#Puzzle Box (2023)

[haveyouseenthishorrormovie]

SUMMARY: Drug addict Kait flees to a house in the woods to self-rehabilitate, where her sister Olivia joins to document the process, but the house's layout begins to change, trapping them inside an inescapable puzzle box of a house.

[miss-ingno]

FIAB Reveals: My treasure trove of gifts

I participated in FIAB for the first time this year, and I'm extremely lucky with my box full of wonderful gifts! Look at these lovelies!!!

Title: Where the Heart Finds Nourishment Fandom: Dimension 20 - A Crown Of Candy Ship: Saccharina & Caramelinda Medium: Fanfic Words: 2.9k Tags: Deliberate Child Acquisition, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Family Issues Summary: Saccharina is discovered by Candian agents and brought to Castle Candy as a child. Caramelinda deals with the child that's both the main threat to her own children, and the last connection to the love of her life.

Title: Feedback to NFG Conference 2023 Fandom: Guardian (drama) Ship: Professor Zhou & Shen Wei & Li Qian & Science Medium: In-Universe E-Mail Words: 1.2k Tags: Outsider PoV, E-Mail, Academia, Conferences, Humour Summary: Dear Professor Zhou, [...] I was hoping you’d do me an additional favour and pass on this email to Shen Wei – he asked the attendees to send in any feedback at the last breakfast session, but understandably forgot to hand out or collect the feedback forms before the end of the conference. I tried contacting him directly, but I kept getting error messages informing me that my email had bounced. It’s nice to see that IT issues transcend individual universities! [...] Do PhD graduates at Dragon City university get swords??? That’s unfair; is it too late to switch universities? I want a sword as well!

Title: Good Neighbours Fandom: Grimm (TV) Ship: Bud Wurstner & Juliette Silverton, Nick Burkhardt/Sean Reanard/Juliette Silverton Medium: Fanfic Words: 1k Tags: Friendship, Neighbors, Established Relationship, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence Summary: Just a simple morning for Juliette while her men are at work gets interrupted with a cute visit from the neighbors.

Title: Heavy is the Head that Wears the Crown Fandom: Grimm (TV) Ship: Nick Burkhardt/Sean Reanard/Juliette Silverton Medium: Fanfic Words: 1.1k Tags: Responsibility, With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility, Established Relationship, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence Summary: Nick and Sean discuss responsibilities over a cup of coffee late one evening.

Title: In the Woods Fandom: Grimm (TV) Ship: Nick Burkhardt & Hank Griffin & Monroe Medium: Fanfic Words: 1.2k Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Diplomacy, Interspecies Relationship(s) Summary: Nick is on the job and in the forest with Hank and Monroe. Just an average day with the local Grimm.

Title: Being Home Fandom: Grimm (TV) Ship: Nick Burkhardt/Sean Reanard/Juliette Silverton Medium: Fanfic Words: 1k Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Established Relationship, Domestic Summary: Sean reflects a little on the unexpected life he finds himself in.

Title: Of Truths & Falsehoods Fandom: Deja Vu - Dreamcatcher (Music Video) Ship: Yoohyeon/Jiu Medium: Logic Grid Puzzle Summary: In a temple outside of space and time, four options present themselves before Yoohyeon. Only one of them leads to a happy ending. Solve this logic puzzle to help Yoohyeon choose the right timeline for her and Jiu.

Seriously, everyone, check them out, they're all incredibly well done! (And the Deja Vu puzzle is fun even if you don't know the original canon!)

[moviesandmania]

PUZZLE BOX Found footage horror - trailer and new clip - VOD on October 11

Puzzle Box is a 2023 found footage horror film about a drug addict who flees to a house in the woods to self-rehabilitate. Written, photographed, directed, edited and co-produced by Jack Dignan. Also produced by Morgan Wright. The Repeater Productions movie stars Kaitlyn Boyé, Laneikka Denne, Cassandre Girard, Janelle McMenamin, Matias Klaver and Hazel Pompeani. Plot: Kait (Kaitlyn Boyé), a…

[darkmovies]

Puzzle Box (2023) Date de sortie : 12/08/2023 Réalisateur : Jack Dignan Scénario : Jack Dignan Avec : Kaitlyn Boyé, Laneikka Denne, Cassandre Girard

[midnight1nk]

PRESENTING:

THE OFFICIAL WOTFI 2024 BINGO CARD

Come one and all to Puzzle Park, where fun truly never ends...

:)

[BOX EXPLANATIONS & EMPTY CARD UNDER CUT]

BOX EXPLANATIONS (+CREDITS)

Mario Ruins The Show — me, @sardix

No matter what Mr Puzzles does, Mario is the only character he can't control. The one who never obeys. The one who ruins the show. So, it wouldn't be the first time Mario would save the day.

Past Arcs Or Trauma — /sardix

it's bound to happen some time, right? :)

Karma

After what he did to Meggy, it makes sense that Mr. Puzzles will face the same demise. The fate that's popular within the fandom would be his death. But if he lives, he could turn into Leggy himself, his TV head with tiny footsies. Or just his head. Either way, he would end up harmless.

It also refers to Puzzles's defeat. He tried to destroy the crew multiple times, it's only natural that the SMG Crew will try to fight back.

Mr Puzzles having a grudge against SMG4 — /sardix

We already knew that Puzzles hates Four, jealous even. How did Four, a ridiculous YT shitposter, get more attention than him? His original ideas pushed aside for memes? To add salt in the wound, Puzzles's steaming service of 5 episodes only managed 4.5 stars at his highest while Four surpassed him with 5.5 stars within an hour. An hour. And then, Four had the nerve to destroy his perfect screen at the end of the Puzzlevision movie. Then, there's the Meme Factory arc. Four took his only friend away, it's only fair if Four gets what he deserves. Why don't we have some fun with it while we're at it? :)

Park Destroyed — @34saveme34

By the end of WOTFI, Puzzle Park gets destroyed similar to how the simulation lab crumbled by the end of Western Spaghetti, seeing that there are a lot of similarities between Wren and Puzzles with the whole wires thing going on.

It's Gotta Be Perfect — me, @time1srunout, and literally everyone

Interestingly, the show crew brings back moments/parallels from IGBP. After all, everything started at that arc. Perfection, the keyboard, the eyes, the goo, the Showgrounds, Puzzlevision. And of course, Four and Puzzles being Narrative Foils(TM). I mean, you gotta love it.

The reason why it's in its own box is because of how significant it is. And besides, many theories stem from this arc. For me, I'll be looking for eyes, Goop!Four, and absolute karma.

References, confirmed theories, motifs, flashbacks, it all counts.

Freak Show

Referring to the poster made by the SMG4 crew with Tari, SMG3, Boopkins, and Bob being labeled as freaks. Someone's gotta bring this into WOTFI somehow.

(Carnival-Themed) Rap — me, @porschas-palette

Just as a heist-themed WOTFI happened in 2023, an awesome carnival-themed rap will happen this year. And it will be a BANGER!

Puzzles' Backstory — me, @yullalightk

As much as Puzzles is an interesting character, we have yet to learn more about his past. We have already seen some in his Creative Control song and in the 'Mr Puzzles' Clubhouse' episode with his dad. There simply has to be more. The puzzle pieces of his past :) ...I'll see myself out

The Bell Tolls 🔔

For the past few weeks, Ben and Shadow have been trolling the SMG4 twitter with their ;) and the bell emoji.

Stop stop [*points at SMG4 twt*] they're already dead/ref

On one tweet, Ben posted a few lyrics of the song "For Whom the Bell Tolls", a 1984 song by Metallica that was apparently inspired by a book of the same name, which basically tells a scene in the story where 5 soldiers died in the Spanish Civil War. Exploring death in modern warfare. As for whom the bell tolls, it's all of us, being bounded together. It's all of them who the bell tolls for.

