#OH and Flowers for Algernon

[catboynutsack]

I think something that's pretty interesting is how many of the books I hated reading in middle/high school were actually really good when I got to read them on my own terms as an adult. Like all my favourite books are classics at this point because when left to read them at my own pace without deadlines and assignments attached they're actually really good literature.

[carleypie]

Read tags

we were all forced to read “classics” in school so reblog and put the one you actually ended up liking a lot and the one you can’t fucking stand in the tags

my fave is Lord of the Flies and I ironically enough want to burn every copy of Fahrenheit 451. trash

[chaifootsteps]

God, Kinger basically being a Flowers for Algernon case made me BAWL.

And the reveal of why he spends so much time in his little pillow fort...oh god, this episode hurt in the best way.

[rancidpancakebatter]

Strawberries and Cream | [S.G.] [M.S.]

Pairings: Steven Grant x Black!Female!Reader, Marc Spector x Black!Female!Reader

Summary: It's valentine's day and your boys surprise you with breakfast in bed

Word Count: 3.4k words

Content Warnings: Swearing, established relationship, fluff, fluff, and more fluff

( Masterlist )

A/N: Wowowowow, this took so long! Apparently, I don't know how to write anything other than angst, so it took me like six stories until I had one with just fluff. I had a lot of fun writing this though. HAPPY BELATED VALENTINE'S DAY! (And Black History Month, that is why we're here)

You woke up on the fourteenth, thrumming with excitement. The sun’s gossamer rays crept into the room, and you basked in the honey glow, letting the warmth soak into your skin. You wrapped yourself tighter in your sheets to fight off the chill and realised you were alone.

Usually, you would wake up feeling a little clammy and pressed into the mattress by a snoring hunk of muscle who had rolled over onto you in the night. But this morning, the furnace you were accustomed to waking up under was nowhere to be seen. 

You slowly sit up and look around. There’s a different book on the nightstand. Which tells you they at least came home last night. Steven had just finished reading Don Quixote with you, and it seems your next bedtime story was Flowers for Algernon.

You heard something fall to the floor in the kitchen, then a string of curses. You would have panicked, maybe considered that your apartment had been broken into, but you recognised that voice…and the other.

“Steven cut it out. We only need one chef in the kitchen.”

“Yeah, well you forget I’ve had your food. And it’s not good mate.”

“Whatever, you don't even eat real food.”

“Cows are cute and I don’t want to eat them! But that’s beside the point. Crepes are tricky and you’ve already ruined the batter, just let me try and fix it, yeah?”

“I didn’t ruin anything. That extra egg was just- just good protein.”

“Well, now they’re gonna be too eggy! It’s gonna taste like an omelette!”

“Oh, shut up it’s fine. Everything is fine!”

Peering around the corner, watching them switch back and forth, you almost giggle. They're frantically whisking away, the mixing bowl tucked into their chest, pinned by their arm. Pinched between their fingers was the compact mirror you kept in your purse, but it seemed backseat driving was no longer sufficient.

They're covered in flour, and there's a bit of batter splattered on some of the cabinets, and across their cheekbone. Chaotic Domesticity. It was a good look on them. 

They don’t see you when you step out of the hallway, “I’m sure it will be delicious, my loves.”

Your voice startles them slightly, and they almost drop the bowl. You quickly try to discern whose fronting. His brows are high, and his jaw is slightly slack. You step around the island divider and wipe the spot you noticed earlier, hoping it might calm him down. 

“Steven, if they taste like omelettes, then I will be delighted to have omelettes. But crepes are great too. And so is that cafe down the street. Whatever works out, as long as you guys are there to eat them with me.”

He melts in your hold a little; his face tilting into your palm. But then he jerks it away very suddenly. You’re confused as he backs away. 

“Oy! This was supposed to be a surprise!” He’s upset but not with you, just in general. However, his expression falls into a frown that breaks your heart a little. “We had a whole plan.”

“It’s alright, dear. I won’t look at anything else,” You say as you throw your hands up to cover your eyes. “Just tell me what you need me to do.” 

He chuckles at your antics, and you feel a little brighter. He explains that they planned to bring you breakfast in bed today. You shuffled back to your room and closed the door that way they would feel like they would get a little more privacy.

You tidied up a bit, picking up some clothes from the floor and remaking the bed. You stepped into your ensuite, brushed your teeth, and washed your face, then you let your braids out of your bonnet and tended to them accordingly. With nothing else to do, you wandered to the bookshelf in search of a title to pass the time. 

Alice had just met the dodo and sacrificed her thimble when you heard a knock at the door. 

“Are ya decent?” You heard Marc’s gruff voice call out. 

You chuckle at the absurdity. You were currently wearing his shirt and his boxers in your shared bed in your shared apartment. He had seen you naked plenty of times. 

“Based on previous reviews, I’d say I’m more than decent,” you tease. 

You hear his laughter in the hall, and you inflate with a bit of pride. He cracks the door and loudly “whispers” through the gap.

“Steven wanted to wake you up with breakfast. Is there,” He sighs, embarrassed to ask, “Is there any way you could pretend to be asleep?” 

You chuckle, knowing Steven can hear everything Marc says right now. “Of course. Anything for my boys.”

He shuts the door again, and you feel like you’ve been transported to the days of your childhood. Those times your parents would come into your room to tell you goodnight and tuck you in. But then you would immediately hide in your impenetrable fortress made of cotton and down and stay up reading for just a little longer.

After a few chapters, you could hear your parents walking towards your door to ensure you were asleep. Your heart would pound in your chest as you fumble to turn off your flashlight and try to hide your book under your pillow so your parents wouldn’t know you had gotten lost in the Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane yet again. 

You feel a bit of adrenaline course through you as you scramble around. You're frantically searching for a bookmark and spot a receipt sticking out of a jeans pocket in the laundry. You shove it between your pages and toss the book under your pillow. Then you yank the blanket up, high above you and tuck the edge under your head. You watched the blanket cascade back down in a slow wave, like the rainbow parachute from elementary gym class. 

You scrunch your eyes closed, as tight as you can- when you hear a gentle rapping on the door. It slowly creaks open again, and your name is whispered into the air, but you don’t respond. You’re supposed to be asleep. You’re not fallin’ for that.

Your lips are folded into your mouth as you try desperately not to giggle, staying as still as possible. You can hear steps approaching their side of the bed. They set a few things down and let out a long dramatic sigh that you recognise as Steven’s. 

