#beautiful new frontier (evan)

[moondal514]

Reading Recap March 2025

I had an interesting variety going on this month lol, but notably I apparently decided to return to reading stuff in the Asian American department and be emo about my Asian Americanness (which is funny because Asian American month is supposed to be next month). I also started reading yaoi manga again for some reason, which I haven’t done since the last time 34 Felonies was in office so you know shit is dire 💀. Between the Asian American literature, the yaoi manga, the Greek Mythology retellings, and the one cringe YA book, it looks like I’m back on my high school reading habits

The Charioteer, Mary Renault

Took me over 6 months but I’ve finally finished it. I was really excited to read a Renault book because everything I had seen about her writing secondhand made her sound incredibly up my alley. I started with this book because it was what the bookstore I was in at the time had. Needless to say, I was disappointed. This book was incredibly boring for me and you can tell because it took me months to read rather than my usual 1-2 days 😂. I just couldn’t care about the characters at all. They inspired 0 emotion in me. Renault’s writing is beautiful though, which is why I finished the book even though I didn’t vibe with it

Disorientation, Elaine Hsieh Chou

I read this one because it was advertised to me as “better Babel” and “for fans of Charles Yu’s Interior Chinatown.” Unfortunately that was false advertising. The first third of the book is hilarious, but then it devolves into being kind of cringey and ridiculous in a tedious sort of way. Ingrid was funny at first, but she quickly grew very tiring for me, and the rest of the characters were not compelling at all, just caricatures that were too shallow even for the satire this book is supposed to be. My overall feelings on this book are an emphatic “meh,” which is disappointing because I wanted to like it

Maiden Rose, Fusanosuke Inariya trans. Digital Manga Publishing

I think this is the first classic yaoi manga I’ve read since high school lol, but what can I say, I saw this tumblr post and I was compelled 😂. I was promised complicated relationships with absolutely fucked convoluted power dynamics and well, that is what’s going on here but it feels like a massive understatement for me to say that. It’s very 2000s rapey yaoi but it’s doing something very interesting with that fact that it is 2000s rapey yaoi. In the words of tumblr user grumfy, “everything in Maiden Rose is sex except sex which is war and violence”. An absolutely fascinating read that I enjoyed a lot more than I expected

Soft Star Magazine, Issue Five: Frontier

Lit mag that centers around mostly optimistic sci-fi, futurism, and speculative fiction. While I am a lover of doom and gloom and dystopias in my fiction, it’s nice to step back and read stories with more hopeful endings sometimes (a rare find, I feel like, in literary magazines in general lol, but maybe I’m just looking in the wrong places), and I very much enjoyed reading the stories here. My favorites include “The Calf” by Olivia Evans, “A Destiny Low and Winding” by Ire Coburn, “The Necessity of Anarchistic Transhumanism” by Casey Aimer, and “journey through the afterworld” by Katrina Lemaire

Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning, Cathy Park Hong

The book to read when you want to get supremely emo about being Korean American, I guess. Definitely a book that I would recommend for non-Asian Americans in general. However, maybe it’s because I’ve read lots of Asian American literature already or maybe it’s because I’m Asian American myself, but I just felt that there was nothing new here. It just felt very “introducing an ignorant white person to Asian American struggles,” you know? I was actually kind of insulted by the way that Hong, even as she acknowledges that there’s no such thing as a monolithic “Asian American” experience, makes these sweeping generalized statements as though these are things that are true for every Asian American. Still, Hong’s writing is beautiful. This book is emotionally hard-hitting and I came out of reading it wanting to cry. I had…not exactly a nice reading experience, but a fulfilling one nonetheless

Shinyuutte Soko Made Shinakucha Ikenai no?, Seika trans. iianes

Aka the prostate manga. I found out about this manga through tumblr and let me just say I was incredibly entertained. What I love about it is how committed to the bit it is, if that makes sense. Like this manga knows what genre it is and is self-aware about it, but it commits itself to it wholeheartedly and that’s what makes me like it. It’s hitting all the good emotional beats of sports media, yaoi manga, and a best friends-to-lovers story and overall is very heartwarming. Sometimes all you need for a good story is a total porn set-up of your best friend having a medical condition that can apparently only be viably treated by massaging his prostate if you want to save his sports career

Los Reyes, Julio Cortázar trans. Caridad Svich

A retelling of Theseus and the Minotaur done in poetic play format. This is the first Greek mythology retelling I’ve read in a while that I’ve actually liked. Obligatory I read a translation disclaimer so I have no idea how this reads in its original Spanish, but I found this play to be gorgeously written. The lines for each character are just so good, every one is hit after hit. I love the way the characters’ roles have been switched almost from the roles they traditionally occupy in the myth. Really well done

Ithaca, Claire North

Even though most of the newer Greek mythology retellings I've attempted to read over the past few years have left me like 🤨, I’m still a complete sucker for them and keep trying to read them anyways. So here I am attempting yet another one. The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August is one of my favorite books of all time, so I picked this one up thinking I could trust Ms. North. And to some extent I was right to because I didn’t hate this book, though I didn’t love it either. North is a lovely writer. I quite liked her portrayal of Penelope. However, I really really hate what North has done with Telemachus and his relationship with Penelope. Like I get what she is trying to do (blah blah blah mirror with Clytemnestra and her children and mother-son relationships complicated by structural misogyny blah blah blah) but all I could think was “ooc” 😂. I also think the choice of using Hera as the narrator hurts the book overall, as while she is fun as an unreliable narrator, she makes the narration come across as very inconsistent. One chapter it feels like a grand sweeping epic, and then in the next it feels like real housewives of Ancient Greece and the whiplash is unpleasant. Overall, a solidly mid read that did leave me curious about the sequels, but I’m not in a hurry to read them

The Book of Goose, Yiyun Li

I saw a post on tumblr calling this book “the world’s most psychologically devastating queer love story” and so I knew I had to check it out. And god they weren’t kidding. What a gorgeous book! Some of the most beautiful writing I’ve ever read in my life. If some books are junk food and some books are like eating your vegetables (and I think this is represented well in my reading list this month), this book is the best meal you’ve ever had in your life. The kind of meal that has you still daydreaming about it years later. I was vibrating from the very first page and sort of blacked out and next thing I knew I had finished the book. Best usage of the apples and oranges metaphor ever. I can’t remember the last time I thought a book was this good. Can’t relate to the online reviewers that somehow didn’t get the memo on the obviously queer nature of Agnès and Fabienne’s relationship (I don’t know how much clearer you can get than “I don’t think we want husbands or children” or “You want us to live together, happily, to a hundred years old”) but that’s besides the point. This is my new favorite book and I’m going to be so annoying about it

Conclave, Robert Harris

I peer-pressured my best friend into seeing the movie with me, so I could see it again but in an actual theater this time, and it awakened in me the desire to read the book. It does kind of read like an airport book, like if it wasn’t for the movie I only would’ve picked up this book if I was very bored and trapped in an airport for hours. This is probably one of the few times where I’ve read a book after seeing the movie and I’m actually glad I saw the movie first. Not the greatest piece of literature I’ve ever read in my life, but I was entertained. Lawrence/Lomeli is a sad old man I always find fun to watch, no matter the medium, and I did enjoy reading the extra details about the characters’ backgrounds that either couldn’t make it into the movie or were changed

