#ice and frost in LA?

[illyanarasputinfan]

Artist Spotlight - Tony De La Cruz

@tonydelacruzart

[micolash-cage]

Day 20: FROST

For this prompt, I decided to go with Ghiaccio and his stand "White Album". Fun fact; "ghiaccio" is the Italian word for "ice"

I always felt he emanated a strong aura, he's a very angry dude and determined at that. Gotta be my favorite minor villain for part 5

[fsfsfsgkgkgk]

Trump vs. My Best Friend's Wedding

[gierosajie]

How I visualize the construction of Zapolarny Palace

Tsarisa building Zapolyarny Palace: *Elsa intensifies*

The mental image of the Tsaritsa stomping her foot down and ice extends in fractal patterns into a palace with her as the epicenter is just ✨Perfection✨

[m00nbunny1]

This works so well for Cure Macaron! 🍪💜

Cure Macaron stimboard for @eerielime

x x x - x x - x x x

[obxsprincess]

f!reader warning, oral (male receiving), oral fixation

a/n : was licking cupcake frosting off my fingers and then this came to mind :o not delaying my requests just wanted to write this while it was fresh in my mind hehe

boss!miguel who convinces himself you have an oral fixation. how could you not? the images of your lips are molded into his mind — more specifically, how you always needed something resting inbetween the pretty things. sucking whatever it was into your mouth with a drooling pop. suckers being your giddy obsession… and you miguels.

you were always sucking while doing his paperwork — the bubblegum flavored tinge coating your lips while you worked. instinctively, yours eyes often rolled back. along with your innocent groan that he swear was driving him mad. how could be fucking focus? when his pretty secretary insisted on using her mouth on any flavor adorned lollipop she could find

he was just doing a favor for you wasnt he? dragging you into his office after you finished licking white frosting off of your manicure tipped fingers, and the sinfully innocent, lingering glances you gave him — in reality, it was his last fucking straw

he was done imagining your taste and his lips slammed into yours. his massive hand gripping your chin and titling it upwards. just so he could get a better angle — the pure feverish wetness of the kiss only increasing as his tongue probed into your awaiting mouth. you softly moaned as his tongue swiped along yours. across the pinkish stain that always lingered.

“always sucking on those lollipops arnt you princesa? I know you wanna be sucking on something else though, me quieres en esa garganta bonita, ¿eh?” (want me in that pretty throat, huh?)

your nod was all he needed as he gently guides you to your knees — saliva collecting at the corners of your mouth as his cock springed out. fat and thick — his leaking tip red and angry as your doe eyes found his. “been dreaming about this for too fucking long cariño. puedes tomarlo” (you can take it)

suddenly, the same pretty pink that resided in your mouth was now hanging wide open. his cock head dragging along your eager tongue, coating himself in your drooling mess. the wet drip making him groan. “fuck, good mami, suck me like you do those loli things, mm?”

you looked up at him as he thrusted into your bubblegum sweetened tongue, engulfing himself in your mouth as he guided inch by inch. you felt his cock grow even heavier, tears brimming your lash line as he slid down even farther — his massive length bullying itself down your throat. “you like that baby? fuck, mierda just like that,”

how were your eyes so innocent while miguels cock was probed at the back of your throat? delicate gag sounds as he thrusted gently — yet when you sucked in your cheeks it was his undoing. your mouth so tight and warm around his cock he couldn’t help himself.

he was lost in your sweetly laced mouth. his gentleness disappearing as he pounded into it. your head bobbing back and forth as he abused your sucking lips. pumping so hard his heavy balls thrusted agaisnt your chin — drooling, wet sounds invading your pretty head.

the curly, dark brown hairs of his happy trail met your nose everytime you bobbed all the way down. filling your honey mouth so fully and roughly you were in heaven. praises falling from his lips in such dirty slurs you knew he was too.

“god, princesa, like being mouthfucked by your boss don’t you beautiful”

“so good, I’m throwing those fucking suckers away princesa. esta boca linda es mia” (pretty mouth is mine)

“la mejor boca que he tenido, god dammit” (the best mouth I've ever had)

“look at me baby.”

“so” thrust “buen” thrust “fuck”

his pumping thrusts grew sloppier. repeatably hitting the back of your throat roughly as your hands curled around his massive shaft. glossy drool rolling down his cock as you licked him like an ice cream — saltier than any treat you’d ever had yet you never craved something so much.

suddenly, he yanked his cock out of your mouth. a mewling whine leaving you — you craved him! bouncing on your heels as your face furrowed, finding his eyes half lidded left you even more confused

“tits out mami” watching his swollen, spit coated tip twitch in his hand had you obeying immediately. yanking of the lacy thing you had on right over your head in a eager motion. your eyes pleaded with him for one more suck, but before your could even process it, white, thick and warm strings of cum covered your breasts. the sticky warmth making you so dizzy — and his groans filled your pretty senses. it felt so filthy. being covered in his cum yet all you wanted was it glazing down your throat

you didn’t even notice your tongue was out — begging him for a taste as he came down from his high. almost cumming all over again at the mere sight of your covered in him “look at your mami, so pretty,” his thumb glazed your wobbly bottom lip

“please, miguel” how could he say no to you when your eyelashes batted so pleadingly up at him? his thumb slid from your cheek down your chest, bringing you up on your heels as he swiped it over his thick, dripping cum. coating your plush breasts in his sticky mess

“wanna taste me mami? god, mira lo que me haces sweetheart” (look what you do to me)

his cum glazed finger filled your begging lips — his saltly, heady taste making you moan in delight. pretty eyes batting up at him as you sucked his digit in such a greedy innocence it made him groan

“so sweet on your knees for me, fuck, I’m filling this pretty mouth next time.”

“but you teased me so fucking much mami, mm? can’t help myself around you”

“piernas abiertas, ass up. now. baby” (legs open)

“that’s it, need you to suck me into this sweet pussy cariño,”

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Reference: Food History

B.C.

