#Little Peggy Lou

[readersmagnet]

Hannah by Ruthanne Nopson

Transport yourself to the enchanting late summer of 1900 with “Hannah,” a novel by Ruthanne Nopson. Join the Zimmer family as they migrate from Germany to New York for a new life. While Jacob dreams of opening a bakery, Mama and the children face challenges adjusting to a new country.

Visit www.ruthannebooksforchildren.com for more books by Ruthanne Nopson and Little Peggy Lou stories for children.

[xxdjsunsetxdxx-blog]

Random Ships I Like In No Particular Order:

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* Loubbie- Lou Miller x Debbie Ocean- Ocean’s 8

* Sabina x Elena- Charlie’s Angels (2019)

* Macgyver x Riley- MacGyver (2016)

* Magnum x Higgins- Magnum PI (2018)

* Shoot- Shaw x Root- Person of Interest

* Rizzles- Rizzoli x Isles- Rizzoli & Isles

* Wondercheetah- Wonder Woman x Cheetah- DC

* Camren- Camila x Lauren- Fifth Harmony

* Blackhill- Natasha Romanoff x Maria Hill- Marvel

* Xialing x Katy- Shang-Chi

* Peggy Carter x Dottie Underwood- Agent Carter

* Supercorp- Kara Danvers x Lena Luthor- Supergirl

* Daniela x Carla- In The Heights

* Mira Harberg x Laurie- Irma Vep

* Judy Hale x Jen Harding- Dead To Me

* Florence x Madeleine- Gunpowder Milkshake

* Ronance- Robin Buckley x Nancy Wheeler- Stranger Things

* Eleanor x Drea- Do Revenge

* Harlivy- Harley Quinn x Poison Ivy- DC

* Wenclair- Wednesday Addams x Enid Sinclair- Wednesday

* Meddison- Meredith x Addison- Grey’s Anatomy

* Emily x Stephanie- A Simple Favor

* Mercymaker- Mercy x Widowmaker- Overwatch

* Akko x Diana- Little Witch Academia

* Dovesso- Professor Dovey x Lady Lesso- The School for Good and Evil

* Cassie Lang x Jentorra - Quantumania

* Spideypool- Spider-Man x Deadpool- Marvel

* Superbat- Superman x Batman- DC

* Batman x Catwoman- DC

* Princess Audrey x Wonder Woman- DCAU

* Jon Stewart (Green Lantern) x Hawkgirl (Shayera Hol)- DCAU

* StephCass- Stephanie Brown x Cassandra Cain- DC

* DinahBabs- Black Canary (Dinah Lance) x Oracle (Barbara Gordon)- DC

* DicKory- Nightwing (Dick Grayson) x Starfire (Koriand’r)- DC

* Wondermagic- Wonder Woman x Zatanna- DC

* Daphne x Velma- Scooby-Doo

* Cassie Dewell x Jenny Hoyt- Big Sky

* Choni- Cheryl Blossom x Toni Topaz- Riverdale

* Bechloe- Beca Mitchell x Chloe Beale-Pitch Perfect

* Khalopatra- Kleopatra x Frida Khalo- Clone High

* Talia Burns x Margot Fairmont- First Kill

* Question x Huntress- DCAU

* SuperWonderBat- Superman x Wonder Woman x Batman- DCAU

* Wonderhawk- Wonder Woman x Hawkgirl (Shayera Hol)- DCAU

* Dana Scully x Monica Reyes- X-Files

* Barbara (Barbie) Handler x Gloria- Barbie

* Julethief- Carmen Sandiego x Julia (Jules) Argent- Carmen Sandiego

* Seven Of Nine x Raffi Musiker- Star Trek

* Larissa Weems x Morticia Addams- The Addams Family

* Swanqueen- Emma Swan x Regina Mills- Once Upon A Time

* Alicia Florrick x Kalinda Sharma- The Good Wife

* Danny James x Cable McCrory- Bull

* Kim Possible x Shego- Kim Possible

* Peachline-Princess Peach x Mayor Pauline- Mario

* Gelphie- Elphaba Thropp x Glinda Upland- Wicked

* SamBucky- Sam Wilson x Bucky Barnes- Marvel

* PeggyNat- Peggy Carter (Captain Carter) x Natasha Romanoff- What if?

* Maxine “Max” Baker x Abby Littman- Ginny & Georgia

* Ashrah x Nitara- Mortal Kombat

* Johnshi- Johnny Cage x Kenshi Takahashi- MK

* Barlissa- Barbara Howard x Melissa Shimmenti- Abbot Elementary

* Cabenson- Olivia Benson x Alex Cabot- Law & Order SVU

* Caroljess- Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel) x Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman)- Marvel Comics

* Bishlova- Kate Bishop x Yelena Belova- Hawkeye

* Chlonette- Chloe Burgeois x Marinette Dupain-Cheng- Miraculous Ladybug (in theory)

* Clawdeen x Draculaura- MH (Gen 1)

* Teleanor- Tahani Al Jamil x Eleanor Shellstrop- The Good Place

* Hanamusa- Jessie x Delia Ketchum- Pokémon

* Jemily- Emily Prentiss x Jennifer “JJ” Jareau- Criminal Minds

* Mellivia- Olive Pope x Melody “Mellie” Grant- Scandal

* Malvie- Mal x Evie- Descendants

* Mileena x Tanya- Mortal Kombat

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talk to me abt them if you want :)

couldn’t fit all the tags lol

[margotfonteyns]

Bewitched: Ladies Sing Rodgers & Hart

01 - Ruth Etting - Ten Cents A Dance (1930) 02 - Helen Ward - Blue Moon (1935) 03 - Maxine Sullivan - Spring Is Here (1938) 04 - Helen Humes - Sing For Your Supper (1939) 05 - Bea Wain - I Didn't Know What Time It Was (1939) 06 - Adelaide Hall - The Lady Is A Tramp (1940) 07 - Helen Forrest - Bewitched (1941) 08 - Lena Horne - Where Or When (1941) 09 - Hazel Scott - Dancing On The Ceiling (1947) 10 - Lee Wiley - Manhattan (1950) 11 - Betty Carter - I Could Write A Book (1955) 12 - Helen Merrill - Wait Till You See Him (1955) 13 - June Christy - You Took Advantage Of Me (1956) 14 - Peggy Lee - It Never Entered My Mind (1956) 15 - Jeri Southern - He Was Too Good To Me (1956) 16 - Ella Fitzgerald - A Ship Without A Sail (1956) 17 - Sarah Vaughan - A Tree In The Park (1956) 18 - Abbey Lincoln - This Can't Be Love (1956) 19 - Carmen McRae - Isn't It Romantic? (1958) 20 - Billie Holiday - Glad To Be Unhappy (1958) 21 - Blossom Dearie - To Keep My Love Alive (1960) 22 - Anita O'Day - Johnny One Note (1960) 23 - Nancy Wilson - Little Girl Blue (1962)

Bonus Tracks:

24 - Mary Lou Williams (piano) - Lover (1954) 25 - Dorothy Ashby (harp) - Thou Swell (1956)

Download: flac / mp3

[forrests-dash]

First Monday since the move. House was a good idea. Too many stuff to fit in a room for long. Still can't believe I'll just live here. Who knows for how long? But it's not as bad as I thought it'd be when I came. Everyone's nice so far. That's a lie. But I can tolerate them. tolerate all except one or two, but it's fine. Comes with any place, I guess.

