#i know..... mariah's usual look is very polished

[foe-paw]

i am a mariah as ethan green truther,

[baronessvonglitter]

if love be rough with you, be rough with love | chapter 16 | "all i want for christmas is you"

Dave York x f!Reader

Word count: 5,473

Summary: Years later, you run into Dave on Christmas Eve.

(Spoilers are in the Warnings under the cut so please peek responsibly)

WARNINGS: 18+ Only! Mature and Explicit, Time Skip, TW for physical altercation (pushing, choking, pinning down), alcohol consumption, talk of weapons, hinting at reader being killed, mention of chemical paralytics (NMBA's), surprise pregnancy (happened after Chapter 15) and revelation of paternity, mention of wetwork, reader has C-section scar, wears a dress and nail polish, masturbation, pussy pronouns, p in v sex, quickest enemies to lovers ever, and one Christmas Eve marriage proposal (if I've forgotten anything please do let me know)

Author's note: I defrosted Mariah Carey earlier than anyone would like her to be, and yes I was listening to this song as I wrote. I don't care. It's one of my favorite Christmas songs ever and nobody can convince me otherwise 😜

Series Masterlist

dividers by @saradika-graphics 👑

Six Years Later

You step out of your car into the cold St. Louis night. It's Christmas Eve, and the streets are lined with snow. Brightly lit storefronts boast presents of all kinds, the electric glow of the holiday season luring in last minute customers. You keep your hands in your coat pocket as you walk, eyes scanning the perimeter.

Pour Decisions, the bar you've owned for the past couple years, is filled with its usual patrons, the atmosphere friendly and charged with holiday cheer. Checking to see that the staff is doing well and everything is in order, you ask for an old-fashioned, enjoying the warmth that spreads through you as you sip the whiskey cocktail, sitting at an inconspicuous table in the back and looking around at the one thing you can really call your own, the only place that doesn't hold bad memories.

That's when you see him enter your establishment. The man who claimed to have loved you with all his heart. The man whose life you destroyed. The man without whom you wouldn't be where you are right now.

Walking to the bar and sitting by himself, drinking to take away the pain, is Dave York.

It feels like all your breath leaves your body yet you give an audible gasp. He doesn't see you, doesn't even appear to be looking for you.

In your darkest nightmares he returns for you and kills you. You carry that fear with you. You've been preparing for it since the day your plane left for London years ago.

Emergency exit to my right you think to yourself, a habit you've formed in the six years since ruining his life. Glock, switchblade, syringe, you do a mental checklist of what you have on you.

You don't know whether to stay or leave. You're rooted to the spot, keeping an eye on him, poised to take whatever action necessary.

The jukebox finishes "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and moves onto "All I Want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey. You cringe at the sudden mood dissonance. This song would've expressed your feelings for him, once upon a very long time ago, but now it's almost comical. You want each other in a different way now: gone, even if it means dead.

Dave sighs and takes another sip of his drink, clearly lost in his own thoughts. He looks at the other people around him, some smiling and drinking to make the pain of Christmas a little more bearable, others in town for friends or family, eagerness evident on their faces.

He'd give anything just to be in their place right now. To be happy. To be able to smile like he used to smile. And it was all taken away from him by you.

Suddenly he hears someone calling out your name over the music.

In fact, he's been waiting for it. His head jerks up to see where you are, but he can't find you. His eyes scan the bar from face to face.. until finally he sees you. You're sunk low in your chair but he knows you immediately. He knows those eyes that have haunted him for years.

You're nodding and talking to your friend, and the moment you nervously glance around you meet Dave's gaze. It feels like pinpricks all over your body.

For one moment the world stops. All of the moments of his time with you come rushing back as he looks at you. All of the joy he felt with you, all of the pain you caused him. For a moment he allows himself the memory of your pliant body beneath his, your soft, slender throat beneath his grip, thumbs pressing just hard enough on your windpipe to make you cum.

What a waste, he thinks, keeping his cold gaze on you.

You talk to your friend a little longer then finish your drink, order another, and down it.

Now you have liquid courage to face him.

You approach him but it feels like you're moving underwater, your limbs fighting the current.

And there he is. There you are. After six years apart. He hasn't changed much in all this time. He's still handsome. A few gray hairs here and there, and a slight scruff of facial hair when he'd always stayed clean shaven. Still wearing a suit like he's just left the office, the subtle scent of his cologne wafts to you. It suits him. But you force the thought away. You take stock of your own looks: burgundy sweater dress, black boots, hair styled differently from how you used to, perhaps in the hopes that disguising yourself would throw him off your scent, confuse him and leaving him chasing his tail.

"Fifty thousand dollars," you tell him. "I'll give you fifty thousand dollars to leave."

He says nothing, just staring at you as he hears the offer.

Fifty thousand. That's all it would cost for him to let you go. Fifty thousand dollars to spare your life.

But..

..is that what he wants, really?

"No," he says firmly. "You can't make it up to me with fifty thousand dollars."

Your heart sinks to your stomach. "Then name your price. Whatever it is I'll pay it."

Dave takes a long sip of his drink as he considers your offer. For a moment he's tempted to accept it, to end this nightmare once and for all. But..

..no. It's not a question of money.

"The price is a hell of a lot higher than that," he says with cold finality. "You destroyed my family and you left me without my soul."

In your time on your own you've learned to be assertive. You're no longer the shy, simpering girl he used to know. "You did that to yourself, Dave. I only held up a mirror to show what you really are. Besides," you give him a devious smile, your words dripping with venom, "we both know you have no soul."

"Maybe I don't," he meets your gaze with unwavering ire. "But neither do you.. you destroyed everything good and beautiful that we had."

He takes another long sip, savoring the taste and savoring this moment where he's dissecting you. "You can try to blame me. You can try to make yourself the victim of this story. But you're not the victim. You're the monster. You're the one who brought darkness into my life when I didn't deserve it. When I gave you nothing but my love and my faith.. you used them to destroy everything I held dear."

"I disagree." You hop onto the barstool next to him, unafraid of him. "The real victims are my father, who you killed, and your wife and kids, who you betrayed. We both lost our families, Dave. I evened the score."

His eyes bore a hole into your soul as you speak. "That's the thing you can't seem to understand, sweetpea. Life isn't a zero-sum game. One person's loss is not another person's gain. You didn't 'even the score' by getting your revenge."

His voice turns cold and harsh as he speaks the truth. "You made a choice to try to destroy me. That's something I can never understand. And you'll never be forgiven for."

"I'm not interested in your forgiveness, David," you correct him. "You're the one in my city, in my bar, looking for me. With you, there's always an ulterior motive. Out with it."

And then he smiles at you. It's a cold, hard smile. "I came here to see you. So we can end this."

You stare into his eyes and wear a sardonic smile. "You mean, so you can end me."

"Yes," he answers simply.

You consider getting another drink, but two old-fashioneds on an empty stomach has you feeling good already. Maybe that's why you're not afraid.

"My late husband owned this bar, and now it's mine," you say, looking around with pride and wistfulness. "I met him here, years ago."

"Husband," he repeats in a dull tone. "Did you ruin his life too?" he asks.

"Well, he is dead," is your deadpan reply and you hate that your heart misses a beat when Dave smirks in reply. "It would be bad for business if you were to kill me in my own establishment, at peak holiday season," you remind him, proud of your practical tone of voice.

"You may be right about that," Dave admits. "The customers would scramble out of their seats, trample each other to get to the exits. In this day and age you know I'll be caught on camera. And that's not good for my.. 'business'.. either. But," he adds with a grin, "that doesn't mean you're safe."

"I've been looking over my shoulder ever since I came back to the states. I was surprised you didn't follow me to London. In the meantime I've just been waiting for the day when you would come and exact your revenge."

"That's exactly what I've come to do," he says coldly. "I made a promise a long time ago that I would never forgive you."

He takes a long drink and looks at you as if he's seeing you for the first time. "And now, the time has come."

You can see it in his eyes. You can see the darkness that now resides there, different from the one that used to excite you. It's Dave, but it's not the Dave you used to know.

A chill goes through you. You nod, knowing this day is long overdue. If your father faced death at the hands of Dave York, so can you.

You put down your glass, the whiskey still on your lips. "I'm glad it's you. Poetic that way." You stand up from your seat, surprised that your knees don't buckle automatically. "Outside," you tell him.

In the darkness of the alley behind the bar, your coat offers no protection from the cold you feel in your heart. The back street is empty. You look up at the stars in the night sky, feeling small in their midst.

This is it.. the end of it all.

He looks at you and sees the same calmness that he saw in your father. He sees that you've accepted your fate without fear, and he can't help but admire that.

"You know.. I thought about it a lot as I came here," he says. "What I wanted to do to you when I found you.. and what I wanted you to feel in your last moments."

You languidly turn to him, as if in a dream. "So tell me."

"I wanted to make you suffer. I wanted to see you beg for mercy, to see you plead for your life." His smile is cold and cruel. "But you're not scared, are you, sweetpea? Either you're as tough as I believe, or your self-preservation instincts are for shit," he sneers. "Even now, you're calm.."

Your placid countenance belies your shivering heart as you stand against the wall, deep breath in, deep breath out. "How are you going to do it?"

"You really want to know? You trust me that much?"

"You're the best, right? I'm glad it's you." You smile a little, shaking your head. "I loved you from the first time I saw you, Dave. I've loved you all this time. I love you right now."

He almost laughs. It's comical to hear you talk about love at a moment like this. "And I've hated you for all these years. I hate you for what you did to my family. I hate you with every fiber of my being.."

His voice turns to a whisper. "And I hate you because I still love you."

A brief smile flickers in your eyes. "As you once told me.. 'If this is love, we're both fucked.'"

Dave seems reluctant now, as if he's had a change of heart. You love each other, despite everything, and even now you're willing to let him just take your life, snuff it out with a single blow.

"Don't disappoint me, York," your voice pierces his thoughts like an icy blast. "Don't tell me you've come all this way for nothing. Not when I've been getting ready for you."

In an instant he pins you to the wall, his weight pressing you into the bricks as his hands wrap around your throat. Your breath comes in labored gasps as you fight to free your arms and legs. Despite your efforts, Dave is physically stronger. He's methodical, using his strength to subdue you rather than overpowering you with brute force. You can feel the desperation rising, your struggle becoming more frantic as you wrack your brain for any possible means of escape.

In a moment of clarity amidst the chaos, you find a small sharp object in your purse - the syringe. With a burst of adrenaline you jab it into the soft area right below his ribs, keeping your thumb off the plunger.

He lets out a sharp grunt and loosens his grip, staring dumbfounded at the needle sticking out of him, your finger hovering over the end, ready to press the danger into his bloodstream. "Let me guess," he says, his breath warm against your face. "Propofol? Rocuronium bromide?"

"Air," you answer with a winning smile, your voice hoarse from his choking you.

He swallows thickly, face pale even in the wintry moonlight.

You've never felt a surge of power like the one shooting through your veins right now. "I'd say my instinct for self-preservation is pretty fucking good."

Right as you see that angry spark in his eye you take advantage of the temporary adrenaline rush and push him away from you. Dave stumbles back, pulling the syringe from his torso and tossing it away right before you crash into him again. You both topple onto the cold wet pavement, grappling with one another, and it doesn't escape your realization that it's all an inverted display of the way you couldn't keep your hands off each other years ago.

You're unaware that the contents of your purse have fallen out in the scuffle, until Dave pins you down and notices the knife, the gun, neither of which you bothered to use on him just moments before. Then the bright light of your phone screen illuminates its presence in the shadowy alleyway.

Your wallpaper is a picture of you, holding a small boy who's smiling as you're kissing his cheek.

Still beneath him, your stomach lurches and you scramble for phone. "Give that back!" But Dave doesn't listen.

"You have a child?" he asks, completely bewildered that he hadn't thought of you having a life apart from the history you have with him. You'd mentioned a husband, but not a child.

The photo is lovely, taken recently as he guesses from the similar hairstyle as you have now. He's a beautiful child, with his mother's eyes. The love between mother and son is palpable, something pure and sweet that he has only experienced with his own children. It takes the wind out of him. He looks at you and all of the anger, all of the hate and rage he felt towards you seems to dissolve like salt in water.

Your heart is near palpitating as you take the phone from him, gently wiping the falling snow from the screen, taking a tiny moment to admire the photo for yourself. "The last night we spent together in that little motel room.. before everything happened.. a couple months later I found out I was pregnant."

It takes every ounce of courage you have to confess this to him: "This is Benjamin.. your son.."

Dave is paralyzed by your revelation, utterly unable to move or even breathe as he stares at the photo, puts the pieces together. He sees his features in his son, the perfect combination of you and him in another being, a little boy who is the culmination of your love.

He sees you as he never saw you before. You're not the woman who betrayed him and destroyed his family. You're the woman who gave him a son, a part of himself that he never knew would exist.

"He's beautiful," he murmurs, drinking in this moment, helping you to your feet as you struggle to stand, asking if you're all right but you don't answer him.

You've never envisioned how this would go. Not even your late husband knew Ben's real paternity, just that you needed stability to raise him. A part of you is on edge. You've just revealed the person who means the most to you in this world, and in one moment Dave could take it away.

"He just turned five in September," you tell him, "That night.. that terrible and wonderful night before I left you.. something good came from all of it," you tell him.

He nods. "I guess it did." He looks at the picture once more. "Where is he?"

You take a moment before answering. "He's at home. A friend of mine is watching him."

"I want to see him."

"You already have kids, Dave. Or have you forgotten them?"

"Don't go," he pleads as you start to walk away. Around the corner you can hear the holiday music blaring from the bar. "Last Christmas" by Wham!

"I want to see him," he says, catching up with you. "Please."

Being a mom has made you soft. And the truth is you spent the majority of your energy in your short scuffle with him moments ago. "Follow me home."

"Leave whatever weapons you have in the mailbox."

You wait on him, arms crossed, ensuring your safety before you let him beyond your threshold. Dave puts his semi-automatic pistol and a knife. He had these on him all the time but didn't use them..

"Now you," he says, watching as you put your own gun and knife into the mailbox. One corner of your mouth lifts up into a half-smile as your eyes meet, realizing you've both thought alike.

Inside your home it's cozy. A brightly lit Christmas tree glows with warm golden light in front of the main window in the living room. Dave looks around, taking it all in: the decorations placed with love and care, the presents piled under the tree for Ben - his son - to open the next morning.

A woman, clad in a soft gray sweater and jeans, comes out from the hallway, carrying little Ben in her arms. "He couldn't sleep without you here," she tells you, her glance jumping quickly between you and Dave.

You take him from her, letting her know you're home for the night and giving a quick introduction to Dave. "This is Paige, she helps me with Ben from time to time."

They exchange hellos, a little awkward under the circumstances. You take Ben in your arms, and he immediately wraps his arms around you. You wish Paige a happy Christmas and she leaves.

Now it's just the three of you. "Can I hold him?" Dave asks.

You hesitate before nodding, asking Ben if he's okay to go with him. Watching him with his father you can see the resemblance, plain as day. "Is he what you looked like as a kid?" You ask curiously.

"I think so," he smiles, still amazed that he's holding his child, a piece of him that he left behind with you for so long, your love made real.

Ben is bathed and put to bed. Dave knows everything about him by now: his birthday, favorite foods, his friends in his kindergarten class, the names of his stuffed animals and favorite superheroes. All this Dave takes in with the same interest he had when his daughters were younger.

He even reads him a bedtime story while you watch from the doorway, watching a scene you never imagined would come to life. Ben has Dave's smile, his hair. It's uncanny. You remember when you first started working for the Yorks, the first night you walked in on him reading to the girls before bed. That was the moment you fell in love with him.

It might be happening all over again.

After he's asleep you sit in the living room, sipping coffee spiked with brandy.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" he asks.

You sip your drink, letting it warm the chill that's going through you, hoping it'll dull the overpowering emotions coursing in your veins. "I was afraid you'd come after me, kill me, and take him away."

"Is that what you think of me? That I'd kill you for our son?" For a moment he actually looks hurt.

"I don't know what to think of you."

"I deserve to be in his life," he says stubbornly, and you get a peek of the old Dave from before. "We can put the past behind us. We can get reacquainted. We can be what we should have been all along. He belongs to both of us. And I want to be here for him." He pauses, seeing the photos on the table and walls: you and Ben throughout his young life: on a beach somewhere with pure white sand, at a zoo posing in front of the zebras, and in every picture it's obvious he's loved.

"You did a good job with him, sweetpea. Our son is happy."

"He was my reason for going on," you tell him. "I was still in London when I found out I was pregnant. At first I thought it was the worst possible thing that could happen, but when I really sat down to make a decision I realized there was no other option but to keep him and love him. I knew a miracle could be reaped from the awfulness we sowed."

You raised him alone, mostly, with some help from your mother, who of course asked who Ben's father was. There was absolutely no way you could tell her, so you simply said it was a boyfriend who'd wanted nothing to do with the baby. After getting your Master's you found yourself here in St. Louis, met Liam who cared for you and your child, and lost him to sudden illness only a year after you married him. And every day you did not stop thinking about Dave.

"I assume you're still involved in your.. activities?" you ask him.

He takes a deep breath, mentally going over the jobs he'd done in the past six years, of which he'd taken more than before you'd left. Not only had he needed the money, but he needed something else to keep from thinking about you.

"Yes, I am," he replies. "I know you were hoping for a different answer than that."

"I was hoping for a different answer, but I wasn't expecting one," you tell him. "And the situation with Carol and the girls.. did she leave you? Did you work things out?" You hate that this is the answer you dread the most.

"We're divorced now," he says curtly. "And the girls.." an actual smile melts away his bitterness. "The girls are great. They're teenagers now. We've worked out a custody arrangement and we're keeping things civil for their sake. They adapted better than I thought they would."

"Do they all hate me for what I did? For my part in the affair?"

He pauses. "It's complicated.. the girls know why you left. I haven't given them any details and I doubt Carol has told them anything they shouldn't know. But you shouldn't blame yourself. It takes two to tango. I'm just as guilty."

You've finished your coffee, and just as you start to rise from your chair you pause, giving him a smirk. "Dave.. calling yourself 'guilty' after everything you've done is probably the funniest thing I've ever heard."

He takes your hand as you try to walk past him. "What would you say if I said we should be together for Benjamin's sake?"

You should have seen this coming, should have known he'd attempt to ingratiate himself into your good graces to keep some control over your life. "I've already done that. I married my late husband so that Benjamin could have a father.. I'm not going to go into any more relationships under false pretenses."

There's something more he wants to say, something that he wants to get across to you. "A lot of my life is gone. Lost. Because of what you did."

"I know. And I can say the same about you. We took each other's lives away."

"But you," Dave continues, "you gave me this. All of the happiness you took away, you gave it back to me in a way I never would have dreamed." He takes your hand in his. "And what if this isn't false pretenses? What if I'm asking because I know.. because we know, you and I are meant for each other?"

He knows he's getting ahead of himself. He's letting his emotions and his desire take over.

But you shake your head. "You only want me because I'm the one left standing in the ashes."

"You're partly right," he agrees. "I want you because you're right in front of me now. That's just natural, I'd say. But I always wanted you, sweetpea," he says with total honesty. "You were always the woman I loved."

"Fucked up people always love other fucked up people," you remind him. "And you and I are the most fucked up people I know,. Weren't we just about to kill each other in an alley?"

"Maybe you would have killed me.. but you didn't. And I could have killed you.."

"I get it, I get it," you playfully roll your eyes. "Am I your first failed mission?"

"Yeah, but.. definitely worth it."

He manages to get a smile out of you, and as he pulls you close he rejoices that you don't pull away. When he brings his lips to yours for a kiss, you don't stop him. You come together as fluidly as if you'd never been apart all this time, and you kiss him back hungrily, having missed his taste.

In the bedroom your appetite only grows stronger as you unbutton Dave's shirt, running your hands over the warmth of his chest. He lifts your dress over your head and you continue to unwrap each other. Your eyes take in every inch of his frame, seeing that he hasn't changed much in six years. His side job keeps him fit and he's kept his little belly that you've always found so attractive.

He reaches for you, takes your curves under his touch and gently kneading your soft flesh. "I missed you so much.." he whispers as you gasp with pleasure. "Missed what's mine." As his hands trace your skin he discovers the small scar on your lower abdomen, nearly hidden by the softness of your own little belly.

"What's this?" he asks, noticing that his touch doesn't seem to register there.

"It was Ben," you explain. "I had to have an emergency C-section."

His fingers trace over the scar, imagining the pain you must have gone through, the fear you must have felt. "I should have been there with you."

"I'm not made of glass, Dave." Breaking from him you lay back on the bed, legs parted as you begin to touch yourself, lifting your eyes to meet his dark gaze as your fingers continue their pleasured work across your delicate folds.

"Open wider," he says in a low command, crawling over you on the bed, watching intently. "Make yourself come."

He follows each dip and swirl of your fingers, the tips painted in red glitter lacquer, as they brush across your clit, disappearing into your already drenched cunt.

"How does that feel, sweetpea?" he asks, his voice husky with lust.

"Good," you moan. "But not nearly as good as you." You reach for him, and though he wants desperately to dive into your sopping wet hole, he practices control.

"Not yet," he says gently, chiding you. "I said, make yourself come."

He watches as you add pressure to your clit, your pussy swallowing up your middle and ring fingers while your other hand palms your breast, twists and pulls your nipple. He's never seen you more gorgeous, chasing your pleasure. The scent of your sex is in the air, beckoning him, and it takes every shred of his self-discipline to keep where he is, cock in his hand, lazily stroking as his dark eyes dance with the vision of you spread out before him, coming at last.

He takes his time about getting inside you, and though you're slippery enough to handle him it's still a tight fit after years apart. He's careful until you ask him not to be, and then he fucks you with smooth, steady thrusts, bottoming out as you arch your back, crying out his name, the sound of your flesh slapping together a perfect symphony with your moaning and his praise in your ear my good girl, missed this pussy so much, needed her all this time, and she needed me, gonna tame her, make her mine all over again.

He moves with you, as if he's connected to every beat of your heart. This is the only thing in the world that feels right, no matter how wrong it is. You can't not love him, You've never felt more like yourself, realizing that he brings it out of you. The air between you becomes electric, frantic, your movements desperate and wild.

"Come for me, sweetpea," he whispers, taking your bottom lip between his teeth. "Let me feel this tight little hole get her fill of me."

It's a fucking relief when you finally come, the moment prolonged as he continues to move, stimulating your clit beyond your point, only letting up when you forcefully shove his hand away. Watching you come is a miracle made true, something he never thought he'd get to experience again, and he comes with the final clench around him, keeping him there, keeping him home.

You're both vulnerable, perhaps for the first time, with each other. There are no more secrets to be had, no more devastation to wreak. Just you and him, and an ocean of possibilities before you.

"Can you forgive me?" he asks, meeting your eyes. "For what I did?"

It's weighed heavy on your mind since the day you learned the truth, and you've come to realize that all the tragedy did was allow you to move on, even if it brought you to have to face your past more clearly.

