#also its crayon queen family

[oofouchstovehot]

BEHOLD!

FROM THE DEPTHS OF FANDOM! AND MY HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH CLASS!

BLOOD AND BONES. MY AFTERDEATH DRACULA AU

Also on Wattpad if that's more your style <3

...Idk how to advertise fanfic on social media so here's all the tags

Aftertale Geno Sans/Reapertale Sans (Undertale) × Underfell Sans/Xtale Sans × But also × Dusttale Sans/Underfell Sans (Undertale) × and × Science Sans/Underfell Sans (Undertale) × mostly in the background × X and Red are the only two that get anywhere × but it does happen and lingering feelings drive a lot of the plot

× Aftertale Geno Sans (Undertale) × Reapertale Sans (Undertale) × Xtale Sans | Cross (Undertale) × Reapertale Papyrus (Undertale) × Fresh Sans (Undertale) - Freeform × Error Sans (Undertale) - Freeform × science sans × _____tale Sans | Ink (Undertale) × Dusttale Sans (Undertale) × Underfell Papyrus (Undertale) × Underfell Sans (Undertale) ×

alright now that the cast is out of the way × Major Character Injury × Major Character Undeath × Minor Character Death × Vampires × Alternate Universe - Vampire × Inspired by Dracula - Bram Stoker (Novel 1897) × more like I read dracula and said × im gonna put my favourite guys in there × Dracula AU × if you will × Unhealthy Relationships × Vampire Turning × Kidnapping × Slow Burn × quick lust × Diary/Journal × can we PLEASE get the Sans Ensemble in the relationship/character tags? × this is just gonna get chunkier... × Tags May Change × Rating May Change × Road Trips × Dracula has a surprising amount of traveling × Scars

[cardverseut]

KINGDOM OF SWORD =

•This is the kingdom of Swords, it is known as the kingdom of time and magic.

•Its inhabitants have great control over magic and combat, from here the best warriors of the 4 kingdoms come out. •Sword has the particularity of having the "Red Eyes" (red eyes), people who are born with these eyes have a very good ability with magic and are the only ones who can see the Joke and magical creatures that cannot see normal eyes.

•The King and Queen of Sword both have special clocks that allow you to use time differently with its consequences. •The kingdom of Espada is the second largest kingdom of the four.

•Their rulers are chosen when the last trio of the Royal family dies. Once this happens to anyone in the kingdom, regardless of their age, the Pica mark appears somewhere on the body.

-King: Right side of the neck -Queen: Left side of the neck.

• KING OF SWORD.  Name: Reaper R. Gaster. Age: 29 years. Spouse: Geno A. Crayon. Family: Grim D. Gaster (Brother), W.D Gaster (Father).

Powers: The king's powers are able to see the hourglasses that tell how much time people have left to live, it is said that you can kill people just by touching them (although the punishment of this ability is that you cannot touch with his hands to no living being), but the King always wears special gloves to avoid his ability. By evidence from various witnesses, the King is also said to have the power to levitate.

Weapon / Skills: One Scythe (Originally two, but how the second one disappeared is unknown). He is a great melee fighter and is very agile.

Appearance: In the words of foreigners. The King Reaper is very imposing, a fairly tall skeleton, with thin bones and an elegant figure; their sockets never showed any pupils in public, but it is said by the castle staff that they usually show them when with their queen or their Jack and they are a beautiful pearly white color, which seem to only shine and show off for loved ones. He has several scars from previous battles.

Personality: He is quite a joking and kind skeleton, sometimes he can get to make very cruel jokes related to the death. Despite several problems he had in the past due to his insensitivity to people's feelings on sensitive issues, he is well loved by his people. He is usually quite calm and takes things in due time, although many times he often escapes from his duties to do some mischief. But you should not underestimate it, when someone threatens his family or his Kingdom he can become a cruel being when he wishes, at the time of the war it was rumored that he was in charge of personally executing those who threatened the crown and to the kingdom before being crowned King of the Sword. Thanks to that attitude, he earned the respect of the other kings, who do not dare to try to anger the King of Pica. He also has a somewhat childish attitude that annoys monarchs and their queen when it comes to taking something seriously.

Life before ascending to the throne: Son of the doctor of the previous royal family, from a young age he was trained in medicine. But when he turned 17, he signed up to serve the kingdom as a spy. After the death of the last member of the royal family (Queen Piggies Q. Crayon), he mysteriously disappeared (He is said to have been a spy in the kingdom of Corazón, but the truth was different), but as he disappeared one day he returned with the real brand. His brand appeared when he was 21 and he refused to rise to rule, but his father and brother dragged him to Pica Castle to fulfill his obligations to the kingdom.

Bonus: You have an obsession with Coffee, you can have 10 cups a day.

• QUEEN OF SWORD. = Name: Geno A. Crayon. Age: 26 years. Spouse: Reaper R. Gaster. Family: Error G. Crayon (Middle brother), Fresh S. Crayon (Younger brother), Piggies Q. Crayon (Mother. States = Deceased) Powers: it is rumored that the queen is in control of time and can pause it (although it has not been confirmed), thanks to that she is said to be immortal.

Weapon / Skills: Your pocket watch, if you press the button above, is capable of pausing time for a few seconds, although it comes at a great price. And is that once the effect ends, the queen's body convulses and usually vomits blood. She is also very skilled with swords.

Appearance: It is a somewhat low skeleton. Her features are rounder than her husband and she has a more aggressive aura. Due to a young man's accident her right eye is permanently damaged. It also has a vertical crack that runs through its ribs and sternum.

Personality: She is quite a manipulative person when she wants something, nobody wants to make the queen angry (not even her husband dares). There have been cases of public executions of various citizens and noblemen who dared to insult both their family and their King, and it has been seen that she is quite a cold and annoying person. But people close to this have assured that the Queen is a quite kind and sweet person at heart (although the ones who affirm it the most are her husband and Jack).

Life before being crowned: He was the eldest son of the previous queen of Pica, from a very young age he trained him to be the King and was taught to play his role from the age of 12. He lived in Trébol with his two younger brothers when he was very young, since his mother hid them from the public for fear that, in the words of the queen, they would poison the mind of her son (The real reason was that the three brothers were children of a lover who had the queen and to protect them I send them to the kingdom of Club). Upon reaching the age of 15 he was brought into the kingdom of Pica to be presented as the Queen's successor after his mother died and his queen mark was revealed. No one alive other than himself and Jack know that the Clover Queen and Joke are siblings of the Queen of Pica (ex-Queen Crayon's last will).

Bonus: He usually spends all her free time in the castle library reading and gets sick easily.

• JACK OF SWORD. =

Name: Cross. Age: 21 years. Spouse / crush: None / ???? Family: Unknown (orphan).

Weapons / Skills: A giant sword. He is the best Pica Warrior, he was trained since childhood to handle all kinds of swords and swords. He is also adept at combining magic with his attacks.

Appearance: It is a skeleton with low aspect of white bones, it has both white eyes and a scar under a basin. He is quite light of bones for his small stature which helps him to move with speed and ease.

Personality: In public he is a very serious and responsible monster, who will take the orders of his kings to the letter without question, does not usually speak unless the situation requires it. But under all that serious facade, there is a fairly friendly and protective skeleton; He is a joker and loves to spend time with his kings telling jokes of all kinds.

Life before being the Jack: His family died mysteriously, leaving him the only survivor at the age of 10. He was found on the shores of the sea by Jack of the ex-royal family. There he was trained to be a perfect soldier, living there he became the best friend of the future Queen. When all ex-royal family died their mark was shown to Jack.

Bonus: It is rumored that he can see spirits, as he is seen speaking only a few times with someone named "Chara".

[phantxmthreads]

❝ COURAGE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF FEAR. IT'S THE JUDGEMENT THAT SOMETHING ELSE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN FEAR. ❞ ⸻ inspired by frank reagan (blue bloods), reynolds woodcock (phantom thread), mufasa (the lion king), and jiro horikoshi (the wind rises)

PINTEREST — SPOTIFY

tw: death, car accident

basics

• full name: rigel lorenzo thorne

• nicknames: ri (by those closest to him)

• gender: cis male

• pronouns: he/him

• age: 69

• date of birth: 13th march 1956

• zodiac sign: pisces

• sexuality: heterosexual

• place of birth: cowes, isle of wight, england

• residence: a quaint victorian terraced house a fifteen minute drive from the atelier

• occupation: tailor for the bastion

• aesthetics: old leather bound books, silver fabric scissors, old films, boxes of tailor’s chalk, whisky, reading glasses on top of his head, little vases of flowers, a crackling fire, ink-stained fingers, strewn sweet wrappers, meticulously arranged sewing equipment, hot cups of tea

appearance

• faceclaim: jeremy irons

• voice claim: jeremy irons

• height: 6’ 1”

• build: tall ; slim

• eyes: brown

• hair: grey

• piercings: n/a

• tattoos: n/a

• style:

personality

• positive traits: reliable, organised, hardworking, creative, meticulous, loyal, selfless

• negative traits: reserved, stubborn

• mbti: infj - the advocate

• likes: reading, going for walks, film and television, sweet food, documentaries, coffee, whisky, having everything organised, going to the theatre

• dislikes: being interrupted when he’s focused, spicy food, hot weather, arrogance, prejudice, liquorice, sports

• phobias: arachnophobia

• hobbies: reading, designing clothes, sword fighting, going to the theatre

• skills: accomplished artist ; close-up magic ; expert on poisons

• pet peeves: being late, when people use incorrect grammar, being interrupted, loud music, noisy eaters

• other: owns a black 1970 jaguar e-type which is his pride and joy

family

• mother: penelope ‘penny’ roberta thorne

• father: unknown

• siblings: n/a

• wife: charlotte alessia thorne (née thompson - deceased)

• son: rhys henry thorne

favourites

• food: hard boiled sweets

• drink: whisky

• time of the day: morning

• weather: cold and foggy

• colours: blue ; red ; bronze

• songs: mainly film scores (anything by hans zimmer in particular)

bio

— rigel was born on 13th march at 7:25am to penelope ‘penny’ thorne, a seamstress. when his father found out she was pregnant they were both young and unmarried and so disappeared, not wanting the responsibility of being a parent and leaving penny to raise rigel by herself.

— rigel grew up in cowes, living a short distance from queen victoria's residence of osbourne house. he and his mother lived in a beautiful cottage that had a large garden, two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a spacious living room. he spent most of his time in the kitchen, at the table, where the sun would shine its light the most and where he would draw with prized pack of crayons. this was the start of his interest in art and, with his mother’s influence, in designing clothes.

— rigel loved his mother more than anything. she was the strongest and kindest person he’s ever known. penny raised rigel alone (with the help of her own parents when they could) and never saw rigel’s father again. she taught him to sew from a young age and how to grow vegetables in their back garden as well as how to read and write before he even started school. she would also take him to the beach during the warmer months and they’d often go for walks through the countryside and to the market.

— rigel’s love of literature and his sewing skills landed him a little job at the local theatre, helping design and put together costumes for their productions. he mainly helped out on the weekends and a few evenings during the week, but once he finished school he was working there full time.

— during the summer after his seventeenth birthday he met a girl named charlotte. she was visiting the island on holiday, was also seventeen and english, but has been living in wales since she was twelve. they met at the local bookstore where rigel found her carrying six books in her arms and searching for more. he helped her with some recommendations and to carry the books back to the family’s rented holiday home and the whole time was spent talking about their favourite books and plays and the two decided to spend more time together whilst charlotte was around. rigel thought she was so beautiful, so compassionate, so intelligent, and so easy to have a conversation with. after charlotte returned home, the two exchanged letters frequently and even had a few lengthy phone conversations.

— two years later, charlotte returned to the island and announced she’d taken up a job with one of the local florists. for the time being she lived with rigel and penny and spent most evening cooking for them both to repay their kindness and generosity.

— rigel was 23 when he felt like he wanted more out of life. he loved his home and the people there, but he wanted to broaden his horizons. despite the guilt he felt for wanting to leave his mother behind, penny reassured him that nothing would make her happier than seeing her son make a life for himself with the girl he loved.

— rigel then had one last thing to do before leaving and that was to propose to charlotte. he did so during a sunset stroll on a quiet beach and up to that point it was the happiest moment of both of their lives. they bought a victorian terraced house, where rigel still lives today, and he found a job working at a big theatre whilst charlotte was employed at a florist around the corner from their home.

— they were unbelievably happy together and with their work, but once people started commenting on how time was ticking on for them to have children rigel began to consider fatherhood.

— his son rhys was born in 1985 and both rigel and charlotte couldn’t be happier. by this time, rigel was working in the costume department at the famous pinewood studios, but gave it up to be closer to home.

— when rhys was seven, his mother died. she was hit by a drunk driver whilst crossing the road and was put in an induced coma, but died from her injuries four days later. the driver was brought to justice after a long legal battle, but nothing anybody could do could bring back charlotte. rigel was broken. and what was worse is that he had to explain to rhys that he would never see his mother again.

— rigel ensured that rhys grew up hearing stories of the kind of wonderful person charlotte was and what kind of likes she liked and liked to do. as much as it pained him, rigel also had several photographs of her around the house- some from family days out, some from when she was a teenager, and even had her final photograph (taken a fortnight before she died) in an ornate gold frame in the living room.

