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skdubbs · 4 years ago

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Let Love Find You

Chapter 1: An Awkward Introduction

Summary: Love has a funny way of finding you when you’re not looking for it. Commander Fox discovered this the hard way when a box arrived on base and pique his interest.

Here it is. I can’t believe I'm finally doing this. A huge huge HUGE shoutout and thank you to @detroitbydark for all of the encouragement, feedback, and listening to my ramblings about this story. You’re the best.

This story will be the first in a collection of three interconnected stories taking place at the same time. I hope you all enjoy!

It all started with a box.

Commander Fox of the Coruscant Guard stared at the parcel currently sitting on his desk amidst piles of carefully cataloged holopads. The contents of said package laid innocently next to the box. He’d had part of it scanned and tested, twice. Absolutely nothing alarming to be found. And yet Fox was still unsettled.

In the year since taking up his post, he’d never been rendered speechless. Well, today the boys could mark it down in the books. Truly, the commander didn’t know what to say. Or think. Or do. The mental conundrum Fox found himself in was beyond exasperating. Sighing, Fox shook his head, then glanced at the flimsi note he held. Once more, he read the delicately written script.

To: Commander Fox of the Coruscant Guard

Dear Sir,

I’m sure this package and its contents might cause alarm and confusion. Please don’t allow it to do either. This is simply a token to express my thanks to the troopers involved with the skirmish in the market district on Level 3 nearly four rotations ago. Their actions saved my life and that of my daughter. When we expressed our gratitude, my daughter felt the shock trooper didn’t think we were sincere. Hence, this small gift. I ask that you please see to it that the troopers involved receive this token and understand how grateful we were for their timely arrival. For there are citizens on this planet who are aware of the services the Guard provides to ensure our continued safety and peace. Thank you for your help in this matter.

Sincerely,

Arissa Blunt

Fox knew without looking it up what skirmish Ms. Blunt referred to, as well as the troopers involved. Reach’s report had made mention of the two citizens he’d pulled away from the fire fight, a young woman and child. Interestingly enough, Fox had also heard through the guard barrack’s grapevine that Reach spent most of that night crowing about a civvie thanking him and how pretty she’d been. According to Reach, her body was a man’s wet dream.

At the time Fox had scoffed and pushed the matter out of his mind. He had far more important matters to contend with than one of his trooper’s infatuations. All of the men would have one at some point or other. It was a natural result with overexposure to civilians after a lifetime of social isolation. Fox was one of the few he knew to never fall to such an affliction. That didn’t mean he hadn’t dabbled and explored his options. The commander had simply never experienced the magic of someone capturing his attention for more than a moment of a little physical pleasure. Until now.

Commander Fox was intrigued, all because of a box of homemade ginger spice cookies, a short note, and an infatuated trooper’s embellished description. Again, Fox sighed. Maker, he needed a drink. And it wasn’t even 1200 yet.

He commed Captain Stone, the squad leader there on the day in question.

“This is Stone,” came the greeting.

“Captain, round up the troopers involved in the skirmish on Level 3, I’m sure you remember the one,” Fox instructed. “They’ve got a gift waiting for them in my office. Apparently Reach’s story wasn’t completely fabricated.”

There was a beat of stunned silence. It was brief, but Fox knew it for what it was. Shock. “Right away, sir,” Stone replied.

Fox disconnected, then turned to inspect the baked goods still sitting on his desk. Ginger spice cookies. Homemade, no less. Damn, they smelled good.

Fox smirked. What the men didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them. He plucked one cookie from the pile, taking a small bite to test the flavor. A groan of delight broke past his lips. This was one of the best frekkin’ things he’d ever had the pleasure of eating, and that's saying something. After all, the position of Commander of the Coruscant Guard afforded certain luxuries and privileges that few other clones were allowed.

The commander took another bite, savoring the taste. What he wouldn’t give to have something this good to eat every day. His eyes found the note again, sitting on his desk in stark contrast to everything else. Arissa Blunt. One has to wonder what kind of woman she was. Fox had every intention of finding out.

-----

After giving the boys their gift (the looks of shock and delight on their faces had caused a grin on his), Fox decided to investigate. It took little effort to find the information he needed. Another perk to his position.

Arissa Blunt, single human female aged 22 standard years. Currently a member of the Republic military’s research and development division located here on base. His brows had raised at that. He merely needed to leave his office and walk across the facility in order to find her. Her focus was prototype military-grade weapons. So, she worked on creating better ways for his brothers on the front to do their job. While he didn’t know her, Fox felt a swell of appreciation for this woman.

He was shocked and intrigued to find she held her position with no formal training. Instead, Ms. Blunt came into the program through the recommendation of a member of the board. It was highly irregular. Perhaps some nepotism was involved? But that made no sense either. According to her file, Ms. Blunt had no living relatives, only a young daughter named Gemma. Cute name, he’d thought.

Out of curiosity, Fox looked her up too. Gemma Blunt, single human female aged 5 standard years. Currently enrolled on scholarship at a school for gifted young children located noooo in a more well-to-do area of the upper levels. So, the kid was smart.

A part of Fox was impressed. And even more intrigued, especially as he gazed at Ms. Blunt’s photo. Reach hadn’t exaggerated, she was quite pretty. Not in the glamour model sort of way. But you could see the potential lying underneath her cute veneer should she ever try to be one. And those eyes….well, they’d surprised him too. Most humans didn’t have violet colored eyes, at least not naturally. But on her they were stunning. They drew you in and spoke volumes. As if the secrets they held were more than just her own. She could know yours without you evening realizing. A fanciful thought perhaps, but there all the same.

And that is why Commander Fox found himself making the long trek to the R&D division on base a few hours later. Amazingly, he had an hour free. Plenty of time to pay Ms. Blunt a visit. He could convey the men’s appreciation and slake his curiosity.

He’d found a technician by the name of A’tron Rogers when he arrived. The man had the audacity to scoff at him when he stated who he was looking for. Fox wisely kept his helmet on, knowing full well what kind of person he was dealing with. It was rather obvious what Mr. Rogers thought of clones and about doing anything for them. One had to wonder why he was in a position that required him to help create weapons that helped said clones.

“Yeah, she’s back here,” he’d snapped. “Follow me.”

Resisting the urge to call the man on his insubordination, Fox followed. They made their way further back into the lab and came to a stop at what looked to be some kind of long range canon. However, the weapon wasn’t what caught Fox’s attention.

Fox froze, his brain gone blank. Before his eyes, bent over at just the right angle, was perhaps the most perfectly shaped ass he’d ever seen. His mouth watered while his blood rushed south. Mentally, he cursed. This was not a good way to start an introduction.

“Blunt!” Rogers practically screeched, trying to get the technician's attention. It certainly did the trick, albeit in a painful way. Arissa’s head shot up, caught by surprise, only to have it collide with the paneling of the prototype she’d been working on. A string of low muttered curses followed the loud clang. Fox winced in sympathy.

After a moment or two, Arissa straightened, seemed to take a steadying breath, then turned to face them. Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second when they landed on him. However, she recovered quickly, her face becoming unreadable as she turned to her coworker.

Fox wished he could say the same. That beautiful shebs he’d been staring at not long ago should have warned him at what else he’d see. Because, by the maker, Reach hadn’t exaggerated. Not one bit. Arissa Blunt truly was a man’s wet dream. Her hair was up and covered, but he didn’t need to see the dark brown wavy locks again to know how it finished the masterpiece that stood before him. Even wearing coveralls covered in grease splotches couldn’t detract from that hourglass figure or the small waist. And her breasts. By Fett, they were a handful and more. So much more. Again, Fox was grateful he’d chosen to keep his bucket on. He’d have looked like a gaping fool otherwise.

Arissa addressed Rogers, her voice even and devoid of emotion. “Did you need something, Rogers?”

The shorter man huffed, obviously put out by her lack of response to him. Fox made a mental note of that. Maybe it wasn’t just clones the man had a problem with. “You’ve got a visitor. Commander Fox here needs to speak with you.”

The technician’s gaze swung over to him, that violet gaze holding him captive. Again, he noticed a moment of trepidation, as if she feared his presence. Fox scowled, annoyance flaring. Her reaction was classic for a citizen. They either looked at him and his brothers with fear or disdain. He wasn’t sure which pissed him off more.

“I see,” she replied. “Well, I’m due a fifteen anyway. If you need me, we’ll be in the conference room.”

Rogers snorted, then left. Yup, that chakaaryc really didn’t like Arissa Blunt. Fox focused his attention on the woman before him. As he looked closer, her nerves became more obvious. What did she have to be nervous about?

“Ms. Blunt,” he greeted, his voice stiff and formal.

“Commander Fox,” she greeted in return. Grabbing a rag, she wiped her hands off, then motioned for him to follow her. “Whatever you need to tell me, it’d be best said in the conference room. Otherwise, everyone else in the department will know about it before the end of the day. You wouldn’t think it, but the lot here are as bad as a bunch of gossiping housewives.”

Nodding, he followed. As they left the lab and made their way down the hallway, Fox couldn’t help his eyes from looking. The sway of those hips were going to haunt him. Another curse ran through his mind.

Soon enough they reached their destination, Arissa gesturing him inside. He took up a position further in, standing at attention while he waited for her to shut the door.

“Would you rather sit, Commander?”

“No thank you, miss. But please don’t stand on my account. Have a seat.”

He patiently waited while Arissa got comfortable. Once she seemed settled, he dove right in. “I assume you know why I’m here?”

That flash of trepidation was back. It was gone immediately, but still, he saw it.

“I think so,” she quietly answered. Her tongue came out to wet her lips. Despite himself, Fox felt a knee jerk reaction to the tiny movement. Maker, this needed to stop. Now.

“Then explain yourself,” he ordered.

That got her attention. Arissa straightened, her brows furrowed in confusion. “Explain myself? I thought the note I left was pretty self-explanatory.”

“Perhaps,” he hedged. “However, your reaction to my appearance here would say otherwise. I thought you appreciated what the guard does for the citizens of Coruscant. Someone who is appreciative doesn’t respond with fear in their eyes.”

Arissa’s eyes widened, first in shock, then in anger. However, when she next spoke, her voice remained even. “From my point of view, your sudden appearance here is rather suspect. Troopers, let alone commanders, don’t make random visits to this part of the base. Any fear you saw was my worry that I’d done something wrong.”

That made Fox pause, considering. Her words in the note had sounded sincere. And someone who feared or hated clones wouldn't have sent something in the first place, not without it having some sort of repercussion. Perhaps she had a point. Finally, Fox relaxed his stance.

“I suppose your reaction would make sense then,” he conceded. “I apologize for alarming you, Ms. Blunt.”

She shrugged. “Don’t worry about it, you couldn’t have known. I’m sorry I gave you the impression I was like all those ungrateful idiots out there.”

Fox stared at her. Well, that was certainly one way of putting it. Apparently Ms.Blunt lived up to her name. He cleared his throat. “Now that that’s settled, would you mind explaining to me why you felt the need to do such a thing?”

Arissa started fiddling with a loose thread of her coveralls. A nervous tick. “I already told you in the note I sent with the package. My daughter thought the trooper who helped us didn’t believe we meant what we said. I was helping to make him see otherwise.”

A scoff escaped him. “Forgive my own cynicism then. I’m used to people having ulterior motives. It’s my job to find them.” He shrugged. “So, it’s a little hard to believe there wasn’t something else behind your actions, appreciated as they are.”

While he knew he was being something of a di’kut, Fox needed to know. He wasn’t lying. Any civilian he’d ever met had some sort of ulterior motive, most often to the detriment of his men.

She didn’t speak for a while, sitting there in quiet contemplation. Then, those violet orbs caught the gaze of his visor and held it. She wanted to get this right, he realized. She wanted him to believe her. “Maybe because men who didn’t have a choice in choosing this life deserve something good once in a while.”

Speechless, that’s what he was. She said it so plainly and without artifice. Fox knew she meant it, every word.

“I see,” he replied, voice quiet and low. “Well, allow me to express my gratitude and that of my men. It may not seem like much, but those sweets were the first gift any of those men have ever received. It might be the only one.”

“You’re very welcome, Commander Fox.” Her voice was quiet too, her eyes soft and understanding. How Fox wished he could get lost in them for more than just a few minutes. It was time to go. Now.

“You’ll excuse me then, Ms. Blunt, for taking up your time. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice. I’ll see myself out.” Fox made to do just that, not leaving her a chance to say anything in return. He was almost to the door when-----

“Commander, could I ask a favor?”

Fox stopped, then looked over his shoulder. Here it comes. “What is it?”

Arissa gulped, her nerves showing once more. Fox smirked. Already in such a short amount of time, Fox knew he’d enjoy setting her on edge on a regular basis. It was a shame their paths likely wouldn’t cross again.

“I know this may seem silly, but would you be willing to write a short note to my daughter? I know it’d mean the world to her to hear how much the troopers that helped us enjoyed the cookies.”

“Can’t you just tell her?”

“I could,” she allowed. “But she might think I’m lying. Sometimes she has a hard time believing things if she doesn’t have evidence. Finding out you came to tell me yourself just how much the gift was appreciated will be suspect without some kind of proof.”

“Is your daughter really that cynical?”

Arissa laughed, shaking her head. Fox had to admit she had a lovely laugh. Fett, he was going soft. “No, not cynical, commander. Just a child who needs encouragement that something is real when she’s had so many other disappointments.”

While Fox was curious as to what she meant by that statement, he didn’t ask. Honestly, what was the harm in writing the kid something? There was none. Besides, he was more than happy to do it.

“Well, I’d hate to disappoint.”

The smile she gave him made an answering one pull at his lips. Thankfully, his helmet hid the sight. Yeah, this was definitely not good.

------

“Mommy! You’re home!” Gemma squealed in happiness as Arissa stepped through the door. Arissa was barely inside before her five-year-old daughter wrapped her tiny arms around her torso and squeezed.

Arissa paused, soaking the moment in. A smile pulled at her lips while the hint of tears teased her eyes. This right here made everything worth it. The ridiculously long days. The demeaning remarks and catty behavior from her coworkers. This was her why, the reason she kept putting up with everything.

She wrapped her arms around Gemma and squeezed back. “Hello to you too, Gemma. Did you miss me?”

“Yes!” Gemma pulled back, her strawberry blonde curls bouncing in her excitement. “Did you miss me?”

Arissa chuckled, ruffling her daughter’s hair. “Yes, sweetie.”

“Welcome home, Arissa. Long day?”

Arissa glanced up, making eye contact with the teenager lounging on the lumpy pale green couch in the apartment space that served as a living room. She barely withheld a grimace, thinking back over her day. “Just the usual, Trix.”

Although it really hadn’t been. Not when a certain unsettling clone commander decided to pop in and pay an unexpected visit. Gods, she’d thought for a moment there she’d done something wrong, that somehow the gift Gemma had practically begged her to make was illegal. Panic had filled Arissa, assuming the worst. But then he’d thanked her. Thanked her. Like a box of ginger spice cookies was the best gift his men had ever received. That wasn’t really too far off the mark, though, was it? And that black visor. When he’d held her gaze, Arissa had felt as if she were naked. She couldn’t remember anyone ever making her fell that way. Definitely not something one wants to feel upon meeting a commanding officer of the GAR.

Shaking her head, Arissa focused back in on the present. “Did the two of you eat yet?”

Trix suddenly appeared uncomfortable, a look of guilt flashing in her eyes. “Yeah, we did. I, um, thought it’d be nice to treat Gemma to something. We went to Dex’s Diner and had the works. Saved some for you, too.”

While she knew why Trix might feel guilty, Arissa couldn’t fault the teenager for spending the money instead of eating the leftovers in the fridge. A year of being homeless and dodging traffickers and drug dealers had done a number on Trix. The kid’s useless father had abandoned her just days after her mother passed away. And the lower levels of Coruscant were not kind to the young and innocent. Arissa knew this fact quite well. Trix was finally getting back on her feet, working at a local bakery to make some money while attending school at night to finish her primary education. She lived in the third bedroom and watched Gemma when Arissa had to work late. And Trix positively adored her. So if Trix wanted to spoil Gemma with a night of burgers and shakes, Arissa wasn’t going to complain. She was far too grateful for the help to even think of chastising the teenager for splurging.

“That sounds like a lot of fun. Thanks for thinking of me,” She smiled at Trix, hoping the teenager understood she wasn’t mad. “I can’t remember the last time I had Dex’s. Is it as good as I remember?”

Gemma giggled. “Even better! Oh, and we got to meet Dex. Did you know he’s a besalisk? I’ve never seen one before. He answered all my questions, too. Didn’t act like I was a bother or anything.”

“Of course he wouldn’t. Because he realized right away what a bright and inquisitive mind you have, sweetie.” Arissa’s heart warmed at the kindness the diner owner had unknowingly extended her daughter. Gemma truly was inquisitive, wanting to know anything and everything. And amazingly she remembered it all. However, there were some people who found the girl’s nearly constant questions an annoyance and something to discourage. It was why she’d done so poorly in school until transferring into a private academy. Thank the maker for that scholarship. She bent over and lifted Gemma up, holding the young girl as she made her way to their small kitchen table. “Now spill. How was your day?”

