#can you believe this is my first attempt at drawing julia

[snakesinsocks2005]

I heart them,,

[tokiro07]

Toki Reads Shonen Jump 2024, Issue #47

One Piece: The Post-Baroque Works Straw Hats learn that the Luffy has been publicly labeled as Vegapunk's killer, and Robin notices a familiar X edited onto Luffy's arm in the accompanying photo; meanwhile, Luffy meets the disgraced prince of Elbaf, Loki. Vivi snuck a message to the Straw Hats past Morgans, and some readers believe Loki's situation to be a parallel to when Luffy met Zoro and take that as a sign he may be recruited to the Straw Hats

HxH: Balsamilco attempts to assassinate Halkenburg, but is struck by Halkenburg's Nen arrow, resulting in his body being possessed. Provided he can evade Benjamin's suspicions, Halkenburg can use Balsamilco's body to assassinate Benjamin instead

Yozakura Family: As Kyoichiro enter's Asa's ship to rescue his father, Momo, he recalls his conversation with Momo about the plan to use Momo's Dreams to break Asa's Conquest over Taiyo's body, and is surprisingly against a plan that would endanger Taiyo; meanwhile, Alpha cries over seeing his father possessed by Asa. In addition to clarifying how Taiyo can be rescued, one could also draw parallels between Kyoichiro and Alpha's desires to save their respective fathers

Undead Unluck: Soul takes the stage to fight Julia; Change fights Gina, disarming her while entering Phase 3, but ends up getting decked in the face for her troubles. Gina's character arc reaches its climax, mirroring her dialogue from her first appearance with a notable change in her opinion on "change" as a concept

Me & Roboco: Ruri and Roboco take the Hunter Exam Serialization Conference's trials to have a serialization approved for Shonen Jump. With her serialization approved, Ruri's manga will likely be a recurring element going forward, possibly getting full faux chapters like Uron Mirage in Witch Watch

Sakamoto Days: Atari foresees her death, which can only be avoided if she meets up with her soulmate; using her precognition, she survives an attack from and ultimately defeats Higuchi, the karma-obsessed killer from Sakamoto's flashback. The viability of Atari's precognition is shown off, but fans start to question her exact wording; while we all assume her "soulmate" is going to be Shin, she has never once directly alluded to him specifically, and might well mean Heisuke instead

Elusive Samurai: now fully human, Shizuku devises a plan to overcome Takauji's divinity and render him vulnerable to human weaponry; a character I don't recognize and can find no information on secretly offers Tokiyuki refuge in Shinano. This will presumably account for some of the missing time in Tokiyuki's historical records

Witch Watch: Nemu tries to come clean about being the stray cat that routinely visits the Otogi Family, but ends up engaging in accidental bestiality with Keigo (and arguably purposeful bestiality with Wolf). Shipteases my personal favorite part of the entire series, making this one of my favorite chapters of the week

Blue Box: Chinatsu realizes that something is up when Taiki doesn't come to meet her, and manages to find him locked up in a shed by a boy who claims to have liked her for some time. Chinatsu's faith in Taiki and righteous indignation towards the other boy are a refreshingly straightforward take on the usual misunderstandings and subterfuge you find in these types of rom-coms

Akane-Banashi: Akane tries to refuse Issho's forceful recruitment, but Urara appears to save her from throwing her career away in a moment of passion; Akane asks Urara to explain Issho and Shiguma's past. Whatever Akane learns here will influence her decision to study under Issho, and will definitely be of extreme importance to how she refines Shiguma's Art

Kill Blue: Juzo finally wins the cavalry battle, then invites Hijiri out for ramen at Noren's uncle's restaurant; Shin almost manages to get a lap pillow from Noren, but is interrupted by Jinta, who now considers him a blood brother. Juzo's refusal to accept one person's suffering for the Greater Good will likely be a recurring theme for this arc

Nue's Exorcist: Tsujita resolves to confess to Gakuro and picks a fight with Kazusa, resulting in both of them getting accidentally groped; Rido seems to be betraying the Exorcists to heal Mizuki's illness; Gashadokuro is resurrected. If we're not going the poly route, then Tsujita's proactiveness is set to earn her the dishonor of being the first losing heroine; either way, Gashadokuro is definitely going to interupt her date with Gakuro

Kagurabachi: Hiruhiko exposits about the Hishaku's organization and somehow comes to the conclusion that it's not just his similarities with Chihiro that would make them good friends, but their differences; the Hishaku close in Samura. If the Hishaku successfully kill Samura or Uruha, Hiruhiko will be given possession of one or both of their Enchanted Blades

Super Psychic Policeman Chojo: Ippongi brings her grandfather to meet Chojo, who in turn comes to believe that Chojo is a dangerous womanizer who's trying to seduce Ippongi. With the number of girls surrounding Chojo, it's starting to seem like the author is trying to set this series up as a harem

Astro Royale: Realizing that the cops are so dangerous because of their synergy, Hibaru realizes the best strategy is to divide and conquer. A nice bit of strategy on Hibaru's part that justifies the one-on-one matchups quite gracefully; I do hope we'll see combo attacks later, though

Yokai Buster Murakami: Kuin and Murakami meet Shutendoji, who doesn't want to be the leader of a yokai gang and instead wants to relax and drink; Murakami recruits her to the Kuin Corps by letting her do just that. Kuin now effectively has both the exorcist and yokai worlds under his command; could a peaceful and unified world be around the corner?

Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi: After beating up an old man, Kiyoshi is granted the title of Grand Cross, giving him the right to go on expeditions to the Demon Realm; a bounty has been put on Kiyoshi's head in the Demon Realm. Presumably, Kiyoshi will begin an expedition to the Demon Realm in the following arc

Hima-Ten: Kanna transfers to Tenichi's school, definitely for work and NOT to get closer to Tenichi; Kanna IMMEDIATELY notices that Tenichi likes Honoka, but doesn't seem discouraged. If this doesn't end up poly, I'm rioting

Ichi the Witch: Kumugi gets to know Ichi, and the two seem to hit it off pretty well, though seeing him in action unsettles her a little bit. Magic-based discrimination seems to go beyond gender and applies to aptitude, setting up the hapless Kumugi as a foil to the one-in-a-million Ichi

Shinobi Undercover: Miyake calls out Hibari for being fake as hell and even taunts her for trying to save a civilian; though Hibari fails to deal damage, she manages to send a message to Yodaka. Hibari's refusal to abandon a classmate and decision to call Yodaka for help reinforces the growing themes of Frienship

Hakutaku: Hikuma's team gives a skewed impression of how quickly game development works, and Kitahara reinvents Among Us. As this is the first major conflict, the main team is likely going to win, but the thematic implications may not be clear for a while

Ruri Dragon: Despite her fear of thunder, Ruri uses the knowledge that her classmates aren't scared of her as motivation to use her powers to stop the storm. Ruri's fears of being an outcast are effectively assuaged, and she's beginning to be able to accept herself

As I wrote this, near the end tumblr informed me that I exceeded some kind of text limit about halfway through Hakutaku, so perhaps I'll need to shave these down going forward?

If anyone has any suggestions for how I can better refine this recap series or make it more engaging, please let me know! As it stands, the only benefit I'm getting is an excuse to try to remember the series I don't care as much about, but I don't think that will carry over to other readers, so I'm open to any feedback y'all are willing to give!

[disabled-dragoon]

Disabled Characters That Shaped My Childhood

Is this similar to a post on my other page? Perhaps. But I don’t care. 

As it is disability pride month and this was essentially the entire reason for me making a second blog, I have decided to revise my list of disabled characters in the media that helped me accept my disability growing up! Probably won’t be all that good but eh, what the hell. 

Unfortunately I can only think of three characters from my childhood that I remember being featured prominently on TV growing up, but it is increasing! Slowly, but it is! So with that said......

Gabriella- The Little Mermaid, 1992-1994, Deaf

Possibly the first actually disabled character I can remember seeing on TV, I think Gabriella was the character that kicked off my interest in learning more about disability culture in the first place and I’m mad more people don’t remember her. 

She was my first real exposure to seeing disability outside of my home and the hospital, and yes, she might be deaf and I’m not, but she fascinated me and arguably catalysed my ongoing attempts to learn sign language. Her character was fun and loveable and I’m glad they took the time to kind of explain her deafness to the audience, then promoted the idea that actually she didn’t need to change herself to be wonderful. She was accepted almost immediately and was most likely the first introduction to sign language as a whole to a lot of children in the early 90s. The fact she kept coming back as a regular character was also amazing to see! 

Toph Beifong- Avatar: The Last Airbender, 2005-2008, Blind

Obviously needs no introduction....With the events of the last year, everyone had a chance to be reintroduced to the series that is Avatar and, by extension, the fantastic Toph Beifong! 

The whole series is one that focuses on overcoming oppression and marginalisation and, whilst it certainly is not perfect, the fact it had a disabled main character for the majority of its run and spin off is probably part of the reason this show holds a special place in my heart, even today. And the representation is not just limited to Toph either!

Remember the wheelchair bound “airbender” that the GAang comes across? Teo I think his name is. Or the armless villainess Ming-Hua in Korra? I do. And I wouldn’t be surprised if there are others that I’m missing but my point is, ATLA does a very good job to not use disability as a reason to make weak characters and I appreciate it so much. 

Toph was is the reason, I think, that I can laugh at myself today (in a good way, of course) and will always be my favourite character of the series for that very reason. 

Hiccup Haddock- How To Train Your Dragon, 2003, Amputee

Ah, How To Train Your Dragon. The guilty pleasure of my childhood. 

It was only a couple of years ago I realised the main character is, technically disabled, having one leg and all, and I never noticed despite watching it religiously when I was small(er). Maybe because they didn’t draw much attention to it after it happened, or maybe because I just did not have the attention span for movies...

But I appreciate it nonetheless, considering the whole movie series finished in 2019 I believe, so it’s still pretty relevant to the younger generations. And the fun colours and enjoyable theme of dragons that people are drawn to means that is a film people can be easily drawn to, and still gets attention. 

                       ~~~Honourable Mentions!~~~

1. Julia- Sesame Street, Autism

A little after my time but a treat to see nonetheless! Julia got a lot of attention when it was announced she would be joining Sesame Street, as the first regular character on the series to be diagnosed with autism. With so much more focus on autism and disability awareness in recent years, it’s refreshing to see children’s media starting to branch out more into exploring the concept of disability in youth and childhood!

2. Iron Man- The Avengers, Technically a heart defect

Okay, it didn’t last. I’m aware. And Iron Man and Marvel are...problematic at times, but arguably the comics and RDJs portrayal of Iron Man was a lot of people’s first introduction to the idea of sudden disability in later life, even if he had the money, resources, time and plot armour to overcome it. 

3. Hawkeye- The Avengers, Deaf

In the comics he’s deaf. Maybe not in the film series, but still. Pretty impressive. Not only is he sans superpowers, he has a disability, which in the world of Marvel you would expect him to be portrayed as weaker and incapable but he isn’t! 

4. Entrapta- She-Ra and The Princesses of Power, Autism

Okay. Yes. Still a bit out of my childhood, technically. But who didn’t watch She-Ra during the lockdown? I’m pretty sure it was confirmed(?) that Entrapta was written as being on the autism spectrum but correct me if I’m wrong. 

                                          ~~~~~~~~~~~

And END.

Sorry for a long first post, I just thought, in the spirit of the month, it might be nice to reflect a little on characters that potentially helped us in our childhoods, and characters that may continue helping children today. 

If I forgot any, or one needs to be added to the list, please tell me and why! 

Thank you!

And happy disability pride month!

[shadowsof-thenight]

Where our story begins: Chapter seven

Story summary: This is a victorian era AU Home is where our story begins, but how does one know where home is? 


Julia has a good life. A calm life. She really doesn’t have much to complain about. That is, until a handsome stranger steps into their home in the country and all that calmness seems to disappear instantly. Who is this man that seems to terrorise everyone with his haughty ways?


Ship: Bucky Barnes X OFC-Julia

Warnings: Angst and fluff for this one.

Words: 3965

***

A/N: I hope you will all enjoy this one! The ending of this chapter is what will really set things in motion for this story.

Anyway, reblogs, likes and comments are always appreciated!

And a special thanks to @gnomewithalaptop​ for the amazing help provided!

***

Masterlist                                          

Story Masterlist

*** She was walking faster and faster, yet it was getting her nowhere. The door in front of her was as far away as it had been the entire time. Fear was gripping at her heart and she felt an immense urgency to reach that door before her. Why? Julia couldn’t really tell—but she recognised the hallway she was in as the one leading to her parents bedroom, and the door must have been theirs. She couldn’t remember how she had gotten here, nor what had brought her in the first place; she just knew that there was danger afoot. In particular, her father was in danger. Again no valid arguments, though it seemed abundantly clear to Julia nonetheless.

“Father!” she called out, but got no reply. She tried to run to the door, but found that the rug beneath her was simply piling up behind her and she was still not getting any closer.

Stopping for a moment she realised that, aside from her heavy breathing, there wasn’t a sound around. That was strange. It was the middle of the day; there should’ve been people out and about, but she appeared to be entirely alone.

Or was she?

“He’ll be okay, Julia. I promise. There is nothing you can do for him now.” James’ voice sounded from behind her, and she turned quickly. She was greeted by piles upon piles of rug—at least twice her height. He was behind them, she was certain—his voice was close by.

“James?!” she called out, stepping to the pile and realising it was solid, like stone.

“I’m here,” he replied, still close even if she could not see him.

Julia grabbed the hem of her wide skirt and bundled it up to free her feet as she began to climb towards the sound of James’s voice. She wasn’t getting any closer to the door, but perhaps James would be able to answer her questions. 
The climb seemed endless, though her panting barely increased, as if she had suddenly found a power, an endurance she had never known existed. Reaching the top, she could finally see James standing at the bottom of the pile. A pile which somehow had gotten three times as high. Her feet slipped and she quickly dropped to her knees, the long drop to the bottom making her shiver.

“What is going on?” Julia asked nobody in particular, though James was the only one in the vicinity to answer. He didn’t say a word though. He simply offered her that sweet smile of his, while he stared at her with the same intensity as he had the night of the ball. She hoped it was love.


 “James, I’m scared,” she said, her voice suddenly much smaller as fear tightened her throat.

“Don’t be. I’m here! I’ll always be here,” he promised and she really wanted to believe him. She wanted to put all her faith in him.

With that realisation, Julia stood up, carefully taking small steps down the enormous pile of solid rugs. She slipped a few times, desperately grabbing at any edge she could find, just to keep herself upright. She managed to keep from falling, though her hands were now full of dirt and blood. Apparently this wasn’t a pile of rugs anymore. Exhaustion pulled at her tired limbs, but she persevered—walking until she was ready to give up altogether. That was when James’s voice reached her ears again.

 “Julia, I’m right here!”

“Help,” she called back to him, feeling weak and helpless.

She reached out to him, arms outspread, wanting him to hold her or catch her perhaps. But James wasn’t moving; he stood in the exact same position—unmoving. Julia was so exhausted though, too exhausted to go on. She kept reaching for James as her feet slipped again, and this time she could not stop herself from falling. She screamed as her world turned black.

*

“Miss! Are you all right?” Mary asked as Julia sat up in her bed with a start, cold sweat clinging to her skin.

Julia felt out of breath and slightly confused as she met the kind, worried face of her oldest friend. Placing a hand over her heart, she found it beating rapidly, and she took a deep breath in an attempt to steady herself. Flashes of her nightmare came to her, and she closed her eyes momentarily to banish them from her thoughts. She’d had nightmares before, strange ones, frightening ones, but this one really seemed to take the cake.

“My apologies, Mary. Have I given you a fright?” Julia asked, forcing herself to smile as her heartbeat returned to a normal pace. She opened her eyes slowly, seeing Mary still staring at her.

“I came to wake you, but then you screamed,” Mary explained, as she finally moved again and fetched some water to dab on Julia’s face—a gesture for which Julia was very grateful.

“I’m sorry, Mary. I must have been having a bad dream. I’m better now.”

“Would you like me to draw you a bath?” Mary offered, and Julia readily accepted. It would give her some time to gather her thoughts before she faced anyone else.

Julia had an inclination of where her anxiety came from, though it didn’t appear to have much to do with the events of her dream. Either way, she needed a little more time to gather her thoughts before going downstairs. Her mother would want to talk about the ball; she’d want to hear what Julia’s favourite parts of the night were, and her favourite dance. She might even ask who her favourite dance partner was—mostly because she had found the answer to it already and needed the confirmation. Julia had barely spoken to her parents at the ball, and they would want to know everything she had experienced. And since they would most likely have seen her smiling bright for most of the night, these were normal questions for a parent to ask their child.

She was certain, however, that her parents had missed the moment that had given her such anxiety to induce a nightmare. She was intent on keeping them ignorant of that fact. It would do them no good to share the fear she had momentarily felt. She would discuss it with Natalia first. She would know what to do.
 Julia took the cloth that Mary had used to dab her face and took it to her neck. The cold sweat finally seemed to be retreating. Stepping out of the bed, she walked towards the bathroom attached to her room. Long ago it had been a dressing room, but when bathrooms had become a regularity, Julia’s grandparents had made the choice to place it in the dressing room. All these years later, Julia was grateful for the choice they made. Though, as she watched Charlie lugging buckets of water, she could only hope that her parents would continue the remodelling and modernising and include indoor plumbing. They were modern people — this should be a modern house, should it not?

 When the bath was fully ready, she thanked Mary and Charlie profusely before gently shooing them out of the room and stepping into the warm water. A deep sigh escaped her as she lowered herself in the water and the steam rose up around her. Her hair had been expertly braided before bed and was now rolled up on her head to keep it from getting wet. It gave Julia the freedom to lean her head back, and she made a conscious effort to relax her body.

Her feet were still a little sore from all the dancing, and she smiled at the memory of her dances with James. She’d been nervous around him all of the sudden, and she had struggled to understand why, until her conversation with Natalia. She and James had never spoken of their intentions. Their walks, their conversations—they had all happened in such an organic manner that neither of them had ever stopped to think of it. However, Julia could not deny that, slowly but surely, it had gone from regular interactions with a guest to something akin to courting.

Eventually she would have to ask James if this was what he wanted. A conversation was necessary, for her heart was in the game, and she needed to know where they stood. For now though, she was intent on dreamily remembering their night and telling herself it was in fact a romantic connection that had grown between them.

Unfortunately for Julia, the night hadn’t been all fun. Lord Rumlow had been acting rather peculiarly improper. He had been most forceful in their conversations, and Julia had not liked it one bit. After their dance, she had escaped and found James, who had quickly been able to sooth her worries—even without knowing the full extent of them. But Lord Rumlow had quickly shown her that James could not always be around. 

It had happened near the end of the night, when Natalia and Julia had taken a stroll around the manor to admire the hard work that Natalia had put into the decorations. The men had gathered in the drawing room where they were having a smoke while the band was taking a short break—they were joined by virtually every other man at the ball. At least one had slipped their notice though.
 When one of the maids had come for Natalia with some questions and Natalia had followed her to another room, Lord Rumlow had been there to corner Julia.

 “Julia, I must confess that our conversation wasn’t as I had hoped it would be,” he had started, and Julia had nodded, unsure what she could say. It certainly hadn’t been anything she had expected to happen.

“I apologise. I only meant to warn you,” Lord Rumlow spoke softly, glancing around. Probably to make sure there would be no eavesdropping.

The gesture made Julia nervous. 

“For Lord Barnes?” she asked to clarify, “Who has been nothing but a gentleman, even in the face of your imprudent questions the other night?”

“You should ask him about his business with your father,” Lord Rumlow said. He spoke harshly, his patience clearly wearing thin.  

“I shan’t. Now please, I must find Natalia,” Julia said, her voice steady and strong, despite her nerves. She’d always been a tad wary of her neighbour. Always felt an almost imperceptible anger radiating from him, simmering just underneath the surface. There wasn’t enough horsepower in the world to make her spend time alone with this man, she thought as she scurried away in search of anyone to cling to for company.

*** 

“I was hoping we could go for a ride today,” James said softly once they were seated at the dining room table. It appeared that Julia hadn’t been the only one with a slow start of the day, and instead of having food sent to their rooms, her parents had decided to make an elaborate early lunch. Or a late breakfast. 

 “It would be preferable to a walk as my feet might need some more time to recover from all the dancing,” Julia answered with a smile.

“As do mine, and I only danced a fraction of what you did,” James grinned.

“That’s because you only danced with Carolina and me,” Julia teased and James smiled back.

“I could’ve easily done without Carolina’s superb dancing.” James stared into her eyes as he spoke, and Julia could feel a flutter in her belly. Was she wrong to think that perhaps he had noticed the change between them as well? If so, he certainly didn’t appear to be pulling away.

“And accept only my mediocre dancing?” Julia asked, teasing tone still in her voice.

“My dearest Julia, your dancing was perfection,” James insisted and Julia felt her cheeks heating in a blush.

“What are you whispering about, little sister?” Alexander asked, smiling brightly as Julia scowled at him. 

 She should’ve known that her brother would stick his nose in her business now that he was here. And since the men had agreed on no business today, he had plenty of time to satisfy his curiosity. She couldn’t really blame him—they’d never been apart as long as they had been since his marriage, and while Carolina was a faithful penpal, he was not. Alexander often forgot to send a letter and sometimes to even write a reply. Julia loved him dearly, but he was a tad scattered at times, much like their father in a way.

“We were discussing the possibility of a little outing today,” James answered for her.

