#Meg just got back from vacation!

[theoceanoasis]

Hi, surrogate Rodimus

Megarod

"Is it true?"

He barely managed to get the door open before Drift was asking him.

He shifted feeling uncomfortable. He didn't want to hurt his friend but he couldn't lie to him.

"Yes... I'm sorry Drift."

"You have nothing to be sorry for."

His friend was quick to reassure.

"You'll be a great carrier."

"Thanks."

"I'm assuming the other rumors are true... About you and Megatron."

"It just kind of happened."

"I'm glad he's good for you. After all he was the one who stopped us from hurting you further."

"You didn't hurt me."

Drift gave him a sad look which he tried to ignore.

"You two will make great parents.

He resisted rubbing his belly not wanting to upset his friend.

"I've been talking with Ratchet and we've been thinking about adopting."

"That's good."

He shifted feeling awkward and Drift put a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry Roddy I should have seen what we were doing to you."

"It's fine."

He quickly dismissed not wanting him to feel guilty.

"I'm the one who signed up for it. I'm only sorry I couldn't give you two a sparkling."

Drift shrugged with tears in his optics.

"It is what it is. We've been thinking about going on vacation. Clearing our minds and strengthening our relationship before looking into adoption.

"That's good. I'm so happy for you two and I'd gladly approve vacation time."

Drift smiled and hugged him.

"You're a good Amica."

He nodded trying to ignore the tears in his optics and blaming it on hormones.

At that moment Megatron walked into their apartment holding a bag of goodies. When he noticed him crying he immediately became alarmed. Glancing at Drift he protectively wrapped an arm around him.

He put a hand on his arm to soothe him and took the bag of treats.

"Thanks Megs I've been craving these."

He ate a few and leaned against his mate.

"When you get back from your vacation with Ratchet I want you to tell me everything."

Drift nodded pulling him into a hug.

"Thank you Rodimus. I'll tell you when we're leaving so we can say goodbye."

"Sounds good."

Drift left his habsuit and Megatron looked down at him in surprise.

"After everything he put you through you're still willing to be his friend."

He rubbed his belly looking sad.

"I've done a lot worse to him."

Megatron wanted to argue but he shook his head.

"He's still my Amica and I'm always going to care about him. He was just having a hard time and got caught up with everything. It's fine now and I'm fine."

He rubbed his swollen belly with a smile on his face and Megatron kissed him.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

He snuggled against him and Megatron picked him up carrying him to their bedroom where they snuggled together.

[jake-richmond]

Modest Medusa Beach Party Its hot out and I keep wishing I was on vacation. Time for a beach party!

I got this idea from a mean spirited comment on Deviant Art a few months ago claiming that Deena (Meg's mom, pictured on the right) was ugly. Besides being rude, the comment just didn't make sense to me. When I was originally creating Deena back in Season 6 I decided she'd be really good looking. And if you look back at the comments on that first strip, you'll see a number of readers agreed! I had already been planning to do a beach episode image of some kind, but after that comment I decided to make Deena the center of it.

[altschmerzes]

THE 13 BOOKS I READ IN 2023 IN ORDER FROM BEST TO WORST + THE PROTAGONIST'S SUPERLATIVE. PART 2.

6. A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engel. a timeless classic that i love love love. meg is such a fun protagonist and i really enjoyed experiencing this as an adult again. the whole like… helpless devastated rage she feels when she realizes that adults can't just. fix everything? that sequence will always rattle me around like a mason jar fulla beans. she's such a like… man. the way the narrative was like. this isn't fair. it isn't right. it's happening anyway. i'm so sorry, but it's happening anyway. that really got me.

Protagonist: Meg Murry. Most Likely To Have A Profound And Life Altering Impact On Adolescent Weird Girls Who Read Her Book.

7. Whiskeyjack by Victoria Goddard. third book in the series, slightly less fun than the others but only very slightly. i cannot emphasize enough how difficult it was to rank like, 2-8. had some VERY fun stuff with like…. things you learn that then go back and recontextualize everything else. ended on a scene that made me fucking sob which is always a plus in my book. themes of FAMILY and LOYALTY and SACRIFICE. my fucking beloved. yes please. the pov character continues to have a horrible little time. also love that.

Protagonist: (again, series has dual protagonists, so switching back) Peregrine Dart. Most Likely To Be The Unwitting Conduit Of The Deus Ex Machina. Deus Ex Dart.

8. One By One by Ruth Ware. just a really good classic mystery thriller. i love a mystery thriller, and ruth ware seems to always hit for me. managed to pull off a pov switch between two pov characters one of whom had a massive, MASSIVE secret without it seeming completely nonsensical once revealed or relying on the pov character talking in deliberately obtuse or evasive ways that would be really tiresome and insulting if carried through. there was a set of tech bro startup characters that were obnoxious and infuriating in exactly the way that those people are in real life, so points for that for SURE even though i did wanna throttle them.

Protagonist: Erin (Lastname). Most Deserving Of A Tropical Vacation.

9. The Ritual by Adam Nevill. this is the most brutal book i have read in recent memory. possibly at all. this guy gets put all the way through the wringer physically and emotionally and it is visceral in the way it is described. the protagonist was a profoundly unpleasant person a lot of the time but this was deliberate and really engaging, honestly. there were some moments of stark self-reflection from him about the ways in which he did not like who he was and the things he did, and when he recognized how like. unfair and cruel he was being to the others in his head. wasn't as good as the movie, imo, but the changes that they made between the book and film made total sense given the sheer level of interiority in the book. and boy howdy how much interiority. whoof.

Protagonist: Luke. Most Surprising Survival.

10. I Am Not Who You Think I Am by Eric Rickstad. i think the most damning thing that can be said about this book is that i literally can't remember almost anything about it. it was compelling in some ways and there were a few very specific moments that i was really gripped by but most of it was like. a really flat letdown. it was interesting enough as a mystery that i finished it but i don't even really remember why, now.

Protagonist: Wayland Maynard. Most Forgettable Guy.

11. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken. just. ugh. dystopia ya in a bad way. too complicated and not well established. dumbass colour coding system. it could've been so fun, i love traumatized teenagers with powers and an evil government in all sincerity but this just did not do anything good with it. it looked like it COULD have but it DIDN'T. the love interest character was a DICK. there was some weird gender takes that popped out of nowhere. jump-scared by gender. did enjoy watching the movie though because it was fucking insane and gave me a scene where the protagonist and the love interest shared a passionate embrace over what fully appeared to be the dead body of the love interest's theoretical best friend. amazing. no notes.

Protagonist: Ruby Daly. Most Likely To One Day Decide She's Tired Of Being Nice And She Does Want To Go Apeshit Actually.

12. Reputation by Sarah Vaughan. [VIDEODROME PRESCREEN AUDIENCE REVIEW WHERE THEY JSUT WROTE 'SUCKED' AND GOT SO UPSET ABOUT HOW BAD IT WAS THEY MARKED THE WRONG GENDER] this book was BAD. the writing was bad. the characters were bad and not on purpose. the politics of the book were uh. whoof. what if white girlboss feminism was a novel. points for some of the hardest i've laughed tho at Nice Dick Mike the journalist that the protagonist cannot respect after she sleeps with him and Lady Cop With Bangs, the traitor to womanhood.

Protagonist: Emma Webster. Most Likely To Submit An Extremely Long Post To Reddit Dot Com Slash Am I The Asshole That Leaves Out A Lot Of Like, Extremely Critical Information That When Uncovered All Makes Her Look Really Fucking Bad While She Seems To Still Think It Was Entirely Irrelevant And Honestly Unfair To Even Consider. Gd Forbid Women Do Anything.

UNCATEGORIZED: 21st Century Jocks: Sporting Men And Contemporary Heterosexuality by Eric Anderson. there was simply no way to rank this among the others, it was too completely different. they were all very different books but this was just. entirely different. had a wonderful time with it though!! gave me a lot to think about as someone who thinks a lot

thank you for joining me on this journey. i loved reading books again this year and would wholeheartedly recommend anything ranked 1-9 on this list, provided you like the genre/vibe.

[transingthoseformers]

Continuity soup Gladiator AU

Miner to gladiators backstory but less bugnuts Megatron and which ever version of Optimus who was a dockworker that the Matrix fell on being forced to fight against each other as gladiators.

The two got captured because they were brawling buying time for their respective factions.

They're literally the only two cybertronians in the pits and they aren't alowed to kill each other in and out of the ring. They're a big money making draw. Damn inhibition chips. They're cooped up togeather and they're just floundering because they're only alowed to damage eachother in the ring duringbtheir fights. Sometimes they're sent out as a tag team.

Megatron grumpily teaching OP how to make a fight look good. Or how to fix a fight. Convincingly pretend an opponent has you on the ropes to give the audience their money's worth. Cause if his partner frags up he's in the same soup. And more importantly on the same quarter rations. You have plenty of other gladiators watching the lessons and practically taking notes. It's a gods damned master class.

OP's finding this helish and Megatron's finding this much less shitty that the Pits of Koan. Like a gladiatorial equivalent of a vacation if it wasn't for the forced proximity with Optimus.

Optimus finaly loses it at Megatron because how can he stand the inhibition chips. Megatron just matter-of-factly tells him compared to the slave coding he onlined with in the mines this is nothing. It's not in his processor. Just an inconvenient tazer. Optimus is so confused. This not the data he had on the Teleran. Finding out that the "drones" were 'Cons hacked to fight early in the war were actually sentients given antivirus to root out malicious code has OP in a tailspin. Megatron going from taunting and cynical to being generally shocked OP didn't actually know. Optimus is practically blue screened, while Megatron is laughing hystericaly that Optimus is a true believer in the "Freedom is the Right of All Sentient Beings," shtick. And Optimus dose have a patern that's been consistant since the begining: crackdown hard on corruption as soon as he realizes it's there. This is the point where Megatron decides to seduce Optimus to the Deceptacons and Optimus's "I Can Fix Him"-itis kicks in. It starts platonic but soon their fights have even more weird sexual tension. And philosophical debates instead of weird taunts.

