#like yes there ARE tons of things where its plain that kids of that age wouldn't talk like that

[heedra]

honestly i think my biggest pet peeve bar none, especially when it comes to talking about media and social media, is when ppl who clearly spend a minimal amount of time around kids (particularly little time listening to how they talk to each other and to adults they actually trust) critique something by adamantly asserting that kids of a certain age group 'wouldn't talk like that/say things that complex' when they absolutely fucking would and youd know this, if, again, you knew kids at all

[whoistheasshole]

How do I get out of this unsatisfying life I’m living?

Anonymous asks: So the thing is that I feel incredibly stuck - I have all the basics of life which I'm grateful for but also that was my BIG dream as a kid, to get tf out of my parents' house - but now I have that and idk what to do for the rest of my life. Like, if I try those "visualize your future" things I'm just like, "I'd like to sleep for a month, maybe longer" & it feels like I don't really WANT anything so I can't plan, you know? Just flailing here honestly. Pretty tired of it.

I wrote back: I got your question. To pinpoint my answer a little better, can you tell me about your current situation, like how long has it been since you moved out? Which are the things you have in order to your satisfaction? Some vague idea of your age range would also be helpful, but I can work without it too if you’d rather not share.

Anonymous answered: Ah, sorry. I was trying to fit in the character limit & also whenever I think about this my mind just goes flbbbbth. It's been about 5 years? That's about the only thing I'm truly HAPPY about, I'm not thrilled with my social/love life, career, etc & have pretty much been just coasting tbh. I'm almost 30. Thanks for entertaining this.

Alright, thanks for adding some background. I will come at this from different angles and you can pretty much pick and choose what sounds helpful and leave the rest, okay?

First, while there are people who have it all figured out, methodically planning their next career step or fully certain that there is no greater joy than raising a child, there are tons of other people who just, to quote, go „ flbbbbth“ when asked about their next steps or, god forbid, their life plan. I would say I fall in the latter camp, but I don’t mind because I think there is nothing wrong with that. I let myself be guided by the things I need to be happy (more on that later) and by current necessities – if my job becomes shit, I need to find a new job. If a friendship goes sour, I need to end it respectfully. But I couldn’t tell you specific career or personal goals, except...

... let’s talk about the „later“ now.

I’m an organizer, maybe even a worrier, and therefore I like lists. And for that reason I made a list a while ago that I still have and expect to keep for a long time. It is a list of everything that I need to be satisfied with my life. It consists of 29 entries and has three of them checked, though several others could be counted as half-checked. I wrote down everything that came to mind, paying no attention whether it was reasonable or feasible to want. That wasn’t the question.

It covers stuff like a clean flat (not checked), restful sleep (not checked), friends that I see regularly (checked) or a job with purpose (not checked). This list is my guide. Well, generally my needs are my guide, but it can be hard to be aware of your needs sometimes, so I got this list. And if I wonder what I need or want to focus on, I can turn to it and choose one of the entries and see what I can do about it. I can also look over the list every few years and see if things have developed in the right direction. Little progress is no reason to chastise myself, but helpful information to see whether I need to re-direct my focus.

Please note that I wrote „satisfied“, not „happy“. Being happy is a passing emotional state. It is completely normal and okay not to be happy all the time. But quiet satisfaction with where you are or where you are going, that is pretty achievable. It certainly is a process, but an enjoyable one.

This list is not a race and it is not really a to-do list because most of the things I wrote down aren’t easy to accomplish with a single action. They take months and years and, for some items, I can only try and hope it works out some day (see anybody who ever purposely looked for a partner).

So maybe this kind of list could be an exercise for you. Maybe it provides you with some insight, maybe it doesn’t. Maybe it’s not the right point in your life. But if you sit down and the only thing you can come up with is „cry forever“ or „sleep forever“ then, you know, that’s a sign.

Which brings me to my next point: Journaling or automatic writing. This method is especially helpful for those „I feel some kind of way and I couldn’t even tell you how“ moments – so maybe exactly where you are right now. Captain Akward has introduced me to a website called „750 words“ and I’ve used the principle of „morning pages“, though not the website, since then whenever I felt like some emotions were starting to boil over.

I sit down, ideally in the morning, and just barf it all on the (digital) page. There are only two rules: 1) Don’t edit or judge yourself, write everything as it comes to mind (that’s the automatic writing part) and 2) Don’t stop before you’ve reached 750 words. You are not looking to write anything readable or clever or lyrical, you’re looking to get all the weirdness out so you can move on. Repeat this as many days as you feel queasy or weird or confused or angry or sad. Each day, as soon as you’ve reached the 750 words, you can walk away. Heck, you could even delete/burn the document if that feels right. It’s just about giving your thoughts the room they need so you can continue with your day, hopefully feeling somewhat relieved.

While we’re at writing, I also have a question for you: Where is the pressure coming from to „do something with your life“? Is it truly coming from inside you or are there outside factors? Are people in your life asking you when you’ll have kids? Do you live in a culture where it’s expected that everybody does something of note, works certain prestigious jobs? Do you compare yourself to the people around you and feel like you’re „late“?

Maybe mull this over on a leisurely walk or write about it, using the method above. No matter where it’s coming from, the feeling of pressure won’t go away just by knowing its origin, but the knowledge can help you keep it under control. And if you find it is truly your own wish, you will have tools to shape your life according to your needs.

So, next, sleep: Maybe do that?

You wrote "I'd like to sleep for a month, maybe longer". I understand this was half a joke, but also … it was probably more than a joke.

How are your energy levels? How does life feel? Are you trying to jog through jello most of these days?

If we’ve been overachievers or had a tough home life or needed to take care of ourselves pretty early, we can become accustomed to everything being difficult. This feeling and behavior can become a way of life, even when circumstances change and we have a chance to act differently.

Do you feel rested? Do you have regular moments of quiet in your life that let you breathe? If not, this is where I would start. Forget about lists, though morning pages might be a helpful accompanying tool (if they don’t become a task to punish yourself with if you don’t find the energy).

Take some weeks or months, maybe even a year to make rest your priority. You will have to find a way that works for you. Yes there is a lot of clinically proven stuff out there, but you will not see me do yoga or meditate. Though feel free if that’s up your alley. If you love cycling or taking photos or drawing or just plain lying on your bed and staring at the wall, see where you can add more of that to your day. Whatever brings you closer to yourself and makes you feel like you can exhale and stand still for a moment, that’s the way to go. Do this as long as sleeping seems like a fine choice. And for good measure maybe a month longer. You are ready to stop when you cannot wait to do something else goddamnit I’m bored!!! (you might say)

If you are in this picture, please start here. Any kind of life plan, next steps, strategizing, solving of riddles would set you back and perpetuate your exhaustion. Rest is not time wasted, rest is how you get your life back.

