#Ray Zapata

[graphicpolicy]

Preview: Garbage Pail Kids: Trashin' Through Time #2

Garbage Pail Kids: Trashin' Through Time #2 preview. Our heroes have been transported through time to the 1980s, where the Garbage Pail Kids are the Earth’s dominant species and normal humans have become outcasts from society #GPK #comics

[whirlwindimagines]

‘If he is the sun, i’m Icarus’

Vash X Reader

a/n: I know this isnt my usual Fairy Tail stuff, but I am in love with Vash and have been dying to write for him. Sorry if its a little akward not the best at y/n and what tense to write it in? Still learning! This is just like 800 words of wanting to hold his hand lol Title is a lyric from Apollo by Faith Zapata which just sums up how I feel for him lol. 

Traveling with Vash hardly held dull moments, one moment the two of them were being shot at and chased out of town, or it was getting lost in the middle of the desert. But Vash always seemed to be able to pull you out of these bad situations, even if he was the one that caused them. A kind smile, a soft laugh, and a quiet but sincere apology, and you were hooked all over again. Following him without any regard for your own safety.

The two had been traveling for some time, leaving town before trouble started for once, and out into the sand dunes. You would never understand how Vash handled the heat in that big red coat of his, but his pace never faltered. Even when you slowed down after being too tired to continue walking, he’d slow his pace no questions asked. And the two of you would walk beside each other either talking quietly or enjoying the silence of it all. 

You admired his patience, he never complained even when you made him lose pace. Like now you could already feel yourself lagging behind, Vash hasn't said anything yet about it and all you could do is stare at his hand. A part of you just wanted to be brave enough to step forward and take his hand in yours, to walk side by side with him. But the logical part of your brain forced the thought to come to a stop, you couldn't take a risk like that. Force your feelings on to Vash? Be selfish, when Vash himself was so kind to let you travel with him. You would not take advantage of him, not like how so many have before.   

“y/n?” 

Vash had turned to face you with a questioning look in his gaze, you hadn’t even noticed you stopped walking. “Sorry! I think the heat is just finally getting to me!” your tone was light careless even, and it didn't look like Vash believed you. Smiling once more you rushed forward past him, “Come on now, the sooner we find a place to rest for the night the better!” 

Vash joined your side quickly curse his long legs! The two continue to walk quietly beside each other, you kept glancing at his hand, fingers twitching to reach out and hold it. You knew you were being pathetic about the whole thing. Shaking you head, you didn't notice the uneven surface in front of you. Slipping backwards with a yelp, just hoping not to hit your head. Instead of hitting the sandy surface, you landed against something soft but firm, a pair of hands resting on your shoulders one flesh and one metal. 

Looking upwards and back, you came face to face with a smiling Vash, “Careful now!” he said with a kind laugh, you relaxed into his hold enjoying it for a moment before pulling away, face heating. 

“Are you alright?” Vash asked clearly concerned, while you just shook your head, placing your hands on your face, “I think the heat is finally getting to me.” You would blame the suns in the sky and not the literal ray of sunshine standing before you. Vash let out a huff hands on hips, as he looked around. You watched curiously, placing your hands back at your sides while watching the blonde. 

“I think there might be a town around we could stop at and get some rest, and you out of the heat.” Vash said turning in a completely random direction and heading off, you could only watch with an eye roll as you followed after him coming to rest at his right side, you would never understand his sense of direction yet you always followed without much complaint. 

Your mind began to wander once again, eyes drifting to his hand. Shaking you head and slapping your hands to your face you really needed to get yourself together! Jumping in surprise when Vash grabbed your wrist and brought it down to your side to rest in between them, he looked at you curiously. 

“Uh the heat?” your voice unsure, hoping it would be a good enough explanation, “Right…” Vash teased releasing your wrist only to grab you hand and intertwine your fingers with his. Your eyes widen while Vash brought your intertwine hands up, between the two of you so they were at eye level. 

“A perfect fit don’t you think?” His voice was gentle, you could detect some insecurity in it while he stared at you then your combined hands. You let out a soft laugh, looks like you weren’t the only one that wanted to hold hands. Bringing their hands back down, you leaned into his side smiling.

“Like it was meant to be.” You were rewarded with a genuine smile and a light squeeze of your hand as Vash pulled you along. You knew truly in this moment you would follow Vash the Stampede to the ends of No Man’s Land and back if it meant seeing him smile and him holding you hand. 

