of the younger voices from across the table. Eloise chuckled, pleased, and high-fived the youngest of the clan.

Colin tsked his tongue. “At least she is doing something with her life!”

“I am eleven, Colin.” There was so much resignation in her voice that the room erupted in laughter.

“You are one to talk about wasting your life away,” Anthony mumbled pointedly, biting down a smile.

With an air of resignation to it, Colin let his fork fall against the wooden surface of the very old, very expensive family’s table. The action earned him a cautious look from his mother. “I have a career! I have fans!” At this point he was waving his hands in the air with indignation. “You just love to antagonize me!! Why are you not telling Benedict to go take a shower? He hasn’t showered in three days. He stinks!”

“Me and my body odor would very much like to be left out of this conversation, thank you.”

“Suspicious that you know that, Colin,” Francesca interjected, leaning on her elbows as she looked intently at him.

“Yeah, Colin. Do you keep track of our hygiene routines?” Unable to resist having a go at the easiest to rile up Bridgerton, Eloise joined in the fun.

“I bet that’s why he has so many journals....” Of course, Hyacinth had to get her revenge.

Colin’s ears turned red. He tossed his head to the side and then, in what could be described as the most immature move in men’s recent history, stuck his tongue out at his younger sisters while making funny faces.

The rest of the night went by without any other major conflicts. No one seemed to notice that Daphne had remained quiet for the rest of the evening. Or if they did, nobody dared point it out.

Simon, however, noticed.

He always paid attention to her. Even when seemingly he was entranced by some other activity, a part of him was always watching over her. Not in a creepy or possessive way, no. Just in a… in a need her around way. Daphne was his anchor. Her presence brought him a peace and calm he had never known were possible let alone imagine himself craving. She and Amelia were his whole world and it was only fair to take care of the two more important people in his life. He watched over her to make sure she was okay, to give back a bit of all she had given him.

Simon knew his wife. And knew that when she was silent for so long it could only mean a thing; something was bothering her.

“Princess.” His hand found her thigh and gave the softest of squeezes to it when she didn’t address him. Hopefully, it would make her turn to look at him. There was only so much he could do when his whole attention was supposed to be on the road.

“Huh?” Daphne seemed a little startled to hear his voice, as if she had just been shaken out of a reverie. On any other occasion, the look of bewilderment on her soft features would have made him chuckle. But the worry was starting to set at the bottom of his stomach.

“What is going on in that mind of yours?” His voice was cautious, soft, as if he was taking to a wounded animal.

Daphne pulled her shoulders up only to let them fall back into place. “Nothing.”

Simon opened his mouth to talk but Daphne beat him to it.

“Do you think we are boring?” The despair in her eyes made his stomach churn. He had to ponder it a second before giving her an answer.

“We are not boring,” he sent her a quick glance before returning to the road. “I know we have barely left the house since Amelia was born but that doesn’t make us boring.” It sounded bad even to his own ears. The groan his wife produced confirmed his suspicions. He chuckled. “Okay, maybe we are a bit boring.” She huffed and he laughed loud. Amelia protested in the back and he was reminded that his baby didn’t appreciate noise when she slept. “But we can change that, okay? Let’s go out this weekend. I’m sure your mom won’t mind keeping Lia for a couple hours.”

Daphne’s whole face lit up. “Really?”

He nodded. “Really.”

Violet was delighted to spend some quality alone time with her first grandbaby. But it turned out Daphne and Simon were a bit more hesitant about leaving their baby with her grandmother than either of them had anticipated. As excited as Simon had been all week about the prospect of going on a date with Daphne, as soon as he woke up that morning a strange pressure had settled in his chest. And as the time to leave came closer, it became more and more suffocating. His whole world had revolved around Amelia for months. She was his last thought before falling asleep and the first thought in the morning. He had taken paternity leave under the premise that Daphne needed help but the truth was that he could not fathom being away from his baby. And now that was exactly what he was about to do; willingly spend time away from his daughter.

“I don’t want to see you before midnight,” Violet warned, practically pushing them out of the door of their very own house, Amelia secluded to her hip, happily sucking on her thumb. “Amelia and I will be fine. I raised eight babies and most of them turned out fine.”

Simon sighed. His mother in law was right. They could do this. They had to do this. They needed time for themselves.

“Be good to your grandma, eh,” he placed a sweet kiss on the top of the baby’s head, taking in her scent before moving to kiss Violet on the cheek. “Thank you so much, Violet.” With his arm wrapped around his wife’s waist, Simon watched as she said her own goodbyes to their baby before gently dragging her away when it became evident they would miss their reservation if they didn’t get going soon.

Daphne’s eyes were clouded with tears by the time they got to their car.

“She is going to be just fine,” he tried to reassure her even if he himself wasn’t very convinced.

Daphne nodded, sniffing her nose loudly. “But will we?”

Simon didn’t have an answer for that but he really hoped it was a yes.

Ten minutes into their date and they had already called Violet twice. It was funny how they had become those parents. Especially Simon, who had never cared to picture himself as a dad. Prior to Daphne the life that waited ahead of him was pretty lonely. Hedonistic, yes, but lonely. Filled with parties and luxuries but always an empty house and cold bed awaiting him once his bacchanals were over. Ever since his wife had prompted him the question of if they were bored, Simon had not been able to stop thinking about it. A few months ago no one would have dared call Simon Basset any variant of the word boring and now all he wanted to do was spend his afternoons cuddling his wife and baby on their blue couch. The long nights out, getting drunk and taking strangers back home seemed like something a different man had enjoyed. The thrill he used to feel now turned to disbelief that he had convinced himself that life was enough for him. Now, he looked forward to bath time, to nap time, to any and all those special moments he planned on sharing with his baby. Because he was going to be present in every step. He refused to be half a dad. He refused to only be there for the good, easy parts of fatherhood and let Daphne bear with the weight of raising their children. And oddly enough, he was fine with that. He was content with his life, happy, enraptured. Even if that meant having to endure being called a bore by his new found family.

They called Violet one last time before being escorted to their table. She hung on them, threatening to turn her phone off if she received one more call before they were done with dessert. They looked at each other surprised and then laughed.

“This is weird,” Daphne commented, hiding her face behind the glass of wine for a brief moment. “We are here without Amelia and I miss her but I am also having fun.” As if suddenly a thought had struck her, she froze in place, furrowed her brows and frowned. “Are we terrible parents?”

Simon laughed, shaking his head. He reached for her hand across the table and laced their fingers. “We are great parents. Great parents also enjoy some adult fun.” That mischievous expression she had come to know so well framing his features.

Daphne sighed, feeling the thrill of the unknown starting to bubble up in her stomach. “Adult fun?”

Slowly, Simon nodded, eyes burning into hers.

“Wh-what are you thinking?”

He looked around them and then leaned forward, urging her to do the same. “Do you want to do something bold?”

Daphne nodded. Simon grinned.

“On the count of three, we run.”

Her eyes grew wide with shock but a devilish grin spread across her face. She nodded, eyes shining with excitement. The wine in her veins making her bold.

“One, two...three!!!”

Simon held his hand out to her grinning like an idiot, Daphne took it with a smile so big it rivaled the sun and together they stormed off the elegant restaurant, laughing and screaming, the manager hot on their heels. They ran and ran and ran until they were sure no one was chasing them. Breathless, they took refuge in a deserted alley.

“I can’t believe we just did that!”

Adrenaline rushing down their bodies, they looked at each other for a long second before their mouths crashed one against the other in a hungry kiss.

The next morning Simon dropped by the restaurant to pay for their food. He left a very generous tip.

Nine months later, they welcomed Belinda Basset into the world.

[anony-mouse-writer]

well if netflix is allowed to give us a crappy washed out edgelord version of winx, then im allowed to post my weird worldbuilding takes on winx club that ive been making for the last year and a half since i rewatched the show. (also i watched the 4kids version so apologies about the names)

general worldbuilding: the three schools of magix are there to train the defenders of the realms.

red fountain trains paladins and knights to protect the kingdoms and their people.

alfea trains magic users to protect the magic of the realms with a concentration on personal transformation and growth.

cloud tower trains magic users to protect the realms themsleves with a concentration on study and magical artificery. because of the rogue witches who tried to steal the dragonfire, there has been a certain amount of tension between the witches and everyone else for a few decades.

bloom: is slightly... odd growing up. sometimes her eyes glow and her base temp is a few degrees higher than is strictly healthy and she is drawn to warm spaces like lizards or cats. her mom invests in a greenhouse extension for her flowershop and no one comments on the hammock bloom strings up to sleep in. she says she’s never picked any major or job in the future because she’s okay where she is at the flower shop, but really its because she feels like shes missing something important and can’t figure it out. it doesn’t go away completely when she gets alfea either, but when she finally gets to sparks/domino, she realizes its because she is carrying the embodiment of an entire realm’s magic in her and that kinda messes up your magic a bit.

stella: solaria has several branches of royalty, but they are mainly split into the three solar courts and the lunar and stellar courts. her father is the king of the first solar courts and her mother is the queen of the lunar court. after their divorce, stella spent far more time dealing with courtly intrigue than she did practicing magic and she ends up getting held back a year at alfea due to missing several fundamental lessons. she tends to be more concerned with official standing and presentation than power or magics, but her alfea/red fountain friends are helping to teach her how normal non-manipulative friendships work.

shes sort of friends with prince skye and squire brandon and when they were kids they came up with a half-cocked plan where she married skye and dated brandon in secret and skye could fall in love with whoever he wanted and then they would be stella’s attendent so it was all covert. it was not a great plan, but it did involve several awkward third-wheeling dates on skye’s behalf and he has so much friendly blackmail in the two of them.

tecna: tecna comes from a planet where instinctual magic is a dying art. if anything, most magic users end up at cloud tower to study artificery, but tecna is determined to learn about raw magic and its applications in magi-tech. magi-tech is different from artificery because artifacts are meant to be used by magic users usually for magical or combative purposes whereas magi-tech is mean to be used by anyone for everyday applications (ie scanners, holograms, etc)

tecna’s species dosn’t have innate genders, but instead pick their gender presentations as they grow older (if at all). tecna picks female so she can attend alfea, but eventually realizes that female feels right and starts to wear less androgynous outfits on ocassion.

