#its more likely that by the next October ill use the drawings I did this month and build a prompt list outta that tbh krkrkrkrkrkrkr

[hinderr]

hi hi hinderr

if it isn’t too much trouble (and no pressure) it would be cool if you made like a clanoftwober prompt list

I don’t really need it I just think it’d be cool with the fun and silly thing you’ve got going with it :D

-🌘🕷 Anon

waaaaghhh i should, i really should. but the whole clanoftwober thing started just because I wanted something to do this month though, and I'll be honest every day i am just winging it (head in my hands).

I'll see what i can do if i can come up with a prompt list but!!! in the event that i never get around to doing it, if anyone else wants to do clanoftwober, then the prompt is simply clan of two, every day

[the-100-days-of-junkan]

THE 100 DAYS OF JUNKAN

Hello everybody! I’m Carbonated-Jem! 

I sincerely hope you’re having a good day as this post finds you.

You’re probably wondering what this is. Well this my good compatriot is the result of a very ill advised task I put upon myself at the beginning of this year. There’ll be a TL;DR at the bottom for those who don’t want my full ramblings (sorry about that btw, not very good at this), but I do appreciate anyone who’ll give a silly person like me the time of day.

You see, I am a fan of Danganronpa, and as a result I like to read a lot of gay fanfic (and if I’m feeling daring I’ll even look at fan art, shocking). This series for all its ups and downs is quite important to me and becoming who I am today. Tokomaru especially helped me through a period of a lot of stress and depression, among other things. 

But as you can tell by the name this isn’t a Blog Dedicated to Tokomaru, it’s a blog dedicated to Junkan. Which might be very surprising to anyone who I haven’t divulged this info to personally. 

I try to make it a habit to not delve too deep into fandoms for the sake of my mental health, I look up fanart, read some appreciation posts on tumblr, read fics, and depending on the series make art for others to enjoy. However one thing I tend to become vaguely aware of regardless of whether I want to or not is what ships are and are not controversial. So I am very aware of the fact that saying I ship Junko and Mikan is bare minimum getting some weird looks from a lot of the people reading this.

Before I give a reason why I’m doing this let me just make clear what this is in the first place.

This is the 100 Days of Junkan, a project I undertook (Kind of as a joke) at the beginning of the year. I have made 100 Pieces to post across the next 100 Days. Some are finished art, some are sketches, some are sketches I added color to later, some are multiple images grouped into one day, comics, and far more. I’ve learned a lot through this project artistically, and some of the surprises I have in store will hopefully be worth the effort. I don’t know 100% for sure what day this post will be on, however the event itself will begin October 1st, and if I did the math right will continue all the way till January 9th. 

Why would I put this much time and energy into this ship, knowing that there are a lot of people who downright hate it? Simple, I just like the ship a lot, and wanted to make more art for it.

And I should further note, there are plenty of fans of this ship as well, however they may be disappointed to hear that unless you’re very much like me, you probably won’t enjoy what I’ve made with these two. In canon (much to my chagrin, because I’m not partial to the direction it took in DR3) this is a very abusive relationship. This is not really my thing, anyone who has seen the ship art I’ve done on my main page will know that I much prefer to draw soft, fluffy shipping art. I try to make art which will leave a positive vibe on people for the most part.

That said I understand why there are people who like this ship for how it is represented in canon. Shipping Junkan has taught me to stop being judgy of people for what they ship (I used to really hate Togami x Toko for example, and while it’s still not my thing I can totally understand why people are into it now). Everyone has their own reasons for shipping something, whether it’s an interesting dynamic, they just like seeing the characters kiss, as a coping mechanism, and plenty of other reasons. I have my boundaries of course, but at this point I try to be open minded towards peoples proclivities.

So if I’m not drawing a Canon Compliant Depiction of this ship, what am I actually doing here?

Well I’ve decided that I’m going to draw niche art for an already very niche ship. I like Junkan on the softer side, where regardless of where it's supposed to be in canon or an AU they just actually love eachother, I've seen and have been inspired by a decent amount of Fanfics depicting this exact thing. It's the dynamic that I find the most interesting personally, as I like the directions you can take it with the characters.

So that’s the deal, for 100 Days starting from October 1st you can expect this blog to post a constant flow of soft Junko x Mikan art. If that’s your thing, I sincerely hope you like all this! It’s been my number one goal to give some art to the people who share a similar desire for softer depictions of this Ship, along with all the people who have already made amazing pieces of writing and artwork depicting the same. If this isn’t your thing, I hope you’ll at least stick around to give it a chance, and if I can’t sell you on it like I have with some of my friends, I hope you can at least walk away from this with a shrug.

Apologizing in advance to all those who peruse the Mikan and Junko tag, because this is gonna be flooding those for awhile I imagine. I fully understand if you wanna block me for this, hope you have a lovely day after that! 

Now dear viewer, please watch this long road unwind and behold such sights as: Me slowly memorizing these two to the point that I can draw them almost entirely without reference at this point, inconsistent colors schemes,  inconsistent heights, so much goddamn blushing, AU’s galore, and the unspeakable things I learned how to do for this project! (And by unspeakable I mean I don’t wanna spoil the surprise!) 

Oh! And as an extra bonus to all this, go check out my AO3 account. I have a singular Junkan Fic on there right now, however as a little bonus for this event (and sure, thematic for Halloween) I’m going to be posting a Vampire AU Junkan Fic periodically throughout October. Partially inspired by the fact that Day 30 depicts a scene I came up with way before the actual fic, and I really want to have it written out and available to read before that post comes out.

The other reason is that if I say i’m going to post it here, that means I am required to actually do it by the law of my brain. Which will likely outweigh my complete lack of self confidence in my ability to write anything making me too paranoid to actually let it go public~

Here’s the link!

And if you stumbled upon this post through the Junkan Tag and not my main account, here’s a link to it!

You’ll find plenty of other Danganronpa Art, including Junko and Mikan on their own. I do other stuff but I imagine that’d be the most immediately interesting, but hey you never know. So hopefully if this blog doesn’t provide anything you’d be into, my normal works will catch your attention! 

I’ve also opened an Ask Box for this blog, why? I dunno. I’ll be real it just seemed like the thing to do. But feel free to ask questions and I'll try to respond best I can!

And finally here is the TL,DR for those who didn't wanna read through my mind numbing rambling.

I like Danganronpa, I like drawing Soft Junkan art for a lot of reasons. I’m posting 100 Pieces for 100 Days of this ship, and hopefully ya’ll will enjoy it. If not, that’s okay! I hope you have a great day! 

Reblogs Appreciated!~ Stay hydrated Everyone!~

[lunaticpsykers]

im hshntdgj im so sorry for asking smth again i really aaaa hope its not a bother bbbut in spirit of october i just wanted to know if you got any tips for drawing gore and stuff? antway thnx heres a little guy w a hat in compensation for being annoying: <]:D

HI okay um. im terrible at explaining things but!!my process for drawing blood before i talk about the guts and stuff!

ik this looks kinda fucking terrible BUT ITS OK

^^this is the more boring method. i feel like there isnt as much depth to the blood, but that's cuz i only use this for blood splatters! but since i got less time during goretober, ive been using this lol

NEXT METHOD! sorry this might be a long post

here's an example. i have no damn clue how i did this, so dont ask

i really cant explain this better, so ill show u an explanation by kaworunakano on twitter

i add more hints of blue and yellow, but this sums up the way i draw blood. regarding the whole guts thing ....uh

...i dont really know anything about anatomy or whatever. my number one tip is just remember that they fold .like

they fold !!!

highlights really enhance the way i draw guts and stuff, which is why i like using blue! for contrast and all that jazz. im very new to drawing gore, but ive heard lots of people say that u should visualize them as sausages or something

[fowl-leaf]

my 2023 summary of art!

Template:here

still not consistently posting anywhere, but I like doing these. they're fun there's a lot of things i would've liked to include but had to exclude, due to not being shareable on this account. maybe i'll have more stuff next year!

this is long, so details under the cut

JANUARY silly lizard oc i generally dont do much single line hatching, so it was nice to fiddle with it this time

FEBRUARY the wittle scrunkly lizard last time i drew this one, they were an lps shitpost, so its nice to like draw them normally lol

MARCH herman is running out of time glasses axolotl but make him neon idk

APRIL fancy calico i honestly dont know whats up with the clothes, i just kinda drew whatever tbh

MAY yippie!! toontown oc! was playing ttcc w/shard and co, this is the character i ended up making i also got covid around april-march iirc so i was feeling horrid for a while (and the remaining symptoms didnt clear up till like june)

JUNE an oc i got years ago but didnt have the confidence to draw for a while lmao anyways i like her colors and shape, she's fun

JULY mandatory artfight posting this was one of the last ones i did! ocs belong to pookapooka and they were so fun to paint

idk if ill be doing artfight again tbh. ive been doing it consistently since sun vs moon but its honestly felt less fun ever since the tiktok invasion`and how ppls behavior has changed, and especially since the whole ownership thing that happened mid fight this year. (not interested in any of the alternatives ive seen either bc they have the same issues, notably worse issues, or are not furry friendly) but tbh that might just be me being disenchanted with online art spaces due to the intensifying shittification of basically everything, fucking rip

AUGUST ring but hes going to jail (again but for real this time) the staxie monthly prompt was barbie mugshots but i . . . i did this with ring and lumos and promptly forgor to do this with cakes and ale like i was planning to lmfao im actually gonna watch the barbie movie tonight, renting it so i can watch it on the big tv (didnt watch in theaters bc expensive (movie tickets are generally 15-25 bucks in my area (compared to the 5-10 in my aunt's area (renting is cheaper per person)), and they changed the chairs to these weird uncomfy pleather recliners that make my skin crawl to "justify the price raise" + i hate sitting for more than an hour i need water, bathroom, stretch, and snack breaks))

SEPTEMBER ganache went over the hedge was very busy w/projects so i did little casual art this was inspired by me comparing the over the hedge version of supermarket by ben folds (upbeat & high energy) vs the one by the clash (melancholy + commercial-induced agony) ever since then i cant stop thinking abt how much the lemon demon guy's voice sounds like the fucking clash guy sdjkhfkjsd also over the hedge was one of my favorite movies as a kid and i watched it at least 10 times before we had to return the dvd to netflix. i also regularly played the flash games on the site until i forgot about it after finding out about miniclip + notdoppler from other kids and decided to use those for flash games instead bc more options lol

OCTOBER dta img for a new oc i got, funny long neck budgie thingy busy w/projects again so little casual art had to use old mini tablet bc previous tablet was completely unusable fucking rip

NOVEMBER ganache + cactus pony, they want to know if you have any bubblegum. do you? busy w/projects again so little casual art doodle i made in heavypaint (one of the old layerless versions, i bought a lisence for it a while ago.) i got a new tablet on black friday since the mini tablet was horrible + my broken tablet was making me work very slow

DECEMBER ring in the void (this is lore accurate) or as nic put it, "fucked up twilight sparkle" lol busy w/projects + gifts so little casual art i actually sketched this w/the mini tablet, but didnt finish it up till getting the new tablet

---

for reading this far, you get to see amogus.

i would've put amogus whisper on the chart but decided against it since im not done with that one yet lmao

[lucid-daydreamer]

My art summary from this past year. I started off slow at the beginning, but i made a BUNCH of stuff in the last 6 months. Most of my art this year was not drawings, but physical stuff like sculpture and crochet.

Jan: i started off the year by drawing the nightmares i had during my covid infection. The Darth Maul one was my fav even though i never finished it. Energy? I don't know her.

Feb: Legends Arceus came out and it consumed my entire being.

March: i made a fanart quadtich for Legends Arceus but never posted it anywhere. It depicted the first night of the protagonist's banishment, each picture was from a different character's perspective.

April: energy? I don't know her.

May: spent a lot of my time either studying for my pharmacy tech certification or playing The Stanley Parable Ultra Delux. I rejoined instagram and started posting my 3d card art there too. I started making my crochet blanket.

June: suprise! The landlady wants to sell the house so gtfo! I spent most of the month packing/ moving/ cleaning, but I'd set a little time aside each day to add one character to a 30 day collage, which i finished by the end of the month. It kept me sane. The theme was robots/androids/artificial beings/etc.

July: i woke up in the middle of the night and drew this in one go and it is my favorite piece from this month. I was like a woman possessed and it was great. It reminded me of when i had fun making art and I've been trying to keep that mindset since.

August: while i finished my crochet blanket in the beginning of September, i did the bulk of the work in August. It was soothing to do after the stress from work. I also started like 10 Stanley Parable fics but never posted them bc they aren't done.

September: i started making 3d pokemon cards again at this point. It comes in bursts i guess.

October: made a bunch more 3d cards as well as did another 30 day art challenge. I think maybe the last 3 months of the year is the worst time to do any art challenges, especially if you work in retail. It's just too busy! February of this year i plan to do another one to see if it's more manageable in the early months of a year.

November: i made more cards and drew this fun piece in between, but never posted it (my computer is broken and so i can't scan art). Its Stanley as a chobit because why not?

December: All 3d cards this month. I planned to make a Christmas ornament or two but that didn't happen with how busy i was. Ah well, ill have the plans already ready to use next year.

[mugzymiik]

MY INTRODUCTION POST!!! >:]

HELLO HELLO HELLO HIII HIII HIIIIIIIIIIII HELLOOOO!!!!!!!!!

THE NAME'S MUGS, OR OCTOBER!!! i have other names (see them at my pronouny!) but honestly anyone can call me anything, peepeepoopoo man (/gn) even/j AS LONG AS IT ISNT ANYTHING LIKE "dumbass bitch whos an ass" IM GOOD

i have asd, adhd and anxiety,,so TONE INDICATORS PLEASE!!!

please note that it often takes me a while to understand things! some things take even as long as a week for me to finally realize and understand (trust me, its happened before D:)

!!!!!! MINOR !!!!!!!

why you got a 12 car garage if you only got 15 CARS?!

i also use any neopronouns!! so if you dont support neopronouns and/or harass people for using them then get the fuck off my page and dont interact with me, ever. i dont like you./srs

OH YEAH!! SPEAKING OF PRONOUNS!! I USE ANY AND ALL!!!

#mmmramblez - rambling tag (i forget to tag it a lot so its not in use very often✌️😔)

#mugzy art- art tag!! :D

#mugzy replies - ask tag

#mugzys drawing ideas - drawing ideas :D

#things mugs needs later - its a surprise tool that will help us later/j/ref

#Tsavorite hugs everybody - you're next. :)/j (PAUSED AS OF RIGHT NOW)

#shattered body but not spirit au - the SBNS AU tag! :D

#jsab disloyalty au - tag for my JSAB AU

HERES MY LINKTR.EE!!! >:]

im uuh. gonna add list(s) n less important stuff under the "keep reading" part so that this doesn't get too long after first glance

blogs i run/help run!! :D

@askgoldnco: just uh. ask blog for Gold from TPC,,VERY headcanon heavy

@pinkcorruption-verysillyedition: TPC incorrect quotes!! :D

@cats-turn-naturally-pink-somehow: TPC warriors au😭yea thats it,,

@shattered-body-but-not-spirit: TPC AU roleplay blog!!! (death cw; not at all described, but still a theme of it)

posts i made that have info in em n stuff:

my pink corruption headcanons list :D

my fandoms!!

The Pink Corruption (+ Just Shapes & Beats in general)

Warriors/Warrior Cats (been a fan since i was a wee timny wimny babie :3)

Cuphead

Stray

Hilda (The Series)

uuuh,,, my fav chars!!!!

