#expect more of these drawings to come out leading up to my halloween costume related post

[spookythesillyfella]

very easy to become self absorbed when everyone around you is praising you for being the next god of your religion .but be careful – there's also the horroz

★ version without text and reference image under cut :

★ Song : "God-ish" – PinocchioP

[marvels-writings]

Back & Forth (2)

Maria Hill Masterlist

Series Masterlist

| Part 1 | 

A/N: Is it wrong that I can personally relate to how sassy and arrogant the reader is?

“Hey, Tony?” You asked, entering his lab with the tablet in your hands and Maria following you.

The doors to Tony’s lab opened. One side of the room was arranged with different sizes and colors of suits, the other side with fancy cars and bikes he had collected. The center of the room was an absolute mess, it contained a few hologram projectors and tablets. In the middle of everything, Tony sat working. 

“What’s up, stranger?” He asked, working on one of his suits. You rolled your eyes at the nickname.

He did not bother looking up when you entered. It was a regular occurrence for you to come down to his lab and rant when you were not having a good day. Tony glanced up when he heard two sets of footsteps entering his lab, surprised when he saw Maria following you instead of leading you.

“What is up with this suit?” You showed Tony the tablet. “I mean, this is something I’d buy at the Disney store if I wanted to dress up as Natasha.”

Tony snickered and took the tablet from you, converting the screen into a full-scale hologram in front of him. Maria stood there, a little stunned at the technology, she had not been to Tony’s lab often. You groaned at the suit and started fixing the gloves and the chest area.

Tony switched on his rock playlist, which only annoyed you more. You took the music controls from him after bickering and played your playlist. Tony glared at you and got back to his work as electronic music started playing through the room. You noticed Maria staring and shrugged.

“They all have weird music tastes, my brother listens to classical, I can’t tolerate it,” You gestured around you. 

Maria noticed the rock band posters on the walls and the cd’s which lay spread out in front of a cassette player Tony had plugged into the surround sound. 

“What song is this?” Maria asked, sitting down on one of the boxes in the corner as she watched you work.

“You don’t know this?” You asked, incredulously. Maria shook her head. 

“No one knows your music y/n,” Tony muttered, you glared at him.

“It’s ‘Back & Forth’ by MK, Jonas Blue, and Becky Hill,” You answered, humming the lyrics while working.

Maria shrugged and continued watching you, she needed to observe how you worked and how you thought to give you tasks. But you started making conversation with her while you worked on your suit which caught her off guard. The brunette stuttered while answering your questions, glaring at Tony whenever he snickered at her behavior. Tony had never seen Maria blush or fluster around someone. 

“How long have you worked with them?” Maria asked you shrugged and replaced a part on the hologram. 

“A few years at least, you wouldn’t believe how often they get themselves injured.” You answered, humming to the music you were playing.

Tony got up and fidgeted with the thermostat, making it warmer. You groaned and bickered with him. 

“You picked the music,” Tony argued, you glared at him.

Eventually, it got too warm for you. You unbuttoned your button up to reveal a tight tank top underneath it. You fanned yourself with the collar of your button-up. Maria tried not to stare but failed. 

“So, what exactly does the s/o do?” You asked, changing the topic before Maria could start complaining about the temperature. 

“I supervise what you do, guide you to become better, and observe you,” Maria answered easily.

“That’s it?” You asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, I also,” Maria stuttered when you took off your button up in the heat. 

The brunette gulped, staring at you. The sweat on your body had created a light sheen, but you wore it like you were glowing. You looked hot.

“Also?” You asked, drawing her out of her thoughts. smirking when you saw her blush. 

“I, I also make sure you stay out of trouble,” Maria said. You laughed at her response, knowing it wasn’t her original response. 

“Good luck with that.” Tony chuckled.

“What?” Maria asked, you snickered and went back to work, leaving Tony to explain. 

“One of the greatest spies in the Avengers and Captain America have been trying to keep her out of trouble for the past four years,” Tony explained, gesturing to your laughing state. “None have succeeded.”

“Well, that’s that then,” You laughed, getting up and stepping away from the suit.

You swiped the hologram back into the tablet and showed the newly improved suit to Tony. His eyes widened slightly. You had improved it a lot. There were now fingerless gloves. The suit was a little tighter. The shoes were athletic trainers. There were lines of fav/color and gold adorning it. 

It was minimalist but gorgeous. 

“See, now it doesn’t look like a Halloween costume,” You remarked. 

Tony grumbled a sarcastic comment and plugged it into a machine and examined it. Maria moved to leave, but you called her name, stopping her. Slinging your button-up over your shoulder, you gestured outside. 

“Wanna go get a bite?” You asked. 

“Where?” 

“I don’t know, Tones, any suggestions?” You shouted over your shoulder while walking outside. 

“There’s a great Italian place a few blocks out,” Tony shouted absentmindedly.

“Great, JARVIS, send the directions to my car.” You instructed, grinning as you left the lab.

“Of course Ms. Strange,” JARVIS said, interrupting the music. 

Tony grumbled something about the music and changed it back to his rock music. 

“You know your way around,” Maria commented, you shrugged.

“Isn’t that a good thing though?.” You asked, walking around as if you owned the tower.

“Maybe,” Maria shrugged.

You left your room to change into something else, Maria didn’t have a change of clothes, so she waited for you by the entrance. 

Maria thought about you while waiting, she hadn’t expected you to be like this. She Had heard you were arrogant and conceited, just like your brother. The brunette had expected you to hate her, but instead, you had invited her for lunch. The rumors about you were true, you were arrogant and annoying, but it was easy to get along with you. 

Deep in thought, the brunette didn’t notice you walking up to her. 

“S/o, you ready?” You asked. Maria turned around to face you, you’d changed into a casual light blue v-neck blouse, with black ripped jeans, Puma shoes and a smoke denim jacket with a flannel interior. 

“Stop calling me s/o,” Maria muttered, you laughed and led her over to your car.

You drove a black Lamborghini, bought with your own money. Stephen wanted to claim it as his, but you refused to let the master of the mystic arts drive around in your car. So, you kept it.

“But you are my s/o, or are you cheating on me?” You teased, opening the driver's seat of the car and sitting inside. 

The interior of the car was a bright red, Maria looked around the car while sitting down. You looked at the instructions on the screen and shrugged. You started the car and played your playlist, talking about how you bought the car before you noticed you’d been rambling. 

Maria was absentmindedly listening to you, her attention to how fast you were going. She had been in a car with Romanoff and many other people who loved to drive fast. But you were going faster than any of them. 

You glanced over to see Maria clutching the armrest tightly, you chuckled and put your hand on top of hers casually. 

The brunette almost pulled away instantly, already tense at how fast you were driving. But she stayed, clenching and unclenching the fingers of her free hand. ‘Back & Forth’ started playing from your playlist, you started humming and tapping the beats of the song on Maria’s hand. 

‘You're only nice when you wanna be

You always leave me wondering, wondering’

Maria took in a deep breath, unsure of where lunch with you was going to take her, but she was liking it so far. 

‘It's the same old story in this tug of war

We go back and forth, we go back and forth’

| Part 3 | 

Tag List: @capcarolsdanver, @versdan, @lesbian-girls-wayhaught, @lovebotlarson, @dhengkt, @5aftermidnight, @hstoria​, @natasha-danvers, @veryfunnyal, @xxxtwilightaxelxxx , @ophelias-heart  , @never-didbefore , @justarandomhumanhere, @the-most-unicorn-of-them-all , @thatssocamryn , @lesbian-x-blackwidow , @marvelbbyx , @wlw-imaginesss , @hcartbyheart , @summergeezburr let me know if you’d like to be in any of my tag lists!

A/N: I’m in a bit of a writer’s block rn so this chapter isn’t as good, but tell me what you think!

[theresnosafeharbor4myships]

TITLE: Sleepy Holloween, Part 2

A/N: Muse unexpectedly decided Ichabbie’s Halloween story needed to continue, so here we are with more floof and cutesyness. Part 1 found here.  Also on AO3.

Abbie poured the leftover candy into a Ziploc bag to take to the office in the morning, thinking over the day as her Captain rinsed out their wine glasses and left them to soak in the sink. Quite a few years had passed since she'd squeezed so much Halloween celebrating into one day. The jack-o-lantern carvings, the pumpkin seed and cookie baking, passing out candy while sipping a nice Merlot, showing Hocus Pocus to Ichabod for the first time. Which reminded her... "You know...I really thought you'd relate to the movie more," she mused aloud. Ichabod snatched the towel from the oven handle and faced her as he dried his hands. "Oh?" She nodded, then motioned for him to follow her. "Yeah, there are a lot of things I thought you might empathize with." She opened the front door and pointed to the fiery jack-o-lanterns adorning their porch steps. "We need to put these out," she explained. "By my recollection, you only allowed me three grievances," he recalled, pausing to follow her lead and blow out a candle inside of one of the pumpkins. "And no discussion with which to further detail my deeper sentiments about it and the many aspects that reminded me of myself." She put out another candle. "My apologies, Captain," she demurred. "I'd very much..." She extinguished the last candle with a puff of air. "…like to hear your thoughts on the ways you identified with Hocus Pocus." He held the front door open for her, and she went back inside, him following closely behind. He locked the deadbolt, then stood at military attention, a fine seamen specimen if she'd ever seen one.