“I know you’re not asleep.”

You remain still. 

“Really?”

He sounds more amused than irritated, so you continue the bit. You know Marc is definitely getting a kick out of this. 

“Your food’s gonna get cold, and Marc and I worked too hard for you to let it go to waste. Now, come off it. Let’s see that beautiful face.”

Steven hears a muffled sound from the covers, but it’s indecipherable mumbling. 

“Didn’t quite catch that love.”

You huff and tug the blanket under your chin.

“I said, If you wanna wake me up, you know how. I expect a proper waking up.”

As soon as the words are out of your mouth, you pull the blanket right back over your head. Steven grumbles but doesn’t complain. The sound of fabric ruffling and hitting the floor fills the room, and you can’t fight the grin spreading over your cheeks.

The rush of cold air on your back as the covers were pulled back was well worth knowing you had won. He slides in next to you and tucks himself in. Already your body seems closer to equilibrium, just having him near.

He pulls at your shoulder so you're laying on your back, and his arms immediately worm around your waist as his head rests on your chest. Your hands naturally come up to hold him closer, one draped over his back and the other tangled in his curly hair. You released a content sigh at the feeling of him snuggling into you as your nails pass through his curls. 

You almost forgot what brought you into this situation in the first place. You are so at peace, intertwined with your lovers. But then Steven starts trailing kisses across your shoulder and up your neck. They are sweet and tender, feather soft. Each one pressed into your skin with consideration and devotion.

He reaches your cheeks, and one of his hands cradles your jaw. The way his fingers drag across your skin makes you feel like a precious stone, and the way he looks into your eyes makes you feel like a star plucked from the heavens. 

He tugs gently at your chin, and your lips part as he ever so slowly leans in. You’re sure he can hear the way your heart is racing. The way it whispers his name every pump.

His nose bumps against yours, and you feel the faint sigh that leaves his lips against yours. You nudge your chin closer, trying to close the gap, but he manages to move just out of reach while staying just as close. 

“I’m waking you up, darling,” he reminds you with a small smirk. 

You whisper out a small okay that sounds pathetically desperate even to your ears, but you can’t find it in you to care. Because now his lips are brushing against yours. His slightly chapped lips set off every nerve ending in your own. His tongue darted out for just a moment to run against your bottom lip, and you gasped at the contact.

He dipped his nose under yours, and the torment began on the other side. He kissed your cheek, and you were about ready to snap. Had you been standing, you would have stomped your foot in frustration, and Steven would have laughed at your childish response. But he was teasing you relentlessly (which was already out of character for your sweet boy, who is always so eager to please), and it was getting harder to breathe under the covers. 

His head is tilted so that it is almost perpendicular to yours. He moves his hand to cradle your cheek, his big hand almost covering the whole expanse of your face. He smiles sweetly at you before finally diving in. 

Then it happened. His lips attached around your parted lips and created a seal. He blew a big puff of air into your mouth, and your brain reacted in the same way you think it would if you had been shot. Your eyes bugged out of your head, your arms instinctively failed out, and you made a sputtering, gagging noise. Your cheeks comically inflated for a second before all the foreign breath shot out of your nose. It was like a forced sneeze.

While you were effectively stunned, Steven was full-on chortling, completely cracking up. You’re not entirely sure what “guffawing” means, but you’re sure that’s what this is. You think he might actually damage something, bust his gut or something. It would serve him right, swift justice. You had recovered enough from your initial shock to finally respond. 

“STEVEN MICHEAL GRANT! I cannot believe you did that! You not only faked me out but you- you...I don’t even know what you did! But it was horrible!”

The man you are scolding does not seem to care as he lies on his back, clutching his stomach and kicking his feet like a little schoolgirl. You playful smacked his chest as you sat cross-legged beside him in protest. You were upset, not because it happened, but because it happened to you. You didn’t want to admit how funny the joke was. Nor that you wished you had thought of it first.

His rolling laughter is cut short when his body suddenly stiffens, and his neck straightens with his chin pointing to the ceiling. The face that meets your gaze is a little hardened, tougher. His jaw is almost always clenched, and his brows are millimetres from furrowed. Sometimes it blows your mind how these two men can come from the same brain- cohabitate in the same body- when they are also so different. When they look so different. 

This is the same face, the same hair, the same muscle and skeletal structure, biologically, the same man, and yet, they are entirely different. Their goals and aspirations are much more copasetic than they were before, but they are still different. They have different tastes in music and food. They have different favourite colours. They have different hobbies and skills. They know different languages. It’s wild. 

But also they are similar in a lot of ways too. They are both shit dancers. Absolutely no rhythm to be found. But plenty of enthusiasm. They both like the smell of citrus. Neither of them really believes in multivitamins. You tried to get them to take some vitamin D (they are mostly active at night! They need it!), but even Steven thinks they're silly.

He promised to drink more orange juice. You didn’t have it in you to tell him orange juice packed vitamin C and not D and instead thanked him for making an effort.

They also both loved you. Like a lot. And that was pretty crazy to wrap your mind around too. 

Marc’s eyes locked with yours and you watched as his lips danced around his face, chasing off a smile. You gave him a warning look, but it had the opposite effect. He burst into a fit of snickers. He at least had the courtesy to try to hide it behind his hand. He sat up and tried to cover his tittering with the most obviously fake cough you have ever heard. 

“Sorry, had a little tickle in my throat.”

You roll your eyes and lightly check his shoulder with yours, “I know you were the mastermind behind that. My sweet little Steenie Baby would never do that to me. You’ve corrupted him. Truly a terrible influence.”

Marc throws his head back in a laugh (possibly an evil one, you couldn’t tell). He kisses your cheek in an effort to win you over, and you hate to say it works. He pulls you into his lap, and you settle into his chest. His arms rest under yours as he links your fingers together.

You tilt your head to the side as Marc takes his turn to pepper you with kisses and remind you how much he loves you. When he’s satisfied that his message got across, he tucks his face into your neck. There he stays, pulling your arms across your waist so he can still hold your hands while he presses your body as closely into his as modern science will allow. 

You sway along to a song that isn’t playing. Or maybe it’s not playing through the air but rather through your hearts. Perhaps the shockwaves of each throb are travelling through your bodies, having a private conversation you’re not meant to hear. A secret serenade. 