Cube

Gold (he only has like 4 lines of dialogue in canon TPC right now but he just like me fr :D)

Tsavorite

Cyanide

Heli

Pyrare

Spheer

Lythorus

Mugman (oh wow who did i get my name from??? what a mystery/j)

Cagney Carnation

Clementine

Seamus

B-12

Longtail

Bluestar

Graystripe

Ravenpaw

Sandstorm

Yellowfang

Cinderpelt

Littlecloud

Goldenflower

Ferncloud

Hawkfrost

Feathertail

Squirrelflight

Leafpool

Daisy

Hollyleaf

Lionblaze

Ivypool

Mapleshade

Needletail

Violetshine

Alderheart

Gray Wing

Turtle Tail

Jagged Peak

Thunder

River Ripple

+ WAY TOO MANY OTHER WARRIORS CHARACTERS FOR ME TO ACTUALLY LIST EM ALL

Alfur

The Great Raven

Frida

Woodman

Kaisa

Twig

uuuh ill add more lists as i think of them MY ONE (1) SINGLE BRAINCELL IS FADING AWAY/j

(^artist: @/sleepless-tea on DeviantArt)

[cardboardslugs]

I did some searching because I didn't want to ask on ao3 and potentially spoil anyone, hope that's ok! I wanted to know if you would be ok with sharing the the plot map for Schrödinger's Murder, and/or what you mean about the chapter with Chihiro's parents containing extreme foreshadowing? Hope this isn't too invasive, and I can completely respect if you want everything to be a surprise for everyone!

HEY ANON I WANT TO KISS YOU HOTLY AND WETLY ON THE MOUTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Im gonna give you BOTH of your requests, and then some, BUT!!! under the cut bc I also respect the fact some people wanna stay surprised!!! SERIOUS TWs for body horror; sexual assualt; mental illness; physical assualt; euthanasia; and all other tags found on my ao3 fic!!!

SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT!!!!

OCTOBER 2ND, 2024 EDIT: this plot map is entirely outdated. Some of what is in here is still mostly accurate to what is going to happen. most of it is not. Plots change. the Ending hasnt.

let me establish something before I continue: DR3 the anime did not fucking happen, In this fic. i am going complete and total pre-spike chunsoft sole-aquisition. Nanami was never a real person, Chihiro did not get nerfed by becoming two different characters, and Ryota Mitari does not Fucking Exist. Everyone was manipulated the hard way, Junko is not a tactical mastermind, shes a dumb model with an axe to grind and her dead boyfriend's stolen research notes. lets move on.

okay so, from the point we're at, plot map goes as follows:

Kirigiri has a theory. she's listening to Byakuya and Chihiro recount stories. Hands makoto a bat "Im going to need you to hit me across the head as hard as you physically can. no holding back. dont worry about it."

everyone arguing in the nurses office, chihiro loudly asserting everyone needs to go for a bath. Naked. Completely fucking naked gloves and all miss kirigiri-san!!!!

Byakuya flat out refuses. Toko refuses. Kirigiri refuses. "oh three possible murderers refusing, that's not suspect at all" "none of us murdered anyone. Chihiro's right there" "i am in fact alive. but that's not the point, dumbfucks." AUDIBLE GASPING AT CHIHIRO SWEARING

chihiro manages to convince them all to take a bath. some its more like "gentle persuasion" (sakura throws them in the tub).

Mondo, Chihiro has to drag him there by the ear. also have three other people go with him, because he's been alone in his room for 5 days after now finding chihiro alive, and hes trying to commit die.

"whyd you say you wanna be strong? I would have helped you if thats the case!" "i didnt say stong?? who told you that? I said *masculine*. not strong. that's exactly why i didnt ask you, sakura. it wound be an insult upon insults! im not that foolish!! why would I ever come to a woman for help being a man?!" "... well, great, now I *really* wanna kill myself!!" "sit down oowada, not as bad as I do." "what does that mean?!" "...dont worry about it-"

"great. now that you're all caught up, I need every last one of you to take medium head trauma" "The only thing i have become convinced of is that chihiro is fucking insane. I think mercy killing is in order, lets draw straws" "LISTEN TO ME YOU BRAINDEAD COWS!"

cut to junko enoshima having a very horrible no good day. after a very shitty phone call with kamukura, she's planning to off chihiro her damn self.

class 77 is ballin- by which to say they have been in the building the whole time and theyre feelin the hope baybee!! theyre making plans to ensure Junkos next trial goes south, if 78 cant fuck her up on their own. Peko comes back with news from the bath house, and lies about it to enoshima.

No one with any functional functional braincells agrees to get wacked over the head. Gundam neatly arranges for ceiling tiles and other objects on high shelves to fall for seemingly no reason. :) must be ghosties :) totally not tiny gods what are you talking about :)

junko had given a phone call to kamukura earlier. kamukura is rounding up the hit list victims before getting them out of there before any real harm can come to them. shoves them in a place he'll be able to keep them safe until something good comes- and as a master tactian, he's keeping an eye on the TV. theyre all in bad shape though, bears are not cool fun things. Funny how hope works!! Komaeda Nagito is practically creaming himself. Also is getting his shins beaten in with wiffle bats while making pbj sandwiches for some very bratty chidren of hope.

meanwhile, the gig is up for junko. and NOBODY is happy. junko's plan falls apart at the seams and she got rid of her insurance policy WAY too early. funny how quickly the monokuma bots will turn when she's not in control of them. The ending does not bring her the "despair" she desires-- because she has never experienced actual despair a day in her god forsaken life.

everyone brings their ass to safety, and Byakuya founds the Future Foundation with what's left of reasonable humanity-- but with all the people who got out alive before some REALLY bad shit happened; celebrations are in order. ahh yes. class 77 being the party cat comic once again.

happy 77/78 reunion time!! until they realize that at least half of 77 is HORRIBLY disfigured from things they did to themselves in the name of faux-despair terrorism. Nidai has become terribly weak from his heart condition that he had stopped taking his meds for. Fuyhikos eye is completely gouged out. Ibuki's head is shaved n burned and she has a hard time speaking because she took a chunk out of her tongue and drank a lil bleach, "just a tiny bit!!". Imposter is rail thin, could actually pass for Byakuya if someone bothered to check weight. Mahiru has several chemical burn scars from using photo development equipment as bombs. Mikan going on a full-blown panic attack self-harm-spree, and Kazuichi ate radium.

Chihiro, having remembered how close he was to Kazuichi, is particularly distraught over what's become of him. Chihiro, in all the strength he doesn't have, weakly pounds at kaz's arm-- and instantly breaks it. Chihiro has a breakdown. Kazuichi is not seen for several days, despite people looking for him. He's out eating more radium to speed up the process of it killing him.

Byakuya finally finds Souda and they talk for a little. Kazuichi's skin is sloughing off from him trying to wipe his tears. byakuya promises to take care of chihiro for him. kaz says his jaw hurts. byakuya makes a snide comment, and as kazuichi goes to rub his temples- his jaw quite literally falls off his face. Byakuya has no choice but to call for help- when he finally gets someone on the line, Kazuichi has brought Byakuya to a pipe wrench begging (as much as he can with virtually no tongue) to kill him. Fortunately, it's kirigiri and she's just meeting a hope-filled hinata- andHinata says, with kamukura knowledge, at the point he's describing, if that's how Souda wants to go, so be it.

Chihiro has no idea what happened when they basically come back with Souda's mangled body parts in an amazon box, but distraught is a VERY weak word for it. Byakuya had recorded their conversation, prior to having to call help. hearing Kaz talk doesnt make chihiro feel *good*, but it does put some of his fears at ease.

and the recovery ward is feeling okay enough for guests, at that point!! Kanon is fucking pissed but she and maizonos bitch can go suck my dick this aint about them!!!

good fun family time baybeeeee!!! everyone is excited to see their Most Important Person. there is full blown sob fests. Celestia Ludenberg looks like a KISS oc from ugly crying about her cat. the yamada siblings assert their position as pop team epic. Taka is buttmad only at staff that they saved his father from a stroke. Kenshiro is impressed with sakura. Aoi is about to introduce her brother and is immeadiately shocked sakura has a boyfriend. Pennysworth and Taichi are in a weird argument, that both of them drop upon seeing their respective kids again. Chihiro is just happy to see his dad after such a rough time.

"you're in pants, for once!" "y-yeah. yeah I am." "... I'm not one for praise to others; but you raised a strong son, Mr. Fujisaki" ".. thank you, togami. He's quite the handsome young man, too." Chihiro is openly sobbing. i need to be normal.

the world is starting to be rebuilt. everyone is getting therapy. *EVERYONE*. Byakuya realizes the ENTIRE togami empire fell- and beats the name to plowshears. The chick in that egg is finally out; her name is Polaris P. Polanski and she starts E. conincidentally the same day Chihiro starts T. three years have passed since Kazuichi's funeral, Gundam and sonia are in a stable relationship- literally, they spend most of their time trying to repopulate animals. (BA DUM TSSS) lots of people are getting the medical help they need, Nidai's gotten a heart transplant, Nagito has his AIDS under control, other people are starting to get rehomed; komaru and toko are the very first to get that luxury simply to keep Syoko (a moniker picked up by fukawa to reclaim her own humanity) away from Polaris at all costs. makoto is going ham with pet projects- by which to say he is finally introducing the warriors of hope back into the adults. theyre about 8 or 9 at this point.

theyre still their very own family unit, and they desperately want monaka to move forward with them. Monaka does not want this, for herself or for others. she actively harms people any way they can when she's allowed to see them. has shanked people with colored pencils.

i have to put this in another block, tumblr hates me and I am VERY wordy.

all of the adults try to talk reason into her. there is no reason to be talked into. she even got to live with komaeda and hajime for a month, and not even that proved to get anywhere, and Komaeda had to get a blood transfusion halfway through because of monaca. All the department heads agree, though with a lot of hemming and hawing, espicially from chihiro-- some people are too far gone, and cannot be saved.

Chihiro asks (and gets) to sit with Monaca while she is executed. she's supposed to not know. She Knows. She's a smart little shithead. She tries to stab Chihiro to death while poison very slowly works its way through her bloodstream. Thank god she's 10 and he's been working out a whole lot. She takes off half his tit though, and it gives him an excuse to get top. Chihiro is never sitting with anyone while they forcfully die again.

the kids go through another 6 months of therapy to process what just happened- though to be frank, they had gotten over her nonsense a while ago, and don't feel much after about only two months. they come to the conculsion it'll probably effect them more as young adults.

the kids are assigned to families via makoto. Taka and Mondo arent dating, but with how/how much they bicker, they might as well be married. they get joint custody daimon, who needs good male figures in his life who wont hurt him. Syoko and Komaru, lesbians extraordinaire, get Kotoko. SA victims help SA victims. syoko teaches her all the best places to stab men if they ever try to put their hands on her. several people go to the hopital for it. shes 10!! its deserved!! chihiro gets jataro. Taichi and Chihiro and Jataro are basically 3 peas in a pod, and they really love fostering Jataros interests and helping him learn healthy coping mechanisms for his autism. Polaris gets Nagisa. "both of you need to learn how to be kids for once!" "what the hell is that supposed to mean." "watch your tongue." "dont tell me what to do" "see? this is what i mean. go sneak into the food stores! get the sticks out of your asses and live a little!! take some inspiration from Mondo or something."

they do. polaris finds out she has a horrible addiction to goldfish crackers. Chihiro now uses them as a bribe, scooby snack style. Nagisa discovers what a food coma is. polaris and nagisa continue to be silly and have fun and play.

the kids function as additional therapy for all of the people who care for them, as well as therapy for the kids.

antics ensue!! the kids all play pranks get in trouble, grow up a bit more. polaris and chihiro are fucking, thinking about getting married, maybe owning up to a promise of their own to Polanski's dead father. Taka has learned fully what aromantic asexuality is and is comfortable in that indentity. Mondo feels lost without a partner, but his right hand man from the gang is always there for him, and he loves his son. Syoko is not allowed back at the foundation, but Komaru and Makoto meet up frequently, and kotoko always slips little pieces of Polaris to her mom. trouble is brewing under the surface-- its not despair, but Junko would be thrilled.

this is where the forshadowing in chapter 6 starts to become fully realized.

while taka's dad has always been a shithead about not only his own son, but also chihiro, taichi has had enough of it while theyre out getting some air and a few people are smoking. there is a large and serious old man fight. Taichi, by making Takaki KO, objectively wins, but not without doing some serious damage to himself.

taka is absolutely THRILLed that his father got his ass handed to him. he aslo does not visit his dad. fuck that. "Taichi Fujisaki got in a fight with my father because he said me, chihiro and jataro should all die by our own hands? the only reason i would be mad at mr fujisaki at this point is if my father isnt dead from this fight. Taichi is more my father than that man is."

taichi is visited by his son, his sons girlfriend (who is weathering an engagement ring in her pocket), and his sons girlfriend's butler in the hospital ward. Taichi Fujisaki as a very clear brand mark on his back between his shoulderblades- one that is extremely old and must have been seared into him in his youth-- and it says "Togami" in Kanji. Chihrio is confused, Polaris is frozen in fear, and Pennysworth is yelling a name neither of them recognize, but Taichi visibily shrinks to.

FUN BACKSTORY TIME OF HOW TAICHI FUJISAKI ESCAPED BEING A TOGAMI, CHANGED HIS IDENTITY, TOOK THE CASH AND RAN!! ("and that, chihiro, is why your mom always joked about extra broccoli." "you convinced mom that those kanji meant ADD BROCCOLI?!" "she couldnt read kanji and you never saw my back!! It worked out fine! unitl now, I guess--")

suddenly polaris doesnt feel so good about the engagement ring in her pocket-- even if in any other culture it is absolutely not weird to marry your estranged step-grand-cousin. Pennysworth is just thrilled to see his first Togami child again. Polaris thinks shes going to be sick over it, has a panic attack-- actually, much worse- a psychotic break. brought on by trauma. she's cold and snappy, and demands to not be called Polaris, "that girl is dead and has been dead for years. My name is Byakuya Togami, damnit!" Chihiro's in actual shock.

MEANWHILE!!! Jataro has finally been confident enough to be taking his mask off, and has gone for his first physical. He makes mention of what he knows about his mother-- and says right out that he killed her. He only knows her as one "Jean Mullen. but Mullen's a stupid name, So i said i dint have one and Junko helped me pick Kemuri." He mentions that if his real father is out there after having left his birthgiver for dead, he's angry, and if he were to meet him in his current state, Jataro feels confident he could kill him, too. Hajime is the doctor running this; and the name seems familiar to him, but he's not quite sure. he runs blood tests against every person he has in the system. and hajime is about to have to give the worst news of his life. but not before jataro shows them exactly where the dead, frozen body of his mom is.

Taichi Fujisaki had a tall, red-headed wife named "Gwendolyn Jeanette Mullen-Fujisaki". Chihiro and Jataro get along more like an older brother to a much younger sibling. Gwen had a horrible habit of verbally, and very occasionally physically, lashing out if she was denied her coping mechanisms. During the end of the world- the last thing she did was make love to her husband one last time! She did not know she would get pregant. or survive to see the baby born. or even get to know if her husband and son were alive!! so face to face in the end of the world with this terrible little infant who looked exactly the way chihiro should have? she became a terrible, terrible mother.

a now dead terrible single mother. who taichi and chihiro have to confirm the indentity of. Jataro does not understand why chihiro is having such a meltdown. "Polaris" is FURIOUS that not only was she never actually the sole heir(ess?) - this now discovered branch of her family is the Fujisakis and they've got a whole BUNCH of weird shit going on!!!!

Chihiro and Taichi privately talk with Jataro's therapist. he works through it because he's old enough (15) to realize and recognize that "hey, i didnt know I would have been concieved at the same time this horrible, world changing event happened, and my dad didn't walk out because my mom sucked- my dad didnt walk out at all! my dad got kidnapped!! and now he's right here with my older brother!!! and my ... step mom step cousin sister in law??? Where's Miss Polaris, anyways?" "........ sister in law?!" "did she pussy out" "excuse me!?!"

