#Maybe we could make a book club with Leo?

[jeromefox]

Hello Jerome! Um, I would just like to thank you, for the experience at the library.

I very much enjoyed it.

Um, so uh yeah thank you!

@shiloh-official

Of course Shiloh! I also enjoyed it. We should definitely have another one sometimes!

[tessa-liam]

Royal Adventures

All Hallow's Eve

Chapter 1

Book: Choices, The Royal Romance Series Finale

A Smoke & Mirrors Series Alternate Universe

Pairing:

King Liam Rys x F!MC Queen Riley Brooks-Rys

Series Inspiration: Royal Misadventures Smoke & Mirrors series 1-shot 

Series Premise: 12-year-old Crown Princess Eleanor Rys of Cordonia has officially started her Royal education. Tutors that had been personally selected by His Majesty King Liam Rys and Queen Riley Rys were set to begin her royal lessons, and her days were packed full. The young princess was a natural leader, and the King and Queen could not be prouder.   

Rating:  M, not Beta'd-please excuse all errors    

Category: On-going series, fluff 

Warnings: swearing, drinking 

Most Characters belong to Pixelberry Studios 

Chapter Summary: Ellie enlists help from her uncles, Leo and Maxwell to pull off a Halloween prank on her uncle Drake...with two unexpected situations that may spoil her fun...maybe. 

Words: 2.0 k

Royal Adventures 

All Hallow’s Eve, chapter 1 

Cordonian Royal Palace

"Ellie, you're so funny," William howled in laughter. 

"It'll be great," Eleanor insisted, her eyes lighting up with excitement. After describing her plans to her brothers, she was determined to make her idea happen. 

"Drake will never see it coming," Stefan agreed, giggling. 

"Okay, now I need Uncle Leo and Uncle Maxwell." Puling out her phone, Ellie tapped -

Ramsford Country Club - Golf course, 11th hole

"Nice swing, Your Majesty," Drake smirked slyly. 

Liam chuckled, "I can't believe it took us so long to do this." 

"Yeah, well, ruling a country takes a lot of time," Drake laughed. 

Handing his club to his caddy, Liam sighed, "So, what do you think of the club? 

"I have to admit, it's pretty awesome." 

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself."  Liam took a swig of water.

"I could get used to this," Drake replied, sipping on a cold beer. 

"We should do this more often." 

"That would be great, Li" 

Liam's phone vibrated, and he pulled it out to answer a call from his daughter...

'Hi, Daddy, can you give Uncle Drake a message?' 

'What is it, Princess?' 

'Tell him - Gotcha.' 

Chuckling, Liam replied ...

'Okay, sweetheart. I will.'

He put his phone away, with a puzzled look, and decided not to question her. 

"Ellie ... wanted me to tell you ... 'Gotcha'." 

Noticing Liam's expression --"What is it?" Drake asked with hesitation. 

"I'm not entirely sure, Drake. Give her a call later. Riley is planning a surprise party tonight for the kids."

Drake looked puzzled. "What the hell does that mean?" 

Grabbing another club from the caddy, Liam shook his head. "Yeah, well ... she has a costume waiting for me to wear."

"Really? ...they are going to enjoy an American tradition...New York style."  Drake chortled, "Knowing Riley, she will pull out all the stops."

Snickering, Drake added, "I want to hear all about it."

Liam raised an eyebrow, "That's a hard NO! Now, let's finish up our round." 

"Sure, Your Majesty."  Drake continued to snicker.

Meanwhile, in the clearing behind Drake's cabin. 

"Okay, Ellie, you're the mastermind, what do you need us to do?" asked Leo. 

"We're gonna need a ton of fake spiders, some black cloth, and lots of fake cobwebs." 

"On it!" Maxwell cheered. I had all the supplies dropped off after he left for the golf course.

"And the fog machine!" Ellie looked pleased, as Maxwell uncovered a cage beside it.

"That's diabolical!" Leo sneered as he opened a box of plastic bats and spiders.

"...and ... la meillure partie."  (the best part)...

"Perfect," she giggled. 

"What else, Ellie?" 

"Hmmm. I know, we can add sound effects for the bats, and the fan will swirl and make the spiders come alive." 

"How'd you get these ideas anyway, Ell?"

"From the best horror movie ever made," she replied proudly. 

"Which one is that?" asked Leo. 

"Nightwing." 

"That's an old movie, isn't it?" 

"Yes, it is," she replied, "but it's the best." 

"I'm surprised the nanny let you watch that," said Maxwell. 

"She didn't. Mom did, though." 

"Oh, man, your mother's gonna kill me," Leo groaned. 

"Don't worry, Uncle Leo, this will be so worth it," Ellie giggled. 

"I'm still not sure about this, kid. You really want to pull this prank on Uncle Drake?" 

"Trust me, Uncle Max, I promise I won't tell anyone," She insisted. 

"If you say so, kid." 

"All right, Ellie, we're ready," Leo called out. 

"Awesome, let's get started."

They placed the fake spiders all around the cabin and draped the black cloth over the furniture. 

"What's next?" 

"We need to put the real bats in the rafters." 

"The real bats? How did you find those?" Maxwell gasped. "That is so cool!" 

"I ...may have asked one of the menagerie guards in Valtoria." she replied proudly. 

"Damn, Ellie," Leo cackled. "I am so proud of you!" 

"Thanks, Uncle Leo. Now, let's get started." 

After their plan was set in motion, they hid behind the bushes and waited outside of Drake's log cabin. 

As the fog machine began to create a thick haze around the cabin, the lights inside flickered on and off, and the sounds of bats echoed throughout all the rooms inside. 

"Holy crap," exclaimed Leo. 

"It looks like the set of a horror movie." 

"It's perfect," Ellie beamed. 

"Wait until he comes back." 

"What do we do then?" asked Leo. 

"Hide, of course. I'll tell you when to jump out." 

"Sounds good to me." 

***

Drake was exhausted after his round of golf with Liam. He couldn't wait to relax by the fire with a cold beer and some good music. Not paying particular attention to the fog outside.

However, when he walked into the cabin, his entire body went rigid. 

He was met by a sea of cobwebs and fake, moving spiders. 

The lights flickered, and the sound of bats echoed through the air. 

"What the fuck?!" 

Trying the light switch, Drake felt something flutter on his head. 

"This is not fucking funny!" 

He searched the cabin but found no one. 

"Come out, now!" 

Suddenly, the front door slammed shut, and Drake was trapped inside in the dark. 

"This isn't funny anymore!" 

"Whoever did this is going to be grounded until their kids have kids!" 

"I'm serious, now!" 

Drake's blood was boiling, and he was fuming. 

"I don't have time for this bullshit!" 

Suddenly, the music began to blare, and the fog machine created a thick haze. 

The sound of bats echoed throughout the area, and the lights flickered on and off. 

Drake was furious, and he stomped over to the stereo, slamming his fist on the button. 

The music stopped, and the cabin fell silent. 

But the real bats kept flying, and the sounds of bat chirps were all around him. He grabbed a broom and began to knock them down. 

"Fucking bats!" he screamed. 

"Who the hell thought this was a good idea?" 

"It's not fucking funny, Ellie! If you're watching this, it's not fucking funny! Your dad is going to hear about this!" 

Drake was so angry that he didn't notice the front door open, and he was oblivious to the footsteps approaching. 

"Drake?" Liam called out. 

"Fuck!"  Drake jumped at the sound of Liam's voice, and his heart nearly stopped. 

"What the hell are you doing here?" 

"I came to check on you. I heard your yells when I dropped off your clubs on the porch. You forgot them in the SUV." 

"I'm fine," he grumbled. 

"Why is it so dark in here?" 

"It was like this when I came in." 

"I see. So, you're hiding from the spiders." 

"Fuck no! I'm not afraid of fucking spiders!" 

"Okay, then let's turn on the lights and get rid of these." 

"Fine."  Drake exhaled loudly.

Liam flipped the switch, and the cabin was bathed in light. 

"Better?" 

"Yes, much better." 

"Good. Now, why don't we have a seat and relax." 

"Fine." 

They sat on the couch, and Drake poured himself a drink. 

"So, do you have any idea who could've done this?" 

"Not entirely sure," Drake sighed, taking a sip of his whiskey. 

"Well, it was a clever prank." 

"A clever prank? It's not funny, Li." 

"Of course not. But, come on, Drake. You have to admit, it was creative." 

"It was not fucking funny. Someone needs to ground her." 

"Who? 

"Eleanor." 

"My Ellie? She did this?" 

"That's it?" 

"I think she had some help from Leo and Maxwell. She sent that message 'gotcha' to me, and I'm sure they helped her pull this off." 

"Yeah, that's it. And I know for a fact that this was her." 

"How?" 

"Because she's the only one who can get away with shit like this."

"Drake, come on, she's just a little girl." 

"She's twelve, Liam, and she's too smart for her own good. She is just like her mother." 

"Hey, I resent that." 

"It's the truth. Your wife is always coming up with some scheme or another, and now, Eleanor is doing the same thing." 

"Look, Drake, I understand you're upset, but I'm sure she didn't mean any harm." 

"You're not the one that was almost scared to death by bats."

"It could've been worse." 

"Yeah, well, it wasn't. It was just a stupid prank." 

"Look, Drake, I'll talk to her. But, come on, it's Halloween, and she's only twelve. Cut her some slack." 

Drake breathed out loudly, hanging his head.

"I'll make sure she apologizes to you, too."

"Well, I can't argue with that." 

"That's all I ask... now, I need a fucking drink." 

As the two friends relaxed by the fire, Drake decided to let his guard down and enjoy the moment. 

He couldn't believe Eleanor was able to pull off a prank like that. She had to have had help. He knew she had a mischievous side, but he never expected her to be so bold. 

"Well, I'm glad you find this amusing," Drake grumbled looking at Liam.

Liam, on the other hand, was amused by the whole situation. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself at the thought of his daughter scaring Drake. 

"Drake, come on, the princess just wanted to have a little fun. And, let's face it, you can be a bit of a grouch sometimes." 

"Gee, thanks." 

"It's the truth. And you know it." 

"Fine, I may have been a bit grumpy. But that doesn't excuse the fact that she scared the shit out of me." 

"Again, she's only twelve, and you were in no danger. I'll talk to her." 

"Good, thank you." 

As the two friends relaxed by the fire, Drake couldn't help but wonder what else the princess would get up to in the future.

"Here's to Eleanor Rys and her sense of humor," Liam said proudly, raising his glass. 

"May she always find joy in life, even if it's at the expense of others." 

"And here's to you, Liam, for putting up with me," Drake chuckled. 

"Cheers." 

They clinked their glasses together and drank deeply, enjoying each other's company. 

They had no idea that their princess had already hatched a new scheme in her head, and she was determined to get the upper hand on her uncle Leo. 

It was going to be a long Halloween season. 

As Drake and Liam enjoyed their drinks, the princess and her uncles were having a celebration of their own outside the cabin. 

"Did you see his face?" Leo chuckled. 

"That was epic," Maxwell added. 

"You were brilliant, Ellie," said Leo. 

"Thanks, Uncle Leo," Ellie giggled and hugged her uncles.

"Happy Halloween." 

@choicesficwriterscreations

@choicescommunityevents

🍁tags in the comments

[peachy-wolfhard]

Dating Leo II

a/n: I wanted to add more after I posted part one so here it is Bone Apple Teeth, I love leo sm so its LONG

Let me know if you would like to be on my tmnt taglist!

Warnings: swearing, grandchildren mention (splinter is gonna splinter), illness mention, insomnia, mentions of slapping leos bald head

Word count: 738 -woof

Insomnia gang

This turtle physically cannot sleep

When you don't spend the night he is CONSTANTLY texting you everything that comes to mind

“y/n…why is pizza a circle?” “idk lee can i come over :3” “yeth pls HURRY IM DYING HERE WITHOUT U”

Lying in his bed, cuddling, matching eyemasks ON, fan ON

Even with all of that, nothing works

The nights that the both of you are actually able to sleep he has a grasp on you

Holds you so close to him all the time, you guys are joined at the hip

Everyone besides Mikey and Splinter thinks you guys are gross

“You can't even say their names apart now it's ALWAYS Leo and y/n. You can't separate them they will DIE without each other”

“Calm down Mikey please you're scaring Shelldon”

Splinter is…well Splinter. He stays in your guys' relationship, with how dramatic you guys are he doesn't need his soaps

He loves to show you baby pictures of the boys esp the ones of Leo

((cough cough he definitely mentions grandchildren like the old man he is))

Bites all the time like anytime anywhere

Making breakfast peacefully listening to music- CHOMP

Getting ready for work- CHOMP

Dr. Delicate Touch has to intervene

Play fights with you in slow-motion

(slow motion voice) “yyy/nnn iiiimm goooinggg tooo kick your aaaasssss”

(also slow motion voice) “im gooonnnaaa kick yours firrrst”

HAND! HOLDING!

Initially, it started as a way to keep Leo from running off when exploring places, but then it turned into a regular thing

“My love, light of my life, future spouse eHEM!”

“What Leo”

“WHERE’S YOUR HAND I AM GOING TO DIE WITHOUT YOUR HAND IN MINE!! I ALREADY FEEL WEAK PLEASE I AM SUFFERING”

Absolute drama queen and don't get me started when he’s sick

Picture those old paintings of the sick children in bed, he’s that but dialed up to eleven

All he wants is cuddles and daytime television and don't you DARE come in between him and his Maury

Giving him medicine is surprisingly easy maybe it’s because he’s so out of it or maybe he’s just in love he’d let you do anything to him

But if you’re ever sick he does the exact same for you

If you fight medicine (just like me fr) he’s NOT afraid to use those ninja moves to get you to take your meds

Loves it when you read to him no matter what you are reading

Manga? Sign him up! Horror book? Let's get spooky! Sad book? I'll get the tissues! He just loves to hear your voice especially if you do different voices for the characters but not overly comedic voices, he’s here for the story!

Falls asleep listening to your voice with his head on your lap 99% of the time

Going to the Hidden City for date nights and getting up to absolute mischief

(having to then call Raph to come get you guys because you pissed someone off and just kicked their butt)

Speaking of the Hidden City! During their break in the Hidden City (when everyone gets arrested) you join Leo at the spa

After he gets kicked out he BEGS you to go to the creepy spa across the street with him

“Sorry sweetheart I too am in DIRE need of some relaxation plus it’s not often I’m in an exclusive club”

The moment he shows up with that gorgeous hair you’re suspicious

Texts you a selfie of his new hair with the creepy ass background

“Whatcha think? Even more handsome than normal? ;)” “go back to being bald i miss slapping ur bald head :(“

Anyway when he starts “sleepwalking” your immediate reaction is “Maybe it's the wig” but quickly forget all about it due to relaxation

“Um… yyyy/nnnn could you please help me out with one teeny tiny situation…? Please?”

