#brook’s cs thoughts

[snowbellewells]

🎃~A Little Bit Spooky Seasonal Rec List ~🎃

Hello there!  Seeing as it’s nearly Halloween, I thought I would post this themed list of fics I absolutely love that fit the season of thrills and chills, or have at least a hint of the supernatural about them. (Most do anyway, there are a couple that are just full of fall things and autumn coziness.) This is by no means extensive - no matter how much I read, I’m sure I’ll never catch all of the amazing stories our Ouat/CS fandom has to offer!! Still, here’s hoping folks may find a few "new to them" favorites for the season! Enjoy!!

**I originally made this list in 2020, so none have been taken away but more have been added in since that time.**

In no particular order...

“High Spirits” by: ReaperWriter  This story is older, but it features Emma as a former detective forced into early retirement and Killian as a medium (of sorts?). They end up investigating the rumored haunting of an old manor house in Louisiana. Thrills and chills, genuine bittersweetness and melancholy, and emotional connection ensue.  13 Chapters, Complete

“Of Dreams and Darkness” by: @oubliette14  This one is another I’ve know about for some time, and read and re-read more than once. It reminds me a little bit of the monster mash-up movie Van Helsing (though I actually like it more than that) and has Emma and Killian as vampire hunters, teaming up to take on the worst monster either has tackled yet... Long oneshot, Complete 

“Things That Go Bump” by: @brooke-to-broch  This is just a fun, festive CS celebrating Halloween in their own home with all the hilarity involved in including their friends and family - with a bit of spicy goodness between just the two of them thrown in for good measure.  Oneshot, Complete

"Into the Light", "Hotel Neverland", "The Moon...Tells the Sea", "In the Viper's Den" and "Return to Me" by: @kmomof4 It will be clear if a person has read any of these offerings already that Krystal has a knack for the vampire fics in particular, her previous @cssns event offerings "Into the Light" and "Return to Me" are just my favorite examples of that. "Hotel Neverland" and "The Moon...Tells the Sea" also contain elements of the spooky or supernatural, but just very unique and unforgettable twists that you definitely shouldn't miss. "In the Viper's Den" isn't spooky or Halloween-themed, but it does have an autumnal feel to me for some reason. It's also one of my favorites of Krystal's stories, period. So there's that too. Various Lengths, all Complete

“An American Haunting” by @welllpthisishappening I just LOVE this story. I think it was around Halloween last year that I discovered it, and I think it’s one of my favorite of Laura’s stories that I’ve read. Emma, Killian (and several other familiar OuaT faces) work at an American historical park of sorts, and though technically “just friends” pine for each other all the while. Then, one of the historical stories comes a lot closer to their present than ought to be possible, and they just might be fighting for each other’s lives...  Two Shot, Complete

“Hope is the Thing with Feathers”, “Blackbird”, “Scarborough Fair”,  and “Ivory Runs Red” by @searchingwardrobes These are some of my favorites of Melanie’s (and that’s saying something, because each new thing she posts tends to become my “new favorite” for a bit!) At any rate, these offerings all have a bit of the supernatural or spooky to them, or they just feel like they should happen in Fall. There is some lovely CaptainCobra and CaptainBook brotp in a few of these too, along with the stellar CS writing.  Various Lengths, All Complete except “Scarborough” which is a WIP.

"Ghosted" by: @jrob64 This story was Joni's offering for the @cssns23 event - and wow, was it a doozy!! It has just the right balance of spine-tingling evil ghost/spirit haunting from a properly awful Neal, and yet sweetness and trust building throughout between Killian (as a ghost hunter of sorts) and Emma (as the woman next door being haunted by her ex). Not only that, but there is lovely support from Will and Belle as Killian's team (and a potential couple in their own right). I don't want to spoil any of the thrills and chills, but if you missed this as it was posting back in July and August, definitely check this one out!! 5 Chapters, Complete

“The Man Behind Glass” and “The Prickly Witch’s Guide to Magic” both by: @shireness-says  I do believe that both of these stories were written for the first @cssns event over two years ago now.  I love both of them so much - you really can’t go wrong in checking either of them out! One features Killian as a centuries-old pirate trapped within a mirror and discovered by one little boy with a heart full of belief, and the Prickly Witch fic is a great group friendship fic as well as CS - AND it has some heartwarming hints of Jeweled Beauty (Liam x Belle) one of my favorite underrated things in fic!  Both long oneshots, Both Complete

“A Charm of Powerful Trouble” by: @spartanguard I really love this short MC in which Killian is hit with a potion that turns him into a huge wolf. I love the danger, adventure, angst, and of course the triumph of CS’s True Love in this one. It’s my favorite of all of Kaitlyn’s writings (and I love all of her writings!) I love how the whole Storybrooke crew joins in to support Killian and Emma in this as well. 5 Chapters, Complete

"Witchy Woman" by: @booksteaandtoomuchtv This story was originally written for the @cssns23 event, and I hung on every word while each new chapter was posting. I seriously couldn't get enough of this adventure of a star-crossed witch and vampire in love but attempting to stay apart, even as they both served their greater community, and could never quite manage to forget the love they'd shared. This one is not to be missed!! 10 Chapters, Complete

“The Halloween Gambit” and “Friends with the Monster That’s Under my Bed” both by: @zaharadessert Both of these fics are Halloween themed, written for Halloweek at some point, if I remember correctly. “Gambit” is very pirate-y and adventure themed, and I loved Killian getting to make a dashing rescue and Emma’s bravery and loyalty to him in it. “Monster Under the Bed” is a one shot and includes some of my favorite characters who are no longer living in show canon ;p  “Gambit” is 7 Chapters, Complete; “Monster” One Shot, Complete

“Saudade” by: @apiratewhopines This fic is so insanely BEAUTIFUL that I can’t even properly express how much love I have for it. I love that it fixes things which definitely should have been handled just the way @apiratewhopines​ does in this fic, I love the tribute it gives to Graham (not to mention he and Killian getting to meet and have an understanding in how they care for Emma), and I’m incredibly flattered that it was written for me! <3 If you are someone who loves to see bits of the Underworld arc handled more gracefully, or even if you just love a gorgeously written, bittersweet fic, you have to read this one!!  Two Shot, Complete

“Arm’d with Hell Flames and Fury all at Once” by @darkcolinodonorgasm This fic was written for 2019′s @pupstravaganza and features the most endearing version of a hellhound I imagine you’ll ever read about! :) Emma and Kilian, along with a few familiar friends are monster hunters fighting feelings for each other, but when their newest hunt gets tangled up in Killian’s tangled past, all bets are off...  2 Parts, Complete

"Can I Be Your Werewolf?", "Cautionary Tales" and "Safe Passage" by: @belovedcreation All of these fics by @belovedcreation are pretty new - in fact, "Safe Passage" was just posted this weekend and I read it just last night! One is a longer, chaptered werewolf modern AU which I simply adore (even if I need to go back and do a better job commenting on it!), one is a three part vampire fic, and the last is a zombie-adjacent one shot! The fact that I even braved something at all related to zombies tells you just how much I love @belovedcreation's writing. Check all of these out!! All Complete stories

“Some Legends are Best Kept as Legends” / “Varcolac” / “Ghost in the Void” by @hollyethecurious Okay, so I know you are getting three stories for the price of one here, but I couldn’t choose between them. Two of these are from @cssns events: “Some Legends...” samples a bit of Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” in inspiration, but going on it’s own decidely amazing course from their with Killian as a man out of time, the myth of the Dark One, and the power of a true believer’s heart; “Varcolac” blends werewolf and vampire characters and mythology in such an interesting way for a pulse-pounding story plot and a powerful love story. “Ghost in the Void” features a ghost (as you might expect) reaching from the beyond to connect with the lonely human tenet of “his” house for a story that will absolutely stay with you.  6 Parts, Complete (Legends) / 5 Parts, Complete (Varcolac) / Oneshot, Complete (Ghost)

“a house is never still” by: @capnjay21  Honestly, I don’t even know what to say about this story, or how to describe it without giving too much away.  I could say it’s a haunted house story on the surface, but it’s SO MUCH MORE than that. It gives us a young Emma and Killian and their friends and a heartwrenching backstory to set the scene, a truly haunting and spine-tingling mystery, melancholy and loss, and wondering if it can ever be made right.  It’s just stunning - and you really should check it out for yourself instead of listen to my floundering around trying to sell it. Plus, a sequel as just begun posting!!    6 Chapters, Complete

“the very witching time” by: @profdanglaisstuff Another @cssns entry originally this story features witch!Emma and her loyal and cunning canine companion, whom she took in and treated from a traumatic injury. Little does she know how much more than a normal dog he will prove to be... ;)  Not only that, but the atmosphere, the history, and the unfolding plot in this will just sweep you up and you won’t want to stop until it’s finished.  Don’t miss it!!  6 Parts (and a connected oneshot), Complete

