#at most we get spinoff a bit of rain from the edges

[forswornfae]

We're about as ready for Helene as we're gonna get. Time to try to get some sleep before she hits us.

[movedto-erodasghosts]

the moment | timothée chalamet

moved blogs - @erodasghosts

practically a spinoff thing for perfidy by @peeterparkr and reading perfidy would help make this better. To read as a stand alone fic, just picture “Tom” as someone y/n used to like but he hurt her.

Description: where we get to see a little bit of y/n’s relationship with timmy

Word count: ~4,600

Warnings: none

A/N: the rain part is heavily inspired by chapter 8 of perfidy where y/n describes when she knew she loved timmy. Also heavily inspired by Nancy’s moodboard of dates with Timmy. I loved writing this so much, I hope you enjoy!

masterlist

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“Okay, okay,” you rested your hands on the table, “tell the story again?”

Timmy let out a soft chuckle, “Really? Didn’t you save the video?”

“I just… need to hear you say it in person.” You smiled widely, “It’s too cute.”

He couldn’t help but smile with you. Something told him you just wanted to hear the story again just to tease him, no harm to come of it though. He couldn’t blame you, he had even teased himself about it and found it rather silly.

“Alright,” he sighed dramatically. “So, I found this toad the other day, right? And it was missing a leg. So… I watched it for a bit before going back inside and going to bed.”

Timmy was a dramatic story teller, it was rather entertaining. The theatrics of it didn’t always come from the words he used to describe stories but the amount of time he spent telling it. To end it short would only leave people with questions. To draw it out longer would give people more to consider. He made stories last regardless, giving people opportunities for questions and any random thoughts. It seemed to be a way of letting everyone feel more involved so it wasn’t so one sided. He didn’t like to focus on himself too much, he was much too interested in everyone else.

“Oh, that’s it?” You raised a brow, “ It didn’t happen to be two in the morning? And you didn’t happen to cry because the toad was missing a leg?”

“Well,” Timmy pursed his lips as if to consider your words, “now that you mention it… I might’ve been a little tired when I found it, and possibly a small bit upset when I found it was missing a leg.”

“Small bit? Tim, you cried.” You brushed some hair behind your ear, “Like, actually cried. I saved the video!”

Quickly, you pulled out your phone to watch the video of a teary eyed Timotheé. Everything about the video was chaotic, it only made the story better.

“Okay, I— this is so bright— I just found this toad,” he held it to the camera, “I was like, ‘Oh! Neat! A little toad!’ But then, then I picked it up and…” He nearly choked on his words, the camera moving sloppily and never focusing on just one thing. “It only has three legs! Y/n, y/n it only has three legs. Are you seeing this?” He held it to the camera again, “Imagine how much harder traveling must be for him. The poor thing.”

“Do we have to finish watching this?” Timmy was grinning boyishly, “I mean, you’ve already seen it and I lived it.”

You gently hushed him before looking back to your phone screen, “Shh, shh, it’s getting to the best part.”

He gave a melodramatic frown to the toad before looking at the camera again, “I just, hmph… I had to show him to you, I love him so much. Okay, say goodbye to him, wish him the best.” He stroked it with his thumb, showing the camera one last time before setting it down and waving goodbye. “I know you’ll live a good life. I’ll miss you, visit anytime.” The camera turned back to Timmy who now had tears swelling, “Can you believe it? Such a darling boy… I hope he gets to be happy.” With a sniffle, he dried his eyes. “Okay, that’s all… you just had to see him. I’m sorry, it’s late and I’m crying…” he laughed and shook his head. “I hope he lives a happy life… well, goodnight… or morning?”

The video ended with Timmy lazily struggling to stop the recording, his eyes red and his hair a complete mess. You couldn’t help but hold the biggest smile and he did his best to hide behind his curls. His fingers curled into his palm, resting his hand on his chin and elbow on the table. Part of him was slightly embarrassed, only because the video was played in public. He couldn’t care less about the fact that you saw him practically breaking down over a toad, he only cared that strangers heard him breaking down over a toad.

“I think…” you began, “Well, you know how you asked me when I knew I loved you? I think that when I first saw that video… I just, I knew, you know?”

He held back a laugh, “Ah, that’s the moment, hmm?”

“Yes! Absolutely, one thousand times yes! It was just mind blowing,” you exaggerated with your hands. “I had never seen you like that before and, honestly, it just really pushed me to my realization.”

“It’s fair, really. I mean, had you sent a similar video I have no doubts that it would be the moment I knew I loved you.” He took a sip of his tea, keeping his eyes on you.

Timmy was playing along with your game, it was back and forth teasing. He couldn’t help but wonder, though, when had you fallen in love with him? He had asked before but you seemed to avoid the question and he didn’t push. Maybe you hadn’t yet, and that was okay. It did make him worry no matter how much he reminded himself it wasn’t like you would fall in love in the exact same moment as if your lives were a book. But still, at times his mind would wander.

“When was it?” He licked his lips and placed his cup back down.

“Hmm?” You fiddled with your pastry, avoiding eye contact.

He rephrased, “When was it you actually fell in love with me?”

Crumbs fell to your plate, it gave you something else to look at rather than him. He never intended to make you nervous, so he soon regretted ever asking. The thing was, there didn’t seem to be a defining moment yet. There were so many things about Timmy that made you stop and think about how amazing of a person he is. From his gentle words to his grand gestures. You could say that to him, but it didn’t sound real. If you were going to answer him you wanted it to be something more concrete.

Part of him craved an answer. He wanted you to take your time, for your relationship to take its time too. And Timmy wasn’t someone that needed constant validation but he couldn’t help himself at times. He knew you cared for him, that’s what mattered most. Really, he wasn’t sure why he was so insistent about knowing. Well, maybe…

He tried his hardest not to be the jealous type, and normally he wasn’t. He trusted you and the two of you were always able to openly talk about things, but… something about your relationship with Tom made him second guess himself. He couldn’t even figure out why, other than it was painfully obvious that Tom liked you and you couldn’t even see it. The issue was, Timmy knew that the “enemies” thing was an act, even if it was just one sided. He knew that you didn’t like Tom, at least not anymore, but a part of him couldn’t help but wonder if you did.

“I’m sorry,” he interrupted his own thoughts. “You don’t have to answer that.”

You awkwardly kept your eyes on the crumbs now scattered around your plate. If only he knew, and if only you could tell him.

“If you keep doing that you’ll hardly have any left.” He smoothly took the pastry from your hands and bit into it. “Hmm, it’s delicious.”

Letting out a small laugh you straighten your posture, “You’ve got a little filling on you.”

“Oh?” He sat it back on your plate, “Could you get it for me?”

You nodded, sitting on the edge of your chair to get closer. Slowly, you reached across and lightly wiped the filling off with your thumb. Timmy’s smile never seemed to fade away. He was always so warm and gentle, even in the toad video from two in the morning. It was like with him any moment could be put on pause to just sit back and admire it for what it was. With him it was like you could breathe. Like, even if it was temporary, the air around him wasn’t so stuffy and thick, but it was clear.

Your hand seemed to linger, not that he minded. He simply took your hand in his own, pressing a kiss to your palm before resting both of your hands on the table. His thumb faintly skimmed over your knuckles as he watched the wheels turning your head.

