#lavender named her. he is our gay son

[grubloved]

Hiya! If you don’t mind me asking, what’s a ginger bug?

a yeast culture made with ginger! for making ginger beer :3 theyre real simple. think sourdough starter but for. ginger beer... u just need a swing top airtight jar and a shitload of ginger.

basically: dissolve 2 tsp sugar into 2 cups water. add an ounce of chopped or coarsely grated fresh ginger. try not to wash the ginger too much beforehand. like get dirt off if theres dirt but thats where the yeasts live so dont scrub them all away. set her out on the counter at room temp and every day feed her 1 more ounce of ginger (chopped again) and 1 teaspoon of sugar.

after like a week or so she will start to bubble and froth up when you open the jar and then you can make ginger beer :) basically add ginger bug liquid to fill 18% of the volume your (STERILIZED!!!!) bottle and then any fruit juice or sweetened tea of your choice until as full as u like. when i say sweetened i mean sweetened as fuck the yeasts need to eat the sugar. the proportion of sugar can be experimented with but mines 18% grams of sugar per ml of liquid if that makes sense so like for a whole gallon of tea you would add 681g of sugar... fruit juice is usually sweet enough on its own.

make sure to let it cool before u add it to the yeast so it doesnt cook them & leave at least an inch of head room. then seal & set somewhere nice and warm for a couple days. u need a swing top bottle and u gotta open it once a day or she will fucking explode. once shes as bubbly as you like, chill and serve :)

my ginger bug is named buglas :)

[bengiyo]

Be My Favorite: The Evils of Queer Surveillance

I’ve had a chance to calm down a bit, but I need to get this off my soul immediately. Kawi’s mom is engaged in a set of extremely vile and evil acts that we unfortunately have a long history with. In revealing Pisaeng’s relationship with his mother today, this show forces us to reconsider what we know of Pisaeng’s history, and forces us to question the presumptions of safety in our own communities.

Before we get into this, I will be describing her actions as evil. I do not want to contribute to a limited view of the character as inherently evil. I believe this woman is doing what she thinks is best for herself and her son. It’s important that we not fall into fundamentalist reads based in predeterministic assumptions about people’s behaviors. She is engaged in acts that are reprehensible. She likely believes she’s doing them for good reasons, and may have accepted the balance of harm and good on her own.

Normally I would take screenshots and borrow gifs to break up a post like this to make it more digestible, but I’m too upset to take all of that time. I’ll leave the writing about Pisaeng’s personal journey and the romance writing to others this week.

She Manipulated Her Son into the Closet

Pisaeng’s mother uses her positive positioning with her queer employees and lip service to queer issues to appear as an ally. She used that goodwill to convince her son that it would be best for his own reputation to be quiet about his sexuality and to keep her informed about any moves he made in that regard. Pisaeng has already seen through this, but it wasn’t until Kawi confronted him with the reality that he was hiding himself that he felt the need to push himself out more.

This is now the third time Gawin has played a character like this. All of Gawin’s genre characters know who they are and are choosing not to be out because of the inconvenience that others’ perceptions of them bring. It is absolutely heartbreaking to me that Pisaeng was not discovering his queerness in his attraction to Kawi. He was rejecting his closeted programming because of his friendship with Kawi.

It makes me so sad that Pisaeng seems tired and uncomfortable around his mother. He knows the way she operates. She colors right inside of the lines with every action she takes. He gives her a knowing look as she asks seemingly-innocent questions of Kawi. She gives a knowing look when he redirects Kawi into finishing his breakfast. She plays offended when she insinuates that he violated their agreement of being out without informing her.

I hate everything about this, and it only gets worse because she’s weaponized his own community against him.

She is Using Queer People to Spy on Her Son

Some of you may not know about The Lavender Scare or have a strong grasp on the history of law enforcement using members of a community to spy on their own people, but it’s literally how they planned the operation to assassinate Fred Hampton and other leaders. Gay communities were vulnerable to infiltration because when cops threatened enforcement of sodomy laws on white men, they turned on their own communities to avoid losing access to the privileges of whiteness. I say this plainly to show that these tactics are easily transferrable to any marginalized group when its members are isolated.

Pisaeng’s mother reminds Pisaeng that his private life does not belong to him, and that she has already turned his own community against him. She commands extraordinary wealth, which she has leveraged on her queer employees to report when her son is spotted in queer places. She seemed surprised that she was not aware of Kawi, and implies by the comment on his “unique name” that she will absolutely know who he is shortly. Pisaeng feels the threat of all of this, and steers Kawi out of there, but it’s made abundantly clear that he is not safe in queer spaces. Worse, his presence in queer spaces brings the surveillance of the ruling class down upon them immediately. In so many ways she’s made him a threat to his own community.

What’s especially sad about this is that his mother becomes an immediate wedge between Max and Pisaeng. She signals in public in ways that engender support of the queer community. Pisaeng has clearly grown to like Max, and seems to want to build a friendship with him. However, even a queer as apparently-put-together as Max can be fooled by his mom. Pisaeng doesn’t seem mad or disappointed about this; he seems resigned.

Where the Hell Do We Go from Here?

I have no idea. GMMTV went here a little bit with Not Me, and in a different direction with The Eclipse, but I wasn’t expecting them to come for queer-friendly-signaling members of the wealth class. I think they’re walking a careful line by highlighting her political ambitions but not making her a politician already. The insidiousness of the control scheme his mom has deployed against him is legitimately horrifying to me, because she crushed the spirit of her queer son right as he blossomed. I also lived in the closet, but I crushed my own spirit for them.

I know this is a BL, so we’re going to be caught up in the romance and whether or now we like Krist and Gawin together, but please don’t forget about the queerness underpinning these kinds of stories. It is abjectly evil to weaponize members of a community against each other. What is being done to Kawi and the people around him is evil. This cannot stand. She must be stopped.

[pridepages]

Safe Spaces: Lavender House

I just finished Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen. I have thoughts...

Here there be spoilers!

Move over, Benoit Blanc! It’s been a banner year for queer detectives and while Rian Johnson has given us an icon for the silver screen, Lev AC Rosen has created one for the page in Evander “Andy” Mills, openly gay private eye and narrator of Lavender House. But while the Blanc mysteries are largely the fun kind of lampooning of our privileged and bigoted populations, Lavender House is more somber in tone and more reflective about the place of queer people in the United States.

Set in the 1950s, Lavender House introduces the reader to Andy Mills in the worst period of his life. Mills knows he’s gay, and has struggled through life hiding it first as a soldier and then as a police officer. In an era where gay people’s existences were explicitly criminalized, Mills has spent his career deftly sneaking around in underground gay bars and clubs to avoid detection. But one day, his luck runs out: forcibly outed in a raid, Mills knows life as he once knew it is over and he is officially and forever an outcast. He contemplates ending his life, but before he can he’s offered an unusual job...to find out the truth behind the sudden and mysterious death of the matriarch behind the famous Lamontaine soap empire. Escorted to the private home compound called, affectionately, ‘Lavender House,’ Mills meets an unusual family and must determine if any of them is a murderer.

The twist, naturally, is that every inhabitant of Lavender House is queer (hence the name, for people who know their history: lavender was a color code associated with gay culture). Victim Irene lived romantically with her ‘secretary’ (wife) Pearl. Irene had a son from a first marriage, called Henry, who is legally Married to Margo. However, Henry is truly partnered with his ‘secretary,’ Cliff, and Margo is partnered with her ‘friend,’ the notorious club owner, Elsie. Even the three staff members--two women who are partnered and one man who recognized Andy from the clubs--are also gay. In fact, the reason Mills is hired by Pearl is because he is pointed out to her as having been fired as a cop for being gay. In this private, moneyed estate, all of them can close the gates to shut out the eyes and the threats of the outside world. In Lavender House, they live as they choose. So Andy Mills discovers something in Lavender House he could only have dreamed about: a safe space.

The term ‘safe spaces’ has become a double-edged sword. On the one hand, all people who fall under the rainbow umbrella need and deserve spaces where we can feel free to be ourselves, to meet people like us, and to live feeling like we can breathe. All of us can probably remember having some moment like Andy, looking around at the life and the love he sees shared around him:

 “Elsie...dipping her slightly as they kiss. Margo is smiling the whole time. This is like how Cliff leans his head on Henry's shoulder. For them, it's the bickering, the flirting, that brings them closer. It's funny how many ways there are to show you're in love, and yet outside Lavender House, we never get to experience any of them.”

Home is supposed to be the place where we can retreat from the outside forces that condemn us, or silence us. It’s supposed to be a refuge where we can be our most free and honest selves. In that sense, a place like Lavender House probably seems more than a haven...it’s almost like paradise.

On the other hand, isolating ourselves is both limiting because it can create an echo chamber and because it creates boundaries between us and the wider world we deserve to live in. Andy sees some of the consequences firsthand: Cliff never leaves the estate, fearing recriminations from a vengeful bio family, and spends long, lonely hours practically isolated. The bars may be gilded, but Lavender House has become a cage. Even the most powerful member of the surviving family, heir Henry, has a complicated relationship to the self-imposed isolation of Lavender House. But his conclusion is that the pain is worth the protection. “Just because we know what we are, and we know what the world is, doesn't mean we can change anything about either of them...I never felt ashamed of who I was, but I felt a lot angrier outside this place.”

So is a safe space a heaven or a hell? Is a place like Lavender House the solution or does it create yet more problems for the people it’s supposed to protect? 

I think these are the wrong questions. I don’t think it’s about where you choose to plant your roots or how. The question is: who are you choosing to plant them with? 

In the 1950s, it would have been a mostly foregone conclusion that coming out meant becoming a pariah. So, many chose to bury that part of themselves deep in order to be able to remain part of their homes and their families. But Elsie has a point: “You can’t hide a part of yourself from people and still be their family. And if you share that part...well, most families tell you you’re not family, then anyway...now your real family is going to be the one you make of other people like you.”

Coming out is not a universal social death sentence today. But that doesn’t mean we automatically feel at home in the families or communities we are born into. Now as then, we look for places to find “companionship. Friends. Lovers. Family. We have to make these things for ourselves.”

Every member of the family agrees that Lavender House is worth saving, and that justice in their case must be nontraditional in order to protect the precious life they have created. Because the truth is that the bond between them shapes their world more than a fence ever could. Lavender House isn’t a haven because it’s a mansion exclusively full of queer people. It’s because Lavender House is a giant family of queer people who came together and choose every day to love and protect each other no matter what.

Maybe the reason we still struggle over safe spaces is because, like everything, we forget that no two people are exactly the same. The perfect safe space doesn’t look the same for everyone. While readers leave the Lavender House family strengthened in their renewed love and faith in each other, Andy Mills leaves them to seek a new adventure. Even though Andy is invited to join the Lavender House family, in the end he chooses not to: “I've seen what life can look like, even if the one here isn't the one I want. Maybe, though, they've shown me a door to something better. It might fail. I might fail. But at least I'll do it as myself.” Andy is finally able to recognize that there is a big world out there, full of people living all kinds of different lives despite the odds, and that bonds of love that form a community can be found in all kinds of places. He doesn’t have to settle for a place that isn’t his. He can build one of his own.

Home is more than the walls we live in. Home is in the people we share them with. And if we haven’t found the place we fit in the world yet, then we have to keep living, learning, and laying the foundations for the place where we will.

[hellomynameisbisexual]

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual, queer. While the LGBTQ+ label continues to expand with the increasing awareness of sexual and gender identities, we are not yet seeing this awareness extend to our screens. While we are seeing an uptick in positive, empathetic stories of homosexual characters, those characters whose sexualities are not so neatly black or white (or pink, lavender, and blue), are still depicted as confused, sexually deviant, or greedy – if they are even depicted at all. While a more fluid take on sexuality is trickling into more mainstream media, it is often done so without seeing the need for ‘labels’, ignoring an entire subgroup of the queer community who long to see themselves not only portrayed on screen but portrayed correctly and proudly.

Bisexual Erasure – “A pit stop on the way to homo” – Perpetuating Negative Stereotypes:

The 1990s and 2000s saw a number of new media hit screens that aimed to not only appeal to the queer community but to educate those outside of it as well. Joss Whedon’s landmark show Buffy the Vampire Slayer displayed the first on-screen lesbian kiss, while shows such as Will & Grace and The L Word put gay and lesbian characters to the forefront of serial narratives. While borderline revolutionary for their time, such shows now seem outdated in a time where sexuality is understood to more fluid than simply gay or straight.

Buffy’s Willow Rosenberg came out as gay after her first relationship with a woman, discarding that she had a strong emotional and physical connection to her previous boyfriend, Oz, for two and a half seasons. The 2005 drama Brokeback Mountain is often described as a romance between two gay men, similarly dismissing that both Ennis and Jack are married to women towards whom they display attraction. Katherine Mayfair of Desperate Housewives suffered a similar fate, jumping straight to believing she might be gay after her first sexual experience with another woman despite a lifetime of heterosexual relationships, with bisexuality not proffered, or even mentioned, as an option.

While the words bisexual or pansexual were never mentioned in any of these narratives, others discussed it to their detriment. Will Truman, from the now at times dated Will & Grace, referred to pansexuality as “a pit stop on the way to homo”, contributing to the common myth that bisexual or pansexual people are confused or can’t yet admit to themselves that they are gay. Friends works this line into one of Phoebe Buffay’s songs for a laugh; “And then there are bisexuals, but some just say they’re kidding themselves.”

Sex and the City also contributed to negative bisexual and pansexual myths, with Carrie Bradshaw referring to bisexuality as ‘double-dipping’ and ‘greedy’. This is another common stereotype of the bisexual. Returning to Desperate Housewives, in the episode I Know Things Now, bisexual character Peter McMillan ended up cheating on Bree with her teenage son, Andrew. HBO’s True Blood also contained a number of bisexual characters including Eric Northman and Pamela Swynford De Beaufort, whose homosexual scenes were played as kinky or deviant, saving the romance for the heterosexual couples.

“I like hot people!” – is casual sexuality progress?

A more modern approach has been taken in recent years, showing sexuality as more fluid than the rigid homosexual or heterosexual labels. But is this really a step in the right direction? Piper Chapman from Orange is the New Black is shown having serious relationships with both fiancé Larry Broom and ex-girlfriend Alex Vause, without once describing herself as bisexual. The closest we are given is Piper explaining that “I like hot people!” In The Good Place, Eleanor Shellstrop’s attraction to Tahani, Janet and Simone is made clear, but is used only as a comedic landing-place, with Eleanor’s sexuality going undefined and unexplored. While this take on sexuality as a place without labels is refreshing and a step up from the representation of the bisexual as deviant or confused, it leaves the need bisexual and pansexual people have to see themselves on screen unfulfilled.

Even shows that pride themselves on being progressive in their representation of sexuality can be found complicit in bisexual erasure. Fox’s popular musical drama Glee dedicated much of its screen time to Kirk Hummel’s struggles as an openly gay teenager in Ohio and Santana Lopez’s struggles to accept herself as a lesbian, but bisexual character Brittany S. Pierce is denied this same careful treatment and seemed to come to terms with her sexuality remarkably quickly in comparison.