musa: musa’s mom used classical instruments (chinese classical, not western) and her dad used a lot more contemporary styles and tools, but together, they produced beautiful music. when her mom died, her dad grew to resent the classical instruments that reminded him of her and musa grew up with only contemporary influences. musa meets galitea (the other fairy from harmonix) in her second year of school and they have long discussions (and eventually jam sessions about musa’s inexperience with any classical or traditional instruments. musa starts to learn the flute and a few of the instruments her mom left her in secret and only tells her dad about it during the concert where she performs with them for the first time. she goes on to make fusion classical/contemporary music.

musa still has an arc with riven, but after season 1 when they break up, she spends season 2 out of any romantic relationships and season 3 realizes she has feelings for galitea. im still not sure if i want her coming to terms with her bisexuality to be tied to her coming to terms with classical music or not.

flora: floras people can talk to plants. this makes eating plants awkward. ergo, floras people are obligate carnivores who also gain energy via photosynthesis. flora is a scientist first and foremost. she studies and wants to develop new ways for plants to thrive in foreign environments without becoming invasive species and is working with both magi-tech and pure magic to find ways for people to get the most out of plants for various medicinal and magical purposes without causing any harm to the plants.

she also works on humanoid-floral communications and spends a lot of time with pumpkin-mytra and later human-myrta learning to break curses which was not her original plan but it was Very Important and so she learned it and ten it was kinda fun so she stuck with it.

layla/aisha: her parents traditional views and ideas are important to them and to ruling tides. aisha has little choice but to accept them and has no outlet for her true self for a long time, leading to some heavy suppression and anxiety. when she gets to meet the pixies, she makes friends for the first time and they teach her a bit about being herself. she still has struggles with expressing her true feelings and swings between respecting her kingdom’s traditions and resenting them for making her be someone she’s not for so long. as she develops as a person and a fairy, she learns eventually to reconcile the two in a way that might not please her parents entirely, but allows for growth and tradition both. she gets along weirdly well with stella who helps her on this journey a lot.

aisha also spends time with fairies and red fountainers (and later possibly even some witches) coming up with better communication lines and various protections for magical creatures who don’t necessarily have specific realms (ie the pixies) since they lack any kind of protection from larger threats besides their own.

other characters:

daphne is a from the fairy school of magic so her job was to protect the magic of sparks/domino when the rogue witches attacked, so she stuffed it (aka the dragonfire) into the crown princess and hid her on a null planet so the coven couldnt find it.

myrta not only moves from the witches school of magics to the fairy school of magics, but she is trans. she gets an arc where flora and later helia help her to figure out her powers and also how to be comfortable as her own person outside of her friendships with lucy or even flora.

riven is a good fighter but a better mage. he wants to best his peers in fighting, and hates that he feels he call of magic pretty strongly. darcy takes advantage of this and encourages him to abandon his magic while draining him of his power. when he is chased from cloud tower and falls, he uses his skills in tandem with a bit of magic to survive. he remains wary of his powers, but eventually learns to accept them and learns to be a mage and a fighter which is Simply Not Done, but honestly at this point riven is done listening to everyone else so he does what he wants and becomes great at both.

the trix spend season one pretending to be regular witches. they play up the ‘mean girls’ routine and spend a lot of time stirring chaos and malcontent at cloud tower. when they finally give up the pretense and try to take the dragon fire for real, they lose a bit of the mean girls vibe and work towards the rogue witch coven’s goal of stealing the magic of various realms. their work in cloud tower does not dissapear and there is a time where a lot of witches have to unlearn a lot of toxic behavior and it sucks a lot.

[bxffysxmmers]

real gods require blood

All gods who receive homage are cruel. All gods dispense suffering without reason. Otherwise they would not be worshipped. Through indiscriminate suffering men know fear and fear is the most divine emotion. It is the stones for altars and the beginning of wisdom. Half gods are worshipped in wine and flowers. Real gods require blood. - Zora Neale Hurston

- zeus inspo - hera inspo - poseidon inspo - demeter inspo - athena inspo - apollo inspo - artemis inspo - ares inspo - aphrodite inspo - hephaestus inspo - hermes inspo - hestia inspo - dionysus inspo - persephone inspo - hades inspo - modern gods inspo used in blurbs

first thing's first: everyone in this ad should be between the ages of 22 and 27 with the exception of persephone who should be 22 - 24 and demeter who should be 25 - 27. genderbending is okay with me as long as you run it by me first because i don't want to have a million girls, i want it to be fairly balanced. everything said below should be taken with a grain of salt meaning if you put your own spin on it that is totally fine, the inspo is what matters.

additionally, only one or two characters should be from chicago, because the group is a group of people who are imports to the city and the life they have here so please do with that idea what you will. i did link to some cool pinterest boards with some inspo for a modern take on all of the different gods if you want to look at those but again, it's just for inspiration, please please please make every single one of these guys your own.

now, for the actual ad, basically these guys are something of a found family. through their jobs, parties, socializing, exes, currents, whatever they all met and it was almost instant, that connection, that 'feels like i've known you my whole life' thing that came over them. and so they stuck together, even if it was just a group text or once a year dinner party, they've all stayed in touch ever since despite distance, work, time constraints, and anything else that came between them.

the first pair that met and really started it all were aphrodite and ares. they were on again off again, always a problem with time and where their lives were at, but the love is there. they've been friends since their time in school together and it never let up, that care. the rest of the group swear one day aphrodite will find a way to settle down and be with ares but for now ares deals with the on again off again because sometimes is better than never. and then aphrodite found god here, and another one, and their interconnections grew the group and now here they are, family without being blood, with ties running through them, cutting and caressing them all the same.

from there, feel free to just get with me and we can make it work. i'm going to be making a ship developer for them (including a timeline because it seems necessary so that we have some idea on who, what, when, and how) but the basis is a found family plot with interconnections that made this many people come to mean so much to one another. from there? go wild, get with me on any questions, and please have fun with it. some suggestions for interconnections are below in the applicable boxes but if you don't want to use them just talk to me.

and lastly... if you want to add a god who isn't listed please just let me know! give me a little blurb and we can make this happen. remember the slight dystopian feel and the modern twist but like... yes, please, let's do this, i'm here for it. thanks!!

ZEUS. OPEN.

zeus drinks himself half to death at a bar. he no longer cares for mortals. he has long stopped trying to make this world turn.

suggestions: brother to poseidon and hades. married to hera. enters polyship with hera and hestia after cheating scandal. himbo energy.

HERA. OPEN.

hera no longer praises marriage. instead she talks to the women. she tells them that men always lie, tells them to run. she wishes she could take her own advice.

suggestions: married to zeus. enters polyship with zeus and hestia after cheating scandal. better than you.

POSEIDON. RESERVED FOR TESSA.

poseidon still loves the sea but he could not hate mortals more. he feels the pollution of his domain like a phantom pain, raging that he could not protect his oceans from mortals.

suggestions: brother to zeus and hades. has a crush on demeter. moods like the sea.

DEMETER. RESERVED FOR LUNA.

demeter isn't peaceful. she feels the dying of the earth and with it goes her happiness. she curses the mortals who caused this.

suggestions: older sister of persephone. doesn't approve of hades. has a crush on poseidon. the mom friend.

ATHENA. OPEN.

athena chainsmokes in an alleyway, and glares at ares as bloody knuckles and booted feet connect with battered bodies between them. the fight clubs are their temples now.

suggestions: business partners with hephaestus (queer solidarity, y'all). just doing her best. definitely sapphic. possibly once had a thing with aphrodite.

APOLLO. RESERVED FOR THOMAS.

you find apollo in a nightclub on 55th and 3rd, his prophets writhing in intermittent darkness, bassline pounding in their ears, liqour coursing in their veins, smoke and strobe lights clouding their eyes.

suggestions: twin brother of artemis. pansexual and everyone knows it. always chasing the next high, running from the lows. in a secret relationship with hermes.

ARTEMIS. RESERVED FOR DAPHNE.

artemis spends the night in a jail cell, blood on her knuckles and on her shirt and in her mouth, the smell of metal lingering in the air.

suggestions: twin sister of apollo. sapphic pls. the protector meets the vodka aunt. possibly once had a thing with aphrodite.

ARES. RESERVED FOR KITT.

you watch as ares starts a fight in a dive bar, takes a knife from his pocket and uses it without flinching, smiles as he wipes his blade on his thigh, smashes a bottle on the floor and lights a match.

suggestions: on again off again with aphrodite. in love with aphrodite. not currently with aphrodite. just a boy, made of rage and the inability to express his emotions. looks like he'll kick your ass, will pull athena and artemis off of you in a fight, exhausted that he has to yet again. also requested here.

APHRODITE. FREYA WILDER, ATHENA.

aphrodite drinks your worship straight from your lips and chases it with a scotch, crashes a cigarette, flicks the ash on the floor and leaves without so much as a thank you.

suggestions: on again off again with ares. in love with ares. running from ares. most likely to have slept with everyone in the group, twice. intimacy issues? i do know her. i know her so well. someone help.

HEPHAESTUS. OPEN.

you find hephaestus on college campuses, amongst engineering students. in times like this he is more relevant than ever, growing whilst other gods die. it seems that aphrodite is more keen on accepting his gifts now more than ever.

suggestions: business partners with athena (queer solidarity, y'all). once had a thing with aphrodite. a serious thing. didn't end well. they're totes okay now, for sure, yeah, definitely, mhm. patience is a virtue. stubborn pride is a gift. also requested here.

HERMES. RESERVED FOR TONE.

hermes is in the hustle and bustle of rush hour and the rush of the subway. he is perched atop skyscrapers, surveying the beautiful chaos of it all and lo, it is good.

suggestions: brother to hestia. in a secret relationship with dionysus apollo. running to and for, never from. chaotic good gremlin energy. do not feed after midnight. possibly once had a thing with aphrodite.

HESTIA. OPEN.

hestia mourns broken homes, she waits for her family. she waits in the doorway, arms outstretched and a smile like forgiveness waiting to embrace the siblings whom she know will never return.

suggestions: sister to hermes. pretends she doesn't know about dionysus apollo. doesn't approve of dionysus apollo. enters polyship with zeus and hera after cheating scandal. the mediator. why can't we all just get along?

DIONYSUS. OPEN.

dionysus shoots up in a basement in the seedy side of town. he wants to forget the suffering that has filled his immortal life.

suggestions: in a secret relationship with hermes. "gotta stay high, all the time, to keep you off my mind". heart of gold but no one ever seems to believe it. here for a fun time, not a long time, but thinking about that too much hurts.

