#also small theory that he can see very well in the dark despite the sunglasses

[floof-ghostie]

Pre Emi! Kenji was honestly so wild. Who the fuck casually carries their autograph around and hands it to people unprompted. And wears sunglasses inside. At Night.

[bbugyu]

daddy’s little monster + lee seokmin & yoon jeonghan

the story of your side hustle, that both pays well and had some very lovely benefits.

prelude | part one | part two | part three | epilogue

wc.5195 | SMUT, like DIRTY SMUT, threesome, sugar daddy!jeonghan and musician!seokmin, aka my worst nightmare, hard dom vs service sub vs service dom, aka my other worst nightmare, fem reader, daddy kink, marking, cream pie, please use condoms, lk cucking? happy halloween!

i was gonna say this is porn without plot but in reality idk how to not make smut way too personal. and i have not stopped thinking about my seokhan sandwicch fantasies and desperately needed to get it out, so take my shame and run with it. gif literally does not match this at all but DONT WORRY ABOUT IT

~

seokmin knew that jeonghan, the prolific and sought after architect whom he considered a close friend, had a less than conventional relationship with a young woman, but he had never met her. didn't know what the two did beyond appear at fancy industry dinner parties together, or the occasional sleepovers that had been offhandedly mentioned when seokmin and him get drinks and grilled meat. he believed she was real - he had been told she was real, by a mutual friend who had attended said parties - but had never seen a picture of her. never been introduced. he dropped architecture, afterall, deciding instead to get a teaching degree while jeonghan continued his artistic engineering. he had no reason to attend the parties that jeonghan paid her to accompany him to.

so when he was slightly drunk at a halloween party being held at the architect's beautiful home, he thought nothing about the pretty girl giving him attention, other than the fact that she looked incredible in her cheerleading outfit and that she was sitting far too close to him to not be flirting.

"how do you know jeonghan?" you asked, perched on the sofa next to seokmin, fingers mindlessly fiddling with the zipper on his red and blue bomber jacket.

his arm was over the back of the sofa, and you were comfortably sitting in the negative space, your feet tucked beneath your baby blue pleated skirt. "we went to college together," he said.

your eyebrow quirked. "are you also an architect? i've never seen you around."

he smiled and shook his head, wondering why a pretty girl like you was wasting your time getting to know a guy like him if you frequented industry parties. "no, i dropped the program. too much math. i'm a music teacher."

he watched your eyes light up. "what kind of music?"

"piano and guitar, mostly," he said, shifting beside you when your knees brushed over his thigh. "i do some vocal coaching, also."

you gazed at his profile as he looked anywhere but at you, eyes briefly focusing on the little black heart drawn under his eye. "you do have a lovely voice."

"thanks," he said, smiling when he turned to look at you, almost faltering when he realized you were leaning into him. "but you haven't heard me sing."

you paused, staring at his lips. "i'd like to," you breathed, and seokmin's hand dropped from the couch to find the small of your back, a shiver running up your spine when his fingers ran over the waistband of your skirt.

"y/n."

with great difficulty, you looked away from his lips to the source of your name being called, smiling lightly when you saw who had summoned you. you put a hand on seokmin's chest.

"i'll be right back, okay?" he kept watching your lips as you spoke. "promise me you won't go anywhere?"

seokmin gave you a lopsided smile, fingers brushing over your skin still. "promise."

you pulled yourself off the couch, purposefully giving him a bit of a view as you leaned over to slip your feet back into your sneakers, walking over to the man that had called your name. seokmin watched you swing your hips side to side, then cursed under his breath when jeonghan's hand snaked around your waist only a few meters in front of him, putting the pieces together in his mind.

"i see you like my friend," jeonghan muttered, handing you the drink you had asked him for. he was dressed as a man in black, which was wholly unoriginal considering he wore many suits regularly, but you figured your cheerleading costume wasn't leaving much more to the imagination than any of the dresses he usually picked out for you.

"you never told me you were friends with a musician," you teased. "afraid i wouldn't call you?"

he laughed, sneakily pulling up the hem of your skirt and watching over your shoulder as seokmin tried not to stare. "you'll always call me."

you bit at your lip, smiling. "yes, daddy."

"are you sure about him?"

you peeked over your shoulder, giggling when seokmin looked away from you and tugged at the knees of his black pleather pants. "isn't he perfect?"

"i like seokmin," jeonghan said, drawing your attention by taking off his sunglasses, hooking them in his lapel pocket. "he's one of my closest friends. i want you to be absolutely sure."

you paused, considering his tone and looking into his amber eyes. "i'm positive."

jeonghan smiled, pulling you into him for a quick kiss. "go tell him the good news, sweetheart."

you grinned, pulling away from him as he put his sunglasses back on and teasingly clicked his prop neuralizer at you. you giggled and sauntering back to the couch that seated the most adorable harley quinn you had ever seen.

"i'm back," you said, sipping at your drink as you settled back into seokmin's side. "sorry, you know how sugar daddies are. so demanding."

he choked out a laugh, still unsure despite your joking tone. "so, you and, uh, jeonghan-"

"yeah," you sighed, setting your drink down on the table beside the sofa and adjusting your posture, putting your knees on his thigh but keeping your shoes off the couch. "he likes my company, i like not paying for tuition."

"what are you studying?" seokmin asked, jumping at the opportunity to change the subject.

you smiled, tugging at his arm until he took the hint to put it back where it was before you were interrupted. "musical theory and recording arts."

he almost laughed. "you're unreal."

"i could say the same," you said, fingers fiddling with the opposite collar of his jacket. "can i ask you something? no pressure."

his eyebrows quirked upwards. "there's a little pressure."

you giggled, tugging at the collar lightly and smiling when he shifted to face you better. "genuinely, don't say yes just because i want you to, okay?" you only continued when he nodded, taking a deep breath. "so, jeonghan and i have been wanting to try something for a while, and he asked me to find someone tonight."

seokmin swallowed. "am i someone?"

you bit your lip. "yes."

his finger scratched at his cheek. "and he approves?"

your eyes flickered to where you and jeonghan had been standing, but the older was nowhere to be found. "yes."

"i-" he cleared his throat suddenly. "i just haven't- i don't know what i'm trying to say." he paused to collect himself. "i've never even considered doing anything like… that."

you giggled sweetly, and seokmin tried to not notice the way your hand ran over his chest. "i haven't done anything like this either," you assured him. "jeonghan's a little bossy, but he'll only be that way to me if you don't ask for it, i promise. and you don't have to do anything you're uncomfortable with, seriously, we can stop whenever, i just-" you bit at your lip briefly. "i just really want to make you feel good."

despite you telling him to not just say yes just for your sake, he had a hard time saying no after hearing your dark tone. any idea of saying no slipped his mind completely when you kissed him, slow and deliberate, your tongue tasting like cola and whiskey against his. he even went as far as pulling you into his lap, forgetting the context of the party surrounding him, his only thoughts about the way your thighs split over his lap and how soft your skin felt when his hands ran under your skirt.

"is this a yes?" you asked breathlessly, trying not to grind down on his pleather covered thighs.

he nodded at you with blown out eyes. "i'll try anything with you."

you grinned, finger brushing over the purposefully smeared lipstick across his cheek. "you're so cute."

he smiled at you, a hand running up your side as you leaned into him again. "not all the time," he muttered, and you couldn't help but gasp lightly when he bounced his leg under you. "want me to prove it?"

you kissed him again, unable to form any words to say yes but desperately needing to. when a hand landed on the back of your neck, you moaned into his mouth and pulled away, trying to catch your breath.

seokmin's hand pulled you into him again, and you whimpered lightly against his lips. "we need to go."

his lips barely left yours when he asked "where to?" and your fingers intertwined with his as you stood, pulling him off the couch to follow you.

you spotted jeonghan in the next room, and despite not knowing for sure if he noticed you two, you spun around playfully and pulled seokmin into you again, letting him kiss you deeply with his hands exploring your bare waist before you pulled away again to continue leading him away, the lopsided grin on his face never leaving.

the noise of the party dissipated as you pulled him up a flight of stairs and down a hall, stopping a few times to kiss against banisters in areas of jeonghan's home he had never been in.

"is this-" seokmin stopped himself as you closed the bedroom door, looking around at the grand but minimally decorated room - the main focal point being the large canopy bed against the far wall.

"jeonghan's," you said, pulling seokmin into you and resuming your feverish kisses. "it's the only bedroom i'm allowed in."

he briefly wondered what other rules the two of you had, but all but forgot about them when you were pushing his jacket off his shoulders, hands running over his chest. you tried to catch your breath as seokmin's mouth worked its way down your neck, but you couldn't stop whining.

"fuck, do you work out?" you asked breathlessly as he backed you up against the door, your hands not so subtly gripping at a bicep.

he chuckled against your neck. "i tune pianos, sometimes."

you briefly thought about him moving an upright to access the strings, and how you had to recruit the help of three friends to move the one jeonghan had bought for you. "you should come to my place, i've been meaning to get mine tuned for a while."

"you can just say you want to see me again," he said, a teasing smile on his lips as he pulled you off the door.

"you're sure about this, right?" you asked between kisses. "he'll notice we're missing and come looking. i don't want you to be surprised."

seokmin considered the concept of jeonghan walking in on his friend between your thighs, laid out on his bed, and the way his length flinched in his pants assured you that it was the best idea he had heard in a while. "i'm sure, i promise."

you bit at your lip again as you grinned, letting him overtake you with kisses as the back of your legs hit the bed.