"Yes," you answer. "I do forgive you. And now you have to forgive me."

It's easier to do that now, now that the walls you both built up have been knocked down. "I forgive you," he echoes. "We'll never bring it up again."

There's a clarity you never imagined you'd receive, a gift that's long overdue after the years of being in limbo. You snuggle to him, pressing a kiss his throat.

"I thought about you every day, sweetpea," he whispers. "And maybe I'm crazy, but.. marry me."

You're at a loss for words. You open your mouth to speak but nothing comes out. "What.. what did you say?" you ask slowly, usure if you even heard him right. "Did you ask me to marry you?"

"I did," he says assertively. "So? Will you marry me?" A little smirk crosses his lips and there's a light in his eyes that you've never seen before.

"I'm just so.. stunned," you sit up against the headboard and he does the same. "Why would you even want to marry me? Don't you remember everything that happened?"

"I remember everything. I remember it every day. But like you said, 'fucked up people always love other fucked up people' and look at us: still crazy about each other even after we've ruined each other's lives. There's nothing for us except to be together."

"You sound so certain," you look at him with a conflicted smile. "Are you really sure this is what you want? To wake up every day and remember what happened and who we are?"

His smile lights up his whole face. "I'm counting on us to remember who and what we are. If we forget everything that happened between us then we've learned nothing. But now we're standing in the ashes of our old lives and look at us: we won. If anything, that just proves we're supposed to be together. We know all the bad parts of each other and we still choose to be here."

Watching him, and listening, you become convinced. You can't ignore the truth of what he's saying. "I'm gonna marry you, Dave," you tell him, your voice full of love and joy.

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[theparkerschronicles]

The Twin

     It was a cloudy day this morning when i woke up not knowing what to expect of today just knowing i have that mystery dinner tonight with my friends about a week ago we received invites to a mysterious dinner and we decided we wanted to go we  had no clue who sent the invites i didn't know if it was a good idea with my black outs happening more frequently and me waking up in random spots but i decided to go anyway because my best friend ivory convinced me to go as i brush my teeth it happens i blink and suddenly i'm dressed in my cloths a pink and white letterman jacket with a black shirt and blue jeans. I'm so confused and worried for tonight hoping i don't have one i grab my keys off the table and head out the door to my car as i drive i wonder why it happens why i pass out its like i'm someone else like i'm not even there just my body i like to call it my other side no one knows about it but me i'm too scared ill be labeled a freak. I finally arrived at school and saw my best friend ivory.

    “Hey ready for tonight” she says with her gleaming smile that makes me feel less nervous

   “Yah totally” i say hoping she can't see through me and my lies because i was anything but ready for tonight i had a bad feeling about it thinking i should just stay in. The day goes by fast to fast i wish time would stop and for once i wish to be in chemistry for longer and i hoped that the feeling would be gone by math but it didn't and just like that i was in 7th period reading with ms.Brown this class always went by fast but today it was like i blinked and the bell ring. As i left we all met outside on the courtyard where we walked to my house each of use getting into a car we had all decided to carpool because the trip was far and gas was expensive i road with ivory,jordan,issah and david while caroline,emma,stella and ace took another car. The car was kinda small but i sat in the front like i always do i could feel ivory place her phone on my lap like she usually does so i could pick the music but i was still worried i passed it to the back seat

     “You guys can pick today. I'm gonna try and get some rest before we arrive, "I say, yawning. I wasn't really tired but i didn't feel like singing and was hoping rest would help from the blackouts i rest my eyes and wake up to a bumpy dirt road yawning i say “is your car ok this tiny little thing is not built for this” laughing ivory replies 

     “My car is kenough and is doing just fine”  we all laugh and it's like the feeling was never there i chop it up to nervousness because we had no clue who invited us but there's something weird about the road it has that familiar feeling to it we arrive to a golden gate with the letters GM carved into it we get up to the box ivory rolls down her window and presses the button 

     “Hi we're here for the dinner” she is interrupted by a loud buzzer and the gates slowly open and she drives in we pull up to a huge mansion not knowing where to go she parks in the front

     “I hope we were  the only ones because I'm parking right here” she says as we all get out of the car we walk to the door it feels so firmalar like i have been here before like i have deja vu. Isaiah knocks on the door and it slowly creeps open one after another as we get into the house. We entered a big ballroom entrance with a giant clock on the wall that looked broken. There were two tall staircases curving into another floor and a big carpet covering the white tile floor. Everything was very clean and polished. I was the last one in the house when the door slammed shut.

     “Wow mariah you couldn't have been more gentle” david says in a sarcastic tone

      “Guys that wasn't me” i saw worried i walk back over to the door and pull on it it doesn't budge its like its stuck and i began to get that worried feeling again 

     “guys its locked i cant open it” the group looks at me as a voice suddenly comes on

     “Wellcome you have all been chosen for my dinner party the theme tonight is murder mystery one of you was given a special invite and was chosen to be the killer…in the rooms you will find  clues to the killer of tonight's game if you can't find the killer before they get you then you lose… dinner will be served in the next room over good luck you have until 6am form yours truly game master” i had no clue who that was but i was extremely hungry. 

     “Maybe it's like an escape room and we have to find the killer to win, guys let's go eat,” Ivory says. She always finds a way of making things better and i hope she was right about the game we all follow her next door to the dining room the food looked so good as soon as we walked in laid on the table of all types of food the table was decorated with nine golden plates and silverware the table cloths was blue and at each plate labeled a spot to sit we were all confused and wonder what we were supposed to do as the look at the table and all the food like freshly warm basket of rolls the steam radiating into the air and fresh juicy steak sitting one for each person and a basket of salad with cheese and bacon bits in it on the table also lay a lazy susan with different condiments from stake sauce to ranch and ketchup. The gourmet food smelled amazing and I was so hungry. We all sat in our spot. I sat between Emma and David and I did what I always do, putting my feet on his legs because it was so comfortable once we were all sat we began putting food on our plates when the voice came on again. 

     “Welcome to my dining room. As you see I have made you a nice gourmet meal feel free to eat and find some clues by talking to everyone the game has officially started and the killer can get you at any time so beware” we began to talk about school and work and eat. When stella asked ace     “So Ace are you the killer” 

     “Yah totally and your gonna be my first victim” Ace replies laughing as everyone  began getting full from the feast the lights switch off and all i  could hear is large steps of boots stomping around worried i move closer to david the lights came back on and with a scream too i feel a scarred feeling run down my spine and i look over to see aces body i quickly get up and check her pulse 

     “guys she's dead like actually i dont think this a game anymore” i say worried all i want to do is get out of here 

     “What do we do” jordan ask 

     “There has to be a way out of here” Stella says as she gets up from the table rushing into the ballroom where they came in and we all get up following her. David and jordan began to try their hardest to kick down the door with no luck not knowing what to do i sit on the steps wishing this was all just a dream 

     “You can't force us to play your stupid game let us out” stella shouts i began to look for something to help us out when i see a mirror with a note covered in ruby red lipstick with the message “play or die” i read the message out loud that's when it sinks in we are trapped and if we don't do something none of us our living through this night. Ivory replies “guys maybe we should split up into groups and try and find clues” 

  I don't think that's a good idea but we need to find clues quickly.

     Jordan responds `ok killer splitting us up to make it easier for yourself '' 

     He makes a good point: one of us could be the killer and we could never know it but why would one of us want to kill each other? It made no sense. Ivory replies to jordan

      “No i'm just saying if we are in groups of 2 to 3 we can find clues faster plus they killed aces by cutting the lights so i dont think it matters if we're all together” 

     she right as always we all split up into three groups: group one  mariah,ivory and stella group two jordan,david and isaiah and group three emma and caroline.As we all split up we ended in a room filled with dust and old collectables as i trace the room looking for clues a tiny ballerina  sticks out to me the space around it clean and almost polished i pick it up and turn it over reading the bottom out loud 

    “I have hands but i can not clap”

     “What does that even mean” stella replies 

     “Maybe it's talking about an idiom in here” ivory adds

     “What has hands but cant clap.. What has hands but cant clap..” the phrase goes over and over again in my head it sounds so familiar i know what it means but i dont my concentration is broke by ivory

     “David could know he practices riddles all the time” she's right that's probably where i know it from we all head back to the group in hopes david would know and they found other clues.

     As we were walking back we heard a loud scream. We hurriedly ran back to find the group As we approached, we saw Jordan and David covered in blood, walking with Karoline, hoping they were okay. Stella immediately asked,

     "What happened, and where is Emma?"

     "Issah was attacked by the killer. He died, and they ran off. Then we found Karoline in the halls," David explained.

     "We need to find Emma before the killer does," I said, hoping she was still alive.

     "How do we know she's not the killer? Maybe Karoline is the killer, and Emma's already dead. None of us are safe," Ivory said, her fear evident. Everyone began to argue.

     "Quiet, guys!" I screamed, trying to restore order. I could hear something from the other room, and their fighting wasn't helping. As I got up to check, Emma ran in, holding her stomach with blood dripping down her arm.

     "Please help, I was attacked!" she screamed.

      I rushed over to comfort her and tried to stop the bleeding. Everyone fell silent and scared.

     "We need to get out of here, and fighting won't help us. We found a clue in the room, and we're hoping David knows what it means. It was a riddle ‘'I have hands but cannot clap.’' Does that mean anything to you, David?" Stella asked.

     "Yes, it's talking about a clock," David replied.

     "I also found a clue. It was a set of numbers, 0715," Karoline added.

     "That number is my password. Why is my password a clue? What if it means I'm next?" I thought to myself. As I walked over to the clock, I opened it and set the time to 7:15. The clock opened from the wall to reveal a passageway.

     "How did you know what time it was?" Karoline asked.

     "That's my phone password, and that's what it means. I just took a chance, I guess."

     "Maybe that's our way out," Ivory responded.

     "I hope so, but I'm too weak to walk," Emma added.

     "You guys go; I'll stay with Emma," Stella said.

     We began walking down the passage. It seemed like forever, but we finally got to two passageways. Not wanting to choose the wrong one, we split up. No one wanted to go with Karoline because of earlier, so I volunteered. This time, it was me and Karoline in one group and David, Ivory, and Jordan in the other. As Karoline and I entered a dark room with screens, we clicked on the keypad, and the screens lit up. We could still see our friends going through the tunnel.

     "These must go through the house," Karoline said. 

     As I turned to look at her, I saw myself, but it wasn't me; it was like a clone. I didn't know who she was. I was frozen in fear.

     "Are you okay?" Karoline asked.

     "Behind you!" I managed to blurt out. 

     Karoline tried to turn, but in an instant, she was stabbed repeatedly. I was frozen, unable to help. All I could think was that I was next.

     "Do you know who I am?" she asked.

     "No," I responded. 

     "I'm your twin, Luna. You don't know me, but I know all about you and your friends."

     "Why are you doing this?" I asked, backing away from her.

     "Don't be scared; I'm not going to hurt you. I want your place, your life, everything you have."

     "Why?" I screamed.

    "Because you took my life. I shouldn't have to live here in this mansion alone. I should have your friends and loving parents, but I don't."

     "What happened to you?" I asked, hoping she would tell me.

     "A long time ago, our mom gave me up. She couldn't afford both of us. I found out a while ago, and I have been stalking you ever since, seeing everything you have that I never got, wondering why she chose you over me."

     "You're lying! My mom would never..." 

     I hoped she was lying; my mom wouldn't do that, hoping she was just lying to me. Just then, my friends walked in, but she ran to them.

     "Help, she's trying to kill me!" she screamed. What did she mean? She's the killer.

     "Don't believe her; she's lying to you."

     "Who's the real Mariah?" Ivory asked.

     "I don't know," Jordan and David said.

     "Wait, Mariah, what's the code?" Ivory asked. I had no clue what she meant; I didn't know the code. I was so confused when the other me shouted, 

     "Apple."

     "What?" I responded. 

     Just like that the red and blue lights flashed in my eyes, and I can't remember much after that, but I do know one thing: she planned it all, from the tunnels to the code. She knew everything. That's why I'm here, writing this, knowing I may never see the light outside of this cell, hoping someone will read this and tell them I'm not me, and she has my spot with my friends and family. She made the code; she watched me and studied every inch of me. The only thing keeping me alive right now is the hope that she messes up one day, and that I'll be free.

     "You have a visitor," the warden shouted. 

     As I was dragged out of my cell, wondering who would want to see me after all these five years, my eyes were in shock as she spoke.

     "We made a mistake. I know she's not you."

[likefacesaretohearts]

Close in Quarantine

Category - friends to lovers trope

Warnings - smut, unprotected sex

Word count: 1486

Hi y'all! This is my first fic on this page so I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. I want this to be a place to have fun and where WOC can see themselves reflected in fics. Much love!

Chris was saying the usual goodbyes and thank yous that occur at the end of an interview. Because everything was being done over Zoom and the video lagged even with the best of WiFi, there was the awkward overlapping of him and the interviewer talking at the same time. Once he was in the clear and was sure the call was off, he let out a big sigh and closed his laptop.

"I swear they ask the same questions every press run I do,” he said.

You emerge from the kitchen with a cold beer in hand, finally able to go into the living room. Chris didn't want you wandering around in the background while he was on the Zoom call because he knew that if anyone caught a glimpse of you, social media and the gossip blogs would be alight with rumors of Chris Evans and His Mysterious New Flame. In reality, you weren't together. Neither of you were really sure what you were, but there was certainly an ember of attraction there that had been building since you started quarantining together.

“Why don't you let me ask you the questions then,” you tease as you plop down on the couch near him.

“I have to polish up my singing voice, maybe work on my choreography first, huh?” he said.

You were a music journalist, so you spent your work days talking to rockstars and the most polished pop stars about their lives and music then cranking out long form articles for their fans and haters alike to read. Chris came over and sat next to you on the couch with his arm resting on the back of the couch behind you. Being this close to him made you nervous but you didn't mind...it was a bit of a rush. He’d started singing a song purposefully off key, taking the beer from your hand and using it as a microphone.

“You are no Mariah Carey, sir,” you said, trying not to give him the satisfaction of cracking a smile..

He knocked back some sips of your beer and you try to grab it from him to no avail. He playfully moves the bottle around and holds it in the air, using his tall stature as an advantage.

“We’ve been quarantined together for three weeks, your germs are my germs at this point,” he said.

“Bull shit that is not how that works,” you said laughing.

You finally get a hold of his hand with the beer in it, but suddenly the vibe changes. Chris, with his scruffy quarantine beard and slightly grown out hair, had grabbed hold of you and pulled you into him in a bear hug in one swift movement. Over the past few weeks living together during the pandemic, you’d gotten to know each other much better than you had when the world was “normal.” You'd seen each other first thing in the morning and gotten used to speaking freely with each other without fear of sounding weird, as it turned out you both were. You had been a friend of Scott's for a few months, and met Chris through him while he was filming a movie in L.A. After meeting him during a night of drinking at Scott’s place, you hit it off but were only casual friends...until the rona hit.

One night in the beginning of it all, you were lonely in your apartment when Scott convinced you it'd be a good idea to quarantine with his sexy ass brother that you hardly knew.

“Y/N, it's the perfect idea! You're both single and I'm in Massachusetts with our family,” Scott said. “There's no reason you should drive yourselves crazy quarantining alone when you could just live together —just until all this is over.”

Your family was miles away in Texas and your L.A. friends had their own thing going on, so you took him up on the offer, totally skipping the steps of even establishing that you like each other to living together during a global pandemic. The first day was a bit awkward as it was natural to be — you were in someone who was two steps up from a stranger’s home and self conscious because, again, he was fine as hell – but that night the two of you sat on his living room floor and bonded.

“If we tell each other our darkest and most embarrassing parts of our lives, the awkwardness is gone,” Chris had said. So you spent 5 hours talking about the deepest hurts and the greatest joys of your lives. From then on, it felt like you had known each other for years. You even got close with Dodger, who at first wanted nothing to do with you or your cat that you’d brought with you, Mocha.

You relaxed into Chris’ arms, letting your desire to be close to him take precedence over the practical side of you that didn't want to potentially ruin the dynamic you'd built. Chris, almost as if it was instinctual, kissed the top of your head and held you as if he had done it a hundred times before.

Fuck the dynamic.

You turned around to face him, mustering every ounce of bravery you've ever had. Almost instantly, he leaned in, as if he'd been waiting on you to turn around this whole time. His beard bristled against your face as your lips crashed against each other's, finally finding their way to one another after weeks of just friendly banter. You were on top of him now, your hands grazing over his mid length hair while his traveled down to your ass.

“I've been wanting to touch you for weeks,” he said between kisses.

“Then why did I have to make the first move?” you said, a wry smile on your face.

A devious grin spread across Chris’ face as he flipped you over on the couch so that he was on top. He left wet kisses on your neck and after lifting your shirt over your head, moved to the parts of your chest left exposed from your bra and down to your stomach. Your hips bucked with an arch forming in your back, relishing in the fact that Evans’ hands and lips were all over your body.

The two of you in all your feverish affection managed to roll off of the couch and fall onto the carpet, somehow knocking down the half full beer off the coffee table in the process.

You were straddling Chris on the ground, wanting nothing more than to feel him inside of you, to feel his bare skin on yours. You noticed the beer spilled on the floor.

“Shit.”

“It's okay, babe, leave it,” Chris said, his voice gruff and husky.

He picked you up and carried you to his bedroom, a place you'd never seen. His room was pristinely clean, for a man at least — very little was out of place. He laid you on the bed with a sense of determination, whispering in your ear as he got on top of you, his shirt half off, “I'm gonna show you how bad I've been wanting this.” His Boston accent had come out in full force...you'd only heard it like this after you'd both been drinking and your own Texas twang snuck out.

“I dare you,” you replied.

Everything seemed to move at lightning speed after that. It was like there was electricity within the touch of his fingers. In a whirlwind he took off your clothes and his own and before you knew it you could feel his dick brush against you, hesitating before he entered you.

“It's ok, I trust you. I want you,” you said at a near whisper, stroking his hair.

At first it was slow, the strokes were uncertain until he got accustomed to you and started a sensual rhythm. He eased himself deeper into you, causing you to throw your head back, letting yourself meld into him. His speed picked up while his lips grazed your nipples and the sound of his wooden bed frame hitting the wall filled the room.

You were in some sort of trance from the feeling of his hips moving against yours. Slowing down a little, Chris pinned your arms to his bed, brushed some of your now wild hair out of your face and placed his hands in yours. “Look at me,” he growled. Your fingers curled around his as he drove himself deeper inside you with a sense of urgency. As you stared into his blue-gray eyes you could feel yourself falling apart, and he did soon after.

The golden light from the setting sun peeked through the windows while you laid in Chris’ arms. Neither of you said a word but you felt closer than ever. Any amount of distance that was between you was gone now.

@honeychicanawrites I would love to know what you think of this. You inspired me to start writing fics!

[johnny-and-dora]

may your days be merry and bright

"So many of her favourite Christmas traditions have had to be put on hold this year, and she needs this one night just so she can feel like her old self again."

or, a grumpy, tired and extremely pregnant amy learns she can always rely on her weird work family. (merry christmas/happy holidays everyone!) thank you @fourdrinkamy for a wonderful prompt & @amyscascadingtabs for her infinite wisdom about pregnancy!

read on ao3 -

Amy Santiago has always adored Christmas.

The annual, extremely chaotic congregation of her ever-growing family, the twinkling lights, the festive cheer. The spreadsheets and planning that goes into choosing the perfect gifts on a strict budget. Her mom’s cooking and the way that everyone always acts a little kinder, a little merrier. The movies and the songs and lately, the privilege of sharing it with her favourite person in the entire world.

Next year, they’ll be sharing Christmas with their baby. Next year there will be unfairly adorable Santa themed baby clothes to buy and cheesy family Christmas card photos to pose for and new traditions to make, and Amy is beyond excited for that – but this year, the whole being eight months pregnant thing has inevitably put a bit of a damper on her usually thriving holiday spirit.

The swollen feet and the constant hunger and crippling fatigue and the Braxton Hicks contractions are bad enough, but it’s the endless anxious waiting that’s slowly killing her – the crib is assembled and the hospital bag has been packed and repacked and the binder is done and she’s read every single pregnancy book available to her cover to cover, so thoroughly that according to Jake she’s been reciting facts about infant care in her sleep.

They’re ready, or as ready as they’ll ever be, but now it feels like all they can do is wait.

Amy hates waiting.

And now the most wonderful time of year suddenly feels a lot less wonderful, because she can’t go home for the holidays and enjoy Nochebuena with her family like she has every single other year without fail. She can’t enjoy getting absolutely wasted dancing to Christmas music at Shaw’s or even lure her husband into a supply closet with some mistletoe.

Coupled with her early maternity leave (doctor and captain’s orders, much to her disappointment) meaning she’s stuck at home all day every day with her FOMOW at an all-time high, she feels like she’s at breaking point.

Amy frowns at herself in the mirror, adjusting her dress again – it’s a simple red one that Rosa helped her pick out, neither of them particularly enamoured with the bedazzled maternity pants Gina sent her. She tries to take a calming deep breath, forcing a smile before letting her features fall back into place. It’s the first time she’s bothered to put make-up on all week, but the dark bags under her eyes still seem to taunt her.

Not for the first time, despite how badly she’s been looking forward to this Christmas party, she considers just giving up and staying home.

Luckily for her, Jake chooses this exact moment to appear smiling in the mirror beside her.

“You look beautiful, Ames.” He says fondly – he’s taken to telling her that every single day now that she can barely recognise her own body anymore. Though she finds it hard to believe him, each and every time he says it with the exact same reverence that he did on their first date, and each and every time she can barely suppress a soft smile.

“You’re biased.” She pokes him in the shoulder fondly - he comes closer, wrapping his arms around her in response, swaying a little as they look at each other in the mirror.

“You know I mean it, right? I love absolutely all of you. You could grow an extra head or swell to the size of the moon or shrink down to the size of a mouse and I’d still think you’re the most beautiful woman in the entire universe.”

“Even if I were the size of a mouse?”

“Definitely. I’d carry you round in my pocket and everything. Stuart Little-stylez.” She laughs, shaking her head, but now carrying a lightness in her chest that’s hard to come by these days. He’s been the most supportive partner she could ask throughout these last eight months, although really that’s also true of the last five years they’ve been together.

“Thank you. You’re not bad, either.”

“Oh, I know.” He grins with a familiar bravado that puts her at ease, kissing her cheek. “You ready to go?”

She assesses her appearance in the mirror again, but this time she doesn’t need to force a smile. “I’m ready.”

***

Being thirty-six weeks pregnant, on top of all its other less than desirable side effects, cruelly makes Amy’s devotion to punctuality far more difficult to maintain – she counts it as a victory when they arrive outside the Holt-Cozner household merely five minutes late. The engine sputters to a halt and Mariah Carey is sharply cut off, but Jake doesn’t move, instead fixing her with a meaningful look she knows all too well. She knows what’s coming.