"Byakuya" runs from the situation. ends up staying for a little bit in the same building (now very well renovated) where Kazuichi passed. Chihiro stays with Gundam and Sonia to try to ease the hurt of the past two weeks, where Polaris has been distant and cold with him, even forgetting and seeming much more like the man she was at hopes peak to her classmates than the woman he knows and loves

taka pulls the plug on his dad, who has sustained enough injuries that Taka can finally justify it. Takaki goads and eggs Taka into doing it the whole time-- heavy on the sarcasm; and Taka doesn't understand, just knows it hurts and is in a tone that other hurtful words have been delivered by. "go ahead!! you want daddy to save you all this damn time?! do it! you fuckin wont let me!" --Some people are not worth saving. He cries to mondo about it, how he didnt know he could do such a thing, that if his father was worth saving, why would he be? Mondo comes tothe conclusion that sometimes, saving someone is the bravest thing you really can do. sometimes, you're really lucky if someone else you love will look out for you. sometimes- the bravest and strongest way to save yourself, is to sacrifice a life that hurts you like no other. "he left you a legacy- that doesnt mean you gotta do soemthing stupid to get yourself to not take it. sometimes, you just have to say no, n leave it behind."

Syoko, well healed and still on the mend, getting information about what's going on with her old flame from her kid and her three weird "brothers"-- go out and find Byakuya. exactly where she thought they'd be.

"youre not supposed to be here. God why are you so ancient?!" "you looked in a mirror lately? plus this isnt foundation property and You need some serious help" ".. when did i get breasts?!" "five years ago." "how long have we been out of that school?!!" "about 7 or 8 years." "Why are you the rational one here, you're a serial killer!!" "formerly, yes. turns out that seven or eight years of therapy 5 days a week does wonders for hurt little kids who have to dissociate to be able to cope with the terrible things that were forced upon them" "..." "like being an adult too early, being sexually assulated multiple times, physical and emotional abuse, no friends, scars that serve as physical reminders-" "stop talking like you know me." "I was only talking about myself. if you saw you in those statements, thats not something I can control." "... I dont recognize the people I'm with." "yeah, that was another common one." "..what about suddenly showing up places you dont remember going?" "... yeah. that one too." "... I wanna go home, Touko." "End of the world, White Knight! Home is where ever you want it to be now. Where the heart is, as some novels would have you believe." "... can we hug?" "Not a single fucking chance in the world dipshit, I still know where arteries are and i WILL stab you if you try. I also have no desire to go anywhere near foundation grounds." ".. you can come back. you're... clearly doing much better." "are you going to remember you said that?" "likely not. I also dont remember how to get back." "how about I bring you back and i talk to your shrink?" "perhaps the best idea."

Polaris gets therapy for bigger and more pervasive issues, part 2 electric boogaloo. Her family becomes real, and central, and loves and cares about her. it's not a contest, anymore.

She goes to finally propose to chihiro. chihiro beats her to it out on the same date. they laugh about the rings.

everyone lives happily ever after.

[dogboyboyshorts]

OK NOW TIME FOR SOME SPLAIN'N

so the reason i haven't been on for the past... two months? is because i gave myself a rule about logging back on. see i had been reading clive barker's books of blood, the first volume, and while i did enjoy it, it was taking a bit so i was like ok. how about im not allowed to open tumblr until i finish this book (and at that point, the last two stories were "sex, death, and starshine" and "in the hills, the cities"). and i procrastinated on finishing it. for TWO MONTHS. but im back now! and im glad i took the time off because i had a great time and it was really helpful for clearing my head of brainrot

for the next week, maybe two weeks, idk maybe less, im just gonna be on like normal, but after that im going to try to finish at least one short story in-between log-ons. so im planning on getting the second volume of books of blood, and then once im done with all of those im moving onto jorge luis borges. hopefully this means my usage will be spaced out enough that i wont get turbo brainrot, and hopefully this will also incentivize me to read more since ive been struggling with that all year. so if i disappear again, dont worry! im just likely just procrastinating and am probably having a great time in the real world. or just on other sites besides this one, lol

i realized i mentioned i've been on pinterest, but i also realized i forgot to link my username! you can find me on pinterest here and on reddit here, and if ive been offline on tumblr for a while, you can probably contact me through there if you wanna check up on me.

STUFF IVE BEEN DOING:

over the period i was absent i managed to get cast in, rehearse for, and then perform a one-act play at my local theater over two weekends! as you can imagine our schedule was pretty tight, but i think we managed to pull it off really well considering everything. ive also been taking some classes that have been super duper interesting and i wont say too much cuz i dont want to dox myself, but i have been learning some rudimentary asl and its very enriching for a poor little boy such as me.

comic books! after exactly a year away i went back to the original joe kelly run of deadpool, and lo and behold it was just as great as people said it was! besides that im making my way through the utterly massive chris claremont run of x-men comics, with the help of some handy omnibuses i've acquired online. be prepared for nightcrawlerposting. i literally started the series because i thought he was cute and im so glad i did. and im also reading doom patrol!!!!!! im nearly done with grant morrison's run (i have like five issues left??? crazy) and then im gonna be moving on to the rachel pollack run, and after that, im skipping right to the gerard way run!

IN THE FUTURE

its october now which means im going to try to watch all the horror movies i didnt last year. and we're also coming up on one year of genocide so i want to be able to help at least somewhat, at least a little bit more than i already have been. ill be making a separate post for this but im planning on opening a few donation commission slots, maybe five, maybe just three. ive been struggling to output anything artwise so i hope drawing something for someone else can make that easier for me.

anyway, good to see everyone again! here's hoping things turn out okay for all of us. brace yourselves for a tumult of fandomposting after this message, ive been itching to dive back into the tagsearch for too long!

HEY GUYS HI

OK!!! HELLO!!!! YES IVE BEEN DOING FINE ITS GOOD TO SEE YOU. IM GOING TO CHECK MY NOTIFS REAL QUICK AND THEN ILL GIVE AN EXPLANATION

[passerine-writes]

Kirishima Eijirou x Depressed!Fem!Reader

Title: Red Ink? Genre: Angst with a fluff ending Warnings: Reader and Kiri are second years, Reader has history of s*lf h*arm please read with caution for it is heavily talked about in this one shot, negative and intrusive thoughts Word count: 5000

Quirk: Water Manipulation - Can control any state of water and manipulate its form how you like, including it's temperature. Drawing from a natural source like grass or the air takes more time and endurance.

Drawbacks: Fatigue, dehydration, in severe cases on quirk overuse it can induce something similar to an asthma attack

SOULMATE AU! IN WHICH WHEN YOU TURN SIXTEEN YOU CAN WRITE TO YOUR SOULMATE ON YOUR SKIN!

I carefully slid on my hero suit before training, so far I've tried writing to my soulmate but have gotten no response. Maybe I'm just one of the few unlucky ones who doesn't have a soulmate.

Yeah because who would want you as a soulmate? Nobody wants to be stuck with you.

I shook the thoughts from my head as I went out to the training grounds. Half of the girls leaving around the same time as me and everyone else already out there. I tried to use my (h/l) (h/c) strands of hair. My suit was long sleeved and skin tight in (f/c) with dark grey accent lines. A utility belt holding emergency water pouches resting on my waist, a face mask similar to Shinsou's, a new boy in our class from class C, and black combat boots that went up to the middle of my shin. It was getting to be a little later in the year along with a little colder, October just a few days away. This also meant my suit would be exchanged for my winter one, the only difference being I would have a hood to shield me from the elements (similar to Amajiki's hood for his hero suit). All Might started announcing who would be fighting who.

I have to go against Bakugou. I'm gonna die.

Good.

I shook the thought of death out of my head. First up was Tsu against Midoriya. This definitely wasn't a fair fight. My attention turned to a conversation as I heard Kaminari ask a question insanely loud.

"Dude! What happened to your arm? Your soulmate writes in red ink?" I took a step forward from where I stood in the back, intrigued but confused by the electric blonds statement. "Looks like tally's! Maybe they're tallying the days since their birthday and they know who you are!" I caught a small glance at Kirishima's arm, seeing dark red lines along with smeared illegible ink, paralleling to my own from last night. My stomach dropped and I tried to turn my attention back to the second fight that was now starting. The creeping anxiety filled my body and coursed through my veins, I didn't even realize I was picking at my fingers until YaoMomo came over and grabbed my hand. The motherly gesture warming my heart.

"Are you alright, L/N?"

"Yeah just nervous for my fight." I only half lied, I was nervous to go against the hothead of the class. I didn't exactly want to get pummeled by the hedgehog.

"You'll do fine! You two do have opposing quirks so it'll probably be dragged out a bit." I nodded in agreement as I stated at the screen, Shinsou and Iida's fight ending fairly quick so Iida didn't know when to stop trying to reprimand people.

"Hey Aquagirl!" I dropped my hands and took a step back as Bakugou got in my personal space. "We're next and you better give it your all! Don't even think about wimping out on me! Got that, extra?!"

"Just because I avoid conflict doesn't mean I'm going easy on you, Sparky. Take it down a notch." Kaminari laughed from across the screening room.

"HAAA? WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME! YOU USELESS EXTRA, ILL KILL YOU!"

Useless.

I could've told him that much.

"You keep saying you'll kill people and yet it's never happened. So if you don't mind, can we leave for our match now?" I turned around and made headway to the battle area, a new idea in mind.

The area was an open field area with a tree line barely twenty meters behind me. The ash blond stood in front of me and we both got into our fighting stances. On our teachers announcement. I flicked open one of my pouches and as soon as he said begin I released steam into the air as a mock smoke screen and dashed into the trees, climbing one and perching on a branch out of sight. I quickly got to work and dissipated the steam, using a singular stream to slip inside of his right gauntlet, extracting his sweat, not even bothering with the left. From the last three battles he hadn't used them so I only needed the one. I made a circle around him in the grass, he stood in place whipping his head around in search of where I could have disappeared. The tree wasn't insanely high so once I was done I jumped down silently and stood in front of the tree line.

"Hey Sparky." His head whipped towards me, a sinister grin on his face. "Boom." His eyes went wide as I turned up the temperature as fast as possible. The circle exploding around him, the circle wasn't too close to him but he could definitely feel the heat and no longer see. I pulled a large amount of water from the near by stream and used it to put out any fire and freeze his feet in place. I went around to stand behind him and landed a solid kick to his back, sending him down to his knees. I dug one of my own into his back, quickly taking his wrists and holding them above my knee.

"Hey Aquagirl, what was it you said? Oh right." One of his hands managed to bend and grab my mid thigh. "Boom." He sent an explosion off, searing the skin and making me fly off of him and landing on my back a good eight or so feet away.

He used his explosions to melt the ice tethering him down as I got back on one leg, the material around the charred part of my suit gone, barely exposing my fresh scars from yesterday that now burned and reopened. Thankfully he shot me towards the stream, now not needing to rely on my small emergency water supply. I smiled and put water armor around my body, the liquid stinging my leg but the adrenaline pumping through my veins helped me ignore it.

Eventually I lost and had to be taken to Recovery Girl. All Might tried getting me to have someone go with me but I declined and hobbled down myself. At least that was the plan until I completely fainted from fatigue.

I opened my eyes and saw the hospital styled room, Recovery Girl was sitting at her desk and I saw a certain red head sitting in one of the guest chairs. At first glance, I saw a bandage on my leg and panicked before remembering the fight until all that anxiety came rushing back. The heart monitor sounds picking up alerting the two of my consciousness.

"Hello dearie. I see you've woken up, how are you feeling?"

"I'm.. okay. Tired but okay. How did I get here?"

"Well, that young man over there carried you here after you fainted. Broke your fall and everything. The school day ended just about half an hour ago. Young man, would you mind waiting outside so she can get changed?" He gave us his signature sharky smile with a nod before he went into the hall. She handed me my school uniform and I silently thanked her. "I've seen a lot in my time so don't think I didn't notice your other injuries. Now my quirk might not help mental illness but I've been told I can be a good listener." I grimaced and my heart filled with shame, she used an extra bit of her quirk to heal up my self made injuries. "Alright now, you get changed and head on home. Make sure you rest."

"Thank you." She smiled and shut the curtains. I slid out of my hero suit and back into my uniform, mentally groaning that you could see the bandage past my skirt. I stood up and folded my now damaged costume.

"You leave that old thing here, I'll have Power Loader come down and grab it. You come back tomorrow so I can finish up that leg of yours. Bandage will be gone then too." I nodded once and bowed before walking out to the hallway, Kirishima propped against the wall on his phone.

"Hey, L/N! Bakugou did quite the number on you, are you feeling okay?"

"Y-Yeah, thanks for carrying me here. You didn't have to wait for me y’know?"

"I know but it wouldn't have been manly. Plus I brought you your stuff from class."

"Thank you." I'm sure my face was bright red comparing to his hair.

"It was no problem." Without looking I could almost guarantee he was smiling. I kept my head down and grabbed my stuff from his arms, taking note of the red lines now gone as he didn't wear his blazer. We started our walk out of the school and towards the dorms.

He’s my soulmate?

No, I don't have one.

But his birthday isn't for a few weeks.

What if he is?

It doesn't matter he won't want me anyways.

I'm just useless.

Worthless.

A disappointment.

"Your leg looked pretty bad, I'm sorry he went so hard on you, he sees you as an equal and after that fight I can see why. You're quick on your feet and resourceful, plus a really skilled fighter." I looked away as I blushed harder.

"Thank you. You're really good too, you'll be a great hero." I stole a glance in his direction, a bright smile on his face at the small compliment.

"Yeah, it's just hard without having a flashy quirk." I tilted my head in confusion. "Well, it's just, Bakugou, Midoriya, Todoroki, you, most of the class, you all have strong and noticeable quirks. It stands out in some way and sometimes I- I don't know, I don't really feel like I belong here."

"You made it into class A on your own, clearly you deserve to be here. And well, look at Aizawa, he doesn't have a flashy quirk but he has helped a lot of people."

"I guess you're right, thank you L/N." I hummed in acknowledgment as we walked into the dorms. Everyone in the common room shooting out of their seats and asking if I was alright. That was before a certain blond walked up.

"Hey Aquagirl!" I shrunk under his brass nature, I'm not one for conflict or confrontation. I don't go out of my way to look for it, I will speak my mind when I want but the feeling that comes with speaking up isn't worth it. The anxiety rushing through my veins unsettling. "The hell did you do? Stealing my explosions like that!"

"Yeah! How did you do that!" Mina asked in her bubbly tone. The whole class joining in curious, Midoriya already having his notebook out.

"I meant to ask you on our walk here, that was super manly! So bad ass!" I tried to form my words under everyone's expecting stares.

"You shouldn't go around telling the class how your blasters work, Sparky. I slipped a little water in one of them and took out all of your sweat. I can control the temperature of water, sweat is water based. I turned it up fast and well, boom." He started stomping towards me but Kirishima put a hand on his chest to hold him back. I took the opportunity to slip up the my room, very few noticing as I got into the elevator. A breath of relief escaping me as I went to my room and slept the night away.

——————

Two and a half weeks passed by and it was now a Friday, just a day before Kirishima's birthday. Everyone staying up until midnight to wish him a happy birthday and watch him write to his soulmate for the first time. All of the girls secretly hoping to have him as theirs. The clock read that it was just a little of an hour shy of midnight and I sat in my room bandaging my arm and thighs, the itch I couldn't scratch any other way more persistent than normal the last few days. I sluggishly tossed on a long sleeve shirt and oversized sweatpants before making my way downstairs. Mina made it clear that everyone had to be down in the common area by eleven, to ensure we would all be there. Tokoyami, Koda and I all meeting in the elevator at the same time, clearly none of us enjoying parties.

"Dude it's so weird that you just had little red drip marks going down your arm! Do you think they have a cat or something!" I bit my cheek at Kaminari's voice, his soulmate, Shinsou, trying his hardest to calm the boy down before Iida karate chopped him with his incessant hand motions.

"It's probably just a cat or maybe they get nosebleeds?"

"Maybe, I don't know man. But do you think it could be someone in class or at school?" A light pink dusted his cheeks at Sero's question.

"I hope so." Kirishima had a small smile on his face.

