#Windstorm Book 2

[jolenes-book-journey]

Shadow Cast by AL Hawke

Shadow Cast by AL Hawke is Book 6 in the Hawthorne University Witch Series. Until I enrolled in Dr. Alondra Johansen’s metaphysical history class. Bryce, Alondra’s super cute teaching assistant, told me my element sign is Earth. I am, in fact, a pragmatic sort of girl. My name is Cadence Hawthorne, but you can call me Katie. You can’t cast shadows in darkness. Shadow Cast The Hawthorne…

[nanowrimo]

How to Set Realistic NaNoWriMo Goals

Every year, we’re lucky to have great sponsors for our nonprofit events. Dabble, a 2023 NaNoWriMo sponsor, is a tool specifically designed for fiction novelists. Today, Dabbler Robert Smith shares a few tips to help you set daily writing goals that will work for you:

November looms, and with it the thrilling, harrowing, and sometimes carb-loaded journey of National Novel Writing Month. As we tie our writer's capes and ready ourselves for a month of intense creation, there's a small matter we need to address: our writing goals.

The Weight of 50,000 Words

Setting goals for NaNoWriMo is like setting a pace for a marathon. You wouldn't expect to sprint a marathon. The same goes for writing. If you try to sprint through, chances are you'll burn out faster than a candle in a windstorm.

However, only doing the minimum can leave you in a precarious position. Because if something comes up—and something always comes up—you’re suddenly behind on your goal, and that can really hurt morale.

So here are some goal setting tips to crush NaNoWriMo this year:

1. Start off strong, so you can end strong.

There is a simple fact about motivation. It starts strong and wanes with time. 

Now to be honest, you won’t be able to write a book with motivation alone. It requires a lot of discipline, and you’ll have to write even when you don’t feel like it.

But a great way to get the most out of that early motivation is to channel it into higher early output.

We all know that 50,000 words split over 30 days is 1667 words a day. But authors who win NaNoWriMo often don’t start there. They shoot for 2,500-3,000 words a day in the first week. That way they build up a buffer for the later weeks where motivation isn’t as high.

Plus, it gives them great forward momentum on their project. So consider setting higher goals early and taking advantage of your early NaNo fervor.

2. Account for daily life.

Even if you've cleared your calendar for November, life has a knack for throwing curveballs. 

Kids get sick. Work projects pop up. You know what I mean. If your word count goal is teetering on the edge of feasibility, any small disturbance can throw it off. 

To combat this, make plans and backup plans. Schedule your writing time around family gatherings. Plan what happens if you miss a day. Set yourself up for success before those situations arise.

3. Use the buddy system.

Find a writing buddy to be accountable to. It could be a friend participating in NaNoWriMo, or even someone you connect with in the NaNo community. 

Check in with each other daily. Celebrate your wins, commiserate over the tricky bits, and hold each other accountable. 

Sometimes, knowing someone else is in the trenches with you can be incredibly motivating.

4. Have weekly check-ins.

Instead of focusing solely on daily targets, also have a weekly goal. This gives you a broader view and allows for some flexibility. If you have a slower day, you can make up for it later in the week without feeling like you've thrown the entire month off course.

5. Actually track your goals.

Obviously, you need to track your goals, but there are multiple ways to do it.

Dabble integrates with NaNoWriMo, so you don’t have to manually submit your word count. And if you fall behind a bit, Dabble will automatically adjust your daily goal accordingly to keep you on track.

But even if you’re just marking off your goals on a napkin at your desk, tracking your progress will help you stay the course to victory.

Now go forth, share your stories, and remember: it's not all about the word count; it's about the words that count.

All NaNoWriMo participants can use the discount code  NANOWRI2023 for 20% off 1 year of Dabble! Offer expires January 31, 2024.

Robert Smith is a Dabbling Writer, and a Writing Dabbler. He likes playing board games with his wife, and deconstructing plots from movies in his spare time.

Top Photo by Isaac Smith on Unsplash.

[yuurei20]

How is the English version of Twisted Wonderland Different? (Deuce)

While Deuce will sometimes use “Housewarden Rosehearts” on EN, it is the one and only way that he ever refers to Riddle in the original game (Riddle is called something different by every member of Heartslabyul's main cast).

Due to language restrictions this might be just impossible to portray, but for those who may be interested: Deuce refers to every 2nd- and 3rd-year student as "last-name-senpai," and only first names for his fellow 1st-years.

(There are two exceptions of which I am aware: when Jamil gives him an egg sandwich during New Year's and he changes from "Viper-senpai" to "Jamil-senpai" just once during the conversation, and in Book 2 when he calls Ruggie "Ruggie" instead of "Bucchi-senpai," presumably because he has been spooked after watching Ruggie nearly die. All of Deuce's honorifics have been collected here.)

Deuce being hard working is an important part of the character, which doesn't really mesh with his line of "Maybe we'll get to go home early" during the New Year's event.

That also isn't what he said: his original line is saying that they might get to go back inside the store.

While Trey and Epel may have toxic masculinity-related hang-ups Deuce does not, though he claims he does in Book 5 (we've never seen any examples of such opinions from him, so it is possible that he was lying to support Epel).

It is one of many examples in the game of what is called a "gap" in Japanese: the difference between what you expect and reality.

Deuce being considerate and thoughtful despite his violent past is one of many “gaps” about the characters in the game, much like Epel’s physical appearance and that contrast to his own violent tendencies.

As Deuce is a former delinquent one might expect outdated ideas about gender roles from him, but he hasn't any, which is why he was willing to volunteer for ballet lessons in Book 5 and why he didn’t understand Trey’s embarrassment during the Wish Upon a Star event.

When Sebek mocks him for crying when possessed by a ghost, his English-language line is “I'm sure it was a...manly sort of sniveling!,” but that is out of character for Deuce based on what we’ve seen of him.

It is also not what he originally said. His actual line is, “Saying ‘pathetic’ is going too far!”

Original Deuce: There's nothing to be adone about it.

EN Deuce: Okay! I'm doing this! FOR MY COMRADE!

The line above is a perfectly accurate translation of Deuce’s original dialogue, but later in the same scene, Deuce makes another reference to becoming one with the wind, saying, “I will become the wind through my own strength!”

This was changed in the English translation to “There’s a category 5 windstorm comin’ everyone’s way, and they’re calling it Hurricane Deuce!”.

[haveyoulistenedtothisalbum-poll]

Tracklist:

Mysterious Book • Patapon's Legend • Hoi Ya Hoi! Festival • Obelisk ~to the World's End~ • Theme of Gyorocchi • Theme of Acchichichi • Theme of Yahoho • Theme of Rinririn • Theme of Ore-Ore-Ore • Theme of Bibiricchi • Theme of Bikkurakotta • Theme of Gyoro-Gyoro • Theme of Awon • Theme of Usshisshi • Miracle ~Rain~ • Miracle ~Wind~ • Miracle ~Quake~ • Miracle ~Windstorm~ • Ponberabo~! • Ponnakotta! • Is It Short, Hoi! ~Triumph~ • Bon-Bon-Bon • Ran-Ran-Ran de Supopon • Uhyahya for Konkinkan • Sucharaka Zakun! • Pushu-Pushu Tonkan • Looking at ''IT'' at the world's end • Morning • Awakening • If This World Has An End.! • Theme for Gyorocchi Remix • Theme for Acchichichi Remix • Theme for Yahoho Remix • Theme for Rinririn Remix • Theme for Ore-Ore-Ore Remix • Theme for Bibiricchi Remix • Theme for Bikkurakotta Remix • Theme for Gyoro-Gyoro Remix • Theme for Awon Remix • Theme for Usshisshi Remix • Patapon's Theme • Mysterious Book ~to the other side of the sea~ • Hoi Ya Hoi! ~Old Festival~ • Evolution • Theme for Kachinkoron • Theme for Uffunfa • Theme for Zun-Zun-Zun • Theme for Pokkurimakka • Theme for Modamepon • Theme for Ponbekedatta • Theme for Totetitetan • Theme for Nyankadetta • Miracle ~Snowstorm~ • Miracle ~Offense~ • Miracle ~Defense~ • Paragedo ~Transdimensional Hero~ • Donchaka ~Trivial~ • Donchaka ~Test Your Ears~ • Donchaka ~Ore-Ore~ • Donchaka ~Everybody In~ • Donchaka ~Enthusiasm~ • Uppun Roll • Couleur Dance Step 1 • Couleur Dance Step 2 • Couleur Dance Step 3 • Is it really the world's end • Rainbow • Awakening ~Princess~ • Hidden Mission • If This World Has An End.! 2 • Theme for Kachinkoron Remix • Theme for Uffunfa Remix • Theme for Zun-Zun-Zun Remix • Theme for Pokkurimakka Remix • Theme for Modamepon Remix • Theme for Ponbekedatta Remix • Theme for Totetitetan Remix • Theme for Nyankadetta Remix • Patapon's Theme ~Rock Arrange~ • Hero's Here! • Once upon a time • Theme for Hohoi-Yaha • Theme for Ogyorocchi • Theme for Donjararin • Theme for Sungemon • Theme for Bon-Boyaji • Theme for Gupipapi • Theme for Nan-Nan-Nano • Theme for Parabiyappa • Theme for Patakorasassa • Theme for Tun-Tutu-Tun • Theme for Aparapapaiya • Mission Goal • Mission Fail • Theme for Dottamagachin • Fighting Win • Theme for Kurukurumisso • Fighting Draw • Theme for Suttengokun • Fighting Loss • Theme for Gittanbattan • Rock for Gyorocchi • Rock for Bibiricchi • Rock for Bikkurakotta • Rock for Awon • Rock for Usshisshi • Rock for Kachinkoron • Rock for Zun-Zun-Zun • Rock for Modamepon • Rock for Ponbekedatta • Rock for Totetitetan • Dungeon Goal • Dungeon Return • Summoning the Yarigami • Summoning the Yamagami • Summoning the Tategami • Summoning the Soragami • Treasure Box • Finished! • Retreat! • Hideout • Hero Gate • Kajiyan • Master Obelisk • Kyanpa • Star of Hope • Savage Soul • Lively Board • Seeding together • Beginning of the End ~Dark Hideout~ • Wh-Wh-What! • Wicked 7 • Selected at the world's end • To say that the world was a box • If This World Has An End.! 3

