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27: A Packed Suitcase

part one | previous | next | masterlist | ao3

When Wally West carries Thad back into the house, the boy is trembling.

Wally puts him down. Max comes quickly towards them, intending to give Thad some security from Wally, but the boy shrinks back as he approaches. Wally West steps protectively in front of Thad.

Max stops, confused. Helen comes up beside him.

Wally looks down at Thad and says softly: “Go on. I’ll take care of it.”

Thad studies Wally’s face for a moment. Then he vibrates so hard his face blurs. He skirts around the edge of the room and flees into the hallway.

Only once Thad is in his room, perfectly still and therefore almost invisible to Max, does Max look back to Wally West. He can feel his expression going steely.

“Tell us everything,” Helen says.

Wally West tells them everything.

Thad threatened Jai. Max apologizes on his behalf, but Wally says that Thad already apologized. Extensively. Wally is frowning in what looks like anger but Max guesses is actually self-reproach as he admits to attacking Thad, pinning him against a cliff, and shouting at him. Max’s heart sinks as Wally describes a version of Thad that Max has only seen in the boy’s most desperate moments: tense as a coiled spring, half sobbing in fear, pleading for his speed and his life.

Max pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration. An entire month of work slowly building trust with Thad… probably erased.

“I’m sorry,” Wally West says. “I didn’t mean to scare him so badly. I was just scared for my kids, you know?”

“I know,” Max sighs. “It’s just a bad situation.”

“Speaking of that, Thad wanted me to tell you something.”

“Oh?” Max asks, surprised again by Thad’s trust in the man who, besides Bart, was probably the biggest threat looming over Thad’s childhood.

“He made me promise to ask you if he can go stay with Joe Wilson for a while. Like a trial run.”

Oh. This. Max has been trying not to think about it… the strong chance that Thad will leave in the near future.

Helen sighs.

They call Joseph Wilson. 

“Hello, this is Joseph Wilson,” the slow mechanized voice says.

“This is Max Crandall,” Max answers. “Helen and Wally are here with me, too. We’re calling about Thad.”

“Yes.”

A long pause. Long enough that Max worries that Joseph is trying to find words to say he no longer is willing to consider taking Thad. Maybe he looked up Inertia and decided he doesn’t want to deal with all that baggage. Max wouldn’t blame him… but, oh, how could Max explain it to Thad?

At last, the voice says: “I am sorry for going out of contact. My mother went missing. I had to find her. We got her home a few days ago. But her leg is broken.”

Helen and Wally make commiserating noises.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Max says. “I… suppose this is a badly timed question, then. But Thad has requested to stay with you for a while, as a sort of trial run. I don’t expect you to say yes—”

“I would love to have him,” the voice interrupts.

“Oh, thank goodness,” Max says, and his relief is too strong in his voice. He doesn’t want to weaponize his desperation to make Joseph feel obliged to help. He pauses, and Joseph speaks before he can recover.

Joseph Wilson speaks slowly, even slower than is necessitated by his voice aid. “I would honestly love to have him over. But my life is unstable right now. I don’t know if I can take him permanently. Please tell him that it is not his fault. And I am sorry.”

“I understand,” Max says.

He finishes the conversation with more grace, hammering out the details of the visit and thanking Joseph for his understanding and wishing his mother a speedy recovery from her injury. But half of his awareness is on Thad, on his uneven breathing, his racing heart.

Joseph Wilson would love to have Thad over this week. He could keep him until next Wednesday. When do they want him to take Thad?

Max says he’ll drop Thad off on Thursday, but leaves his agreement on the length of the visit vague. He wants to talk to Thad before he commits to sending him away for a long time.

Wally and Linda make their excuses and leave. By unspoken agreement, Max and Helen head to the couch without cleaning off the table.

They both sigh hugely. Helen laughs a little.

Max says, “I suppose I ought to go talk to Thad.”

Helen sighs again. Max stands up and goes to Thad’s door. Knocks.

No response.

Max calls: “May I come in?”

“Yes,” calls a voice from under the desk.

Max comes in and kneels by the little lump of blankets.

“Thad-boy,” he says. “I’m so proud of you.”

The boy shudders and curls up. The movement shows Max how he’s positioned, like a bat sensing the outlines of a thing with its radar sense; the boy has his back to the opening of the desk, shoulders raised, hands clenched by his chest.

“May I touch you?” Max asks.

No response. Slowly, hoping this is right, Max leans down, reaches into the desk, and touches Thad’s back. Again, a shudder goes through him, but he holds still. So Max takes a bigger gamble.

He leans further in and slides his hand under Thad’s shoulders, pulls the boy with his blankets out of his desk and onto Max’s lap. Thad doesn’t struggle or vibrate away, but he’s very, very stiff.

“Thad-boy,” Max says again.

And the speed force rushes into Thad; Max feels the power slam into his body like a wave, and into Max as well, an instinctive response, although Max is too slow to catch Thad even on a good day. Thad vibrates out of Max’s grip and runs, and Max doesn’t bother trying to follow him. They both know Thad is faster.

Thad doesn’t run far this time. He turns, slows, and slams his back into the corner of the room. His fists are raised. He’s breathing hard.

Oh, Thad.

Max sits there, arms empty in his lap, and looks Thad in the face until the boy’s eyes grow less wild, more present. Thad looks over Max and moves, starts to put his fists down. Then he gasps and raises them again.

Max says, “You’re safe, Thad. It’s over now.”

Thad nods jerkily, but remains pressed into the corner of the room. He bares his teeth and scrubs one elbow over his face in a rough gesture, like he’s trying to wipe away his panic, but nothing seems to come of it; he pants for breath. His cheeks are red.

“You’re safe. I promise.”

Max waits for a while, but the only change is that Thad starts trembling. Slowly, he stands up, and Thad presses himself harder into the corner.

“I’m gonna let you be for a while,” Max says. “Call me if you want me, okay?”

Thad looks at Max with wide eyes and says nothing. Max turns his back and goes out. As he shuts the door, he feels Thad slide down the wall and bury his face in his hands.

Later, Helen coaxes Thaddeus out of the room to watch Star Trek with her. Max doesn’t know how she managed it. When Max comes to check on them, her arm is draped over the boy’s shoulders, and his head is leaning into her shoulder.

After their episode finishes, Max comes and kneels in front of Thaddeus. The boy looks at him, silent and wary.

“You can go to Joseph Wilson’s house for a while,” Max says quietly. “Wally told me you want to try it out… living with him.”

Thaddeus nods.

“That seems reasonable to me. We can talk more tomorrow,” Max says quietly. “I just thought you’d like to know.”

Thad smiles wearily. But genuinely.

Good. It was an awful shock, but Thad is resilient. Max begins to hope that the clash with Wally West didn’t change anything for Thad… that it just tired him out. Helen says, “Here’s hoping.”

But the next day, Monday… well…

Thad eats breakfast quietly. He doesn’t initiate conversation, but when does he ever? When Max asks if he feels up to going out today, he says, “No, thank you.” Max asks how he feels, and he says “Better than yesterday,” pulling a laugh from Max. And then he goes silent, and Max doesn’t press him. He finishes his oatmeal, does his chores, and goes back to his room.

Something is wrong.

Max goes and weeds the garden, giving Thaddeus time to hopefully recover his voice. Then he comes and knocks on the door.

Thaddeus’s rough voice calls “What is it?”

“Just checking if you’re all right,” Max says.

Silence.

“How are you feeling?”

A long silence. Then Thaddeus gets up and opens the door. He looks up at Max.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” he says. “Just… tell me the details.”

So Max tells him, “Wally said you’re struggling.”

Thad waits, seemingly unmoved.

“We agreed, Wally and Joseph and I,” Max says, carefully, “That you can go to Joseph Wilson’s place on Thursday.”

“Three days?” Thad asks.

“Yes.”

“Fine. How long can I stay?”

“Let’s talk about that,” Max says.

Thaddeus grimaces slightly.

“I want the best for you,” Max says. “I just need to know some things to make the best decisions for you.”

Thad flares, “I’ll make my own decisions!”

Max is almost relieved. Thaddeus has been so… so calm today. Unnaturally so.

“We’ve discussed this,” Max says. “I’m going to give you as much freedom as I can, but you are a child. I have a responsibility to keep you safe.”

“Whatever,” Thad says. “How long did Joseph offer?”

“Up to next Wednesday.”

“Then that’s how long I’m staying.”

Max hears a familiar stubbornness in Thad’s voice and represses a fond smile. He is so like Bart, sometimes.

“What?” Thad snaps.

“I was just thinking that I’m proud of you,” Max says.

Thad freezes, then looks down, blinking rapidly.

“What else?” he asks, and his voice sounds jarringly normal.

Max thinks about leaving the therapy discussion for later, but… Thad deserves to know. To prepare.

“We’re going to get you into therapy.”

The scowl comes right back.

“No.”

“Thad—”

“Can I not say no?” Thad asks, a note of desperation in his voice.

Max pauses.

Thaddeus could never say no to the Thawnes. Max knows.

“Well, generally, you can say no. But, Thad… think about it, please. Therapy isn’t going to hurt you.”

“I know that,” the boy snaps. “Just stop, okay? Stop. I’ll go when I’m ready.”

Max frowns.

“Thad, what’s wrong?”

“You want a list?” Thaddeus demands.

“Honestly, yes.”

A moment of conflict, and then Thaddeus drops his energetic facade. Max hears all of his six hundred years in his rough voice.

“Max… please. I know what I’m doing. ‘Consistency is critical when dealing with long-term child abuse,’” he quotes wearily. “So I need a therapist in the area I’ll be living permanently. I’ll go once I’m living with Joseph. Okay?”

Ah. Right. Hmm.

“That’s reasonable. But you should know that Joseph’s life is… complicated… right now. He may not be able to host a child long-term.”

Thad’s mouth pulls up for a moment in a bitter sneer.

“He told me to tell you it’s not your fault, and he’s sorry.”

Thaddeus takes a deep breath. The bitter expression fades.

“Acknowledged,” he says. “Is there anything else?”

“Yes,” Max says. “Thad… you can’t yell at people like you did to Wally West yesterday.”

The boy’s fingers tighten on the doorknob. Max wants to back down, to comfort him, but Thad has to know this.

“I know you’re under a lot of stress, but that’s not okay.”

“He deserved it,” Thaddeus says coldly.

“Whether or not he deserved it is debatable,” Max says, and holds up a hand when Thaddeus starts to protest. “Whether or not they deserve it, you cannot verbally abuse people.”

Thad flinches at the word abuse.

After a moment, he says in a low voice, “I understand, sir. But… how… how am I supposed to make myself understood?”

“There are ways. You can still… make an impact… without being quite so aggressive. You’ll learn.”

For a split second, Thad looks lost. Then he scowls.

“I’m not a nice person,” he says, low and angry. “You can’t expect me to be one all of a sudden just because I’m not Inertia anymore.”

“I don’t,” Max says. “I only ask you to try to learn.”

“Right,” he says skeptically.

“Thad,” Max says. “You are a good person. All you lack is communication skills, and those can be learned.”

Thaddeus’s face grows guarded. Slowly, he says, “Anything else?”

Max pauses. Thaddeus looks exhausted.

“No, that’s about it.”

Thaddeus exhales slowly. His hand clenches on the doorknob like he’s thinking of closing the door but doesn’t know if he’s allowed.

Max reaches out and touches Thaddeus on the shoulder. It might be selfish, to touch him when he’s so clearly struggling to hold himself together. He knows full well how touch overwhelms the boy. But, oh, Max cannot seem to get through to him any other way.

