#Rose Connelly

[dahliaduvide]

"His name is lost to history, but perhaps he wouldn’t mind. His motivation was a speedy payday, not posterity. A ballad that stirred the passions could sell for a penny. Sometimes he sold his work directly to the printshops, but he often took to the streets himself. He borrowed tunes from familiar songs, and had a talent for singing his work that helped him draw a crowd and sell his broadsides."

"Our modern notion of a songwriter would have been nonsensical to him, of course. His trade was partly creative, but his task was also to record and remember the familiar songs already sung, and re-shape them for new events and local happenings. He was a kind of tabloid journalist in his time. Today, we might think of him as a historian of oral traditions, a cataloger of folkways. But that’s not quite right. He was no mere archivist, no passive documentarian. He shaped and reshaped these traditions. Writing was an astonishing technology, and the reach of the printing press gave it newfound power. Oral traditions were chaotic, unfixed, unwieldy—stories forever in revision, never complete. Versions would branch without end, and older branches would be lost with time. How did the lyrics go? Well, that would depend. You could say a song existed in superposition, until someone sang it in their particular way."

"Though he would have been dismissed as a scabrous hack at the time, the ballad writer has such a knack for poetic and efficient depictions of monstrous violence that it can start to feel like he is an artist, or a proto-artist, who is governed by a bloodthirsty aesthetic. But the truth is, he may not be a single man—he may be a composite, his single authorship an anachronism. Or he may be merely a transcriber. The song’s structure and rhythm are so clean that it suggests a writer’s hand, but it could be that the story and its language were born entirely in song, from the community. Later, scholars would bicker over what counts as folk tradition, but a song’s evolutions in oral tradition and popular writing surely would have crossed back and forth countless times. The past is so foreign and strange that we should be left humble when we write our histories. Whether he is one writer, or several writers, or the people as a whole, the shape of his thoughts—his entire manner of thinking—is unreachable."

Excerpts.

Thoughts.

Truly a beautifully written article, and you should totally take the time to read the entire thing. He interweaves perspectives from performers, listeners, and even what the creators of these broadside murder ballads might have been like. Artful writing, hard thoughts, and self-examination.

This article really put into words a vital part of my vision for this project, creating modern murder ballads to draw attention to cases, raise awareness and hopefully get some justice for the Knoxville girls of today.

[tampire]

Labyrinth / Sandman As requested by @violetoftheendless

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Edith Olmstead at TNR:

Ex–Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis is part of a chorus of conservative Christian Republicans who are not happy with the GOP, after it abandoned its push for a federal ban on abortion in favor of Donald Trump’s pitch to toss the decision back to the states.

The new platform, which will be voted on at the upcoming Republican National Convention next week, also takes a more moderate position on same-sex marriage. While the Trump campaign’s senior advisers have insisted that the new policies are “concise and digestible,” they’re proving to be unpopular among some of the party’s more religious members. Ex–Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis was among those who were left disappointed by the new policy, and Ellis took to X (formerly Twitter) to share her furious reaction across several tweets. “The RNC is trading Lila Rose for Amber Rose. Pro-life for pro-abortion. Live Action for Slut Walk. That’s a reflection of Trumpworld over God’s truth,” she wrote, referring to Amber Rose organizing a 2015 SlutWalk protest in Los Angeles to raise public awareness of gender inequality. Rose is reportedly scheduled to speak at the upcoming Republican National Convention. “Christians and conservatives should not support this,” Ellis added.

[...] While Ellis was already decidedly off the Trump train, her RNC complaints seem to be spreading across Trump’s Christian conservative base. Chad Connelly, the former chair of the South Carolina GOP, expressed disappointment felt by his Christian constituents. “It is fair to say that over 1,000 pastors have emailed, texted and called me about their disappointment over where they saw the platform going,” he said, according to NBC, claiming that he’d been kept out of the platform committee after being “labeled ���too pro-life.’”

Connelly is also the president and founder of Faith Wins, a supposedly nonpartisan group that mobilizes faith leaders to “leverage” their influence in government and politics. In the past, Connelly used his religious ties to round up voters for Trump, and now it seems he’s beginning to defect. “The words I am hearing are shocked, betrayed, trampled, depressed, deflated,” Connelly said. “Most pastors I know don’t want Biden and will still probably vote for Trump, but this hurts the energy needed for those folks to do the things it takes to help elect a president.” Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council Action, also released a statement expressing his dissatisfaction with the voting committee’s voting procedure and a staunch rejection of the platform’s more "moderate" abortion stance.

The purported “softening” of the GOP’s anti-abortion plank (which is just as hardline as ever) and the inclusion of former SlutWalk organizer-turned-MAGA shill Amber Rose as one of the RNC’s speakers has infuriated the likes of rabid socons like Jenna Ellis and Tony Perkins.

See Also:

RWW: GOP Platform Committee Gets Bitter Taste of Trump’s Authoritarianism

[wolfoverthemoon]

Feyre and Tamlin wedding vibes

[septembergold]

[eemcintyre]

Me and this chart is the equivalent of the man with the string board meme

An exhaustive-as-I-could-make-it chart of the actresses I think look alike and how they are all c o n n e c t e d do you see my vision

In order from left to right, from the top row down:

Jeanne Damas

Michelle Trachtenberg

Anna Karina

Cate Blanchett

Julianna Margulies

Nancy Kerrigan

Nicole Kidman

Kim Novak

Virna Lisi

Brittany Snow

Dakota Johnson

Penelope Cruz

Anne Hathaway

Connie Sellecca

Isabella Rossellini

Helen Schneider

Grace Kelly

Diane Kruger

Alison Doody

Sarah Wynter

Sophia Myles

Kate Winslet

Victoria Pedretti

Liv Tyler

Michelle Monaghan

Rebecca Ferguson

Ingrid Bergman

Nastassja Kinski

Helen Mirren

Jennifer Lawrence

Hayley Mills

Diane Lane

Julia Stiles

Kat Dennings

Mary Page Keller

Laura Prepon

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Elisabeth Shue

Maggie Lawson

Alicia Silverstone

Madchen Amick

Phoebe Tonkin

Dagmara Dominczyk

Megan Fox

Ana de Armas

Olivia Munn

Rachel Leigh Cook

Katie Holmes

Sarah Clarke

Jennifer Morrison

Charlize Theron

Melora Hardin

Ashley Judd

Katherine Heigl

Jeanne Tripplehorn

Kelly McGillis

Alanis Morissette

Michelle Borth

Sasha Alexander

Marion Cotillard

Rose Byrne

Natalie Portman

Keira Knightley

Sadie Robertson

Sharon Tate

Sheryl Lee

Amanda Logan

Stephanie Beatriz

Amy Winehouse

Maggie Wheeler

Zooey Deschanel

Katy Perry

Salma Hayek

Queen Letizia of Spain

Kate Middleton

Hilarie Burton

Stephanie J. Block

Olivia Wilde

Courteney Cox

Demi Moore

Jennifer Connelly

Sarah Vickers

Sarah Topham

Pamela Sue Martin

Reiko Aylesworth

Megan Boone

Cobie Smulders

Andie MacDowell

Julia Roberts

Carla Gugino

Jennifer Garner

Rachel McAdams

Felicity Jones

Sherry Stringfield

Cybill Shepherd

Ellen Barkin

Cameron Diaz

Juliette Lewis

Cindy Williams

Ginnifer Goodwin

Sherilyn Fenn

Hedy Lamarr

Dita von Teese

Audrey Tautou

Jamie Alexander

Lauren Graham

Kelly Preston

Melissa Fumero

Sarah Greene

Christina Ricci

[maskofmilves]

