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friendofhayley · 4 years ago

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I’m back after my hiatus from fanfiction, to give y’all the best multifandom recs of the fics I read this month. Shoutout to all content creators who helped us live to see the close of this year. This fic includes 15 fics for Sterek, Larry, Winteriron, and Geraskier. The starred ones put me through heaven and hell *chef’s kiss*.

Sterek (Teen Wolf)

1. Six Letter Word for Romance by @troubleiwant | domestic kink - omg there’s only one bed - soft Derek - oblivious idiots in love - 6k

Stiles definitely starts off thinking it’s fucking hilarious that Derek-sourwolf-Hale does crosswords and cares about scuffs on his furniture.

But at a certain point, and he can’t pinpoint exactly when, “fully functional adult couple” somehow becomes a massive fetish of his. Derek in sweats and bare feet, nudging his glasses up his nose while he does the Sunday crossword? Unff. Derek filling out forms to get some renovations on his property approved? Oh God, yes. Derek putting away groceries and bitching that the corner store was out of the right type of Greek yogurt? Take me now, Stiles thinks, worrying at his lower lip with his teeth.

This can’t be normal.

2. *Dirty Little Secret* by @isthatbloodonhisshirt | Cora & Stiles bffs - no one can resist the Stilinski charm - celebrity Derek - human au - 91k

“Holy shit, this is a date!” he blurted out, turning back to Derek wide-eyed. “This is a date! You intended for this to be a date, this was supposed to be a date!” He figured if he said it enough times, maybe he would believe it, but so far, no dice.

Derek was scowling again—seriously, did he want wrinkles?—but he just reached into one of the bags and pulled out a burger, checking what was written on the foil in sharpie before handing it over to Stiles.

“Of course it’s a date, what did you think this was?”

3. Can You Feel A Whole New Part of Your World? by @isthatbloodonhisshirt | i genuinely don’t look at authors names i just click i am sorry for spamming you but you write too good - neighbors Sterek - emotionally mature Stiles - the ideal fluffy world you’d want to live in - 53k

Can you hear me singing in the shower?” Stiles blurted out, because he had to know, now. If one of his neighbours had slid that note under his door, then it meant Parrish as another neighbour could hear him, too! He had to know if this was all a huge joke and one person had walked by and overheard him and decided to fuck with him.

Parrish gave him a weird look at the question, but answered anyway, making Stiles’ plans to leave the country speed up in his mind.

“Of course I can. You’re actually not bad. Though you have been singing a lot of Frozen lately, getting kind of tired of the soundtrack.”

4. Theory of Overprotective Canines by @petals42 | derek can turn into wolf - oblivious Stiles - future fic - mutual pining - 11k

Stiles is totally looking forward to living alone in his super cool apartment off-campus. He is. He is also very excited to bike to school every day, ready to set up an awesome game room, and definitely over his crush on Derek Hale. Completely over it.

Or at least he is until Derek decides he's moving in with him. And then turns out to be the perfect roommate. And then starts attending all his classes. As a wolf.

This is not going according to plan.

Larry (One Direction)

5. **The Changer and the Changed** by @homosociallyyours | literally the best fic of all time i want to live in there - girl direction - NYC ‘70s au - trans Zayn - the girls are so lovely - 59k

It’s the spring of 1977 and Harry Styles has just moved to New York City after graduating college. She knows she’s a lesbian. She just needs to figure out how to meet other lesbians.

Louis Tomlinson works at a popular women’s bookstore in the Lower East Side, Womon’s Direction, where she spends her days reading feminist literature, writing poetry, exchanging friendly barbs with her boss Niall, and dreaming of finding someone to love.

When Harry and Louis meet, their connection is instantaneous. Slowly but surely, Louis welcomes Harry into her community of women. Stonewall veteran and old school butch Niall; Liam, a land dyke who’s moved to the city for love; and Zayn, a lesbian musician who’s been ostracized by a vocal part of women’s community for being trans, welcome Harry with open arms, ready to help her find her place in New York City’s bustling lesbian scene.

6. others i’ve seen might never be mean (but they would never do) by @cherrylouvol6 | aaaaaaaa it’s lesbian When Harry Met Sally !!! - rom com - girl direction - coming out and first times - really great sex - 20k

Louis sighs.

“Do you remember what I said to you the first time we met?”

“That I’m naive and neurotic and would be hard pressed to ever find someone who could put up with me?” Harry snaps.

7. some things fade (some never do) by @so-why-let-your-voice-be-tamed | aaaaaa this story took me apart and back together again just like Louis and Harry - urban fantasy au - second chances - exes to friends to lovers - hurt/comfort - 25k

Matching tattoos. He’d never thought he’d be the type for tattoos to begin with, let alone matching or magical ones, but once Harry had put the idea in his mind it had never quite managed to disappear. And it had made sense. With their relationship a long distance one, this was simply another way of feeling close to one another. Of knowing where the other was, how they felt. It had made so much sense.

Back then.

8. we can take the long way home by @eleadore | i usually don’t rec my porn but there’s so much feels in this one - canon-divergent - kink discovery - friends to lovers - this was written in 2015 as a future fic but it felt like it was taking place now so good job - 27k

“Fertile,” Louis says, and then laughs because it sounds stupid to say out loud. He hasn’t ever really thought of himself in those terms. Baby-making terms. It’s just one of those things his body can do, like exercise, or go without tea. Doesn’t mean he will.

Winteriron (MCU)

9. **Dig No Graves** by @missaphelion | Tony finds out about his parents right after winter soldier au - Tony Stark has a heart - Bucky heals with bots and lots of sugar - slow burn - 142k

"I'm here to kill you, Terminator," Tony said slowly, "does that compute?"

The soldier looked up at him with wide blue eyes and no expression. "Okay."

Tony froze. "Okay," he echoed. "I tell you I came here to kill you and your response is 'okay'?"

10. A Rifling Matter by Penndragon27 | Winter Soldier has such a big crush on Tony’s weapons, he escapes Hydra au - identity porn - pining Bucky - fluff and angst - Winter Soldier is a fanboy and it’s cute - 37k

All the Asset knows is fighting, killing.

He also knows a good weapon when he sees one and Stark Industries... they make some great weapons.

11. *Winter is Coming (aka Fifty First Avengers Dates)* by @tisfan & @everyworldneedslove | enemies to friends to lovers to 50 first dates - pining Bucky - Tony gets amnesia - no Steve bashing but he’s a little bit of an ass - mental health issues - 109k

Bucky Barnes is still mostly The Asset, and he's pretty sure Hydra is going to come back for him soon, so in the meantime he's just going to keep an eye on the Avengers for them. But then Clint spotted him hiding in the shadows, so Tony came out and dragged Bucky back to the Tower, threw him in the shower, and fed him cheeseburgers.

Now The Asset is having anomalous feelings. In his pants.

Geraskier (The Witcher)

12. *no reason to run* by @yoursummerfrost | different meeting au - only one bed but camping - cursed Jaskier - soft Geralt!!!! - poly negotiations - 61k

"You'll change your mind one day," says the innkeep. "The road can't love you back."

What a strange way to flatten something so beautiful, Jaskier thinks. What a small way to love.

13. *He Fell into a Faerie Ring* by @geraltnoises | Jaskier gets bardnapped after the fight au - non-human Jaskier - soft Geralt - Jaskier encourages people to be kind and becomes a god - emotionally mature Geralt - 57k

Traders are a gossiping sort. If there was a scandal within the noble houses of Posada, you’d hear about it in Cretegor by the end of the week. So, the quick spread of a rumor about a little village in the Kestrel Mountain range was not at all surprising. What was surprising was the story that the traders wove. They said that Luibhtorrach, a sad, ghost of a farming town, had miraculously become a hub for trade, as if overnight. Their lands unbelievably fertile and brimming with crop. Even stranger, each and every one of Luibhtorrach’s people professed that their good fortune was the work of a mysterious beast they’d claimed as their personal deity. Most recent news foretold of their plans to throw a midsummer festival celebrating this newfound god. In preparation, silken blue banners were erected in every corner of the town, each bearing the symbol of their new patron: A delicate dandelion wrapping around a golden sun.

14. Barking Up the Wrong Tree by KHansen | 5+1 things - I’m worried about Geralt’s skills - non-human Jaskier - monsterfucker Geralt - crack treated seriously - 11k

Geralt is 100% certain that Jaskier is a vampire.

He's 100% proven wrong.

15. Bardic Idyll by Lisztful | fake relationship - Geralt is soft and oblivious - pining - fluff and angst - Jaskier you can’t show your emotions mainly through song! - 13k

Jaskier is certain he can win the Continent's annual bardic competition, but he needs to be accompanied by a dashing romantic companion in order to enter. Enter Geralt, who is definitely, for sure, only interested in the free food, and not at all in staring lovingly into Jaskier's eyes.

#monthly fic rec #fic rec #sterek fic rec #larry fic rec #winteriron #geraskier #larrie hijinks #witcher #mcu

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crusherthedoctor · 4 years ago

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Can we have some unpopular Sonic opinions?

I tried to cram in a lot, so I hope this satisfies you. :P I tried to stick to the ones that I haven't brought up quite as often, since by this point, we all know that I think IDW's storytelling is dire, SA2's story is overrated, X Eggman is an embarrassing portrayal (at least from season 2 onwards), Blaze shouldn't be handcuffed to Silver, Shadow's backstory had issues with or without the Black Arms, Neo Metal Sonic looks silly, etc. But anyway, here we go:

- Knuckles may be tricky to incorporate into plots that don't relate to Angel Island, but making him obsessed with his duties is no better than having him forget about Angel Island entirely.

- I like Marine, and never found her annoying. Oh, I understood what they were trying to do with her, but I honestly wasn't put off by her, and found her Aussie lingo more endearing if anything. Since her debut was during the period in my life where where I couldn't stand Sonic himself, I instead thought he was irritating (and hypocritical) for getting annoyed with her for doing shit he would often be guilty of.

- Silver is just as guilty of being shoehorned into games and plots as the Deadly Six are. Having more fans than the latter is irrelevant, since we're still talking about a character who constantly has to time travel in order to be present.

- Speaking of Silver, if he has to stick around, please do something different with him. They've pulled the doomed future routine multiple times now, and it's been boring every single time. I wasn't interested when it involved Iblis. I wasn't interested when it involved Knuckles drinking the edgy Kool Aid. I wasn't interested when it involved a council of dumbasses... give it a rest already.

- The Tails Doll can work as a mildly creepy thing, with maybe more to it than meets the eye when it's time for a boss fight or what have you. But the memes about him stealing your soul are just dumb, and I thought it was dumb even back in my teenage youth.

- “Eggman is supposed to be clownish!” Yeah, well he's also meant to be a genuine villain with a 300 IQ. These qualities don't have to be mutually exclusive.

- “Sonic is supposed to have attitude!” Yeah, well that's not the same thing as being an absolute cunt. Sonic was only ever meant to come off as having an edge compared to Mario. He was never meant to be a GTA-tier protagonist.

- Rouge is not a villain, and never was a villain. Literally the whole point of her role in SA2 was to reveal that she was working against Eggman and Shadow the whole time, albeit using sneakier tactics to do so. You'd think all those people who exult SA2's story would remember this, but apparently not. She barely even qualifies as an anti-hero, since aside from stealing the Master Emerald, she rarely does anything morally questionable otherwise. She's got a lot more good in her than people give her credit for.

- Captain Whisker is a better Eggman Nega than the actual Eggman Nega. And as far as robot characters in this franchise go, Johnny's design is pretty underrated.

- I don't like Iblis or Mephiles, but I DO like Solaris, and it annoys me that it was out of focus for most of the story due to all the time spent on its less interesting halves. Had they kept the backstory with the Duke and his experiments, and worked from there, I think they could have provided an interesting contrast with Chaos (since Solaris can also qualify as a monster with a sympathetic backstory) instead of recycling the surface level schtick.

- Black Doom may technically be just as bad as Mephiles, Nega, Scourge, Mimic, etc, since he's yet another villain with one-note characterization and fucked over Eggman. But because he never gained a disproportionate fandom, he doesn't annoy me to the same extent. It's easier to ignore him by comparison, and his Dr. Claw voice and face shaped like a lady's delicate part make him enjoyable to mock.

- Likewise, while Lyric is also on the same level as these other villains, it's easier to dismiss him because I was never invested in the Boom games anyway, and being an obvious alternate universe (compared to Sonic X or IDW, which retain the Modern designs and plot elements), it never had an effect on the main series. I also unironically like his design, and if nothing else, at least this snake didn't start a hypnotism fetish across the internet.

- Sally - and the rest of the Freedom Fighters for that matter - have had their importance in the franchise severely inflated. They may have been lucky to be the face of popular media (SatAM and Archie), but they're not these magnificent entities that the game characters are but a speck of dust in comparison to. Having a “legacy” doesn't make them more entitled to shit than any other character, old or new.

- Conceptually, the treasure hunting gameplay is one of the better alternate gameplay styles IMO. But it was let down in SA2 by its one track minded radar (the levels may have been big, but I don't think that would have been an issue on its own if the radar was better). If they brought it back and made it more like SA1's treasure hunting, I'd be all for it, although it would probably be better suited for a spinoff title.

- This goes for a lot of games, but when it comes to 2D, I prefer sprites over models. Not that the Rush models are bad (though the ones in Chronicles sure as fuck are), but the sprites in Mania and the Advance trilogy are just so charming and full of character.

- I actually like Marble Zone. Yeah, the level design is a bit blocky, but I love the concept of an underground temple prison, mixed with lava elements in a zone that otherwise isn't a traditional volcano level.

- I also like Sandopolis Zone. Again, completely understand why it's not the most popular zone around, but I've been a sucker for the Ancient Egyptian aesthetic since childhood (you can thank Crash 3 for that), and Act 1 is visually stunning.

- I prefer the JP soundtrack for Sonic CD over the US version overall... but I also prefer Sonic Boom over You Can Do Anything.

- SA2's soundtrack isn't bad by any means - I love Rouge's tracks, and The Last Scene is one of my favourite pieces of music - but as far as variety goes, it's a step down from SA1's soundtrack.

- If Sonic X-Treme had been released, it probably would have been unenjoyable and confusing. Whatever your thoughts on SA1, it was probably the better option between the two as far as Sonic's first legitimate translation into 3D goes.

- I have no qualms with Modern Sonic and the other Modern designs and characters, but I also fully acknowledge that changing gears from Adventure onwards - and doing it with a great amount of fanfare - was always going to create one of the biggest divides in the fandom, and fans shouldn't act surprised that this happened. The fact that they felt the need to hype up a new design and direction in the first place (compared to Mario, who has mostly been the same since the beginning, with only the occasional minor change with little fanfare) also indicates that they weren't confident enough in Sonic and his universe being the way it was, which often gets ignored by all the “SEGA have no confidence!!!” complaints you see with their recent games.

- Unleashed did not deserve the incredibly harsh reviews it received back in the day... but it doesn't deserve its current sacred cow status either. It had more effort put into it than '06 to be sure, and I can respect that, but much of it was misguided effort, and even if you like the Werehog, you have to admit that the idea came at the absolute worst time. The intro cutscene may be awesome, as is the Egg Dragoon fight, but 2% doesn't make up the entire game. Chip was also quite annoying, and I wasn't particularly sad when he pressed F in the chat at the end.

- On the other hand, while Colours definitely has its shortcomings, and people have every right to criticse those shortcomings, a lot of its most vocal detractors tend to have a stick up their arse about the game because people actually enjoyed it, and it had a gimmick that people actually liked. Yes, it may have been the first game to have those writers everyone hates, but then SA1 was the first game to give the characters alternate gameplay styles and have other villains upstage Eggman, so...

- Forces is absolutely not on the level of '06. It's nowhere close. A game being flawed does not make it the next '06, clickbait YouTubers. Or should I say, the game they want to retroactively apply '06's reception to, since they've been trying hard to magically retcon '06's own quality...

- To echo @beevean, ALL of the 3D stories have their issues. SA1 is probably the most well-rounded of them on the whole, but even that one isn't perfect.

- To echo another opinion, although I do love SA1, I'm not crazy over the idea of a remake, and would prefer them to just take Sonic's gameplay from SA1 and work from there. Because with a remake, you're stuck in a hard spot: Do you keep it the way it is bar the expected graphical upgrades, and risk accusations of not doing anything to actually improve the experience? Or do you try to address past criticisms, and risk the wrath of the fans who will inevitably go on a #NotMyAdventure crusade about it? What people fail to consider is that the Crash and Spyro remakes were accepted gracefully because their original iterations were still unanimously beloved for the most part, whereas SA1 - and especially SA2 - have always been divisive, and have only gotten moreso over the years.

- People take their preferences for the character's voice actors too seriously. I have my own favourites like anyone else, but I don't make a big deal out of it.

- And with fandom voice actors, they usually focus too much on doing a basic impression of their preferred official voice actor, and not enough on the acting. So you end up getting a lot of fan voices who sound like decent impressions of Ryan Drummond or Jason Griffith on the surface, but they sound utterly empty beyond that impression, because there's no oomph or depth to the actual emotions. They think about the actor rather than the character, when it should really be the other way around.

- The thing with Ian Flynn is that he is capable of telling a decent story, and he can portray some characters well. But he's proven time and time again that everything will go off the rails if he's given too much freedom (ironic, given how quick he is to point the finger at mandates when something goes wrong).

- Ian Flynn and Shiro Maekawa are not the only people in the world who are allowed to write for Sonic. I understand that one should be cautious when seeking out new writing talent, but for all the fandom's accusations of playing it safe, they sure aren't in a rush to experiment outside of their own comfort zone.