A helpless ‘mh’ sound breaks from Thad’s throat, and he closes his eyes.

Max squeezes his shoulder and it lifts, pressing into the touch.

“Can I hug you?” Max asks.

Thaddeus takes a shuddering breath and shakes his head.

“All right, kiddo, that’s fine,” Max tells him, and removes his hand.

Thaddeus steps backward and closes the door.

On Tuesday, Thaddeus is still… very removed. He refuses to go out again. He buries himself in his books all afternoon. But when Max asks Thad to help him make dinner, he agrees.

Max makes the gyoza wrappers. Normally he’d buy them, but he knows it’ll take Thad a while to make the filling. He makes the wrappers at the counter, allowing Thad to work at the table… where Max can’t see him. Hopefully, it’ll help the boy feel safe. Max pays careful attention to how Thad moves, looking for that slow heaviness or quick skittishness that Thad carries with him on bad days, but he seems… comfortable. He chops the cabbage with a quick, sure hand.

Max even coaxes him to talk about his books, and his voice becomes cautiously animated telling Max about how cleverly Sherlock Holmes solved the case of the blue carbuncle. Thad starts with Holmes’s pure deduction skills in extrapolating from a single hat and follows him through the adventure till he negotiates with a pub proprietor to find the supplier of a goose. Max misses some of the details. Thad gets most of the way through the story before faltering self-consciously and summarizing the rest.

“It was interesting,” he says defensively.

“Mm,” Max agrees.

He glances over his shoulder at him. Thad’s shoulders are hunched. It looks like he’s done mixing the cabbage-pork mixture.

“Get out the garlic now,” he tells him. “Chives and cloves.”

He goes to the spice cabinet for the garlic, and Max lets him keep working in silence. Gradually, the boy’s body relaxes, moves easier. Max grows immersed in the rhythm of cutting the wrappers into circles. He dusts off his hands.

“Get out the big pot now, Bart.”

“Sure!” Bart’s voice says.

The boy turns to the cupboard, the wrong cupboard, the one where the pots were when he was—when—when he was living as Bart.

Max and Thad freeze at the same instant.

Thad recovers first.

“How dare you?”

Max turns. Thad’s face is twisted into a snarl.

“I’m sorry. It was an accident,” and Max knows that calling Thad by Bart’s name by accident is little better than doing it to him on purpose, but he hopes Thad will understand that Max didn’t mean to hurt him—

“I HATE you!”

Max flinches. I would too, he thinks, and you don’t even know how I abandoned you in the speed force—and then he buries those thoughts. That wail of ‘I hate you!’ was the outburst of a child, not a well-considered position.

Max asks, “Do you?”

Thad stares at him for a moment. Then he breathes in deeply, exhales slowly. In that single breath, his rage is replaced by a despairing tiredness.

“No,” Thad says wearily. “I never could.”

And he turns and walks away.

This should feel like a victory, Max thinks numbly, watching him go. That vengeful Thaddeus could take such a grievous wrong so calmly. But it just feels like Thad is slipping out of Max’s reach. All the vulnerability of his early days, that precious rawness that Thad allowed Max to touch and soothe, is being hidden away.

Max has lost his trust.

On Wednesday, Thaddeus asks for his Inertia suit.

Max stares at him over his newspaper and blinks once, twice, three times before it sinks in.

Thaddeus is standing with perfect posture, chin lifted in a determined way. But his right hand is twisting his left wrist with a grip so painfully hard that it drags sharp furrows into his shirt around his fingers. He’s… what, afraid? Self-soothing? Self-punishing? Max can’t tell, and it scares him.

“Your…”

“Inertia suit,” Thad repeats.

Max puts down his newspaper without bothering to fold it.

“Thad,” he says, very carefully. “How are you feeling right now?”

“Irrelevant.”

Max waits. But Thad isn’t Bart to cave under the pressure of silence; he’s patient as a stone.

“Thad,” he says. “You understand how this could be… troubling for me?”

Sounding strained, Thaddeus says, “I have a right to my own posessions.”

“Yes, you do,” Max says. “I’m not saying no. I’m just asking why.”

“Irrelevant,” Thaddeus repeats. “I want my Inertia suit. Please give it to me.”

“No, this is very relevant,” Max says. “Thad… listen to me. Please. I’m worried for you. What’s wrong?”

Thad broke eye contact at the word ‘worried’, and his unoccupied hand clenches.

Max waits.

Slowly, Thad says, “If I said I would tell you, would you give me my Inertia suit and promise…”

Thad goes quiet again.

“Sophos Thaddeus,” Max says. “I promise to listen to you. I promise to take you at your word. I promise that no matter what you say, I’ll still love you. What do you need me to promise?”

Thad shifts his stance a bit, then says, “The suit.”

“And I promise to get you your suit,” Max says, hoping he can keep that promise. Last he knew, it was in the Watchtower.

“Fine.”

Thad’s eyes dart around the living room.

“What’s wrong?” Max asks softly.

“I… I’m just… scared. All of the time.”

His voice wobbles. He pauses.

“Not me. My body,” he clarifies.

Another pause.

He starts more firmly this time. “Everything has changed. And that’s good. But my body is traumatized, and… no one can just talk me out of that. I’ve tried. But I think… having something familiar would help.”

Max waits, in case Thad decides to say more. He waits until Thad adds:

“I am not, and will not be, Inertia.”

“I know, braveheart.”

Thad bares his teeth.

Max brings Thaddeus with him to the Watchtower. Unfortunately, the zeta tubes that bring people to and from the installation use DNA scans to identify people, and… well… Thaddeus Thawne’s DNA is listed as one of the most powerful and dangerous criminals in this galaxy. Max has to call Wally West and explain their mission and get his override code to get the Watchtower to allow Thaddeus in.

It’s very bright, in the Watchtower, and Thad snarls and squints immediately.

Max heads toward the room where Thad slept for that healing trance. Thaddeus’s whole body exudes antagonistic sullenness as he slinks after Max, hands shoved in his hoodie pockets. It’s a good thing the Watchtower is fairly empty. Neither of them, Max or Thad, need someone questioning them right now.

Max remembers Martian Manhunter’s gentle hands removing the deep green boots from Thad’s feet after Zatanna’s spell took effect, then arranging the boy’s body in the bed, checking his sleeping mind to find the best position for the eight-day sleep. He remembers Martian Manhunter putting the boots on the shelf in the shallow closet. So maybe the rest of the suit was there too.

Unlikely, but it’s a place to start. And Max would rather avoid talking to anyone about this if he doesn’t have to.

Max’s phone vibrates. He stops to check it. It’s a text from Bart. He looks down at Thad, but the boy seems enthralled by the open door to medical. Max opens the text.

Heard you were looking for Thad’s suit. It’s in the museum. I can get it for you?

Do that, but do not show yourself. Leave it in the Watchtower.

It’s in the closet in Thad’s Watchtower room now!

Ah, Max smiles at the way they think alike. He didn’t realize that Bart even knew where Thad’s room was. Max never saw him in the Watchtower… he thought Bart was too put on edge by his clone to come visit him while he was sick. But maybe Bart was there and Max just didn’t know it. Maybe Bart slipped into that windowless top-security room in the few hours during that week that Max wasn’t there. What for? Max wonders. Maybe the same as Max… a sense of responsibility. Thad is his clone, after all, despite everything.

Thank you, Max texts, and closes his phone.

Thad follows Max onward without comment.

Max stands on his toes to pull the costume down from the closet. The dark fabric is folded into a neat rectangle with the goggles and earpieces on top, the boots on top of those. No Flash ring to hold it in. Thad sighs and holds out his hands, palms up. Max turns and places the suit in his hands. It looks bulky, spilling over the edges of Thad’s hands, yet so, so thin.

Thad looks at it solemnly.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know where the ring got to,” Max says.

Thad’s mouth twists.

“A burden it was and a burden it remains,” he says. And that is the only thing he says for the rest of the day.

Helen comes home late that day with a suitcase and a toothbrush and a small grey plush seal. She holds it out. Thad stares at it.

Helen says, “You don’t have to take it, but it reminded me of you, so…”

Thad takes her hand in both of his and kisses her knuckles. Then, in a burst of yellow lightning, he and the things disappear into his room.

On Thursday, Thaddeus comes out of his room at precisely noon with his suitcase packed.

Max laughs a little at the broad hint.

“We should eat breakfast first,” he says. “Then I’ll drop you off.”

Thad pulls his suitcase up beside his chair, places already set. Max opens the oven and pulls out the tray of pancakes he’d put there to keep warm. He sits down. Thad begins to eat… Max can only describe it as efficiently.

Trying to be casual, Max asks, “How’re you doing?”

“Fine,” Thad says.

“Not worried at all?” Max asks.

Thad shrugs.

“Joseph Wilson seems… trustworthy.”

“I think so as well,” Max agrees. “But if you need me, call me, okay? I can always come get you early.”

“I’ll behave, Max,” Thad snaps. “What, you think I’m going to throw away my chance with him?”

What? Oh.

“I’m not worried about you doing something wrong,” Max laughs. “Just if you feel like coming back early or if you forgot something.”

“Oh,” Thad says, and looks a little embarrassed.

“Or…” Max says. “If you’re lonely, or upset in any way.”

Thad’s expression closes off.

“Right,” he says.

“Thad,” Max says softly.

Thad puts down his fork.

“Stop,” he says. “Just stop. Grife.”

Thad doesn’t swear. Not like Bart.

“Thad—”

“You’re making this harder than it has to be,” Thad snarls. “I don’t understand you. I’m leaving! I’m leaving, and soon you won’t be beholden to me anymore. So why—”

Thaddeus shakes his head hard.

“Why keep trying to… offer me stuff? I can’t pay you back! You know that!”

“Because I love you,” Max says.

Thaddeus shakes his head again, slower.

“Thaddeus, listen to me,” Max says, and the steel in his voice makes Thaddeus look up, startled. “I know you don’t know what to do when I say I love you. Maybe you can’t believe me yet. But believe this, Thad: you will always have a place here. Here in this house, and here, too.”

Max puts his hand on his heart.

Thaddeus looks at his hand. Quietly, he says, “A place.”

“A place,” Max repeats. “Always.”

Thaddeus covers his face.

“A place,” he repeats, like a sob, like he can’t believe it, like he believes it anyway.

Oh, Thad. If this is what he can understand, then Max is glad he finally found the words for him, but why, why did it have to be just as Thad went away?

“Thad-boy,” Max says. “Can I touch you?”

And Thad doesn’t say yes, but he doesn’t say no, and when Max kneels beside him and puts his hand on his shoulder, he doesn’t pull away.

Max carries Thad to Metropolis and nearly slams into several buildings and trees along the way. He’s mostly paying attention to the shape and weight of Thad in his arms, trying to memorize the soft hiss of Thad’s lightning and the brush of his hair against Max’s neck and jaw.

Max puts Thad down outside the door to Joseph’s apartment and knocks.

Joseph opens the door with a bright smile and signs Nice to see you!

Thad signs it back, smiling. Max manages to smile, too.

But he misses Thad already.

He tries going on a run, a long, free jaunt around the world to clear his head. But all he can think about is the fact that his arms are empty. He’s weightless. Childless. Again.

He goes to commune with the speed force. He meant to just immerse himself in it, to let the rushing current of the eternal power loosen the knots of conflict and emotion in him; but he’s so upset that instead of loosening himself out, he ends up attracting spirits to the knot he’s made in the speed force.

Barry Allen comes first, silently, a warm bright presence. Then Johnny Quick, his lightning sizzling loudly into a spirit form, and Max opens his eyes to look at them with a sigh.