“An outing?” Carolina asked excitedly. “Like a walk?” She had known of the daily walks James and Julia took and had already expressed that she wished to be a fly on the wall for those—this would offer her a front row seat. Of course the conversations would be a tad different with Carolina there.

“Our poor feet might need some rest before we can return to our daily walks, so perhaps on horseback instead,” James said with a smile. He had hoped to spend some time alone with Julia to talk, but it wasn’t in him to be rude in the face of all the kindness that Carolina showed. He also didn’t think Alexander would let up on his curiosity about their interactions. He’d made several inquiries with James already. He had wanted to know James’s intentions with his little sister and James could not fault him for that.

“Could I impose myself on this outing?” Carolina asked hopefully, and Julia nodded with a smile.

“The more the merrier,” Julia said, before glancing at James and wondering for a moment if he was as disappointed as she was about the prospect of having company. As wonderful as said company was, she had hoped to speak to James in private—or semi privacy at least. Mary had been their chaperone for most of their walks, and she would never share a word of what she overheard.

***


“This was such a good idea,” Carolina said as she took a deep breath of fresh air. They’d left the manor some fifteen minutes earlier and were walking at a leisurely pace along the road that would lead them to a nearby forest. The afternoon sun was warm enough to battle the chilly wind that had been blowing all week and it was absolutely lovely—Julia wasn’t fully experiencing it though.

James and Alexander were walking a little ways ahead of them, laughing and joking with one another. Julia stared at their backs and wondered what her brother had said to make James laugh so generously—James wasn’t this relaxed very often. During the many weeks that he had been with them, she often saw the stress clearly displayed on his frame. The serious face, sometimes a frown, the tense raised shoulders—none of it had escaped her notice. Often it was better when they were on their walks, though she had seen him getting lost in thought a few times. On those occasions, the frown lines in his face had increased. There was something heavy weighing on him, and she wished she could help him carry the load. As it was, she could only hope that her brother could be of some assistance. After all, she was just a girl, and men rarely shared their burdens with the women in their life, especially if they weren’t married to them.

“Yes, Carolina, it certainly was. I’m glad I thought of it,” Carolina said mockingly, and Julia laughed as she was pulled from her thoughts.

“My apologies,” Julia said, and she glanced at Carolina to find the other woman smiling brightly.

“Do you think you could love him?” Carolina asked, looking ahead to the men.

“I think I could,” Julia confessed, and saying it aloud made it feel more real. The fluttering she had felt at the dinner table returned with a vengeance, and she decided that she liked the feeling. 

“Isn’t that the most exciting feeling there is?” Carolina asked, love clear on her face as she looked at Alexander’s back.

 “And a little frightening, honestly,” Julia said softly, a slight blush on her cheeks. 

 “But it can turn into such beauty, Julia,” Carolina said, and Julia smiled, a little unsure. 

 She trusted Carolina with all her heart, but there was so much that she didn’t know about James. And there were things that linked him to her father that caused tension. She wasn’t entirely sure how it was all intertwined, but she knew that it was. Julia never did well with being uninformed, but she knew better than to straight out ask any of the people involved. Perhaps at some point, James would inform her himself—if he felt for her as she felt for him.

‘Have you noticed that he rides one-handed?” Carolina asked a little while later.

“I hadn’t,” Julia said, looking towards the men. They were now nearing the tree line ahead. Suddenly it appeared clear as day that James was only using his right arm. His left arm was loosely crossed over his torso. She wondered why this was. She had seen him favour his right side before, though not quite this much.

“I wonder what that’s about,” Carolina said. Julia knew that her sister-in-law wasn’t half as curious as she was, so it would be up to her to figure this out. Not today though—today she had other subjects to discuss with James if they ever had a moment alone.

***
 Julia squinted at the sunlight reflected in the water before them. They’d spent an hour or so riding and had decided on a well deserved break along the lake in the center of the forest. Alexander had spread out a large blanket and surprised everyone with wine and cake—courtesy of Maudlin.

“When did you arrange this?” Carolina asked, smiling as she took a bite of her cake, before leaning back against her husband’s shoulder. Alexander himself was leaning against a large tree and he looked very pleased with himself.

“When you were all getting changed into your riding frocks, I made some quick inquiries, and as it happened, Maudlin had already baked a cake for tea today,” Alexander said with a smug smile on his face.

“Please tell me she held something back for mother and father,” Julia asked, as she too munched on her cake. She was careful though; she’d always been told that a lady eats neatly and calmly. If she needed to convince James of her qualities as a wife, she would not do so by eating like a pig.

“Naturally, Maudlin would never let me take all of it,” Alexander chuckled.

A short while later James stood up from the blanket and turned to Julia. “Would you care for a stroll by the waters edge?” he asked, and Julia was eager to accept his hand to help her upright.

Standing, Julia took a moment to brush off some imaginary dust from her dress and catch Carolina’s eye. Her sister-in-law nodded her head encouragingly, almost imperceptible, but it was still clear enough for Julia to see and understand. At this moment, she was happy to know the other woman so very well.

“I was hoping to catch you alone today,” James confessed as he threw a small pebble in the water. It skipped three times before it sank.

“Me too,” Julia said, craning her neck to follow his movements as she tried to discover how he made those pebbles skip.

Catching her attempts to follow his hands, James chuckled and handed her a pebble. “Hold the flat part as the underside,” he started, “then take it between your thumb and ring finger, like this.” He demonstrated every move as he said it, really breaking down the action for her. 
For him it might’ve been simple, but Julia was glad that he didn’t make her feel silly for not knowing.

“Now, pull your arm back, just like that.” James gently directed her arm into position. “And throw.”

Julia did as instructed, and her pebble skipped once before sinking. She happily turned to James,  jumping in place with excitement.

“I’ve never been able to do that,” she said, a bright smile on her face.

James couldn’t help but smile in return—she looked utterly adorable in her enthusiasm. And the fact that he had been the person to cause this response made him feel emboldened enough to say the words he’d been wanting to speak. Looking back at their companions, he saw them engrossed in conversation together. They wouldn’t eavesdrop or interrupt them for now.
 He could tell Carolina and Alexander were happy together; their body language spoke to that fact; both relaxed and sitting close together. He hoped to achieve that with Julia one day.

Now that he had assured himself that they were not within hearing distance, he finally broached the subject that had been heavy on his mind throughout the week, with it coming to a strong climax last night. He’d been fond of her from the get-go, but last night told him that it was more than that. He was falling for the beautiful lady standing next to him.

“Julia, I was wondering if we could talk about a few things.” His mouth ran a little dry and he suddenly forgot how to hold his arms. He’s been searching the ground for more pebbles, pushing the stones aside with his feet, but he knew he should not put this off any longer—who knew how long Alexander would give him? They would soon have to return to the house.

“Anything, James,” Julia assured him, and she felt giddy with anticipation. Would he say what she thought he might? What she hoped he would?

“I’ve really been enjoying my time here,” James started a little shakily. “In particular our walks, and our conversations.”

“I’ve been enjoying those as well,” Julia said, eager to agree with all he had to say. She was excited, nervous, and scared at the same time, which made it harder to stand still—but she knew she had to at least appear calm outwardly.

“When I first arrived, it had been to discuss business with your father, but our walks were a nice change in scenery.” Her responses were calming his nerves a little, but he was still very happy to have thought this conversation through beforehand. He knew what he wanted to say, and he was now more convinced that she would want to hear it. “I appreciated the friendship you offered, your honesty and your curiosity. It was refreshing,”

“And at times slightly unprecedented,” Julia countered, and nearly bit her tongue in response. Why couldn’t she just keep her mouth closed, she wondered. But James laughed, clearly not put off by her words.

“Perhaps to society, but I liked it,” James said, looking her in the eyes, trying to assure her of the honesty in his words. “I don’t know exactly when it changed for me, but I know that I would like to have more than friendship with you.”

“You do?” Julia asked, a little timid, blushing slightly.

“Yes, and I was hoping to ask you if you feel the same,” James asked, wringing his hands nervously as he awaited her answer. He wasn’t even sure when he had grasped them together.

“I would love to move beyond the friendship we’ve built, James,” Julia finally said and James had to control himself—he wanted to pull her into his arms then and there.

“If I were to speak to your father, would that please you?” he asked, just to be absolutely sure.

“It would, most definitely.”

[thecasperanfamily]

Hi! I know I’m like ridiculously late and you’ve probably already done something like this, but could you write a piece about how Lin and Julia first met? If you’ve already done so (I haven’t read everything yet) can you direct me to it?

