#and i do love what they did with kendra. that's a big selling point for me. maybe one of the biggest

[oveliagirlhaditright]

The times Buffy saw Angel's vamp face for the first time in Buffy (because she didn't have her memories in "Halloween," of course).

Bonus: The first Boom AU:

[whatdidijustdomama]

What did I just do?

I’m starting this because I just made a mistake. It is a mistake I have been wanting to make for a while. I pretty excited about it actually, although I know it is going to make my life pretty shitty for a while. And by shitty, I mean actually filled with shit, more shit than my life is currently filled with, which is a lot. See, I have four children. If you have any children or have ever spent any amount of time caring for a child, you understand. There’s the actual shit - I can at this point in my life hold a glass of wine in one hand while wiping a little butt in the other without batting an eye - and then there’s the metaphorical shit - whose picking up Izzy from gymnastics? Didn’t it end thirty minutes ago? 

Before the big reveal, let me provide some context so you can really appreciate this for the mistake it is. It all began during quarantine. I’m sure that’s true for so many of us. Being trapped at home with your family for an extended period of time can really tell you a lot about who you live with, and more importantly, how loud they are. I came to the conclusion that the noise, the bickering, the mess... it couldn’t be my children. No! There has to be another explanation. So one day, as I was locked in the bathroom, my three-year-old banging on the door as hard as she could, I began to surf Zillow. Well, we all know where that leads. Zillow is NOT good for anyone. Zillow promises a better, less cluttered life in a house you can’t really afford, and I took the bait. 

So flash forward eight months (yes, EIGHT MONTHS). We sold our house. That was neither fun nor easy (thanks Kendra Downs - Berkshire Hathaway for the less terrible parts of that experience). We moved in with my parents (also neither fun nor easy, although I have to admit that my mom is really my best friend), and we house shopped forever. I was raised to think I have more money than I actually do, so I was endlessly surprised that the houses we looked at weren’t nicer. Then, after a few months, I stopped caring and just wanted a house. It was an unhealthy spiral, but that is a story for another time. So, to sum up, we found a house I love, or at least I am now so desperate that I think I love it, but the sellers want to live there after selling it to us until December 20th! So here we all are, me, my husband, my four children, our dog, and our two ferrets, still living at my parents house.

Naturally, I did what anyone would do in my shoes: I bought a puppy! 

His name is Stanley and he will join his new family November 23rd. And yes, that is before we actually move in to our new house.

As I sit here reflecting, I suspect I may have some interesting moments to share in the near future. It’s not like I’m busy doing other things. Why not start a blog-like thing like a typical self-involved millennial? So here it is. 

[tessatechaitea]

Justice League #34

If Doom wins then how come this issue isn't subtitled "Doom Risen"?

Ugh. How long has this Doom event been fucking going on?! My advice to Snyder: next time, make Lex Luthor smarter so his plan comes to fruition quicker! Some of the Justice League are in the past hiding in Atlantis with the Justice Society as a captured Poseidon tries to destroy it. They need Vandal Savage's help to get the totality to the future so John Stewart convinces him by yelling, "Oorah!" Hourman and Alan Scott jizz their jeans over his masculinity and decide that maybe a negro member of the Justice Society wouldn't be such a bad thing. You might think I'm letting my cynical view of the world reinterpret the scene in a fairly unforgiving way but I assure you it doesn't come across much better than that. I wonder how they'd feel if John Stewart had convinced Vandal to help them using architecture metaphors?

Did I accidentally pick up the extra-gay version of this month's Justice League?

I think I accidentally stumbled into a new way for DC to make money. Forget variant covers and foil card insert. Why don't they put out extra-gay issues?! They could call one version the "Extra-Straight" version and the other version the "Extra-Gay" just so we don't get into the weeds arguing about why one is called the "Normal Issue." Although I think if two comic books existed that were slight variations of each other and one was the "Extra-Straight" version and one was the "Extra-Gay" version, it would totally be more gay to buy the "Extra-Straight" version. It sounds like that one is going to be full of shirtless men wrestling in totally non-boner inducing ways that are actually super boner inducing. If DC won't take my super great moneymaking idea that will wind up selling a billion issues of Harley and Poison Ivy #1 (Extra-Gay version) then maybe I can trademark the idea of "Extra-Straight" comic books and sue all the Comicsgaters producing comic books. Do Comicsgate comic books have copy on the covers in huge fonts that say things like "No Gay Characters!" and "If a Character is Black, It's Totally Plot Related!" and "This Won't Pass the Bechdel Test. AT ALL!"? I think I'm making Comicsgate comic books sound more interesting than they really are! I bet most of them are boring super hero punch ups where characters occasionally reference Pepe the Frog and fly through the air in a pose like they're heiling Hitler. Back to the plot, is Barry Allen really interested in wearing his hair long? Why am I suddenly finding him interesting? I almost wrote "more interesting" but, you know, it's Barry Allen. The most interesting thing he ever did was appearing out of nowhere during Crisis on Infinite Earths and disintegrating. Unless Barry was actually asking John if John thought he could rip Vandal's hair off of his head. Although that interpretation makes Barry more interesting as well. What I'm saying is this is the most interesting panel Barry Allen has ever been a part of. Meanwhile in the future (if that makes any sense at all), Kamandi has gathered up heroes from various futures to RRHAAAOOOR! I'm told by editorial that "RRHAAAOOOR" means "kick some ass" in panther. How come it's usually okay to swear in a foreign language in an all ages comic book?