If you are in this picture, you will likely find that if you really pull through, if you truly rest, as long and boring or even scary as it may be, the other questions will probably have an intuitive answer afterwards. Not like „this is my 20-year career plan“, but „I feel like doing x this week“. And that is enough. Because you won’t need to strain to hear your needs through the fog of exhaustion anymore.

Finally, some practical information and links for when you do have the energy and inclination to tackle your job and social life. I am not saying you need to change anything if that’s not what you want to focus on. These are just some tips, in case they become relevant.

For your social life, I recommend what others have recommended before me: Pick an activity that you do with other people and stick with it long enough to become a familiar face, see also here and here (yes, meeting gay people is similar to meeting other people). If you try out new stuff, go there at least 5 or 6 times before you decide it’s not for you – of course assuming nothing bad is coming up like racist or abusive people in the group. Shop around if the first group/activity doesn’t work for you until you find something that you’d like to do permanently. Maybe you’ll gain some friends, maybe you’ll find a romantic opportunity. In any case, if it’s something fun that you like to do anyway, you will have found an outlet with a social group attached. It is absolutely not as easy right now, with Covid and all, but if nothing outdoors-y comes to mind, you could also use this time to brainstorm what sounds like fun for when things are safer again.

Of course you can also look at opportunities online, like Discord servers, online interest groups etc but I do understand if that’s just not appealing right now. I am certainly over sitting in front of a screen.

To round this up, don’t sneeze at contacts that you already have. Are there acquaintances, friends of friends, colleagues, family members who you would like to get to know better? Then go do that! Suggest a time and place to meet up and see how they react. Say yes to the potential friends.

Speaking of which...

The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes might also be interesting. Sure, it’s a little pop culture positive thinking kinda stuff, but I did like the impulse it gave me to consider when I say no to opportunities out of anxiety or worry. It made me accept some social invitations from colleagues (… in the before times) that I would not have otherwise considered. I did not gain life-long friends, but I did learn another valuable info: That my FOMO wasn’t justified for these events ;)

It also lead me to the decision to do one new thing every month – visit a new place or try a new activity or cook a new food. If the concept sounds appealing, just think about what sounds interesting and achievable to you.

And finally, the advice blog recommendations that I’ll always have. For social life, love life, and general life planning turmoil: Captain Awkward. For everything job-related, including how to write a good cover letter or interview well and, of course, how to get out of the dreaded current job you have: Ask A Manager.

To sum it up:

1) Figure out if you even have the energy to tackle any of this right now.

2) Figure out your pillars for a satisfying life – nothing big and shiny, just … basic needs, wishes, social needs.

3) When you feel like it, pick what you want to tackle next and see where it leads you.

4) Stay flexible. This is your life and it’s okay to go where it takes you, even if it doesn’t look „cool“ or „impressive“ from the outside. All you need is to make it your own.

And if you want to, let me know how it goes some time. :)

[oh-for-fic-sake]

Day At The Races

You find yourself competing with Bruce on the track.

Masterlist 

Warnings: Innuendo's, Swearing

A/n have some fluff, hope you enjoyxx

(Not my gif)

Day At The Races

Taglist @125bluemachine125

You took a deep breath as Bruce parked the car in the school parking lot there was tonnes of people walking around all making there way to the field where the days festivities were being held. You leaned back looking at him smiling lightly

"Sweets its fine there isn't any press here its families only." he pulled up a hand placing a kiss to it then your wrist and arm tugging you close trailing kisses along your arm until he placed a kiss on your cheek making you giggle when he nuzzled you rubbing his light scruff on your cheek.

"Hey no beard burn!"

"First time I've heard that seriously tho today will be fine"

"I know but its the first time we've been out since going public.... people are going to watch and judge especially after the other articles..." he sighed running his thumb across your hand he understood he really did the media had blown up about your relationship as expected but some had gone beyond, many had nice things to say but a few had been critical saying that you was the billionaires answer to a midlife crisis and that you'd be out of the picture, soon enough others followed making articles base solely around your age gap calling you a gold digger a whore without saying the word Bruce as promised had his legal team taking them to court on your behalf for slander. Hell one had made you cry as it was so nasty saying vile things interviews with 'child hood friends' who you hadn't even remembered crawled out of the wood work fabricating stories of raunchy sexual escapades and such claiming you was a high paid 'anything goes' escort and that's how you really met Bruce, it had made him so angry he didn't even bother to go to court he bought the magazine outright and stopped the printing sacking half of the company as well as the ceo and editorial managers. 

"Just remember I'm with you. I love you and I've got your back we're a team sweets"

"I love you to" you both leaned in kissing each other you got butterflies in your chest as you both pulled away exiting the car you walked around to bruce he took your hand in his locking the car and led you down towards You eyed the people around you, they were watching you judging you. some scoffed you hear whispers from some people about what you were waering, you looked down you didnt think you looked bad. Bruce like you in these leggings well by the way he had pounced on you when you slid them on grabbing and squeezing your ass in them you assumed he had, they were a false matte black leather look you top was a baggy plain whit on the front on the back was a big patch of a cat saying dont be a pussy... probably not the best choice but you felt cute.

You noticed others women eyeing Bruce it was rare for him to be seen out not in a suit or some variation of it ,receiving looks from many of the mothers and older sisters of the students. Not that you could blame them he was in a tight fit black tee and tasteful dark sweats he had come dressed for the dreaded parents race...You never were one for a man in sweats but damn if he didn't look mouthwatering.. if only they were a tad lower, he caught you looking smirking at you then lifted a thumb to the corner of your mouth.

"Your drooling there sweets hold still." you slapped his hand away 

"I was not!" he laughed using the opportunity to grasp your offending hand kissing your palm before holding it tight walking to the desk informing them of your arrival as bruce signed you both in you saw many women glaring at you. You pulled back a little from him he noticed giving your hand a squeeze then moved to hold your hip pulling you to walk beside him.

"Ignore them they are just jealous.... an ass like yours would cost them a lot of money." you squeaked as he pinched your bottom.... he seemed obsessed with it today, you was tankful as his antics were taking your mind off of the glances you was receiving.Bruce quickly navigated the crowds with you arriving at the booths made for parents to sign up to participate in some events he grabed a pen and began filling in for the parents races. Each pupil had a number the parents would get a corresponding number to pin to themselves for the race gaining points for their children adding to their total's helping them to win prizes. He passed the pen to you once filling everything in, you bit your lip writing down your name for the mothers race for Jack freezing you hovered the pen above damien's name bruce smiled leaning down he kissed your ear lightly before speaking quietly in your ear so close you could feel his breath.

"You'd run for him?" you nodded still debating if it was a good idea, it was your first semi public apperance you didnt want to rock the boat. 

"Yes... I want to but....It could cause an uproar people could make assumptions." he stood behind you still holding your hip in one hand the other coverd your hand holding the pen making a tick mark beside his sons name kissing the back of your neck.

"Fuck them you want to run the mothers race for my son do it... and I'll run the dads for Jack."he said letting you put down your name before taking back the pen doing the same for jack.