Asking Gemma that question was all the kiddo needed to start regaling her mother with the events of the day. Arissa listened attentively as she went about putting her dinner together. She laughed when Gemma explained how a boy in her class had water come out of his nose during lunch and praised her when told how she’d received perfect marks on yesterday’s exam. Trix stayed with them for a while, interjecting comments here and there before retreating to her room to start on her school work. They wished the sixteen-year-old good night as mother and daughter both knew they likely wouldn’t see the teenager again until morning. Arissa was done with her dinner and working on a mostly thawed nerf milkshake by the time Gemma asked how her day went.

Arissa had thought long and hard how she wanted to present her surprise. She pulled the note from her back pocket and slid it across the table’s surface. “I had an unexpected visitor today. He asked me to give you this.”

Curious, Gemma carefully unfolded the note. Even at such a young age she handled everything with a great deal of care. Violet eyes scanned the note, then widened in shock. When Gemma finally looked back up she was smiling from ear to ear. “He wrote a note. He really wrote a thank you note!”

The smile breaking across Arissa’s face almost hurt. Seeing her daughter’s happiness at something so small was beyond precious. Mentally, she filed the image away to remember when the moody teenager years hit. “I was told not to read it. That it was top secret until your eyes saw what was inside. Think you could read it to me?”

Gemma nodded enthusiastically.

“It says: Dear Miss Gemma. Thank you for the lovely gift of ginger spiced cookies. I have shared your present with the troopers involved in the skirmish four rotations ago in the market. They were very surprised and grateful for your thoughtfulness. They rarely get a thank you for their work. Your mother tells me you are a bright student and love to learn new things. Did you know that members of the guard love uj cake? I highly recommend trying it. Please continue to do your part as a good and loyal citizen of the Republic.

Sincerely,

Commander Fox of the Coruscant Guard.”

The excitement radiating off of Gemma was contagious. She truly was happy from Commander Fox’s words. Arissa sent a silent thank you to the commander for taking the time to fulfil her request. Maybe she could find a way to let him know how much his note meant. But he must be very busy. Why would he care about any of this?

If he didn’t care, why would he bother in the first place? He could have said no.

“Do you think I could write a reply, mommy?” Gemma asked. “Maybe we could make them some uj cake since they like it so much and leave a note with it like before.”

That made Arissa pause. “Perhaps. But don’t you think the rest of the guard might get jealous when only a few of them get to have some?”

Gemma’s brow furrowed as she contemplated that possibility. “I guess you’re right. I know I wouldn’t like it if only a few of my classmates kept getting something and I didn’t.” Then her face brightened. “Maybe we could make some for everyone! That way no one felt left out. Oh but,” Gemma frowned as she realized something. “That wouldn’t work either. There’s so many of them, aren't there?”

Arissa hmmed, feeling her heart squeeze with regret as her daughter’s face fell. For someone so young, she truly had a compassionate and giving nature. She wanted everyone to be happy. “I’m not sure how many there are, but yes, there are a lot of men in the guard. Far too many for us to make enough for everyone. I’m sorry sweetie.”

The evening wore on, the hours passing as the world outside transitioned from day to night. Despite her disappointment, Gemma managed to recover. They played a few games, took care of Gemma’s bath, and cuddled on the couch to watch a silly holomovie before Arissa announced it was time for bed. Arissa read a story of her daughter’s choosing, sang her a song, and kissed her good night. Once Arissa left the room, she’d make a cup of tea and curl up on the couch with a book, losing herself in the passionate romance of her current novel before heading to bed as well. It was like so many other night’s, this ritual their evenings had become. But tonight would be different.

“Mommy?”

Arissa paused, turning back to face her daughter. Only the top of her head and her eyes were visible above the fuzzy purple comforter she’d cocooned into. “What is it, sweetie?”

“Will you please tell Commander Fox thank you for writing me that note? I really did like it. And I think he’d like to know that, too.”

The breath whooshed out of Arissa’s lungs. She hadn’t expected this. But how could she refuse? “Of course, Gemma. I’ll tell him tomorrow. Now, get some sleep. You have a big day at school in the morning.”

“Can you make rainbow berry pancakes for breakfast?”

Arissa couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped, Gemma’s tone was just too hopeful. “I think I can manage that. Now, sleep little one.”

Gemma giggled, happy at her mother’s answer. “Okay, okay. Good night, Mommy. I love you.”

“I love you too, Gemma.”

Arissa closed the door and made her way to the kitchen. She tinkered around the small space, getting things ready for the morning while her tea water boiled, then steeped. Once finished, she grabbed the old and worn romance novel off her caf table, the flimsi pages yellowed with age. She happily made herself comfortable on the couch as she dove into the world of high passion…..

Five minutes later, Arissa was back in the kitchen, a notepad open to a clean page while her holopad came to life. She scrubbed a hand over her face, sighing. “I can’t believe I’m actually doing this.” As soon as the piece of technology was up and running, she began bringing up Republic military records, trying to get an accurate head count of how many men filled the ranks of the Coruscant Guard.

------

Now, while Arissa was toiling away at the kitchen table trying to work out a plan to fulfill her daughter’s wish, said daughter was busy working on another matter instead of sleeping.

Gemma waited for her holopad to boot up, reading the note from Commander Fox almost obsessively. She’d never thought in a million years her mother would come home with any kind of news about the gift she’d begged her to make. Instead, she’d brought home a note. A note! Gemma very quietly giggled, pressing her face into her pillow to better muffle the noise. She was in the next star system from how happy that little piece of flimsi had made her. The five-year-old sent a desperate plea to the gods, asking them for the chance to meet this Commander Fox. Yes, she’d asked her mom to thank him, but she wanted the chance to tell him herself how much his note meant to her. And she wanted to show him just how much she could learn when she set her mind to it.

Finally the holopad came on and Gemma brought up a search engine. Adults were always so surprised when they saw how well she could navigate tech at her age. For whatever reason, it was astonishing. Gemma didn’t pretend to understand why. Carefully, she typed in uj cake, then hit search. She skimmed over a promising article. It did sound rather yummy. Perhaps she could convince her mom to help her make some after school tomorrow and she could share it with the class. The kids would probably like that. Maybe it’d help her make a few friends.

The article said the recipe came from Mandalore. Intrigued, Gemma decided to search the planet, not knowing what she was getting herself into. What she read fascinated her. Hours went by and Gemma refused to sleep, far too invested in learning more about this old creed of warriors. She had only nodded off when her mother came to wake her, far earlier than usual.

Gemma’s groggy eyes met her mother’s. “What is it, mommy? Is something wrong?”

Arissa shook her head, a hint of mischief lighting her eyes. “No, sweetie. I just needed your help with something. How would you like to help me make some uj cake this morning? I think a certain clone commander would appreciate it.”

It took a moment for Gemma’s sleepy brain to understand exactly what her mother was saying. When she did, she shot out of bed so fast she almost knocked her mother over. Excitement took care of the exhaustion she’d felt just moments ago.

“Yes!” she exclaimed, then dashed out the door to the kitchen, her mother’s laughter following after her.

What neither realized then was how their actions that morning would come to shape the rest of their lives.....and those throughout the galaxy.

#commander fox #commander fox x original character #original female character #clone x ofc #I am so freaking excited this is finally up and going

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taylizmasterpost · 4 years ago

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Liz Gets a Boyfriend (March 2010 - October 2010)

So it’s clear something was happening with TayLiz before this point due to all the cuddling and movie theater dates and sleeping in the same room and all that. However, as the Valentine’s Day shenanigans so clearly demonstrated for us, Taylor clearly didn’t see whatever was happening as a “real relationship.” Likely because of this lack of committment, and (according to L Chat rumors) Liz’s very conservative homophobic family, Liz starts pursuing a guy she likes.

Meet Jason. Currently he’s a photographer for touring acts in Nashville, but at one point, he, like Liz, was a struggling musician in Nashville, and Liz was INTO HIM. So let’s get into that:

4 March 2010 - Fearless in Tampa. Back on tour.

23 March 2010 - Liz starts flirting with Jason on Twitter:

1 April 2010 - Liz tweets about Taylor (note the TAY again):

3 April 2010 - Liz tweets at Taylor with an inside joke about a quick change room. It’s possible that they’re still hooking up/whatever while Liz is pursuing Jason, but clearly neither of them see it as a real relationship.

7 April 2010 - Taylor makes a joke about Liz on Twitter:

15 April 2010 - TayLiz and Caitlin are papped shopping together

16 April 2010 - TayLiz are papped shopping together in Beverley Hills

26 April 2010 - Taylor posts the “Demonstrating my fine athletic skills and more” vlog. She dedicates a portion of the vlog to Liz and the background music of that part is a song called She by the band Parachute (Liz loves the band and is close friends with one of the members). Taylor wears her IKYWT shirt again.

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30 April 2010 - Jason’s birthday. Liz tweets at him about it.

In the Journey to Fearless documentary for the Hub, Taylor and Liz bake a cake for a guy she likes and wants to be her boyfriend. Taylor seems generally supportive of it. I think it’s reasonable to assume this is referring to Jason:

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4 May 2010 - Liz tweets a link to Poison and Wine by the Civil Wars.

The chorus of Poison and Wine goes “I don’t love you, but I always will.” Years and years after this, Liz will release a song called “I Don’t LV U Anymore” where the chorus goes “I don’t love you anymore, but I don’t love you any less.” This may be a reach, but to me this signals that Liz is moving on from Taylor.

Liz and Caitlin attend the Time 100 most influential people gala with Taylor.

17 May 2010 - Liz and Jason attend a show together -- they seem to be officially dating at this point.

27 May 2010 - Liz’s birthday. Taylor attends her party. We know this because a BUNCH of Liz’s friends tweet about it:

In a funny coincidence, Bryan ends up dating (and eventually engaged to) Liz WAY down the line from now.

Sometime in June 2010 - Taylor, her family, and her band all go to the Bahamas together on vacation:

16 June 2010 - Taylor diaries about writing an up-tempo song that sounds like it’s Story of Us

To me, this reads as Taylor writing about all the mess TayLiz has turned into in the wake of JH and Jason. There are lines in Story of Us that are really similar to those in the unreleased song Battle/Let’s Go and We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together where Taylor talks about a very messy very public fight and breakup that all of their friends were around for, as well as the person she’s singing about having another person they’re dating. This fits for this moment in time. They’ve just been on tour, and then together in the Bahamas, surrounded by coworkers, friends, and family, and Liz has started seeing someone else.

21 June 2010 - Liz tweets from the Bahamas.

4 July 2010 - TayLiz decorate each other with stars for the 4th.

Liz gets flowers from Jason.

6 July 2010 - Liz and Jason get teased by a friend for making out in public:

10 July 2010 - Fearless in Cavendish, Canada. Last stop on the Fearless tour. Taylor writes a letter to her band calling the Fearless tour a “golden age.”

State of Grace has the lyric “This is the golden age of something good and right and real.” And Cardigan has the original lyric “Living in a gold age, sneak into my bird cage.”

July 2010 - Taylor moves into her Nashville apartment (based on Never Grow Up secret message being “I moved out in July”). Apparently her two guest bedrooms were initially decorated for Liz and Caitlin. Keep in mind, this apartment reportedly has a life-sized bird cage in it.

1 September 2010 - Taylor makes a MySpace post from Nashville

18 September 2010 - TayLiz and Andrea go to a wedding and take photos in the photobooth:

29 September 2010 - Jason gives Liz a Pez machine and she tweets about how great he is:

October 2010 - US Weekly releases a special on Taylor that contains this interesting possible reference to the lyric “So you were never a saint, and I loved in shades of wrong” from Treacherous:

Taylor is also quoted saying her and Liz like to have romcom movie nights together:

5 October 2010 - Speak Now is released as a single. Liz tweets about it and calls Taylor “Tay” again:

That same day, Glamour releases an interview with Taylor where she says Liz and Caitlin have their own rooms in her Nashville apartment:

14 October 2010 - Jason sends Liz flowers while she’s at Speak Now rehearsals:

21 October 2010 - Mean is released as a single. Liz tweets about it, calls Taylor “Tay” yet again:

CONCLUSION: Liz is moving on. Taylor may or may not be happy about it. Speak Now is coming. So it makes sense that, whether for PR reasons, romantic reasons, or both, Taylor steps out with Jake Gyllenhaal in late October. And oh boy, is Liz about to be jealous:

Jake Gyllenhaal and Jealous Liz (October 2010 - January 2011)

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lachlann-macnab · 4 years ago

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BDRP 2020 QUESTIONNAIRE

Your Name: Jean

Characters: Lachlann “Launchpad” MacNab

Pick one of your characters and talk about their growth. What about their story has surprised you? What are you proud of? How have they changed from their original inception to now?

Well, Launchpad is relatively new so he’s still pretty much the same as I envisioned him from the start-

-though I’ll admit that the idea of him having an enormous crush on Seamus/Scrooge was a surprise. I think it only took a couple of little chats with Sav and familiarizing myself with Seamus’ story for him to go “yes!! that’s the one I love!! let me at him!!”.

The funny thing is that it just kind of happened but also has a degree of canonicity to it; Granted, Ducktales ‘17 (the canon that got me into the Duckverse) didn’t delve a whole lot on the relationship those two have...but Ducktales ‘87 does and it’s fucking beautiful.

But I didn’t know that! I was just familiar with the newest canon -exploring the relationship led me to the older canon and I absolutely love it! I love the way the older version of LP is equal parts silly and capable and I try my best to express that nice balance on my interpretation.

And I wouldn’t have found that sweet spot if it hadn’t been for Sav and Seamus!

Pick another character (or the same character if you only have one) and talk a little about where you WANT them to go. What are your plans for them going into the new year?

Oooh man, this is probably going to sound rude of me, but I want someone to call Launchpad out on his shit.

He is a happy-go-lucky man, he is positive, he does think the best of everyone right from the start, he is honest with that, but there’s also a degree of performativity to the way he interacts with people: he is a people pleaser and he’s also someone who avoids problems/confrotation when possible.

That leads to him having a hard time actually voicing what he thinks when things were serious. Launchpad will default to what he thinks is the most noble/the best option even if he actually hates it. He tries his best to be a reliable dude, but that pushes him to his limits every now and then -and he hates it, but will do it anyways.

I’d love for someone to notice that and point out his marthyr complex to him, or how hypocritical he can actually be when noone is looking.

Jun did an amazing job at that, with the whole Moon Market incident and that is part of why I love his characterization and- I could rant about how Jun and LP are actually similar, yet different, but I won’t.

Someone please bitchslap my idiot son and tell him to be honest with his feelings, maybe get him to confront his feelings of inadequacy, maybe get him to actually face his problems instead of running away from them, kthanxs.

Pick a thread or a plot that you’re proud of and talk about why you loved it.

I have three threads I absolutely love, each for different reasons:

*Cleanliness is next to... with Jun: Jun called my idiot son out on his ‘noble man’ act. Jun was not impressed with his efforts and pushed him to an actual mini-meltdown because Launchpad didn’t know what to do or say to try and make things better: Launchpad is so used to having his way around people that the moment someone was inmune to all his tricks he...lost it. Big time. And I loved it.

*Untitled with Eilonwy: Both of them clicked instantly and- oh, man, I can’t really express what I feel about it, but:

Launchpad feels an actual, honest, connection to Eilonwy in various ways: both of them are a little bit weird, both of them are learning, both of them were kind of kicked out their comfort zones, both of them love adventure, both of them are fearless (in different ways), but there’s also a curious father-daughter dynamic to them. Eilonwy lacked not only a father figure but also a general actual caring adult one and I guess that’s part of what draws her to LP, while LP is a naturally caring man who also, (betweem the two of us), loves feeling like a good-ish role model instead of the dude people tell you to avoid because he’s an idiot, he loves looking out for people, he loves being understood -and Eilonwy, surprisingly, understands him without even trying.

They are so very sweet, they just clicked and both of them learn new things with the other: both about themselves and the world. And I love it.

*Dressed to the nines with Seamus: a.k.a “the one in which Sav let me go absolutely fucking ham”: It began with a chat about the need of gratious fanservice involving Seamus wearing (and getting out of) a suit -but soon became something else thanks to the Halloween task.

We soon got the ball rolling and Black Annis happened in a stupidly organic way (her very modus operandi, I discovered kind of late during the creation, ties way too well with the thread’s title itself and I’ll never get over it), and the mix of terror and action just naturally pushed the rest of the plot into the catharsis Seamus needed after all the stuff he’s been through.

The thread gave us the opportunity to write some mindless comedy, some yearning, some tenderness, plenty of gore, blood, trauma, legit PTSD, then back to tenderness and silliness -while also mentioning and showing a good deal of the things that have made Seamus the man he currently is, with the pretty and the ugly of it.

I just think it was an amazing character exploration for both Seamus and Lachlann, and I enjoyed every bit of it. I love Sav’s writing, I love Seamus’ characterization, I love how naturally it all evolved, I love how Sav can casually bring something up while plotting and the thing just clicks into place, I love how we just kind of understand where things are going or where we want them to go. Sav’s just amazing at brainstorming and general writing and I feel really, really lucky to have the chance to write with her.