"Are you referring to how I resemble Master Butcherson, who was called out of his grave by some witch's spell into a world that couldn't possibly comprehend what that experience is like?" Abbie heard the seriousness hidden in his self-deprecation but couldn't resist teasing him. "Aww, come on, babe, you look infinitely better than Billy Butcherson did. Your centuries sleeping did a body good." 

Her flirtatious gaze traveled from his sailor-capped head to his booted feet, and he watched her perusal of him, prepared to counter her move. "You get no points for that one," he scolded. "Even as a benevolent soul, the man was a walking, rotted corpse with moths festering in his mouth."

"My point exactly: I definitely wouldn't've kissed him! But you..." She reached for him, one hand curling around the back of his neck, drawing him down to kiss her briefly before she moved away. He stared longingly after her but continued the conversation. "Then perhaps you meant I'm like the Sanderson sisters." Noting the intent to tease him written on her face, he threw his finger up in the air. "Not in purpose or lack of intellect or gender," he rushed to indicate before she had a chance to cut in, "or—again—re-emergence because of a witch's spell, but in their struggle to understand the modern world, even with supernatural forces and a guidebook in their arsenal." Abbie hadn't considered that angle and smiled indulgently at him. "Fair. Though you've done considerably better than those three. Combined." He dipped his head once in thanks, then continued. "May I also present my resemblance to young Master Binx." "An old, mangy, black-for-bad-luck cat?" Her disgusted look morphed into something sultry. "Ohh, or the knowledgeable pussycat of a relic who wants nothing more than to protect the people he cares about from evil?" She slid her hand from his shoulder to his wrist as she strutted by him, heading towards the stairs. "Madam, I'll have you know—” "Mistress," she corrected him, throwing a flirty look over her shoulder. She wanted to play now, did she? His gaze turned predatory, and he slowly trailed her up the stairs, several steps behind. "Mistress..." he repeated dutifully. She'd reached the second floor landing and turned to face him. "Yes, Captain?" His foot froze mid-step as he drank in the sight of her regal air, fetching dress, petite frame, innocent smile. His beautifully stunning wife who'd procured a costume just for him that had taunted him all night. He promptly lost all train of thought. Abbie saw his eyes glaze over as he stood in awe of her. At least the feeling was mutual. She'd just had a lot more practice at open flirtation than he had and could still function while stunned by him. She waited a moment, indulging in his open attraction to her, before helping him out. "So far, you've compared yourself to a zombie, a trio of witches, and a cursed cat." His eyes narrowed at her as she amusedly reduced his comparisons to their most basic elements. "While you clearly don't think that highly of yourself, I, my dear one, do. Would you like me to tell you who I think you resemble, Captain?" "Most assuredly," he affirmed, holding himself in check a few moments longer. "Have you considered that you're most like Max, the hero of the tale? A gentleman who finds himself in the same country but a new place that doesn't quite feel like home? Interested in a woman who doesn't know what to make of him at first?" Her voice turned dramatic as she continued. "He's harassed by the locals as he tries to find his way in the world, gets wrapped up in something he didn't know could be true, then fights like hell to protect himself, his family, the world, and the woman he loves from evil—not to mention witches—bent on destroying them. And in the end, he saves them all. And gets the girl he's pined after and loves." She dramatically clasped her hands over her heart with a flourish. His eyes never leaving hers, he recovered only enough to move towards her, slowly stalking her again. "You think I'm the hero, do you?" A contented, sweet smile breaks over her face as she walks backwards at his same pace, the sight of him in his sailor's costume trailing after her making her heart beat fast. "Ummhmm."

"And the girl..." "A ravishing beauty," she stated cheekily, throwing the back of her hand up to her forehead in a fainting pose. "Never disputed." His eyes wantonly swept over her as she continued playfully leading him towards their bedroom, the colonial gown far less revealing than her normal wear and all the more tantalizing for it. "Strong and intelligent and wildly brave...a heroine in her own right." "Undoubtedly," she agreed as her back connected with the bedroom door. She absently reached for the doorknob and twisted it, flipping on the bedroom light as she continued backing away from him. "Deserving of some kind of reward, I'd say." "As much as her Captain deserves a warm hero's welcome." He turned off the hallway light as he entered the bedroom, the shadows and light playing deliciously over his devilishly handsome features, his eyes gleaming in anticipation. "If that's all he wants..." Abbie stopped in the middle of the room, waiting for him to reach her. "That's only the beginning," he promised with a low growl as he approached her. "I seem to recall..." He ran the backside of his finger along her cheek, soft and cool to the touch, dropping his hand to her collarbone and running his fingertips across her bare skin as he prowled around her. "Telling you..." His hand never leaving her, his touch trailed heat across the back of her neck. "How I couldn't wait to take this off of you." His whispered breath teased over the skin beneath her ear, the sensuality of it heightened because she couldn't see him, didn't know what to expect next. Still, he barely touched her, his fingers slowly grazing their way around her shoulder and back to her collarbone as he completed his rotation around her. She peered up at him heatedly, anticipating, yearning for his next move. 'Crane on the brain,' she'd called it once--and had had it ever since. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, satisfaction and desire written on his face, and he leaned down towards her. She tipped her head up, craving his kiss and everything that came after it, but he stopped a hair's-breath from touching his maddening lips to hers. "How does that sound?" he whispered, tantalizing her with his breath against her lips instead of his mouth. "Exquisite," she breathed on a sigh, willing herself to wait for him to ravish her. She was on the edge, as was he—she could feel it. She wouldn't have to wait long. "Enticing. Hot." He couldn't wait any longer, silencing her with his lips, gently at first, then more insistently as she drew his hat off his head, dropped it to the floor, and ran her fingers through his hair. She moaned, and the sound her passion vibrated through him, his hands roaming down her sides and hips to then splay across her back, drawing her into him. His hands set her ablaze, and she expected him to make light work of the dress since he'd wanted to divest her of it all night. Instead, he lingered, his kiss ardent and sensual, his touch exploratory and slow. He reached for the back of her dress where the stays were...should be. His fingers found a zipper instead. "Mm, how very modern," he murmured appreciatively as he withdrew from her, again moving behind her. Abbie waited, senses alert, body tingling, wondering what his clever mind and hands had in store for her.

His finger traced her skin along the back neckline of her dress, sending gooseflesh racing up and down her spine. He kissed her neck, and her head fell to the side, allowing him more access.

“Tell me,” he whispered near her ear. “What does a hero’s welcome look like?”

She eased away from him only far enough to turn around. “Like this.” She collided with him, pressing against him, drawing him down to kiss her as together they moved towards the bed. She felt the corded muscles of his arms and shoulders, his back, his leanness belying his strength.

As they reached the bed, Abbie laid her hand flat against his chest, and he let her push him lightly, falling to his seat He reached for her, his hands gripping her waist as he peered up at her and the satisfied look on her face.

“Do all captains receive this treatment?” he queried.

“Not from me. But you’re lucky.” She winked at him, threading her hands through his hair, mesmerized by her forever-military man.

“Well…not yet,” he smirked at her with a lifted eyebrow.

"If the boat's a'rockin..."

He gave her a questioning look, but she shook her head. “Nevermind, Captain. Just kiss me.”

“As you wish, Mistress.” And he did.

[takaraphoenix]

For the fake exes prompt, Hijack with the house egging prompt?

‘im egging your house for a dare but your parent is a cop and they’re yelling at me so i told them that you were my ex and you wronged me and now you’re coming outside and please go along with this i don’t want to go to jail’ au

It was Halloween. Not necessarily Hiccup's favorite holiday, it was just too loud. He had never been much of a fan. So he was laying on his bed, sketching dragons while his younger step-brother was pacing the room, trying to put on his costume.

"You're a... marshmallow?", asked Hiccup curiously.

"What. No. I'm a robot", grunted Hiro offended. "You know, that big thing Tadashi is building."

Putting his sketch-book down, Hiccup took a closer look. "Right. You kind of do look like Baymax. Heh. That's adorable. Somehow, I expected something... less adorable from you."

"Why? He's our adorable little baby brother, Hiccup."

Hiro turned to glare fiercely at Tadashi as the oldest Haddock-Hamada brother was leaning against the doorway of the bedroom. Hiccup smiled faintly at them and picked his pencil up again. He loved his brothers very dearly. They had met through Hiro, who kept getting into trouble and kept getting himself and Tadashi, who always tried to bail him out, arrested. Repeatedly. Stoick Haddock, Hiccup's father, was the captain of the police station. Him and Cass Hamada started talking, about being single-parents, about their nerdy sons. And then they started talking outside of the police station, started dating. Now, Hiccup had a loving mother and two brothers.

"But you're not using Halloween as an excuse to go to another one of your bot-fights, right?"

"Tada—ashi, have some faith in your adorable little baby brother!", exclaimed Hiro offended.

Both Tadashi and Hiccup gave him an utterly unimpressed look at that, until he cracked. "Okay, okay, your accusations are not unfunded, however I actually do have plans with my friends."