After what seemed like both forever and not nearly long enough, Marc left his hovel with a huff. 

“Steven says if we don’t eat right now he’s going to go ‘absolutely mental.’”  

You giggle and offer an apology to Steven while Marc leans over and sets the tray in your lap. It's a cookie sheet that they folded a towel around, so it wasn’t as cold or ugly. You smile as you admire its contents. A single red rose beside your plate, which was covered by a large bowl flipped upside-down, behaving as a lid of sorts. You unveiled your dish and gasped at the beauty before you.

Where you expected (maybe edible) plain crepes, you were instead presented with a large stack of hearts dyed to look pink and layered with some sort of white cream and strawberry slices. The top layer was adorned with little tuffs of the cream on the outer rim, with whole strawberries in between. 

You looked at Marc in utter disbelief, and he beamed at you, pride pushing his chest forward. “Happy Valentines Day, Sheyfele.”

You grabbed him by the cheeks and crashed your lips into his. The kiss was quick but steady and sure. “Thank you, both of you. I love you so much.”

You’re sure they can see your eyes becoming glassier, but neither comment on it. You extend the favour. 

“We love you too…Now please try it. Steven really is losing his mind here.”

It’s delicious (the sweet cream hides the little bit of egginess well), and you share bites with Marc for a while. He goes to readjust; prop up the pillows behind him. Marc had been putting his body through the wringer since he walked out his front door all those years ago. While he is definitely still young, his body isn’t what it used to be. He fluffs his, then reaches to grab yours. 

“What’s this, baby?” He holds up a book with an amused smile.

You laugh at the memory, “Oh, I was reading that this morning, but then you asked me to pretend to sleep, so I just hopped under the covers as quickly as I could.”

He hummed in acknowledgement as he thumbed through the pages. A small slip of paper fell out, and as Marc examined it closer, he felt his heart in his throat.

“Hey (y/n), where did you find this?”

You glance at the paper and answer between bites. 

“It was stickin’ out of your pant pocket.” You point to the pair hanging out of the hamper, “I’m sorry, was it important? I didn’t mean to steal it.”

You worry for a second that you might have upset him. You try to make light of the situation. “Imma strong believer in the ‘anything is a bookmark’ philosophy. You guys know my rule: use the first thing you see.”

Marc nodded in agreement, “Yeah, yeah, I know. Did you uh- did you see anything else? When you found this, I mean.”

You shook your head no. “I don’t meddle in any of the crazy shit you bring home, baby. I am not interested in accidentally gettin’ some pharao curse or getting hunted down by some god.” 

Your answer gives him relief, and he laughs alongside you. 

He tucks the paper back into your book and kisses your shoulder to grab your attention. 

“Would you like Steven to read to you while you eat?” You excitedly nod your head, and moments later, you hear Steenie’s sweet voice. 

“Alright, Alice in Wonderland; a classic. Good choice, love.” He kisses your temple, and you feel the same swell of pride in your chest that you would get when your teacher rewarded you with a little gold star. “Now, where were you?”

As you tear into your breakfast (sharing, of course) and Steven reads to you, you get hit with a feeling of gratitude. You feel at home here- with them. You feel safe and cherished. You feel more than joy; something better than happy. You feel contentment, fulfilled.

You had never been one to believe in fate before, but you thanked whoever was out there, whoever had heard your desperate prayers on your lonely nights. You thanked them for delivering…and then some. 

Your boys were also feeling that gratitude. They couldn’t believe they had found someone so truly beautiful inside and out. A woman who was damn near fearless, with a kind heart, sharp intellect, and tremendous patience. You were a treasure to behold.

Every morning they wake up expecting to be back in the dusty old flat with only books and a fish for company. But then, when they open their eyes, there you are, and it feels like the most extraordinary gift they’ve ever been given. Your love is something deserving of its own fable or myth. Your story should be told in reverie. A story passed down for centuries, like that of Osiris and Isis. 

But they also feel a little scared. They have big plans today. Plans to spoil you and fill your heart with joy. Plans to woo. Plans to convince you that they are worth it- that they’re worth you. Plans to prove to you that you are all they will ever need- all they will ever want. Plans to get on one knee. Plans to beg you to give them this chance at a happy ending. Plans to promise you yours.

Plans to pull a ring box from the back pocket of those pants dangling dangerously out of the hamper. Plans to slip the dainty gold band with a honey-warm, citrine gem- that he got on a mission last week in Bolivia- onto your finger. Plans to admire how it glows against your skin, and how despite its magnificence, it could never outshine yours. Plans that would have been ruined if you could read the Spanish receipt in your book.

Taglist: @barbecuetiddy, @fanfics-instead-of-depression, @heejinw0rld, @ilovemoonknight, @Isshecrazyorissheclever, @purple-amaranthe, @jedisstark, @rudy-the-winged-wolf, @scorpiolystoned, @wannapizzamymindposts, @whoreforklitz,

If you want to be tagged in future Moon Knight fics but don't want to do the whole taglist thing again, just comment or reach out and I'll add you to it :))

another A/N because whatever: I will be doing a little /headcannon break down thing for this because I'm kinda throwing some in there with no real explanation, but feel free to send me asks about any confusion. I love answering those!

I'm also gonna start linking those to the original fics too, so you (and new readers) can find them

[weaselbeaselpants]

Arbitrary 50 'villainy-villain antagonists who have a point'

Lily, if you know what's good for you you don't reply to this at all just like you shouldn't have the first time.

Lady Eboshi. (Princess Mononoke, aka Lorch's favorite kid's movie)

Nearly all of the Rogue's gallery at some point. (Batman TAS)

Sweeney Todd.

Mrs. Lovett. (Sweeney Todd)

Erik. (Phantom of the Opera)

The Wretch, aka Frankenstein's monster.

The Witch. (Into the Woods)

Judge Holden. (The Blood Meridian)

Hama. (The Last Airbender)

Mewtwo.

Yzma. (The Emperor's New Groove)

Judas and the priests. (Jesus Christ Superstar)

Onceler. (Lorax 1972)

Patrick Bateman. (American Psycho)

Hannibal Lector.

AM. (I Have no Mouth and I must Scream)

Professor Nemur and Strauss. (Flowers for Algernon)

The Grinch (2000 How the Grinch stole Christmas)

Tywin Lannister.

Tyrion Lannister.

