#i may have to re read some old love stories now that i've got this better idea of what it's all about

[chchchchilisauce]

okay. this is fine . i'm being normal

[tlbodine]

Overthinking Goosebumps

It's been a long, ugly year for me. So I suppose it shouldn't be a surprise that I've be craving some intense comfort and nostalgia this fall. Which is, I think, why I found myself gripped by a sudden and intense desire to re-read the the Goosebumps books.

Like every horror-loving Millennial, I cut my teeth on R.L. Stine books. The Haunted Mask was the first chapter book I remember reading, checking it out from the library on a whim. I was 7 years old and completely enthralled.

I spent my weekly $5 allowance on Goosebumps as often as I could and read them from libraries all over the country as we traveled. I didn't have a complete set -- my interest waned by the end of the run, as I'd shifted over to Animorphs -- but I did have a couple dozen of them that I foolishly donated. I haven't touched one of these books in 20 years.

So when the craving hit, replacing my copies felt expensive and daunting. They're collector's items that are worth more than the $3.99 I paid for them in the first place. So I tried to quell my craving by watching videos of people who had done a "read every Goosebumps book challenge," except that just made me want to read them more.

Then I found a bunch of them in audio. They just so happen to be the perfect length to knock out in a day or two of commuting - 2-3 hours per book. A perfect indulgence. I started listening and discovered that not only was I enjoying myself, but that I even had some big thoughts! So, hell, why not blog it?

No promises that I'll blog about every one that I read, and no telling how far I'll make it into the series before my enthusiasm wears off, but for now...I'm overthinking Goosebumps.

So follow along at the "#overthinking goosebumps" tag and come tell me about YOUR experience with these books!

Some General Notes

There are a few things that are kind of a given for every Goosebumps book, which I'll acknowledge here so I don't have to re-tread the same ground over and over in future reviews:

Every chapter ends on a cliffhanger. A lot of those cliffhangers are fake "gotchas" and a lot of the stories rely heavily on practical joker characters in order to add some conflict. Sometimes this is more annoying than others, but I can't really fault Stine for doing it. These were pulpy books for young reluctant readers. When you're 7 years old, this kind of stuff keeps you engaged.

Every book has a twist. At least, most of them do. Some of these twists are better than others. I'll probably talk about a lot of them, but just...you have to go into this anticipating that a lot of these books are shaggy dog stories.

Adults are useless. That's just middle-grade fiction for you. Kids don't want to read about parents solving problems. They want to read about kids having cool adventures.

Oh yeah - I also may mention the TV show from time to time, but I was not much of a fan of the show. I know a lot of other people are nostalgic about it, but I didn't like it as a kid and it certainly hasn't aged well. The effects look cheap, the acting is uniformly terrible, and the episodes generally aren't well-adapted from the books. So sorry if I piss on your parade when I bring up episodes in relation to the books. The theme song is a banger though.

The average Goosebumps book is around 20-25k in length. Stine released a new one every month for the entirety of its 62-book run. He was writing these in a couple weeks. EDIT: Apparently he did employ some ghostwriters, which is news to me and makes me sad, but I still respect him anyway. His background in magazine and TV writing really shows through with these, both in terms of speed, process, and humor.

(I admire the hell out of R.L. Stine. I got to very briefly meet him at NYCC and thank him for his influence. It was great.)

Ok. Fangirl flexing over.

Looking forward to re-visiting these books and giving some of the ol' classic T.L. Bodine deep-dive treatment to them ;)

[mr-nauseam]

re: ask game

12, 25 for marcus and sejanus!

omg first I appreciate the questions very much buddy!!!!! <3

12. What's a headcanon you have for this character?

Let me think… I can quite proudly say that I got it into vicó's head that Marcus has scars <3

Some on his face, on his neck and a lot on his hands, because he keeps carving too many trees and stuff. Small wooden figures, once he made a small bear, another time a flower for his little sister, and he practiced with many hearts before making the real one in marble (which he clearly gave to Sejanus as a gift).

You know, I think they are both quite artistic in their own particular ways. I like to think that Marcus might have some sort of hobby with woodworking, so he's making some pretty nice carved chairs.

And Sejanus, I've added just about any artistic hobby I could think of. He writes poems and can recite them, he also likes to draw, and he can paint in watercolors, although I don't think he's musical. Of course he likes music but he's terrible at singing, and he can't play any instruments, but back to his drawings and paintings.

I think Sejanus can draw people, and animals but it is rare for him to do so. I think he's more into landscape painting, he's doing landscapes all the time that he remembers from his home in Two, and he's even done some doodles of the desolate landscapes of the Capitol. So brutal, so cold and imposing but he's almost always trying to capture what he remembers of the mountains, of the colorful houses of his old neighborhood, Marcus' house he draws it often, he was there many times in the past.

Btw. The only people I think he has portrayed are Marcus and Coriolanus respectively.

25. What was your first impression of this character? How about now?

This may come as a bit of a surprise because I breath and I talk about snowjanus all day long, so it's no surprise guess that I'm obsessed with Coriolanus and Sejanus, especially Sejanus, right?

Now what the heck does that have to do with the question? Well before I saw the movie, at least after I read the book and reread it, I really disliked Coriolanus (I still despise him) and I also found him the least interesting in the book because drum roll I WAS OBSESSED WITH SEJANUS (nobody's surprise) AND MARCUS!!!!!

Sejarcus is actually my first ship I made in TBOSAS <3

So I was turning them both over in my head those weeks before the movie changed me. First things first I found them the most interesting thing about the story, as obvious, not that Snow's dramas wouldn't have been entertaining but what little information I had about Sejanus, ESPECIALLY HOW LITTLE I KNOW ABOUT MARCUS is what made me obsess over them so badly.

Sejanus first struck me as adorable and I was amazed at the multitudes he contained. He was acting like a scared rabbit most of the time, he was sad and depressed but still had the courage to speak up!!! to try to defend his opinions and really cared about people. It was written in stone I would go crazy for him.

And Marcus… So this isn't very relevant but I really like the dectives genre and this guy IS a perfect mystery.

Something that impressed me a lot - and it's something I think about to this day a normal amount - is the contrast between what everyone predicted for him and his end. As everyone keeps saying the odds are that Marcus will be the winner because he is tall and strong but he ends up being, if possible, the biggest loser of the games.

I really almost cried during that scene. And I was really intrigued by his past with Sejanus, the kind gesture, his silence, his isolation, the photograph, the marble heart, the cruelty of fate that he was Sejanus' tribute (or Strabo's cruelty, depending on your interpretation of the matter).

All we knew about Marcus were fragments! less than that! little clear data, which can tell a lot if you are delulu enough and I am delulu enough!

I don't think I've changed my opinion of them? or my perception of them. I still love them with my soul... Maybe there are things that I now see more nuanced, for example I now recognize many of Sejanus' flaws (none) but that's ok I love him more for be so full of flaws <3 and maybe I think I now have a more defined interpretation of who Marcus is in my head, I have a playlist and everything.

And that's all. Hope u like this :))

(and if anybody want ask something Im so into it!)

[flightfoot]

Hey, do you have any recommendations for Lukanette, Adrigami, and/or Julerose fics?

I don't generally read Lukanette. The pairing's fine in and of itself, I think that Luka and Marinette would have a happy marriage and a good time together, but I've had so many bad experiences with Lukanette shippers vilifying Adrien, Alya, and the class, that I can't really derive any enjoyment from the ship, I just have too many negative associations with it. Lukadrienette and Lukadrigaminette are fine since I've never had bad experiences with other characters being bashed to promote the poly, but Lukanette... no.

I had about a year where saltfics NEVER LEFT MY HEAD and I kept on having flashbacks to my favorite characters being demonized and vilified and punished for it, with those flashbacks running through my head for hours on end while my throat choked up like I was about to cry, for hours at a time, on a daily basis. I REALLY can't stand anything I associate with that. I still can't stand saltfics, but my throat doesn't close up and I don't get a ton of flashbacks anymore when I see them at least, I just get angry.

There IS still one Lukanette fic series I've liked and recommended, but it's less because of the Lukanette and more because of the exploration of Luka's and Felix's characters (and it turns into FeLuka later on).

As for Adrigami... it's a nice ship, but there's very little content for it, especially in more recent years. It mostly vanished once season 4 got going, and it wasn't exactly common before that. I've got some Adrigaminette and Lukadrigaminette recs if you're interested in those though?

---

Boomer!Luka: FeLuka Ending series by @19thsentry-blog

In the Shadows (the first fic in the series) summary:

On one side is Luka, 140-year-old Snake Miraculous holder and keeper of the Guardian's secrets, on the other is Marinette Dupain-Cheng, a relatively newly minted hero of Paris and Guardian of the Miracle Box. Each is looking to fulfill their promises to their now gone mentors to reunite the Kwamis and keep them safe. Sounds simple--until you throw in a rocky start, the Atlantic Ocean, Félix Graham de Vanily, and a whole host of secrets…and suddenly simple becomes complicated (story of Marinette's life, right?).

So this is obviously way outside my normal wheelhouse. I don’t typically read Lukanette fics, even ones that turn into FeLuka later on in the series (though boy it becomes apparent quickly that the author’s fascinated with FeLuka’s dynamic.) But this one is really good, with the best Luka-centric fics I’ve ever read, and some of the best Felix-centric content as well. I love how Luka has his own baggage here, with all the pressure of wandering around for over a century, looking after the few Miraculous he found, trying to keep what’s left of the Order alive, unaware of Fu’s survival or of the Miraculous user’s re-emergence in Paris. There’s a lot of focus on Luka’s own feelings and thoughts and problems, not just on helping other people with them. 

The plot works even without the romantic aspect, so even if Lukanette isn’t a pairing that draws you in, I still recommend this fic, so long as you don’t actively dislike the pairing itself. And even though it’s a Lukanette fic, Adrien and Alya are treated fairly and with respect. Adrien may not end up with Marinette and is bummed about it, but the narrative is still kind to him overall, there’s clearly no ill well towards him, or Alya for that matter. (There are later fics in the series that focus more on Adrien just healing and coping and living after finding out that his father’s a villain and his mom’s been in the basement this whole time, and in the multiversal travel fic, Alya gets some standout appearances as Scarabella which are fun).

And FELIX - it’s clear that 19thsentry has this whole conception about Felix’s psychology. He’s wrapped in a ton of self-loathing until it started to consume him, made him lash out. Him being a sentimonster, wanting to get the Peacock Miraculous, actually gave him some direction for that at least. And he’s just in this pit of his own making, until he meets Luka, who can see through him when no one else can, who cares for him even though he doesn’t understand why, who’d been through so much over the years and yet kept himself kind. He’s attracted like a moth to a flame, infuriated that he cares, yet not able to stop himself from caring about this mysterious, infuriating musician. 

Yeah if you can’t tell this is the series that really sold me on FeLuka as a couple.

Oh yeah, one of the fics in here is M-rated, and it does earn the M rating for sexual content, though it’s nothing too major.

---

Three’s company by @torvalvt

Kagami has been doing her best for years to ignore her feelings for her friends. It doesn’t help that Adrien and Marinette insist on spending as much time as possible with her, even going so far as inviting her along on their dates together. If only the affection she felt for them wouldn’t get in the way of their relationship. Because it is growing harder and harder to tamp down her feelings with how close they are getting to her.

This is adorable. Adrien and Marinette really want Kagami to join their relationship and she just doesn’t dare hope for it. If you want some adorable Adrigaminette from Kagami’s perspective, I recommend checking this fic out!

---

Hold Me By Both Hands by @angelofthequeers

“I know he said never to take you back,” Plagg mutters. “But he’d change his tune if he knew.” He looks Adrien straight in the eye and, more serious than Adrien’s ever seen him before, says, “There’s someone you gotta meet. He’s been looking for that book for ages.” How differently might the events of season 2 have gone if Adrien had also known of Master Fu from the start?