“Sorry,” Max says.

Johnny Quick says, “You’re gonna break your heart over that kid, aren’t you?”

Oh, Johnny. He’s insightful. But so… abrasive.

Max says, “Johnny, I can’t not break my heart over him. He needs me.”

Johnny Quick says, “Needs you? Thad Thawne is falling apart trying to live with you.”

“That’s not his name anymore. And that’s not true! He’s improved, he’s doing so well—”

Something in Barry’s face makes him fall silent.

“He’s broken,” Johnny says bluntly.

Abruptly, Barry changes positions; he’s facing Johnny now. He’s looking into his eyes, Max thinks. But it’s difficult to read faces made of lightning.

“He’s my grandson,” Barry says.

Max can feel something nonverbal happening between them, a facedown of some kind. He waits.

They both look back at him.

“Max Mercury,” Johnny says, gentler, “You don’t summon the dead for comfort, and you definitely don’t summon me for comfort. You came to me for the hard news. And the hard news is that Thaddeus will never fully recover.”

No, Max thinks. No. But it’s a denial of what he’s suspected all along.

Johnny asks, “Did you feel him in the speed force?”

“I did,” Max answers.

He remembers his sense of Thaddeus hovering in the furthest reaches of Max’s perception, a bright aching knot of lightning curling in on itself.

“He seemed… lonely.”

“He’s feral,” Johnny says. “Frankly, I’m impressed that he hasn’t seriously injured anyone yet. You don’t come out the other side of what he’s been through with a normal mind.”

“He’s not insane,” Max defends him.

Johnny shrugs. “He may not be insane, but he’s sick. You’re not doing him any favors by pretending he can make a miraculous recovery.”

“What do you expect me to do, then?” Max snaps. “Condemn him to despair? He has to have hope.”

“He does,” Barry Allen says softly. “He does. He’s strong, and you’ve given him more hope than you know. But it’s asking too much of him to live with a speedster.”

“Why?” Max asks, ragged. “Isn’t it better for him to be with someone familiar?”

Barry Allen says quietly, “He’s tired. He just wants peace.”

“And he can’t find peace with me?” Max asks, knowing what answer will come.

Johnny says, “No.”

Max chews that over for a while.

“I know he’s afraid, but I’m concerned that he’s going to spiral even further if he gets put into another unfamiliar situation. It took so long for us to build this trust with each other…”

Johnny Quick says, “My cousin once adopted a cat from Mexico. Ugliest thing in the world. And it was racist. Hated black men.”

Max raises his eyebrows. Johnny has an interesting way of making a point.

“But the thing was,” Johnny says, smug, like he’s getting to the punchline, “It used to be a street cat. It loved women, because women coddled it. But the only men it met were black men, and they only ever kicked it around. So of course it was scared of them. It was scared of black men ‘till the day it died. But for whatever reason, that cat seemed to think that white men weren’t quite the same thing as black men, so it could just barely tolerate white men if they were nice to it.”

“What are you trying to say?” Max asks.

“Thad is scared of speedsters,” Johnny says. “Maybe it’s because of those simulations you told us about where he got killed by speedsters over and over. Maybe it’s something else, too. But he’s never going to get over that. I know he’s a human being and the cat was just a cat, and he can control himself a lot of the time. And maybe he thinks of you as not quite the same thing as a speedster. Hell, I used to think that way. But you’re still a speedster.”

Max closes his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” Johnny says.

“He’s afraid of me,” Max says, and a pebble shifts in a wall and a thousand cracks appear.

Barry says, “He trusts you more than anyone in the world. He loves you.”

“But I can’t keep him,” Max says, and tears come to his eyes. “I can’t keep him, because I remind him of the Thawnes.”

“Max,” Barry says, and reaches out and touches his shoulder with a shining hand, sending a jolt of energy through Max’s body. “You’re nothing like the Thawnes. You’ve loved my grandchildren as your own sons… and God knows they’re difficult!”

Max smiles tearfully.

“They’re three handfuls apiece.”

“Aw, you love them,” Barry chuckles.

“I do. I do,” Max says, then bursts out: “It’ll break my heart letting him go! Oh, Barry, are you sure it’s right to send him away? I abandoned him once before. I don’t want to do it again.”

“You won’t be abandoning him,” Barry says fiercely. “You’ll visit him, talk to him, stay in his life. You will, won’t you?”

“I will,” Max promises immediately. There’s pain in Barry’s voice, and no wonder. Only two out of his eight grandchildren are alive, and Barry can’t be there for them.

Max wonders if Barry takes care of the spirits of his five dead grandchildren… if taking care of someone is even something you can do in the speed force. He wonders how many spirits stay in the speed force as people and how many dissolve into part of the force itself. Did Barry help any of them transition to the afterlife? Soothe their frantic souls? It’s a conversation for another day. The living are the living, and the dead are the dead.

And Thaddeus—broken as he is—is one of the living. That is a gift.

The wall crumbles, and Max buries his face in his hands and weeps.

[sincerelyella]

My Person (Liam x MC)

Book: The Royal Romance (AU)

Song Inspiration: My Person by Spencer Crandall

Pairings: Liam x MC (Ella) Summary: A one shot of my favorite couple - it’s Liam and Ella’s anniversary and there are big plans in store.

A/N: Okay, I’m gonna be very honest, I am super nervous about posting again. I wrote this maybe last week and kind of finished it earlier today. Thank you to those that I vented to about actually posting my stories, not sure why I feel really sick right now. New blog name (used to be @callmeellabella), new post LOL and I didn’t really know who to tag since it’s been a long time so I’m using my old list. Please let me know if you want off.

A/N2: Participating in @wackydrabbles​ this week. Prompt will be in bold.

Thank you @alyssalauren​ and @ofpixelsandscribbles​ for reading through this for me and kind of handing me that invisible paper bag for me to breathe in. Love y'all!

Warnings: Fluffs. A lot of fluffs.

Words: 1658

Isaiah and Noelle grinned as they filmed their parents in the seat in front of them, holding hands. After 15 years of marriage, Liam and Ella were the epitome of the best partners to each other and parents to their children. There were rough times, of course, you can’t escape those, but the King and Queen handled things in stride.

Noelle’s eyes filled with tears when she watched her dad lift her mom’s hand to his mouth and kiss her knuckles. The way he looked at Ella, like she was the only woman in the world, made Noelle have very high standards for a future partner for herself.

Isaiah grew up knowing how you were supposed to treat a woman, and it was all modeled from how his dad treated his mom. At 15 years old, he grew up in the public eye, but thankfully, his parents allowed him to have a normal childhood. The only time there was mention of royalty was a gala or a ball held at the palace; his Uncle Leo, Max, and Drake as well as his Aunt Olivia and parents all dressed up.

It was their parent’s anniversary that day and Liam had planned a family dinner, just the four of them.

One week ago

“Hey guys,” Liam smiled as he watched his kids sitting at the kitchen island doing homework.

“Hey, dad.” “Hi, daddy.”

Liam hung his keys on the wall by the door and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Next week is mine and your mother’s anniversary.”

Noelle and Isaiah stopped what they were doing and met their father’s gaze.

“I … was hoping you could help me with something,” his brows rounded as he stared at them.

“Sure, what did you need?” Noelle asked.

Isaiah chewed his bottom lip. “No pranks though, right dad?”

Liam chuckled, remembering that anniversary and how it went … so wrong. “No, son. No pranks. Plus, your Uncle Maxwell is not invited until later.”

Present-day

“Guys, we’re here,” Liam turned to Noelle and Isaiah and widened his eyes at them, the two nodding back with small smiles. Ella missed the entire silent exchange as she climbed out of the black SUV after Bastien opened her door.

Everyone piled into the restaurant, all of them laughed and cried as the kids asked for a cake to be presented to their parents to celebrate their special day.

“How beautiful,” Ella wiped her tears away as she gazed at the red velvet bundt cake covered in cream cheese frosting. “Was this your doing?” She turned to her husband as he smiled.

“No, love, that was them,” he gestured towards Noelle and Isaiah.

“Thank you,” she used a tissue to dab at both her eyes.

“Fifteen years is a long time to be married, ma,” Isaiah dimpled as he looked from his mom to his dad. “Now hurry up and eat it so that we can have a piece!”

The family laughed and dug into the cake. An hour later, they slowly stood from the table, grumbling about how full they were.

“Oh God, why didn’t you stop me?” Isaiah smacked his sister in the arm.

Noelle glared at her brother and punched him in the arm. “It’s not my fault you ate like you never saw food before.”

“Why did you say that?” Isaiah whined.

Liam and Ella walked behind their children, smirking at each other.

“They’re so dramatic,” Ella snorted.

“Wonder who they got that from?” Liam arched a brow at his wife.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Your Majesty.”

“Love,” Liam waited until she turned to look at him. “I have a surprise for you.”

“Where? What is it?”

“Come on,” he tugged on her hand and led her out of the restaurant and into the waiting SUV.

“Where are we going?”

“Ma, just wait, we’ll get there in a minute,” Noelle giggled in the back seat.

“You guys know too?” Ella looked from her son to her daughter and back again. “Liam?”

“Just relax, love, we’ll be there soon,” he squeezed her hand and laughed as her nose wrinkled in annoyance.

A few minutes later, Bastien turned into a small, private area for vehicles to park. “We’re here,” he said and turned to smirk at Ella. “Your Majesty, we’re going to blindfold you.”

“You’re … what?!”

Isaiah cackled as he leaned forward to wrap a scarf around his mother’s eyes.

“That’s blocking my nose,” Ella complained. “I can’t breathe.”

“You can breathe out of your mouth.”

“Isaiah Alexander,” she said sternly and he jumped.

“Sorry mom,” he mumbled as he fixed the scarf so it only covered her eyes.

“Okay,” Liam opened the door to her side of the SUV. “Come on, love, I’m carrying you to our destination.”

Ella let out a long sigh and reached up to feel her husband’s neck. She allowed him to carry her bridal style to … wherever they were going. When her family got like this it was usually because of her husband, who loved to take her places to surprise her. She didn’t mind, honestly, but it was annoying when everyone was in on it except for her.

“We’re almost there, love, I promise,” she felt Liam kiss the top of her head and she snuggled into his shoulder.

“Hey, I got a picture from Uncle Max!” Noelle opened the message and gasped.

Isaiah reached for his sister’s phone. “Is it another picture of him and his peacock Lady and the Tramping some spaghetti?”

Everyone began to laugh.

“I can’t believe that damn thing didn’t peck his eye out,” Ella snorted.

“That thing still scares the crap out of me,” Noelle said as her fingers flew over the keys. 

“We’re here,” Liam smiled as he began to step down onto the large rocks towards the private beach.

“Don’t drop me, Liam,” Ella said as she lifted her nose to the air. “I smell the ocean.” She felt her husband lower her to the ground. “What now? I’m still wearing this.”

A moment of silence and some giggling in the distance made Ella furrow her brows.

“Okay, take off the scarf, love.”

Ella quickly undid the knot and opened her eyes; she faced the ocean. “Liam, what-”

“Turn around.”

As she did, she saw her husband on one knee, her children behind him in the distance carrying an old 1989 boombox, the song My Person by Spencer Crandall playing.

I was lookin' for a long time

I never found nobody like you

I got your name, got your number

And we talked 'til they turned on the lights

“A boombox?”

Liam smirked. “You made me watch Sixteen Candles.”

“Oh yeah,” she chuckled. “Liam,” Ella had tears streaming down her face and she wiped them away quickly. “Wh-what is this?”

He took hold of her free hand and ran his thumb over her knuckles. “Love, it’s our fifteenth wedding anniversary. We married that long ago.”