Any reference to the heavy metal song, signs of bells, or even death, it marks this box for sure. Sure, it may be trolling, but hey, anything's possible.

Not So Different

With Four and Puzzles being Narrative Foils(TM), I've been waiting for a scene of Puzzles telling Four:

"You and I, we aren't so different. You wished to make people happy. I'm simply doing the same..."

It also be in reverse with Four OR Three telling that to Mr Puzzles that they get where he's coming from but he doesn't have to go down this path. They know what it's like. Whether Puzzles accepts defeat/change, it'll be up to him.

(Ending) Twist — me, /porschas-palette

At the very end of WOTFI, Mr Puzzles finally came out in all this glory of a model, showing he also pulled the strings of WOTFI 2023. Aside from IGBP and Western Spaghetti, of course. It's likely to happen again. Old/new characters, foreshadowing, fake death. It all counts.

Merch

...I mean, it's pretty obvious, right? I'm gonna bet on a poster, shirt/hoodie, a keychain, and something related to the WOTFI ticket. 5 bucks, all in.

Star Rating System

This whole arc constantly comes back to the ratings. Mr Puzzles in the negatives in the "Lowest Point" episode, Mickey referring the single star as the power source in the Engine Room in "Mr Puzzles' Clubhouse". And no, we're not going to forget about the broken star Mr Puzzles had left at the end of Puzzlevision. With Mr Puzzles being THE power source, it has to come back.

Sacrifice — me, /sardix, /porschas-palette

"Character Death" and "Character Fake Death" were great suggestions. But then, when sardix stated "Mario saves the day doing something stupid/protects someone from dying", it made me realize something. That's right, each one of the Crew would do anything to protect the others. Even if it costs them their lives. But it's worth the risk if it means they're safe. Three technically did in the "Welcome to Puzzle Park" episode, trying to warn Four and Mario. I mentioned in my theories that someone will sacrifice themselves, so this might be it.

It could also mean in terms of the exchange of something else, not necessarily a life. It could be Meggy's physical condition, knowing that she was forced to become Leggy again. Based on all those screams, I think her body's not going to be the same. A loss of a limb or something. Or perhaps, after seeing what he's done, Mr Puzzles might admit defeat. The sacrifice of his dream for creative vision.

Tender Tunnel — me, Nicc

What other reason would there be to have the equivalent of the Tunnel of Love in Puzzle Park? Literally, why would they do that? They could've put anything else in there. Popping balloon stand, the horse racing game, any other ride. Why this? And not just that, they keep pointing the camera right at it as if they're like "hey, this is going to become relevant later, so remember it".

SMG4 Kids

This whole arc also revolved around the children. Karen's kids, Beeg4, Eggdog, JubJub. Like I said in my "The Unexpected Guests" theory, they could still be relevant here. Also, the whole Didney thing and their large kid audience and the carnival being fun for kids (and all ages ofc).

Puzzles Dies 💀 — Nicc

As much as some of us don't want it to happen, Mr Puzzles may die, similarly how Wren did. For how to defeat Puzzles, it seems like the Crew would have to destroy the power source that's currently controlling the park... aka Mr Puzzles

Meggy Confronts

By the near end of WOTFI, in the final showdown between the Crew and Puzzles, Meggy might be back to normal and might have a few words with him in regards to what happened to her. In song or pure dialogue, she might confront him about his wrongdoings.

Or perhaps, for the very first time, Leggy might defy him. The whole time, Leggy is like "Join the winning team, he was such a great boss". And what if something snapped in Leggy that made her say "no" to Puzzles? That, no, this is going too far. No, I can't let you do this.

"You Saved Me" 💫 💣 — me, /sardix

SMG4 x SMG3 shippers, we're all too familiar with this line. Ever since SMG3 redeemed himself, the two have constantly said this line, after one indeed does save the other. Actually, it kind of happens in every movie if you think about it. And it works just as well here.

SMG3 being in a horrible minigame trap might get saved by Four and Mario with Four pulling out of it,

Three: "You... saved me?" Four: "Why wouldn't I? You were literally in a trap, dude." Three, hitting the back of Four's head: "I... Augh, just forget it, baka."

OR in reverse, when Four thanks Three for trying to save him and Mario. They didn't exactly escape in time but Three really has grown to become a true friend.

This box also works as a "Four and Three moment that can be seen as romantic" box :)

Brand New Look

This could be new outfits, bringing back old ones (like Three's bunny ears or WOTFI '23 suits), a new Puzzle face, or a new look of the Puzzle Park.

Puzzles Tune

Puzzles' musical motif dubbed as "TV Time", the one we're all familiar with, could come back. Either in the background, as a new arrangement, or as part of the Rap(TM) instrumental. It did that for WOTFI 2023 to foreshadow his subtle involvement so I don't see why it couldn't happen.

Dynamic Change

After rewatching "SMG4 and SMG3 come up with an episode", I predicted that something would change in Four and Three's dynamic, for better or worse. (For better, hopefully). As I said, it could be Three's revelation. Sure, the episode is a silly one, it should not be taken so seriously. But it's also the same episode that "hinted" the idea of a carnival coming to the Showgrounds, so anything could happen at this point.

And it doesn't have to be between Four and Three, it could be anyone in WOTFI. Leggy and Puzzles, the Crew within, etc.

Leggy's Flag

As shown in the "Lowest Point" episode, Mr Puzzles kept Leggy's flag after all this time. It wouldn't be a surprise that it might be used for a turning point in the plot in some way. Maybe it could be used as evidence of Puzzles' humanity, or for Puzzles to realize the damage he has caused. That he lost himself. All for creative vision.

BLANK CARD

If you want to fill in your own card, I leave here a blank version for your use AND a marker png:

Also, feel free to post this on other platforms, the more the merrier. All I ask from you is to credit me.

.・-: ✧ :--: ✧ :-・.

Have fun with it, bring in your moots or discord server! But as always, enjoy what WOTFI has to offer. "Love always wins", after all.

I would like to give a big thanks to everyone who has given me suggestions, great job honestly!

And feel free to share your cards after WOTFI either by tagging me or using #wotfi 2024 bingo, I would love to see them! I'll see you all on the other side, my dear fellows.

[vintagerpg]

Just, absolutely delirious. Abyss of Hallucinations Volume 2 (2023) builds on the first volume and embraces ever more chaos.

There’s more detail here on what you might find in the hexes of the Abyss, which goes a long way toward making the whole thing feel cohesive (though no less feverish). Significant time is spent on the Skidoo Inn and the concept of anti-puzzles and unsolving, which I understand but also can not quite explain. You need to unsolve a puzzle to leave the Inn and that’s a pretty good teaching tool for how brain-hurty the Abyss is in general. Chaos. Just embrace Chaos.

We also have more creatures, illustrated by the enragingly talented David Hoskins. These entities look obnoxiously good, as if he plucked them from my own subconscious somehow and put them in this book to mock me. Himog in particular tickles at the archetypes that possibly lurk in all our brains, in a way similar to the Breton illustrations of the Goetic demons. The other art is great too, but Hoskins is just a killer with a pen.

This volume came in a box, big enough to put both your Hallucinations, a Zine of Lies and also contains a sticker and poster of the Mega Therion illustration, which is very nice. The lid is silk screened by Luciana Lupe Vasconcelos and has a funny etched pattern in the paper that I find unsettling given everything else that is going on here.

I believe there is a third and final volume in the works. I must prepare myself.

[bucky-barnes-diaries]

Day 11 — Cozy Night

Pairing || TFATWS!Bucky x Female!Reader

Word Count || Around 600

Contents & Warnings || Fluff — no warnings.

Disclaimer || English is not my first language so I apologise for any mistakes or misunderstandings!

Advent Calendar 2023

You and Bucky had spent the week in a magical cabin nestled within a winter wonderland forest. The getaway was a relaxation for you both, offering a sanctuary from the busyness of everyday life. Your days were spent visiting the charming town, exploring cute vintage shops, and savoring cocoa at the cozy cafe.