10,000 - almonds, cherries, bread, flour, soup

8,000 - wheat ⚜ 7,000 - wine, beer, pistachios, pig, goat, sheep, lard

6,500 - cattle domestication, apples ⚜ 6,000 - tortilla, dates, maize

5,000 - honey, ginger, quinoa, avocados, potatoes, milk, yogurt

4,000 - focaccia, watermelons, grapes, pomegranates

3,200 - chicken domestication ⚜ 3,000 - butter, onion, garlic, apricots

2,737 - tea ⚜ 2,500 - olive oil, seaweed, duck ⚜ 2,300 - saffron

2,000 - peaches, liquorice, marshmallow, pasta, ham, sesame seeds

1,500 - chocolate, vanilla ⚜ 1,200 - sugar ⚜ 1,000 - mangoes, oats, pickles

900 - pears, tomatoes ⚜ 700 - cinnamon ⚜ 600 - bananas, poppy seeds

500 - artichokes ⚜ 400 - pastries, appetizers, vinegar

300 - parsley ⚜ 200 - turkeys, asparagus, rhubarb ⚜ 65 - quince

1st—13th Century

1st Century - chestnuts, lobster, crab, shrimp, truffles, blueberries, raspberries, capers, kale, blood (as food), fried chicken, foie gras, French toast, omelettes, rice pudding, flan, cheesecake, pears in syrup

3rd Century - lemons ⚜ 5th - pretzels ⚜ 6th - eggplant

7th Century - spinach, kimchi ⚜ 9th - coffee, nutmeg

10th Century - flower waters, Peking duck, shark's fin soup

11th Century - baklava, corned beef, cider, lychees, seitan

12th Century - breadfruit, artichokes, gooseberries

13th Century - ravioli, lasagne, mozzarella, pancakes, waffles, couscous

14th—19th Century

14th Century - kebabs, moon cakes, guacamole, pie, apple pie, crumpets, gingerbread

15th Century - coconuts, Japanese sushi and sashimi, pineapples, marmalade, risotto, marzipan, doughnuts, hot dogs

16th Century - pecans, cashews (in India), Japanese tempura, vanilla (in Europe), fruit leather, skim milk, sweetbreads, salsa, quiche, teriyaki chicken, English trifle, potato salad

17th Century - treacle, pralines, coffee cake, modern ice cream, maple sugar, rum, French onion soup, cream puffs, bagels, pumpkin pie, lemonade, croissants, lemon meringue pie

18th Century - root beer, tapioca, French fries, ketchup, casseroles, mayonnaise, eggnog, soda water, lollipops, sangria, muffins, crackers, chowder, croquettes, cupcakes, sandwiches, apple butter, souffle, deviled eggs

19th Century - toffee, butterscotch, cocoa, Turkish delight, iodized salt, vanilla extract, modern marshmallows, potato chips, fish and chips, breakfast cereal, Tabasco sauce, Kobe beef, margarine, unsalted butter, Graham crackers, fondant, passionfruit, saltwater taffy, milkshakes, pizza, peanut butter, tea bags, cotton candy, jelly beans, candy corn, elbow macaroni, fondue, wedding cake, canapes, gumbo, ginger ale, carrot cake, bouillabaisse, cobbler, peanut brittle, pesto, baked Alaska, iced tea, fruit salad, fudge, eggs Benedict, Waldorf salad

20th Century

1901 - peanut butter and jelly ⚜ 1904 - banana splits ⚜ 1905 - NY pizza

1906 - brownies, onion rings ⚜ 1907 - aioli

1908 - Steak Diane, buttercream frosting ⚜ 1909 - shrimp cocktail

1910 - Jell-O (America's most famous dessert)

1910s - orange juice ⚜ 1912 - Oreos, maraschino cherries, fortune cookies

1912 - Chicken a la King, Thousand Island dressing

1914 - Fettuccine Alfredo ⚜ 1915 - hush puppies

1917 - marshmallow fluff ⚜ 1921 - Wonder Bread, zucchini

1919 - chocolate truffles ⚜ 1922 - Vegemite, Girl Scout cookies

1923 - popsicles ⚜ 1924 - frozen foods, pineapple upside-down cake, Caesar salad, chocolate-covered potato chips

1927 - Kool-Aid, s'mores, mayonnaise cake ⚜ 1929 - Twizzlers

1930s - Pavlova cakes, Philly cheese steak, Pigs in blankets, margaritas, banana bread, Cajun fried turkey ⚜ 1931 - souffle, refrigerator pie

1933 - chocolate covered pretzels ⚜ 1936 - no-bake cookies

1937 - Reubens, chicken Kiev, SPAM, Krispy Kreme

1938 - chicken and waffles ⚜ 1939 - seedless watermelon

1941 - Rice Krispies treats, Monte Cristo sandwiches ⚜ 1943 - nachos

1946 - chicken burgers, tuna melts, Nutella ⚜ 1947- chiffon cake

1950s - chicken parm, Irish coffee, cappuccino, smoothies, frozen pizza, diet soda, TV Dinners, ranch dressing ⚜ 1951 - bananas foster

1953 - coronation chicken ⚜ 1956 - German chocolate cake, panini

1957 - Quebec Poutine ⚜ 1958 - Instant ramen noodles, crab rangoon, lemon bars ⚜ 1960s - beef Wellington, green eggs and ham, red velvet cake

1963 - black forest cake ⚜ 1964 - Belgian waffles, Pop Tarts, Buffalo wings, ants on a log, pita bread ⚜ 1965 - Gatorade, Slurpees

1966 - chocolate fondue ⚜ 1967 - high fructose corn syrup

1970s - California rolls, pasta primavera, tiramisu ⚜ 1971 - fajitas

1975 - hicken tikka masala ⚜ 1980 - turducken

1980s - Panko, portobello mushrooms, bubble tea, chicken nuggets, Sriracha, Red Bull energy drink, everything bagels

1990s - artisan breads, Jamaican jerk ⚜ 1991 - turkey bacon, chocolate molten lava cake, earthquake cake ⚜ 1993 - broccolini

1995 - Tofurkey ⚜ 1997 - grape tomatoes

21st Century

2002 - flat iron steak, tear-free onions ⚜ 2007 - Kool-Aid pickles, cake pops

2008 - Mexican funnel cake ⚜ 2013 - cronuts, test tube burgers

Source ⚜ Writing Notes & References

[ericshoney]

Doughnut Review ~ Brothers!Sturniolo Triplets

Summary: Based of the video where they try twelve doughnuts and you, their little sister, join too.

