#can we hype up soc

[somecluelessidiot]

Can we just appreciate Six of Crows for a moment?

Like, the characters each have their own elaborate backstories and reasons for wanting the money and the whole plot line is so well put together.

Also, it's just completely bonkers because one moment they're planning a heist and how to get back at Van Eck, and the next Kaz is making a "your mum" joke.

[bytebun]

i need diverse fiction to get really big and successful so i can be a hater without . like. basically bashing my neighbour. do you get what i mean

[unfortunate17]

Wilmon (university AU) + "Wille, can we please talk?" 💕

I'd love to see more scenes of the university AU, either with mine or with another prompt from someone else 💜

I have such a bad headache lmao so hopefully this makes sense and lives up to the hype. Here’s a much requested continuation of the university au scene (I’d read that first if you haven’t this is going to make no sense without it)

“Wille, can we please talk?” The words are out of his mouth before Simon really knows what he’s going to say.

It’s a dull, gray afternoon, icy early winter wind whipping through Wilhelm’s gold hair as he freezes on the edge of the stairs, one hand still awkwardly braced against the banister. Simon watches as his shoulders bunch up when he turns around to face him. “Uh - “

“Please,” Simon almost stumbles down the steps as he dodges the bodies of his classmates. “Please just give me five minutes to explain.”

Wilhelm’s expression is guarded as he straightens the buttons of his coat. A muscle ticks in his jaw. “What’s up?”

It’s the first words Wille has said to him in weeks. Simon had always treated his company as an annoyance, but the winter days seemed darker than usual without his warm presence by his side. Simon misses Wilhelm’s endless chatter, the way he always leans in close to ask if Simon understands the material, if Simon wants to study together, if Simon is free this Saturday, if Simon is tired, if Simon is having a good day or not -

Simon swallows against the onslaught of memories. “I’m sorry for what I said that day,” he says at last, “It was - I was having a bad day and just kind of took it out on you. I’m sorry.”

Wille’s expression crumples further, a far cry from the boy Simon usually knows him to be. “Sure,” he nods, “apology accepted.”

Simon blinks, thrown. “So you mean - ”

“I mean apology accepted,” Wille’s voice is tight as he takes a hesitant step backwards, jerking his head towards the library. “And if that’s everything, I really need to - ”

Simon watches him for a long moment, taking in the color of his eyes and the high, aristocratic cheekbones one last time. “Yeah,” he deflates, “that’s everything. Have a good day, Wille.”

“Cool,” Wille nods again, shooting him a tight lipped smile. He turns, taking two more steps towards the library walkway. Then, he pauses. When he turns back around, his expression is frustrated, defensive. “You could’ve just told me, you know?”

“What?”

“You could’ve just told me to leave you alone,” Wille clarifies, tone unreadable. “You didn’t need to let me embarrass myself for four fucking months. I wasn’t like - if you wanted me to stop talking to you, I would have.”

Now, Simon looks away, shame steeping in his belly. He scuffs his shoes across the pavement, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. “I didn’t want you to stop talking to me, Wille.”

Truthfully, complaining about Wilhelm during his shifts had almost become a ritual. A way for Simon to preserve his stubborn indignation while simultaneously allowing himself to secretly enjoy Wille’s obvious devotion. It was easy, simple - entertaining even. And it was all fine because Wille had screwed him over, Simon had told himself - he deserved it.

“Really?” Wille asks darkly. “Because it sure as fuck feels like it. Like, you’re clearly only apologizing to save face - ”

“That’s not true!”

“Isn’t it?” Wille takes a step closer, his eyes bottomless. There’s a ghost of an unhappy smile up-ticking the corners of his mouth. An ugly emotion for someone so lovely. “I heard what you said when you thought I wasn’t there, Simon. What I don’t fucking get is why? What the fuck did I do besides maybe beg you to hang out when you didn’t want to?”

A spark of fury lights under his skin. “What the fuck do you mean what did I do?” Simon hisses, suddenly enraged. “Remember soc 10? We spent days - ”

“At my house,” Wille interjects fiercely, voice cracking. “You - I thought we were at least friends, Simon. I thought you might even - ” he bites down on harshly on his lower lip, the skin breaking as a dot of blood bubbles up to the surface.

Anger flares bright and hot under Simon’s skin. “And whose fucking fault is it that nothing happened? You didn’t show up to the fucking final, Wille. I had an eight hour heads up that you were dropping the class the day before the final exam. I fucking failed that class because of you.”

A ripple of emotion slides across Wille’s face, gone too quickly for Simon to catalogue. Then, his shoulders slump in defeat. “I - didn’t know.”

“You never asked.”

“Simon, I - ” Wille trails off, squeezing his eyes shut as he rocks back and forth on his heels. When he opens them again, there’s something haunted tucked behind his pupils. He clears his throat, words coming jilted, “That week - I - and you’re right, I shouldn’t have done that, but my brother - he - I got a call right before dinner that he - ”

The ground opens up beneath his feet. Simon feels bile rise up the back of his throat, Sara’s words echoing in his mind like a gong: I heard from Felice that it was a family emergency.

In front of him, Wille looks crushed, and for a moment, Simon thinks he might be sick. “Wille,” he breathes, aghast. “I didn’t - shit, I didn’t even know.”

“How could you?” Wille snorts softly, “I never said. Or asked, right?”

“That’s not how I - I’m so sorry.”

“Thanks,” Wille gives him a lopsided grin, “but you don’t need to be sorry. Really, I should be thanking you.”

Simon stares at him. “For what?”

“That was the worst week of my life,” Wille shrugs, the motion too practiced to be casual, “but thinking of you - it helped a lot. Like - knowing that I could come back here and see you made me feel like I still - had something.”

Simon opens his mouth to speak, but there’s a fist where his voice should be. So instead, he surges forward, tipping up on his toes to throw his arms around Wilhelm, relishing the way his hands immediately hold him close. “I’m sorry,” he whispers into the soft cashmere of his scarf, “Wille, I’m so fucking sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Wille murmurs to him, sniffling, “You’re right. I’m not - that was shitty. I didn’t even think about it until now, which is even worse. And - ”

“Stop it,” Simon squeezes him tighter and buries his cold nose in the warmth of his neck, “no more apologizing.”

They stay like that for a long moment, fallen leaves decaying at their feet. It’s going to snow soon, Simon thinks faintly, a thin sheet of sparkling white to blanket the campus yard. He shivers when another gust of wind hits him, curling instinctively closer to Wilhelm’s warmth.

Finally, Wilhelm’s grip on his waist loosens. “Simon, I’m sorry I - “ he laughs softly, “I really have to go.”

“Right, sorry,” Simon clears his throat, taking a step back. The distance between them immediately fills with icy air. He grits his teeth against the urge to step back into Wille’s arms, “I’ll see you - later today?”

Wilhelm looks at him for a long moment, something cautious in the tilt of his jaw. The tip of his nose is bright pink. “Okay,” he says slowly, “if you’re sure.”

“I am,” Simon assures him at once, then suddenly hesitates. “I mean - if you’re sure.”

Wilhelm nods. He shifts from one foot to another, clearly uncomfortable. “Can you - give me some time?”

Simon’s heart drops like a rock. “Time?”

“It’s nothing bad,” Wille hurries. His hands come up to curl around Simon’s shoulders, squeezing tight. “I’m just exhausted. It’s been a long few weeks.”

“Okay,” Simon thumbs gently at the pale stretch of skin at Wilhelm’s wrist, exposed from under his coat. “I can wait.”

Then, Wilhelm smiles at him, his eyes going impossibly soft. “Thank you, Simon. I’ll see you soon. I promise.”

[rumble-aint-a-rumble-without-me]

Hey! Love your work and was wondering if you could do one where the reader is a really good cook/baker!

A/N: Hey there! I'm so glad you like my work :D I really hope you enjoy this one too!

DARRY CURTIS

He swore he couldn’t love you any more than he already did but then you went and started cooking for the boys and Darry found out just how wrong he was

It’s so nice to have someone else who can cook and who Darry can trust alone in the kitchen, he knows you’re not gonna start a fire or something

You’re the one cooking dinner now most of the time, simply because the boys like eating your cooking the best

Darry will cook for you sometimes! Especially if you’ve had a bad week or it’s a big milestone in your relationship, blah blah blah, Darry has a thing for taking care of his partners, and that comes out in the form of food

King of hyping up your cooking, especially your chocolate cakes! You’re the only one that can bake a chocolate cake and get Darry to admit that yours tastes better than his cake does 

Also also also, he asks you to pack him lunches sometimes so that he can take it to work with him and just kind of have a little part of you there with him <3 I highly suggest dropping a little handwritten note into his lunchbox, but y’know, that’s just me talking

SODAPOP CURTIS

Don’t tell Darry, but he likes when you cook or bake for him more than when his brother does, Sodapop thinks it just tastes better

*Insert a joke about how Sodapop likes to claim it’s because you make your stuff with love and Darry doesn’t but we all know that’s nonsense*

I kid you not, Sodapop is a bottomless pit and not a picky eater by any stretch of the imagination, so if you need a taste-tester for some dish you’re trying out, look no further than your pretty boy

Show up to the DX with a packed lunch for the two of you, flirt and giggle before giving it to him, stay with him and eat together in the garage on the hood of some ridiculously Soc car that Steve was supposed to fix later in the day

Nothing says I love you more than sitting on a car and laughing during his lunch break, doing nothing but sitting there and just being together

Plus! Steve will get sort of grumpy and pouty because he wanted to have Sodapop with him for his lunch break but you got there before him and he can’t really be mad because you guys are just too cute but he’ll be funny to watch  

PONYBOY CURTIS

You’re into cooking? Baking? That’s cool, Ponyboy has no problem eating whatever you’re working on and loves to be in the kitchen with him

He’s a menace and likes to sit on the countertops or eat the food before it’s cooked, so maybe it’s not always the best idea to have him there with you, but, y’know, he’s cute so it’s way okay!

The two of you have definitely made a mess of Darry’s kitchen at some point, cookies gone wrong or a mini-flour food fight, so there’s a high chance that you’ve gotten Ponyboy banned from the kitchen

If you bring anything treat-wise for him to school, expect the boys to try and steal some of it, especially Two-Bit, that boy will literally steal anything he can

Hype Man pt. 2, Pony talks about your cooking so much that Darry has probably asked you to just come over and cook dinner one day so that Pony will stop telling him about how you’d cook everything differently

Also, strong opinion that he only knows how to cook very simple meals, scrambled eggs and grilled cheeses and things, and is seriously impressed by when you make things that are like even a fraction of a bit of something better than those

DALLAS WINSTON

If your folks are out and you’re planning on cooking? Please oh please, call up Dally and let him in so he can eat whatever you’re making

He’s not helpful, he eats your food and then doesn’t help with the dishes, I wouldn’t recommend him as a sous chef at all

But! He’s honest and will tell you exactly how he feels about what you’re cooking, which can be a blessing and a curse, just as things usually are with our dear Mr. Winston

If Dally doesn’t like something, he’s gonna bitch about it, but if he likes it, god he’s gonna compliment you and compliment you and compliment you and kiss you so many times as a thank you

No one else is allowed to touch anything you make for him, he threatens to and has bitten and snapped at people who get too close to his plates before, I’m not even lying to you

Also, don’t let him cook because Dally’ll probably end up burning something, solid headcanon that he can barely cook, and he’ll probably end up blaming you for whatever he’s messed up!  