I caught Shinsou staring off into space, a look of skepticism and what looked to be concern floating in his eyes as he kept a hand on Kaminari's waist. I fidgeted with my fingers as I went to the kitchen, already overwhelmed with the theories and my thoughts.

He won't even like you.

Not in that way.

How could he like you? You two have barely spoken one on one.

He'll just be let down.

He likes someone else.

The only things you're good at doing is hurting yourself and letting people down.

I tried to ignore the growing thoughts as my eyes started to water. I looked through the fridge and grabbed one of my (f/d), hoping it would quell some of the growing anxiety.

"Hiding in the kitchen?" A deep, monotoned voice asked.

"Guilty." I hoisted myself up on the counter top as I looked at Shinsou as he took a seat next to me. "Gatherings and stuff aren't really my thing."

"Me neither, but why are you hiding in here? All of the girls are waiting to see if red's gonna be their soulmate. Why not you?" I bit my cheek again and cracked open the bottle of my drink. "Unless you already have one and haven’t said anything." My eyes slightly widened but I tried not to be too fazed visually. Internally, I was freaking out. "So, who's the lucky person?"

Lucky? That's funny.

Nobody would be lucky to have me.

I shrugged my shoulders, feigning the truth and trying to avoid his questions. His eyes narrowed on mine.

"Are they in the class?" My body went rigid and that was answer enough for him. "It's red, isn't it?" I swallowed my drink but felt as thought I just spent three days in the Sahara Desert with no water with how dry my mouth ran at his fact.

"Please don't tell him." He cocked an eyebrow at me.

"Not my place to, but you've had months to tell him, why wait?" I shook my head. "You know, the rest of the class might be oblivious or brush it off as something less scary, but your scars aren't gonna scare the kid off." My lip trembled and tears welled back in my eyes. "You need someone to bandage you up, my doors always open. I've been there before and trust me, it's easier when you have someone in your corner." My head shot to him precariously. "You heard me, not saying it again. I got my share of problems too and Denki-" A soft sigh with a smile passed his lips. "The annoying blond still loves me through it all. Kirishima's not going anywhere. Takes a lot to break him, his quirk is literally Hardening." I laughed at his true sarcasm. "Okay, we've hidden in here long enough. Let's get this over with." I nodded lightly.

"You go, I'll be there in a sec." He stuck his hands in his pockets and nodded. "And Shinsou?" He looked back towards me. "Thanks." He nodded once and left the kitchen. I hopped off the counter and exhaled, trying to calm my racing thoughts. Before I could talk myself out of it, I grabbed a pen and pulled up my sleeve, quickly jotting the words down before I turned back.

Happy Birthday.

I pushed my sleeve back down and tossed the pen aside and made my way back to the living room. One minute to go.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Everyone shouted, I stayed in the background watching contently.

"C’mon lover boy, write to them!" Mina squealed out and shoved a pen at his chest. He laughed in amusement and took the pen. His face contorting in multiple emotions as he read my message. But at the end a small smile was on his face and that was enough for me. After the event, I went back to my room as did everyone else for the most part. Smiling lightly when I felt a tingling sensation on my arm.

Thank you! But how did you know it was my birthday?

We go to the same school, heard some people in my class talking about it.

It's nice finally being able to talk to you.

I like being able to finally write back and having you see it.

A small smile tugged at my lips as I stared at his messy hand writing.

Stop it.

Once he knows it's you he'll never talk to you again.

Well it's nice being able to see it now. If memory serves me right, you're name is Kirishima?

Yeah! But you can call me Eijirou, what's your name?

I bit my lip, my grip tightening on my pen. Half of me was blushing at the fact I had been granted permission but the other half utterly terrified of him knowing who I am.

I'm afraid that's a secret for now, Eijirou.

Well whenever it's not a secret, I'd like to meet you.

This is probably gonna sound weird. But are you a girl or a guy? I know you're keeping yourself a secret but I want to know if who was right, my friends made a bet because I'm bisexual.

I laughed gingerly as I could practically picture Kaminari and Sero betting on who was right.

Well let whoever won know that I'm a girl.

Will do.

It's getting kinda late, I'll talk to you later?

Okay, goodnight :)

Good night :)

——————

I've kept my identity secret from him for a month, all of our late night conversations, all the good mornings and good nights I woke up and fell asleep with made me feel something. And Mina just had to have the bright idea to draw on his hand because of our blazers covering our arms. I anxiously walked to the cafeteria as fast as I could, hoping that he wouldn't notice but of course, Kaminari had to point it out. Very loudly might I add.

"L/N? L/N! Wait up!" I heard the red heads voice from down the hallway, his thundering steps catching up to me in seconds. He stood in front of me for a second before pulling me into a hug. His strong arms wrapping around my shoulders, my weak, trembling ones meekly wrapping around his waist. "Can we talk?" I bit my lip and nodded, the rest of the Bakusquad minus the pomeranian himself cheering. I looked back at the noise and saw Shinsou giving me a look basically screaming now or never. He grabbed my smaller hand in his and guided me to an empty classroom, my stomach doing flips from the anxiety coursing through my body.

He's just gonna reject you.

Don't get your hopes up idiot.

You're useless and weak.

He's strong and dependable.

The click of the door closing brought me out of my thoughts. He dropped my hand and I sat on one of the desks, swinging my feet to try and let out some of my nerves.

"You're my soulmate?" His voice was quiet as he stood in front of me. I held my hands in my lap and nodded, trying to will away the tears in my eyes as my head hung. "Why didn't you tell me?" I was silent as I tried to find the right words. "Do you, not want me as a soulmate?" He sounded so fragile and scared, my head shot up to look at him as I furiously shook my head.

"That's not it at all." Without thinking, I reached out and grabbed his hand with my designed one. "I- I was scared." My words came out weak. His face scrunched in confusion. The scar on his eye wrinkling a little, I found the expression adorable.

"How long have you known?" My heart relaxed, he took one look at my face and knew I wasn't ready to talk about it.

"Since Bakugou and I's training fight. W-We had the same smeared words on our arms." He nodded. Clearly not fully believing my answer but leaving it there.

"What were you so scared of?" I bit my lip as I fought on how to word it. His free hand came up and cupped my face, subconsciously I leaned into his warmth. His thumb untucked my lip before returning and dancing across my cheekbone. "Take your time." My face went bright red and I'm sure he could see and feel it before he brought his hand back down to his side.

"At your birthday party, I heard Sero ask if you thought it could be someone in class or at the school. I saw you blush and smile as you thought and I could tell you liked someone but I knew it wasn't me so I didn't want you to feel obligated to have anything to do with me romantically if you didn't want to." Half the story but it's something, right? His thumb and forefinger came up and gently gripped my chin, angling me head up to look at him.

"I was blushing because of you. I've liked you way before I knew we were soulmates but I was never manly enough to say anything. This whole time, I was hoping it was you."

"But I'm me." My eyebrows scrunched together.

"Exactly. You're you." My face stayed contorted at his words. "Will you be my girlfriend?" My eyes darted back up to his.

This isn't real.

Stop getting your hopes up.

He's just gonna leave you.

He doesn't care.

Pushing my thoughts away for a moment, I quickly nodded my head, his sharky grin going on full display.

God his smile.

My red face got worse as he placed a quick kiss on my forehead, right between my eyebrows where they were still slightly knitted. My whole body went aflame and relaxed at the simple action of affection.

"Let's go to lunch." He took a step back and laced our fingers together once I hopped down off the desk. Our hands stayed locked together as we went to his table, him insisting I sat with him for today. We came back with our trays of food and I sat between him and Shinsou.

"Told ya so." The indigo haired boy whispered to me.

"Doesn’t know everything." I whispered back, he gave me a look and I tried to shrug it off, instead turning my attention back to my boyfriend.

——————

The itching feeling is back, without Eijirou writing to me as much, the need to relapse barreled towards me at full force after almost a month. I could go talk to him, or Shinsou, even if I don't actually talk.

You'll just be a burden like always.

Just give in.

Who's going to care about you of all people?

Just do it.

Weak.

Useless.

Disgusting.

Burden.

Tears welled in my eyes and I went to my bathroom, knowing what I had to do. The salty liquid pouring down my face.

As I bandaged my arm, I felt the familiar tingly feeling on the other. I lifted the sleeve to reveal Eijirou's messy kanji.

Hey are you okay? I saw red drip things.

Please answer, Y/N.

Guilt invaded my body at a rapid pace and I went back to my room to find a pen somewhere on my desk. As I went to start writing, a knock sounded at my door. I pulled the sleeves of my hoodie down and walked to the giant door. I cracked it open to reveal an antsy Eijirou. Once opened all the way, the red head almost lunged as he pulled me into a hug, the two of us stumbling into my room. His arms tight around my waist and my arms went up to his shoulders, I suppressed a wince from the fresh wounds. He lightly kicked the door shut behind him and pulled us to my bed, sitting us down in front of each other. My lamp providing a decent amount of light, as he studied my puffy red eyes and tear streaked face.

"What happened? That wasn't the first time it happened but it's been almost two months." I wanted to explain everything, word vomit it all but I couldn't, I couldn't bring him into my spiraling hole of self destruction, the bright red lines on his arms proving that currently. My lip quivered as more tears threatened to spill. With a feather light touch he grabbed my injured arm and slowly started moving the sleeve up, waiting for any indication of him to stop. His body froze as he felt the bandage before he saw it, gingerly pulling the sleeve up above it. His eyes darted around the faded scars on my skin before looking back at me. "What happened, Princess? Did you-" I cut him off with a nod as the tears finally spilled. His hands moving to cup my face, calloused thumbs wiping away the watery assault on my face.

Disgusting.

He hates you now.

You caused this.

You're selfish and only break things.

You don't deserve him.

He deserves better.

Pathetic.

You waste of space.

"Pebble, talk to me. Please. I'm not going anywhere." His eyes darted between my own.

"I'm sorry." My voice broke as I spoke.

His warm hands moved to my short clad thighs and pulled me into his lap, my legs straddling his waist. My arms immediately wrapped around his shoulders, my head falling to the nape of his neck as I silently cried. His thumbs rubbing circles on the exposed flesh of my thighs, slowing down and feeling the old, healed scars.

"Baby, there’s no need to apologize. I got you. I'm right here." I held him tighter at his reassuring words. His constant sentiments and presence pacified me to a calmer state and eventually stopped my tears. "How long has this been going on for?" I bit my lip, contemplating my answer. He leaned back and moved one hand to cup my face, untucking my lip with his thumb just like the day we got together. "You don't have to rush, take your time."

"Third year of middle school." His face dropped a little.

You keep fucking things up.

Why is he still here?

"Can I see them?" My eyebrows furrowed a bit. "I want to see every time I wasn't there for you when you needed someone. To help this not happen again." I contemplated it and hesitantly nodded my head.

His hands moved and slowly pushed up the other sleeve. His eyes flickering over every fading line he could find. Tears pooling in his eyes that dared to fall. His eyes glanced down at my thighs, silently asking for permission. I took a breath but nodded. Warm hands moving once again, sliding up the hem of my shorts just a little. The first tear fell, dropping onto the uneven surface that he was quick to wipe off before moving to the next leg. Another tear fell, this time catching on his shirt.

"What can I do to help?" He looked up at me, hoping I would have an answer for him.

"When you write, it helps. It feels warm and tingly but in a good way, and then seeing whatever you say always makes me smile." I cupped his face this time, wiping the stray tears away as he looked at me intently.

He leaned in and pressed a loving kiss to my lips, my heart erupting with fireworks. My first kiss. Our first kiss together. All too soon he pulled away with an idea flittering in his eyes. He leaned over and grabbed a pen, I quickly felt the warm tingles dancing around on my skin. The sensation lulling me into a small state of serenity. He smiled at me and waited patiently for me to look. Glancing down at my arm, I saw three simple words that made my heart soar.

I love you.

I practically lunged at the two inches between our chests to grab the pen. The ballpoint coated in ink rolling across the divots in my skin.

I love you too.

He took the pen and wrote it again, and again. The two of us taking turns until our arms were full of the phrases.

"I love you." I whispered.

"I love you too."

[deans-baby-momma]

Wounded Hearts 2

Summary: When John Winchester leaves his two high school-aged sons in a motel in Fairfax, IN while he goes off on a hunt, they both make friends. What happens after they have to suddenly leave when John comes to fetch them. Will those friendships endure? Does Dean leave a piece of his soul behind?

Word Count: 3,408

A/N: This is a sequel to Past Haunts, but it’s mostly what happened in the thirteen years between high school and when Sam and Dean return to take care of a haunting in their old stomping grounds of Truman High. The first couple of chapters will be mainly Dean’s POV and then after that, each chapter will switch from Dean’s POV to Rebecca’s POV. I will label them appropriately.

Rebecca’s POV

The walk home is kind of uncomfortable. My crotch is sensitive and tender and these jeans are not helping at all. I think over what just happened. I just gave my virginity to Dean Winchester. The boy who came out of nowhere and walked the school halls like he owned the place. I briefly thought about how just last week he was all about Amanda Heckling,  the popular girl, the head cheerleader. Had he fucked her too? They had seemed hot and heavy for a minute but then, just as quickly as he showed up, they were over and he was proclaiming to the halls that he was a hero. Had he taken Amanda's virginity too? 

I shake my head and huff a laugh. No way was Amanda Heckerling a virgin. Not since freshman year at least.  She had been caught with her pants down, literally, with Justin Scott in her bedroom. So, no Dean definitely hadn't taken Amanda's innocence. 

As soon as I get home I rush to the bedroom to change out of my- now damp from the remnants of what had transpired between me and Dean- panties. Thankfully it's just my cum filling my underwear; Dean had wrapped it up before he fucked me.

I change quickly, wadding my ruined panties into a ball and stuffing them to the bottom of the hamper. My mom yells that dinner is ready and I pause, taking a breath and praying that neither she nor dad can sense the change in me. I'm no longer their innocent little girl but a woman, an adult capable of safely fornicating.

I can feel their stares,  hear their whispers as I walk to my locker. Does everyone know? Are all my classmates aware that I am no longer pure  and virginal Rebecca Quentin. Do they know that I oh so easily gave it up to Dean Winchester? Or am I just imagining it all?

I grab my books and sign in then take my regular seat in Mrs. Meadows' English Lit class. My heart is pounding in my ears,  knowing that shortly Dean would walk through the door.  Would he sit beside me, like he did Amanda? Would he ask me to be his girlfriend? I mean, we've already done the deed so that's the next step, right? Ok, so our steps are a little misconstrued but so what?

I hear him before I see him, his heavy army-style boots stomping down the hallway. As soon as he enters the room, my breath catches in my throat. I'd always thought Dean was good-looking but now? Damn is he sexy as hell! I can't help but turn away to hide the blush on my face as I remember his touch and how it felt to have him inside me. My heart drops as he passes by the empty desk beside me to take his seat at the back of the room. Dammit, maybe it wasn't as special to him as it had been to me. Maybe he was used to defiling girls and then acting as if they didn't exist.  As Mrs. Meadows calls for attention I vow to confront him at lunch. Hopefully we can have a quiet discussion and not cause a scene.

By the time the bell rings for lunch, I am a nervous wreck. The more I thought about it, the less I wanted to address the obvious elephant in the school. Dean Winchester conned his way into my pants; pretending to be a gentleman and noble when in all reality he was a fraud, a hustler. Watching him with his little brother yesterday, how he had made sure Sam was well-fed and taken care of had to have been a ruse! Just a way to get me to let my guard down and then he struck when that window of opportunity opened; like a snake,  a conniving devious snake. 

Deciding I can't civilly accost Dean, I make my way to the vending machines. I'll just go to the motel after school and talk to him then. I just hope he hasn't duped his next victim there. That's what I feel like; a victim, a casualty of the trickster that is Dean Winchester. I scan the lunchroom as I enter but see no sign of Dean or his brother Sam. I sigh in relief as I don't think I could handle being ignored again. I sit at a table in the corner and open my bags of chips. 