PERSEPHONE. RESERVED FOR ARI.

persephone grins when people tremble. she is vengeful and wears flowers in her hair and she will make damn sure that the world will never forget her name.

suggestions: younger sister of demeter. in love with hades. she's beauty, she's grace. she'll punch you in the face.

HADES. OPEN.

hades stalks the streets, hazy in the fog of the streetlamps, and he smiles, because people will always believe in death and worship riches.

suggestions: brother to zeus and poseidon. in love with persephone. can you say trauma? secretly the most well rounded and good hearted of them all. how are you so pure, bro? who sent you?

[popculturebuffet]

Daisy’s Family Headcanons

Whelp a few days ago I had the mixed bag of watching “Daisy’s Diary”. It’s the short that inspired Daisy’s wonderful Ducktales 2017 design, and had some cute donald and daisy stuff... for the first half, the second I could barely watch as his vision of married life was “I go to work all day then come home to a nagging wife who makes me do everything. I also get upset because she’s a human being who has to put effort into looking like she does. “ It really killed the momentum. esepcially since i’ts one of the few really romantic shorts with the two I could find, again only for the first half. But while I came in expecting a terrible second half and breezed and skipped through it as mucha s I could, I did find something I didn’t REMOTELY expect. Daisy has a  family.  And I don’t mean her nieces and unnamed sister, I mean three brothers (subbing in for HDL, using basically the same design), and more suprisingly a mother and dad. 

Now granted i’m sure mickey and donald characters have HAD parents before, but it’s still rare. Mostly it’s nieces and nephews, with goofy being one of the few dads I can think of in disney canon. But no here, while it’s for a short that’s about marriage and thus necessictating “meeting the parents” it’s still.. suprising. Before watching the short i’d pegged daisy and her sister as orphans like donald.. but now I wanted to flesh these characters out. SO here we are.  Daisy’s Mom: Janiss Duck (Named after her voice actress, Vivi Janiss) 

Janiss lived a hard life: She’s had to use a hearing aid since a young age (updated from the short giving her an old fashioned listening horn thing for a quick, terribly aged gag), and is deaf without it. Not only that but she worked hard for her education degree, and due to her parents refusing to put her through school, had to do so herself. It was working at her college that she met a fellow student and her future husband, Franklin Duck. The two married after graduation, and have been happy since, though being more of a realist than her husband she’s often frustrated with his flighty ways, but loves him all the same.  Despite a rough life, and being a stern parent when her twin daughters were born, she still loves her children dearly and dotes on them and fusses over them. She’s also supportive of her daughter’s dream: While she wasn’t sure at first, she eventually came around, seeing in her daughter the same drive she had at her age, and has been valuable emotional support as her adult daughter has tried her best to climb up in the fashion world and had to work for a lot of people who treated her like dirt, something Janiss knows all too well. Even being fully aware of this Janiss has still had to resist hte urge to sock Glamour in the face for her treatment of her daughter.  Janiss hard work has paid off however as she is currently headmistress at Daphne Gander Elementary, Duckberg’s finest private school, bought by gladstone’s mother at some point in the past and renamed from a name I do not have. She has won an award from the Elvira Coot Women’s Association and won the “Greater Callisota Educator of the Year” award three times, and the duckberg principal of the year award 5 times in a row.  Franklin Duck (Named not after any famous duck people but Franklin Sherman from the animated show “The Critic) 

Franklin is a bit of a lunatic, a bit of a weirdo.. but he’s also warm, kind and a loving husband and  father. He had a lifelong love of photography, adventure and taking the most of life and easily swept his future wife off her feet with his energy and kidness. And thanks to his wife’s far steadier career, Franklin’s been able to persue whatever gigs he pleased, while still bringing home a decent amount of money for his growing family. His “do it whenever the mood strikes me” style to his career DID however mean he was often home for his kids and more than happy to do the housework and other chores. The result was a chaotic but loving house and that attidue persits. And while he can drop in for some lunacy with his daughters, they do appricate him carring..e ven if they wished he’d call instead of randomly showing up in the bathtub.  Al, Carl, and Keno (Named for Al Talifino, Keno Don Rosa and Carl Barks) 

Daisy’s little brothers. I do see them aged up to their late teens due to being kids in this short with Daisy, as well as being inspried by @moonstoneflowers​ aging up of the nieces, but wanting to keep them the boys age. Plus it made no real sense to have daisy have TWO groups of 10-11 kids, nor did the age make sense with how old daisy’s parents would be int he reboot. So their teens.  Al is laid back, to the point of letharigc but highly creative.. he’s also high a lot of the time, but makes a point to never do it when the girls or, now that daisy’s seeing donald, boys will be around.  Carl is more of the sporting type, already having  a track scholarship and does fencing in his spare time. Despite this he’s a nice inclusive fellow. he also came out several years ago to his family’s unanmous acceptance.  Keno is a bit of a stickler, and can go on for hours and hours about how much he hates superheroes and other certain things that set him off, but is also a masterful artist, and a dedicated son, taking good care of both parents when he can.  Donna Duck: 

I decided after reading the aformentioned moonstone’s fanfic to go with the old tried and true , Rosa approved theroy of donna being daisy’s sister. Donna wasn’t as driven as her sister at first,  loving to party, have fun and generally not worry about the future.. till she ended up pregnant with a father who had no intrest in his incoming daughters and only agreed to help support them because Janis railed him out, but had no intrest in actually raising or ever knowing them.  Donna however ended up thriving under the pressure, quickly getting a job at a local party planning buisness for upstart buisness woman Brigitta Macbridge. In time her job and the buisness florished and when her boss moved on to start up other ventures, donna was givne the full reigns and with her families help was able to,  and stil lis able to juggle it with 3 daughters. Who I will get to at some point, but feel I must have time to think of hence April, may and june being absent for now, as I feel they should be as fleshed out as the boys.  For now this is where I leave things. I hope you enjoyed this.. either way it was nice to get it all out there. 

[unkindnessofone]

5SOS. Son of Man

Just a random story that I wrote for fun on my phone. Let me know what you think. I actually really enjoyed writing it. 

For Daphne, everything went back to her former normal when school began. She had spent under a year with March and that had introduced her to a brand new group of friends and busy weekend evenings. Now that they had broken up, it was back to being called “dumb”, spending her lunch hour in the tutoring room, and having just two somewhat close friends. It was easy for her to fit back into her old life. She didn’t mind not being invited out or noticed every time she changed classrooms.

Things were different for March. He was still popular, but the assertive ache that had filled the spot in his heart that Daphne gave up still raged on. He didn’t want to hang out with friend after school, though he always went anyway. He didn’t want to make out with whatever girl was flirting with him, though he sometimes caved and snuck out of class to do so. Mostly though, he wasn’t able to sleep. He used to be a log in his bed the second his head hit the pillow, but he figured all the time he spent holed up in his messy room missing her had hindered his rest because it now seemed impossible to sleep the whole night.

In downtown Sydney, Iden Clifford walked the line. In some ways, his world had changed drastically. He was going back and forth between his mother’s luxury mansion and his dad’s tricked out condo. He had a girlfriend and not just a warm body to hang onto from night to night. He was also on the right prescription finally so his mood was stable and it made him happier to be with his old friends. Still, the demons weren’t quite silenced. They still moaned in his head and he had to argue with them sometimes to keep from laying in bed all day or wanting to hurt himself.

This was a crossroads for all three of the youngest in their families. They were on the cusp of adulthood, but there was still limits that kept control from being entirely their own.

Hugging and puffing behind Iden, March jogged through five in the morning with his head wrapped under the grey hood of his hoodie, his hands keeping warm in the sweater pouch. Outside of touring together as kiddies, the two guys rarely spent time together. It took Iden helping March and Miles clean their family home after their botched house party for them to make plans. March had mentioned that he wasn’t sleeping well and Iden told him that he went running around 5 every other morning in order to keep up for football season every year. He suggested that he join him once, but that was seven weeks ago. March had been coming every day since the first time. It helped him focus his anger better than skateboarding did. He felt as if his thoughts were clear when he was running even if he was always a few steps behind Iden. As much as he still felt grouchy all the time, March was feeling a lot physically stronger than before.

“We’ll break at the end of the pier!” Iden turned his head to the side to inform March, speaking effortless as if they hadn’t been jogging nonstop for forty five minutes.

March couldn’t speak. He felt like he would trip if he tried to open his mouth or make any noise. So he just nodded and kept trying to breathe in a balanced fashion.

Since Iden picked up his pace, March followed suit. He was always competitive, it was something about being the youngest in his family or having a twin. He had to give everything his all and strive to be the best at all activities. He knew he would never be as fast or strong as Iden, but he still had to try.

March flailed his limbs around as he started to brake, Iden already at the end where the waves for viciously crashing into one another. He had dropped to the ground and was holding up with both his hands behind him, watching the angry water and steadying his heart rate.

“I’m thinking of putting on an art show.” Iden told March once he was sitting next to him, panting like he had just had vigorous sex for hours on end. “Would you come if I did?” With people occasionally buying sketches from him, Iden’s usual self-bullying mind was growing confident in his passion. It didn’t hurt that Mariona was so encouraging and even suggested going in with her photographers. It made exposing his soul on paper feel a lot less frightening. Still, Iden wanted to be assured that people would actually show up for him.

“Yeah! Of course.” March eagerly told him, reaching out to smack his friend’s back, but thinking twice when he realized how much energy it would take. “As long as Daphne doesn’t come.”

Iden’s face pulled inward as he almost laughed at March’s response, “Don’t you two go to the same school?” It wasn’t as if he never saw the girl with eyes as big as a full moon.

“Yeah and it’s brutal.” In order to not sound like a baby, March chuckled and reached to clutch his ankles, stretching out his tired legs. “It feels so weird.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t have yelled at her at your party.” He knew it wasn’t a novel concept, but it was worth mentioning.

“I know.” At himself, March sighed and dropped his head down with forehead sweat slipping off him. “I can’t help myself sometimes, like, I never plan to.” Into the night, March spoke before shaking off his hood and looking back down at the very dirty soles of his favourite running shoes. They were his only pair not made for skateboarding. “I’m like my dad. When I feel something, it just comes out.” With some embarrassment, March was finally able to admit what almost everybody else knew as fact. Like Luke Hemmings, he couldn’t get himself out of his own way. “Only thing is he has an outlet for it.” He was a great songwriter and could manage his varying feelings that way. March didn’t think there was a calm or creative bone in his body. “I just freak out.” It wasn’t as if he was violent, but his house party was the first time that he was reduced to sobbing tears on the floor. Of course, he had also wrecked a hotel room before and tossed his skateboard through a parked car window once. He did feel like running was becoming an outlet for himself though and he assumed that it was better for him to have found it now than not at all.