Warnings: possible swearing, nicknames, teasing, fluff

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You were in LA with Nick, Matt and Chris and about to join in with their video.

"You ready, kid?" Chris asked.

"Yeah!" You cheered. Filming a video that involved doughnuts must excite any four year old.

You sat on Matt's lap, knowing Nick was going to be getting up the most to pick the doughnuts, whilst Chris was fidgety, sometimes more than yourself.

You sat quietly as they filmed the into, waving to the camera and at Nate, who sat behind it pulling faces at you. He was like another brother.

"As you can see we also have our little sister, Y/n." Nick introduced.

"Hiiiii!" You exclaimed, making them laugh.

"Bub, on a scale of one to ten, how much do you love doughnuts?" Matt asked you.

"Umm nine! I love cupcakes more." You answered.

He chuckled as Nick got the first doughnut. You watched as Matt carefully cut the doughnut into six pieces, a piece each of you, including Nate, and a piece for the review.

You took a bite of the first doughnut, not really liking the icing. The guys made their comments as you softly pushed it to the side.

"Not like it, petal?" Matt asked you.

"Nu-uh!" You exclaimed.

They laughed as Chris whined about it also. You giggled and looked up at Matt.

"Whiny pants." You said, making him laugh.

"Shh." Chris mumbled.

Nick then placed the second doughnut down. You all took a bite of it and you quite like the red velvet one.

"Like this." You said.

"Us two, kid." Nick responded, putting it in front of the cherry one.

The third doughnut looked similar to the first, you thought, but noticed it wasn't frosting but sprinkles. You took a bite, as well as your brothers and giggled noticing how Chris' broke in his hand.

"Ah fuck!" He exclaimed.

"Chris!" Both Nick and Matt exclaimed.

"Don't repeat that word bub!" Chris said, making you nod.

"Why does it kinda taste like cigarettes?" Nick asked, making Chris and Matt laugh.

"What's a cigarette?" You asked, making the trio share a look.

"Um, something to make your lungs bad and they taste gross so don't ever get them, okay sweetheart." Matt answered, making you nod again.

You all continued to try doughnuts. You weren't bothered by the rating as you were just happy to try some sweet treats and liked most of them. You laughed a lot and it made your brothers happy. When it came to the end, the guys asked which was your favourite.

"Umm, this one!" You exclaimed, pointing to the cinnamon roll.

"Sweetheart, that's not a doughnut." Nick said through laughter.

"But it's my favourite." You replied.

"Alright kiddo, you want some more?" He responded, making you nod quickly.

He smiled and passed you another bit of the cinnamon roll to eat as Nate came on and took Chris' seat and tried some of the doughnuts.

"This the best." You said, holding the cinnamon roll up to Nate.

"You aren't wrong, kid." He replied with a smile.

You giggled as he carried on trying some doughnuts and picked his favourite, which made Chris whine again. The guys soon ended the video, but you were just happy to be there and eat some food.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tags:

@lgbtq-girl @mattsfavbigtitties @onelesslonelygirlbieber6 @riowritesitall @sturniolo-fann

[changingplumbob]

Halloween CAS Challenge created by @la-llama-sims displayed inside templates by me

CC Credits (Thank you creators!)

Skin default: Agave V2 by @nesurii Eyes: Waterdrop by @pralinesims

Charlie (standing)

Earrings: @frenchiesimgirl Simblreen Gifts 2020 Gloves: @ice-creamforbreakfast Miss Scarlet Set Dress: @joliebean Let It Be Me Hair: @oydis Aspen Hair Ties Make up: @pralinesims Eyeshadow Siren V2, Lipstick Frosting, Lashes Rayfalke Tattoo: Sugar Owl Belle Ame Fake Blood: @natalia-auditore Blood All Over Me Set

Poses

@thebramblewood Girl Gone Feral Alpine Lapine: Bare Your Fangs

[poetrysmackdown]

what makes a poem a poem? does it have to be written in a certain way? is this question a poem if i want it to be?

Fun question! This is just my personal sense as an avid reader and less-avid writer of poetry, but for me it’s useful to distinguish (roughly) between poetry as a genre and poetry as an attitude or philosophy through which language and the world can be understood. And of course these two go hand in hand. I see poetry the genre as essentially a type of literature where we as readers are signaled, somehow, to pay closer attention to language, to rhythm, to sound, to syntax, to images, and to meaning. That attentive posture is the “attitude” of broader poetic thinking, and while it’s most commonly applied to appreciate work that’s been written for that purpose, there’s nothing stopping us from applying that attentiveness elsewhere. Everywhere, even! That’s how you eventually end up writing poetry for yourself, after all. There’s a quote from Mary Ruefle floating around on here that a lot of folks have probably already seen, but it immediately comes to mind with this ask:

“And when you think about it, poets always want us to be moved by something, until in the end, you begin to suspect that a poet is someone who is moved by everything, who just stands in front of the world and weeps and laughs and laughs and weeps.”

Similarly, after adopting the attentive posture of poetics, there’s plenty of things that can feel or sound like a poem, even when they perhaps were not written with that purpose in mind. I’ve seen a couple of these “found poems” on here that are quite fun—this one, for example. The meaning and enjoyment you may derive from the language of a found poem isn’t any less real than that derived from a poem written for explicitly poetic purposes, so I don’t see why it shouldn’t be called poetry.

That said, I do think that if you’re going to go out and start looking for poetry everywhere, it’s still important to have a foundation in the actual language work of it all. Now, this doesn’t mean it has to be “written in a certain way” at all! But it does mean that in order to cultivate the attentiveness that’s vital to poetry, one needs to understand what makes language tick, down at its most basic levels. It will make you better at reading poetry, better at writing it, and better at spotting it out in the wild.

Mary Oliver’s A Poetry Handbook is an extraordinary resource to new writers and readers, and a great read for more experienced folks as well. Mary Oliver’s most popular poems are all to my knowledge in free verse, and yet you might be surprised to find her deep appreciation for metrical verse (patterns of stressed/unstressed syllables), as well as for the most minute devices of sound. In discussing the so-called poetry of the past, she writes,

“Acquaintance with the main body of English poetry is absolutely essential—it is the whole cake, while what has been written in the last hundred years or so, without meter, is no more than an icing. And, indeed, I do not really mean an acquaintanceship—I mean an engrossed and able affinity with metrical verse. To be without this felt sensitivity to a poem as a structure of lines and rhythmic energy and repetitive sound is to be forever less equipped, less deft than the poet who dreams of making a new thing can afford to be.”

