#We could have had a cuts story about two loving Mexicans getting married to each other in a beautiful traditional Mexican wedding-

[chuchayucca]

GhostPepper fan design

This is traced from the Wedding Smashers storyboard. Honestly GhostPepper is the best and I wished Nick didn’t scrapped the Wedding Smashers Ep

App: ibisPaint X

Date: 10/10/23

(Reblogs for appreciated)

[darkwingsofimagination]

I have lots of thoughts and feelings about Madre Solo Hay Dos, and this post is an attempt to express it. Since I'm posting through the android app I can't use the keep reading option, so SPOILER ALERT IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED MADRE SOLO HAY DOS YET.

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So, when I began watching I couldn't find a trailer or a teaser, was relying solely on the small synopsis Netflix gave - which honestly was the best thing for me.

It also meant that at fisrt I was really surprised there was a husband at all not to mention two older kids in Ana's life, but I grew up watching enough mexican telenovelas to know that one way or another things would work out (I surely hoped so). But I liked how the story unraveled.

I was also VERY SURPRISED by Mariana and Elena's relationship because I definitely wasn't expecting Mariana to actually be with a woman before falling for Ana.

Juan Carlos cheating on Ana was both expected and utterly irritating (how could he do that when he had such an amazing wife and family?) And it cannot be justified by the fact she was controlling and workaholic. It just isn't, I mean he knew that control was how she showed love - he said it in episode two - and knowing he met her in university he must have known she was and would still be career driven. And to me that marriage was in the verge of ending and not just because he cheated, but for how he treated her. Always making her feel bad on focusing on having a successful career. I like him as a father, he is pretty good. But as a husband to her he was an asshole. I mean I could understand him asking her stop working a little to spend some time with the baby, for health and bonding issues, (and in a way she did need some rest) but I can't say I liked him in the first episode, because as soon as I knew he cheated that was it. But I tolerated him, he had some nice moments.

Pablo made me so pissed at him for the way he treated Mariana, specially after she said no to him. Although I didn't see him as being manipulative at first, I do agree he seemed to only want Regina if Mariana would go back to him. Besides, the fact he kept competing against Elena (he didn't see Ana coming at all and I really love that lol) irritated me. To me he was clearly treating Mariana as if she were some prize. As if she came back to him would prove he was better than Elena, that Idk Mariana was only with Elena because he left you know? Like getting her back was just to boost his ego - just my opinions. If he could work on not being an ass to Mariana just because she doesn't want to go back with him and still be in Regina's life and for all that's holy if he finally stops listening to the jerks he calls friends he could be tolerable.

I like Elena, I don't love her though, but I like her pretty much, however telling Mariana that she was just confused about how she felt for Ana was a jerk move. I get it, she is hurt and maybe she feels like getting revenge because what Mariana did to her wasn't nice (I mean, it was pretty clear she let Elena assume they were more than just friends who occasionally kissed) but still doesn't justify it. Honestly, I don't even think she should have told Mariana that she noticed she fell for Ana. Mariana needed to that on her own (which she was almost there if the gay panic on her face while she looked at Ana during their "bonding" ritual for Regina's spiritual reception was any indication). What happens is I think that Elena accepeted that she had lost Mariana to Pablo, and to her ir made sense: he was there first (in the sense he was her previous relationship), he was a man, and she was the first woman Mariana ever was with, so maybe she was trying new things and he is Regina's father, maybe she even thought Mariana was still in love with him on some level (which is even sadder, honestly). But seeing Mariana fall in love with Ana, made her realize that Mariana likes women, that she can fall in love with another woman, she just never fell for Elena. So yeah, if they don't make her into a manipulative bitch she could still be an awesome character - my headcannon is both Elena and Pablo getting their heads out of their asses and helping Mariana win Ana back.

All of the men in Ana's life are stupid.

Juan Carlos doesn't appreciate all the effort she puts in trying to be a business woman, a good mother and wife. Neither does Daniel, her ex, seems like he actually understood her. While he read a bit of his book to her she seemed very unconfortable, just as when he talked about not being able to keep up with her. And like he said, her smile is beautiful, yes (the woman is masterpiece of beauty) but she's way more than that. However her ex did look like a fool in love when he saw her again (which Juan Carlos never does) and I guess that's what drove her to him.

I'll save the best for last, so bear with me just a bit more before getting to Ana and Mariana. Before I'd like to talk about Teresa.

Even if I wish Mariana didn't hide from Ana what happened I do understand her. First Tere (beautiful woman, wich honestly this show just slayed me with so many beautiful women) is her mom and she is kinda manipulative (although I'm sure she sometimes means well most of the times she doesn't think about the consequences of her actions) and I don't know, I think as strong and as independent Mari is, she does want to have a family that gets along and people here in Latin America sometimes get in too much of that "family is blood" bullshit, and not only Latinex but the rest of the world seems pretty adamant in having children listen and forgive their parents and carry on toxic parent-child relationships because "they are your parents", which sucks, but it's true. And not only that as much as Ana feels hurt I don't think she would have believed Mariana if she told her. After all in 20 years Juan Carlos never seemed to show any signs of ever being unfaithful to her. Even if it was the right thing to do, it's not the easiest decision. It wasn't just a relationship of a married couple it would affect but also JC's relationship with the children, because it does change their view of the parent - hence he cutting Ana before she said to the children she cheated on him. And yes Tere is her mother and the thing about parents (and other immeadiate family members) is that even if they screw us up all the time we always feel like we have to stand by them someway, somehow. And (and it's a very unpopular opinion and I'm not sure if I'll manage to get my point across very well but I'll try) I guess Mariana felt guilty for what Tere did, not only for keeping the secret but for her actions as well. Mariana is always trying to fix things with and/or for Tere and I guess she might have felt guilty over bringing Tere into Ana's life, even if she knows it's not her fault anything happened... but guilt is something really weird, so yeah. why I think she feels guilty is because, well, I don't know how it is for other people, but when living with manipulative people they managed to make you feel bad for things you have nothing to feel sorry for, not to mention that her attempts of protecting and trusting her mother comes from a feeling of guilty of not being able to trust her - which is also another thing both Pablo and Teresa want from Mariana without ever giving her reason to and then making her feel bad about not being able to trust them.

And finally, what I thought of Ana and Mariana's relationship.

I love how Ana and Mariana balance each other, I like the age difference as well. I thinks it sends a great message as well, not only with the cliché that you may find lkve whenever, but that no matter how old or how young are life happens and you have to deal with it. Being married and having a stable life didn't stop Ana from having her life turned upside down, and the same with Mariana, in her case it just meant that her mess of life got even crazier but that just it.

I love how the relationship between Mariana and the kids just flows naturally as well. And I love how Mariana does support Ana and shows she is happy for her a lot more than her own husband. Even if they are not married they do act like each other's partners, at least to me.

I feel like their relationship begins to shift at the end of the first episode when they decided to live together - and 'Flotando' by Francisca Valenzuela playing during the scene, to me, it's a very beautiful and subtle way to say to us viewers that we can and should expect more from their relationship.

However the second episode it feels to me like it's fundamental, specially for Ana. They both fell very silently for each other, and without noticing and I think Ana began falling when Mariana not only broke her rules but defied her and told her the truth everyone else was afraid to say - and not only that that bond the girl began forming with both Ceci and Ro. I loved how she was super attentive in listening how Pablo was a jerk and then being super protective of both Mariana and Regina when he began coming around - but I also loved that she relented, albeit reluctantly, when she saw that Mariana really thought Pablo could be of importance to Regina. The fact that Mariana was so worried in making sure Ana approved of him showed more of how much she valued Ana's opinion than whatever she may feel for her ex, which to me was step 1 of Mariana falling for Ana, step 2 was definitely the scene where she makes faces at Valentina just so the baby would smile at Ana and the woman could be a little happier, and sideways hug was the cherry on top - the way she feels uncertain of it before doing was very well thought out and executed.

The scene where Ana introduces Mariana and Regina as her other daughter and Valentina's other mother without explaining further than "we are the mothers of the two babies" was really such a heartfelt moment I just died.

I loved how after those initial moments they were constantly checking on each other (I really do love when Ana goes check on Mariana after her disaster of day with Anuar and she gently tucks Mariana's hair out her face in such a beautiful caress).

The scene in which Ana is shocked about how Mariana's date went is definitely one great indication of the fact she was feeling something more (I mean, saying that if she were a man she would definitely hit on her? That has got to be the oldest play on the book, the famous "I'd kiss you if I weren't straight"). Also on the same episode but before the horrible date, she did ask Mariana to never again say she wasn't attractive, which I also saw as something more, 'cause she was able to read between the lines. Mariana out loud said she wasn't sure about her body, not really saying she didn't feel pretty but one could read it. I think it meant something because Ana seems not that much of an expert reading people, so to be able to be so certain would mean she really paid attention. When Ana said Mariana should try with someone she trusted I think that she wanted it to be hed, even if she didn't realize yet. Or maybe did. In the episode where she takes time off before accepting her promotion there's a scene after she wakes up that Juan Carlos begins to kiss her, clearly intending to have sex (and they did have it) but her face is like "god this is boring/I don't think I really want to" that just makes me think ok, maybe she's already realizing she wants someone else (I had this impression). The episode where they go away and not only Mariana manages to convince everyone to go without being intrusive it's really nice, I also loved how fast Ana embraced everyone else as family for Mariana and Regina. The pool scene, oh my, I melted. First how pissed Ana was to know that Tere got distracted and Mariana almost drowned and how she instantly went after Mariana to chek on her, and not only trying to calm her about the water, listening to her about her fears and at the end asking if she trusted her (like I said before I really think she already wanted Mariana and knew it) and then the way they looked at each other whilst in the pool with the babies. Perfect!

Ana feeding Mariana the baby food was the cutest, and I know she said the girls weren't ready to be parted because she was afraid of she might have cancer I really do think she also meant because she wanted them there (let's not forget the lengths she went to make Mariana stay when Juan Carlos said he thought it was time to get back to normal).

Ana's "Te amo" makes lots of people think it came out of nowhere, but I don't think so. I really do believe she fell in love with Mariana, silently and without even noticing - the lingering gazes and gentle touches are some indication - and while she was drugged and asked Mariana to promise her to take care of the girls and she did I guess it hit her right then and there how much she fell for her and you know, most people do say that when you're drunk or high you tend to do and say the things you really want to because your filter just doesn't work. So yeah, I admit to me it was both unexpected and not at all.

I keep wondering if Mariana would have told Ana that she kissed her had she not told her she needed to do the biopsy to rule out cancer. Either way I love everything about the scene. How grateful Ana is to know that she can count on Mariana and how fearful Mariana looks. I loved that Mariana just stopped everything to accompany Ana to the hospital.

I loved that Mariana never for one second seemed to think of saying yes to Pablo and how even with all of her mother bs she refused to live with them because Ana needs her.

The baptism is the peak. Their bonding ceremony is not only wedding vows worthy but it's also the it finally hits Mariana that she fell for Ana, and I just love the gay panic she clearly has. I love her face of fool in love when Ana goes to her friends and how happy both of them look while holding the girls through the ceremonies.

Even if I'm very grateful for the declaration and the kiss we got - highlight for the lightning of this scene. The way the sun hits them helps give the impression that they will work it our - however Mariana should've processed her feelings first but I get her, she was afraid of losing Ana without a fighting chance - both for not telling and for Ana may having cancer. That scene is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking with both of them so miserable. The ending is one more proof of how well this show knows to pair scenes and songs. Cobarde's lyrics is so perfect it feels like it was made for the scene (or perhaps the scene was thought for the song).

I really hope we get these two together in season 2 - however I love me some angst, and usually is what we get, so I think that Ana's tests will come back positive and that Mariana will go back to take care of her and things will go on from that.

And that was my TedTalk, thank you for having the patience to read the ramblings of a very enthusiastic viewer.

[shiftyskip]

Joseph “Joe” David Liebgott

The Real Joseph Liebgott:

Joseph David Liebgott was born in Lansing, Michigan in May 17, 1915 to Joseph (Josef) Liebgott Sr and Mary. Joseph Liebgott Sr was of German descent, but he was born in Beresztocz, Hungary. Joe’s mother was Yugoslavian, but was reported as born in either Yugoslavia or Hungary I am not sure which one because records show both. On his father’s side his grandparents were Yugoslavian as well. On his mother’s sider, they seem to be from Hungary. His mother immigrated in 1909, Lieb’s father immigrated in 1912.

Below is a picture believed to be his parents. 

 He was the oldest of his siblings. He has four sisters: Mary, Elizabeth, Anna, and Barbara, and one brother, Stephen/Steffen . Both of his parents spoke German, which would later help him during the war. His father worked in the auto industry before they moved. 

His family soon moved to California around 1927 and his dad became a barber. He was the oldest of his siblings, one brother and four sisters. He was extremely protective of his younger sisters

Liebgott and his siblings attended Catholic schools. This is where learned how to box and played soccer.

After high school, Liebgott drove a taxi around San Francisco. This career was temporary and he soon attended barber college.

He was also previously married before the war. He was married in July 31, 1933  to  a woman named Frances. They had one child, David Albert together on February 27, 1934. But the couple soon divorced within a year, and he was living with his family again by 1940, where he was working on a forestry project. Meanwhile his ex-wife and son moved into her family. Here is Joe and Frances:

He eventually became a barber and this was his career when he enlisted at the age of 26. Liebgott chose the paratroopers to be able to make more money to be able to put a down payment on his parents’ house. 

Included is a photo of Joe and his mother

He has a Jewish service card, registered under his mother’s name. But his family denied he was Jewish, stating he was a German Roman Catholic. I’ll attach it below (filtered for safety). 

In his draft card he is listed as 5 feet and 5 inches tall and was 109 pounds. He had blue-grey eyes and brown hair.

Malarkey remembers meeting Liebgott on his way to Toccoa where they became part of the original Toccoa men. Liebgott was trained under the harsh command of Herbert Sobel.

Liebgott didn’t talk much about the war, so there will be little but other’s words to put here. This is a photo from 1945 in France.

Right before the jump out of the airplane, he put his barber skills to use and gave a few of the men Mohawks. 

He would jump out of the airplanes with the rest of the men on June 6, 1944. He received the bronze star for his bravery at Brecourt Manor, where he worked with Winters and several other men, Compton, Guarenere, Wynn, Lipton, Toye, Malarkey, and Ranney to destroy a German Battery firing on Utah Beach on the day of the D-Day Invasion.

He cut off the finger of a German that he had bayoneted and took the man’s ring near Carentan. At Carentan, Ed Tipper was seriously wounded after clearing out a house with Liebgott. Liebgott grabbed Tipper, yelled for a medic, and told Tipper that he’d be okay. Welsh and Lieb dragged Tipper into the street until Welsh could get him back to the aid station.

After Brecourt, Compton recalls a painful memory with Liebgott in his book, Call of Duty, Compton and Liebgott were patrolling along hedges at dusk. Across the way, in another set of hedges were two men. Both were dressed in German ponchos, one was holding a German gun. Assuming that these men were in fact German, he and Liebgott shot the men. Come to find out, when they checked their dog tags, they were not Germans. They were Americans. They had just killed fellow soldiers in friendly fire.

October 5, 1944. Winters sent a few Youmen out on patrol to take an outpost near a windmill. Liebgott and a few other men (James Alley among them) went with Sgt. Youmen. They sent one man ahead, to look out over the dike. The man spotted German machine guns. German voices approached the remaining boys. Lieb called out for the Youman, as we was trailing behind, only to have grenades thrown at him and the other men. Liebgott got minor wounds while James Alley received 32 shrapnel wounds in his left side, stretching from his face down. They’d run into a company of SS.

Liebgott was known for being rough with prisoners, the fighting that followed the injuries wit the SS company was a prime example of this. After Winters led his patrol to attack these Germans, in which during the fighting they lost William Dukeman, 7 Germans surrendered. The most famous story of Liebgott is as follows, in Dick Winter’s words.

As Winters explains in his book, “Tech/5 Joseph D. Liebgott had been slightly wounded in the arm, but he was ambulatory so I assigned him the mission of escorting seven German prisoners to the rear. Liebgott had earned the reputation of being one of Easy’s best combat soldiers, but we had all heard stories that he was very rough on prisoners. Liebgott was one of Easy Company’s “killers,” so I deemed  it appropriate to take a bit of caution. When he heard me say, “Take the prisoners back to the battalion command post,” he replied. “Oh, boy! I’ll take care of them.” In his exuberance, Liebgott stood up and paced back and forth and he was obviously very nervous and concerned. I stopped him in his tracks. “There are seven prisoners and I want seven prisoners turned over to battalion.” Liebgott was highly incensed and started to throw a tantrum.Somewhat unsure of how he would react, I then dropped my M-1 to my hip, threw off my safety, and said, Liebgott, drop all your ammunition and empty your rifle.” There was much grumbling and swearing, but he did as I had ordered. “Now,” I said, “you can put one round in your rifle. If you drop a prisoner, the rest will jump you.””

Liebgott got all 7 prisoners back.  