“I’m the other way. My dad used to always need to be alone and I’m the same way.” Iden confided, leaning back and relaxing comfortably in his position. His heart was just beginning to relax.

“Even with Mariona?” He was pretty sure that was Iden’s girlfriends name. “You seem really close.”

“No, we are. I still like to be alone sometimes though.” He had accepted he would always be that way. “We can work on our stuff silently together though so that’s nice.” Iden summed up with a shrug.

March understood. Even the chores he had to do like vacuuming the basement or finishing a science project were better when Daphne was sitting on the couch waiting for him to finish or with him in the library making her own flash cards. She made even the worst parts of the day great. He missed that most about her, more than any of her curves, her brightly painted lips leaving colour on his body, or how her chest felt pressed against his when he was falling asleep on a beach towel. She just made everything better by being herself. Even though it sometimes stung harshly when he saw her in their school halls, March still felt glad to see her. She was a bright sunbeam even if these days he needed protection from her powerful ray.

“Jesus, us and our Daddy issues.” Iden shook his head at both of them before rolling his eyes and laughing. He checked his stats on a wrist watch he wore when running, monitoring his progress for himself.

March would have admitted out loud how much he missed Daphne, but Iden distracted him with his joke. It gave March a whole different kettle of fish to consider. It wasn’t the first time someone made that crack, but it was the first time he didn’t just laugh it off. His mom always told him that he was just like his dad, but he didn’t see it himself because he didn’t want to see it.

“Hey, you talk to Emme? I saw her on the back of a magazine.” He had been getting a soda at a gas station on the way home a couple days ago and felt her eyes with their piercing diamond dust staring up at him from the mint and bubble gum selection. “It was for nail polish. I think.” He didn’t really pay close attention to what she was selling with her hands on both sides of her face. He just snapped a picture of the picture with his phone to send it to his siblings.

Iden knew the ad, nodding at March’s small description. It was nail polish that made his sister a model. She had signed on with Essie Nail Inc to represent them right before she turned sixteen and Iden remembered knowing that she would never stop after that. She had done local runway shows and helped new photographers in different locations start their portfolios, but that was the first professional job with a real pay check and international distribution. His sister’s face was in the middle of drug stores and she loved it. Iden was happy for her, but he wished she could have stayed back in Sydney. He felt like he needed her more than the rest of the world did.

“Yeah, we text, but she’s on the other side of the world.” It made for varying response times from both of them and sometimes a person just needed a quick answer in the moment. Iden checked the sweat on top of his head, it’s buzz nature scratching with a mind familiarity at his palm.

“Yeah, Pen might as well be on, like, Saturn.” March mused. Between their distance, her courses, and kitchen job, it seemed like all of her time was spoken for. March was close to giving up on Daphne ever messaging him again. He had stopped bugging her himself, but he did find himself following his sister’s social media religiously and wishing she would send him a stupid joke via text. “They’ll both be back at Christmas though.”

“Knowing Emmeline she will rent a castle in Ireland or some shit just to be dramatic and have a reason to not see my parents.” Iden hadn’t even realized he would have split Christmases this year. He was too busy with his final year of school and catching up with the other two hundred changes currently going on in his life. “Which, by the way, if they can handle having to talk to one another then you can come to my show and pass by Daphne.” Coming full circle, Iden thought out loud.

“I’ll be there.” Taking a moment to think, March agreed. He rose as he watched Iden did, always letting him take the lead when it came to their dark morning cardio. Iden shoved his limp knuckles into March’s chest and took off, keeping his pace regular enough for March to be beside him. Well, for a little while.

++++++

Though lighter in its violet shade, the city was still dark when March made his way back home, walking at his own pace and looking around on his phone for the last ten minutes instead of jogging. His house was vast in size, but he was still mindful when he crept in. Even without Penelope there, three other people occupied the house and he grew up having to share spaces with them. He learned from watching Penelope always getting in trouble for sneaking in and out how to move around silently. March held the door that led from the backyard deck into their kitchen until it was completely closed. He realized once his shoes were lazily off that the living room lights were on. His dad was laying on the couch, his hands on his shirt covered stomach, with his headphones on listening to music so loudly that March could make out what band it was.

“How was your run?” Moving his headphones off his ears and resting them behind, Luke asked his doppelganger as March took a deeper step through the house.

“Good?” The status of his relationship with running was still up in the air. He liked it, but it was daunting. March folded his hands behind his head and stretched out his triceps. He was sore and he wasn’t used to his Dad greeting him this early even though he knew that he also was not a great sleeper. The whole house always blamed that on Penelope though. “Mom knows I go running with Iden. She was cool with it.” March darted his eyes from wall to wall before bringing them back to Luke’s. He wasn’t sure if he was in trouble or not.

“I know.” Sitting up, Luke assured him instantly. “It’s fine by me too. I was just FaceTiming your sister. She says hi.” Luke fiddled with his phone to pause his music, giving March better attention.

“Oh. Cool, cool, cool.” He nodded along. He wished Penelope would have FaceTimed him. Right now, he felt like Penelope could fix things. She could work her cocksure charm on Daphne who always looked up to the blond mermaid and then they could be together again. More importantly, she would just be around to hang out with and March wanted that. He missed just eating cereal and watching TV with both his brother and sister at once. “I thought maybe you were up to catch me sneaking in.”

“No.” Luke gently shot down right away. “I think the running is good.” He also trusted Iden more than he did the stoners that filled his house before school started. “I think it’s good you’re working things out.” It was no secret that March was struggling with his recent break up and Luke was trying to soften himself and be supportive of his youngest kid. “Maybe I could join you and Iden one day.” He didn’t know when. He preferred weights or sex with his wife to running, but Luke knew he needed to find new ways to stay in excellent health. Plus, it would be bonding.

“Iden outruns me.” March mentioned instead of just suggesting the two of them go on their own without Mike’s boy before exhaling deeply, his heart still racing.

“Well, I’m sure you’d both kick my ass.” Luke joked and followed March into the kitchen where the kid went to get water from the fridge’s door filter. The purring noise of the machine and water hitting his glass echoed due to the high ceilings. “Your brother has a soccer game today at your school. Do you want to stay and watch?” He was going to go with Cagney since it was the first game of the season.

“Uhhh…I don’t know.” With his back to his old man, March thought out loud before tossing back a refreshing gulp. He wasn’t used to his Dad being so chatty, but ever since he found March crying in the studio, Luke had been asking for details from both boys. It was as if with Penelope gone and her head trauma not in the forefront of his mind, he needed a new dilemma to solve. His hero complex was fully engaged since coming from from Paris and New York.

“Scared you might have to see Daph?” Everyone else might have clumsily danced around it on their tip toes, Luke was not worried about shooting straight.

“I see her at school every day.” Meekly defiant, March turned around and retorted, leaning against the fridge and scowling he would as a toddler when he was on a time out.

“And it’s the worst, right?”

Hesitantly, the younger Hemmings agreed, “It blows, yeah.”

“Have you two talked?” Luke hadn’t a clue about how March grew unnerved and blew up at Daphne at the house party. He didn’t even know that Daphne had been in his house since the break up at all.

“No. We only have one class together.” It was a core subject though, so it was every day unfortunately and March hated that he had to see the back of her head, her soft legs under her kilt, and her bright pink backpack that he used to slip Hershey’s kisses in. “She tried to talk to me.” Finally, March admitted.

“Yeah?”

“I shut her down.” He found a creative way to admit that he lost his temper. March watched his Dad drop at the shoulders with one fast motion as he leaned against the kitchen island. “I know!” Sensing his Dad’s disappointment, March jumped in defensively. “I’m a moron.”

“No.” Grinning with amusement, Luke looked up and corrected him. “You’re not a moron.” He was a teenager. “Your mom is right.” And his band mates, and Simone, and Grandma Liz, and Skye, and every neighbour they had ever had. “You and I are exactly the same.”

It was March’s turn to make an unimpressed face and, even without seeing it, he knew it looked everything like his father’s had.

“Your mom has always accused me of being harder on you than on Miles.” Luke cleared his throat and pulled out a stool so that he could sit at the island that had been reinstalled more times than he could remember. “I don’t know if that’s actually true or not, but we definitely handle situations the same way. I think because I know how life is going to be for you, I freak out a little more.” It was harder to protect someone when you knew for a fact they weren’t going to listen. Luke had been just as stubborn, selfish, wild, and needy as March was and he had done it all with too much money in his pocket and everyone saying ‘yes’ to him. Luke feared for March because Luke knew what it was like to be your own downfall. Miles was level headed and came with a healthy dose of fear, but March was born trying to soar long before he could even wiggle around on his knees.

“So, what am I going to do about Daphne then?” If March was so much like his father, he wanted some insight because he was driving himself crazy these days.

“I know your mom would say give her space and just be her friend,” He knew that because his wife’s approach was always to listen and try to find common ground. The hairstylist in her always won. She had raised her children by giving them the greatest customer service ever encountered outside of a shopping mall. “but I know how fucking hard that can be.” He knew that because he had been in March’s situation before. He had scared Cagney away, she had broken his heart, and they had disappointment one another before, but they stayed together because they were never afraid to fight for one another. They were dedicated to staying in the ring with one another even if they would have been able to breathe easier outside of the mat. Of course, it was different. He and Cagney were married, they had children, and they had years of memories collected together. March and Daphne were still finishing high school and Daphne was almost March’s first everything. “What do you want to happen?”

“I want us to be together.” March felt like he said that every single day lately.

“Then give her a reason to be with you.” Luke shrugged, remembering that Ashton had once said that to him when he was younger and struggling in his own relationship. “And yelling at her is not going to work. A, I don’t think it works for anyone because all they hear is your anger,” He had learned that from couple’s therapy and his father. “and B, Daffy has never liked being yelled at.” People used to raise their voices on the tour bus, not even at her, and she hide inside a cupboard somewhere and take a few pieces of chocolate coax out. She was an easy person to spend time with, but she hated confrontation.

“Thanks, Dad.” Sincerely, March said and reached across the table with his hand free of a water glass to fist bump Luke. Embarrassingly eagerly, Luke returned the gesture. “Appreciate it.” He nodded before putting down his glass in the sink. March started to leave the room to shower since he still had school to attend. “Hey, Dad?” He poked his head out from behind the wall, catching his Dad in the middle of patting himself on the back for another successful pep talk with March. His dad perked up like an excited puppy that just heard it’s favourite human call for it. “We could go for a run some time if you wanted. I have a spare last period every Thursday.”

