#did y’all just never have a good teacher who made an impact on your life???

[sarcastic-clapping]

as a taxpaying grown adult who is child-free by choice and can confidently say i will be for the rest of my life, it’s absolutely batshit insane to me when child-free people complain about paying taxes to fund education. like “why should i pay for YOUR child? having a child was YOUR choice 🙄”

of all the things tax dollars support, the hill you’ve chosen to die on is EDUCATION????? THAT’S what’s got you steamed???

guess that tracks since you’d have to be ignorant and uneducated to not see the value in providing a good education to children, regardless of whether or not you have any of your own lmao

[jbbarnesnnoble]

JBBarnesNNoble's 2nd Annual Mental Health Awareness Month Challenge 2021

Hello lovely people! And welcome to the 2nd Annual Mental Health Awareness Month Writing Challenge. The aim of this challenge is to shine a light on mental health, medical conditions, and the things that can have impacts on us. This started out initially being a PCOS Awareness challenge last year but through conversations with other writers over Discord, it evolved into a Mental Health Awareness Month Writing Challenge last year. I’m reusing some of the unused prompts from last year’s challenge and adding in some new ones!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The goal of this challenge is to lift each other up, and show that it’s okay not to be okay. Spread some love and light during a challenging time in the world to those who struggle with chronic illness, depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, grief, PCOS, acceptance from their families and communities for being LGBT+, and anyone struggling with insecurity.

This challenge will run through July 31st, 2021. It will run through Mental Health Awareness Month, Pride Month, and the month of July to give people time to write. You can submit it at any time. I probably have too many prompts, but I wanted to ensure that there was a wide array to choose from. Please don’t hesitate to message me if I haven’t interacted with your fic after a few days! Sometimes the tag system doesn’t work and I miss things!

The Rules:

1. Utilize resources available online if you’re dealing with subject matter you’re not that familiar with. I’m not going to go all “cite sources” on y’all, but please do make sure to do your research. Writing about some of these issues can be hard if you don’t have first hand knowledge of how it can affect you. The goal of this challenge is to write about topics that we tend to shy away from, that many of us struggle with, from mental health struggles to chronic illnesses to low-self esteem. A gentle reminder that if you think writing about a subject will be triggering for you, please look after yourself first.

2. Use #JBBNNMHAM21 to tag your fic

3. Dark!Fic- Due to the subject matter involved in this challenge, please don’t submit dark!fic. I enjoy dark fics, but this challenge isn’t the place for them.

4. Smut- Smut is welcome! Make sure you tag it appropriately.

5. No inc*st, dubcon/noncon, underage, etc

6. Ships- I prefer reader inserts, but show me what ya got.

7. NO JOHN WALKER FICS. Please. Please no. I beg of you.

8. Selecting Prompts: Just let me know which one you want to do! 2 people per prompt! The song prompts have a line from them under it. You DO NOT need to use the line in your submission! It’s mostly to help you decide if you’re interested in a song before you take a listen to it.

You also can alter the sentence and dialogue prompts as needed for grammar, be it altering the pronouns used or changing the pluralization of a word.

9. Trigger Warnings: Use warnings as needed. Fics dealing with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, or other mental health issues should be tagged appropriately to ensure that readers that may be triggered by the subject matter can avoid the fic. Trigger warnings are non-negotiable

The prompts are under the cut!

Prompts:

Dialogue Prompts:

“I feel like if I let go, if I move on, I’ll only be proving them right.”

“I don’t know. Am I? Because from where I’m standing it’s pretty damn clear that’s how you see me.”

“You don’t believe that do you? Tell me you don’t. Please.”

“It’d probably be easier if you left”

“Please leave me alone”

“Everyone’s got broken pieces. Some have more, some have less. It doesn’t make you less of a person to have those broken pieces.” @nekoannie-chan

“If it’s okay with you, I’ll take that shake now.”

“What’s the point if I’m going to end up breaking that promise too?”

“You sure about that, moonman?”

“It made you smile though. And that will always be a win in my book.”

“That’s not true. And I will tell you that every day of your life until you believe me.”

Sentence Prompts:

Feel free to adjust the pronouns as needed

It was a day. It was the only way it could be described.

Summer had a smell that reminded her of innocence and a time long since past.

In that moment, the world stopped spinning on its axis as it all shattered down around her.

Some things, there would never be a way to understand. @justrunamok

Like shattered glass, in that moment the illusion was broken.

Forever was a lie, just like everything else.

If you had another condescending doctor tell you your problem wasn’t a problem you were going to scream.

They’d say it was easy, like riding a bike. Except, you never learned how to ride a bike in the first place.

Today was going to be good. It had to be.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out that this was going south.

AU and Trope Prompts:

Soulmate @samsgoddess

College

Childhood Friends @tellmealovestory

Friends to Lovers

Enemies to Lovers

Musicians

Writer

Professional Athlete

Teacher

Coffee Shop

Fake Dating

Accidental Marriage

Royal

Librarian

Doctor

Song Prompts:

1. Nobody Ever Told You - Carrie Underwood

Lyric Snippet: “Wish you could see yourself the way I do. Nobody ever told you, nobody ever told you. Shine like a diamond, glitter like gold, and you need to know what nobody ever told you”

2. Missing You - All Time Low

Lyric Snippet: “And if you need a friend, I’ll help you stitch up your wounds. I heard that you’ve been, having some trouble finding your place in the world. I know how much that hurts. But if you need a friend, then please just say the word.”

3. Barefoot and Bruised - Jamestown Story

Lyric Snippet: “Maybe when your sky comes crashing down, I can be your angel on the ground. If you get tired and can’t go on, I will carry you along, when the rocks below your feet wear out your shoes, when you’re barefoot and bruised”

4. Hold On Till May- Pierce the Veil

Lyric Snippet: “If were you, I’d put that away. See you’re just wasted and thinking about the past again. Darling, you’ll be okay.”

5. If I Surrender - Citizen Soldier

Lyric Snippet: “If I surrender, surrender, to the monsters in me, will it set me free?”

6. Home - Machine Gun Kelly, X Ambassadors, Beba Rexha

Lyric Snippet: “All these miles, feet, inches, they can’t add up to the distance that I have been through just to get to a place where even if there’s no closure I’m still safe. I still ache from trying to keep pace. Somebody give me a sign, I’m starting to lose faith”

7. Broken Arrows - Daughtry

Lyric Snippet: “The best of intentions I lay at your feet. And I need you to see past the worst part of me.”

8. Used - Serious Matters

Lyric Snippet: “The wounds are gone and the pain still lingers. But this time I won’t stand by, I don’t need you in my life”

9. According to You - Orianthi

Lyric Snippet: “According to you, I’m stupid, I’m useless, I can’t do anything right”

10. Let It Land - Tonight Alive

Lyric Snippet: “And everything we hate is something we just bought along the line”

11. Cold As You - Taylor Swift

Lyric Snippet: “You put up walls and paint them all a shade of grey. And I stood there loving you and wished them all away. And you come away with a great little story, of a mess of a dreamer with the nerve to adore you”

12. Tied Together with a Smile - Taylor Swift

Lyric Snippet: “Hold on, baby you’re losing it. The water’s high, you’re jumping into it, and letting go, and no one knows. That you cry but you don’t tell anyone that you might not be the golden one. And you’re tied together with a smile, but you’re coming undone.”

13. Human Interaction - Tonight Alive

Lyric Snippet: “I don’t know love. I don’t know hate. I am numb. Wish I could find the words to say. Asking please, as colors fade. I need to breathe. Before I turn the world to grey.”

14. Therapy - All Time Low

Lyric Snippet: “Give me therapy, I’m a walking travesty, but I’m smiling at everything. Therapy you were never a friend to me, and you can keep all your misery”

15. Scars - Alison Iraheta

Lyric Snippet: “Do you know how hard I’ve tried to become what you want me to be. Take me, this is all that I’ve got, this is all that I’m not, all that I’ll ever be. I got flaws, I got faults, keep searching for your perfect heart. It doesn’t matter who you are, we’ve all got our scars”

16. Hurts to Know - 1551

Lyric Snippet: “I can’t remember what I did to earn you by my side. I can’t surrender. I’ll fight as long as you’re in my life”

17. Spinning Bottles - Carrie Underwood

Lyric Snippet: “He’s in a hotel room, with the tv on. Getting lost in the static with the curtains drawn, knowing this could be the time that gets her gone for good, he’d quit if he could. But one down, two down, three down, four, can’t even recognize the man in the mirror anymore”

18. Praying - Kesha

Lyric Snippet: “Well you were wrong and now the best is yet to come. ‘Cause I can make it on my own. And I don’t need you, I found a strength I’ve never known.”

19. Jersey On the Wall (I’m Just Asking) - Tenille Townes

Lyric Snippet: “If I ever get to heaven, you know I got a long list of questions. Like how do you make a snowflake, are you angry when the earth quakes? How does the sky change in a minutes, how do you keep this big rock spinning? Why can’t you stop a car from crashing? Forgive me, I’m just asking”

20. Five More Minutes - Scotty McCreery

Lyric Snippet: “Time rolls by, the clock don’t stop. I wish I had a few more drops of the good stuff, the good times. Oh, but they just keep on flying right on by like it ain’t nothing, wish I had me a, a pause button. Moments like those, Lord knows I’d hit it. Give myself five more minutes”

21. Dad’s Old Number - Cole Swindell

Lyric Snippet: “Sometimes I forget, these ten digits ain’t my lifeline anymore. Every now and then I dial them up when life gets tough or when the Braves score. Sorry about the one ring hang ups, early morning and late night wake ups. It was just me. In case you wondered, you’ve got dad’s old number.”

22. The Other Side - Lauren Alaina

Lyric Snippet: “There’s gonna be a lot of sadness on a lot of happy days, I’ll try to think of this moment, this place”

23. I Was Here - Beyonce

Lyric Snippet: “So they won’t forget I was here. I lived. I loved. I was here. I did, I’ve done, everything that I wanted and it was more than I thought it would be. I will leave my mark so everyone will know I was here.”

24. Gone Too Soon - Simple Plan

Lyric Snippet: “Like a shooting star, flying across the room. So fast, so far, you were gone too soon. You’re a part of me. And I’ll never be the same here without you. You were gone too soon.”

25. Amelia - Tonight Alive

Lyric Snippet: “And you will always be perfect, you’ll always be beautiful, our hearts, will never forget you. You didn’t belong here, and it’s become so clear why heaven called your name.”

26. Heaven Right Now - Thomas Rhett

Lyric Snippet: “When the whole crew gets together, memory lane goes on forever. We twist a top and pour a little Jack D out.”

[magnoliapip]

Ranked: Mother of the Year (Choices) Main Characters

I can’t sleep so that means I need to make another list that I’m not going to proofread before I post, right? Of course it does. But before we start, please remember this is my opinion on who I liked best. Not who impacted the story the most, not who was the best written fictional character of all time, yada yada. This is my personal opinion of the characters I liked best.

Spoilers WILL be featured below. You have been warned.

#13 -- Tallulah Copeland

Tallulah is a parent to a child at Bernhardt Academy, a friend of Vanessa Blackwood, and an active member of the PTA. Hugo is her partner.

This woman. I would flat forget this woman existed until she would show up again just to wreak havoc on MC’s day, usually at someone else’s urging. Every single time she spoke, I just wanted it to be over and she is just an awful, AWFUL person. She’s also the only awful person in this book who never pretends to be nice and/or never apologizes for her actions. Just an all around nasty person.

#12 -- Hugo

Hugo is a parent of a child at Bernhardt Academy and an active member of the PTA. Tallulah is his significant other.

If you’re actually reading these little blurbs, you have to be wondering “MagnoliaPip? How in the hell is Hugo ranked lower than two other unmentionables in this story?”

Thank you for asking, no one ever.

Put frankly, Hugo just annoyed the crap out of me. I know that’s supposed to be part of his character, but it went above and beyond the scope of acceptable annoyance. I grew to hate every second he was speaking. He never really contributed anything to the plot other than some irritating drivel. He wasn’t an antagonist, but he also wasn’t a pleasing good guy. He’s also the reason I’m considering not re-reading this book again right away like I want to.

#11 -- Guy Ledford

This man. This. Man. THIS MAN!

This part is going to include major spoilers, y’all, so if you haven’t read it and are still intending to, skip away now!! Again, major spoilers from here on out kids.

Guy Ledford is your main character’s ex-husband who has been absent for four years since the start of the book and wants to reconnect with his daughter. He is also a CEO of a snack food company/app, Nomme. He is the main antagonist of the book.

The reason I didn’t rank him lower is he genuinely adds something to the plot. He IS the plot. He’s the reason this book exists. However, he is such a scumbag he deserves nothing. He feels like a trope for quite a lot of the time, but at least he’s not physically abusive like a true trope could have been (at least, I never noticed him being physically abusive). Just, you know, a gaslighting, manipulative, arrogant, rude, selfish son of a-

I also love that they named him “Guy”. I’ve only ever met one man named this in my life, so it’s funny to me that they named this jerk “Guy” so it’s not only the most generic sounding name (did his parents also get a dog named “Dog” and a cat named “Kitty”?), but also one that a lot of men won’t likely have so they don’t have to get name checked in relation to him.

I like that you can get a good outcome (Guy ends up with joint custody with visitations  every weekend and having to back pay) without spending diamonds in this game as long as you make the right choices, but for those who DID spend all of the diamonds, I would have liked to have seen Guy end up with worse. I would have liked to see, if you made most of the right choices and bought all of the diamond stuff, him ending up with every other weekend or maybe just visitation. I know he’s trying to be a good dad (but still an absolutely terrible human being), but every weekend seems like so much when your daughter is in school.

#10 -- Augustus Blackwood

August Blackwood is one of Vanessa Blackwood’s sons and is a student at Bernhardt Academy.

I’m not going to spend a lot of time on this one. But he hurt my daughter and that’s enough. I would have liked to have seen him fleshed out a little bit more beyond being basically just a schoolyard bully. His motivations for his actions are hinted on, but nothing is really ever done and he’s mostly just a prop for something to hurt your daughter.

#9 -- Vanessa Blackwood

Vanessa Blackwood is the president of the PTA, a single mom, and a lawyer and becomes an antagonist to your character.

I’m probably going to get hate for this, but I want to like Vanessa. Obviously, she’s hateful and offensive, in some very, very unredeemable ways, but there’s something about characters like that which makes me want to forgive them and teach them how to be better. How to rehabilitate their bitterness. I felt it with Olivia Nevrakis, I felt it with Victoria Fontaine, and I know certain people in the fandom felt it with Becca Davenport and Poppy Min-Sinclair. 

**DISCLAIMER** Keep in mind, I’m not trying to excuse homophobia and racism here. They are both despicable things and should be accounted for. However, after having grown up in a homophobic and racist home and learning to leave that shit in the dust by the time I was eighteen and SLOWLY teaching my family to do the same over the course of the last 10 years, I believe people can change if you give them room and help to. Not everyone will, not many people will, but I believe in giving the chance. We need to force people to take responsibility and learn from their mistakes. Should the book have been approved as a series rather than a stand alone, I think this might have been a very real option within book 2.

#8 -- Ajax “AJ” Blackwood

Ajax Blackwood is one of Vanessa Blackwood’s sons and a student at Bernhardt Academy.

AJ is the quieter of the Blackwood boys, AJ is a shy kid who hates that his brother is mean just as much as your daughter does. He finally has enough within the book and stands up to him, which was more than a little satisfying and he does seem to have a genuinely good heart. I think it would be so cute for him, your daughter, and Luz to be their own adorable trio of friends. 

#7 -- Levi Schuler

Levi Schuler is your neighbor who helps save the day for MC early on in the book and becomes a friend to both her and your daughter. He is also one of your love interests.