Look I've literally written a series of essays going over the various aspects of the plot threads in this fic, it's one of the best ML fics I've ever read if you've wanted a fix-it for seasons 2 and 3. Especially with the way Chloe's redemption arc was handled, it's STILL the best Chloedemption arc I've ever read in a Miraculous fic, and I've read a LOT of Miraculous fics.

---

You’ll be the prince and I’ll be the princess by @mexicancat-girl

With Team Miraculous now full-time holders, Ladybug has them patrolling in pairs like her and Chat Noir. New partners Pigella and Purple Tigress get along phenomenally, their easy banter and similar wavelengths making working with each other a joy in and out of combat. But sometimes Tigress is surprised just how close she is with her partner. Sometimes she tries not to feel too guilty thinking about it.

There’s some nice Julerose here! I love them kinda getting into a lovesquare with each other, though it’s not as much of a problem as it is in canon since it’s reciprocal in every relationship and they’re both down for a poly. It’s fun, and I love the “Luka attempting to woo some of his love interests” plot going on in the background XD.

---

How Could I Not? by SorryJustAnotherPerson

In fairy tale books, Princesses were saved by nights from ferocious dragons. Those books were not their story, but Rose was happy to flip over a new page with her Juleka every single day. Many years ago, she was put to this tower by her parents and her kingdom, along with a fire breathing dragon, so she could find her prince charming one day. How foolish for them to not calculate her falling in love with the dragon. I mean seriously. How could she not?

I love fairy tale type stories, especially fractured fairy tales. And Juleka being a dragon is awesome. This is just a fun and adorable story.

---

The echoes there of me and you (The voices that are carrying this tune) by @tiredfloridianbutverygay

Juleka finds herself gifted an old castle in Scotland by an auntie she never even knew she had. At first, she's thinking she'll use it as a vacation home. Then she meets Rose, a ghostly blonde woman from another time who's been alone for decades and who's achingly in need of a friend. Juleka's never believed in the paranormal, the supernatural but it's hard to deny the blonde's existence. It's also hard to deny her growing affection for the specter. The specter, who Juleka knows should be moving on and the specter who Juleka knows might just need a bit of help doing so...

[haleigh-sloth]

Hi, I hope you're doing well.

Do you have any new series that you're hoping to start after mha ends?

HI! I am doing good thank you for the well wishes.

And YES!

I'm really looking forward to catching up on some I've started and taken a break from. I'm actually currently reading several series right now, just all but one of them (not including BNHA) is on hold.

I need to catch up on Blue Exorcist and Black Butler. I think those will be 2 of my priorities. I would really like to catch up and then watch the new anime seasons that have come out for them that are continuing the original story from the manga. Just so happens that lucky me, they both got new seasons continuing their stories like right at the same time.

I also need to catch up on D.Gray-Man, but honestly I need to re-read it (again) before I play catch up. Given the slow pace it releases at, this isn't a priority atm but I will do it eventually. I've been following the manga since I was 15 years old so I WILL be doing it justice by making sure I fully understand everything going on when I read the chapters.

I'm a volume-only reader of Durarara and still have one volume that is currently out in english to read before I'm as caught up as I possibly can be, but also this comes out at a slower pace so it's not a high priority right now.

I did start Daemons of the Shadow Realm (Arakawa's new series) and made it to chapter 8 some time last year, but then life got in the way and I couldn't focus on it. I've been collecting the volumes so I can read the physical copies as they release as much as I can before reading it online. This one is a priority as I've been super excited about it ever since I heard it was going to exist. So this will come sooner rather than later.

I also started Choujin X WAAAAYYYY back when it first released but for the same reasons as always life was just too busy and BNHA took up too much brain space. I've heard it's really good, and would like to start it over and continue reading it as it releases, so I'm looking forward to that. Not a priority so it might be a while, but I will be reading this one also.

I have had a tab open to Delicious Dungeon open for months. Since it's actually completed, I'd really like to knock that one out soon. So priority-wise, this may come before all of the others on this list.

I'm also currently reading, and fully caught up on Oshi no Ko, which is now probably my favorite ongoing series out of all of the ones I'm invested in right now. The only series that isn't on hold. Despite BNHA taking up so much brain space, this manga managed to keep its spot in my brain. I super love it, and it's in its final arc. So I'm really excited to see that one through to the end.

Non-manga things, I'm in love with Hazbin Hotel. Even though it'll be a bit before we get the next content release, this one still lives rent free in my brain so.

But yeah, I've actually been anticipating BNHA ending for some time now because of all these other things I want to read but just...couldn't. Lol. Now I'll be able to. And it'll help me cope with the ending of BNHA better I think, and help me shift into the mindset of "these people aren't real I can do with them what I want". Because for most series I actually have a way easier time with that, but for BNHA I was just way to invested in canon making me happy. The only other series I have the same intensity for right now is Hazbin, with one particular character also (guess who). So we'll see how that goes, though I trust the creator of that series significantly more....lol. But I'd like to be able to detach and have fun from now on rather than...dwell. Idk.

But yeah anyway I'm super excited for all the things listed above!

[angelthefirst1]

The eclipse of - What happened and what's going on 509. 🌞 ☀️ 🌙 🌚

In past posts, I've mentioned how the eclipses of 2017, 2023, and this weeks eclipse in 2024 were important to Beth's return.

You can read more on the eclipses here and here.

They are time markers to her return, and we can count it as a sign to look for, because Leah and Daryl were looking up at the 2017 eclipse.

I stumbled across this connection, placing them in 2017, but yesterday, other walking dead accounts put out material saying the same thing. It's confirmed, and this eclipse symbolism is part of the clues on how we "find me" or find Beth.

So it is important...

Emily mentioned Monday's eclipse by re-posting a story of a person talking about how the eclipse was a big old waste of time. He thought It left much to be desired, considering all the hype there was around it.

All the whether people were talking about it. All the conspiracy people were talking about it. He thought he was gonna get superpowers from it, but he just got really cold 🥶 (notice Leah and Daryl are watching the eclipse on a fridge)

I've learnt over the years that Emily leaves clues, but she will also lie lie lie. (I still love her 😆)

This is fitting because as they are using the biblical end time template over and over, and the number one sign Christ points to as a sign of his coming is deception.

Matthew 24.3

The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age

3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Leah's "son" called Matthew?

The fact that Emily even acknowledges the eclipse points to it meaning something.

And while it may have been a big nothing burger in some locations. Other locations got a magnificent show.

The eclipse symbolism was front and center at Rick's reunion. The glowing ring of the CRM logo in the sky, is the eclipse.

We saw wedding symbolism and wedding ring symbolism, which is also eclipse symbolism, and it's all connected to the return of Christ.

His coming is connected to marriage to the "bride" of Christ.

Eclipse terminology even uses the term diamond ring to describe the eclipse (You can see the "diamond" in the above eclipse picture)

It's wedding season (return/union/reunion/wedding season), and Emily is well aware of the symbolic connections to the eclipse and marriage.

She's seen here - the humming bird, at Hummingbird Nest in wedding season...

Emily released the song called Rock Star when she had just left The Walking Dead.

I have talked many times before about how the end is the beginning, and the beginning is the end. The projects she did after just leaving the walking dead give clues to how she will return.

She has used the biblical end times template in much of her work, as has TWD - they just rework it.

And that's exactly what Emily did with the song Rock-star.

It's a song about marriage, and the video is in black and white (colour eclipsed). Listen here

The song mentions diamond rings 💍, Converse (star) shoes, something Emily posted about recently, too.

The song also talks about satellites, The Walking Dead, getting old, and...Lofting a bed above his practice space.

This scene below is from an episode after Jesus dies. (The end is the beginning)

Daryl shares the loft bed with dog, aka Beth.

The loft or penthouse suite...Beth picked it.

Knowing that the end is the beginning and the beginning is the end, I went back and re-watched episode 509 - What happened and what's going on.

To look for any clues that point to an eclipse and oh boy I was not disappointed.

The episode literally shows us a solar eclipse. They use flashes of blinding colored light to block out the sun...

The use of pulsing and flashing lightning all through the episode always seemed odd, but now, in light of the eclipse symbolism, it makes sense.

Especially with the knowledge that the episode starts and ends with Father Gabriel quoting the bible verse about looking at what is unseen and what is eternal.

Go re-watch the episode if you get a chance, with eclipse symbolism in mind. You will see it differently.

Not only do we get the depiction of a solar eclipse, but we also see this image...

We have analysed this picture many times before. What stands out to me having the eclipse in mind is the X shape on the door pointing to the X eclipse.

Obviously. We have the dog on the porch, Sirius, and the American flag, which would point to the X eclipse being over the United States.

We also see Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde statue, looking up at the sky through what seems to be a magnifying glass or lens. You could say Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde's personalities are night and day (eclipse)

What I found most interesting about this picture is the globe. The globe has shadows of eclipse lines on it...

After some digging, I discovered the map on the globe focuses over Africa.

If you look closely, you'll see the little growing ball of light over the ocean. I discovered that is a representation of the moon.

The globe here is pointing to a blood moon lunar eclipse that is scheduled to happen over this exact location In the year 2029.

Notice in the graphic above, the eye 👁 of the moon goes from closed to open - keep this in mind for later.

I point this out because Emily has written about blood moons before in her song Mortal.

Many people thought when she released the song that it was about her and Daryl, and it is.

Here are the relevant words from the song Mortal...

Baby, that's what I call feeling mortal.

Put your head and cry on my shoulder.

We can watch the moon turn bright blood red.

We can stay the night in my tree house bed. (Loft that 🐕 dog chose)

If the end is the beginning and the beginning is the end, then It's very possible when Beth returns, Daryl and her will watch a blood red moon in her tree house bed. Their story may well end in 2029, when this real blood moon is scheduled. Why the Africa link? Who knows, maybe it's a link to the pyramids, Sirius rising and Alexandria/Andrea (Revived Roman empire territory)

After posting the story about the guy talking about the eclipse, Emily also posted this blood red picture of the album, Oh Jonathan. From which the song Mortal comes.

Not a coincidence.

I've mentioned before how the antichrist receives a mortal head wound but is healed from that head wound.

Emily chose the title Mortal for this reason, it's another hint to her head wound survival and her return.

Both of these again link back to the return of Christ and the antichrist.

The beast is another term for the antichrist...

Revelation 13.3

And I saw that one of his heads was, as it were, wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world wondered after the beast.

Back to the blood moon clip that I showed you from Africa. What's really interesting is one specific piece of Emily's artwork for her album swim team.

It matches the blood moon chart, and the blood moons eye 👁 goes from closed to open. We can watch 👁 the moon turn bright blood red...

One other connection that's worth mentioning here since we are back at Noah's house is that the bible describes the return of Christ as being like the days of Noah. 🌈

‭Matthew 24:36-39 (once again, Matthew is connected to FIND ME and Beth, and so are the days of Noah)

“Now concerning that day and hour no one knows — neither the angels of heaven nor the Son — except the Father alone. [37] As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. [38] For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark. [39] They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be.

The days of Noah are associated with the rainbow, and we just saw Rick (Andrew Lincoln) post about a rainbow after the final of the ones who live. Here

When I took a video of the certain portions of What's happened and what's going on I realised they used all the colours of the rainbow 🌈 over the top of particular footage...

And we see the same colour eclipse Beth, in this clip below, that we saw in the sun drawing eclipse...

Beth - blue eclipse - Sun

Now i need to back up a bit, because before the group arrived at Noah's home.

We see them drive into a clearing, in a vehicle with this number plate

The number plate says WBT 1417

This clearing they park in before going on foot to Noah's house, is the first time we see the symbol of the wolf, which is carved into the walkers that have been chopped in half and shoved into the red vehicle.

We also see a girl walker trapped in a car that's been shot up, and many have speculated it was to remind us of Beth.

I very much think it's symbolic of Beth.

All these connections made me think about what the number plate could stand for.

W Stands for wolf.

B T stands for Beth, Beth means house of...so WBT means house of wolf.

When I searched for house of wolf 1417, the results led me to the Wolf of Rimini.

After reading about the Wolf of Rimini, for me, the most notable connection is that the Wolf of Rimini is from Italy, which connects to the antichrist coming from a revived Roman empire.