“You got it.” Luke shot his finger out at his boy and committed.

Strangely, both Luke and March felt excited about the prospect of going for a jog together even if they both weren’t fans of physically exerting themselves. There was something sweet and promising about where their time together was going. They were both getting to know one another more as humans than father and son and they both preferred it that way so far.

++++++++++++

Coming up the elevator of the condominium building that his Dad now called home, Iden emerges into the 22nd floor and walked to the far end. He realized his abnormal childhood had prepared him for being able to adjust to changes. He grew up with his older sister on red eye flights, in hotel penthouse suites, and in the loading dock of arenas. He did it all without being one of the more temper tantrum driven kids and he did it all while wanting to kill himself. Iden would never give himself credit for it, but he was resilient. Perhaps, that was why he was handling his parent’s divorce better than Emmeline was. He was used to having to lay awake day after day trying to survive personal Hell. Emme was used to people bending and adjusting to keep her happy.

Iden fiddled with the lock and key then walked into the place as if it wasn’t very early in the morning. When home, his dad always slept through his footsteps in the doorway and even the shower he jumped in right away. Iden never worried about waking him up because Michael Clifford could sleep through anything. Iden kicked off his sneakers and organized them at the door before starting to peel off his damp black shirt on his way to the washroom. Once the fabric was over his head, he was surprised to catch a glimpse of his Dad on the balcony. At least that’s who it looked like from behind, strumming guitar and watching the sun just begin to rise over the downtown area.

Shirtless, Iden walked right up to the screen door and pressed his face against it. He wanted to check that it was, indeed, actually his dad sitting out there strumming. He nearly spooked Mike right out of his skin at his surprise appearance.

“Fuck Iden.” Mike softly hissed. He had almost dropped the acoustic guitar on his lap.

“Sorry.” Iden moved the door open and joined his Dad. “You’re usually asleep.”

“How was the run?” He asked while placing his fingers back where they had been on the neck of his instrument. Sometimes Michael considered going along with his son on his jogs, but he could never pull himself out of bed when the time came.

“Fine.” Shrugging, Iden summed up. He grimaced at the light breeze that blew by and wished he had kept his smelly shirt on. Iden simply folded his arms across his chest and leaned against their railing that overlooked the world that was just waking up.

“March still go with you?” He thought it was nice that Iden was growing closer to one of Luke’s kids. Iden had a close personal relationship with depression and Michael had heard through the grapevine that March had been feeling low lately. He hoped his son could, maybe, help.

“Yeah. I thought he’d quit by now.” Iden said to the city. “Why are you up? You work today?” Turning to his side, he questioned his Dad. He was pretty sure Mike was on a break, needing one with all the drama with Emmeline and his impending divorce.

“Nah.” He cocked his head lazily to one side and then shook it before resting the guitar against the glass part of the balcony door. “Just…” He wasn’t sure how much would be considered okay to share with his son. It wasn’t as if Michael could talk to Iden about everything going on with the divorce: how he hated talking to lawyers, he hated thinking about dating, he hated only having Iden around his home sometimes, how he felt like a failure to his wife and kids, and how he felt like it was really Grace leaving him - that she was escaping him after how much she had depended on him throughout their marriage. Michael felt left out of his own life and waking up early gave him extra time to beat himself up about it. No, he couldn’t tell Iden any of that. Iden wasn’t like other kids. He knew neither one of his parents were angels, but Michael didn’t want to confuse him or accidentally say something unkind about his mom. For all Grace’s faults, she had been the most attentive mother. Michael sighed and decided to be honest about other things with Iden instead, “Your sister called a few times.” It been right after Iden left and it didn’t stop for an hour or so. Usually, Mike kept his phone on ‘do not disturb’ when he slept, but with Emmeline far away and Grace under a different roof, he had some exceptions to his rule.

“Yelled at you?” Iden missed Emme terribly, but he knew all about how difficult she was being to their parents.

“A little.” Mike nodded, deciding it wasn’t fair to either kid for him to delve into it. Mostly, she just cried and even asked him to never remarry which Michael hadn’t even thought of until then. Unfortunately though, he couldn’t honestly promise her that. “She’s having a hard time with things. I suggested a therapist -” Michael had seen therapy work miracles for people, himself included. He would even cover the cost for her. He wanted to.

“I bet she loved that.” Sarcastically, Iden said and raised his messy brows. He knew if his Aunt Keg saw him she would whip out her travel tweezers and not even ask.

“Yeah,” His chest inflated high only to collapse in on itself in memory of the recent conversations he had with his daughter that was all emotions and very little logic. “She said she wouldn’t need therapy if your Mom and I just stayed together.” Michael told Iden only to wish he hadn’t. “Sorry, this isn’t your business.” He would crack a beer with Calum and Skye and mention it all to them when he and Iden went for dinner at their place tonight. Skye was convinced Michael wouldn’t get a single decent meal if he didn’t come over to her place and eat with her small family at least once a week.

“It’s okay.” Iden didn’t mind in the slightest and his straight face suggested that. “I know how Emme can be.” He told to the whistling wind that crept up to meet their floor. Emmeline might have been his favourite person, but Iden knew that she wasn’t a picnic. It took a professional amount of stamina to just hold a conversation with her sometimes. She could be your strongest ally, but also descend a storm onto your life.

“Well put in a good word for me when you talk to her.” Michael finished and picked the guitar back up to his lap. He loved how close his kids were, but now he was grateful they had one another to confide in and lean on. “You got to get ready for school.” With a yellow glow illuminating him as the sun rose, Michael changed the subject.

“Yeah, I got to shower.” Iden pushed off the railing and headed back inside.

Their exchange was short and sweet, but Michael could remember effortlessly when Iden closed off the whole world to him and wanted to die in his room. His thoughts of frustration and concern for Emme shifted as Iden went back in, sliding the screen door shut behind him. He just felt grateful. His life might have felt like it was in tatters, but Iden had made incredible progress and that made so much pain seem worth it.

[nakedinalake]

My Review of the Solve it Squad Returns

I am lucky enough to be able to attend Starkid’s shows in Chicago every year and normally just write a short review on here for people who can’t go. (I’ll also give you some info on what other starkids attended the show, along with some pics and maybe some secrets!) Fortunately, this summer, I was also able to attend the Tin Can Brothers’ The Solve it Squad Returns! written by Joey Richter, Brian Rosenthal, and Corey Lubowich. This show was in LA and had a short run of 2 weekends and I am positive I’m not the only one to say it is tragic it didn’t have a longer run. While there are rumors floating around that this show might have a revival in the works, I’m sure as hell glad I was there opening weekend because the energy was phenomenal. I was so glad to be able to talk with my friends and congratulate them on another incredible show.

(Production photos from tincanbros.com )

Now for the actual review. This show was, without a doubt, the funniest play I’ve ever seen. It follows a parody of the Scooby Doo crew after their dog is brutally murdered (by the way, *SEMI-SPOILER* when the dog is murdered during the opening number, the entire audience gasped, yelled, and busted out laughing at the same time. Truly one of the best uses of black comedy I’ve seen in a while). The band has to get back together on the 10-year anniversary of the dog’s death to solve one last crime and bust the bad guy. Joey Richter, Lauren Lopez, Brian Rosenthal, Ashley Clements, and (new to TCB and Starkid-type operations) Gabe Greenspan form a downright HILARIOUS cast that is also capable of delivering quite a few heart-touching moments in scenes.

Rosenthal takes a turn at doing what many Starkid fans will equate to the role Richter played in The Trail to Oregon; that is to say quickly and comedically alternating between a dozen roles during the show. While some of this might be haphazard at times, it all plays into the silliness of the show overall, and doesn’t detract from the laughs his lines receive. Richter would be considered the lead, and does a great job— again, not surprising to Starkid fans. What is a nice change of pace, however, is that Richter plays the straight man in this performance instead of the usual goofy dreamer-type he is so well known for. Richter’s character is the one responsible for bring the team back together, which is made difficult by the situations each of the other members are found in, years after their dog sidekick dies. This brings me to Lauren Lopez, who plays the equivalent of Velma. When found ,*SEMI-SPOILER*, Lopez performs a HYSTERICAL pantomimed montage of her character’s drug-filled morning routine. It showed that Lopez has serious physical comedy skills and completely brought the house down. Clements’ character is a parallel of Daphne, and she becomes a celebrity-wannabe with a failing book line. There’s a particular joke that she really nailed, involving Siri that I absolutely loved. Greenspan plays what people would recognize as Fred, the jock and designated hot guy of the group. I mean it sincerely when I say that he stole the show. Greenspan delivered what seems like thousands of jokes with impeccable comedic timing as a gold-hearted, well-meaning, high-spirited, lovable guy and I truly hope we see him in more projects soon.

As I emphasized before, it seems like there were literally thousands of jokes squeezed into this show’s short 90- minute run time. Many of which flew by so quickly that the audience didn’t even have time to properly laugh at every one. Trust me, I’m not complaining about that. It was awesome. And while the ending was a little predictable, I don’t think anyone really cared because of how much fun the ride to the finish was.

The set design, done by Robert Manion, is perfect for the show. It is simply comprised of brightly painted doors on flats and a couple tables and chairs. The rest is up to the actors to make obvious for the audience. However, one of my favorite aspects of this show was the sound effects. They were expertly timed and they aided in almost every scene, whether they be seagulls on a beach, creaky doors, or ominous thunder, as well as simple car doors opening and closing… Stuff like that. The amazing June Saito is back with awesome costumes again. Saito has created simple, colorful costumes that go excellently with the show. Corey Lubowich has done an outstanding job directing this show, really bringing the audience into this world of sincerity and hilarity.

While Starkid fans and even Tin Can Brothers fans might be expecting a musical, don’t be! This show includes one opening number and a closing reprise that are extremely catchy, but that’s all you’ll get as far as original songs. This may dishearten some, but more music would only detract from the wonderfully well-timed show they have created.

That’s about all I have to say about the actual show, other than if it does make a revival season, GO SEE IT if you can! Also, once it is released on youtube, watch it there too.

Another thing that I really liked was that Starkid fans are honestly the nicest kids in the world. Everyone wants to talk with each other and is sincerely so kind.