Now you and Leo are on the case!

“Ooo lala finally some privacy ;)”

“Don't touch me until you’re bald AND we figure this out”

“Pwetty pwease? JUST ONE!”

“Fine, ONE kiss”

After the evil hair reveal and fighting with your boyfriend’s hair he's finally bald again

Leo explains the massage guy’s deal but it falls on deaf ears

“Hey, who’s that guy?” “He'sthe non-member we kicked out earlier!”

“I bet he and that human are the thieves. Call the cops”

After a quick stay in jail, you’re now peacefully back home

[honorarypines]

Losers Club x PJO AU thoughts part 1

since we have seven members of the Losers Club and seven main demigods in heroes of Olympus, I decided to make an au!!

Beverly Marsh -> daughter of Aphrodite, since she's super pretty and into fashion. She grew up with her human dad, and he was just as terrible as in the canon. The only explanation as to how he managed to pull a goddess, I think his agressiveness reminded her of Ares. Due to her good looks Bev was often sexualized and slut shamed by her classmates, before she got to the camp. She lowkey hates her godly parent. In the camp she tries her best to not stand out in any way, maybe aside from upgrading her camp outfit with some cool handmade accessories. She has the power of charmspeak, her weapon of choice is either a sling like in the books or a spear like in the movies, it's yet to be decided.

Richie Tozier -> son of Dionysus, for obvious reasons. Even the actor that plays mr D in the show looks like some dystopian bad future version of Rich where he didn't end up famous of something. Richie grew up with his mom, who was very sweet and protective of her son. He had really hard time in school due to his hardcore adhd and dyslexia. Most of his teacher never gave him a chance, bc they already labeled him as the troublemaker kid. Mrs Tozier sent Rich to camp out of free will, no unhappy tragic accidents here. When he got to the camp he quickly got along with most of the Hermes kids, and at one point got claimed by Mr D. Though Richie claims he's such a tough bad boy, he's actually a sweet kid and he really just wants his newfound father's attention and validation.

Bill Denbrough -> unclaimed. In the canon his parents got really neglectful after death of their younger child, and I think Bill being the only unclaimed in the group could somehow tackle him feeling ignored and not cared about. Also, only unclaimed in the group screams main character energy to me, and what is Billy if not a main character energy lol. Before he got to chb he met a younger demigod, Georgie (son of Posaidon bc of his love for boats perhaps). Before they managed to get to the camp Georgie died which left Bill completely devastated. His first friend is Eddie, they met in the Hermes cabin.

Eddie Kaspbrak -> son of Hermes, as he loves means of transportation and essentially is the losers' guide during their adventures (thx again for the help @asexualasshat!) When growing up, Eddie really struggled with his adhd and dyslexia, mostly because his mother would call him out for it all the time. For her it was yet another sickness of his, and since she couldn't heal it really, she treated Eddie like he was broken. She died in a monster attack before Eddie went to chb, otherwise I don't think he would ever get the chance to get to the camp. Since her death happened before Eddie could ever stand up to her, or at least realize she's in the wrong, Eds started putting her on a pedestal after she died. (He has yet to learn a lot among his friends!) During his first months in the camp, Eddie resented his brothers and sisters for their mischievous nature and love for pranks. He also hated suddenly living with so many people. He met Richie through his siblings, as Richie was friends with many of them. They didn't really get along at first lol. Bill is his first true friend. Eds' power is unusual sense of direction.

Mike Hanlon -> at first I wanted to make him a Demeter kid bc he lives on a farm, but I think I'm going with Hephaestus and let me explain why. In the movie canon his house burned down with his parents still inside, making Mike an orphan. Wouldn't it be just so angsty if Mike had fire powers, similarly to Leo Valdez from HoO? Brilliant angst potential. Let him find out the death of his parents had been his fault all along. Or maybe it's never been the case, maybe it's just what he's told by some villain? Also he's pretty smart and very hardworking, which are very Hephaestus kid traits. I think his grandpa could actually tell him about his demigod origins, since he was the only adult in IT canon that suspected something was Wrong with the town and shared it with his grandkid.

Ben Hanscom -> son of Athena obviously. Also, since in the canon we only meet his mom, in this au he now has two moms yay! His human mum was kinda toxic tho, basically she was a toned down version of Sonia Kaspbrak, just like in the book canon. Ben is a great architect and a major nerd. He quickly befriends Stanley, it's his first friend. Has even less hope for romancing Bev than in IT canon, as she's one of the Aphrodite kids, aka hottest people at the camp known for being heartbreakers. Bev adores the fact that he never sexualizes her and actually admires her other qualities, it draws her closer to him. Though he usually appeares sweet and calm, he can be a very fierce warrior if one of his friends is in danger.

Stanley Uris -> another not so obvious one. For now I'm going with Athena, bc of his intelligence and love for birds (here owls specifically). I want him to be able to communicate with owls, I know Athena kids usually do not display any powers, but I want to give Stan some cool abilities. I think it would be intersting to explore how finding out about greek gods affected his faith. I'm giving him an identity crisis over this yay. His dad definitely kept chb secret from him, as he wanted his son to follow in his footsteps and lead a normal life as rabbi. Stan is a great strategist, not so great on the battlefield, hates violence in any form. Ben is his favourite sibling. He's the Common Sense source in the group.

[liverpool-enjoyer]

footballers reacting to a younger player calling them dad (long as hell version)

anon requested it n so it shall be!! ngl for some a the teams i simply googled "youngest player on INSERTTEAMHERE." ive never written formal fic for football so i apologize for this being iffy n also for the SHITTON of innacuracies theres bound to be. oh n also that everyone talks like a twenty year old american college student

leo:

"Thanks, dad," Warren said nonchalantly as Leo helped him up off the ground. He had stumbled a little and fell during the last part of training.

Leo only narrowed his eyes a little in response. Dad?

Poor Warren clasped a hand over his mouth, seemingly mortified. "I'm so sorry," he said, chuckling even though he didn't look like he found anything funny. "I guess I just- And then- Yeah I'll, uh, get going now." He scampered away not once looking back.

Leo got to thinking as me made his way back to the locker room. He's used to being called that; he has children of his own. But he's never considered a teammate of his as his own child. Sure, he was helpful, a mentor maybe, but fatherly wasn't how he would describe his behavior with his younger teammates.

There was only one thing to do, obviously. Ask a younger teammate.

When he got to the locker room he approached Neymar, who didn't notice him at first.

"Ney."

His friend's face brightened upon noticing Leo was there. "Yeah, what's up?" he asked, before taking a swig of water.

"Do you see me as a father figure?"

In response, Leo was met with Neymar choking and coughing. "NO, GOD NO-" he stopped to cough again and catch his breath. "WHAT GAVE YOU THAT IDEA?"

"Nothing, jeez, calm down."

---

ney:

"Woah, not like that, you could hurt yourself," Neymar told Bitshiabu. He was doing an new training excercise incorrectly, and the last thing PSG needed was a good player pulling or straining something.

Neymar took a minute to show him how to do it properly. "Thanks, dad," the seventeen year old said sarcastically. Despite the snark, he appreciated the help.

Neymar just laughed in response, but for the rest of traning the thought kept bouncing around in the back of his head. 'Dad? I was acting like a dad? Some of them see me as old enough to be their father?'

Well, he was a father, but that was different. His teammates were much older than Davi.

Oh, gosh, was he getting old?

Later in training, when he saw Leo, he grabbed the poor man by the shoulders without so much as a hello. "Leo. Do you think I'm getting old?"

In classic Leo fashion, he looked like he'd rather be anywhere than here, interacting with someone. "Well, technically we all are... You're older now than you were yesterday, so I guess you are get-"

Neymar let out an exasperated sigh, unhappy with that answer.

His next victim was Sergio, who's phone conversation he interrupted to ask him the question of the day.

"Do you think I'm getting old?"

"You interrupted my conversation with Lukita to ask me if-"

"JUST ANSWER."

"SURE, I GUESS. I DON'T CARE."

Damn. Neymar was gonna have to get hammered tonight. To prove he still has it in him.

---

milly:

"What about you, Milly? Any fun weekend plans?" Andy asked. Some of the team were talking about the plans they had for the free weekend they had coming up.

"You bet; I have a date with my new book and chamomile tea."

This earned him a few eye rolls, most noticably from Trent. "Aw, that's so boring! Robbo and I are hitting this new club Saturday night, aren't we, mate?" he reached across the kitchen island to fist bump his friend. "Surely you've got something more fun in mind."

"I might fire up the grill if the weather allows..." Milly started. "Oh, and I should probably get my car checked out; it's been making this weird noise."

"Yeah yeah, we get it, dad, you're boring."

Milly didn't hesitate. "I am nowhere near old enough to be your dad," he said with his typical snark.

"You do act like it though..." the previously quiet Alisson chimed in, peering at his friends from over his coffee mug.

"And you're no spring chicken either," Milly remarked, which shut the goalkeeper up. "Will you lot ever get bored of the 'James is old' joke?"

"Aw, don't be like that, mate," Andy said with a hearty laugh, putting an arm around Milly's neck and ruffling his hair. "You know it's just because we love you!"

Milly sighed. Yeah, he did know, he supposed.

---

kdb:

"I mean," Alvarez said between passes. "You're practically his dad."

Kevin rolled his eyes for what was probably the third time during that conversation.

"Ah, shove it, you know I'm not that old."

"It's not about age," his younger teammate responds, accepting the ball Kevin passed to him. "You're always like... I dunno, dadish."

Kevin just gave Alvarez an absolutely bewildered look. "...Are you actually saying these words?"

"I'm serious, mate! You're always, y'know, taking him out for ice cream after training, making sure he gets home safe, whatever that means-"

Kevin brought up a hand to rub his temple. "Oh my gosh, I don't see him as my kid. Can't I just be nice?"

"No."

"Shove off," Kevin said playfully.

An amused grin crossed Alvarez's face. "Speak of the devil."

Kevin turned to see Erling walking up to the pair.

"Hey guys!" Erling said with a polite wave, and Alvarez waved back.

"You need anything?" Kevin asked.

"Yeah, actually," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Do you think you can give me a ride home after training? Jack drove me but he had to leave early."

"Of course, no problem," he replied without hesitation, and clapped a hand on Erling's shoulder for seemingly no reason.

Erling nodded happily in response. "Thank you, dad!" he said with a bright smile, before walking away as if what he said was completely normal.

It was taking everything Alvarez had in him to not start rolling on the ground with laughter. "What was that about not being his dad?"

"Shaddup."

---

luka:

It was actually Luka who started it.

Everyone entered the locker room very happy, fresh off a 44th minute goal from Rodrygo that had earned them the lead. The young player received hugs and claps on the back from pretty much every player. The attention was well deserved; the goal was a beauty, after all.

One of the last players to congratulate him was Luka. "Good job, hijo!" he said, hugging his teammate. "You were brilliant out there!"

"Gracias, papa," Rodrygo said, casual, even though he had never called him that before. "But it wouldn't have happened if you hadn't set me up for it!"

"Aw, aren't you the sweetest," said Luka, smiling proudly as he ruffled up Rodrygo's short hair beyond repair.

Rodrygo reached up in a futile attempt to fix his hair, and even though it wasn't said out loud, he got the feeling that he could call Luka that anytime he wanted.

---

luis:

Training had long since ended, and everyone was in the locker room, gathering their belongings and talking amongst themselves.

Luis and Kauan had been making small talk, with Luis telling his youngest teammate about some of his exploits and giving him some pointers.

"Y'know," Kauan eventually said. "You kinda remind me of my dad!"

Luis immediately burst into laughter, but it was out of genuine joy rather than condescension.

"Oh yeah?" he asked, not bothering to wait for an answer. "I'm not that old, kiddo. Now would your dad do THIS?"

Before his teammate could respond, Luis had taken Kauan into a light, non-painful chokehold n given him the strongest noogie he could muster, sending Kauan into a fit of giggling.

When Luis had mercy on the kid and let him go, Kauan needed a minute to catch his breath and compose himself.

Kuan gave Luis a sly grin. "Y'know, my dad does that to me all the time!"

"Damnit."

---

lewa:

It wasn't Gavi's day. Or his week, and it wasn't shaping out to be his month, for that matter.

He didn't know what was wrong; he just wasn't playing like his normal self these past few games. But the crushing blow was this game in particular, when he was subbed off in the first half due to his performance.

The atmosphere in the locker room after the game was still positive, however, as they had won. But Gavi wasn't participating in the celebrating and joking. He had changed and was just sitting by his locker, just... thinking. He hated sulking like this. He felt like he was being dramatic. Maybe he should go.

He didn't notice someone had approached him until he heard his voice.

"Gavi?" Robert asked, voice laced with concern. "What're you doing here all by yourself?"

The younger player just shrugged, blinking away tears that definitely weren't forming.

"May I?" Robert asked, gesturing to the spot next to Gavi on the bench.

Gavi just muttered a quiet "yeah," and Robert sat closely next to him.

Robert took a good look at Gavi, and for a moment he was reminded of his girls.

"You don't seem to be too happy with yourself," the man said.

"Can you blame me?" Gavi asked, trying not to sound sarcastic.

"Well, I understand. But I don't think you should be so hard on yourself," he put an arm around the young player. "You're talented, Gavi, and you're only going to get better from here. You just had a few rough weeks; it's not permanent. And I'm saying that because I really believe it." He smiled warmly at the young man.

Gavi would be lying if he said he didn't feel just a little bit better. He found himself resting his head on the other's shoulder.

"Thank you, dad. I mean- shit, I-"

Robert just chuckled in response. "It's ok, really, I'm honored," he said, holding the other just a little tighter.

---

sergio:

"Hey, dad? Do you-" Vini shut his mouth quickly after he realized what he had just said.

Sergio was on him before the young player could even apologize. "I'm sorry?" he asked, feeling kind enough to at least give the young player a chance to explain himself.

"I don't know, I guess I just got my wires crossed, or something-"

"I thought so. Just don't let it happen again," Sergio said, sounding less angry and more just... irritated. And with that, he left.

Much later in the day, Sergio found himself at Luka's place eating dinner with his teammate, as was pretty much tradition after training.

"Y'know," the team captain said between bites of what Luka made him. "Those kids of ours are really improving. I mean, they were always talented but, y'know..."

Luka just smiled and kept his thoughts to himself. He knew if he made mention of Sergio referring to the young players as their kids, he'd deny it faster than you could say Madrid.

---

pep:

"Don't overwork yourself, Cole, I don't want you getting hurt," Pep said to the young player. It was Cole's first training back after recovering from an injury, so he was prone to hurting himself again.

"Sure thing, dad," Cole said sarcastically.

Pep simply blinked at the young man. He had been managing a long time and had been called many things by all his players over the years. But this was definitely a first for "dad."