Sher Khan. (Jungle Book 2016)

Jaimie Lannister.

Cersei Lannister.

The Narrator/Tyler Durden. (Fight Club)

Flowey. (Undertale, Pacifist Route)

Sans. (Undertale, No Mercy Route)

The Wizard (Oz books and the Wicked musical)

Abigail Prenderghast. (ParaNorman)

Mickey and Mallory. (Natural Born Killers)

Olivia Foxworth. (Dollangager series)

Joseph Sugarman. (Bojack Horseman)

Beatrice Horseman. (Bojack Horseman)

Bojack Horseman.

Alex DeLarge. (A Clockwork Orange)

Chiaroscuro. (The Tale of Despereaux)

Col Kurtz. (Apocalypse Now)

Verosika Mayday. (Helluva Boss)

Rattlesnake Jake. (Rango)

The Grand Council Woman. (Lilo and Stitch)

Gantu. (Lilo and Stitch)

Amos Slade. (The Fox and the Hound).

Toffee. (Star vs the Forces of Evil)

Mina Loveberry. (Star vs the Forces of Evil)

Colonel Shikishima. (Akira)

Beetlejuice. (og movie, tv show AND musical)

The Mysterious Woman. (Centaurworld season 1)

Oh Dae-su. (Oldboy)

Ramses. (The Prince of Egypt)

Esmerelda. (Edward Scissorhands)

JD. (Heathers, movie and musical)

For your sake, Lily, I made some rules; the characters I chose can't simply be sympathetic with an excuse for what they do ala Nowhere King/General/Elktaur and they also can't be only a manipulative bastard who literally doesn't care about anything but their own glory like Emperor Belos/Philip. No Jack Skellingtons or Syndromes either. I tried my very hardest to follow your "has to be good"-rule, which in my hands is "can't be written in a way to which the writer is either forgiving the character's shortcomings OR villainizing a specific mindset."

A villain with a genuine point to make can be a really compelling, tragic, WONDERFUL character as that's almost always some kind of person with a level of self-awareness, pain and even good in their heart still who has fallen HARD. A villain with a point can also be an absolutely horrifying obstacle for your heroes, because just like in real life, awful people will use your own faults and the preexisting misery of the world to justify their own actions.

Thanks for the fun writing prompt, Lillian.

[chemblrish]

we read flowers for algernon in school and oh man it literally only gets worse. 10/10 heartbreak glad ur reading it

That's actually a very good rec though

[rogersandclarke]

OK, so basically tonight I’m working on a parody of Pegasus the flying horse by The Hollies and it’s called Larry, the scary racks and what I’m doing here is combining the lyrics some of the lyrics of Larry the scary Rex with the Melody of Pegasus, the flying horse and some of the lyrics of Pegasus, the flying horse now, my goal here is to honor Tony Hicks, and Clifford and Charles Grodin, and make sure that people know that Tony Hicks was forced to sing Pegasus in the same way that Charles Grodin was forced to take care of Clifford now he chose to take care of Clifford because he kind of sucks but like it’s crazy he wouldn’t have taken care of Clifford to be nice to his brother. He only would’ve taken care of Clifford if he had something to prove and what he had to prove was that he loved children he had to prove he love children in order to marry Mary Steenberg, and who was his girlfriend, and they were kind of in love and they worked in the same building how convenient they can drive together to work every day, but they wouldn’t be able to drive together to work from this fucking one bedroom house on a cliff Charles Grodin bot so Mary Steenbergen gets so fucking mad and like at his like what are you talking about? Why would you buy this without even asking me and she’s right it is fucked up that he bought the house without asking her but the truth is that he wanted to buy the house impress her but men do this all the time even happened in like the office. You know if you guys remember that sitcom men are always buying houses without the consent of the women there in relationships with it happens all the time and it’s crazy. I think if my dad did that I don’t even know how my mom would react to be so fucking pissed. She would be so mad I mean like she fucking hated that he quit his job and I mean naturally he just walked out on his job so why wouldn’t she hate it, when Mary Steenburgen and Charles Grodin get outside, she says you hate children he says what are you talking about? I love my nephew who I haven’t seen since his christening and she’s like oh yeah what was he christen and he’s like I wanna say no I’m just kidding. He doesn’t say Ernest. He says Mason. The famous line is I wanna say Mason ford I mean Clifford he thinks he wants to say, but the reality is that the name of his nephew is Clifford so he should be saying Clifford instead it’s funny because Mason and Clifford have hardly any letters in common and you know what’s also funny is that Ernest and Alger on there mostly different names but there’s a little bit of similarity like Altron is not that different from Ernest oh my God my phone doesn’t recognize that Altron is a name Algren on Alger on Alger on flowers for Algernon. Oh my God OK I’ve been saying that the whole time but on Alger on Moncrief Moncrief Alon Moncrief, his name is Alon Moncrief Alon, Moncrief, Altron Moncrief oh my God this is driving me insaneOK so bring this back to Tony Hicks I’m Larry Rex is the Melody of Pegasus the flying horse and basically you just do that for the whole song and you change any other lyrics that you may find appropriate and that you think will fit in the world of your crafting, and if they don’t work with the world that you’re crafting, that’s fine but like you just have to hope that the voice to text will be at all comprehensible

[pokimoko]

hiii--- i know you mostly post/write about other fandoms but i just want to say that graceful degradation is probably one of THE best fics ive read of all time and i love it so so so much, it had me screaming into my pillow at like 2 in the morning. its such a unique and creative take on his backstory and the ANGSSTTT. oh my god...u are a genius

Thank you so much!!! Portal 2 was something I never imagined myself writing for, but I'm very glad I did, because writing that fic was a blast. It came out of my fondness for 'Flowers For Algernon' (which I read many years ago but has been stuck in the back of my mind ever since) and my need for a Portal fic that suited my particular niche of interests (which included, of course, my dear old friend angst). I'm so glad to hear you think of it so highly! That really means a lot 🥰

[sesamie]

algernon is SUCH a cute name btw is it like flowers for algernon? that book made me CRY

oh my gosh that is such a sad book but actually i got it from the importance of being earnest! i went to see it at the guthrie this past weekend and the actor playing algernon was so magnetically delightful that i fell back in love with that show and character fully. so in the true spirit of "he is just like me fr" i stole his name! so that's me now algie algie algernon <3

[ohburrryoureabsolutelyridiculous]

Tag you’re it!