“Letting my bi flag fly” – getting it right

All this isn’t to say that bisexuals are never represented correctly. Brooklyn Nine Nine’s Rosa Diaz, played by bisexual actress Stephenie Beatriz, is not only given a coming-out story – something bisexual and pansexual characters are often denied – but the struggles of her coming to grips with her sexuality are also displayed in full with understanding and tolerance. The brush off of “You’re gay, so it’s not a big deal,” applied to many members of the queer community who do not fit neatly under a homosexual label, is debunked here. Not only is Rosa given a coming-out story at her workplace, which is fielded by her colleagues with grace and acceptance, but she is also given one to her parents, causing a rift between her and her mother when Rosa insists that she has an equal chance of ending up with a woman as with a man.

The CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend features a total of three bisexual characters over the course of its four-season run, most prominently Darryl Whitefeather. After divorcing his wife after a long-term marriage, Darryl is confused when he becomes attracted to White Josh and begins to question if he’s gay. This journey to discovering his bisexuality culminates in the celebratory musical number Getting Bi, the lyrics of which debunk the myth that bisexuals are confused, indecisive, or sexually deviant. It is important to note that this song is also a coming-out story, which is a refreshing change to the idea that coming to terms with being bi or pan is easy or without confusion.

Pansexual characters are also starting to find a name for themselves in mainstream media. Klaus Hargreeves from The Umbrella Academy is most likely pansexual, although once again this comes without explanation or labels, denying the pansexual community visibility on screen. This is not the case in either Sex Education or Schitt’s Creek. Sex Education, which also sees Adam Groff come to terms with his bisexuality, gives Ola Nyman not only a journey of self-discovery with her sexual identity but a journey that culminates in a neatly worked-in definition of pansexuality. Schitt’s Creek takes a more nuanced but by no means less helpful approach with the now-iconic wine bottle analogy. David Rose, who has long since known he is pansexual, describes his sexuality tidily and succinctly as “I like the wine but not the label.”

We’re making progress. We’re increasingly seeing not only a wider range of sexualities and genders enter our content, but we are also seeing LGBTQIA+ characters be more than victims, stereotypes, or defined only by their labels. While it’s important to have such characters in narratives be more than their sexuality, it is equally important to depict these sexualities correctly and visibly. While films and shows may be getting better at giving us the wine, sometimes we do like the labels to be there as well.

[littlx-songbxrd]

Chain of Iron:Death theory

As the awaited release date for Chain of Iron approaches and the fandom decends into pure madness, I want to put in my last two cents of overthinking before I stop having coherent thoughts

So we all know this is a second book, and second books bring the absolute pain in the shadowhunter chronicles. There is likely going to be a death from the mains considering the theme of this book, and I am here to throw my theory and reasons as to who I think it might be. Im here to sadly theorize about why I think Christopher Lightwood might not make it past the last hours

1. Tatianas revenge

Right now, Tatiana wants revenge after all our main families: the carstairs, herondales, fairchilds and both branches of the lightwoods. For the lightwood-collins theres barbaras death. For the herondales her daughter has been manipulating their son for over 6 years. Theres a theory that the fairy poison Mathew bought that caused Charlottes misscarriage could be traced back to her. And there are other theories that Elias dissaperance between chog and choi could have something to do with Belial. As of right now the only family who is yet to recieve any permanent damage or tragedy are the lightwood-herondales. Which is really ironic considering its the only family that has two bloodlines Tatiana wants to harm. Not only that, but theyre also the children of who Tatiana blames directly for her fathers death, Gabriel. It seems fishy to me there hasn't been any permanent damage in their family, and I dont think that is gonna last for long

2. The family tree

The family tree states that Grace Cartwright (Aka Grace Blackthorn) marries Christopher Lightwood and theyre the ones who continue the line that leads to Alec and Isabelle. Now Cassandra has said varius times the family tree can be misleading, and I am a firm believer this is one of the misleading ends. Why this lie was created, I'm not sure, but lets analize some things. As of right now there are 5 lightwood children. At least 3 of them can pass down the lightwood name. Of those three, if we take into account that Thomas may not have kids due to being gay, that still leaves two branches of lightwood kids that may continue on. As of present time we only have word of one line, Alec and Isabelles. And Robert isnt said to have any cousins, theres no mention in the future of another lightwood line. So the idea that both Alexander and Christopher have kids is pretty unbelivable considering theres only one lightwood line in the future. Unless Alexander goes on to have only girls and Christopher has only one boy, it seems more likely the family tree is wrong. Isabelle and Alec are confirmed as of the bane chronicles to be decendants of Gabriel lightwood (Isabelle makes a reference to looking up her great great grandfather Gabriel Lightwood and telling magnus he was hot in the last story of the book)

So its already confirmed they're a) the last decendants of the lightwood line and b) that line stems from Gabriel. If we based ourselves solely on the family tree and Christopher being the one carrying the line, that would have been believable enough not to raise any red flags. Christopher IS the son of Grabriel Lightwood, able bodied and seems to have a general attraction to women (I mean, we all know hes aro/ace but lets stick with canon). There isnt anything pointing to him not being able to marry and have kids. Where the red flags raise for me is with Alexander

Alexander wasnt in the original plans for the family tree, he was added when Cassie started writting the last hours. If you take into account his role in chog, there really was no reason to add Alexander Lightwood. He doesnt seem to do anything, hes a 3 year old kid, you can very well delete him from the narrative and nothing would change. So why did Cassandra add him?? Why did she decide to make Cecily and Gabriel have another kid ?

To me, it seems a lot like the baby carstairs situation . The family tree says Alastair carries the carstairs line, Alastair is a gay man so he cant have biological kids, theres another unplaned baby to carry the line. It seems to me Christopher carrying the lightwood line is a lie, and Alexanders role is to carry it in his place. I even found a little info from an ask wayy before chain of gold came out where it said Alexander had green eyes, but in the book she changed it to blue eyes. The exact same shade the modern day lightwoods seem to have. A trait hes more likely to pass down than his lavender eyed brother who supposedly "marries" grey eyed grace

3. Character Arc

Characters in literature need goals, things to work for or work towards through the story in order for them to develop. We call those things character arcs, and it seems we have all ignored how christophers may have indirectly ended. If you read his short story, or just overall analize his character, his main goal is simple. He wants to create something that will help the nephlim through science. His personal character arc is that he wants to prove himself and his skill to the clave using his passion to be a hero.

An arc that could have been expanded all through the series, and ended with him using his skills in the end to defeat belial in some way, proving his passions worth. Through the story we could have had a glimpse at his struggles, how he was put down, the failed attempts, fustrations etc. This all could have rounded christopher as a character, and brought more satisfaction to the end goal of his arc which is proving the value of his science. But instead, his arc in book seemingly already ended? Because he did it, he figured out a way to combine science with his duty and saved the entire enclave from the demon poison. He is now acclaimed a hero for his skills. All the other characters have things to finish going into chain of iron, Christopher doesnt. Why would she end an arc that could have taken through the entire series in just one book? Christopher is the only secondary character with a defined personality and a lack of arc to look foward too in following books. This could all point that his arc was rushed because it was being cut short

4. Lightwood blood

There has been a lot of theories going around about Thomas being the one who gets killed in this book, which is resonable considering the unerving amount of forehsadowing we've had to him getting himself caught up in something. But I raise you this, why would CC be giving us so much assurance that Thomas was going to get hurt if she was going to kill him? Not only would she be reaveling one of her most devastating murders, she would basically be spoiling a very big part of her own book. Thomas death would affect everyone, if she WERE to kill him she wouldnt be indulging us in our Thomas death theory as much as she has. Itd be too expectable, I actually believe that by giving us all the info she has she has more or less confirmed he wont die.

I believe this is all a decoy. Shes giving us foreshadowing towards something bad happening to Thomas, to cover up the very big reality shes planning to kill someone else. Theres a very big chance that for the resurection, theyre gonna need Jesses families blood. Same way Malcom needed blackthorn blood to raise Annabel. As of rightnow there arent any blackthorns (by blood) left alive, the only blood relatives Jesse still had are the lightwoods. So we already know Thomas gets captured by the murderer (referenece to the art), but it is most likely he gets rescued. People speculate he most likely got captured for the resurection Tatianas trying to do, because of his lightwood blood. But if Thomas escapes, Tatiana still needs her families blood. And I'd like to point out this is also where the fact she hasnt taken permanent revenge on the lightwood-herondales would come in. Theres a good chance that if the murders are releated to her, and she cant have Thomas, she wont stop at just Thomas.

5. Story relevance

In all sense of story, Christopher is the perfect candidate to kill. As hard as that is to say: he's a secondary character, who has a well defined personality, loved enough by the fans that there would certainly be a shock factor following his death, important enough to the story that there would be a big impact to the narrative, and interwined enough with the main characters to cause emotional distress in the story. His arc is indirectly done, this author has a history of killing lightwoods, there isnt much to discourage the possibility he might be killed besides the faulty family tree. And as I said, that tree has been stated multiple times to be misleading

Bonus prove

6. Christophers cut-out

Same way were analizing the hell out of a broken spear, why are we not talking about the skull on christophers?

(Sorry couldnt get better quality pics)

The truth is, I hate this theory as much as everyone, Im genuinly hoping chain of iron proves me wrong. But there are 5 deaths comming, and not all of them can be side characters. Cordelia Lucie and James all have main character protection. I already explained why Thomas dying is unlikely. Anna, Ariadne and Alastair have gay protection (and I think some asks about Alastair dying were pretty much answered with a discreet no)

If there are mains dying, Christophers the most likely to go

[hp-nextgen-fest]

2020 HP Next Gen Fest Reveals!

The time has finally come for the 2020 @hp-nextgen-fest reveals! Thank you so very much to everyone who has made this fest such an amazing success! We were incredibly impressed with the overwhelming enthusiasm you all have for our favorite Next Gen characters. Everyone who submitted stories and art, and those who read, reviewed and recced: You guys are amazing!! It's been really great seeing everybody's fantastic creations, and we hope you all enjoyed the fest as much as we did! Without further ado, here's a list of all the amazing participants who worked so hard to create fabulous things for this year's fest!

ART

@miakagrewup drew AcciDental Magic [Rose, Hugo, & Grandparents | General] Hermione and Ron are called away for a case and left without their usual child-minder when Molly falls ill. Hermione’s parents step up to keep Hugo and Rose, in spite of Hermione’s warning that the two little ones have some big issues with accidental magic. The story is told comic book style, with illustrations and voice bubbles.

@eleonorapoe drew Woke up married! [James Sirius/Teddy | General] They get well and truly bladdered at Albus's stag do and wake up in bed together with matching wedding bands...

@mad1492 drew Sunday Practice [James Sirius/Teddy | General] Teddy thought that morning practice on Sunday was going to be something he would soon regret, but things may turn more interesting than expected.

@julcheninred drew Introduction [Albus, Severus, & Albus Severus | General] Albus Severus Potter gets to know the men he's named for by asking them about the experiences, memories, and motives that shaped their lives.

@garmrr drew Eyecandy [James Sirius/Teddy | General] After months of extensive Auror training, Teddy comes with the Potters to the beach. James. Cannot. Stop. Staring. At. Teddy. Shirtless.

FIC

@cassiaratheslytherpuff wrote We Keep Loving Anyway [Albus Severus/Scorpius | Explicit | 7.1k] After Albus finds out Scorpius is part vampire he can’t stop thinking about being bitten. He can’t stop thinking about Scorpius in general, but that’s been the case since he was fifteen. At least, when it comes to Scorpius he’s used to not getting what he wants. He’s happy with what he has, or at least, comfortable. That is until he accidentally asks for it, then it all starts to change.

@polly-darton wrote The perks of Veritaserum [James Sirius/Teddy | Explicit | 5.1k] James drank a long-lasting version of Veritaserum and is miserable and Teddy is having the time of his life. That is, until they’re both having the time of their lives.

@gracerene09 wrote Thunderstruck [Charlie/Teddy | Explicit | 2.6k] There’s not a lot for dragon tamers to do when stuck inside during a storm, but looking at this particular new recruit―well, Charlie can’t help but think of a few ways they could pass the time.

Quentin_threepwood wrote Hair Today, Hair Tomorrow [Albus Severus/Scorpius | Mature | 1.7k] Away on a book tour Albus Severus Malfoy grows a very creepy mustache, much to the horror of his still at home husband Scorpius Malfoy.

vitruvian8008 wrote Mission in Nairn [Draco/Lily Luna | Explicit | 7k] Lily Luna Potter is paired with Draco Malfoy for her first Auror Mission. On their last night, she decides to act on the lingering tension that had been building up between them.

@nerdherderette wrote No Other Alpha But You [Albus Severus/James Sirius | Explicit | 7.1k] Scorpius Malfoy has applied to be Albus' heat partner. There's no way James is letting that happen.

@aneiria-writes wrote The Scorpion King [Albus Severus/Scorpius | Explicit | 3.8k] Scorpius Malfoy, AKA the Scorpion King, has ruled Britain ever since his father turned his sights to conquering Europe. With his right-hand man and most trusted advisor, Albus Potter, Scorpius has a life of elegance and power. But he's had enough of the beautiful women that usually grace his bed. Scorpius has decided he wants something else in bed. Something more. Scorpius Malfoy wants Albus Potter.

@motherofmercury wrote Islands of the Upper Air [Lily Luna/Luna | General | 1.5k] Lily Luna has never liked her namesake, or her strange and sometimes absurd way of looking at the world. But a weekend full of ancient rituals and mountain forests is an eye opener, in more ways than one.

@shipperysails-bookofspells wrote Expecto Patronum!! [James Sirius/Teddy | Mature | 45.7k] James Potter had always known exactly what he wanted; to open a pub of his own, maybe travel the world, and live a simple life with the only man he’d ever loved. For years he waited, quietly determined to help Teddy see what could be between them. But just when everything he’d ever dreamed of was finally within his reach, it was ripped away in an instant. With Teddy missing, and presumed dead, James is left to pick up the pieces. John has no idea what he wants. He doesn’t even know who he is. But when he hears a strikingly familiar voice – on an otherwise ordinary day – he sets out to discover everything he can about the man that occupies his dreams. And Harry, well, Harry just wants to put his failures behind him. Until a series of unexpected events forces him to reexamine a case that he’d given up on solving. With the help of an unexpected ally, he just might find the answers he’s been looking for.

@lovealpenglow wrote lily's potter [Lily Luna/Lysander & Lily Luna/Draco | Mature | 8.3k] "But what if I keep it? What’s the contingency plan there?” She took a seat next to Lily. She spoke slowly, as if she was thinking about it for the first time, too. “Well, I mean, you keep your baby. You raise it. You love it. It goes on to do wonderful things because it’s a Potter.” Lily snorted. “It’s a Potter?” “Why not? I mean it’s just as much you as whoever is the father. Why shouldn’t it be a Potter first?”

@micheleblack wrote Snaked a Claim [Albus Severus/Scorpius | Teen | 1.6k] Everyone knew Albus was gay from age five when he would dramatically swoon every time Goncalo Flores the Quidditch player was mentioned. Twenty years later and Harry still tells the tale - much to Al’s embarrassment.