"and I hope to meet you in the winners race."

"Something tells me you'd throw it just to see my ass" he grunted at you

"Nope I always win these things I wouldn't throw them for anything and besides I don't have to throw a race to look at it, I'll look at it when I damn well please, as is my right" you chuckled at him shaking your head

"What ever you say boss man" before being interupted by someone clearing there throat. You both turned to see a barbie who had obviously rearranged herself pulling the tops of her expensive tits out of the yoga top hanging out obscenely trying to gain his attention. You rolled your eyes as a blonde came up behind you both a sultry look fluttering her eyelashes at your man.

"Can I please?" she said motioning to the pen in Bruce's hand her eye scanning him from head to toe licking his lips. He smiled politely handing it to her you scowled at her.

"Of course come on love" he said leading you away you looked down a little. 

"Dont let it get to you sweets. They will try, they will always try love"

"I know dosent mean I have to like it tho....Its just hard and I'm trying to behave for your sake. I cant exactly call her out and smack the shit out of her" he grunted twitching in his sweats rearranging himself 

"Not if you don't want to be caught being railed on the field no"

"Bruce! are you always thinking about sex? seriously were in a school"

you shouted laughing pushing him lightly as he laughed pulling you back ton him placing you in front as he walked resting his chin on your shoulder whispering huskily into your ear.

"Well this is where me met.... its on my list"

"No!. Do not even go there with your stupid fucking list"

"Don't knock the list...You could have one if you want...I'm sure we could find a way to sneak away for five minutes or so, we could try Mr Kolemans office"

"Oh? and when do you ever finish in five minutes?" he shrugged sending you cheeky look

"Just because I haven't doesn't mean I cant" you shook you head rolling your eyes at him. You quickly noticed the blond from earlier was sticking close the the both of you, Bruce had noticed but kept quiet ignoring her as you made your way across to the boys events. You grunted as she tailed you all the way down the field even as you both sat on the grass you sat between Bruce's legs he pulled you close making a point to touch and hold you. She was always trying to be in sight of Bruce twirling her hair and fluttering her eyes at one point bending over in front of him wiggling her boney ass. You seethed knowing what she was doing but unable say anything.

"You know...You could say something...I really wouldn't mind..Quite the opposite I would enjoy having you get all territorial just a quick snap? growl? anything?" you rolled your eyes as he began grinding against you making sure you felt just how much he would enjoy it

"Bruce behave youself!!"you slapped his thigh making him grunt and hiss leaning forward capturing your ear between his teeth suckling your lobe

"Go oonn you know you want to, do it for me?" he continued kissing down your neck you flushed as she scoffed as Bruce sucked a new mark onto your neck. You would not start a cat fight over Bruce, not that you didn't want to fight for him just that you didn't need to. He was yours. But it didn't mean you wasn't self conscious as the slim woman tried to gain his attention. Tho he made himself quite clear with his little display just who it was he desired. You shook your head trying to rise above her pettiness. Spotting the boys you waved then pointed them out to Bruce who was now satisfied with his fresh mark pulled away with a soft kiss. Jack and Damien sat across from you, Jack waved back then nudged Damien who smiled nodding to you. First was the throwing events then we moved to the jumps. 

"Whats Damien doing?"

"He is doing high jump he is band from long jump."

"What? why?"

"He... clears the sand.... by quite a bit so he cant do it now, the others cant compete with him"

"That doesn't sound fair being banned for being good at it" he sighed.

"And he was holding back"

"Wow so he's and agile little bugger then"

"Heh you have no idea" you both watched the kids participate in their events moving across the field. Throughout the day you saw a pattern Damien was top across the board. In every single event he did. The boy didn't even break a sweat as he was leaving all of the others in the dust, you got the distinct feeling he was holding back. Especially as you saw Bruce motion for him to slow down.

"Bruce what the fuck! your sons a beast how the fuck can he do that im pretty sure he just broke a world record?" you cried as he won the hurdles a good 50 seconds before Jack came in second place. you pulled out your phone to do a google search on hurdle world records Bruce sighed running a hand across the back of his neck.

"...Well he likes fitness and sports I may have updated the manor's gym for him" you snapped your head to him.

"Hang on whoa a gym? where the hell have you hid a gym?" he faltered which was unlike him before quickly snapping out of it stuttering.

"Err well it's-its at the back in the old part,its not fully finished I don't want you going in there it has potentially dangerous equipment in there, professional stuff you need to be taught how to use them." you nodded unconvinced before hearing an anouncement.

"All parents participating in the parental race please come and collect your numbers" Bruce stood helping you up. You both walked to the table collecting the numbers 345 jack 352 for Damien pinning them to your tee shirts ,the fathers race was first you pulled Bruce in for a sweet kiss which he promptly tried deepening wrapping himself aroung you you giggle pulling back as he moved to kiss down your neck, you glowed red as the other parents watch out right some of the women were scoffing. You cupped his face.

"Good luck babe kick ass" he smiled kissing your lips again

"You to" he said before taking position on the start line you was awestruck as you watched him dominate the race, what ever Bruce had said about Damien in the gym was bullshit, it was genetics, pure dna it had to be as Bruce quickly made his way out front and stayed there he was miles away from the others you cheered as he made it across the finish line. Smiled Standing tall as the other runners crouched over panting some heaving there faces purple. You took your place on the starting line noting that blondy was in the line up doing some bullshit yoga stretches drawing attention to herself, although you was on the larger side than  the other women you was confident. In school you had been on the track team, not only that this was Gotham being able to run was a survival skill that most of these women didn't need to master in their gilded castles. You crouched looking down the track taking a slow breath flexing the muscles in your legs warming them with extra blood flow as the others got in position. The teacher counted down and you were off you stayed near the back pacing yourself letting the others wear themselves out before going in for the win, as predicted the others all took off in a full sprint loosing steam quickly. Half way down the track you took it up a notch sprinting slowly building up to full speed passing the women one by one hearing the curses and gasps as you took the lead even then you pushed on breaking away further and further finally crossing the finish line Bruce high fived you.

"Where the hell did that come from?"

"Track team, you never start with sprinting." he shook his head now the top three of each would race one another you noticed with glee that blondy hadn't made it through, she maybe skinny but you were fitter and you couldn't help being smug. You all lined up looking to Bruce you don't care about beat the others just him but you had no hope in winning against him outright so would have to try some underhanded tactics smiling slyly.

"Hey babe?" you bent over a little wiggling your ass he glanced at you wetting his lips eyeing your bent over form as the teacher to position starting to count down. 

"Yeah"

"Is it obvious I'm not wearing anything underneath these?" you said pulling on your leggings he gasped standing up quickly turning to look at your ass.