I have no choice but to stan, really.

And I could go on and on about how the thread pushed both Seamus and Lachlann towards some big character development, but I really don’t want to rant -so I’ll leave it like this.

In terms of your own writing, identify 1-3 strengths and talk about why you think it’s one of your strengths.

Gee, that’s a difficult one. I guess my strongest suit as of now would be Launchpad’s voice as a character -and I’m not only talking about dialogue.

I think everyone that has read any of my threads has noticed by now that the flow of the narration is an extension of how Launchpad himself feels and thinks: it’s chaotic and emotional, it can get self-conscious and snarky when he, himself, can’t, it brings some exposition while not breaking the simple, chaotic rythm of Launchpad per-se.

In terms of your own writing, identify 1-3 areas of improvement.

This is way easier for me to pinpoint, hah! I definitely need to work on the length of my posts: I know seeing paragraphs upon paragraphs upon paragraphs can make people tired or make them feel intimidated to interact.

I also need to work on organizing Launchpad’s chaotic thoughts. The narration does get long-winded and sometimes the progression from point A to point B is way too chaotic -so much so that actually erasing it all would make no impact on the overall narration.

Pick one of your plots, or even just a character, and come up with a list of 3-5 “mentor texts” where you can look for inspiration or research, then write a short (2-4 sentences) why you picked those texts.

Not texts per-se, but I think a good way to get a feel of Launchpad’s general vibe is to watch “Top Duck” from Ducktales ‘87 and/or “The Duck Knight Returns” and “Double-o-duck in: You only crash twice”; Those episodes do an amazing job in expressing his insecurities and passions.

Now, leaving the source material behind, I think a book he resonates with is “Oh, the Places You'll Go!” by Dr. Seuss -it’s fun, it’s simple and it has an overall heartwarming message: It kind of captures that sense of wonder, discovery and positivity Launchpad both has and wishes to offer other people.

Another inspiration of sorts for Launchpad is Ferry’s “Parties are for losers” series: First of all, I’ll admit I’m a sucker for the Strugatsky brothers and СТАЛКЕР, so it’s no surprise I’m in love with Ferry’s interpretation of the story; I see a little bit of LP in KT’s story, but also in Yura’s and, surprisingly, in Olga’s.

PAFL’s setting is different, yet similar, to the Soviet sci-fi original: it deals with some disenchantment, it’s far from idealistic, it’s rough, but it’s also full of wonder and adventure: there’s big risks, but there’s also a good deal of things that make things, if not better, a little bit less miserable for the characters -and sometimes that something that keeps them going is other’s presence. PAFL is, for me, the inspiration for adventures that aren’t always glamourous, simple, or happy, taken by characters that are far from perfect, that have the odds against them, that carry a whole lot of baggage and, yet, prevail.

And, finally, a last inspiration for Launchpad, my lovable idiot son, comes from probably the place one would expect the least: God of War (2018).

I’m also a sucker for God of War, sue me.

I know it may seem bizare, but the message of the game just clicks with LP -and before you start wondering how in hell Kratos could possibly inspire Launchpad just let me tell you: he doesn’t. Because it’s not about Kratos I’m refering to when I talk about that story! I’m actually thinking of Mimir!

I love him so much.

Mimir’s role on the game is multifacetic: he brings exposition and ocasional comedic relief, sure, but I see him as the heart of the interactions between Kratos and Atreus (Kratos’ son, for those who may not know). Kratos is emotionally repressed and keeps to himself a lot while Atreus is a bundle of joy, energy, curiosity and someone that doesn’t think ‘because I say so’ is a valid answer to things; Kratos and Atreus clash during the first part of the game even when they love one another in their very particular ways.

In comes Mimir.

Mimir(’s head) joins the party and takes upon himself to act as a bridge between emotional distant father and young naive fearless son and...things start working for the three of them! Kratos starts understanding Atreus! Atreus slowly understands his father’s worries and needs! They begin the story as (almost) complete strangers but by the end they have an actual bond thanks to Mimir’s constant pushing and interventions: Mimir is soft with Atreus but bold with Kratos, the man knows when to joke and throw some riské comments for the chaos of it, but he’s also the first to offer words of comfort and understanding.

The man becomes part of the family even when he isn’t related to them by blood, even going so far as to give a ‘no, take me instead!’ when presented with the opportunity by a pair of enemies, even when his whole story tells us that he thinks of the idea of dealing with those people (won’t say who, because spoilers) as worse than death -the man hates the mere idea of going back but doesn’t hesitate a second to offer himself as a sacrifice for his new family.

And, damn, that’s what I base my interpretation of Launchpad on. He’s not a part of the family per-se but he constantly acts as a bridge between the youngest and more idealistic parts of it and the jaded, older, tired one; He’s happy to be comedic relief but will also sit and give anyone a pep talk when absolutely necessary -he knows his limitations but keeps trying and offering his best for those he cares about. He tries to be the heart.

I’m emotional about a disembodied head, don’t touch me. Play God of War (2018), it’s fucking amazing.

And now, a wishlist!:

I’m...actually up for everything and anything, really. I’d love some adventures, but I also love the more mundane interactions, I love the heavier topics but also the silly moments.

I guess, as I said before, the one thing I’d really love is for someone to push Launchpad to be honest about his feelings. Also a plot about him either considering to or actually flying again -those, however, will happen in due time and I have no rush to make ‘em.

Why do you RP?

Short explanation?: I love writing and reading.

Longer explanation?: I love writing and reading, I love complex characterizations, I love exploring new ideas and seeing how little plot bunnies become full fledged plots and/or character explorations or bring some character development, I love how that creates a domino effect with the rest of the cast. I love to see things happen: I love watching from afar as other’s characters learn lessons, create and conect-

-also, I write and read all day, everyday: that’s my job. I do script revisionism and organizational comunication. During work hours I have to check the flow of words, tones, and overall intentions; I have to do my best to make sure someone’s idea fits the box, but RPing gives me the opportunity to take the box and toss it out of the window. RPing gives me the chance to write freely, to write silly, to be imperfect and not worry about going from A to B or dealing with a checklist or tones, intentions or other’s ideas.

It’s just freeing. And that’s why I do (and love) it.

#bdrptask #/warning: long read ahead #/80% of this is me fanboying about other's writing; tbh

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annakie · 5 years ago

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An Annotated Mass Effect Playthrough, Part Five

Will we make it off the Citadel in this update??

List of Posts: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Flux is my favorite bar in all of the first game, I know there’s not many to choose from, but I like the music best, everybody’s clothed, everyone’s having a good time, there’s slots upstairs for entertainment, there’s dancing, and plenty of space to chill out in. Also the color scheme is great. It looks particularly great now with the graphics mod improvements.

Doran gets a nice glamour shot here.

I’m a tattle tale who always turns this guy in. I agree with Kaidan...

Also I really love Rita’s quest with her sister. She loves her sister, Jenna wants to be helpful, even Doran’s like “Hey I’d love to give her her job back.” Everyone here is pretty wholesome. And Jenna gets one of the best surprise appearances in ME3 if you do things right. ME1Recalibrated fixes the bugs with her quest, too!

Speaking of bugged quests, Hello Conrad! ME1Recalibrated fixes Conrad’s bug, and even if it doesn’t, ME2Re does. The only bad thing about that is it makes his apology for accusing you of something you maybe didn’t do make no sense.

Everyone else was sure Conrad would turn out to be evil, too, right? Instead making him into just a big lying dummy with an advanced degree was a great move. I was kinda hoping he’d show up in the Citadel DLC.

Harkin is JUST the FUCKING WORST. I’m always tempted to let Garrus cap him in ME2 because what a waste of air he is and doesn’t learn his lesson.

This is also maybe the most overt place where FemShep experiences sexism. I mean, don’t get me wrong, there’s some pretty shitty sexism sprinkled throughout the games (as discussed a bit last post) but ugh this guy, if I could shoot him this game, I might. At least on renegade playthroughs.

Speaking of Garrus...

Finally, an alien who wants to hang out with us.

As primarily a Kaidan-romancing gal, who tends to keep up with the Kaidan Alenko tag, especially back in the heyday of tumblr, for a while, loving Garrus was... difficult.

In October, when I was finishing up my latest ME3 playthrough and also cleaning up my blog, and also rewatching Doctor Who and thinking a lot about Rose Tyler and Martha Jones, I posted a long thing in a post about Kaidan and Garrus and badly behaving fanbases, which I don’t feel like typing again. Here’s the whole thing, but I’m going to pull a part of it into here.

I love Garrus, so much. And I was thinking with this whole parallel DW rewatch / Mass Effect replay think I’m doing right now how both Rose Tyler and Garrus Vakaraian are characters that were ruined for me for awhile due to their respective… overly enthusiastic fanbases who a small percentage of were dicks to people who loved other characters. The Kaidan tag (and from what I understand Thane got some of this too, but not nearly as bad) was a pretty hostile place for awhile (and yeah I used to regularly check the Garrus tag too and there was a small amount of tag-invasion there but uh, like 5% of what the Kaidan tag got) which made loving the character of Garrus a lot harder for awhile. But when actually watching seasons 1 & 2 / the end of 4 of Doctor Who, or actually playing the ME games, those characters are awesome.

Fanbases can be amazing or terrible, and time and time again I think you start to realize that no matter how great a fandom is, there are going to be a few people who can only enjoy themselves by feeding on drama, or on lifting up what they love by stomping on other people/characters/plotlines.

It’s not fair to characterize everyone who loves a popular thing as someone who does this. It’s also hard to avoid completely because there will always be jerks, or young/new people who don’t realize what bad form they’re showing. I did learn by trying to fight it for a year or two, that responding might help that one person not do it again, but it’s not going to stop overall.

Anyway, don’t be a dick about the things you don’t like.

It’s sad that even thirteen years past the release of ME1 and eight years past ME3 some people still need to have this fight online. It’s basically impossible to enjoy like, any non-curated Mass Effect space online because of pissing contests or people spouting the same boring opinions. Which they’re entitled to. I’m just real tired of “Kaidan is boring!” “Ashley is a racist!” etc with no further depth of thought being given.

The ability to mute / block people and get away from the worst of it is one of the reasons I’m still on tumblr. Especially always mute/block “confessions” blogs. Yeesh.

---------

I’m glad Garrus is here, and I’m glad he’s on the team. What’s funny though, is that people tend to forget that Garrus like, wasn’t really all THAT popular of a character before ME2. I know I was only in the fandom for a year before ME2 but I dug in pretty deep in that time.

It wasn’t until he gets his face blown off and starts talking about Old Times that a lot of people started to REALLY like him. He’s still great in ME1, but not like, elevated to god-tier that so many people did post ME2 release. But in ME1 he IS neat because he’s really malleable. Probably the companion who can have the biggest personality shift depending on your choices.

Also, I remember a time when the people who wanted to romance Garrus were like... outliers? I remember thinking “GARRUS? As a romance? That’s... weird. Who would do that!?”

OH HOW I WAS WRONG. But that was before reach and flexibility.

Hey I even have a Shep that romanced Garrus in ME2 and ME3. And I loved it!

Were I to replay a different Shep, she’d be my first choice.

So yeah, I love Garrus, I keep Kaidan in the squad all the time in ME1 and the other spot I try to rotate everyone else somewhat evenly, but you’ll see plenty of him. Then ME2 he’s by my side most of the way. And an awful lot in ME3, too. But I’m happy for him to get crushed on by Dr. Michele and glad to see him and Tali find happiness in ME3. SO that’s the path we’ll be going down if we get that far here.

I love the Destiny Ascension flyby moment on the Citadel, and it’s so easy to miss. Also really hard to get good screenshots of. Thanks Flycam. Don’t pay attention to the untextured wall in the first pic, just look at the pretty lights!

Let’s go get another squadmate! This time, a not-as-initially-friendly alien!

What an amazing entrance for Urdnot Wrex.

“Do you want me to arrest you?”

“I want you to try!”

Hell. Yeah.

Here’s where the somewhat in somewhat evenly comes in. I probably do favor Wrex and Ashely in the squad in ME1 a little because... well you know what’s coming for Ash and Wrex you get the least amount of time with by far of the other companions. Also, he’s just... great? A tank, with some biotics and a shotgun... okay well so am I as a vanguard, but Kaidan has just enough tech powers for us to muddle through where we need to when Wrex is in the squad and he’s so much fun to have around. His “Fuck you, I don’t care” attitude is great, and his growth story throughout the trilogy is one of the best arcs a character gets, imho. I just really love Urdnot Wrex.

This is a real nice flight control office you’ve got here, C-Sec. It would be a shame if someone planted a bug in it later, since literally anyone can just walk on up here uncontested.

This entire area really is so pretty though.

I always pump points into Paragon as much as possible from as early on as possible, and saving these poor guys’ lives is one of the big reasons. They don’t need to die.

Ash usually still stays in the party up to this point, though sometimes it’s Garrus. Fist is still a dick in ME2 but he doesn’t need to die here, sorry Wrex.

...raise your hand if you still occasionally forget to pick up Emily Wong’s evidence and have to reload. I remembered! ...once I was almost out of Chora’s Den and had to turn around this time.

Kaidan? Kaidan my love? My darling... perhaps YOU shouldn’t be the one standing in the middle of the corridor with no barrier or protection? (I suppose I could scooch over but then I’d look less badass for these screenshots. Naaah.)

It’d be a shame if someone properly lit the corridor so we could see what’s going on.

But hey... TALI! Tali Tali Tali! The first quarian we see, and only one for... awhile? Is there another quarian in this entire game? I’m trying to remember and seriously can’t think of one.

Anyway, I love Tali, but another character you really need to ignore their most rabid fanbase portions of. Yikes, Talimancers were really something back in the day. The biggest problem I have with Tali being in the squad is that normally she’s REALLY useful against Geth and... not so much against just about anything else. She gets sidelined on my team more than I wish she would. Especially since she doesn’t show up until very late in ME2 and late-midway through ME3.

Finally, the proof we need. And the game continues to introduce new concepts to us with the Conduit and we hear the word Reapers for the first time. We also get a loredump on the quarians and the geth.

Tali’s voice doesn’t have quite as heavy of an accent in ME1 as it does in 2 and 3. I guess we can assume she’s lost part of it while on her pilgrimage? Picking up the local dialects a bit? The next two times we see her she’s just spent a lot of time with her own people.

Tali’s suit and omnitool look SO GOOD with the updated textures.

I swap Ash out and Tali in at this point, and usually finish up a few more quests along the way.

Ah, Septimus. You lovesick fool.

Honestly, the very best thing with Septimus is to bring Garrus here if you’re gonna romance him, have Garrus laugh at him for coming undone for love and then... well, ME2 and especially ME3 happen. But still. Septimus... always needs a kick in the pants but will get around to doing the right thing.

Hey here’s a cool thing ME1Recalibated does -- Morlan carries a Squad Iconic Armors stock, so you can always find tier-appropriate default look armor for you and all the squad. Very cool of you, Morlan. You are currently my favorite store on the Citadel. Now stop sending me spam, I didn’t sign up for your mailing list.

Look, I have questions about what exactly Xeltan told the consort and how... all that... works... but... I don’t think I actually want to ask them. Just.. let’s all shut up about all of it, it’s over now.

BTW, according to one of the novels, Councilor Anderson finds Ambassador Cayln super annoying. I need to re-read that book.

OK fine... I’ll go talk to the Council.

Coming at ya with Actual Proof and a quarian tagging along to back up the claims, the Council is ready to listen. And while not surprising that it’s finally time to become a Spectre, the actual ceremony is really well done. With the swelling theme music blaring, and all three councilors stressing what a big deal this is and what will be expected of you, you really feel the weight of this moment. People take notice. Although apparently later, Kaidan or Ash get an entire televised event around becoming a Spectre, I guess there’s no time for that right now.

It definitely feels like the game so far has been building towards this moment, not only with POUNDING it into your brain about who Spectres are and why they’re so important and letting you know you’re being evaluated... but it feels like there’s been a shift in the game after this moment. It’s A Big Deal.

I didn’t finish all the sidequests on the Citadel yet, they can wait, I’ve been here long enough. Let’s go check out the new cool stuff we can buy.

ME1Recalibrated adds in this Spectre Armor. Eeehhhhh... no thanks. We’ll stick with Onyx.

I did cheat myself in a bunch of credits and picked up Spectre weapons though. This ain’t no tryhard playthrough.

Well OK, we can finish ONE more quest. Thanks, startlingly loud and triumphant music queue that’s never used again!

Man, this would be SUCH a good pic of the Normandy if... the airlock didn’t go straight through the ship.

We’ve got a ship of our own! And most of our squadmates to put on it!

Sucks for Anderson to be sidelined, though. We already love you, Anderson!

It’s cool to get a bit more of the Saren & Anderson backstory here for real. Still, I enjoyed the book more. Maybe I’ll do a re-read of all the ME books here soon.

Udina... just keep being you, I guess.

WE HAVE A SHIP!!!

Okay, whew... we made it off the Citadel. Now I gotta actually play some more to have more updates to post. Might be a few days. Have to actually go back to work tomorrow. :p

Let’s probably do like one sidequest then go get us an Asari!!