The Wolf of Rimini was known for being a military leader, which is another thing he would have in common with the antichrist, who will conquer through great military power.

The last connection that the Wolf of Rimini has that reminded me of Beth, is that he led a group to steal the remains of one of his teachers and mentors.

So in one clearing, we have wolf, antichrist, Beth, and stolen remains symbolism.

But that's not all...

The other car we see in this clearing has the number plate Luke 8:41-67.

I talked about this number plate in my last post that you can read here.

This Luke number plate was related to Jesus's healing miracles around the pool of Bethesda. It's super interesting that this car has the wolf or W marked walkers in it that have had their legs cut off.

Luke in the show had his leg cut off.

The Luke number plate was also seen when Jesus was first introduced in 610, and the Luke car is parked next to the car with the walker "Beth" in it.

During this episode, Tyrese keeps talking about keeping up with the news and being aware of what's going on in the world.

Well, I was keeping up with the news over the eclipse and one article caught my attention because right as the eclipse was happening, a lady decided to shoot up a car.

It caught my attention because it looked exactly like the shot up car that the Beth Walker was in.

The article said that God told her to shoot the car up.

I had to add this because the connections are too bizarre to just skip over. Hopefully, no one was hurt.

What happened and what's going on is all related to the coming wolves.

Wolf symbolism in the bible is described as something bad.

The wolf is repeatedly mentioned in the scriptures as an enemy of flocks: a metaphor for evil men with a lust for power and dishonest gain, as well as a metaphor for Satan preying on Christians, contrasted with the shepherd Jesus who keeps his flock safe.

So, the wolf symbolism being tied to the antichrist (wolf of Rimini/Roman Empire) and the Wolf Praying on the Christians (Christ/Beth/Luke) and the potential stealing of Beth's remains, all works together to paint a picture of the past but also the future story they will tell.

Another eclipse sign i noticed in this episode was when Glenn broke a C.D. in half.

To me, the CD glowing in the sun reminded me of an eclipse. We have been analysing a hidden or eclipsed version of Beth's story ever since she "died."

When the group finally arrived at Noah's house, We see more hints of Beth return.

We see a sign that says Summer place (pine for Summer)

We see the eclipse sun on the ground which i already showed, and the wolves not far sign.

When Noah enters his house, He places a blanket with black and white XXXX's all over it, over the dead body. While he says...

When Tyrese enters Noah's brother's bedroom, we first see a telescope 🔭 and rockets. Telling us to look to the skies, more hints at the eclipse, sun, moon, and star symbolism and as if mentioned before those are also signs of the coming of Christ.

The book of Luke also gives instruction to look up when you see all the signs of the second coming of Christ.

Luke 21.28

When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

The bedroom he enters has a lot of plane and dog (Sirius) symbolism.

We saw a lot of planes and helicopters around Rick's return, and in other posts, I've already mentioned how they are symbolic of inter-dimensional travel. That can relate to God Satan, angels, or fallen angels.

The Governor returns, and he represents Sirius, returning with the one eye symbolism. He talks about paying the bill. At the same time, we see more of the sun eclipse and Beth in the car symbolism in the background.

All this is happening in Noah's house, and it's a sign of judgment day and the end times. 🌈

This is emphasized by showing us the train tracks to Terminus (coda/end) being shown along with the flickering rainbow eclipse lights.

The last thing i want to mention is something Glenn says in this episode. At one point, he mentions the guy in the train car that they came across at Terminus (the end) who screams... they're us, we're the same...

To sum up, the eclipse symbolism is huge in this episode and to Beth's return, and I bet no one (not even me) realised just how much symbolism there is for it surrounding Beth.

She will return with the same signs and symbolism that she left with.

💫🌈👁🌚✝️♾️✝️🌚👁🌈💫

If you have any questions, just send me an ask.

[larryatendoftheday]

My Favorite Fics of 2022

I relied on fics to help me get through a really difficult year. I read and loved so many stories, but these are the ones that I absolutely cherished.

Thank you to every author in this fandom for writing and sharing your work. And thank you to everyone who recommends fics and connects readers with these great stories. I don't know where I'd be without you all. I hope this post helps someone find a fic you haven't given a chance, yet!

Open Up Your Honey Pot by daffodilsforlou @polaroidlouis E | 5k | ABO

This is one of the hottest fics I read this year. Frat boy alpha Louis absolutely worships his intersex omega boyfriend Harry. Gentle dom Harry teasing service top Louis is absolutely gold and so well written. There’s just so much love (and slick). I have read and re-read this, but it doesn’t get old.

The School of Extraordinary Lovers by @stylinsoncity M | 191k | Vampire/Witch

I absolutely loved sinking into the world of this story with magical creatures, curses, and beautiful music. (Definitely check out the playlist.) Louis and Harry are brought back together after years apart, and their past slowly starts to make sense to the readers as well as both of them. This author blew me away with how well they communicated longing, jealousy, and pining, and how satisfying the story really was. Be warned, there is some violence.

Our Lives, Non-Fiction by @indiaalphawhiskey E | 113k | Enemies to lovers

This fic absolutely blew me away with palpable sexual tension between authors Marcel and Louis, who got off on the wrong foot. When Marcel realizes he needs to experience sex to be able to write it better and Louis agrees to help…it only gets better. The commentary throughout about romance and fanfiction was so well-done and added such richness. With amazing writing, storyline, and smut, it’s no wonder this is a modern classic in the fandom.

Beautiful War by @itsmotivatingcara M | 103k | Clairvoyant

This is a thriller romance, with a detailed mystery, high stakes, and amazing burning tension between Larry. Clairvoyant Louis survived the unthinkable when he escaped a serial killer, but now the signature murders are continuing. FBI agent Harry is on the case and suspicious of Louis and his gift. This story moves you from fear to lust with ease, and I hope it earns its spot as another fandom classic. Warning for lots of violence and blood in this one.

come my love be one with the sea by CuckooTrooke @larrydoinglaundry M | 6k | Mermaid/Pirate

Get ready to fall in love with this charming and absolutely hilarious fic. Mermaid Harry saves a pirate ship captain named Louis. Cue misunderstandings, banter, sass, and really soft, lovely, feelings. This fic makes me feel so good every time I read it.

Darling Can't You See by @tommokat M | 12k | Royalty

Prince Harry has a reputation that precedes him, but when Louis is hired to be the royal cat caretaker, he learns that reputation may be a little bit misleading. This is fantastically funny and sweet, with the bonus of a love story between Louis and the many many cats. It also has some of the hottest dirty talk and smut I've read in a long while. A real pleasure to read.

The Warmth of Your Body by zanni_scaramouche @zanniscaramouche M | 46k | ABO wolves

I could not put this addictive fic down. Omega Harry is in line to become the next pack Luna, promised to Niall, when unexpected violence and challenges arrive. A mysterious alpha, Louis, shows up just in time to save Harry’s life. Harry navigates his duties and expectations while staying true to himself. This fic does end on a cliff hanger. I am still hoping for part two, but I highly recommend reading the part that is written. P.S. I just learned that part two is written and coming soon!!

your head in your hands as you color me blue by docklands @hershelsue G | 2k | Historical

“Gorgeous historical gender thing” was my bookmark note. This is a short but sweet story about trans Harry’s unique relationship with the painter in the window across from his Paris apartment. I encourage you to read the second part, too.

Lies & Liability by 4ureyesonly28 @evilovesyou M | 34k | Regency + ABO

Omega Harry is tired of suitors, and alpha Louis doesn’t care to court omegas, so they form a mutually convenient fake relationship in this historical fic packed with great tropes. There is enemies to friends to lovers. There is protective Louis. There is dueling, danger, and excitement. It was an amazingly fun romp that I highly recommend, even if regency romance isn’t normally your thing.

Full Moon Dreaming by jarcaranda_bloom @jacaranda-bloom E | 43k | Soulmates

In this magical realism fic, full moon dreams reveal your soulmate, but Louis has given up hope of getting his. When Harry moves in next door to Louis in a coastal town, they don’t get off to a great start. There’s a great cast of 1D characters, a fantastic enemies to lovers arc, and some very steamy smut. The allusions to the movie Moonstruck are the icing on the cake.

Remember Me Before You by @kingsofeverything E | 293k | Friends to lovers

I was absolutely beside myself waiting for each new installment of this fic. This is a New Girl AU with the 1D guys. Harry is Jess, and Louis is Nick. Their friends to lovers, push and pull relationship was iconic in the show, but this story fleshes it out and takes it to a new level. You can also enjoy the hilarious group comedy element you know and love from the sitcom.

In Motion by orphan_account E | 6k | PWP

Smut. Specifically Louis edges Harry for a long time in creative ways. Absolutely fabulous.

Introduction to Dynamics by @juliusschmidt E | 29k | Non-traditional ABO

Confident omega Louis becomes friends with sheltered beta Harry in college. Except, there’s a little more there, and maybe Harry isn’t a beta after all? This is funny, sweet, and sexy with lots of “sex education” talks and oblivious idiots in love.

Last time I did an annual favorites list, I included one of my own fics, so... Grow as We Go by me @larryatendoftheday T | 7k | Breakup/Makeup

Six years into their relationship, Harry and Louis hit a breaking point. Louis is tired of shoving the ring box into the back of his underwear drawer, so he throws out an ultimatum. Or a fic about growing up and choosing each other.

[real-life-senshi]

hellow, i hope so far you´re doing ok since i saw you were struggling a bit with your health. though i'm quite new to your content i finally got the time to check some of your writings, i'd say i ended pretty hooked on them ahsfgsdjhs, tbh i'm not much of a fic reader of anything at all, specially since i don't think i have seen anything sailor moon related since my teens lmao. But i still wanted to let you know that i'm glad i have found it, as i tried to recall some about the pgsm plot (there's a chance i must have ended rewatching it ahsjhdsj and my gosh there were so many subtle things i missed 'cause i watched it when i was quite young haha) there were some other things that came to my mind that i wish were explored on the series, curiously most of it i found it on your fics 🤣 (i really like the way you expanded the pgsm characters through your stories) there were even some parts when i could 100% visualize them, may i have randomly doodle some stuff, who knows(?, oh! and your drawings as well, i saw this one about the Final Act *chef kiss*👌

There are other things i'd like to comment but i don't want to spoil anything as in Ao3 there are only 6 of the rest unlike the other fic site; i'm a big fan of the V manga (it's probably the one i sometimes read to remind myself why Minako is one of my fave characters ever! though my 11 year old self would disagree cause was obssesed with Manga/tokusatsu Mars😂 ) and also the continuity of the past life lore, whether if at some point in a near future as long as you're doing ok, please take care, for real. I'm looking forward to stay tuned if there's anything new from you 🙌

omg omg omg omg!!!!

You are the sweetest! 🥹Thank you for dropping by and leaving this lovely message in my inbox. Your keyboard smashing makes me go askdfhdsafdk as well! It's the highest praise one can give me. LOL😂

And jfc your amazing EoT based art? And there's potentially more doodles???? I can't believe that's happening to one of my stories. It's just not something I thought would ever be possible I don't even know what else to say except for repeating 'thank you' x10000 time.

Your message definitely encouraged me to finish chapter 7 instead of stalling some more. Made my week knowing one more person enjoys my attempt at writing a sequel. <3 My plan for the story is so ambitious sometimes I wonder if I'll be able to finish it. I even have plans to write a past life prequel and hope to do a bridging Black Moon story before introducing a Mugan arc sequel to EoT... That's 3 more stories total... and right now writing at a snail's pace, I don't know if that's ever possible... :'(

I'm finally on the road to recovery so it's getting easier for me to sit in front of my laptop for hours on end again. I've been mostly using video games to distract myself from the discomfort coz I can easily change positions while holding the console with no problem. With a laptop... there's a limitation with the keyboard for writing and the mouse for drawing. (LMAO I still use a mouse to draw. Never learnt to properly use a drawing tablet, even though I bought one long ago it just gathering dust now...)