"this little skirt, i swear to god," seokmin groaned, large hands squeezing at your ass through the fabric.

you gasped, your open mouth making seokmin groan deeper as he pulled you against his tented crotch. "jeonghan picked it out."

"i can tell," he said, staring down at the supposed team name you were meant to be cheering for. "angel, huh? does he call you that?"

"sometimes," you breathed, lips nipping at his neck. "he calls me the name on your chest more, though."

seokmin chuckled, almost completely forgetting about his own costume that he had mostly only picked because the shirt was so easy to find. he brought your lips back to his, kissing you deeply before pushing you down onto the soft mattress. "i want you to get comfortable."

you nodded excitedly, kicking off your shoes and watching him unbuckle his belt as you backed yourself up against the pillows. he kneed his way onto the bed, pants unzipped and shirt discarded, but stopped his undressing to crawl towards you, hands running over your split thighs. you groaned, hips rolling towards him just at the sight of him between your legs, and he gazed up at you sweetly.

"you're soaking through your panties."

you took a heaving breath. "you're super hot."

his lips skated over your inner thigh, and you gripped at the duvet as you tried to stifle a moan. his hands went under your thighs, squeezing at your ass before hooking under your panties, and you bit your lip to keep yourself from whining as he slowly pulled them off you, your skirt falling over your waist when you lifted your hips for him.

"oh, baby, look at you," he cooed, tongue darting out between his lips as he took in the sight. "is that all for me?"

you moaned, rolling your hips off the mattress again, staring at his shoulders as he settled. "fuck, seokmin, please-"

your pleas were interrupted by your own garbled moan as he put his tongue against your inner thigh, biting down on the soft flesh. your hand found his scalp, gripping as he sucked a sweet red rose into your thigh, kissing it gently before moving to repeat the action a little closer to your core.

"oh, god, s-seokmin-" you whined, bucking your hips against him. he gently held your wily hips down as he continued until he was satisfied with the marks, hoping they would stay a while. remind you of him when he wasn't around. his breath hit your core and you keened, desperately asking for his lips, but he only barely teased his tongue over your clit before planting his lips on your other thigh, drawing a shaky moan from you as you gripped his hair.

"fuck, please," you begged, wishing you could move your hips more freely, but his strong grip on you held you in place.

when seokmin decided he was happy with the delicate roses between your legs, he looked up to you, observing the way your chest heaved and you panted, your eyes blown to all hell. your fingers tightened in his hair when he rolled out his tongue, slowly dragging it through your folds.

you moaned, your voice sounding choppy and desperate even to you as your neck stretched out in pleasure. "g-god!"

he hummed against you, his lips kissing at your clit and tongue running over you alternately. you shook as he lapped at you, and he pulled his hands out from under your ridden up skirt in order to push your thighs back, allowing him more comfortable access as you groaned, blue stained fingers leaving his hair to grip at the duvet.

"fuck, seokmin, i'm already so close-"

he hummed again, pulling away but putting two fingers over your core instead, spreading your arousal through your folds and over your clit as he licked his lips. "is my mouth that good to you?"

you arched your back as he continued running his fingers over you. "it's so good."

he lapped at you again, making you let out a high pitched whine as he slowly slipped his fingers into your sweet, tight hole. your eyes shut and you moaned, squeezing his fingers as your arousal seeped out from around them. "your pussy is so cute," he muttered, eyes darting up to your face as you panted. he slowly began to curl his lean, long, instrument trained fingers in your core, pulling more pleas from your lips. "i bet it's cuter when you cum."

"fuck, please," you begged. "please make me cum."

seokmin groaned lightly as he sucked at your clit, rolling his hips against the mattress to relieve some of the pressure he felt from your fingers digging against his scalp, your taste on his lips, your whining moans in his ears.

you noticed the sound of the door, almost processing the meaning before your pleasure interrupted your own thought. "fuck, baby, right there!"

he groaned, digging his fingers further into you to spur your squealing as he flicked his tongue against you, and you practically thrashed against him as you came undone, your thighs pushing into his shoulders as your back arched against the mattress.

you whined dully when he pulled his mouth away from you, your fingers loosening their grip in his spray dyed hair. he never pulled his fingers out of you, not even as he crawled slowly over you, continuing to gently curl into you as you wrapped your arms around his shoulders, pulling him into your chest.

"you started without me," jeonghan said finally, and seokmin smiled into your neck as you watched your sugar daddy pull off his tie, still whining lightly at the fingers in your cunt. "that wasn't what we agreed on."

"i- ah-" you gasped, thigh pressing against seokmin's arm when his thumb pushed against your clit. "i couldn't wait," you said, hooded eyes watching jeonghan approach.

"found yourself a cute toy, huh?" he quirked his eyebrow at the younger, noticing the way his shoulders rippled under your desperate fingers as he stood at the end of the bed. "are you gonna treat him nice, sweetheart?"

you nodded quickly, fingers finding seokmin's scalp again as you kissed him, loving the way you tasted on his lips. you gasped when he slowly pulled his fingers out of you, his hand running up your waist to hold you stay as he rut his clothed bulge into you, the feeling of cool pleather against your hot core making you moan against him.

"what do you want to do, sweetheart?" jeonghan prompted you, gently leaning against a bedpost as he adjusted himself in his pants

"i wanna ride," you said, breath fanning over seokmin's face as he blushed slightly. his red ears just made you move your hips again desperately. "fuck, seokmin, i need to ride you."

his movements stopped for a second, mind whirling with the idea of you bouncing on him. his thoughts were only interrupted by a voice.

"you heard her, seokmin."

he snapped into action, kissing you again as he shoved his slightly too tight pants down his hips, and you pushed him until he allowed you to roll him into his back. you tugged his pants down his legs, gulping at the bulge in his underwear.

"jesus, seokmin, you never said you were packing," jeonghan chuckled, observing the way you faltered when you noticed his length.

seokmin sucked in a labored breath when you ran your hands over his hips, teasing a thumb over his erection. "you never asked."

you tugged his underwear down over his hips, taking care to pull him gently out to avoid harm. you rolled your tongue out to draw a wet line up the underside of his heavy cock, enjoying the way it flinched up against you. 

"he likes tits," jeonghan said, shrugging off his blazer and walking to the side of the bed to toss it onto a chair. "lose the top, angel."

you smirked up at seokmin, suddenly extremely happy that the only one that interested you at this party was someone jeonghan knew. you slinked up his body to straddle his lap, the hem of your skirt teasing the head of his cock as it peeked out from under it. you kissed him first, and his hands ran up your thighs as he bucked his hips up to meet your bare core, but you hovered just out of reach. you sat up again, pulling the cheer top over your head and tossing it to the side.

seokmin groaned, hands finding your waist and running up your sides to squeeze gently at your breasts with his thumbs. "fuck, you're gorgeous."

"and you're huge," you said, finally grinding down against his length, pulling a deep groan from his chest. you backed up to stand his cock on end, pulling it against your stomach and practically choking when you saw how tall it stood, the tip far past the waistband of your skirt.

jeonghan whistled. "how are you gonna stuff all that in your tight little pussy, sweetheart?"

saliva gathered in your mouth at the thought. "like a good girl."

seokmin groaned again, hips bucking up to fuck into your hands. "stop teasing and take it, baby."

you got on your knees, positioning yourself over the head of his thick cock, and he practically bucked up into you when he felt your wetness at his tip. you gasped, sinking slowly, eyes watering slightly at the stretch and seokmin moaned, hands on your waist in support. you looked at jeonghan briefly, and he smiled, cock in hand, watching you as you sank slowly.

"stop," seokmin said, grip tightening on your waist. he panted as he held you in place, and you had an idea as to why he stopped you as you felt him pressing against your cervix. "i don't wanna hurt you."

his gentleness was a welcomed juxtaposition from jeonghan's usual intensity. you nodded, hands on his chest, then leaned forward to kiss him, gently fucking yourself on as much of his length as you could manage, readying yourself. his grip on your waist tightened, and he let out a beautiful whine when you dipped a little further onto him.

"careful," he breathed, and you sat up. your hands ran down his chest and over his stomach, then up your own body to gently coerce his fingers out of the deathgrip on your waist. he took the hint, running his hands up your torso and running his thumbs over your hardened nipples.

you groaned, your hips inching closer to his every time you bounced on his lap. it took everything in him to not take control, your pussy squeezing and pulling him further into you, the only sound in his ears your musical moans as you started to get desperate.

"fuck, you're so big," you said dumbly, unable to think of anything else. 

"you're so tight," seokmin said back. he hooked a thumb under your skirt, tugging it up to reveal how tightly your cunt hugged him. "fuck, you look so good filled up like that."

your hands found his thighs, leaning back as you rolled your hips over his. you choked out a moan, the angle nearly making you fold an instant. "d-daddy, can i cum?"

seokmin groaned and almost responded before jeonghan did. "go right ahead, angel. let him feel how good you are."

you sank down, your hips meeting seokmin's and a whining moan leaving you lips as he choked slightly. you fell forward onto his chest, giving him desperate, open mouthed kisses as you rolled your hips, your sensitive nub rubbing against his pelvis. you gasped, clutching at his hair as he pushed his hips up into yours, the coil in you snapping in you all while he muttered how good of a girl you were against your lips. his grip around you tightened as your grip around him did the same, the feeling of your tight cunt pulsating around him almost enough to get him off despite him steadying his hips as you shuddered on his chest.

"beautiful," jeonghan commented. "she looks good when you fuck her."

seokmin tried not to groan, but the involuntary movement of his hips triggered an unhidable moan from you. "never thought i'd enjoy being watched."