One of the "heroes" he brings is Lobo. So Brainiac is fucked.

An easy way to tell if a comic book fan is a psychopath is to gauge how angry they get at two things I love to write (largely for that reaction): Deathstroke is a pedophile and Lobo is the most powerful and most fuckable and greatest character to ever come out of DC. Along with websites that track known pedophiles in your neighborhood, I think we should also have a database of people who get irate at the idea that Deathstroke is a pedophile. They go fucking crazy defending a fictional character's reputation over something not worth defending! I might agree they have a point that using the term "pedophile" is misleading at best. He's more of a statutory rapist! But even that gets their Quixotic gears turning. Yes, I'm comparing myself to a majestic windmill. The Lobo thing doesn't get people so incensed but it does bring out a lot of actually nerds who don't understand how much fun I'm having with my hyperbolic love of such a one trick character. My favorite thing about Lobo is that he looks cool in a way that doesn't look cool at all. How did they do that?! He's a hot clown! He's a MILF: mechanic I'd like to fuck! He's so over-the-top that I can't understand people who try to take him seriously. He's the greatest joke DC has ever played on their readers and I love him unironically. Also, you know Lobo leaves you satisfied after he fucks you. And I don't think it matters if you're female or male or space dolphin. He's gonna give it to you fucking good.

Twelve year old me would totally jerk off to this picture.

The pieces of the Totality are secured and all the Starmen throughout time are linked together psychically. It's their last chance! Perpetua is about to be defeated! I will ignore the cover and pretend that everything is going to work out and that Hawkgirl isn't going to fuck it all up with her desire to bash Luthor in the back of the head with her mace. Hopefully J'onn J'onzz will finally assert his will and get her back on track. Or else the multiverse is doomed! You know. Like Luthor has been trying to explain for forty-five issues. Welp. Kendra fucked it all up. Perpetua is risen. All hail Doom. Justice League #34 Final Thoughts: Okay, fine. The big plan failed and Doom won and Perpetua can now manipulate the multiverse however she wants. But there's one thing she forgot to do before declaring victory: she didn't kill Batman. What a fucking amateur move! The first villain to actually begin by killing Batman will be the first villain to completely take over everything. I guess that's why The Joker is the smartest villain in the DC Universe. He's doing the real work.

[duggardata]

John + Abbie Are Courting!  Get The Data Here.

[Note—I got so many Asks on this, I didn’t screenshot or include any of them.  I think I answered them all, though.  If not, please resubmit—but wait 1 Week, or so, to let the queue catch up first!]

On Tuesday, June 26, 2018, Us Weekly reported that John David “J.D.” Duggar, is a ‘Bachelor Til The Rapture’ no more!  Aged 28, the eldest Duggar Son finally entered a courtship.  Who, you ask, is the lucky lady?  It’s Abbie Grace Burnett, 26, of Stratford, Oklahoma.  The Burnett Family includes John + Cheryl Burnett and their 8 Children.  (Abbie is #4).  They’re affiliated with IBLP/ATI.

Abbie reportedly works as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)—for now, at least.

After the jump, you’ll find answers to all Asks and more—

Timeline—When did they begin courting?  How does reality compare to John’s prior, estimated ‘courtposal’ date? 

Age Data—How does their age at courtship compare to other Duggars’?  How does their age gap compare to other Duggars’?  How do they affect overall, Duggar averages?

Predictions—When will they get engaged?  When will they get married?  When will they become parents?  How many children will they have?

When Did John + Abbie Start Courting?

As of now (June 29, 2018), we aren’t 100% sure.  When John + Abbie revealed their courtship, they said that they’ve “known each other for several years, but ... didn’t meet ‘til John flew in for a church event in Oklahoma, where [Abbie is] from.”  Abbie said:  “We really got connected then.”  John added that it was “a couple months ago,” and then said:  “We fell in love very quickly.”

Despite John + Abbie attempt to be vague, Duggar Data suspects they started courting around May 6, 2018.  Here’s three reasons why—

(1)  The “May 2018″ Photo Tag

First, as an Anon pointed out, the Dillards’ “Congratulations John + Abbie” post—posted to DillardFamily.com on June 26, 2018—includes a photo of John and Abbie, that’s tagged May 2018.  Abbie isn’t wearing the heart–shaped necklace that John reported gave her when he courtposed, but here’s my explanation for that:  Perhaps this was the courtposal—or, rather, right after.  TLC captured this shot shortly after John asked, and before Abbie put on the necklace.  It’s only a theory, but I think it fits with the image—a professional shot from a well–lit, lush and pretty background, with John + Abbie dressed quite nicely.  Also...  They’re getting pretty freakin’ close, if they weren’t actually courting...

(2)  The Recent Visit to Ada, OK

Moving on to Fact #2...  On May 6, 2018, Jim Bob + Michelle spoke at the Ada First Baptist Church in Ada, Oklahoma, suspiciously close to the Burnett home.  Now, you may be thinking, “Maybe that’s when they met and ‘get connected!’”  I don’t think so.  Because the Dillards’ photo tag accidentally—or perhaps, not–so–accidentally—revealed a May 2018 ‘courtposal’ date, and John + Abbie say they’ve “known each other for several years,” this is my theory:  John + Abbie’s relationship started out as long–distance—talking on the phone, etc.—a lot like Jill + Derick did.  Because of this, they were ready to take the next step by May 6, 2018, when the Duggars visited Oklahoma.  John likely ‘courtposed’ on that trip, after the Duggars and Burnetts enjoyed a few days of ‘fellowship.’