In another section, after devoting lots of attention to the sounds at work in Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”, she writes,

“Everything transcends from the confines of its initial meaning; it is not only the transcendence in meaning but the sound of the transcendence that enables it to work. With the wrong sounds, it could not have happened.”

I hope all this helps to get across my opinion that what makes a poem a poem is not just about the author's intention, and not just about meaning (intended or attributed), but also about sound and rhythm and language and history, all coalescing into something that rises above the din of a language we would otherwise grow tired of while out in our day-to-day lives.

I'll always have more to say but I'm cutting myself off here! Thanks for the ask

[almostfoxglove]

SEE YOU AT THREE: CHAPTER 8

Rating: Explicit (18+ only)

Pairing: Young!Joel x f!Reader OC (Ellie's aunt)

Word Count: 8.1k

series masterlist | almostfoxglove masterlist

read from the beginning on ao3.

SUMMARY: Joel makes a move.

CHAPTER PREVIEW

You're glaring now. "Should be against the law," you tell him. "Withholding any reason to make a cake is criminal." He has no idea what to say. Then you dig into your bag and pull out two shining, silver forks, and Joel has never in his life wanted to kiss someone more. Course he's frozen, silent, useless. Staring at you like a fucking idiot—a statue in the driver's seat. You have to push the fork into his hand to get him to take it, then lean across the center console to scoop one green frosted leaf onto your own. The icing disappears behind your lips as you slump back in your seat, eyes already off him, drifting out the window to watch the rain making a swamp of gnome territory beside the truck. A hundred years might pass in the time it takes Joel to shake loose his shock and move his hand; then he's digging into the cake cautiously, like it might disappear if he's not gentle enough. That first bite takes him straight to heaven. Joel swears he sees god.

continue reading chapter 8 on ao3.

dividers by @saradika-graphics - tag list & some mutuals below!

if you wanna be added or removed from this list, please don't be shy <3

@thethirstwivesclub @la-vie-est-une-fleur29 @hediondoamor-blog @biggetywitch @tuquoquebrute

@evolnoomym @thundermartini @la-eterna-enamorada29 @sixhours @pastelpinkflowerlife

@ak-vintage @jessthebaker @littlemisspascal @janaispunk @sweetpascal

[localcultivator]

Forgive my northern attitude (i was raised in the cold) pt.1

tags: talk of emotional neglect, seasonal depression, depression related self harm actions, mild Buddie content, buddie friendly, bobby and athena act like Buck's parents.

Winter had never been Buck’s favorite season. It reminded him of short days, long nights desperately trying to stay quiet enough not to be called down by his parents and reminded how little they cared for him. Cold nights huddled under covers for warmth that was never truly there. It reminded him of the worst times in his life every time he was around snow, and frost, and ice. Buck was smart enough to realize that a good portion of his mood changing the moment it was below 50 degrees fahrenheit was also due to his clinically diagnosed seasonal depression. Truly, a bunch of fancy words to say that Buck thrived on light and warmth like any houseplant or herb.

Eddie knew this, planned for it year after year. Small little boosts that Buck needed to thrive and flourish in the chill (although some would say what chill as they had both lived in LA for many years, which would lead into a long tangent/rant from Buck regarding ocean currents, and wound patterns.). He would slide hand warmers into Buck’s hoodies, would make sure that the truck had time to warm up in the mornings before shuffling Buck in, and of course, when Buck stayed over, he would pile on the blankets. Eddie wasn’t sure how much of his seasonal caring for Buck was second nature, and something he had to put conscious effort into.  It was like anything else regarding Evan’s space in his life. Effortless.

Bobby loved the frost, even if the sight of snow brought on feelings of loss and sorrow as well. Too much outweighed the grief though, and joyous memories with Marcy and his family filled his daydreams whenever there was a particularly strong chill. Bobby loved the chill, and he knew with every fiber of his being, Buck did not. His oldest, by choice and love, was a different person in the winter air, and Bobby knew that it was a product of his childhood and how he was raised. Bobby always wondered if the frigid air reminded Buck a little too much of the house he grew up in, if the silence that came when the world was blanketed in snow reminded him of his parents. Bobby had so many questions, but he never dared to ask them with fear he would be prying into something even Evan himself had not yet handled. So year after year, Bobby helped take care of his son, even from afar. He made him his special chili, and always made sure to make two batches of his cornbread. He filled Bucks freezer with stock cubes, and frozen containers for soup for the days when everything was too much and Buck couldn’t cook. His heart warmed every year for being able to provide for one of his children. 

Maddie hadn’t known initially when she came to L.A the real reason Buck had decided to settle here. Sure, there was story after story, and reason after reason, but in the end, it was simple. Buck hated the cold, and loved the ocean. He also wasn’t much of a fan of hurricanes, although it felt silly to complain about that now that they had dealt with tsunami’s and such. Maddie wasn’t surprised about her brother’s lack of love for the winter months, and she felt they were truly united and related in this topic, even if it was for wildly different reasons. Cold always reminded Maddie of Doug, of fear and running and how warm blood can feel when you’re on the edge of hypothermia. Neither Buckley sibling could handle the temperature changes, and yet. Buck’s reactions had always been more severe than her own. His tended to lead to spirals and tendencies to rush in before thinking. Her support for him was bandaging wounds and fulfilling pinkie promises she had made over a decade ago. Her’s led to nightmares and late nights with insomnia. His support for her was cuddling on the couch and checking for monsters as though her trauma would physically manifest itself in the dark corners of her bedroom. Chimney was happy to entertain the strange rituals of chilled Buckley’s and had a few of his own for the siblings. 