@ladderofyears wrote And I Fell Heavy (Into Your Arms) [James Sirius/Teddy | Explicit | 9.1k] When James Sirius Potter travels to America for three weeks, the turquoise-haired Healer Teddy Lupin misses his boyfriend very much indeed. Luckily, Teddy has (sexy) floo calls, charmed obsidian pendants and hastily made chastity promises to keep him busy. Based on the following prompt: Absence makes the heart grow fonder... Right? Smutty phone!sex? Longing letters? All up to you!

@veelawings wrote Dirty Duelling [Albus Severus/Draco | Explicit | 6.1k] Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want (Or — fucked up Dirty Dancing with wand fights)

@eleonorapoe wrote Albus’ Private Lesson of Sex Education [Albus Severus/James Sirius/Teddy | Explicit | 4.5k] Albus has some doubts about sex. Luckily he has an older brother, who can initiate him. How does this lesson go? James will be the teacher, Albus his good and obedient student and Teddy will be more than happy to serve them as a learning tool. In which a delicious Teddy sandwich is served.

@faeheyjesper wrote Four Reasons [James Sirius/Teddy | General | 8.1k] There were a couple of things James should've considered more seriously before coming back to work at Hogwarts as the new Flying Instructor. His dad being the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor there, for one. The fact that he hadn't really flown since a career-ending injury had put an abrupt end to his Quidditch fame two years ago, for another. His ridiculous, teenage crush on Teddy Lupin, his friend and Hogwarts' newest Charms professor, perhaps most of all.

@26timesbrighter wrote An Interlude [Lavender/Victoire | Explicit | 4.9k] Victoire is supposed to be chasing a serial killer, not shagging her uncle’s dead ex-girlfriend.

@drarryruinedme7 wrote Mint & Apples [Harry/Teddy | Explicit | 4.3k] Teddy Lupin's not-quite-wolf has chosen Harry Potter as his mate, that's all. He hasn't got a crush on his best friend's father, really. He also definitely isn't obsessed with Harry Potter's scent.

crazyparakiss wrote This is Love [Albus Severus/Scorpius | Explicit | 24.8k] Most of Albus’s bad life decisions can be summed up in a word: James. When he got a shitty tattoo in the Fifth Year—done by some bloke in a dirty flat—well, that was James’s idea. When he got picked up by Aurors for doing hallucinogens—James was the one who’d convinced him to do them at a party. That time they stole the flying motorbike Dad gave to Teddy—James was the one who insisted it was a rite of passage to drive it over London at dawn. Neither Dad nor Teddy was impressed with that explanation. Now, here Albus is living another bad choice that was born of James’s influence.

@gaeilgerua wrote The Balance Between Studying and Relaxing [Rose/Teddy | Explicit | 3.7k] Rose has been studying non-stop for her upcoming barrister exam. With Hermione attending Hugo’s Quidditch trials for moral support and Ron away on business, there’s only one person available to keep an eye on her. And Teddy is only too happy to take the role.

@r00wscribbles wrote The last ones to know [Albus Severus/Scorpius | General | 5.2k] Albus and Scorpius have a very close relationship. Everyone can see it. Perhaps they are the last ones to know jus how close they are.

@ohdrarry wrote You've Got A Second Chance (You Could Go Home) [James Sirius/Teddy | Teen | 16k] “What about James?” James, dear Merlin, not James, not again. His boy, his son, the brightest star in the constellation of Harry’s patchwork family, not him. “I think he’s relapsed.” – They tried this when James was nineteen and Teddy was twenty five. It crashed and burned. Teddy ran away to Finland and James... well Teddy's about to find out what happened to James, now that he's back two years later.

@maraudersaffair wrote Falling for You [James Sirius/Scorpius | General | 1.2k] Scorpius didn't care about Quidditch until he saw James Sirius on a broom.

@diligent-thunder wrote Heart-Shaped Ottoman [Draco/Teddy | Explicit | 6.3k] Draco has had interns before, but none so bothersome as Teddy Lupin.

@whenshereads wrote Living With Our Eyes Half Open [James Sirius & Scorpius | Teen | 5.5k] James didn’t mean to get his brother-in-law kidnapped alongside him that morning, but that is definitely what happened.

@shiftylinguini and @gracerene09 wrote Faim [Albus Severus/Scorpius | Explicit | 9.6k]  "So, this is the city of love!" Scorpius declared, adjusting the straps on his backpack. Albus wrinkled his nose. "City of pigeons, more like," he corrected, stepping around another fat, grey bird Or: Scorbus go to France.

@articcat621 wrote Unexpected [Lily Luna/Pansy | Explicit | 1.2k] Draco and Harry's engagement party brings about an unexpected, but not unwelcome, event.

@fidgetyweirdo wrote Remember to Forget [Albus Severus/James Sirius | Mature| 17.5k] The moment they kissed, James and Albus knew that they'd never be able to live without this -- too in love to walk away. Years later, and well into adulthood, the possible repercussions of their relationship feel very real and very scary. Without the strength to break it off, they're left with a single solution: a company that specializes in erasing and altering memories. Now the only thing left to do, is to say goodbye.

[thiswaycomessomethingwicked]

I'm curious about "a history of dead women in the city" (and also the Wellington one, of course)

Yusss! 

“History of dead women in the city” - oh man one day I will write this. It's part of this world I'm creating called Babel and it follows this woman as she tries to figure out what happened to her sister who died years ago. 

 A long excerpt: 

Here is a scene from our childhood: It’s a sunny day. Dappled. Portrait worthy sun. It brings out freckles. We are in the courtyard, my sister drawing and me watching her draw. On a large blanket by the well sits our parents. Our mother is laughing, her arms entwined with our father’s, they are so in love. They do not notice us. It’s one of those loves that perfumes air, that is intimate and consuming, where only they exist and nothing else.

‘That is what I want,’ Bellefrey says to me. She’s drawing my round face. Squinting, holding up her thumb, making a show of it. ‘I want a man who makes me feel sublime.’ 

‘Don’t you mean loved?’ 

Oh no, she means sublime. She wants to be a thunderstorm. A tsunami. A hurricane. Something you stand in awe of. 

‘The word awesome is overused,’ she explains. ‘We use it too much. Everything is awesome. The food-stalls at the mid-summer carnival are awesome. The paintings by George Dier are awesome. The play at the Round was awesome. I’m awesome. You’re awesome. Everyone’s awesome. Awesome, awesome, awesome.’ Her voices becomes mocking at the end. 

‘But I am awesome,’ I protest. ‘I know how to make a penny appear from behind your ear.’ I sit up to perform the trick and she lets me fumble through it. 

That was over thirty years ago when Bellefrey was seventeen and me, a mere ten. 

Bellefrey wrote to me a week before she died saying that she hoped her daughter Lyra would make up her mind about the name for her daughter. The child was two weeks old and still no name. How was that to be countenanced? 

Lyra was Bellefrey’s third child, though second to survive. Perhaps she thought you should have all these things planned. Bellefrey was a great believer in organization. She planned out all the names for her children. Lists tracked down the side of commonplace books next to recipes and almanac predictions. Boy names, girl names, names that could go for either. 

As soon as she missed her third course she was to the local midwife to read leaves over her stomach so she could prepare properly. Will it be a boy? Will it be a girl? Will it die and so there is no need to prepare a name? 

Johan is her son, first born. He followed his father into the merchant trade and sells all manner of fabrics and spices. He visits me, aunty I’ve black tea pearls for you laced with lavender, hounded by dried ginger, protected by saffron. We brew fragrant drinks and he shows me his art. All those drawings of places I will never see but he has and oh isn’t that wonderful. 

Havel was her second child, a boy, but he died at three weeks. One of those deaths where the babe goes to sleep and doesn’t wake up. Gay in the morning, dead by dinner except there is no fever to blame this on. 

Lyra is three. First daughter and pulled out a screaming child with spindly legs and a too-large head. Her hair is the thick curls that is our mother’s inheritance, her grandmother’s inheritance. Married to a lawyer who aims to one day be well connected through the inns of court, she means to make herself into something. Daughter three was named Belle. She wagged a finger at me, never a word about beasts and fairy tales. 

I don’t tell her that a woman I knew said that fairytales are our collective neurosis born out in repeating tropes. Patterned to go down forever and on. 

The fourth had no name because the leaves read by her midwife told her not to bother. It was born early and without heartbeat. 

Guilluam is fifth and last. She swore he was conceived ready to escape her belly. He patted the inside of her stomach as soon as he could move. Once born he clung to her then didn’t anymore, running away at sixteen. A year before she died. 

What would her most difficult child make of all of this? I remember his sneering face. Where Johan was gentle kindness, Guilluam was sharp. He cut with a look. He cut with a laugh. He could be a harsh, cruel boy. Probably is a harsh, cruel man. 

Or maybe he’s softened. Maybe as he ages he’s gentling. Some people do that. But in all honesty, I don’t think Guilluam the sort. 

What am I trying to do? I’m trying to introduce a woman. A girl. A child. A person whom I have loved all my life and will continue to love all my life. Though I am so angry with her for leaving us it wasn’t her fault. 

See, I’m guilty as all of us are guilty. 

Bellefrey got caught up in something bigger than her death. She was hidden in the shadows of a great anger and a great brutality. 

Bellefrey died and was found months and months later wearing a green dress and purple shoes with pearls on them. 

No one knows what she was caught up in and no one knows about this great brutality, this great anger that once stalked through our less than fine and noble city. 

I do not have my sister’s blood on my hands. But I do have her gravedirt.

 --- 

 The Wellington one! I completely forgot about this one. It's part of the ridiculous Woodford Napoleon AU where Napoleon ends up in England and there are murder fairies. In this story, things are starting to come through a mysterious mirror that someone shipped to Napoleon for unknown reasons. Arthur shows up to investigate. 

 Another long excerpt:

In the drawing room rests the mirror. It was received a little over a month ago wrapped in brown paper with no information on sender or purpose. It is a heavy, old thing. Age-spotted, warped, the frame is heavy, gilded wood. Napoleon says that for him it’s Tuileries. Has he told Arthur about Tuileries? The sacking of it? 

‘Only that you said vive la revolution and someone asked if you were from the south and you said yes and that is what saved you.’ 

‘Southerners have to stick together,’ Napoleon’s sphinxian smile. Then he goes into himself, how he does when he’s formatting a memory — twisting it into some form of narrative that will make sense to those who were not there. Bertrand told Arthur once, It’s the revolution, we can’t really explain it. How we went about our day but also checked this list that was kept of everyone taken up as enemies. You went every morning to make sure your friends were still alive. Then you had breakfast. 

Napoleon shrugs at Arthur’s patient waiting. ‘It was messy. There was a man’s head on a pike. He had a beard, brown hair that curled, blue eyes. And the floor was scattered with torn drapes, rags that were once kingly gowns, shattered statues, remains of old portraits. A lot of broken glass. Windows and mirrors.’

And as for this mirror? With its growth that says: come come come. Nothing happened the first little while. Oh yes, various and sundry people of the neighbourhood came to view the mirror — to see if they recognised it.

‘And did they?’ Arthur asks. 

Yes and no for all who saw it. Mrs. Topsom said it reminded her of a beautiful manor in the Scottish highlands she once visited as a child. She did not seem comfortable with this recollection. Mrs. Phillips said it brought to mind a book she once read which told the story of a young woman trapped in a tower whose uncle froze time. Lady Preston said it was something from the Assembly Rooms in Bath. 

‘And your household?’ 

Napoleon shrugs. What is there to say on that? Nothing. It was the revolution and it was abdication and it was family homes that are no longer homes of families. 

Arthur shifts his gaze from the pensive face of Napoleon back to the mirror and he looks at it for a long moment. Studies the carvings of the frame — the flowers, vines, mischievous eyes peeking out from behind leaves. ‘I suppose it’s something from Spain, if I think on it long enough. A wealthy home we stayed in, during the campaign.’ 

‘A bit of something for everyone.’ 

‘Yes,’ Arthur agrees. Then he adds, ‘and no.’ 

The main issue with the mirror is this: that there is a staircase growing out of it. 

When Arthur approaches he can hear whispers crawling through his mind. Slithering down the back of his head.  

‘How long have the steps been here?’

‘Week and a half. It formed slowly, so we were able to document it in a thorough manner. Bertrand will give you his notes.’

Arthur hums as he inspects the object, pondering cause and effect. And, more importantly, who sent it to the exiles and to what purpose. There is nothing behind the mirror, only the wall it is propped up against. The stairs themselves are made of oak, and descend as three steps out into their world. Within the mirror they meld into an old stone walkway that climbs into a forest and is lost amongst trees and brush and forest fog. 

There are leaves on the floor. And dirt. Detritus of autumnal life. They crunch beneath Arthur’s boots. Everything smells of decay. 

‘Has anyone touched the mirror?’ Arthur asks. ‘Seen if it’s solid?’

‘We had Sir Hudson Lowe test it.’ Napoleon replies with an air of innocence. Arthur casts him a look. ‘What? Would you rather him disappear forever into the mirror or my good self? And no need to answer. You can save your blushes, we’re alone.’

‘You’re incorrigible.’

‘It’s one of my finer points.’

‘And? Was it solid?’ Arthur asks.

‘Yes and no.’ Napoleon approaches and touches the glass. His palm rests against it for a beat, then it begins to go through to the other side. Napoleon lets his hand sink through up to his wrist before withdrawing. ‘No one has walked through yet.’

With this touch the whispering decreases. Though, there remains the feeling of being watched. It is not that they are hunted, Arthur thinks, but rather they are being inspected. Something is curious about them. 

Reaching forward, he places his palm where Napoleon’s had been. The glass is cool to the touch and when his hand begins to sink through his skin buzzes with frisson of magic, that unfurling warmth crawls up his arm as his hand enters the other side where the air is cool yet humid. That sticky feeling of late winter.

He pulls his hand away.

‘What are your orders?’ Napoleon asks.

‘To investigate.’

The whispers return. Arthur rubs the back of his head. Such an unpleasant feeling, something else in your mind speaking a language you cannot understand in a collection of voices none of which are your own.

‘Maybe we should put a sheet over it,’ Arthur suggests after a moment. ‘Just in case.’

Going over to the window seat Napoleon opens a cupboard beneath to pull out a heavy blanket. He holds it up showing the shredded fabric. 

‘We tried,’ Napoleon says. ‘Mrs. Phillips recommended salt so we put a circle around it but found strange footprints in it the next morning. We tried the blanket, but it was clawed through. We collected iron implements and made a circle around it with those and that seemed to work better than the other options. I still think they got out, though.’

‘And you’re just keeping it here in your house?’

‘Oh yes, it’s fine.’

Arthur rolls his eyes. Trust Bonaparte to think it’s fine keeping a mirror-doorway to the land of fairy in his house with potential creatures coming and going out of it at all hours.

‘We leave food out for them.’

‘They’re not pets!’

‘No,’ Napoleon pats Arthur’s cheek with a warm smile. ‘But that’s what you’re supposed to do to keep fairies happy. Come now, you should know this. Milk, bread, sometimes a brandy.’

‘I give up!’

‘Young Napoleon Bertrand has suggested names for them —‘

‘Good lord.’