JOHNNY CADE

Hard one, I don’t know exactly how I feel about Johnny with an S/O who’d bake or cook all the time, but I know he’d like it!

You’d probably make an extra lunch for him every so often (every other day or so because you know you love him) and the two of you would eat your lunches together at school

Johnny likes everything you make, he’ll tell you how great everything is and shower you with praise and compliments as he shovels food like he’s some sort of chipmunk

I don’t think he’s picky either? Like, I don’t think he cares very much about picking and choosing when it comes to food, he’d rather just put it in his mouth and go on with his life

But I think Johnny has a favorite thing that you make, I don’t know what exactly, but it’s gonna be something sweet, maybe cookies or brownies

He’s a horrendous cook, okay? Recipe or not, he absolutely sucks and it’s terrible having him in the kitchen with you but he likes to stand with you so I think you should just let him hang out as long as he promises not to touch anything- 

TWO-BIT MATHEWS

You’re helping him babysit his sister? And you’re making dinner? For both of them? And you’re having the time of your life in the kitchen?

Two-Bit thought he was in love with you already, jeez louise, he’s so gone for you and is about to have a meltdown because you’re just standing in his kitchen making dinner for everyone 

He tries to kiss you and almost burns himself on the stove because he’s too busy staring at you he doesn’t realize where he placed his hand and then you’ve got to take a break from cooking to take care of him

Two really does like what you cook though! He’s not picky and he’s open to whatever you want to feed him, I promise! 

Come up to him with a spoonful of mystery and tell him to open his mouth and swallow, Two-Bit will do it immediately, no questions asked whatsoever

He’s a good guy, alright, and he’s got simple thoughts, he just really likes seeing you when you’re cooking, when you’re in your element and I think he’d be a really great pal to have in the grocery store 

STEVE RANDLE

Have I mentioned? That Steve? Is a cheerleader? And likes to hype you up? Because that’s running around and around in my mind

For the love of everything, you better have a chocolate cake recipe memorized because that’s what Steve’s always going to ask you to make, he can’t get enough of your chocolate cakes

You’re gonna have to persuade him to eat anything else, honestly, he’s just so in love with you and the cake, it’s gonna be a challenge 

If you don’t let him in the kitchen with you, Steve’s just gonna whine and pout until you eventually cave and let him in from where he’s been throwing a fit in the doorway

He’s good though, he knows when to keep his hands off, especially when he’s coming from work and covered in grease, he honestly really doesn’t want to help with the cooking anyway

Steve would much rather just watch you and talk, laughing about your days and just be there with you while you cook and bake your little heart out  

TIM SHEPARD

He’s picky with food I have a feeling? Like Tim likes what he likes and that’s what he’s gonna eat, y’know?

Bowl of cereal in the morning, a burger when he goes out to the diner, Tim’s not really into the whole trying-new-things but I have a feeling, if you tried hard enough, you could convince him to try something a little new

Present it to him and smile, bat your eyelashes, say your pretty pleases and beg just a little bit and there’s nothing Tim can do but say yes <3

He’s a good person to cook with! I think he knows what he’s doing enough and likes to cook, so I think it could totally be a bonding thing for you!

The moment you cook dinner for Angela and Curly, Tim knows he’s not gonna let you go anywhere because if you love him to care for his siblings as well, Tim knows you’re definitely a keeper

He likes to come up behind you when you’re cooking and hug you, murmuring into your ear as you throw things together, some compliments and some teasing remarks, but they’re all said with such love it makes things totally cool-

CURLY SHEPARD

This little shit, Curly is head over heels even before you tell him that you like to cook/bake, he’s gonna be long gone when he learns about that

He thinks it’s great, absolutely loves it and absolutely loves you, and wants to hear about everything you’ve ever made

You need a taste tester? Someone to go grocery shopping with you? Someone to talk with while you cook?

Don’t you even worry, baby, Curly is more than happy to spend all day in the kitchen with you while he does no cooking whatsoever, just hangs with you

And, so uh, y’know how cookies and brownies and stuff have that sort of window where you just sort of put them in the oven and wait? Yeah, Curly likes to take advantage of that time period and kiss you senseless

Tell me I’m wrong, you can’t because you know that this boy will take any chance he can get to make out with you, regardless if he runs the risk of burning those cookies to a crisp or not-

[dallasgallant]

“Ain’t nobody call the Fuzz in this neighborhood cause they know better!”

This line sits with me as a very telling one that often goes overlooked, as it’s lost in the blur of energy before the rumble. Now most of this is going to be from existing knowledge but it did prompt me to dig into poor communities a bit more. The line is said differently between the Book and the movie but both are said within the idea of pride and community— when they’re caught up in the high of before a rumble, all the energy close to bursting out of them- repping their kind and going on this spree of yelling stereotypes and taking ownership. In the movie Steve’s much more happy and hyped as he yells it— in the book he also says it to correct Darry but in a more exact tone.

In a surprise to no one cops aren’t friends to poor communities. Economically poor, crime heavy communities tend to be over policed and often met with force, brutality etc. We know the boys get hauled in a lot, sometimes just for the assumption they did something. Cops pick out, they stereotype and often target within the neighborhood.

There’s a social aspect as well that’s not so direct to do with police action and that is the social isolation. Lack of resources, mistreatment and disapproval from those outside creates strong communities that further isolate. In a lot of ways it’s a helpful thing, mitigating the effects of poverty by having a social net and trust. A detail I like is that Darry seems to be a part of a phone tree when Pony was late the first time (not exclusive to poor areas but a great example of having networks.) People help each other out “help their own” building networks. A lot of work is under the table or can be barter based - questionable legality of work, building/fixing things, way of general running of life. Perception of law is different.

This isn’t to say everyone in the neighborhood has broken the law at some point but it’s likely a lot have at least something of questionable legality or more likely have family members who are greasers, criminals etc but will protect them. All of the guys instantly flock to go help Dally after he robbed the store and have been stated to hide and protect the guys whenever they do something like this. It comes back to the “help/protect your own” … no one in the neighborhood is calling the cops because they know what will happen if they do. A family member or friend might be taken in, potential brutality, people coming in and uprooting the way you live your life because it’s “abnormal” etc etc etc.

If someone does call the cops who do you think they’re going to help? A bunch of no good, greasy hoods or the nice boys from the other side of town with their khakis and new cars and clothes? It was probably a greaser who threw the first punch too… doesn’t matter their side of town or what its over, or if some Soc is standing over some bleeding greaser kid. It’s systemic. (An aside but this is also why it drives me nuts people would assume the boys to be bigots because they’re … lower class in the 60s… let’s do some introspection there. Added to the fact that, there’s a lot of overlap with racial issues, their community would likely be FAR more integrated than the west or even rest of the town. Not that their wouldn’t be ignorance but the assumption— that’s not the point of this post but a pet peeve of mine)

Anyways, the Outsiders often gets reduced to a simplistic “use vs them” of just Greaser vs prep like it’s one of the beach movies they watch. When in reality it’s actually a lot to do with class and societal expectations/conditioning.

—

Papers if interested Here and here

Either for general interest or potentially helping with writing. Ones an older study (which skimming and certain sections I found interesting), the other IS Wikipedia but it’s for the general idea

[pumpkinsy0]

since its that time of year (only 65 days😝) wb christmas hcs?

can u believe it guys???? christmas!!!! just a week away :D!!! christmas!!!!

•back in haiti, the shepards had to go to church on christmas eve late at night and it pissed them off so bad, ik they were so happy to not do that when they moved to the us LMAOOO

•tim and curly taught pony and darry how to make haitian fanals (these small house things just look it up) and YES, ur supposed to use different colors to act as the windows/light, but pony and darry just make it one solid color (their fav colors) and tim and curly think its cute, a lil dumb, but cute

•the curtis gang do secret santa here n there, but realistically most of their gifts come from donations from others, they dont rlly do the whole

•angela worked as a mall elf for the mall santa once and never again bc the kids AND the adults got on her nerves so bad, she always made either curly or someone from the gang tim made go w her as her protection from creeps n such

•curly and angela love christmas carols, they sing it together sometimes, maybe a lil louder if theyre drunk enough (soda and two love carols too btw)

•darry will take oneeeee look at the nativity scene u der the tree before bed, he wakes up, and all of a sudden baby jesus is riding a horse and the adult figures r doin things they DEFINITELY werent doing that night, he hates leaving the lil figures out and the gang starts roleplaying w em

•tim gave darry kremas and darry stupidly thinking the gang would respect the property of others, left it in the fridge and half of it was gone, their excuse was “we thought it was eggnog”🙎🏽‍♀️

•angela saw curly w a santas hat kissing pony under a mistletoe and he likes referring that night as the “i saw pony kissing santa claws” night, shes so disgusted each and every time

•the curtis parents has a box of ornaments the gangs made before and they always hung it up and thats something darry keeps doin

•sometimes curly and pony find themselves on soc territory just driving past and they see their houses as bright as a bomb blast and make fun of em

•sugar cookies r totally angelas weakness, and on the topic of cookies, curly hates gingerbread cookies, he feels like ppl hyped them up sm and when he tried it, it tasted like SHIT and till this day hes mad about it

•tim in an ugly sweater is keeping me going, he only wears it inside tho

[l0stfoster]

Paul anon here !! Its been a hot minute (like 3 days) and i fear i must return and ask things

- Does anyone ever find out Paul’s related to the person who cursed tulsa ??? Is that like a big deal or is that smth that everyone just goes “damn”.

- Idk if this has been like covered or answered but whats everyone’s lifespans ?? Is it the same as normal humans or are any of them different?

- Btw timewing your little one shot ate up so bad i need more about post-jumping plz just cuz overprotective darry makes me crazy 🫶🫶 i love yalls writing so bad

- Parry wedding hcs please 🫶

- can we also just get like some angsty parry stuff plzzz

I literally cannot rmbr anything else i wanted to ask i had stuff but my brain is fried from life okay thats all 🫶🫶

Ah yes, the talk of the town returns. Welcome back we were waiting very patiently >:)

Grasping your questions in my hands, you fuel the entirety of my writing habits at this point.

Does anyone ever find out Paul’s related to the person who cursed Tulsa??? Is that a big deal or is that smth that everyone just goes “damn”.