"Friends", echoed Tadashi in disbelief, shaking his head. "My little baby brother, finally having friends. What are your plans then, Hiro?"

"Miguel is having a karaoke party at his place. Ever since his grandma stopped hating music, it's always a blast at their place", replied Hiro excitedly, bouncing a little.

"...Who's all going?", asked Hiccup curiously, exchanging a look with Tadashi.

"Well, Cupcake's coming. And Pippa. Monty. The twins, Caleb and Claude...", drawled Hiro.

"A—and Jamie Bennett?", asked both Tadashi and Hiccup at the same time.

"I mean, of course he is", grumbled Hiro, trying to hide his blush. "Whatever. I have places to be and cool people to hang out with. You two... stay here, be nerds, whatever."

His older brothers laughed while Hiro stormed out of the room. Teasing him was most definitely the most fun. Tadashi tilted his head as he looked at Hiccup, until Hiccup put his pen down again.

"What is it, Dashi?", asked Hiccup.

"Nothing. Just... wondering what your plans are", replied Tadashi casually before sitting down on the edge of Hiccup's bed. "Fred's throwing a costume-party. Everyone will be there. You could... come along too, you know. They'd be happy to see you."

"They're primarily your friends", grunted Hiccup and rolled his eyes.

"Okay. And why aren't you doing something with your friends then?", challenged Tadashi.

Hiccup paused at that. He had friends. But... if he was being honest, contact with them had kind of... run out, a bit. All his friends – Astrid, Snotlout, Tuffnut and Ruffnut – had gone to the sports-college. Astrid even had a boyfriend now; Eret. Hiccup should probably spend more time with his friends, but he felt like they were drifting apart; different interests, different colleges. As happened a lot with high school friendships, guessed Hiccup. Fishlegs, he was attending SFIT. The two had always been best friend, but nowadays Fishlegs was quite distracted with his new girlfriend – Heather, a girl Astrid had befriended in college. Hiccup... had a crush; one that wasn't going to lead anywhere anyway either so that wasn't an issue.

"C'mon, Hiccup. You can't spend all evening cooped up here", prodded Tadashi. "It's Halloween."

"You say that like it means something to me", drawled Hiccup dryly. "I am... not a fan of this day. You, go and dress up and have fun with the others. I'm happy right here."

Tadashi heaved a defeated sigh. "Okay, okay. I give up. Enjoy your solitude."

Hiccup rolled his eyes as Tadashi finally left. He was perfectly fine being right here. He didn't need to be among many people. He knew if the twins were there, there was going to be a lot of alcohol and nonsense and also it was kind of a frat party... which... especially when one wasn't even from that college, didn't seem very appealing. His mind wandered a little. His kind of crush had asked him to go trick or treating, but Jack was going with his own friends and Hiccup would feel awkward being kind of a fifth wheel there. Still, the idea of seeing Jack in a costume – any costume...

Hiccup blushed and glared at his drawing. He had been drawing Jack. Again. He kept doing that. It wasn't his fault; Jack was... amazing. Jackson Overland-St. North. The adopted son of their newest teacher at SFIT – Nicholas St. North, an absolute genius inventor. Jack was attending the art-college, where Honey Lemon was going too (and Cass insisted Hiccup should go too, but Hiccup focused on his education at SFIT, dual studies seemed just too much).

Jack was breathtaking, with his sparkly brown eyes and messy hazel hair, that mischievous, impish grin of his. And oh, he was so talented. And cheeky. Whenever he came over to SFIT, mostly to visit his adopted father and bring him lunch. They talked. Sometimes, Jack and Hiccup. And Hiccup, he had developed the biggest crush on Jack, only that he didn't know how to say it.

His pen scratched sharply over the paper as he heard loud noises from downstairs.

/break\

"I dare you to egg the house."

"Eugene, no", sighed Rapunzel, shaking her head at her boyfriend.

Eugene just grinned broadly and kissed his girlfriend's cheek before turning toward their shared best friend. "C'mon, Jack. It totally is your turn. It'll be fun."

And Jack allowed himself to be dared into it. Only that when the owners noticed and came out, there was a brief moment of utter terror overcoming both Jack and Eugene. That was the police captain, Stoick Haddock. Not only captain of the police station where Jack and Eugene may or may not be semi-regular guests for entirely unjustified reasons (minor pranks! And graffiti should not count as vandalism in Jack's opinion), he was also a wall of a man, so tall and broad. His upper arms were the size of Jack's head! Absolutely terrified did the boys stand there.

"What is the meaning of this?", barked Stoick out.

His wife, Cass Hamada (oh no. She was friends with Toothiana. Jack was never going to hear the end of this!), was right behind him, looking both concerned and disappointed. Eugene winced and tried to hide behind Jack, who just rolled his eyes at him. This was a problem. It became even more of a problem when Hiccup Haddock joined them outside – and oh. Maybe Jack should have seen the relations between Captain Haddock and Jack's crush... Jack winced.

"Did you brats seriously just egg the house of the police captain?", grunted Stoick unimpressed.

"I... I... I...", stammered Jack in distress. "I did it because Hiccup broke my heart."

Everyone stared at him in utter surprise at that, especially Hiccup. Jack tried to convey his intention to the other boy. Maybe Stoick would have pity with him – Cass certainly would – if they thought this was about a bad breakup. Please. He couldn't be taken to the precinct again. Nick and Toothiana had a limit to how often they were willing to bail him out...

"What? Hiccup!", exclaimed Cass, sounding very disappointed. "Why would you-"

There was silence for a moment as Hiccup stared at Jack pointedly, before he caved. "Yes. I... broke up with him because there was this... big project I had to work on. I had no time for distraction."

"Distraction?" The disappointment seemed to grow. "Hiccup Haddock, you will go and apologize to this boy and right that. I know your studies are very important to you, but you can't keep neglecting your social life. I expect that boy to come over for dinner next week!"

She ushered Hiccup outside before, impressively enough, dragging Stoick back inside before he could put his two cents in. Hiccup looked kind of lost as he approached Jack, Eugene and Rapunzel.

"That is one way of getting a boyfriend", noted Eugene surprised. "I mean, she definitely expects the two of you to 'get back together'. Come on, Raps, let's check on Lance and leave them to it."

Rapunzel smiled amused at Jack before the couple left. Blushing, Jack ducked his head when he noticed how much Hiccup was staring at him. And okay, he did look different. White-dyed hair, blue contacts, make-up to make him look paler than normal.

"Who... are you?", asked Hiccup softly. "I mean, the costume."

"I'm... Periwinkle", muttered Jack embarrassed, tugging on his fairy-wing. "Jamie's little sister wanted to be Tinkerbell but she didn't want to do it alone. My little sister dressed up as Bobble. You know, from the Tinkerbell movies. Periwinkle is Tinkerbell's snow-fairy-twin."

Hiccup nodded, his own cheeks red too. "That's... really cute. I mean, of you, for the girls."

"Yeah, we took them trick or treating. They're with... Eugene's friend Lance", nodded Jack slowly. "So... all of that was very embarrassed. I'm sorry, that was the first thing that came to my mind."

"It's... okay. I don't know how to explain to my mom that we 'didn't make up', but..."

"I mean we could just... you know...", suggested Jack with a daring look on his face. "Get together."

"...What", whispered Hiccup stunned.

"Do you wanna go out with me?", clarified Jack, cheeks red. "I... uh... like you."

"I like you too", replied Hiccup, ruffling his hair. "I'd... heh. I'd really like that."

Smiling brightly, Jack leaned in to kiss Hiccup's cheek before taking his hand. "C'mon. We're trick or treating and afterward, we're meeting at Moana's."

"What? I'm not even in costume, I-", protested Hiccup, just to be tugged along.

"Why? You're dressed as Hot Nerd. It's one of the top costumes of the year", teased Jack.

Hiccup simply sputtered as he was being pulled along, unable to argue with his boyfriend.

[cupids-flight]

Spooky Santa 2019 - Gift

Good afternoon! This is my Spooky Santa present - I was lucky enough to get @minibattlehero​ and they requested... basically anything! Unfortunately, I have the artistry skills of a brick through a windshield, so what I can offer my writing skills.

It’s one hundred percent Izuocha - and I hope you like it! It’s under the cut, as it’s somewhat longer than I expected.

Story Information:

Title: “🐝 To say there were too many bees was an understatement. 🐝” Pairing: Izu/Ocha Word Count: 2082

🐝 To say there were too many bees was an understatement. 🐝

It was not often that Ochako wished revenge on someone that didn’t have it as part of a greater goal, but it did happen. And – in her eyes – pranking her classes Secret Santa party with a box full of angry bees was taking things far too far. She didn’t know who had sent the cursed present but seeing the smirk on Monoma’s face at the sight of her many stings was enough in her mind.

She had stepped forward, about to give him a piece of her mind, when an angry force of nature sped forward with an anger that seemed unsuited on his frame; the green sparks flared over him. Whatever he was feeling, it was not going to be pleasant for Monoma.