Joe would recover in a hospital in England with Webster, but he was back before Bastogne. Here is the record for that: 

Name:Joseph D Liebgott Race:White, includes Mexican (White) Rank:Enlisted Man Admission Age:29 Birth Date:abt 1915 Admission Date:Oct 1944 Discharge Date:Nov 1944 Military Branch:Infantry, Parachute Troops or Units Diagnosis:FirstLocation: Ulna, generally; CausativeAgent: Artillery Shell, Fragments, Afoot or unspecified Type of Injury:Casualty, battle Injured in Line of Duty:In line of duty Type of Discharge:Duty Length of service:2 Year(s), 6 Month(s)

In Bastogne, Winters made him a runner to get away from the tension and constant stress of fighting.  One story of his service was outside of Foy is the battle of Noville, he and Earl Hale ducked into a barn and took 6 SS officers prisoner. Outside the barn, a shell exploded. One of the SS officers took this as an opportunity and jumped Hale. He slit Hale’s throat. Liebgott instantly shot and killed the officer. He then killed the others. Hale survived miracuously. 

At some point, before the end of the war, Liebgott became first platoon’s interpreter-radioman. This was because he could speak some German. But Webster claimed in his book that the German’s didn’t understand his Yiddish. 

He was with Webster when they took Hitler’s Nest. They spent their time drinking Hitler’s alcohol together with a few other men. He was living with Headquarters Company while there.  

Of course, the war came to an end and everyone who wanted to was discharged.

Over the course of the war, Lieb was injured 3 times and won 3 purple hearts. He refused one because the wound was “just a scratch”. He would receive partial disability for his wounds.

When he returned home, he disappeared for two years. Eventually he was found living in  Yuma, California. He didn’t come to reunions, even when offered multiple times. His father simply told the vets “not to mess with him”. 

After the war, Liebgott was a barber for a short time. He married again to a woman named Peggy in 1949. They had eight kids together. Making Lieb’s total children come to nine, although he was mostly involved with the last eight. They lived on a barber’s salary, not leaving much room for fun activities but everyone had their basic needs met. He often  only had one day a week off and would take his kids to a Long Beach pike, where they would visit an amusement park. 

Liebgott liked to bet on the ponies at the racetrack. Every other sunday, him and his boss would take the boss’ airplane down to Mexico.

He is believed to have never contacted anyone from his days in Easy Company. He just wanted to get away from the war. 

The Liebgotts divorced in  April of 1969. She remarried, but he never did. He was described as really quiet by his granddaughter. 

She states, in Marcus Brotherton’s book Company of Heroes (pages 120-121) “His hands looked like a man who worked with his hands, sunspots all over. He absolutely loved his grandkids. he had false teeth that he flipped out of his mouth and smiled, threatening to kiss us with his gums. He was a tickler. He never held babies over his shoulder...because he wanted them to see everything....He didn’t have a lot of money - I’m pretty sure all he had was his veteran’s benefits...He made all of the bikes for the grandkids by scouring thrift stores for dilapidated bikes. He stripped the bikes down to their frame, fixed and assembled them as good as new. He let each grandchild pick the color of new paint for his or her bike....I always knew the specific foods we were going to eat at his house. He had bite-sized candy bars and store brand soda-pop. There was no drinking water in his house. He always lived in rental houses...” 

He was very neat, and keep his house and appearance orderly. However, he was always working in the garage, so the house had black smudges from the dirt on his hands. 

However, Liebgott was not perfect. While he hated the Nazis, he was also seen as a bigot, maybe even harsher. Rhonda explained that he threw the n word around like it wasn’t a big deal. He blamed the wrong goings of the world on different ethnic groups. Rhonda started seeing a guy from El Salvador, he asked if her partner “even spoke English?”

As he grew older, Lieb got sicker. He eventually lost the use of one of his legs from a hernia. He was confined to a chair and hated any new technology. He was stuck in a wheelchair, angry when he would hit a cabinet. 

Lieb did not talk about his military career until towards his end. He would spend time with his son Jim, watching tv talking about the war during a war movie.  He would talk about the war when he was mad, possibly angry at himself for doing a lot of killing and other things that people his age shouldn’t have to do.

In 1992, Liebgott developed a tumor in his neck, near his windpipe that would cause a lot of pain. Jim took him to the hospital on Father’s Day. Shortly later, on June 28, 1992 Liebgott died. He was against a funeral and just wanted to be cremated, so his family did as he wished. They still have his ashes and letters and the Toccoa book. 

[deberiaestarescribiendo]

Saint Jude's Miracle: A Javier Peña x OFC (Isa) FanFic

Summary: After leaving Colombia and the DEA for good, Javier Peña lives a completely different life that he never expected: He's married to Isa, has a beautiful little girl, Elvira, and the perfect suburban house with a mortgage he will be paying for the rest of his life. But when he discovers a shady company acting as a front for the Mexican cartels he has to team up with his old colleagues and relive the old Javi he thought died when he gave up the gun and the badge. How will he protect his family from the violence and the horrors he thought forgotten? And how can he avoid falling again into the old habits?

A/N: Hi! This is my first ever ever Fanfic! That’s how crazy Javi Peña got me. I love his character so much and, though I really love his arc on the show, I couldn’t stop thinking about what happens after, so this is my take. This is no beta’d so it comes from my Spanish speaking brain directly to you, I’ve revised BUT surely there are mistakes, sorry!

Warnings: Domestic Javi (yep that’s a warning), smoking, mentions of anxiety, mention of violence (later chapters, I think this one hasn’t), swearing, very light smut (a bit of masturbation, kisses and all the nice stuff). Cursive for internal thoughts. Let me know if I’ve forgotten anything, thanks!

Word count: 1,5k

El conticinio

Spanish. noun: Hour in the night where everything is in silence.

He stops the car at the side of the road. The neighborhood is calm, almost dead silent at midnight. It’s a small moment of peace, interrupted only by the annoying buzz stuck inside his brain. Javier puts his face on the steering wheel, focusing only on his breathing, 4 seconds each time.

Inhale

Exhale

Inhale

Exhale

Sometimes he wishes it could always be midnight, when he’s able to stop thinking, when nobody knows him or expects something from him. Just be able to breath and leave his head empty. Finally, he stands up ready to face reality again and grabs his jacket from the copilot seat, and gets out of the car. He takes a deep breath inhaling the scent of the recently cut grass and the neighbor’s pool’s chlorine. He guesses that this counts as “breathing fresh air” as the doctor suggested in order to de-stress, but, God, Javi does want the toxic air of a cigarette inside his chest.

He had stolen an almost empty packet of Marlboros from one of the jerks at the office. Fuck him and fuck my lungs he thinks while lighting one. He gives it a long drag, the nicotine kicking fast and he sighs when the smoke gets out of him, he can even picture part of the shit that pollutes him exiting his body. It’s like an exorcism; one that he would have to do many times a day if he really wants to expel all his demons, and one that would eventually kill him.

He finishes smoking in silence in front of the house. His home is a two-story, white painted house that he will be paying for more years than he expects to live.

Savoring the last puff he throws it on the pavement and steps on it before heading inside. He tries not to make any sound when he enters his home. Leaving the jacket and the shoes in the kitchen, he sees the rest of lasagna waiting for him on the table carefully covered with cling-film. Surely Isa thought he was coming earlier and that he would be hungry, suddenly he feels a little bit guilty. He had forgotten to call her and warn her.

Carefully he climbs the stairs trying not to step on any toy. Elvi is a good kid, but she can create a mess in an instant and leave the house as if a tornado had come in. To the right, the pinkish light shines of stars and moons all over Elvira's room. She hugs her unicorn plush and sleeps with her lips parted, peacefully. Javi gets in the room and kisses his daughter softly on her crown and runs his fingers through her dark and soft hair. She smells of Johnson&Johnson shampoo and that sweet particular scent that is only hers and that reminds him of when she was just a baby.

Inhale

Exhale

Fuck I missed her. He should be arriving earlier so he can see her awake and hug her tight and listen to whatever she did during the day. He certainly enjoys watching those big brown eyes shine bright when he comes through the door. A warm feeling he thought he would never feel or certainly that he doesn’t deserve to have. But here they are; a suburban family. Who would have thought?

He approaches the master room up front less enthusiastically. He doesn’t want to wake his wife up. Elvira is aware of his absence but she is content with whatever attention her dad gives her, and for now, Javier is the greatest father in the world. Winning the title for “greatest husband” is a tougher task.

The small light on her nightstand illuminates Isabel asleep tugged under the covers like a small ball, with her knees close to her chest. She breathes slowly, her long black hair over the pillows, he is tempted to kiss her head as he did with his child but the docile and sweet image of his wife sleeping is a completely different version of her being awake. He just turns off the lamp and proceeds to undress in complete silence. The bed creaks under his weight and she moves a little but continues to sleep soundly when Javi gets under the covers. His back hurts when the tightness in his muscles begins to soften over the mattress.

"You're late" Isa says her voice muffled by the pillows.

"Shh, I'm home, good night" Javi whispers to calm her.

With her eyes still closed she turns sluggishly towards him and passes her left arm over his chest resting her head on his shoulder.

"Where were you?"

"I had to stay for an op"

He pats her hair and adjusts himself to find a comfortable position, his lower back killing him with every movement.

"An op?" She opens her eyes abruptly. Shit. He could have said any other thing; he could’ve lied as it’s begging to be the routine.

"Just to counsel" he closes his eyes to make her understand that the conversation is over.

"To counsel you had to stay until late at night?" She is raising her head now, eyes fixed on him squinting.

"Well, raids are usually at the most inconvenient time, you know" Bad time to play smartass, Peña he thinks

"Javi..." The room is dark but he can sense her honey eyes turn greenish, it happens every time she gets mad.

"I swear"

She rubs his belly softly and lays her head again on his chest with a grunt. For a moment he thinks she has decided to leave it there, but she brushes her nose and lips over his neck, smelling him.

"You have smoked" he tries to ignore her by faking being asleep, but she taps him on his right shoulder.

"Javier"

"They were smoking in the car"

"What?" She sits on the bed, arms crossed over her chest

"Elvira's sleeping, don't shout" he hushes her knowing damn well it’s going to get her even madder.

"That's two lies you've told me in less than 2 minutes, Javier"

"I'm not lying" he arises a little with a grunt. Here we go again, shit

"You told me that: one" she raises one finger "you were going to counsel the police from time to time. And now you tell me you were on a raid? And second" she raises another finger "you think that I'm an idiot that I don't know that you've smoked?" Isa turns to face him, she frowns and Javier can feel her feet tapping nervously under the sheets.

When he doesn’t answer right away she adds "you know what the doctor said"

"I know"

"Then?"

Javier knows better as to answer that with any kind of excuse. He knows also why she gets that angry at him; she cares, deeply. She loves you, idiot, don’t know why or how it happened, but she does, he thinks

He approaches her stroking her arms, and resting his head on the space between her collar bone and her neck. She is stiff and doesn’t react to his touch. Her face contorted with her gaze avoiding him.

"I'm sorry" he kissed her earlobe. “Really sorry” he repeats, with every apology he plants a kiss on her frown, her cheeks, her nose and her lips.

"So very sorry" he brushes softly his lips over hers but she closes hers tightly.

Sighing, Javier hugs her from the side and draws circles with his fingers over her cleavage and then trails downwards over her sternum to finally place his hand on her stomach. “I should have told you. I apologize, Isa” He begins to rub his palm over her hips bones and the hem of her silk nightgown comes higher and higher revealing her underwear.

"You have some nerve" Isabel blurts out, but Javi can feel her heart already beating faster.

"Let me make up for it" Javier strokes the lace elastic band of her panties with his index finger. His brown dark eyes look at her expecting her refusal, but she bites her lower lip and moves her hips against him impatiently. Her husband rushes to kiss her and this time she parts her lips welcoming him with eager moans.

"I’m still mad" she moans

One of Javi’s hands softly brushes her core over the fabric feeling her heat and arousal.

"I think you've missed me" he grins on her ear.

Isabel rolls her eyes at his proud expression and shuts him up crushing her lips onto his, savoring him with her tongue.

Javier increases his touch slipping her panties to the side. But suddenly, Isa takes control and straddles him; her eager kisses cover their moans while she lowers her hands towards his briefs.

"Don't ever lie to me again"

"Yes, ma'am"

[darling-i-read-it]

Mexican Food

Bruce Wayne x reader

Word Count: 1.7k

Warnings: some fighting

Author’s Note: Finally sat down and wrote something long as fuck oh my gosh but I needed to show my love for baby boy Christian Bale you know

Summary: You and Bruce are both vigilantes but don’t know the other is one

Genre: fluff

(not my gif)

You learned the hard way how Batman got things done in the night. You had known Bruce for so long that you thought you knew everything about him, inside and out and vice versa. Friends since middle school and grown into quite the power duo in business.

But you were both keeping secrets and figuring them out always threatened your friendship.

One you were both madly in love with one another. That could be seen by anyone who even simply glanced at the two of you in conversation at any event. You walked around the room like a married couple greeting guests but that wasn’t the big give away. The eyes usually told people what they needed to know about your feelings.

Two that you were both terrible vigilantes that were tiptoeing around telling the other.

Bruce promised Alfred he was going to tell you and you promised Alfred you were going to tell Bruce.

Alfred who had spent a long point of his life watching the two of you lie to each other about the most important things, was just about fed up but he was willing to give it a while longer just to see who gave in first.

You ran a hand through your hair and slipped on your dark mask. You were nearly as deadly as the Batman these days and often people tried to get to him before they got to you because at least he didn't’ kill people. You didn’t often show as much mercy as him.

Your phone rang on your bedside table and you let out a sigh, turning away from the window and walking over there, your boots hitting the floor was little noise. You picked up the phone and a selfie Bruce had taken on your phone lit up the screen. He was making a rare funny face and you were just cut out of the photo but you could still see your hair in the corner. You slid to answer it and put the phone to your ear.

Only three streets away from where you were Bruce was in the Batmobile calling you to see what you were doing for dinner. He was wearing most of his suit, minus the helmet and driving around the streets of Gotham for something specific.

“Hey, are you up for Mexican for dinner? I’ve been dying for some chips and dip,” he said, taking a sharp left turn. You climbed out your third story window onto the edge of the building, looking down and holding the phone to your ear. People in Gotham very rarely looked up.

“Only if you get Alfred to order it because neither of us ever remember what we want,” you told him before climbing down swiftly and landing on the ground of the sidewalk. You sulked to the alley way and then back up the fire escape on that building to the roof.

“You always get the enchiladas with like no cilantro,” he said absentmindedly. You rolled your eyes.

“And you always get forty tacos and yet we can never seem to order for ourselves. Tell Alfred to order for me because I am busy.”

“What on Earth could you be busy doing?” He made a sharper turn that made his car just pass you. You were on the roof now and caught sight of the Batmobile as you walked across the hard ground.

“Oh you know, girly things, painting my nails and reading a magazine. What are you up to where you can’t order?” He laughed and his car came to a screeching halt outside of a building that was currently being badly robbed by some people who were going around the town every night these days.

“Had to get some business deal done late. I’ll see you at mine in thirty?” You started your descent down the other fire escape of a different building.

“Make it 25 babe.”

You hung up and helped yourself to a back window just as Batman was coming up the front door and knocked over a man with money in his hands. You moved a bystander behind you and stalked forward to grab an unsuspecting robber and banging his head against a teller's desk before taking his gun.

“Little low maintenance for Batman I thought,” you said with a small laugh.

You and Batman had a thing for seeing each other in the worst of times and you had a squabbling relationship. You liked running into him though. Something about him intrigued you.

Batman hated you because your voice was so familiar it made him go nuts. He thought he knew you and then he didn’t and then he thought maybe he did.

“Knew you could be here to annoy me,” he said, his deep voice echoing. You kicked one of the other men down and took the money and tossed it to the Bat. He just caught the bag.

“Ah ever the gentlemen,” you teased. You moved across the room and after a few more minutes of contained fighting and teasing all the men were either dead or tied up on one side of the room. You stood beside the Bat, breathing heavily slightly and then turning to him, sizing him up.

He turned to you and just because you knew those lips and you had never been so close to the Batman before and you just knew it. You turned to face him all the way just as he started turning away to leave the innocents a chance to clean up while he was gone.

“What are you doing later tonight?” you asked, testing out your theory. He looked surprised.

“Tacos,” he said without thinking.

“Bruce?!” His eyes went wide.

“Y/N?” he whispered, screamed. You laughed and tugged once more on the rope that held one of the living men in captivity. The police sirens illuminated the wall and you walked out of the front door this time around and to the Batmobile passenger seat. It took him a minute to get in as well and drive away before the police caught up to the two of you. He took off the helmet and you took off yours, helping your hair down a bit.

“My Bruce. Batman! This is why you couldn’t get my Mexican,” you teased. He rolled his eyes.

“Does Alfred know who you are?”

“Yes. Does Alfred know who you are? Batman?” you asked. He nodded stiffly, the cogs in his head probably reeling.

“I did tell him to order your Mexican by the way.” He took a turn to Wayne Enterprises. You put your feet on the dashboard.

“I can’t believe Batman got someone to order my dinner. Man Brucie,” you teased. He finally cracked a smile.

“And you? You’re the big vigilante too aren’t you, the new one everyones been going on about?” You shrugged.

“If I am?”

“You are!”