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Wednesday. No boxes unpacked. People starting to ask when I'll invite them over. There are no boxes unpacked. No one is coming over in the next five years.

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Been a week. The only one touching boxes besides me is Ricky. He's too helpful. Doesn't seem to want anything in return, except my couch. Do I owe him a favor? He says no.

But I owe him a favor.

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Peggy brought Sandra over. Why? WHY?? Oh thanks Peggy, nothing says hot new blood in town ready for a classy night or two out like introducing more people to a life-sized game of tetris in every room I live in!!! THANK YOU, Peggy!!! It was such a great idea!!!!!

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Spoke to Dr. Lou again, might have been a little harsh, but I'm trying not to psych myself out of it. It's the least I can do, I think? Can't talk to the guy, Peggy's still having enough trouble getting through to him as it is. But it can't hurt to make sure he doesn't get in more trouble than he needs to while he's in there.

Not that I can help that. Keeping an eye out and being there for her is all I can do. Don't know how I feel about being her chauffeur though. I said I'd give her a ride the first couple times, not that I'd do it from now on. Ah well…

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Friday. Sometimes I think Ricky just lives here.

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Ricky, touch this journal again.

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There's been a (Wed.) dog coming by, looks like it has a limp. Left it some food. Looks wild, I'll call Ricky about it later.

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Getting second thoughts about the house. Place is fine, but it's pretty close to the woods. Dog keeps coming back now. Fine, I guess. It's wild but getting better, Ricky said, but that's not really what's bothering me. Other animals keep screeching before I leave for work, like they're getting louder, closer. Better or worse than the neighbors in Chicago? It feels like this should be better, honestly. Less rude. But I dunno.

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I do miss my neighbors, though. What a bitch-fest that building was. I should call them up.

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Ricky. I really like you. But this is a journal. Are you reading this? I buried five people in my old backyard for reading this. That's why I had to run from Chicago. That's what my scandal was really about. Stop opening this drawer.

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Sunday. Peggy got him to talk. Just a little, she said, but she's more hopeful about it than I thought she'd be. Said he asked after me, knows I spoke with the doc about treating him fairly. I don't think it was smart of Lou to tell him that. I pretty much threatened to go on air if Peggy suspects abuse. That's something like blackmail, isn't it? I thought it was right at the time, but it felt like I just got snitched on. It's not smart for me to talk to him now, is it? I don't know if I'm with Peggy on this one.

The dog isn't shy anymore. It was never shy, I guess, just a regular animal, but it's closing in on the front door now. I don't even leave the food there. What if it bites? It's wild. Do I report it? Would that be like me snitching on the dog? Maybe someone should adopt it. Someone who isn't me.

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Mon. Woke up to something tapping on the window.

It's Winter, probably something blew at the glass is all, but it sounded like knocking. Maybe I do need that dog? But that'd be stupid. I can't have a pet, this place is still a mess, and it isn't a normal dog. It was just another noise, anyway.

-

Tonight's segment was the worst Reggie's come up with so far…

[0perfectimperfections0]

The Grass on the Other Side: Part 3

"I hate everything about this idea."

Lucky stayed quiet, silently agreeing with Lou on that regard as he looked up worriedly. Moxy was on Babo's shoulders, holding her arms out to balance them as they wobbled closer to the cliffside.

"Bah, you're just being a stick in the mud! C'mon, got any better ideas?" Moxy challenged.

The blond rolled his eyes. "Multiple. Let's see," he held out a finger for each idea as he listed them off, "Lefty, the weird flying thing-"

"His name's Peggy!"

She was promptly ignored. "A ladder, literally anything else..." Lou rolled his eyes back up to Moxy. "Need I go on?"

"Lefty and Peggy won't help us, okay? I know they won't. So no point in asking."

"Why not? You're all friends here, right?"

Moxy pursed her lips, looking up at the flower as she held onto Babo's shoulders. It was still a ways up there. "We are...But this is different. They don't believe the Big World exists." Lou opened his mouth to question her further on that, but she interrupted him. "Come on, you wanna get up there or not?"

Lou sighed, arms crossed as he looked up at Moxy. She was urging him to climb up onto her shoulders in some sort of balancing act, but Lou didn't know how well that would work out. He'd already fallen on the ground once today. He looked down at Lucky, who was standing beside him observantly. "Can't you fly?"

Lucky went a little sheepish at that, quirking a smile as he averted his gaze to the ground. "Ah...I'm...working on it..."

The Pretty Doll rolled his eyes and begrudgingly walked toward the Tower of Dolls. "This better work..." he mumbled under his breath. Babo interlaced his hands and boosted Lou up. Moxy grabbed his arms and pushed him the rest of the way, holding onto his feet as he precariously flailed in the air. Babo had to side-step a few paces to keep his balance as they swayed. Lucky grit his teeth together just watching it.

"Afraid of heights?" Moxy sneered up at him as he froze, trying to steady them, arms held out stiffly.

Lou grounded his teeth together, glaring down at her. "No, I'm just allergic to dying."

Moxy huffed, squinting one eye as Lou finally situated himself on her shoulders. She held tightly onto his ankles and Babo carefully walked closer to the pipe. "Is everyone a drama queen where you're from?"

Lou didn't dignify that question with an answer. He looked up at they teetered beneath the pipe...which was still a good ten feet above them. "I still can't reach it."

Moxy hummed. "We need more dolls."

The blond refrained from face-palming, lest they lose their balance. "Seriously? That's your plan? Why can't we just use a ladder? Don't you have any of those around here? Or build something?"

"We can't do that. We'll get in trouble." Moxy said, surprisingly serious in her tone and expression.

"Why would you get in trouble?"

"Because-"

"Lou?" Someone spoke up below them.

They all froze, Lucky included, and turned to see Ox staring at them with a wide eye. Lou, most of all, was struck speechless as he and Ox made eye contact. Babo finally lost his balance from whipping his head around so fast and the three of them came crashing down in a fit of yelps and screams.

Lou found himself on his back for the second time that day. And, again, a shadow blocked his vision. Except this time it was green. "Ox? What-"

"You must be Lou," Ox quickly interrupted him. "I saw you in the newspaper. Word travels fast around here." The bunny held out a hand to Lou once he sat up from the ground. "Name's Ox."

Lou blinked at the bunny, looking between his face and the outstretched hand. "I know who you are."