Mahou Shoujo Oriko Magica, Magica Quartet and Mura Kuroe trans. Yurikai

(Please ignore that I am almost 15 years late to the Madoka Magica party lol). I didn’t like this one at all. The new characters and the themes the story attempts are interesting, but the pacing is terrible and I absolutely hate the art style. I couldn’t even recognize the characters from the og anime that appeared in the story by appearance alone (Homura especially, oh the mangaka did her character design so dirty). Interesting concept, terrible execution

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder, David Grann

Based on what I’ve heard about Grann’s writing, I kind of thought this would read more like historical fiction rather than a textbook, so I was disappointed by how dry this book is. I do have a degree in history, so I’ve done my fair share of dry reading, but in this case I was extremely bored. It’s frustrating to me that this book was so boring because it could’ve very much not have been (it’s a shipwreck! How could you make a shipwreck boring?), but instead I felt like Grann was presenting to me a book report rather than drawing any kind of interesting conclusions

The Glory of the Empire, Jean D’Ormesson trans. Barbara Bray

A fake history book is exactly my definition of a fun time. I respect the amount of detail that goes into this book on like a worldbuilding level, like it totally reads like a glimpse of a history book from an alternate universe. I had fun with it, though I did find parts of it boring and tedious and the orientalism did get a little much for me (though I did expect it given that this is a book written by a white French man in the 1970s doing a pastiche of Gibbon’s The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire)

Crying In H Mart, Michelle Zauner

I’m late to the party on this book, like my regular H Mart has long since stopped playing Michelle Zauner 먹방 ads, but I had to wait until I was in the right state of mind to attempt it. I knew this book would be a difficult read for me because I knew it would feel very personal. I’ve never read something where the narrator is a fellow half-Korean American before and I definitely feel weird about it. Unsurprisingly this book made me incredibly sad in a very personal kind of way, and I struggled to read it as a result. It also gave me mad 자장면 and 냉면 cravings and a desire to try 잣죽. Similarly to Minor Feelings, I would say my experience reading this book wasn’t fun but I’m glad I did it

Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë

Can you believe I call myself a gothic fiction fan and yet somehow I have never read this book until now. My desire to read this book is actually what motivated me to finally renew my library card in the first place (and then in typical me fashion I didn’t actually get around to reading the actual book until years later lol). When I read classics, my reaction is usually either “wow this really is as good as they say” or “boring.” In this case I fall on the side of “really as good as they say.” The og unreliable narrator toxic gothic romance indeed. I have to admire at the way every single thing in this book, from the setting, to the characters, to the social structures, to the houses themselves, is designed to make these two families as miserable as possible

Devil Number 4, jangjin and woombeee trans. Webtoon

I haven’t read a webtoon in literal years but the tumblr posts I saw about this one compelled me. The first 30 chapters or so were basic and almost boring enough to make me put it down, but then the story got quite good and headed in a direction I didn’t expect. I very much like the aroace-spec and genderqueer energy of the side characters and the role such things play in their conflict against god. The main character, Hanna, at first didn’t appeal to me because she seemed a very typical webtoon heroine, but she really grew on me and I loved her by the end. I also ended up being won over by the romance, which I didn’t expect to be given how I was groaning about it in the beginning. With that said, for me the side characters were definitely the star of the show. Mika, Peace, and No.2 were my favorites and I’m out here emotional over them (justice for No.2 😭)

It Came From the Closet: Queer Reflections On Horror, ed. Joe Vallese

Kind of a weird thing for me to read given that I’m not a fan of horror movies myself, but I stumbled into one of the essays in this collection on tumblr and I was intrigued. I very much liked the weaving together of personal narratives with the horror movies and the queer analyses of movies I wouldn’t think to think of as queer on my own, though I think these elements were better incorporated together in some essays more than others. I’m also kind of disappointed there weren’t any essays centered on an aro or ace-spec perspective, but you can’t have it all. My favorites include “Both Ways” by Carmen Maria Machado, “Twin/Skin” by Addie Tsai, “Blood, Actually” by Grant Sutton, and “Black Body Snatchers” by Samuel Autman

The Red Palace, June Hur

I gave this book a home on my shelf for years and it betrayed me by being bad 😔. Read the first couple of chapters of this one two years ago, put it down because I got bored, then finished it this month. You’d think I’d know better than to take book recs from my Instagram algorithm but college me was still naive and hopeful I guess. I found the book boring and possessing an over-reliance on telling rather than showing. The mystery was unfortunately very obvious to me and I figured it out within the first 5 chapters. With that said, I’m a fan of the setting and I did like the themes explored in the book, particularly those about difficult fathers and the conflicts of filial obligations of revenge. I also think Hur has accidentally created in Baekhyeon a character that wants to be forcemasced so bad (but that might just be my own interpretation 😂). And while I didn’t like this book, I should acknowledge that I’m probably not in the age range of its intended audience. I probably would’ve eaten it up had it come out when I was in middle school

Wednesday’s Child, Yiyun Li

My second Yiyun Li book this month and I think she is on her way to becoming my favorite writer. What a stunning and beautiful short story collection. The first short story collection I’ve read where I’ve felt that every single story in it, top to bottom, is excellent. Really top tier quality writing and gorgeous prose. My favorites include “Wednesday’s Child,” “A Small Flame,” “A Flawless Silence,” and “When We Were Happy We Had Other Names”

Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments: Intimate Histories of Riotous Black Girls, Troublesome Women, and Queer Radicals, Saidiya Hartman

I read excerpts from this book for my historiography class in college, and I liked what I read enough to put this book on my tbr, which of course meant that I didn’t get around to reading it until 3 years later 😂. Hartman is without question a wonderful writer and I found this book to be beautifully written. However, this book is quite controversial in the historian community because of the way Hartman toes the line of historical fiction, and I have to say I agree with those critiques. While the women Hartman writes of all existed, she makes sweeping assumptions about them for which there exist no documentation to support, so as a result it’s basically rpf. The stories Hartman documents here are important and should be told, but I’m not sure it’s entirely appropriate to do so this way and call it nonfiction (but then again, there exist many stories in the nonfiction realm that don’t, in my opinion, qualify to be there, and I think this book is much more qualified than those). Regardless, I very much liked this book and I think it should be required reading for anyone that wants to read about this time period in history in the US

Go Home!, ed. Rowan Hisayo Buchanan

In my senior year of high school, I had a whole moment where I was reading anthology stories by Asian American writers in search for a specific kind of solidarity I didn’t know I was searching for. In reading this collection, I kind of felt like I was replicating that high school experience again. I got quite in my feelings about being Asian American as a result (but what else is new lmao). My favorites include “Release” by Alexander Chee, “कालापानी” by Rajiv Mohabir, “The Unintended” by Gina Apostol, and “Elegy” by Esmé Weijun Wang

Weight, Jeanette Winterson

Back at it again with the mythology retellings. I quite liked this one actually. It’s beautifully written. I loved the connections drawn between Atlas and Winterson herself and the extending of the myth into present day with explorations in space (space metaphors my beloved). I did, however, feel like there was way more focus on Heracles’s dick than I wanted (sometimes the writing verged on “dicked dickly down the stairs” territory for him 😂), and I can’t decide how to feel about the weird Freudian hate sexual tension going on between him and Hera. I also couldn’t get rid of the sense that this story thinks it’s deeper than it actually is. But regardless, I enjoyed reading it