And if this list is going to invoke hate from the masses, it will be this entry that does it. I know how loved Levi is. And I love him too! I just find him, and his musician plot, to be a bit tiring. He’s a wonderfully supportive friend/love interest, just about one of the nicest people, and he’s great with your daughter. I swear, all of the love interests in this book would be god tier in any book. It’s truly unfair to the others that we got three amazing ones here along with a great cast of characters. However, since that did happen, Levi will sit here at #7. He can have a consolatory rugelach while I continue on.

#6 -- Faye Devore

Faye Devore is your ex-husband’s new girlfriend, a younger social media influencer.

I loved Faye. Right from the start, I loved Faye. I prayed they weren’t going to make this into one of those books where we were supposed to hate the “other woman” because those plots are old, outdated, and overused. Thankfully, MOTY lets us skirt right around it and we end up with a wonderful character like Faye, who is the human definition of having the best intentions.

She gets on well with your daughter, even pointing out to MC at one point that she thinks of her like a little sister, and goes above and beyond to make her happy. She is genuinely upset about going against MC’s wishes about your daughter appearing on social media and doesn’t appear to want to cause any harm or hard feelings with MC at any point during the book. In fact, she wants to be friends. 

I would have loved for this and for it to be fleshed out more, again, if we had ever gotten a book 2. I’m also that jerk who would have totally romanced her in a replay and would have emptied my wallet to get a scene in that hypothetical book 2 where Guy finds out. Take that homophobe!

#5 -- Dr. Eiko Matsunaga

Dr. Eiko Matsunaga is a science teacher who teaches at the private school your daughter goes to and becomes friendly with MC because of your daughter. She is also one of your love interests.

If I would have had a teacher like Dr. Matsunaga when I was in school, maybe I would have cared about science at any point during my childhood. Eiko is so incredibly smart but has a heart of gold. She could be off teaching at colleges or writing published journals, but she’s teaching elementary science at a private school and honestly enjoying herself! She wants to see children succeed and will give any child who wants to do so, like your daughter, all of the help they need.

I want to romance her. I want to be her friend. I want it all because I’m selfish even when I don’t because I could never possibly be worthy of the supremacy that is Eiko. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

#4 -- Your Daughter / Zoey

Your daughter is 9 years old at the start of the book and desperately wants to be an astronaut. She is a science whiz and moves from public school to Bernhardt Academy at the beginning of the book to kickstart her education.

It makes me so sad that I will never actually have this child. “Zoey” is just so smart and funny and sweet and I love her so much. I spent so many diamonds on her. She’s a pixelated little bundle of amazing and I would die for her. That’s it.

#3 -- Alma Velasco

Alma Velasco is your neighbor, best friend, and (for part of the time) co-worker.

What did our character do to deserve such an amazing ride-or-die friend like Alma? She never disbelieves MC, is forever supportive as a shoulder to cry on and a supplier of good wine, and also helps MC out of more than one pinch. Seriously an amazing friend, and I wish we could have done something equally amazing for her to reciprocate.

#2 -- Thomas Mendez

Thomas Mendez is a lawyer and a single dad who becomes friends with MC very early on in the book. He is also one of your three love interests.

A big reason for why Thomas is at #2 is because of who #1 is but we’ll get there in a second.

There’s also something about Thomas that speaks to me as a person. It’s more than just being interested as a love interest or as a friend. There’s something about who he is. His awkwardness, his humor, his kindness and his generosity all make him someone I envy as much as I admire.

He takes on MC’s case pro bono when he doesn’t have to. He shrugs it off like it’s no big deal, but stepping back and looking at the it, by all accounts he was walking into a handily losing situation. He was also super busy at this time being a single parent himself and working on his class action lawsuit. That’s not even saying anything about him still grieving for Soledad.

However, the biggest reason I love Mr. Mendez is...

#1 -- Luz Mendez

Luz Mendez is a student at Bernhardt Academy who becomes best friends with your daughter early in the book. She is a soccer and art fan.

This little girl is the best thing I have ever read in my entire life. She made the entire book. Every character that came before her pales in comparison to her majesty. She is a goddamn queen and deserves everything.

Every scene with her is gold and I wish we had more. This little girl was completely willing to curb stomp someone with her cleats at the courthouse if something would have happened to your daughter. She is so aggressively herself and it is a joy to see. The relationship between her and her father is what really kept me going through the book’s more difficult spots. There is such true love and acceptance there, as well as the drive and desire to do better for the other than I just...There is really no way for me to properly explain the perfection that is Luz Mendez so I guess you’ll just have to read it yourself.

---

I’m not sure why it took me so long to start reading Mother of the Year (MOTY), but I’m so glad I did. In 3 days flat I binged the entire book, wasted so many accumulated diamonds, and had the time of my life. The cast of characters in MOTY is perfect and I wanted to rank them according to my opinion on which ones were the best. I ranked all of the characters I found to be profound enough to matter to the storyline or that MC or “Daughter” had enough interactions with to matter. As a result, there are several characters who didn’t make this list. 

Sound off below if you wish.

[canonicallysoulmates]

Walker 1.08

This was a really solid epi!

There is no case this week, the episode focuses on a tornado going through Austin in more ways than one. 

Starting with Liam. Poor, poor Liam; he was left traumatized by what happened in Mexico, he is not sleeping, he is scared for his life and that of his loved ones, he is ignoring his fiancé and living in his office, the man is an absolute mess and it all culminates in his fiancé breaking up with him and kicking him out because Liam lies to him by telling him he had an affair, and the reason he lied is because in his mind the best way to keep Bret safe is to push him away. I guess he has never seen a movie or tv show in his life cause if movie and tv have thought me something it’s that this never works, telling the truth is more effective because then the person you are trying to protect is aware that people might try to get close to them to hurt you and you could come up with a plan together to keep them safe. I wouldn’t be surprised if something ended up happening to Bret anyways; Liam also decides to tell Cordell about the investigation and that now they have evidence that he was right and Emily’s killer is still out there, I’m actually surprised that he told him so soon cause I thought this was gonna keep being a secret for some more episodes but I’m not complaining cause it is moving the story forward. 

But Cordell and Liam are not the only Walkers having a hard time, it was a rough night for the family along Liam pushing for the love of his life to leave him and Cordell finding out his wife’s murderer is still free right after he had started to start thinking about dating and had even flirted and gotten the cute science teacher’s phone number, papa and mama Walker were also having a shit night. Because Bonham went to the feed store of the dude that Abeline had the affair with! So we get to meet the dude but nothing happens it’s just Bonham staring him down but of course Abeline isn’t happy about it so they got this whole marriage drama going on and at the end Bonham acknowledges they gotta talk about things but for that night he just wants to dance with her which is cutes-y, he’s trying to save his marriage which is great but that’s just a temporary patch for some very serious issues in your marriage sir. They gotta talk about things and in the process give me the details about this scandalous affair. 

Stella is also having some relationship troubles because she found out who Trevor’s dad is! I wish it had been a little more dramatic but fuck it I’m just glad she now knows, I hope she tells her dad but these kids are fucking stupid so she probably won’t tell him even though she really should. So, that story also moves forward in this episode. 

Out of all of them, August had the best night, he is oblivious to what’s happening in his family, the girl he liked no longer has a boyfriend, and he ended up looking like a hero because he got the help needed to save the grandad of the girl he likes. Good for you August, you did something smart in this episode that is progress for you. 

Anyways, the Walkers weren’t the only ones dealing with trouble so were Trey and Micki. 

They were with Cordell when they all got the tornado warning and accompanied him to the kids school where they found out about the girls grandpa so they head out to find the man. Micki has yet to tell Trey about Adriana not being her bio mom cause that gives it a whole new level of real that she ain’t ready to deal with cause she is really struggling with this and even ends up having a panic attack in the middle of the storm- which Cordell helped her through ❤. 

But Trey ends up finding out at a very inconvenient moment in a very inconvenient way and he was understandably not happy at the fact that not only had Micki been keeping this huge, life changing secret for a week but that Cordell knew about it before him! And if that’s not enough, a wall fell on the poor man! They had stopped to help more people that had been hurt by the tornado and after saving a woman a wall crumbled down on top of him. Thankfully, he was okay and ended up with just a concussion and things between him and Micki were resolved after they talked and he let her know he wanted to be there not just for the good but also the bad and the messy, which made me happy on both counts cause I love their relationship and I love him. My heart jumped to my throat though when that he got hurt, I legit screamed. 

I also screamed when a tree fell on Cordell, because oh yeah a tree fell on Cordell! Thankfully he too was okay and Micki was able to help him out. 

For me the highlight and the best parts of the episode were Trevor, Micki and Walker working together, this shocks absolutely no one 😂 But y’all know I love them, I could honestly just watch an episode that’s the three of them only they don’t even have to be doing something exciting it could be just the three of them having a game night; which I wish we had actually gotten to see them have a little bit of a game night in this episode. 

I also wish we had gotten to see more of Liam and Bret before the break up, I thought they were gonna be stuck in the elevator for the whole ep and imo that would have been better because we could have gotten some really emotional scenes between them before Liam decides to lie to him which would make that decision have more impact because we just haven’t seen enough of these two as a couple. 

And I wish we had gotten to see the tornado actually destroy something but that was probably out of their budget. 

Anyways, overall, this was a really, really good episode it moved....I think pretty much all the storylines even the side stories forward and it did it well, I really liked a lot of the music they used, them in the storm was pretty intense, it was captivating, it was entertaining, it was a solid hour of tv. And I’m very excited to see what happens next week, the promo looks really good! 

[athina-blaine]

AO3 Year In Review - 2020

Top Fandom: The Magnus Archives (26 works)

Date of First Fic Posted: 02 May 2020 (road trip, 448 words)

Top Multi-Chapter Fic: fell in your opinion when i fell in love with you (19,002 words) The one that started it all! It was the first thing I’d ever written for TMA, having created the rough outline on 16 April 2020, a few weeks before I’d post the first of my one-shots. The rough draft was super rough, of course (initially it was only going to be one chapter, with nothing from chapter 2!), but I remember being amazed with how easily writing Martin’s character came to me. I’ve only gotten better from there!

Top One-Shot: the Teacher from the Magnus Archives (5,992 words) This one was my first fic/art exchange and I’m astounded with how well-liked it was! I never would have guessed it’d be my second most popular fic. I’m really glad people enjoyed Maggie’s character!

Fic You’re Most Proud Of: the loneliness never left me (but i can put it down in the pleasure of your company) (5,004 words). I know I only just posted this, but this is my first project using an entirely new system of rewrites and revisions that I think’s improved my writing by leaps and bounds. It’s definitely already made my entire writing process that much more efficient. Also the title is the best line from the best song and that’s an achievement all on its own. Honorary mention for the Monster of Magnus Manor, main reason I didn’t pick this one is because it’s still a WIP. Maybe next year!

Fic You Wish Got More Attention: the midnight hour is close at hand (8,189 words). God, this one was hard. It’s one of my only fics where the conflict of the story doesn’t really revolve around Martin and Jon’s burgeoning relationship, but around Jon and the problems that arise from his implied neurodivergency. I’ve never really tackled this subject matter before and I was absolutely terrified of making some kind of ill thought out implication or being too easy and/or too hard on Jon for his behavior. I think it came out okay in the end, though (I hope so, anyway). I think it would have gotten more attention if I had posted it as a complete one shot, but god writing this one was like pulling teeth, I would never have gotten it done if I didn’t divvy it out.

Fic That Challenged You The Most: every demon wants his pound of flesh (20,007 words) This fic was a real crossroads for me- I remember reaching the fourth chapter and being absolutely stuck. I wanted to write a big emotional scene with Jon and Martin in the hospital, but all I had done up to that point were fluff pieces with bare bones emotional reactions; I just had no idea how to get creative with the environment or what details to focus on in order to make a strong emotional impact. I still struggle with this a lot (shout out to theshoutingslytherin for all their good advice!), but this fic is where I really had to start digging deep in order to create the effect I wanted.

Favorite Quote/Passage: What did it mean, to be lonely?

Was it the dull ache of wondering how long it would take for someone to notice you were gone, if you were to pick a direction and start walking?

Being in the middle of a crowded room, nudged out of the way until you found yourself alone in a corner, fading into the background as everyone’s conversations carried on without you?

Wishing you just mattered to somebody, and not even managing that?

Lonely.

Was that loneliness? Because if it was, Martin wasn’t sure there’d been a time in his life where he hadn’t been lonely. (the Monster of Magnus Manor, Chapter 1: The Fog)

Total Words Posted: 130,739!

I’d like to thank all my followers for their support! I feel like writers have it especially hard getting attention on tumblr and that can be really discouraging, but you guys helped carry me through this, the devil’s year of 2020! I’d like to take a moment to especially thank everyone who have really gone the extra mile: @definitelynotshouting @fabulousspeed @skyberia @chalroe @hello-archivist @thesmallestzita @tired-dummy @thementalists @ciarakraken @spookyscarytaxevasion @lady-alys @ghostbustermelanieking @satturn I see your likes and reblogs and kudos and comments and it means so, so much to me every time! You made this year more bearable than it had any right to be!

Happy 2020, y’all! It’s almost over, haha.

(If anyone would like to use this format for themselves, please feel free!)

[lesbianlovelanguage]

The Soul Knows Best

Hey Y’all! This is 1/4 of the prompts the ever amazing @eraseyourbookofstories provided for me. I hope it’s okay that it’s basically a rewrite of the bathroom scene, I just love the intimate chemistry of the moment here’s to hoping the duffer bros don’t fuck it up in s4

Prompt: “Soulmates don’t have to be romantic. Sometimes your soul resonates with a friend.” for Robin and Steve

--

Steve was happy that he hadn’t skipped health for once in his life. Go figure it was when he was sat in the fucking mall bathroom, on the run from evil Russians, the taste of vomit on his tongue and the worst hangover ever looming in his future. 

He was happy because if he hadn’t been present for one particular lesson, his entire being would have been crushed in that shitty tiled bathroom, but rather than his soul shriveling up, he instead heard his health teacher’s voice ring.

“Soulmates don’t have to be romantic. Sometimes your soul resonates with a friend.” 

And that’s exactly what had happened. 

It was kind of crazy, and blurred in a drug and pain induced haze, but being tied to his coworker in a secret underground Russian laboratory had seemed to be one of the best moments. They never would have found out they were soulmates, never had a reason to touch until they were back to back and bleeding. But there they were, sprawled out in different bathroom stalls with matching ice cream cones of all fucking things on their left wrists. He had been so elated when he had sobered up enough to realize what the tattoo meant, that he wouldn’t be alone anymore, someone who would understand him, and then he slid under the stall and saw Robin’s face. She looked terrified and confused. Her voice was soft when he showed her the mark.

“This floor is disgusting.”

“Well, I already have a bunch of puke and blood on my shirt, so…” He responded, equally as soft. He was thrown by her voice, but determined to follow through. Maybe she was nervous that he would revert back to the King Steve personna that had been so dismissive of her in high school, but he wasn’t like that anymore. Had the scars to prove it, and would spill all of his secrets to show her that he meant it. They were soulmates after all. But she only chuckled lightly at his comment, and wouldn’t meet his eyes. Silence reigned for a few seconds before he couldn’t handle it anymore.

“What do you think?” 

“About?” She finally looked at him, sadness in her blue eyes.

“The mark?” 

“It’s pretty. Kind of a bummer that we’re branded with Scoops forever.”

“I mean yeah, but they’re kind of cool, right? I mean we’re soulmates, Rob.” He couldn’t contain the excitement in his voice at the word, but he also couldn’t help but notice how her entire body seemed to shut down. 

“I think it’s a mistake,” she said, still holding on to the soft tone. Steve bristled at the implication that he was a mistake.