After a few seconds of silence, Cole could tell that his attempt at a joke was not well received. He simply stared at the man staring back at him, waiting for whatever stupid prize awaited, and kind of hoping he would just die right now.

"Laps."

Cole's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Hm?"

"Laps."

"Uh... don't you think that's too exerting? You just said I should take it e-"

"Laps!"

And without another word, Cole took off running. It wasn't until three laps in that he realized he never asked how many of these things he should do.

Shit.

---

klopp:

"We've won our last five matches," Darwin said.

"And it's raining outside, so traning will be, uh... Not as good," chimed in Harvey.

"And we promise to train extra hard tomorrow! Don't we, lads?" Cody asked, turning to his teammates, who nodded furiously in response.

"I still don't know if you can afford to miss it; training every day is important," Jurgen told the boys. There was a new movie out that the boys wanted to forego traning to go and see. Rather than sending one person to him to be The Negotiator, the boys thought it was better to approach him with their request all at once.

"But papaaaaaa!!" damn near all of the teammates chimed at once.

Jurgen clenched his expensive-ass teeth. These boys always knew how to get to him. He loved being reminded that they loved him and saw them as a father, as someone to be trusted and depended upon. He couldn't even remember when they started calling him that.

He loud out a long, overly-dramatic sigh.

"Fine."

In return, he received a chorus of cheers. An onlooker would think these boys just watched their teammate win them a penalty shootout.

In no time at all he was swarmed with hugs and "thank you, papa"s from too many of the boys to count.

The boys all stopped at the door when they saw their gaffer wasn't following them.

"Aren't you coming?" Alisson asked, eyes kind and welcoming.

"Do you want me to?" questioned Jurgen, looking at his boys' faces for signs of approval. Most of them just rolled their eyes at the suggestion that they didn't want him to join them.

Alisson approached him, took him by the arm, and dragged him to the door himself, Jurgen laughing while following him.

"Of course we do, papa."

[redwinewhiteroses]

Hiiii, I hope you are having a good day/night!

I would like to participate in your new game, please, so I would like to ask what book/movie resembles the love story with my future spouse?

I'm Ara, initials ASLS, leo, she/her, and preference is male.

My best time for the happiest life:

For me, it means not paying attention to what others say about us! Although I know it is difficult for many people to ignore rumours or bad comments, you should not worry about something that is not true, the people who love you and are around you will always know the truth, no matter if they are 10 or 1 person, I even mean yourself. The person who has the ultimate decision is ourselves, no matter how many people say something that is not true, if we hold on to what we are slow or fast the truth will come out and there will even be people defending you.

What kind of life do I envision to live in the future:

The kind of life I envision living in the future is a life where I can be myself. In the past there were many things I didn't do because of my financial situation, out of sorrow or fear, and things I did that I didn't want to do, but I knew it would make my family happy. In the future, I foresee being able to do all those things I couldn't do, being more financially stable, losing the sorrow and fear. I can say that I foresee being more free by being myself, and of course, being happy with my life with my family, with friends, with a partner (maybe), and finding new things I enjoyed, and moving of the things I don't.

Thank you so much for the game. It sounds so interesting. *giggles*. Take care!! 💓

Circumstances in which you meet your fs

Two of Swords, Eight of Cups, Three of Wands

There's no particular situation I'm getting when it comes to meeting your fs, but rather a personal journey or self-discovery, a process that will help you cross paths with him. So maybe you are going to be in a phase where you are going through a lot of indecision, inner conflict and even a lack of direction. You are just sitting trying to think of what you should do, how you should do it, but still worrying about making the right choice. This could be about a relationship, life situation, work/study situation. A lot of mental processing and agony but eventually you walk away from all the things that no longer align with you and your vision for life. You will be healing yourself and walking towards better opportunities and this shift is very significant because it will also guide you towards your future spouse. The moment you decide to get up and walk away from the things that are no longer serving a purpose in your life, you are going to be met with so many new opportunities to grow and expand. This could be about travelling to a new place or just broadening your vision, dreaming big, having a broad and articulate vision/perspective on how you want your life to be. You are going to meet your fs when you are open to all these opportunities, when you are taking chances and just exploring life with a burning passion. I think this is quite a big transformation because it involves your mindset, emotions and your actions so it's very much an internal process and self discovery and growth that will lead you to your fs. Since there's a lot of personal growth involved you could meet them when you are doing activities that are outside your comfort zone, for example solo-travelling, attending events and conferences, joining clubs and exploring new things.

This is an intuitive message, so I could be very wrong lol 🫣😅 A singing career can be involved. Pls disregard if it doesn't resonate🫠

When you catch feelings for each other

Nine of Pentacles, Eight of Pentacles, Page of Swords

I think both of you are going to catch feelings  when you notice each other being in your own element and just shining as an individual. It will probably start with admiring each other from afar and just realizing with time that your focus and attention on them is more than just an attraction. You both are going to feel very stable and secure in your own individuality when you start catching feelings for each other. You will feel like the other person gets you and appreciates you for all that you are, so you feel this freedom to be wholly yourself, not to dim your light or mask anything but just be yourself. You will make them feel the same way too. And you both will be dedicated to understand each other better. Studying your subject/object of interest came to mind haha, so you will be very interested in digging deeper than the surface and just be focussed on understanding and accepting where the other person is coming from. You both will pay attention to the little details and read between the lines so you can really learn more about each other. Maybe exchanging playlists, talking about your favorite movies and so on. Also there will be playful banter, joking around, a lot of flirting and a lot of conversations. You will focus on exchanging information, stories and ideas so you can deepen your feelings and relationship. Sharing ghost stories or just funny situations or lighthearted conversations like that. You will both crave being mentally stimulated and I think you will really enjoy just hanging out, talking about anything and everything. I also think you won't be too sure of where this relationship will go in this initial phase but you just genuinely enjoy seeing each other and being in their presence so it will be something like friends to lovers. Romancing each other won't take the center stage of your relationship initially. The romantic feelings will be there just beneath the surface but you will be like homies and just be really comfortable with each other. You could be working/studying together or seeing each other often or just communicating frequently when you fall in love with them. Also both of you could be occupied with work and focussing on personal goals at some point but will still keep communication flowing and interesting between you.

You could have 3rd house synastry and air Venus placements or earth Venus. Mars in aquarius or significant 1st house placements.

One or both could be mature/wiser than the other. Or both of you prioritize wisdom and exchange of knowledge in romantic relationships.

Settling into a long-term relationship with them

Wheel of Fortune/Two of Cups, The Hierophant, Ten of Wands

This is a very long-lasting and greater commitment to each other. Once you get married you will feel like this was meant to be, like this is a fulfillment of destiny. You will have a very harmonious and balanced married life. There's good luck, happiness and mutual love. So you could probably be from different cultures, if not there's this mutual respect for each others' differences. You are going to feel like it's surreal that you were able to get married to someone who is so compatible to you in beliefs, opinions, hobbies and interests. Like how did I get lucky to find and get married to the man of my dreams? There's a lot of mutual respect, acceptance and commitment to just always try to understand each other at all times. This could be a very traditional relationship with traditional beliefs too. Also very monogamous, commited and rooted in deep loyalty. You could be religious or there can be some religious practices, traditions or beliefs you hold together. Again gender roles can be significant and you can assign tasks between each other and share the work and burdens that come with marriage. One partner can be the advisor and lead the relationship too. I think it's wise leadership, not controlling in any way, because there's a lot of love and mutual understanding between you. However there will be times when both of you feel the burden of responsibility you have towards each other because I feel like you both hold yourselves accountable at all times. I think you will overcome struggles together working as a team, loving and guiding each other along the way.

Keywords : Traditional, Age gap, Traditional household, Duty, Good luck and blessings, Mr & Mrs, Blessings of elders, Trust and honor, Love and guidance, Arranged marriage (Can be a love marriage but there's something traditional about it.)

Channelled song

So for a book/movie that resembles the love story with your fs, I chose Love at first sight(2023) film. Although I haven't watched it, I believe it fits the reading well. I hope you check it out😇 and if you do, let me know if it resonates with the reading.

"When Hadley asks Oliver what he's researching, he reveals it's the statistical probability of love at first sight. The narrator then reveals that Hadley and Oliver will stay together for the rest of their lives, be married for 58 years, and have a daughter."

(Always trust the tarot reading more, I could be wrong with the book/movie recommendations sometimes. It's not easy to find something that is exactly similar to the reading🫠I tried my best though🥳🤞)

Hope you enjoyed the reading! Thanks for being patient with me 🥹🩷 And as always feedback is highly appreciated 🧚✨️

[visualnovelzombie]

Furry Visual Novel Book Club: Echo Week 15 SPOILERS

Hi everyone, here is the SPOILER discussion post for “Echo - TJ’s Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday”

Links: Previous - Next - Original - Spoiler Free Version

Feel free to respond in reblogs/replies/or asks :D

We begin from the route split by following after Tj, who ran off after Flynn’s tirade. The music cuts and we’re left with the sound of the river. We’re met with three options.

The first two will set Chase’s mood for the next bit of dialogue while the third will lock us out of Tj’s route, which is something we haven’t seen before. 

>Leave him be…

Chase narrates that he’s “not exactly graceful with this sort of thing, especially with TJ.”, and then decides to go with the others, giving us the options for the other route choices but not TJ’s.

>Say Something…”

Chase tries to comfort the lynx, but Tj doesn’t respond.

Until Finally…

>Say Nothing…

Chase sits next to Tj and starts breaking twigs in half, eventually annoying Tj. 

Chase asks TJ if he wants to go eat, and he responds with a firm ‘No.’ Until Finally…

>Reconvergence

Tj is upset Flynn was so mean in front of everyone. Chase comments that Tj is clearly frazzled because the lynx has allowed his fur to stay unkempt even after sitting by himself for a while. Chase comments that Tj’s inability to express himself fully is part of what’s dragging the Lynx down so much. The two continue to discuss Flynn’s tirade

I would like to note, this is 71 lines into the route, and the foreshadowing is already on thick lmao

Chase speculates that Flynn is after ‘more than the truth’, and we learn Tj saw Sydney drown. Tj becomes angry at Flynn, because the gila hadn’t realized how much the event affected Tj himself. Tj wishes he could go back to the day, and that he isn’t mad he didn’t save Sydney, he knows he couldn’t have… hinting at wanting something else. Chase glosses over that he could have probably saved Sydney from drowning if he was there.

Chase wants to help Tj with what happened, but says he needs to come to terms with it himself first. We’re treated to a brief flashback of the scene… Flynn drags Chase into the water, and forces the otter to get Sydney while Jenna and Leo try to help where they can.

This is one of the few times that Chase acknowledges, at least in some part, that he had SOMETHING to do with it. Which is an extremely rare case in of itself, but especially on this route. Even late on the same day, we see him act angry and unusual, already over protective of Tj. He doesn’t interact this way on other routes, and to me, reads as the Otter ALREADY being pestered by the entity the fandom has dubbed, ‘Mirror-Man’.

Tj expresses being upset again, which makes Chase angry at Flynn for hurting Tj so much. Come Over begins to play, as Chase reminds Tj about their planned hike. The two plan their hike and talk about what their plans for school, promising to meet up one more time before graduating. The two return to the group who have packed everything in the van already. Leo asks if Tj is fine and after a satisfactory answer, is done with the conversation and heads off to work after dropping everyone else off at the motel.

This is part of my Mirror-Man USUALLY attacks Leo theory but is on/after Chase this time, but Leo’s complete lack of interest or pestering for more information stands out to me greatly here. After talking it out with some people, if it isn’t ‘Mirror-Man’ himself that also goes after Leo other times there’s two ‘alternatives’ that I can see work.

1. The entities in general work through mirrors. Like how they all ‘slither’ along the ground.

2. Chase, now already fixated on Tj, is purposely ignoring Leo/not narrating what’s happening exactly. We know from later that Chase’s narration becomes EXTREMELY unstable/unreliable, and I will admit that maybe some of Leo’s aloofness on this route might come from that, instead of another supernatural dealing.

The remaining four spend a lazy afternoon together before coming back to discussing Flynn. Carl tries to defend the lizard but Tj hard pivots the conversation to ice cream. When asked what his favorite flavor is, Chase’s head buzzes and he’s unable to think of an answer, blurting out Vanilla after a few moments. Chase’s headache gets worse and he’s unable to continue the conversation, and closes his eyes.. Very particular things happen over the next few lines:

Chase wakes on the couch, after some time has passed, indicated by the fade in, to the room being dark, Tj and Jenna in bed, with Carl on the floor asleep.

The scene fades to black, indicating some more time has passed. Chase is in bed next to Tj and is staring at the door.

We’re then met with a dream sequence… Before going into it I would like to point out the two previous scenes both took places at different times, indicated by the fadeouts, and that they were (most likely) NOT dreams. They don’t have the track associated with dreams playing in them, and Chase doesn’t ‘wake up’ from them into this one, like we’ve seen on Carl’s and Leo’s routes. Just bits of time are hard cut by the writing.

--

I want to talk about this for a bit. We’ve seen Chase dip on Sunday night from the motel room to go do... something that’s never explained. Something odd from how it cuts, and the way this sequence is cut, calls into question how much is really going on. I think the first instinct is to accept he’s just going on a walk the previous night, and this night is just his head hurting. BUT, the way this section glosses over large chunks of the day in just a few lines, reads to me that everything is being directly narrated, IS important.

The important bits I get out of this are: Chase takes pictures of someone, or something. (I don’t remember if they come up later in this route or not!), and/or heads for the night. This is to vague to work with right now, but just more lost time at night with our narrator.

With the second being the time cut to lying in bed. Two things stand out to me:

1. Chase is lying NEXT to TJ. Every other time he’s described lying platonicaly with someone, it’s head-to-toe. That’s how he sleeps in the bed with TJ and with Carl normally. 

2. Chase is starring at a door. There are three doors in the room, and we know two are very important. The closet door is where a fox hung himself, but we don’t learn that till Arches. The other door important to the room, is the door to the bathroom. Later on in the route, Chase (and Sam!) are both terrified of what’s in there, the ‘Mirror-Man.’ I’m perposing, at this time, whichever one of them is in control during the night, is sensing that entity or presence already from the bathroom. I’d LOVE to hear other interpretations of this scene though!

--

 Tj is drinking alcohol by the lake. He starts to run away after hearing something, but is eventually pulled back into the lake by a chain. Chase tries to help… but is also chained to the lake.

Chase and Tj are on their hike, with Tj trying to comfort the boiling otter.

...Tj you can’t just say that to Chase, gawd!

After a terrible and awkward attempt at playful flirting, the two continue on their hike. Chase calls into question his understanding of Tj’s sexuality, realizing the two have never discussed it, and how it might intersect with the lynx’s vague faith. We then this is INSANE lore tidbit.