Your evenings unfolded in the warm embrace of the cabin, where you and Bucky cuddled by the crackling fireplace with an assortment of books. Wrapped in a thick blanket, you shared beautiful moments, taking turns reading passages and stealing soft kisses between lines.

On the last day, plans of departure were interrupted by an unforeseen snowstorm, the roads dangerous. Stranded for a few more days, you and Bucky embraced the unexpected twist of fate, turning it into another cozy night with each other.

The storm-induced power outage left the cabin in darkness, with only the flicker of flames in the fireplace and the gentle glow of the candles illuminating the space.

Nestled on a plush sofa, your legs covered by a thick blanket, you and Bucky snuggled together. The warmth from the fire and each other kept the chill away.

You were at the end of your book, and Bucky took charge of reading the final chapters. His voice was a soothing melody, a comforting cocoon enveloping you both. He kept the story flowing, his voice becoming a rhythmic lullaby that was almost hypnotic. Tracing the plates of his vibranium palm, your fingertips danced along to his storytelling.

At the conclusion of the book, Bucky’s soft voice lingered in the air, leaving a warm, happy feeling behind. Closing the book, he kisses your temple, and you hummed in contentment.

“Hmm, that was a wonderful story, babe. Your storytelling skills are on point. I could listen to your soothing voice forever.”

“Well, I’ve had a few centuries of practice,” he mumbled, brushing his lips against your skin.

Cuddling closer, limbs entwined, you let the warm flames and the echo of the tale envelop you both.

“What should we do now?” you pondered, breaking the comfortable silence.

“You’re not tired?”

You shook your head. “Are you?”

“Not the slightest. How about we do a puzzle?” Bucky suggested, eyeing the 500-piece set on the coffee table. The box was adorned with a snowy, picturesque landscape with a cabin, much like the one you found yourselves in.

“Let’s do it.”

Seated comfortably on the sofa, still close, you unpacked the contents of the puzzle box onto the coffee table, sorting through the countless tiny pieces.

You began with the edges, searching for the border pieces that would lay the foundation for your masterpiece. Your conversation flowed between debates over puzzle piece placement and sweet nothings whispered to each other. Occasionally, Bucky would kiss your cheek or nuzzle against your skin.

As the puzzle took shape, you became immersed in the details of the image coming to life. The crackling logs and the wind’s howl serve as background music, along with the satisfying click of connecting the pieces together.

When the final pieces fell into place, a sense of accomplishment washed over you both. The once chaotic pile of puzzle pieces had transformed into a breathtaking panorama.

“We did it. It’s beautiful, Bucky,” you hummed, resting your head on his shoulder, nuzzling into the soft material of his sweater.

“Yeah, it’s beautiful,” he agreed, voice low and soothing as he draped an arm over you, pulling you closer. “Almost as beautiful as this moment with you.”

Meeting his gaze, filled with adoration, you felt a rush of affection. “I’m so glad we got stranded here for a few more days.”

“Me too, doll,” he whispered, leaning in to press a tender kiss to your lips. “It turned our simple getaway into a magical adventure.”

Feedback through a comment is highly appreciated! Or let me know through an anonymous ask if that feels more comfortable. As well as a reblog to share my work with other people!

I don’t do taglists so please follow @bucky-barnes-diaries-library and turn on notifications to never miss out on my writing!

[hufflepuffwritingstuff2]

Christmas Snippet 2023

Supervillain had just finished making a steaming mug of hot chocolate when the doorbell rang.

“Who could that be at this hour?” they wondered.

They approached the front door to their mansion. It had better not be any Christmas carolers, they didn’t have the time or patience for that. Supervillain opened the door and saw no one. Oh brother, a ding-dong ditcher? On Christmas Eve? Supervillain was about to close the door when something brightly colored caught their eye.

A large parcel lay on their doorstep, brightly wrapped in red and green paper and topped with a gold bow. Supervillain tilted their head, puzzled. They usually didn’t receive gifts from anyone this time of year- or any time for that matter- unless it was a trap. Supervillain bent down to examine it. They picked up a small, glitter-covered tag and read a neatly scribbled note.

To: Supervillain

From: Superhero

May this Christmas gift be an offering of peace

Supervillain scoffed. Definitely a trap then. They were just about to close the door when they heard a very faint whimper from inside the box. Their eyes widened. That better not have been what they thought it was. They lifted the box with their powers- it was quite heavy- and hastily brought it inside, closing the door behind them.

Supervillain worked quickly to tear off the paper. Underneath was a thick, metal box. Lifting the lid, Supervillain held in a gasp at what they saw. Nestled in the padded box was Hero, a gas mask strapped to their face and several straps restraining them tightly. Angry, purple bruises and red gashes littered their battered body, and their suit was in tatters. One of their eyes was black and swollen, and they had burn marks between some of the gashes. Hero had put up quite a fight before ending up in the box. They whimpered in their sleep, as even their dreams couldn’t remove the pain.

Supervillain quickly undid the straps and pulled off the gas mask, gently lifting Hero into their arms. They carried the crime-fighter over to the couch and laid them down, leaving to get a med kit.

…

Hero stirred on a soft surface. They opened bleary eyes to a grand yet cozy living room. They tried to sit up, but strong hands pushed them back down.

“No, no, stay down,” a voice said, “you’re very hurt.”

Hero’s vision cleared up and their eyes widened.

“S-Supervillain-”

“Shh, yes, it’s me,” Supervillain admitted, “it’s alright, I won’t hurt you. It seems Superhero’s done enough of that already.”

Hero sniffled, tears brimming in their eyes.

“M-my whole team, actually,” Hero said, wiping their tears.

Supervillain stiffened, their gaze becoming dark and hard.

“What?”

“I…I shouldn’t have said that. Forget I said anything.”

Supervillain took one of Hero’s hands- it was heavily bandaged- and looked them in the eye.

“You are going to tell me everything now,” they said, “or I will kill all of them this very minute.”

Hero blinked in fear, and Supervillain sighed.

“Please,” they added, their tone softer, “tell me what happened.”

Hero gulped, and told Supervillain everything.

The plan was Superhero’s. Supervillain had been wreaking havoc on the city since Thanksgiving, and enough was enough. The heroes weren’t strong enough to stop them, but maybe if they had a peace offering…

“Hero,” Superhero had said, “meet me in the training room, please.”

Hero thought it was an odd request, considering it was Christmas Eve, but they didn’t have any plans, so they did as they were told. Once they arrived, the doors swung shut behind them, locking in place.

“Superhero?” Hero asked, “what is this?”

“I’m sorry, Hero,” the older crime-fighter said, “you’ve been a loyal upholder of justice, but we need results now.”

Hero’s team came out of the shadows, surrounding them.

“I hope you understand.”

“Superhero, wait-”

The blast of fire came from the left, the electricity from the right, and the throwing stars went right into their back. Hero cried out, forming an ice dome to shield themselves. Superhero slammed their fists into it, making it shatter. They landed a few good hits right to Hero’s face, while Vigilante got them a few times with a knife. Every attempt Hero made to fight back was weakened by Teammate 1’s fire and Teammate 2’s electricity.

‘Stop it! Stop it!” Hero screamed, “I haven’t done anything!”

Eventually, Superhero put them out of their misery. A sharp pinch in their neck, and Hero quickly went limp. Their former team stepped away to let them breathe.

“Why?” Hero breathed tearfully.

“It had to be someone, Hero,” Superhero said, “you just happened to be the weak link.”

Hero’s vision faded just as Vigilante approached them with the straps.

The room was silent for what felt like an eternity.

“I’ll murder each and every one of them,” Supervillain promised quietly.

“But you said you’d kill them if I didn’t tell you!” Hero protested.

“My dear little Hero,” Supervillain said gently, cupping the side of Hero’s face with a hand, “they don’t deserve your mercy.”

