#and were taken by Nicole-W

[malthedreamer]

The game of Paper, Rock and Scissors between Toy Soldier and Marius ( in which Marius is repeatedly losing) might be one of my favourite photo combinations lol

[lee-laurent]

Scheiße - Luke Hughes

Summary: In which Luke falls for Nico's friend despite the language barrier. Or in which Sofia dates an American boy even though she barely understands him... at first.

Content: fluff, a tiny bit of angst (sort of), implied sex but no smut, making out

also this fic is formatted a bit different! it's kinda like a timeline of Luke and Sofia's relationship!

notes: everything in italics is in swiss german. easier than having to translate everything!! this one is for all my other multilingual queens/kings :) i tried my best to represent the struggle that i felt trying to learn english, but obviously everyone's experience is going to be different. the squirrel scene is very much taken from an actual experience i had haha

Meeting

"Stop picking at your nails, Sof. Everyone is going to love you," Nico attempted to calm his best friend.

"You don't know that. They could hate me," she argued, continuing to pick at her cuticles.

"Well... I'm their captain. So, if they do anything that makes you upset..."

"Don't threaten your team for me, Neeks."

"Just trying to reassure you, love."

The Devils were having a little pre-season get together with all the players and their significant others. Nico's best friend, Sofia, had recently made the move to America in hopes to improve her English; so, naturally he had decided to bring her along to help her make some friends in New Jersey.

Nervously, she followed behind Nico as they walked onto the roof of Nicole and Jesper's building. He placed a comforting hand on her back, leading her towards a group of WAGs.

"Nico! Hi!" Nicole smiled, "And you must be Sofia! Nico talks about you all the time."

"Hi," Sofia smiled sheepishly, playing with the hem of her skirt.

"Would you like a drink?" the blonde asked.

"Oh, sure. Thank you."

"I'll be with the boys. Let me know if you need anything," Nico smiled, walking off towards a group of hollering men.

Sofia fell into a steady flow of conversation with the Devils' significant others. Well, as steady as it could be with her limited knowledge of English.

"How long have you been seeing Nico?" one of the girls asked, taking a sip from her cocktail.

Sofia choked on her drink, giggling at the idea of being with Nico. "He is my best friend. We are not toether."

"Omg! I'm so sorry," the other girl blushed.

"It is fine! No stress," Sof smiled proudly at the use of the expression that Nico had recently taught her.

"So, anyone special back in Switzerland?" Nicole questioned.

"Oh, um, no. I... too focused on work. No time," she explained.

"Omg! We could set you up with one of the single guys on the team!"

"Oh... it's okay," Sofia giggled, taking a long sip of her drink.

"Let us know if you change your mind," Nicole winked, before starting a story about something that had happened at work earlier in the week.

"Sofia! Come here!" Nico beckoned her over to where he stood with a few players.

"Coming! It was nice meeting you all," she smiled politely at the girls.

"Wait! Give me your number! I'll add you to our group chat," Simon's girlfriend exclaimed. Sofia was giddy as she typed her number into her newly found friend's phone.

"Guys, meet Sofia," Nico smiled, placing his hand on her back once again. "Sof, meet Luke, Jack, Timo, and Dawson."

"Hi," Jack smiled widely.

"Nico always talks of you guys. Nice to meet you," the girl smiled, scooting closer into Nico's side. She was not a fan of all the eyes on her at the moment.

"Nice to see you again," Timo grinned. They'd met over the summer when Nico was training.

Luke could see her shoulders untense at the sound of her native language.

"You as well. It's crazy to meet everyone Nico talks about all the time. Like, sometimes I was convinced they were all in his head," she giggled, earning a glare from her best friend.

Luke, Jack, and Dawson chuckled awkwardly, completely unaware of what the conversation in front of them was about. They could be shit talking for all they knew.

"So... what do you do for work?" Dawson asked.

"Oh, fashion photography!"

"Ever tried sports photography?"

"I'm not as good at it," she nodded.

"She's being humble. She just prefers fashion," Nico laughed. While Nico talked to the boys, Sofia couldn't help but notice that the tallest boy in the group had yet to speak to her. Did he not like her? She was trying her best. She caught his eyes for a moment, but he quickly looked down at the beer in his hands. She was upset that one of Nico's close friends didn't like her, but she couldn't win them all.

Crushing

It was the third or fourth time that Sofia had hungout with the WAGs. This time she'd invited them to have their wine night at her and Nico's apartment. The girls were sat in the living room, chatting animatedly about the upcoming season.

"I know that Simon is so excited for his rookie season! He told me that Luke is feeling the same way," Simon's girlfriend smiled.

"I- I don't think Luke likes me," Sofia spoke up, swishing her wine around in the glass.

"What?!" Nicole exclaimed, "Why do you think that?"

"He never talks to me. And when I go to stand with Neeks, he walks away."

"That's funny because Curtis told me something completely different," Reanne smiled cheekily.

"What did he say?" Sofia asked, chugging the rest of her wine, before pouring herself some more.

"That Luke has a biiiiiig crush on a certain someone."

"Ooo! Sofia!" the girls cheered.

"But... he doesn't talk to me."

"Luke has no play, girl. He's probably just wayyy too nervous to talk you cause you're so stunning."

"He thinks I'm cute?" Sofia blushed.

"Duh! Who wouldn't? Do you think he's cute?" Nicole pressed.

Sofia pressed her lips together in an attempt to hide her growing smile, "He is like... how do I say it? My..."

"Type?"

"Yes! He's my type."

"Can I tell Curtis? Maybe he can talk some sense into Luke."

"We should let them come together naturally, Reanne," Nicole giggled.

"Okay, well... next game you're talking to him. Sound good?"

Sofia nodded happily. She couldn't believe that Luke had a crush on her! She felt like a high schooler writing in her diary about the cute boy in her class.

First Date

Sofia stood in the bathroom mirror, fixing her hair for the 15th time. She hadn't gone on a date in over a year and she was shitting herself. Luke had asked her out after their most recent win against the Rangers. She hadn't exactly told Nico who were date was with, but he knew she was going on one.

"You look beautiful, Sof," Nico smiled as she walked into the kitchen.

"It's not too much?" she asked, pulling at the bottom of her top.

"Are you going to wear a jacket?"

"Yeah, my jean one."

"I think that's perfect. Where are you guys going?"

"Some pizza place. Then we're going on a walk, I think."

"Cute. How'd you meet?"

"Oh, at the Rangers game. He came up to me when I was waiting for you."

"He wasn't a Rangers fan... was he?"

"No," she giggled, "He was wearing a Devils' jersery."

"Good. Have fun! You'll be back tonight?"

"Yes, Neeks. I'm not going to his on the first date," she giggled, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"Stay safe! I love you!"

"Love you too," she grabbed her purse, blowing him one last kiss before disappearing out the door.

"Hi," Luke smiled, "I like your outfit."

"Thank you, Luke. You look nice too," she admired the way his chest looked in the blue polo shirt he was wearing.

"Pizza?"

"Pizza."

The walk to the pizza place was full of laughter. Sofia wasn't sure she'd ever felt so confident in her English as when she was around Luke. He wasn't condescending at all, helping her when she asked and waiting when she didn't.

"Have you ever played hockey?" Luke asked, cutting himself a slice of pizza.

"No. That is not really... my thing?"

Luke nodded in understanding.

"But I love watching. You are very good."

"Thanks, Sofia. I have seen the outfits you've helped Nico make. Do you think you could help me?"

"You always wear same two suits," she giggled, covering her mouth.

"Don't bully me!"

"Sorry. I would love to help you, Luke."

"I, uh, wanted to apologize for ignoring you when we first met. I was under the impression that you were with Nico, so I was trying to push my attraction away."

"Nico is like a brother. I never think of him other ways. Promise."

"It's fine, Sof. No worries. I just being dumb."

"Maybe you are always dumb, Lukey."

Luke cackled, reaching out and holding her hand across the table.

"I'll just pretend that was your lack of English and not you bullying my again."

"I would never bully you," she smirked.

First Kiss

Sofia was cuddled up into Luke's side on the sofa, his hand holding tightly onto the dip of her waist.

"I can put the German captions on," Luke offered, as he watched Sofia's face scrunch up for umpteenth time.

"But maybe that would distract you."