- The gang finds out about it over time, Darry being the first and everyone finding out progressively. They don't mind, if anything it's a little interesting to be friendly with the guy who's directly related to that. I can imagine Pony and his active imagination wondering if Paul could do similar magic to what was used to make the curse. It's a little intimidating because god damn that also helps people realize how powerful Paul COULD be. (Darry's also the only person who catches onto the fact that Paul's direct relation is why he feels so much guilt over the curse) - The socs don't find out,, for a few reasons. Think about it, this curse over Tulsa is looked down upon by the socs, they could argue that it's ruined their way of life having to deal with these things- and then they find out it was one of their own who contributed to it. They've already proven how far they're willing to go, and they'd likely hold a VERY similar thought process that Paul has. "If the bloodline ends, then maybe the curse will break." - To put it simply; if word got out to the socs, Paul would be LUCKY if he survived the next time he got jumped. Hell, he'd be lucky if someone could even find his body; humans are cruel. - Shitty doodle from last night but here's how the Paul art is going.

Idk if this has been covered or answered but what's everyone’s lifespans ?? Is it the same as normal humans or are any of them different?

- Lifespans for the Cursed follow human lifespans, with some minor differences. - Fae are functionally immortal (do remember that immortal does NOT equal invincible) and I think harpies have slightly lower life spans; most live to their 70s or 80s. Their bones are fragile as it is, and they get weaker as they grow- most elder harpies' lives are at risk if they fall even once.

Btw timewing your little one-shot ate up so bad I need more about post-jumping plz just cuz overprotective Darry makes me crazy 🫶🫶 i love your writing so bad

- Timewing was very hyped about you mentioning them, as they should be. - There will be more overprotective Darry to come, I'm very insane for him and so is Time so it's only a matter of when we get to chatting about them.

Parry wedding hcs please 🫶

- Paul and Darry elope; Paul doesn’t like big events or celebrations as is and Darry would stress the fuck out over the cost. - They just go to a courthouse, sign whatever papers (idgaf if it wouldn’t work like that because gay marriage wasn’t legal), forget to tell the gang, and then proceed to be like "Oh we got married" when someone (Two-Bit prolly) says "When's the wedding" as a joke - The gang is more upset that they didn’t get to throw a bachelor party, and Soda’s mad he didn’t get to be the flower girl /silly - They both have their own ways of going about marriage spells/rituals for both witch culture and fae culture. Paul’s witch marriage stuff is more physical (tying an anointed cord around their wrists- physically tying the knot); Darry’s is more spiritual. - Paul accidentally magic binds them. He needed Darry to use his magic for something relating to his ritual and they tied. Paul, later realizing he can feel when Darry is in danger/stressed/using his own magic: Shit Paul: Paul: Dar how would you feel abt eloping Darry: What - The second Paul suggests eloping Darry’s on board giggling. Timewing feels that the way Darry’s would work since it’s more spiritual, he’d press their foreheads together, hand over Paul’s heart, and say a sort of prayer in fae. - Paul’s chill the entire time but the second he actually registers what just happened he starts sobbing LMAO. Darry thinks he did something wrong ‘cause Paul is NOT a crier. He’s got anxiety god bless. - They can’t get gayer chat.

Can we also just get like some angsty parry stuff plzzz

- I think it goes without saying that the second blood ritual was a powerhouse for angst. Darry thinks his boyfriend was trying to fucking kill himself— and to an extent, Paul can’t even say otherwise because look at it; how do you explain that? - They both have a lot of doubts regarding their relationship with one another; Darry doesn't think it's authentic and Paul's walking on eggshells because he doesn't know if one wrong move will destroy everything he tried so hard to get back. - They still have issues regarding their roles as a greaser/soc; Paul's still adapting to life on the East side, so there are a lot of little things the greasers do that he doesn't understand. The same goes with Darry and Paul's more soc-aligned behavior. - They don't fight much but when they do it usually ends with days of silent treatments from both sides before the gang forces them to talk it out, as both of them are awfully miserable without each other. - Technically not Parry itself but Paul being kicked out and losing the financial support from his parents meant he had to drop out of college. Shit was heartbreaking, both for Paul and Darry bc he was really hoping he'd get to see Paul achieve what they both had wanted.

[i-can-read-to-him]

The Wesper Fic Club's Author Spotlight is a post series that aims to feature two to three fic authors a month, randomly selected from a pool of names put forth on our server. The authors are then asked to answer three interview questions, select up to five of their fics for us to feature, and finally, recommend three fics by others in the fandom.

(Note: Our spotlighted fics are not limited to Wesper, though they tend to be a central pairing in most of our authors' featured works.)

This week, we are putting a spotlight on Jazzy's writing!

Socials: @jazzythursday (Tumblr) | Jazzythursday (AO3)

❀

Part One: Author Interview

Q: What do you consider your strengths as a writer?

A: I love writing dialogue, and I take a lot of pride in being able to create scenes where there are authentic conversations happening. For me that goes hand in hand with good characterisation, which I try really hard to stay true to. Nailing a character’s voice, their gestures, the way they think and overall spirit and being able to make it come through on the page is probably the thing that I’m always trying the hardest to do, and I’m really proud when I’m able to pull it off. I also would like to think I’m good at incorporating metaphor and poetic imagery into my writing. 

Q: Who is your favourite character? What do you love about them?

A: It’s not really a secret that my favourite character is Wylan. I started watching SAB already knowing that I’d love him from spoilers I saw online, but I really couldn’t have predicted how much he’d come to mean to me.  I tend to fixate on characters I see myself in, that I can relate to and also find aspirational, and so much of Wylan’s character speaks to me in that way. He’s anxious and scared most of the time, unsure of where he fits in or how to act, which is honestly how I feel most of the time too. One of my favourite things that I think sometimes gets overlooked about him is his bravery. To me, Wylan is the embodiment of the phrase “do it scared”. Even with everything he struggles with, he always tries, and that’s something I’ve been trying to take with me in my own life. I think of him a lot when I’m trying to hype myself up for things I don’t feel equipped for. I also really love Wylan’s kindness—the way he refuses to let his experiences make him cruel or stop seeing how much beauty there is in the world. He sees so much in his environment and the people around him. He has so much compassion, and even though it makes him vulnerable, I think there’s so much strength in him choosing to often lead with it instead of hiding it away. 

Q: Have you had a chance to interact with the SAB cast? Tell us about your experience(s). 

A: I have had too many experiences with them to properly articulate. I was able to go to multiple conventions this year where the cast were guests, as well as see Next to Normal in London and meet Jack at stagedoor. Meeting Jack is always surreal. They really are such a lovely human. The one moment that sticks out to me the most is when I got soc and ck signed at Into The Fold. I remember I’d gotten to meet him briefly before that but not been able to talk much because of nerves, so I had planned and written down this whole Thing I wanted to say about how much he inspires me as a performer and as someone who is studying musical theatre. He was really kind about it, and seemed genuinely excited to talk about theatre for a bit. Then at the end after he’d signed the books I blanked out mentally and said something like “ah—words, yes, those are— those are a thing… and I can use them… correctly… :)” and he was just nodding supportively (and I think trying not to laugh) saying “Mhm. Yeah, they are :)”  At MagicCon a few weeks ago I managed to give him a blue butterfly as well (not a real one. I have fake plastic sparkly ones on clips) which I’ve been wanting to do since Into The Fold. I started carrying them around with me as part of my Wylan cosplay, and have recently started keeping one on me whenever I feel like I need some extra luck. I don’t know if they really are lucky or not, but they feel lucky to me. 

Q: What are some recurring themes you’ve noticed in your writing? 

A: I place a lot of weight on feelings over plot, so a lot of my fics centre on an emotional journey of some kind, i.e: a character feeling displaced, and then more secure by the end; a character experiencing something awful, and having to deal with carrying on in the aftermath—Coping and trauma both come up a lot, because I find that fascinating and cathartic to write. It’s one of the things I wonder about the most: How does this character cope with their trauma? How do they feel about it and what makes their days easier? What makes them harder? Who do they lean on for support? Wesper calls to me as a ship so much because a major function of their relationship is how they help and support each other without judgement. Nurodivergence also comes up a lot. There’s a section I go back to a lot in Every Day, Just a Little or a Little Bit that goes into detail about Jesper’s adhd and how Wylan both relates and doesn’t relate to it through his own experience with dyslexia and autism. 

Q: What is one of your favourite scenes from the source material (book or show)?

A: I love all the wesper scenes in the book, so that’s just too hard to even begin to narrow down. As for the show, I looooove the wesper scene at the end of episode 4. It’s so beautifully well done. They have a very honest conversation, which is rare to see in this type of media. Wylan talks to Jesper candidly about the reasons why he left and how he felt, and Jesper sees that honestly and gives it back to him by sharing his own feelings. They’re both so vulnerable with each other and not used to that kind of honesty, and they treat that with more gentleness than I usually expect from shows—and I love that that’s the catalyst for their kiss.  I genuinely believe it’s one of the best scenes I’ve ever seen. From an acting perspective, Kit and Jack are perfect, and the music and cinematography just adds so much romance and significance that it really stands out as a Big Moment™. On the soundtrack, the song that plays under the scene is called The Night We Met, and it does a really great job of heightening the emotions in it. In the beginning, Wylan and Jesper are feeling each other out, not quite sure of where they stand, and so the score starts with only singular notes on the harp. The more the conversation progresses, closer they get to each other, the more music we hear. I don’t know if it’s strings or wind instruments (I can’t tell by ear), but the chords are held out, which creates this feeling of waiting and suspense—you want the song to go somewhere, to relieve that tension, and it does. Violin gets added slowly at first, soft with hope as they approach understanding, and then only once Wylan and Jesper kiss do we hear the music really take off. The tempo, the energy, it all swells with excitement. It really just takes my breath away, honestly. The violin is sometimes considered the closest instrument to the human voice, which feels very poignant for the instrument that takes over in this moment. They aren't talking anymore, but they are still communicating—physically, with their eyes and with their bodies, the kissing is a conversation—it reminds me of how in musical theatre it’s said that the songs start when the character’s emotions are too big for simply speaking them, and so they sing. That’s what the violin is doing at the end of the scene, it’s singing for them in a moment where emotions are too big for words.  I didn’t mean to write that much for this question, but there it is. 😅 I also love their scene the next morning because it’s soft and domestic, but I’ll leave it at that for now, otherwise this would be a 10 page essay about all of their scenes in the books and the show instead of an author spotlight.