‘Ferdinand, Finnegan, and Felipe.’

‘Christ’s blood.’

‘Excellent,’ Napoleon enthuses. ‘You’re cursing like a Catholic. I knew I’d be a good influence on you. Come, we shall have a late supper.’

---

Thank you so much for the ask! <3 <3 

[das meme]

[graysmiles-world]

How J.K. Rowling is a Terrible Person

Hi! I know almost everyone has seen J.K. Rowling’s transphobic comments on twitter or anywhere else. A lot of people are now saying how some of the actors wrote the books instead, or how Rick Riordan wrote them as a joke.This is harmful and should not be said. This is why.

J.K. Rowling’s terrible behavior did not suddenly appear a few years ago. It was always in the books. Nothing major, like the openly transphobic comments, but through things that could have unconsciously altered our minds when we were young. Here’s a list of a few (if I miss any, just let me know) starting with stuff IN the books and then things that she talked about after they were published:

- Hermione has a constant “not like other girls mentality” throughout the books. Hermione is a good character, but she is written to make girls think that they are better than others because they don’t wear makeup or like reading. Hermione really only hates Lavender in the 5th book because Lavender loves Ron. There’s really no other reason. 

- Goblins are constantly given Jewish traits. Such as: large noses and constantly clinging to money. This is, again, extremely harmful as the stereotypes really bring the Jewish down.

-  During the Goblet of Fire, when describing Rita Skeeter, she gives her a lot of “manly” attributes. There is nothing wrong with that, however, J.K. Rowling continues to compare a lot of Rita’s features to a man, which gives the impression of Rita being a trans woman. Rita was caught spying on young children and lying about them to the public, this enforces the stereotype that trans women spy on children and/or lie. 

- Snape is forgiven. This is a huge thing in the Harry Potter fandom years later. Snape was a terrible person who constantly abused Harry and many other children for YEARS. He was willing to kill for Voldemort, but as soon as Lily was in danger, he switched. If Neville was the chosen one, Snape would have continued to work for Voldemort. No matter how much a jerk James was to Snape and no matter how much Snape loved Lily, he was abusive and did not deserve the forgiveness that J.K. Rowling wrote for him

- In the new movie, Crimes of Grindelwald, Nagini was revealed to be an East Asian woman. Nagini is the feminine form of the Sanskrit word nāga, which means “snake." The Sanskrit word was borrowed into English in the late 1700s, and showed up in translations of Buddhist and Hindu texts. So J.K. Rowling gave an East Asian women a South Asian name, as well as making her a slave to a literal Wizard N@zi for the rest of her life. 

- Let’s talk about Cho Chang. Cho and Chang are both Korean surnames. Cho is Chinese. That’s it, that’s the ignorance right there. 

- Did I mention that all (3) Asian characters are in Ravenclaw, the “smart” house?

- In the Cursed Child, Padma and Ron get married in an alternate reality. Padma wears Ron down until he’s not he’s usual self, and their son is named Panju. Panju is an island in Vasai, that’s all you need to know. One simple Google search would have cleared up the reason that she thought that Panju was a boys name and not the name of an island. 

- Also, the Goblet of Fire dresses, anyone? 

- J.K. Rowling claims that Harry Potter is about racism, but all the main characters are WHITE

- The only irish character in the books keeps blowing things up, and the first time we’re introduced to him, he tries to make alcohol

- Kingsley SHACKLEBOLT, one of the ONLY black characters in the entire series is named SHACKLEBOLT

- In 2007, years after the final Harry Potter Book was published, J.K. Rowling told everyone that Dumbledore was gay. There is no evidence of Dumbledore being gay in the books, and while it is not something that needs to be announced, it did come out of nowhere. And, Dumbledore was a man who manipulated Harry for YEARS and raised him like a pig to be slaughtered. This along with claiming Grindelwald to be gay as well. Grindelwald, who was a literal N@ZI and tried to wipe out an entire race of human. AND saying that they had a relationship with zero mention of it in the books or movies. 

-  J.K. Rowling compared the werewolves to the AIDS/HIV epidemic. The werewolves in the books were told to be men who prey on children and then biting them and turning them. This enforces the stereotypes that gay men are predators.

- Apparently there was a rumor that J.K. Rowling said in an interview that she was going to have Sean and Dean be in a relationship, “but didn’t want it taking away from the main trio.” I could find no evidence of such interview or quote. And if she did say that, that is completely untrue. There are tons of books that have side relationships that take almost no attention away from the main characters and conflicts. 

- J.K. Rowling claims that she never specified Hermione’s race. This is untrue. I love Black Hermione, but in Prisoner of Azakban, she wrote: Hermione’s “white face was sticking out from behind a tree” as well as reference Hermione’s skin as “pale.”

- While promoting Fantastic Beasts, J.K. Rowling published The History of Magic in North America. She plundered Native American legends to tie them into the wizarding world for the new movie. She obviously did very little research on the culture she was marketing off of. 

This is all off of the top of my head. Let me know if there are any more. 

[sunnysynthsunshine]

Love and Society (original poem)

Amongst the mist and clouds There is a rainbow The rainbow takes many Forms, shapes and people The men with the green flowers The women with the violets And other residents don Myrtles, double moons and black rings To express love To one and another Is a wonderful thing But sometimes we’re Held back by our Fears or past Let’s look at contrast We may all speak A different language But we have souls underneath Some use words, positive touch, gestures, teamwork or acts of kindness But one doesn’t need to tick All the boxes for their pal To let them know they make Them feel complete Let’s rewind the Cassette tape Boxes, plants, labels We are more than Our leaves and seeds As the tv grains settle in We see the traditional family The Men of the house One has to work himself To the bone just to fulfil The needs of a boss Who earns more than He ever will, unfortunately Due to social taboos and lack Of scientific research, he doesn’t know How to manage this sandwich of Stress, anger and depression The other is a young rebel Who cares about rules he will Cuff his jeans and listen To rock and roll All the other boys want him To get a girlfriend or play ball Instead of adjusting his grades Or playing his kind of game He feels his heart skip a beat When he Sees a hot boy walk past The Fonz to his Richie The Danny to his sandy What would his mum and dad say Then there are the two ladies, well That’s who they are expected to be housewife wanting to change the world Harassment at work was the norm Loutish customers forgetting the ring On her finger When she watches the old movies Her heart sings when Marlene Or Maureen appear on screen What if her husband had seen The daughter, a young artist Bookworm as the page turns Seeing Little Richard and the Beatles Do their thing made her want to Pick up the paintbrush and Make their own work of art To be a woman felt restrictive to Her, she didn’t want to be Working for the rich Or harassed endlessly She felt like an actor Being misassigned their part What would happen if they changed the name and gender of their birth chart This looks like so long ago Surely we’ve changed now Let’s have some other Communities take a bow Roll the dice and be nice We are all individual But residents of the Same planet Some want to open their legs Others want to open their mind Either choice is fine The father ended up Breaking down one night The mum assured him It will be alright They were married Because that was the norm But change was about to form They remained in contact But moved places, The Daughter became a son Who needs Gender, they had none The concept just didn’t appeal to them, son, daughter, etc are just labels For letters and people who do align with them The father took Up poetry and gardening Time for some de-stressing mental health advocating He seemed happier once Since he broke the chains That society tied to his back As for his gay son Cut him some slack He admitted his crush moving to the city Accepting his soft behaviour And homosexuality The mother took a page Out of the book of the Late Sappho, shedding Some light on her own Lavender shadow She met a woman Whose presence shined Brighter than the sun She had finally found the one The family stayed in touch Regardless of their differences Because they retained their Loyalty and love Life is not a competition We are all at the starting line Progressing at different times Love isn’t all about Intercourse Preference Or the choices one makes It’s about the absolute Devotion, kindness and understanding Avoid the snakes who take advantage of others Manipulating them into a chess piece Positive Pride is nice to embrace Make the world a safe space You don’t need to know someone’s Life story to give them a helping hand The other person would smile Knowing someone is trying to understand

[hms-chill]

RWRB Study Guide: Chapter 11

Hi y’all! I’m going through Casey McQuiston’s Red, White & Royal Blue and defining/explaining references! Feel free to follow along, or block the tag #rwrbStudyGuide if you’re not interested!

Franklin Barbecue (293): A barbecue restaurant in Austin that has sold out of brisket every day it’s been open. It moved from a trailer to a brick and mortar store in 2011 and has been named one of the fifty best barbecue places in the world.

Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf* (293): Vita Sackville-West was a poet and Virginia Woolf was a novelist and essayist in the early 1900s. Both were openly queer; Vita had previously run off to France with a girlfriend. Additionally, they were both married, but were in open relationships. (you can read about them in Nigel Nicholson’s (Vita’s son’s) A Portrait of a Marriage; which is a essentially Vita’s journals and letters. Alternately, Woolf’s Orlando is essentially a love letter to Vita.) (find more snippets of their love letters here)

Jane Eyre (294): A gothic Charlotte Brontë novel that includes a woman who has been locked in her husband’s attic and goes mad.

St. Kilda (294): An isolated archipelago on the northwest coast of Scotland.  

Thoughts and prayers (294): The phrase American politicians use to avoid doing things.

Scruffy-looking nerf herder (295): In The Empire Strikes Back, Leia calls Han Solo a “stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy looking nerf herder”.

Radclyffe Hall to Evguenia Souline (295): Madame Radclyffe Hall was a poet and novelist best known for The Well of Loneliness, which was deemed obscene for the lines “she kissed her full on the lips, as a lover" and "and that night, they were not divided", despite its plea: "Give us also the right to our existence". Though she was in a long-term relationship with Una Troubridge, she began dating Evguenia Souline in 1934, which Troubridge tolerated.

Eleanor Roosevelt to Lorena Hickock (297): Eleanor Roosevelt was the wife of president Franklin Delano Roosevelt and first lady of the US, and Lorena Hickock was a reporter. In 1928, Hickock was assigned to interview Roosevelt by her editors and she convinced them to allow her to follow Roosevelt for the rest of the election cycle. 

Silver maple (300): A silver maple tree is one of the most common in North America; its sap is used to make maple syrup and it is apparently known as the tree of tolerance.

Waterloo vase (300): The Waterloo Vase is a 15-foot tall marble vase. It was passed from collection to collection because it was too heavy for any floor to support.

Yellow ipê-amarelo (300): the ipê-amarelo is a bright yellow flowering tree native to Brazil.

Michelangelo to Tommaso Cavalieri (301): Michelangelo was a painter and sculptor during the Italian Renaissance, and Thommaso Cavalleri was a Roman nobleman. The full letter, from July 28, 1533, is available here.

Hail Mary’s (302): A traditional Catholic prayer that asks for Mary’s help.

Muchas gracias, Santa Maria (302): “many thanks, St. Mary”

Alex writing a list (302): You know how Alex grew up making lists to deal with his stress? And now he’s making a list of things he loves about Henry? Yeah.

Keats (303): John Keats was a British Romantic poet, and though I couldn’t find scholarly proof that he was gay, I did find rumors of it. He was part of debatably the gayest movement in literary history and has been adopted by the queer+ community as a gay icon.

Bernadette’s “don’t let it drag you down” monologue from Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (303): The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is a movie about two drag queens and a trans woman driving a lavender van across the Australian desert toward Sydney to perform their cabaret show.  

The monologue: “It's funny. We all sit around mindlessly slagging off that vile stink-hole of a city. But in its own strange way, it takes care of us. I don't know if that ugly wall of suburbia's been put there to stop them getting in, or us getting out. Come on. Don't let it drag you down. Let it toughen you up. I can only fight because I've learnt to. Being a man one day and a woman the next isn't an easy thing to do.”

Richard Wagner and Ludwig II (304): As addressed in the book, Wagner was a composer. Ludwig II was his patron, a king known for his enormous castles and neo-gothic versions of Versailles. This is the whole of the letter that I could find, but you can read their others here.

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*I could talk about Vita and Virginia for so long omg. I love them so much. Also Virginia’s husband makes me so emotional y’all have no idea I adore this man.

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If there’s anything I missed or that you’d like more on, please let me know! And if you’d like to/are able, please consider buying me a ko-fi? I know not everyone can, and that’s fine, but these things take a lot of time/work and I’d really appreciate it!

—–-

Chapter 1 // Chapter 10 // Chapter 12

[moth-and-mayfly]

gay fairies

I wrote this gay ass story for a final if anyone wants a short little queer pick-me-up to read. It has sapphics and fairies and a cute lil happy ending. I’m not really a writer so go easy but constructive criticism is appreciated :)

it also has some google-translate Irish in it so if anyone speaks real Irish I genuinely apologize 

Lavender Grass

My feet pounded across the ground, the bitter wind hard at my back as I crushed the long grass into a record of my path. I was barely taller than the grass myself but I pushed through, faster and faster, the sky above me gaping wide, the intricate stone crosses like trees arching over me. She was gaining. I kept going, the hard ground becoming harder stone underneath my small feet as I broke out of the long grass. I was almost there- the gate loomed in front of me, and a crazy grin broke out across my face. Just as I stretched my hand out towards it, I heard a buzz behind me and felt a pair of arms wrap around me. I let out a shriek as I was hoisted into the air, and began batting wildly at my captor.

“Ha! Gotcha!” I spun around to look my sister Nula in the face, and stuck my tongue out at her.

“You didn’t get me! You cheated! Wings aren’t allowed!”

She just grinned impishly at me, buzzing her wings behind her triumphantly. “It’s not my fault Mam hasn’t taught you yet, you’re too little. And you know we’re not allowed near the gate, so we both broke the rules, trioblóidí! It’s late, Mommy will worry if we don’t go home now.” She gave my dark curls an affectionate tousle, and started the flight back home still carrying me.

“Why doesn’t Mam want us near the gate anyway?” I asked as the long violet grass and graves passed underneath us.

“Because Mommy’s from there, and they kicked her out and hurt her.” Nula looked down at me seriously. “They’re not like us. They’re mean okay? And Mam just wants us to be safe.”

. . .

Nula set down as we reached home. It wasn’t big or showy, just a wooden house sticking up like an animal out of the long lavender grass. But as Mommy says, it keeps the wind out and the warmth in. I liked that I could see the ocean on all sides from the roof, and wave hi to the kelpies in the mornings. I liked that we had cows and goats and jackalopes, and that Nula and I got to name them. I liked the fluffy pillows that Mam made for us and our big fireplace. It was home.

“Dia duit mo pháistí!” Mommy greeted us from the porch, holding my little brother Rhys in one arm and churning butter with the other. I squirmed and Nula set me down.

“Nula cheated and flew again! It’s not fair Mommy!” I whined as I ran over to her and grasped her skirts. “Why can’t I learn to fly yet! Why not, why not, why not!

“Sage you’re such a tattletale.” Nula muttered.

Mommy sighed, letting go of the churn and looked down at me. “Mo stór, be patient. Your wings aren’t big enough yet.”

I pouted. “Well fine! If I can’t fly yet I want to go through the gate!”

She blanched immediately, her normally warm round face growing cold and her tone deadly. “Sage you absolutely may not go through that gate. I don’t even want you near it! Why are you bringing this up now?”