"It won't, babe. I'll turn them on."

Sofia blushed at the pet name. Luke grabbed the remote, clicking on the German caption option on the film they were watching.

"What the hell is Eichhörnchen?" Luke asked, butchering the pronunciation.

"Eichhörnchen?" she giggled, correcting him, "It's squirrel."

"Say that again?"

"Squirrel."

"You say it so funny. I'm sorry."

"The 'skw' sound... that is not in German. Stop hating."

"Sorry, love," Luke giggled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

Sofia looked up at him as he pulled away. She placed a gentle hand on the side of his face, leading him back down.

"What're you doing?" he whispered.

"Can we kiss?"

"Wha- what?"

"Can we kiss?" she asked just as confidently as before.

Luke nodded, running his tongue over his bottom lip. He leaned forward, capturing her top lip between his. He smiled into the kiss, ultimately breaking it. Sofia pouted, pulling him back in for more.

Wearing His Jersey/Becoming His Girlfriend

"Do a spin for me?" Luke smiled from his spot on his bed. Sofia was dressed in her panties and a jersey with 'Hughes 43' plastered on the back. She spun around giggling as he got off the bed, picking her up.

"You. Are. So. Fucking. Beautiful," he said between kisses, hands sneaking under the jersey to give her exposed ass a small squeeze. She gasped, smacking his chest.

"Jack will be home soon, I should go."

"Do you have to?" he whined, sitting down and pulling her onto his lap.

"Yes, Lukey. I'll be at the game, wearing my new jersey," she giggled, pulling him into a passionate kiss. He attempted to lay down and bring her with him, but she was quick to stand up. She walked over to the side of the bed, hopping into her jeans. The vintage bell bottoms looked amazing on her and Luke made sure to let her know, letting out a low whistle as she walked out the door.

"A Hughes' jersey?" Nico questioned after the game, pulling her into a hug.

"Thought I'd switch it up. Can't always be repping the Hischier one."

"Where'd you get it?"

"Luke let me borrow it."

"I'm glad you two have become friends. I was worrying you weren't going to befriend any of the guys."

"We're the same age. It just made sense," she shrugged.

"You never told me how that date you went on was."

"Oh, didn't really work out. He just wanted to use me to get free tickets," she lied.

"Sounds about right. You'll find someone, Sof. Don't worry."

"And if I don't?"

"You've got me," he winked, making her laugh. "Need a ride home?"

"Yes! Let me say thanks to Luke again."

"I'll meet you at the car," he smiled, kissing her cheek as he headed out.

"Look at you," Luke whispered as he pulled her into a 'friendly' hug. "Look so good in my jersey."

"Stop being so horny," she giggled, pulling away from him.

"Can't help it when my girlfriend looks sooooo fine."

"Girlfriend?"

"Sorry, I- uh, I just assumed because we spend all this time together. But if you don't want to be my girlfriend, I understand. I shouldn't have-"

"Luke."

"Yeah?"

"I'd love to be your girlfriend."

"Oh."

She pulled him into one more quick hug, before skipping off to meet Nico.

Nico Finding Out

Luke hummed as Sofia straddled his lap, running her hands through his hair. He pressed a kiss to her jaw, another on her neck, then one on her collarbone before connecting their lips again.

"I missed you," he mumbled.

"Missed you too."

The boys had been on a week long roadie, and now Sofia and Luke couldn't keep their hands off each other.

"Mmm, I love this perfume. Is it new?" he asked, kissing her neck again.

"Yeah," her voice was shaky, gasping when he nipped at her jaw.

"God, Sofia. You're perfect."

"Luke."

"Hm?"

"Kiss me."

His hands gripped her waist as their lips met in another passionate kiss. They laid down on the couch, Luke holding himself up as his girlfriend giggled below him.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing. I just missed this."

"Me too, babe."

Sofia's hands moved under his top, feeling the smooth skin of his chest. Just as Luke was going to ask if he could do the same, a new voice echoed through the apartment.

"Sofia? Who's here?"

"What?"

"Who's here? There's some white sneakers at the door. Not mine."

"Oh, Luke's here! We're watching TV."

The couple scrambled to sit up and fix their dishevled looks.

"Hey, Luke! How's it going, man?" Nico entered the living room, dapping up his teammate.

"Good, good. How're you?"

"Good. You didn't tell me he was coming over," Nico turned to his roommate.

"Yeah... spur of the moment."

"Is that a hickey?" Nico asked in German, as not to embarass Sofia.

"What? No."

"It totally is! Who gave you a hickey?"

"It's not a hickey, Nico."

"Was it him?!" Nico gasped.

"What?! No!"

"It was! You're such a shit liar! How long?"

"Beginning of the season," she sighed, finally giving in.

"This is so funny! Why didn't you tell me?!"

"I'm not a shit liar, for the record. You had no idea until now."

"Was that date with him?!"

"Nico!"

"I'm right here... if you're talking about me," Luke scratched the back of his neck.

"One second, Luke," Sofia smiled. "It was, yeah. I... I was nervous to tell you. Was worried you'd think I was using you to get with him."

"That's funny, Sof. I couldn't care less. As long as you're happy."

Sofia stood up, pulling her best friend into a tight hug.

"I'm watching you though, Rusty. Hurt her and I'll hurt you," Nico threatened, heading to his bedroom.

"He knows?!" Luke gasped.

Guess Sofia had some explaining to do.

[writersblockedx]

night swims w conrad?

Pairing - Conrad Fisher x Fem!Reader Summary - Conrad interrupts your night swim, leading to all the words you hadn't said spilling out. Warnings - Jealousy? Mentions of alcohol use Words - 1.3K 

Masterlist

Night swims were always enjoyable. To dip your legs in first, for the bitter water to creep up your skin ever so slowly until you submerged your whole body. Goosebumps covered your skin, reminding you that you could feel something. Once your shoulders were in the water, it suddenly wasn't as cold. It was weightless. And it carried you as you floated on your back, staring up at the stars as if they were staring back at you.

Night swims were for the days that were too much. After going to a bonfire with all the boys (plus a surprise visit from Belly), tonight was one of those nights. Maybe it was just the people, or the amount of alcohol you consumed, or perhaps, as you deep down knew, it was about the fact you had to watch Conrad and Nicole the whole night. She was the newest hookup of Conrads. Not quite girlfriend, but she was certainly under the belief it would happen one day.

It was torture. She was nice and kind and she only wanted the best for Conrad exactly as you were. A part of you was seething with guilt in that you still hated her a little bit. She had stolen everything you wanted to be. But, by now, it had become a feeling you were all too familiar with. Every few months, a new girl. Before her, there was Arbury who was lucky to make it to girlfriend status - not many ever had done.

Wrapped up with these thoughts, you just wanted a moment away from the chaos. Like you could pretend that, for a second, it didn't bother you. That what Conrad did - who he did - didn't actually bother you. When your eyelids lifted, you almost thought you were hallucinating. The very person who had captured your thoughts was looking down at you.

At first, you didn't move. Because, at first, you weren't completely sure if he was real. Then you jumped back to reality and that pit in your stomach returned. You adjusted, going to stand rather than float. Still, you turned to find Conrad who had his legs dangled in the water, letting his gaze wander over you, every corner of your skin as if you didn't notice what he was doing.

"It's late." So you assumed anyway. You hadn't even checked the time when you came in, but the bonfire had dragged on for a while - or maybe it only felt that way because you were forced to watch Nicole flirt with Conrad the whole night. "What are you doing out?" You finally added.

Conrad answered by retrieving a cigarette from his jacket pocket; a new hobby he had taken up this Summer. "Been a long night." You were glad he felt the same.

"Susannah's already mad at you, you think that's gonna help?" You had one brow raised at him.

But it didn't seem to do anything, "I don't need a reminder." There was a snap in his tone that you had tried to ignore. "And anyway, she's fast asleep." His eyes dwindled at that, going to focus on the abyss in the distance.

You swam closer to him, forcing the boy to move his gaze back to yourself. "What's with the smoking anyway?" You'd noticed it since you first arrived. He would wander off and come back ten minutes later smelling of either smoke or some illegal substance. "Just last year, you hated it. I remember when you found Jere vaping and you gave him the silent treatment for almost two whole days."