(3)  Data and Details

Finally, a May 6, 2018 Courtposal Date fits well with the data and the TLC–shot video from John + Abbie.  Starting with the data, until John + Abbie, the typical Duggar waited 55 Days to announce they’re courting.  JAbbie announced their courtship on June 26, 2018, via Us Weekly.  If J.D. ‘courtposed’ on May 6, that announcement was on Day 51.  That’s very, very close to the Duggar Average!  Further, when John + Abbie announced, they said they “really got connected ... a couple months ago.”  Doing the math, May 6, 2018 to June 26, 2018 is about 2 Months (1 Months, 20 Days).  Thus, May 6 is quite literally “a couple months” prior to June 26.  Everything checks out!

So, yeah...  Duggar Data will use the estimated date of May 6, 2018 for John + Abbie’s courtship start date, until and unless better information comes to light.

When Was John ‘Supposed’ To Court?

Immediately prior to J.D.’s courtship announcement, the Predictor said that he would begin courting on February 13, 2020.  He was overdue to court, though, so that date was based on the then–Average Duggar Male Age At ‘Courtposal’ + 5 SDs.  Had John been ‘on–time,’ his courtship would’ve started October 3, 2012, at Age 22.73.  Doing the math, J.D. began courting 2,041 Days Late—if compared to the typical Duggar Male—and 647 Days Early, if compared to his own latest ‘due date’ of February 2020.

Tell Me About Their Ages (and Age Gap).

J.D. Duggar was born on January 12, 1990.  Abbie Grace Burnett was born on April 16, 1992.  Their Age Gap is 825 Days (2.26 Years) favoring J.D., meaning J.D. is 2.26 Years Older than Abbie.

This is very, very average.  The Old (Pre–John + Abbie) Duggar–Average Age Gap was 2.34 Years, favoring the Male.  John + Abbie’s Age Gap is ~1 Month (31 Days) off.  Also, when we factor in John + Abbie’s data, the New Duggar–Average Age Gap shifts by just 4 Days.  Now, it’s 2.33 Years—or, 852 Days—again, favoring the Male.

As for their Age at C.S., that’s not so typical.  Estimating a ‘courtposal’ on May 6, 2018, J.D. was Age 28.31, and Abbie was Age 26.05.  Let’s discuss each of them, in turn, starting with John...

John’s Age Data—

Only Jeremy Vuolo was older than John, at courtship:  Jeremy ‘courtposed’ to Jinger at Age 28.71.  Courtposing at Age 28.31, John beat Jeremy by just 145 Days.  By contrast, here’s how they fit in with the rest of the paired–up Duggar Males—

Ben Seewald   18.31 Years

Josh Duggar   19.87 Years  (Estimated)

Joseph Duggar   22.13 Years

Josiah Duggar   [C.S. Date Unknown]

Austin Forsyth   22.63 Years  (Estimated)

Derick Dillard   24.71 Years

John Duggar   28.31 Years  (Estimated)

Jeremy Vuolo   28.71 Years      

Doing the math, the Old Duggar–Average Age at C.S. (for Males) was 22.73 Years, with a Standard Deviation (SD) of 3.68 Years.  At Age 28.31, J.D.’s Age at C.S. puts him at +1.52 SDs, or the 93.5th Percentile.  Factoring J.D.’s data in, the New Duggar–Average Age at C.S. (for Males) is 23.52 Years—or, 290 Days Older—than it was before.  What’s more, the SD also jumps—going from 3.68 Years to 3.97 Years, a total increase of 105 Days.  Base on this new data, it’s probable (68% Chance) that future Duggar Males will ‘courtpose’ between Age 19.56—27.49.

Now, let’s move on to...

Abbie’s Age Data—

Meanwhile, Abbie Burnett is the Oldest Duggar Female to court, so far—and it isn’t a close race.  Here’s the list of Duggar Females’ Ages at C.S.—

Lauren Swanson   [C.S. Date Unknown]

Kendra Caldwell   18.57 Years

Joy–Anna Duggar   18.76 Years  (Estimated) 

Anna Keller   19.56 Years  (Estimated)

Jessa Duggar   20.85 Years

Jinger Duggar   22.41 Years

Jill Duggar   22.52 Years

Abbie Burnett   26.05 Years  (Estimated)   

As you can see, Abbie is >3.5 Years Older than runner–up, Jill (Duggar) Dillard.  Calculating it, the Old Duggar–Average Age at C.S. (for Females) was 20.45 Years, with a SD of 1.76 Years.  Based on Abbie’s age (of 26.05), she’s literally at the 99.9th Percentile, or +3.84 SDs.  With Abbie’s data, the New Duggar–Average Age at C.S. (for Females) jumps to 21.25 Years—or, 291 Days Older—than before.  Arguably more significantly, the SD leaps up 51% (328 Days)—from 1.76 to 2.66 Years.  Now, it’s probable (68% Chance) that Duggar Ladies will court between Age 18.59—23.91.   