My righteousness subsided as I saw how serious she was. “Nula said you used to live there.” I mumbled, looking down at my feet. “She said they were mean to you.”

Mommy sighed, melancholy now. “They were mo stór, they were.”

I looked up at her hopefully, settling myself next to her the way I do when she reads us stories by the fireplace.

She laughed wryly as Nula sat at her other side, face curious.

“Alright mo dhualóga, I suppose I can’t keep it from you forever. I will tell you everything . . .

-

I grew up in a sad little town called Aineolach across the wall. The other side of the wall isn’t like here; the grass is green and there’s only one moon. No one has wings or tails or horns over there, they all look like me. And they are bitter, for somewhere deep within themselves they know they are missing something, but they don’t know what. So they take and take from the world, but they remain unfilled and eventually take it out on one another.

    I had four brothers and two sisters back in Aineolach, and all three of us girls shared a bed in our home. We had four walls, which is more than could be said for many people of the town, but they were worn walls and badly patched, and the wind still came in through the cracks. My sisters Ana and Neasa were the only things keeping me warm some nights. Ana and I were inseparable, she was older than me but we were the closest in age of all the siblings. My mom called us her cailíní fiáine- her little wild girls, because we had a reputation for always running off to dance and play in the woods, collecting flowers and pretty rocks and herbs. The space underneath our bed gradually filled with our little treasures.

    Neasa however . . .  well, she was younger than us and she got left behind a lot. I think perhaps it made the bitterness grow faster in her.

    As we got older, things changed. Crops started going bad, livestock got sick, people started whispering. They were suspicious of Ana and I, how free we were, how comfortable in the wild where the fae roam. They said perhaps we had angered something old.

    It never bothered me much, but Ana started staying home more often. She started working in the shop in town, hanging out with the other shop girls and twittering about boys. I didn’t see the appeal personally, so I went to the woods on my own. Months passed, and Ana fell in love with the blacksmith's son. I still didn’t get it, but I suppose he was tall and nice and such. Sometimes the three of us would all hang out and feed the ducks, and it was always a good time. It made Ana happy that me and him got along.

    But one day, a carriage rolled into town. A duke, passing through on his way to the city. I remember his fancy shoes and his lumbering walk, how he looked at everything as though he could own it with a snap of his fingers. I guess he felt that way about people too, because the moment he saw Ana he felt she should be his. He offered our father a massive sum of money, and before either Ana or I or the blacksmith's son knew what was going on, she was engaged to the Duke.

    I held Ana that whole night as she cried. Shaking, she whispered to me through sobs that she didn’t know what to do, that she was pregnant with the blacksmith’s son’s child and she didn’t know what would happen if the duke or anyone found out. I held her until she fell asleep, whispering “it’ll be alright. You’ll be alright. I’ll fix this.”

-

That night after Ana fell asleep I went into the woods. Unlike my usual walks, my steps were purposeful and my path was direct. My feet led me deeper and deeper until I reached an iron gate, twisted and rusted with age, only standing with the help of a nearby oak tree that had begun to grow around it. I had happened upon this gate years ago with Ana, but when we discovered it she had immediately pulled me back in fear.

“Look at those!” She had pointed frantically to the little ring mushrooms that grew around the tree and gate. “This is obviously fae land. If we get any closer they’ll take us away and we’ll never see home again. Let’s go.” I had let her pull me away, but I couldn’t help sneaking looks back as we left.

Now however, there was no one to stop me. And I needed to save my sister. So with a trembling breath, I stepped over the mushrooms. Instantly, my vision went white. When I could see again, I was still in the ring of mushrooms looking at the gate, but everything around me was different. The grass was purple, and twice the amount of moonlight shone down upon me. A sweet voice sounded from behind me, and I spun around- coming face to face with the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. She was talking, but I couldn’t process anything she said because I was too overwhelmed looking at her. She looked like a human, but somehow more alive. Her eyes were deep dark brown, the color of the soil and dark wood. Her hair was short like a boy’s, revealing pointed ears poking out between her curls, and I could have sworn her teeth were sharper than normal.

“Sorry, what?” I said, still dazed.

She gave me a concerned look. “I said hello.”

“Hi,” I managed to squeak back.

She squinted her big eyes at me, concerned. “Are you okay? We don’t get a lot of humans here. Are you lost?”

“No,” I said, taking a deep breath and steeling my resolve. “I’m here for a favor.”

At those words, an impish smile curled on her face. “I see. I am called Wren. And your name?” She reached out her hand, her unusually long fingers beckoning.

I slapped it away on instinct. “I’m not stupid. I wouldn’t give a fae my name. Call me whatever you like. I need you to help my sister and I can pay.” I thrust a bag of coins at her shocked face.

“Alright trioblóidí, relax.” She laughed, easily brushing off her surprise and pushing away my hand. “I will help. But your human money is no good here. I want that.” She pointed to my bracelet, a gift from Ana.

“It’s worthless.” I insisted.

“It’s sentimental. It has magic. And I’ll need a link to your sister if you want my magic to help the right person.”

I handed it over reluctantly.

“Okay, i'll see what I can do. But I must warn you, magic doesn’t always turn out how you or even I want it too.” She said, dark eyes holding mine.

“Now, you must go. The longer humans stay here, the harder it is to leave. If you need me again, just come to the gate and say my name.” And with that, she put a finger to the center of my forehead, and pushed me back. My vision went white, and I awoke the next morning in my bed, my heart pounding and my wrist bare.

-

The next day, the news travelled around our village faster than a dragonfly in spring: the count had fallen ill, and would be staying at the local healers house until he recovered. Or until he died, I thought. But I had enough sense to keep that to myself.

Ana was overjoyed. She and the blacksmith's son had enough time to run away to the next town over, and when they returned married, no one, not even our father, could do anything about it. I was so happy for her, really I was. But soon, she moved into a new house with her new husband: leaving me stuck with Neasa in the cold.

And so, the months passed. The duke did recover, but left town immediately, having forgotten completely about Ana. The harvest came and went, scarcer than ever. Ana lived her new life, and I stayed stuck in mine. I retreated to the woods more and more, unable to stop thinking about the gate and the fae girl and her dark eyes, but also unable to find the gate again.

One night, Neasa woke me from a nightmare, her thin hands pushing at my back. I turned to look at her angry face. “You’re keeping me up with all your whimpering! What has gotten into you?”

“Nothing. It’s not important.” I said.

Her young face scrunched itself into an unpleasant scowl as she looked at me. “I know you’ve always hated it here. You don’t talk to anyone but Ana, you’re always alone in the woods. Dad says you probably messed with spirits and got replaced by a changeling or something. But I think you’ve just always been a freak.”

At the time, I was too frustrated, too young and too tired of feeling trapped and bored with life to respond to Neasa with patience. I’ll probably wonder forever if things could have been different if I’d been more mature. But instead, I snapped.

“I’m not a freak!” I yelled. “You don’t even know anything Neasa! You’ve never left this stupid town and you probably never will. You’re just gonna be running around after people who don’t want you for the rest of your life. I’d rather be a freak than pathetic.” Without stopping to look at her face, I grabbed my cloak and boots and stomped out into the night air, letting my feet take me to the trees, and down path after path after path, until I stumbled upon a twisted gate.

“Wren?” I whispered uncertainly.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then with a flash of white she was there, standing in the circle of mushrooms, hair wild and eyes dark. She smiled when she saw me. “Hello again trioblóidí. Come to tell me your real name?” She joked.

I couldn’t help it, I started crying. Fat tears rolling down my face as I started talking about Ana leaving, and Neasa, and how everyday there was less food at home. Wren’s eyes widened, and she pat me on the shoulder uncertainly as I rambled.

“And I just know I’m going to be stuck there forever! Until I have to marry some slimy village boy and then I’ll be stuck at his house forever, cooking and cleaning and - oh my god - having his KIDS-“ with that, Wren pulled me into a tight embrace as I continued to cry.

Eventually, my tears turned to sniffles, and the embarrassment caught up with me. “I’m so sorry.” I said, hiding my face in her shoulder. “I know we’ve only met once, it’s just you’re the only person I know who doesn’t live in my village- and all of them think that settling down and marrying, ugh . . . A boy is the pinnacle of happiness and I just-“

She cut me off gently, “Hey, hey, it’s okay. I don’t - I don’t necessarily know how to help with this one, but if I can, I will.”

I peeked up at her. “Do you think you could tell me about that place I met you? With the lavender grass? Then I can, I don’t know. Imagine I’ve been somewhere besides these woods and home.”

She smiled, and we spent the rest of the night leaning against a nearby tree and talking about our homes and where we’d go if we could go anywhere.

As the sky grew light and the sun began to filter through the trees, I got up to go home. “Sorry again- but also thank you. For everything.”

She stretched and grinned, showing off rows of pointed teeth. “If you really want to thank me, you could give me your name.”

“Not likely, fae.” I teased

“Alright trioblóidí, up to you.” She grew serious then. “But listen, if you ever need to get away for real you can come with me. Home, I mean. My home. Only thing is . . . For a human, it’s hard to get back once you stay. So be sure.”

I wanted to. I really wanted to, but - “I can’t. I can’t leave my sisters”

“I understand.” She turned back towards the tree, and I watched as two beautiful, shimmery dragonfly wings stretched open behind her.

I gasped “are those-“ but she just threw a wink my way over her shoulder, and flew past the gate and out of sight.

-

Days stretched into weeks and weeks into months, and spring and summer came and went. I spent nearly all my free time sneaking out to talk to Wren and helping Ana with my new niece. I was happier than ever, even as things continued to grow worse in the village. Food was scarce, tensions were high, everyone was suspicious of each other. There was nearly a fistfight in the middle of the town square as a farmer accused his neighbor of stealing his cow. The cow in question was found a day later, and it turned out the farmer himself had left the back gate unlatched, but not even that revelation got him to apologise.

Since our fight, Neasa refused to talk to me. I tried to explain myself, tried saying sorry, but she would only stare at me in stony silence. I gave up after a while, too preoccupied with my newfound positivity to worry about her. She’d always been stubborn and volatile, but she usually forgot about things once she had a new person to direct her anger at, I was sure this time would be no different.

As the first cold winds of fall blew in, an early frost came with them. The frost covered the fields, rotting the fruits on the trees and decimating the crops. It was the last straw. Devastated, everyone gathered in the town square, screaming and shouting at each other, clamoring to blame or to weep or to prophetize our doom the loudest. I stood on the outskirts of the crowd next to Ana, who was holding my hand and her baby with equal fervor.

Suddenly, a voice echoed from behind us. Slow, and dripping with satisfaction, it carried over the noise of the crowd with ease.

“I know why this is happening.”

Silence.

“I know who did this.”

I turned around.

It was Neasa, a sharp smile on her face, vainglorious with the weight of all eyes on her for the first time. She walked slowly to the middle of the crowd, villagers parting like the Red Sea. Was she holding something?

“Someone in our village has cursed us.”

Gasps and mutters throughout the crowd. I stood up on my tiptoes to try and get a better look at what was in her hands.

“Think about it, what kind of person goes into the woods at all hours? Is strange and antisocial? Rejects all normal ways of life?” She smiles, drawing it out and holding the crowd rapt. “A witch of course.”

I spot the items in her hands. Dread shoots through me.

“And who do we know like that?” She turns her eyes on me and the crowds’ follow.

“I would hate to implicate my own sister in this foul act of magic, but alas, the evidence is overwhelming.”  All eyes turn back to her as she dumps the collection of herbs and rocks from under our bed onto the ground.

“She collects these materials to bring back here and concoct nefarious spells and curses. She is responsible for the sickness that befell the count, who would have brought us prosperity and wealth. She blatantly runs wild in the forest cavorting with the fae. I’ve seen it myself!” Neasa shouted triumphantly, pointing at me. The crowd began to edge away from me, staring at me angrily, whispering agreement.

She must have followed me that night after I yelled at her. I looked frantically at Ana, who was staring at me with a scared look on her face.

“It- it’s not true! I sputtered “listen, all that stuff- it’s just stupid trinkets Ana and I found when we were kids, it’s not, I’m not- Ana tell them!”

Ana stepped forward to defend me, but Neasa interrupted again.

“I have proof.”

She held up a small, perfectly white mushroom. Unmistakably from a faerie ring. The crowd erupted, but I didn’t hear anything. I just looked at Ana, pleading.

She looked back at me. Then, down at her baby. Back up at me.

She let go of my hand.

All the noise came rushing back to me, as Ana was swallowed by the crowd and angry villagers crowded my vision. I stared back blankly, as people I’d never met screamed at me for the death of their livestock, for their child falling ill, for the bad crops and the cold and the wind and all the things they couldn’t control.

It struck me then, that these people never got much of a choice in their life. The world so rarely gives people like us that courtesy, most people are only ever able to take what they are prescribed or what they can take from other people. But I had a choice that none of them would ever get, and I was wasting it staying here, when nothing was left for me anyway.

I bolted. I could hear shouts coming from behind me, the clanging of metal, stomping, the fizzle of fires being lit. My feet carried me through the grass and up the hill to the tree line. I was already panting but I pushed through, faster and faster, the trees arching over me. A crazy grin broke out across my face as I realized I’d never have to go home again. I hit a root and fell hard, but managed to kick off the underbrush along with my shoes and keep going. They were gaining now, but all I could hear was the blood rushing in my ears and the promise of a new life. I was almost there- the gate loomed ahead of me and I shouted “Wren!” In a split second she appeared before me, all wide eyes and sharp teeth.

“trioblóidí, what the hell?” She exclaimed as I barreled toward her, finally slowing to collapse into her arms.

“I want to go.” I said, breathing hard.

Her eyes softened, “are you sure?”

No hesitation. “Yes. And my name is Fiona.”

“Fiona.” She repeated. I nodded, and reached up to kiss her as we disappeared through the gate.

-

“And that, is how I met your Mum.” Mommy finished, smiling at us.

“That’s soooo romantic!” Nula sighed dreamily.

I just stuck my tongue out and wrinkled my nose. “Gross. Kissing.”

Mommy chuckled as Nula called inside. “Mum did you hear that! Mommy says you were like a hero!”

Mum emerged from the house, her dark curls blowing slightly in the wind, wings stretched behind her. She looked fondly down at Mommy, and planted a kiss on her forehead. “If you think I’m the heroic one, you should hear about all the adventures we went on after your mommy came back here with me! She’s the brave one for sure.”

Nula’s eyes lit up, and I knew we’d soon be hearing the whole thing.

“Okay tell us! But leave out the kissing.” I demanded. Mommy laughed, and grabbed Mum’s hand as we drew closer.

“Alright trioblóidí, I will tell you everything . . . “

[thosequeenboys]

Love Is Love Is Love (Ben Hardy x Joe Mazzello) - Chapter 2

A/N:  This story started as one shot for the Hardzzello Week “Missing” prompt - Missed (link below). The story unfolded as a series, which I named after a phrase in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 2016 Tony acceptance sonnet that paid tribute to the victims of the Orlando, FL, night club shooting. Because of my commitment to gay marriage and LGBT rights I wanted to share a story of family joys and challenges through them.