Tears In The Rain

Chapter 1: Interlinked

Characters: Chiren, Alita, Joi (Blade Runner 2049)

Fandom(s): Alita Battle Angel x Blade Runner 2049 crossover/Alita sequel (Robert please get on this)

Summary: After the events of Alita: Battle Angel, Chiren wakes up with some memories of what had previously happened to her. A friend from the past helps her become human again. She's greeted with a new companion. Joi. Things happen from there...

Warnings: lots of angst, Joi and Chiren being flirty, Alita being a boss, robot/cyborg stuff, and fluff if you squint.

A/n: I don't know how I came up with this concept but I love both Blade runner films and Alita (& the fandom) so much.

Chapter 1: Interlinked

First feeling: None. Second feeling: Feeling, yes. Within cells interlinked. Within cells interlinked, Within cells interlinked.

Chiren felt everything come together in her body, her new one, within her cells interlinked, within her cells interlinked, within her cells interlinked.

She woke up on a bed of sorts, in an empty room, a bright light above her head blasting into her eyes. Struggling to tilt her head to her left side there’s a large window that covered the whole wall from floor to ceiling. What is that? Making out blurry images becoming clear now. It was a gray sky, raining out, pouring, sad for her thought. Successfully she got up, as she noticed she wasn’t wearing any clothing feeling weary. This wasn’t any place, this was her home. Her bed, her window, her kitchen, yada yada yada.

There was a chair next to the bed with some lower-class clothes; a sweater, boots, cargo pants, and a fleece-lined trench coat. Far from what she’s used to normally wearing. As she finished putting them on a small folded-up piece of paper slowly fell to the floor from within the coat. Chiren undid the paper, written inside was lettering;

“It’s what I could find. If you want, Joi will tell you a lot, she will go where you please. I’m sorry, for everything…”  -A

Chiren knew who this was who wrote it. ‘Joi?’ the former doctor thought the woman hadn’t seemed to notice that she was thinking out loud. A hologram of a woman appeared standing in front of her, smiling. 

“Can I help you Dr. Chiren?” If this was Joi she was definitely kind and polite toward her. 

“You’re Joi?” Chiren questioned.

“Yes.”

“Joi. Do you know who wrote this?” Chiren pointed out the slip she held.

“I only assume you know” Joi’s grin became sublime

“It was Alita, wasn’t it? Why am I here? How am I here? I feel different. The last thing I remember was being locked in a box with just my eyes and brain for days” Chiren’s face grew in longing, this was the first time in a while that she felt grief.

“Yes, it was Alita. She went searching for you for a bit, she felt bad about leaving you and retrieved you from Nova. This is your new body, although you still look the same your insides are all synthetic, including your programming. You’re the first human hybrid that I know, and that’s a good thing” Joi stated in a favorable tone.

Chiren raised for her forehead, where the mark of Zalem used to be, was gone, nothing there. She was dismayed and not at the same time. A face of remorse and regret came upon her, with memories of what had been done coming into view.

Visions now made her soon realize that Alita is just who her daughter was before she passed and that she may be Chiren’s only reason to become whole again.

Joi spoke up to break the silence “Dr. Chiren…with your mark removed you’re finally able to feel what most want to feel, like a real human being. Now that you’re back together with your new human hybrid body your lifespan is infinite, you have all the time in the world, so what will you do?”

Chiren thought for a good minute and soon answered; “First thing; Just call me Chiren, second; I’m going to find Alita and I know you know where she is…what year is it?”

Joi was weirdly confused by the last part but smiled for her anyway “Of course, I can do that. Chiren it is then…Chiren…it’s 2584, I’m sorry. I guess I should’ve told you sooner”

“Oh god…I- it's been so long- I have to find her, otherwise I don’t know why I’m supposed to be here…do you know anything else?” Chiren asked.

“Yes actually. Your next sign is in the kitchen.”

“Alright, leaving me hints eh?” She went into her kitchen and saw a letter on top of the microwave, she opened it, seeing what was in there was a piece of paper written with “Joi is quite nice, isn’t she? I hope you’ll bond a relationship with her, as she will follow you anywhere, I programmed her to be accessible outside anywhere too. I hope that is helpful. Meet me at the bar or whatever you usually go to, I promise I’ll be there.” -A

“Hmmm, well I guess let’s get there then”

“Get where?” Joi asked.

“The bar.” That was all she said. Joi decided to go ahead and follow Chiren to the rooftop, they both got into her abandoned Peugeot spinner, it was practically not starting but they eventually got it started in the cold dense rain. “Alita said she’ll be there. And I trust her. How'd you get my car?- Nevermind”

Joi nodded, looking out the window she traced her finger where the raindrops were running across the window, the look on her face was curious, almost acting as if she’d never seen rain before. The corner of Chiren’s eye caught this, it just being a little moment, it’s the little things that matter to her as she remembered. Chiren turned her head to her, setting the car on autopilot as they made their way to the place.

“What are you doing?” Eyeing the innocent one. “Have you not experienced rain before?”

Joi turned and smiled back at her. “I know about rain. It’s programmed in my system, I just haven’t seen or touched it before. I am only a couple of days old too..”

Chiren nodded and let out a grunt in response. “Hmm” Turning her eyes back to the outside weather. Joi’s gaze lowered, about to speak but hesitant at first.

“What was it like…being in there for so long”

Chiren quickly got emotional inside about the question. She started playing with her hands, then rubbed her eyes. “It was horrible. You couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, couldn’t feel…anything, all you could do was blink and watch time pass by. Made me want to just get killed already but I knew it was my punishment, then the rest of my body was sent to the yard. Then everything went black, I don’t know what happened after that”

Joi felt bad about it, and even though she had nothing to do with her punishment, she has sympathy for her nevertheless. “I can’t imagine what that must’ve been like…”

The former doctor met her gaze with the android and let out a sigh, trying to ignore her demons and instead wondering about what she can do. “Thank you…do you feel anything physically?” She asked.

“Physically no. I can only feel things through my database”

Chiren placed her rather attractive hand on the armrest. Keeping eye contact with Joi. “Try feeling this” Saying that as she indicated her hand to Joi “Try. Try as hard as you can to feel touch” Again Joi gave the raven-haired woman innocent eyes along with her fading confusion, proceeding to do the task. Joi was mesmerized by her, she knew she may not be able to physically feel things, but she does have feelings for others, as she was programmed to. She finally moved her hand, right onto hers, Joi focused as much as she could, but unfortunately, it went right through.