-----------

the rest will be posted when i finish it <3

missing chim's, hen's and Athena's POV

[therentyoupay]

TRYP thoughts on characterization

jack frost // elsa | characterization considerations

PART 3 | DEEP DIVE: CHARACTERIZATION, PERSONALITY, & IDENTITY

ground rules + intro

overview: the tl;dr of my personality + dialogue choices

deep dive: characterization, personality, + identity

shared ice powers (or AU-equivalent) + shared connections

questions/points to consider as you write

PART 3 | DEEP DIVE: CHARACTERIZATION, PERSONALITY, & IDENTITY

now. before we dig any further, a quick psych note on personality and identity and personal development. 

although i personally: 

(a) subscribe the the belief that some aspects of personality and belief systems do change throughout a person’s lifespan and, similarly, although i believe that 

(b) a person’s social identity is in many ways constructed through their social interactions with one another and how they position themselves (i.e., which aspects of their multi-faceted identities do they bring to the forefront during a given conversation in a given context?), i also believe that 

(c) elsa’s childhood/adolescent/young adulthood trauma have become key pillars of the foundation of her personality (i.e., the set of values and beliefs that determine her behaviors, reactions, etc.), such that even with deep, meaningful personal growth (a la frozen, and frozen 2) elsa’s initial instincts will, for a very long time, remain embedded in the beliefs and values that she formed while surviving the realities she faced as a child. ditto for jack and all of the tendencies, behaviors, etc. that he has created through experience and habit.

(total side note: was anyone else wicked impressed by the inside out 2 world-building based on psych frameworks?? i was super pleased until they bungled the ending of the movie.)

THE DUALITIES OF ELSA: 

strength, power // vulnerability

elsa is portrayed as an immensely powerful figure, yet her strength is tempered by a deep vulnerability. depending on whether you’re writing her in a frozen 2 or frozen context, she is the fifth spirit, and capable of wielding immense ice magic, yet her power often feels overwhelming and beyond her control. despite her abilities, she frequently struggles with feelings of inadequacy and fear, particularly when it comes to protecting those she loves. her strength is also emotional—she’s someone who has endured so much and learned to carry the weight of responsibility (e.g., ruler, leader, older sister, protector, warrior), yet this same strength often isolates her, making her feel disconnected from others, including her sister anna. (this is a theme that i especially played around with in frosted sea glass. Oldest Sister Syndrome™ dwellers: unite!) therefore, elsa, to me, is a character who embodies both strength and vulnerability. she has spent so much of her life trying to control her powers, to keep her emotions in check, and these habits, beliefs, and personality traits have been embedded in her daily practices, her mindsets, and her subconscious feelings for years—often to the point where she may not even realize the extent of it.  these critical, traumatic moments occurred during highly formative years of her development. 

guilt, shame, fear // responsibility, duty, honor

a recurring theme in elsa’s characterization (in my stories, remember) is her overwhelming sense of guilt and responsibility. she carries the burden of her powers, fearing that they might harm those she loves, as they did in the past. in more than you know, this fear is heightened when she (spoiler alert??) loses her powers and feels helpless to protect her kingdom and loved ones. even in other AUs and stories i’ve written, i love to explore elsa’s struggle to reconcile her duty as a protector with her fear of failing those she’s meant to protect. her interactions with jack whose confidence and insecurity duality i’ll get to later!) often highlight this tension, as she oscillates between (a) relying on him for support (sometimes against her better judgment and/or hopes and wishes lol [e.g., frosted sea glass, more than you know] and (b) pushing herself to be strong enough to push everyone away and do everything herself due to the hyper-indepedence she developed as a coping mechanism to trauma handle the threats alone.

emotional repression // self-discovery, empowerment, liberation

elsa has long repressed her emotions, stemming from a fear of losing control over her powers. this repression has made her reserved, cautious, and hesitant to let others in or to see what she’s really thinking inside. however, throughout the narrative of whatever story, she begins to confront these emotions, usually, in particular, through her growing relationship with jack. her realization that she trusts him (and the extent to which she does) is usually a Big Deal in whatever story i write, because elsa doesn’t just let anyone in, at most stages in her development. if she does… then she must have had a considerable amount of healing that she’s arleady done by that stage, i’d say. it is also a Big Deal in that whatever revelation about Actually Trusting Someone New is still a significant moment of vulnerability for her. why?? consider: elsa has lived through isolation, fear, and the burden of responsibility, and those experiences have shaped her into someone who feels deeply but hides it behind a calm, composed exterior for:

duty: what is queenly behavior, what is proper royal etiquette; 

safety: control the magic so that my loved ones and kingdom are safe; 

duty/secrecy, legacy, reputation: keep the magic under control so my family’s legacy is not “ruined”);

AND MORE.

elsa is always thinking multiple things at once. her brain never quiets. she is always considering multiple possibilities, paths, options; considering, “what is the worst thing that could happen and what will i do if it does?” and “how can i keep this bad thing from happening?” and trying to account for every single thing that could negatively impact her, her family, her kingdom. that is exhausting!! but, as anyone with anxiety or anxious tendencies likely knows, it becomes the norm. this level of high-intensity preparation and planning no longer seems strange (until it does)because it’s the norm (until it’s not). to suddenly have someone see all that is going on in her mind? in my stories, i like to play around with the degree ot which elsa hesitates (flees, refuses) to accept this kind of vulnerability and open-ness, before she finally (tentatively, cautiously) allows it.

conflicted desires // deeply ingrained sense of propriety/rightness

in every single one of my stories (even the ones in which you never get elsa’s perspective and you have to rely on Serially Unreliable Narrator jack 👀), elsa’s internal conflict is further complicated by her growing feelings for jack. she’s attracted to him, but these feelings are new and confusing, compounded by her inexperience and her deeply ingrained sense of propriety (whether because she’s royalty, or whatever AU equivalent i’ve chosen for whatever context). elsa’s awareness of their proximity, her flustered reactions, and her struggle to maintain composure all point to her conflicting desires. she is drawn to jack, but she doesn’t fully understand these feelings, leading to occasional moments of awkwardness and self-consciousness, OR, depending on where i’ve placed her in in her personal development trajectory for whatever AU (e.g., snow globe), with confidence and power in her (typically) go-to habit of wanting to exert control over a situation and keep strict control of her personal boundaries (which may not always make sense to jack *coughsnowglobecough* but he’s usually willing to ride the ride anyway). this conflict is particularly poignant because, despite her powerful exterior, elsa is inexperienced in matters of the heart, making her feelings for jack both exhilarating and terrifying. (AND WE KNOW WHAT THE GIRL USUALLY DOES WHEN SHE’S SCARED, caveat caveat, depends on the story and her growth, BUT Y’ALL KNOW.)