Amulet: The Stonekeeper, Kazu Kibuishi

Throwback to my childhood. I just learned that this series was completed so I decided to do a mass reread because I don’t remember shit (for example: I forgot their dad gets fridged in the prologue 😂). This volume in particular makes me so nostalgic because this is a series I used to read with my little brother. The art style really evolves as the series goes on, so to see the initial style kind of feels like whiplash, but the mystery built up in this first volume is excellent and it really kicks off the story. This volume reads as so much more ominous reading it as an adult lol. I also forgot that Trellis’s initial design is so freaky (I’m kind of more into it than what his design morphs into later but I get why Kibuishi didn’t stick with it because you can’t have your secondary protagonist looking that scary 😂). Honestly I think this is one holds up pretty well even outside the veneer of nostalgia

Amulet: The Stonekeeper’s Curse, Kazu Kibuishi

This is when I start to feel like I might be too old to read this because the pacing feels kind of too fast for my taste and the dialogue can be kind of cringe 😂. Still, the worldbuilding in this series is so fun. I love the fantasy steampunk vibes, the way there’s a city with a curse that’s slowly turning people into animals and the people are all furries and chill with it, and the way that it’s normal in this world for people to travel via giant walking robot house

Amulet: The Cloud Searchers, Kazu Kibuishi

I’m increasingly feeling too old for this series 😂. The pacing is still kind of too fast for my taste and I’m honestly completely baffled by Karen (my girl is way too chill about the fact that her kids have basically been drafted into being chosen to lead a revolution on the basis of their blood relationship to her father while she was kidnapped by a monster and poisoned. And the fact that her daughter is literally at risk of being corrupted by the evil amulet). But there are a lot intriguing twists and reveals happening here, so I’m still hooked. I also still really love the setting of this series so much, it’s so fun (flying ships!!!! A rabbit robot!!!!! Walking and talking animals!!!! Sky eels!!!!)

Amulet: The Last Council, Kazu Kibuishi

We’re now in the Maze Runner portion of the series lmao. The reveals continue to be intriguing but I dunno, overall I feel kind of meh about this volume in particular, which I don’t remember feeling when I was a kid. I think it’s a pacing problem. I wanted to spend more time in the creepy puppet city and see Emily really form some bonds with these new characters so that their betrayals could be more dramatic and emotionally hitting. But I’m not the age of the intended audience of this series and baby me liked it just fine, so what do I know 😂

[parkerbombshell]

Rules Free Radio Sept 19 2023

Tuesdays 2pm - 5pm  EST Rules Free Radio With Steve  Caplan bombshellradio.com On the next Rules Free Radio with Steve Caplan, we'll check out new and recent music by Wilco, The Coral, The National, Jonathan Wilson, William Matheny, Geoff Palmer, a new release of The Doors live in 1967, Soft Science, Hiss Golden Messenger, Courtney Barnett, Sparklehorse, Low Cut Connie, Geoff Palmer, Sparklehorse, British singer-songwriter Chris Brain, new Jazz by Joel Haynes Trio, Yussef Dayes, and cellist Camille Thomas plus few more. Classics from The Moody Blues, Link Wray, Love, Wayne Shorter, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, The Go-Betweens, and a bunch of music that falls somewhere in between new and classic. On the next session of Rules Free Radio with Steve Caplan, in the new and recent release department, we’ve got Brian Setzer, Swansea Sound, The National, Horror on The Frontier, Roxanne Fontana, Nation of Language, Darlingside, Chris Brain, Luluc, the late trumpeter Jaimie Branch, Corrine Bailey Rae, and others. We’ll start the second hour with Blues doing an album spotlight on the new Live in London by the extraordinary young guitarist and singer-songwriter, Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram. We'll hear many classics including, Little Richard, Roger McGuinn, Laura Nyro, Booker T and The MGs, Larry Williams, The Ramones, The Cramps, Etta James, Bill Evans, Buddy Montgomery, The Jam, and a bunch more. Brian Setzer - She's Got a Lottasoul Jeff Beck - Peter Gunn Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames - Walking The Dog Booker T. & The MG's - Aw, Mercy Immaterial Possession - Current in the Room The Doors - Soul Kitchen Eszter Balint - Freaks Swansea Sound - Twentieth Century The Jam - David Watts Helen Love - Leader of the Band The Pills - Hollywood Doll Heinz - Just Like Eddie The Ramones - Sheena Is A Punk Rocker Brian Setzer - A Dudell Do (What a Dudell Do) The Cramps - Trapped Love Joe Cocker - I'll Cry Instead Larry Williams - Oh Baby Little Richard - Slippin' and Slidin' Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram - She Calls Me Kingfish Coco Montoya - Natural Born Love Machine Etta James - The Blues Is My Business Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram - Not Gonna Lie Buffalo Nichols - The Fatalist Blues Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram - Been Here Before Horror On The Frontier - Southern Witches Roger McGuinn & Tom Petty - King of the Hill The Cleaners From Venus - The Beautiful Stoned The Smithereens - Blood & Roses s Roxanne Fontana - Don't Leave Me The national - Turn Off The House Nation of Language - Too Much, Enough Woods - Double Dream Luluc - Evermore Darlingside - Can't Help Falling Apart Chris Brain - Golden Days Mitski - Heaven Joshua Redman w/ Gabrielle Cavassa - Chicago Blues Buddy Montgomery - Expressions In Blue Jaimie Branch - Borealis Dancing Bill Evans - Blue In Green (Take 3) Buddy Rich - Here’s That Rainy Day Corinne Bailey Rae - Peach Velvet Sky Laura Nyro - Brown Earth Read the full article

[bladeshowers]

souls-of-arcadia​:

He had to blink a few times before he realized she had interpreted his words in a very different context than he had intended, though that wasn’t so unusual between them and while it threw him off quite often, the perspective her different worldview gave him was its own challenge and he enjoyed intellectual puzzles almost as much as he enjoyed a worthy opponent in battle. That she wasn’t intending to hand him said puzzles didn’t matter.

“I mean that I should not be able to want such a thing.” He clarified. “My late and unlamented father took great pains to expunge such sentiments from my capacity to experience. It is….intriguing to find that he was unsuccessful in the end.” Though he wasn’t sure how he felt about it, given such sentiment was a weakness. Though….she was already his weakness. He’d realized that after walking away from the Elezen girl in Garlemald, her words echoing in his mind until he had to acknowledge and accept them or be driven mad from it.

He did have to quirk a brow at her next words however and his lip twitched in amusement. He wasn’t oblivious to innuendo even if he tended to ignore it, as sex was not an entertaining exercise for him. Perhaps as in other things she would prove the exception to the rule, but he didn’t feel any push to find out. “Poor tiny savage.” He teased instead. “Not that you seem to mind our size difference, given your chosen perches upon my person.”

Whatever anger that had incited her quickly died down upon his clarification. Her ears drooped slightly as she listened to him and her tail hung unmoving. "Surely it's a good thing? To be robbed of your individuality, emotions, and what not is essentially preventing you from living your own life. At least from my point of view." From what little she knew of Zenos it didn't sound as though he'd had a pleasant upbringing. Not that it was too surprising, but she didn't like that her assumption was proven fact.

Evan flushed darkly at his words and his inflection upon saying them. "Don't call me that!" She thwapped him gently on the shoulder. "I have a name you know and it's not tiny savage!" He was going to stick with that one now, wasn't he? Wait. Did he even know her name? Surely he had to. He couldn't be this far up her arse without knowing that information, right? "Of course not! You make a comfortable perch.” Her tail flicked indignantly.