Yeah... I think I peaked with the final act illustration when it comes to fanart. lol Knowing I did manage to make something with a quality that even surprised me, I've been overthinking and overcomplicating all the new ideas I want to do and then my brain and hand freeze and things are left as wip. 🙈

I'm really glad you enjoy my blog content. I practically owe my life to PGSM, I Iove the series with my whole being, cheesiness and faults and all. So it makes me really happy when my blog can help introduce or reignite interest in the series for other people! <3

I hope you don't mind me posting this reply instead of responding privately. I want to keep your message archived on my blog coz I love it so much. <3

[siena-sevenwits]

Jan 13 - Day #14 - Fortnight of Books

A book you didn’t read this year that will be your #1 priority in 2024?

Heh, since we're already into January, let me tell you what I have on the go!

Completed:

The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis (reread)

Reflections on the Psalms by C. S. Lewis

On the Go (Brace yourselves... this is just the way I read right now, and it works for me.)

The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien (Reread - I'm at the Barrow Downs)

Over a Hot Stove by Flo Wadlow (Memoir of a Norfolk kitchen maid who became cook at a great house at age 23)

Plutarch's Parallel Lives, Volume I (Just finished Numa Pompilius, a pseudo-historical king of Rome - read aloud to a sibling)

The New Testament (Reading through in order. I'm at the Gospel of John, and we just had the Samaritan woman at the well + I'm still reading through Scott Hahn's commentary on Romans)

Breaking Free from Body Shame: Dare to Reclaim What God Has named Good by Jess Connolly

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson (reread and read aloud to a sibling - they just got back from the Manor)

On Stories, and Other Essays by C. S. Lewis (I'm in a Lewis mood, I suppose!)

Clear and Simple: How to Have Conversations That Lead to Conversion by Andre Reignier

The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas (read aloud to a sibling - Demetrius has just seen Pilate wash his hands)

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson (re-read and read aloud to my Dad - Bridge Four has just learned how to side-carry the bridge.)

Beowulf (reread for school - the Ring-Danes have just turned to praying to the old gods in hopes of driving Grendel away)

Um... am I still technically reading The Silmarilion?

New book you are most anticipating for 2024?

Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson (The Stormlight Archive Book #5)

I don't keep up with most authors, so I have little sense of what's upcoming. But I do know I'm getting another Stormlight Archive book this Advent! We're getting what is effectively the series end and I am excited. Yes, he's said there will more more Stormlight Books, but he's also been quite clear that these first five books essentially form a series in themselves, and this will serve as the finale, even though it will set things up for the future "back half" of the series. Which is a wise choice. Sanderson already has problems with bloated books because he loves to show EVERYTHING when a little telling would do him a world of good. If he had barrelled on without resolution for 10 books, I might give up even though this series has my heart. But I do have hopes for this book. Rhythm of War was a bit of a disappointment, suffering severely from middle book syndrome, far more than Books 2 and 3 did. But the fact that this is a resolution books of sorts has me crossing my fingers that Sanderson will be back on top of his game and that the ending will give it a stronger through line. I don't expect a perfect book, but as long as the aspects that I really love get to shine, and my brother and I have a lovely read aloud time, I'll be happy.

But... seriously, someone else name Sanderson's books for him. This man cannot write a decent title to save his life. (Though from what I've heard, this title is better than some of the others he was considering.)

Sometime I've got to make a blog post about my thoughts and hopes for Book 5, but this isn't the place.

I may add one extra post to the fortnight tomorrow, just for fun.

[kpopsexstories]

I just finished editing the final story – Winwin's – and now I'm feeling sad 😆

I started this blog in September (I think it was) with the goal of posting one short smut story about each member of NCT 127, NCT Dream and WayV.

Next week, the final story comes out.

Tonight, I just finished editing the final story. I first wrote it months ago. Perhaps it's because I'm slightly tipsy, but I'm suddenly overcome with a bittersweet feeling.

I've poured at least one sleepless night into each of the 21 stories. Sometimes more. I've brainstormed, drafted, rejected, rewritten, edited and proofread each story so many times.

Some came naturally and effortlessly, some went through multiple new drafts. Some admittedly felt like an impossible burden to write, others felt like a breeze and some of the best storytelling I've ever written. Regardless, I'm proud of every single one of these stories and the fresh take they each bring to the series.

I've received hate for not handling certain 'characters' the way some people expected – or for writing k-pop smut in the first place – and I've received love for giving some exactly what they wanted and opening others up to new genres and ideas.

I've done my best work while fully focused on the craft and not at all turned on in the moment even by the sexiest scenes. But I've also been incredibly horny so many times. I've masturbated more times than I can count throughout this project, and secretly it's been my wish that at least one stranger has done the same at least once while reading my work.

At times, I've given up my social life for this project. At the same time, I've re-connected with old friends as I've told select people in my life about what I secretly do on Tumblr. I've found this project incredibly rewarding.

Now, as I've re-read the final story and scheduled it, I can't help but feel melancholic about it. Right now I think it's the best story in the series, but I know that's not true. Each reader has their unique preferences, and each story caters to a different inclination. Still, I've found my audience – you! – and a creative outlet I genuinely love.

In total, the MMSE of NCT series ends at over 104,000 words. That's longer than the average novel! If you include my other series on this blog, that's two novels altogether.

All in less than a year, which is pretty insane to me considering that I once wrote an actual novel which took me 5 years to complete.

So, Winwin's story – which is the last of the 21 members I intended to write about – will be published on Monday (May 27, 2024), and it marks the end of an era.

No matter if you've been here from the start (which is highly unlikely as I had 0 followers at the time) or just got here, I want to thank you! Your likes, follows and messages have been a huge motivator, and the reason I want to keep going.

Because no, this isn't the end. I still have a lot of stories in me, and I intend to explore other groups while also writing more about NCT going forward.

I hope you'll stick around for many years to come 😃

-> Master List (all my published k-pop smut) -> Series: Most Memorable Sexual Experiences of NCT -> Series: Quick Fix Dirty K-pop Imagines -> Series: Mixed One-shots -> Buy Me a Coffee

[ratstuckinamarble]

<3 <3 <3

right, third time's the charm- You are someone I am very glad to have 'met' in whatever way the internet lets us.

Not because you're the first person I've ever exchanged drawings with like they were notes passed along on a rainy day, making silly little stories out of woodpeckers and lego toadstoods and trick or treat wishes- Not because I have those drawings printed out, woodpecker and otter hanging on my wall, the halloween ones added to my old lebkuchen box of decorations to be tacked up next year with all the rest- Not because the memory of looking at your art had me picking up pen and paper with a lightness that hasn't been there since I was a kid-

I just love seeing you around on here.

Blocks of tags with rambles- little stories and asides to soak up like a sponge or a plant, reminding me of this or that thought I've had myself- your passion for things, the breath of relief I let out reading something you wrote that says something I can't trust myself with.

The rhythm of your thoughts makes mine very happy, is what I mean. And that you share them- tossing small paper planes of your life out into the world- honest silliness, maybe? It takes bravery and kindness to do it, I think. Even when something upsets you or makes you sad, I'm grateful to see it- these things you care about enough to be hurt by, and to talk about.

From you, I won't argue about how good of a person I am. I'm smiling at the thought that you would think that of me, and I'll makes myself send this little ask to try to tell you back-

thank you for being you.

If tumblr crashes tomorrow and I never hear about you again, I'll always be grateful it lasted this long. I'll remember the rat stuck in a marble, with a skull for it's emblem, hoping you got to do some pottery, snuggled your cat, and had a little hot chocolate, as a treat~

I- I'm at a loss for words...

And crying. Oh words collect yourself into a proper order-

People have said kind things about me before, and it's always brought me joy- but nothing like this. You've cut right into my soul, found things I didn't even know would get to me like this if I heard them.

I want to comment more but re-reading what you said is almost painful, because I was not prepared to take in such words today, or ever. It hurts in the same way as thinking about the beauty in life for too long. I don't know if you understand what I mean- but strong joy, getting overwhelmed with feelings that are good

It's like my little body can't handle it, experiencing things it was not made for. This feeling is bleeding out of me, and I can't even name it. It's not joy. It's... Something better. The knowledge that someone I care for deeply could be made happier thanks to me, my words, my ramblings, my silliness, my art, even the serious and vulnerable moments. Everything. It's like you saw my entire self and said yeah... there's nothing I'd leave out. Oh gosh I'm crying again.

I didn't know you did actually print those drawings out. I've been wondering. I'm so very glad. Bringing you some joy with them is all I wanted. And that someone could appreciate my art this much- especially you. It's like something out of a dream. I didn't know life had such luck in store for me. That I could make art come more easily to someone else again. And you know I love your art. Every time you post something I scramble to get that across, after all. Clunky and anything but concise.

Often I fear that I may be doing too much, coming on too strong, saying so much where others would keep it short. But I've had my years of silence born of paranoia, and I got sick of it. So sick. The reason I started blogging is exactly that, a form of self imposed exposure therapy, I suppose. Every time I'd be afraid to share something, I reminded myself- that's exactly why you should do it. Even if your heart is beating so fast it makes you lightheaded. Which happens rarely now, because this worked, somehow.

And I find myself thinking of a different string of time- where I didn't. Where I let the fear win. Where I never met you and some other lovely people, where all these exchanges we've had, the art and the words and photos of little rocks and tote bags and comics of them running away- never happened. These things that fuel me even when things seem dim. You light something up in me that was previously difficult to cling to- an occasional burst of this spark. Now it is like a little star that has snuggled its way deeply into my heart, refusing to leave.

The rhythm of your thoughts make mine very happy too. I never feel like I have to adjust my thinking with you, because I know you'll understand. Your mind is just as wonderfully strange. I know no one else who creates hand snails and runaway totebags and the most perfect crest imaginable. Making art for you is so fun, because I feel like whatever I choose to depict, you'll get it.

What I want most in life is to be a good person. To bring people joy. Knowing I succeeded is more than I could ever hope for. Am I making sense? Why are you so easy to let into my heart? Why does letting you influence my creations, my way of thinking, my way of loving the world feel so right?

You bring out the best in me.

And that you think sharing what I do takes bravery- well I suppose you're right. I never thought anyone would realise. Would understand. But that it takes kindness? I never thought of it that way. I didn't think anyone would look at what I say and think, "how kind of you, that you chose to share this". I never thought that would be possible. I've had people tell me how happy my tags made them, a few times. That's what fueled me. I thought, if some have said it, then more must have thought it. And I want to keep spreading that joy. What I'm trying to say is you've reassured me in things I didn't dare hope for.

And that even my occasional admission of pain could be seen as good. That you would see me as good.

You're the reason you know. The reason I talk so much on here. I didn't use to do that. I think about the moment that made me follow you, I remember it clearly. I think about all that led to knowing you at all.

Thank you for sharing. I will come back to this, whenever I need a reminder that, well. That I did something right.

I'm glad you won't argue what I said. You couldn't change my mind anyways, on you being a good person. I am so very grateful to have you in my life. I find it hard to tell what people think of me. Thank you for the reassurance, your own bravery, and your beautiful words. They're like poetry.

If Tumblr crashed tomorrow, and I never heard of you again, I would be heartbroken. Truly and fully. But I would be grateful, as I already am. For the time you were a part of my life.

But this shall not happen. We haven't reblogged those snails yet, as we promised, and even after that. I don't want to imagine.

I'll do pottery some day. I'm snuggling my cat as I type, and I'll make myself a hot chocolate, in my dancing skeleton mug. And every day, I'll keep being reminded of you, and how you're everywhere now. In every little thing I've shared, that you got excited about. You're a part of that clay hand now, my spooky dishware, my lego frog, my tote bags, my rocks, my memories. I take a moment to take in nature and I'm reminded of your description of the light falling through your window, the spot you left just to appreciate it. I see a sword, a snail, a drawing of a werewolf, and you're always there.

When you let people take up your time, you let them take permanent residence in your heart. And with you, I wouldn't have it any other way. Thank you for being here, for being you, and for bringing a peace to my soul I didn't know it needed.

Thank you.