❀

Part Two: Selected Works

Everyday, Just a Little or a Little Bit

Teen | 42.8K | Post-Season/Series 02, Character Study, Van Eck Reveal, Hurt/Comfort, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse

Wylan keeps waiting for it all to go wrong. Ever since that first night, after they beat Pekka Rollins, ever since the night after that, when it wasn’t over. Every morning since, when it still wasn’t. Happiness isn’t reliable. Peace is not permanent. People do not stay. This is what Wylan knows; it’s the only proven hypothesis he has any reason to trust. And every day, he wonders how long he has left before everything good that’s happened over the last month is inevitably whisked away. Or: the scenic route to the Van Eck reveal. Wylan Van Eck, in the months following the Crow’s return to Ketterdam. Struggling with his past, relearning love in its many forms, and worrying an awful lot about how to keep it.

Cutting Loses

Teen And Up | 1.2K | Canon Compliant, Missing Scene, Light Angst, Pre-Season/Series 02

Wylan is no stranger to one night stands. He can’t say he gets around very frequently, but enough to know the general plot of how they're supposed to go. Flirt, drink, fuck, leave. The order isn’t necessarily set in stone, but the list ends the same every time. He doesn’t even remember falling asleep, really.

No Right Way for the Blue or Black Days

Teen And Up | 4K | Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Jesper Fahey's Gambling Addiction, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse

Wylan wakes up alone. He knows, immediately, that something is wrong. The only disturbance of the covers has been made by himself; the other side of the bed is untouched, except for where his hand had landed on Jesper's pillow during the night. The rest is left unruffled and empty. He hadn’t come back. Jesper has a run in with some debt collectors after a solo job, and comes back to the Slat bruised, bloody, embarrassed and, despite all insistence to the contrary, not fine. Neither of them take it well.

I Need to Leave (Please Stay)

Teen And Up | 1.6K | Wylan Van Eck-centric, Pre-Canon, First Meetings, Getting Together, Light Angst, Self-Esteem Issues, exploration of trauma

People leave, it is a theory proven time and time again. Tried and tested and true. People leave, so Wylan always, always leaves first. It’s the better way, the only way, to keep on with whatever semblance of life he’s living. In which Wylan struggles through his first year in the Barrel, and tests a theory which garners surprising results.

Heart Of The Country

Teen And Up | 24.1K | Slice of Life, Character Study, Post-Book 2: Crooked Kingdom

It’s a funny thought: the house beside the old jurda farm as home. It isn’t, really. It hasn’t been for a long, long time. Home became, at some point, his room above the Crow Club, where he could hear Kaz pacing around his office at night above him and the rowdy, boisterous noise from the club below. Home became his and Wylan’s shared room at the Slat. The one with the paint chipped walls and the leaky pipes and the brassy, artless key Wylan still wears around his neck, long after they’ve moved out. And after, slowly but surely, it became the Van Eck mansion; all the towered ceilings and too many rooms of it. But the farm will always be home to him too, he supposes. The way the place you grew up will always be. Or, a series of happenings at the Fahey family farm, one year post-Crooked Kingdom.

❀

Part Three: Author's Recs

out of the forest (into a home)

Mature | 89.2K | Alternate Universe - Daemons, Alternate Universe - Laundromat, Alternate Universe - Coffee Shops & Cafés, Alternate Universe - College/University, Social Anxiety, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse

The first time they meet, it’s closing in on five thirty in the morning, and Wylan is elbow-deep in the back of one of the washing machines trying to repair a leaky inlet hose. The door buzzes, signalling the arrival of a customer. “Hey,” someone says in a rich baritone. “Can I get some change?” --- Wylan is adrift in the city; Jesper and the rest of the Crows take him in.

counterclockwise

Mature | 12.1K | Angst with a Happy Ending, Canon-Typical Violence, Post-Canon 

“Wylan?” Jesper asked, uncertain. There was so much trust wrapped into his name, and all Wylan could taste was fear without courage. He couldn’t breathe. “What did you do?” -------------- Or, the one in which Wylan’s never defused an explosive before, Jesper prepares for a mercher ball, and Kaz and Inej snag an invitation.

Forgiveness of Debts

Teen And Up | 35.3 | Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Kidnapping, Wylan Van Eck Whump, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse

They lie on the edge of the roof, watching the guests arrive at the Ice Court, dignitaries, performers, the workers from the West Stave houses. In the midst of the glittering crowds one group stands out, a blot of darkness among the gaudy frocks and suits. Inej inhales sharply. She’s looking down at the man in the centre of the group, whose reddish hair is going sparse on top. “Isn’t that–” Beside Jesper, Wylan stills, his body a tense line. “Van Eck,” Kaz confirms. His face turns grimmer than usual.  Wylan’s secret is revealed at the worst time, and in the worst way. Everything afterwards happens a little differently.

❀

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[d8nielaa]

can we get more on babygirl curtis? i love her and i wanna know her relationship with everyone in the gang

Authors Note: yes anon ofc!! I love babygirl so much!!

Babygirl Curtis Head-Cannons

ACE

Her relationship with Ace is strong-like insanely strong.

Ace is the only other female figure in her life. Older at least.

Ace is like an older sister to Babygirl, and she teaches her things that her mother never got to teach her.

Babygirl loves Ace, and Ace loves her. They're always there for each other.

Ace is always comforting Baby because she always has something to cry about.

Which is sad but it's true.

The two gossip a lot, and Ace always cheers the younger girl up.

They nap together, put on makeup together, play dress up and everything.

(If you read the Ace lore Tilly wrote, you'd know Ace loves to dress up, but she doesn't as an instinct of survival)

Basically, the two are always with each other. It'd be weird if they weren't.

SODAPOP

OH WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN

Alongside Ace, Babygirl is always also with Soda.

They're locked in.

Soda always makes her laugh, and takes a big part in comforting her.

Soda + Ace + Babygirl = dream trio

They're always together.

Whenever Soda gets home from work, him and Baby either take a nap or Soda sits with her while she does her homework because Lord knows he can't help her.

The three of them have taken naps together. No doubt.

Soda and Baby watch cartoons with Ponyboy.

Whenever Baby's cooking, Soda tries to sneak in some food coloring into whatever she's making.

Babygirl always catches him.

They cry together.

Babygirl cries, Soda cries.

Soda cries, Babygirl cries.

It scares the gang when they do that.

But they know it's coming because Soda and Baby are the most in touch with their emotions.

It's safe to say, they are the best brother and sister duo out there.

TWO-BIT

Baby'a hype man fr

He's always trying to help Baby when it comes to boyfriends.

His advice isn't always the best or accurate but.. A for effort!

He always steals things for her, even though she tells him not to.

It's usually little things like rubber bracelets, rubber bouncy balls, candy and etc.

One time, he stole a little lined notebook for her birthday.

She takes it everywhere, either writing or drawing in it.

She loves that little book with all her heart.

Two-Bit takes her to the drive in, alongside Ace and Ponyboy.

Babygirl often keeps him out of starting anything with the Socs.

He often buys her snacks, even though she says she can buy it.

He never listens.

Two-Bit always keeps an eye on her: he feels the need to protect her from the Socs.

Even if it's Marcia or Cherry.

It's just this gut feeling he has.

The thing about Two-Bit, is that he isn't the smartest, but he's loyal as hell.

PONYBOY

The two of them were like twins when they were younger.

Since they were only a year apart, they did everything together.

They had a lot in common and liked a lot of the same things.

Unfortunately, when their parents died, they grew apart.

Babygirl overall grew apart from everyone but-thats a story for another time.

He misses when they were young, and desperately wishes he took advantage of those moments with her.

Now, Ponyboy and Babygirl are close. But not as much as before.

The two of them often sit in silence together, drawing or writing.

It's like that trend when your drawing/painting with someone, and you set a timer for 5 minutes, and once the timer is up you switch with whatever your working on.

You guys do that all the time.

No words, just the drawings the two share.

Every now and then, Babygirl and Pony have really heart felt and deep conversations.

One that usually ends in a hug or making each other laugh in order to boost up their spirits.

They both kind of have that same; quiet and shy mindset.

Which is one of the things that make them so similar.

DARRY

Darry loves Babygirl.

At first when their parents died, it was so hard for Darry to even be around her because she looked so much like their mom.

It mad Babygirl sad because she always thought Darry didn't like her, or that she was doing something wrong.

Sodapop talked some sense into him, and made him realize that he was making Babygirl's life even harder.

So he apologized, practically cried on his knees

(That sounds like an exaggeration but if you've seen Brent in the musical, omg)

The two are as thick as thieves now.

Babygirl helps with dinner, and of course the chores.

Whenever Ponyboy and Sodapop are goofing around and giving Darry a hard time, Baby always puts them in their places.

Like Ponyboy, the two of them always have those deep conversations.

because Darry wants to understand her- he wants her to feel heard.

Since Ponyboy and Sodapop share a room, Darry and Babygirl share a room.

Whenever Babygirl has a nightmare, Darry makes sure she's okay b before they go back to sleep.

because Darry loves her, and he'll be damned if anything happens to her.

STEVE

We all know Steve doesn't like kids.

And we see that through Ponyboy a lot of the time.

So Babygirl and Steve don't really talk all that much.

But when they do, Steve actually enjoys her gentle and quiet presence.

Even though he won't admit it.

He teaches her about cars and how to fix them.

So much so that she becomes really good at fixing and tinkering with them.

She knows how to change a tire, change oil- all that good stuff.

He was impressed with the amount of knowledge she was about to remember.

He lets her take snacks from the DX.

He genuinely cares for her, but just doesn't show it well.

DALLAS

Dallas is so protective of Babygirl.

Like Darry doesn't have to even ask him.

He will gladly protect this girl with his whole life.

Dallas teaches her how to fight, and where to go if the Soc's ever find her.

He teaches her how to be street smart. because Babygirl is only book smart.

She tries to remember, she really does, but it's just hard to.

Alongside Two-Bit, Dallas is always with Babygirl at the drive in.

She always has to watch him because he's always looking for trouble.

She's defended the Soc's a couple time (Cherry and Marcia)

He's surprised when she does that, and gets a little angry but ultimately lets it go because she's like a little sister to him.

Dallas thinks of Babygirl as his own flesh and blood.

She thinks of him the same way.

He'll walk her home if its a late night out, or patch her up if she ever get's jumped.

Especially so Darry doesn't find out, or at least worry that much.

Dallas is so good to her, and has a HUGE soft spot for her.

Like HUGEEE

Nobody in the gang had ever seen him like that, besides Johnny.

JOHNNY

Johnny and Babygirl often sit in silence together.

They either smoke, or Baby will draw him as best as she can.

He's so sweet to her

These two really love each other

Babygirl is like the sister Johnny never had

Johnny always makes Baby's day.

She'll hang out with him at school or at the lot.

She stays with him when his parents are fighting, and offers to take him to her and her brothers house.

There's this unspoken, understanding and love they have for each other.

It's perfect.

Babygirl has even protected Johnny from the Soc's a couple times.

Not in a physical sense, more like just getting them to back off.

Because Johnny doesn't deserve the things that happen to him

And Babygirl feels bad, because that is her brother.