He tilted his head slightly, “Something on your mind?”

“I always have something on my mind, you know.” You timidly pulled your hand away to put your phone back in your bag, “We should probably get going so we can beat the rain.”

Tim cleared his throat and began gathering his things. “I wouldn’t mind getting stuck in it, sometimes the rain is nice to just step into.”

His words brought another tender smile to your face. Most people would be canceling the day’s plans because of a chance of rain later that evening, Timmy just pushed through and even hoped the rain may come earlier than planned. You liked the rain too and didn’t mind going out in it from time to time, it was relaxing in ways.

“I’d rather be home when it starts, I think.” You held his hand as you both started your way home.

He nodded, “I can understand that. But, would it be so bad if it started before then? It would be like a movie scene.”

The thought made you grin, he was right. One of the biggest clichés in the book and you nearly forgot. Part of you longed for a movie moment like that, you had them all the time with Timmy though. It was nice, you wouldn’t lie. At the same time, a huge part of you just wanted to smoothly make it home, no movie moment.

“I guess that part of it would be sweet. Almost like a frozen moment in time.” You moved closer to him, “I’d take any chance to be frozen in time with you.”

His lips curled into a smile at your cheesy words before pressing a kiss to the top of your head, “Maybe we’ll get the chance again.”

“Hmm, I wish. I’m not exactly dressed for a downpour though, especially not with my camera out,” you held it up.

Timmy took a quick glance, you were right. Your sneakers would be soaked within moments and your jacket wouldn’t keep you warm for long. Timmy wasn’t dressed much better though, having on sneakers as well, and jeans that would easily stick to him when wet. He could stand it though, it wasn’t a bother, and he would gladly help to keep you warm with his own body heat.

He recalled that you loved walks in the rain, no matter how soaking wet you may get. But lately something was off, he could tell. He kept brushing it off, chalking it up to overthinking. Of course you didn’t want to get caught in the rain that day, it would be freezing and your camera could get ruined. Normally, though, you still wouldn’t mind. It was like you were running from something.

“We can put the camera in your purse, it should help keep it dry. As for the rest, well,” he let your hand go before wrapping an arm around your waist, “I’ll help keep you warm as we make our way home.”

You chuckled, leaning into his side. “In that case, I look forward to the rain,” you half joked.

“See?” He smiled, “Simple solutions. I’m glad to be of assistance.”

Once again, he let go of you to give a dramatic bow. You laughed, watching as his hair fell in front of his face. He even tucked one foot behind the other, adding to the drama of it. He did what he could to make the relationship feel the same, to help you find the beauty in small moments like that again rather than pain.

“Ah, thank you for your kindness,” you gently bowed back towards him.

“Of course, of course. Anytime, you know.” He took your hand in his, gently swinging it as you continued the walk.

You walked in silence for a few moments, just taking in the busy sounds from around you. There were fewer people out that day, due to the expected rain, which gave plenty of new picture opportunities. You loved pictures full of life, whether it was crowds of people or a field of flowers. But, you loved pictures that seemed empty, or even more serene in a way, too. Overall, you just enjoyed taking pictures of life. From the most crazy and crowded moments to the most calm and seemingly boring moments.

“Let’s get a picture here really quick?” You stopped at a shop window, gently tugging Timmy’s sleeve to get his attention.

He stepped back and stood beside you, “Of course, it’s a nice opportunity.”

You held the camera up, ready for the picture. Timmy put one hand in his pocket, the other rested on the small of your back. He placed a kiss on the top of your head, freezing there for a moment as you took the picture. Instinctively his eyes shut too, allowing him to easily slip into his thoughts for a moment.

He loved that you took pictures of moments like this, he knew it meant a lot to you. To be able to hold a memory in such a way was incredible and it helped to better remember. It wasn’t just a picture, it was a memory. Even if it was only a memory of going for tea that morning, it was a memory. One he knew that you’d both find yourselves dwelling on.

You both seemed to find such pleasure in the smallest of things. The rain, tea, toads, anything. Unlike Tom, who seemed to have to make everything into some huge attention grabber for it to be even slightly memorable. Timmy couldn’t stand that, it was like it was a show for everyone else. Timmy didn’t need to prove to anyone that he loved you with grand schemes, what mattered to him was the little things that you shared between the two of you.

“Alright, got it,” you smiled.

His eyes opened back up, snapping himself out of his mind. “You’ve gotten a lot of good pictures today.”

“With most of them having you as the subject, I’d agree,” you grinned up at him.

“It’s your talent with photography that makes them so good,” he chuckled.

“Maybe, but you definitely add to it’s perfection.” You kissed his cheek, “Even if I know you cried about a frog at two in the morning.”

“A toad,” he corrected. “And what kind of monster wouldn’t cry about a toad at two in the morning?”

“It’s just a toad,” you began walking again with a small smile on your lips.

“Just a toad?” He joined your side again, “I don’t think so! He was special, not just like any other toad.”

You teased, “You’re actually defending a toad?”

“Maybe I am. You were attacking him.” He played along, lightly nudging your shoulder.

Your hands went into the air in a mock defense, “My greatest apologies for attacking him. I hope I didn’t offend too greatly?”

“Hmm,” he raised a brow and stroked his chin as if he was deeply thinking. “No, nothing you can’t make up for.”

“Make up for? In what way?” You were already grinning as you looked up at him.

His arm made its way back around your waist, his fingers landing on your hip. Your pace slowed a bit, only slightly, as you synced your steps.

“Dance with me when it rains,” he said simply. “It would make up for it a thousand times over.”

You chuckled, “I’d dance with you anytime, Tim.”

He inhaled, holding his breath for a moment before saying, “I know, but I’ll take every chance I get.”

“I would too, plus it’s a simple enough way to pay you back for the frog insult.”

“Toad.”

“Right,” you laughed, “toad.”

He hoped it would rain. Before he simply looked forward to the rain because he was expecting it anyway, now he was waiting for the rain as if he relied on it. He needed the chance to be with you closer, longer. He needed a reason for the day to be memorable for more than just tea. Timmy knew you’d adore that day for the rest of time, even if it ended in this very moment, but it was like he needed to be sure of it.

Lord, he was becoming Tom. Couldn’t the day be lovable enough as it was? It already was. There wasn’t a moment through the day with you where he didn’t seem to have butterflies in his stomach, other than moments like this where he couldn't help but think of Tom.

No. No more Tom. Timmy was still far from Tom. His gestures, like wanting to dance in the rain, was for just the two of you, not anyone else. Tom needed everyone else’s approval, Timmy was only focused about the happiness between the two of you.

“Guess you should get ready to dance,” you spoke up, quickly tucking your camera into your purse.

Timmy glanced at your movements before looking up to the sky, seeing how dark it had suddenly gotten. He couldn’t help but smile as he saw the rain approaching.

“I’ve been waiting for this,” he held both of your hands and pulled you to a wider section of sidewalk.

He wasted no time, beginning to dance with you the moment a raindrop fell. You wouldn’t deny it, even though you were previously dreading the coming rain you were happy it was there now. You had forgotten how much you missed it. You missed that moment in time where it was truly like nothing else mattered. It was just you and Timmy, frozen in your own movie moment.