#mass effect #bioware #kaidan alenko #garrus vakarian #urdnot wrex #tali'zorah #annakie's mass effect stuff

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louderthanthedj · 5 years ago

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Long Character Survey - Hope Gallant

Get ready for a whole post about my god damn fuckin seLF

Below the cut

BASICS.

FULL NAME: Hope Gallant

NICKNAME: None

AGE: 22

BIRTHDAY: 20th Sun of the 6th Astral Moon (November 19th)

ETHNIC GROUP: White

NATIONALITY: I would say Gridanian because current affiliations but she wasn’t born there

LANGUAGE(S): English, with my own accent despite the European accents FFXIV defaults to

SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Asexual

ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: Demi-romantic

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Taken

CLASS: Economic? Middle. FFXIV battle class? White Mage

HOMETOWN / AREA: Mor Dhona

CURRENT HOME: Technically Mor Dhona, but has spent the last four months on Norvrandt. Obviously

PROFESSION: White Mage, Scion

PHYSICAL.

HAIR: White/Purple (Still not sure if it’s naturally white or glamoured)

EYES: Violet

NOSE: Small, straight

FACE: Round, chubby

LIPS: Full, terribly chapped/scarred

COMPLEXION: Pale

BLEMISHES: N/A

SCARS: Chewed up/Picked apart lips

TATTOOS: None

HEIGHT: 5′1″

WEIGHT: 200 lbs

BUILD: Short, stocky, chubby

FEATURES: Beauty mark under lips

ALLERGIES: None

USUAL HAIRSTYLE: Short with long bangs, artificially straightened. Bangs always cover right eye, generally also cover the left

USUAL FACE LOOK: Never wears makeup. Sometimes wears dark lipstick

USUAL CLOTHING: Hoods, soft jackets/sweatshirts, leather jackets/boots, tight pants

PSYCHOLOGY.

FEAR(S): Bug monsters. Fucking hates fighting wamouracampas

ASPIRATION(S): uh

POSITIVE TRAITS: Excitable, friendly, empathetic, funny (?), determined

NEGATIVE TRAITS: Reclusive, possessive, impulsive, moody, lazy/unfit

ZODIAC: Scorpio

TEMPERAMENT: Melancholic

SOUL TYPE(S): Performer, Spiritualist

ANIMALS: Chinchillas, cats

VICE HABIT(S): Sweet-tooth, glutton, constantly sleepy

FAITH: The Twelve

GHOSTS?: Yes

AFTERLIFE?: Fuckin better be

REINCARNATION?: Hopefully not

ALIENS?: Yes

POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: WOULD SURE AS HELL BE LEFTIST

ECONOMIC PREFERENCE: Eat the rich

SOCIO POLITICAL POSITION: Take a guess

EDUCATION LEVEL: FFXIV equivalent of finished college

FAMILY.

FATHER: N/A

MOTHER: N/A

SIBLINGS: N/A

EXTENDED FAMILY: N/A

NAME MEANING(S): N/A

HISTORICAL CONNECTION?: N/A

((Hi, I have NONE of this as a concrete as she is a self insert and the name is an homage to a past Final Fantasy character and a bassist respectively))

FAVORITES.

BOOK: Not creative enough to think of a lore-friendly answer, but doesn’t read for fun

MOVIE PLAY: See above, but LOVES theater

5 SONGS: ((I’ll link my class playlist when I make that post))

DEITY: Rhalgr, Nophica

HOLIDAY: All Saint’s Wake

MONTH: November/6th Astral Moon

SEASON: Autumn

PLACE: Lakeland

WEATHER: Sunny and brisk

SOUND: Heavy music, gentle breezes

SCENT(S): Lavender and Tea

TASTE(S): Chocolate and savory spice

FEEL(S): Leather jackets, warm blankets

ANIMAL(S): Chinchillas, cats

NUMBER: 6

COLORS: Purple, Black, White

EXTRA.

TALENTS: Singing. Singing singing singing okay this is my one fucking thing

BAD AT: Physical exertion

TURN ONS: Kindness, empathy, communication (the explicit turn on y’all literally all already know)

TURN OFFS: Right-wing, untempered haughtiness

HOBBIES: Singing, going for walks, napping, sketching, ???

TROPES: Don’t know the specific name but that one punk/goth girl in a media friend group, usually paired with the weak/warmhearted nerd or comic relief

AESTHETIC TAGS: Gothic, witchy, punk, autumn, hooded figures, scythes, leather boots

FC INFO.

MAIN FC(S): Myself

ALT FC(S): Myself

OLDER FC(S): Myself

YOUNGER FC(S): Myself

VOICE CLAIM(S): My dAMN FUCkin self

GENDERBENT FC(S): eh

MUN QUESTIONS.

((Where my answers get short))

Q1: IF YOU COULD WRITE YOUR CHARACTER YOUR WAY IN THEIR OWN MOVIE, WHAT WOULD IT BE CALLED, WHAT STYLE WOULD IT BE FILMED IN, AND WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?:

God listen FFXIV is already perfect, add in me fucking up shit with purple magic and my scythe, and romantic/comfortable couple content constantly with Alphinaud and I’m made

Q2: WHAT WOULD THEIR SOUNDTRACK / SCORE SOUND LIKE?:

Non-lore friendly: Punk music. I post a lot of theme song bullshit and I have a whole playlist of songs that correspond to each battle class

Lore friendly: Think Skyrim and Vindsvept on Youtube, very VERY different from punk music but like. Help me find lore friendly punk music?

Q3: WHY DID YOU START WRITING THIS CHARACTER?:

I don’t write her

Q4: WHAT FIRST ATTRACTED YOU TO THIS CHARACTER?:

She’s me

Q5: DESCRIBE THE BIGGEST THING YOU DISLIKE ABOUT YOUR MUSE:

Uhhhh I mean lore wise she’s really incapable as an all rounder due to her physical lacking despite being a completionist. She’s also explosive and tries to learn from her mistakes but doesn’t and absolutely doesn’t deserve the friendship she has

At least I don’t think I do. I don’t know why all of you take such an interest in me and support my ship with Alphinaud or why he’d even like me in the first place so I guess despite all of my self growth over the past three years I’ve still got an inferiority complex. She’s very grateful though.

Q6: WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN COMMON WITH YOUR MUSE?:

She’s me

Q7: HOW DOES YOUR MUSE FEEL ABOUT YOU?:

She’s me

Q8: WHAT CHARACTERS DOES YOUR MUSE HAVE INTERESTING INTERACTIONS WITH?

Aside from the obvious, I like to imagine Hope’s at least a bit more sociable than me, or able to actually get herself out as the story would kinda be a bit impossible if she wasn’t active. With that, she spends an interesting amount of time with class quest characters, especially antics with Sanson and Guydelot, and visits with Alka Zolka

Despite how pissed I am with him over shadowbringers I would really like to think her and Thancred spend a lot of time together just for company’s sake. Same with Arenvald but maybe a bit more close considering their much more similar ages.

She got very attached to Ardbert during their shadowbringers interactions. That was definitely something she had to mourn, and still does, despite absolutely knowing his ending was entirely fitting

Q9: WHAT GIVES YOU INSPIRATION TO WRITE YOUR MUSE?:

I don’t write her

Q10: HOW LONG DID THIS TAKE YOU TO COMPLETE?:

An hour, maybe. These are fast for me cause my answers aren’t in depth, I’m just reminding ya’ll all about myself. Except for the temperament stuff. Those I had to go retake or re look up cause I forgot

I got tagged by noone but @pugsleybro showed me @spotofmummery‘s post and encouraged me to do it so he’d have to and I want to see his

So I tag @pugsleybro, @rhymingteelookatme, and @amandafullmetal

#my wol #ffxiv

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crystaljins · 6 years ago

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By its cover | 01

Characters: Hoseok x Reader

Word count: 4.6k

Synopsis: Your annoying little brother Jimin accepts a dare and summons a demon into your living room. There are multiple problems with this. 1) Demons are the most hated species on earth. 2) That demon happens to be Jung Hoseok, the most popular guy on campus 3) The fact that Jung Hoseok is a demon is his biggest secret and 4) Jung Hoseok hates your guts. You’re in for a wild ride. Demon!Hoseok, magic-university!au and enemies-to-lovers!au

Notes: I wrote this because I couldn’t shake how funny it was to me the idea of Hoseok being a demon. Like he’s just so happy and sunshine-y... how could he be a demon? And thus, this fic was born. It’s entirely prewritten and will update once a week :)

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Part 1: Summoning

The whole ordeal begins because your stupid little brother Jimin accepts a dare from his friend Jungkook. The bratty werewolf Jungkook wouldn’t have known the meaning of the word consequences if it slapped him in the face. And your younger brother, childish and eager to prove himself, does not know how to back down from a dare. The dare is to summon a demon.

It’s a stupid dare because its incredibly rude to just pull a demon from whatever they are doing through a summoning circle just for one’s own amusement. But it’s also stupid because demons are the most despised species in the world. People hate them because there were one too many demons in the past with too much power and a propensity for misusing it. It is only natural to fear beings with such chaotic power, but it also means they are horribly mistreated in society. Of course, Jimin doesn’t have the maturity or understanding to realise why it’s so wrong to attempt to summon a demon into his own living room, and if you or your father had picked up on his intentions earlier, you would have gladly explained it to him. But neither of you do.

Your father is busy preparing for a month-long business trip- a great opportunity for his thriving glamour potion business and your hands are full with your studies, and that’s how Jimin is able to execute his mischievous plan without detection. Why would anyone notice him secretly gathering supplies, or pouring through magic texts when you are all so busy with your own lives? It is far too late when you finally detect something amiss- when you return home from dropping your father at the airport.

You walk in at probably the most opportune and inopportune moment. Opportune because had Jimin attempted a summoning spell without you present he surely would have died. This is because summoning circles are like vacuums you can’t turn off. They suck any available magic in the immediate vicinity out of the air until they have enough to achieve their purpose. Jimin, at a mere 14 years of age and a with a meagre magic supply to match, would have been completely drained and no doubt died of magic exhaustion. Inopportune because summoning circles are magic vacuums. So when you walk in at the exact moment Jimin finishes the magic incantation, the summoning circle instantly latches onto and begins draining your much larger magic supply rather than his.

“Jimin!” You screech, taking in the summoning circle in your living room, the various magical supplies he no doubt stole from your father’s shop and the eerie glow that is filling the room as soon as the circle leeches from your magic supply. “You’re summoning a demon? Dad’s gonna kill you!”

“Jungkook dared me!” Is all Jimin can shout in his defence while you attempt to shoo him out of the room to safely. But the magic circle drains a little too much of your magic for you to handle and you promptly pass out.

When you regain consciousness, the room is filled with smoke and Jimin is also passed out. Immediately concerned, you crawl over him, braving through the wave of nausea that washes over you at the action of sitting up. You breathe a sigh of relief when you feel the comforting thrum of his pulse beneath your fingertips, and you roll him onto his back. He is pale but seems to be just sleeping. You doubt the magic circle required Jimin’s magic as well, given the ample supply you had as an adult witch. It is more likely the pressure and sheer amount of magic in the air that knocked him out. But with your brother’s safety confirmed, you turn to face and apologise to the bigger problem in the room- whatever poor demon your brother summoned, the one who is currently screaming his head off in terror.

But when the smoke clears and you glance to the figure now standing in the middle of your living room, you find yourself wishing you were still unconscious. For the figure staring in complete shock and horror at you is none other than your campus’ beloved Jung Hoseok.

Hoseok’s gaze flickers down to where his dress shirt is half-buttoned and hangs open. He must have been in the middle of getting dressed when Jimin summoned him. His eyes widen and he goes to fix it but it is far too late. Already you have seen and registered the brand that sits just below his clavicle, the brand that all of his kind and their descendants are forced to wear, to mark them as different and alien and dangerous. Your father says the brand is a reminder of how hateful and awful society can be towards an entire species. If the fact that Hoseok is here because of a summoning ceremony weren’t enough proof of Hoseok’s true identity, then the brand your gaze is now anchored onto certainly is.

It is the mark of a demon- which means Hoseok is a demon, probably the most hated species on earth. The scream dies on his throat.

If it weren’t embarrassing enough that because of Jimin you would have to apologise and help whatever poor demon Jimin had jerked out of their daily routine, the fact that it is Jung Hoseok of all people makes it a million times worse for two reasons.

The first is that Hoseok hates your guts. You never did learn the reason why and most people you disclose this little tidbit of information didn’t believe you. No one really thinks Hoseok capable of hating someone, but he does and it’s you. It’s not an overly obvious, antagonistic hatred which is why it’s so difficult to convince others that he does. No, Hoseok is subtle- ignoring you, turning away from you when you’re in the room, sometimes glaring at you for no reason and most importantly avoiding you at all costs. You might have been able to write this behaviour off as shyness were you not aware of who Hoseok is as a person. The joke around your campus where Hoseok is concerned is actually that Hoseok is sunshine on legs. Though his species wasn’t known to anyone, the general consensus has always been that Hoseok, with his bright and sunny personality and subtle good looks, was probably something like a sun sprite or a water nymph. Something gentle and beloved, with powers that could only heal and protect and a kind and loving nature to boot. No one would have ever guessed he is one of the most reviled and hated (and underprivileged according to your kindhearted father) species in the world. So while it turns out the speculation about his species is wrong, it doesn’t change the fact that if kind, extroverted, happy Hoseok treats you like you have some sort of disease, then he must really truly hate you for some reason.

Which brings you to the second reason, the only reason you could provide for Hoseok’s odd disdain for you. And that was that you and Hoseok had history. If it could even be called that. The story starts in highschool. Even back then, Hoseok’s bright personality and kind demeanour had sucked people in, left them vulnerable to his charms and you were no exception. The strength of your crush is humiliating for you now to remember. So when your friend has insisted she had convinced Hoseok to go on a date with you, you had been ecstatic! A date, with the guy of your dreams? You would have been a fool to refuse.

Only when you had showed up at the movie cinema at the assigned time, it hadn’t just been Hoseok going to see the movie with you. Rather than just tell you she had been dating Hoseok, your supposed friend had felt the need to very publicly stake her claim. And so you had endured the most humiliating movie of your life while she and Hoseok engaged enthusiastically in public displays of affection, wondering why she hadn’t just told you she was dating him. It hadn’t ended there, and when she showed up to the restaurant where you had you first ever part-time job as a waitress, you hadn’t hesitated in not-so-accidentally dumping her pasta all over her lap. She had always envied you and you suppose that the way you had been so vocal and open about your crush who happened to be her secret boyfriend had driven her to extreme measures.

The fact that the pasta incident hadn’t fully been an accident was a fact your ex-friend made known to nearly the whole school. Rumours of your intense jealousy and desire to bully her had spread quickly, easily slaughtering your social life. You had long since recovered from what you felt was a huge injustice, but lingering feelings of humiliation and misery still lingered whenever you looked at Hoseok and remembered what has transpired.

That particular incident is probably why Hoseok hates you, but to hold a grudge for so long over something so petty doesn’t seem consistent with his character. Yes, you dumped pasta on his highschool girlfriend’s lap in a petty rage, but apart from him having been your crush at the time, it hadn’t really had much to do with him and had been more to do with the betrayal you had felt at her actions and inability to properly communicate. Maybe his demon origins explain this unnecessary grudge-holding, but your dad had always stressed to you the fact that it is not the species that determines a person’s character. And you love and respect your dad above all else and if he insists that demons don’t deserve the discrimination they receive, then that’s what you will insist as well. So that means something doesn’t add up with Hoseok��s unexplained dislike of you, you just don’t know what.

Still, those two reasons combined are the reasons you generally try and avoid Hoseok. Yes, you went to highschool together and are among the few students from your school who had chosen to attend the local magic university, but you had been determined for that to be the end of your connection. With your farewell to highschool and avoidance of Hoseok, you had thought you had successfully distanced yourself from that turbulent era of your life.

Yet here you are, your brother still unconscious, magical components scattered around your living room, the remnants of a summoning circle permanently burned into the living room carpet and Hoseok half-dressed. He looks like he’s trapped in his worst nightmare. So you blurt the only reasonable thing that comes to mind.

“Jimin did it!” You accuse, pointing to your brother who is slowly starting to rouse. It takes a few goes but Hoseok finally recovers his voice.

“(Y/N)? You summoned me?” He cries out in horror as the reality of his situation dawns on him.

“No!” You protest. “It really wasn’t me! It was him.”

Jimin, who had been subtly trying to make an escape while your attention was fixed on Hoseok, freezes mid-crawl. He sits back on his heels.

“In my defence I didn’t know it would actually work!” He complains, glaring at you with only the audacity a fourteen year old who has done the wrong thing can manage.

“What did you think would happen? Why wouldn’t a demon summoning work?” You argue back, and then your eyes go wide as once more you are struck with a realisation. “You...” you say, turning slowly back to Hoseok. “You’re a demon?”

Hoseok winces at your realisation, and flails around wildly before wilting in resignation- his secret is out and there’s no putting the toothpaste back in the tube.

“Obviously!” He exclaims and the open flaps of his shirt shift when he waves his arms in emphasis, once more exposing the demon brand. “What did you think you were summoning? A horse?”