🐝 🐝 🐝

It wasn’t so much a party as it was a gathering; the class coming together to exchange gifts; not unlike a Secret Santa, but for the most legendary of holidays. Halloween.

The names had been drawn, and the only rule for present purchasing was simple – not too expensive, and something spooky or related to the season.

Some of the presents had been oddly fitting – Mineta receiving a pumpkin that had been made to look like his head, while Tokoyami received a rather sizable book on eldritch mythos – and some had been... odder. Izuku receiving a full vampire costume (save that it was in magenta) and Shoto receiving a full campfire and smores kit. (Mina had gotten particularly defensive when he opened his present, leaving no one to doubt who had gotten Shoto in the draw.)

Everyone had switched presents and the party was winding down. Kirishima was the first to notice the elephant in the room; two final packages. One of them was clearly marked for Koji, but he had not been able to attend. The other was untagged and unadorned, lay in the remnants of the original gifts. It’s wrapping was a plain metallic gold, adding to the mystery.

Kirishima glanced around, before shrugging.

“Hey, anyone going to claim this present or should I open it?”

His classmates, having been roused from their merriment, turned their attention to the package. Jirou, taking the initiative, placed one of her ear jacks carefully against the box. Within a moment, she turned back towards her friends with a single eyebrow raised and an apprehensive look on her face.

“It’s buzzing. Whatever is in it, it’s buzzing.”

The reactions were mixed; Denki looked almost abashed (his mind having rapidly drifted toward the impure) while Shoto looked on with a stoic gaze, seemingly unfazed. He sighed, before walking towards the mystery present.

“I am going to open it. Does anyone object?”

Everyone looked on, curiosity now roused; even if there were misgivings, none would announce them. Izuku (in a case of extraordinarily good judgment) gently stepped back, pulling Ochako as he did.

Shoto opened the lid, and pandemonium ensued.

An unreasonable (almost improbable) number of bees poured from the box, having been freed from their prison; and to say that they were (as a collective) angry bees was an understatement. Their rage could only be surpassed by Bakugo; who to his credit had sprung into action, the sparks from his hands proving more than enough to send the bees flying off, desperately avoiding him.

🐝 🐝 🐝

Ochako was panicking; she was not a fan of bees in any capacity and being confronted with a frankly preposterous number of bees was – to her – far scarier than any threat posed by a villain. Izuku very quickly caught up on this, stepping forward; doing his best to shield her from the incessant buzzing.

It was just a shame that she had chosen today, of all days, to wear a shirt with a floral design. The bees were homing in on the promise of nectar from the flowers on her shirt, almost trying to swarm her.

The first sting went unnoticed by many, but they continued.

The bees, to their credit, weren’t trying to intentionally hurt anyone; but they were scared insects who were desperately trying to get out of the room. (All the windows had been rapidly opened, and they were pouring out of the windows.) In the excitement, no one was aware that the number of bees pouring from the box were vastly more than it could hold.

It all came to a sudden, sweltering stop when Torodoki, stung to hell and back and fed up with the entire situation, let loose a torrent of flame that incinerated any luckless bee in the area that was still flying, adding to the pile of dead bees on the ground. He also successfully singed a lot of hair, but most of them were accepting of this fact if it solved the bee problem.

Bakugo, naturally, was the first to start swearing.

🐝 🐝 🐝

Most people simply tuned out the unending stream of profanity emanating from the angry blond, instead focusing on the stings and the countless remains of bees.

Kirishima took a moment – sting-free, due to his hardening – to glance at his friends. Hakugure was somehow giving off an air of displeasure despite not saying a word nor having any capability for expression in any form. Mina was crying, Jirou carefully patting her on the arm avoiding the many stings laced across it. Ochako was nowhere to be found; nor was Izuku (which lead him to smile, mentally).

Denki was passed out on one of the couches – he had let loose an ill-advised burst of electricity to try and shock the bees, which had simply made them angrier.

He sighed, before sitting down himself, the quiet they found themselves in only disturbed by Bakugo’s profanity; he was still going and had not yet even managed to repeat himself. (Kirishima would privately note this as impressive, despite everything.)

🐝 🐝 🐝

Ochako hissed as the cool liquid splashed onto yet another sting, Izuku’s hand carefully on her shoulder as he applied it. She had been one of the worst off out of the stung; it was with no small measure of extraordinarily good sense that had Izuku quickly get her out of the room before the bees swarmed.

(He did wonder why no one else considered leaving the room and just allowing the bees to leave through the window; or why someone didn’t think of calling Koji and seeing if he could intervene.)

His face was contorted with concentration as he applied the final bit of anti-sting lotion he had, the final drips of the blue liquid leaving the bottle. He put on a cheerful face for Ochako, even as she looked up.

A cheerful face would not disguise the fact he was similarly covered in stings.

“That should do it.” A nod from the green-haired boy. “It’ll still hurt for a little bit, but they should go down soon.” His face turned grave for a second. “It’s really lucky none of us were allergic…”

Ochako looked up at him, thinking for a moment.

“Why did you not use any of the lotion on yourself, Deku?”

And hearing her voice say his name slammed into Izuku’s train of thought like a lead weight, throwing all other thoughts out of his mind. His crush on her was (to everyone but the pair) common knowledge, barring Ochako herself.

“I- I wanted to make sure you were taken care of.” He held up a depleted first aid kit, some of its contents long since consumed. “I only had a little bit left.” Ochako looked at him with a level gaze for just a moment, before sighing.

“…thank you.” Her voice was a bit more subdued, the cheerfulness that was often in her tone making its absence known. She seemed to shrink into herself at Izuku’s speech.

Izuku frowned a little at that, before standing up – ignoring the omnipresent discomfort from the bees – and offering a hand to Ochako. She looked up towards it, almost hesitant.

She took it.

🐝 🐝 🐝

They were walking down one of the many streets; having made a hasty exit from the ‘restarted’ gathering. The fact that dead bees now covered many surfaces (and the discomfort from stings sending many people to bed early) made it fruitless endeavour.

Izuku had bought Ochako an ice cream, but she still looked somewhat uneasy. Izuku, to his credit, had not forced the issue. He simply let her enjoy her ice cream in companionable silence, focusing as best as he could on his own.

(If he kept glancing to his right to catch a glimpse of her face, that was his business and his alone.)

The silence continued on, as the final touches of the day passed on leaving a starlit sky in its wake.

“Izuku-kun.”

Her voice was quiet; not as subdued but lacking the normal boundless enthusiasm she put into everything she did. Izuku turned his head, ice-cream long since finished, and looked at her.,

“Why did you jump in front of me when the box was opened?”

Izuku barely hesitated in answering, conviction in his voice.

“…because you looked like your worst nightmare had come true when the box opened. A-and…” A moment to pause, as Izuku considered his next words; whatever he said next would have to be poignant. (Or so it had been drummed into him, as a life lesson in talking to girls.)

“…well, I never want to see you look like that again if I can help it?” A nod, as he felt emboldened. “I fully believe in you as a hero, but everyone has something they don’t like… like… like bees.” His voice lowered a notch. “…I don’t like them either. They scare me.”

Ochako’s face seemed to shift at that admission, just a little.

“But… if it was anyone else, I’d have… I don’t know. Probably not jumped in front of a swarm of them.”

A moment passed between them, a moment that seemed to pass for an age.

Ochako spoke next, equally as quiet.

“…thank you. It… did make me happy, in a way, to see it was you who had jumped in front of them.” A soft smile, the ever-present blush enlightening her face.

This, once again, sent Izuku’s thought processes sideways, even as she continued to speak.

“It was really stupid. I had this whole plan to talk to you, and then I didn’t get a chance before the bees…”

A nod. Izuku did not want to consider the bees.

“…I was actually going to tell you something.”

This caught Izuku’s attention even as he was reeling from the unexpected turns of phrase she had used; his analytical brain desperately trying to figure out what she was going to say. It could have been anything, to him – an invite out with her and some friends, a question about homework-

“I like you, Izuku.”  

-and his mental processes slammed to a complete stop for the third time that day. He watched down, nervous (and in a state of shock) as she took his hand, holding it in her own. It had been something he had often considered (alone, obviously, because he was not about to mention it in any way that Bakugo could find out) but he had long since cast the idea aside.

He – almost in autopilot – reaffirmed her grip, the tip of his finger making contact with one of her pads; she giggled, a little bit, at that. The small tremors in his hands, the callouses and marks from constant training and the sheer damage he had caused to them, all fading into the background under the simple touch; the gentle feeling of her hand pushing everything else aside.

He looked at her; gazed into her eyes for just a moment, before speaking. It was a simple sentence he said in return, but it held a lot of meaning.

To them both.

🐝 🐝 🐝

It was with little fanfare that Izuku, Monoma and (having followed along in a fret of concern) Ochako found themselves sitting in front of Aizawa, his gaze as level and tired as it ever was.

“What, precisely, led you to believe that using your quirk to intimidate Monoma was a good idea, Problem Child?”

A small nod from Izuku; a well-rehearsed answer.

“It was when he upset my girlfriend by sending our party a box of bees.”

And that caught everyone’s attention. It was back to their classmates within the hour.