“It’s not a mistake. These things don’t just happen, I mean,” he huffed, unable to finish his thought. 

“It is. Look, this isn’t right, and you don’t even know me. If you did, like really know me? I don’t think you’d even want to be my friend, let alone my fucking soulmate.” She couldn’t look at him anymore, soft voice gone cold and clinical as she talked about herself.

“Well, that’s not true. No way is that true.” Steve insisted, moving into her line of sight. Was she really still that obsessed with the Steve “The Hair” Harrington reputation. Hadn’t he already proved he was more than that?

“Listen. Steve. It’s shocked me to my core, but I like you. I really like you. But I am not like your other friends. I’m not like Nancy Wheeler.” She snapped the last sentence, and it solidified in Steve’s mind that it really was about his reputation. 

“Robin, that’s exactly why we’re soulmates. Because you’re not Nancy Wheeler, or Tommy, or any of those other bullshit people. With you I can just be Steve, just be myself.” But she just shook her head.

“Do you remember what I said- about Miss Click’s class? About me being jealous… obsessed?” 

“Yeah.” He said, confused about why she’s bringing up Miss Click and Tammy Thompson now. 

“It wasn’t because I had a crush on you. It was because she wouldn’t stop staring at you.” 

“Miss Click?” Why did she matter, why did she have an impact on the fact that Steve and Robin were soulmates?

“No, Tammy Thompson. I wanted her to look at me, but she couldn’t pull her eyes away from you and your stupid hair, and I remember the day she ‘accidently’ touched your hand. She was so crushed when you weren’t soulmates and I didn’t understand because you would get bagel crumbs all over the floor and you would ask stupid questions and, and you were a douchebag.” Steve was starting to feel the floor slip away again, like the world was still spinning, except this time there were no drugs he could vomit out of his system. But Robin continued, oblivious or uncaring to his heartbreak.

“And you didn’t even like her, and I would just go home and scream into my pillow because I couldn’t compete with a douchebag.”

“But… Tammy Thompson is a girl?” Steve felt like he had lost the plot, too distracted. He must have missed something. When all the question got was a whispered Steve, it suddenly clicked, and he heard his health teacher’s voice louder than Robin’s.

“Soulmates don’t have to be romantic. Sometimes your soul resonates with a friend.” 

“Oh,” was all he could think to say.

“Oh.” She mimicked back at him.

“Holy shit.” He sat back, feeling the floor solidify again. It wasn’t his reputation, or the fact that Robin thought he was bullshit that made her call him a mistake. While he was adjusting his world view, accepting the idea of a platonic soulmate and seeing that it fit perfectly into who he was trying to be, apparently Robin had been fighting back anxieties he couldn’t even comprehend, because she tapped him with her converse.

“Steve, you OD over there?” 

“No, just, uh. Just thinking.” Clearly, it was the wrong thing to say because she just looked away again, and began playing with a lock of hair. She murmured something too inaudible to catch, so he continued, trying to placate her without being overbearing.

“I mean, yeah. Tammy Thompson? She’s cute and all, but she’s a total dud.” This seemed to knock the insecurities out of her though, as she raced to defend her crush. They bickered playfully, Steve continuing to try and make Robin laugh, until Dustin and Erica burst in, practically panting. 

After that, it was a blur of the usual monsters and mayhem, but Steve made sure to keep Robin by his side through it all. It wasn’t until after they were all being treated by first-responders and interviewed by secret American spies that he had a moment alone with her again. 

“You know, we’re all good right?” He said, wanting to make sure the insecurities didn’t come back now that adrenaline had pushed the drugs out of both of their systems. He really couldn’t bear to lose Robin, not after everything that had happened and having to face the fact that Nancy was well and truly shaking it up with Byers.

“Yeah, dingus. I think we’re gonna be just fine, you know. Shared trauma and all that.” She winked at him conspirataly, having heard Nancy say something along the same lines once. Steve gave a small smile, and when Robin insisted on staying at his house that night for a “Non-Monster Related Hang Out” he couldn’t say no.

--

tag team: @lostnoise @gideongrace @stevefuckingharrington @a-magey @trashmouth-hargrove @catharrington (lmk if you would like to be added/removed from the list!)

[mackenzieparker]

ok lets do this one more time, yeah? for real this time. this is it. my name is nika (she/hers, est). i like to write and hang out cool communities like this and for the last first time, i have brought a brand new muse to y’all. below you’ll find all the details on a ms. mackenzie “mack” rae parker, plucky country gal and badass babe. please love me and her and smash that like button or send me a dm (discord ichoosenikachu#4859 )  to plot.

( tw: drunk driver, death, sexism )

B A C K S T O R Y →

meet mackenzie rae parker, born august 17, 1989 in grove, oklahoma. mack (as she’s gone by since she was a kid and it won’t be changing anytime soon) was born to two loving parents Steven and Margaret Parker, the youngest daughter of three boys: morgan, matthew, and merritt. yes, her parents did have a thing for m names--and no, it didn’t help her momma remember her name any better, like they told their kids growing up. 

Maggie and Steve loved their daughter--their whole family, really--to bits and pieces. It had been Maggie’s dream to have a little girl when the couple first got together and when they had first received the ultrasound, well, they were overjoyed. When Mackenzie came into the world, there was cause for joyous celebration and laughter. Everyone was happy the Parker’s finally had a little pink bundle of joy. 

Little Mackenzie’s personality was--well, let’s just say she had never been one to shy away from an exciting situation. Her brothers’ had taught her early on that life wouldn’t always be easy so she had to be tough enough to take it head on. In fact, they made it a point to remind her whenever they had a chance. Buts she was also their little sister, and fiercely protective of her. And while it annoyed Mack to no end, she adored her brothers endlessly. 

Mack may not have been the strongest Parker in the household, but next to her Momma she was the wittiest. Her comebacks were always sharp and as she grew up, she honed her sarcastic, dry wit in addition to her own athletic talent.

Mack loved her Momma. In fact, if she had to pick favorites her Momma would have won every time. It wasn’t that she didn’t like her father. Her father was a good man--he was a local mechanic at Grove Automotive, always greeted everyone with a smile and cared deeply for his family. But Mack and him were never as close as she was with her momma. Maggie understood her daughter’s firey nature but compassionate heart and saw the way it warred within her--especially after she’d gotten into a fight with one of her brothers. 

( tw: drunk driving & death ) When Mack was twelve, though--tragedy struck. Maggie was on her back from work after parent teacher conferences; she was the local kindergarten teacher at Grove Elementary, when a drunk drive t-boned her car and Maggie was killed on impact. thankfully (if one can say that in this situation) no one else was in the car. but suddenly the Parker family had lost its matriarch and Mack, the one person who might have been able to understand her. 

She had always grown up as a tomboy--a fact that even her momma, a woman who had been raised in South Carolina to rather traditional parents couldn’t stamp out of her. But even so, after Maggie Parker passed on, Mack became even more of one, almost shunning all that was feminine away from her, as if any reminder of her mother would be the end of her as she knew it. And, for her, it might have been. It was no secret she had been the closest to Maggie--and her death hit her the hardest. Mack got rid of all her dresses, all her skirts, anything that reminded her of her mother--save for the small box of photos and momentos she kept heavily hidden under her bed. On her worst days, she’d pull the box out and talk to the photo of her Momma--it was the only time the blonde ever outwardly expressed emotions, specifically crying. 

To distract herself from the grief, Mack threw herself into everything she could in high school--archery, debate, robotics club, anything to keep her mind off of the encroaching cloud that now lived around her heart. It was in Robotics club, though, she learned she had a real knack for using her hands. She had learned early on about cars and the like--her father’s occupation and brothers’ fascination with the thing gave her unparalleled access to a number of cars being torn apart and rebuilt from the ground up. But Mack--Mack was always more excited about what flew above their heads than right next to them. A junior in high school, she had made the choice that she wanted to be an engineer--one who would eventually design an entire new fleet of Boeing Jets for commercial use. She had only ever flown on a jet once--to see her grandparents after her momma’s passing--but it had been the only thing to give her relief from her sadness that day. It’s where her love affair with aviation began. 

Mack graduated top of her class (nerd, her brothers would always joke) and soon found herself enrolled in the University of Oklahoma’s prized engineering program (boomer sooner!). Of course, she wanted to stay close to home--one, to keep the costs down but two, leaving her family felt wrong, even six years later. And for the most part, Mack loved it. She got involved in all sorts of things--engineering clubs, intramural sports, and even, yes, a sorority. It went against all the things she hated in relation to femininity, but her mother had spoken so highly of her experiences in the organization, and Mack felt a pull to join her. To her surprise, she didn’t hate it--and it was with those women she really started to learn about feminism. 

You see, when Mack would go home, all the women in town would ask her about if she was seeing a boy. Mack had never understood why it mattered so much if she had a boyfriend or not--she was getting her degree in mechanical engineering, wasn’t that a tad bit more impressive than whatever guy she might be seeing? But soon, it occurred to her that the women in town would never understand anything other than her finding her future husband at school. The fact shocked her, considering it had never occurred to her in the slightest that she’d ever go to school to get a husband in the first place. After the shock worn down, it enraged her and made her work harder. Because now, she was getting disparaging comments from the folks back home and the men in her internships and co-ops. Women can’t build things--they’ll break a nail. Why are you in pants? Your legs would look better in a skirt. Mack had never been one to bit her tongue, and on more than one occasion was able to test out what her brothers’ had taught her growing up. No one was going to tell Mack what she could or could not do. And certainly not because of her gender. 

Mack eventually graduated college--though deeply in debt thanks to all those added fees for science labs #thanksUofOklahoma--but realized that going back home would never be realistic for her. So, she packed up her truck, Betsy, and headed west. Originally, she had meant to go to Seattle or Portland--that’s where Boeing was, that’s where her dream landed. But something about Charming, CA caught her eye--and she found herself intrigued. Plus, it sure didn’t hurt that no one seemed to care when she applied to work as a mechanic in their autoshop. Now she’s been here about 8 years and she hasn’t grown sick of it yet. She still has dreams of working for Boeing, but as she grows more comfortable in Charming, they seem to be slipping to the wayside. 

Mack’s vibe is...well, she’s a loyal friend, a good listener and kind, though not sunshine and rainbows. Growing up without her mom really changed her--she still had a compassionate heart but it’s not as obvious as it once was. She’s still sassy, sarcastic and witty, but she is friendly as well. Smart too--and a bit of a nerd, loves herself some comics and documentaries. all around, she’s genuinely a good egg, just a little...rough around the edges at times. 

H E A D C A N O N S →

Mack never, ever goes by Mackenzie. In fact, you’ll never know its her full name unless she drops her ID. The only person you’ll ever hear call her that is her father--or brothers--when something is wrong. 

Her favorite food is chicken cordon bleu. She knows it sounds fancy but literally, her favorite is the one where you buy it frozen and pop it in the oven. She is a simple gal, truly. 

Her favorite shoes are her various pairs of converse, although for work she can be seen wearing docs so she doesn’t get oil all over her shoes. 

Betsy, her truck, is very special to her--she takes extra good care of it. She’s a 1967 Chevy C10 Pickup in a robin’s egg blue color--and her pride and joy.

Even though she loves her truck no matter what, the woman has worked on enough bikes for the various motorcycle clubs around town to know that if she had even gotten enough money--she’d get herself a nice bike. Flying down the road on open asphalt? Doesn’t get better than that. 

Mack loves classic rock. Like love loves it--but also the women of the 90′s like Alanis Morisette, Liz Phair, The Cranberries--she loves a good women rock group. 

P L O T S →

friends

exes

situationships/flirtationships

fwb

slowburn

coworkers

any connections to the motorcycle gang

literally i suck at listing plots out, just hit me up and i’ll be EXCITED TO PLOT!

[janiedean]

hello dearest (not) anon, excuse me if I don’t reply to you directly but as I want to block each single one of you I’ll keep the original so I can lovingly delete it after I’m finished. :)

now, I was this tempted to just delete or troll you, but as y’all have honestly seemed to not realize that you’ve gone overboard and that I didn’t want to get further involved with this dumb shipwar but you’re basically making me go like

so fine, whatever, I’ll address this one because it has all the single dumbest arguments we could have and I kind of want it for safekeeping, so.

point one: starting an ask with you freaks and then complain we don’t complain about jaime calling brienne ugly makes me wonder if you actually re-read your asks before you send them or if you even bother to make sure they’re internally coherent, because sorry but you’re basically saying this entire fandom is made of **freaks** which last I know was not a compliment to anyone’s aesthetic, so you already don’t have ground to stand on;

point two: stupid is actually a universally degrading word when referred to a specific person and used to undermine their intelligence, especially if continuously repeated. now, in *itself* it’s not damning - an argument can be stupid, a discussion can be stupid (I mean I’ve seen people savagely arguing over who had to wash the dishes, that’s a stupid reason to argue with anyone), a law can be stupid (all of italian bureaucracy is definitely a challenge for anyone for one), of course it’s all about how it’s used. for one, if used ironically and not meaning it, as in ‘my stupid son charging against dragons’, it’s not damning either, because wow, wait a moment, every single person who says that also knows that jaime is doing that out of ptsd fight instinct and that there’s nothing funny about it, but as we are people outside the narrative who love the character, we don’t mean it in a demeaning way. obviously charging at a dragon is suicidal, and it’s exactly what he’d have done (probably also in book canon I’ll give them that), but we all know why he did it, and btw dork is nowhere near on the same level as the stupidest lannister, it can be meant positively as well and tbh it’s used way more positively than that - I mean, there’s dorks in love and idiots in love as ao3 tags, no one uses them to insult the people in the ship they’re writing about now, do they? however, the whole thing about ‘the stupidest lannister’ is completely different because it implies cersei, someone jaime trusts implicitly and who’s his sister and, to him, also his lover and his other half - going by your own/their own definition - continuously demeaning his intelligence. now, I don’t think you quite realize how emotional abuse works or how that works, but let me tell you: if people you are that close with or have a fundamental impact in your upbringing (your parents, your siblings, your first teachers etc.) tell you that all the time, you end up believing that. and what comes with it? if you think you’re more stupid then them, then it means that their decisions will be better than yours because you’re too dumb to take them properly and they’re not, and you won’t even start to wonder that maybe they’re wrong and you’re right, and it’s an exceedingly common thing that happens between abusers and their victims, ie convincing them that they’re not smart enough to know what’s good for themselves, and so coming from cersei who also doesn’t want jaime to put two and two together and realize he’s a different person from her and actually, worse, doesn’t even consider the possibility that he might actually not be a different person from her, it’s straight up emotional abuse of the ugliest kind and it has nothing to do with *fans of the character* calling him a dork over his utter lack of smoothness when hitting on people, because we know why he doesn’t know how to hit on people. other than that, in the show they made jaime canonically dyslexic. now, if you even don’t get that calling someone stupid for thirty years will do a great fucking lot of damage to them (I mean, I’ve been told I was snobbish for three years by a teacher I didn’t even particularly admire in my formative years and I still have to finish unpacking the consequence of that shit, I can’t imagine being constantly demeaned by your relatives or people you trust implicitly) I doubt you’ll realize the fucking wrongness depths of the implication that the only lannister with a canon in-show learning disability is *the stupidest lannister* especially when there’s still the stigma about dyslexic people being dumb because *they can’t read* when that’s not true at all and they just need different ways of approaching a text and then they’re good to go and it has nothing to do with how smart or no they aren’t, but I’m going to tell you: it’s ableist as hell, falls under harmful stereotypes about dyslexic people that tv shows should go against, not reinforce and it has really disgusting connotations, so excuse me if I am pressed about it and other people are pressed about it and your opinion belongs in the trash and I really hope you’re not a teacher not are planning to become one;