- And of course, the big one: You don't fix the franchise's current problems by crawling back to its previous problems. It's much more helpful and constructive to discuss the good and bad alike with each of the games. Less “THIS GOOD, MODERN BAD”, and more “This could work, but maybe without that part...”

#Crusher's Asks #Opinion #Sonic the Hedgehog

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fbdo1986 · 4 years ago

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halloween headcanons for everyone’s (or at least my own) favorite ot3!

i’m approaching this with the au in place that they don’t start dating until the summer after senior year/a few weeks up to a month after the events of the film! so they don’t really do the high school party thing in their relationship! that being said, ferris and sloane did go to a few halloween parties while dating in hs, and were always known for their couples costumes that Obviously only a bi guy and girl could pull off! consider: they went as romeo and juliet one year, wearing clothing that resembled shakespearean dress. that’s all you need to know about these two giantic and obnoxious dorks who are literally perfect for one another and also cooler than the population of their high school.

when it comes to halloweens in their relationship though, they tend to stick to themselves/a night in! when they’re in college they sort of try the whole party thing, but it’s really not cameron’s scene, so they sorta abandon it! if the two are really itching to go to a party though, cam will stay home and prep their own party in his dorm while they go out for a bit!

what their parties entail: halloween music! these three love their dance parties, so they always need a soundtrack! the classics everyone loves! the monster mash! psycho killer! highway to hell! werewolves of london! also, horror/halloween movies! none of them are scared of them, although cam can be slightly squeamish when it comes to gore and blood, but he sucks it up most of the time. they end up watching campy halloween flicks more often than not, they’re ferris’s favorite! sloane has a love-hate relationship with slasher movies (hate mostly for the ones that exploit their female protagonists) but she likes the more classic ones! i think that ferris is very adamant about how anti-feminist and sexist a lot of horror movies are, even moreso than sloane is, and it makes cam and sloane laugh. of course they agree, but there’s something totally hilarious about pausing a movie mid-way through only for ferris bueller to rant to you about anti-feminist movies. i think cameron likes thrillers the best! they always have a good time with paranormal movies too. movies bring the Best out of chatty ferris, and they don’t mind, because out of any movie to talk during, why wouldn’t it be during a horror movie in which you bond in yelling hopelessly for the protagonist to make a better decision? fun fact! they all like watching it’s the great pumpkin, charlie brown together early in the evening. it’s a childhood staple for all three of them, and they like to prepare themselves by making big mugs of tea/cocoa/apple cider beforehand, putting on their comfiest sweaters, and cozying up on the couch!

candy preferences!!!!! idk why this brings me so much joy to think about but it does! first off, ferris has an ADAMANT hatred of candy corn. the first time sloane brings it home it becomes a huge Thing because of course, everything is a Thing with ferris. sloane doesn’t really see what the problem is, but this sends ferris into a giant spiel about how much it sucks, which ends with cameron annoyingly trying to hit ferris with said candy corn to shut him up. cameron won’t eat a lot of it anyway because it’s so sugary, so sloane doesn’t find it worth it to get any because it’d just be her having it. however, it becomes an inside joke every subsequent holiday, sloane taunting him with a small amount she’s acquired somewhere. ferris likes chocolate-y candy the best, cameron prefers chocolate candies with caramel, and sloane likes peanut butter and chocolate the best!

costumes! i touched on this slightly in the first hc but i honestly don’t think the trio are going to dress up in costume if they’re just sitting in cam’s dorm/are at home. it’s a thing if they’re having friends over (or if jeanie comes to visit! they like to go full out for her if she’s coming) or if they go out, but it’s not the usual. instead, they still wear like, halloween attire/themed clothing and obviously spend time in their thoroughly decorated living room. if they do dress up, i’ve thought of a few costumes i definitely think they’d try their hand at! i definitely think one year cameron dresses up like a vampire/dracula and like. yes these sweeties are always aware of how beautiful their partners are but the fact that he looks So starkly different from how he normally shocks them in the best way because he looks so awesome and so handsome. almost immediately, after they process their initial shock of how different cam looks, sloane and ferris begin a bit about how they’re just two innocent strangers who somehow showed up at his castle and they “really hope they don’t get turned into vampires by this tall handsome and brooding stranger!” this continues until they’re just hanging out on the couch and watching a movie when ferris lays his head on cam’s shoulder and sloane shouts that his neck is exposed, so she has to “kill” him by stabbing him in the heart with a stake before he turns ferris into a vampire, it’s so incredibly dramatic but cam loves every second of it. as suggested by my friend jon, i think ferris as a zombie baseball player would be a fantastic look. honestly, ferris as any type of jock would definitely make cam and sloane swoon, even though cameron is technically the jock out of the three of them. while this is mildly self indulgent just because i think sloane would rock a suit, i think if sloane went as a magician one year, complete with a top hat of course, i think she’d have so much fun with it! generally i think sloane likes to have a lot of fun with her costumes, and likes to get them super accurate to whatever she’s portraying. i also think that costumes for three people are a bit hard to come by, but for shits i’m gonna explore the advanced taste if the three of them went as brian, sally, and maximillian from cabaret. i think it’d be especially fun if cameron was brian, since technically ferris should be since he’s the one who has a lasting relationship with sally, but let’s be honest with ourselves. who suits a suave stranger like max more than ferris?

traditions! i touched on this also a bit earlier, but i think the trio generally love cooking for one another, so i think they make it a point to make things extra special on holidays! they all probably contribute to cooking the various parts of meals together, but usually one of them (most likely sloane, she’s precise with measurements that baking requires whereas ferris likes to have more fun improvising when cooking) will make dessert! it’s almost always pumpkin cookies, but sometimes a pie will make an appearance! also, i think because these three are incredibly sentimental, a holiday absolutely calls for photos together, even during their mundane halloweens spent at home. they’re brandishing their jack-o-lantern’s, making sure there’s evidence of their costumes when they dress up, and if jeanie is coming over it’s a must. they like having photos of them with her. no one’s quite as much of family as she is! expanding on jeanie, i think if jeanie does come to visit, chances are (it’s a fun spin on a headcanon i made not too long ago) she brings the bueller dog who she’s firmly taken in to their apartment and they end up walking him all together around the neighborhood, admiring the decorations and saying hello to any kids who might be passing through there trick-or-treating! (also jeanie acts like she’s too cool for this, but she’s definitely got some sort of costume on this dog. there’s no way around it.)

#fucking betrayed myself and spelled carmel like caramel what’s happening to me #yknow i really am thinking about how much the trio would like an american werewolf in london #also AGH having cam being a vampire/dracula to just. subvert/reclaim vampirism from its antisemitic origins? I LOVE IT #i really COULD go on but i also wanna get these out there!!!!! enjoy these they're quite silly but i love these three and i love their #little domestic life together #fbdo rambles #ferris bueller #sloane peterson #cameron frye #happy halloween babes!!!!!

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bookworlders · 5 years ago

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don’t overthink

a/n: this was supposed to be a one-shot, but i can’t freaking let these characters go, so here it is — self-indulgent fluff

part 1, part 2 (nsfw-ish)

So she hadn’t slept in her own room in over a week.

That was fine, right? Annabeth pondered as she stirred her coffee. She had taken over their kitchen counter as her makeshift drafting table, blueprints and pencils and rulers spread out and covering every surface. She had a huge project due tomorrow at her first class on Monday so today was going to be dedicated solely to schoolwork.

Annabeth had meant to spread her work out over the weekend, but she and Percy had ended up spending all of Saturday at the park with their friends. Then his mom had invited her and Percy over for dinner that night, and Annabeth would never ever say no to Sally Jackson. When they returned to their apartment near campus, she and Percy had gotten wine drunk and had sex and fallen asleep in his bed.

Just friends, right? Annabeth buried her face in her hands. Percy was in the shower, and this was the first time she was able to have a moment to herself to think. She was supposed to be thinking about her big design project, but her thoughts strayed to her best friend who she heard singing in the shower.

Ugh, life was so so good right now. For the first time ever. She loved their group of friends. She loved spending time with Percy. She loved living with Percy. Their arrangement had seemed perfect, as long as feelings didn’t get involved. Because feelings equal mess, and with Annabeth’s rigorous classes and internship and Percy’s swim team schedule, they both had no time for mess.

Yet, she hadn’t slept in her own room for a week. Last weekend, Annabeth had ambushed Percy after swim practice and she spent the night in his bed and they cuddled in the morning. She had been terrified of things being awkward when they got up and returned to real life. But no, Percy made her blue chocolate chip pancakes like he always did, and they ate breakfast and watched cartoons in their living room.

That night, after Annabeth had brushed her teeth and put her pajamas on, Percy had pulled her into his room. He didn’t say anything, neither did she as she climbed under his covers and curled into his side. The next night Percy wordlessly climbed into her bed and spooned her after getting home late from swim practice. The night after that, Annabeth made spaghetti for dinner and they wordlessly went to sleep together.

They often communicated without words, roommate telepathy she decided — like when Percy knew exactly when she wanted to leave a party just from the glance she’d send him and how Annabeth knew exactly when to to distract him with a funny story from her day when he was feeling stressed just from his body language. They both knew that they slept better with each other at their sides, all warm and tangled up together under the covers.

Annabeth had awoken extra early that morning, extracting herself carefully out of Percy’s warm embrace and set up camp at the kitchen counter. She needed to get this done, but she could not for the life of her stop thinking about Percy.

Annabeth heard the shower shut off. She chugged the rest of her coffee. A few moments later, Percy padded into the kitchen, dark curls glistening and a towel around his neck.

“Morning, ‘Beth.”

“Good morning,” Annabeth said, trying to sound calm and breezy. She didn’t. Percy shot her a look.

She ignored it, and pushed a mug of coffee towards him. She made it just how he liked it — two sugars and enough milk so it didn’t even taste like coffee anymore.

“Thanks,” Percy said, taking a sip and hopping up on the barstool next to her at their kitchen counter. “You were up early.”

“I need to finish these blueprints before tomorrow, and they’re just taking forever,” Annabeth unrolled one and used her empty mug as a paper weight. The other corner began rolling back up, but Percy held it down.

“Where’s your drafting table?”

“It’s in my room, but there’s just no space to set it up.” Annabeth began sketching.

“You need an office.”

Annabeth scoffed, “Yeah, let me just turn our coat closet into an office. Honestly, we’re really luck we found an apartment in Manhattan that has a closet.” She erased one of the lines she drew. Percy nursed his coffee, alternating the mugs between his hands so he could keep a hand on the edges of her blueprints that kept furling back up. Annabeth was grateful for the help, and it was few moments of them quietly working together before Percy broke the silence.

“What about your room? That can be your office.”

“There’s no room with my bed in the way.”

“Then let’s get rid of your bed, isn’t your mattress just borrowed from Thalia anyway?”

Annabeth’s hand paused over her pencil. She looked at Percy, who was stirring his coffee.

“But then where would I sleep.” She asked slowly.

Percy took a swig from his mug, “My room.”

“Percy—”

“Annabeth,” Percy said, still staring at his coffee, “Last night, at my mom’s, I saw how you were playing with my baby sister and how happy you made my mom when you guys were chatting, and I was looking at you three last night and I just remember thinking, ‘Wow, those are my girls.”

“Percy,” Annabeth didn’t know what she wanted to say.

“I know we said we’d just be roommates, but we became friends anyway and that worked out fine, right? And then we started sleeping together, and that’s been awesome. But yesterday, at the park, when you made that stupid, dirty joke about Jason’s professor, I just wanted to lean over and kiss you. But I couldn’t. Why can I only kiss you when we’re alone in our apartment?”

“Because the rules—”

“Fuck the rules, Annabeth. I want to kiss you in front of our friends at the park. I want to kiss you when you rant about books when we’re studying in the library. I want to kiss you when I see you cheering in the stands at my swim meets in front of the whole crowd to see. I want to kiss you right now.”

Percy tangled his fingers in her hair, leaning in, his lips not touching hers yet, “Don’t you?”

Annabeth wrapped her arms around his neck, murmuring, “All the time.” She pressed her lips against his like her life depended on it. Percy deepened the kiss before pulling away. Annabeth kept her arms around his neck, leaning her forehead against his. This was the first time they kissed outside of the context of their friends-with-benefits hookups, and it felt so right.

When Annabeth opened her eyes, she muttered, “So what does this mean.”

“I don’t want you to overthink,” Percy murmured.

“But what are we now?”

“That’s exactly why I don’t want you to overthink things. We don’t have to be anything.”

“So we’re just roommates who—”

“Who happen to be best friends and who happen to sleep in the same bed—”

“And who happen to have sex—”

“Yeah,” Percy said, with a shrug, “And who happen to be in love with each other.”

Annabeth smiled against his lips, “Did you just say you love me?”

Percy grinned, “Yeah, kind of a lot. I’m in love with you, Chase.”

Annabeth laughed, her hand sliding down and resting on his chest, “I love you, too. So what now? I have to get rid of my bed?”

“I mean, only if you want to.”

Annabeth grinned, “I don’t know, I did see this gorgeous desk at IKEA and it would look great next to my night stand.”

Percy stole a kiss, “Actually, I take it back, this is not worth a trip to Brooklyn.”

“And since we’ll be at IKEA anyway, we need to get a new duvet.”

“What’s wrong with my duvet?”

“Drool stains.”

#mywriting #percabeth #fanfiction #friends with benefits au #roommates au #percy jackson #annabeth chase

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god-save-the-keen · 5 years ago

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Happy birthday, Tara

Book: Mother of the year

Pairing: Thomas Mendez x MC (Tara)

Summary: It's Tara's birthday and Thomas it's determined to make it special.

Warning: nsfw / sex / fluff

Words: 3673

Note: As always, English it's not my first language. Hope you likes enjoy it as I did writing it! It's not a second part, but continue the line of By her side I just love this two! Let me know if you want to be added in the tag list.

Tag list: @chetachisblog @annekebbphotography @princess-geek @malakbesharah @lilyofchoices @ao719 @marycarrillo21 @blackcatkita @kamybelen-blog @randomchoicesblog @cxld-play

Tara's birthdays never was a very important thing for her… When she was with Guy, he used to said it was just a regular day, that it was stupid spend a lot of money in things like a cake or expensive gifts, even when he made a huge meal with his friends every year. At that moment she didn't care, she thought she was happy with him. Thankfully, eventually, things ended with him and she discovered what real happiness was. After Rory's born, Tara didn't care about her birthday either, she was always busy, tired or broken, but she didn't mind, Rory was with her, she was her everything and they were happy in their little own world.

Her alarm began to blare and, without open her eyes, she turned it off. This year, even when everything was really, really good, she felt a little sad that Rory wasn't with her this time.

"Stay, enjoy your birthday." Thomas's sleepy voice said from beside her. He turned and hugged her from behind, kissing her nape. "Happy birthday, gorgeous". She could feel his smile on her neck while he kept kissing her there. She loved his lips on her back, neck, lips… Honestly, everywhere.

"I can't miss work, Thomas" she said smiling, feeling his hand in her belly, brining her near to his chest. "Don't be a bad influence on me". She giggled softly.

"Me? Never" Thomas said while his lips started kissing behind her ear softly. "I just think… Since it's your birthday… We could take the day off… And enjoy ourselves since the girls are gone" Every pause he made was accompanied with a kiss on each of her favorite places to be kissed. Rory and Luz were in a four days field trip with Eiko and the rest of their class at NASA, Houston. They had programmed lots of conferences, guide tours, workshops, meet and greet with some astronauts, etc. Needless to say how exciting Rory was. However, Tara felt a little insecure, she never was so many days separated from her and a such distance.

"You think we should call them? Just to be sure?" She said turning in his arms to face him. "Or maybe text Eiko! She can tell us if they are okay"

"Sweetie, you talked with Eiko last night and the girls send a selfie after that. They probably are just waking up too. They are okay." He said while caressed absently her back.

"I know... you right! I'm sorry" She kissed him on the lips. "I really should get up"

"Probably" He said leading her even closer to his chest while his mouth went to her neck, kissing there and biting a tiny part of skin. Tara closed her eyes with a smile on her face, sighing happily while her fingers touched Thomas's hair. "But again, you could always choose don't go and celebrate your birthday with me." He redirect his lips to her mouth, kissing her deeply.

"Fine, fine! You win!" She said laughing at his triumphant look. "Just let me text Sally to let her know, I hope I don't complicate the things in the shop... Are you gonna call to the study?" She said taking her phone and writing a text to Sally.

"No, I let them know yesterday." He said with a satisfied grin. God, she loved his smile.

"You, Mr. Mendez, are terrible" Tara giggled.

'Hey Sally! If it's not much problem, and I'm so sorry for the short notice, but since it's my birthday, can I take the day off? If you need me there, please let me know'

'Happy birthday Tara! Yesterday, Alma thought that maybe you take the day off so we are prepared for it. Enjoy your day and see you tomorrow!

"Done?" He asked, caressing her waist under her t-shirt.

"Done".

"Good" He rolled her so she could be on top of him. Tara laughed happily before looked him more serious, with adoration, stroking his cheek softly. Nine months had passed since the trial against Guy ended, and she still couldn't believe how everything went, Rory was with her, Guy out of their lives definitely and all thanks to this amazing man under her. She leane to kiss him, slowly, enjoying his lips against hers. They both deepened the kiss, mouths more demanding that before and his hands traveling to her hips.

"Oh my god!" She said hiding her head on his shoulder while Thomas laughed. Her stomach decide to demand food… in that moment... loudly.

"Okay gorgeous, let's make this right! First thing: breakfast. How about that place you like, the one with the rooftop?"