[aefward]

Tank, Rag & Bone; jacket, Isabel Marant Étoile; shorts, AGOLDE; belt, Isabel Marant. 

Photography by David Luraschi, Styling by Helen Broadfoot, Art direction by Phil Buckingham, Hair by Amber Duarte at Atelier Management, Make-up by Homa Safar using Chanel Beauty, Fashion assistant: Annie Hertikova, Production by Rachael Evans, Anarchy Films Inc., Maddie Varnedoe, Giorgio Tsintoukidis-Dirkx, Mariah Morgenstern, Model: Vivienne Rohner at The Squad Management.

[autumnleaves1991-blog]

Day 21: You, again- Max Phillips

Day 21: You, again - Max Phillips 

Pairing: Max Phillips x Reader 

Warning: Cursing 18 + 

A/N: This story was requested by @phoenixhalliwell​ who is one of my favorite people I talk to on Tumblr. She writes some fantastic Triple Frontier stuff so check it out! Also, this is my first time writing for Max Phillips so I hope you enjoy! 

November Writing Challenge Masterlist 

Day 20: Hello - Poe Dameron 

Monday 

“Ugh!” you shout kicking towards the copier. 

“You know if you break it you gotta buy it, sweetheart,” you jump half a foot in the air before turning around gasping at the smirking face of Max Phillips, your boss. 

“FUCK! You scared the shit out of me! I didn’t even hear you come up behind me!” 

“Oh, no are you ok pumpkin?” Oh how much you hated the pet names. 

You roll your eyes before turning back to the infuriating machine, “I’m fine,” you grind your teeth doing your best to ignore him. It was only too much of a wish for him to leave you alone. 

He leans against the copier and smirks at you, “So I was wondering about dinne-” 

“Listen here Mr. Phillips, I am not interested in anything you are offering. So if you could kindly fuck off that would be great, thank you.” 

He pouts, before crossing his arms over his chest, “you know I could fire you for talking to me like th-” 

You cut him off again grabbing your finished copies and facing him, “But you won’t because then you would lose your best salesman and the company would plummet.” You walk away tightly holding your papers to your chest and returning to your desk. Leaving a gaping Max Phillips behind. 

Tuesday

You bob your head along to the music playing from the small speaker at your desk. Fully concentrating on finishing the proposal for Friday when you feel the presence of someone standing behind you. 

You slowly turn in your chair and see Max Phillips creeping over your shoulder at your computer. 

“AHH!” you scream, “You fucking asshole why do you insist on sneaking up on me!” 

He raises his hands in mock surrender, before lowering them. His signature smirk gracing his lips, “I’m not sneaking up on you sweet-cheeks, can I help it if you’re not observant of your surroundings?” 

You scoff rolling away from him. He leans down closer and you can feel his breath against your neck. “I brought you something,” he says quietly. Placing a small white box on your desk. 

You stop typing momentarily before you hesitantly reach for the box. Fully expecting something to jump out at you. You place the lid of the box aside and look puzzled at a new pair of purple earbuds. Yours had broken last week when stupid Evan wasn’t looking where he was going and crushed yours. 

“Purple’s my favorite color...how did yo-” You look around but he’s gone. No trace of Max at all. You tentatively plug them into the small speaker still half expecting them to blow up and when they don’t you place them in your ears. These were a lot nicer than your last ones. Interesting.

Wednesday 

Lunchtime. The one time a day you can escape the freezing office and get some peace. You had made it a habit over the past few months since Max’s arrival to eat in your car with the heat on so you can finally escape the chill. 

You look in the fridge for your lunchbox but it’s gone. You take out every single bag from the fridge before replacing them. Some fucker took your lunch! You stalk like a cheetah throughout the cubicles before you land upon Tim. Who is greedily eating up your Philly cheesesteak leftovers from the night before as he watches cartoons on youtube. 

“Are you fucking serious?!” you shout startling him, “You took my lunch! Why don’t you just eat your own!?” 

“Oh shit, hmm I can explain...oh fuck… I was just so hungry and it was just there. Your not mad right?” he stutters. 

You can feel your blood pressure rise and reach around him to grab your lunchbox, smacking him upside the head with it before storming out. When you reach your car you note the time and scream knowing you don’t have enough time to go get something. Your head hits the steering wheel and you scream again. 

Suddenly a knock sounds from your passenger window and you jump. Looking up into the slightly concerned eyes of your boss. You put a hand to your chest before putting down the window on the right, “I swear to god I think you are trying to murder me by scaring me to death!” 

“Unlock the door,” he tells you and at this point, you can’t think of a good reason not to. 

You click the button and the door unlocks. Max gets in with a loud rustling sound, closing the door behind him. “For the record cupcake, if I wanted to murder you, you would know. No, I saw you in the fridge hunting for food and decided to be a nice boss for once and bring you lunch, you like empanadas right?” 

You look at him like he’s grown an extra head before nodding, “Yes…? They’re my favorite food...how did yo-”

He hands you the container and tucks into the other one himself. Neither of you saying anything. When the clock strikes 11:25 you clean up the small mess you made and lock eyes with Max. His food sits half-eaten in the box and he’s just staring at you. 

“You’re beautiful,” he whispers but it’s so low your not sure you heard him right.

“What?” you ask.

“I said you’re a mess, here,” he hands you a napkin and you wipe your face. 

“Thank you...for everything,” you tell him smiling softly. 

“Can’t have my best employee starve to death can I?” he takes the containers from your hands before getting out of the car. Leaving you alone with your thoughts. Curious. 

Thursday 

Thirsty Thursday with your old college buddies tonight you decide to dress up for work. Wearing a deep blood red halter dress that stops just above your knees, a black cardigan, and black kitten heels. You can’t help but admire your reflection in the metal walls of the elevator. 

All-day you’d received compliments and it felt damn good but someone was surprisingly absent. The only trace of him you had seen all day was a still-warm guava and cheese empanada on your desk with a note. 

You look ravishing, kitten.

You blush before tucking the note safely into your clutch. When the day finally ends you confidently stalk past his office and you’re disappointed to see it dark. Its occupant already long gone for the day. You shrug, oh well. At least today you didn’t get the shit scared out of you again. 

At the club, your friends are well on their way to being drunk and you take two shots to try to catch up. “LET’S DANCE!” they cheer pulling you toward the lights of the dance-floor. 

You bump, grind, and groove to the music and the liquor flows freely until you find yourself more relaxed than you had been all week. “SHOTS!” your friend shouts heading back over to the table but you’re lost in the rhythm of the music and shout back that you’re staying. 

It only takes a moment before hands snake around your waist and pulls you flush with someone’s back. You gasp when you feel the freezing cold hands pull you tight, and someone’s breath in your ear. “Hi baby,” he whispers in your ear and you melt. Turning around in his arms. 

“You, again. What have I told you about scaring me?” you scoff but don’t move away, taking a step closer. 

He moves his hands up and pushes your hair behind your ears, his hands running down your neck and holding you. His thumbs lazily caressing your cheeks, “it’s not my fault your unobservant of your surroundings doll. But, also I like to keep you on your toes. Always waiting for me to show up. I know you missed me today. I saw you saunter that sweet body past my office before you left...you wanted me to see you.” 

Your cheeks heat and you let out a small puff of air...ah fuck it. 

