#i need answers irving !!

[tsarjozinzbazin]

*SLAMS DEBIT CARD WITH A NEGATIVE BALANCE ON IT* 💥💳💥💳💥💳💥💳💥 MOR COLD LIEUTENANTS PEASE

OKOK SORRY 🙏🙏🙏

this is what they look like to me sorry (Ned is a porcupine)

[celepom]

It’s Pride 2023! Time to put up some more comic recs!

This time I’ve put together some stories about discovering one’s own queer identity, outlining a family history of queerness, and several stories where being queer isn’t the focus - queer characters are simply allowed to be.

Belle of the Ball By Mari Costa

High-school senior and notorious wallflower Hawkins finally works up the courage to remove her mascot mask and ask out her longtime crush: Regina Moreno, head cheerleader, academic overachiever, and all-around popular girl. There’s only one teensy little problem: Regina is already dating Chloe Kitagawa, athletic all-star…and middling English student. Regina sees a perfectly self-serving opportunity here, and asks the smitten Hawkins to tutor Chloe free of charge, knowing Hawkins will do anything to get closer to her. And while Regina’s plan works at first, she doesn’t realize that Hawkins and Chloe knew each other as kids, when Hawkins went by Belle and wore princess dresses to school every single day. Before long, romance does start to blossom…but not between who you might expect. With Belle of the Ball, cartoonist Mariana Costa has reinvigorated satisfying, reliable tropes into your new favorite teen romantic comedy.

---

The Moth Keeper By Kay O’Neill

Anya is finally a Moth Keeper, the protector of the lunar moths that allow the Night-Lily flower to bloom once a year. Her village needs the flower to continue thriving and Anya is excited to prove her worth and show her thanks to her friends with her actions, but what happens when being a Moth Keeper isn't exactly what Anya thought it would be? The nights are cold in the desert and the lunar moths live far from the village. Anya finds herself isolated and lonely. Despite Anya's dedication, she wonders what it would be like to live in the sun. Her thoughts turn into an obsession, and when Anya takes a chance to stay up during the day to feel the sun's warmth, her village and the lunar moths are left to deal with the consequences.

---

Hollow By Shannon Watters, Branden Boyer-White & Berenice Nelle

Isabel "Izzy" Crane and her family have just relocated to Sleepy Hollow, the town made famous by—and obsessed with—Washington Irving's legend of the Headless Horseman. But city slicker-skeptic Izzy has no time for superstition as she navigates life at a new address, a new school, and, with any luck, with new friends. Ghost stories aren't real, after all.... Then Izzy is pulled into the orbit of the town's teen royalty, Vicky Van Tassel (yes, that Van Tassel) and loveable varsity-level prankster Croc Byun. Vicky's weariness with her family connection to the legend turns to terror when the trio begins to be haunted by the Horseman himself, uncovering a curse set on destroying the Van Tassel line. Now, they have only until Halloween night to break it—meaning it's a totally inconvenient time for Izzy to develop a massive crush on the enigmatic Vicky. Can Izzy's practical nature help her face the unknown—or only trip her up? As the calendar runs down to the 31st, Izzy will have to use all of her wits and work with her new friends to save Vicky and uncover the mystery of the legendary Horseman of Sleepy Hollow—before it's too late. 

---

Until I Meet my Husband By Ryousuke Nanasaki & Yoshi Tsukizuki

The memoir of gay activist Ryousuke Nanasaki and the first religiously recognized same-sex marriage in Japan. From school crushes to awkward dating sites to finding a community, this collection of stories recounts the author’s “firsts” as a young gay man searching for love. Dating is never ever easy, but that goes doubly so for Ryousuke, whose journey is full of unrequited loves and many speed bumps. But perseverance and time heals all wounds, even those of the heart.

---

Is Love the Answer? By Uta Isaki

When it comes to love, high schooler Chika wonders if she might be an alien. She’s never fallen for or even had a crush on anyone, and she has no desire for physical intimacy. Her friends tell her that she just "hasn't met the one yet," but Chika has doubts... It's only when Chika enters college and meets peers like herself that she realizes there’s a word for what she feels inside--asexual--and she’s not the only one. After years of wondering if love was the answer, Chika realizes that the answer she long sought may not exist at all--and that that's perfectly normal.