You squeezed his hand back, holding on tightly. You didn’t care where you ended up as long as it was by his side. 

[alaskas-space-project]

I don’t often post my own thoughts on tumblr but it’s 1 am and I’m not afraid of much when it’s so late (early?)

cw: discussions of ED as they relate to figure skating

tldr: my thoughts on icebreaker and what to read instead

So! I’m going to be talking about figure skating romance novels. If you’ve been anywhere on booktok or sports romance circles, or even just the internet you’ve probably heard of Icebreaker.

I mean, if you only want a romance… it’s there. But as an a beginner figure skater myself, (and someone who has a mild (overwhelming)) interest in the sport as a whole, the figure skating portrayed in the book is really mid.

The fmc (Anastasia/Stassie) is a pairs skater, and her partner has her on a diet to keep her light (???) like sir. Eating disorders are already so rampant in the fs community you don’t have to do it for her. Her BF is a very typical romance intrest and he’s like giving alpha of the college frat. I’m not going to reread icebreaker to straighten out my memories because I don’t think I can manage it.

major problem I have with the plot of this book: Anastasia changes from Pairs to Singles months before the Olympics, and wins the fucking women’s singles. Are there no Russian or Japanese skaters in this universe? But also ????? She switched disciplines only a few months before the fucking Olympics and then won. They’re different disciplines for a reason—of course the skills and many of the elements can be transferred across, but there’s a big bloody difference between the two. And then she gets pregnant. Surprise baby at like, 20!!

so yeah. Not my favourite book of all time. I mean, I’ve read worse, but that’s not really what you want to hear when someone’s recommending stuff to you.

HOWEVER!! There’s a ray of hope for us! I’ve read two figure skater romances which have my seal of approval (if that matters)

1) Unsteady by Peyton Corinne

2) From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata

I’ll try not to give any spoilers if you want to read these books.

Unsteady is another figure skater/hokey player romance, and it does what Icebreaker wanted to do. Compelling fmc, love inrest isn’t two dimensional minus his abs, and there’s a really nice plot line about the fmc’s family (she has little brothers). I generally really enjoyed this book, and it also has a Spotify playlist made by the author, which includes songs such as: Meddle About by Chase Atlantic, American Teenager by Ethel Cain and Family Line by Conan Grey.

(Mild spoilers for this one) From Lukov with Love is a a figure skater/figure skater romance. Jasmine Santos is a pairs skater who has trouble keeping a good partner, and Ivan Lukov’s partner has decided to take a break this season (despite them being the Olympic favourites??) I don’t remember if it was explained why. anyways, the two of them pair up. Now, I liked this book. It was better than Icebreaker. The characters are 25/30 years old, instead of being barely above the age of consent, which is a point from me. I have a bone to pick with Ivan though—he calls Jasmine meatball because she’s heavy or something??? And it’s addressed… in a way? Like he says “if it’s really bothering you I’ll stop, you know I don’t mean anything by it” you know how fucking fast my skate would be snuggling up to this man’s liver?? Mach fuck. But, they have a pretty interesting (good?) relationship. They’re there for eachother, and they work together to improve their skating.

A massive plus for me, which almost makes up for Ivan’s transgressions, is the realism of the figure skating here. FLWL dives into the different lifts, jumps and spins the pair do, and I love the little details the author added—she did her work! like the figure skaters falling on one side more than another (and just being used to falling on the ice lol), the solid explanations of the jumps, not making her characters constantly do triple C elements, and having the Jasmine have a signature jump. There’s a lot more details I could put in about what I liked in the figure skating of this book. it’s got my seal of approval overall.

so uh, yay! There’s my alternatives if you like figure skater romances, and you’re thinking about reading Icebreaker. I mean, I won’t stop you, but I’d definitely give these two a go as well, or instead

[dustedmagazine]

LOTHARIO — Hogtied (Under the Gun)

Photo by Jetts.pics

LOTHARIO makes a raw, urgent punk rock. The bass sits way up front grinding inexorably. The drums chink madly to keep up. A guitar flares in sporadic burst, like a piece of paper catching fire suddenly in the grate. And the vocals, oh the vocals, a deadpan, disdain-crusted chant from Melbourne’s Annaliese Redlich, austere mostly but flowering occasionally into florid, vibrato-shaken melody. The way she’s recorded has a class of 1979 aura, too. Her word blur in a fuzz of distortion taking on a heard-through-a-dial-phone buzziness. A squall, a yelp, a sex magic moan, she’s got all the tools for punk rock expressiveness.