The rest of my classes were dull and lackluster. I just couldn't concentrate on anything any of my teachers were saying. The concept that Dean was ignoring and avoiding me was breaking me, was breaking my heart and soul. I wanted to know why. Why did he choose me? Why did he have to defile what could have been an incredible friendship? Maybe even a wonderful and dare I say loving relationship. Did getting the privilege of saying he slept with me mean more to him than that? The more I thought about it, the angrier I got until I had furiously scribbled a hole into the paper on my desk. I was going to that motel after school and finding out!

When the last bell sounds, I gather my books and head to my locker. I look morosely at locker #214, the one Dean had been assigned. It was only a few down from mine. I hadn't seen him all day; not since he so openly ignored me during first period. It is painfully obvious he was avoiding me. Well I am going to put a stop to that. I march out of the building and head down the same path we had walked yesterday, straight to the place it all went downhill,  room 7 at the Motel Monroe.

A few hours later

I knock on the door and wait. And the longer I wait, the more upset I get. How dare Dean ignore and avoid me and act like I don't exist in his world. Yesterday, he acted as if he made me believe he was interested in being my friend, if not more and today I'm nobody? 

I'm not a nobody. I get perfect grades and in less than a year I will be moving away, going to college and in a few short years graduate with a master's in psychology and on my way to becoming one of the best behavioral counselors in the country.  I have plans and dreams; I'm not just some girl to pass the time with. 

After a few minutes and another knock, there is still no answer. I step to the window to see inside but the curtain is closed tight. 'Oh no you don't, Dean Winchester,' I think silently. 'You are not hiding from me. We are going to hash this out like adults.' I walked toward the manager's office to find out if there is a way to get him to open the door. Instead I find devastating news when the manager tells me, "They cleared out about 3 hours ago."

I walk away from the motel,  the place I lost my virginity in with tears threatening to roll down my face. Will I ever see him again?

Eight weeks later

Time is a fickle thing. Some days it seems to rush by while others it seems to just stand still and turn stagnant. 

After finding out that the Winchesters had left town, I turned my attention back to my studies. I only had a few more months until I'd be graduating high school and moving on to bigger, brighter things. 

Thanksgiving had come and gone and now we are all hurtling toward Christmas and the almost two weeks off from school. The whole school is abuzz with excitement and enthusiasm for the break. Me? I am just going through the motions. I had gotten ill a few days ago, puking my guts up and just feeling horrible. Whatever it is, I wish it would just run its course already. I am tired of feeling weak and feeble. 

Today is the school's last day before Christmas break and I was just looking forward to being able to lay around and let the flu or pneumonia or whatever gets its claws into me. Something grabs my attention and I look at the calendar hanging beside my desk. A big old red circle is around the 4th, the day I should've started my period. I grab the calendar and turn it back to November and see another big red circle. Two months. Two missed periods. And I know that they are missed because every time I start I always draw a line through the circle and these two circles have no lines.  What the hell? I try to remember having my period in November but I am coming up blank. The last period I remember was in October,  the first part of October.  I remember because it was right after my Mom's birthday. I turn the page and yep, October 5th has a circle with a line through it. So why didn't I mark through November's and December's? I scan through the month of October and my eyes land on the 14th. 

The day I spent with the Winchesters, the day I lost my virginity to Dean, the day that…..oh fuck. Oh god no!

At school, I can’t concentrate on anything. My calculus teacher calls on me and I don’t hear her. The words ‘I’m pregnant’ keep repeating over and over in my head. I can’t be pregnant. I only had sex once. But once is all it takes, I tell myself. 

I get through the rest of the day, barely, and by the time the last bell rings I am a nervous wreck. I know what I need to do. I have to go to the pharmacy and buy a test. But everyone knows everyone in this town and I know old Mrs. Wilson will tell my parents that she sold me a pregnancy test. 

Walking into the drugstore I am praying and hoping that Mrs. Wilson possibly has the day off and someone else is working her shift but no such luck. As soon as I walk in she sees me and smiles. I return the smile and walk down the farthest aisle from the one I need.  As I trek slowly through the store, pretending that I am looking at different things, I come up with a plan. I’ll just take one off the shelves and ask to use the bathroom. 

When I get to the correct aisle I feel overwhelmed. There are so many! Different brands, different processes. I find one that looks easy enough; what is more easier than just peeing on a stick? Stuffing the box in my bag, I head toward the front of the store, grabbing a package of maxi pads on my way.

“Hello Rebecca,” Mrs. Wilson greets me. “How are you today?”

“Hi Mrs. Wilson. I’m good. Listen, is there anyway I can, uh...use the facilities here?” I ask as I show her the maxi pads. She nods in understanding and points me toward the bathroom.

I quickly shut and lock the door and lean against it, taking a breath. ‘Come on Rebecca. You can do this.’ I think to myself. ‘It might even be negative. Could be something completely different wrong with me.’

I pull the box out of my bag and step toward the toilet. I know I don’t have that much time before Mrs. Wilson comes to check on me. Pulling the test out of the box, I quickly read the directions. 

1. Pee on stick

2. Wait 5 minutes.

3. Two lines means pregnant; one line means not pregnant.

Ok simple enough. I do as instructed and place the stick on the sink. This is going to be the longest five minutes in history!

How can something so inconsequential as a piece of plastic change your whole life? Plastic is nothing but synthetic polymers that can be molded into whatever is needed. In this instance, this piece of plastic was sculpted into a thin white stick with a window on the end. And in that window was life-altering news. Two pink lines. 

I stare at the test for what seemed like forever. I’m pregnant. I am only a few months away from turning 18, graduating high school and going off to college. Yet, here I am carrying Dean Winchester’s illegitimate child. I place my hand on my still flat stomach and look in the mirror. “I’m pregnant,” I whisper to my reflection. I didn’t even realize I am crying until I see the tears streaming down my face.

Hearing Mrs. Wilson heading my way, I hurry and wipe my face clean and pick up the positive test, sticking it in my pocket. I open the package of pads and take one out and cram the unused one into the bottom of the trash can. At least, that way it will look like I used one and not raise any suspicions with the old busybody.

After paying for the one item I won’t be needing for a while, I leave the store and head home. How am I going to tell my parents that I’m pregnant? Of course they're going to want to know everything. Well, maybe not everything. They know how babies are made, they have me after all. But they are going to ask a million questions. Who’s the father? Where is he now? Does he know? Is he going to be a man and step up? I only know the answer to one of those. Dean Winchester is the father. That’s all I know. He used me and then up and disappeared the very next day.

I get home and am relieved that both my parents aren’t home yet. I have a few more minutes to come to terms with the fact of my situation myself. I run upstairs to my room and fall onto my bed, burying my face in the pillow. While I am alone, I decide to go ahead and get it out. The anger, the frustration, the heartache. 

I am 17 years old, a senior in high school and pregnant by a boy who split in no time afterwards. The tears come instantaneously. How am I going to be able to fulfill my dream of going to college and becoming a psychologist? I can’t be raising a kid while going through years of study at Harvard to get my bachelor’s plus an internship. By the time I’d be done with all that my child is going to be at least 10 years old.

Damn him! Damn him and his boyish charms and his mesmerizing green eyes and his sexy as hell body. 

“Damn you Dean Winchester! I hate you. I wish I’d never met you,” I scream into the fluffy cushion. “I hope wherever you are that your dick falls off and you can’t do this to some other poor girl!”

Fuck, is all I can think. How many girls had he done this to? How many illegitimate babies did he have? He had said his family traveled a lot so there were probably girls all over who were pregnant or had bared his offspring. 

"Fuck," I sigh. "If I get an STD because of him I'll hunt him down and kill him," I growled. I begin punching the pillow, pretending it is Dean’s face. I can’t believe him. How dare he take advantage of me like that!

But then I realize, he didn’t take advantage; I clearly gave him exactly what he wanted. ‘Dumbass! I am such a dumbass. I walked right into his trap and didn’t even understand what I was getting into. I was so dumbfounded and surprised that he wanted to talk to and hang out with me that I just followed him along like a lost puppy. And then I gave him the one thing that I could never get back. All because of a few words and some attention. How much of an idiot am I?’

Shaking my head at my stupidity I head to the bathroom to clean off my face and get prepared to confess to my parents. They are going to be so disappointed in me. It’s going to break their hearts. I’ve been talking about going to Harvard and becoming a psychologist since I was in middle school and now that is just a pipe dream. It won’t ever come true now. 

I don’t have much of an appetite so I just push my food around on my plate. I feel bad about it because Mom had rushed home from work and went straight to cooking and now my stomach is all twisted up and I can’t eat.  It looks like they are about to be finished with their dinner so I decided no better time than the present.

“Mom? Dad?” I begin. “We need to talk.”

“What is it sweetie?” My dad says as he gets up to put his plate in the sink. “Did you get a C in class or something?” he turns back to the table with a jesting grin on his face. “You know you don’t have to be completely perfect in everything.”

Mom and Dad have been telling me for years that I was pushing myself too hard. That it doesn't matter to them if I get straight A’s or not as long as I don’t fail. But I wanted to prove to them, and myself, that I could. And so far I had; I am only a few credits shy of graduating high school with honors. 

“Oh, I’m not perfect,” I tell him, looking down at my hands in my lap. “Far from it actually. I-uh-I have some not so good news. You might even call it upsetting news.” 

My parents both look at me, perplexed. Mom speaks up first, “What is it Rebecca? Are you dying? Do you have cancer or something?” 

Leave it up to Mom to think about a worse-case scenerio. Of course in her mind, the most distressing would be that I only had a few months to live. Which, in this case, it’s kinda true. A few more months and life as I know it is over.

I pull the positive pregnancy test out of my hoodie pocket and lay it in the middle of the table. Clear as day, anyone can see what it is. My dad suddenly sits down and puts his head in his hands and Mom…well, Mom stands up, looks at me with pity and walks out of the dining room. A few minutes later, I hear their bedroom door slam shut. 

The commotion brings Dad out of his stupor and he looks up at me. “How did this happen, Rebecca?” I quirk an eyebrow at him at the absurdity of his question. “I mean, I know how it happened. When?”

“Back in October. I hung out with this guy and his little brother and we watched a movie and ate pizza and popcorn. After the movie was over, his brother wanted to go to the arcade and it left me and Dean in the room, alone. One thing just led to another.” I finish with a shrug of my shoulders.

And just like I assumed, Dad begins badgering me with questions. “Who is he? Does he know about the baby yet? Is he going to step up and take care of it and you?”

I sigh before I answer. “His name is Dean. Dean Winchester. No, he doesn’t know and probably never will. He and his brother were staying in the motel across town while their dad was working. He’s gone now. Left the day after. I don’t know how to get in touch with him.”

Dad and I sat there in silence after I told him about Dean and how he was no longer around. I can see the steps of processing Dad is going through on his face. At first he is angry, livid even. Then he is just mad. But what breaks my heart is when my dad looks at me and all I can see is disappointment. 

I feel like such a failure. I failed my parents and myself the moment I allowed Dean to come into my life. The moment I had sex with him. 

@lostinaseaoffictionalbliss @spnbaby-67 @tftumblin @sea040561 @delightfullykrispypeach @larajadeschmidt13 @atc74 @vicariouslythruspn @squirrelnotsam  @sandlee44 @blacktithe7 @hoboal87 @mogaruke @deanwanddamons @supraveng @deandreamernp @akshi8278 @lyarr24 @markofdean79 @travelingriversideblues-x @akshi8278 @keymology  @natura1phenomenon​ @drakelover78​ 

[ellewritesathing]

Infernal  -  III

Summary: In your sleepy little town of Greendale, nothing ever slept for long. And ever since October, everything felt like it was waking up. Everything except for you, that is. One teensy trip to Hell (and an infuriatingly cute guy) later and suddenly you felt wide awake.

Word-count: 3.1k+

Masterlist Prev. | Part 3

A/N: things are starting to heat up guys! thank you for sticking around with me 💕 before we start i just want to say that there’ll be way more caliban in the next part (promise)!!

For once, your dad left the house on his own and left you with the perfect opportunity to go through his desk. You never used to snoop, but he never used to give you a reason to. He was getting worse and you needed to find out what ‘worse’ was. 

The desk was scattered with notes and notes about the lunar cycle and ley lines, some too messy for you to make out. He’d charted a map that looked eerily familiar with ley lines in black ink on top. Messy colors illustrated how the power ebbed and flowed with the moon throughout the town. 

You were about to shove this stack back into one of the drawers when something caught your eye. An old, crumpled up map of Greendale sandwiched between other drawings in the stack. You laid the Greendale map above your dad’s map for Delilah’s home town. They looked exactly the same. 

A note was scrawled on top of the Greendale map and you squinted to make it out. Met Kali in June. Some scribbles underneath that you assumed were the timeline of their relationship, the last date entered was your birthday. Kali never returns.

Your phone rang out in your pocket and you jumped. Swearing and fumbling to silence it with one hand while trying to put the papers back into their stack with the other, you eventually got everything back to normal. Heart rate not included.

“Hey, where are you?” Roz asked. “I thought we were going to see what’s up with the carnival after school.” 

“Crap, that was today?” you asked. You rubbed your forehead and sighed.

“Uh, yeah. That’s what we said at lunch,” she said slowly. You could hear her shifting on the other end of the phone. “Were you even paying attention? You seemed pretty spaced out.”

“I’ve just had a lot going on at the moment,” you said. It wasn’t technically a lie, but you knew Roz could pick up on your uncertainty. “You guys go ahead and I’ll meet up with you some other time.”

“Okay, well, are you coming to band practice later?” she asked after a few seconds. 

“Of course,” you said. “I’ll leave now so I don’t forget again.” 

“Right,” Roz said, clearly unimpressed by your attempt at a joke. 

Hanging up and closing the door on the mystery that was your father, you started getting some things together so you could head over to Harvey’s. There was a book lying on your bed with a sticky note on the cover. You peeled back the sticky note (Thought you might enjoy this one!) to see Shakespeare's The Tempest in swirling letters. You put it, some homework, and the book you’d borrowed from the Spellman’s into your backpack. 

After what you considered a valiant effort at your homework in Harvey’s garage, you started leafing through the witchcraft book. It went into great detail about all manners of topics that were largely useless to you at that time. Sighing and putting it back into your backpack, you took out The Tempest. You only managed to get through the first few pages before Harvey and Theo hurried in, carrying Roz between them. 

“Woah, what happened to her?” you asked, getting up and leaving the book on your chair. 

“We don’t know,” Theo rushed out. “She went into one of the tents at the carnival and something happened.” 

“Lie her down,” you said. You grabbed a blanket and covered Roz in it; she was shaking so badly that you weren’t sure she’d ever get warm again. The thought sent goosebumps up your skin.

“We should take her to the hospital,” Theo said, still visibly freaked out as he watched you with Roz.

“Come on, Theo, you know whatever happened to her is … it’s magic-related,” Harvey said. He turned his attention back to Roz. “Roz, can you tell us what happened to you?”

Roz struggled through the cold to form words, but they didn’t seem to be making any noise. “Get Sa … Sabrina,” she forced out.

“She’s right,” Theo said. “Sabrina would know what to do.” 

“Okay, you guys stay here. I’ll go get her,” Harvey said, already getting up and running out the door. 

You and Theo shared an anxious look before he tucked the blankets a bit tighter around Roz. You went to find a heating pack and anything else to raise her temperature while he stayed with her. The two of you tried everything you could think of but nothing seemed to warm her up, not even the magick blanket that Harvey brought with him when he came back. 

“Roz, maybe if you moved around, it would help warm you up,” Theo suggested as gently as he could. 

He stopped pacing long enough to say, “She can’t! She can’t move,” and to receive one of the harshest glares you’d ever given him. 

“He’s trying to help,” you said, each word sounding like its own sentence as you continued to glare at him. This wasn’t Theo’s fault, and Harvey didn’t get the monopoly on being concerned for Roz. 

“I know! I just-” Harvey sighed and rubbed his face. “I’m not sitting around and waiting for Sabrina. We have to do something before it’s too late.” 