He thought about that memory for a moment before he shrugged it off. "Things change." He excused.

Without being able to stop yourself, words started spilling out, "I thought you wouldn't." He was Conrad. He wasn't meant to change, especially not like this.

Your eyes lingered on his, watching as his pupils dilated and his expression moulded into one you couldn't read. "You're upset with me?" He finally asked as you took a few steps back.

"Like you said, things changed." You reiterated. "You changed. You're more distanced from everything, quiet. You don't have that playfulness you did last year-"

He cut in with a scoff, "Playfulness? Really?" You could feel your heart sinking. "You mean because I don't play your's and Jeremiah's and Belly's childish games?"

You knew there was no point in arguing with him. "It doesn't matter." You shook your head. And this time, you turned your back to him, swimming to the other end of the pool when you weren't forced to stare at Conrad Fisher.

Only a few minutes had passed when you heard the shuffling of movement. At first, you thought Conrad was getting up to leave, but the sounds continued until a soft splash came from the other side of the pool. That noise prompted you to turn. Conrad was already looking at you, shirtless and getting used to the temperature. Then, once he was close enough, he flicked his hand passed the water, letting it splash in your face.

"Conrad, what the hell!" You snapped, squirming at the feeling of bitter water hitting your skin.

"What?" He questioned as if he was innocent. "You told me to be more playful." 

He shrugged it off as if it were nothing, gaining closer and closer until you only had to whisper in reply. "I'm not in the mood." Your tone was flat.

But Conrad hadn't let that stop him. He splashed you once more. "Conrad!" You snapped again.

"Oh come on, you not gonna fight back?" Your head shook and he took another step towards you before there was barely any distance left between the two of you. Before you could stop him, his hands took a grip around your waist. Within a moment, you were swirling around at Conrad's will, and as much as you hated it, laughter was trickling from your lips. "That's not the Y/n I know!"

You started hitting his side, letting out a, "Conrad, put me down!" Only just heard through the giggles to two of you shared.

Soon enough, he slowed and your body entered the water again. But Conrad's touch didn't leave you. His hands lingered around your bare waist and you swore you could get drunk just off his touch. He was so close. Yet, there was a distance between the two of you still. There felt more distance now than before you had arrived at Cousins. You just sat wishing the boy would break that distance.

"I'm sorry I've not really been around as much as you had expected. Or that I haven't joined in on any of your games or even watched a movie with you." His eyes clung to your own. "But, trust me, I'm trying."

This time, your hand reached out, brushing his cheek as he fell into it. "That's all we need to know." You assured him. "I'm here for you Conrad, you know that?"

He nodded, "I know." And before you could reply, he closed that distance. His lips leaned into your own and you were caught in his trap.

It was sweet but short-lived as you pulled away, too shocked to deepen the kiss any further. Conrad's eyes were frightened and yours were curious. "Why did you do that?" You asked, without moving away from his touch.

He thought on it for a second before answering, "I think I've been meaning to for a few Summers now." Them words had only made you lean into another kiss. One of which you were sure now wouldn't be your last.

[thesuperiorgenshinaddict]

Can I ask for an Emily x reader from class of 09?

Emily x GN! Reader

AN: yo w i fuckin love emily. literally the goat. tbh i highly doubt emily would date anyone who's not actually at least mildly insane so i'm gonna make reader kinda fucked up yk :thumbsup: Pairing: Emily x GN! Reader Warnings: Drug use, Codependence, Unhealthy relationships, Violence, idk just expect similar shit to the stuff in class of '09

HCs:

The two of you met when you were trying to find a plug to hook you up with some Addy's. It was pretty fucking surprising that you hadn't gotten your hands on some already, but that was mainly because you didn't want to die on the side of the road after downing some fake laced shit.

Emily was apparently a solid dealer. Sold for decent prices and gave discounts to people she liked more and it was pretty easy to ask her. You literally just walked up to her locker with a wad of cash and she tossed you a half-empty pill bottle and talked with you for a hot minute.

Somehow, you managed to win her over by bitching about Ms. Ames once and the two of you spent a shit ton of time together. Like, a LOT of time. Skipping classes together, going to the mall and selling crack, even sleepovers (that had way too much tension to be considered platonic).

After she stopped taking her anti-psychotics, she went full on batshit. All the shit about Emily being actually insane that all the bitchy kids were talking about? Fuck, they weren't lying. Emily was defending you with her fucking life. Fucking Jeffrey called you the lamest insult known to man and she practically jumped that fuckass.

Even though you guys were literally saying 'I love you' to each other like, 9 times a day, she was just your friend. Supposedly anyway.

Honestly, you highkey started thinking that you'd be 'just friends' forever until her gang boyfriend got his old ass hands on a huge fucking package of crack. You told her to sell it because some dumbass middle schooler would probably pay their life savings for half a gram, but of course, she doesn't listen.

Normally this shit would be mild as fuck but her parents were acting up and being bitchy whiny fucks so Emily had the genius idea of snorting a concoction of whatever mystery substances she had on hand and like half the entire supply of coke.

She was fucking blasted as fuck and she had the dead fish eye shit going on when she just started being weirdly clingy and she gave a violent but oddly heartfelt confession. It was like highkey concerning because of the sheer number of threats she not so subtly inserted in but it was endearing in its own twisted way.

Her words were slurred and the entirety of the little speech she gave could be summarized as the same shit she told Nicole in that one route but more sociopathic sounding???

Anyway boom I'm gonna put HC's on what it's like dating her now.

She probably wouldn't bother telling anyone that you two are dating, but it's so obvious. Like, everyone knows.

If someone says one thing that can be taken as offensive in the slightest to you, Emily will fucking pounce on the asshole and curb stomp them. She'd act all nonchalant about it afterwards.

Since a ton of the other people in the school have beef with her, if you defend her and slander the shit out of them, she'll be super happy about it.

Free drugs. She's not worried about OD'ing at all and takes smoke breaks with you all the time when skipping.

You guys have sleepovers like, everyday. Not even an exaggeration at this point. If your parents or her parents try to tell her no, she curses them out. If they're being particularly bold, she goes through with the slashing tires shit and is on the verge of actually beating the shit out of them.

If you ever get her a gift that she actually likes, she's going to constantly flex it. Get her a nice necklace or something and she'll literally never take it off.

Choose your words carefully. She's going to get pissed as fuck if you say one thing that she considers harsh. Drabble time woohoo "...Fuck, this is totally laced." Emily groaned, leaning her face onto her palm. She ran her free hand through her hair. Diverting her gaze from blankly staring at the table, she stared at you and raised an eyebrow. She opened and closed her mouth as if she lost her train of thought before giggling and leaning closer to you. "I love you. Like, I love love you. I'd kill anyone who even dares to be a bitch to you. I'd kill myself if you asked me to." She nonchalantly says. Batting her eyes, Emily firmly tugs you closer to her. She coyly twirls her hair around her finger while pursing her lips — and she's like 2 centimeters away from violently making out with you. What do her lips taste like? Xanax probably. Fuck, she's actually so pretty. "You're not gonna say it back?" She pouts. She's clearly high off her ass right now. At this distance, you notice the little minute details, like how she painted her nails today and how her mascara's just slightly fucked up. With a hesitant 'I love you too', she digs her nails into your shoulders and pulls you in for a kiss. She's acting almost rabid and she desperately wraps her arms around your torso and breathes into your lips. Slipping her tongue in, she pushes you onto the couch and pins your shoulders down. After what feels like a long ass time, she parts the kiss and takes heavy breaths while staring down at you. "Can I stay the night at your place?" AN: lmfao sorry that took a lil while my internet was freaking the fuck out. anyway this was fun as fuck thank youuuu :3

[batunatu]

is there a backstory behind ur jeffery art n ur chr.... if there is plllssssss info dump i want to know SO bad im absolutely obsessed w ur work w him

HEHEHE THE MOMENT HAS COME

(yap warning)

It all happens around 2008, a year after Nicole arrived at school. On Nat's side (yes, it's a shameless self insert), she is an Argentine girl who, after her parents experienced the crisis of 2001 (one of the most screwed-up economic crises in the country) had to work outside the country. Nat was taken care of by her grandparents and they saved everything on her education as she was an only child.