VGM Downloads ♪ Youtube: [Disc 1] [Disc 2] [Disc 3]

[talenlee]

July 2024 Wrapup!

I don’t know if there’s any kind of rhyme to go with July. I think when I set this post up at first I had some idea about the fist being a symbol for paper rock scissors, but now I’m saying it I don’t think that’s the case. Anyway, July ends! July has drawn to its miserable close, its cold and haunted month and – oh I should go schedule a COVID booster.

But while I do that, you should check out this festival of fun writing, articles and videos that are all about the stuff I have made and done throughout the course of July, paid for with the support of my beloved Patrons, and presented here, for you, to read, for free.

First of all, every week I do a Game Pile article, which is a treatment of a game of some sort. This month we had:

Princess Wing, a TTRPG that by one metric, is better than Dungeons & Dragons 5.5.

Traffic Department 2192, a game from the 1990s that was ‘made wrong’ – a hugely overwritten novel of a book that has cool fly-shooty levels between it.

Knit Wit, a beautifully produced game about playing with the social, which is predicated on its exclusions.

and finally Fox and I played Pet or Pass with the creatures of Thunder Junction! See what critters from that Magic: The Gathering set we have opinions on!

Also, for those of you hungering for more time with Fox and me, you can check out our playthrough of Day of the Tentacle (part 1, part 2)!

Then there’s the Story Pile articles, where I take a piece of media and inspect it from a few angles.

Barry, Season 4, which wraps up a show I really liked and did a good job of it!

The Phantom of the Paradise, a movie demonstrating that the surreality of the 70s just looks like the queerness of the now.

Shy, which sucks.

Love Flops, which sucks also but in a way that’s pretty interesting to talk about.

Zom 100, which absolutely whips ass because we all deserve a little treat.

Do you want to read me talking about making games? I did a bunch of that this month! First, even a little tangential, there’s an assessment of things that Brennan Lee Mulligan does in his dungeonmastering that I can use for myself. I also did a reflection article about Lysen Co, talked about specifics in making the Loom videos and the Youtube interface problems it presented. I shared a tool I use when dealing with students and other designers to consider the choices they make in their game, in the form of 50 questions. Then I even did a treatment for a game concept I’ve wanted to make for a while now, Intergalactic Paper Rock Scissors.

There were some thoughts about ‘evil people’ this month in world building. Specifically, I got thinking about Demons and Ogres, and the ways that stories represent them as threats for people to deal with. But don’t worry, there’s also some nerdy stuff about street food and magical theories!

If you like reading about older editions of Dungeons & Dragons we had two articles in the specific genre of ‘whoops, this was a mistake’ design stories. One, I did an article about the absolutely broken ridiculousness of Psychofeedback, a power so wonky that it needs an article explaining how it’s wonky, and the 4th edition class the Blackguard, which not only fails to deliver on its promise, but makes it worse.

Sometimes a shirt design is just a matter of a joke in my mind that I go ‘hey, can I make that design look good?’ and never whether or not anyone wants it. Anyway, here’s a design based on two ideas crossing over.

July was a big month, wasn’t it? I try to not let real world events play into things on this blog – the impersonal, kinda thing. Still, July featured a major windstorm, two major international news incidents that distracted me at length, power outages and a weekend where I couldn’t get into my work email right before the start of semester. Which means that as this month winds down I’ve been kind of exhausted, but in a totally new way. Like, I don’t have to worry about this happening, I don’t imagine anyone’s going to shoot at a Presidential candidate for the first time in my lifetime again.

Wait hang on, maybe I was alive when Reagan got shot at.

A chunk of July is spent between teaching. That means there’s no income but it also means there’s no demands. July was largely spent grinding my way through some PhD writing and trying to address my backlog on the blog. That felt productive, and man, literature review writing is really fun and interesting after Methodology writing. I found a new favourite academic, and I’m going to feel really embarrassed if she ever finds my work and roasts it.

That was an impact on my videos next month; I thought I’d have a lot to say about one of the topics, but it turns out the game is very fluid and easy, and mostly it pulled me back to two sources I really like – The Art of Failure and Paratexts: Thresholds of Interpretation. Which is itself, a whole thing. It’s wild to write this month’s wrapup post and realise that I’m already a step ahead. As I write this, my scripted videos for August are made, and they’re scheduled on Youtube, ready to go. Part of what let me do that was getting the videos for July done ahead of time — which did mean moving something from July to September.

We’ll see how that goes when it drops.

It’s a little thing too but I’ve been practicing card handling all month. Whenever I’m nervous I try to shuffle a deck of cards controlling the same pair of cards to the top, every time. This has been such an extensive practice that now, one of those two cards has my fingernails worn in the top of it, which tells you that this deck of cards is in fact, a bit bad.

Check it out on PRESS.exe to see it with images and links!

[angel-and-the-serpent]

Hey! I saw what you wrote with Crowley and Aziraphale being in a cabin in the middle of a windstorm! I think this ask is gonna be inspired off of that, but if you could write something about Crowley having fun outside in a middle of a windstorm and Aziraphale just trying to get him to come inside the bookshop and Crowley being a little shit and ends up ultimately dragging Azi in the wind with him and fluff ensues? Thank you!

Lovelies, I did it. i wrote an entire ficlet? oneshot? fanfic idek, SOMETHING for this wonderful anon, I hope you like it, and please dont be scared to send in more, I love doing these --------------------- Soho Windstorm Length: 715 words Context warnings: Language

--------------------------

It had been a normal day so far. As far as you could consider a normal day for an angel and a demon. That was until a windstorm somehow got knocked off its path and ended up in Soho, how? Aziraphale could only imagine. Though, he thought as he stared out the window, eyebrows furrowed, it had to do with the man dancing in the wind, 

Crowley was having the best time she had had in over 6000 years.

Yes, admittedly he had diverted the windstorm, but eh fuck it, if anyone found out, he did it for demonic reasons. Crowley was dancing in the wind. Dancing, not on a pinhead, but in the middle of an empty Soho street while a windstorm caused chaos around him. 

He wasn't really dancing, not really, but more like, doing what he wanted. Spinning in circles, shouting at the top of his lungs, that's what it mostly consisted of, The wind whipped his face, leaves swarming and battering his shoes as he did his own thing in the wind. 

Crowley felt a sense of freedom, he was always provided with some sort of freedom by the wind, a breeze on the hottest day, a short fast blast through a fan, it always provided him happiness, he didn't know where it came from, but he wasn't against it. 