Closing the distance between you and kissing him softly. You bring your hands up and mess up his perfect hair before he opens to you. He tastes like peppermint and a slight coppery tang and you feel consumed by him. Despite how cold he is you are burning alive. All your senses heightened and you lose yourself in him. The crowded club is gone until it’s only you and him. 

When you finally break to breathe he pulls you close and traces his hands slowly over your curves. “I’ve been wanting to do that for months,” he whispers in your ear, “but every time I got close enough...you would scream and curse at me. Kind of ruined the mood…” 

You laugh and hug him tightly before kissing him again, “Do you want to get out of here?”

“Oh fuck yes,” he pulls you towards the door, out of the club, and towards a new tomorrow. 

Day 22: Distorted Sounds 

Taglist: @josepedropascal​ 

If you want to be added to my tag list let me know! 

[artemiseamoon]

Welcome! I’m Arte.

Treat me to a Ko-fi  🎁 | Moi ☀️ | A03

Writing occasionally and ONLY on A03 as of 2023

Just some stuff and thangs:

This is an adult 18+ blog, minors go away, you will be blocked. So will haters, racists, and assholes.

Requests and taglists CLOSED permanently as of 2023!

Anon closed as of March 2025. Not sure when or if I will open it again.

No one has permission not copy, repost, or post my work anywhere!!!

My update news blog is: @artemiseamoon-updates (I don't use it all the time)

Reblogs: I mainly use RB accounts for my reading list and to support others. Depending on what I’m sharing, it goes to at least one of these: @artesreadinglist @arte-is-now-reading

Older stuff needs work and editing! Ignore the madness. New & improved edits of works will ONLY go to A03

Some things are ONLY on A03 and will not be added here.

My A03 is also under some construction with goals of getting it all organized better by the end of this year.

Shows, Fandoms, Movies

Main

Triple Frontier

Prospect film

Pedro Pascal CHARACTERS

Vikings

On The Road (movie)

Moon Knight

Narcos & Narcos Mx

The Punisher

The Mandalorian

Star Wars | Rogue One | Andor

SOA (Sons of Anarchy FX)

Mayans MC (Fx)

Black Sails

Interview with the vampire

Other / Side advendutes

Pitch Black (movie) - Stay in the light

Prisoners (movie) - Det. David Loki

House of The Dragon

The Sandman

The Bear

The Gray Man

The Last Kingdom

Peaky Blinders

MCU

TWD: Negan, Shane & Rick

TVD/TO: Bonnie X Klaus

Actors

Everyone won't be here, check the above lists too.

Pedro Pascal

Oscar Isaac

Garrett Hedlund

Charlie Hunnam

Boyd Holbrook

Ben Barnes

Chris Hemsworth

Aaron Taylor Johnson

Ryan Corr

Chris Evans

Keanu Reeves

Jon Bernthal

Manny Montana

Maurice Compte

Mads Mikkelsen

Joel Kinnaman

Mashups & combos

Roman Godfrey (Hemlock Grove) and Ivar (Vikings)

Roman and Ivar list

Skarsgard Brothers list

Challenges

Black, Brown & Beautiful June 2025 Melanin May 2025

2023 Bingo writing challenge

Whumpril 2024

The moon in May

Arte’s year of whump 2023 (with fluff)

Writer Wednesday

Writers Iron Chef

Artes 2022 Frightfest

My other lists

What can be found there? (⬆️)

Past writing requests, Writing celebrations, My writer Wednesday pieces, Prompt lists, Specified reader lists (plus size, woc/black, Gn) and more!

Sideblog fics @amaryllisfoxglove

Reblog accounts & sideblogs

*Reblogs accounts is how I share others work.@artesreadinglist @arte-is-now-reading , @narcos-narcosmx and sometimes @astra-estelle-luna

All are multi fandom so won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. No pressure to follow those but if ya want, go ahead. Filter out the things that aren’t for you. I’m a multi fandom reader and writer with varying tastes.

About this blog

Created and run by a queer brown over 39 gal

Me: Bipoc, Creole, Afro-indigenous & Afro-Caribbean

Sometimes nsfw, sometimes dark fic, lots of things happening here!

I’m not your mom, curate your own online experience, use the filter option to avoid things that bother or upset you.

Don’t be an ass or a bully, I will block you

No longer writing new reader inserts as of 2023 - moving fully to ocs - see why here

My ocs

I mainly write bipoc, mixed ethnicity, black and woc ocs

These can be read & enjoyed by anyone

I write my AUs in a way you can read w/o watching the show or following the fandom

🛑What I don’t write

RPF

Underage

Big Age gaps

Incest

Hardcore Non-con

About fic warnings

YES reblogs matter, don’t kill tumblr

No, I don’t do mass tagforms anymore

The future of reader inserts

✨As of now my A03 is only viewable to register users , here is why, here is a a03 user guide to those who need some help ✨

New here? Check this out…PSA

🎉Blog bday as a reader only (before this name) 9/1/2016 (my second go at tumblr)

🎉Blog bday as a writer and reader 11/2/19

✨ I noticed a mistake I made in some of my very early posts, I used the word repost instead of reblog 😕😕😕 I plan to fix that and comb thru all old works. Please know that’s a mistake, please do not repost my work. Reblogs are very welcome! Reposts are not and not cool to do.

[ebenenoir]

Gay doesn’t stop women from wanting to look at the menu even if they can’t order anything. I’ve worked on film for 10 years and the people affected by coming out are the ones who are new and are worried about falling into the same roles and being labeled as the new woke gay best friend actor. But Hollywood is way more progressive behind the scenes than a lot of you think.///

I know it's kinda late respond, but I will give my 5 cents anyway.

1. Yup, women can fall into/like/be thirsty for gay male actors But not all of them. I constantly see how many idignant women from all folks of life react, when they see their "crush" comes out. Many of them say: "That's all, I can't see him with a woman in a movie after that and believe it". I see thousands of such comments. I find it stupid, but it takes place.

2. Many men - especially from far or less homophobic Arabic countries, Russia, countries of Near East etc - will explode if they knew that openly gay actor play a masculine role in their fav movie. Unfortunately, homophobia is still strong outside of USA, and Western Europe.

3. Unfortunately, homophobia is also still an issue in Hollywood too. Besides being heavily stereotyped some actors are still pushed into closet. Especially when it goes about actors from the huge franchises and popular shows. Let's look more precisely: Zachary Quinto, not a classical romantical hero, but not bad as an actor. He did successful AHS, Heroes and Star Trek. Where is he know? I barely hear of him nowadays. Matt Bomer - he could be the next Brad Pitt with his beauty. But after he came out, his fame just faded, even though he was expected to play Superman. As we see he didn't. Luke Evans radiates masculine energy and still has his women fandom, but if he started from the big blockbusters - Hobbit, The Three Musketeers etc - now I see him mostly in TV-shows and with secondary roles. Many thought he would make an excellent James Bond. But he wasn't even casted. So, no I can't name any world famous openly gay A or AA, A+ listers in Hollywood. They won't let Pedro come out. Not now. Narcos, Kingsman, Tripple Frontier, Mandalorian, The last of us - they need "visibly" straight guy for this. But I'm more than sure P will come out lately, maybe in his mid-, late 50-ies when he won't get sex-driven, masculine roles.

I saw this ask on Sunday but I forgot to post it! 😅

[bladeshowers]

@seatedsacrifice | cont.