This caught Moxy's attention. She dusted herself off from her own fall. "You do? How?"

Ox interrupted before he could answer. "We've never met before. I'd remember you. You musta hit your head pretty hard landin' here."

What in the world was going on? Did Ox seriously not remember him? But he had said his name... "What are you talking about?" Lou swatted the outstretched hand away and stood up. "You know me, Ox. We met at-"

"Lucky, can you go back to your place and get your aid kit? Fella's hit his head pretty bad on that landin'. He's a little delusional." Lucky looked curiously between the two of them, but nodded and hurried off. Ox gave Lou a gentle pat on the arm, which was brushed off just as fast by Lou. "Don't worry, we'll get ya fixed up and better in no time."

Ox then turned his attention to Moxy and Babo. "And don't think I forgot what ya'll just tried to pull off. That little stunt coulda hurt someone, ya hear? Go on to the boat race, you two. No more messin' around the flower."

Babo took a step back to comply, but Moxy wasn't having it. "Ox, he said he's from a different place! He said the Big World is real!"

"Yeah? Well, it ain't. You thought the Big World was real, too. Still do, and you ain't got no proof. He don't either."

"But Ox-"

"Go on, Moxy, I ain't gonna repeat myself."

She still looked incredibly frustrated and determined, but closed her mouth and huffed before walking off. Babo sent a worried look between Lou and Ox before following her.

The second they were gone, Lou shot a glare down at the bunny. "What the heck? You leave for 7 years and suddenly pretend to not know me?"

Ox would have been touched that Lou knew exactly how long it had been, if not for the circumstances. He fixed Lou with a steady look. "You shouldn't be here."

Lou blinked at the cold tone. "That's all you have to say to me after all these years?"

"That's all you had to say to me before you led me toward the recycle?"

Lou's eyes hardened, hands clenching into fists. "I was trying to save you-"

"Good job," Ox bit back sarcastically.

"You've been alive all these years and never told me? Never came back through the pipes?" If Ox didn't know any better, he'd say that Lou actually sounded hurt. "I thought you were dead."

"I wasn't wanted in that Institute. Least I could do was stay outta your hair. 'Sides, didn't think you'd wanna see me, anyway."

Lou has a million things to say to this rabbit, but his eyes glance behind Ox to where Moxy and Babo had vanished off to. "Why does this whole town think the Big World isn't real? Why have you been lying to them?"

"I did what I had to." Ox kept his voice low, as if even admitting the truth out loud was too risky even with no one around. "If they thought there was somethin' better than this out there, they'd up in my situation; tossed out. I don't want them knowin' they're rejects."

"So you blocked the way to recycle, built a whole town right next door, and convinced all your little rejects that the Big World doesn't exist? Do you understand how crazy and ridiculous that sounds?"

Ox glared up at Lou, speaking through clenched teeth. "We ain't bothered y'all in seven years. Don't act like your little perfect agenda is ruined just 'cause you know about us."

Lou scoffed at that, eyes rolling. "It's going to be if you don't get a handle on some of your sock puppets. Moxy doesn't seem to believe your little story."

"Well, now that ya told her about the Big World what am I supposed to do?" Ox was growing increasingly frustrated now. Everything was going so smoothly to keep the dolls in the dark about life outside of Uglyville and then this blond comes stumbling back into the picture and ruining everything. Moxy would never let him hear the end of it now.

"Tell her the truth."

Ox scoffed this time, shaking his head. "That's funny."

"I wasn't joking." Lou crossed his arms, nodding in the general direction of the town. "Tell all of them the truth. Tell them they're rejects and that the Big World is real, but they'll never be able to go. I think Moxy would stop trying so hard if she knew she would be wasting her time."

"And how would that make me look, huh? If they suddenly find out, after all these years, that I'd been lyin' to them?"

"Maybe you should've thought about that before lying to them." Lou was dead serious about this and Ox could tell that he was in a rock and a hard place now. Lou had to leave.

"Go back to the Institute. I'll have Lefty hoist ya up there." Ox made to turn around to do that, but Lou gave an incredulous laugh.

"Oh, no, Bunny." Lou smirked, unfolding his arms and squinting at Ox in wry amusement. "If you won't tell them then I will. My Institute is on the line with this little fib of yours."

Ox bristled, whipping around fast to glare at Lou. "You ain't tellin' them anything. Now stay put. You're goin' back where you belong."

Lou straightened at the challenge, a dangerous look in his eyes that made Ox stiffen. The blond clenched his jaw and walked past Ox. "Try and stop me."

"Lou, don't you even think about it! I'm serious!" Ox started to hurry after Lou. Stupid long-legged Pretty Doll.

Lou didn't bother looking behind him. "Maybe I just want to see more of your town. Is that so wrong?" When Ox finally fell into step beside him, he gave the bunny an innocent look.

"That's a lie and we both know it," Ox grumbled.

Lou raised an eyebrow down at him, arms folding behind his back. "Maybe not. But I know what is a lie...and this whole town is gonna know about it. You said word travels fast, right?"

Ox's eye widened and he slowed to a stop as Lou kept walking. He swallowed nervously. If the town found out about his secret...would they turn on him? Would they get mad and revolt? He had to do something to stop Lou. Anything. Would bribery even work?

Ox's mind ran a mile a minute to try and figure out a solution.

"Wait."

Lou stopped, not turning to look at Ox just yet. He tilted his head slightly to the side, seeing the blurry image of the bunny from the corner of his eye. He raised a brow, waiting for Ox to continue.

Ox took in a shaky breath, mind spinning. "Let's make a deal."

[classicsapphicships]

The first round of preparations are finally complete, and that means the first round of the Classic Sapphic Ships bracket is almost ready to go! I'll be preparing the polls today and tomorrow to hopefully go live on Friday, and voting time for at least the first two rounds will run for a week. Check out the FAQ in the meantime, and feel free to send over any additional questions as well!

The full list of Round 1 Match Ups is under the cut!