“break me” by: @thisonesatellite Oh my goodness! How could I not list this story?!? I still can’t get over how much I love it (when normally I would have run the other way from all the scary baddies and monsters who go ‘bump in the night’ in this fic?) It led me to all the rest of Stephanie’s writing, and I really haven’t surfaced since! ;p There are vampires, werewolves, monster hunters, monsters I didn’t even know about, and in the midst of all that two people find each other and just might be the only inspiration that can help them fight to the other side of all the odds standing against them. 12 Chapters + an epilogue, Complete

“An Education in Southern Gothic” by: @searchingwardrobes Man alive, I almost missed this one! This entry into the @cssns19 event has just the right about of thrills and chills without becoming too much for a definite chicken like me. I honestly can’t resist Killian as a teacher/professor, which Melanie gives us here, and the mystery surrounding the school, as well as the still very real threat reaching its claws into the present will make you unable to stop reading this one until you reach the end. There’s friends to love, pining, suspense, supernatural danger, both Captain Cobra and Captain Book friendship, and just everything you could want in a fic really!  Two Parts, Complete

“Magical Rings and Mystical Doughnuts” / “Storybrooke Haunted Farms” / “Life Meant Nothing Until You Used My Toothbrush” by: @let-it-raines  All three of these stories are nice one shots with some length that you can really get drawn into and honestly never want to surface from! “Mystical Doughnuts...” will always have a special spot in my heart because it was the first story of Raines’ that I discovered and it lead to a lovely commenting and chat back and forth session and all her other stories that have made me smile so many times over since then! “Storybrooke Farms” is just a fun modern AU with yes CS but all the rest of the OuaT gang involved in humorous and adorable support, and then “Life Meant Nothing...” (originally written for a @csseptembersunshine event) is one of my favorite of Raines’ MANY awesome stories. I love the cozy small town feel of it, how it’s a bit of a mash-up with Gilmore Girls, and the friendship Emma and Killian have and the way it finally becomes romantic for them as well. :)  All oneshots, All Complete

“Happily Ever After” by: @whimsicallyenchantedrose​ There’s a lovely Fall Festival setting to this modern au, starring Emma and Killian as rival bakers - with lots of chemistry cooking beyond the kitchen! It’s as sweet as the apple desserts each are vying to make the winner, and you will absolutely be grinning and giddy with enjoyment by the end. :)  Don’t miss it!!   7 Chapters, Complete

"Not All Treasure is Silver and Gold (Sometimes it's Chocolate)" by: @stahlop This lovely one shot featuring Killian, future CS children, and adorable trick or treating in Storybrooke is simply irresistible! Incredibly sweet one shot you can read in one sitting, but without the calories of Halloween candy! This one will have you smiling from ear-to-ear, trust me! :) One Shot, Complete

“How to Carve a Pumpkin (Not Yourself)” by: @thislassishooked  This story is just all the sweetness and meet cute and perfection one could pack into a fall-themed or Halloween story!  I love the way Emma and Killian find each other in this, her friends pushing her and helping the possible match along, Henry’s involvement, the artsy pumpkins, the fun and small town humor - just all of it! And - bonus - if you aren’t ready to let go of this ‘verse when you finish, there’s a Thanksgiving follow-up!  Oneshot, Complete

"Fields of Asphodel" by: @anmylica This chaptered fic takes us on a journey through 5b and the trip to the Underworld that is gripping and unforgettable. I genuinely get so excited when it updates and can't wait to see what might be coming up next. This is still a WIP in progress, but don't let that put you off. It's wonderfully well done and much more what I would have liked to have seen - much more spooky and haunting and emotionally satisfying - than canon ended up being in much of that arc. 9 Chapters, WIP

"post mortem" by: @exhaustedpirate Oh my goodness, this fic!! I can't say enough about it, and I don't quite know how to explain the plot without giving too much away, but I really do adore it and want to give it a shoutout in this post. Killian is what I might refer to as a ghost whisperer of sorts - spirits/ghosts can contact him because he can see and hear them and help them try to settle their unfinished business. Emma is a ghost that needs his help. There's a fun school setting, Belle is a wonderful supporting character as the school librarian, and Henry is also used in this to wonderful effect. This is still in progress as well, but there's really only one more part to go. Definitely check this one out - you won't be able to get it out of your head!!! 2 parts of an intended 3, WIP

"A Crystalline Knowledge of Love and Magic" by: @xarandomdreamx The movie Practical Magic has always seemed like it would make for an excellent OuaT/CS AU and I adore Taryn for actually giving it to us. I love the OuaT characters she has chosen to include in the various roles, the way this story has begun, how everyone is characterized, just all of it together!! I'm a huge fan of her writing in general, and though this one is still in progress, I can already tell it's going to be a favorite!! If you love Practical Magic, or are just looking for a Fall-flavored fic with romance, magic, mystery and sisterhood, this is the one for you! 2 Chapters at present, WIP

Tagging: @jennjenn615 @xsajx @bluewildcatfanatic @ultraluckycatnd @lfh1226-linda @kday426

[whimsicallyenchantedrose]

4th of July Reruns: Independence Day

Happy 4th of July week to all who celebrate it! I have a couple of old 4th of July themed CS fics that I thought I'd share with all of you, and if all goes well, I'll have a new 4th of July fic to add to Fluffy Fridays this Friday!

Word Count: 2082

Tagging a few people who may be interested (Let me know if you want to be added or taken off the list): @sailormew4 @annaamell @flslp87 @emmateo26 @bethacaciakay 

@ultraluckycatnd @effulgent-mind @ilovemesomekillianjones @kat2609 @brooke-to-broch 

@missgymgirl @galadriel26 @the-lady-of-misthaven @charmingturkeysandwich @jennjenn615 

@laschatzi @kimmy46 @snowbellewells @iamanneenigma @daxx04 

@nickillian  @gillie  @britishguyslover @ginnyjinxedandhanshotritafirst @kmomof4

 @linda8084 @golfgirld @captain-swan-coffee @searchingwardrobes @hollyethecurious 

@laughswaytoomuch  @allyourdarlingswans  @winterbaby89 @facesiousbutton82 @therooksshiningknight 

@lfh1226-linda @tiganasummertree @jrob64  @anmylica @booksteaandtoomuchtv

 @i-will-sing-no-requiem @bluewildcatfanatic @laianely

Summary: This fic was originally posted to my Fluffy Fridays collection sometime around season 6. At the time, it was a "future fic", but now it is more of a slight canon divergence. With the Black Fairy defeated and the final battle won, Storybrooke is enjoying it's happily ever after and trying to make new memories. Emma has some exciting news for Killian.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Independence Day

CS Genre: Future Fic

Spring slowly sizzled into summer—a particularly hot and humid summer in Storybrooke that had Emma grateful that they had indeed decided to stay in the Land Without Magic, a place where air conditioners were a thing.

Ever since the Black Fairy was defeated a few months ago, she and Killian had responded to far more “cat stuck in a tree” or “Leroy double parked in front of Granny’s” calls than “weird, fairy tale villain intent on world domination just destroyed something” calls.

In fact, they’d had no calls about fairy tale villains.  It seemed Storybrooke had finally settled down into a peaceful, sleepy little town, with its requisite cast of eccentric characters.

It had never been the kind of life Emma had imagined she would lead—sheriff in a small town where everyone knows everyone else, married to her true love and so happy she thought she might die from it.  But though it might not be the life she’d expected for herself, it was a life she loved with every fiber in her being.

Even when Regina decided to institute regular town meetings to discuss town business.  (Seriously, they really were turning into Stars Hollow.)  It was at one such meeting about a month ago, that the whole big production had been decided on.

“Now that we’re not, you know, fighting villains every other day,” Leroy had said when Regina called on him to speak, “I think we need to start participating in normal society things.  The 4th of July is coming up.  Let’s do it up right.  Parade, fireworks, the whole shebang.”

Killian leaned over to Emma.  “Perhaps I’m missing something love, but what exactly is the significance of the 4th day of July, and why would it call for an unusual amount of festivity?”

Emma smirked, so glad to get back to the business of enlightening Killian about the modern world rather than, you know, trying not to die or trying to keep him from dying.  “It’s Independence Day in the United States, which is technically the country we live in.  Lots of celebrating goes on that day.”

He’d, as usual, wanted to pepper her with about a million questions.  Seriously, her husband wanted to know everything about everything.  Usually, Emma dealt with it by telling him to go look it up on the “magic box”, aka Internet, but that wasn’t exactly practical during a town meeting.  Seriously, Regina was as strict about “no talking!” in her meetings as the most demanding teacher. 

