#honestly really love how sassy Rosemary always looks

[antiquatedsimmer]

At last, Lucile felt she was catching her stride with the family’s fast-paced lifestyle. Her days brimmed with purpose, and her work in the vineyard flourished. This year’s garden had yielded a bountiful harvest, She couldn’t help but smile, thinking how proud her father would have been to see her now—rooted in the land, cultivating life with her hands like he did.

Lucile and Nia had built a foundation of trust over long hours in the vineyard. Their partnership deepened with each shared task, and Lucile’s dedication didn’t go unnoticed. Her promotion came as a welcome surprise. Nia granted her access to more of the closely-guarded recipes, teaching her the intricate tricks of bottling and blending.

In a bold move to expand their reach, Lucile struck a deal with Nia to sell a portion of their wine at a market stall in town. It was an exciting venture, though the first few weeks proved discouraging. Chestnut prided itself on its wine culture, yet the stall saw little traffic. Even the few customers who approached seemed distracted, their minds elsewhere. Lucile sold only the cheapest bottles, unable to garner interest in their finer vintages.

It wasn’t until Lucile finally got her hands on the weekly newspaper that she and Josephine understood what had gripped everyone’s attention.

The bold headline leaped off the page: TITANIC SINKS! The article detailed the tragic collision with an iceberg in the Atlantic, claiming the lives of over 1,000 passengers.

“Absolutely horrid!” Josephine gasped, her voice trembling as her eyes darted over the text. “Drowning—what an awful, awful way to go!”

Lucile, equally shaken, tried to console her without diminishing the gravity of the tragedy. Keeping her tone gentle, she said, “It’s horrible, truly. But if it brings you any comfort, most likely the cold claimed them first. Daddy told me when you're that cold you start to feel warm before you drift off to sleep.” Josephine blinked at her, not expecting to hear such a calm response. “That’s not better, Lucile!”

Before Lucile could respond, the sound of their conversation drew a familiar interruption. Rosemary, ever curious, appeared on the porch. “What'cha talk'in about?”

She kept forgetting how little privacy their home afforded with the children’s bedroom window connected to the porch. Josephine crouched to meet their daughter’s wide-eyed gaze, offering a softened explanation before ushering her back inside. The door swung shut with a creak, leaving Lucile momentarily alone in thought.

She rocked gently in the chair, staring out at the horizon. The house, once perfectly snug for their family, now felt cramped and noisy, not to forget this housing was only supposed to be temporary... Nia's own children would need it, and it would be sometime soon given her children were already a few years old before their kids were born.

Lucile had been saving bit by bit through the years in this house and now it was time to put it to use!

Rosemary, Aster and Daisy aged up into children!

[gilmoriends]

The twenty beauties of Gilmoriends.

It's about time we give a spotlight to the lovely souls that make up the Gilmoriends. Each of these twenty beauties brings their own sparkle in unity. creating the atmosphere that feels like home. They’re not just pretty faces; they’re funny, easy to tease (in a friendly way, I swear), and... just genuinely funny, really. Let’s dive in and get to know the incredible members who make Gilmoriends what it is!

Let’s start with the three that bring Gilmoriends to life, which none other than Jacqueline, the free spirit who tells it like it is, she is the kind of girl who’ll tell you if your outfit isn’t working (if you need a dose of honesty, she’s your go-to gal!). She’s got a knack for mockery that somehow always manages to make you laugh, never offend you. Second, is Rosemarie, the wise-advice giver with a wicked sense of humor! You can count on her to drop some serious wisdom when you need it—right after she serves you a perfectly timed sarcastic jokes casually like bombshells. Lastly, we have Phoebe, the ultimate cinephile who always armed with film references, also one who competing neck-and-neck with Rosemarie’s sarcasm (it’s a common scene to catch these two picking a fight).

And… drumroll, everyone… here come the new faces that bring Gilmoriends together! Starting with Teyis, the one who keeps us all complaining about how dark her profile is, but honestly, it suits her the most! She’s basically the human equivalent of a cozy night Next up is Bibie, our resident sweetheart and the only westerner in the crew! She’s the one who’s always down for whatever, whether it’s a movie night or a Spotify session. If there’s an activity going on, you can bet she’s right in the middle of it. Then we have Clayie, our meme royalty! Her fingers quicker than a lightning when it comes to editing the funniest video and photo memes to roast the rest of us (don’t worry, she’s our punching bag too, so it’s all in good fun!) also, you’ll never run out of things to discuss with her. And here’s MJ—nope, not Mary Jane or even Zendaya—but her very own MJ! One of our cinephiles making her the perfect movie buddy (also the post-discussion, too). Odes is here to bring the cuteness overload! She’s the friendliest of the bunch, always radiating good vibes that make everyone feel welcome, but still could keep-up with the humor (what a talent!). Then we’ve got Sassy, who we bonded with over playful fights, also an MJ’s (Michael Jackson, not Gilmoriends’ MJ) enthusiast and will not stop talking about him (we secretly love hearing her yap on about it). Meet Qidney, one who sweet and caring but also has a surprising sense of humor that sneaks up on you with random jokes, dropping punchlines like bombshells. Then we have Ophel, the girl who seems like she could be friends with just about everyone, really. Give off the approachable vibe, making it easy to share some jokey moments with her. Aveline, the night owl, is usually awake when the rest of us are snoozing, but also an amazing listener and a wise advisor when you need one! Let’s not forget Tejef, one of the most talkative, ready to chat about anything (not even exaggerating). You could bring up the most uncommon topic, and she’ll be there, ears wide open, ready to engage in a lively discussion. And then there’s Nyxié, our ghost-reader! To summon her from her reading cave, just mention anything related with soccer, and voilà—she’ll appear to join the conversation! Say hi to Acacia, our fun-loving and easygoing spirit! She brings the good vibes and wherever she goes. Also, she looks like she’s got a top-secret list of the finest men on the planet, and she’s not afraid to let it show! And next is Theela! also a football enthusiast and the life of the party! We need to see more of her hilarious side; 'cause we know she’s got the kind of humor that could has us cackling. Asleey, the one bubble that pops and dips forever! But when she does surface, you can expect her to say the sweetest things that make it all worth the wait. Next is Zè, our morning sunshine who radiates friendly vibes that make you feel like you’ve known her forever— definitely someone you want in your corner! And well, Kaluna is the sweetest and calmest of us all. She gives off major little sister energy that just make you want to treat her extra sweetly! Finally, we’ve got Celie, the sweet girl next door. You might not see her around often, but when you do, you know she’s got that kind, gentle spirit that makes her the perfect addition to Gilmoriends!

[staywritten]

Witchful Thinking│Han Jisung

Synopsis: All anyone wanted was to be loved. So what if you had to rely on a love potion to get that. How hard could it be?

Genre: Witch!Au, Clumsy!Witch Reader, fluff, comedy? Banter. mostly fluff, oneshot?

Word Count: 2k

Masterlist

You looked out the window, watching your neighboring coven by the river bank. Smiling, cheering, laughing. You envied their togetherness. And here you were being a recluse, as usual, stuck in your kitchen as you worked on a new potion. You’d been stuck on the love potion page for the better half of the week. You were trying to talk yourself into believing that you only wanted to make it because a witch should be well versed in all magic, and had nothing to do with the beautiful man, with the chubbiest cheeks and the brightest smile that entertained the coven..

Peaking back out the window you caught the tail end of his laugh. His whole chest would shake as he playfully hit Changbin. You were sure he was the most beautiful man that could ever exist. Everything about him was so perfect. His soft facial features, his honey voice, those supple lips.

He was perfection…

If only he could be yours…?

He looked toward your window, almost like he felt you staring at him and you practically threw yourself to hide from his gaze.

“Maybe just making the love potion can’t hurt…” you mumbled to yourself.