---

M Is for Monster By Talia Dutton

When Doctor Frances Ai's younger sister Maura died in a tragic accident six months ago, Frances swore she would bring her back to life. However, the creature that rises from the slab is clearly not Maura. This girl, who chooses the name "M," doesn't remember anything about Maura's life and just wants to be her own person. However, Frances expects M to pursue the same path that Maura had been on—applying to college to become a scientist—and continue the plans she and Maura shared. Hoping to trigger Maura's memories, Frances surrounds M with the trappings of Maura's past, but M wants nothing to do with Frances' attempts to change her into something she's not. In order to face the future, both Frances and M need to learn to listen and let go of Maura once and for all. Talia Dutton's debut graphic novel, M Is for Monster, takes a hard look at what it means to live up to other people's expectations—as well as our own.

---

Golden Sparkle By Minta Suzumaru

Himaru Uehara’s first year of high school is off to a good start, minus one problem—he keeps having wet dreams. With only his mom and sister at home—and having skipped health class in middle school—he thinks it means there’s something wrong with him. Thankfully, a new friend has just the remedy and teaches Himaru exactly how to deal with those pesky dreams! But his solution only leads to more confusion, and the two find themselves navigating feelings they’ve never felt before.

---

Thieves By Lucie Bryon

Ella can’t seem to remember a single thing from the party the night before at a mysterious stranger’s mansion, and she sure as heck doesn’t know why she’s woken up in her bed surrounded by a magpie’s nest of objects that aren’t her own. And she can’t stop thinking about her huge crush on Madeleine, who she definitely can’t tell about her sudden penchant for kleptomania… But does Maddy have secrets of her own? Can they piece together that night between them and fix the mess of their chaotic personal lives in time to form a normal, teenage relationship? That would be nice.

---

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic By Alison Bechdel

Meet Alison's father, a historic preservation expert and obsessive restorer of the family's Victorian home, a third-generation funeral home director, a high school English teacher, an icily distant parent, and a closeted homosexual who, as it turns out, is involved with his male students and a family babysitter. Through narrative that is alternately heartbreaking and fiercely funny, we are drawn into a daughter's complex yearning for her father. And yet, apart from assigned stints dusting caskets at the family-owned "fun home," as Alison and her brothers call it, the relationship achieves its most intimate expression through the shared code of books. When Alison comes out as homosexual herself in late adolescense, the denouement is swift, graphic -- and redemptive.

---

She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat By Sakaomi Yuzaki

Cooking is how Nomoto de-stresses, but one day, she finds herself making way more than she can eat by herself. And so, she invites her neighbor Kasuga, who also lives alone. What will come out of this impromptu dinner invitation...?

Kasuga and Nomoto promised to spend their Christmas and New Year’s together. Now, they find themselves learning more about each other’s families through the food sent by Nomoto’s mother. Cute character bento, salmon and rice, stollen, fruit sandwiches, roast beef…Nomoto and Kasuga warm up to each other over a cheerful holiday season.  

[underrated-d20-event]

Prompt list for underrated d20 month in February!

taglist: @whomst-the-hell

List typed out below cut

Reminder that you do not need to use both prompts. You could if you want to, but you are free to only use one or the other. For example for Day 1 you could make content for Pirates of Leviathan, or you could use the Fear prompt and make content for another season like The Seven

Rules and context:

Please tag this account with any content you make for this event so I can reblog it:)

If you are new here, what is this event?: This event is made to celebrate and create Art, fanfic, edits, cosplay, ect for underrated d20 seasons/characters. This can include seasons/charcaters that never got a lot of attention, or it could be seasons/ chararcters that got a lot of attention while airing but the fandom died out after the season ended.

What is considered underrated?: Underrated is subjective but the definition I am using is, if it is hard to find recent content for it, then it is underrated

As a general rule, I do not consider IH PCs are not underrated. I also do not consider the Misfits and Magic PCs to be underrated (However this one is subjective to change based on how popular mismag is in February)

However, content about underrated NPCs from those seasons is completely okay.

I am considering Misfits and Magic season 2 to be the cut off for this event. As in, I know dungeons and Drag queens season 2 is going to come out soon, however as it will still technically be airing by the time this Event starts, content for it will not be vaild for this event (season 1 exclusive content may be allowed, this depends on what season 2 is like and what the community around it is like at the time)

Is anyone has any questions feel free to send me a message and I'll happily answer :3

List typed out:

Day1: Pirates of Leviathan/Fear

Day2: Mice and Murder/flowers

Day3: Tiny heist/Betrayal

Day4: Coffin Run/playlist

Day5: Shriek week/ penalty

Day6: The seven/ No one to blame but....