When she turned 17 she won a scholarship to be an exchange student in the United States, everything was going well but Nat is naturally shy and somewhat nervous, always closed off so it was a lot of mental and emotional weight for her.

Upon arriving in America, she studied at an ordinary high school until it caught fire and the major damage caused it to be temporarily closed and the students were transferred to nearby schools in the area, so Nat had to go to THAT SCHOOL.

She didn't understand the teenage culture of that country, it was much more complex and Nat's social skills were few. But she didn't know anyone so she was naive, based only on appearances and the way they treated her.

She stayed as a roommate with Karen (kinda gay yk) She met Jeffery in one of the classes, let's say that she was naive and believed that he was just a weird but harmless boy, she felt empathy for him and that she was also kind of geeky and in Argentina it was difficult to find a circle like that in his school, always isolated in the cybercafe.

She began to get closer to him, it was a too casual relationship between friends but Jeffery obviously understood everything as flirting and he began to idealize Nat, she increasingly noticed that Jeff was worrying, at a certain point she just stayed with him for It hurts, believing that he just needed a friend.

Anyway, I have a LOT of concepts about this au, I no longer like shipping both and I certainly distanced myself from the fandom and the game but I still love this story.

This is like a spoiler (? but everything is a game unrelated to class of 09, I mean yes, it is a game in this au but let's imagine that the co09 franchise does not exist.

let's say that jeffery, now a grown ass guy can't get over his loneliness and He decides to create an indie game about him having a girlfriend in his teens.

a typical anime style dating game. Nat is the protagonist but the gameplay shows you something at first very fictional and romanticized but at the same time it plays with the theme of "breaking the game."

What if Nat realized it was all a game? Everything is convenient for her, she wouldn't hang out with a weirdo like him, she couldn't just casually win a scholarship, she feels flat and everything feels artificial.

As if some weird guy in his chair was the god and creator of this entire world.

That is my biggest concept, I have many notes that I should write in another post.

I'm not looking to romanticize anyone, and I like that this "fake game" is a way of showing that you can't fix someone who is broken and that the world teaches you to cut off your empathy in unfair ways. I don't want Jeffery to be the typical cartoon guys Otaku they made in flipside, in fact, I like to think that in this au the adult Jeffery first did flipside as a way to get revenge on Jecka and Nicole.

If you want to know more things you would have to ask specifically since I don't have anything organized, sorry ◉⁠‿⁠◉

my brain rots.

[dawnthefox24]

So me and @wildissylupus were talking about when Cole Cassidy first joined Overwatch and how he taken from the Deadlock gang, he had a mouth like a sailor but moreover I like to think he's based off of Nicole from the class of 09

*Reyes is watching Cassidy interact with the other recruits and has his arms crossed a bit as he's standing right next to Ana and Jack* Ana: Reyes are you sure you can handle him? Reyes: Yeah, look he's just a kid you know. Jack: Yeah some kid who swears at everyone he's sees Reyes: That's because everyone is hounding on him! Ana:*has her arms crossed and raised a brow as she watches Emre talk to Cassidy* I think you need to keep an eye on him because he's talk too Emre Sarioglu Reyes:*looks over* Wh-Oh no.... *Emre is talking to Cassidy because he wants to get to know him but brings up the topic of video games to him* Young Cassidy: *doesn't look amused* Why are you talking to me about video games? Emre: Just something y'know...uh...What you don't like play video games or something? Young Cassidy:*has his arms crossed*...I'm a thin ass gang member who joined Overwatch, do I fucking look like I play video games?! I'd rather play dead at a necrophilia convention. Emre: *is a bit disturbed* W-What? Young Cassidy: *flips him off* It means fuck off and get away from me prick. Reyes: *is already going cover to Cole* FUCK DAMNIT CASSIDY! Ana and Jack:*sighing a bit knowing what's next to come*... Jack: Think he can handle Cassidy? Ana:...He might drag us in soon.... Jack:...I can't wait to clean up his mess... Ana: Agreed...

[trumpets0ng]

248- “Decisions, Decisions”

Beginning / Previously /Next

((Thunder - Imagine Dragons))

For easier reading, please see transcript below the cut:

Walker: I still can’t believe you’re here! *Dane and Nicole chuckle* I can’t believe you didn’t say something!

Nicole: And ruin the surprise? Really?

W: Well at least tell me how long you were all in cahoots? Obie won’t tell me a thing!

Dane: Well, I’ll defer to your fiancé’s judgement on that. But suffice it to say, we had ample notice.

W: *shakes head, everyone laughs* Ample notice, huh?

Obie: We have a large “village.” Arrangements had to be made in advance.  

N: Devon offered to put us up, bless her. But since we were traveling with the Adebolas; it didn’t make sense.

D: It would have been nice though… Finally met that fiancé of hers. Really decent guy.

N: We’d expect nothing less for her.

D: *wistfully* Would’ve loved to see their place, though.

O: All the more reason for you to visit again soon! It really is an impressive piece of property.

N: I can imagine.

W: The entire area really; It’s gorgeous up there! I mean, really nice. You’d love it!

D: We have no doubt… actually it’s a great segue into the real reason for this morning’s visit and this lovely meal…

W: *bemused* Dev’s house?

D: *smirk* No. Yours…

O: *uneasy* What of it?

N: It’s cute and very Walker… very both of you, I’m sure but—

D: But it’s also very small. Not at all large enough to start the family I know you both want.

W: *amused* Daddy…  we haven’t even been engaged a full 24 hours yet.

O: We do plan to move eventually. But for right now we’re quite happy with our place.

N: Of course, you are! It’s perfect for a young couple, but not as much for a young growing family.

D: We’re not suggesting you move right now. But when the time is right, as our gift to you we would like to help you purchase your first home.

W: *shocked* Are you serious??

O: *taken aback* Oh… um—

W: Daddy, that’s… that’s—

[sirwow]

LOGHAIL WAR !! a short fic about these two's fight in my au under the cut to complement this art

A soft snowfall paints piles of rubbish in a coat of frost. The crackling of Hailey and Logan’s footsteps in the snow is occasionally broken up by the crinkling of metal. Logan carefully tipped toed behind Hailey’s march- this scrapyard had to have been abandoned for years at this point. It was uneasy. Logan clutched the baseball he was tossing between his hands. Hailey had an iron grip on her bat since they arrived. Logan’s nerves were only worsened from the sight.

“..H-Hailey I think we should turn back.. I don’t know what you want here but I’m sure w-we could figure something else-“

Hailey cut Logan’s worry short with a glare. “No. We’re almost there anyways. Stop being such a baby for once will you?” 

Her words stung more than the cold wind. Logan’s clutch on his baseball shifted from nervous fidgeting to a stone cold grip. They continued on until coming to an opening, marked by a looming broken down crane. Logan stopped in the center as Hailey drifted toward a junk pile. He tried to speak in some vain but his tongue caught itself, unwilling to comfort further. Rather Logan just watched in morbid curiosity at what Hailey was planning.

Shatter. 

It was so fast Logan barely processed what Hailey was doing. She raised her bat again- and right back into the door of a totaled car. No voice nor grunt could be discerned from her pummeling. A ruthless beating with unreadable reasons. It’s not like anyone would care but.. Logan’s nerves told him this was horribly wrong. 

A snag by the arm was enough to pull Hailey from her outlash, Logan pulling back till they were having a tug of war over the bat.

“Hailey what the heck has gotten into you?!” 

Hailey attempted to throw Logan off the bat “Why do you need to know? Just let me have this moment!”

Logan’s remaining sympathy evaporated. Using his full force, Logan ripped the bat easily from her hands and threw it aside her feet. Hailey stared him down but the wimpy doormat of a boy inside Logan was gone.

“Why do I need to know? Oh I don’t know? I'M YOUR BOYFRIEND?? How the hell am I supposed to help you when you take your emotions out like- like-“ Logan grabs his baseball from his pocket, pitching it directly into a old TV screen. The shatter startled Hailey for a moment but the insult was fast to leave it’s mark.

Hailey lifted her bat from the ground. “Maybe because you’d just try to “fix” all my issues only to make them worse, like getting us in the hospital in the first place!” Hailey turned and bludgeoned at a pot.

“I wasn’t fixing anything! I was confused why you didn’t just say you had feelings too- I-I thought you just tolerated me leaving me in a ditch for so long!”