— in 1999, rigel caught the attention of the table. they knew of his reputation as an accomplished artist and tailor and wanted his services on their side. struggling for money to provide for himself and his son and with being presented the opportunity to put his skills to proper use, rigel took them up on the offer. he could let the shady side of everything slide because he wasn’t directly involved in scheming and killing, but instead providing protective and beautiful clothing for people who needed it. he’s been working at the atelier ever since and genuinely loves his job.

other muses: e. crowe / d. montmorency / m. fox

[cyarskaren52]

3'

OPINIONREPORTED OPINION

"GROOMERS": MAGA parents who sexualize and teach kids to shoot are the real problem

TARA DUBLINMARCH 24, 2023

Every accusation is a confession when it comes to MAGA propaganda, and Donald Trump’s MAGA fanatics constantly prove this point over and over without any help from liberals.

They’ve also been carefully teaching their kids for decades to hate and fear anyone who isn’t a “white Christian nationalist” which essentially translates into “Nazi” with just fewer words.

At the same time, House Republicans have been aggressively scapegoating drag queens as “groomers” while ignoring the presence of credibly accused sex trafficking Florida-man rapist Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and other members of their party who have been arrested for child porn.

The GOP also votes against SNAP and Social Security benefits while trying to destroy public education and attempting to loosen up regulations regarding gun ownership.

Their “New Baby Boom” plan is a thinly disguised plot to create an obedient white army of complacent haters.

How much more proof do you need that MAGA is an evil sex and death cult?

Check this Christmas card photo of Lauren “Squeaky” Boebert (Q-CO via “The Charles Manson Room” at a Boulder condo owned by Ted Cruz) and her four unfortunate sons, one of whom recently impregnated his underage girlfriend.

Granny Bobo is going to be a great-grandma by age 50 if she doesn’t teach the rest of her sons how to use birth control.

And then there’s Marjorie Groomer Taylor Greene, who won’t stop transphobically tweeting about kids’ genitals while letting Gaetz hang out around her three teenagers, two of whom are girls.

Thankfully there’s at least going to be some accountability for two MAGA gun groomers in Michigan.

The parents of Oxford High School mass shooter Ethan Crumbley (oh what a name), who killed four of his fellow students and injured seven others, are being charged with involuntary manslaughter because they bought their underage kid a gun.

The Michigan state appeals court said the mass shooting wouldn’t have happened if the Crummy Crumbleys hadn’t purchased the death weapon gun for Ethan, or if they had taken him home from Oxford High School on the day of the shooting when staff became “alarmed” about his extreme drawings, according to court documents.

The Crumbleys have said they’ll take their case to the Michigan Supreme Court, but I don’t love their odds.

“What a nice family they seem to be!”, said literally no one on Twitter.

Follow Tara Dublin on Twitter @taradublinrocks.

Editor’s note: This is an opinion column that solely reflects the opinions of the author.

Ethan Crumbley

groomers

gun groomers

Lauren Boebert

MAGA groomers

Marjorie Taylor Greene

Matt Gaetz

Oxford High School

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TODAY IN HOME

Politics

OPINIONOPINION: The Super Bowl represents everything wrong about AmericaFebruary 12, 2023

The Super Bowl values conflict, aggression, and extreme jingoism — polarizing its audience in the same way that American politics functions.

Economy

With state and local officials facing dwindling tax revenue in the pandemic, the House Speaker told CNN that "They should be impatient."

A "looming" housing crisis is coming and Ocasio-Cortez warns the GOP they won't escape the blame

April 25, 2020

"There'll be a lot of death": Trump says, presses unproven cures in Saturday pandemic press briefing

April 4, 2020

New details reveal another Trump coronavirus misstep in early February

April 4, 2020

Trump daily virus presser: boasting about his Facebook popularity and talks of "Mexican violence"

April 1, 2020

Human rights

The president didn't want his claims that everyone has all the equipment they need to be contradicted by a medical professional.

Despite a gall bladder infection, the indefatigable Supreme Court justice asked tough questions while fighting for women's rights.

Reporter Gabriel Sherman's latest article shows how insider political considerations, and Jared Kushner, put the country in the condition it's in today.

Healthcare

The president wasn't happy with the nation's leading infectious disease specialist's response to how COVID-19 can affect the nation's youngest citizens.

Wrong almost half the time! New report says Trump's White House COVID-19 testing is deeply flawed

May 13, 2020

Trump gets defensive when questioned about double standard of White House testing availability

May 11, 2020

Michigan Gov. Whitmer receives death threats from armed anti-quarantine "terrorists" on social media

May 11, 2020

Trump waxes nostalgic for the thrill of the crowds at combative Wednesday press briefing

April 22, 2020

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LAST UPDATE: 24 March, 2023

3'

OPINION

OPINION: The Super Bowl represents everything wrong about America

VINNIE LONGOBARDOFEBRUARY 12, 2023

Somehow I didn’t get the sports gene — making me a rather atypical American male who doesn’t give a crap about the Super Bowl.

I’d rather read, listen to music, or go bird-watching for some superb owls than watch a bunch of testosterone-laden athletes give each other Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in order to offer an opportunity for America’s richest advertisers to hawk their wares in between plays.

I know that as a hetero male with no interest in sports, I am in the extreme minority in this country, and many people would find it difficult to relate to me accordingly.

I certainly know that the position I am about to espouse will not be a popular one.

I will state it proudly anyway:

The Super Bowl represents everything that’s wrong with American culture and with American politics in particular.

American football, like any team sport, is based on a divisive, us-vs.-them mentality that pits two groups and their supporters in opposition.

And unlike the sport referred to as football in the rest of the world (it’s called soccer here), no ties or draws are allowed, meaning that only one possible victor is possible in the competition.

In that regard, it’s pretty much exactly like politics — although we rarely witness losers of crucial games go on extended rants claiming that the game was “rigged” and refusing to accept the results.

It’s a sport of winners and losers, mirroring the outcomes of our capitalist economy on its participants.

While many an imagining of utopia envisions a cooperative, competition-free society where everyone looks after their neighbors and values their well-being as much as their own, the reality of human selfishness and the complex tribalism of our planet’s inhabitants means conflict is inevitable.

Does this mean that passionate obsession with team sports must be as well?

The divisiveness and violence inherent in the Super Bowl are indeed representative of some of the worst aspects of American culture, but the commercialization of the event is equally emblematic of our society.

Only the most lucrative enterprises can afford to pony up for a Super Bowl ad, reflecting the economic inequality between wealthy and poverty-stricken families.

Moreover, the ads that these flush corporations run reinforce the notion that money can buy happiness and success.

And how many players, coaches, and fans will invoke their deity today, praying for victory or cursing their misfortune, in a transactional form of spirituality devoid of the golden rule?

Another thing: while politics may be just as competitive a team sport as football, at least the Democrats and Republicans have added a few females to their teams, unlike the NFL.

With the fracturing of the media landscape brought on by the nearly infinite choices now available on the internet, the Super Bowl is one of the last live media events that can attract the type of mass viewing audience that regularly helped shape a common culture back in the days when viewing was restricted to three major TV networks.

It’s a shame that the only nearly universally-viewed programming that exists today is a violent exhibition of conflict, aggression, and extreme jingoism.

If only the one TV broadcast that attracts the biggest audience encouraged cooperation, instead of competition.

Still, it’s foolish not to expect the Super Bowl to reflect the reality of American culture.

But one can dream, can’t they

Follow Vinnie Longobardo onTwitter. 

Editor’s note: This is an opinion column that solely reflects the opinions of the author.

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LAST UPDATE: 24 March, 2023

Sent from my iPhone

[culinarynyccom]

Cooking Classes in NYC For Kids and Teens

New York City is a culinary mecca, with its famous restaurants, amazing bakeries, decadent desserts and fabulous ice cream. It's also home to some of the best cooking classes around, where aspiring chefs can sharpen their skills and try their hand at dishes like fresh pasta, sushi and cupcakes.Looking more visit https://culinary-nyc.com/.

These classes can be the perfect way to rekindle your love for cooking, or it can be a fun way to try something new. From dabblers to serious home cooks, there's a class for everyone!

Whether you're looking to sharpen your cooking skills or learn more about another culture's cuisine, these cooking classes in NYC will teach you the basics. From knife skills to how to make sushi, if you're an aspiring chef, these courses will have you preparing a meal at home in no time.

Kids' Cooking Clubs in NY

For the littlest chefs, these cooking classes are the perfect way to learn the ropes of the kitchen. They range from daytime caregiver-and-me classes for toddlers and preschoolers to evening drop-off sessions with an adult for bigger kids.

What to Expect: This Soho-based culinary school has a series of one-time workshops and weeklong camps for kids 8 to 12 (tweens and teens opt for the adult options), with themes such as regional cuisines and dim sum. A highlight is a "Make & Take" class, in which budding chefs learn to prepare a full-scale dinner for five.

Murray's Cheese & Culinary Studio

For anyone with a love of cheese, this Soho-based cheese shop and culinary studio offers plenty of opportunities to pick up the skills of a master cheesemaker, including a weekly class on mozzarella making. They have a small but well-stocked storefront and also host an annual artisanal cheese-making festival in June.

YCA: Queens Culinary Arts Academy

A Soho-based culinary school for tweens and teens, YCA's classes focus on stage-by-stage instruction to help students grow their skills and build confidence in the kitchen. They offer single-session and semester-long workshops that explore various themes and cuisines, including an upcoming session focused on Chinese New Year.

Claim to Fame: This upscale culinary studio is all about teaching kids how to become more aware of their food's cultural significance. The Soho location's spacious, modern space includes two fully equipped kitchens that overlook the Empire State Building and an outdoor garden, as well as a large library of books about different cultures' food traditions.

The classes are geared toward students of all ages, but they're especially popular with children. Younger participants can join a parent-and-me class or an evening session where they can bring their friends to enjoy the fruits of their labors, complete with snacks and a YCA chef hat.

Freshmade: Everyone's dream kitchen

With a huge, double-oven kitchen, elevated ceilings and room for everyone to chop, stir and create delicious dishes, this Soho bakery is a great place to take the kids for a special date night or fun, family cooking class. There's a library wall with kids' cookbooks and a waiting area stocked with stuffed play foods and crayons to keep little hands busy while they're in the kitchen.

[agentravensong]

While I'm here, I wanted to say something else:

I'm pretty sure Tenna is going to be the main boss of chapter 3, not Mike - and I don't think Mike is going to be the secret boss either.

Between the damn_you_tenna page (btw, has anyone picked up on the url maybe being a utena reference? just me? cool) and the Twitter Q&A, it seems pretty clear that a) the TV (Tenna) and Mike are separate characters, and b) that Spamton hates the TV/Tenna, but cares about Mike. Perhaps even considers (considered?) him a friend.

The two things that make me think Tenna will be the main boss of the chapter are:

a) We've gotten multiple direct hints to their existence now, from both all this and in-game, with the smile appearing in the TV static as the last image we get from Chapter 2. An obvious cliffhanger - too obvious for their existence to be a surprise like with the other secret bosses. I mean, they're called "secret bosses" for a reason. Remember, Jevil gave no hints about Spamton, but he *did* give a hint about Queen.

b) The tweet makes a reference to "THAT [Cathode]'s CREW". If we assume this is referring to Tenna, which makes sense based on the use of cathodes in CRT televisions (and recall the line from Spamton's fight about turning "THOSE [Cathode Screens] INTO [Cathode Screams]"), then it makes me think there are multiple other characters working for Tenna. Miniboss-type characters that our crew will have to contend with over the course of Chapter 3. (This is also supported by Spamton saying "EVERYONE WILL PAY" except Mike, implying that there are multiple people at fault in his eyes, even if it all comes back to Tenna.) And, structure-wise, it makes a lot more sense for the main boss of the chapter to have a bunch of encounters with lackeys building up to their battle than the secret boss.

Now, as for Mike... my thinking with him is that, again, he's already been hinted at too much to be a proper secret boss. Though, it could start being a trend now that we're two of seven chapters in that secret bosses start getting hinted at, I suppose.

The other thing is that he seems to have been Spamton's friend, specifically during his Big Shot era, whom he lost contact with (likely, cut Spamton off). And yes, Spamton is a boss (in video game terms), but what elevated him to the level of climatic secret boss was his attempts to transcend his Darkner status by taking the NEO body and then Kris's SOUL... not just being a salesman who appeared on TV sometimes. Maybe Mike has gone off the deep end since then, but at current, for as little as we know about him, he just seems like... some guy.

My prediction for him right now is that he'll be more of a Sweet Cap'n Cakes type, where we fight him - perhaps because he initially thinks we're working with/for Tenna - but then he becomes our ally, whom we may actively try to protect from Tenna's crew.

That all being said, it's worth keeping in mind that Spamton is... an unreliable narrator. It's possible that Tenna and their crew aren't actually that devious; that they aren't the bad guys.

...then again...

...maybe not.

EDIT - I almost forgot one other thing that makes me think Mike won't be the secret boss:

Tenna as the main boss of Chapter 3 will put the focus on the entertainment side of this Dark World. I'm sure there will some personal ties back to the Dreemurr family with them being the TV that got unplugged by them some time ago and being the centerpiece of the living room (I can only imagine the things they've seen/heard), but, at the end of the day, they're a TV character in a TV world.

So, it would make sense to me if the secret boss is derived from a different element of the Dreemurr household more specifically focused on Dreemurr family backstory. Something like the discarded flowers in the trash can, or the missing green crayon, or any other number of forgotten, non-TV related items. Which, assuming Mike is a microphone or something similarly tied to the TV / its shows, would not include him.