Day7: Mentopolis/ Hope

Day8: escape from the bloopkeep/ A broken item of personal use

Day9: Myrtle(PoL)/ discovery

Day10: Fettuccine Alfredi/ Mirror

Day 11: Rapunzel(neverafter)/ Found Family

Day 12: Easter (unsleeping city)/Hoilday

Day 13: Swifty/ Study

Day14: Constance Brockhollow(M&M)/ Duel

Day15: Burrow's end/ secret

Day16: Theodore(ACOFAF)/ injury

Day17: Madam Loathing(Mentopolis)/guilt

Day 18:Collin Provolone/ poison

Day 19:nsbu/ AU

Day 20: Barbarella(PoL)/ The view

Day21: Lemli Irving/Doomed

Day 22: Bud Cubby/ sunk

Day 23:General Rococoa/ riches

Day 24: ACOFAF/ History

Day 25:Sugarplum Fairy/ death

Day 26:Cheese (PoL)/ Rain

Day27: Karna Solara/ Hurt/comfort

Day 28: Ana and Amelia(TUC)/ leader

[prokaryotics]

started until i find you. penis by page 36. what’s your deal mr. irving. additionally concerning, why did hot professor suggest his novels to me

i don’t know if any of y’all have read john irving but i’m on my third book and he is soooo freudian. there’s something going on there. why do all of your books have so much penis mr. irving

[mental-mouthful]

hello terrorheads, i have a number of wips in my drafts that i will never finish unless i decide on which to focus on.

so, given the choice, which of these fanfic prompts would you most want to read? they are all smut of Course (if the answer is multiple, choose ur #1 and add in the comments ur other choice(s) )

in a perfect world i would finish all of these but rn i just need to choose one or two to focus

[muchtodoonterror]

Tonight's flavor of brainrot: The script describes the end of the armory opening in episode 8 by saying that "Tozer is happy to take power from a man so ready to fumble it." That has always struck me as a somewhat harsh evaluation, to call Little "ready" to "fumble" it. Also according to the script, there are at least 2 dozen men who are either already armed or feel the need to be. That's a significant proportion of the camp surrounding one lone officer. This scene also seems to be the main source of "incompetent Edward Little" fanon. So I put it to you: who amongst the command has the authority and force of character to take back power from Tozer amidst so many armed and afraid men?

Please share your reasoning!

My own thoughts are under the cut:

The answer to me is that Crozier and maybe Fitzjames could have. Crozier especially has been known to flog men for less AND has the knowledge of the Netsilik AND the suspicions of Hickey. Both of them are more charismatic than Little. I had also thought of Jopson, who during the later attack seems to be very comfortable giving orders in a fraught situation and is notably familiar with firearms; on the other hand, I think that even if he tried to stand up to Tozer more than Little does, the newness of his rank would work against him as would the fact that he went from steward straight to lieutenant. Fitzjames does eventually succeed in stopping further weapons from being handed out, but even he can't undo what's been done. Maybe I'm over apologetic for Little, but I still think that calling him "ready to fumble" power is harsh and that he may not have done the best thing but that almost no one could have done better.

[northoftheroad]

Part two of my answers to this:

"Anonymous asked:

Hello ! I was wondering if you knew or had a least of every medical condition Dick Grayson has or should be having depending on things hapoening in comics, be it physical or mental health, I want to make some sort of complete and accurate medical report and I need someones help ! Thank you so much"

Link to part one here.

He was beaten almost to death in Batman vol 1 # 5, Detective Comics # 374 and Robin Year One.

Was tortured and brainwashed by Brother Blood & Co (New Teen Titans vol 1 # 22) and captured by the Crime Syndicate (people looking like some of his best friends) in Forever Evil.

Has seen his circus destroyed in both Nightwing vol 2 and 3. Vol 2 # 88. Vol 3 # 6.

Fell from a trapeze in Star Spangles Comics # 114 and World's Finest Comics # 194.

Mental breakdown in Nightwing vol 2 # 93.

Mental attacks in Teen Titans vol 1 # 14 and New Teen Titans vol 2 # 4.

Another time he was shot with an energy weapon (in space) in New Teen Titans vol 1 Annual # 1.

Dick has been hit by Batman and other "family" members several times, which should take harder mentally than when you're fighting crooks or enemies in space. Teen Titans Year One and Superman/Batman # 55 are just a couple of examples. See more in these post:

[vaguely-concerned]

It's really interesting that Wynne actually has quite a measured, bordering on downright sympathetic response to hearing what Jowan did in the prologue -- if the mage Warden says "I still can't believe Jowan was that stupid", her answer is something like a thoughtful "Stupid, or desperate, or merely curious?". She seems to think of Jowan as a kid who got in over his head, rather than any less charitable interpretation. I do believe she genuinely is as against blood magic as she publicly expresses and as the Circle party line demands, but as a private person she clearly has a more nuanced and potentially kinder understanding of the reasons why someone might resort to it, at the very least.