“Sorry I have trust issues. I could and would have never taken you if you couldn’t stop being a coward for 5 minutes! But I guess I clearly should have had higher standards.”

Logan still faced away from Hailey. Tense silence danced with the snow and his hands shook. 

“You should have had higher standards? I should’ve with how you’re FUCKING TREATING ME! Ooh I’m SO sorry that I dared to WORRY about you when you left on a train with barely any notice!” Logan snarled through a childish gesture- smashing small glasses near him.

“Oh get a spine. 5 days. I WAS GONE FOR 5 DAYS! Nicole told me all you talked about was “Oh.. where’s Hailey.. oh woe is me..” Get a GRIP.”

“Get a grip- says the one who couldn’t handle talking about having a problem at home to me for 2 years-“

Hailey throws her bat into the garbage pile with a violent shriek of metal returning. She and Logan both turn to face each other, boiling enough to melt the snow that was picking up.

“You pampered piece of shit. Get out of my face.”

Hailey pointed Logan to the direction of the exit after getting in his face. 

“No.” 

Hailey backed off both in awe and disbelief that Logan was doing this. She gritted her teeth and screamed red in the face.

“..hhhhhHHH- I FUCKING HATE YOU!”

“WELL MAYBE I HATE YOU TOO!” Logan screamed back.

Then nothing. 

They saw each other for who they were again, faces both hurt and broken. They quietly collapsed to the ground and sat back to back sobbing. The wind played a twisted melody through old pipes and cracked glass. It remained so for what felt like eternity.

Logan regained his composure first. “H-Hailey.. I-I didn’t mean all that, I-“

“L-Logan please. Please don’t apologize. I-I should be the one apologizing. I’m sorry.”

Logan shifted to sit in front of Hailey and cupped her tears with his hand. “Hailey I- I said that about your home- I don’t deserve anything after that- I never should have said a thing, I’m so sorry..”

Hailey held Logan back. “Logan, did you forget what I said? I deserve it..”

“W-what?? Don’t say that! What you said about me was true!”

“But you were being honest too!- I.. haha.. I don’t have the energy to argue this.. just- come here.”

Hailey pulled Logan in for a tight hug, laughing and crying over the situation. Logan was still lost in confusion but returned the favor as his tears returned. Their hearts raced together and slowed as they swayed back and forth holding each other. Their eyes closed, they simply let things be for a moment of respite.

Hailey eventually lightly pushed on Logan’s shoulders and he took the que to back off. She whipped her remaining tears and laughed a bit to herself. 

“..Thank you, Logan. I’m not sure what would’ve happened to me if you didn’t do something. Probably would have only gotten worse.”

Logan softly smiled while scratching his weary eyes. “Of course.. haha.. I don’t think I’ve ever done something like that in my life before.”

“Well keep it up for me will you?” Hailey cupped his face with both her hands.

“I promise I’ll try my best.”

“That’s perfect.”

Hailey kissed Logan on the nose. His face was redder then when he had screamed but he giggled and dove in for a cheek kiss before Hailey could get away. Both giggled flushed on the ground before Hailey got up and helped Logan up as well.

Grabbing their things, they left with a spark- burnt in the heart but reignited in the ashes.

[foreveralwaysanauthor]

Naomi's Basic Info

Name: Naomi Seika Sato

Now, I know Naomi has only appeared maybe three times in my writing (the winter stories from 2022), but I have plans on adding her to some of my future stories, so I figured I might as well make a board for her. Again, this was surprisingly easy, and the only one I had any difficulty finding was an actress from the 60s as there weren't a ton of well-known Asian actresses. Anyway, in the 60s, we have Irene Tsu (How To Stuff a Wild Bikini); the 80s, Cherie Chung (An Autumn's Tale); the 90s, Nicole Bilderback (Bring It On); and now, Momona Tamada (Avatar: The Last Airbender).

Nicknames: Mimi, NayNay (by very few people), and Koneko (a Japanese term of endearment that means "kitten". Only her grandparents call her that, and it's mostly her grandfather)

Age: 17

Date of Birth: September 29

Zodiac: Libra

Birthstone: Sapphire

Nationality: Asian-American

Sexuality: Asexual, but don't tell her grandmother that. The woman desperately wants grandbabies, and Naomi has no interest in ever giving her any. Her parents and grandfather know and don't care so long as she's happy, but they all know better than to tell her grandma.

Birthplace: St. John's Riverside Hospital, Yonkers, New York

Current Residence: Park Street, Rockland, Maine

Occupation: High school junior, professional figure skater, junior medical assistant at her parent’s office

Talents/Skills: Acting (mostly in high school or town productions), making flip books, animating short videos

Birth order: Only 

Parents: Kyoya Jin Sato and Hina Mai Suoh

Signature:

Height: 5’1”

Race: Japanese-American

Eye Color: Dark brown, almost black

Hair Color: Brown

Glasses or contact lenses: Glasses for reading, contacts for fun

Distinguishing features: A birthmark on her hip that looks almost like a cherry blossom, a scar on her inner right calf from a skating incident, and a single dimple on her left cheek

Mannerisms: Bopping her head to music, mumbling to herself while working on projects, and keeping the tip of her tongue between her lips when she’s deep in thought

Health: Chronic migraines, Type-1 Diabetes, and POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)

Hobbies: Gardening, baking, watching anime and Chinese historical dramas, playing cozy games, scrolling Pinterest, writing fanfictions, and cosplaying 

Greatest flaw (in their opinion): How everyone still sees her as a child/childish. As the only child/grandchild in her family, Naomi is often babied by her family members. Her father was an only child, and her mother was the only daughter of four kids and was the golden child, leading to Naomi feeling more like a toddler as anyone who came to visit would treat her like a little doll. She appreciates their love and care, but all she really wants is for her family to see her as the near-adult she is, not some naive little girl in need of shelter from the outside world. In a way, that was the reason she and Lexi became friends. She needed someone in her life who treated her like an actual person, not a child.

Best quality (in their opinion): Her determination to succeed in everything she does. While she doesn’t fear failure or disappointing her family, she strives to be the best version of herself she can be. Whether it’s working hard at her family’s practice, learning new skating skills, or trying out a new recipe, Naomi puts her whole heart into all she does. She is a very determined individual, but that doesn’t stop her from taking breaks now and then or spending time caring for herself. 

Biggest fear: Losing her sense of self for the sake of others. Naomi is fairly confident in who she is as a person - an intelligent, pink-loving, figure skater who wants nothing more than to help her parents run their practice. However, she fears that someday, if she were to find herself looking for a different job or maybe falling in love, those people would try to change who she is for the sake of professionalism and maturity. She has taken the time to grow into who she is and finally loves herself just as she is; the last thing she wants is for someone to try to change her to meet their needs. If they can’t love her for who she is, Naomi knows it isn’t worth it, but she knows she wants love sometime down the road, and the thought of giving up her style and personality for someone to see her as a mature human being is something that deeply terrifies her. Real life is nothing like the books or movies she loves so deeply, after all, and she knows this. That is why she keeps many potential friendships/relationships at a distance until she knows they won’t try to change her.

Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw

Favorite ice cream: Strawberry mochi

Favorite color: Pastel pink

Favorite number: 2, as the number represents balance and harmony in Japanese culture

Favorite songs: ballad of a homeschooled girl by Olivia Rodrigo, ALICE by PEGGY, and Platonic Love Song #1 by Lauren Bird

A place they want to visit: Forbidden City, China, or Bunkyo City, Japan

[toournextadventure]

Stop “I'lI be all the poets, I'll kill them all and take each one's place in turn, and every time love's written in all the strands it will be to you.”

W H A T

That quote will for ever live in my mind rent free

But like if we’re sharing ebh quotes this is my personal fav 👀

"I've never believed that beauty could exist in self destruction. Then I saw you. And your eyes told stories with dangerous beginnings and lost endings, where every page was breathing with color. Yes, you were beautiful to me."