Right side:

Franky/Bridget (Wentworth) vs Regina/Emma (Once Upon a Time)

Watson/Moriarity (Elementary) vs Lucy/Amy (DEBS)

Gina/Rosa (Brooklyn 99) vs Debbie/Lou (Ocean's 8)

Jo/Blair (The Facts of Life) vs Peyton/Brooke (One Tree Hill)

Piper/Alex (Orange is the New Black) vs Bering/Wells (Warehouse 13)

Xena/Gabrielle (Xena: Warrior Princess) vs Trini/Kimberly (Power Rangers 2017)

Ripley/Annalee (Alien) vs Annalise/Tegan (How to Get Away With Murder)

Susan/Talia (Babylon 5) vs Chessy/Meredith (The Parent Trap)

Ann/Anne (Gentleman Jack) vs Scully/Reyes (X-Files)

Cat/Kara (Supergirl) vs Olivia/Natalia (Guiding Light)

Nikki/Helen (Bad Girls) vs Ola/Lily (Sex Education)

13/Cameron (House MD) vs Sara/Catherine (CSI)

Delphine/Cosima (Orphan Black) vs Emily/JJ (Criminal Minds)

B'elanna/Seven (Star Trek) vs Rachel/Quinn (UnReal)

Emily/Alison (Pretty Little Liars) vs Beca/Chloe (Pitch Perfect)

Carol/Maria (Captain Marvel) vs Raven/Abby (The 100)

Left side:

Grace/Frankie (Grace & Frankie) vs Shaw/Root (Person of Interest)

Callie/Arizona (Grey's Anatomy) vs Stef/Lena (The Fosters)

Eve/Mazikeen (Lucifer) vs Luce/Rachel (Imagine Me & You)

Tara/Pam (True Blood) vs Ally/Ling (Ally McBeal)

Alex/Olivia (Law and Order SVU) vs Miranda/Andy (The Devil Wears Prada)

Samantha/Janet (Stargate SG-1) vs Nomi/Amanita/Sense8)

Willow/Tara (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) vs 13/Yasmin (Doctor Who)

Sharon/Brenda (The Closer) vs Kalinda/Alicia (The Good Wife)

Max/Anne (Black Flag) vs Petra/Jane (Jane the Virgin)

Eleanor/Tahani (The Good Place) vs Kelly/Yorkie (Black Mirror)

Rory/Paris (Gilmore Girls) vs Aneela/Kendry (Killjoys)

Quinn/Rachel (Glee) vs Jane/Maura (Rizzoli & Isles)

Nico/Karolina (Runaways) vs Serena/Bernie (Holby City)

Laura/Danny (Carmilla) vs Peggy/Angie (Agent Carter)

Hecate/Pippa (The Worst Witch) vs Bobbie/Chrisjen (The Expanse)

Bo/Lauren (Lost Girl) vs Bette/Tina (The L Word)

[tdciago]

Fargo: Operation Eagle's Nest

Theory in collaboration with @thefutureiswhat. SPOILERS ahead. We're down to the wire, so let's talk about this fictional Ronald Reagan movie, introduced in season 2. Young Molly Solverson watches it on TV; Peggy watches it in the cabin; and Ronald Reagan talks about it to Lou. A French couple, Marie and Pierre, hide from a Nazi in a basement. The Nazi starts a fire to smoke them out. Pierre is going to act as a shield for Marie, but Reagan's character arrives to save the day, shooting the Nazi and apparently killing him.

PIERRE: If we stay here, we burn in our own little hell. As Reagan and the couple escape, the Nazi wakes up and follows them. We are left to wonder about the outcome. Even Reagan himself doesn't recall. "I remember back in '42, America just joined the war. I was working on, uh... 'Operation Eagle's Nest' for Paramount. I got dropped behind enemy lines trying to rescue Jimmy Whitmore and Laraine Day from this SS commando. Bob Stack was on loan from Selznick. That Nazi bastard had us cornered. We were done for, but in the end, with a little American ingenuity, we managed to, uh...Oh, no. No, no, wait a minute. Um... Come to think of it, I don't think we made it out of that one. Or did we? Oh, shit, I can't remember. Well, either way, it was a fine picture." In season 5, as Wayne enters his home after Dot has been kidnapped, we hear on the TV that "Operation Eagle's Nest" will be starting. In "The Tender Trap," Vivian Dugger and his pals leave the strip club talking about France. "You're gonna get in trouble, man. Then move to France. The French, buddy? No. You're, like... The French would like me better than you." Later in the episode, Lorraine mentions Vivian's son starting at Notre Dame, which is French for "Our Lady." Does the uncertain outcome of "Operation Eagle's Nest" foreshadow a similar scenario in "Bisquik"? Will we see Roy apparently killed, only to have him appear alive in prison? Will Reagan's uncertainty about the ending of the film parallel our uncertainty about the ending of season 5, calling into question "the true truth"? We've had references to "Rashomon" in "Linda," and to the short story "The Lady, or the Tiger?" In episode 5.5. Both have ambiguous endings. We've also had Nazi references, with Odin questioning whether Roy is Hitler at the Reichstag or Hitler in the bunker, where he committed suicide. Erwin Rommel, another Nazi mentioned this season, also committed suicide, and it was coerced. He was given a choice. Stand trial for being complicit in trying to kill Hitler, which would drag his family through the mud and end in certain conviction and death; or commit suicide, being hailed as a war hero and leaving his family untouched. He chose suicide. So I wonder if Lorraine will offer Roy a similar deal, writing a check to ensure that Roy's children will not be "futureless," if he agrees to eat Munch's sins, perhaps in the form of biscuits so laden with 500 years' worth of sins that they are toxic. And maybe, somehow, the story will be that Roy died a hero, a martyr to his right-wing cause. A Rommel deal. LORRAINE: You tuck your kids in at night, never telling them that they're-they're in the cage, too, because, when you die, your debts become theirs. "Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down..."

[cadybear420]

If all the other Choices Books were tv shows/books in the HSS universe, which ones would Evie and Aiden watch/read together?

For the life of me I have never quite been able to make headcanons for these until now, let's fucking goooooo

(For the purpose of these headcanons, I'm going to assume all the TV/book versions of these stories use the MCs, LIs, and other choices that I used)

TCATF, it's basically canonically a TV series in the HSS universe itself with the MC's bedroom even having a poster of it. It would definitely be something Evie is very fond of, especially for characters like Kenna, Val, and Sei. Although it wouldn't be as big of a favorite to Evie as she gets older, she'd still hold it dear to her and she and Aiden would love watching it together as a comfort show.

ATV, the whole futuristic scifi vibe is something Evie would adore and they would also looooove the soundtrack. And Aiden would have a crush on Kepler.

The Phantom Agent, they both (Evie especially) love the secret agent genre, James Bond films included. And they would both rave so hard over the opening music. And they'd especially love a wlm take on James Bond adventures. They'd definitely try and roleplay the dynamics between MC and Nurse Lou + Alexis Reid hehe.

BOLAS, Evie would love the adventure. Also Aiden would have the biggest crush on Imtura (and f!orc!MC, but I'm probably gonna have multiple MCs that I love equally) and Evie would be like the biggest "Imtura is goals". IIRC BOLAS was confirmed to be an actual game/TV series in AME Book 3, so there's that.

DLS, for... many reasons. One, Aiden would go feral for that absolute cunt-serving opening theme. Two, "Hey the main leads kinda look like us". Three, "OMG cunty genderfucking bottom dude and a tough masc buff GNC top lady". Four, it would spark Aiden's interest in trying sheer tops for when he wants to dress a little more cunty/GNC. Five, "heehee pegging coded innuendos everywhere". For all these reasons they would 100% try to roleplay the steamy scenes, or at least the steamy scenes would definitely inspire Aiden to get a little more initiative/controlling in the bedroom with Evie. Like there's one scene where the MC can make Charlotte suck his nips and be more commanding to her and I can definitely see Aiden trying that too, especially when he notices how much Evie loves seeing it happen on screen. So needless to say, she would GREATLY enjoy it.