“We don’t have to stay long.” He blurts out. “We don’t even have to go in, if you don’t wanna – I mean, I can turn the car around right now and we can go get polish food and watch Jeopardy and I’ll give you a back massage or something.”

He’s giving her the look again - the soft overprotective one she’s always been fond of but has undoubtedly increased in volume and intensity tenfold since the start of her pregnancy.  

He’s cute when he gets all worried – and he clearly has the best intentions, but little inclination of all the fears she fought to make it this far and all her determination to enjoy this night. Not that she’s told him; Jake has seemingly infinite patience with all her complaints and worries, and she feels a pang of immeasurable guilt about burdening him with any more. Musing this, Amy takes his hand from the steering wheel, thumbing intricate loops over his knuckles.

“You’re sweet. But I want to be here, okay? I want to see everyone! I’ve missed Charles bursting into tears and gushing about the miracle of life every time I walk into the room.”

“Say the word and we can go, okay?”

“Okay!” She squeezes his hand. “Stop worrying, babe. Stress is bad for the baby.” She parrots the saying she’s heard about a billion times in the last eight months and feels satisfied when she finally earns a snort from him. It’s not lost on her that this kid has already turned their entire lives upside down to the point where she’s the one telling him to relax.

A couple years ago, she’d have retched at the thought of being one of the girls in Jake’s beat-up old Mustang. It’s immensely strange and wonderful that now there’s no one else that she could imagine having this baby with. They share a tender smile, and she knows what both of them are thinking. Soon. Soon we get to meet our baby.

Jake grins, placing a light kiss to the back of her hand and pocketing the keys.

“Let’s do this.”

***

It takes a momentous effort for Amy to waddle up to the house despite Jake supporting her the whole way – she has to take a moment to catch her breath back once they’re both welcomed inside, already fighting a familiar creeping fatigue from settling in and stealing the whole night away from her. So many of her favourite Christmas traditions have had to be put on hold this year, and she needs this one night just so she can feel like her old self again.

As usual, the decorations are tasteful and sophisticated, worlds away from the various novelty Christmas items and abundance of tinsel that clutter their home. There’s a pleasant warm atmosphere that instantly relaxes her and she smiles brightly at Jake, who mouths ‘second honeymoon’ before cheerfully greeting Holt with a six-pack of orange soda and launching into an animated conversation about his latest case.

“Amy.” She’s startled out of watching them by a gentle Kevin, who is as gracious of a host as ever. “It is wonderful to see you. Please, make yourself as comfortable as possible. Is there anything I can get you?” She smiles gratefully, already hyper-aware of the dull ache of her swollen feet but determined that her remaining holiday spirit will not be quashed by any means.

She instantly finds a perfect spot on their couch, accepting a glass of water from Kevin before he excuses himself to go and greet more guests.

Despite the lack of any alcohol in her system, it’s all too easy to space out; it’s also all too easy to feel like everyone is merry and bright except her. She bites her nails, frustrated, deep down knowing that she’ll probably spend the whole night intensively snacking and talking to no-one.

She already loves her baby more than anything else in the world, but that doesn’t stop it from sucking that this sad, lonely feeling budding in her centre is her current reality.

One of Kevin’s colleagues tries to start a conversation with her but quickly excuses herself to get more food once she realises Amy isn’t a professor of any kind. Jake or Rosa or anyone she knows seem absolutely nowhere to be found and she’s quick to admit total defeat as she feels herself sinking into the couch, steeling herself for the long and torturous night ahead.

***

At least she can take some comfort in how nice Holt and Kevin’s guest bathroom is.

Cheddar is, blissfully, nowhere in sight. She takes a minute of peace to compose herself, grappling with all her dread and doubt about returning to the party clashing with feeling like a failure if she doesn’t enjoy herself.

She’s about to make her way back into the living room when she catches her name in a passing conversation – Amy pauses, lingering in the doorway, suddenly aware of two very familiar voices speaking in a soft tone down the hall.

“...I just…I worry, y’know? She’s so uncomfortable all the time now and we’re both going a little crazy waiting for the baby to arrive and…I don’t know. I just want to help her, but I feel completely useless most of the time. Especially because she’s this freaking superhero who’s been growing this human being for almost nine months and I’m just this guy that couldn’t even assemble the crib.”

“Jake, I assure you that you are far from useless, and I don’t doubt that Amy has assured of the same thing. You are doing everything you can to support her.” Holt says in his usual authoritative baritone - Amy feels her face burn red, aware that this isn’t a moment she should be trespassing on but unable to walk away.

These are fears that he’s voiced to her before, and she can only hope that the more the people he cares about affirm their belief in him, the more his confidence will start to grow.

“I know. I’m just, uh, scared. And scared that I’m never going to stop being scared.”

“If I may speak candidly, I trust that the very compassion, thoughtfulness and fear you are currently displaying that will make you a great father.”

“You think…you think I’m gonna be a great father?”

“Kevin and I are certain that you will both be excellent parents.” Holt says it like it’s a given, just as water is wet or the sky is blue, and Amy glows with pride from her secret hiding place, praying no one else needs to use the bathroom before this conversation ends.

“You really think so?” She just knows that he’s grinning that bright, shining Peralta grin that she just couldn’t help falling in love with.

“Indeed. In fact, we are very proud of both of you. And – well, you already know, but if there is anything you ever need, we are more than happy to support you.”

“Thanks, Captain. Amy’s going to be so psyched when I tell her that.”

She spends another five minutes in the bathroom sniffling before she can compose herself well enough to return to the party – once she does, she can’t help watching Jake all lit up from across the room, and her eyes immediately well up as her heart just soars leaps and bounds.

***

“Hey.” Rosa slumps down next to her on the sofa while she’s still drying her eyes, nursing an empty wine glass – there’s a softer look in her eyes than usual, an echo of Jake’s increased protectiveness, and Amy is undeniably grateful to see her. “You okay?”

“Yeah. Stupid hormones. What’s up?”

“Eh. I’m fine. Not drunk enough to enjoy talking to these nerds.” Amy scoffs, feeling a slight sting of jealousy that she can’t get drunk with her friends or even attempt to have an intellectual conversation about art history with Kevin’s colleagues, though it’s muted now purely through love for her husband. She twists the ornate silver ring on her finger, aware of the piercing stare her best friend is giving her.

“Are you really okay?” Rosa asks, and Amy’s face crumbles.

“I’m just…really tired of being pregnant. I want to enjoy being here, y’know? I want to enjoy these last few weeks of peace, but I’m bored out of my mind stuck at home just waiting for this kid to pop out of me. And I can’t enjoy being anywhere else because I can’t drink or hold a conversation without immediately falling asleep.” She stifles a well-timed yawn to punctuate her point and Rosa hums in sympathy.

“I feel like I can’t even complain about it to Jake anymore because he’s so damn considerate and kind and he’s trying so hard and I don’t want to burden him with it and I can’t even enjoy Christmas anymore and everything just kinda…”

“Sucks?” Rosa finishes for her and she nods, hands coming to rest naturally on her bump. They’re both quiet for a moment, watching Charles gush about some obscure Latvian festive dish he’s making for Nikolaj to a helpless Terry, but it’s not long before Rosa speaks again.

“Look, I have the day off tomorrow. I’m coming over and we’re making mocktails and watching The Holiday and you can bitch and complain to me about being pregnant as much as you want, guilt-free. Sound good?”

“Rosa, you don’t have to-“

“I know. It’s not a perfect solution or anything but...I want to help. Any way I can.”  Amy gets the feeling that’s the final word on the matter, and she feels gratitude for her best friend rising to a crescendo in her chest. Rosa winces, no doubt recognising the way her face scrunches up when she’s trying not to get emotional, and pats her on the shoulder uneasily. “Please don’t start crying again.”

“I can’t help it!” Amy half-laughs, wiping away a stray tear and pulling her into an awkward yet loving hug. “You’re being nice.”

“It’s not long now, Amy. And…your kid is really lucky to have you guys. You’re both gonna be great.” Rosa smiles a genuine proper rare Rosa smile, before looking down at her empty glass wistfully. “Maybe I’m drunker than I thought I was.”

Amy laughs again, this time bright and shining and full, and the longer she spends here, the more the lightness in her chest she’s spent so long craving simply grows and grows.

***

The rest of the party passes in a blur; a moony-eyed Charles sits beside her at one point and she braces herself for the worst, but finds herself touched deciphering his rambles about how great her and Jake are going to be (and impressed that she only has to veto one invasive question regarding her uterus). She gets to rant to a highly empathetic Sharon for ten minutes who invites her over for lemonade and assures her that she can ask her or Terry any & every parenthood question she can think of.

Holt even shakes her hand as they leave the party, personally thanking her for coming, and Amy beams as she spots the novelty Father’s Day card Jake got for the both of them still taking pride of place on their mantelpiece. Her family may be miles away in New Jersey, but her weird work family are right here, celebrating with her and supporting her and lifting her up in every way they can.

For the first time all month, Amy feels at peace with missing out on a traditional Christmas this year.

She falls asleep in the car before they’ve even left Holt and Kevin’s street - Jake gently wakes her once they arrive home, clearly cautious of an extremely tired and grumpy pregnant wife to placate and clearly surprised at the positivity with which she handles slowly waddling to their apartment.

“It was just really nice to get out of the house and see everyone, I guess.” She offers breezily as a brief explanation, sighing with content as she can finally take the weight off her feet and indulge in the comfort of their bed. He hums before disappearing to make tea for an inconspicuously long time, eventually returning with a mug in one hand and an envelope in the other.

“Here.” He says, setting the mug down on her bedside table, handing her the envelope and flopping down on the bed beside her. “I wanted it to be a surprise, but I just realised it should be something you can look forward to.”

Amy narrows her eyes. “Jake, you know what we said about gifts this year…” She frowns disapprovingly, but all he does is laugh.

“Just open it, babe. I promise it’s nothing taser related.”

Her curiosity easily overpowers any objections she might have and it’s not long before she’s carefully ripping the envelope open - inside is a piece of paper, which she unfolds as he watches her expectantly. Her heart all but lights up as she slowly realises what it is.

“Is this…”

“...A print screen of a booking confirmation? Yep. Sorry, I wanted it to be vaguely more of a nice romantic gesture than just forwarding you the email.”

It’s a booking for a room in a fancy hotel upstate, one she’s always coveted but never been able to convince herself that they could practically afford.

And it’s for a two night stay, starting on Christmas Eve - a simple but heavenly upgrade to their holiday plans. She looks at him with big, shining eyes.

“I’ve always wanted to go there.”

“I know, because every time we drive past it you mention extremely subtly that you’ve always wanted to go there.” Jake grins teasingly, and she can tell he’s proud of himself for this one - he definitely should be. Once again, tears already threaten to spill and blot the paper because he knows her and he loves her and he’s the right person for her and that’s all in the world that matters. She couldn’t ask for anything more.

“I just knew you were missing having a traditional Christmas this year, and I thought we deserved something kinda...nice? And I know it won’t compare to being with your family but we can order as much room service as you want and just spend the whole day lounging about in fluffy robes watching Christmas movies and just doing whatever you want. You’ve earned it, Ames.”

The soft earnest nickname is what breaks her in the end - her face completely crumples as she tries to stammer her gratitude while ugly crying at the thoughtfulness of her husband. Luckily, he’s used to riding an emotional rollercoaster along with her by now and has the common sense to pass her some tissues and rub her back soothingly until she’s all cried out.

And then Amy kisses him, with everything she has left to give, her thankfulness beyond the clumsiness of words. Suddenly the insurmountable obstacle of waiting out these last few weeks doesn’t seem half as daunting.

Her vows ring powerful and true, now more than ever; as long as she’s with the people that she loves, she can handle anything. Tonight has reminded her that she’s surrounded with so many of the right people that, with their help, even raising a child now seems possible.

“This is so thoughtful - thank you.” She holds the paper close to her chest, still sniffling. “I love you so much.”

Her eyes are red and puffy and there’s somehow phlegm everywhere but he still looks at her like she hung the moon anyway and it makes all of it, absolutely all of it, worth it.

“Love you too. Merry Christmas, honey.” He kisses the top of her forehead before gently pressing his hand to her stomach, clearly not over the delightful novelty of instantly feeling a kick there.

“And Merry Christmas to you too, peanut. I know you must be pretty comfy in there but you better not keep us waiting too much longer, because we’re super psyched to meet you.” Amy hums in agreement, absolutely exhausted but completely overwhelmed with joy, her holiday spirit alive and thriving.

And at the end of the day, if it means a few more precious weeks of keeping her husband all to herself, she supposes that maybe she can handle waiting just a tiny bit longer.

[couldnt-think-of-a-funny-name]

About your YouTuber! Percy hc, do you think he would actually know everyone subscribed to him because of the weird background shenanigans or do you think that he’s think they all just find him funny?

okay, I actually have made some more Executive Decisions since I posted that, so let’s just make it clear that:

Percy spent maybe half a day thinking ‘wow I knew I was valid in thinking my girlfriend and sister deserve to be famous’ just because he genuinely hadn’t registered the monster-sized dog or nico crawling out from the shadows behind him as ‘weird’ at first, but then he started reading the comments and was like…..ah,

Annabeth wanted him to immediately delete the videos but he was just like ‘nah it’s too late now we might as well commit’ and started planning his next video lmao. he still didn’t think it was gonna get like, Big tho

demigods and technology don’t mix this is true but by this time the Hephaestus and Athena AND Vulcan kids were all very disgruntled by this and collabed on making a line of products that are monster proof, halfblood suitable, and Hephaestus approved. Percy is using a camera in this line, and that’s why mortals watching his videos aren’t getting blocked by the mist, because….shut up, I said so lol

so again, his videos are mostly tame except for just a few small ‘wtf’ things happening in the background, but it’s enough to get people circulating his videos like ‘hey what the fuck is going on with this guy’ and he gets more and more followers impatiently waiting for updates

after about five months, and article gets posted on buzzfeed about the videos, listing a few theories like, a) it’s photoshopped and cgi-d, although they claim they sent a few clips to video analysists that can’t find any thing fake, and b) this boy is being terrorized by ghosts and demons and he just hasn’t noticed them on camera for some fucking reason, and c) Maybe Us, The Viewers Are The Crazy Ones and d) He’s In Danger And Sending Coded Messages And We Need To Rally Together To Help Him

it trends and his followers SPIKE so Percy decides he should probably do a Q&A and everyone gets hype

except

it’s Percy

He’s sitting on his bed in an orange shirt, but the writing on it is mostly obscured by a blanket. You can JUST see the tip of a spear on the wall above him.  There’s a large cut on the side of his head. He’s got a clear glass of some golden liquid he’s sipping from every now and then. There’s an aquarium on the table next to him, but all the fish in the tank are huddled in the same side, staring at him??? Annabeth is sitting next to him, but she’s not looking into the camera, she’s reading a book, and you can see the cover clearly on screen but no one is able to figure out what language it’s in??? at one point during the video, you hear a horse neighing even though he’s in his fourth floor city apartment and his stepfather comes in to tell him ‘blackjack’s in the kitchen make him leave’

but other than that, everyone tuned into this video excited to get answers….but all the answers Percy gives are like ‘Oh, Estelle is 10 months old! she’s getting so big!’ and ‘Annabeth and I met when we were 12′ and ‘I’m looking at colleges in California but I haven’t committed anywhere yet’ and ‘my favorite subject in school is math’

In the middle of the video he read a question ‘please what is up with that dude that keeps crawling out of your fucking walls p l e ase’ and he responds ‘Oh! That’s my cousin Nico! :)’ and then moves back to the tame boring questions sdkjnckdvm

The very last minute of the video, he reads a question asking if he’s possessed and he’s like ‘No, not anymore’ and Annabeth fucking snorts, the first acknowledgement she’s given the whole q&a. the video immediately just ends there, he doesn’t do a sign off or anything

people FLIP

and the next day he’s just back to posting his usual content. this time features a shot of him walking in a rainstorm, to hood no umbrella, completely fucking dry

youtube drama channels are covering every single video he posts. conspiracy theorists are going fucking wild.

one of these youtube conspiracy channels is 100% run by Leo Valdez. He’s having the time of his goddamn life throwing bullshit out there

Piper McLean 100% has her own channel dedicated to debunking everything Leo says on his channel. They’ve been doing this dance since 9th grade and all of their viewers think they fucking hate each other it’s hilarious to them

so SHE points out that not only are Leo’s theories stupid, but he’s been spotted in Percy’s videos! And he was on fire in one of them! Hello???

Someone then tweets her that SHE’S been spotted in Percy’s videos, a few of them the same ones Leo was in, and she responds to the callout with a Mariah Carey gif and goes silent on twitter for three months

Leo starts insisting that’s Definitely Not Him In Percy’s Videos, Thank You, How Dare You Accuse Me Associating With Not Only The Demonic Forces That Follow Him But Also Piper McLean

Percy tweets out a picture of the 7, featuring Leo and Piper hugging and looking like best friends. Leo responds with a Joanne the Scammer gif and also goes quiet on twitter but keeps making ridiculous conspiracy videos lmao

On screen: ‘Hey, Paul, the internet thinks I’m in league with supernatural forces. What do you think about that?’ *camera slowly zooms in on Paul’s tired face as he looks up from reading a book on the Greek god Poseidon*

everyone realizes one of Percy’s mortal friends from school is also a youtuber so they BOMBARD him and he’s just like ‘Listen Percy just….fucking lives like this. he’s not planning anything. He disappears all the time and comes back covered in burns. one time I went in his apartment without calling first and he met me in the living room with a shield and a sword. Sometimes carriage horses in the city get loose and just follow him around and he holds conversations with them. I think his dad is in the mob. He just lives like this. We just got used to it’ sjkdgkjldsklsd

Percy posts a video called ‘skateboarding down my camps climbing wall!!’ and every comment is ‘WHY IS THERE L A V A?!?!?!?!?’

A video where he sees just How Much he can annoy Chiron and Mr. D before he gets threatened with dolphin-ism. It doesn’t take long, but everyone ignores the guy with glowing eyes yelling about how he’s going to change him into a sea creature in favor of focusing in on the fucking leopard head mounted on the wall that’s moving, roaring and being fed snacks??? 

Rachel goes into Oracle mode and gives out a prophecy in the middle of a live stream and Percy just sighs in annoyance while all the viewers are flipping out like hello isn’t she one of the richest people in the world???

the viewers start trying to decipher the prophecy like they think it’s all planned and Percy’s just slowly dropping some lemony snickett bullshit on them

his videos are ALWAYS trending and he’s one of the most popular vloggers and it’s so funny because 90% of the videos are literally just ‘taking my sister to the park!’ ‘date night with my girlfriend!’ ‘swim team awards ceremony!’ ‘I forgot to study for my history exam!’ like just. the most fucking generic but people are sucked in lmao

He does monthly q&a’s but they mostly go the same way the original one did 

‘what’s with the fucking guy who’s half donkey???’ ‘Grover identifies as a goat, actually, please be respectful of that in the future’

‘who’s that fucking kid that crying on your couch that you ignored the whole video’ ‘that’s actually the Greek god Apollo, he was upset because I wanted back the Led Zeppelin shirt he stole from me’ 

‘am I crazy or was there a 7 foot tall guy with one eye walking around the kitchen eating peanut butter out of the jar’ ‘that’s my baby brother Tyson :)’

‘your friend said your dad’s in the mob but we’ve never seen your father on this channel where is he???’ ‘he, uh…….lives with the fishes?’ (Annabeth groaned at that one lmao)

‘you really vlogged getting struck by lightning and not going to the fucking hospital, huh’ ‘don’t worry, that was just my cousin, she was mad because I stole her nail polish earlier but she wouldn’t kill me over it’

COULD YOU IMAGINE HIM POSTING A VIDEO WITH THE PARTY PONIES AND TITLING IT ‘I ACCIDENTALLY GOT DRAGGED TO FURRY CON’

but overall: Youtuber Percy™ is, in fact, the only valid thing that exists thanks for coming to my TED Talk

[genderdysphoriablues]

25/1/'20

Today was a very important day. I woke up at 8 and hurriedly threw on some sweatpants and a t-shirt before heading to my sister's house. We chatted, I gave her dog a treat and some playtime, and then got my second shot of testosterone. You guys, I'm stoked! It's been too long, but now they'll finally be consistent. And my sister offered to keep my stuff at her house so I don't have to get creative with hiding them. She's so nice!

I drove to Starbucks to get a hot cocoa and egg bites (the GPS took me to the wrong place, so I was lost for a little bit), and then I went home to eat and rest.

I hung around my house and worked on my chore while watching Too Cute! to help me focus. Then I called in sick to work (even though I wasn't) and my day truly began.

I called in sick because otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get work off to go to the Utah Pride Centre with Grace for a day of transgender focused activities. I noticed that while there were plenty of FTM people there, there were even more MTF, which my statistics-happy brain was pleased about. Not a really significant thing, but just something I noticed.

Anyway, we walked in and wrote our names on some sticker tags. I used my nickname Jack, and Grace used the name Mariah. She'd been considering the name for a while, but before when I asked if she would like to start going by that she declined. Today, however, I repeated the question and got a positive, affirmative answer. I think Mariah is a beautiful name and suits her perfectly.

We went down the stairs first and looked at a bunch of donated clothes. There wasn't really anything for me there, but Mariah found a necklace and a long, denim coat that fit her perfectly. She loves denim and long coats, so I think that's such a tender mercy (I also witnessed someone else's tender mercy. I don't know this lady at all, but she was there at the centre dressed in all leopard print, and she found a pair of leopard print shoes that not only went with her outfit excellently, but fit her. You go, leopard girl).

Then Mariah and I went in to the set-up hair salon and she got her hair curled and styled. Y'all, she looked so pretty and happy. The style suited her perfectly and she loved it so much!

We got on a waiting list to get her nails painted as well and looked at memes in the meantime (haha, meme-time). We also chatted with the lady who was in charge of the activity and were deemed her favourites. I think that's because I live in the city she grew up in and Mariah lives in the city the lady lives in now. She seemed a little put off by the fact that I wasn't actively participating but to be fair most of the stuff to do there was very feminine, and because I can usually present male on a regular basis this was mostly for Mariah anyway.

Mariah got her nails painted (black, with a silver index finger), and she gushed over them several times (as she should). You guys, she was so happy. I'm ecstatic that she got to feel so pretty tonight, if even for only a few hours.

After we left we went to the mall and wandered around. Mariah found an Infinity Stone themed hair clip that she fell in love with. Then we went to Olive Garden, with a quick trip to Walmart afterwards to nail polish remover (she didn't want her parents to know). We went to her house and there we said goodbye. It was a really good day, all around.