"Yes, please!" She kissed his cheek and got up. They change, Thomas in a simple jersey and black jeans and Tara in a short blue dress. Although everything was amazingly good between them, they decide not live together yet. However, they both had each other's home keys and some clothes of them and the girls in both places. At first they tried to hide their relationship from Luz and Rory, they didn't wanted to excite them in advance, just in case. The only problem was that they sucked hiding their happiness and the way they interacted each other every time they were together, so they had to come clean with them. The day before of her birthday, she went back to her apartment after work and invite him to stay with her.

She took her jacket and purse, he grabbed his car keys and they left the apartment holding hands. The coffee they went was a beautiful building with a huge sunny rooftop, Tara didn't know if was the sun, the fresh air up there or the flowers around her, but this was the most relaxing place for her in the whole city and she loved share it with Thomas. His eyes, more blue than normal thanks to the bright sun, were fixed on her.

"What?" She asked with her cheeks a little more pink and a sweet smile on her lips.

"Nothing, I like see you happy" They kissed sweetly while Tara's foot began to climb his leg slowly under the table and she felt how his cheeks turned hot. "Don't tease me Tara, you know the effect this have on me" He said without breaking the kiss.

"That's why it's so funny to do" she smiled.

"You know? That it's still one of my favorites memories of us" He said taking her hand. "Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of moments that I love, but that one was the first time I felt ready to start this with you… And I really wanted to kiss you in front of everyone."

"I'm glad". She said intertwining their fingers. "Cause I really wanted to kiss you too"

In that moment, the waitress came with a big breakfast for them: coffee, orange juice, a couple of beautifully decorated cupcakes, toasts, waffles and some fruits.

While they were eating, her phone rang and a video call from Eiko appears in the screen.

"It's Eiko" she said frowning, rushing to answered. When she did, and two huge smiles occupied the screen, she laughed at the sight of her daughter and Luz so happy. "Hi girls! Good morning! How's everything going?" She turned the phone so Thomas could see them too.

"Oh my god mom, this place it's incredible! Look look!!" Rory took the phone and spin it around, showing them computers, rocket's parts, some graphics and other stuff that she couldn't identified. She return the focus on Luz and her. "But we didn't call you for that, we wanted to wish you happy birthday!"

"Happy birthday, Tara! Hi dad!" Luz said smiling.

"Hi Lulu! Hi Rory! Are you behaving well, Luz?" He asked worried while Tara giggled.

"Yes, I am! Rory and Mrs. Matsunaga can tell you all about!" Luz said, proud.

"It's true! She only pushed August ones when he tried to get ahead of us in line!" Rory said, she looked something above the camera and then return her focus on them "Anyway, we have to go! Happy birthday mom! I love you! Bye Thomas!"

"Happy birthday again Tara, have a great day! Love you dad! Bye!"

"Bye girls! Enjoy and take care! Both of you! Love you!"

"Listen to everything Mrs. Matsunaga says! Have fun!"

Eiko's face appears in the screen.

"Hi guys! Happy birthday Tara! The girls are more than okay, so you both can be relaxed! I call if something happens but so far, everything it's perfect!" She said happily. "Anyway, I have to go, have an awesome day Tara, when I return, we will definitely celebrate with a drink." She winked and the call ends.

After finished the breakfast, they went to take a walk through a fair full of flowers, artisans, antiques, farmers, etc. Thomas sneaked his arm in Tara's shoulders and she hugged him by the waist. Luckily, the fair wasn't crowded and they could enjoy watching everything. Thomas buy her a ring she saw on one of the booth, a thin silver band with a beautiful piece of pyrite in the middle. She slipped in her finger, making it sparke in the light while he kissed the side of her head. She loved it and couldn't stop smiling at him.

Seeing Tara so happy, made Thomas's heart feel full of happiness and warm, she had suffered so much, moving there, dealing with PTA of the school, fighting against Guy, he just wanted to give her the world. Once the fair hadn't nothing more to offered, they started to walk through the car when she saw a poster in a movie theater that bring her attention.

"Casablanca! I love this movie, it's one of my favorites! Although I never have the chance to see it in theater" Thomas hugged her from behind, checking the time.

"The next function starts in 10 minutes, do you want to see it? After all, it's your day"

"You really want to? You sure?" While she leaned into his embrace.

"Of course, I like this movie!" He narrowed his eyes, and with a deeper, sensual voice said "Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine"

She turned to him in his arms laughing softly, putting both of her hands in his chest and, batting her eyelashes, said "Kiss me. Kiss me as if it were the last time" and he did it. Softly. Sweetly. Lovingly. They went inside, hand in hand, bought two tickets, sweet popcorn, Tara's favorite, and soda. The movie was great, in some part they chatted quietly and at the end, during the final kiss and goodbye, Thomas saw a few tears falling from her eyes. He didn't liked see her crying, not even for a movie… She already had cried too much. He took her hand in his, giving it a little squeeze and she puts her head in his shoulder with a soft sigh.

After the movie, they bought some supplies for dinner, he wanted to take her to some fancy restaurant and spoiled her, but she preferred something more relaxed.

"Do you mind if we go to my place? I need to check a few things" He said while they started to walk to his car.

"Of course not. Let's go" Tara said entering in the car.

Once they arrive, Tara put some music and went to the bedroom to leave her jacket, purse and shoes. When she returned, Thomas was cooking, humming a Joss Stone song that sounded on the background and she stood there, watching him, enjoying and loving the sight. She walked toward him, hugged from behind and singing along with Joss in his ear "Don't you know he is some kind of wonderful"

"Oh nice, you think I'm adorable and wonderful, huh?" That damn beautiful smile of him on his lips.

"Shut up and kiss me, dork" She said moving on front of him.

His mouth were in hers in an instant, one of his hands went to the small of her back while the other turned off the oven as she hugged him by the neck, deepening the kiss. He pushed her against the counter while his tongue started to move in her mouth and she pressed tight against him, wanting to feel every part of his body. Thomas's mouth started travel to her neck, kissing and sucking a bit, while his hands caressing her hips. She put a single finger in the waist of his pants, leading him between her legs, closer. A groan escaped his lips and she felt the bulk of his pants grew considerably against her, putting a delicious pressure between her legs and she started to feel her body on fire like always used to happens when they where alone.

"Tara…? You want to…?"

"Yes… I want. Every. Single. Part. Of you"

"Thank god" he said and his hands grabbed her ass tightly. This wasn't the first time they made love but every time felt like their skins were burning, wanting to feel each other, wanting to be one. He raised her, with his hands still on her butt, and carried her to the bedroom with her legs around his waist while her mouth went to his shoulder and bite softly but hard enough to make him close his eyes for a second. Another groan leave him and she loved it.

They fell in the bed with their mouths together, hard against each other, while one of Thomas's hands began to roam torturously slowly in her leg up to her thigh, removing her dress out of the way. She shivered in anticipation.

"So eager" He said in her ear, his breath hot, so hot, and his voice deep, full of desire, nibbing her earlobe.

"For you? Always" Tara said, caressing his stomach and chest while she took off his jersey. He sat down with her on his lap, his lips on hers and his hands peeling off her dress. Once in her underwear, a black lace bra and panties transparent enough to drive him crazy, he started to kiss her chest, between her breasts, touching them with one hand while the other caressed her hips and leg. He took off her bra, kissing, cupping, touching with his tongue her boobs, making her moaned, he took his time with them both, making them hard rock and sensitive to his touch. Thomas's lips returned to her mouth while her hands pushed him closer by his pants, removing his belt and unbolting it.

"This off. Now". He obey, dropping it on the floor and returning a top of her.

"Tell me what you want"

She kissed him hard and tugged his bottom lip softly. "I want your mouth all over me"

His lips traveled by her throat, neck, shoulders, breast, belly, leaving tiny marks and goosebumps, he could feel the hot of her skin inside his mouth, like a fire that it's going to consume him. His mouth finally landed between her legs, softly kissing above her panties before remove them slowly until he dropped it to the floor.

"So ready for me" Thomas said with his breath hot against her skin, making her tremble. His tongue went inside her, touching her clit barely at first, holding her hips in place, provoking her until she let out a groan. He started to eat her out, licking and sucking her pussy hard, putting one finger inside her and starting to moving it, after a few moments, a second finger joined and he move them faster and deeper.

Tara's eyes were closed and her mouth open, breathing hard and moaning loudly, her hands on his hair, grabbing it like an anchor, her hips moving with his mouth and fingers, desperate for some release.

"Fuck Thomas". She never swear except in sex with him, he loved to hear her saying that kind of things, losing control in his arms. He could feel in his mouth how close she was to coming, with one hand he took off his boxers finally settling free his dick, while his mouth return to hers in a heatedly kiss, he rolled up a condom and pressed his hips to hers, before pushing in.

"Stop… teasing… me" she said between painting, with their mouths still together. "I need you"

So his dick enter her pussy hard, filling her, making her moan loudly, her hands in his back while her nails scratched his skin. He groan in her ear while starting bang in and out faster.

"Damn Tara, you drive me crazy"

"Don't stop Thomas… Please don't stop"

"Never"

He kissed her throat feeling the vibrations of her moans in his lips while her legs rolled up around him, pulling him even close. They both were moaning and panting, skin hot and sweated, hands touching everywhere.

"Say my name, baby" Keeping the thrusts while one of his hands start caressing her clit again. Her back arching at him, overwhelmed, holding at his shoulders with her knuckles white. "Moan for me"

"Oh my god, Thomas! Yes!" Her eyes firmly closed, pleasure all over her factions. "Shit… I… Thomas, I'm almost… Fuck!" her voice shallow.

"Come to me, Tara" His thrusts and her loud moans filling the room. She couldn't resist anymore, it was too much, he was too much.

Realising a final groan of pleasure while saying his name, she come hard, shivering like crazy, still holding his shoulders. A few seconds later, he followed her, cumming inside her before falling on top of her, being careful to not crushed her. The stay like that for a moments, panting and catching their breaths, Tara's hand caressing his hair while his head was in her chest.

"Definitely… best birthday ever." She said with her voice still a little taken. He chuckled, rested his elbows on the bed and kissed her softly.

"I have something for you" he said getting up and putting his boxer on while she dress up in her panties and some Thomas's t-shirt that looked oversized on her. She loved sleep in his t-shirt, even when they sleep together, feeling the smell of his aftershave lotion and perfume in her skin was one of her favorite things. He went through his closet and took a little wrapped package, return to bed and sit beside her, kissing her cheek. "Happy birthday, beautiful"

She sit up a little more straight and opened it. Inside was a gorgeous white gold chain with a delicate 'T' on it, also in white gold. She stood there in silence, staring at it, with her fingers touching it delicately and her eyes bright with tears.

Thomas's heart aching. Maybe she didn't like it, maybe she hated white gold, or the initial, what if she thought it was a way to take claim of her, since they both shared the initial? Oh god, maybe she was waiting an engagement ring? He knew he should checked the gift with Rory.

"We can do it in yellow gold if you preferred, I just notice you never use yellow gold but maybe I mistaken. Or you can changing it if you don't like it, for something else--"

"No! No, it's perfect! I love it! It's just…" a tear fall down on her cheek and she dried it with a tiny smile. "I can't even remember the last time someone made my birthday so special" he lead her near to his chest and hugged her tight, kissing her forehead. "Don't get me wrong, be with Rory it's the best thing in my life, wouldn't change it for anything… But, this birthday, with you, was just amazing… You didn't had to do all this, you know that, right?"

"I know I didn't had to, I wanted to. You deserve this and so much more." He said caressing her cheek and kissing her softly. "And I have the intention to give you everything I can. I love you, Tara" That it. The first time he told her those three words. There was no hesitation in his voices, his eyes full of love and his hands holding her close.

"I love you too, Thomas" They kiss again, slow and deep, putting all their feelings in it. She took the chain out of the box, and turned, directing her back to him, holding her hair up with one hand. "Help me putting it?" She said smiling wide while handing him the chain.

"Of course" Thomas kissed her nape before hanging the necklace in place and close it behind her neck. She turned to him, glowing of happiness.

"How do I look?" She was sitting on his lap, with his t-shirt and her lace panties on, her hair messy after sex falling on her shoulders, a huge smile and the 'T' in her chest.

"Like the most beautiful woman in the world" They snuggled together in bed, covering with a blanket.

"So…" she said touching delicately the chain around her neck. "This is why you wanted to came here?" A playful smile on her face.

"Maybe" He told, with his cheek a little red. She giggled and snuggled near to him, putting her head in his chest.

"Thank you Thomas, I really love it" he could feel her smile on his skin.

"We didn't finish the dinner" Thomas said after a moment of silence, with his hand on her waist, caressing there, holding her close to him. "You want me to bring something to eat?"

"Forget it. I'm enjoying this way too much so don't you dare move of here" She kissed softly his chest. "I just realized that this was the first time we had a whole day for us… No working, no schedules or crazy PTA parents… I miss the girls a lot, but this was wonderful"

"Yeah, I haven't noticed that either… it was nice having you all for myself" He kissed her forehead again before they both started to fall asleep, holding each other close.

❣️

#play choices #choices stories you play #choices mother of the year #choices moty #moty thomas #choices thomas mendez #thomas x mc #thomas mendez x mc #thomas mendez #choices blog #choices fanfics #choices fanfiction

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mobius-prime · 5 years ago

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100. Sonic Super Special #5 - Sonic Kids

Welcome to the hundredth issue, guys! Obviously not the hundredth issue of the main comic itself, we've still got a long ways to go before we reach that, but it's the hundredth issue that I'm covering in this review, anyhow. Fittingly, it's a bit of a flashback to, well, when the Freedom Fighters were kids. Which is awesome, because it allows me to finally go into several points that I've been just dying to bring up! Let's dive in, shall we?

When You and I Were Young, Sally

Writer: Mike Gallagher Pencils: Manny Galan Colors: Barry Grossman

So no time frame is given for what age everyone was when this story took place, but I'm going to guess it was no more than five or six years ago, given that any younger would make Tails basically a toddler in this story, which he doesn't seem like he is. Sally and her friends (minus Bunnie, because remember, she wasn't a part of the team yet) are playing inside when Rosie comes in to scold them and order them to play outside instead. Before Sally can follow her friends out, she's held back by Julayla (if you'll remember, her old mentor who died in StH#18) for a lesson. She's clearly not pleased with this.

This already gives some insight into how strict Sally's upbringing and royal grooming were, even with her father gone. Luckily, Julayla is actually rather reasonable, and recognizes the others' worth as both friends and a source of growth for Sally. While Sonic shows off by playing an entire game of basketball by himself, Tails - or Miles, as everyone calls him, because he hasn't earned his nickname yet - becomes dejected, thinking he'll never be as cool as his hero Sonic. Sally tries to cheer him up by pointing out that everyone has their own strengths, and Sonic jumps in to point out Miles' prominent birth defect, turning it into a positive instead.

And so Miles attains his flight ability! However, he doesn't quite know yet how to stop flying, and so he goes careening away into the forest. Rotor - or Boomer, as he's still known back then - is able to track where he might have landed, and even begins to describe a new idea he had for a handheld computer before Sally shushes him, serving as yet another reference to future events given that far-future-Rotor was the one who invented Nicole and sent her back in time, if you'll recall. The group hears Miles' voice coming from a tree stump, and gather around to try to decipher what he's saying.

Perfect! They all land in an underground cavern where Miles is dizzy from his landing but unharmed, and, looking around, are amazed at how cool the place is, with an underground aquifer and such an interesting secret entrance through the hollow tree stump… hey, sounding familiar? Sally declares that this should be their new secret headquarters for a group she's forming right now… the Freedom Fighters!

Well that's quite a verbose speech for a ten year old, Sally, but it inspires everyone to go along - minus Sonic, who seems mildly unenthused for some reason. I suppose it wasn't "cool" enough for him at first? Anyway, Sally then tasks them with finding a way out of the cavern, and Miles uses his new ability to fly out and lower a vine for them to climb out. And thus, the Freedom Fighters were born! It's a bit awkward to think back, however, on how resistant everyone was to adding Tails to the group in earlier issues, citing that he was too young. It paints kind of a ridiculous and petty picture of them initially forming the group with Miles, only to then reject him for being too much of a baby child, and only finally accepting him back in once he was the same age they were when they first formed the group. I mean, come on guys, that's such a dick move!

Stop… Sonic Time!

Writer: Tom Rolston and Karl Bollers Pencils: Art Mawhinney Colors: Ken Penders

The very first page of this story is my in - I finally get to explain my biggest theory!

Yes, that is a modern-day Sonic, being pestered by a bunch of little kids in Knothole to tell stories of his adventures. The first time I read the comics, this was the issue that made the silly tone of all the previous early issues make sense. After all, of course Sonic would love to brag of his and his friends' adventures to all the wide-eyed children of the village, hanging on his every word - but he couldn't make things out to be as dire as they actually were, lest he scare them. Add his naturally carefree and somewhat goofy nature to the mix, and you have your answer - most of the early issues, particularly the ones by Michael and Angelo, were all just stories Sonic was telling to the kids. To some degree, certainly most of the events depicted happened in some capacity, but they were much more serious, much more dire, with much higher stakes than we were led to believe. That time Sonic took a front row seat to Orbinaut's introduction and got put through a pinball machine for his troubles? More likely that he snuck into a Robotnik laboratory to find out his latest nefarious plans only to be spotted and captured, barely escaping an elaborate death trap with his life. That magic frog that gave him jewels which gave him powers? Probably an embellishment to an otherwise routine story of taking down Robotnik's latest invention. The time the Freedom Fighters formed a band and defeated Robotnik with the power of music? Perhaps an incursion into Robotropolis gone wrong when they were cornered in an old concert hall. My point is, given how serious the comic gets later on, those early issues, with their goofy slapstick tone, don't really make sense except through an interpretation like this - that they're merely dressed-up stories told by Sonic to the Knothole children throughout the war, to satisfy their curiosity, keep their spirits up, and give him a chance to brag even in the wake of a dire and terrifying battle that they barely escaped alive. This is how I choose to view all the older issues, through this lens of storytelling - it just seems to make sense. Incidentally, this is why I recommend people getting into the comics read every issue even if they're not into slapstick comedy, as they become painted in a much different light once you realize what they could mean in context.