"You what?!" you laughed running as the race began Bruce missing the call swore quickly following a few seconds you as you took a healthy lead the others now tired from the previous race, you glanced behind you seeing him quickly gaining on you, not even in his lane he'd merged into yours and he looked determined but his eyes were glued to you ass,

"Just you wait!" he shouted out to you squealing you pushed harder trying to stay ahead of him laughing unable to stop yourself from tucking your ass below you as you heard his heavy steps just behind you fully expecting him to grab you.

"No! Bruce! I'm sorry!" you shouted as he was practically on top of you as you crossed the finish line

"Sorry?! you get your ass here!!" but you didn't stop dodging him for a few more moments, in that moment you didn't care about the damn race you screamed as he finally caught you around the waist lifting you up crushing you against him.

"That was really a really dirty trick woman" he said you laughed he placed you down in front him your back to him then smoothed his hands across your ass raking his fingers up and down before giving you a quick spank you flushed knowing full well no matter how discreet he was trying to be someone was bound to have seen that.

"You little tease!" he growled once he felt the the seam of your underwear he moved hugging you from behind pulling you back grinding into your ass lightly. 

"Just you wait until I get you to the car" you mewled at the threat rubbing back against him feeling his significant bulge pressing insistently at your ass 

"Is that a promise Mr Wayne?" he groaned into your neck. Turning you saw that you had indeed come first gaining both boys extra points.

"Ha I won!!" you laughed

"Yes you won, but at what cost?" you froze turning to look at him wide eyed 

"Cost? what do you mean cost? Bruce?" he just laughed pulling away from you as he waved over at the boys both of them shrinking into their shoulders at the public display you'd given everyone. He walked over to the table to hand in his numbers you followed at a safe distance

"Bruce? What cost? hey! don't ignore me!" He did tho chuckling to himself deciding to let your mind dwell on what could be in store for you. 

[everydayanth]

American Beauty Standard: A Brief History and Modern Application

I learned this in an anthropology class and I don’t remember the resources, but I know one of them was Tocqueville talking about the American obsession with committees and associations as a way to accomplish tasks with people from tons of different cultures and backgrounds and no formal aristocratic class.

So, back in the day of colonial America all the way through like... probably modern day if we’re honest, wealthy families that came to America kept strong ties with relatives or positions in their home countries. When their sons came of age to marry, they would often find a wealthy upper-class woman from their home country or ethnic background to wed, which meant that wealth circulated the culture it was coming from. A wealthy English lad would go to London and find himself a lady to bring to the US, a wealthy Frenchman would stay with his family in Paris or wherever, the would tour the continent blah blah, and come home with an upstanding lady of the gentry.

UNLESS an American girl could catch their interests first. This was why American girls were taught independent skills (homemaking rather than the class skills of entertaining), why they were allowed to marry for love (lack of a gentry class and singular cultural/social rules to follow), and why, at the end of the day, beauty became the most valuable tool.

Because a poor American girl who was beautiful and useful could out compete the European class rules of etiquette to secure herself a wealthy husband. And if you start there and work your way forward, our obsessions with smart or pretty girls (but watch out for too-smart or too-pretty), our beauty pageants and cosmetics advertising, our taboos and traditions, our girl vs. girl competition, it all starts to make sense.

Because being beautiful, witty, and useful meant you could be noticed and loved or admired, and married to a wealthy man. Wealth meant comfort and comfort meant safety and safety meant security and security meant freedom. Isn’t that what we all want? Isn’t that what we still want? Aren’t we still just competing for independence, for respect and freedom? Same tools, in many ways the same world. Girls fighting over college admissions, internships, medical research funds, they aren’t any different from girls competing in beauty pageants or arts, it’s always about freedom and for some, beauty is a way to get there.

There are a lot of socially aware people on the internet and I just wanted to add this nugget of history to the conversation about beauty standards. We seem to be aware that being able to follow trends is a sign of wealth, we seem to easily discuss that beauty standards themselves are an impossible oppressive tool to control and manipulate, and we are perfectly blunt about the wealth of industries capitalizing off insecurities. I wanted to bring this history into the conversation as well. Because like it or not, competition and our ability to be “wives” has historically been part of “American” culture since colonization, and that includes an incredible amount of isolated puritan and protestant extremists coming to the “new world” because their countries called them out on some bullshit or maintained economically exclusive advantageous relationships with their leaders.

Anyway: American [white] female beauty standards begin with competition for wealthy husbands and the illusion of comfort and freedom they could provide (with plenty of truth to the illusion) and still exists today. American girls were taught to “make” a home as a resource for their husbands while their European counterparts (of the same [similar] class) were often taught to entertain and host within the home as an accessory to her husband’s success, as expected by their class and/or station (often equally oppressive). 

There are so many other interesting components to the conversation as well and I just figure that if we’re interested in having it at all, I might throw some other things out here: 

WARNING: Long geeking rant about individual body adaptions and why they are incredibly beautiful follows:

Like how male beauty also evolved, with Americans emphasizing the fitness of a laborer or farmer, becoming the independent middle class, while their middle class European counterparts were often more slight and “intelligent” (relative, as perceived by access to education) businessmen, lawyers, doctors, etc., as they retained the inherited gentry and the American self-made man became more desirable to American women who had no single cultural courtship ritual and so relied on love and picking out a reliable husband based on their own choosing (which leads to its own conversation on American victim-blaming in assaults on females, especially when combined with that puritan past). 

Which is then complicated further when looking at pockets of immigration where different adapted physical male bodies are living next to one another in America (the Dutch and Polish of W. Mich are a great example). They are separated by countries in Europe, so their different builds are suddenly compared in an entirely new environment that doesn’t necessarily fulfill their previous adaptions (MI isn’t as cold as Poland, so the shorter stature isn’t as useful, while the sexual selection of the tall Dutch male remains, it isn’t as differentiated from other larger Europeans (like lowland Germans and Scandinavians), and so isn’t as genetically insulated. 

Anyway, these are all focused on “white America,” other cultures and ethnicities will also have changing and adaptive standards for different reasons. There are also some we will share as a whole culture. We’re having smaller families so each child will want to be the most healthy available. Guess what big booties are a sign of? Healthy babies (the type of rich fat stored in the butt is used to help form baby brains and shit), so as a general correlation, humans tend to figure out that curves = healthy babies. As our family-size expectations get smaller with the lowering of infant mortality and rise of individual life expectancy/health/comfort of average citizen, and as we push the age of first conception, we want to make sure that one-shot kid is healthy af. 

Being black anywhere but the American South is hard, and even that’s muggy and wet as opposed to the drier conditions of the west coast of Africa many African Americans were adapted for when brought as slaves. Which means the likelihood of being vitamin D deficient is higher, without being too crass or negating to address social racism issues, I’ll round it out and say we’re all going to eventually have a Brazil effect, where people living in areas for a long while will adapt to them or “breed into” them and we all become a similar middle skintone. The SW US is going to be more “Mexican” because that’s the “proper” (ie most useful) adaptive skin tone to protect from the changing climate there, while those in a place like the Olympic Peninsula in WA are going to be a bit lighter as an adaption to the weather, but probably not as white as Europeans. 