[szopenhauer]

Do you keep up any seasonal decorations outside of their season?  Halloween for example or some Easter bunnies

Do you ever wonder what your parents were like as children/teenagers? sure

Do you think suicide is ever “okay?” if you kill yourself without a valid reason then sorry but I think it’s not ok - someone not loving you back, being bullies in school that will end someday or just feeling numb or bored etc aren’t that serious

In your opinion, what is the worst thing someone could ever do? to others? rape and/or kill for fun or because of smth stupid/minor

In your opinion, what is the best thing someone could ever do? really truly help somebody?

Do you still open your windows during winter? sometimes

How cold is too cold? How hot is too hot? a lil bit of cold is too cold for me and it’s basically never too hot in my opinion 

Would you rather lose both legs or both arms? Why? both legs as I don’t need to walk, it’s nice but not necessary as much as using my hands, can’t imagine not having my arms in everyday life

Would you rather be a famous movie star, television star, or musician? movie

Do you think an evil Santa or an evil Easter Bunny would make a better villain in a horror movie? I played a game with evil Santa and that was awful so maybe an Easter Bunny

Would you rather gaze at the stars or clouds? clouds

Do you feel much older or younger than you are?  depends on mood/situation

Do you know any magic tricks?  one, with cards

Do you constantly check the time? Does time seem to move quickly or slowly for you? nooo; usually both at once, it’s complicated

Do you chew your pens?  ewww, of course not

Have you ever made notes in a lesson, then looked back at them and found you couldn’t understand what they meant? very rarely

Is there anything that’s happened recently, that you wish had turned out differently?  obvi

Who was the last person of the opposite sex that you talked to on the phone? dad

Are you blood related to the last person you hugged? I am indeed

Is there something you do on a regular basis, that you don’t enjoy doing?  ugh, more than one thing...

Do you listen to any Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston or Celine Dion songs? nah, not really

Who did you last speak to in person?  parent

Have you ever had a one-night stand? If you have, did you regret it afterwards? I haven’t 

What was the last thing you asked for help with? Who did you go to for help?  not sure what was last, either my mother or my father tho

Who was the last person to text you? If you were gone tomorrow, how much do you think that person would miss you? my gf and a lot 

If your significant other had several other sexual partners before you, how much would that bother you? Would you worry about being compared to the others? How many previous sexual partners do you think is acceptable? it would bother me a lot; I think that it’s about age and if those relationships were serious, not just amount itself but I’d feel bad enough if someone had more than 2 sexual partners before :x

How many people of your preferred sex have hurt you?  shitload

*edit but not all in romantic way, mostly friendly

Has the last person you hugged ever made you cry? yep

If you told your parents that you were going to be a parent, how do you think they would react?  surprised and angry? I like girls and I don’t like sex so... and they’re also very religious 

You find out that the person you love/like is having a child with someone else. What do you say? woah she cheated on me or was raped? who is her lover? :o

Who was the last person of the same sex to text you? How much do you know about the love life/sex life of that person?  my gf and I believe I know like 90% of it especially being part of that lmfao

Who is/was your strictest teacher in school? polish teacher in middle school and history teacher in high school

Do you know all the words to the last song you listened to? Would you sing that song on karaoke? I don’t know but maybe?

[slouchyslouch]

Tame Impala’s The Slow Rush and the passing of time

It’s been a long five years since Tame Impala released Currents, the record that pushed the band to mainstream stardom. It’s amazing to see Kevin Parker’s evolution from 60’s guitar psychedelia prodigy to pop-song writing wonder with a reputation to his name. On The Slow Rush, everything circles around the concept of time. Now into his 30’s, Parker attempts to embrace his own ego as a Coachella-headlining act. Taken as a whole, the album sounds like playing Mario Kart on the Rainbow Road map. There is still the Tame Impala sound that is psychedelic and effects-heavy in nature, but this particular record has the feeling of driving through an intergalactic world with a deliberate caution of not leaping into the void. It’s as if Parker is on cruise-control, only wanting to take risks once he’s sure of a straight path ahead. That’s not to say that this record isn’t good. It’s still going to be one of the most polished records this year — enough for anyone to watch their reflection on it with its tighter-than-ever instrumentals and flawless production.

Although his past three albums were much more interesting sonically, his aptitude for perfection at album number four might just be why it doesn’t stand out as much as any of the past records. Mastering all the techniques of recording and production must have put a damper on a lot of the interesting sounds that Parker pursued in the past. It could be that this album might just be too perfect-sounding. Parker’s songs previous to this record would go one direction and then take you by surprise from one moment to the next — moments that would grab you by the shoulder and divert your attention to his genius. Nevertheless, Tame Impala’s evolution into this new decade has produced a record still worthy of a spin.

With each sound level and each parameter calibrated to perfection, opener “One More Year” contains a sound in what he refers to as his Gregorian Robot Choir — a manipulated to precision sample providing the backbone to a mellowed-out track to ease you in to The Slow Rush sound. From the get go, the Tame Impala vibe already feels different from previous iterations of the band. It’s a little laid-back without the grandeur usually offered on a Tame Impala intro. He sings: “Do you remember we were standing here a year ago? / Our minds were racing and time went slow.” It sets the tone of looking into time as an inescapable concept, yet the weak opener might fail to catch anyone’s attention.

Despite leaving the realm of psychedelic rock, at least there are still the relentless grooves of The Slow Rush. “Is It True” gets into funk territory with some bongos (an instrument more prominently used in a lot of the record), and a thumping bassline reminiscent of “The Less I Know The Better.” Halfway through the track, the song transitions into a spellbinding disco groove. Multiple times throughout the record a lull might transpire, but Parker seems to always nudge you back with an attention-grabbing post-track breakdown.

Meanwhile, “Instant Destiny” feels like it can veer into chillwave textures exuding Caribou and Four Tet-like production. Moreover, the hook of “Breathe Deeper” might be one of the catchiest bars Parker’s ever written. “If you think I couldn’t hold my own, believe me I can,” echoes Parker in a mesmerizing turn of phrase. On the track’s outro, just when you think the song’s over, Parker dives into this nasty synth part as if realizing he’s at an acid techno club. On the album’s Spotify feature, Parker muses that the track was influenced by Mariah Carey, Pharrell, and his first time taking ecstasy, which some of The Slow Rush ultimately feels like — a slow rush, if you will, of serotonin flooding your brain and stimulating your senses. It’s a very sensory experience that triggers slow motion club dancing, with Parker’s vocals passing through you like a mist to cool off the heat emanating from your drug-induced body.

Something to note is the more traditional lyric-centred songwriting compared to previous records. Parker’s gone from Zappa guitar freak-outs to added gloss; grandiose synths provide a particularly uniform environment instead of guitar leads transporting you to a wealth of fantastical worlds. Parker never really focused on his vocals and lyrics as much as the instrumentals but there’s more contemplating here when Parker gets into some balladry on songs like “On Track.” It’s a heartwarming song that slows down the album’s dance-centric vibe. Parker laments, “The world ain’t routin’ for ya, nothin’ to lose it over / We’re just a little older, the rest gets easy.” It’s a reminder for us trying to realize our dreams that we’re going to come out of this in the end, as a synth whirls behind Parker’s modesty.

On “Posthumous Forgiveness,” the track might draw a yawn with its slow tempo in the intro, but on closer inspection, Parker provides more depth to his songwriting, musing about his failed relationship with his father. It’s really only in the second half of the track (as usual) where things get interesting: a warbling synth plays as Parker’s mesmerizing falsetto sings a tuneful hook to his deceased father: “I wanna tell you ‘bout the time / Wanna tell you ‘bout my life / Wanna play you all my songs.” Interestingly, the second half of the song wasn’t even supposed to be part of the track according to Parker, in an interview with Zane Lowe. Parker reveals a moving revelation to let go of his spite towards his father. It’s a tender sentiment that reveals more of vulnerable side to Parker’s lyricism.

It’s funny seeing someone succeed as much as he is, coming from the world of DIY indie rock — writing songs and collaborating with artists with the likes of Travis Scott, Theophillus London, Lady Gaga and getting covered by Rihanna, — and still feel the kind of insecurity and doubt he faces. On “It Might Be Time,” he muses about losing his touch: “It might be time to face it / It ain’t as fun as it used to be.” Parker’s self-awareness only brings up our own share of nostalgia for the past, yet is ultimately a distraction for the present. Its chorus can be reminiscent of Lonerism’s psych rock leanings where the track’s drums are hit at the record’s hardest. Despite his insecurity, I can already suspect that he’s going to be nominated for a few of Grammys, as well as possibly winning Best Alternative Album for this record next year, considering the hype and persona he’s built over the five years since Currents. I can even see Parker fitting in as a Grammy-nominated producer in the future as a result of his budding reputation, to the chagrin of many older Tame Impala (myself included).

Long are the days of the “Half Glass Full of Wine” version of Tame Impala. Some can argue that The Slow Rush sound might have started on “Feels Like We Go Backwards,” but now “Glimmer” might portend dance music conductor on future records. Just look at Thom Yorke’s IDM musical stylings at the age of 40, Kevin Parker DJ sets abound. It’s only inevitable for any musician’s career to evolve her sound and style, but the traces of Parker’s to arrive at The Slow Rush have always been there. He’s made three almost perfect albums, so you can’t really give him any shit for a relatively weaker, but solid record. Currents soundtracked a whole camping trip full of fond memories for me. The Slow Rush might just soundtrack the longest periods of our lives in quarantine — a chance for us to dwell on the nature of time and pause for a brief moment.

[comicteaparty]

March 7th-March 13th, 2020 Creator Babble Archive

The archive for the Creator Babble chat that occurred from March 7th, 2020 to March 13th, 2020.  The chat focused on the following question:

What is your overall marketing/promotion strategy for your webcomic?

Cronaj (Whispers of the Past)

I don't know if this counts as a strategy, but these are some of the things I do to promote my comic or my work in general. 1. Most important from what I've noticed (which I have been failing at due to stress and self-doubt lately) is to post updates to your comic frequently and consistently. It seems somewhat silly that simply putting your work out there is the best way to grow an audience, but it really is. Newly posted chapters frequently get shown on more pages and thus detected by the algorithms and potential readers. It also helps to establish trust with current and returning readers. 2. Participating in art/comic events, forums, and other comicking communities (such as this one). In a way, this isn't really marketing directly, but it is good to build connections with other creators! 3. Conventions! I actually have gotten a several new readers/followers from attending cons. It's also nice just to talk to people, get your name out there locally, and to make a little bit of money while at it. 4. Social media promotion. Tbh, this hasn't been super helpful to me, but more eyes is always a win in my book. I try to post almost every day, even if it isn't art or comic related. Having some kind of social media presence at all, even if it's small, shows people that you are working hard to connect to others. Also finding the right hashtags definitely helps with visibility.

kayotics

Overall, my strategy for marketing is to be authentic and just keep plugging my stuff. People will come if they like it. I work as a marketer for my day job, so I know what I COULD do, but I really don’t do that much since a whole marketing plan would take a lot more time than I have available to me. Some of the stuff I do otherwise: - regular updates. This ones pretty important for retaining viewers I already have. Any good marketing strategy is thinking about retaining people, not just getting new ones - self promo: this usually is on top webcomics or on social media. I get a LOT of traffic from top webcomics, and I get a good handful of people from social media. - conventions, like mentioned before, can be a great way to get people’s eyes on your stuff. I have a postcard that I hand out to people if they come by or they purchase something. - the thing I don’t do enough is post more art outside of the comic, or even just little previews. If I were dedicated to marketing, I’d be sharing sketches or illustrations on social media to grow my audience.

DanitheCarutor

Ah you know, I don't really have much of a strategy. At some point I promoted as much as I could on Twitter, adding my comic to those share/promo thread, getting in on relevant hashtag events, participating on WebComic Chat (whenever I remembered to). I've done a little promotion on forums, but there is really only so much you can do since only so many people hang out there and if your work is super niche like mine, they will pretty much avoid your promos at all cost. Lmao Other than those I don't really do much, at some point I attempted to use Instagram but the site/app is very stingy about offsite links. I also started a Facebook page, although if you don't have the money to boost your promos and don't usually have a lot going on with your comic outside of weekly updates, it won't get a whole lot of attention. I've also tried to be more active, but I'm not a good conversationalist, and I tend to be kind of a thread/conversation/mood killer so I try to avoid talking outside of Q&A prompts like this.

eli [a winged tale]

Same Dani, I used Instagram for a while too and I just don’t think the platform is a good fit for my vertical scroll comic (see exhibit 1) Twitter is a mixed bag as well and I think unless you have a solid following already, it’s hard to gain traction. What really helped was being on Webtoon’s staff pick for a couple days. I’m not sure how Tapas picked up but it’s reassuring that there’s a couple of followers gained every week when I posted regularly. So it really does sound like the first step is to have a steady update schedule (working on the buffer! Got a month’s work down today). It’s just challenging because while I could upload one page a week but on the vertical scroll sites it seems like a longer episode (6-7 pages) is valued more as a solid update. Love hearing everyone’s thoughts and hope to learn from y’all! (edited)

LadyLazuli (Phantomarine)

Consistency and con attendance were big ones for me, but something I learned worked well (and was really fun to do) was creating really fun, really dumb, non-canon bits of art every now and then. Following meme prompts or funny ideas from other people. If your comic can afford some humor being thrown its way, making people laugh is a great way to get some attention. No one needs to know the details of your story - they just need to relate to the characters/humor somehow. I had more than one person come across my dumb, meme-y ancillary art and go “Welp, I want to read your comic now.”

eli [a winged tale]

Memes to the rescue! What has been your favourite to do? And which one has surprised you in its relatability/popularity?

LadyLazuli (Phantomarine)

Two shots of vodka.

Also that terrible sweater meme. Everyone is required to do the terrible sweater meme. People eat it up.

eli [a winged tale]

Too good

Ahh I can’t wait till I can actually write silly adult characters

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Now that you mention it, the nice thing about the terrible sweater meme is it works with a WIDE variety of comics.

eli [a winged tale]

I would love to do a meme with y’all

Tuyetnhi (Only In Your Dreams!)

"Came for the story, staying for the sick memes"

Spring-heeled Jack

I try to post updates every friday when my new pages go up on Patreon. And then I make my big post when my tapas and website update at the end of the month. Between all that, I have little flyers that I carry with me and if I'm ever in a shop that has a little self promotion section, I plan on tacking up a flyer. I do conventions, and this will be my first convention season while actively making a comic, so flyers will be handed out then as well.

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

My comic isnt very comedy-heavy, and even for the funny scenes, my sense of humor isn't compatible with most people's. So a lot of the memes out there just don't work. But terrible sweater meme doesn't have to be hilarious. It can be just cute, or even weird.

Tuyetnhi (Only In Your Dreams!)

For me, uh lmao. I sometimes make some funny strip panels and it was received well even though it's not polished for my liking lmao

Spring-heeled Jack

Keii, I feel you. I'm not good with comedy and my comic isn't meant to be funny, either, so I don't know how well a comedy meme will help me.

Tuyetnhi (Only In Your Dreams!)

overall, I try to be honest with just self promo and asking when I have a chance "Hey pls check out my comic lol"

eli [a winged tale]

Or maybe just something relatable? Seen a couple caption this on tumblr

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

I think instead of memes, what I'm gonna do is my characters cosplaying more well known characters from works that have some tonal similarities with my own. This isn't just for advertising purposes; it's something I've been wanting to do for a long time for myself. But I'm realizing it can serve some of the same purposes that memes do.

Spring-heeled Jack

That's extremely cute!

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Keyword being "SOME" Tonal similarities... Some of them aren't very similar but have a couple of parallels, etc.

Spring-heeled Jack

Oh for sure. Even if you could find that 'perfect match', it might not be a great cosplay for them, and give too much away

Are "draw the squad" prompts still a thing? I love those

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

The One White Dude and the Tiger Dude in my comic will definitely cosplay Calvin and Hobbes at some point.

Spring-heeled Jack

LOL

omg please, Keii

eli [a winged tale]

YES

LadyLazuli (Phantomarine)

Yeah, not every comic will have super memeable humor - but whatever you can do to break down that wall between you and a potential reader and go “Hey! Look at this. Is this relatable? Do you get the reference? Etc” Is a very good bet

Also yes squad memes are PERFECT

You can boil down your comic’s relationships so simply.

Spring-heeled Jack

I have four couples in my comic so those "ship dynamic" posts might be fun

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

What are squad memes?

eli [a winged tale]

I also need to be educated about squad I mean all the memes

Spring-heeled Jack

OH MAN!! They are fun as heck. You can find templates and it's a very simple character design in the template, but the poses are super silly. And then you just draw your characters in place of those simple figures(edited)

If you google "Draw the squad" you will find a bunch

renieplayerone

Oh! Ill have to try that! These squad bases look fun!

LadyLazuli (Phantomarine)

I still have one of those I need to finish Back when I first started sharing my work, I was surprised and delighted at how quickly people shoved it through a meme filter.

Maybe that’s another thing! If marketing opportunities present themselves as a surprise, try running with them and see where they take you Within reason, of course. Never feel forced to follow anything that people respond to in a particular way. Just take it into account and see how you feel about it.

renieplayerone

(Im here to lurk on this week's question, i have no strategy and need ideas haha)

eli [a winged tale]

Omg draw the squad looks

too many to choose

mariah (rainy day dreams)

I love draw the squad poses so much TuT I wish I had more time to draw within more of them. I think I always get a little dishearten about making memes because I feel like I need to make my jokes full illustrations but I never have time for much extra content beyond ballpoint pen sketches :T

Mei

Honestly I don't have a marketing or promotion strategy for my webcomic. I make updates every week, and I post it on my twitter and kinda plug it there. I'm actually god awful at trying to make people read my comic because I'm a little bit nervous about it, to be honest. So I just sort of leave it there and see if people find it, half the time. That being said, I tried to promote it pretty hard at conventions last year. But that didn't go as well as I'd hoped. I'm hoping to make flyers with QR codes so that people can scan it, and it'll take them to the landing page/tapas for the comic. That might be a bit easier than getting them to just search the title, plus having a flyer is a nice bit of promotion if I get the opportunity?! Making memes and drawing characters in different clothes or in squad things sounds like super fun tho and I might look into that in the future

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

It's nice to hear everyone talk about this topic. TBH I had completely stopped promoting my comic because I got too scared of backlash, being a disappointment, etc. (Initially I'd attracted a number of people who weren't actually my target audience, and that led to some less than ideal results.) But some time last year, it occurred to me that 1) I'm making this comic for my reader self (or my "hypothetical taste twin" as I like to call it)... which means 2) I only have to appeal to people like me. So I started asking myself, "What would I have to say/do to get me to read this comic?" and that made it significantly less intimidating. I haven't actually started doing self promo (though I did start plugging my updates on Twitter at least). But most future self promo I do will be based on that ^ question.

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

(oh god, I was just checking out the latest update for one of the Korean webcomics I read, and the new episode is about a hikikomori... who says "I want to change, but I can't step outside because... maybe there isn't a single person out there who will understand me." THAT WAS ME but with comic promo. Well, I'm getting better and I also hope this character will, too, though knowing this comic his chances aren't so great lol...)

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

I hope that wasn't too awkward to share! Tl;dr I really think the "what would I have to say/do to get ME to check out my comic" is a good approach for anyone else feeling intimidated about doing self promos.

In the same vein, but on the opposite side of the coin: I'm curious to know, what were some things that got YOU to read someone else's comic?

Some of my own answers to that aren't very relevant to what we can do for our own comics: e.g. I'm Korean and when Naver has a new comic in their pro comic lineup, I may check it out. I'm also a member of SpiderForest and I check out the applicants' comics during the app season. Stuff like that aren't really good promo options that we can take. But things that may be relevant: - 'Evocative scenery shot that doesn't show the face/ doesn't focus on the face.' MY WEAKNESS. That kinda pictures feel subtle and kind of lonely to me, even if it's a group shot. And I like stories with those vibes. -Promo includes an evocative quote. Could be from the comic itself, or from something else like a classical literature or whatever. The creator of Ark (https://www.arkcomic.com/) does this sometimes and even though I'm already following Ark, those promos get my attention.

eli [a winged tale]

Definitely the art promo now that I think of it! Merch, posters, banners etc. If the art intrigues me, I definitely take a look at the site/blurb/first chapter

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

I wonder if we can semi-workshop promo art at some point? Not really intensive like "change xyz" because that's not always feasible with art, but just impression feedback like, "this pictures gives me these vibes, and makes me expect this kinda story"

I would be curious to see everyone's even if we don't workshop

eli [a winged tale]

YES

Tuyetnhi (Only In Your Dreams!)

Yesssss

chalcara [Nyx+Nyssa]

Yes please. I don‘t promo besides update notices simply because I have no clue to start.

Mei

Sometimes I get really attracted by the style of the story? I immediately started reading Wolfsbane because the art was cool and different from a lot of whta I'd seen on Webtoon up until that point. And then the story was perfect for me. What keii said about writing for yourself is right. Patrick Ness once said you should write the stories your younger self would have loved to pick up on a shelf

and I think that's a pretty evocative thing. At the end of the day, you should be enjoying what you're writing (hopefully). And if you enjoy it and you're having fun making it, that can rub off on the people reading it, or you find the people who like that similar vein of story?

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

(It's also 100% legit to write stories for your current self )

Mei

(oh yes 100% that's what i'm doing HEHE)

Tolkein wrote LOTR because he was like

in love with worldbuilding

was there a market for such a strange type of novel at the time? No. Definitely not. Did he write it anyway? YEAH HE DID

Deo101 [Millennium]

I really wanna do an art workshop yes.

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Aight, anyone who wants an impression feedback from me, post your promo art in #art_help

Warning, my impressions may be totally off lol

Deo101 [Millennium]

Also I don't do much marketing. Mostly I try to get in with communities and learn about making comics, I just want to improve my craft. All I really do is make my updated every week, and share whatever art Ive made on my Twitter or whatever

Okay! I think I only have my cover on my phone, but on my computer I also have my banners and icon. So I'll share all those in a bit when I'm at my computer

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

(off topic but I'm sick, and when I'm sick or very tired I constantly misread words. I read "my banners" as "my bananas" and I was very confused for a couple seconds.)

Deo101 [Millennium]

My bananers

Feather J. Fern

I am terrible at marketing my own work, but I am very good at marketing other people's work. I use the "you would like it for this reason" to grab people. Unfortunately I can't do it for my comic because I am bad at seeing the good in my own work oof. I am getting better at it though.

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

That's a really good way to do it!

And I can relate. My own hangup is a little different, but it can be extremely difficult to be brave for sure, whether in front of other people, or just in front of your own brain that constantly judges you.

Feather J. Fern

Yeah I was talking about a friend's comic and then the person I was talking to was like "Don't you write comics" and I was like "ahfoofjw yeah but don't look at them"

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

I was thinking a lot about the whole "it's like [well known work] meets [another well known work]" approach that was discussed earlier. And I think that could be relevant here. Like, think of something that has either influenced your comic significantly, or just happens to have some core similarities. How would you market that thing? Could you market your own thing using a similar approach -- since there are similarities?