What’s Ahead for John + Abbie?  When Will John Propose? When Will They Marry?  How Many Children Will They End Up With? 

Before J.D. revealed he was courting Abbie Burnett, this is what the Predictor thought would happen for him, and when—

Courtship   February 13, 2020    

Engagement   July 26, 2020   

Marriage   October 24, 2020   

Parenthood   September 5, 2021   

Total Quiver  8 Children

What does the Predictor think now?  Well, to make a long story short—

Courtship   May 6, 2018   

Engagement   October 17, 2018

Marriage   January 19, 2019

Parenthood   December 1, 2019

Total Quiver  9 Children

...but let’s take a closer look.

Engagement—

So far, the typical Duggar Courtship lasts for 164 Days, before concluding in an inevitably–accepted proposal.  It varies, however, by a SD of 101 Days.  As such, there is a 68% Chance that a given, future Duggar Courtship will last for 63—265 Days—i.e., 2 to 9ish Months.  Applying this to John + Abbie, and still assuming a May 6, 2018 ‘courtposal,’ we get three potential proposal dates—

Earliest Probable  (+63 Days)   July 8, 2018

Average  (+164 Days)   October 17, 2018  [Predictor Guess]   

Latest Probable  (+265 Days)   January 26, 2019

Since John + Abbie are older, I think we’ll see a relatively quick engagement—likely in July.  (Mostly just a hunch.)  Abbie’s town (Stratford, OK) is apparently known for its annual Peach Festival in July.  Apparently, it is a big freakin’ deal for the Burnetts, specifically, since they always make and sell their “legendary homemade peach ice cream.”  So, yeah...  Duggar Data is calling it, right now.  J.D. will get down on one knee while visiting Abbie for the Peach Festival.  Not convinced yet?  Well, then consider this:  Peach Festival 2018 is scheduled for July 21.  Perfect timing for TLC to announce John + Abbie’s engagement with, or close to, the Counting On Season 8 Premiere.  Y’all heard it here first! 

Marriage—

As of June 30, 2018—i.e., factoring in Josiah + Lauren’t lengthy engagement—the typical Duggar Engagement now lasts 97 Days, with a SD of 17 Days.  It is, thus, probable (68% Chance) for a given Duggar—e.g., John—to wed 80—114 Days after proposing or accepting a proposal.

Remember the three dates above?  Well, let’s assume that John + Abbie keep up the same pace as they did for their Engagement.  (So... if J.D. proposed at Earliest Probable [C.S. + 63 Days], they’ll wed at Earliest Probable [Proposal + 80 Days], as well.)  That gives us three more dates—

Earliest Probable  (+80 Days)   September 28, 2018    

Average  (+97 Days)   January 19, 2019  [Predictor Guess]

Latest Probable  (+114 Days)   May 18, 2019

Note—Each date is adjusted to the nearest Friday or Saturday—so, it’s not 80, 97, and 114 Days on the dot.  

Just for fun, let’s assume I’m right about the Peach Festival proposal, and J.D. + Abbie get engaged on July 21, 2018.  (John will wear a peach–colored shirt, and it will be great.)  If so, data says they’d actually marry between October 9—November 12, 2018.  Average would be October 26, 2018.

Parenthood—

Finally, the typical Duggar Firstborn arrives 316 Days after his or her parents’ wedding; however, it varies by a SD of 52 Days.  Thus, there’s a 68% Chance that John + Abbie’s (or, any Duggar Couple’s) Firstborn will arrive within 264—368 Days of the vows.  Again, let’s assume that J.D. + Abbie keep up the pace they did at previous steps.  If so, the three wedding dates above correspond to the following three Firstborn DOBs—

Earliest Probable  (+264 Days)   June 19, 2019

Average  (+316 Days)   December 1, 2019  [Predictor Guess]

Latest Probable  (+368 Days)   May 20, 2020

If I’m right about the Peach Festival proposal, and John + Abbie’s Engagement and Wedding to Child 1 delay are each average, Duggar–Burnett #1′ll arrive on September 7, 2019.

Total Quiver Size—

Thus far, a typical Duggar Couple’s Child Spacing is 1 Child Every 524 Days; however, it varies by a SD of 224 Days.  Thus, there’s a 68% Chance that John + Abbie would procreate at a rate of 1 Child Per 300—748 Days.  Yet again, I’ll assume they’ll maintain a pre–established pace—Fastest Probable with Earliest Probable, Average with Average, etc.  Doing the math with the dates above and the corresponding procreative speed, we get three predicted quiver sizes—

Fastest Probable  (Every Days 300 Days)   16 Children

Average  (Every 524 Days)   9 Children  [Predictor Guess]

Slowest Probable  (Every 748 Days)   6 Children

Finally, let’s assume J.D. proposes at the Peach Festival and their Engagement and Wedding to Child 1 delay are totally Duggar average.  In that case, John + Abbie would likely end up with 7—16 Children.  Average would be 9 Children.

Whew!  Hope that answered y’all’s Asks, and entertained you while we continue waiting for SiRen wedding photos.  

[dc-x-readers]

Soulmates (Leonard Snart x Reader)

Just a cute little (longish?) fic for my favorite thief!