What’s your favorite book and why?

Of Mice & Men, Catcher in the Rye or Flowers for Algernon I remember reading these in seventh grade English class & my teacher was just so much fun I remember her making learning really fun. Those books have really stuck with me because of her my whole life.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I just recently got my passport & really want to plan a trip overseas to the UK and/or Italy are top of my list.

What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue?

I practice photography I wish I had more time to go to more interesting places.

Do you prefer coffee or tea, and how do you take it?

I always want coffee but because I was diagnosed with Ménière's disease in April I’ve really had to cut back on my caffeine intake (much to my dismay). I usually just do a simple iced coffee with some kind of flavored creamer. Tea I like Chai’s or just a simple tea with cream & 2 sugars.

What’s the most memorable concert you’ve ever attended?

I saw Fleetwood Mac before Christine died, that was pretty life changing.

If you could have dinner with any three people, living or dead, who would they be?

Freddy Mercury, Vincent Van Gogh, Joseph Quinn – I want him to roast me a chicken (IYKYK)

What’s a skill you’ve always wanted to learn?

Pottery

What’s your favorite movie genre?

I always lean more towards comedy or documentaries, but I find myself in crazy situations if an actor/actress I like is in a film.

Do you have a favorite podcast? If so, what is it?

Morbid, Crime Junkie, Off Menu are my top 3

What’s one item on your bucket list?

I want to travel outside of the US. Might seem pretty generic but while I’ve done it countless times, I have a massive fear of flying so flying over seas would be a great achievement!

Are you more of a morning person or a night owl?

Definitely a night owl.

What’s your favorite way to relax after a long day?

I’m a creature of habit so I love to just kickback with a comfort show or movie to help decompress.

If you could master one instrument, what would it be?

Piano or violin

What’s your favorite childhood memory?

I just always remember being with my siblings. I always really just loved being with my dad<3

Do you prefer the beach or the mountains?

It definitely depends on where I’m at currently & how I’m feeling. In this current moment I’m leaning more towards the mountains.

What’s your go-to comfort food?

I’m not too peckish lately due to medications I’m on but I always want Pasta.

What’s a cause you’re passionate about?

Promoting mental health awareness & advocating for chronic illnesses

How do you like to spend your weekends?

The same way I decompress after a long day just kickback with a comfort show or movie, listen to music or podcasts. I like to get caught up on laundry or around the house cleaning on my weekends. Also, the typical go for coffee or drinks with friends when we can.

What’s your favorite season of the year?

Spring & fall

Do you have any pets? If so, tell me about them!

I have a Boxer/Weimaraner mix named Olive & a Harlequin cat named Fig they are the lights of my life.

What’s your favorite way to exercise?

Going out & getting fresh air, chasing my nieces & nephews around, biking, kettlebells are a good way to get out frustrations

What’s a recent movie or show you really enjoyed?

I only just started watching Agatha All Along because its’s new. I’m always looking for recommendations please send me some because I’ve been watching the same stuff.

Do you collect anything? If so, what?

Concert & movie ticket stubs

What’s your dream job?

Something involving photography or Graphic Design

What’s your favorite thing about your hometown?

Oh god…leaving? People love talking about The Office when I tell them I’m from the Scranton area of Pennsylvania.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Teleporting

What’s a challenge you’ve overcome that you’re proud of?

The healthcare in the US is a joke as many of you know. Mental healthcare is even worse when you try to get legit help. I spent the first half of 2024 really really struggling with depression & I really had to conquer that on my own, which I did.

What’s your favorite thing to do outdoors?

Breathe, sometimes I feel like I’m suffocating so going out & getting air in my lungs is something I don’t take for granted (anymore)

Do you prefer reading fiction or nonfiction?

I’m not a big reader anymore (seventh grade English really paid off huh?)

What’s your favorite way to express creativity?

Digitally I like making things

Who is someone you admire and why?

My sister, she’s the strongest person I know. She is basically my 2nd mother.

What’s a tradition that’s important to you?

We have a few Christmas traditions I’d like to keep around if I ever have a family (unlikely)

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?

My sister even though she’s older.

If you could live in any time period, when would it be?

I feel like the 1960’s & 1970’s was probably the best time

What’s your favorite type of cuisine?

Pasta all the pasta 😂

Do you prefer traveling solo or with others?

With others of course it’s more entertaining!

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?

Don’t be so hard on yourself everything’s going to turn out fine. Talk to dad & see him more.

What’s your favorite game to play?

I love to watch people play games it reminds me of growing up with my brother & watching him play games.

How do you usually celebrate your birthday?

Depends, I’ve always wanted a surprise party.

What’s a movie that always makes you cry?

Oh god there’s so many, anything involving people with cancer or where the animal dies.

Do you believe in fate or free will?

Absolutely

What’s a trend you wish would come back?

When it was illegal for people to come near you at stores during COVID. Why are you standing SO close to me?!

What’s something you wish you could do more often?

Photography

What’s your favorite way to give back to the community?

Always donating for the animals, we just did a big donation of toys, blankets & food for our local center.

What’s a fun fact about you that not many people know?

I don’t grow arm hair🤷🏼‍♀️

How do you stay motivated during tough times?

I really try to focus on my breathing, if I find myself feeling depressed I’ll try to motivate myself to get up & move. I did a lot of word searches when I was self-healing the beginning of this year. I’ll also try to notice the signs & talk to my sister or my friends.

What’s the last thing you learned that surprised you?

That honey never spoils. Archaeologists have found pots of honey in ancient Egyptian tombs that are over 3,000 years old and still perfectly edible! Honey’s low moisture content and acidic pH create an environment that resists bacteria and spoilage.

Do you have a favorite quote or mantra?

No does anyone have recommendations?

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Nothing that gives you pleasure should make you feel guilty. If you love it, flaunt it, let that freak flag fly!

What’s something you hope to achieve in the next year?

I want to move out of Nevada, move back east & be closer (physically) to my sister.