Crowley paused mid-spin as he saw his angel staring at him through the bookshelf window, he raised a single eyebrow at her angel, smirking as he raised a singular arm outwards, as an invitation, seeing whether her angel would come out into the wind and be wild, let go of the worries, let the thought of Armageddon, of looming danger from their minds “No” the angel mouthed at the demon with a small internal smile, “Come inside, you silly demon” *come inside where it’s warm, come in, and we can drink, and I can play the record you like…the one about nightingales* The demon laughed, jogging over to the bookshop door and pulling it open, gusts of strong wind shooting in and disrupting the nearby papers, to which Aziraphale let out a strangled gasp/ cry of “Crowley, dear really?!” The demon laughed, grabbing her angel’s wrist, pulling them outside the comfort of their bookshelf and into the winds outside, laughing at the angel's cries as the bookshop doors were miracled shut. “C’mon angel!” the demon yelled, pulling Aziraphale by the hands into the wind, “loosen up, angel!” “Dear, let me back inside!” the angel pleaded, with a fleeting look back at his book shop, before he was startled by Crowley's body wrapping itself around his in a tight hug, “2 more minutes?” Crowley asked, “Then we can go drink?” Aziraphale let out a small murmur in response Crowley laughed, releasing her angel and spinning on the spot, whooping and laughing, the angel stood to the side, huddling himself under the awning of a building, watching his demon with soft eyes and a small smile to join them, he loved - uh…liked, seeing his friend…his demon like this, free of the burdens hell gave him, free of all the pain on his shoulders, just openly himself, just openly happy. “Shit!” Crowley laughed as the wind got harder, “Get inside, get inside it’s bloody freezing” “I told you!” Aziraphale scolded letting them both into the warmth of the bookshop and deadbolting the door behind them, He miracled the record played to start the familiar hum of a song Crowley was partial to, as the demon sat down on the sofa, perking up with a wide grin as the familiar notes of the song he had introduced to them in 1941 played though the record player, “You don't have the record” he laughed, leaning forward with a smirk and a glint in his yellow eyes, “Bought it yesterday” the angel said, *just for you* “What one is it today?” Crowley asked, referring to the wine, “I’ll go have a look,” Aziraphale said, walking away, further into the shop, leaving Crowley on the sofa with a grin on his face, as he listened to the familiar voice play…

The streets of town were paved with stars It was such a romantic affair And when you turned and smiled at me A nightingale sang in Berkeley square

I hope you liked it anon!! - Angel

[nyarlathotep-thecrawlingchaos]

Get to Know the Unknowable!!

14 DEC 2023 Lest I ever forget this momentous day

Hey so I found a list of weird unambiguous questions so we're doing a get-to-know-the-blogger thing for shits and giggles, which I guess I'll link in my masterlist or something.

Gonna include some blog-driven questions first and then just delve straight into what-the-actual-fuck territory.

Here we goooooooooooo

Fandoms?

One Piece Live Action is the only one I'm actively writing right now, largely for my own sanity. Fandoms I also write for include One Piece anime/manga (of course, though I'm painfully behind), Death Note, Harry Potter, Supernatural, Seven Deadly Sins anime, Durarara!, Chrono Trigger/Chrono Cross, and maybe some others I might remember and add later or something. Feel free to make a random ask request for literally anything listed, there's a chance I might end up responding to it. But OPLA is my hyperfixation at the moment, with a little spice added here and there from manga. I make my own canon, don't like it then sail on.

Genres?

Oh fuck me up, I will write any genre. My original work is primarily horror, sometimes with a touch or fantasy or science fiction, almost always with a splash of crime. Fanfiction often revolves around romance, but if you want something niche, DEAR GODS TELL ME I WANT TO PARTAKE especially if it's horror please ask me to write horror

Reply time to ask requests?

My life is very chaotic right now, and thus therefore also is my reply time. Do not get disheartened if I write a few headcanons and/or a one-shot or two before I get to your request. Writing is very much a coping mechanism for me, so I write what I feel. That does NOT mean I'm not interested in your request, it just means that I want to make sure I'm in the right mindset to do it justice because I love you people and the fact that you like the shit I'm shoveling makes me so unreasonably happy.

Are you really an ageless unknowable horror?

Yes. We get into fandoms, too. Eternity gets fucking boring okay don't judge. Especially when your bff has been napping for LITERAL CENTURIES WOULD YOU WAKE UP ALREADY YOU TENTACLED DIPSHIT I'M STARTING TO RELATE TO THESE MORTALS AND IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE

What is the most ridiculous nightmare you have ever had?

Actually I wrote a whole ass horror story about it, which I might share here someday. So there was this epidemic of huge windstorms one night that knocked out the power in a handful of small towns around the world. Then the next day there were these weird little black rocks, oval shaped, about an two inches long and one inch wide. Smooth like river rocks with a white line running through them, just scattered around the towns here and there. Not super noticeable, not tons of them, but just enough that they looked out of place. If one came in contact with your skin, e.g. you picked one up or kicked one up into your shoe, you'd get this weird little pinprick of pain just behind your left shoulder. Three nights later, at precisely 2:43 in the morning (nonidea why, but it was 2:43, Inwill never forget that), you hear footsteps. Quick footsteps, small footsteps, coming toward wherever you happen to be, and then you're asleep. Then you wake up the next missing a limb or an organ, no signs of any injury or surgery or anything, just like it was never there to begin with (and obviously if itbwas a major organ then you never woke up again at all). There was a lot more detail, the dream was like living in some weird sci-fi horror movie, and it was so vivid that when I woke up from it I literally sat up and jerked away all my covers to make sure I still had all my limbs.

Tell us an embarrassing story.

Seventh grade. Close to the end of the school year. Was reading a book (I think it was The Shining), had one of my ankles crossed over my other knee, didn't realize I was somehow pinching a nerve. Had to stand up at end of class period, and one of my legs had gone completely numb. I stood, took one step, went down like a sack of bricks. The group of boys who used to bully me were all in the class and spent at least a month mocking the spectacle. Still think about that sometimes.

Explain an inside joke you have with a friend or family member.

Any time hubs and I go out together for any reason, one of us inevitably does Rick Sanchez voice "And awwwAAAAAyyy we gooo" before we leave the driveway. No idea how this started. No idea when it will end. I have a feeling we'll still be doing this into our 80s with no idea why.

Tell me your life story in exactly one sentence.

"Oh no, not again."

What is the strangest coincidence that ever happened to you?

Went to the beach when I was seventeen. Was sitting out on the boardwalk playing guitar by myself because toxic family members were doing nothing but argue and fight in our hotel room, I literally just walked out and no one noticed for hours. Was super peaceful. Got into a conversation with two strangers who had just met each other as well and were hanging out, two kind elderly men. As we were talking, I found out that one of them was from my very small hometown in New York and had moved to the beach recently; and the other was from the very small town I lived in at that present time in South Carolina, and had recently moved to the beach. Both of them had moved there at around the same time. I still think about that a lot.

What is your favorite random fact?

Pineapple eats you while you eat it.

What is your useless talent?

I can bend the top joint of all of my fingers without bending the second joint, a la Sith Force Lightning. Arguably it makes me better at music, but I've never had to bend my fingers like that playing guitar, so I disagree.

What is the strangest food combination you enjoy?

I literally have no idea. I'm a tremendous foodie and "strange" is relative when you're willing to eat literally anything put in front of you at least one time just to experience it.

What would you name your heavy metal band?

Plastic Peanutbutter

If you could choose one superpower, what would it be?

Invisibility, so people would like just leave me alone seriously I'm antisocial as shit just give me peace and quiet (not internet people, you guys are cool af)

What is your strangest irrational fear?

Gamma Ray Bursts. Do yourself a favor amd don't Google it. I spent literally two years of middle school fucking petrified of that shit. It still gets under my skin if I think about it too long now.

Describe your most eccentric family member.

It me! 😁 or maybe my niece, but she's basically my personality twin so either way.

Have you ever met a celebrity? Which celebrity would you like to meet?

Nope. But I really would love to have coffee with Stephen King and just talk about life. His On Writing memoir changed everything I thought about writing, taught me that imposter syndrome was a thing, and that even the most talented and successful artists have it. Really I just want to thank him.

What is the craziest thing you ever did on a dare?

Got a tattoo. It's a skeleton key, on the outer side of my right thigh. I have another, but I got that one on a dare. Basically just because why not, and I literally forget it's there sometimes and sort of jump when I notice it.

What is the grossest thing you would do for $100?

Probably eat something super weird. Will literally try anything once, food-wise. In fact I'll usually try it twice, just to be sure.

What songs are on the soundtrack to your life?

Don't ask me that, we'll be here all goddamned year. A few right off hand though are "Doesn't Remind Me" by Audioslave, "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" by Elton John, "What it's Like" by Everlast, "Gone Away" by The Offspring, and "Vienna" by Billy Joel. I'm also unreasonably hyperfixated on The Fratellis right now because I suddenly remembered they existed a few months ago after more than ten years not hearing them at all and now I know almost their entire discography by heart. They're my feel-good band right now and pretty much all I'm listening to. Yes, there definitely is something wrong with me.

What actor would you choose to play you in your biopic?

Samuel L. Jackson. My life requires hefty use of the word "motherfucker." He might need a wig or two but I think he can handle it.

What is your go-to karaoke song?

I've never karaoked, but probably something from Chris Cornell, Ella Fitzgerald, Jewel, or Fleetwood Mac. Or "American Pie" by Don McLean.