What is natural for an area’s skintone is also based on diet. The Inuit and Sami live at a similar parallel but the Inuit are much darker skinned on average. Why? Well, they eat more fish and seafood with Omega3s and Vitamin D (therefore needing less of the Vitamin D to enter through skin from sunlight) and live often on open plains (therefore absorbing more sunlight when it is there), while the Sami eat more red meats from reindeer herds with less Vitamin D, and travel through fields/forests (therefore needing more Vitamin D to enter through skin which results in lighter skin). 

My favorite statistic I ever learned was that on average, an African’s skin can absorb NINE TIMES more sunlight than their European counterpart without getting burned. Nine times! For one hour in the hazy European sun, a black person would need to spend nine (+) to get proper Vitamin D amounts, while in Africa, a white person after ONE HOUR would begin to burn from too much uv. That’s so cool! Bodies are crazy awesome! 

That applies to hair texture as well, black hair is often coiled to protect the head (you know, cus we stand on two legs and it’s in the sun all the time). Two inches of coiled black hair can dispose of that 9x uv by holding onto water and a bunch of other crazy amazing processes, while two inches of white hair generally dries quickly and lies flat against the head to insulate and keep warm, not expel heat. 

Hair, eye, and skin color are all affected by melanin counts in the body (or melanocytes, which is where melanin is created, including collections of melanin at melanocytes which cause freckles and moles!), lots of melanin produced by the body makes someone darker skinned, but that doesn’t mean they need the coiled hair protection from the sun, which gives us so many varieties of follicle shape (which is what defines the curl tightness or looseness of a hair, with round holes producing straight hair and curved/slanted holes producing curls and coils like how you curl a Christmas ribbon with scissors, which means yes, you can have curly patches on your skull, your hair will change as you grow and based on your diet, hydration, products, etc.). 

Having little to no melanin makes someone “albino,” or extremely light (which affects eyesight as having little or no pigment in the iris doesn’t shield the retina from light, though some may simply have extremely low pigment with light blue eyes). There are in-between colors like red hair, hazel/green eyes, and highly-freckled skin that result from different concentrations of melanin in different parts of the body, and there are things like heterochromia (different color eyes) which result from different concentrations of melanin in the same body part, and other things like Vitiligo (what Michael Jackson had), where concentrations in melanin change overtime, in this case from the shutting down of melanocytes which then produce little or no pigment for the skin, causing patches of whiteness. 

There are so many ways for bodies to be different from one another and it’s incredible when you start to understand how unique our individual combinations are! Nose size is a direct correlation to air humidity, as are our sinuses. Face shape can often be the result of language, people from the American midwest accent will have rounder cheek apples from pulling their mouths wide and working different muscles than those with say, an RP British accent who pull their jaws down and cheeks in instead of wide on many vowels, resulting in more defined cheekbones. Jawlines are a symbol of genetic diet, if you have a less defined jaw, your ancestors were probably coastal people, more adapted to seafood proteins, which requires less chewing than those in higher altitude and mountain regions, which would require herds of red meat or poultry for protein, which is more chewing, plus the different textures plants must have to grow at different altitudes and climates. This is a loose correlation and there are plenty of other factors that combine to make different results, but they always fascinate me!

Why are African men often stereotypically faster than Europeans? Because their adapted environment is often flat savannah and adaptions for running long distances and fitting the climate generally involve being tall to expel more heat through the skin (while a cold-adapted person is generally more stout and short to keep more heat in with less skin surface area – there are always exceptions for other reasons, the Dutch are tall due to sexual preference of females, the African Baka people are shorter due to reasons still being discovered, most recently it is thought to due with denying puberty growth hormones because denying them retains immunity to certain dangers found in the environment or provides some advantages over niche environments). Part of being adapted tall and slim to dispel heat (Allen and Bergman’s laws for you curiosos) is that pelvises are more narrow, males even more than females, and narrow hips mean more straight femurs rather than the slight bow of wider/rounder hips, which means, if you go to physics, a faster turnover with no need for overcorrecting the bow, and less strain on joints. While a European body adapted to its environment would require different survival adaptations, the bow of the femur allows for less speed, but often more agility for moving through forests and up and down highland slopes and rocky craigs. Again, there are always exceptions, which is why you cannot identify race by a skeleton, though there are probabilities. 

Adaptions to altitude are their own category and they begin from birth and before. It’s so cool! Being born in high altitudes develops larger lungs for taking in more oxygen in the less oxygen-dense atmosphere, which can develop into barrel lung, where the chest is nice and round like a barrel to allow the lungs full expansion. That’s so cool! When I go to higher altitudes, my sea-level coastal body is just like... wheeze.  I also broke a bunch of ribs and they don’t expand easily due to complications, so it’s even harder for me to be at a higher altitude now, being adapted to it if I have to live there sounds ideal.

We seem to understand things like race are a result of biological adaptation to environments, but we don’t often carry on the conversation past that. What does adapting to climate change look like? What about colonization and immigration? What about pollution? What adaptions happened in the past, did we lose them when they were no longer necessary? How long does it take for people to become adapted to a new environment? Generations? Why do we socially present some things as more desirable than others? Why do we create beauty standards at all? How does a shared culture of diverse backgrounds even have a “standard?”

Everything comes down to predicting health and trying to live longer, to protect ourselves from danger. Whether that’s trying to be accepted by an outsider community or blending in with the “standard” at large, our understanding of beauty will continue to change as our social, political, economic, and climate/environment aspects of our shared culture change as well. For me, learning about why my body is the way it is was endlessly enlightening. Any doubts about my big nose (which was also broken, so bigger than my relatives’) are quelled by understanding that it helps humidify and avoid that horrible feeling I hate in dry air where it feels like my nose is going to start bleeding (I’ve only gotten it in saunas though). Moving around the country helped too, I understood a lot more about the purpose of those adaptions and saw how different localized beauty is marketed. 

In Southern California, along the coast, the ocean spray makes everyone’s hair a bit curly, the humidity is high and I loved it (Jake, not so much). But the sun got to me. I got so many new freckles and my skin was always a bit dry, I had to work extra hard to stay hydrated and moisturized (even though my Polish side tans really well and I don’t burn easily, I was always dehydrated). Then we moved up to Seattle and I loved it even more! My hair stayed curly (though I’ve since learned that shower water and products make the biggest difference), I got more freckles as my skin adapted to not needing so much melanin and my hair got a lot darker for a while, my eyes seemed to get lighter in San Diego, which was crazy (and kinda cool). Then we moved to the desert-desert, the straight Mojave, and my body did not love it. I smelled all the time (dry air, my sweat is made for humid, but not too humid lol, that’s why I think white people smell in Asia and it’s not just a stereotype), my hair got sun-bleached and I lost a lot of the curl, it wasn’t the worst, but I was only there for a few months. Then we came to New England and I started to notice the change in trends and how my own preferences had changed in beauty and fashion. Marginal peripheral influence will do a lot and I can’t imagine living in that with none of the “qualifying” standards. 