It was clear that the wheels in his head were finally taking a pause, he too was just enjoying that moment. Normally, Timmy wasn’t one to get lost in his thoughts so frequently. He spoke openly, sharing his thoughts so he could talk through them with someone. You understood, even admired it, but there was a part of you that wanted to hold certain things to yourself. There were some things you wanted to process on your own before even thinking about sharing with anyone else, and there were other things that you just wanted to ignore forever. Timmy knew this and he never wanted to make you feel pressured to talk but he just couldn’t understand why you wouldn’t want to share, to just talk through your pain and memories. But, he respected it.

You wanted to share, truly, but you weren’t even sure where to begin, and, you didn’t even know if you actually could bring yourself to talk. Timmy swore that there were things between you and Tom that were unsettled that you needed to talk about, and maybe he was right, but you couldn’t see it. You felt like you were stuck in a spot that had no way out. It felt like you had no words to share, and, while no one was trying to make you feel that way, you felt pressured to talk. It felt like Timmy deserved more. Like he should have an explanation, like he should get to know his moment, the one where you knew you loved him.

You had no answers to offer anyone though, not even yourself. You didn’t know why people were expecting you to explain so much. Why did people need you to explain why you never liked Tom? Why it didn’t matter if Tom ever liked you or still did-- though you would assure people he didn’t-- because you were over him. Or were you even over that?

Tom was cruel. He was careless, inconsiderate. And, sure, you had a crush on him for a while, but that’s all it was. That’s all it could be. He hurt you, how could you possibly still like him? And, you loved Timmy so none of that even mattered anymore.

Timmy.

You knew you loved him, with or without that defining moment. Maybe this could be it. The rain, his fingers intertwined with yours as you danced and laughed. No, this wasn’t it. It couldn’t be, not when you had let your mind wander so far. So much for staying frozen in the moment.

Still, you danced with him and acted as if you were still focused on only that. His mind may have stopped for a break but it seemed yours had just kept going. He noticed, you were like an open book at times with him. But, you were both deciding to push it aside.

“When was the last time we even got to do this?” You laughed as he dramatically spun you.

He smiled, “Too long, I guess we’ve just been waiting for the rain.”

“I’m glad it’s finally here, even if I’m freezing cold.” You waddled closer to him, wrapping your arms around him and continuing to sway inplace together.

“Hmm,” he rested his chin atop your head and curled his arms around you, “I did say I’d keep you warm.”

You closed your eyes, resting a cheek on his chest and breathing in. The metallic and earthy smell of him brought an instant peace. You could feel and hear his heart beating slowly, calmly. Heat was somehow radiating off of him still, even through his cold and wet clothing. It was nice, just his presence and being was calming and felt nice to be around. It was now that you were really being pulled into the movie moment, your mind now filled with nothing but thoughts of how being around Timmy was like going out after a storm.

It was like walking out, feeling the sun hit your skin as it was slowly beginning to warm everything up again after a downpour. Like inhaling that musty yet sweet smell of the ground as it was soaking up the rain, reclaiming it after it’s fall and working with it to help return to earth. The smell wasn’t just coming from the rain either, it was just how Timmy was, and you couldn’t get enough of it. It was the serenity after the storm that people so rarely talk about.

“Can’t we stay this way forever?” His words were muffled, mixing with the sounds of raindrops seemingly falling harder.

You were still slightly swaying together, earning looks from those rushing by you in a hurry to escape the rain. Neither of you could be bothered by it though, you were in your own world. Admittedly, it probably wasn’t such a good idea to be staying out in the cold rain. The two of you couldn’t care less in the moment, though you’d probably regret it later, because it was like you had only been standing there for a minute, but at the same time it was as if it had been an hour even if it was only about ten minutes.

The rain was coming down harder and harder, preventing you from being able to stay out much longer.

“I think it’s time to stop dancing,” you smiled, looking around for any form of shelter you could find. “Look, that shop has a shade we can use.”

Without hesitation you ran off, ready to get out of the downpour. You hadn’t noticed at first but he hadn’t followed, only a few steps away from where you were both standing just a second before. He was slowly making his way over, not seeming too focused on actually making it though.

“Timmy,” you called out, “what’re you doing? C’mon, it’s too heavy.”

And then you heard, music playing from someone’s balcony. It was gentle and steady, sounding almost like a recording but it was clear that it wasn’t. Timmy’s eyes were locked onto that balcony, right above the shop you were using for coverage. His shoulders were relaxed, his head slightly tilted as he listened. He was too focused on the music to care about how hard the rain was or how cool the air was turning. You were focused on watching him, slightly taken aback by his actions.

“Come see,” he beamed, “it’s so peaceful.”

You were grinning, watching as he smiled ear to ear, being so happy watching them. His gaze went back to them, eyes twinkling in the light shining from their apartment. His curls were dripping, messily scattered about and some sticking to his face. He looked like he was in a state of tranquility, completely free of all the worries he had been dealing with. It was soothing enough on its own just to see him so, it was like he was able to share with you how it made him feel simply through one look.

Taking your camera out, you took a picture of him as he looked up to the balcony, wanting to keep that moment with you forever because that was it. A few weeks ago when Timmy had asked you when you fell in love with him you gave some silly response, too anxious to think about it. He brought it up again earlier that day, and you still couldn’t give an answer. Now the answer was standing right infront of you, finally it was something worthy of sharing, not just something random and laughable.

You put the camera back in your back, quickly joining his side. “It sounds beautiful.”

“Doesn’t it?” He leaned into your shoulder, “The rain just adds to it all.”

“It does,” you agreed, wrapping around his arm. “But, we should go before we get sick.”

Timmy laughed as he slowly pulled himself out of his trance, “That sounds like a good idea.”

With looped arms you began your walk home once more, feeling somewhat more lifted by what had happened. All it took was that one moment, that moment of proof and reassurance. You were reminded of what a kind and gentle person Timmy was, not that you had ever forgotten. He did his best to enjoy life for what it was, cherishing every moment he could no matter how small. You tried your best to do the same but found yourself slipping at times, it was a reminder to enjoy things more. To take that step back and make yourself the main character of a story, even if it was temporary. Timmy helped you to do that.

He loved to see you so relaxed again, free from your mind. You were both too wrapped up in too many what-ifs and were worrying about things that were out of your control. The rain was what you needed, to help pull you back to earth. It was that moment, where he was able to put life on pause and you were able to come back into that serenity.

The awkward tension from the cafe was gone, truly gone, not just shoved aside. Timmy wasn’t craving to know the exact moment you knew you loved him because all that mattered to him was that you did. You didn’t feel like you owe anyone an explanation for anything anymore, whatever you had with Tom was in the past now and you knew Timmy’s moment. It really wasn’t a permanent solution, these feelings, at least the untouched one’s about Tom, would likely arise again. But, at least for that moment, you could go without confronting them.

[dswcp]

Sequel Trilogy Companion Comics

It has been over a year since the sequel trilogy concluded, and though both other Star Wars trilogies inspired a variety of ambitious and complex spinoff comics during their heydays and wakes, the sequel trilogy has not. “The Rise of Skywalker” has not even gotten a comic adaptation -- the only SW movie to lack this honor. While Luke continued to fight his dad in newspapers and Marvel comics throughout the 80s, and Anakin kept lying to his teacher on the pages of Dark Horse and in early webcomics throughout the 00s, we haven’t heard much more, comic-wise, about Rey and Kylo’s will-they-won’t-they now in the 20s (besides the frustrating “The Rise of Kylo Ren,” which I will review soon).