(related: when she says that part about Irving telling her what happened, there's no dialogue option in the first stage of the conversation (except choosing the 'leaving the conversation' one) that doesn't net you +2 approval! no matter how the warden feels about it, she is ready to recieve it. I think that says something sweet about how Wynne conceptualizes younger mages and the honest real affection she has for them. if you didn't snitch on jowan and say you stand by that decision, though? +3 approval, apparently! what Wynne says and what Wynne thinks is not always the same thing indeed, her idea of where personal loyalty and integrity stands vis-a-vis a mage's responsibility to the circle may be more flexible than she'd have people believe, you'll be surprised to learn lol)

I have always liked wynne and found her interesting, in all her hypocrisies and her earnest care, but with slightly older eyes she's extra fascinating to me in the same ways that Iron Bull is -- seeing someone whose mind has had hollows carved out in it by the need for double-think and compartmentalization imposed by the oppressive systems and ideologies they live under, and the quiet fight of the self to still preserve vital parts of itself that the system deems unacceptable in the hidden backstage areas of the soul, as it were. (and for both of them part of that self is love and protectiveness of specific other people, beyond what their 'role' dictates is acceptable for them.) I think Wynne has managed to sneak more of her internal self through the meatgrinder relatively intact than Bull overall, but it's the same logic underlying it, for me, and it makes me feel such intense affection and compassion for them both to see how hard they try

[jerrylewis-thekid]

"I'd like to ask you a question Jerry. A bit personal, a curiosity I've had for a while"

"Ask away, if it's not too personal I'll answer you"

"Well, then my question is this: your whole life you said you thought of Dean as your father, your mother, your best friend. And your older brother. But when you started working in the clubs you had Irving Kaye who followed you everywhere like a second father and an older brother, there was Patti who, being six years older than you, acted as your mother, even publicly and, sorry to be honest, physically she really seemed to be yours mother. And then there was Sammy, your lifelong best friend. So what was the need to almost put all three aside, almost denying the role they had in your life to give all the importance to Dean. ?"

" And, in your opinion, how would I have justified his presence differently? In this way I gave him a public role, or rather three. Since that his real role, 50 years ago, I couldn't make it public. And even now" .

[favouritefi]

can you share more about Edmund Clarke/John Irving Jr? I'm obsessed with the idea of Irving raising a child that turns out that much like Hickey. how'd that happen. does Edmund know about the circumstances of his conception? do him and Hickey ever meet and if so do they get along? if u dont mind me asking about a old au hdaufhdfkjhas feel free to ignore if youd rather obvs

thank you for asking about this au i love this au so much let that ginger twink suffer and suffer and suffer

after surviving the arctic irving joins the clergy and raises his son in the oh-so-nurturing environment of repression and patriarchal fear and intergenerational trauma. irving loves his son, but its sort of a self fulfilling prophecy where a part of him is always afraid of hickey and thus he's also always afraid of his son. same eyes, same hair, same sharp unnerving intelligence. he might call the boy "john" but in his heart he thinks "cornelius."

edmund was told from a very young age that his mother was a sinful creature whose only virtue was dying during childbirth. he doesn't really believe it though as the people who told him this were his grandparents (who hate him). irving is incapable of giving a straight answer and gets very sad when edmund asks. he eventually gives up. he decides that he doesn't need to know, that he doesn't need anyone or their help. in many ways, he thinks of himself as an orphan.

edmund gets his seat in parliament (the one that he schemed and bribed and blackmailed and murdered for) and hickey shows up to his office threatening to blackmail him. he can't deny that the man is his mother (it's like looking into a funhouse mirror, a version of himself that was older and shorter and squeakier) and speaking to hickey made edmund understand why everyone in his entire terrible life hated him. he was his mother's son, through and through, and that couldn't be beaten out of him no matter how hard anyone tried. and thats when he decides that hickey needs to die.