She nodded, the lump on her throat making it difficult for her to speak.

“But we were together before that,” he smiled up at her. “I met you and I was done for, I haven't looked at anyone else since. You came to my social season, I chose you, we were engaged for a year, and then here we are.”

My person

My heartbeat

My slow dance

My Sunday-morning-sippin'-on-coffee in bed

My know-when-you-know best friend

“You’re my person,” Liam bit his bottom lip to control his emotions. “You and the kids are my everything, and you know I’d give all this up for you if you asked.”

“We don’t want that though!” Noelle yelled and they all laughed.

“Ella Brooks Rys, I wanted to ask you if you would remarry me,” he reached into his pocket, pulled out a black velvet box, and opened it. “Renew our vows and our commitment to each other.”

The box held three rings, an emerald-shaped, 6-carat diamond solitaire in the middle, and one plain platinum band on each side of it. One was engraved with Isaiah Alexander and the other with Noelle Marie.

“Of course,” Ella choked out as Liam smiled and the kids jumped up and down.

My saving grace, my everything

I’ve never been more sure that you’re my person

Every minute is a long time

If I ain’t holding on to you

Liam pushed all three rings onto her finger. “You ready, Mrs. Rys?”

“I am, Mr. Rys,” she pulled her husband to her and captured his lips in a passionate kiss.

“Ew, gross!” “Stop! This is not part of the plan!”

“Congratulations!”

Ella was surprised by that last one and turned towards the sound. All of their friends and family were there on the beach, smiling at them.

“What are-”

“You guys are renewing your vows!” Leo hollered and lifted a bottle of champagne in the air. “Let’s get this going so we can get druuuunk!”

“Leo!” Liam snapped at his brother.

“I mean, I’m ready when you are.”

Hana and Olivia rushed towards Ella and hugged her. “Were you surprised?”

“I was,” Ella sniffled. “You guys all knew?”

“Yup!”

“My little blossom! You are so beautiful! Let me see the rings!”

Ella gave Max her left hand.

“Whatever you do, don’t let Beaumont touch it. I’m sure he’s got lasagna all under his fingernails,” Drake chuckled as he approached the group.

“Hey marshmallow,” Ella turned to hug him. “And you guys had lasagna without me?”

Liam laughed and put an arm around Noelle and Isaiah. “You guys ready?”

They both nodded.

“I’m ready to marry your mother again,” they all laughed as Ella put her arm around Isaiah. “Let’s go!”

My saving grace, my everything

I've never been more sure that you're my person

Yeah, baby, you're my person

[missyling]

I wanted to jump on the bandwagon because this seemed really fun!

I’ve made a ton of doll wishlists on this blog already and I don’t see that stopping but for 2022, I wanted to challenge myself to branch out more.

I’ve mentioned before that I’d love to bring Saila home one day but currently my collection stands at five 18 inch American Girl dolls, one Wellie Wisher, and one Magic Attic doll.

For this challenge, I wanted to only pick one doll from each brand, although they certainly don’t represent the only doll I want from each line.

1) Saila is a Maplelea doll. I think she might be the only doll on this list that is the only doll from her line that I’m interested in.

2) Elinor is a A Girl for All Time doll. Most of the AGFAT dolls are gorgeous. I settled on Elinor for my top choice as I realized I don’t have any redheads. I thought she could portray both a young Princess Elizabeth and a Sarah Bartlemy for my Grace. She may end up time traveling outside the Tudor/Elizabethan period as well. I’m also drawn to Clementine, Nisha, and Bex.

3) Rahel is a Hearts for Hearts doll. Technically, Nahji nudges her out for top spot but since Nahji was a late Christmas present to myself (via a giftcard), I decided to disqualify her. Other top contenders are Mosi, Tipi, Shola, Nyesha, and Consuelo.

4) Sage is an Our Generation doll. I’ve been considering using her for my Grace doll although I’m not completely sold on that idea. I think her hair is too blonde to really qualify as mousy. I do love the outfit and accessories she comes with and I’d pass them onto Marisol and maybe Blaire too if I ever got her. The fact that she’s taller than Elinor but looks younger would actually end up being fine as Grace is at least two years younger than Sarah but noted to be tall. It’s unfortunate that they can’t share clothes but what can you do. I also like Valeria and would love her; she seems to no longer be available though. Others of high interest are Catarina, May Lee, Ayeesha, Suyin, Abril, Suzee, Maricela, Gloria, Savannah (who maybe is a better fit for mousy hair, hard to tell without looking in person but I don’t picture Grace with blue eyes; she’s never mentioned with them so I feel it’s most likely her eyes are brown), Rosalind, Ambreal, Rashida, and Paloma.

5) Kendall is a Wellie Wisher. Pretty self-explanatory. I’ve made a huge list of AG dolls I’m interested in, elsewhere. Willa I think would be next after Kendall from the Wellies. Historically, I am hoping to get Kaya with my booster money, am picky and so don’t want the Beforever version of Rebecca, and have no interest in Courtney. Nanea and Melody are the only historical dolls still available from AG I want. I think I won’t end up getting Corinne, definitely not Gwynn since I have Melissa, my Emerson, and there’s virtually no difference between them, I like all the World By You girls but I’m not in any kind of rush to pay AG full price for them. I would get Blaire and Joss but not Kira, I think Blaire isn’t available anymore though.

6) Zoe is from Carpatina. I forget what I was looking for on the Carpatina website when I was struck by the thought that she would be great as Flavia Gemina of the Roman Mysteries, yet another middle-grade history fave. I also like Julia, Ana Ming, Emma, and Diya.

7) Karima is a Salaam Sisters doll. I find them all cute so I kind of picked Karima at random but looking at the picture of her hair uncovered on the website I thought that maybe she could sometimes portray Pam Crandal from the Pony Pals series, another childhood favorite series. I would also love to have Maryam, Layla, Nura, and Yasmina.

8) Kai is a Girlhood Journeys doll. I learned recently that they sort of rebooted the series and added some more characters but they only made dolls for the first four girls - Juliet, Kai, Marie, and Shannon - from what I understand. I would like to bring home all four Girlhood Journeys girls someday but I really appreciate Kai’s story as the other three not only have stories I’m more familiar with but also stories that tend to get more coverage.

9) Rose is a Magic Attic Club doll. I currently have Heather and it’s truly a toss up as to whether I want Rose or Keisha more. It’ll probably just depend on which I can find for a reasonable price in good condition first. (Alison and Megan are characters I like but somehow there’s something that gets lost in translation and their dolls don’t speak to me. I feel the way about Samantha in that I quite like her character but something about AG constantly manufacturing fancy expensive clothes for her and I can’t quite see that character in the doll. 😔) 

[bearterritory]

#8 Cal Wins Pac-12 Title

Bears Are the 2022 Women’s Gymnastics Champions

LOS ANGELES - The eighth-ranked California women's gymnastics team lost a heartbreaker to No. 17 UCLA at Pauley Pavilion but still won the Pac-12 Championship with their overall record. UCLA posted a season-high score and won a very close contest, 198.050-197.200. The Golden Bears finished the regular season with a 5-2 record in Pac-12 competition. This is the first regular season or Pac-12 Championship title in program history.  "We definitely feel like our team worked really hard to get to this place," Cal co-head coach Elisabeth Crandall-Howell said. "Not just this year, but for the last 10 years. To be able to step up and compete with programs that have had such a long legacy and be included in those names. It's wonderful for our team to see that we belong. In every competition we enter, we have the opportunity to win and compete with anyone." Early on in the meet, it was fifth-year senior Nina Schank who stepped up for the Bears. She recorded a 9.90 on both the bars and vault, tying her career high on vault. She tied for second place on both events as she led the Bears on both events.

The Golden Bears opened up on bars and recorded a 49.350 as a team. Neveah DeSouza and Andi Li both notched 9.875 scores to tie for fourth place. Gabby Perea and Maddie Williams both recorded 9.85 marks to tie for sixth as the Bears had five of the top seven scores on the event. Williams recorded a 9.85 or better on bars for the eighth consecutive meet to start her career. The Bears recorded their third-best vault score of the season at 49.250. In addition to Schank's second place finish, DeSouza recorded a 9.875 and Milan Clausi notched a 9.85. Cal was trailing after one event as the Bruins recorded a 49.475 on vault. However, the Bears were able to cut into that lead on vault as they trailed 98.650-98.600 heading to the third rotation. "I thought we did really well on the first two events," Crandall-Howell said. "The gymnastics on the equipment and the interior of the routine was fantastic. We have to lock in landings and not give away tenths, we're leaving those tenths on the table." The Golden Bears moved to floor and got a standout 9.90 performance from DeSouza in the second position in the lineup. However, teammate Grace Quinn stole the show with a career high 9.95 performance in the anchor spot. Quinn has recorded a 9.925 in three of her last four floor performances, but broke that barrier with a standout routine.

"Grace's floor routine was the best I've seen her do," Crandall-Howell said. "I just felt like she locked in every single detail in the floor routine and was super aggressive about the performance aspects of the floor routine. She had fun and was engaged in a complete performance. As a total floor performance, that's the best she's done at putting it all together." Cal finished the meet on the beam and saw three girls post 9.90 scores. DeSouza and Clausi both recorded 9.90 spots in the first two positions in the lineup to start strongly. Li recorded the third 9.90 of the rotation for the Bears as they were able to post a 49.350 on beam. The Bears also had a new possibility on the beam lineup as Kyana George was in the exhibition spot for the first time this year. The fifth-year senior is recovering from injury and looking to make her mark on the team this postseason. "Our beam team really performed well under incredible pressure," Crandall-Howell said. "UCLA was receiving high scores on floor and the crowd was erupting while our team was on the beam and they stayed locked in and performed. That response in this environment is going to prepare them for the postseason."

[why-bless-your-heart]

📓 👀?

Skeleton Crew, by Grace Crandall.

Or you can check out The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, by Becky Chambers: there’s more free love than I’d like, and I feel like the author doesn’t have quite the courage to really commit to her moral premises, but I like the world-building and the characters!

[spaceaceathena]

nancy drew name meanings

so this is the work i’ve been doing over the past couple days, I want to give you guys a heads up that list will contain spoilers for some of the characters/games so please be aware of all of that. if this garners interest, i’ll do maybe the penvellyn family tree (that thing could not fit in here) or last name origins!