“Shhh!,” Emma had said as various members of the town began brainstorming ideas for the best (and, honestly the first) 4th of July Storybrooke had ever celebrated.  “You can look it up later.”

In the end they had decided to go with, as Leroy put it, the whole patriotic “shebang”.  There would be a parade through the main street of town in the morning—complete with the Storybrooke high school band and various prominent citizens dressed in their Enchanted Forest finest.  Emma wasn’t sure exactly what their Enchanted Forest attire had to do with the 4th of July, but she’d long since learned not to question these kind of decisions.  It only led to confusion and headaches.  Oh so many headaches.

(And to be honest, as the meeting was really ramping up, Emma realized kind of vaguely that she’d been having more headaches lately…along with way more nausea at weird times…and moments where she felt faint…and so much exhaustion she felt like she could barely get out of bed some mornings.  Maybe she should make an appointment with Dr. Whale to see what was going on with her, but she thought she’d give it a few more weeks.  After all, she’d been under a lot of stress since….well, basically since she moved to Storybrooke, and these weird symptoms were probably nothing more than her body sloughing off the stress and trying to get used to this strange new phenomenon known as “peace”.)

Anyway, the festivities would continue with a town picnic around noon and then fireworks as night fell.

And so it was that Henry and Killian spread out a blanket on the hill overlooking town on the evening of the 4th of July.  Emma set her picnic basket on the blanket, and then sat down beside it, reaching for the ginger ale she always had at the ready lately.  With a small, secret smile, she put a hand on her flat stomach, both excited and terrified about the news she’d received just the day before.

“And you’re sure we’re quite safe, here, love?”  Killian asked as he sat beside her.  “I must admit to being more than a little uneasy at the thought of the dwarfs setting off explosive devices for our amusement.  It seems like a terrible idea.”

They’d talked about fireworks as soon as they’d returned from the town meeting back in June, and Henry had been amazed that Killian had never seen a fireworks display.  “Are you serious?”  Henry asked.  “You’ve never seen fireworks?  Fireworks have been around for like…ever.  I know they were a thing in the Enchanted Forest.  I saw them in my storybook—during Cinderella’s wedding!”

Killian shrugged.  “Oh aye,” he’d said, “I’d heard of them, of course, but as a slave I’d not had much occasion to observe them.  And then once I’d become a pirate…well, I was far more interested in causing the explosions than viewing them.”

“But fireworks are way better than just explosions!” Henry had assured.  “They’re colorful and sparkly.  Sometimes they have special designs.  Some of them light up the sky, and others are like…little bursts of bright light and sound.  And fireworks displays always have a grand finale and it’s just…I can’t explain it, but it’s awesome!”

“How precisely do they work?” Killian asked.  “One lights a fuse and there is an explosion, aye, that I understand, but how do such explosions result in different formations and colors?”

“They just…do,” Henry said, with a little shrug.  “I don’t know how it works.  I just know it’s amazing.”

“I believe I shall consult Mr. Google, then, lad,” Killian said.  “I find it far preferable to understand the mechanisms of my entertainment.”

Of course he did.  Emma should have known.  It had been two weeks after they’d moved in together before they could have their first family movie night because Killian insisted on researching what movies were, how they were made, how they were projected on screen, and how thin, circular discs inserted in a machine could cause said movies to appear on the “moving picture box”.

Her husband was a full-fledged nerd.  A hot one, for sure, but a nerd nonetheless.

“Yes, Killian,” Emma said, coming back to the present and laying her head on her husband’s shoulder.  “I’m sure everything is totally safe.  Leroy’s got everything organized.  Just relax and enjoy the show.”

“I shall attempt to do so,” Killian said, “but I fail to see how colorful lights can elicit as much excitement as you and the lad…ooooooh!”

Emma giggled as the first firework—a large one that changed color from red to white to blue, lit up the Storybrooke night sky.  Killian looked up at the display in wonder, his eyes wide as saucers, a soft, boyish smile draping his face.

Sometimes she looked up at him and it just overwhelmed her all over again how much she loved him.  Now was one of those times.  She felt the tears come to her eyes, and Killian looked down at her in concern.  As usual, he could sense her moods.

“Is all well, Swan?” he asked in concern, reaching up to catch the single tear that fell from her eye.

“It’s more than alright, Killian,” Emma said.  “It’s perfect.  All of this is perfect.  I just love you so much, and I love our life together, and I don’t know what I ever did to deserve it, but life is just about perfect right now.”

He smiled tenderly, and leaned in to kiss her, but just before their lips connected, another firework went off, and Killian turned back to the light display.  Emma smiled, laying her head once again on his shoulder as Henry wandered off to find Violet and watch the show with her.

The fireworks went on and on, and as they moved closer to the grand finale, Emma heard one of the dwarfs (she thought it was Happy’s job?) start the music.  It had been decided that they would end the fireworks display with the 1812 overture, complete with the big finale coming during the cannon fire in the music.

Of course, as soon as it had been decided, Killian had gone to the library and pestered Belle for any information she could give him about the piece of music.

“The customs of this land are incomprehensible, love,” Killian had said that night as he helped her make dinner.  “Why is it customary for this ‘1812 Overture’ to be played at celebrations of this country’s founding?  The founding did not happen in 1812, but a generation before.  What’s more, the piece was written to commemorate an event that has nothing to do with the United States.  That Tchaikovsky fellow wrote the piece to commemorate the moment the Russians defeated Napoleon in his attempts to take over Russia. (Incidentally, is it only me, love, or does this Napoleon sound significantly like the Crocodile?  Small in stature, lust for power, dreams of world domination…)”

“I really don’t know why the 1812 is so popular,” Emma said as she carefully pulled a casserole from the oven.  “It just…is.”

“And it’s full of nationalistic anachronisms,” Killian had continued.

“What’s full of…what?” Henry asked, filching a roll from the bread dish and sitting at the table.

Emma rolled her eyes.  “Your step-dad was about to explain about all the nationalistic anachronisms (whatever those are) in ‘The 1812 Overture’.”

“Quite so,” Killian said.  “The piece features the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, for example, but in 1812, the song had been banned by Napoleon (the total ponce).  Furthermore, the piece utilizes the Russian anthem ‘God Save the Tsar’ near the end, but it had not yet been written as of 1812.  Not much of a historian, this Tchaikovsky.”

Henry groaned.  “Mom, I think we need to ban him from the library.  I already have to suffer through history lessons in school.  Don’t need them when I get home, too.”

A particularly loud volley of fireworks brought Emma back to the present.

“So, are you enjoying your first 4th of July?” Emma asked.

“It’s been quite enjoyable, Swan,” Killian said, “but then any day I get to spend with you and the lad is.”

Emma’s nerves began dancing within her stomach (or was that just the nausea again).  The moment was just about here.  As soon as she’d learned the news from Whale, she’d decided she’d tell Killian just at the climax of the fireworks show.  She wanted to make this moment special.

She just hoped he was as excited about the news as she was.  They hadn’t talked much about it.  This wasn’t something they’d planned; it had just sort of…happened.  What if this wasn’t what he wanted?

“Anything the matter, Swan?” Killian asked just as the cannon began to boom in the music.

“No,” Emma said, taking a deep breath.  “Something’s actually pretty great.  At least I hope you think it is.  I mean, I do, but we haven’t talked about it and…”

“Swan,” Killian said, looking more concerned than ever, “out with it, love.”

Emma took a deep breath, and then leaned in and whispered in his ear.  “Killian, in about 7 ½ months you’re going to be a daddy again.”

His eyes got round again, as he sat up abruptly.  “A father?  I’m to be a father?  You’re with child?”

She smiled tremulously.  “Yeah, Whale thinks I’m about 6 weeks along.  Are you…are you happy about it?  I mean I know we haven’t really discussed it and this is a surprise and…”

He cut her off with a swift, passionate kiss, his hand moving to rest on her still flat belly.  When he pulled back, there were tears in his eyes.  “How can you even ask that, Swan?  Of bloody course I’m happy.  A baby!  A product of our love!  I do believe my life is now absolutely perfect!”

Emma leaned over and kissed him again, the tears streaming from her eyes as overhead the fireworks celebrated right along with the Savior and her Pirate.

[teamhook]

Un-Kissable :|: Never Been Kissed CS AU

Okay… So I said I will be posting the original chapters first then add the new one.

Day three:

I thank @ilovemesomekillianjones​​ for being my beta for the first chapters and then the lovely @ultraluckycatnd​​ took over. Both lovely human beings!

Art by @herhookedhero​​

Chapter 3

High School teacher Emma Swan had been running late. It seemed she couldn't catch a break. Her beloved car had broken down and forced her to call her roommate Ruby to pick her up and give her a ride once again.

She had been racing against time and it was a race she couldn't possibly win. She'd lost miserably. After this last breakdown, it was inevitable that she would be told to retire her beloved yellow bug. Maybe it was a deathtrap waiting to happen.