So basically, I’m writing this book of a post to say that if we step back and look at all the pieces, they have reasons, some of them shallow, others valid, but that they are changing and will always be changing and so is all of humanity. Your body is doing amazing things to protect you every single day, beyond digesting your food and feeding you dopamine. Every single thing about it has a purpose and a goal or a reason, except for maybe genetic mutations. I’m not going to go stand on a hill and say you’re missing an arm or your body hates you for a reason, my body built my stomach outside of me during fetal development and I promise that was just a fuck up, there was no reason (but my mom will tell you there was and it was God). 

Bodies are crazy cool, sometimes they mess up and make cancer and don’t notice and it gets too big and we need help. Sometimes they only have one red-haired gene and we get blonde and brunette men with confusing bright red beards (lol, Jake), sometimes we’re in the middle of an adaption and we get patchy beards while living in a society that values them (looking at you, boys from genetic lines of men adapting to humidity where beards kinda suck or cultures that don’t like them). Sometimes we have been moved to a place where our genes aren’t as advantageous or actually hurt us and we don’t know about it or have to work harder than others to stay healthy, and sometimes our native or natural diet isn’t available to us and we work really hard to stay healthy but our bodies just don’t respond because they can’t or won’t. 

For some people it feels overwhelming, or blasphemous, to talk about humanity as a whole, to look at ourselves as a single version of all the endless possible combinations of changes that can happen in a body, but I find it incredible! There is no one like you, but there are people who are similar, there are places where you’re perfect and there are cultural adaptions to help you when you’re not. Understanding the reason or purpose behind the body’s reasons for selection or change, combined with the lottery of your localized DNA options from your parents and potential genetic mutations during development and later in life, understanding that the body is always changing and adapting to what is best for you or catching up from past changes can explain so much of ourselves! 

I just think it’s really cool! 

I used to geek out about it a lot more and Jake would play a game where he would point at a face and ask me to guess their genetic heritage or combination of peoples/geographies. He still does it sometimes, I’m pretty good at it, but it’s more fun to be wrong and surprised, if I’m honest. Humans are just cool.

That being said, if there’s a thing about yourself you don’t like or don’t understand, that you feel doesn’t fit in to beauty standards and never will (for me, it was my nose and freckles, why so many freckles?), shoot me a message and I’ll do my best to tell you why it might be a thing so you can appreciate the incredible diversity of your own body as it adapts to your ancestors’ forced or willing migrations and changes to fit its new environments!

American beauty standards are complicated, but if there is one thing they always revolve around, it’s a humble confidence in your own value. I found that value in others, in seeing how intricate and unique humans are from each other, which lead to an appreciation of my own unique pieces. No industry standard or media pacification can take that or change it or judge it, because it’s your body doing its absolute best with the tools it has to protect you and make you the safest and most comfortable you can be in any place of the world. <3

[creampuffqueen]

Manon x Dorian baby heacanons

Introducing: witches!

-Manon and Dorian are, to say the least, an interesting couple

-They both have a TON of rebuilding to do after the war, so they're incredibly busy. They do see each other fairly frequently, though, as their countries border one another and Manon comes to train the wyverns.

-And whenever she's over in Adarlan, Dorian always meets her. Like always. Almost like he misses and cares about her or something.

-And we all know what these two get up to when they meet. We know what goes on in those bedrooms, closets, bathrooms, abandoned hallways, etc.

-But as Dorian's court, and his mother, return to the castle, people are pushing him to get married. His mother is flinging courtly ladies at him every other day.

-The witches don't care if Manon gets married, because it wouldn't matter anyway. A man that married into the royal bloodline could never be a witch king, unless he was an actual witch.

-But people in Adarlan want a queen.

-And Dorian is thinking about Manon all the time, he never stops thinking about her. He also thinks about what Yrene said when they parted, about them getting married.

-Finally when Manon comes to visit, Dorian decides to talk with her about it. She's slowly getting better at talking about her feelings, so she doesn't immediately slice Dorian in half when he suggests they talk.

-Dorian remembers her proposal, that night in the snow during the war. He knows she could never stand to be shackled to someone.

-So they talk about it

-And they come to the conclusion: They could stand to be married to each other.

-But the problem is that both are sole rulers of their countries. Manon has no heirs, nor does Dorian, and there's no way in hell he's letting Hollin have the throne.

-So they decide that they will be married. But they will live in their own countries and see each other as much as possible. That way they can still rule, but they will appease the people and themselves. And since they won't always be living together, Manon won't feel tied down.

-Dorian jokingly gets down on one knee to pop the question, Manon just rolls her eyes, says "yes" and hauls him to his feet before shutting him up with a kiss.

-They announce it right before she leaves, and Dorian is surprised his mother doesn't faint with the shock.

-Dorian decides to go with Manon to the wastes to announce it, and nobody there is surprised. Like at all. Glennis just grins at him, and the rest of the witches are like "congrats. Let's eat".

-The wedding is a quiet affair. They invite their friends and family, and it's a quick ceremony. Manon wears her flying leathers and strides down the isle with Abraxos at her side.

-Despite the simplicity, it's a good wedding, and Manon feels happy for the first time in ages.

-For the first six months they hardly leave each other's sides. They alternate between the Wastes and Adarlan. It's great. After six months they separate just a little, like Dorian going back to the palace for a while, and Manon stays in the Wastes. They still prefer to be together, though.

-After Yrene, Aelin, and Elide start popping out children left and right, Manon and Dorian are like "oh yeah, we should probably do that soon."

-Honestly they're the most chill couple out there. They have a chill talk about the whole heir situation, and decide this:

-They need two heirs, one for each kingdom. As a man Dorian can have kids for like seventy more years to come, but they want to have some while he's still young, and they want to have some near the age of the other kids they'll inevitably be hanging out with.

-So they try for a baby.

-With Manon's Crochan blood and Dorian's magic, they conceive quickly.

-With how busy they've been, Manon hasn't had much time to dwell on the past. But when she finds out she's expecting it all comes rushing back. Asterin would have been so happy for her. All of the Thirteen would have been so happy for her.

-Her pregnancy is fairly easy, compared to some. She's mostly just very emotional, and it's annoying because she has to keep up a badass reputation with her subjects.

-Dorian is so on top of things, he just wants her to be safe. Manon is conflicted between letting herself be cooped up, as is the witch custom, or just going on normally. She decides to act normal around everyone except Dorian, who is the only person she will allow to bundle her up and keep her confined.

-Dorian is so so excited to be a dad, he's already a bomb uncle to little Amelie and Rygan, and he adores all the other kids he's around. But deep down he's super super worried, because his dad was an asshole and what if he ends up like him?