Redlich is a fixture of the Melbourne scene, a veteran of several bands, not all of them punk, and a radio DJ and podcaster. She’s well-connected enough to reach out to members of Buck Biloxi and Tee Vee Repairman for drumming assistance, but sure enough of her ability that she does most everything else herself. And rightly so, these tracks rip in a very live, very immediate way.

I came in through “G.E.N.E,” so let’s start there. It’s a double-timed, bare-wired punk rampage. The bassline winds like a snake, superbly vicious and tactile, its menace echoed in the lyrics. “Catch a killer with a butcher’s knife,” spits Redlich, taunting you, daring you, shocking you with intensity. But actually, it’s all good, all blistering, all uncompromising, all bending and refracting gender expectations in a declaration of autonomy. “Hogtied” turns a cliché of female subjugation into a rallying cry, “If I squeal like a pig, would you let me in? Pull me up tight like a second skin,” Redlich intimates, taking sexual danger and turning it back on itself.

It’s hard to come up with comparison points, certainly the Wipers in the way the bass drives and dominates, and maybe Lydia Lunch in the aggressive inversion of the male gaze. It doesn’t sound all that much like classic female-led punk, not the Slits or the Raincoats or Delta Five or Lora Logic or the X Ray Spex, but you could possibly draw comparisons to Mia Zapata and the Gits. It has the same throaty defiance but not a lick of blues or country. LOTHARIO also vibrates in sympathy with Optic Sink’s spare, dystopian grooves, but without the robo-new wave atmospheres. Mostly, this band is its own thing, instantly familiar to anyone who has ever loved punk rock, but also unplaceable. Maybe it's a mistake to try and put it in a box. Put it on instead.

Jennifer Kelly

[jxrm]

book log - 2020

the circle by stephen j. galgon

let them eat pancakes by craig carlson

trophy life by lea gellar

the little cafe in copenhagen by julie caplin

serial killers volume 1 by ryan becker

time out by emma murray

love in the capitol by b. ivy woods

the fear hunter by elise sax

please like me by mindy kaling

i'm fine and neither are you by camille pagan

a secondhand life by pamela crane

the move by whitney dineen

dog day wedding by rich amooi

friends list by rob watson

sticky fingers by j.t. lawrence

the lonely heath attack club by j.c. williams

when she returned by lucinda berry

no judgements by meg cabot

big sexy love by kristy greenwood

the friday night date dress by talena winters

zenith man by jenniger haigh

woman last seen in her thirties by camille pagan

everything my mother taught me by alice hoffman

kiss me not by emma hart

the end of temperance dare by wendy webb

all this i will give to you by dolores redondo

the broken girls by simone st. james

kiss me tonight by emma hart

her by britney king

the wedding date by zara stoneley

felix ever after by kaceen callender

kiss me again by emma hart

the perfect wife by blake pierce

as kismet would have it by sandhya menon

next year in havana by chanel cleeton

love in the time of contracts by jethro collins

hot mess by emma hart

the survivor's guide to family happiness by maddie dawson

open book by jessica simpson

beach read by emily henry

the prettiest one by james hankins

big summer by jennifer weiner

digging in by loretta nyhan

the other family by loretta nyhan

palm beach bedlam by tom turner

untouchable by sibel hodge

the virgin romance novelist by meghan quinn

hogwarts: an incomplete and unreliable guide by j.k. rowling

the rumour by lesley kara

jackie four by phil chard

such a fun age by kiley reid

the family next door by sally hepworth

kissing games of the world by sandi kahn shelton

every single secret by emily carpenter

the poet x by elizabeth acevedo

harry potter: a journey through charms and defense against the dark arts by pottermore publishing