point three: now we go at how you don’t get at all how those two work and how brienne’s character is structured, but here, let me explain you: a) jaime calls her ugly when they meet and after he loses the hand he only calls her ugly in his head and/or to her face when he’s irritated or she has misunderstood his intentions or he feels hurt by the fact that she misunderstood his intentions (when he gives her oathkeeper in the books), and in the show he stopped mid S3. on the other side, she calls him an oathbreaker and all the worst things she can call him - if you missed it, they insult each other and they start their relationship thinking the worst of the other person, and even with that he spends the entire first chapter of his in asos checking her out but you didn’t notice that I suppose; b) jaime does not call her ugly at all after he punches ronnet connington and in the show again he hasn’t since mid s3, and given that they were supposed to start as enemies and she insulted him right back, I won’t be here being pressed about them trading insults when the entire point of the story is that they stop insulting each other after they get to know each other and get closer to each other, or have you missed that too? c) the fact that he calls her ugly is actually narratively important because let me explain you something that you don’t know because you obv. haven’t read brienne’s chapters: most of the time she remembers being hurt by other men when it comes to her feelings, it’s when she found out they lied to her about her looks. she got her first trauma related to her looks when her septa told her that people who called her pretty were lying, and she got hurt during the bet with hyle and so on because those people were courting her and telling her nice things and then they were all planning on screwing her literally and metaphorically, so if someone went to brienne and told her ‘oh hey you look hot as hell let’s bang!!’, she wouldn’t believe them. let me guarantee you, she wouldn’t. the fact that jaime did not compliment her at all if not going all the way around to do it about her fighting prowess and maskerading it as insults means that he never lied to her about her looks or about anything, and the fact that then he changes and genuinely respects her and trusts in her and gives her THE THING SHE’S WANTED MOST IN HER LIFE ie a sword and a knightly quest and someone actually believing she could be a knight and carry out her vows instead of thinking she was a joke weights a lot more than any insult he might have thrown at her in the past and actually, she can trust him to not make fun of her/she can know for sure he’s not joking exactly because he never had a problem with calling her ugly (which she knows she is according to westeros beauty standards in the beginning) nor to tell her mean things when he thought them, and so since he never lied to her before and she can see that he changed, she has no reason to think he could or would lie to her after, and considering that most of her trauma is tied to having been lied to in that sense... sorry but no, it doesn’t bother me at all because if it’s an enemies to lovers kind of trope I really don’t think I’d expect him to gift her flowers at their first meeting. I mean, *enemies* to *lovers* implies that at the beginning they don’t like each other, or did you forget that words have meanings? also, hairy is not an insult. I suppose that for people who insult other people about the peach fuzz mustache most women have it would be an insult, but let me tell you: it’s not. and given that I’ve seen posts over posts about how it’s an expression of feminism to not shave I really think you haven’t even checked that discourse lately - personally I don’t care for it but like, having body hair is not automatically a crime nor a reason why you’re unattractive. get lost. and like, excuse me if insults traded by people who didn’t know each other and that they both outgrew when they did know each other are nowhere near on the same level of making someone think they’re too fucking stupid to take their own decisions and always have to follow someone else’s lead, and excuse me if I’m way more than mildly worried that anyone in this fandom would look at that stupidest lannister bullshit and actually don’t feel horrified at it.

now, honestly, can y’all just stop with this grasping at straws which happens to also be ableist as hell while pretending to give a fuck about brienne as a character - because you don’t, it’s obvious from how you don’t understand her issues at all - and keep to your own lane or what? because honestly, it’s obvious no one has ever called you ugly in your life and that you never had to deal with anyone demeaning your intelligence because you were most likely too busy demeaning other people’s, but you’ve been at this bullshit since 2013.

didn’t you get bored?\

[songofadaydream]

my real-time thoughts on rocketman the 4th time I’ve seen it in total and 2nd time this week, let’s go bois *very long post warning*

fair warning I just finished jojo rabbit less than an hour ago and it was way more emotional than I expected, so she’s probably going to be an emotional wreck tonight ladies!! :)) also, I will be pausing the movie throughout! just wanted to let you know

starting the night out right with some lay’s salt and vinegar chips and a lush face mask

not even a part of the movie but when the studio logos come on a version of goodbye yellow brick road and just *french kiss*

it’s starting and I am here for it!!

taron comes looking like an icon and a snack. actually, a whole meal. the heart glasses omggg

“how long’s this gonna take.” “that’s really up to you.”

i never noticed this before but taron stares right into the camera as he introduces himself

“my name is elton hercules john. and I’m an alcoholic. and a cocaine addict. and a sex addict. and a bulimic. i’m also a shopaholic who was problems with weed, prescription drugs, and anger management.”

“well my dealer was out of town I thought this seemed like a good alternative,”

“and I wanted to get better.”

um the transition into the full on musical number of the bitch is back.

this tiny little child actor playing elton saying bitch 10 million times. props to his parents for letting him do that.

um also his riffs??

just the way his mom says, “love to.”

god his dad is a DOUCHE

“when are you going to hug me”🥺🥺

the flashlight conducting scene!! they’re playing rocketman and it’s so beautiful and cute!! whe lil reggie/elton gets on the mini piano oh my god

when he looks at his mom’s fashion magazines...gay fashion icon beginnings...

*looks up* “can we go home,”

he starts playing his teacher’s song and she’s just like 😦😦

idk if this is an unpopular opinion but I don’t really like the I want love scene. I just don’t really like the switching of singer, the arrangement, and tempo. just my opinion though :/ also that’s the only weak scene of this movie I think

elton’s grandmother appreciation post send tweet

that last I want love though.

when his mom is clearly getting it on in a car and her date is like, “I’m..,,..a friend of.,.,,..your mum’s,.,,”

his dad leaves. heartbreaking!

when he wipes the tear away...

“i discovered records. and rock and roll :)”

playing classical music with an elvis presley haircut is an aesthetic no I don’t take criticism

“excuse me. you can’t put that there,” “why not,” “it’ll get knocked off.”

when he transforms into teenage elton and an amazing musical/dance number starts

that face taron makes when the door shuts on the car

“it’s not just your name. you gotta kill the person you were born to be in order to become the person you wanna be.”

that kiss with one of the band members is so hot.

peeing in a bottle in disgusting I’m sorry.

“what’d you say your name was again?” “elton.” “elton. elton what.” “john. elton john.”

ray is cute af. also the transcendental moment when he hands elton the envelope with bernie’s lyrics in it.

“one frothy coffee, no froth.”

jamie is so cute what the heckkkk

singing streets of loredo in a cafe is so wholesome and adorable

holy sHIT BORDER SONG IS STARTING

bernie and elton are literally so cute together as friends omg

also completely digging these like early 70s silk scarf things.

“yeah I could just take those songs and leave if you like,”

“what about the fact that you’re a f*g...your little friend here...is a homosexual.”

bernie not caring whether or not elton is is gay is Peak Pure ™

“oH fUcK”

when they stumble home drunk. the cuteness I can’t.

“you are a ssshhHHITT hot piano player, you have an aMAZING voice, and I’m telling you there is something special that happens...when you sing our songs.”

the way the two handle elton’s leaning in for a kiss is SO GOOD and I could write an entire essay on it. “we became inseparable after that. the brother I never had.”

“anyway I took his advice. told arabella. she took it quite well actually,” *cut to her throwing his piano out the window* “sHe KiLlEd mY pIaNo”

your song and everything about that scene is perfection. that’s all I have to say.

“you can’t just sPRING the troubadour on me.”

“put on a great

fucking

show. and just don’t kill yourself with drugs?”

amoreena is so good how didn’t I realize this until now!

doug flirting w/bernie kills me every time.

“ooh dude. what the hell’re you wearing?”

“my stage gear.”

*bernie stumbles in drunk* “reggie! reggie reggie. neil diamond is at the bar he’s talkin to leon russell and half the fuckin beach boys eh??”

“jesus sHIT bernie,”

that little, “well come on then,” after being yelled by bernie & ray

“please welcome all the way from london, england...”

ELTON JOHN

when he starts singing it’s like the smoothest molasses ever and I am HERE for it.

there’s an interview where taron says, and I quote, “those dungarees made my ass look massive” wholeheartedly agree my guy. but in best way possible

when they start floating

elton’s jacket and the magic that is the entirety of tiny dancer <3 <3

there’s a whole ass bed in a tipi?? what the hell

“so you like the songs then?” “not quite as much as the singer,” OH SHIT THE GAY TENSION

“there are moments in a rockstar’s life that defines who he is...and it’s going to be a wild ride,”

it’s a weird scene to like but I really love the take me to the pilot love scene. the song is so good and perfect for that moment, and they seem genuinely attracted to each other (even though john ends up being a huge dick later)

the way he takes the glasses off

the lil race to get their pants off is weird but it works

elton just seems so happy and content at the end and it’s so refreshing.

when he gets the shoes and the glasses <3

he looks so happy and fulfilled my little boy

why is it so cute when he and Kiki record don’t go breaking my heart

elton stops it the SECOND he sees John oh my goddd

kiki’s little “ough” when she sees john

“elton what’s going on are we going again or should we go for a pint,” *sees john walk into the closet* “yeah no yeah you should go for a pint”

HONKY CAT IS ONE OF IF NOT THE BEST SCENES/SONGS IN THE ENTIRE FILM THERE I SAID IT

cocaine induced head butt of a soccer ball is iconic

why did they have to get rid of rayyyy

the, “best of luck to you elton,” is so bitter yet genuinely well-wishing??

“welp...that was *absolutely* horrible,” is such a mood

the scene where he goes to come out to his dad is so incredibly heartbreaking, especially when it cuts to him in rehab.

taron deserves an oscar just for throwing that chair alone.

“what have you got to do the get a fucking drink around here, eh?” and then he takes a swig from a bottle in the car with john

when he calls his mom to come out. that shit hurts.

“i just hope you realize you’re choosing a life of being alone forever...you’ll never be loved properly.” he opens his mouth. it’s so awful guys. and then he fucking gets punched by john what an absolute dick.

“real love’s hard to come by. so you find a way to cope without it.”

the scene that comes right after that when he’s getting ready for his show and snorts cocaine and takes a swig of a drink really shows how far off the deep end he had gone. it’s heartbreaking, really.

“PEOPLE DON’T PAY TO SEE rEgInALd dWiGhT THEY PAY TO SEE ELTON JOHN. DON’T EVER TELL ME HOW TO DO MY FUCKING JOB.” “WRITE THE FUCKING LYRICS, BERNIE. LET ME DEAL WITH THE REST,” “i’m sorry,” “i know.”

that headdress tho

ok but pinball wizard absolutely slaps and so does the montage with all of his changing outfits

oh my god the drag queen in his room though

NONONONO JOHN IS LITERALLY RIGHT THERE FUCKING CHEATING ON HIM IT IS NOT OKAY.

what an inconvenient time for his mom to waltz in

“and what a shy little boy you were! look at you now.”

“mum you’re ON my GOWN,”

i wish i were as cool as bernie getting out of that car and coming inside

“yEaGhHhH...go get a lil drink. yehyeh,”

get ready for one of the most impactful scenes of 2019 if not the 2010s ladies

“FOR MY NEXT TRICK i’m gonna fucking kill myself.”

again, I could write an entire essay on this but the fact that he is literally hitting rock bottom with his childhood self down there is so impactful and powerful and one of the greatest artistic choices they made in this film. also the cinematography is gorgeous.

and oh, by the way, taron actually performed this underwater. no cgi or special effects. where is his oscar.

john is a dick to him on the stretcher but bernie looks so genuinely concerned for his friend and I love that.

it is absolutely gut wrenching when they pump his stomach.

THE CINEMATOGRAPHY AND ANGLES AND SILHOUETTES WHEN IT GETS TO THE BIG CHORUS PART IS SO SO SO INCREDIBLY GOOD AND AMAZING AND I WILL NEVER, EVER GET OVER IT.

the nurses getting him ready for what was probably his biggest/most iconic performance to date is something so incredible, and such a great choice cinematically, story wise, and really emotion wise too. he was at his absolute rock bottom and did one of if not the most iconic performance a little over 24hrs later, and I think this little part really helps to illustrate that.

taron actually hit that baseball and I’m so proud of him for it.

the liftoff is so great. and then it cuts to him in a plane with smoke on his head which just. ugh.

hot take: elton’s addiction wouldn’t have gotten so bad if he had just gone to bernie’s fucking ranch with him

THE QUEEN OUTFIT IS SO ICONIC IM SORRY

also if this movie doesn’t win the goddamn best costume design I swear to god.

YES BENNIE AND THE JETSSSSS

this is also such a great scene as well omg.

when he flashbacks to his childhood and difficult and also great moments in his life during this sequence. that hit hard.

i feel like no one talks about taron’s arms enough? they as thiccc as his thighs why y’all sleeping on them

“You signed a contract with me years ago, so I’ll still be collecting my 20% long after you’ve killed yourself.” that’s cold as hell.

when he throws that glass at the door. and then victim of love starts playing straight afterwards UGH dexter fletcher you need to STOP and CALM DOWN

listen I don’t know elton was thinking and/or feeling in terms of life and his sexuality when he decided to marry renata but can we talk about his wedding outfit?? wtffff it’s so gay and if you don’t see it you’re blind.

the look his mom gives him I’m DEAD

they literally had separate rooms this was not a normal marriage. the breakfast scene is so sad though.

“did being married make you happy?” “not really, I’m gay.” hands down one of the most iconic lines in the entire movie.

why does he have sperm on this firework suit coat.

“you know I am so sick of running away from who I am.”

the way his voice wavers and cracks is not okay. and neither is his mom twisting everything around so that she’s made out to be the victim. and don’t cry in the bathroom elton please buddy. you’ll be okay.

“campaign to kill yourself is going well, eh?”

“when did you give up? if you don’t care about yourself how can you expect anyone else to...it’s not weak to ask for help.”

goodbye yellow brick road is such a beautiful song and scene and why didn’t we get Jamie to sing more I mean come on he does so incredibly well in this scene.

also I didn’t really realize that they flipped a few verses around for the movie. and elton yelling and screaming at bernie as he leaves is so powerful.

elton yelling at himself.

this is also when he has a heart attack?? chest infection?? I don’t really know but he falls down the stairs and Mr. Dick Manager John makes him continue to perform.

and there he is in the first scene’s costume. singing the rest of yellow brick road.

and there he goes. off to rehab. a full circle moment. good for him for finally taking control of his life and addictions.

“yeah but I started acting like a c*nt in 1975. I just forgot to stop.”

“maybe I should’ve tried to be more ordinary.” his grandmother walks in. “he was never ordinary.” my. heart. can. not. take. this.

this next scene where he talks to everyone in his mind is incredibly powerful and I will shout it from the rooftops until the end of time.

“my problem is that I believed you loved me. and you’re incapable of it.” the SHADE

“actually I think I’m okay with strange.”

BERNIE COMES IN MY LOVE

“bernie...I never told you how much I need you.” shit fam here comes the waterworks

“you just need to remember who you are. and be okay with it.”

and then his childhood self comes in. “I haven’t been reggie Dwight for years.” “when are you going to hug me.” he engulfs his young self in a hug. this is one of the best moments of the film and I am now full on crying.

I can’t get over how wholesome bernie’s visit is with Elton. the sweetest thing ever.

“you’re not scared you’re not good without it, you’re scared to feel again...this is the part you gotta do on your own. these...need music”

“thank you bernie.” “you’re my brother.” <3

and then he finally sits down to write again. and it’s pure magic.