Two hours pass by as the scene cuts, while Old Winds begins to play. Chase, struggling with the intensity of the hike, trips and falls. Tj soaks Chase with another water bottle, much to the otters continued annoyance. Tj is concerned for Chase because HE asked the otter out on the trip. After a bit of rest and… determination on where they should eat, the two continue to the peak of the trail. Tj soaks his shirt with water, showing off his fit form. Chase is … attracted to the sight.

The two make it the peak, resting on a stone bench at the top. Chase enjoys being alone with Tj like this… until a tarantula jumps in his lap.

Tj had pranked Chase with a plastic spider after Jenna insisted upon it. One microaggression later, the two enjoy a nice lunch and we’re treated with a CG

Chase takes off his shirt and the two accidentally touch paws while reaching for a bag of chips, sending Tj squirming off embarrassed. The two make awkward small talk while Tj fixes his fur. The two reminiscent on how they met, with Chase being a bit of bully in the story.

Chase heads off on his own for a second to get shots for his project. Drone begins to play, as some THING narrates FOR Chase inside his head… distinct from Samuel, based off of its font. 

Chase either ignores or pays no attention to the entity and takes the shots he needs. Tj finds Chase taking the shots and comments on the otter’s body, making Chase question Tj more. Tj peers over the edge and we’re met with a Choice…

>Shove him.

The voice narrates Tj’s corpse lying at the bottom of the Canyon… and we’re given the other two options to choose from.

Notable because Chase almost never, if ever, questions Sam outside of the Murder Pit where Sam is the most separate.

We’re given the option to only Grab him and do nothing…

>Grab him.

Chase scares Tj and the two end up flailing around away from the cliff, locked in each other’s arms for a few moments.

>Do nothing

Chase doesn’t want to actually scare him off they cliff so the two stand there for a few moments.

>Reconvergence:

The two try to yell into the canyon, trying to get it to ‘echo’ back to them. The sad and nostalgic track, Canyon, begins to play.

The two comment on the quality of Echoes in Echo. Chase laments the town, while Tj wishes everyone could have come today. The two share an intimate moment for a second, until Tj gets a text message. It sours the Lynx’s mood, but he lies to Chase about it, the music cutting once the lie starts. The two head back home.

...

The two plan the rest of the trip, and tell Jenna to meet them at the diner for dinner. Upon arriving, Jenna remarks on Chase’s… ottery smell. Janice comes to take the groups order, happy to see the trio after they graduated. She also remarks on the mudslide musk in the area, blaming it on another patron. The coyote talks about needing to do some housework in a relatively polite conversation, resulting in Tj volunteering him and Chase for the job. After Jenna and Chase chide Tj for agreeing to the work, Jenna makes another musk comment towards Chase. The otter storms off to the bathroom to clean up in a fit of rage.

Chase tries to alleviate his headache by washing his face in the mirror… but it suddenly continues to worsen.

Chase sees a twisted reflection of himself in the mirror and becomes extremely disoriented. The non-diegetic music and sound effects is described IN text from Chase’s narration, quickly becoming diegetic. Chase writes the episode off as a migraine. Chase cleans up the musk under his armpits, then drops his pants to clean under his tail….

Chase returns to the table embarrassed, passing TJ on the way. Chase makes conversation with Jenna, and learns about Carl’s party tomorrow. Jenna lets slip the Tj wanted to see Chase the most during their trip back home. Jenna shows Chase a stick figure recreation of the prank that TJ had drawn, before heading out back to the motel to grab her purse. Tj returns to the booth.

Chase tries to explain the situation and Tj says its fine… even saying it was kind of cute.Come Over starts to play. Chase ribs Tj, playing gay chicken with the lynx… thrilled to be doing it with a guy again, let alone Tj. Their eyes meet again, and Tj smiles.

Another dream sequence…

Leo is driving Chase’s car on top of the lake, ‘shooting’ Chase with a finger gun from across the water. Tj swims after the car…

The dream sequence CUTS, with NO fade or dissolve, something very peculiar for the novel. Something intentional (IMO). A new track, ‘Unease’ plays, distinct from other Dream Sequence tracks or events. The background is Echo Canyon, now black and white, labeled ‘canyoneg’. Tj is lying at the floor of the canyon, maggots eating him. A paw reaches towards the lynx… 

The dream fades back to the lake, unease still plays. Six bodies float in the water.

Chase knows something isn’t right. A tool-shed sits on the edge of the lake, one that doesn’t exist. It opens, and the scene cuts…

--

Okay, a LOT happens with this one. We get our usual dream sequence intro, with everyone doing weird shit on the lake as usual. BUT, this dream is interrupted. By a different force than usual, something showing Chase new kinds of nightmares. The lack of fadein is EXTREMELY noticible, especially when 99% of transitions has them. Some new entity has hijacked the dream. Something connected to the maggots from earlier... the ‘thing’ that is narrating FOR Chase. Something that isn’t Sam. The ominious paw is concerning and something we’re not super familiar with. It’s to vague to speculate on, even with TSR ghosts (as an addage not a planned explanation)

Six bodies, for six fiends (Carl, Leo, Tj, Flynn, Jenna, Sydney) on the lake. As if the entity is telling Chase that he SHOULD kill his friends. This is how ~I~ read it, but we know there’s been many other drownings related to the lake, but the number lines up to noticeably for me. There’s also the case of the shed... WHAT does that mean? The only other shed we get mention of that I can remember is Chase’s grandfather’s shed (which WAS a peculiar mention), or somehow foreshadowing Janice’s eroded shed for the next day? It seems to specific for that. There’s also a shed in the LATEST TSR build... but they aren’t thematically linked at all really so I don’t want to discuss it. VERY VERY specific, for something that I can’t substantiate at this time. Maybe some more bits out of the remaining routes that I forgot will help fill us in?

One last thing is the ‘This isn’t right, this isn’t me. what is this?’ To ME, this reads like something has taken control of Sam’s nightmare powers. Before this line, I would have just called it normal foreshadowing dreams, but the part of ‘this isn’t me’, makes it sound like it usually is a ‘me’. It was pointed out that Sam is always refereed to as ‘you’ usually, but why would Chase say ‘this isn’t me’ in this circumstance? If he was lucid dreaming, enough to say a line like this, it would have been ‘This isn’t normal?’. The rest of the lake based dreams are definitely ‘normal’ for the otter. But the lack of chains, introduction of maggots as a motif, and unknown presence appearing on the scene before cutting IS new. These are things I missed/forgot when I shotgunned this route AND Flynn’s route on the same day for sure... and raided till 2am right after, completely frying my already fried brain so...

Jenna and Chase discuss going to Carl’s as Tj showers. Tj finishes, and rushes to grab his shirt that he had forgotten, before running back into the bathroom embarrassed to finish dressing. En route to Carl’s house, the scene with Janice plays out the same…

We cut to Carl’s house, the ram unable to be found. Flynn is cursing as usual… but Chase asks him to stop. Leo boosts Jenna into the window again, and she unlocks the door for them. While Flynn searches for Carl, Chase and Tj discuss going to Janice’s later. Tj decides he wants to make sure she’s okay, and Chase agrees to go along. Chase recalls ditching Tj at Duke’s place while him and Carl got junk to build the ram’s tree-house. Chase comments on the bullying stemming from being two years older than Tj. Chase is sent to search outside while Tj is sent to search in the basement... definitely enough time to plant the the scavenger hunt...

Chase walks back inside after some reminiscing and…

Followed by Jenna walking by, indicating it wasn’t her orange tail walking down the stairs.

Presumably John? Showing that he isn’t always attached to Jenna? The children probably wouldn’t have a ‘fat’ tail... but that begs the question. Why is the tail orange? The only orange foxes important to the universe are the Byrnes (who would have maybe existed, at least in concept, by this point), but why would any of them be here. Is this a simple case of the writer going ‘oh fox tail, orange!’, forgetting the blonde/yellow complexion of the Begays?

--

In the basement, Chase walks into Flynn talking to Tj. Flynn apologies for sending something, presumably a text, to Tj yesterday. Flynn holds Tj by his shoulder, dropping his paw once he notices Chase step into the room. Flynn walks out of the room without a word, and Tj frantically grooms himself in front of a mirror. Chase tries to comfort Tj, but the lynx is to frazzled to talk about it. Chase offers to go out and walk with Tj around town to look for Carl, and the two head out.

The two talk about school, Tj going in depth about his schooling as an athletic trainer, and how he’s enjoying it and sports in general. Chase receives a text from Leo, stating they found Carl and that the party is cancelled because Carl isn’t feeling well. The two debate on going to Janice’s. Chase is worried she’s tripping on something while Tj argues she doesn't use drugs… Tj guilt trips Chase to going with cuteness and the two head over to Janice’s.

The two make it to Janice’s house. The coyote is completely nonchalant, as if not remembering the incident at all. She tasks the boys with removing a mass of weeds and moving firewood, promising refreshments and cookies for the two. Chase contemplates leaving, before Tj soaks himself with hose water and offers it to Chase. Chase soaks himself and the two get to work. Come Over starts to play.

Leo texts Chase asking where he’s at, and once Chase tells him, Leo doesn’t respond anymore. Chase takes off his shirt due to the heat and teases Tj with the ‘show’. The two make plans to go to the diner in the evening, but are interrupted by Tj spotting a tarantula in the weeds.

Janice comes outside due to the two boys screaming. She admires their twink bodies, causing Tj to become flustered. The two get back to work but are unable to find the tarantula again. After finishing, Tj offers some sports medicine advice to Chase, rubbing one of the otter’s tense muscles… after a promise for a full massage later, the two start on the pile of wood.

I’m not sure how to read Tj seeing a phantom tarantula. I’m assuming it signals that he went through some kind of flashback/dream sequence like Chase does in a bit upon seeing the spider. As it is most likely he’s already setup the Scavenger hunt earlier in the day, I don’t think this is Sydney a possessive Echo taking it’s roots in him. Maybe this is just the simpler explanation of Spiders representing guilt. Janice sure has a lot of guilt built up (rip Sam), and the spiders coalescing around her and the center of town makes sense. Chase AND Tj are both feeling really guilty to, maybe it’s just that simple explanation.

Chase comments on Tj faking the tarantula, saying how it’s stressed him out. As Tj returns from Janice’s house with a plate of cookies, Chase sprays him with a water hose. A new track, “Tj Theme’, starts to play. Chase is callous and carefree, eating the cookies and openly flirting with TJ… who is reserved and anxious as the upbeat tempo track continues to play in the background. The two continue working, Tj feeling worse and worse as the day continues. The track continues to play... The two continue their spider-infested laborin the gayest-twinkiest way ever, but make short work of the pile. Chase offers to go hiking tomorrow, trying to invite everyone.

Tj’s Theme being Chase completely overstepping any semblance of his feelings and being a creeper really fucking sets the mood for the theme of route......

The pair are about to plan it out, when on the last plank of wood, only for Chase to see a tarantula on the backside of it. The music finally cuts. Chase passes out and we’re met with a dream/flashback…

Sydney, a blue eyed otter, is talking to Chase. Both of them are young children. Sydney starts rough-house playing with Tj, the lynx losing on purpose to get out of it. Sydney starts to strangle Tj with the lynx;s shirt. Chase yells out ‘STOP’, before his view shifts to the present.

--

I will say. The absolute jaw-drop of Sydney being an otter, and HOW MUCH that calls into question him drowning completely missed me the first time through...

--

Chase wakes up from him passing out, puking up the snacks. Tj pulls Chase inside to cool off, where the Lynx agrees to more manual labor.

The two walk back towards the diner, arguing on the way. Upon arriving at the diner, an old friend takes their order. Julian, a white deer, catches up with the two. Chase stays out of the conversation, glad when Julian eventually leaves. Tj is upset that Chase called him Toby after waking up from the dream sequence, but doesn’t press the issue. Bittersweet starts to play as Chase realizes how he’s made TJ uncomfortable.

FURSONA

Chase asks Tj if he wants to try and find closure about Sydney. He wants to go to the lake with everyone except Flynn and talk about it. Chase confirms that Tj didn’t see the tarantula that caused him to pass out…

We’re met with another dream/flashback where Chase bullies Sydney for bullying Tj… Almost like it’s a cycle of abuse or something...

-------------------------

That concludes Tj up until Wednesday. Thank you everyone for taking the time to read and interacting <3 Some very... interesting stuff is being done here. Howly, the author, is really getting into using the medium to its fullest potential, and we’ll see more of that as we continue on.

Next Weeks Reading Assignment is just TJ’s Thursday! End on this line:

"He runs up the road and back toward town, disappearing into the bright sunset."

Or this Day Card:

[old-lorarri]

─ paper rings . . . ❨ send me a description of yourself + a fandom and gender preference, and i’ll ship you with a character. ❩

i couldn't miss out a good time! i had this previously done but it would be interesting to know who i'd match with! i copy pasted but i added some more that might help impact the results. expect me to come around for another if i may? maybe the next day or next week.

fandom: formula one

info abt me: female & prefers men!

my big three is: leo-gemini-pisces!

i am quite an adaptable individual, love sunsets, stargazing, animals and pets & divination or anything related to spirituality.

not quite fond of social media but i really love interacting with people whom i share interests with here in tumblr! lately, i am really trying to build friendships amongst f1 writers and even readers too.

i heavily value my private life and prefer not to tell people about my personal next step in life (preferring not to share private information unless i feel comfortable) and i don't post much in my social media accounts but i have an instagram solely for posting my well curated portraits with poems as captions.

i also love psychology, deep talks about life or anything very reflective, tell me a situation that had been bothering you and i will make you reflect and tell about yourself. (this scares some people because they always say i could read them like an open book)

having a lot of hobbies and interests (i couldn't stay still between one thing [e.g. i could love making music this week, next week i'd be into arts]). right now i am into writing fics and serving the people some entertainment lmao but i have to stop because for some reason my reach is not reaching idk what to do to alleviate that. i have a keen eye for detail and quite a perfectionist — selective even.

i have a small circle of friends in real life. they are the ones who i can trust my life with. i do believe that quality is better than quantity. but building new connections helps me discover about people more and reflect about life.

my talents are diverse mainly because in my country being an all out performer is a thing. schools were literally built here for you to show and perform like beyoncé or sorts to earn grades. singing while playing an instrument, dancing, acting, writing, you name it i could give it a go. i am a theater kid so i think it impacted developing these talents, they're very enjoyable regardless. 100% not picky with music either, music kind of reflects a person's soul. roadtrips are nice and they're quality time. that's how you also know which friend of yours is only there for clout and the ones who are there because they look forward to a journey of sharing the same space with another.

clubbing is not my thing. i am not fond of smoking or drinking alcohol. I AM HEAVILY TURNED OFF BY VICES but i don't mind an occasional wine for formal events. if you put me inside a club, expect me to sit down on a corner and watch everyone. i tend to attract men easily (i am not bragging but it's hard rlly) and i do believe clubs are not the best place to attract guys sorry •́⁠ ⁠ ⁠‿⁠ ⁠,⁠•̀ if you'd invite me to a party, we can have picnics or a dinner at your home or somewhere. i couldn't handle clubs, 100% would dip if someone say clubs or bars. they're too overwhelming.

i was raised in a quite conservative household so i preferably wear clothing that do not show much skin. i love statement outfits and prefer to make my own clothes or customize clothes rather than buying high-end branded clothing. my wardrobe is quite diverse, i can have masculine and feminine outfits. styles from fairycore, 50s, 80s, 90s wear, autumn wear, formal wear and officewear. i have gowns too! at this point i can build a boutique and often get teased about it by people in my circle💀 i grew up with relatives who doesn't smoke and only drink on occasion.

my love language (receiving) is acts of service and receiving gifts. my love language (giving) is acts of service and quality time / words of affirmation. i love solving people's problems and give them cheat codes in life hahahaha

idk if this would help but i have a stale lovelife, if i happen to put myself out there there there will always be a lot of guys wanting to pursue me ಥ⁠‿⁠ಥ i pull away immediately if this starts to happen because it drains me so much. i would then focus into my career and go into hermit mode again, the one who stays in my life and wait for me to regain my energy is what i think, is meant for me. tbh, i need someone who is patient and understanding towards me or it's going to be disaster lmfao ฅ[⁠ᓀ´⁠ ▾ `⁠ᓂ⁠]ฅ

LEWIS HAMILTON

very private person, both of you like to keep it that way especially when it comes to you relationship

both of you have very deep conversations about life each other certain topics and just life in general

you both love to reflect on stuff and help each other get stuff of your chest

you tend to do this while you cuddling with chill music in the background

lewis supports you though all of your different hobbie phases

love that your so open to trying new things

you both have a tight inner circle and you both value quality over quantity

the two of you def recorded a song together

you both hold fashion shows for each other after a massive shop

both of your love languages are is acts of serves

which sometimes turns into a funny competition of who can out do the other

is always patient and understanding when it comes to you

[riddlerosehearts]

🐍 same, there were many things i did not enjoy about HoO but leo is one of the highlights i will always treasure from it. in fact I made my OC just so I could make them be friends with him bc it's like an old childhood dream of mine 😭 it's several years late but i will do it anyway. have u ever made any pjo ocs?