Tagging anyone who wants to join! @sweetyyhippyy @me242 @userchai @stardancerluv @christinem999 @jquinnluvr @quinnyficsy

[criticallycomfy]

Alien Romulus: Flawed Execution of a Brilliant Idea

The Alien franchise is a rollercoaster to experience, in that its quality rises and dips at extraordinary paces, and you never know what's around the corner with each new installment. Hopefully, with the release of its newest film, Alien: Romulus, it seems like it might be once again on its upward climb in quality. A soft reboot of sorts, this movie deals directly with the events of the first movie and the original Xenomorph. I'll start with the negatives. First off, while a soft reboot is the breath of fresh air this franchise needed, the level of "wink wink remember the first movie," can induce a bit of eye-rolling at times, and I think the movie is at its worst when it tries to emulate the original film. Secondly, Romulus has a rather sparse and slow start, with most of the main cast being incredibly one-note, excepting our Main Girl, her android brother, and Main Girl's ex-boyfriend(?). Characterizations are few and far between, with little set-up for the major conflicts to come and you're left to somewhat guess the histories of the relationships between most of these characters. It isn't until half of the cast is killed off that the movie starts to pick up traction and suspense. As stated in my first complaint, the movie ends with the same "they made it out but OH NO, there's a surprise threat on the ship that must be taken care of," beat that the original film does, and while I enjoy the final monster's design in Romulus, its as awkward for me here as it was in the original.

This might all sound like I hate the movie, and honestly, for the first hour or so I did somewhat. My wife and I went in and were frustrated with the extraneous characters (her more so than me), and the sort of meandering feeling it had. However once half of the cast was gone it became more enjoyable.

And then the it happened. The scene that turned the movie completely around for us, the anti- gravity shootout scene. We immediately turned to each other and nearly hollered in excitement. This scene feels like the core of what the director, Fede Álvarez, wanted to add to the Alien franchise. It is set up so well, with this movie's focus on just how dangerous the xenomorph blood truly is, and the gravity fluctuations on the station, and the tension and spectacle of the moment are exquisite. If the movie had only pulled off this scene so well and then continued in its formal drudgery, I still would remember it fondly. But this is not the case, and the movie continues to pursue this level of suspense and style for the rest of its runtime (barring the aforementioned awkward sequence at the end). The emotional core of the movie really shine's here as well, as we can really focus on the growing tension between Main Girl Rain and her android brother Andy, who goes through a sort of Evil Flowers For Algernon arc ( and is my personal favorite throughout the movie.)

Overall, Romulus is exactly as the title of the post states: a fun yet flawed movie about the dangers of xenomorph blood and what it means to love your robot brother. 7.5/10 highly recommend you give it a shot.

[bsideheart]

to hell with being earnest or whatever the fuck. im talkin about hit short story flowers for algernon by daniel keyes. im making you into a lab rat and running you through a maze.

oh fascinating……… have you ever read the hit short play the importance of being earnest by oscar wilde. there’s a character named algernon and he’s so faggoty you should read it

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Do you have any recommendations for day by day fics like ficmas/advent calendar/autumnal days for example.

Like when the fic follows the characters for each day for a solid month

Anonymous asked: Love your page! Do you have any fics which follow John and Sherlock where each chapter is a new day or near daily where they are learning that they love each other?

Hey Nonnies!

Oh! This is a good idea for a list, LOL. PLEASE note that there is CONSTANTLY fics like this always being uploaded, especially in parts rather than chapters, so I'm just posting the ones I'm familiar with from my bookmarks that I know follow a "year in their lives" and then any series that I know also have this premise! I scoured my MFL list as well, so I most definitely missed some! Please add some more if you guys have any to add!

SEASONAL / DAILY FICS

And as the seasons change, I love you more by Teatrolley (NR, 3,219 w., 1 Ch. || Fluff and Angst, Est. Rel., Marriage / Proposal) – A year in the lives of John and Sherlock, essentially.

Equilibrium by augustbird (M, 12,351 w., 1 Ch. || Flowers for Algernon Fusion || Jealous then Worried Sherlock, Sick John) – At Baskerville, John is infected by a virus that turns him into a genius. But when the infection progresses into neurodegeneration, it's a race against time to save himself.

I Think I've Come A Long Long Way To Sit Before You Here Today by ArwenKenobi (T, 18,251 w., 3 Ch. || Grief/Mourning, Passage of Time, Major Character Death, Alternating POV, Sherlock Whump, Pining Sherlock, Hospitalization, Coma, Revenge Murders, Hallucinations, Love Confessions, Brutal Accident, Mystrade, Ghost John) – One year after John is killed Sherlock starts to wonder whether John has actually gone anywhere.

I wake up and I wake up and you're still dead by thisprettywren (M, 24,226 w., 1 Ch. || Memento Fusion AU || Amnesia, Timelines, Case Fic) – Sherlock isn't the only one who's lost.

Dear John by wendymarlowe (E, 23,031 w., 64 Ch. || Post-TRF, Online Dating, Pining, Epistolary, Cybersex, Long Distance Romance) – With Sherlock dead, John eventually (under duress) makes a profile on an online dating site. And falls into a long-distance relationship with an enigmatic partner who reminds him of Sherlock in all the right ways. (Hint: it turns out to be Sherlock.) Part 1 of Dear John

John Watson's Twelve Days of Christmas by earlgreytea68 (M, 53,464 w., 14 Ch. || Christmas, Holmes Family, Fake Relationship, Alternate First Meeting, Falling in Love, Fluff and Angst, Hardcore Pining) – It's the holiday season. John Watson needs money. Sherlock Holmes needs something else.

Points by lifeonmars (E, 53,791 w., 42 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || HLV Rewrite / Canon Divergence, Married Life, Pregnancy / Baby Watson, Drinking to Cope, Boxing / Fisticuffs, Clueless John, Angst, Minor Medical Drama, Tattoos, Christmas, First Kiss/Time, Eventual Happy Ending, Love Confessions, Doctor John, Sexuality Crisis, Slow Burn, Case Fic, Drugging, Blow/Hand Job, Emotional Love Making, Parenthood, Passage of Time) – What if His Last Vow never happened? This fic picks up a few months after John and Mary's wedding, in an alternate universe where Magnussen doesn't exist, but Mary is still pregnant. Life continues -- just in a different direction. And slowly, Sherlock and John find their way to each other.

Albion and the Woodsman by Glenmore (NR [E], 54,437 w., 50 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Post S3, Parentlock, Pining Sherlock, Angst, Family, Drug Use, Depression, Sherlock POV, Light Humour, Reconnecting, Declarations of Love) – Sherlock and John are devastated after Mary Morstan makes her final moves. Sherlock relapses at the crack house, John walks around the world … and a lot happens in between. Parentlock, in the good way.