“Meow” your familiar chimed.

“Oh hush Hyunjin, it’s not like I’m gonna use it on him...that’s immoral.” you crossed your arms over your chest. “Right? It’s immoral.”

“MEOW!”

“Ok, ok I got it…” you huffed and looked around. “But just having it can’t hurt…”

“Meow”

“Hyunjin there’s really no need to be that sassy. I’ll make the potion right this time.” you rolled your eyes ��One screw up and you never let me live it down.”

“Meow”

“Ok, so it was more than one. Leave me alone Hyunjin.” you pouted. “It’s not like I wanted that fire to happen. What are the chances of it happening again?” 

It wasn’t that you were a bad witch...per se...It was just hard to read these old arcane spells. Half the time they were backward or involved ancient runes or just straight up in Latin. And it was damn difficult to find some of the ingredients these potions called for without hauling your ass to Jeju for the volcanic ash. And honestly who had the time for that?

You spent the day working on the love potion, stirring absently and adding each ingredient. “Hmmm...rose water…?” you looked around the kitchen and grabbed the vase of lilies and tossed the flowers and water into the pot. “Close enough” you raised a brow looking at the color. “I thought that this would be pinker…you know for a love potion” stroking your chin, you grabbed some gel food coloring from your cabinet and mixed a few drops in the potion. “There! Now it’s looking like a love potion” you beamed, mixing it. “Isn’t it pretty Hyunjin?” you glanced at your cat who was glaring at you. “What? Did you have a better idea?”

“Meow!”

You scoffed. “Ok, Mr. Smarty pants. I’m trying to make the potion right. I just want Jisung to love me…” you pouted looking at the potion and glancing back at your ingredients list. “You don’t know what it’s like to love someone and that person not love you back… You’re lucky you’re just a cat”

“Meow” he purred, brushing his head against your hand. You grinned scratching behind his ear. “At least I’ll always have you Hyunjin”

 You finger scrolled down the textured page of the old spell book. “Hmmm, a stalk of smudging sage… aww, crap. I don’t have any more of that either. Hyunjin do you think rosemary is a good substitute for sage?” You could have sworn you heard a very audible groan from your cat. “O...k…oh- I have some rubbed sage seasoning I was gonna use for a pot roast that’ll be good enough. Oh! I should remember to buy more sage” you grabbed the pen that was stuck in your bun before jotting down sage on your arm, hoping that you remember to look at that while you're in the grocery store.

While stirring your potion all you could think about was Jisung. He was so strong, fiercely loyal and strangely kind. The first time you met him you were panicked since Hyunjin had gotten out and you hadn’t lived in the area very long. He spent hours helping you look for your cat. He’d even gotten some of his coven to help, telling you how much all of their familiars meant to them.

Originally you moved to the area because you heard that there were a few covens in the area. And although you were a coven less witch, it was nice to not be completely alone.

You were never truly alone, not when you had Hyunjin but when he got out you panicked. 

You remembered it like it was yesterday. You were almost in hysterics, wandering the forest.

“Hyunjin! Hyunjin!” you cried out, the rain was starting to fall harder, and finding a black cat in the impossibly dark forest was starting to seem hopeless. “Hyunjin please!”

“Hey...Hey...calm down. We’re gonna find him. I promise.” Jisung grabbed your hand in an attempt to calm you. Looking back at it now, you could tell that he was even scared to be in the forest so late at night. But he was there for you. A complete stranger that he just happened upon. Rather it was the freezing rain or your anxieties he felt the need to protect you.

“You don’t understand-He’s all I have. I don’t have any family I only have-”

“I won’t let you be alone ok? I know you don’t know me...But family is everything to me, alright? We’re gonna find Hyunjin. But we need you to get your head right.”

For the first time in your life, you felt safe and reassured.

You fell so hard, so fast.

It may have been one-sided, it may have been a distant love.

But it was love.

Hearing the front door of your cabin open you turned around and blocked the pot with your body. “I’m not doing anything wrong!” you immediately called out.

“Oh that’s not suspicious” Jisung chuckled, quirking his brow and making his way over to you. “Why didn’t you join us at the river?” A smirk played on his lips. “I saw you watching me.”

“I-I wasn’t…” your voice got smaller as you cleared your voice nervously, from being caught.

“I didn’t want to get in the way...you guys were having fun.” you fiddled with your fingers, holding the ladle.

“We can have fun with you too ya know.” He looked over your shoulder seeing your feeble attempt to block him. “Love potion?” he read the page of your spellbook.

“It’s not what you think!” you frantically waved your hands. “I-”

“Oh? So that’s not for me?” he feigned offense.

“N-No..it’s not.” you pouted avoiding his gaze, tugging on your ring absently.

“You know you’re the worst liar right?” he gripped your waist and lifted you on the counter beside your spellbook.

“Why does it smell like chicken?” he shook his head, turning off the stove.

“Oh Crap...was this my soup pot?” you looked between the two pots you had on the stove. Was it a good idea to work on your chicken soup at the same time as your potion? probably not. Could you have possibly separated half your ingredients into each pot? The chances were higher than you wanted to admit. But as a young independent witch, you had to multi task. How else was dinner supposed to get made?

“Didn’t I tell you no more shortcuts on potions?” he grinned looking at your flustered face, his thumbs rubbing small circles on your sides. Your skin, shivering at his touch. It was so astounding how easily he turned you into mush with such a simple gesture.

“How do you know I took a shortcut?”

“Because the bouquet of lilies I got you are in the pot, and I can clearly see your spell called for rose water and not lilies soaked in water.” he chuckled, brushing his nose against yours, giving you that curte gummy smile. His eyes turning into that charming moon shape when he beamed.

“You sound like Hyunjin...” you rolled your eyes seeing your cat jump from the counter onto the table, before disappearing in the living room. 

“Well he is pretty smart.” he chuckled and brushed his lips against yours. “What do you even need a love potion for?”

You wrapped your arms around his neck, fingers playing with the hair on his nape. Your lips in a perpetual pout. “I wanted you to love me…”

He sighed. “Oh my god-You’re literally my girlfriend!”

“But what if you get bored of me…” you pouted and huffed.

“You’re insane” he chuckled peppering kisses along your cheek to your neck. “I love you. I’ll never get bored of you.”

“But-”

He silenced you with a kiss, holding your face in his hands. His kiss not letting up until you gave in, responding to each movement of his lips. His teeth teasing your lower lip as his tongue flicked against the top of your mouth, enticing the smallest of whimpers.

You pulled away just slightly to catch your breath, your fingers running through his hair as your face warmed in a way only he could cause. “Jisung...” you looked at him through your lashes, trying to catch your breath. 

“I’m not done” he smirked, biting on your lower lip, teasingly deepening the kiss again. He was relentless and insatiable. Loving at how desperately you gripped at his shirt, how your thighs, tightened around his waist. Knowing damn well that your stomach was coiling as his hands got a little bolder in their travels. He tugged your hair back just slightly, loving how you whined at the loss of his touch. Your face warm, mouth bruised, and lips panting his name. 

It was such a breathtaking moment. From how the golden hour sun, shined through your window to how desperate you looked for him. 

He pressed a kiss at the base of your throat. 

He could never understand your insecurities. You were beautiful, passionate. Hopelessly, hopeful. Everything single thing you did made him fall harder for you. Like how you could never quite get your potions right but you never gave up, or how you just never had paper, so you’d scribble down any idea onto your arm. His favorite little habit was how you always played with your ring on your index finger when you lied.

He could spend a lifetime naming everything he loved about you.

“I’m yours. Do you get that?” He moved your hand over his heart. “Yours.” His forehead pressed against, so close that his breath became yours as he searched your eyes. “If you don’t believe me then just do some binding spell and bind me to you forever...” he grinned.