“I can’t do it…I know it's leather and plastic but I cannot feel it as what people call it.”

“Hey, that’s okay, I can work something out for you alright? Did the shops around here stay the same?"

***

The two arrived at their destination. The building was a part of a large warehouse complex that seemed to stay the same, just more filthy and worn, the walls covered in dirt and grim. Definitely shady. It used to be at least a bit cleaner than this. Everything changed now, including her own appearance, going from looking like a rich snob to the lower class even though her good-sized penthouse is high up there. Again, just appearance. Chiren reached into her coat to scratch herself. Hey, she felt that. It felt good. While doing so, she looked at the note again. 'This better be true' she thought to herself, folding the paper away.

Chiren motioned for Joi to follow her. Joi faded from the inside of the vehicle, reappearing outside the car and standing up. The slightly taller woman looked up into the sky, letting the water hit her face. Knowing she could feel again, relieved her. Looking back at Joi she saw her doing the same. Instead, the water droplets fell through her hologram. The recovering woman saw this and sadness swooned upon her again, knowing she was a real person, neither was she really. Did it all not matter? No. She had a real mind and heart, she is a real human being. Yeah. Real to her anyway.

"Come on, let's go inside."

And so they did, finally realizing they were getting soaked. Running inside now remembering oh hey it's pouring out.

Opening the door inside they are greeted with the smell of sweat and smoke and with the sight of dirty gray walls and a table to sit at.

"Well, this place went to shit."

Chiren raised one eyebrow with a fuzzy feeling still clouding her mind. She looked over the several booths, her eyes locking on jet-black hair, walking in that direction and her conscience is revealed. Playing with her hands and staring in awe Alita stood up from her seat. Both had stunned almost blank expressions on their faces looking at each other. Alita didn't know what to do other than break the silence.

"Chiren…..I-"

"How am I here?" She almost said it like a statement. Confused. Almost blessed with rage and tranquility at the same time.

"I searched for your box for days tracking you, I fought them because I left you there and Ido- I found you after losing your location before, I eventually found you…after so long, I brought you to Ido's and replicated your old body luckily he taught me how to do that at least, transferred you to your place, and set up Joi for you. I couldn't meet you there because there's a gang after me. I'm sorry I didn't want to leave you there all alone I had to stop-"

"What about Ido? I take it I missed the funeral. Ya know I actually loved him and my….. daughter… I was kept in that box forever waiting for something or anything to happen, I was in a jar for years! Thank zalem I went into hibernation 2 days in luckily but still. I have no one. Before too. Now anyone remotely close is dead except for you. You're the closest thing to me ever having a daughter again…"

Chiren let herself down, everyone in the bar wouldn't stop looking. She eventually sat down and let out a quiet sigh. Alita across from her did the same. Joi looked at the both of them reading their faces, noticing the disdain in Chiren’s voice when she mentioned her dead daughter she lost so long ago. Alita knows she has every right to despise Ido for it, still made her angry about what happened so long ago. Ido has been gone forever. Chiren will never get to tell him how sorry she is, how she regretted causing everything to fall apart after her child’s passing, She could’ve done more when she had the time. Why didn’t she? Gosh, she was a wreck through and through but no she wants to do what’s right. To both of them. Joi sat next to the grieving woman.

“You say people are after you? How’d this happen?”

Alita’s big eyes widened. “Yes…long story short I stole Joi here, from them…”

“How much was she?

“A lot. I’m also struggling to get back an adapter for her. It would make her a solid and not just a hologram.”

Joi gave a look on her face that shined with hope and desire. Wanting to be able to live as the closest to being something real. The program went to put her hand on the much older woman’s thigh. When they both looked down at the same time Chiren felt sullen for her, only a hologram's touch. Knowing Joi just wanted some reassurance for herself, Chiren gave her a slight nod before rubbing her thumb on the translucent humanoid even though neither of their nerves had a trigger in their systems or brains if you will. Showing her some compassion as well. Loving care. Was this a sign of love? Compassion? It was the first time neither of them have felt warmness, for Chiren that was a long time.

Alita tried to not think of it that much even though it was pretty obvious that was a kind move on Chiren’s part.

“If we somehow get the adapter from them, Joi can do a lot more than set appliances to make dinner and schedule appointments for you.”

Chiren thought for a good second or so. “What’s your living situation?” She asked. Thinking up a plan for all of this.

“I’m still living at Ido’s place. Although it has been rotting, literally, water damage and hail damage were caused by the big storm we had a few years back.

The woman across from her raised an eyebrow again. “I’m not an expert but I sure know it’s very unsafe to live in a place with mold that bad. The air. Is it affecting you?”

The super android fidgeted with their hands. Chiren didn’t know that anxiety happened in andriods like this. She knew that they could have anxiety but not till a level where physical stumulation happened. “I’m only doing some light coughing. But other than that I am fine.”

“That’s not good for you. I know you’re different but it can still mess up your internals. I want you to move in with me. If you’re fine with it that is but you’re not living in a suitable environment and I would prefer if you…do that.”

“Okay, when do we start?”

“Joi turn off so we can make room for Alita here in the car.”

***

Chiren had the spinner do an auto-pilot landing on the street. “I take it you’ll probably have a few items you want to bring with right?”

“Yeah I do. I’ll be a few.”

[iamlisteningto]

Clarissa Connelly’s Come In Roses

[brokehorrorfan]

Prints and original artwork from Spoke Art's "70 Years of Godzilla" exhibit are now available online. I've highlighted 16 of my favorite pieces.

Godzilla vs. Hedorah by Matt Taylor

Shin Godzilla by Bob Eggleton

Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla by Tracie Ching

Godzilla Minus One by Rose Couch

Invasion of Astro-Monster by Alex Gross

Godzilla by JP Neang

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla by Yumiko Kayukawa

Godzilla Blossum by Murugiah

Mothra vs. Godzilla by Jason Raish

Hedorah by Joey Feldman

Giant Monsters All-Out Attack by Matt Frank

Baragon by Lauren Gregg

Godzilla by Sam Wolfe Connelly

Godzilla & Friends by Scott C.

Destroy All Monsters by Justin Hillgrove

Godzilla: Minus One by Jason Edmiston

[murder-ballad-ballot]

round 1, match 5: down in the willow garden vs matty groves

examples & descriptions

down in the willow garden

alternate titles: rose connelly, down in a willow garden

"a man murders his love because of money? describes the murder then is sent to the gallows"

"guy poisons then stabs his girlfriend and chucks her in a river, which gets him sent to the gallows and his dad's sad about it"

"singer confesses to killing his love, rose connelly, (possibly during a picnic?) also he says, “i stabbed her with my dagger, which was a bloody knife,” and I appreciate that extra bit of explanation."

matty groves

alternate titles: little matty groves, little musgrave, etc

"It takes a while to get to the double murder but it's worth the wait."