"i always knew you were a freak," the older said, continuing to pump himself. "you okay if i take a little control?"

seokmin finally looked over to his friend, eyes dropping to his cock as he gulped. "y-yeah."

"alright. sweetheart, time to get up. i want that skirt off."

you whined, grinding down on seokmin. he choked, and you dug your face into his neck.

"three..."

you whined again, louder this time, gripping a bicep as you took in a breath. "please, he feels so good-"

"two..."

you curled your toes in protest, and seokmin had the least control when you rolled your hips on his again, both of you letting out shaky moans. you heard your name as a warning, and you practically started crying from how badly you didn't want to remove yourself from him.

"y/n. one."

you caved finally, not wanting jeonghan to punish you in front of a guest, sitting yourself up suddenly and gasping at the feeling, seokmin's hands gripping your hips. you looked over to jeonghan, who had a smile on his face as he bit his lip gently.

"off, angel. you can have him again in a second."

you slowly pulled yourself off of seokmin's hard cock, and he had one hand keeping your skirt out of view, the other kneading reassuring circles in your thighs as you did. you both groaned when you managed to lift yourself off of him completely, and jeonghan watched your arousal drip from you onto seokmin's flushed cock.

"c'mere, sweetheart," jeonghan said, gesturing for you to come to the side of the bed where he stood.

you unzipped your skirt and let it fall to the mattress as you weakly kneed yourself over to him, thighs shaking. seokmin tucked one hand behind his head and wrapped the other around his cock, watching you intently as you came up to the eldest. he gripped your chin first, opening your mouth before him, and you rubbed your thighs together as you vocalised.

"embarrassed?" jeonghan asked, chuckling darkly when you nodded lightly. he spat in your mouth anyways. "don't let me make it to one next time."

you heard a groan behind you as you swallowed, then gasped when jeonghan's free hand found your ass, pulling you against him. he kissed you, and you had almost forgotten how his lips felt against yours, how his nimble tongue brushed against the back of your teeth in a way that made your knees wobble on the edge of the bed.

"i want him to ruin you," he muttered against your lips, grip tight on your jaw. "i want to see you fucked out on his fat cock, choking on my cum."

you nodded fervently, and felt the bed shift as seokmin sat up behind you. jeonghan smiled as he let you go, and you quickly backed up against the younger, gasping when his cock slipped between your thighs and his fingers pinched at your nipples, kneading your breasts tightly.

"fuck, she's incredible," he said, against your neck, and you couldn't help the sustained whine you let out. "i can't believe you never told me, han."

he chuckled, rolling up the sleeves of his dress shirt. "i knew she'd like you too much. but you'll always call me, right, sweetheart?"

you whined again, watching as jeonghan gently kneed onto the bed, just to brush his lips against yours.

"answer me."

you quivered, grinding down on seokmin's cock and feeling his lips on your neck, but still focusing on the face before you. "yes, daddy."

he smiled, placing a gentle kiss on your nose before backing up again. "hands and knees. give us a minute, okay, minnie?"

the younger nodded, but groaned when you dropped forward, watching the way his cock fit snugly between your thighs. "tell me when."

you stared up at jeonghan as he put a hand on his cock, another in your hair, and slowly guided himself towards your lips. you puckered your lips to meet him, then opened your mouth and rolled out your tongue, lapping at the tip of his cock, tongue gliding under it as you desperately tried to suck him into your waiting mouth.

"oh sweetheart," he said, watching you with hooded lids. "you really want this, don't you?"

you whined, pushing back against seokmin, making his breath hitch. jeonghan finally pushed his hips forward, fucking once into your wet mouth, and you moaned on his cock as it hit the back of your throat. seokmin couldn't help but buck into your thighs, slightly desperate for friction as he watched you drip all over him. he tested his voice once, then quietly asked if he could finger you.

you moaned again, and jeonghan smiled as he fucked your mouth. "sounds like she wants it."

you let out a muffled whine when seokmin slotted two fingers into your pussy, your mouth too full to properly vocalise how good it felt. when he added another finger, you almost collapsed, and likely would have if jeonghan hadn't been holding you up by your hair.

"fuck her," he commanded, holding you on his cock and watching the way you looked up at him as you realized what that meant.

seokmin pulled his fingers out of you and placed himself at your entrance in their stead, sinking into you slowly. your eyes rolled back, drool dripping from either side of jeonghan's cock as seokmin filled you out.

"fuck," he said, gripping your hips and trying to stop himself from pushing all the way in. "fuck, you're so wet."

you let out another muffled noise, pushing back onto him as he choked. jeonghan watched the tears well up in your eyes, mouth stretched around his cock.

"angel," he paused, pulling from you slightly. "are we still green?"

you nodded, rolling your tongue around him to prove it. he smiled at you, then quietly told seokmin to fuck you full.

and he did. you whined and babbled, every thrust of seokmin's hips pushing you onto jeonghan's cock until he hit your throat. you didn't know how long it continued. you heard a honey voice you were familiar with, but you couldn't tell if the teasing words were directed towards you or the man behind you. you couldn't even register fully what was happening when you felt fingers circling your clit, and you wailed as you came, thighs quaking and throat full.

"oh, fuck, i'm gonna cum," seokmin said quickly. he gasped. "fuck, can i cum?"

jeonghan grinned, one eye closing more than the other as he huffed, feeling close to his own release. "fill her up."

seokmin jerked into you three more times before he steadied his hips and let out a deep, melodic groan, buried deep in you as his cum leaked out around his thick cock. you were still moaning, unsure if you could ever stop making noises, but quickly pulled yourself together as jeonghan came down your throat.

you choked once, but swallowed around him, and he gripped his fingers against your scalp as you did. when he finally removed himself from your mouth, you panted and collapsed onto the bed, unable to catch your breath with seokmin still hilt deep in you.

"what a perfect girl," jeonghan muttered, brushing his damp hair off his forehead, gazing down at you. "smart, funny, and an angel in bed. and you-" he said, smirking at seokmin when he finally lifted his head from your spine, even if it was only for a moment. "you surprised me. if you're down, i'd like to do this again."

he tried to catch his breath, but couldn't help the way his hips involuntarily pushed into yours, fucking his cum deeper into you. he just nodded against your spine as you moaned, feeling his cum drip down your thighs.

jeonghan tsked. "you got your hair dye all over my white sheets."

[mythgirlimagines]

This Tuesday, we have a very special guest today! You may remember her for her many roles in as both harem leads and magical girl protagonists! Say hello to Myth Anon, the Former Ultimate Voice Actress!

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BACKSTORY AND TALENT

As a child, Myth didn’t really have many friends or confidence in herself, but she yearned to become an actress. Because of her lack of faith in her acting skills, she worked backstage as a stagehand and audio technician, which she proves to still be competent at, even in the present day. One day in middle school, Myth’s parents decided to sign her up for voice acting. Despite her lack of confidence, she blew people away with her performance, and managed to secure the role of the little sister of the protagonist in Branching Paths, one of the most successful harem animes of the year. It managed to do wonders to her confidence, and eventually Myth managed to audition for and secure more and more major works, eventually making a name for herself and her colleagues as the “Harem Queen”, because if the harem lead is a female, you can guarantee that Myth will voice act in it. She is also famous amongst her fanbase for her behind-the-scenes antics, with her fellow seiyuu. (Note: You’ve got to watch videos of seiyuus, for they are comic gold!)

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RELATIONSHIPS

Wyre Anon, Former Ultimate Surgeon

Wyre was one of Myth’s few friends from her childhood, and they always hung out together. But upon showing great prowess with her medical skills, Wyre was forced to attend medical school, and leaving poor Myth behind. Despite missing Wyre severely, Myth had to remain strong and positive, for it’s what Wyre would have wanted. Needless to say, Wyre was impressed when the two reunited in Hope’s Peak, and saw that their shy wallflower of a friend sprouted into a more confident person. Now that they’ve reunited in high school, they both try their best to catch up on old times, despite the totally different talent domains.

Outfit: Hair tied into small pigtails and a green surgery cap on top, intact glasses, green face mask, blood-covered green surgery scrubs and blue gloves and shoes.

Anon Scar, Ultimate Astronomer

When Myth first met Scar, she was amazed to find a real life chuunibyou, for she has seen many chuunibyous in the animes that she voice acts for. Claiming to have control and infinite knowledge of the cosmos as the “Cosmo Master”, Scar‘s eccentric attitude and elaborate, grandiose vocabulary belies a concerned mother figure for the group, constantly handing the younger Anons nourishment and reminding the Anons to go to bed. Because of Myth‘s childish and clumsy nature, Scar always breaks her facade when around Myth. Myth really loves to stargaze with Scar, and Scar gladly obliges in educating Myth about them.

Outfit: Hair with two pointy buns that make her hair resemble a star, a blue hoodie with yellow stripes on the sleeves and stars decorating the fluff on the hood, a dark blue scarf decorated with a star badge in the centre, a galaxy colored t-shirt underneath her hoodie, a yellow skirt with the same fluff her hoodie has, dark blue boots with yellow soles that have a star design on the bottom.

Fusion Anon, Ultimate Romantic

Despite Fusion’s odd and feminine fashion sense, Fusion’s school regards him as a fountain of romantic advice and  a sort of father figure, viewing the people who seek his advice as his children, and being very proud of them when the gain the confidence to confess to their crushes. Fusion is a fanatic for all things romance, and that extends to romantic anime. Upon finding out that the seiyuu that starred in some of his favorite anime is going to be chaperoning him on his Kibo-Con trip, Fusion was on cloud nine. Myth is amazed at just how much knowledge Fusion has about the anime she starred in, even more than her. Outfit: An ahoge shaped like a heart, a long red scarf with white hearts on it, a pink sweater with a darker pink heart on the front, darker pink mittens, glasses, pants and shoes from original design.