The bookies are taking bets on whether or not cybertronians can bump uglies to make babies.

Meanwhile both factions are trying to get their leaders back. By the time they work out where they are they show up to discover OP and Megatron have secussfuly lead a slave revolt, escaped the planet and are co-captians of a ship full crewed by gladiators and their dependents.

Ooooo on the backstories and them being got because they were so focused on each other and ended up playing the distraction

EXACTLY WHAT I WAS THINKING, in this case they're worth too much to have one of them die during a fight or otherwise.

I've been thinking a lot about gladiators teaching each other how to rig some fights, owo yes???

Interesting dichotomy for Optimus and Megatron, Megs is not only used to this sort of rhythm but finds it easier than the first time, while Optimus feels like he's being pulled under the waves by it

The shock Optimus got is a-m-a-z-i-n-g, oh dude have you been living in blissful ignorance to the horrors of Cybertron

Because yeah

Optimus here is 100% here for freedom of all sentient beings, and this most certainly includes decepticons

SEDUCTION 100 AND OPTIMUS FALLING FOR IT HOOK LINE AND SINKER

See you get the vibe of this style of Megop!!!!

sdghjds oh the bets, hmmmm I wonder which way we're more inclined towards🤔

I feel like this was a situation where Prowl, Jazz, and Ultra Magnus were somewhat forced to work with Starscream, Soundwave, and Shockwave to track them down because yes please the respective high commands working together without their leaders

Of all the things that could've happened at least some mecha anticipated that those two would figure their way out of it

They just didn't anticipate the tagalongs

[scarlettriot]

❄️ Retreat ❄️

• Pairing: Bakugo & Meg @meggsngrits

• Warnings: SMUT | Minors & Ageless blogs DNI. Excess of Fluff(?)

• Contains: Bakugo in his late 20s. Drinking. Clothes torn. Not much else besides that tooth-rotting fluff. Nicknames Used: baby, babe, baby girl.

• A/N: This fic is a part of my Winter Writing Event, specially written for @/meggsngrits! Thank you so much for partaking, Meg, and I really hope you enjoy your Holi-Date with Katsu. The event is still ongoing so if anyone else would like to participate, just follow the link.

• Word Count: 1,800ish

It was a well-known fact that Katsuki hated winter. He despised the cold. He would always scowl up at the sky the very moment snow started to fall as if it personally offended him. The only thing that made him tolerate winter was that the cold always gave him an excuse to hold your hand. Not that he needed one. 

As his girlfriend, you were always happy to hold the pro hero's hand but sometimes Katsuki wasn’t too big on public displays of affection. However, that went all out the window the moment the temperature plummeted. 

Suddenly the blonde was looking for every possible reason to be all over you! He’d nuzzle his face in the crook of your neck, hide among your long chestnut hair while his hands burrowed in the pouch of your hoodie, seeking out much-needed warmth. 

His friends would tease him relentlessly for it. The big, tough, pro hero couldn't handle a little winter chill, but he’d just mutter a swear that they couldn’t even make out thanks to him refusing to lift his face away from you. 

All that teasing made him want to just hide away with you even more. Steal you all for himself and shut out the rest of the world for a while. Hunker down with you under a mound of the most comfortable blankets he could get his hands on. Pretty soon, that desire was starting to grow, and it wasn’t much later that Katsuki found himself booking a little cabin for you two to sneak away for a long weekend. 

It was the perfect pre-holiday vacation. 

This would be the first time you got to experience Christmas with each other's families, and he knew you’d need some peace to mentally prepare yourself for the madness that was a Bakugo family Christmas. 

And he was pretty sure he could use the time too since it seemed your family also liked to get a little wild given all the stories you shared of shooting guns and building bonfires. 

To be honest, you’d probably need a pre and post-vacation! But, one thing at a time.

The cabin was perfect by both your standards. Tucked away in the woods, far away from the busy city, where you two could just relax and enjoy each other's company. 

“‘M gonna go get some firewood. Pick out a move, yeah?” Katsuki kissed the top of your head before snuggly wrapping the scarf around his neck even though he’d be outside for less than a couple minutes. 

It gave you enough time to go into the small kitchen and start making two mugs of hot chocolate and get out the tin of popcorn kernels since you'd decided on a movie long ago. 

Katsuki was shivering when he stomped back inside, kicking the door closed behind him. His arms piled high with enough wood to ensure he wouldn’t have to go back out for more, not tonight, at least. 

“Somethin’ smells good.” He shed his coat and made his way to you just like a magnet. Wrapping those thick arms right around your middle so he could warm up again. He hummed softly, breathing in the rich scent of the warm drink. 

“Want some rum in yours?” 

“You even gotta ask?” He chuckled and reached around to grab the bottle of rum for himself and chocolate liquor for you. 

Wimp, he called you the first time you tried his cup of cocoa and spiced rum many weeks ago. He’d never forget the way your nose scrunched up.

So, he poured a hearty amount of rum into his mug and the liquor in yours before you topped them off with a generous amount of whipped crème. 

Katsuki built up the fire and filled the old-timey popcorn popper with kernels while you prepared the blankets and DVD. “What’re we watching?” He asked and gave the popper a good shake. 

“Tangled.” You beamed. 

“Fuckin’ of course we are.” He rolled his eyes, “You do know Disney has made other movies, right?” 

You sat cross legged on the sofa with the big popcorn bowl just waiting in your lap. “Yeah. But this is the best!” 

There was no point in arguing. He learned that a long time ago. And, honestly, it wasn’t such a horrible movie. Others were way worse, like the one with the sleeping chick.  

It wasn’t long before the sounds of popping kernels, and the tell-tale Disney intro filled the cabin. The bowl of popcorn sat in your lap, and Katsuki had you curled up in his. 

The lights were extinguished, save the glow of the crackling fire. Flynn’s voice began telling you about the sun drop that fell from the sky and made the magic golden flower... Your boyfriend watched with a slight smile on his face as you recited damn near every word. 

You got so invested in a movie you’ve seen countless times, and he still thinks that has to be one of the sweetest things about you. The way you sing along with the songs. How you gasp even though you know exactly what’s about to happen. And the way your eyes look so soft during the lantern scene. 

Under the blanket, he’s tracing the three little words onto your skin again without even realizing it. It'd become a habit of his now, one he has no intention of breaking. And, just like the first time he’d done it, you turned away from the movie to face him. Pressing a kiss to his lips, “I love you too, Katsu.” 

You try to pull away, but the kiss was just a little too short for his liking, and he doesn’t hesitate to bring you right back to him. He slips your glasses off and sets them on the end table, never once breaking the kiss. 

“How’m I supposed to watch the movie now?” 

“Think you’ve seen the movie enough times…” 

He tried to move you under the blanket, and the empty popcorn bowl clattered to the floor, but neither of you paid it any mind. Too engrossed in one another to give a damn about anything else right now. 

When he's got your gorgeous legs straddling his hips, how could he want for anything more? Scarred hands knead your ass, slipping under the short pajama bottoms so he could get a proper feel. 

His hips rocked up into yours, and he pressed you down against his length shamelessly, letting you know exactly what he wanted. A throaty groan left him when you start to grind, hanging onto your hips while you moved them however you damn well pleased. “Little fuckin’ brat. Such a tease.” He smirked as he said it and did everything he could to refrain from tearing the shorts right off you. 

“You like it.” You quipped right back. 

“Wrong, baby girl,” what little restraint he had slipped away, and your shorts ripped to shreds, “I fuckin’ love it.” 

For a moment, he thought you might say something about the destruction of your pajama bottoms, but then that smirk he loves so damn much settled on your face, and you’re practically clawing at his sweats. 

“Needy f’me, huh?” Two of his digits slipped easily between your folds and sink into you. His wrist flicked, moving to pump them in and out a couple times before he pressed on that spot you love so much. 

Watching you like this is better than any movie he could ever put on. The way the blanket falls, settling around your hips, how your eyes can barely stay open, or the way your cheeks turn the prettiest shade of pink. 

“Don’t cum yet, ‘kay?” 

“Ki—!” You cried, and he almost felt bad. 

“You can handle it. Know you can…” 

His fingers work even quicker, bringing you right to the edge and then pulling back so only his thumb is left teasing your clit. 

There’s really no time to complain though, not when the head of his cock was resting at your entrance, and you could see him working your slick along his shaft. 

He looked up and waited to see that little nod of your head, letting him know you were ready for him. Both his hands hold your thick hips steady, and he slowly presses in, inch by inch, until you’re nestled in his lap once more. 

His head fell back, “Meg, fuck, feel so fuckin’ good, baby.” 

He squeezed your hips tight, your skin pudged out between his fingers in the cutest way as he lifted you off him just enough so he could thrust up into your cunt. 

You didn’t have to do a single thing. Just had to let him hold you up and stuff you full, over and over, until both of you were satisfied. 

But, holding you up quickly became him bouncing you on his cock. Thrusting and moving you to meet him halfway while listening to the prettiest sounds he’s ever heard. 

“Squeezin’ me s’tight. Gonna cum? Yeah, you are, can fuckin’ feel it.” 

Just for a second he thought about making you wait again while he switched positions. Thinking about bending you over the arm of the sofa or how good you’d look with your tits pressed against the cool window while he rails you from behind. 

There were so many ways he wanted to have you, and he would, this was just the first of many this weekend after all…

“Go on then. Cum on my cock, baby. Lemme feel you.” Your nails bit into his chest, he could feel them even through the cotton shirt, “That’s it. That’s a good girl. Oh, fuck—!” 

Your walls fluttered around him, squeezing him just right. That was his hint to pick up the pace and chase down his own release. “Katsu—! Ahh—!” He hears your cries, felt your nails threaten to rip his shirt, and he didn’t care. He was gonna paint your walls white, fill you to the brim. 

And with a guttural groan, he did just that. He gave you rope after rope, everything he had to offer, fucking his cum deep within your cunt until you toppled forward, cuddling into him. 

Your breaths started to even out, heart rates slowing but beating out the same rhythm. “I love you, Meg.” He murmured softly against your forehead in between a dozen kisses while he reached back to grab your glasses and the remote, rewinding the movie to where you left off, not wanting you to miss a second of it. Even if you had seen it a million times before. 