I’m still standing is a a feat of what he’s been through the entire movie. finally, he’s sober, he’s accepting of himself/his sexuality, and is getting to a better place. plus, it mirrors the original music video, and is everything I’ve ever needed and more. *the* perfect scene and song to end upon.

he’s so happy at the end. and then the epilogue starts and says he’s been sober for 28 years and counting, set up an aids charity, still writes with bernie, met his husband David 25 years ago and is finally loved properly (rip my heart out of my chest, why don’t you), has two sons and is retiring from touring. and and the I’m gonna love me again plays with him and taron and it’s just such a perfect song to end, and I can’t.

so. those are my thought while watching rocketman for the 4th time in total, 2nd time this week. sorry that’s it’s so long. I just love this film so much. anyways, it’s almost 2am and I’m an emotional wreck. I’m gonna go cry and go to bed now. thanks for making it this far. :) <3

[zankivich]

Teacher’s Pet: A College AU Chapter 9

It’s important that y’all know that I’m half way past drunk while posting this and thus cannot be held responsible for spelling and grammatical errors. I hope you like it. Please give the feeds of backs if you’d like.... Enjoy!

Chapter 9

Shawn’s performance quickly took precedence over everything. He was spending sometimes six or seven hours a day in the practice rooms just going over songs and writing and practicing. He would come home late at night and crawl into bed only to toss and turn with a lyric in his head, or a bridge that wasn’t sitting right. It didn’t occur to you that a recital would mean so much until he explained that there was talks of scouts being there this year. It had all come out during a late night cuddle session when his body was refusing to shut down, so you stayed up with him.

“So, there’s potential for you to get discovered at this thing? Like maybe actually do music?” You asked.

He sighed and shrugged his incredibly tense shoulders.

“Yea, I guess so. I mean the internet’s a crazy place. I book shows regularly around here on my own. I’ve got a decent following on soundcloud and youtube. It could… it could become something. Maybe. I don’t know.”

“That’s scary.” You hummed running your fingers through his curls.

He was lying against your chest naked besides his underwear, but his whole body seemed to be locked up with anxiety. He really seemed to need the reassurance.

“It’s what you want though isn’t it?” You asked.

He peered up at you, lifting his head from your chest and staring at you with lost eyes.

“Huh?”

“Like if you could choose right now, to fully dedicate yourself to it, and just go for it. Would you?”

He licked at his lip in thought. “It makes me happy. It’s what I wanna do forever.”

You smiled. “Well then, you’re gonna do it. You’ll be scared shitless right now, and you’ll sit in my bed when you can’t sleep, and you’ll take out all of your frustrations on me sexually, and then you’ll just go out there and do it. Because it’s what you want. And i know that you can do it.”

He peered up at you finally taking a deep breath and seeming to come out of his head for a little bit. His eyes told you just how truly scared and nervous he was, which just meant it mattered to him a lot. You ran your hands up and down his back in a soothing rhythm willing his body to relax as he settled into your body again.

“Will you still love me, even if I fail?” He asked.

“Undoubtedly.”

“Even if I’m broke and have to move in here with you?” He teased smiling for the first time that night.

You grinned. “I’m in crippling debt for probably the rest of my life, but sure until they kick me out, you can be a lump in my sheets.”

“K. I love you.” He mumbled reaching up to kiss your forehead.

You eagerly returned the sentiment.

“I love you too.”

The stress didn’t get all that better, but having his family around seemed to help him cope at least. You could tell that letting them down was something he seemed to worry about often, and there was this really beautiful, but troubling thing about his relationship with his mom. He loved her terribly, that much was obvious, but it seemed like he had very specific goals for his life and that they didn’t align with what she wanted for him. He never talked about it though so you didn’t pry. But it became all the more obvious when she showed up at your office for lunch.

“It took me ages to find this place,” She gasped walking straight into the middle of the room. “I don’t know how these kids do it.”

“Mrs. Mendes!” You exclaimed jumping out of your seat. “H--Hi. Um what are you doing here?”

She smiled holding up a bag. “I brought food. Shawn told me you liked In-N-Out.”

“Shawn told you that, did he?” You smiled reaching for your phone.

Sure enough there was a text stating 9-1-1, here comes mother. You still made a note to kick his ass later.

“Yea, I figured we could spend some time together. Shawn thinks I come off a little intense, and you seem really important to him, so I want to make a good impression.”

You softened at that because you weren’t made of fucking stone, and mother’s loving their son’s was just sweet as all hell.

So, you both sat on the love seat and you did everything in your power not to remember how many times you’d blown Shawn on that very couch but your cheeks still got red anyway. Jesus take the wheel, truly.

“I just wanted to say, because I didn’t get a chance to at lunch the other day, that I think you’re lovely. You’re intelligent and sweet and obviously deeply involved in human rights and what not. Shawn’s never had someone in his life quite like you. And I can tell it’s having a wonderful impact on him.”

You bit anxiously at your burger wondering if it was a Canadian thing to spill every gut and feeling you’d ever had in general conversation, or if it was just a Mendes thing. Maybe it was the whole world, and you were the defect.

You do your best to be honest and sincere because it’s your boyfriend’s mother and you actually don’t want her to hate you.

“I wish you could see the greater impact he’s had on me. I don’t really get around much outside of my department so there’s not a lot of people in my life to notice the difference but...he makes me extremely happy. I--I’ve never felt anything like it before. He’s a special human being and he means a lot to me.” You murmured hands and eyes on your food. “I’ve been so focused on my studies for the past five years that I haven’t really taken the time to enjoy my life. He makes it impossible not to.”

She sniffled and you peered up in horror thinking that she was going to cry. There was definitely something there, but she managed to keep it together.

“Well… that’s just all a mother wants to hear now isn’t it.” She smiled. “Thank you, dear.”

“It’s no problem. I’ve kind of fallen in love with him, so I’ve decided to keep him for a while.” You grinned.

She reached for your hand and gave it a firm squeeze and it felt kind of like acceptance. You ate beside one another for a while in comfortable silence. It wasn’t so bad. She didn’t hate you, and think that you were absolutely wrong for Shawn in every way. At least she wasn’t telling you that anyway. So you felt like things were good. And then she showed you embarrassing pictures of Shawn as a child and they were even better. It was a look, truly.

***

The night of the performance was weird because you couldn’t touch him. It was in the middle of the huge performance hall on campus. There were faculty and students and families everywhere. So, when he left to go backstage it was without a hug or a kiss or anything. (There was definitely pre-performance, celebratory sex; you weren’t a monster after all). You were left to sit between his mother and his little sister waiting for the lights to go down. It was scary to know that everything he’d been working up to since you’d practically met was gonna come out on stage that night. But ultimately performing seemed to be so transformative and therapeutic for him, that you weren’t worried in the slightest.

The beauty of a liberal arts school is the music department was well funded and supported. The students who were performing that night were talented as fuck, and it showed with every person who got up on stage. Curious about what musical producer might be the lucky one to sign your boyfriend, you peered around the room in fascination. Your eyes landed on Roger, the student from your class who was barely passing and seemed to hate Shawn--and anyone who cared about basic human rights--with a passion. He stared right back at you and it sent a chill through your spine. Aaliyah said something about the person performing, drawing your attention back to her, and by the time you looked back to Roger, he was gone.

You didn’t have time to think about uber creep because before you knew it they were introducing Shawn to the stage. He was wearing a floral shirt, because you told him that he looked hot as fuck in them--which he did, and it was french tucked into his jeans. Tan France was doing wonders for his wardrobe and for your sex life. He looked like he belonged up there.

“I’m Shawn Mendes. This first one is called ‘Nervous’.” He smiled.

You noticed that one of his housemates was on stage on the drums with him as they began as they began to play together. He searched through the crowd as he played and sang, a smile lighting up his face when his eyes finally found his family and you. It was another new song that you’d only maybe heard bits and pieces of, but he rocked the hell out of it, quickly coming alive on stage. The people before him had done ballads and orchestra numbers, and very exquisite pieces in terms of style, but Shawn was just playing music that everyone wanted to hear, and you could physically feel the room shift from his presence. It was beautiful to watch.

Warmed up and finely tuned, he slid into his next song with ease. He performed the song from the club after your fight, Like To Be You, and In My Blood. Just as you expected he got lost in the music, and there wasn’t a person in the whole entire room who wasn’t vibing. When he finished, everyone stood and clapped giving your man the standing ovation he deserved. He was perfect and wonderful and deserved all of the praise in the world. If there were people who performed afterwards you didn’t notice because, he was the only thing on your mind.

You: You’re an icon. Everyone loved it. I’m proud af.

Shawn: Thank you. That was insane! I feel like I could do 20 more songs

You: After tonight, I have a feeling you will

Shawn: Sheesh. Come back stage?

You: Are you sweaty and disheveled?

Shawn: Of course

You: Omw

Backstage was a whirlwind, people running around getting ready and practicing in the middle of the hallway. Shawn was standing with his friends, the biggest smile in the world upon his face. When he spotted you, everything else seemed to be forgotten because he was snatching you up in his arms and pressing his lips firmly against yours in front of everyone. You let it slide because this was his night, and you wanted him to have the world and the stars if he asked.

“Are you gonna leave me for all your fangirls when you get signed?” You murmured wrapping your arms around his waist and peering up at his tall form.

He captured your face in his hands and kissed at your nose and lips making a smile appear.

“Never.” He whispered.

“I’m so fucking proud of you, you know that?.” You grinned hugging him closer.

The affection between the two of you must of been stifling because his friends were quickly scoffing and moving away. But, Shawn was sliding his hands up and down your back and giving you these smiles that just fill your heart with warmth. How could you not want all of the PDA in the world with this man.

“I couldn’t have done it without you. You wouldn’t believe the inspiration you’ve given me. Every song I’ve written lately is about you or inspired by you.”

You reached up onto the tips of your toes to kiss him again.

“Good. You can give me writing credits whenever you’re ready.”

He laughed at the sound was absolutely glorious. All the tension in his body had faded and he just looked happy and sweaty and puppy like. That thing that had been pulling you to him since the day that you met only seemed to strengthen as if it was a string that was pulling tighter and tighter. You didn’t want to be anywhere else than right by his side, and you couldn’t believe that everything about him could make you as happy as it did.

When the rest of the performances were over, you both made your way outside to go visit Shawn’s family. It was on the way towards the doors that he got stopped, some guy in a business suit reaching his hand out to him. You stood as far away as was socially acceptable while still being able to hear. Business suit guy gave Shawn a card and clapped him on the back and it seemed like the stars were aligning. You didn’t even get a chance to go freak the fuck out before two other men were doing the same thing. By the time Shawn made his way back to you, his face was glazed over with a look you’d never seen before, and he didn’t seem to have the words.

“Well….What did they say?!” You asked practically bouncing where you stood.

He shook his head still in shock. “Atlantic. Universal. Warner Brothers.”

“They all want to meet with you?”

“Y--yea.”

If Shawn was frozen you were the exact opposite jumping up and down like a wild banshee and screaming in his ear. He didn’t seem to believe that any of it was real, but none of that mattered. There were celebrations to be had dammit.

You dragged him outside where his family was waiting and had to share the news yourself. There was this beautiful moment where they all kind of four way hugged him and he couldn’t stop smiling, couldn’t show anything other than complete and total elation. Everything was perfect.

You had made reservations for his favorite restaurant, this steakhouse he took you to for your one month anniversary, and you were in charge of driving the vehicle, with his family in the back seat and Shawn in passenger. He held your hand the whole time, fingers intertwined against the center console while conversing with his family about the show.

When you all got out of the car, he pulled you into his side and kissed at your hair. Affectionate Shawn was the best Shawn.

“I’m so happy, I don’t even know what to do with myself.” He whispered in your ear. “My hands are shaking.”

You took both of his hands in yours and squeezed feeling the tremors in his fingers.

“Just enjoy the moment. You’ll want to remember it later.”

He nodded looking to make sure that his family was far enough ahead before leaning down to your ear.

“When we make love tonight will you let me do that thing that I like?”

You rolled your eyes pushing your boyfriend away from you playfully.

“You’re such a harlot. We’ll see.” Which meant yes. Yes. And maybe once in the bathtub.

At the dinner table they spoke nothing of their love making, but that didn’t stop Shawn from showing you more attention than was even necessary. When he wasn’t leading the conversation he was playing with your fingers or nuzzling his face into your neck like the giant puppy he was. And even when you were all talking as a group, he would specifically make eye contact with you when you spoke, his face all smiles and general cuteness. A lot of it had to do with the incredible amount of stress he’d put himself under the entire week before. Now that it was all over, it was almost like a high. Even if three of the biggest labels in the industry hadn’t approached him, he’d done what he’d set out to do and you had been beside him the whole time.

It was while sitting at the dinner table that your phone started to buzz. You ignored it at first because Aaliyah was telling a particularly funny story of Shawn once attempting to get into Hogwarts by creating a video application that unfortunately could not be sent due to the fictionality of the school. It continued to buzz though by the time they started playfully bickering about who had more embarrassing things to say about the other. You finally took a moment to peer down and check it. It was from an unknown number and there was no text to the messages, so you had to open your phone to see the image.

The first picture was Shawn reaching for you excitedly backstage. The second was you hugging him back and smiling at him. The third was the moment when he kissed you. There were shots of him holding your face in his hands. One of you with your arms wrapped around his waist while he kissed your cheeks. Whoever had taken them was close enough to make it indisputable. It was you and Shawn engaged in clearly non-platonic behaviors.

Your heart dropped to your stomach and the world seemed to take on a different color. Your ears felt stuffed and you couldn’t really hear or focus on anything besides what was in front of you. Someone knew. Someone knew and they had every intention of using it against you. Maybe against Shawn too. It was your greatest fear--besides like drowning and dying unfilled and actual fears. It was the things that had haunted you since the moment you saw him. But when you were with Shawn, he made it impossible to stress or to worry or to not love him with everything in your being. The world felt like it could be conquered when you were together, like it was yours for the taking. This was a huge burst to that bubble because the world wasn’t that way at all, and being together still went against a lot of rules.

“Babe?”

You looked up taking a deep breath as you did, seemingly having forgotten how to breathe as Shawn finally got your attention.

“Sorry. Sorry, uh what?” You mumbled closing your phone.

He raised an eyebrow immediately catching on to the fact that something was astray.

“Everything okay?” He asked. “You kinda blanked out for a sec.”

You looked around the table and noticed that everyone was staring you with varying levels of concern. You tried to smile, hiding the phone deeper between your thighs as if it would make the incriminating evidence go away.

“Yea, no I’m fine. I actually just need to go to the bathroom, so I’ll be right back.”

You moved to get out of your seat, hoping that you could sneak outside and do some investigating when Aaliyah jumped out of her seat.

“Me too. I’ll got with you.”

Dammit.

“Oh. Okay. Sure.” You nodded.

Shawn sent you another look that was inquisitive and nervous, but otherwise let you two go.

Aaliyah was kind of the coolest teenager in the world, and you two had really hit it off during the last couple of days. She seemed to trust you, which was really heartwarming considering she didn’t owe you anything, and she too seemed to pick up on the odd energy that you must have given off at the table.

“You don’t have to be nervous about Shawn or anything.” She explained as you made your way into the bathroom.

“Nervous? What do you mean?”

She shrugged. “Nothing. I’m just saying, my brother’s never acted this way with any girl before. He’s never introduced a college girlfriend to the family. You’re...important to him. And he’s kind of like an all or nothing sort of guy, so don’t be afraid of him pulling away or anything. The guy’s obviously head over heels.”

It had nothing to do with the situation at hand and yet it still managed to slow your heartbeat. She had no reason to want to comfort you, or to care about the nature of your relationship past making sure her brother was okay. And yet, here she was following you to the bathroom just to make sure you weren’t hyperventilating.

“Has anyone ever told you you’re kind of an icon?” You asked.

She smiled, and it reminded you so much of Shawn it was incredible.

“No, but I like that one. Tell that to my brother, so he knows I’m the best.” She smirked.

“I promise, I will.”

In the bathroom you sent a text to the mystery number to see just what in the hell they wanted.