[ssa-sugar-tits]

queen of hearts // epilogue

summary: y/n y/l/n was crushed when she found out about maeve donovan. heartbroken, she left her entire life behind. what happens when she becomes the most prolific serial killer the bau has ever seen?

prologue + series masterlist & taglist

content warnings : funeral, angst, mourning

-

3 years later

-

"Ellie, come on. We're going to be late."

Spencer motions to the three year old, coloring on the bed. She's dressed in a black dress with faint butterflies painting the skirt portion, the same color as Spencer's black suit. Fit for the funeral.

"Look Daddy. It's mommy, just like in the pictures!" Ellie babbles. Spencer smiles at his daughter.

"You made her beautiful, pumpkin. Just like you." He says with a loving look.

"I'm gonna leave it for her when we say bye at the garden." She explains, reaching for another crayon.

"Mommy's going to love it, sweetie."

And really, you would have.

On the way to the service, which Rossi covered the cost for entirely, each of the 7 people invited think of you. Fondly. Not of the terrible things you ended your life with. Your legacy will never be one of a murderer's, not to them. You'll always be Y/N, the strong agent and beautiful personality.

"We are gathered here today to remember the life of the deceased, Y/N Y/L/N."

Somber looks are exchanged. The picture they chose to place in front of your casket is a beautiful one. Spencer remembers the day vividly, he took it on a vacation when you first starting dating. Your bright smile brings life to the dead atmosphere, giving everyone just one last shred of your presence-- one they'll never feel again.

"It is said that when a body dies, the soul lives on. Y/N leaves part of that soul behind in her daughter, Ellie and beloved friends and family. Now, a few words from her significant other and father of her child."

Spencer trembles as he walks up to the stand, leaving Ellie with JJ. Clearing his throat, he begins.

"I want to start by thanking you all for being here. I know Y/N loved you all and it would mean a lot to her." Spencer gulps, almost wincing at his sadness. "It's funny, I uh-- I can almost feel her telling me to mind my manners before starting. Y/N used to think I forgot since, as she put it, my mind was too fast for my own good." He sighs, continuing. "I can't excuse the things she did. Even some of the things I did. But I can tell you she was the love of my life. Y/N was loving, smart, and passionate. She was so strong, so willing to stand for what she believed in. It made her one hell of an agent-- one hell of a person. She was honestly everything to me and I miss her terribly. I see her in the face of our sweet daughter everyday and it gives me comfort. She knows I loved her and you all know that too, you watched us grow over the 9 amazing years we had together. But I guess my point today is to express that she won't be forgotten. To put into words what we'd all want her to know. That she'll always hold a place in our hearts. Rest in peace, sweetheart."

As he steps down, Ellie runs to bury herself in a hug. The casket is taken to its burial site. Everyone leaves a flower at your grave, then takes a gloomed step back. Hotch and Rossi hold their heads up in respect. Penelope cries leaning on an also teary Derek. JJ holds a breaking Emily, letting light tears fall down her cheeks. Ellie kneels down beside you and reaches her small hand into her pocket, unfolding her drawing carefully.

"Look," she whispers. "It's you and me, mommy. I wish I could give you a hug since I never got to. But you're really pretty, momma. I saw that from the pictures. Daddy tells me stories about you all the time. He says you guys were in love, like Jack and Rose! That's a sad movie, you know? It makes me sad too that you're not here."

The young girl sniffles, trying to verbalize the emotions she isn't used to feeling.

"I know we never met but I love you mommy. I really wish you were here."

She stands, wiping mud from her knees and wetness from her eyes and returning to her broken father.

The service ends and as if connected, each of your friends look to you once more and silently repeat the same thing.

You'll always live in your family's heart. Rest in peace, Y/N.

-

[sagessoftwings]

Oky!! Well I prefer she/her but to be honest I'm good with anything. I'm pan as well so any sex works.

My hobbies are more on the crafty side with drawing, clay work, painting. I'm also into tennis and I do chior.

I think alot of the time one of the things that inspire me to do better is the praise of my family and closest friends, but a good life inspires me to do my best too.

So tbh I didn't really get what you meant by favorite past time, ( its probably because it's late and my brains telling me to go to bed) but if I'm interpreting it right, I really liked my late elementary- intermediate days (3-6th grade)

I seem to struggle with venting. I have had a good life so my brain always goes back to "they dont need to be burdened with you pathetic little worries when they have other worse things going on". So I dont think I've ever really vented

Anyway! I absolutely love my family and friends, the smell of rain and freshly baked cookies, the stars at night. I'm a sucker for chubbier women and for tall men, large muscular women as well. I love when it rains but doesn't thunder so you can run and dance through it. I love when people get really happy about small little thing. I also sing alot as well. One of absolute favorite things ever is a good big warm hug

For the fandoms: mha, haikyuu, and marvel if you could

Thank you so much for doing this! You seem very nice tbh! Anyways have a good rest of you day/night and may your week be amazing!! <3

HIII BEAUTIFUL I SHIP YOU WITH NEJIRE HADO FOR MHA

SHE IS SO LOVABLE AND JUST ADORES YOU BABE

Please pLEASE GOD TEACH HER HOW TO DO CLAY WORK SHE THINKS ITS SO COOL

She keeps a stool in like every corner and will sit near you while you draw or literally anything

That’s if you will let her, she of course reflects your privacy

Nejire just doesn’t understand how you can be so good at so much 😩💖

Loves playing tennis with you! Has such a cute tennis skirt to 😪

WILL TAKE YOU STARGAZING PERIOD

Probably was your first date

IS ALSO SO GOOD AT BAKING

You’re in luck bestie

Randomly hugs you all the time

Nejire just gets so excited when she is around you

PLEASE RANT TO HER

Listening is one of her love languages

Never feel like your burdening her please, she’ll lay on top of you until you tell her how your day was

For haikyuu I ship you with Issei Mattsukawa!!

BABE… BABE

This 6’2 giant is absolutely in LOVE with you

If you like family and friends this is your man 😩

Has a younger brother and sister and has to babysit all the time

You actually thought he was avoiding you but felt so bad and was like “do you wanna come over? I have to babysit my siblings but I really wanna hang out with you!”

His siblings ADORE YOU

His sister loves to play with play-dough with you and bake cookies which somehow have crayon shaving in them

She thought the were sprinkles

Mattsukawa was forced to eat them and then after putting the kids to bed he threw up pink and purple

You did have to stay and take care of him

Will sit you on the couch in between his legs and play with your hair and kiss your shoulders while you rant

He doesn’t mind at all, he has to listen to oikawa

You’re much better than that drama queen

Dances with you in the rain 🥲

I’m jealous 😮‍💨

Mans is infatuated with you… seriously

For marvel I ship you with Jane Foster

Loves to take you stargazing whew

Literally her favorite date scene

Darcy likes to bake for your dates too

Literally anything where you spend time together is just amazing

Will rant with you and you two have very in depth conversations that last till like three am

Sometimes all she needs is a good hug but you will have to beg her to let go

Also literally makes you break a sweat when you cuddle

Is a heat lamp, she can’t help it

[mirkwoodshewolf]

We’ll make it work; Wanda x Vision x child reader

*Author’s note*

Hey guys well it’s been a LOOONG time since I posted something OUTSIDE of the Bohemian Rhapsody/Queen fandom. So I hope that my marvel readers enjoy this cute little fic that had been on my wattpad inbox since like last Sept. And I PROMISE to those anons who have sent me requests from Doctor Who and a couple more marvel stuff, I WILL GET TO YOUR REQUESTS ASAP. So I’ll stop here for now and let you all enjoy this cute little fic :)

Taglist:

@plethora-of-things

@waddles03

@psychosupernatural

@ixchel-9275

@queensdivas

@platawnic

@jd-johndeacon-or-jackdaniels

_______________________________________________________

They said it couldn’t be done.  Hell everyone would say it was downright unnatural but yet it was finally happening. After the whole battle with Thanos and managing to bring everyone back, Wanda and Vision settled down together in a quiet suburban home in upstate New York.

They built their house from the ground up using their own two hands and decided that now with the white picket fence home, they could now start thinking about having a family together.  Now of course Vision being a machine he can’t physically reproduce but as luck would have it, there was an orphanage just 30 minutes from where they lived.

Wanda submitted an application to the orphanage introducing themselves and what their preference for adopting was.  They had agreed on wanting to adopt a little girl, preferably around 4-6 years old. With some interviews, home visits, and looking through the files, Wanda and Vision finally came to an agreement on their dream child, young (Y/n) (l/n).  

An orphan that was brought to the orphanage after her mom gave birth to her in prison.

Her parents were would-be-robbers who mostly robbed homes or cabins but then they got cocky hoping to rob a bank.  Unfortunately they were caught right before they got even a foot away from the bank.  It was there her mom found out she was pregnant and gave birth in prison before the foster system brought her to the orphanage.

After reading her backstory, Wanda and Vision knew immediately they wanted to have her.  So she called the orphanage and set up a meet and greet and in one week they would get to meet their future daughter.

When the day arrived, Wanda and Vision (in his human disguise) drove up to the orphanage where they met the Head organizer Ms. Eliza Soo.  She asked them some questions that weren’t on the application like what their current jobs were, and since they were publicly named heroes, that they had their powers under control for the sake of their future daughter.

The two heroes assured Ms. Soo that they had full control of their powers and do not intend on showing their powers before young (Y/n) unless she asks them to. After about 15 minutes of chatting away, Ms. Soo told them.

“Alright. Now unlike most meet and greets that other orphanages do, we personally would like to see how the potential parents interact with our children. Instead of trying to force the child to talk in a room with 2 strangers, we ask that the potential adopters meet the child in the Playroom. Are you two up for that?”

“Yes of course. I personally understand what it feels like. For most of my childhood it was only my brother and I for years before he…...” Wanda said.  At the mention of her brother, tears flickered in her eyes but Vision took her hand in both of his and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“My wife lost her brother just shortly after we met. They were both orphaned when they were 10 years old back in her old home of Sokovia.”

“Oh I’m so sorry Ms. Maximoff, my condolences on your loss. I lost my brother around that age too. Gunshot by a rival gang member.” She took a deep breath in before exhaling out. “Now then, (Y/n) should already be heading towards the playroom if not already there by now. Allow me to escort you there so that you three may get acquainted with each other.” The three of them stood up and Ms. Soo guided them out of her office and down the hall.

They soon reached a room that was labeled at the top of the door PLAYROOM. Decorated all over the door were various art projects that the kids have done and at the bottom there were their names and ages.

“Now we’ll just observe you guys from the double-sided mirrors and see how you guys interact with her. If we see that there’s a connection, then we can proceed with the legal adoption.”

“Thank you Ms. Soo.” Vision said.  She nodded and walked off leaving the couple alone by the door.  The two of them looked at each other and Wanda asked her husband and partner.

“You ready?”

“If you are, then so am I.” Vision responded.  Wanda then reached for the doorknob and turned it on its side to open it up.

When they stepped into the room, it was completely filled with every kid of children’s toys imaginable from toy cars and trucks, dolls and action figures, even a small TV with a videogame console.  There was also drawings hung up along the wall just like there were on the door.

Soon their eyes came to young 4 year old (Y/n) (L/n).  She was at a small circular table with some paper and crayons surrounding her.  Happily humming to herself as she continued to draw on the paper.  When she saw Wanda and Vision, her head tilted to the side like an intrigued puppy.

“Are you my new mommy and daddy?”

“We—we hope to be.” Answered Wanda.  A wide smile soon spread across her face and she raced right up to them and immediately embraced Wanda.  Once she felt that little girl embrace her, a warm sensation fell over her and she already felt that maternal instinct take over.  Wanda knelt down and embraced young (Y/n) and she said. “So what is it you were drawing?”

“Come look. I’ve been working really hard on it!” like every excited child that wanted to show off their accomplishments, she dragged them both to the table and they all sat down around it and she began to show them all the drawings she’s done.

Some of them were drawings of herself out in a flower field, with her favorite animals, but one picture struck out to the two of them.

“What is this picture of (Y/n)?” Vision said as he held up a picture of (Y/n) standing between two adult figures.  But they had no hair or facial features drawn yet.

“That’s a picture of me with my new family. I…..I didn’t want to finish it till I knew it was for real. Are you guys really gonna be my new parents?” Wanda smiled and gently placed her hand on top of (Y/n)’s head and stroked down it.

“If Ms. Soo thinks we’re good with you, then yes. We will be.”

“I know one way that can help you, follow me!” she then stood up and raced over to the toy chest and opened it up.  Inside were dozens of costumes ranging from feather boas, to every kind of hat imaginable. Donated Halloween costumes, and even some props. “Since you guys are real life heroes, do you think we could play superheroes?”

Both Vision and Wanda were a little hesitant but after seeing the hopeful look in (Y/n)’s face, they agreed.  So they want up to her and they dug through the costume chest to see what all they could find.

With the wide imagination (Y/n)’s had, her and Wanda would be the heroes while Vision was to play the giant fire breathing dinosaur.  They stacked up some blocks for the town and places the toy cars to make it feel like an actual city.  

Watching them through the double-shift mirror, Ms. Soo along with some of the other workers watched the two former heroes interact with (Y/n).

“Seems (Y/n) has finally found the family she’s always wanted.” Said one of the female workers.

“I agree.” Said a male worker.  Ms. Soo who had been watching with interest, began to realize that maybe her employers were right.