[sunlaire]

discovered your maid au literally moments before i was about to go to bed and now i feel delirious and consumed. by what i can't say on a good christian website. jesus christ okay. what thoughts to fall asleep to. what thoughts indeed. (i'm going to be following this like a hawk. please tell me you've thought more about it also)

(@incesthemes)

OKAY I've been looking forward to answering this all day. Ahh welcome to the maid au, I'm crazy about it. Thank you for sending this ask, this au is constantly on my mind. not a single day goes by where I don't add to it, and it's snowballing out of control to be honest. As someone who really can't write that well, I'm struggling. But I can draw sort of, so

This is a draft for a comic I'm thinking about making. because I NEED to share what happened between Irving and Tozer. It's a lot

If you don't mind, I'm going to open the gate and empty my brain out about these two. So Tozer is hired and he has to share a room with Irving. It's a strange job. But it's not the worst thing he's done for a wage. (He's an ex-marine)

Unfortunately, him and Irving get off to a bad start. Irving avoids Tozer, shuts down any attempt at conversation and is generally pretty cold. (Because he's so embarrassed about being seen in the dress)

Tozer has to get an early start in the mornings, and it works out that he's up and dressed before Irving. Their room is small, two beds that are tucked into alcoves with some walking space between them. Irving is asleep, and it's the most relaxed Tozer ever sees the man. He looks peaceful, hands folded beneath his head. Tozer pulls on his boots, and grabs his rifle from the corner. He goes to leave but lingers, looking at the dress that's hung on the back of the door. Mr. Irving's uniform...

With it's ruffles and long ribbons that nearly touch the floor. When he started this job, sure it was strange seeing men in maid uniforms but he was mostly indifferent. Now, he finds that he likes the look of it. It's pretty. He likes the way it fits irving. He really should be getting to work rather than thinking these idle thoughts. He pushes past the dress and sets off.

Later, hodge finds him. Asks if he's seen Irving. "Not since I left him this morning." And hodge frowns.

"No one has seen that boy all day. Could you be a dear and check your room?" So he does.

And Irving is still sleeping. Which is super unusual for him. Tozer is shifting in place, trying to wake him. calling out his name gets no response. So he carefully shakes him by the shoulder. "Irving. You've slept in." Well, finally Irving is up, startled, wanting to know the time. He's throwing his blankets aside, asking for his uniform.

"oh um, here." Tozer grabs it from the door and hands it over. Irving looks fevered, his cheeks gone pink. taking the dress, he lays it out on his bed then begins to gather his night gown in his hands. And Tozer is just standing there like 👁️👁️

"could you please, um, turn around Mr. Tozer."

"oh! Yeah," he should have just left, but he wasn't thinking and now he feels the nightgown softly hit the back of his boot. He's heard from someone that Irving used to be a sailor. It's hard to believe. Tozer couldn't imagine him on a ship full of men, politely asking them all to turn around while he gets dressed. He almost seems afraid of other men. A shy kind of fellow. A moment later Irving makes a noise, saying something in frustration.

"Are you okay?"

"I can't seem to get the apron tied." Irving mumbles. Tozer glances over at him, sees him turned away, hands behind his back trying to turn those long tangled strands of fabric into a neat bow. He can't help the way his eyes trails down the skirts of the dress. Clear to the ruffled edge then back up to where Irving was struggling to straighten the ties.

"here. Let me." tozer steps up, slowly taking the ties from his hands. Irving lets him, going quiet. So he takes it as permission, and sets to work untangling them and neatly tying them.

He does not know how to make a bow.

He's trying to do that when Irving mumbles something that he doesn't quite catch. He leans in "what was that?"

"I feel light headed." Irving says, and then "I think I should ...sit down," but with the last word, it's as if all his strength left him and he was falling. Tozer managed to catch him around the middle before he went down.

"Irving? Hey," But he's completely out cold. So Tozer lifts him up and puts him back in bed. >:3 and he goes to the kitchen and grabs something for him to eat. 🥰 And he helps him through his illness. And by the end of it, he thinks Irving isn't so bad <33333

[28dayslater]

i have two quastions for you, pick and choose which one you want to answer depending on how much time you wish to spend indulging my whims

1. what footy teams do the various terror & erebus blokes support

or, if you want to cut to the chase

2. most likely coys on those ships

Knew exactly what this was going to be without opening the ask and spent the entire time washing my hair pondering it

I absolutely cannot pin down Jopson to a team, his vibe just does not match any, but he does have that hidden blokeiness about him so I can't say it wouldn't be his thing... need support on this one.

Blanky: as discussed he would support some nothing non league team no one's heard of with every fibre of his being. Hurling his wooden leg in the air when they score a consolation goal in a 6-1 hammering by Stoke

Crozier: this is the epitome of a 2020s man utd fan. Got into them decades ago when they were dominating and is now crushingly miserable every week. Life's good until it ain't

Tozer: I really really hate to say it but he's clearly YNWA. Will talk no more about this.