By Nicole Torres

STOP THAT'S SO TRAGICALLY PRETTY

I got one that's strictly for Birb, and one that's for Birb and Wednesday 👀

"I know you've taken to wearing around your father's hand-me-down anger. But I wish that you wouldn't. It's a few sizes too big and everyone can see it doesn't fit you" - Sarah Kay

"What a marvelous feeling it would be, if we could say exactly how we felt. What a monumental victory. What a terrifying thought" - Akif Kichloo

[anissapierce]

Ive finished the new allotted streaming released all at once series that i marathon once a year...and ok im like so fascinated by the choice of the stans that they set up as the aggressors

Beyhive ft Nicole Byer

Swifties ft Rachel Bloom

Beliebers ft Riki Lindhome (the only gang leader to post abt the show on instagram)

Little monsters ft Jack McBrayer

Which ok so the choices here feel so 2012 specifically, and its deliberate too to jab at adult fans who have arrested development about specific eras of a singers career. Like it was a choice to have actors who were on the younger end of middle aged. A lot of stan parodies focus on teenagers n children as the people who have the time to devote. So it is interesting to make it adults. There could be so many reasons why they did that (casting kids wouldve taken more time and money, it feels meaner when its abt kids,with adults you get to put more cameos from comedic pretty prolific actors two of whom showran their own musical shows)

But the stans then being in minecraft (along w a couple of other fan communities i remember rihannas navy,bts army and (funniest joke of the ep) natalie merchant marines) kinda is where it lost the thread for me like showing the gang leaders avatars hearing their voices... Like idk man these middle aged superfans arent coming to Minecraft.

Like the episode showed the youth of minecraft love electric mayhem, so the idea that its kids who love them feels so ... Patting themselves on the back bc like that's not the case kids that are on Minecraft arent going to unanimously love Electric Mayhem ... Idk it took me out of it..it would've gelled more if they had a knockoff minecraft or sth but the use of Minecraft itself felt so hamfisted like i get it they wanted it to be grounded in real life but idk ...

Especially bc they nvr rlly get into like the superfans much or comment Abt the obvious arrested development in any way so it feels disjointed especially when the superfans get turned into Mayheads through the sheer power of rocking tuneage.

Unrelated but tbh i didnt even recognize jack mcbrayer as an actor i Knew until i looked up the cast so finding tht out blew me away. Like i didnt recognize Riki bc yeah im more familiar w kate when it comes to Garfunkel n oats but like i knew she was someone whos work i knew i knew she was a comedic actress who i have seen in things and whos voice sounded familiar.

I do wonder if they planned a musical number? Like casting Riki and Rachel both really talented musicians as well actresses feels like wasted potential in a show about music idk

Edit: also i really dug the Warriors reference with Little Monster Leader saying "Mayhem come out and play"

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"BIBLE STUDENTS' ARREST ILLEGAL COUNSEL ARGUES," Toronto Star. October 17, 1933. Page 1 & 2. --- Quebec Attorney-General Refuses to Aid Prosecution of Thirty --- DEBATE IN FRENCH ---- Defendants Sit in Puzzled Silence as Fate Is Discussed ---- Special to The Star Quebec, Oct. 17. - Thirty International Bible Students from Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and other cities were arraigned in the city police court here this morning, charged with participating in a seditious conspiracy.

An additional charge of distributing obscene literature has been entered against F. C. Wainwright of Toronto. A book entitled "Art Photos in Color" is alleged to have been found in Wainwright's car but the Bible students claim it was not Wainwright's car and that he had never seen nor heard of such a book and that he learned of its title only by inquiry to the police when the second charge was laid against him.

The city authorities yesterday sought the co-operation of the provincial authorities but the attorney- general declined to take part. The charges will therefore be pressed by the city.

Keen interest in the case is evinced in the ancient capital and the court-room was crowded half an hour be- fore the case started. The Roman Catholic church is taking an active interest and five canons of the church are understood to have been studying the International Bible Students' literature and marking such passages as are considered significant.

The charges are laid under section 134 of the criminal code and the crown seeks to show that the distribution of the I.B.S. literature controverted this section which deals with the crown, the bench and the church.

The accused were arrested early one morning and the pamphlets and leaflets seized by the police totalled 30,000 copies.

Judge Fitzpatrick of the court of sessions presided at to-day's hearing, Laetare Roy acting as crown prosecutor and Louis Lemay for the defence.

The accused included: Geo. Dunn, Kezie Nicol, E. P. Allan, Eva Pring, Gertrude Norwich, Grace Brunston, Ida Beltsoe, W. G. Bowen, F. C. Wainwright, Winifred Hanscombe, Robert McNaul, H. Brodie, all of Toronto; E. A. Stichler, Ottawa; Mabel Jones, London. Ont.; Janet MacRae, Nova Scotia; G. H. Waliver, Windsor; Grace Lounsbury, St. Catharines; G. C. Barrett, Peterboro; Wm. James, A. M. Rose and Harold Westaway, Belleville; C. Allen, Timmins, and Charles Jacham, Isabel Tucker, Blossom Ashe, F. W. Greenwood, James McLean, and Gerald Barry, all of Montreal.

Geo. Brodie was called first.

"Stand up, please, jump over here," bawled a court official. Then one after another the names were called and they were lined up.

All were present and all stood clustered beside the bench. Judge Fitzpatrick looked up. "We will have chairs brought for you," he said to the ladies of the party. All witnesses were excluded, being half a dozen police officers, a number of civilians. a priest and The accused ladies were given the seats they had occupied. There were not enough seats for the men and they overflowed into the seats in the dock.

"You aren't obliged to sit in the dock," said the judge.

Counsel for the defence addressed the court in French, a language none of his clients understood. He found fault in the manner in which the charge had been laid by the chief detective and seven policemen. The complaint had been made long after the alleged offence had taken place, he said.

The police had no right to arrest the accused without a warrant, he continued.

The crown prosecutor also spoke in French, a language used also by the judge, and the accused gave up the attempt to follow the proceedings, not a word of which they could understand. Mr. Roy asserted a police officer could arrest anyone without warrant whom he found committing a criminal offence. Defence counsel claimed they were not arrested until four hours after the offence.

Refers to Section 98 The judge defined sedition as a seditious intent and seditious conspiracy as an agreement between two or more persons to carry into execution a seditious intent. The criminal code, he said, provided a penalty up to 20 years.

This statement, made in English. aroused the interest of the accused but judge and counsel reverted to French again and the judge cited the famous section 98.

M. Lemay cited the Caterson case in Toronto during the war.

Jean Chaloult, associated with defence counsel, claimed his clients were accused of conspiracy bút the indictment didn't say who with.

"In distributing on said date (Oct. 3) seditious pamphlets," Mr. Roy quoted the indictment.

Mr. Roy, stating defence counsel wanted proof, said he had 30,000 proofs, the pamphlets seized.

The judge at this point suggested an interpreter and one was obtained from the lawyers in court.

Sergeant Couture of the municipal police told of arresting four of the accused between 6.30 and 7 a.m., October 3.

He had not seen these people distributing the pamphlets. He had received complaints from the parish priest of Sacre Coeur as to the books. They had a suitcase in which there were some of the books.

He handed over three booklets with highly colored paper covers. These he had found in doorways. They are entitled "Heaven and Purgatory", "Letters to the Catholic Press" and "Royaume Et Dieu."

They were all in French and were similar to the ones found in the bag.

The four he arrested were George Barrett, W. J. Brown, Mrs. A. Μ. Rose and Mrs. C. Alton. He was called Barrett and Brown. on to identify.

Under cross-examination the sergeant said they were "circulating" peacefully on the streets. He had seen Mrs. Rose hand a pamphlet to a passerby.

Helps Officer Identify Him Asked to point out Barrett and Brown, the sergeant scanned the -courtroom. There was a crowd and he was in difficulties.

"Put that hand down," suddenly called out the judge, for one of the men was giving the sergeant a helping hand to identify him. Finally Couture pointed out his men, having previously Identified the two ladies.

Constable Genest told in English of people, the first Mr. Brodie had the booklets in a his arrest of four George Brodie. Mr. Roy showed him the pamphlets.

"Where did you find these?" "On my own door."

Mr. Brodie had the booklets in a handbag and he saw him leave them at seven other houses. The others he arrested also had the booklets.

[lboogie1906]

Caesar ( 1737 – 1852) was an enslaved person who is notable for possibly being the earliest-born person ever photographed while alive when his daguerreotype was taken in 1851. He was the last enslaved to be manumitted in New York.