If you were a superhero, who would be your archnemesis?

Probably myself rofl kinda don't like me very much

Create and describe an undercover alias.

Fancy black bowler hat, and a pair of those joke glasses with an attached giant nose and mustache. But like, be completely and totally serious about it, to the point that people are afraid to question you.

What is your most random impulse buy?

Death Note manga, complete box set. I was seventeen. I had money. Many years later and I do not regret it at all and it sits very close to my bedside.

What did you do as a teenager that makes you cringe now?

Let bullying bother me.

What would your warning label say?

"CONTENTS HIGHLY UNSTABLE, DO NOT TOUCH MIGHT TAKE OVER THE KNOWN UNIVERSE ON CONTACT or possibly cry hard to tell"

What is your guilty pleasure?

I don't think I have one. If it brings you happiness, don't waste your time being guilty about it. Just enjoy it and kick anyone who makes fun of you for it directly in the shin-bone. Actually don't do that just ignore them I'm not into violence.

What emoji do you use most often?

Combination of 🙄😒 to signify eyerolling.

Does your family practice any unusual practices?

Does emotional unavailability count asking for a friend

A genie grants you the ability to have infinite amounts of one item. What is it?

Guitar strings. Please. Dear sweet fuck PLEASE

What is your favorite joke?

A big moron and a little moron sit on a bridge. Which one falls off?

The big moron. Because the other one was a little more on.

Aaaaaahahaha

What is the best Halloween costume you ever wore?

Pirate. Always. I have so many clothes tucked in my closet and jewelry hidden away that are strictly there for the sole purpose of putting together an impromptu pirate costume it's honestly kind of sad honestly

What is the most awkward situation you ever found yourself in?

My very very religious mother-in-law noticing that I have a tattoo on my forearm...after SEVEN YEARS. Awkward af, but it was also hilarious.

What is the most ridiculous thing you believed as a child?

My older brother once told me when I was very young that vehicles move by rolling over and over end to end so fast that you don't know it's happening, and crashes happen when they hit a rock or a crack in the road the wrong way. I spent TWO YEARS secretly terrified of getting in a car before finally asking my mom about it and she just sort of sighed and said "oh god please stop listening to your brother"

What is the most outrageous lie you told a child?

I don't know Santa or something? I've got a ton of nieces and nephews. I try not to lie to kids, apart from letting them think magic exists for as long as possible, because everyone deserves to believe that.

What is the dumbest way you injured yourself?

Broke my pinky toe, because my dog got under my foot and I didn't want to step on her paw by accident so I jerked the wrong way

How do you waste time most often?

Probably napping. But given I have trouble sleeping at night that's sorta necessary or something I guess.

[metalleafy]

TPOT 13 thoughts (spoilers of course)

This was a very well-done one!

It starts with Firey and Leafy. I mean I love Leafy to pieces and I CAN get into Fireafy but it's feeling overexposed lately with BFDIA 13 and now in a season they aren't even in. I want to see more of Leafy without Firey. Speaking of which One takes her and leaves us hanging. It seems like when there are Fireafy interactions it is Leafy that falls behind. In fact I'd say Leafy is better off with One than Firey! I do like the 5b music (Evil Leafy?)

What's up with the Robot Flower figure? Hey they're using a Stapy for posters :) This windstorm is worse than BFDI 5. I like the Two-shaped key. I forgot how much I disliked Four's voice. Stapy saying aww seriously was darling. X is nice. I voted for Liy so it's nice to see her join but I would prefer a BraceLiy debut to PENCIL who is in BFDIA!

Two is so unserious for having them pick teams based on names instead of membership. Ouch for Pencil! Liy was right to choose BAGGED over people she doesn't like! Golf Ball's concern for fairness always gets me. Two crying over feeling rejected... poor them.

TV using BFDI 15 Announcer saying Hello as his greeting made me wistful. Pencil being dependent and Pillow ripping Donut? So messy. TB saying "missing three" made me think Three would walk in. Pillow being safe is good because I VTS'd her. Liy got the Two-shaped key!!! Ouch for Barf Bag :( I hope she gets more BFDIA face time.

Basketball being safe is good because I VTS'd her. I would rather Donut be barfed on to be remembered. I love how TV celebrates being safe; he is moving way up in the rankings with these clips. ROBOTY??? Two in Bottle is adorable, and I prefer Bottle being safe to Needle because Needle is in BFDIA. But I liked Peneedle!

NOT THE FISH MONSTER!!! And Four and X just fluffing off to some beach (with 9shades) sent me. Oh there's the Seinfeld bassline as heard in 5c. I want to see how One plays with Needle and Barf Bag! I like the different angles of Liy being seen. THE GOIKY DRAGONS??? AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF FISH MONSTER?

The challenge is to stop One's creatures. Why is TWO on the THIRD floor? Two snoring in 2's instead of Z's is so cute. And a sleeping pillow aww. Pencil is so unhinged here and she wants to start a cross-team alliance! GB and Donut being destabilized without Barfy is interesting.

I love that TB speaks for TV's powerpoint slides. Pen and bottle eating popcorn aww. AND THE DAVID WILL BE DEAD! I kind of like Snowball using Icy to freeze the monsters out. And Booktaggy fighting them looks really cool. I think RF has a point killing those bugs, and her messing with her teammates is darling.

Eraser turning the fish monsters against each other reminds me of something but I can't remember it. YF going Scribblenauts for CloudYAY and I love it. LIY WITH THE TWO KEY!!! I thought that shot of the inanimate bottle would lead to something like II2 but no, Bottle just did something only a Bottle can do!! Yay for object specific tasks!

We get to see some recommenbies. GB calls Donut a first boot and I kind of like the theme of him never living it down. It was a SETUP! The other two were CoinPin! INCOME TAX RETURN DOCUMENT MENTIONED!!! I love TV getting wheels to distract David.

Finally the two robots interact! Liy using her previous pact membership to curry favor is so iconic. Pixel TB <3 PILLOW WITH THE FLAMETHROWER!!! Even dragons can do the dodging pattern lol. I chose to interpret the "private moment" line as Book thinking Gaty and RF were kissing.

RF stabbing Gaty with Pin was awesome! And the view from her cracked screen was one of those moments. She uses her petals as fan blades! The bacon and egg face was adorable and so is marker eating foam. RF DREW HERSELF A HAPPY FACE??? AND SHE MOVES INSTANTANEOUSLY LIKE EL??? She just killed battery D: Fanny taking down RF...

ONE IS SO UNHINGED XD and Book with the little gamecube was great. TAGGY PEW PEW! Basketball signs with a footprint lol. Basketbot... aww... Due to my strong beliefs about bodily autonomy I think Basketball changing RF would have been okay if she just used the BFB Flower.

I like how GB now seems to want TB to save her. eepy david :3 Pencil is so spiteful so now Taggy and Book are at risk of leaving despite their awesomeness. I liked the shot of the dragon on the David though. Fanny grinding up bugs in her fan and Basketball being bounced around are more fun object reminders. And the recovery centers talking using their screens are always cute!

NOT THE CLUMSY TENNIS BALL!!! BH still rules for stopping the storm instead of winning. And I kind of hate that we didn't get a Leafy appearance with One so we'll have to live with this torment fo a while.

[walkswithmyfather]

“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” —John 7:37‭-‬39 (NKJV)

“On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.” —Acts 2:1‭-‬4 (NLT)

“Who Is The Holy Spirit?” Devotional. Day 4 - “The Holy Spirit is Always On and Always Available” By Switch (Life.Church):

“Have you ever been jealous of Jesus’ disciples? He sat across from them at the dinner table every night. They went everywhere together. They could ask Him about anything. If something He said wasn’t clear, they could just poke Him on the shoulder and ask what He meant. But, Jesus was limited by His human body. Sometimes, He would even hide from everyone so He could have some alone time with God.

Those first disciples could literally reach out and touch God. It’s easy to get jealous because Jesus was so real to them. But, when He was preparing to leave earth, Jesus told His followers they would be better off because He was sending them the Holy Spirit. Instead of having to find Jesus to ask a question, the Holy Spirit would live inside them. He would be available at any moment for any reason. Just think about Him, and He’d be there. Need guidance? Feeling confused? Wondering what to do? Just ask and He would hear.

Our relationship with God isn’t limited. We’ve been promised the same real time access to God through the Holy Spirit. He lives inside of us, and He speaks into our thoughts, our emotions, our dreams, and our passions.

Imagine that God wanted to do something in your school. He might start by having the Holy Spirit whisper parts of His plan to several people. They might not even know each other or attend the same church, but they’re each listening to the Holy Spirit and doing what He says. Piece by piece, He lays out a plan of action to accomplish the thing God wants to do. In His timing, the pieces come together and God’s plan happens.