Azem suspected that Elidibus was more concerned than genuinely angry at her. It seemed he was deeply unhappy, particularly considering how unrepentant she was over the whole ordeal. "They're censuring me, not putting me to death Elidibus. If they remove me from my seat I will simply continue to carry on my work as I have before. Just without their aid and without their oversight." If Venat could do it, so could she. Ignoring the fact that Venat had not been removed from her seat but had stepped down.

Arms crossed over her chest as she regarded him, her shoulders relaxing as she calmed down. Unfortunately, Azem was as stubborn as ever. "I will do what I can to behave myself. However, I will not stop protecting those who need me and helping where I can." To do so would be to deny her very nature. To be someone she was not. Try as she might, she could not turn a blind eye to any plight that the people might have, regardless of whether or not the Convocation thought it was worth a response.

[aefward]

T-shirt, MadeWorn; jeans, Maison Margiela; boots, Dr Martens. 

Photography by David Luraschi, Styling by Helen Broadfoot, Art direction by Phil Buckingham, Hair by Amber Duarte at Atelier Management, Make-up by Homa Safar using Chanel Beauty, Fashion assistant: Annie Hertikova, Production by Rachael Evans, Anarchy Films Inc., Maddie Varnedoe, Giorgio Tsintoukidis-Dirkx, Mariah Morgenstern, Model: Vivienne Rohner at The Squad Management.

[blitheringmcgonagall]

Operation Make My Wish Come True

JILY CHALLENGE December 2019

@blitheringmcgonagall v @magic-girl-in-a-muggle-world

 Prompt:

 It’s September 3rd when “All I Want For Christmas” by Mariah Carey blasts through the walls of Lily’s flat from the stereo next door, and Lily is ready to murder her new nightmare off a neighbour…

 “Who the hell listens to that song in September?” Lily huffed.

I don't want a lot for Christmas There is just one thing I need I don't care about the presents Underneath the Christmas tree

The bass notes made the thin walls of her flat vibrate.

She was in a bad mood. Petunia had just dis-invited her from spending Christmas with her and Vernon (which was a blessing in disguise, scrap that, a total relief, but still), she had a ton of study to do for her college exams in October and an essay to write -

I just want you for my own More than you could ever know Make my wish come true oh All I want for Christmas is you

 Somebody had increased the volume even higher. Lily winced, hands over her ears as she stared at her ipad. She had thought those two new black-haired boys (the cute ones) next door looked decent, she should have known it was too good to be true.

“Right! That’s it!” she seethed, getting up suddenly.

 Drrrrrrriiiinnnggggg

Lily kept her finger on the doorbell.

“Keep it down, will you?” said the tall, lanky, black-haired boy with glasses and hazel eyes who opened the door distractedly.

“Excuse me?” said Lily, her hands flying to her hips.

“What?” a male voice in another room called out. “I can’t hear you with all the noise?”

Bespectacled, cute bloke was looking at her with a gobsmacked expression.

“I said can you please stop making that noise,” he said, looking progressively more distracted and running a hand through his hair.

“Listen, mister,” said Lily, narrowing her eyes dangerously. “If you don’t switch off that horrendous music within the next three seconds-“

The other dark-haired boy appeared, towelling his hair dry and grinning at Lily with the smug look of someone who knows they are unfairly beautiful.

“For goodness sake, Prongs, switch off that Christmas music, you’re driving everyone mad! Can you not see our next-door neighbour is livid? What did you say your name was?” he tutted, shaking his head lightly and rolling his eyes at Lily in a conspiratorial manner.

I won't ask for much this Christmas I won't even wish for snow, and I I just wanna keep on waiting Underneath the mistletoe

“What the hell do you mean, Pads? That was-“ the taller fellow said, looking momentarily stunned as his gaze flew from Lily’s to the smug-and-gorgeous boy’s faces.

“No need to be embarrassed, Prongs, lots of people love Christmas music, I mean you’re obsessed with Christmas and-“ gorgeous bloke’s posh voice sounded like something out of Downton Abbey.

“What the fuck?” the first boy said, his face now a bright red colour and his hand running through his messy hair.

“Look, can you both stop fighting like an old married couple for a just a second, and kindly switch off that stupid song?” Lily said sighing heavily and rolling her eyes back at gorgeous boy.

“I never-“ said glasses guy.

“Switch it off, Prongs! Terribly sorry for behaving so rudely, I’m Sirius,” beautiful bloke said with a charming smile, dropping the towel into the other guy’s hands and shaking Lily’s with a firm grip. “And this is my sort-of brother James – decent chap, aside from his infernal love of Christmas songs, and pretty popular with the girls when he’s not making an arse of himself by-“

“Oi! Pads!” James said, looking at his brother as though he wanted him dead.

I just want you for my own More than you could ever know Make my wish come true All I want for Christmas is you

“For the love of God, can one of you switch off that song before I-” Lily said.

“Sorry! Yes! Yes, of course!” James seemed to suddenly come to his senses and dash off into the sitting room.

“Frightfully sorry, he’s not usually that bad! What did you say your name was?” Sirius smiled widely.

“Lily. Lily Evans,” she said.

  …………………………………..

  “James! James!” she hammered on the door, less than a week later. “Get.Rid.Of.That.Music. Now!”

The door flew open and James stood there, a panicked look on his face.

“I swear I didn’t,” he started.

 I don’t need to hang my stocking There upon the fireplace Santa Claus won’t make me happy With a toy on Christmas day

 “No need to lie, James!” Lily groaned. “Just make it stop! I’ve an exam in two days’ time and I desperately need to revise!”

“Fuck! Sorry! That was-“ James said looking back inside at the flat with a furious look on his face.

“Off. Now!” Lily warned, rolling her eyes at him.

He did look extremely cute when he was flustered, she realised.

“Nice t-shirt,” she added.

I mean, it did look very cute on him, she hadn’t realised what lovely, muscly arms he had, with lovely veins. And the maroon colour made his dark skin tone even more attractive.

“Huh?” he said, looking vacant.

Oh. He was a cute himbo. Oh well, he was still cute, poor boy.

“Never mind,” she smiled up at him. “Can you please switch off that stupid song?”

“I didn’t-“ James said, vaguely gesturing inside his flat.

“You did,” Lily snorted, waving goodbye.

  ……………………………………..

   The next time, it wasn’t as infuriatingly loud as before, in fact, she could hardly hear it. Still. It was almost a tradition now. And it would never do for James to think that is was okay to play Christmas music in October.

“Hello,” James grinned sheepishly as he opened the door.

“Hello,” Lily smiled back. “I see you’re playing that song again?”

“Yes, well, yes, you know me, Mariah Carey and all that lark…” he motioned with his hand. “Can I invite you in for tea?”

“Er, thank you, yes,” Lily said, biting back a laugh. “As long as you promise to switch it off.”

“Ah. Yes!” James laughed.

He made her a beautiful cup of tea (it was just tea, but still, it was exactly as she liked it, and she had only just realised his hands were very beautiful too).

“How did your exam go?” he asked, blowing over his mug of tea.

“Alright,” Lily cringed. “Although the next one is pretty awful, I hate anatomy.”

“Oh, what are you studying?” he asked, looking impressed.

“Physiotherapy,” she said.

“Wow!” he said. “I’m studying Sports and Exercise Science, I’m hoping to go on and do a Masters in Loughborough University when I finish here.”

“Oh! I thought you...”

Well she couldn’t tell him she had thought he was a Himbo, could she?

“Thought what?” James said, looking embarrassed.

“Oh, nothing!” Lily smiled brightly. “Do you like sports?”