Trigger Warnings: Abuse, and Swearing

You didn’t believe in soulmates, well you sort of did, but not really. The whole thought that the words that were etched onto your body somehow meant that you would be together forever was idiotic. While all your friends gushed about how they dreamed of meeting the one, and imagined what they would say when they heard their words, you sat in the back pretending that you didn’t have a clue what they were talking about.

Maybe you would like soulmates more if your parents had worked out, if your father had gone into a drunken stupor and beat your mother so badly she became paralyzed for the rest of your life. Maybe if your mother didn’t keep you awake at night with the tears she didn’t want to shed in front of you the idea of being with someone forever wouldn’t seem so terrifying. Maybe if the words “I ain’t a hero.” weren’t in big block letters over your heart you would believe in fairytale endings and happily ever after.

But that wasn’t your life, that wasn’t your destiny. You would probably end up with someone as drunk and useless as your father, so you put a wall around your heart. You would be ready when you rejected your soulmate and ran away as fast as you could.

When you turned eighteen the particle accelerator exploded a mere two miles from your lousy apartment, you mother died and you gained superhuman capabilities. You could turn your skin to diamonds, you couldn’t be shattered. It felt like a cosmic metaphor for your life, so you enjoyed you new powers in secret. You didn’t want to become a criminal, nor did you have the patience to become a hero, so you mostly kept your abilities a secret.

Until you were approached by Rip Hunter, proclaiming you as a hero. You decided to join him, because why the hell not? You had nothing keeping you here.

You arrived at the meeting place for you and the rest of the legends, and you were surprised by some familiar faces, Leonard Snart and Mick Rory milled about. You were confused for a second, Leonard Snart? Wasn’t he a criminal? Why wasn’t he getting arrested or something.

“You’re all here. Good.” Rip Hunter exclaimed, “The Legends of Tomorrow.”

“I ain’t a hero.” Leonard Snart said to Rip as the time traveler explained the mission you were about to be on.

You froze, you froze and the world melted away. He said those words, those stupid four words. He was who you were meant to be with? This was not going to happen, not now when you were finally doing something with yourself, you were about to join a team that would make into someone who mattered. You resolved yourself that you wouldn’t speak a word to Leonard Snart, he would never think you were his soulmate.

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

You have been on the ship for a year now and Leonard couldn’t figure out why you hated him so much. Sometimes he would see you speaking in a low tone to Sara or Stien, but everytime Leonard would approach you grew silent. The behaviour was clearly only directed at the Captain, and he had no idea why, it made him so furious that sometimes he wanted to ice you.

Mick had once said it was possible that in Len’s days of crime he could have hurt the Diamond Devil, as you had become dubbed during your crusades through time, but any time Leonard even attempted to ask you would just look at him and shake your head. The you would get up and leave. It was infuriating!

Len was in his quarters aboard the Waverider, getting dressed for their newest mission, which took them to France 1592, and for some God Forsaken reason everyone convinced Leonard to dress for the era, there were too many ruffles! Tights had also been given, but Leonard still held some dignity and put on a pair of pants which could seem old fashioned. While sliding on his shirt he glanced at the cursive script which was written directly over his chest, I’ve got you.

From the day he was discovered what a soulmate meant he would dream of how he would meet his soulmate, how they would ‘get’ him. It was the one thing he looked forward to when he was young, meeting someone who would love him unconditionally. When he was being beaten by his father, a new lesson to learn, Leonard would imagine his soulmate and him doing something domestic, making soup or reading a book together. He never would have thought it could take him this long to meet his soulmate.

Shaking his head Leonard pulled his shirt on, covering his soulmark.

The door to Leonard’s room opened and in you stepped, wearing the traditional clothes of the era, and somehow you made them look so good. It angered Len unreasonably that the clothes hung correctly on you while he looked like someone who crawled out of the trash, you cocked your head as if to ask, You ready to go?

“Ready when you are Devil.” Leonard snorted, and you rolled your eyes before leaving his room.

Leonard followed you out and you could feel him behind you, it was awful. Sharing a home with your soulmate was hard, even though you maintained your views that soulmates caused nothing but destruction of the heart; you couldn’t help but fall for Snart’s little mannerisms. They way he is always methodical, yet aloof. He was a contradiction and it drove you insane.

You and Leonard arrived at the Castle where Vandal Savage was residing, he was holding a ball in his own honor this particular night and yourself and Leonard had scored an invite. You watched in awe as women in giant hooped skirts and men in tights danced gracefully across the ballroom. Everything was so beautiful, it was like a dream.

“I could take a lot of pretty valuable shit.” Leonard mused looking around at the unattended master pieces which would sell as priceless antiques once he returned to your own time. You slapped Leonard gently at his words, and he just gave you his famous grin.

You pointed to where Vandal Savage stood, surrounded by mercenaries and knights, getting to the man seemed to be a lost cause. Still you palmed the knife meant for Kendra nervously ready to strike at any second, but before you could do anything Leonard grabbed your hands and pulled you close to him. You stared at the man wide eyed, what on Earth is he doing?

“Dance.” Leonard commanded. You swallowed the protest in your throat and did as he said, dancing until you could get eyes on Savage. He held you close to him, and you could feel his breath on your cheek, and his hand in yours. You wondered if he could hear how fast and hard your heart was pounding, but by the smirk on his face you thought he could. It was moments like these, moments where the Captain thawed and you were left with Leonard who was cool and cocky and utterly handsome that you regretted not speaking. If you opened your mouth now he would probably get mad at you for not telling him earlier, he may never want to see you again!