You: Okay. What do you want?

Creepy asshole: To make you both suffer

You groaned hitting the switch to turn your phone off. There was no point in arguing over text message with some creep who had zero intentions of being rational.

Back at the table, Shawn’s eyes followed you as you sat down. They were soft and worried and it made you wanna cuddle him instantly.

“Everything okay?” He asked, voice lowered so it was only directed at you.

Telling Shawn that someone had caught them backstage would only ruin his night. He’d worked so hard to finally get what he wanted, and an innocent kiss backstage shouldn't ruin that for him. So you chose to keep it to yourself for the time being.

“Yea, I’m okay.” You murmured rubbing your hand reassuringly up and down his arm. “Your sister’s an icon though.”

He raised his eyebrows peering over at Aaliyah who was all smiles and innocence.

“What could you have possibly done to my girlfriend in the span of ten minutes?”

Girlfriend still sent all of the feels straight to your heart. Especially considering girlfriend might be all that you were once they threw you out of your master’s program.

Aaliyah smiled. “I can’t help it that I’m kinder and smarter and more loveable than you bro, it’s just something you’re gonna have to deal with.”

You chuckled and he looked at you with incredulous eyes at the slander his sister was dealing out.

“Babe you recognize you’re supposed to love me more on the basis of principle right? Don’t let my sister trick you. She’s actually a monster.”

Aaliyah stuck her tongue out at him and he returned the sentiment because they were apparently both children despite one being twenty-two years old.

“I’ve got plenty of love to go around.” You promised holding his hand once again.

He hummed intertwining your fingers and kissing your forehead. “And yet somehow I want all of it.”

He was close enough that you could lean your chin on his shoulder and whisper in his ear.

“It’s yours.”

He turned so that your eyes could meet, both of you reveling in the weight of the statement. It was true. He didn’t have to ask for anything because you were already willing to give him everything. And so even though you were terrified of the future and what might happen, it didn’t nothing to affect your love for him. He would always have your heart. There was nothing anyone could do about that.

Taglist: 

nevermindmisha 

@alltoowhalee13 @glader-groupa-sub8

[fandom-blerd-life]

Black Lightning 1.12: This time baby I’ll be...bulletproof!

Last weekend, I (along with about 4,000 other people) had the pleasure of attending the second annual Clexacon. To say it was one of the best weekends of my life would be doing it a disservice. I actually don’t know if I have the words to adequately sum up how deeply my soul was touched by that weekend. Being surrounded by so many friends with similar interests, in a safe place where we were free to just...be. It was life-changing. On the Saturday of the con, I was lucky enough to meet Nafessa Williams. That’s right, I hugged Anissa. Let me tell you, she is the real deal. She gets it. She understands how important this role is. She knows that representation matters. I don’t remember everything I said to her, but I thanked her for the impact she has had on my life and on the lives of so many girls who look up to Thunder. We are so lucky to have her, y’all.

And now..the penultimate episode of the first season of Black Lightning!

Previously on Black Lightning, Khalil got shot and was paralyzed, Tobias offered to help Khalil get revenge on Black Lightning, La La walked around undead, Anissa discovered that the missing kids were being kept in a suspended state in pods, and Jennifer got even more powerful.

Oh hello there Tobias, it’s been awhile! The last time we saw Tobias, he was nursing injuries caused by Black Lightning. This time, he’s fine and well, with just a few burn marks as memories of that fight. He goes to see Martin Proctor who appears to have nursed Tobias back to health. Now that Lady Eve is gone, there’s an opening for the leader of the streets. Proctors explains yet again about the vaccine, that its purpose was to control the citizens of Freeland, but OOPS they accidentally turned some folks into metas. The problem with their test subjects however, was that they kept dying. So what did they do? They tweaked the formula and created Green Light. Unlike the other subjects, Black Lightning received the vaccine but he didn’t die. Proctor needs to know why, so he instructs Tobias to bring Black Lightning to him alive. But he won’t be alone. Proctor finished some project that Tobias was working on and HOLY SHIT IT’S KHALIL AND HE CAN WALK (also he has super long dreads now?)!!

At the house, Lynn calls Jeff because she needs his help. There’s an emergency and he needs to get there right away and LOL just kidding! Lynn is waiting in some lingerie with romantic music playing. While they kiss, lightning courses through Jefferson and he transfers it to Lynn. They’re electric, y’all! (I’m so sorry)

In bed, Jeff wants to know why Lynn changed her mind about the two of them getting back together. She realized that when Black Lightning came back, she expected their family to be torn apart, but she feels closer to him than ever before. They two decide that they’re not going to tell the girls yet. Not until they’re sure. Because THAT always works out…

As Jefferson drives through Freeland, he is shocked to see Khalil. He’s even more shocked to see Khalil walking. Once he gets over the initial surprise, Jefferson asks if Khalil is going back to school. Khalil isn’t having any of Jeff’s speeches though. He accuses Jeff of not actually caring about any of the poor kids at Garfield High. Of disappearing once Khalil could no longer perform. Jeff sees through Khalil though. He knows strings had to be pulled in order for Khalil to walk again and he plans to find out exactly how it happened.

Back in the Lightning Lair, Jeff recounts his conversation with Khalil to Anissa and Gambi. Anissa is at the computer like some kind of Felicity Smoak, digging into the disappearance of the kids. There are 42 kids missing, plus Neema, minus 3 dozen pods, equals 7 dead? Maybe? I’m from the Emily Andras School of No Math so I’ll trust Anissa on this one. Jefferson hopes that Khalil will accidentally lead them to Proctor, and Gambi decides to follow up with one more lead: the weapons maker.

Lynn and Jennifer are having some mother/daughter time at the lab while Lynn takes Jenn’s blood. We find out later than Lynn is trying to isolate the meta-gene in hopes of getting rid of it so Jenn can go back to how she was before. Jenn jokes that she can’t do any competitive extracurricular activities for fear of setting people on fire. Maybe she can take up needlepoint though!

Jeff goes to see Khalil’s mom who has no idea that her son is back from California. You see, he was out there getting a super rare implant that would help him walk again. He was asked by a “Mr. Martin” to participate in a pilot program, but his mother couldn’t be with him because the risk of infection is too high. Jefferson knows all of this was a cover and asks for this “Mr. Martin’s” information.

Meanwhile, Gambi goes to threaten the weapons maker in hopes of getting information on Proctor. No such luck.

Back at the house, Jefferson goes to tell Jennifer that he saw Khalil and he was walking again. Before his daughter can get too excited, Jeff tells her that he’s not the same person she remembered. He looks and acts different (he leaves out the dreads though). Jeff knows that the medical treatment Khalil received is hella rare and that might mean he’s involved with whoever is looking for kids like Jennifer. Kids with abilities. Well, it’s a damn good thing Lynn is working on isolating that meta gene. ::record scratch:: Say what?? Jefferson is less than pleased to hear this and goes to confront Lynn. He is furious that Lynn is trying to change Jennifer. That she’s treating their daughter as if she has a disease. Lynn doesn’t see it that way though. She just wants to give Jennifer options in case this isn’t something she wants.

Jennifer is back at the Pierce’s house to meet Khalil at their spot on the roof. She must have taken a little part of Jefferson’s warning to heart because she doesn’t tell Khalil the real reason they’re not staying at the house. Khalil excitedly shows her the spine implant and explains that he’s the first one to get one. He also gives us an explanation for his rapid hair growth! Apparently the pills they gave him for regeneration also made his hair grow super fast. Okay. ::shrug:: Jenn wants to know just how he was chosen for this procedure. Khalil lashes out at her and accuses her of doing her father’s dirty work. And then, he jumps off the roof. Because that’s the way to convince your ex-girlfriend that there is nothing weird going on with you, I guess.

In an effort to draw Black Lightning out, Tobias tells Khalil to go to Garfield High and cause some damage. To remember what they did to him. Remember the anger.

It’s been awhile since we’ve seen La La, and oh look, he’s still holding court with his drug dealers. He gets a weird phone call though. The garbled voice on the other end says “The devil deals the cards.” La La gets a weird look on his face, leaves, and goes to see the weapons maker.

Down in the Lightning Lair, Anissa is killing me again by talking all sciencey to Jeff and Gambi. She was able to get help from one of her high school friends to track some kind of electromagnetic activity. Before she can explain any further, they hear over the police radio that someone is attacking the school.

At Garfield, it is chaos. Students are running everywhere. Khalil is there with arm blasters, throwing both students and teachers everywhere. He runs into Jennifer who tries her best to stop him, but nothing she says slows him down.

Black Lightning and Thunder show up and decide to split up to cover more ground. Syonide has a bunch of students hostage in a classroom and the look on Thunder’s face when she sees her. She’s like, “DAFUQ?!” It was pure gold. The students run out and Syonide starts shooting at Thunder. Too bad because SHE IS BULLETPROOF BITCH!! In a post-Lexa world, I will never tire of yelling that we have a bulletproof Black lesbian superhero. What a damn time to be alive!

Out in the hall, Tobias and Black Lightning are having a fight of their own. Tobias is wearing a suit that renders lightning attacks ineffective, so they fight the old fashioned way. We cut back to Thunder beating Syonide’s ass. Meanwhile, Jennifer is in the hallway trying to summon her powers to help her father and her sister. Thunder knocks Syonide out and goes to help Black Lightning who is getting taken down by both Tobias and Khalil. Khalil punches Black Lightning, hard, and he flatlines.

Anissa slides in to block bullets from hitting her father and Jennifer runs over to discover him unconscious. Her emotions were so strong that a shock radiates through her hands and jolts Jefferson. One more big shock and he starts breathing again! Jennifer saved the day!

The crew sets up in the safe house, increasing security, cloaking themselves, and ensuring they can’t be found.

Kara is with Proctor and tells him that some students claimed to see Black Lightning die. Proctor wants Black Lightning’s body, and he wants Thunder. Dead or alive.

At Tobias’, Syonide brings La La face to face with the man who killed him. For the first time, we see a trace of genuine emotion on La La’s face. Tobias reminds him that the devil deals the cards. They killed Lady Eve to get a seat, but now they need to take out Proctor to get the entire table.

What did you think of this episode?? Next week is the finale and I don’t know about you, but I AM NOT READY!!! Hit me up on Twitter @njnic23 to talk all things Black Lightning!

[anythingstephenking]

Time Traveling Swing Dancers/Teachers/Assassins

Welp, I did it y’all. I made it full circle to the book that started it all, 11/22/63. I read this brick of a book back in 2016, which lead me to The Stand, which led me to a journey towards 73 novels. Bless your heart, 11/22/63.

I just love this book. My first read through back in the day took me only a couple days; my second trip back in time took me almost a week, still a feat for the 800+ pages of book. Let’s go.

Another tale, like Under The Dome, that ruminated in King’s mind since the 70’s but came to fruition in the 21st century. Although the idea kicked around in King’s head for decades, he was daunted by the research that would be required to tell the story properly, so I think he waited until he was swimming in that sweet sweet money to hire a research team. Per usual, I am speculating.

But King did have a research assistant on this book, that much is true. He also consulted with the likes of Doris Kearns Goodwin, a treasure of American history, who gave King some real fun ideas about what might have happened if JFK had lived. The research was obviously thorough, and like it or not, you sure learn a lot about real-life Lee Harvey Oswald in this work of fiction. You’ll also squiggle in your seat through reminders of racism and hate that lived out loud in the 60s, different but also the same as we see today. History doesn’t change everything.

King has said that the extensive research and reading he did to prepare to write this story confirmed in his mind that Oswald acted alone. While it’s fun to imagine conspiracy theories of magic bullets and a second shooter, if King believes, I’m inclined to believe. If QAnon has taught us anything, it’s that Americans love a conspiracy theory. If Jack Ruby hadn’t shot Oswald in that parking garage, we may have learned what actually happened on November 22, 1963. If Oswald had gone to trial and had been placed under oath. If his last words weren’t about how he was a patsy. If, if if. Maybe Jake should have stopped worrying about stopping Oswald and stopped Ruby instead.

So, yeah, Jake Epping. Our hero of this tale. He’s a writer that teaches and lives in Maine. I mean, if I had a dollar for every time I started a book summary with that sentence, I’d have like $10 bucks and I probably go buy myself a fancy coffee of something.

Jake’s a teacher and loves hamburgers! Who doesn’t. He get’s them cheap at his favorite diner, from the proprietor named Al Templeton, who harbors a pretty rad secret that he’s gunna toss onto Jake. Now, why Jake? I mean, I don’t really know. Al doesn’t have any family and Jake is young and unattached? I suppose at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter, because Jake, like Frodo Baggins before him, is off on an adventure.

Because Al’s diner is actually a portal back in time. We all suspend some disbelief - it’s some version of a thinny (maybe?) that plops you from present day back to 1958. The rules are this: however long you spend in the past, you can return to the future just 2 minutes after you left. Al says there’s no impact on quick trips - Al’s been going back and forth for years buy ground beef for his cheap burgers - but when you do something that might change the future, the past will push back. We learn that Al is very, very wrong, but more on that later.

Al’s set out to save John Fitzgerald Kennedy from his head exploding, but the past gave him lung cancer and he didn’t make it to ’63. He’s back in the present and ready to tag Jake into the ring to get back to the fight for him. Jake hesitates but not NEARLY enough. Seriously, if some stranger told you had to go back in time, follow around a total assmunch for 5 years and live WITHOUT CELL PHONES OR NETFLIX?? I don’t care how delicious the root beer in 1958 is. Fuck that.

Jake goes. A couple times actually. He’s first interested in saving Harry, the high school janitor’s family from being murdered, which is a real noble cause. The past gives him diarrhea, and he wears a diaper to take out the bad man. He fails the first time (diarrhea), heads back home to “reset”, and back to 1958, succeeding the second time around. Sayonara douche.

We cross paths with Beverly and Beep Beep Ritchie in Derry, where Jake spends a fair amount of time in 1960. The town is dark, creepy and troubled, and Jake hates being there. Little interconnected web of the King-o-Verse is always there, and I love every second of it. 

Jake heads to Dallas to wait on Oswald, realizes he hates it (lol, fuck Dallas-Fort Worth), and moves out to the country instead. He gets a nice little job and meets a librarian, and our heroine, Sadie. Sadie’s got some real baggage in the form of a psychotic ex-husband (men are mostly the worst in this book) but her and Jakie fall in love anyways. She’s a well written, strong female lead and I haven’t loved a female King character this much since Lisey.

General consensus is that the mid-section of this book is that it drags a little bit, but I couldn’t disagree more. Sure, does Jake putting on a big theater production have literally anything to do with Lee Harvey Oswald? Nope. But I loved all Jake’s time in Jodie, Texas. He falls in love with Sadie, they are lovely and happy, and albeit doomed because of time travel, it’s a wonderful distraction from all the heaviness.

That said, PLEASE Stephen King, DON’T WRITE SEX SCENES LIKE THIS. ::Monkey with hands over eyes emoji:: The sex stuff is awful. There’s a lot of broad references to Jake and Sadie’s love life, like “She looked. Then she touched.” Gross.

Exhibit B:

She said, "Don't make me wait, I've had enough of that," and so I kissed the sweaty hollow of her temple and moved my hips forward ... She gasped, retreated a little, then raised her hips to meet me. "Sadie? All right?"

"Ohmygodyes," she said and I laughed. She opened her eyes and looked up at me with curiosity and hopefulness. "Is it over, or is there more?"

"A little more," I said. "I don't know how much. I haven't been with a woman in a long time."

It turned out there was quite a bit more … At the end she began to gasp. "Oh dear, oh my dear, oh my dear dear God, oh sugar!"

Guys, this passage was from Sadie’s FIRST TIME. She comes? And Jake notices there is blood on the sheets afterwards. But she orgasmed. Yeah ok, sure.