After about 10min. of playtime and just getting to know her a bit more, that’s when Ms. Soo stepped into the room.  Her face was stoic as she looked at the three of them.

Wanda and Vision stood up and Vision asked.

“Ms. Soo, is there something wrong?”

“No. As a matter of fact, I’ve seen all that I’ve wanted to see. And……you guys have proven to me that you’re meant to be her future parents.”

“Really Ms. Soo?! Wanda and Vision are gonna be my new mommy and daddy?” (Y/n) asked excitedly.

“Indeed they are. We’ll have the legal forms printed out and have you both sign them. Then in a couple of weeks you can officially move in with them to your new home.” Ecstatic about the news, (Y/n) jumped up and down happily cheering at the fact she now had a new mom and dad, not only that but her new parents were Scarlet Witch and Vision.

“Thank you Ms. Soo. Thank you.” Wanda said happily.

“No need to thank me. You’re truly shown me that you both are the perfect couple to take her in.”

So for the next couple of weeks, Wanda and Vision signed any legal papers that the orphanage would send to them, get (Y/n)’s room ready for her and buy her some new toys, clothes and get her bed all made up.

Vision was currently outside building the playground that they wanted (Y/n) to play in the backyard.  It wasn’t anything grand just the basic swing set and jointed mini-clubhouse.  But as he was reading the instructions for how to hook the swings up that’s when he heard the gossiping voices of one of the neighbors next door, Karen and Felicia.

“Have you heard about the couple next door adopting a kid?” asked Felicia.

“Yes. That poor kid, having to be adopted by a bunch of freaks.” Karen mouthed out.

“I mean Wanda’s an okay girl, but I just worry about that boyfriend of hers.”

“Like he’s a freakin machine! You’ve seen all those robot shows. What if he goes all Terminator on that poor little girl?”

“I’d feel safer if her and Wanda bailed when that robot isn’t looking.”

“Amen to that sister. Oh! Did you see the recent Housewives of Orange County….” At this point Vision stopped working and went back inside.

He phased through the wall before levitating himself up towards the master bedroom and just stood there with an array of emotions buzzing about his head. Anger, fear, hurt, heartbroken, but most of all doubt.

Was he really able to take care of a child….scratch that a human being? He was an android after all.  What hope could he possibly have of taking care of a human child? He couldn’t taste properly so there’s no way he’d be able to cook for his new daughter.  There are some human emotions that he still has trouble deciphering, so how would he know what his daughter was feeling, especially once she reached her teenage years?

“Vis?” Wanda’s voice called out to him.  He looked up and saw Wanda kneeling in front of him.  Vision soon took notice that he was now on the floor, his knees curled up close to his chest, his back up against the wall. “Are you okay?”

“Wanda I—”

“Shhh, calm down. Breathe for me.” She placed her hand to the side of his head, her fingers gently brushing against his temple and he closed his eyes taking in a few deep breaths.  “You okay now?”

“Yes. Forgive me I—don’t know what came over me.”

“You were having an anxiety attack.”

“How—how is that possible?” Vision asked.  He was an android how could he have an anxiety attack?

“I don’t know.”

“Well we’ll—we’ll worry about how that’s possible later. Do you want to tell me what it was all about?” Vision looked down with regret and he whispered softly.

“I was a fool to think I could do this.”

“What? What are you saying?”

“Me. Being a—a father. To a human child.”

“What? Vision why—why would you say something like that?”

“I’m not fully human Wanda. I mean yes I can pull the disguise but—when it all comes down to it I’m a machine. After all I was originally supposed to be Ultron’s Vision.”

“But you’re not…….”

“There could be another threat. A threat that—puts you and our……I’m sorry Wanda. I shouldn’t have even spoken up about this.”

“Hey, hey, hey, look at me. Look at me Vision.” She cupped the side of his face. Her eyes filled with concern as her brow furrowed to match the concern in her eyes. “There is nothing wrong with speaking up about something like this. I’m scared too.”

“But you’re at least human. What if I—what if I hurt her?”

“You won’t.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I feel you. Just you. And when we played with (Y/n) just two weeks ago, I could feel just how happy you were. You will not hurt her.”

“But what if…..”

“Stop.” She held out her hand as she spoke softly.  She then moved her hand and gently with her powers, showed Vision a memory of when they first met (Y/n).

Specifically the memory of when both him and (Y/n) were playing together.  It was when she (as the superhero) had slain the reptile creature and he allowed her to climb on top of him and do a victory pose with her fake sword and shield.  After awhile that’s when he suddenly came back alive and he began to playfully tickle her.

After seeing that memory, Vision turned to Wanda and she said with a warm smile.

“That’s how I know you won’t hurt her. After just knowing her for that short 10min. of playtime. You were just like how my father was with me. Kind, caring, and a heart full of love.”

“You do realize I don’t actually have a heart right?” she arched her brow at Vision annoyed. “Right, sorry.”

“You know what I mean. What I’m trying to tell you Vis is that it doesn’t matter whether your human or machine, (Y/n) loves you for who you are, who you’re going to be to her. You’re the only father she’ll never know. And as long as you care and love her, it doesn’t matter what you look like.” Vision nodded and said to his love, tears flickering in his eyes.

“Thank you Wanda. Thank you.”

“I love you Vis. So does (Y/n). I won’t deny that we’ll probably make a million mistakes but so long as we both love her together, I know we’re doing something right.” The two of them shared a soft but loving kiss before embracing each other.

In a few days (Y/n) was soon moved into her new home and just like Wanda told him, they both loved and gave her the care she was denied from her birth parents.

Of course there were the skeptical neighbors but Vision hardly paid them any mind now, because as long as he was loved by his new daughter, that’s all that mattered to him.  

Also I won’t confirm or deny that when Wanda finally found out just who was responsible for putting doubt into Vision’s head in the first place, she may or might not have given Karen visions of her worst memories and fears, while making Felicia think she had a poltergeist in her house.

[towerofgodscreamblogwink]

reading up to 50 but khun keeps being cute, white realizes he’s a femboy, i smooch khun, bam tries to become pro swimmer (fails) ends up having argument with khun about crayons which leads to bam sobbing incoherently, khun soon joins him, so rak just plays jenga in the meantime

in my defence it was 3 am when i wrote it

WHAT ARE THOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE

khun: did we... just... got eaten.. and tfued... by a.. weird cat..

bam: don’t. mention it.

ahhhh there is is, the cursed shirt

could you stop being pretty for like a 5 MINUTES

HE ALWAYS SITS LIKE THIS and jesus ur rly holdin up ur leg like this while talking to bam huh

so he *does* realize he’s a femboy

CUTE

khun saves the day

CUTE

sobs

also i liked a lot the whole flashback, exposition, story, and new info we got from segment about dowon

..what is wrong with YOUR hair

god you better not be simping for white.

just obligatory pretty khun mention

wwwwwwwwwwwwww

wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

rakhunbam: wE aRE HaPPy FAmiLy

i feel clutches in my heart

oh he looks nice -

these heels got DRIP

me @white’s eyelashes WHAT IS WROOONG WITH YOU

SPINEL FROM STEVEN UNIVERSE!?!!?

THIS IS HYPE

ALL HAIL THE QUEEN

remember how bam had a monologue in these chapters where he was remembering how khun followed bam’s principals on the hell train even tho he didn’t understand em?

he looks like he’s swimmin

...

bam: *water noises*

khun: bam, this isn’t best ti-

BAM: I’M GONNA BECOME PRO SWIMMER KHUN, ITS MY NEW DESTINY.

KHUN: THIS IS AIR BAM, THIS DOESN’T COUNT

BAM: WHY DO YOU ALWAYS RUIN MY FUCKING DREAMS?!!?!!??!

KHUN: SORRY FOR NOT LETTING YOU EAT FUCKING CRAYONS?????

BAM: STFU YOU EAT FORKS YOU DEEPTHROATING HYPOCRITE, CRAYONS ARE MUCH SAFER THAN THAT 

KHUN: YEAH BUT I GOT THROAT BLESSED BY GOD APPERANTLY?!??

BAM: WELL AND MINE IS BLESSED BY CRAYON

KHUN: WHAT THE FUCK DOES IT MEAN?!!?!?!!

BAM: I DON’T KNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!! *SOBS*

.

.

...

rak: is he okay- 

bam: *sobs quietly in the corner*

khun:

rak:

rak: why he’s crying

khun: i didn’t let him eat crayons

rak:

khun:

rak: i’m not going to unpack that.

khun: ye-

2 hours later

khun: u know maybe he was just having a bad day, happens to the best of us

rak: u say he had a bad day like he hadn’t have a whole bad life

khun:

khun:

khun: why you’re making it so clear we have issues?

rak:

khun:

and soon khun joined bam to sob in the corner together

rak:

rak:

rak:

rak was just vibing with the dude they were fighting with because rak’s the only unhinged person in this party

the guy:

rak: *eats*

the guy: are they okay-

rak: *eats* no

the guy: 

the guy: can i help?

rak: do you mayhaps know a therapist?

the guy:

the guy: wait tbh i think i do

RAK: FOR REAL!?

RAK: HEY TURTLES WHO WANTS FREE THERAPY SESSION

bam, khun, still sobbing: the wHat?

rak:

the guy:

rak: you know what, this might take longer than i expected

the guy: yeah man no worries i’ll wait, i brought jenga

rak: you’re a modern saint

ultimately it took 6 days for khun and bam to calm down, hence Rak and The Guy had been camping the entire time while playing jenga and trying to find shoes that would fit rak’s feet. then they finally resumed the battle, and rak added The Guy on insta 

me: *smooches khun*

ERRR???

jAHAD???

wait did jahad had a mole??

it’s more believable when she says it and not white

and i oop

irregular swag enters the chat

[likesomekindofcheese]

if you haven't already, family headcanons for the borhap boys? 💞

You bet!!!! I need some indulgent, distracting fluff right now! 

Also, I will assume that by “family’ you mean “starting a family with the BohRap boys” ie them as dads. Please let me know if it’s not what it is!

So if your life involved starting a family with...

Rami

He would spoil that child rotten

It’s not even funny- every shopping trip even to fetch groceries (or from someone getting him groceries bc of the press) he will insist on getting your baby some kind of little snack or toy or new shoes or socks.

When you say no, he widens and then droops his eyes like a puppy and says “pleeeeease!”

His family loves to come over and play and even babysit when you both are busy. His mom knows several lullabies and they plan on teaching the baby everything about coming to America when its old enough.

Though introducing the baby to his twin brother, Sami, was a different deal.

Sami decided to be as clean-shaven as his brother when he first stopped by for dinner, and the reaction on your baby's face was priceless.

It kept looking between Sami and Rami with a slack jaw as if thinking “you’re dad...but you’re also dad....who is dad????”

When the baby is about two years old they always insist on running and hugging Rami every time they see him and it’s adorable.

Joe

First off, you bet he would get a baby carrier the day after the baby arrived and wear it with the child all the time!

Even walking around NYC with sunglasses (and matching sunglasses for the kid) and a fanny pack full of bottles, supplies, diapers, etc.

Though, when he has to look after the little one, he likes to make funny faces to make the baby laugh.

After a few years pass, he has conversations even though the child can only speak in little words or baby talk.

“Uh-oh!” “That was just half a sippy cup of orange juice but that is an uh-oh indeed!”

When the kid is four years old, he shows them Jurassic Park (covering their ears during the swear words!). But they don’t realize Tim is dad!!! And when he says so they don’t believe him!

Plus he would love playing with the kid- from letting them climb all over to “broccoli punching” them to dressing up in a tutu and pretending to be fairy princesses with the child!

He also plays bass for them, like singing a little lullaby when they can’t sleep.

Gwilym

Gwil would definitely cry tears- actual, large, salty tears- when the baby arrives. He would hold it in silence, almost awe.

Then he would just say “hi there...I’m your dad. I’ve waited for you for a long time and now...I just...” and then kiss its forehead.

He would document every “first” the kid does. And keep it in a special notebook.

Though he would love to swing the baby and hum little songs to it all the time. In fact, when the baby first says “dada” he calls his parents in excitement.

That polite little kid would always say “tank you dada,” in the cutest voice.

When it's old enough, you all go hiking and camping together! Often roasting marshmallows by a fire!

He would always read to the child even though your child has a tendency to always ask “why” to everything.

The child would also hang out with him while watching soccer or rugby games- albeit sometimes with a coloring book if they don’t get into it. But as long as their dad gets them a hot chocolate and explains it a little bit they don’t mind!

Ben

I think Ben would be the protective type of dad. Almost helicopter levels at the beginning!

“Oh no you don’t! If you’re going down the slide! Daddy has to go with you!”

But he would love to play with the baby- tossing it lightly up and down but catching it.

When they are older, he loves swinging your child under his arms. He moves around and they wriggle and kick and giggle and he can’t help but smile.

When the kid is old enough- they learn they can Facetime with daddy when he’s filming and show him their drawings or what they’re reading or playing with.

But the kid is also fascinated by playing drums from banging spoons on pots in the kitchen and Ben insists they take a few lessons- soon.

Sometimes he also plays “make-believe” like Joe, though Ben is always the dragon or monster the kids has to fight, and then he has to “play dead.” and it’s hysterical!

And when he arrives home from filming- they always make a big sign on the house saying “welcome home daddy!” with a crayon and marker used drawing of your child and Ben!