Under the soft, warm blankets, you finished out the movie with his cock still buried in you while the snow drifted down outside the windows. The fire burned lower now, mugs of coco empty, and popcorn gone.

Katsuki might still hate winter, but he loves these snowy nights he gets to share with you. 

[dabisqueen]

No questions, just wanted to tell you I love you. 🥺💕 I haven’t dropped into your askbox in awhile and I needed to fix that!!! I hope you’re doing well, my love. 😘😘😘

Aw Meg! I feel the same way! I've missed you, but not being in my askbox means being busy with life. I can understand.

I am doing ok. Got back from vacation and have chemo again tomorrow.

It'll be alright. I hope you're doing ok?!

💙💙💙

Ask me

[purplesimmer455]

Later that evening Tess, Mia, and Grace came over. Tess kissed her wife’s cheek before saying hi to Iseul, and Grace got to know Mia. “Megan told me and Issy so much about you.” She said to Mia as Iseul put an arm around her and Tess took Megan’s hand. “Aw, she did?” Mia grinned at her sister. “Butthead, that sweet.” She said, and Megan rolled her eyes but smiled. “Also, Megs told me how cute you both are but damn.” Mia added, and Megan flushed and nudged her sister. “Mia! I meant objectively cute.” She said as Grace blushed and Iseul gave Megan a mischievous smile, which made Tess tighten her grip on Megan’s hand. Megan squeezed Tess’s hand back reassuringly. “You talk about us that much Liao?” Iseul teased. “Only occasionally, so don’t think you’re all that, Kang.” Megan joked back, rolling her eyes. “Well, when are you not talking about Iseul, Meggs.” Tess’s tone was slightly less playful, and Iseul bit her lip as Grace smiled awkwardly and Tess looked away from Megan, biting her lip. “I’m going to head down to the festival.” Tess said, and Mia gave Megan a concerned look, noticing her sister’s face fall as she bit her lip too. “Okay babe, we’ll meet you there.” Megan said, and Tess nodded, still not looking at Megan as she walked out. An awkward silence followed and Grace exchanged a look with Iseul while Mia squeezed Megan’s hand reassuringly.

The three of them headed to the spice festival and Mia, and Grace sat down at a table with Tess who smiled sheepishly now at Megan who smiled back before heading to the food stalls with Iseul. “Is everything okay with you and Tess?” Iseul asked, biting her lip. “Yeah, I hope so.” Megan said, biting her lip too. “I’m sorry if it might be because of me, or because we’re hanging out more.” Iseul said, looking into Megan’s eyes. “I’d never get between you and Tess and if you want me to talk to her to explain, I can.” She said, Megan nodded. “I know, Is and it’s okay I’ll talk to her.” She said, smiling at Iseul, and patting her shoulder. Their orders arrived and she grabbed the two plate of samosas for herself, Tess, and Mia, and Iseul grabbed the two bowls of Bhel Puri for herself and Grace and they walked back to their table together.

Megan pulled Tess aside as Iseul snuggled up with Grace at the table and chatted with Mia. “Tessie, is everything okay?” She asked. “Back at the apartment you sort of…” she trailed off and Tess sighed. “I’m sorry Megs. It’s so stupid but I got jealous seeing the smile Is gave you, and it mixed with my werewolf fury. Rory told me fury enhances emotions and taught me some werewolf meditation exercises so I’ll keep trying those.” Megan nodded, trying not to laugh at the imagery of a werewolf doing yoga. “I know it’s awkward as heck because Iseul and I used to date, but I love you and not her. I’m hanging out with her because it’s fun to goof around and not that I can’t talk to you because of course I can, but it’s nice to have Iseul as a friend and be able to talk and confide in her.” Tess nodded. “I know, babe.” She said, and Megan pulled her close for a kiss. Just as they pulled apart, they saw Tess’s college fling Aidan de la Cruz. He’s currently dating Tess’s cousin Noah and it’s awkward but Tess is happy for the both of them. They said hey to Aidan and chatted with him for a bit.

So gameplay wise, Iseul automatically kissed Megan on their joint couples vacation a couple posts ago, and I had Megan confess to Tess, which created a guilty sad moodlet for her and a betrayed sad moodlet for Tess which is understandable. Megan and Tess repaired their relationship in-game, and regained the trust and Megan got these moodlets. I wanted to keep it in the story but I felt pretty guilty so I kept it as only gameplay. 😳😅

[wildroseofarran]

For Better or Worse, Part II || Captain Issott & Boone || December, 2021

Tristan: He would've wanted to kill him for the look on his mother's face alone.

Two weeks after Luke's visit with the private investigator, Tristan found himself sitting on a hotel balcony staring off at the horizon. The view was incredible but he wasn't really taking it in. All he could see--all he'd been able to see for days--was the look on his mother's face when he'd told her about the results of Dakota's investigation.

The DNA test confirmed it: Gideon Clare Boone was his biological father, the man who had impregnated Megan Seger in 1981 and left her to raise a child on her own.

A child that would turn out to be, to Tristan's devastation and Meg's bewilderment, a fucking merman.

And now here he was. Sitting in a hotel in Playa del Carmen, Mexico trying to work up the nerve to go see the man while trying desperately not to hurl.

Leslie: Leslie had made a point to distance himself from Meg during the ordeal. It wasn't his place to speak up and interrupt the whirlwind of emotion to process between herself and her son. Refusing to influence how she felt about the supernatural simply because he was a part of it. Instead, he busied himself by updating his passport, learning key phrases and possible responses in Spanish. An easy feat, thanks be to his fluency in Portuguese.

Something for them to practice together. His version of healthy distraction. But now they were in Mexico. First time. He wanted to sample local cuisine. Browse local markets. Something to occupy himself further. Give them something other than their reason for being here.

But they couldn't avoid reality for long. Leslie wouldn't allow it.

First, he would gently throw his pillow at Tristan's back.

"You're slowly pulling a Band-Aid."

Tristan: Tristan startled far more than a soft pillow warranted, providing evidence enough of how far his mind was wandering.

More than anything he wished they were here just for pleasure. An actual vacation was so much better than this.

He sighed and held it on his lap. “Worried I’ll see my breakfast again if I rip it off. Can’t seem to make myself move either. It’s like I’m glued to this chair.”

Leslie: "You can't walk backwards from this. You can mourn what was, but you can't go back, baby. I'm sorry you have a shitty father, but you don't have a shitty life."

Tristan: He shook his head. “No. I don’t have a shitty life. I have a damn good one. I’ve got a mama that did her best to raise me right. I’ve got a roof over my head and a job I enjoy.”

He stood and walked over to Leslie. “And the man I love and I have got two beautiful little girls. That’s a damn good life, and I’m proud of it.”

Leslie: "Then there's nothing he can say or do that'll change that. You already know the man he is. There'll be no surprises. We just need a few answers."

Tristan: Tristan shook his head. “Nothing he can say or do will change that,” he repeated in an effort to reassure himself. Knowing what he had and that whatever happened today wouldn't change it did make him feel better, but the dread was still there.

“I know what kind of man he is but not the man himself. He made sure of that when he took off and if we’re being honest, I don’t really want to know him. I’ve got a parent. I just want answers.”

Leslie: "Then that's what we're walking into. With that, there's nothing to be disappointed in. Your mother is waiting for you in Edenton."

Leslie leaned back, taking Tristan with him.

"Can always be tomorrow. Rip the band-aid off, or sex and food market."

Tristan: Although he nodded and smiled, there wasn't a doubt in Tristan's mind that there could still be very much to be disappointed in. His father could refuse to talk. He could've taken off at some point between Dakota's investigation and their arrival. He could take off the moment he saw them and disappear into the sea.

There was so much that could go so very wrong. He hoped it wouldn't, but he couldn't discount it.

Tristan smiled and shook his head for a third time. "Whole point of ripping off a band-aid is to get it over with. Let's go ahead and get it over with. 'Sides, much as I appreciate your confidence in me, I wouldn't be able to get it up right now, sweetheart."

Leslie: "You don't always have to be on top, you know." His smile was tempered. Even the playful nip at Tristan's face was delicately measured.

"Was hoping you'd want to get this over with. Sooner you see him, the sooner you can move to the next step."

Back to their feet, then. One more kiss for the road, cradling Tristan's jaw in both hands.

"Just gonna lock up some things and we'll go."

Tristan: The next step...

Just what the hell was that exactly? Damned if he knew.

He'd take that kiss gladly, promising Leslie another when they'd done what they had to do. He grabbed his bag from the closet and made sure Luke's file was inside, along with all of Dakota's surveillance photos and a few others he'd brought along just in case.

There would be no mistaking the man, and there would be no room for denial once he was found.

"The boat rental place is a ways away. I'll call the front desk so they can get us a taxi." Boat rentals. Another of many jobs related to the water.

Fitting, for a merman.

Leslie: "How's your Spanish?" Leslie asked, hands stuffed into his pockets. His Portuguese would play a crucial role, if Tristan had nothing to go on. Wouldn't be the first time Leslie would have to pretend. Never before in this setting.

Tristan: “Passable. Won’t win any awards but I can get by.”

Tristan called down to the front desk and, not wanting to wait in the room, took Leslie’s hand and led him downstairs.

He had the address of the boat rental place so finding it wouldn’t be a problem. The taxi driver probably thought they were just two more tourists out of many wanting a day out on the water.

Not that Tristan could even be in the water in public anymore. The man they were going to see had made sure of that.

When they arrived, he paid the driver and mumbled a thank you before getting out.

Leslie: Today, Leslie was easily led by the hand. He checked himself yet again for wallet, keys, and phone. He'd never left his passport in a hotel room before, and today was no exception. Perhaps once he mastered a better lock spell for safes.

This was Tristan's turn to lead. No more jokes, no more teasing to coax a smile. His intention to be nothing more than a quiet support beam while Tristan confronted his biological father.