[arazialotis]

Hunters Academy - Introduction

Word Count: Around 2200

Summary: The reader is looking for a way forward in life. A cryptic business card may provide her with a new opportunity at an unconventional school.

This is purely for a hobby and my enjoyment. Maybe some of you will enjoy it too. I am by no means a writer so I apologize in advance for any mistakes or grammatical/spelling errors. I appreciate any feedback or suggestions!

Special thanks and shout out to @misguidedconqueress for reviewing, editing, suggestions, and as always putting up with me.

—–

Your fingers eagerly tore through flimsy envelope, hoping your suspicion would be confirmed. Tossing the envelope aside, the single piece of paper crinkled in your hand as you read:

Your application appears to be promising. Make it to our location by September 31st and consider yourself accepted into the program. If you’re running late; don’t bother showing up at all. Good luck.

The letter was only signed with a black star surrounded by a circle of flames. The all too familiar mark of a hunter. Your mother made you wear a charm throughout your entire childhood. Even after her death when you were ten, you chose to wear it; the bracelet had become a part of you. It wasn’t until your 16th birthday you got it permanently tattooed on the side of your left rib cage. When your foster parents found out, they were furious. They never understood you though, nor your obsessive behaviors when it came to salt, holy water, and silver.

You were forced into psychological testing and tried your best to fake normalcy; to pretend everything was okay, to pretend the things that went bump in the night were just figments of the imagination. But your mom had raised you better. Instead of taking the prescribed pills, you just became better at hiding your secrets; convincing the world you had become cured. You had become so good at hiding you even convinced yourself… for a while.

It had seemed like just a phase. You went off to college to make your foster parents proud. But sophomore year was finishing up and you were running out of general education classes to take in order to avoid settling on a major. It wasn’t until you were spending a weekend back home, rummaging through storage, when you stumbled upon the box you had brought with you when you first arrived. You began pulling out memories; tattered gloves and a small scarf, wings you and your mom had made for a halloween costume, drawings of your mom fighting off monsters that probably were psychoanalyzed up the wazoo, and a small purse you used to collect key cards from your favorite hotels.

But what was most important was her journal. It was bound in brown leather, its corners and pages worn. You flipped open to the page bookmarked by your charm bracelet. Your fingers traced over the ink, almost being able to recall the sound of her scratching down details. She lived on through the words, still finding ways to speak to you. As you flipped through the pages, a plain white business card slipped out. On the front was simply printed “Academy” and the anti-possession symbol. On the back “Send Application” and a PO Box address in Nebraska.

You flipped the card back and forth, confused at the lack of information. You had never noticed it before even though you have flipped through the pages countless of times. Perhaps it was your mother speaking to you now and giving you a way forward. The idea stemming from your college applications, you decided to write an essay. This time including everything. Your mother, your upbringing, your malcontent for the white-picket-fence life, and overall desire to make an impact on the world.

And now, you were holding an acceptance letter. Well, half an acceptance, the full admittance on the condition of finding the school. The letter was just as cryptic as the business card. You picked up the envelope looking for more clues. Where the return address was, was a symbol you were unfamiliar with and it was posted from Kansas. You rubbed your eyes after hours of searching through the web, trying to identify this symbol. Even the established hunting community websites did not seem to have any information posted.

Grabbing another cup of coffee, you flipped through the journal again as it always seemed to have the answers you were searching for. Your attempt to turn on ‘The Wall’ in order to keep you awake was futile, eventually sleep won you over.

The next morning you awoke, filled with dreams of the academy slipping away. In the daze of waking consciousness, you reached to the journal to see where you had left off. In the corner of the page was the unknown symbol. You jolted up immediately. There was no explanation, simply the symbol and coordinates.

Looking up the coordinates, you easily pinpointed the location in Kansas, the nearest town Lebanon. Having no idea what you were in store for, you packed the only the basics into a duffel and walked out of your foster parents’ home with no intention of returning.

—

The drive was long, but you stayed focused with the help from classic rock and gas station snacks. As you drove through Lebanon, your ‘72 red Ford Mustang didn’t stick out as much as it usually did. It seemed things around here didn’t change very often. You stopped at a gas station to grab a map of the area, seeing which road would get you closest to the coordinates.

Having driven up and down a paved road a few times, you stopped at an unmarked dirt road and decided to see if it would lead to your destination. You slowed down as you approached what you could only described as an abandoned factory or warehouse. Leaving your car locked on the side road you went in for a closer look. The door had the same symbol from the letter and journal.

You didn’t let your nerves get the best of you, after knocking three times, you unlatched the door. Stepping in, you were surprised by the immediate drop into what looked like a scene straight out off Dr. Strangelove. A man with sandy brown hair and a bathrobe was making his way up the iron stairs.

“You’re early.” He grumbled.

“Better than late, I suppose.” You greeted him.

“Coffee?” He offered.

“Sounds wonderful.” You followed him through the war room and the library, and into an industrial sized kitchen. He poured both of you a fresh cup. “So, I am assuming I found the right place.”

“Mmhmm.” He mumbled through a sip. “But we weren’t expecting students for at least a few more days.”

A taller man, with long brown hair, walked through the kitchen. “Oh, hello?” He greeted you with surprise.

You shook his hand. “Pleasure to meet you, I’m Y/N by the way.”

“Sam Winchester. And my brother Dean.” He introduced both of them.

“Winchester? Any relation to a John?” You asked.

Both of them exchanged shocked glances. “Our father actually… you knew him?” Dean questioned.

“Yes. Well, not really I suppose… he and my mother hunted together when I was young. So I know him through her journal, not from actual memories.” You explained.

Sam furrowed his brow, analyzing your features. “You’re not Y/N Y/L/N?” Dean perked up from hearing your last name.

“Yes.” You confirmed.

Sam laughed out loud. “I don’t know if you would even remember this, but uh, we’d babysit you sometimes… you could have only been two or three at the time.”

“Yikes, hopefully not too many embarrassing stories you can throw in my face.” You gritted your teeth.

“Not at all,” Sam chuckled. “You were an easy kid and Dean was off at the arcade avoiding any work you caused.”

“Shut up.” Dean chastised. “Nah, I remember. You liked playing with my army guys except what usually started out as an epic battle always turned into house.” Dean snickered. Your cheeks turned red. “How is your mom anyways?”

“Oh um… she actually passed away when I was 10… Or at least I think that’s what happened.” You somberly revealed. “She never came back from a hunt. Cops found me at a motel and I’ve been in the foster care system ever since.”

“Oh Y/N, I am so sorry.” Sam sympathized.

“Yeah, I’ve had my ups and downs. The last family I’ve been with wasn’t too bad. Even let me stay with them after I aged out. Feeling a little bit guilty for ditching them.” You continued to confide.

“God, that must be tough. We lost our dad but just a few years back.” Dean admitted.

“I’m sorry to hear. From what my mom wrote about him, he seemed like a nice guy.”

“Ups and downs. But he left this place to us.” Dean answered.

“So did he run it?” You asked.

Both slightly chuckled. “No, I don’t think he stepped foot into this place since he was a kid.” Sam responded. “But his dad was part of it. It was an organization called the Men of Letters. They were focused more on the research and artifacts. But they opened their doors for young hunters to learn information and be better equipped.” “But it never carried on. A knight of Hell wiped out their entire faculty and it never reopened until we came around.” Dean continued. “So we run this every now and then when we need a break from hunting.”

“Initially we weren’t going to do it, just leave it as our home, but we decided it was better to be a support and resource to hunters, rather than them starting with no direction at all.” Sam added.

“How did you find us anyways?” Dean questioned.

“Like how I get all my answers, my mom’s journal. Your dad must have written the location down for her, maybe for like safe house or something. It came with a PO address too, since other things haven’t been working out, figured I’d give it a shot.” You explained. “Sorry, that probably wasn’t what you were going for, pretty intense screening process.”

“We want to ensure people know what they’re signing up for.” Sam said. “But you should have just explained who you were in your essay. We could have come and picked you up ourselves.”

“Okay, well, I didn’t want to let loose with all the juicy details in case it had just been set up as some elaborate prank…” You defended.

“Actually, that’s not a bad idea. We could have some fun with that.” Dean pondered.

Sam immediately changed the subject. “So did you drive Y/N?”

“Oh yeah, got my baby out front.” You responded. Dean grunted, there was only one Baby.

“Why don’t you drive it around to the garage?” Sam suggested.

“Yeah, okay.” You agreed and left the room.

“What do you think?” Sam asked Dean.

“She’s got potential.” Dean thought.

You pulled into the garage, gaping at the amazing collection of antiques. You pulled into an empty parking space. The boys wandered over to take a look at your ride as you got out with your duffel bag.

“Okay, first lesson.” Dean started. “You can’t fit a body in this trunk.”

“Maybe not in one piece.” You winked at him. “So does your school come with a room or just a parking space?”

Dean and Sam led you through the bunker. “After seeing Sam’s pathetic excuse for a living space, you’ll be pleased to know, this is where the magic happens.” Dean opened his door.

You glanced around. It was surprisingly clean, plainly decorated aside from the weapons hanging on the wall, and you couldn’t help but desire to go through his record collection.