He was born in c. 1737, on the property of Rensselaer Nicoll, who owned the Bethlehem House property in Bethlehem, New York. Within his lifetime, he had outlived at least three or four generations of masters on the Nicoll estate. He was allowed to retire in 1817, at the age of 80, and lived with the Nicoll family until his death.

Although most enslaved in New York were freed by July 4, 1827, he was not manumitted until around 1841, when all forms of slavery were banned in New York.

In 1849, the artist G. W. Woodward had a sketch of him drawn as he sat dozing in a chair, which has since been lost. In 1851, his final master’s son persuaded him to sit for a daguerreotype portrait, one of the earliest photographic images of an African American. The 1/6th plate daguerreotype became known as the Daguerreotype of Caesar: A Slave. A note included with the portrait reads: “Ceasar, born a slave of Van R. Nicoll, son of William, in 1737 at Bethlehem, N.Y., where he died in 1852. The last enslaved to die in the North. This daguerreotype was taken in 1851. His 2nd master was Francis Nicoll, son of Van R. Nicoll, and his 3rd master was Wm. Nicoll Sill, grandson of Francis who left all to his wife Margaret Sill . . .”

He died in 1852, aged 115, according to the inscription on his marble tombstone, in the state of New York. Currently, no contemporary evidence has been found which can verify his age. Only his year of death is certain. If his age is confirmed, he would not only be one of the earliest-born persons ever photographed and other such claimants, he would be one of the longest-lived Americans on record. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[annebrontesrequiem]

hi! when u search sunne in splendor on tumblr ur post https://www.tumblr.com/annebrontesrequiem/705559484360163328/i-do-think-its-a-bit-of-a-pity-that-sharon-kay is one of the first that comes up. i’m 66% of my way thru my first read of it (also my first of any of her books). i’m at the part where edward decides to kill george to hide his (apocryphal?) first marriage...and it’s starting to drag a bit. i know sunne in splendor sacrifices quite a bit of the historical part of historical fiction to make richard Correct, but it also sacrifices the fiction part of historical fiction bc richard is prob the most boring character bc he’s almost always Correct. i think the reason it’s starting to drag for me is it’s getting to a point that a lot of the ambiguity that the earlier part so good is quickly disappearing (i read the first two thirds in two days and then nothing today bc i keep getting to the marriage bit and kinda groaning). is edward’s first marriage apocryphal- like the claims richard didn’t kill those kids? basically im hoping u can give me motivation to finish the last third

it’s really a remarkably well written book for a first novel- my library has the thirtieth anniversary edition, which i guess is re-edited by skp from the original. do u have an opinion on which version is better? a author i liked re-edited a diff series for a tenth anniversary edition and made it substantially worse. what skp chooses to include/exclude is sometimes really odd to me. what are some of ur fav moments from sunne and splendor/what odd about it to u?

i really like all the deeply odd character interactions, like isabella thinking about lancaster saying he’s against wife beating, or will hastings lying in bed w jane shore and erectile dysfunction heartsick bc he can’t ask ned to not sleep w her bc will’s afraid bed will say no. what a wild and weird and well written dynamic! honestly made hastings my fav character rn. i also really liked marg of anjou

Hey anon! Sorry for the long wait time getting this ask out, I wanted to make sure I answered everything fully and was a bit too busy to do so before now.

With Sunne, even someone like me who will defend it until I die, I definitely agree there is a lull period. To me after the whole drama with Anne is concluded there’s a bit of a letdown as the plot moves towards its finale. This could be because Anne Neville is the best character to me, but I also think it’s because there’s this sense of anticipation towards the back end. This is really where Penman begins to play fast and loose, and as such it becomes much more dramatic for the audience, trying to see how this all is going to come into play. But in the interim while Edward’s still alive, there certainly can be a sense of boredom.

As to the first marriage, it’s a little complicated. Unfortunately I don’t have any of my proper history books on me right now, so you’ll have to have some sketchier sources from me. And disclaimer that this period of history is absolutely not my area of expertise, and I want to work on reading more about it since I find Richard III so fascinating. Basically, there was this idea – according to Charles Nicoll in The Lodger: Shakespeare on Silver Street yes I am straight up yanking this quote from Wikipedia I’m sorry – that:

“Handfasting was legally binding: as soon as the couple made their vows to each other they were validly married. It was not a temporary arrangement. Just as with church weddings of the period, the union which handfasting created could only be dissolved by death. English legal authorities held that, even if not followed by intercourse, handfasting was as binding as any vow taken in church before a priest”

Thus there is the idea that Edward plighted his troth to Lady Eleanor Butler, thus making his marriage illegitimate, and all his children too. I haven’t read Sunne in a while, but I’m pretty sure Penman essentially presents this idea of what happened.

Mortimer Levine explores the idea of a precontracted marriage in his “Richard III – Usurper or Lawful King?” which is in part a review of Paul Murray Kendall’s Richard III, which I haven’t yet read but I own and I know is very partial to Richard. According to Levine, the existence of a precontract remains shaky at best – even in the act in which it is brought up, the contract does not take center stage but is rather part of a list of many. Not a great sign that Richard III himself truly believed in the contract. The idea that Clarence was killed over the contract is also pretty ridiculous. I feel like I've made my stance pretty clear on old posts, but I should say I think the idea that Edward had a marriage which made his children illegitimate is obviously just politicking and has absolutely nothing to do with any historical fact. In real life it was a tool for Richard's (successful) bid to the throne. Much like the idea Richard didn't kill his nephews, this is not - to me - part of any viable historical reality. And the impact of the claim is, of course, more important than whether or not it was real. The whole article does a much better hash of it than I can, and if you have Jstor I would high recommend the read since it’s not that long.

As to Richard being boring, I find the personal things in his life – his marriage, his guilt, etc. – more interesting than the court politics. Once Edward – and Edward his son and Anne – are dead this definitely picks back up. So if that was what interested you, I would hold on for a bit – if you haven’t finished the book in the past few days of course

The version that I have read is I believe not the 30th anniversary edition. The ISBN is 978-0-312-37593-5; if you want to compare with your version. As such I can’t say which is best, but I must say that you’ve intrigued me and I would love to track the 30th anniversary copy down now. What I wouldn’t give to read the manuscript now being held by the Richard III Society I cannot say. I know a great deal was cut by her editors – if that can be believed – and though edited books are surely better, I cannot help but want to read the original labor of love. Maybe someday.

My favorite moments are, as alluded to, the scenes involving Anne. This is partially a thing that has always been the case with me and historical figures. I think Josephine Bonaparte, for example, is much more interesting than Napoleon. And Anne is truly a fascinating woman in her own right, having been married to both the heir to the Lancastrian throne and the last York king. I want to read two of the most recent biographies out about her someday, I’m sure they would be fascinating.

In the book of course theirs is a love match for the ages, and let me tell you when I first read this book at the age of about 13 I was absolutely obsessed with them. I was also very into the Secret Garden (musical) at the time, and Anne and Richard and Lily and Archibald definitely blended in my mind a bit. I also think that Anne helps make Richard as a character more interesting. As you say, Richard can be boring for how purely good he is, and though Anne is also a very good character, I think she brings out an interesting part of Richard.

Another scene that I love is when Edward is talking to Elizabeth (Woodville) and says that Richard is alas an idealist and a romantic, as contrasted between him and George. That scene has stuck in my mind since I first read it, and I just cannot stop thinking about it.

I also love the scene right before Richard dies when the atmosphere is truly perfected. I just remember so well the stagnant, hot, languid August air that seemed to pervade the scene, so well that I remember myself in that moment reading it as being in late summer, though I first read the book in May. I also think it really captures Richard’s feelings in that moment well; tired, missing his family which has all died essentially (besides perhaps his nieces and nephews and sister-in-law who surely despise him). Richard comes off to me as almost suicidal in that scene, and bleakness is riveting in a way that I find difficult to reread. Thus his death becomes in a strange way cathartic, though bleakly so. Penman had the makings of a tragedian, makings which were honed in her later books. We see the seeds of it here. But the scene is very out of place when you consider the scenes of Richard’s childhood. It is strange for how full of despair it is. I think that’s why it’s so haunting. Of course, nostalgia could be blinding, but that is how I remember that scene.