the birthday mystery by joyce cato

the wedding war by liz talley

kulti by mariana zapata

black friday by michael hodges

the other daughter by alex dahl

meet cute by helena hunting

the female of the species by mindy mcginnis

the devil's storybooks by natalie babbitt

you owe me a murder by eileen cook

my favorite half-night stand by christine lauren

tidelands by philippa gregory

gracefully you by jenna dewan

the void by christine bernard

tweet cute by emma lord

dear girls by ali wong

the woman inside by e.g. scott

risking it all by nina darnton

lying next to me by gregg olsen

the lost by natasha preston

roomies by christina lauren

i am not your perfect mexican daughter by erika l. sanchez

twice in a blue moon by christina lauren

the right swipe by alisha rai

i found you by lisa jewell

the secrets of married women by carol mason

a piece of normal by maddie dawson

my lovely wife by samantha downing

the bookish life of nina hill by abbi waxman

when we believed in mermaids by barbara o'neal

the nurse by amy cross

i'll never tell by catherine mckenzie

the weight of lies by emily carpenter

the bromance book club by lyssa kay adams

the wives by tarryn fisher

the marriage lie by kimberley belle

best friends & other liars by heather balog

get a life, chloe brown by talia hibbert

the child next door by shalini boland

the queen and the cure by amy harrison

the overdue life of amy byler by kelly harms

short stories from hogwarts of heroism, hardship, and dangerous hobbies by j.k. rowling

a friend in need by hannah ellis

the starter wife by nina lauren

the girl before by j.p. delaney

men without women by haruki murakami

the unhoneymooners by christina lauren

the other mrs. miller by allison m. dickson

the sun down motel by simone st. james

short stories from hogwarts of power, politics, and pesky poltergeists by j.k. rowling

the woman in our house by andrew hart

[gymnasticscoaching]

celebrating at the Olympics

My gut reaction — as a former cranky old judge — to Ray Zapata celebrating after hitting Floor and qualifying for the Final was … too much for the Olympics. I would prefer gymnasts do that after stepping down from the podium. He had saluted the judges. No deduction. Many disagreed. Many want to see more honest emotion from gymnasts at the end of their routine, even if still on the…

[ulkaralakbarova]

It’s the 1970s and San Diego anchorman Ron Burgundy is the top dog in local TV, but that’s all about to change when ambitious reporter Veronica Corningstone arrives as a new employee at his station. Credits: TheMovieDb. Film Cast: Ron Burgundy: Will Ferrell Veronica Corningstone: Christina Applegate Brian Fantana: Paul Rudd Brick Tamland: Steve Carell Champ Kind: David Koechner Ed Harken: Fred Willard Garth Holliday: Chris Parnell Helen: Kathryn Hahn Tino: Fred Armisen Eager Cameraman: Seth Rogen MC: Paul F. Tompkins Bartender: Danny Trejo Waiter at Tino’s: Scot Robinson Stage Manager: Ian Roberts Hot Blonde: Darcy Donavan Petite Brunette: Renee Weldon Tino’s Bassist: Jerry Minor Director: Holmes Osborne Security Guard: Charles Walker Biker Guy: Thomas E. Mastrolia Eyewitness News Member: Jay Johnston Man in Kitchen: Peter A. Hulne Donna: Laura Kightlinger Custodian: Adam McKay Custodian: Joseph T. Mastrolia News Station Employee: Judd Apatow News Station Employee: Debra McGuire Network Reporter: Kent Shocknek Yelling Woman: Monique McIntyre Bum: Bob Rummler Announcer: Chuck Poynter Middle Class Mother: Esmerelda McQuillan Elderly Woman: Angela Grillo Wealthy Family Father: Lionel Allen Wealthy Family Mother: Trina D. Johnson Doctor: Fred Dresch Middle Class Dad: Glen Hambly Nursing Room Resident: Stuart Gold Bill Lawson – Narrator (voice): Bill Kurtis Motorcyclist: Jack Black Arturo Mendes: Ben Stiller Frank Vitchard: Luke Wilson Frank the Bartender (uncredited): Frank Gorgie Zoo Keeper (uncredited): Missi Pyle Public TV News Anchor (uncredited): Tim Robbins Wes Mantooth (uncredited): Vince Vaughn Man in Bar (uncredited): Jerry Stiller Secretary (uncredited): Holly Traister Zoologist with Panda in Doug or Glen scene (uncredited): Matthew Vlahakis Reporter / Anchor (uncredited): Richard Yett Film Crew: Supervising Sound Editor: Mark A. Mangini Casting: Jeanne McCarthy Sound Effects Editor: Richard L. Anderson Stunts: Jack Gill Hair Department Head: Toni-Ann Walker Location Manager: Jeremy Alter Casting: Juel Bestrop Set Decoration: Jan Pascale Music Editor: Ellen Segal Writer: Will Ferrell Executive Producer: David O. Russell Art Direction: Virginia Randolph-Weaver Set Designer: Sally Thornton Director of Photography: Thomas E. Ackerman Music: Alex Wurman Producer: Judd Apatow Executive Producer: Shauna Robertson Editor: Brent White Costume Design: Debra McGuire Stunts: Joe Bucaro III Production Design: Clayton R. Hartley Writer: Adam McKay Co-Producer: David B. Householter Casting: Blythe Cappello Second Assistant Director: Basil Grillo First Assistant Director: Matt Rebenkoff Second Unit Director: Rick Avery Construction Coordinator: John R. Elliott Foley Artist: Joan Rowe Foley Artist: Sean Rowe Stunt Double: Sophia M. Crawford Property Master: Scott Maginnis Color Timer: David Orr Makeup Department Head: Kimberly Greene Script Supervisor: Rebecca Asher Sound Effects Editor: Mike Chock Sound Effects Editor: Donald Flick Key Hair Stylist: Joy Zapata Dialogue Editor: Ralph Osborn Sound Effects Editor: Piero Mura Set Designer: Randall D. Wilkins Set Designer: Barbara Mesney Still Photographer: Frank Masi Visual Effects Supervisor: Ray McIntyre Jr. Key Grip: Lloyd Moriarity Leadman: Louise Del Araujo Production Supervisor: Diane L. Sabatini Video Assist Operator: Paul Murphey Dialogue Editor: Thomas Jones Transportation Coordinator: Michael Menapace CG Supervisor: David Alexander Smith Dialogue Editor: Solange S. Schwalbe Digital Effects Supervisor: Reid Paul Still Photographer: Darren Michaels Additional Editing: Melissa Bretherton Art Department Coordinator: Jeanne Bueche Makeup Artist: Erin Wooldridge Music Editor: Erica Weis Visual Effects Supervisor: Richard R. Hoover Production Sound Mixer: Jim Stuebe First Assistant Camera: Baird Steptoe “A” Camera Operator: Harry K. Garvin Orchestrator: Tom Calderaro Visual Effects Producer: Diana Stulic Ibanez Stunts: Lisa Hoyle ADR Mixer: Jeff Gomillion “B” Camera Operator: Steven Hiller Stunts: Joni Avery Sound Recordist: Philip Rogers Assistant Art Di...