“What are we gonna do, Harvey?” you asked. “Because the last time I checked, none of us have magical powers, which means we can’t cure a magical illness.”

He picked up a shotgun from the wall and turned back to look at you. “Maybe we can’t, but the people from the carnival can.” 

“Are you insane or just-”

Your yelling was cut off by Harvey running out the door, shotgun in hand. Theo got up, either to go with him or stop him but you held out a hand to stop him. 

“Oh no, you’re not going anywhere,” you said, words sounding more forceful than you meant them to. “You’re going to sit there and help me take care of her.”

You thought he’d argue but instead, Theo just blinked at you twice and sank back into his seat. You took a breath and then started pacing to help you think. Harvey came back sometime later, and Roz turned to stone sometime after that. Eventually, you managed to get ahold of Sabrina. 

She basically said that there was nothing you guys could do until she managed to get her powers back. You considered using Caliban’s magick necklace to ask him to help, but Sabrina promised that Ambrose was already researching how to reverse the transformation before you could even mention the necklace. 

All the three of you could do was watch over Roz, stay together and, please, keep away from the carnival. The pagans, she said, were dangerous.

Sabrina’s warning did little (or nothing) to deter Harvey from going to the carnival with the reinforcements of the baseball team while you went to get the group some food and Theo checked on Robin. You’d gotten a frantic call from Theo about the boys being turned to pigs and to come help corral them.

After a long night, you now sat with Theo, Robin, and Harvey, slumped against his couch and covered in mud after corralling the newly-transformed baseball pigs into Theo’s barn. Getting all the pigs and cursing Harvey to heaven and back had really taken it out of you. 

“I’m never eating bacon again,” Theo said eventually. You would have laughed if you weren’t so tired. A moment of silence passed as he looked between you and Harvey. Can I tell him? The two of you gave him a nod and he continued, “Robin, there’s a few things you need to know about Greendale.” 

Robin sat up and told him to wait. He was always nervous but now he seemed even worse. “Let me go first,” he said. “There’s some things I need to tell you … all of you.” 

You and Harvey looked at each other before Robin explained. He was a hobgoblin, taken in by the pagans. He rushed out that he didn’t believe in the same things as them and that he wanted to leave them but … he didn’t know how. After some yelling, the four of you took a breath and made a decision. 

Robin was one of you now. 

“Where have you guys been?” Sabrina asked when she finally showed up again. All of you scrambled to your feet at the sound of her voice. “You look like-”

“We were in the mud,” Harvey cut her off. “Where have you been?”

“All over. Things have been a little crazy,” Sabrina said. 

“The baseball players got turned into pigs,” Theo said. 

“What?” she asked. 

“Harvey got in his head to send a message,” you said, sending him a pointed look. “He took Billy and Carl to the carnival.” 

Deciding it was his turn to talk again, Harvey jumped in. “And this woman, some kind of witch-”

“Circe,” Robin said. 

“-turned Billy and Carl and Martin and Eric into pigs,” Harvey said. “They’re in Theo’s barn.”

“And Robin’s one of ‘em,” Theo finished. 

Sabrina was more appalled than you expected by the revelation. Robin had to go through his whole explanation again, this time sounding even more frayed, and it broke your heart. He didn’t want to be a part of the Green Man’s resurrection. He just wanted to be a teenager. 

“And when exactly is this resurrection supposed to happen?” Sabrina asked.

“Uh,  when the Green Man’s head scrapes the sky and the ripe fruit falls from his arms,” Robin answered. 

“So I’m guessing that means we’ve got time to save Roz and figure this whole mess out,” you said, taking a breath and moving your hair out of your face. 

“Yeah, but how are we supposed to do that?” Harvey asked. “Sabrina doesn’t have any powers.”

In an all too familiar way, a voice from the side caught your attention. “Perhaps I can help,” Caliban offered from the doorway. He caught your eye and seemed ready to make some quip about the mud, but Harvey was too quick. 

“What the hell is he doing here?” he asked. 

You shoved aside the defensiveness you felt for Caliban at that moment and acted like you couldn’t care less about his presence … after making sure that the necklace hadn’t fallen into view and was still safely hidden away behind your muddy clothes. 

“Caliban, if this is about the third challenge-” Sabrina started.

“I came to make a proposal, away from the Courts of Hell,” Caliban cut her off, taking his eyes off you long enough to look at her. “If my queen were to entertain it, I would, in turn, help your friend.”

“What kind of proposal?” you asked, at the same time Sabrina asked, “What do you know about turning someone from stone to flesh?” 

“I’m made of clay,” Caliban said to her. Explained the cheekbones, not that you’d ever tell him that. Then he looked at you and added, “I’m afraid I can’t discuss official business, love.”

“Start talking about how you’re gonna fix Roz,” you said, taking slow deliberate steps towards him. You poked his chest when you were close enough “Or get the hell out.” 

Caliban’s eyebrows knitted together slightly as ran his right thumb across his lip, seemingly deciding what he thought of your more direct approach, before speaking. “There’s a spell, a Pygmalion spell, that will turn her back into flesh.” 

“Do you know it?” Sabrina asked from behind you.

“Not by heart, no. I’d have to find it,” Caliban said, leaning slightly to look at her. “If you came with me, I could outline my proposal.” 

“Sabrina, if he can fix Roz-” 

“Fine, I’ll do it,” Sabrina said. She walked around you and out the door, turning back to tell Caliban to follow her.

The two of them disappeared in unholy hellfire, not completely unlike what you were feeling on the inside. You knew he only wanted the crown - that he only wanted Sabrina - so why were you so upset that he was keeping this proposal such a secret? 

“I should go,” you said, trying to cover up the acid in your voice as you turned to face your friends. “I’ve got a paper due tomorrow.” 

“We should go, too,” Theo said, taking Robin’s hand in his. 

“Wait, you guys can’t all just leave,” Harvey argued. 

“Harvey, we’ll be back first thing in the morning, okay?” you promised, trying to sound more benevolent than you felt. “Or sooner if Sabrina and Caliban get back before then.”

---

In all fairness, you did try to get down that paper after you showered. The problem was that that blonde asshole was there every time you closed your eyes, pulling you in with his pretty smile before pushing you away when he got bored. Slamming all the books shut, you went downstairs to get something to eat. 

You found your dad in the living room when you went down, passed out in front of the TV. You covered him in a blanket and went to mope in the kitchen, but someone knocked on the door before you could make it there. After an overly dramatic sigh, you went to check who it was. 

“Mrs. Wardwell? It’s like 11pm. What are you-” you stopped when she got this sinister look in her smile. “Lilith. What do you want?” 

“Sabrina let The Dark Lord out of his cage,” she said, sounding like she was trying very hard to remain cold and detached as she always did. The flippancy gave her away. “I need asylum.” 

“Asylum,” you repeated slowly, closing the door slightly in an attempt to block her view of the rest of the house. “Wouldn’t the coven be better suited for that me?” 

“Going to witches without power is like putting on sunscreen after you’ve already been burned. Useless,” Lilith said, emphasis on the burned. “Besides, this is a matter best handled by family.”

“Listen, I think you’ve got the wrong-” 

“Kali?” your dad’s tired voice asked behind you. You hadn’t heard him get up. “Kali, I thought that was you.” 

Lilith said your dad’s name with an emotion you didn’t think she was capable of as she crossed the threshold. Maybe she was a better actress than you gave her credit for. “I think it’s time we had our first family meeting, don’t you?” she asked, setting her bags down. “We have much to discuss.” 

You didn’t have the opportunity to argue before your dad went to make tea and Lilith settled into the corner. You knew the last place she wanted to be was sitting at your cramped Ikea table, but she seemed perfectly content to be there. Trying to figure out her angle, you sized her up and skulked closer.

“Okay, are either of you going to explain what the hell is going on?” you asked after five minutes of silence. 

“Y/N,” your dad scolded as he turned around. “Language.” 

“I don’t really think you have the moral high-ground here,” you said, crossing your arms over your chest. 

“The moral high-ground,” Lilith said slowly before shaking her head, as if trying the words on and then deciding they weren’t for her. “Nevermind that, let’s cut to the chase. You’re familiar with your friend Rosalind’s cunning?” You nodded. “Your father has something similar. When I visited Earth to negotiate with Edward Spellman, he found me.” 

“I didn’t mean to,” your dad said, sounding dreamy again. You wondered if he’d remember this in the morning, or if he’d snap back to consciousness when he dropped the teacup in his hands. “I was just drawn to this place, you know? And then when I met Kali, I knew the reason why.” 

Lilith didn’t seem nearly as enamored with your dad as he did with her. You tried to keep your voice even as you drew your eyes off of her and to your dad. “And what was the reason?” 

“Kali is the mother of all demons,” he said, sounding like this was something he’d already explained to you before. “She needed an heir. Someone to claim the throne.” 

It felt like someone had punched you. Years spent searching for something more and this was what you got. Your father’s sickening warning during one of his fits ran through your thoughts: Careful what you wish for, little lily. Something more, something less. Always something, something, something. How long until something eats you whole?

“Someone like Sabrina?” you asked, trying to recover. 

“With a little help from your mother …” Lilith said in a tempting voice, “You could be every bit as powerful as Sabrina. Perhaps even more so, since you don’t seem to share her affinity for bad decision making.” 

“What makes you think I’d want anything from you?” you asked, ignoring the quip about decision making. Screw her for thinking she knew you.

“Y/N,” your dad scolded again. 

“You might not want anything from me, but you do want the power,” Lilith said, leaning back in her chair to get a better look at you. She’d never seen you angry before, did she like it? Did you care? “Something more than this simple life. I can give that to you.”

You bit the inside of your cheek before trying to answer. You didn’t know how to respond, so you asked another question instead. “If I’m supposed to be some heir then why are you only here now?”  

“Truthfully, I was hoping I would never have to come here at all,” Lilith said, taking a dramatic inhale. “I would only need you if something went wrong, and believe it or not I didn’t want to involve you if I didn’t have to.” 

“I believe it just fine,” you said, tone snipping at the end. “Abandoning your backup so you could plan a coop doesn’t make you a martyr.” Before she could respond, your phone rang. Your dad looked ready to tell you to put it away when Lilith held up a hand to stop him. Hesitantly, you picked it up. “What’s wrong, Harvey?” 

“Can you meet us at the school?” he asked, sounding rushed. “Sabrina’s got the spell and-” 

“Listen, things are a little crazy right now,” you said, drawing out the words so you could come up with an excuse and repress the anger you felt. “Can I call you-”

“Go,” your dad said, louder than Harvey’s insistent whining in your ear. Lilith shrugged. “Go help your friends.” 

“I-” you took a breath and pinched the bridge of your nose. “I’ll be right there. Wait for me.”

Part 4

Tag List: @peachesandknives  @caliban-is-my-girl  @t-a-i-l-o-r-m-a-d-e  @music-movies  @miss--moose  @marrypuffsstuff  @harryscarolina  @igorsbby  @foji2000  @mschfavngz  @artaxerxesthegreat  @thxmagic  @luquincy  @peachesandknifes  @xealia  @hotmessindisguise

[max-iwtaco]

[october 2022] yo.........

analyzing my own drawings under the cut cuz its my blog i do whatever i want

/i use all pronouns so ill be jumping between they she and he. ratio of each pronoun in this post is not the same ratio i actually prefer for myself or my sona/

its mostly very similar and the only two things that look "off" in the old art for are the lashes and shape of her hair

lashes are kinda easy cuz i dont actually like presenting too femme for too long w/o any masc elements to counter that and theres lashes consistently. idk why and also i havent done that ever since i dont think

and hair now goes up first for some reason?? also it changed in the literally the first drawing i did after the mspaint doodles (the second drawing [end of 2022])

that change also made the whole shape to be more trapezoid-like (aka WRONG)

theyre supposed to be triangle + circle* and trapezoid is very square</3 im not gonna change it now cuz i like the way it looks but i might make em more square+triangle instead (will also help w making them less thin)

it also made the hair look less ear like WHICH IS SUCH A SHAME ok heres some me lore

[first half of 2022]

so originally he just fully had animal hears that turned into hair later when i was simplifying them. the idea was that its just ears that look like hair (or hair that looks like ears)! and it actually was like that for some time

also clothes were exclusively based of off stuff i was wearing to school regularly (the blue shirt over a tee. i still have it!). same with the haircut and pimples/other weird dots on my face but that ended quickly:

[summer 2022 // late 2022]

aaaand then i got comfortable. she shirt eventually came off too

[early 2023 // mid 2023 // early autumn 2023]

to be fair i wasnt drawing myself much until recently (Gray fixed me everybody say thank you Gray) so the way she looks wasn't as consistent and i was kinda bullsitting it every time. hell a third of these files are labeled "redesign" or something similar

its still inconsistent but THIS TIME its on purpose, with the major things such as hair shape, body, tail if i remember about it being the same and minor such as body/facial hair, lashes, tits, bra strap appearing and disappearing (epic transgender moment)

fun that of all things the wolf nose, sharp teeth and the black shirt are the things that have been consistent for a while. and now cargo shorts are coming back too loll

makes me wonder what will happen next. will i keep the collar? how will the clothes change? the shapes? will i finally start drawing them with their tail? i dont know and its so exiting!!!

uh idk my name is max im an artist, a gender and a wolf. my sona has been reflecting that tru a good chunk of my life now look at this sick drawing i made in 2022

______________________

*for those who know nothing about character design, there's three shapes with which you design a character: circle square and triangle. they mean different things and are used to convey character's personality visually, for example square is seen as stable strong and static so if you're making a character like that it would make sense to use more square-like shapes

it doesnt always means square circle and triangle literally and more that bright dynamic character is going to have more sharp edges and a fast character is going to have lots of curves which is why i said that trapesiod is more of a a square

having too many different shapes on a character might make them a little confusing to look at so people usually choose one and build character of off that, i like to also have a secondary shape to make it easier for myself

there's this good vid that touches on the topic more

______________________

also fun little things i find interesting:

my art got messier where it needs to! it meand im getting better :]

even though ive always been a beast ive just recently started drawing blood and gore (and my sona reflects it)

i got more gender

its been years and there wasnt a consistent face shape for any period of time

i got more uncomfortable-looking lmao

more weird and creepy too

barks at you. bark at me back if you read the whole thing

oh the homestuck influence.....

awtizm creature

goddamn its been over a year since i started drawing myself like that

[papermoonloveslucy]

THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER

March 27, 1950

"The Man Who Came To Dinner” was a presentation of Lux Radio Theatre, broadcast on CBS Radio on March  27, 1950.

The Man Who Came to Dinner is a comedy in three by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. It debuted on October 16, 1939, at the Music Box Theatre in New York City, where it ran until 1941, closing after 739 performances. It then enjoyed a number of New York and London revivals. 

The play was adapted for a 1942 feature film, scripted by Philip G. Epstein and Julius J. Epstein and directed by William Keighley. The film featured Monty Woolley, Bette Davis, Ann Sheridan, Billie Burke, Jimmy Durante, Mary Wickes and Richard Travis. 

“The Man Who Came to Dinner” was previously presented on radio by Philip Morris Playhouse on July 10, 1942. Monty Woolley, who played the leading role in the film version, starred in the adaptation. It was broadcast again by Theatre Guild on the Air on ABC Radio November 17, 1946 starring Fred Allen. In 1949, “The Man Who Came to Dinner” was produced on “The Hotpoint Holiday Hour” starring Charles Boyer, Jack Benny, Gene Kelly, Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, and Rosalind Russell. 

On October 13, 1954, a 60-minute adaptation was aired on the CBS Television series “The Best of Broadway.”  A “Hallmark Hall of Fame” production was broadcast n November 29, 1972 starring Orson Welles, Lee Remick (Maggie Cutler), Joan Collins (Lorraine Sheldon), Don Knotts (Dr. Bradley), and Marty Feldman (Banjo). The 2000 Broadway revival was broadcast by PBS on October 7, 2000, three days after the New York production closed, and was also released on DVD.