[cartoonist-ks]

The Bernia AU: Humble Beginnings

About: The first installment to The Bernia AU. This story is about the iconic muppet duo, Bert and Ernie, and how they got married after over 30 years of being together.

Author's Note: So, for those who either follow me, or at least read this story, might notice I re-posted it, and that's because of some minor changes. Instead of establishing that Bert and Ernie have been together for over 50 years before marriage, I've reduced that to 30 years, and the reason for that is that I added something to the timeline of this AU, and only changed it for the sake of the story to make sense. What is that something I added, you may ask? You'll just have to see once that story is published. Keep in mind, that Bert and Ernie are still together and will remain together as a married couple forever in this AU.

Rating: All Ages

AU: Bernia

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bert and Ernie have been together for over 30 years now. They have gone on more dates than The Count can count. And we all know he loves to count. But this time, it will be different. Bert has something special planned for his date with Ernie. Bert fixes his bow tie in the mirror. He wears a white, button-up shirt, with a black vest over it. Black pants and his plain old saddle shoes. He looks at himself in the mirror making sure he looks decent enough. He then began to spray some cologne on himself to keep him smelling nice.

Bert: “Okay, I think I’m ready. Let’s see, I took a bath, I brushed my teeth, I combed my hair. My outfit looks decent. Okay, I think I’m ready to go.”

            He began to walk out of the room when he stopped by the door.

Bert: “OH! I almost forgot!”

            He walks back to his dressing table and opens the drawer. He lifts some neatly folded clothes and retrieves a little black box underneath. He puts the black box into his pocket and closes back the drawer.

Bert: “Now, I’m ready!”

The yellow muppet makes his way out of the room, closing the door behind him. He then meets Ernie by the front door. Ernie is wearing only a white button-up shirt, black pants, and a little red tie. As footwear, he wore dark brown loafers. The orange smaller muppet greets his boyfriend walking towards him.

Ernie: “Hey, honey. You look nice; as always.”

Bert: “Thanks. You look handsome as always too. Ready to go?”

Ernie: “Ready, but why did we have to dress up so nice anyway?”

Bert: “I made reservations to this nice restaurant a few blocks down from here. They only allow formal wear, so we must look nice.”

Ernie: “Well, why can’t we just go to any other restaurant that isn’t so strict on clothing?”

Bert: “Because tonight is a very special night. And I want everything to be perfect.”

Ernie: “What makes this night more special than other nights we’ve had with each other.”

Bert: “Oh, you’ll see. It’s a surprise.”

Ernie: “I sure do love surprises. Alright Bert, let’s go.”

The couple proceeded to exit their apartment. As they walked down the stairs, Oscar pops his head out of his trash can. He looked at both Bert and Ernie in disgust.

Oscar: “Ugh, where are you two lovebirds headed? How many dates have you guys been on? Like 30?”

Bert: “We lost count. But tonight’s gonna be special.”

Oscar: “What can be more special than any other dates you’ve been on so far?”

Ernie: “That’s what I said. Bert said it’s a surprise.”

Oscar: “A surprise? I hate surprises!”

Bert: “Oh, Oscar. Nobody hates surprises.”

Oscar: “Well, I do! They make me grouchy. And I love being grouchy.”

Ernie: “Of course you do, Oscar.”

Both Bert and Ernie walks past his trash can.

Oscar: “Just keep that mushy stuff away from my trash can! Ugh, love…”

            The grouch dives back into his trash can. Bert and Ernie walk down Sesame Street where they met Alan by Hooper’s Store, cleaning the tables as it was almost time to close up for the night. Alan greets the two lovebirds.

Alan: “Hi, Bert, hi Ernie. Off on another date, I see.”

Ernie and Bert: “Hey, Alan.”

Ernie: “Yeah, Bert’s taking me to this fancy restaurant. He has a surprise planned for me.”

Alan: “Ooh, that’s nice. Well, I hope it goes well.”

Bert: “I hope so.”

Ernie: “Ooh!”

To Ernie’s surprise, a limo drove up. Bert walks up next to Ernie, putting his arm around his shoulder.

Bert: “That. Is our ride.”

Ernie: “Woah, Bert. You shouldn’t have. This must be a pretty special surprise if you went and got a limousine.”

Bert: “Only the best for my spring pigeon.”

Ernie: “Oh, Bert.”

Ernie kisses Bert on the cheek. Bert opens the limo door, gesturing for Ernie to go in first.

Bert: “After you.”

            Ernie hops into the limo. He looks around in astonishment at the inside. It was a nice ruby red. The seats were smooth and leathery. In the door, there was a pocket where a bottle of a cool beverage bathing in ice, so it can stay cold.

Ernie: “It’s really nice in here.”

The Count: “Yes! That’s 1. 1 passenger in the back seat. Ha, Ha, Ha!”

Ernie: “Count? You’re the limo driver?”

The Count: “Yes. Bert asked me to take you guys on your…uh…30th date? You know I lost count. Which is weird because I never lose count. Hmm, maybe I should count how many dates you’ve been on so far.”

Ernie: “UH- That’s alright, Count, you don’t-

The Count: “1, one date. 2, two dates. 3, three dates. 4, four dates…

Ernie: “Oh, dear…”

The Count: “5, five dates…

Bert walks over to Alan.

Bert: “Boy, I really want this night to be perfect.”

Alan: “You mean, more perfect than any of your other dates?”

Bert: “Yes. This night is gonna be special. It has to be.”

Alan: “What makes this night so special?”

Bert: “Because…

            Bert takes out the small black box he saved in his pocket. He opens it, revealing a small ring inside. It was a nice golden color. It even had the shape of Rubber Duckie carved in it. Alan looks at the ring in surprise.

Alan: “Ooh… Does this mean, you’re finally gonna propose to Ernie?”

Bert: “Yeah.”

Alan: “Well, it’s about time. How long have you guys been together?”

Bert: “Over 30 years.”

Alan: “It took you over 30 years to finally put a ring on his finger?”

Bert: “Well, better late than never.”

Alan: “Good luck, Bert. I’m sure Ernie will say yes.”

Bert: “I hope. Bye, Alan.”

Alan: “Bye, Bert!”

            Bert then makes his way into the limo to meet a disenchanted Ernie.

Bert: “Ernie, what’s wrong?”

The Count: “11, eleven dates. 12, twelve dates…

Bert: “Is he counting?”

The Count: “13, thirteen dates…

Ernie: “Well, he is The Count.”

Bert: “We don’t have time for this. We’re suppose to be at the restaurant before 9.”

The Count: “14, fourteen dates…

Bert: “COUNT! Count, we gotta go. It’s 8:45. We need to get to the restaurant before our reservations expire!”

The Count: “Alright then. Off we go!”

And with that, Count started the limo and was now off to the restaurant. As they made their way to the restaurant, Ernie couldn’t contain his excitement. He couldn’t wait for what Bert had in store for him this time.

Ernie: “Oh boy, I wonder what the surprise is! Ooh, can I have a hint?”

Bert: “No, dear heart, you gotta wait.”

Ernie: “Can I guess?”

Bert: “No, you can’t guess. Do you want to ruin the surprise?”

Ernie: “But I’m just so eager to find out what it is! Ooh, is it…a new friend for Rubber Duckie?”

Bert: “No.”

Ernie: “Is it, that new paint set I wanted?”

Bert: “No.”

Ernie: “Oh, I know. A chocolate fountain.”

Bert: “A chocolate foun- Ernieee, stop trying to guess. When the time is right, I promise you’ll see. And I know you’re gonna love it.”

            Bert holds both of Ernie’s hands in his own and looks at him with loving eyes. Ernie gives Bert a warm smile.

Ernie: “Okay, Bert. I won’t guess anymore. I’m sure whatever it is, it will be very special. But not as special as you.”

Bert: “Oh, Ernie…”

            As they both were about to lean in for a kiss, they were abruptly interrupted by a sudden jolt from the limo. As if they ran over something.

Ernie: “What was that?”

The Count: “I do not know. I will pull over to see what is wrong.”

            Count pulls over the limo. He then exits the vehicle to see what’s the matter. After a few seconds, Bert heard a tap on his side window. He rolls down the window to reveal The Count standing there.

The Count: “It would seem that we have a flat tire.”

Bert: “A flat tire?! Wha- can you change it?”

The Count: “Let me see?”

Count then checks the back to see if there were any spares. He walks back to Bert’s window.

The Count: “There aren’t any spares. I think I forgot to bring some.”

Bert: “Are you kidding me?!”

Bert’s eyebrow dropped expressing that he was angry.

Bert: “What ding-a-ling forgets to bring spare tires?!

Ernie: “Honey, honey, calm down. It’s gonna be okay.”

Bert: “No, it’s not! I planned for this night to be perfect! Everything was supposed to go smoothly! Now we’re gonna be late for our dinner reservations!”

The Count: “I can always call someone to fix our flat tire.”

Ernie: “That’s a great idea, Count. See, Bert, it’s gonna be fine.”

            Bert hangs his head down low.

Bert: “Hmm…"

An hour passed, and the limo’s flat tire was finally fixed, but by that time, it was already too late. It was already past 9, meaning that their reservations would have already expired. Bert was very disappointed.

Bert: (sighs) “So much for a romantic dinner.”

Ernie: “It’s okay, Bert. I don’t care about having a fancy dinner. I just want to spend the night with my handsome boyfriend.”

Bert: “Tonight was supposed to be a special night. I was gonna- … it doesn’t matter…”

            Ernie ponders to himself for a minute, before hatching a great idea.

Ernie: “Hey! Tell you what. Why don’t we have our romantic dinner at the most special place ever.”

            Bert perks his head up.

Bert: “Uh? Where?”

Alan is carrying a tray with two bowls on it. One containing oatmeal and the other containing macaroni & cheese. He brings it over to the table Bert and Ernie were sitting at.

Alan: “And for the lovely couple, a fresh bowl of oatmeal for Bert. And a hot steaming bowl of macaroni & cheese for Ernie.”

            The storekeeper rests the two bowls down in front of the gentlemen.

Bert: “Hmm, thank you, Alan.”

Ernie: “Thanks, Alan.”

Alan: “Anytime, you guys. Enjoy.”

A violinist appears holding a violin.

Violinist: “Would you like to hear some sweet music while you eat?”

Bert: “Oh, that would be nice.”

Ernie: “Yes, please.”

The violinist began playing his violin. He played, “I am forever blowing bubbles”. And it really added to a calm romantic atmosphere. The once disappointed Bert was now satisfied with his date. Sure, it wasn’t a fancy restaurant, but it no longer mattered as long as Ernie was happy.

Bert: “You were right, Ernie. This is the most special place to have a romantic dinner.”

Ernie: “It’s special to me because this is the place we first met. I never thought I would end up falling in love with my roommate years later. And each day with you will always be special.”

Bert: “Aww, Ernie… I find each day special with you too.”

Alan taps Bert on the shoulder.

Alan: (whispers) “Ah, Bert? I think you should do it.”

Bert: (whispers) “Do what?”

Alan: (whispers) “The ring?”

Bert: (gasp) “Oh, right! Umm…”

            Bert gets up from his seat. Ernie is confused.

Ernie: “Bert? Is everything okay?”

            Bert is nervous. He was shaking a little and his palms were sweaty, but he took a deep breath and exhaled. He looks into Ernie’s eyes, how they sparkle in the moonlight. He was finally able to build the courage to tell him.

Bert: “Ernie… from the moment I first met you, I always thought of you as a friend. But after we started living together, I didn’t know that I was starting to have feelings for you until I realized that a life without you would be pure misery. When we finally got together, I was over the moon. Living with you has been an absolute dream and I want nothing more than to spend every day of my life with you. For the rest of my life. I know we’ve had our differences and our mishaps. Most of them, caused by you. But no matter what, I want too always be there for you. Whether we’re angry with each other, or sad together, I know that our love will never wither. So…

            Bert pulls out the small black box containing the ring. He kneels on one knee. Ernie’s heart began to race. He had an idea where this was going. Bert opens the small box, revealing the shiny piece of jewelry. Ernie covers his mouth with a soft gasp.