THE DUALITIES OF JACK:

as one of my followers lovingly pointed out in a tag on a reblog, jack is indeed “more than just snowballs and fun times”; he's a character defined by layers of complexity that go far beyond his playful exterior. while he often presents himself as carefree, mischievous, and full of life, there's a depth to jack that reveals a history of loneliness, responsibility, and a profound sense of duty.

(over)confidence // deep-rooted insecurities, jealousies

i often think of (and portray) jack as a character who oscillates between confidence and deep-seated insecurity (fear of abandonment, elements of anxious-attachment style, fear of rejection, feelings of unworthiness). on the surface, he appears sure of himself (bravado? sarcasm? cocksure smirks? witty banter? clever repartee?), especially when in battle (or uncomfortable, or feeling under attack in a way unrelated to physical battle). however, this confidence is often a mask for the vulnerability and loneliness he still feels. at his center, he’s the embodiment of fun, joy, and innocent mischief; he’s a carefree spirit. but beneath that lies a deep well of sadness and longing, a need to connect with others. i often think of the old adages that suggest that the people who laugh the loudest and smile the brightest are often the ones who have also experienced a lot of pain; the people who work the hardest to make sure others are included and feel heard are those who struggled to fit in and to feel like they belonged (insert traumatic taylor swift lyrics here).

the weight of loneliness (isolation, immortality) // connection, the desire to belong, DESPERATION

jack’s character is defined by a profound loneliness, born from centuries of isolation. this loneliness is compounded by his awareness that he is immortal (or, depending on the angst-level of the fic in question “not quite alive), a realization that makes him feel even more disconnected from those around him. his bond with elsa, therefore, is both a source of comfort and pain. it reminds him of what he has been missing, but it also highlights the (im)mortality gap between them—a gap he fears will only widen once their mission is over. his long existence (whether burdened with the responsibility of fighting against darkness for ages like in more than you know or in the canon-esque sense of loneliness and responsibility he feels in of at the center) has left him weary and isolated. jack’s interactions with elsa often bring out this duality; he wants to protect her, to be strong, but he (like her) also fears that he’s not enough, that he might fail her as he has failed others before. (and don’t get me started on how quickly the guardians blamed him in rotg! @bay7let made a great text post on that topic, but that’s another conversation for another day.) even in life as jackson overland, he was constantly doing his best to bring the kids joy (to make them like him?), to mess around and play pranks and not take life so seriously (to avoid failure and responsibility, ergo potential for failure?). yet we see that in the moment of crisis at he cracking pond, jackson overland was forced to make a very Difficult Decision to save his sister’s life; we are not shown the whereabouts of Jack’s parents in the movie when he was a human but i have often interpreted his tendency to Mess Around (coupled with his buried-but-deeply-ingrained sense of Brotherly Duty and Responsibility) as, in some ways, a response to his  ability (or, at least, the need) to Step Up into the role of protector when needed. (perhaps that’s often why i write jack’s father as being absent/gone, a la not in so many words?) as jack frost, his playful antics and love of fun are, in many ways, also a defense mechanism—ways to cope with the utter loneliness that has marked his existence since becoming a spirit (or the AU-equivalent). however, the snowballs and the laughter are not just for others; they’re a way for jack to hold on to a sense of humanity and connection in a world where he often feels unseen and unacknowledged. his interactions with elsa often reveal a softer, more openly vulnerable side—one that is capable of deep care and affection, but also one that is burdened by the fear of losing those he comes to care about. his protectiveness over elsa, his willingness to put himself in harm’s way to keep her safe, are things that he might try to initially convince himself are just part and parcel of being a guardian… 👀

shirking responsibility, selfishness // strong sense of duty and honor (selflessness):

on the one hand, jack’s lighthearted demeanor also masks the seriousness of his role in the world. as a guardian, he bears the responsibility of protecting children’s joy and wonder, a task that is both noble and heavy. he may be the guardian of fun, but he understands that his role is vital, and he’s willing to fight—literally and metaphorically—to ensure that he protects those under his care. in that sense, jack that is fiercely protective and deeply committed to his purpose (for the children, yes, but…. on the other hand, also for himself). (to maintain his family [because if he fails they may kick him out again], to keep his place in the world so he’s not lost again.) to what degree is his acts of goodness a selfless, altruistic act… and to what degree are his acts borne of desperation not to be left behind again, not to be forgotten, not to be shunned and turned away? we could argue that many of jack’s actions do have an underlying sense of selfishness and self-preservation, born of his desperation to stay afloat and stay remembered and Believed in. to that end, jack’s relationship with elsa often brings out this deeper, more serious side of him. (sure, her seriousness rubs off on him BUT) while he initially might seem like the one who lightens the mood, it eventually becomes clear that he is also a source of strength and stability, and that he can also have his low moments, which elsa (in response, i.e., “someone else is even more anxious than i am so i therefore feel LESS ANXIOUS”), might be able to lift him out of. his playfulness, then, is not just about fun; it’s about bringing light into a world that can often be dark, a world that he knows all too well. THUS, on the surface, jack appears to be selflessly committed to his role as a guardian, prioritizing the well-being and joy of others, particularly the children he protects. however, this “selflessness” is complicated by his underlying motivations. jack’s fear of being forgotten, abandoned, or rejected drives many of his actions. his need to be seen, loved, and believed in often influences his decisions, making his selflessness somewhat self-serving. he protects others not only because he cares but also because doing so ensures that he remains relevant, remembered, and loved. this duality creates an internal conflict within jack. He genuinely cares for others, especially elsa, but his actions are also driven by a desperate need to avoid the loneliness and insignificance he has experienced in the past. (it is a PLAYGROUND FOR ANGST, i tell you. ANGST AND COMFORT AND FEAR AND ANGST.) this tension between selfishness and selflessness impacts his relationship with Elsa. His protective instincts are both a sign of his care for her and a manifestation of his fear of losing her or being left behind. this complexity adds DELICIOUS DEPTH to his character, making his motivations more layered and nuanced.