Taglist: @queenlover05 @stardust-killer-queen

[cardverseut]

CLOVER KINGDOM =

• This kingdom was one of the poor and decadent of the 4 kingdoms, because of that it had a large number of thieves, assassins and mercenaries. It was not until the arrival of the new King that the kingdom began to prosper and enrich itself, positioned next to Diamante in wealth.

• There is a rivalry between the Clover and Diamond kingdom that is very strong, although the rivalry only comes from Clover. • They have one of the best armies of the 4 kingdoms.

• It is the only kingdom where its rulers are almost always ex-criminals.

• They have the best gastronomy and trade routes. _________ ♧ __________

• KING OF CLOVER =

Name: Nightmare. (Previous name: Night Joku) Age: 26 years. Spouse: Error G. Crayon. Family: ???.

Weapon / Abilities: His body is surrounded by negativity and liquid hatred that he can use at will and form tentacles that can change his density and become affiliated and hard to pierce his enemies. His staff has a hidden katana. It also has the power to feed on negative feelings that people have, making it stronger.

Personality: At first glance, he usually seems very polite and polite, but in reality he is a being who cannot bear insolence; It is known by everyone in the 4 kingdoms that the King of Clover is extremely cruel when he sets out to do it, there were many people who did not want him as king due to his past, but they disappeared. Although what precedes the King's attitude the most is the continuous hatred and competitiveness against the King of Diamonds, nobody understands those clashes between these two kings, but what is known is that, if the King of Diamonds does something, the King Clover will do the same and better. And no one in the Clover kingdom wants to anger their king.

Life before the coronation: The only thing that is known about King Nightmare for sure is that before he was known as "The Nightmare of the Seas", he was the most feared captain of the 4 kingdoms for many years, along with his second-hand Killer, a Day they described their marks and abandoned piracy to rule the clover kingdom. His past before being known as a pirate captain is unknown, but many can see that he has great hatred and dislike for the King of Diamonds.

Bonus fact: He hates sweet things. He is a reading freak and has a great library just for him.

• QUEEN OF CLOVER =

Name: Error G. (Glicht) Crayon Age: 24 years. Spouse: Nightmare. Family: Geno A. (After) Crayon (Big Brother), Fresh S. Crayon (Little Brother), Piggies Q. Crayon (Mother. States = Deceased).

Weapons / Skills: Summoning and manipulation of its magic threads that come out of the tear marks on its face. You can control people's bodies with their strings by wrapping their souls around them, but it is easy to remove control by cutting the strings. Aside from his threads, he is also extremely good with the Halberd.

Personality: Many describe the Queen of Clubs as a grumpy older cat. Her attitude is quite dry and cutting, with the few people she shows affection for is her royal family and the Queen of Sword. But he is usually quite cut between all that, although with the Queen of Diamonds the worst of Error comes out, he usually has several fights that end with the destruction of his surroundings, only his older brother or the Clover family can calm him in that state .

Life before the coronation: Born in Espada, but raised all his life in Clover. After the departure of his older brother to the kingdom of Espada, he was in charge of taking care of his younger brother Fresh. One night, however, there was a great storm on the island where they lived and their house was destroyed and carried away by the sea; Error managed to survive, but his younger brother was taken by the storm with the remains of the house. Unable to bear the thought of telling his mother and brother about his failure to save Fresh; Erase any clues from him, making believe that he died along with his brother in that storm. He lived on the streets of the Clover kingdom, stealing in order to survive, until one day he was captured by the kingdom's guards and sentenced to death. The day of his execution, being prepared to die; the King of Clover himself interrupted the execution. King Nightmare approached Error and showed the Mark of the Clover Queen that she had under her broken gloves of Error, she was immediately acquitted of all her charges and taken to the castle to fulfill her role. For saving her life, Error is indebted to her King and determined to become the best Queen for Clover.

Bonus: He loves to eat chocolate, likes to knit, and stars. She has eyesight problems, but refuses to wear her glasses in full view of people, as she thinks it makes her look vulnerable.

• JACK OF CLOVER =

Name: Killer Raha. Age: 24 years. Spouse / Lover: None. Family: All dead.

Weapon / Skill: It has a greater handling than close-range blades such as knives or pocket knives. He can summon a giant GB (Gaster Blaster) and sharp bones like stakes. He has a natural ability to hide in the shadows, he is always hidden guarding the backs of his kings.

Personality: He is a very sadistic joker and with a sense of humor that many would call sick. It is usually quite "friendly" in its own way, but make no mistake about it; his devotion to his two kings is very great and he will do everything they tell him without hesitation, one day when you least expect it he can stab you in the back without hesitation. Despite all this, he hardly ever interacts with anyone, he usually remains in the shadows taking care of his kings' backs.

Story before being the Jack: His family died in unknown ways one day (it is rumored that he was the one who killed them) and with their money he bought a ship and began his life as a pirate with some comrades.

One day he met Nightmare and after he covered him from being caught by the guards, Killer gave his boat and his crew to his new "owner" without hesitation, as a sign of gratitude and loyalty. After a few years they became the most feared pirates of the 4 kingdoms, his Jack mark appeared on his left cheek and left the piracy behind after Nightmare ordered. He and his comrades became the personal and undercover assassins of their kings.

Extra: He has a taste for spicy ketchup. He loves stars and sits with his Queen watching them on sleepless nights

[ag-superart]

Skeleverse!Ink: Age: around 983 Family: mom: Comet Comyet, brothers: Reaper Comyet [986] and Cross Comyet [985] partner: Error Queen, children: Gradient Errorink [14, boy] and Paper Jam (Pj) Errorink [14, boy], nieces/nephews: Grim [12, boy, Afterdeath]   Closest friends (in no order): Error, Dream, Blue, Geno [985], Fresh [983], King Multiverse (Multi), Error404 (404), Fatal!Error (Fatal), Gin (dead, they were like brothers but never lovers).

Skeleverse!Error: Age: 984 (around) Family: mom: Crayon Queen (Cq), brothers: Geno Queen, Fresh Queen, partner: Ink Comyet, children: Gradient Errorink, Pj Errorink, nieces/nephews: Grim Afterdeath Closest friends (no order): Ink, Blue, Cross, Reaper, Code, Nightmare, Horror, Error404, Multi, Fatal. (both Ink and Error are friends with the other sanses just not as close and they are also close friends with some of their aus/ams but I didn’t want to list them all) 

                        Ink and Error’s Backstory (my multiverse/au) 

Both Ink and Error grew up in the au where the comic Momma Cq took place, I call this au Comictale due to other comics (ex: Undertale Green on YouTube) being able to happen there. But onto the backstory of Ink and Error, we start when Ink was 2, him and his brother’s father was the god of death before Reaper and was killed by another god in battle, it is unknown who killed him. Due to their father being killed, at the age of 6 one year after their father’s death, Reaper was sent to Reapertale to begin training to become the new god of death. Comet and Cross made shore to talk about Reaper and show Ink pictures of him so Ink would not forget about his older brother, Reaper didn’t forget about his family. All went well until six years later, Cross was 11 and Ink was 9. That year was when disaster struck. No one knows what happened to the original XTale!Sans but something happened to him leaving XTale without a sans. Unable to bring him back with overwrite or reset X!Gaster decided to get a “new” sans, so at the age of 11 Cross was kidnaped and bring to XTale, this is one of the reasons why Ink does not trust Gasters. A year after Crosses abduction Ink and Comet met the Queen family and then all the advents of the Momma Cq comic took place. When Geno was 17, Error 16 and Ink and Fresh 15 disaster struck again. X!Gaster used overwrite and unknowingly caused a glitch known as an overwrite glitch to happen. The overwrite glitch teleported Geno to the save screen, teleported Fresh to a random au and turned him into a parasite, Fresh was lucky enough to encounter someone willing to be his host, this skeleton’s name is Nyan and him and Fresh are now very close friends, no one other then Fresh knows about Nyan. Back on topic, Ink and Error were teleported to the same au, Wingtale. (Wingtale is based off of the Wings of War au) 

When Ink and Error arrived in Wingtale, an au made completely of feather winged skeletons, they had also gained wings, both pares feathered, Ink’s being tan and rainbow feathers and Error’s being black and red. They were soon greeted by the Gaster of that au, Wing!Gaster, he had three pares of wings instead of the normal one pare and as soon as he saw Ink’s rainbow feathers he also looked at Error and noticed that he glitched. Wing!Gaster, without a second thought had Error’s wings ripped apart and him throne off a cliff into the shadow lands, a place where exiles are taken. “WHY DID YOU DO THAT!!!” Ink shouted with rage “It was for your own good,” Wing!Gaster replied “That glitch could have faded your beautiful rainbow feathers, and we don’t want that now do we?” Ink only stood in silence, Wing!Gaster never would care about Ink, only the rainbow feathers. A year and half later, after having to follow Wing!Gaster around like some kind of living trophy every day, Ink decided to sneak out of the golden palace and explore outside of it. He was exploring the shadow lands, which were more of just a bunch of old runes that were in the shadows of the mountains around them, Ink stopped, he had thought he heard something. Suddenly something ran out of the shadows, shouting Ink’s name, and gave him a big, glitchy, leathery winged hug. “Ink its you! Its really you!” the two continued to hug, “Error!?! I missed you so much! Are those leather wings! They are so cool!” Ink and Error would hang out every night, not that it really mattered in the shadow lands. They continued doing this for about six months, until they were discovered by a skeleton who worked for Wing!Gaster. The next day Wing!Gaster asked for Ink to come in to his throne room and before Ink could ask what was going on Wing!Gaster, SNAPPED, one of Ink’s wings off. “If you ever go to see that dirty glitch again I will take something much more valuable than a wing.” It only took about six months for Ink’s wing to grow back as a tan and rainbow leather wing. Soon after his wing grew back Ink decided to go see Error again, little did Ink know that he was followed. The two skeletons that Wing!Gaster had sent to follow Ink grabbed him as soon as Ink and Error had come in site of each other and dragged Ink to Wing!Gaster’s throne room. “I warned you Ink” Wing!Gaster said, Error had followed Ink back up into the palace this time and what happened next TRAUMATIZED Error. Wing!Gaster RIPPED out Ink’s soul and Ink, going almost emotionless as soon as his soul left his body, screamed and cried louder and more painfully then anyone had ever screamed before. Something else happened when Ink lost his soul. His rainbow feathers turned white, even on the wing that Wing!Gaster had snapped off that he kept in a case above his throne. Wing!Gaster did not like this one bit so, pulling Ink, with Error hugging his friend, Wing!Gaster took the two of them to the top of the mountain, to a ledge reserved for exacting people due to how high it was and because of how the air moved there it made it impossible to fly. Wing!Gaster then through Ink and Error off and walked away and to this day believes that they are dead. But that is not how this story ends, Ink and Error, a little more then half was down the mountain, were caught in many black strings. Thoughts were the strings of Error404 who had saved them and took them to Alphatale where King Multiverse gave Ink his vials and taught both Error and Ink how to use them properly. (you give Ink the yellow and blue vials to give him normal emotions, not pink and red that will turn him into a yandere, Ink is color blind when his vials run out) Ink and Error also became the gods of creation and destruction during their time in Alphatale, they didn’t stay there permanently though as they eventually went on their own paths but they still check in on their godly friends every so often.

Facts: 

After the first overwrite (the overwrite glitch) all of Comictale other then the neighborhood that Ink and Error lived in was paused so now the only people that could move where the ones in that neighborhood at the time of the glitch. 

After his mother and father got a divorce (his dad moved out of the country) and his mother killed in a shooting Uncle Asy adopted Decans and the two of them live in Cq’s house with Cq, Comet and Sour (they live there because of the overwrite glitch, see above fact)   

Uncle Asy is asylum!sans, a previous overwrite glitch caused him to be teleported to Comictale and age like a normal skeleton, Guardian (asylum!Papyrus) still follows Asy around and Asy’s mental health is much better. Decans, Cq, Comet and Sour all know about Asy being a former sans and about Guardian. He told them after the first overwrite.

Sugar and Sour were having a sleepover with the Queen brothers, Ink and Decans when the first overwrite happened, Sugar was teleported to Sugartale and him and Geno still keep in touch.

It has been almost 1,000 years sense the first overwrite and the people of Comictale (who are not paused) know this and so the the Queen brothers, the Comyet and Sugar. No one has aged physically in Comictale. 

Ink and Error are able to hide their wings and do so when around sanses other than Geno, Fresh, Reaper Cross or any of their friends from Alphatale, if their is anyone else around they will not show them.

Ink and Error are a part of the Multiverse Alliance, which is a group of Ink and Error aus/ams, the MA HQ is in accidentverse and they have a rule says that if you are outside of your multiverse (or in MA HQ) you are under a mandatory truce. 

Ink and Error met Dream and Nightmare before the apple incident, at the time Ink had Gin’s mask on over his face and Error was wearing his mask and had his hood up, they use these as discuses when doing god work and they have their wings showing when doing this too. Dream and Nightmare don’t recognize Ink and Error as Create and Destroy. (thoughts are the names they use when doing their god work) One reason they don’t recognize Ink and Error is because it has been more than 500 years sense then, they do remember the names Create and Destroy though because of how kind they were to Nightmare.

In my multiverse Dream knew that the villagers didn’t like Nightmare but he did not know about the physical bullying, the villagers would call Nightmare names and Dream did know about that, he would stop them whenever he could.