I'd thought of a really good example to compare HoK to. Then I got sad because the said example is extremely obscure outside of Korea. But now I'm like, hey, people don't have to KNOW that work. I can do this differently. I can talk about HoK the way I could talk about it.

('it' as in the other work that's obscure outside of Korea)

Feather J. Fern

I do think that's a good fast shortcut but I don't like using it becuase the shortcut sometimes makes people angry when they don't get what they like out of those two things

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

That's why I said to NOT actually bring up the comparison work

Don't name it

Just list the traits that are shared in common

Feather J. Fern

Oh sorry

I miss read

(And my name changed colours all the sudden?)

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

It's a confusing topic, so no worries

It means you leveled up

Feather J. Fern

OWO!

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Say you want to compare your work to... I dunno, DBZ, because it's got super strong aliens duking it out barehanded, blasting ki-like energy attacks, etc. Don't name DBZ. Talk about your work the way you'd talk about your favorite aspects of DBZ. "My comic has super strong aliens duking it out hand-to-hand! YEEEAH!"

OH MY GOD I NEED TO DO THIS NOW.

Feather J. Fern

Yeah! That's what I would do. (But it also helps for me that my comic has no hard reference points) but for my new comic, people are gonna compare it to Zach Bell, and Angelic Layer i think

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

I'm gonna write up some drafts that I will revise and tweet at a later time

Feather J. Fern

So I jsut got to you know, not promo it as such XD

Cronaj (Whispers of the Past)

I want to do this too for a quick pitch

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Do it (shop talk or story help maybe?)

I'm writing a vomit draft for mine

Cronaj (Whispers of the Past)

Yee

Feather J. Fern

I think I will do it for Story help

(Also so I can help flesh out my new project lol lol)

eli [a winged tale]

Kei I might be suuuuper off since I read only the beginning but I sort of thought inuyasha but Korea and handsome boys

LadyLazuli (Phantomarine)

Sometimes you don't even realize your story can be marketed as "blah meets blah" until much later down the line - I've only started realizing the number of existing properties I've absorbed unintentionally into my comic. It's not how I'd market it on a serious front, but to a friend for story help, heck yes.

But a lot of people on Twitter seem to do that strategy for PitMAD and it works great for them, so... shrug

I guess it still belongs in a "pitch arsenal," as it were

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Yeah, the one "blah" I just thought of is something I hadn't realized for all these years. But it makes so much sense now that I look at it.

eli [a winged tale]

See that’s where I got confused but I think this is what I’m gonna aim to do: - pitch to readers: inspiration but this awesome unique thing in the comic - pitch to other comic makers: the Logline - pitch to agents: comparison works if requested and longer pitch depending on their format - pitch to family: just read it plzthanksbye

renieplayerone

or alternative pitch to family: Please dear god never read this

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

That's me

Oof... Writing the 'promote your comic by talking about the traits it shares with Another Person's Work,' I made myself cry, and that is definitely a sign I'm on the right track.

eli [a winged tale]

Right track is good!

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

It took me years to even think of an 'other more popular work' comparison for Children of Shadow. XD But at the same time, it's really different from the works I compare it to, so it's hard to say 'Read this if you like X or X because it has a few similarities in theme and tone, but is still very much its own thing'.

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Yeah which is why I'm not even gonna namedrop my X.

I'm just straight up gonna talk about 'My comic has [this trait]' (and X shares that trait, but no one needs to know for the purpose of that pitch)

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

To answer the weekly question... I really don't have a marketing strategy. Marketing is my achilles heel, so I generally just throw pages up and hope someone sees them. I don't really understand social media nor do I have the energy to sink tonnes of time into it, which seems to be one of the biggest requirements for being picked up by algorithms. So my marketing strategy is just.., keep making comics and talking to other creators and hope for the best

eli [a winged tale]

I think that’s still solid Capn

Ultimately you need a product to promote

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

It's something that helps me, because while I can talk about my favorite works done by others, I feel stuck when trying to do the same with my own. So it's basically telling my brain, 'hey, you already know how to do it with other stories. Do the same thing with your own.'

eli [a winged tale]

So true Kei

renieplayerone

thats my strategy too. best case you market it great, worst case you've made a new friend so win win :3

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

My incredibly low numbers after 14 years of making webcomics beg to differ but... maybe someday I can hire someone to help me market.

eli [a winged tale]

I’m using the comic platforms rather than my own site so... sort of relying on their algorithms. I imagine it can be harder if you just post on your own website?

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Sometimes the platforms don't help much if their audience isn't into the type of comics you make

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

I post on both my own website and on platforms, but the algorithms for WT and Tapas don’t seem to like me, haha.(edited)

renieplayerone

yeah same

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

One of my top favorite webcomics got a front page feature on Tapas once, but it wasn't the kind of a story that gets a lot of traction there, so it still didn't get very popular. And that was in no way a measure of its quality. It is an excellent comic, just not a good fit for that particular place.

renieplayerone

I get far more views on my site, but I get way more engagement on Tapas and WT

I actually treat those two mirrors AS marketing for the main site(edited)

eli [a winged tale]

Exactly renie! Good perspective!

I never know what different platforms tailor to...

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

Yeah, what Keiiii said. I make dark fantasy comics and both WT and Tapas favour romance, especially comics geared towards a female audience and drawn anime style. My comics aren’t particularly feminine and romance isn’t much of a focus, so they’re just not what that demographic is into.

eli [a winged tale]

I’ve been trying to remember how I came across my favourite comics and usually it’s through the art (interesting characters, unique dynamic style that I enjoy) and the first chapter holding promise (able to see what the character wants/will have to change into)

Romance has always been the best seller in the story world I think

Oh and most recently hiveworks and other web publishers have great recommendations too per genre

And comic conventions are always fun to meet creators. Sometimes If I feel I jive with someone I’m an instant fan

renieplayerone

I absolutely need to get better at having confidence enough to make friends at conventions x_x

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

I have noticed my audience grow a bit since joining Spiderforest. They’ve helped me get a bit better at promotion, though marketing just isn’t my talent, lol.

renieplayerone

im always terrified haha

eli [a winged tale]

It’s a big step for sure renie! It took me like... three years going to VanCAF as an attendee before actually exhibiting and making friends(edited)

Mei

I know i'm late but i personally detest the 'this book is X meets Y!!', even though I get why people do it. I just wish they'd describe it to me like what if I'd never read either of those books......

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

I would really love to get out to cons, they sound like a great opportunity for connecting with other creators. One of these years I’ll be able to get to one!(edited)

Deo101 [Millennium]

yeah im usually kinda like "okay, well are you doing anything new or are you just doing those things :/"

renieplayerone

I exhibit with the Boston Comics Roundtable and I still havent gotten the courage XD

Mei

yeah, cons are really fun even to attend or to make friends! I find it really tough though, I'm so intimidated;;

yeah Deo... same... it's like

sure, I could pitch a story as two things. Like I don't know "The Walking Dead meets Shaun of the Dead" which is semi redundant anyway

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

I only use it to give people a framework for the kinds of tones and themes they can expect from my work when I have to keep my explanation short and sweet.

renieplayerone

they should have badges that say "Hi i want to make friends but you are all so awesome its intimidating be kind"

Mei

or you know... use those words to just describe the story? It may be a personal preference, some agents LOVE comparisons

Yes renie, yes!

i'd love a badge like that like

pls talk to me i'm scare

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

Sometimes a few words can’t fully describe a story as well as saying: ‘It’s a little bit like X meets X but if you add [insert unique thing your story does]’

Mei

I personally find that it depends a bit too much on people having read those books or stories before. BUT if you're pitching to an agent, they've usually read those books

so then they get a sense or vibe of like, what the genre is

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

It’s all down to preference, really. Your own and the person you’re pitching to. If you don’t want to use comparisons to describe your own work, that’s valid, but try not to dismiss people who do.

Mei

so I get it, I just don't like it personally xD I think a lot of the times it takes away from your own voice and story

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

That too is part of the reason why I'm not namedropping the works

Just having my self-promo self learn from my 'promo other people's stuff' self

Mei

yeah for sure, it adds that level of excitement to your own work that you'd give to others?

eli [a winged tale]

I think a cool exercise might be to check out someone’s work here and see how you would promote it

It’s always good to see from someone else’s perspective

LadyLazuli (Phantomarine)

yessssss, all of my friends have been much better at promoting than I am

mostly because they have no shame regarding it but they also just... know what sounds cool

Mei

Oh i'm very good at promoting my friends' work

I sold his DnD book to a kpop stan who doesn't like DnD and doesn't play, and it was a crowning achievement

eli [a winged tale]

Like for yours I’d probably say... Manta Ray princess finds herself very much dead but is given a second chance to revive her friends and save her kingdom... just need to find someone very much living and very much not afraid of the seaghosts they have become

LadyLazuli (Phantomarine)

SOLID

though now I imagine Phaedra as a Manta Ray in a dress which is... not entirely untrue

eli [a winged tale]

LOL omg I haven’t even thought of that! Just thought manta Princess is a hook

Mei

Me, pointing at Cheth "I mean look at him, LOOK AT HIM and tell me you don't want to read this"

LadyLazuli (Phantomarine)

I guess for my work I market it from four potential angles: 1) The princess is cool and has a sword, 2) The villain is the best character, 3) The environments ain't bad, and 4) THERE'S A DOG

again, you gotta know who you're talking to and what they already like

eli [a winged tale]

In a world where a fallen god became trapped in the sea, a dead princess is given a second chance to fight for her life with a mysterious sea-bitten boy and undo the sea ghost curse that plagues the world.

Dammit I repeated world

Mei

hey... the environments are GREAT

eli [a winged tale]

Yeah Lady your environment shots are

LadyLazuli (Phantomarine)

ok I do try BUT BACK TO MARKETING

The number of times I see someone marketing their comic with very epic-sounding descriptors or broad generalizations... then that one day where they're finally like "oh, I have a character who turns into a hamster at nighttime" and people are like 'I'M SOLD'

And then they go ".... THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL WANTED???"

often it's those little weird details that get people interested

Deo101 [Millennium]

I wanna read about the were hamster please

Mei

sometimes I think the simplest and maybe slightly silly lines are what grabs people?

when things sound TOO epic i feel a bit intimidated

eli [a winged tale]

takes notes

Mei

but if someone were to sell me a big adventure epic as "it's hamsters and they fight the forces of evil" i'd read it

LadyLazuli (Phantomarine)

god yes

"Four small creatures band together to defeat a great darkness overwhelming their homeland."

No.

"Hamsters fight evil."

YES

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

I.... I have no idea how to snappily describe my comics. XD

eli [a winged tale]

Same... I got to kids with wings for hair then my brain short circuits

Mei

i'd say it's the way you'd tell the story to a close friend

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

The best I came up with was 'Teenagers with supernatural powers team up with woodland critters to defeat monsters' but it sounds more adventure-y and doesn't really get at the fact that it's a dark story with horror elements and everyone's mentally ill.

Mei

like they come up to you and go "what's your comic about" "oh you know, my stupid comic's about mutant hamsters that take over the world" or something

(don't call your comics stupid none of your comics are stupid they are great)

Deo101 [Millennium]

"plant man and his goth boyfriend babysitting a ton of bozos" would probably be mine then

Mei

BEAUTIFUL

i'm sold

Deo101 [Millennium]

ghsakgjhgkhkgahgk my target audience...

Mei

i do think tho like this form of comedic one-lining may not work for something dark?

Unless you go "Spooky horror about cats that become humans at night!"

would need experimentation

eli [a winged tale]

It’s a balance I think.

Kids stranded on an island with weapons explore the darkness in human nature - Lord of the Flies

Mei

ooh yeah that's a good one!

LadyLazuli (Phantomarine)

A space explorer stranded on a foreign planet must join forces with the indigenous population and save his ship before his life support runs out.

Alternately

Small man goes to war with small carrot people

Pikmin

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

@Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios) I wonder if one could describe CoS the way how people might describe Evangelion, but with magical powers instead of mechs.

Teens, monsters, mental illnesses

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

Probably. Though I've never seen Evangelion, but those three words work very well.

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

The relationship dynamics are way different, but yeah, those three things...

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

Also add trauma and cute lil animals and you have Children of Shadow. XD

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Evangelion also has trauma (though I don't know if you'd like it; this isn't a rec, just a promo discussion!) and it was refreshing to see at the time

A teen trying to fight huge monsters, even if he was doing it inside an equally huge mech, could lead to traumatizing experiences, and it was the first time I saw that seriously explored

Hmm, so I guess "teens, talking animals, monsters, mental illnesses feat. trauma" ?

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

I don't know if it's similar at all, but that description reminds me strongly of Eureka 7. Wow, was that series intense,

🌈ERROR404 🌈

I really liked how the end happened - it was a nice solution to the lack of budget issue and told the story of his psyche reall well

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

Though Eureka 7 was intense in a good way. I found the ending kind of unsatisfying, but admittedly I find the endings of 90% of animes unsatisfying (probably a cultural clash). But I enjoy them for the journey more than the ending.

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

I haven't watched Eureka 7, but the storyboard artist (one of the storyboard artists maybe?) for that anime is one of my favorite artists.

DanitheCarutor

Ah, a little late, but regarding the snappy promos I'm in the same boat as Cap'n with not knowing how to make one. At least one that would be ridiculous and totally not fitting the darker themes. I agree with all the people who have a generally hard time coming up with a pitch for their work, while having an easier time promoting other people's comics. Honestly my comic can be super boring to people who don't like pretentious, non-fantastical, angsty, character study types of stories. So it's really hard to think of a way to make it sound interesting without spoiling anything. Man! That thing when people come up to you, asking what your comic is about! Me: "Oh! Ah, it's uh, kinda sad and it has uh mental illness" -trails off with uncomfortable laughter- Them: Oh cool. -has a look of complete disinterest- Someone was actually extremely enthusiastic about the vague description of my comic, which somehow made me a mix of uncomfortable and excited.

Eightfish (Puppeteer)

I saw the conversation about blurbs and I just thought of one for a comic I'm working on! "An ecologist and a bird have a conversation about ethics"

I haven't started the comic yet so please send your critiques(edited)

and first impressions

(of the blurb)

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

"Angsty character study with a heavy dose of mental illness" <--- Could this descriptor work? @DanitheCarutor

Eightfish (Puppeteer)

kei said exactly what I was just typing

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Great minds

Eightfish (Puppeteer)

oh, i just realized i've read dani's comic

I think your description is fine?

The artsy, angsty comics I follow all have kind of short, tongue in cheek descriptions

it's hard to capture the tone of an emotional comic in one sentence so they either joke about it or make it intentionally misleading

for example Drop Out's description is something like "two friends go on a road trip" and Fritz Fargo's description is "a human dumpster fire in the 90s"

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

The dumpster fire one is insta-effective

Eightfish (Puppeteer)

Dani, maybe make your description shorter if anything?

Something like, "An emotionally stunted alcoholic attempts to make amends"

and then follow it up with kei's line about it being an angsty character study

RebelVampire

Im not gonna stop the convo cause it is on topic. However, i do want to remind ppl these #creator_babble chats are permanently archived. So thats something to keep in mind if youre gonna workshop.

Eightfish (Puppeteer)

I asked before in this discord about making my own blurb better. The main critique I got was that I included too many things that I thought were interesting and unique that a new reader probably wouldn't care about. Like how the mc's powers work. But though it's unique and important to the story, it's not going to be a main reason someone reads the comic. I revised the blurb to remove extraneous info and make the tone of the comic more apparent, and I think now I didn't lose anything and made it more concise.

I think maybe agtahr could also be summarized a bit more succinctly

DanitheCarutor

Yup, you did once upon a time but said you stopped reading it a while ago. (which is totally fine, the reason is understandable.) The mix of yours and Keii's descriptions do sound a lot better than mine. Lol Thank you Fish and @keii’ii (Heart of Keol)! I've noticed people really like the word 'angst' when you describe heavy stuff. At least when I was a teenager everyone found it appealing. I'll tinker with it a bit and use Drop_Out and Fritz Fargo as a reference. Anyways, I'm going to stop talking now, don't want to bog down the main topic.

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

That's a good point; 'the best things about this story' and 'things that should go in its blurb' have an overlap, but they aren't always the same.

Eightfish (Puppeteer)

Yeah, I did but I'll probably pick it up again eventually. I remember enjoying it. If you do want to keep talking, we can move to shop talk?

mirandalorian

babbling I have the first three episodes of my webtoon ready to post tomorrow and I’m really excited and feel kinda proud that I made it this far...even though it’s not very far. It’s far for me without posting immediately end babbling

Feather J. Fern

I forgot to ask, but if people are tabling at cons, do you guys have promo stuff at your con tables for your comics?

Cronaj (Whispers of the Past)

Mostly a business card, but yes

carcarchu

i never did but my table partner one year had free postcards she gave out with purchase / to passerbys with her comic info and an illustration on it

kayotics

I always keep free postcards to advertise my comic on the table right next to my business cards.

LadyLazuli (Phantomarine)

Yep, the free postcards did wonders for me last year. They disappeared quickly!

Tuyetnhi (Only In Your Dreams!)

Buisness cards and postcards~

Feather J. Fern

Seems like Business and Postcards are the way to go.

Mei

business cards!!

i might be making flyers/postcards for my comic next time though! :D

sagaholmgaard

I haven't done much to promote my comic but I've gotten some good ideas reading through this, thanks! I currently plug my updates in twitter and instagram with a cool/fun panel from the new page. I do also share WIPS and try to engage through my instagram stories (Asking things like, 'what type of benders would the Reclaim squad be in an avatar au' and making doodles for the answers), but that only reaches those who follow my IG. its good fun tho. I've done memes with the characters a few times but I didn't get much attention, LOL. But it's fun so maybe worth trying again

Spring-heeled Jack

Today I went into a locally owned comic shop and went to the guy that owns it and said "I'm a local artist and I'm writing a comic. Could I give you some small flyers to let people take?" And he said yes, and then asked if I have any physical copies. I don't yet but told him I'll bring some by when I have them. He then let me know he carries other local artists! Something cool to think about if you have a local comic shop.

Tuyetnhi (Only In Your Dreams!)

ooo that's good to know

I droped off my zines at my local comic shop but maybe I'll drop flyers of my webcomic too lmaooo

Spring-heeled Jack

I also just ordered a business card carrier so I can tote some around with ease. I carry my flyers in my sketchbook. You should totally ask, it never hurts! Carry a few extra just in case you find yourself in a new area and find another cafe or comic shop.

I ran mine off on my at home printer on some nice quality but regular weight paper. I might need to get some more professionally done.

Erin Ptah (BICP | Leif & Thorn)

I keep a handful of business cards in my wallet -- that way, any time someone says "hey, that looks cool, what are you drawing?" they get a card with the title and URL. Slowly but steadily burns through the supply.

DanitheCarutor

Seeing if my local book shops will carry copies of my comic when I print them eventually is something I'm kind of excited about! My town is hardcore into supporting local artists and writers, so that'll be something neat to try out. Although I'm a little nervous that the rating might be a little too mature for what the vendors want on their shelves.

I know of using postcards to advertise, but never heard of fliers. Maybe I'll give that a try.(edited)

Cronaj (Whispers of the Past)

I use double sided business cards, so on one side, it showcases some of my art, and the other side has contact info, a link to my comic website, and a QR code. It's been pretty helpful so far at conventions.

Nutty (Court of Roses)

You guys have all these sophisticated answers to this and my answer is just "scream on every social media platform I can reach and every person I meet about my comic."

Though I may not scream at people irl,,,

snuffysam (Super Galaxy Knights)

Let's see... I have a twitter where I repost my comic pages, and a couple mirrors that help reach different audiences. I've also carried around business cards that have my comic's URL on it. One fun strategy I've used is doing review-exchange things, in an I-critique-your-comic-if-you-critique-mine way (with the assumption that most people who read all the way through Super Galaxy Knights end up liking it). Though, that isn't really viable anymore now that the comic is 600+ pages, cuz nobody would ever agree to that trade lol. And... that's pretty much it? Though, I should note that my goal with Super Galaxy Knights isn't to make the most popular comic I can so that I can make a living off ads or patreon or print sales or whatever. If I ever do manage to make money off the comic, it'll be in "spinoff tech" (basically, video games or other media based off it). (it's the reason why a bunch of early Starstuff Stories fleshed out the abilities of the characters they focused on) I would like people to read the story because I think people would like the story, but it's not like my future depends on its popularity.

Holmeaa - working on WAYFINDERS

We (me and Q) are gonna (hopefully) tabeling at cons this year! I thought about doing free non permenant tattoos with our comic things. Also we have beautiful zines of the first chapter to sell. but a free postcard is also good

Desnik

promotional strategies...ah...the biggest thing I did for my first webcomic, RAWR! Dinosaur Friends, was simply update on a general platform (tumblr), using a consistent schedule and the same tags every time. That allowed some of the bigger biology/humor/critter blogs on tumblr to find me and I got a lot of people reading from their generous reblogs. I found some more niche crossover from sci-comm blog comments and dinosaur toy collector forums, because sometimes I'd have a comic that would coincide with paleontology news. It was mainly about finding my niche and bringing my stuff to that niche. To those struggling with finding readers, I would recommend distilling the contents of your comic and then reaching out to people who buy/read things like your comic. I've definitely made friends from general 'webcomic' forums and discords, but in terms of building a readership it's all about finding the niche and catering to it in a human way

In general I highly recommend shopping around for stuff like hobby blogs/forums/groups/discords that have some relation to the content of your webcomic. Those people DO want new content related to their hobby, but they don't really deal well with salesy pitches. Just be human and also a nerd for that hobby, too (nerdy enough to make webcomics about it)

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Yeah, it's like fan comic for an existing IP with an existing fandom, except it's a fan comic of a 'thing' rather than an IP (e.g. you make a pirate comic? Great! Nobody owns pirates, but there are lots of pirate fans out there!).

LadyLazuli (Phantomarine)

The very first customer I had at the first con I tabled at, came over and said "I like ghosts! I like the ocean! I'll take it!" And wrote me later saying it was exactly what they were looking for.

And honestly it's all because I make sure every cover has something spooky and something watery, and the genres are in the title I make it very easy for people to understand what it might be like.

Eightfish (Puppeteer)

omg the genres are in the title

that's genius

LadyLazuli (Phantomarine)

Definitely not planned But it helps so much!

I think if authors have a rule on certain symbols/motifs they MUST make sure come across on covers/posters/etc, that can be a good marketing strategy. With some wiggle room, of course.

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

I... I feel like I can barely even describe what my comic is, which makes it so hard to market. 'Do you like comics with cute animals and eldritch horrors and angsty teens that have superpowers and hidden religious symbolism everywhere?!? Then my comic is for you!' What even is that demographic, because I sure don't know.(edited)

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

@Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios) If you take away the cute animals part, that actually sounds like stuff a lot of teens are into/ a lot of people were into when they were teens. And most people love cute animals, so adding that to the mix, in theory, shouldn't reduce the accessibility too much. Buuuuut CoS has its unique flavor that's decidedly different from all the "angsty teens, eldritch horrors, religious symbolism" stuff I consumed when I was younger. I don't know how to describe that flavor, nor how to utilize it for marketing. But yeah, maybe some food for thought?