Synopsis ~ The story is set in the small town of Mesalia, Ohio in the weeks leading to Christmas in the late 1930s. The outlandish radio wit Sheridan Whiteside is invited to dine at the house of the well-to-do factory owner Ernest Stanley and his family. But before Whiteside can enter the house, he slips on a patch of ice outside the Stanleys' front door and injures his hip. Confined to the Stanleys' home in a wheelchair, Whiteside and his retinue of show business friends turn the Stanley home upside down!  But is he really injured? 

This adaptation was written by S.H. Barnett. The characters eliminated for this adaptation include Richard Stanley, John, Mrs. Dexter, and Mrs. McCutcheon.

The show is hosted by William Keighley, who directed the 1942 film adaptation.

Lux Radio Theatre (1935-55) was a radio anthology series that adapted Broadway plays during its first two seasons before it began adapting films (”Lux Presents Hollywood”). These hour-long radio programs were performed live before studio audiences in Los Angeles. The series became the most popular dramatic anthology series on radio, broadcast for more than 20 years and continued on television as the Lux Video Theatre through most of the 1950s. The primary sponsor of the show was Unilever through its Lux Soap brand.

CAST

Lucille Ball (Maggie Cutler) was born on August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York. She began her screen career in 1933 and was known in Hollywood as ‘Queen of the B’s’ due to her many appearances in ‘B’ movies. “My Favorite Husband” eventually led to the creation of “I Love Lucy,” a television situation comedy in which she co-starred with her real-life husband, Latin bandleader Desi Arnaz. The program was phenomenally successful, allowing the couple to purchase what was once RKO Studios, re-naming it Desilu. When the show ended in 1960 (in an hour-long format known as “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”) so did Lucy and Desi’s marriage. In 1962, hoping to keep Desilu financially solvent, Lucy returned to the sitcom format with “The Lucy Show,” which lasted six seasons. She followed that with a similar sitcom “Here’s Lucy” co-starring with her real-life children, Lucie and Desi Jr., as well as Gale Gordon, who had joined the cast of “The Lucy Show” during season two. Before her death in 1989, Lucy made one more attempt at a sitcom with “Life With Lucy,” also with Gordon.

Clifton Webb (Sheridan Whiteside) had appeared with Lucille Ball in the 1946 film The Dark Corner. He was nominated for three Oscars. Webb had played the role of Sheridan Whiteside on stage for two years.

Eleanor Audley (Mrs. Stanley) appeared in several episodes of Lucille Ball’s “My Favorite Husband” as mother-in-law Letitia Cooper. Audley was first seen with Lucille Ball as Mrs. Spaulding, the first owner of the Ricardo’s Westport home in “Lucy Wants to Move to the Country” (ILL S6;E15). She returned to play one of the garden club judges in “Lucy Raises Tulips” (ILL S6;E26). Audley appeared one last time with Lucille Ball in a “Lucy Saves Milton Berle” (TLS S4;E13) in 1965.

Ruth Perrott (Sarah) played Katie the maid on Lucille Ball’s radio show “My Favorite Husband.” On “I Love Lucy” she played Mrs. Pomerantz in “Pioneer Women” (ILL S1;E25), was one of the member of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League in “Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress” (ILL S3;E3), and played a nurse when “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (ILL S2;E16).

Betty Lou Gerson is best remembered as the voice of Cruella De Ville in the original Disney film One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961).

Stephen Dunn had appeared with Lucille Ball in Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949). 

John Milton Kennedy (Announcer)

‘DINNER’ TRIVIA

The same date as this radio adaptation (March 27, 1950), original star Monty Wooley arrived in Vancouver to perform in the play. 

This broadcast aired the day after the “My Favorite Husband” episode “Liz’s Radio Script” also starring Lucille and Ruth Perrott. 

Lucille Ball’s good friend and frequent co-star Mary Wickes was typecast as a nurse due to her breakthrough role as Nurse Preen in the Broadway, film, and television versions of The Man Who Came To Dinner.’  She does not play Nurse Preen in this adaptation. The character is given the first name Geraldine. 

Lucille Ball previously appeared on “Lux Radio Theatre” for a November 10, 1947 adaptation of her film The Dark Corner (1946). 

The first commercial talks about how Lux soap is gentle on stockings, like those worn by Betty Grable in Wabash Avenue. 

The second commercial (between acts two and three) interviews actress Joan Miller, talking about the Warners picture Stage Fright, and how Lux helped keep the costumes looking great. 

In the post show interviews, Clifton Webb promotes his next film Cheaper By The Dozen.

The final Lux commercial talks about how movie star Hedy Lamarr uses Lux. 

The program presents a special address from president of the Red Cross, General George C. Marshall.  The American Red Cross was mentioned on “My Favorite Husband” and Red Cross posters were frequently scene decorating the sets on “I Love Lucy.”

The ending of radio’s “My Favorite Husband” episode “Mother-in-Law” (November 4, 1949) starring Lucille Ball is identical to the ending of The Man Who Came To Dinner.

In “Lucy and Viv Reminisce” (TLS S6;E16) on January 1, 1968, while nursing Lucy, who has a broken leg, Viv slips and also breaks her leg. She says she feels just like a female version of The Man Who Came To Dinner.

“Vivian Sues Lucy” (TLS S1;E10) on December 3, 1962 also has a plot that resembles The Man Who Came To Dinner. Viv injures herself due to Lucy’s careless housekeeping, and is bedridden. Lucy goes out of her way to cater to her every whim, so that she won’t sue! 

Although the play is fictional, it draws on real life figures and events for its inspiration. 

Sheridan Whiteside was modeled on Alexander Woollcott.

Beverly Carlton was modeled on Noël Coward.

Banjo was modeled on Harpo Marx, and there is a dialogue reference to his brothers Groucho and Chico. When Sheridan Whiteside talks to Banjo on the phone, he asks him, "How are Wackko and Sloppo?"

Professor Metz was based on Dr. Gustav Eckstein of Cincinnati (with cockroaches substituted for canaries), and Lorraine Sheldon was modeled after Gertrude Lawrence.

The character of Harriet Sedley, the alias of Harriet Stanley, is an homage to Lizzie Borden. The popular jump-rope rhyme immortalizing Borden is parodied in the play.

Radio critic Dick Diespecker was not exactly enthusiastic about this adaptation. 

The announcer reminds viewers that next week “Lux Radio Theatre” will present “Come To the Stable” starring Loretta Young and Hugh Marlowe

The announcer promotes Lucille Ball’s new picture Fancy Pants starring Bob Hope. 

[tillidontneedfantasy]

‘WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?’ - Billie Eilish REVIEW: Making ‘Em Bow One By One

WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?

An interesting question you pose there, Billie. When I fall asleep, I usually dream about being a part of the Harry Potter universe and trying to defeat Voldemort with the golden trio. But unfortunately, I don’t go there every night. I mean, believe me, fighting off The Dark Lord can be scary sometimes. But sometimes I go to even darker places, and it always takes a few moments when waking up to believe I’m really in my bed. Much of Billie Eilish’s debut album invites you into the dark parts of her subconscious, and sometimes her extreme consciousness, to which she goes. Of course, “asleep” could also be interpreted as, well, dead. Which is a nice way to phrase it. Ideal, really. How wonderful would it be if death was just an eternal nap? No one would ever be afraid to die.

Maybe that’s what Billie believes it is, and why she seems so desperate to go there on WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? (WWAFA,WDWG?) For a then-16-year-old girl, I wish she wasn’t so tired. “ilomilo,” “bury a friend” and most concerning, “listen before I go,” explore her friends who have been taken from her, and her desire to join them. I’m glad she hasn’t.

So is she. In a now traditional Vanity Fair video, Billie answers the same interview questions three years in a row, exactly a year apart. Expect The Fourth Year one October 18th, 2020. It is one of the most fascinating videos I have ever watched. Though the same at the core, there is a different version of Billie in each year. Which is to be expected, as she is a teenager in the limelight. But the video of year 2, which was around 5 months prior to WWAFA,WDWG?’s release, Billie openly admits to being in a very dark place, discussing how her friend had died. Her posture and affect are noticeably different in years 1 and 3. In the third and latest installment, Billie is an upgraded, happier and more comfortable version of the previous two. You can hear the change in her voice, see it in her face. In response to the question, “What’s most important to you right now?” her answer is, “Maintaining my happiness, which I have been experiencing for the first time in many years….I wanna stay happy. That’s a big goal for me.”

Billie Eilish is one of the biggest breakout stars of the past few years. Her following is enormous, and though fans vary in age, many of them fall in her cohort. Generation Z is special in many ways: morbidly funny, proudly outspoken, self-aware, and unafraid to be different. Billie Eilish is all of these things incarnate, the perfect spearhead for this generation and what they represent. She dresses how she wants to dress and makes the kind of music that she wants to make, refusing to follow the molded expectations of young up and coming female stars before her. In that music, she also does what very few artists, young or old, have ever done: candidly explores mental illness and suicidal ideation.

These issues have become more and more prevalent in today’s society, yet they are still extremely stigmatized. Like many teenagers, I experienced the sadness and darkness Billie is singing about. I’m almost 25 now, but I can imagine how 15-year-old Cass would feel hearing this album and seeing Billie as she is in the third year of that Vanity Fair interview. Understood. Not alone. And hopeful, hopeful that things get better. At that age you feel like everything is the end of the world, because it is developmentally and socially some of the most difficult years in the human experience. And to hear someone you look up to say, “I feel this way, too,” and then see them continue fighting, and happy that they did...that can change someone’s life.

Thankfully, Billie still injects some levity into the album. The musical hook in “bad guy” feels like a defining moment for Gen Z the way the musical hook in “Toxic” was for us Millennials. “all the good girls go to hell” unflinchingly decrees that God Is A Woman™, and “my strange addiction” has cuts from The Office, Eilish’s favorite show, interspersed throughout the song. Gen Z is taking over, and Billie’s one hell of a ringleader.

STRONGEST TRACK(S): “i love you,” “xanny”

The phrase “I love you” has never felt so intimate as it does coming from Billie’s mouth in the penultimate track on WWAFA,WDWG? Sandwiched between two tracks where all together they form a sentence (listen before I go, I love you, goodbye) "i love you" is the most mesmerizing and most vulnerable, not just of the three but of the whole album. As a listener, you are dying to know what's hidden between the lines. Why doesn't she want to love this person even though she clearly does? What did she do to make him cry? Why are you, the listener, crying right now? With the smallest breath, the quietest whisper, the emotion Eilish emits is enormous. Every once in a while you hear a song that you feel will never leave you, and “i love you” has all the makings to be everlasting.

As does the message in “xanny,” a dynamic song that mostly sounds like an old-time jazz track, although infuses a blaring noise over the chorus, as if you are standing right next to the booming stereo at the party setting in which she speaks. The layering of hums in the background and at the end of the song provides a necessary subtle softness, making it all the more beautiful. The track is a statement from Eilish that she has no interest in the lifestyle that so many kids her age- famous or not- lead, partly because she does not understand the appeal of its effects, and partly because she does not want to invest herself in someone willingly bringing harm upon themself, as she previously has. “I can’t afford to love someone who isn’t dying by mistake,” she asserts. Of course, most things in moderation are good and fine, but there is an ever-persistent pressure for young people to use substances, for easier social interactions or easier claim to desirable social status. There is a plethora of music out there promoting the party lifestyle, but very few saying, “hey, it’s okay if you’re not about this, you’re still cool,” and so a celebrity as big as Billie abstaining from it, and providing a reasonable explanation, gives a figure of understanding and solidarity to all the outliers.

WEAKEST TRACK: “8”

Not a bad song by any means, “8” is just the least memorable on an album filled with extremely intriguing and standout tracks. There is an interesting choice of vocal styles that alternate throughout, one of which it sounds as if Eilish is emulating the voice of a little girl. She is asking the subject to just give her some common courtesy and hear her out. "Who am I to be in love / when your love never is for me?" she asks, in the most compelling moment of the song. It is a difficult line to walk, knowing someone doesn't owe you anything but wanting them to anyway. Although the song is effective, its replay value doesn't quite match with the other contenders.

THE IN-BETWEENS

Although Eilish is authentic in her own right, you can see the draw of inspiration from unique artists before her. Lorde's imprint is all over "you should see me in a crown," a catchy song about ruling the world and making everyone bow down to her with the sound of a knife sharpening at the top, and “listen before i go” is reminiscent of Lana Del Rey’s morose romances. “when the party’s over,” written solely by Billie’s brother, collaborator, and best friend, Finneas O’Connell, is a beautifully quiet moment in the middle of the album, with absolutely gorgeous high notes from Billie. The song is succinct and poignant, noting the inner conflict between wanting a friend to be more than just that and yet feeling the need to keep up boundaries to protect your heart; but when has that done anyone any good?

BEST PROSPECTIVE SINGLE: “my strange addiction”

In the age of Netflix, The Office continues to grow in popularity with younger viewers who missed it on air. Who better to bolster the movement than Verified The Office super fan, Billie Eilish? In “my strange addiction,” Eilish and O’Connell draw inspiration from the classic episode, “Threat Level Midnight,” where Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) has finally finished his movie and is ready to premiere it to the office. In his movie, Scott’s character, Michael Scarn, teaches the entire bar how to do his signature dance, “The Scarn.” “No, Billie, I haven’t done that dance since my wife died!” the song begins, which is a real line from the episode. “my strange addiction” borrows from the track for “The Scarn,” which is simply genius. Everyone is doing “The Scarn,” fictional or nonfictional, even NFL player Trey Quinn, who did the famed routine for his touchdown dance. Not only will “my strange addiction” convert The Office fans to Billie Eilish fans, but just imagine the amount of TikToks there could be of people doing “The Scarn” to this song…think about the meme potential, Billie! *Ed Helms voice* There’s a whole crowd of people out there who need to learn how to do the “my strange addiction.”

                                                                   *****

Billie Eilish, and her debut album, WWAFA,WDWG? is impressive in a multitude of ways: she is raw, candid, silly, wildly intelligent, and most importantly, full of a lot of love, no matter how much she claims she does not want to be. Perhaps most impressive is that the only writers and producers credited on this album are Eilish and O’Connell, ages 18 and 22, respectively, at the time of this review, yet 17 and 21 at the time of its release, which means they were 16 and 20 at the time of writing and production. For two young people to create such an impactful album on such a massive scale on their own is a rarity, and has not been seen since the beginning of Taylor Swift’s career, and look at where she is now. Billie’s music might be different, but her trajectory seems quite similar. At Billboard’s Women in Music ceremony in December of 2019, Swift was honored with Woman of the Decade while Eilish was honored with Woman of the Year. Both artists paid homage to the other in their speeches, harkening back to Swift’s 2014 Woman of the Year speech where she alludes to a future Woman of the Year recipient learning piano and singing in choir; Swift had said back then that we need to take care of her, and Eilish tearfully thanked the room for doing just that. As Swift continues to fight against the system to pave the way for female artists, the clearing is all Billie’s. If Billie continues to maintain ownership of her voice, as I’m sure she will, it looks like the woman of the next decade is a lock. The crown looks great on Billie, and I cannot wait to see where she takes us while we’re all awake. Grade: 4.5/5

DISCLAIMER – REVIEWER’S BIAS: The first time I listened to WWAFA,WDWG? the only tracks that really captured my attention were “bad guy” and “my strange addiction.” I wanted to like it so bad, but I felt like I was missing something. Maybe that’s because I listened to the album at work and did not take it in properly. But I also felt like she was whispering too much, which made it difficult for me to stay interested. So I did not revisit it. However, over this past year, despite not listening to her music, I started to form a big-sister-type love for Billie, feeling as if I must protect her at all costs (any man over the age of like, 20, reading this: stay the fuck away from her you sickos!!!). I loved how she embraced her individuality and did whatever she wanted. I watched many interviews of her on YouTube (one being the Vanity Fair one, where she talks about how the criticism that she whispers a lot is hurtful yet true- Billie, I’m sorry!!) and found her to be so intelligent. To me, her and Taylor Swift (my number one love) are two sides of the same coin, or two paths to the same destination. What I mean by that is that as a lover of music and as a girl going through a difficult time, sometimes you need positivity to counteract the negative feelings, other times you need to lean into the sadness to release it all; though they both possess a bit of both, Taylor is more of the positive route, Billie more of the sad route. The thing is, you need both options. Billie reminds me of Taylor so much; she writes all of her own music (with her brother as her only co-writer), she has blown up at such a young and vulnerable age (if WWAFA,WDWG? wins AOTY at the Grammys, Billie will be the youngest ever recipient since Taylor won for Fearless at the age of 20), and she is committed to saying and doing what she wants to do the way she wants to do it. After listening to the album a few more times leading up to the Grammys to write this review, I get it. I truly get it. I’m sorry it took so long. And although her super soft vocals are definitely effective, I still want her to project more. The girl has a gorgeous voice; she should use it! But also she doesn’t need my advice, she’s doing fine. Keep whispering, baby girl. I feel very nervous for Billie, because when a woman reaches the top this quickly, everyone gets ready to push her off just as fast, and the fall can be fatal. But I believe in her ability to stand her ground. Please protect Billie at all costs!!!!