“Jisung... I can’t” you caressed his chest, moving your hands back up to his face. Cupping the softness of his cheeks as you heard his dazzling brown eyes. They practically sparkled at you. 

“Yes. You can. If it’s my consent you want then it’s yours… It’s always yours... “ He placed a kiss on your ring finger. “If you just need my permission for you to keep loving me and to do whatever spell you want on me then it’s yours. You’re my happy ending.”

You laughed shaking your head. “Well first off I really can’t do a binding spell...because I literally don’t know how, and they’re really hard. Secondly...I wasn’t really planning on using the love potion...I just wanted it just in case you stopped loving me… I just want you to be mine…”

“I already am.” He smirked “If you’re gonna doubt me… Why don’t I just show you how much I love you?” he lifted you off the counter, carrying you into your bedroom. Your carefree laughs, being silenced by his greedy kisses.

End.

A little clumsy!WitchxHan au. I wrote this scenario a few years back for Riverdale lol but I decided to recycle it for Stray Kids since I loved it so much, I kinda want to expand on this universe if anybody was interested?

If you like it let me know :3 Feedback is always welcomed

∘Tags List:  (If you’d like to be added to my permit tag list let me know)

@skzsprinkles @tophuphu @hugs4chan @channieboyo @tonfilm @soobinssmile

[south-side-coven-blog]

Witchful Thinking: Love Potion

Witchful Thinking│Sweet Pea Witch!AU Love Potion

You looked out the window, where the Serpents usually gathered by Sweet Water River; Always smiling, laughing and having fun. You were so envious of them. They were always so free. And here you were being a recluse, as usual, stuck in your kitchen as you worked on a new potion. You’d been stuck on the love potion page for the better half of the week. You were trying to talk yourself into believing that you only wanted to make it because a witch should be well versed in all magic, and had nothing to do with the 6’3 beautiful man that joined the Serpents at the river.

Peaking back out the window you caught the tail end of his laugh. His whole chest would shake as he playfully hit Fangs. You were sure he was the most beautiful man that could ever exist. Everything about him was so perfect. His soft facial features in contrast with his personality, supple lips, the most beautiful raven hair that you’ve seen.

He was perfection…

If only he could be yours…?

He looked toward your window, almost like he felt you staring at him and you practically threw yourself to hide from his gaze.

“Maybe just making the love potion can’t hurt…” you mumbled to yourself.

“Mew” your familiar chimed.

“Oh hush Binx, it’s not like I’m gonna use it on him...that’s immoral.” you crossed your arms over your chest. “Right? It’s immoral.”

“MEW!”

“Ok, ok I got it…” you huffed and looked around. “But just having it can’t hurt…”

“Mew”

“Binx there’s really no need to be that sassy. I’ll make the potion right.” you rolled your eyes “One screw up and you never let me live it down.”

“Mew”

“Ok, so it was more than one. Leave me alone Binx.”

It wasn’t that you were a bad witch...per se...It was just hard to read these old arcane spells. Half the time they were backward or involved ancient runes or just straight up in Latin. And it was damn difficult to find some of the ingredients these potions called for without hauling your ass to Greendale. And honestly who had the time for that?

You spent the day working on the love potion, stirring absently and adding each ingredient. “Hmmm...rose water…?” you looked around the kitchen and grabbed the vase of sweet peas and tossed the flowers and water into the pot. “Close enough” you raised a brow looking at the color. “I thought that this would be pinker…” you shrugged looking to the next ingredient. “Hmmm, a stalk of smudging sage… aww, crap. I don’t have any more of that either. Binx do you think rosemary is a good substitute for sage?” You could have sworn you heard a very audible groan from your cat. “O...k…oh- I have some rubbed sage seasoning I was gonna use for a pot roast that’ll be good enough.”

While stirring your potion all you could think about was Sweet Pea. He was so strong, fiercely loyal and strangely kind. The first time you met him you were panicked since Binx had gotten out and you hadn’t lived in Riverdale very long. He spent hours helping you look for your cat. He’d even gotten some other Serpents to help, telling you how much his dog Hotdog meant to him.

You remembered it like it was yesterday. You were almost in hysterics, wandering the forest.

“Binx! Binx!” you cried out, the rain was starting to fall harder, and finding a black cat in the impossibly dark forest was starting to seem hopeless. “Binx please!”

“Hey...Hey...calm down. We’re gonna find him. I promise.” He grabbed your shoulders with his strong arms, your whole body shaking. Rather it was the freezing rain or your anxieties he felt the need to protect you.

“You don’t understand-He’s all I have. I don’t have any family I only have-”

“I won’t let you be alone ok? I know you don’t know me...But family is everything to me, alright? We have a saying. No serpents left behind...It means that no matter what, we get to our family and we save them. We’re gonna find Binx. But we need you to get your head right.”

For the first time in your life, you felt safe and reassured.

You fell so hard, so fast.

It may have been one-sided, it may have been a distant love.

But it was a love.

Hearing the front door of your cabin open you turned around and blocked the pot with your body. “I’m not doing anything wrong.” you immediately called out.

“Oh that’s not suspicious” Sweet Pea chuckled quirking his brow and making his way over to you. “Why didn’t you join us at the river?” A smirk played on his lips. “I saw you watching me.”

“I didn’t want to get in the way...you guys were having fun.” you fiddled with your fingers, holding the ladle.

“We can have fun with you too ya know.” He looked over your shoulder seeing your feeble attempt to block him. “Love potion?” he read the page of your spellbook.

“It’s not what you think” you frantically waved your hands.

“Oh? So that’s not for me?” he feigned offense.

“N-No..it’s not.” you pouted avoiding is gaze, tugging on your ring absently.

“You know you’re the worst liar right?” he gripped your waist and lifted you on the counter beside your spellbook.

“Why does it smell like chicken?” he shook his head, turning off the stove.

“Oh Crap...was this my soup pot?” you looked between the two pots you had on the stove. Was it a good idea to work on your chicken soup at the same time as your potion? probably not. Could you have possibly separated half your ingredients into each pot? The chances were higher than you wanted to admit.

“Didn’t I tell you no more shortcuts on potions?” he grinned looking at your flustered face, his thumbs rubbing small circles on your sides.

“How do you know I took a shortcut?”

“Because the bouquet of sweet peas I got you are in the pot, and I can clearly see your spell called for rose water and not sweet peas soaked in water.”

“You sound like Binx…”

“Well Binx is pretty smart.” he chuckled and brushed his lips against yours. “What do you even need a love potion for?”

You wrapped your arms around his neck, fingers playing with the hair on his nape. “I wanted you to love me…”

He sighed. “Oh my god-You’re literally my girlfriend”

“But what if you get bored of me…” you pouted and huffed.

“You’re insane” he chuckled peppering kisses along your cheek to your neck. “I love you. I’ll never get bored of you.”

“But-”

He silenced you with a kiss, holding your face in his large hands. His kiss not letting up until you gave in, responding to each movement of his lips. His teeth teasing your lower lip as his tongue flicked against the top of your mouth, enticing the smallest of whimpers.

You pulled away just slightly to catch your breath, your fingers running through his hair as your face warmed in a way only he could cause. “Sweets…”

He could never understand your insecurities. You were beautiful, passionate. Hopelessly, hopeful. Everything single thing you did made him fall harder for you. Like how you could never quite get your potions right but you never gave up, or how you just never had paper, so you’d scribble down any idea onto your arm. His favorite little habit was how you always played with your ring on your index finger when you lied.

He could spend a lifetime naming everything he loved about you.

“I’m yours. Do you get that?” He moved your hand over his heart. “Yours.” His forehead pressed against, so close that his breath became yours as he searched your eyes. “If you don’t believe me then just do some binding spell and bind me to you.”

“Sweets… I can’t” you caressed his chest, moving your hands back up to his face.