The future of Star Wars -- both in terms of real-world media and fictional timeline -- is opaque to me. All upcoming projects seem to be prequels or in-between-quels, and there is an upsetting number of unresolved endings, especially for the protagonists. (Will they ever find Ezra? Are Mando and Grogu really separated forever? Will Finn become a Jedi?) So I won’t pretend to understand the lack of sequel-era comics, since I don’t understand even the higher-budget focuses of the franchise right now.

The lore-heavy Galaxy’s Edge theme park, the Star-Trek-like “Resistance” TV show, and a smattering of excellent books and short-form comics (especially the ones about Rose Tico) prove that the sequels’ setting can work just as well for spinoffs as any other era of Star Wars. But one obvious difficulty in creating more content set during the conflict between the First Order and the Resistance is the divisive, contradictory nature of the latter two films.

In fact, each of the sequel films have such distinct tones, themes, and messages, that I’ve found similar experiences reading comics set in completely different time periods. I wish there were multi-part comics with big casts and intricate themes inspired by the sequels’ settings and characters, but until then, here are three such comics that, in my opinion, could accompany each sequel film in spirit.

The Force Awakens: “TIE Fighter”

The most important thing that the sequel trilogy accomplished and that The Force Awakens established was shifting the focus to an all-new, more diverse set of characters. If the sequels had gone the route of the prequel trilogy and the EU books and comics, the story would have remained with the OT trio, their parents, their kids, and their girlfriends, almost all of whom are white.

Another intriguing premise from TFA is Finn’s stormtrooper backstory. Earlier SW movies had relied upon stormtroopers as cannon fodder, but Finn’s story humanizes them and shows that many are forced into service. This revelation complicates the violence of the OT’s Rebellion, since it is now possible that the Empire’s soldiers also had the capacity for heroism.

Like TFA, “TIE Fighter” features a cast of original characters of different races, and the story explores the humanity behind the Empire’s masks. “TIE Fighter” also shares some of TFA’s limitations: neither story can stand on its own, as they both lead so directly to a follow-up: TFA to TLJ, and “TIE Fighter” to the novel Alphabet Squadron. 

“TIE Fighter,” issue 2. Marvel. May 15, 2019. Writer: Jody Houser. Pencillers: Rogê Antônio and Josh Cassara. Letterer: Joe Caramagna. Colorists: Arif Prianto and Neeraj Menon.

The Last Jedi: “Knight Errant”

I’ve talked before about my love for this series, but I don’t think I’ve mentioned how beautifully “Knight Errant” echoes my favorite movie of the sequel trilogy (and, honestly, one of my favorite movies of all time). “Knight Errant” and TLJ are both stories with big hearts and strong messages about hope, corruption, and searching for one’s purpose in life.

The two stories share similar characters -- a lonely leading lady, a disenchanted old Jedi, an ambiguous traitor, dwindling goodguys and unstoppable badguys -- and similar settings -- a rain-soaked planet symbolizing both depression and passion, exorbitant wealth on top of abject misery, fiery flashbacks of a demolished home. They even have plot points in common, such as the parallel with Luke’s triumphant return pictured above, and heartbreaking, unexpected revelations about our hero’s family. Victory is achieved through not only bravery, but trust (sometimes misplaced) and a clever magical trick that manipulates the villain’s wild emotions.

And unlike the abrupt endings of TFA and “TIE Fighter,” both TLJ and “Knight Errant” have endings that are open yet satisfying. Though the fight is not over, your imagination can fill in the bittersweet path forward.

If you’re going to check out “Knight Errant,” which I highly recommend you do, please keep your mental health safe. There are suicidal characters and themes, though I think they are addressed in an affirming and positive way. The story shows the value of life and hope in a way that has personally helped me through a dark time, just as TLJ’s belief in the power of failure and love has also meant so much to me.

“Knight Errant: Aflame,” issue 5. Dark Horse. February 16, 2011. Writer: John Jackson Miller. Penciller: Ivan Rodriguez. Inker: Belardino Brabo. Colorist: Michael Atiyeh.

The Rise of Skywalker: “Dark Empire”

TRoS was not the first Star Wars property to resurrect the Emperor -- “Dark Empire” had already done that back in the 90s, with a bit more explanation, flair, and nudity, though not necessarily any more purpose. I already reviewed “Dark Empire” back in August; in short, I find it disappointing. But while I can’t say I’m a fan of either the comic or TRoS, I admit that all three of us share a deep and abiding fondness for the institution of the Sith, in all its goth smugness.

Between TRoS, The Mandalorian, and The Bad Batch, Star Wars seems to be leaning into evil genetic manipulation right now, which is a bit too eugenics-y for me to get into. If you’d prefer your resurrections in a more Halloween-like flavor, with a side of lovable old hag and creepy rainbows, look no further than this historical relic of a Star Wars comic.

“Dark Empire I,” trade paperback. Dark Horse. May 1, 1993. Writer: Tom Veitch. Penciller, Inker, and Colorist: Cam Kennedy. Letterer: Todd Klein.

[hillblah]

Podcast Recommendations:

I just spent nearly 2 hours writing these for a work Teams thread #justpandemicthings. So uh, here you go. If you’re following this blog (why tho?) you might like my vibe, so you might like some of these! Finding categories is hard, so I've mostly lumped podcasts together in small groups by loose connections, or vibes. This is also how I sort my bookshelf after admitting defeat on having a perfectly coherent system. Past me would have been horrified, but I think that's what growth looks like. Some descriptions are all mine, some are copied from the creators. Feel free to read into which ones I copied and which I wrote myself as much as you want.

Fiction:

36 Questions A 3 part musical podcast about a couple on the brink of divorce. The title references the "36 Questions to Fall in Love" (/build intimacy) that can be found here: https://bigthink.com/ideafeed/how-to-fall-in-love-36-questions-and-deep-eye-contact

Alice Isn't Dead Audio diaries of a long road trucker searching for her wife who she thought had died, but Alice Isn't Dead. Really cool sound design and writing from the team behind Welcome to Nightvale. Slight absurdist/ more than slight horror vibes. There's 3 seasons in total that tell a meandering overall story roadtrip. Best listened to while parked in an empty carpark on the edge of town with rain running down the windshield and creating flickering shadows from the streetlights. It took me a few attempts to listen right through the first episode, but I eventually fell in love with the sound/feel/vibe of the podcast. Teaser is here: http://www.nightvalepresents.com/aliceisntdead

The Magnus Archives A horror fiction podcast examining what lurks in the archives of the Magnus Institute, an organisation dedicated to researching the esoteric and the weird. Each episode is presented in the form of a witness statement being read by the newly appointed Head Archivist of the Magnus Institute - London. Over time the stand-alone statements start to form connections, and then an overarching plot. I don't normally enjoy horror, The Magnus Archives is absolutely the exception. Really well told stories with incredible soundscaping. Maybe don't listen right before bed...