Anyway, back to actually analyzing the story. When one of the kids asks Sonic how he got his shoes, he explains that they were custom-made for him by Uncle Chuck to withstand the friction created by his speed. He then decides to explain the story of how he got Tails his own shoes, which are similar to his. It took place a "few years ago," likely one or two years after the previous story since everyone still acts like children. Miles had been taking lessons from Rosie and gotten straight A's, prompting everyone to throw him a little party to celebrate his good grades. Antoine gets him a ribbon that he claims he earned through his own heroism, and while Boomer corrects him, Miles worries that Sonic hasn't shown up. Sally comforts him, but she's not too confident in him either.

Turns out Sonic is in Robotropolis, meeting up with a strange robed figure who agreed to trade him a bag of rocks for the shoes. It seems like a strange trade, but as Sonic speeds away…

Hey, remember Merlin Prower from the Sonic Live special? Of course given his name and appearance we knew they had to be related, but now we have confirmation - he's Tails' uncle! Sonic likely didn't actually tell this part to the Knothole kids - rather the comic is just showing the final panel to reveal this interesting tidbit of information to us.

Meanwhile in another part of Robotropolis, Robotnik is being evil as usual, and has come up with a plan. He's sick and tired of the "king's daughter" heading the resistance against him, and thus has invented a time-freezing ray that will stop time for everyone in the forest, allowing his forces to waltz in and load them all on a transport to Robotropolis with ease. Sonic sees the beam fire over his head as he races back to Knothole, but decides not to worry about it until after he's delivered his gift to Tails. However, predictably, once he gets back, everyone is frozen, and outside Knothole itself, the swatbots are rounding up the frozen Mobians. Sonic realizes he has to stop this plan before they discover the Great Oak Slide into the village, and so he comes up with a plan to pretend to be frozen, letting him sneak into Robotropolis.

Soon, Sonic is standing on the pedestal in Robotnik's main room, ready to be roboticized. Robotnik mentions, interestingly, that he had promised to spare those who followed his laws and had indeed followed his own rule up until now, which is surprising given his normally ruthless nature - however, naturally, he's decided that's boring and wants to roboticize everyone, followed by sending his robot army out to conquer the entire galaxy. Damn, man! The planet wasn't enough for you? Sonic allows him to monologue just long enough to let him get embroiled in an evil cackle before jumping off the pedestal and mocking him, then pressing every button on every console to mess up his plans. This thankfully results in exactly what he wanted - everyone being unfrozen back home, while Snively and the bots looking for more prisoners are frozen in time instead. With one last flourish, he smashes up the time-freeze ray and speeds out of the city, back home, where everyone within the village still has no idea anything went wrong at all. He dodges Sally's scolding, goes to give Tails his present, remembers he left it hidden in the forest, and speeds back to find it with ease.

And that's how Tails got his similar-to-Sonic's shoes! Sonic concludes his story to the children only to notice that they all fell asleep listening to him at some point. Classic!

Total Re: Genesis

Writer: Karl Bollers Pencils: Nelson Rebeiro, Art Mawhinney, Sam Maxwell, and John Herbert Colors: Barry Grossman

Unlike the other two stories, this one doesn’t take place during the childhood of the Freedom Fighters, but rather just after StH#38. If you'll remember, I noted that the issue ended rather abruptly, not really explaining how everyone escaped or what happened afterward. I'm not sure if this story was intended to correct that or if they just randomly decided on that issue as a good place to add in an additional story, but here we are regardless. We open with Sonic, Sally, and Antoine looking pretty exhausted and beat up with a flaming pile of robotic wreckage behind them, and they answer a call from Uncle Chuck to explain what happened. Apparently one of the wrecked combots they fought came back online while they were cleaning up, and each of them take turns explaining their version of events, in which the speaker is the sole hero of the story. Sally explains how her two companions were knocked silly by a blast, and thus she acted as a distraction, breaking off a piece of a cliff to smash the already messed-up bot.

Antoine interrupts to explain that, in fact, it was Sally and Sonic who were unconscious, and the robot still had legs. What's more, it could cloak itself to become invisible, and so Antoine had an epic duel with it, using his superior hearing to fight and slash at it even without being able to see.

But that's not how it happened, interjects Sonic! Antoine was merely watching his heroics jealously from a distance while Sally begged him, ever the hero, to save them both. He stepped forward, easily dodging anything the combot threw at him while mocking its sound effects, and then paused to adjust his sneakers before charging at it to blow it up.

Uncle Chuck finally interrupts to tell them that he installed Nicole with an uplink to a spy satellite which recorded the whole thing, allowing him to watch playback of what really happened. As it turns out, everyone's stories are somewhat true, with Sonic using his spines to saw off the bot's legs, Antoine slicing up its internal circuitry, and then Sally crushing it with a boulder before it could fire off another shot. He congratulates them on their teamwork, and they bicker good-naturedly as they head back home.

Well, that's a hundred issues everyone! Hard to believe we've already come this far, but hang on tight, cause we still got over two hundred fifty issues to go. The story of the preboot is far from over, after all!

#nala reads archie sonic preboot #archie sonic #archie sonic preboot #sonic the hedgehog #sonic super special 5 #writer: michael gallagher #writer: tom rolston #writer: karl bollers #pencils: manny galan #pencils: art mawhinney #pencils: nelson ribeiro #pencils: sam maxwell #pencils: john herbert #colors: barry grossman #colors: ken penders

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oranges8hands · 6 years ago

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it's got to happen, happen sometime

*Schitt's Creek 5.14*

besides Stevie singing “Maybe this time” as a perfect accumulation of her character development and a great turning point in her owning her place/self-worth (!!!), also let’s talk about the audience cuts during the song:

“Maybe this time, He'll stay” / cuts to a side view so you can see Patrick sitting -> David spends the time Stevie is missing worried she’s upset about his engagement and in a way he was right - she wants that love, we see her reaching out to Emir (and getting burned, ouch) and Patrick more than any other character represents that steady love. Stevie recognized Patrick as a good choice for David, (”I like him for you”), and she wants that for herself too. Moira also made it clear that while we see Stevie yearning to leave the town (in the early seasons), she’s built something here that means at the end of her arc she doesn’t have to leave Schitt’s Creek to find what she’s looking for. [I also like that Patrick put out the mic for her, which makes sense in terms of the play/their roles but also they have this great friendship outside of David that I love and Patrick is a very supportive guy.]

“(He’ll stay) [cut] (Maybe this time, for the first time)” / cuts to Stevie looking at Moira and Moira making the throat gesture during the lines -> she just finished giving Stevie the pep talk (stay or leave, she is grounded in herself) and is reminding her to open her voice up for the song(/moment/life.)

“I’ll be home at last“ / cuts to side view with Moira (”He will hold me fast,” and this season Moira has really been there for Stevie), and then the four guys in the audience -> all four of those guys represent home in a different way (Ronald, mayor and the Schitt in Schitt’s Creek, a lot of stuff esp in S1 was about his role in the town and meanwhile Stevie’s view of the motel has evolved, which hey guess who also works there and started to work there because of a big change in his life), Johnny the father figure (ack that hospital stuff from last episode, I’m all verklempt), David the BFF and she’s the one Patrick asks for marriage permission from, and... Ted... ok I’m not gonna BS he was mostly there because he was in the middle of Johnny and David for an earlier joke (also I feel like Levy really wanted his reaction shots) but also Ted has grown into himself and is leaving home and in a way he’s kind of ahead of the curve Stevie is on (though Stevie’s arc gets more care)

“(Like the last time) And the time before” / cut to David (and Ted) -> “like the last time” is Stevie/Emir, and then whether you take "and the time before” as referring to David/Stevie or Stevie/Jake, she did have a string of “losers” (at least in terms of long term partners and not just sexual partners, which I’m not knocking but now she wants loooove... also Jake kind of was a loser. and honestly there always felt like a subconscious “he can take me away” to how she viewed David early on, which is why for her story arc it was important he asked if she wanted to leave with him at the end of the season.) Then you have Ted, third time the charm with Alexis (we assume); he did change and grow in between their relationships and while he’s still Ted (I love that Alexis made that pun for him as a goodbye) he’s also leaving home to go do this awesome job opportunity.

“All the odds are there in my favor” / cut to David, zooming in -> here’s the thing, one of their commonalities is their burnt shells protecting soft tender hearts, and here David has found that person to be with, so she can too. It’s also a matter of David being super proud of her (”that’s my friend”) because he thinks she deserves the world too.

“Something's bound to begin” / shot behind her and camera scans the audience -> literally this moment was what she’s been building up to, this is the accumulation of things Moira has been telling her all season [and while emotional conversations with Johnny are very much rooted in the fact she sees him as family, emotional conversations with Moira tend to be about reinforcing the idea that Stevie can accomplish anything she sets her mind to, that not only is she worthy of love but she’s a great catch] and its her owning it (”It’s gonna happen”)

“happen sometime/Maybe this time” / cut to Moira -> part of this is Moira looking at Stevie and what she’s just accomplished, but this is also foreshadowing for the whole her movie Crows being shelved/it is not actually Moira’s time. wild-aloof-rebel pointed out the symbolism of Moira showing up to play Sally and then Stevie showing up, and this is kind of the finish of that - the yearning Moira has to be back in that kind of spotlight, the way Stevie took that stage on, and she wants to have that again too.

“(Maybe this time) I'll win” / cuts to the spotlight shining down on her -> this was HER FUCKING MOMENT and she took it! I’m not really the kind of person who says she’s proud of fictional characters but if I was... anyway, go Stevie!

#schitt's creek #schitts creek #stevie budd #Schitt's Creek 5.14 #cross the street #//#I have already watched this song about 18x #which is about even with David's olive branch song #though less than Patrick's love song

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47mel47 · 6 years ago

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47mel47 Fanvid Masterlist: Kurt and Blaine

Thanks to @jackabelle73 for suggesting this little project.

These range from my most recent work (which is not all that recent) to my earliest works (and these are actually links to YouTube, not links to Tumblr posts, which goes to show how old. And they are also cringe, but hey, let’s celebrate what we've created, right?)

Glee| The Final Countdown: Top Five Kisses

I really felt this video needed some editing. Here are my improvements and suggestions.

Fearlessly and Forever (Kurt and Blaine)

From beginning to proposal. Their hands were meant to hold each other…

This Old Coffee Shop (Kurt and Blaine)

Their story, through coffee.

Five Times (Kurt and Blaine)

Love, music, hurt, laughter and life

I’ll See You In The Future (Kurt and Blaine)

To have and to hold from this day forward… and from these moments we know our favourite boys will- fearlessly and forever.

With No Regrets (Kurt and Blaine)

Getting to celebrate the wedding of two incredible people is magical. Celebrating the years leading up to the union? Even better.

Marry Your Best Friend (Kurt and Blaine)

Marry your best friend. I do not say that lightly. Really, truly find the strongest, happiest friendship in the person you fall in love with.

You Look So Good (Kurt Hummel)

Created for spaceorphan18 as part of her birthday shenanigans. Yes, I know that you appreciate Kurt for much more than this aesthetic value, but let’s face it, that aesthetic value is pretty damn awesome.

I Wear Your Grandad’s Clothes (Blaine Anderson)

And he looks incredible.

I Will Find Any Way (Kurt and Blaine)

Season six has really hurt with our two boys, but it has been oh so good.

We Light Up the World (Kurt and Blaine)

A celebration of those days that were early Klaine. Inspired by @todaydreambelievers Weekly Challenge: Original Song

Captured Your Heart (Kurt and Blaine)

Just a little vid reliving and celebrating seasons two to five with our favourite boys

But We’re Still Standing Tall (Kurt and Blaine)

Created for the Glee Hiatus Challenge Day 58: Favourite ship

Anywhere You Take Me (Kurt and Blaine)

Created for Glee Hiatus Challenge Day 150: Most romantic moment

Give My All To You (Kurt and Blaine)

We all know what Blaine was thinking during ‘All Of Me’- I just wanted to try and show it.

Crowd Me With Love (Kurt Hummel){created for Glee Hiatus Challenge Day 24: Favourite Season 4 Male Solo}

This performance was perfection. Chris Colfer and Kurt Hummel at their truly magnificent best. And while I have nothing to fault from the actual performance, I thought that the audience shots could use some tweaking.

After all, you cannot tell me that he did not cross his mind at least once during this song.

This Feels Like Falling In Love (Kurt and Blaine)

Created for Glee Hiatus Challenge Day 101: Favourite kiss

Throw Your Arms Around Me (Kurt and Blaine)

Created for Glee Hiatus Challenge Day 100: Favourite hug

All You Need (Kurt and Blaine)

Created for Glee Hiatus Challenge Day 74: Happiest moment

“So Kurt Hummel, my amazing friend, my one true love…will you marry me?”

“Yeah…yeah.”

Rhymed With My Body (Kurt and Blaine)

Because the touch of the fingertips is as sexy as it gets… and sometimes it’s more.

Then and Now (Kurt and Blaine)

Befores and afters, highs and lows, comparison and contrast …” I wanna grow old with you”…

Miles From Where You Are (Kurt and Blaine)

No great love ever came without great struggle. No distance could ever completely come between these two.

I Am Not My Own (Kurt and Blaine)

An old video of mine that I never uploaded to YouTube, but given that it has been 3 years since ‘Original Song’, I thought I should celebrate.

Just Like When Harry Met Sally (Kurt and Blaine)

“It’s not easy putting your heart on the line, and baring your soul to someone you care about.” (Unknown)

You’re Still My Best Friend (Kurt and Blaine)

The phone call that told us everything was going to be ok. The point at which we moved from the dark to the light. The moment in which we knew we’d see them together again…soon.

A Moment of Affection (Kurt and Blaine)

“I wanna go to your house…”

The Light The Heat (Kurt and Blaine)

The way these two look at each other is so damn beautiful- I love that they can say so much, without a single word.

For Another Day (Kurt and Blaine)

There is hope for our boys. It has been dark and angsty and downright horrible, but now we are at the point where, I believe, we can just enjoy the ride these two are going to take on their journey back to each other.

We Could Have Had It All (Kurt and Blaine)

Let’s just call this…part of my catharsis? I just had to get this out. Focusing on eps 3x03 and 3x04.

You Were My Original (Kurt and Blaine)

This much history, this many memories- there is no way any of it can be forgotten or swept aside. They are endgame. That is all.

Where My Demons Hide (Blaine Anderson)

To me, there are so many things that have been left undeveloped with Blaine. We were introduced to this strong and confident characters, and then little by little we were hit with these tiny clues. The unsupportive father, victim of a hate crime etc. And then, of course, there was what went down in ‘The Break Up’. There is a darker side to this character, he has his demons, and I can only hope that in the aftermath of the last episode, we get to explore and understand this character a lot more.

You’re Like A Party (Kurt and Blaine)

Happy, sweet and beautiful moments- it is what we all need at the moment…

Such A Long Way To Go {2x06} (Kurt and Blaine)

So, with all the feels that we are certainly experiencing at the moment, I wanted to take it back and remember when it all began. *Sigh*…

You Made Me Believe (Kurt and Blaine)

So, after seeing the latest episode (Makeover), and the previews for the next, I just needed to focus on some happy memories…

I Will Wait For You (Kurt and Blaine)

Just playing with the whole NYADA, New York storyline…

Throw Me A Line (Kurt Hummel)

A video exploring the early episodes of season two. Our boy really copped it, however, there were moments that I believed shoed that he was not as alone as he might have thought…

I Don’t Know Just Where You Came From (Kurt and Blaine)

These two are born performers- I could watch them sing and dance all day…

Make Me Happy (Kurt and Blaine)

So, many, many rumours are flying about season 4, but I hold complete faith that these two are endgame. This vid shows that- that no matter what, these two do make each other happy and will continue to do so.

Story Through Song (Kurt and Blaine)

So, I had this plan to tell the story of these two, through snippets of the songs they perform on the show. The way it played out in my head was completely different to the final product, but I still think it worked out- I will just have to wait and see what any viewers think.

You Will Find Me (Kurt and Blaine)

A collection of Klaine, from seasons 2 and 3. The dialogue plays out chronologically, while the visuals are a mish-mash of moments.

Hear Your Heart (Kurt and Blaine)

The early days. While I love watching these two together, there is still something so sweet about the time we were all waiting anxiously for it to happen.

The Reason Why You’re Around (Kurt and Blaine)

These boys make me laugh. Just a little vid revisiting some of the giggle and laugh out loud moments. Pure joy.

Do That Brand New Thing (Blaine Anderson)

The boy is adorable, and I just want to celebrate that.

The World Belongs To You and I (Kurt and Blaine)

Klaine moments- from the kiss in 2.16, up to episode 3.18. A bit of a companion piece for my ‘I Keep Waiting’ vid.

What Is Love? (Kurt and Blaine)

Klaine-every relationship had it’s ups and downs. It’s those tough moments that make the great ones all the much more sweeter.

I Keep Waiting (Kurt and Blaine)

All the wonderful, amazing and somewhat angsty Klaine moments- from episode 2.06 to 2.16.

Bedroom Hymns {3x05} (Kurt and Blaine)

A video exploring all the Klaine moments from the amazing episode that was ‘The First Time’.

Move Your Feet (Blaine Anderson)

Just a fun little vid, focusing on our favourite moves from the one and only Blaine Anderson- from the smooth to the downright dorky.