[thereadingpond]

The Wall of Winnipeg an Me by Mariana Zapata

(475 pages)

(3⭐️Would recommend 😄, but only if you don’t mind miscommunication; a lot of it.)

Description

Vanessa has enough. After working for Aiden, a professional football player, for over 2 years, she resigned. She had enough of being his personal assistant, always receiving his cold shoulder. But the moment she quits Aiden suddenly changes his mind begging her to come back. Though he seems to have something else in mind for her than just a personal assistant. But Vanessa is unsure, will Aiden really change if she gives him another chance?

My Review

I hate Aiden. He's so annoying and stupid, and the author keeps talking about his muscles.

I like the book. I don't regret reading it; it's easy to read and evokes emotion. But Aiden is a terrible character. He's not swoon-worthy, just a big ass. Sorry, not sorry 😅

If you like men who can't communicate and have lots of muscle descriptions, go for it. It's like the author read an anatomy book. There's only spice in the second last chapter, so it's not very spicy.

Overall, I'd recommend the book. Aiden annoyed me, but it was still fun. If bad communication turns you off, skip it. Otherwise, enjoy the ride.

Annotations (contains spoilers!)

I was stubborn and hardheaded—at least that’s what my foster dad said was my greatest and worst personality trait.

→ i feel that. it the worst and the best trait in one

Aiden was a beast even fully clothed. He didn’t have cosmetic muscles. He was just plain massive. Everywhere. I wouldn’t be surprised if X-rays showed his bones were more dense than normal.

→ ok. this is no not my type i mean massive? im kinda envision a viking but bigger :') it just scares me more than makes me swoon that's for sure

His cheeks were lean, the bones above them high, and his jaw lantern shaped.