Main Cast

Nancy Drew: Grace (Hebrew)

Bess Marvin: god of plenty (English)

Georgia “George” Fayne: farmer (English)

Edward “Ned” Nickerson: wealth, fortune, prosperous OR guardian, protector (English)

Joe Hardy: god will increase (English)

Frank “Franklin” Hardy: free landowner (English)

SCK/SCKR

Jacob “Jake” Rogers: supplanter (Hebrew)

Daryl Gray: open, from Airelle (English, French)

Connie Watson: strong willed, wise (Irish)

Hal Tanaka: army ruler (English)

Hector “Hulk” Sanchez: holding fast (Greek)

Mitch Dillon: Who is like God, gift from god (Hebrew)

Detective “Steve” Beech: crown, garland (Greek)

STFD

Mattie Jensen: lady, mistress of the house, might in battle (Aramaic or German)

Richard “Rick” Arlen: brave ruler (English)

Dwayne Powers: swarthy (Irish, Gaelic)

Lillian Weiss: lily, a flower (English)

Millie Strathorn: industrious (German)

William Pappas: resolute protector, strong willed warrior (German)

Ralph Guardino: counsel wolf, famous wolf (Norse, English)

MHM

Rose Green: rose, a flower (English)

Abby Sideris: father’s joy (Hebrew)

Charlie Murphy: free man (Charlie)

Louis Chandler: fame, warrior, famous in battle (French)

Hannah Gruen: favor, grace (Hebrew)

Emily Foxworth: rival, wily, persuasive (Latin, Greek)

TRT

Professor Beatrice Hotchkiss: she who makes happy, bringer of joy, blessings (Italian, French, Latin)

Dexter Egan: right handed, fortunate, one who dyes (Latin)

Lisa Ostrum: God’s promise (English, Hebrew)

Jacques Brunais: supplanter (French)

FIN

Brady Armstrong: spirited, broad (Irish)

Joseph Hughes: he will add (Hebrew)

Nicholas Falcone: victory of the people (Greek)

Simone Mueller: god has heard (Hebrew)

Maya Nguyen: good mother (Greek)

Eustacia Andropov: fruitful, productive (Greek)

Sherman Trout: shearer of woolen garments (English)

SSH

Joanna Riggs: god is gracious (Greek/Hebrew)

Alejandro Del Rio: defender of mankind (Spanish)

Taylor Sinclair: tailor (French)

Henrik Van Der Hune: ruler of the home, lord of the house (Swedish, Danish)

Franklin Rose: free landowner (English)

Poppy “Penelope” Dada: weaver (Greek)

Prudence Rutherford: prudence, good judgement (Latin)

DOG

Red Knott: person with red hair (English)

Jeff Akers: pledge of peace (English)

Emily Griffin: rival, persuasive, wily (Latin, Greek)

Sally McDonald: princess (Hebrew)

Vivian Whitmore: lively (Latin)

Mickey Malone: who is like god (Hebrew)

Lucy: as of light (English, French)

Iggy: fiery (Latin)

Vitus: lively (Latin)

Xander: defender of man (Greek)

Yogi: one who performs yoga (Indian, Hindu)

CAR

Harlan Bishop: army land (English)

Ingrid Corey: beloved, beautiful (Norse, German)

Elliot Chen: with strength and right, bravely and truly, boldly and rightly (English, Breton)

Joy Trent: joy, happiness (Latin)

Paula Santos: small (Latin)

K.J Perris: Petros-> the rock (Greek)

Tink Obermeier: love (English)

DDI

Jenna Deblin: white shadow, white wave (English, Welsh)

Katie Firestone: pure (English, Greek)

Andy Jason: manlike, brave (Greek)

Holt Scotto: woods, forest (English)

Casey Porterfield: vigilant, watchful (Irish, Gaelic)

Dr. Irina Predoviciu: peace (Greek)

Hilda Swenson: battle (Norse)

SHA

Dave Gregory: beloved (English)

Tex Britten: from Texas (American)

Mary Yazzie: bitter, beloved, rebelliousness, wished for child, marine, drop of the sea (Aramaic, Hebrew via Latin and Greek)

Shorty Thurmond: a short person (American)

Bet Rawley: god is my oath (Hebrew)

Ed Rawley: wealthy spear, protector, guard, frend (English)

Sheriff Hernandez: son of Hernando (Spanish)

Dirk Valentine: famous ruler (German)

France Humber: free one (French, English)

Meryl Humber: shining sea (English)

CUR

Linda Penvellyn: beautiful, pretty, cute OR clean (Spanish/Portugeuse, Italian)

Mrs. Leticia Drake: joy, gladness (Latin)

Jane Penvellyn: god is gracious/merciful (English)

Nigel Mookerjee: champion (Irish, Gaelic)

Ethel Bossiny: noble (English)

Hugh Penvellyn: mind, spirit (English)

Mrs. Petrov: petros-> rock (Greek to Russian)

CLK

Emily Crandall: rival, wily, persuasive (Latin, Greek)

Jane Willoughby: god is gracious/merciful (English)

Richard Topham: strong in rule (English, French, German, Czech)

Jim Archer: supplanter (English)

Carson Drew: son of marsh dwellers (Scandinavian)

Gloria Crandall: glory, fame, renown, praise, honor (Latin)

Marion Aborn: star of the sea (French)

Mrs Farthingham: a house supplying food (Scottish)

Josiah Crowley: god has healed (Hebrew)

TRN

Lori Girard: bay laurel (English)

Tino Balducci: little, junior (Italian)

Charleena Purcell: free man (German)

John Gray: graced by god (Hebrew)

Jake Hurley: supplanter (Hebrew)

Camille Hurley: helper to the priest (French)

Fatima: captivating, shining one (Arabic)

DAN

Minette: star of the sea, love, will helmet, protection (French)

Heather McKay: evergreen flowering plant (Middle English)

Jing Jing Ling: perfect essence (Chinese)

Dieter von Schwesterkrank: army of the people (German)

Jean-Michel Traquenard: god remits (Hebrew)

Lynn Manrique: pond, lake, pool, waterfall (Welsh)

Hugo Butterly: mind (German)

Zu: knowledgeable and voracious reader (French)

Tammy Barnes (Minette): palm tree (Hebrew)

Noisette Tornade: hazelnut (French)

the n*zi will not be appearing on this list

CRE

Pua Mapu: flower (Hawaiian)

Big Island Mike Mapu: who is like god, gift from god (Hebrew)

Dr. Quigley Kim: descendant of Coigleach or maybe messy hair (Irish)

Dr. Malachi Craven: messenger of god (Hebrew)

ICE

Ollie Randall: olive tree (Latin)

Yanni Volkstaia: god is gracious (Greek)

Bill Kessler: resolute protection (English)

Lou Talbot: renowned warrior (French)

Guadalupe Comillo: river of the wolf (Spanish)

Chantal Moique: stone (French)

Elsa Sibblehoth: pledged to god (German)

Freddie Randall: elf, magical counsel, peaceful ruler (English, German)

Isis: throne (Egyptian)

CRY

Henry Bolet Jr.: house ruler (French)

Dr. Gilbert Buford: bright pledge/promise (French)

Lamont Warrick: the mountain (French)

Renee Amande: reborn, born again (French)

Summer: season, half-year (German)

Bruno Bolet: brown (German)

Bernie: strong and brave bear (German, French)

Iggy: fiery (Latin)

VEN

Colin Baxter: whelp, cub, young creature (Irish, Scottish, Gaelic)

Margherita Faubourg: daisy (Italian)

Helena Berg: light/bright (Greek)

Enrico Tazza: homeowner, king (Italian)

Antonio Fango: priceless one (Spanish, Italian)

Sophia Leporace: wisdom (Greek)

HAU

Kyler Mallory: bowman, archer (Dutch)

Matt Simmons: gift of god (Hebrew)

Kit Foley: bearing Christ (Greek)

Donal Delany: world leader (Scottish)

Alan Payne: precious (German)

Fiona Malloy: white, fair (Gaelic)

RAN - Her Interactive refuses to acknowledge this game and so will I.

WAC

Corine Myers: maiden (American)

Danielle Hayes: god is my judge (Latin)

Mel Corbalis: council protector (English)

Megan Vargas: pearl (Greek)

Izzy Romero: god’s promise (Hebrew)

Leela Yadav: play OR night beauty (Sanskrit or Arabic)

Rachel Hubbard: ewe, one with purity (Hebrew)

Kim Hubbard: of the clearing of the royal fortress (Old English)

Rebecca Sawyer (Nancy): join, tie, snare (Hebrew)

Rita Hallowell: pearl (Spanish)

TOT

Scott Varnell: from Scotland, a Scotsman (old English)

Debbie Kircum: bee (Hebrew)

Tobias “Frosty” Harlow: god is good (Hebrew)

Chase Releford: to hunt (French)

SAW

Shimizu Yumi: reason/cause, beauty; abundant, beauty; evening, fruit; tenderness, beauty (Japanese)

Shimizu Miwako: child of beautiful harmony (Japanese)

Shimizu Kasumi: mist, clear, pure (Japanese)

Nagai Takae: filial piety, obedience and large river (Japanese)

Aihara Rentaro: dependant on kanji used (Japanese)

Savannah Woodham: treeless plain (Spanish)

CAP

Karl Weschler: free man, strong man, man, manly (German)

Anja Mittelmeier: grace (German, Russian)

Lukas Mittelmeier: man from Lucanus (German, Greek, Swedish)

Renate Stoller: Reborn (Latin)

Markus Boehm: dedicated to Mars (Latin)

ASH

Chief McGinnis: son of Angus (Irish)

Deirdre Shannon: broken hearted, sorrowful (Irish, Gaelic)

Brenda Carlton: sword (Norse)

Alexei Markovic: defender (Russian)

Antonia “Toni” Scallari: priceless, praiseworthy, beautiful (Roman)

TMB

Abdullah Bakhoum: servant of Allah (Arabic)

Lily Crewe: lily, a flower

Jamila El-Dine: beauty (Arabic)

Dylan Carter: son of the sea, son of the wave, born from the ocean (Welsh)

Jon Boyle: God is gracious, gift of Jehovah (Hebrew)

DED

Victor Lossett: winner, conqueror (Latin)

Ryan Kilpatrick: descendant of the king, little king (Irish, Gaelic)

Mason Quinto: one who works with stone (English)

Ellie York: shining light (Greek)

Gray Cortright: color, black mixed with white (English)

Niko Jovic: people of victory (Greek, English, Slavic)

GTH

Jessalyn Thornton: he sees (Hebrew)

Clara Thornton: clear, bright, famous (Latin)

Wade Thornton: to go, ford (Anglo-Saxon English)

Harper Thornton: harp, son of the harper (Scottish, Irish, English)

Colton Birchfield: swarthy person, coal town, settlement (Old English)

Charlotte Thornton: free man, petite (French)

Addison Hammond: son of Adam, son of Addi (Old English, Scottish)

SPY

Alec Fell: defender of the people (English)

Bridget Shaw: power, strength, virtue, vigor, noble or exalted one (Gaelic, Irish)

Ewan Macleod: born of the mountain (Scottish, Gaelic)

Moira Chisholm: destiny, share, fate (English)

Kate Drew: pure (English)

Samantha Quick: listens well, as told by god (Aramaic, Hebrew)

MED

Sonny Joon: son (English)

Patrick Dowsett: nobleman, patrician (Latin)

Leena Patel: young palm tree, tender, delicate (Qunaric Arabic)

Kiri Nind: skin, bark, rind (Māori)

Jin Seung: rise, ascent, victory, excel, inherit (Sino-Korean)

LIE

Xenia Doukas: foreigner, outlander, welcomed guest, hospitality (Greek)

Niobe Papadaki: fern (Greek)

Thanos Ganas: immortal (Greek)

Grigor Karakinos: vigilant (Greek)

Melina Rosi: honey, god’s gift (Greek)

SEA

Soren Bergursson: severe (Scandinavian) 

Dagny Silva: new day (Old Norse)

Elisabet Grimursdottir: pledged to god (Hebrew)

Magnus Kiljansson: great (Latin)

Gunnar Tonnisson: fighter, soldier, attacker, brave and bold warrior (Nordic)

Burt Eddleton: bright, glorious (Old English)

Alex Trang: man’s defender, warrior (Greek)

MID

Mei Parry: beautiful (Chinese)

Teegan Parry: special thing, little poet (Cornish, Gaelic)

Olivia Ravencraft: olive, olive tree (Latin)

Judge Danforth: hidden ford (Old English) [Last name]

Lauren Corey: laurel tree, sweet of honor, wisdom (English, french)

Alicia Cole: noble natured (Germanic)

Jason Danforth: healer (Greek)

[perpetuallylocked]

Do you have any particular characters that you wish had been fleshed out more? Or any headcanons to elaborate on characters? (This could be such a long answer lolololol)

I really wish all the historical backstories had been fleshed out in the same way Frances, Dirk, and Meryl were in SHA. Actually getting to hear their voices makes them resonate so much more with me. The world building of there being a portrait AND a photograph of Frances makes her seem so much more tied to the ranch than just a letter or two. Their story was handled with so much grace and hope, but then we find Meryl’s journal with the tear-stained pages and my game notes instantly become tear-stained.