Hey, Non, glad you stopped by for a visit. I don’t think you can really be “late” for something like a still-ongoing AU, so it’s all good lol. And actually I hadn’t written this piece yet! It was a fun mini-project for me, so thank you for requesting it. I hope you like it! 🎧🎨

~~~~~

A/N: (Lin and Julia are 14 here)

Arcadia Oaks High wasn’t exactly a large school. The odds of something even moderately interesting happening there and not having every student in the system know about it by the next day were incredibly slim. Contrary to what one might expect, Lin Casperan rather liked the lack of discretion. It made going there feel a bit like a performance, like he was getting up on a stage of some kind, where everything he said or did would be noticed, and not simply because people knew who his father was, but because everyone got noticed at some point or another in this school. 

So of course, if Arcadia Oaks High happened to acquire a new transfer student mid-semester, everyone noticed. If said student made a point of slipping in and out of school without ever breathing a word, either to her fellow students or to her teachers, everyone noticed. If said student was almost never seen without a sketchbook and pencil in hand, everyone noticed. And if said student got in-school suspension for kicking a jock in the kneecap when he tried to take her sketchbook without her permission, everyone noticed. 

Especially the boy who had to spend his detention period with her. 

Lin had been in and out of detention enough times at this point that nobody really paid much attention to it anymore. But if he had to guess, he’d say that every student in this building had at least thought about the girl currently sitting two rows away from him. He didn’t really mind sacrificing the spotlight in this instance--hell, he was half-inclined to ask for her autograph. It took a lot of nerve to tell someone like Casey Bensington what he could or could not touch--and even more nerve to kick him in the kneecap when he didn’t listen. But judging from the way she was staring glumly at the top of her desk, idly rocking a pencil back and forth between her fingers, she wasn’t nearly as proud of herself as Lin would have been in her situation. Then again, also judging from the neatly stacked pile of books and finished homework next to her, she had probably been in here all day. Lin was usually ready to crawl out of his skin after just forty-five minutes in this room, and she couldn’t be feeling much better than that, if she’d been in there since that morning. 

He had seen her before of course. She had transferred to Arcadia Oaks High two weeks ago, and they were in most of the same classes, but they’d never actually spoken to each other. He was sure he’d heard her name before at some point, but since forgotten it. She was easy enough for him to pick out of a crowd, however. Contrary to what most people believed about him, Lin did find certain girls to be particularly nice to look at, and he would say this one was one of them. She was rather willowy in stature, with a large, flouncy ponytail of dark brown hair, olive skin, and chocolate-colored eyes. From where he was sitting, if Lin tilted his head just right, he could catch a glimpse of a rumpled sheet of note paper lying on the desk in front of her, and what was on it was far more interesting to him than the homework he was supposed to be working on.

The page was covered in sketches of twisting, thorny vines, exotic blossoms, and hummingbirds. Though it was clear that she had been drawing out of boredom more than inspiration, the various little doodles all seemed to weave in and out of each other seamlessly, forming a cohesive whole. It didn’t look like the chaotic mess Lin made when he was boredom-sketching, but neither did it look completely ordered or tidy. There was both a wildness and a gentleness to her art. It was something Lin had never seen before, and he was finding himself utterly transfixed by it. 

At least until she suddenly noticed he was staring. 

He jerked his gaze back down to his math homework, hoping that the nonchalant way he was attempting to clear his throat would make it look like he’d just been staring idly into space, instead of ogling the girl’s personal sketches. He was no Casey Bensington, and he definitely didn’t fancy getting kicked in the kneecap either way. 

Still, he couldn’t get the image of that sheet of doodles out of his head, no matter how hard he stared at the equations he was supposed to be solving, and when the bell finally rang and the detention supervisor dismissed them, Lin found himself scrambling to shove his books into his backpack and running to catch up with the girl in the hall outside (blatantly ignoring the No Running in the Halls signs that had been posted every six feet for him specifically). 

“Hey! Uh, excuse me--” Fuzzbuckets, this would be so much easier if he could remember her name. She didn’t seem to realize he was trying to get her attention until he caught up with her and tapped her on the shoulder. She whirled around on him so fast that her ponytail almost whipped him across the face, obviously startled, and Lin was quick to raise his hands in a placating gesture. “Uh, sorry. I just...I saw some of your sketches back there. I mean, I wasn’t trying to snoop, just they were sitting right there where I could see them, and I wanted to tell you they’re really cool. A-and Casey deserved that kick in the kneecap, no matter what the teachers say. He’s a jerk.” 

The girl gave him a blank look, tilting her head a bit in confusion. Lin got the uncomfortable impression that she hadn’t heard a word he just said. Was she deaf? Oh, fuzzbuckets, he hadn’t considered that, but that would explain why she never said anything in class and now here he was practically yelling at her in the hallway like an insensitive idiot without even giving her the chance to--

“...C-could you say that again? Slower?” she stammered, words slow and somewhat choppy-sounding, as though she was having difficulty finding them. “I...English is not my first language.” She looked down at the floor, fiddling with her bag strap nervously. 

“...I saw your drawings,” Lin repeated carefully. “I really like them.” 

“Oh.” He wasn’t sure, but Lin thought he saw her eyes light up as she met his gaze again. “Gra--um...I mean, thank you.” There was an awkward pause. 

“...I’m Lin. Lin Casperan.” He held out a hand, and she tentatively shook it. 

“Julia Romero.”  A pretty name, he thought idly. It suited her. He particularly liked the way she gently rolled the R’s. His Aunt Claire did that sometimes, especially when she was speaking--

“Do you speak Spanish?” Lin blurted. “I-I mean, is that your first language?” 

“Sí,” Julia answered, looking hopeful. “...Do you speak it?” 

“Not yet,” he said. “...But I bet I could learn.”

[thisbrokenmask]

Havana Nights

Title: Havana Nights

Pairing: Jin x reader

Genre: Meet-cute, flirting

Warnings: sexual tension?, Jin being a big-ass flirt, Y/N also being a big-ass flirt

Word Count: 5.1k

Song inspiration: Airplane Pt. 2

A/N: Even though ficswithluv’s Bulletproof Bingo Event is now over, I’m still planning on finishing as many of the songs on my bingo card as I can! I was actually working on this in plenty of time before the end of the event but I just couldn’t get the wording right until this week. 

I also didn’t realise I would end up writing for Jin the most before I started this but what can I say, WWH just does things to me ig.

You were grateful for the cool rush of air that graced your skin as you entered the bar; the fan fixed above the door was one of many attempting to circulate air around the room, but was the only one that would actually grant any relief from the sticky heat of the midsummer night. You knew that as soon as you took another step into the bar you would be hit by the feverish aura radiating from the undulating mass of writhing bodies on the dancefloor, so you took a few moments to revel in the cool relief before you left it.

Pulling your hair away from your neck and tilting your head to the side to allow the fanned air to hit your pulse point, you smiled at the music that met your ears. You couldn’t see much above the crowd, but you could tell that Ernesto had found another band to perform live rather than playing the same well-loved tracks each night on his beloved jukebox. 

You made your way through the crowd towards the bar, helpless against the smile that pulled at your lips when you saw Ernesto already pouring you a drink. You’d always wanted to come to Cuba, something about the classic cars and the brightly-coloured streets drawing you in, so when you’d decided to travel on your own - a la Julia Roberts in Eat Pray Love - Cuba had been first on your list. You hadn’t really had a plan when you’d arrived, but you’d quickly settled in and found a few friends, even writing articles for a local magazine to get you by once your savings started to look a bit thin. You’d met Ernesto no more than a week into your time in Havana, when you’d wandered into the nicest-looking bar near your temporary apartment and he’d immediately taken you under his wing. You were the same age as his own daughter, apparently, but she’d decided to go to graduate school in America and he was missing her, so he made sure he looked after girls like you when they came into his establishment. You had grown to care for him in return, as him being roughly the same age as your own father made it easy to return the familial affection. Carmella, his wife, had started popping round to your apartment to bring you food a few times a week before you eventually started being invited for dinner on a regular basis. As the weeks had gone on, you’d found yourself feeling like this might just be your new home, at least for the foreseeable future, and Ernesto and Carmella had been delighted when you’d told them as such. 

You spent several nights a week at his bar, either chatting to him and some regulars you’d befriended just to be out of the house after a day of writing, or to cut a little loose on the weekends. Ernesto often refused to let men buy you a drink, adamant none of them were good enough for you, but all it took was a smile from you and he would back down, never intervening if you wanted to approach someone on your own. 

“Buena noches, Y/N,” he greeted you with a smile, sliding your favourite daiquiri towards you as you took a seat at the bar. 

“Buena noches, Tio,” you greeted him in return, wrapping your hand around the ice-filled glass and feeling the condensation wet your skin. “New singers tonight?”

Ernesto grinned at you before looking over to the group of heads you could see bobbing on the other side of the crowd. “Sí! They come to me last night, seven of them! They ask to perform here, I say they have to prove they can sing first,” Ernesto recounts the story to you and several other patrons as he continues to serve drinks, everyone listening with a smile as he raises a finger, as if he’s about to confide a secret. “They come this morning, they sing a few songs for me and Carmella and I put them straight on the board for tonight!” He laughs as he gestures towards the bar’s entrance, referring to the small notice board that sits on the wall outside to which he attaches the names of the bands he lets play here. You curse yourself for not checking it before you came in. “I don’t understand a lot of it but I’ve been around long enough to know they’re good. They’re from Korea, can you believe? From Korea to my little bar in Havana!” Ernesto is chuckling to himself about the strings of fate being pulled in such a way to bring this band to him, his patrons unable to hold back their grins at his unfaltering spirit, and his awe of them deepens your curiosity ten-fold.

Craning your neck, you attempt to catch sight of the singers through the crowd but can only spy several heads of hair as they bop in time to the beat of their current song. You count six in total; sleek black, two dirty blonds, dark red, what you believe is a head of pale pink, and a wide-brimmed cream hat, but you struggle to see more than glimpses of the faces beneath. Taking a sip of your drink through your straw, the combination of sharp lemon and smooth white rum floods your taste buds as you continue to watch for gaps in the crowd. The music changes several times before you drain your glass, but all of them have kept the crowd thriving and grinding in front of you. 

Placing your empty glass back on the bar, you tuck your hair behind your ear and straighten out your dress as you stand up. You slip between the bodies, letting yourself sink into the heat and the movement of the bodies around you that push and pull like a hot ocean tide. You’ve come to find the sticky heat of the crowds here comforting, almost blissful in how easily they melt away the stresses and worries of your daily life. Ernesto’s is your haven, and the effect of the dancefloor is now instantaneous.

You push your way to the front, bodies parting easily to let you through, and find yourself staring into the shining dark eyes of who you assume is the seventh man that you couldn’t see before. His blond hair is brighter than the other two you had already spotted, shimmering under the lights like the finest white-gold thread.

You notice his eyes quickly glance over you before a small smirk tugs at the corner of his plush lips, his singing uninterrupted. The air of professionalism around him strikes you, as you’re used to a lot of amateur musicians coming through and getting flustered by the proximity of the crowds. You feel heat rise in your cheeks at his close scrutiny of your outfit, your face, and your body, but you also feel heat settle in your abdomen as his gaze never breaks from your own. To grant yourself some minor relief, you look away to observe their set up, your suspicions that they’re more than a travelling band being confirmed the more you see.   

An invisible line on the floor has been mutually agreed between them and the patrons in lieu of an actual stage, a laptop, a few speakers and seven microphones the extent of their equipment. All seven of them are dressed impeccably, their outfits clearly chosen to appear casual and lightweight to suit the heat, yet the evidence of high-quality labels is visible to those who pay attention. All seven of them are also incredibly handsome in their own rights, a combination of sharp and softer jawlines all presided over by deep brown eyes. 

There wasn’t enough room for choreography, but the subtle moves they could pull off were infallibly synchronised. Whether it was shifting their weight from foot to foot in a sway to the beat or performing simple gestures with their arms, as you look down the row of them you could see that none of them were even half a second out of sync. 

The singer in front of you is still watching you, although the intensity of his gaze seems to have lessened slightly while you’ve been distracted. When you look back to him, you see a harder edge start to creep back in again and it stokes the heat in your abdomen. 

You let your gaze drift down him and he watches with interest as you drink in the sight of him. The loose material of his shirt keeps you from being able to distinguish where his waist tapers, but it does nothing to hide the broadness of his shoulders and chest. You briefly wonder what it would be like to hold onto them if he was holding himself above you and whether you’d be able to feel the muscles flexing under your fingers, but you blink the thoughts away, hoping your open appreciation wasn’t too obvious. His simple black jeans accentuate the length of his legs and the strength of his thighs, and you definitely feel your temperature rise as you skim back upwards to his face. 

If you weren’t looking into them, you might not believe that human eyes could be as dark as the ones in front of you, but given the way they burn into yours as soon as they meet, swirling with intrigue and temptation, you’d be a fool to deny the power they hold. You barely notice the song has ended, only becoming aware of it once the man in front of you turns away and walks towards the back of the stage, but not before dropping you a wink. You’re confused but too wired up to turn away, feeling adrenaline rush through your veins as you watch eagerly to see what’s happening. The seven singers gather together briefly, grabbing bottles of water and towels to dab at their faces as they murmur between themselves. The crowd behind you has stilled, but the hum of applause and conversation prevents silence from falling. Soon enough, the band breaks apart to form a vague line, looking out to the crowd before the tallest one steps forward to the microphone.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for allowing us to entertain you tonight,” his voice is deep and smooth and his accented American gives his words a lilt that makes him even more charming. It’s definitely the voice of a man charismatic enough to apparently be the band’s leader, you think. The crowd applauds behind you, cheers and whoops ringing out loud enough that the leader has to wait a few seconds to speak again. “We’ve thoroughly enjoyed singing for you tonight, and we hope you’ve enjoyed our performance. We’re going to take a break now, but we’ll be back after a short while. For now, please speak to our man, Yunki, if you have any requests.” He gestures to the dark red-headed man to his left, who raises his hand in a wave before heading to the back of the stage and leaning over the laptop, clicking buttons.

The blond you’d been eyeing catches your eye again, the two of you immediately locking gazes. You’ve never experienced a pull towards another person as intense as this before, especially when it’s only after eye contact, and you feel your knees weakening under his gaze. The rest of the members begin to disperse, most heading in your direction to head towards the bar, your blond beau cocking an eyebrow as he begins to walk towards you. Feeling a rush of confidence under his heated stare, you let your lips twitch into a coy smile before turning and making your way back through the crowd, feeling your heart race with excitement and hope that he’s following you as you suspect he will. 

You return to the bar to find your earlier seat still vacant, but your empty glass has been removed and the bartop wiped down. You see Ernesto already grabbing a fresh glass before you even take your seat, a knowing smile in his eyes as he shakes his head fondly at you and a grin breaking across your lips. You see his eyes flicker to something behind you before returning to finishing your drink but, before you can turn to look, he brings your drink to you and places it down with a flourish. 

“And what can I get for the best singers my bar has ever seen?” 

You hear several low chuckles from behind you, five of the seven men having gathered behind you to order from the bar. You turn on the stool to sit sideways, Ernesto on your right and the band on your left, and your eyes immediately meet with the blond at the back of the group. He’s already gazing at you by the time you turn around, his dark eyes steadily watching you, the same smirk from earlier once again pushing up the corner of his lips. He seems to be as interested in you as you are in him, which sends a thrill pulsing through your body. 

“Five of your coldest beers, please, sir,” the leader says in front of you with a charming smile as he dips a hand into his pockets to find his money, “and a single of your finest whiskey, too. Neat, please.” 

“Coming right up!” Ernesto turns to start the drinks, leaving the six of you to exchange silent smiles before you decide to speak.

“You guys are the best band I’ve ever seen here,” you tell them, turning more to lean against the bar as you speak. “I’m pretty sure Ernesto would keep you here permanently if you let him.”

“Ah, thank you very much,” the leader bows his head slightly with a grin, his eyes scrunching closed adorably, his cheeks dimpling. A few more thank yous echo from around the group, all of them having heard your compliment, proud yet bashful grins lighting up all of their faces. “I’m Namjoon,” he offers his hand to you, which you take, and he shakes it gently.

“Y/N,” you offer back with a smile as he releases your hand. 

“That’s a beautiful name,” he says. “It suits you.” 

You can’t help the hard blush that burns your cheeks, especially when you see the other singers nodding in agreement with him, but you still preen under their complimentary smiles. It’s hard not to feel flattered when you have five very handsome and obviously talented gentlemen agreeing that you’re beautiful.

“You’re too kind,” you say instead, taking a sip through your straw to hide your smile and attempt to cool yourself down slightly. When you return the glass to the bar, Namjoon turns to introduce you to the other men at his side.

“Where are my manners?” he says with a chuckle. “Y/N, let me introduce you to my friends. This is Seokjin-hyung,” he gestures to the man at the back, ushering him to the front and making your heart hammer in your chest as the man you can’t stop staring at steps forward.

The word ‘hello’ has never seemed so attractive as it does when he says it, taking your hand in his and dipping down to press a light kiss to your skin. You miss the others roll their eyes and laugh quietly at his antics, too enchanted by the deep eyes you’re finally seeing up close: they’re dark as sin, yet they glimmer under the lights in a way that reminds you of obsidian glass. He lifts his head once more, his blond hair appearing almost white when it catches the light as he does so, and looks at you with a small smile, saying, “Please, call me Jin.” He holds your gaze and you find yourself nodding dumbly, completely entranced. You don’t see the knowing looks passed between the men around you before he’s stepping back and letting your hand gently slip from his grasp, as if he can’t quite bring himself to let you go. 

Namjoon glances between the two of you with a smirk, clearing his throat gently to break the eye contact between you. You shake your head slightly and send a small apologetic smile his way, but he’s either very understanding or doesn’t notice as he gestures to the next man.

“This is Hoseok-”

“Please, call me Hobi.” You don’t miss the snickers this time as he copies his bandmate, although he skips the kiss to your hand. The radiant grin he offers as he shakes your hand instead is contagious and you’re sure it would be enough to cheer you up if you weren’t already in such a good mood. His black hair is parted down the middle and sits gently above his eyebrows, and you wonder if all of them get dimples in their cheeks when they smile, because so far you’re three for three.

“Jimin,” Namjoon gestures to the next man along, whose handsome features are so delicately refined you’d possibly call him beautiful instead, his face blessed with a devilish combination of a sharp jaw and soft eyes, plush lips and apple cheeks.

“It’s a pleasure,” he smiles, bowing nearly 45 degrees as he takes your hand. His voice is as melodic when he talks as you remember it was when you saw him sing just minutes ago, although it seems slightly deeper in conversation.

“Our youngest, Jungkook,” Namjoon gestures to the man standing at your left elbow, who you definitely wouldn’t have guessed was the youngest. He’s taller than Jimin, looks like he might be taller than Hobi as well, and even his arms held politely in front of him can’t hide how broad his chest is. You suppose his eyes give his youth away, wide and curious as they are underneath his peach-pink hair, but he still quirks his lips in a smile as he greets you. 

“Nice to meet you,” he says with a shallower bow than Jimin’s, and his deep voice takes you by surprise - you’re pretty sure you witnessed him effortlessly hitting several high notes that you could only dream of reaching. You’re not sure if it’s his age, but he seems more nervous than the others and lets go of your hand sooner than his friends.

“The two over there,” Namjoon leans closer to you as he points to the two men still standing by the equipment, one you recognise as the ‘Yunki’ previously introduced to the crowd when they announced their break and the other talking to him quietly, watching as Yunki taps away at his laptop. “- are Yunki-hyung and Tae. Tae’s the one with the hat.” You giggle at how bluntly he says it, missing the way all of them watch you with gentle smiles as you do so.

“Hyung?” you look to Jin questioningly, feeling the weight of the foreign word on your tongue as you try to figure out its meaning. “Brothers?”

All of the men chuckle slightly, but none of them come across as malicious or even teasing. “Sort of,” he grins with a nod. “But probably not in the way you’re thinking,” he explains, and you find yourself unable to look away from the kindness in his eyes as he elaborates. “It’s a Korean word, not a surname. More like a term of endearment. We use it to address our friends - and our actual brothers - who are older than us; it’s like a sign of respect.”

“I see,” you nod, offering a sheepish smile to the rest of your company. “My mistake.” They all shake their heads good-naturedly, clearly used to having to explain this to people as they’ve travelled. Your mind briefly wonders how old they all are, whether they’re older or younger than you. “So, would I use it? If you’re older than me, I mean.”

“No, no,” another chuckle escapes Namjoon as he pushes his hair back, another quiet titter of laughter spreading through the group. “‘Hyung’ is just for guys, and only when they talk to other guys that are older than them, family or not.” He pauses, frowning slightly as he considers just how much detail to go into in the middle of a bar. He’s not in the mood to give a full honorifics lesson and, by the way your eyes shift to Jin, he supposes you aren’t in the mood to hear one, either. “There are different words for everyone, really.”

“So what would I call you guys?” Now that your focus on Namjoon has been broken, you struggle to keep it away from Jin for more than a few seconds, your eyes constantly drifting back to him. It allows you to notice the way his pupils dilate slightly at your question, his voice sounding before Namjoon even has a chance to take a breath.

“‘Oppa’,” he tells you, his hungry gaze holding onto yours as if he’s daring you to look away from him.

“Oppa?” You ask experimentally, letting the word roll off your tongue and exaggerating the pout of your lips as you do, taking note of the way his shoulders seem to tense when he hears you say it. You bite into the corner of your lip to try and stop the smirk you can feel pushing at your cheeks, vaguely aware that there are four other men here watching you essentially eye-fuck their friend. 

Your gaze is broken when Ernesto returns just moments later with five of his largest bottles of beer, holding them by their necks before he places them down, pools of water immediately gathering on the bar from the condensation dripping off the bottles. You sit up again and turn back to watch him, barely even seeing the small bottle opener tucked between his fingers as he expertly plucks off all the bottle caps, dropping them all into the bin you know he keeps behind the bar for that very purpose. You cock an eyebrow at him, silently questioning how it seemed to take him much longer than normal to collect a couple of beers, but he simply winks at you with a smile. You shake your head lightheartedly, knowing that his tardiness is his way of giving you time with these men and an unspoken sign of his opinion that at least one of them might just be good enough for you. He retrieves a glass next and then reaches up for a bottle of whiskey you’ve never seen him serve before. The seal is broken but it looks like barely more than a few singles have ever been served out of it. You wince at the thought of the price tag the drink must come with, especially given how small it is, and also wonder which one of them is the one with such a refined taste. 

Your eyes drift to Jin, wondering if his lips will be the ones coated in the sweet, oaky taste of whiskey and whether you’d be able to taste it if you kissed him afterwards, but for once he’s not actually looking at you. He’s murmuring something into Hobi’s ear, his face turned away from you so that you can only see the round outline of his cheeks and the sharp rise of his jawline. You notice the back of his ears have gone slightly pink, but it’s Hobi’s mischievous smile towards you that really captures your attention. Whatever Jin’s saying, you’re growing more sure with every second that it’s about you, especially when Hobi winks at you, but you’re aware that the little you can hear from this distance is Korean. You tell yourself you’re just imagining things as you move your hair back off your shoulders, although you’re not sure if you do so to cool yourself down or to distract yourself. 