Other than poorly written Harlequin romance passages, the rest of the story clips along with lots of fun (and not so fun) bits, leading the the culmination of Jake (spoilers) killing Oswald. Sadie dies in the process and it is heart wrenching. But at least the world got saved?

WRONG. Another gripe is this; Jake goes back to 2007 and it’s a fucking post apocalyptic wasteland. Nuclear war has ruined the globe - Jake somehow crosses paths with Harry the janitor, who gives him a 5 minute synopsis of how everything went to hell. It is TOO SHORT. Why do we spend so little time here? I want more dystopian future.

We also get a brief bit about how each trip back isn’t a real “reset” - each one triggers a new “string” or parallel universe. Al’s diner isn’t the only passage, and anyone that has read the Dark Tower books gets it. Al was dumb and Jake was dumb, and at the end of the day Jake resets the past and saves this new string from nuclear fallout but you know those poor souls that were on that timeline are still fucked?

Anywho, the end is lovely and King changed what he originally planned (which was lame) at his son’s suggestion. Good job Joe Hill. Maybe I’ll read some of his books someday.

So that’s 11/22/63. This is the latest in King’s bibliography that I have already read, so I’m headed into the last 20 or so novels without any spoilers at all. I still haven’t even let myself watch The Outsider on HBO yet.

Speaking of adaptations, Lisey’s Story on Apple+ starts airing on Friday. Will be watching and hope that it is better than The Stand.

9/10

First Line: I had never been what you would call a crying man.

Last Line: Then the music takes us, the music rolls away the years, and we dance.

Adaptations:

A Hulu miniseries! They did 2 seasons of Castle Rock, so they’re a-ok in my book. Anything not produced by ABC is a-ok with me. I watched it when it aired and it was pretty decent IIRC. I’ve started rewatching, but only made it through the first episode so far. It’s a hard rewatch knowing what a creep James Franco is. And his fake goatee in the first 30 minutes is the actual worst.

The show takes its own liberties with the plot which is fine; Jake gets a partner in crime named Bill; without Bill we’d have a lot of internal Franco monologue I’d guess. The show is well cast and well acted, and has an 8.2 on IMDB, so it’s doing a lot better than most King projects.

James Franco channeling his inner Annie Wilkes.

[tea4life707-blog]

“The Boy Who Broke Through His Ice”

Hi everyone! Okay so basically in English class recently, we had to write short stories based on themes in a book we read. I don’t actually write stories or anything, but since I’m BnHA trash now I thought, why not write a very bleak fan fiction about Todoroki angst??  So I wrote this short story and it’s only around 1,400 words, so please feel free to read if you would like~^^ Synopsis: Boy shut away and trapped in his life with his father finds a new freedom in another person and discovers himself along with his desire to escape his reality. It’s actually a tododeku fanfic AU set at the beach but shhhh my teacher doesn’t know that

I used a bit of imagery with ice and fire in it because it’s apart of expressing Todoroki breaking out of his shell, and also how Midoriya’s warmth encourages him to do so. I didn’t name the characters as well because I wanted to keep it as a sort of universal story, but it’s actually mostly because I needed to stay under the radar from my teacher haha. Can’t let myself be exposed lmao ~Be warned it’s a bit angsty but not too bad~

Enjoy :)

The boy sat in the dark corner of his room, his head in his hands. His father was on a rage again. Can he just stop? The boy thought. Ever since his mother died, his father would surround himself in alcohol, getting into drunken fights at bars, finding their family in debt, and a large variety of things that any normal person would be ashamed of. But his father wasn’t normal. He was depressed and in a slump, and the boy could see that, but he could not do anything other than accept that this was his reality. The boy stirred in his balled up position. He opened his eyes. Had he been asleep? He thought. Deciding on that explanation for his drowsiness, he moved from his position and shuffled his feet towards the bathroom. He found that his day had a lack of productivity, but he was used to it he guessed. These days he would simply go to school in the morning, come home in the evening, and if his father was awake, subject himself as a tool, a tool his father relieves his frustrations upon and uses to do his work and responsibilities, such as organising money, cooking, cleaning…..all of these things……yet the boy never said a word. After all, all he could do was accept that this was his reality. The reflection that presented itself when the boy viewed the mirror, was one of exhaustion and hopeless desperation to escape his reality, yet the boy only ever knew his current life. He raised his left hand and lightly stroked over the area surrounding his left eye, the image of boiling water and excruciating pain felt after it made contact with his skin, still apparent and locked in his memory.  The boy did not know his mother well now that he thought about it. She died when he was at a young age, but he remembered her soft light hair and tired grey eyes. Even though she appeared cold, she was very warm he remembered, and the boy missed her, he missed her so much. Closing his eyes, the boy could feel the warm, wet tears running down his face. I don’t understand this he thought, as he grasped at his shirt to bear the painful memories that resurfaced his mind. Yet, the boy did not understand his sadness.  After several passing minutes, there was an apparent silence in the house. The boy walked out of the bathroom, quietly as though he was an animal stalking its prey, and entered the living room, the area in which his father occupied. Looking around, the boy found his father’s dormant body laying on the sofa. He had a strong scent of alcohol tainting the room, and his loud snores soon contrasted the short silence. This is my chance the boy soon realised. Careful not to make a sound on his way out, he swiftly passed through the front door, closed it, and left the house.  The bright sun was very characteristic to the warm Sunday afternoon, and its sunlight vibrantly reflected off the boy’s red hair as he made his way down to the shoreline. The weak strength of the small tumbling waves brushed against his ankles as he place his feet into the sand. He closed his eyes and let his thoughts and feelings melt into his mind as he raised his head up to the sky. Ice……..all he could feel was ice, he realised. He felt trapped as though he was frozen, unable to move, unable to scream, unable to escape. All this as the cold slowly crept up and froze his heart, becoming a victim to an inability to feel the emotions of others and forever be trapped in his father’s image. All his life he had accepted this feeling, never feeling the desire to leave it behind. At least that is what he thought, since all he could do was accept that this was his re-  “Why are you crying?” His thoughts suddenly stopped as he shot open his eyes. It was as though his emotions were shattered into pieces and blown away by the wind’s breeze. A shock so great that it appeared out of nowhere. He turned his head and looked to his right. There was a boy. “I…” He was speechless, he didn’t know what to say. The boy next to him shuffled closer and looked up at him with curiosity. That boy was like a fire he thought, so bright and warm with his volumed curly hair and face dusted with freckles…..he was almost the embodiment of sunshine.  “I think I’ve seen you at school before. You seem to spend a lot of time by yourself, don’t you?” It was true, the boy thought. Throughout his life he had never been allowed to have friends and would always isolate himself, not because he wanted to, but because the time he spent with his father simply led him to a lack of understanding on how to react to others. “Are you okay? You’re standing here all alone”. The boy talked to him again. How strange, he thought. “I…..don’t know.” he replied with. He wasn’t sure if it was concern, but there was something about the other boy’s expression that made him feel a bit…..touched? The idea made his heart flutter. “Well….how about we go for a walk? There’s this cool rock pool up ahead! Only if you want to though….” The other boy seemed a bit timid, clenching the hem of shirt. The one standing in the ocean only nodded in response. At this the unfamiliar face smiled up at him. This new person was making him feel weird. He didn’t know why but he wanted to follow that dark curly hair, follow him anywhere…...he thought. The freckled boy suddenly stopped and turned to him. “Here, you still have tears on your face”. The boy reached up his hands to his face and lightly brushed his skin wiping his tears away. By this one action, this point of contact, a flaming fire broke through the boy’s ice. For the first time since his mother, he has felt warmth. 

The boys spent the rest of the afternoon walking along the beach. They became friends, the boy’s first friend......and they promised to meet again.  Throughout the next few weekends, the boy would sneak out of the house and meet his friend at the beach. His friend seemed to be quite talkative, fluently connecting words together, but the boy didn’t mind. If he could, he would walk with that freckled boy and listen to him talk forever. Whenever they were together, this fluttering feeling he had, there was no other word to describe it as anything other than happiness. One day after returning from the beach, the boy opened his bedroom door to find his father standing by the window. “Where have you been?” He asked. His eyes were dark and unstable. The boy remained quiet, he had no desire to share his secret meetings with his father. “Where have you been?” The father repeated, anger boiling and fuming in his voice. The boy looked away from his father. “No where.” he stated. “No…” the father started, “You’ve been going somewhere…I know because I sometimes wake up and you’re not there.” There was some sincerity in his voice, but all that disappeared with the appearance of his enraged expression. The father walked up to his son and grabbed his shirt. “You’re trying to leave me, aren’t you?! You’re trying to escape from me!” He was yelling, obviously drunk, but the boy was startled by him. “I don’t understand…..just look at that scar on your face. No one cares about you, so why??” The boy simply stood there. For some reason, he felt this fire being lit inside him. A strong burning desire to tell his father that he’s wrong……and the boy gave into it. “You’re wrong father…” the boy said. “Someone does care about me, but you wouldn’t understand.” The boy took his father’s arm and pushed it away, finally giving in to his longing to leave his father behind. “Good-bye….” he stated, bright flames dancing around his determination, melting away all the ice that had trapped him…..and finally drowning out his father with the pools of water left behind. He closed the door behind him and walked away from the unjust cage that was his old life. A new life starts now, he thought.  He found his friend at the beach and ran towards him, just to see those green eyes he loved so much. When he caught up he gently grabbed his friend’s hand, “Let’s go now” he said, as he felt his burning confidence, and they both left the beach together. .....The boy did not know where he was going, but he’d happily go anywhere, go beyond……as long as he was with that freckled boy….. The boy who broke through his ice. 

Ahhhh if you made it this far then thank you so much for reading!! 💕✨ I’m not gonna lie, I wrote this in about two hours on paper (procrastination is a real talent) and I did have to tweak it a little when typing it up.....but really I hope you liked it!! Please feel free to let me know what you think~^^ I’d appreciate feedback! Oh and please keep in mind this is an AU, so I only chose to depict Todoroki’s father this way for the emotional impact of the story. So please know this is not how I view Endeavor in the cannon story!  I still hate his guts in the cannon though, I’m a Todoroki stan so y’all can’t stop me lmao So anyway thanks again! :) Have a great day/night <3 *slithers back into the darkness of Tumblr for the next few months never to post again*

[obvidalous]

11 questions

Thank you for the tag, @bitter-stella! I love memes! I know it took me forever to do this, sorry… I was caught in an endless loop of exams and it wouldn’t let me go until today ;) Now I’m on holiday (yay!), so let’s go back to business xD

RULES: Answer 11 questions from the person who tagged you and then make 11 more for the next people that you tag.

1. If you could only pick one OC to play in every game, who would it be and why? I.e. You can only play as your Shepard for example, but that Shepard would be your protagonist in every future BioWare game/game that allows you to customize the protagonist.

Without any doubt, Sara Ryder. I really fell in love with her. She’s fun to be around, always ready to kick ass, and she loves a good pun as much as I do! I’m sure I’ll never get bored of her, whatever the game. And I love the idea of playing a totally different sort of game with her! I’d love to see her in a medieval armor, leading a charge straight into an army of orcs!

 2. What is one movie that you have watched recently that completely blew your expectations out of the water?

I’m afraid I’m not a big fan of movies. I prefer series… I recently watched Treme, a very very VERY good one. If you have not watched it yet and like jazz music, you definitely need to watch this. It’s about New-Orleans, music, and… life. And it really blew me out of the water (no pun intended… I swear!)

 3. Name an aspect of your personality that you think is your best.

I am a dreamer. As long as I can dream, I’m happy. I guess that makes me an optimistic, too. Of course, I have bad days like anyone else, but I usually try to see the good side in everything. And when I like something, I never hesitate to say it out loud!

 4. What is one luxury you don’t think you could live without?

I’m not proud to admit it… cigarettes. For some it’s coffee… but me, I cannot wake up if I don’t have my morning smoke. Nobody’s perfect, right?

 5. Without giving their name or a lot of specifics, describe your favourite romance in a BioWare game and explain why - focus more on how the romance made you feel and what resonated with you.

No need of names, y’all know who I’m talking about ;) What really got to me in this romance, is that it’s not a classic love-at-first-sight story. It’s dark and deep, and with so many things at stake beyond their mutual attraction. It’s a story for grown-ups. And yet, it is also so, so sweet! The way I picture their relation is a mix of all that. And I can really relate to that. And to the handsome smuggler (oops, I said it!)

 6. Picture a paradise in your mind’s eye. What do you see? I.e. What does paradise look like to you?

That’s such a hard question! My paradise needs to be sunny, and warm. But what’s more important, is the people that are with me. I don’t really care about the place or the scenery – I need my friends and the people I love to be with me. And my cats. And my computer. That’s all ;)

 7. What did you want to be when you were a child? A teenager? An adult? How much has it changed, if at all?

When I was a child, I wanted to be a vet. But I quickly changed my mind when I realized how long I would have to study to do that! As a teenager, I wanted to be a poet. Gosh, disillusion came fast, though. As an adult… I’m studying to become a teacher. I still dream to be an author, someday… but I’m far from achieving that goal. So, teaching would be nice, you know, to start with.

 8. What was your very first fandom? Very first pairing/OTP?

I’ve played many games, but ME:A is the first fandom that really got into me, actually. I guess my very first OC was my DA Inquisitor. When I have the time, I’ll try to post a pic of her, I spent so many time creating her! She romanced Cullen (of course… I’m so predictable…) but I wouldn’t consider it my OTP…

 9. What’s the last song you listened to? 

Janis Joplin – Summertime (listening to it as I’m writing this)

 10. Regardless of whether you write or draw, how would you describe your style? How do you perceive it?

Another tough question here… I’m not sure I really have a style, per se, but I like to put some humor in my texts. I just can’t resist a good pun! And a lighter mood gives more impact to the dark side of the story, that’s how I see it anyway. And I also believe in the power of words, so I put extra-care in my choice of words. I mean, if I curse, there’s a purpose to that. Sometimes, it’s relevant to use the f-word – and sometimes it’s better not to. I like to play with words…

 11. Why are you here? (I.e. On tumblr or in the fandom) What was the allure?

Well, I’m here for the fun of meeting new people whom I share interest in video games with (irl most of my friends don’t play video games… it’s such a shame…), and for all the gorgeous art, and wonderful fics! I needed more content for my favorite games – and here I can finally get all I want. And even more!

 My 11 Questions:

(damn, making up questions is even harder than answering yours…)

1.       Current favorite song, album or artist to recommend?

2.       Why did you start writing? And how old were you?

3.       Is English your mother tongue? And do you speak any other language?

4.       Any New year’s resolution? (it’s not too late to choose one…)

5.       What’s the first thing you do in the morning?

6.       How long have you been on Tumblr?

7.       If you won a million dollars, what’s the first thing you would do/buy?

8.       Do you have any pet peeves?

9.       Do you enjoy multi-player games? Why/why not?

10.   What’s your dream destination? What makes you want to go there?

11.   Imagine you meet your favorite OC – what’s the first thing you’d say to her/him?

 Ok – now I’m gonna sleep for like 12 or even 15 hours, catch up on 72 hours without Tumblr, post my next chapter… and sleep some more.

And I tag (with no obligation)

@ladyinthebluebox @notebookalpha @joufancyhuh @makocartwheels @kenshi-vakarian7 @effelants and @bitter-stella (because I’m evil and I want to know your answers to those!!)

[poweredbypeaches-blog]

Intro & Autobiography

Aloha 🌺 Welcome,

The Powergirl Chronicles is a community where men and women can gather to share their very own unique story. Since this is a safe space I want every single one of you to be vulnerable, compassionate, graceful, and most importantly transparent when submitting your stories. You may send it as a video or letter. Please just be sure to write a detailed Bio for your caption section. I will also need everyone who is sending their stories to send it with a note attached that I have permission to post your content.