Eightfish (Puppeteer)

I've used short phrases that are sort of representative to describe my comic. Examples include "consensual mind control" "a guy whose ideal life is not being entirely alive" "friendship" and "anticlimactic conversations"

I have no idea how effective any of those are

someone tell me pls

LadyLazuli (Phantomarine)

As someone who just started reading your comic last night I think consensual mind control is a really cool descriptor. I haven't heard that too much before.

Eightfish (Puppeteer)

!

that makes me happy

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

@keii’ii (Heart of Keol) Heh, I'm not sure what that unique flavour is, either, but it might have something to do with me avoiding the typical 'chosen one' structure that most teen fantasy literature has. The characters are all (except Fawna) a part of the hidden world already rather than discovering it, and everyone's pretty much running around like chickens with their heads cut off rather than having any power over their situation (which is kind of a huge part of the theme of the comic). It's definitely different than the typical urban fantasy, so it's been really hard to find which audience that appeals to. From what I've gathered based on the people who comment on my website, it's mostly academics in college or beyond, for whatever reason. XD

Eightfish (Puppeteer)

Honestly I think for almost all comics their first pages were what convinced me to keep reading. Even with Phantomarine I was ambivalent about the description but then I saw the first page, and though, yeah, I'm into this.

Maybe my own comic can be the same way

LadyLazuli (Phantomarine)

Exactly the same with me and your comic - I was also all about that first page It's a powerful thing! I think for anyone about to delve into a comic - which is, by nature, a very visual thing - it's going to be that visual that ultimately pushes them over the edge.

Eightfish (Puppeteer)

maybe my description should just be ascii art of my main character O-O | -(edited)

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

^ It's why I tinkered with the first page of HoK soooo many times even after it went live. But it wasn't enough; it still gave off the wrong impression as to what kind of a story one should expect. Finally, more than a year after I started posting it, I redid like 1/4 to 1/3 of chapter one from scratch. Even though it will never be perfect, I can live with it now. chapter 2 on the other hand... It's an imperfect intro to the right story, rather than an intro (good or not) to the wrong story.

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

To be honest, my intro probably doesn't hit the right notes to explain what my comic is about, which may be part of my problem. It starts out seeming more like an anthropomorphic fantasy than a dark urban fantasy / horror story. That's just something I think I'm going to have to live with, because I'm tired of reworking old pages (I already do it far too much). I think my best solution is drawing a new cover that showcases the tone and subject matter better than the one I'm using now.

Eightfish (Puppeteer)

oh god, you reminded me of the 3 cover pages I spent hours on only to later scrap. Then my current cover page I did in one hour after it came to me at 4am(edited)

and it was perfect

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

XD

and my page redoings were after the reboot.

Eightfish (Puppeteer)

Cap, I don't know how representative it is of the story but I looked up the Ashes cover page and it's very impressive

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

Yeah, I already redrew my intro once.... and this is the third iteration of this comic. And I'm currently redrawing the first two chapters of my other comic. I'm so sick to death of starting over. -_-

@Eightfish (Puppeteer) Oh, thank you!! I like to go all-out on covers, heh.

Kabocha

Promotion... ... is that a thing you can eat? ... A few things I've tried is business cards -- tweeting about it -- posting about it on dA... I try to stay away from services like Tapas and Webtoon because I'm not formatted for those sorts of things, and I fear I'll probably just frustrate myself. It's a delicate balance right now between remaining happy with my work and getting it seen, but overall, I guess I'm not too stressed about it since it's not a source of income for me... I just... like making comics. I've also done conventions -- Conventions are fun, don't get me wrong, but nowadays they're a really low return on interest for many shows for original stuff (except slice of life and "oh no I did a bad" types of zines -- people seem to really enjoy things like that since it's often pretty easy to relate to). They feel like they used to be easier for selling original work, but the market's gotten rougher because there's so much competition and only so many dollars. if I ever print, I'm probably going to have to lean on some marketing-savvy friends for help... Hopefully things haven't changed too much by then. I think the tool that's worked best for me in the past few years has been doing guest comics here and there, as well as using topwebcomics, oddly enough. TWC was pretty good for referrals when I started doing comics way back in 2006~2007...

sagaholmgaard

Since the topic is about promotion... Do yall know if there are any twitter hashtag events for webcomic creators? My friends in the indie game industry have certain hashtags that people can post in during specific times every week - do we have anything similar?

Kabocha

#Webcomicchat!

https://webcomicchat.com/for-creators You may also find this page helpful

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

#webcomicchat is great because you get to talk shop while talking about your own work! It's not just "look at my comic"

sagaholmgaard

Ahh!! Thank you!

LadyLazuli (Phantomarine)

I know some people do #WebcomicWednesday - not sure how official it is, but it gets some attention!

sagaholmgaard

I'll check that one out as well!

Tuyetnhi (Only In Your Dreams!)

There's also #comicartistsunite too

chalcara [Nyx+Nyssa]

webcomicchat always looked like fun, but I definitively am on the wrong side of the globe for the times it's going on

mirandalorian

Promotion is difficult. I always feel like I'm being too pushy, even for something that's free. I also feel like I built up a following that had nothing to do with comics or art and so when I switched directions to head that way, i don't get the response I would like. Reading all the thoughts here has been really helpful tho. Just got to put them into practice

Feather J. Fern

I think my current attempt for promotion is at least being more willing to promote. I have to force my fear of "I shouldn't tell people because it's not as good as (blank)" and just shove my comic into a spotlight

LadyLazuli (Phantomarine)

If anyone is worried about bothering people, putting variety into your promotions will make things more palatable for people for sure. I have one person on my timeline spamming the same exact post over and over again, almost daily, and it doesn't seem to be doing them any favors There's no need for a promotion every day. The people I see that do a more-obvious promotion tweet, like, weekly, or every two weeks, seem to get good results from that Sometimes less is more

mirandalorian

I need to get to that point Feathery. And ya, daily is a bit extreme imo. But I have to figure out the good balance

Feather J. Fern

Even weekly I don't do it because I feel like I am spamming and I feel awkward

Oh! Speaking of promotions, one way I found I got my comic promoted was by doing guest comics for other people! I got lots of viewers after each guest comic I did

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Yeah, for social media promo, e.g. on Twitter, you want to make your actual tweets have value -- not just things being linked off the tweets. (This is where gag-a-day kinda comics have an advantage, because each strip has entertainment value and you can just post the whole strip in a tweet.) Obviously this doesn't apply to every promo tweet; so like, weekly promo tweet that's solely about the links, as mentioned by others, is fine. But yeah, aside from those, you wanna make your promo tweets fun to read.

Feather J. Fern

Also cameos! Cameos are a great promo

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Not gonna lie, I am lowkey paranoid about doing cameos. Someone I know had to remove their cameo of someone else's character, because that other person objected to their character being in the print version of the comic.

chalcara [Nyx+Nyssa]

Uff

Tuyetnhi (Only In Your Dreams!)

oh rip

Feather J. Fern

Oh man, that's rough.

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

I'll never even print HoK but I can still imagine someone being all "NOPE, I CHANGED MY MIND" at a later time

Feather J. Fern

I am planning to do some cameos for other people, not that Go Figure will ever be in print but I can see that problem. I think what I would say is that if you want a cameo you have to be 100% certain

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Might be a good idea to have a very simple agreement thing you can have them sign

Feather J. Fern

Yeah I was going to have a written consent form

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

"I agree to let you do a cameo of my character, and to not be a jerk about it at a later time. Signed"

Feather J. Fern

Signed and dated by both parties XD

Tantz Aerine (Without Moonlight)

There's also the broad hashtags like #webcomics and even things more geared to genres like #drama and #fantasy and so on. Doing art memes helps sometimes, too.

mirandalorian

What do you think the best hashtags to use are? Is webcomics too saturdated?

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

I'm not sure about the best hashtags, but my biggest thing about hashtags on Twitter : don't use a bunch of hashtags in a single tweet!

For broad hashtags like #webcomics or #fantasy, I gotta wonder if anyone's actually checking those out...

mariah (rainy day dreams)

Yeah, I usually tag my update posts with #webcomic and my comic's name, but honestly I have no idea if #webcomic has ever helped out my post ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

mirandalorian

Ya, I typically keep it to two or less, but i always wonder if webcomic is actually useful lol

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

takes note to use something more specific than #webcomic in my next update tweet

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

I think it may potentially be useful as a label for someone who's just found you on that platform, and is not sure what you're promoting. But beyond that...

Tantz Aerine (Without Moonlight)

I usually use #historicalfiction and #webcomic. Not sure which one helps more, but well, there it is.

mirandalorian

Ya, I should use the genre tag too.

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Do people even search genre tags for that matter lol (a bit pessimistic, but still a genuine question)

like, I'll be the first to admit, I don't hashtag search to look for new comics to read. I don't think I ever hashtag search ANYTHING, unless it's like..... a very active trend that I am interested in (e.g. an upcoming video game that I'm looking forward to)

Tantz Aerine (Without Moonlight)

Well, the tags are popular enough to be suggested by twitter so I'd think some use them, probably likeminded folk.

mariah (rainy day dreams)

Same keii. I mostly use hashtags to look for fan art, exclusively on Instagram.

Tantz Aerine (Without Moonlight)

There's also a trend of "art sharing" tweets. I have found a couple of artists and webcomics through that kind of event, but again, the turnover isn't anything to write home about.

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

I wonder if readers make use of the search more than us creators do?

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

I doubt it, Lee

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

:/

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

I never use it as a reader, at any rate, though I don't know if others are like that.

mariah (rainy day dreams)

Though, actually that's not true, I have used hashtags to look at more things being posted within art events. So inktober, mermay, hourly comic day, etc.

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

But art event hashtags are useful, because -- like I mentioned before -- those tweets provide entertainment value without anyone having to click on offsite links. e.g. the #StartToFinish tag that's hot right now.

mariah (rainy day dreams)

I have followed new artists from those tags though and then checked out their off-site stuff. It's definitely a more round about way than someone specifically looking for comics to read via hashtag

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

From my limited observation, when people are looking for comics to read, they tend to ask for recs rather than do hashtag search?

"Anyone know of some good magical girl webcomics?" etc

which is a bit of a bummer for us creators, because that is completely outside of our control. Nothing we can do about it.

Tantz Aerine (Without Moonlight)

here's the popularity for the #webcomics tag

So SOME people use it.

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

@Tantz Aerine (Without Moonlight) I'm gonna guess it's mostly creators using them to promote, rather than readers using them to search.

Tantz Aerine (Without Moonlight)

Also it seems to be peak in popularity in the USA

@keii’ii (Heart of Keol) the graph implies interaction, really.

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

What counts as interaction?

Tantz Aerine (Without Moonlight)

tweeting it and searching it

what I'm saying is we can't know.

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

I don’t so much in Twitter, but I personally DO search hashtags on Insta to find new art.

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

It's true, we can't know. I just personally can't imagine anyone searching for #webcomics to find stuff to read

mariah (rainy day dreams)

Insta is definitely hashtag game city.

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Yeah, IG is a different beast

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

Comics don’t generally gel so well with Insta’s format, though, so I’m usually seeking art and not comics.

Tantz Aerine (Without Moonlight)

just to be safe, occasionally use it

To be honest, I'm probably more likely to find and become a fan of webcomics here on this server than any social media

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Yeah, I wouldn't say "don't use #webcomics" -- use it if you have no other, more specific tags to put. But on Twitter, you don't want too many hashtags, so if you got more specific ones... use those instead!

Tantz Aerine (Without Moonlight)

I feel somewhat self conscious in getting an instagram. But I'll get one most likely.

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

It might be a good idea to switch up your tags regularly? Choose two or three from a relevant list each update and see if any of those tweets get a noticeable boost in engagement.

Tantz Aerine (Without Moonlight)

Yeah that sounds a good strategy

speaking of, any other creators into historical webcomics?

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

I don't seek them out, but there's some that I read.

Tantz Aerine (Without Moonlight)

yours is touching upon the historical keii with the joseon-style elements.

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

It's definitely not historical but yeah, got the aesthetics going for it!

Tantz Aerine (Without Moonlight)

Yeah!

I must admit, I'm a bit starved for like-minded creators. I mean people that create historical webcomics. I know and follow a few but that's not nearly enough.

(if I'm babbling too much for creator babble please tell me!)

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Babbling is fine! But this might be better for #general or possibly shop talk as it's not related to this week's topic?

Tantz Aerine (Without Moonlight)

oh sorry, there's a specific topic here too?

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Yeah, all the channels under CTP Activities have a... topic thingie that changes weekly

Tantz Aerine (Without Moonlight)

okay got it. I'll take it there. Sorry :/

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

Don't be sorry, be glad to chat about this stuff in another channel

chalcara [Nyx+Nyssa]

With insta please be mindful that if you‘ll always post with the same hashtags, their algorythmn likely will assume you‘re a bot.

mirandalorian

Oh really?

I definitely did not know that.

chalcara [Nyx+Nyssa]

Yup, it‘s a big annoyance. At least it was that way half a year ago, how is the algorythm now? Nobody knows.

I kinda hate insta, but it‘s the platform with the most interactions for me, although I don‘t know if it goes beyound liking my panel cutout.

chalcara [Nyx+Nyssa]

Instagram does it‘s darnest to lock the user into theor own ecosystem.

mariah (rainy day dreams)

Yeah, hard same. I definitely get the most likes there, but I get very few referrals from insta.

chalcara [Nyx+Nyssa]

Funnily, the only social media where I KNOW I got at least one reader from is pillowfort and their teeny-tiny webcomic comunity!

mariah (rainy day dreams)

I keep wanting to hop over there, but also starting a new social media sounds exhausting TuT one day.

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

I need to start using PF

chalcara [Nyx+Nyssa]

It‘s pretty chill, reminds me of the hey-day of livejournal, with great filtering - more intended to create many small communities than one giant pot like twitter.

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

I don’t think any platform’s algorithms like me. I get very low engagement no matter where I post. I’m just not good at figuring out what these platforms pick up.(edited)

chalcara [Nyx+Nyssa]

I still have three invites left for this week.

Tantz Aerine (Without Moonlight)

Does cross promotion work for you guys at all?

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

A little bit? But I think my comics are a hard sell, so I generally don’t get a lot of referrals when I cross-promote with other creators.

chalcara [Nyx+Nyssa]

It‘s how I found this community; but otherwise, nope.

Tantz Aerine (Without Moonlight)

Now I need to check out your comics Lee. I'm intrigued!

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

Haha, if you want to! If they’re not your cup of tea that’s a-okay.

mariah (rainy day dreams)

I still have three invites left for this week.

@chalcara [Nyx+Nyssa] if you don't have plans for those invites, I would definitely take one and follow you first

Cronaj (Whispers of the Past)

About the hashtag thing on Twitter..... I have found the hashtags #webtoon #webtooncanvas and #celebrateCANVASday to be particularly useful for those of us publishing on Webtoon Canvas. I have gained a few new readers from this, and the official Webtoon Canvas page often retweets when these hashtags are used.

mariah (rainy day dreams)

That's good to know. I'm planning to start mirroring on Webtoon so I'll have to be sure to remember to use those tags.

keii’ii (Heart of Keol)

I need to fix my series on WT first. But I'll give those hashtags a try once that's been done

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

I tried using webtoon hashtags a few times, but their page never retweeted me. It seems either random, or there’s some hidden requirement for getting a rt.

Tuyetnhi (Only In Your Dreams!)

i use the tag sometimes but I found it more responsive if you have a vertical scrolling format comic

then they're more likely to respond to you

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

Oh, yeah.... I use a traditional page format.

Tuyetnhi (Only In Your Dreams!)

same rip

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

I do combine all my pages into long episodes at the ends of chapters, so it’s kinda scrolling, but they’re just traditional pages stacked on top of each other, lol. WT definitely doesn’t like that, but I don’t have the time to reformat hundreds of pages.

Feather J. Fern

Also promo thought, I randomly joined people's streams before and then got hooked on their comics after seeing them draw on twitch or something like that

Pistashi

I struggle a bit with promo stuff, because I get too self-conscious about self-promoting and I'm the type of person that ends up doing too much of it or none of it

at the moment I'm working on making a press kit and sharing it with some blogs and networks about comics

but still, what I usually do is join groups and try to talk with people that works with art and comics

this is kind of more inclined to networking and meeting new people to talk about what we like than promoting my work to potential readers

nothing wrong with that, but looking with a more critical eye I still have a lot to learn about building an audience and reaching people who could become future readers

chalcara [Nyx+Nyssa]

I wonder HOW much a large social media following is worth. Insta‘s shown me that it isn‘t necessarily translating into readers.

carcarchu

in my experience followings on different platforms are non-transferable. same goes with having a large following on your comic itself, doesn't necessarily mean having a lot of followers on your art accounts. that's why they say "don't build your sandcastle in someone else's sandbox"

Pistashi

that makes a lot of sense

kayotics

If you’re building your following around your own content (original art, comic updates, etc) then the likelihood that the following is transferable is higher, but it’s still not 100%. You’re competing with everything else on their timeline too.

RebelVampire

i think a thing to consider with webcomics especially when it comes to social media is that a good portion of people who follow comic creators on social media are other comic creators, not people who are just readers. and the good majority of comic creators do not have a lot of time to read other webcomics. While there are certainly exceptions, I see those very few and far in between. So the conversion rates for social media right now are super low until the dynamic of the communities on the platforms changes.

kayotics

I’d agree with that, but also having a social media presence has definitely opened up some doors to being seen by other creators, many of whom are professionals. It’s good for networking, might not be the best for gaining and retaining readers.

RebelVampire

Oh yeah for sure. My point was about conversion factor

its factor in networking is a whole other matter entirely

and is indespensible

kayotics

One thing that I didn’t mention for myself is that networking has helped a LOT with getting new readers. Word of mouth, is always the best way to advertise, and other webcomic people giving you a plug can see some really strong results

[dwtsfun]

Dancing with the Stars Season 29 Week 2: Y’all Already Starting to Piss Me Off

So listen. Tyra is not perfect. Tyra is not making this show bad. Tyra did NOT yell at Derek. Like anyone else, Tyra is finding her footing. Tom, Lisa, Samantha, Brooke and Erin all had to do that. And they were all granted the ability to learn and get used to it (not really Lisa since they dropped her after season 1). And damnit, y’all will give Tyra that same opportunity. Also, let’s talk about this “yelling” situation. I have seen enough comments and I just know people are going to write articles about that bullshit. Stop. What is different between when Tyra told Derek to hurry up and when Tom was telling all them judges to hurry up every week? They used the same exact tone of voice and same volume. So again, what’s the difference. Anyone saying that she yelled, why? Why do you say that? Be honest. What is the difference? I just told you all that it was delivered similarly. So what is it? Is it the recipient? Instead of it being an elderly man, it was a young and attractive white man? Or is it the fact that Tyra is a Black woman and Tom is a white man? Ask yourselves that. I don’t wanna have to get on here every week, mad, and have to address things like this because people are being stupid racist. But I will if I have to. Trust that I will. You don’t have to like her, but be fair. Some of these critiques are not fair at all.

Anyway, I thought the intro was cute. It was a nice way to remind everyone that there was an elimination tonight while being fun and allowing Tyra bring a little more of herself to the table. As for the show, it was very meh. A lot of wtf scores were given out. The elimination was bs in my opinion. And most of the dances were mid. So with that said, let’s just get this ranking started.

1. Kaitlyn and Artem- They got the highest score of the night (a 22) and I think it was well deserved. Last week I talked about how soft and pretty she moves and how it’s something that I don’t like in Latin? Yeah, well this week, it worked perfectly for this foxtrot. It always does. Kaitlyn’s lines were gorgeous and she was incredibly graceful and elegant. There were a couple of iffy moments in there though I wasn’t able to quite catch what happened. The camerawork was kinda sloppy tonight. I think she may have slipped which makes me think that the floor was pretty slick tonight as many people slipped. But yeah, she had a great showing.

2. Nev and Jenna- This dance was the most shocking of the night to me. I’m a Nev believer now. He’s got what it takes to go far. Now his dance was slightly awkward in my opinion. He danced really high tonight. Some of that may come from his shoulders, but some of it felt like he was just lifting his entire body up unnaturally. It was strange. But other than that, he’s actually a lot better than I expected he would be in Latin. As far as the whole Jenna situation goes that was revealed recently, I don’t know y’all. I just can’t get behind them. But they’re good.

3. AJ and Cheryl- Right now, AJ is the best mover of the men. I say that cautiously because there are two more who might be better once they really get settled into the competition (more on them later). I thought this foxtrot was really good. AJ was elegant. And he actually leads Cheryl pretty well. My big issue with this dance is actually kind of petty But it was that I wanted him to close his mouth. It was wide open for most of the dance and it really bothered me lol. I know I know. I thought they did a great job though. I wish they would have been scored properly. He should’ve gotten a 21.

4. Jeannie and Brandon- I waffled back and forth between Justina and Jeannie for this spot. I ended up going with Jeannie though because I though Brandon’s choreography was better than Sasha’s. Jeannie was much improved from last week. She had a lot more hip action and she was more controlled. As Bruno said, she needs some more polish and she still needs to reign in her energy a bit more. But she is definitely one to watch. As far as the score goes, bogus. She should’ve gotten at least two 7s. She didn’t trip and the judges said she improved. So that should’ve translated into scores.

5. Justina and Sasha- I just realized that I don’t really care for Sasha’s foxtrots. This dance was nice and pretty. Justina performed it well. But I was left feeling kinda whatever about it. I’m sure the singers had something to do with that. Sorry to Whitney and Mariah. That vocal was atrocious and I honestly couldn’t even focus on the dance the first time around because they were so bad. Anyway, Justina has issues with her turns, but otherwise, she’s still a contender.

6. Skai and Alan- From the score that these two got, you would have thought that this dance was a complete disaster. But it was far from that. A samba in week 2 rarely goes over well. The rhythm, technique, bounce and hip action needed are all very complicated to put together this early in the competition. It should be done no earlier than week 3. With that said, I think Skai did a pretty okay job. She did slip but it was one moment that she recovered from. I think the floors were very slick last night because quite a few celebs stumbled. Straight 5s were just really low considering the fact that the rest of the dance went fine and many other celebs that had worse dances than her scored similarly or higher.

7. Johnny and Britt- The choreography was very interesting and I have to really commend Britt for what she came up with. It was really dynamic and just very intriguing. Unfortunately, Johnny struggled a bit. He seemed to have issues keeping up and I’m not quite sure what made that happen. He also just seemed a little clumsy throughout the dance. I do think it’s a confidence thing and once he really starts to believe that he is capable of doing this, that he will truly blossom. He is one of the two male celebs that I think has the potential to be a better mover than AJ. 