Chap. 1:  Missed  

Summary, Chapter 2:  Puzzled:   Ben and Joe learn new information about Alex, and Joe receives a surprise that promises to complicate their lives.

Warnings:  Doctor’s visit for a check-up; angst

tagging: @warriorteam1924 @heybuddy-drabbles @oniriquex @igotsuckedintothevoid @watercolouredreams @roger-taylors-car @nightoftheland @lapofthemusicgods

The new year unfolded, and the days became longer demarcated by pink, lavender and gold sunsets. Their lives felt pretty stable and had a certain rhythm. Joe was serving as a consultant on a Netflix show, which required travel to LA a week each month.  With his own next gig requiring intense travel slated for later in the year, Ben cherished watching winter slip into spring on walks with his trusty, observant companion by his side, touching the cracked ground where bulbs sprouted, watching birds build nests and smelling flowers.   On a mid-March afternoon that was remarkably spring-like, Ben and Alex returned from playgroup, though this walk was silent and tense.  As they entered home, Joe was wrapping up a call.  

“Alex, how about watching some PBS?”  Ben said, entering the living room and turning on the TV. “Dad and I need to catch up on boring grown-up stuff.  I’ll bring you a snack in a few minutes.”

“OK”, Alex said, knowing he didn’t have a choice and that the ‘boring grown-up stuff’ probably included him. Before Ben left, he tried to change their dynamic by running his hand through his son’s hair.  “Alex. I love you.” Alex gave his dad a side glance, feeling lingering sadness from their earlier interaction when his dad was mad at him, but relieved to hear his dad’s affectionate words.  

Ben sat at the island counter in the kitchen facing Joe who had moved to the other side of the counter, peeling and cutting vegetables for chicken cacciatore.  

“So that thing happened at playgroup.”  Ben looked up at Joe.  Joe felt his chest tighten.  Again? He knew where this was going; they had been there before.   Ben sighed and continued:  

“The toys were laid out on the floor, and he and the other kids were playing.  It was going really well.  They were talking, and he seemed into it.  I thought, ‘Finally! He’s getting how it should be.” Suddenly he went over to the bookshelf and started looking on the shelves.  He pulled out a puzzle box.  I said he had to put it back; we can’t take things without asking. I told him we weren’t playing with that today.  He clutched it and refused.  He sat down with it, and when I tried to take it, he pulled it away. He actually scowled at me.  I gritted my teeth and told him to give it to me. I had smoke coming out of my ears, but I tried not to make a scene.  Fortunately, Becca, you know Georgie’s mom who was hosting, came over and said Alex could look at the puzzle - it belonged to Georgie’s older brother, Jeremy.  I thanked Becca and asked Alex to thank her too, which he did.”

“So, he dumps it out. Ok, so no surprise there.  But then he starts his sorting thing, and he’s holding up the pieces to the box in front of him and I’m kind of trying to block him, listening to the other parents.  And, he starts putting pieces together, making the border, and suddenly, one of the moms sees it and, like, gasps.  “OHMYGOD, Ben, he’s doing THAT puzzle?’  Then everyone starts looking.”

“We’re all always comparing notes:  What are the kids eating and not eating? What classes are they taking? Who’s looking at pre-schools?  It’s supportive, but everyone’s trying to make sure their kid is, you know, ‘on track.’”  

“Yeah,” Joe nodded, switching knives to cut up an apple. “My sister told me all about that.  It can get ugly.  Some parents brag, and parents whose kids are at a different stage try not to freak out. You can feel the anxiety bubbling up. Sometimes it’s just better to talk about politics, honestly.”  

Sighing, Joe plated the apple slices and spooned some peanut butter on the side of the plate.  Ben grabbed the plate and the water bottle. He slid off the stool to deliver it to Alex. Joe started to build the dish, sautéing peppers, carrots, onions and garlic.  After they softened, tomatoes, wine, stock and chicken would join the party.

Returning, Ben continued. “So, I just brushed it off. Talked about his older cousins teaching him, how he tries to copy them, you know, he just fools around and gets lucky.  Then it was time to leave.  He only did a little of the puzzle.  Jesus, it was like 50 pieces.  I said we had to clean it up.  He was all with the ‘no’s’, but finally I glared at him – I swear I almost lost it - but he relented.  I feel so out of control when this happens and not sure what to do.  And, Alex gets laser-focused and detaches. I had to tell him to say good-bye and thank you.  I could tell he was still thinking about that fucking puzzle as we were saying our goodbyes….”

Joe stopped chopping the basil and put his knife down, wiping his hands on a towel. He ran his fingers through his hair.  “He is who he is.  And we shouldn’t be too surprised about his laser-focus -- and his smarts -- knowing his two sets of genes,”  Joe said, with a wink, before continuing, “You handled it well, Babe. Really well.   You shouldn’t feel defensive.  We need to figure out how to deal with this.  Take him for the check-up… better late than never.”

Suddenly Alex came in holding the empty plate and bottle.  ‘Hey, Buddy,” Joe said.  “The chicken is almost done.  Want to finish it up?”  

Alex nodded. He went over to Joe who took the plate and bottle and put the stool in front of the stove, helping him up.  “OK,” Joe said, pointing to a pile of chopped greens on the cutting board.  Here we have some basil and parsley.”  Alex grabbed the greens and sprinkled them into the pot.  Joe handed Alex the wooden spoon and he stirred them in, as he planted a kiss on his son’s neck.

A week later they were in Premiere Pediatrics, and the medical assistant took Alex into a small room. Ben and Joe waited outside. She tested his vision, and they overheard her asking him about colors and numbers but they got into a discussion and didn’t pay attention.  

Suddenly, the assistant tore past them and approached the doctor down the hall, showing him the paper in her hand, as a nurse quickly escorted Alex and his parents to an exam room.  

Joe helped Alex undress and put on the robe.  He whipped out a book, Ocean Creatures, from his backpack. Alex settled into his lap and Joe started the story.  They got halfway through the book and in walked Dr. Herbert “Call Me Herb” Markman, holding a slim file in his left hand.  

Dr. Markman was there from the beginning.  Before the beginning. Ben and Joe had to have a local pediatrician vouch for their sincere interest to be parents and their stability.  And they had to show there was a doctor at the ready as soon as the baby arrived.  When Joe called the practice and asked for an experienced doctor, explaining the situation, the receptionist set up an appointment with Dr. Markman right away, noting he was the most senior member of the practice.  A Google search showed they hit the pediatrician lottery: degrees from Ivy League universities; a professor at the local Medical School; a successful researcher; and a former President of the American Society of Pediatrics.  As a person, he was warm, calm and conversational. As a doctor, he was thorough, smart and sensitive to both his young patients and their over-concerned parents. At their first meeting, Dr. Markman insisted they call him Herb, but Joe and Ben settled on Dr. M. To keep the relationship on an equal playing field, Dr. Markman followed the more formal naming convention.

“MR. JONES-MAZZELLO!” Dr. M. greeted Alex like a long-lost friend.  “So nice to see you!  You’re here for your 2-year check-up, I see. Let’s get you up on the bench. He patted it and helped Alex up.  Then he turned and offered a warm nod and outstretched hand, “Mr. Jones.  Mr. Mazzello.”   He placed Alex’s file on the desk.

Ben chimed in somewhat guiltily, “Actually, we missed the 2-month mark. He’s almost 2 and a half now.”

“No harm, no foul.” Dr. M. responded with a reassuring smile as he applied hand sanitizer.  

Dr. M. addressed his patient.  “Alex, are you having any concerns about your body, anything hurt?  Anything you want to ask?”

“No, thank you. I’m well, thanks.” Alex replied.

The three adults laughed. Ben beamed, proud at his politeness.  

“Good to hear.” Dr. M. commented. Turning to Joe and Ben, Dr. M. asked, “Any concerns? How’s he been?” Any more high fevers?”

“No, no fevers. Thankfully.” Joe said.

“He’s fine, seems good, really.” Ben added.

“Is he good, really or really good?” It was a play on words, a rhetorical question, but Dr. M. was on to something.   “Ok, let’s take a look.”

He examined Alex thoroughly, prodding his organs eliciting a stream of giggles. He checked his heart, ears, eyes, blood pressure, spine and reflexes, making notes on his I-pad as he went along.

“All good!” He said.

Dr. M. opened the file folder on the desk and pulled out the report the medical assistant handed him earlier. He went over to the shelf that held some books and games and pulled out 10 black checkers.  “As I put these down, Alex, can you count them for me?”  Alex counted 1 through 10 as the checkers were placed on the exam bench. Then, Dr. M. picked a few up and asked him the total number remaining on the bench. Then he put some back, asking for a total.  He did this a few more times, moving quickly.  Alex hesitated at times, thinking it through, but didn’t get flustered. Joe and Ben looked on with awe. Was he really adding and subtracting?  Dr. M. collected the checkers and put them aside on the bench.  

“What did you think of that?” He asked Alex.

“Fun!” Alex said.  

“Good to hear we have a satisfied customer.   We always try to provide patients with some fun during visits.” Dr. M. said, typing into his I-pad and winking at Joe and Ben, making it clear that round of ‘fun’ was not offered to most patients at their 2-year visits.

“So, what do you like to do, Alex?”  Dr. M. asked.

Alex thought for a minute and answered, “The library.  We take out lots of books.  I like ocean animals.  And gymnastics. I like to sommersault.  And parachute lift - some of us run into it, and we have to run back before it falls on us!” Alex smiled, sitting up straight, swinging his legs, picturing the activity.  

“Wow, that sounds really thrilling.”  Dr. M. said, giving Alex his full attention.

Alex nodded and then looked at the ceiling thinking about what else filled his days. “Puzzles!  I really like puzzles.”

Ben looked over at Joe encouragingly, wanting him to take the cue, as he twisted the band on his left ring finger with his thumb.  Joe looked up, rubbing his chin.  It was the perfect opening. “Uh, yeah, about puzzles. We should let Dr. M. know what happens sometimes.  Like at playgroup.”

Alex looked down, remembering how angry his dad was with him that day.

Ben continued.  “Remember at Georgie’s, you got the puzzle off the shelf and started doing it when there were lots of other toys out.  You can’t just go into someone’s stuff.”

“I was bored!” Alex said with a raised voice, annoyed that his dad didn’t understand.

Dr. M. nodded.  “It’s hard to feel bored, isn’t it?”

Alex nodded emphatically, and Dr. M. continued, “When you feel bored, Alex, it’s good to tell one of your dads, and together you can discuss what to do. Maybe you can ask for another toy.  But, sometimes, you may have to be bored.  Lord knows, I am more than I’d like!” he laughed, trying to lighten the tension, but came back to the point.  “Do you think you can talk about how you feel before acting?”

Alex nodded, looking at Ben, who gave him a smile.

“Good!” Dr. M. said. “Your dads can remind you.  So, what else happens in the Life of Alexander Jones-Mazzello?”

“I help Papa cook.” Alex smiled at the recent memory.

“Cooking is fun!  How do you help?” Dr. M. asked.

“Add basil and…pars and stir.” Alex said.

“Basil and Parsley,” Joe clarified, “My Italian influence.”

“I’m a big fan of Italian food!”  Dr. M. said.  He smiled, directing his next question to Ben and Joe. “Any other activities your fine young man is involved in?

“He just started music class!” Ben added enthusiastically. “I read about the strong association between math and music, so we thought it would be good…” his voice trailed off as he looked over at the doctor typing into his I-pad.

Call Me Herb looked summarily unimpressed, perhaps the most unimpressed he’d been in his 35-year career as a pediatrician.  Ben and Joe exchanged glances.

“Alex, you are well on your way to becoming a fine 3-year old.  One day, I’d like you to meet my friend, Wendy.  She’ll show you some other fun puzzles and games I think you’ll like.” Dr. M. said as he helped Alex dress.  Then Alex leaned over and grabbed the checkers and started to play with them. 

Dr. M. then spoke softly to Ben and Joe, “I’m going to give you the number of Wendy Chambers. She’s an educational psychologist. She’ll do her assessment and have some ideas.”  He wrote her name and number on his prescription pad. “Do it this year, before the pre-school search heats up. The information she provides will help,” he said in his gentle tone as he handed the slip to Ben, who looked down at it.

“Is…Did…Is what we’re doing not right?” Ben asked hesitantly in a whisper.

“You’re doing great.” Dr. M. reassured.  Sensing Ben’s concern, he walked over to him and Joe and said very softly.  “It just may not be enough. In the long run. He’s precious.  And,” he added, “Gifted. With all joys and challenges that come with it.  I’ll let Wendy know I’ve referred Alex; you’ll be in good hand with her. Let’s stay in touch.”

After a round of handshakes, Dr. M. departed to a chorus of thank you from the boys.  

As they left the doctor’s office, Ben mentioned they needed to pick up some groceries.   “We’ll meet you home, then?” He said to Joe, their eyes lingering expressing they were in this together, whatever ‘this’ turned out to be.  Ben bent down to zip Alex’s jacket, his knee resting on the sidewalk, and planted a kiss on his cheek.  “You were such a good patient with Dr. M.  Ready to go, Buddy?”  Alex smiled and nodded, leaning in to hug Ben, who welcomed the embrace.  As usual, Alex’s hug stopped Ben in his tracks, and he had to force himself to stand up and proceed, grasping Alex’s hand.

“Thanks for shopping.  See you guys at home,” Joe said.  As they peeled off in opposite directions, Joe suddenly felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He pulled it out.  The area code was vaguely familiar but he didn’t recognize the number, and there was no name associated with it.  

“Hello, Joe Mazzello.” He answered, stopping.  Joe nodded slightly as the name was revealed.  

“Oh. Hi.”  He said, in acknowledgement, suppressing his surprise. The voice relayed information, and Joe juggled his phone, trying to shift gears quickly and process the unexpected information.

“Really?  Seriously? Wow. That’s…terrific. Have to say, wasn’t expecting it.  I mean…” his voice trailed off as more information was relayed.

“When will…?” He registered the response with a nod, his eyes darting side to side.

“Uh, OK! Sounds good….” His voice faded as he tried not to express any concern or hesitation, though logistical wheels were turning in his head, as they always did.  “Ok, uh, let me … can I give you a call tomorrow and we can discuss the details? This is…Great!  Thanks. Thanks for the call.  Take care…Talk tomorrow. Bye.”

Joe clicked off the phone, his eyes opened wide.  A surprised grin emerged while he shook his head.  If life, acting  – and parenthood – taught him anything, it’s you can’t always predict what’s around the corner.  Life doesn’t ask to ‘put time on your calendar’ or ‘is this convenient?’  You have to keep calm and make it work.  As he walked home, Joe started to strategize about how to do that with this surprising news.

[queenofquiet17]

Digging Deeper Meme

Tagged by the lovely @crinkle-eyed-boo!

1. Do you prefer writing with a black pen or blue pen? Black, but I’ll use blue in a pinch.

2. Would you prefer to live in the country or city? City, no question.

3. If you could learn a new skill what would it be? Stealing Kim’s answer about becoming fluent in more languages. I took five years of German in grade school and graduated high school with a Foreign Language Honor Society cord, but lost most of it over the years and can only hold a very basic conversation now. I definitely regret letting it slip like that.