As you were dancing Savage was watching, he recognized the two of you from an incident that came in his past and your future, he knew you were out to kill him, so when he slipped away from the party to climb the highest tower in his castle he knew the two of you would follow. It was idiotic, you played right into the man’s hands, but you had been so caught up in how dreamy Len’s grey eyes were you didn’t think of any other possibilities for Savage’s exit.

He took you down in seconds, sending Leonard out the window with a firm kick, when he turned to you, you let your skin turn to diamond’s nothing he did could hurt you. You rushed to the window where Leonard fell, and somehow- thank the Gods- he was holding the window sill with a white hot grip, reaching down your diamond hand you grabbed his human one. You needed to save him!

“I’ve got you!” You shouted down to him as Vandal tried to hit you with another blow of his sword. You were so focused on the task at hand -saving you soulmate, saving Leonard Snart- that you didn’t notice Leonard’s eyes grow in surprise, you said his three words. You were his!

Pulling Len up was difficult, not that Len was heavy, he was just more dead weight then you could theoretically handle with someone screaming in your ear and jabbing you with swords that would shatter upon contact with your skin. Finally you hauled Len up and he collapsed onto the floor. Vandal Savage had figured out that hurting you was a lost cause, and had run off before Leonard was all the way up.

“You’re my-” Leonard started, and that was when you realised your mistake in speaking.

He knew.

“We don’t have time for this Leonard. We need to get back to the Waverider!” You shouted, taking Leonard's hand in your own diamond one, and rushing down the stairs to the ship. Leonard didn’t say a word as you ran, he had a full speech planned out since he found out what a soulmate was, but his mouth became dry at the thought of even speaking to you, and his mind was blank of everything but the fact that you are his soulmate.

Getting back to the ship was the easy part, getting Leonard to get checked out but Gideon was much harder. He just repeated that he needed to talk to Y/N every time someone suggested a visit to the medbay.

“Fine, I’ll talk with you, if you get checked out.” You replied.

Leonard nodded, and you followed him into the medbay. Gideon began her scan and you just watched each other carefully.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Leonard finally asked.

“I was scared.” You replied curtly. You almost cringed as you say hurt flash through Leonard’s big grey eyes. You never pegged him as someone to care so deeply, especially not about something, that fate or destiny or whatever you wanted to call it, assigned to him.

“Not of you.” You amended, “Well sort of you. I’m just scared of having a soulmate in general. It didn’t- it didn’t end well for my parent’s and I can’t end up like that.”

Leonard stared at you for a minute, letting your words sink in. He understood he guessed. He watched what losing a soulmate had done to his own father. He watched to average suburban dad morph into a drunken monster without the love of a soulmate, and he vowed to himself that he would never be anything like his father. But, that didn’t mean he didn’t want to try something. That he didn’t want to be with his person.

“I love you.” Len blurted out.

You stared at him, “If you’re saying it just because I’m your soulmate-” You stared.

“I’m not! I’ve loved you for so long, I think since the moment I met you.” Len exclaimed surprising himself with his statement, but finding it not to be false. He did love you, which was why seeing you talk to other and not him had riled him so. He wanted you, even before he knew you were meant to be.

“Do-do you promise not to hurt me?” You asked slowly. It felt stupid to ask, out loud the words sounded pathetic, and you couldn’t help but feel like a little kid again sucking your thumb and hoping to sleep in Mommy’s bed so the nightmares would go away.

Leonard stared into your eyes, he grabbed both of your hands in his. His hands were warm and calloused, you liked it, it felt right.

“I will never, ever hurt you.” Len promised his eyes ablaze with passion, he truly believed his sentiments, “we can take this as slow as you need, but I want to try this. I want to be with you.”

You didn’t say anything for a minute, just looked down at your hands, intertwined with Len’s, and letting his words sink in. It made sense that you were afraid, you had every right to be afraid after what you had been though. But you wanted to start something with Len, you wanted to try and be brave. If not for yourself, then for him.

You leaned over and kissed the man in front of you, it was a soft kiss, barely a graze, but sparks flew between you. When you pulled back Len had a dopey smile on his lips and love in his eyes.

Maybe not all soulmates are bad.

[homeboyok]

*You might have to press pause on the video just below if you want to read everything before you watch it, it seems to be playing automatically.

A quick note before the video/article:

Early in 2017 I found myself in the middle of a transaction that had a very strong thread for all parties involved, aging family members. My sellers were helping their mother sell their childhood home, which needless to say had to be emotionally impactful. Not long after the house went on the market I was approached by a lady saying that her daughter lived a few doors down from the house, and they thought it would be nice to live closer to one another. I later discovered that this very witty and charming person was in the earlier stages of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Long story short they purchased the home after a few bumps in the road, and she and her daughter renovated the home – and it is immaculate…

I’m currently writing this with tears in my eyes next to my grandfather who is on his deathbed. In the last few years I lived for a while with my grandparents as they were getting settled into their final residence. We’ve been preparing for this moment for a long time, and in the middle of taking care of him for his final stage of life I saw this article pop up in The Daily Oklahoman, telling the wonderful story of some of my newfound friends, Deb and Amy on one side and Larry and Sue on the other. I’m so grateful for everyone involved. Being a part of their story makes me appreciate my own even more, and I’m pretty much bursting at the seems already with love and appreciation for my own family.