Frances, Dirk, and Meryl weren’t just visitors in the game. They were living parts of them. The same is true of Vivian in DOG and Hilda in DDI. I wish we had gotten the same for all the Penvellyns, for Jake and Camille, for Fiona Malloy, for Noisette and Hans, for Alda and James, for Lizzie and Diego, for Rolfe and Amelia, for Gloria Crandall and Josiah Crowley, for Julius McQuade, for Bruno Bolet, for El Toro, for Rita Hallowell and the Waverly Founders, for Kasumi, for the Freiherr’s daughter, for the Daughters of Nefertari, for the Thorntons, for Kate Drew. For all of them.

I shouldn’t have to headcanon details about these stories to make them important. That should have been present in the games.

[papermoonloveslucy]

PAUL DUBOV

October 10, 1918

Paul Dubov was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1918. He became a busy character actor appearing on radio, television, and films. His first film was Little Tough Guy (1938), one of the Dead End Kids movies. From 1942, he was a Universal contract player and was often found in the films of Samuel Fuller. He was seen on TV for the first time in April 1952 with an episode of “Gang Busters”. On radio, he was the second person to portray the title character on "The Adventures of Frank Race" (1949-1950). 

Although Dubov never made a film with Lucille Ball, he did appear (uncredited) with William Frawley (Fred Mertz) in We’ve Never Been Licked (1943). 

In October 1952 Dubov appeared on “I Love Lucy” in “The Handcuffs” (S2;E5). Dubov played Jerry, Ricky’s agent, a role usually played by Jerry Hausner. It is unclear whether this is supposed to be the same character and if so - why Hausner (who played the character subsequently) did not appear. 

This puts Dubov in a small group of actors who played “I Love Lucy” characters originated by another performer:

Little Ricky - originated by John Michael Ganzer, but played by the Simmons Twins, the Mayer Twins, and Keith Thibodeaux. 

Marion Strong - originated by Margie Liszt, assumed by Shirley Mitchell.

Charlie Appleby - originated by Hy Averback, assumed by George O’Hanlon.

Grace Munson - originated by Hazel Pierce, assumed by Ruth Brady. 

In 1958, Dubov was seen on “The Westinghouse-Desilu Playhouse” in “The Night The Phone Rang” by Aaron Spelling starring Eddie Albert. Executive Producer Desi Arnaz introduced the story. 

In 1959, "The Westinghouse-Desilu Playhouse” presented a two-part pilot for “The Untouchables.” In the pilot, Dubov played Jack Rossman. When the show was picked up for series, Dubov returned for three episodes, playing various characters from 1961 to 1962.  

In 1960, Dubov was back with the Ricardos, this time as Crandall, Ernie Kovacs’ chauffeur in “Lucy and the Mustache” (LDCH S3;E3). In the episode, Lucy disguises herself as Crandall, who has a mustache, just like his boss. This was the last time America would see Lucy, Ricky, Fred, and Ethel.  Coincidentally, in September 1958, Dubov appeared on an installment “The Dinah Shore Chevy Show” in which Ernie Kovacs made a cameo appearance from the audience. Kovacs’ wife Edie Adams was co-hosting. 

From 1959 to 1961 Dubov played the recurring character of Michel on Desilu’s “The Ann Sothern Show” in six episodes. Lucille Ball played Lucy Ricardo on the series in October 1959, although the episode did not include Dubov’s Michel. 

From 1958 to 1962, Dubov appeared on “The Danny Thomas Show” seven times as 5 different characters. On his first two episodes he played a Maitre d’. In 1967 he played a Maitre d’ on “That Girl,” a series starring Thomas’ daughter, Marlo. “The Danny Thomas Show” was filmed on the Desilu lot and in late 1958 and early 1959, the Williams’ and the Ricardos’ made reciprocal appearances on each others’ shows. 

In 1963 Dubov married screenwriter Gwen Bagni with whom he created the 1965 TV series "Honey West". In 1966, Dubov acted in an episode of the series. 

In 1979, Dubov was nominated for an Emmy Award for writing the mini-series Backstairs at the White House. It lost to The Jericho Mile.  Dubov died 10 days later, on September 20, 1979, at age 60 of cancer. 

[pas-de-bouryas]

Club Dance @JUMP AZ

Church- Junior Hip Hop Line

Without- Junior Contemporary Duo (Nick Meola Choreography)

Brightyn Rines and Jonah Benyamin

Through Acceptance We Gain Strength- Junior Contemporary Duo (Danny Lawn Choreography)

Alexis Adair and Brooklin Cooley

Girl In The Mirror- Age 7 Jazz Large Group (Mimi Radovan Choreography)

Madison Medoro, Pallas Chiste, Aaliyah Diaz, Shaelynn Lilly, Brooklyn Barney, Hannah Bozer, Sophia Dasalla, Lillian Fanzo, Lulu Harris, Madison Knights, Leah Leon, Elsie Sandall, Lexi Wahlberg, Abigail Ries, Harper Peterson.

One Small Thing- JUMPstart Musical Theatre Line

Kalista Greer, Giana Leon, Berkeley Haak, Brielle Maciel, Finley Nielsen, Brynleigh O'Haver, Charlotte Allphin, Tylee Castaneda, Kendyl Miller, Paisley Morgan, Amari Offord, Skylar Phillips, Maysen Bosteter, Vanessa Bustamante, Cailyn West, Nicola Fleming.

Silver Screen- Age 12 Jazz Large Group (Danny Lawn Choreography)

Alexis Adair, Grace Skiba, Chloe Slone, Daylyn Lucky, Landrie Peterson, Paige Kracht, Jonah Benyamin, Adalina Cano, JT Church, Jayden Diaz, Eleda Dickenson, Jordan Hampton, Addison Hart, Natasha Tollett, Abbey Vernia.

Yacht Club- JUMPstart Musical Theatre Extended Line (Jennifer Peterson Choreography)

Bella Fernandez, Aften Harris, Harper Peterson, Madison Medoro, Pallas Chiste, Aaliyah Diaz, Lexi Diaz, Shaelynn Lilly, Abigail Ries, Brooklyn Barney, Hannah Bozer, Sophia Dasalla, Lillian Fanzo, Lulu Harris, Madison Knights, Leah Leon, Elsie Sandall, Nicole Soto, Ava Goodman, Madyson Barney.

Shape- Age 11 Contemporary Small Group (Choreography By Chelsea Jennings)

Alexis Adair, Brooklin Cooley, Brightyn Rines, Paige Kracht, Olivia Benyamin, Rachel Loiselle, Milla Fabirkiewicz.

Close Encounter- Age 12 Lyrical Jazz Large Group (DeQuan Lewis Choreography)

Brightyn Rines, Grace Skiba, Chloe Slone, Daylyn Lucky, Landrie Peterson, Jonah Benyamin, Adalina Cano, Jayden Diaz, Eleda Dickenson, Milla Fabirkiewicz, Jordan Hampton, Addison Hart, Bailey Lamagdelaine, Adelynne Sprague, Natasha Tollett, Abbey Vernia.

Begin the Beguine- Age 12 Character Large Group (Lucy Vallely Choreography)

Summer O'haver, Marley Heath, Alexis Adair, Brooklin Cooley, Brightyn Rines, Daylyn Lucky, Paige Kracht, JT Church, Milla Fabirkiewicz, Jenn Gamma, Reina Stamm.

Wind Beneath My Wings- Age 7 Lyrical Small Group (Chelsea Jennings Choreography)

Harper Peterson, Pallas Chiste, Abigail Ries, Hannah Bozer, Sophia Dasalla, Elsie Sandall, Nicole Soto,Lillian Fanzo.

One Reason- Age 12 Jazz Small Group (Chelsea Jennings Choreography)

Summer O'haver, Alexis Adair, Brooklin Cooley, Brightyn Rines, Daylyn Lucky, Paige Kracht, Adalina Cano.

Unser Leban- Age 12 Contemporary Large (Jessie Riley Choreography)

Summer O'haver, Brooklin Cooley, Chloe Slone, Daylyn Lucky, Landrie Peterson, Paige Kracht, JT Church, Jayden Diaz, Milla Fabirkiewicz, Addison Hart, Bailey Lamagdelaine, Adelynne Sprague, Abbey Vernia.

Cold- Age 12 Lyrical Jazz Small Group

Alexis Adair, Brooklin Cooley, Brightyn Rines, Chloe Slone, Daylyn Lucky, Landrie Peterson, Jordan Hampton, Addison Hart, Jenn Gamma.

The Whole Truth- Junior Contemporary Group (Chelsea Jennings)

Brightyn Rines, Paige Kracht, Brooklin Cooley, Summer O’Haver, Alexis Adair, Brooke Judge

Black Cat- Age 12 Open Large Group (Erica Marr Choreography)

Summer O'haver, Alexis Adair, Brooklin Cooley, Brightyn Rines, Chloe Slone, Daylyn Lucky, Landrie Peterson, Paige Kracht, Olivia Benyamin, Addison Fay, Jonah Benyamin, JT Church, Jayden Diaz, Eleda Dickenson, Milla Fabirkiewicz, Addison Hart, Jenn Gamma

It’s Breezy- Age 12 Hip Hop Large Group (Ricky Maalouf Choreography)

Summer O'haver, Alexis Adair, Brooklin Cooley, Brightyn Rines, Grace Skiba, Chloe Slone, Marriana Hedger, Daylyn Lucky, Landrie Peterson, Paige Kracht, Madison Levato-Demar, Jonah Benyamin, Adalina Cano, JT Church, Jayden Diaz, Milla Fabirkiewicz, Isaiah Wilson.

Here- Senior Contemporary Line

Always About You- Senior Specialty Group (DeQuan Lewis Choreography)

Lexee Crandall, Mckenna Dickson, Mia Wilson, Lindsey Surp, Taylor Knab, Chloe Davis, Alyssa Diaz, Tia Smith, Madeline Wood, Kylie Thorson.

Big Red Machine- Senior Contemporary Line

No Other Love- Senior Contemporary Group (Jessie Riley Choreography)

Jenn Gama, Brian Hopper, Jaycee Wilkins, Carlee Schield, Lexee Crandell, Cienne Bethea, Avery Stamm

Falling Faster Than You Can Run- Senior Contemporary Group (Chelsea Jennings Choreography)

Cienne Bethea, Lexee Crandall, Taylor Knab, Madeline Wood, Hailey Jimenez, Carlee Schield, Brinley Harris, Brooke Judge

Faded- Senior Contemporary Line

T- Senior Hip-Hop Line

Me & My Girls- Mini Jazz Line

Cambri Scholzen, Tayler Slone, Berkeley Haak, Cecelia Pham, Jaycee Grant, Kylie Slone, Taytum Thompson, Abigail Whipple, Delaney Fredrickson, Allison Hong, Blakelynn Jones, Aubrey Williams, Madison Dunwell.