Kiwi Podcasts about Sexuality and Gender:

Micro Wave Feminism Micro Wave Feminism is a place for open, inclusive, loving and vulnerable feminist chats. It's all about talking to real people about real sh*t and experiences of femininity and masculinity in this crazy (beautiful) world we live in. Really interesting discussions on feminism through the personal experiences of kiwis. Sporadic episodes as a non-professional labour of love, but boy does it have cozy vibes.

BANG! RNZ's BANG! explores sex, sexuality and relationships over a lifetime, from parents attempting "the talk" with their children, through the fraught teen years, modern dating, long-term relationships, contraception and conception, right up to intimacy in retirement homes. So many people talking about their experiences with all aspects of sex, sexuality, relationships and gender. My personal favourite is the Takātapuia episode from season 2: https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/bang/story/2018651794/bang-season-2-episode-6-takatapui

Let's Get Sexual Let’s Get Sexual is a podcast dedicated to exploring sexuality. It is part of the growing global movement to normalize conversations around sexuality, to embrace its complexity, and highlight how we all have our own sexual journeys. Similar vibes to BANG! But with a more personal approach and more time with each guest. Really interesting conversations with people from all walks of life.

Kiwi Current and Not So Current Events:

Gone by Lunchtime The Spinoff's politics podcast. A good balance of views from the 3 hosts, and the only politics podcast that has made me laugh out loud multiple times.

The Citizen's Handbook Robbie Niccol (White Man Behind a Desk/that guy that I went to school with) partners with RNZ for a video series all about the history of Aotearoa, and the things all citizens need to know about where we are now. There's also a podcast that goes with it, that's a game show? Really the video series is the more important part... But the podcast is a great listen.

Isolation:

The Habitat The true story of six volunteers picked to live on a fake planet. You know those stories that occasionally pop up about people living in isolation with each other to see what happens so we know about the problems and can prepare for space travel? Well this 7 episode podcast follows a group of 6 imitation NASA astronauts stuck with only each other for a year. Something I'm sure the rest of us will never have to experience right?

Our Plague Year Essays and listener messages about Our Plague 'Year'. Some really talented writers pouring emotions out. This was one of my favourite podcasts last year, though some of the episodes hit a little hard. My personal favourite episode (so far) is Trust Ends at the Windshield, featuring Hank Green, Meg Bashwiner, and Erin McKeown. Which talks about the the-show-must-go-on mentality, includes this gem: "We are killing people because we are bored. We are killing people because we are entrenched in a toxic, capitalist society that values money over life.", and was one of the triggers for me writing a 12 minute, spoken word, poetry adjacent, thing, last year.

Doing Stuff:

Cortex CGP Grey (educational youtuber) and Myke Hurley (host of about 50 podcasts) talk about productivity, and how they run their businesses, and education, and the Apple ecosystem, and a whole bunch of other things. Long episodes, and occasionally dated by reference to current events. Definitely not a super condensed productivity podcast, more of a personality / sitting in on a conversation vibe.

Start With This Art is hard, starting is hard, if you want to start somewhere you should start with this. The co-creators of Welcome to Nightvale talk about making things/the artistic process. Every episode ends with 2 assignments, one thing to consume, and one to create.

Building Positive Culture:

Dare To Lead Brené Brown talking with other people about Leadership. Really interesting and inspiring conversations. Top recommendation is the episode with Simon Sinek.

A Bit of Optimism Simon Sinek talking with other people about working together to make a better world. Really interesting and inspiring conversations. Top recommendation is the episode with Brené Brown.

TED Worklife Organizational psychologist Adam Grant takes you inside the minds of some of the world’s most unusual professionals to explore the science of making work not suck. From learning how to love criticism to harnessing the power of frustration, one thing’s for sure: You’ll never see your job the same way again. Pretty new on my feed, but every episode I've listened to so far has been an absolute hit!

Interesting Stories/People:

TED Radio Hour TED talks, collated into similar subjects with extra stuff pulled out interview style. Good to search through the archives to find areas you're interested in, or just pick a random episode and dive in!

99% Invisible - 10,000 Years [person from work who I’m too lazy to edit out a reference to] has already recommended the podcast, but I want to throw in my favourite episode. It's about the challenge of trying to mark nuclear waste sites in a way that will last 10,000 years (for reference 10,000 years ago stone tools were a pretty neat invention) and is absolutely fascinating. https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/ten-thousand-years/

[themasked-trickster]

My Favorite Complete Fanfics

Fair Warning: a few of these are Explicit or Mature Ratings

Naruto

Silent Humanity by ShadowedAuthor

Rating: Teen

Fandom: Naruto and Harry Potter

Ships: None

Status: Complete

Synopsis: Sequel now up. After a surprise attack, Sabaku no Gaara is sent to a strange new world, injured and alone. Read as Gaara tries to survive whilst keeping his 'inner demons' at bay and endeavors to find a way home. No pairings.

Comments: This is probably in my top three fanfics. But it’s definitely the favorite of all the completed ones. The writing is so good and true to Gaara’s character. It’s hard to find good fics of Gaara and this is just so !!!!!! like i get excited about it just thinking of it. On top of that there’s an ongoing sequel which is just as good.

Crepuscular Rays by Cana_Puff

Rating: Teen

Fandom: Naruto

Ships: Shikanaru or Nara Shikamaru/Uzumaki Naruto

Status: Complete

Synopsis: It takes Shikamaru a little while to realise he's fallen in love. In comparison, it takes Naruto barely any time at all. But that's only after Shikamaru finds it in himself to confess in the first place.(A timeline of Shikamaru and his love for Naruto)

Comments: Oh man is this cute. You get to watch Shikamaru fall in love with Naruto and how things change and go on over time.

Genma Shiranui: Mother Hen Extraordinaire by Varmint

Rating: Teen

Fandom: Naruto

Ships: Gen but does imply possible future relationships

Status: Complete

Synopsis: Years later, Genma would look back on this first meeting with mixed emotions. But at the moment it happened, he just didn't feel right about leaving a kid outside in the rain... Genma adopts the Konoha 12 in every aspect but legal. Kakashi and Raidou tease him about being a fully fledged mother hen. The rest of the jounin don't dare mess with him though. The kids are too many and too dangerous to do so. Fluff and feels ahead!

Comments: Also super cute! A “For Want of a Nail” fic where Genma is everyone’s mom. Has a nice progression to adopting them all at separate times. It can be cute or angsty!

Backslide by Blackkat

Rating: Mature

Fandom: Naruto

Ships: Uchiha Sasuke/Uzumaki Naruto, Hatake Kakashi/Future!Naruto Uzumaki, Namiashi Raidou/Shiranui Genma, Platonic! Uzumaki Naruto/Uchiha Sasuke/Haruno Sakura

Status: Complete

Synopsis: Naruto’s friends are gone, his lover is dying, Konoha is destroyed, and Madara’s second return has pushed the entire world to the brink. Hunted and harried, Naruto is sent back in time to upend Madara’s plan before it even starts, and sets about changing everything. Butterfly effect nothing: the world is at stake, and Naruto is hardly about to let it fall to ruin once more. Not while he’s still breathing.