Fusion Anon II, Ultimate Orithinologist

Hardly seen without her pet owl, O’Rly, Fusion II is sassy, sarcastic, and regularly tries to be cool, but to no avail. Fusion II has an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of birds, has mastered the art of laying motionless in one place, from years of birdwatching, and despite claims to the contrary, is a massive nerd when it comes to nature. As it turns out, Fusion II is perfect at imitating bird calls, and regularly tries to teach Myth how to make bird calls to attract birds. Myth has eventually mastered the art, and basically became a real-life Disney princess. Fusion II is honestly really proud of her work.

Outfit: Undershirt from the original design, a grey sleeveless parka, a necklace that holds a hawk’s talon, a brown glove on her left hand that allows her to hold O’Rly, cargo pants that patch her parka, brown steel-toed boots, sunglasses from original design.

Just Anon, Ultimate Conspiracy Theorist

Janon practically lives his whole life in an iron-padded apocalypse bunker, fully stocked with food and other needs. Janon regularly uses the excuse of the inevitable end of the world to get out of doing anything, apart from prepping for the apocalypse, and managed to form other procrastinators out of his followers thanks to his surprisingly believable conspiracy theories. Because of their opposite temperaments, both of the Anons didn’t exactly get along very well. That is, until Myth found out about Janon’s secret soft spot for children, despite his vehement denial. But at least Myth managed to find a common point.

Outfit: A tinfoil hat on his head shaped into bunny ears, a camo-hoodie, formal wear and facemask from original design.

Sparkle Anon, Former Ultimate Ice Skater

Famous for her speed and grace on the ice, and her dramatic and powerful performances on the ice, Sparkle mainly specialises in musicals on ice. She is also a master at speed-skating and won a bunch of trophies for her performances. Just like Fusion, Sparkle is a massive fan of the anime that Myth voice acts in, and was ultra happy that Myth is a fellow chaperone. Myth always wanted to learn how to ice skate, and Sparkle was all to happy to teach her heroine in entertainment all about the art of ice skating. Myth isn’t the best at skating, regularly slipping and falling, but Sparkle would never dare yell at her idol, so the lessons still continue. 

Outfit: A blue leotard with a sparkly transparent skirt that has snowflakes on it, white gloves, a long blue cape with silver shoulder pads and a large snowflake on the back, sparkly white boots, glasses from original design. 

Egg Anon, Former Ultimate Puzzle Solver, and Wet Sock Anon, Former Ultimate Poet

Even though most people hardly read poetry these days, Wet Sock is still famous for their dark and grim poetry. On the other side, Egg is famous for solving puzzles at record speed, and won many records. Despite both of the Anons being famed for their intellect, they love to regularly creep people out with their cursed comments and chaotic behavior. Wet Sock would never admit it, (especially not to Egg) but Myth’s vocal performances just make them swoon. But if Myth ever catches them swooning, Wet Sock would threaten the security of Myth’s kneecaps, but not before threatening Myth with a ballpoint pen to the throat.  Egg’s Outfit: Same outfit from the original design, but without the earrings and a Hawaiian shirt that resembles a Rubix Cube.

Wet Sock’s Outfit: A black overcoat over a white and blue checkered shirt, a feather quill behind their right ear, black pants and shoes.

Curious Anon, Jr. Ultimate Essayist

Don’t be fooled by their age and tendency to be a total pushover for their friends (real or fake), for Curious’s essays are referenced in academic journals all over the world, thanks to how well-written they are. Because Curious is constantly busy writing their assignments, Myth hardly ever gets chances to interact with them. On the few times, Curious gets a day off, they can’t help but politely giggle at the antics of Myth, and wonders how Myth can change her voice at the drop of a hat. Myth loves Curious for their polite attitude, and being the kind of person who would be the prime person to have a cup of tea with. 

Outfit: Same outfit from the original, except with a green turtleneck instead of their tie, and longer hair that goes past their shoulders.

Nerd Anon, Former Ultimate Procrastinator

If you thought Janon was lazy, Nerd is somehow makes Janon look like Dream. Needless to say, Nerd gets very grouchy if woken up from his usual 12 hours of sleep, and he especially can’t stand the more energetic Anons of the Kibo-Con roster, but especially the adorable and childish Myth. Years of starring in anime has made Myth realise that she found her male tsundere love interest, much to the anger and embarrassment of the lazy and starving college student. Myth regularly tries to use harem tropes to woo Nerd, but they just result in Nerd releasing all of his pent-up strength on the charming voice actress.

Outfit: Messier hair, a black and unbuttoned gakuran over an improperly-buttoned white dress shirt, and matching black shoes, regularly holds a brown suitcase.

Eldritch Anon, Ultimate Speedreader

Eldritch lived in an old and dilapidated library for practically all of his life, and managed to clear the entirety of the library roster three times over. But because of his isolated upbringing and his binging of horror and fantasy novels, Eldritch shows a hostile distrust of just about everybody, even the adorable-looking and sounding Myth, claiming that she is a spiritual vessel that houses thousands of tortured high school girl souls. Myth believes that that sounds like a great anime series, but she is willing to back away from the bite-sized bookworm for now, seeing as Eldritch doesn’t trust the seiyuu in the slightest. 

Outfit: Longer and unkempt hair, black reading glasses, a patchy brown jacket over a green sweater vest with a brown stripe in the middle and a red bow tie with white polka dots, brown pants, and black and white shoes.

Dream Anon, Ultimate Trivia Master

With an energetic disposition and a love of learning the most random of things, Dream is the captain of her school’s quiz bowl team, and truly deserves her appearance and victories on many trivia game shows. Myth and Dream got along like water and Kool-Aid mix, thanks to their similar energetic, goofy, and childish personalities and dispositions. Myth loves to learn random trivia from Dream, and Dream loves to watch the anime that Myth stars in. In conclusion, both Myth and Dream gain something out of their friendship. In Myth’s eyes, Dream is like the little sister Myth never had, and Dream is happy to earn that position.

Outfit: Blue and red hairclips shaped like question marks, a oversized blue letterman’s jacket with a big yellow question mark on the back over a black shirt with a big yellow one on the front and back, shorts and shoes from original design.

Iris Anon, Jr. Ultimate Personal Assistant

With a constant need to help and assist others, Iris carries herself with an overly-positive and cheerful demeanour, despite her heavy workload, which makes her a massive hit with the people who hire her to carry out a variety of duties, such as cooking, cleaning, and entertaining guests at parties (the latter being a particular speciality of hers). But just because she‘s clumsy when off-duty, that doesn’t mean she‘s clumsy or careless with her duties, for any of her bosses could tell you that Iris does everything with precision and accuracy. Just like with Dream, Myth and Iris get along, thanks to their similar demeanours and dispositions. 

Outfit: A blue overcoat and matching skirt over a red tie and a white dress shirt, white stockings, black Mary Janes, glasses from original design.

Purple Anon, Ultimate VS Debater

Specializing in hypothetical matchups between both famous and obscure historical figures, Purple is famous for her online videos that bring attention to underrated historical figures, and pits them against each other in hypothetical intellectual and physical battles. Because she is a historical expert, this influences Purple’s vocabulary, making her speak in an old-fashioned and archaic style, much to the confusion of the majority of the con attendants and chaperones. Because of Purple’s extreme timidity when not behind a screen, Purple and Myth don’t interact much, if at all. Myth yearns for Purple to come out of her shell, though.

Outfit: A black overcoat over a purple turtleneck, a black skirt, stockings and shoes from original design.

This series revolves around a childish and dorky voice actress (aka. The Harem Queen), making friends with both her fellow chaperones and the con’s attendees.

——————————————————-

PERSONALITY

Despite her career as a seiyuu making her even more outgoing and energetic, deep down she’s still a massive goofy dork, which you can see very clearly in her interactions with the other seiyuus. Because she’s younger than her colleagues, she has a tendency to be babied by them, and unlike Janon, she doesn’t mind. VoiceAct!Myth is also very romantically minded, much like Romantic!Myth, but she doesn’t seem to realise that harem anime isn’t exactly the best tool to get romantic advice from. People claim that Myth doesn’t have a consistent voice, for she repeatedly switches up her voice, to impersonate one of her characters.

——————————————-————

APPEARANCE

VoiceAct!Myth wears her standard glasses, and her purple hair down. She also wears a brown beret on her head, and a pair of microphone headphones over her ears. She also wears an oversized white turtleneck, a long brown shirt with a bisexual heart patch on the right side, a brown side bag, white stockings, and black Mary Janes.

———————-———————————

I hope you like this talentswap! Let me know what you think of VoiceActress!Myth in your reblogs!

-Fusion Anon

[scrumptiousalpacadeer]

Paul Thomas Anderson’s THE MASTER and what it may teach us about  mind-control vs freedom Post-Covid

So last night I watched The Master. It was a most pleasing way to spend a Saturday evening; alone, with two cats draped on the sofa and windowsill respectively, and it rounded off a pretty pedestrian Saturday mostly spent mowing and raking the lawn and scattering grass seed whilst *Boo finished reading Jacqueline Wilson’s Rose Rivers whilst occasionally appearing at the back door to yell; ‘mama, you’re driving me nuts with your gardening!’ Somehow I’d been looking forward to scattering my grass seed all week - the promise of moist new green growth on our dusty brown patches. Thing is - and there is a lesson in here somewhere - the grass seed box said it covered 10m square - I guess I got a bit carried away and basically I ran out after one corner. So one corner of my lawn will look like Eden, and the rest will continue to look like some deserted Sicilian scrubland... That’s life, baby, I guess. 