Not by blood, but by heart and emotion.

"I have known a love that many never known, and that love lives on no matter where I go."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------Authors Note: HIII GUYSSSS!! I feel like I haven't posted in so long!! #firstheadcannon vibes. Y'all let me know what you wanna see next!

[toastedwrittenthoughts]

A Race, A Challenge and Some Bonding.

These guys need more scenes where the gangs are together.

Shy guy stepping forward with HEAT at the fact that Buddy swung first. I gotta say for him as a former boxer, he would be the guy to point that out. And the shyest guy spoke up first.

Susan.. keeping the peace.? I will try not to hold judgment for her since she literally was trying to throw Richie under the bus to the principle..

The grin that spreads on Gil's face at the mention of a race.

The Soc's knowing of Gil's ability's to race. "No World where you beat Gil Rizzo." I don't know about you guys but now I GOTTA see this guy behind the wheel racing for real. Like.. Even when his car was missing parts he was THAT good!

The Huddle!

"I'm Hungry." Me too, Potato. Me too...

"Pancakes would be nice." "Should we get a table?"

They aren't even worried or talking strategy. Well, they are but a different kind of strategy. Breakfast Strategy.

When Gil steps forward to shake on it, I was like 'there is the co-leader of the T-Birds.' He is confident and in a way, profesional about this. Though I love Richie, I gotta say... Gil looks pretty good here. It may be the fact that he is confident as he steps up to the plate as Richie's second. It also shows that he still thinks of Richie as the leader and hasn't given up on his boy.

Buddy having to take a second before he shakes after hearing 'May the best man win.' Just makes me think of when he talks to his dad and states that he doesn't wanna 'win be default'.

Rizzo and Frenchy getting hyped up seeing 'older kids' doing cool stuff.

Rizzo and Frenchy starting to show that they want to be Pink Ladies and ask to join.

Gil and Rizzo ribbing eachother as siblings do when they are just talking.

And I love the way they are starting to build a repoort with Gil and Jane when they step aside to talk to Frenchy and Rizzo.

The shared look they have hits on several levels.

From being older (responsible) siblings, leaders of gangs and just being in highschool in general, they react in classic sibling denial laugh at the idea of them joining.

"Absolutely not."

"There's a height requirement." Now this one made me roll my eyes when I first heard it and its not until Gil steps up behind them that you CAN SEE THE HEIGHT DIFFERENCE! Im sure there are a few of us on here that would turn into Frenchy if Gil put his arm around their shoulder and said he'd give em a ride.

Jane's "Never gonna happen." It may be to discourage Frenchy from mooning over Gil, but I think she is also a supporter of #Oil.

More Interactions between these guys please...

[bereft-of-frogs]

Ok but like here is how I would have adapted this series as someone who really loved the changes and additions in season 1 and am really puzzled about their choices in season 2:

(See some people can enjoy changes from the books but also still have problems with the story, so super fans you don’t have to strawman literally every single person with a complaint as an ‘ungrateful book purist’)

(I also fully recognize that this would be in a world with unlimited money and Netflix not breathing down their necks forcing them to be universally marketable but anyway. Onwards!)

- season 1 - shadow and bone* + original crow storyline

This was perfect no notes.

- season 2 - siege and storm* + conclusion of the original crow storyline

Crows deal with the fallout of the season 1 stuff. Dreesen still matters. We see them get to be friends with Nina and in their proper context a bit, so the emotionally charged scenes actually make sense. End with a tease to the SoC book plot. The Siege and Storm stuff has time to breathe rather than just racing from one event to another.

- season 3 - ruin and rising* + just the hellgate sections of six of crows

Conclude the shadow and bone storyline which would take the focus, just the first half of soc so it doesn’t overpower the trilogy conclusion. Maybe ending with a bit of a cliffhanger, on the ship to the heist.

*I also didn’t necessarily mind the changes to this storyline I just don’t think it should have been so compressed because it was way too fast paced. But I sense the Netflix cancel hammer looming above them…

- season 4 - the ice court heist

This is definitely tricky from a marketing standpoint because I think they should mostly focus on the heist. So I get dropping a set of characters would lose some of your audience. But you could advertise this as the six of crows spin-off season, or even have it be the shadow and bone characters’ turn for an original storyline that doesn’t have any bearing on the main plot of the season. Especially if they make changes to the trilogy’s ending like they did in the actual season 2, you could fit in some foreshadowing for future events and the early parts of king of scars. Or just have a completely unrelated adventure.

- season 5 - crooked kingdom

Yes the separation of the storylines from seasons 2-4 is a rough sell but just imagine the hype when they finally connect again! After all this time! Reuniting with Zoya after last seeing her in the ruins of Novokribirsk!?! It would be great. And all of those stellar performances would be rewarded with the context they deserve. (Because literally, those isolated scenes CK scenes were perfect, they just had no buildup. Props to the actors and their chemistry because I felt it but also in context a lot of it didn’t really make sense and we lost a lot of the best bits to the compressed timeline, like Kaz and Jesper fighting and making up and the understanding of what it means for Kaz to supplant Per Haskell.)

[- season 6 - king of scars

- season 7 - rule of wolves ]

Admittedly I wasn’t the biggest fan of the last duology so there would definitely be a lot of ironing out. Wouldn’t be opposed to massive changes there. As an audience member I might stop at season 5 (I’m good at that…), but damn necromancer Nina always pulls me back in. No further comments on the plot of these last two seasons because I would have to reread those books as I don’t know them as well as the middle duology, and I’m not going to do that.

So that’s how I would adapt the narrative. Just my personal opinion I already know not everyone would like it you don’t have to come for me.

I also would not have (apparently) burned our entire collection of linen shirts and wool trousers and embroidered keftas from season 1 and hit up a local TJ Maxx and Pittsburgh Penguins arena shop for costumes. Or forgotten how to edit and color grade a tv show. But that’s just me.

[salt-cedar]

Shadow and Bone 2 is bad. In a way that is predictable but still puzzling to me. I blame it on writing/producing decisions. I get it that Six of Crows is more popular, and for good reasons too, I've read both installments and agree that SoC is superior. And I also agree that fusing two plotlines was a good idea because it made the whole show so much more lively and interesting than it could be as a word-for-word adaptation of just Alina's journey. HOWEVER. I also didn't find Alina's books completely awful and honestly enjoyed them as they are. It seems to me that if you as a creator adapt and fuse two stories it is... poor taste to focus on one of them and do such sloppy work with the first one. And it is sloppy, even more evidently so because we have the Crows plotline(s) for comparison.

My issue that while I see some weird and rushed choices with the Crows plotline(s), major events, themes and characters themselves stay true to the book. The first season was honestly a testament to how an adaptation can be good even with significant changes to the plot if characters and themes stay intact. That is not what they did to Alina's line this season at all. The problem is not that the events and endings are changed but that zero of the book themes are carried into adaptation and that most of the characters are unrecognizable. (Alina and Mal deciding to take a break after the last battle? Alina in a 3 feet high bejewelled crown? Tolya and Tamar without exploring the religious fanaticism? Mal without his "I am become a blade" era? No optics and physics 101 from David? ???) That bothers me even more than the change in magical ending because at this point you could have given these characters different names and it would feel like only a slight plagiarism of Bardugo's books.

The ending made sense in the source material because it was built on 3 books developing certain themes that were not present on the show at all. It would be really weird to keep the book ending without those themes. But I also wonder why are they not present. You may say that they are a bit grim, sure, but you can't say that SoC is not grim at all, so why not?

I know by now that it was rushed because Netflix wouldn't make full 3 seasons of SaB but they really want to squeeze out all the spin-off they can. Come on, anyone with a brain will tell you that the readers will wait and then devour the Six of Crows storyline when it comes. Netflix are fools if they are not going to greenlight it (then again, they are…) That's not an excuse to sideline the SaB storyline and characters like they did. It's kind of offensive to the audience to be so obviously careless with the material because you know it won't bring you more money. Why are you in the creative field if you hate this work so much that you will put an ounce of thought into something only if it promises you more money in the future, in addition to the salary that you are already making?

Not to mention that the botched Alina line fucks up the potential spin-off material too. Why on Earth, if you know about the popularity of Zoyalai, leave no room for that in Nikolai's ending? Why leave Nikolai and Alina engaged???? Why make up some sort of feelings on Nikolai's side when in the books it was clear that they just vibe together as good friends, no more than that? And even outside of that the adaptation doesn't do justice to Nikolai's character. I'm sorry, the casting is good and all but because of the writing the character doesn't come out nearly as intelligent, cunning, charming and driven as he is in the books. I suspect that because this onscreen niche is fully occupied by Kaz Brekker, and we circle back to the producers' desire to absolutely pimp out SoC. But they could, you know, hype up Nikolai some more in hopes of milking out his spin-off too. More money for everyone, yay...?

[gizopedia]

Introduction The Xiaomi Redmi 14R is making waves as the latest addition to Xiaomi’s budget-friendly lineup, blending affordability with performance in a way that’s hard to ignore. With its sleek design and feature-packed build, this smartphone aims to capture the attention of those who need a reliable device without breaking the bank. Why are we reviewing the Redmi 14R? Because it’s not just another budget phone — it pushes boundaries in the entry-level market with features typically found in higher-end devices, like a 120Hz display and a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor. We’re diving deep to explore if the Redmi 14R truly lives up to the hype. This review is for anyone passionate about consumer electronics, especially those on the lookout for a powerful yet budget-friendly smartphone. Whether you’re a casual user who enjoys browsing and streaming, or someone who needs a dependable device for work and play, the Redmi 14R might just be the perfect fit. Key Features & Specifications The Xiaomi Redmi 14R is packed with features that strike a balance between performance and price. Let’s break them down into simple sections to make it easy for you to see what this device offers: Display 6.88-inch HD+ LCD Screen This large screen gives you plenty of room to enjoy videos, apps, and games. The 120Hz refresh rate means everything looks super smooth, from scrolling through social media to playing games. It also has a 600 nits peak brightness, so even in bright sunlight, the display remains easy to see. Processor & Performance Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 SoC This is the "brain" of the phone, handling all tasks with ease. Whether you’re switching between apps, playing games, or streaming, this processor keeps things fast and responsive. Up to 8GB LPDDR4X RAM More RAM means better multitasking. You can run several apps without slowing down your phone. 256GB UFS 2.2 Storage (Expandable to 1TB) Store all your photos, videos, and apps with ample storage, plus the option to add even more space with a microSD card. Battery & Charging 5,160mAh Battery This large battery will easily last you all day, even with heavy use like watching videos or gaming. 18W Fast Charging When you do need to charge, the fast charging feature ensures you’re back up and running quickly. Camera 13MP Rear Camera The main camera captures everyday moments with decent clarity, making it great for social media posts or casual photography. 5MP Front Camera Perfect for video calls and selfies, this front camera is good for staying connected with friends and family. Other Notable Features Side-Mounted Fingerprint Scanner This makes unlocking your phone quick and easy, keeping your data secure. 3.5mm Headphone Jack For those who still love wired headphones, the Redmi 14R has you covered. Dedicated MicroSD Slot Expand your storage up to 1TB with a microSD card, perfect for media lovers who need extra space for photos, videos, and music. These features combine to make the Xiaomi Redmi 14R a strong contender in the budget smartphone market, offering a great balance of performance and value that’s easy to understand and appreciate. Performance The Xiaomi Redmi 14R delivers a surprisingly strong performance for a budget device, thanks largely to its Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor. This chipset, paired with up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM, ensures smooth multitasking and efficient handling of everyday tasks like browsing, streaming, and running apps. App Performance Apps open quickly, and switching between them is fluid, making the Redmi 14R a solid choice for users who need reliable day-to-day performance. The phone handles casual gaming well, with titles like PUBG Mobile and Asphalt 9 running smoothly at moderate settings. The 120Hz display further enhances the gaming experience by offering smoother visuals and touch response, although for more graphically intense games, users may need to lower settings to avoid frame drops.