“Anything else?” Ernesto asks, smiling warmly at the men beside you, and Jungkook mumbles something to Namjoon in their native tongue that makes the leader startle, his eyes widening almost comically.

“Oh! A glass of water, please,” he says, putting notes down on the bar.

Ernesto nods but pushes the notes back towards Namjoon before he goes to get the final drink. You watch Namjoon’s face contort in confusion, stifling a laugh when he looks at you for an answer.

“Did I do something wrong?” he whispers, unsure if he’s missed a cultural cue or has been impolite in some way. 

“No, no,” you assure him gently, resting your chin on your hand, but hold off from giving him any further explanation until Ernesto returns. 

“Excuse me, sir, did I pay the wrong amount?” Namjoon’s hesitant, probably painfully aware that Ernesto is responsible for his current employment but desperately wanting to do the right thing. 

“My singers don’t pay,” Ernesto says firmly, ignoring the money Namjoon’s holding out to him as he pushes the drinks forward. You notice Jimin stand a little taller at this, nudging Jungkook with his elbow and grinning, wiggling his eyebrows at what he’s essentially just heard as meaning an open bar, but Hobi sends him a slight warning glare and his grin turns into a smirk that he tries to hide behind pretending to wipe his upper lip. 

If nothing else happens, you’re certain you’ve found a reasonable drinking buddy in Jimin, should he wish to join you after his set. 

“I’ll take this to Yunki-hyung,” Hobi says, picking up the glass of whiskey before taking one of the beers and walking away. 

“Pass me the water, please, hyung,” Jimin says, pointing to the glass. Namjoon passes it over to him, then grabs two beers and gives one each to Jimin and Jungkook. You watch them follow Hobi back through the crowd, Jimin passing the water to Taehyung before offering a sip of his beer, which Tae sniffs but seems skeptical, taking a large drink of water instead, much to Jimin’s apparent amusement.

You’re left with Namjoon and Jin, Namjoon still trying to insist he pays Ernesto in as polite a way as he can muster, while Jin leans past him to take his drink. He leans right between you and Namjoon, leaving you staring directly at his broad chest merely inches from your face. You’ve barely had a chance to take in the sweet, woody aroma of his cologne before he’s pulling away again, a hint of something close to cinnamon lingering before he disappears. 

You don’t turn to watch him leave, returning your focus to Namjoon’s valiant yet pointless efforts in order to distract yourself from the heavy weight sinking in your chest. You’d thought Jin would stay and talk to you, especially with the way you’d both been eyeing each other all night, and you can’t say you’re not disappointed.

Although, the feeling doesn’t last for long.

“So, tell me,” you almost jump at the words that are murmured in your ear, turning on your barstool to see Jin taking a seat on the one beside you. His body is leant forward towards you, close enough to keep your conversation private and, once you’ve turned fully, for your knees to brush against his. “If singers don’t pay here, how am I supposed to buy you a drink?”

“Well, oppa,” you lean closer to him, emphasising your newly-learnt word as you place your hand on his thigh, watching his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows, hard. “I’m sure you could think of something else you could give me.” The muscles under your fingers tense and you’re sure you both feel the jolt of electricity that passes between you, even if you do still curse the denim that prevents you from feeling the skin of his thigh directly under your fingertips. 

“I’m sure I could,” his eyes once again drift down your body, unabashed in how he so brazenly drinks in the way your skin shimmers under the lights. You hear Namjoon cough awkwardly behind you before he walks away, but you can’t pull your eyes away from Jin. He wets his lips as he zones in on the exposed curve of your neck, your eyes following the brief flash of pink of his tongue before you lock eyes once more. 

“Dinner, maybe?” His eyes drop to your mouth when you speak, fascinated by the way your lips mould around your words.

“Sounds good.”

“Mmm, I agree.” You’ve both been gradually leaning in closer and now you can feel his breath as it ghosts over your skin, resisting the shiver that scurries up your spine in favour of scaling his thigh with your hand. There’s barely a few inches of space between your noses now, both pairs of eyes darting rapidly to take in every feature they can. The hand that was holding his drink on the bar now begins to lightly caress your upper arm, drawing small circles with the wet condensation on his fingers. 

“What are you doing later?”

“All the restaurants will be shut by the time you guys finish,” you tell him with a grin, but he’s undeterred.

“I’ll cook for you.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“You any good?”

“Never had any complaints.” You get the distinct feeling he’s not just talking about food anymore when his hand goes from drawing circles on your arm to gently wrapping around it to hold you close. 

“What can you do?”

“Whatever you want,” he declares, briefly letting go of your arm to tuck your hair behind your ear. His hand lingers, his fingers gently playing with your hair. 

“Sounds promising.” Your fingers brush against the bottom of his belt, your heart rate rapidly increasing as you feel his breath against your own lips. 

“Jin-hyung!” You can’t help but laugh at the rush of air on your lips when Jin sighs, his head dropping slightly, and above the crowd you hear what sounds like Hobi yelping and several different laughs. Jin looks back up to you, an apologetic smile on his lips as you both feel the heat of the moment begin to slip away, although he still plays with the ends of your hair.

“They’re calling you,” you mumble, your hand slipping back down his thigh and giving it a gentle squeeze. He looks over your shoulder and lifts his chin slightly in acknowledgement of his band before turning back to you, his palm finally coming to cup your cheek.

“I’ll see you later?” 

“For dinner?” you smirk, and a dark gleam returns to his eyes as he bites his lip.

“For dinner.”

If you would like to read my other works, please visit my masterlist

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National Enquirer, October 26

You can buy a copy of this issue for your very own at my eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/bradentonbooks

Cover Story: Death Mysteries -- Whitney Houston autopsy cover-up; Kenny Rogers’ body is missing 

Page 2: Reba McEntire’s new romance with Rex Linn convinced Kelly Clarkson she needed to walk away from her unhappy marriage -- while Reba’s love life was heating up Kelly’s relationship with husband Brandon Blackstock who is Reba’s former stepson was hitting the rocks and Kelly remained very close with Reba and Reba would tell her how happy Rex had made her

Page 3: Control freak Tom Cruise is a basket case after he couldn’t charm Cher into leaving their steamy fling out of her upcoming memoir and the image-conscious actor was so panicky over Cher spilling their sexy secrets that he personally called her -- they had a strong physical attraction when they met at a White House event back in the ‘80s and eventually they hooked up and it was very hot and very intense and over in a matter of weeks but it left a nice impression on Cher so she only has good things to say about their relationship but what happened between them could prove very embarrassing if it got out and Tom doesn’t want that to happen -- unfortunately for Tom Cher wouldn’t say anything about what she intends to write and wouldn’t promise to leave Tom out and that’s made Tom even more paranoid and he’s wondering if he’s going to have to take legal action

Page 4: Kanye West is keeping a secret divorce diary to use against wife Kim Kardashian and its potential dishy dirt has her famous family quaking in their boots -- Kanye’s convinced Kim’s about the kick him to the curb and is putting together collateral to crush her and her family is the couple spirals into a $2.2 billion divorce, Jennifer Garner at 48 is flaunting her best body ever and her motivation is to compete with ex-husband Ben Affleck’s 32-year-old girlfriend Ana de Armas because Jen was tired of hearing how Ben’s fallen head over heels for Ana and wanted to remind him what he’s missing -- Jen’s always been very confident of her looks but she decided to step out of mom mode to remind everyone how hot she still is 

Page 5: Devastated Lisa Marie Presley has been relying on an old pal Smashing Pumpkins rocker Billy Corgan to repair her shattered life in the wake of the suicide of her son -- Lisa Marie and Billy were spotted together at Graceland not long ago and he’s been a huge source of support for her -- though they were rumored to have had a romance in 2018 Billy’s fully committed to his baby mama fashion designer Chloe Mendel and Lisa Marie would like nothing better for them to make beautiful music again but she knows he’s taken and she needs his friendship more than ever. 

Page 6: Ambitious anchor Gayle King is calling the shots at CBS This Morning after executive producer Diana Miller quit in the latest backstage shake-up; there was tension between Gayle and Diana and now Diana is gone -- it’s like the show gave Gayle the keys to the car and even if she runs it into a ditch the network gives her more power -- Gayle also clashed with former co-host Norah O’Donnell who successfully snagged the anchor chair at CBS Evening News but Norah hasn’t wowed in the ratings and it’s a matter of time before Gayle gets the coveted job 

Page 7: The mystery over the fate of country great Kenny Rogers’ body has left his own family members in the dark -- sources close to the singer said he’d been cremated while others charged his body is still on ice and Kenny’s body is missing as far as most people are concerned and there’s no place fans can go and pay their respects -- it’s most likely he’s been cremated and the ashes have yet to be scattered but there have also been whispers in certain circles that he could have been cryogenically frozen to preserve his body for a later date, many of Hollywood’s biggest names are abandoning Tinseltown to escape the COVID-19 pandemic and a collapsing entertainment industry -- Julia Roberts hightailing it to San Francisco and Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson getting citizenship in Greece and Pierce Brosnan put his Malibu mansion on the market and Jim Cameron is peddling his prized L.A. compound

Page 8: Frustrated Jon Stewart’s plans to reinvent himself as the next Steven Spielberg have flopped and he’s pretty unhappy about it and he wants to be viewed as a respected serious filmmaker but he’s hit more roadblocks than he ever saw as a comedian or talk show host -- he was left fuming when Irresistible his latest outing as a director was met by mediocre reviews and limited to pay-per-view and streaming services last summer even with box office draw and best buddy Steve Carell in the cast -- he could snap his fingers and get any TV project but he’s setting his sights much higher and he’s walked away from millions of dollars to go back to TV because he wants to prove he is a creative force in the film industry 

Page 9: Frustrated Brad Pitt is threatening to have ex Angelina Jolie dragged to jail if she refuses to end her harassment campaign against him and hash out a divorce and custody agreement and he’s had it with Angie’s intimidation tactics and is fed up with being labeled a bad dad and it’s no exaggeration to say Brad’s scared of Angie and he wants professional witnesses around them at all times when he attempts to see their children but for Brad though it would be the ultimate revenge to see Angie led away in handcuffs, Nashville legend Travis Tritt is trying to keep up with country music’s up-and-comers by getting a lift from plastic surgery and recent photos show the 57-year-old almost unrecognizable with a line-free face and skin as tight as a drum -- Travis is getting ready to put out his first album of new music in more than ten years and it’s hard to blame the guy when he’s completing against singers 30 years younger 

Page 10: Hot Shots -- Julia Garner got a touch-up on the Staten Island set of Inventing Anna, Reverend Run visited a mural of slain Run-DMC bandmate Jam Master Jay in NYC’s Hollis Queens, Vanessa Paradis and daughter Lily-Rose Depp in Paris

Page 11: Lovestruck Chrissy Metz is already talking marriage and babies with newly unveiled beau Bradley Collins but she has a history of falling for guys fast which has previously been a recipe for heartbreak and while nobody’s doubting Bradley’s intentions there’s a lot of confusion about why they kept their romance totally hidden until now, the devastating fire that tore through Rachael Ray’s home has made her reassess her life and she and husband John Cusimano are now considering adopting a baby -- losing so many of their possessions in the fire made them realize they weren’t all that important anyway so they bulldozed the house and are rebuilding and the word is they’ll add a nursery

Page 12: Straight Shuter -- Danny Trejo cuddled a rescue pup (picture), Lizzo is the first plus-sized Black woman to ever grace the cover of Vogue but pulling off the shoot was a challenge with most designers unable to find clothes that fit her, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are very private and they’re livid with Lance Bass after he confirmed that they had another baby, when he was NBC’s biggest star Matt Lauer conducted almost every high-profile interview and now editors and doing a lot of cropping and zooming to preserve archived footage while removing Matt 

Page 14: Crime 

Page 15: Rock guitar god Eddie Van Halen who tragically died after a brave battle with cancer wanted to be buried with one of his Frankenstrat guitars that he created to define his signature sound -- Eddie felt like he owed his whole life to that instrument and he loved that thing as much as his family, Perez Hilton dished he kissed notorious skirt-chaser John Mayer in a New York nightclub and the lip-lock happened right in front of John’s then girlfriend Jessica Simpson who didn’t seem to know whether she was incredibly embarrassed or really turned on

Page 16: Cover Story -- explosive new autopsy evidence proves superstar Whitney Houston didn’t have to die -- eight years after she passed mysteries about her final moments and blatant blunders at the death scene point to murder and a shocking coverup and now investigators are demanding a new probe into the 2012 tragedy in a Los Angeles hotel bathroom and for Whitney’s body to be exhumed -- a private eye believes the autopsy proves Whitney was murdered but the case was never pursued because she was dismissed as a druggie and she was marginalized by law enforcement as a dead drug user 

Page 18: American Life

Page 19: Horror movie legend John Saxon’s family started battling over his fortune even before he passed on July 25 -- in legal papers filed in May his son Antonio claimed the actor’s third wife Gloria Martel had been pocketing money against John’s wishes, Netflix faces criminal charges in Texas over the controversial film Cuties -- according to court documents a Tyler County grand jury indicted Netflix claiming it knowingly promoted visual material that depicts the lewd exhibition of the private parts of a clothed or partially clothed child younger than 18 -- Netflix said in a statement that Cuties is a social commentary about the sexualization of young children and this charge is without merit 

Page 20: Suzanne Somers recently cheated death when she and husband Alan Hamel fell down a flight of stairs at their Palm Springs home and although Alan wasn’t seriously injured the terrifying spill left Suzanne in agony with two displaced vertebrae and forced her to undergo delicate neck surgery but she said the surgery went off without a hitch and promised she is on the mend, Hollywood Hookups -- Sofia Richie has unfollowed Scott Disick on Instagram, Zac Efron hopes to marry Vanessa Valladares, Sharon Stone and Mindy Kaling are both on the market 

Page 21: Twelve years after she was placed under conservatorship Britney Spears remains unable to sign her own name on official documents -- Britney recently made moves asking to allow a different financial group to step in and help run her life as well as gain more freedom but lawyer Andrew Wallet said Britney to this day does not have the capacity to sign documents and make decisions for herself and she is susceptible to undue influences, the audience for the Saturday Night Live season premiere came away with more than just a few yuks they also received $150 because to get around New York State pandemic guidelines SNL gave each guest a parting gift of $150 paychecks as if they were employees, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may soon have a new neighbor in heavy metal maniac Tommy Lee -- the drummer was recently spotted checking out a $2.3 million three-acre plot next to the rogue royals’ $14 million home in Montecito and he was obviously pumped about living there but building the tattooed rocker’s home would mean tons of truck traffic and hopefully Harry and Meghan don’t get upset with the building work he’s planning 

Page 22: ABC is reeling from a barrage of allegations from employees and on-air talent who’ve blasted it as a toxic and racist working environment -- the network which is owned by the family-friendly Walt Disney Corporation was rocked when Sunny Hostin the popular co-host of The View accused company executives of institutional and personal racism in her memoir and in later interviews about the book

Page 26: Lonely country singer Kenny Chesney is looking to find a new ladylove and is talking about finally settling down for good -- he is unhappily single after his eight-year relationship with model Mary Nolan hit the rocks -- he spends all the time he’s not on the road at his island paradise in Antigua but he misses having a partner and he’s even asked pals Matthew McConaughey and Richard Branson to play matchmaker 

Page 28: America is preparing for World War III as China amps up war games in the South Pacific and readies plans to invade U.S. allies -- military insiders warn China and Russia and their tyrannical accomplices in Iran and North Korea and Syria and Turkey are bracing to launch a coordinated attack against America and the west that could end in nuclear disaster 

Page 36: Health Watch 

Page 38: Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood has traded in his debauched days of sex drugs and rock ‘n’ roll for knitting, Rod Stewart revealed there’s a deep freeze between him and former close pal Elton John and that Elton refused his attempts to that things out -- the two ‘70s icons had been friends for decades before Rod blasted Elton’s biopic and his most recent music tour -- when Rod realized he was in the doghouse he tried to bait Elton with a bone for his kids by inviting Elton’s boys Zachary and Elijah to come play soccer with his sons Alistair and Aiden only to be greeted with the sounds of silence 

Page 42: Red Carpet -- The Christian Siriano collection 

Page 45: Spot the Differences -- Sophie Okonedo in Ratched 

Page 47: Odd List 

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Top New Young Adult Books in March 2021

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The young adult genre is still booming, providing romance, adventure, and more for teens and adults alike. Here are some of the YA books from March 2021 we’re most looking forward to or are currently consuming…

Top New Young Adult Books March 2021

Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson

Type: Novel Publisher: Inkyard Press Release date: March 9

Den of Geek says: It’s a double twist on The Phantom of the Opera: the heroine is the lurker in the opera house, and music includes magic that can distort memory. Whether or not this fanfic-like premise works for you may depend on mileage, but we have a weakness for the nostalgia and Gothic romance of the Phantom.

Publisher’s summary: Isda does not exist. At least not beyond the opulent walls of the opera house. Cast into a well at birth for being one of the magical few who can manipulate memories when people sing, she was saved by Cyril, the opera house’s owner. Since that day, he has given her sanctuary from the murderous world outside. All he asks in return is that she use her power to keep ticket sales high—and that she stay out of sight. For if anyone discovers she survived, Isda and Cyril would pay with their lives.

But Isda breaks Cyril’s cardinal rule when she meets Emeric Rodin, a charming boy who throws her quiet, solitary life out of balance. His voice is unlike any she’s ever heard, but the real shock comes when she finds in his memories hints of a way to finally break free of her gilded prison.

Haunted by this possibility, Isda spends more and more time with Emeric, searching for answers in his music and his past. But the price of freedom is steeper than Isda could ever know. For even as she struggles with her growing feelings for Emeric, she learns that in order to take charge of her own destiny, she must become the monster the world tried to drown in the first place. Buy Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson.

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

Type: Novel Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.  Release date: March 16 Den of Geek says: A YA mystery from an author from the Ojibwe community of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Firekeeper’s Daughter promises a diverse, unique tale. And you know what they say, but we do really love that cover.

Publisher’s summary: Eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. She dreams of a fresh start at college, but when family tragedy strikes, Daunis puts her future on hold to look after her fragile mother. The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi’s hockey team.

Yet even as Daunis falls for Jamie, she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into an FBI investigation of a lethal new drug. 

Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to go undercover, drawing on her knowledge of chemistry and Ojibwe traditional medicine to track down the source. But the search for truth is more complicated than Daunis imagined, exposing secrets and old scars. At the same time, she grows concerned with an investigation that seems more focused on punishing the offenders than protecting the victims.

Now, as the deceptions―and deaths―keep growing, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she’ll go for her community, even if it tears apart the only world she’s ever known.

Buy Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley.

Flamefall by Rosaria Munda

Type: Novel Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers Release date: March 23

Den of Geek says: Of all the YA fantasy releases this month, this one seems like one of the most jam-packed with magic. Dragonriders add high-flying adventure to dense high fantasy politics in this sequel.

Publisher’s summary: After fleeing the revolution and settling into the craggy cliffs of New Pythos, the dragonlords are eager to punish their usurpers and reclaim their city. Their first order of business was destroying the Callipolan food supply. Now they’re coming for the dragonriders.

Annie is Callipolis’s new Firstrider, charged with leading the war against New Pythos. But with unrest at home, enforcing the government’s rationing program risks turning her into public enemy number one.

Lee struggles to find his place after killing kin for a leader who betrayed him. He can support Annie and the other Guardians . . . or join the rebels who look to topple the new regime.

Griff, a lowborn dragonrider who serves New Pythos, knows he has no future. And now that Julia Stormscourge is no longer there to protect him, he is called on to sacrifice everything for the lords that oppress his people–or to forge a new path with the Callipolan Firstrider seeking his help.

With famine tearing Callipolis apart and the Pythians determined to take back what they lost, it will be up to Annie, Lee, and Griff to decide who–and what–to fight for.

Buy Flamefall by Rosaria Munda.

Top New Young Adult Books February 2021

The Project by Courtney Summers

Type: Novel Publisher: Wednesday Books Release date: Feb. 2 Den of Geek says: This critically-acclaimed thriller has won praise for lush writing and thrills. An exploration of power and sisterhood in the shadow of a cult no one believes is a cult, it sounds chilling and thorny in the best way. Publisher’s summary: Lo Denham is used to being on her own. After her parents died, Lo’s sister, Bea, joined The Unity Project, leaving Lo in the care of their great aunt. Thanks to its extensive charitable work and community outreach, The Unity Project has won the hearts and minds of most in the Upstate New York region, but Lo knows there’s more to the group than meets the eye. She’s spent the last six years of her life trying―and failing―to prove it.

“The Unity Project murdered my son.”

When a man shows up at the magazine Lo works for claiming The Unity Project killed his son, Lo sees the perfect opportunity to expose the group and reunite with Bea once and for all. When her investigation puts her in the direct path of its charismatic and mysterious leader, Lev Warren, he proposes a deal: if she can prove the worst of her suspicions about The Unity Project, she may expose them. If she can’t, she must finally leave them alone.

But as Lo delves deeper into The Project, the lives of its members, and spends more time with Lev, it upends everything she thought she knew about her sister, herself, cults, and the world around her―to the point she can no longer tell what’s real or true. Lo never thought she could afford to believe in Lev Warren . . . but now she doesn’t know if she can afford not to. Buy The Project by Courtney Summers.

This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria

Type: Novel Publisher: Inkyard Press Release date: Feb. 2

Den of Geek says: Asexual protagonists in fiction are becoming more common (and have existed for decades at least), but it’s always refreshing to see another one. And the steampunk-esque world building in this fantasy adventure promises robots and a mystery that combines science fiction and fantasy politics. Publisher’s summary: Orphaned and forced to serve her country’s ruling group of scribes, Karis wants nothing more than to find her brother, long ago shipped away. But family bonds don’t matter to the Scriptorium, whose sole focus is unlocking the magic of an ancient automaton army.

In her search for her brother, Karis does the seemingly impossible―she awakens a hidden automaton. Intelligent, with a conscience of his own, Alix has no idea why he was made. Or why his father―their nation’s greatest traitor―once tried to destroy the automatons.

Suddenly, the Scriptorium isn’t just trying to control Karis; it’s hunting her. Together with Alix, Karis must find her brother…and the secret that’s held her country in its power for centuries.

This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria.

The Electric Kingdom by David Arnold

Type: Novel Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers Release date: Feb. 9 Den of Geek says: A Station Eleven reference goes a long way. The plague or zombie element might be rote, but the mention of a magical portal and some weirder things make this an intriguing mash-up of ideas. Publisher’s summary: When a deadly Fly Flu sweeps the globe, it leaves a shell of the world that once was. Among the survivors are eighteen-year-old Nico and her dog, on a voyage devised by Nico’s father to find a mythical portal; a young artist named Kit, raised in an old abandoned cinema; and the enigmatic Deliverer, who lives Life after Life in an attempt to put the world back together. As swarms of infected Flies roam the earth, these few survivors navigate the woods of post-apocalyptic New England, meeting others along the way, each on their own quest to find life and love in a world gone dark. The Electric Kingdom is a sweeping exploration of art, storytelling, eternal life, and above all, a testament to the notion that even in an exterminated world, one person might find beauty in another.