So anyway, The Master....dear God. There are many ways I could go with this...Firstly undiluted, scope, wonder, singular sensitivity, impossible mastery, extreme importance and sheer exalting, agonising beauty of Paul Thomas Anderson’s films is the subject of another post. (I’m still on a high from the explosive visceral experience of watching Daniel Day Lewis in There Will Be Blood and that was, what, 5 years ago? 10 years ago?) Then The Master came out in 2012 and P.T.A. raised his game even more. 

I could, and will another time, talk about the astonishing gift Joaquin Phoenix afforded the world with his embodiment of his character, Freddie Quell. (I say ‘embodiment’; ‘performance’ always strikes me as an incorrect way of describing an actors full immersion in an imagined character’s inner life.) To my mind, Freddie is one of the most affecting, heart-breaking, occasionally funny and downright truthful portrayals of a ‘broken’ man; an exiled, psychologically damaged, wild and lonely spirit who roams the world, desperate for love and acceptance, clearly one of the great ‘un-belonging’ of the post-war world in America. In one the open scenes he simulates fucking an over-sized figure of woman carved in sand on a hot beach, for the amusement of his army pals. In the final scene of the film, after his long long incredible journey , we see him caressing this sand woman again, resting his next to a large sandy breast. Oh poor dear Freddy Quell; my tears ran with him last night; knowing myself in this second viewing of the film, to be so like him. Perhaps one day I will be able to shake Joaquin Phoenix’s hand and say ‘thankyou so much for Freddie.....’ I often feel like that with actors work that resonates through the bones. 

I could also talk about how Philip Seymour Hoffman was possibly the greatest screen actor of his time, and how crazy it was that the world didn’t seem to mourn his tragic early death. Was it perhaps because he died of an accidental heroine overdose? - and this, well, didn’t sit very well with Hollywood. His embodiment here of Lancaster Dodd, charismatic leader of philosophical cult movement The Cause, is breath-taking. But then all his performances were breath-taking. I had a dream about him once (whole other post entitled CELEBRITY DREAMS coming your way); we were kind of friends even though I knew he was dead and his face kept appearing on billboards all over London. If, when; I meet him in the spirit world, I’d like to shake his hand and thank him for Lancaster Dodd and Brandt in The Big Lebowski, and Truman Capote, and also for providing me with one of the most pivotal theatre experiences of my life. August 2001, Edinburgh Festival, I witnessed his production of Jesus Hopped The A Train at The Gilded Balloon; this was running gold theatre. Within half a second of the play ending the entire full house erupted to it’s feet like we’d all been tasered from the floor. Thank you Philip...you gave me faith then that theatre is important; that art comes from dark places and revives...

I could talk about the astonishing crashing score composed by Radiohead’s guitarist Jonny Greenwood.

I could also talk about Amy Adam’s terrifying portrayal of Lancaster’s icy wife Peggy and her utterly brilliant final put-down to Freddie: “you either do this for a billion years, or not at all...” (she’s referencing Freddie’s abandonment of the cult she’s set up with her husband, but this line, I feel, could apply to motherhood...….)

                                                  * * * * * * * * * *

 It usually takes me two viewings for a films deeper meaning to seep in, and last night I was struck by what I see as the heart of the film. The core of the film is relationship between Freddie Quell and Lancaster Dodd; it’s an uncompromising study of male vulnerability and the cosmic search for ‘a father figure’...  On a bigger scale, its about how those in positions of assumed power and influence ( Dodd) rely on the adoration and worship of those whom society deem ‘worthless’ (Quell). It’s about the fragility and corruption of a society whereby a man promises freedom and empowerment to his followers (Dodd devises a system of ‘processing’ whereby he takes initiates back to past traumas through a curious mixture of interrogation and hypnosis and ‘cures’ them; he posits that his vision can cure leukaemia and will bring about world peace) and how those ‘disadvantaged’, the great ‘unloved’ can be absorbed into such an attractive lifestyle. In one painful scene, Freddie is taken to a party at a mansion, filled with monied people and luxurious things. Freddie is dressed smartly for the occasion; but is sweating with nerves and orders a scotch at the earliest opportunity, before hiding away in a side room and stealing an ornament. It took me back to my own exile, when, at the age of 17 I landed at Brentwood Boys School in Essex, and cut off from my parents, shattered from my sister’s suicide and a lifetime of confusion, I nonetheless attended many a glorious party; a perfect size 10 and top of the class, I knew how to say all the right things. But, like Freddie, I knew I didn’t and wouldn’t ever fit it. Like him, I would often sneak off to the side rooms, get off my head drunk to hide my shame and hopeless, and cause some fight..

In the end, despite himself, Freddie starts to see through Lancaster’s bullshit and returns to his life on the road. Though The Cause had given him a home, suits and ties, friendship, respect and a certain ‘standing’ that he could only have dreamed of, as he confesses to Peggy at the end, before returning to his own brand of personal lonely freedom; ‘it’s just not how I look’.  

                                                        * * * * * * * 

“Don’t you know, They’re talking about a revolution it sounds like a whisper Don’t you know you’d better run run run run run run run run.....” Tracey Chapman 

Talkin’ About A Revolution

What I find heartening and deeply exciting about these early post-Covid times, as the first chinks of sunlight pour in through windows that have separated us from friends, lovers, fellow man for so long, is that people are choosing freedom. In small ways, perhaps, but I get the overall sense that for many people, fear has had its day. As my dear friend said over tea the other day; ‘people are thinking fuck this, fuck it, we wanna fuck’....well, exactly. 

It was this dear friend I met up with in her wood a few weeks ago; we hugged each other day, and it was such a joyous relief to see her I told her that if I got the virus and killed me, oh fuck it, it would be worth it, just to sit next to her by a river on a sunny day...

I’ve had two other conversations lately to support my little theory; a particularly cheerful friend of mine turned up with her daughter unannounced on my doorstep couple of weeks back  - they had a bag of clothes; would Boo like them? Initially we did the ‘2 m’ thing, paying homage to THE RULES as dictated by the blessed government of this land; I hovered on the threshold of my kitchen - she stood outside by the flower-pots. Then I broke the rules; ‘look, do you wanna come in?’ - That was it. The ice was broken - and she stood, blond, beaming and glorious with her big sunglasses on, in my little kitchen - along with her daughter and mine, and I could literally have feasted forever on the sheer joyous fleshiness of having three other living homo sapiens near me. That sunny day in early June, two women in a small village in Sussex chose freedom. ‘I’ve just had enough of all this virus stuff’ she said ‘I’m even dreaming about it! I’ve just had enough’. 

Then last week a friend came over with her three glorious girl children and told me how her youngest, a endlessly sweet six yr old, had ‘hidden behind a tree with her friend so that they could have a hug’. Lets think about that for a moment; six years olds hiding behind trees to have a hug. Its pretty damn sad. And weird. This friend had been on full on paranoid lockdown due to one of the children’s potential serious health issues - but she’d reached breaking point. ‘I’ve had enough’ she said. And that day her girls and my daughter raced up and down the stairs and around the garden in glorious flagrance of any state prescribed social distancing rules. 

                                                * * * * * * * * * * * 

In the end, Freddie breaks free from his master’s and The Cause’s control and continues - we assume -  his lonely drift around the world. In their final agonising meeting, Lancaster reveals the smashed ungenerous ego of a despot thwarted by his adoring lover: ‘if I meet you in a future life I will show you no mercy, you will be my sworn enemy’. Freddie, emaciated, tearful and ever desperate to belong, asks Lancaster to reveal to him how and where they’d met in a previous life... He knows it’s bullshit, in the way I knew my father was incapable of loving me, but when you’ve got a Krakatoa sized hole in your heart, you just can’t stop hoping somehow...pledging allegiance to a resplendent asshole is somehow better than our greatest fear; the abyss of loneliness and isolation. Lets face it; freedom is pretty terrifying after such a long stretch of captivity. 

That’s the thing in these Covid times; we always have a choice. We have a choice now, whether to be continue to be afraid or whether to choose freedom. Whether to cut loose and go racing into the desert on a motorbike back to his first love, like Freddie does, following his own destiny, not succumbing to control forces that on the surface entice him into a richer more glamorous life. 

And I’m not talking about being an complete idiot and denying there’s a serious virus still on the loose, or hugging scared people in the street to prove a point, and I’m not denying  that many people are extremely vulnerable - I’m talking about something entirely different; that deep inner decision that calls in all of us - whether to choose the uncharted waters of freedom, or rest in an all-too familiar fear zone. 

To conclude, my dear friend Matilda sent me this book ‘Big Magic - Creative Living By Fear’ by Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat Pray Love (I’ve just watched the film its rather good I think...) Anyway, there’s this great chapter called Fear Is Boring which rang through me, growing up as I did drenched in the anxiety of a Munchausen Syndrome-by-proxy mother (WHOLE other post...) - but here’s what she says about the time, age fifteen, she ‘wised up’ to fear and chose another way: 

“I noticed that my fear never changed, never delighted, never offered a surprise twist or an unexpected ending. My fear was a song with only one note - only one word, actually - and that word was “STOP!” 

Dear reader, I’m shitting myself with the best of them, but I’ve had enough of fear. I’m not stopping. I’m going. What do you say?..... xxxx 

Big love from Christine 

[hazandholland]

Cafe at the Corner of the Block

Written by Christina

Category: Fluff

Word Count: 1986

A/N: Hey guys! It’s been a long time since I’ve written, and I’m sorry. University life has been kicking my butt, tbh. I just finished finals week, so I’m hoping to get some more writing in over winter break. I’m sorry if this is crap. I got the idea while watching “Numb3rs”, which I’ve recently become obsessed with, so I decided to write a Detective!Tom AU. Enjoy!