I also like when Richard is mulling over the parallels between him and Anne and Richard II and Anne of Bohemia. I honestly think that like set off something in little me’s brain. Sometimes I imagine how interesting it would be to write a paper or a dual biography comparing them. When Richard speaks of Henry Duke of Gloucester and Eleanor, his wife, being forced to do penance that also stuck with me. I agree anon, it’s these strange little moments that are so fascinating. A true sense of historical scale. I like that Penman was not afraid to make her cast huge. And that though the book is so extremely partial to Richard, she does ultimately, I think, give a great deal of characters grace.

I also like her portrayal of Marguerite d’Anjou. If you enjoy that and you enjoy this book overall, I’d highly recommend When Christ and His Saints Slept about Stephen and Empress Maude. I think Maude is similar to Marguerite in some ways, expect much more complicated.

As I said in that post, I really think Penman hit her stride with the Plantagenets. Though she certainly has her heroes and heroines, her characters become even more conflicting and grey – Robert, Maude’s brother, stands out to me in this regard. I adore Penman as one of my favorite authors, but Sunne really is imperfect for all that I adore it. Not that I won't stop defending it until the day I die of course. I hope you get to the end, and I’m glad you enjoyed so far!

[greek-myth-hellenism]

I hate to be the “well, actually” person here, because I don’t think there’s anything wrong with personally viewing Zeus as a protector of childbirth (you could really pray to him for any kind of protection), BUT I do think we should be careful about sources.

The epithet, as far as I could find, comes from a single source: Pausanias’s Description of Greece. He’s now considered a reliable source, so there’s no reason to doubt him, but he is just one source describing a single instance of an epithet’s use and not widespread worship. Here’s what he has to say about it, as translated by W. H. S. Jones (the guy who proposed the fascinating theory that malaria was a primary cause of the collapse of classical empires, earning himself the nickname “Malaria Jones”):

"The city of Aliphera [in Arkadia has] . . . set up an altar of Zeus Lekheates (In child-bed), because here he gave birth to Athena. There is a stream they call Tritonis, adopting the story about the river Triton." Pausanias, Description of Greece 8. 26. 6

The only other references I could find from a simple internet search were these:

1) the Theoi.com reference @pomegranatehymns found, which claims to be from Pausanias but seems to be taken word for word from William Smith’s Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology from the mid-1800s. It’s considered pretty accurate when it comes to things taken from primary sources, but Wikipedia notes that “…the context in which ancient evidence is viewed, analysed, reconciled, and understood has changed considerably in the intervening centuries,” (a statement that applies to any historical analysis written a long time ago).

All that to say that I have no idea if Smith is correct in the translation of “protector of,” or if Jones is more accurate with “in childbed.” Which sounds pedantic, but leads me to the other reference I found…

2) Nicole Loraux, a French historian who was known for her writings on gender in Ancient Greece, addresses male birth stories in The Experiences of Tiresias: The Feminine and the Greek Man.

Disclaimer: I haven’t read the whole book, which you can read here.

Loraux gets into philosophy of male figures absorbing the feminine. Zeus’s connection to childbirth is well known because he HIMSELF has given birth several times. Loraux’s argument is nuanced, long, and complicated, but suffice to say she thinks the idea of males giving birth is more about power than an appreciation of mothers.

Yeah, this sent me down a rabbit hole.

TL;DR There’s no evidence that childbirth was considered a domain of Zeus. Lekheates comes from a single reference to a single altar in the location where Zeus was said to have birthed Athena.

BUT anyone can pray to Zeus for any reason they want. It was, and is, common practice to pray to the gods for general protection and success. Many homes kept household altars to Zeus, and I’m sure people have prayed to him for guidance and protection in affairs of the home and family. Your prayers are your business:)

Zeus has a lot of epithets.

Most of them about power, law, storms, kingship. Things you’d expect from the king of the gods.

But Zeus-Lekheatês stops me in my tracks. It’s one of the most unexpectedly tender epithets he has.

The name Lekheatês comes from lekheion, which refers to the bed where a woman would give birth. So Zeus-Lekheatês is, in essence, Zeus as the god of childbirth. The god who protects women during labor. Which, if you really think about it, is wildly fascinating because it’s so unlike the usual way Zeus is framed.

Birth was dangerous in the ancient world. No epidurals, no modern medicine. Just blood, pain, and the gods’ mercy. A mother could die. The baby could die. It was a moment of pure vulnerability, teetering on the edge between life and death. And here’s Zeus, not just presiding over grand cosmic fates or battles or oaths, but over this. Over the most raw, intimate struggle of all. Over the act of bringing life into the world.

And the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Zeus is, above all else, the god of balance. The one who maintains order, who ensures the cosmos doesn’t spiral into chaos. And what is birth if not the ultimate balance between life and death? A single moment where fate could tip either way? Zeus doesn’t just decide who wins wars, he decides who lives, and that includes the smallest, most fragile of beginnings. It’s an aspect of him that feels strangely human, almost gentle. It’s not the Zeus of the thunderbolts or the one swearing unbreakable oaths on the Styx. It’s Zeus as a guardian. A protector.

And if that doesn’t change how you see him, even just a little, I don’t know what will.

[l8dyvenus]

Astro Observations #4

- Mars in 4th H synastry is always depicted as the Mars bringing disrupt or even “anger” in the home since it is a watery emotional house and Mars is not a great fit for it. But, with this overlay, it is so much more to it than that. And most certainly, if your 4th house is in a more harsher placement such as Aries, Capricorn, Scorpio, etc. having disrupt may be something that you are used to or “like” (to a certain extent) because they may remind you of experiences or relationships in your family during your childhood. You may even handle it a lot better. Mars may even remind you of a parent or relative. Mars in 4th H can also cause the Mars person to have a strong desire to have a baby with you as well. This overlay can also be an indicator of pregnancy being accidental—especially if one’s other Mars fall into others 7th H. 👨‍👩‍👧

- Mars in 7th H synastry will indicate a love/hate relationship but despite that, it will feel familiar and be rushed. More specifically, Mars will be the one to initiate everything. Be more straight forward, blunt, and aggressive. Although this can be very overwhelming to the House person, they feel the need to go along with it because they see the Mars as having qualities and attributes of someone of their own ideal person or who they may want to be themselves. 🧑🏾‍🎨

- Wherever Mars is at in Synastry is where it is eager and wants to rush at.

- Pisces 5th House Natives can be very delusional in love. They get taken advantage of a lot. ❤️‍🩹

- Aries/Leo/Libra/Taurus/1h/5h placements come off very confident but in reality they have low self esteem yet at the same time they are very egoistic?? Libra and Taurus are more subtle w their ego issues, but, I noticed with all of these signs listed, their self esteem is based on what others perceptions are of them. 🤠

- Everyone always says Scorpio placements are the main signs that are very vengeful and holds grudges, etc but Earth sign moon natives (especially Virgo moons) holds grudges the same way but it can be unintentional. They have very vivid memory since earth signs are detail oriented. They can be the type to remember something somebody did to them in 2015 at 2:36 pm on a Saturday and even let it be known who they were with, the clothes they were wearing, what the setting was like, etc. They tend to remember everything, but negative experiences always seems to stay in the back of their mind and replay from time to time out of nowhere. 🧠

- Venus square mars/Venus square Uranus are very straight forward in relationships and love their boundaries and independence. 🏃🏾‍♀️

- Capricorn ASC/Cap aspects to ASC…do you have bone problems ? more specifically knee or elbow problems where they ache out of nowhere ? 🩻

- Also, with Capricorn ASC/Cap aspects to the ASC their hands and feet are older looking. Not necessarily ugly, but more like as if they are already older in age despite being young. Their facial features are like this as well. Could have deep parenthesis on the face too. 🧓🏽

- Aries/Capricorn placements assaulting you is flirting with you. 💃🏼

- Virgo mixed with Taurus placements in woman’s chart don’t necessarily like too much make up. Prefer light scents or perfumes that smell “natural” if that makes sense LOL. They always dress so comfy and plain but yet cute at the same time ? Like how do you even pull off a bad hair day ? 🧖🏾‍♀️

- Mercury 8h are really good at self evaluation and shadow work if evolved 🪐

- If you watch The Undoing on HBO Max with Nicole Kidman that show is literally 12th H Synastry in a nutshell 🌚

Until Next Time Loves, Asé 🥳