One thing you’ll know if you’ve seen starkid shows live in the past is that there are almost always other starkids there watching, especially opening weekend. When I was at the show, Jaime Lyn Beatty, Julia Albain, Nick Lang, Brant Cox, and many Starkid parents were there (for the diehard fans). We sat next to Brian’s mom, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, so that was nice! Diane also made an appreance (for those of you who know who that is)! My little sister has just recently become a fan and she was basically paralyzed when they all walked in, and even more paralyzed when they were talking to me; it was hilarious. She got to meet every single cast member and every starkid that was there. I also got to catch up with my bff Nick, which is hard to do after a show usually because of the insanity, but we were actually able to talk again, which was awesome.

I learned some cool secrets from talking with my buddies in starkid that I won’t post outright on here, but if anyone wants to message me off anon, I’d be willing to talk!

Long story short: I’m insanely proud of my friends. See Solve it Squad if you can!

[switchedatbirthspoilers]

Switched at Birth Boss Breaks Down the Sentimental Final Episode

Switched at Birth began with a pretty insane premise -- two teenage girls discover they were sent home from the hospital with the wrong parents and attempt to get to know their biological families.

It sounds like a soap opera of epic proportions, but in reality Switched was a simple family drama that explored the difficulty of forming relationships in adolescence and trying to find where you belong. The show forged a unique relationship with the deaf community by making several of its core characters deaf and most of the cast fluent in American Sign Language by the end of the series.

The show told stories about coming of age, family, first loves, trauma and strength over the course of five seasons and over 100 episodes. In the end, after all of the drama and the tribulations, Switched at Birth came back to its core family to show the power of love whether you're related by blood or not.

TVGuide.com talked to Switched at Birth creator Lizzy Weiss about the final episode, the show's legacy and where she sees Switched ending up in the future. See her answers below.

TVGuide.com: You didn't have a lot of notice that this season would be your last. What was the most important thing for you to wrap up and address in the final episodes to give the series proper closure?

Lizzy Weiss: First off, it was important to send Daphne off on the doctor path. I flirted briefly with taking her off that path - simply because people do change their minds in college or soon afterwards - but it just felt like it'd be a huge letdown for Daphne Vasquez not to fulfill that lifelong dream. She really is an inspiring character and I do want a legacy of the show to be a deaf woman who becomes a physician. As for Bay, I also wanted to send her off on a career path that felt right - if not forever, then for now - and tattooing is the perfect mix of art and East Riverside and entrepreneurship. That's nature Bay - not nurture - taking over. That's where she was destined to end up no matter who raised her. And then of course we had to answer the Bay Emmett Travis triangle...

As for the adults, John and Kathryn were always the Eric and Tami Taylor (Friday Night Lights) of the show -- the couple who always held it together. They were the central Mom and Dad in a traditional home and Christmas hearth way, and it always felt like we could throw ripples or even tidal waves their way, but they'd never waiver in their long-term love or commitment, and I wanted to reiterate that.

It felt right to point Toby towards a brand new career path that is defined by his child and disability and a path that began in the pilot of the show with meeting his biological deaf sister. And I loved the twist we came up with for Regina - giving her long-term love and commitment but never sacrificing her morals or strength to get that love. We gave her a series of men but Eric is just so solid and sexy and kind, despite his complicated back story, that they always felt right together.

TVGuide,com: I loved the symmetry of Travis and Emmett going to Japan together after Bay and Daphne's life changing trip to China. What inspired that? Do you think that could have spin-off potential?

Lizzy Weiss: Ha! Spin-off, I love that! It was a way to honor the friendship and the brotherhood and the thematic concept of siblings brought together by unique circumstances. It was also a way to send Emmett off into the world on a new adventure. I think photojournalist is an awesome profession for him and I'm excited to imagine him off on that journey. The whole idea of them starting out their careers in a foreign country with each other to lean on just feels open and fresh and fun and difficult and funny and crazy and right.

TVGuide.com: It was really emotional to see Daphne ask Kathryn if she could call her mom for the first time. When do you think that turning point came for Daphne and do you think Bay feels the same way about Regina?

Lizzy Weiss: That was a moment that was in my back pocket for a long time and I always wanted to wait until the end for it. I think Daphne slowly began to think of Kathryn as her other mom enough to call her 'Mom' awhile ago but she held off because she didn't want to upset Regina. And then in that moment, with the nostalgia and the emotions running high, it just felt right and she knew Regina would understand and not be threatened. It just means a lot to Kathryn to hear that - she's that kind of person; being a mom defined her for a long time and the loss of raising Daphne was seriously profound for her. But Regina isn't as traditional and for some reason, I just picture Bay calling Regina 'Regina' forever. It's just a personality thing for them both, plus their initial relationship was always more fraught and more big sister/little sister or aunt/niece.

TVGuide: I am an unapologetic [Bay/Emmett] shipper. If you had more episodes do you think they could have found their way back to each other or does it feel more fitting they accept they were first loves and move on?

Lizzy Weiss: This was the right ending, whether or not we had more episodes. Maybe it's because Bay met (or started dating) Travis later in life, after a lot of the terrible stuff happened to her, and it was just timing - as is so much in life. But the penultimate episode (Travis telling his mom) showed that Bay and Travis are tight. They're strong. They've got the goods to go the distance. Big romantic moves are wonderful but can you go through incredibly hard stuff together and come out stronger? That's an adult relationship.

That being said, the Bay/Emmett montage was really emotional for me. I did it to honor the relationship and its importance to the show and the character and the fans, even though they don't end up together. There are a lot of intense Bemmett fans and I understand the passion because the Bay/Emmett relationship was so specific and unique - I don't think there's ever been a teenage love story between a hearing girl and a deaf boy on TV before so it was in itself romantic and fascinating and delightful. And then of course Vanessa and Sean had such great chemistry; it was undeniably special. But it was a first love and most first loves do not last and that is what makes them so potent and poignant. That first love and first broken heart defines your youth and brings you right back to that time. And when you think about it, it's delirious and erotic and excruciating and wistful all at once. So that final look between them was supposed to be all of that - 'I am remembering all of those moments that no one knows but us - and the power they had in shaping who I am today, and I will always carry you in my heart, even though we go our separate paths'.

TVGuide.com: Is there anyone you wish you could have invited back for the final episodes that you didn't have time to include?

Lizzy Weiss: Yes! We tried to get both Wilke and Ty back, but for scheduling reasons, that wasn't possible. In fact, the creation of Mingo originally came out of a desire to get a ridiculous Wilke energy back for Daphne, and then along the way, Mingo became his own adorable self and, of course, 'the one.'

TVGuide.com: If there's a Switched at Birth reunion in 10 years, where do you see your main characters being?

Lizzy Weiss: That's a great question but one that I will keep to myself for now. I think touching base with this family again would be lovely, but if they go off into the sunset of the fans' imagination, I can live with that too.

TVGuide.com: What has being captain of this show for five years meant for you?

Lizzy Weiss: I talked about Bay and Emmett and first love above, and how intense it is and how fresh and open and present you are, and this feels the same to me. This show was so personal to me. I was there from the first noodle of an idea scratched out on a piece of paper to the last shot of the finale. So sometimes I wonder if any other show will ever mean this much to me or be this magical or intense or bring me this much joy, but that's how you always feel at the end of a relationship, right? No one will ever love you like that again. But then you meet the right person, and they do, and you do, and it's just different.

Which is all to say, it's been transformative, and I'm incredibly grateful to my partners - the writers and actors and the network, and my actual partner on the show Paul Stupin - who was also there every step of the way, as my co-captain. We had a total blast doing it. And we just all feel really, really lucky.

TVGuide.com: Is there any final message you want to give to the Switched viewers and fans?

Lizzy Weiss: Thank you not just for watching and loving it and keeping it on the air for 103 episodes, but for telling me all of the ways in which the show impacted you, both tiny and profound. To all of you who chose a profession from the show, or who spoke to someone at Starbucks for the first time in sign language, or who continued your cable TV package just to watch a show with a deaf protagonist for your deaf daughter, or who said 'my brother has Down Syndrome,' 'I was assaulted in college,' 'I'm black and that is exactly what it feels like to walk across my campus' - I'm so glad you felt heard and seen and validated. The door is open. Keep making your own stories about your own unique perspective on the world. There is so much left to say.

x

[a-skirmish-of-wit-and-lit]

Hi!! I love your reviews and would love to hear which Bridgerton books and couples are your favorite and least favorite so far. I have mixed feelings about these books (and the TV series), though overall the good outweighs the bad for me, and I love characters like Eloise and Penelope too much to ever stay away :)

Hello there lovely! I'm so glad to hear you enjoy my book reviews, that means so much! I swear 80-90% of my life is obsessing over books I love or want to read so it's always wonderful to meet with like-minded people. Seriously. I get little a thrill every time I meet a new one! :-D

Anyway, so far I've read the first five novels of the Bridgerton series. I imagine I'll get to the rest of them in due time. Like you, I also have mixed feelings about the books and show (there are some problematic elements in both, right?) but even so, they're mostly enjoyable. I love the big family dynamic with all of the siblings. It's warm and chaotic, with roughhousing and ribbing and sarcasm, plus all the "proper" way one's supposed to approach love and marriage given the time period. The Bridgerton family is a little reminiscent of the Bennets from Pride and Prejudice to me because of that. I love how they're always butting into each other's lives, how Violet's essentially scheming to get them all married off, one-by-one. Granted, she's not quite as advantageous-minded or nervous-hysterical as our dear Mrs. Bennet but it's that same Helicopter Mom energy. She also has a sweet, sensitive, and caring side to her which means she yearns to see all her children happily settled so naturally she's one of my favorite characters.

Ship-wise, my favorite pairing is definitely Penelope and Colin. Romancing Mister Bridgerton is my favorite of the series as well. I really enjoyed the Lady Whistledown subplot of that book. Plus, I think their friends-to-lovers dynamic is well developed. It took a different tack than I was expecting!

Kate and Anthony rank a close second. Like, super close. They have the enemies-to-lovers arc I salivate over in books. Also, I think I laughed the hardest throughout The Viscount Who Loved Me because of all the ridiculous situations they find themselves in together. There's the corgi chasing, the Pall Mall, the tumbling into a lake, the sucking out of bee poison--I just can't.

I want to say that Eloise and Phillip and Sophie and Benedict are tied for my next favorites. There were things I liked about both these ships and others I didn't care for, which, ironically, came down to how the heroes treated/talked/reacted to the heroines in certain moments.