Tom growled and slammed the file down on the desk. The smack of the papers hitting the flat surface made his best friend jump. The tan-skinned man jumped, nearly spilling the coffee he held. He sighed when his nerves settled down, shaking his head.

“Come on, man,” He said, exasperated. “Don’t do that. You know that scares me.”

Tom jabbed a finger at the board that was littered in pictures, maps and red string. He was in a small briefing room in the middle of a New York City precinct. He was with his detective buddy, working on a recent mafia case. It was proving to be a tough one to crack. And it was driving Tom crazy.

“I can’t figure out where in the world they are,” he growled, clenching his jaw and putting his hands on his hips in frustration. The motion made one of the sleeves that was rolled up to his elbows slip and fall down to his wrist. He growled again and jammed the sleeve back up to his elbow before yanking a photo off the board.

“Rigelletto was here,” Tom said, shaking the photo of the dock in his hand. “That’s what Urich said. 12:03pm. That’s when he called us.”

“Yeah,” The man’s best friend said, taking a swig of his coffee. He made a face and glanced at the drink. “Did you make the coffee?”

“Yeah, why,” Tom snapped, yanking off another photo. “Then Urich said they were supposed to meet here, at Mel’s Diner at 12:30pm.”

“It’s really weak,” The man said. He set the cup down on the table.

“Shut up,” Tom said. “If I made it the way I like it, you would complain anyway.”

“Yeah,” The man said, as if it was obvious. He stood up and waddled to Tom. “Because I’m not a weirdo who likes a whole can of coffee in my cup.”

“It’s not a whole can!” Tom snapped.

“Well, it certainly tastes like it.”

“Shut up, man,” Tom groaned. He ran his fingers through his brown curls, messing them up even more. One of them fell over his forehead. He stopped and stared at the board, scanning over the information again. The other man stood next to Tom, crossing his arms and staring at the board as well.

“Maybe Rigelletto just decided to bail. Wouldn’t be uncommon. Mobsters do it all the time.”

“Yeah, but we know that Rigelletto always meets Urich,” Tom argued. “He’s never just not shown up before.”

“First time for everything,” The man said. Tom sighed.

“Where are they hiding the money,” Tom whispered, scanning the photos for the umpteenth time.

“My guess stays the same,” The other man said.

Tom groaned in irritation. “It’s not in a secret underground tunnel!”

“I got rid of that theory a long time ago. It’s obviously hidden in plain sight but the only way you can find it is if you crack the cipher hidden on the back of the Constitution.”

Tom stared at his friend.

“Jacob,” Tom said, licking his lips. “How did you become detective?”

“They liked my dashing good looks and killer wit.”

Tom snorted.

“Don’t laugh,” Jacob said, smacking Tom on the arm. “It’s rude.”

“Whatever, man,” Tom said, shaking his head. He glanced at the photos again. A moment of silence passed before Jacob nudged Tom in the arm.

“Why don’t you get some lunch or something?” Jacob suggested nonchalantly.

“I’m fine,” Tom snapped.

“Man, just take twenty minutes,” Jacob insisted.”Get something quick from the deli down the block and come right back here.”

“Why don’t you get it?”

“I’ve gotten lunch the past three weeks. Your turn.”

Tom sighed. “Give me twenty and I’ll go.”

“No,” Jacob shook his head. “It’s the deli on the corner, Tommy. Five bucks is enough for what I want.”

Tom glared at Jacob. “Don’t call me Tommy.”

Jacob rolled his eyes before fishing in his pockets to find a five dollar bill. He found one and held it out to his friend with a bright smile. “A number two with extra mayo, please.”

Tom sighed and grabbed the bill. He pulled the suit jacket off the chair next to Jacob, where Tom had been sitting earlier, and slipped over his shoulders. He checked his pockets to make sure he had his wallet and phone. He clipped the gold police on his belt buckle and walked to the table where his gun was sitting. He pushed the gun into his shoulder holster, instantly feeling better when the heavy, cold metal pressed against his ribs. He pulled the jacket over the holster and slipped on his aviator sunglasses. He gave Jacob a half-hearted salute before opening the door and stepping out.

“Thanks, Tommy!” Jacob shouted gleefully as soon as Tom was about to close the door. Tom stopped and wheeled around, pulling his glasses off and jabbing a finger at Jacob to make a cutting remark.

“Detective Holland,” A crisp voice said. “Out to lunch, are we?” Tom stopped and straightened immediately. He adjusted his jacket.

“Yes, sir,” Tom said politely, nodding. He glanced at the police chief. The man’s trim dark goatee outlined the smirk the man had on his face. “Do you want anything, Chief Downey?”

“No, I’m good. Thanks, kid,” The police chief answered, smiling. He walked toward Tom and clapped him on the back. Tom grunted at the impact. “Ah, Detective Balaton. How are you?”

“Doing very well, Mr. Downey, sir,” Jacob answered brightly. The chief smiled.

“We’ve been over this. Call me Robert, Jacob,” The man said, smiling.

“Right, sir. Sorry, sir. I mean, Mr. Robert,” Jacob said cheerfully. Tom bit back a groan at his friend’s politeness.

“Whatever floats your boat, kid,” The chief said. He slapped Tom on the back one last time before walking down the hallway to the main area. “Avengers! Assemble!” The police chief’s voice rang throughout the large space. Tom heard a low chuckle from the other officers.

“All due respect, sir,” A voice said. “I don’t think calling ourselves The Avengers is a good idea.”

“You’re the one that came up with it, Evans.”

“In my defense, sir, I drunk.”

“Well, Commissioner Lee liked it, so we’re sticking with it.”

Tom rolled his eyes, waved again to Jacob then set out to the diner at the corner of the block.

—————

You sighed, pushing back the strand of hair that fell over your eye. You flashed a bright smile.

“That will be $27.74,” You said cheerfully, eyeing the man and his family. The man gave a small smile back and handed you his card. You quickly ran the payment, reading the card before handing it back. “Thank you so much for your time, Mr. Faucher. Have a good day!” When the man and his family left, holding the plastic number tab indicating their order, you glanced around, seeing if anyone needed help. There wasn’t anyone in sight, so you scurried through the swinging metal doors to the kitchen, knowing there was a large pile of dirty dishes waiting for you.

The cafe was small, but it was a decent job. Paid well, hours were good and your boss was nice. You dealt with weird people, but that came with the territory of being in New York City. And besides, you didn’t really want to make a career out of this job, anyway. You just needed something to pay the bills until you could do what you truly loved to do. You began to wash the dishes, trying to get all them spotless. A few plates in, a loud dinging rang through the kitchen. You quickly finished washing the plate you were on.

“Be right with you!” You shouted towards the front as you dried the plate. You darted through the swinging metal doors. What you saw took your breath away. It was a man. A very, very attractive man in a suit. He had brown curls that looked as if he had constantly running his fingers through them and rich brown eyes. He was leaning against the counter, his suit jacket tugging against his large biceps. You gulped, forcing a smile on your face despite the butterflies flying in your stomach.

“Hi,” You said, stepping to the register. “What can I get going for you today?” The man quickly scanned you before smiling a little.

“An order to go. For me and my friend,” He answered, with a slight accent.

You nodded. “Okay. And what would that be?”

He rattled off the order, and you almost forgot to put it into the register because he was just so good-looking. You frantically typed in the order and pushed the button to run the payment.

“That would be $10.35,” You said politely. You risked gazing into his eyes and instantly got lost. They were so rich and warm. He stared back. There was a few moments of silence before you were able to take the cash from his hand, sorted out the change and held out the coins in a shaking hand. The man shook his head, gently closing your fingers. His fingers were a little calloused and rough, but smooth and soft at the same time. They were also very warm. You felt electricity shoot up your arm at the contact.

“Keep the change,” He said, smiling a little. You smiled back and nodded, dropping the coins into the small tip jar. The coins clattered loudly.

“Thank you,” You said.

“You’re welcome,” The man paused as he scanned you again, his gaze stopping at your chest. You stiffened a little. “Y/N.” Oh, he was just reading your name tag. You relaxed a little.

“Well, you know my name,” You said. “Do I get to know yours?”

“Tom,” He answered, his accent getting thicker.

“I have to ask,” You said, instantly feeling embarrassed about what you were going to inquire.

“My accent?” The man asked, smirking.

You smiled sheepishly and nodded.

“I was born and raised in London,” Tom answered. “Never could quite shake off the accent.” He dropped his gaze and focused on the counter, running his finger in imaginary patterns over the surface.

“You were born in London?” You asked. An attractive British boy was talking to you? To you?! Oh, no way.

Tom chuckled. “Yes.” He glanced at you again. “What about you? If you don’t mind me asking, are you from here?”

You shook your head. “Just moved here a couple years ago. Decided to go to school here.”

“School?” Tom asked. You nodded. Before you could say more, the chef called out Tom’s order. You hurried to the pickup window and grabbed the brown bag holding the man’s food. You walked back to Tom, making sure to keep both hands on the bag so you wouldn’t drop it.

“Here you go!” You said cheerfully, sliding the back across the counter. Tom smiled and nodded his thanks. He grabbed the bag and his fingers brushed yours again. The touch made a shock go through your arm. Your fingers lingered there, both holding the bag, fingertips touching ever so slightly. Eventually, the two of you withdrew, albeit reluctantly.