Fitzjames: city and he started supporting post-takeover and feels constant shame about it. "My dad supported them!" No, he didn't, and it would be less cringe for all involved if you admitted that

Little: just look at this miserable cunt. He's coys to his core and if he had a second team it would be fucking Everton. The type of spurs fan to respond to a derby loss by saying we never had any hope bc they were always better than us in every way

Hodgson: FULHAM

Hickey: whichever team is currently winning

Goodsir: neutral, stats guy, I must conclude his favourite team is Brighton which is probably why he got homophobic abuse

Sophia: Arsenal women 😒

Irving: tried to watch on tv once and got flustered by the shorts, has not attempted since

Tartnell: for secret reasons I must say gooner

Gibson: forgot he was here. Wolverhampton Wanderers and he calls them by the full name every time

Bridgens: Middlesbrough or something

Dundy: Drinking eight Madris at Dulwich hamlet and being sick on the kitman

Macdonald: SPL team that isn't Celtic or Rangers, can't elaborate further as I can't tell any of them apart

Des Voeux: England travelling fan, doesn't watch club football

Diggle: footyscran admin

Stanley: whole thing is beneath him

Collins: rugby

Sir John: Chelsea and Rangers

[the-forest-library]

December 2024 Reads

Orbital - Samantha Harvey

I Who Have Never Known Men - Jacqueline Harpman

Ghost Wall - Sarah Moss

Fox 8 - George Saunders

The Muse of Maiden Lane - Mimi Matthews

Finding Mr. Write - Kelley Armstrong

Cole and Laila Are Just Friends - Bethany Turner

P.S. I Hate You - Lauren Connolly

Not in My Book - Katie Holt

The Rules of Royalty - Cale Dietrich

Wrong Answers Only - Tobias Madden

Lily and the Octopus - Steven Rowley

The Mistletoe Mystery - Nita Prose

A Night in the Lonesome October - Roger Zelazny

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - Washington Irving

A Matter of Execution - Nicolas Atwater and Olivia Atwater

The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door - H.G. Parry

Cursed Cocktails - S.L. Rowland

Games Untold - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats - T.S. Eliot

So Thirsty - Rachel Harrison

Hunting November - Adriana Mather

Two Sides to Every Murder - Danielle Valentine

Demon in the Wood - Leigh Bardugo

Thistlefoot - GennaRose Nethercott

Ghost Squad - Claribel A. Ortega

Heartwood Hotel: A True Home - Kallie George

Understood Betsy - Dorothy Canfield Fisher

The Death and Life of Benny Brooks - Ethan Long

Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Catcher - Bruce Coville

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse - Charlie Mackesy

In a Jar - Deborah Marcero

Frog and Toad Are Friends - Arnold Lobel

Frog and Toad Together - Arnold Lobel

Frog and Toad All Year - Arnold Lobel

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt - Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal

A Little Like Magic - Sarah Kurpiel

Sugar and Spice and Everything Mice - Annie Silvestro and Christee Curran-Bauer

Mr. Santa - Jarvis

I Shall Never Fall in Love - Harri Conner

Bunt! Striking Out on Financial Aid - Ngoni Ukazu

Swamp Thing: Twin Branches - Maggie Stiefvater

Shadow of the Batgirl - Sarah Kuhn

She-Hulk, Vol. 5: All In - Rainbow Rowell

Briony Hatch - Ginny & Penelope Skinner

March: Book One - John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell

Cat People to Judge in Art and Life - Nicole Tersigni

Pen & Ink - Isaac Fitzgerald and Wendy MacNaughton

March Sisters: On Life, Death, and Little Women - Kate Bolick, Jenny Zhang, Carmen Maria Machado, and Jane Smiley

Everybody Needs an Editor - Melissa Harris

We All Shine On: John, Yoko, and Me - Elliot Mintz

Never Play it Safe - Chase Jarvis

Women Living Deliciously - Florence Given

Things to Look Forward To - Sophie Blackall

Real American Girls Tell Their Own Stories - Thomas Hoobler and Dorothy Hoobler

The Wood in Winter - John Lewis-Stempel

50 Ways to Rewire Your Anxious Brain - Catherine M. Pittman and Maha Zayed Hoffman

Democracy or Else - Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, and Tommy Vietor

What I Ate in One Year - Stanley Tucci

Greekish - Georgina Hayden

The Vegetable Eater - Cara Mangini

Bold = Highly Recommend

Italics = Worth It

Crossed Out = Nope

Thoughts: So, uh, I read a lot of books this month. I leaned into beating my total from last year since I was close and read a lot of short reads, graphic novels, and the children's books I was giving for gifts.