Comments: The Kakashi/Future!Naruto had me worried, but it’s treated as Future!Naruto and Naruto are completely different people. I do reread this fanfic a lot for the fun of it.

A Snake In the Grass, a Wolf At the Door by Blackkat

Rating: Mature

Fandom: Naruto

Ships: Hatake Sakumo/Orochimaru

Status: Complete

Synopsis: Orochimaru is on the edge of breaking when someone unexpected pulls him back to solid ground. When the time comes, he returns the favor.

Comments: A “For Want of a Nail” fic where Orochimaru doesn’t go crazy and betray the village. Super cute! This made me ship Orochimaru and Sakumo.

Reverse by Blackkat

Rating: Explicit

Fandom: Naruto

Ships: Hatake Kakashi/Kyuubi (Kurama), Umino Iruka/Utakata, Hoshigaki Kisame/Uchiha Obito, Uchiha Shisui/Yamato (Tenzou)

Status: Complete

Synopsis: To make a tragedy, you break something beautiful and frame the pieces. To make a victory, you break something mighty and rebuild it piece by piece. To make a life, you glue the pieces together and hope for the best. Kurama's still getting the hang of this ‘human’ thing, but given that he’s 30 years back in time with catastrophes to prevent and a blond brat to save, he’ll have to figure things out on the fly. Luckily, living with Naruto's been good for his ability to improvise, if nothing else.

Comments: As you can probably tell by now, “For Want of a Nail” fanfics are most of my favorites. Has Kurama trying to human while also keep everything from going horribly wrong.

Uprooted by Orrunan

Rating: K or General Audiences

Fandom: Naruto

Ships: Gen but has various crushes running around

Status: Complete

Synopsis: Naruto makes a good shinobi, but a lousy weapon. Danzo has finally managed to connive Naruto into Root, or so he believes. Naruto, who will now be within reach of his emotionally inept, traumatized, fanatical devotees. What on earth was he thinking?

Comments: “For Want of a Nail.” Various Ninja at different times realize they adore Naruto and have to save him. Naruto thinks it’s training and makes friends.

Come to the Sand Side (We Have Ramen) by PitchBlackMagpie

Rating: Teen

Fandom: Naruto

Ships: Background!Hatake Kakashi/Umino Iruka

Status: Complete

Synopsis: Naruto and Gaara hit it off after the chuunin exams, and a slight twist of fate leaves Naruto questioning whether he really has a place in Konoha or not. Gaara comes to miss his company, and comes up with a plan- a plan to lure Naruto to pledge his loyalties to Suna, where, according to the Sand Siblings, he really belongs. Featuring eventual Suna-nin!Naruto.

Comments: Does have the “Naruto isn’t actually as loud or dumb as he pretends” trope, but it’s only a little bit. Naruto gets a Found Family with the Sand Siblings. Also a “For Want of a Nail”

Hero Academia

Coffee Cans and Energy Drinks by MackIsMagic

Rating: Mature

Fandom: Boku no Hero Academia/My Hero Academia

Ships: Shinsou Hitoshi/Bakugou Katsuki

Status: Complete

Synopsis: Shinsou can never sleep, and Bakugou is always up early to run. Neither of them really expected... whatever they had to come out of Shinsou wanting to preserve the blissful silence that filled the campus at the crack of dawn by buying Bakugou an energy drink.

Comments: It’s the first part of a series! I had never imagined ShinBaku before but omg is it good. Pretty believable in universe and Shinsou has a blog!

U.A. Unsolved by kabukichou (ameliafromafairytale)

Rating: Teen

Fandom: Boku no Hero Academia/My Hero Academia

Ships: Gen

Status: Complete

Synopsis: "Hey there, ghosts," Midoriya says, "it's me, ya boy."The dorms are haunted. Shenanigans ensue.

Comments: It’s a spinoff fic for PitViperOfDoom’s fic Yesterday Upon the Stair, where Izuku sees dead people. Also a good fic and I’ll be putting it on my “Favorite Ongoing Fanfics” list

[artificialqueens]

Fright Night (BIAC! Spinoff Chapter) - Millie

A/N: Halloween is my favourite time of year, so of course I had to write something about it. This is set in the same universe is BIAC! but slightly further into the year on Halloween night.

Summary: Alaska invites Farrah, Aja, and the rest of the LGBT club to her house to fuck with some spirits.

“Aja, this is a bad idea,” Farrah whined on the way to Alaska’s house.

“It’s not a bad idea unless we get possessed or something,” Aja assured, to which Farrah responded with a look of horror. “Which we won’t.”

It was early Halloween evening, and the night was already pitch black. Since they were all too old for trick-or-treating (although Farrah insisted she looked young enough to still do it), Alaska had invited the LGBT club and Aja to her house instead. Alaska still had a load of Sharon’s belongings lying around, and decided on the amazing idea to use one of her old ouija boards. Not everyone was on board with the idea, but it was better than being stuck inside doing nothing.

“Why can’t we go and get free candy like the rest of the city?” Farrah questioned. “Or go to a party?”

“This is the real deal, babe,” Aja said.

“Aja, it’s scary,” she whined, and she sounded like she was on the verge of tears.

Aja stopped in her tracks and looked at her girlfriend, who wasn’t actually crying - she knew how to manipulate her voice to get what she wanted. Right now, that was for Aja to take pity on her and they’d go back to her house and watch a movie instead. She paired her tone with a stubborn pout.

Aja knew that look all too well.

“Hey, I’ll be there with you,” she assured. “Alaska knows her shit and so do I.”

“What if some demon or spirit or something kills me?!”

“That’s not gonna happen,” Aja said. “Now, can we please just get to Alaska’s house? Please? It’ll all be alright.”

Farrah rolled her eyes, but agreed. It would be better than standing out here in the freezing cold for any longer.

Soon enough, they made it to Alaska’s, who welcomed them both inside. She had cat whiskers drawn on her face with an eyeliner pencil and had a little headband with ears atop her head, clearly in the Halloween spirit.

The rest of the LGBT club were already there, sitting in a messy circle on the living room floor, surrounding a ouija board. Tall, lit candles were dotted around the room on shelves and the coffee table, and they were the only source of light in the room.

“Glass of blood?” Alaska offered menacingly. “Just kidding - it’s cherry Kool-Aid.” She held two glasses filled with deep red liquid and handed them to Aja and Farrah. Aja thanked her, while Farrah looked even more unnerved as she stared into the drink.

The three sat down, the others making room for them in the circle. They, too, had glasses of Kool-Aid, which were half finished. Aja took a sip of hers, and it tasted way less diluted than it should’ve been. Probably to get the colour so pigmented.

“Are you guys ready?” Alaska asked, setting her glass down next to her.

The group nodded, except Farrah, who just squeezed Aja’s arm. Aja gave her a reassuring smile, and mouthed the words, “It’ll be okay”.

“Okay, so,” Alaska began, “we all have to put our knees together, so cross your legs and move closer into the circle so they’re touching the person’s next to you.” The group followed accordingly. “Then, we each put a finger on the planchette-” she held it up for people to see, “-and move it around the board a couple times. Do not let go. I’ll ask the questions.”

Alaska put her finger on the planchette first, with Aja, Katya, and Trixie following suit. More tentatively, Derrick, Mac, and Nick put a finger on, with Farrah joining last.