Tristan/Boone: The boat rental shop was a tiny faded blue building with a rusted sign, barely noticeable among the sea of tourists and dozens of other rental places and stalls and shops up and down the road by the docks. A few people stopped to read a second sign with the hourly and day rates, but very few—if any—actually went inside, and no one was coming out.

He’s probably alone.

Tristan stared at the building and swallowed, limbs like jelly and heart beating a tattoo in his chest. This was it. After months of searching and waiting, after years of wondering, he was finally going to set eyes on the man that was his father.

He felt himself take Leslie’s hand and walk forward as if in a daze. He didn’t really feel the doorknob as he turned it or hear the little bell above it chime its welcome. The warmth of Leslie’s hand in his was the only thing confirming that this wasn’t a dream, until he saw him—

A burly man with a strong, bearded face and a mane of salt and pepper hair. This was Gideon Clare Boone.

His father.

The man turned to face them, nodding in greeting. And, gauging them to be American—or maybe Australian—said, “Folks here to rent a boat or some jet skis?”

Leslie: The man looked almost exactly as Leslie had imagined. Tristan, having never laid eyes upon his father, shouldered many similarities. If ever there was debate between nature versus nurture, Leslie knew once and for all the answer was both, slamming together at once.

His instinct was to speak. As much as he didn't want to shield his companion, just a moment longer would do no harm.

"Depends the price," he offered, making no effort to hide his blended accent.

Tristan/Boone: Ah. Gideon nodded to himself. Brits. Figured.

"Won't find better in town." His voice was surprisingly gentle and clear despite its depth. There might have been an accent there, or a combination of them even, but it was too light to distinguish. "How long are ya'll here for? I can offer you a weekly rate if--"

"Are you Gideon Boone?"

Gideon's easy polite smile froze as he turned to face Tristan, who seemed to have at last found his voice and was fixing the man with a cold stare.

"...Who's asking?" Subtly, he reached beneath the counter.

Leslie: Leslie took a single step backwards, his angle towards Gideon Boone somewhat sideways. It was a strategic and defensive stance, though his expression remained calm. His right hand, furthest from view, had become warm with Quintessence, index finger slowly circling, pointed at the floor. A gust spell in his arsenal, though the concern now was whether or not he could complete the ritual before something happened.

Tristan/Boone: Fortunately for him, Tristan had seen enough movies and had spent enough nights drinking in Charlie Brandt's sketchy dive to recognize what that little gesture meant.

Unfortunately for Gideon Boone, rather than have the intended intimidating effect, it just pissed Tristan right the hell off.

"What?" he sneered, nodding towards the counter. "You gonna shoot your own son?"

The question hit Boone like a bucket of ice water.

He froze once again, taking a minute to fully, properly look the guy over. When he'd been asked for by name he'd expected a debt collector or a bounty hunter or a pissed off jilted husband who'd joined forces with another pissed off jilted husband to confront him, but a son? His son?

Boone paled, and Tristan noticed.

"Coming back to you now, ain't it?" He left the comfort of Leslie's side and took a step closer. "'Bout forty years ago, Kitty Hawk? Woman with wavy blonde hair? Taught high school? Is it all coming back?"

"Now, wait--"

Another step. "Her name was Megan. Told you she was going to have your baby and you took off. Called, wrote, went to your place, you were nowhere to be fucking found."

"Look, man, you've got the wrong--"

"But before you took off like the dickless fucking coward you are, you forgot to tell her that the baby she was carrying was a fucking merman!"

Tristan dunked his arm in the fish tank on the counter and pulled it out again, revealing the shimmering iridescent scales on his skin. Some of the water that had splashed landed on Gideon's skin and had the exact same effect. Even their color was the same.

"Gonna tell me I have the wrong guy again?"

Leslie: There was a lot to take in. The shouting, body language, nuance of expression - but his world revolved around Boone. He had all the time in the world to discuss and comfort Tristan; not if the man was dead. One wrong move and his spell would throw his intended through the tattered excuse of a wall.

But, at least for the moment, he didn't seem required. Tristan had this planned, at least in appearance. Must have gone over his speech a hundred times, or perhaps an outline. Whatever had been prepared now felt like a burst dam, and well deserved.

For his part, he remained a statue.

Tristan/Boone: Boone had enough experience with debt collectors, bounty hunters, and pissed off husbands to be able to tell who was a real threat and who was more bark than bite. This guy? His--fuck, his son--absolutely did not fall into the second category. He was taking a swing if he got the chance.

There was a tiny part of him that was just a little bit proud of that. The part that wasn't looking to get decked.

The rest of his parts were trying to think on the fly. Even if he had wanted to deny anything or hide his skin, it was impossible. He'd been caught off guard.

"All right all right all right, look." Boone raised his hands defensively. "Why don't we all just caaaaalm the hell down. I'm tryin' to run a business here and I can't have anyone seeing shit they ain't supposed to. Why don't you come back later and--"

Tristan scoffed. "Are you fucking kidding me? You think I'm gonna give you a chance to skip town before I get what I came here for? How stupid do you think I am? We're gonna talk about this now."

He turned and stalked over the door, flipping the lock and the 'open' sign to the side that said 'closed'.

Leslie: Leslie took his eyes off Boone long enough to check for a secondary exit. Anywhere this man might run to slip away. Hell, an open window would probably be enough, if given the opportunity.

He didn't want to dismiss his loaded spell, but neither did he want to allow any chance of escape. The smallest silence was disturbed by a thick pop of his joints. Left hand raised and fingers painfully tense and kinked. A brief chill overwhelmed the room, gone as swiftly as it had appeared. This was all he could do; restraint and a single offensive.

Tristan/Boone: The rental shop was little more than a shack but it was larger than it appeared from the street. There was a beaded curtain back behind the right end of the counter that led to a room that doubled as a living space and office, beyond which there was another door that led to the outside.

Boone, however, wasn't thinking about any of that. He might have, though, if he hadn't felt that momentary chill and a crackle of something in the air that felt distinctly like magic.

It wasn't coming from his son; it was the other guy. Something told him that one would take a lot more than a swing if Boone made one wrong move.

Nothing for it then.

"All right all right, fine. You win. Come around ba--"

"Uh-uh."

Tristan interjected before Boone could take a step, going behind the counter and putting himself between his father and the doorway with the beaded curtain.

"What'd I just say? I'm not giving you a chance to escape out of here, I'm going first."

If there was another door or something back there, Tristan was going to make damn sure his father didn't get anywhere near it.

Leslie: Windows were no longer an option, but there was no need to explain himself. No need to make this man feel any more like a cornered animal. He was primed to strike defensively with any provocation, and while Leslie would not blame him, he also would not allow such action.

The readied fire in his hand, set to explode with a final flick of his fingers, warmed his skin uncomfortably, but still, he said nothing, waiting to follow behind and stand guard in the doorway.

Tristan/Boone: Boone felt more like a man being dragged to the gallows than a cornered animal but it all came down to the same thing. Couldn’t run forever.

“Fine, whatever you say,” he grumbled, following his son into the other room. “Wasn’t gonna try anything, geez.”

There were two doors in the room: one led outside and the other to a bathroom. Tristan locked the outside door and then planted himself in front of it. Boone might say he wouldn’t try anything but Tristan didn’t buy it.

He doubted Leslie did either.

For his part Boone just sighed and shook his head, taking a seat on the small couch against one wall.

“All right, you got me where you want me.” He turned to his son. “What do you want?”

Tristan gave him an incredulous look. “Are you serious? The hell do you think I want?”

Boone turned to the other guy. “Help me out here.”

Leslie: The witch took a breath, refusing the swallow the lump in his throat. It wasn't so unreasonable to give an answer, at least, one suitable to the situation, and the man on the couch.

"Pretend for the next thirty minutes you're Pinocchio. Or truth serum. Whatever gets you through this."

Tristan/Boone: “Yeah, Pinocchio.” Tristan stepped closer. “Except instead of your nose growing, I stick a fishing lure under your fingernails every time you tell a lie.”

Again Boone looked between them. It was almost as though he were watching some sort of deranged tennis match.

“Is he serious—are you serious?”

Leslie: Leslie looked at his beloved, doing his very best not to seem concerned in front of Boone. Not to give anything away and cause vulnerability. Never in a hundred years would he have expected those words out of that mouth. But this was his man. There would be no contradicting.

"You'll not find out if you just comply."

Tristan/Boone: Tempting as it was to keep his mouth shut, Boone knew when he was beat. He wasn't entirely sure if his son was the type to actually carry through a threat like that but the look in his eyes was tipping the scales toward 'yes' even if the other guy didn't look too sure.

"Fine, fine!" Boone raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Ask away. What do you wanna know?"

Tristan crossed his arms over his chest. "For starters, I wanna know how the hell I managed to live nearly thirty-nine years of my life without knowing what the fuck I am."

"Thirty-nine?" Boone repeated incredulously, regarding his son with utter shock and turning to the other guy for confirmation. "You're thirty-nine?"

Tristan scoffed. "What, didn't realize it had been nearly four goddamn decades since you walked out on my mother?"

Leslie: Hearing his age always startled Leslie as well but for a different reason. The man before him was strong, quick-witted, youthful. A year older. Perhaps two. Seven and a half years seemed too many.

It wasn't his place to say anything. No intervening. Nothing until Boone made an inappropriate move. His role was silence, if not intimidation. Tristan had plenty and to spare.

Tristan/Boone: No he damn well had not. Time was a son of a bitch.

"Fuck me running," Boone muttered, crossing the room before either of them could stop him. There was a bottle of tequila in his desk and he was going to take a swig or three whether they liked it or not. He needed it.

Thirty-nine years since Meg had come to him to tell him she was pregnant. Thirty-nine years since he'd packed up his shit and put Kitty Hawk in his rearview mirror. Thirty-nine years since he'd snuck into Meg's hospital room and seen that tiny little thing sleeping in a basinet beside his mother.

Thirty-nine goddamn fucking years.

"I'm waiting, Boone."

Boone turned to look at his son, at the tiny little thing who had grown into the pissed off man who was staring back at him. He took another swig of tequila.

"I hid it. When you were born...I went back to Kitty Hawk and..." Boone gestured vaguely.