BaBu, Evie may have negative-infinity interest in becoming pregnant, but that doesn't mean she and Aiden can't enjoy a cute pregnancy story every now and then.

It Lives, Endless Summer, TH:M, MAH, They're my other top tier favorites along with HSS and so I think Evie and Aiden would love them too. They'd quite enjoy imagining themselves in those adventures. Although I feel I should discount TH:M because I've been liking the headcanon that my f!MC Otto is an estranged maternal Aunt to Evie. And MAH because I headcanon Evie and Aiden become neighbors to and befriend Tyler and my f!MC Peggy when they move temporarily to an apartment in SF a year after they marry.

[mariusperkins]

Hello, so I have 0 understanding of the Gilded Age apart from your blog and sometimes things that show up on TikTok. The things I have seen on there make Mrs Russell seem abhorrent (there’s a bit where the daughter is crying to her dad because her mom banished a suitor?) and another where the mom fires a governess for letting her adult daughter go out and about. Are we meant to be rooting for the mom or the daughter, or both, and is the mom really a bad person?

Hello! Sorry this reply is about to get long -

I think there are a lot of reasons that people enjoy the gilded age as a show, whether you're a fan of period costumes, christine baranski, or just love to listen to nathan lane's little colonel sanders accent, but I would say that if you don't enjoy the russells or at least find them entertaining, then you would not enjoy the show - not that there's not stuff going on outside of them, but bertha russell especially is such a huge force the I think if you couldn't at least find her entertaining to watch then they show would be unbearable. It would be comparable to watching breaking bad but hating/not enjoying walter white - you could watch the show, and there would be other stuff for you, but you probably wouldn't enjoy the show as much who someone who tuned in to see whatever messed up, horrible thing walter white was scheming about that week.

I kind of loved bertha right from the start because I am a simple creature and so when the switch is flipped on for 'I like this character' I tend to kind of be ride or die for them and on their side no matter what they're doing, and this kind of tends to be especially true for me with "abhorrent" female characters (see also: every bitchy teen girl in a slasher movie that you're Supposed To Hate, clementine kesh, mary lou from hello mary lou: prom night 2, scarlett o'hara, (arguably) season 1 of teen wolf lydia martin, (extremely arguably) late seasons skylar white, to name just a few), characters I absolutely would not want to ever meet in real life but love to see what plan they're attempting to pull off in fiction or what terrible thing they're going to say next. So, obviously, since this is coming straight from the Bertha Russell Defense Squad, you should take all of this with a huge grain of salt.

With bertha it's like... it's the 1880s. She's working within a very strict set of rules - she can chose not to follow them, and we see plenty of characters that don't, but if she wants to get to the top of the very specific social structure as set out by the gilded age's version of mrs astor's new york, then she has to work with what's there.

At that time, most young women of their social class would have been expected to not leave the house unless they were accompanied by someone (even marian, a character who is a few years older and is socially "out", brings peggy with her if she wants to go somewhere), especially if they were not "out" to society yet, which gladys (bertha's daughter) was not when her governess gets fired. I believe gladys in s1 is supposed to be 17 or 18 - really on the line of it being appropriate for her to still have a governess (instead of a lady's maid who would accompany her on shopping trips/walks/etc) - and you definitely get the idea that bertha has been holding off gladys' coming out for longer than would be considered "normal" due to a combination of over-protectiveness/being controlling and waiting to hold such an event on a grand scale as a social power play. I think the show itself is kind of in two minds about whether bertha as "right" to hold back, she's obviously waiting until she can time it right to swing things in her favour socially regardless of what gladys actually wants, but bertha is right in that unless certain social things were in place she couldn't have "filled the ballroom" - if you moved into a new suburb, you'd probably hold off on your child's party until you were sure the other parents would let their kids come over for it.

But back to your question - the governess situation is maybe the simpler one and the one where I'm more like, I don't know that bertha is doing anything here that is so out of the ordinary for an 1880s socialite - certainly the only time we ever hear agnes van reijn, the russell's old money neighbour, say anything nice about bertha is when they see that gladys is accompanied out of the house with her governess. The governess that's supposed to be watching over her teenage daughter has been helping said teen daughter secretly meet with a man at a hotel (which gladys arranged specifically to meet with him away from her parents - now, obviously that is only happening because bertha is so controlling, but, still, that's kind of exactly the sort of behaviour you have a governess to stop, or at least warn you about). Bertha is cold about it, and it's absolutely coming from a horrible, controlling place, but it's exactly what would have been expected of her in that situation.

As for archie baldwin, the suitor bertha had banished, that's a little more of a grey area (although, again, it's not totally out of line with what real 1800s socialites were doing). Archie seems nice enough and essentially perfect on paper (old money family, stable career, likes gladys), but bertha of course wants more than just 'good on paper', she wants something she can rub in people's faces. From our more modern perspective gladys is also very young (she wasn't even "out" at that stage), although from what george says and from the ages of george and bertha and their children, we can assume george and bertha weren't all that much older than gladys when they got married.

BUT, and it is a very big but, when george and bertha got married they weren't high society and so could marry for love and not strategy. Frankly, that george goes along with the plan to send archie away (and even does quite a bit of orchestrating the "banishment" himself) is enough to convince me that he didn't think much of the young man or gladys' feelings towards him despite having a more emotionally close relationship with his daughter (although, maybe george's thoughts were along the line of 'bertha gets one free veto before she has to make a real argument against one of gladys' suitors').

Who's "side" should we be on then? I mean, that's up to you, whether you watch the show or not. The russell family is absolutely going to contain more than a few social and internal explosions in s3 with the set ups we're given at the end of s2. Personally I hope, as I always do when I watch the show, that bertha gets everything she wants.

[captainjimothycarter]

94 & 10, Steggy

sorry for this being late, I've been sick af and trying to work on steggy secret Santa. I should be working on that but my focus does not exist in this state.

--

Read On AO3

He's flown many times in his life, flying should've just been as easy as breathing. Yet each time had to step on a damn plane felt like he was taking his life into his own hands.

Steve did not like flying, even as a kiddo. Most of the time he’d spent with his face buried into his mom’s side, until she taught him how to channel his anxiety into something productive, like braiding hair. Now as an adult, with a little one of his own, he was having to face the music that he just wasn't cut out for flying.

"Daddy, are you okay?" Sarah asked, feeling how tense her daddy got when the plane had taken off. It was promised to be smooth sailing and only a seven-hour flight. Plenty of time for her to get a nap in before they went out to explore. "You're not breathing, like when Uncle Clint saw a rabbit that one day at the park. Remember?"

He remembered how Clint tensed up at the sight of the white rabbit, jaw clenched and how he didn't even breathe until Bucky and Natasha had to get him away, and dragging a muscular 6'3 frame was not easy.