Bert: “Ernie, will you make me the happiest man in the world and…marry me?”

            Tears began to form in Ernie’s eyes as he looked down at the ring. He saw the carving of Rubber Duckie on the golden piece of treasure.

Ernie: “Oh, Bert…(sniffs)…yes…yes…YES, I will marry you!”

            Ernie jumps out of his chair and into Bert’s arms nearly knocking him over, but the larger muppet was able to keep his balance as he hugged his partner. They then share a tender kiss that lasted half a minute before parting. Bert then slips on his ring. It was a perfect fit. Ernie looked down at the shiny golden treasure then back at Bert, giving him another tender kiss. Alan and The Count watched them from the distance with a smile.

The next day, Bert and Ernie announced to all their friends that they would finally be tying the knot very soon. There was a lot of preparing that needed to be done, but luckily for the muppet couple, they had all the help they could possibly get. Everyone on Sesame Street helped the couple to plan and prepare for the big event. After months of planning, the day finally came. Bert and Ernie decided to have their wedding at a nearby park. The chairs with set in two rows with everyone who knew the muppet couple as well as families of the soon to be wed couple. Bert stood up front with the priest holding a large book. Alan and Chris stood with him, as well as his twin brother, Bart. Bert was visibly shaking and sweating. He was nervous. He had pictured this moment every day after the proposal. And now that it was finally here, he started to have doubts. Bart and the other two men noticed how nervous Bert was.

Bart: “You good there, Bert?”

Bart puts his hand on Bert’s shoulder.

Bert: “I-I don’t know if I can do this.”

Chris: “Are you starting to have doubts?”

Bert: “A little… Mostly about the possibility that all of this could go wrong.”

Bart: “Hey, Bert. Nothing’s gonna go wrong. You’ll do just fine.”

Alan: “Yeah. We’re right with you. Everything’s gonna be okay.”

Bert: “I hope so. I really do hope so.”

Bert began looking around at everyone who came to their event. There was Gordan and Maria, Susan, Miles, Gabbie. As well as Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Rosita, Harry Monster, and many other friends. His family, his nephew Brad, his mother, his cousin Bertina. And Ernie’s family, his parents, his cousin Ernestine, his uncle Ernesto, and his other cousin Fred. Everyone he cared about and supported him through all his life, and soon enough Bert’s nerves began to settle, just in time for the wedding music to start playing. Abby and Zoe were skipping down the aisle tossing flowers on their way down until they made it to the front. Then came Elmo walking down the aisle with a nice black suit, holding a pillow with two golden rings sitting on it. Once he made it up to the front it was now time for the groom to come in. Bert’s eyes shot open when he saw him. His fiancé standing at the other end of the aisle, wearing a white tux, holding a bouquet of flowers. His eyes sparkled with such beauty. The yellow muppet was mesmerized by his soon-to-be-husband. Ernie slowly and gracefully walked down the aisle, the people sitting in the rows of chairs watched as he walked past them with warm smiles. Once he finally made it up the front, he faced Bert. The large muppet faced him too. Looking into each other’s eyes with love. The priest began to speak.

Priest: “We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life’s joyous moments, and to honor the words of Bert and Ernie, that shall bound them together in marriage. Marriage is a promise, that two people who love each other make, to continue their journey together as one. Two people, who wish to be together forever. Does the groom and groom have a few words to share before we proceed?”

Bert: “I have a few words. (clears throat) Ernie, I hope that whatever happen, whether if we’re mad at each other, or sad together, we will still be together no matter what.”

Ernie: “I hope we stay together too, Bert. No matter the costs.”

Priest: “Okay. Let us proceed then. Do you Bert take Ernie to be your lawfully wedded husband for as long as you two shall live, in sickness and in health, ‘til death do you part?”

Bert: “I do.”

Priest: “And do you, Ernie, take Bert to be your lawfully wedded husband, for as long as you two shall live, in sickness and in health, ‘til death do you part?”

Ernie: “I do.”

Priest: “Can the ring bear now give both the grooms their rings?”

            Elmo walks up to the couple and lifts the pillow towards them. Bert and Ernie pick up the rings and slid them on each other’s fingers. Elmo walks back to his place and the priest began one last time.

Priest: “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and husband. You may kiss the groom.”

            And with those final lines, Bert and Ernie leaned in for a warm, tender, kiss. Everyone else watching got up from their seats and began to clap. Cookie Monster hugged Oscar as he cried tears of joy. Instead of pulling away, Oscar hugged him back. Even though, he was a grouch, he couldn’t help but shed a little tear, feeling happy for the now, married muppets. Once the couple finally separated from their kiss, they held each other’s hands and walked back down the aisle. Bart, Chris, and Alan were also clapping for them. And so, the after party began. They all sat around a table. Gordan stood up, lifting his glass up and tapping a butter knife against it.

Gordan: “I would like to make a toce, to Bert and Ernie. I wish for them to have a long happy marriage. After over 30 years, they finally tied the knot, and I couldn’t be more than happy for them.”

            Everyone at the table clapped. Bert and Ernie hugged each other.

Ernie: “Thank you, Gordan. That was very nice.”

Bart: “Alright, let’s dig in!”

Everyone at the table began to eat. They talked. They shared some laughs, and they ate some more. Once, it was finally time to cut the cake, Bert and Ernie held the knife and started to cut the three-layered cake. Ernie smeared some of the frosting on his finger and began to taste the cake.

Bert: “Oh, can I have some.”

Ernie: “Sure, Bert. Here.”

Ernie smeared the cake frosting on Bert’s nose. He pointed and laughed. Bert nodded his head before taking some of the frosting on his finger and smeared it on Ernie’s nose. Bert laughed. Ernie laughed too. After the cake, there was the slow dancing. Everyone grabbed a partner and danced, swaying side to side. Ernie and Bert held each other in their embrace and danced as if they were the only people in the entire world.

Bert: “How was it?”

Ernie: “How was what, Bert?”

Bert: “All this? Was it everything you could ever wish for?”

Ernie: “It’s more than that, Bert. It’s everything I could have dreamed for. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Bert: “Me either.”

            Ernie lays his head on Bert’s shoulder and closed his eyes to imprint this exact moment in his mind. All they could feel was love for each other. Nothing more, nothing less. It started to turn dark, some of the kids were tired and their parents took them home, but not before congratulating the couple first. Bert and Ernie sat on a bench and looked up at the stars together while continuing to hold each other.

            It’s been a year since the wedding, and Bert and Ernie are still as happy as they’ve ever been. Not many things have changed since they got married. They still lived in their basement apartment as they always have. They still sleep in the same room on the same bed together. So, nothing really changed about their relationship. Just same old same old stuff. But things were about to change for the married couple. Bert and Ernie were preparing a separate room. Ernie was standing on a latter, painting the walls a nice blue sky. He was just about done painting a cloud. Bert was putting together a bassinet with a mobile hanging over it.

Bert: “Ernie?”

Ernie: “Hmm?” Bert: “Does this look good?”

Ernie looked at the bassinet at where it was placed. It was placed near the window of the room. Ernie shook his head in disapproval.

Ernie: “Mh-mh. Why not move it more over there.”

            Ernie pointed towards the corner of the room. Bert began pushing the bassinet toward the corner.

Bert: “Is this good?”

Ernie: “Hmm… maybe push it a little to the side.”

            Bert then pushed the bassinet a little bit away from the corner.

Bert: “How about now?”

Ernie: “Hmm… still not good. Move it over to the door.”

Bert: “Alright.”

            Bert once again pushed the bassinet over to the door, but not too close as to give the door room to open.

Bert: “Now?”

Ernie: “Umm… I don’t like it. Bring it back over here.”

Bert: (sighs)

            Bert pushed the bassinet back over to the window where it was originally placed. Ernie nodded his head in approval.

Ernie: “Perfect!”

Ernie laughs. Bert shook his head in disapproval.

Ernie: “Oh, Bert, the room looks wonderful, don’t you think?”

Bert: “Yeah, it looks pretty good. I can’t wait for the baby to finally sleep in it.”

            The couple looked around at the new nursery, they prepared for a baby. That’s right, Bert and Ernie are going to welcome a new bundle of joy to the street. The nursery had a nice outdoor kind of feel with the walls painted a sky blue with puffy clouds and a grassy green for the grass. It also had a few bunnies painted on it. There was also a changing table to change the baby’s diapers, a dressing table to keep the baby’s clothes, a closet to store the baby’s toys, and a rocking chair to rock the baby to sleep at night. Cannot forget the bookshelf where all the baby books were, and finally the bassinet.

Ernie: “Me too, Bert. I’m sure they’ll love it. I can’t wait to read to the baby at night. Rock them peacefully in the rocking chair. Lay them nice and soundly in their little bassinet.”

Bert: “Me too, Ernie. I can’t wait to do all those things too.”

            The two muppets were alerted by the sound of the doorbell. Bert was confused. They weren’t really expecting guests over.

Ernie: “Ooh, that must be the toys.”

Bert: “Toys?”

Ernie: “Yeah, didn’t I tell you? I ordered more baby toys online.”

Bert: “More baby toys?!”

Ernie: “Oh yeah. I should go get them.”

            Ernie hummed as he made his way to the front door. Bert stood there surprised before following him. There was a delivery man outside on the stoop waiting for the person to collect his items. The orange muppet finally came out and greeted the delivery man.

Ernie: “Hello, there.”

Delivery Man: “Yeah, did you order a delivery on baby toys?”

Ernie: “I sure did!”

Delivery Man: “Here you go.”

The delivery man was about to hand Ernie the boxes when Bert finally came out and without a second thought, he intervened.

Bert: “Oh I’ll take that!”

Bert takes the boxes instead.

Ernie: “Ooh. Thanks, Bert.”

Delivery Man: “Have a nice day.”

The delivery man walks away. Ernie looked at the boxes Bert was holding.

Bert: “Ernieee, don’t you think this is a little too many toys? We already have plenty in the closet.”

Ernie: “You can never have too many toys, hon.”

            Bert sighs. Just then, Elmo and Abby were passing by when they saw the muppet couple with boxes.

Elmo: “Hi Ernie! Hi Bert!”

Abby: “Hey, you guys!”

Ernie: “Hello, Little Elmo. Abby.”

Elmo: “What are Bert and Ernie doing with all those boxes?”

Ernie: “Just some stuff we ordered for a surprise.”

Abby: (gasp) “A surprise?”

Elmo: “Elmo loves surprises! What’s the surprise?”

Ernie: “We can’t tell you yet. We want to gather everyone on Sesame Street and tell them. You’ll just have to wait until then.”

Elmo: “Okay! Elmo can’t wait to hear what the surprise is!”

Abby: “Me too!”

Bert: “Ugh. I’m gonna bring these boxes in the apartment.”

Ernie: “I’ll come with you! Bye guys.”

            Both Ernie and Bert made their way back into the apartment.

Elmo and Abby: “Bye Bert. Bye Ernie.”

Elmo: “Oh, boy, Elmo wonders what Ernie and Bert have for a surprise.”

Abby: “Me too. Do you think their getting a new pet?”

Elmo: “Could it be a dog?!”

Abby: “Or a cat?!”

Elmo: “Or maybe a hamster?”

Abby: “Who knows? We’ll just have to wait to see what it is.”

            Meanwhile, back in the apartment, Ernie was looking over the new toys he got for the baby.

Bert: “I still think this is way too many toys, Ernie. Would it even fit in the closet?”

Ernie: “Oh, Bert, I’m sure it will! Let’s see here, we got a teddy bear. A shiny ball. And a rubber duckie!”

            Ernie squeaks the rubber duckie and laughs.

Bert: “Why not give the baby the rubber duckie you already have?”

Ernie: “Bert, Rubber Duckie is MY toy. I wouldn’t just give him up. You know this.”

Bert throws his arm up in the air and face palms.

Bert: “Of course.”

Ernie: “But hey, the baby will have their own rubber duckie to play with. I’ll even teach them the rubber duckie song when their older.”

Bert: “I’ll admit that song never gets old. Not even for you.”