Software and User Experience Running on Android 14-based HyperOS, the Redmi 14R offers an intuitive, user-friendly experience. HyperOS is designed to minimize lag, ensuring that even with multiple apps running, the phone remains responsive. The UI feels light and clean, without too much bloatware, which helps maintain smooth operation and efficiency. Gaming and Graphics With its Adreno GPU, the Redmi 14R can handle moderate graphic tasks and casual gaming smoothly. Games like Call of Duty Mobile run decently, though heavy gaming over long periods may cause some minor heating. The 120Hz refresh rate significantly improves the gaming experience, offering smooth transitions and fast responsiveness, which is rare at this price point. Battery and Heat Management The large 5,160mAh battery pairs well with the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2’s efficiency, ensuring you can go through a full day of moderate to heavy use without needing to recharge. Even with gaming or video streaming, the phone shows no major battery drain concerns. Heat management is solid for a budget device. During prolonged gaming sessions or heavy multitasking, the phone warms up slightly but never to the point of discomfort or performance throttling. Final Thoughts on Performance For a device in the budget category, the Xiaomi Redmi 14R delivers well-rounded, smooth performance across the board. It won’t match flagship devices in raw power, but for casual users, students, or anyone seeking a reliable phone for everyday use and light gaming, it performs admirably without hiccups. Value for Money When it comes to budget smartphones, the Xiaomi Redmi 14R certainly stands out for delivering solid features at an affordable price. So, is it worth the price? Let’s break it down. The Redmi 14R falls within the $150 - $200 price range, depending on storage options and deals. For this price, you're getting a 120Hz display, a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor, and a massive 5,160mAh battery — features you’d typically see in more expensive devices. Why It’s a Good Deal: Performance for the Price: The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor offers a smooth experience, whether you're multitasking or gaming, which is impressive at this price point. Display Quality: A 120Hz screen at this price is a rare find. It makes scrolling, gaming, and watching videos feel smooth and enjoyable. Battery Life: With a 5,160mAh battery, this phone will easily last you a day or more with regular use. For the price, this kind of battery performance is a huge plus. Expandable Storage: The option to expand storage up to 1TB with a microSD card means you're not limited by the phone's internal memory, giving you great flexibility. How It Compares to Competitors: When compared to other smartphones in the same price range, like models from Realme, Samsung, or Motorola, the Redmi 14R shines in terms of its display and performance. While competitors might offer similar processors or battery life, few bring the 120Hz refresh rate and the ability to expand storage as generously as Xiaomi does. Available Deals: Xiaomi is known for running promotions, especially during flash sales or major shopping events like Black Friday or Singles’ Day. Keep an eye out for discounts that can drop the price even further, making this already budget-friendly phone an even better deal. Comparison: Xiaomi Redmi 14R vs Competitors FeatureRedmi 14RRealme C55 Galaxy A14 Redmi 14CDisplay6.88" HD+ LCD, 120Hz, 600 nits brightness6.72" FHD+ LCD, 90Hz6.6" FHD+ TFT, 60Hz6.71" HD+ LCD, 90HzProcessorSnapdragon 4 Gen 2Helio G88Exynos 850 / Helio G80Snapdragon 4 Gen 2RAMUp to 8GB LPDDR4X6GB LPDDR4X4GB6GBStorage256GB (expandable to 1TB via microSD)128GB (expandable to 1TB)64GB (expandable to 1TB)128GB (expandable to 1TB)Camera (Rear)13MP primary camera, 5MP front camera50MP primary camera, 8MP front camera50MP primary camera, 13MP front camera50MP primary camera, 5MP front cameraBattery5,160mAh,

18W fast charging5,000mAh, 33W fast charging5,000mAh, 15W charging5,000mAh, 10W chargingOperating SystemAndroid 14-based HyperOSAndroid 13-based Realme UIAndroid 13-based One UIAndroid 13-based MIUIFingerprint ScannerSide-mountedSide-mountedSide-mountedRear-mountedPrice Range$150 - $200$160 - $220$140 - $180$120 - $160 Summary of Comparisons: Display: The Redmi 14R excels with its 120Hz refresh rate, compared to its competitors that either offer a lower refresh rate (Realme C55) or only 60Hz (Samsung Galaxy A14). Processor: While the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 in the Redmi 14R and 14C provides reliable performance, Realme C55 with its Helio G88 is designed for better gaming, though it might not be as power-efficient. Camera: If photography is a priority, Realme C55 and Samsung A14 have the edge with 50MP primary cameras, offering clearer shots than the 13MP camera on the Redmi 14R. Battery & Charging: The Redmi 14R has a large battery, but Realme C55 offers faster charging at 33W, a step ahead of the 18W on the Xiaomi model. Price: The Redmi 14R holds its own in terms of value, sitting comfortably in the budget-friendly range, but offering a smoother display and solid all-round performance. In short, the Redmi 14R shines in terms of display and overall value, while competitors like Realme C55 and Samsung A14 might appeal more to those who prioritize camera quality or faster charging. Pros and Cons: Xiaomi Redmi 14R Conclusion The Xiaomi Redmi 14R strikes an impressive balance between affordability and performance, making it a standout option in the budget smartphone category. With its 120Hz display, dependable Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor, and long-lasting 5,160mAh battery, it offers features you typically wouldn’t expect at this price point. Xiaomi has managed to pack in just the right amount of innovation to make it worth your while. If you’re someone who values a smooth display experience, needs reliable performance for everyday tasks, and appreciates a battery that can keep up with your busy schedule, the Redmi 14R is worth considering. The expandable storage and inclusion of a headphone jack are bonuses that will appeal to users who still like having those traditional features. That said, if you're looking for a phone with a high-end camera or cutting-edge performance for intense gaming or heavy multitasking, this might not be the ideal choice. However, for most casual users, students, or those simply looking for a solid phone at a great price, the Xiaomi Redmi 14R ticks all the right boxes. Recommendation For budget-conscious buyers who want a reliable, feature-packed phone that offers fantastic value for money, the Xiaomi Redmi 14R is an easy recommendation.

[gadgetsboy]

Apple's New M4 Chip Finally Makes its Debut

When it comes to performance, Apple's M-series chips are no doubt among the best in the industry, as seen on the company's newer desktops and laptop offerings from the past couple of years. With that in mind, the Cupertino tech giant recently announced the launch of its newest M4 SoC, which surprisingly made its debut on the latest iPad Pro 2024 model, instead of a laptop or desktop reveal. Speaking on the new chip, Johny Srouji, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Technologies states: “The new iPad Pro with M4 is a great example of how building best-in-class custom silicon enables breakthrough products... The power-efficient performance of M4, along with its new display engine, makes the thin design and game-changing display of iPad Pro possible, while fundamental improvements to the CPU, GPU, Neural Engine, and memory system make M4 extremely well suited for the latest applications leveraging AI. Altogether, this new chip makes iPad Pro the most powerful device of its kind.”  As such, Apple boasts a lot of improvements with the M4 chip, especially given the massive hype with its new iPads in terms of performance. But what exactly can we expect? Let's take a look. CPU and GPU Upgrades According to Apple, the new M4 chip packs a significantly upgraded CPU which comes with up to 10 cores, including a combination of high-performance and efficiency cores. These all feature enhancements to overall processing power, as well as a significant leap with Apple's machine learning accelerators. Compared to the M2, Apple claims that this yields up to a 1.5x CPU performance leap, making it ideal for tackling demanding software such as Logic Pro and LumaFusion. The M4 chip likewise packs a 10-core GPU based on the M3 architecture. It features Dynamic Caching, which optimizes memory allocation for improved performance, and also supports ray tracing for more realistic visuals and graphics. Additionally, there's also hardware-accelerated mesh shading which improves efficiency and allows for more complex scenes. Apple also claims that the M4 can deliver the same performance as the M2 with half the power consumption needed. AI and Media Capabilities Apple says that the M4 also features its next-generation Neural Engine, which is able to perform an impressive 38 trillion operations per second (60x faster than the original A11 Bionic chip), and can work seamlessly in tandem with the CPU, GPU, and high-bandwidth memory for AI-powered tasks. Certain use cases includes subject isolation in 4K videos with Final Cut Pro, automatic music notation in StaffPad to name a couple. Additionally, the M4's Media Engine is the best in an iPad so far - in addition to supporting popular video codecs like H.264, HEVC, and ProRes, it also comes with hardware acceleration for AV1 to iPad for the first time. This provides more power-efficient playback of high-resolution video and content from streaming services. In terms of display capabilities, the M4 also features an entirely new display engine for improved colour accuracy, and brightness uniformity of the Ultra Retina XDR display, as well as ProMotion support. Read the full article

[fasa-umich]

A Resignation Letter || Alyssa Caldito, FASA's 2023-2024 Co-President

Dear FASA, 

After two and a half years, I regret to inform you all that I will be leaving FASA Executive Board. Please accept this letter as my formal resignation as Co-President of the Filipino American Student Association. 

My journey with FASA started before I was ever in college, when I attended UAAO’s Asian American High School Conference and, as my Pinoydar would correctly identify, met FASA’s former Co-President Christian Paneda. He told me that U-M had a Filipino org on campus, and suggested that I join if I ever ended up attending. 

Baby me (and Minh-Thu) at HSC! The side part was truly a product of its time,,,

Little did I know that when my family friend, Kris Mallabo, would get to college, she would also join FASA and become our Performance Chair both in 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. I also joined Anakbayan Detroit the summer before my Senior Year of high school, where a bunch of the other new members were involved in Wayne State’s FIL-SOC and encouraged me to join a PSA in college. 