Geno met Reaper once in Comictale one night while Geno was in the hospital, Reaper could sense that there was something different about this soul he had been sent to reap so he gave Geno a choice of if he wanted Reaper to reap him the normal way or to just touch him, which even though it is slower it is less painful. Geno picked the second choice and when he didn’t start to die both were surprised and Reaper left saying: “You are special, I hope we meet again.”  

[cyarskaren52]

3'

OPINIONREPORTED OPINION

"GROOMERS": MAGA parents who sexualize and teach kids to shoot are the real problem

TARA DUBLINMARCH 24, 2023

Every accusation is a confession when it comes to MAGA propaganda, and Donald Trump’s MAGA fanatics constantly prove this point over and over without any help from liberals.

They’ve also been carefully teaching their kids for decades to hate and fear anyone who isn’t a “white Christian nationalist” which essentially translates into “Nazi” with just fewer words.

At the same time, House Republicans have been aggressively scapegoating drag queens as “groomers” while ignoring the presence of credibly accused sex trafficking Florida-man rapist Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and other members of their party who have been arrested for child porn.

The GOP also votes against SNAP and Social Security benefits while trying to destroy public education and attempting to loosen up regulations regarding gun ownership.

Their “New Baby Boom” plan is a thinly disguised plot to create an obedient white army of complacent haters.

How much more proof do you need that MAGA is an evil sex and death cult?

Check this Christmas card photo of Lauren “Squeaky” Boebert (Q-CO via “The Charles Manson Room” at a Boulder condo owned by Ted Cruz) and her four unfortunate sons, one of whom recently impregnated his underage girlfriend.

Granny Bobo is going to be a great-grandma by age 50 if she doesn’t teach the rest of her sons how to use birth control.

And then there’s Marjorie Groomer Taylor Greene, who won’t stop transphobically tweeting about kids’ genitals while letting Gaetz hang out around her three teenagers, two of whom are girls.

Thankfully there’s at least going to be some accountability for two MAGA gun groomers in Michigan.

The parents of Oxford High School mass shooter Ethan Crumbley (oh what a name), who killed four of his fellow students and injured seven others, are being charged with involuntary manslaughter because they bought their underage kid a gun.

The Michigan state appeals court said the mass shooting wouldn’t have happened if the Crummy Crumbleys hadn’t purchased the death weapon gun for Ethan, or if they had taken him home from Oxford High School on the day of the shooting when staff became “alarmed” about his extreme drawings, according to court documents.

The Crumbleys have said they’ll take their case to the Michigan Supreme Court, but I don’t love their odds.

“What a nice family they seem to be!”, said literally no one on Twitter.

Follow Tara Dublin on Twitter @taradublinrocks.

Editor’s note: This is an opinion column that solely reflects the opinions of the author.

Ethan Crumbley

groomers

gun groomers

Lauren Boebert

MAGA groomers

Marjorie Taylor Greene

Matt Gaetz

Oxford High School

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Politics

OPINIONOPINION: The Super Bowl represents everything wrong about AmericaFebruary 12, 2023

The Super Bowl values conflict, aggression, and extreme jingoism — polarizing its audience in the same way that American politics functions.

Economy

With state and local officials facing dwindling tax revenue in the pandemic, the House Speaker told CNN that "They should be impatient."

A "looming" housing crisis is coming and Ocasio-Cortez warns the GOP they won't escape the blame

April 25, 2020

"There'll be a lot of death": Trump says, presses unproven cures in Saturday pandemic press briefing

April 4, 2020

New details reveal another Trump coronavirus misstep in early February

April 4, 2020

Trump daily virus presser: boasting about his Facebook popularity and talks of "Mexican violence"

April 1, 2020

Human rights

The president didn't want his claims that everyone has all the equipment they need to be contradicted by a medical professional.

Despite a gall bladder infection, the indefatigable Supreme Court justice asked tough questions while fighting for women's rights.

Reporter Gabriel Sherman's latest article shows how insider political considerations, and Jared Kushner, put the country in the condition it's in today.

Healthcare

The president wasn't happy with the nation's leading infectious disease specialist's response to how COVID-19 can affect the nation's youngest citizens.

Wrong almost half the time! New report says Trump's White House COVID-19 testing is deeply flawed

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May 11, 2020

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Trump waxes nostalgic for the thrill of the crowds at combative Wednesday press briefing

April 22, 2020

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3'

OPINION

OPINION: The Super Bowl represents everything wrong about America

VINNIE LONGOBARDOFEBRUARY 12, 2023

Somehow I didn’t get the sports gene — making me a rather atypical American male who doesn’t give a crap about the Super Bowl.

I’d rather read, listen to music, or go bird-watching for some superb owls than watch a bunch of testosterone-laden athletes give each other Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in order to offer an opportunity for America’s richest advertisers to hawk their wares in between plays.

I know that as a hetero male with no interest in sports, I am in the extreme minority in this country, and many people would find it difficult to relate to me accordingly.

I certainly know that the position I am about to espouse will not be a popular one.

I will state it proudly anyway:

The Super Bowl represents everything that’s wrong with American culture and with American politics in particular.

American football, like any team sport, is based on a divisive, us-vs.-them mentality that pits two groups and their supporters in opposition.

And unlike the sport referred to as football in the rest of the world (it’s called soccer here), no ties or draws are allowed, meaning that only one possible victor is possible in the competition.

In that regard, it’s pretty much exactly like politics — although we rarely witness losers of crucial games go on extended rants claiming that the game was “rigged” and refusing to accept the results.

It’s a sport of winners and losers, mirroring the outcomes of our capitalist economy on its participants.

While many an imagining of utopia envisions a cooperative, competition-free society where everyone looks after their neighbors and values their well-being as much as their own, the reality of human selfishness and the complex tribalism of our planet’s inhabitants means conflict is inevitable.

Does this mean that passionate obsession with team sports must be as well?

The divisiveness and violence inherent in the Super Bowl are indeed representative of some of the worst aspects of American culture, but the commercialization of the event is equally emblematic of our society.

Only the most lucrative enterprises can afford to pony up for a Super Bowl ad, reflecting the economic inequality between wealthy and poverty-stricken families.

Moreover, the ads that these flush corporations run reinforce the notion that money can buy happiness and success.

And how many players, coaches, and fans will invoke their deity today, praying for victory or cursing their misfortune, in a transactional form of spirituality devoid of the golden rule?

Another thing: while politics may be just as competitive a team sport as football, at least the Democrats and Republicans have added a few females to their teams, unlike the NFL.

With the fracturing of the media landscape brought on by the nearly infinite choices now available on the internet, the Super Bowl is one of the last live media events that can attract the type of mass viewing audience that regularly helped shape a common culture back in the days when viewing was restricted to three major TV networks.

It’s a shame that the only nearly universally-viewed programming that exists today is a violent exhibition of conflict, aggression, and extreme jingoism.

If only the one TV broadcast that attracts the biggest audience encouraged cooperation, instead of competition.

Still, it’s foolish not to expect the Super Bowl to reflect the reality of American culture.

But one can dream, can’t they

Follow Vinnie Longobardo onTwitter. 

Editor’s note: This is an opinion column that solely reflects the opinions of the author.

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[culinarynyccom]

Cooking Classes in NYC For Kids and Teens

New York City is a culinary mecca, with its famous restaurants, amazing bakeries, decadent desserts and fabulous ice cream. It's also home to some of the best cooking classes around, where aspiring chefs can sharpen their skills and try their hand at dishes like fresh pasta, sushi and cupcakes.Looking more visit https://culinary-nyc.com/.

These classes can be the perfect way to rekindle your love for cooking, or it can be a fun way to try something new. From dabblers to serious home cooks, there's a class for everyone!

Whether you're looking to sharpen your cooking skills or learn more about another culture's cuisine, these cooking classes in NYC will teach you the basics. From knife skills to how to make sushi, if you're an aspiring chef, these courses will have you preparing a meal at home in no time.

Kids' Cooking Clubs in NY

For the littlest chefs, these cooking classes are the perfect way to learn the ropes of the kitchen. They range from daytime caregiver-and-me classes for toddlers and preschoolers to evening drop-off sessions with an adult for bigger kids.

What to Expect: This Soho-based culinary school has a series of one-time workshops and weeklong camps for kids 8 to 12 (tweens and teens opt for the adult options), with themes such as regional cuisines and dim sum. A highlight is a "Make & Take" class, in which budding chefs learn to prepare a full-scale dinner for five.

Murray's Cheese & Culinary Studio

For anyone with a love of cheese, this Soho-based cheese shop and culinary studio offers plenty of opportunities to pick up the skills of a master cheesemaker, including a weekly class on mozzarella making. They have a small but well-stocked storefront and also host an annual artisanal cheese-making festival in June.

YCA: Queens Culinary Arts Academy

A Soho-based culinary school for tweens and teens, YCA's classes focus on stage-by-stage instruction to help students grow their skills and build confidence in the kitchen. They offer single-session and semester-long workshops that explore various themes and cuisines, including an upcoming session focused on Chinese New Year.

Claim to Fame: This upscale culinary studio is all about teaching kids how to become more aware of their food's cultural significance. The Soho location's spacious, modern space includes two fully equipped kitchens that overlook the Empire State Building and an outdoor garden, as well as a large library of books about different cultures' food traditions.

The classes are geared toward students of all ages, but they're especially popular with children. Younger participants can join a parent-and-me class or an evening session where they can bring their friends to enjoy the fruits of their labors, complete with snacks and a YCA chef hat.

Freshmade: Everyone's dream kitchen

With a huge, double-oven kitchen, elevated ceilings and room for everyone to chop, stir and create delicious dishes, this Soho bakery is a great place to take the kids for a special date night or fun, family cooking class. There's a library wall with kids' cookbooks and a waiting area stocked with stuffed play foods and crayons to keep little hands busy while they're in the kitchen.

[sonofsallyjackson]

Family Never Truly Leaves Us: Chapter 1 featuring Baby Lost Trio

AO3 

Summary:  Thalia Grace was very good at finding her family.  Keeping that family together was a completely different story.  Her first family collapsed when her brother’s disappearance became too much to bear.  She died for her second family, only to wake up years later and not recognize them anymore.   Her third family is literally twenty-odd teenagers and an immortal virgin goddess, but she’s never been one for traditional. 

AN: Basically this is a three part story that was inspired by @silima’s incredible art of the lost trio together as kids.  I mean just look at it.  Baby Piper, Leo and Jason are absolutely adorable and deserved to be celebrated.  However, this turned into a Thalia piece and the three different families she’s made for herself.  As I initially planned to have this chapter out by Jason’s birthday and it’s now the last hours of Leo’s, I cannot hope to have the next section up by Annabeth’s birthday even if that’s my unofficial deadline.  

Thalia Grace was very good at finding her family.  Keeping that family together was a completely different story.  

Her first family was one pulled together just as much biologically as it had been by circumstance.   Beryl Grace lacked the maternal instinct necessary to be a good mother, but she did have a strong ability for finding people who might be useful to her.  Of course, her definition of useful was particularly fickle.  Some days useful meant the literal king of the gods, who she would beg to make her queen of his dominion, to revere her above all others.  Other days it meant the personal assistant, all too willing to fill their mansion with a never-ending supply of alcohol.  On the best days, it brought Tristan Mclean, Esperanza Valdez and their children into their lives.  

Beryl had mocked her agent at first.  You really couldn’t get me anything better?  The Oscar committee hates fantasy.  But she had wanted to dive back into the world of Hollywood elite where she belonged.   She wanted to prove that her second child didn’t mean she had let herself go or was less worthy of the public’s adoration.  If anything Beryl claimed to six-year-old Thalia, I’m more worthy.  Who can say they’ve attracted a god twice?    

They met in the middle, as Beryl Grace’s fame was crashing, and Tristan Mclean's was preparing for a meteoric rise.  He'd worked with the director on a few minor projects, but it was his first starring role in such a big-budget film.  Regardless, it had taken a little convincing.  After all, he was a single father with a daughter under the age of two, and his closest family was halfway across the country.  But the director was insistent, sending scripts, pictures of the prototype animatronic dragons, and finally, a pretty young woman from the special effects department who also had a little kid.  Esperanza Valdez and her honest approach to how she was handling her "tornado with legs" did more to calm his fears than anything else did.  Tristan signed on enthusiastically after making sure childcare was handled.    

Beryl Grace didn’t bother to consider something as bland as childcare.  After all,  she accumulated a list of nannies over the years.  No one stuck around very long.  The latest, Mrs. Costa, thought their house was haunted.  She didn’t like the way wind danced through the house or the lightning that flashed even when the sky was completely clear.  One day Mrs. Costa ran out of the house, screaming that the baby was floating and needed to be exorcised.  

"I don't have time to be dealing with this, Thalia." Beryl snapped as if this was all Thalia’s fault.  “I’m calling the studio.”  

It turned out the studio had no problem with adding two more children to their makeshift daycare.  Beryl Grace dropped them off at Tristan Mclean’s trailer, apologizing all the way as she runs to makeup.  The trailer was a mess of children’s toys and storybooks.  Thalia was not impressed, but Jason squealed excitedly at the other children already on the floor.   The girl definitely dressed herself, decked out as she was in a rainbow tutu, a camo t-shirt and rainboots despite the fact they’re in the middle of a drought.  The boy didn’t say anything but offered Jason the red block he’d previously been playing with.   He’s smaller than Jason, with dark curly hair and an infectious smile.  Thalia’s never felt more out of place as she watches the three of them play.  She’s used to being Jason’s whole world, the one who always keeps him entertained and safe.   The blond intern boredly watching them, jumped to her feet as the door opened again.   A woman slightly younger than her mother with dark skin and twinkling brown eyes smiled at her easily.  