She had been so lost in thought she didn't see the anyone coming around the corner until she collided with a very solid body. That had been the best wake-up call she had ever received. Maybe the day was not as bad as she initially thought. The same nice firm body that had brought her back to reality possessed deep blue piercing eyes that met hers, dark hair, luscious lips, and an apologetic, and accented voice.

He was sweet. He had been a gentleman as he helped her. Had they hired a new teacher? She really hoped he was not a student because that was trouble she didn't need. She had felt connected to him in a sense that was unexpected but fulfilling.

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[kimyoonmiauthor]

Failure to do citations. Don't do that. I spent so much time back tracing so we don't keep doing this without understanding the core treaties and what they were about.

You're missing

Gustav Freytag-the person who set up the pyramid. (also a raging pre-fascist genocidal and general sexist which does play into his story structure because I read his entire treaties.)

Lieberman- came from a concentration camp and then went on to be a raging racist. TT I covered him. !@#$. Coined Inciting Incident. Racist.

Lajos Egri- married a child bride and talked about it in his writing guide. Also disparaged women.

Syd Field- The actual person who came up with the 3-act structure, but that's not the final product.

Larry Brooks- credit for the pinch points. I haven't read his treaties yet.

Honorable mentions:

Selden Lincoln Whitcomb- His treaties is a lot more complex, but he was taken from for the "Line of Emotion" which contributed to later works and those fancy diagrams with the up and down.

Joseph Esenwein- Took from Whitcomb and built it for short stories.

Bertolt Brecht- People misunderstand his treaties completely and it has warped from what he wanted it to be to a depressing mess of something he didn't want it to be. The whole 2 act downfall is him, but he didn't want it to be a depressing anxious mess. He wanted it to be a fun triumph. Credited for Epic Theater, but from what I read of him, Andrew Lloyd Webber doesn't understand Brecht well because it rubs against Webber's ideals of capitalism. BTW, Brecht is fun to read, like he intended.

Dishonorable mentions:

Kenneth Rowe- Plagiarized, then got plagiarized from. lol But he was a university professor. The popularization of the long run up to one side, which he stole from Selden Lincoln Whitcomb and the visualization of the description from Esenwein and Gustav Freytag, is him.

Robert Scholes- Sexist pig. Also subtly homophobic. He argued for Post Modernism in the 1980's, though he didn't invent the idea.

I'm still missing the person who came up with Antigone's diagram (the wrong one). And I'm still tracking down the language of "stakes" and "High stakes" narrative.

I absolutely have memorized this by now.

That said, there are a lot more story structures than 3-act in the canon. Given that Freytag is in the late 19th century, you still have the European 4 act.

The Aristotlean 2-act 16 parts (less character, more chorus),

The argument for the 5-act which is covered by Aelius Donatus, though people misunderstood him by not translating him, which is really funny if you understand him and how much he got off by using big words from other languages to look smarter and the people used him to do the same. I spent over a week with his latin text trying to understand it. TT FU Aelius and it's incomplete.

The ?? act structure of Shakespeare since his plays were rewritten into a First Folio by an unknown hand (this isn't to say he never wrote his plays, but it has been proven that the plays were restructured at a later date. So any treaties about how great the act structure of Shakespeare was is kind of futile. BTW, his story driver was morality, not conflict.) The people of his time including the often more daring Ben Jonson (lol the CS Lewis to the JRR Tolkien, if you will), created what is now thought of as the multi-plot play. (I linked a credit somewhere around in my blog for the author of that assertion) A plot v. B plot, are credited to this time period.

There is the Confessional Story structure, which was popularized by women, and thus hated, because it was popularized by women. And then summarily hated by Foucault. Rose in the 1920's.

And then there are much, much older story structures than the 3-act. The non-Hero's Journey, because it was made up by Campbell who didn't know the name of Tazieh story structure.

And then you have the rest of the world to face. Robleto, Kishotenketsu, Giseungjeongyeol, qichenzhuanhe, etc. I did cover that too, BTW.

But I'd generally discourage people from not mentioning the authors. And also skipping over their terrible. You don't think Freytag's sexism played a role in his story structure? Did you read it? It's male sexual response before that became a thing mixed with Christianity. This is why people need the entire treaties.

The Happy ending in Romance is credited to the 1950's-ish. Which means it's not yet 100 years old. Which means some person out there, remembered when Romances had unhappy endings.

People who know the origin of things so they can examine if they really want to follow someone who hated "Hebrews" for most of his life, and Polish people, or if there might be other ways or other conventions that need to be tapped into again. Like the treaties on story from the Delphian Society, which was women-led.

The Three Act Structure

The Three Act Structure - Plotting with Three Acts #amwriting #writerslife #ThreeActStructure #WriterCommunity #Writing #Tips #WritingTips

I’ve written before about story structure and about how I structure my own stories, but I thought that I would talk a little bit about another useful (if a bit more complicated) way of structuring your story elements, the Three Act Structure. In basic terms, the Three Act Structure is separated into the three main parts of a story. The beginning – or act one, the middle – or act 2 and the end –…

[brookreader]

Team Red stayed together. Maybe not necessarily as a team, but as a family. They all kept in touch for the rest of their lives. And Carmen reconnected with Julia, Chase, and Graham too and stayed in contact. You cannot tell me otherwise <3

[whimsicallyenchantedrose]

Fourth of July Reruns: The Fireworks

Happy 4th of July week to all who celebrate it! I have a couple of old 4th of July themed CS fics that I thought I'd share with all of you, and if all goes well, I'll have a new 4th of July fic to add to Fluffy Fridays this Friday!

Word Count: 2525

Tagging a few people who may be interested (Let me know if you want to be added or taken off the list): @sailormew4 @annaamell @flslp87 @emmateo26 @bethacaciakay 

@ultraluckycatnd @effulgent-mind @ilovemesomekillianjones @kat2609 @brooke-to-broch 

@missgymgirl @galadriel26 @the-lady-of-misthaven @charmingturkeysandwich @jennjenn615 

@laschatzi @kimmy46 @snowbellewells @iamanneenigma @daxx04 

@nickillian  @gillie  @britishguyslover @ginnyjinxedandhanshotritafirst @kmomof4

 @linda8084 @golfgirld @captain-swan-coffee @searchingwardrobes @hollyethecurious 

@laughswaytoomuch  @allyourdarlingswans  @winterbaby89 @facesiousbutton82 @therooksshiningknight 

@lfh1226-linda @tiganasummertree @jrob64  @anmylica @booksteaandtoomuchtv

 @i-will-sing-no-requiem @bluewildcatfanatic @laianely

Summary: Originally posted to my Fluffy Friday collection several years ago, Emma and Killian are neighbors who despise each other, but when their constant feuding lands them in jail together, they discover that maybe they don't despise each other quite as much as they thought. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Fireworks

CS Genre: Feuding Neighbors AU

         “Come on David, you can’t be serious!” Emma growled as her brother, the sheriff, eased her back with a gentle hand to the arm.

         “Yeah, Emma,” he said grimly, “I can.”

         As if to emphasize the point, he slammed the jail cell door closed behind her.

         Behind her and her jackass next door neighbor.

         “Now, mate,” said jackass drawled, stepping forward.  “Are you sure this is the best idea?  You know your sister and I don’t particularly see eye to eye.”

         David smiled humorlessly.  “Understatement of the year after what you two have done over the last few days, but you’ve been disturbing the peace and driving everyone around you crazy, so yeah.  I think a night in jail is definitely in order.  You two’ll either find a way to work things out or you’ll kill each other.  Either way the rest of us might get a little peace and quiet.”

~~36 Hours Before…~~

         Killian settled into his bed with a contented sigh, reveling in the soft pillow.  The hum of the ceiling fan lulled him until his eyes gently closed.  It had been a long day, and he was in for another one tomorrow.

         Storybrooke had big plans for its 4th of July celebration on Saturday.  There were plans to shoot fireworks from a boat out on the harbor and set the whole thing to patriotic music.  As the town’s harbormaster, Killian had a big role to play in getting everything set up.  It was exhausting, and he wanted nothing more than to get a good night’s sleep before he waded into the madness all over again—ridiculously early tomorrow morning.

            Boom!  Crackle!

         Killian jumped at the sudden noise, and then heard a frightened yelp and the click of paws against his wooden floor, as his 75 pound Rottweiler mix sprinted into his room, jumped on his bed and plopped squarely on his chest.

         As Killian removed the panting, shaking, terrified canine baby from his person, his eyes narrowed.  He’d bet his last paycheck he knew precisely the cause of the disturbance.

         “Shh, Smee,” he said, stroking his dog���s black and caramel colored coat.  “There’s nothing to worry about.  It’s just…”

         Another boom, this one loud enough to shake his house.  Smee scrambled down and tried to wedge himself under Killian’s bed.