You laughed and he went into some part of the building you had never seen. You sat up, surprised that there was anything about his home you hadn’t seen and yet here you were in what seemed to be some cave. You laughed and got out of the car when he parked and he did too, looking odd in the suit without the mask.

You looked across the room and saw various things that you had only seen on the news.

“High maintenance as always. I’ll be coming down here to raid but I need a shower and some food.”

“I have some of your clothes up in my room,” he said and the two of you sleuthed up there to the shower of his room and took one right after he did, the two of you in comfier clothes still unable to get over the things you had found out the night but too hungry to care. You sat on his bed over some take out that Alfred made you get from downstairs.

You ate one of his tacos and your wet hair dripped onto your back as you sat in silence.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me that you were my masked bestie as well as my real bestie,” you teased. Bruce looked up at you. It was dark and you could only see him through his bedside lamp and some moonlight coming through the open balcony.

“You seem okay with it,” he pointed out after swallowing a bit of a taco.

“Explains the scars. This one especially,” you muttered, moving your finger to trail down his neck to the hidden piece under his neck. He watched your face as your eyes moved with your finger.

“And yours.”

He cupped your cheek with his hand and you let in a sharp breath as his finger brushed the small scar on your eyebrow. Your eyes linked with his and there was nothing between you but meak air.

“Bruce,” you whispered. He didn’t say anything but instead just moved forward and kissed you softly. It was the most perfect kiss you had ever had and that was saying something. Bruce knew what he was doing.

Not to mention he probably enjoyed the kiss more than you.

You had to pull away after a moment but your eyes remained closed and your hand gripped the neck line of his shirt.

“Can you stay?” he asked. You gave him a look and he rolled his eyes. “Just to hang out.” You laughed and moved the plates off the bed to the floor and then got up to turn off the lights. You jumped onto the bed and he laid down as well, the two of you looking at each other but not touching.

“Tired,” you muttered.

“Come ‘ere.” He pulled you toward him and you landed on his chest. You had never felt more at ease.

“Bruce?”

“Hm?”

“Can I borrow the Batmobile?”

“No.”

“I’ll kiss you again.”

“Maybe once.”

Bruce Wayne: @everyday-imfangirling

[headachebrain]

I watched the first two episodes of the new Saved by the Bell – and that’s enough

The 2020 Saved by the Bell reboot was made for me – an older millennial that grew up on the original Saved by the Bell and would enjoy every second of the nostalgia. I’ve been describing myself as a Saved by the Bell-ologist. I know everything there is to know about the original show and all of the spinoffs and reboots that have aired over the years. Let’s look at how many reboots there have been:

Saved by the Bell started as ‘Good Morning, Miss Bliss’ in 1989, so basically the Saved by the Bell we know today is a reboot in itself

Saved by the Bell: The New Class ran from 1993 – 2000 with a rotating cast that included Mr. Belding and Screech being a bumbling comedic duo

Saved by the Bell: The College Years ran from 93-94 following Zach, Screech Kelly and Slater in college. All I remember about this spin-off is that Slater realized he was Mexican.

The movies: Hawaiian Style (where the gang has to save Kelly’s grandfather’s resort) and of course Wedding in Las Vegas where Kelly and Zack get married. I remember I cried.

So I was excited to watch the 2020 version – I’ve been watching Saved by the Bell reboots since I was eight years old. From the trailer of the 2020 version, the original cast – Zack, Kelly, Jessi and Slater (Screech is in jail and it looks like Lisa shows up later in the season) return to Bayside and work with 2020 teens.

The reboot is airing in the U.S. on the Peacock streaming service but here in Canada the episodes come out weekly so I’ve only see the first two episodes.

And I think I’m good.

I loved the pilot. It was excellent – smart, funny, full of callback’s from the original show, the original cast looking plastic and beautiful. I’m not sure if a 15 year old who has never seen the original would get it. But anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself. 

Daisy and Aisha are cool, smart brown girls from a low income high school who have to go to Bayside because Governor Zack Morris cut the education budget. Zack and Kelly’s son goes to Bayside, Slater is the gym teacher and Jessi is the guidance counsellor, her son also goes to Bayside. They’ve also perfectly recreated the main Bayside hallway, the Max and Mr. Belding’s office. We follow Daisy and Aisha as they enter this new world of rich kids, overbearing white parents while trying to fit in – a perfect fish out of water story. It also made me realize how white the original Saved by the Bell was. While I was watching I kept thinking, this is what it would have been like if I went to Bayside as a teen. I totally wouldn’t fit in. As a little kid watching the show, of course I connected with Lisa. She was so pretty, she was rich, she had the best outfits and knew all the hot gossip – I wanted to be her. I never thought about the fact that she was the only Black girl in school and never had any boyfriends (I can only remember two times they brought a Black boy on the show for Lisa to date, one super smart guy who wanted to change her and another guy who ended up being in grade nine. They lasted one episode each). Aisha and Daisy do not belong at Bayside but they try their damn hardest to fit in. To me this is where the show shines. If it was just about Daisy and Aisha navigating through Bayside and the adventures they get in to, I’d be in to it. But they’re just part of a huge cast of characters I found I did not care about.

The entire time I watched the pilot, I kept wondering “who is the Zack?” At first I thought it was Zack’s son, Mac Morris (ha. ha) but then Daisy is the one who looks at the camera and does the “time outs.” It was funny at first but eventually it became a device for her to talk to the camera, which was not what it was used for in the original show. In the original show Zack used it to get out of situations or try to wrap his mind about what’s going on. He also didn’t use it very often. In the first two episodes I saw, she used it like four times.

But I’m being picky.

I really enjoyed the pilot, even the High School Musical part with Devonte, a Black kid from the poor school who everyone thinks wants to play football but actually ends up auditioning for the school musical. I could buy that Daisy’s mom makes her use Zack’s huge, 90’s cell phone. It was 45 minutes of fun nostalgia.

But episode two I checked out.

I don’t care about Jessi’s son. I don’t care about Zack’s son. I don’t care about Slater’s difficulties coaching the football team. It made me think that maybe this premise would be good as a movie or a sketch but anything longer was too much. It got stale.

But I’m going to keep watching. Maybe my opinion will change. Since I’m in Canada, I can only watch the episodes two at a time anyway. 

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

The Vineyard at Painted Moon by Susan Mallery

 Emotion laden, deeply moving, intensely poignant, well crafted – this story grabbed me and didn’t let me go till I finished at 3am. I felt so much and at times wanted to jump into the pages to “fix” things knowing that the author would bring things right for at least some of the characters by the end of the book…or at least I hope she would! This is a story of love, loss, growth, endurance, values, goals and family. It is a keeper and one I would reread in the future.

 What I liked:

* Mackenzie:  dedicated, focused, interesting. She has been stymied for a while and may need to move on from the safe haven she has lived within for over a decade and a half. She has a rough time of it but comes through rather brilliantly in the end.

* Catherine: sister-in-law to Mackenzie, loving, kind, in tune with the earth, grounded, warm, creative…really liked her.

* Stephanie: sister-in-law to Mackenzie, divorced, mother of two teens, stuck in a rut and trying to move forward but it isn’t easy for her to do so. She is Mackenzie’s best friend and has been since college.

* Bruno: wealthy, attractive, investor, wine distributor, and intriguing. He is warm, a good friend, caring, communicates brilliantly and is perfect for the woman he ends up with.

* Kyle: a good father, professional, a bit selfish…divorced from Stephanie and father of her children

* Rhys: not a bad guy, married to Mackenzie, wants what is best for both of them, a bit heavy handed at times and sometimes rather clueless…and also selfish, perhaps.

* Georgio: a good man, loving, kind, generous, and perfect for the right woman – the boyfriend of Barbara (mother-in-law of Mackenzie)

* The close relationships that were friendly, warm, and caring.

* That there was growth in a number of characters.

* The dynamics between various individuals and groups.

* The way verbalization of feelings, thoughts, and insight into the characters

* Learning a bit more about the winemaking business.

* The setting – love that area of the world!

* All of it really except…

 What I didn’t like:

* Barbara: I won’t give details but if you read the book you will probably feel the same

* Lori: daughter of Barbara and quite a bit like her, I fear.

* The sadness I felt as I empathized with Mackenzie.

 Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read more by this author? Definitely

 Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequen (HQN) for the ARC – This is my honest review.

 5 Stars

BLURB

MacKenzie Dienes's life isn't perfect, but it's as close as she could ever hope to get. Her marriage to Rhys, her best friend's brother, is more friendship than true love. But passion is highly overrated, right? And she loves her job as the winemaker at Bel Apres, her in-laws' vineyard. So what if it's a family business and, even after decades of marriage and incredible professional success, she's still barred from the family business meetings? It's all enough...until one last night spent together leads to an incredibly honest—and painful—conversation. Rhys suggests that they divorce. They haven't had a marriage in a long time and, while he wants her to keep her job at Bel Apres, he doesn't think they should be married any longer. Shocked, MacKenzie reels at the prospect of losing the only family she's ever really known...even though she knows deep in her heart that Rhys is right.

But when MacKenzie discovers she's pregnant, walking away to begin a new life isn't so easy. She never could have anticipated the changes it would bring to the relationships she cherishes most: her relationship with Barbara, her mother-in-law and partner at Bel Apres, Stephanie, her sister-in-law and best friend, and Bel Apres, the company she's worked so hard to put on the map.

MacKenzie has always dreamed of creating a vineyard of her own, a chance to leave a legacy for her unborn child. So when the opportunity arises, she jumps at it and builds the Vineyard at Painted Moon. But following her dreams will come at a high price—one that MacKenzie isn't so sure she's willing to pay…

  EXTRACT

Chapter One

“Not that what you’re wearing isn’t great, but the party starts in an hour.”

Mackenzie Dienes looked up from the grapevine she’d been studying, her mind still on the tight clusters of small, hard grapes that would, come late September, be ripe and sweet and ready for harvest. Between now and then, she would monitor their progress, willing them to greatness and protecting them from danger, be it mold, weather or hungry deer.

She blinked at the man standing in front of her, tall and familiar, with an easy smile and broad, capable shoulders.

“Party?” she asked, letting her thoughts of the vineyards go and remembering that, yes, indeed, it was the evening of the annual Solstice Party, hosted by the Barcellona family. As she was a Barcellona, by marriage if not by name, she would be expected to attend.

Wanted to attend, she reminded herself. It was always a good time, and Stephanie, her sister-in-law, worked hard to make it a perfect night.

“The party,” she repeated, her voice slightly more panicked this time, then glanced down at herself. “Crap. What time is it?”

Rhys, her husband, shook his head. “You really don’t listen when I talk, do you? We have an hour. You’ll be fine.”

She pulled off her gloves and shoved them into the left front pocket of her coveralls, then stepped behind Rhys and gave him a little push toward the flatbed truck he’d driven out to the west vineyards.

“You say that because all you have to do is shower and get dressed. I have to do the girl thing.”

“Which takes you maybe ten minutes.” He put his arm around her as they hurried toward the truck. “Happy with the grapes?”

“I think so,” she said, glancing toward the healthy vines growing on either side of them. “We might have to do some thinning in a couple of weeks, but so far, so good.”

As they slid onto the bench seat of the old truck, he glanced at her. She smiled, knowing there was a fifty-fifty chance he would call her out on her thinning statement. He was, after all, the vineyard manager. Technically all the decisions about the vineyard were made by him with her input, but not her instruction. As winemaker, she managed the grapes from the moment they were picked until the wine was bottled.

But at Bel Après, areas of responsibility often overlapped. Theirs was a large, boisterous family in which everyone had opinions. Not that Mackenzie listened to a lot of other ideas when it came to her wines, although as Rhys often pointed out, she was very free offering hers when it came to his work.

He drove along the dirt path that circled the vineyard, stopping by her truck. She slid into the cab, then followed him back to the family compound. The main road leading into Walla Walla was thick with tourists who wanted to enjoy the longest day of the year. She merged into the slow-moving traffic, doing her best to keep from glancing at the clock on the truck’s dashboard as she inched along.

Vineyards stretched out on either side of the road, flat on the left and rising toward the hills on the right. Bright green leaves topped sturdy trunks that had been carefully trained to grow exactly as she wanted them to. The rows were long and neat, and the spaces between them were filled with native grasses that held in moisture and protected the roots from the heat.

Looking at her healthy crop kept her mind off the fact that she and Rhys were going to be desperately late.

Twenty minutes later, she followed him off the highway onto a less crowded secondary road—a back way home. Five minutes after that, they parked the trucks by the processing buildings behind the big tasting room. Rhys had already claimed one of the golf carts the family used to get around. She slid in next to him and they took off toward the center of the property.

Bel Après Winery and the surrounding land had been in the Barcellona family for nearly sixty years. Rhys and his siblings were third-generation. The original main house had been updated several times. When Rhys and Mackenzie had married, Barbara, Rhys’s mother, had suggested they build themselves a house close to hers, rather than commute from town. Eager to stay in the good graces of her new mother-in-law, Mackenzie had agreed.

A large two-story home had been built. Barbara and Mackenzie had decorated every room, the act of choosing everything from light fixtures to doorknobs cementing their affection for each other.

A few years later, Stephanie, the second of Barbara’s four children, had gotten a divorce and moved back home with her two kids, requiring another house to be constructed. When the youngest of the three girls had married, the last house had been added. Only Lori, the middle daughter, still lived in the original home.

All four houses faced a huge central courtyard. Mexican pavers were shaded by vine-covered pergolas. The extended family used the space for big dinners and as a kids’ play area. If one of the women baked cookies, a cookie flag was hung out the front door, inviting anyone to stop by. At Christmas, a large tree was brought in from Wishing Tree, and for the annual Summer Solstice Party, dozens of long tables were brought in to seat the two hundred or so guests.

Rhys swung the golf cart behind the large main house, circling counterclockwise. Normally he would cut across the courtyard, but with all the party preparations, he had to go the long way. He pulled up at the rear entrance to their house and they dashed inside.

Mackenzie paused to unlace her boots and left them in the mudroom. Rhys did the same. They raced up the stairs together, separating at the landing to head to their individual en suite bedrooms.

Once in her bathroom, she started the shower. Thankfully, she’d already picked out the dress she would wear. She raced through a shower. After she dried off, she wrapped her hair in a towel and dug out the scented body lotion Rhys had given her a couple of years ago. Why anyone would want to smell like coconut and vanilla was beyond her, but he liked it.

She walked into the large closet and opened her underwear drawer. To the right were all the sensible bikini panties she usually wore—to the left were the fancier ones for special occasions. She chose a black pair and slipped them on, then went to the second drawer and looked for the matching push-up bra. When it and the pads were in place and doing the best they could with her modest curves, she pulled on a robe and returned to the bathroom.

After plugging in her hot rollers, it took her only a few minutes to apply eyeliner and mascara. She was flushed from the day working outside, so she didn’t bother with any other makeup.

Her hair took a lot longer. First she had to dry the dark red shoulder-length waves, then she had to curl them. While the rollers were in place, she searched for a pair of black high-heel sandals that wouldn’t leave her crippled by the end of the night.

Those found, she opened her small jewelry box and pulled out her wedding set, sliding both the engagement ring and the wedding band into place on her left hand. Diamond stud earrings followed. She’d barely stepped into her sleeveless black dress when Rhys walked into the closet, fully dressed in black slacks and a dark gray shirt.

She sighed when she saw him. “See. You have it so much easier than me.”

“Yes, but in the end, you’re more beautiful. That should be worth something.”

“I’d rather have the extra time.”

She turned, presenting him with her back. He pulled up the zipper, then bent to collect her shoes. They retreated to her bathroom and together began removing the curlers.

“We’re late,” Mackenzie said, catching sight of his watch. “Your mom is going to be all snippy.”

“She’ll be too busy welcoming her guests.” The last of the curlers was flung onto the counter. Mackenzie fluffed her hair, then pointed to the bedroom.

“Retreat,” she said, reaching for the can of hair spray.

Rhys ducked to safety. She sprayed the curls into submission before running into the bedroom to escape the death cloud. Rhys was on the bench at the foot of the large bed. She sat next to him and quickly put on her shoes.

“Done,” she said, pausing to reacquaint herself with the seldom-used skill of walking in heels.

She grabbed her husband’s wrist. “Seven fifteen. Barbara’s going to kill us.”

“She’s not. I’m her only son and you’re just plain her favorite.”

“We weren’t ready exactly at seven. I can already hear the death-march music in my head. I want to be buried on Red Mountain.”

Rhys chuckled as he led the way downstairs. “In the vineyard? I’m not sure your decaying body is going to be considered organic.”

“Are you saying I’m toxic?” she asked with a laugh as they walked toward the front door.

“I’m saying you’re wonderful and I’d like us to have a good night.”

There was something in his tone, she thought, meeting his gaze. She’d known this man her entire adult life. They’d met over Christmas her freshman year of college. Her roommate, his sister Stephanie, had dragged Mackenzie home to meet the family. Grateful not to have to spend the holiday by herself, Mackenzie had gone willingly and had quickly found herself falling not only for her best friend’s hunky older brother but for the entire Barcellona family and the vineyards they owned. Barbara had been like a surrogate mother, and the vineyards, well, they had been just as magical as Rhys’s sexy kisses.