“Please, Supervillain, don’t kill them, I don’t want that on my conscience-”

“Your conscience? You’ve done nothing wrong, and it is no fault of yours if I make myself the consequence of their actions.”

“Please,” Hero begged, fresh tears forming, “it’s Christmas!”

Supervillain sighed. They scanned Hero’s mangled body, their wounds covered in bandages and their eyes pleading.

“I will spare their lives for now,” Supervillain said, “if only for your sake.”

“Thank you, Supervillain,” Hero said softly, “could you please take me home?”

Supervillain paused, then shook their head.

“Don’t those so-called heroes know where you live?” they prompted gently.

Hero’s face fell.

“…Yeah… yeah they do.”

“I will go by your house and get your things for you,” Supervillain offered, “you’ll be safe with me.”

Supervillain got up to leave. They turned to Hero one last time.

“Try to rest, little one,” they said, “I’ll be back soon.”

Hero nodded, settling into the couch. They drifted off shortly after Supervillain left.

…

By the time Supervillain returned, all the news channels were reporting the vicious attack on the hero team. Teammate 1 had third degree burns littering their entire body, Teammate 2’s scarred body was still twitching and spasming from the repeated exposure to electric currents, Vigilante looked like a pin cushion with all the sharp weapons stabbed into them, but Superhero? Superhero was on a ventilator, every bone broken, their lips and fingertips blue from stage four hypothermia, and one lung collapsed.

Supervillain kept the TV off; Hero didn’t need to see any of that, it would only distress them further. Supervillain, however, needed the closure. Turns out revenge made an excellent Christmas gift to oneself.

[tom-whore-dleston]

for the event how about snooze with steven grant <3333 they just fit so perfectly together !!

Snooze

Pairing: Steven Grant x f. reader

Word Count: 1.5k

This fic contains: fluff, neighbors to lovers, insomnia, meet cute scenario, confessions, kissing, corny play on lyrics of Snooze

Summary: You are the main constant that helps combat Steven’s insomnia. This night, things are a little bit different.

Notes: omg Sil you are so right about how Snooze is Steven-coded!! Thank you bb for the request and I hope you enjoy 🥰🫶🏽 Thank you to @potatothots for beta reading and sharing your insight 🩷

Spotify Wrapped 2023 challenge | send a request here

Steven glared at the blue squares of his Rubik's Cube. It had been the third time he solved the three dimensional puzzle since the moon illuminated the night sky. The toy tumbled into his lap as Steven’s groggy eyes flickered towards the shimmering sphere that tauntingly gazed back at him. 

The classical record that was meant to aid his sleep came to an end. Steven lost track of how many times he played that record. When his insomnia began many moons ago, the record did wonders for his sleep. Now, it basically is a broken record because of how often he played it at night.

Yet, there was one constant that always helped him fall asleep. And that was you.

You were new to the apartment complex and moved in right next to Steven. The way you both met was one for the books. Your flat mate was running late for work due to lack of sleep from the night before. He rushed out the door, struggling into his coat. Without realizing, his shoelaces dragged carelessly across the floor. Steven, as clumsy as he was, crashed into you carrying a box of clothes, and you both fell to the floor.

The British man’s eyes widened. “Oh my- I am terribly sorry! Are you alright?” His eyes widened even more after one glance upon your beauty.

You sat up chuckling, unaware of his gawking. “No need for apologies. I am perfectly fine.” Then, you noticed the items scattered on the floor.  “Although, I’m not too sure about the pile of clothes.” The man mirrored your movements as you crawled towards an article of clothing.

“Allow me to help you ma’am,” Steven began tossing shirts and sweaters into the box. As you reached for your favorite scarf, a strong hand slightly brushed against yours. You stared into each other's eyes, smiling softly. You could have sworn you saw a twinkle in his brown eyes.

“Oh heavens, I am late for work!” He checked the time on his watch and began to panic. “I missed my bus, too!”

“Perhaps I can take you to work?” You helped him to his feet, and your cheeks grew hot as he began to tower over you.

“Oh no, I-“

“It’s okay. I want to.” You paused. “Don’t worry, I don’t bite.” 

Steven unclenched his jaw and let out a quick laugh. “Thank you ma’am! I cannot thank you enough for your kindness.”

“It’s my pleasure…” your voice dropped upon realizing you didn’t know the name of the British man before you.

“Steven. Steven Grant.”

It was a typical late Saturday night when you arrived at your apartment complex. Your watch peeked through your cuffed long sleeve, catching a glimpse of the time. 

3:00. That was a record time for the latest you came home from a shift at the local bar. Your body, especially your legs, yearned to crash into the coziness of your bed and sleep until the sun was at its peak in the sky. As you approached the door to your apartment, you stopped in your tracks after meeting your neighbor’s hazy eyes.

“Steven?”

The gentleman in question half smiled. “Hello, darling.” 

“Rough night?” You interrogated knowingly. Steven nodded with closed eyes.

You fumbled your key into the lock for a moment before opening the door and stepping to the side. “C’mon in. I’ll make us some tea.”

Steven walked into your apartment and headed towards your couch, as he had done many nights before. He wrapped himself in the blanket you knitted yourself as you fixed a pot of tea. The blanket smelled like you, which always brought him a sense of comfort. A kind of comfort he couldn’t find in his own home. In fact, Steven couldn’t remember the last time he felt any sense of security before meeting you.

“You really fancy that blanket, huh?” You giggled, admiring how adorable he looked being swaddled in your own creation. The day you moved in, you decided to knit a blanket to combat your boredom. Once it was finished, you didn’t dare touch it as you were too afraid it would get ruined. The first night you welcomed Steven into your apartment, he was immediately fascinated with the blanket that he cozied onto your couch bundled in the blanket before falling into the best sleep he had in a while.

“I do, indeed. It helped me sleep when I had no other way of falling asleep.” Steven peered down at the wooly fabric, tracing over the patterns as if his next words were hidden between the stitches.

“Well, I’m happy to have helped you in a subliminal way.” The rest of your surroundings blurred as Steven became the focus of your gaze. Your heart skipped a beat as the dim light in your living room accented his structured face and wavy dark locks. Even with the blanket draped over his frame, his plain white t-shirt did little to hide his muscular arms and broad shoulders.

The abrupt screech of the kettle caused you to jolt and you quickly turned off the stove to avoid the sound reaching your other sleeping neighbors. After steeping chamomile bags in two separate cups, you joined Steven on the couch, leaving a respectful distance between the two of you. You handed him a mug and he gingerly peeled it from your grip. Your teeth gritted together as his soft fingers brushed against yours. Steven frowned, noticing your shift in demeanor.

“You cold, darling?” He shimmied out of the blanket, letting it fall to his waist.

“It’s okay, it’s no big deal-” Suddenly, Steven scooted next to you before throwing the blanket over both of your laps with one hand. It was the smoothest thing you had ever witnessed, you forgot how to breathe in that moment. 

“There we are. It wouldn’t be right of me to hog all of your blanket.” You couldn't help but laugh. Without further thought, you and Steven simultaneously sipped your cups of tea, the hot beverage instantly calming your mind and muscles. Steven hummed happily as the tea warmed his body. Yet, he was still wide awake.

The grandfather clock that stood strong in your living room ticked loudly to fill the silence of the room. It glared dauntingly into your and Steven’s souls as you drank your tea while avoiding each other’s gazes. The pendulum swung from side to side as if waiting for one of you to make a move. As Steven drank the last drop of tea, he was left with no other choice but to break the silence.

“You know something, love?” You suddenly became more interested in Steven as you set the mug on your coffee table. “Ever since I met you, things have changed.”

“I hope it’s a good kind of change.”

Steven peered down, smiling softly. “Yeah, it was. For starters, you have really helped me combat this insomnia. I couldn’t tell you about the last time I had a good night’s sleep.” Your lips curled into a dopey grin, and your skin grew hot. Yet neither the tea nor the blanket contributed to the warm feeling inside you. 