Space They Cannot Touch (Kurt and Blaine)

So, I am addicted to these two, and am having a good time experimenting with making these fanvids. The used comes from the amazing Kate Miller-Heidke. I remember hearing it for the first time, and falling absolutely in love with it- the lyrics are so incredibly beautiful. To make it even better, the first time I saw her in concert, she informed the crowd that it was actually her husband who wrote it. Luckiest woman alive…

Anyway, I just felt the lyrics were so perfect to showcase the Klaine relationship and could not resist.

#fanvid #my fanvids #masterlist #masterlist: klaine vids #glee #klaine

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itsomgitsgreenblogging · 6 years ago

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Keeping it Classy (Chapter 2): A Solangelo fanfic

I finally got the inspiration to finish this week thanks to Solangelo Week! This meets the College/Roommates prompt so I’m just going with it. Enjoy!

Read on AO3

Chapter 1

Preview:

“You are such a sourpuss,” Hazel said with frown. “Nico, would it kill you to be a little more positive?”

“Honestly it might,” Nico said with a shrug. “I don’t know who positive is but she sounds bothersome.”

“Just meet him for lunch,” Hazel told him. “Give the cute boy a chance.”

“I’m telling you, this is a horrible idea. I’ll mess this up badly, I just know I will,” Nico said as he trudged forward, kicking a pebble in his path.

“Didn’t you just tell me yesterday that you were going to find out if he was interested?” Hazel asked with an impatient sigh.

“Well I changed my mind! I’m allowed to do that it’s a free country you know!”

“Listen, Nico, I know you’re pissed at me, but seriously stop toying with the scissors,” Thalia whined exasperatedly as she snatched the hand towel to dry her face. Nico looked up and gave her a look, bathroom scissors still in his hand.

“What? Am I not even allowed to cut my nails?” Nico asked her sullenly.

“You aren’t cutting your nails, you’ve just been glaring a hole in the wall! Listen, I don’t know how many times I can apologize. But I’m already suffering here! My head feels like it’s being split open, literally, like I might die from this hangover!”

“Then perish,” Nico told her.

“You suck,” Thalia said, throwing the towel at his head. He ducked it and stuck his tongue out at her. They both glared at each other for a solid minute.

“Hey, we’re going to brunch. And you’re coming with us Nico,” Annabeth announced as she walked into the bathroom in just a bra and underwear which made Nico lose his balance and slide off the toilet.

“Woah! Annabeth! Put some damn clothes on!” Nico demanded of her, watching as she picked up the blue toothbrush and began brushing her teeth. “And oh my god, that’s Percy’s toothbrush! That’s disgusting!”

“Please stop yelling,” Thalia begged, taking the position of cuddling against Nico who was now wedged between the tub and the toilet and the wall. Annabeth just watched them, obviously amused before swishing and spitting.

“Thalia, get off of me,” Nico told her.

“Bathroom party!” Percy said, only wearing boxers as he walked in, giving Annabeth a sloppy kiss, which left both of them smiling like dopey idiots. Annabeth put toothpaste on the toothbrush and stuck it in Percy’s mouth.

“You’ve got morning breath,” she explained.

“Babe you can shove anything in my mouth and I’d be into it,” Percy promised her, voice muffled between the toothbrush and his teeth. Annabeth just snorted in amusement.

“Ew,” both Thalia and Nico said.

“Anyways Annabeth told you guys about family brunch, right? It’s mandatory,” Percy said as he brushed his teeth.

“Family brunch?” Jason chimed in, popping his head in as he walked by. “Awesome! Thalia, you coming with?”

“Sorry, I have to go back to my dorm. I feel like I’m gonna die,” Thalia said as she got up unsteadily.

“I’ll walk with you over there. I’m gonna go pick up Piper, Leo, and Calypso from their dorm,” Jason said as he gave his sister a smile.

“Nico...thanks for last night,” Thalia said honestly. “I hope everything goes well with the boy.”

“Get out of here before I change my mind about the scissors,” Nico said as he pulled himself up. Thalia leaned in and kissed his temple, making Nico squawk and swat her away. Both Jason and Thalia were laughing as they left the bathroom.

“So brunch?” Percy asked curiously.

“If we go somewhere where there is enough maple syrup to drown me so I no longer have to deal with this wretched plain of existence then I’m okay with brunch,” Nico told him seriously.

“Sounds good, will do. But don’t forget I’m a lifeguard so I’m like contractually obligated to administer CPR,” Percy reminded him before he swished and spit.

“Percy, you’d find me shoving my entire fist into your big mouth way less sexy than anything Annabeth has planned for you,” Nico told him as he managed to get himself unwedged.

“Yeah I know isn’t she sexy?” Percy said dreamily.

“That wasn’t where I was going with this,” Nico said hopelessly. “Come on, doofus or we’ll miss brunch.”

Nico, Percy, and Annabeth disembarked from the dorm and took an Uber over to the restaurant. Nico generally didn’t mind third-wheeling it with Percy and Annabeth, since they were generally a good time with their antics and penchant for getting into trouble. However on that particular morning, they were basically attached at the hip. Whatever kind of sex they had last night had to have been either extra good or extra weird, Nico thought as Percy blew bubbles into Annabeth’s water and she giggled. Nope, definitely extra weird he corrected.

“So you got Will Solace’s number last night?” Percy asked curiously.

“I did, before I had to save Thalia’s life,” Nico told him as he swirled the ice cubes around with his straw. “It doesn’t mean anything though. He probably just feels bad for me.”

“Highly doubtful,” Annabeth said with a roll of her grey eyes. “When are you going to get it through your thick skull that people find you attractive?”

“Um excuse me?” Nico called the waiter over. “I just want to make it clear that we’re not splitting checks.”

“Okay sure,” the waiter said before walking off.

“There’s going to be seven of us!” Annabeth gasped in indignation.

“Yep, and you’re going to have to check all that math when we pay because I know for a fact that you are anal retentive about that stuff,” Nico said with a vicious grin. “Today’s a good day to exploit my enemy’s weaknesses.”

“Nico you petty bitch,” Annabeth said darkly. “I was giving you a complement and this is how you treat me?”

“What can I say? That’s how I roll,” Nico said with a shrug. Suddenly hands were placed on his shoulders. Nico looked up, glaring into Jason’s face.

“Why are you touching me?” Nico asked him.

“I’m breaking up whatever fistfight that was going to ensue before it even starts,” Jason said calmly before releasing Nico and sitting down next to him, Nico brushed off his shirt.

“You’re no fun at all,” Annabeth told Jason while pouting.

“Babe, we can’t get kicked out of here before we even order pancakes. I really want blueberry pancakes,” Percy told Annabeth with puppy dog eyes, and Annabeth sighed as if Percy had just made a really good point.

“Anything look good?” Piper asked as she plucked the menu right from Nico’s hands and gave Nico a smile that made it virtually impossible for him to complain.

“I love the omelettes here,” Leo said as he slid into the seat next to Percy, bringing Calypso with them. She laughed as their chairs collided.

“Great now I’m like the seventh wheel,” Nico mumbled under his breath.

“You could’ve invited Will, I’m sure he would’ve come,” Piper told him.

“Listen, I have a bone to pick with you over that,” Nico told her with an angry huff. “Don’t just go blabbing about my business to everyone and their mother, and I mean that literally I’m half convinced Sally’s going to call me by one over this.”

“Oh, you mean Will Solace?” Calypso asked curiously. “He was at the party last night, he’s the same Will that Piper was talking about?”

“Great, you know Will Solace? Does everyone know Will Solace?” Nico lamented. Everyone at the table looked around for a minute, before there seemed to be a general consensus made.

“Yeah, I think everyone does now that I think about it,” Annabeth concluded.

“He’s in the Orientation Club, he showed me around when I transferred here. Had one of those super slick white jackets, you know the ones? The ones the people wear when they give tours around campus? He’s a really cool dude,” Leo said with a envious nod. Nico definitely knew the ones. The whole jacket and dress pant combination that the student-led tour guides wore that was a combination of both over eager and incredibly good looking that he had admired from the second floor of the student union as they walked by leading hopeful high schoolers and their parents.

“His brother Austin is in the drama club, Will went to like all of the performances we put on of Anything Goes,” Calypso said as she rested her head on her chin. “He even bought an ad, it was so sweet and thoughtful.”

“Will helped out with the Habitat for Humanity thing last spring break with the rest of the mission from his church,” Annabeth said with a shrug.

“He’s part of the Biology Society, so we meet with them for student government,” Jason said thoughtfully.

“How the hell does he do all of that stuff?” Nico asked suspiciously.

“He’s the kind of person who can’t help but get involved when people ask for his help,” Percy explained easily. “Somehow he just sort of...does it?”

“He’s perfect,” Nico said as he was locked in a deep unfathomable horror. “He’s a perfect human being. Literally he was probably carried to Earth on a sunbeam.”

“Probably,” Percy agreed.

“I can’t deal with this, nope. No way. I thought he was in a totally different league but now I know he’s from a like different planet. How the hell do you guys think that I can just casually ask a guy like that out?” Nico demanded of his friends. “Especially when I’m...like...me?”

“Nico, you’ve got a lot of good qualities,” Piper promised him.

“Name one,” Nico challenged.

“You buy your sister breakfast every morning because you love her and you know it makes her happy,” Piper immediately said.

“Shit, I wasn’t expecting you to come up with one that fast,” Nico admitted as he looked away pointedly, feeling his face flush from the unexpected compliment.

“Why is it Nico takes compliments from Piper and not me?” Annabeth asked Jason, who shrugged.

“Aside from the fact that Nico should totally go for it, does everyone know what their getting because I’m starving and ready to order,” Percy said, thankfully bring the topic around to something Nico could actually deal with which was stuffing himself up to the gills with pancakes. The conversation shifted to something Clarisse had done during a soccer game, and Nico half listened as he tried to think through his own issues as he dumped more maple syrup on his stack of pancakes and poked the yellow of his sunny side up eggs and watched the yoke run.

He was lucky to have great friends, even if they drove him up the wall. But he also knew that their perspective was skewed by their obvious hope that Nico would find love as if he was on some sort of Lifetime movie. What Nico needed to do was do what his dad always said...even if it burned him to think that way. He needed to think like a freaking lawyer.

Now Nico’s dad was possibly one of the most infuriating people Nico had ever met and they disagreed on basically everything they could. Hell, if they could argue on the color of the sky they probably would do that too. But they were also a lot a like in a lot of ways too, and even if what his dad usually spat out was a load of garbage he sometimes did give valid advice. He had to think defensively: to protect himself and to do that he needed to proceed slowly, find the traps, measure and calculate the risk. And above all, never, ever let anyone see him sweat or be weak.

First course of action he could take was to do absolutely nothing. He didn’t have proof that Will was at all interested in him, save for being friendly at the party. This whole thing was probably all of them thinking about this too hard, really. If that was the case all he needed to do was avoid, which should be easy because before last night Nico had never come in contact with Will Solace before. Second route would be to pursue Will Solace and find out if he was interested in Nico. That was the hard one, since Nico sucked at flirting in general. But hey if it didn’t work out then at least he could say he tried.

So what should he do?

Nico thought long and hard about this. He had Will’s number but Will didn’t have his. When Will saw him at the shop, would Will be weird about the fact that Nico hadn’t texted him? He doubted Will would though, he seemed so effortless in everything he did. Hell, Nico knew that Will certainly was not interested in him like that. Nico hadn’t probably even come across as an actual human being during his interactions.

But…

As he walked a few steps behind the group as they excited the restaurant, Nico pulled out his phone. After a moment of thought, he bit the bullet.

Hey, Nico typed. He waited for a moment, stepping over a crack in the sidewalk. But then just as he was about to put his phone away, there came a reply:

Hi there!

Nico smiled.

“Hey,” Will greeted, and when Nico looked up Will was insanely close and insanely smiley. Nico couldn’t help but jump, but be settled as quickly as he could and pushed over so Will had room to stand next to him. Will smiled gratefully.

“Woah, uh, hi,” Nico said, and he wasn’t sure what expression he was making but it didn’t damper Will’s positivity in the slightest. That had to be a talent of his.

“It’s nice to actually, I don’t know, know who you are,” Will explained as he stood right next to Nico as they both awaited their orders. “So I’ve got to ask, you always get two coffees. Is it for the girl that meets you here or do you just drink both because no judgment.”

“Yeah, that would be my sister Hazel,” Nico explained with a shrug. “Our schedules really conflict, so it’s nice to get to see her.”

“Oh, wow. That really is nice. I wish my siblings bought me food,” Will said with a pout that was so cute Nico thought he was going to have a heart attack. “I guess they don’t love me.”

“Well, I am the older brother,” Nico pointed out.

“Shoot, I guess that means I’d have to buy food for them,” Will said with a sigh and Nico couldn’t help but snort and laugh at Will’s troubled tone. Will met his eyes and grinned.

“You’ve got a great laugh,” Will told him, blue eyes catching the light.

“Ugh, no I do not. I’ve got a horrible laugh,” Nico dismissed with a scoff, cheeks feeling warm. He hoped that Will didn’t notice.

“But I like that,” Will said.

I like that, I like that, I like that, Nico parroted in his mind. The sound of that was divine, even if Will was seriously probably on drugs. Nico’s laugh was pretty hideous. But somehow Will sounded like he meant it, like he really did like Nico’s laugh. After all, Will seemed like the kind of person who really and truly found good in everyone. That was an admirable quality for sure, and not something that came easily to Nico.

“So do you have class later?” Will asked as Piper presented them both with their coffees. For a split second Piper stared him down, and he pointedly ignored her before walking out the door quicker than he needed to.

“Yeah, today’s my easy day though. I’ve got one class at ten and then my other one at eleven. Done at twelve,” Nico explained easily.

“Well if you see me at Hestia come on over,” Will said, saying the name of the main cafeteria building.

“Okay sure,” Nico said before his brain had a chance to catch up with his mouth. It was at that precise moment that Hazel turned the corner and waved to him before walking over. She plucked the coffee out of Nico’s hand.

“Hi there, and you must be…?” Hazel asked, obviously being coy. If Nico didn’t love her he would hate her in that moment.

“Will. Will Solace, nice to meet you,” Will introduced.

“I’m Hazel, Nico’s sister. It’s nice to meet you too,” Hazel said, giving Nico a knowing smile.

“I’m going to go to class, but I’ll maybe see you later,” Will said pleasantly.

“Yeah, later,” Nico said, fumbling the words out of his mouth like he had stuffed it full of peeps. Will walked off towards the science building, and thankfully Hazel only started teasing him when they began their own walk and they were out of earshot.

“Later? Later? What does later mean, Nico please you have to tell me what later means!”

“Later just means Later! Like I might see him later, that’s it!” Nico said quickly, trying to defuse Hazel’s excitement but he found that it was far too late.

“But he wants to see you later,” Hazel told him as she bounced on his arm and Nico quickly traded his coffee with his other hand to keep it from spilling.

“We just became acquaintances he probably is just being friendly!” Nico told her quickly. Hazel sighed dramatically and got off his arm. “Will Solace is just a friendly dude.”

“Well I think he is interested in you,” Hazel said as she looked at her phone, grinned madly, and then held up the group chat for him to see. “And everyone else thinks he is too.”

“Shit! Piper!” Nico grumbled, as he watched Leo’s response of about twenty kissy-face emojis flash by the screen as everyone else spammed with reaction gifs. He batted her hand and got his phone out of his line of sight. “You guys don’t get it. Even if Will Solace is into dudes, which hasn’t even been confirmed, he’s probably not interested in me like that. I doubt he goes out with every gay guy he meets. Really, he’s just being friendly.”

“You are such a sourpuss,” Hazel said with frown. “Nico, would it kill you to be a little more positive?”

“Honestly it might,” Nico said with a shrug. “I don’t know who positive is but she sounds bothersome.”

“Just meet him for lunch,” Hazel told him. “Give the cute boy a chance.”

“I’m telling you, this is a horrible idea. I’ll mess this up badly, I just know I will,” Nico said as he trudged forward, kicking a pebble in his path.

“Didn’t you just tell me yesterday that you were going to find out if he was interested?” Hazel asked with an impatient sigh.

“Well I changed my mind! I’m allowed to do that it’s a free country you know!” Nico told her before running a hand through his hair, probably not helping any of his cowlicks at all. “Okay, okay I know I’m being slightly ridiculous--”

“Slightly?” Hazel asked him.

“Okay, very ridiculous,” Nico corrected. “But every time I’ve tried the whole romance thing it’s ended up being a total disaster.”

“It hasn’t been a total disaster,” Hazel tried to tell him but Nico shook his head.

“Hazel. Albania.”

“Okay, fine it’s sort of been a disaster, but really what do you want me to say to that? I think you should give it another shot. Meet him for lunch, he already offered and you already agreed.” She had got him there, Nico realized. He had already agreed, and if he skipped out then it would be rude of him. Usually he didn’t care about being rude but Will Solace had never done anything wrong to him, so Nico knew he didn’t deserve that. Nico would meet him for lunch, if was pretty much decided. As if sensing her victory, Hazel sipped on her coffee with a content smile.

So that was how Nico found himself in the cafeteria, nervously playing a dating sim on his phone as he waited for Will to get back from the lunch line. Will was all smiles as Nico sat across from him in the cafe. In fact, Nico didn’t think he had seen Will frown at all. Nico wondered if it hurt his face to stay like that all the time. Nico hoped it didn’t, Will had a very attractive face after all. Nico wouldn’t want him to hurt...unless he was into something like that.

“So, tell me, how’s your day going?” Will asked as he stuck his fork into his salad.

“Pretty normal I think,” Nico responded as he scooted a carrot across his plate, eyeing it with distaste.

“Not a fan of carrots,” Will asked with a chuckle.