In fact, the book of Acts is full of crazy stories about how the Holy Spirit put the right people together at the right time to make something special happen. Honestly, with the Holy Spirit living inside each of us, the possibilities are as limitless as God himself. Our only job is to listen to that quiet voice in our head and do our best to obey.

But wait, how do I really know that the voice I’m hearing is from God? Great question. We’ll talk about that tomorrow.”

[portraitoftheoddity]

Lena's Christmas report...

So, I headed up north the 18th to spend the week of Christmas with my family, and when I get there, Dad is sick. I work remotely Monday and Tuesday. Within two days, Mom and I are also sick, and I spend a good three and a half days as a coughing, sniffling disaster, though I still managed to do a pretty good job on the jigsaw puzzle mom and I got out. My aunt and uncle get there around the 22nd when I'm pretty much in the middle of it, but thankfully avoid getting sick.

Then, Thursday night, the storm rolls in. It's been snowing every day up until then and mostly in the 10s-20s temperature wise (ºF), but the pressure front comes in with drastic temperature shifts and winds gusting at 60mph. (If you don't know what a 60mph wind feels like, imagine standing in the bed of a pickup truck traveling down the highway at 60mph). At 2am Friday, the power goes out. It comes back briefly, then goes out for good at 5am.

At 6am, my mom and I both go downstairs (it is still pitch dark out) because the wind is too loud for either of us to sleep, shit keeps banging around, and the house itself is shaking from the wind (my dresser was rattling. FROM THE HOUSE SHAKING FROM THE WIND OUTSIDE). The christmas tree on the deck, which is in a heavy metal stand wired to the deck, keeps blowing over, then getting blown back up, and the grill has been blown clean over. As the sun comes up, it becomes clear multiple trees are down, though luckily none of them landed on the house or the driveway (some of the neighbors weren't so lucky -- a couple down the road had their roof partially torn off).

Friday, it pours and the wind roars most of the day. It gets up to 50ºF, which is insane.

The power stays out. Apparently something like 6% of all the people in the state have no electricity.

With not a lot else to do, I end up running D&D for my mother, aunt, and uncle (on their request) and we play through the first half of a homebrewed adventure I wrote with a dungeon crawl, by candlelight. (It was delightful.)

Luckily, my parents have a backup generator because they've lived through enough winter storms to know power outages out in the sticks can last a long-ass time. The generator is wired to a few circuits for essentials like keeping the fridge running and the water pump functioning so the pipes don't freeze. Also the internet router, because priorities.

This is important, since Saturday, it's fuckin' -5ºF out.

Have you ever gone hiking when it is -5ºF?

Because I now have!!!

We headed to the conservation trail area down the street (maybe a 2 mile drive?) and passed not one, not three, but TEN DOWNED POWER LINES. Just on one road. We then put on microspikes and went out on a trail I've gone on dozens of times but which had been turned into ICED OVER CARNAGE (Remember that 50ºF? And all that snow we had before? Followed by a rapid freeze? Whooooo boy). Whole sections of trail are turned into ice slides, which, HALLELUJAH MICROSPIKES. Holy shit those are amazing. You can just... walk up ice. Also, there were downed trees everywhere from the windstorm, many over the trail. We started clearing what we could as we went, dragging branches and smaller trees to the sides of the trail, though a few big ones we jus had to climb over or under and leave for the trail maintenance crews who would be out with chainsaws. It was a hell of a workout, so despite the temperatures, I was goddamn toasty.

Power stays out.

At this point we're not sure how much fuel the generator has, but Dad checks on it and says the gauge looks okay. Just to be safe, we fill up a ton of water bottles and some buckets and stuff with water and make sure there's batteries in all the flashlights and lanterns.

The stove and oven run on gas, thankfully, not electric, so dinner is delicious. Mom and Dad and I take turns alternating sitting by the fire or the one functioning light in the house and reading aloud to each other from a book by a local author while my aunt and uncle are out visiting a cousin.

(That night, it's so cold I can't sleep)

Christmas day: Still No Power, about 9ºF out, but sunny. We get a roaring fire going.

I get my own pair of microspikes. ^_^ (along with some further hiking gear, some nerd shit and some drinkin' supplies).

In the afternoon, family D&D continues. Uncle solves a puzzle, Aunt picks some locks and Mom kills a Wight. We watch probably a dozen utility trucks going by up and down the road, between tree cutting crews and those trucks with the people-buckets they can lift up to power lines. Then Dad gets the TV hooked up to the backup power after dinner so we can all watch the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (which was so dumb and so fun and that song will be stuck in my head forever).

Then, at the end of the evening, in a Christmas Miracle -- the lights finally come on!

Today I headed home, and my apartment seems to have come through unscathed with no apparent power loss. But despite the sickness and cold and lack of power, it was honestly a really fun holiday break and I'm being pestered for another D&D game by my relatives and mom wants help leveling her ranger.

Hope you all had a good week!

[zjofierose]

gather round, children, and let auntie zjo tell you a story about how to get shit fixed in a relative hurry when you need a hand.

on new year’s morning, about 9 am, mr. zjo and i hear a sudden series of strange and loud thumps that sounded like a bunch of boxes falling on our porch. “the fuck,” we said, and went out to investigate. turns out the gutter on one side of our house had gotten too full of water and assorted debris, had detached from the side of the house, and was now hanging, half still attached, half drooping down into the bushes, and banging against the side of the house in the wind.

“well, shit,” was the general consensus. it’s 9 am on a sunday which is also a holiday, so like, fuckin’ no one was open. also, we were expecting a Real Big Storm in the coming days, so this needed dealt with asap.

so, off to google and yelp it was. we live in a bit of a service desert - professional handy-types like to service north of us (rich people), south of us (also rich people), and the city (rich people, and also high density for a small service area), but they doooon’t super love serving our city, so it’s always a bit of a challenge running down someone who will drive out. but- i called probably 10 likely suspects. of those 10, 5 had working voicemails, so i left messages.

tip 1: always leave a message - even if they don’t call you back, when you follow up, they will already have you in their brain as Someone Who Needs Us. make sure to be very friendly, very polite, and leave as much info as you can. to wit, “hi, my name is ___, it’s 9 am on new year’s day, and i’m looking for someone to fix a gutter which has just fallen off my house! *laughter* i’m sure you all are closed today, since it’s a holiday, and i hope you’re enjoying it! but- if you could give me a call as soon as you get this at (number), i would REALLY appreciate it, thanks so much!”

miracle of miracles, the next morning, jeff at General Services called me. “hey,” he said, “i got your message about a gutter that fell off? have you gotten that fixed yet?” no, jeff, i very much have not. thank you for calling me back! “oh sure, you know, we’re pretty backed up, but you sounded a little urgent.” yes, yes i did, jeff. “but the thing is, we don’t do much other than clean gutters. we don’t have a gutter making machine, so, um, did you need your gutters cleaned?”

tip 2: don’t give up! at this point i could have just said, oh, that sucks, guess you can’t fix my thing, bye. but - people know people, and they usually want to help, you just have to show that you’re invested in getting whatever help you can get, and coach them into telling you how you can get that.

so: oh, jeff, i DO need my gutters cleaned! (i do, definitely, this was not a ploy, lol). that would be amazing, i’d love to get on your schedule for that. (jeff adds me to his schedule for gutter cleaning.) buuuut see the problem right now is that i still have half a gutter hanging from my house, and we’re having a big windstorm. it is, genuinely a hazard. there’s a big piece i’m worried is going to blow off and skewer some poor pedestrian, i just want to be a responsible homeowner and get this taken care of, dooooo you know annnnyyyone who miiiight be able to help me in a hurry? i’m reallllyy concerned. at this point i have shown jeff i’m friendly; i’ve shown him i really appreciate him (and i’m willing to book his services, which i do need), and i do really need help - i’m not just wasting his time, or being over-reactive to a minor problem. “ok,” says jeff, “give me your address, and i’ll drive by and take a look, and see if it’s something we can do. really we just clean gutters, though, so no promises.” thank you jeff, you are my hero.

tip 3: persistence.

jeff, bless him, did not drive by. nor did he call me later that day, or the next morning. so, i called him! hey jeff, my bro, my buddy, my best friend. it’s zjo. we talked yesterday? yeah. yeah, my gutter’s still hanging. yeah, it’s still a hazard. i know you’re SO busy, it’s the holidays, it’s just this storm is coming. what if i send you a pic? then you don’t have to drive over. “ok,” says jeff, “send me a pic. here’s my personal number.” aha! we have progressed. i send jeff a pic. “oh,” says jeff, “yeah, you need a whole new gutter. we don’t do that.” cool bro, i completely understand, but - doooooo you know annnnnyyyyonnee who can heeellp meee plz plz plz.

tip 4: there are secret off-the-books networks of people who do things. generally, there are jobs you want an official company with licensing and contracts to do (construction, electrical stuff, etc) and then there are things that you can get done cheaper and faster if you’re willing to be a little more open. but - they need to know you’re chill before they’ll let you in on this.