4. Do you drink your tea/coffee with sugar? I don’t put anything in my tea. I usually take my coffee with milk or cream.

5. What was your favourite book as a child? I was all over the Bailey School Kids books. The Westing Game. The Wayside School books by Louis Sachar. And then once I got to 6th grade/middle school, I started reading Mary Higgins Clark like crazy because my mom had her books around the house.

6. Do you prefer baths or showers? Showers by default, since I don’t have a tub.

7. If you could be a mythical creature, which one would it be? Unicorn

8. Paper or electronic books? PAPER BOOKS. I can not deal with not having the physical copy of a book in my hands. Which means that my apartment is 90% bookshelves/piles of books scattered around.

9. What is your favourite item of clothing? My worn Melissa Etheridge t-shirt from the Never Enough tour is probably the most comfortable thing I own.

10. Do you like your name or would you like to change it? I used to not be thrilled with it, because there were a million Sarahs in my school (including my best friend), but now I can’t imagine being called anything else.

11. Who is a mentor to you? We’ve lost touch, but I’ve always considered my undergrad adviser/professor for most of my music classes to be a mentor of sorts. All I knew back then was that I wanted to create musically, and he really helped me sharpen my ear and listen in ways I never thought to before. He helped me find my voice and tap into my creativity. He also taught the Queer Culture class I took my very first semester, and as a baby gay landing in NYC hoping to be part of a more inclusive environment, that connection meant everything.

12. Would you like to be famous and if so, what for? I don’t know if I would want that, but if it was for anything, I would want it to be for my writing.

13. Are you a restless sleeper? Sometimes.

14. Do you consider yourself a romantic person? In spite of everything, yes.

15. Which element best represents you? Earth? I think?

16. Who do you want to be closer to? I’ve always been super close with my mom. Most of her side of the family, however, is a different story. It definitely smarts sometimes, because they’re very tight and there are moments when I feel like I’m missing out; I know being the liberal gay girl in a family of super conservative people probably has something to do with that. Luckily, I’ve got the best chosen family I could have asked for.

17. Do you miss someone at the moment? I miss my friends, and even though I’m happy to be back home after three months of being back in my hometown because of the pandemic, I miss my mom (although we are back on our nightly phone call game).

18. Tell us about an early childhood memory. My dad was a graphic designer when I was a kid, and really into drawing (he was the illustrator of a locally published children’s book called Barely a Bath for a Bear that came out when I was 1). And I have really vivid memories of coloring with him at the table, or drawing and painting with him on my plastic easel when I was about 3 or 4.

19. What is the strangest thing you have eaten? I...don’t really know? Probably ostrich meat.

20. What are you most thankful for? Right now...my friends, my health.

21. Do you like spicy food? I’m slowly gaining a tolerance for spicy food, I used to not be able to handle any of it. But the stuff I can handle, yes.

22. Have you ever met someone famous? Quite a few, living in New York definitely helps. Among them, I will never be able to get over the fact that I met Megan Mullally. Also, Jill Hennessy is legitimately one of the sweetest and most down to earth people you will ever meet.

23. Do you keep a diary or journal? I tried to keep a diary a bunch of times as I was growing up, but I never stuck with it.

24. Do you prefer to use a pen or a pencil? Pen

25. What is your star sign? Taurus, Taurus rising, Leo moon

26. Do you like your cereal soggy or crunchy? More crunchy than soggy.

27. What would you want your legacy to be? That I loved wholeheartedly and I stayed true to myself.

28. Do you like reading, what was the last book you read? I am always reading. I never leave the house without a book, and I will bring a backup book with me when I’m close to finishing the one I’m on. The last one I finished was a book about the making of Valley of the Dolls (the book and movie), and I’m almost finished reading You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour and David Levithan.

29. How do you show someone you love them? Listen, check in, send things that make me think of them among other things.

30. Do you like ice in your drinks? Yes

31. What are you afraid of? Heights.

32. What is your favourite scent? Coffee, old books, rose, lavender

33. Do you address older people by their name or surname? 100% depends on the person.

34. If money was not a factor, how would you live your life? I don’t think it would be much different from where I’m at now. But I would have a massive apartment, and I would travel 1000% more than I do now.

35. Do you prefer swimming in pools or the ocean? Pools

36. What would you do if you found £50 on the ground? Mini spree in a record store or a bookstore.

37. Have you ever seen a shooting star? No

38. What is the one thing you would want to teach your children? I don’t want kids, but I’m intent on doing my part in teaching my nephew (my best friend’s son) to be openhearted and accepting.

39. If you had to have a tattoo, what would it be and where would you get it? I mean, I already have 13. I was supposed to get three more back in April, but I’m now working to get that appointment rescheduled since my tattoo parlor reopened. I’m planning on a Cher tattoo on my arm, the Lucy Ricardo stick figure cartoon near my collarbone, and the Melissa Etheridge key symbol on my shoulder.

40. What can you hear now? This week’s episode of In Bed with Nick and Megan

41. Where do you feel the safest? With my friends

42. What is the one thing you want to overcome/conquer? My public speaking issues.

43. If you could travel back to any era, what would it be? The 1920s.

44. What is your most used emoji? Double hearts

45. Describe yourself using one word. Easygoing.

46. What do you regret the most? Biting my tongue when I should have spoken up.

47. Last movie you saw? The Broken Hearts Club

48. Last tv show you watched? Party Down.

49. Invent a word and its meaning. I know my best friend and I have invented words but for the life of me, I can’t remember them right now? Way to put me on the spot ;-)

Pretty sure everyone’s probably been tagged, but if you made it to the end of this and you want to play, go for it!

[space-cadet-magic]

Tag Yourself: Appletini Assembly Edition

have a no context introduction to our dnd group 

Ashyew - Fortnite dancing unironically; campfire smell; knows obscure facts about trees; those wood wick candles that crackle when they burn; not hearing your name the first time someone says it; “I wanna steal,” Over the Garden Wall; not having a favorite cryptid because you love them all so much; “Harold, that was my favorite arm,” Where the Wild Things Are; making up fun alternate universes you’d travel to with your siblings; “This sign won’t stop me because I can’t read;” doesn’t care what you’re fighting, will fight alongside you until she falls; lovingly makes fun of you to your face, beats up your bullies behind your back; “I can play guitar, but I only know Wonderwall;” loves you deeply but will take embarrassing pics of you while you’re passed out drunk; can french braid hair, refuses to braid yours; light filtering through aspen trees.

Hal - “But your honor, I’m baby;” addicted to brookside chocolates; smells like beachy hair; always has a snack on hand; “please god, let me have one good day?” “you again? give it a rest buddy;” “Hi, i’m hal, and i’m addicted to citrus fruits;” calls her friends to say i love you; does not differentiate between costume parties and fancy dress parties - will wear a spiderman costume to both; drinks dumb fuck juice and dumb fuck juice EXCLUSIVELY; useless lesbian; “dad pick me up there’s kids here funnier than me;” wants to be a rebel, latches onto authority figures around her; “daddy?” “DO I LOOK LIKE-;” has a diary, but it is NOT coherent; makes friends fast but loses them in the middle of her rock collection presentation; watches chopped and laughs when people she doesn’t like gets eliminated;

Krol - Socks with sandals; dancing like commander sheppard; can’t figure out how to email a standard word document; encyclopedic knowledge of world history; only drinks alcohol that tastes like fruit juice; human embodiment of a maraschino cherry (has potential for greatness with a dark past); your dad buying you frozen yogurt when you’re sad; the smell of your dad’s old sweaters when you pull them down from the attic; “I may be dumb but i’m not stupid;” big adoptive dad energy; “Don’t talk to me or my son or my son or my son or my son ever again;” buys 150 boxes of scout cookies so their favorite kid wins the contest in their troop; “big dreams” include a three-wheeler motorcycle; proud fold-up bike owner; “CHRIS, IS THAT A WEED?”

Morana - “Be gay, do crimes;” that image of the little girl smiling in front of the burning house; smells like lavender and leather; living embodiment of a really hot motorcycle; can kick your ass and will do so upon request; has a designated snack drawer in her desk; always has bandaids; touch starved but scared to hug you; that kid who had a crush on a girl in her class so she sent her a note saying “get out of my school;” women in suits; “but does she REALLY like me?” as she walks down the aisle; is too hot in her jacket but won’t take it off bc it’s part of the look; sneaks bacon off your plate at brunch; “we held hands, so we’re basically married, right?”; “i have a proposal-PROPOSITION;” booty shorts that say “enemy of the state” across the butt; reads romance novels under the covers at night w/ a flashlight; “what do you have?” “a KNIFE!” “NO;” little spoon; trinket collector; all the metal in her outfit has to match.

Ptah - No poker face; “I WON’T HESITATE, BITCH;” “Ptah found dead in Kalmar,” “is he okay?” “yeah but he died;” wears sunglasses indoors; wears flannels unbuttoned but tucked in; does interpretive dance to rap metal; loses their shit at the drop in “Hall of the Mountain King;” your roommate who is weirdly good at home repair; burns everything they cooks; can drink their own bodyweight in ale; big laugh, bigger trauma;  “pick three words to describe yourself,” “hmmmmm…killer alien vagina;” has not paid for music since 2002; might be the blurry bigfoot in every photo; “Can i have a piggy back ride?” grumbles but actually hyped as fuck to give you a piggy back ride; ripped as hell but wouldn’t want to kill a spider; “i’m may be doomed,” “but?” “no, no but;” when you jokingly hip check you they launch you out of orbit; eats the whole cheese plate alone; will always go get the extra ketchup when you’re nervous to ask; doesn’t let the customer service person bully you; if they’ve been on hold w/ a company helpline for too long they will physically manifest in the head office.

Zeph - The gif of the guy peace-signing into disappearance; “Do not address me directly;” “STOOOOPPP I could have dropped my croissant;” the way cold water tastes right after you brush your teeth; “Clouds” by BORNS; tries to learn fortnite dances but can’t do them (is lovable and wonderful anyway); can peel oranges in one piece; *surprised pikachu*; has, can, and will slap a bitch into next week; astral projects to avoid confrontation; can’t do it alone but WILL NOT ask for help; annoyed when you ask to share the cinnamon roll at brunch but saves the best bit for you; takes the shitty fruit in fruit salad so other people can have the good ones; “I love you” “what?” “I said i hate you please don’t look at me;” smells like a linen and sky candle; perfectly ventilated cuddle sessions; big and powerful “I woke up like this” queen; “I’m cold,” “damn jackie, I can’t control the weather;” not the taller person but always the one to get stuff off the top shelf; kisses u goodnight on ur forehead when you’re asleep.

@captainofthefallen @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels @devilishlyoperatic

[occasional-darksides-doodles]

Hells Cross Academy: Sanders sides AU

Hells Cross Academy is a school for the supernatural to go, whether it be demons, demigods, wolves, woodnyphs, elf's, or the undead, if your supernatural that's your one stop shop for education.

The giant castle is on the end of Hells Cross Valley, Connected to Cross Counter City. The school receives a significant amount of funding every year, and will continue to get more with the increasing halfling population.

In Hells Cross we have many classes such as potion making, magic, dark arts, science, arts, theater, computing, game design, English, Japanese, draconic, demonic, elvish, lycancy study, and may other wonderful programs.

Students from all around the globe and in the globe travel to the school for top notch education.

Our dorms are always in pristine conditions for both teachers and students to use! Dorms can hold up to 9 in a small community housing like room, as each room is about the size of a 4 bedroom apartment, and sharing is recommended by staff so the children may make friends with each other.

The communal dorm housing room has 2 bathrooms, 1 open space kitchen, 1 living area, 4 bedrooms with 2 inbuilt study areas and large walk in robes, and a storage room for those who may need it, such as witches and sorcerers.

Hells Cross Academy has a relaxed uniform policy while on school grounds, but the uniform is recommend for those who may be taking the built in train system to Cross Counter City or Hells Cross Valley.

Potion material collection is between 5-9 pm, those who wish to go at a custom time or early morning please speak with madam dragon witch, as she will accompany a small group out. Those who sneak out past curfew (half an hour past midnight) will be punished and put under house arrest.

The cafeteria is open from 4 am till 10 minutes before curfew, and custom orders are open. Please use your student allowance to buy food, and if you are having trouble please speak to some of our staff.

Your student allowance is 2000 a month, which is used for everything, from food to clothes to travel to replacing broken supplies. Students in the technology, fashion, theater, arts, music, and outer knowledge language departments shall be granted and extra 1000 if needed. Please use your allowance wisely.

If you run out of money there are many jobs you can get at Cross Counter City and you will be granted extra help for being a student at Hells Cross Academy.

If you have any remaining questions about your time here at our school please contact principal Thomas J. Sanders or Madam Draconia Wither (Dragon Witch). Thank you for your time and enjoy your education at Hells Cross Academy.

Orientation is mandatory and in 5 days (Monday).

- Principal Thomas J. Sanders & Vice principal Tallen Kat

Characters

Virgil Blackwitch

She is the so called "Princess of Hells Cross High", a genderfluid shape shifter who loves causing mischief and slacking off. She changes his gender whenever they feel like it. Child of the queen of Hell, Lucifer. There father is a shape shifter so he is a half shape shifter. He always wears his crown due to missing home, but plays it off as showing off his power. After an encounter with Roman prince (see below) Virgil tends to stay far away from him. (I'll be drawing him when he feels like a boy as well don't worry)

Age: 16

Gender: genderfluid

Sexually: questioning

Team: Aspect

Likes: friends, spiders, mischief, hot coco.

Dislikes: Prince Pain! Studying, getting in trouble or caught causing trouble.

Proficiencies: most magic (black specifically), potion making, shape shifting, witch craft.

Familiar: spider named Charles.

Weapon: grim reaper scythe (a gift from his mother).

Patton heart

Patton heart is the son of the grim reaper and is half human half reaper. He is best friends with Virgil and Logan. He puts on a nonthreatening appearance so people won't be so afraid of him. He is next in line in his family to be the grim reaper even though he doesn't want to, and is trying to make friends and enjoy life while he's here. He and Virgil have known each other since they where kids and there family is very close, they are best friends and Patton has a crush on Virgil. (normally wears a white hooded cape with a heart on the back, also he's covered in freckles but the app doesn't have a freckle option)

Age: 16

Gender: male

Sexually: panromantic ace

Team: Aspect

Likes: helping people, colorful band aids, Virgil, friends

Dislikes: mean people, accidentally hurting people, spiders

Proficiencies: hand to hand combat, black, magic, social skills, most languages, animal communication

Familiar: a cat named purrline, a little ghost who's watching over Patton (sent by his father)

Weapon: family scythe, has a needle in his backpack he also uses.

Roman prince

Roman is a celestial demi-god, his father is a half human half witch, while his mother is a celestial goddess. He came to the school on his parents request, and wants to marry Virgil, whom he believes is the person he's destined to marry from a prophecy he was told as a child. The prophecy in question was one where a heroic demi god born from the celestial goddess would join the sky's above and the depths below by defeating the evil prince born from the queen of hell with love, joining the two kingdoms in a peace treaty. He's very certain that Virgil is the one from the prophecy (and totally not because Virgil is super cute or anything nahhh). Hes very heroic and strong headed so he tends to act before thinking (ie. Proposing to Virgil in the middle of the hallway). He and the dragon witch do not get along to a point where its almost comical to watch them argue. His halo is actually a color humans and non celestial beings can't comprehend, thus it looks blue in the day and yellow at night, and it always glows. He wears his hair in a high bun (his hair goes a little past his shoulders when down).