-Manon is sick of being pregnant when she's like five months in. Because people are treating her differently, even Dorian, acting like she's fragile. And she's not fragile, but at the same time she's scared that she is because she grew up hearing the horror stories of witch birthings. But Crochans have it easier, they often have multiple children, so she hopes she can make it through.

-Yrene offers to deliver the baby, which Manon is fine with. Even more fine with when she suddenly goes into labor about a month early.

-Its a good thing Yrene was at the castle with her husband and children for a small party (Celebrating Chaol's birthday)

-The baby comes fast, like, born in only a few hours fast.

-Manon holds her baby in the wee hours of the morning. The baby doesn't have the same birthday as Chaol.

-It's a girl, which Manon already knew. She knew she'd have a little witchling.

-Despite the fact that the baby was born early, Manon is perfectly fine.

-And despite the fact she was born early and is a little small, the baby is perfectly fine as well.

-The baby has shining black hair, like her father. But when she opens her eyes they are a burning gold like her mothers.

-They decide to wait a bit to name her. They want to know what her future will be.

-After some talking a bit of debate, they decide again. This couple has become very good at making decisions.

-This baby girl will be the Crown Princess of Adarlan. This is since Dorian is mortal, and he could die, at like, any time. In theory.

-He won't, but you know what I mean. Adarlan needs an heir before the Wastes do.

-Because she's Adarlan's princess, Manon hands over the naming to Dorian.

-He wonders aloud if its tasteless to name your baby after a dead lover. Manon shrugs and says "Aelin and Rowan have done it. Just name the gods damned baby"

-She is named Aris Sorscha Blackbeak Crochan-Havilliard. Her name rivals that of Lyria Nehemia Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius.

-Aris is a good baby. A very good baby. She's always smiling and is sweet and very curious

-Surprisingly, Manon takes to motherhood very easily and naturally. At first whenever the baby cried she put her in bed with her and Dorian, but eventually she just gives up on the crib and they all co-sleep, which Manon later informs Dorian is something most witch mothers do. But she thought she wouldn't be able to stand having a baby in her bed, which is why she tried the crib.

-Dorian is a bomb dad. He never puts that child down, like, ever. Manon thinks it cute until she wants to hold the baby, then its annoying.

-They don't know if it's safe for a baby to travel by wyvern, so Manon rules her kingdom by messenger for about six months.

-Then she starts wyvern-training Aris

-She and Dorian take the baby to Abraxos, who falls in love with the babe at first sight. A few days later they take her on a small flight around a tower. Then around the garden, just over the top of the bushes. Then around the castle. Aris loves it, and she lets out little baby squeals and giggles.

-Being a witch, the air pressure doesn't bother her, and Manon watches her infant daughter flick down her third eyelid against the wind on instinct.

-They bring her to the Wastes, where everyone is happy to see them. There's an actual party for the homecoming of Aris, despite the fact the witches know she's not their heir.

-Glennis takes on her role of grandmother, or in this case, great-grandmother.

-Aris takes her first steps in the Wastes, as any proper witchling should. By this time its plain as day that she has Ironteeth blood. Whenever the baby gets excited she accidentally flicks out her iron teeth or nails.

-Her first birthday is celebrated in Adarlan, and she says her first word the same day. It's "dada"

-After her first birthday, Aris starts to show signs of her father's raw magic. Random objects will be thrown from the shelves whenever she throws a tantrum, gusts of wind blow through the nursery whenever she dreams, water will spurt from her bottle across the room, and other incidents occur.

-Aris is extremely curious, and she has a bit of a free spirit. She has a whole castle to roam and explore, and explore it she does. Dorian and Manon lose count of how many times they lose the baby.

-When she's about a year and three quarters, Manon suddenly gets a little bit of baby fever. She can't believe her daughter is almost two, and she longs for the days when she was just a wee babe in her arms, and not a squirming, magic witchling toddler. She loves her baby, but she can't believe how fast she's grown.

-She thinks its a bit undignified to feel like this, but she tells Dorian anyway. They decide to start thinking about another baby, an Heir for the Wastes.

-Well, thinking apparently leads to doing, because Manon finds out she's pregnant again about a month later.

-They tell Aris first, that she's going to be a big sister. She's so excited that the bedspread catches fire. Good thing they're used to things like that at this point and Dorian quickly puts it out and gets new sheets.

-Manon's second pregnancy isn't as emotional as it is nauseating. She's so sick, she can't hardly think about flying or else she'll puke. They're in the Wastes at this point, and Dorian has to return to Adarlan for an important meeting, and he doesn't want to leave Aris with Manon when her mother can hardly move without getting sick. So he takes the baby with him, and Aris is separated from her mother for the first time.

-She handles it surprisingly well, except for asking "wheres mommy" every ten minutes.

-Dorian spends as much time with his wife as he can while she's pregnant, but because the pregnancy is so rough he often has to take full charge of Aris, which usually means he has to leave Manon.

-It's upsetting, but it all works out in the end.

-The second Blackbeak Crochan-Havilliard girl is born in the middle of the afternoon, in the Witch Kingdom. Dorian had planned to bring Aris with him to stay with Manon in the final stretch of her pregnancy, but the baby comes early, while Dorian is still in Adarlan.

-Another witchling, with moon-white hair and sapphire eyes.

-Manon's heir, the Crown Princess of the Witch Kingdom

-Manon names her daughter Nysa Asterin

-She wishes she could name her daughter after all of the Thirteen, but that would be way too many names. So she settles for Asterin

-Right from the start, Nysa is a difficult baby. Unlike Aris, she is very fussy all the time and only quiets down if she's being held. After being separated from her family for so long Manon isn't going anywhere anytime soon, so she's fine with constantly holding a baby.

-Aris loves her baby sister, she always wants to hold her, but that makes Nysa cry, so then Aris gets upset and cries too.

-Nysa is wyvern-trained as well, and she loves it as much as her sister does.

-All of Nysa's firsts are in the Wastes. First steps, first words (Mama), first birthday. She goes to Adarlan as well, but she waits to have a first until she gets back to the Witch Kingdom

-Its right after Nysa's first birthday that Manon starts to feel funny. Like a, morning sickness funny.

-Oh

-They didn't plan for a third baby. They didn't plan for another baby at all. They had their heirs, their perfect and wonderful daughters, and that was all they needed.

-But, hey, it's happened, and there's no turning back now.

-So they tell their girls that they're getting another sister. Because Manon is sure that she's having another girl.

-This pregnancy isn't hard, like, at all. It's a breath of fresh air after the last one, especially since she has to look after two toddlers this time.

-And as usual, Manon is right. It's a baby girl.

-Her hair is white, like hers, but her eyes...

-One is bright gold. And the other is sparkling sapphire

-She's gorgeous

-They decide on her name together, because she technically is heir to both kingdoms.

-Her name is Kerrigan Rhiannon, along with her massive amount of last names.

-And holy gods, Kerrigan is a wild child.