reluctant acceptance of vulnerability // open-ness

jack’s journey with elsa forces him to confront his own vulnerability (something he has usually spent centuries/a LONG-ASS TIME avoiding). his initial shock at seeing elsa express feelings for him (in WHATEVER way, but usually the First Step toward Breaking Down a Wall and Letting Him In) reveals his deep-seated belief that no one could care for him in that way.  😭 this moment is usually a Turning Point (sound familiar at the center readers? 👀), as it forces jack to acknowledge his feelings for elsa and the UTTER, INESCAPABLE DEPTHS of his own (remembered, forever) loneliness. this disbelief is a key aspect of his character, as he struggles to accept that he deserves love and connection just as much as anyone else. 🥹 (just one more mistake, one more misstep, and—)

fear of abandonment, rejection // resilience, optimism:

he’s someone who’s been overlooked, forgotten by the world, and that’s left its mark on him. yet, he still chooses to care, to protect, to fight for those he loves. there’s a resilience in him that i always really admire, a refusal to let the darkness consume him. writing jack is a balancing act between capturing his playful nature and cutting into and digging around in the pain that he keeps hidden (even from himself). in essence, he embodies the balance between light and dark, joy and sorrow, play and responsibility. he’s a character who has learned to find strength (mask pain) in laughter, even when the world feels heavy, and who uses that strength to protect those he cares about… (however, not everyone, including elsa, always shares this mentality; everyone handles stress differently, remember, depending on the context.) in the end, with elsa, he finds someone who understands the complexities of this balance between duty/honor/responsibility and joy/freedom, and together, they navigate the challenges of their world (whichever AU that may be), finding solace in each other’s company and strength in their shared experiences.

FIC-SPECIFIC:

okay so i clearly can’t do a deep-dive analysis on every portray of ever fic, BUT, i’ll take a quick stab at mtyk!jack since it’s the one i’m currently writing right now.

more than you know: hidden tenderness and emotional walls

despite his more defensive, perhaps gruffer exterior, jack still (in any universe) harbors a deep tenderness, especially towards elsa. he cares for her more than he’s willing to admit, and this care manifests in small, protective gestures, as well as in his quiet support during moments of vulnerability. however, jack is also deeply afraid of these feelings. the realization that he might lose elsa (fear of abandonment/loss), or that she might no longer see him once their mission is over (ditto), terrifies him. as a result, he often [ JK THAT IS A SPOILER, I SHAN’T SAY 😉]. this [mysterious spoiler] creates a dynamic where jack is constantly at odds with his own emotions, torn between his desire to protect elsa and his fear of getting too close.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Over-the-top modern 2021 mansion in Los Angeles, California. 12bds, 17ba, $139M. It also has $5M worth of Italian brand La Contessina furniture that's included with the house.

Look at this loooong sparking chandelier that pools on the floor. (There's a dedicated caretaker's quarters, but it's gonna take more than one person to maintain all this.)

Remember that all the furniture is included. Wonder why they chose brown. Now, here we are in the main living area with a huge bar. (aka "The Nightclub.")

On view here is this 6 car elevator to show off your car collection to guests (what, only 6?).

"The Nightclub" extends way out to the patio.

The wine room holds 1, 050 bottles, with a Murano glass art installation overhead. Wow, this wall of wine bottles is way different from the house I posted yesterday, with the bottle walls.

For entertaining, the residence has multiple bars. This is an ice-cold vodka-tasting room (notice the fans in the ceiling & the frost on the walls). Hanging on hooks are fur coats for the guests to wear. (Is this crazy or what?)

Home gym with a ridiculous amount of Peloton equipment. How many people are they expecting? There's also a climbing wall and a cigar lounge.

This looks like one of the more casual seating areas and bar. Don't expect to see the kitchen that's fitted with Wolf appliances and is supposedly a chef's dream. You don't concern yourself with something as mundane as cooking.

Here's the hot tub room with a massive chandelier.

The home theater is fitted with plush Belgian leather seats.

Beautiful views from the patios and terraces.

Check out the reclining marble tub in the primary suite. The wall opens to a large deck. (Guests get a penthouse suite.)

Massive en-suite bath. That big glass room on the right is the shower.

Her closet.

His closet.

The colossal 23-foot LED screen out by the pool comes up from the floor.

Around this bar are illuminated swing seats, plus a full commercial kitchen hidden from sight, for entertaining, b/c nobody wants to see a kitchen.

This home is really focused on entertaining.

The house is on a 2.08 acre lot and not to worry, bulletproof glass, and a hidden state-of-the-art safe room ensures security and peace of mind. A high-tech 36 camera security system with a full security command center including staff quarters vigilantly watches over the property.

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

Queer Books November 2023

🌈 Good afternoon, my bookish bats! Struggling to keep up with all the amazing queer books coming out this month? Here are a FEW of the stunning, diverse queer books you can add to your TBR before the year is over. Remember to #readqueerallyear! Happy reading!

❤️ The Pirate and the Porcelain Girl by Emily Riesbeck 🧡 Heading North by Holly M. Wendt 💛 The Wisdom of Bug by Alyson Root 💚 Trick Shot by Kayla Grosse 💙 A Holly Jolly Christmas by Emily Wright 💜 Outdrawn by Deanna Grey ❤️ Yours Celestially by Al Hess 🧡 The Christmas Memory by Barbara Winkes 💛 Violet Moon by Mel E. Lemon 💙 The Santa Pageant by Lillian Barry 💜 Only for the Holidays by Shannon O’Connor 🌈 Homestead for the Holidays by Wren Taylor

❤️ You Can Count on Me by Fae Quin 🧡 No One Left But You by Tash McAdam 💛 The Worst Thing of All is the Light by José Luis Serrano, Lawrence Schimel 💚 Today Tonight Forever by Madeline Kay Sneed 💙 Wren Martin Ruins It All by Amanda DeWitt 💜 Emmett by L. C. Rosen ❤️ Finding My Elf by David Valdes 🧡 Tonight, I Burn by Katharine J. Adams 💛 Gorgeous Gruesome Faces by Linda Cheng 💙 Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree 💜 A Power Unbound by Freya Marske 🌈 We Are the Crisis by Cadwell Turnbull