"You hid it. What does that even mean? Did you take my abilities? Did you put a spell on me?"

Boone nodded.

Leslie: To the Wyld and Wyrm, he wanted to say something. Ask questions. Tristan would get to the question eventually. More like a statement. It must have already been on his mind. Boone knew this would happen. One day his son would appear, his abilities realized. Why bother delaying the inevitable?

Tristan/Boone: "Why?"

"So you wouldn't--fucking know! So Meg wouldn't know!"

"Don't you think at that point it was too little too fucking late?!" Tristan shouted. "You let her get pregnant!"

"That wasn't supposed--!"

"You let her get pregnant and you didn't tell her!"

"How the hell could I? You think it's easy to just tell people th--"

"No, I fucking don't, which is why it makes even less sense to me that you'd let me happen in the first place!"

Boone had no answer to that. He just drank more tequila.

Tristan shook his head in disgust. "If you were so goddamn worried about her knowing you should've done something about it when she was in time to get rid of me, not when I was already fucking born!"

Tristan unlocked the backdoor and threw it open, letting it slam shut as he stormed outside.

Leslie: Too late to realize his shoulders had tensed. Raised, even, without knowing. Shouting such as this was new to him, and made obvious by the quiet shock and confusion in his eyes.

Too many thoughts to organize, too many raw feelings he needed to process. What Tristan had said... he couldn't allow those statements to affect him.

The silence could only stretch for so long.

"Meg... is very open-minded," he said, gently. "You had to know that. Know she would do anything for her son. You... lost something you didn't have to."

Boone: "You're wrong." Boone was staring a hole into the wall. His voice had lost some of its energy, some of its fight. It was like the past forty years were hitting him all at once.

"All I did was let go of something that wasn't meant for me to begin with. I knew I wasn't cut out to have a kid. White picket fence and a station wagon and little league games weren't something I wanted."

Leslie: "He's a fisherman. He plays soccer on weekends. I told him what I am and he just... kept on as though I told him the weather. You ran away because of a picture that didn't have to be the picture. Is that all? Is that what all of your kind do? That's not Tristan."

Boone: A fisherman. That figured. The physical manifestations of what his son was may have been hidden with magic but, like love and poverty, there were some things you just couldn't hide. A merman was always going to yearn for the sea, even if he didn't know what he was.

But that wasn't what made Boone forfeit his staring contest with the wall and turn to look at the man he was speaking with.

"Is that his name? Tristan?"

Leslie: Leslie couldn't help but straighten as he was turned to. Despite all of his conflicting feelings, the man was older, and upon the pressing subject, an authority.

"You... You didn't even know his name? How could you just... "

Boone: "There was a little card with his name on it stuck to his bassinet in the hospital. Didn't bother to read it."

Boone returned to the couch with the bottle. "Didn't see the point in knowing the name of a kid I was never gonna see again. Just did what I went there to do and got out. How's that for father of the year, huh?"

He scoffed, drank again. "Still think I should've stuck around?"

Leslie: "A better version of you." There was no bite behind his words. On the contrary. Without intention, there was something almost childlike. His disbelief bordered on innocent. He had seen things, done terrible things, and still had the capacity to be astonished.

"But, if you were able to - you had to know this would happen."

Boone: "Ha! There ain't no better version, sport." Boone gestured sarcastically at himself. "This is it." The only version of him there was, and the only version he cared to be.

He shrugged. "The thought probably occurred to me at some point, couldn't say for sure."

Leslie: His eyes lowered to Boone's feet. The man didn't deserve eye contact.

"Merman, is that what you're called? I saw other names. We didn't know which... was correct."

Boone: Boone nodded as he drank again. At the pace he was going, he was well on his way to drunk.

Couldn’t happen soon enough.

“Yep. Merman’s what I’ve always used. There’s a few other things out there like me but they’re not exactly the same. There’s more to them. Me, I’m just straightforward half-man, half-fish.”

Leslie: Tristan needed his moment. Leslie would fill in the blanks in between. However long that would take.

"With a tail? Because he - when it happened, he just... nearly died. I want to know more."

Boone: “With a tail,” he confirmed with another nod. “And gills. He not have gills?”

Leslie: "That's all he had. And some - some scales."

Boone: “He still not have a tail?”

Leslie: "Took a while. A lot of patience, but, yes, he has one."

Boone: “Took a while, huh…” And he’d said that the first time, there had been only scales and gills. The magic hadn’t broken all at once, it had worn off gradually.

He shook his head. “Should’ve been permanent. I could deck that asshole magician.”

Leslie: "Could have been intentional," the witch nearly scoffed, "or he felt slighted."

Boone: “What right did he have to feel slighted? I should feel slighted, that little trick cost me fifteen grand.”

Leslie: "That's all?" said with offense in his tone.

Boone: “That’s not enough for you? Know how much money that was back then?”

Boone shook his head and emptied the bottle. There was another one here somewhere…

Leslie: The chill in his hand dissipated, but the fire ready to ignite in his other tingled, becoming uncomfortable to hold. He had to let the spell go, shaking his hand and flexing his fingers. He could restart on a dime if need be. This man was a disappointment, but he wasn't much of a threat. Not yet.

"To withhold someone from their nature, I don't see that very often. Not from honest, good people. I'd expect the kind of magician you found to be just that. A magician with parlor tricks."

Boone: At this point, Boone was too buzzed to care about the magic he could sense in the air. If this guy or his son wanted to try something let them; Boone just wanted to be drunk first.

“You gonna stand there and judge me now? Pah.” He waved a hand and began his search for more tequila. “I just did what I had to. I did it for Meg, you know.”

Leslie: "Why do you think Meg needed you to do anything?"

Boone: “Look, she wanted to have the kid all right?” Ah, there it was. Boone pulled a fresh bottle of tequila from a cabinet and opened it.

“Should’ve seen her face when she told me she was knocked up, all excited and imagining the station wagon and shit. All I did was make sure the kid turned out normal. I owed her that much, didn’t I? It was supposed to be permanent. She’d get a normal kid and I’d get to keep doing what I’ve always done. Everybody wins.”

Leslie: Leslie's eyes shut, but only for a moment. Still on high alert, he couldn't let his guard down, not with Tristan absent. He could only assume this conversation was between the two of them. Which was why he made no effort to hide the absolute disgust in his voice.

"Frankly, the easy way out never made anyone in this room very happy."

Boone: “The hell difference does it make now anyway?” Boone flopped back on the couch with his bottle, shaking his head all the while.

“He got forty good years, didn’t he? So did Meg. Now he just has to be careful about getting wet, what’s the big deal? Watch, when he shacks up with some girl and decides he wants to continue the species one day, he’ll be singing a different tune. I betcha dollars to donuts when that day comes, he’s gonna show up here again begging for that parlor trick.”

Leslie: Leslie's hands lowered altogether, gently falling to his thighs. His expression fell somewhere between dead and disappointed. There was nothing more in this world he needed than Tristan back in this room. An unwelcome tingle itched his fingertips.

What had been an innocuous voice had darkened, lowered. "Do you know what I am?"

Boone: Boone glanced over at his companion. He’d looked docile enough before but now he was starting to look as pissed as his son.

Just couldn’t fucking win today.

“I can guess,” he sighed, looking away again. “So what are you gonna do, huh? Avenge your buddy? Take a swing at an old man?”

Leslie: "I could castrate you," the witch said simply.

Boone: Now there was a threat Boone had heard before. A couple of times.

“And accomplish what exactly?”

Leslie: "Never doing this to another innocent family again, for starters."

Boone: “Way ahead of you, sport. Been shooting blanks since ‘86.”

Leslie: "You still have a sac."

Tristan/Boone: “So what, you’re gonna tear it off? Gonna tear my dick off, too?”

“There’s an idea.”

Tristan’s voice came just seconds before the back door opened again. With these thin walls, he’d managed to hear the last of what Boone had said.

Leslie: Leslie's chin lowered upon Tristan's return, eyes falling back to Boone's feet where he wanted them.

Tristan/Boone: Boone didn’t bother sitting up or saying anything, and it was just as well.

Tristan was done.

“Come on, Les,” he said softly, holding the door open for his love.

Leslie: His head raised, looking at Tristan questioningly. Only one question: are you certain? To have come all this way, to have left the room for the majority of it, leaving Leslie to ask the questions he probably hadn't heard. Was there nothing else Tristan wanted?

Tristan: Tristan could only give him a nod and a defeated look. Sometime between slamming the door and making the walk back he’d realized that there was no point in trying to have a conversation with his father. It wouldn’t turn back time or undo what had been done.

Coming here was more about needing a face to blame than anything else. Having gotten that didn’t make him feel any better.

Leslie had probably known that all along.

“There’s nothing for us here. Let’s go.”

Leslie: There was nothing that he could say to make this man feel guilt. If he had harbored any, his conscience was clear with forty years of normalcy. Saying they would never think of him again, that they felt sorry for him, nothing would harm this man. Nothing but physical pain, and Leslie couldn't bring himself to do it. Not unless this man raised a hand to the one beside him.

Without another word, he turned away.

Tristan/Boone: They almost made it. They’d decided to leave, to walk away from this place and this situation.

But Boone just couldn’t resist a parting shot.

“So that’s it, huh? Came alllll this way, went through alllll the trouble of tracking your old man down, and now you’re just gonna leave? Lemme tell you something.”

Boone took a huge swig of tequila and staggered to his feet, swaying as he pointed the bottle at Tristan and Leslie.

“I did you a favor. I gave you forty years where you didn’t have to worry about a goddamn fuckin’ thing and now here you are throwing it in my face. Think you would’ve gotten that without me? Ha!”

Another swig. “You get to stand there now because I made you normal. You got a chance because I gave it to you and the second you realize that and decide to put a couple brats in some girl you’re gonna come dragging your ass back here, begging me for the spell I used on you and I’ll tell you right now, it’s going to cost you a hell of a lot more than fifteen gra—”

Tristan’s fist would cut off the rest of whatever Boone had to say.