“Yes. You can. If it’s my permission you want then-”

You laughed shaking your head. “Well first off I can’t because I literally don’t know how. Secondly...I wasn’t planning on using the love potion...I want you mine. Not because of magic but because you love me...”

“I already am...and I already do.” He smirked “If you’re gonna doubt me… Why don’t I just show you how much I love you?” he lifted you off the counter, carrying you into your bedroom. Your carefree laughs, being silenced by his greedy kisses.

↟End↟

☾ Hey, Serpettes<3 I hope you guys enjoyed my first Riverdale scenario. I’ve had a lot of feels lately and I haven’t written in almost a year. I made this blog to kind of organize all my overwhelming thoughts and if you like it please let me know <3 I’d love the feedback

I was planning on making this a series of one shots staring my witchy mc

[redfoxwritesstuff]

Clover and Lace- Chapter 5

Things get a bit hot and heavy toward the end. No other warnings. Please do let me know what you think. Prior chapters can be found on my masterlist by doing a quick search for ‘kit’s masterlist’

Chapter 5

“I had no idea we even had a movie theater.” Rosemary whispered as she leaned against Steve’s arm. They’d walked to the movie theater from her apartment and she was honestly very annoyed she had never noticed it in the past. Long ago had she stopped paying attention to what was around her in each little town she called home for a short time.

“You live here.” Steve laughed, looking down at the woman who’s arm he had wrapped around his. It felt right to have her on his arm. He tried to tell himself it was too soon to feel like that. Yet he couldn’t help the way it felt, the way she made him feel.

“I hardly ever leave the cafe.” She protested.

“Why is that?” Steve was honestly curious. “This is a great little town.”

“I just...” She knew she messed up. He shouldn’t be curious. She shouldn’t allow the door of curiosity to open. Yet it felt… nice to have someone want to know about her. “I just spend most of my time painting is all.”

“Well, now you know. Maybe we can explore more of this little town.” Holding the door open for her, they entered into the nearly empty theater. Steve loved how easily her small frame slipped around him. It made him feel good to be so much bigger than her.

“We?” She looked at him in question as she slipped passed him. He was so much bigger than her that she felt small whenever he was close. It felt nice, if she was honest.

The idea of them spending more time together, doing more things together made her heart beat faster. It was naive. She couldn’t allow it. It was too much of a risk. She knew better. Julian would kill her himself.

“Yeah, we. At least, I’d like to if you would like to...”

It was clear he was nervous when he looked down at her. It seemed he was always assuming things, assuming he would have the thing he wanted- more time with her. The words just seemed to leave his mouth before he could think through the sort of pressure he was putting on her with his assumptions. All he could do once the words were spoken however was either backpedal awkwardly or shut up and hope for the best. This time he was aiming for shutting up. His dignity couldn’t take anymore backpedaling.

“I’d like that too.”

The answer came suddenly and she even looked surprised when the words left her lips. That was for good reason, she intended to spit out some excuse about needing to go visit a long lost friend and be out of touch for a bit. Drop off his radar and be done with it. That wasn’t what came out however.

Steve purchased the tickets to the only movie starting anytime soon titled “Before Dawn” and refused to allow her to pay him back. A starving artist shouldn’t be spending money on a movie when it was his idea, he told her.

“Firstly, I’m pretty sure this was actually Mrs. Jones’ idea. Second, I’m not a starving artist, I could have gotten it and the popcorn.” That was a mistake. It opened the door to questions and she realized she slipped up as soon as the words were out. He just shut her brain off and she wanted nothing more than to be normal with him.

“What do you do, then? I assumed the painting was your career.” Steve asked but quickly added, “Not that you’re not good enough to provide for yourself- it’s just I know how hard artist can work and see little return for it. Not that I’m assuming you get little return for it. I should stop talking, shouldn’t I?”

Rosemary laughed and it felt good. She shouldn’t be laughing however, he asked the question she had dreaded. He wasn’t dumb and it seemed he really wanted to get to know her, to learn of her. It was sweet and made her heart flutter in her chest. It was no good.

“I do some data entry for a few small businesses. Accounting and stuff.” Sure, that sounded good. Why not? File that away mentally in the folder of ‘lies thought of on the spot that may or may not bite me in the ass later’. The answer seemed to satisfy him however and the talking returned to easier topics as they found their seats in the dark theater.

“Do you know what this is about?” Steve leaned over and whispered as the previews played on the large screen. The theater was mostly empty.

“Romantic comedy I think. Some cross cultural love story. Posh London city boy meets country cowgirl I think. Mrs. Jones was going on and on about it- some actor she has a crush on leads. Tom something or another.”

They watched the movie itself mostly in silence. It was good in that it gave Rosemary a way to spend time with him without opening the door to more questions. Yet as time passed, each time he would move his arm would brush up against hers. Finally, with a sly look in her direction, Steve draped his arm over the back of her chair.

He was so mindful in the action to avoid touching her more than a little. He didn’t pull her to him and he didn’t wrap his arm around her but she could feel the heat of him just the same. A while later, she found herself leaning into his side completely unsure when the armrest between the seats had been pushed up.

His arm no longer was draped around the chair but rather was wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her snugly in place. The warmth radiating off him was relaxing and she wondered for a moment what it would be like to fall asleep tucked into his side. She could feel his chest move with each breath and when he would laugh she could feel him move with it.

Never in her life had she been held like this. As she rested her head against him, she prayed she would have the strength to do what had to be done. This couldn’t be allowed to continue. She needed to stop it. But she could at least finish out their time together today first, right?

As the movie played she relaxed without even noticing it. The warmth of him, the smell of him combined in the dark room to lull her into comfort. With a heavy sigh she decided she could indulge for the next hour or so. His hand rubbed against her arm, drawing her somehow closer still.

On the screen they watched a posh English man bumble his way through small town life in the country while setting up a local branch of a global company. With a fierce and sassy cow girl pushing him to do more, try more and learn to see more than what he knew the Englishman slowly fell in love with a woman who was nothing like what he was taught to expect. Their love story unfolded on the screen in a make believe world where all important conversations took place at sunset or dawn and the weather was always perfect for a romantic horseback ride.

At some point she had moved to be completely cuddled up to his side, his arm was heavy and warm around her. She could feel the tips of his fingers resting on her hip while her own legs were drawn up, knees resting against his thick thighs. One hand rested in her lap and the other was relaxed against his abdomen.

She could feel every breath he took, every soft chuckle. Nothing made it passed her. Yet she was surprised when she felt his nose nestle against the top of her head while the characters on the screen proclaimed their love for each other. His breath was warm against the top of her head and she could feel his mouth pressed against her head. Was it a kiss in the dark? She had no way to know.

Closing her eyes, Rosemary pushed back the tears as she realized she could easily fall in love with Steve. Without trying to, without meaning to she could give her heart to him. It felt so good to be with him and he was everything she wanted when they would talk. He was everything she could want and she couldn’t have it.

Taking a deep breath, she made her choice. This would be the end. There would be no more talking to Steve. Never again would she open the door to him. She wouldn’t take his calls. In time, he would forget about her. She was unremarkable.

“Everything okay?” Steve’s hushed whisper made her realize a tear slipped down her face, dripping onto his shirt and her breath was not as even as it should have been. Silently, she nodded her head and prayed he would assume it was happy tears from watching the love story unfold.

When he held her just a little closer she whispered back, “I’m fine.” and he hummed in acknowledgment as the movie played on. On the screen in front of her, the couple kissed and held each other close in a way Rosemary realized she would probably never experience. This was all she would get. This would be all she could get.

With a deep breath she told herself she would enjoy the time she had. It was only maybe another hour that she could have this sweet warmth that he gave her. The credits began to roll as she took a deep breath to steady herself for a walk home.