Ernie: “That song will forever be a staple to me. I sure am awfully fond of it.”

            Ernie laughs once again.

Bert: “And I will forever be awfully fond of you, my spring pigeon.”

            Ernie blushes before walking over to Bert and giving him a kiss on the cheek.

Ernie: “Oh, Bert. I’m awfully fond of you too.”

            When the time was finally right, Bert and Ernie gathered everyone on Sesame Street to tell them the news of them going to have a baby. Everyone was ecstatic for the couple and, as always, gave them their support. After a couple of days, Bert had a surprise for Ernie waiting outside of the apartment. Bert leads Ernie outside of the apartment with his hands covering the orange muppet’s eyes.

Bert: “Alright, Ernie! Are you ready for your surprise?”

Ernie: “Yes~. What is it?”

            Bert removes his hands away from Ernie’s eyes. Ernie opens his eyes and gasps in surprise. He saw a gray SUV parked in front of the apartment.

Bert: “I got us an SUV! The car dealer said they make wonderful family cars. We can go on family road trips. Just me, you, and our baby together. As a family.”

Ernie: “Bert! Oh, this is wonderful, Bert! I’m so happy!”

            Ernie gives Bert a big hug.

Bert: “You wanna see the inside?”

Ernie: “Of course.”

Bert: “Okay!”

            And so, the couple got inside the large car. Ernie sat in the passenger’s seat, while Bert sat in the driver’s seat. Ernie admired the inside of the car. Bert nodded his head, proud of his choice.

Ernie: “Wow, Bert, this is wonderful!”

Bert: “Yeah. After we got married, I’ve always planned for us to eventually get a car, so we can go out on trips together. And since we’re about to be parents, I thought it was the right time to finally get it.”

Ernie: “Oh, thank you, Bert. You know, this baby will be very lucky to have you as a father. You’d make a great dad.”

Bert: “So will you.”

And with that, the two shared a warm kiss while sitting in their new SUV. A couple of months went by, and the couple finally welcomed a new baby to the street. Everyone on Sesame Street waited for them, as they pulled up.

Elmo: “Look, everybody! They’re here!”

            Bert made his way out of the car, greeting everyone present.

Bert: “Hey, everyone!”

Maria: “Welcome home, fellas!”

Gordan: “It’s so great to have you guys back! How was it?”

Bert: “It was alright.”

            Bert came around to the passenger’s side to open the door for Ernie.

Big Bird: “Oh boy, I can’t wait to see the new baby!”

Ernie: “Well, you won’t have to wait any longer.”

            The orange muppet carefully made his way out of the car, holding a swaddled baby in his arms. Though, the baby’s face couldn’t be seen. Everyone awed, as Ernie made his way towards the stairs of the stoop and sat down right in between Elmo and Abby. Everyone there looked closer as Ernie pulled the blanket out of the baby’s face for a better look.

Alan: “Awe, they’re so cute!”

            The baby was small and had yellowish-orange skin, a smile like Ernie’s, and a reddish-orange nose that was shaped like Bert’s. Of course, they had black hair like both parents, with the only difference there being a white patch of hair on the side of their head. Their eyes were closed, and they slept peacefully in Ernie’s arms. Elmo couldn’t contain his excitement.

Elmo: “Is the baby a boy or girl?!”

Ernie: “It’s a beautiful baby girl.”

Abby: (gasps) “A girl! I was right.”

Rosita: “Awe, she is very beautiful!”

Grover: “She looks like both you and Bert, Ernie.”

Ernie: “She does.”

Bert: “She’s a healthy mix between me and Ernie.”

Maria: “Well, she is very cute.”

Chris: “Yeah, congrats you too.”

Bert and Ernie: “Thanks.”

Big Bird: “What’s her name?”

Bert and Ernie: “Bernia.”

Grover: “That is such a cute little name.”

Alan: “And a very clever one too. It’s like both Bert and Ernie put together, which would make sense.”

Bert: (chuckle) “Yeah. It took us a while to come up with a name, but we finally settled on naming her after both of us.”

Susan: “That is very special. You both are very lucky to have such a beautiful baby girl.”

The Count: “That’s 1, one cute, adorable baby. And two wonderful parents.”

Bert: “Thanks, Count.”

Abby: (cooed) “Hi there, Bernia. I’m Abby.”

Elmo: “And Elmo’s Elmo. Welcome to Sesame Street.”

            Everyone looked down at the little bundle of joy. Bert and Ernie especially couldn’t be any happier. With the new member on Sesame Street, the air was getting sweeter. The iconic muppet duo were gonna have a lot of changes in their lives that will take some getting used to, but as always, they can get through it together. There are still lots of adventures to explore, as this was only a humble beginning to a new chapter.

The End...

[wholelotofweird]

Meowdy, I hope you're ready to take a peek at all of the books I've read the last 3 months!

By read, I do also mean listened to. I'm a huge fan of audiobooks, because my brain is bad.

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone - Benjamin Stevenson

I love a good mystery book, and this is a good mystery book. The narrator has a strong voice and is up-front about their unreliable nature. This book does a great job of making sure you are on the narrator's side, it never feels like they are purposefully keeping readers in the dark in order to pull a gotcha.

Pacing and suspense are SO well balanced to the point where I devoured this book in a day.

Paladin's Grace - T. Kingfisher

I was so prepared for this book to lean way more heavily into a fantasy world where I'd have to learn more terms and how social systems work, and just 1000 other things that can put me off of fantasy books. It's part of the reason I put it off for so long after getting it recommended to me (sorry, Ben.)

THIS BOOK, THOUGH, is not that at all. We don't have to learn new names for "church" or "palm tree". The author manages to thread the line between assuming that readers know the world already, and not creating a bunch of buckwild new words. The handholding though the worldbuilding is so light that you almost don't even feel it.

The setting manages to feel modern and fantastic all at once, which is just... The perfect food for me. The pantheon exists, but it isn't the focus.

This is a romance novel but not a bodice ripper, or overly erotic. I feel the depths of the emotions between the two main characters, which is what I really want.

My one gripe is that the final resolution feels very deus ex. Now, if I was going to pull out my fancy degree and analyze this, I could make an argument that the ending is supposed to feel that, for [spoilers]. But... I'm not sure how true that is. Maybe I'll have to re-read the book and keep that argument in mind.

Even with the ending, this book is lovely.

The Cybernetic Tea Shop - Meredith Katz

This book is short and sweet and a lovely look at an ace relationship.

I haven't read a book sub 200 pages in about a billion years, so many modern books are 600+ pages. Some of them! So good! Others!! Painfully long! This book manages to build an amazing world, atmosphere, multiple characters, and a believable romantic relationship all in the space of a few hundred pages.

Not just that, but the story happens to be about grief, and life, and what it is a person really wants. There are a handful of books I've read in my life that I connect with on such a deep level that I feel seen and changed, Convince Store Woman is one, and this is one.

Cults - Max Cutler

Taking a hard swerve into some non-fiction. I'll be honest, I wasn't sure what I was getting into with this one. I'm not HUGE into true crime (anymore, 14 year old me S U P E R was), so I was a little concerned that I was signing up for some grim, overly detailed, look into the crimes.

What I got instead was a thoughtful look at the psychology behind cult leaders. Yeah, there are a few sections that are pretty grim, but the book doesn't revel in them, if that makes sense. There is never a point where I feel like I am supposed to be ENJOYING the crimes being detailed.

The focus on not just the leaders lives pre-cult, but the lives of the cult members does a ton of work to unmythologize (.... new word alert) some of these leaders.

House of Salt and Sorrows - Erin A. Craig

So... I don't know. I didn't dislike this book, but I'm not sure I'm a fan. I will read the second one when I have access to it, but I don't know that I'd read this one again.

Here is a true fact about me - I don't read summaries of books or horror movies. This, as you may imagine, leads me to having to some WILD times with media.

Anyway, the point is: I was expecting a mystery period piece. What I got was a fantasy mystery period piece. It was fun, it was a little overly complicated. At the end of the day, I was definitely not the target audience for this.

I'm Glad My Mom Died - Janette McCurdy

Jesus. Christ.

When i-Carly was popular I was juuuuuust old enough to say I hated it, while watching it with my younger sisters pretty frequently. I didn't make sure to watch any of the big event episodes. I didn't see every episode, but the show was a constant in my life.

To get such a raw look at someone's life who was molded to be a 'peer' was WACK. Jennette doesn't sugar coat anything. Her experiences are raw and honest and it is probably the only way these experiences could be expressed.

Paladin's Strength - T. Kingfisher

You may be asking "why didn't you put this up next to the first book?"

Great question.

I'm putting this list in order that I read them, so like. Ease off.

I equal parts liked this book just as much, and had trouble getting through it. I am once again in love with the world and with the characters. During some of the middle of the book it felt like the book was 600 pages just to be 600 pages, and not because things needed to be said.

When I was in college I was accused of writing too many "stage directions" in my literature. I blame my years of RPing on Gaia Online and fan-fic writing on that. There is a definite style that comes from those writing exercises, a style where you want all of the readers to know everything from point A to point B. The thing is, not all of that is needed. I don't need 200 pages of sexual tension and flirting to believe in the relationship of two people. It's the "show don't tell" rule taken to the extreme.

There are some times when it's okay to tell and not show.

I like this book, I wish it was shorter, I will be reading the next one in the series because, damn it, this series is fun.

The Curse of Chalion - Lois McMaster Bujold

I don't tend to read fantasy books Like This anymore. When I was younger this type of book was my bread and butter. I've found that a lot of them (to me, at my advanced age) are tedious. And I'm tired.

This book! Manages not to be tedious and absolutely cradled me in the arms of fantasy I loved when I was younger. The book isn't, plot wise, comforting and yet I felt comforted reading it. I understand that the sentiment makes little sense. I'll say, though, if you were like me and were/are a big fan of Tamora Pierce's work - I cannot recommend this book enough.

Mrs. Sherlock Holmes - Brad Ricca

What is more cool than a woman lawyer, investigator, and social rights advocate in the 1900s? Basically nothing. This is another non-fiction book that truly brought to life the folks it detailed. I am OBSESSED with this woman.

I had never heard of Grace Humiston, which seems like an absolute shame, not just because she was cool as all hell, but because she spent so much time and effort protecting the underserved classes of 1900s New York. She was a lawyer who often worked for free to represent folks who could either not speak or write in English and were being taken advantage of.

She became an investigator, basically, because she knew the police were not putting effort into it.

The Salt Grows Heavy - Cassandra Khaw

This was another one that I didn't read the summary for before jumping in. I knew it was a queer book and I knew there was a mermaid, I didn't need any other convincing.

Here we have another sub 200 page book that tells an amazing love story. A story of personhood and growth and revenge.

It is not an easy read either in content or syntax. I haven't really put any trigger warnings with any of the other books, maybe that's a system I'll implement if anyone is interested. But this one: Body Horror, and Gore. If you have a weak stomach I would, sadly, not recommend this to you.

That said, this book is one of the more poetic ones I've read in a long time. Every word feels purposeful in a way that I don't run into often. Keeping the book short works perfectly for that style. If it were any longer I could easily find myself getting lost in the writing.

Legends & Lattes - Travis Baldree

This book has been on my TBR for... A While. It took my friend starting it and sending rave reviews for me to pick it up.

Here's another fun fact about me - My brain is broken. I have a hard time engaging with media that I KNOW I will enjoy, simply because. Because why? I don't know. To be contrary? Because I don't want to be disappointed? Because I'm scared I'll like it too much?

Who knows, don't recommend shows or movies to me and expect me to get back to you in a timely manner. You have to wait 3-5 years.

So, knowing that, I am glad I forced myself to pick this up. This is the coffee shop AU that we all love. The creation of this AU was treated with such love and care, it's clear the author knows what's up. All I want is a big strong character to fall in love with a smaller, softer, character and also run a little shop.

This book delivers on that and more. I cannot WAIT for the next book.

Leech - Hiron Ennes

I'm going to start with the easy stuff - This is a wonderfully dark book. I'm not usually a gothic horror reader, but wow. This book is about horror, identity, reclaiming the self. My library had it miss-tagged as romance which??? It is SUPER not.