I read your post and i agree with you so much!! EN did jamil so dirty and just the few changes they made to his lines flipped the entire dynamic between him and kalim and basically completely erased how tragic and difficult their situation is, and portrayed jamil as basically just someone throwing a fit over something easily changeable when it isn't. I play on JP so I was so surprised to see the changes EN made, it sucked seeing so many ppl hate my fav

oh nooo yeah if both riddle and jamil are in the athena cabin i have no clue who'd become the head counselor... this is so hard, if only we could have more than one :(. Kalim'd def be in a different cabin at least, but just him being around camp would make it so much harder for jamil to be himself, it hurts my heart. there are so many ways you can write this and it all has so much angst potential. on the other hand you're so right abt the missed leo nico friendship bc i always intuitively felt they could've be good friends without knowing why, but your analysis puts everything into words and makes me even sadder we had such a missed opportunity... like cmon rick....

idia labwear groovy but nico is actually so funny - nico ominously approaching cats with his hands out like the grabbing emoji when nobody is looking and completely unaware how scared the cats feel, meanwhile all he wants is to spend some time with kitty before the chain sneezing sets in

I love your ideas abt the outfits I think they fit super well!! if i get around to doodling the characters in a twst au i'd like to reference your ideas if that's okay with you! They'd both probably attempt to wear the uniforms as a full set in the beginning then decide it's way too much of a hassle/feels too stiff (totally not an excuse to want to draw them in the full outfit), then begin modifying things so it felt more like themselves, though at least I think they both would like the ignihyde uniforms better than the other dorms, igni's seems more casual and practical than the other ones imo. for some reason i feel like the savanaclaw colours would look good on leo, i just picture yellow being a nice colour on him - but leo in savanaclaw would just be like him stuck with a ton of jocks feeling confused why he's even there lool

also imagine leo meeting ortho, he'd be so fascinated that something like ortho was possible and be inspired to make a robot of his own (twst festus origin story?) idk if there's a robotics club but i could see that being leo's club of choice, nico maybe board games... which means he'd meet idia and azul omg, what do you think?

sorry it took me a bit a longer to answer this time. i haven't!! i don't make OCs super often in general, i don't even really have one for twst haha, but i love seeing all the creativity other people put into their OCs.

yeah exactly!! i do keep up with the JP main story updates and have read most of the JP events through fan translations, but i started by playing on EN. and i feel really lucky that i recognized the words for master and servant and could tell they were mistranslating some things, because i can imagine that otherwise i would've come out of it hating jamil for "betraying" kalim too. instead i loved him and was a little annoyed with kalim until book 5 showed more of his growth. i don't ship jamil and kalim but i do love both of them and it's sad that the complexity of their dynamic got watered down so much... i will note, though, that the app is rated E10+ on the google play store and 4+ on the iOS app store, so my guess is that higher-ups at disney thought the actual story wasn't kid-friendly enough.

something else to keep in mind with athena kids that i actually sort of forgot about until recently, is that they're all claimed from birth and therefore are pursued by monsters from birth :( and then also the fact that athena is a virgin goddess who just sort of gives babies to people who might not have been prepared to have one... i bet that would make things so much rougher for riddle and jamil. some other ideas i had are that if jamil's parent was a minor god, it could be nemesis (goddess of revenge) or terpsichore (muse of dance). and for kalim, if his parent was an olympian it would be either dionysus or apollo and if it was a minor god it'd be tyche (goddess of luck and fortune). like you said, there's so many different ways i could see their story going in an AU like this and they'd all be so angsty.

if you wanna see more analysis on how nico and leo fit together there's some stuff i've reblogged from others in my valdangelo tag! not all of it is necessarily romantic, i just basically use that for anything about the two of them--and a lot of the reasons why people like the ship are reasons why they'd work platonically as well. but yeah one of my biggest criticisms of HoO is how even though i like all the new characters for the most part, i feel like their relationships to each other were largely defined by romance (and i don't just mean the actual couples, but also the frank-hazel-leo love triangle for example) and a lot of potential was missed because of that!

oh yeah go for it!! feel free to use pretty much any of these ideas we've been brainstorming as basis for your own headcanons and stuff, i don't mind at all. and like i've been saying, if you did draw anything for this AU i'd love to see it. i can definitely see that about leo and nico both trying on the full uniform and then quickly deciding not to bother with it anymore lol. i imagined them both not wearing the tie because i just think nico wouldn't really want to and that leo might not even know how to tie one AFSKJGHDF. do you think leo would add any other accessories or personalization to his school uniform? also, i was thinking, i totally agree that they'd both like the ignihyde uniform, especially nico because it resembles the bulky jackets he normally likes to wear! but i wonder what nico would wear for a dorm uniform if he transferred to ramshackle... according to one of silver's voice lines at least, they canonically don't have one, so maybe he'd just wear, like, a my chemical romance shirt and call that a uniform lol. or keep his ignihyde uniform and confuse everyone.

omg, i love the thought of leo meeting ortho and being inspired to make festus because of him. he'd definitely be so fascinated by everything ortho could do. as for the clubs, i saved this excellent post about NRC's clubs for reference a while back, and since no other existing clubs were mentioned in either of the camp vargas events, i assume that that's all of them. but afaik there's nothing that says leo couldn't start a robotics club, and i'm sure there'd be people willing to join! out of the existing clubs i can totally see nico being in the board game club, i think that'd be a lot of fun for him.

[drinkinstars]

Hi ☺️👋, I would like to request the Kpop love triangle ship.I choose enhypen. My MBTI (infj).my big6 is Sun in Capricorn, Moon in Leo, Rising in Virgo, Mercury in Capricorn, Mars in Sagittarius, Venus in Sagittarius . Thank you for your attention and have a wonderful day/night

Hello here you go hun! @snowyukiie

Your love triangle in Enhypen would be between:

⋘ 𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑖𝑡... ⋙

.. 𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕠𝕠 𝕒𝕟𝕕 ⋘ 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎... ⋙ 𝕁𝕒𝕪! 𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪

ᴡʜʏ ꜱᴜɴᴏᴏ:

Okay so there for me it’s definitely a lot of soulmate trope and opposite attracts vibe and both of your energy matches so well like Moon (You) and Sun (Sunoo). The communication between you two is so good and mostly because you are aware of each other emotional needs, the type of relationship where you two could stay awake talking about deep but also random topics until 5 am and then be like “shit we forgot to sleep”. It would be also really sweet and lovey dovey with a lot of cuddles. There’s also a lot of trust between you two even tho you both can be jealous you know you wouldn’t hurt the other one and that if one of you fell out of love he/she would rather break up than cheat also you two would never be bored together and expect very funny dates even after being a couple you would go to party like I said there’s jealousy but Sunoo wants you to have fun if you wanna wear a sexy dress and go dancing in some club he will be okay with that even if he will insist to go with you cause you know you so pretty how could he trust the boys :’)? Expect a lot of compliments Sunoo likes to verbally express his love he also makes a lot of promises (even if he doesn’t always fulfill them..) but to compensate he’s a pro at surprises even when he’s also surprised by his actions like you feel down and tired the man would come home notice that you are in a bad mood book a weekend in a thermal spa resort prepare your luggage and then ten minutes after carry you to the car out of nothing with a “let’s go babe can’t you remember?” And you be like “You mean what you planned 2 FREAKIN SECONDS AGO” chaotic yes✨. I think you two would enjoy also making his friends your friends and reversed to make big trip altogether. He would also make you go out when you maybe would be like “it’s Sunday afternoon come on” but in exchange he would gladly take part too to the film and cuddle afternoons. And as surprising at it can be for Sunoo he would enjoy simple dates too like coffee shop date and museum dates. (Even if sometimes he would ask for arcade,karaoke or theme parks nights hangouts)

A song: Sex, Drugs, Etc. from Beach Weather

ᴡʜʏ ᴊᴀʏ:

There is the “I can heal you” trope and while Sunoo is a perfect match Jay would be really your comfort person and the best version of you. I can clearly see you two starting as friends but then him falling for you quite fast without realizing it🫣. With Jay you would feel that your emotions are validated you are not oversensitive you are an human and your feelings are too. Y’all would be spending all your time together without even realizing it that’s why even in the friend states your friends would ship you two af. Both of you would have no secrets for one another and there the loyalty level is high(more than Sunoo?). Also Jay would literally be the shield to every toxic person taking profit of your kindness even if he would maybe underestimate you but for him sometimes you look like a defenseless angel and when he gets that weird vibe coming from one of your friends he would just tell you to be careful. Also because you used to be the nurturing type it would just be daily fight for who protects who like Him “what are you doing?” ”protecting you what abt you?”..”you stole my line..”. Jay wouldn’t be that jealous and you neither you just trust each other and if it happens he will not make a fuss about it rather talk to you about that back at home even if I think you would already have understood he was but what’s cool is that there would be no game of jealousy cause there’s no need of testing the other for both of you. As for dates I would see you enjoying a painting class together passing from seriously listening to throwing each other paint, then to him painting you still full of paint, just to wash/clean each other back at home, cooking lessons would also be your thing, combining the two for night dates a paint and wine night would be woaw, rock concerts still on the night theme and for something more classic some cat-coffees or library coffees would be your cup of tea(🤭) too. To end this the only discording point is how Jay would be sure about you two really fast and would like commitment soon too while you maybe would wait a little more on things like moving together or engaging.

Song: Sure thing by Miguel

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦: : ̗̀➛

Here the little scenario I would have in my head..you and Jay could be the two college(majoring in figurative art maybe? Really light academia) best friends spending all of their time together from studying to having fun with also your group of friend but reputed for being “that” duo (like said before) a lot of people would ship you but the two of you would never think of the other more than friend even if acting like a couple. Then you would meet Sunoo (majoring in performing art ?) and even if you two so are different in the beginning he would just put fun into your boring college life and when Jay would notice you start having excuse for your usual studying lessons he would understand something is off. You would tell him about Sunoo and he would be happy for you but at the same time that odd feeling in his throat, the feeling he been replaced by someone funnier and how that person may hurt you, so he would ask you to hang out the three of y’all (small concert in a pub?) and then he would realize..Sunoo is a good guy..but he likes you and Jay does too at that moment he would just stop trying to distance you from him and rather try to be closer to you letting YOU the choice?

So who would you choose?

Here your love triangle ship!

Have a good day~

[ducknotinarow]

So Raph had helped him with a few things which Leonardo found useful. Especially useful to boost his confidence. But it still didn't change the fact that he was still crushing hard on her. & He wanted to ask her out that night. That very next night after he had stayed hauled & pinned down on Raph's bed. He swallows, trying not to think about it too much. 

Raphael had just helped him, that's all! There wasn't anything more or less behind it, right? Her face flashed in his mind & he swore he has never felt more calm than ever before. She was just so beautiful. So perfect. & He needed this night to be perfect.   

Taking one last look in the mirror, Leonardo takes a deep breath, straightening his choice of clothing & prepares to step outside. Only stopping when he sees his brother's deadpanned expression. "What, Raph?" He nervously fixes his tie out of habit, his gaze flickering away from him momentarily. 

"Look, can this wait? Or maybe we can not do this? I'm late meeting April." ( mm verse angst time. You get this one first. :'3 )

| Muse interaction

Raphael honestly? Didn't know what to do or think. When Raphael and Leo had that whole kissing training or whatever they would call it now. Raphael thought with a chance to finally make his move maybe Leo would just get it? Understand!! But apparently Raphael should have joined Mikey's for improve club because he was just that convincing of an actor!! Groaning as he laid out on his bed staring up at Mikey's bed just above his own. Leo really did just take them making out on the very bed to be nothing but his brother offering to help him.

How fucking stupid was Leo to buy that clearly obvious lie! Turning his head to the side as he watch Leo getting all gusty up for her. April. He didn't hate April it wasn't her fault Leo was denser than a damn brick. But still why her? Leo looked stupid he decided despite thinking it was cute how he went about getting all done up just to see April. Then the cuteness to it all crumbled away and just hurt to linger on. Mouth in a thin line as he looked at Leo a moment more, if Raph was honest? He felt defeated. Like he lost a fight.

"What, Raph?

Raphael watched Leo fix his tie just now it looked like it was fine but Leo was a tad bit of a perfectionist he guess. Huffing out to himself as he looked away from Leo. It hurt. It really hurt if he was honest. Raphael felt like what happened meat nothing, how can sticking your tongue down your brother throat mean nothing? Pretty easy it seemed, brow furrowed as Raphael moved to sit up finally letting his legs rest over the edge of his bed as he looked over to Leo.