Steve glanced down at her as they walked. The conversation seemed to flow freely enough between them but it was as if there was some sort of wall between them that wasn’t there when they sat down in the theater. It confused him in that things seemed to have been going so well.

Even as he walked chatting lightly with her, he could remember the warmth of her body pressed into his side. As he thought back to the dark theater it was like the smell of her fruity shampoo was stuck in his memory. He analyzed everything he did during the movie but she seemed fine with everything. Not once did she pull away or did he pick up on any discomfort.

“Come up for a drink?” The timid way she asked made him smile. It warmed his heart how naive she seemed to be. It wasn’t often he ran into women that reminded him of another time, of his time.

True, the dresses she wore were lower cut or higher hemmed than would ever be considered appropriate. They also clung to her curves in a way that the fabrics of his time and financial means at the time would never have allowed. Her hair flowed down in loose waves and curls of red that mesmerized him.

She mesmerized him, plain and simple. Yet apparently he had done something to cause upset in this sensitive unnamed thing that they had. What even was it that they had? Things worked so differently now, did he get to call her his girl yet?

“I’d love to.” The smile she gave him was sweet but looked almost pained.

Crossing the cafe toward the steps to her apartment it took everything Rosemary had to not look at Mrs. Jones. The old woman was still working the cafe counter and to anyone else, it would look like she just decided to stay open a bit latter into the afternoon than was normal.

Rosemary knew however Mrs. Jones was staying to get the pleasure of wiggling her eyebrows at them as they crossed the floor and disappeared up the stairs. Surely, just as soon as Steve left the old woman would be up the stairs somehow free of pain and asking twenty questions with a slice of pie in hand to buy answers.

Once inside her apartment she made quick work of opening the bottle of wine and pouring two glasses. After a few deep breaths she turned to face Steve, handing him his glass.

“It’s not nearly as nice as the one you brought for the picnic but...”

“It’s fine- I didn’t even pick that, Tony did.” Rosemary knew Tony was a friend and coworker of Steve’s. Silence stretched on as they both stood awkwardly in the small space between the living and dining areas of her small apartment. They where standing an arms length away and her body was tense with nerves.

“Look, Sara.” This time she cringed when he called her name. She hated that name. “I don’t want you to think I’m ever going to make you do anything. I-” She cut him off.

“I can’t do this. We-” She motioned between them. “can’t do this.”

“Do what?” Steve ran his hand through his hair, turning to look out the window for a moment before facing her. “Talk? Watch movies? Drink wine?”

“Be together.” Rosemary pressed, not stepping away when he took a step toward her. She downed her glass of wine and turned to fill it again.

“Be together?” Steve parroted back, making Rosemary worry that she had misread the situation all together. “Are we together?” Steve asked softly.

“I don’t know.” Rosemary admitted. “I’ve never done this before. I’ve never been on a date before you. I’ve never held someone’s hand. I’ve never...” Rather than finishing where her rant was going she decided to finish the glass of wine.

“You’ve never?” Steve stepped closer to her and took the bottle from her. Two glasses of wine in ten minutes was impressive.

“We can’t do this.” She pleaded.

“I’m not going to do anything unless you want me to.” Steve tried to reassure, thinking she was worried he was after more than just her time today.

“I can’t be with you.” She pressed, looking at him with tears in her eyes.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“It’s dangerous. You have to stop coming. You have to stop calling. We’ve got to stop.” Closing her eyes she tried to tell herself to tell him that she just didn’t want him. She should yell, scream and push him away but her heart was hurting too much.

“I’m not worried about dangerous.” Steve reached out and ran his hand up and down her arm as a tear slipped down her face. “Are you in trouble? Did you do something?” She laughed and looked away.

“I can’t talk about it.” She answered honestly.

“Are you hurting people?” Steve asked and she shook her head ‘no’ though it wasn’t the whole truth. She avoided hurting people when at all possible and tried to balance the evil things she sometimes helped happen with good deeds. “Not really. I try not to.”

“Is someone after you?” Steve asked stepping closer and setting his wine glass down on the counter behind her.

“A lot of people are after me.” She admitted and blamed the wine. “I can’t talk about it. I can’t tell you about it. But we can’t do this. It’s not safe for you. It’s not safe for me.”

“Do you not like me?” Steve asked sadly.

“No- that’s the thing. I like you, Steve. I like you a lot. That’s why we can’t-”

She couldn’t finish what she was saying. He reached out for her so suddenly that she had no way to process what was about to happen. With one arm wrapped around her waist and his other hand softly around the back of her neck, his lips were on hers in the blink of an eye.

Her hands reached up and braced themselves against his chest but she did not push him away. It was over as soon as it began. Steve pulled away just as she relaxed, allowing her eyes to slide closed. Each breath fanned over her as he held her close.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. That was out of line.” She cut his rambling off.

“Do it again.” Taking a deep breath, she repeated herself. “Do it again if you’re really okay with me having my secrets, if you understand that I’m scared and have never done this before. Do it again?” She was practically begging him as a few tears escaped her eyes.

Steve knew he should walk away, secrets were never the way to start a relationship but didn’t he have his own? She had no idea who he was and what he did for work. Just security- the idea would have made him laugh if not for the tears running down her face.

“Please?” The word was more a whimper than anything as she looked up to him, clutching his shirt.

She desperately wanted him to kiss her again and make her mind stop working for a while. She wouldn't be surprised however if he walked out. Why would he stay? She told him she had people potentially after her and that she wouldn’t be able to tell him more. It was better if he didn’t kiss her. If this is what scared him away that would be a good thing. The risk of opening herself up, of allowing him to get closer when he could never know the truth was too great. One day no matter how much she cared for him and he for her, he would wake up in the morning and all trace of her would be gone.

His kiss was softer this time however she clung to him just the same. Without experience to guide her, she let him lead and followed instinct. His lips felt amazing against hers. Slowly, he walked them backwards and she trusted him not to run them into anything.

His tongue swept across her lower lip and she sighed. It wasn’t a feeling she had expected to like but in reality she did. The slick muscle slipped between her lips and she was lost as to what she should do so she copied him. Their tongues twisted and rubbed against one another.

A strong arm reached down and pulled her legs out from under her. Still, he kept kissing her as he sat down on the couch, her legs stretched across his lap. Her hands ran up his chest, enjoying the feel of the strong muscle under the shirt to warp around his shoulder and tangle in his hair.

“I want to be here for you.” Steve whispered as his lips finally left hers only to begin kissing along her jaw. “I will be here for you, if you let me.”

“I can’t ask you too.” She sighed as she tried to hold herself closer to him.

“You don’t have to ask.” Steve sucked her earlobe between his lips and gave it a soft nibble, enjoying the way a shudder ran down her back. Leaning to the side, he guided her down to rest on her back as he kissed and nibbled his way down her neck to her shoulder.

“Trust me.” Steve breathed the words against the hollow of her throat. “You don’t have to tell me all your secrets right now but in time, try to trust me.”

“Okay.”

She couldn’t even think right as he began to work his way up her neck again. Their lips met again as Steve nestled his weight over her. The heat from his body was radiating down at her and she wouldn’t have it any other way. He was pressed into her hip and thighs but she didn’t mind at all.

He shifted and rocked against her as he deeply kissed her and she could feel him against her. It was something she’d never thought she would feel but he was stiff and firm in his jeans. She moaned as he rocked against her again. Desire she didn’t understand flooded her. It was terrifying and addicting all at the same time.

“You’ll give me a chance?” Steve whispered as he pulled away, hovering just an inch above her. She leaned up and kissed him, pulling him to her but he resisted the urge to delve into her kiss again. “Will you not push me away?”

Finally she nodded. With that settled, Steve needed to settle down himself. He slipped his arm under the small of her back and up between her shoulders. When he sat up, he took her with him. She was straddling his lap with her knees on either side of his hips when his back rested against the couch.