8. Anne and Keo- I can’t remember if I said this last week, but I think Anne is the actual dark horse. She’s doing alright. She’s going to get better. She has a very endearing personality. And her partnership with Keo is one of the best this season. The judges were right in their assessment of all that energy in Anne’s upper body (specifically her shoulders) and that it needs to be calmed down. Other than that, I’m enjoying these two together and I can’t wait to see what they bring next week.

9. Nelly and Daniella- Nelly is the other male celeb that I think can be a better mover than AJ. The reason that he’s not right now is that he’s just not fully letting go. That’s not saying that he’s not committed to doing the show. He clearly is. I mean his technique and his attention to the smaller details should make that crystal clear. But I just think he doesn’t want to look goofy. Him getting custom made dance shoes that look like Jordans (genius by the way) revealed that. But to be honest, he will never look goofy. Once he loosens up some more and lets go of the image he wants to uphold, I think he will shock a lot of people. Also let me give kudos to Daniella for meeting him where he’s at and working with him so well. She is doing a great job so far.

10. Jesse and Sharna- I did not understand the score this dance got or the praise that was heaped on it at all. I don’t think it was worthy of 7s. I think he should’ve gotten the same score as Monica. He wasn’t smooth and his posture was bad. His technique also wasn’t great. I do see he’s good at leading, but that’s really it. I didn’t see what the judges saw. It was forgettable and not great. It wasn’t bad, it was just very meh.

11.Vernon and Peta- Something about Vernon’s costume felt very off. I don’t want to call it amateurish because the costume department is usually very very good at their jobs (the best along with makeup). But that costume? Yeah well, it happened. As for the dance, I didn’t start out liking it, but as it went on, I enjoyed it more. Vernon settled into it and gave a very respectable performance. Now the issue was that his shaping was off. His butt kept going further and further out. He also dances kind of small and for such a large man, he can’t do that. They’ll be fine for now. I just can’t wait for Vernon to have his breakthrough. He is definitely a diamond in the rough.

12. Chrishell and Gleb- I did not like this dance at all and I have to blame that all on Gleb. What Chrishell did was fine for the most part. But Gleb gave her very little content and the choreo was just strange. It honestly just didn’t make sense. Idk. I feel bad because Chrishell had some goregeous lines and some nice movement in that dance (even if she lacked hip action). I can see how much potential she has. But I just don’t think Gleb is going to be able to pull it out of her.

13. Monica and Val- These two are a non-event for me. Monica isn’t doing anything wrong. I like her fine. I actually think she’s a cool person and would be willing to sit down and hang out with her. But this dance was strange. The set was odd. I don’t understand what that was about. Their costumes made no sense either. The choreo felt aimless. And then Val added in that unnecessary lift. Listen, I get taking risks to try and a big splash. Sometimes it is necessary to sacrifice the scores in order to separate yourself from the rest of the pack. But that risk has to actually mean something. What was the purpose of that lift that he added? It did nothing for the dance. It was just there. And Monica is not someone who can sacrifice points at this time. I do think that she’s in the danger zone and if they don’t really make a splash, they could be eliminated soon.

14. Charles and Emma- I liked Charles’s dance this week. He improved a lot and I don’t think he should’ve been eliminated. Based on what we saw, I felt as though he had more in him than Carole has in her. It just is what it is. It frustrated me that for the second season in a row the first person eliminated was actually better and showed more promise than the person that was saved.

15. Carole and Pasha- Was this an improvement? Yes. Did Carole do all the steps mostly right? Yes. Did I still hate this dance? Also, yes. This was strange. I hated it. The cat theme went way over the top and it went from cute to just flat out creepy. I hated it. Now I’m not sure what voting is like this season, but I feel that Carole may see a slight vote increase since she ended up in the bottom 2 last night and also was emotional in her package and during her interview with Tyra and all that. This wouldn’t be an issue normally because I would still fully expect for her to be in the bottom again next week. But I am not sure how Chrishell, Monica, Jesse and a couple others are doing with fans. So she could be spared next week and not even end up in the bottom 2.

So that’s that. Hope you all liked last night’s show. Again, it was just alright for me. Let me know your thoughts and I will talk to you all soon.

[abhordelano]

AS3 Hot Takes - episode 2

I’m going to be honest here: this episode was....pretty fucked up. For the record, I totally wish I could just do video reviews, but I have crappy editing skills and no time/resources to pull that all together so for now I’m probably not going to bother:

Let me just start with the things I did like about this episode: I think theres actually noticeable chemistry between the contestants. These are all queens who know each other pretty well but are not afraid to be catty and shady with each other(which...is unspeakably mandatory as a drag queen to be honest). Shangela giving us diva Mariah behavior during rehearsal was nothing short of iconic. Actually, every time Shangela is on screen feels like prime reality TV. Her performance skills are incredibly polished and I can tell she is here to play the reality tv game but also to serve #Talent while doing that.

The runway this episode was actually pretty good. Every single person’s runway  redemption looked very well-done and worthy of an All Stars season. Each look pretty accurately displays the individual queen’s growth since their season, and it’s refreshing to see the comparison to what they did vs what they’re serving now. Also, I LIVED for Kennedy’s explanation of her DBH look back on Season 7 so seeing it revamped and done well makes me love it even more!

I found that the editing was very heavy-handed and it became increasingly obvious that the production team is fixing the race for certain queens and sabotaging it for others. Lets go into some of the obvious cases:

The inconsistency with the choreography for each of the queens was very obvious. Why did Kennedy have to do intense choreography (which he probably only had 1-2 rehearsals to pull together) while Thorgy was told to just wing it? To be fair, I think Todrick wasn't given any specific instruction by the producers about what kind of finished product to go for, so thats why it looks like he’s basically half-assing it (just randomly assigning queens to be backup dancers was an obvious sign that this was a half-assed effort. Even if they also did that with every other lip-sync challenge, actually showing us that makes it painfully obvious that they didn't give a fuck about what what they were doing).

The musical material felt really tacky, forced, and thrown together. In AS2′s Herstory of the World, each queen’s bit was more open to unique interpretations by each of the queens and thats how we got so many amazing performances that episode (and yes I know they totally shafted Katya then but it was less obvious than what we got here). Also, DID ANYONE ELSE NOTICE THEY JUST RECYCLED THE MUSICAL MATERIAL FROM THE ENDING OF THE KARDASHIAN MUSICAL???! 

This challenge seemed cool in theory but it was executed so poorly. The thing is, we already have a celebrity impersonation challenge, its called Snatch Game and its something that RPDR fans like myself wait for with anticipation every season, and even if they aren't great its still exciting to see what each queen does because its IMPROVISATIONAL and unpredictable! This challenge leaves very little room for character interpretation, especially because each character was already assigned to them and then having to impersonate that character spot-on while doing one of RuPaul’s songs (another example of ego-stroking on his part but I won't get into that...yet). The whole thing ends up feeling very....uninspired.

Going into the deliberation, WHY WAS CHI CHI LOW THIS EPISODE!??! The only negative critique she got boiled down to “your outfit is kinda basic compared to everyone else’s and you dont need that jacket”. Like...its miles beyond the mediocre outfit she did on Season 8 so why is she called out on that? Moreoever, WHY WASN’T MILK IN THE BOTTOM 3? Her performance didn't really give off anything Celene Dion-like, and her runway redemption felt even more basic than Thorgy, Not to mention that its also a basic look for Milk...like, glamor does not have to equate to a bland slit gown with safety pins?

The lip sync was...decent. Shangela was giving everything thats expected of that kind of lip sync and DeLa...knew that she was losing so she just did her own comedic thing that displayed effort but not detracting too much attention from Shangela.

Elimination: Shangela made the right decision: Kennedy definitely had a lot more potential to go further in the season, and Thorgy was definitely getting into her head again this episode. Yes, BOTH of them were sabotaged to fail on this challenge, but I think that Kennedy put in more effort in her performance AND displayed a stronger sense of determination to stay during deliberation. 

Next episode: Looks like an improv-focused challenge based on The Bachelor, (a show which I have NO expertise on), but looks like its gonna be GREAT because improv usually makes for great TV. I think so many of these queens can excel super well with this type of challenge. Also, it’s usually better when the producers can just TRUST their contestants, who in this show are all entertaining and charismatic people, to generate hilarious moments. I’m almost actually willing to let this mediocre episode slide because the next episode has be very intrigued.

I’ll rate this episode a 3/10, nice idea but really half-assed in its execution...and even though everyone looked nice though its difficult to overlook the glaringly bad editing. I forgot to rate the first episode, which I’ll give a 6/10 because even though it was better structured and everything one needs in a first episode, it just felt like a lesser remake of the first episode of All Stars 2.

[sunset-wishes-upon-hill]

The Liars and The Soothsayer chapter 5 (Part 2)

Most patients that went and out through the doors were prostitutes. It wasn’t quite difficult to distinguish them. They all wore some sort of trademark that denoted their status as the ‘women of the night’. It could be the way they dressed that hinted more skin than it was socially appropriate, or the obvious thick make up than other women, or sometimes you didn’t know. It seemed her daily life as a doctor consisted of killing unborn children more than treating the patients. It was why she snapped, Yuri remembered, watching them throwing away something that was forcibly denied from her was something that would unravel anyone.

Yuri shifted in her seat, her legs resting on the seat and her arms crossed upon the top rail and supporting her chin. Her eyes gazed toward the constructing Tower Bridge. The scenery was a nostalgic one as she remembered walking across them with her friends as they chattered about their school works, friends and problems while sipping their milkshakes. Many things, she realised, took for granted. But it was too late to regret now.

She fell asleep. She didn’t realise until her head slipped down the chair and bumped into the next rail. There was few patients waiting but they seemed to be seen by the other doctors.

“Angelina?” She knocked.

No answer.

She knocked again, this time a bit harder and louder. Her chest tightened as ominous feeling rushed through her.

It can’t be. Yuri opened the door only to find her chair empty. She rushed out of the hospital, asking the passing by nurses and doctors if they saw Angelina in the last few hours. They seemed to not notice her absent. She didn’t blame them. They were busy attending to their patients. She froze. Wait a minute… Yuri turned around and headed back to her office. There must be some clue about the next victim. Her victims were her patients. That was her MO.

She quietly slipped and locked the doors. Heading to her table, she pulled out the cabinet and the files in it. They were always females. Yuri separated the files into two categories: males and females. They had abortions. She deducted them from the female category but there were still more than a handful of them and too little time to visit all of them. Limit it to last week to today, she was left with two. She checked the dates and the name ‘Mariah Gales’ caught her attention. She underwent abortion today. Yuri took down her address and ran out, ignoring the puzzled stares from the bystanders.

She must have looked like a crazy woman in the street, soaking wet from the rain, asking every woman she saw if they knew and saw Mariah Gales. Finally, a breakthrough came when a young prostitute pointed to the dingy flat in the corner of the street. Yuri wished she wore trousers. She missed her simple t-shirt, jeans and sneakers. She skidded to a halt as she saw the two tall figures standing in front of the flat. Something glistened in the moonlight and she knew it was a knife.

“STOP!”

One smaller and feminine-looking figure went rigid in its track. Her eyes met the woman’s almost crimson coloured eyes.

“Yuri…how…?”

“I-I know who you are.” She revealed, her eyes never leaving the real threat of the duo. Her butler, “Grell, the Death God.”

The said butler, Grell, swirled to face her completely with a tilted head.

“Oh…” His wide, joker-like grin revealed his inhumanely sharp teeth. It sent shiver down her spine, “I’ve been caught…I thought my acting was good.” He pulled out his ribbon that held his hair into a neat ponytail, took off his round glasses, wiped away the fake lashes and put on his rectangular spectacle.

All the while, Angelina was wordless in the background, studying the tension between them. Then brattle, screeching sound that deepened into a throaty grind pierced through the rainy night and Yuri gasped in soundless scream as she saw the chainsaw grinning toward her. Her eyes clenched shut for the ripping pain that was about to come. Few moments have passed and the sound of chainsaw revving up seemed to become louder as if trying to saw through a solid wall. Her eyes met the dark cloak of a tall man, his dark hair dampened with rain.

“..Seb..astian?”

“Had I not followed you, you would have been dead.” He told her in his usual bored, monotone as he effortlessly pushed the weapon and its handler back to a reasonable, safe distance, “The Death God’s scythe is really a troublesome thing..” He sighed.

“It is a shame, Madame Red…from the very beginning your name was in the list of suspects. However, your alibi was really quite perfect.”

“How horrible, Ciel.” She scoffed as her role of diligent, caring doctor and a kind, philanthropic noble crumbled, “You would suspect one of your own.”

“As long as there is a possibility, I don’t care whether that person is a blood relative or a friend. In the list of suspects, any ‘human’ could not have done it. The same goes for you, of course. But, if the co-criminal was ‘not a human’ then that is a different matter. To be able to access the victims’ room without anyone noticing or to disappear from the party for a few minutes is something people would not notice. The ones able to be ‘Jack the Ripper’ would be the both of you. Aside from the victims being prostitutes and left with no ovaries, they wer all your patients at the Central Hospital you work at. All of them underwent a ‘certain surgery’ and,” He held out a list of paper containing names all crossed out except for the one on top, “The order in which the victims died correspond exactly to the patient on your operation list.”

A bitter smiled appeared on her crimson lip, “How unfortunate…to stand here today against each other…if you haven’t discovered this, we should have still been playing chess together. However,” She clenched her hand into fist, “I’M NOT GOING TO GO EASY ON YOU ANYMORE!!”

Ciel’s eyes tightened as Grell came striking down toward him with his chainsaw. Sebastian quickly blocked the attack by sandwiching its bars between his palms.

“Death Gods should quietly capture the souls that are about to depart from this world. butlers are supposed to follow their master like a shadow. To violate these two principles like you have, makes me want to throw up.”

Grell pouted, as if he was genuninely hurt by his cold, scathing words, “Hey, I really tried my best as a butler to serve my master! I even worked without my makeup or dressing up!”

“How shocking. And you still call yourself a butler?”

Grell smirked, “Even if I’m like this, I’m still the butler of Death!”

“Enough wasting time.” Ciel interrupted as he shook off his medical eye patch, “In the name of Her Majesty and my own wretched name, I command you. Capture them!”

“Yes my Lord.” Sebastian shook of his coat before throwing it toward her, “Please look after young master.”

From the corner of her eyes, she saw Angelina slowly backing up around the corner as the greatest enemies of their kinds were distracted with their own fights. Yuri dumped the coat on Ciel as she ran toward the path in which she disappeared into.

“Hey!” Ciel called after, joining the chase.

She yelped, narrowly missing the knife that shot out from a blindside of the wall edge.

“Angelina, please!”

“You shouldn’t have come here, Yuri!” She screamed as Yuri avoided the knife once again. She stumbled back into Ciel, causing him to fall onto the floor.

“You don’t want to do this!” Yuri dived toward Angelina’s abdomen, knocking out the knife out of her hands. Angelina scrambled toward the knife and Yuri clutched onto her ankle, pulling it toward her and away from the fallen knife.

“Please, Angelina! Don’t put him through this again! PLEASE!” Angelina managed a kick to her arm and the moment of pain was enough time to grab her knife. Angelina stood up as she aimed the knife down toward her nephew, “IF YOU HAD NOT BEN BORN, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE BEST!”

“Young master!”

“NO!”

Suddenly, as if overwhelmed with great shame and guilt and sorrow, the sword slipped away from Angelina’s hands and buried her face with a guttural sobs that came out more like a cry of an animal in immense pain.

“STOP IT, SEBASTIAN!” The demon’s deadly claws halted only a mere inch away from Angelina’s skull, “Don’t kill her!”

Sebastian heaved heavily, pressuring the bleeding wounds as his tattered uniform revealed the extent of his grave injuries even for a demon.

“Madame Red!!” Grell called and her shoulders noticeably stiffened, “Kill that little brat already! If you don’t kill that little brat, it’ll be your turn to be killed! And you have a death god helping you too!”

She flinched and whirled around, her arms protectively caging them both, “But this child is…”

Yuri felt undeniably compel to grab Ciel and Angelina by the waists and pull them down to the floor with her as Grell’s chainsaw stabbed the wall that would have been Madame Red’s chest if she hadn’t pull down her with them.

“Sebastian!” Ciel shouted as Grell attempted his attack again and they were vulnerably trapped in between the psychotic Death God and the wall. Sebastian grabbed the Death God by the ruff of his shirt and threw him over to the other side of the wall.

“Don’t hesitate! Hurry up and finish him!”

Heaving herself up, she checked the unconscious Angelina for any fatal wounds. Fortunately, the scythe had missed her only by an inch and the weapon has only managed to sever the ends of their hairs and the black and red strands were scattered like feathers. Clenching her trembling fingers into a fist, she turned to Ciel, “A-are you ok?”

“I’m fine.” Ciel dismissed in nonchalant manner. His eyes scanned her up and down, “Are you alright?”

“Y-yeah, I-I’m ok.” She lied.

A polished black oxford came into her view, her eyes travelling up the trousers cladded long legs up to his suited chest until she met his glass rimmed eyes. Yuri quickly got up pulling Ciel along with her as she acknowledged the Death God in front of her.

“You’re…William?” She had forgotten his last name and knew him more by his first hence the awkward familiarity.

“Are you all injured?” He asked as his sharp eyes detachedly scanned the three in front of him.

She shook her head as Ciel narrowed his eyes and stepped forward protectively in passive aggressive manner.

“Who are you?” He demanded, “Don’t tell me you’re like him.”

Before he could answer Ciel’s question, the red haired Death God crashed onto the stone ground with a violent crack, just few feet away from them, bloodied and utterly defeated, his impact creating notable sized crater around and beneath him. A normal human being would and could not have survived such fall but the fallen man groaned and stirred in great pain. Yuri felt sick and had to swallow the acidic lump back down. She looked away.

Sebastian was without mercy, wielding Grell’s own weapon as he swung back to deliver a fatal blow to Grell’s skull, William’s own scythe that was pruner, rather dull in colour. She thought the monotonous shade of his weapon suited his serious disposition. Sebastian looked displeased by the untimely interruption as he eyed William with those cold, calculating gaze. Walking past her and Ciel, one of his shoes came to rest on Grell’s head, drilling it further into the ground with his supernatural strength.

William sighed, exasperated by the commotion his subordinate was making. This only meant more paperwork and pressure from the higher-ups on his seeming incompetence on disciplinary. Retracting his weapon to his side, he introduced himself in a civil manner, “I am William T. Spears of the Dispatch Management Division of the Death Gods. I am here to pick up this Death God.” William nodded toward the man under his foot.

Opening a book in his other hand, he read out the number of offences committed, “Dispatch member Grell Sutcliff, you have broken the rules. Firstly, you have killed people whose names are not listed on the Death List, and also, you used your scythe without permission and even modified it without following proper procedures.” With one last stomp to Grell’s head, he dragged him away with a pull of his red hair, “Please return to the main branch to submit your reflection letter and report.”

“Hey! Wait a moment!!” He managed out even with his bloodied face and battered lips, “I was almost killed just now!! You are so cold and unfeeling––“

“Shut up.” He intoned, using his hair as a momentum to throw him over his shoulder and onto the ground. The nonchalance in his violence and the indifference in which Ciel and Sebastian regarded the scene greatly disturbed her.

William turned, bowed before handing a small rectangular plastic card onto Sebastian’s palms, “Oh, this is my name card. This thing has caused you a lot of trouble this time round.” Then he seemed to mutter something under his breath with a distasteful look on his face and for a moment the temperature seemed to drop as Sebastian’s expression darkened. As William turned his back on Sebastian to leave with Grell, with a flick of his arm too quick for anyone to see, Grell’s chainsaw chattered toward William. Much to her surprise and shock, the chainsaw stopped in mid-air and vibrated violently between his index and third fingers.

They exchanged stares and she thought the airs around them slowly evaporated until there was no breathable molecule.

“..You left this behind.” Sebastian kindly said with a cordial smile.

“Thank you. In that case, I shall take my leave.” William and Grell disappeared within the darkness of the alley.

Sebastian sighed before turning his attention to his master, “My apologies, I allowed the other one to escape.”

“Forget it.” He muttered as he stared at unconscious Angelina, safe and unharmed, “It’s not important anymore.”

“You two must be cold. Let us quickly make our way back to the city’s mansion. I will prepare some hot milk.”

Ciel took a swaying step and Sebastian reached out as support but he put his hand up to stop him.

“I can stand by myself. I’m just a little tired, that’s all.”

“I remembered specifically telling you lying to me won’t be tolerated.” His sharp tone of his voice sent a chill down her spine.

Yuri gulped, unable to look at him in the eye. Despite her being taller than him physically, she has never felt so small, “..I-I know…but I just couldn’t–I didn’t want to be the one telling you Madame Red was responsible for…them.”

“How much do you know about me? Us? This world?” She couldn’t see his face, having turned his back on her as he stared out the window of his study. His hands, tightly curled into balls, were beginning to turn unhealthy white in colour.

“Um..”

“Tell me!” He banged his fist against the window and for a moment, she was scared that it would shatter under the force. There was a desperation and…fear in his voice, as if she was withholding her knowledge of a dark secret he harboured.

“I don’t know much! You’ve got to believe me, I-I only knew about your aunt being responsible for the murders. Just that, a-a-and that something about the Undertaker being untrustworthy..”

“Undertaker?” His head slightly turned but she still couldn’t make out his expressions.

“I just know you shouldn’t trust him too much.” She said, “I remember he was doing something…some sort of experiments.”

“Experiments?”

“With the bodies I mean. I think.” She narrowed her eyes as she desperately tried to catch flashes of information in her mind.

“Bodies?” He paused, “Is that all?”

Yuri wished she paid attention to her friend’s then-insignificant blabbering, or had some sort of drama world miracle where the main character would remember vital information in the time of desperate needs. But as the life would have it, her mind remained blank despite the extensive internal search.

“No…but if I remember it…”

“You’re useless.”

Yuri’s eyes narrowed sharply and her lips pursed tightly and her tempers flared. A breathy laughter left her mouth.

“Am I your puppet? Your chess piece? Without me, your aunt would have died; I saved her. If I hadn’t, you’d have been walking the aisle of your aunt’s funeral!”

He turned around, his face set in stone, “You’re right. You’re my chess piece. You weren’t foolishly mistaken I offered you my home in an altruistic gesture, were you? I thought you were well aware our relationship is solely based on business. I asked you to do your part, which is helping me! Not Madame Red, not anyone! You simply failed to do your part sufficiently. Do you have anything else to say?”

“Yeah I have something to say.” Yuri retorted, fully knowing the question was rhetorical and he expected her quiet and docile, “Who do you think you are to judge someone like that?! Useful or useless, is that what people are to you? You, who ––out of pure luck–– were born with a golden spoon in his mouth and lived life so easily up to now, don’t have the right.”