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🌈 Queer Books Coming Out in October 2024 🌈

🌈 Good afternoon, my bookish bats! Here are a FEW of the stunning, diverse queer books you can add to your TBR before the year is over. Happy reading!

❓What was the last queer book you read?

[ Release dates may have changed. List below! ]

❤️ Back in the Hunt - K. Sterling 🧡 The Connoisseur's Christmas Courtship - L.M. Bennett 💛 Shoestring Theory - Mariana Costa 💚 The Black Hunger - Nicholas Pullen 💙 Wild Fire - Radclyffe 💜 Because Fat Girl - Lauren Marie Fleming ❤️ The Ace and Aro Relationship Guide - Cody Daigle-Orians 🧡 Soul Survivors - River Kai 💛 Stolen Hearts - Michele Castleman 💙 Reverence - Milena McKay 💜 Love Immortal - Kit Vincent

❤️ Take a Sad Song - Ona Gritz 🧡 Showmance - Chad Beguelin 💛 Redundancies & Potentials - Dominique Dickey 💚 Alexander - Karla Nikole 💙 Rest in Peaches - Alex Brown 💜 Rise of the Wrecking Crew - Kalynn Bayron ❤️ Language Lessons - Sage Donnell 🧡 Legend of the White Snake - Sher Lee 💛 Sorcery and Small Magis - Maiga Doocy 💙 Cried Out - Kate Hawthorne 💜 Skysong - C.A. Wright 🌈 No Rules Tonight - Kim Hyun Sook, Ryan Estrada

❤️ My Mother's Ridiculous Rules for Dating - Philip William Stover 🧡 I Shall Never Fall in Love - Hari Conner 💛 Castle Swimmer - Wendy Martin 🧡 The Hollow and the Haunted - Camilla Raines 💙 How Does That Make You Feel, Magda Eklund? - Anna Montague 💜 The Arizona Triangle - Sydney Graves ❤️ Every Rule Undone - Nancy S.M. Waldman 🧡 Mister Nice - Jamie Jennings 💛 Under the Mistletoe with You - Lizzie Huxley-Jones 💙 How to Fall in Love in a Time of Unnameable Disaster - Muriel Leung 💜 The Snowball Effect - Haley Cass 🌈 This Will Be Fun - E.B. Asher

❤️ Our Evenings - Alan Hollinghurst 🧡 Don't Let the Forest In - C.G. Drews 💛 Finding Delaware - Bree Wiley 💚 The Reeds - Arjun Basu 💙 The Bloodless Princes - Charlotte Bond 💜 Women's Hotel - Daniel M. Lavery ❤️ Alex McKenna and the Academy of Souls - Vicki-Ann Bush 🧡 A Vile Season - David Ferraro 💛 Synchronicity - J.J. Hale 💙 Writ of Love - Cassidy Crane 💜 Di-Curious - Erin Branch 🌈 Swordcrossed - Freya Marske

❤️ Stand Up! - Tori Sharp 🧡 Haunt Me, Baby - Rose Santoriello 💚 Planet Drag: Uncover the Global Herstory - Various 💙 Until We Shatter - Kate Dylan 💜 Metal from Heaven - August Clarke ❤️ Vicious Fates and Vast Futures - Tilly Bramley 🧡 The Daughter of Danray - Natalia Hernandez 💛 If I Stopped Haunting You - Colby Wilkens 💙 The Darkness Behind The Door - Mira Gonzalez 💜 Hunt Monsters, Do Magic, and Fall in Love - A.M. Weald 🌈 Jasmine Is Haunted - Mark Oshiro

❤️ Model Home - Rivers Solomon 🧡 Haunting Melody - Chloe Spencer 💛 The Door in Lake Mallion - S.M. Beiko 💚 The City in Glass - Nghi Vo 💙 Fang Fiction - Kate Stayman-London 💜 The Merriest Misters - Timothy Janovsky ❤️ Make the Season Bright - Ashley Herring Blake 🧡 My Kind of Trouble - L.A. Schwartz 💛 To Become A Flower - CEON 💙 What Was Lost - Melissa Connelly 💜 The Forbidden Book - Sacha Lamb 🌈 This Dark Paradise - Erin Luken

❤️ The Sound of Storms - Anya Keeler 🧡 Country Queers - Rae Garringer 💛 A Spell for Heartsickness - Alistair Reeves 💚 The Stars Inside Us - Kristy Gardner 💙 October's Ocean - Delaine Coppock 💜 Haunt Your Heart Out - Amber Roberts ❤️ The Dark Becomes Her - Judy I. Lin 🧡 Power Pose - Emily Silver 💛 The Magic You Make - Jason June 💙 House of Elephants - Claribel A. Ortega 💜 Tegan and Sara: Crush - Tegan Quin, Sara Quin, Tillie Walden 🌈 The Brightness Between Us - Eliot Schrefer

❤️ The Spring before Obergefell - Benjamin S. Grossberg 🧡 Pray For Him - Tyler Battaglia 💛 Coup de Grâce - Sofia Ajram 💚 Coal Gets In Your Veins - Cat Rector 💙 He Who Bleeds - Dorian Valentine 💜 The Revenge of Captain Vessia - Leslie Allen ❤️ Camelot's Tower - Brooke Matthews 🧡 The Manor - Tiffany E. Taylor 💛 Arcanum - Ashlyn Drewek 💙 Strange Beasts - Susan J. Morris 💜 On Vicious Worlds - Bethany Jacobs 🌈 Death Song - B. Ripley

❤️ Best Hex Ever - Nadia El-Fassi 🧡 I'll Be Gone for Christmas - Georgia K. Boone 💛 Make My Wish Come True - Rachael Lippincott, Alyson Derrick 💚 Gentlest of Wild Things - Sarah Underwood 💙 Troth - E.H. Lupton 💜 Solis - Paola Mendoza & Abby Sher ❤️ Lucy, Uncensored - Mel Hammond, Teghan Hammond 🧡 Mama - Nikkya Hargrove 💛 Under All the Lights - Maya Ameyaw 💙 Reclaimed - Seth Haddon 💜 The Devil's Dilemma - Alex J. Adams 🌈 The Jovian Madrigals - Janneke de Beer

❤️ Blood Price - Nicole Evans 🧡 Worship Me - K.C. Blume 💛 All the Hearts You Eat - Hailey Piper 💚 The Nightmare Before Kissmas - Sara Raasch 💙 Rogue Community College - David R. Slayton 💜 Mistress of Hours - Emma Elizabeth ❤️ The Dog Trainer's Secret - Sav Uong 🧡 Most Wonderful - Georgia Clark 💛 Antenora - Dori Lumpkin 💙 House of Frank - Kay Synclaire 💜 Sir Callie and the Witch's War - Esme Symes-Smith 🌈 Prince of Fortune - Lisa Tirreno

[catie-does-things]

Litany of American Saints

(Updated 2024)

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.