The Electric Kingdom by David Arnold.

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

Type: Novel Publisher: Delacorte Press Release date: Feb. 9 Den of Geek says: It’s hard to resist a good call to adventure or chosen warrior, and Deka’s story will bring that particular fantasy for Black girls and everyone else. High praise and that gorgeous cover suggest this one might be good for fans of dystopian YA who are also ready to go on an adventure like Marvel’s Black Panther. Publisher’s summary: Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.

But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity–and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.

Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki–near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire’s greatest threat.

Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she’s ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be–not even Deka herself. Buy The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna.

Top New Young Adult Books January 2021

You Have a Match: A Novel by Emma Lord

Type: Novel Publisher: Wednesday Books Release date: Jan. 12

Den of Geek says: Theres something quintessentially charming about summer camp stories, where kids trade their day-to-day for the wilderness. But this protagonist can’t escape everything at camp, and she’ll need the help of her sister to figure out the story of more than one family.

Publisher’s Summary: When Abby signs up for a DNA service, it’s mainly to give her friend and secret love interest, Leo, a nudge. After all, she knows who she is already: Avid photographer. Injury-prone tree climber. Best friend to Leo and Connie…although ever since the B.E.I. (Big Embarrassing Incident) with Leo, things have been awkward on that front.

But she didn’t know she’s a younger sister.

When the DNA service reveals Abby has a secret sister, shimmery-haired Instagram star Savannah Tully, it’s hard to believe they’re from the same planet, never mind the same parents — especially considering Savannah, queen of green smoothies, is only a year and a half older than Abby herself.

The logical course of action? Meet up at summer camp (obviously) and figure out why Abby’s parents gave Savvy up for adoption. But there are complications: Savvy is a rigid rule-follower and total narc. Leo is the camp’s co-chef, putting Abby’s growing feelings for him on blast. And her parents have a secret that threatens to unravel everything.

But part of life is showing up, leaning in, and learning to fit all your awkward pieces together. Because sometimes, the hardest things can also be the best ones. 

Buy You Have a Match: A Novel by Emma Lord.

Lore by Alexandra Bracken

Type: Novel Publisher: Disney-Hyperion Release date: Jan. 5, 2021 Den of Geek says: A twist on Greek mythology from an accomplished author promises creative world-building and fantasy adventure. Publisher’s summary: Every seven years, the Agon begins. As punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals, hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines, all eager to kill a god and seize their divine power and immortality. 

Long ago, Lore Perseous fled that brutal world in the wake of her family’s sadistic murder by a rival line, turning her back on the hunt’s promises of eternal glory. For years she’s pushed away any thought of revenge against the man–now a god–responsible for their deaths.

Yet as the next hunt dawns over New York City, two participants seek out her help: Castor, a childhood friend of Lore believed long dead, and a gravely wounded Athena, among the last of the original gods.

The goddess offers an alliance against their mutual enemy and, at last, a way for Lore to leave the Agon behind forever. But Lore’s decision to bind her fate to Athena’s and rejoin the hunt will come at a deadly cost–and still may not be enough to stop the rise of a new god with the power to bring humanity to its knees.

Buy Lore by Alexandra Bracken.

Siege of Rage and Ruin by Django Wexler

Type: Novel Publisher: Tor Teen Release date: Jan. 5, 2021 Den of Geek says: This month’s high fantasy installment is the finale in a popular series, and one that makes us want to see how the characters arrived and where they go from here. Ghost ships! Mind control!  Publisher’s Summary: Isoka has done the impossible―she’s captured the ghost ship Soliton.

With her crew of mage-bloods, including the love of her life Princess Meroe, Isoka returns to the empire that sent her on her deadly mission. She’s ready to hand over the ghost ship as ransom for her sister Tori’s life, but arrives to find her home city under siege. And Tori at the helm of a rebellion.

Neither Isoka’s mastery of combat magic, nor Tori’s proficiency with mind control, could have prepared them for the feelings their reunion surfaces. But they’re soon drawn back into the rebels’ fight to free the city that almost killed them.

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Buy Siege of Rage and Ruin by Django Wexler.

The post Top New Young Adult Books in March 2021 appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[bvbuntin]

Book Review: A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler

I have not had much opportunity to read for fun since graduating college this spring. “Fun” is a very subjective word here, mostly referring to picking something not necessarily related to academia but laced with an underwritten tension of reading something relevant to current events. I ended up borrowing an ebook copy of A Good Neighborhood somewhat at random. I was not looking for anything “serious,” but at the same time, reading with a disconnection to literature’s political implications makes reading for fun—particularly after recently graduating with a degree in English—nearly impossible. Therefore, my conclusions from reading this novel reflect the often simultaneous pros and cons of producing racial discourse. A Good Neighborhood deals in racial politics as its explicit subject, but the narrative itself is also deeply embedded in unavoidable racial politics that may be detrimental to the issues it attempts to illuminate.

The story follows two families in a North Carolinian suburb. One family consists of widowed mother, Valerie, a professor of ecology, and her son Xavier, a freshly-graduated teen preparing to pursue his promising career in music at a school in San Francisco. Next door, the Whitman family has recently moved into their custom-built house: Julia, mother of teenage daughter Juniper, who married wealthy HVAC business-owner Brad and added their grade-school age daughter Lily. It is important to note that Valerie is black, her son Xavier being mixed (but for all intents and purposes, counted as black by society), while the Whitmans are white. Valerie sues Brad for damage caused during the construction of the Whitmans’ new home to the roots of her massive, ancient oak tree; at the same time, the teenagers, Xavier and Juniper, fall in love. The racial politics of the book are evident from the start, with Brad, for example, appearing to assume Xavier is hired help as he does yard work for his mother. Over the course of the novel, these racial dynamics escalate into the main conflict, and the story ends in tragedy.

It is impossible to understand the novel’s complexity without also understanding the circumstances under which the novel was written. Reading the beginning acknowledgements reveals some important information about the author: first, she is white, and second, she wrote this novel for its relevancy to current issues in the hopes of spurring conversation about race. I would be interested to have had the experience of reading the novel without knowing such information first. Whatever the case, this story about racial politics is itself steeped in the racial politics which birthed it.

The novel exhibits an awareness of the many dimensions of power. For example, race, class, education, gender, and life experience all compound to complicate relations between the families. For example, Julia Whitman and her daughter Juniper both experienced a large class jump when Julia married Brad. Julia used these newfound opportunities to place Juniper in a religious program meant to support teenage girls in the way that religious programs often do: emphasizing traditional gender roles and conducting ceremonies such as making a purity vow with her stepfather Brad. We also see that Valerie and her son deviate from the poor urban stereotype often associated with POC: Valerie is a single black mother working as a college professor in STEM, and Xavier has received a generous scholarship to pursue his love of music at a school in San Francisco.

And yet, some of these aspects can feel heavy-handed. Is Xavier portrayed as a “good kid” because of author bias toward what constitutes the “proper conduct” of a POC in society? Does he obtain a scholarship because, as the societal narrative goes, hard work always pays off (no matter your race or privilege)? Readers cannot be certain, but the questions remain. These multi-faceted power dynamics, on the one hand, capture the complexities that arise from conflict, as they do in real life. On the other hand, the presence of these traits may at times reduce characters to tokens, making them feel more like the sum of their traits (as given to them by a white author) rather than complex characters.

The narration style of the novel provides an interesting perspective into racial tension. Written in the collective first person perspective “we,” it is the titular neighborhood that narrates the story. The omnipresent perspective is offset by explicit reminders that neighborhood, despite its collective and wide perspective, is ultimately limited by the boundaries of privilege and the limitations of the human perspective. Though at times the narrative seems to provide a neutral understanding of the situation, we are reminded that this neutrality is not total: the narrative perspective exemplifies the collective consciousness of white society when faced with issues of race. This type of narrative perspective enables the narrative to draw explicit attention to overt and covert racism in ways which feel a bit more organic than if an impersonal third-person narrative were to suddenly launch into an explanation about racism.

There are pros and cons to explicit acknowledgement of racism in narrative: on the one hand, racism often acts very covertly, and pointing it out explicitly means one is aware of the narrative they are narrating/writing and wants to make their readers aware of the issue rather than hoping (white) people will pick up on it. On the other hand, it may make the writing feel inauthentic, a moral lesson to be conveyed, which the collective narrative style mitigates but does not do away with altogether. The novel’s resigned ending feels intimidated by its own implications, edging into the all-too-common resolution of “let us witness the tragedy inherent in being black and use it to make us all more conscientious people.” Such a resolution leaves too much at stake for very real issues of systemic racism and violence, sacrificing the individual for the sake of the whole and reproducing the violence it attempts to combat.

When I was about halfway through the novel, I was chatting with a friend who suggested we start a book club. Because I was reading A Good Neighborhood, I suggested this novel. Upon completing the novel, I feel like I would genuinely discourage my friend from reading this book. What concerns me about this specific novel is that this novel’s reality is not what we need right now, especially in the realm of fiction. Not that creating a fictional racism-free world is the answer—such a perspective exemplifies white desire to simply make the problem go away, to rectify without facing reality—but one must ask the question about how effective repeatedly reiterating the violence enacted on black bodies is in the fiction genre. Coupled with the fact that most readers may not dwell on the complexities of the internal narrative and the external politics that produced it, I do not feel the book is productive for racial discourse and runs a high risk of only adding to the trauma that our society forces black persons to confront daily, ultimately desensitizing us to reality. Though there are black characters and references and quotes to the work of famous black activists, the book lacks a black voice, which I believe it what we need most right now.

I would not prioritize this book on your to-read list. If you choose to read this book, make sure you do not read it in a vacuum. Read what other people—especially POC—have to say about such books. Better yet, read novels and essays by POC. If you are looking to understand racism through literature, there are far better options. This book may serve better as an example of how white writers attempt to talk about race with varying degrees of success.

I understand that this is a difficult subject matter to handle, and I understand that a novel cannot cover everything. However, I think considering all the facets of the narrative, and the circumstances which produced the narrative, is what ultimately produces a productive reading. I am just unsure how many people will have the time or knowledge to do such work, and therefore would recommend other works before this one.

Check out this book on Goodreads

[so-wonderful-so-beautiful]

In honor of Carmen Sandiego Season 2 Here is my fic!

Just to preface this: it is not proofread, there are a lot of typos, and this is my first posted fanfic ever. I wrote most of this in the wee hours of the morn. Be gentle. Here is the first chapter of my JuleThief fic. I hope you guys enjoy~

Poitiers. A relatively small city, full of history. Julia strolled down the relatively empty sidewalks of Poitiers. The early morning was usually calm, before tourists from around the world started to fill the streets. The weather was perfect for astrol. Her A.C.M.E. issued uniform was quite comfortable. Which she was sure was by design. It did not seem like it had already been a week and a half since the rescue of Chase Devineux. Her partner at A.C.M.E. Julia let a sigh escape her lips, as her eyes wander around, looking at the wonderful architecture. The churches, the amphitheater, and many others. She looked up and down, watching people go about their lives.

The sound of a bell ringing caught Julia’s attention, as a young woman in a red hoodie stepped out. It was the very same bakery she was headed to. It was a mission to aquire Devineux's favorite pastries. She wanted to get something nice for him. For when he woke up. Which she hoped would be soon.

It was the back of the woman’s head that pulled Julia away from her thoughts. As the woman continued down the street, her mind stirred. A pastry bag in hand, red hooded jacket, high top sneakers, and shorts. There was a nagging voice at the back of her mind. Why was something familiar about her? Julia stood for a few moments, as her mind reached back to tug on the memory the woman belonged to.

Julia shrugged, and made her way into the bakery. The door closed behind her as someone at the counter greeted her. “Bonjour.” The young man nodded. A small smile appeared on Julia's lips in return.

Seconds later, it clicked. That woman was Carmen Sandiego. Julia whipped around, and dashed back out the door. She looked around wildly. Hoping to see the bright red jacket she saw a few moments before. The color stood out to her, as she saw Carmen Sandiego about ten yards away. She had to catch up as quickly as possible. It was unbelievable that Carmen Sandiego was still in Poitiers. Any sane person who had attacked another man in the same area, would be gone by now! Sane however, was a relative term with the woman she was thinking of.

The woman believed to be Carmen Sandiego seemed to be making her way towards a smaller car. If that was her escape car, the only chance she had to catch her alone would vanish. Julia ran as quickly as her legs could carry her. Blood began to pound in her ears as she thought of how best to apprehend her, and bring her in for questioning. It wasn’t that she was sold on the idea that she had done harm to her partner. But there were many questions that required answers.

Julia felt her stress and anxiety rise. Would she really be able to apprehend Carmen Sandiego herself?

“Ms. Sandiego!” Julia shouted as she was about ten feet away now. She watched as a young woman turned to face her, a small raspberry martyr in her mouth.

Julia froze for a moment, as she stopped to look at the thief in front of her. Part of Julia's mind doubted it was her as she approached. But seeing it was the face of the same woman who sat across from her on the train not even a month ago. It caused her to falter ever so slightly. She had a job to do. She had to find answers for Devineux. Carmen Sandiego was there that night. Julia had to find out why. She cast her eyes towards Carmen Sandiego's right hand. It was in a medical wrap, and held close to her body. Not to mention the scrapes and bruising on her face. What happened to her? Julia had never seen her in such rough shape.

She could see Carmen looking around for a moment. Presumably identifying the quickest escape. Julia had to stop her before she made her get away. She took a step forward, ready to chase her down.

With a ten foot head start, Carmen dashed across the street. Making a beeline for an alley. Julia watched as Carmen quickly began to get away. She let out a quick sigh before following. Her new A.C.M.E. issued suit was comfortable easy to run in. Today she did not plan on breaking it in through trying to apprehend a thief. She was catching up to Carmen Sandiego this time. Something wasn’t right.

Julia could hear Carmen’s breathing become labored. That was a bit unusual. A trained thief shouldn’t become so winded. Something was definitely wrong. As they continued this pursuit, Carmen cut through the alley. A noble attempt to lose the agent chasing her. Julia grew ever closer and closer as Carmen sprinted further down the alley.

Only five feet now. Julia had almost closed the gap entirely. The exhilarating feeling she had as she chased Carmen was something she rarely got to feel. Usually her partner was the one to run off, and get to feel the thrill of the chase. Four feet. Three feet. She could almost reach out and grab her now. Julia watched as Carmen reached forward to use her hand to vault over the back of the car. She must have picked the wrong hand. Julia watched as she started to jump over the car, but faltered half way through, and crashed over the other side, landing with a solid smack on the ground.

Julia heard a gasp, then a thud, followed by pained moaning. Part of her mind questioned if she had chased the correct person. It seemed too easy. She quickly ran around to see if she was okay.

A crumpled figure on the ground didn’t look like the elusive Carmen Sandiego. But rather an injured woman who needed help. Julia gasped as she saw the amount of damage and pain she seemed to be in. She could hear the gasping and sputtering coming from her. She kneeled down, and hovered her hand over Carmen. “Ms. Sandiego?” Julia heard her own voice laced with concern.

“Jules.” Carmen gasped, giving her a smile. Julia watched as she winced in pain. The sound of her attempting to draw air into her lungs made Julia second guess her pursuit. She watched Carmen try to push herself up, but falter and began to fall back down. She grunted at the slip up and closed her eyes.

Julia quickly slipped her hand around her shoulder’s. Stopping her from falling back down. It felt wrong to not help her. “Are you alright, Ms. Sandiego?” she asked. Seeing all the visible injuries she had sustained. “What happened?”

A sigh passed Carmen's lips. “It’s a long story, Jules.”

“I’ll ask a small question then. Did you get them when you attacked my partner?” Julia's voice taking a darker tone. A portion of her brain told her it wasn’t Carmen. But she had to know. To rule out Carmen. She didn’t want to believe it could be her.

Carmen looked to her, shock all over her face. “I didn’t attack him. I was there trying to save him.” She defended. “I would never hurt your partner. Even though he is a pain sometimes.”

Julia sighed. A small weight being lifted off her shoulder’s. If that was true, then she was right about everything she had thought about her before. “Can I help you up?”

“I would like that.” Carmen chuckled, then let out a small cough. Her breathing having returned to normal.

Julia slid her arms under Carmen's shoulder’s, and began to help lift her up. Carmen pulled her legs underneath her, and helped push up off the ground. Julia could feel she was unsteady, as she shook trying to stand. She gripped Carmen’s shoulders tightly, to ensure she would not fall. She saw Carmen wince again, and suck in a sharp breath as she leaned forward, placing her hand on the car. Julia having not known the extent of her injuries, had pressed a sore spot on her shoulder.

“What happened then? Why is my partner at the hospital?” Julia questioned. She pulled her hands away, and folded them. She needed answers. No matter what, she was going to get them.

Carmen turned around, and looked at Julia. “I’ll give you answers, but not out here.” Her gaze set in a firm, and pained expression.

Julia considered her options for a moment. There was an A.C.M.E. safe house she could take her to. Carmen was in no shape to run off again. She could easily cuff her. It seemed a little much though, given her current condition.

Carmen looked away for a moment, as if she was listening to something, or someone. “No. Well yes. It’s complicated, Player.” Carmen muttered.

Julia raised her eyebrows in confusion. Was she talking to someone? Julia looked around to see if there was someone standing near by. But no one was there.

Carmen rolled her eyes. “I don’t really have much of a choice right now. I’m not in great shape. I fell off a car.” Carmen winced as if someone had shouted in her ear. “It was an accidental miscalculation!” Carmen hissed back.

Julia folded her arms, her brows now knitted together. Who was Carmen even speaking to? Was it possibly V.I.L.E.? The person she spoke to, had been called Player. Maybe it was a code name? She watched as Carmen sighed in frustration and folded her arms.

“Just make arrangements just in case. We don’t really have another option. After all, Jules deserves at least a couple answers after what happened to her travel partner.” Carmen glanced Julia's way, a sympathetic look in her face. “Tell Ivy and Zack to prepare for a guest.”

Time was ticking by, as Julia waited for this one sided conversation to end. “Am I to assume we are going to a destination decided by you?” Julia questioned, one eyebrow raised in suspicion.

Carmen gingerly linked her arm with Julia's, and began to lead her towards the chosen location. But not before she leaned down to grab her bag of sealed pastries. “Don’t worry. It’s not a trap.” Carmen assured her. “It’s not like we were planning on visitors.” Carmen began limp away, as she tugged on Julia’s arm to follow.

Julia wasn’t one hundred percent sold on the idea. But she needed answer's. If this was the risk she needed to take to get them, so be it. She was not going to lose this chance. “How can I trust you?” Julia probed.

Carmen took in a deep breath, and sighed. “Good faith, perhaps? I did return the Magna Carta's to you, didn’t I?” she smiled at Julia.

That didn’t convince her completely. It was something she was going to have to accept. On “good faith”, she supposed.

They continued on in silence, as Carmen lead her through the small streets of Poitiers. Towards the center of the city. Soon they came to a large hotel. Of course she would be staying at a hotel. It was unlikely she owned an apartment in Poitiers.

Carmen lead Julia into the foyer. She passed the front desk where the woman on duty waved and greeted them. “Bienvinue.” She chirped.

Carmen waved, and continued on. Julia offering a smile in return. She felt Carmen lead her along, towards the elevators. Julia watched as she pressed the up button. There was an elevator at the bottom floor already. Carmen stepped in as the doors opened and pulled Julia in. Carmen pressed the button for the top floor.

“How long have you been staying at this establishment?” Julia pried.

Carmen looked at Julia, and answered. “About a week.”

Silence fell between them once more as they moved up towards the top. The Bell dinged as they reached the top floor, and Julia once again felt herself being lead. Out of the elevators, and towards a room with a large door.

Carmen pulled the door open, and gestured for Julia to step inside first.

Julia felt a sense of trepidation. What if this was a trap? She was just going to walk right into it. What would Chief say? Two agents down in one week? Julia's hesitation was felt, as Carmen nudged her into the room. She felt herself pushed in, and stumbled forward a bit. Catching herself, Julia looked around at the large suite. She did not want to even begin to think about how much this room had cost. Let alone for a week. Her mouth hung open as she looked around.

Carmen stepped in, and closed the door. “So…”

Julia whipped around, her mouth still agape. “You’re staying here?” was the first question to pass her lips.

Carmen held her hand to her mouth and chuckled. “Yes. Myself, and two co-workers. They’ve stepped out for a bit. So we could talk alone.” She moved to the kitchenette as she watched the agent move around the room. Carmen put a pot of coffee on for them as she waited.

Zack and Ivy were in the other room. Their ears pressed to the door. They wanted to hear every word. They were not as alone as Carmen said. But they didn’t need to know that.

The suite was quite large. A living room with two large couches, and a large chandelier hanging in the center. A gas fireplace on the back wall. A kitchenette towards the side. A door leading to a large bedroom. Where Zack and Ivy currently hid.

It was beautiful. Copies of French paintings hung on the walls. There was a large window over looking the streets of the city. It was similar to the view at her own apartment. Just not quite as grand.

Julia looked around a little more, determining that there was no trap. But she still felt on edge. She looked at Carmen, who gestured for her to sit down on one of the couches.

“I owe you some answers.” Carmen gave a half smile. But there was no humor in her face. The somber tone in which Carmen spoke set the mood for the rest of the conversation.

Julia came to the large couch on the right, and sat down. Her hands placed gently in her lap. Her heart had been pounding ever since they had entered the hotel. But knowing she was moments away from getting as much information as she could from the elusive Carmen Sandiego; it made her insides churn.

She watched as Carmen move about the kitchenette. Placing the pastries she had purchased on a tray with a pot of hot coffee, and glasses ready for filling.

Carmen winced as she tried to pick up the tray with both hands.

“Let me.” Julia offered, standing up and moving to grab the tray.

“Thanks Jules. This hand is going to take a bit of healing before I can really use it again. I guess I’m a little anxious to be out of commission for a while.” Carmen let out a small sigh.

Julia saw a few emotions quickly play across her face before her neutral mask fell back into place. She wondered what those emotions were as she watched the super thief sit cross legged on the couch opposite her's. Julia placed the tray on the small table that sat in the middle of the two couches before sitting down.

“How do you like your coffee?” Julia inquired as she set about preparing two cups. She had done this numerous times in the short time she worked at Interpol.

“Just a small dash of sugar, and a splash of cream.” Carmen smiled.

Julia moved quickly preparing her cup. Pouring in the contents with expert speed. The many times she had done this at the offices at Interpol were showing. She gently picked up the cup before handing it to Carmen.

“Wow Jules. Did you work at a café before joining the police?” Carmen teased, taking the mug that was offered her. She took a sip, and gave a small endearing smile to the agent across from her.

The second cup of coffee was almost done now, as Julia added two scoops of sugar after a healthy amount of cream. Julia cast a sideways glance towards the thief. “No, Ms. Sandiego. I was relegated to coffee maker for my first week at Interpol.”