“Then, there is your kindness. No one has been as nice as you have been to me so it feels reassuring to know there’s still good people out there. You are also extremely bold. To move all the way from across the pond is…It’s brave. You’ve done all the things I’m scared to do.” He rambled on and on but one thing reeled in your attention. “To tell you the truth, I’m quite smitten with you, love.” 

“Steven…” You were at a loss for words. Your heart skipped a beat after learning he felt the same way about you. 

“Forgive me if I am too forward, but-”

“No, not at all. In fact, I feel the same way towards you.” Your hands met in the middle of the blanket, bringing you back to the moment your hands first touched outside your doors. This time, the spark between you two was much stronger.

“Can I kiss you, love?” 

“I thought you would never ask.”

Steven laughed before cupping your face with his large hands and pressing his lips against yours. The kiss was soft and sweet yet full of passion. It reminded you of a flame so bright you couldn’t help but reach out and touch it because you knew it wouldn’t hurt or scar you. Your lips molded together like a sculptor forming the greatest piece that’ll be admired for centuries to come. Time froze as your lips danced in unison and space ceased to exist around you and between you. 

Losing sleep was the last thing on Steven’s mind. For how could he lose when he was with you? Sleep will eventually find its way back to him. He couldn’t snooze and miss the moment of you and him in each other’s embrace.

Navigation | Fanfic Masterlist | Steven Grant Masterlist

header credit: @saradika | divider credit: @firefly-in-darkness

[mochinek0]

Daminette December 2023: 1-Mystery Theatre

"Welcome back to 'The Mystery Box'." Marinette declared, "I'm Ladybug."

"Robin." Damian stated.

"Now, last week we were going over The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Afterwards, there was a list of recommended books posted.

1.)The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni

2.)The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

3.)Bullet Train and 4.)Three Assassins, both written by Kotaro Isaka and translated by Sam Malissa

5.)The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz

And for the more adventurous, 6.)Helter Skelter: the True Story of the Mason Murders by Vincent Bugliosi, Curt Gentry

You were also free to recommend your own favorite tastes for mysteries and crime. Today, we have special case in 'The Mystery Box' and I have a feeling everyone will like this one." she smiled.

Robin sighed, "That's what I'm afraid of."

"We know that many people have already left or are heading home for the holidays." Ladybug began, "So we thought of something-"

Robin sneered, "You thought of something."

"Don't get your feather's in a twist, Bird Boy." Ladybug cooed, "We wanted something everyone could enjoy; no matter how far. Today the mystery is: Ladybug and Robin! You are allowed to send in your questions, but if we feel something is too personal or close to giving away who we are, the question will be thrown out."

"Let the questions flow in." Robin commented.

Question one: Is there anyone you don't want to see during the holidays? There's always that one family member.

Ladybug smiled, "From the comments, I can see that lots of people agree with you; whether an uncle or aunt, a parent or a sibling. I'm afraid there's no one in my family I want to avoid, but there are old friends who turned out to be assholes. Those people I could go without."

"My family." Robin stated, "There was a reason I moved out, but I'm expected to be home because of my grandfather. I'm....excited to see my pets, though."

Question two: Are you going home for the holidays?

"Unfortunately." Robin sighed, "The show will be on hold until the break is over."

"No." Ladybug spoke.

"You're staying?" Robin shouted, "Why is this the first I'm hearing it?"

"My parents will be out of the country." Ladybug replied, ignoring her partner, "A relative is sick and they're leaving soon to help I've been looking up single holiday recipes to try this year."

"Lucky." Robin pouted.

"Robin, you can't cook." Ladybug retorted, "You'd end up burning the school down."

Robin should stay!

Robin, don't leave us!

Robin, what are you making for dinner tonight?

Robin, I'll teach you how to cook!

We can go out to eat!

Shut up! Let the bad bird burn down the school!

Birb

"Should we be concerned how many people want you to burn the school down?" Marinette questioned.

"I assume it has to due with finals." Damian smirked, "Also, I'm not doing it. I don't want to move back. I like my dorm."

Boooooo!

No!

Stay with us!

I got a C-, okay!

I failed -_-'

I don't want to retake that stupid class next year!!!

Need the evidence gone!!!!

Ladybug giggled, "Well, I can certainly say, it's no mystery how much our followers have faith in your cooking skills."

"Ha-ha." Robin spoke, rolling his eyes, "Besides, I can always order out."

"That would require you talking to people." Ladybug rebuffed.

"Not if I do it online." Damian answered, "Like you're one to talk; you're more introverted than I am. I know you have classes in person because there was no other option."

Question three: Are you dating? If so, why not invite her over?

"Not dating." Robin stated.

Ladybug declares, "Robin is my friend and he respects my boundaries."

"I'm Bi and lean more towards guys." he responds, "Girls are too clingy."

Ladybug scoffs, "Chat Noir was clingy."

"No." Robin declares, "Your mental ex-partner was obsessive and should be given a restraining order, should he ever find out who you are."

"Not arguing with you there." Ladybug replied.

Question four: You know each other? What makes Robin different from Chat Noir?

Ladybug rolls her eyes, "Yes; Robin and I know each other, personally. As many of you know, Chat Noir and I did not. To the people who aren't aware, I use to have my own podcast. Chat Noir is someone who reached out to me for a collab. We became known as the 'Bug and Cat Team'. We mostly spoke about the problems at school and social events surrounding the area."

"You don't have to say anything you don't want to." Robin spoke.

"I've talked about it before and several times after the incident; I'm fine talking about it now." Ladybug replied, "A topic came up during a podcast. Someone felt pestered by another individual; they claimed the person wanted to date them and had already rejected them. The person got more insistent and 'tried hard to win them over'."

"They harassed them." Robin sneered, "Just say it like it is."

Ladybug cleared her throat, "During that podcast, Chat Noir sided with the harasser and I didn't. I shouted at him and declared that I couldn't work with someone who thought harassing people was the right way to form a relationship. I shut down my side of the cast and blocked him. Suffice to say, the collab failed and I quit speaking my mind for awhile. Many people blamed me for the way the podcast ended. Some said Chat Noir was only joking. Others declared me the 'School's Voice of Reason'. Robin was the one to figure out who I was and reach out to me. He is the reason I'm back."

Question five: Do you think you two ever will date?

"I don't know." Robin explained, "I'd have to test her, first, if we ever got feelings for each other."

Ladybug smiled, "Oh, you're gonna test me? Is this part of the test, right now?"

"I prefer to get cheap food on the first few dates." Robin declared.

"Oh Kwami!" She laughed, "That reminds me of that stupid list we found: 'List of restaurants/places women refuse to go on a first date. Have you seen that list?"

Yes!

No!

What is it?

Who doesn't like pancakes?

Someone doesn't like pancakes?

They must live under a rock!

"I saved that list. It is now my go-to list for dates." Robin spoke, "Again, bye Ladies."

Ladybug laughs, "That list was so stupid! I would eat at any of them! The mystery is what ladies did that person talk to and why do they hate those places so much?"

"It was probably written by the same people who wants a six-figure working guy." Robin shrugged, "Sugar Daddies and Mommies."

"People!" Ladybug cried, "College people are broke! We are still broke when we finish! We got to pay back those stupid loans!"

"We don't have the money for some five-star Michelin resturant because you got a $2000 dress on clearance for $300 and you want to feel special!" Robin declared.

"You don't want fast food or some homecooked meal someone spent the day on? You don't want a family resturant? Guess what? You're gone! We don't want you either!" Ladybug shouted, "I don't know who told you that's the only way you're getting someone good for the rest of your life. Why do you think so many are invested in celebrity gossip? There's always someone cheating or divorcing; some scandal. Being rich doesn't mean you're happy and you're life is perfect!"