Plot-wise, though, I liked To Sir Phillip, With Love better than An Offer From a Gentleman. I think I was more drawn to the idea of Eloise and Phillip falling in (idealized) love over letters first than I was to another same old-same old Cinderella retelling. Also, the former has the BEST sibling scene. I love it when all the Bridgerton brothers come charging into the house to "defend" Eloise's honor. It's hysterical. The kids were a nice addition to that book, too.

As for The Duke and I, you know, I think I'd rank the book and ship (Daphne and Simon) higher if only it weren't for that one awful scene where she tricks/manipulates him with alcohol. I HATE IT SO MUCH. It poisoned the overall story/dynamic for me, which sucks because I truly did enjoy the fake courting. And the fact that they forged a relationship built on mutual respect and friendship first. C'est la vie, am I right?

If we're talking specifically about characters now, females in particular, I will protect Penelope Featherington with my life! She harbors a lot of similar insecurities as I do so I couldn't help but relate to her. Kate and Eloise are fabulous as well. Kate has the fiery, I'm the oldest and am protective of my younger siblings, take no prisoners attitude I have myself but want more of in spades. And Eloise...she's just so endearing! I really do love that she has no filter whatsoever. She simply HAS to share what's going through her head. Sophie is a darn precious peach, too. She has this pure-heartedness to her. I also have a soft spot for Mama Bridgerton as well, like I mentioned before.

Out of the boys, I have to say Colin is my favorite. He's just so damn charming and agreeable! He's also a bit cavalier in the beginning, not really paying attention to what's in front of him, so his growth is the a lot of fun to witness. Anthony comes next. I love me a good brooding hero. You might say I have a soft spot for them. I don't know, there's just something so delicious about a repressed man who opens up, blossoms, only for the woman he loves, you know? Simon was a decent character overall, too. I liked some of his backstory, particularly the daddy issues and the speech impediment. He overcame a lot.

Benedict and Phillip I wanted to love more than I did. Benedict had a tendency to be a little patronizing with Sophie, getting angry, refusing to listen to reasons why she declined to be his mistress. As for Phillip, I did enjoy his nerdy side and how he was so invested in his plants. He didn't treat Eloise too great, though. He could be rather peevish and petulant. I didn't like hearing how he viewed being married to Marina, who was mentally ill, at all.

How about you? Who are your faves and least faves? Anyone you wish who would've been in the narrative more? Personally, I thought Amanda could've end up having her own whole book instead of just a happily ever after epilogue. And I would've loved to see more of Lady Danbury! I so relished her popping up in book 4.

[tsgmobilebayalabama]

May Scouted Calendar

The arrival of May brings beautiful weather and plenty of opportunities to take advantage of the exciting exhibitions, festivals, and charity events happening in our communities. From the annual Hot Air Balloon Festival to the first ever Cuban Festival to a Wine Tasting Beverage Academy here’s what we’re looking forward to in the Mobile Bay area this month. 

SALES

RAYFORD’S WAREHOUSE SALE - MAY 17th 18th & 19th 

Discontinued, Overstock, Samples, Displays and Old Inventory

Check, Cash + Carry

At or below cost

One of kind

Door + cabinet hardware

Bathtubs

Kitchen + Bathroom Sinks

No returns - all sales final

HALEY DERMATOLOGY  - MAY SPECIALS                                                                                                    

Neck Rejuvenation Package: Halo/BBL, Botox, Nectifirm Advanced $1800 ($380 savings)

Hand Rejuvenation Package: Halo/BBL, Radiesse, Lumiquin $2000 ($450 savings)

Get both packages (neck and hand) for $2900!* Halo/BBL, Botox & Radiesse Nectifirm & Lumiquin $1730.00 savings!

Halo, BBL or IPL Neck & Hands* Halo & BBL $1400 ($700 savings) Halo $1000 ($500 savings) BBL $400 ($200 savings) IPL $300 ($100 savings)

Kybella & CoolSculpting - 20% off chin treatment

Sunscreens, neck & hand products - 20% off

EVENTS

MOBILE BAYBEARS BASEBALL

April-September | Hank Aaron Stadium | Cheer on the BayBears, an AA affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Major League team.  Hank Aaron Stadium is home to the Hank Aaron Childhood Home and Museum. Learn More

$5 YOGA ON TAP

May 1st | 6pm - 9pm | Fairhope Brewing | Come try a fun yoga flow and hang out with your Soul Mates. Join Soul Shine Yoga for an hour of yoga and stay for awesome local beer and wine. Learn More 

BLESSING OF THE FLEET

May 1st | 10am - 4pm | Saint Margaret’s { Bayou La Batre } | This fun-filled festival honors the fishing community and includes hopes and prayers for a successful season.  Enjoy Vietnamese Cuisine, a Gumbo Cook-off, Arts & Crafts show, a Decorated Boat contest, Boat Cruises and more! Learn More

LIVE MUSIC: MATT NESSE

May 2nd | 6:00pm | BLUEGILL | Join Matt Neese on the Wharf Deck each Wednesday starting at 6pm. Beautiful sunsets and handcrafted cocktails plus incredible tunes from great local musicians nightly. Learn More

RICK BRAGG  BOOK SIGNING 

May 2nd | 6pm - 7pm |  The Venue | In “The Best Cook in the World”, Rick Bragg finally preserves his heritage by telling the stories that framed his mother's cooking and education from childhood into old age. “Because good food always has a good story, and a recipe”, writes Bragg, “is a story like anything else.” Tickets are $35 and include an autographed copy of the book. Learn More

CHILDREN’S STORY TIME

May 2nd | 10:30am (0-2years) 11:00am (3-6years) | Page & Palette | Kids will enjoy lapsit, rhymes and songs. 

MAYORS PRAYER BREAKFAST 

May 3rd | 7:00am | Daphne Civic Center | The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce that the 2018 Mayors' Prayer Breakfast speaker is former University of Alabama and Dallas Cowboys football player and co-founder of the Palmer Williams Group, Sherman Williams. Join them to hear his inspiring message. Also, hear from the mayors of all three of the Eastern Shore Municipalities: Mayor Dane Haygood from the City of Daphne, Mayor Karin Wilson from the City of Fairhope and Mayor Mike McMillan from the City of Spanish Fort. Learn More 

GOV'T MULE WITH SPECIAL GUEST BLACK STONE CHERRY                

May 3rd | 6:30pm | Saenger Theatre | Legendary rock torchbearers, Gov't Mule, are ramping up their 2016 schedule with an extensive tour and the release of a new archival album entitled The Tel-Star Sessions, the band's very first, and never-before-released, demos made in June 1994 at Tel-Star Studios in Bradenton, Florida. These newly mixed and mastered recordings feature the original line-up: Warren Haynes, Allen Woody and Matt Abts. "Having listened to them recently, for the first time in decades, a big smile came over my face. These recordings capture the rawness and excitement of the earliest stage of Gov't Mule," explains Haynes. Learn More

14TH ANNUAL HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL 

May 3rd - 5th | 6:00pm | Tanger Outlets Foley | The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival 

The event will feature more than 35 balloons from across the country! 

May 3 - Balloon Glow at Tanger Outlets from 6pm-7pm  May 4 - Festival Grounds from 2pm-10 pm  May 5 - Festival Grounds from 9am-10pm.                                                    

There will be opportunities to win great prizes. Children's activities, free train rides, live music, entertainment and 10 hot air balloons will be on site to glow at dusk. Learn More.

FRASCARA TRUNK SHOW 

May 4th & 5th | 10am - 5pm | Something New | There will be lots of great pieces for weddings and Mardi Gras! Call to schedule your appointment or stop in and take a look at all of the beautiful pieces! Learn More 

PIRATES BALL

May 4th | 7am - 11am | Pirates Cove {Josephine} | Bushwackers on the Beach with Live Music; It’s a pirates life for me! Learn More.   

JERRY SEINFELD

May 4th | 7:00pm | Saenger Theatre | Entertainment icon Jerry Seinfeld's comedy career took off after his first appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1981. Eight years later, he teamed up with fellow comedian Larry David to create what was to become the most successful comedy series in the history of television: Seinfeld. Learn More 

FAIRHOPE FIRST FRIDAY ARTWALK

May 4th | 6pm - 8pm | Downtown Fairhope | Begins at Eastern Shore Art Center, stroll through downtown Fairhope visiting merchants, art galleries and listening to music. 

1st HARVEST NIGHT CELEBRATION 

May 5th | 4pm - 8pm | Weeks Bay Plantation | This evening on the farm features blueberry picking, a vendors market, food trucks, live music performance by Seth Walker, local artisans, kids activities and more! It's a fun night for the entire family. Bring your blankets, chairs, BYOB and plan on spending the evening stocking up on organic blueberries, enjoying farm-to-table treats, watching the kids have a blast and listening to some amazing music under the stars. Admission to this event is FREE. Learn More 

YIN AND THE THREE VITAL ENERGIES OF YOGA

May 5th  | 1:00pm | Soul Shine Yoga |  In this workshop join Hilary Martin, 500-Hour Kripalu Yoga Teacher (RYT 500), in exploring all three using: Pranayama, or breath awareness; journaling and discussion; guided meditation; and Yin Yoga, in which primarily seated or reclining poses are held for several minutes with soft muscles. Oh, and refreshments!  Sign up

U PICK ORGANIC BLUEBERRIES

May 5th | Reoccurring Wednesdays - Saturdays | Weeks Bay Plantation | It's blueberry time! Come out and pick fresh, organic blueberries for you and your family to enjoy year round. Eat some now, freeze a bunch for later! They are the only USDA sanctioned organic blueberry farm in the region! Their blueberries are $8 a pound for the first pound and then $4 a pound for all additional pounds. Put on some outdoor shoes, a hat and some sunscreen and come on over – they’ll do the rest. And bring the kiddos – they’ll have a blast. Learn More

CUBAN FESTIVAL

May 5th | 10am - 5pm | Mobile Museum of Art | The first ever Cuban Festival, celebrating the shared cultures of Mobile and our sister city, Havana, Cuba. With a day full of family activities, MMofA invites all ages to experience Cuban culture and enjoy COMMON GROUND: Photographs of Havana and Mobile. The MMofA special exhibition features photographs of shared characteristics seen in our sister cities, through the lens of photographers Chip Cooper and Julio Larramendi. With free admission for all Mobile County residents offered all day, you can also check out some vintage Cuban cars that will be on display out front, tour the galleries with the artists themselves, enjoy lunch from a local food truck, learn to salsa, and end the afternoon with a film about the famous Buena Vista Social Club. Learn More 

MOBILE SPORTS AUTHORITY TOUR DE BAY CRITERIUM & FONDO RIDE

May 5th & 6th | 10:00am | Downtown Mobile | The Mobile Sports Authority & Team Share The Road along with Hargrove Engineers & Constructors are sponsoring the 2018 Mobile Tour de Bay and Fondo Ride. The Criterium will also serve as the Alabama State Criterium Championship. On Saturday the Crit Races begin in front of Wintzell's Oyster House and on Sunday the Fondo Rides willl start and end at the New Serda's Brewing Company. Learn More.