Now she studied her husband’s expression, seeing the hint of sadness lurking behind his easy smile. She saw it because she hid the same emotion deep inside herself. The days of stealing away for sexy kisses were long gone. There were no lingering looks, no intimacy. They had a routine and a life, but she was less sure about them still having a marriage.

“I’d like that, too,” she murmured, knowing he wasn’t asking them not to fight. They never did. Harsh words required a level of involvement they simply didn’t have anymore.

“Then let’s make that happen,” he said lightly, taking her hand in his and opening the front door.

  AUTHOR BIO

#1 NYT bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming, humorous novels about the relationships that define our lives―family, friendship, romance. She's known for putting nuanced characters in emotional situations that surprise readers to laughter. Beloved by millions, her books have been translated into 28 languages. Susan lives in Washington with her husband, two cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Visit her at SusanMallery.com.

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Q and A with Susan Mallery on The Vineyard at Painted Moon

 1.      Where did inspiration for the book come from?

 The Vineyard at Painted Moon was really inspired by the gorgeous wine country of Washington State. My readers have told me that they love when my books have wish-you-were-there settings, like the tulip farms in Secrets of the Tulip Sisters and the monastery-turned-mansion of The Summer of Sunshine and Margot. So I knew I wanted to set my next hardcover somewhere that would give readers a beautiful, scenic escape—and this was well before I knew the book would come out during a pandemic, when we’re all trapped at home a lot more than usual.

 So I started daydreaming about beautiful settings, and I landed on Washington wine country. Breathtaking. Seriously, look it up.

 Every evening before dinner, Mr. Mallery and I have a glass of wine together and tell one another about our day. This daily ritual makes us feel close and connected even when life gets hectic, and it has led us to learn more about how wine is made. I thought it could be really interesting to write about a female winemaker, because this is still very much a male-dominated field. I asked myself, “What is the worst thing that could happen to a winemaker?”

 “What if,” I thought, “she lost the land she loved?”

 And not because of fire or natural disaster, but because of an emotional earthquake—Mackenzie Dienes is the winemaker at a family winery. But it’s her husband’s family. . . and their marriage is in trouble. She could stay if she’s willing to be nothing more than an employee for the rest of her life. But if she wants something more, something of her own, she’ll have to be brave.

 The Vineyard at Painted Moon is the story of Mackenzie’s search for happiness and self-fulfillment after divorce. With some pretty spectacular scenery thrown in. Oh, and wine. Lots and lots of wine.

 2.      What are your favourite scenes? Why?

 This is a tricky question for me to answer without spoilers, because my favorite scenes are the emotional turning points of the story. I don’t really want to reveal them here, as I think readers will want to experience them on their own. I will answer, but it’s going to be vague and somewhat frustrating. Teasers, rather than spoilers.

 I love the scene where Mackenzie and Rhys realize that their marriage is over. (That doesn’t count as a spoiler, since it’s revealed on the back cover of the book.) The way they come to the realization and move through the scene is completely unexpected and unlike any breakup scene I’ve ever written—or read, for that matter. It’s heartbreaking and poignant and beautiful and even a little funny. If you have a heart, it’ll make you cry. I think readers are going to fall in love with Rhys even as Mackenzie is accepting that she’s not in love with him anymore.

 One of my other favorite scenes is one that I’m not sure will stand out as much in readers’ minds. It’s a scene in which Mackenzie finds out just how highly she is esteemed by her colleagues in the wine world. She never knew. She never thought of working anywhere but the family winery—she was just so grateful to have a family through her husband, since she had none of her own. In this scene, nothing really changes but her perception—of herself, and of how people perceive her—but perception is reality. Suddenly, Mackenzie realizes that she has options. She can dare to dream.

 And that changes everything.

 3.      What was the hardest scene to write and why?

 At the risk of repeating myself, that scene in which Mackenzie and Rhys finally acknowledge that their marriage is over was certainly one of the hardest to write. The emotional intricacies of the situation were incredibly nuanced. I had to get it exactly right. Rhys is not a point-of-view character, so the whole scene is told from Mackenzie’s perspective, but I wanted the reader to understand and empathize with Rhys, as well. It’s a deeply emotional scene, and I’m very curious to see how readers will respond to it.

 4.      Do you have advice for me wanting to write in the same genre?

 Never give up. There are a lot of very talented writers who will never be published simply because they gave up trying. You never know if the next book will be the one. You have to want it enough to keep going.

 5.      Where did the idea for the title come from? It’s so original.

 Thank you! I almost never come up with the titles for my own books. My file names are just the first name of the main character, so the working title on this book was Mackenzie. When it’s time to title the book, the whole team makes suggestions—my editor, agent, assistant, the marketing department. It’s trickier now than it’s ever been because I’ve written a lot of books, and we don’t want the titles to be too similar. And yet they have to appeal to the same audience.

 All that said, I was the one to suggest The Vineyard at Painted Moon. I thought it would be appropriate to feature the beautiful setting in the title, since it plays such an important role in the book. I’m glad you like it!

 6.      Who is your favorite character and why?

 I love Stephanie and Four, Rhys’s sisters and Mackenzie’s best friends. They’re the kind of friend that every woman should have—and that every woman should be. Close female friendships are a hallmark of my books. In The Vineyard at Painted Moon, the friendships were especially complex because they were also sisters-in-law. . . soon to be exes. But at the end of the day, this truly is Mackenzie's story, so she would be the favorite.

 7.      What is your favorite book genre to read?

 For the most part, I read what I write—women’s fiction and romance. I’m not into thrillers or anything that involves violence and murder. I’m much more interested in emotional drama, in the inherent conflict between people who want different things.

[elejahfanfic]

Hello Love/5

Fanfiction

Part 5

This is an AU story with tvd/to characters. All human, no vampires or witches.

A little love story_ 💞

A sweet fluffy love story, ft. Klaroline, Kennett, Jebekah (Rebekah and Jackson!)

but the main pairing is Miguel Galindo x Elena Gilbert

since I love to write crossover au’s, here I am borrowing Miguel Galindo from MayansMC…played by Danny Pino.

tag_  @miguelsbrat​

thank you for reading xoxo  ✽-(˘◡˘)/✽

🍦🧁☕

The next day

In the Mikaelson Mansion

Klaus finished his phone call with his associates about a project he wanted to undertake while he was taking a year off. Esther knocked at the door of the roof greenhouse before she entered.

"I'm sorry if I'm interrupting"

"You're not, mother. What is it? I can see that you have your thinking cap on"

"Well, I was thinking - would you be interested in taking up the project of restoring our beach house?”

"Mother, you can have anyone - where has this come from? Why me?"

“Because I want you to do it. You’ve always loved being there.” Esther said.

“All right. I will do it. And you give me free hands. I can do it my way?”

"May I only ask for one thing? Let me make a few suggestions?"

"Put them on the table and I will look at it." Klaus said.

"Thank you." she said cheerfully and walked out of the living room. He now picked up the phone and dialed Caroline's number.

"How about a weekend outside the city- beach, good food, fresh air?"

Caroline said yes in a heartbeat.

***

Elsewhere

Rebekah ran the last look at the next issue of the magazine. She was pleased with it. Sending a few notes to her editor-in-chief, she got up, walking to the window. She looked to a beautiful sunny day. She took a deep breath. Work was fine. Love life was non-existent.

"If someone told me that you would become a workaholic and turn into your father, I would tell them to take a hike."

Rebekah turned around sharply, nearly screaming at the sight of the man.

"Jackson! Wow-what are you doing here?"

'Business - long story- maybe not that long-I took over from my father." he explained.

"Really? Ok, I am done here. Drinks?!" she said and now took her bag.

"Drinks!" he agreed smiling and they walked out of the office.

***

In Lena’s Cookies shop

Finishing a new batch of Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies with marshmallows, her mind floated to the night before.

"I'll see you tomorrow!" Elena breathed in. Miguel nodded slightly, and as she was about to turn to leave, he grabbed hold of her hand gently. Sliding his hand around to her lower back her pulled her into a kiss again.

Elena was completely taken by the unexpected move, but it didn't take her long to respond feverishly, her hand finding its way up his neck, burying it deeply in his dark coiffed hair.

Oh, yeah, it made her head spin and more. Was she on planet Earth, or was she now in outter space.

Elena closed the door of her small office and leaned on it, a big smile danced on her face, feeling like she was floating on air as she thought of Miguel.

If it wasn't for her phone ringing, she would have stayed in this cloudy state for the entire day, playing the kiss over and over in her head. She moved and now looked for her phone. Finding it in the bedroom, she picked it saying, "Hey"

"Hey you, what happened? You've not replied to any of my texts." Caroline said all flustered up on the other line.

"Sorry, I was a bit busy." Elena said.

"What is this about ending up having wine with Miguel? Can you please tell me - I am dying here" Caroline said.

"Bonnie and I are meeting for lunch and I will tell you everything there - in detail."

"You are mean!" Caroline exclaimed.

"See you there." Elena said.

Caroline agreed and as they hung up.

***

In Upper East Side, Miguel welcomed his friends and colleagues from San Diego. Dr Adelita Reyes.

“It is so good to see you” Miguel gave the woman a warm hug.”How is Angel?”

“He is in process of opening a new specialized motorcycle shop with EZ. It’s going to be custom chopper-style motorcycles only. They are going to do their own designes.” Adelita replied.

“I have to order one” Miguel said.

Adelita laughed a little.

“I’m serious.” Miguel said.

“What’s happened to you? When I got in - I saw that you are kind of different. New York is really doing something to you.something good.”

“Maybe - you know - I have locked myself away from the world - letting life pass me by. I’m done. I want to do things. Get out there. Live again. Bye a motorcycle.”

“If I didn’t know you - I would say that middle-life crisis has hit you hard.” Adelita shot at the surgeon, and then apologized for being so forward.

Miguel tilted his head and partly agreed, spreading a smile. He didn’t care. He felt good. His whole being had never been more alive, and there was nothing an no one in the world that could bring him down.

“OMG - did you meet someone?” Adelita then said.

“I did.” Miguel didn’t hide the fact that it was a significant someone that made his heart, his soul smile again.

“This is great! I’m so happy for you - and you know what spread the middle-life crisis thick. Who is she?”

“Her name is Elena. She is a pastry chef - a friend of my sister Rebekah - and she is - preciosa!” Miguel’s eyes sparkled, now revoking last night’s kiss, his heart bumping with a joyful beat.

“You’re in love?!”

“I am” Miguel admitted, and sat back in his chair, letting the happy feeling soak right into his bones. For the first time in forever his body and mind relaxed, continuing to talk about how he had met Elena, switching eventually to talk about the conference the next day and their presentation.

***

In East Village

"I've decided to open the second shop bakery. It will be cupcakes only. Oh, and- Jenna arrives week Friday. I am having a 'welcome back' party-and there is news from Jeremy, too. He has officially told me that he is now exclusive with Sarah.”

“Wow - about the bakery and wow for Jer, he is finally serious with someone,” Bonnie said, “good for him.”

“It’s crazy how things change. I thought that you and him would be together forever”

“Yeah, but - you know”

“I do - his immaturity back then killed it.” Elena remembered Jeremy’s unsavoury behaviour, causing Bonnie and him to break up, and moving away to the west coast.

“But we are sister anyway, even though I will marry someone else.” Bonnie said.

“What? Don’t tell me Kol proposed?” Elena nearly jumped from her seat.

“No - not yet. I found the ring” Bonnie said.

“You’re not serious? How? When?” Elena couldn’t wait to find out more, but they were both now interupted by Caroline, who joined them, sitting down, panting like she had been chased by the gang of wolves.

“Sorry, you guys,” Caroline said, “guess what? Klaus invited me to the Hamptons with him, to their beach house.”

“Isn’t it damaged by the hurricane, last year?” Bonnie said.

“Apparently he is going to redesing it - ok - this now is not like so important” Caroline than turned to Elena, “Now tell us about Miguel”

"I kissed Miguel - well, we kissed!" Elena said, her stomach flipping at the thought of the kiss that still lingered with her so vividly.

"Wow!" Caroline exclaimed shocked. "How was it? If he kisses anything like Klaus-"

"Oh, he can kiss! He can really kiss!" Elena said swooning.

"What is this whole mantra about you not going to date for a while?” Bonnie said.

"I guess it’s out of the window,” Elena said with a cute grin on her face,”I don’t know what it is about him, but I just feel - everything inside me feels so good - my heart just goes kaboom when I’m see him”

“Then just go for it! He obviously likes you” Caroline advise.

“But there is this something inside me that,” Elena inhaled sharply as if she was going to lose breath,”what if it all goes wrong and -”

“Why would it go wrong?” Caroline cut right in the middle of her sentence.

“I don’t know - I’m freshly out of a relationship - he hasn’t dated anyone in a thousand years”

“Listen to your heart” Bonnie said. “What does it tell you?”

“That it feels so good.” Elena replied.

“And the case is closed” Caroline said. “Where is Bekah?”

Rebekah ditched her friends, excusing herself, sending a selfie of her and Jackson having a cocktail lunch.

“He is back - and better looking than ever” Caroline remarked looking at selfie Rebekah sent of her and Jackson.

“Did they like date in college?” Bonnie asked.

“No - she always was into him, but - nothing happened - they ended up being good buddies.” Caroline replied.

“Didn’t he marry that witch Hayley Marshall?” Elena remembered.

“Yep,” Caroline replied,”but it didn’t last. They are divorced. And she got a crazy settlement.”

“He is such a good guy,”Bonnie said,”and Rebekah deserves someone good like him.”

“I hope things happen for her, too, same as it is happening for us” Caroline now had only one subject in the center of their girly meeting and that was Klaus.

***

Later that day as Rebekah called Caroline to share how ‘drinks’ with Jackson went in detail, she divulged that he had invited her to his family’s beach house in the Hamptons.

“Klaus invited me to your house!” Caroline said.

Now those two concoted a plan for have a small gathering in the Hamptons for the weekend, and as she checked with Jackson, both women now invited Elena, Miguel, Bonnie and Kol to come along.

“I have a feeling that this will be the best summer ever” Caroline exclaimed happyily.

“I believe so, too. I have a feeling the stars have finally aligned in our favour” Rebekah said.

“Hello summer, Hello love!” Caroline said cheerfully.

*

That weekend, at the agreed hour the party of eight set off to the beach town some fifty miles far from the city.

As they arrived, and after they settled each pair wanted to do something different. So, Kol and Bonnie together with Rebekah and Jackson down the beach. Klaus together with Caroline went to the Mikaelson house, which was not far down the road. Elena and Miguel went to a gourmet food store.

“I will make an easy lobster paella,” Elena said as they entered the speciality store, “and a French Apple tart or something else with puff pastry.”

“We could have all gone out to a restaurant. It is not fair that you spend time cooking.” Miguel said.

“It’s not a big thing. Plus it is cozy to have a meal together in the garden - and don’t forget I’m a pro and I know a lot of shortcuts. First shortcut is buying already made puff pastry.” Elena said, marching to the frozen food section.

*

At the Mikaelson beach house

"Please" Klaus said as he opened the doors and they walked in. It was dusty, but still very stylish and it was clear to her that Klaus had inherited the creative streak from his mother.

"It's -beautiful!" Caroline exclaimed.

"Yes- it needs some TLC though. I’ve have always loved this house. We would spend the entire summer here when we were children. I'd like to show you my favourite hide out?!" he smiled charmingly.

"Lead the way." Caroline smiled back at him.

"You love modern stuff!" Caroline concluded as he had shown her his most favourite creations by the famous architect.

"And you?"

"I love the mod-cons!" Caroline said flirtatiously.

"I know exactly what house I would design for you”

"You would desing a house for me?” Caroline looked surprised

“Yes”

"You want to build me a house?!" she was stunned as she realized where the teasing led.

"Yes. I would like to design a house for you and so much more."  he looked deep in her eyes as if he was compelling her to become his.

"You are kidding me, right? Is that how you get all your women to bed?" she said.

"I have never offered any of them to build a house or take them to a place like this. I just had them. You, on the other hand- " before he could say more, she was kissing him and he vigorously accepted her lips.

*

Elena and Miguel returned to Kenner’s beach house. He carried all the bags for her like a gentleman he was.

As Elena washed her hands and put her hair up, he made himself comfortable at the table and watched her in action. In no time she made pastry diamond, flowers and pinwheels, filing it with cream cheese, topping it off respectively with strawberries, raspberries and blueberries.

“There is something missing” Elena said and jumped, “we haven’t anything with chocolate.”

“Isn’t this quite enough?”

“Yes, but without chocolate - nothing goes. At least in my life.” Elena joked, and now cut the puff pastry in stripes feeling it with soft cheese and chocolate chips, skillfuly flapping it over creating a perfect braid pattern.

“Rebekah said that you have won the second place on the Artisanal Sweet Fair last year.” Miguel said.

“Yes. I lost to Cupcake Heaven” Elena said placing the last batch of pastries in the oven. “There is always the next year. It’s all about working hard.”

Miguel admired her resolve. And pouring them both a drink of rose wine, they toasted a little to the summer, he continued watching her do her magic with the lobster paella.

“Ah, it smells so good!” Kol exclaimed as he and Bonnie entered the kitchen from the back garden.

“How can I help?” Bonnie asked her friend.

“I got all under control” Elena said.

“She is like a wizard,” Miguel said,”she’s already set the table, made these delicious pastries”

“That’s our Elena” Rebekah now said, appearing from the living room, taking one of the pastries.