"Thanks so much for covering for me, Sarah.  We should be good to go.  I only had to explain the controls about six times to Pat.”

"Really,  Esperanza? They're letting Pat handle it."  There's clear annoyance in her voice, but she also seems resigned to the fact.  

"It turns out being the producer's son has its perks."   Esperanza patted Sarah's shoulder encouragingly.   "If it were up to me, you'd be the one running it.”  

“I’ll come get you if we run into problems, but I think you’re good to stay with the kids.”  Sarah glanced in Thaila’s direction as if to remind her boss of their unusual charges.  

“Well, you’ll know where to find me.”  

After Sarah had left, Esperanza set her walkie talkie on the table before kneeling down, so she was eye to eye with Thalia.  "Hello Mija,  you must be Thalia.  I don't know what your mother told you, but my name is Esperanza. I’m going to be looking after you and your brother today.”  

Thalia nodded uncertainly.  She was used to new people coming into their lives, but that didn't mean she liked it.  And she knew all too well, that even the people with the brightest smiles could bring trouble.

"The other little munchkins are Piper and Leo." Piper didn't even react to her name as she was too busy building a tower, so a giggling Jason could knock it over.  Leo, on the other hand, gave his Mama a curious glance before promptly shoving a block in his mouth.  

“Jason tries to eat everything too!” Thalia said with a slight laugh.  

“They tend to do that at this age.  It helps them explore their world better.”  Esperanza gently encouraged Leo to take it out only to have her son holding tightly to her like a spider monkey.  

Thalia sort of understood that.  She didn’t understand the world either, but she didn’t think knowing how blocks tasted really made Jason any more of an expert.  

“Most of the toys we have are meant for someone their age, but I’m sure we can find something for you to play with.”      

In the end, Thalia settled down with a stack of paper and crayons.   She sat as close to Jason as possible, just on the outside of the trio’s little circle.  Even though she already felt like Esperanza was better at keeping an eye on Jason than Mrs. Costa, Thalia continually checked in on her brother, although her glances slowly subside from one for every new line she added to her drawing to only when she grabbed a new crayon or when one of the kids let out an indignant squawk or a giggle.  

When Piper requested a song for naptime,  it’s easy to slip into a gentle sleep until the trailer door opened, and Thalia heard her mother's voice.

Beryl fluttered her eyelashes at Tristan as she leaves exaggerated kisses on her children’s heads.  “I really can’t thank you enough for helping today.”  

He let out the hearty genuine laugh that he’ll be known for one day.  “It was all Esperanza, really.” He said as he offered the other woman a smile.  “In this industry, single parents need to stick together.  Helping out for the week is the least we can do.”  

It ended up being much more than a week.

Many days on set are often the same as their first, although a collection of toy cars, a robot, and a pair of lightsabers are added to the more toddler-friendly options.  There are days when the kids are so full of energy there’s no possible way to stay in the trailer.  The trio ran laps around the trailer or race between wherever Thalia and Esperanza are standing.  

Sometimes if they promise to be good, they even go on adventures to see different parts of the studio lot.  The women in the hair and makeup department dote on Piper.  Leo is happiest in his mother’s workshop.  Jason proclaimed he wants to be exactly like the stunt actors, which made Thalia’s heart skip a beat.  Despite all of the cool things she’s seen on set, Thalia loved the days they watch their parents act the most.  When Thalia watched her mother, she felt like she understands why Beryl is so determined to make it here.  She thrived in front of the lights and camera.   There's an ease to her smiles that Thalia hasn’t seen since her father left.

After one late-night shoot where the children all slept over in the Mclean house, the families traded the trailer for their homes. Esperanza's schedule barely overlapped with the other two. She got to set early to set up her machines, or she went later for the nightly repairs.  In the hours where makeup calls overlapped with set-up, a tired production assistant lazily watched the kids in Tristan’s trailer.  There are days where Beryl filmed, and Tristan didn't, and vice versa. Days when Tristan took all four children because Esperanza needed to get some decent sleep.  They look out for each other. While Beryl was not thrilled about the idea of two additional kids in her house, it’s a lot easier to keep a babysitter than a nanny.

Undoubtedly, this strategy would have been completely impossible if the three toddlers hadn't been friends.  Luckily, the kids got along almost too well.  Even if they saw each other nearly every day, separating them was a nightmare.  They also were more than willing to help out in each other's schemes.  Jason’s determination to put absolutely everything in his mouth had only grown as he got older.  Sure things kept falling off of high shelves as if pushed by some invisible force, but Thalia thought she’d probably be able to handle that if it hadn’t been for Leo.  He was a week younger, but when he got the occasional look of mischief on his chubby face, Thalia knew it was over. She’d walked in from school twice now to find Jason chewing on something she knew was in one of the locked cabinets and Leo proudly smiling on the counter.  

Of course all good things come to an end.  Thalia worried that with no movie bonding the three families together, everything would fall apart, that she and Jason would be left to their own devices.  She realized she shouldn’t have worried when Beryl mentioned they’re spending the Premiere night at the Valdez’s.  Three assistants needed to sew Beryl into a form-fitting dress with embroidery that looks like the night stars.   Her mother may have looked radiant on the red carpet, but Thalia preferred Esperanza’s mismatched pajamas and the genuine smiles she gave as she tucks the four of them in.  

In the end, the film flopped.  The only things critics deemed worthy of any praise are Esperanza’s mechanical dragons.  The fans seem to prefer the shirtless Tristan Mclean scenes.  It had the potential to be a cult classic one day, but Beryl Grace didn’t care about being famous someday.   She wanted the world now when she’s young and beautiful.  She already deserved the world.  

It was probably for the best that Beryl misses most of the party.  It's the easy sort of affair that she would hate.  She's always been one for spectacle, and three kids sitting in highchairs flinging red frosting at each other was not a spectacle.   She chose her career over her son’s third birthday.  It didn’t even surprise Thalia anymore.  

“You know I can’t Thalia.  My agent says this is a big opportunity we’ve been waiting for. I just know it’s the one.”   Beryl said as she pulled up to the Valdez’s apartment building.  

Thalia didn’t mention that every audition, every lunch, every cocktail hour seemed to be the one lately.  Her mother is frazzled in a way she’s never seen her before.  She hasn’t accepted that there is no new movie coming.  A new blonde-haired, blue-eyed ingenue showed up in Hollywood every day, and they’re almost all younger and easier to work with than Beryl Grace.  

“I’ll be there later, Sweetie.”  She handed Thalia a disposable camera. “You’ll just have to show me what I miss.”  

It’s almost funny how their birthdays align so perfectly.  Piper’s is in June and  Leo and Jason’s a week apart.  They held the party together since the kids wouldn't know differently anyway.  Unlike Beryl, Tristan took the day off from auditions.   Esperanza had already spent the entire night before making enough food for an army.  

Thalia blew up a hundred silver balloons, never realizing that an eight-year-old should have been out of breath much sooner and that without helium, her balloons should stay firmly on the ground.   Some of them do, but most float easily around the apartment.  Piper and Leo bounced one back and forth to each other, giggling the entire time.  Jason practically pounced on one and tries to eat it.  It pops beneath him, which seemed to be enough to convince him not to put this strange thing in his mouth.  He joined the other two, although he took great pleasure in hitting the balloon as hard as he can at Thalia to convince her to join them.  

There’s easy laughter, homemade tamales, and little shouts of “Tree! Tree! Tree!”  as the birthday kids marched around the room, announcing their age proudly for everyone to hear despite not mastering the sound an h makes.   The pictures Thalia took are more for herself then Beryl, to remind herself of how happy she was.  This is probably for the best as Beryl never asks to look at the pictures.  

Maybe in another world, Thalia would feel like it was impossible to go to school, to leave Jason alone with their mother or the nanny of the month for the day.  But in this world, Thalia has other adults in her corner.  The three children stayed together in a play-pin in Esperanza’s workshop or Tristan’s office as he looked for his next big role.  It wasn’t an ideal scenario since by the time they were three and a half,  they were more than capable of making a break for it.  But they’d learned early not to touch anything besides their toys, that masterful escapes were meant for playing in the yard or for grabbing extra crayons and that if necessary the parents could find other arrangements, potentially separate arrangements.  Personal assistants and nannies filled in where the parents couldn’t, but these had been hired by parents who actually cared about their children.  

School was hard enough in this world where the letters floated off the page, and Thalia couldn't sit still, so Thalia truly couldn’t imagine a worse one.  But after school, when there were no glowering teachers or odd children with one eye, Thalia relaxed.   She sat at the short wooden table in whoever’s living room they were staying at for the day and stubbornly work on her homework as Leo put together puzzles, and Piper roped Jason into creating larger than life storylines for her Barbies.

Piper seemed to know when her homework made her want to scream because she would ask in her sweetest voice, “Tally, play now?”  

“Who am I today, Pipes?”  

Jason might try to hand her the doll he'd previously been sucking on, but usually, Piper had something very specific in mind.   There’s Sofia, the redheaded murder suspect complete with purple crayon scars.  Or Ama, the princess in disguise that Jason attacked with a pair of safety scissors, so she's almost bald.   Or a million other characters with intricate backstories.  

Piper occasionally needed to pause their play because “Jason was doing it all wrong” or because she needed to ask Leo to build their characters a castle out of Legos.  But overall, Thalia could play with the kiddos for hours after school.  

Occasionally things were bad.  Beryl would be sent home from a shoot early, alcohol heavy on her breath.  Daytime soap actresses were a dime a dozen, and no one had the patience for a woman past her prime who could barely remember her lines and couldn't even stand without swaying.  (Beryl’s character was given a brain tumor to explain her behavior and allow the writers time to get rid of the fan favorite.)  Those days featured doors slamming and screaming.  If they’re at the Grace Mansion, Thalia made sure the kiddos were safely out of sight and occupied, before ducking behind the kitchen counter so she can call for reinforcements.  Mostly though, she found about these sorts of days after the fact, when Tristan’s assistant drove the two of them home, and there would be broken glasses and picture frames with their mother passed out in her bedroom.  

Despite this, Thalia grew up loved, even if that love didn’t come from her biological parents.  Tristan tried to entice her to read even though it's hard.  He pretended he needed someone to run lines with and encouraged Thalia to be as dramatic as possible.  Somehow it didn’t matter that the words are swimming in front of her,  she’s only nine, and the idea of collapsing dramatically into fake tears is so much more powerful than her fear of getting something wrong.  It certainly helped that her captive audience of toddlers seems to love everything she did.   Piper and Jason always seemed to giggle when she reads the lines in a sing-song voice, so Thalia goes out of her way to do it, even when the part didn’t call for it.  Esperanza played rock music that allowed Thalia to scream out her frustration and dance around the kitchen in the Valdez apartment.  It's a wild mass of limbs, and she doesn’t even know which language Leo is yelling in half the time.  But it feels right.  She has a family that loves her.  

When they moved out of the mansion into a cramped apartment,  Thalia told herself it didn't matter.  This cold house with its glass walls and minimalist furnishings never really felt like home.  The new apartment sort of did after Thalia covered her side of the room in scotch tape and pictures. She's collected evidence of everything her mother missed during her auditions, her soap operas, and eventually her hours as a waitress.  There's Tristan playing ring-around-the-Rosie, and Piper refusing to wear anything not dinosaur themed.  Jason smiling despite his stitches because he tried to eat a stapler.  Leo stands proudly in front of his first project, little wrench still in hand.  There's a slightly blurry picture of Esperanza teaching her how to make enchiladas.  Thalia captured everything.  Maybe someday her mother would see them and be sorry she missed this.

On Thalia’s 10th birthday, her mother didn’t give her a gift.  It’s almost like she can’t see her anymore.   Beryl spent the entire day reminiscing about Zeus.  Thalia is not her own person.  She’s her father’s black hair and startling blue eyes.  She has Zeus’ determined face and his chin.  Thalia is proof that in the long scheme of things, Beryl has won, won the affection of a god, and that no matter how much further they fall, no one can take that prize away from her.  

Thalia didn’t particularly like the idea of being the child of a god, especially since she hasn’t seen her father since Jason was born.  She wasn’t sure she truly believed it either.  It seemed like just another fantasy Beryl latched onto the idea in a drunken haze.  Thalia barely saw her mother sober anymore.  If she was a child of a god, Thalia should feel powerful and important.  Instead, she's just alone with her baby brother on her birthday.  

She got birthday phone calls from both the Mcleans and the Valdezs, but they’re not here.  It’s three days before Christmas after all.  Esperanza’s extended family in Texas took the holiday very seriously, and Tristan finally had a long enough break from shooting to go home to Oklahoma.  She smiled brightly when they gave her presents later, a leather jacket and extra cameras, and doesn’t tell them the truth that even thinking about her birthday made her heart ache.  

In the weeks leading up to Jason’s fifth birthday,   Beryl got worse. She didn’t acknowledge her children, wandering the house in a daze, muttering under her breath.  

Thalia put on a brave face and told Jason, “Mom’s just practicing for a new role,” but she was terrified.  

Thalia saw her arguing with people who aren’t there, her mother’s eyes wide and tortured.  None of her pleas made any sense.  "No, you can't have him.  I need more time."   “He’s my son, not hers! You didn’t even let me name him.”  “Why can’t you protect us?”  