→ why am i thinking of the handsome squid meme 🤣

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Check out my notion site, The Reading Pond, for more annotations or more book reviews 😊

Direct link to the The Wall of Winnipeg an Me Page

[jeffalessandrelli]

Fonograf Editions

A prolific, young combination nonprofit publisher and literary record label, Fonograf Editions has released thirty books and records since its inception in 2016. They’ve published work by poet and translator Isabel Zapata, essayist Hilary Plum, uncovered and released 70’s era 12-inch recordings of John Ashberry and Audre Lorde, and run the revolutionary artist Ray Johnson inspired imprint, Bunny. Tied into their emphasis on genre-bending and expanding the realms and mediums through which we experience literature, is a commitment to affordability and public-access. The press hosts free public events throughout the year and shares components from each of its published works for free. Their packed upcoming publication schedule includes a long out of print rock album by Anne Sexton!

[chusofullout]

Olly stop talking about Dolgopyat's Olympic title winning with a neutral deduction was such BS...

Ray Zapata MY Olympic Floor Champion!!

[giantkillerjack]

"The Professor's Workshop"

An excerpt from my graphic novel script drafts, posted here without beta bc it motivates me to write. In this chapter, the protagonists David and Kuruk are being given a tour of Armadillo Island by its mayor.

"Just wait til you meet them!" RJ exclaims excitedly. "They're the mind of a generation - maybe two!" He now adds an additional spring to his step, and David has to jog to keep up with him, despite them both being very short men. Kuruk follows behind, looking deeply skeptical.

RJ leads them down a winding forested path to a more remote part of the village, continuing to talk about the island the whole time while occasionally asking friendly questions of his guests.

They arrive at a secluded building tucked away in the bright green foliage of the island. The building is made in the same unique colorful architectural style as the rest of the island, but it has an odd overall shape - as though it has seen many small additions and renovations over the years. Paint chips in a couple places, but otherwise it looks well-cared-for. Shiny metal vents and chimneys emerge from the roof and sides, gently emitting white smoke. A stone pathway leads from the sign to the door, nearly hidden in untamed tall grass.

Out front, a high-quality colorful carved wooden sign reads:

Doctor Professor Xosha Zapata, PhD

Chemist & Architect Extraordinaire

"The sign was a gift from me," RJ chirps, stopping for a moment to admire it.

"No kidding," David deadpans politely, obviously hiding a smile.

(Behind him, the side of Kuruk's mouth twitches upwards a little for just a moment.)

RJ is marches up the overgrown stone and knocks confidently on the door, which turns out to not be fully closed; it creaks open from his knocking.

RJ stands just outside of the doorway and shouts inside cheerfully, causing Kuruk to wince at the volume. "OH, PROFESSOR!!! Are you in, Professor? I've met the most lovely chaps and I'd love to introduce them to our island's premiere scientific mind!"

There is a distant muffled sound from within.

"... PROFESSOR?" RJ shouts again, looking slightly concerned, "ARE YOU ALRIGHT?"

An indistinct wobbly speech bubble comes from inside, ending in question marks.

RJ looks both worried and like a man on a mission. "WE'RE COMING IN TO CHECK ON YOU - ALRIGHT, PROFESSOR?" He shouts loud enough this time that David and Kuruk both wince.

RJ hustles in and our heroes follow hesitantly behind.

The small entryway opens into a large room with high ceiling. It appears to be a lab or a workshop of some kind. Skylight windows light the room with soft sunlight, and dust motes float in the air in the brightest of the rays of light.

In terms of the contents of the room, the place looks like if a cartoon professor somehow had even more ADHD than usual:

There are dozens of beakers and vials on a number of desks and tables. A few of the beakers sit on lit bunsen burners, bubbling with colorful substances and sending white smoke up into the vents above them. At least one beaker has bubbled over and created an unidentifiable burnt mass at its base.

There are multiple architectural drafting tables with designs and blueprints on them in various states of completion.

There are several chalkboards full of notes in messy handwriting.

Books, papers, notebooks cover nearly every flat surface and several of the non-flat ones. Many torn notebook pages have been taped to the walls. [I guess this fantasy world has an equivalent to scotch tape now. ... I'm fine with that.]

The only decorations are a cluster of very nice painting on a small section of the wall. (Readers looking very closely will notice they all have the same artist's signature - Epa, who runs the inn.)

There is nothing to suggest nefarious scientific activity. Real "absentminded professor" energy.

In the far corner of the room, a set of scaffolding and a ladder block off a small space.