“Not really,” Nico admitted. Then watched with horror as Will picked up the vegetable and popped it into his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it. Holy shit, was Nico’s immediate thought. My fork had touched that. Oh my gods, am I in fourth grade? Nico’s more conscious mind asked, thoroughly annoyed. At this point Nico was probably gaping at Will like he had just grown another head. Will just continued to smile as if he had no clue what had befuddled Nico so thoroughly. Oh, he was tricky. Nico thought.

“So...um, you mentioned you have siblings earlier?” Nico asked, hoping to get onto a topic he felt he could contribute to. Will nodded as he continued to eat his lunch. “How did you all end up going to the same University?”

“Well, my deadbeat dad sorta kinda donated a whole bunch of money to this school as his Alma mater, so, I got in for a nominal fee as did they,” Will said with a shrug. “Well, also it’s a pretty awesome school with stuff we all liked.”

“I’m sorry?” Nico said, his voice creeping up awkwardly.

“What for?” Will asked curiously.

“Uh...for having a deadbeat dad?”

“Oh, well, Apollo’s not that bad really,” Will said as he waved off the concern. “He’s harmless, just super irresponsible and also utterly incapable of keeping it in his pants. I tend to be more of the parent in most cases. It’s just annoying, but he’s got money so I can’t really complain.”

He didn't say it in a bragging way, nor like he was looking for pity, instead he seemed matter of fact about it. Nico didn’t really know what to say to any of that. Nico’s family...well it was the definition of complicated. Hell, Nico wasn’t sure that he’d told the therapist he had been seeing for three years about half of the drama. Nico’s relationship with his dad was light-years ahead of where it had been even a year ago, and it was currently functional (which was the first time he could even say something like that). But Nico knew about having an absent dad. Not that this was the conversation he wanted to be having with Will at all, actually if he could help it he wouldn’t be nudging this topic with a two foot pole.

“Well, I have Hazel so I get what it’s like to have a sibling go to the same school,” Nico said, switching the topic back as fast as he could. “Plus...I guess Percy and Jason count as family sort of, but you aren’t allowed to tell them that.”

“Speaking of, they aren’t having another party this weekend are they?” Will asked with a glint in his eyes.

“Not that I know of, but I’m usually the last to find out. Why?” Nico asked suspiciously.

“Would you like to come out with me tomorrow night? Grab a drink or something?” Will asked hopefully.

“Sure, yeah, of course,” Nico agreed in an awkward tumble of words. “I mean, I’ll go out to get a drink with you.”

“Awesome,” Will said with another of his signature smiles that basically melted Nico’s brain into mush. Nico wasn’t even sure how he functioned for the rest of the day. He certainly didn’t breath a word of what was happening to any of his friends of Hazel, especially now that he knew that they had some kind of bet going on. With as little fanfare as possible, made better by the fact that it was date night amongst his friends, Nico slipped out of the dorm and arrived to the designated spot.

Will had chosen to meet Nico at The Gladiator, which was a five minute walk from campus, and was generally a hustling and bustling establishment. Since it was so busy, Nico hoped he wouldn't see anyone he knew. And as they made it to the bar, it just seemed to be people Will knew who all greeted him in the same fashion that everyone else did. By the point that Nico managed to sit down he was almost certain that he was breaking out into a cold sweat.

“So what do you drink?” Will asked curiously as he leaned against it, white t-shirt looking almost horrifyingly good against his tanned skin. Nico wanted to bite it...which wasn’t great for his focus because he already had a difficult time processing what was being said to him.

“Depends on what mood I'm in,” Nico said with a shrug, managing to get the words of his mouth without blubbering. “I think I'm just in the mood for a vodka tonic or something.”

“You got it then,” Will said with a smile.

“I can buy my own drinks,” Nico argued weakly. “I--”

“Oh hi Will, and hi--ohmygodNicodiAngelo!”

That wasn't a particularly good sign. Behind the bar was Mitchell, and Nico groaned. He had forgotten Mitchell worked here. He was a distant relative of Piper’s, a nice enough guy but with the backbone made of gelatin and a gossip monger’s brother. Dangerous combination if you asked Nico (though people tended not to).

“People tend to have that reaction to you don't they?” Will asked, a mirthful glint in his eyes. Nico wanted to sink into the floor.

“Oh, hey Will!” A voice greeted from the side, a group of people waving at him.

“Give me a minute?” Will asked apologetically, and Nico waved him on numbly before returning his attention to Mitchell who was standing dumbfounded behind the bar just staring at him as if he had grown another head.

“Vodka tonic please Mitchell,” Nico said glumly. Mitchell made a sound that was a cross between a delighted giggle and a boiling kettle.

“Oh my God, like oh my God,” Mitchell said, nearly pulling himself over the bar in his enthusiasm. “You are on a date. With Will Solace. In the gay bar I work at. And I'm witnessing it with my own two eyes. Oh my God. I'm going to die, I have to text Lacy right now.”

“Didn’t I order something?” Nico asked crossly.

“Oh my God you aren't denying it! Ahhh! This is the best day of my whole life!”

“We are not on a date!” Nico said harshly. “We are just friends, this is platonic!”

“Honey, please. Denial is not a good look for you,” Mitchell told him before fanning himself excitedly. “Oh my God Sebastian is gonna flip!”

“Mitchell, please, my drink,” Nico begged.

“Okay, okay. I'm cool. I'm cool,” Mitchell said as he took a deep breath. A giggle spurted out of him before he went to go retrieve whatever he needed to make Nico’s drink. Nico sagged against the bar. What was he even doing here? Five minutes in and he had already embarrassed himself. He should just quickly down his drink and then leave.

“Sorry about that,” Will said as he slid into the bar seat next to Nico.

“It’s fine,” Nico said, trying to come off cool and unaffected. He wasn't sure how that was going for him but he certainly could try. Mitchell came back with Nico’s drink and smiled at Will.

“What can I get you?” He asked Will who smiled. “Rum and coke, also, put Nico’s drink on my tab,” Will told Mitchell.

“Oh of course! I'll be right back with that,” Mitchell said as he nodded so hard he nearly dislocated something and then ducked out of the way of Nico’s annoyance.

“You aren't paying for me,” Nico informed Will curtly.

“Why not?” Will asked, sounding confused.

“Because I'm perfectly capable of buying my own drinks!” Nico huffed, greatly annoyed by Will’s very resistant denseness. If Will paid then this was definitely a date, and Nico didn't think he could handle that.

“I see,” Will said with a sly look. “Well you'll have to excuse me for buying this round.”

“Fine,” Nico said as Mitchell returned and placed down the drinks before running off to help another customer. Nico got bustled at the bar a bit, and managed to scare off a guy with a glare before sighing.

“So you mentioned to me you don't come here often, was there somewhere else you would prefer? If you really dislike--” Will began to say before Nico cut him off.

“It's not that, I just usually go to quieter bars. Like Easton Street or something.”

“Oh, so you like old people bars,” Will teased and Nico rolled his eyes.

“I don't see anything wrong with having fifty year olds buy you drinks all night,” Nico said with a shrug.

“But you don’t want me to buy you a drink?” Will asked with a laugh, and Nico felt his face flush.

“Because if you buy me a drink--we’re not on a date,” Nico spluttered.

“What would it take for this to be a date?” Will’s tone was curious and Nico swallowed heavily.

“Um…” Nico mumbled, and then suddenly Nico felt Will’s hand touch his fingers, curling around them. He looked at Nico, as if for permission, and Nico couldn't look away.

“Here’s what I think we should do,” Will said with a smile, staring at Nico so intensely that he was half convinced he had something on his face.

“We should finish our drinks, then go dance on the dancefloor, and then I think you ought to kiss me.” Now it was Nico’s turn to stare at him. Woah, okay, so this was happening, Nico thought before he eloquently concluded with: screw it.

“Why? Because you won't kiss me?” Nico asked him, as he slid his arm around Will’s waist, doing his best to give a flirty smile. “I don't think I've done anything that bad yet.”

“I think I like where this is going,” Will whispered in his ear, as a thrill ran up his spine.

“I think I do too.”

Will’s lips were hot on his as they burst through the door of his apartment. Nico grabbed the bottom of Will’s shirt and nearly ripped it as he aimed to get his hands everywhere they could go--and Nico gasped as Will curled his fingers in his haired and pulled just right.

“Are you--God, Nico,” Will gasped as Nico trailed his mouth down his neck, looking for places to mark his skin. “Are you sure you’re good with this?”

“Just shut up and make out with me!” Nico ordered, managing to shut Will up with another bruising kiss. Nico groaned as Will half sent them sprawling back on the couch, and how good his weight felt on him--how his touch traced fire down his skin. Oh, they would have time later to do all the things he had imagined, but for right now Nico just wanted more. Nico wanted whatever Will could give him and yet it didn’t seem like enough.

“God, you’re hot,” Will half-moaned into his neck, kissing down his shoulder, over his chest, down his belly as he fumbled with his belt and Nico desperately tried to kick off his boot.

“I know,” Nico said.

“And you’re cocky,” Will said, looking up at him with eyes a darkened blue that sent a shiver down his spine. “But I don’t dislike that.”

“Why don’t you put me in my place then?” Nico asked him with a grin, as he trailed his fingers under Will’s chin. “Unless you like it the other way around, I can be very obliging when I want to be. You always seem to be taking care of other people, I’d be happy to take care of you”

Nico watched Will have a physical reaction, eyes blown wide, cheeks flushing red, and he seemed to freeze for a single moment.

“Holy crap,” Will said, looking away for a second as if trying to compose himself before squinting at him suspiciously. “Are you sure you are a real person and you haven’t been hanging out in my head for a few months because you are like, hitting all my very odd specific kinks right now.”

“What can I say? I’m just that good. And plus I’ve been having plenty of my own naughty thoughts,” Nico said with a laugh as he pushed Will on his back on the armrest. Will was laughing--a low rumbling vibration that made Nico groan again and reach down--

The door slammed open.

“We’re back--holy crap!”

In that moment, Nico jerked to look up and his leg slipped. He felt Will attempt to grab him to keep him from falling, but the next thing he knew Nico was clinging the back of his throbbing head and laying half underneath Will who was sprawled over with their legs tangled up together. Nico looked up with a glare to see Percy, Annabeth, Piper, and Jason standing in the doorway all with various expressions of surprise, embarrassment, and amusement. Nico placed one hand on the coffee table he had bashed his skull into and glared.

“Didn’t your mom ever teach you to knock you goddamn degenerate?!” Nico demanded of Percy as he felt Will reach over.

“Shit, that’s going to be a nasty bump,” Will said, gentle fingers prodding the back of his head, and though his cheeks were reddened he carried on like business as usual. “You guys wouldn’t happen to have an ice-pack would you?”

“Yeah, probably,” Jason said as he quickly went into the kitchen, pulling Piper behind him who was offering a thumbs up.

“Wow, you really fell head over heels there, didn’t you?” Percy asked with a grin. Annabeth just sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

“You are definitely not helping,” Annabeth told him as she grabbed him by his shoulders, and physically steered him away. “We’re going to your room, I’m so sorry guys.”

“Please, don’t stop on our account! Keep making out,” Percy hollered at him. “Nice seeing you Will!”

“Yeah, good seeing you too Percy,” Will said, with a embarrassed laugh that was still good-natured and totally hot. Nico now felt his skin erupt into heat as he sank somehow further into the floor.

“God I hate this fucking family,” Nico said as he put his face in his hands, looking up only to see Jason handing Will the ice-pack which Will pressed to the back of Nico’s head. Nico looked at him and sighed as he touched it. “If you never want to talk to me ever again, I totally understand and support your decision.”

“Why would I do that when this is so much fun?” Will asked, and Nico tried to detect any sarcasm but saw nothing in his expression that indicated such. Will knotted their fingers together as they held the ice-pack together. “I would totally do this again...though, I always appreciate a head’s up for interruption. Do you think we could do that?”

“Yeah…” Nico said, nearly beaming. “Yeah, I think that can be arranged.”

“Get a room!”

“It’s my fucking apartment--Percy Jackson get over here so I can kick your ass!”

Will laughed, and somehow disaster appeared to be avoided.

#solangelo #solangelo fanfic #solangeloweek #solangeloweek2018 #nico di angelo #will solace #do previously posted fics count?#eh #whatever it can't hurt lol

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bobbyshaddoe80 · 3 years ago

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Liberated Audio Reviews

Blake's 7 - Liberator Chronicles Vol. 4 Review

RELEASED MAY 2013

Recorded on: 22 February, 18 April and 3 July 2012, and 4 January 2013

Recorded at: Moat Studios

Review By Robert L. Torres

Promises by Nigel Fairs

'Saurian Minor. A dead rock in space.

Cally is alone with Travis, Blake's mortal enemy, both trapped on this desolate world - and someone has brought them here for a reason.

As they delve into the past, a long-hidden secret that links them both is uncovered.

Gradually, the truth about Scetona Clorensis will be revealed...'

This is a superb two hander/dual focused story starring Jan Chappell as Cally and featuring the return of Stephen Greif to the role of Space Commander Travis.

From the moment he was introduced alongside Jacqueline Pearce's Servalan in the Series A episode 'Seek-Locate-Destroy', I have loved the character of Travis. He was the Javert to Blake's Jean Valjean, and I was pleased as punch to hear Stephen Greif's dulcet tones give life to this character once more.

As an aside, I have always preferred Greif's portrayal of the character over that of Brian Croucher's. Nothing against Brian Croucher as a performer, as I feel he did great in 'Robots of Death' and the Kaldor City audios. However, Stephen Greif gave Travis a nuanced and layered performance, which gave his obsession with bringing Blake to justice a certain subtlety in its intensity... All of which was sorely lacking in Croucher's portrayal.

The story itself, which is very well written by Nigel Fairs, allows both actors to showcase aspects of their characters we never got to see portrayed onscreen while still remaining true to what was shown onscreen. Its interesting that this story is basically a sort of return match for Travis and Cally, and a great opportunity for Cally to get some payback following on from the events of the aforementioned 'Seek-Locate-Destroy'. Jan Chappell and Stephen Greif do exceptionally well with the material, as it was nice to see their antagonism focused and concentrated without the presence of Blake and company. It was rather nice having the tables turned between them, and for very specific reasons.

I loved how this story explored the events that ultimately led to Cally's introduction to the series in the episode 'Time Squad'. And it was also rather nice to gain some backstory on Travis and I especially loved how the dual focus for their stories was tied to the character of Scetona Clorensis.

9 out of 10 Plasma Bolts

All in all, a great opening story to volume four.

Epitaph by Scott Harrison

'When the Liberator picks up a distress call from a stricken ship, Jenna and Vila teleport across. For Jenna, it's the chance for a reunion with a fellow smuggler.

But the cry for help is not what it appears, and Jenna will meet the surviving members of her family.

The reunion will take her on a deadly mission - one from which not everyone will come out alive...'

This is another fantastic story, this time focused on another one of my favorite characters from the first two seasons: Jenna Stannis, once again played by the lovely and talented Sally Knyvette.

Before getting into the story, I have to say that I thought Jenna was awesome right from the start. However, I felt that she wasn't given enough to do or much to work with over time. It was very disheartening to see this beautiful, badass ace pilot be reduced to, as Sally Knyvette herself put it, "the Liberator Housewife".

I felt it was quite unfair to her as an actress that her character got the short end of the stick in terms of character development, agency and plot relevance. Which is why its no surprise she left after Series B.

Kudos to BF for doing everything in their power to right this terrible wrong even before crafting this brilliant Jenna-centric story.

In Volume 1's 'Counterfeit', there is a point in the story where Blake describes a moment where Jenna actually posed as Supreme Commander Servalan for one of their missions. And you have no idea how much I would have loved to have seen that happen onscreen.

As an aside, credit to Nigel Fairs and Simon Robinson for the music composition work they've done on the Blake's 7 range. They manage to recreate the otherworldly retro future soundscape created on a Casio Keyboard that was very indicative of late 70s early 80s era low budget scifi on TV in the UK.

Anyway, this story sees Jenna reunited with her brother and sister-in-law, forcing her to deal with the ramifications and consequences of her decision to join Blake's fight against the Federation. Its a great story that is well supported by Michael Keating as Vila, as it allows Jenna to be the badass babe she was always meant to be. The plot provides Knyvette with some great character exploration, as well as some great introspection over whether being a stronger person equates with being a better person. As a bonus, the story even sows the seeds for Jenna to have her own Travis-like nemesis in the form of Marshall Cade.

9 out of 10 Plasma Bolts

If Knyvette had been given more material like this during her time on the show, she probably wouldn't have left.

And don't worry... The Marshall Cade plot thread will be picked up again in the full cast audio 'Mirrors'. But that's a review for another time.

Kerr by Nick Wallace

'Supreme Commander Servalan believes she has a vital insight into the Liberator crew - a clone of Avon.

He looks the same. He sounds the same. He even appears to think the same.

And he offers to spring a trap that will bring down Blake and his crew.

But can the clone be trusted?'

We close out Volume Four with yet another excellent story.

The central focus of the story is once more on Supreme Commander Servalan, played to perfection by the late Jacqueline Pearce. It is here that we witness Servalan's latest plot to ensnare Blake and the crew of the Liberator from the perspective of the Supreme Commander herself. The plot itself involves utilizing a clone of Avon to devise a winning strategy, which also involves an old ally from Avon's past.

The notion of utilizing clones is familiar enough to anyone that saw the Series B episode 'Weapon' (ideas and concepts that will FINALLY be followed up on in the upcoming Worlds of Blake's 7 boxset 'The Clone Masters').