“well,” says jeff, “i do know this guy, Jose.” there’s a pause. he’s waiting to see if i’m racist. jeff, my man, jose sounds like a wonderful human, i would be delighted for jose to fix my gutter. “ok,” says jeff, “i can send him the picture and your number if you want, but he wouldn’t be able to do it till after 3, when he’s done with his shift at (other local company). but he has his own gutter extruder, and would do it on his own.” another pause - jeff is waiting to see if i care that this is being done off the books. boy oh boy do i not give two shits. jeff, please send Jose the pic of my completely fucked up gutter, i would be thrilled for him to be in touch with me. “ok,” says jeff, “i’ll send it, and then he’ll call you.”

tip 5: be flexible, as much as you can

so i talk to jose. jose will drive by after three and look, and see what he can do. cool. i go out to run some errands. and then at 1:30, jose texts me - he’s off work early, and can drive by now. shit - i am more than a half hour away. well, the damage is all outside, there’s a gate, but it’s unlocked, and i don’t have outdoor pets - there’s no reason i actually need to be there. so i tell him go ahead, i’m not home, but text me or call if he has any questions.

tip 3 redux: persistence (with a side of follow-up)

i do not hear from jose. i finally text him at like 7 pm to be like, hey, bro, did you drive by and get a look at it? “yes”. lol ok well, at least he’s seen it. but by the next morning (now the 4th, my gutter fell on the 1st, and the storm is predicted to hit that evening), i still have no further info. so i text jose again. hey buddy, just wanted to see if you had a time frame for when you might to be able to fix my guttter? “yes,” says jose, “you have an unusual gutter, and i have to get some parts, so not till next friday. also, it will cost $___” well, fuck. ok, but - (if i don’t even question you on the quoted price) can you please come by today and take down the old bit, please please please, i am truly afraid that the dangling piece is going to fall off and cause real damage to someone/something.

…no response. well, at least we do have a date for getting it replaced, i guess. so, i decide we better do the best we can, and do some semi-ill-advised climbing on the damp side of my house to lash the gutter and the hanging bit-of-gutter to the house as best i can, so they are neither banging against my house nor at risk of detaching and impaling a neighbor, and then go back to watching the game. but then, lo, behold - the doorbell rings at 3:30! it’s jose! and his buddy! and they are going to take down my gutter!! jose, you are my favorite person, thank you SO MUCH, please, tell me how to pay you.

and this is the saga of how, literally 15 minutes before it started fucking pouring buckets, i finally got my very broken gutter pulled down from my house, along with an appointment to get a new one added and to get the rest of the existing ones cleaned. also - now i have both jeff and jose in my phone, and you better believe the next time i need a House Thing, i will ask them first whether they want to handle it or know anyone who does. but truly, the moral of the story here is that the keys to any service-needed interaction are patience, persistence, friendliness, and willingness to scratch their proverbial back in order for them to scratch yours. 10/10 would work with jeff and jose again. (also, literally none of the other places ever called me back, so phew)

[doctor-seamonster]

I need everyone's attention here for a bit.

It's normal to crave structure and to seek information about things you're interested in.

But fixation on the lore of fictional characters is pointless. Tracking what is and isn't canon is like trying to collect sand in a colander during a windstorm.

Canon does not exist for anything, it's a made up concept and the closest thing there is to "canon" is actually just "what the current writer took into consideration while writing".

Think about it.

Even things made by just one person are still subject to retcons and changes, especially the longer that something runs. But it's doubly true for anything that has had multiple creatives working on it, because they're all just going to write whatever they want anyway.

And the place where canon matters the least?

Big 2 superhero comics.

Every single character has had dozens, if not hundreds, of different creatives handling them and over the course of decades.

And you need to take into consideration the editorial and corporate mandates that apply to both individual characters and the medium as a whole.

The sliding timescale alone is enough to refute the idea of a rigid canon.

There isn't even total agreement on things like backstory details or character motivations.

And then when you get to things like power scaling? Entirely at the whims of the writer.

Some of the most popular comic book characters aren't even from the comics originally. They were introduced in adaptations, then got adapted back into the published comics.

And don't think being into other mediums for fiction gives you an out. Anything that gets new entries with different creatives is basically a whole new world.

The idea of there being a list of rigid, unquestionable, factual traits for a fictional character is absurd. Take a step back and think about it.

There is no such thing as canon.

[maggie-writes-things]

Title: Windstorms CW/TW: Laungage A/N: Wrote this for a request :) SHIP: Azira x crow

It had been a normal day so far. As far as you could consider a normal day for an angel and a demon. That was until a windstorm somehow got knocked off its path and ended up in Soho, how? Aziraphale could only imagine. Though, he thought as he stared out the window, eyebrows furrowed, it had to do with the man dancing in the wind, 

Crowley was having the best time she had had in over 6000 years.

Yes, admittedly he had diverted the windstorm, but eh fuck it, if anyone found out, he did it for demonic reasons. Crowley was dancing in the wind. Dancing, not on a pinhead, but in the middle of an empty Soho street while a windstorm caused chaos around him. 

He wasn't really dancing, not really, but more like, doing what he wanted. Spinning in circles, shouting at the top of his lungs, that's what it mostly consisted of, The wind whipped his face, leaves swarming and battering his shoes as he did his own thing in the wind. 

Crowley felt a sense of freedom, he was always provided with some sort of freedom by the wind, a breeze on the hottest day, a short fast blast through a fan, it always provided him happiness, he didn't know where it came from, but he wasn't against it. 

Crowley paused mid-spin as he saw his angel staring at him through the bookshelf window, he raised a single eyebrow at her angel, smirking as he raised a singular arm outwards, as an invitation, seeing whether her angel would come out into the wind and be wild, let go of the worries, let the thought of Armageddon, of looming danger from their minds “No” the angel mouthed at the demon with a small internal smile, “Come inside, you silly demon” *come inside where it’s warm, come in, and we can drink, and I can play the record you like…the one about nightingales* The demon laughed, jogging over to the bookshop door and pulling it open, gusts of strong wind shooting in and disrupting the nearby papers, to which Aziraphale let out a strangled gasp/ cry of “Crowley, dear really?!” The demon laughed, grabbing her angel’s wrist, pulling them outside the comfort of their bookshelf and into the winds outside, laughing at the angel's cries as the bookshop doors were miracled shut. “C’mon angel!” the demon yelled, pulling Aziraphale by the hands into the wind, “loosen up, angel!” “Dear, let me back inside!” the angel pleaded, with a fleeting look back at his book shop, before he was startled by Crowley's body wrapping itself around his in a tight hug, “2 more minutes?” Crowley asked, “Then we can go drink?” Aziraphale let out a small murmur in response Crowley laughed, releasing her angel and spinning on the spot, whooping and laughing, the angel stood to the side, huddling himself under the awning of a building, watching his demon with soft eyes and a small smile to join them, he loved - uh…liked, seeing his friend…his demon like this, free of the burdens hell gave him, free of all the pain on his shoulders, just openly himself, just openly happy. “Shit!” Crowley laughed as the wind got harder, “Get inside, get inside it’s bloody freezing” “I told you!” Aziraphale scolded letting them both into the warmth of the bookshop and deadbolting the door behind them, He miracled the record played to start the familiar hum of a song Crowley was partial to, as the demon sat down on the sofa, perking up with a wide grin as the familiar notes of the song he had introduced to them in 1941 played though the record player, “You don't have the record” he laughed, leaning forward with a smirk and a glint in his yellow eyes, “Bought it yesterday” the angel said, *just for you* “What one is it today?” Crowley asked, referring to the wine, “I’ll go have a look,” Aziraphale said, walking away, further into the shop, leaving Crowley on the sofa with a grin on his face, as he listened to the familiar voice play… The streets of town were paved with starsIt was such a romantic affairAnd when you turned and smiled at meA nightingale sang in Berkeley square

[thecreaturecodex]

Whirlbones

“Bone Devil” © Brian Williams

[From the Fighting Fantasy book Trial of Champions. Obviously, “bone devil” is taken in D&D and its derivative properties; I had to come up with a different name. The original didn’t actually have any wind based abilities, which seemed a shame. So I added some.]

Whirlbones CR 5 CE Undead This creature is a skeleton, held in shape but only partly articulated, in a column of swirling wind. Small twisters emerge from its eye sockets, and its bones rattle together in the gusts.