“Call Caroline, because the paella is nearly done - I just need to add the lobster and the kielbasa, and my super shortcut paella is done.” Elena said.

“Yes Ma’am” Rebekah joked and was immediately on the phone to find out what was keeping Klaus and Caroline, who were there in a flash, after Rebekah got hold of her friend.

“Caroline said that your paella is something that should not be missed.” Klaus said as they sat down.

Very soon, the whole party complimented the Chef and agreed with Caroline. The “shortcut paella” was delicious, and the little puff pastires went well with the wine she had chosen.

Rebekah and Caroline togehter with Kol made sure there is more fun to be had and the bunch went from sharing stories from childhood to playing silly games of charade, dancing. Enjoying the summer evening to the fullest.

*

“Would you like to go for a walk - down the beach?” Miguel said to Elena as she finished talking to her aunt.

“Yeah - let me just get my cardigan - the wind is picking up” She ran quickly to the room, pulling  out a turquoise floral chiffon cardigan.

Taking the stroll down the path,they exchanged the impressions of the day.

“I’ve forgotten how much I love this place.” Miguel said. Memories of his childhood hit him in the best way possible, but there was some sandess attached to it unfortunately.

“What is it?”

“The first time I came here was the summer my parents  - you know. Mother - maybe it sound quite unsual to you that I call Esther Mother, but she has took me in like I was her son. Not a day did she treat me any different form Klaus, Rebekah or Kol.”

“But deep down you wished your parents would miraculously come back” Elena said.

“Yes” Miguel inhaled softly, turning to Elena. “I don’t want this evening be again about - the past. I love the present so much.”

His masculine yet mellow voice made her skin spread with goosebumps. Her heart was dancing a beat she had not known existed. For a moment it felt like she had no air, and she thought it was all because of the sparkling wine, that still bubbled in her head.

Miguel could feel Elena's sweet restlessness and even he himself had to contain his own passion during the whole evening, especially when they danced to Norah Jones’ "Come away with me". He wanted to swoop her away there and then way from everything and everyone to have her all to himself.

All at once, she was painfully aware of his nearness as he now leaned over to her, cupping her chin everso gently. And when his gaze lowered to her lips, heat coiled through her so strong, her mouth opened slightly, moistening her lips.

“You are so beautiful” his breathing was ragged like hers, warm and sweet oozing a faint scent of chocolate from the pastry he had earlier. His hard-muscled chest was so close she could almost feel the dampness of his shirt while the familiar scent of Old spice, warm and complex mixture of South Sea, flowers and green herbs whirled her senses. And then his lips latched onto hers, now kissing her with the same quiet intensity he had in his stare. Tentative at first, but gradually turning bolder, covering every inch of her mouth with slow, deep kisses.

And I want to walk with you On a cloudy day In fields where the yellow grass grows knee-high So won't you try to come

Come away with me and we'll kiss On a mountaintop Come away with me And I'll never stop loving you

[kaylapyskacek]

Background info

Hi, all! Welcome to my life. I guess in order to start my journal entries, it would help to know my background. My name is Kayla Danielle (Reeves) Pyskacek. I was born on January 5th, 1995 in Dyersburg, TN. I grew up in Atoka, TN and attended Munford elementary, middle, and high school. I graduated out of my little hometown school in 2013. After high school, I had big plans and big expectations on me. I was set to attend East Tennessee State University to study pre-med with the ultimate goal of becoming an OB/GYN. I’ve always been an awkward, nervous, overthinker. Because of this personality flaw, I wanted out of the big plans. I felt too pressured and too small for that big world. So, I devised a plan. I worked at a local Mexican restaurant called Margaritas. It was there that I met Rogelio Flores. When I saw him, I saw a kind and gentle young soul. I let him know my interest by following him into the walk-in freezer and laying a kiss on him! I might not have spoken Spanish, but I knew he was surprised! So was I! We started hanging out and trying to teach each other our respective languages. July 4th, 2013 my plan to get out of everyone’s big ideas for me unfolded. I became pregnant with my only son. Rogelio and I grew apart, and he decided to not be a part of my pregnancy. I knew I was on my own until I met the one who would change my life forever. When I was about four months into my pregnancy, I decided to sell my “cool car” for a “mom car.” As I was sitting in my parents’ living room doing homework for a few classes I had been attending at the University of Memphis, there was a knock at the door. What I didn’t know is the impact opening that door would have on my and my child’s life. His name was Joshua Rogers and he looked like all my dreams wrapped up in one amazing body. The best part was, he initiated the interest! I had never had a guy show interest in me first! It was so exciting! I was on cloud nine but played it cool. He came back over that night, and we laid in the yard and talked about our whole lives and shared our first kiss. I couldn’t believe I had found such a beautiful man that wanted me even if I was having a baby. We fell in love fast and hard. It was a white hot, firery, and passionate kind of love. I went to spend the night at his house one night and decided I wasn’t leaving. This was it. This is where I belonged. It was time to fly the coop. So I told my father that I had this, and I left. I moved in with Joshua. I still continued school and so did he. Before we knew it, we had our first apartment in January, and I was due at the end of March. Things were tumultuous at times because we so passionately loved each other but overall, they were like a dream come true. Then the time came! I was in labor with my son! This was supposed to be the most joyous time of my life. But it wasn’t. It was during this time I realized this perfect man I had devoted myself to completely had flaws...big, big flaws. He showed up late the hospital after turning his motorcycle over in Memphis traffic. When he got there, he wasn’t there. He slept and slept and slept. My “step” mom was the one who was there to wipe my ass when I couldn’t do it myself. I was hurt because the man who was supposed to my person couldn’t wake up. I couldn’t figure out what was going on. So, me being the naive little girl I was decided to try one more time to wake him up when it was time to go into the operating room for the emergency c-section. Truthfully, my “step” mom deserved that spot, but I was desperate for him to care. So, he was there for the birth and even signed the birth certificate. He was back! I had my person back! I had to return to my parents’ house after the surgery due to my apartment being on the second floor, and I couldn’t climb stairs. Joshua was in and out. I found out about his demons while recovering from surgery. See, Joshua had been addicted to meth in his past. While I was recovering at my parents’, he had let his cousin (who was also addicted to meth) stay at our apartment. We fought endlessly about this then he decided to leave. The time came for me and my new son to return back to my apartment. When I got there, things were strange. All the straws in all the cleaning sprays were gone. It smelled like sulfur and had a white powder everywhere. Could it be? Did he let his past back in? The answer was yes. Meth was not only used but also manufactured in my apartment while I was recovering from my body being cut in half and taking care of this baby. I was pissed, to say the least. I called him, and he denied it. However, I eventually moved out and let him come with me back to my birth town of Dyersburg, TN. I wanted to give this man another chance. Everyone makes mistakes, right? And I knew from my crack addicted mother that relapse is hard to avoid. So, I opened my heart and home back up to him. We eventually made our way to his hometown of Turrell, AR then came back to Dyersburg where we found God. We were so on fire for the Lord. I was happy again. In January of that year, everything changed. Before I knew it, I myself had a full blown meth addiction. I ended up having to give my parents temporary emergency custody of my son. I was crushed. I went back to West Memphis, AR with Joshua. We did what we did best...fought and got high. I lost my connection with God and myself. I felt like dying. Suicide had never been so tempting. I was nothing without my son. So, I left. I left Joshua for good one day while he was at work. The day before we were supposed to get married. I hit the road and never looked back. I went to an outpatient program in MS for the drugs, got a job, and a place to live. When I moved back to Dyersburg, that’s when I met Erik Pyskacek. The love of my life. Erik showed me that love doesn’t have to be so hard. He made love easy. He was caring, sober, and kind. He loved Jesus. He loved his two daughters. He is a man. Joshua was a boy. I didn’t know that until I met him. I thought I was in love before, but this time I fell into an unconditional type of love with no secrets and no sneakiness. Now, here we are five years later and still happy in love. We have our three children who we successfully blended, we have a beautiful home with four acres, I have that degree that took me so long to get, my son has an amazing dad, and I have man that loves God first and me second. My past was hard but to have what I have now, I wouldn’t trade a second of it. I’m reconnected with my Jesus. Without Him and Erik, I would probably be dead by now. This is my story (the condensed version). Thanks for reading and may God bless.

[loftec]

I was really hoping to update NTW this weekend, but it’s looking less and less likely... so, here’s something else.

I found an alternate season 6/7 thing I started outlining when that whole mess went down, like just ideas for how Ian’s storyline could have worked out after season 5 (I would have included the other characters too, but honestly I don’t know what they’ve been up to since I stopped watching. Fiona bought a building. For some reason. I don’t want to know.).

So I’ve added some stuff for season 8 and 9, and since I’m probably never going to write it I thought I’d just share it for laughs.

May the 4th be with you!

Alt Shameless after season 5

Ian is on his meds and since he broke up with Mickey because he thought he’d be better off alone, he doesn’t go looking for new boyfriends.

He sleeps around a lot though.

He doesn’t have a lot of storyline, because he’s mostly clammed up and moping around, and his family keep assuming that it’s because of his meds.

Maybe four episodes in, something happens at work that makes Ian seek out an LGBT+ group, where he meets Trevor at a charity event. They work together all day and really hit it off, they have some similar interests (interests!), and they end up talking about a lot of things (things!). At the end of the day, Trevor asks him out, and Ian says yes before he’s remembered that he doesn’t do that stuff.

He’s nervous about the date and drinks a couple of beers before Trevor even shows up, he gets piss drunk and wakes up the next day in a strange room.

It’s Trevor’s bedroom, and Trevor comes in with coffee, telling him that Ian was pretty much drunk when he showed up and barely able to stand on his own two legs by the time they left. He doesn’t know where he lives, so he took him home for the night.

Ian tells him about being on meds, and that’s why he got so drunk so fast.

Trevor thinks he could have just told him, and Ian says his mental illness pretty much was the reason his old relationship didn’t work out.

Trevor asks if it was Mickey. Ian wonders what Trevor knows about it.

“You may have mentioned him last night.”

Ian says yeah, and is quick to correct him when Trevor assumes that it was Mickey who left.

“I broke up with him, thought it was the best for the both of us at the time… also don’t think I expected it to last. We usually find our way back.”

“But not this time?”

“He’s in prison. Fifteen years.”

It’s the first time he says it out loud.

Trevor says he’s not interested in starting a relationship with someone who’s clearly still in love with their ex (and Ian kinda smiles, because it’s true and it’s so nice that someone else can see it and accept it and take it seriously). But, he says, you do look like you could use a friend, and not to brag, but I make an excellent friend. He does the cheesy handshake, re-introduction thing (where we find out his last name!) and they agree to be friends.

(Turns out Trevor is estranged from his family, and after maybe a shaky start, he finds a natural spot in the Gallagher clan and becomes part of some of the other plot points throughout the season.)

Ian’s storylines can be about his work, and about stuff happening at the LGBT+ youth center, and they get into hijinks, but nothing super serious (or illegal!!).

Ian at some point has a big moment with Yevgeny, where he comes to terms with no longer being a parent, and maybe even thinking that it’s for the best. (Svetlana and her thrupple storyline can basically be the same, but end differently. With the three of them happy and together, and Yevgeny thinking of Kev as his dad. It’s not ideal, but neither is Yev being sad about his dad being in prison.) Maybe Ian talks to Svetlana about Mickey, maybe finding out for the first time that they aren’t married anymore. We don’t find out what Ian thinks or feels about this.

Throughout the second half of the season. Whenever the Gallaghers gather and Ian isn’t there, they wonder where he is and try to reach him, letting it go when he doesn’t answer.

But after it happens too many times to be a coincidence, they start wondering. Maybe Lip and Fiona talk about it, worrying about Ian having a low, or a high, but not knowing if they should intervene.

Lip talks to Trevor, and tells him more about Ian’s bipolar. Trevor denies having noticed anything going on, and maybe even questions if Lip has any right telling him Ian’s personal stuff.

(Also, I think it would be really nice for Trevor to have a romantic/sexy storyline... so I wouldn’t mind Trevor and Ian starting a friends with benefits relationship, deciding on the terms of it before they start it. Or, Trevor starts a relationship with someone else. Depends on how much drama one wants. Trevor could develop unrequited feelings. If one wants. But personally I think it would be more fun for everyone involved if he was allowed to fall in love with someone else.)

Last episode of the season, they’ve had some big plot point resolved by the Gallaghers getting together and working it out as a goddamned team, and they’re all sitting on the porch steps when a police car stops outside their house.

The officer tells them that Ian is on record as having visited Mickey in prison, and Lip is like, yeah, maybe a couple of times a year ago, what’s that got to do with anything? And the officer says, no, he’s visited once a week for the past six months. And Mickey has escaped. And they have a warrant to search their house.

The Gallaghers sit packed together on the couch watching the news as the officers search through the house, and on the TV we get the whole scoop. There has been a massive prison break and like 40 highly dangerous inmates have escaped, Mickey amongst them.

BOOM. Credits.

Season seven.

Throughout the season, we get like comedic side story lines about the police and the escaped inmates basically roaming the streets. Potentially outrageous and lots of opportunity to oscillate between slapstick comedy and high-stakes drama.

Ian waits for Mickey to contact him, but it doesn’t happen until maybe a couple of episodes in. TENSION.

Ian has other storylines through the season, but mainly it ends up being his secret rendezvous (plural, frequent, in-depth, sexy) with Mickey where they get to spend time together, talk. Bonus if they try to “be friends” for a while, because they don’t talk about the important stuff and they don’t know where they have each other, and they don’t know what’s going to happen. It doesn’t last long, culminating in an explosively passionate love scene.

At some point, Ian is approached by an FBI agent, telling him they have a deal for Mickey if he turns himself in and gives them info on the other escapees. Ian says he’s not in contact with Mickey and even if he was, Mickey would never snitch.

Later on, he talks to Mickey about their future. Mickey explains that the gang he joined in prison are escaping across the border to Mexico, and he has to go with them. Ian says he’ll come with Mickey, but Mickey is firmly against it.

He wants Ian to come with him, of course, but he doesn’t want that life for Ian. No security, a life of crime, on the lam. He kind of gets why Ian broke up with him, now, if this is anything like what he felt at the time, stuck between a rock and a hard place. Ian pleads with him, telling him that breaking up is something he’s only ever regretted since he did it.

Yeah, but what other choice have we got?

Ian tells him about the deal, and takes out two gold bands he’s bought from a pawnshop. If they get married, they can be put in the witness protection program together, and start over.

Mickey agrees, to Ian’s great surprise, and they end the season being shipped off to an unknown location as the busload of prisoners get apprehended on the way to Mexico (cartoonish, but with a little bit of work and research, maybe could be an acceptably goofy and almost realistic plot point).

(For Drama, Mickey could be with the prisoners when they’re apprehended, and he’s shot dead by the police. Cut to Ian being in the ambulance that picks him up, and Mickey is still sitting in his body bag, all bloodied, as they suck face and the FBI drive them to their new location.)

Season 8

Ian and Mickey try to start a new life and it turns completely ridiculous (like, imagine a mix between IASIP where Mac and Dennis are in the house with the Mac & Cheese mixed with like, Suburgatory, or Weeds, or whatever. Two gay South Side kids suddenly trying to make a life for themselves in some middle class suburb somewhere, and they hate it and it all goes to shit. But they love each other and get each other through it.)

The hardship they face in their new life doesn’t come from them, (it’s from situations and circumstance, and other people being impossible) and every time something happens it only leads them to break down another barrier by eventually talking about their feelings and hopes for the future, and thoughts about the past. And I want them specifically to talk about Yevgeny, how hard it was for Mickey to feel anything good about him at first, but now he misses him like he’s missing a limb. Them trying to be a wholesome couple in a suburb somewhere is an unmitigated disaster, but it does help them get a lot closer to each other and work through their problems, and their past.

And then through some Shameless™ retcon, something suddenly makes it possible for them to return back home. Or maybe they’re just like, fuck this, is there anyone stopping us from just grabbing our shit and going home?? No. So they do.

Yevgeny is part of the reason why they return. They move in to the apartment above the Alibi at first, and Mickey can work with Svetlana in the bar and cook up semi-illegal side-hustles with Kev. 

Everybody they know are on their side, denying everything in true South Side style if anyone asks about them, once again solidifying the core concept of the show; we take care of family.

The whole thing where they’re possibly in danger from the Mexican cartel looking to exact revenge for Mickey snitching (if they ever find out that he’s alive) could be played for laughs and brushed off, until it might come back and create more Drama in a later season, if needed, before being permanently resolved.

Characters thinking they’re invincible and being stupid about stuff like this is fine, I think, if they do it for a good reason.

[thefoxesboxes]

A Gathering of Guys

Time to get back into the saddle on these reviews! This one has been a long time coming, something I honestly meant to review many months ago. But, between teaching English and travelling around the world, this writing fox has had a significant decrease in available brainpower. Did watching this movie for a second time help? Will it have passed the vulpine standards check? Look under the cut to find out as we discuss the “First R-Rated CGI Cartoon”, Sausage Party.