Despite the fact that LC Volume 4 indicates that this story is meant to take place during the events of Series A, it doesn't really feel like a first season story. For one thing, Servalan didn't officially meet the Liberator crew until the Series B episode 'Pressure Point'. For another, its during Series C and D that we have the back and forth sexual tension between Avon and Servalan. As such it wouldn't make a lot of sense for Servalan to specifically have a clone of Avon created for one of her schemes before she even met him. So, setting this story between 'Pressure Point' and 'Trial' makes a lot more sense, especially given what transpires in the story itself.

Its an excellent story that showcases Servalan's fascination with Avon fairly early on, and highlights well the similarities and flaws in both Avon and Servalan. Both are intelligent as well as ambitious. Both tend to have ulterior motives and are not above employing subterfuge, guile, deceit and manipulation of others in order to achieve their goals and agendas.

While Avon often knows he is the smartest person in the room and often finds most people annoying (usually Vila), he doesn't completely dislike people. But his problem is that he doesn't completely trust people. And it seems that even his clone, Kerr, shares that particular character flaw.

Servalan shares with Avon a profound sense of confidence that borders on arrogance. But what compounds that arrogance is Servalan's smug, self-centered sense of superiority. She treats people as little more than disposable pets, useful and able to provide amusement, but otherwise are unimportant.

In addition, her egocentric narcissism essentially has her view everything and everyone as beneath her. She believes all and sundry are meant to serve her will without question or discussion, and rudely dismisses any attempt made by those she sees as lesser to engage with her socially or intellectually.

The only one she feels could even be CLOSE to her equal is Avon. And yet, even with a clone of Avon, Servalan cannot help but treat him as little more than a dog on a leash rather than as a person.

But of course, we all know what happens when a dog is mistreated too often by its owner... Don't we?

10 out of 10 Plasma Bolts

A brilliant story that also nicely foreshadows (in a retroactive manner) certain events in Series D, and may even provide some valuable context and insight into Avon's actions and mindset during the final moments of the series finale.

Final score for Liberator Chronicles Volume 4 in its entirety is 9 out of 10 Plasma Bolts.

An outstanding step up in quality that demonstrates Big Finish's enduring policy of maximizing potential in both character and story development that had otherwise been left unfulfilled. Highly recommended.

#big finish productions #blake's 7 #reviews #audiobook

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in-defense-of-the-horror · 7 years ago

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American Horror Story Hotel: A Rant Continued

Yesterday I posted my thoughts on AHS: Roanoke, because it was terrible and all my anger was eating me up inside. I thought that would be the end of it, but I was wrong.

@colonelcaribou was curious as to my thoughts on Hotel, and so I’m here to present you with more ranting about American Horror Story (something that I’m always more than happy to do, by the way.)

SPOILER WARNING: Like my last AHS rant, this is intended for people who have already seen the season in question, this time Hotel.

Let’s just go ahead and start this off with one of my favorite things; unpopular opinions. Hotel is actually my personal favorite season of American Horror Story. While I don’t think it’s as good as Murder House from a critical standpoint, the strengths from the season all play to my preferences whereas the weaknesses are issues that I seem to have with every season of the show - making it the most enjoyable for me to watch. That being said, it’s the only season (excluding Roanoke) that I’ve only seen one time, and I’m probably the least familiar with it.

While it is my favorite season - it’s far from perfect. Since this is a rant, I’m going to start by talking about the things that drove me crazy.

I think one of the aspects that bothered me most throughout the season was Chloë Sevigny’s portrayal of the grieving mother Alex Lowe. I can see where she was going with the role, the under-played emotions were meant to illustrate the detachment and depression that her character is experiencing (at least, that’s what I got out of it.) However, it led to me feeling like many parts of the story regarding her character were bland at best. The fact that the only real emotion I remember her distinctly expressing was anger (which was often misguided, misplaced, or exaggerated) tipped the scales toward me actively disliking her character. This was a big issue that I had with what was an otherwise great subplot.

Before I move away from the Lowe family too much, it’s also worth nothing that I took issue with some character design choices for the small son, Holden Lowe. This sounds like nitpicking, and maybe it is, but could they have made the kid any creepier? It would be one thing if that was part of the story all the way through - or if they had made him look more like a normal kid in the flashbacks at least, but I actually found it really distracting. With the long, wispy, white blond hair, the pale skin, and his mother’s vacant expression - this kid was legitimately the most terrifying part of the season in my opinion, and it kind of sucks that I don’t think it was intentional.

Now let’s talk about James Patrick March.

Don’t get me wrong, I thought he was an interesting character. His design was great, Evan Peters did a fantastic job playing him, but his name bothered me. It’s not the first time that American Horror Story has changed the name of a character or even a historical figure being portrayed on the show - and I can see why they wouldn’t want to flat out say that this character was H. H. Holmes. After all, the Hotel Cortez was an amalgamation of many different locations, and it wasn’t even located in the same state as the infamous “Murder Mansion” that Holmes built in Chicago. Using the name of the actual killer would have been spreading a wild amount of misinformation, and considering the amount of liberties they had to take with the character’s history, could have been seen as pretty insensitive.

It makes sense that they would choose a new name for him and just use Holmes as inspiration (like they did with the Briarcliff Institute in Asylum) but there was one episode where it started bother me; Devil’s Night. In a room with the spirits of the most notorious serial killers, the fact that H. H. Holmes had been replaced with James Patrick March meant that he obviously couldn’t be at the soiree, since he was, in a way, hosting it. It’s a small enough detail, but it’s one that got on my nerves while I was watching, and as I’m typing this out I realize it really stuck with me.

That small issue is also a great transition into Devil’s Night, which was my least favorite episode and, as far as I saw it, the worst part of the season.

Let’s say for a moment that I buy into the premise of serial killer ghosts having dinner together annually on the one night of the year where they have physical form on this plane (which for the record, I don’t.) Let’s also say that the ghost of not H. H. Holmes was somehow a mentor to all these serial killers from all over the country, and that somehow makes sense. The execution was still very flawed. The whole scene was over the top, the dialogue felt very forced, and what the fuck was going on with the Zodiac killer?

Like, okay, I get that we don’t have enough information to do an accurate depiction of the Zodiac killer, but I feel like there were a lot of better alternatives than to making him look like the world’s worst Monty Python and the Holy Grail cosplayer (did anyone else get that impression from his outfit, or was it just me?) Much like my issue with Roanoke where they failed to give me an answer to an actual, historical mystery that they decided to bring to screen, I feel like there were a lot of ways to go.

Zodiac could have been just a regular guy whose name wasn’t mentioned. Could have been a regular woman whose name wasn’t mentioned. They could have created a name (like they did with James Patrick March.) He could have been Ted Cruz - which would have been the best use of a meme on television. He could have, and this is crazy, not been there at all. I think that would have been my top choice, actually, because from what we do know of the Zodiac killer, what are the chances he would attend an event like that anyway? I feel like the most elegant solution to the dilemma would have been to have a place-setting at the table for him (with the symbol on it of course) and then to have slipped a line in there about how he never shows.

There were some other issues throughout the season, but these are the ones that really stuck with me, and that I’m still thinking about a year after watching it. So, with all these complaints, you’re probably wondering why this is my favorite season. Unlike Roanoke, Hotel had a lot of redeemable moments and now I’m going to transition into some more positive ranting.

For one, the ambiance was great. The set was stunning, the cinematography was gorgeous, and hands down this was the season with the best sound track. (They got my favorite She Wants Revenge song AND my favorite Eagles song in the pilot, how awesome is that?)

There was an excellent use of body horror throughout the season, from the grisly killings committed to represent the ten commandments to the flashback where Sally sews herself to her friends. I think more than any other season the visuals really stuck with me.

While I have already brought up some problems I had with certain casting decisions - there were a lot of fantastic choices also made in that regard. I was surprised by just how talented Lady Gaga was in her role as The Countess, Kathy Bates continued to impressed, I think Sally was one of Sarah Paulson’s most intriguing and well-played characters. Let’s also not forget about the amazing supporting cast in this season. While there were countless characters in the Hotel Cortez that were wonderful, I don’t think any of them stand out as much as Liz Taylor.

In addition to being beautifully designed, perfectly portrayed and having a fascinating backstory that contrasts with the darker themes in the rest of the season, Liz Taylor was possibly the best instance of representation in the season - perhaps in the entire show. While the Countess also offers some LGBTQ representation, I was deeply moved by the mature way they dealt with having a transgender character recur throughout the season.

They addressed Iris not being comfortable with Liz due to her own ignorance, and she was upfront about how she didn’t know how to ask. Liz, a strong woman confident in her identity is happy to set the record straight, even though it means sharing about a time in her life before she had that confidence.

That flashback scene also shows The Countess in a softer light as she helps Liz embrace who she was meant to be and acknowledging her as a woman before the rest of the world did. She pushes Liz to come out as a woman, and when she sees that she’s pushing too hard, tones it down and suggests a smaller, more manageable step. Maybe she didn’t handle being an ally the best, but the fact that she realized she was trying to force someone to do too much too fast and backed down showed a side of her character that was unexpected, especially considering her unflinchingly dominant personality.

Where I thought Liz really shined though, was after that when she’s in bed with Tristan. Tristan is surprised that he’s fallen for Liz because “he’s not gay.” Liz is quick to assert her gender and set him straight. “You’re not gay for being with me. I’m a girl. I’m a hetero girl.”

There’s one last big thing that made me really appreciate this season, and that was the mythology. Those of you who have been following me awhile know that I am tougher on vampire stories than I am on just about anything else. It’s partially because I got burnt out on it, but I also feel like a lot of vampire mythology is poorly executed and overly romanticized. If I had known there would be vampires in the season, I might not have even wanted to watch it - but I’m so glad I did.

There are a lot of vampire romances in Hotel, but at the same time I feel like they weren’t glorified. At no point did I feel like the show was trying to sell me on the concept of eternal love through a vampyric virus. On the contrary I think it illustrates how the undead are in many ways lonelier than they ever were as humans. The relationships aren’t born out of romance, they’re born out of the lust that comes with the vitality of everlasting youth, and that’s how it was depicted.

All in all I felt like this was a much more realistic take on vampires. They’re less idealistic and in a way the idea of vampires being more human is a lot scarier than the alternative. They’re not dangerous because they’re monsters, but rather because they have the same wants and needs that we all have, but amplified. Not only does it make the prospect of them existing more plausible, it makes the idea of becoming one much less appealing - which is exactly how it should be.

The undead (the ghosts and vampires both) were glamorous, but that beauty was always matched with such clear suffering.

I have a lot more that I could probably say about the show, and about this season in particular, but this hits most of my big points about it. While it’s not perfect, there were a lot of things that made me enjoy the story.

In fact, writing this up, I think I’ve talked myself into re-watching the season to see if it holds up.

#american horror story #ahs #american horror story hotel #ahs hotel #ahs rant #rant #ranting #american horror story rant #american horror story hotel rant #hotel rant

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ladyfantasist · 7 years ago

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Reread, Rewrite or Burn - Book Tag

This tag is very popular on Booktube and even though I’m not a booktuber it looked exciting so I just couldn’t help doing it myself on paper! I saw it first a few days ago on BooksWithEmilyFox’s channel so PLEASE go check out her videos on Youtube or her Goodreads page if you haven’t already she is a wonderful Booktuber and a total sweetheart – watching her videos always makes me happy.

I chose a lot of my favorite books to make this as hard for me as possible… prayers are welcome. I ended up doing a lot of rounds because it was ridiculous addicting. Most people do like three to six but I did twelve because I’m just beyond extra.

Also I am a total nerd and decided to add a difficultly level to each round! Next to each round you’ll see either Normal, Hard, or Brutal. Normal meaning it was fairly clear from first picking them out which one would be which, Hard meaning it was a challenge to decide, and Brutal meaning it was absolute agony to have to choose between those books. I added this aspect to my own rounds simply because I’m not doing this via video but on paper – whoever is reading this won’t be able to see my reactions and won’t really know the difficulty each round was for me or how much time it took me to decide.

THE RULES:

- Randomly choose 3 books (I wrote down a bunch on slips of paper and put them in a hat to pick from.)

- For each group, decide which book to burn, which one to rewrite, and which to reread.

- Repeat until you completed however many rounds you want to do!

If you do one of your own PLEASE tag me in them! I’d love to see what you picked!

ROUND 1 – Normal

Reread: Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas. This was fairly simple, I LOVED this book and was already planning to reread it anyways. It was also the only five star book out of this round.

Rewrite: Ice Massacre by Tiana Warner. Wonderful novel but I didn’t fully enjoy the magical aspect of the town and would rewrite it to focus more on the romance because the romance is A+.

Burn: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. I enjoyed this book a lot but the last time I read it was around when it came out which is I believe around 2009. So, I was a freshman in high school and 14 years old. I have a pretty good feeling I would feel differently if I read it now – especially since I don’t like any of Stiefvater’s other novels I’ve read as an adult. I think about rereading it sometimes but I just don’t want to break the façade.

ROUND 2 – Normal

Reread: Wolfsong by T.J. Klune. I pulled out this one first and immediately put it here. Easy. This book is fecking magically wonderful and I could never ever do any wrong to it.

Rewrite: Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor. The books in this trilogy are some of my favorite books of all time. I have to say though, I would have to go back and add more backstory to some of the new elements we learned in this book because it just felt a little thrown in randomly.

Burn: Passenger by Alexandra Bracken. A good book but not nearly as good as the other choices. Can be a bit forgettable.

ROUND 3 – Normal

Reread: Saga Vol. 1 by Brian Vaughan. Saga is my favorite graphic novel series. I thought about putting this in rewrite but honestly there isn’t one thing I would change about it.

Rewrite: Paladin by Sally Slater. Great unknown author who deserves more attention. This novel was originally posted on Wattpad and I fell in love with it. I think I would rewrite it just to make the romance a little more believable.

Burn: My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand. A feel good guilty pleasure book. Not enough love for this to replace the other options.

ROUND 4 – Hard

Reread: Carry the Ocean by Heidi Cullinan. This book is so damned dear to my heart. A lgbtq romance novel between two boys one of which has autism and the other has severe anxiety and depression issues who are just trying to get each other through each day and be there for each other, their friends, and their family. If you haven’t read this PLEASE READ THIS.

Rewrite: Red Winter by Annette Marie. Japanese influenced novels are my kryptonite. Especially well written ones and this is one of them. The only thing I would ever change is maybe add a little less arrogance to Emi the main character – she can come off a bit prissy sometimes.

Burn: Consider by Kristy Acevedo. A great book that really makes you think, “what would I do in this situation?”. It’s a book you’ll be telling everyone about. Unfortunately it simply just lost out to two books I love more.

ROUND 5 – Hard

Reread: The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. My favorite book of 2016. Russian culture has always been fascinating to me and this book made that even stronger. This book is a damn masterpiece.

Rewrite: Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo. YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD CHANGE, DON’T YOU DARE PRETEND YOU DON’T KNOW.

Burn: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. I’ll probably get hate for this one and I’m probably the only person who has chosen this but I’m sorry, I love it, it’s just not as dear to my heart as it is for most.

ROUND 6 – Hard

Reread: Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff. Favorite novel of 2017 so far. There’s not a fecking chance I’m giving up Mia or rewriting one word of this book.

Rewrite: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer. My favorite character and pairing in the series is introduced in this book and I think I would rewrite it to be just a little less juvenile feeling in some places.

Burn: Uprooted by Naomi Novik. God I love this book I’m so sorry Uprooted… but as I was putting it in the rewrite slot at first I noticed how much I would actually change in this book and it was more than Scarlet, so it just had to be done.

ROUND 7 – Brutal

Reread: The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon. All the feels are coming back… gosh I really need to reread this one. Nothing I would change about little Lark or her story. Full of magic and love and loss.

Rewrite: Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare. Emma and Julian’s relationship needs a little tweeking I think – make it a little less angsty and a little more real.

Burn: City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare. Okay I love this series and will to the end of my days. It’s awesome getting more to the story and seeing all the characters grow up even more and maturing… but, honestly I wouldn’t have been upset if the story had ended with City of Glass.

ROUND 8 – Normal

Reread: The Host by Stephenie Meyer. This was actually the first “adult” novel I ever read. I read it in one sitting and laughed and cried and cried… I just loved it. I still go back and reread THE Wanda and Ian scene. I need to give this another read and even if I don’t love it as much as I used to it’ll be worth it. Now when IN THE HELL are we getting The Seeker and The Soul, Stephenie?

Rewrite: Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor. In my opinion, it was an amazing novel but I think she went a BIT overboard with the “magical, airy, dreamy” prose. It’s beautiful and perfect in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy but in this I think I would rewrite just to tone that down a little.

Burn: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. Fecking Mal, I hate him. Useless boy. Alina x Darkling forever.

ROUND 9 – Brutal

Reread: Morning Star by Pierce Brown. I mean, this is the third book in my favorite trilogy of all time how could I not put this here? Darrow has been crushed into my heart for all time. If you haven’t read these books I’m not completely sure we can be friends.

Rewrite: The Door Within by Wayne Thomas Batson. Guys, this is it, this is the first novel in the series that single handedly turned me into a reader. Ten year old Lisa’s soul changed after reading this, not even slightly joking. This book is a big part of why I am who I am today. The only reason it’s in the rewrite is because it is a middle grade novel and it would be cool to see what it would be like if it was written for the age I am now.

Burn: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare. Jem Carstairs don’t hate me, I’m so sorry Jem, you know I love you! I’m so sorry Will please forgive me. Cheers to the only great love triangle written, I’m so sorry all of you.

ROUND 10 – Hard

Reread: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. Look I know these books have their flaws but I don’t care I simply love them and grew up with them I can’t change them or burn them I just CAN’T.

Rewrite: Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer. I mean yes this needs to be rewritten to death but I don’t care how ridiculous it makes me I’m a Twi-hard for life I just can’t help myself.