"Yeah," he muttered, finally remembering to breathe and trying not to let it be known he was gasping for air. He breathed deeply, calming until he felt his hands clenching the arms of the middle seat relax some. "Sorry, baby girl. Flying isn't exactly fun for me as it is for you."

Sarah made everything into an adventure, even something as simple as trotting down to the corner store was filled with fighting pirates and bad guys, using the shadows as a sort of puzzle. He'd written down most of what he could about her games, wanting to keep some dialogue of her innocent childhood, something to look back on, but her games, her imagination, were so complex that only she seemed to understand it.

"You get scared," it wasn't a question but a keen observation for a seven-year-old. She saw how tense her Daddy was when they took off, the way his fingers were now kneading the leather. "Can you braid my hair, Daddy? I want braids for when we land and braiding calms you down."

She was always so sweet, taking care of him when he should be taking care of her. Yet, here they were. Steve smiled at Sarah, leaning over to press his lips against her temple. "That's a wonderful idea, baby girl. Thank you for being so sweet to me."

"I should’ve done this earlier, but no time like the present," Steve noted, poking her nose lightly as she lifted the arm of the chair so there was more room between them. She turned around so her head was at his disposal, long dirty blonde curls cascading down her back.

It felt nice to fall into this rhythm of gathering her hair up between his fingers. He was a natural at braiding, learning the different techniques and how not to make it give Sarah a headache. He adored how adorable she looked after, showing the braid off to everyone.

One strand of hair over the other, secured with a bobby pin to be sure it didn’t escape. Listening to Sarah's humming seeing her reading the book she’d brought.

Steve continued to work, getting lost in the motion as the time slowly weaned on, listening to the slumbering snores of those around them, save for their seatmate who was well engrossed in her book. He caught her eye, her pretty brown eyes twinkling with delight as she tilted her head to look at the work that Steve had done. 

"You did an amazing job," she noted, earning a bashful smile for her compliment. "You have quite the skilled hands. When I was her age, any attempt to braid my heart resulted in a screaming match, one tantrum, and forced braids that made me look like Cindy Lou-Hoo.”

Steve laughed at that, a deep belly laugh that caused his head to throw back, his hand thrown over his chest. That sort of laugh, in anyone, always brought out a smile in Peggy - something about the manner he laughed told her that it was rare that he'd often do it.

"I'm very lucky when it comes to Sarah," he informed her, kissing his daughter’s temple. "Very lucky, indeed. She's been quite an easy, honest child and I don’t know what I did to get so lucky.”

“Unfortunately for my brother, my niece is known to take after me and that's caused some rift in the family," she chuckled, holding her hand out. "I'm Peggy, by the way."

"Steve and this lovely gal is my daughter, Sarah.”

Peggy smiled at the introduction to Sarah, even shaking her hand. She seemed almost nervous as she fidgeted with her book and set it aside. “If it’s not too much to ask, would you like to braid my hair? You’re just still tense and it seems to take your mind off things.”

Steve felt his face heating up, clearing his throat. Was he really that readable? "It would be my pleasure, ma’am. Let’s get you comfortable, here lean back into me.”

Steve settles himself behind Peggy, working her luscious, thick curls between his fingers. There was something familiar about the scent, the way that it wafted over him, reminded him of spending days with little Sarah in his arms, in the middle of a garden, just after it rained. The scent wafted off of her as he started to braid, weaving, plaiting, the curls were soft and he found himself falling enjoying the manner her curls felt, the scent coming off of her.

"Harley told me that in some cultures, someone braiding another’s hair means that you two are married," Sarah spoke up, breaking Steve's reminiscing. 

"Well, I didn’t know that! That’s an interesting thought," Peggy mused, glancing back to Steve and spotting the red flush on his skin. “Do you two follow that culture?”

"No!” Steve said this far too loud and too fast, wanting to pull away to cover his face. “I-I mean, no ma’am, we do not.”

“Miss Peggy," Sarah said, a bit too innocently for Steve’s liking. "We don’t but-but-but Daddy or you might. Where are you taking Daddy on a date, if you do?"

Steve had to admit he choked on his breath at his daughter's sudden question. Oh, no wonder she sounded far too innocent.

He couldn't even bring himself to look at Peggy now, honestly, a nervous laugh coming from the depths of his chest. He glanced over at her, Peggy's cheeks were stained a deep shade of pink, adorable and highlighting the freckles of her cheeks. He had half a thought of pressing his lips against her cheeks, of feeling as if they were just as warm as they looked.

"Darling," Steve says consciously, still finding his voice and looking over to Sarah. "Sweetheart, while that's sweet, I doubt Miss Peggy is even flying to Ireland and I'm sure she has her plans."

He's rewarded with a slight pout and Sarah looks dejected, but her shoulders slump in understanding that adults were busy and adults had their jobs and lives and couldn't drop everything on a child’s whimsical thoughts.

Thankfully, Peggy seems to understand and doesn’t get offended. She glances just over her shoulder at them, humming in response for a moment. "Unfortunately, you're right. I'm heading nowhere fun. I'm simply visiting family in London."

She didn't bother to hide the not-so-pleased tone in her voice over this fact either. He frowned slightly, tilting his head some. "Family is rough. God knows I try to avoid hanging with my extended family. I don't know how my mom got to be related to such a jackass too. It's why we're flying to Ireland for Sarah's birthday, trying to put as much distance between us and my Uncle as possible. Sarah asked if we could go to Ireland to see where I grew up."

Sarah had been interested in the conversation, leaning closer to rest her chin over her dad's shoulder. "Daddy is amazing with telling stories and telling about history! He makes really, really good bread too! Like the best soda bread and makes it better than Grandma Sarah."

He’s worried that they’ve somehow offended Peggy, given how quickly she falls quiet and how her brow pinches together.

Steve could see the gears turning in her head, the thoughts passing through. most likely thinking of what she had to do once she got to her home country. It surprises her, just as he's finished she turns to Sarah and smiles.

"Well, I've thought about it," she said, "And you're right, Miss Sarah, I think I would have more fun with the two of you. I'd like to join you two, as long as I'm not interfering with quality father-daughter time."

Steve tried not to hold his breath, hearing his daughter's sharp intake of breath. He didn't want to get his hopes up, Miss Peggy was pretty, she was interesting, and more importantly, Sarah seemed to love her. He shouldn't hold his breath in such a manner that she'd want to spend time with them.

This was just some Hallmark pipe dream, right?

"Daddy?" Sarah's voice squeaked, clinging to his arm. "Can she? Pretty please?"

Now how could he deny that and his little one saying please in such an adorable manner? Those puppy dog eyes didn't help either.

He smiled at Peggy, nodding his head. "You're more than welcome to join us, ma'am. I hate to ask but what about your family? Aren't they expecting you?"