A whirlbones is a malevolent undead created when a mortal is killed by the wind. This could include victims of hurricanes or tornadoes, those that shipwrecked in windstorms, or those that were pushed to their death by mundane or magical gusts. Whirlbones hunger for the hearts of their victims, and hunt living prey, preferring sapient victims. They can be found anywhere, although are more common in areas of high wind.

A whirlbones at rest resembles a mere pile of skeletal remains, and they often lay quiescent in order to ambush prey. When they spring to life, their gaze can paralyze their victims, and the whirlbones can get down to the business of feasting on hearts. If a whirlbones is unable to paralyze all its foes, it relies on hit and run attacks, maintaining as much distance as it can while blasting away with hammering gusts of wind. They are smart enough to use their wind blasts to push enemies into hazards or over ledges if these are present in the terrain.

Whirlbones have little use for treasure, except as bait for curious victims. They prefer small items, like coins or gems, that they can carry easily from one place to another. Whirlbones rarely remain in one place for long, unless they are commanded by a spellcaster to serve as a guardian. They resent such treatment, and more than one necromancer has been killed by their whirlbones minions after getting careless.

Whirlbones        CR 5 XP 1,600 CE Medium undead (air) Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +12 Defense AC 18, touch 14, flat-footed 14 (+4 Dex, +4 natural) hp 52 (8d8+16) Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +7 DR 10/bludgeoning; Immune cold, electricity Defensive Abilities cloak of winds Offense Speed 30 ft., fly 50 ft. (good) Melee 2 claws +10 (1d4+2) Ranged wind blast +10 (4d6+2 bludgeoning plus knockdown) Special Attacks gaze Statistics Str 14, Dex 18, Con -, Int 11, Wis 13, Cha 14 Base Atk +6; CMB +8; CMD 22 Feats Deadly Aim, Flyby Attack, Point Blank Shot, Weapon Finesse Skills Disguise +13, Fly +19, Perception +12, Stealth +15 Languages Auran, Common Ecology Environment any land or underground Organization solitary or storm (2-6) Treasure incidental Special Abilities Cloak of Winds (Su) A whirlbones is surrounded by a layer of wind that grants it a 30% miss chance against all physical ranged weapons, such as bolts, arrows, alchemical weapons or bullets. Rays or oversized projectiles (such as a catapult shot) do not suffer this miss chance. A whirlbones is not affected by magical or mundane wind effects, and can fly in even tornado-force winds without penalty. A control winds effect can suppress this ability for its duration, if the caster succeeds in a caster level check against the whirlbones’ Hit Dice. Gaze (Su) Range 30 ft.; save Will DC 16; effect paralyzed 1d4+1 rounds. A creature paralyzed by a whirlbones’ gaze may attempt to make another Will save each round as a full round action to shake off the effect. The save DC is Charisma based. Wind Blast (Su) As a standard action, a whirlbones can fire a gust of wind at a target within 60 feet. Treat this as a ranged attack. A creature struck takes 4d6 points of bludgeoning damage plus the whirlbones’ Charisma modifier, and must succeed a DC 16 Fortitude save or be knocked prone and pushed back 5 feet. The save DC is Constitution based.

[jujumin-translates]

Madoka Ikaruga | [SSR] Wizard of April Fool’s | An Untimely New Student - Part 2

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3

Haruto: First off, here’s a magic classroom.

Haruto: As you can see, the students of the Spring Dormitory are practicing their magic right now. They deal with wind magic.

Madoka: (I’m curious about the magic practice… I wonder what kind of things they do.)

Citron: Ooh? Is that a new face I see?

Haruto: These are the late-arrival new students, Madoka and Shift. You guys should teach them a thing or two.

Tsuzuru: These must be the new students they were talking about. I thought they were supposed to get their dorms assigned tomorrow.

Sakuya: Hello. I’m the Spring Dorm leader, third year, Sakuya!

Sakuya: Nice to meet you! If you end up in Spring Dorm, we’ll all welcome you.

Shift: Nice to meet you too! It’s amazing that you’re the dorm leader even though you’re only a third-year.

Haruto: The dorm leaders are chosen by election with everyone in the dorm, regardless of grade or age.

Madoka: I see.

Citron: I’m fifth-year, Citron. Nice to meet you~.

Citron: I’ll show you welcome magic immediately! Tada~!

*Magic appears and wind blows*

Madoka: Eh… Wahwah…!

Madoka: (A gust of wind just blew around the classroom…!)

Sakuya: Uwaah! The magic books and stuff flew away!

Tsuzuru: Wait, Citron-san, that’s overkill!

Citron: Oh, sorry. My welcome was just overflowing with feelings.

Tsuzuru: Sigh, jeez…

Citron: This is Tsuzuru, a fourth-year! Tsuzuru and I are a magical comedy duo.

Citron: Please look forward to the school festival, we perform together every year!

Shift: Ooh, sounds interesting!

Madoka: (Th-there’s a comedy duo at a magic school…?)

Sakuya: Over here is sixth-year, Chikage-san!

Madoka: Nice to meet you. What are you mixing up there?

Chikage: I’m testing an extreme concoction of magic spices with magical powers.

Madoka: (Magic spices… Seems kind of weird…)

Shift: Spices, huh? I wonder what it tastes like. Let me try some. …Awmph.

Madoka: Eh!?

Haruto: How can you just eat a random spice when you don’t even know what it is…

Shift: Ooh, this is spicy and delicious! It’d be good for seven-spice udon!

Shift: Please share it with me if you’re willing!

Chikage: Of course.

Madoka: (They’re really hitting it off…)

Madoka: …Hm?

Itaru: …

Madoka: (!? Th-there’s a guy sitting awkwardly under a desk… And he’s got some kind of beeping device.)

Itaru: Oh, hell yeah.

Madoka: G-good job…?

Madoka: I wonder if he went under the desk to escape the windstorm earlier. What is up with this guy…?)

Tsuzuru: That guy is Itaru-san, a fifth-year.

Tsuzuru: Don’t mark him as just a delinquent student, he’s actually pretty competent, but he plays games instead of studying magic.

Madoka: H-huh…

Itaru: Can’t deny that. I’m only a wizard when I need to be.

Chikage: He’s only eager to do things like recreating things from games and manga.

Itaru: The technique I recreated the other day was majorly perfect though.

Sakuya: That magic was really really cool!

Citron: But he got absolutely destroyed by the gacha pull he did when he tried to use magic to summon the SSR.

Itaru: Uugh… Stop putting salt in the wound…

Madoka: (Hmm, someone who’s just enthusiastic for what they love, I guess.)

Tsuzuru: Now, this guy over here, he’s delinquent student number two. Second-year Masumi.

Shift: Wow, he’s reading a really thick book.

Citron: It’s a book on fairyology.

Madoka: Reading magic books and taking notes makes him seem pretty serious about his studies…

Tsuzuru: Hear how he’s mumbling right now? Just listen to him closely…

Madoka: ?

Masumi: Planning a date with a fairy… A good gift to give is…

Madoka: E-Eh?

Shift: He seems like he’s doing research in some kind of fever dream.

Tsuzuru: He fell in love with the sorting fairy that sorted him into the dorm when he was admitted to the school.

Itaru: Since then, he’s become a sharp student who only studies fairyology to make that fairy fall in love with him. He won’t study magic in other fields.

Haruto: That motive for learning is too impure!

Sakuya: W-Well, Masumi-kun’s fairyology grades are always the top in the school!

Masumi: Obviously. I want to know everything about her. I’d do anything to be her boyfriend.

Chikage: Overall, Spring Dorm has a free atmosphere where every student can learn in their own way.

Sakuya: Yeah! If you two get put here, I hope you’ll be able to do whatever you’d like.

Madoka: Thank you very much.

Madoka: (Spring Dorm seems like a fun place with a lot of nice upperclassman.)

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Haruto: This is the courtyard. Sometimes classes are taught here.

Shift: Ah, they’re doing some kind of magical hand-to-hand combat!

Haruto: The ones using fire magic are from Summer Dorm, and the ones using Earth Magic are from Autumn Dorm.

Tenma: Burn!

*Magic appears and fire roars*

Banri: That’s all you got? Hah!

*Magic appears and ground rumbles*

Madoka: (S-So cool… The flames flared up and went at his opponent and then the wall of earth appeared preventing the flames from hitting…)

Banri: Take this!

Tenma: I’m not done yet!

*Fire and earth magic swirl together and roar*

Shift: Oh man, it’s getting heated really fast!

Haruto: Oi, you two! Cut it out!

Banri & Tenma: !

Muku: Ah, Haruto-sensei! And with you are…

Misumi: Madokaaaa!!

Madoka: Wah…!

Shift: Woah, that startled me! You just suddenly jumped on Madoka out of nowhere.

Misumi: Ehehe, Madoka, welcome~!

Madoka: It’s been a while, Nii-san.

Shift: Nii-san? I mean, you do look kind of similar… You’re brothers then?