Burn: Scythe by Neal Shusterman. I really enjoyed this book but it didn’t impact me enough to replace it with either of the other two that impacted me growing up.

ROUND 11 – Normal

Reread: A Court of Mist and Fury. I’ve already reread this book three times, it’s one of my all time favorites and Rhysand is my husband – I put this here before I even picked the other two out.

Rewrite: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. I’m just nitpicking with this one, these novels are damn amazing, there isn’t really anything I would change. If ANYTHING maybe make the high society balls and intrigue a little less present.

Burn: Bird Box by Josh Malerman. Just couldn’t live up to my current favorite YA novel and current favorite adult fantasy series.

ROUND 12 – Normal

Reread: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. Just can’t get enough of these two honestly.

Rewrite: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson. Maximum Ride has a special place in my heart and I just SO BADLY would love it to be rewritten for my age group I want it so badly.

Burn: Reincarnation Blues by Michael Poore. A great novel but unfortunately the second half of this book is MUCH better than the first half.

#booktag #reread #rewrite #burn #books #fantasy #youngadult #scifi

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dancekickboxcardio · 5 years ago

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youtube

Yeah, I forget sometimes. When you are in a certain milestone 🛣 in your life and you are like a psych graduate 🎓 and good at handling the difficult, well, it’s negligible even if to someone on another ends or the crowd really gets swept 🧹 by the tide 🌊. What is life anyway when you don’t know what it’s like to feel and be your total self and put your hopes, your dreams, your life on someone. Even I admit, I have a hard time in that regard. But I have strengthen resolve over the years. What’s worst is I have learned to be steely impenetrable. To remind me,

This is like the bomb for this holiday 🎄 season. I know you might find it disconcerting that there is a psychiatric nursing moment 👩🏼‍⚕️ here actually. Well in a sense. When I was in the criminal ward, those who cannot control their impulses have bracelets like rubber to put their tension when for example they feel like doing self-harm. In a more less severe and nonclinical setting like ordinary everyday relations, we get upset 😢, we feel down, we needs to be reminded, we need to represent what feel. A large gamut of expression. I have Lululemon hair ties to remind me not of high end work out 💪🏾 🏃🏼‍♀️ stuff but what wellness means. I really like reading the affirmations that reminds us that life is more than the demands socially impinge on us.

I actually want that too. Eighteen bucks is reasonable. But the business in me quoting the materials and labor. I go, they are making so much money 💵 on mark up and packaging. What I am trying to say is these trinkets reminded me of my life. They are selling an entire collection in Nordstrom which is reasonable at 20 bucks again to me the cost of goods manufactured versus 🆚retail. It is a lifestyle object. At anycase, these bracelets reminds you of you in all respects, what you want to be, what you are, what you are working on, what you forget, what others look 👀 over, what you hold dear etc. They totally should make lunch 🍴 boxes with affirmations. Just don’t sell them for $40.

I need my antioxidants 💊. I came across the tune 🎶 when I was making my espresso drink ☕️ in the kitchen. I am out of Nesquick. The recipe does taste 🥄 like a Christmasy 🎄 but not overpoweringly so.

I am out of nutmeg and I am eager to see the ads to plan for my fuel 🥘. I made so much food yesterday mosty veggie 🥦🥑🍆🍅🥒🥬🌶🌽🥕🍠🥔 servings really. However that is for another day. This was Sunday which I called an on because I missed Saturday and I need to make full use of my membership like I don’t get the most from my $80 membership plus magazine. Ugh 😑, Experience Life is like want to enhance your life esp on everything related to athleticism 🎽, they have the answers. What was I trying to say, ah, it never fails. I was sickly again come afternoon Monday and I had to drink two Advil doses. I feel better now. I slept 🛏 at 1100p last night 🌃 because I had to paint 💅🏾 but I didn’t set an alarm ⏰ and stayed in bed 🛌 for as long as I can. Actually, I didn’t want to get up. Except my stopwatch ⏱ beeped and I knew it was another hour. I just went to the bathroom like half an hour ago at 930p. So we have an idea 💡 what time it was.

Sunday was actually a great day. I feel that I took less than the minutes I said it would take me. It was chill and I was able to take my time picking out the stuff that I really need. In my contentment 😃 I forgot to put my beanie back on which means, my head is exposed to the cold 🥶 . I should make my antioxidants for the day as what we call prophylactic.

My glitters also known as sweat 💦 sparklies were not perfect yet I was in a hurry and accepted it as it is. They have new set on Sephora 🛍🤦🏼‍♀️. I am make up 💄 crazed although I already planned my expenditure in the next couple of months 📆 and guess what there is wiggle room to change ups yet mostly I covered everything that I shall need not like splurge on Zella’s 👖. Ban.do is like making me a loyal customer. It looks 👀 as if I might drop a small amount of $80. They sell clothing. But I am mostly interested in health, novelty self-care and girl boss items like planners. What was I talking about? I talk to much. Ah, I was dressed 👗 for the 🎊.

I have not touched the protein bar it’s in my yoga 🧘🏼‍♀️ bag although I drank the C4 energy drink in sips through out after Kelli’s dance 💃🏼 birthday 🎂 party 🎈 to Surrender 🙆🏼‍♀️ to sauna 🧖🏼‍♀️. The birthday 🍰 gal was dressed for a festival and I was like for the football 🏈 stadium 🏟. I also made it like a tail gater thang too. I was so happy 😀 I was in for the festivities 🥳. It was a 1.5 hours Zumba 🕺🏽HipHop with assists from Janice and Melissa. I was disappointed that they didn’t maximize the hours. Vie, the other members are tired 😓. We get it. I also think 🤔 they were making sure they have enough time when they send us off with treats from the café. I enjoyed 😊. There were Cleveland folks. I am not sure what you are talking about, we are all from Cleveland. There were peeps from the Westside and dancer 🕴🏻on the 1100 studio 2 class. I spend the minutes before making sure my back muscles are limber. I am always pressed for time in my head. I don’t want to be late. With that thought 💭 always running on my mind as if beating the timer ⏱ I am in a hurry—slow down—. I actually had enough time and more. I should have put the mat. The only thing is you have to disinfect it too. I discovered 🔎 that 10 minutes is enough 60 seconds repeat 10x. Some of the moves 👣 where something we know. I got to feel and be the music 🎼. Then, at times you get lost at the quick changing non repetitive dance steps. Some of them are familiar. Others are like a throw off. So you just have fun as the instructor emphasized. Melissa K was great. I love 💗 her. They are all super. However, even in her small segments you realize what a consummate dancer she is. Am I like in So You Think You Can Dance? Not to mention the music 🎵. Most of all, we are actually more than grooving, we are targeting muscles 💪🏾 like what I read yesterday in a low impact isometric way. It was awesome 👏🏾. They also put the blinders so everybody were not so conscious that we were being watch. Where the lights 💡 on? You betcha. Speaking of which, they have glow in the dark Sally Hansen polish. I think 🧐 I am going to have so much fun 🎉.

After we took a group picture 📸 and fuel ⛽️ and hydration 💧 was distributed I scanned the room if some of my acquaintances where there. I knew people and they were talking in a group but I didn’t see those that I actually have a conversation 🗣. At any rate, I freshened up for yoga 🧘🏼‍♀️. I had some large time like around 30 minutes so I did exercises on the floor literally. This time when doing the leg 🦵🏾 drop I felt the small sharp pains on my low back. I finished my set. I read from the mag that you should stop 🛑. I’ll mentally note 📝 that.

I should shower 🚿 in a minute. Stephanie’s class was spectacular. We worked on our hips flexors a lot and I was so happy 😀. There were new poses. I loved ❤️ it. A big gift 🎁 of attending the class even for one day in a week is the instructor arms you with the stuff you can do on your own. Oh, Vie, only the self-starter you. She was very good in educating us. I mean you get confused 🤷🏼‍♀️ in how the stretches are to be held but the benefits of doing it is there. I was being idiotic and airhead and I think 💭 I saw my trainer Lindsey with a friend. Stephanie taught us concretely by grounding, knowing and finding for ourselves if the 5 minute yoga moves change our physiology. I say mmmmhm. My right side is lose. My left side is stiff after pidgeon. She also gave the new policy on bodily adjustments citing the New York Times article that I didn’t read but saw. I should get ready 🎒.

My shows 📺 :

(A)

(B)

(C)

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paleface-warmheart · 5 years ago

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Don’t dream...it’s over

7 years, 1 month, 21 days. The time from the beginning until the very end. The hopes, the dreams, the togetherness, the love...was over. Where did it go wrong?

I think back to the early days. What a beautiful, scary time it was. This man, a man, actually liked me! Wow. He’s so handsome too. So funny, so creative and intelligent. What did I ever do to attract such a beautiful man? His ex-fiance seemed needy, demanding and as if she lived in a fantasy world. She wanted to get married, she wanted the fairy tale and she wanted sex to be intimate. The lights off, and the romance intensified. She kept his ‘dick in a jar’. Disliked porn and would freak out if she caught him having a wank. She wanted marriage first, the house and then the kids. At least one by 25. At least. I started to take mental notes.

Must not ask too serious questions about marriage, buying a home...and babies. Must not expect to hear ‘I love you’ anytime soon, if at all. Must remember to never ask for the lights off and to encourage frequent wanking, and porn. It was exciting, scary and somewhat satisfying to have a guide of what not to do. I was happy, so happy. His friends were nice too. Well some of them anyway. I think they liked me. I think.

Two years go by. What are we? Are we on the same page? Do we want the same things? Why do we never talk about our future? Why doesn’t he post that much about me on social media? Why doesn’t he make it public that he is in a relationship with me. I am nearly 30. I need to know if we are heading on the same path, towards the same goal. I don’t think I want kids, but I like the idea of marriage, and creating a home. That would be nice. I just have to finish my Uni degree and get an awesome job! The best job! The highest paying job! I cannot wait to build a future with him. Why doesn’t he talk about it with me?

I ask, he gets angry. I tell myself to not ask that again. I turn 30. The neighbour shows his true colours. I am terrified, and desperate for my life. He cannot cope with me and my panic attacks. I cannot cope with the nightmares, the hyper-vigilance, and the fear. I get away to a new home, an incredible new home with an air conditioner! Wow! That is awesome. I get an amazing job, I get treatment for my PTSD. I recover. He wants to move in. He delays the move in date. I get nervous.

He moves in, it is 2016. I cannot believe that life could ever be this beautiful. What did I ever do to deserve all of this? I am living my dreams! I go on a quiz show, I get a tattoo. Why haven’t we talked about the future? Why do I feel too scared to ask? Our sex life is incredible, but why does it lack an emotional connection? Why do we not make out like teenagers? I like kissing. It’s great. He just likes to peck me on the mouth. No open mouth. He critiques my kissing on our first date. That hurts. Maybe that is why he doesn’t like kissing now. I don’t really like his kissing either. It lacks connection, that intimacy, that warmth. Those magic words ‘I love you’.

I go overseas with my friends and it is so much better that I ever imagined. It is a dream. It is beautiful. I don’t want to leave, but he is waiting for me. My home is waiting for me. I cannot shake the virus. I feel deflated. My brother has to stay with us. It is beyond stressful. I just want him to leave us alone. I am exhausted. We are tense. It is our 5 year anniversary. He books a room in the Hilton. It is a 10 minute drive away. This is not our usual anniversary. I am excited. I am nervous. Could this be the moment I have always dreamed of?

It doesn’t happen. I am gutted. I cry and the next day I approach him to talk. He responds ‘I want to grow old with you’. That is sweet, but he never mentions the word ‘wife’. Will I be just like his ex? Strung along for 7 years and then dropped for something new, something less ‘needy’. I have to tell my friends that it didn’t happen. I don’t remember much of that year. I barely remember my birthday. I don’t remember much of anything apart from the arguments. I awaken in the hospital.

The next months are a blur, but I remember my excitement. We are going to marry! It’s going to be in Wittunga Botanic Gardens. The Mexican food truck Taco Cat will do our food, and the bagpipe man will do our music. I am beyond happy! He wants to commit to me, he wants to be my forever! Shit gets real. He has panic attacks, and weeks off of work. His mother berates me on my way to rehab. Why are you not doing that to help yourself and Nick? Why do you keep doing this? It’s stressing Nick! That does not help him, you are not helping him! You are making things worse. Do more, do better! You must go on medications to control your ‘crazy’. You must spend $35k on dental work. Do it for me, he says. I am angry that I survived.

You cannot watch that! You cannot talk about that! You cannot cry over that! You are so sure of yourself! You have an answer for everything! Shut up, don’t speak to me! Leave me alone! The blame is getting worse. I hate myself. He gets sent home from work for mental health reasons. I hate, blame and criticise myself even more, and so does he it would seem, and his fucking mother too. I get approved for my license. I am excited. I will no longer have to rely on others and feel like a burden. Dad gets diagnosed with cancer. Sally dies. Times are tough.

I attend Sally’s funeral. I feel numb, but on the drive home it hits me. I nearly had one of those. How many people would have come? What pictures would they show? What would they say about me, and who would say it? What music would they play? Nick Cave’s ‘Into my Arms’ I hope. That is beautiful. Sometimes I wish I did have that funeral. Especially when he yells at me for getting upset, for getting anxious. Are you taking your meds? Are you doing your CBT? I am so tired.

Christmas Eve comes round. He looks in my eyes and says ‘I have a little surprise for you at home. I love you so much. You mean the world to me’. I tear up. Could that really be my surprise? He buys a fish. I am gutted. We spend New Years Eve together. It is beautiful. It will be our last. He goes back to work, and things are good. Much better. Dad stays in the Cancer Council Lodge. It is heavy. It is a lot of pressure. We begin to break again.

I start my on-road driving. I am overwhelmed with my new ‘world’. I break down. It is two days before Valentines Day. I will never forget, and never forgive those words ‘I want to get to a point where I look at you and don’t just see a burden’. My heart breaks. I have never seen him filled with so much hate, so much anger, so much disgust. Am I just a burden? I can’t drive yet, so maybe I am. He says I go ‘crazy’ too often. The ‘crazy girl’ from the crazy family, just living up to her reputation I guess.

Driving goes so well. Dad gets the clear. We are nearly at 7 years! Wow! He asks me which ‘ring’ I want. I cry. We are going to make it! The lady from my work leaves. I am scared. I tell him that. He cracks. He yells at me. I ‘went crazy’ and I fucked him up. He needs two days off of work. I don’t know what I did wrong. I felt safe and secure to share why I felt ‘scared’ by her leaving. It makes my job hard. I have no-one to help me with the quantitative work needed for ‘traditional’ evaluations. He doesn’t get it.

He plans on leaving. I confront him. I stay at a friends place. He wants to leave our home. He actually wants to leave me for good, not just a break, a break up. I get my license back. I walk 30 minutes to get him his favourite things. He likes chocolate soy milk and Aktavite. I am exhausted, but I force myself to prove how much I love him. Don’t leave me! Don’t leave me! You’ll never find another woman like me! Love me! Love me! Love me! He is already on his way out. He has been for a long time.

It ends. I am numb. He tries to control the break up. I take my power back. He gets angry. I just want to know why he wants to end for ‘us’ and why he didn’t want to work on it. The universe literally shows me that this chapter of my life is ending. I feel better. It is meant to be. I feel like I am accepting this end. He tells me he is having second thoughts. I am confused. He has fucking abandonment issues. You’re spot on Freud. I have relationship anxiety, and rejection issues. He wants the break up to be done his way. Slow. Really fucking slow. Just like how he does everything. He says we must support each other, but only on his terms. What he means is for me to only give him support, supporting me is not important, well that’s what he thinks anyway. He berates me for being upset. He calls me negative. It’s a fucking break up you fuckhead! I take the power and control back.

He only wants to speak about happy memories. I can’t, I need to think of the criticism, the blame, the control, the fucking gaslighting. I hate how he talks to his friends about the break up, about me, about my family and the fucking potential new ‘love of his life’. I wish I didn’t know about that. I cannot get that thought out of my head. I hate that he will have her. I hate that his friends can help build the foundation to a successful relationship. She’s the one. He’ll get his third chance at love. Fucking third. I have friends who have never had one chance, and may never. He will get married, and live happily ever after with pale, quiet, intelligent her. I broke my body and my brain so that he could get his shit together to create a beautiful, stress free, easygoing life with her. What a fucking waste. He doesn’t deserve it.

I see ‘Mystify’ the Michael Hutchence documentary. It is Winter Solstice. It is a new beginning. Michael is beautiful. The documentary is so perfect. It hits home how similar I am to Michael, but my pain is in reverse. I feel grateful. I can do this. I can move forward. I block him on social media. I read about how to get over relationships. I follow the steps and gather support and advice. He is still in my home. Why? Just go, just leave me to see how my new ‘world’ looks and feels. Why must you drag this out? Why must you continue to torture me?

It is nearly our birthdays. We always spent them together. He tells me that he wants to spend mine with me. I don’t. I will spend it alone. I do not care. I just do not want to be reminded that this will be our last together. He wants me to keep every memento of him, even that professional photo of him. I don’t. I stand up for myself. It is nearly a month since we ended. He won’t leave. It is nearly his birthday. It is nearly my birthday. I will be 35. I am so tired.

I tell him no. After today there will be no talking, just texting. Yes, but only to inform me when he will be at my home to finish off his packing. I will never speak to him again, or see him again. Unless by accident. I feel good about this.

The dream is over. It was a beautiful dream at times, but that was the past, that was a long time ago. I woke up.

Who am I? What are my dreams now? Where do I begin? How will I heal from this? How long will it take? How will I deal with him moving on with her? Being happy, intimate and going on new adventures with her? Fuck him.

What can I take from this end? From the last 7 years? Where to from here? Where do I begin?

I am no longer a burden. I never was.

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