"I agree with Ladybug." he spoke, "If I desperately wanted a homecooked meal, I could just ask Ladybug to make me dinner and I would owe her a favor."

"How about a two star resturant in return?" she commented.

"Deal." Robin responded.

They both laughed.

"You can bring your boyfriend, if he wants to come; a friendly dinner." Ladybug continued.

Robin nodded, "I'll let him know."

Question six: I hear clicking sometimes. What is that?

"Oops!" Ladybug spoke, "Sorry; that's me! ADHD kicks in and I'm usually messing with a pen or a figit toy. I didn't realize the noise was getting picked up."

Relatable

Pen clicker here

I tap my nails on my desk

Leg bouncer!

They have tiny figit cubes!

Marinette smiled, "I'm so glad you all understand. I see a lot of links to....what look like toys. I'll look through them over the holiday."

Question seven: major?

"Uh, that's too personal." Ladybug commented.

"Agreed." Robin added.

Question eight: what made you start a podcast?

"I was bullied a lot." Ladybug answered, "Not everyone listened to me, even when I was right. Slowly, I stopped trying to speak up and just watched and waited for everything to fail. I decided I wanted my voice heard, even if a single person was listening."

"I prefer the illusion." Robin declared, "There's too many people in my life and sometimes, I'm not heard."

Question nine: Who is taller?

Robin began to snicker, causing Ladybug to glare.

"I am!" Robin stated, "Ladybug is....what is that term?"

"Don't you-" she began to scream.

"Fun-sized!" he finished.

"Fuck you!" Ladybug shouted, making him laugh.

"I'm not that short!" Ladybug yelled, "You're just taller and like to pick on me!"

How cute!

Tiny bug?

Tall bug?

Robin lying?

Smol

Sibling vibes

Question ten: Ladybug, what recipes are you looking at for the holidays?

"Oh, a bit of everything!" she commented, "I saw a charcuterie board and some chips and dip. Maybe some soup? I don't want to make anything to complicated. Honestly, it all sounds good. Cookies are definetly being made on Christmas Eve. Usually, I would make chocolate chip or shortbread, but I want to try something different this year. Any recommendations?"

Peppermint Mocha

Hot Chocolate

Snowballs

Lemon Cups

Christmas Kitchen Sink

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Gingerbread

White chocolate with candycane pieces

Red velvet

Pinwheels

"I'm sure Ladybug will look through all of your recommendations and will let you know which ones she chose, when we return after the holidays." Robin spoke, "I will try and come back earlier, but don't hold your breath. We don't need a campus mystery."

"Remember to think out of the box" Ladybug cheered, "and Happy Holidays!"

"Ugh, " Marinette groaned, "I can't believe my knitting needles were being picked up but the mic."

"I'll see if Barbara or Drake are free to look over the audio and maybe find a way to tweak it." Damian stated, "I'll walk you to your dorm, Miss Staying-For-the-Holidays."

"Well, Mr.-No-Five-Star." Mari teased, earning an eye roll, "Want me to cook you dinner?"

"Only if you promise to come over for Christmas." he answered.

"Think Jon's jealous?" Marinette questioned.

"Of me eating your cooking?" he spoke, "Always. He told me if it wasn't for my martial arts training and swordsmanship, he'd be fighting me to date you."

Marinette rolled her eyes and kissed her boyfriend on the cheek.

"You know." Mari spoke, as she cuddled into her boyfriend's arm, "You could have just said I think my girlfriend should meet my family. I would have said yes."

"Still think it was better to keep our lives separate?" Damian asked.

"You mean our personas on the box away from who we really are?" she questioned.

He nodded in return.

"Yes; I do." she answered, confidently, "To many people, I'm soft-spoke or clumsy. I'm not someone people listened to. I don't regret starting my podcast on the side. I am glad you found me. You didn't let one person ruin me and who I was turning into."

"Well, I'd like to see Ladybug come more into play." Damian whispered, "I know she's in there and I like her just as much as I do Marinette Dupain-Cheng."

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[definegodliness]

Let's make boring sexy again

A date is Black coffee and a conversation We'll walk there Set aside the puzzle which has Nine hundred ninety-eight pieces While the box says A thousand Postponed dissatisfaction Matters little in light of quality time Shared Love me like you don't care When we're playing Scrabble and you Catch me sneakily snooping through The little green drawstring bag Peripherally glancing for that 'X' That'll get me Lynx And the win I'll make up for the smug grin By cooking dinner Let's definitely do not go anywhere after Keep on your home-gnome Socks or slippers, soft as the best House-mouse nest Maybe you'll pick up knitting And, I, a train or postage stamp collection If there's room amid the green Remember The succulent got a new leaf That's utmost certainly been Enough excitement for today We will not make it all too late Looking forward to some good old fashioned Missionary Tonight, babe

--- 11-12-2023, M.A. Tempels ©

[fahye]

A Power Unbound

Secrets! Magic! Enemies to… something more? Jack Alston, Lord Hawthorn, would love a nice, safe, comfortable life. After the death of his twin sister, he thought he was done with magic for good. But with the threat of a dangerous ritual hanging over every magician in Britain, he’s drawn reluctantly back into that world. Now Jack is living in a bizarre puzzle-box of a magical London townhouse, helping an unlikely group of friends track down the final piece of the Last Contract before their enemies can do the same. And to make matters worse, they need the help of writer and thief Alan Ross. Cagey and argumentative, Alan is only in this for the money. The aristocratic Lord Hawthorn, with all his unearned power, is everything that Alan hates. And unfortunately, Alan happens to be everything that Jack wants in one gorgeous, infuriating package. When a plot to seize unimaginable power comes to a head at Cheetham Hall—Jack’s ancestral family estate, a land so old and bound in oaths that it’s grown a personality as prickly as its owner—Jack, Alan and their allies will become entangled in a night of champagne, secrets, and bloody sacrifice… and the foundations of magic in Britain will be torn up by the roots before the end.

Coming November 2023

PRE-ORDER: US

PRE-ORDER: UK

ADD ON GOODREADS

[gepazu]

imagine lovestruck clarence who gifts you a box of his favorite puzzle so you can call him and ask for his help; cheekily spending the entirety of the afternoon in the silence of your hardwork and his bubbly, high-school girlish glee.

imagine lovestruck clarence who gives you anything you may need (or simply like) the minute he picks up on your wants. oh? you like this new brand of chocolate? he's gifting it to you every time he visits your home! maybe there's this new toy you want but can't buy because it's a tiny bit out of your monthly budget? better be ready because he's already mailing that thing to your doorway right this second <3 !

imagine lovestruck clarence who takes you out on dates that are absolutely and perfectly to your liking. he picks up on the do's and don'ts from small conversations with his head on your shoulder or you wrapped in his arms, head on his stomach—rambling almost endlessly to the man who hangs on every word you say like a fresh coat strung on a coat racket. he most certainly won't settle for less when it's you and his' relationship on the line—so even if he has to run across campus to get a tie you like on him he absolutely will! (or he's just dumb (lovingly) for you <3).

imagine lovestruck clarence who fits himself into the tiny crevices of your heart - admiring each beat and pulse as if it were his own, the tips of his ears a shiny apple red that's oh so painfully obvious under your gaze. his lip quivers, his heart jumps—and he does it all for and because of you <3.

just . . imagine clarence who's so utterly and hopelessly in love with you. he's lovestruck (literally).

© GEPAZU 2023.