         Killian pushed himself to his feet and strode purposely toward his door, not even bothering to put on a shirt.  There was only one person who could be responsible.

            Swan.

            She’d moved into the house next to him about eight months ago, all long blonde hair and prickly exterior.  Never had he met someone so exquisitely beautiful—or so maddeningly frustrating.  The day after she’d moved in, he’d knocked on her door, friendly smile and “welcome to the neighborhood” bottle of rum at the ready.

         He’d prepared a genial, friendly speech about how he was pleased to meet her and glad the house was finally occupied again and how she shouldn’t hesitate to ask if he could be of any assistance, but then she’d opened the door, and all rational thought had fled.  Nothing could have prepared him for the utter perfection that was Emma Swan.

         So, rather than his careful, well thought out neighborly speech, what came out of his mouth was something along the lines of “Hey beautiful.  I think you and I need to get to know each other much, much better.”

         Needless to say, she’d slammed the door in his face.  Then she’d opened it again, swiped the rum from his hand, gave him a glare that could curdle milk, and slammed the door for the second time that morning.

         Things had only gone downhill from there. 

         From that moment on, it would seem they were sworn enemies.  Oh he’d tried to apologize, explain, but approaching her had been like trying to approach a rabid porcupine.

         So he’d stopped trying to apologize and started to do his best to completely piss her off, flirting outrageously with her whenever they came in contact.  She was utterly glorious when she was angry.

         She’d returned the favor with various acts of bad neighborliness—raking her leaves straight into his yard (he’d retaliated by raking the whole lot up and putting it in a messy pile at her front door) or parking her yellow bug smack dab in front of his mailbox—earning him the ire of Leroy, their bad-tempered postman (he’d retaliated by parking his own car at the end of her driveway), and all manner of other, deliberate acts of aggression.

         And tonight, it would appear she’d decided to shoot off fireworks at 10:30 pm.  Well, he wasn’t going to stand for it anymore.  Enough was enough.

         Righteous indignation intact, he stormed from his front door and marched right up to the exasperating woman who was preparing to apply a lighter to another bottle rocket, a preteen boy looking on with excitement.

         “What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing?” he’d shouted.

         Emma jumped and then glared.  “What does it look like I’m doing?  I’m setting off fireworks.  There’s a little thing called Independence Day coming up, and Henry and I wanted to celebrate.”

         “Yeah?” he’d growled, “well can’t you celebrate at a reasonable hour?  Some of us are trying to get some bloody sleep, so how about you cease and desist immediately.”

         She rolled her eyes.  “Not happening, buddy,” she said in a hard voice.  “So how about you take your un-patriotic ass off my lawn and go get that sleep you’re so desperate for.”

         He’d opened his mouth, preparing for a stinging reply, but then thought better of it as a brilliant, devious plan came to mind.  She wanted to disturb his sleep and scare his dog half to death?  Fine.  Two could play at that game.  Miss patriotic over there was about to find out that payback was a bitch.

~~6 ½ hours later…~~

         Emma was happily fast asleep when it happened.  A canon boomed and suddenly classical music, at roughly the decibel level of a jet, filled her peaceful bedroom.  She shot up in bed, hand going immediately to her heart, and then her eyes narrowed.

         Killian.

         No one else would even think of pulling something like this. 

         She got to her feet, threw on some sweats and stormed from the house, prepared to give the son of a bitch a piece of her mind he would never forget.

         Killian Jones was the bane of her existence; had been ever since that first morning he’d knocked on her door and immediately set in to hitting on her.  Obviously thought he was God’s gift to women; that she should just swoon at his feet in ecstasy that he’d deigned to talk to her.

         Yeah, not happening. 

She didn’t care how ridiculously hot he was.  And yes, with his piercing blue eyes, messy black hair, and perpetual scruff…well, hot didn’t even begin to cover it.  And when he’d stormed over to her house last night, naked to the waist and she’d gotten her first glimpse of that ripped, hair smattered chest….well, maybe it did things to her.

            Ugh!  What was she doing?  She wasn’t some teenager who couldn’t keep her hormones in check.  She was a full grown woman who was going to give a world-class jerk the verbal beating he so richly deserved!

         Killian Jones sat on his porch swing, cup of coffee in hand, smug grin in place.

         “Morning, Swan,” he said genially.  “Looks like it’s going to be a lovely day, aye?”

         She took his porch steps two at a time, walked over to the stereo system he’d moved to sit beside him—the stereo system whose speakers were turned conspicuously toward her house—and punched the “stop” button with a viciousness that would have made a fairy tale villain proud.  “Cut the crap, Jones.  What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

       His grin spread maddeningly further.  “Just enjoying the morning,” he drawled.  “After all, as patriotic as you are, I’d assumed you’d enjoy ‘The 1812 Overture’.  Quite a good rendition, this.  Did you know they used real canons in the finale?”

         Emma’s hand ached with the need to punch the smug bastard in the face.  “It’s freaking five o’clock in the morning!  I was asleep.”

         Suddenly a glint of temper entered his eyes.  “Aye?  Well darling, now you know how it feels.”

         And that was all it took.  Emma took a deep breath and started in on the long list of all the things she hated about Killian Jones.

~~Present Day~~

         Emma plopped down on one of the prison cell cots and turned resolutely from the man standing on the far side of the cell.  After the cataclysmic shouting match this morning, one of their other neighbors had evidently called the cops.  David had shown up, taken one, assessing look at the situation, and thrown both of their asses in jail.

         And now she was going to be stuck with Killian freaking Jones until tomorrow morning!

         Talk about cruel and unusual punishment!  This was going to be the longest night of her life.

         For long minutes they both sat there, each on their respective bunks, seething and glaring daggers in each other’s general direction.  Finally he let out a deep breath, ran a hand through his hair, and turned suddenly repentant eyes in her direction.

         “Look love,” he began.

         “Not your love, Jones,” she said automatically.

         He charged on, ignoring the interruption.  “Perhaps your brother is right.  Things might be…tumultuous…between us, but we are neighbors.  We need to find a way to live together in peace.  I apologize for blaring music at you at an ungodly hour this morning.  Bad form, that.”

         He was apologizing?  Actually apologizing?  Taking responsibility for something he’d done and wishing to make amends?  Of all the things she’d expected to come from his mouth that was not it.

         “Um,” she said in confusion, “thanks for that.”

         He reclined his head in acknowledgement.  “I let my temper get the better of me.  I’ve been under a bit of stress at work lately, and when you set off your fireworks late last night—disturbing my sleep and scaring my dog witless—well, I suppose I snapped.”

         Sudden guilt clawed at Emma.  She supposed if she was being completely honest…she hadn’t handled last night’s altercation as well as she might have.  And, okay, maybe if she was further being honest, he wasn’t a complete pain in the ass all the time.  There was that time last winter when he’d come over and shoveled her driveway after a particularly nasty blizzard….and there was that time she’d been sick and he’d run down to the local diner and bought her some chicken soup.

         And, well, okay, maybe he had some justification for being angry after all the crap she’d done to him.  Maybe he wasn’t the only one who needed to make an apology.

         “Yeah,” she said, picking at a loose string on her cot and refusing to look over at him.  “I guess I should apologize too.  For the fireworks.  I didn’t think about them bothering anyone, but, well, I didn’t exactly handle our conversation last night well.”

         She felt the cot sag beside her, and looked up into the bluest eyes she’d ever seen in her life.  Killian extended one hand, friendly smile firmly in place.  “Apology accepted.  Truce?”

         She hesitated for another moment, and then gripped his offered hand.  A jolt of electricity passed between them at the touch, and Emma gasped, dropped his hand like it was a live wire, and turned startled green eyes his direction.  What she saw in the depths of his eyes was something she’d never expected.  Kindness, understanding, friendship.

     Emma’d had a rough life; always abandoned, always forgotten, always passed over.  It wasn’t until David’s mom, Ruth, adopted her at the age of seventeen that she finally found someone she could really trust.  Still, trust came hard.  Her default position was to expect the worst.

     So it shocked her to her very core when she suddenly had the urge to confide in the man sitting beside her—the man she’d hated from the very beginning.

      “Look,” she said, once again glancing away from him.  “That boy that was with me last night...”

         He nodded, urging her to go on.  “That’s my…that’s my son.  Got knocked up really young; still a kid really, sixteen-and-a-half.  And when I told the father…well, he freaked out.  Walked out on us, and I’ve never seen him since.”

         Killian took her hand, and to her shock, she had no desire to pull away.

         “I gave Henry up when he was born, trying to give him his best chance, you know? What did I know about being a mother?  I’d never even had one to speak of.”