God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

Saint Isaac Jogues, pray for us. Saint René Goupil, pray for us. Saint Jean de Lalande, pray for us. All you holy North American Martyrs, pray for us.

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, pray for us. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us. Saint John Neumann, pray for us. Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, pray for us. Saint Katharine Drexel, pray for us. Saint Mother Théodore Guérin, pray for us. Saint Damien de Veuster of Molokai, pray for us. Saint Marianne Cope of Molokai, pray for us. Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us. Saint Junípero Serra, pray for us.

Blessed Eduardo Farre, pray for us. Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, pray for us. Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, pray for us. Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, pray for us. Blessed Lucas Tristany, pray for us. Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Santiago, pray for us. Blessed Michael McGivney, pray for us. Blessed Sister Miriam Teresa, pray for us. Blessed Stanley Rother, pray for us. Blessed Solanus Casey, pray for us. Blessed Leo William Miller, pray for us.

Venerable Antonio of Jesus, pray for us. Venerable Nelson Baker, pray for us. Venerable Frederic Baraga, pray for us. Venerable Cornelia Connelly, pray for us. Venerable Henriette DeLille, pray for us. Venerable Teresa Demjanovich, pray for us. Venerable Maria Kaupas, pray for us. Venerable Mary Theresa Dudzik, pray for us. Venerable Samuel Charles Mazzuchelli, pray for us. Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa McCrory, pray for us. Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, pray for us. Venerable Pierre Toussaint, pray for us. Venerable Félix Varela, pray for us. Venerable Augustus Tolton, pray for us. Venerable Rafael Cordero Molina, pray for us. Venerable Aloysius Schwarz, pray for us. Venerable Alphonse Gallegos, pray for us. Venerable Patrick Peyton, pray for us. Venerable Norbert McAuliffe, pray for us. Venerable Eusebio Kino, pray for us. Venerable Mary Elizabeth Lange, pray for us. Venerable Rose Hawthorne, pray for us.

Lord, be merciful. Lord, save your people. From all evil, Lord, save your people. From all sin, Lord, save your people. From your wrath, Lord, save your people. From injustice, Lord, save your people. From oppression, Lord, save your people. From hatred and intolerance, Lord, save your people. From anger and ill-will, Lord, save your people. From violence and bloodshed, Lord, save your people. From indifference to suffering, Lord, save your people.  From all the snares of the devil, Lord, save your people. By the mystery of your holy Incarnation, Lord, save your people. By your Coming, Lord, save your people. By your Birth, Lord, save your people. By your Baptism and holy fasting, Lord, save your people. By your Cross and Passion, Lord, save your people. By your Death and Burial, Lord save your people. By your holy Resurrection, Lord, save your people. By your wonderful Ascension, Lord, save your people. By the coming of the Holy Spirit, Lord, save your people. On the day of judgment, Lord, save your people.

Be merciful to us sinners, Lord, hear our prayer. That you will spare us, Lord, hear our prayer. That you will pardon us, Lord, hear our prayer. That it may please you to bring us to true penance, Lord, hear our prayer. Guide and protect your Holy Church, Lord, hear our prayer. Preserve in holiness the Pope and all the clergy, Lord, hear our prayer. Humble the enemies of the Church, Lord, hear our prayer. Give peace and unity to the whole Christian people, Lord, hear our prayer. Guide all those who serve us in civil government, Lord, hear our prayer. Protect all those who serve in our armed forces, Lord, hear our prayer. Grant eternal rest to all those who have died in defense of liberty, Lord, hear our prayer. Give courage to those who stand for justice, Lord, hear our prayer. Strengthen and preserve us in your holy service, Lord, hear our prayer. Deliver our souls from eternal damnation, Lord, hear our prayer. Grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed, Lord, hear our prayer. That it may please you to hear and heed us, Jesus, Son of the Living God, Lord, hear our prayer.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord! Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord! Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us. Lord Jesus, hear our prayer. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. 

[saturniasxenos]

Aphrodite Themed NPT ID Pack

Hello my lovelies, inside this pack you'll find pronouns, titles, names and genders that have a connection / relation to Lady Aphrodite, love, roses, doves, beauty, the sea, and all alike.

Lady Aphrodite is the most beautiful goddess. 🩷

Us humans, nonhumans, therians, and alike are all beautiful as well. 🩷

Pronouns:

Am/Ambro/Ambrosia/Ambrosias/Ambrosiaself

Aq/Aqu/Aqua/Aquas/Aquaself

Aqua/Aquama/Aquamarine/Aquamarines/Aquamarineself

Ap/Appl/Apple/Apples/Appleself

Bea/Beaut/Beauty/Beautys/Beautyself

Co/Cora/Coral/Corals/Coralself

Cha/Char/Charm/Charms/Charmself

Do/Dov/Dove/Doves/Doveself

Fo/Foa/Foam/Foams/Foamself

Gra/Grac/Grace/Graces/Graceself

Gra/Grace/Graceful/Gracefuls/Gracefulself

Gar/Garde/Garden/Gardens/Gardenself

Hea/Hear/Heart/Hearts/Heartself

Ja/Jasmi/Jasmine/Jasmineself

Lo/Lov/Love/Loves/Loveself

Myr/Myrt/Myrtle/Myrtles/Myrtleself

Mi/Mirr/Mirror/Mirrors/Mirrorself

Moon/Moonsto/Moonstone/Moonstones/Moonstoneself

Pea/Pear/Pearl/Pearls/Pearlself

Po/Pop/Poppy/Poppys/Poppyself

Pi/Pin/Pink/Pinks/Pinkself

Pur/Purp/Purple/Purples/Purpleself

Qua/Quart/Quartz/Quartzs/Quartzself

Rose/Rosequa/Rosequartz/Rosequartzs/Rosequartzself

Ro/Ros/Rose/Roses/Roseself

Rho/Rhodon/Rhodonite/Rhodonites/Rhodoniteself

Re/Red/Reds/Reds/Redself

She/Shell/Shells/Shells/Shellself

Sea/Seashe/Seashell/Seashells/Seashellself

Se/Sea/Seas/Seas/Seaself

Spa/Sparr/Sparrow/Sparrows/Sparrowself

Swa/Swan/Swans/Swans/Swanself

Swa/Swall/Swallow/Swallows/Swallowself

Va/Vani/Vanilla/Vanillas/Vanillaself

Ve/Venu/Venus/Venuss/Venusself

🫀/🫀's

🩷/🩷's

🩵/🩵's

❤/❤'s

💚/💚's

💜/💜's

💗/💗's

❣️/❣️'s

💕/💕's

💞/💞's

🐬/🐬's

🦢/🦢's

🕊/🕊's

🌹/🌹's

🍎/🍎's

Titles:

(X) Who Is Beautiful

Devotee of Aphrodite

Rosebud

(X) Who Loves

Child of Aphrodite

Lover of Doves

Lover of Swans

Lover of The Sea

Collector of Shells

(X) Who Nurtures

Risen From The Sea

Dancing In The Rose Field

Call of The Sparrow

Call of The Dove

Protector of Swans

Protector of The Sea

Protector of Sparrows

(X) Who Loves Doves

Names:

Fem: Aziza, Ahava, Adrianna, Asherah, Amy, Amandine, Amanda, Adora, Adoration, Amorra, Amarissa, Amadea, Amara, Amy, Adelpha, Annabelle, Aimee, Brooks, Charity, Coral, Cara, Carys, Cher, Cerys, Cordelia, Darya, Elska, Eri, Esha, Esme, Freya, Halia, Ines, Ivy, Ife, Juliet, Kasumi, Kailani, Kerensa, Laguna, Libi, Love, Mila, Mai, Milena, Minna, Marina, Moana, Mabel, Mia, Nereida, Pippa, Rain, Rose, Rosie, Rosa, Suki, Sandy, Talia, Valentina, Venus, Yang,

Masc: Alon, Adrian, Agapito, Agapius, Amor, Amantius, Amato, Amias, Aziz, Adonis, Beck, Beau, Conor, Connor, Cordian, Caspian, Connelly, Corwin, Caleb, Dilan, Dewey, Desiderio, David, Dariel, Deniz, Darrell, Erasmus, Erazem, Erastus, Eros, Fenmore, Firth, Finn, Hudson, Hart, Jed, Kevan, Kevin, Kordian, Kiefer, Kaito, Liev, Lev, Leif, Lennon, Liam, Leofric, Manju, Milos, Obi, Pacificus, Philip, Romeo, Rasmus, Rhys, Rudo, Sajan, Triton, Taddai, Taddeo, Thaddeus, Valentino, Valentine,

Neu: Aroon, Arrow, Adair, Amadeus, Aire, Aiko, Amoris, Anbu, Cariad, Caro, Ceri, Caron, Glyndwr, Ingrid, Jorah, Kealoha, Keris, Kerensa, Kama, Kamaka, Ler, Maite, Mirren, Muir, Navy, Ocean, Paris, Sailor, Shui, Siran, Tutku, Vale, Vashti, Yaretzi,

Genders:

Lovememory - It could be related to having memories of love ; memories of love being a part of your identity ; memories of love from / in ones past life ; and etcetera.

Idolovea - a gender related to idols & love! Being an idol of love , a love idol , an idol who spreads love , an idol who loves , etc!

Puramour -a gender where your only purpose is to find love .

Amoncitte - A gender Related to Ones hand Intwirled on Anothers , Feather light Kisses , Gentle care , Love letters , Sweet Nothings , Cherishment , && Pure Love.

Redstringic - a gender related to the concept of the red string of fate. this gender is related to love, the concepts of soulmates ( of any type of love ), && feeling complete.

Agapelic - a gender that embodies agape: godly love, also known as the highest form of love, unconditional and boundless. this gender feels intense and may be connected to divinity, or a godly being that represents agape.

Loverlexic - a lexic gender related / connected to the word ''lover''. this gender may or may not be related to romance, that's up for the user to decide!

Loveincarnic - a gender connected to loving love and loving being a lover.

Rosweetphrasic - A gender related to the phrase "A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet."

[your-absent-father]

Mika Connelly VS the power of love: WIP introduction

Genre: pure comedy, you could call it anti romance

Progress: drafting, in early stages

Themes/Tropes: aroace lead, making fun of stereotypical tropes, unwanted reverse harem, queer characters, themes of being happy with what you have and being happy just being you.

Warnings: creepy teacher, unwanted advances, acephobia, arophobia, that's it at least for now

Plot:

Mika Connelly never thought something like this could happen to her. After pissing off a fortune teller, who was secretly Cupid in disguise, Mika Connelly is forced to live in a teen romance novel so Cupid can prove that everyone falls in love at least someone. Problem is, Mika is aroace, so romance is final thing she could think about.

To escape her rose colored prison, Mika makes a deal with cupid. Cupid has 20 chances to make Mika fall in love. Mika's mission on the other hand, is to make her new love interest not in love with her anymore. If she fails, she is trapped eternally as a high school senior in a warpped version of her old high school.

Characters that aren't love interests:

Mikayla "Mika" Connelly - the forced main character and the manic pixie dream girl. Not interested in romance nor sex. Worked as a bar employee before turning 5 years younger to her old indie loving 18 year old self.

Alma Olenchenko - the quirky best friend. The student body president. Was freshly graduated law school graduate before pushed back into being the bossy president of a small high school.

Hortensia Connelly - step sister and a popular cheerleader. Mika and Tilly had a good relationship in real life but the alternative romance universe pushed Hortensia in a role of the villain. Has a boyfriend that will become one of the love interests.

Cupid - the ancient god of love. Grown up from his baby form into a fairly attractive man who spends his time making anyone he can to fall in love. Very stubborn person and understandably old school because of his age.

There is about 19 love interests so idk if I will introduce all of them lmao. If anyone is interested, I introduce them.

Tag: WIP: MC VS POL

Should I make a taglist? Welp, hit me up if you want to be in one

Tagging some that have been interested in this and other people: @aroacedevilcake @dyrewrites @guessillcallitart

[maskofmilves]

Chapter 2: Intrusive Thoughts

Characters: Chiren, Alita, Joi (Blade Runner 2049)

Fandom(s): Alita Battle Angel x Blade Runner 2049 crossover/Alita sequel (Robert please get on this)

Summary: After the events of Alita: Battle Angel, Chiren wakes up with some memories of what had previously happened to her. A friend from the past helps her become human again. She's greeted with a new companion. Joi. Things happen from there...

Warnings: lots of angst, Joi and Chiren being flirty, Alita being a boss, robot/cyborg stuff, and fluff if you squint. Nova deserves his own warning.

A/n: I don't know how I came up with this concept but I love both Blade runner films and Alita (& the fandom) so much.

About 20 minutes later, Alita came out with a knapsack on her back filled to the brim. Still raining outside but now the weather says signs of thunderstorms on the panel to Chiren’s right on the center console. She had asked for Joi to come back and the program did as asked. Sitting next to her again.

She turned to her in the hope of some conversation in all of it. “How are you doing in all of this?” She asked. Joi gave her a quick smile to break some dismay off of the other’s face.

“I’m managing like you are Doct-”

“Chiren, please. And honestly, I think I'm no doctor anymore.”

“Well just like you, Chiren. Just as confused as you are.” Chiren gave her a look and nodded, leaving it at that.

As soon as Alita opened the door Joi disappeared again. Ready to come back whenever. Alita sat down in the seat next to her. "We don't have much time. Here this is just for caution." She put a pistol in her lap.

"What is this"

"What does it look like?"

"I- alright…I’ve never used one of these things except for one time-”

"You're definitely not wearing a lab coat anymore. You're exposed now. You're at risk just like the rest of us-" A blaster shot hit the window. "Shi-"

Chiren stepped on the gas. Nothing. They must've hacked it. "It's them!"