"H-hello? RJ, is that you?" says a small speech bubble from behind the scaffolding.

"Aha!" RJ leaps in that direction impressively quickly for a tiny man in his 50s.

Before David and Kuruk catch up to him, they hear RJ's relieved and once again cheerful voice:

"Ah, professor! There you are, thank goodness!!! You had us worried for a moment there!"

"...'Us' ?" says the unknown person in a pinched voice.

David and Kuruk round the corner to see three things:

One: an incomplete 8-foot-tall architectural model of a building,

Two: a fallen ladder, and

Three: a very embarrassed-looking non-binary person whom they recognize as the amateur vigilante they last saw getting shoved into the town square fountain by Armadillo Woman. Ze is wearing overalls, safety goggles pushed up on zyr head, a white shirt with some almost neon-colored stains on it, and a safety harness.

Ze appears unharmed, but they are suspended in the air by a cord attached to the back of the harness, and they look exceedingly uncomfortable. Zyr feet are dangling high off the ground, and ze is slowly and involuntarily rotating in place.

"Oh." Ze says weakly at the sound of additional footsteps. "There's... more people to witness this. ...My lucky day." They look as though they'd rather melt away into the earth. As they speak, they continue to spin, and they miss their initial chance to look at David and Kuruk, not seeing their faces until spinning slowly back around.

RJ, however, continues with his introductions, gesturing grandly and earnestly. "Mister David, Mister Kuruk - please meet the esteemed Doctor-Professor Xosha Zapata! Professor, these are my new friends Kuruk and David! They're here for the festival!"

Behind RJ, Kuruk squints at being called RJ's "new friend." David just looks amused.

"Y-You can just call me Xosha actually I'm not really--"

Xosha stops as ze finally catches sight of David and Kuruk - zyr face somehow falls even further. "Ah. We've, uh, met, actually," they say with a pained smile.

RJ is delighted. "Really?!? Fantastic! You must tell me all about it! How you met, what everyone was wearing! Every detail!"

"Um, actually, do you think maybe somebody could get me down first, please?" Xosha says in a small voice.

RJ looks surprised to find Xosha still in the air; he presses his hand to his forehead. "Oh! Oh my! Of course of course - my apologies! - I just get so carried away! Gentlemen, would you assist me?"

David and Kuruk nod. Kuruk looks like he's questioning how his life has come to this.

"Tell us what to do, Professor!" RJ says with his hands on his hips.

What follows is a ridiculous comical sequence in which Xosha explains how this happened and the men help zyr get down.

Ze was standing on a tall ladder and working on the architectural model. The safety harness they're wearing supports their torso and pelvis, and it connects to a rope from a clever pulley system on the ceiling. The early light of dawn indicates that this was probably a few hours ago.

They lean too far to reach for something and lose their balance, kicking the ladder out from under them while simultaneously knocking the pulley controls out of their reach.

Their legs kick in the air as they tried to release themselves from the harness, but in their struggles they manage only to somehow tangle the straps of their overalls and cause a lot of discomfort.

The final flashback panel is a distant wide shot of the whole workshop with the lonely defeated figure of Xosha hanging comically from the harness in the background.

Per Xosha's direction, RJ and David find the pulley controls and begin to lower zyr down in stops and starts. The pulley system is not cooperating with them, and Xosha yelps in a mix of alarm and discomfort with each small drop. It looks very painful, and David winces in sympathy. RJ looks similarly apologetic.

After the first small drop, Kuruk moves quickly to stand under Xosha.

"I will catch you," he says, looking entirely unsure of himself, but ready nonetheless.

"Thank-- you," Xosha squeaks, "It's-- YAAHH--!!!"

They let out a final yelp as they drop the last few feet. Kuruk catches them from behind [either under the arms or by the harness] and slows their fall so they land safely on their feet. Kuruk continues to support them for a few seconds until they seem steady.

As soon as Kuruk lets go, however, Xosha whimpers and lowers zyrself to the ground in a comically pained ball. Evidently, hanging from a pelvis harness hurts one's crotch and hips like a motherfucker, and Xosha is too exhausted to pretend otherwise. They are still clearly embarrassed, but they seem to have accepted their humiliating fate.