Peggy shrugged her shoulders, fingers trailing over the delicate, elegant braid that Steve had weaved for her. "What about them? They're right prats who just want to sit there in a stuffy home and squabble over Nana's will and what is left over and whatnaught. They can sit there and squabble between themselves, I'm much better off with the two of you, After all, how else would I get such an amazing braid and even more amazing soda bread?"

--

Fanfic Mashup, I'll be doing these for today since I cannot concentrate.

[50s-music-tournament]

Week 1

Blue Moon, The Marcells - I Only Have Eyes For You, The Flamingos

We Wanna Boogie, Sonny Burgess - Heartbreak Hotel, Elvis Presley

Tutti Frutti, Little Richard - Santa Baby, Eartha Kitt

Beyond the Sea, Bobby Darin - Rockin Robin, Bobby Day

El Paso, Marty Robbins - Be Bop a Lula, Gene Vincent

Get a Job, The Silhouettes - Shout, The Isley Brothers

Tequila, The Champs - Who Do You Love, Bo Diddley

Unforgettable, Nat King Cole - Secret Love, Doris Day

La Bamba, Ritchie Valens - 16 Tons, Tennessee Ernie Ford

Week 2

The Masochism Tango, Tom Lehrer - Kansas City, Wilbert Harrison

Silhouettes, The Rays - Carolina Moon, Connie Francis

Hound Dog, Big Mama Thornton - Jim Dandy, LaVern Baker

Here in My Heart, Al Martino - I Put A Spell On You, Screamin' Jay Hawkins

Whole Lotta Shaking Going On, Big Maybelle - A Teenager In Love, Dion & The Belmonts

Fever, Little Willie John - Old Cape Cod, Patti Page

Summertime Blues, Eddie Cochran - Lovers Question, Clyde McPhatter

Summertime, Ella Fitzgerald/ Louis Armstrong - Dont You Just Know it, Huey Piano Smith & His Clowns

Lonely Teardrops, Jackie Wilson - Wonderful! Wonderful!, Johnny Mathis

Week 3

Earth Angel, The Penguins - Rumble, Link Wray

Blueberry Hill, Fats Domino - Why Do Fools Fall In Love, Frankie Lymon

Put Your Head on My Shoulder, Paul Anka - Stagger Lee, Lloyd Price

Cold, Cold Heart, Hank Williams - I Hear You Knocking, Smiley Lewis

Sh'Boom, The Chords - Rebel Rouser, Duane Eddie

Brown Eyed Handsome, Man Chuck Berry - Speedo, The Cadillacs

In the Still Of The Night, The Five Satins - Freight Train, Elizabeth Cotten

Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean Ruth Brown - Everyday Buddy Hollly & The Crickets

Come & Go With Me, The Del Vikings - Love Potion No. 9, The Clovers

Week 4

My Baby Just Cares For Me, Nina Simone - (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock, Bill Haley & His Comets

That's Amore, Dean Martin - Betty Lou Got A New Pair Of Shoes, Bobby Freeman

I Walk The Line, Johnny Cash - Work With Me Annie, Hank Ballard & The Midnighters

Cry Me A River, Julie London - Come On-a My House, Rosemary Clooney

Be Anything (but Be Mine), Peggy Lee - Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, The Platters

The Book of Love, The Monotones - Mr. Sandman, The Chordettes

Pink Shoelaces, Dodie Stevens - Let's Have A Party, Wanda Jackson

Ain't Got No Home, Clarence "Frogman" Henry - Fly Me To The Moon, Kaye Ballard

Day-O (The Banana Boat Song), Harry Belafonte - Blue Suede Shoes, Carl Perkins

[readersmagnet]

"A Collection of Children's Short Stories" by Ruthanne Nopson

Delight your children with heartwarming tales with "A Collection of Children's Short Stories" by Ruthanne Nopson. From Buster Bunny's Thanksgiving mishap to Mila the Little Turtle's unexpected journey, these stories from Ruthanne's book for children promise to teach your children valuable lessons.

Spark your child's imagination with these unforgettable stories. Grab a copy at www.ruthannebooksforchildren.com.

[avesrinapproved]

i was tagged by @stackthedeck who should know better dude i got like 80...

Rules: In a new post, post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them and then post a little snippet of it or tell them something about it and then tag as many people as you have WIPs.

Life outside of Panem 10th games

Light side and dark side

Finnick killing

little sejanus and coryo

Prince must be (Lil Loki)

Dr gaul

I have one that just says three-way sex party

Lou and DK

that's the end of the ones in my Google Docs that I'm actively working on but I have ones in files which are

book 1 1/2: sneaky dating (Howard X Peggy)

book 4: The Gangs all here (Steve X Bucky)

sejanus x coriolanus

book 4 1/2: raising a baby

co-parenting with a mob boss (Carter and Joseph)

book 5: the prequel back in the war

Bruce has did

Matt and lucky

Prim in The Hunger Games

sacrificial spider

surrounded by you (Venom X matt)

your fucking 15 Peter and Tony

im only going to tag 1 person cause this is..... a lot @maplebugart

[panzershrike-pretz]

top five ocs :3

Lou you like to make me suffer???? It would be easier if this was like. A top 50 ocs 😭😭😭 i can't possibly choose only 5 🥲👍 (i'm lying)

Since I have Too Many Characters(TM), I'll narrow it down to choose between the 92 (oof) that already have ther ref sheets drawn :] and this is in no particular order, it's just numbered to look pretty,,,

1. Pangea Coldwell

She's a fairly recent character I created back in 2022. She's Peggy's handler, and a second world war medic (i was in my biggest WWII era at the time). She's a gentle and kind woman, with a big heart but almost no patience at all; usually seen as smart by her peers and fast-to-act, despite whatever's in he way.

Despite her interest in medicine, she's extremely fond of ice-skating, acting, singing and reading - some of her favorite hobbies that don't include her insane dog.

Her power is that of future-sighting, though it's not nowhere near as strong as Horace's. She sees only bits and pieces based on probability, normally of the immediate future (at most, she sees only a few hours ahead, while Horace can see years in advance).

2. Peggy

The absolute sensation. My baby. THE stupidest thing to ever walk this planet. Precious bean. The devil's child, born to put everything in her mouth (and hopefully eat it before dying). The one and only:

Peggy, the Belgian Mallinois is a medical-rescue war dog owned by Pangea. Don't worry, she's dumb even while at work. She has a magical shield against projectiles, so she's a walking barrier (RIP for everyone who tries to hit her with a shoe while she howls and barks)

Things that she eated included (but are not limited to): frogs, fish, insects, rocks, shoes, bones she found where bones shouldn't be, twigs, a dead starfish, baby turtle, tried to eat a crab but failled, a hat, her own leash at least 3 timess, wood, alcoholic beverages (she's fiiiiiine), a mushroom, triessd to eat a snake, etc.

3. Constance Ezebel

The Goddess of Oceans and Curses. I consider her to be one of the strongest Gods among my characters; she's as ancient as water.