         “I can’t begin to imagine how difficult that must have been for you,” Killian whispered.  She looked up at him, nodded, and gave his hand a quick squeeze.

         “Yeah,” she admitted.  “Tore me apart.  I’ve been looking for him for years, and finally found him here in this town.  The adoptive mom didn’t want me to have anything to do with him; almost took out a restraining order on me, and well, last night was the first time she agreed to let me have contact with him.  Real contact.  Henry loves fireworks, so…”  Emma shrugged.

         Killian was silent for a long time, and finally she looked up at him.  The compassion in his eyes was almost her undoing.  “I’m sorry for overreacting, love.”

         She shrugged again.  “Not your fault; not really.  You couldn’t have known.  And...well, I guess my default is to be defensive.  My experience…people don’t stay.  They don’t do nice things for you, at least without expecting things in return.  They're all out to screw you over.”

         “Emma, you deserve far, far better than that.”

         Something about the sincerity of his voice, the emotion behind his simple statement, finally made her snap.  Surging forward, she weaved her hand through the soft hair at the nape of his neck and slammed her lips against his.

         He responded instantly, giving as good as he got, deepening the kiss, making small noises in the back of his throat that drove her wild.  In the history of kisses, she was sure there had never been one quite so potent, so all consuming.

         When they finally pulled apart, she rested her forehead against his and felt his deep chuckle against her hand, resting on his chest.  “Love, that was…”

         “Mind-blowing, explosive,” she finished.  She leaned back and grinned at him.  “Jones, I thought you were against fireworks, but that..”

         He laughed again.  “Well, there are fireworks and then there are fireworks.”

         She laughed with him, and couldn’t resist going in for round two, the kiss far softer and more gentle this time.

         “Killian,” she finally said, breathlessly.  “I think we kind of started out on the wrong foot.  How about we start over and this time try to not, you know, attempt to kill each other every other day?”

         Killian grinned.  “Sounds good to me, love.”  He extended his hand once more.  “Hi, I’m Killian Jones.  Pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

[brookreader]

Nobody:

Not a soul:

Not even me:

Carmen Sandiego: “Where’s Jules today?” “Shame, she(Julia)’s probably a better driver.” “I might’ve been able to trust Jules, but...” “Jules would understand.”

[brookreader]

I mean, I can understand why some would feel that way, but, personally, as a Carulia shipper...

... idk, I’m satisfied (tumblr let me add more than 10 images challenge)

Carmen Sandiego’s fandom after season 4 :

[re-yesblake]

you don’t have to read this rant but maybe you should

to some S stans:

her body shape, her laugh, her appearance, etc has NOTHING to do with their relationship at all, neither does it seem to be affecting shawn so i don’t get why it effects you. just because someone doesn’t fit in your expectations of beauty or “perfection” doesn’t mean they aren’t.

the fact that people are portraying her as some fame whore is a fucking JOKE because half the world probably knew who camila was before they knew shawn and that’s not even supposed to be an insult to either of them because they’re both successful as individuals and THEY ARE EQUALS

if you support shawn and not their relationship, remember that they’re also BEST FRIENDS (even if they’re not dating) i don’t know S well but i doubt he would want people hating on his friends.

and to some C stans/CS:

i get that many people believe their relationship is PR and honestly, so do i, but that doesn’t give us the right to hate on shawn for something he could have been forced into also. we’re forgetting that he could be in the same position as camila too. sending hate to him will do nothing but cause a war between C/S stans.

please, they’re BEST FRIENDS STILL and it hurts her too because of all the S stans shaming her and their friendship/relationship and her own fans creating a toxic environment

i don’t ship them and i’ll say that as many times as i want to because it’s my opinion, but if they ARE dating and happy together than i will be happy for them too and i will not hate on either of them for it because camila’s happiness comes before my own delusions

BASICALLY the point of this rant that no one probably read is that we can still have our own opinions to share amongst ourselves but DO NOT send hate or pester either of them because nobody really knows what is going on behind the scenes

i’m so sick of this toxic environment that is hurting both of our idols so please stop

[problematic-camren]

This is random but when did you decide to unstan camila? And why exactly? Its weird considering how all camren shippers are resolving to one side or the other. And all the one who still pretend to be ot5 are just a bunch of delulu/hypocrites in my opinion considering the amount of hostility between both sides. I get that some relate more to lauren but i wanna know your reasoning. Especially since camila is the one who doesnt make shipping camren feel like a crime.

1. First of all, I never said I’m unstanning C. Was there a memo?

I don’t know why I have to explain to any one of you, when I don’t ask C stans why they decided to unstan 5h and stick to C? My quick answer? It’s life. We jump from one popstar to another. it’s totally acceptable and understandable. That’s how music and pop culture is – one distraction after the other.

That being said, I’ll still try to give you something. (Hopefully this won’t attract pressed anons because guess what, we can stan one artist without automatically hating on others).

THIS IS GONNA BE LONG AF BEC I’LL TRY TO SAY EVERYTHING IN ONE POST JUST SO I DON’T HAVE TO ANSWER FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS. (Anons, please don’t start.) because why are we still talking about this, it’s almost 2018. We all are living in an era where this fandom is so divided that it’s almost impossible to glue it back together. Even ot4s are fighting over which single is better, or which fan loves their fave the most – yeah, 5h fans are further divided into sub-stanning. At least camilizers only have one fave to defend (and one group to hate on), while ot4s have camilizers and outside fandoms to fend off, solo stans to fight, and fellow ot4s who fight over singles/non-singles/unreleased tracks. Like for real? Am I in a playground? Or royal rumble?

Anyway…

2. To be clear, I still listen to Camila, although I’m not as updated anymore. But that doesn’t mean I’m unstanning. It’s just a matter of allocating my time and interests. Especially when I’m going through my own personal shit rn.

What I said was, I stan 5H MORE, but I still respect and acknowledge Camila’s talents. I’m still a fan of both, even though unequally. I’m not a die hard stan, so I can casually admire both sides without harboring any ill feelings. I mean, just weeks ago I have introduced Havana to my parents (which they’re now humming every now and then) – is that me unstanning?

So while I agree (and I’ve said this before) that there’s no such thing as “ot5s” anymore, it’s still possible to be ot5 as in “neutral���. When I say there’s no ot5, it’s because all of us are leaning towards one side. People may deny this, but it’s true. Ot5 is just a term now for fans who decide to stay in between, who choose to not feed on the hate, and choose to not be involved in drama or Stan wars. They still enjoy both 5h and cc, BUT, you guys must admit (at least to yourselves) that even if you claim you’re ot5, you still lean towards one side (even if it’s just one percent higher), whether you prefer 5h more or CC, you simply have your favorite. You may secretly wish that one side will chart higher than the other (but of course wish that BOTH will do well), you may wish that one side will win an award first (although you’ll be vocal that you want both sides to win)… In short, we can still clap for both 5h and CC, but we’ll be clapping extra harder for one side (maybe secretly… Maybe your ass will be clapping so as not to be obvious).

That’s reality, at least that’s what I’ve noticed in ALL of the people I have interacted with in this fandom. All of them claim they’re still ot5, but all of them admit they stan one side more than the other. No hard feelings. It’s life. People are free to stan whoever they want.

3. This is the explanation I can give you why I stan 5H more. It’s because I stan 5H as a group. When I got into this fandom, I fell in love with 5h as a group before I fell in love with Lauren lol. Camren may have introduced me to 5h, but my shipping doesn’t affect my love for the group and all of its members.

Because I wanted to see them grow and leave their mark AS A GROUP. I wanted to see them make an impact as TLC or DC or SG did during their time, which I never did with PCD or any other GG in recent times. I simply didn’t care before. 5H made me care.

I stan them as a group because they made me care about stanning a girl group. They even brought back my interest in mainstream music. The group did that, not Camren, not Lauren. The group. My solo fave is just a bonus. Because I have been a fan of solo artists here and there, but never did they make me waste my time, my entire day and attention, like 5h did. Even with my most favorite bands, I never felt as heartbroken as I did when 5h split up. That’s what 5h did to me – the group made me feel something. I love the girls individually, but I love them more as a group. As 5H.

I’m a harmonizer first before I am a solo stan. And I’m afraid that once 5h breaks up, I’ll move on. I may occasionally check up on L and the others, but I feel like once the group is over, so is my passion as a harmo. That’s life.

I never stayed (I’ve come so close to leaving this fandom just these past few months) here for individual stanning. Although I’m an L girl, and I believe in their individual talents (and I know they’re all capable of doing something individually), my major reason why I’m still in this fandom is because of 5h as a group and what they’re capable of.

Basically, what I stan is their potential to leave a legacy reminiscent of their predecessors, and that’s why I’m still here in this fandom even if I’m seriously sick and tired of this drama bullshit.

I stan 5H for what they symbolize. A group of girls realizing their dreams against all odds.