“I won’t ask the things you don’t want me to right now. I won’t ask them next week or even next month. Eventually I hope you’ll trust me enough to tell me. Eventually I’ll need to know but now isn’t the time. Okay?”

More tears slipped down her face as she meekly nodded. It would never be the right time to tell him. She would never be able to trust him enough. But for now, he wouldn’t ask. As she nestled herself onto his chest and allowed him to hold her, a small voice in the back of her mind spoke hopeful what-if’s.

What if she could trust him enough in time? What if she could tell him in a few months? What if he could come with her next time she had to disappear? What if he fell in love with her? What if she fell in love with him? What if?

Tag List: @theoneanna, @sweetbeary713, @0-0-0-0-0-0-0-7, @alexakeyloveloki, @winterisakiller, @j-u-s-t-4, @dangertoozmanykids101, @missaphrodite23, @bambamwolf87, @princess76179, @fairlightswiftly

Want in on the tag list? Just drop me a word!

[comicteaparty]

December 16th-December 22nd, 2019 CTP Archive

The archive for the Comic Tea Party week long chat that occurred from December 16th, 2019 to December 22nd, 2019.  The chat focused on Ingress Adventuring Company by kayotics.

Featured Comment:

Chat:

RebelVampire

COMIC TEA PARTY- WEEK LONG BOOK CLUB START!

Hello and welcome everyone to Comic Tea Party’s Week Long Book Club~! This week we’ll be focusing on Ingress Adventuring Company by kayotics~! (https://www.ingress-comic.com/)

You are free to read and comment about the comic all week at your own pace, so stop on by whenever it suits your schedule! Remember, though, that while we allow constructive criticism, our focus is to have fun and appreciate the comic. Below you will find four questions to get you started on the discussion. However, a new question will be posted and pinned everyday (between 12:01AM and 6AM PDT), so keep checking back for more! You have until December 22nd to tell us all your wonderful thoughts! With that established, let’s get going on the reading and the chatting!

QUESTION 1. What has been your favorite scene in the comic so far? What specifically did you like about it?

QUESTION 2. How do you think Toivo’s Adventuring Company came to be, and why is Toivo the only member? Do you think others might someday join, especially as Toivo completes more jobs?

Delphina

Oh gosh, I love Ingress SO MUCH. It's got so much humor and I love how Kay draws expressions. I think the ghost room scene is my favorite so far (https://www.ingress-comic.com/comic/chapter-3-08/). The "I ran out of space in my ghost room" line always kills me, and just the concept of, you know, a magician throwing all the spectral things he doesn't like in the attic and forgetting about them really speaks to Toivo's absent-minded character. I love seeing him and Aidan and Rosemary working together, and there are some very choice Rocky drawings (look at him hiss! https://www.ingress-comic.com/comic/chapter-3-20/) in this scene.

I do know a little of the backstory from hanging around with Kay, so while I hope Toivo will find more people to team up with, it sounds like his old adventure-mates have moved on/retired for the most part (like Dia and Aidan) and he's just still at it because of his atypical youthful elven vigor.

MJ Massey

I figured he needed something to do after his earlier adventuring day so he made his own "company" to still adventure a bit on the side while being a professor.

indogswetrust

1. I like the scene where Toivo is reading “moonlight” with his feet on his desk. big mood. Closely followed by him getting cranky at Spicer. 2. I think it’s just one of those business things. You start with a name and a concept and hire later.

Addendum to 2: adorable bitter ex boyfriend Aidan should join immediately

keii4ii

1. The last few pages of chapter 3! It was something to see Toivo not bounce instantly back to his usual 'cheerfully trying so hard but not succeeding' mode. Even though the ghosts had all been taken care of, the way the characters reflected about the incident gave it a lingering sense of importance. Potentially even hinting at Toivo's past relationships being more trouble than just bad dates like the one in chapter 2. (Re: the last sentence, I might be thinking of Kay's short story in the Haunted anthology? But honestly, I did get this impression even before reading the short story -- although reading it has definitely solidified it/ nudged it deeper into the "oh shit this is serious" territory.)

Sail

1. There are SO MANY good scenes that I love about this comic, but I think my absolute favorite one is in the first chapter (https://www.ingress-comic.com/comic/chapter-1-09/) when Toivo is just fumbling over his words in an attempt to not be crass, while just... being more and more crass. As someone who's loudly cussed in public without thinking and then tried to cover it up with more cussing, I related to this scene in the very fibers of my being, haha 2. I feel like Toivo gets extremely bored with his professor gig sometimes? He seems like the kind of person who needs something to be HAPPENING, and being a hired adventurer would be an ideal job for a wizard with a "gotta do stuff!!" personality. I don't know about others joining. I'd love to see Aidan or Dia go on one last adventure, and there's always the possibility of NEW people joining up at some point. But it's also been shown that Toivo is pretty reckless, and that seems like it would be a huge deterrent for any co-adventurers who... you know.. don't wanna die

RebelVampire

QUESTION 3. At the moment, who is your favorite character? What about that character earns them this favor?

QUESTION 4. What aspect of the world so far has interested you the most? Also, what other things are you hoping to learn in regards to the world of the story and how Toivo might have helped save the world?

MJ Massey

Toivo is definitely my favorite. He's got so many angles to him--generally trying to be helpful and giving out his services, but having his own skeletons in the closet...or rather, ghost in the attic but even though there's been hardship in his past, he can still be cheerful

As for the world, I am definitely interested to see more of what's around and what systems are in place. Seeing more of the magical university Toivo works at would be neat. I'm also interested in what the rest of the adventuring party was like now that we've met two of Toivo's old chums

Delphina

Rocky is my favorite! He's so cute and feisty!

Phin (Heirs of the Veil)

1. My favorite scene was when Toivo had to confront the ghosts of his past relationships! It was a super interesting character moment for him. 2. My theory is, he already had other people in his company, but they don't stay, haha (like Aidan). 3. Aidan is my favorite so far. He's just that grumpy guy with a good heart and I'm very into that kind of character. 4. Right now the storie's worldbuilding interests me a little less than the characters and their dynamics! Tho I was excited to find out more about magic (taboo and forbidden magic) recently.

keii4ii

I too love Aidan. Grumpy voice of reason with a good heart. But Rosemary is currently my favorite in terms of "character I really want to learn more about/ watch as they develop."

(is there any canon art of Rosemary and Toivo back when she was little? )

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

1) Oh, gosh, I’m not sure I can even pick a favourite. They’re all so good. I guess the scene at the end of the first chapter where the noble had to get a job as a janitor would be my favourite because it was the first time the comic made me really burst out laughing. 2) I imagine Toivo is so far above other wizards in skill that he feels he can get the job done better alone than have to ‘slow down’ for others. I think he created the company either to stroke his own ego or out of sheer boredom. 3) Definitely Toivo. I love how he is both incredibly competent and incompetent at the same time. He’s a deeply flawed and yet very endearing character- probably because of those flaws. I am very curious to know more about his daughter, though. I love how sassy and fed up with her father she is, so she’s a close second. 4) I think the mechanics of magic are very interesting, and I’d like to continue learning how it works. I am very interested in Toivo’s past, both in how he gained renown and what created the ‘ghosts’ of his past.

Delphina

I'm curious how other wizards/professors regard Toivo. Does he have peers? Or do they just steer clear because he's such a walking disaster?

indogswetrust

3. Rosemary. She’s so cute, I just want her to succeed. And find out more about her other parent! 4. Toivo saved the world? Is THAT how he got his professorship... mostly I just like the adventures

RebelVampire

QUESTION 5. What has been your favorite illustration in the comic so far? What specifically about it do you like?