Jason nearly threw a tantrum when Beryl suggested they have a birthday picnic.  “No!  We always celebrate with Piper and Leo!”  

Thalia glared at her mother before kneeling to face her brother. "We'll see them tomorrow, Jay. But for now, we'll go see the woods and the stars.  You'll be able to run around as much as you want."  

“Really? As much as I want?”  

Thalia almost groaned, knowing she'll regret those words later.  She’ll have to chase him down, and Jason runs like he's practically flying.  

Beryl gave her a grateful look, but Thalia didn’t return it.  Sure her mother was making an effort, but they both deserve so much more after everything she has put them through.  

Jason was the only one to speak the entire drive to the state park.  He sang the alphabet about six times and twinkle-twinkle little star twice.  But he never stopped talking, not even as Thalia unbuckled him from his car seat, and the three of them walked through the state park.

Beryl’s hands shook as she set their picnic basket by the pond. “Sweetheart, I think we forgot the blanket.  Why don’t you run back to the car and grab it?”  

“Sure,”  Thalia shrugged.  “Jason, why don’t you come with me?”  

He looked ready to shout that he’ll “race her back” when Beryl put an arm around his shoulder, a sickly-sweet smile on her face.  “Really, Thalia.  I can watch my own son for two minutes.”    

Thalia swallowed.  She seemed more put together today, but her mother is an actress, and appearances can be misleading. Thalia practically ran from their spot near the ruins to the car.  

It took a few minutes to realize there was no picnic blanket.  Thalia wanted to think it's a coincidence that Beryl actually thought they brought the blanket, but the sinking feeling in her stomach let her know it was likely always a distraction, a wild goose chase to get her away from Jason.  

Thalia slammed the trunk of the car closed. Ten minutes.  How much trouble could her mother cause in ten minutes?  She ran until her lungs hurt, her heart throbbing in her chest.  The path was uneven under her worn-out sneakers.  Thalia tripped over a tree root and barely noticed her scraped knee as she set off again.  It felt hard to breathe, but Thalia isn't sure if that's coming from her worry or her running.  

Upon first glance, the meadow with the ruins of the old house was empty.  As Thalia got closer, she saw her mother hunched over on the ground.   Beryl was sobbing like she would never run out of tears.   She’s alone.  

Thalia couldn’t help but shake her mother desperately, “What’d you do? Where is he? How could you?”  The questions rolled out of her uncontrollably.  

She was barely gone ten minutes, but it felt like something has drastically changed.  

“Hera claimed him.  He’s as good as dead.”   Beryl was able to manage between sobs.

Her mother had no right to cry.  She didn’t know Jason, not really, not the way Thalia did.  She didn’t know that Jason liked to pretend he can fly and preferred the Buzz Lightyear band-aids when he inevitably scrapes himself up jumping from furniture or the playground equipment to demonstrate.  She didn’t know that Jason liked to build block towers just as much as Piper did, but he liked knocking them over more because he got to roar like a dinosaur or howl like a wolf.   She didn’t know about the bird’s nest Jason decided to camp outside protecting because he was worried the mama bird wouldn’t come back.  Thalia knows those things.  She thinks he’s the most important person in the universe and now he’s gone.  

They stayed for two hours.  Thalia combed every inch of the area, looked behind every tree, in every bush.  She screamed Jason’s name until she can’t anymore. When Beryl dragged her away from the site, Thalia didn’t even have the energy to fight her.  

The drive home was oddly silent without Jason’s chatter.  

Beryl disappeared into the confines of her bedroom as soon as they got home.  She would wallow in her own grief away from her remaining child.  Beryl knew Thalia deserved to be comforted, but she also knew that people seldom got what they deserved.  

Thalia ran to her spot behind the kitchen counter.  She wished it was a normal day as she picked up the phone.  She wanted to just be able to call Esmeralda and tell her that her mother was having a rough day, to ask that someone come pick up Jason and her.  But this time was different.  This time Thalia calls 911.  

The police cars pulled up to their apartment in a flurry of sound and lights.  Thalia can’t move from her spot behind the counter even when they demanded someone open the door.  She hugged herself tightly as her mother opened the door.  

"Really, Officer, I don't understand what the problem is,"  Beryl said earnestly but firmly kept them outside.

“We have a report of a missing child from a Miss Thalia Grace.”  

Thalia can’t see her mother’s face, but her mask must not firmly be in place.  They knew something was wrong, even as Beryl attempted to push them away.  "Oh, that's just my daughter.  What a frightful imagination she has.  I'm sure it's nothing, Officers.  I'm sorry for bothering-.”      

A female officer cut off Beryl's apology.  "Even If it's just a simple mistake, it's still best that we talk to her.  We'll even let her know that this isn't the sort of thing to joke about."

Thalia felt her tears grow heavier at that.  There is no way she could ever joke about this, not with a memory of her baby brother singing twinkle twinkle little star running through her head.  

The officer walked past a reluctant Beryl into the apartment.  Her partner, a Hispanic man with greying hair, stayed with her mother as she sought out Thalia.  The blonde woman didn't need to look far before she found her curled in a ball in the corner against the lower cabinets.   Thalia was a mess, covered in scrapes and dirt from her time spent searching for her brother.  The officer gingerly sat down across from her.  

“You must be Thalia.  I’m Officer Joan. You did a really good job calling us tonight.  I know you told the person on the phone a little bit of what happened, but can you tell me everything please?”  

Thalia’s words spilled out of her, a desperate flood of information on the off chance that literally anything is even the slightest bit helpful in finding Jason.   She didn’t know if these people even can help.  This felt strange, like her one-eyed classmates or her mother begging people who aren’t there, but Thalia needed them to be able to do the impossible anyway.  She won’t ever forgive herself if the police could have done something and they didn’t

When she finished, Officer Joan nodded to her partner before helping Thalia to her feet.  "Now, I know this isn't going to be fun, but we need to take your mom to the station so we can ask her more questions.

Thalia nodded, slightly unsure.  She understood, but every second that someone wasn’t looking for her brother was time he could spend hurt.   Why weren’t they moving faster?  

“Do you have someone you can stay with while we do that?  A relative?”

When the police car pulled up to the Valdez apartment,  it is seven hours since she last saw her brother.  Thalia thinks it isn’t possible to cry anymore.  She’s done almost nothing but cry since Jason disappeared.  She used up all her tears.  

Esperanza answered the door with a look of confusion on her face.  Her curls were already wrapped in a purple headscarf.  Her fingers kept her thin robe closed over her nightdress.   The look of confusion turned to one of worry when she saw Thalia.  Officer Joan briefly explained the situation, but Esperanza never truly took her eyes off Thalia’s face.  

“Tally!” Leo exclaimed as he saw the people at the front door.  He peered around their legs eagerly before the smile fell from his face.  “Where’s Jay?”  

Thalia broke down into a fresh set of tears.

“Leo, why don’t you go pick out another book to read while I get Thalia settled?”   The little boy looked confused.  Thalia and Jason were a package set.  If Thalia was here, his best friend should be too.  

Esperanza pulled Thalia into a tight hug.  "Oh, sweetheart, everything's going to be alright.  You just let it out.  I know it's been a hard day."

Esperanza maneuvered the two of them, so they're sitting on the sagging couch, all the while clutching her tightly.   Esperanza wrapped her in a blanket and fixed some hot chocolate before she finally left to put Leo to bed.  

After Leo’s safely asleep, Esperanza came back with a washcloth and a glass of water.  She doesn’t force Thalia to say anything.  She merely wiped away the grime of the day from her face before gently helping the girl lay down with her head in Esperanza’s lap.  She ran her fingers through Thalia’s short hair until the girl settled into an uneasy sleep.  

The police come back the next day. She remembered getting frustrated that they were here again, asking her the same questions instead of being out there finding her brother, but the rest of the interview is a blur.  She sat on the couch,  watching the rain pound harshly against the glass.  A flash of lightning illuminated the sky, and Thalia prayed to whoever may be listening that Jason is somewhere safe and dry.  The thunder didn’t stop all day.    

Her mother must have been sober enough to give the performance of her life because she wasn't charged for Jason's disappearance.  There is no body.  It's Thalia's word against hers, and Thalia was just a kid.  Still, the papers had a field day. “Who is Beryl Grace’s super-secret custody agreement with?” “Did Disgraced Soap Opera Star Kill Her Own Son?” “Where is Jason Grace?”  Her brother’s face smiled at her on the cover of tabloids for weeks, and it just felt like too much.  

Thalia tried to stay. She really did.  She barely entered the apartment that she shared with her mother, instead crashing on Esperanza’s couch or the guest room in the Mclean house.  These people seem to understand, at least. They’ve seen Beryl Grace at her worst.   They believe Thalia without question.  Although after Tristan gets reprimanded for drawing negative attention to himself, they don’t press the issue publicly anymore.  No one says it, but the odds are Jason is dead already.  

Thalia pretends she doesn’t hear Esperanza and Tristan’s frantic whispers late at night, knowing they’re talking about what to do with her.   She ripped down every photo she ever put on her bedroom wall the one time she can bring herself to go back inside the room she shared with her brother.  She can’t look at them, can’t see Jason grinning back at her with a red party hat holding up three fingers proudly or Jason making funny faces with Piper and Leo, without wanting to scream.  Thalia tried to avoid looking at Piper and Leo’s disappointed faces.  They don’t understand what’s happening, but their best friend is gone.  Their little questions of “But is Jay coming back tomorrow?”  break her heart.  She can’t bear to stay here, but she also has nowhere else to go.  

In the end, Thalia didn’t make the decision to leave so much as the monsters did.

She noticed the looming shadows before she saw them.  Thalia ducked behind a mailbox to get a better look at them.   They're over double her size, with wild eyes, pointy teeth, and hairy arms covered in tattoos.    Their clothes wouldn’t look too out of place at a rock concert if it weren’t for their necklaces.  The giants proudly wore chains with everything from beaded necklaces to gleaming weapons attached to it.   Souvenirs, Thalia thought to herself.  The spoils of war from the people who they killed before.   She would not let herself be next.  

“The hero is close.  Their scent is strong.”  

Thalia did not feel like a hero, especially as she studied the swords and spears that rattle against their chests.  She’s only ten years old, but no one else on the street seemed to notice them.  

"You better be right, brother.  Halfblood is a treat, but I'm hungry now."  Scraps of blood-soaked denim clung to the ogre's face.

Would they just eat whoever they come across if she didn’t come forward?  This is a busy road, only a few blocks from the school.   They could grab anyone; her classmates are at risk the longer she stays hidden. She knows in her bones that she’s the person they’re looking for. She may not know the word “Halfblood," but it felt right to her.  Thalia wished she was in a position where she could fight, where she could leap up and just fight them.  But all she has is a backpack, and as scary as math is, she didn’t think her textbook can do much damage.    

Thalia was so absorbed in trying to think of an escape plan, something that both didn't draw attention to herself and minimized the casualties, that she didn't notice the hand inching toward the mailbox until it was too late.  She jumped back.

The giants leered at her.  “Little hero.  I see we won’t have to wait long for dinner.”  

She’s not an especially fast runner, but she is small enough to maneuver quickly, to change paths even as they lumbered toward her.   They recognized that they could not win on speed alone.  They use the very features of the street as projectiles. The giants lift cars as if they weigh nothing. Shop awnings fall in their grasp.  Thalia did everything she could to avoid them.  

Still, it was not enough.  The stoplight may not have hit her, but she needed extra time to jump around it to avoid the sparks flying off it.   It was time she did not have to lose.  

Thalia can’t explain why she did it.  Her back was against the rough concrete wall.  She was out of options.  So Thalia raised her right hand and directed it toward the closer giant.  She just wanted a way out of here, any way.  The lightning flashed until there was nothing left of the giant but the smell of burning flesh and his spoils of war.

“Child of Zeus, you shall pay for that.” He lunged for her, but missed, his hand impeding deep into the wall behind her.  

Thalia swallowed, surprised despite the absurdity of her current situation that her mother was telling the truth.  A god. Her father really had been a god.  After Jason had disappeared, Thalia had completely dismissed the notion. What sort of god didn’t even protect his own son?  

"I will have revenge, godling."  The remaining giant ripped one of the streetlamps up from the base.  It flew to her left, even if the miss was a little too close for comfort.  

Thalia tried to recreate the feeling, the tug in her stomach, but no matter what she did, she could not summon more lightning. She had another option, though.  The giant may have disappeared, but his necklace of souvenirs had not.

Thalia tugged a spear loose from the chain. It feels right in her hand.  

“There is no escape, little hero. I will feast on your bones.”  

Thalia didn’t have any time to think as the monster stalked forward.  There was no time to worry about all the ways this can go wrong, that she's never held a spear, let alone thrown one.  She flung the spear with all her might,  hoping it would go straight.

Amazingly it did, and the Laistrygonian howled as he disappeared.  

Even as the ogre crumbled into dust, Thalia kept panicking. He said her scent was strong, which meant more monsters would be coming.  What would happen if she was with Piper and Leo next time?   They were just little kids. Plus, Tristan and Esperanza had gone out of their way since they’d met to make sure that she was safe and loved.  It wasn’t fair to involve them or put them at risk.  

Thalia couldn't be here the next time a monster attacked. She wasn't going to let them get hurt.  Thalia couldn't watch someone else she loved die and know she could have prevented it.  She had to gather some supplies first, but then she was leaving.  If the price to pay for her family’s safety was never seeing them again, she’d gladly pay it.