The paper underneath his fingers crumpled, trembling as his eyes widened with rage. “Are you done talking? How dare you…”

She returned the glare with all the anger she could muster, displaying a kind of resiliency that resembled the movement of small waves of water as they echoed across the surface of a calm sea,  “Not everyone acts like you just because they get hurt. What’s the point of having all that money and title? What’s the use in being covered in expensive custom designed clothes from head to toe? You as a person need to be high class!” She took a step forward, her chest puffed up with confidence, “And I’m much older than you –– watch how you talk to your elders! I’m so embarrassed I can’t even lift my head up every time you open that mouth in front of others! It’s disgusting, you two-faced, materialistic, self-absorbed brat.”

She hated nothing more than waiting to hear his reply which would probably be her body six feet under and a nameless tombstone. She might even be lucky if she had a tombstone. Probably not. Her feet carried her to her room and she pulled out her bags from the bottom of the bed and was about to head back out when the door stopped half way. Yuri glanced back at the room, her breathing still rough from unleashing her diatribe just few minutes ago.

She dumped the luxurious furniture on the pawnbrokers table, “I want a nice deal.”

The old man, Tobias, adjusted his glasses as he picked up a small gold hand mirror, examining it under the dim light.

“These ar’ quite expensive item y’got there.” He suspiciously said then gave her his firm glare, “I don’ buy any stolen goods.”

“It’s not stolen,” She lied, “I ran away from home.” Quick thinking, “They tryna sell me off to this old guy that I have to pretend to love and be physically attracted to. He taught me that regardless of age or height, anybody can be a life hating sociopath, y’know.”

The man frowned, regarding her dubiously, “Socio-whut?”

Maybe she got carried away too much. Waving her hand dismissively, she said, “Never mind, I just need to be far away from that house.”

He perused through the priceless trinkets, his eyes scanning her clothes in a blasé manner as if trying to search for lies in her story. Thankfully, her attire happened to be one of the expensive ones from her room’s closet because Mey-Rin’s dresses were all in the washing. It was plainer and lesser ostentatious ones in both design and colour, but from a quick superficial glance, she looked from a well-off family.

“I’ll give ya a good deal.” He said as he took them back into door behind the counter, “But I’ll warn ya, ya won’t last long with this if this is all you have. Ya better go back home and just do as ya parents tell ya and live a comfy life, unless ya wanna work like those girls out there.”

Yuri looked out the window to realise he meant the prostitutes, eyeing their potential customers among the walking passersby with a flirty smiles. She simply smiled, shrugging his concerns as she inwardly thought that it was still a work and they were just trying to get by with what they can. They had more independence and freedom than those people laughing and eating caviar with their champagne up in their little castle anyway.

“I’m more of a live fast, die hard type of girl.” She said, earning another quirked look from the owner.

He slid a five pound note to her. Yuri frowned, unable to separate modern world currency and the era she was in. The five pound in her world would have probably brought her a meal deal or some snacks. She didn’t know how far five pound would go in this world.

“That’s all I can afford, girl. These items are far too expensive for me to buy at its right price. Ya’d have a much better luck in ‘em auction.” He shook his head when he noticed her frowning, mistaking her confusion and flustering for ungratefulness.

“No, it’s fine. I was thinking about something.” She took the note, “Thanks.”

He eyed her bags, “Interesting bags ya got there.”

“Thanks. It’s a gift from mum.” She gave him a final smile before walking out.

Deeply inhaling as she stared onto the grim side of the London, flocked with destitute and crime; now what was she going to do? A tear silently trickled down her cheek. No use in crying, she thought. She headed down the road, toward the dock.

Yuri had propped herself on one of many wooden storage box scattered among the dock as she watched many faces passing by. Unwarping one of the sweet, the maker’s name read ‘Funtom’ and immediately felt her appetite drop. She clenched her eyes, cursing the fact she chose, out of all sweets available in the shop that she chose his company’s product. For a second, she contemplated in throwing away the chocolate before taking a bite out. In the end, her hunger had won.

“..Well, it’s delicious…” She muttered, “But 2 shillings for this? What a rip off! If McDonald exists here, it’d be less expensive than this piece of diabetes!” She ripped the bar with her teeth, imagining the chocolate was the brat’s head.

Her eyes wondered back to the oncoming ships. Many of them were fishermen, some passersby, others were travellers that had recently returned and others were departing. She was content musing herself with novelty of 19th century scenery when she heard an odd cry, clearly in distress, a distance away. A woman, bare except for few flimsy course materials for decency, and chained in rows, trembled on the ground as a rather large man stood, imposing with a whip in his hand. It took a moment for her to realise she was seeing slavery first hand. Her jaw dropped, flabbergasted, as she stared, wide eyed, and found herself darting off to the direction with the chocolate in hand.

“WHAT YOU DOING?!” She yelled.

The whole world seems to still in shock, their heads turned toward the outburst.

“What are you doing?!” Yuri repeated, standing in front of the quivering children, women and men.

The man, caught off guard, quickly recovered and pushed her away, “None of your business, wretch!”

“Wretch?!” Yuri glowered as the man raised his whip holding hand once again, “Stop unless you want this wretch to cut your hands off!”

The man faltered.

“Who are you to treat her like that, you dumb shit of fat fucking donkey with a face of a blobfish!” She growled.

The man stuttered at the vulgarity of her insults, “Watch your mouth, bitch! They’re slaves and they’re my property.”

“No matter how blind you’ve become with greed, you should at least have some moral! Do you think people are things to be bought and sold?! How can you sleep at night?!! If I were your mum, I’d be fucking ashamed to even lift my face! Your existence is as significant as a pigeon shit in Trafalgar Square!”

The man’s face was becoming more red as if he were suffocating and about to pass out at the climbing blood pressure. Then his arm pulled back, the whip building its momentum and Yuri acted fast. Her leg swung up to kick him in his family jewel. Immediately, his face scrunched up in pain, knees locked in and stumbled back. It was clear, his subordinates and others were content watching in the back as the scene unfold than intervene. It meant good and bad––that meant she won’t be outnumbered but on the other hand, she was on her own to get out of this messy situation and the blobfish didn’t look like he was going to walk away with a tail between his legs without a good fight.

The man groaned in pain, clutching the area as he used his free hand to point at her, “What you useless dunce standing around for! Grab her!”

They seemed to snap out of the stupor as the two men hooked her arms with theirs, sandwiching her in the middle. She desperately wiggled in their grab, bringing her legs up to her chest in effort to bring them down with the gravity but her weight was more than light for two grown men to support and she just remained there, awkwardly dangled.

“STOP RIGHT THERE!” A loud voice intervened.

Our heads all turned to the source; two Indian men, dressed in their decorative traditional garbs. One looked to be her age with long, dark wavy hair worn loose to his shorter; part held up by gold clip, the other was much more taller and although, young, were much mature looking with short, stark pale hair.

“Unhand her!” The shorter man ordered.

“Get outta here, brat! None of your business!” The slave master held up his whip as a warning before turning his attention to her.

“You will pay for this.” He growled, “And I’ll make sure ya forever regret this day.”

“Did it hurt? Fucking sue me.” She spat.

Before the man could land a slap, in the blink of an eye, the taller man appeared behind him, grabbed his wrist and twisted it back painfully. He yelped out, calling for help and other workers darted toward him. In swift, lethal movements, the fifteen men, including the ones holding her hostage, were all lying, some motionless and some groaning, around the taller Indian man. She couldn’t identify what style of fighting it was other than he seemed to target, what some she recollected as pressure points and limiting gravitating from his centre point. Having fallen along with them when they had relinquished their support, she looked up to the tall man as he approached and helped her stand up.

“Are you alright?” He asked, kindness radiating from his voice and expression.

“Uh, yeah. Thanks.”

“What had happened?” The teenager asked, “Why were you fighting?”

“Because he was about to hit her!” She explained while pointing to the chained people instead, “Then had the audacity to think he has a right to do that like they are some..things!”

The young boy blinked, then quiet. “Agni.”

“Yes, my prince.”

Yuri’s eyes widened like a deer caught in a headlight, backing away from the boy, Prince?

“Free them.”

“Yes, my prince.” The taller man, now known as Agni, retrieved the key from the slave master’s pocket and began to unlock the chains.

“Hey! They are mine! I brought them!”

The young prince took out a few notes and trinkets and dropped them in front of him. Our eyes widened a little more.

“This should be more than enough.”

The man quickly gathered up the money and gems into his arms, and stood up, glaring at her.

“Fuck off.” Yuri bared her teeth.

The slaver master reacted as if to hit but then the young prince cleared his throat and the man shrugged as he walked away, ignoring his subordinates.

“Thanks for your help.” She said.

“No problem.” The teenage prince nodded, “I’m Soma Asman Gandal, but you can simply call me Lord Soma or prince.”

“Yeah, and I’m princess Yuri Park of Alderaan(!)”

He frowned, “I never heard of such place.”

“Look, ‘prince’, thank you for saving me and all but just what kind of idiot do you think I am? Prince? What are you a prince of? Prince of Bengal?” Yuri giggled, finding the whole situation ridiculous, “Look, I don’t have time for role play; I just need to find a way to get these people home.”

“But I am a prince of Bengal…” Soma muttered.

“Lady Park, this person is the 26th child to the King of the princely state of Bengal, prince Soma Asman Gnadal.” Agni pressed sincerely.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” She dismissed them with a wave of her hand. Kneeling down to the woman, wondering if she could speak English she asked, “Are you ok?”

The woman, rightfully weary and scared, flinched away from her touch. She mumbled something quiet under her breath that she couldn’t quite hear. Everyone didn’t speak up. Either they were too scared or they were taught not to speak.

“Hey, blopfish!”

“What?!” The man, much to her surprise, answered with irritation.

“What the fuck did you do to them?!”

“I did nothing, bitch!”

“You obviously did something! Don’t you dare give me that ‘they were born mute’ crap!”

“You are a one loony bitch!”

“I’ll shoot you and say you fell in the sea!”

The man tensed up, hugging the money and trinket in his arms like a father finding his lost child.

“Where did you take them from?”

“We didn’t take them –– they came on their own! To make money.”

“Don’t give me that crap, not even a Trump supporter would believe that–– where are they from?!”

“…Barbados.”

Yuri turned to Soma, who had shuffled away during her little scuffle with the master, “Uh, I hope you can help them return home.”

“O-oh…of course but I’m looking for someone at the moment and––.”

“Awesome. Let’s plan what we need to do.”

It turned out sending back free slaves back home weren’t as simple and straightforward as they hoped. She was reluctant to believe the blopfish’s words and there was no guarantee they would actually return home and not be snatched away by another slave master in the duration. She was happy she managed to get one man to confirm they were from Barbados and it was left to them to find a way to get them home before the night fall. The winter nights were the most dangerous killer to the poor and the unfortunate.

Soma seemed restless the whole time as if he had somewhere to be while Agni was distressed at the sight of it.

“We can simply pay for someone to sail them back home, yes?” Soma suggested.

“Yeah, but it’s expensive.”

“I have the money.”

Although they did look rich, she was still suspicious about them being a prince and a servant.

“You said you’re looking for someone right?” Yuri asked.

They nodded.

“I’ll help you find her if you help me with this. I’ll owe you.”

That’s all that was needed for Soma to immediately have the ship ready to sail back to Barbados. Apparently the guy was very rich. And powerful. The helmsman were given half of the full payment and were promised the remaining half when they came back and presented an evidence.

Yuri took the man, who seemed to be the speaker for all his fellows, and gave him instructions. Handing him a blank piece of paper, she told him to draw a star if they arrived at their home country or numbers aligned with the alphabets naming the country they’ve arrived. The man nodded, “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.” She said, “I hope you get home safely.”

Then he handed her something, “She wanted me to give this to you.”

It was a simple handmade wooden and raisin bead bracelet with carved with various animals like grasshopper, birds and mongoose.

“It’s for good luck.”

“Thank you.” Yuri said before handing her own belonging, a spare chocolate she brought earlier on.

She watched as they began to board, this time as free men. The woman glanced back and Yuri waved goodbye. She could only pray that they arrive home safe and sound. She hoped she could find her way home quickly too.

“Her name is Nina.” He handed her a poorly drawn portrait of what it seemed to be a woman. They were currently in an inn for the night. After paying five shilling for her room and stay, she was left with a little over four pounds.

“Well, you’re not gonna find Nina with this piece of paper, that’s for sure.” Shaking head, she flapped the paper in her hand, “You’re supposed to be the prince and you can’t even afford a decent painter?”

“Hey! I believe Nina’s beautiful features are well presented in this portrait!” He asserted with a prideful puff of his chest, “Even my teachers applauded my painting skills!”

She took a bite of her chip and looked at him absurdly, “Were they blind?”

“Hey! You still don’t believe I’m a prince do you?!” Soma pouted.

“A prince who can’t afford a decent painter? I rather believe climate changes aren’t real!”

“What is a climate change?” Agni frowned, puzzled.

“Something that is apparently now a subject of controversy of whether it exist or not. Don’t worry, not many people gets it either.” Yuri commented, “Anyway, so why are you looking for her?”

“She was one of my maids and she was forcibly taken away to England! I came to retrieve her.”

“Ok…so she’s like your girlfriend? The Bollywood version of Romeo and Juliet kind of thing?”

“Your way of speech is so…”

“21st century?” She finished it for him.

“What?”

“I’m saying is she your lover?”

Soma and Agni gasped at the implication and Agni stepped in. “He had known her ever since he was a young child and she were his nanny. To him, she is a family. A lost family, which is why he had come to find her.”

“Family, huh…” Her voice wavered, the portrait blurring into the image of her family photo hung up in their home living room. Yuri cleared her throat and studied the portrait again. “Um, I know a guy, he’s an arsehole but I’m sure he’ll help you if you’re a ‘prince’.”

“Wonderful!” Soma sighed in relief, “Thank you, Yuri.”

“Princess Alderaan.” She corrected.

“Are you really a princess?”

“No.” She laughed.

The two men looked at each other before they laughed along. The small pub inside the inn glowed warmly in the candle lit light and freckles of snow began to fall outside in the dark winter night. Yuri was momentarily captivated at the sight out of the window. The winter has arrived.

[robertshugartca]

With all the fashion-girl engagements lately , we’ve been...

With all the fashion-girl engagements lately , we’ve been noticing a wide range of ring shapes and sizes. Of course, most of the gems in question have been spotted on celebs and trendsetters—in other words, they’re massive by our standards.

But what constitutes a “big” ring in the real world? To get a sense of what you and I would consider a large rock, Who What Wear tapped five diamond experts to spill on the size they think average people would consider big. Then we pooled their answers to find the average carat number.

Keep scrolling to see the final result and learn more from our panel of experts , including why people think this specific size is so jaw-dropping, and which other factors go into how large a ring actually appears. Plus, go a bit further to check out recent “big” celeb diamonds and to shop engagement rings of any size.

“Although we often find that a woman may know what a certain diamond size ‘sounds’ like, she doesn’t always know what it looks like. There is usually a moment of serendipity when they realize how much bigger a diamond is in person, especially a Hearts on Fire diamond, which tends to face up significantly larger due to the perfect symmetry, perfect proportions, perfect polish, and perfect alignment. Of course, depending on where you are in the U.S., the answer will differ. The West and East Coasts tend to buy a bigger average center, so their perception of 'big’ is going to be different than someone in the middle of the country. However, on average, a two-carat is definitely a head turner, and overall women perceive this to be a big look!” — Krista Beermann, Hearts on Fire “Most women think of two carats as a decent-size diamond, with a typical color clarity ranging from VS1-VS2, F-G color. [D is colorless.] A noticeably big diamond will be three carats and above. These are the ones that turn heads.” — Scott Friedman, Gleem & Co. “In 2015, the average carat weight purchased was 0.9 carats. Given that, the average carat size that someone would consider 'big’ is anywhere from two and a half to three carats. However, there are many factors that influence the size of diamond that’s chosen and what the average person would consider a 'big’ diamond. Some of those factors include the location, the size of your hand/fingers, and the composition of the ring.” — Oded Edelman, James Allen “The average engagement ring has a carat weight of just over one carat, so we’d say anything upward of two carats would be considered large for a ring. While this obviously is a long way from Mariah Carey’s 30-plus-carat or the current heart-shaped ring trend led by Nicki Minaj’s and Lady Gaga’s giant diamonds, most women probably wouldn’t want to wear something that extravagant on their finger every day.” — Brian Watkins, Ritani “The average engagement ring in the U.S. has a center diamond of about one carat and a total carat weight of approximately one and a half carats. An engagement ring around two carats or above would be considered 'big’ for the average girl’s standards, and anything three carats or above would likely elicit some serious jaw-dropping. Besides carat weight, several other factors, like the shape and cut of a diamond, can affect how large it appears. The cut of a diamond determines its sparkle and brilliance, and it can also affect its visual size. Two diamonds with the same carat weight can appear to be different sizes depending on the depth or shape of their cut. If a diamond is cut very shallow, it has more surface area and so may appear larger, but it would lack depth and sparkle, and it would receive a poor cut grade. Only round diamonds with a cut grade of 'very good’ or 'excellent,’ and fancy diamonds that meet our criteria for beauty are eligible to become a Forevermark diamond, the authority on diamonds for over 125 years.” — Kristen Trustey, Forevermark Next, explore some recent “big” celeb diamonds and then shop engagement rings of any size.

Say “I do” to this pretty style. Pavé diamonds on the band match the halo. It doesn’t get more classic than this style. A dynamic band for some added interest. Finished on a hammered band. Sparkle on with this pretty ring on your finger. This stunning sparkler will light up any look. Strangers just might stop and stare at this one. A great ring doesn’t have to be complicated. These stones add just the right amount of sparkle. This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

source https://gothify1.tumblr.com/post/182279914670

[gothify1]

With all the fashion-girl engagements lately , we've been noticing a wide range of ring shapes and sizes. Of course, most of the gems in question have been spotted on celebs and trendsetters—in other words, they're massive by our standards. But what constitutes a "big" ring in the real world? To get a sense of what you and I would consider a large rock, Who What Wear tapped five diamond experts to spill on the size they think average people would consider big. Then we pooled their answers to find the average carat number. Keep scrolling to see the final result and learn more from our panel of experts , including why people think this specific size is so jaw-dropping, and which other factors go into how large a ring actually appears. Plus, go a bit further to check out recent "big" celeb diamonds and to shop engagement rings of any size. "Although we often find that a woman may know what a certain diamond size 'sounds' like, she doesn't always know what it looks like. There is usually a moment of serendipity when they realize how much bigger a diamond is in person, especially a Hearts on Fire diamond, which tends to face up significantly larger due to the perfect symmetry, perfect proportions, perfect polish, and perfect alignment. Of course, depending on where you are in the U.S., the answer will differ. The West and East Coasts tend to buy a bigger average center, so their perception of 'big' is going to be different than someone in the middle of the country. However, on average, a two-carat is definitely a head turner, and overall women perceive this to be a big look!" — Krista Beermann, Hearts on Fire "Most women think of two carats as a decent-size diamond, with a typical color clarity ranging from VS1-VS2, F-G color. [D is colorless.] A noticeably big diamond will be three carats and above. These are the ones that turn heads." — Scott Friedman, Gleem & Co. "In 2015, the average carat weight purchased was 0.9 carats. Given that, the average carat size that someone would consider 'big' is anywhere from two and a half to three carats. However, there are many factors that influence the size of diamond that's chosen and what the average person would consider a 'big' diamond. Some of those factors include the location, the size of your hand/fingers, and the composition of the ring." — Oded Edelman, James Allen "The average engagement ring has a carat weight of just over one carat, so we'd say anything upward of two carats would be considered large for a ring. While this obviously is a long way from Mariah Carey's 30-plus-carat or the current heart-shaped ring trend led by Nicki Minaj's and Lady Gaga's giant diamonds, most women probably wouldn't want to wear something that extravagant on their finger every day." — Brian Watkins, Ritani "The average engagement ring in the U.S. has a center diamond of about one carat and a total carat weight of approximately one and a half carats. An engagement ring around two carats or above would be considered 'big' for the average girl's standards, and anything three carats or above would likely elicit some serious jaw-dropping. Besides carat weight, several other factors, like the shape and cut of a diamond, can affect how large it appears. The cut of a diamond determines its sparkle and brilliance, and it can also affect its visual size. Two diamonds with the same carat weight can appear to be different sizes depending on the depth or shape of their cut. If a diamond is cut very shallow, it has more surface area and so may appear larger, but it would lack depth and sparkle, and it would receive a poor cut grade. Only round diamonds with a cut grade of 'very good' or 'excellent,' and fancy diamonds that meet our criteria for beauty are eligible to become a Forevermark diamond, the authority on diamonds for over 125 years." — Kristen Trustey, Forevermark Next, explore some recent "big" celeb diamonds and then shop engagement rings of any size. Say "I do" to this pretty style. Pavé diamonds on the band match the halo. It doesn't get more classic than this style. A dynamic band for some added interest. Finished on a hammered band. Sparkle on with this pretty ring on your finger. This stunning sparkler will light up any look. Strangers just might stop and stare at this one. A great ring doesn't have to be complicated. These stones add just the right amount of sparkle. This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

[rufflesglittersequinsiceskates]

Who Wore It Better? Nancy Kerrigan, Lillehammer Olympics 1994 vs Mariah Bell, Four Continents 2017 (Free Skate Face Off)

Let me first say that this is one of the few celebrated figure skating costumes I just don’t “get.” The color doesn’t work for me, the shape isn’t as flattering as it could be to Nancy (I’d go for a slightly longer skirt myself, just by a couple inches) and the shimmer and sparkle is actually too much for me. It’s like she skinned a fish made out of a disco ball. 

However, as I am very much alone in this unpopular opinion, this is the kind of dress that “inspires” other skates and designers, particularly other Americans. Enter Mariah Bell this season.

My immediate impression was that the collar seemed a bit too severe on Mariah, who doesn’t have Nancy’s long elegant neck or strong jawline (I say this as a fellow round-faced type who is in danger of looking like a turtle with the wrong high collar) and just generally a bit more mature than is flattering on a young fresh faced skater. Then I realized what it was most likely a callback to. 

Point in Nancy’s favor: her collar is no more studded than any other part of her dress, so it doesn’t have the neck brace effect of Mariah’s. 

Point in Mariah’s favor: The scallop effect on her skirt is a lot more polished and charming to me than Nancy’s smaller one. 

Nancy’s faux scoop back, with glittery illusion overlay and usual sleeves.

A look at Mariah Bell’s somewhat more unusual sleeves and…

Her back, with more of a cutout than a full scoop effect. I do think it’s interesting and the collar works better from this angle than full on, for me at least (and excuse my crappy screenshot, I got frustrated looking for proper pictures of Mariah’s back).

Ultimately, which one’s better comes down to personal preference. They’re both valid takes, with different things going for and against them, and hell, I know I’m in the minority for disliking Nancy’s dress, let alone having issues with Mariah’s take. So you decide.

(And yes, I realize Michelle Kwan's East of Eden was a likely inspiration for Mariah’s program, but Michelle didn’t skate in a high collar)