[wormssss]

so. basically. tl;dr i ffuucking hate school it sucks and it doesnt. do ANYTHING but make things worse . anyway.

the schooling system like. it sucks for me specifically in a few ways idk abt anyone else. for starters; neurodivergency literally at all makes it so hard to function in a classroom environment. its so loud? idk if anyone else gets that in their classrooms but you can hear my class of 23~ from the bottom floor of the 3 story building and that’s considered quiet. as well as like, i cannot function in a classroom without my friends? im out at school and like.... everyones.. transphobic obv why wouldnt they be, and its not in like a..any avoidable way. if i sit with the guys they’ll refuse to talk to me and deadname me all period adn if i sit with the girls theyll laugh at me every time i fucking breathe idk, but the school still thinks putting me in a classroom with kids that visibly hate me and see me as a CRINGE ENTERTAINMENT IRONY MACHINE is like a good idea? and a good way for me to make friends? i dont know if its my luck or if they’re deliberately doing it, but, next term for example i have drama and cooking as classes. two of my friends also have cooking ....but they dont have me in their class. they’re together. but im not in their class. im on my own because other than them and the girl who already did cooking these past two terms (so she cant do it next term) i have.... no other friends. so im definitely in a class of complete strangers! and the way they have this school, you have no choice but to work with someone else in a cooking class...... you are paired with someone in the same mini kitchen and its a disaster but i digress.

also, like. school goes for 6 hours. by the time you get home and get changed and get settled, its sunset so you can’t go out and do anything. you can’t go to the park or climb a tree. youre stuck inside. your family is like groggy from work or whatever and doesnt want to talk to you. you have no energy to get online and talk to your friends online. or theyre asleep. so basically at least for me i get... no time to actually talk to my friends, for example i havent had an actual conversation with piper in like... two months i swear. we’ve forgotten how to talk to eachother and that actually goes with all of my friends. by the weekend we’re still awkward because we havent spoken in months so we can’t really even talk. and because of this rigid like, routine you have to have to actually be able to go to school at all (wake up 7. eat. get dressed. go to school. come home. get changed. eat. shower. go to bed. repeat), i actually like.... find myself. forgetting Everything. i dont know what it is about strict routine where i cannot be myself (my school has a strict and ugly uniform), but it makes me ... completely forget everything slowly and my memory decays. my time blindness gets worse to the point where i dont know what month it is on a regular basis and like... i ditch a lot? because of this? maybe if the schedule didnt make me dissociate and forget everything i wouldnt ditch constantly and like. actually go to school. but like my attendance is... im not at school 25% of the time because i physically cannot go every single day and attend to that rigid and exact cycle that doesnt even teach me anything

doesnt even teach me anything? i dont ... learn anything from school. they like. reteach the same meaningless part of a subject every single year. every year in religious studies in october i learn about the rosary and we spend a lot of the period praying the rosary and i like. ok. cool. its a religious school yeah but what am i actually learning from this. and every year in social studies we learn abt the waitangi treaty but the way they teach it is so whitewashed and utopian and its fucked and they teach it the same way every year around the same time. and anzac day. and in math im not going to use any of those skills you teach me, i dont care about algebra or anything because thats not really going to actually help me in my life im an artist for fucks sake teach me about managing my own finances! teach me how to do taxes! teach me how to function in the society i live in! teach me the important things that ill sink under or die without knowing i want to actually know important things but by cramming so many unimportant things in my brain all the time i forget the actual important things, i fucking failed basic addition and subtraction last year, i’ve forgotten division and multiplication past the 10 times table, but i can vaguely read an algebra equasion BUT FUCKING ALGEBRA EQUASIONS WILL NEVER UFCKING GET ME ANYWJERE!!!!! and it makes me so fucking angry i want to learn and function and KNOW

and the way they tightly bundle everyone to being one conforming individual who dresses like everyone else, is at the same intelligence level as everyone else, is a catholic like everyone else, does not question authority as everyone else or does not question themselves like everyone else or think like anyone else OR BE DIFFERENT THAN ANYONE ELSE makes me want to FUCKING THROW UP. there are so many hopes and dreams that i remember watching from primary school to now sink into a hopeless pit of stereotypes and basic conformity, people who used to be nice are suffocated into being horrible people so that theyre liked by their peers or get anny attention from the school at all, guys who used to respect women (god forbid) suddenly becoming horrible to anyone of any slightly different gender identity but you can actually see on their face how weird it is to them, waves of 11-14 year olds getting nose studs that get infected and they’re forced to have them taken out by the school, kids trying to do their makeup to look like SOMEONE to BE AT ALL DIFFERENT FROM ANYONE ELSE are put right back in their place and told to take it all off and their parents are called and if youre caught with the wrong jacket your parents are called and youre told youre too poor to wear what the school provides yet THEY DONT EVEN LET YOU WEAR WHAT THE SCHOOL PROVIDES WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS 70 DOLLAR HOODIE FOR WHEN YOU WONT LET ME WEAR IT WHILE IM SHIVERING I DONT SEE THE POINT OF ENFORCING SUCH TIGHT POINTLESS SMALL BOUNDARIES OF WHAT A PERSON CAN BE WHY IS IT SO LIMITED? are we not allowed to do anything? you cant even have one strip of hair dye yet a teacher can have a full head of bright purple hair what’s that about? you can have antisemetic pins on your senior year blazer jacket but the second you put a pride pin on there youre called to the principals office and asked why youre promoting this to kids

you try a speech on trans rights and they dont even pass you and pretend its because you got over the time limit but you didnt, you timed it yourself for your friends you didnt get over the time limit and you know it but you didnt even place in fourth you placed last out of 6 or 8 and you wonder why that is because every year in the past you soared into first so whats that about???? in my speech i said be yourself and dont be afraid to experiment with your gender lightly and they told me to take it out because its seen as too much and i said what the fuck? that’s the most important part of my speech, i want to promote acceptance in others and the self and they said take it out or you cant present your speech. they actively suffocate any sort of self expression or nonconformity of any sort you have to be a plain cookiecutter boy or girl and thats it you cannot be anything else, for nearly 6 months theyve fought me and my mom about my hair but if anyones being hurt by it its me because it draws more attention to the kid you can call slurs, are you hurt because im actually expressing myself? are you hurt by my little sharp stud earrings and my industrial piercing and the embroidered cuff on my shirt? are you offended by the heart on my belt or the platforms on my school shoes because the last time i checked none of these were illegal things to have at school

this kind  of got a lot angrier than i meant to make it but ive been . really angry abt this for the past year idk. i really just wanted to write this because i ahvent spoken to piper properly in months and the way we talk now seems like when we just met but i cannot carry a conversation anymore because school knocked the wind out of me all over again and the sudden inability to talk to any of my friends online makes me want to scream until my lungs give out im so tired

[newstfionline]

Headlines

State police returning to Portland following deadly shooting (AP) Oregon State Police will return to Portland to help local authorities after the fatal shooting of a man following clashes between President Donald Trump supporters and counter-protesters that led to an argument between the president and the city’s mayor over who was to blame for the violence. Trump and other speakers at last week’s Republican National Convention evoked a violent, dystopian future if Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden wins in November and pointed to Portland as a cautionary tale for what would be in store for Americans.

Snapped Poles, Shredded Roofs: A Long Road to Recovery After Laura (NYT) Hurricane Laura ravaged southwestern Louisiana, leaving weary residents to assess the toll and map a way forward. The damage the storm inflicted was so severe that it will be an immense undertaking just to clear debris. But beyond the physical labor, residents were also stepping into the thicket of bureaucracy that follows a hurricane, with insurance claims and applications for government aid. Officials said that roughly 368,000 customers in the state remained without electricity. Some 17,000 linemen were at work on repairs, but they had a lot to tackle: some 500 transmission towers were destroyed or damaged. In some places, utility companies said, it could be at least four weeks before electricity is restored. CoreLogic, an analytics firm in Irvine, Calif., estimated that the hurricane had caused insured losses of $8 billion to $12 billion. “The story here is going to be the wind damage,” said Curtis McDonald, a meteorologist with the firm.

Burning (NYT) According to researchers, somewhere between 4.4 million and 11.8 million acres in modern-day California burned every year in the earlier times. When people started moving there, and building there, and understandably preferring that their homes not burn, those natural fires were stopped. From 1982 to 1998, land managers in California burned on average 30,000 acres per year, which dropped to 13,000 acres from 1999 to 2017. The backlog is deadly, and one reason the state has become a powder-keg. A February 2020 study published in Nature Sustainability found California would need to burn 20 million acres to become stable.

A Zoom Thanksgiving? (AP) As the Summer of COVID draws to a close, many experts fear an even bleaker fall and suggest that American families should start planning for Thanksgiving by Zoom. Because of the many uncertainties, public health scientists say it’s easier to forecast the weather on Thanksgiving Day than to predict how the U.S. coronavirus crisis will play out this autumn. But school reopenings, holiday travel and more indoor activity because of colder weather could all separately increase transmission of the virus and combine in ways that could multiply the threat, they say. Here’s one way it could go: As more schools open for in-person instruction and more college students return to campuses, small clusters of cases could widen into outbreaks in late September. Public fatigue over mask rules and other restrictions could stymie efforts to slow these infections. A few weeks later, widening outbreaks could start to strain hospitals. If a bad flu season peaks in October, as happened in 2009, the pressure on the health care system could result in higher daily death tolls from the coronavirus.

Rethinking their slogan (Foreign Policy) The latest casualty of the coronavirus pandemic is the long-time slogan of popular U.S. fast food company Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). The slogan, “it’s finger lickin’ good,” has been used by the company on-and-off for 64 years, but KFC announced last week that it is suspending the slogan because it is no longer appropriate in the current health-conscious environment. Health experts discourage people from touching their faces in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and users on social media criticized KFC for implicitly promoting unhealthy habits in its marketing campaigns. The company rolled out an advertisement in the United Kingdom and Ireland that ended with the tagline: “That thing we always say? Ignore it. For now.”

India’s economy contracts by nearly 24 percent amid pandemic (Washington Post) India’s economic output shrank by nearly 24 percent in the most recent quarter, the worst contraction since records began and the largest such drop of any major economy during the coronavirus pandemic. The stunning decline reflects the economic toll of India’s nationwide lockdown and illustrates the depth of the challenge now facing Indian policymakers as they grapple both with a hobbled economy and a raging pandemic. India is currently adding the largest number of new coronavirus cases per day of any country in the world. The Indian economy has not contracted for two consecutive quarters—the definition of a recession—in 40 years. Now the country appears certain to experience a recession and possibly one of unprecedented severity. That kind of economic slump would be devastating in a country like India, where 9 out of 10 workers have no job protections or unemployment insurance, leaving them with almost no safety net.

Indian army says foils Chinese attempt to encroach over disputed border (Reuters) Indian troops foiled an attempt by Chinese troops to encroach over the disputed and ill-defined border in the western Himalayas, the Indian army said on Monday, in a fresh flare-up between the two nuclear-armed countries. Pre-emptive action by the Indian troops was enough to deter the Chinese troops, and the confrontation did not escalate into a clash between the two sides, an Indian military official, who requested anonymity, told Reuters. China rejected any breach of the border by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops, but tensions between the two armies in the freezing snow deserts of the Ladakh region have been running high for several months.

Backing the monarchy in Thailand (Foreign Policy) Protesters gathered in a stadium in the Thai capital of Bangkok on Sunday to rally in support of the monarchy following massive student-led anti-government demonstrations in recent weeks. The event, which attracted around 1,200 people, was organized by the newly-formed pro-monarchy group Loyal Thai. “We insist that the country’s conflicts stem from politicians,” said Warong Dechgitvigrom, a prominent right-wing politician who founded the group. “The monarchy institution has no part in governing the country. The institution is the morale support that connects the people together.” Anti-government protesters have defied draconian laws against criticizing the monarchy in recent weeks to take to the streets to demand the ouster of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, fresh elections, and a new constitution that would limit the powers of the monarchy.

Facial recognition and bathtime bookings: How China’s universities are reopening (Reuters) As COVID-19 cases in China sink to new lows, the world’s largest population of university students is heading back to campus in a migration defined by lockdowns, patriotic education and cutting-edge surveillance equipment. The highly choreographed return comes as Chinese universities revert to in-person instruction for the fall semester after months of pandemic controls. Some universities have strict rules governing how students eat, bathe and travel. Students in Beijing, Nanjing and Shanghai told Reuters that they must submit detailed movement reports and stay on campus. At the same time, government procurement documents show dozens of universities have purchased “epidemic control” surveillance systems based on facial recognition, contact tracing and temperature checks. There are more than 20 million university students in China, and most live on campus in shared dorm rooms, presenting a challenge for health authorities. On Chinese social media, students have chafed at the controls, which mirror restrictions on the wider population during the height of the outbreak in March.

With a Wary Eye on China, Taiwan Moves to Revamp Its Military (NYT) China’s growing aggression across Asia in recent months has created fears that it may make brash moves in Taiwan, the South China Sea or elsewhere. The ruling Communist Party’s recent crackdown on dissent and activism in Hong Kong, a former British colony that has long been a bastion of democratic values, has added to those concerns. Beijing’s posturing has forced Taiwan, an island of 24 million, to re-examine with new urgency whether it is prepared for a confrontation, the possibility of which now seems less remote. But there are questions about its readiness to defend its people—with or without the help of the United States. “I have to be honest: Taiwan’s military needs to improve a lot,” Wang Ting-yu, a member of Parliament’s foreign affairs and defense committee, said in a telephone interview. Taiwan’s leaders have been moving to shake up the military and increase spending. Military tensions across the Taiwan Strait have surged in recent months as Taiwan has increasingly become a focal point in the confrontation between China and the United States.

New prime minister in Lebanon (Foreign Policy) Mustapha Adib, Lebanon’s current ambassador to Germany, is set to become the country’s next prime minister as it continues to grapple with one of its worst crises since the end of the civil war in 1990. Adib won support from all of the major parties on Sunday, as well as from former prime ministers including Saad al-Hariri. He will be designated prime minister today just before a crucial visit from French President Emmanuel Macron.

Israeli, U.S. officials on historic flight to UAE to formalize normalization deal (Reuters) Top aides to U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a historic first flight from Tel Aviv to the United Arab Emirates on Monday to finalize a pact marking open relations between the Gulf power and Israel. Even before discussions start in Abu Dhabi, the delegates made aviation history when the Israeli commercial airliner flew over Saudi territory on the direct flight from Tel Aviv to the UAE capital. Announced on Aug. 13, the normalization deal is the first such accommodation between an Arab country and Israel in more than 20 years and was catalyzed largely by shared fears of Iran.