“Actually,” Tom said, running his finger over the bag. “Do you mind if I call my friend and have him eat here with me?”

You nodded. “Yeah, do whatever you want. Fine with me.” You smiled.

Tom smiled and shook his head, a blush rising to his cheeks.

“I meant, would you be okay if I had lunch with you?” He asked. He gave you a textbook puppy-eyed look. Your heart melted. “My friend would have to join us though, since I have his food.” You blinked a few times, unsure whether you heard him right.

“You want me to have lunch with you?” You repeated.

Tom nodded. “Yeah. I’m kind of having a rough day at work and I, just, It’s been nice talking to you.”

You smiled. “Sure.”

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[comicteaparty]

April 1st-April 7th, 2019 CTP Archive

The archive for the Comic Tea Party week long chat that occurred from April 1st, 2019 to April 7th, 2019.  The chat focused on Stomp! by Brodnork.

Featured Comment:

Chat:

RebelVampire

COMIC TEA PARTY- WEEK LONG BOOK CLUB START!

Hello and welcome everyone to Comic Tea Party’s Week Long Book Club~! This week we’ll be focusing on Stomp! by Brodnork~! (http://stompwebcomic.com/)

You are free to read and comment about the comic all week at your own pace, so stop on by whenever it suits your schedule! Remember, though, that while we allow constructive criticism, our focus is to have fun and appreciate the comic. Below you will find four questions to get you started on the discussion. However, a new question will be posted and pinned everyday (between 12:01AM and 6AM PDT), so keep checking back for more! You have until April 7th to tell us all your wonderful thoughts! With that established, let’s get going on the reading and the chatting!

QUESTION 1. What has been your favorite scene in the comic so far? What specifically did you like about it?

QUESTION 2. What do you believe is in the box Silvergammel gives Stomp at the beginning of the story? Do you believe the box will open soon, or will it still be a while? What do you think will happen when it does open?

Brodnork

Hi! I was just caught up in setting up my April Fools gag on twitter that I completely forgot this was happening today

RebelVampire

ironically yours is the gag that reminded me of the date cause i super had to double check i was tagging the right account on twitter cause i was so confused XD

Brodnork

Haha thats fair

It's actually a super convenient time for this sort of discussion, seeing as a chapter just ended and it's on a small hiatus for a bit.

RebelVampire

QUESTION 3. At the moment, who is your favorite character? What about that character earns them this favor?

QUESTION 4. How do you think Tandrad and Inkcrest are doing? What do you think happened in regards to the Hooligrin paying a visit to Tandrad ominously? What role might Tandrad have to play in the story?

RebelVampire

1) my favorite scene this time i think is when they go to the moon and defeat the queen. i enjoy the humor that shes just so flat out fed up with them no amount of revenge is worth it. i just also love the simple aesthetic changes as well cause despite being simple, they really convey that feeling of alienness. 2) i mean the devil's advocate is the obvious choice. maybe its not tho. maybe its the deus ex machina that will save the die. like baby pictures of the hooligrin that can be used as blackmail. i feel itll still be a while before it comes into play, and i feel too stomp himself probably forgot about it. as for what will happen when it opens, probably some sort of epic fight whether related to the box or not. i also feel like silvergammel might not even know for sure whats in the box despite thinking stomp would like it.

3) Still Clomp because he's the cool one who has a dorky hat and sunglasses and i just like his overall joking sort of laid back attitude about everything. but mostly, hes the cool one. 4) Tandrad and Inkcrest are probably fine, but the theme park owners? probably not so much. Mostly becuase the Hooligrin can only be a bad influence on tandrad and probably said, "im your friend and i say you should murder them." but i think tandrad is gonna appear as an antagonist again next alongside the hooligrin and stomp will have to convince tandrad theyre still friends. then tandrad will betray hooligrin and hooligrin will curse them all while going for plan c.

Brodnork

Ooh, i like those theories about the box

RebelVampire

QUESTION 5. What has been your favorite illustration in the comic so far? What specifically about it do you like?

QUESTION 6. What aspect of the world-building have you liked the most? What future role do you believe the aliens might have to play? Further, do you think Comp will learn to control his psychic powers?

RebelVampire

5) im a huge fan of this more recent page, especially the last panel http://stompwebcomic.com/comic/214. i just adore the lighting effects on this page between the red and the glow. and i love the details on how the sword emerges with all the kind of partical spray. it definitely feels like a magical sword and like something truly amazing is happening. 6) ive really enjoyed in general just the world history. like the pirates, the hiss clickers, the alien war. i really love how this stuff is informing present day events while not being completely about it either. it makes the world feel super fleshed out without overriding whats going on. as for the aliens, im not sure theyll be coming back unless hooligrin makes even more "friends." but i do think comp is gonna pick up those psychic powers. just in the greatest time of need. hell show everyone how he can bend a spoon just like in the matrix.

Brodnork

Thanks, Im actually pretty proud of that panel but I was worried it wouldn't have the impact I wanted

ShaRose49

This is really cute so far! It feels pretty slice-of-life-y

Brodnork

Thanks! I guess it sort of is slice of life, seeing as Stomp's life kinda involves going on adventures regularly

TypewriterMark

Rey first thought is this an enormous amount of work and that should always be celebrated

RebelVampire

QUESTION 7. Which characters do you enjoy seeing interact the most? What about their dynamic interests you?

QUESTION 8. What do you think the Devil’s Advocate is? Who is the Hooligrin’s boss and why do they want it? Do you think Hooligrin does know where it is? How will this storyline continue to affect Stomp and company?

ShaRose49

Stomp and the Uncle

Omgosh they are hilarious

My fav scene was the part with the rotten eggnog and he keeps saying random things like I do when I’m tired

ShaRose49

“You’ll never take me alive.”

RebelVampire

QUESTION 9. What sorts of art or story details have you noticed in the way the comic is crafted that you think deserves attention?

QUESTION 10. Of the adventures Stomp has been on so far, which one is your favorite? What did you like about it specifically? Also, which adventure played out in a way you didn’t expect?

RebelVampire

7) the characters i probably enjoy seeing interact most are stomp and chomp. they really have such opposite attitudes about adventure, life, and the amount of safety precautions each will take. and i enjoy seeing that contrast be played around with and how inevitably, stomp is usually dragging chomp on adventures to. 8) the devil's advocate is clearly a device that just points out all the flaws in your argument. hooligrin's boss wants to use it to become the best politician in the world by weeding out all their bad arguments and understanding their political opponents better. but more seriously, probably something to summon a demon. and ya know blah blah get all that demon power to rule the world. i think hooligrin thinks he knows where it is, but i def dont think what he thinks is the correct location. and inevitably hooligrin is gonna have to go back to plan a cause stomp is the only good lead

RebelVampireLast Friday at 8:19 AM

9) i love how consistently the world design generally is. like the tree designs consistently look the same, the hiss clickers, and just like the fuzzy quality to all the creatures makes them all feel like they belong in the world. it really helps make the world feel like a cohesive and unique place all its own where characters are actually living. 10) I liked the moon adventure the most i think. I like how the shopping cart was used, how one of the main characters was tied in, and i just generally liked how the queen was defeated. cause it was sad and hilarious. as for adventures that played out in a way i didnt expect, thatd definitely be the treasure hunt one. mostly cause i thought theyd at least find something worthwhile. instead it was just danger and more danger. and yet, they were still happy cause yaay exciting adventures. plus, ya know, a flying shopping cart.

RebelVampire

QUESTION 11. What do you think are this particular comic’s strengths? What do you think makes this comic unique? Please elaborate.

QUESTION 12. What do you think Cigast was up to in the mine in regards to collecting all the crystals? How do Cigast and Silvergammel supposedly know each other? What consequences will there be for Stomp failing to stop Cigast?

RebelVampire

11) i think the comic's strength is its world-building and how it ties the world into the story. as i mentioned in an earlier question, i just really enjoy how the story makes the world feel like an actual place where characters are living. i also feel theres really a good balance in how the world is presented, as there are tons of relateable things and parodies that help connect you to the world. but even so, they are able to remain unique. but generally, theres just a lot of character to the world that feels as much a part of how the story unfolds as the rest of the story elements. 12) honestly i kind of think cigast is working with hooligrin in some manner. like not directly persay, but maybe a coworker or hooligrin's black market magic dealer. so i think stomp's failure is gonna spell trouble for stomp later in the next confrontation with hooligrin. cause if i go with my theory on cigast, then cigast is probably giving stuff to hooligrin to use. as for how cigast and silvergammel know each other, maybe they were buddies in college but then cigast went down the dark path and silvergammel didnt want to be buddies anymore and it was very sad.

Brodnork

Thanks for your comments about the world!!

RebelVampire

QUESTION 13. What are you most looking forward to in the comic? Also, do you have any final thoughts to share overall?

QUESTION 14. Do you believe Silvergammel will actually tell Stomp his stories are fake? How might this affect Stomp? Do you believe Stomp should continue adventuring anyway despite the danger? Should everyone let him?

RebelVampire

13) im looking forward to just seeing their adventures in general. i really like learning about the world they live in. but im also looking forward to stomp overcoming people's beliefs he cant go on real adventures. 14) i feel like maybe hell go for an inbetween. like say "well some of the stories arent real." mostly cause silvergammel already putting it off, so i dont trust him to for real tell stomp. but i feel this could go one of two ways. stomp will go on a big huge adventure to prove everyone wrong, or stomp will get depressed and go on a reluctant adventure. but in the long run, yeah, i think stomp will continue adventuring. not that he shouldnt be dissuaded, but stubborn is as stubborn does

RebelVampire

COMIC TEA PARTY- WEEK LONG BOOK CLUB END!