[moviesandmania]

PUZZLE BOX Reviews of Aussie found-footage horror plus trailer and release date

Puzzle Box is a 2023 Australian found-footage horror film about a drug addict who flees to a house in the woods to self-rehabilitate. Written, photographed, directed, edited and co-produced by Jack Dignan. Also produced by Morgan Wright. The Repeater Productions movie stars Kaitlyn Boyé, Laneikka Denne, Cassandre Girard, Janelle McMenamin, Matias Klaver and Hazel Pompeani. Plot: Kait (Kaitlyn…

[badhabitscollection]

So Much (For) Blitz —An exclusive reveal of the star of Fall Out Boy’s latest album cover

Fall Out Boy’s latest effort So Much (For) Stardust) has been critically acclaimed and lauded by fans as some of their best work to date. The album artwork, prominently featuring a doberman, has left some puzzled and looking for additional context as to the dog’s identity and how the artwork came to be. The Bad Habits Collection is proud to bring you the exclusive reveal of the dog featured on the cover of their eighth studio album alongside the full story of how they were discovered.

— 

When Fall Out Boy officially announced their eighth studio album on January 18th, 2023 and unveiled the album artwork for So Much (For) Stardust, there were a lot of opinions to be had. Some of the fans immediately felt connected and claimed it as their own, some compared it to Fiona Apple’s 2020 release Fetch the Bolt Cutters, and some downright found it revolting. Overall, most agreed that it was polarizing to say the least. Donned in an all black background, the front cover features both the name of the band and the album itself in the work of Omar Mroz (hereinafter referred to by his online moniker Mr.Oz). The text is covered in glitter and written out in the same style featured earlier in the rollout of FOB8’s album cycle with A Claymation Fall Out Boy Celebration, dropped as a surprise present from the band on Christmas one month earlier. The headlining attraction of this sideshow was in fact just a simple square box, containing a swirling artistic depiction of a doberman barking in the presence of a froth of bubbles.

From the moment I first laid eyes on the iconography of Fall Out Boy’s new era, I had just two questions in mind: Who is the dog? & Why choose the dog? A few obvious possibilities were immediately ruled out. Solely based on what’s been posted to social media, this dog did not belong to Pete, Joe, or Andy. Patrick has remained dormant online for years at this point, but still the odds felt slim. I did my best to brush it off, but ultimately I kept coming back to the thought of WHY? If you’re familiar with my previous work on the history of Take This To Your Grave’s album cover, you already know this type of sentiment means a lot to me. After a while of waiting for the band to bring up the topic in an interview or statement, I had essentially given up hope on any type of official explanation. It was at this moment, just 3 days before the release of the record, that I accepted the reality of the situation. This wasn’t a hot topic within the fandom. And no one was going to provide me with the answers I was looking for. If I wanted to know more, it was solely up to me. So… I got to work. — 

To take a step back, the artwork for So Much (For) Stardust first hit the internet on January 11th, seven days before the official reveal. Posted alongside the name of the first single Love From The Other Side, our barking pup friend was featured on the home feed of FILTER | NEWs on VK, a Russian social media site that I’ve been told is comparable to Facebook. The artwork was watermarked with a subtle, transparent white logo for FILTER in the background. Despite this post being up for five days (a millennia on the worldwide web), it wasn’t until the 16th that the fandom at large made this discovery, with many claiming it was an outright fake.

However, the *stars* started to align proving this leak to have a dose or two of authenticity. Mr.Oz’s claymation video from earlier in the rollout followed the story of a similar looking doberman, who just so happened to pose in the final frame in a style strongly resembling the leaked cover. 

Beyond that, a post from lyricist and bassist Pete Wentz’s Instagram dating back just two days earlier was quickly dug up. On the 4th slide of the carousel, there it was: a selfie of Pete with a Santa hat on and propped up on the shelf behind him... the physical painting of the doberman seen on the leaked cover.

All but confirmed at this point, one last clue presented itself online. The freshly created Twitter account “@muchstardust” popped up out of nowhere, making itself known by following myself and a few other notable hardcore fans in this space. @muchstardust made just one single tweet before being suspended (for reasons unknown). 

The post featured three images, the watermarked cover, Pete’s selfie, and notably, a compressed form of the actual photo taken of man’s best friend —the same one the leaked cover features an oil painting rendition of. 

—  As we all know now, this leak was indeed real and confirmed as the album artwork just a few days later by Fall Out Boy themselves. But that’s when the trail went cold. Later promotional photos featuring the band and taken by their long time collaborator Pamela Littky included another doberman, but clearly not the same one once examined a bit closer. On March 21st, the Chicago rock group posted “What do you think the dog’s name is? 🫧”, but never followed up with the answer. It’s as if they were taunting me specifically with how vocal I had been about wanting to solve this mystery. Just before the album’s official release, I was tipped off by someone with an early copy of the CD that the liner notes of So Much (For) Stardust credit Safia Latif for the cover painting and Jen Patterson for the photograph the cover painting was based on. With new pieces of the puzzle in play, my search for the dog in question was reignited. However, my leads proved of little to no help. I could not get in touch with Safia and could not properly identify Jen Patterson online for the life of me. Taking the hunt back to the drawing board, I reverse image searched the photo @muchstardust had originally provided, which even at this point, months later, was our only source of the actual photograph. Littered with results of the album artwork naturally, I did come across one potential connection. Once again, I found myself on the public timeline of someone’s VK.com profile. “dextromethorpan 3” had included the same photograph in a gallery of different doberman puppies posted on December 21st, 2020. This was…something. Sure, this photo likely did not originate from the VK profile I had unearthed, but at least now I knew it had been around the web for a few years. Scratching my head, I wondered how Fall Out Boy had originally come across this image. Was it something that came up on one of their feeds? Or perhaps just a keyword search? Taking it to different forms of social media, I found a potential match on the /r/doberman subreddit posted 10 months ago. Titled “Cool pic of us playing with bubbles”, the dobie in question featured strikingly similar features and color patterns, and was of course, playing with bubbles. 

So I did what any other sane fan would do… and sent a private message to the Redditor the night before the album dropped with Jen’s photograph. “/u/drc55555” responded Saturday morning agreeing that the dog did look a lot like their own, but that they didn’t recognize the photograph. I woke up in a cold sweat seeing the glimpse of the Reddit notification on my iPhone and replied informing them of the cover of Fall Out Boy’s brand new release and asking if the user was the Jen Patterson credited in the album’s booklet. A day later, they replied once again noting that they weren’t Jen, but that this has sparked a memory of another DM they had received in the fall of last year from an Elektra Records personnel, Fueled By Ramen’s distributor who Fall Out Boy had publicly rejoined the roster of just this January. Indeed, 200 days ago from this very conversation, a marketing representative from the label had reached out to the Redditor through the same platform letting them know that an artist they work with had come across the very same photo I myself found and that the artist had fallen in love with it, hoping to use it as part of the artwork for an upcoming project. /u/drc55555 had conceded that they regretted not responding at the thought of how their dog could have become famous. This is when I knew, I was HOT on the trail. Either a member of FOB discovered this photo of their dog while scrolling Reddit or had specifically sought out the same search terms as me, which meant the actual photograph used on the cover could have potentially been found through the very same method. My search accelerated and within a few hours I had run a variety of similar terms by Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, really any social media site I could get my hands on. Nothing had come up, but I hadn’t called it a day quite yet as one of the more obvious sites remained: Instagram. Heading to the explore page I have barely used in my own time on the platform, I typed in the same keywords that brought me to the pup’s uncanny match on Reddit: “doberman bubbles”. And there it was, exactly 60 rows down, right in the center, the original image of the dog I had been looking for all along along with an alternate photo of the same dog in the next slide in the same setting captioned “BUBBLES!!!!!”, posted —you guessed it, in 2020. 

—  With this case officially closed, I’m beyond stoked to introduce Blitz the Doberman to other fans of Fall Out Boy. At the time of publication, Blitz has 12.8k followers on his public Instagram account, which lead me to question how this match hadn’t already been made. Blitz’s bio reveals he was born on February 27th, 2019 and lives in Las Vegas with his human, one Jen Patterson.