She nearly kicked herself in the foot.

“Absolutely!” he flashed her an enthusiastic smile.

She smiled back.

“Er, about the anatomy, we could study together some time? It’s part of my course too,” he said, looking at her expectantly.

“Oh,” she blinked. “Thanks James, yeah, why not?”

   ……………………………………………………

  The next time it came on so loud and so suddenly that she dropped her phone.

“Oh for crying out loud!” Lily said hotly, storming next door and lifting her hand to rap on the door.

The door flew open and Sirius stood there, smiling in a relaxed manner.

“Hello, Evans, Darling!” he said.

“Hello to you too, prat!” she said grumpily. “Tell James to bugger off and switch off that damned music!”

“Tell him yourself, he’s inside talking to his mother,” said Sirius, winking at Lily and placing an arm around her neck as he escorted a startled Lily into the sitting room.

“I… why?” said Lily.

“Oh! Lily!” James’ face was bright red. “I swear that wasn’t me, that was Sirius!”

“Yeah right!” Sirius barked a laugh. “Everyone knows I detest Christmas, Prongs, don’t be ridiculous.”

“He does, dear, don’t be silly,” Mia Potter smiled at Sirius and shook her head at James.

“Sirius, you absolute tosser!” James growled.

“James! Don’t embarrass yourself in front of Lily Evans,” Mia said, giving Lily a benign smile and patting the seat beside her. “James, do be a dear and bring in that marmalade tart you just made, Lily is staying for some tea and cake.”

Sirius winked in an exaggerated manner at Lily and waved James towards the kitchen.

“He’s an excellent cook,” Sirius said, tossing his hair airily and reclining back onto the sofa, looking smug again.

“He is,” Mia agreed.

“He gets very busy this time of year, raising money for his favourite charity, Médecins Sans Frontiers,” Mia added thoughtfully, sipping her tea.

“Oh,” Lily thought, feeling suddenly warm all over, and wondering could James see the heart eyes she was making at him.

“I know,” Mia’s eyes twinkled. “He’s wonderful, isn’t he?”

Well she could hardly say no to his mother, could she? Especially after tasting that utterly divine marmalade tart…

  ……………………………………..

   The exams had gone well, it would soon be Christmas, and Lily was in a bad mood. Which was completely understandable, because what possible reason would she now have to call in on James all the time? They had taken to studying together, and he still played that bloody song at least once a week, which was extremely cute and adorable and it would be officially Christmas in less than an hour’s time, and she wasn’t going to her sister’s and she hadn’t told Marlene and she wasn’t exactly looking forward to…

I don't want a lot for Christmas There is just one thing I need, and I Don't care about the presents Underneath the Christmas tree

Well, that was a bit unusual, she thought. James didn’t usually put on music this late. She stared at Netflix for a while longer and finally got up, fixing her hair and slipping on a dash of lipstick.

“Alright, Evans?” James said.

He looked so stunning, in his cosy Aran jumper.

“Hi,” she said, blushing slightly.

“How are you?” he said.

“Fine,” she lied.

“Are you…” he looked at her expectantly.

“Sorry?”

“It’s just,” he said, scratchuing his head awkwardly. “You knocked on my door and…”

“You were playing that song again,” she said, playing with the back of her earring.

“No I wasn’t,” he said. “I’m listening to a 1980s compilation.”

“No, you’re not,” Lily said calmly.

James raised his brow and opened the door.

It looked beautiful and warm and inviting and the fire was crackling and there was wine on the side table and homemade biscuits and…

Call me (call me) on the line Call me, call me any, anytime Call me (call me) my love You can call me any day or night Call me

“That’s not Mariah Carey, that’s Blondie,” Lily said.

“I know. I told you,” James grinned playfully.

“Well someone was playing it a minute ago,” Lily said, folding her arms stubbornly.

“Admit it, Evans, you just wanted to call over and have some Christmas Eve bubbly with me,” James laughed, opening the bottle of Prosecco and eying her adoringly.

“No I…” Lily huffed.

Something like disappointment flashed over his face.

“I… yes, yes that’s right, Potter, I did,” Lily said, holding her head up high.

Fuck it, I mean, he wasn’t wrong…

“Good,” he said.

His smile lit up the entire room.

He handed her a glass.

“Merry Christmas, Evans,” he said, his voice low and warm.

“Merry Christmas, James,” she said quietly.

They continued looking in each other’s eyes for longer than strictly necessary.

“James,” Lily said.

“Yes?” James said.

They were standing very close together.

“You know, you could actually play that song now, it is Christmas Eve,” she said.

“I thought you hated it?” James said.

“Nah, I didn’t,” Lily’s face broke into a smitten grin.

“Alright, Evans,” James said, saluting her.

I just want you for my own More than you could ever know Make my wish come true oh All I want for Christmas is you

 They moved closer to each other, until their lips were touching, Lily breathed a soft laugh and James brought his forehead down to touch Lily’s. They kissed slowly at first, tenderly.

“I’ve wanted to do this for so long,” James smiled.

“So have I,” Lily placed her arms around his neck and kissed him harder.

“Ha! Fucking finally!” Sirius’ loud and obnoxious voice filled the room as Lily and James jumped in fright.

“Fucking hell! You gave me a heart attack!” James said, glaring at his stupid best mate.

“Took you long enough!” Sirius said, rubbing his hands with glee. “Thank God we won’t have to listen to that godforsaken song anymore! You do realise when you get married, I’ll be able to say this was all due to my playing cupid?”

“How?” Lily said, rolling her eyes at Sirius, as usual.

“Well, it’s very simple. James fancied you as soon as we moved in. I heard you telling your friend Marlene that you hated hearing Christmas songs as you were coming up the stairs to your apartment. Hence, Operation Make My Wish Come True. I stuck on that song full blast, blamed it all on James, and the rest, as you know, is history!”

“You fucker!” said James, laughing despite himself. “I tried to tell her it was you on a number of occasions, at the start, anyway. I may have gone along with it after a while…”

“That explains a lot,” Lily said, placing her head on James’ chest. “You plonker!”

“I know!” Sirius grinned. “I am a genius!”

In fairness…

Sirius winked at them again.

“Merry Christmas, love birds,” he said, pouring himself a glass of Prosecco and plonking himself down on the sofa. “So, what are we watching?”

Lily looked at Sirius quizzically. Her friend Remus thought Sirius was extremely hot. Sirius had made a complete arse of himself when James and Lily’s friends had all played charades together. Sirius had been apparently so distracted by Remus that he had gotten a prompt that read “Namesake” and had proceeded to mime one word, four syllables because (and she was quoting him here) “I thought it was some Japanese book, Evans!”

“James,” Lily said smoothly, holding James’ hand and pulling her towards the door. “I have some anatomy homework that I need to practice with you, in my flat, right now, alright?”

James’ brows shot up.

“Er, yes?” he stammered.

“And another thing we need to work on,” she whispered into his ear, grabbing the bottle of wine on her way out.

“Hey! Evans, that’s cheating!” Sirius shouted after them, sounding horrified. “I bought that!”

“Shut it, Black!” Lily called back cheerfully.

“Yes?” James said, kissing her hungrily as they stumbled towards the door of her flat.

“Yes, Operation Payback Time,” Lily said, waggling her eyebrows at James.

“Ugh, you devious thing! I love you, Lily Evans!” muttered James, continuing to kiss Lily as she tried to fit her key into the lock.