To begin, I will preface two things. First, I love animation. The creativity and freedom that can be made from almost any kind of animated movie has always been an easy way to make me happy. Look at movies like Zootopia, Spirited Away, and even Aladdin. These movies are each dramatically different in tone, style, and overall thematics. But they’re all some of my favorite movies. Even if I think CGI is overdone in the modern animation market, it still doesn’t detract from my love of watching something creative and fresh.

I also don’t mind movies that are using raunchy or vulgar humor. A movie like Deadpool can make me laugh pretty hard at the stupid jokes and over the top violence that it employs. A movie like this should use the language and themes to push the style of the movie. Is it a violent story with a murderous mercenary hell bent on revenge? Yeah, dark and violent, but add in the fun. These things can break up the movie into a more manageable tone than most people would like. Look at the difference in things like DC and Marvel, or new Ghostbusters and old Ghostbusters. That’s a coming review, by the way.

So the big point is that this movie is awful. It’s a raunchy and joke filled movie, but it’s never creative. It’s like someone took the movie FoodFight and pushed up the production quality and age rating. The movie is graphic, violent, and full of warnings for mature content and imagery. The whole movie tries very, very hard to make sure you know that this is mature and grown up.

Maturity, in this sense, means something that says the word ‘fuck’ approximately 1.85 times a minute, often in heavy bursts. Maturity is something that makes incredibly sophomoric and heavy handed assertions about the nature of religion and real life interactions between thousand year old cultures. Mature is when you have the movies plotline come to a screeching halt to constantly point out how edgy you are over and over again. Mature, in this sense, is being a 15 year old on Reddit screaming about how you took the red pill and don’t believe in things like religion, man.

There is nothing really mature here. At all.

“Just the tips” What the fuck is a tip? Your finger? Why does a hotdog have a glove but the lady doesn’t? Save it. It’ll keep.

But let’s talk detail. First, the movie has a song. It’s not a bad song, at least for how it’s written and sung. It’s really mostly just kind of tuneless and shifts a lot into ways that obviously want to invoke religious worship songs, but doesn’t do that very well. The song does a great job of setting the tone of this movie, which is “Religious people are dumb, ya here?”. It’s not really something I want to get into, but it slides nicely into the hotdog bun of hatred I have for this movie.

The writing.

As mentioned, the writing is self-congratulatory about the idea of being R-rated when it doesn’t know what that should mean. It decided to go out of its way to be a cartoon about hotdogs and sex before seemingly having any direction, as the world itself and characters are all over the place. Do they make any particular point using food that couldn’t be done with a different material? Nope. Do they make timely or classical references throughout the movie? Well, Meatloaf plays a singing Meatloaf. They make a “To Sir with Love” reference, which intrudes on one of my absolutely favorite films ever. Saving Private Ryan? Not exactly timeless.

But the writing reflects worst on characters and dialogue. While the voice acting is, mostly, fine it’s really just the characters are a bunch of assholes. Remember that scene in Star Wars where Han Solo doesn’t believe in the Force and Luke lectures him despite having learned about it that afternoon? That happens about atheism. Our beef tube hero who’s name I really don’t care to remember (it’s Frank) learns that the Gods are evil people who eat them! Oh no! So he immediately starts bashing everyone for believing in the Gods that he believed in until literally an hour ago. He makes no good points, he seems ridiculously hypocritical, and he’s just kind of a douche.

A running theme in this movie, the main villain is a literal douche. A douche who gets a tear and loses his douchey fluids, so he needs to replenish them to restore his superpowers. This begins with him forcefully and graphically violating a damaged juice container in a way obviously reminiscent of forceful oral sex. This scene was the first one that was simply disgusting, including him commenting that he’s “Juicin’ up” to reference steroids. A rape scene, classy as hell. This only continues as this literal douche walks about to murder the main heroes will constantly repeating the same joke over and over again. His plans involved him being able to teleport, his reason for revenge was almost understandable, but being a rapist murderer really made me not care about this villain.

Also. This joke. Five fucking times.

Other than the Frankfurter Hero and Douchey Villain, we have side characters. Jewish Bagel, Mexican Lesbian Taco, overly voluptuous hotdog bun, Muslim/Middle Eastern lavash, gay Twinkee, black grits, and Firewater. These stereotypes are the closest thing to characters that exist in this film and they mostly exist pretty much solely within those roles. They exist to either be stereotypes, be annoying, or try to poke mature points at the concept of geographically interconnected regions and classically dependent cultures having feuds with each other. But let’s talk about that in terms of the world.

These foods exist for, what, a week? They exist in the same aisles, for the same goals, and often have to interact with each other for their entire existence. Their existences, mind you, which are created for explicit purpose. Why do they have different viewpoints of the Gods, to the point where it is this disseminated? Is it to make a point about the rapid distribution of altering ideals among short lived humanity? I don’t know, it just seems to be extremely crass ways to point out that these things exist and are stupid. Again a running theme.

The last major theme I want to mention is consistency. A world needs to be made in a way that follows an internal logic. Yes, magic should be explained, a world should be detailed, and even comedy should follow some form and function. If there is no law dictated within the world, then there’s no reason for me to really pay attention to what you’re doing. It’s all just whitenoise for the pretense of having jokes.

This movie fails worldbuilding with a capital F and a giant minus. The food is alive, so are douches and some other inanimate objects! But things like shoes and ladles are not, why? Why isn’t the knife alive? When we open up a thing of off brand Mentos, each of those little mints is alive. Is this things ass full of living organisms that will proceed to exist in total isolation until released?  If I make a sandwich, is it a composite of painfully attached different creatures to each other? They did show that composite foods exist as a single entity, so does that mean that pushing cheese and wheat germ together creates a new living entity? The entire idea doesn’t make sense when you show that some things would require the painful things to exist. Pizza, sandwiches, all of it. How does it work? The movie doesn’t tell you.

This line here indicates that the peanut butter, married to jelly, is only alive as it is the container. But why isn’t the bag the hotdogs were in alive, or the box? There’s no sense to be had in this madness. Just extremely dry hotdogs.

Not that the external world is any better. Remember in Toy Story where the toys could move and had to very specifically hide that fact? Yeah, this movie says fuck it. Some of the foods move and we see people view it as a hot dog rolling around. But then the hot dog gets up, dodges, ducks, dips, dives, and dodges. They even stab a hot dog standing up in the middle of the air, or they can run across the street. Do people see them or not? It’s pointed out that they need to be literally high on bath salts to see the  food moving, but then can the food interact with the world when not on bath salts? How come the food never moves and people don’t notice it? Why do I even watch anything attached to Seth Rogan? Why did you ruin my night, Seth?

This isn’t even getting into the ending. The movie ended two separate times at the end, once when the orgy of murder happened, and once when the orgy that murdered the movie happened. There’s a full orgy, it takes actually 5 minutes to get through. Does it add to the plot? Nope. Does it push anything? Nah, it’s also the scaled down version from the honestly horrifying original script Seth Rogan spent years drafting up. Fuck him so much.

There’s also a murder orgy where the food kills everyone. Apparently we can’t beat hotdogs. Who knew? A guy gets turned into a testicle puppet by the douche, carries a giant revolver that apparently has 8 bullets in it. They make Terminator and Wizard of Oz references. A merry time was had by apparently a lot of people that aren’t me.

Also, the food smoke weed that is… Apparently not alive? Why is the marijuana not alive? Fuck it. Probably some stupid point.

The main point is this. The movie contains many flaws and

Fuck this movie. Fuck you Seth Rogan for your grinning assholery. Fuck the critics who think this movie is an insightful and raunchy godsend so they can openly enjoy cartoons. Fuck the idea that this movie grossed tons of money and will probably get some kinda sequel or spinoff. Fuck the media that believes that maturity is the juvenile banter of an idiot who cannot stop dragging his political diatribes into a different subject. And fuck this movie for killing any chance Kubo and the Two Strings had of being a financial success.

Summary? This movie is crass, brash, vulgar and tasteless. It’s also somehow not brave enough to say anything that has any real merit or in a way that’s unique. It’s a movie obsessed with its own egotistical idea of being the ‘first’ but has no idea of how to make that something worth seeing. This movie is just a waste of time. It’s a mix of immature and well past it’s expiration date.

[ask-el-tico-archives]

Vicente: I’ve been in two.

«No sé. Parecen como rosas.»

Maite, or México, was my first girlfriend. She was my longest relationship from the 1760s up to 1820s, so it was about 60 years together. I... really loved her, and she really loved me. You see, we had always spoken to each other through letters and didn’t see each other until 1753. I was so isolated from the rest of the viceroyalty and never really worked up the nerve to see her. Oh, but when I did, god did the world just seemed to stop. We carried that on until her war for independence.

Once she did properly declare independence, España didn’t let me see her. He said she didn’t deserve to and... I didn’t want to be her reason to stay... I rather never see her again than to see her there so unhappy... Then I became independent, too, and joined her along with the rest of Central America as part of the Mexican Empire. We became more serious and I- ... proposed...

I wished I didn’t because she was in such a dark part of her life; I didn’t make it any better by demanding so much from her. Plus, the instability didn’t make us the greatest match at the moment. Then Central America wanted to leave and some of my people wanted to, as well... The rest, I don’t want to talk about. Long story short, I pretty much left her a mess and ran away with another.

Which then leads up to Daniela, or Guatemala. This one is... more complicated... She’s the one I left Maite for. I joined her and unified with the Central American Republic. At first, I did love her but it just became so one sided after a while. She wanted to rush it and get married, but I didn’t want to given how bad the last engagement turned out. So, I stalled as long as I could which made her even more demanding. Karma is a bitch, isn’t it?

When the republic became more and more unstable, and as the conservatives and liberals fought more and more, the relationship wasn’t very... positive... She clashed with her family a lot and was always in such a bad mood. I felt like it was more about her than about us. I really did think she was using me at that point. I really felt like that when she persuaded me into helping her deal with Silvia and Morazán. Cutting it all off was hard because I really didn’t want it to end as sour as it did with Maite, but I had to for my own good and for the good of my people. I just took the chance and left shortly after Érica left the republic.

Nowadays, I guess, everything is better between Maite, Daniela, and I, but I know those two hate each other with a passion. They have other reasons, but I know I’m one of them... Okay, I got to be broody for a second. Next question!

NEXT QUESTION!

[gwynnew]

The evolution of an earworm: 'Coco' songwriters on how they came up with Oscar-nominated 'Remember Me'

Coco (Disney-Pixar)

Songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Bobby Lopez, Oscar winners for “Let It Go,” explain how their latest Disney tune changed along with the film.

While working on the Pixar film Coco, married songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Bobby Lopez wrote a handful of songs that didn’t make the finished film. As it turned out, Coco only needed one. “Remember Me,” nominated this year for an Academy Award for Best Original Song, is the tie that binds the story together. We first hear it sung by Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt), the famous mid-century Mexican musician idolized by young hero Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez). Miguel secretly learns the song on his guitar despite his family’s dictate that music is forbidden from their home. Later, Miguel and the audience discover that “Remember Me” originated as a lullaby from Miguel’s great-great-grandfather, a traveling musician, to his own daughter. When the story comes full circle, and Miguel returns from the Land of the Dead to play “Remember Me” to his great-grandmother, it’s one of the most emotional moments in any Pixar film.

The Lopezes, who previously won an Oscar for “Let It Go” from Frozen, spent years developing Coco with Pixar’s writers and filmmakers. Now they’re celebrating their Oscar nomination in the midst of rehearsals for the Broadway adaptation of Frozen, for which the couple wrote 12 new songs. In an interview with Yahoo Entertainment, Kristen and Bobby went deep into the evolution of Coco from a full-blown musical to a single-song adventure. The songwriters described cut song moments, the “puzzle” of writing the double-meaning lyric, and the very personal meaning “Remember Me” took on in their own lives.

Watch an exclusive video featuring Bobby Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez discussing all the versions of “Remember Me” in Coco:

Yahoo: So you’re doing Frozen on Broadway and doing Oscar press, and you’re also parents — have either of you slept lately? Kristen Anderson-Lopez: No. At one in the morning last night I was like, “OK, need to find an Oscar dress, need to find Oscar travel, need to remember to take my daughter to the doctor tomorrow.” I mean, it’s just one of those times. But these are good problems to have.

When Lin-Manuel Miranda was nominated in this category last year, I talked to him during the Super Bowl because that was the only time he had free. Bobby Lopez:  That’s a safe bet for all musical theater composers. Kristen Anderson-Lopez: We were totally free during the Super Bowl. We had dinner and actually talked facing each other. It was lovely.

Coco and Miguel in concept art for Coco (Disney-Pixar)

Before we get into “Remember Me,” I want to talk about how your work on Coco began. We recently ran on Yahoo Entertainment a couple of deleted scenes from when it was more of a musical. And I was very confused by that, because the whole premise of Coco is that Miguel’s family has banned music, yet in the original concept they were bursting into song.  So maybe you can shed some light on what that story was like when you first came into it and how it evolved. Kristen Anderson-Lopez: Well, you already put your finger on why it wasn’t a musical. [laughs] Because having a family that sang about not loving music just didn’t sit right in that moment. I think we could have gotten away with it, but it was questionable enough that we were like, you know what? There’s so much else moving as this story develops; let’s get the story right and make it a story with songs… Bobby Lopez: I’m flashing back, actually, to a device that we tried — that didn’t work, but was a really valiant effort — that there was sort of a curse on the family after they died, that in the afterlife for eternity, since they had turned their backs on music, they were all cursed to have to sing everything they said. And we had to make all of their lines into sung little bits. It was pretty funny and wacky. But, that didn’t work.

How many songs did you actually work on for Coco? Was “Remember Me” the first? Bobby Lopez: “Remember Me” was the first. And it has always been in every version of the script, and it always worked. It was always emotional. And it never changed. And then the other songs, I think we wrote maybe five or six other ones.

Ernesto’s family in Coco (Disney-Pixar)

Kristen Anderson-Lopez: The other thing is, we were very involved in the story. Something that people don’t really know about what we do when we work on these movie musicals — especially with this one — is that we were there from the seed of the idea. We really shaped these character, and really shaped who Mama Imelda was going to be. We spent hours and hours and hours on that — which is I think very different from many songwriters who get called up to write a song when the movie is already done. That’s not what we do. They come to us and say, we’re interested in maybe making this a movie with songs, or a musical – can we explore that together? And we do a lot of story work with the story team and the directors. A lot of that story work is still in [Coco], and then I think we did do five or six songs. It’s more like an exploratory process. We have a couple different “I want” songs for Miguel that fit the same exact moment in his hidey-hole, where he’s sort of dueting with Ernesto de la Cruz. Bobby Lopez: Where he’s playing the guitar and watching him on TV. Kristen Anderson-Lopez: We wrote a couple versions of that song. One that I really love called “Invisible Music” –  it was like [sings] “I only play invisible music…” It also spoke to what happens – like, we wrote all this invisible music for the movie! [laughs] But it was the right thing to do. It was the right thing to do, because there were so many things we had to hit to get the authenticity right. And the story had so many moving parts. The most important factor was telling the story that really reflected: If you are Mexican-American or Mexican, you see your family up there, you hear your family up there. And that ultimately was the right guiding principle.

Was there a pitch for Coco that made you say, “We definitely want to do this,” or was it simply the opportunity to work with Pixar? Kristen Anderson-Lopez: Yeah. [laughs] Both of those. I mean, early early on in our career, Bobby and I got to go to Pixar when we were turning Finding Nemo into a musical for Walt Disney World. And we used to joke around after we went on the tour and saw all the secret lounges and all the creativity and the fact that they want their workers to like, take macramé and do yoga in the middle of the day to keep their artistic juices flowing. We left and we were like: Pixar is mother. Pixar is father. [laughs] It was a dream to work there with all of those vibrant, incredible storytellers. And when they said, we might have something, we were like, “Yes! Doesn’t matter! Whatever it is, we’re there!”

Miguel and Hector in Coco (Disney-Pixar)

Bobby Lopez: But then particularly when they pitched us “Remember Me,” I remember just feeling like, well that’s an idea I’ve never heard: s song with both of those meanings that the whole plot turns on. And it’s not only a revelation that a different songwriter wrote it and it meant something else, but then the music itself becomes the emotion of the moment too. We were just so excited by that idea, and then we really wanted to get to work on it right away.

So how did you end up writing “Remember Me?” Kristen Anderson-Lopez: After hours and days and years of talking, Bobby had this beautiful melody that kind of came out of him one morning when he was still in his boxer shorts. And he put it on my phone, and I took it on the subway. And it was sort of like figuring out a puzzle, to tell the really emotional personal thing I had to say — which is, how you leave a song behind for your kids when you have to travel. But we also needed to constantly make sure, in every line, in every word, that it could also be interpreted as the Ernesto de la Cruz version of like, “Goodnight ladies! Goodbye! Remember me when I am gone!” Right? We needed this showboating, “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before” kind of version. And so the interesting puzzle was writing two different songs at the same time: one that really came as a personal, emotional thing, and another that was like, “Look at me.”