❤️ The Manor House Governess by C.A. Castle 🧡 You Owe Me One, Universe by Chad Lucas 💛 Last Night at the Hollywood Canteen by Sarah James 💚 Skip!: A Graphic Novel by Rebecca Burgess 💙 Something About Her by Clementine Taylor 💜 Touching the Art by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore ❤️ A Nearby Country Called Love by Salar Abdoh 🧡 Normporn: Queer Viewers and the TV That Soothes Us by Karen Tongson 💛 Sir Callie and the Dragon’s Roost by Esme Symes-Smith 💙 The Order of the Banshee by Robyn Singer 💜 Once Upon My Dads’ Divorce by Seamus Kirst, Noémie Gionet Landry 🌈 Forsooth by Jimmy Matejek-Morris

❤️ A Common Bond by T.M. Kuta 🧡 Risk the Fall by Riley Hart 💛 Just a Little Snack by Yah-Yah Scholfield 💚 Home for the Holidays by Erin Zak 💙 NeurodiVeRse by MJ James 💜 Dark Heir (Dark Rise #2) by C.S. Pacat ❤️ sub/Dom by Rab Green 🧡 Bitten by the Bond by Elaine White 💛 Heir to Frost and Storm by Ben Alderson 💙 The Sea of Stars by Gwenhyver 💜 Bad Beat by L.M. Bennett 🌈 Idol Moves by K.T. Salvo

❤️ Plot Twist by Erin La Rosa 🧡 In the Pines by Mariah Stillbrook 💛 The Crimson Fortress (The Ivory Key #2) by Akshaya Raman 💚 Only She Came Back by Margot Harrison 💙 Megumi & Tsugumi, Vol. 4 by Mitsuru Si 💜 Pritty by Keith F. Miller Jr. ❤️ Just Lizzie by Karen Wilfrid 🧡 An Atlas to Forever by Krystina Rivers 💛 Come Find Me in the Midnight Sun by Bailey Bridgewater 💙 Bait and Witch by Clifford Mae Henderson 💜 Shadow Baron by Davinia Evans 🌈 Day by Michael Cunningham

❤️ Livingston Girls by Briana Morgan 🧡 Delay of the Game by Ari Baran 💛 The Nanny with the Nice List by K. Sterling 💚 A Talent Ignited by Suzanne Lenoir 💙 A Kiss of the Siren’s Song by E.A.M. Trofimenkoff 💜 Rivals for Love by Ali Vali ❤️ Whiskey & Wine by Kelly Fireside, Tana Fireside 🧡 Buried Secrets by Sheri Lewis Wohl 💛 Ride with Me by Jenna Jarvis 💙 Living for You by Jenny Frame 💜 Death on the Water by CJ Birch 🌈 Merciless Waters by Rae Knowles

❤️ Vicarious by Chloe Spencer 🧡 Sapling’s Depths by Spencer Rose 💛 That French Summer by Sienna Waters 💚 System Overload by Saxon James 💙 King of Death by Lily Mayne 💜 Warts and All by Ashley Bennett ❤️ Principle Decisions by Thea Belmont 🧡 The Best Mistake by Emily O’Beirne 💛 Sugar and Ice by Eule Grey 💙 Until The Blood Runs Dry by MC Johnson 💜 Splinter : A Diverse Sleepy Hollow Retelling by Jasper Hyde 🌈 The Mischievous Letters of the Marquise de Q by Felicia Davin

❤️ The Queer Girl is Going to be Okay by Dale Walls 🧡 Til Death Do Us Bard by Rose Black 💛 Leverage by E.J. Noyes 💚 Alice Sadie Celine by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright 💙 Godly Heathens by H.E. Edgmon 💜 Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher ❤️ To Kill a Shadow by Katherine Quinn 🧡 Warrior of the Wind by Suyi Davies Okungbowa 💛 For Never & Always by Helena Greer 💙 A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch by Sally Hawley 💜 Heaven Official’s Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu Vol. 8 by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù 🌈 A Carol for Karol by Ann Roberts

[running-with-the-feels]

Consider: soulmate au with Subscorp where one eye is the color of your soulmates. Before he lost Harumi and Satoshi, Hanzo was just very confused because who has a white frosted over (is that how to word Kuai's eyes?) left eye at times and it is so confusing to him.

Likewise, Kuai Liang is very confused one day when his right eye goes from a shade of brown to a complete shade of white over his entire eye. Even Bi-Han is weirded out, a couple months before the tournament happens.

ooooo thats an interesting idea

Like, Hanzo has never met a cryomancer before, so the fact that sometimes his eye is an amber rather than his own obsidian (I hc that both Hanzo and Harumi have Really dark eyes) and other times its the pale white of a corpse is very confusing to him.

For Kuai Liang, he has no idea why one iris is now black (The Lin Kuei do not teach them about soulmates and even tho Bi-Han kinda remembers thats what their parents were, he doesn't know enough about it to explain) only that he's terrified of the Lin Kuei finding out so he keeps his eyes iced up constantly from then on

And then they meet and Hanzo refuses to acknowledge it and Kuai Laing can't help but be curious, even if he's pushing it down and they can't quite bring themselves to kill each other, no matter what, they always stop just shy of doing it.

And then they make the alliance and since they're friends now Kuai Liang figures he can finally ask, it takes a few weeks for him to work up the courage but when he does Hanzo is taken aback, he doesn't understand how Kuai Liang could ever not know what it meant. He thought that was why Kuai Liang called the initial meeting, to talk about the fact that they were soulmates.

So Hanzo ends up having to explain to him what a soulmate is and Kuai Liang, who has lost everyone he has ever loved in the most brutal way possible, runs for the hills, terrified of bringing that fate down upon Hanzo simply bc of a bond he doesn't understand.

They still have alliance meetings, but Kuai Liang is more closed off and Hanzo makes it his mission to get Kuai Liang to laugh, or smile, or hell even get angry so long as it's not that blank fucking mask all the time.

I'd bet that eventually Kuai Liang relaxes a little, unable to stop himself from getting closer to Hanzo and hey if they pyromancer is kinda immortal, what's the harm, right? And then before he knows it he's fallen in love and he's terrified all over again so he starts looking for ways to sever the bond, which Hanzo eventually discovers and (having fallen in love with Kuai Liang years b4 the cryomancer did) Is heartbroken.

Cue the two staying apart and getting sick bc of bond rejection (I know that trope isn't everyone's thing but I love it, especially when its a mutual thing) so Frost and Takeda force them to talk it out, leading to confessions, kisses and happy endings.

TLDR we need more soulmate aus in this fandom