"Get out and stay covered! Run for the towers!" Fire came upon the windshield again. Alita opened the door and crawled out slowly, same for Chiren. They ran to the alleyways in between the buildings. Still getting shot at. Little did Chiren know their destination was where the adapter was being held.

"Oh I almost forgot to tell you, Nova's still alive."

"What?! Joi, come back please."

Joi appeared right alongside her running with them. "What is going on?"

"We're running from them!" Alita pointed to the gang behind them.

"Oh wonderful, " Joi remarked.

They eventually got there. Running inside everyone looked at them. "Get to the roof! I'll meet you there"

"Where are you g- oh for zalem's sake-" Chiren looked around her. Perfect. The stairwell up. She and Joi opened and shut the stair door behind them and started their climb. She hadn't moved like this in years. Never was that active or had to be. In human years she'd be in her 50s right? Didn't matter anymore really. She noticed how she was moving a bit better than before everything that happened but she was getting tired. 3 floors up she heard them below yelling and shooting upwards. One shot hit the guardrail almost making her lose an ear. They got to the top. The door was locked. Crap. Alright, let's test this body she thought. Standing back and giving it a hard kick before it swung open with ease. This was one of the buildings where they sold several Joi's all over the city for personal and professional use. Alita was getting the adapter now? Not the best time but sure.

“Joi, get the car over here so we can get out of this pile of parts-”

When Chiren stepped through the door and turned her head, one of the gang members was already on the other side waiting for them the whole time. She only froze when there was a blade in her side the moment she stopped talking.

“Gonna kill you just like the old man-”

Chiren quickly drew the blaster Alita had given her earlier and pulled the trigger so it shot straight through his neck, leaving him gasping for air, backing off, he tripped and fell off the roof. Chiren locked it shut, her back against the door ready to hold it in place. Joi looked at her in shock at the wound. Gushing crimson red. Joi went to her, going to hold her hand on it then she remembered she literally couldn’t and all she could do was speak. Chiren started breathing at a rough pace. Looking down she saw the shiv and pulled it out.

“...Why is it red, Joi, it should be blue.”

Joi came up with most likely the correct answer “Maybe- maybe because you’re new? Almost everything inside you is synthetic. So that means your arteries and organs, everything would be red like a human?” Chiren could tell she wasn’t so sure herself but she was going to take her word for it.

Chiren couldn’t hold the door for much longer. The pain was unbearable in her side. The older woman looked down at it. Contemplating what to do with the hunk of metal. Screw it. Her fingers wrapped around it and yanked it out. Like ripping off a bandaid fast. She let out a yelp. Even though she has medical experience and you're supposed to leave it in so you don't bleed out more, she did it anyway. That intrusive thought is really going to ruin her this time if she doesn't make it. She can’t hold it anymore she thought. As soon as she was ready to take pressure off of the door the spinner floated up to the roof with…Alita? Alita driving? Chiren didn’t question it after realizing she could run to her now. The passenger door lifted up. Alita at the wheel.

“Come on!”

Chiren struggled to run because of her wound. The pain rushed throughout that side of her body. Gravel crunching under her boots, she fell right into the seat. Working to get the lower half of her body in the vehicle. Joi watched worried, she looked back to see the door cracking about to get them. Alita pulled her up and closed the door. Joi disappeared but her voice came on in the car.

“She’s been stabbed. She needs immediate medical attention.”

Alita pushes her back into the seat. “How far is her penthouse?”

Chiren spoke up. “15 minutes right?”

“19”

“Whatever, close enough…”

Alita lightly hit her face. “Stay awake!”

Chiren let out a groan. Keeping her hand on her side, the pressure on it lifted, she started drifting off into the darkness once again.

***

She was back in the box again. Alone. In the jar. In the box. No one with her. Nothing to feel. Alita would come back? No, she had other things to do. Motorball, damn sport. But it was one of the only things that would get her to Zalem. Let her go Chiren, let it all go. Accept your fate. Daughter dead. What’s next? There’s nothing left to lose. Nothing. Ido. Back in the clinic. She was there with him. Smiling. The other man came in, looking for drugs, medicine. Turn him away. Kick him out. Turn him away. He can’t hear or see you screaming to save her. Running into the room to get her away. Time wouldn’t let you move huh? Her wheelchair going across the room as he runs out. Holding her in your arms. Her body growing cold. Don’t let the warmth escape. Please no. Wake up.

Wake up.

***

Morning light hit her face. A stride of it hitting her eye just right so she’d wake up. Joi was observing her from the side of the bed kneeling down to the woman's eye level. Chiren's eyes flickered open. Her body was wrapped in the familiar blankets she knew, cover in warmness from her silk sheets. Joi was almost grinning at her for some reason. Just looking at her.

"Stay still," Joi said moving her hand to put a strand of Chiren's hair behind her ear for her.

"You have the adapter?" Chiren asked. Trying to not get flustered over the hair behind her ear. She sat up the feeling of the air hitting her bare stomach caught her attention. Her sweater was gone. Thank goodness for bras. "Where's my-"

"Yes, I have the adapter now. It's inside Alita actually. You have soft skin. I have never felt anyone before and yours was nice. Oh, and yeah while you were passed out we had to disinfect your wound and sew it up." Joi grabbed the folded sweater from Chiren's dresser and handed it to her. "Here let me look at it." She said.

"Thanks. Oh yeah, that’s right, she can plug in a few digital components into her. How long was I out?"

Joi moved the blankets away and lifted the medical tape and gauze. Her slender fingers lingered on Chiren's olive-patterned skin. "Such nice skin" She then ran her fingers over where the scar would be. "It- you were out for only 8 or 9 hours- it healed?- how is it gone already?"

Chiren looked down at it. Touching it herself lots of thoughts ran through her mind. "It's this synthetic stuff. Guess I heal very fast now. Almost inhuman. Not sure if I'm getting better…where's Alita?"

"Kitchen. Can I touch your clothes and things? I know that's a weird question but I have to know what things feel like-"

Chiren didn’t even have to think about it. "Knock yourself out." She got up and put on a slender black shirt from her closet. "And thank you." Walking out of her room she grabbed the sweater and headed to the balcony overlooking Iron City. The breeze was warm and the weather was perfect. Then looking above there was Zalem. She knew Nova was probably watching her every move so she had to be careful. Walking back inside to the kitchen Alita was at the stovetop looking like she was serving something into two bowls.

"What'd you make?"

"Tomato soup. Oh if you were wondering how you're going to pay for this place before Vector died he set up a will in case anything happened to his business the credits would go to you."

"How much?"

"A lot to make you last a very long time." Alita picked up the bowls, walked over, and set them down on the solid table that had a nice view of the city.

Alita sat down. "Eat."