4. Whether I ship Camren or not, it’s irrelevant. Idk what’s the correlation of shipping Camren and stanning 5h.

Are you saying that since Camila has not openly denounced Camren and ranted it was never real ever, that I should automatically stan Camila harder? Is that your point?

Because while Camren brought me to this fandom, as I’ve said above, I stan 5h (even when Camila was still in the group) as a girl group, NOT as a group with Camren in it. My Camren shipping is another story. I can separate reality vs fantasy. That’s why it’s easier for me to ship Lauren with anyone else other than Camila. And I do respect Camila’s gracious and kind treatment to CS and Camren, but like I said, I don’t stan 5h because of Camren.

To end this long ass bullshit, I want to clarify that just because I stan 5H more, doesn’t mean I don’t like Camila.

Just because two sides are fighting now, doesn’t mean that a fan has to pick a side and be bitter towards the “enemy” and can’t be a fan of both. It’s not automatic that if you like one side, you hate the other. It’s not how it’s supposed to be.

Just let stans stan who they want to stan. Instead of questioning people why they don’t stan certain artists, question people why they have to hate on people to validate their love for their faves.

[brookreader]

Damn y'all giving mimebomb too much credit he's not the only clown in the show

Like damn Graham Cracker and Cheese devinaux were great clowns too

[whimsicallyenchantedrose]

Girls' Trip Fairy Tale Ending--Chapter 5 of 5

Summary:  This is my combined birthday gift for Joni (  @jrob64​  ), Marta ( @snowbellewells ) and Krystal ( @kmomof4 ).  Happy birthday ladies! Four fandom friends are nearing the end of their annual girls’ trip when they’re suddenly visited by Isaac, the author before Henry.  He gives them an each a gift–an opportunity to jump into any scene in the storybook they want and fix it.  Large focus on CS, although other characters and relationships will be explored.  A big shoutout to @hollyethecurious​ and @winterbaby89 for betaing!

Word Count: 1090

Tagging a few people who may be interested (Let me know if you want to be added or taken off the list): @sailormew @annaamell @flslp877 @emmateo26 @bethacaciakay

@ultraluckycatnd @effulgent-mind @ilovemesomekillianjones @kat2609 @brooke-to-broch

@missgymgirl @galadriel26 @the-lady-of-misthaven @charmingturkeysandwich @jennjenn615

@laschatzi @kimmy46 @snowbellewells @iamanneenigma @daxx04

@nickillian  @gillie  @britishguyslover @ginnyjinxedandhanshotritafirst @kmomof4  

@linda8084 @golfgirld @captain-swan-coffee @searchingwardrobes @hollyethecurious

@laughswaytoomuch  @allyourdarlingswans  @winterbaby89 @facesiousbutton82 @therooksshiningknight,

@lfh1226-linda @tiganasummertree  @jrob64  @anmylica   @booksteaandtoomuchtv​ @elfiola

Other chapters:  (1) (2) (3) (5)

Can also be found on: (ao3) (ff.net)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Note: I know it's been forever since I posted (and you've probably forgotten what this fic is all about by now), but in the spirit of the thing, I decided to post on the last birthday of our group--which happens to be mine! I hope you enjoyed our adventures!

Epilogue

And with Jen’s return to the cabin, the fairytale adventure came to a close.

“I don’t know about the rest of you,” Jen said, “but for me, that is by far the best way to watch Once Upon a Time.  You get to meet the characters, fix plot holes, and experience the Happily Ever After.”

There were unanimous choruses of agreement all around.

“Well, I’m glad you enjoyed yourselves,” Isaac said with a roll of his eyes, “but I hope you also learned something.  I hope you all learned that my job is harder than you thought it was–that when you change one thing, there is an entire cascade of unforeseen effects.”

“Is that really a bad thing?” Jen mused. “When the original trajectory was stupid, changes are a good thing.”

“Speaking of,” Krystal said, “can we finally talk about our experiences?”

Isaac sighed. Loudly. “Fine, but no cheating!  You have to disclose all of it, not just the things you liked, but the ways it changed the story, the ripple effects it had, the boring moments, the epic romantic moments that no longer happened.”

“Can you wrap this up?” Joni asked, “or is this lecture going to go on for a while, because if it is, I’m going to bed.”

Isaac sighed again.  “Just get on with it.”

“Gladly,” Joni said. “I went back to the beanstalk.”

There was a chorus of excited voices at that revelation, being, after all, a very significant moment in the Captain Swan journey.

“So what did you do?” Jen asked. “How did you change it?”

“I convinced Emma to go back and free Killian,” Joni answered. “How about the rest of you?”

“I saved Graham’s life,” Marta said with a sound that was half-way between a sigh and a giggle.

“There’s a shock,” Krystal said.

“How did you make that work with the story?” Jen asked.

“I really didn’t have to do much,” Marta said.  “I got Henry to distract Regina, and then I took back Graham’s heart. I got to put it back!  Then he kissed my hand and used a Killian line on me.”

“And you’re still alive to tell the tale?” Joni asked.

“Barely,” Marta said, clapping her hands and giggling again, “but it was touch and go for a little while.  Anyway, Emma decided she liked Graham, but she wasn’t sure she was in love with him. Then Regina got mad and banished Graham to the mental asylum. Then Ruby and Graham fell in love and lived happily ever after.”

There was a universal chorus of oos and ahs at that.  The consensus was that that would have, indeed, made for a better story.

“I went back to season six,” Jen said, when the discussion died down.  

“How could you possibly pick one scene from that hot mess to fix?” Krystal asked?

“Wasn’t easy,” Jen answered.  “Hot mess indeed.  Ultimately, I would have liked to change the entire arc with Killian killing David’s dad and all that came after that.  After all, that made no sense at all.  Since when would Killian kill someone to keep them from telling people he killed the king’s soldiers?  Wouldn’t that enhance his pirate street cred?”

“I needed one more conflict between them before their happily ever after!” Isaac said defensively.

“One, why?” Jen asked, “and two, if you needed one, you could have actually made it necessary to the plot and not just angst for angst’s sake.”

“Well…well…” Isaac spluttered, “that’s not even the scene you picked, so why are we even talking about this?”

“Because you need to hear it,” Jen answered.  “Anyway, I decided what bugged me the most about that whole arc was that Emma immediately believed he’d left her, and everyone else in her life just….went with it.  I talked some sense into all of them.  Oh, and I made it Christmastime–which let them bring Killian home with a little Christmas magic.”

“Well, of course, you can make things work out when you just randomly introduce a magical item!” Isaac exploded.

“You’re complaining about magical MacGuffins?” Joni asked. “May I introduce you to…any of your writing?”

Isaac grumbled under his breath, and then turned to Krystal.  “All right.  Let’s get this over with.  Time for you to tell us about your adventure.”

Krystal shrugged and gave him an evil grin.  “I killed off Neal.”

“Naturally,” Jen said.  “I assume there was pain?”

“Do you know me at all?” Krystal tossed back. “Of course there was pain.  Lots of it.  And screaming.”

“So Rumple didn’t absorb him?” Marta asked.

“Nope, and almost nothing ended up changing,” Krystal said.  “Except Snowing’s baby’s name, of course.”

Jen, Joni and Marta gave her blank stares.

“What does Neal’s death have to do with the baby’s name?” Marta asked.

“Without Neal around to be a ‘hero’,” she explained, “they ended up naming him Graham.

The blank stares continued.

“Oh come on ladies,” Krystal said, “I thought that would be your favorite part.  No one, and I mean no one liked that they named their son Neal.”

“What?” Joni asked.  “Why would they name their son Neal?  Who would name their son after their daughter’s ex-boyfriend who sent her to jail and broke her heart?”

“Exactly!” Krystal agreed.  Looking around, she noticed the other ladies were still giving her odd looks.  “Wait….you mean that’s NOT how you remember it?”

“No!” Marta said emphatically.  “There was a lot I loved about the CS movie, but the thing that always brought tears to my eyes was the naming ceremony when they named their baby after Graham and talked about how much of a hero he was.  It was just…”  There was the giggle sigh again.

Krystal looked over at Isaac, and he shrugged. “Far be it from me to deny it when I’m wrong.  Neal was a stupid naming choice.”

“You’ve got that right,” Jen said.

With a dramatic sigh, Isaac shook his head and threw up his hands.  “I give up.  Clearly there’s no reasoning with fanfiction writers.  Enjoy the rest of your trip, I guess.  And next year?  Lay off of the head trauma.  By my count you knocked Will upside the head seven times in your story. Gave me a headache just reading it.”

And with that, he was engulfed in a puff of smoke, and a moment later, there was no sign that he’d ever been there.  No sign, that is, but the excited chattering of the four ladies in the cabin who discussed their adventures long into the night.