Carmen bit her lip, but did not comment further on the subject. She took one more sip, before placing the mug down. Julia continued to drink her coffee, trying to keep from shaking or fidgeting. The anticipation of hearing some answers was killing her.

“How long have you been at Interpol?” Carmen inquired, placing her cup on the tray.

“Not very long. I was assigned to be under Agent Devinuex. Then we were both reassigned.” Julia stated. She had to make sure not to give too much information away.

Carmen nodded and leaned back. “Want to explain the new duds? You are lookin' pretty slick for ‘Interpol’.” Carmen used air quotes on the word “Interpol.” A small half smile formed, as she gave her a once over.

“Ms. Sandiego.” Julia started, placing her cup down. “This is not twenty questions. I was brought here with the promise to my questions being answered. Not yours.”

Carmen raised her hands in surrender. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” She gave a small smile. “But first. Please, call me Carmen.”

Julia adjusted her glasses and nodded. “Alright, Carmen.” Julia felt a few butterfly’s flitter around her stomach. It must be the nerves she was feeling from being in a high-class hotel with a super thief.

The hesitation to begin was clearly written on Carmen’s face, as she bit her lower lip. Her eyes not meeting Julia's. A few silent moments passed as Carmen tried to find the right words to start with. She too had to play her information close to the vest.

“Let me cut right to the point, if that would help.” Julia offered. Seeing as Carmen hesitated to start. “Do you work with V.I.L.E.?”

Carmen’s eyes shot open wide with surprise for a split second, before she raised her eyebrows and shifted her gaze. “Who?” She tried to act ignorant. But Julia could see right through that.

“Seeing as you are a master thief. I assumed you would be working with other criminal organizations.” Julia shifted her glasses, and stared at Ms. Sandiego. She felt as though she had dug into the right vein. Carmen had lost a smidgen of color in her face.

“I promised you answers regarding Chase Devinuex. Not who I may or may not work for.” Carmen clarified.

A small frown twitched at Julia’s lips. She supposed it would not be so easy to get those kinds of answers.

“Fine then.” Julia gave a small huff, and looked away. Her eyes roaming around the room for a moment before landing back on Ms. Sandiego. “How did you get your injuries? You said you were trying to save Inspector Devinuex.”

“I was trying to save him.” Carmen sighed. “I almost got him out of there. But things got… complicated.”

Julia leaned forward, drinking in every word that was said.

Carmen continued her story. “I ran into trouble as I was about to get him to safety. But I was cut off from my only escape. It was a miracle I made it out alive. I thought for a moment, that maybe I would never make it back out of that basement.” Carmen became quiet, as she looked down to the table with the tray atop it.

A few moments passed in silence, as Julia felt the need to distract Carmen. “But you did make it out. How?” Julia questioned.

“I was lucky. I got a little help of my own. But if he hadn’t shown up, I wouldn’t be here to talk to you now.” Carmen gave Julia a serious look. “There are very dangerous people out there, Julia.”

“Then why are you stealing from them?” Julia questioned. Knowing her MO for stealing from other thieves. She needed to know if it was V.I.L.E.

“It’s more complicated than that.” Carmen defended. “I have to.”

Julia wasn’t one hundred percent buying that excuse. “Look what it got you. You are in terrible shape. Where will you go, or what will you do if you get cornered again? You may be skilled, but you still got hurt. You shouldn’t be risking your life for whatever reason you use to justify stealing.” Julia gestured towards her injuries.

Carmen looked up to Julia. A tired expression across her face. “Jules, I wish I could. But I can’t stop this. I have to keep doing it.”

“But why?” Julia pressed, needing more than just vague answers.

“Because I am the only one who can stop them.” Carmen stated firmly; her lips set in a determined line.

“V.I.L.E.?” Julia added.

“You need to stop whatever kind of investigation you may think you are doing. Who ever A.C.M.E. is, has got to let this one go. You saw what happens to people who pry where they don’t belong.” Carmen warned.

Julia felt her heart accelerate. Was it the missing keycard that told Carmen who she was with? The Chief suspected that Carmen had taken it, and used it to draw out Devinuex. That was the only logical way she would know who they were.

“I cannot simply ‘let it go.’ Chase Devinuex would not just let it go. Especially after seeing what people like that are capable of.” Julia gestured once more to Carmen’s injuries. “Why must we be on opposite sides on this?”

Carmen closed her eyes and gave a small huff. “And what, work with who ever A.C.M.E. is, or Interpol? I don’t operate within the law. As you well know.” She shrugged.

“Can you truly do this alone?” Julia furrowed her brows. “You need more help than who or what you may have now.”

Carmen folded her arms and tilted her head. “Are you volunteering? I assumed working with thieves was a big no no.” She joked.

“Well, maybe not ‘work with,’ so much as ‘help occasionally.’” Julia tried to rationalize. “You know, like a silent partner.” Julia shrugged, as she struggled with a way to not say she was helping a thief, but was offering to help a thief. Using the term Devineux had seemed to fit.

“Aw, Jules. I didn’t know you cared so much about me.” Carmen gave her a sly grin.

Julia could feel her cheeks grow warm, and flush pink. “I-I am merely concerned for your safety. You have been an asset to the reclaiming of precious stolen goods. It would be a shame to lose such a person.” She stammered.

“It’s okay. I won’t tell Chase.” Carmen teased.

Julia’s shoulders fell. “If he even wakes back up.”

“I really am sorry, Jules. He’ll be okay. Don’t worry. It just takes time.” Carmen reassured her. “He had a device used on his brain to get answers. It takes a bit to recover from that.”

Julia nodded, and sat back up. Being a worry wart wouldn’t help him recover any faster. She had things to do in his stead until he could be back on his feet. This was a productive morning. But there wasn’t really any way she could tell The Chief, or Chase if he woke.

“Why did you try to rescue Devineux, and how did you even know he was gone?” Julia asked. “I only found out because I was called in much later.”

Carmen closed her eyes and tried to find the best way to answer. “I found information, that was directed at me, about Chase being kidnapped. Someone assumed he was working with me. Therefor he was used as bait.”

Julia felt her jaw drop a little. “But why would they assume that? He has been trying to capture you for months now.”

“Oh believe me. I know. Chase Devineux has been quite the thorn in my side. But, because he manages to be where I am almost every single time, someone put two and two together.” Carmen sighed. “I truly feel terrible for what happened to him.”

There was so much to unpack. Julia felt her mind racing. So many questions still left to be asked. Not to mention many new ones. There was no doubt in her mind that the 'someone' was V.I.L.E.. It had to be. They were more dangerous than what Julia originally assumed.

“How badly did you get hurt?” Julia pried. She just wanted to know Carmen was okay.

Carmen looked down at her wrapped arm, and sighed. “I suppose I won’t sugar coat it. I have 3 fractured ribs, a dislocated arm, a deeply bruised leg. Various other minor injuries. I can add a few more scrapes and bruises to that list now.” Carmen frowned, after thinking about her ungraceful dismount of the car. “Please, why don’t you finish your cup of coffee, and have a raspberry martyr. I would hate for our second meeting to end on such a low note.” Carmen smiled as she picked up her mug of coffee.

“I did miss picking up my breakfast this morning.” Julia chuckled, grabbing her mug for a small sip. “I usually don’t plan on chasing thieves for my morning routine.”

“Well, I usually don’t let pretty women catch me.” Carmen winked.

Julia coughed just a little, as she tried to swallow her coffee. Her face grew warm once more, as she looked away. Her mind trying to occupy itself with the details of the room.

The sound of a door crashing open quickly filled her ears. She whipped around to see what was happening. The idea of a trap being sprung came to her mind. But the scene of two red headed young adults falling onto the ground dispelled that thought.

“Zack! Ivy! Were you two eves dropping?” Carmen stood to scold them. It caused her to falter, and sway on her feet.

Julia could see the pain on her face, as she quickly placed her mug down, and moved to make sure Carmen would not fall over. She grabbed Carmen’s free hand, and placed her other hand on her shoulder. “Are you alright, Ms. Sandiego?” She questioned. “You shouldn’t move so much in your current condition.” Julia felt Carmen grip her hand tightly. It took a few moments, but the pain on her face passed.

“Please, sit down.” Julia helped Carmen reseat herself. “You should be very careful.” She chided.

“Carm, we’re sorry! I just really wanted a pastry before they were gone. You promised us breakfast.” Zack apologized. “And I just wanted one.” He quickly stood, and helped Ivy to her feet.

“Way to go, bro. You blew our hiding spot.” Ivy elbowed him in the side.

“Julia, meet Ivy and Zack. They work with me. These are the co-workers I was telling you about.”

“Hiya! Nice to meetcha!” Zack stepped forward, his hand extended towards Julia to shake.

Julia gave him a small, nervous smile, and shook his hand. She could feel Zack shake it enthusiastically.

“The pleasure is mine.” Julia smiled at him, as he let go of her hand. She fixed her glasses and looked to Ivy. Who gave a simpler greeting than her brother.

“Sorry about him.” Ivy chuckled, reaching out to shake Julia’s hand as well. “He just can’t help it when he sees food.”

Zack reached out, and grabbed a small pastry off the tray. Downing it in one bite. “Mmm.” He muttered, walking to the kitchenette to get a drink.

Ivy did the same, nabbing a pastry and walking towards the kitchenette. She continued her quiet conversation with her younger brother.

Julia blinked a few times, before she sat down next to Carmen. She let out a small sigh. Part of her was happy to see that there was more than just Carmen. Had she been doing this alone, Julia considered making an excuse to stay closer by. The injuries she acquired were bad. She looked at Carmen who seemed to be listening to something. She wondered if she was speaking to the same person as before. This “Player” again.

“Yes. For now.” Carmen spoke. “Well, Zack and Ivy have met her now.” She chuckled and looked at Julia. “No, I believe we can trust her.”

Julia felt her cheeks warm. It drew her mind back to the train. The small conversation where she had given the nickname “Jules.” She had been too engaged in conversation to know right away it was Carmen. But that little conversation was enough to be trusted with the Magna Carta's.

Carmen laughed, “Everyone has met her now. Come on Player.” She folded her arms and rolled her eyes. “Fine. Maybe next time then.”

It was odd hearing just the one side of the conversation. Had this person been listening to their conversation the whole time too? She leaned over to grab her coffee again. She was nearly finished with it. It seemed a good time to leave after she finished it.

Carmen leaned back on the couch, a sigh passing her lips. “Sorry. I’ll see if I can get him to say hello to you next time.”

Julia glanced at Carmen. So there would be a next time for sure then. She hadn’t really thought through her silent partner role. If Chief or Chase could see her now. They would lose their minds. What was she thinking?

“Jules?” Carmen placed her hand on Julia’s.

The feeling of another person’s hand on her own caused her to jump a little, as she drifted through thought. “My apologies.” She said to Carmen. But made no attempt to move her hand.

“Are you okay?” Carmen tightened her grip slightly on Julia's hand.

A short, and weary sigh escaped Julia’s mouth. Her hand turning over to hold Carmen’s. “I was thinking of Inspector Devineux. I can’t help but feel like this is partly my fault.”

Carmen sat back up, and turned to face Julia. “Hey. None of what happened to him is your fault.” Carmen tried to reassure her. “There is nothing that you did that could have led to him being captured.”

“I could have tried to reason with him more. I could have stopped him from rushing in so much.” Julia began to list off. She felt herself be cut off, when Carmen grabbed the mug of coffee, placed it down, and held her other hand too. Julia looked to Carmen. The threat of tears now poking at the back of her eyes. She had never really had anyone to talk to about how she felt after everything. She couldn’t really speak to Chief. And no one in her life would understand. She had just thrown herself into work right after it happened. Trying to piece together the crime scene. Anything to keep herself from thinking about her feelings.

Carmen gripped Julia’s hands, and looked her in the face. “You and I both know that Chase Devineux will run into any situation without a moment's hesitation. Do you really think you’d be able to reign him in?”

Julia shook her head 'no.’ Carmen was right. None of the things she said or did ever really made a difference. He always did do what he believed to be right. It still weighed heavy on her mind. The whole thing had been eating at her.

Zack and Ivy watched from the Kitchenette area. They too had been there that night. They knew what both Chase Devineux, and V.I.L.E. were capable of.

Ivy piped up first. “He is a strong guy. He'll pull through.”

Zack nodded in agreement. If there was one guy they knew who was bold and persistent, it was Devineux.

Julia felt a small warm tear escape. These people she hardly knew. Even though they were on different sides, were supporting her. A second tear escaped down the side of her cheek. If she wasn’t careful, it would turn into a cascade.

“Chase is a good man. Even if he gets it wrong a lot of the time.” Carmen added. She let go of one of Julia's hands, and wiped away the tears that had slipped down her face. “It’s my fault he was captured. I made it possible for his information to fall into dangerous hands. It was an accident. But it still ended up costing us both.” Carmen looked down. “I am truly sorry, Jules.”

So it was the key card that caused this. But not orchestrated by Carmen Sandiego, like Chief believed. Even Julia had her doubts in Chief's theory. She found the smashed pen, as Chief warned her. But there was so much more damage done in that room.

“I was actually a bit worried for you, Ms. Sandiego.” Julia began, but was cut off.

“Please. Carmen.” Carmen corrected her.

“Yes, pardon. Carmen.” Julia chuckled. “I saw your hat, and torn coat. With all of your fancy gadgets strewn about. There were smashed shelves, and a broken chair. None of the injuries Devineux had matched that kind of rampage.” Julia described. “The only person who I could think of that might have sustained injuries from that was you.”

“Good eye.” Carmen mused.

“I knew there had to be more to it than what I was told.” Julia looked away. “I was told you had done what ever happened to Devineux. But I felt that wasn’t right. You’ve never hurt an innocent person before.”

A small smile crossed Carmen’s face. “You seem to know quite a lot about what's going on.”

“It’s all there. People just choose to believe their emotions over evidence.” Julia nodded.

“I must ask one more question.” Carmen pushed.

Julia looked at her, and raised an eyebrow. “What might that be?”

“Who was the woman from the floating pen?” Carmen pried.

Julia froze. She had seen her. Chief. But she couldn’t give any more information away. “I probably shouldn’t say…” Julia trailed off.

She had probably already revealed more than she should have. She found it far easier to talk to Carmen Sandiego than anyone else she usually spoke to.

Carmen shrugged, “In any case, she knew who I was.”

“Most people working in agencies such as Interpol know who you are.” Julia pointed out. “How do you think I ended up here?”

Zack chuckled, and waved towards Julia. “Gee Carm, she’s got you there.”

Julia smiled towards Zack. She felt Carmen give her hands another small squeeze. It was comforting, having these people here to support her. Knowing that, Julia decided it was time to leave. If she got a call from Chief now, there was no way she could explain where she was. There were still many questions left unanswered. Worse still, there were new questions on top of that. But she was going to see more of this bunch. Answers would come in time.

“I must be going.” Julia admitted. “I have many things I must be doing. First and foremost I must make my daily check in at the hospital.”

Carmen frowned, but did not argue. She knew there was no way she could steal all Julia's time. “If you must.” Carmen smiled back.

After a moment of sitting in silence, Julia stood up from the couch. Her hands still holding on to Carmen's. She felt Carmen give her once last comforting squeeze before she let go.

“I’ll contact you soon.” Carmen promised.

“How do you intend to accomplish that?” Julia raised a curious eyebrow.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be in touch.” Carmen gave her a warm smile.

Julia merely nodded. It was time for her to leave. With a sigh, she turned to exit. She made her way to the double doors, and cast a final glance over her shoulder. Carmen smiled at her as Zack and Ivy waved. She gave a small wave back, and left.

The hospital was not far, and she could make it there by taking the bus. She made her way to the elevators. There was a lot to ponder as she made her way to visit Inspector Devineux.

[dumdeeedum]

“The Magicians” Alice/Quentin/Eliot Love Triangle? Que? No, let’s stop the fuck right there...

I’m so frustrated with how bad Wednesday night’s episode of “The Magicians” was and with how bad this entire season has been, especially with how poorly they’ve handled anything to do with Alice, Quentin, and Eliot. I mean, generally I’m frustrated with how bad this show can be way too often but I’m going to try to keep my thoughts as organized as I can.

I want to preface all of this by saying that no, I don’t believe they’re still pursuing Eliot and Quentin because they’ve still given me no reason to. I just wanted to express my thoughts on these rumors of a love triangle and who knows, they might go that way, I don’t work there. I just know that for now they’ve set things up in a really poor way and I don’t see a true Eliot and Quentin outcome happening for a while if at all.

First I gotta reiterate this in case it isn’t clear: this is not a well-written show for me, it’s a fun show, to be sure, but not a well-written one. They have too few episodes to get away with the amount of dicking around they do and it’s clear they have no direction even when they have source material to draw from, and that’s a bad combination and a big problem. And those are just some of its issues.

A show like “Black Sails,” for example, had about 8 episodes per season and made good use of every minute of them because that’s how you tell the story you want to tell when you have limited time and can’t fuck around with filler. Very similar situation with the show “Spartacus” with a similar number of episodes per season to “The Magicians” and they wrapped it up in 4 seasons. But I tend to think 4-5 seasons is the limit before a show loses focus and goes downhill anyway. 

It has also become clear to me that Sera Gamble has no interest in doing anything progressive. She wants to be one of the boys, play the game and get ahead which is her prerogative but at this point people have to come to terms with the fact that she’s always been a White Feminist(tm) and quit fucking around like she gives a shit about equity for marginalized communities or even visibility. All of the bullshit to do with Sera Gamble has been known for years now, too, so I’m not even sure why anyone would be surprised that she sucks at this point. I’m sure she’s sitting somewhere right now unable to understand where she fucked up and why because she doesn’t have it in her to accept criticism and it shows. Last I heard she’s still going after people on twitter for not liking the outcomes of her dumbass decisions as a show-runner; bitch, grow up!

You know what would be truly radical in this series? Stop having these women live for these men. Julia is off losing her autonomy to a man, again, Kady is about ready to allow herself to die because she misses her boyfriend, Margo is ditching the plan to save her best friend over some super mediocre, joke of a man she can do better than without even trying, and Alice is once again in Quentin’s orbit and having nothing to do for herself. Yay, feminism? You’re fucking kidding me, right? 

And now I’m hearing people saying that they’re trying to set up a love triangle in season 5 between Eliot, Quentin, and Alice and I think the idea of this disgusts me more than if they’d just drop Eliot and Quentin as a pairing altogether after the massive fuckup that was the latter part of this season. How obtuse do you have to be to think a bisexual love triangle would be appropriate queer representation given our social climate? But here’s the thing, they’re playing on your intelligence if they do this, again, and I’m about to explain why.

Yes, it’s going to get lengthy because I’m going to be discussing the show from a social but also from a narrative standpoint, but you know me by now.

Don’t get it twisted, what they would ultimately be doing if they went this route is giving us even more straight representation while under the guise of bisexual representation given that Alice and Quentin are now back together, as a straight couple whether you think Quentin is bisexual or not. And that’s what matters when it comes to queer visibility. We’ve gotten straight Quentin pairings now from seasons 1-4 and they’ve yet to have Quentin explore any same-sex romantic partnerships or even fantasies other than the nonsense with Eliot because those were blink and you miss them moments. 

And here’s the insidiousness of all of this and I really want people to think about this: They would use this as an excuse to still appear as though they were doing right by their queer audience while once again only really exploring one facet of Quentin’s supposed bisexuality, the more palatable one, while ignoring the other, more taboo one and calling it bisexual representation. That is not good bisexual representation, at all, how can it be?

And god forbid you raise a stink over these poor attempts at representation because then you get accused of hating and bi-phobia and of erasing Quentin’s bisexuality and blah blah blah. And, really, bisexual, where? Where are we going to get this exploration of Quentin’s sexuality while he’s dating Alice again and Eliot is somewhere in the sidelines dealing with the aftermath of being possessed by a being who murdered people using his body? 

Can we stop with the intellectual dishonesty? Can we stop accepting these insults to the intelligence of the lgbtqa community? 

And no, don’t even pretend the idea of a poly-amorous relationship wouldn’t be a fucking absurdity given their history. Quentin and Alice broke up because Quentin fucked Eliot and Margo. One of the people involved in that betrayal would be one of the last people Alice would want to share her boyfriend with. And that’s if she would even be OK with a poly-amorous relationship to begin with because the idea seemed to disturb her when her parents were doing it and frankly, not everyone is poly-amorous, in fact, most people aren’t. 

Unfortunately, that’s just part of living in a heteronormative society where people, as a whole, just aren’t evolved enough yet to have explored other types of relationship dynamics because of the restrictions society has placed on them and it is what it is. The polyamory argument doesn’t even belong in the same space as the bisexuality argument because it makes bisexuality seem like a life choice as opposed to something people are born as. I’d say it’s less realistic, right now, to have everyone OK with sharing their significant others with everyone than to have a person identify as bisexual! Most people don’t have the self-confidence or the conditions to improve their self-esteem enough to even explore poly yet, and some people just aren’t into it and that’s their right, but I digress.

It just seems like everything that should have been happening in this season would instead be happening next season if they went this route and the only difference would be that they’d have made it palatable for their straight, homophobic audience by having Alice on Quentin’s dick the majority of the time they should be using to explore Quentin’s sexuality. When would they have time to give Quentin the important moments of introspection he needs to figure out whom and what he wants? Even his getting back together with Alice was very abrupt and didn’t seem like a well thought out decision on either Quentin’s or Alice’s part. Why couldn’t they just be single for a while if they were going to waste season 4 and work on this in season 5??

But this is just what they do by now because they can’t write a good romance. Straight shit gets put on the fast track in an absurdly unrealistic way, everyone’s in love in 5 minutes, smart, beautiful, boss bitch women date mediocre men when we’d never see it the other way around, and anything queer gets a couple of seconds of screen-time at best before someone is killed off, or they add a woman to the mix for no good reason, or we have to do a 50 year montage with no actual romantic intimacy to establish tha they’re even romantically interested in one another, blah blah, woof, woof.

Here’s a good question for those of you bi-Quentin-stans: None of you think it odd that while these creators kept alluding to exploring a canon male/male pairing with a bisexual character Alice and Julia, two women whom have exclusively dated men, have still had, to date, a longer, more sexually charged make out scene than gay Eliot and a supposedly bisexual Quentin ever have? Not to mention that the only time we explore Quentin’s sexuality in fantasy it’s some super fucking trite women making out for his pleasure fantasy.

No one thinks about why that is? No one thinks that perhaps it’s because depicting lesbian situations for the male gaze is a super common thing to do in media and is another one of those things that allows creators to pretend they have queer representation when really they’re trying to draw male views by exploiting the women of their series? It seemed pretty obvious to me as soon as I saw it but I haven’t fucked around with critiques of this shit in a long time and I don’t let this shit slide.

So now if they went the love triangle route in season 5 how would that work?

We’ve gotten a story line where not only was Eliot right that Quentin wouldn’t choose him when Quentin has the choice, but Eliot is going to have to come back and see this shit and deal with it on top of whatever massive trauma being possessed like this would inevitably cause. Do we really see Eliot saying anything to Quentin after that knowing what we know about Eliot’s way of handling shit? 4.5 leaves us thinking that maybe Eliot now sees that perhaps he shouldn’t have been so quick to reject Quentin and that perhaps Quentin would have chosen him and that Eliot wasn’t right to suggest he wouldn’t and yet here we are. And knowing what we know about Eliot would he try to get between that?

I actually think they’d done a good job closing the chapter on Alice and Quentin when Quentin told Alice he didn’t love her anymore and closed the book and I think they could have explored a really good friendship between them after that! That should have been when Alice and Kady did their own library thing and became more fully-fleshed out characters in their own right and when Quentin started exploring his own options and realizing he would choose Eliot even if at the time he thought Eliot wouldn’t choose him. Because this is something he should have been thinking about anyway!