Miguel’s shrine to Ernest de la Cruz (Disney-Pixar)

“Remember Me” was also translated into Spanish for the end credits of the movie. Was that a process you were involved in? Bobby Lopez: Disney has an army of the greatest translators in the business, all over the world, doing this. I don’t speak Spanish, sadly, but what I’ve heard is that the Spanish translation really rivals our lyric in terms of emotion and quality, and that it has special nuances that it doesn’t have in English. And the way it turned out in all of its versions so far has been very, very satisfying to me, every time I hear it. Especially sung in Spanish — people sing it with a lot of gusto. The only thing that we contributed to the version that plays over the end credits was, we expanded the song. We created a transitional section, and we wrote a second and third verse of the song. So now we have the three-minute version that we never had had when we first wrote it. It was always a minute twenty, and now we have the full thing. And that’s what I sang at my mother’s funeral. It was nice to have it to sing, the full-length “Remember Me.” Kristen Anderson-Lopez: This was in August, and it was beautiful. And it had a whole other meaning and a different energy when Bobby sings it at the piano from the heart. Bobby Lopez: I was really happy to have worked on this at that moment, which is such an awful, heavy grief that comes on you. It’s nice to have music to help you through it.

The scene at the end when Miguel plays the song for his great-grandmother – I think that’s the only time in a movie theater when my son, my husband and I all cried really hard at the same time. What was your reaction to seeing that scene? Kristen Anderson-Lopez: The same as yours. I mean, we cried the first time we heard the script read in 2013, and we’ve cried every time we’ve seen it since. And then how the incredible artists at Pixar animated Nana Coco’s face, sort of coming back to consciousness, and then smiling at him at the end… Bobby Lopez: And you know, to me it’s when Abuelita reacts, because she’s the one who’s been stuffing down her emotions about being forgotten by her own mother. And when– I’m crying just talking about it! — when her look of dumbfoundedness comes over her face, that’s the moment that I cry.

This will not be your first Oscar rodeo. What place do awards have in your lives now that you’re regular recipients? Is it like a sports season or something? Kristen Anderson-Lopez: Well it’s very different, because in a sports season, the athletes are doing it every year. And for us, this is sort of the second time around. What I can say is, it’s much more fun, much more celebratory. Because the first time around, we were in constant state of fight or flight – like, “What do we do? We’re doing it wrong! We don’t know anyone! What is happening? I don’t know how to get a stylist! I don’t know how to get a dress!” And the second time around, we actually are able to turn to each other and say, “This is fun! Isn’t this fun? We just talked to Steven Spielberg! Holy crap!” Bobby Lopez: It’s like the second time you ride a roller coaster. It’s always more relaxing. Kristen Anderson-Lopez: This time around, we’re bringing our two girls, our children, as our dates. They’re twelve and eight now, so they’re old enough. And for us, we’re in the middle of Frozen Broadway previews, so we have not seen our kids very much, and we’re actually taking them to the Oscars to get in some fun time with our family and just really have an extraordinary experience. No matter what the outcome, it’s going to be something we remember for the rest of our lives and a happy day.

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:

‘Coco’ the musical? This deleted scene shows Pixar film’s radical transformation (exclusive)

Lin-Manuel Miranda on His Oscar-Nominated ‘Moana’ Song: ‘You Start by Thinking, Don’t Write “Let It Go”‘

‘‘Coco’: How Frida Kahlo’s hilarious, inspiring cameo happened

[marveliciousfanfics]

Walk With Me Part 3

This is my entry for @dinnafashsoldat POC Writing Challenge.

Prompts: “You’re not taking me to bed. Ever.” “Who said it had to be the bed?” and “I wasn’t lying when I said I loved you.” Mexican!OC

A/N: I am a Mexican girl so when I saw this writing challenge I had to get on board. It is going to be about a 5-6 mini series. I love Thor. He’s my favorite! Even over Bucky and Steve because he’s just so…perfect and needs to be protected.

**

Tony had also provided a car for us and I was thankful it wasn’t a flashy car. It was just a Toyota Highlander. Thor was still too big for it, but he would have not fit in anything smaller. I drove since I knew my way like the back of my hand. Again I tested Thor on my family’s name and he got it down well. He said we should stop by for something to eat since I hadn’t had a bit all day. I told him that I couldn’t eat when I was nervous, plus my family was probably making food for us already.

In the middle of traffic I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel. My stomach was in knots. I was torn about what we were doing. Was Steve right? What I was doing so bad? I mean, I have lied to my parents before, but never like this. At first, it felt like it wasn’t so bad, but what if they actually really liked Thor? I mean there was no chance in the world Thor would want to be in a relationship with me. Sleep with me for a night or two? Maybe. But I don’t think he wanted a relationship.

“What’s on your mind? You’re so tense,” Thor’s voice filled the car. I couldn’t look at him so I stared at the plates of the car in front of us for several seconds. “Hey…” his voice softened.

And I felt my eyes start to sting and my view started to get blurry.

“Hey,” he pushed harder.

I wiped away the tears that fell. “I just…what Steve said…I feel bad now.”

“Well, if you wanna tell them the truth, that’s fine with me. I can still go with you as your friend.”

That didn’t sound so bad. What if I did just come out with the truth? I mean, I’d get a lot of shit from my cousins and my siblings were not going to let it go either. No, I could do this. The focus was not going to be on us. It was my brother’s time to shine. He was getting married and that was a big step for him. He always said he was going to be a bachelor. I made my bed and I had to lie in it.

“No, we can do this. We’ll just…try to be…casual, like, not bring attention to ourselves. I don’t want to upstage my brother. It’s his time and his girl’s.”

“You sure, Dulce?”

“Yes. I’m sure,” I smiled to convince him.

Soon I got off the freeway and it wouldn’t be long before we got to my old home because we were close to the freeway. On our way I did point out the park where we were going to be playing soccer. It was a family tradition to have a game when there was a family gathering.

“I’ve read up on soccer. It sounds like a good way to exercise.”

Soccer was my passion growing up. I wanted to play in the league, but after what happened in New York it gave me a new perspective. First, we weren’t alone. Second, we weren’t prepared. So I wanted to make a difference. I had to. We also passed by my elementary school and those were bittersweet memories.

I wasn’t surprised to see that when I turned on my block there were several cars taking up almost all the spaces. I heard the music halfway down. My heart started to race, but I knew we could do this. Only two days and then it’ll be over. I found a parking space not that far from my house.

“Ready?” Thor asked beside me.

I nodded my head not trusting my voice. I got out of the car and went in front of it to get to the sidewalk. He asked if we got our stuff now. I told him later because it was more important to greet the family first. I turned towards my house and Thor reached for my hand. I pulled back like I had been shocked.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Sweetie, we have to play the part from now on.”

I sighed and shook my hands and bounced a little to relieve some of the stress. “Okay, okay, you’re right. We can hold hands. Sorry, I haven’t had a boyfriend in like years so…I forgot about the etiquette.”

“Dulce,” I loved the way he said my name with his deep voice. I turned my eyes up to him as he placed his hands on my shoulders. “Tell me what’s really wrong.”

“I…just…don’t think people will believe the God of Thunder would ever take a second glance at me,” it blurted out without hesitation. Somehow he compelled me to say the truth. He huffed a bit and frowned.

“Why not? You are a sweet, kind, smart, and sexy woman.”

With each of those compliments I felt my body flush. “I mean…Jane was…gorgeous and super freaking smart. I’m…me. I just…do research—“

“And that takes brains. You are always very diligent and your research has never let us down. I know you double check all your sources and you never take things lightly.”

It was odd to know Thor noticed me before now. Sure, we were friends before, but I always thought he just saw another co-worker. Now it felt like he saw more than that. But he never made a move. He was always friendly. Just friendly.

“Thanks,” I mumbled and looked down. “Okay, we should go.” I held out my hand and he placed his large one on top of mine engulfing it. We intertwined our fingers. I never thought I would be walking down this old street with Thor. I had read up on Norse Mythology—well I guess it wasn’t a myth anymore. 

My home was to my left and it was the pink house with the cactus at the front. There was a rose bush by the porch of the house that I remembered getting pricked many times when cutting the flowers to use as the center piece of our kitchen table. There was a big gate that I hated because I had to use the string to pull on it so it could open. The string was still there. It was so nostalgic to be back.

It had been way too long. I always found some sort of excuse not to come back for the holidays. It was hard for me. Everyone in my family knew that, so coming home with a boyfriend—a celebrity of sorts—was a big deal. The music was playing loudly. I knew they were all in the backyard, but we had to go through the house to get to the back.

I opened the door and immediately I was welcomed by my niece Elizabeth. She was about five years old and the light of my eyes. She tackled me wrapping her little arms around my hips.

“TIA! TIA! TIA!” she chanted. I released Thor’s hand to place my arms around her. I lifted her off the floor.

“Mira que grande estas!” I spoke to her in Spanish telling her how big she got and she did. “Y tan hermosa.” She and I mostly Face Timed and I did visit her at my sister’s place, but could hardly bring myself to visit my parents at their home. 

“Traiste a tu novio?” she asked if I brought my boyfriend. I turned her so she could face Thor.

“What a beautiful princess,” Thor grinned. “You must be Elizabeth.” He took her little hand and placed a peck on top of it.

“I’m no princess,” she giggled and took her hand back.

“Oh yes you are. I know many princesses, so I know when I see one,” he winked. It warmed my heart to hear her giggle. I really loved my niece and nephew. I knew what I was doing wasn’t meaningless. I wasn’t super powered, but what I did helped. It was for them. So they could have a future.

The first room of the house was the living room. We would have to go through the kitchen to get to the backyard. It was a one story home Ranch style so to our left was the hallway with the three bedrooms. One was for my parents and the other two my siblings and I shared for most of our lives.

It just hit me that Thor was going to find out something about me I had never told anyone. Tony probably knew but he never brought it up, which was good for me. But I honestly didn’t tell anyone on the team about myself a lot. I tended to keep to myself. I liked to listen to others and when it came time for me to share, I always changed the subject. It was on purpose.

I placed Elizabeth down. I told her to show me to the others. She grabbed my hand and pulled me across the living room. I had nearly forgotten about the shrine on the way there and I stopped in my tracks. I hadn’t seen his picture in so long. It was his graduation picture where he looked so happy.

My mom had the candles lit each candle had a different saint on it. His valedictorian medal was across the picture and also a rosary. My heart sank at the sight of it. It had been years. Too long and yet it still hurt. Thor placed his hand on my shoulder. Silently understanding what I still couldn’t say out loud. And of course he would understand more than anyone.

“C’mon, Tia!” Elizabeth urged.

I nodded down at her and continued on. The kitchen remained the same. It smelled so good. The sliding door was open and I already saw familiar faces. Cousins, aunts and uncles along with close family friends.

The first who noticed us was my aunt—my mother’s oldest sister Beatriz. She hugged me tightly since it had been years since I saw her. She cried and held me tightly. I hugged her back as well. I had many memories of her babysitting my siblings and I when my mom had to work two jobs. She was like my second mom and guilt washed over me knowing that calls, texts and  FaceTime wasn’t enough.

“Perdoname, Tia,” I asked for forgiveness.

“No te preocupes, mija,” she replied that I didn’t need to worry. It took all of my strength to keep it together. I pulled back and she squeezed my cheeks. Her eyes wondered behind me and they widened. Her face turned a little pink around her cheek area. “Ay, ese es el Thor?”

I looked behind me and he stood a few feet behind me with his hands behind him but with a grin on his face.

I turned back to my aunt. “Yes. Thor, this is my aunt from my mom’s side—Tia Beatriz. Yes, my sister was named after her.”

Thor walked up to my aunt, took her hand and placed a kiss on it. My aunt giggled much like Elizabeth had.

“A pleasure,” he told her.

We got everyone’s attention and suddenly Thor was swarmed by my family members. It was mostly the ladies. I stood back and watched. It was funny to see a tall, burly God get nearly trampled by short Mexican women. He stayed a gentleman and greeted everyone.

“Ya! Basta!” I told them and worked my way through the crowd and shooed them away. I got a hold of Thor’s hand and he squeezed it probably thankful I saved him. I met his eyes and his sparkled with gratefulness. 

“Mija,” my mom’s voice tore my gaze away. It had been a while since I saw her, so I released Thor’s hand to hug my mom. She was my rock. My best friend. So lying to her was killing me. “Que gusto me da verte, mi nina.” She told me how glad she was to see me.

“Mami,” I nearly whimpered. She caressed my hair and told me she loved me. I saw my father walk up. He had grown more gray hairs since the last time I saw him. I pulled back from my mom’s embrace. I went to hug my dad. He was stiff at first. It wasn’t in our culture for men to show their emotions, but it had been a while since I held him so I was pleasantly surprised when he hugged me back. He rubbed my back. “Pa, I’m sorry.”

“No hay nada que perdonar,” he said there was nothing to forgive. This time I broke down and released the sob I had been holding back since my aunt. My dad held me tighter and I heard him break down too. We both missed him. Missed him terribly. 

After a moment we both separated. I wiped away my tears and then I wiped his. He cupped my face with his hands.

“Ahora, quien es este Thor?”

I chuckled and looked back to see Thor with a soft expression. Clearly my crying had shown a side no one had ever seen at the compound. I introduced my dad and Thor. My dad had puffed out his chest and straightened his back. They shook hands. My dad wasn’t that tall either. Sure he was taller than me and my mom, but he was still way shorter than Thor. I suspected my dad squeezed a little harder, but I was sure it didn’t make a difference to Thor.

“Come on over so I can get to know you,” my dad told Thor. “You like beer?”

“Of course!” Thor boomed.

“Tecate? Corona?” my dad asked.

Thor turned to me unsure so I mouthed ‘Corona’.

“Corona?” Thor’s voice wasn’t convincing but my dad grinned.

“I knew you had good taste, eh? After all you are dating my daughter…right?”

“Yes! Absolutely,” Thor nodded and then followed my dad to the other side of the backyard where the men were. In the crowd I saw Bruno. He gave me a sheepish smile and waved. I waved back.

God, I was never this emotional. I needed a shot.

“Puta!” Betty hugged me from the back.

“Perra!” I said to her and laughed. Camila and Junior joined. We got into a group hug. I loved being at the compound and having my friends there, but nothing beat this. I really did love my family. I was just an emotional wreck after what happened to our little brother. The one I had raised. The one whose diapers I had changed. The one who got to go to New York only to come back in a box.

[so-caffeinated]

Okay, SO... I think this is probably the best way to reply to my spoilery asks. Responses are below the cut. There are spoilers for all currently posted chapters including the unscheduled one posted today. 

There will also be some minor spoilers in answers for future chapters. 

Sound good? Here we go!

###TEMPEST SPOILERS BELOW### 

(1) Hi!! Long time lurker, first time commenter and I just have to say how much I love your stories!! Two guesses on the Jules/husband spoiler. 1) You mentioned the fact that Jules' husband is good at dancing, and an anon asked if she and her husband met through dancing. You replied no, which makes me lean towards Alex being her husband since Jules and Jackson's first meeting is when he's photographing her while she's dancing

(2) Also in the same ask, you talked about Jules dancing by herself at a BBQ to get her husband's attention, which is something I can picture happening at a Will's house with the other firemen. 2) You said in response to a different ask that Jules is a better cook than the other kids because she bonds with her mother-in-law over it. You also characterized their relationship as having the "potential to be very rocky."

(3) Because Alex's dad died in the Undertaking, I feel like Jules' status as a Queen could potentially make for an awkward conversation at Thanksgiving. :) Hope these make sense!! Thank you for sharing your work and characters with us!!!

FFS, Anon. You should have seen my eyes bug out when I read these. Wow. You’re awfully close to spot-on here. The ‘Jules dancing by herself at a BBQ to get her husband’s attention which is something I can picture happening at Will’s house with the other firemen’ is ABSURD. It’s Alex’s house, not Will’s, but otherwise... basically, yeah. Chapter after next, Anon. Chapter after next... and WHEW, it’s a scene. 

She will - though not during Tempest - bond with her mother-in-law largely over cooking. When Jules is committed, she gives her whole self and her whole heart. By the time she falls in love with Alex, she loves all of him. That means his heritage and culture, too. So she learns Spanish and she tries more Mexican foods and she learns to cook some of it, amongst other things. That said... winning over Mama Castillo is not gonna be easy. She liked Alex’s on-again/off-again ex-girlfriend. And... Jules is ten years younger than Alex, she’s not Catholic, she’s not Mexican-American, and she’s a Queen. Alex is her only child and Jules is far from the woman she’d pictured for her little boy. 

So I think I know who Jules husband might be. I previous asks you said that if her husband hadn't met Jules, in the other timeline, he would probably have had a daughter with his on again off again girlfriend and I think you said before that Alex(?) had an on again off again girlfriend ( or it was in a chapter)? So I think her husband is Alex.

This is one of those types of spoilers that I forget that I’ve said, but yes. In the other universe he’d have had a daughter with Marisol, his on-again/off-again ex-girlfriend. Having a baby fixes nothing in a relationship, though, and they would have ultimately ended things for good. But Alex never finds something in that universe like what he has with Jules here. There’s nothing even close. Excellent catch, Anon.

I know you can’t respond to this yet but OMG JACKSON NOO POOR JULES IM CRYING IT WAS SO GOOOOOD

ANON! Thank you. Also? I wrote that scene on my birthday. It’d been in my head forever, so it was good to finally get it out, but oh lord... it wasn’t easy. I love Jackson. I really, really do. Killing him was rough. 