"I jus' think maybe we should I dunno. I mean we jus' kissed ya know? An' now your." Raphael was struggling with what he was even trying to get at here as he spoke trying to "I mean look I know what I said but jus'-" Before he could fully even try for what he wanted to say Leo cut in.

"Look, can this wait? Or maybe we can not do this? I'm late meeting April."

Raphael blinked before gritting his teeth and curling his hands up into tightly bounded fists. "Ya know what Leo forget!" moving to get up as he nearly runs out from the room knocking over anything he can on his way out. Towers of Donnie's books, Leo's school bag anything before he leaves. Letting tears sting at the corner of his eyes. Cursing under his breath, he swears he feels a twisting pain jabbing into his shell where his heart would be.

It really hadn't meant anything to Leo. All Leo would and could think of was her! Was he pretending it was April kissing him the other day even?! Did Raphael mean so little?! Raph didn't care if anything tried to speak to him on his way out from their home. He just needed to get out! He didn't want anything todo with stupid Leo right now.

[dansnaturepictures]

Focus on seeing the Long-eared Owl at Cley Spy, Glandford on 17/02/2023 

As part of my new era of posts on here something I will aim to do, probably not that frequently, is do a focus on post that goes into more depth about a recent wildlife sighting or experience. I wanted to do one for the Norfolk trip last week and could have picked a number of birds or mammals to do it on, but woke up this morning fancying doing it for the Long-eared Owl we were so lucky to see. My journey with this bird began whilst watching BBC Winterwatch in January where they showed the bird and I was impressed by it and enthused about hearing that it had turned up at a birding/optics store. I had never seen a wild Long-eared Owl at that stage. Weeks earlier, following the sad loss of our dog Missy at the end of last year whilst sat in the woodland hide at Blashford Lakes on our week off of year list foundation laying, we decided it might be an idea to use two days leave the 17th and 20th February we had booked for all three of us to go to Norfolk for a couple of nights. I hadn’t even thought whilst watching Winterwatch, if this bird is still around when we go we might go to try and see it. But in the week leading up to the trip it became apparent to us via social media that this bird was still being seen. The excitable thoughts then crossed my mind of could we maybe see this. 

Then the day of the much anticipated trip beginning arrived, and we were tuned into Cley Spy’s extremely helpful Twitter updates saying if the “LEO” was there or not each morning. The day before it was a no, so we set the directions to Blakeney from Hampshire when setting off that morning where we wanted to try and see our first ever Twites and did achieve that on the day after seeing the owl with the idea of keeping track of the Twitter and and dropping into Glandford at some point in the weekend anyway. When on the motorway I checked Cley Spy’s Twitter and the Long-eared Owl was there. The directions were soon changed to Glandford. As had been suggested to us by a man we know from Facebook who had seen the bird days before, we rung the shop when about half an hour away to see if the bird was still there and it was. In hindsight the bird would turn up every day we were in Norfolk, but even if we had the superpower of seeing into the future it would not have stopped us going there straight away on the Friday as we really wanted to see this bird. 

We went into the shop and spent a glorious half an hour or so spellbound by this majestic bird. We got absolutely stunning views of it, making out its sweet mottled back, stripy chest, peach coloured face, entrancing marble eyes and iconic antler like ear tufts. It was beautiful to see some of its feathers caressed by the soft winter sunshine. We were in our element watching and photographing this bird. What a powerful and splendid bird to see, we were so taken with the bird. It was a pleasure to be surrounded by others watching and the staff at Cley Spy in a wave of enthusiasm for the bird. As I said in my round up of the Norfolk trip post on Monday Cley Spy have been so good, they’ve really gone above and beyond to not only post the news of the bird each day but allow access to see the bird keeping the bird’s welfare at the heart of it in exchange for donations to the Oriental Bird Club a great cause which we were happy to contribute to. 

It was a phenomenal bird to see for the first time ever for us, alongside the Twites making it a memorable day my first day with more than one bird life tick since 2018. Seeing it made me think back to my early birdwatching days as a kid and the books I’d have where the five owls were; Long-eared Owl, Short-eared Owl, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl and Little Owl. I’ve had an interesting history with owls, first seeing little, short-eared and barn in 2008 then not again until 2016 but seeing at least two of the three in every year since. In the latter intervening years I achieved a dream of mine of finally seeing a Tawny Owl in 2014 and 2015 (the same one in the New Forest each year) making it my favourite owl outright for a time due to the goal of seeing it, not seeing one again until 2021. In 2021 and 2022 I was over the moon to see all four of the owls that I had at that stage seen in my life with the other three all taken to my heart a lot more by that point. So it feels like a great path to this moment of finally seeing number five the Long-eared Owl, and there is just such a warm sense of excitement and satisfaction for me that it has happened. I’ve already seen Short-eared Owl and Barn Owl in 2023 on the week off to start the year, and the latter we also saw again briefly on the Norfolk trip, so it’s been an amazing start to the year for these birds of prey I love seeing so much and am fascinated by and Long-eared Owl is a truly a bird of my year so far.

When the plans for this Norfolk trip were in the infancy Shore lark was the main aim at Holkham and we did see them so well on the trip there and enjoyed that, but were not the main target due to the Milford-on-Sea bird turning up and us seeing it in late January. Snow Bunting took over as the trip’s main target and I was overjoyed to see this bird at Holkham too. But I think Long-eared Owl, the first bird of the memorable and sensational trip, was the standout bird of the trip if I had to pick. And from the moment we decided to do this trip, it all aligned for this bird to be the star and perhaps it was meant to be. As I write this a check of Cley Spy’s Twitter reveals the Long-eared Owl has not been seen since Sunday, which makes me feel even more lucky we had the honour of seeing this bird on a big weekend for it there. The seven pictures in this photoset are the ones I took the bird.

[novelswithariana]

🌸 ARIANA'S BOOK REVIEW 🌸

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT (Ace Representation)

📚 Synopsis: Now that Wren Martin is student council president (on a technicality, but hey, it counts) he’s going to fix Rapture High. His first order of business: abolish the school’s annual Valentine’s Day Dance, a drain on the school’s resources and general social nightmare—especially when you’re asexual.

His greatest opponent: Leo Reyes, vice president and all-around annoyingly perfect student, who has a solution to Wren’s budget problem. A sponsorship from Buddy, the anonymous “not a dating” app sweeping the nation. Now instead of a dance-less senior year, Wren is in charge of the biggest dance Rapture High has ever seen. He’s even secretly signed up for the app. For research, of course.

But when Wren develops capital F-Feelings for his anonymous match, things spiral out of control. Wren decided a long time ago that dating while asexual wasn’t worth the hassle. With the Dance rapidly approaching, he isn’t sure what will kill him first: the dance, his relationship drama, or the growing realization that Leo’s perfect life might not be so perfect after all.

In an unforgettably quippy and endearingly chaotic voice, narrator Wren Martin explores the complexities of falling in love while asexual.

📝 Review: I recently had the pleasure of diving into the captivating world of "Wren Martin Ruins It All" by Amanda Dewitt, and I must say, it did not disappoint. From the very first page, I was hooked by Dewitt's impeccable storytelling and relatable characters.

In this delightful novel, we follow the journey of Wren Martin, the witty and ambitious student council president of Rapture High. Wren's mission to abolish the infamously dreaded Valentine's Day Dance at his school sets the stage for a series of hilarious mishaps and unexpected romantic entanglements. But "Wren Martin Ruins It All" is so much more than a comedic high school romance.

Dewitt skillfully weaves in the complexities of love, relationships, and the journey of self-discovery. One of the standout aspects of this book is its refreshing portrayal of asexuality. Wren's exploration and acceptance of his identity as an asexual individual is thoughtfully depicted, shedding light on a topic that is often misunderstood or overlooked.

What truly sets "Wren Martin Ruins It All" apart is the authenticity of its characters. Dewitt has created a diverse cast that is brimming with personality and relatability. From the charming Leo, Wren's vice president, to the quirky and lovable members of the student council, each character feels like someone you could know in real life.

The writing style employed by Dewitt is energetic, humorous, and infused with heart. The pacing is spot on, keeping the reader engaged and eagerly turning the pages. Whether it's the witty banter between characters or the tender moments of self-reflection, the prose effortlessly captures the essence of each scene.

At its core, "Wren Martin Ruins It All" is a story about embracing who you truly are, navigating the highs and lows of teenage life, and learning that sometimes, it's okay to let go and allow yourself to be vulnerable. It's a powerful and heartwarming reminder that love takes many forms, and self-discovery is a journey worth embarking on.

Overall, I highly recommend "Wren Martin Ruins It All" to anyone in search of a captivating and relatable read. Amanda Dewitt has crafted a gem of a novel that seamlessly combines humor, romance, and important themes, leaving a lasting impression. Don't miss out on this delightful book that will make you laugh, swoon, and maybe even shed a tear or two.

🔍 Rec: People who have read ‘The Borrow A Boyfriend Club’ (Page Powars), ‘They Hate Each Other’ (Amanda Woody) and ‘Gwen & Art Are Not In Love’ (Lex Croucher) may like this book.

Thank you Amanda DeWitt, Peachtree Teen and Colored Pages Book Tours for this delightful read. All opinions expressed here are purely my own.

🦋 Recommend some books with Ace Representation in the comments.

[marthajonesuk]

Monday, March 26, 2007 The family get-together... Category: Blogging

Well last night wasn't exactly fun. Tish, my sister, has just got a job doing PR for some new research company so yay for her. But, being Tish, she wanted a 'proper celebration' which means Dinner With The Family followed by a night out in town. Thing is, Dinner With The Family means making the decision whether to invite Mum ('Are you working hard enough, Martha? Are you revising for your exams, Martha?') or Dad ('Have you found yourself a boyfriend yet, Martha? You should be more like your sister, Martha!'). And if we invite Dad, do we invite his girlfriend Annalise ('Martha! You really really must let me do something with your hair!')? So, to try and be fair, we invited all three. I mean, they're adults (well, Annalise is technically an adult) so surely they could get along for just one meal.

But, no. Apparently not.

I don't know about you but I've found that as I've got older, my parents have somehow got younger. Mum never had a job let alone a career when she was bringing us up but now you won't see her without a briefcase and as for Dad, well mid-life crisis doesn't even begin to describe that whole situation. So, we went to the Indian buffet place on Chancellor Street. All you can eat for £12.50. I think I'd only got halfway through my garlic naan when Mum started on Annalise. Annalise was picking all the… well, basically, all the actual food out of her korma. Mum said that she shouldn't be so fussy and that there were thousands of starving kids in Africa who'd be grateful for a piece of chicken. Leo, my brother, the youngest of the family (but the one already settled down with a home, a girlfriend and a baby, Keisha) was already a bit merry and asked Mum to name one. Annalise told Leo that she didn't think that was very funny. Mum said that Annalise shouldn't try to tell her kids what is and isn't funny. Dad said that Mum had no right to say anything as she's always too busy with work and that at least Annalise is there for us. Tish said that Dad shouldn't have a go at Mum as he was the one who'd walked out on us.

And, predictably enough, it all kicked off. Cue lots of shouting and screaming and scattered pilau.

Surprisingly, no plates were broken but the whole thing ended up with Dad and Annalise walking out, Mum having to take Leo back to his place and Tish trying to persuade me to go clubbing. I'm too old for clubbing! I'm quite happy going back to my flat and chilling out. What with work and my family, evenings are the only time I get to just sit in front of the telly or read a book. And, yes, I know just how boring that makes me sound.

And, of course, this morning I've been getting calls from all of them, asking me whose side I'm on. I mean, I know I shouldn't complain. I'm so lucky not to be alone or anything but, sometimes, I wouldn't mind if it was maybe just a little bit quieter.

Not much chance of that, though. It's Leo's 21st in a couple of weeks. I'm guessing that it's going to be some party…

[kayotic-reads]

Welcome to 2023 - Books to HYPE

Its a new year! that means new debuts, new faves, and new additions to our TBRs. Im going to Highlight books by BIPOC, Queer, and Indie Folks! there might be some trad on here as well. maybe.  

‘As You Walk On By’ By Julian Winters

The Breakfast Club meets Can’t Hardly Wait with an unforgettable ensemble cast in another swoony YA contemporary from award-winning author Julian Winters! Seventeen-year-old Theo Wright has it all figured out. His plan (well, more like his dad’s plan) is a foolproof strategy that involves exceling at his magnet school, getting scouted by college recruiters, and going to Duke on athletic scholarship. But for now, all Theo wants is a perfect prom night. After his best friend Jay dares Theo to prompose to his crush at Chloe Campbell’s party, Theo’s ready to throw caution to the wind and take his chances. But when the promposal goes epically wrong, Theo seeks refuge in an empty bedroom while the party rages on downstairs. Having an existential crisis about who he really is with and without his so-called best friend wasn’t on tonight’s agenda. Though, as the night goes on, Theo finds he’s not as alone as he thinks when, one by one, new classmates join him to avoid who they’re supposed be outside the bedroom door. Among them, a familiar acquaintance, a quiet outsider, an old friend, and a new flame . . .

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/653539/as-you-walk-on-by-by-julian-winters/

Out NOW!! 

‘Tears in the Water’ By Margherita Scialla

A character-driven, slice-of-life contemporary story of love and self-discovery. At White Ravens University, where athletes train to become professional sportspeople, Alex is on the swimming team with her best friend, Xiuying. Having grown up mostly alone, parents absent and brother often busy with his own life, Alex tends not to meet new people unless she and Xiuying are together. After an embarrassing encounter with a boy from the volleyball team Alex soon discovers that the world isn’t so big after all and the universe has a funny way of setting people up, especially when and with whom they’re least expecting. Despite her reserved character, Alex becomes part of a newly formed friend group consisting of four amazing people with different identities and personalities. As she tries to overcome her anxiety and negative past events, Alex finds herself both struggling with romantic feelings for a new acquaintance and a full blown gender crisis.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BS8SKXT3/ref=ewc_pr_img_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Out NOW!! 

‘The Phoenix King’ by Aparna Verma

In a kingdom where flames hold magic and the desert hides secrets, an ancient prophecy comes for an assassin, a princess, and a king. But none are ready to face destiny—and the choices they make could burn the world.

“If we carry the burdens of our fathers, we’ll never know what it means to be free.”

For Elena Aadya Ravence, fire is yearning. She longs to feel worthy of her Phoenix god, of her ancestors who transformed the barren dunes of Sayon into a thriving kingdom. But though she knows the ways and wiles of the desert better than she knows her own skin, the secrets of the Eternal Flame elude her. And without them, she’ll never be accepted as queen.

For Leo Malhari Ravence, fire is control. He is not ready to give up his crown—there’s still too much work to be done to ensure his legacy remains untarnished, his family protected. But power comes with a price, and he’ll wage war with the heavens themselves to keep from paying it.

For Yassen Knight, fire is redemption. He dreams of shedding his past as one of Sayon’s most deadly assassins, of laying to rest the ghosts of those he has lost. If joining the court of flame and serving the royal Ravence family—the very people he once swore to eliminate—will earn him that, he’ll do it no matter what they ask of him.