With the way my life was going, I was 100% sure that no matter what school I went to, I would at least try to join a PSA. I even wrote it in my admissions essays… 

“Public health is a field about community. Hence, I hope to join one of the many student communities at U-M as a way to cultivate my identities and interests… Another community I hope to join U-M’s Filipino American Student Association, where I can explore my cultural identity while discussing issues important to my community.”

And when I eventually got accepted to and enrolled at U-M, the first thing I looked for at Festifall was that Filipino flag. I ended up joining FASA, going to mass meeting, and making friends with a couple of girls that unfortunately despawned after Halo Halo. As I got busier with classes, work, and other extracurriculars, I found myself unable to connect with other people in FASA exactly the way I pictured myself doing so. But, I didn’t want to give up on FASA just yet. When PCN season rolled around, Kris convinced me to sign up for a dance, where I would meet my future Co-Pres, Bryson, who was my Sayaw sa Bangko partner at the time. 

Bryson, Angeli, me, and Andrew at our Freshman Year PCN Hell Week!

Through dance practices, events, and even informal things like seeing FASA people at the Union, I slowly began to fall in love with FASA. I came to understand why Kris, all my Kasamas from Anakbayan, and all the current FASA members hyped it up so much. Even after my initial shyness or the fact that I “spawned into FASA” Winter Semester of Freshman Year (according to my Intern Class), FASA was always ready to welcome me back into its community. FASA never gave up on me, so I never gave up on FASA. 

Let’s speed run the rest of that story. I applied to be an intern and put on an amazing capstone event with my intern cohort.

Ran for Cultural Chair and bridged some generational gaps with JC. 

And by the end of my tenure as Cultural Chair, I knew that I wasn’t done. I loved FASA and still felt like I had so much to give to it, and I wanted to be part of whatever FASA did next. Even then, I wasn’t sure if running again would be the right idea. I doubted my leadership skills, and I was scared that I wouldn’t have time to give FASA what it deserved from a President. But, I’m glad that I ran anyway. What a year it has been! 

From an amazing PCN

To winning third place at Battle! 

And everything in between

We may not have won Rice Bowl but maybe the real Rice Bowl was the friends we made along the way…

Winter FAM/Lin Reveal with the best lineage in FASA (totally unbiased)

My group 100% won the Mass Meeting scavenger hunt 

It has been so rewarding to see the products of my time on FASA E-Board. But, I really have to give the bulk of the credit to my amazing boardies. 

Nicole, more than just room bookings and dealing with EMS on our behalf, I have loved the overwhelmingly positive and joyful energy that you bring to board every week. I have loved being on Core Four with you! 

Andrew, over the years, I’ve truly gotten to know you as a friend while seeing you grow as a leader within FASA. Your corny jokes have been a constant for the last 2.5 years. (And thank you for not embezzling the FASA Funds 😭)

[L]Izzy, it has been such a pleasure working with you not only as your President but also as your Culturals Ate! Your passion and drive for FASA as a community inspire me! I wish you the best in your term as president :) #CulturalstoPresidentsPipeline 

Philip, learning from you and how you do your job as Cultural Chair has been such a highlight of this year. You have always brought new and different ideas to the role, and I’ve loved getting to see how each and every one has played out! 

[M]Izzy, I have loved getting to know you both as our Social Chair and as a friend! Your humor and energy help make anyone feel welcome, and I love our little giggle sessions 🤭. P.S. we should schedule a hangout soon because I already miss you :( 

Gabe, getting to know you and getting close to you this year on board together has been so amazing! Your creativity has made every Social event one that I look forward to, and I’m so very glad to have had my kambal on board with me :)

Eli, your passion and care for social justice do not go unnoticed. Throughout this year, you have continuously embodied what it means to be our Service and Advocacy chair. I have no doubt that you will go on to make a difference both in our community and this world! 

Sofia, I seriously can’t believe how you balance school, FASA, and everything else you have going on in your life. Your commitment and love for FASA have always shone through in the work you have done as External Chair.

Therese, I’m not gonna lie, I remember meeting you our freshman year and being incredibly intimidated by you. Now, I can’t even imagine why I ever felt that way. You are one of the kindest and most genuine people I know, and I love getting to geek out about the Philippine Collections with you. 

Kendra, or is it Tendra? Or Blondra? Whatever it is, I have truly appreciated every ounce of work that you have put into this year on E-Board. The hours that you have spent choreographing, teaching, and taking care of logistics like GroupMes and Google Calendars have not gone unnoticed. The work that you have put in is a direct reflection of your love for this community and the passion you have for performance. 

Ash, it’s been absolutely amazing seeing you grow from that little freshman who told me that you were already planning to transfer at Festifall to the Performance Chair who led FASA Pamana to third place at Battle! Your ambition shines through in everything you do, and I can’t wait to see what you do next both in FASA and in the rest of your life. 

Zainab, even though we’ve known each other since high school, I never got the chance to become close with you until this school year. I’m glad I have, because you are genuinely one of the sweetest people I know, and the effort and intentionality you put into your events and towards designing both PCN and Battle have made you an amazing asset to this year’s board. 

Kayla, your initiative and creativity have truly lent themselves to your vision as Media Chair. Your care for FASA shows in the initiative you have taken as E-Board, as a choreographer, and as a friend to me and so many others in FASA. You’ve become someone that I trust and confide in, and I look forward to our long conversations. 

Taryn, as Media Chair, you have always been such a reliable and warm presence to board. You never fail to bring a smile to people’s faces, and your attention to detail has made you so incredibly equipped to capture all the incredible moments from this year in FASA. More than that, it makes you even more equipped to be an amazing President. I can’t wait to see what you and Lizzy will accomplish next year <3

All of you have had such amazing and headstrong visions going into this school year, and seeing your passion and drive for FASA was one of the biggest reasons that I ran for board again. Getting to serve you all as your Co-President and helping you bring your visions to life has been one of my proudest moments!

And Bryson, a huge thank you for an amazing year of FASA together! It hasn’t always been easy, but I’m glad to have had a person to share this role with and to support me however I needed. I have loved learning from you and all of your perspectives and insights. From my two and a half week trip to the Philippines mid-October to the monster that has been my schedule this year, you have never failed to step up when my own capacity was low. I have always appreciated that and everything else that you’ve done for me as Cos. Sharing this year as Co-Presidents with you is something that I will always treasure! 

And just like that, the Johnston-Caldito Administration comes to an end

And thank you to FASA, for giving me the space and support to grow into the person that I am today. Now that I’m stepping away from FASA E-Board, I can’t help but think that I now have this almost-encyclopedic knowledge of Filipino and Filipino-American culture, and nowhere for it to go. However, I also think that I now have such a better understanding of my identity and heritage than I came into college with. When thinking about my identity before college, I often thought of everything that I was missing: my language, my community, and especially my fading memories of living in the Philippines. As recently as this year, I wondered if things would have been better for me if I never left. Now, when I think about my identity, I think about the community that I have here on campus and all the people that are in my life here in Michigan.

Like these ones 

Or these

And these ones

I am so incredibly grateful for everything and everyone that is in my life today. Because of you all, I am more sure of my place in this world and within the diaspora than ever, and I have so many more thank yous to give for that. FASA, you will always hold a special place in my heart for being such a huge part of my cultural journey, and I hope that you will continue to be that for so many more people in so many years to come. 

And now, some final advice to future boardies from a self-proclaimed FASA Veteran:

You are Board Before Your Chair

There’s a reason that so many of you may have heard this over and over in your coffee chats. No matter how stressful or overwhelming being on Board might get, always remember that you have a team of people who have your back! During your year on board, your fellow boardies will be some of your closest and most trusted colleagues, but more importantly, they will be your friends! Don’t hesitate to lean on them for support. 

Remember Your Why 

E-Board is notorious for being a huge time commitment, and I’m sure that there will be moments when you are feeling burnt out from FASA. However, in those moments, I encourage you all to remember your why. Remember what it was like before you found FASA and let it remind you what a special place that it is. Remember why you decided to run for E-Board and give back to the community we have here on campus. Let that passion reignite your drive. 

Have Grace

You’re not always going to be perfect in your role on E-Board. There will be event logistics that fall through the cracks, questions that you won’t have the answer to, and if you’re anything like me you will always leave an event thinking about how it can be done better next time. Even then, you should always have grace and remember that you are human and that you are allowed to make mistakes. E-Board tends to have a streak of perfectionism, but I am here to tell you that mistakes are a part of learning and growing into better leaders within our community. 

Cherish Your Time on Board 

A year really flies when it’s punctuated by weekly board meetings, nonstop events, Kaibigan Korners, dance practices, and everything in between. Despite all of that, don’t forget to take a step back and enjoy everything that you’ve built! In a time when FASA is almost completely different every year, always remember that you have the chance to impact the lives of everyone in our community, whether that’s big or small. 

Time flies 🥲

Maraming maraming salamat FASA para sa lahat (Thank you FASA, for everything). 

Nagmamahal (With love), 

Alyssa Caldito 

FASA Co-President 2023-2024

[soda-boots]

Moths surround me, thought they'd drown me

This is a slightly concerning and definitely incomplete recount of yesterday (the 20th).

So post Passages, I have breakfast yada yada yada. Meet this girl named Antonia (we have breakfast and then dinner together actually with her friends Jessie and Islay). I go on the stand for xpression for a few hours and then go on the cinema crawl with the other committee. Meet some interesting people on there actually (most notably Lachlan). However before that I go to Rituals to see where Mo works and end up buying a 37 quid umbrella. Its a gorgeous umbrella and it better hold up. I rush back to my flat for my meeting with Jason and I think it goes quite well. I have dinner after and come back to my flat. I finally have the fantastic idea to go to the club... alone. I've never done it before and it's something I've always wanted to give a go. It's not like Jack and Haleemah are turning up at the club anytime soon and no one has ever invited me to join their group before (as far as I recall). I do try my best to be adventurous and this just me exercising that. I promenade to the shop to buy 2 bottles of cider and a can of pimm's. Downing one bottle and the can, while listening to Songs for You, I'm trying to hype myself up for this event.

I try inviting Lachlan to the club, but he can't make it (fair enough). Good even, this is a private event for me. The night starts to blur a little from here (but I can still remember pretty much all of it). I speak to Ellis about coffee or something and how coffee/alcohol makes me sleepy. An hour and a half before vaults opens to help the timeline. This is 7:27pm now.I talk about violet from Charlie and the chocolate factory I think at around 8

Going through messages to recount events is so funny lol. I listen to 'dem boy paigon' to hype myself up' and I believe I leave my flat say 8:40 pm -ish. I'm baskily power walking through these streets, no headphones on (I considered not even bringing my phone to stay fully immersed but I disregarded that whole ideology).