You open your mouth to protest.

“Again, it was Jimin- Jimin you brat if you leave this room I’m setting your video game console on fire.” You hiss, and Jimin freezes with his hand on the doorknob and says a word that would definitely get him grounded if your father wasn’t currently on a plane to the other side of the world. You grab him by the back of the shirt, pinning him in place while you turn your attention to Hoseok. “Anyway, I’m sorry my brother is like this. Don’t feel like you’re stuck here or anything, he was just acting on a dare.” You tell Hoseok in a cautiously polite voice. He just looks around, antsy and stressed, before sighing in resignation.

“I wasn’t planning on staying.” Hoseok tells you as the shock of the situation settles in. He finishes buttoning his shirt and glances at his watch in distress. “But it would be great if you could tell me where you live?”

When you inform him his current location, his eyes bug comically out of his head.

“That’s on the other side of town from where I need to be! Public transport won’t get me there in time!” He almost wails. You blink, confused at his devastated reactions.

“D-do you have plans?” You inquire hesitantly. Falling to his knees, Hoseok nods.

“A date.” He admits quietly. “A really, really important date. Of course something like this would happen today- and with you of all people, of course! Of course it has to be you.”

Were you younger and less jaded by your past, you may have been disappointed to hear that your first ever crush currently had an important date, and a little offended at his implication that you are the cause of all the trouble in his life but you are proudly past that stage of your life. Instead you now have the capacity to be the bigger person.

“I... can give you a lift? It’s the least I can do after Jimin summoned you here- which I will be telling Dad about just so you know.” You hiss at your brother. Hoseok pays no mind to the death glares you and your brother direct at each other, and instead contemplates your offer. He looks like he would rather do literally anything else, but a quick glance at the antique clock your father keeps over your fireplace confirms he doesn’t really have a choice.

With a promise to Jimin that you will be doling out consequences when you get back, you and Hoseok hop into your car and set off for the location of his date. It’s near your campus, on the other side of the city, and it’s most definitely going to drain the power crystal supplying your magic to your car. You almost go to complain at Hoseok- magic crystals aren’t cheap, but one look at the frazzled look on his face has you shutting up.

The car ride to the restaurant is awkward and silent. It is Hoseok who finally breaks the silence.

“Will you tell anyone?” He asks softly. You frown.

“That you’re a demon?” You ask. “I wasn’t planning to... does anyone know?”

“No. No they do not and I would love to keep it that way.” He says softly, almost timidly.

“Then I won’t tell anyone.” You answer sincerely. Hoseok doesn’t respond but you think you may hear the slightest relieved exhale from him.

The rest of the trip is silent apart from Hoseok’s occasional instruction of what lane to be in and whether to turn left or right. When you finally pull over, you don’t bid him goodbye as he scrambles out of your car, legging it for the restaurant entrance. He doesn’t even bother to shut the car door behind him. With a sigh, you prepare to leave, leaning across the console to shut the door he rudely left open. You are fully intending on never acknowledging Hoseok ever again and pretending this whole incident never happened, when something strange happens.

Hoseok makes it maybe 20 meters from you when you feel the sharpest pulling sensation on your whole being. It’s not just physical- it’s like your whole soul is being yanked on and you are jerked forcefully across the console in Hoseok’s general direction. Alarmed, you look up to find Hoseok flat on the ground like he’s tripped. Slightly concerned, you try to get out of the car, only to find yourself unable to move in that direction. But you are free to move forward, and so you clamber over the console and out of the car on the passenger’s side.

“Hoseok!” You shout, running over to him. He sits up, looking slightly dazed like he’s just crash into a brick walls. “Are you ok?”

He glances at you, disorientated, but gradually horror dawns on his expression.

“I’m fine, I just…” He says slowly, as he tries to comprehend what just happened. “Hey… (Y/N)… What kind of summoning circle did your brother make?”

You blink, contemplating the circle that was still burned into the carpet of your living room.

“Well, off the top of my head...” you say sarcastically, before frowning. “I would say demon summoning circles aren’t exactly my area of expertise.”

Hoseok looks pained, and he glances skyward as if he’s praying for patience which is ironic given his demon origins.

“I need you to stand here, (Y/N).” He instructs you, getting slowly to his feet. “I just need to test something.”

And just like that, he is walking away from you. For a second, you think you’ve been rudely rejected, and just stare after him in disbelief. But then he comes to a halt about 20 metres away from you. His fist comes up and starts waving in the air like he is knocking on a door rather than air. Then he is hurtling towards you at full speed.

You flinch as he skids to a stop in front of you, eyes wide and panicked. He plants both hands on your shoulder.

“Walk that way!” He pleads. “Please.”

You are confused, and for a second you want to refuse. You have no duty to this rude demon, especially when he’s been nothing but unfriendly to you for almost as long as you’ve known him. Also, he’s been deceiving you as long as you’ve known him! (Admittedly with good reasons - demons weren’t exactly accepted with society but you’re being petty now is the point)

But then you look at his desperate, pleading expression. The clock is ticking- his date could arrive any minute and something strange is going on. With a sigh, you turn around and begin to walk away from him.

You make it about twenty metres, much like Hoseok did, before you find yourself stopped. By some sort of invisible barrier.

Suddenly panicking, you bang your arm against it and it’s solid as a brick wall and smooth as glass. Are you… trapped? It seems to be a moving barrier, and it seems to affect Hoseok as well… what on earth did that summoning circle do? Horrified, you whirl back to where Hoseok is standing 20 metres away only to find him talking to a girl you recognise as always being around him when you happen to see him around campus. He catches your eyes over her shoulder and even at this distance you know his gaze is just as desperate and pleading. Slowly, he turns, as if to walk away, and just pauses, waiting for your answer to his silent request. You glance down at your attire, before glancing at the restaurant. You’re wearing jeans and a tshirt, not exactly appropriate for the fancy restaurant.

Hoseok is beginning to panic, and you sigh as you realise there’s really only one way out of this, for now.

Looks like you’re sitting in on Hoseok’s date.

“He was supposed to be here an hour ago.” You say forlornly, staring at the two dishes set in front of you. Yours is half eaten but the other is untouched and has long gone cold. “He said it was really important.”

The waitress and waiter standing beside you let our devastated sounds of sympathy.

“You poor thing! Have you tried calling him?” The waiter asks. You nod your head sadly and you’re so into your lie that your eyes began to tear up.

“I did- it went straight to voicemail! I even thought about casting a location spell but I couldn’t betray his trust like that.” You nearly sob. The waitress is near crying on your behalf.

You aren’t sure how your lie got elaborate enough that you ended up ordering a second dish to keep up the ruse. It started because you were too confused and embarrassed to admit the truth- that you’re stuck here like a fool until Hoseok’s date finishes and you didn’t want people thinking you were a loser who came to fancy restaurants by yourself in a tshirt and jeans. You aren’t sure why it is such an important date but Hoseok sure seems nervous. So far he’s spilled a glass of wine on his lap, stabbed himself with a fork and his date is slowly getting more and more agitated. You shoot a glance at him to see he’s holding a napkin to his hand, trying to stop the bleeding. You wonder if you should wonder over and offer to heal him but his girlfriend may recognise you from around campus and ask questions.

Not that you seem to have a problem at lying when asked too many questions! The waiter, so sympathetic to your lie, has summoned a dessert from the kitchen and levitated it onto your table.

“It’s on the house- the chef here got left at the alter and is super sensitive to when people get stood up.” He tells you seriously. “Do you want me to pack this for you?”

Panicking, you deliberate for a second. You can’t leave once it’s packed! You’re stuck here until Hoseok finishes his important date. A glance at his table confirms that it’s getting steadily more disastrous- he’s accidentally sent a piece of steak flying right into the eye of the cyclops who is serving their table. Gritting your teeth with second hand embarrassment, you summon your highschool drama skills from deep within.

“I’d love if you could pack it... but do you think I could wait a little longer? He might still show up! I thought... I really thought tonight was the night, you know?” You stay, and the tears of humiliation are real this time- but just because you’re so embarrassed that you’ve taken the lie this far, rather than having thought your imaginary boyfriend has been about to propose.

The fairy waitress shakes her head.

“No way, girl, I’m making an executive decision.” She says, planting her hands on her hips and fluttering her wings indignantly. “You’re going home! What’s the use in waiting around for a useless guy who doesn’t have the decency to call?”

She waves her hand, and the bill appears- you panic, swiping your magic signature across it. In the next moment, she’s pushing you out of the restaurant, your takeaway dish levitating behind the two of you.

“W-wait!” You protest, coming up against the barrier that stops you from going home at the entrance to the restaurant. “Y-you’re right! I... I just have to call my lift home. I’m just gonna wait here.” The waitress pauses, giving you a soft, concerned expression, before acquiescing and leaving you to stand pathetically at the entrance.

It is because you are waiting outside by yourself hoping Hoseok’s date will end soon that you bear witness to the scene that follows. You’ve probably been milling outside, grateful for the warm evening, for a half hour when Hoseok’s gorgeous elf girlfriend comes racing out of the restaurant looking like she’s on the verge of vomiting.

Hoseok comes skidding our behind her, his eyes pleading and desperate. The top button of his shirt is undone, exposing the dreaded brand on his skin.

“Wait!” He cries, grasping at her hands and tugging her towards him. She flinches, looking horrified.

“Let go!” She screeches. There’s no one on the street but you, but you’re kind of huddled in the shelter of a stone pillar, so she doesn’t seem to have noticed you. “Don’t touch me!”

“I thought you loved me!” Hoseok cries, still gripping her hand. “Were you lying? Does my species change how you feel about me?”

“I don’t know!” She exclaims. “I didn’t know you were one of those when I said that!”

Hoseok drops her hand like she’s burned him, his eyes going wide with hurt.

“Y-you don’t mean that.” He says softly, though his eyes fill with tears. You wonder if you should leave to give them some privacy but you’d be lying if you said that the drama scene unfolding on the street in front of you wasn’t entertaining, as awful as a person as that makes you. “I... I love you.”

She scoffs, and her next words suddenly make the scene less entertaining.

“Can demons even feel love?” She asks scathingly. “You don’t have to worry about your secret- I won’t tell anyone. I don’t want anyone knowing I was dating one of your kind. Goodbye, Hoseok.”

Your heart actually breaks a little for him as he just gapes after her, frozen in his hurt and pain. Finally, he turns slowly and sees you standing stupidly in the street. He glares.

“Did you enjoy the show?” He asks coldly. You shake your head.

“Hoseok...” you say slowly, though you haven’t the foggiest idea how you could comfort him. His demeanour softens just the slightest bit.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude… I just… today was our one-year anniversary.” He admits softly. “I thought I could tell her what I was and that she loved me enough to accept me... but I... but I...”

His voice cracks and hesitantly you raised a hand to comfortingly rub along his shoulders. He clears his throat and sighs heavily.

“We’re stuck together, by the way. That’s what that barrier is.” He informs you. “Your brother performed a binding circle and so we are stuck like this until we figure out how to undo it. Its called ‘soul-binding’ and no, I do not know how to undo it. And thank you for sitting in on dinner. That was… nice. Not a lot of people would have put up with what you have tonight.”

He just stares forlornly in the direction his date left in after that, and you only pluck up the courage to speak to him when the silence becomes too much to bare for you.

“Hey… Why don’t we go home and we can sort out this whole mess in the morning?” You suggest, ushering the heartbroken demon into your car. “We’ll stop off at yours and you can grab some stuff. We have a spare bedroom. You can sleep off whatever just happened and we’ll deal with everything then, ok?”

The car ride back to your house is silent. When you arrive at his place he doesn’t say a word- he lives out of home in an apartment by himself and so there’s no one for him to answer to or speak to or inform about his unusual predicament. He just gets out of the car and returns with a duffle bag and some sunglasses. You almost ask what the sunglasses are for, especially when he puts them on. It is, after all, the middle of the night. But then you spot the tears that trickle down Hoseok’s cheeks the whole way and you realise why he’s wearing them.

You choose not to say anything.

#hoseok fic #bts fic #bts fluff #jhope fic #jhope fluff #hobi #hoseok #jung hoseok #jhope #writing #demon au #magic university au #enemies to lovers au #enemies to lovers

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lacylu42 · 6 years ago

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11/11/11 Tag Game

Thanks @feathersandfortunes for the tag! I’m just getting into the writeblr community, but I’ll try to tag a few people at the bottom. 1. What’s a type of media that you think influenced your writing? Could be anything, from Marvel movies to Magical girl anime or a band or a podcast - anything!

I did an exercise a while back that suggested listing your top 10 favorite stories — any media, books, movies, etc. — and then look at what they all have in common. And it’s fascinating! Some of my favorite stories of all time, including Harry Potter, X-Files, Hitchhiker’s Guide, Doctor Who, among others, include normal people doing and experiencing extraordinary things, going into extraordinary worlds.

I know that being in fandom and writing fan fiction has also strongly influenced my writing. I didn’t know it when I was a kid, but my first forays into writing were all thinly veiled attempts to write like my favorite authors in exploration of finding my own voice.

2. What does your OC do on a road trip or long commute? Playlists, podcasts, daydreaming, games, idk, up to you!

Oh lord! I feel like Julia has done cross-country road trips before, so she would be all about stocking up on snacks, picking out the podcasts, and plotting out which ridiculous roadside attractions to stop at.

I think David would haaaaate a road trip to start with, like he would hate the very idea of it. He likes to be efficient, and I think he doesn’t like being stuck in small, confined spaces. He’s a walker, too. But I think he would enjoy the novelty of a road trip with Julia if he was forced into it. She would show him the weird pleasures of it.

3. How do you pick names for your characters? Meanings, sounds, anything!

This book in particular was a weird experience because it has a relatively large cast, and I was naming people on the fly while trying to bang out a couple thousand words a day.

But I enjoyed trying to match the names of the Supernatural creatures with their country of origin (ie: Daoine the Irish banshee) but also playing against type for certain characters (ie: Greg the ogre).

4. What’s a trope you hate from a genre you love?

Oh man! I love epic hero’s journey stories, but I’m kind of over the “chosen one” who has special powers to save the world. I’m much more interested in ordinary people thrown into extraordinary situations.

5. Pick a trope you love from a genre you hate, what is it?

I’m not a big fan of straight romance or rom com, but I do looooove me some romance/rom com tropes like THERE’S ONLY ONE BED! (my fave), or friends to lovers, or any excuse to put my characters in fancy dress so they can oogle each other. :>

6. If you’re a fiction writer, what’s something you wish you could write that would be nonfiction (an important historical event, a celebrity’s memoir, idk)? If you’re nonfiction, what’s a fictional world you would live in?

I actually write both; I write fiction for fun and non-fiction in my business. But for this question, I’d love to write a really deeply researched non-fiction book about habits or lifestyle or something.

OR maybe a cookbook...

7. Do you like supernatural/magical/mythical creatures? What’s your favorite?

Love. My current WIP is all about supernatural creatures in the normal, modern world. I don’t think I have an all-time favorite, but from this book I love Greg the erudite ogre and Vincenzo, the vegan vampire.

8. What’s a quote you would love to see on a movie poster or in a trailer for your wip?

Wow, this is hard... This probably wouldn’t fit on a poster, but I like this quote from the scene in which my two main characters meet for the first time: “I said, I’m not crazy,” Julia repeated. “Obviously I wasn’t shot. There’s no bullet wound. So he must have missed. But I swear to you, I saw the gun. I heard it go off. There was…” she faltered. “I felt all this pain…”

“Yeah, you would,” the man said, pocketing his notebook and taking a few steps toward her bed. He was wearing a long overcoat and a rumpled brown suit.

“Then, you believe me?” She pushed herself up into a sitting position.

“Wee-eelll, yes and no. I believe that you believe you were shot. But that’s not what happened.”

Julia shook her head. “I saw the gun…”

“You saw a glamour. An illusion. You saw what the spell caster wanted you to see.”

Julia blinked at him. “I’m sorry. I thought you said ‘spell caster.’”

“You got hit by a curse, and apparently it’s given you what humans would call the sight. You can see the supernatural world. My world.” He scrubbed the back of his head with his hand, looking thoughtful. “Though, whether or not the curse was actually meant for you is up for debate. Do you know anyone who might have wanted to give you the sight? Anyone in your family make any deals with demons that you’re aware of? Have you ever been bitten by an imp?”

Julia stared at him for a long time. “I think maybe you need the psych consult.”

He grinned crookedly at her. “Probably. But not about this.”

9. Where do you start when creating a character? Backstory, appearance, personality, etc?

I usually start a story with a scene or an idea — and the characters just start talking or acting. A lot of times the character just shows up and starts talking at me, and that’s where everything starts. I might have an idea of what they look like, but sometimes not. So I guess it starts with personality and how they act in a particular situation and grows from there.

10. What’s a scent that makes your OC feel at home?

David’s father was a carpenter, and that was his first trade, so I think the smell of sawdust and cut wood would take him back.