Thank you everyone so much for reading and chatting about Stomp! this week! Please also give a special thank you to Brodnork for volunteering the comic and creating it! If you liked Stomp!, make sure to continue to support it via some of the links below!

Read and Comment: http://stompwebcomic.com/

Brodnork’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Brodnork

Brodnork’s Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/A561YF0

Brodnork’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brodnork

[americanmyths-blog]

Lily Rennhoff

Dr. Rothenbeck

English 2270

1 May 2017

Motherhood in The Bell Jar  

Post WWII America is bustling with returning husbands from battle and a deep American pride rumbling through the streets of every state. The Economy prospered and families were booming – a happy time for America, it seems. The American Dream is alive and growing. However, not all things are blossoming for the better. Women are thanked for their service in the work force while the husbands are away, pushed back into the house with oven mitts and a frying pan shoved into their hands. America returns back to its traditional, perfect family of the wife’s bubble and the husband’s bubble. Emerging from the kitchen is Sylvia Plath, an ambitious writer and poet, set on challenging all social norms. Sylvia Plath’s novel, The Bell Jar, depicts a deep ambivalence towards gender norms during the post WWII period in America, challenging the expectations of traditional domestic motherhood ideals of the time through deep symbolism.

The Ideal woman of the 1960s in America is entirely domestic: cooking, cleaning, and waiting on her family with a cheery smile imprinted on her face. Mothers at the time are expected to put their family’s needs above all others, quitting work and staying in the home. Rona Ferguson, in her article titled, “Support not Scorn: The Theory and Practice of Maternity Almoners in the 1960s and 1970s,” states, “Unmarried mothers have been persistently singled out as a discrete ‘problem’ group throughout the twentieth century” (Ferguson). At this time in history, it is looked down upon if a woman is unmarried and well into adulthood. To Sylvia Plath, these gender expectations did not abide to her life wishes and she often incorporated her ideals into her writings. In fact, Plath is disgusted by the image of an ideal woman and specifically, the ideal mother. At the time the novel is being written, Sylvia herself is a mother to two young children. Interestingly enough, she only mentions this factor once in her novel, in the beginning, as she mentions the fabulous gifts given to her by Ladies Day, stating, “I use the lipstick now and then, and last week I cut the plastic starfish off the sunglasses case for the baby to play with” (Plath 3). This is the only mention of Plath’s real-life motherhood written in The Bell Jar that indicates that Sylvia Plath is a mother at the time of her writing. Why is it, then, that Plath became a mother despite all her powerful feelings towards motherhood that are strongly placed throughout the novel? Could she be releasing all her inner thoughts in her novel, about the harsh and unrealistic expectations a mother should be?

In order to better understand Plath’s prominent opinion on motherhood and to further emphasize her criticism on the gender stereotypes of the time, Plath intertwines symbolism pertaining to motherhood in almost every chapter of The Bell Jar. One of these symbols is the recurring and ever-present task of shorthand. Shorthand was, “Developed by Sir Isaac Pitman in 1837. It is based on geometrical curves and lines in varying lengths and angles written on lined paper” (Lee), and is very common in Esther’s time. Ironically, Esther’s mother is the one encouraging her to learn shorthand, as Esther states, “My Mother had taught shorthand and typing to support us ever since my father died, and secretly she hated it and hated him for dying and leaving no money because he didn’t trust life insurance salesmen. She was always on to me to learn shorthand after college, so I’d have a practical skill as well as a college degree” (Plath 39). For Esther, shorthand is not simply just a tasteless and boring skill she is avoiding. Shorthand, to her, embodies motherhood and involves succumbing to the gender stereotypes she tries so hard to abandon. Shorthand is a constant reminder of the mechanical, repetitive keys of everyday life for a mother in the 1960s. Cooking, cleaning, and cooking again. Another notable symbol in the novel is the grotesque scene Esther witnesses with Buddy that describes a baby being born. Esther witnesses this graphic experience and describes it in disgusted detail, claiming that the mother looks like a spider as she describes, “The woman’s stomach stuck up so high I couldn’t see her face or the upper part of her body at all. She seemed to have nothing but an enormous spider-fat stomach and two little ugly spindly legs propped in the high stirrups, and all the time the baby was being born she never stopped making this unhuman whooing noise” (Plath 66). This comparison of a spider to a mother depicts an ugly image of an insect that shows no empathy or kind human attachment. Dodo Conway is a third significant symbol utilized by Plath to emphasize motherhood. Dodo is the epitome of a model mother of her time, birthing six children and no doubt expecting a seventh. Esther cringes as Dodo pushes her baby carriage down the street, creaking as it goes by, infuriating Esther with each passing second, thinking to herself, “Children make me sick” (Plath 117).

Dodo, similar to shorthand, is also a symbol of Esther’s deepening fear of motherhood. It seems that Dodo is Esther’s daily reminder of the trials motherhood can be, taking time out of your daily life. For Esther, this would mean giving up her writing and diminishing all her years of studious habits to raise children of her own. Yet another symbol of motherhood lies hidden in plain sight: the bell jar itself. Being the title of the novel, it is clear Esther considers her life to be hidden under a bell jar: she is suffocating from all the oppression and social obligations pressed upon her in everyday life. This imaginary bell jar is keeping her trapped forever abandoned with little sight of rescue in sight. This bell jar can also be seen as yet another symbol of the oppression she feels from motherhood. Because of society’s strong prejudice against unmarried women who have no family, Esther feels the need to conform to society and marry and have children, facts which haunt her every day.  

Esther’s own mother is the leading and most prominent symbol of all. Aside from her mother constantly attempting to get Esther to learn shorthand, her mother seems to deeply care about her daughter in a loving way. Therefore, confusion arises as to why Esther feels so deeply disturbed by motherhood. At one point in the novel, Esther speaks to her doctor about her mother and declares, “I hate her” (Plath 203). This specific scene could lead the reader to believe her own mother is the reason why Esther is fearful and spiteful of motherhood. There is no description as to why Esther feels such a strong hatred to her mother, however, which leads the reader into even more questioning and doubt.

Sylvia Plath’s view on motherhood has been highly debated since her death by suicide shortly after the publication of The Bell Jar. Some critics argue on whether or not Plath is putting herself into the protagonist, Esther, or if she is simply creating a fictional character entirely. It appears clear that Plath doubts every social obligation of a woman in the 1960s, but her stance on motherhood seems to be tinted a dark black, almost unreadable.  Nevertheless, a separate poem written by Sylvia Plath, titled “Metaphors,” gives readers a deeper insight into the conflicted mind of Sylvia Plath. The poem reads,

“I’m a riddle in nine syllables,

An elephant, a ponderous house,

A melon strolling on two tendrils.

O red fruit, ivory find timbers!

This loaf’s big with its yeasty rising.

Money’s new-minted in this fat purse.

I’m a means, a stage, a cow in calf.

I’ve eaten a bag of green apples,

Boarded the train there’s no getting off” (Plath).

Plath is clearly opening a discussion about motherhood in her richly symbolic poem. Line after line, Plath is fusing together common scenes from her everyday life, such as cooking, grocery shopping, and traveling. However, a deeper meaning arises with the yeasty loaf. Plath is directly drawing attention to her fear of forever being a mother, while relating it to boarding an endless train. She never seems to directly describe why she feels trapped in motherhood, but the symbols do not go unnoticed. She is discretely getting her message across in just nine syllables. Therefore, there is little question that motherhood, and all the domestic duties that come with it, are purposefully placed into her novel, The Bell Jar.

           In closing, Sylvia Plath is a dedicated writer who believes in writing what she thought, felt, and related to. For Plath, her belief was not motherhood. On the cover of the Harper Perennial edition of The Bell Jar, there is a woman shown from the knees down. She is wearing a black dress that stretches to her mid-calf, and her white ankles are exposed. She wears black heels laced around her ankle-bones and her feet are perfectly pressed together. There is a blue, hazy, almost somber effect on the entire cover. In the corner, white letters read, “The Bell Jar.” Originally, one look at this cover and the viewer would believe it to be Esther or Sylvia Plath herself. It is easy to forget to analyze the cover of any novel, but then the reader might be missing a small, key clue. However, it is possible that the dark woman standing here is neither, but she is in fact, her mother. Is she dressed in black, after just attending Esther’s funeral? Is that why there is such a sad tone to the cover? Nevertheless, motherhood is such a prominent feature in Sylvia Plath’s, The Bell Jar. Sylvia Plath has opened the world to the deep effects of motherhood. To many, motherhood is a gift and a blessing, and is regarded as something to be cherished. To Sylvia, and perhaps others at the time of the 1950s and 1960s, motherhood can be seen as a burden, a thing to be feared, and a tight grip society has placed on women.

  Works Cited

Ferguson, Rona. “Support Not Scorn: The Theory and Practice of Maternity Almoners in the 1960s and 1970s.” Oral History, vol. 31, no. 2, 2003, pp. 43–54., www.jstor.org/stable/40179756.

Plath, Sylvia. The Bell Jar. London: Faber, 1966. Print.

"Poem of the Week." Shenandoah. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2017.

"Postwar United States - American Memory Timeline- Classroom Presentation | Teacher Resources." Library of Congress. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2017. <http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/timeline/postwar/>.

Sakane, Yōko. “The Mother, the Self, and the Other: The Search for Identity in Sylvia Plath's ‘The Bell Jar’ and Takahashi Takako's ‘Congruent Figure.’” U.S.-Japan Women's Journal. English Supplement, no. 14, 1998, pp. 27–48., www.jstor.org/stable/42772124.