-Grady

(405)474-2905

HomeBoyOK@gmail.com

Click Here To Contact Me

Remodeled Space For Aging In Place

By Dyrinda Tyson For The Oklahoman dyrinda@gmail.com Published: December 9, 2017 5:00 AM CDT Updated: December 9, 2017 5:00 AM CDT

NORMAN — Amy Brewer wanted her mother closer, especially when memory issues began to surface. But it took several years and an Alzheimer’s diagnosis for things to come to a head.

“In April, she got lost for five hours,” she said. “That’s when I decided that she needed to move.”

Her mother, Deborah Brewer, raised a finger.

“Now I have a different story,” she interjected. She offered her explanation, mostly off the record, possibly tongue-in-cheek. “So I knew where I was,” she concluded with a nod.

Still, her daughter saw it as a call to action. Interstate 35 and major chunk of Norman lay between them. And as unpredictable as Alzheimer’s disease can be, the one thing for sure is it doesn’t retreat.

“I decided I’d put this off long enough,” Amy Brewer said. “For five years, I knew we needed to do something. And I’d been floating the idea and floating the idea.”

Her mother, though, was reluctant, at least until Amy played her trump card: “I finally said, ‘There’s going to come a time when I’m going to have to take your car away, and you’re still going to want to see your grandkids. So you need to be right by us. And, she said, ‘I understand.’ ”

The perfect bungalow came on the market that weekend, just two doors down from Amy’s house in central Norman. Things bogged down, however, as she grappled with the logistics of selling one house while buying another.

The bungalow was still on the market when they finally laid a plan in place. They gave the go-ahead to their Realtor, Grady Carter, of Metro Brokers in Norman. But they worried about trust issues on the seller’s side.

“He must have done some magic on his end, though,” Amy Brewer recalled. “I was in San Francisco about to board a flight to New Zealand.”

That meant many hours in the air cut off from communications, so she laid it out in a phone call to Carter. “I said ‘I’m going to land in 13 hours, Grady. Whatever they need us to pay, we’ll pay. Whatever earnest money, we’ll do cash.’ ”

That did the trick. By the time Amy Brewer came home from her extended trip, the deal was done. Friends had pitched in during her absence to ensure Deborah Brewer made it to closing, then helped her move out of her old home and into her daughter’s house to await remodeling on her new digs.

Oh, yes, the remodeling.

“I was really focused on securing this house, which took a long time,” Amy Brewer said. “And after we purchased the house, I realized I had plans to do a complete remodel and no plans to do a complete remodel. I guess someone who knew what they were doing would’ve had that lined up before they closed. A week or two went by, and I realized I had no idea what I was doing.”

Smooth transition

So she did what almost everyone does in this day and age, namely take her plight to social media. And social media gave back, leading her to Kendra Orcutt and her Home Mods By Therapists team. Orcutt channels her experience as an occupational therapist into designing spaces to accommodate people’s physical challenges.

Orcutt and her team opened up the space inside by getting rid of hallways, allowing the bedrooms and bathrooms to open directly up into the main part of the house.

They widened hallways, repurposed space lost to a heater closet to enlarge the laundry room and installed a sliding barn door on the master bathroom, adding not only a trendy touch but one that saves space and is easier for a person on a walker or cane to open.

Even the color scheme in the kitchen was designed with a purpose. The gray-and-black floor tiles are low-contrast, which is easier to navigate with impaired vision or balance.

“By making this house accessible to memory loss, she doesn’t ever have to move,” Orcutt said. “She won’t have to relearn another space. She knows her daughter is down the street. All of those things are important. So what I did was I made things easier to live in.”

Easier to live in, but not institutional. It’s often just a matter of style. What appears to be a towel rack by the bathtub, for example, is actually a grab bar. Its brushed silver surface matches the faucet and, frankly, it could function just fine as a towel rack.

And that’s the point, Orcutt said. “Everything we did in the house, someone else could live in.”

That was a major consideration as Amy Brewer worked to persuade her mother to trade her four-bedroom home for the bungalow.

“She had a great big house, and I didn’t want her to feel like she was having to give up anything,” she said.

Deborah Brewer finally moved into her revamped home in late November. She gave up two bedrooms and a lot of square feet in the move, but may have gained so much more in return.

Amy Brewer smiled as her tween daughter, Harper Sterr, wrapped her arms around her grandmother. “These two are best friends,” she said.

Deborah Brewer held out a hand to compare their heights. “And she’s almost as tall as me.”

From left, Deborah Brewer, her granddaughter Harper Sterr, 11, and daughter Amy Brewer open a moving box with a decorative plate at a home remodeled for Deborah to be able to age in place in central Norman, Okla., Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. The box was the last thing that Deborah had saved to open after her move to Norman. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

Source: Remodeled space for aging in place | NewsOK.com

A story involving some of my clients' journey ended up in The Daily Oklahoman, and it's just the best... *You might have to press pause on the video just below if you want to read everything before you watch it, it seems to be playing automatically.