Julia I think is starting to associate the smell of coffee with David, so maybe coffee... ;)

11. Are there any scenes you’re secretly hoping get fanart in your wip or published work?

Oh my gosh! I would love to see people produce fanart of this book! I really want to see people’s interpretation of Greg the ogre in his police uniform! Haha. But I’d also like to see this scene, with David and Julia sitting in the grass taking in everything going on in the park: “You sure know how to show a girl a good time,” Julia quipped as the alley turned a blind corner, but the words died on her lips.

It was a park, but not one she’d ever seen before. Hemmed in on all sides by skyscrapers, it wasn’t very big, but it was bursting with life. The sunlight seemed brighter here, even though by all rights the park should have been deep in shadow from the tall buildings all around.

The walls surrounding the park were painted with large and wonderful murals. In one, the seeds of a giant dandelion seemed to be perpetually floating off into the distance, twirling and flying in an imaginary breeze. As they walked past, one of the seeds morphed into a tiny pig that started squealing and chasing them.

David caught Julia’s curious frown and laughed. “The graffiti artists sometimes enchant the graffiti to insult cops.”

Julia stared at him. “The painting knows you’re a cop?”

“Well, the spell does, anyway.”

[...]

Beings and creatures of all shapes and sizes were walking, sitting, talking, strolling through the park. An extremely tall, willowy woman with long brown hair filled with leaves was dancing slowly around the base of a tree. Little pixies, no more than 10 inches high, were buzzing around, laughing, playing, and shouting profanities at one another. A group of men and women who looked more or less human were sitting in a circle in the sun, chanting, as a strange symbol burned in the air in the middle. She felt like her eyes couldn’t quite take it all in.

“This is…” she whispered.

“Yeah,” David replied with a smile. He led her over to an unoccupied patch of grass where he took off his overcoat and spread it on the ground for them to sit on. “I wanted you to see that it’s not all snarling demons and manipulative witches. There’s a lot of wonder in the supernatural world, too. A lot of good.”

Thank you again for tagging me!

The rules are 11 questions answered, 11 questions given, and 11 people tagged! As I said, I’m new to the #writeblr community, but I’ll tag @copperbadge, @brynwrites, @theticklishpear, @lvslie, and @licieoic if you want to play!

1. Have you had to “kill any darlings” from your current WIP, ie: quotes, characters, scenes, etc. that you LOVE but don’t fit and have to be cut? Please share.

2. What is your favorite genre to write in and why? Is it different from the genres you like to consume?

3. Do you consciously study existing works by other authors to improve your own writing? If so, what types of things do you look at?

4. Have you noticed any patterns in your own writing, ie: you always have a certain type of character, like to explore a certain type of story, etc.?

5. Do you do most of your world building before you write, while writing the first draft, or during revisions?

6. If when your WIP hits the bestseller list, where would you like to go or what would you like to do on a book tour? Is there somebody you’d like to be interviewed by?

7. How do you approach setting the scene in your work? Are you into lush descriptions or giving the bare minimum and allowing the reader to fill in the blanks?

8. Do you follow a set structure (ie: hero’s journey, 3-act structure) when plotting out your works, or fly by the seat of your pants?

9. What does your revision process look like?

10. Please share a bit of dialogue from your WIP that shows us something important about the character’s personality.

11. Please share any jokes or funny bits from your WIP of which you are ridiculously proud. ;)

#about me #tag game #writeblr #writing tag game #novel development #behind the scenes #the curse of the mad dragon

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nikatyler · 7 years ago

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Finished reading Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda today...loved it. So freaking much. Now I’m even more upset that the movie is not coming to my town’s cinema. Smh. Homophobia. Funny thing is, I spotted two posters of it at my school. Anyway, the book was sweet and in a way very relatable. Also, I read it in English and it was awesome. Did I mention I love reading English books and I hate waiting for translations? Not the case with this one, it’s been already translated, I just wanted to read it in English. But yeah. English is beautiful. And this book was beautiful. And I’m starting to ramble.

It’s my last week of school! On Friday, I’ll be free for two months, and then in September, the hell also known as the last year of high school starts. I’m freaking out already. But hey, let’s focus on the fact summer is starting.

Gen 5 will be over soon, I have finished playing it already. When it’s done posting, there’s a new(ish) legacy in the queue. I’ve been playing it since March and oh my god, I love it so much. At first it was pure gameplay, now it’s...not so pure gameplay. I’m having so much fun with it, and one of my otps (you simply can’t have just one otp, let’s be real) is there. I took a really cute picture of them today and I think I died and my ghost is writing all of this. Seriously. Why am I so obsessed with them? Eh, I don’t know. But I’m not gonna spoil much. It’s a wild mess, as you would probably expect from this person that calls herself simmeronnie on this website.

Sorry there haven’t been replies for a few...weeks? Like two or three? I don’t think I can keep up with this “replies every Sunday” thing I came up with :D Also, real life is busy and I’m currently an introvert forced to talk to people. Real people in real life. Not fun but also very fun, mainly because I’m hella awkward and when it’s done, I can laugh at it. Not that it helps with my anxiety, nope. We can’t have nice things.

Side note: Why is the word hella in my vocabulary now?

create-a-sim replied to your photoset “Nevermind. I’m not going anywhere.”

Ah yes!!!

I love them together. I’m kind of sad I had to simplify their (and Aurora and Amarante’s) storyline because I didn’t have time and I didn’t want to take another break, but this isn’t so bad either, I think. I’ve done much worse. Making things simple and cutting down the storyline isn’t always for the best. *cough* *cough* Caleb and Angel *cough* *cough*

reverieinsimlish replied to your photoset “Whaaat, it’s morning again? Do I really have to wake up?”

Same. Like every day.

Me too

cordialsister replied to your photoset “My children are growing up today! They’ll be adults! No freaking...”

so cute ��

I swear, she has the sweetest smile in the whole legacy.

chiefdancingbear replied to your photoset “Rude. That’s just rude. Don’t make me fire you.”

OMG!! That is classic! I love that you got this shot! XD

Also.......wondering if you can get this reaction in sims 4?

Oooh, I don’t know! I didn’t get to play with butlers yet...and I’ve had Vintage Glamour for half a year. Whoops.

daybreaksims replied to your photoset “Tyler: “Are we…really going to fight about this?” Caleb: “I guess.”...”

I almost feel like Bianca showed up again to remind me that it's my fault if she doesn't have her own grandkids...

I just realized that considering I don’t have Story Progression in my game anymore, she won’t get any from me either. But hey, don’t worry about that! Just play ts3 when you feel like playing it!

amixofpixels replied to your photoset “Tyler: “Look at my grandkids being all grown up!” Caleb: “Look at my...”

The shade is real.

This is Caleb’s revenge for all these years living with a stupid nickname Tyler created and I love it.

dreamsongsims replied to your photoset “Lydia: I’m going to pee my pants. I know it. But the worst ghost is...”

LOL

No one respects the founder’s husband, starting with me and ending with his great-great-great-grandkids (and I’m not even sure if I got that right, too many greats there)

claimingthefifth replied to your photoset “why am I getting so emotional over two dumb old sims can someone...”

It's simple >>>They're your children.

I mean, you’re not wrong. They kind of are

I am the Mother of Roses

jackssims replied to your photoset “I’m sorry if you’re getting sick of the elderly spam but I’m actually...”

Caleb's a Mood tbh

He’s always been a mood and I love him for that

simlovinggirl replied to your photoset “For once, Lydia is going to school on time.”

She looks like she's only there cause Sammy blackmailed her into being on time lol ♥

Actually, I’m pretty sure that’s exactly how it was. It would be so in character.

melien replied to your photoset “*i had a cute conversation planned here but a day later i can’t...”

Big mood

Pretty much

I still can’t remember what I wanted them to talk about here

melien replied to your photoset “If you got a minute Get down your idea It may do wonders Maybe...”

Step one believe in it and sing it all day long Step two just roll with it that's how you write a song

Thank you so much I only managed to get this jam out of my head recently

For someone who’s never given a shit about ESC, I was really obsessed this year. (mainly because for once my country sent a not so bad singer there) And I’m fairly sure this one was the catchiest song.

Anyway, pro tip: If you wanna get rid of it, just listen to Heathers instead. You’ll have the same problem but different songs. Eh, not sure what advice I’m trying to give there.

(but seriously guys, Heathers are good)

#replies #create-a-sim #reverieinsimlish #cordialsister #chiefdancingbear #daybreaksims #amixofpixels #claimingthefifth #jackssims #simlovinggirl #melien

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curious-minx · 4 years ago

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Hurry Up, My Burger’s Getting Cold! (Bob’s Burgers Review)

HU,MBGC! Is the name of the Saturday/whenever-day segment where I finally break down and get those Bob’s Burgers episode reviews out before the new episode premieres.

2020 found me in trying to cover the season of Bob’s Burgers because AV Club had turned away from the series. And the world is falling apart and I needed something to take the edge off. Looks like the old Club decided to bring back sporadic coverage and reviewed both major Holiday specials. Reviewing a TV Show is not as easy as I thought it was. You have to write a review EVERY single week? Not just when you feel like it? Even when I know no one is reading these reviews or cares about them, the overall layer of Procrastination that is dominating my life starts to wear me down. Enough! My burger is getting cold and I want to serve you!

////

‘Romancing the Beef”

Season 11′s Episode 11 did not air on Valentine’s Day. Because NASCAR. Naturally. That didn’t stop me from going through the collection of Bob’s Burgers V-Day themed episodes and they are certainly the most casual of the holiday specials. The Bobby B’s staff don’t feel pressured to tack a V-Day special on every season, but in their current run they’ve certainly made more holiday specials than any other sitcom. Romancing the Beef can proudly rank among one of the better holiday episodes and a strong return from the season break.

The main conceit of the episode is based around Bob and Linda sacrificing their own Valentine’s Day for the sake of business. The main activity of their Valentine’s Day was going to be exchanging the top 10 favorite things about each other. A very wholesome and cuddly activity on paper but after watching the episode I did regale my own partner with my own personal Top 10 favorite things about her and it started to feel a bit like overkill once I got over 16. A simple and sweet sentiment that buoys the episode into a poignant commentary on loving lived-in monogamous relationships.

The V-Day episode before this one was from Season 9 terribly titled “Bed, Bob & Beyond.” The episode stinks not just because the triptych Belcher child tells a story format tends to yield weaker episodes, but because it was an episode built around an argument between Bob and Linda. There are sure to be quality episodes written around the occasional bump in the road that pave the way to domestic bliss, but it’s a delicate balance because Bob’s Burgers works best as a feel-good show. Bob and Linda are the fictional hetero normative couple ideal. The real world is full of broken and shambolic love and if Bob and Linda are going to have romantic strife the material lands better when the writer’s approach Bob and Linda’s relationship with dignity. Romancing the Beef does that and more because Bob and Linda are egalitarian small business owners and they harness their love to improve their own business.

“Romancing the Beef” plays up one of my personal favorite character beats with Louise making her the most capitalistic and business savvy of the Belchers. She helps transform Bob’s Burgers to Urge, gotta love a good anagram. V-day episodes also have fertile ground to cover with Tina and her more hormonal passionate version of love that is subverted with her subplot involving her attending an Anti-Valentine’s Party. Both subplots balance out the episode and support each other much like the Hall of Famer V-day episode “V for Valentine-Detta” which remains the Big One as far as V-day episodes go. Most of Bob Burger’s holiday episodes consistently find the show pushing themselves on a visual and conceptual basis. Here’s hoping the rest of the season continues to deliver more heartfelt diversions.

The episode is Four Singing Cherubic Children out of 5.

PS. There is also a truly touching and heartbreaking easter egg hidden in this episode. The dearly departed Dave Creek based the character design of two Urge patrons on someone Creek knew was getting an organ transplant. Another glimpse of what a heartfelt person Mr. Creek was.

///

Great North Report.

The show remains in pretty mediocre condition. First seasons of sitcoms are notoriously the worst and there is nothing inherently offensively bad about the Great North. It's just a real step down from Bob’s Burgers in every way. The theme song remains jarring and way too long every time I watch it. On February 14th Fox dumped three Great North “Adventures.” And reader, I will spare you a deep dive episode by episode analysis. Identity crisis is the main phrase that comes to mind. Self-sabotaging, complete waste of a stacked cast loaded with potential on muddily underdeveloped characters, contrived cultural tourism, and a doomed over reliance on making pop culture references for the sake of pop culture references.

There is just too much Great North, the Molyneux sisters got lost in their own ice box. There are too many main characters in the Beef family so the show decides to build its main POV around the only daughter, Judy. Jenny Slate is a funny and likeable comedian but she’s completely bombing as Judy. Her characterization and her overall performance is an energy vacuum. On episode 5, “Curl Interrupted Adventures,” Judy delivers an ugly melt down tantrum that goes on forever with no payoff. Judy is basically a teenage Tammy except at least Tammy has a more defined comedic game. Tammy is a preppy little glamour sour puss that occasionally clashes with Tina. Tammy works really well as a side character in Bob’s Burgers because she’s presented in smaller doses. Making a Tammy like character as the lead is a big ask and making her the main POV really does this show a disservice.

Judy, much like in Twin Peaks, represents the core of Wrongness. Judy has no real defining interests she just likes an increasing list of frivolous interests like jazz yoga, improv, photography, yarn art, and whatever twee insipid crap you can pay a writer’s room to generate. Judy is introduced in the first episode as a budding photographer getting a job at the mall but every episode has since abandoned that premise. The show remains a mess that doesn’t know what it wants to do so it tries to do everything at once. Most first seasons of sitcoms are usually pretty bad but they also can occasionally suddenly get better in the latter half. Either way Great North is here to stay for at least one more season. The show has to get better at some point, right?

#tv review #bob's burgers #the great north #fox animation #tv

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carriejonesbooks · 7 years ago

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So, I have to go to Book Expo America at the end of this week. If you are not some official publishing person you’re probably like, “What is Book Expo America?” It’s this big huge massive (insert another large-sounding adjective here) industry thing where there are:

1. Publishers 2. Authors 3. Book sellers 4. Publicists

And almost all of them are well dressed.

There is the issue! I am from Maine…. Okay, I live in Northern Maine. How northern? When people from Glamour Magazine came up here to do a photo shoot with Megan Kelley Hall and myself (for our Dear Bully anthology) they made us DRESS IN LL BEAN CLOTHES!!!!!

Yes, even Glamour knew that it is not glamorous up here.

Sigh.

Megan still looked good. Me? The hair stylist/make-up person kept complaining about my hair, and how my nose turned red in the cold, and I felt so badly for her because she was used to super models or My Little Pony (really – she was the stylist for My Little Pony) and then she got stuck with me.

Anyway, I was thinking about BEA and authors who are always beautiful and poised and funny and lovely. And I have decided I need to somehow magically channel these authors at BEA so I don’t look like a hick from Maine or like, you know, I’ve never actually interacted with other actual human beings before.

But pretty much everything in my wardrobe has paint stains on it, holes, or long white dog fur.

She always blames me. There are lint rollers out there for a reason. Geesh.

I basically come across as either an eccentric old-money professor or homeless.

You may think I have no reason to be panicky, but I’m going to repost what happened to me the last time I went to BEA, and maybe you’ll understand.

ONCE AGAIN FOR THOSE WHO MISSED IT BEFORE – HERE IS THE HORRIBLE INCIDENT OF ME AT BEA LAST TIME (Taken from the original blog post of horror): So, yep, I had my skirt fall off (YES! PAST MY KNEES!) when I got out of the taxi today! Oh, Britney…oh Lindsey…oh Paris… I so feel your pain. Fortunately, there were no paparrazzi, just my cab driver (His eyes got really big) and a father with his eight-year-old son (WHO WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!). They were standing right there, waiting for the taxi. The little boy gasped! GASPED!!!! I have marred him for life.

I then realized I should not be let out of Maine.

So I started yanking my skirt up with my hand while trying to: a. Pay taxi driver guy b. not die c. juggle three massive bags full of ARCS d. not worry about that little boy’s therapy bills.

It was then that I realized that hotel security cameras probably totally caught the skirt fall action.

I thanked God (and pretty much every potential deity in existence) that I am not famous and therefore not worthy enough to have the skirt DISASTER image blasted all over the internet.

I then hid in the hotel room, vowing never to come out again.

So, yeah. I don’t want that to happen again.

If you would like to see me in unsuitable clothes, check out the Lerner Booth on Friday, June 1 from 11:30 to noon. I’ll be there with a spy who was also a catcher. 🙂

WRITING NEWS

Yep, it’s the part of the blog where I talk about my books and projects because I am a writer for a living, which means I need people to review and buy my books or at least spread the word about them.

I’m super good at public image and marketing for nonprofits but I have a much harder time with marketing myself.

So, please buy one of my books. 🙂 The links about them are all up there in the header on top of the page on my website carriejonesbooks.blog . There are young adult series, middle grade fantasy series, stand-alones for young adults and even picture book biographies.

Time Stoppers

Flying

Moe Berg

Write! Submit! Support! Begins Again in July!

“It’s not easy to create a thriving writing career in the children’s industry, but what if you didn’t have to do it alone? Write. Submit. Support is a six-month program designed by author and Writing Barn Founder Bethany Hegedus. Classes are led by top creatives in the children’s industry field; they’ll give you the tips and tools you need to take both your manuscripts and your developing career to the next level. Think of it as an MFA in craft with a certificate in discovering (or recovering) your writer joy! – Writing Barn “

And more about the class I specifically teach? It is right here.