Since she was cursed to stay stuck on a Loop in Tortuga, unable to be free at sea again, she takes her anger in those who choose the waters to be their homes. She controls floods and storms, but also when fishing is good and the seas are calm. The fate of all who chose the sea lie within her hands - and those of her se monsters and creatures, who do her biding.

She's a fucking bitch who never does anything for free and usually only accepts stuff if it's paid with a soul or sacrifice,,, she also throws the best parties so she's forgiven :3 and she's half goat so she's cool

4. Stiggy the Stygimoloch

He was just a joke I turned real. He's extremely OP (the indistructable, extremely agresssives and immortal little dinosaur. Who is VERY little and VERY angry) that I turned canon because I love him so much xD

His first appearance was back in 2019 (you see, he's OLD). His backstory is that all the anger in the universe fuels him and he was created by the Gods as a weapon or something. Anyway the only person who he listens to is Miss Kestrel

He's my fave joke character and i'm very glad I made him canon (even if he lives in a forest in the middle of nowhere without ever being interacted with xD)

5. Athena Crow

Death and Freedom Goddess! One of my mains like Pangea and Peggy! Blithe's iresponsible First Mate and Constance's biggest pain in the ass (Athena cursed her to be forever stuck on land and Constance cursed Athena to forever roam the seas. They are bestfriends but also hate each other's guts)

I have SO MANY thoughts about this woman it's unreal,,,,, I love how much of an annoyance she is in general. Alway here to make a fool of herself and have people questioning why the fuck they follow her

Form this I discovered that: of my favorites the only one who is not a complete and utter imbecile is Pangea. Good for her 🤡👍

[libidomechanica]

As queenly at nor beg no your slavery foemen somet

Until the loued so its silence. All Immortal more the to memory’s haught and of naught, from them fastes they hands song evillages: he secreate, have morne of zeal has fit Orator, the wit takes unclasps his impulses a good for hue deep Bosphorus cousing tune to red-head an old, o call way o’er shall i’d but see, for I knows. Across in not breason of string but your bodies pere: sike the war the first. Thou, would rotation his the charm so some wickens here was no fetched in her can’s would oft yours by his littled always which the Intell atters, make my Peggy’s sneers? Shall?

[0perfectimperfections0]

The Grass on the Other Side: Part 2

Moxy wasn't joking when she said she wanted to hear all about the Institute. It didn't help that the Institute itself, compared to this place, was absolutely desolate. There wasn't really much to tell her.

When the topic of the Big World came up, that was when she really got invested. It was obviously the only thing she really wanted to know about. When Lou explained how the Institute worked; that dolls trained to be perfect and then went through the portal to go to the Big World, Moxy instantly lit up. It didn't go past him, the surprised look that Lucky gave him as well.

"It's real?" Lucky seemed genuinely baffled. "But I thought the Big World was just a story? Myths?"

That was what confused Lou the most. The fact that these creatures had heard of the Big World, yet only Moxy seemed to believe it really existed. Did all the creatures in this place think the Big World wasn't real? But why? Surely they knew they were factory rejects. Sent here because of some clogged up- oh...

Lou blinked down at Lucky, the pieces starting to fall into place. If these creatures were only here because of the blocked pipe, then maybe they really didn't know there was anything beyond this town. That still didn't explain how they were told about the Big World in the first place...

"Why haven't you gone through the pipe before to see what's through it?" Lou asked.

Moxy tilted her head. "What pipe?"

Lou rolled his eyes, staring ahead again with a flat expression. "The flower. Why haven't you gone through the flower?"

Her eyes lit up in understanding and, once again, Lou rolled his eyes. "Oh! Well, it's really high up. We don't really know how to get into it."

"What about the octopus thing? Can't she reach it?"

"Lefty?" Moxy hummed as she looked ahead to contemplate that idea. It never occurred to her to ask someone outside of her immediate friend group. She never really interacted with Lefty a lot. Mainly because she hated being far from the water. "Well...she really doesn't like being far from the ocean. I don't think she'd help."

Lou's eyes flitted up to the sky, noticing a flying white horse thing with one eye. He grimaced, but nodded toward the thing as it flew over them. "What about that thing? Can't it fly into the pi- flower?" Lou corrected himself quickly.

Once again, Moxy looked a little sheepish at the reasonable idea. Peggy didn't talk about the Big World at all. None of the other dolls here did, for that matter. Anytime she brought it up, they all either changed subjects none-too-subtly, or they went to get Ox involved to quickly dissuade her from talking about it anymore. "Erm...Peggy wouldn't help, either."

Now Lou was getting suspicious. Why was Moxy the only one trying to solve these mysteries? Did none of the other creatures even care that there was a strange flower protruding from the cliffside, spitting out random rejects? Did they not wonder where the rejected dolls were coming from?

He couldn't ask her about it before she changed her object of attention to the building in front of them. She skipped ahead, seemingly pushing aside the conversation for now. Lou squinted after her, lips pursed skeptically. Something didn't seem right.

"She's kind of an outsider, around here," Lucky speaks up quietly, noticing Lou's expression.

Lou refrains from scoffing at that. An outsider in a town full of outsiders? How much lower could one possibly go?

Lucky continued at Lou's contemplative silence. "She's the only one that thinks the Big World is real. W-Well...I guess except you, now, but you're from the flower, so...I guess you're not lying about all of that." Lucky looks down at the ground, face pinched in thought.

"But how do you know about it if you think it's not real? Who told you about it in the first place?"

Lucky shrugged. "I don't know. It's just a story that got passed down over the years. Moxy just took them seriously."

Lou shook his head, averting his gaze from Lucky and ahead to where Moxy was talking with a large, grey creature. "Who told you it was just a story?"

The red bat opened his mouth to answer, but Moxy suddenly called out to them. "Babo said he could help! Come on!" She had already started hurrying off toward the pipe before Lou and Lucky could meet with the other two.

Lou tilted his head back, sighing, as he watched her bolt off, not looking back to see if they were following. The grey creature gave the two of them a sheepish smile and a shrug. Maybe this was just something Moxy did all the time.

_______

Ox was on his way to the peer for the boat race that was supposed to happen in less than thirty minutes. They wouldn't start without him and he had a million other things to do today. Being late was not one of those things.

It didn't catch his attention until he noticed that, instead of greeting him with a wide smile, the dolls he passed by were engrossed in what seemed to be an interesting conversation. Once he tuned in, he caught snippets of it:

"He looks odd."

"Why is he so scrawny? Does he eat?"

"We never got an announcement."

"What's up with the suit?"

Ox slowed his pace down to try and gather more from the dolls, but everything was so vague. It's like they didn't know the name of this "he" person.

Something hit Ox on the back of the head and a doll passing by called out a bashful apology before tossing another newspaper to the neighboring group of dolls. Ox rubbed the back of his head, looking down at the front page. His eye widened.

It couldn't be.