[wiremagazine]

BOCA GIRL KENDRA ERIKA TO ROCK FT. LAUDERDALE

By Kevin Cranston | Photos courtesy of Kendra Erika. Provided by Project Publicity, Inc.

“I might be from Boca, but my music is really inspired by Miami," says Kendra Erika. Her latest dance single, "Under My Skin," co-written with Grammy Award winning producer Damon Sharpe, is currently No. 12 on the Billboard Club chart.  She'll perform it live August 19 at The Manor in Fort Lauderdale.

"What I love about house is that it offers a full experience for all the senses to enjoy," she continues. "I want my music to take people on an elevating, emotional journey. It can be happy or sad, as long as it's positive and affirming."  

She steers clear from anything that is hyper sexualized or self-degrading. "I'm not interested in providing a distraction that is disguised as an escape."

"Under My Skin" is the follow-up to "Oasis", Kendra Erika's previous hit that reached No. 9 on the Billboard Dance Charts in March. It's a playful song with a 'let's see if we get caught' theme that it borrows from the Cole Porter song made popular by Frank Sinatra, "I've Got You Under My Skin."  

"When we were writing it, I was thinking how the youth of today are not much different from those of 75 years ago, when the original was written," Kendra explains. "We still feel invincible when it comes to love and life and if you think about it, there's beauty in the fact that we're still discovering who we are and where we stand. Everyone can relate because we're all young and stupid at some point in our lives."  

We spoke with Kendra Erika from her Boca Raton home. 

Kevin Cranston: Are you a Miami party girl? Kendra Erika: I love a good dance club every now and then but usually, when I'm home, I prefer Miami's lounge clubs. They're more intimate.

KC: Would you say Miami's nightlife has changed in the last few years?   KE: Like every major city, Miami has gone through its own evolution. Still, Miami is and always has been the place to escape and have your body transported by a good dance beat. Where New York and Los Angeles are more about culture and creativity, Miami has got more of a vacation vibe. 

KC: As a local girl, do you venture to Fort Lauderdale?   KE: Sure, I'll go to places like Vibe and Stache, but you know, something I've noticed is that Fort Lauderdale is gradually becoming more of a restaurant/cocktail/craft scene. I mean, there is still some good nightlife, but the food, drink and dining is where it's at. 

KC: Will this be your first time performing Fort Lauderdale? KE: I sang the National Anthem for a fighting event once and I remember looking around, saying to myself, I would love to perform my dance tracks here one day. It's funny how life works like that. I'm excited to perform at The Manor!

KC: The Manor is a bi-level space with chandeliers and a huge dance floor… kinda similar to the Miami clubs of yesteryear.   KE: I've been performing a lot of mega clubs lately and I love them because the crowds let off this tidal wave of energy that is just so infectious and adds so much to the show. 

KC: With it's sweeping build-ups and hard drops, "Under My Skin" seems made for the big room.   KE: I agree!  When Damon (Sharpe) and I were in the studio, we knew we wanted to produce another strong dance track like "Oasis."  But while "Oasis" is a more poolside, big lounge sound, we were looking for something bigger for this track.

KC: What inspired "Under My Skin"? KE: The way we usually write songs is by going through whatever potential melodies we have.  After that, we start laying down all lyrics that come to mind. With "Under My Skin," Damon had the idea for a summer wind concept, which reminded me of Sinatra. I liked it, but in my mind, the whole summer wind concept hit too close to home with "Oasis." I suggested we consider another Sinatra song, "I've Got You Under My Skin," as inspiration. That's how "Under My Skin" was born!

KC: Mixin Marc, best known his work with The Chainsmokers, Demi Lovato and Katy Perry, remixed "Under My Skin." Will you be performing his version at Manor? KE: I might! I'm not sure yet. Mixin Marc has been so supportive of my career and all of his mixes, especially the one for "Under My Skin," hold such allure and zeal. I really want to make this performance one that people remember. Strong dance moves and lyrical interaction always carry my shows. I also prefer that the stage not be some hierarchal obstacle. I try to welcome the crowd into the experience. 

KC: Are your shows as cinematic as your music videos? KE: For me, I really want the music and message to be the focus. I saw Lana Del Rey perform in West Palm Beach recently and it was the music that brought people to tears and to emotional reflection. She did not have one outfit change the entire time, which I found to be amazing. But, she's a very poetic and cinematic writer, and she doesn't need to have the glittering bells and whistles carrying her. The same goes for Ellie Goulding. Although Ellie did have dancers, and some on screen visuals at her show, she didn't let the material matter overtake her message. She was also very humble and interacted with the audience like we were all hanging out and enjoying the moment. There was nothing idol-like in what she portrayed on stage.

KC: Is that how you hope to connect with your fans? KE: Yes. When an artist stays authentic to his or her journey and message, they can create something people enjoy. True artists don't need to sell out to make people like them. Being yourself these days is a brave thing to do, and I truly respect artists that achieve it. That's what I hope to bring to my show.

Kendra Erika's "Under My Skin" is being released globally through Dauman Music and Sony Red and is available now on iTunes, Amazon, and all other major retailers. It is also available for streaming through Pandora and Spotify. To learn more about Kendra Erika, visit daumanmusic.com and kendraerika.com.   

Follow Kendra Facebook: KendraErikaMusic Twitter: Kendra_Erika Instagram: KendraErika

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Issue 32.2017