Here is what current students are saying:

Carrie is all strengths. Seriously. She’s compassionate, funny, zesty, zany, insightful, honest, nurturing, sharp, and…Wow, that’s a lot of adjectives. But really, I couldn’t praise Carrie enough as a mentor. I’ve long respected her writing, but being talented at something doesn’t automatically mean you will be a great mentor. Carrie just happens to be one of those rare cases of extreme talent and excellent coaching. Aside from the specific feedback she offers, she also writes letters in response to the process letter and analyses. These letters have been so impactful for me as I writer that I plan to print them and hang them up. Creepy? Maybe. But they are so inspiring. And that, in the most long-winded way possible, is how I would summarize Carrie as a mentor—inspiring.

Dogs Are Smarter Than People

And finally, the podcast DOGS ARE SMARTER THAN PEOPLE is still chugging along. Thanks to all of you who keep listening to our weirdness. We’re sorry we laugh so much… sort of.

Look, Mom! It’s a podcast.

Book Expo America is Coming and I have Nothing to Wear So, I have to go to Book Expo America at the end of this week. If you are not some official publishing person you’re probably like, “What is Book Expo America?” It’s this big huge massive (insert another large-sounding adjective here) industry thing where there are:

#amwriting #bea #bookexpoamerica #carriejones #maine #maineauthors #maineclothes #moeberg #writerinsecurity #writertravel #writinglife

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theinsanecrayonbox · 7 years ago

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the great FOP review mega dump

ok so apparently the rest of s10 was aired at the end of June through July of this year. now granted, i do not get NickToons and used a friend’s DVR to record it, so there’s a margin for error, but i don’t recall any of these episodes ever getting recorded. i could be wrong, my memory sucks, BUT TVGuide is stupid and has a habit of putting the wrong names/numbers on things and if the guide doesn’t list the episode as new because half of it already aired, then it wouldn’t get recorded. so again, huge margin for error.

basically, i hadn’t posted these yet because i didn’t realize they’d aired; i was trying to avoid spoiling anything for people. Nick sucks at their programming schedule. these first viewing reviews are nearly a year old in some cases, since it was about a year ago that i was given links to watch some of these online after they’d aired in other countries. so yeah, probably a little dated, might not hold up, but here they are so we can be done with this.

Which is Wish:

Chloe is a vegetarian??? Has this been said before??

I feel like everything in the garage there was in the attic when Dad made Timmy clean that out before…not that that isn’t plausible, since that’d be one way to “clean” the attic lol. Just thought it was a neat commentary.

But yes Chloe, unleash your organizational skills. Color coded labels are awesome! Cleaning sucks, but labels lol

And yes, switching bodies always works so well doesn’t it Timmy…but heehee he called Chloe pretty XD though in fairness…doesn’t this mean Chloe is still eating the meat, because Tim’s in her body…or do they just *look* like one another? See, that’s the gray area…

Ok I do not like all these moments of Dad seeing Cosmo and Wanda; they’re glossed over yes, but still. That should break Da Rules though, because they’ve been revealed (not to mention Crocker knows about them a million times over I know). it just seems like a cheap gag that they don’t need, and it’s annoying.

“Chlimmy Turnermicheal” lol, I need to draw a fusion of my Opals now XD;;;

Ok yes, they’ve body swapped, not glamoured, so Chloe *did* eat the meat after all, thank you for explaining that

Seriously, it’s Cosmo loosing the wands (for the umpteenth time) that is going to cause the problems here -.-

Yay more Chloe parents! They aren’t 1 or 2 offs! Though…why were they absent up until this point? Did they decide to take a sabbatical from work after the booby incident? That’d be nice

OMR Danny, Vlad (wait nasty Dan? Hu oh well), and Dudley puppets. That is too cute for words!!

And a Little Shop joke. Eeeeeeee!!! I know they’ve done man-eating plants before, but still!

Chloe’s dad faints at failure? Hm, that could be useful.

Tim admitting he’d miss Chloe is sweet, especially since it wasn’t with any mention of loosing his fairies

Hahahaha dressing up as each other/themselves, that’s great. Cosmo’s head blowing up is getting old though.

All in all I give this episode a huge A+. It is a cliché trope of a plot, but I feel it was executed really really well!! Nice balance of magical aspects with non-magical ones I thought, and gave development to both kids and their families.

Fairy Con:

Ok first of all, I thought Fairy conventions were held every thousand years or so, and was actually just for the fairies. Granted, this “Fairy con” could be a different event OR they changed the event after Timmy’s bathroom one, since that could’ve been the first time a godchild was involved? Also, Timmy is you go “every year” that shows that this is at least 2 years after you got your fairies (because you had Cosmo Con, then assume one after that, then at minimum this one), so why are you still 10?????? (and don’t go saying “the time stopping wish in secret wish” because uhg)

Crocker in the fridge….ok…but adding in Crocker to crash the Con…yeah this is a complete plot reusing of Cosmo Con, just updating it a bit

Look Girlfriend the cat isn’t dead!!

If you’ve had their hair samples for that long why haven’t you cloned them before?? But “off brand cloning machine” is sorta funny. Also, Kenny G? that a Spongebob shout out or not?

Ok if it merged the cat DNA with the fairy why didn’t it merge the fairy DNA together too? Also, missed your mark to have a real “fairy cat” show up (though no Sparky so we don’t need it anymore I guess)

Oh but Chloe’s enthusiasm over her first con, I am so happy at that ^^ I just had my first comic con, and I was spazzing like that too when I wasn’t freaking out over being ditched and lost.

Ok that is yet ANOTHER unique birthday for Timmy. He’s up to what, 5 now since the series started? (Boys in the Band, Birthday Bashed, Birthday Battle, the one mentioned in Birthday Battle about the dinosaurs) the kid is at least 14 now, he has to be!

I like all the backgrounders. Some look super squashed, but still neat.

Tooth fairy returns! Yay! We had mentions of Cupid and Mother Nature before, so it’s nice to see the magical celebrities are still around and not forgotten.

Ahhh! The return of the Crocker Pot which captures fairies!! Ok I am giving this writing team an A- on doing their lore homework because they are getting so many things right (though the Fairy Con being thrown off is still deducting points sorry)

There was a blonde fairy that looked like Samantha in the background O.o

“Chloe Carmichael, any normal person would give up right now. But you are NOT normal!” - omr Chloe I love you and your “never quit” song was good and humorous, I still love you

Timmy how can you not know what Crocker is up to? He’s always up to the same exact thing. If he’s in Fairy World, I’m fairly sure there is a 1000% chance he’s there to capture fairies. Geeze.

OMR Princess Morebucks was in the seats at Cosmo’s panel, I’m not joking.

All in all, it wasn’t a giant impacting story, but it was a good one, even though it was a total reusing of a plot. I feel like the writing team did their homework pretty decently (for the most part). Plus, the magic of cons ^^

The Hungry Games:

This is the B-Story to Fairy Con…interesting choice…more fangirl!Chloe…

I love her “Katniss hair”, heck I just love seeing alternate hair on her

Heh “Ketchup Everdream”, wow, ok, sure

That might be the wrong movie, but it sounds interesting. What movie was that Cosmo?

Aw Chloe lost…but yay call back to screaming in her closet

Lol Crocker is once again, king of dystopian world. That is perfect. This is all perfect. Maybe it’s because I liked the Hunger Games movie that I can thoroughly enjoy this parody, idk. But this is great. I am loving this episode.

And cue the pointless Dad part…wait Mr Bickles?? Where have you been?? Why are you here???

I like the blonde/pink haired backgrounder

I really loved this episode! It was so nice how Timmy did this for Chloe and stuck with it even when it was bad for him, then she turns around and does something nice for him at the end. It let Chloe fly her freaky fangirl flag on so many levels. Like I said, I liked Hunger Games, so this was a great parody that was loads of fun. I really really enjoyed all of it.

As a whole episode, these two really show us what a geeky girl Chloe is I think. She’s not just the over achieving little Ms Perfect she was at first, she’s got her weird hobbies and obsessions too. And the fact that she was so into Fair Bears AND dystopian doomy future really says a lot about her, and really speaks to me on many levels. It’s just solidified my love of Chloe even more.

Dimmsdale Daze:

And we start off with jokes about barfing…well it is a roller coaster so I can let it slide…just don’t spiral out of control with them…

Heehee “vines” joke, that’s great. Because it highlights their age AND that they are more naturalist

Oooo Connie said “shyster”, that’s pretty borderline…

Chaining yourself to the tree in town…wouldn’t that be the same tree that Tootie did the same thing to in the first live action movie? I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing…

Did Chloe’s middle name change? O.o but lol to the “when you’re a parent you can make the decisions” because I head canon them meddling after Chloe’s divorce, but I know that line is the plot fodder, so I’ll just push the head canons away for now

Lookit that adult!Chloe though!! I’m not that far off the mark with my design (plus you know, there are several older!Timmy designs and none are more true than the other, so my older!Chloe being short and bustier is still plausible). And hey lookit! Cameo of the adult!Timmy from Big Problem AND confirmation that if one of the godkids breaks Da Rules they both loose the fairies TOGETHER

Neither Clark nor Connie really look too much like Chloe as children (ok Connie *does* but when you consider they made child Dad look exactly like Timmy before, it’s not quite enough)…just another tick in my adopted column, just saying…

Why did that child in the bounce house have lipstick O.o

Chloe’s earring is like, in the wrong place and it’s bothering me…

“But I have the mind if a child” “It’s true, he’s been tested” – I…wow, just…yes?

And of course Connie and Clark get assigned Cosmo and Wanda, I don’t know why I didn’t see that coming honestly ^^;;

You know, even though this is sort of a rehash of Big Problem and The Switch Glitch I thoroughly enjoyed this one! Single mom!Chloe was great, it feeds my future headcanons. It proved that Tim and Chloe do share the negative effects of the fairies. And it was just a really good Chloe episode that Timmy was just a supporting character in. I really did like it. A+

As a whole, I think both parts (this is meant to be paired with Spring Breakup) work nicely together. It’s a lot of Chloe and her family, so if you want some serious Carmichael development, do for this set most definitely.

Chip off the Old Crock:

Ok before getting into this one, I just gotta state that since I read the description for it, I’ve been ITCHING to see this. How does Crocker have a nephew if he has no siblings? (*current thoughts: i’ve since this review come up with a plausible scenario*) What would this child be like? How could I use him for Superverse conveniently?? And then I saw screencaps and saw that he was a mini Crocker and got disappointed…

But now we are to watch so let us see how that unfolds…

What’s with that redheaded backgrounder?? He looks like a Lebowitz!! *files that away for layer usage*

Still laughing that he’s named Kevin since that is a “name of evil” in our games and what not ever since my brother used it as a placeholder name for a badguy in a storyline; ever since then “Kevin” had been the badguys who are sorta pointless lol

But still…”study abroad” um…you still could’ve used that since Crocker obviously has family in Canada; studying in California would then be considered “abroad” if he was Canadian. And that way, he wouldn’t have to be his literal nephew, but his 2nd cousin, but they just call each other uncle/nephew because it’s easier. That might sound confusing, but at least it makes more sense then just randomly implying he has siblings when he never has. I’m gonna headcanon this from now on, and no one can convince me otherwise. (*current thoughts: again, i’ve figured it out since writing this; i’ve left the original thoughts though to prove my though process from point A to point B*) Plus you miss out on Canada jokes this way…

Awww Kevin, I’m starting to love you…that’s weird…

Everyone pick a partner-no one pick Kevin, classic. However…redhead boy had 2 partners, why didn’t Crocker notice and stop that? There’s no reason why Chloe and Tim needed to pair up with him aside from plot relevance…

Ah sweet Chloe, standing up for the misunderstood and outcast, trying to find the good in them and make others see it too. I love you sweetheart ^^ go make friends with Francis now please

Why isn’t Dolores fawning over Kevin? You’d think she wouldn’t let her *grandson* out of her sight, considering the coddling we’ve seen her give Denzel at times. Unless she’s busy with her *other child* I guess…but in that case why isn’t she belittling Denzel for not being like *his sibling* and having kids and not living in her basement? I’d love to see Denzel look like a looser compared to this *sibling* he suddenly has, and it suits the family dynamic as we know it. Or perhaps the *sibling* is more of a looser, but Dolores still sings their praises because they did move out and have a kid, unlike Denzel who has a steady job and whatnot because *sibling* is a total bum. I mean, I get that it would only slow down the storyline, but it just feels out of character, plus the sudden introduction of a *sibling* just is wrong too…I should stop analyzing the Crocker family and just go back to the actual plot

Kevin wants to be a dentist??? O.o are you related to Dr Bender??? That…would explain nothing honestly, idk why I went there

“Sorry I’m too busy being a loner” haha that’s a good one

Hey callback to Crocker wearing ladies clothes. Nice.

“It’s a blueprint so shouldn’t it be blue?” hahaha that was funny

Chloe how did you get to the top of the rock wall without a rope?? Did you boulder your way yup there?? And Tim! You should never rock climb without a belier(sp?) geeze, rock climbing 101 there dude

And toilet joke…but I will let it slide because I am actually enjoying Kevin

“Unleash your inner looser” omr yes best line

Ah the build up to the betrayal “aw you guys actually like me” “well yeah you’re not evil” *does the evil thing* “we hate you now because you are evil after all”

Unsuspecting Van is back whoot!

Ninja!Chloe and Tim with a light saber; nice, but what a missed opportunity…also Chloe has a ninja suit…she really is replacing Tootie isn’t she…

And Kevin saves the day by wishing none of this ever happened…just like Chester did in Fairy Idol hm…

But at the end of it, I’m actually very surprised how much I liked this despite all its flaws. It’s riddled with clichés and huge plot holes/continuity errors, but I genuinely liked Kevin (and whole heartedly look forward to writing him into Superverse…also would it be too weird if he was Kyler’s father? I think it’d be weird…). I think it’s a nice B-story to Cat and Mouse and together they make a pretty good episode.

Space Ca-Dad:

Off topic a moment here; rewatching the theme and it just dawned on me…maybe there’s a “fairy shortage” because no one’s enforcing the rules over fairies being revealed/discovered. I mean, if everyone Timmy knows knows about his fairies and yet he keeps them, then other kids must be doing that too you know. Just saying Jorgen, you caused this problem yourself man…and honestly, why not outsource the fairy jobs then to other magical creatures, since Fairy Idol proved any magical creature can be converted to a fairy godparent. It’d be a great way to bring Norm back if you stop and think about it, or a way to get the Pixies back in there too. I’m just saying, the “fairy shortage” story is pretty weak…still think Jorgen just did this to them because they’re good for each other…

Ok back to the episode itself

Yay Chloe is still a Squirrely Scout, good for continuity! And you love food puns? i love you more Chloe, you so are a Catman related heroine aren’t you ^^;

Did he say “Mrs Lipshitz” or “Mrs Libwitz”? it was really hard to tell, so idk if that’s a Rugrats shout out or someone I have to add to my Lebowitz family tree (cause slurred sound…and the witch/mental thing does suit the family…)

Dad you had the rank of “flying squirrel” why is this confusing??

Ok there are “Pickles” living on the street, I’m going with Lipshitz. So many Rurgrats shout outs.

Whinny kid, Kid with issues (aren’t you Kevin?), and Stuart…so we are going with the latest (and suckier) Squirrel Scout troop line up. Kay.

Chloe as a jr. astronaut though and knowing how to fly space ships ^^

Heehee “Space Jam” how many more thinly veiled references can we have XD;;

(maybe Squirrely Kevin is Kyler’s father…that’s doable…)

Ah yes, Dad throwing the fairies out just when the kid/s need them. Yup, never seen that plot device used before nope. And how can rocket fuel destroy magical wands? They’re fairy magic, why are they so easy to ruin??

How did you find a planetoid when you were heading towards the sun??? I don’t…right, why put logic into things, my bad

The Glorg. Florgatron-5. Hm…*files that way for layer usage* Bakersfield???

I loved all the aliens at the restaurant though.

Over all, this episode was…meh. I didn’t dislike it, but it was a very pointless Dad episode. Seriously, you could’ve had them go to the Planet of the Dads and do pretty much the same thing, but at least keep that storyline going (since I think it’s the longest running one now). I’m unimpressed, but I’m not disappointed. So lets see if the B-story can save the episode as a whole.

Summer Bummer:

“The looks of psychotic anticipation” lol, well we’re starting off with some good

Also it’s summer vacation yet again. Mk…this makes it at least the 4th summer vacation Tim’s had, what with School’s Out, Shelf Life, and Microphony being the others I can easily site off the top of my head. So again, these children should be like 14-16 now

It’s the return of Dad in short-shorts. Oh man, run and hide now.

Chloe getting a summer internship/scientific program is very her. Must always be learn…wait did she say the corner of a basement?? O.o that’s concerning child…

Oh hey that pink clad teacher is from s1 I think. Wasn’t she in Timvisible at the water cooler?? That is a very nice and wow throwback guys. Major points to you.