“Now, move it around.” Alaska conducted the direction in which they moved it, and they went around the board several times, in slow circles. Finally, they stopped in the middle, and Alaska took a deep breath.

“Spirits - we call on you tonight and ask you to speak to us,” she said, closing her eyes and tipping her head back slightly. “Please, let us contact you.” She opened her eyes again and looked down at the board, pausing for a few seconds before speaking again. “Is there anyone there?”

Farrah’s knee shook against Aja’s, and her fingers rested tensely but lightly on top of the planchette. The scene looked like something out of a movie, where everything was bound to go wrong.

As if they were being controlled, it scraped over to the top left of the board with all their fingers still on it, landing on Yes. A couple of them gasped, and Farrah wailed quietly. A grin snaked its way onto Alaska’s lips.

The planchette moved erratically across the board between Yes and No, as if the spirit couldn’t decide on something. Aja wanted to stop it in its tracks, but she had no control over its movement.

Eventually, it came to a stop, and Aja felt her heartbeat in her ears. Even though she had experience with these things, they never failed to put her on edge.

“Can you tell us your name?” Alaska asked, her voice wavering. The piece under their fingers darted to No.

Then, there was another forceful move, but it didn’t feel supernatural. Alaska dragged the planchette down to Goodbye and ordered everyone to say it, and then take their fingers off together.

“What did you do that for?” Katya exclaimed. “I was just getting into it.”

“That one was boring,” she replied. “No name? Please, you’re not special.”

“Alaska,” Aja said through clenched teeth. “Don’t say that - it’s a bad idea to criticise spirits.”

The blonde took a long sip of her drink, silently mocking Aja’s fear. Sharon had always fucked with the spirits they contacted, messing around and taunting them until they acted out. Alaska was used to it; she knew what she was doing. Aja would stop worrying about it once she realised Alaska knew her stuff.

She put the glass down next to her. “We said goodbye,” she said. “We’re safe. Now, let’s go again-”

“Can’t we just watch a scary movie?” Farrah interrupted.

“Yeah,” Derrick agreed.

“Just one more?” Alaska suggested.

Aja rolled her eyes and sighed. “Go for it.”

Alaska smirked and repeated what she said the first time around once everyone’s fingers were resting on the planchette again. Finally, she finished with the same sentence, “Is there anyone there?”

The planchette shot being Yes and No again, slowly but with more aggression. Aja felt uneasiness in her stomach. Alaska had probably angered this mysterious spirit, and that normally didn’t end well.

“Now, will you tell us your name?” she asked again, sounding frustrated, but with playfulness in her tone.

No.

“Can you do something else for us?” she asked. “Like… show us you’re here.”

“Alaska, no!” Aja exclaimed, but firmly kept her finger in the same place. One of the most important rules (if you could call them that) when using a ouija board was to not tell spirits to show themselves. “It’ll be invited into our world.”

“It can stay the fuck away from our world,” Farrah said angrily.

“So, it could communicate with us like normal?” Trixie questioned. “Look, I’ve watched enough American Horror Story to know that that won’t end well.”

“We should stop doing this before something goes wrong,” Mac added.

Aja was about to speak up again in support, but not before the planchette began to move again. It shot to five different letters.

Q. U. I. E. T.

The group immediately shut up, and sat a still as they could. The room was filled with a deafening silence, and Aja could hear her heartbeat once again, and it thumped hard in her chest. Breathing was kept to a minimum, and she swore she could see her own turn into cold mist as if it were a freezing autumn day.

Softly at first, an electronic buzzing sound started above them. Everyone slowly tilted their heads up, careful not to make a sound, to see the lights beginning to turn on, seemingly by their own free will. As they got brighter, the buzzing became more intense, and soon enough the sight and sound were overpowering. Aja found herself shielding her eyes, but she just couldn’t look away.

Then, darkness. The bulbs exploded and glass rained down on them, causing a few of them to shriek. Immediately, the TV switched on, but all it showed was static.

“Alaska, we should quit it,” Aja said, removing tiny shards of glass from her hair with her one free hand. Alaska was silent, perplexed by her surroundings.

“Please, Lasky,” Farrah said, her voice wobbly. She clung on to Aja with her free hand.

The windows behind them swung open, picking up and tugging on the curtains so that they were flapping violently in the wind.

“Alaska!” Derrick shouted.

As if she was in a trance, she shook her head and looked back down at the board, moving towards the Goodbye once again. They all said the word in unison. The TV switched off so they were in darkness once again, and the wind seemed to die down a bit, so the curtains returned to their place.

Alaska let out a deep sigh of relief. “Well, that was a first,” she simply said.

“I thought you’d done this before?” Katya asked.

“I have,” she said. “But I’ve never seen a spirit react that way. Normally, they just make something swing and be done with it.”

Farrah loosened her grip on Aja’s arm.

“Right, I’ll clean up the glass,” Alaska said, sounding a little breathless. She got up from where she was sitting and went to hunt for a vacuum cleaner, while the rest of the group stayed where they were, utterly stunned.

“Maybe a movie would have been better…” Aja admitted.

[helloworlddemo1122-yahoopar-blog]

‘Project Runway’ Winners: Where Are They Now?

Project Runway has been a guilty pleasure for fans since 2009. After living on Bravo for five seasons, the show found a home on Lifetime, and so did the esteemed judges Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn, Nina Garcia and Zac Posen. 

Over 16 seasons, fashion designers from all over the globe have gotten the opportunity to find their voice, including designer Christian Siriano, who was just 22 years old when he won season four. Ashley Tipton was the first designer to use all plus-size models during season 14, and Kentaro Kameyama, the 38-year-old designer from Los Angeles, has been busy working on a new line since his win during the most recent season 16. 

After a bit of a hiatus, Project Runway will be returning to Bravo for season 17, with Klum returning as host. Although we don’t have a definitive premiere date just yet, it’s likely it will air this fall.

“Project Runway is coming back where it all started, it's coming home on Bravo," Andy Cohen announced during NBCUniversal’s upfront presentation last month. This is in addition to the Project Runway spinoff, Project Runway: All Stars, which has been renewed for a seventh season. 

While we wait for season 17 to grace our television screens, here's what the former winners have been up to since their last appearance on the show.  

Jay McCarroll, Season 1 McCarroll is known as one of the few Project Runway winners to never win a single challenge until the final runway show. After winning the show in 2005, he appeared on Project Jay, Eleven Minutes, and VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club. For a while, he was running a blog and online fashion boutique, but the site hasn’t been updated since 2014. He is still active on his Instagram page, though, with a bio stating, “I like colors and stuff.”

streamers. #streamers #confetti #mylar #celebration #sidewalk #happynewyear #color #multicolor #shimmer #shine #plastic #squiggle #squiggly #bushwick #brooklyn #ny #newyork

A post shared by Jay Mccarroll (@jaymccarroll) on Jan 14, 2018 at 12:26pm PST

Chloe Dao, Season 2 After winning season two of Project Runway, Dao went on to executive produce and judge the first season of Project Runway: Vietnam, which ran for three seasons starting in 2013. In 2008, she debuted her own line called DAO Chloe DAO, which is now a boutique in her hometown of Houston. She’s also active in Houston-area philanthropies including Susan G. Komen and the Salvation Army of Houston. 