There were some good reads this month, including two new canine narrators that I adore: Fox 8 and Snuff from A Night in the Lonesome October (which really should be a big tumblr book as it has Jack the Ripper, Dracula, the Wolf Man, a witch, a clergyman, a druid, Victor Frankenstein, Sherlock Holmes, a Rasputin-coded mad monk, and occultists along with their familiars scheming over the fate of the world).

Goodreads Goal: 476/400 

2017 Reads | 2018 Reads | 2019 Reads | 2020 Reads | 2021 Reads | 2022 Reads | 2023 Reads | 2024 Reads

[alwayschasingrainbows]

Hi, @alwayschasingrainbows. I have a question for you again. Do you think if Anne had died after Anne and Gilbert were married, Gilbert would have married someone else? This quote got me thinking:

ANNE, trying to laugh:- “Would you marry as quick as that if I died, Gilbert?” DR. BLYTHE, really laughing:- “Quicker, if Susan would have me. Isn’t it about time for supper?

THE BLYTHES ARE QUOTED

Please don't rush to answer. Thank you.

Thank you for the question!

I must admit that my first reaction was a firm "no, never". This type of behavior simply doesn't suit Gilbert's personality, especially since in Anne of Ingleside he openly confessed to Anne: "I couldn't live without you. Always you give me strength."

And, judging from Gilbert's own reactions each time Anne was close to death, he truly meant it:

(When Anne was in danger during the birth of their first baby): "Gilbert, his face gray and haggard from his night’s agony, came down to tell Marilla and Susan." (Anne's House of Dreams).

(When Anne wasn't recovering quickly enough): "But try to be brave—for Gilbert’s sake. He’s so worried about you. You aren’t getting strong as fast as you should." (Anne's House of Dreams).

(When Anne was seriously ill): "Dad was sitting by the library table with his head in his hands. The nurse went in and Nan heard her say she thought the crisis would come that night." (Anne of Ingleside).

We never saw Gilbert's reaction during the birth of their youngest son, Shirley (which was another life-threatening situation for Anne), but we can assume that it was similar to quoted ones.

What is more, Gilbert was a Blythe and - as Marilla had once noticed - took after his father both in appearance and in personality. And, if we trust Mrs. Rachel Lynde: "Old Mr. Blythe never held up his head after her death...just hadn't anything left to live for. The Blythes were always like that...always set their affections too much on earthly things". (Anne of Ingleside).

Side note: Gilbert's father died only a year after his wife's death.

I don't think Gilbert would have ever married again if Anne had died. Susan would have been quite capable of running the household and taking care of the children.

The question is: would Gilbert have been able to live if Anne had died? It might be speculated that he fell so ill in Anne of The Island because he pushed himself too hard after Anne refused to marry him. It would be even even harder for him to deal with a death of his beloved wife - a woman whom he had hoped to spend the rest of his life with, a mother of his children, who was a sense of his entire existance.

On the other hand; perhaps his children would have been his reasons to keep on living. I believe that Gilbert would have felt that Anne had wanted (needed) him to live for their children.

Because what would have become of them if both of their parents were gone? They didn't have any close relatives; of course there were Marilla, Diana, Leslie, Miss Cordelia. But I don't think either of them would have taken more than one or two children; especially since the kids were still so young and needed so much attention. So, the siblings would have to be separated. They might not have much chances of getting a sufficient education or upbringing, too.

That being said, L. M. Montgomery provided quite a few examples of fathers who were not able to take care of their children on their own and therefore had to remarry; Mr. Meredith (Rainbow Valley), Mr. Irving (Anne of Avonlea), Edward Beck (The Blue Castle).

We have an example of Emily's father - Douglas Starr, whose health suddenly deteriorated after his wife had died (Emily of New Moon). We have an example of fathers abandoning their children because of something that their mothers had done (Dr. Burnley from Emily of New Moon, partly Andrew Stuart from Jane of Lantern Hill).

But we also have the examples of fathers taking care of their children and being hands-on dads, in spite of the fact their wives were not there (Douglas Starr, Andrew Stuart, Old Shaw - from a short story "An Old Shaw's Girl"), perhaps (to some extent) Archibald Murray from Emily of New Moon, after his second wife's death (although it might be speculated that his older children were raising his youngest - Juliet).