Leslie: Nonsense said only in his presence. There was no sense bringing this up again. Nothing but malice. Leslie would do nothing to stop him. Perhaps he would regret Tristan's catharsis in an hour, but in the moment, he did nothing but remain still, and quiet, and wait for Boone to rub his jaw before taking a breath.

"He has two perfect daughters, and there'll be no begging. I promise you."

Tristan/Boone: He was too drunk to see it coming but he wouldn’t take it personally. He’d been expecting the swing from the get-go. They were even now.

“I don’t swing that way anyway,” Tristan muttered, taking Leslie’s hand and leading him away.

It took a second for Boone’s inebriated brain to catch what Tristan had said and once he did, he scoffed.

“So much for normal then, eh?” he called after them, cackling. “Can’t blame that one on me, sonny boy! That one’s all Meg!”

The mocking laughter would follow them until they got a good ways away from the shop, at which point they would be passed by a national guard truck heading the way they’d come from.

Leslie: It was now that Leslie felt shame. He hadn't expected Tristan to take his hand, to make any indication of their relationship beyond a pissed-off friend. Just another needle in Tristan's spine, another laugh.

He squeezed his boyfriend's hand.

Tristan: Tristan squeezed back. The reaction hadn’t surprised him.

Why wouldn’t his father be a homophobic asshole on top of everything else?

“You okay?”

Leslie: "Don't ever say that again. Don't ever act like you wish you were never born. I never want to hear that again."

Tristan: He stopped, turning to Leslie and feeling a moment's confusion until he remembered what he'd said to Boone and realized how it must have sounded.

Tristan took Leslie's other hand and brought both to his lips. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

Leslie: "I don't... want to talk about it here." He had brought it up, but he realized too late if they continued he'd shout, or fight tears.

Tristan: "Wanna go back to the hotel?"

Leslie: "Yes." All of this was for Tristan. There was nothing here he wanted.

Tristan: "Okay." He kissed Leslie's hands again and looked around for a taxi to hail.

They'd go back to the hotel, they'd talk, they'd have a nice meal later. Then, if Leslie wanted, they could go back home. They'd done what they'd come here to do.

[mx-kay]

Tfp g/t ramble

Fowler has an assintent/secretary who does a lot of the paperwork made from the bots and cons,has to teach the bots human comon sense and now has to babysit children who found out a goverment secret. They are the definition of "I'm so done" and coffein addiction.

If they ever get kidnapped by the decepticons they would treat is as a vacation . The cons would be confused. And if the cons shrunk to to an artifect or an accident in the lab (cough"starscream&KO"cough) they would carry them around and hepl them a bit and them leave before it vore of. Soundwave and they get along, their both have a braincell

Decepticons : We have captured you Autobot pet, fear us!

Assistant : Omg FINALLY! Thank you guys so much I needed a break.

Decepticons : …I am confusion-

Starscream and Knockout would 100% be the reason the Decepticons get shrunk, those two have zero brain cells between them. They basically started a zombie apocalypse on the Nemesis once, why not accidentally shrink everyone too. The way I can see the assistant watching this happen, sighing really loudly, and being like, “I thought the Autobots were bad, how tf did you manage this?” They quickly realize their vacation is more of a job than dealing with the kids with the amount of infighting amongst the ranks. They would constantly be putting Megs and Screamer in separate locations. Most of the Decepticons have sharp claws so I imagine it’d look like the assistant got attacked by a cat before the shrinking wore off. At one point they just have enough and step back and just watch everything happen, Soundwave on their shoulder watching as well because he knows fighting isn’t going to fix anything but also knows there’s no stopping it.

[rickmoya]

the books I read in 2022

Picture Me Gone, Meg Rossoff

Little Fires Everywhere, Celeste Ng

William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Mean Girls, Ian Doescher

Food as Communication, Communication as Food, ed. Janet Cramer, Carlinta Greene and Lynn Walters (1)

How To Live With Your Teenager, Peter Buntman and Eleanor Saris (2)

Fablehaven: Keys to the Demon Prison, Brandon Mull

Good Omens, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

Channel of Peace, Kevin Tuerff (3)

Hatchet, Gary Paulsen

The Pigman, Paul Zindel

Fish in a Tree, Lynda Mullaly Hunt

The Midnight Library, Matt Haig

The Hunger Pains, The Harvard Lampoon (4)

Good Eats: The Final Years, Alton Brown

Dragonwatch, Brandon Mull

A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again, David Foster Wallace

Big Fish, Daniel Wallace

Because Internet, Gretchen McCulloch

Dragonwatch: Wrath of the Dragon King, Brandon Mull (5)

You Can Date Boys When You’re Forty, Dave Barry

italics: read it before bold: read it to my kid in bed struck: unfinished

Woof. Bad year for reading. I don’t even have a good explanation for why my numbers dropped so precipitously from previous years. Perhaps continued struggle with the to-read shelf and what it signifies. It got even bigger this year, as my intentions eclipsed my performance. I know I was busier with school, going back in person and taking on more classes. But still. This is pitiful.

This year’s only goal: clear that fucking shelf. (28.) If I can read more than that, it’s a bonus.

NOTES

This is a collection of essays given to me when I finished my master’s. I finally got to it this year, and chipped my way through it while waiting in the car for kids to be done with activities. As mentioned above, it took most of the year.

I bought this book as part of a $2-a-bag library clear-out sale not long after graduating from college. Not grad school — undergrad. At the time, I think I was looking for ideas on how to be a good teacher, or to maintain a connection with youth for my writing. Like ... why do I still have it? But the 1980s discussion of how to have open and trusting communication was still surprisingly valid.

True story about being on a plane that was diverted to Gander, Newfoundland, because of 9/11 attacks. I had to read it before we went to see Come From Away (spousal assignment of sorts).

I found this in an Airbnb in San Diego on our summer vacation. It’s a parody of The Hunger Games and is as stupid as it sounds.

Really starting to get sick of this universe, just in time for my son to get the next book in the series for Christmas/birthday. I didn’t realize how much was left to go when I posted this initially, but we’re more than 2/3rds through and will finish so I’m still putting a number on it/not counting it for 2023.

[thanksforthedinosaur]

october 2024

julia wolf - in my room

soccer mommy - driver

sydney sprague - hello cruel world

nilüfer yanya - like i say (i runaway)

siobhán winifred - stay for good

porches - itch

mila cargo - tasty

holly hebe - bottle blonde

michelle - mentos and coke

ally evenson - one trick pony

kennedy mann - lucky star

rocco! - as you please

britta raci - pete rose

silvie - big dreamy head

mercer henderson - lock me up

worrystone - soft light

lunar vacation - tom

wendy wang - maple tears

josie dunne - place to be

daisy the great - butterfly, stay dry

mxmtoon - the situation

nelly furtado - floodgate

tasha - love's changing

hinds - coffee

abigail osborn - the sweater song

meg smith - poltergeist

carol ades - everything else is just noise

marian carmel - take what i can get

being there - i just think we got too close

okay kaya - the groke

willow - b i g f e e l i n g s

frex - who's who

charlie houston - slut for excel

alemeda - below the belt

linying - donovan

lolo zouaï - unhhh

lavie - toxic beliefs

chloe adams - barbie doll

cherry swim club - what's your sign

trella - taxi driver

mount eerie - broom of wind

haley heynderickx - foxglove

teen jesus and the jean teasers - never saw it coming

luna shadows - little rituals (end of summer version)

da flyy hooligan - xylo

wale the sage - running up the hill

fashawn - bad bitches love this song

talib kweli - to the ghetto

nuglife - illegal muny

harve - like that

jazzgroupiez - pastels

kris the $pirit - 24 hours

tunde olaniran - good time

terrace martin - read the room

miles from kinshasa - no return

jaz karis - sims castaway

orion sun - twilight zone

justin nozuka - chlorine

lee darom - what is my color? (feat. perc%nt)

han all - i don't care (sped up) - bonus track

park bird - tokyo

galileo galilei - オフィーリア

bump of chicken - sleep walking orchestra

4s4ki - ねえ聞いて

ihasamic! - crossing border lines in budget airlines

aya a.k.a panda - beyond

mori calliope - end of a life

mori calliope - reunion

takanashi kiara - chimera

luss - lonely (extrovert?)

key - pleasure shop

429 - resukyumi-!

jihoon - desire

kira - hit me up

room306 - 5

kira - nice type

9lana - never give up

pia mia - nice and slow

so much light - mom, please pick me up

katy perry - gorgeous (feat. kim petras)

paris hilton - i'm free (feat. rina sawayama)

louis the child - believe it

dora jar - behind the curtain

biig piig - 4am

tiffany day - always fun

wilo wilde - feeling this way

piri & tommy - dog

vitesse x - eternal

white chorus - mystery, pt. 2

francisco victoria - te quiero tanto

vava - intersection

gaburyu - vraveater - hirihiri remix

lucy rose - light as grass - logic remix

toro y moi - reseda

8485 - goreblog

hippo campus - corduroy

meishi smile - stay like this forever

briana marela - horizon

yvette young - always

film school - tape rewind

slowdive - kisses

pale waves - imagination

the rare occasions - floating

letters from my garden - sensitive eyes

delta sleep - figure in the dark

wild pink - dulling the horns

balance and composure - with you in spirit

cursive - the avalanche of our demise

touché amoré - nobody’s

magnolia park - i2i

blink-182 - can't go back

hot mulligan - stickers of brian

what gives - the great divide

pony - every little crumb

rosie tucker - all i want is utopia now!

allie - from the dead

the rocket summer - way out

nada surf - give me the sun

bedchamber - the bigfoot trademark logo

goldmyth - chlorine

boyscott - rocky road

mallcops - marceline

runaway brother - secret technique

lakes - stitches

ethel cain - for sure

[mlobsters]

supernatural s1e15 the benders (w. john shiban)

(this is a rewatch so spoilers abound)

starting off with the xf vibe in the teaser music, which this whole episode is very xfiles home (s4e2).... homage. beginning is surprisingly memorable just because it's not what i expected, i'm always stressed when a kid shows up but not this time!

also didn't realize hibbing minnesota was so far north, past duluth! i lived in the twin cities for 8 years or so. i guess donna was from hibbing, but no one lived there. but there was an episode title with hibbing in it (10x08) hence some of my confusion. anyway. to the bad humans!