Madoka: Yeah.

Misumi: I’m in Summer Dorm, fourth-year, Misumi! Madoka is my lil’ brother~.

Misumi: From now on, Madoka is a student here! I’m so happy to be with him~.

Madoka: Nii-san… I’m happy to be at school with you too.

Kazunari: Awesome! The brothers being super buddy-buddy has got me supes hyped up! Say cheese!

*Camera shutters*

Shift: Ooh, is that a magic camera!? So cool!

Kazunari: You betcha! I’m Kazunari, a Summer Dorm fourth-year just like Sumi! Nice to meetcha~!

Misumi: Kazu’s a well-known influencer in the wizard world.

Shift: Seriously!? That’s like super, super cool!

Kazunari: I’ll teach you everything you need to know about trends in the wizard world ☆ Just ask me anytime~.

Madoka: O-Okay, thank you very much.

Shift: But still, brothers being enrolled at the same magic school, huh?

Shift: I have a younger brother too. I wonder if he’ll get to come to this school someday~.

Azami: Yo, you’re finally here.

Shift: A-Azami!

Madoka: Do you know each other?

Shift: Yeah, we’ve known each other since we were little. He started school a little earlier than we did.

Azami: I’m Azami, Autumn Dorm first-year.

Madoka: Nice to meet you.

Kumon: Huh, I didn’t know you were childhood friends with one of the new students, Azami!

Kumon: I’m a Summer Dorm second-year, Kumon. If you’re Azami’s friend, then you’re my friend too!

Shift: Yeah! Let’s get along.

Azami: You guys sure seem to be on the same page.

Shift: Tell me some stuff about the school!

Kumon: Then let me introduce you to my big brother! He’s the strongest guy in the school!

Kumon: Nii-chan!

Juza: What is it, Kumon?

Kumon: These are the two new students.

Kumon: Guys, this guy is my big brother, Juza! He’s an Autumn Dorm third-year.

Juza: Nice to meetcha.

Madoka: …! L-Likewise…

Muku: Don’t worry, Ju-chan might look a little scary, but he has a really gentle personality.

Muku: I’m Muku, a Summer Dorm first-year. Kyu-chan and Ju-chan are my cousins.

Shift: Ooh, I see!

Madoka: (There are a lot of people who are related in this school.)

Banri: Strongest guy in this school? Oi, don’t listen to that bullshit.

Banri: As the third-year dorm leader of Autumn Dorm, my magic is obviously stronger than that guy’s shitty magic. My magic is a helluva lot stronger.

Banri: Hah? Who’s magic is shitty?

Banri: Hah, yours, asshole.

Juza: Fuck off, mine is way stronger.

Banri: Is that so? You wanna go then?

Juza: Let’s go.

Haruto: Wait, I don’t want to get involved in your stupid, petty quarrel…

Sakyo: You two! The hell do you think you’re doing in front of the new students!?

Juza & Banri: !!

Madoka: A-Amazing… Is that a teacher…?

Haruto: No, that’s seventh-year’s Sakyo.

Shift: Huh!? That guy’s a student too!?

Madoka: (Even though they’re still students, the seventh-years have such a presence… No, they’re just more mature…)

Madoka: (But I still wonder how in the world those two guys arguing and the seventh-year senior are gonna get it all sorted out…)

Omi: Whoa, whoa, whoa, hey guys, I’ve got freshly baked scones~. Here, take one, Sakyo-san~.

Banri: Mnph!?

Juza: Awmph.

Sakyo: Hm!?

Sakyo: Mmh… Oi, Fushimi, don’t just suddenly shove scones in people’s mouths…!

Omi: Haha, sorry.

Madoka: (That guy is amazing, he just stopped a fight without physical force…)

Taichi: Here’s some for you guys and Haruto-sensei too!

Madoka: Eh? Ah, thank you…

Shift: Uwah, they look super good!

Taichi: If you end up in Autumn Dorm, you can enjoy Omi-kun’s super yummy scones every day!

Taichi: By the way, I’m Taichi, a second-year. Nice to meet ya!

Haruto: It is true that all of fourth-year Fushimi’s cooking and confections are delicious, but why is he so good at it?

Tenma: Hey, freshman. I’m Tenma, second-year, proud dorm leader of Summer Dorm.

Shift: Ah, you were the guy using fire magic earlier, right?

Tenma: Yeah. My magic was pretty powerful and cool, don’t you think?

Madoka: Yeah, it was really impactful.

Tenma: Fufu, naturally. If you’re put into Summer Dorm, I’d be happy to lend you my time to help you practice magic.

Tenma: Our dorm is pretty lively too because Kazunari and Misumi throw a lot of dorm parties…

Yuki: Or you could just call it what it is and say it’s loud and obnoxious every night.

Tenma: Ugh… I-It’s only a little noisy, not that much…

Madoka: Who are you?

Yuki: Summer Dorm first-year, Yuki.

Yuki: Hmm…

Madoka: (W-Why is he looking me up and down like that?)

Yuki: Well, if you get put in Summer Dorm, I’ll tailor you a robe to fit you perfectly.

Muku: Yuki-kun is a magical designer! He always makes us all kinds of robes and accessories.

Shift: Ooh, that’s cool!

Misumi: Hey, hey, Yuki! I want you to make matching magical triangle hats for me and Madoka!

Yuki: Hats, huh? Got it, I’ll start thinking up a design.

Misumi: Yaay, thank you!

Madoka: Th-thank you.

Madoka: (All of the students have all kinds of talents…)

Sakyo: You’ll be welcome in whatever dorm you end up in.

Omi: Yeah. If you have any questions you can always ask us anything.

Taichi: Next time, let’s go out and ride brooms together!

Shift: Yeah!

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 2/5

Book Blurb: Andrea Hannah's Where Darkness Blooms is a supernatural thriller about an eerie town where the sunflowers whisper secrets and the land hungers for blood.

The town of Bishop is known for exactly two things: recurring windstorms and an endless field of sunflowers that stretches farther than the eye can see. And women—missing women. So when three more women disappear one stormy night, no one in Bishop is surprised. The case is closed and their daughters are left in their dusty shared house with the shattered pieces of their lives. Until the wind kicks up a terrible secret at their mothers’ much-delayed memorial.

With secrets come the lies each of the girls is forced to confront. After caring for the other girls, Delilah would like to move on with her boyfriend, Bennett, but she can’t bear his touch. Whitney has already lost both her mother and her girlfriend, Eleanor, and now her only solace is an old weathervane that seems to whisper to her. Jude, Whitney's twin sister, would rather ignore it all, but the wind kicks up her secret too: the summer fling she had with Delilah's boyfriend. And more than anything, Bo wants answers and she wants them now. Something happened to their mothers and the townsfolk know what it was. She’s sure of it.

Bishop has always been a strange town. But what the girls don’t know is that Bishop was founded on blood—and now it craves theirs.

Review:

In the town of Bishop it is known for two things: the recurring windstorms and the endless fields of sunflowers that stretch far and wide...... and the one other thing.... all the missing women. When three women disappear on one stormy night, no one really questions it except for their daughters: Delilah, Bo, Jude and Whitney. Now they all live together, each of them trying to survive and figure out what happened to their mothers. Delilah has been looking after the girls but she’s also been hiding a secret: the touch of her boyfriend is painful to her, she can’t bear it, but she pretends that everything is fine. She thinks she is suppose to love her boyfriend Bennett but every time he touches her, her skin feels like its being painfully zapped. Bo can’t bear the touch of people... not after the night in the cellar... not after what he did to her... what he took from her... now she is rage personified, she can’t feel safe anywhere, and she is determined to find out what happened to her mother. Whitney has just lost both her mother and her girlfriend Eleanor. Eleanor was found mysterious murdered and Whitney needs to know what happened to her. Jude, Whitney’s twin sister, has had a secret fling with Bennett, Delilah’s boyfriend, and she is still in love with him. Each of these girls will be forced to confront the secrets they each hold while also discovering just how sinister and dark their town actually is... and who is responsible for the murders of all these women and the fact that they might be next. This story for me felt underwhelming and frustrating, it has all the things to be a fantastic read and definitely sounded like it was up my alley but it just didnt meet expectations and just fell flat for me. The relationship between the girls weren’t well fleshed out and some of their actions and thought processes were so juvenile that it had me pulling my hair out. Also the fact that one of them was sexually assaulted but no one really brings it up or discusses or does anything to really talk to the girl who was?? seriously??? The only character I actually liked was Bo, she was the most fleshed out and empathetic character out of all of them. The final battle/ confrontation was underwhelming after the set up of the story and I just felt like there was something missing. Overall, this one was a miss for me but definitely check it out if you are looking for a cursed small town story with multiple protagonists and be sure to read the trigger warnings before going into it.

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*