But the Phoenix watches over all and the fire has a will of its own. It will come for all three, will come for Sayon itself….and they must either find a way to withstand the blaze or burn to ash.

The first in an action–packed debut epic fantasy trilogy, The Phoenix King is “a captivating adventure from a gifted new voice” (Peter V. Brett).

https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/aparna-verma/the-phoenix-king/9780316522779/?lens=orbit&utm_source=social&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=the-phoenix-king&utm_content=cover-launch

Out Aug 29th, 2023

‘And Break all the Pretty Things’ By Lena Jeong

Inspired by the historical Three Kingdoms of Korea, the book follows a crown princess who receives a divine gift, and she must choose between the fate of the peninsula and those she loves

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58402268-and-break-the-pretty-kings?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=qmFndh78wE&rank=1

Out June 20th 2023

‘The Sun and the Void’ by Gabriela Romero Lacruz

In a lush world inspired by the history and folklore of South America, a sweeping epic fantasy of colonialism, ancient magic, and two young women's quest for belonging unfolds. Reina is desperate. Stuck living on the edges of society, her only salvation lies in an invitation from a grandmother she’s never known. But the journey is dangerous, and prayer can’t always avert disaster. Attacked by creatures that stalk the region, Reina is on the verge of death until her grandmother, a dark sorceress, intervenes. Now dependent on the Doña’s magic for her life, Reina will do anything to earn—and keep—her favor. Even the bidding of an ancient god who whispers to her at night. Eva Kesare is unwanted. Illegitimate and of mixed heritage, Eva is her family’s shame. She tries her best to be perfect and to hide her oddities. But Eva is hiding a secret: magic calls to her. Eva knows she should fight the temptation. Magic is the sign of the dark god, and using it is punishable by death. Yet, it’s hard to deny power when it has always been denied to you. Eva is walking a dangerous path, one that gets stranger every day. And, in the end, she’ll become something she never imagined.

Out July 25th 2023

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60568206-the-sun-and-the-void

‘The Otherwoods’ By Justine Pucella Winans

Pitched as TOO BRIGHT TO SEE meets DOLL BONES, the middle grade novel follows River, who can see monsters and enter a spirit world called The Otherwoods--but would rather avoid both at all costs. When their crush is kidnapped and taken to The Otherwoods, River must face their fears and find the confidence to believe in themself in order to save her.

Out Sept 12th,2023

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61072522-the-otherwoods

‘Chef’s Choice’ By TJ Alexander

A fake dating arrangement turns to real love in this deliciously delightful queer rom-com from the author of the sweetly satisfying Chef’s Kiss. When Luna O’Shea is unceremoniously fired from her frustrating office job, she tries to count her blessings: she’s a proud trans woman who has plenty of friends, a wonderful roommate, and a good life in New York City. But blessings don’t pay the bills. Enter Jean-Pierre, a laissez-faire trans man and the heir to a huge culinary empire—which he’ll only inherit if he can jump through all the hoops his celebrity chef grandfather has placed in his path. First hoop: he needs a girlfriend, a role that Luna is happy to play…for the right price. She’s got rent to pay, after all! Second hoop: they both need to learn how to cook a series of elaborate, world-renowned family recipes to prove that Jean-Pierre is a worthy heir. Admittedly, Luna doesn’t even know how to crack an egg, but she’s not going to let that—or any pesky feelings for Jean-Pierre—stop her. Another swoon-worthy and heartwarming queer love story from a charming new voice in romance.

Out May 30th, 2023

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62919850-chef-s-choice

‘Izzy at the end of the world’ By K.A. Renolds

The Last Kids on Earth meets Margaret Peterson Haddix in this middle grade adventure about fourteen-year-old Izzy, an autistic girl surviving the end of the world who must team up with her loveable dog to uncover the hidden truth behind her family and the rest of humanity's disappearance. Ever since Izzy Wilder's mom died, she's wanted life to feel normal. She plays video games with her little sister, helps her grandparents around the house, and takes care of her best dog, Akka. But losing her mom is far from normal, and for Izzy, who is autistic, it feels like the end of the world. When mysterious lights flash across the mountains outside Izzy's house one night, and suddenly everyone except her and Akka seem to have disappeared in an instant, Izzy is more alone than ever. But Izzy is a fighter and she won't lose anyone else in her family, even if it means battling terrifying gray, ugly monsters and decoding cryptic messages that seem a lot like her mom talking to her from beyond the grave. In the face of disaster, Izzy and Akka embark on an epic adventure filled with nail-biting suspense, unexpected allies, and life's greatest mysteries as they uncover the true endurance of the human spirit and save the world.

Out Feb 21, 2023

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/61190454

‘Fake Dates and Mooncakes’ By Sher Lee

Heartstopper meets Crazy Rich Asians in this heartfelt, joyful paperback original rom-com that follows an aspiring chef who discovers the recipe for love is more complicated than it seems when he starts fake-dating a handsome new customer. Dylan Tang wants to win a Mid-Autumn Festival mooncake-making competition for teen chefs—in memory of his mom, and to bring much-needed publicity to his aunt’s struggling Chinese takeout in Brooklyn. Enter Theo Somers: charming, wealthy, with a smile that makes Dylan’s stomach do backflips. AKA a distraction. Their worlds are sun-and-moon apart, but Theo keeps showing up. He even convinces Dylan to be his fake date at a family wedding in the Hamptons. In Theo’s glittering world of pomp, privilege, and crazy rich drama, their romance is supposed to be just pretend . . . but Dylan finds himself falling for Theo. For real. Then Theo’s relatives reveal their true colors—but with the mooncake contest looming, Dylan can’t risk being sidetracked by rich-people problems. Can Dylan save his family’s business and follow his heart—or will he fail to do both?

Out May 16th, 2023

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62794544-fake-dates-and-mooncakes?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=o1SJawopTW&rank=1

‘Always the Almost’ by Edward Underhill

A trans pianist makes a New Year's resolution on a frozen Wisconsin night to win regionals and win back his ex, but a new boy complicates things in Edward Underhill's heartfelt debut YA rom-dram, Always the Almost. Sixteen-year-old trans boy Miles Jacobson has two New Year’s resolutions: 1) win back his ex-boyfriend (and star of the football team) Shane McIntyre, and 2) finally beat his slimy arch-nemesis at the Midwest’s biggest classical piano competition. But that’s not going to be so easy. For one thing, Shane broke up with Miles two weeks after Miles came out as trans, and now Shane’s stubbornly ignoring him, even when they literally bump into each other. Plus, Miles’ new, slightly terrifying piano teacher keeps telling him that he’s playing like he “doesn’t know who he is”—whatever that means. Then Miles meets the new boy in town, Eric Mendez, a proudly queer cartoonist from Seattle who asks his pronouns, cares about art as much as he does—and makes his stomach flutter. Not what he needs to be focusing on right now. But after Eric and Miles pretend to date so they can score an invite to a couples-only Valentine’s party, the ruse turns real with a kiss, which is also definitely not in the plan. If only Miles could figure out why Eric likes him so much. After all, it's not like he’s cool or confident or comfortable in his own skin. He’s not even good enough at piano to get his fellow competitors to respect him, especially now, as Miles. Nothing’s ever been as easy for him as for other people—other boys. He’s only ever been almost enough. So why, when he’s with Eric, does it feel like the only person he’s ever really not been enough for...is himself?

Out Febuary 14th, 2023

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60784592-always-the-almost

‘DONT WANT TO BE YOUR MONSTER’ by Deke Moulton

Two vampire brothers must set aside their differences to solve a series of murders in this humorous and delightfully spooky novel for young readers. For fans of Too Bright to See. Adam and Victor are brothers who have the usual fights over the remote, which movie to watch and whether or not it’s morally acceptable to eat people. Well, not so much eat . . . just drink a little blood. They’re vampires, hiding in plain sight with their eclectic yet loving family. Ten-year-old Adam knows he has a better purpose in life (well, death) than just drinking blood, but fourteen-year-old Victor wants to accept his own self-image of vampirism. Everything changes when bodies start to appear all over town, and it becomes clear that a vampire hunter may be on the lookout for the family. Can Adam and Victor reconcile their differences and work together to stop the killer before it’s too late?

Out August 1st, 2023

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58646008-don-t-want-to-be-your-monster

‘World Running Down’ by Al Hess

Valentine Weis is a salvager in the future wastelands of Utah. Wrestling with body dysphoria, he dreams of earning enough money to afford citizenship in Salt Lake City – a utopia where the testosterone and surgery he needs to transition is free, the food is plentiful, and folk are much less likely to be shot full of arrows by salt pirates. But earning that kind of money is a pipe dream, until he meets the exceptionally handsome Osric. Once a powerful AI in Salt Lake City, Osric has been forced into an android body against his will and sent into the wasteland to offer Valentine a job on behalf of his new employer – an escort service seeking to retrieve their stolen androids. The reward is a visa into the city, and a chance at the life Valentine’s always dreamed of. But as they attempt to recover the “merchandise”, they encounter a problem: the android ladies are becoming self-aware, and have no interest in returning to their old lives. The prize is tempting, but carrying out the job would go against everything Valentine stands for, and would threaten the fragile found family that’s kept him alive so far. He’ll need to decide whether to risk his own dream in order to give the AI a chance to live theirs.

Out Febuary 14th, 2023

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/61152848

‘Speculation’ By Nisi Shawl

A wonderful middle-grade fantasy debut about Black families, family history, family curses ... and a really marvelous pair of spectacles. After Winna's little sister breaks her glasses, her grandfather gives her an old-timey pair of spectacles that belonged to her great-aunt Estelle. The specs are silver and perfectly circular, with tiny stars on the bridge and earpieces that curl all the way around her ears. Best of all, they're magic. Because when Winna makes a wish beginning with the words "What if"--that is, when she speculates--the spectacles grant it. Winna wishes she could see ghosts ... and soon she meets not only the real Estelle, but Estelle's mother, Winona. Nearly a century before, Winona escaped from slavery and ran north with her baby, Key. But Key was stolen from her under mysterious circumstances, and now Estelle and Winona have a mission for Winna: Find Key. He's still alive. He doesn't know the whole truth. And unless Winna can solve the mystery and bring him home, a powerful curse called the Burden will smother out their family's lives--and Winna's mom could be its next victim. This beautifully written historical fantasy by an award-winning science fiction author offers new twists and turns in every chapter and will leave you looking at your own family's roots with new eyes.

Out Febuary 14th,2023

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39884438-speculation?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=7xTizsSzW2&rank=1

‘Gwen and Art are not in love’ by Lex Croucher

Heartstopper meets A Knight’s Tale in this queer medieval rom com YA debut about love, friendship, and being brave enough to change the course of history. It’s been hundreds of years since King Arthur’s reign. His descendant, Arthur, a future Lord and general gadabout, has been betrothed to Gwendoline, the quick-witted, short-tempered princess of England, since birth. The only thing they can agree on is that they despise each other. They’re forced to spend the summer together at Camelot in the run up to their nuptials, and within 24 hours, Gwen has discovered Arthur kissing a boy and Arthur has gone digging for Gwen's childhood diary and found confessions about her crush on the kingdom's only lady knight, Bridget Leclair. Realizing they might make better allies than enemies, they make a reluctant pact to cover for each other, and as things heat up at the annual royal tournament, Gwen is swept off her feet by her knight and Arthur takes an interest in Gwen's royal brother. Lex Croucher's Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is chock full of sword-fighting, found family, and romantic shenanigans destined to make readers fall in love.

Out Nov 28th, 2023

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61885131-gwen-and-art-are-not-in-love?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=mZnIvH4W8o&rank=1

I Believe thats it for now!! there are SO Many books coming outt his year that i cant wait to get my hands on! SO if there is one missing that YOU cant wait for let me know! 

[visualnovelzombie]

Furry Visual Novel Book Club: Echo Week 8 SPOILERS

Hi everyone, here is the SPOILER FREE discussion post for “Echo - Carl’s Route A Ending”  

Links: Previous - Next - Original - Spoiler Free Version

Feel free to respond in reblogs/replies/or asks :D

We open with Chase hobbling downstairs to meet Jenna and Raven. The three decide to start searching again for anything that could unlock the door. Chase tries to distract Jenna from thinking about Carl, aware that someone is in her head too. The two talk about Carl’s mental health for a bit, before John leaves Chase with this ominous line.

The player is given direct clues that maybe James Hendricks I isn’t all he seems to be.

My interpretation of this line is Howly going, “Whoopsies, I finally figured out what I want this game to be and this route doesn’t fit into all of that... but it’s to late now so... enjoy!”

......

After searching for a bit, Chase sees Carl standing at the base of the stairs. The two return to the bedroom and Carl hugs Chase tightly as Intimate plays. Carl cries into Chase’s shirt, eventually saying that he had a panic attack. Carl confides in Chase over the whole ordeal, how he feels responsible for it being his family and his house. 

We’re starting to see the results of our actions, of telling Carl to fight off the influence digging at his mind. He’s more nervous and less confident than before. The two confide in each other, showing how they’ve grown and bonded with each other over the last few days. 

Well that throws a wrench into Chase/Leo unless the two fucking talk about that...

We’re parted with a few lines about only being together for sure in the ghost dimension, hinting at the two’s ultimate fate in the current ending. The two tease each other a bit before Raven calls from downstairs, signaling that him and Jenna have found something. Chase makes his way downstairs, still trying to keep Carl and Jenna separate. Jenna is head first in a stove grabbing for what her and Raven found. As Jenna grabs the item, she is pulled INTO the stove by an unseen force. Just as Chase and Raven begin to lose their grip on Jenna, Carl descends from downstairs and is able to rustle with the entity and pull her back.

I believe this entity is separate from John-Smoke-Monster that attacked Raven and then the group in the kitchen. It’s the same thing that attacked Chase in his dream... an entity that can attack in the metaphysical-scape the group find themselves in as well as something that can affect Chase’s mind.

As we learn in a bit, it is also most likely the creature that creates the slithering sound that stalks Chase and Sam in Brian’s Mass Grave location of the mines. These feeds into two theories I have about Echo’s supernatural goings-on that I’ll describe below:

1. This ‘snake’ entity is a higher level/class of entity above Echoes that serve THE Entity, causing mayhem to sow fear and discord above illusions and the amplification of negative emotions that generally blanket the town. Along the lines of Mirror-Man, 88883, and Bull-Head. The particular significance of this one remains to be seen, however it is particularity prevalent throughout the series. It is either stalking Sam, Sam AND Chase, or Sam and The Player, in a sense. It’s the lurking pit of fear that follows Sam, and pursues Chase through the mines as well as right now. Perhaps its in control of more than we can see, affect more than usual. I’m excited to learn more about it, and hear anyone’s thoughts on what the slithering thing could ‘mean’ for the narrative.