Partner In Crime- Age 9 Musical Theatre Super Group (Mimi Radovan Choreography)

Makena Erickson, Bella Fernandez, Aften Harris, Brielle Langowski, Isabella Beasley, Madyson Barney, Posey Harris, Sydney Kelly, Sierra Lilly, Lexi Diaz, Alexis Alvarez, Mirah Charley, Sayler Conover, Ava Goodman, Brinklee Grako, Kanon Greer, Lisa Nelson, Colby Rich, McKenzie Robinson, London Skiba, Blake Tischler, Lexi Wahlberg, CJ Dolce.

Speaking French- Age 10 Musical Theatre Large Group

Olivia Bell, Isabelle Barnett, Ava Sweet, Hailey Baer, Addison Jones, Brooklyn Jones, Mylee Stoltz, Amaya Weeks, Olivia Benyamin, Julia Chavez, Addison Fay, Breeyn Goodman, Nyla Hemsley, Preslee Lund, Isabella Lynch, Emma Martin, Delaney Taylor, Grace McKinley.

End Of Time- Age 9 Jazz Large Group (DeQuan Lewis Choreography)

Lexi Diaz, Ava Goodman, Posey Harris, Sydney Kelly, Alexis Alvarez, Colby Rich, Bella Fernandez

Solace- Age 10 Contemporary Large Group (Nick Meola Choreography)

Elsie Check, Ava Sweet, Hailey Baer, Addison Jones, Brooklyn Jones, Ellie Tollefson, Amaya Weeks, Olivia Benyamin, Julia Chavez, Addison Fay, Breeyn Goodman, Nyla Hemsley, Isabella Lynch, Grace McKinley.

Elegance- Age 10 Musical Theatre Small Group

Isabella Lynch, Hailey Baer, Colby Rich, Elsie Check, Bella Fernandez, Ellie Toffelson, Mylee Stoltz, (Could Possibly be missing someone)

Less Talk- Mini Jazz Group (Chelsea Jennings Choreography)

Olivia Bell, Olivia Benyamin, Addison Jones, Breeyn Goodman, Brooklyn Jones, Rachel Loiselle, Delaney Taylor.

Trouble On My Mind- Age 9 Lyrical Jazz Large (Chelsea Jennings Choreography)

Bella Fernandez, Aften Harris, Brielle Langowski, Madyson Barney, Sierra Lilly, Lexi Diaz, Alexis Alvarez, Mirah Charley, Sayler Conover, Brinklee Grako, Kanon Greer, Colby Rich, McKenzie Robinson, Nyla Hemsley, Makena Erickson.

California Girls- Age 10 Jazz Super Group (Danny Lawn Choreography)

Olivia Bell, Elsie Check, Aften Harris, Isabelle Barnett, Ava Sweet, Hailey Baer, Isabella Beasley, Addison Jones, Brooklyn Jones, Ellie Tollefson, Mylee Stoltz, Amaya Weeks, Olivia Benyamin, Julia Chavez, Addison Fay, Nyla Hemsley, Preslee Lund, Isabella Lynch, Emma Martin, Grace McKinley, Alexa Zakaras.

Absence- Age 9 Contemporary Small Group

Ellie Smith, Isabella Beasley, Madyson Barney, Lexi Diaz, Alexis Alvarez, Ava Goodman, Brinklee Grako, Kanon Greer, McKenzie Robinson.

Someone Like You- Mini Lyrical Group (Jennifer Peterson Choreography)

The Chain- Mini Lyrical Line (Danny Lawn Choreography)

Ellie Smith, Isabelle Barnett, Addison Jones, Brooklyn Jones, Kanon Greer, Olivia Benyamin, Breeyn Goodman, Rachel Loiselle, Isabella Lynch, Grace McKinley, Delaney Taylor.

The Spiral- Mini Contemporary Group (Chelsea Jennings Choreography)

Olivia Bell, Isabelle Barnett, Addison Jones, Brooklyn Jones, Olivia Benyamin, Breeyn Goodman, Rachel Loiselle, Isabella Lynch, Delaney Taylor.

Forget About The Boy- Age 9 Musical Theatre Small Group (Chelse Jennings Choreography)

Kenzie Robinson, Aften Harris, Ellie Smith, Lexi Diaz, Makena Erickson, Isabella Beasley, Kanon Greer, Ava Goodman, Madyson Barney.

Ladies Room- Age 10 Open Large Group (Erica Marr Choreography)

Olivia Bell, Aften Harris, Isabelle Barnett, Hailey Baer, Addison Jones, Brooklyn Jones, Olivia Benyamin, Addison Fay, Rachel Loiselle, Isabella Lynch, Grace McKinley, Delaney Taylor, Breeyn Goodman.

Go Harder- Age 10 Hip Hop Large Group (Ricky Maalouf Choreography)

Olivia Bell, Bella Fernandez, Hailey Baer, Isabella Beasley, Addison Jones, Brooklyn Jones, Ellie Tollefson, Mylee Stoltz, Blake Tischler, Brinklee Grako, London Skiba, Lexi Wahlberg, Olivia Benyamin, Breeyn Goodman, Rachel Loiselle, Isabella Lynch, Grace McKinley, Delaney Taylor.

Noir- Teen Ballet Group (Josie Walsh Choreography)

Avery Stamm, Brian Hooper, Avery Gay, Reina Stamm, Gavin Morales.

Burning Up- Teen Jazz Group (Mimi Radovan Choreography)

Worship Me- Teen Jazz Line (Mimi Radovan Choreography)

Way We Ride- Teen Hip Hop Line

Pop Muzik- Teen Specialty Line(Lucy Valley Choreography)

Jordan Goldberg, Chevelle Heller, Emma Harris, Marley Heath, Carlee Schield, Madison Levato-Demar, Bella Calles, Brooke Judge, Jenna Valenzuela, Jaycee Wilkins, Sophia Benyamin, Bailey LaMagdelaine, Ava Check, Hailey Jimenez, Sophia Tepenzano

Bellyache- Teen Jazz Group (Danny Lawn Choreography)

Carlee Schield, Jenna Valenzuela, Summer O’Haver, Alexis Adair, Brooklin Cooley, Brooke Judge, Avery Gay.

Destinations- Teen Jazz Line (Danny Lawn Choreography)

Real World Persuit- Teen Contemporary Line

Alexis Adair, Brooklin Cooley, Bailey LaMagdelaine, Brooke Judge, Carlee Schield, Landrie Peterson, Jenn Gama, Jenna Valenzuela, Marley Heath, Paige Kracht, Summer O’Haver

De Aqui No Sales- Teen Specialty Extended Line (Andrew Winghart Choreography) morning

Edge Of Seventeen- Teen Contemporary Group (Chelsea Jennings Choreography)

Gavin Morales, Brooke Judge, Jenna Valenzuela, Carlee Schield, Chevelle Heller, Avery Stamm, Reina Stamm.

Full Of Love- Teen Contemporary Group

Jaycee Wilkins, Carlee Schield, Sophia Benyamin, Ava Check, Chevelle Heller and one other.

Kissing You- Teen Lyrical Line

Hanging By A Thread- Teen Lyrical Group (Danny Lawn Choreography)

Jenna Valenzuela, Carlee Schield, Avery Gay, Brooke Judge, Chevelle Heller, Bostyn Brown, Reina Stamm, Avery Stamm, Jaycee Wilkins.

Rinse And Repeat- Teen Jazz Line (Danny Lawn Choreography)

Jaycee Wilkins, Alexis Adair, Brooke Judge, Summer O’Haver, Bostyn Brown, Brooklin Cooley, Chevelle Heller, Jenna Valenzuela, Avery Stamm, Reina Stamm, Taylor Knab

Smash- Teen Ballroom Line (Erica Marr Choreography)

Madeline Wood, Bailey LaMagdelaine, Aspen Lynch, Addison Hart, Carlee Schield, Avery Stamm, Jenna Valenzuela, Mia Wilson, Bostyn Brown, Taylor Knab, Brooke Judge, Chloe Davis, Sophia Benyamin, Jaycee Wilkins, Aubrey Feuersten, Maia Rogers

Fan The Flame- Teen Contemporary Line

Dark Web- Teen Contemporary Line (Kirsten Russell Choreography)

Mia Wilson, Jaycee Wilkins, Lexee Crandall, Bostyn Brown, Brooke Judge, Makenna Dickinson, Jenna Valenzuela, Carlee Schield, Avery Stamm, Summer O’Haver, (Missing One)

[praise-the-lord-im-dead]

New poll is up for patrons! June's theme is: through a window <3<3

[thecomicsnexus]

Starfire Unleashed!

NEW TEEN TITANS #16 FEBRUARY 1982 BY MARV WOLFMAN, GEORGE PEREZ, ROMEO TANGHAL, ADRIENNE ROY, ROY THOMAS, SCOTT SHAW, GERRY CONWAY, ROSS ANDRU AND BOB SMITH

SYNOPSIS (FROM DC FANDOM)

After relaxing in their pool at Titans Tower, the Teen Titans discuss Starfire's most recent boyfriend, Franklin Crandall. Dick pretends that he's okay with her seeing somebody else, but it is fairly obvious that he is still quite attached to the Tamaranean after gently rebuffing her advances. Starfire had met Franklin while modeling for Donna under her civilian name Kory Anders. Donna, ever protective of Kory, warned her about revealing her true nature to her new boyfriend.

Before long however, Franklin discovered the truth about Kory's alien heritage on his own, but it didn't change how he felt about her. The two continued dating for several weeks and Kory fell completely in love with him.

Now she is ready to introduce her boyfriend to the rest of the Titans. Donna is still uncomfortable with how quickly Kory has fallen in love with this man, and her discomfort intensifies when Kory tells her that Franklin knows the truth about her.

In his home in Greenwich, Connecticut, Franklin Crandall meets with his employer – a rogue agent of the H.I.V.E. This agent wants to get back into the H.I.V.E.'s good graces and believes that he can prove himself by manipulating Crandall into killing one (or more) of the Titans. Crandall is reluctant to aid the H.I.V.E. agent as he has now developed genuine feelings for Starfire. The agent warns him against betrayal.

Meanwhile, Wally West walks Raven to school for her first day of classes at Manhattan College. She enrolls in a philosophy course and embarrasses herself in class by voicing her opinion at considerable length. One of the students takes an interest in Raven and tells her that he knows of the Cult of Azar and has even practiced some of their disciplines. After class, a couple of boys begin antagonizing Raven and her new friend defends her by punching one of the thugs in the jaw. Raven is as upset with her classmate as she is with her antagonists and tells him that physical violence has never been part of the teachings of Azar.

That evening, the Titans go to Harlem to rescue a kidnapped model named Angela Dove from the clutches of mobster Phil Cerullo. Cerullo has kidnapped Angela in order to muscle her boyfriend Jason Silver into not testifying against him at his trial. The Titans burst through the wall of the building and take out Cerullo's gunmen. Starfire stuns the gangster with a starbolt and the other Titans worry about their teammate's apparent power levels.

Back in Connecticut, Franklin Crandall decides that he cannot betray Starfire. He turns his gun over to the H.I.V.E. agent and tells him that he quits. As Crandall walks away, the H.I.V.E. agent shoots him in the back, killing him. The Titans arrive, unaware that anything is amiss until they find Crandall's body. Robin tries to resuscitate him, but he is too late. Starfire goes berserk and begins firing lethal bolts of energy at the H.I.V.E. agent. Wonder Girl bars her path and warns her that the Titans never kill. The two argue with one another, and the enraged Starfire flies off. Amidst the confusion, the H.I.V.E. agent escapes.

A short while later, the agent reports back to the H.I.V.E. citadel. The robed members of the inner circle admonish him for operating on his own without the support of the H.I.V.E. They pass judgment against him and summarily execute him. The agent's body is found the following day in New York with six bullet holes in his chest.