The harder part is putting into words how I feel about this book. I like this book, it is complex and poetic. There were times where I felt like I was about to crawl out of my skin, in a good way. Emotions are so viscerally described that I could feel them in my gut.

The history of the world feels so deep, and the author does an amazing job at making me feel like that there are things going on outside the view of the character. That is an amazing skill to pull on, making the world around the character feel truly alive.

I told my friends when I finished it that sometimes "u read a book and the book read u."

I haven't put on my literature analysis hat on in nearly a decade. I would LOVE to spend more time to sit with this book and peel back the layers and figure out all of the ways this book makes me feel seen as a queer person. I don't have the words for that right now. Just know that I felt it.

Ghost Eaters - Clay McLeod Chapman

I don't know how I feel about this book. I think, overall, I like it. I think the plot is interesting, but the book isn't really about the plot, it's about the character. It's about grief and relationships and healing.

I felt like the first 200 pages were a real struggle for me. Unlike some of the other books I've read on this list, I did read a blurb about this one. I wonder if that was why the first 3rd of this book was a struggle. I was waiting the hook to find me. Instead, I had pages and pages of character exploration. I don't hate character exploration! But it wasn't what I was expecting.

The end... Left me feeling sad, and a little hopeless. Which, I think is the point. I think is why I don't read a ton of horror books. I love horror movies, I don't mind if the endings of those are bleak and hopeless. I think the difference is time spent. Reading a book takes so much more time and dedication and like... I want to be happy, is the thing.

I like this book, I think it's a wonderfully written look at addiction and grief and the ways those can eat a person alive.

Paladin's Hope - T. Kingfisher

I devoured this book in 5 hours. I... I opened it and did not put it down. I think this one may be my favorite of the three. I think the author managed to strike the exact right balance of tension, romance, and action.

Unlike Paladin's Strength, I never felt that there were these big empty spaces -- There was momentum.

I want to once again say that I LOVE that the characters are into their 30s. As a person also into their 30s it's just nice to see folks who feel real. Maybe I've been reading the wrong books for years, I simply feel a deep connection for characters similar in age who are just so... Normal (ignoring that some of them are paladin's of a dead god... you know what I mean).

[windup-themis]

It hasn't been quite a year, but I looked back here and saw my last pinned post, and thought I might make another.

I was reading over my last pinned post and it's funny how much better things have gotten since then. I don't have the same job, I work somewhere else now, and it shows me how much better things can be. I was holding my head above the water with the last team I worked with, but now I have coworkers and managers that care about and support me.

Last time, I mentioned that my birthday had passed, and that just a small few friends came by for a little while but had to leave. I was happy for it but this year was so much better and it was what I had hoped for last year.

I had most of the same, I just invited my coworkers and friends to come hang out, have cake and food and such. A bunch of my coworkers came by and stayed well until 10 or 11 at night before everyone started heading home, and it was so much fun, and so fulfilling. It took 24 years but I finally have what I wished for all along: people that I can physically be with, that I have some kind of tangible love with. Life is full of hits-and-misses and attempted connections and bitter failures, but eventually you do get your chance. It was all worth it in the end.

I finished FFXIV, too, which is fun! Now I'm part of the crowd waiting with bated breath for the next expansion, but now that I have finished it, I find myself needing new ways to fill the time that used to be playing FF. I've picked up, played, and even finished some handful of games; Palworld, Vintage Story, a bit of Transistor, and the ever-beloved Sims. And in every game I play I find myself delightfully driven to create and write and join in on the world.

I managed to find and join a company in FFXIV that's focused on roleplay, and I've been having a lot of fun with Sye, but I've also created Takumi now too! They've got all their bits and pieces in motion, but aside from that, I also reached out to and joined an RP-focused Vintage Story server. It's been a lot of fun finally getting to indulge these things that I wanted to do for so long, but tried and failed so many times.

I've also been befriending my company mates, many of whom also love to write and draw and otherwise create. I got to read the draft of the first chapter of my friend's book; I am proofreading and editing for another one of them; and yet another has given me a link to their old D&D information for me to go read. I've made new friends, in and out of FFXIV, and even they have tons of amazing art and writing to share. Even in other games, like Vintage Story, I'm playing with friends and forming towns where we actually work together and delegate specific tasks to people who want to do them. It feels like all of the joys I experienced as a kid are finally being re-ignited in the best way possible.

I haven't written too much - if you don't count roleplay posts - but I have been indulging the ~egotistical~ love of my own voice. It's been fun making pseudo-audiobooks of the fics I've written and singing all of the songs that I love and getting to talk and laugh with my company mates and other friends.

All in all, I think I can say I'm happy with where my life is right now. I'll leave this with a pristine verse from Kristoff Krane this time:

Making love, making friends, no doubt I make a difference There's positive and negative effects of my decisions And although my dreams are selfish, I hope you can relate May my attempts at being honest resurrect the fact I'm fake

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

Instead of albums, this time, I leave you with songs:

Passing Through - Kaden MacKay Thank You Energy - Kristoff Krane Doing My Thing - Kristoff Krane Knocking on Wood - Spose Okay - Atmosphere

[plantcrazy]

UPDATE - Lost Children - 25/11/23

I've got a few updates for you guys on progress and what not :D

Aka. Lots of reading stuff today! (Don't worry, I'll keep the walls of text small, I don't like reading them either >< )

So firstly, DISCLAIMER!

I keep forgetting to say this, but after Part 1, Ch.9 old readers (or those who've read part 3) are going to start noticing some contradictions in the story. Please hold the information you read in Part 1 as truth over Part 3, as Part 3 needs editing and as I keep working on Part 1 (and now 2), I'm changing a lot of information. This is why older chapters may no longer be accurate, in the right order, or involving characters which are no longer present.

NEXT! - Progress on Part 1

As you can see, the word count in creeping up and one chapter got murdered this week >:) Thanos snapped from existence!

SO! Ever heard of the 'Sexy Lamp Test'?

No?

Me neither ^^

So, the sexy lamp test is, "If a character can be replaced by a sexy lamp with a note attached to it, they're a poorly fleshed-out character and don't need to be in the story." And this got me thinking, well, why am I using this random Toppat here, when I've got SPOILER who could do the same job?

So I tried SPOILER in that spot instead and... I LOVE IT >:D

However, this makes a MAJOR contradiction for Ch. A Puppet on Strings and a bunch in Part 3. Which is why A Puppet on Strings has been murdered, and I need to slap that big old disclaimer on A03 with the next chapter to go up and on the front of Part 3.

Otherwise, I'm about done :D

I'm doing the usual last minute edits on Ch. 11, 12 & 14, and then my next biggest goal is to settle on where exactly to split it into Part 1 and 2.

I've been working with A Minor Set Back, placed a few hours after all the fun is over, but I'm still tossing up ideas on where would be best to cut it and just how much of the consequence should go on which side of the part divide. Part 2 is pretty much the consequence chapters, so... *shrugs* I'll figure it all out, I just like keeping you guys in the loop with stuff and I know I personally find the insight to how writers brains work quite fascinating so maybe so of you guys do to.

PROGRESS ON OTHER PART

As said before, I've started on Part 2. Mostly it's just writing down the consequences of Part 1 scenes, and then the chapters I keep flipping between the two parts while I experiment to find the best layout.

Part 2 & 3, I'm working on the pacing and deciding if I'll be keeping them as two separate parts, or merging them to be one larger one and shove the back end of Part 3 onto Part 4.

And that leaves me with what to do with the mess that is the original Lost Children upload on A03. I don't want to delete it, but my god, is it a mess to sort out. I could keep fighting to edit it, I could archive it... I should make a poll on this. I think my biggest worry about editing it is I'll have to delete and re-work so many chapters It'll make a mess of it. That might be more of my fear than anything: Losing the older vs... eh, I need to think on this. Do some more arguing with my sentimental side, lol.

For the story as a whole, I'm working on shortening it.

I think, myself as a writer, I have this problem where I keep adding and adding all these cool ideas, and the story gets to a length which would, A) take forever to write, and B) becomes unmanageable for me on my own.

I think my other fear with the length is, I'm starting my BA degree in Feb, so I'm going to be busy. Heck, I'm already busy with all the moving stuff and I haven't even started the course yet :P

I want to finish this story 100%. And I feel, with my irl stuff and other side projects (older stories I want to rewrite and new ones to start) the best way for me to accomplish that is to shorten it. And all these over cool ideas I have for, like, an in-depth story into Project Harmonious, or this neat Toppat Elite Alternative Universe origin idea and what not, could be saved for smaller side projects once I get the main story done.

I have this REALLY cool sketch of this AU idea, and I can't share it, and as much as it kills me because, it's so freaking cool, it would literal RUIN one of the story lines in Lost Children, so... _ _ :

Anyway, this is where my head is at the minute. Regardless of what I settle on, my top goal is to finish writing and upload the story.

So bare with me. I got this.

Chapter 11

Ch.11 will be, I think, tomorrow. I have one small piece to add in for foreshadowing purposes, and the cover art idea is so cool, I want it done first, lol.

Since I said today, and it's not >> I thought instead I'll share ALL the WIPs of my process in making a cover from idea to finished product.

So, that'll come out later today, and I'll keep updating it as I make progress.

Now, if you'll excuse me... I have adulting to >>

[vvatchword]

I'm so concerned that I'll NEVER finish a novel-sized anything.

I mean, technically, I have. I've finished about 23 novel-sized things. It's just that most of them are shitty and the one that wasn't shitty was still... not very good. A very long process, this. But the idea is, I would like to end a story and have that story be good all the way through. This is the dream. Doesn't matter how good the ride is if it terminates in a brick wall.

So my BioShock hyperfixation has been gradually winding down for the past... oh, two months? I have managed to ease my fall by sliding down the fireman's pole of "adjacent interests." Anyway, I'm heading toward a drawer period with this story--totally normal for me. Having a hyperfixation for a literal fucking year is the weird part. Just six more weeks and it will truly be that old. Unfortunately, it's a sign that nothing is quite right in my life, but at the same time, I ain't wastin this fuckin impetus, ok

Now consider this.

A Summer for Saya. TMNT fic. Leorai. Exceptionally cursed. I've known how it ends for years. I have easily written about 150,000 words just trying to get the thing to the finish line. I end up skidding on my face into a compost pile EVERY. FUCKING. TIME.

At this point I've formed a goddamn complex about the dumb fucking thing. And by forming a complex about Saya, I've formed a complex about Uprising. I'm terrified I won't complete it correctly or worse--at ALL. There's a reason I haven't posted much of Uprising: I do not want to get hamstrung by feeling like there are Expectations. It's Expectations that get me most hung up--no matter how I try to push them out of my mind.

I know very well what I must do: ease up :) Relax :)) Think about what's gonna be fun. Forget everybody but myself. Turn on the good music (or none at all). Go to a strange, new, and/or comfortable place and write with a coffee and a biscotti. Follow my excitement, my passion, whatever interests me. Go re-read some old comic books. Just read some books full-stop. Try to get excited about it. And so on.

It's at times like this that I remember a scene from Rick and Morty in that stupid-ass "Get Schwifty" episode, where Rick tells Morty that he has to stop worrying because that just fouls up the creative process. Granted, the final product is, "Take a shit on the floor," which may be a sort of wisdom in its own way, but I can't even take the goddamn shit. It's impossible to trick myself. I have no idea what to do. I am my own worst enemy.

One of the problems that hit me with Saya was that its drawer period came RIGHT AT THE END. Just right there at the climax. I was just done. We needed space from each other. And every time I come back, I'm just not able to get back into the right headspace.

So right now I feel like I have got to try and finish Only Man before the drawer slams shut or I may hit the same horrible, impermeable wall. My biggest fear is that it'll turn into a forever wall. This forever block. My own ability to screw up my own creative process so goddamn badly that nothing ever ends and I'm just writing and writing forever.

It may be good for me on a private level, but I'd love to share my work someday, you know? I'm proud of these things for a goddamn reason.