2. Echo, the town, has a ‘main’ entity, some sort of cosmic horror/god, ‘living’ in its mines. The dark force attracts OTHER dark and supernatural forces, that all are trapped in its ‘circle’ of influence. That entity triggers the hysteria, and the other malevolent forces simply act freely during so. And this is just the slithering-things many hunts for what ever constitutes it’s prey.

No matter the ‘reason’ or story significance behind the slithering thing, I will like to point out that it is definitely one of the more ‘Cosmic’ kinds of horrors we have seen so far in the series. Socketman in nature is DEFINITELY cosmic (infinite hell psychological torture), but definitely ‘looks’ like a slender-man/radio-head type of monster. A formless humanoid shape with tentacles is more on the Eldritch scale of things.

As Carl and Chase catch their breath after the incident, Jenna attempts to burn a piece of paper she grabbed from the stove, only for Chase to crash into her in order to stop her. Jenna deflects Chase’s attempted attack, hurting the otter's ankle again in the process. Carl and Chase pin Jenna until she calms down, unable to explain her actions. Raven takes the fox upstairs to relax. Chase and Carl talk about what’s probably going on with her.

We see that Jenna is much more ‘gone’ than Carl, and the two speculate that the wills of the ‘ghosts’ are probably affecting the surrounding events.

The two read the letter aloud as Daze begins to play. It’s a letter from James I to John, asking John to meet him at the mansion about rumors John is spreading. The two discuss the implications but can’t pinpoint what anything could mean. Chase notices that Carl is acting like himself again during this conversation

Chase, how many fucking times did Carl look at his dick in front of you for you to go, ‘ya that’s Carl’, and with that number of times, why didn’t you get ANY hint of queer from him for you?????

More reassurance that our choice has influenced events.

The door unlocks and the group decide to head out into the black void beyond the cabin. Chase is apprehensive about venturing out.

Chase is once again shown to be indecisive, even in circumstances that stand no reason, the otter is trying to keep things the same, to not make things harder for himself.

The group all decide to leave and head towards the only visible point, the bonfire in the distance. Carl and Chase conclude they’re walking outside in the desert somewhere based on how the ground feels beneath them, Chase wondering about what’s happening to the rest of his friends during all of this.

Chase looks back at the house, noticing a dark figure standing in the light of the window. It moves from the window to the doorway, slamming it shut as it rushes into the darkness presumably after the group. Carl and Chase rush to the campfire, Carl now carrying Chase on his back as the thing behind them approaches. 

The group reaches the campfire as the entity slithers around them, ‘like a person imitating a snake.’ Chase seizes up and passes out, then finding himself lying on the floor as oppressive heat and sun hits his body. He’s under sleep paralysis and can’t move or open his eyes. The entity is able to make Chase sleep through portions of the day, even cause bouts of paralysis. I believe this has Chase call into question how much he suffers is ‘regular’ amounts of paralysis, and how much supernatural. Coincidentally, he can’t open his eyes this time, which is different from most times he suffers from sleep paralysis. Chase falls back asleep… only to wake once again the mansion.

A repeating timeline of being stuck in circles is brought up in a more literal sense, referenced outright by the text to a similar situation.

Chase wakes to whimpering sounds, stumbling through the hallways to its source. And finds Jenna being hung in the concrete room. Chase tries desperately to lift the fox, trying to loosen the tension on her neck. Just as Chase is about to give out, Carl bursts onto the scene at the last moment again, knife in hand, and both lifts Jenna into the air and starts cutting at the noose. The group argue about the situation they find themselves in again, Chase and Carl even arguing about the Ram’s desire for weed. Through their bickering, Carl and Chase discover that Jenna is completely possessed by John now, only responding to his name.

This is one of the few instances we’ve seen Chase and Carl argue with each other in the game. One of those times is even behind a choice on this route. The situation is wearing down on the group more and more.

Carl and Chase try to reason to Jenna that something isn't right, Even Raven buts in to try and resolve the conflict.

Through the next argument, Jenna concedes, non verbally, to maybe being possessed, and the group determine that they need to find out the truth from both John AND James I perspective. Raven spots a previously sealed door and the group decide to travel through it. 

Ya we live in the House of Demons mountain range, I wonder why things are so bad.

Chase wakes up outside and alone, on the mountains to the East of town, overlooking Carl’s mansion. Upon noticing the mine, Sam warning Chase to ignore it.

Okay I know Sam then immeaidtely uses this opporutnity for a scare, ‘showing’ the hysteria to Chase to spook him before he does his full line... but I like to read this as Sam ‘warning’ Chase, even showing him what’s going to happen/what has happened. Deep down, even smudged and stained after so long and so many loops, Sam still has a good heart, and cares for the boy he’s found himself in.

Chase, after moving at impossible speeds up the mountain, notices that there are more buildings than Echo normally has. The town is more spread out with old fashioned buildings dotting the landscape. Carl’s house is bigger and older looking as well… the sound of train horns loops in the background.

The Entity’s ‘weakness’ in its illusion is sound. Loud sounds, like gunshots and train horns from the Prescott Railway that tie this time of day to Sunday night, break through the illusion. Something something hints at the double meaning of Silent Echoes...

Chase then wakes in Carl’s parent’s room with the group. The group celebrates… only to realize that the room is ‘off’, a mix between old and new. The group head outside, noting the extremely odd humidity, as well as noticing the buildings that shouldn’t exist. Chase explains his dream, about a stage and noose surrounding a tree to the group, and Jenna heads off without the rest of them.

The group arrives at a hanging tree, Jenna already there as they arrive. The body of a man hangs from the noose, clothes and body worn from the elements. Carl sees a piece of paper in the body's mouth and the group moves to gather it. As Chase goes to grab the paper, the corpse's eyes shoot open and Chase’s vision goes black.

Two unknown voices, presumably John and James I, argue back and forth in the void Chase finds himself in. The voices notice that Chase can now hear them, and reference that if he can, then ‘it’ is allowing Chase to.

Hey look, one of the main themes of the game. The truth will let you break cycles of pain and loneliness... you just have to ... Reach Out for it

Also the games first real big hint to an ‘Entity’ residing over lesser spirits, in this case Echoes. (Or maybe even actual Ghosts mixed with Echoes?)

...Chase then flashbacks to an event he witnessed while only a child. 

We know from other routes that this event happened after Chase killed Sydney, and was the main trigger for his spiral with mental health. After this he started seeing spiders on his walls, started falling more and more out of touch with his personality. I had compltely forgotten, but as we learn a bit later, Carl’s ‘major’ issue was that event we saw in the nightmare sequence, not Sydney’s death. And while the death of a friend didn’t sent the ram and otter up for success (okay murder of a friend), they both had further inciting incidents that set them off fully to declining mental states. I like the way this is framed in retrospect. There isn’t every always one THING that needs/should be fixed to ‘fix’ someone, never any single event that ‘breaks’ people... just one thing after another until we reach a tipping point. I think it’s a good point of view/circumstance to consider.

Chase awakens to Carl and Jenna arguing again. The two tell Chase that the corpse ate the letter after he passed out. Chase spots another letter in the foxe’s chest pocket and Carl retrieves it. The paper turns out to be a newspaper clipping, detailing Trisha Hendrick’s research uncovering that James I and John had a relationship. The paper details that crimes were against the missing children and sexual in nature… Just as Chase finishes the snippet, Jenna, now fully possessed by John, attacks Carl with a knife upon hearing the newspaper. 

Jenna grabs ahold of Carl’s horn and readies the knife for a final slash just as Chase hobbles over on his shattered ankle… and we’re met with a choice. 

“Grab Jenna” 

In Chase’s clumsiness, he misses trying to grapple the fox whose been shown to be agile and stronger than she should be.  The track ‘Death’ plays as Chase is stabbed in the chest with the knife on accident. Day turns to night as the shock hits the otter. Chase collapses to the ground as Carl rushes to his side.. Only to lose sight of Chase. Carl cries in agony over Chase as Chase begs for help.

As a side note, this was particularly horrifying to me on a reread, now understanding more of what’s happening.

Chase stumbles to the mansion as Carl argues over what happened to Chase. Chase sees Duke dead on the floor, most of his face missing and a ‘plastic thing’ stuck in his head.

This seems to me where Duke ‘saw’ his wife on Wednesday. It makes sense he ended up here... maybe the Echo of his wife getting some sort of revenge for her fate. That being said... I have aboslutely no idea what the ‘plastic thing’ could be, or if it’s even important.

 As then Chase succumbs to his wounds… and falls into nothing.

We’re kicked back onto the main menu as Chase has died with this choice. This is one of the game's few short bad ends. It serves the purpose of informing the player that what the characters see are not necessarily what’s happening in physical space, as Chase is knocked out of the illusion from his mortal wound, the time shifts to night, and others in the illusion can no longer see him.

“Push Jenna” (The ‘correct path)

Chase successfully pushes Jenna out of the way, with Raven coming in a few moments later to hold her down. Raven instructs Carl and Chase to run as Raven and Jenna struggle on the ground together. The two decide to run into town instead of the mansion, and after getting decently far away, Carl begins to have a panic attack. The ram heads off, saying he needs a moment and that he’ll be back. Chase panics, afraid of being by himself and losing Carl… eventually passing out.

Chase wakes to a snow covered Pueblo, all alone at the university.

The track, Drag starts to play, ominous tones and beats over a droning chord. The buildings are different from what Chase remembers, but he follows the sound of Carl’s footsteps through the fog. Carl’s ‘voice’ calls out to Chase. 

The first sign that the entity is only ever playing ‘back’ recordings.

Chase notices that the snow doesn’t impede his movement. An unknown voice calls out to him saying, ‘We’re not gonna hurt ya…’, the voice also being mechanical. More voices taunt Chase as he desperately searches for the Ram. The voices replay the dream sequence involving Clint and Jeremy. Chase continues to follow Carl’s ‘clops’ as sounds of violence ring out around him. Chase eventually finds Carl, in a twisted version of their old dorm room. 

They talk about their situation as Carl explains how he’s feeling. 

Intimate begins to play as Chase questions the statement. Carl explains that the incident with Jeremy and Clint were what caused him to become codependent on Chase initially, and their time at college together didn’t help that. 

Chase realizes that the location and nature of what they’ve been seeing is starting to become more and more evident. 

One can extrapolate, the location and appearance of the earlier nightmare sequences was from James I and John and that the group had been trapped in THEIR nightmare.

Carl is content with his place in the world, and wants to strive to change it, find his own happiness in life.

Carl says the panic attack from the dance and the stress his parents put on him caused him to finally crack at Pueblo. He also reveals a detail about the side story ‘Crash’... about thinking he had killed chase after dropping acid.

Carl awakens to his Ultimate persona, seeing the truth through the fog shakes off the illusion, and pulls Chase from it as the two find themselves in the diner.

I’m guessing Janice and Dale’s fate aren’t always the same as I feel like that would definitely be something to mention...

The two make their way back to Carl’s house. It’s night time now, a few bodies lie scattered in the road on their trek back. The two find themselves in the mansion, now back to normal. Chase and Carl notice that the surroundings and placements of the room match with the events of the nightmare… drywall on the plates on the kitchen table… among other oddities. 

IT WAS FUCKING PISS WHO DID THAT. NO ONE HAD TIME DO THAT UNLESS RAVEN FUCKING DID IT WHEN THEY LEFT FOR THE INTERVIEW! RAVEN COME ON MAN

The two find the ‘burned’ newspaper clipping that blames James I for the kidnappings of the Meseta children. The two hear Raven in the basement and go to investigate. Raven is tied up in a room, unaware of Chase or Carl’s presence as they find him. They’re able to wake him up with a touch as they explain what little they know to the husky. John had brought his letters to Raven, and the group read them together.

Seeing the truth, the group discovers that James I was a serial murdering pedophile, and that John only reported the bodies found at the Hendricks mansion. The three decide to leave, unwilling to ‘finish the game’ now that they are free from the illusion. As the three leave the room... 

Jenna is completely possessed, voice and image distorted despite chase being ‘awake’. John chases after Chase, slashing at the otters back and slicing him. John continues his assault. The two eventually tumble down the slope outside Carl’s house. Chase finds himself in front of the hanging tree, where he’s able to read the end of the newspaper clipping before John is able to attack Carl who came to intervene. The letter detail’s Trisha’s report, about how James admitted that it was him in correspondence to John in jail. 

The truth sets everyone free...

Chase’s gambit pays off as Jenna returns to her senses, all traces of John apparently leaving her. The scene fades as sirens of emergency vehicles blare into town.

The final scene starts on Chase typing his report, now in his dorm room proper. 18 months have passed since spring break when the game began. He recalls going to therapy after the incident, and that ‘everybody’ except Carl needed it. Jenna returned to school shortly after, now working on her Masters. Chase recalls the rest of the town going through their own nightmare that night, separate from theirs. Chase reflects on his scar and permanent limp. We only glimpse what happened to the other three during the weekend… 

…Chase reflects on his relationship with Carl, and while they two are close 

Chase wishes to return to Echo during the summer and uncover more mysterious surrounding the town, planning to stay with Carl during the time. (He wants to save his Gay-Uncle trapped in his head  🥺 🥺 🥺 ) just as Carl walks into the dorm, now attending Pueblo with Chase. The game ends with Chase joining Carl on a lunch out as credits roll. The track, ‘Echo’ plays, a remix of the title theme that opens with the tape recording sound effects being played.

CG’s witnessed during the prologue and route appear on the screen as the melancholy infused lofi-remix plays.

(The tape recording and lofi REALLY hits me in the feels for this track, ESPECIALLY with how bittersweet it is... because my god is Carl fucking best boy......)

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And that Concludes the ‘good’ ending to Carl’s Route! We learn more about the route’s titular character, how Chase sees and thinks of himself and others, and we start to understand SOME of the ��rules’ regarding the hysteria that seems to overtake the town.

The bittersweet ending with Chase injured and scared, and still without his ‘prize’ of a a boyfriend, is atypical of Dating Sims. Echo plays its hand as a Horror Visual Novel, rejecting its origins of a Dating Sim/Horror hybrid. With this being the first route, and that identity not fully decided upon during the writing of this route, there still is remnants of it lingering (such as the many voices with variables never called upon).

We learn that the supernatural events are linked to psychological projects, like in Silent Hill, but that there are definitely physical and supernatural powers outside of pure projection. Themes of truth, perception, self identity, and self acceptance are also explored on this route, with Carl’s ultimate decisions to be better for himself, that he deserves it and is good enough for it, being the truth that sets him free.

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Next week we’ll be reading Carl’s Route B until the end (a tad shorter than this entry!) On the choice between accepting and refusing James I influence, be sure to now select “Let it help us.”... I’m sure with the full scope of James I deeds you’ll be able to tell why this is the ‘bad’ end for the route.