Across the United States, strange occurrences take place involving otherwise normal human beings acting like animals. Clark Kent broadcasts a report on the phenomena, after which, he changes clothes to investigate the matter more deeply as Superman. He sees a strange beam of energy, visible only to his enhanced Kryptonian senses, strike a man, seemingly devolving him so that he begins scampering about the streets like an ape. He swoops down and pulls the man safely out of busy traffic, then flies off into the outer atmosphere to trace the origin of the energy beam. He surmises that the energy beam originated somewhere near the planet Pluto. What Superman finds though is a barrier of energy encircling the Earth. The closer he comes to it, the weaker he grows. He sees a meteor from outer space pierce the barrier and begin falling towards Earth. He catches the object and propels it back towards the barrier.

As he makes contact with the energy barrier, a loud "Pop" occurs and Superman finds himself dizzy and temporarily blinded. Blinking away the spots before his eyes, he begins falling back towards Earth. He soon realizes however that contact with the energy barrier somehow transported him to a parallel reality. He flies towards what he believes is the Daily Planet building, but quickly discovers that it is actually the office of a talking rabbit named Roger. Before Roger sees him, Superman changes into his civilian attire. Roger is at first frightened by the big "pink" man, but Clark manages to calm him down. He learns that this entire world is populated with sentient anthropomorphic beings, similar to animals found on Earth. While attempting to explain his situation, Roger goes to his window box and takes a carrot. He doesn't realize that the carrot is glowing with a mysterious energy. Superman scans the vegetable with his x-ray vision and sees that it has been affected by radiation from the shattered meteor particles. He snatches the carrot from Roger's hand and throws it away before he can eat any more. It is too late however. The glowing carrot alters Roger's physical body, giving him enhanced senses and super-strength. Donning a costume he had laying about from a previous costume party, he begins calling himself Captain Carrot.

Superman and Captain Carrot discover that violent riots are taking place at the nearby United Nature Building in Gnu York. The U.N. delegates have de-evolved and are behaving instinctively like their animal namesakes. Roger creates a super-thump with his giant foot, and succeeds in at least temporarily calming everybody down. Superman deduces that the meteor that he pushed through the energy barrier, shattered upon entering this parallel world, and that fragments of it have enhanced several other animal people across the country. His primary concern however is the devolution ray that has affected the members of the U.N. This ray is also responsible for devolving the people from Superman's home dimension. Superman flies off to investigate the origin of this mysterious ray beam, citing that the fate of two worlds hangs in the balance. Roger Rabbit takes a super-bunny leap behind him and shouts "You're not going anywhere without – Captain Carrot!"

REVIEW

This is one of those crazy situations where DC and some other publisher do the same thing at the same time. But in this case, against a novel. I am talking of course of Roger Rabbit, who unbeknownst to me, was a novel in 1981. So I could think that it was possible Thomas and Shaw didn’t know their character’s name was going to bring potential legal issues. It’s because of that that later on the alter ego of Captain Carrot is going to be “Rodney” Rabbit instead of Roger.

I am not sure the world was desperate for anthropomorphic comics from DC (but it will in just a few years with the coming of the black and white indies).

The New Teen Titans story, by the way, couldn’t be darker than Captain Carrot. Two people die (one of them by six bullets to the chest), and another is kidnapped.

I like Raven’s point of view about the dangers of certain religions, she is on to something, but I am not sure we will ever see her in class again (except for scenes with her new classmate).

This is also a very interesting issue for Dick Grayson/Kory shippers. It is pretty obvious that Dick regrets not dating Starfire anymore. I wonder how long it will take for Kory to recover from this death.

I give this issue a score of 9

[deborahocarroll]

Timely: A Phoenix Fiction Anthology (Review)

Timely: A Phoenix Fiction Anthology (Review)

Today I’m excited to share a review for an excellent spec-fic anthology featuring short stories dealing with . . . time! By some really stellar authors. Read on for my mini reviews of each story! Title: Timely: A Phoenix Fiction Writers Anthology Author: The Phoenix Fiction Writers Grace Crandall • E. B. Dawson • Deck Matthews Nate Philbrick • J. E. Purrazzi • Beth Wangler And featuring:…

[bearterritory]

#5 Bears Shine at Regional, Advance to Championship

Cal Dominates with Second-Best Team Score in School History

MORGANTOWN, WV – For the second straight day, #5 California women's gymnastics tallied the second-best team score in school history as they had a 197.750 on Sunday afternoon. The Bears finished in second place at the Morgantown Regional to book a spot at the NCAA Championship. #4 Michigan won the meet with a 198.100 mark, while the Bears finished only .350 behind the Wolverines. No. 13 UCLA tallied a 197.275 to take third while Ohio State finished in fourth with a 195.625 mark. "We've been grateful every single day since we got back in October," co-head coach Justin Howell said. "We get to do what we love with the people we love doing it with. We told them, this one is special, just considering the difficulty of this last year with the global pandemic that we've all been navigating. This one means a lot and we're just incredibly proud of our team." Nevaeh DeSouza continued her outstanding sophomore campaign as she tied her career high in the all-around with a 39.600 score, the third time she has hit that mark this year. That mark also ranks fifth all-time in school history. She scored a 9.90 on both the bars and vault, while setting a personal best on the balance beam of 9.925 and taking second place. She rounded out her second-place all-around score with a 9.875 mark on floor. Freshman Andi Li also tied her career high with a 39.575 score as she finished in third place in the all-around. Li posted a 9.90 on bars, a 9.85 on beam and a 9.925 on floor. She then closed the meet with a career-best 9.90 on vault which helped secure Cal's place at the NCAA Championship. "We have a group of young women who are passionate and hard working," Howell said. "Cal is a challenging place all the way around. The grit of being a Cal student is a huge factor. We are a very gritty team, we're able to handle a lot of adversity. I think it's the people that we have in the building. The whole philosophy of being at Cal and thinking of new ways of trying to solve problems, you can't help but shift your mindset. We're privileged to work with those type of students. It helps us as coaches to stay in that mindset as well." Cal opened the afternoon on bars, which has been their best event all year. Cal scored a 49.425, which is good for the seventh-best mark in school history. DeSouza and Li had 9.90 routines, which got the Bears started on the right foot. Emi Watterson anchored the lineup with a 9.95 score, a day after tallying a 9.975 score on bars. Watterson finished in second place, but the Bears were tied with UCLA at 49.425 after one rotation in second place. Cal rotated to the beam, where they put down a 49.450 score, which is tied for the third-best in program history. Cal had three student-athletes cross the 9.90 threshold for the second consecutive event. DeSouza's career high of 9.925 matched Maya Bordas' mark as the duo tied for second place. Watterson again anchored the Cal lineup, posting a 9.90 score. Li and Milan Clausi both tallied 9.85 marks to round out the lineup. The Bears posted the fourth-best floor score in school history, tied with Cal's dual meet with UCLA at the beginning of March. The 49.500 marker happened because of a lineup that built off itself. Grace Quinn led off with a 9.850 mark. After Bordas posted a 9.825, every score went up. DeSouza recorded a 9.875, then Clausi posted a 9.90. Li followed with a 9.925 mark, before Pac-12 Champion Kyana George finished with a 9.95 mark, which was good for first place on Saturday. "Our freshman and sophomores are handling this pressure for the first time in this environment," co-head coach Crandall-Howell said. "It speaks volumes to how prepared they are and how much they trust each other. Because when you trust your teammates, it takes pressure off of you. The weight of the work for everyone is less when everyone is doing their job and I think that's true emotionally as well."   The Bears moved to their final event looking to book a place at the NCAA Championships, and they posted a season-high mark of 49.375 on vault. Again, Cal earned a spot on the program record book as it was the fourth-best vault score in school history. All six vaulters posted at least a 9.850, led by Li and DeSouza's 9.90 marks. "We've gotten to a place the last several meets where they have ownership of what they're doing," Howell said. "They're just getting bigger, more powerful and dynamic vaults. We've been able to focus on landings, and that's what it boils down to; can you run fast, hit the vault, do a high-scoring vault and stick the landing, then you're going to get a good score. We've been getting better at that and they've been able to shift their mindset and they're so dialed in right now." Cal will be one of only eight teams headed to the NCAA Gymnastics Championship, which will be held on April 16-17 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. The Bears will be part of the first semifinal which will be at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET on Friday, April 16 and be broadcast on ESPN2. If the Bears can be one of the top two teams in the semifinal they will advance to the final four on the floor on Saturday, which will be at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Tickets for the NCAA Championship are available here. SOCIAL MEDIA Join Cal Women's Gymnastics in the social media realm for behind-the-scenes access to the Bears. Follow Cal on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for meet scores, practice updates, exclusive photos, videos and more. Find Cal at: • Twitter: @CalWGym • Facebook: Facebook.com/CalWGym • Instagram: @CalWGym

[atlanticcanada]

'I'll take 50 per cent over total lockdown': New restrictions now in place in Nova Scotia as COVID-19 cases soar

New restrictions are now in place across Nova Scotia as COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the province.

"I think I'm generally concerned,” said Natalie Lord.

“I'm an elementary teacher so there's a lot cases in the schools, but I do think the vaccine is proven that it's helping.”

Among the changes now in effect, museums, malls and stores must now operate at 50 per cent capacity.

"I would lie if I said we're not biting our fingernails every time we listen to the announcement,” said Grace Rufenacaht, one of the owners of One of a Kind store in Dartmouth.

“We do what we got to do to stay safe, and like I said, I'll take 50 per cent over total lockdown any day."

Rufenacaht doesn’t expect her store to be impacted by the latest round of restrictions.

"I don't think it's going to impact our business that much because we never really got over 50 per cent capacity anyway. Christmas business has been slow. You know, not like pre-pandemic,” she said.

Restaurants and bars must now operate at 50 per cent capacity and stop dine-in service at 11 p.m.

"The recent spike in cases and the new restrictions have wreaked havoc on our industry,” said Luc Erjavec with Restaurants Canada.

Erjavec said the restaurant industry has been decimated over the last two weeks.

"We have staff, restaurants that are unable to open because staff have either been in close contact with someone and ordered to isolate or they, themselves have caught COVID and forced to self-isolate,” he said.

“If you look in downtown Halifax today, I would estimate easily half the restaurants are closed because they just don't have the staff to open or the business to make it worthwhile."

With the indoor gathering limit now capped at 10, many people have had to change their holiday plans.

"We were planning on going to see family in the Annapolis Valley. We decided that no, that's not going to happen, so we're just going to stay close to home,” said Darrell Crandall.

"COVID allowed me to move down to Nova Scotia this year, cause with COVID, I'm now working 100 per cent at home. But now, Omicrom steps in and I can't spend Christmas with my family that I haven't spent Christmas with in over 30 years,” said Susan Holden.

Starting Tuesday, those 50 and older were able to book a booster dose of vaccine. Michael McCluskey was able to book a shot Tuesday morning.

"Number one, I want to keep myself healthy but more importantly, number two, I want to keep other people healthy because there are folks out there that, through no fault of their own, can't get the vaccination. They're not making a personal choice, they just physically cannot get it for whatever medical reasons they have. So, I think that as part of a society, it's up to us, to keep the most vulnerable people as safe as we can,” said McCluskey.

As the pandemic lingers on, Dr. Lisa Barrett, an infectious disease expert, is reminding Nova Scotians to wear a mask and wear it properly.

"I'm really interested in people having very good fitting masks, not just because of the variant but because right now, the levels of virus in our community are quite high and I suspect that our case numbers are only a tiny proportion of the actual cases around us, and, good idea to wear the masks,” she said.

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/3EskEAg