Age: 17

Gender: bigender (agender and male)

Sexually: questioning

Team: Aspect

Likes: Virgil ♡, astrology, acting, singing, friends

Dislikes: being ignored, violence, spiders, the Dragon Witch!

Proficiencies: hand to hand combat, mele and sword fighting, white and light magic, astrology, all languages, most creative classes and skills.

Familiar: poko the pup (he changes from household pet to ferocious monster when need be)

Weapon: hero's sword (it's a regular sword he's had since he was a kid)

Logan Crofter

Logan Crofter is half woodnymph half wearwolf (part witch). his mother is a woodnymph and his father is a half-witch infected with lycanthropy. nobody knew logans father had lycanthropy, not even Logan's father, and they didn't find out until Logan's mother was already pregnant. Logan didnt show signs of lycanthropy until age 12, when he grew ears and a tail over the course of a week. he has a crush on patton. Flowers grow from his hair and tail when he's emotional. He covers the scratch marks on his cheeks with bandaids Patton gives him. He hates most magic and supernatural courses. He sticks around his roommates because there the only people he really knows. He's anti social and has autism (aspergers).

Age: 15 (3 months off becoming 16)

Gender: questioning (thinking demi boy or trigender)

Sexually: homoromantic demisexual

Team: Aspect

likes: science, astronomy, plants, reading, Patton, some potion making.

Dislikes: loud noise, weed killer, cages, full moons, magic class

Proficiencies: english, maths, computing, literacy, gardening, animal communication, animal handling, beast training, witch craft.

Familiar: none

Weapon: his claws, plant life, or offensive magic (witch craft)

Dolion Viper

Dolion Viper is the son of Dolos, his mother is a naga. He likes the others a lot. He doesn't like to mention the fact he's a demigod since he doesn't want people to be scared of him. He's not very social and sticks to the others. Most people call him Deceit since nobody but the group knows his real name. He tends to let his pet python penny rest around his shoulders when he goes out and is very rarely seen without her. He has a slight lisp when pronouncing the letter S, and gets embarrassed by it. His snake tail moves to convey how he's feeling, and he can use it like an extra arm. He has pointed elf like ears but he tends to wear a cat ear shaped beanie to hide them. He has a crush on everyone in the group and struggles to hide it, half of them know already. He wears his hair in a little pony tail.

Age: 17

Gender: gender fluid

Sexually: gay

Team: Esper (later moved to Aspect)

Likes: snakes, nature, painting, acting, friends, the others ♡

Dislikes: rude people, stereotypes, maths, cold weather

Proficiencies: animal handling, animal communication, beast training, dark arts, black magic, most creative classes and skills.

Familar: fox named Vixen, a 1'5 ft python named penny.

Weapon: multiple magical scissors, his tome.

Remy Paralax

Remy Paralax is a half alicorn sandman. He likes manipulating peoples dreams and causing mischif. he can use magic from his horn and can manipulate/sit and sleep on clouds. he doesnt like when people pull on his tail or hair (especially his ponytail) and will try to smack you. His stomach, legs (knee's down), and random patches around his body are a soft lavender. He tends to hang out in the city more then on the school grounds, and despite never going through his school allowance, works at a coffee shop called madam espresso, he gets paid in free coffee. He likes Virgil's attitude and tends to hang around him. Alot of people refer to Remy as Virgil's lacky, despite Virgil absolutely despising that term since Remy is one of his best friends. He's pretty efficient with a bat and has a nasty hit if he manages to hit you, most of the time he'll knock your head off.

Age: 17

Gender: trigender (male, female, agender)

Sexually: pan

Team: currently waiting to be assigned one

Likes: coffee, starbucks, sleeping, dreams, mischif

Dislikes: being woken up, daylight, yelling, spicy things

Proficiencies: physical combat, hand to hand combat, mele combat, baseball, white magic, weather patterns, cooking, drawing, animal handling, animal communication, beast taming.

Familiar: enchanti the giant rabbit (sent by his mother to keep him out of trouble)

Weapon: baseball bat

Emilie Pacini

Emilie Pacini is a unrestable spirit currently possesing a life sized doll. they love femmine clothing and lean more to the femminie side of the gender spectrum. Emilie isnt much of a fighter and as such only has magic to defend herself. he can posses other people with consent. He is on a waiting list to get a human body of a recently deceased, but its difficult because he's so young. He still ages (like all permanent spirits) and constantly has to modify the doll whenever he feels like she's supposed to grow, cut hair, adjust weight ect. But because of the limitations of the doll they can't be there actual weight, which tends to depress him slightly. She's training to become a nurse and knows a phenomenal amount of healing, calming, soothing, sleeping, ect. Magic, but knows very little combat magic. Absolutely hates people making fun of his appearance.

Age: 15 (16 in 1 month)

Gender: genderfluid (feels bigender male and female most of the time)

Sexuality: demisexual

Team: Esper (later moved to Aspect)

Likes: soft toys, disney, cartoons, puppets, friends

Dislikes: fire, sharp objects, salt, holy water, yelling

Proficiencies: white magic, healing magic, calming magic, music, woodwork/doll crafting, craft in general, medicine, psychology, biology, science, potion/medicine making.

Familiar: none

Weapon: none, uses magic to defend herself

[hp-nextgen-fest]

2020 HP Next Gen Fest Anonymous Masterlist

Here is the complete Anonymous Masterlist for the 2020 @hp-nextgen-fest! Reveals will be going up next Monday on November 30, so there is still plenty of time to make your way through any entries you might have missed. Don't forget to leave some comments on these amazing creations to let the authors and artists know how much you've enjoyed their hard work! :D

ART

AcciDental Magic [Rose, Hugo, & Grandparents | General] Hermione and Ron are called away for a case and left without their usual child-minder when Molly falls ill. Hermione’s parents step up to keep Hugo and Rose, in spite of Hermione’s warning that the two little ones have some big issues with accidental magic. The story is told comic book style, with illustrations and voice bubbles.

Woke up married! [James Sirius/Teddy | General] They get well and truly bladdered at Albus's stag do and wake up in bed together with matching wedding bands...

Sunday Practice [James Sirius/Teddy | General] Teddy thought that morning practice on Sunday was going to be something he would soon regret, but things may turn more interesting than expected.

Introduction [Albus, Severus, & Albus Severus | General] Albus Severus Potter gets to know the men he's named for by asking them about the experiences, memories, and motives that shaped their lives.

Eyecandy [James Sirius/Teddy | General] After months of extensive Auror training, Teddy comes with the Potters to the beach. James. Cannot. Stop. Staring. At. Teddy. Shirtless.

FIC

We Keep Loving Anyway [Albus Severus/Scorpius | Explicit | 7.1k] After Albus finds out Scorpius is part vampire he can’t stop thinking about being bitten. He can’t stop thinking about Scorpius in general, but that’s been the case since he was fifteen. At least, when it comes to Scorpius he’s used to not getting what he wants. He’s happy with what he has, or at least, comfortable. That is until he accidentally asks for it, then it all starts to change.

The perks of Veritaserum [James Sirius/Teddy | Explicit | 5.1k] James drank a long-lasting version of Veritaserum and is miserable and Teddy is having the time of his life. That is, until they’re both having the time of their lives.

Thunderstruck [Charlie/Teddy | Explicit | 2.6k] There’s not a lot for dragon tamers to do when stuck inside during a storm, but looking at this particular new recruit―well, Charlie can’t help but think of a few ways they could pass the time.

Hair Today, Hair Tomorrow [Albus Severus/Scorpius | Mature | 1.7k] Away on a book tour Albus Severus Malfoy grows a very creepy mustache, much to the horror of his still at home husband Scorpius Malfoy.

Mission in Nairn [Draco/Lily Luna | Explicit | 7k] Lily Luna Potter is paired with Draco Malfoy for her first Auror Mission. On their last night, she decides to act on the lingering tension that had been building up between them.

No Other Alpha But You [Albus Severus/James Sirius | Explicit | 7.1k] Scorpius Malfoy has applied to be Albus' heat partner. There's no way James is letting that happen.

The Scorpion King [Albus Severus/Scorpius | Explicit | 3.8k] Scorpius Malfoy, AKA the Scorpion King, has ruled Britain ever since his father turned his sights to conquering Europe. With his right-hand man and most trusted advisor, Albus Potter, Scorpius has a life of elegance and power. But he's had enough of the beautiful women that usually grace his bed. Scorpius has decided he wants something else in bed. Something more. Scorpius Malfoy wants Albus Potter.

Islands of the Upper Air [Lily Luna/Luna | General | 1.5k] Lily Luna has never liked her namesake, or her strange and sometimes absurd way of looking at the world. But a weekend full of ancient rituals and mountain forests is an eye opener, in more ways than one.

Expecto Patronum!! [James Sirius/Teddy | Mature | 45.7k] James Potter had always known exactly what he wanted; to open a pub of his own, maybe travel the world, and live a simple life with the only man he’d ever loved. For years he waited, quietly determined to help Teddy see what could be between them. But just when everything he’d ever dreamed of was finally within his reach, it was ripped away in an instant. With Teddy missing, and presumed dead, James is left to pick up the pieces. John has no idea what he wants. He doesn’t even know who he is. But when he hears a strikingly familiar voice – on an otherwise ordinary day – he sets out to discover everything he can about the man that occupies his dreams. And Harry, well, Harry just wants to put his failures behind him. Until a series of unexpected events forces him to reexamine a case that he’d given up on solving. With the help of an unexpected ally, he just might find the answers he’s been looking for.

lily's potter [Lily Luna/Lysander & Lily Luna/Draco | Mature | 8.3k] "But what if I keep it? What’s the contingency plan there?” She took a seat next to Lily. She spoke slowly, as if she was thinking about it for the first time, too. “Well, I mean, you keep your baby. You raise it. You love it. It goes on to do wonderful things because it’s a Potter.” Lily snorted. “It’s a Potter?” “Why not? I mean it’s just as much you as whoever is the father. Why shouldn’t it be a Potter first?”

Snaked a Claim [Albus Severus/Scorpius | Teen | 1.6k] Everyone knew Albus was gay from age five when he would dramatically swoon every time Goncalo Flores the Quidditch player was mentioned. Twenty years later and Harry still tells the tale - much to Al’s embarrassment.

And I Fell Heavy (Into Your Arms) [James Sirius/Teddy | Explicit | 9.1k] When James Sirius Potter travels to America for three weeks, the turquoise-haired Healer Teddy Lupin misses his boyfriend very much indeed. Luckily, Teddy has (sexy) floo calls, charmed obsidian pendants and hastily made chastity promises to keep him busy. Based on the following prompt: Absence makes the heart grow fonder... Right? Smutty phone!sex? Longing letters? All up to you!

Dirty Duelling [Albus Severus/Draco | Explicit | 6.1k] Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want (Or — fucked up Dirty Dancing with wand fights)

Albus’ Private Lesson of Sex Education [Albus Severus/James Sirius/Teddy | Explicit | 4.5k] Albus has some doubts about sex. Luckily he has an older brother, who can initiate him. How does this lesson go? James will be the teacher, Albus his good and obedient student and Teddy will be more than happy to serve them as a learning tool. In which a delicious Teddy sandwich is served.

Four Reasons [James Sirius/Teddy | General | 8.1k] There were a couple of things James should've considered more seriously before coming back to work at Hogwarts as the new Flying Instructor. His dad being the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor there, for one. The fact that he hadn't really flown since a career-ending injury had put an abrupt end to his Quidditch fame two years ago, for another. His ridiculous, teenage crush on Teddy Lupin, his friend and Hogwarts' newest Charms professor, perhaps most of all.

An Interlude [Lavender/Victoire | Explicit | 4.9k] Victoire is supposed to be chasing a serial killer, not shagging her uncle’s dead ex-girlfriend.

Mint & Apples [Harry/Teddy | Explicit | 4.3k] Teddy Lupin's not-quite-wolf has chosen Harry Potter as his mate, that's all. He hasn't got a crush on his best friend's father, really. He also definitely isn't obsessed with Harry Potter's scent.

This is Love [Albus Severus/Scorpius | Explicit | 24.8k] Most of Albus’s bad life decisions can be summed up in a word: James. When he got a shitty tattoo in the Fifth Year—done by some bloke in a dirty flat—well, that was James’s idea. When he got picked up by Aurors for doing hallucinogens—James was the one who’d convinced him to do them at a party. That time they stole the flying motorbike Dad gave to Teddy—James was the one who insisted it was a rite of passage to drive it over London at dawn. Neither Dad nor Teddy was impressed with that explanation. Now, here Albus is living another bad choice that was born of James’s influence.

The Balance Between Studying and Relaxing [Rose/Teddy | Explicit | 3.7k] Rose has been studying non-stop for her upcoming barrister exam. With Hermione attending Hugo’s Quidditch trials for moral support and Ron away on business, there’s only one person available to keep an eye on her. And Teddy is only too happy to take the role.

The last ones to know [Albus Severus/Scorpius | General | 5.2k] Albus and Scorpius have a very close relationship. Everyone can see it. Perhaps they are the last ones to know jus how close they are.

You've Got A Second Chance (You Could Go Home) [James Sirius/Teddy | Teen | 16k] “What about James?” James, dear Merlin, not James, not again. His boy, his son, the brightest star in the constellation of Harry’s patchwork family, not him. “I think he’s relapsed.” – They tried this when James was nineteen and Teddy was twenty five. It crashed and burned. Teddy ran away to Finland and James... well Teddy's about to find out what happened to James, now that he's back two years later.

Falling for You [James Sirius/Scorpius | General | 1.2k] Scorpius didn't care about Quidditch until he saw James Sirius on a broom.

Heart-Shaped Ottoman [Draco/Teddy | Explicit | 6.3k] Draco has had interns before, but none so bothersome as Teddy Lupin.

Living With Our Eyes Half Open [James Sirius & Scorpius | Teen | 5.5k] James didn’t mean to get his brother-in-law kidnapped alongside him that morning, but that is definitely what happened.

Faim [Albus Severus/Scorpius | Explicit | 9.6k] "So, this is the city of love!" Scorpius declared, adjusting the straps on his backpack. Albus wrinkled his nose. "City of pigeons, more like," he corrected, stepping around another fat, grey bird Or: Scorbus go to France.

Unexpected [Lily Luna/Pansy | Explicit | 1.2k] Draco and Harry's engagement party brings about an unexpected, but not unwelcome, event.

Remember to Forget [Albus Severus/James Sirius | Mature| 17.5k] The moment they kissed, James and Albus knew that they'd never be able to live without this -- too in love to walk away. Years later, and well into adulthood, the possible repercussions of their relationship feel very real and very scary. Without the strength to break it off, they're left with a single solution: a company that specializes in erasing and altering memories. Now the only thing left to do, is to say goodbye.