I walk by a bunch of people also going to town. These group of friends all walking and laughing together. At the time, I was so unphased by the juxtaposition of me alone and them in a bevy. It didn't matter, I was determined to have fun. {here begins ramblings from my notes app about how I'm feeling, what I'm hearing and seeing and comments from me}

‘We’re walking at gay speed “

This was so funny and initiated the whole idea

I wonder if it’s actually this cold or the alcohol has warmed up my body in some way 

It didn't feel as cold at first, but then again I was definitely tipsy, if not flat out drunk at this point. I felt quite warm in my chest actually

Speed feels a bit weird. I’m kind of dizzy, like in an odd state of vertigo . I should have worn my glasses because I why is verything a little bit more blurry 

I actually forgot that I felt like this. Time seemed to be moving very quickly at first. Like I was just racing through the streets. Everything had a slight blur filter on it and I was a bit dizzy. It was a strange feeling to be concurrently aware and so distinctly detached in this way.

I walk down the street towards the vaults and why do I start to sing 'mystery of love in my head'

Bounded by the time I cried ! I built your walls around me . White noise what an awful sound. Fluttering by rouge rivers. Feel my feet upon your the ground . Shall I find no other. oh woe is me 

For context, I'm struggling to type accurately (I know I'm sobering up when I can do it better again later in the night)

The walk felt like nothing 

It did feel strangely quick.

It’s closed (the vaults) . That’s so sad (one that it is closed and two that I got here while it was closed ) 

Of course in my eagerness, I get to the club while it's closed and now what do I do ? Go to another club (I'm determined !!!)

I just met Edward and his mum from film soc. I wonder how the interaction was from their end.

I stumbled back when I stop to speak to them. Edward is so nice and his mum seemed lovely. As I mentioned I wonder how that interaction was from their end. His mum had a strange but friendly expression on her face (she goes back to Belgium today).

Moving on, I see Rhys at some point (and I think it was around here. I also see Mo at some time while I’m on the cobbled streets near vaults but that’s earlier than this I think ). I trudge to Zinc and it's closed for a social !

I went to zinc and they were having a Taylor Swift Soc event. They’re playing all to well (10 minute version) that’s so cute . I think it’s Taylor Swift society . I don’t think it’s Taylor society because they started playing paint the town red by Doja cat 

I'm out of it at this point. The see-sawing between whether it is Taylor swift society or not. I was a bit upset that I couldn't go to Zinc (but I just walked towards fever) because they were playing music I liked. I love how looking back I kept asking the bouncers, how I could buy a ticket and they so nicely and attentively answered me. I must have so clearly looked clueless. I couldn't get into fever too till about 10 and I just left .

Timeline update - 9:27

I tell Ellis I might go home. He suggests I go to a pub, and so I do

Don’t dwell on your feelings too much if not you will cry !

I'm quite emotional it seems.

Have you ever had a krispy kreme? Was it crispy (context - I saw a Krispy Kreme van ) 

I'm walking back to vaults here and I can't find it again, but notice bar named Pixy's. I read the board and walk by some guy who acknowledges me and I walk past. I get a bit lost and then walk back to Pixy's. I go in and the guy from earlier kind of jogs and he's the bartender. How hipster of him lol. I have no idea what I want and say that to him. He asks what I don't like, I say lemon because I don't really know (in actuality, I do enjoy lemon flavoured things). He makes this drink with watermelon and thyme vodka, lime cordial and apple Frobisher, and it tastes so good ! He says if I don't like it I don't have to pay for it (ok sales man). I did pay for it. I probably would have lied and said I liked it regardless of how I actually felt. He put in all that effort to try and impress me (ehhh did he?)

I went to a bar called Pixy’s and I got this thing made with watermelon and thyme vodka and then like cordial and a apple and something Frobisher 

I sit and have my drink and every move I make has so much more weight to it.

Every movement feels exaggerated . Like with each sway, the strength grows more and more 

I’m definitely less coherent than I think I am 

Oh I’ve tried vodka now ( kind of)

There's a group of ladies having a great time in front of me. Once again the juxtaposition of them in their gaggle (but oddly I don't think about that at the time). I actually look back now thinking oh I actually had a fun time. I leave Pixy's and pass a bar called 'The Mermaid'. Just like with Pixy's I circle back to it very soon after and go in. I hoped I didn't fall down the stairs down into it. I go in and the art is very 'art nouveau' and the decor so heavily influenced by Art Deco. It was a shame there wasn't any have music playing. The walls were dark green. There were some geometric features within it.

I go to the bar and the man hands me their menu. Scanning it I notice a negroni and other things I recognise some other drinks. However, I loved the names of their mock tails more so I order one.

I went to a bar called the mermaid and ordered the rejuvenation. It has tomato and pineapple juice . Such a weird tasting drink. So tangy. The taste of tomato is highly present. Very acidic 

While he makes my drink, drink I have a chat with the bartenders. They ask why I'm out and I'm like I've never been to a club and none of my friends have really been interested so I'm doing it myself. The lady bartender seemed quite proud of me. the guy making the drink mentions it's a weird one unless you like tomato juice. I get my drink and sit in the corner and sip on my strange drink. It tasted nice as far as I can recall. I sit down and I'm texting people, Max (I see his new haircut) and Ellis (who is baking a bread). I might have texted Haleemah too. I hear a cuckoo clock ...

The cuckoo clockification of my mind 

There’s a really large plant here at the mermaid. I’m texting haleemah, max and Ellis. I texted Louise earlier 

The bartender compliments my jumper when I leave. The irony of me going to a bars named pixy and mermaid when I do a fantasy creature show isn't lost on me. I finally get into the vaults and of course I am one of two people there. Addendum: I text Louise before I leave my flat, while I'm pre-ing and when I first get to the vaults and it's closed

Help why did the dj at vaults start playing started at the bottom at vaults . The dj started playing burna boy 

Did I really offer the money back to the vaults workers after they forgot lol. The other guy in here (Andy) introduced himself 

I’m trying so hard to manufacture this fun night and I’m failing a bit miserably. The workers are in beanies and that’s really cute. I feel very uncomfortable when Andy comes around me 

They weren't wearing beanies, it was bucket hats. Andy is rather odd. He is quite tall and imposing and dwarves me, it doesn't help how close he keeps coming towards me. He seems to be having a lovely time on his own though. In a way maybe I should be more like him and let go. He's also here alone (like I am) but I would hope I don't come off that odd (now I have the implicit fear that I do). I leave and go off to the cathedral.

I’m at Exeter cathedral now. Why do I rely on religion so luck for some form of wholeness ?

It's that catholic school and religious family conditioning. I listen to 'goldwing' by Billie Eilish and walk around the cathedral; Examining the sculptures on the facade. I recite the Lord's Prayer and a Hail Mary (which I had to look up because I never formally learned it). I read the quotes/etchings on the floor around the cathedral and in a weird way they bring me comfort.

"Oh God give me of thy fullness

Thy surrounding and

thy peace"

It's attributed to traditional Celtic. I also view the monuments around and try to open some doors. It's 11 now. I know this because the church bells ring ( I never knew we had a church bells and it rang !)

I never knew Exeter had a church bell. That’s adorable and quite gothic.

Oh wow not Francis not noticing me . Uhh my god 

Francis is my old flatmate for context. I basically had to chase him to talk to him. I also noticed Jack B from the radio

Why does everyone wear such dark clothing at night. 

Contrasting my bright yellow jumper

Such a long queue at fever. It’s actually a bit cute how long it is 

I think it’s quite cute how long it is, it might be time to call it a night. I’m so over this whole thing 

I love how u still hold the vindication against America. In actually I did try and I did not enjoy. I did not like the whole night thing: I’m not saying I won’t reattempt but for a while. The club may just not be for me .

Of course I heard an American accent and got war flashbacks.

I leave fever and go back to vaults (for clarification this is the second time I will be inside ) and got to go right in since I got branded (stamped) with a pass.

Oh there are more people at the vaults now. 

Andy just keeps saying the most random things to me. “ I ain’t fucking racist “ the bartender even asked if I was ok . Andy if you need to start your sentence that way you’ve already missed it  He seems a bit nice.  I might be  sobering up because  I’m sobering up and feel more coherent (also I’m typing a lot better)  .

Why do I struggle so hard to villainise people? The bartender gestures towards me asking if I'm alright (nice of him I guess). I leave Vaults again. I leave vaults to join the queue at fever under the thought process that the line there will be more lively than this dead club.

People are so nice and caring here. Someone asked me if I was alright .

This occurs on the street for clarification.

I join the queue for fever and eventually end up talking to the people infront of me. They tell me I look 19/20. I literally turned 18 3 months ago. Can I just go a night without being ferociously humbled ??? Can I ? They were lovely however. Even offering to pay for my entry since I had no cash. I left soon after that

In a weird way it was contemplative. I’ve reached the point where I’m detaching my feelings and externalising them. I truly abhor  drunken patter.

I want to listen to seether by veruca salt .

Can’t fight the seether. I can see her till I’m foaming at the mouth.

For the final time I am back at vaults and it's finally lively.

I left fever and now I’m back the vaults . There a lot more people here and I still feel a bit more out of place: maybe it’s the music . The heart palpitation induced by this bass is simultaneously awful and glorious . They literally recognised me at the door. A guy literally said I was the second customer . I’m a bit sick from that lol . This haze / smoke smells so odd 

I know every song this dj is playing. He’s so cheesy . 

There was a weird amount of older people there and it was a bit odd. Not be ageist or anything (my ageism is showing). I tell a guy happy birthday because he's wearing a party hat and dance a little with this group of first years

And I actually began to enjoy myself it felt nice and fun . I kept locking eyes with people which was slightly disconcerting by oh well. The haze started to pick on and the lights flashed more aggressively and with party in the USA blaring in the back I finally left for home at 1:30-sh my first time clubbing was not bad at all. While I wish it was smoother. beggars can’t choose.

BBQ SOCIETY !!!

I hear someone scream that from firehouse while I walk back home. I love how it is still lively.

I think u try so hard to be interesting and fun and worthy of affection. A lot of the time I don’t notice but I think I might just be too insecure to truly be my own person in a way that I’m happy with. Sure I get glimpses of that every now and again but ok the whole I don’t think I'm that confident enough to to truly exude it . To actually go out and be

The come down lol. I think I'm saying here that I try to do all these things to make myself feel interesting and fun so I can come across that way to other people. I have the fear that I'm just so uninteresting.

Met Chris , Connor and will at the bottom of block d. They were so nice and fun. I'm going to go off to bed

We had a little conversation and my night ended like that.Chris, Connor and Will (and one more other person actually but he went of earlier ) are guys that live in the first floor of my building that I met when I got home. They seemed like fun, nice guys. Chris had a rather sad speech about him justifying racism he had received when he was younger (he’s from Singapore). I don’t think racism should ever be rationalised. For context, it was a child being racist to him (so he definitely picked that up around) which is so disheartening. Even thinking about it now (about 12 hours later makes me feel ill) .

I will fix any grammar errors later but that's it really