“I know,” Lily smiled as she kissed him back.

[thirdeyecomics]

NEW COMIC DAY TODAY, OUR PICKS: STRANGE ADVENTURES #1 -- Third Eye Faithful: Tom King and Mitch Gerads are the definition of comics dream team, and their upcoming STRANGE ADVENTURES series, may be their most exciting project together yet! After winning five Eisner Awards and topping year-end “best of lists,” the comic book of 2019 was Mister Miracle. The comic book of 2020 will be Strange Adventures. The Mister Miracle team of writer Tom King and artist Mitch Gerads are joined by fan-favorite artist Evan “Doc” Shaner to bring you an epic tale in the tradition of Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, and DC: The New Frontier-a story of blood, war, and love that readers will be talking about for years to come. Adam Strange is the hero of Rann, a man famous throughout the galaxy for his bravery and honor. After leading his adopted home to victory in a great planetary war, Adam and his wife Alanna retire to Earth, where they are greeted by cheers, awards, and parades. But not all is as happy and nice as it seems, as the decisions Adam made during battles on Rann come back to haunt his family and threaten the entire DC Universe. And now a surprise DC hero will have to choose between saving Adam Strange and saving the world.   A story like no other, Strange Adventures is an ambitious, thrilling, shocking, and beautiful 12-issue saga that will push Adam Strange to the breaking point-and beyond!

[bladeshowers]

The miqo'te crossed her arms over her chest and she fought the urge to tilt her head. The Warrior of Light couldn't quite relate to the dragoon's position. She'd heard of the horrors that happened when dragon blood was digested by the citizens of Ishgard. She even understood why the transition happened in the first place. She just couldn't understand why everyone was so willing to turn a blind eye and not help. Just…blame the victims. Useless politics as usual no doubt.

"If you truly feel that way I can't stop you. I just often wonder if it would be better if you at least have someone to keep an eye on you." She paused and raised a hand to her chin thoughtfully. It was then that the currant haired woman tilted her head. "Though I suppose I also fill that position nicely enough. I just feel as though I don't visit as often enough as I should."

@bladeshowers asked:

❛ i care about you, and i want to help you … if you let me. ❜ (Evan & Heustienne)

Heustienne furrows her brow before breathing a sigh, shaking her head. "I appreciate your willingness to help, but there is nothing to be done." The dragoon frowns, casting her gaze upwards to the canopy of trees above them. "This is a battle I alone must face with the dragon that has taken root in my soul. Unless you have the means to completely excise it, I'm afraid there is little you can do."

She could feel the inner dragon hungering even now, the insatiable being attempting to claw its way to the surface and overtake her. It was likely something she would be dealing with for the rest of her life, and she would rather do so away from those who once admired her, no matter how she longed to return home.

[scienceninjaturtle]

STRANGE ADVENTURES #1

written by TOM KING

art by MITCH GERADS and EVAN “DOC” SHANER

cover by MITCH GERADS

variant cover by EVAN “DOC” SHANER

blank variant cover

After winning five Eisner Awards and topping year-end “best of lists,” the comic book of 2019 was Mister Miracle. The comic book of 2020 will be Strange Adventures.

The Mister Miracle team of writer Tom King and artist Mitch Gerads are joined by fan-favorite artist Evan “Doc” Shaner to bring you an epic tale in the tradition of Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, and DC: The New Frontier—a story of blood, war, and love that readers will be talking about for years to come.

Adam Strange is the hero of Rann, a man famous throughout the galaxy for his bravery and honor. After leading his adopted home to victory in a great planetary war, Adam and his wife Alanna retire to Earth, where they are greeted by cheers, awards, and parades. But not all is as happy and nice as it seems, as the decisions Adam made during battles on Rann come back to haunt his family and threaten the entire DC Universe. And now a surprise DC hero will have to choose between saving Adam Strange and saving the world.

A story like no other, Strange Adventures is an ambitious, thrilling, shocking, and beautiful 12-issue saga that will push Adam Strange to the breaking point—and beyond!

ON SALE 03.04.20

$4.99 US | 1 OF 12 | 40 PAGES

CARD STOCK COVERS

FC | DC

[comicweek]

Strange Adventures 

The Mister Miracle team of writer Tom King and artist Mitch Gerads are joined by fan-favorite artist Evan “Doc” Shaner to bring you an epic tale in the tradition of Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, and DC: The New Frontier—a story of blood, war, and lovethat readers will be talking about for years to come.

Adam Strange is the hero of Rann, a man famous throughout the galaxy for his bravery and honor. After leading his adopted home tovictory in a great planetary war, Adam and his wife Alanna retire to Earth, where they are greeted by cheers, awards, and parades. But not all is as happy and nice as it seems, as the decisions Adam made during battles on Rann come back to haunt his family and threaten the entire DC Universe. And now a surprise DC hero will have to choose between saving Adam Strange and saving the world.

A story like no other, Strange Adventures is an ambitious, thrilling, shocking, and beautiful 12-issue saga that will push Adam Strange to the breaking point—and beyond!

[bladeshowers]

Evan, of course, hurriedly moved to try and hide any and all evidence that she'd been taking a cat nap in the sun. Mostly because now she was caught in the tangled web she'd begun to weave and she was nothing if dedicated. Even if it was to be silly and there was no real reason for it in the first place.

"Oh?" Her head cocked to the side and her ears twitched before perking up. "What is it?" He'd gone ahead and piqued her curiosity now. There would be no going back. Her blue eyes flickered around with interest, trying to figure out what it was he was speaking of. "You can't just tease me like that and then not deliver!"

@bladeshowers from here

A pale eyebrow shot up at the argument, as Cassius was rather certain of what he had seen.

"If you say so." He spoke, nevertheless, his tone conciliatory and only the faintest twitch of his lips betraying his amusement. It was not as if she'd been standing guard, after all.

"I was, however, looking for you." He continued. "There is something you might want to see." He added, keeping his tone even more even now, to hide the lingering amusement that still threatened to break free. "Although there is no hurry."

[sublimerhymes]

The Women of the West by George Essex Evans

They left the vine-wreathed cottage and the mansion on the hill, The houses in the busy streets where life is never still, The pleasures of the city, and the friends they cherished best: For love they faced the wilderness -- the Women of the West. The roar, and rush, and fever of the city died away, And the old-time joys and faces -- they were gone for many a day; In their place the lurching coach-wheel, or the creaking bullock chains, O'er the everlasting sameness of the never-ending plains. In the slab-built, zinc-roofed homestead of some lately taken run, In the tent beside the bankment of a railway just begun, In the huts on new selections, in the camps of man's unrest, On the frontiers of the Nation, live the Women of the West. The red sun robs their beauty, and, in weariness and pain, The slow years steal the nameless grace that never comes again; And there are hours men cannot soothe, and words men cannot say -- The nearest woman's face may be a hundred miles away. The wide bush holds the secrets of their longing and desires, When the white stars in reverence light their holy altar fires, And silence, like the touch of God, sinks deep into the breast -- Perchance He hears and understands the Women of the West. For them no trumpet sounds the call, no poet plies his arts -- They only hear the beating of their gallant, loving hearts. But they have sung with silent lives the song all songs above -- The holiness of sacrifice, the dignity of love. Well have we held our father's creed. No call has passed us by. We faced and fought the wilderness, we sent our sons to die. And we have hearts to do and dare, and yet, o'er all the rest, The hearts that made the Nation were the Women of the West.