There seems to be a pretty big issue that no one is considering about 4.5 and it’s a result of this ret-con having been handled so poorly so they couldn’t do what really needed to be done with the aftermath of it. The rejection conversation was really fucking poorly done because it was such a short, almost throwaway scene! We have Quentin get his memories back and immediately jump to wanting to be with Eliot and Eliot rejects him, for very good reason, in my opinion. Quentin seems a little bummed about it and then the scene ends. But from what we know about episodes 3.5 and on, Quentin hasn’t given it another thought. It didn’t even come up when he talked up Fillory to the plant so I really reject the premise that it was so traumatic for him to be rejected by Eliot that he didn’t even want to talk about anything to do with Fillory. Unless he’s even more immature than I thought it seems really unlikely that being rejected would eliminate all the other good shit in Quentin’s mind that relates to that lifetime, like, I don’t know, his fucking wife, his son, his grandchildren!? Miss me with that and stop excusing the shit decisions they make for Quentin in this show.

Was the idea here that they continue to go this route where everyone is expected to consider Quentin's feelings but he isn’t expected to consider theirs? Quentin has a habit of being inconsiderate dating back to season 1 (For Julia, his best friend, not getting into Brakebills was her punishment because she wouldn’t fuck him, Alice shouldn’t be upset that he cheated on her and Quentin doesn’t have to respect it when she tells him to back off, etc.) and the reasoning is always that Quentin’s got a low self-esteem and depressive issues but that’s not good enough now with 50 years of life experience under his belt. It’s especially not good enough when it comes to a man whom he’s known an entire lifetime through good and bad. So why didn’t they have him even consider what Eliot said to him and the validity of it?

Eliot explicitly says to Quentin that he knows Quentin so he knows how this would turn out, and Eliot was right! But somehow when Eliot rejects Quentin it isn’t incumbent upon Quentin to consider why Eliot would do that even though Quentin knows his own dating history and that he’d had a wife in Fillory? We’re just supposed to accept that Quentin just took the rejection at face value without even really listening to the wording or thinking about where Eliot might be coming from? Neither his nor Eliot’s problems or desires in the real world have suddenly disappeared just because they got their memories of Fillory back and Quentin knows that. Eliot made that point when he rejected Quentin, in a way, so isn’t there more to consider here? It’s especially egregious for this to be Quentin’s take away when we remember that Eliot didn’t have a husband in Fillory so Eliot was always there for Quentin and Quentin’s son and even Quentin’s wife in ways Quentin couldn’t be there for Eliot. How could it be as simple as “in the real world, you don’t do it for me” by Quentin? That’s just dumb.

A better scene would have had Eliot qualify his rejection to a man he spent 50 fucking years in love with so that Quentin could consider Eliot’s feelings on the subject before jumping to conclusions or even making a decision about them. And Quentin could have taken a moment to discuss Eliot’s insecurities if he really wanted to be with him or even just understand them. But instead the takeaway is more “poor victim Quentin isn’t special.” That’s just bad writing!

And what about Eliot? What does he get in all of this if they went the triangle route? Would they then allow him to explore a non-toxic relationship of his own or would he be sitting by like a dog and watching this shitshow of a romance between Quentin and Alice for however long it takes before they give us a sprinkling of Queliot? And who will be there to support him when his best friend is off fucking around with that loser Josh and Quentin is back with the girl that Eliot was afraid Quentin would choose over him? This effectively leaves Eliot alone to handle shit the way he’s always handled it and that’s just bad for his character after all the development he’s had. 

What kind of queer representation is this going to be moving forward? We barely got Eliot this season, will he just sort of be there next season and have just as little to do as he had this season? He has nothing more to do in Fillory so where will they stick him now?

Narratively, everything that’s happened post 4.5 has really fucked the ability for an Eliot and Quentin pairing to work unless they double time it in season 5 and I don’t see how they can when Quentin is with Alice again. The show-runners have really gone out of their way to erase anything having to do with Eliot and Quentin as a couple to the point where it makes 3.5 and 4.5 seem like alternate universe versions of the show that don’t fit into the rest of the series. It’s clear to me at this point that they’re trying to move past the idea of Eliot and Quentin as a couple so even a triangle would seem really bizarre in light of that.

I’m not seeing it, I’m really not and as much as I know people want to hold out hope that Eliot and Quentin will happen I just feel like at this point the show would be trying to run out the clock without giving them anything substantial the same way they did this season. Everyone’s obviously free to do what they want with that but realistically I would hold out and not give them ratings until we see if they give us something that isn’t insulting bullshit.

[salmonthestoryteller]

Full Circle

Animal Kingdom Fanfic

Trigger Warning for male on female violence. (It’s a flashback of Pope’s from s1)

"Deran can't do what needs done." Smurf's words echoed in his head as he parked on the street, watching the house silently. "You're going to have to do it for him, baby. It's the only way."

The house was small, right on the beach. Deran's car was at The Drop - he'd checked to make sure - but he could walk to the bar from this location if he wanted. It fit Deran, but he hadn't bought it for himself. He had never even hinted he wanted to a place to live outside the bar. Pope had a feeling that left to his own devices he would still be living there. Which, honestly, wasn't very cleanly and he was glad he'd been convinced to get a proper house.

The house, though, had been because of Adrian. To have a place to live with him. Deran has settled down, built a life. The first of them besides-- he shoved the thought aside. Couldn't afford to draw that comparison. Not tonight. The lock was easy enough to pick. Deran should definitely install something better.  But would he even keep the house once…

Don't think about it. Don't think about how similar it all was. How Adrian was to Deran what Cath had been to Baz. How Smurf had been wrong in the end about Cath talking to the cops. Don’t think about it. Just do what had to be done to protect the family

Adrian wasn't in the living room or kitchen.  As he moved through the house his heart sped up when he realized he had to be in the bedroom. He could hear his blood in his ears, and he paused a moment to recover.

Baz hadn't accepted Cath's disappearance. Had focused his time and energy on finding out the truth. Would Deran? Would Deran search and search for the reason; for a body? Would he realize there was only one explanation?  Would he turn on Smurf? Would she hire someone to...

He leaned against the wall, hands gripping his hair as he tried to regain control. He slammed one hand angrily against it and stood up, determined.

"Deran?" Adrian called out from the bedroom, emerging a moment later.  They faced each other along the hall, and he saw understanding dawn in his eyes. He braced himself for him to try and charge him - try to get past him and out of the house. Maybe dodge back into the bedroom and try to get out the window - get to The Drop. To Deran. It didn't happen.  Instead, Adrian only nodded - though his eyes were glossy. "There's a… a shell. It's on the dresser in the bedroom. It's from Belize.  Deran would know if I ran - if I left him - I'd take it. I’d never leave it if…” He trailed off.  “Will it hurt?”

“Why aren’t you running?”  Pope asked him.

“Would I make it?”  Adrian asked in return.  Pope shook his head.  Adrian was athletic, but he wasn’t a fighter - he didn’t stand a chance against him.  As if it was the answer he was expecting, Adrian nodded again.  “Will it hurt?”

People begged for their lives.  They struggled against him.  This quiet acceptance was unnerving.  “I can make it quick if you don’t struggle.”

“Thank-you.”

“What the hell are you thanking me for?”  He snapped out, slamming his hand into the wall again.

“I figure it’ll be worse in prison.  They won’t make it quick there, right?  It’ll be painful.  So this is better.”

“Prison? But you’re cooperating.”

“With the DEA after my arrest, yeah.  But nothing I’d done for them mattered once they realized I was with Deran.  They said it was him or nothing.  I told them to lock me up and throw away the key.”

“Deran know this?”

“Most of it. Now, anyway. I lied to him for months, though.  He doesn’t trust me anymore. That should make it more believable that I… left.”

“Show me the shell.”  He followed Adrian into the room, and he went to the dresser, picking up a small shell sitting off to one side.  He’d never have thought it was important.  A scan around the room showed he was packing his bags again. "You going somewhere?"

"Deran told me to get out. I'd be going away for fifteen years, so it probably is all for the best this way."

“Kneel down.”

Adrian held the shell to him as he sunk to his knees, closing his eyes.  Pope circled behind him to take his head into his hands.  He tensed, but still didn’t struggle.

Cath had struggled.  Arms and legs kicking as he pressed the pillow to her face.

Baz had held him when he cried, telling him he forgave him and would take care of him.

Lena had asked if her father was dead.

Would Deran allow himself to cry?  Didn’t Adrian have a nephew?  What would his sister tell him about his uncle as the years passed and they never found the body?

Tears blurred his vision.  He didn’t want this.  He wanted Lena back.  He wanted Baz back.  He wanted Cath back. He wanted Julia back. He wanted his family back. He released Adrian and sunk to the ground, fists pounding against the floor as he let out a scream.

“Pope?”  He heard Adrian turn, but he only pressed closer to the floor and let the sobs shake his frame.

“I don’t want to do it again. I don’t.  I don’t.”

“Pope?”

“I don’t want to do it!”  He screamed the words out.

“Hey, it’s okay.  It’s okay.” Adrian’s voice was soft.  He reached out a hand to touch his head gently, as if attempting to soothe him.  His other hand must have still been clutching the shell that had meant so much to him.  The touch was grounding, even as he wrestled with the reality of what he should do and what he wanted.

“I can’t do it. I won’t do it.”  The words seemed to settle something inside him.  Like something that had been off balance for too long.  He didn’t have to do this.  He could choose differently this time.  “I won’t do it.”

He had no idea how to make this choice work without consequences.  But he owed it to Cath and Baz to try.

Fini

My heart is still in shreds from the newest episode (04x10) and the plot still doesn't make sense to me. Last time with Cath someone was talking to the police. Sure, the police were talking to Cath. But it was Alexa (and J) who were really talking to the police. So it made sense that she heard someone was talking then - someone was. Adrian has told Pearce nothing, so how can Neal have heard that someone was talking when they have nothing? No hints? No confession? Nothing? It doesn't make sense.

There was a lot of theory that if Adrian was killed Pope would be the one to do it. So I think that maybe the reason Adrian's plot has similarities to Cath's, and the reason they keep stressing Pope not finding out is on purpose. Pope didn't want to kill Cath, but he did. Only to find out she wasn't guilty. She had never talked. (Exactly what's happening with Adrian.) Killing Cath set off a chain reaction that led to Baz getting shot and losing Lena.

So maybe the whole point is for Pope to be faced with that decision again. Only this time, he has the chance to break the cycle. The boys have slowly been breaking Smurf's hold on them bit by bit over the seasons. Pope refusing to kill for Smurf? That would be a huge moment for him.

I know Adrian probably came off a little suicidal here. But, honestly, I don't think Adrian's in a healthy mindset right now. He may have told Pearce to lock him up because he's never going to give him Deran, but that doesn't mean he's not terrified of going to prison. So, yah, rather than have them fight and then Pope break down while strangling him or something, I had him choose to just accept what was going to happen. Which also put him in a position to try to comfort Pope during his breakdown rather than just run for it when he let him go.

[imagineclaireandjamie]

Since the Radford family is having another baby .... imagine Jamie and Claire having such a big family! I mean they're very sexually active so why not? ; )

This is not quite Radford Family big, but six is still a brood. :) Merry Christmas, anon. 🎄

Faith was crying.  Fat, hot tears positively bubbled out of her huge blue eyes.  The effect made Claire’s stomach clench, but also made her smile.  Their darling six-year-old with her penchant for reading chapter books again and again, the capacity to charm the grizzled ball of grey fur that Claire had named Adso into a drooling lover of a beast, and the warmest, most sensitive heart that a parent could hope for.

“He willna care if ye scratch it out, lass,” Jamie said evenly, inspecting the letter.  “Even Santa Claus kens that it’s no’ an easy task tae make an ‘F’ in cursive when ye’re just a wee thing.  And ye have two ‘F’s’ to make, no’ just one.”

This only made Faith cry harder, taking the card back from her father.  Claire pet down her daughter’s curls, smiling up at Jamie.  “Overtired,” she mouthed, reaching for the red glittered glue stick.  Jamie simply rolled his eyes.

The rest of their brood had long since fallen asleep.

Oliver, Samuel, and Evangeline, the post-IVF triplet surprise, had gone down early in their row of three identical cribs. It was the triplets’ first Christmas and their interests still dwelled on things that flashed when they caught the sun, their Da’s face appearing unexpectedly from behind his hands, and ripping out not insignificant chunks of their mother’s curly hair.  

After putting the finishing touches on cards for the triplets, five-year-old Brianna and three-year-old Henrietta had fallen asleep beneath the Christmas tree in the living room. A born storyteller like her Da, Brianna was babbling away with some Christmas story she claimed to have heard at her nursery school, but Jamie and Claire suspected was an amalgamation of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, The Mickey Mouse Christmas Carol from Netflix, and her own florid, roving imagination about the North Pole.  Staring up at the lights, chattering back and forth to one another, they had talked themselves to sleep.  

After a time, the “F” in “Faith” was formed into something more closely approximating what Faith had hoped and the “F” in “Fraser” was salvaged by Jamie’s able hand, Claire carried their eldest daughter up the stairs to her room.  Jamie gathered Bree and Henri up and slipped them into the beds in the room they shared and was standing at the kitchen pass through with two glasses in hand.

The entire house was spicy when Claire came down the stairs.  

Cloves.  Cinnamon.  Star anise.

“Six,” she said, a little exhausted.  “How in the hell did we end up with six kids?”

Jamie gave her the kind of smirk that made her roll her eyes, but also preceded a number of those six children.  She knew precisely how, if she was being honest with herself.  

“Mulled wine?” Jamie asked, indicating to a foggy clear mug with a cinnamon stick balanced on the edge.  She accepted it, a grateful smile passing over her lips.  

“What do you think the damage will be?”

“Weel, I told Bree that she wasna to put ‘puppy’ on her list three times, so I would wager that Bree’ll want a puppy, a horse, or a lion.”

Claire snorted.  “Stuffie it is, then.”

Jamie took the small stack of letters to Santa from the Christmas counter and followed his wife into the living room.  He sat first, beckoning her to sit next to him.  Without more invitation than that, Claire sat next to him, slipping her legs over his lap and resting her head against his shoulder.

“Who first?”

Smirking, Claire picked the extra glittery card out of the pile.  Bree had taken care of dumping half of a bottle of glue onto the card.  Not to be outdone, Henri had spilled enough glittery onto the card, the white paper barrier they’d put down to protect the table, and the dining room rug.  It was enough glitter that Claire was sure they’d still be finding it glistening on the bottoms of their feet when the girls were old enough not to believe in Santa any more.

“The triplets.  I’m quite interested to know what eight-month-olds want for Christmas.”

Snorting, Jamie took a long sip of his mulled wine as his wife read aloud.

“Dear Saint Nicholas, we have been rotten this year.”  Claire’s eyes bulged, her brow furrowing.  “Where in God’s name did your daughter learn the word ‘rotten’?”

Jamie, laughing openly before kissing her on the temple.  “It’s even spelled correctly, Sassenach.”

Claire continued, “We do not want any presents this year.  Bree and Henry –– she can spell ‘rotten’ but not her own sister’s name, Jamie! –– should have the presents.  Faith two, like the number.  Not t-o-o.”

“She’s six,” Jamie chuckled, folding the card.  “We’ll get a good laugh when we trot these out when they’re older.”

Claire snorted.  “Okay.  Henri’s turn.  Bree did most of the work, so I don’t expect it will be much more than ‘Bree deserves a pony.’”

Jamie’s hand found his wife’s thigh, running an absent-minded line from hip to knee over and over as Claire attempted to fight through the half dozen layers of scotch tape on the seal.  Eventually, she managed to extract a card covered with a green triangle tree drawn by Jamie and a series of black, red, and yellow scribbles from the envelope.

“Santa, my name is Faith Fraser.  I hope that you are having a nice holiday.  As you know, Christmas will be here soon.  My little sister is named Henrietta.  She is too small to write to you. She has some Christmas wishes.”

Claire’s eyes burned with tears as she read the card.  Jamie gave her a slight squeeze.  

“My Da and my Mama said we should each list three things.  Please tell your elves that Henrietta would like one of the following: 1. An Elmo doll. 2. A Barbie dream house. 3. A puppy.  Thank you very much.  Have a safe trip from the North Pole.  Very truly yours, Faith Fraser.”

Mopping her tears with the glitter-caked sleeve of her sweatshirt, Claire added the first two items to the shopping list.  “Okay.  Bree’s list.”

Jamie pulled the card from the envelope.  He immediately smirked, turning it over for Claire to see.  “You’ve got to be bloody kidding me,” she ground out, rolling her eyes.  True to form, and predictable as death and taxes, Bree had listed: puppy (“1 of the 101 dalmayshuns” or “Golden Doodle”), horse, and tiger.  “This child completely skipped the terrible twos. What is it when you’re six and an absolute pill?”

“Ye ken that she’s you through and through, aye?” Jamie chuckled.  “It’s payback for what ye put yer puir Mam through all those years.”

Claire snorted, shoving the card back into the envelope.  “We can get her a stuffie and some other things.  Next year I’m sure she’ll wise up and note that she means a real live, breathing animal, but we can ward off a puppy at least until the triplets are mobile enough to wear the thing out.”

Making a quiet ‘hmmmm’ noise of agreement, Jamie held up the final card.  Claire’s heart soared at the letter.  With each Christmas, she felt herself a little more worried that the magic of the process of writing to Santa would be over.  That someday Faith would come home, drop her book bag on the front landing, and say that she no longer believed in Santa Clause.  The childish chub had faded from her fingers, her knees gotten knobbier, and her face slimmed down in the last six months.  Claire knew that it was only a matter of time until some kid brought the entire dream to an end.

“Dearest Santa Claus.  My name is Faith Fraser and I am six years old.  I live in a house with my mum and my da, my little sisters Henrietta, Brianna, and Evangeline. My little brothers Samuel and Oliver live here with us.  For Christmas, I am happy to spend my school holiday rehearsing in our church nativity and playing with my sisters and brothers.  For Christmas I would like some new chapter books or a pencil pouch.  Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are good, have you read them, Santa?  Also, I would not mind a puppy.”

Claire sighed against Jamie’s chest, hand absently tracing up his flank.  “Is this puppy thing a conspiracy?” he chuckled, taking another long sip of his mulled wine.  She pressed her lips over his breastbone.  “We’re far outmatched.”

“Do we do it?  A Dalmatian or a Golden Doodle?”

“I dinna ken what a Golden Doodle is exactly?” The emphasis he put on golden and doodle made Claire laugh.  Picking up on the slight teasing, he tickled her sides. “Can ye rescue a Golden Doodle?”

“I think it depends.  It’s not like they’re commonly showing up in shelters, I bet.  Maybe tomorrow you and I go look? We can keep it at my parents’ place for a bit? Just until we’re ready to ruin our lives on Christmas morning?”

Snorting, Jamie pressed his lips into her hair, turning off the table lamp. “I would guess so.  Henry and Julia will love us.”

“They’re used to it,” she mumbled against the fabric of his shirt, curling her fingers into his shirt.  “Brianna is me and I am Brianna through and through.  Seems like something she’ll do to us one day.”

After a time, Claire’s breathing evened out in the way that told him she was fast asleep.

Lifting a piece of her hair, he looked down at his slumbering wife.  The one who had made him a husband and a father six times over, and felt a feeling of love draw him tight.  They had created traditions and a home for an entire brood.  He could not have imagined a more perfect evening than making cards with their kids and enjoying the quiet review of them with his wife.

He kissed her, careful not to rouse her, and whispered, “I dinna ken what Christmas story Brianna was tellin’ Henri, but I like the idea of fallin’ asleep by this tree wi’ ye, Claire.”

She mumbled a quiet, sleepy noise against his chest.  Pulling a blanket from the back of the couch over their neatly joined bodies, he leaned back into the belly of the couch and drew her closer.

[snowflake-apocalypse]

The Alexandria Manuscripts Caper- Revised

-Notes: I went back and edited my story, I think it’s better this time. I’ll post it on A03, too.

This would take place 4 months after “The French Connection Caper”. Devineaux was in the hospital for 2 months, and now he is taking recovery leave. Julia has been working on her own for the time being. The getaway scene could seem far-fetched, but situations can’t be perfect all the time. So for the sake of the story, that’s what I went with.———————————————————————Alexandria, Egypt.

Professor Maelstrom has orchestrated in the theft of many of the manuscripts housed in the Bibliotheca Alexandria. Claiming the modern world has lost it’s right to such knowledge. But Team Red is on the case, that’s not gonna fly. The entire retrieval goes smooth. But upon returning the manuscripts to their home..

Breaking into the museum, simple enough. Putting the manuscripts back in their cases, without setting off thermal security alarms, easy peasy. Not a soul around to offer their gratitude, but Carmen doesn’t mind, she’s used to this being her life now.

Though, unbeknownst to her, someone couldn’t sleep that night.

Due to her insomnia, restless legs, and the ever present sense of emptiness, Julia wanders the cool North African night. Stretching her legs and getting some fresh air would be good for her, she thinks.

She floats up and down the lonely, desolate streets, past cafe’s with chairs on the tables. The world is slumbering, because why shouldn’t it be?

Eventually making her way to the library, “can I never let work rest?” chastising herself. When she catches a glimpse of something moving about the library. Walking a bit closer to investigate, Julia discovers none other than La Femme Rouge, placing the manuscripts back into their homes. Restoring knowledge to the world. Disbelief that she is watching this happen first hand and a sense of satisfaction that “I was right!” wash over her.

////

Once again, Carmen is moving to make her stealthy escape. Although due to the street layout, the high security scoping the area, to include helicopters and roving guards, but not limited to the infinite number of cameras waiting for you to say “Cheese!” makes this getaway a bit muckier.

Our Lady in Red is sneaking around corners, dodging this cop, and that street light...

“Something not right.. these officers shouldn’t be here right now... Oh, man that’s a cop!” Carmen’s internal anxieties at the foremost of her mind as she almost bumps right into a guard.

“Player! I thought you said the guards would be doing shift change right now.”

“They we’re supposed to. That was the schedule in the security manager’s email. Must be an impromptu change....?”

”Oh for cryin’ out-!” Player can practically feel her eyes roll.

There’s no where to go. Carmen scrambles around a street corner, coat swishing behind her. The guard isn’t sure, but he thinks he sees something move around the corner. There’s a team of five guards down at the end of the street. She’s stuck. In a last ditch effort, Carmen backs up against the wall, schucks her hat and coat and stands really still. In her entire professional career, Carmen has never had a escape go this narrow. The guard continues his sceptic jaunt down the alley, until a voice rings out.

“Um, excuse me, sir! There are are alarms going of about three blocks from here. I think they may have been broken into.”

Jules.

Carmen moves from her spot along the wall, giving her this flabbergasted stare, like “what...” Julia gives a quick, subtle jerk of her head, silently saying “get out of here.”

The officer and Julia make their way from the alley and Carmen dashes away from the scene, coat and hat in hand. Julia sighs with relief, they go their separate ways. As Carmen is making her hasty escape, Player perks up on the line,

“Uh, what just happened?”

“I dunno.”

////

Moments later on a rooftop...

Carmen has donned her coat and hat once again, she and her other half are discussing what to make of the unexpected assist.

“I mean, why would she do that? Interpol and this ACME for all we know is dead set on catching me..so what’s the deal?”

“Maybe she remembered when you left her the Magna Carta. Maybe she doesn’t think you’re the thief everyone else thinks you are.”

Without knowing for sure, all Carmen can do is make doubtful conclusions, the city below offering no condolence.

////

Later at the Hotel Hideout..

The siblings are up, watching a movie and eating pizza, awaiting their fearless leader to return.

”Hey, Carm. How’d the drop off go?”

“Hey, Zach. Oh, there was a close call with the police... too close. But, the manuscripts are all safely back home. Team Red: One Billion, V.I.L.E: Zero.” as she snatches a slice of pizza from the almost empty box.

After changing, Carmen rejoins her friends in the living area. The three eat pizza and continue the movie. Though, Carmen’s not paying the movie any attention. She mulling over why Julia would help her. And not knowing is driving her insane. She won’t be able to rest otherwise. Abruptly getting up to retrieve her coat. Ivy pipes up,

“Where you going?”

“Out.” Carmen curtly replies.

And with that, she’s off out the window to hopefully, get some answers.

////

Back in her hotel room, after telling the police officer “Well, they were going off when I walked by.” Julia shakes her head at her ridiculous story. She’s standing by the stove, anxiously awaiting water to boil in the kettle. The vast hotel room only being lit by a small lamp. Julia’s attempts to justify her actions to her intrusive thoughts, that letting Carmen go was the right thing to do, eventually falter, she’s just too tired now. She pours the water into a mug, steeps a strong cup of earl grey, idly making her way to a chair in the corner.