Remember This: Your story is POWERFUL!  No matter who you are in this world you have a PURPOSE! Stand tall and be PROUD of the person you are and for the person you are becoming.

Who am I & Why? For starters, I would like to introduce you to my very own unique story. I was Born & raised on the island of Oahu on the countryside of Kahalu’u. If you ever get the opportunity to visit any part of Hawaii, I strongly recommend you do! It is a place you will never forget.

Growing up I was the “invisible girl”, no literally I would walk the halls of high school with my hair covering my face… I’d avoid certain classrooms, hallways or bathrooms just so I wouldn’t have to make eye contact with anyone. I was shy, insecure, quiet and very angry. I’m not sure if my peers noticed at all, not even the teachers, or my parents even. I guess that’s why I felt so invisible, because I was hurting so much and no one even cared to notice. Not like it was their place to notice. I mean they had problems of their very own and my parents were in the midst of getting clean and sober while reevaluating their own lives. Who could I run to? I had no one… even the people that said they would be there for me, couldn’t be because they were busy living their own lives. It was then that I figured out that this is a cold place we live in. We all have problems, but people isolate themselves and refuse to help others because well, it’s not their problem. I get it! I’ve been there… “Like, I can’t I already have too much on my plate.” Until I realized that this “me first” mentality that society has normalized isn’t the way I wanted to live.

First 💔 Love Well, before I realized these things I met a boy. As the naive little girl I was, I completely put his needs before my own. As my DECA teacher had told me, “Chera you are so good at helping your peers, but why can’t you help yourself?” As she pulled me aside for a one on one as I was failing her class. I believe because I felt no one truly cared or helped me, that maybe I would find comfort in helping those who were also invisible. It made me feel good to see others flourishing even if I couldn’t do it for myself at the time. The point is me in a relationship is anyone’s ultimate win right!? I do what you want to do, when you want to do it, and how you want to do it because I want to love you in the ways no one has ever loved me. Long story short, five years into the relationship and it didn’t work out. The feeling wasn’t mutual, but I had some growing to do on my end. I had to put myself first for once and I finally did, so I thought…

Single & Free... A year later, and I’m still struggling… I know my worth now, but I’m still entertaining the things that are toxic to me. I tell you the whole nine yards! I put myself through the ringer. I thought better opportunities were vast among us and let me tell you they ain’t! From married men, men with girlfriends or fiancés I mean every single one of them were taken, but they would not dare tell you. It really opened my eyes to the human mind; It opened my eyes to how insecure everyone is, how temporary everyone lives - I mean with the new motto “YOLO” no one thinks of the consequences of their actions and how it impacts our world, the universe. With the amount of food wasted and those who go hungry… we have no excuse… I have no excuse I told myself, it is up to me to do better it’s the only thing I can control.

My Confidant I believe y’all will think this is funny, but try to take a wild guess on where I met my husband… it pains me to say it, but I found love in da club. 🤷🏽‍♀️ Gordon has impacted my life so much since the day I’ve met him. We make a good team. Our most important traits are that we can be all the things I stated in the definition of the powergirl chronicles. We are both vulnerable, compassionate, graceful and transparent in who we are as individuals. We both don’t like to fight or hold grudges; therefore, a normal couples fight between us is more like a discussion of give and take or how do you say compromise. I’ve learned that every relationship will come with disagreement or hardship, it’s just the circle of life, but it is how we react and handle these hardships that make all the difference. As a child I spent most of my life fighting, calling names, holding grudges and going weeks or months with the silent treatment. I, on the other hand refuse to live that way any longer and my husband agrees. That is why he is my confidant! We are each other’s mentors. We teach one another that life is too valuable  for it to be wasted away on the things that do not help us prosper. We choose to live in the light in the power of the now.

My Son My son is my savior. If not for him I can guarantee you all my life here on earth would have ran many years too short. I don’t say that out of pity. I say it because it is my truth. I wanted out! No one really supported me then in the ways I desperately needed. The loved ones that I did tell of my sexual abuse just told me that it happens to everyone, so toughen up. Oh boy, I tell you that was a hard pill to swallow. I was appalled by everyone's reaction… and then I realized, this is going to continue happening to others if someone doesn’t stand up, speak up and start changing the damn narrative. Now I may not be able to go into each and every home physically and save people from these unjust occurrences or trauma, but what I did realize is I can share my story praying that it helps another soul find their way out of the fog. Just because you’re surrounded by the fog doesn't mean you have to become it. My son is a huge reason why I want to change the narrative because as a little girl I felt invisible, unworthy and unloved and those are the last three things my son or anyone else in this world for that matter should ever have to feel.

Remember this: You are the architect & builder of your life. Shape it with intention. Do not let your past pain define who you are or determine where you are going. The power is in the now!

[oh-mother-of-darkness]

asks (40)

Anonymous said: Holy frick that is so encouraging and I needed that so much bc I literally visited my college to measure my dorm room and drove home in tears bc I panicked myself into a frenzy about whether or not everything leading me to this point has been a mistake and what if I fail and ruin my life before it even starts (I have since calmed down a little) so your encouragement was much needed & is much appreciated

I’m glad I could help <3 <3 <3 Good luck at school! I’m sure you’ll kick its ass

areverieofchaosdreams said: It's Fanfiction Writers Appreciation Day. So thank you for all your amazing stories!!!

Oh goodness I’m all a blushin :’)

Anonymous said: *HAPPY WRITER APPRECIATION DAY* Send this to someone whose talent has blown you away, who you'd like to encourage to keep on writing always, and who you'd like to thank for working their butt off to provide fandom members with breathtaking stories to consume! THANK YOU :D

Aw thank you!

Anonymous said: Hi! I Hope you're well! Do you still take fic requests? Because I really miss Colin Wilkes and I'd love to a story of him with your writing!

Unfortunately I don’t often take requests these days, but I’ll definitely keep Colin in mind!

dirtycherrypie said: hey! applying for WE for the R&D department (may or may not be aware of producing bat gadgets)

dirtycherrypie said: SHit forgot my name - Bea, at your service!

[Bruce Wayne voice] hired

tigers-and-weeds said: Literally just fell down the rabbit hole on your tumblr for the last 12-24 hours. I am in love with with you headcannons and fics! The angst feeds my soul... So I figured I would request: anything angsty with Dick and Damian please please please

Okay again I don’t usually take fic requests BUT I like me some angst so the odds that this will eventually happen.... are extremely high. I’ll try to remember to dedicate the next one to you :) And thank you!

math--ew said: I went on a little birthday vacation to california and I've never been to the beach before. I was bending down to grab a pretty shell and this huge wave knocked me face first into the sand. Like, five people saw and laghed but I got the shell so I guess it's a win win.

Duuuude back at Lake Michigan last month the same thing happened to me. I was taking care of my little sister and her five year old friend, so I was so busy making sure they were okay that the wave plowed me halfway across the beach

babybatbrat said: when i was in ap physics i once spent an entire study period in my physics teacher's room working on one problem. as far as i could tell i was doing all of the work correctly and had all the initial values right so i was racking my brain trying to figure out why i wasn't getting the right answer. the third time i went up to my teacher and asked for help he told me to start at the beginning and walk him through my process bc he couldn't tell why i was getting it wrong either (1)

babybatbrat said: (2) so i start the problem and explain how i got through all the values - "okay so the rod is 5 inches long and half of 5 is 3 and a half -" and i stopped there bc it occurred to me that 3.5 is not half of 5. "it's what?" My teacher asks. i put my head in my hands and stood there for a minute before picking up my work and walking to the back of the classroom while he laughed, bc i had just spent 45 minutes convinced that half of 5 was 3.5 and not, in fact, 2.5, and that was the only thing wrong

Honestly??? Relatable

babybatbrat said: One time i woke up at six in the morning to hear the neighbor's dog barking and instantly realized that meant my dog had jumped the fence, so i went racing outside and sprinted down the street to catch her. when i did i picked her up and turned around to go home and then saw my neighbor standing on their front porch, realized i was in only an oversized spiderman tshirt and snowman pajama shorts, holding a twenty pound labrador and thats how i met my new neighbors

Incredible...... 10/10.....

thrakaboom said: Not a funny story,but two days ago at comic con I met Tom King and he showed me a picture of his kids while he was signing my books

Well hey that’s pretty cool

Anonymous said: I adore your Tumblr. It was a wonderful way to get into the Batfamily fanbase; prior, I thought that there was only one Batman and a single Robin, dearie me was I wrong. And those stories you write, just great. The Headcanons are just as enjoyable. As for Batman, that has come to be a sibling enjoyment. Thank you for your contributions and existence!

!!!!!! Welcome to the crew!

frnkensteingrrrlz said: hey!!! i just went through ur reasons to be happy tag and!! i'm so so happy bc of it (esp the damian hcs, they're spot on imo and he's my favourite) so i hope u have a good day!!!

Thanks! I am having a good day today! Although I’m sure it’s been a long time since you sent this :////

Anonymous said: HELLO I have just discovered and binge-read all of your fics with my homeboy Damian in them, and just wanted to pop by and say that I love you & you are my hero & you write my boy so well so thank u and I hope your life is blessed & you achieve your wildest hopes & dreams

My day is made :D

badfaith00 said: Best batman storyline you've ever read ?

Ooooooh hm I’m mighty attached to n52 Batman and Robin? Particularly the first storyline, but the second is also fantastic

Anonymous said: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHAMELESSLY REBLOGGING YOUR OWN WORK BC I HADNT SEEN IT BEFORE AND ITS HONESTLY SO PHENOMENAL ITS GOING ON MY LIST OF ALL TIME FAVORITES THANK U AND BLESS U

THANK YOU!!! THAT ONE IS MY FAVORITE AND I AM VERY PROUD OF IT

onwardmotley said: In today's Detective Comics someone finally told Bruce and co that Tim's alive. They didn't explain where he is, or how to get him back, but hey. It might've had more impact if anyone was seen actually mourning Tim and it wasn't just played as him being in cosmic time out, but at least it should end soon idk. Hopefully.

Tim Drake? It’s been years since I heard that name.....

Finally. Thank goodness.

Anonymous said: Idk if I prefer your soul crushing angst or your heartwarming fluff... actually I like to suffer so I'll stay with angst lol

Y’all seeing this? Anon gave me permission. Can’t yell at me next time because it won't be my fault (thanks babe :))

Anonymous said: for music, idk what kind of music u like so here is variety: St. Vincent - Paris is Burning, Sea Wolf - Dear Fellow Traveler (tbh everything by Sea Wolf is great), Dirt Poor Robins - Eleanor Rigby, Between Wind and Water- HAEL, Ellem - Kings and Queens and Vagabonds, The Rigs - Rise & Fall, Tally Hall - Light and Night, and Streetlight Manifesto - The Hands that Thieve.

Thank you! I’m excited to listen to these! I’ll start right now!

Anonymous said: 1) What are the good comics to read for Batfamily stuff (from any point in time) and 2) what are the best Jason Todd comics? Thanks!

Okay for Jason I would definitely start with the big ones, which are A Death In the Family and Under the Red Hood. After that you could try Red Hood: the Lost Days and Countdown to Final Crisis. I would avoid the n52 series until you have a good enough grasp of the character to recognize bad writing when you see it. 

For the generalized batfam.... that’s pretty broad. My personal favorites are Red Robin, Batgirl (2009), and both B&R series. If you have more specific questions, you should IM me! I promise I’m better about answering those than asks

yellowwallsbluesky said: Have you heard Swooner by The Zolas? I've really been jamming to it lately

Listening to it right now! Sounds like a bop so far :)

Anonymous said: Hidden citizens paint it black 💜

Much obliged!

Anonymous said: Harry styles "sign of the times".

[adds to list] thank you!

neo669 said: I MISS CASA OLE!! Sorry just read that you lived in Bryan/College Station and I used to live there as well. It's kinda hard to find people that even know that it exists. But I'm sure you can kick law schools butt. You got this!

Yooooooo I miss cstat too :((((

palliddark said: Adalgiza, and I'll be a translator (English to Brazilian Portuguese)

[Bruce Wayne voice] also hired

maeofthedead said: I love your headcannons and now I sort of want to cry thank

Excellent that is the exact target response 

Anonymous said: Love your rant in the tags about the pizza making I'm laughing so hard

Listen..... I have strong feelings

Anonymous said: Did you hear they're making an omnibus of Tomasi's entire run on Batman & Robin?? I just heard and now I kinda want to get this massive book in honor of my favorite batkid and the series that made me love him so much

Man I already have all the individual volumes but if I didn’t......

sonicboom00724601 said: Hi. :) Nice headcanon. :)

I’m not sure which one you’re talking about, but thank you! You're real sweet

Anonymous said: can you maybe write an interaction between Wonder Woman and Captain America? I absolutely adore your style and would love to see your take on it.

Hmmmm I don’t really have a good enough grasp of Captain America’s characterization to try that one :////

Anonymous said: i tried to kill on mosquito that was on my ceiling by slamming it with a book but mosquito was on the move so i bounced swiftly and jammed both my wrist and thumb and now my existence is Pain. also my thumbs swelling and looks purple, so that's nice

Oh shit anon you good???

daziy said: Do we know who Barbara's mother usually is?

Yeah! In her original version, Babs had a birth mom and an adopted mom. She was originally Jim’s niece, so her birth mom’s name was Thelma Gordon. After the adoption, her parents were Jim and Barbara Gordon, with her adopted mother being her namesake. So two Barbara Gordons.

I think for awhile the canon was that her mother died in a car crash, but the current version has her still alive. She left Jim when Babs was young, taking her son (Babs’s brother) with her. James Gordon (the son) turned out to be a serial killer. 

Barbara Gordon Sr. and James Gordon Jr. both appeared in the n52 Batgirl series during the Death of the Family arc. There’s also a very good story about James from the Dickbats period. That one’s called The Black Mirror, if I’m not mistaken?

Anonymous said: Hi! What do you think of the upcoming metal event? Dick and Damian seem to have a big role in it ( I hope Jason is involved too but there's still no sign of it)

Hmmmm I don’t know that I have an opinion just yet, but as always, I hope to be pleasantly surprised 

Anonymous said: bless you are your wonderful tagging system. know that i may have avoided death because of how easy it was to f ind the thing I wanted in your tags. bless

Oh goodness anon I hope you’re not serious about almost dying.... but thanks?

Anonymous said: hi amy! would u say that damians narrative is written as a child abuse one? like there are definitely many allusions to it but its also not as explicit as say, cassandra or rose. like how much of it would u chalk up to comic world dynamics and how much to actual abuse? also would u consider jason to also be a case of this?

Oh I have very strong opinions about the role of abuse in Damian’s narrative. It’s absolutely there, and the effects are staggeringly large. There is no doubt in my mind that the league was an abusive environment, and I can’t justify some of the things Bruce did either.

I think I would say the same thing for Jason, if not quite as strongly. I definitely think that some of the things that happened to Jason as a child shaped his story later on, but less of those were abuse than outside circumstances. The n52 takes a different track on that one, I think, but I don’t put much stock in that characterization. 

Anonymous said: has jason forgiven bruce for not killing joker? if so, what made him?

Unlikely. They get along better these days, but I would argue that comes from poor characterization of Bruce, not an actual resolution process. 

mellenabrave said: My mom accidentlly threw my Damian doll away (╥_╥)

Tossed in the garbage by yet another parent--

Anonymous said: Whoa where'd you get that bat and oracle shirt you're wearing in your necklace pic? It's so cool! (The necklace is also gorgeous!)

Shoot I think it was from Redbubble? But I can’t find it now

Anonymous said: Omg that necklace was so cool!!! Kudos to the maker of it!! Also I really like your top!!

Thank you <3