But I got side-tracked again. To answer your question: I can't imagine Gilbert ever marrying again. He seems to be a type who fall in love only once in a lifetime.

[avrorean]

@theshirallen. [ approval ] - ian volunteers to be the one to go into the Fade after connor in redcliffe ↳Approval memes (not accepting)

Nanna knows by heart now how many days it takes to travel from Redcliffe to the Tower; she had spent more than enough time practicing the route when she'd been hunched over a map with Alistair in clumsy attempts to parse out how to navigate it. But here, as she stood before the dais of the arl of Redcliffe with near a dozen mages standing at the ready, watching her for the signal to proceed, Nanna found she couldn't remember when exactly they'd gotten back. After that first night out of the Tower, everything had been a blur of footfalls and murmured reassurances to the group that followed her. Had the trip been slower this time? Had she slept? She wasn't sure. She still wasn't sure she was even awake right now.

"Nanna?" The soft voice broke through the white noise of her thoughts and the empty stare at the ritual site, similar if not the same as the Harrowing, to look at Ian. "You don't have to go back in the Fade. I can-"

"You needn't do that." Her tone was sharp and dull all at once, turning back only briefly to look at him without really looking. She watched him press his lips together, contemplating. From the corner of her eye, she saw Irving looking her over, sombre, but nodding. It was ready. The question to be asked was, was she? Nanna didn't think she wanted the answer.

"You are still recovering from..." The words stuck in her throat. They knew, they both knew, but Nanna couldn't say it. It was still too fresh, and if she let a single thought sit upon it, the emotional sticks holding back the dam of her grief would crumble and cripple her. They wouldn't be able to count on her. So she forced her eyes forward. She didn't need to wait, didn't need a second opinion, didn't need someone else to pick up her slack. She needed to do. She was fine. It was fine. What was one more demon to stare down with their hands in a mage? What was one more time lost in the fade? Nothing. Nothing.

Connor wouldn't be like the others in the bones of the Tower.

This one wouldn't die.

"I can endure the ritual, Ian. Thank you."

Nanna Disapproves (but will appreciate it later)

[representative-democracy]

saw your tags about getting into terror fic again and was wondering if you have any recs <3

Great question! I feel like The Terror has higher than average quality fanfic so this is a toughy, so this list is in no particular order and non conclusive!! And get ready for a lot of Bridglar :P

I also have a TON more, especially of less popular pairings, so lmk if you want more recs

For The Glory of a Good Pudding by soft_october

Fitzier, modern AU, and answers the important question: what would happen if The Cold Boys were competing in the Great British Bake Off?

any world (that i’m welcome to) by attheborder

Fitzier, modern AU, JFJ was frozen in the ice and is defrosted just time time to meet grumpy professor Crozier

Upon Great Persuasion by anactoriatalksback

McStanley, modern AU, this will get you shipping the doctors

Read from a Treasured Volume by Acephalous

Bridglar, canon time period, watch these two perfect men fall in love, THIS SLAPS PROBS THE FICS I HAVE READ THE MOST BELOVED OF ALL TIME

Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad by TheGreenMeridian

Bridglar, canon time period, literally the softest, most tender porn on the internet 🥹

lighthouse on the sea by rednights

Bridglar, canon time period, John Bridgens learns he deserves to be loved and it makes me sick to my stomach how amazing it is

For Those About To Rock by neversaydie

The modern rock band AU you didn’t know you were looking for

At Furthest South by sadsparties

Fitzier, canon time period, the Antarctic expeditions if JFJ had joined - explored unreliable narrators in an extremely satisfying way

Lock and key by seekwell and hazelmotes

Canon, explores Silna and Bridgen’s friendship

How To Kill The Man You Love by madness_and_smiles

Fitzier, canon, I DONT KNOW HOW DESCRIBE THIS FIC OTHER THAN ITS SOME OF THE BEST FICTION IVE EVER READ, I’ve literally made people that haven’t watch the terror read this

Here Again, Even With A Thought by whipstitch

Canon, this will fulfill your need to know what Fitzjames and Bridgen’s friendship was like and will absolutely devastate you

(it’s) a guarantee soul destroyer by in_a_hedge

Joplittle, modern AU, Tom Jopson has a terrible, no-good, very bad week working at a pet store

i’ll be two steps on the water by eternalbrook

Irving/Gibson, modern AU, this bad boy got me shipping these lads something I never planned on doing

Devine Fruits by manicpixiedreamjop

Joplittle + Solomon, modern AU, the romance is TOO TIER and the porn also slays for this! This Solomon is also so extremely in character is almost painful but I love it so much