Dean shut the door and continued the tour. “This room and all down the hall this way are currently open.” You opened the door, it was basically the same layout as Dean’s. Sam piped up. “This is the only other bedroom with a private bathroom. There is a common space up on the left.”

“Well, that makes the decision easy.” You threw your duffel on the bed.

“In that case, make yourself comfortable. And if you ever need anything,” Dean knocked on the adjoining wall. “I’m right next door.”

As they walked out you overheard a soft slap and Sam lecturing Dean. “No sleeping with the students.”

“Dude, I know… that’s not what…” Dean defended.

A few days had passed and no other students had shown up. You got familiar with the routine and even made the boys breakfast on more than one occasion. Sam even let you start breaking into some of the books.

“So Y/N.” Dean entered the library. “A case came up for me and Sam. Since it is still a couple days until the 31st, we’re going to take it. If you wouldn’t mind holding down the fort?” “Okay. But what if students show up?” You questioned.

“Yeah, just welcome them in, show ‘em around, maybe make some more of those killer pancakes…” Dean suggested.

“Umm.. not that I’m not trustworthy… but isn’t this a lot of responsibility for a person you just met?” You contemplated.

“See, you saying that gives me all the trust I need.” He started to head out. “Also, the place is rigged with cameras… except the bedrooms… actually my bedroom is…”

“This isn’t just another one of your ‘screening tests’ is it?” You skeptically questioned.

“That would be a great idea. But no, it’s not. Call if anything comes up… and if we don’t come back… well, we usually do, so don’t worry.” Dean rambled. “Alright, see ya.”

“See ya.” You repeated back before being left alone in the bunker.

——

Part 1

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Forever Tags: @nanie5 @sea040561 @crushing83 @mogaruke @deanwinchesterforpromqueen @ginamsmith @jotink78 @fallen-castiel @sup3r-pott3r-lock3d @dancingalone21

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[will-work-for-music]

* 2017 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR

two thousand + seventeen birthed fantastic records that found me like friends, over + over again. these masterpieces lead me to people + experiences on adventures far better than i could have dreamed. these collections songs kept me company through the highest highs, the lowest lows + the walking in between of this year marked by hardship + madness, for most of the world. these are the tunes i smiled + screamed + cried + danced to the most, this year. i’m wildly grateful for each artist + the remarkable melody-wrapped memories they’ve gifted me. here’s to the songs that stay. 🖤

loved in no particular order:

* LOVELY LITTLE LONELY - the maine

brilliant + poetic + free. this band has been liberating me since i was seventeen. before lovely little lonely was even born i jumped at the chance to celebrate 10 years of this band of brothers who’ve grown up alongside their family of fans. to truly live the lyric: “let’s fall back in love with the world + who we are + do the things we talked about but never did before..” i’m grateful to the maine for adventures i only ever dreamed + for the soundtrack to them all.. she’s a masterpiece.

* THE SEARCH FOR EVERYTHING - john mayer

“And that ends an era. August ‘14-April ’17. I made this record for *you*. May you hear and see and feel yourself in these songs.” 🌊♥️🌊 - @johnmayer

she’s stunning from beginning to end.. i kept telling everyone this show felt like experiencing a film.. it’s surely safe to say JM has made another stellar, artistic set of songs for the soundtrack of my life. wow, wow, wow.. as he kept saying to us, “thank you, thank you, thank you.”

“[On The search for everything, Mayer] succeeds because he’s not donning a new costume: instead, he’s settling into a groove he can claim as his own, and it feels like he’s at home.” - AllMusic

* HARRY STYLES - harry styles

(on album release day) every once in awhile, a record comes along that surprises you in a great way. as i put it to my best friend, [on release day].. “oops, i think i like harry’s album.” THE cameron crowe recently wrote a truly stunning, intriguing rolling stone cover story with styles as the subject.. (the cover that my mom thought featured “a young mick jagger,” without a clue about the previous week’s SNL sketch, ha). as someone who was never into one direction (sorry, rob sheffield), i likely wouldn’t have given this album a shot, but it’s everything you wouldn’t expect to hear in a “former pop star” solo record. thanks to two of my favorite writers (rob sheffield, who penned the RS review like only he can, + crowe) for encouraging me to see harry for more than the kid from the boy band.. as crowe put it (on the RS music now podcast), “he’s a music geek, in the best way..” his love of classic rock shines through, while still capturing a sound all his own. well done, HS. “from the dining table” + “two ghosts” are early favorites.. which i chose just before ryan adams tweeted it.

Rolling Stone’s Rob Sheffield put HS at number 3 on his 2017 album list: “What a revelation to see Styles live the same week as Paul McCartney – a tutorial on the connection between joy and brilliance. So is this album. The songs are built to last, standing up to months of ridiculously heavy listening. The only rock star who can come on like Macca and Mick at the same time. The only rock star who could earn all six minutes of "Sign of the Times.” The only rock star using his hard-won artistic freedom to craft the kind of hilariously anti-commercial old-school personal statement where every song counts, making big guitar moves everybody else this year was too timid to try. The only rock star who thinks cigarettes in New York are “cheap.” The only rock star.“

* PRISONER - ryan adams

"i think ‘prisoner’ has so much more hope + sensuality in it—to me, it’s liberating. those songs are more a celebration of becoming something as it’s broken apart.”

a note to ryan, as tour came to a close:

i feel the most alive inside of these songs.. the ones that break me open + somehow heal me, all at once. RA, i know this time out on the road stole your health + your joy, at times, but the wonder with which you kept playing was magic to witness. i’m grateful for your pursuit of growth + grace, no matter what comes your way. be it bronchitis, haters or heartbreak, you never let anything keep you down. thank you for not one, but two flawless dates in two sparkling cities on the prisoner tour. rest up + stay weird.. xo

* ONLY THE LONELY - colony house

just shy of two weeks into 2017, franklin, tennessee born + bred band of brothers colony house released a creative, impactful collection of songs for the soul. the rocknroll band’s strong sophomore effort landed them spots in the year’s finest festivals across the country (homegrown pilgrimage fest, chicago’s lollapalooza, new orleans’ voodoo experience). it will be exciting to see where these driving, honest story songs take them in the coming year.

* WONDERFUL WONDERFUL - the killers

the fifth studio album from brandon flowers + co has been called their strongest in over a decade. the frontman said the lead single, “the man,” was written through the lens of what his 20-something self thought it was to be a man..“being tough + bringing home the bacon, when really it’s about being compassionate + empathetic.”

For NME, Flowers shared that the lyrics of the album are “the most personal and bare” that he has ever been: “I’m looking in the mirror on this record and focusing a lot on my own personal experiences. Instead of just drawing upon all these experiences and maybe using them in other songs, I am going straight for it with this and singing about my life and my family and that’s something different for me.” The track “Rut” was inspired by the struggle of Flowers’ wife Tana with PTSD. He said: “Usually I feel protective of her but I decided to take it head on. So 'Rut’ is about her submitting to it. That doesn’t mean that she’s gonna let it beat her, but rather that she’s gonna finally acknowledge that it’s there and promise to break this cycle.” Flowers also added that putting his wife’s battle into a song helped him understand better what she is going through. “Have All the Songs Been Written?” was originally the subject line of an email Brandon Flowers sent to Bono, in the midst of a bout of writer’s block, before the latter suggested it would make an excellent song title.“

'wonderful wonderful’ is altogether driving + poignant + strong, intricately crafted for the artist + his listener.

* METAPHYSICAL - the technicolors

as soon as i experienced the technicolors–friends/labelmates/co-creators of the maine–live, i knew they would be in my life from that day forward. it seemed previous projects couldn’t quite capture the passion + enthusiasm of that short set, so 2017’s "metaphysical” was highly anticipated by many.

the title’s defined as “relating to the transcendent or to a reality beyond what is perceptible to the senses. beyond ordinary experience.” the aptly named project evokes a raw, ethereal energy that draws outside the lines, while remaining true to a rock solid focus. “sweat,” “imposter!” + “congratulations you’re a doll” would be welcome additions to any playlist, however it’s recommended listeners follow the sparkling sonic story from start to finish.

* CONCRETE + GOLD - foo fighters the ninth record from foo fighters is born + it is a freaking force. dave says it’s motörhead meets sgt. pepper’s. i sure do dig the super crunchy guitars + layered vocal melodies. paul mccartney plays drums + justin timberlake sings bgvs, just cause he wanted to + it makes me the happiest human.

“I feel an earthquake coming on,” Dave Grohl sings on “Dirty Water,” a moment of fragile guitar poetry from Foo Fighters’ ninth album. Of course, keeping things steady amid chaos has been one of Grohl’s signature themes since the Foos were born from the wreckage of Nirvana a couple of forevers ago. Musically and emotionally, Concrete and Gold is their most balanced record yet – from stadium-punk dive bombers like “Run” and “La Dee Da” to the acoustic soul that opens “T-Shirt,” in which Grohl gets his Nina Simone on, singing, “I don’t wanna be king/I just wanna sing a love song.” “Sunday Rain” is a guitar weeper so late-Beatles great it even has Paul McCartney playing drums on it.