I am at work reading Tempest and OH MY GOD! This is AMAZING. Your writing is just incredible. I mean, it always has been but this is just beyond. That death. I wasn't expecting it and I had no idea I was so attached to that character! I'm sobbing! And I was already invested in Jules but now I feel 10x more invested in her and her story. I'm so excited to see where all this goes. THANK YOU! This is truly a gift.

Thank you, Anon! That death scene is one of the few things I’ve written that felt like they came out exactly as I pictured. And it’s been in my head a long time. I’m so, so glad you’re invested in this story because it’s entirely hijacked my life. It well and truly has. And being able to share it with people who appreciate it genuinely means the world. 

Omg I love tempest. I was majorly shocked with Jacksons death though ...you definitely made me tear up being the amazing writer you are. Can you confirm that it's Alex now as her husband ? I don't know how I will survive waiting till next week!!!!!

Clearly, I couldn’t wait til next week either. THANK YOU! And yes, yes I can confirm now that Alex is her eventual husband. Julex rises, my friend!

Ok did Jackson fake his own death to protect her please say yes is he Sentinel and they will find each other again cause I’m just really heartbroken I know it’s for a reason but I really loved Jackson like a lot and now I’m so sad but thanks for the story I kind of wanted the whole thing out so I could read it all I know that’s a bit selfish but when I read I can’t put it down .

Oh, Anon... He did not. I’m sorry. I love Jackson a lot, too, and killing him was hard, but it was absolutely necessary. I wouldn’t have done it otherwise. I’m glad you’re enjoying the story! I can understand wanting to read it all at once. You can, eventually? If that’s an consolation? But I’m glad you’re loving it even weekly (or slightly more than weekly when I get impulsive).

I just read the prologue and the first chapter and if you want me I’ll be sitting in the corner crying my heart out. literal tears are pouring out of my eyes. This is gonna be so painful. and when he calls her Julie I feel my heart breaking into pieces WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME JANIS? I DIDNOT ASK FOR THESE EMOTIONS!!!

I am mean and horrible and honestly how do you not know that by now? Sorry. I’m kidding. Maybe I shouldn’t be. SO... is it painful? Yes. But more than that it’s hopeful. At it’s core, this is a story about learning to live with loss instead of just surviving it. I think there’s a lot of joy and optimism in it, too. And I’m pretty sure you’ll agree with me there in time. There are ups and downs, progression and regression... Coping with something like this, getting to a place where you’re more than just okay, isn’t the kind of thing that happens in a straight line. But how Jules learns and copes and changes her viewpoint is really the heart of the story. And there are a lot of emotions ahead. Buy wine, chocolate and tissues. 

OH MY GOD JANIS!!! You're killing me today! First with your amazing new story and then I went to your pinterest page and... Sylvia Castillo??? I'm dead now!!!

You were the first one to catch this, Anon! The Pinterest page has undergone more changes since you sent me this, too. But... YES... Sylvia Castillo. Genuinely one of the sweetest children to ever exist fictionally or otherwise. 

Yay!!! I knew hubby was Alex!!!!! So happy to be right! Love this story so much. Jules is my fave

Thank you, Anon! I’m happy you’re right, too, because Julex is my ship. (Okay I have lots of ships, but Julex is... whew). Glad you’re enjoying it, Anon. Thank you!

Alex marries Jules omg I knew it I had a sliver of hope for my bud Jackson but then you know he’s dead and all break my heart a little bit but at least Alex’s is cool are we at the point where you can confirm this lol cause Pinterest just gave stuff away so you know just wondering please say yes;)

LOL, yes, anon, I will confirm. And thank you! I do adore Jackson (and hey there are infinite universes so he’s out there... somewhere... right?), but it’s Julex for me. Alex is an awesome guy and I can’t wait for you guys to see more of him. I love him like crazy. And you guys are way more active on my Pinterest page than I’d realized!

I love Tempest so far and I'm excited to read more about Jules' journey ! Your writing makes me look forward to Monday mornings and starting the week ( even though some chapters are more heart breaking than others lol) Poor Jackson and Jules, I thought that they might break up because of Jules keeping team Arrow a secret but I didn't want to believe that Jackson would die because he was so sweet and made Jules happy. I'm excited to read more about Jules, thank you for writing ! <3

Thank you, Anon! Jackson was sweet and he did make Jules happy. He would never have left her... not for anything, really. He loved her so much. You will get to see some of that still, even though he’s gone. Both through Jules and other sources. But her journey is mostly about learning to live with having lost him and how to cope with that in a better way. There is a lot of heartbreak in this story, but I also think there’s a lot of love and joy, too. For sure, we are not done with the tears. But we’ve barely scratched the surface on the good stuff. Promise. ;-)

After Jackson's death (soonish after and later on) does Jules have any sort of relationship with Jackson's family( mom, dad, sister) since you said they liked Jules ? Or would it have been too painful for all of them ? Would they have visited Jackson's dog ?

This is a great question. I actually had originally planned a scene between Jules and Jackson’s mom but never wound up writing it. They were both going to be visiting his grave. Jules does still keep in touch with them. They don’t live locally or anything, but she and Bokeh are a connection to Jackson still. I think more than anything else, she and Jackson’s mom and sister e-mail each other. She probably sends them invitations to the occasional art exhibit or whatnot. They aren’t fantastically close, but there’s still affection and a link between them.

 You probably can't answer this (yet?) because it's too spoilery but with Jules eventual husband ... does their relationship start the traditional way (asked out on dates, she tells family/friends etc) or is it more of a secret/affair that they try to hide for a while? (I ask this because my theory is Alex is her husband and as one of Will's friends/coworkers, and Jules currently only looking for sex and not emotions, things start more hidden, if that makes sense)

You’re close, Anon. I’m gonna say you’re half right. Watch for the fifth full chapter (after the prologue so AO3 will call it chapter 6). You’ll get this fully answered there. 

OMG!!!! IT'S ALEX!!! I WAS RIGHT!!!! I AM SO HAPPY!!! I have been firm in this suspicion ever since the ameliam babysitting sylvia chapter! I completely missed the name hint and I speak Spanish and Castillo is the last name of some of my extended family lol. Anyways this is awesome!!! Now I'm curious about Will's reaction to his friend dating his little sister.

Thank you!!! Will’s reaction... is something that probably depends on what exactly he knows and how he knows it, don’t you think? You’ll get to see that... though it’s a bit further down the line.

sooo, is working with two of his siblings-in-law ever weird for Will, or... ? --- (I know you can't talk about that, I just can't wait until you finally can!!!)

You’re assuming some things about Ellie and Sara here, Anon! But with Will and Alex, once Jules and Alex are really firmly together and later married, I think it takes a lot of adjusting. For one thing, they can’t have quite the same conversations they did before, can they? Alex is not discussing his love life with Will anymore, you know? But they trust and love each other as family as it is. They’ve had each other’s backs for a very long time. And that’s not something that’s going to change. 

OH MY WORD. OH MY WORD. WE'RE ONLY TWO CHAPTERS IN & WORDS CANNOT ACCURATELY EXPRESS MY LOVE OF THIS STORY. ALSO I AM BEYOND UPSET THAT I DIDNT NOTICE THAT CONNECTION. A Castle for a Queen....I'M SOBBING. I've had a theory for a long time that Jackson would die, Will would be severely injured in a fire, & Jules would meet Alex as Will is being loaded into the ambulance/taken into surgery. You said a while back that when Jules & Alex meet something else is demanding her attention so... ;).

NO ONE caught that I was giving a Queen a Castle. NO ONE. Not even people who knew who she wound up with. I pat myself on the back a lot. I felt very JKR-like for that. You got awfully close with your theory there, Anon! Very, very close. Great guess!

Hi so I'd planned on my next message being far more eloquent but NOPE SORRY I HAVE ZERO CHILL IM SHRIEKING OH MY WORD. THIS CHAPTER WAS INCREDIBLE. ALL THE HEART EYES 😍😍😍😍😍😍😉😍😍AND AMELIAM. OMW AMELIA. AND THE PREGNANCY SCARE. AND ELARA. ALSO ITS HAPPENING. CHAPTER FOUR. THE BBQ. JULES DANCING. ALEX COMBUSTING. I HAVE LESS THAN ZERO CHILL. AND HIS "JULIANNA." I LOVE THAT HES THE ONLY ONE THAT CALLS HER THAT. I SHIP IT LIKE FREAKING FED-EX. 🏰♥️👸🏻

I love this so much? LOL. Ameliam... Yeah... my ‘damn it Amelia’ tag is earned. You’ll find out more about that later. Also about the pregnancy scare. Chapter four is actually more plotty than anything else, but chapter five is the BBQ and chapter six is... you’ll like chapter six. Alex always calls her Julianna. Never Jules or Julie or anything else except some nicknames.... which you’ll get to in a bit. He has a few. I AM SO GLAD YOU SHIP IT! I love Julex so much! Thank you!

Oh man I know Tempest is going to be soooo good! Today's chapter has to be one of my favorites with everything going on! Finally Jules and Alex are in the open and I adore them so much and am so excited to see more from them. Also ever since I first found out about them I have been wanting to see Will's reaction to it and if it is anything like with Javi it is going to be very interesting and really entertaining to see. Also wow, Amelia did get married and Will thought he was going to be a dad😱

Thank you! I loved this chapter. And Julex... oh Julex... they have so much more to see. I am beyond excited to share more! You’ll get Will’s reaction, too, but that’s a bit further on in the story. Amelia... did get married. She did. Not the best choice she ever made, let’s leave it at that for now. Will - very briefly - did think he might be going to be a dad. I think his own reaction to that surprised him, especially given the circumstances, and I reeeeeeeeeeeally wanna write that. Like right now. It’s a Big Moment with some major parallels. 

OH. MY. GOD! THANK YOU for posting Chapter 3 early. I'm SO obsessed with this story! Questions because of course ... How old is Alex? At this point in the story, does Sara know how Ellie feels about her? Without getting too spoilery, does Sara know how she feels about Ellie at this point (platonic or otherwise)? Also ... Amelia got married????!!!!

Alex is 34 and Jules is 24 in this story. She’s not-quite-ten-years younger than him. Sara does know how Ellie feels about her and Sara also knows how she feels about Ellie. It’s not exactly as simple as that, though. Which you’ll get to later. And Amelia did get married and I AM SORRY but she did. She did. It wasn’t her best choice ever, but there we go. There will be more on that later, but not in Tempest. Thank you!!

FiCoN just keeps getting better and better and I'm really looking forward to everything that is left! P.S. I think it really is a testament to your writing ability how even though I already knew Alex was Jules husband and was really excited for that relationship and we only met Jackson a few times, I felt gutted by his death. I know there is so much more story to tell with everyone's lives and I absolutely can't wait to read everything you have to share!

Thank you! Getting better is absolutely the ultimate goal. I always want to be better than my last story and Tempest feels like a big step forward to me. I’m glad it still impacted you even knowing about both Alex and Jackson. That means a ton! And there is so much story left to tell. If I stepped back and looked at it all at once, it might be daunting. lol

THANK YOU FOR THE EARLY CHAPTER!!! OMG Jules and Alex are HOT!!! They are even better than I imagined!!! Honestly I probably looked like a crazy person while reading with all the smiling and squealing i was doing. And that Amelia reveal!! I always feared that would happen. Poor Will but I'm excited to eventually see what happens there. Also super curious about the QI girl. Anyways Julex is amazing I am officially in love w/ them!!!

Thank you! Jules and Alex are... possibly the steamiest stuff I’ve written yet. They smolder. Their sex scenes are insane. And when @dust2dust34 edits them they’re a million times better. She’s gotten through two so far and it’s absolutely bonkers how hot they are oh my god. With Amelia... yeah... so there’ll be more on that later. Also about Will because I’m dying to write about him and ‘the girl from QI’ so much oh my god. It’s gonna be a great scene. SHIP JULEX! Definitely ship Julex. Julex is OTP. <3

[bunchofbooks]

It’s Time for Kyrsten’s Opinion: Love, Hate and Other Filters Edition (Spoiler Filled edition)

Hi everyone! Last night I finished Love, Hate and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed. 

I also tried doing something different this time while reading the book, I tabbed all of the different parts in the book that I wanted to bring up in my review, and quotes that I wanted to include, so hopefully this one is a little bit better than my other ones where I was just winging it the entire time. Because this is going to be a more in depth it is going to contain spoilers so under the cut will be some major spoilers and if you have already read the book and want to know my in depth opinions on the book about what I did and did not like feel free to look under the cut, but there will be spoilers. 

Love, Hate and Other Filters is about 17 year old Maya Aziz wants nothing more than to go to NYU and study to be a film maker. Her parents on the other hand, want Maya to stay close to their home in Illinois, go to law school or medical school and marry a nice Indian Muslim boy. Just when Maya’s parent agree for her to go to college in New York, there is a terrorist attack and the main suspect has the same last name as Maya. After this attack shakes the nation, people that had either never paid any attention to Maya or were her friend are now turning against her. The beginning of each chapter is told in a third person point of view leading up to the terrorist attack and afterwards, as reports on how people are grieving. 

“A terrorist attack. Another tragedy. Is there no end? Is this how life will always be? I want to know more, but there is one piece of information I absolutely hope I don’t hear. I whisper a prayer to the universe. “Please, please let everyone be okay. Please don’t let him be a Muslim.””

There is obviously a heavy trigger warning for racism. A not so obvious trigger warning is for abuse. It is not brought up often in the book, but it is definitely there. 

My Rating: ★★★.5 / ★★★★★

Message me if you have read this book and what you thought about Love, Hate and Other Filters! Is it on your TBR? And what is one book that was really hyped up that you may not have enjoyed as much as you had hoped? 

There were certain aspects of this book that I really loved. One specifically being the clash between Maya’s parents wanting her to conform to the traditional values they were raised with against the “Americanized” values that Maya is surrounded with at school and outside of her home. Maya struggles with wanting to be the daughter that her parents, specifically her mother wishes for her to become while wanting to also be her own person. A few weeks ago I read I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican daughter and brought up the same idea of the parents wanting to hold on to their traditional values and instill them in their child while their child (both daughters in these two books) wants to still respect their culture and traditions in that culture, but also want to have these more Americanized ideas and values. I also really appreciated the ignorance of people in the book who were not in the same predicament as Maya and her family. For example, Maya’s parents’ business is vandalized - a brick is thrown through the window. The police are called to investigate. Maya and her best friend Violet are told to go back to Maya’s house. Maya is traumatized that someone has committed a hate crime against her parents and her best friend, Violet turns to her and says, “I love that we’re getting a police escort”. While I thought Violet was extremely insensitive to what the family was going through, I could 100% believe that this was something that someone would say to Maya or anyone who has been in Maya’s position. Maya is scared for her safety and Violet is loving the attention of a police escort. I also loved how differently Maya’s view on the terrorist attack varied from the views of her parents. Maya’s parents accustomed to being the scapegoat - at one point even bringing up the rampant xenophobia seen in the country since 9/11, especially against people who look like Maya’s family - want their daughter to stay close to home and hide away from the world. Maya on the other hand, does not want to stop her life or hide who she is. She says, “My parents’ fears shrink my universe to the four walls of this house. The world outside paints us all as terrorists. I’m blamed for events that have nothing to do with me”. There is also another point where one character, Phil, who is a love interest for Maya and I’ll get more into him later, says that he overheard another student, Brian, talking in the locker room about how Brian does not respect people from other countries and wants them to go back where they came from. Maya asks Phil why he did not confront Brian in the locker room, he was a leader and should have told him that he couldn’t say things like that. Phil’s answer was, he thought it was just locker room talk. I’m not sure if that was parodying Donald Trump’s, “grab her by the pussy” comment which he said was just locker room talk and had no real merit behind it, but that is what it reminded me of. 

Generally, I thought this book was pretty good, I thought it was definitely important and something I think a lot of people should read. However, there were also parts of this book that I really did not like. I thought the beginning of the book was pretty boring. The terrorist attack happens during the midway point, and before that it’s just so boring. Maya at one point is in a love triangle - which if I can be frank about this, is a trope that needs to die pretty immediately, I hate it - and I’m sure it’s to fuel this idea of a culture clash between what Maya wants and her parents and I know, I was just talking about how I loved that aspect of the story, but dear God, that part could not have ended soon enough. Also, the guy that Maya picks Phil as previously mentioned is just a tool. He starts seeing Maya when he is still with his girlfriend and Maya is confronted by his girlfriend’s friends and Maya thought that Phil and his girlfriend had broken up. Also I feel like he is just a tool, like I don’t know if he tries too hard to be different or what his deal is, but I just hated him. Also I thought that the end was just. . . a little too convenient. When Maya is physically assaulted she just conveniently has her camera recording and has the guy Brian assaulting her? I just thought it was a little unbelievable. I know Maya is an aspiring film maker, and it’s told in her point of view, but there were parts where she was walking down the hall way and would detail how she would have filmed this particular scene in a movie. We get it Maya, you want to make movies. 

I did read some reviews Good Reads about Love, Hate and Other Filters. While most of them were positive, I did find a few that were not as happy, especially when it came to the representation. I’m going to leave the link to the different reviews here, here, and here. My rating of this book is 3.5 / 5 because while I think this book is extremely important and had awesome potential, the romance was overdone and I feel like the romance aspect may have at points overshadowed the other more important elements in the story.