31_Days_of_Porn_Challenge_2017 Series by distantstarlight (E, 96,540 w. across 31 stories || Prompt Ficlets, Assorted Kinks, PWP) – A collection in response to the 31 Days of Porn Challenge issued by AtlinMerrik! Thanks for doing that because this has been buttload of fun (that joke never gets old). All stories will be brief stand-alone one-shots. 

The Swan Triad Series by Pennin_Ink (T, 121,660 w. across 3 works || Swan Lake AU || Magical / Fairy Tale AU, Romance, Falling in Love, Pining, Psychological Torture, Transformation) – Sherlock and John grow up spending every summer together. Their mothers' attempts to play matchmaker only fuel their mutual resentment and scorn. But then, one summer.

25 Days of Johnlock Series by prettysailorsoldier (E, 136,961 w. across 13 works || Random Prompts, Various AUs, Christmas, Friends to Lovers, Fluff, First Kiss) – 25 Days of festive prompts submitted by all of you! Every Christmas trope imaginable will make an appearance, as well as a few surprises, so be sure to check the tags for all the specifics!

Free Falling by twistedthicket1 (M, 203,574 w., 38 Ch. || Guardian Angels AU || Guardian Angel John, Fluff and Angst, Humour, Kidlock / Teenlock, Light Mystrade, Passage of Time, Possessive John, Drug Use / Overdose, Victor Trevor, Graphic Bullying, Big Brother Mycroft, Hard Drug Use, Depression, Possessive Sherlock, Possessive John, Panic Attacks, Nightmares/PTSD, Pining, Healing Abilities, Kidnapping, Violence, Torture, Blow Jobs, Virgin John, Emotional Development / Attachment, Mortality, Happy Ending) – All Guardian angels are born with a Chosen human. When this child is born, the angel comes into being to protect and care for them during their life on Earth. For John Watson, all he cares about in the world revolves around his Chosen, Sherlock Holmes. Watching him grow up though, the angel soon learns that God must have had a sense of humour the day he decided to make Sherlock, as trouble seems to follow him like a magnet wherever he goes. John can't decide what's worse, the idea of losing his Chosen one, or the fact that he may be breaking the most taboo law of heaven as he disguises himself as a human to better protect and befriend the beloved detective he's always watched from afar. He was meant to care for him. But what happens when caring evolves into something more? What happens when an emotion an angel is supposed to be incapable of possessing comes to life suddenly and viciously inside John's chest? 

MARKED FOR LATER

Our Own Art Form by Corporate_cards (G, 2,176 w., 1 Ch. || Post S4, Art Forms, Angsty Fluff, Passage of Time, Canon Compliant) – That's what he liked most, when he was unsure of what he was feeling, art would show him.

Your Flowers, My Lungs by Corporate_cards (G, 2,353 w., 1 Ch. || Hanahaki Disease || Brief Mary/John, Passage of Time) – ...bright yellow pistil and stamen surrounded by pearl white petals...

28 Days of Fluff by Fluffbyday_Smutbynight (G, 8,177 w., 28 Ch. || Domestic Fluff, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, 221B / 442B Ficlets, Humour, Original Characters) – A collection of fluffy ficlets (either in 221B or 442B format) written for Fluffbruary 2022.

Advent Calendar 2017 by Hotaru_Tomoe (E,  41,952 w., 25 Ch.|| Not S4 Compliant, Fluff, Humour, Smut, Light Angst, First Kiss/Time, Est. Rel., Hurt/Comfort, Spanking, Christmas Party, Lingerie, Various Universes, Advent Calendar Fic) – My Advent Calendar, 25 one shots from 1st to 25th December, Christmas-ish themed.  Each story has its own rating. Part 23 of The English job

Dawn Before the Rest of the World by PoppyAlexander (M, 65,164 w. across 12 works || 1920′s Historical AU || Romantic John, Wooing, Declarations of Love, Butler Sherlock/Gardener John, Kissing, Period-Typical / Internalized  Homophobia, Kissing, Love Letters, Hand Jobs, Kinks, Passage of Time) – In one of the grand houses of England in the 1920s, butler Sherlock Holmes is wooed to pieces by the world's most romantic gardener, John Watson.

Johnloctober by prettysailorsoldier (E, 169,945 w., 31 Ch. || Assorted AU’s || Alternate First Meetings, Blow Jobs, Hand Jobs, 30 Day OTP Challenge, Prompts, Halloween / Autumn, Assorted Tags) – 31 days of autumnal Johnlock with prompts from all of you! There will be a bit of everything, but you can check the tags for more specifics.

[voulezloux]

Hello hello I am here to bother you <3

What’s your comfort movie or tv series?

And what’s a quote from a book that stuck with you?

Hope you have a great day 🫶

this is gonna expose me so hard oh my GOD

my comfort tv shows have been niche one off shows that were on netflix for the longest time before being taken off and i’ve been unable to find them since 😭😭 shows like cheapest weddings that’s from australia, frisky business about a sex toy company called lovehoney from the uk, shit like that. if they were vhs tapes, i’d wear them down so bad that’s how much i watched these shows. my comfort movie is the recording of shrek the musical 😭 it’s literally one of my favorite musicals to ever be made unironically. i have a tattoo for it and i even referenced it in my big bang fic. it was on netflix for the longest time before i was taken off in the past couple years, and i legit had a bit of a panic attack before i found out i could buy it for streaming on amazon prime. i do plan to eventually get a physical copy of the musical just in case!