////

A hop and skip away, Carmen looks carefully to the room, sees a small light on, and goes for it. She picks the lock on the window with quiet ease, silently entering the room, nearly giving Julia a heart attack, though half of her tea manages to stay in the cup.

“Sorry, sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you.” The Crimson Ghost fumbling over an apologize.

“Says the woman sneaking through the window.” Julia sits down with frustration and weariness that grew through the night, and all Carmen can do is sheepishly smile.

“I apologize for the intrusion. I just wanted to talk to you.”

“About what?” This is Julia’s sad attempt at being dismissive. She damn well knows what.

Carmen hesitates momentarily, then sits in the chair across from Julia. She draws in a deep, measured breath, and exhales, looking Julia right in the eyes. Each of her next words, like loaded bullets in a gun.

“Why did you help me?”

Now it’s Julia’s breath deep and hesitate. She reverts her eye contact before speaking,

“Because... for the longest time I believed that you didn’t just steal to steal. That you weren’t the one originally stealing. You had reasons for what you did... and tonight confirmed I was right.”

Carmen stays attentively silent as she takes in everything Julia is saying. Gears are turning, because hey, there’s someone in the law that believes in her. Then Carmen makes the realization and her expression goes soft.

“...You saw me return the manuscripts..”

Julia simply sighs, closing her eyes with a small nod. Now Carmen’s mind is racing with what now’s and what if’s, and the floor just became very interesting to look at.

Julia shakes Carmen out of her hectic thoughts,

“I never thought you were malicious, or cruel, or vile..” Carmen shooting her head up at the mention of “vile”.

“After Devineaux was kidnapped I was so afraid-“

“That wasn’t me! It was... you just have to believe that I would never do that.” Carmen exclaims, springing up from her chair in alarm.

”I know. After surveying the scene... I’m just glad your both alright.” Julia, now at peace with the situation at hand.

And with that exchange the two are now sitting in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before Julia speaks up.

“Would you like a cup of tea?”

A bit surprised at how the night turned, Carmen takes her up on the warm drink.

“Um, yes please.”

Carmen now has this goofy grin on her face when Julia turns her back. The two sit and talk some more, drink their tea. After an hour, cups are empty and minds are tired. Carmen gets up to leave through the window.

“Well, thank you for the tea...and talking. Have a good night, Jules.”

“Goodnight...Carmen.”

Carmen left before she could hear Julia speak her name. Now Julia stands alone, with a small, tired smile.

Carmen is making her way, rooftop to roof top, back to the hotel.

“So what’s the verdict? Do we have a friend on the other side?” Player inquires.

“Yeah... we just might...” A hopeful smile rests on her face.

[your-iron-lung]

The Language of Birds

A man saw a bird and found him beautiful. The bird had a song inside him, and feathers. Sometimes the man felt like the bird and sometimes the man felt like a stone- solid, inevitable- but mostly he felt like a bird, or that there was a bird inside him, or that something inside him was like a bird fluttering. 

This went on for a long time.

-Richard Siken

available to read on A03 HERE

Sometimes love manifests itself as a disease; nigh incurable and invariably fatal. Hanahaki, they call it- the disease of flowers. 

Steve has lived his entire life with it, managing the symptoms as best he can until he simply can’t any longer.  He’s never met anyone else who’s suffered the same way until Billy Hargrove.

Pairing: One-sided/unrequited Harringrove

Word Count: 2349

Rating: Non-explicit

so um. an overwhelming amount of people wanted a sequel to ‘The Language of Flowers’, or at the very least a happy ending variant but uhhhhh

:^)

i am a creature that thrives off of sadness and misery im sorry

The first time it happens, he doesn’t understand why the rest of his elementary school friends run from him screaming ‘cooties!’ at the top of their lungs.

Steve holds the yellow flower petal in his hand and cries because he doesn’t understand what it means, or why it came from so deep within his itchy throat. His mom thought he’d had something called ‘strep’, but when the beautiful, kind Ms. Julia takes him to the school nurse he finds out she was wrong.

Both Ms. Julia and the nurse share a worried glance when he presents his flower petals to them. The nurse calls his mom, and for a moment Steve believes he’s in trouble, but if being in trouble means he gets to spend some extra time alone with his teacher, then, well, maybe getting into trouble is worth it.

His mom picks him up from school early, but instead of going home she takes him to an emergency doctor even though he doesn’t feel sick. She looks so scared that Steve becomes scared, worried of what he’s done wrong to prompt this trip.

He asks her what’s wrong, why the strep is causing flower petals to push up out of his throat, but she doesn’t answer; only attempts to comfort him by repeatedly saying: “It’s nothing, sweetheart, don’t worry. You’re okay.”

But the doctor disagrees with her when they finally arrive.

The doctor is young, but is already outstanding in her field. She’s the only doctor close to Hawkins that treats Hanahaki Disease, but she’s never had to treat it in a patient as young as the little Harrington boy.

“It’s rare, but not entirely unheard of,” she says to Mrs. Harrington, who has tears in her eyes and won’t take her hand away from her mouth, already grieving. Steve watches them talk from atop the examination table, holding a few of the yellow petals in his hands. They’re soft and velvety; smooth to the touch, and he doesn’t know why they should be causing his mother so much distress. “Children fall in love with things all the time; just because they’re young doesn’t mean they’re immune to their feelings.”

The doctor turns away from his mother and smiles at Steve, coaxing a shy smile from him in return.

“What’s the name of your favourite teacher at school, Steve?” she asks, and Steve’s shy smile transforms instantly into one that is so much more genuine; he even starts to giggle.

“Missus Julia.”

“Is she nice?” Steve nods, fingers tightening around the petals. “Pretty too I bet, huh?”

“Yes,” he replies. “She smiles at me every day.”

The doctor turns a knowing look to his mother, who finally takes her hand away from her mouth to speak.

“Is it- will he be okay?”

“Hanahaki is 100% treatable, but I’d like to take some x-rays to get a better idea of what we’re dealing with here.”

Steve’s mother nods, and the doctor takes him by the hand and leads him out of the room.

The technicians take the x-rays, cooing over how adorable little Steve is. The doctor of course agrees that he is, but this is a medical practice, so could they please not get too distracted? The x-rays come back quickly enough after their exchange, and the doctor is dismayed by what she sees. Steve’s condition is abnormal in more ways than one, which is saddening, because his capacity for love is so strong.

Even still, she understands his life is on the line, and the disease must be treated.

“In most cases, Hanahaki manifests itself in the host’s lungs,” she begins, speaking slowly as she pins up the x-rays to the light board for Mrs. Harrington to observe, “but in Steve’s case, it appears to have taken root in his heart-”

“His heart?!”

“Yes,” she replies calmly, aware that Steve is monitoring their reactions. “Again, it’s not untreatable, but the usual recommended surgery to remove it is invasive, and not generally recommended for a patient his age.”

Mrs. Harrington starts to cry, and the doctor really wishes she hadn’t. It’s not an ideal situation, but it’s not like her son is dead. On the examination table behind them, Steve shares in his mother’s grief and also begins to cry.

He sees the doctor off and on throughout his life. His unique condition requires routine monitoring to adjust medication doses in order to keep the flower from completely harvesting his heart, because no one wants to have to put him through the open-heart surgery to remove it. They become friends, in a word- about as good of friends as a doctor who treats a patient with a chronic heart condition can be friends- and he’s never really been unhappy to see her until his break up with Nancy.

His medicine stops working. The flowers and pain in his heart become more persistent, and he’s ashamed to admit that he breaks down in the exam room over it.

“Bullshit,” he mutters, spitting Nancy’s words out with disgust. He reaches into his mouth and pulls out a petal that’s been caught in his throat for the past hour. “It was all just bullshit to her.”

His doctor smiles a bit sardonically, and she wishes she could tell Steve that first loves often are just bullshit, but she’s not a therapist and doesn’t want to invalidate his feelings, although she knows that Nancy is just one of many in a long series of heartaches for Steve.

“How long have your symptoms been persisting?” she asks, kindly ignoring his tears as he wipes them away.

“Couple of weeks. A few months, maybe.”

“Steve.” She doesn’t bother hiding her disapproval, her brow furrowing as she admonishes him. “Months? You should’ve come sooner; you can’t afford to go months without treatment!”

“I didn’t want to believe it, alright?!” he says angrily, though most of his anger is directed towards himself for believing everything was fine in spite of the evidence. “We were happy; she told me she loved me, kept telling me she loved me, so how could I be choking up those fucking flowers if that were true?” He sniffles and looks up at the ceiling for a moment, collecting himself before he can address his physician again. “I mean, would you believe it, if someone kept saying that to you?”

Her professionalism keeps her from answering honestly.

“I would have come to see me the minute I realized my medication stopped working,” she says and sighs, studying him for a minute. That great capacity to love that he’s carried with him since he was a child is still strong, and she’s comforted by that thought, but at the same time it’s worrisome. “The growth in your heart could have advanced; we need to make sure it hasn’t.”

He touches his hand to his chest briefly, still wallowing in his sadness, and she sympathizes for him, she really does, but he’s treading a very fine line: to let the disease advance any further could result in surgery. Steve stays quiet while the x-rays get taken, and his doctor is relieved to see that the flower’s growth has been minimal. The roots have spread, yes, but it isn’t gotten to the point where he needs the surgery just yet, though there isn’t much point in fighting the inevitable.

“Don’t do this again, Steve; you’re really pushing your limits here.”

She ups the dosage on his medication and prescribes him an anti-depressant and releases him back into the world he can’t afford to love too strongly.

When Billy goes down hard on the court after being shoved violently aside in what should have been called out as a foul, everyone expects him to get back up and start a fight over it, but he doesn’t. No one’s sure what to do when he starts coughing, and Steve swears the whole gymnasium goes quiet just so they can listen to each strangled intake of breath.

His teammates cast nervous looks at each other, but no one makes a move to help him. As captain of the team, Steve takes the initiative and jogs over to his side to try and help him up. Billy brushes him aside but he persists, reaching out his hand for support but stalls when Billy throws up, a horrific mixture of blood and flowers spewing across the midcourt line.

“Holy shit dude,” he says, brown eyes blown wide at the familiar sight.

“Fuck off,” Billy hisses before fleeing the scene, leaving the mess for the Belleview High janitor to mop up so they can finish their game.

Steve watches Billy’s health deteriorate rapidly over the course of the next few weeks, and it’s like he’s seeing an alternate version of himself that decided to rot instead of seek help with treating the symptoms.

It’s agonizing seeing him like this; suffering to maintain an image that is losing value the more time that passes.

So he tells him about his doctor; about the options she provides so that maybe he doesn’t have to die if he doesn’t actually want to, because despite what he says, there’s a spark in his eye that shines when he looks at Steve that suggests he isn’t seeking death quite as hard as he lets on that he is.

In the end, he gets the treatment. Goes to see Steve’s doctor and comes back to school healthy as ever, physically. He does a good job of hiding it, but Steve can tell that, emotionally, Billy hasn’t healed, and there’s something about his sorrowful looks and how beautiful his personal tragedy is that draws Steve in, compels him to care despite his best efforts not to. Billy’s not the first boy he’s managed to develop strong feelings for, but when the flowers come back, again, he tries to tell himself that he’s wrong: there’s no way in hell he’s fallen for Billy Hargrove.

Except, the flowers are different this time.

For as long as he can remember, the flowers he’s been infected with have always been the same colour and texture: for his elementary school teacher, for his middle school crush, for the French foreign exchange boy that came to Hawkins freshman year, and even for Nancy, the flowers in his heart have always manifested themselves as soft and yellow. But the flowers he coughs up for Billy aren’t yellow, or velvety soft to the touch- no, instead he finds himself coughing up husks. Paper-thin, dried up, brittle petals that cause tears in his throat when he coughs that give the little grey shreds some colour.

When he coughs up flower petals this time, they’re dead.

He panics; what does it mean? What could it mean? It’s related to Billy in some regard, but his fear prevents him from thinking too much about it.

His medicine stops working and the coughing gets worse. Steve heeds his doctor’s prior advice and immediately goes to see her, but she isn’t as surprised as he thought she’d be.

Just like with the rest of the circumstances surrounding his variant of the disease, it’s extremely rare, but not entirely unheard of.

“It happens, from time to time,” she explains, studying one of the petals that Steve coughs up. It falls apart easily in her fingers, but has hard edges that’ve been tearing up her patient’s throat.

“Why?” Steve asks, and his voice is hoarse from the abuse it’s been enduring. “It’s never been like this before.”

His doctor tilts her hand over the little garbage bin in the room and lets the fragile petals fall in. She wipes her hand clean of the remains and then takes a seat on a little black stool, flipping through Steve’s file.

With a deep intake of breath, she sets the file aside and looks Steve in the eye. “When a patient exhibits symptoms like this, it’s because the subject of their affection physically isn’t capable of reciprocating.”

“What does that mean?” He feigns ignorance, but he understands the implication of her words.

Billy. Billy had liked him; had had real, genuine feelings for him that had eventually begun to kill him, and Steve had so callously rejected him- told him to get them cut out and to move on.

“I mean, why let yourself suffer over someone who doesn’t even like you back, right?”

But how could he have known? How could he have possibly known?

There was nothing, never an indicator that Billy could have ever liked him- except, except for all the side-long glances Steve had pretended to ignore. The way Billy always sought him out after their team won a game to softly touch him on the back in shared congratulation with a hand that always lingered a little too long. The smiles, the goading, the pathetic attempts to always be in Steve’s periphery to just be able to look at him.

His chest feels heavy, and his heart aches like the roots of his disease are strangling it when he remembers the gory mixture of flowers and blood Billy spit out for him.

“You know what it means,” his doctor says with a soft voice, watching him somberly as he blinks out a few tears. “We’re going to have to remove it now, Steve, do you understand? It’s in its final stages now.”

Steve nods, shakes his head, lets out an abrupt sob and nods again.

He lets her call his mom from her office to talk about his progress and to schedule the surgery.

Because of the severity of his operation, Steve is benched from playing in any of the remaining games his team has left in the season, but that’s fine; Steve finds it very hard to care about the sport when Billy won’t even look at him anymore. The asshole doesn’t even try to rile him up the way he used to, and half the fun of playing on a team with a man like that was the competition between them.

But now there’s nothing left.

Steve’s chest still hurts, but it’s only because he’s recovering now.

[cinema-tv-etc]

“Just the facts, ma’am” — “Dragnet” (1951 - 1959) (1967 - 1970)

“Ladies and gentlemen: the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.” Such a cool opening for one of the most memorable “cop” TV shows of all time. Sgt. Joe  — My name’s Friday. I’m a cop — Friday (Jack Web) and his detective sidekicks (played by Ben Alexander and Harry Morgan) managed to keep us glued to the television with their subtle tactics in apprehending criminals because all they really needed in their quest was... just the facts. So cool. Dum, de, dum, dum! Check out this very cool short video.

“Stifle it, Edith!” — “All In The Family” (1971 - 1979) Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor) had a way with words. He called his liberal son-in-law,  “Meathead”and his faithful wife, “Dingbat “ (and he insulted about every stereotype you can name) without getting his hand slapped from the politically correct community. He was so lovable, though, right? Whenever his wife Edith (Jean Stapleton) had an opinion, he managed to stifle her — most of the time. Check out the time she stifled him here.

“Who Loves Ya Baby?” — “Kojak” (1973 - 1978)

Kojak (Telly Savalas) was probably the only New York City detective on TV who made the Tootsie Roll Pop sexy. And, didn’t he start the bald head craze? (OK, Yul Brenner in the “King And I” helped get this trend started).  Who loves Ya, Baby? We do, we do!  (Look here for clip.)

“Good Evening” — Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955 - 1962)

Maybe you had to be there, but no one could grab an audience with an introduction quite like Alfred Hitchcock. His “series of unrelated short stories covering elements of crime, horror, drama and comedy about people of different species committing murders, suicides, thefts and other sorts of crime caused by certain motivations” kept us coming back for more each week. It seems like seven years just wasn’t enough for this film director and his spell-bounding stories.  Take a look at his one-of-a-kind introductions here.  

“Would you believe... “ — “Get Smart”  (1965 - 1970)

“Get Smart” (battling the forces of KAOS) had an embarrassment of riches in the catchphrase department. Maxwell Smart, Agent 86 (Don Adams) kept his co-hort, Agent 99 (Barbara Feldon) and the Chief (Edward Platt) on the tips of their toes every time he opened his mouth. “Would you believe” these words of wisdom: “Missed it by that much!,” “Sorry about that, Chief,” and “I asked you not to tell me that.” Yes, we would believe anything you say, Agent 86. Take a peek at these “Get Smart” funniest moments here.

“To the moon, Alice!” — “The Honeymooners/The Jackie Gleason Show” (1951 - 1959) Who could forget the wild and crazy antics of New York City bus driver Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason), sarcastic wife Alice Kramden (Audrey Meadows), NYC sewer worker, Ed Norton (Art Carney) and his wife Trixie (Joyce Randolph)? These four feisty Brooklyn residents tested each others patience on a daily basis which was the reason millions of viewers tuned in once a week. Needless to say, Alice Kramden knew how to draw blood which is why Ralph gave her the what for... “One of these days, Alice, you’re going to the moon!”   “Just One more thing...” — “Colombo”  (1971 - 2003)

Peter Falk made “Colombo” a household name with his unique way of solving the “whodunit” mystery in this clever television detective show. The Fashion Police would have a field day with this disheveled, cigar-smoking detective. (Oh, that rumpled, beige raincoat... how we loved it.) The criminal always thinks he/she has the upper hand in the investigation only to be caught up in the web of Colombo’s increasingly intrusive presence. Just when the suspect thinks all is well,  the polite detective (who always gets his man/woman), has “just one more thing“ to ask.

“Goodnight, John Boy” — “The Waltons”  (1971 - 1981)

This Great Depression Virginia mountain family sure knew how to grab our hearts. Each episode focuses on the “family of John Walton Jr. (known as John-Boy), his parents, John and Olivia Walton, their seven children, and John’s parents Zebulon “Zeb” and Esther Walton. John-Boy (Richard Thomas) is the eldest of the children (17 years old in the beginning), who becomes a journalist and novelist. In the signature scene that closes almost every episode, the family house is enveloped in darkness, save for one, two or three lights in the upstairs bedroom windows. Through voice-overs, two or more characters make some brief comments related to that episode’s events, and then bid each other goodnight, after which the lights go out.”

“Let’s be careful out there.” — “Hill Street Blues” (1981 - 1987)

“Hill Street Blues“is an American serial police drama that chronicled the lives of the staff of a single police station located on the fictional Hill Street, in an unnamed large city, with ‘blues’ being a slang term for police officers for their blue uniforms.”  In the opening, Sgt. Phil Esterhaus  (Michael Conrad) does the police roll call, concluding with his signature line: “Let’s be careful out there.”

“May God bless.” — “The Red Skelton Show” (1951 - 1971)

“The Red Skelton Show” was mainly known for the comedy sketches performed by Red himself which included an array of comedic characters (Clem Kadiddlehopper, San Fernando Red, George Appleby and Freddie the Freeloader). He also had guest star performers including John Wayne, Phyllis Diller, Jack Benny... the list goes on forever. His opening monologue often included his two favorite seagulls, Gertrude and Heathcliff. At the end of each show, he ended it with thoughts that went something like this.

“Lucy! You got some ‘splainin’ to do!” — “I Love Lucy” (1951 - 1957) That crazy redhead we affectionately know as Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) was never at a loss for words... or hair brained, good-natured mischief. Her cohort, Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance) was somewhat skeptical at times to play along, but the two BFFs made life interesting for their respective spouses, Ricky (Desi Arnaz) and Fred (William Frawley) to say the least. When Lucy tested Ricky’s patience one too many times, he screamed the only phrase that came to mind (each time): “Lucy, You got some ‘splainin’ to do!” Don’t we all use that phrase ocassionally when we get pissed at our significant others (no matter what gender they are)?

“Yada, Yada, Yada” — “Seinfeld” (1989 - 1998)

Let’s give a big round of applause to Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld), Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), George Costanza (Jason Alexander) and Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) for giving us the best nine sitcom seasons of our lives. Did you know it was actually George’s new girlfriend, Marcy, who came up with the “yada, yada, yada” expression? If you don’t do anything else today, watch this Seinfeld montage.  

“Come On Down!” — “The Price Is Right“ (1956 - 1965) (1972 - Present)

I don’t care how old you are, you have heard — at one time in your life — a game show announcer say, “Come on down!” You know the game show: “The Price Is Right.” And you know the master of all game shows: Bob Barker. The point is, no matter what year you were born, somewhere, on some network, “The Price Is Right” has been on your radar. Unless you live in a third world country. Check out this “Come on down!” video with Bob Barker.

“Sock it to me.” — “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In” (1967 - 1973) The comedy team of Dan Rowan and Dick Martin hosted this psychedelic, fast-moving comedy series that featured series regulars Lily Tomlin, Ruth Buzzi, Judy Carne, Goldie Hawn, Arte Johnson, Jo Ann Worley, Gary Owens, Alan Sues and Henry Gibson. Judy Carne became the butt of the joke when she said, “Sock it to me.” They doused her with water or gently assaulted her with rubber objects. Be careful what you say out there.

“Dy-no-mite!” — “Good Times” (1974 - 1979) “Good Times“ lets us in on the lives of Florida (Esther Rolle) and James Evans   (John Amos) and their three children, J.J. (Jimmie Walker), Thelma (Bern Nadette Stanis) and Michael (Ralph Carter). “Episodes of Good Times deal with the characters’ attempts to survive in a high rise project building in Chicago, despite their poverty” ... and hilarity ensues. Fess up, you know you said the word “Dy-n-Mite!” every time something good happened in your life back in the day, thanks to the adorable J.J. (Although nobody says it better!)

“God will get you for that!” — “Maude” (1972 - 1978)

Who remembers that “Maude“ was a spin-off from “All In The Family?” Yes, Maude (Bea Arthur) was Edith’s cousin —  who  somehow got the spunk gene in the family.  And who remembers that Maude was a “liberal, independent woman living in Tuckahoe, NY with her fourth husband, Walter (Bill Macy)?” And if you didn’t know all that... (say it).

“De Plane, De Plane” — “Fantasy Island” (1977 - 1984)

Picture it: a remote tropical island resort where all your dreams come true. Well, not exactly. There were glitches in those wishes. Mr. Roarke (Ricardo Montalban ), assisted by his adorable miniature side-kick Tattoo (Hervé Villechaize) had the best of intentions of making his guests live out their fantasies, but what kind of show would that be if everything were perfect? You could count on one thing. The beginning of each episode,  a plane arrived with their (we’re presuming rich) guests. Tattoo always alerted Mr. Roarke, by pointing up to the sky, announcing: “De Plane, de plane!” Welcome to Fantasy Island.

“What U Talkin’ ‘bout Willis?” — “Different Strokes” (1978 - 1986)

“Different Strokes” starred Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges (Arnold and Willis Jackson), Conrad Bain (Phillip Drummond) and Dana Plato (Kimberly Drummond) who were perhaps one of the first racially mixed families on television.  Arnold didn’t hold back when Willis came up with some bizarre and/or surprise monologue that got his goat. “What u talkin’ ‘bout, Willis?”  Too cute!

“Book ‘em, Danno.” — “Hawaii Five-0” (1968 - 1980)

This may be my all-time favorite detective show based in Hawaii (sorry “Magnum P.I.”). And it may well just be because of one of my all-time favorite detective catchphrases: “Book ‘em Danno.” Detective Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord) worked so well with Danny Williams (James MacArthur) in each episode to put the bad guys in hand cuffs. (And who didn’t love that theme song!? Check it out here and turn the volume up and enjoy!)

“Say the secret word and win a hundred dollars.” — “You Bet Your Life” (TV version, 1950 - 1961)

Groucho Marx was probably the first choice to host this quiz show that featured a show chocked full of competitive questions — and some hilarious conversation. As it turns out, the comedian was the perfect host. As in all quiz shows, there is money to be won. But, with the right “word,” a contestant could win an extra hundred big ones. All they had to do was say the secret word. Easy Not so fast. How many words are in the English language? But we loved to hear Groucho announce: “Say the secret word and win a hundred dollars.” Sometimes they did. And that was seriously exciting.

“Say goodnight, Gracie” — “The George Burns And Gracie Allen Show“ (1950 - 1958)                              

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/catchphrases-classic-tv-shows_b_8142724.html