In a beautiful twist of fate, within the hour of finishing the final draft of this piece, Blitz’s humans responded to my inquiry from earlier in the week. I spoke with Jen at length who was happy to share her story exclusively with The Bad Habits Collection. Similarly to the Redditor from earlier, a marketing rep from Elektra Records had reached out to her through Instagram on September 20th, 2022 inquiring about using a picture of her pup for one of their artists’ work, a message she initially regarded as spam. Eventually, she came to an agreement with Elektra, however, this story ended there for her. Up until Jen read the direct message I sent to Blitz’s account, she had not the slightest idea that he was featured on the cover of the new album of one of the biggest modern rock bands left in the world. I was shocked to hear this, but Jen on the other hand was incredibly excited to learn of the breaking news. I shared a photo with her of her name printed in the liner notes of So Much (For) Stardust, a cool moment for us both. Jen told me “I never considered myself a photographer, but that’s amazing!” When I asked about how Blitz already had such a huge following on Instagram, she told me all about how she’s networked with others in a doberman group and has kept a steady stream of posts coming on the daily. In discussion of what she’d like for others to take away from this article, Jen simply hoped others would get to know Blitz’s name —my entire goal of this investigation all along. Half-joking, she expressed that she’d also love to have gotten her hands on some merchandise with his face on it. Infinitely grateful for her responding to my DM and taking the time to talk with me, I’ve personally sent Jen physical copies of So Much (For) Stardust in both vinyl and CD format. I’ll be sure to update this write-up with a photo of FOB’s newest mascot posing with his album cover when they arrive! Closing out our conversation, Jen let me know that she “felt like if you hadn’t reached out, we would not have known.” To be honest, there were times in this journey that I thought it might be for the best if I gave up the search for this pup as to not invade anyone’s privacy. I figured if Blitz hadn’t already made himself known publicly, maybe there was a specific reason behind not doing so. I would have never guessed that reason was because his family were simply unaware of his new-found fame. I feel honored to have been the one to share this discovery with Blitz’s owners and again want to thank them for their contributions to this piece. Jen has also graciously shared the original photograph of Blitz the cover was based on in its full resolution, uncropped:

— 

After scouring the internet to to uncover this story, it all leads me to just one final question: Why Blitz? What’s the connection? Moreover, what’s the intended meaning here? Jen let me know that she herself was unaware of how and why the photograph was found and selected, but we can naturally draw our own conclusions. Discussing this topic with other longtime fans of the band, all have come to the same conclusion that Fall Out Boy’s latest effort features some of Pete’s bleakest lyrics in a long time paired somehow ever so perfectly with some of Patrick’s most uplifting and dance-worthy melodies to date. As my partner pointed out, the album artwork depicts a breed known for their usage as guard dogs with a tough exterior, but shown playing lightheartedly with what’s usually associated as a child’s toy. In the words of fellow Fall Out Boy historian and Bad Habits Collection collaborator Tommy McPhail, the cover displays “the epitome of boundless joy and simplified bliss amongst chaos”, a phrase that perfectly sums up the entire feeling artistically and masterfully expressed in So Much (For) Stardust in my own eyes. Fall Out Boy’s newest full-length studio record So Much (For) Stardust, produced by the legendary Neal Avron, is one of their strongest statement pieces in years and is now available everywhere music is streamed or sold. You can follow Blitz’s adventures on Instagram: @blitzdoberman —  “The kind of pain you feel to get good in the end. Inscribed like stone and faded by the rain: ‘Give up what you love before it does you in.’” Written by Alex Toor for The Bad Habits Collection

[screams-in-writing]

Hi, I felt like psychoanalysing (?) Mr. Puzzles a little this evening, because I find it fascinating that some people still want Mr. Puzzles to die because he’s an ‘evil villain’ for what he’s done.

I think it would be far more interesting for Mr. Puzzles to survive in some capacity, and be forced to work for smg4 in the background; to eventually have Mr. Puzzles see exactly how badly he screwed things up in his desperation to meet some goal(s) he put to himself when he was younger. Something that became an obsession to try and achieve because Mr. Puzzles had no one to talk him down from the path he took.

And I want Mr. Puzzles to see that you can’t force friendships; man was so starved for anyone to be there for him and to support him that he literally latched into Leggy despite barely being around her for more than a few hours, at most. And then he deluded himself into thinking that it was a friendship despite the circumstances that brought Leggy into existence in the first place, and just assumed that Meggy would go along with it. And he did try to ask nicely at first, but both times (meme factory end and the puzzle box encounter) ended poorly for Mr. Puzzles since Meggy is suspicious of him and he covered it up with threats and hot air of someone covering up how much the rejection hurts him (no matter how justified it is on Meggy’s part as she didn’t ask to be Leggy). But that man takes it as a rejection from a friend, I’m assuming, as he’s definitely not asking anymore when he b & e’s into meggy’s home.

Maybe it’s because I’m older, or that I tend to like the antagonists/villains more than protagonist/heroes, but all I see when I look at Mr. Puzzles is an antagonist that has been pushed so far past his capacity to handle things on his own that he ends up in the role of a villain (it seems like all the puzzlevision shows have him being a helper/supporter in some way-not the villain).

Sure, Mr. Puzzles did all those behind the scene things before that, which was wrong to allow the tools to put smg4 and co through all those things. And while Mr. Puzzles didn’t torment them directly himself (IGBP, Western, wotfi 2023), he did allow everything to play out while presumably watching it all himself.

Puzzlevision movie; he didn’t seem to care about the manipulation if it got him what he wanted. He even indulges in a villain song likely because he’s starting to feel a bit put out after all the attempts at getting five stars for his previous show (despite them being parodies and not originals like he says they are). but afterward, from Mario the exploro or w/e ep, Mr. Puzzles appears to be more careful about engaging directly with smg4 and co. later on (Aka the whole meme factory thing and then Mario’s mustache ep).

It was only after he hit rock bottom with puzzlebox that Mr puzzles likely just couldn’t stand it any longer. So it’s unsurprising that when the didney (lol) thing dropped into his lap, it probably seemed like a sign to Mr puzzles to go after his (actual?) dream from when he was younger. Especially once he saw the engine room and hearing it be the most ‘important’ place of the whole park. Of course someone desperate and hurting and needing that validation is going to do whatever it takes to be able to accomplish that goal. Even if it means Mr puzzles hurts himself in the process to be able to see himself as someone important, when his father and everyone else were just being dismissive of him.

This way people have to be able to see him, even if ends up making people see/view him a villain. It doesn’t matter; he’s finally closer to achieving that dream but Mr. Puzzles just can’t let go the fact the smg4 has what he wants, and that clearly he needs smg4 and co around for things to be successful. Again showing that Mr puzzles struggles for the creativity he says he has, when he needs to rely on others to bring in the ‘views’ and to parody/mirror things that have already been done; man’s desperate desperate to set himself apart and he’s just taken more to try and achieve that because again, no one is actually attempts to converse with him or talk him down and just make assumptions that he is up to no good. So why not just take what he wants at this point? because other than his based on little time friendship with Leggy, Mr puzzles doesn’t really have anything to lose but the control he’s managed to seize, well, control of to try and turn things in his favor. Mr. Puzzles wants to prove to himself, his father, and the smg4 crew that he does have creative vision and dammit, he is going to show it to everyone! (I do wonder if the fairness thing will play out in wotfi 2024 like it did in the mustache episode or if mr puzzles is just out to torment people he feels wronged him).

Anyway, tldr:

I see a desperate man doing even more desperate things with each failure he experiences. A man who is craving validation, acceptance, no matter what he needs to do to get it done, because he’s had no one in his life to give that to him.

I see someone who is hurting from his past (aka need to prove to his father and to himself, that he has what it takes-creative vision), and acts out in a defensive (or derisive) manner by directing the convo elsewhere or making things ‘entertaining’ to cover up the pain.

Mr. Puzzles is in dire need of a friend that could help him drag himself out of the giant hole he’s dug himself in with Puzzle Park.

I just find Mr. Puzzles’ character so fascinating, and hope he can stick around to better himself, even if he becomes a background character for a time.