[teamhook]

Captain Swan Writers Spotlight

Hello, lovelies. I've decided to do a spotlight on Captain Swan writers. Fandom is not what it used to be, and we are lucky to have such a talented group. I want to highlight a new/underrated writer per post. We have new people, and I try to keep up, but sometimes I fail. Please, join me in showing them love. If you guys have any suggestions, let me know!

Up to the spotlight is:

TUMBLR

AO3 WORKS LINK

In the Offing ~ Completed MC

Summary: AU - Storybrooke - Emma Swan is drafted to help Liam Jones clear his brother’s name in the disappearance of a former flame. As she digs deeper into the rash of missing person cases, she risks losing more than just her heart as she uncovers the truth.

Oh this was her first fic in fandom and the one I stalked her on AO3 in a good way to join us here. Guys this story is amazing!

--

Five Things that Didn’t Happen to Cinderella and Her Prince (Even in the Weird Disney Sequels) ~ Five Short Stories  Completed

Summary:

Five short stories that give an alternate ending to the Cinderella fairy tale

This was before I decided to only write happy endings.

First one is from the Prince’s POV

I only read CS stories but this does look interesting. I might take a chance with it.

--

Killian, Persuaded ~ MC Completed

Summary: AU — Storybrooke — When a stunning betrayal forces Killian Jones to reevaluate his life, he finds himself unexpectedly rescued by his estranged brother. Traveling to Maine to meet the family he didn’t know existed, he immediately comes face-to-face with the woman he pushed away a decade before. This time around he’s determined to be a better man and, if he’s lucky, win back the only woman he ever loved.

Basically a Hallmark movie with OUAT characters.

This is such a great story. It was such a ride waiting for the update.

--

Something Suspiciously Like Hope ~ One-Shot

Summary: The moment Captain Hook opens himself up to the possibility of love

I thought this was a sweet little story.

Annd I know she will be posting a story soon. Keep an eye out for it.

--

@allons-y-to-hogwarts-713 @andiirivera @anothersworld @apiratewhopines @artistic-writer @batana54 @beckettj @bethacaciakay @bixisarusher @branlovestowrite @brooke-to-broch @captainodonoghue @carpedzem @chasedancer17 @cocohook38 @courtorderedcake @darkcolinodonorgasm @deckerstarblanche @deckerstarblanche @djlbg @donteattheappleshook @dovelyheart @elizabeethan @gingerchangeling @gingerpolyglot @holdingoutforapiratehero @hollyethecurious @hookedonapirate @hookedonaswanprincess @hookedonhiddles @ilovemesomekillianjones @imlaxdris71 @itsfabianadocarmo @jarienn972 @jennjenn615 @jonesfandomfanatic @jrob64 @justanother-unluckysoul @k-leemac @karlyfr13s @kday426 @killian-will-do @klynn-stormz @kmomof4 @kwistowee @kymbersmith-90 @laschatzi @lassluna @let-it-raines @lfh1226-linda @lonelyspectator12 @mariakov81 @motherkatereloyshipper @officerrogers @ohmakemeahercules @onceratheart18 @pirateherokillian @purplehawkcaptain @queen-serena88 @resident-of-storybrooke @revanmeetra87 @rumdrum91 @sailtoafarawayland @scientificapricot @scribomaniac @searchingwardrobes @seriouslyhooked @shardminds @shireness-says @snowbellewells @sotangledupinit @spacekrulesbians @spartanguard @stahlop @superchocovian @swanslieutenant @tehgreeneyes @the-darkdragonfly @thejollyroger-writer @thepirateandhisson @therealstartraveller776 @thesschesthair @thislassishooked @thisonesatellite @tiganasummertree @tomeandflickcorner @ultraluckycatnd @veryverynotgoodwrites @wefoundloveunderthelight @wellhellotragic @whimsicallyenchantedrose @winterbaby89 @winterbythesea​ @xarandomdreamx @xemmaloveskillianx @xsajx @zaharadessert​

[victorie552onepiecespeedrun]

Reading One Piece pt 266: All Gone

Chapter 513

Thoughts:

- Volume 53! Lots of snakes and women with weird proportions! But these ones are fully intentional!  

- (by the way, Zoro vanishing? What an ending to a volume)

- “Sabaody Part 4.” That arc wasn’t long enough for 4 volumes? Two maybe I think… ok, no, we’re 24 chapters in, it could theoretically be part 4

- Fpos/cs: “Excessive justice” oh, Lucci went a little too far with butt-kicking. You were so close, man. So close

- “Zoro… disappeared! What did you do to him?! He was right here!” I also want to know that

- “But the Seven Warlords of the Sea have been summoned to Navy Headquarters! This just shows that you can never trust pirates!” nothing to tell you, Kizaru

- “Zoro’s been erased! It must be the real Kuma!” “It’s definitely him! I’ve seen him use that power before! Back at Thriller Bark he erased a girl and we never saw her again!” Nami remembered Perona! (so Nami and Franky ALSO didn’t run away. I can’t with this crew)

- someone go stop Eldritch Chopper before he hurts himself

- “Where did Zoro go!” “Only Kuma himself knows where they go. But one thing’s for sure, it’s not somewhere you can easily get to from here. They could get hurled to the far side of the oceans.” helpful

- “Where did you send him!? SAY SOMETHING!” oh man

- Sanji went to help them but he looks almost as bad as Zoro did

- “Behind you!” “Don’t interfere” wow, Kuma just vanished PX-1

- “He just erased one of his own guys!” 

- (:D)

- “RUN, GODDAMMIT!” yeah, as Luffy said. It’s like when your mom meets a friend in a grocery store, every time you think they’re finished talking, they keep at it for the next 10 minutes. MOVE PEOPLE

- “I’ll protect you with my life! Oh, but I’m already de...”

- !! Kuma vanished Brook too! And he didn’t even finish his joke!

- (At this point I think Kuma is an ally of Straw Hats. Doesn’t mean it isn’t spooky when he vanishes people)

- “Crap! What am I doing! Two of our crew were erased right in front of me!”  Sanji MAD

- “Sanji, run, please!” that’s Luffy. (Nobody listens to Luffy today)

- Usopp gone! And now Sanji! Four are gone!

- “What the...? How do I...?” Luffy is crying, I can’t. Don’t cry, Luffy, they’ll be fine!!

- “Something extraordinary is going on over there! I would like to go help them, but the years have slowed me down!” “Keeping an Admiral of the Navy on bay isn’t enough for you, eh? Don’t say things like that. It makes me look bad.” Ok, this is gold

- oh, Kuma went to chat for real

- “You expect me to believe you’re the real Kuma?” “That’s up to you. I’m endangering my position by doing this.” ???!??!??

- “What’s the meaning of this, Kuma?” “In matters that don’t involve the Government, I’m not required to cooperate with Navy. I won’t answer your question.” You tell him, Kuma! Why is it so funny

- “Luffy, wait! That’s exactly what enemy wants!” now Luffy and Franky are attacking Kuma, I don’t even know

- “Luffy! Help...! me...” Bye Franky, bye Nami (D:)

- “Stop! STOP!!!” Chopper and Robin are gone too

(- ...is Luffy the only one left? that’s cruel)

- …Luffy?

- oh god, Luffy, no, it’s not like that

- “What’s wrong with me?” no. NO

- “I couldn’t save... any of them!” DON’T CRY AT ME I WILL CRY RIGHT BACK IN SELF DEFENSE

- just look at that, it’s horrible

- Rayleigh and Kuma just can’t say anything to that. Kizaru and Axe Guy just want it over with

- “We’ll never see each other again.”

- …bye Luffy

(-...fuck.)

- and now all Straw Hats officially vanished from the battlefield

“Grove 12, Sabaody Archipelago, The Grand Line. That day, The Straw Hat Pirates led by Captain Monkey D. Luffy… were eradicated.”

rOP 265  rOP 267

[brookreader]

Hey op where’s the essay

Also Player’s eyes are gray too and he’s also very clever and strategically inclined - perhaps Carmen’s already found one of her biological family members and doesn’t even know 👀

Carmen’s eyes are gray and her mother is never shown. Therefore, it is plausible that her mother is Athena, the goddess of wisdom. This would grant Carmen Athena’s keen brain needed for plotting and quick thinking. In this essay I will-

[brookreader]

The fact Zack and Ivy most likely have a power point Ted talk presentation to Carmen about memes, vines, and modern gen z humor (since they are gen z) because Carmen lived on a island her whole life and doesn’t know what a yeet is just make me laugh

Y e s absolutely. Player started the slideshow, and Ivy and Zack added on a lot. The mental image of Carmen listening studiously while her friends explain memes is hilarious. Maybe she makes flash cards.

Zack and ivy try to teach shadowsan memes too, but he’s not as much of an enthusiastic pupil as Carmen