Jeffrey Sebelia, Season 3 Sebelia was portrayed as somewhat of a villain on his season of Project Runway, and many fans were upset when he won. Since then, Sebelia has worked on multiple projects designing kids clothing. In 2013, he participated in Project Runway: All Stars, where he placed seventh out of 11 contestants. 

Christian Siriano, Season 4 Known as one of the most successful Project Runway winners, Siriano was also the youngest person to ever win the show. He launched his namesake “Christian Siriano” clothing line in 2008 and now regularly dresses some of the biggest names in Hollywood like Victoria Beckham, Taylor Swift, Rihanna and even Kim Kardashian West.  

When @kimkardashian looks reallllyyyyy stunning in a Siriano red silk coat for @vogueindia ❤️❤️❤️ #happyfriday #christiansiriano

A post shared by Christian Siriano (@csiriano) on Mar 2, 2018 at 11:46am PST

Leanne Marshall, Season 5 Marshall has had huge success since winning Project Runway in 2008. She's most notably known for her feminine wave-inspired collection in shades of turquoise and ivory, which impressed judges week after week. She launched her own bridal collection in 2011, which is carried in over 35 boutiques internationally and online.

Spring is coming... someday 🌸 #nottodaythough / beautiful @stephanie_danielle in our Lea #dress shot by @annaperevertaylo

A post shared by Leanne Marshall (@leannemarshallofficial) on Mar 18, 2018 at 7:32am PDT

Irina Shabayeva, Season 6 Following season six of Project Runway, Shabayeva developed couture collections of gowns and wedding dresses, as well as a lingerie line. She got sixth place on season three of Project Runway: All Stars in 2013 and even launched a bridal line exclusive at Kleinfeld’s in 2011. 

#tbt #tbs #nyfw #irinashabayevacouture @fgnyfw @tedgibson photo by @stevienaysayer

A post shared by I R I N A S H A B A Y E V A 🕊 (@irinashabayeva) on Mar 13, 2018 at 11:13am PDT

Seth Aaron Henderson, Season 7 Henderson was the first Project Runway contestant to win both a regular season of the show as well as season three of Project Runway: All Stars in 2014. He’s known for his sustainable designs using organic fabrics and recyclable plastic bottles, and even recently created a line of iPad covers for the brand Maroo. Last fall, he worked with the brand Feetz to release the first pair of 3D printed shoes.

@ProjectRunway winner @SethAaronPR7 launches custom-fit, 3D-printed shoes in collaboration with @FeetzShoes 👏👟 https://t.co/nzBAantDGQpic.twitter.com/8C6MroYyT1

— Electric Runway ⚡️ (@Electric_Runway) October 30, 2017

Gretchen Jones, Season 8 Jones may be the most controversial winner of Project Runway ever. She won after a heated debate between the judges, who eventually chose her over fan favorite Mondo Guerra. This year, she graduated with an MBA in fashion from the University of London College of Fashion. She’s spoken publicly at SXSW, Columbia School of Business and Princeton University, and has been featured in numerous fashion magazines like Refinery29 and Elle. 

Not casual Friday.

A post shared by gJ (@gretchen_jones) on Jun 1, 2018 at 10:04am PDT

Anya Ayoung-Chee, Season 9 Ayoung-Chee has launched both a boutique, Exhibit A, and a lingerie line, Anya de Rouge, since winning season nine of Project Runway, and even worked with Gunn on the reality show Under the Gunn in 2014 to mentor other designers. In her spare time, she’s also a travel ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago, where she currently lives.

Consistently in awe of the beauty of this country, and in despair over its struggle to find peace. . 📷: @wyattgallery

A post shared by A N Y A A Y O U N G C H E E (@anyaayoungchee) on Sep 30, 2017 at 5:02pm PDT

Dmitry Sholokhov, Season 10 Sholokhov won season 10 of Project Runway as well as season four of Project Runway: All Stars. Since then, he has worked as an instructor at the Parsons School of Design (his alma mater) and has his own label, where he creates high-fashion yet wearable designs. 

Love this set🔮#marieclairemagazine #tbt #dmitrysholokhov #collection #designer #fashion #style #design #model #photoshoot #loreal #nyc

A post shared by Dmitry Sholokhov (@dmitrysholokhov) on May 17, 2018 at 9:07am PDT

Michelle Lesniak, Season 11 Season 11 of Project Runway gave Michelle Lesniak the opportunity of a lifetime. Despite her lack of formal training, her daring looks gave her an edge in the competition. She now lives and works in Portland, Oregon, and has a studio in the city, where she does clothing and costume design, called Michelle Lesniak Boutique. 

365 day dress. Day two. 70's shag carpet inspiration. #365daydress #pdx #pdxnow #costumedesign

A post shared by Michelle Lesniak (@michelleiswell) on Jan 3, 2018 at 11:44am PST

Dom Streater, Season 12 After Streater won both season 12 of Project Runway and season five of Project Runway: All Stars, she returned to Philadelphia to focus on her designs, launching an online-only womenswear brand. She was even named one of Nicole Miller’s "Most Fashionable Women of Philadelphia."

Sean Kelly, Season 13 Kelly's iconic color-changing dress for the "Rain" challenge helped him win season 13 of Project Runway. Gunn even called Kelly his favorite contestant by the time the season came to an end, so that’s a win in and of itself. Now, the New Zealand-born designer lives in New York City and has designed for clients like Klum and been featured in Marie Claire magazine. 

Ashley Nell Tipton, Season 14 Tipton was the first contestant on Project Runway to win by using all plus-size models. “This industry puts a bad view on plus-size women and the way we dress, and it’s because we don’t have options,” she told Buzzfeed during her season. Following her win in 2015, she designed a line with JCPenney and last fall launched her own plus-size line of apparel and eyewear called the ANT Premier Line. 

Pairing the old with the new. Yellow lace tank from my collection with JC Penny a couple seasons ago and the cutest wide legged pants from @forever21plus 💛

A post shared by Ashley Nell Tipton (@ashleynelltipton) on May 31, 2018 at 6:47am PDT

Erin Robertson, Season 15 An alum of Massachusetts College of Art and Design, with a degree in both fashion and fiber art, Robertson returned to Boston following her Project Runway win and now has a studio space in the city, where she still designs. 

One way to get over seasonal depression is to make summer clothes! Getting ready for a pop up shop happening April 5th at @dewolfe_leather_goods shop on Newbury St! Wiiiiiiiuuuu pic by my lil raspberry @chloeagnesl

A post shared by Erin Robertson (@an_erin) on Mar 16, 2018 at 9:06am PDT

Kentaro Kameyama, Season 16 In a surprising finish to season 16, Kameyama pulled out a win, shocking even the most stone-faced Project Runway judges. Posen went so far as to say that Kameyama “knocked his socks off.” Known for his expertly tailored clothing, the classically trained pianist even had his models walk to one of his original scores during the final show. Now, he’s living in Los Angeles and perfecting his new collection that premiered during Fashion Week earlier this year. 

#NYFW #mewyork #designerkentaro @hayleysforsblom

A post shared by Kentaro (@kentarokameyama) on Feb 16, 2018 at 12:04am PST

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