"Pushy" Chiren chuckled to herself. Eagerly eating her soup, she savored the flavors on her taste buds. Her smile soon faded away as she watched Alita look back at her. "What happened to Ido? What really happened to him?"

Alita sighed and took a deep breath. "He was jumped by some low-level guys who were controlled by Nova. He wanted information from him and Ido wouldn't give it to him…when I finally got there it was too late. I tried everything-”

“Where is he now?”

“Zalem. With Nova. Who knows what he’s doing with his body.”

Chiren thought about the whole thing for a second. “That flying car outside, can’t we just fly it up there?”

“No. You’d need a special clearance to get through. Unless there’s some other way in we don’t know about we’re kinda in a hole.”

“Does anyone in Iron City have these special passes?”

“Only delivery people who- no no we’re not doing that.”

Chiren had a grin on her face. “Why?” She said playfully.

“Listen. The tubes are basically useless if Nova sees everything and controls the spikes and stuff.”

“Where’s the nearest distribution center?”

“By the walls. Why are we doing this again?”

“To find out what Nova wants and to see what’s up with the Ido situation.”

“Oh have you noticed?”

Chiren was puzzled. “Noticed what?”

“Joi. I’m pretty sure she’s interested in you.”

“Why do you say that?” Chiren took interest and set down her spoon.

“She was being quite touchy with you while we were sewing you up. When I took your shirt off she instantly ran her hands over you.” Alita laughed. “And she totally volunteered to watch you overnight. She also suggested sewing your sweater which I thought was very kind of her-”

Chiren contemplated this for a bit, with a confused, surprised face. “Alright then. I don’t know what to think right now. I’ll think about it later. Let’s get moving. I’ll go get her.”

She got up and walked in on Joi smelling one of her blouses. Chiren stood there surprised at what she saw in the interesting view in front of her, she blinked in contradiction. “Hey, we’re going. Coming with?”

***

The Zalem shipping center outside the market:

The afternoon sun made it so Chiren just held on to her coat instead of wearing it knowing it would get cold later in the evening. Alita looked at Joi in a weird way as she took a bite of flan at the small shop stand in the downtown market that Chiren bought for her. Right now she was trading a small antique for some everyday things since before she was dismantled everything was provided to and for her. She knew people couldn’t care if her face was placed everywhere with a poster saying she was either dead or alive, or maybe they would if there was a bounty on her head. The person who was running the market agreed to give Chiren a nicely made dagger that extended to a strong sword for one of her expensive bracelets that were probably worth a good lot. People looked at her as if she were out of place. Like she was supposed to be up in Zalem, like she was too much of a pretty face to be there, when she dressed like she was a Zalem resident she would get looks everywhere from the locals but now she was one with the locals in fitting in. “Thank you have a nice day,” The trader said. Chiren smiled and nodded, turning around to see Alita and Joi making conversation. She already told them what she and Alita’s plan was and now Chiren is wondering if they’ll even make it a day without getting killed. Though they almost did last night. ‘Such fun’ She thought. She put her coat back on, starting to get chilly.

“Didn’t know you could eat, since you’re, you know…”

“Oh I didn’t know either till just now”

“Do you like it? What does it taste like to you?”

“I wouldn’t know really, pudding right?”

Chiren walked over and sat down by the fountain they were at, holding a sample of gazpacho from a vendor. “Well, is it good?”

“Very good thank you.” Joi smiled up at her. “I think I really like you, you know?”

“Oh? I like you too Joi,” Chiren paused. “What do you mean by that?”

“Yes, I think you’re very, what’s the word, sweet” Chiren choked on the part of flan she was eating from Alita not knowing what to think. Alita’s big eyes widened and looked away also in the same state of confusion as Chiren.

“Oh? You mean like that?”

“I truly believe so, I’m not supposed to say that am I?”

Chiren let out a chuckle looking down. “You’re more than welcome to say that. And you know what? It’s even okay to love someone.”

Joi looked at her awestricken with love and admiration coming from this woman that she’s only known for 24 hours or so. Chiren looked back to Alita noticing the person who checked his surroundings acting very suspiciously around the warehouse door. Nodding in that general direction, Alita looked over there too. Joi had no clue what was going on, she was in her own world finishing up the flan as happy as she could be looking off into the distance. Chiren stood up and walked to the man looking around making sure to not draw attention. One of the trains she could see from where she was, coming from the badlands, they’re going to have to be careful about this to not get caught. These trains were made so various materials could be transferred from Zalem to Iron City, then back to the farms.

Alita watched her. Motioning for Joi to follow, tugging on her translucent yellow jacket. Chiren walked quietly as possible behind him, there was a crunch under her shoe of a wrapper. A darn chocolate bar wrapper. He turned around seeing her face, making a stunned expression he opened the door he was trying to get into before running inside.

“No, wait!” Chiren shouted, but it was already too late. He made a run for it into the building. Chiren followed him, running after him. She needed this key. Her and Alita have been waiting forever to end Nova, but so many inconveniences have popped up since she and Alita met, it made it basically impossible to even consider, but now that they had this chance, Chiren could get her revenge. She didn't want to be selfish doing it, but Alita deserves to get hers too. Alita and Joi ran after them, running up the metal stairs the train's doors began closing. The man barely made it through the door as it closed. Chiren put her fingers in it, pushing it open with both hands she held it for Alita. She got in looking around for him. Several workers looked at her. All of a sudden their eyes turned a bright blue. One of them stared hard at her.

"Dr Chiren. You're not supposed to be here."

She knew that voice.

[zyafics]

Here at Gigi’s suggestion to ask you for music recs for this fic I can’t get through pls 😌👉👈

for context it’s fluffy and smutty and I desperately need a soundtrack to get me in the mindset

@itneverendshere

I AM DYINGGGG 😭😭😭 gigi knowing my music taste is superior? iktr 🙂‍↕️BUT OKAY OKAY BUT I GOT U BABY I SWEAR MY ENTIRE LIFE WAS LEADING UP TO THIS!! 🤭

Sacrifice by Jessie Reyez, Black Atlass

Apartment by BOBI ANDONOV

Acquainted in The Weeknd

off the table by Ariana Grande, The Weeknd

Feel It by Jacquees, Lloyd, Rich Homie Quan

Next To You by Bryson Tiller

Eleven by Khalid, Summer Walker

Coffee by Miguel

Naked by MALIA

Infrunami by Steve Lacy

Lock by Jess Connelly

My Luv by RINI, Bibi Bourelly

One Of The Girls by The Weeknd, JENNIE, Lily Rose Depp

JEANS by Jessie Reyez, Miguel

Fall In Love by Marshmello, Brent Faiyaz

Win Pon You by Doja Cat

ALL Mine by Brent Faiyaz

those are mostly rnb because i feel like smutty + fluff works with them (and it helps me, personally, get into the mood) but if you wanna do more pop-based, i have a playlist called falling in love with your best friend which lowkey stimulates the feeling?

the playlist!

anyways, i HOPE it helps, i know my music is all over the place and not everyone vibes with it <3