MARKET AT THE PILLARS

May 6th | 12:00pm | The Pillars | A fun afternoon of local makers, bakers, crafters and artists! Live music and local eats! This event is free and open to the public. Family fun and pet friendly!

COMEDY OPEN MIC NIGHT

May 6th | 7pm - 9pm | Merry Widow | Every Sunday, from 7pm to 9pm (that's from opening until the karaoke starts) they have a comedy open mic with occasional professional or semi-professional headliners. This is a FREE SHOW where anyone can try standup comedy. You'll see everything from newbies trying comedy for the first time (be gentle on them), to seasoned comics trying out new routines or polishing old bits. There will be a host keeping everyone to 5 minutes, so if you hate who's on stage, just have a drink and chill, they'll be replaced shortly. Also FREE CAJUN BOILED PEANUTS and DRINK SPECIALS Learn More.

20TH ANNUAL SUNSET SUPPER  

May 7th | 6:00pm | Fairhope Yacht Club | Come enjoy an evening of good food, good music, and great deals. They boast an exceptional silent auction which includes vacation packages, spa treatments, grills, clothes, jewelry, and much more. All proceeds go to to help victims in your immediate community. Learn More.

COCKTAILS & CREATIVES 

May 10th | 5:30pm | The Merry Widow | Connect. Inspire. Create. Cocktails & Creatives is a happy hour designed to unite Mobilians interested in creativity and creative pursuits—whether they be working artists, secret poets, tinkerers, or the merely curious. Learn More.

RESTORE: SOUL CARE  

May 11th | 11:30am | Soul Shine Yoga | This class is for anyone experiencing stress, overwhelm, or just too much “busyness” and not enough down time. Sound familiar, moms?! Give yourself time to turn inward, quieten down and rest. You’ll be amazed at how simple it is to reset your mind and body and find relaxation! Best of all, you’ll learn tools you can use at home to create this same sense of peace and calm. Sessions are in our unheated room and use a combination of yoga, mindfulness, reiki and aromatherapy. No yoga experience is necessary. Wear comfy clothing. Learn More.

THE UNDERHILL FAMILY ORCHESTRA

May 11th | 8:00pm | Southern Napa |  Under the big tent this year will be The Underhill Family Orchestra celebrating the release of their new album! Native to the Alabama delta, has been described as "outright anthemic" taking their compositions to "idyllic places" that make you want to "paint your face, forget your age, and kiss a stranger." Learn More.

6 WEEK SERIES YOGA - GO FOR IT! YOUR LIFE IS WAITING!

May 11th | 11:30am |  Soul Shine Yoga | In this six week series, we'll commit to ourselves (We're talking pen and paper), discover how we can find time in our weeks to find our path and explore what makes us truly come alive. They’ll dive deeper into what's holding you back, then they will 'cut the crap' to find your true self - including non-energy producing foods and unhelpful self talk. Lastly, you will make the plunge into your new, shiny life that's been waiting for you. This series is guided by Gabi Garrett, RYT-200 Yoga, Pilates, Aerial Yoga & TRX instructor who hopped out of her cubical and dove into her true passions: yoga and writing, and shed over 50 pounds in the process. This weekly practice is suitable for all levels. Sign Up

LODA ARTWALK

May 11th | 6pm-9pm | Lower Dauphin Street | LoDa ArtWalk takes place every second Friday of the month in the Lower Dauphin (LoDa) Arts District. On this evening, local art galleries, institutions, studios and unique shops open their doors for the public to come inside to view beautiful artwork, sample delicious foods, and hear the music of Mobile. This free family-friendly event is a staple of Mobile’s arts and culture.

THE FAIRHOPE ROTARY STEAK COOK-OFF

May 11th | 7pm - 10pm | Downtown Fairhope | The event kicks off on Friday evening when the gracious merchants along South Bancroft Street between the campus of Coastal Alabama Community College and adjacent to Fairhope’s French Quarter shutter their stores and relinquish the street to every manner of wood- and charcoal-fired grills, from custom BBQ trailers to Texas Smokers. Rules specify that only authentic wood grilling can be used, and as the coals are beginning to get just right, the festival attendees come through the gates and the band starts to get under way. It is like being invited to the most prestigious tailgate event and then getting to sample everyone’s steaks, while you enjoy their salads and baked potatoes, drink their beer or wine, and dance without having to worry that you are missing the game. Learn More.

CHILDREN'S CUP REGATTA

May 12th | 9am - 9pm | The 9th Annual Children’s Cup Regatta benefits patients from the Alabama Gulf Coast being treated at Children’s of Alabama. Sailing enthusiast and friends are invited to enjoy a day of sailboat racing, kids activities, a silent auction, dinner and awards at Fairhope Yacht Club. Learn More.

6TH ANNUAL 99 BOTTLES OF BEER ON THE LAWN

May 12th | Southern Napa | The Eastern Shore's Only Craft Beer Festival Returns for Year Number 6!  Sample 99 different local, national and international craft beers. Ticket includes a commemorative tasting glass, beer samples, and live music. Breweries and Brewmasters will be onsite hoping (or may hopping!) to earn your vote in our for the top beer awards. Learn More.

CREEK FEST

May 12th | 10am - 2pm | Tricentennial Park | This is a celebration of Three Mile Creek, which was the city’s first source of drinking water. The event will include a cane-pole fishing tournament for ages 16 and under, along with other family-friendly activities. Live music, food and canoe rides also will be part of the half-day event as the natural beauty of one of Mobile’s historic waterways is showcased. LifeSouth will also be present again to conduct a blood drive. Learn More.

CREOLE CULTURE, CUSINE & CARNIVAL

May 12th | 4pm - 6pm | Mobile Mardi Gras Trail | A 2-Hour party with real history and real revelry. Tickets are $60/person. Begins and ends on Mobile Bay. Enjoy a festive bus ride with carnival revelry and complimentary cocktails on board, and stops at local restaurants for samplings of regional creole cuisine. Along the way, learn more about Creole culture and carnivals of the Gulf Coast and the Caribbean, from Mobile to New Orleans and from the Yucatan to Cozumel and Havana. ​​ Bead-throwing is required, masks are optional. Learn More 

MOTHERS DAY AT RUTH’S CHRIS

May 13th  | 11am - 6pm | Ruth’s Chris Steak House | Celebrate MOM on her special day at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Midtown Mobile for an incredible lunch featuring sizzling steaks, salads and so much more. Call for reservations.

LIVE MUSIC: MOBILE BIG BAND SOCIETY 

May 15th | 6:00pm | BLUEGILL | Two hours of big band favorites. The dance floor is always full, so come early, enjoy the great food and the music. 

MARC COHN

May 15th | 7:30pm |  The Steeple on St. Francis | Doors open at 6:30PM / Learn More

TRACY LAWRENCE

May 17th | 7:00pm |  The Steeple on St. Francis |  Learn More.

WHITE LINEN NIGHT

May 17th  | 7pm -10pm | Eastern Shore Art Center | Dress in your favorite white linen and join the Eastern Shore Art Center for White Linen Night where art will take center stage. Enjoy music by The Red Clay Strays, local fare from your favorite restaurants and a special beer brewed and labeled exclusively for White Linen Night by Fairhope Brewing Company. An exciting live auction will top off the evening and allow you to take home a special piece from a local artist. With their "Diamond in a Glass" opportunity you could even win a diamond from Stowe's Jewelers. All proceeds will benefit the Eastern Shore Art Center's ongoing mission to educate and promote the arts. Learn More

DUCK BOAT TOUR + PROGRESSIVE DINNER 

May 17th | 6pm | Sylvia’s at Fort of Colonial Mobile | A pairing an awesome Mobile attraction with some of the food and drink greats of downtown Mobile for one incredible experience ... and all for a great cause! The Fuse Project. They'll start with Happy Hour at Sylvia's (Fort of Colonial Mobile) and launch the boat promptly at 6pm. From there they will tour downtown Mobile - land and water - making stops at your favorite Mobile restaurants along the way. Each restaurant will feature a signature dish and drink just for us! Ticket price includes: - Gulf Coast Duck Boat Tour through Downtown Mobile - Food and Adult Beverage at four-five restaurant stops along the tour. Learn More. 

GRAND BEVERAGE ACADEMY: WINE TASTING 101

May 18th | 5:30pm - 6:30pm | Grand Hotel | Participants will learn how to use all of their senses while enjoying wine. Students will explore both red and white varietals. Learn More.

GRAND CULINARY ACADEMY: GRILLING BASICS

MAY 19th | 10am - 11am | Grand Hotel | Participants will learn the professional techniques of grilling meat, poultry, and fish. Learn More

HEALING THROUGH MINDFU MOVEMENT

May 20th | 1pm - 4pm | Soul Shine Yoga | Want to reduce pain, improve how you feel, and reignite the feelings of excitement, strength, connection and happiness in your life? Reconnect to the freedom you know is within. Join Sybil for her upcoming Healing Through Mindful Movement workshop and she’ll help you shift from sore, depleted and stuck to feeling alive, grounded and inspired. Sign up.

SUNDAY SUNSET SERIES 

May 20th | 6:00pm | Bayfront Park Pavilion | First of the series featuring Mobile Big Band Society. Learn More 

LUNCH & LEARN : TAX REFORM 

May 23rd | 11:30am -1:00pm | Bryant Bank Conference Room (Daphne) | Tax Reform Lunch & Learn Presented by Crow Shields Bailey, PC and Jonstone Adams LLCIN Partnering with The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce. Learn More. 

LIVE MUSIC: FBR 

May 27th | 6:00pm | BLUEGILL | Live on the big deck at the Bluegill. The dance floor is always full, so come early, enjoy the great food and the music. 

DAVE MATTHEWS         

May 27th | 7pm | The Wharf Amphitheater | Dave Matthews Live. Learn More