Chloe is 10 and a half???? So she actually IS a year younger than Timmy, since he was already 10 when he had his birthday (and we ignore the previous like 5 birthdays he’s had >>) and they share a birthday…but wait, your birthday is in March…summer vacation starts in June/July, that isn’t 6 months later…ok so on the one hand, your math is all wrong, but on the other my headcanon that Chloe is a year younger seems to be proven fact. I don’t know what to do with this information!!

Oh this is the sleep wishing episode I heard about! Wow took a while for the plot to show up…but you know, even though this has been used before, I feel like this is being used in a different context and for a different character, so I’m allowing the reuse of the plot idea. Let’s see how twisted up Chloe’s subconscious is…

“Gender neutral Jesse” is sorta weird…I like the fact that Chloe did play with baby dolls though…

Timmy you can’t unwish Chloe’s wish! We’ve been over this-we had a whole episode dedicated to it!! URG!! Did they just throw that out because it’s easier for them to just fix each other’s mistakes that way? I mean, if this was the only time, I could buy that since she didn’t *consciously* make this wish, it could be undone by Tim, but the other times they’ve pulled this she’s been in her full faculties. So uhg! You can’t even keep your own continuity you establish in the same season >> (but…you guys have been doing better than expected, so…it’s not *as* negative points as I’d usually give…or maybe it is but you’ve just racked up enough positive ones to be at the standard by now I guess)

Hey Dr Rip Studwell, long time no see XD and…you made a manscaping joke…wow, I…wow

And a poop joke…but you have a pirate ship…but still…

“Took one to the crow’s nest” is that a crotch shot joke? Wow this episode is just…wow

Omr the mini shoulder Chloes are adorable! I love valley girl!Chloe and german science!Chloe. Didn’t like the second poop joke in a minute, especially since Dad really *shouldn’t* have heard science!Chloe say that…

She wished the doll big again…I think Chloe’s repressed feelings are about not wanting to grow up

And look Da Rules FINALLY decide to kick…oh no, Chloe wished it to be unwishable...yeah, because that’s the only way to stop Tim from fixing it >> and yet at the same time, he did wish the monster to stay until he stopped lying about who set Chompy free, so…formula…

“There’s free ice cream all over the street! It’s like delicious roadkill!” ok that is the best line ever

Wait, you’re wishing yourself into Chloe’s mind?? Because that worked so well when you went into your own…and why does it remind me of Mabel’s dreamworld/mind? I expected less pink, more purple honestly. Preschool!Chloe is so adorable!! Totally called the plot though, not that it’s hard.

Cosmo confirmed as queer, because even when he thought Wanda was “Weird Dude” he still had a crush on him. Wow, I am floored they did that, good for you

And we end it by promoting cannibalism? Oh wait no; we scratch the 4th wall instead. Ahha. Yeah. You totally missed the opportunity to have “Kids just being Kids” playing somewhere-possibly remixed-because I feel the message suited Chloe’s mentality too right now.

Over all, I’m glad it was Chloe centric but…I feel like this could’be been done in half the time maybe? They ignore their own continuity, but they do tackle real stuff in a minimal magical way. I guess like the A-story, I’m unimpressed but not disappointed. I feel like both of these should not have been paired together because as a whole the entire episode is lacking; they both needed a stronger story to counter balance them. It’s a good watch once through, but I doubt it’s an episode you’ll want to rewatch.

Dimmsdale’s Got Tallent:

Ok…I feel like this plot has been used before…and not necessarily thinking Fairy Idol either, but I just can’t place which episode I’m thin king of…

TOOTIE!!!! THEY DIDN’T SHIP YOU OFF TO BOARDING SCHOOL OR WHATEVER!! OMR!!! Sadly you were just a backgrounder cameo, but still…now I just need to find Francis then my main favs will have all appeared to be not dead (*spoiler: Francis does not appear anywhere*)

More Bickles…huh…

Mom’s stage name is “Madame Sasha”…is that a hint that her first name is Sasha?? Most times when you make up “magic names” they’re either your real name in between “the” and “magnificent” or they’re some super exotic/fake/fantastical sounding thing like how Dad was “Dadracadabra”

And more about Chloe’s one-woman show. That’s so neat that this is something that they’re developing for her, instead of using as a toss away one shot gag.

Kevin!! Dressed as a dummy for a comedy act lol. It’s an old and over used plot idea, but I’ll run with it. I like it. Cause Crocker now has 24 hour access to a child, he of course has to think of other ways to use it. “I’m telling my mom you made me do this” because that is Denzel’s sister so it is a legitimate threat…though you’d think Dolores would object to this too…why have we not had any interaction of Kevin with his grandmother yet??? I’d love to see Denzel get jealous over the attention his mother is giving Kevin that he never received

Haha Dad stealing Chloe’s idea, and still breaking the gender norms, nice. Where did Bickles get the coconut bikini top and grass skirt though?

Oh baaaaaad lesson to be teaching kids there guys. If the authority figure won’t give you want you want, you shouldn’t do them favors to try to bribe them into giving it to. Especially in the entertainment industry. That’s how bad situations happen….

Um those remote control tap shoes shouldn’t work because they would be helping Tim to win a competition, which is against Da Rules…not that Da Rules seem to matter anymore…

Ok Mom, you claimed to be a “Pet Psycho” yet you’re using only wild/non-pet animals. I think that’s probably the easiest way to point out that you’re doing this wrong

“I love me some snake and mongoose” ok…lets go see if that’s a euphemism on google…hm, nope, just a drag racing movie. That’s nice…wasn’t Bickles a race car driver at some point??

Doug Dimmadome returns! And “curious life partner”??? the Mayor and Chompy are a thing??? O.o???

Good boy Kevin, stand up to Crocker ^^

“That was a Dimma-dud” so simple and stupid, but probably the most fulfilling line thus far ^^;

love Chloe’s gold gown

ok I lied, “Dimma-dope” is now the most fulfilling line in this

heehee Dudley Puppy and Crimson Chin balloons in the parade. So headcanoning that TUFF Puppy was a show on tv in FOPverse

so this episode was….well just really pointless filler too. We got like minimal focus on any of our main characters. Have they forgotten how to write Timmy and Chloe?

Together these two (this was paired with Knitt-witts) were not a good match. Both were pointless filler with not a strong plot in either of them. Too many guest cameos, no character development. It was just barely enjoyable enough to not hate it, but just barely honestly. Weak episode all around.

Goldie Crocks and the three Fair Bears:

Ok I’ve been looking forward to the return of the Fair Bears since the episode titles were released.

Interesting to see the Squirrely Scout troop back again, still the same B-team line up including Chloe. Thought you already had that patch…but then again that could’ve been with the A-team troop lineup, so…the records were all destroyed when it was disbanded maybe?

Thanks Tim, we all were asking that. But how does using Mom’s shampoo make your hair blonde? Luscious and even longer I could buy without complaint, but blonde??

More over achieving Chloe lol (poor girl is gonna crash when she burns out). But wow, she fought King Neptuna…so why didn’t he remember her? Is Supergal now enemy to the merfolk??? Though that plays into the Merfolk vs Glamazons wouldn’t it…

And now we turn into the clichéd camping storyline where Character A decides to go use non-wilderness to camp in luxury. But Tim, you used to like camping??? Also, still not seeing how the episode title plays into this plot yet…

Cosmo has been right/made sense on more than one occasion though, why is it that surprising?

Ok now we get the title…Crocker’s mother has a cabin in the woods? Buyable, sure. Crocker somehow brought the Fair Bears back into reality??? Uh…what now? Wait, they weren’t sent back to TVLand?? And Crocker knows all about their origin?? HOW does that not break Da Rules huh? Is it because he doesn’t know who wished them up, so it’s not against Da Rules?? Why wouldn’t they tell him that; wouldn’t that be a fair thing to do?? He’s in a blonde wig because they’re going to be Goldielocks at a theme park, yeah sure, ok I can buy that. But HOW did he get the bears in the first place???

And Dad is blonde to be Goldielocks…wow…

Chloe breaking the 4th wall a little there

Gah even more middle names! Chloe how many do you even have????

NO! YOU CAN’T UNDO THE OTHER’S WISHES! URGH!!! You established this rule right off the bat, yet you keep breaking it and they let you keep breaking it. Timmy wished for the camping stuff-Chloe should not be able to wish it away. Yes the plot is stalled, but really, what is the plot at this point??? If you’re only going to enforce the rules when it suits you, well, anarchy for all then please

And you wished away the magic…yeah, that’s going to go super well

“Mr Crocker’s unsightly twin sister” ok on the one hand, that works because of Kevin granted (even though she’s not a twin persay, but he has suddenly got a sister), but on the other…this is all saying that guys can’t have long hair and I don’t like that. I love guys with long hair. Between that comment on Crocker, and the comments earlier about Dad, why is long hair automatically girl now?

Dolores dated Shaggy??? O.o i…I am very unnerved by that…wasn’t she already a full blown adult with a 10 year old child when Shaggy was a teenager roaming in the van with the Mystery Inc crew?? O.o

Omr yes. Referencing the “original German version” as a darker one. Talking about basting and eating people. This turned dark super fast and I love that. why TrollLOL’s face is on the oven idk, but I’m rolling with it because I love this part.

“I’ve already got 2 strikes from the school board” uh…yeah that’s the wrong side of dark I think…but it’s Crocker, it was probably the fork in Waxelplax’s fanny, and the flour incident or something fairly similar.

Yes Tim, yell at Chloe that this is all her fault. We know it is, but pointing it out won’t help. But it totally is; you wished for no magic and you got into trouble-not surprising.

HOW is it nearly midnight??? It was like, what, noon at the latest when this started?? You have not been out in the woods-in the daylight-for 12 hours-of daylight. Chloe hunny, you’re the smart one, why are you failing telling time??? I know its dark outside the house now, but it wasn’t in the scene before. Cosmo I think your clock is right. And how is “poof us out of here” bring you to a spot where it is, once again daylight; that seemed to suggest instant teleporting so you’re at the same time. Unless this next scene is a cut away to hours later BUT STILL! It should not be midnight.

Oh Dad, yes, I’m sure no one cares about your troop anymore.

“let’s send the Fair Bears back” uh you should have done that the first time and this whole mess would have been avoided. It’s like leaving the door to the comic book world open all over again.

And yes, cause unnecessary harm to Crocker, why not. Not to mention all the innocent patrons at the theme park…

Also why has no one mentioned Dimmsdale had a theme park before now?

All in all, not a good episode. I was looking forward to the return of the Fair Bears, and it felt like they weren’t even in half of the episode. The rest was another boring camping storyline, which these two seem to do a lot of huh?

Paired with Fancy Schmancy, as the production order says, I think the whole 30 min episode is completely weak and not great. This one was bad, the other was filler, so together they are just not meshing well at all.

#Fairly Odd Parents #Fairly Oddparents #fop #kp talks fop #review #mega dump

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ramajmedia · 5 years ago

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10 Kumail Nanjiani Quotes That’ll Have You Crying Of Laughter

The hilarious Kumail Nanjiani rose to fame playing the nerdy, awkward, and self-involved programmer Dinesh in the HBO series Silicon Valley, which will air its sixth and final season this October. But it was his romantic comedy film The Big Sick, which he both wrote and starred in, that really put him on the map as a serious actor and writer.

Also a stand-up comedian, the 41-year-old hails from Pakistan, and often references his race and upbringing in his comedy work.

RELATED: Silicon Valley: Dinesh’s 10 Best Quotes

Named one of the World's 100 Most Influential Individuals by Time magazine in 2018, Nanjiani speaks both candidly about topics like racism, as well as hilariously about life.

Here are 10 of his funniest quotes that will have you crying from laughter.

10 Who Knows What They’re Doing?

“Nobody really knows what they’re doing. Some are just better at pretending like they do.”

Who really knows what they’re doing in life? It’s a somewhat philosophical statement but still has to make you laugh because of the absurd truth of it. As long as you are confident in what you’re doing and feel good about it, perhaps you’re doing the right thing and are good at what you do. Those who pretend they know what they're doing appear to be the experts. But are they?

Nanjiani certainly knows what he’s doing when it comes to acting, writing, and comedy. But maybe he has just been winging it this whole time, which makes him even more relatable.

9 What is America?

“I thought, from watching TV and stuff, that America was one place. They only show you L.A. and New York. They don’t warn you about Iowa.”

Born in Karachi, Pakistan, Nanjiani moved to the US when he was 18 to attend Grinnell College in Iowa. It’s hilarious to think that he expected to see a scene like he sees in the movies, from backdrops of Los Angeles or New York. Instead, he was introduced to Iowa, a Midwestern state with different values and cultures than you might find in a more diverse state like New York or California.

Hence his comment, They don’t warn you about Iowa” on TV; he thought America was all about glitz, glamour, and diversity.

8 Pop Culture Expert

“I grew up watching ‘Ghostbusters’ and ‘Knight Rider’ and Hot Wheels commercials. When I got to college, having never set foot in America, I knew more American pop-culture references than my friends did.”

Kids today, as they say. Most have no idea what classic films like The Goonies and Ghostbusters are (at least not until they became popular again thanks to references in modern series like Netflix’s Stranger Things), and have never seen Knight Rider. Because Nanjiani grew up in Pakistan where these were the most current American TV programs he could access, he became familiar with them.

It’s hilarious to picture Nanjiani, the foreign student, attending college in Iowa and knowing more about past American pop culture references than those who actually grew up in the US.

RELATED: Silicon Valley: Ranking Pied Piper’s Best Employees (& Bosses)

7 Be Humble

“Wikipedia is kind of weird. I feel it’s lame to put up my own page, but I desperately want someone else to do it.”

You have to be famous enough for someone to create a Wikipedia page for you, or have the gumption to go ahead and create one for yourself. While Nanjiani admitted in this quote that he would never make one for himself, he secretly hoped someone, a big fan perhaps, would take the time to do it for him.

For the record, Nanjiani indeed does have a detailed Wikipedia page today, outlining his professional career and personal life

6 Just Know Words

“I never really got into game shows. The easiest one is ‘Wheel of Fortune’ because you just have to know words, and for the most part, everyone knows words.”

You probably never thought of Wheel of Fortune this way, but Nanjiani hilariously points out that, while with other game shows require you to know answers to specific trivia questions, all you need to know with Wheel of Fortune is how to spell words.

And who doesn’t know words? If you can string them together to form a sentence, and know how to spell them, you should be able to ace the game.

5 Meat-Flavored Roll-Up

“I love, love, love the street-cart food. Gyros are like a meat-flavored fruit roll-up. A meat roll-up.”

It’s a strange yet oddly accurate description of this Greek food, which can sometimes have a bit of sweetness to it. Street-cart food, often found in cities in the US like New York, has clearly won the favor of Nanjiani.

A meat roll-up is certainly a funny way to describe them. What might he call a burrito, we wonder?

RELATED: 8 Gifts For Fans of HBO’s Silicon Valley

4 Quiet Day At Home

“I stay home. It’s the best place to be alone. There is hardly any walk-through traffic.”

Going out in a busy city like L.A. or New York means dealing with lots of traffic, both in terms of cars as well as pedestrians. So it’s no wonder Nanjiani prefers to stay in, funnily noting that there’s hardly any traffic there.

Nanjiani lives with his wife Emily V. Gordon, an author, comedy producer, and former couples and family therapist. So there is some walk-through traffic at home. But he can manage it.

3 I Want To Be Famous

“I want to be so famous that I’m the pop-culture reference that people would make to try and be racist to me. So I’d be walking down the street, and someone would be, like, ‘Hey, look at this Kumail Nanjiani."

Wanting to be so famous that people reference a type of person as you —something that might happen with uber-famous celebrities like Cher and Madonna—is a great wish. But wishing to be the face of racism is Nanjiani’s "way" of trying to capitalize on his Shia Muslim upbringing to become next-level famous.

Imagine if someone pointed to every Muslim person and said “what a Kumail Nanjiani” like they might do now by calling every old, Italian man Al Pacino. It's absolutely ridiculous, but Nanjiani is always one to find a silver lining.

2 We Were Stupid As Kids

“Think about when you were 12 or 13. The stuff I watched was awful! I tried to watch a ‘He-Man’ cartoon recently, and I was like, ‘Oh my God!’ I just had, like, a small brain. I was stupid.”

Nanjiani mocks his taste in cartoons and programming as a child, looking back at any old episode of He-Man. We can probably all relate, looking back at a program we used to watch when we were young and realizing how terrible it was, either in terms of weak storylines, melodramatic performances, or just bubble gum content.

Nanjiani takes it to another level, noting that he must have had a small brain as a child to have watched what he did.

1 People Ruin Things

“It happens to people. People ruin things they love! I’m sure the guy who played Jar Jar Binks loved ‘Star Wars.’”

In this hilarious example about how people can sometimes ruin the things they love, intentionally or not, Nanjiani references the least-liked character of the Star Wars franchise. He notes that the actor who played Jar Jar Binks probably loved the films and the franchise, but had no idea he was about to ruin it.

The character, ironically enough, was designed to create comic relief. But audiences did not like him, and he has gone down in history as one of the most hated characters ever in film.

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source https://screenrant.com/kumail-nanjiani-funny-quotes/

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