RJ hurries over to help them take the harness off, crouching on the ground next to them and patting their shoulder consolingly. He asks them what happened, and he asks if they need help taking the harness off. Xosha accepts his help and explains, accompanied by 3-5 cartoony flashback panels:

In the flashback, ze is standing on a tall ladder and working on the architectural model. The safety harness they're wearing supports their torso and pelvis, and it connects to a rope from a clever pulley system on the ceiling that can be manually adjusted by the user. The early light of dawn indicates that this was probably a few hours ago.

Xosha leans too far to reach for something and loses their balance, kicking the ladder out from under them while simultaneously knocking the pulley controls out of their reach.

They are caught by the harness and the expression of pain on their face is ridiculous and exaggerated for humor.

Their legs kick in the air as they tried to release themselves from the harness, but in their struggles they manage only to somehow tangle the straps of their overalls and cause more discomfort.

The final flashback panel is a distant wide shot of the whole workshop - with the lonely defeated figure of Xosha gently swaying in the background.

In the present, Xosha buries their head in their hands and lets out a loud long groan; they lament how stupid their mistake was, and RJ reassures them that even geniuses make mistakes! Xosha insists that ze is not a genius. RJ declares that they are too modest. It is clear that this is not the first time they have had this conversation.

David takes in the absurdity of it all and he smiles at Kuruk across the room. Kuruk doesn't smile back, but he does meet David's gaze and there is a hint of a twinkle in his eye amongst his general bewilderment.

Finally, Xosha manages to get the harness off and sit in a chair, letting out a long sigh.

On the final page of the chapter, a large panel shows Xosha in a detailed, fully-rendered (shaded, inked, colored, etc.) shot with warm natural lighting. Ze looks up from their chair with an attempt at a smile that lands a little closer to a wince. The shot is framed to make them appear endearing in their awkwardness. They are both cute and anxious.

"So, uhh, I'm guessing you have some questions about yesterday?" ze says.

Below that panel, a banner with large font reads:

Tune in next time for Part 3, Chapter 7:

"The Professor."

[End.]

If you liked this and want to read the published scripts with concept art on AO3, you can do that! I get a comment on those like once every 3 months and every time it gives me serotonin for like 3 weeks tbh. If you don't mind an unusual reading format, then you can find sexy men tied up and rescued, gay sky pirates, budding friendships, autistic/ADHD friendship, so many Trans people, sexy fat characters, empowering disability representation, a group of actors who would fit right in with The Ember Island Players, a haunted mop, a magical trauma recovery library, a lesbian biker gang that robs imperialistic museums - AND SO MUCH MORE

Note to self: I think maybe I'll change Xosha's pronouns to they/them and zey/zem, instead of they/them and ze/zyr. Seems to fit better.

[ferranhumor]

La nueva España

[illyria-and-her-pet]

Ray Zapata on floor at the 2017 Spanish Championships (x)

[graphicpolicy]

Preview: Garbage Pail Kids: Origins #1

Garbage Pail Kids: Origins #1 preview. Issue #1 starts with Adam Bomb's origin and how he begins as an unassuming, flat-footed soda jerk named Adam Baum #comics #comicbooks #gpk

[eskamtrash]

The Olympics fill me with a feeling thats so hard to explain.... the most important part of it is joy i think

[krispyweiss]

Song Review: Everybody and Double Trouble - “Texas Flood” (Live)

Five minutes.

That’s all “Austin City Limits” allotted to Double Trouble and a slew of guests to pay tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan with a performance of “Texas Flood” during Vaughan’s induction to the ACL Hall of Fame.

That left time for Buddy Guy, Willie and Lukas Nelson and Lyle Lovett to sing and room for Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Guy and the Nelsons - mostly Lukas, who left Lovett gawking and smiling as he awaited his turn at the mic - to play short solos. Meanwhile, Doyle Bramhall II, Robert Randolph, Mickey Raphael and Eric Zapata were relegated to eye candy when they shoulda been ear candy.

The clip comes from “ACL Hall of Fame: The First Six Years,” which premieres Jan. 2, 2021, on PBS; check local listings.

Don’t get Sound Bites wrong: the performance, what there was of it, was terrific. But there was time only for kindling where there was a tinderbox of musicianship on that stage just waiting to combust into an SRV-worthy storm of fire and aural brimstone.

File under: miss opportunities.

Grade card: Everybody and Double Trouble - “Texas Flood” (Live) - B+

12/30/20