Adele co-writer Greg Kurstin’s production adds big-studio texture without diluting the band’s raw tumult; even Justin Timberlake’s appearance – as a backing vocalist on the space-truckin’ “Make It Right” – is subtle rather than ostentatious. The highlight is “The Sky Is a Neighborhood,” a hulking dream-metal anthem: “Trouble to the right and left,” Grohl sings, driving into the darkness with a Bic lighter raised to the heavens.“ - Rolling Stone

* HALLOWEEN - ruston kelly

ruston kelly captured me, years ago, with the single release of his flawlessly raw, haunting "black magic.” ever since, like a ghost itself, the song was never far from me.

Rolling Stone writes, “Black Magic” is a crescendoing rocker that ponders the bewitching pull of romance –and how it can easily disappear in a cloud of smoke.“

"Kelly is just as adept at making catchy country grooves – Tim McGraw and Josh Abbott Band have cut his tracks –as he is capturing life’s darkest, most introspective moments. The songwriter’s debut EP, the Mike Mogis-produced Halloween, is a solemn meditation on the inevitable end of things, and the spirits that tend to haunt us. Kelly came to Tennessee as a last-minute decision after attending high school in Belgium (he jokes that his father might have been a spy). Once he landed in town, he held tenure in the jam band Elmwood and battled addiction, writing songs on Music Row while exploring his demons on Halloween and his forthcoming full-length. Current single "Black Magic” shows a powerful grasp on storytelling gleaned from his love of the Carter Family and Townes Van Zandt, but also a more ragged rock & roll soul: it’s Americana, if your Americana is Bruce Springsteen with an acoustic guitar, sung by someone who spins a little heavy metal too. “Sometimes I wear both a cowboy hat and a Slayer T-shirt, just to throw people off,” Kelly says.“

* REPUTATION - taylor swift

"hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you” at her core, i still believe taylor to be the fiercely strong, quietly brilliant songwriter she’s always been. the power of the song comes through when you strip it down + it still shines just as bright. thank you for making music that meets me where i am + takes me away, since that very first day, at fifteen (2006). thank you for this one + for playing it for jimmy fallon + his momma (go watch that performance + weep!) i look forward to growing into this record as i have the five that came before.. i’ve never doubted her prowess as a storyteller.. + i won’t start now.

see also: Rob Sheffield’s glorious write up. i wholeheartedly agree. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/taylor-swift-reputation-sheffield-review-most-intimate-lp-w511359

rob is my favorite RS writer/author on all-things music. from his books on life through the lens of pop music–bowie, beatles + duran duran songs, respectively, i wouldn’t trust anyone else’s TS review. he articulately captures how i feel, as a fan from album one.. i look forward to better understanding 'reputation’ with each spin, though i can’t help but miss the classic introspective ballads.

* DIVIDE - ed sheeran

a fantastically diverse record. once again, sheeran proves he can break all of the boundaries + stay true to himself as an artist. he does it all so well, without appearing to care what anyone else thinks. “dive” is a bold, beautiful statement i continue to come back to + feel just the same. the record punches + dances in all the right places, from beginning to end, begging to be played on repeat.

* LIFE CHANGES - thomas rhett

thomas rhett gifted us the quintessential road trip singalong soundtrack record of the year. the day after it was born was spent on a bus from chicago to nashville, so when it wasn’t playing through my earbuds, it was spinning on repeat in my mind. the title track still stands out clear + strong, though i thoroughly enjoyed a live taste of the addictive early maren morris duet–“craving you”–back in february on the hometeam tour. it’s no wonder his career has catapulted with his seamless versatility in blending country’s storytelling with pop music’s neverending ear candy likeablity. this record excellently showcases rhett’s range from anthemic radio jams to heartbreaker ballads and true-to-life tales in between.

* FROM A ROOM (vol 1 + 2) - chris stapleton

stapleton released music this year in two parts, dubbing them “from A room” volumes 1 + 2–not just any room, “'A�� room” being nashville’s historic RCA studio A. some songs included in the collection were written up to a decade ago; ones chosen as they still ring true to the bearded, believable-as-they-come singer/songwriter.

on the authenticity of his craft, stapleton says, “I can’t really speak to why people like what we do. Hopefully, they know what we do is authentically us, and that goes over no matter what kind of music you’re playing. People will kind of hear that and connect with that in ways they wouldn’t if you were trying to be something that you think might be popular; I think that’s always a mistake in music, maybe even in life. Do something 'cause it’s in your heart, do something 'cause it’s what you’re supposed to be doing.”

“broken halos” + “second one to know” will, to me, always conjure up memories of seeing him open for tom petty and the heartbreakers at wrigley field, on their 40th anniversary tour, this summer. music is medicine and these honest-to-the-bone tunes are instant classics as well as a balm for the soul.

* FIRST CIGARETTE - travis meadows

“we rise. we climb. we shine like broken stars.”

the above is perhaps the defining statement of next-level nashville singer/songwriter, travis meadows’ 2017 studio album, 'first cigarette.’ the veteran of a different kind of war, there’s not much meadows hasn’t faced in life–cancer, heartbreak, addiction, depression.. and no story is off-limits for the wonderfully raw-voiced, honest-as-they-come artist. each song stays true to travis’ heart, some a little more uncomfortably authentic than accessible (ie radio-friendly), but that’s the way meadows prefers his craft.

“underdogs,” “pontiac,” “hungry,” + “better boat” stand out from first listen, yet each track was chosen to land where they do in the lineup + in the heart of the listener.

Rolling Stone writes, “To his most ardent fans and peers, including Eric Church, Dierks Bentley and Jake Owen, who have all cut Meadows’ songs for their respective albums, his open-book approach to his craft is his greatest gift. But Meadows lives in fear of rejection. That ever-lingering sense of distrust remains…

[On having label support backing a project for the first time]:

"It validates all of the suffering that I went through to get here,” Meadows says. “It gives it purpose.”

“I try not to be too hard on myself,” Meadows continues, “but I don’t deserve any of this. So I’m grateful for every inch I get walking that mile.”

* STEEL TOWN - steve moakler

steel town had only been out for nine days + i’d woken up with these songs in my head, every morning. i’m partial to “wheels” + “gold” + “summer without her” (co-written with + ft. my favorite-for-so-long, sarah buxton!!) + the title track, but i cannot pick a favorite, friends. the long wait from 'wide open’ to this one was oh-so-worth it. thanks for another heartfelt record filled with story songs i can spin for years + years to come. seriously, don’t sleep on this love letter to a historically hardworking hometown.

* BRETT ELDREDGE - brett eldredge

“Brett Eldredge’s self-titled third album is the Number One country album this week. The Illinois native also scored the highest all-genre chart position of his career, landing at Number Two on the Billboard 200, behind Kendrick Lamar’s LP Damn.” - Rolling Stone (August 15)

eldredge is both effortless + earnest, perfectly showcasing his ability + personality on the record he calls, “the most [himself].” from the playful first single, “somethin’ i’m good at” to the heartfelt vulnerability of “castaway,” listeners experience all-sides of the equal parts smooth sinatra, fun-loving country crooner. the standouts are story songs–“the long way” is dreamlike while “no stopping you” is wistful–both shine brilliantly on studio LP number three.

[john-anthony]

October usually means so much to me and indicates the change in seasons. I think of the usual things such as horror movies, over abundant sweet treats to be shared/enjoyed, and dressing up as your favorite figure. Today will mark the second year of not being able to celebrate Halloween in its entirety. It was a bit odd to me not seeing children walk down the busy streets in their costumes, while accompanied by their proud parent. Although I didn’t actually see this in person, since my wife is a nursery teacher, her kids had all gone trick or treating. She did mention to me that she saw the results of their evening candy loot journey the next day due to their hyper active behavior to get the class in order…

What I’ve discovered in my venture in the world of social media, there have been trends of art related topics that a community would accomplish together of all skill levels just to take part in a movement. One of them is “Inktober“. I’ve seen this for a few years actually but never actually got around to finishing it. Why? Lazyness, plain and simple. Last year, I’ve only posted one because I was too focused on being “perfect”. It’s 2017, and reflecting over the years, my main issue was starting a project only to never finish it. As an artist, I would have great ideas, note them down, sketch about 20% of the idea, then frustrate myself because I would feel like something is off. The thought of “Well, I pictured it better in my imagination, but in actuality, it isn’t that great“. This mentality actually killed my progress to develop. It’s like going to the gym for the first day and expecting to see dramatic results, then giving up.

“Swift”

In the same way, creating a specific idea into life will take some work, and often times, I’m quite critical of myself. There are many projects that I wish to create that I still haven’t accomplished yet, but I made a conscious decision to go back to the basics first. I needed to fall in love with drawing again.  I had evaluate, even investigate and ask myself:

Did I reject my love for creating art?

Do I have time to do this anymore?

Do I have it in me to do this again?

“Divided”

Since coming to Dubai, I had to ask myself that many times. It was a passion that kept burning in me, sadly, I set it aside due to lack of confidence in myself. Since starting my job, its a 9 to 5 job and the commute going home is about 2 hours. By the time I get home, I’m tired and I want to shut my mind off with anything else other than challenging myself to be creative.