(padalecki still with the crispy R on crazy. now i'm wondering if he always uses it and i just stopped noticing at some point)

so priest and state trooper, side swept bangs 📝

EVAN Godzilla Vs. Mothra. DEAN That’s my favorite Godzilla movie. It’s so much better than the original, huh? EVAN Totally. DEAN Yeah. (He nods towards SAM.) He likes the remake. EVAN Yuck!

very cute

i used this bar scene in my fanvid to texas hold 'em and that neon sign in my tennessee whiskey painting lol (though i ended up putting them mostly in front of it but you can see a lil bit)

SAM Well, there are all kinds. You know, Spring Heeled Jacks, phantom gassers. They take people anywhere, anytime.

shoulda had more monstery-monster of the week eps

SAM Right. I saw a motel about five miles back. DEAN Whoa, whoa, easy. Let’s have another round. SAM We should get an early start.

DEAN Yeah, you really know how to have fun, don’t you, Grandma? (SAM smiles.) Alright, I’ll meet you outside, I gotta take a leak.

it was cute, sam basically gave him a very nice smile to the grandma comment and dean caved. might make gifs if i remember to - i made the gifs to avoid picking this back up. also shows just rarely talk about using the bathroom, course this was a plot-related bathroom visit to get them separated, so. not sure it really falls into the masculinity tag i got going but anytime we go with a woman instead of man, gonna tag it

this music is so cliche tension danger sounding but also like, not at all matching the vibe of the show? too loud, and like a parody. ugh. i will give you one guess who it is... (gruska, of course)

DEAN Sam? Two beers and he’s doin’ karaoke. No, he wasn’t drunk. He was taken. KATHLEEN Alright. What’s his name? DEAN Winchester. Sam Winchester. KATHLEEN Like the rifle? DEAN Like the rifle.

insert something insightful about the hunters having an extremely on the nose last name :p also don't know if we ever really know what sam's tolerance is like

i 100% took screenshots of the computer screen first watch because they just copied sam's height into dean's entry :p

DEAN Officer, look, uh, he’s family. I kind of—I kind of look out for the kid. You gotta let me go with you. KATHLEEN I’m sorry, I can’t do that. DEAN Well, tell me something. Your county has its fair share of missing persons. Any of ‘em come back? Sam’s my responsibility. And he’s comin’ back. I’m bringin’ him back.

eat that right up, you know it. this episode is chock full of protective dean goodness, after sam got to do it for him in 1x12.

s1e11 / s1e15

well i'll be! same thing sammy said to meg in the bus station that got me feeling extra mushy. that also had teleplay by john shiban. thank you, sir 🫡 did a little gif comparable thing too

~1 month later~ was gonna pull up an episode of evil, which has been my go-to evening show during my spn sabbatical and i just got the itchy feeling to want to blather at length while watching something. am i ready to watch spn again?? we will see.

JENKINS Why don’t you give it up, Sammy, there’s no way out. SAM Don’t….call me….Sammy!

damn right

my vacation away and literally the first scene with music back and i'm like godDAMNIT this music is obnoxious. in case i was worried i just had a stick up my ass about it, no it really is just my immediate gut reaction

anyway, bro's off getting the most dangerous game'd to bad music. shoulda listened to sam

DEAN Hey, Officer? Look, I don’t mean to press my luck. KATHLEEN Your luck is so pressed. DEAN Right. I was wondering—why are you helping me out, anyway? Why don’t you just lock me up? KATHLEEN My brother, Riley, disappeared three years ago. A lot like Sam. We searched for him, but—nothing. I know what it’s like to feel responsible for someone, and for them—Come on. Let’s keep at it.

had this storyline happened later, could see her slotting into the jody/donna type role

the most striking eyes

DEAN I gotta start carrying paper clips.

i mean, seems like he'd have something on his person. what with their vocation needing a variety of tools for less than legal shenanigans

ok what, did dean have this headshot of sam lying around?? lol. not one in my fairly comprehensive winchester family photos post

very necessary to have him stretched out over this sheriff wagon

DEAN Sam? Are you hurt? SAM No. DEAN Damn, it’s good to see you.

<3

DEAN Have you seen ‘em? SAM Yeah. Dude, they’re just people. DEAN And they jumped you? Must be gettin’ a little rusty there, kiddo.

it's just so sweet. i am a sucker

my hot take is that jensen loves slapstick humor and puts it in at any opportunity. we're dealing with like, people-hunting-cannibals, his brother and a sheriff are locked in cages that he needs to find a key for and yet! jensen is gonna have dean turn the flashlight on in his face and have a goofy reaction. TIME AND PLACE, BROTHER

anyway. there's been a lot of the xfiles noises this episode. very on brand

i think one of the most disturbing things about this episode are the pictures with the benders are posing with the people like a big game photo. enough that i don't even wanna include a screenshot of it

i wonder how the set design of this compares to the house at the end of s1 true detective. and obviously the set for xf home. maybe i'll pull up some comparisons and see if it's worth doing A Post

i think why the game polaroids are so impactful vs this is like. this is very campy over the top. old timey music playing on the phonograph, traps and saw blades hanging from the ceiling, man making these wildly exaggerated swings with the cleaver and saw

i will admit that i saw something at a formative age that had an incredibly upsetting situation with a hot poker and so this scene also is distressing. at least it's not threatening sexual violence this time. but objectively, that's a gorgeous shot

DEAN You hurt my brother, I’ll kill you, I swear. I’ll kill you all. I will kill you all!

you know i can't resist that, eat it right up

so rare they're in short sleeves, has to be an even smaller number of times they fight someone in them

so beautiful. she was really good in this part

DEAN Never do that again. SAM Do what? DEAN Go missin’ like that. (SAM laughs.) SAM You were worried about me. DEAN All I’m sayin’ is, you vanish like that again, I’m not lookin’ for ya. SAM Sure, you won’t. DEAN I’m not. (SAM chuckles.) SAM So, you got sidelined by a thirteen-year-old girl, huh? DEAN Oh, shut up. SAM Just sayin’, gettin’ rusty there, kiddo. DEAN (chuckling) Shut up. (SAM laughs.)

i didn't remember that last little bit, that was extra cute. i will be making more gifs 😩

[pokemonmarinebiology]

Intro post!

Hi! My name is Jacob (18yrs, he/him), and I'm from the Hoenn region! I used to live in New Mauville, but I recently moved to Mossdeep City because I got hired as a Laboratory assistant to the research station here! I mostly do the grunt work, but that's ok because I have *crippling* thalassaphobia.

Button - Jumpluff (Starter and Ace)

Button has been by my side since I was a kid, he was the first pokemon I had and he's been my favorite ever since! Every spring I have to put a leash on him, otherwise he'll fly away and explode.

It might be weird to have a support pokemon as my ace, but Button fills that role because he always helps me get out of sticky situations; be it with Sleep powder, encore, Rage Powder, etc.

Bleebus - Magmar (Battle Pokemon)

Bleebus is your usual bulky fire type, and she packs a punch too. I caught her on vacation to Johto about 3 years ago, and ever since then she's been a mainstay of my team. She is also a functioning emergency stove, and that's saved me more times than I can count.

At least 10 people have come up to me just to tell me how ugly Magmars are, but I very much disagree; she's the prettiest Magmar ever!

Chuck - Relicanth (Battle Pokemon)

I found Chuck on a diving expedition as a kid in Pacifidlog town, about 7 years ago. I was pulled away from my group by an underwater current and Chuck brought me back to them! He seemed to hang around with me the rest of the trip, so I begged the tour guide to let me take him and he eventually agreed; and he's been fighting valiantly alongside me ever since! Apparently most Relicanth aren't supposed to be cyan though.

Completely unrelated, but getting pulled away from my group then was mentally scarring. I swear there was some giant pokemon in the distance beelining for me..

Knight - Corvisquire (level 37) (not battling anymore)

I was Wonder Trading about 11 months ago (before it got banned for being unethical) and I was given this lil gal as an egg, so I've had the pleasure of raising her from infancy to now.

She hasn't battled for a bit because of an accident that happened last time, and I think she's still shaken up by it. I can tell she's so close to evolving though! If she could just push a little more I'm sure she wouldn't have to worry about getting hurt like that again.

Megasaw - Nymble (big baby)

Despite his intimidating name, Meg is an extremely timid pokemon (Disclaimer: I lost a bet and had to let my friend name my next pokemon). I haven't even been able to get him to battle more than 3 times total! I've been told that once he evolves he'll be so much stronger and aggressive, but at this rate I doubt it. I'm probably gonna have to spend my life's savings of Rare Candies to get him to evolve.

Eeny (dad), Meeny (mom), Miney(daughter), and Mo (son) - Maushold (Helpers)

Honestly, I love these little goobers. They help out around my house and the lab, doing all the things I might be too busy (or too tall) to do. And it's not like I'm forcing them to, Eeny and Meeny actively encourage Miney and Mo to work in order to vent their precocious amounts of energy. They're not too bad at battling either, and have saved my butt plenty of times. They're also the only pokemon I have that can terastalize, which makes sense since they're from Paldea.

Asmodeus - Manectric (pet)

Azzy isn't on my team preview because, we'll, he ain't really a fighter. He's all bark and no bite, n he's even left me to get attacked by pokemon he's 4x super effective to! I still love him though, cuz he's a total lap dog and never shy to ask for cuddles (which I will always happily agree to)

[ziracona]

"People never really die in the realm. They go to the void. So, in a way, you could say their ghosts are teaching the perks" thanks, im haunted :) SOBS. Also please tell me meg and kate talk it out :( And Kate, David and Laurie. (Which also It's either I need to do a full reread or i just was completely dence but, those 3?? eyes emoji)

<3

I don’t know all the details actually. I like the openness of knowing enough to have closure, but not so much readers can’t guess and imagine the future. But, I think on one of the vacations she talks to Ace about it. That doesn’t fix it, but it helps her to talk. And eventually, when they go back for Vigo, I think it’s very likely David and Laurie pick her up again. Or more like—interact in a way that finally works things out for all three. Probably.