QUESTION 6. What is your opinion on Rosemary and Toivo’s relationship? How might Toivo’s antics challenge what their relationship is, and do you think it can survive the tests its put through within the story?

indogswetrust

5. pass. i love them all :/ 6. Here’s the thing. Toivo is a great wizard and it seems like Rosemary is too? But they haven’t done a lot of practicing together. Like does he want her to join the family business, is he trying to keep the pressure off. Tbh, they seem to have a solid foundation, but Toivo is a bottle-upper (as illustrated with the ghost scene). I think he keeps a lot of secrets from his lil’ girl, and that could strain their relationship

Phin (Heirs of the Veil)

5. I really love everything about the comic's art so I can't really answer this. 6. Rosemary and Toivo seem to have a good, loving relationship but I agree with the comment before, that Toivo keeps secrets that might not be great for their father-daughter relationship in the long run. I'm really invested in these two and I hope they can work it out.

RebelVampire

1) My favorite scene is probably when Aidan arrives and chastises Toivo for what I gather to be pretty standard Toivo shenanigans. Plus, I love the line, "I was not sulking. I was...contemplating. Mournfully." That link just made me laugh so much, plus the facial expressions worked really well for it. So really, just a good combo of shenanigans plus grump character who brings some sense into the world. 2) I feel like there are two reasons Toivo made the company. First, he was bored. I can't imagine being cooped up as a professor all the time is that exciting, so Toivo sought out some action. The second reason I feel is that in some ways, Toivo doesn't want to let part of his own past go. So even if it's a solo adventure company, it keeps something of the past alive for him. As for others joining, I don't particularly see that happening anytime soon. I feel like Toivo wouldn't even want it since that would make him doubly responsible for someone's well-being in a very high risk situation. And I just don't get the sense he's good at handling that sort of thing.

3) At the moment, my favorite character is a tie between Rosemary and Aidan. Which honestly, I like them both for the same reasons. They're super down to earth, and they both make great balances to Toivo's personality. And I feel like they give me a much needed break sometimes where I need some sense and logic thrown into the crazy situations going on. XD 4) I was really interested by that newspaper article that talked about the chapter 4 bonus page where it talks about Beasts appearing. I'm really curious what sort of effects this must still have on the people living, and also what sort of catastrophe brought them about even. Plus, it seems like this might be how Toivo helped save the world, so its high on my list of curiosities. Although like some of the others here, I'd also like to learn more about Toivo's university and what the education is like. And what's not to love about magic schools?

5) My fave illustration is definitely this one https://www.ingress-comic.com/comic/chapter-3-27/ I really love the composition between the foreground, middle ground, and background, and how it all draws your eyes smoothly to the background. I also love the nature colors and how they contrast with Aidan, cause it really makes his character pop. 6) Rosemary and Toivo's relationship kind of confuses me in certain ways. Like it's obvious they care about each other, but at the same time I feel there's like this...aura of distance between them. Like I feel like Rosemary has to look after Toivo more than he has to look after her, and for me, I feel like this creates a sort of rift. But at the same time, that does make their relationship unique and interesting. So I'm actually excited to see more obstacles coming up, because while I think they'll always love each other, I'm interested to see in each of them grow and kind of realize there are parts of their relationship that could be addressed more.

Eightfish

1. I totally second everything @Delphina said about this comic. The expressions are so good! And the ghost scene! I was literally laughing out loud, while also admiring what a crazy cool concept it was. I don't think I've ever seen anything similar before. I wonder who the dark lady was though? Could she be Rosemary's mother? 3. Toivo. It's rare to see older main characters, and I really like that. He's got a lot of traits that make his age relevant to the story, too: his daughter, his job, his outlook on life. He reminds me of a few professors I've had. I do wish his appearance reflected his age, though. I know he's half elf and all, but it'd be nice to see a cool older man design for a main character, even if he still looked younger than his actual age- like 40 instead of 70.

6. I think the single dad dynamic is cool and not very often seen! And it's a happy and loving relationship too. I didn't feel the way @RebelVampire felt at all about it. They seemed very close to me, with the joking around and teasing. Like a typical good father and teenage daughter relationship. It's interesting how we both interpreted it differently. I wonder how Kay intended it?(edited)

Delphina

I definitely get the impression Rosemary feels very embarrassed for the normal teenage girl reasons about her dad. I would love to see how their relationship ages as Rosemary enters adulthood (and also if she'll turn out to be as much of a disaster as Toivo)

Eightfish

@Delphina I didn't even think she was embarrassed. Maybe a bit exasperated? But also, underneath, lovingly amused? I don't think she'll end up like Toivo. More likely she'll be his opposite, like how many people turn out irl actively avoiding their parents' negative traits.

RebelVampire

QUESTION 7. Which characters do you enjoy seeing interact the most? What about their dynamic interests you?

QUESTION 8. Given the comic has a lot of focus around the theme of dealing with your problems, what is your takeaway so far? Do you think Toivo will learn to deal with his own demons, or will he still continue to just avoid dealing with them?

Sail

I missed a few days of this due to pet emergencies... D: but i finally have a bit of time, so; 3. My favorite character is Toivo, of course! With Aidan coming in as an immediate second. It's hard to chose just one fave out of such a great cast. Toivo wins out for several reasons though. The was he's drawn is extremely endearing. He's so expressive with his face and hands, and I really love that. His personality is also charming in a chaotic dumpter fire kind of way. Overall he's just this well developed, complicated character that's instantly likeable imo 4. I really like the blend of the fantasy setting with small modern touches. I definitely want to see more of what society is like in this world, and maybe what it was like before, vs what it was like after Toivo and co saved it (and from what??)

5. I will mever recover from this panel: i think it speaks for itself

Sail

6. I feel like I'd like to see more of Toivo and Rosemary interact before I form any super big opinions of their relationship. I think they're pretty solid, though. There's clearly love there, and the usual strain that comes with a single parent trying to raise a kid alone. I definitely want to see more of their home lives and interactions. They seem like they're both trying their best 7. Uuuhhhh I'm a huge fool for Toivo and Aidan's scenes together. There's SO MUCH unspoken stuff there and it really comes through in their scenes. I think the part that grabs me the most is the familiarity. Even when they're not getting along they're clearly very comfortable with one another 8. In the immediate future, will Toivo learn to deal with his problems? Hahha, no, I don't think so. Somewhere down the line? Sure, probably. He's got a lot of time to learn and grow, and I think he will at some point. I also think Toivo is the sort of person that has to learn most things the hard way, so...

snuffysam

I think Toivo is at least going to start dealing with his demons now. He may not get through them all at once, and he may end up relapsing a bit, but... I think at least he's going to start making an effort.

I agree with @Sail . Toivo and Aidan clearly have a long history together, and it's interesting to see how we learn more about Toivo through that lens.

RebelVampire

QUESTION 9. What sorts of art or story details have you noticed in the way the comic is crafted that you think deserves attention?

QUESTION 10. What do you think Toivo’s past history with Dia and Aidan is? How else might Toivo’s history play a role within the story?

indogswetrust

9. I like all the little details. The stuff on Toivo’s desk, all the careful characterization that is folded into the art. Kay helpfully labelled them for us when he had his feet up reading a trashy romance novel, and I’ve been watching for them ever since.

RebelVampire

7) I actually probably like seeing Aidan and Toivo interact the most. Once again, this goes back to my previous answer about liking that Aidan is kind of a good grounded contrast personality with Toivo. Unlike Rosemary though, I get this hint that Aidan knows a lot of things about Toivo that Rosemary might not necessarily know. So like there's this deeper bond I feel between them that makes me more and more curious about things. 8) In terms of Toivo dealing with his own problems, probably not for quite a while. Given how the ghost thing resolved, I don't feel Toivo has quite learned why being able to deal with your own demons is valuable in its own right. And I feel like it's gonna take some big shocks and metaphorical slaps in the face to get him to learn. But I do think it'll happen at some point. In so far, my main takeaway regarding dealing with your own problems is that it's good but hard. Like even though people like Aidan make it seem like its easy, Toivo shows us the actual anxiety and emotional impact that our personal demons and problems leave us with. So while we can logically agree with Aidan, we also feel empathetic and understanding towards Toivo since his emotions really capture pain and what the experience is like.