“Poison” Legends say that the king of Abotinia cared a great deal for his people, even if it meant giving up his own life to save them. The sword he wielded was called “TOMADOR De VIDA”, aka ‘LIFE Taker’. Whoever uses the sword will have emense power, at the expense of the user’s life. The sword has claimed the lives of several legions….

Come September, I wanted to prepare For this Inktober that I’ve been so fond of, but this year was going to be different. Getting back into the groove of drawing consistently was my gym for creativity. The beauty of it was that I can take my creative gym anywhere I wanted to. My lunch breaks are the times to put down lead and ink onto paper. Everyday, I started making efforts to practice and fill up my creative bank with inspirations from my childhood. Much like in real life, to get more out something, I had to be invested.

“Underwater”

  Sure, I watch cartoons, movies, and read comics, but what am I doing with all those creations? To me, they should be used to fuel my own creations. Realizing lunch time at work wasn’t enough to draw, I had to be proactive if I wanted to finish this project, but where can I find more time…? Well… I’ve always complained about how long my bus ride to work were, especially going home… (Queue lightbulb) That’s it! Since the ride is smooth on the highway, I can use those 3 hours (1 hour going to work, 2 hours coming back due to heavy traffic) everyday to draw something! Since its just a sketch, the lines do not have to be perfect, the refinement can come later during lunch time.

“Sword”

Although I haven’t finished Inktober completely, and its already November, I’m still determined to accomplish it. This has taught me to stop making excuses and to make more art instead. Much like my marriage, this is a passion I have to fight for everyday. It sure as heck won’t be perfect, but it’s awesome to be filling up my sketchbook again.

“Shy”. Eva when my parents first took in this amazing creature. I really miss her.

  “Crooked”

  “Screech”

  “Gigantic”

  Shout out to Apurv (Ah-pu-roov)! I created a sketch session on Reddit, and although several people said they were going, one showed up. Getting to know him is awesome. He’s from India, moved to Pasadena, California to pursue his Masters in computer science, graduated, then came back. Great guy all around and incredibly enthusiastic about getting back into his passion as well. Looking forward to our 3 week meeting!

Inktober 2017 October usually means so much to me and indicates the change in seasons. I think of the usual things such as horror movies, over abundant sweet treats to be shared/enjoyed, and dressing up as your favorite figure.

[studio-elan]

20 Funny Get to Know You Questions to Bond with Anyone Instantly

When getting to know someone new you don’t want to come across as intrusive or aloof. Instead remain calm with these funny get to know you questions. Meeting new people can be nerve-racking for us all, especially for introverts or those with social anxiety. You don’t want to ask too many questions and seem intrusive, but you also want to seem interested. In order to find that perfect balance and ensure you both have a great time including some funny get to know you questions into the conversation is key. [Read: The best funny conversation starters to feel like you fit in] How do you ask funny get to know you questions? Keep things light. When you are first getting to know someone you usually want to avoid anything too deep. If you don’t want to just blurt out a question, share a funny story that is related to the question so that there is a more natural flow to the questions to come. Avoid anything controversial  Being funny doesn’t mean you have to push limits. There is such a thing as family friendly comedy, so unless you somehow know this person’s sense of humor, try to avoid any funny questions about politics, religion, etc. When you first get to know someone a distasteful joke can not only be a red flag, but also a major or even immediate turn off. So keep it clean. [Read: Impress everyone you meet by making a great first impression] 20 funny get to know you questions that work like a charm These funny questions range from embarrassing to informative and even just ways to start a fuller conversation. So pick and choose as you please and not only will your confidence improve, but whoever you’re getting to know will leave knowing just how funny you are. Asking funny get to know you questions is the perfect way to break the ice with anyone new. So keep on reading and take some notes. #1 What is your most embarrassing moment? This is a go-to and a classic for a reason. No one’s answer will ever be the same. Plus, this lets you know how seriously this person takes themselves and if they can laugh at their formerly embarrassing moments. [Read: Fun questions to ask your friend to get to know them better] #2 Do you have any weird talents or skills? This is always an interesting one. For example, I can lick my elbow and it is supposed to be impossible. That is something people always find super intriguing. But expect for them to ask the same question back, so if you aren’t prepared to walk on your hands or pop your shoulder out of its socket in the middle of a restaurant you can skip this one. #3 What was your favorite childhood TV show? This always starts a fun and nostalgic conversation. You can reminisce on childhood and discuss how your sense of humor has changed, or if you would still watch that show today. [Read: How to keep a conversation going with the opposite sex] #4 What was your favorite Halloween costume as a kid? If you have a photo of yours on your phone that is a plus. Everyone loves to hear the answer to this question. Not everyone stuck with a witch or a ghost, so seeing what this person loved so much that they wanted to dress up as it is pretty darn interesting. Mine was a pumpkin princess… don’t ask. #5 What was your worst fashion or style faux pas? Again you get to make fun of yourselves and each other. Talking about that mohawk you had, those frosted tips, or feathered hair is always enjoyable. Plus, it gets you the perfect segue for a compliment… “Well, you sure did grow up nicely.” #6 What is the most cringe-inducing pick up line you have ever heard? Personally I love these. I mean not to actually be picked up with, but hearing such unbelievably bad or corny pick up lines is hilarious. Plus, knowing that someone actually thought it would work makes it impossible not to laugh. [Read: 70 hilarious cheesy pick up lines that’ll leave anyone laughing] #7 What products have you purchased from an infomercial? Infomercials are infamous for some really insane products. Some are meant for people who can’t make eggs, others for people who don’t own a blanket or robe, and some are just totally useless. Finding out what this person was intrigued enough to order will let you know a lot about them. And if the product was a bust as they usually are, this funny question can lead to a good story. #8 If you could merge animals together which two would you choose and why? This can be a little weird to ask, but if you are both animal lovers it would be so interesting to hear their answer and their explanation behind it. #9 What is the best dad joke you know? This is a funny and lighthearted, even corny topic. Everyone loves a good dad joke. I mean, how could you not? [Read: How to use humor to win over a crush] #10 Which animal do you think would be the funniest if it could talk? This is great. Yes, we would all love our dogs or cats to be able to talk back to us, but hearing what a whale, ostrich, or giraffe has to say would be quite interesting.  #11 What is your guilty pleasure? This can be a great way to get to know another side to someone. This person may be all business or super professional, but finding out they love to watch The Bachelor or The Real Housewives would be shocking and hilarious. [Read: 33 guilty pleasures that are best kept a secret] #12 What is the most useless super power you can think of? Everyone always asks what super power you would want to have. Yes, that is a good question, but to make it funnier, ask this. There are some super heroes and sidekicks that just don’t make sense. Talking about the hypothetical situations where these powers would come into play can lead to a unique and creative chat. #13 If you could be the opposite gender for a day what is the first thing you would do? Again this says a lot about someone. If you ask a guy and he says stare at himself naked, you know he may be a little superficial. So, this one, although funny, can also be pretty darn eye opening. #14 What song is currently downloaded on your phone that you would be embarrassed if it started playing out of the blue? This is one of those funny get to know you questions that not only gets you a peek inside this person’s music taste, but also their actual music taste. Everyone is all about sharing their love for Drake, but when you admit to loving Nickelback or One Direction it opens up a whole new door. [Read: The best questions to make someone laugh and enjoy your company] #15 What is your least favorite word? Moist *sorry* is a popular one, but this is always pretty funny to learn about. Just keep this conversation in a location away from food. #16 What is the worst/funniest thing you have ever seen while people watching? People watching is probably one of the most fun and interesting activities you can do. Whether you were eating lunch on a park bench or getting a tan at the beach, it is very likely you’ve seen some hilarious human behavior. #17 What word can you never remember how to spell? You might not think about this very often, but we all have those one or two words that we can never spell right. For instance, mine are nauseous and guarantee. But yours might be restaurant, separate, or even vacuum. *I literally spelled vacuum wrong as I just typed it*. #18 How do you think your last boss would describe you? This can be funny, embarrassing, or boastful. It can also tell you a lot about this person. If they think their boss would have nothing but wonderful things to say, they may be a little disillusioned. But everyone has something they did at work to pass the time *other than work*, if they share this they are pretty genuine. #19 Have you ever had a weird interaction with a celebrity? Nearly everyone has met at least one celebrity. Whether it was at a book signing, on a plane, or just on the street, they are almost never normal. Whether the celebrity was rude, you were fangirling hard, or you mistook someone for someone else this is always a fun story. [Read: The best ways to be interesting and become the life of a conversation] #20 Would you rather be really hairy or completely bald? I had to throw at least one would you rather in here. But maybe skip this funny get to know you question if your date is in fact bald. Otherwise it is pretty funny to see what someone says. [Read: Drawing a blank? Try these easy 25 conversation starters] And that is it, 20 funny get to know you questions that you can use on your next date, getting to know a friend, or even a potential in-law. Now go forth and laugh the day away. The post 20 Funny Get to Know You Questions to Bond with Anyone Instantly is the original content of LovePanky - Your Guide to Better Love and Relationships.