Im not sure what you mean, re: the three of them. I didn’t mean they were a polycule, although, anything could happen haha. David and Laurie have feelings for each other by the end, and before that, Kate, Laurie, and David had been kind of a squad, sometimes one that included Adam (older young adults), and sometimes just them and Quentin (Quentin Protection Squad post End of the Line). David and Kate especially spent time together after that, working through their trauma. But again, Kate stepped back from that relationship when the other two got together, because she thought it would happen anyway and she’d be in the way, and it became a self-fulfilling prophecy I guess.

Sorry, Kate’s the hardest for me to give answers on. I accidentally put too much of myself in her, and I gave her issues I haven’t healed in myself. As much as I want her well, I can’t give her answers I don’t have yet. I’m sorry, Kate. But, I truly think she will be well. In the end.

[cllnsllvn]

Exploring the CBD - Auckland Week 2

Saturday, December 2

Today, I moved from my AirBnb in Mt Eden to a hostel in Auckland's CBD. My AirBnb hosts were kind enough to allow me to leave my luggage past check-out time, so I went for a delicious ham and cheese croissant and a flat white before heading out for a bit of a walk around. Because I had so much luggage with me, I grabbed an Uber to the YMCA hostel and got there an hour or so before I could really check in. But that's okay! I was able to drop my bags and spend time in the common area until my room was ready. I was staying in a six-bed mixed dorm, which was a new experience for me, as I usually only stay in women's dorms.

After I settled in, I wandered down to the wharf and around the CBD, just looking at all there was to see on the way to the shore and on the way back. I saw the big Christmas tree at the town hall, the ocean, and some great street art! I spent a bunch of time in the common room at the hostel, simply because the dorm room had so little available space, and there was almost always someone sleeping! It wasn't my favorite place to stay. I was on the top bunk, which is never my preference, and the beds were the old metal bunks that kind of creak and move when you move. And, unfortunately, there were no outlets that were at the top bunk level! So I just made sure to charge up my phone in the evening before going to bed and tried to do it in the morning before leaving for the day. You win some, you lose some I suppose.

Sunday, December 3

Today, I had an interview in the morning for a reception position at one of the hostels nearby. I had applied before arriving in New Zealand, and they had told me to reach out when I landed. Although I had reached out immediately, it had taken until now for them to really get back to me. It was a bit rainy, but a short walk, so I donned my raincoat, grabbed a white chocolate raspberry croissant and a flat white, and made my way. The interview went well - but what I didn't write about last week was that after I gave real intense thought to the street fundraising job, it occurred to me that I didn't feel like Auckland was a place that I wanted to spend a lot of my time.

My initial inclination was to go to NZ, travel around the country for a while, see if somewhere felt like a good place to settle, and then settle there. But what I neglected to plan for was that I would be arriving in NZ in peak travel season - just as we're going into Christmas and summer, when the kids are out of school and families are going on vacation. As such, I switched it around and decided that at least for a while, I should settle in one place and aim to travel once peak travel season was over. So even as I went to the interview at the hostel, I had already started looking at flights to Christchurch, started looking at flats, and applied to a few jobs. But I decided to go the interview anyway, just to see how it went. The job requested a minimum eight week commitment to stay and provided accommodations paid for by your first nine hours of work.

After my interview, I was supposed to go to a Christmas market with Meg, but when she arrived a bit before I did, she said that it wasn't really there. Because of the rain, we are guessing that maybe they packed up early. So instead, we decided to grab some food at a nearby restaurant. This was in the viaduct area, which was over by the wharf.

Monday, December 4

When I was staying with Richard and Melanie, Mel told me about this app called "Foodprint." It's a play on food's environmental footprint, so it is a way for restaurants (especially cafes and bakeries) to list their food that didn't sell from the day before for a discount. So, I ordered a few assorted "cruffins" (croissant muffins) from Luna Bakery (which I ordered from a few times) and went for a stroll down the central business district. The morning's flavors were pandan coconut and matcha white chocolate.

While I was there, I saw the Smith & Caughey's Christmas display, which was a twelve days of Christmas theme. I also caught a glimpse of an absolutely massive cruise ship and a white house pub. Then I had some butter chicken as part of my red and green meal for the day.

Tuesday, December 5

After not hearing back from ANZ, the bank with which I initially applied for an account, I had decided to put in an application with BNZ. They got back to me within a day, so I needed to go in to a branch with my passport so they could finalize the account. I decided to go out to the Newmarket branch, because one of the people I interviewed with at the hostel had said that people had said it was a quick process. Sure enough, five minutes later I had a newly minted account. I decided to pop by the Newmarket Westfield mall to explore.

The Christmas decorations in all the malls/shopping centers were truly next level. There were decorations around every corner! And they had so many soft seating areas in the middle of the mall too! Perfect for the people who are waiting for their group to finish shopping. We should have more of those. I popped in the Le Creuset store, just to check it out. I was kind of wondering what the prices would be in NZ, sheesh they are high! I stopped to get a salad for lunch (a bit of a redo of the red and green food from yesterday). When Meg and I had gone out on Sunday, she had ordered a salad and had commented a few times how leafy it was. I kind of laughed her off because it's a salad! Of course it's leafy. But then I had a salad and oh. my. god. was that a leafy salad. Like, the predominant flavor is just LEAF. I don't know if it's because Americans have different lettuce? Douse our salads in dressing? Have more flavorful dressing? But I had to basically choke my way through it. In fact, Meghan, Erin, and Mom can attest that I was still eating it over an hour later when I got back to my hostel to watch our weekly Masked Singer.

Then, as I was getting ready for bed, I realized I had cosplayed the whole day as Dora the Explorer, backpack and all.

[taiblogcomics]

Her Own Story, Write or Wrong

Hey there, cruelty-free tuna. I think I mentioned we got our backlog refreshed, so we've got a ton of MLP comics to get to. Frankly, we might make it to next year with this amount of backlog. Now, I know normally we start with the main series, then work through all our spinoff books. But we're also big fans of doing two endings in a row around here, so let's finish one of these things we started~

Here's the cover:

Bring it in, girls! I think this is just a nice snuggly way to end the story. All the March sisters in big floofy dresses. And, like… I guess that's it! Yeah, this is pretty much all there is to say about this cover. It's weird that I almost miss having an odd quote from ComicBookResources to dissect. But I guess it all balances out~

So, since it's been a while, who here remembers the plot? Trick question, it was the plot of Little Women, except we merely sent Beth (played by Fluttershy) on vacation. But in short, it's the story of the March sisters and their struggles in growing up. Particularly Jo (Rainbow Dash), who feels like she's been left behind a bit, since her writing career hasn't quite taken off like her other sisters' goals. Even her next-door friend Laurie (Applejack) has found a new thing to persue.

So don't worry about the gap in our reviews. There's been a gap in the narrative of the story as well! See, it was all planned and thematic and certainly not that I didn't get a shipment of comics for four months! I don't think the isolation's been very good for Jo, since she's set up proxies of all her sisters and neighbour friend, and continues to act out their old meetings and life reports. Discord appears to recap the rest of the cast's activities since the last issue, including Marmee (Pinkie Pie) finally coming back from surprising her husband (Cheese Sandwich) at the front lines.

On Marmee's recommendation, Jo decides to take a vacation of her own at a particular boarding house, which is mostly an excuse to give cameos of the Student Six. But the change of scenery has done Jo some good. In fact, she's doing so well, she doesn't notice somepony else in the street until she bumps into them. And to her shock, coincidence of coincidences, the mare she's bumped into is none other than AK Yearling (AK Yearling). This is like if I bumped into the Game Grumps while doing my grocery shopping: theoretically possible, but not likely to happen in a rinky-dink East Coast suburb on a Wednesday afternoon~

Despite Jo's awkward fan-girling and babbling, AK Yearling notes that she used to write for the same paper, then invites Jo over for some tea. Oh, this is like my fantasies meeting the Grumps. Still starstruck, Jo flits about in AK's home until she settles in for conversation. Naturally, she asks how AK came up with such a great character as Daring Do. AK gives this advice: good writing comes from the truth. Sometimes the truth is boring, and sometimes the truth is scary. Write what scares you. Not, like, horror necessarily, but the truths that scare you.

After they part, Jo returns home after a long absence, just in time for Laurie's graduation. She's greeted by snooty Aunt March (Discord), who still thinks Jo's writing will amount to nothing, and so leaves her her own manor home, Plumfield, to… Actually, I have no idea. Neither does Jo, which Aunt March also criticises. And Jo finally reunites with her sisters Meg (Twilight Sparkle) and Amy (Rarity), catching up with them. Since Meg's looking to open a school, Jo decides to give her Plumfield instead, since she can actually make use of it. That was a quick resolution!

And so Jo flits around the party, schmoozing with the other guests until finally Laurie pulls Jo aside into the little meeting place they first met. Laurie's a bit overwhelmed, especially with the whole "well, I graduated college, now what?" concept. As someone who didn't go to college, I can't relate! Like, presumably you went there for a reason, so you could get a specific degree and pursue some field of interest. I dunno what college was like in 1869, though, maybe this post-graduate listlessness was common. I guess we'll never know for sure~

Jo recounts her meeting with AK Yearling, noting the advice she was given is also strongly similar to something Laurie herself once told her as well. And even though Jo is now sure of what she's writing next, she pulls Laurie off for "one last adventure". The pair head out in the dark and goof around a bit. I can't even be sure if these ruins are real, but I'm pretty sure the pit of snakes isn't. The pair come back in, with the group wanting to take a commemorative photo of the event. Even Beth returns from vacation to get in on this. And so the comic ends with Jo starting work on her book, "Little Fillies", writing the very same Hearth's Warming that we opened with…

Well, all in all, I think that was very nice. I don't have any interest in (or experience with) the original story, but hopefully someone reading this comic is inspired to seek it out, if only for comparison's sake. It's obviously not a one-to-one adaptation, goodness knows they lampshade that they're putting their own spin on it often enough. But really, that's the point, isn't it? To not be afraid to tell your own story in your own way~?