9) I really love the detail in the ghosts and how they're not only wispy and kind of not clearly defined (as ghosts tend to be) but you can also see stuff through them. I love when that extra effort is taken to make ghosts transluscent (since you could otherwise shortcut drawing bgs), so it's a detail I can appreciate. 10) I'm pretty sure Dia, Aidan, Toivo, and possibly others were an instrumental group to saving the world that was mentioned in the newspaper clipping. As such, they had many adventures and horrors together, but somewhere along the line lost contact as they each drifted into their own thing as the world stabalized. I do feel like Toivo is carrying some baggage from those days, and I think it's that baggage that's going to continue to drive Toivo into conflict with his own personal problems and demons. And that this will be a large theme in the story's content in general: Toivo just cleaning up his own messes a lot.

Sail

9. Kay's lineart is amazing, and really lends weight and appeal to the overall style. I really like looking between chapter 1 and the current chapter and seeing just how much even the inking has changed 10. It's pretty clear already that Toivo and Co. werefellow adventures, and probably thick as thieves. I'd love to see more about how they met and how they used to interact. I like to think they were a pretty tight bunch for a while there

keii4ii

10. This is a longshot of a guess, and I wouldn't be too surprised if I'm wrong, but... in addition to what others have said about Toivo and Co, I wonder if Toivo wants his old buddies to join his adventuring company not because he craves adventures, but because that was the one time in his life where he felt like he actually had his shit together. Enough to Get Some of the Things Done Right, at least. He does seem like the type who has a lot of energy and needs an outlet (such as adventures). But yeah, I wonder if he also misses that feeling of... having support that you can count on?

snuffysam

It's also worth noting that Toivo's friends have grown old without him, so I think that adds to a feeling of isolation.

RebelVampire

QUESTION 11. What do you think are this particular comic’s strengths? What do you think makes this comic unique? Please elaborate.

QUESTION 12. How do you think the situation with Spicer will conclude? Will she continue to pursue necromancy to bring her parents back, or will she turn a new leaf? Also, how do you think Toivo might help her?

RebelVampire

QUESTION 13. What are you most looking forward to in the comic? Also, do you have any final thoughts to share overall?

QUESTION 14. In general, what sort of adventures do you think Toivo will have in the future? Additionally, over the course of the story, how do you think Toivo will grow and change as a person?

RebelVampire

11) For me this comic's strength is its art. There's great character design, great stylistic choices, great effort and detail paid to the backgrounds, great facial expressions, and so on and so forth. It is just a pretty comic to look at and you can pause on any panel and be rewarded visually in some way. 12) I feel like the Beast or whatever it is will cause Toivo to get hurt for Spicer. And Spicer will get mad that someone else got hurt, but then Toivo will get to have a dramatic speech about that's what parents do. And then Spicer will get to witness what a real hero is like and inevitably confront the fact that her parents are gone and not coming back. But by choosing to live and stuff, she's honoring their memory. Or something like that. Afterwards, I feel like she'll start training with Dia maybe to become an actual hero.

13) I am looking forward to seeing more of Rosemary and Toivo interact. I'd actually like to see a situation where Rosemary is the one in trouble or caused shenanigans and Toivo has to put dad pants on. Cause I'm interested to see how Toivo reacts to having to be the resposible one. 14) I feel like we're going to see Toivo both fights beasts but also deal with regular school stuff in terms of adventures. Also probably some treasure hunting. However, I think regardless of the what adventure, all will feature some real heavy emotional stuff that addresses some personal problem in Toivo's life. As for growing and changing, I think overall Toivo is going to learn to become more responsible. Not just cause irresponsibility hurts those around him, but also because he's old enough and wise enough in certain ways people are going to look to him for guidance.

Delphina

That's a really interesting point @RebelVampire. Toivo is very childish and reckless in a lot of ways, and maybe in his past circle of friends he was allowed to be irresponsible, because someone else could pick up the slack/punch the dragon. But now he's alone, and he's continually being put in roles of mentorship with younger people (his daughter, his students, and now Spicer), I wonder if he'll find that responsibility isn't necessarily a thing that magically happens when your age reaches a certain number or an innate thing you're born with, but is being in the position enough times where you say "I've dealt with this before, and there's something I know that a person who doesn't have my experience needs me to provide".

kayotics

i know it's not quite over yet, but i just wanted to pop in and say thanks to everyone who participated in the book club. It was fun to read what everyone had to say about my comic!

Sail

I hope I'm not too late to get a last few words in! Tough to be nocturnal 11. The strengths are definitely in the art style and expressiveness, but also in the pacing of the story. Nothing feels like it's being rushed, or dragging on too long. Plot points and background information are revealed in what feels like a really natural way imo 12. I'm hoping Spicer will accept the things that have happened, even if they're awful. But I also know that that's going to be diffucult if she's on her own with no one to support her. Hey Toivo, you wanna adopt a second kid?? 13. The thing I'm most looking forward to is DRAMATIC BACKSTORY, and to see more interactions between Toivo and all of the supporting cast. I also want to see more of Toivo and Rosemary's home life 14. I can only guess about his furure adventures. I hope one of them is a successful date! Preferably an action-packed date involving a dungeon, and thrilling rescue opportinuties, haha. I hope Toivo will learn to embrace his flaws and his past, and learn not to get so wounded when romance doesn't quite work out

RebelVampire

COMIC TEA PARTY- WEEK LONG BOOK CLUB END!

Thank you everyone so much for reading and chatting about Ingress Adventuring Company this week! Please also give a special thank you to kayotics for volunteering the comic and creating it! If you liked Ingress Adventuring Company, make sure to continue to support it via some of the links below!

Read and Comment: https://www.ingress-comic.com/

kayotics' Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kayartics

kayotics' Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/kayrossbach

kayotics' Twitter: https://twitter.com/kayartics

[notedchampagne]

How do the other Strilondes react to significant others?

ohh here come them bad lowkey headcanons

-dave and karkat dont really do that much pda in public apart from sometimes holding hands and the occasional kiss but if you ever come to visit them while theyre at home its basically the fucking fluff fest in there

daves lying down in karkats lap and karkat plays with daves hair while they play movies in the background but the movies are honestly barely heard when theyre staring into each others eyes and flirting and casually chatting with each other

they also have an entire manual on all the best couch sitting and cuddling positions because they basically lived on a couch in a meteor for three years (not) straight they probably found out all the best ways to sit and make as much casual contact as possible while watching a movie 

if you ever confront one alone and ask them about the other daves gonna try to hide his smile and go on about how awesome and rad his bro is and karkats going to try and hide the soft look on his face while he tries to casually say how much he loves dave but you know that never works and he ends up curled up in a happy giggling mess

-rose and kanaya would absolutely do the really cheesy and weird couple challenges! that youd find in the recesses of pinterest among grumpy cat memes but theyd just absolutely wreck it in the best way like pinterest would say “work on a puzzle together, or make your own puzzles for each other! doing something simple is always cute to do!” but then rose and kanaya are left to make jigsaws for each other and they end up making the jigsaw a picture of each others faces and well that was kinda bonding i guess but id very much prefer to kiss your face rather than this jigsaw puzzle

like snarky sassy rosemary is good but i also love the childish happy rosemary thatd probably throw a rave in the grub caves and engage in pillow slash yarn fights 

id write more but honestly thats about the extent of what i can say