i could not for the life of me remember literally any quote from any book i’ve read (it’s more of the impact of the overarching story than a quote itself for me) and it’s been so long since i’ve been able to sit down and read a book (i’m very ashamed of this too) so instead i’ll recommend books ive read in the past that i loved growing up

it’s kind of a funny story - ned vizzini

the giver - lois lowry

copper sun - sharon m. draper

endangered - eliot schrefer

flowers for algernon - daniel keyes

number the stars - lois lowry

the outsiders - s. e. hinton

paper towns - john green

the giver is honestly my all time favorite book and i fucking despise the movie adaptation of it (sorry meryl streep) i once annotated and lent my copy of it to my high school boyfriend who then broke up with me a month later and never gave it back so get fucked [redacted]

a lot of these books i read as apart of english courses throughout school, save for it’s kind of a funny story and paper towns. there’s something that john green said in a vlogbrothers video about paper towns that i cannot for the life of me find. i found a scathing review from 2012 about it’s kind of a funny story where they put a 2012 mindset on a book published in 2006. im not say that it makes up for what they said was bad about the book, but it lends itself to why there were ignorant things written in the book. ned vizzini also wrote be more chill, which is also a musical apparently, and sadly took his own life at the end of 2013. it’s kind of a funny story is written based on his stints in psychiatric wards and it hits harder considering the circumstances around his death

copper sun i read in 8th grade and it’s a very good read. i read it so fast that i finished it before i was supposed to (nerd) and my english teacher had us do an assignment where we predicted the end of the book. i asked him what do i do since i finished the book and he told me to act like i didn’t finish the book and pretend to predict the ending. i obviously did not do that and instead gave the ending away and drew a crude stick figure depicting it

flowers for algernon fucking hurts. it’s both a book that makes you feel great and then it takes it away from you because you were feeling too great. i still recommend it bc while it hurts, the story itself is still wonderful. the outsiders is a pretty standard read for middle school kids and still a great book. we read it in 7th grade and watched the movie during the last week of school. number the stars is about the holocaust and two friends with one being jewish living in a nazi occupied town. there’s one scene that has stuck with me for years since i’ve read the book where someone is killed by firing squad by nazi soldiers (i won’t spoil who) and i can’t remember if it happened on screen in the book or im confusing it with the death by firing squad scene in the film life is beautiful (which is also about the holocaust and made my entire 8th grade english class cry) which happens off screen. endangered is about a teen girl trying to save a group for bonobos during a country’s civil war. its apart of a four part series by this author called the ap quartet

sorry to ramble but thank u for asking 🥺

[pearlsoflongago]

Silences

Poems of Solitude and Stillness

Among the Sierra Nevada Mountains by Albert Bierstadt

Solitude

To sit on rocks, to muse o'er flood and fell, To slowly trace the forest's shady scene, Where things that own not man's dominion dwell, And mortal foot hath ne'er or rarely been; To climb the trackless mountain all unseen, With the wild flock that never needs a fold; Alone o'er steeps and foaming falls to lean This is not solitude, 'tis but to hold Converse with Nature's charms, and view her stores unrolled.

But midst the crowd, the hurry, the shock of men, To hear, to see, to feel and to possess, And roam alone, the world's tired denizen, With none who bless us, none whom we can bless; Minions of splendour shrinking from distress! None that, with kindred consciousness endued, If we were not, would seem to smile the less Of all the flattered, followed, sought and sued; This is to be alone; this, this is solitude!

More blest the life of godly eremite, Such as on lonely Athos my be seen, Watching at eve upon the giant height, Which looks o'er waves so blue, skies so serene, That he who there at such an hour hath been Will wistful linger on that hallow'd spot; Then slowly tear him from the witching scene, Sigh forth one wish that such had been his lot, Then turn to hate a world he had almost forgot.

—George Gordon, Lord Byron, from Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage

Weymouth Bay by John Constable

A Solitude

Sea beyond sea, sand after sweep of sand, Here ivory smooth, here cloven and ridged with flow Of channelled waters soft as rain or snow, Stretch their lone length at ease beneath the bland Grey gleam of skies whose smile on wave and strand Shines weary like a man’s who smiles to know That now no dream can mock his faith with show, Nor cloud for him seem living sea or land.

Is there an end at all of all this waste, These crumbling cliffs defeatured and defaced, These ruinous heights of sea-sapped walls that slide Seaward with all their banks of bleak blown flowers Glad yet of life, ere yet their hope subside Beneath the coil of dull dense waves and hours?

—Charles Algernon Swinburne

Study of a Figure Outdoors: Woman with a Parasol by Claude Monet

Silent Noon

Your hands lie open in the long fresh grass,— The finger-points look through like rosy blooms: Your eyes smile peace. The pasture gleams and glooms 'Neath billowing skies that scatter and amass. All round our nest, far as the eye can pass, Are golden kingcup fields with silver edge Where the cow-parsley skirts the hawthorn-hedge. 'Tis visible silence, still as the hour-glass.

Deep in the sun-searched growths the dragon-fly Hangs like a blue thread loosened from the sky:— So this wing'd hour is dropt to us from above. Oh! clasp we to our hearts, for deathless dower, This close-companioned inarticulate hour When twofold silence was the song of love.

—Dante Gabriel Rossetti, from The House of Life

Garden by Claude Monet

[notinmyvocab]

wip whenever!

tagged by @yourlocaldisneyvillain! Here's a small excerpt of a Jane Murdstone fic I've been dabbling in!

I tag @neednottoneed and @jon-withnoh!

When her brother’s first wife passed, Jane Murdstone considered their separation inevitable. He had the business to tend to to keep him occupied, but where did that leave her? She couldn’t simple spend her days at the house, twiddling her thumbs.

So when an opportunity to be employed as a companion arose, she was quick to snatch it up, much to the chagrin of the young woman she would be minding.

Felicity Bennet lay in the field just beyond her house, the flowers hiding her from sight. She knew she ought to get up and go inside; that she was only delaying the inevitable.

“What do you think she’s like?” Letty asked one of the flowers.

Letty wasn’t sure why her Uncle Algernon had hired a companion for her after all of these years. She knew that she was growing older (an “old maid” the servants murmured about her), and that it had been so long since she’d known the companionship of another woman. Her mother and father had died when she was so small, and her aunt perished shortly afterwards, leaving her uncle in charge of her wellbeing.

And life had been lovely, but lacking she supposed.

“Do you think she’ll be kind?” Letty asked another flower. “Or do you suppose she’ll be strict? Make me do needlework and such? I hate needlework.”

The flowers did not reply to her, of course. She never expected them to. But in her head, she imagined little voices answering:

She will most definitely make you do needlework!

Give her a chance; she’s meant to be your friend, after all.

Letty rose from the ground and dusted off the bits of dirt that clung to her pale green skirt. She liked green; liked how it made the red undertones in her hair stand out more.

She returned to the house and was greeted by the sound of her uncle speaking and an unknown voice replying tersely. Miss Murdstone, Letty assumed.

Upon entering the drawing room, she laid eyes upon the woman who was meant to be her companion.

A cold, metallic lady with a stern countenance; she looked as if she had never known a smile. Was this the woman meant to be her companion? Oh dear.