-She walks and talks earlier than both her older sisters. By the time she's one and a half she's stringing together full sentences.

-And like both her sisters, she has both the iron nails and teeth, and raw magic. And she uses all her abilities to make trouble. Since she's not really a Crown Princess like her sisters, she gets away with a lot more and gets into way more trouble.

-When the girls are six, four, and three, Manon and Dorian decide to split them up and take them to their respective kingdoms. They see each other and visit often, but they spend a majority of their time with one parent. Except for Kerrigan, who hops between her parents nearly every time they visit.

-As the girls grow and their training gets more intense, both as warriors/magic wielders and princesses, they spend less and less time together.

-Of course, except for Kerrigan. She does what she wants. She has basic etiquette lessons and basic fighting lessons, but that's about it. Sometimes she requests more training, sometimes she doesn't.

-Manon and Dorian do their best to keep their children on good terms with each other, but it can be hard. Mostly between Aris and Nysa.

-The schedule for living with their parents is that they stay with one for nine months, and the other for three. Aris stays with Dorian for 9 and Manon 3, and Nysa has the opposite. And again. Kerrigan does what she wants.

-Some jealousy grows between the sisters, for getting to spend more time with one parent or whatever. Sometimes Kerrigan gets jealous that her sisters have such a structured life, and sometimes her sisters get jealous that she gets to do what she wants.

-As Aris gets older, she gets very bookish. She lives with Dorian for nine months of the year, so it's natural she loves reading. But she loves reading so much that she'll stay up late and be tired in the morning. Dorian, with a heavy heart, tells Aris that she can't read at night so she won't be tired. And Aris, naturally, doesn't listen, and instead reads by a single candle, or sometimes by moonlight. She does it so much she wrecks her eyesight.

-Nysa, living with witches for most of the year, is a lot more ruthless and bloodthirsty than her older sister is. She isn't raised to be a killing machine, like Manon was, but she's raised to be powerful.

-This difference in training creates a bit of a rift between Aris and Nysa, as Nysa believes her sister isn't using her full potential as a raw magic wielding witch when she spends so much time reading, and Aris thinks her sister is too bloodthirsty.

-However, they keep their arguments to themselves. So much, in fact, that their own parents don't know they don't get along

-When Nysa is ten, she begs Manon for a wyvern. And in this case, Manon relents to her children right away. She lets all three of them get a wyvern.

-She lets them each pick a hatchling and train it themselves. (Or really, train it themselves with quite a bit of help from Manon)

-And honestly it's the best feeling ever for Manon to be riding Abraxos through the clouds, with her daughters following behind her on their own wyverns and whooping to the skies.

-It's the best mother-daughter bonding moment possible. When they go off riding Dorian always conveniently has something to do. Really he just loves the idea of his wife and daughters all having bonding time together.

-For Dorian, the best bonding moments with his daughters differ for each. With Aris its either reading together or teaching her to do ballroom dances. With Nysa it's fencing and sparring. And with Kerrigan it's teaching her how to use her magic.

-They're a sight to see all together, five terrifying yet attractive people, all on wyverns.

-And even though they squabble and fight, they still all love each other.

-And that love is all Manon and Dorian could ever ask for.

The story Worlds of Fire and Darkness takes place when Aris is 18, Nysa is 16, and Kerrigan is 15

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #314

“as above, so below  /  what you reap is what you sow  /  what you give comes back threefold  /  as above, so below”

What do you do for work? I'm currently unemployed. I only get paid now and again to do pictures for people. What would you ideally like to do for work? I'd love if I could just be a photographer. What are you doing in order to achieve this? Practice and shoving my extreme discomfort about it aside and trying to promote myself where possible and not in an overbearing manner. What do you think is the worst being on the planet? "Rapists, pedophiles, abusive people in general." <<<< This. Anyone who disrespects the existence of other and equal people. Have you ever been arrested? If so, what for? No. How big an age gap is between you and your siblings? My immediate sisters and I are two years apart. My half-siblings, I don't know. I don't have their ages memorized, but I do know 5+ years, some even 10. Do/did your siblings cause trouble? Not really, we were good kids. What's your dream vehicle? I don't really have one. Are you good at taking care of your finances? What finances? And I don't mean that happily. What's your favorite comic strip? I don't have one. How many people have you texted today? Zero. Someone cheats. Second chance? Nope, byyyyeeeee. Thoughts on kids? Clay that I'm not playing with. Are you a risk taker? No. What are you listening to? I'm currently going through a phase of playing The Evil Within 2's theme nonstop, jc. Is/Was your high schools dress code strict? Not like, mega strict, but it still was overboard. No spaghetti strap shirts, and I even once got in trouble for wearing a floral mesh shirt, despite having a normal tanktop underneath it. It was weird, like no one had ever had a problem with it before, it was just this one teacher that I passed in the hall. Who was the last person to request you on a social media network - and did you accept? Someone I didn't know, so obviously not. Who was the last person’s vehicle that you rode in? Mom's. Who was the last person to make you laugh or smile, and why? Another current obsession of mine: John Wolfe, another let's player who I think is super funny. He said something that made me snicker before I turned on music and started this. Who was the last person that you took a photo with? My half-sister while she was visiting. Who was the last person to pay you a compliment, and what did they say? In group therapy the other day, one of the other women told me that even if I don't believe it, I bring so much positivity to group and she was really happy to be there while I am. I was so so super flustered but flattered, too. Who’s the last person that you visited in the hospital? My mom, following her surgery. Who is the last person that you lent money to? Actually today to Mom. What was the last food that you ate? I warmed up a burger for dinner. What did the last pair of footwear that you wore look like? They're just black flipflops. What was the last kind of bread that you ate? Just plain white bread. What was the last app that you downloaded to your phone? Oh wow, I never do this. I want to say it was a game for my niece. When was your last work shift? I haven't worked in a long time, so idk. When is the last time that you had trouble falling asleep? This is literally every single night. When was the last time you saw a significant other? I ain't got one'a those. When’s the last time that you took a risk? What was the risk? Well, I did say I'm not a risk-taker... Where was the last place that you went on vacation to? You know, how long does it have to be to be considered a "vacation?" I would say not since I went to the beach with an old friend, but it was literally a day. Where was the last place you got lost? uhhhhhhh Why did your last relationship fail? We need to work on ourselves before we could properly support each other and stay in a healthy mindset. Why did you leave your last job? I couldn't handle the stress of serving people and having so many responsibilities at once. How long has it been since you last visited a doctor? How about a dentist? I literally went to the doctor today because I had a follow-up appointment about my weight gain again. I haven't been to the dentist in a few months; I had a normal cleaning my last visit. How big was the last fish you caught? Oh boy, this is stretching years back. It was probably something small, idr at all. Give me the first initial of your last name? D. Something in your home that’s on its last leg(s)? We just moved here, so nothing that's a part of the house itself. As far as items we actually own, idk. Where do you purchase most of your clothes? I haven't gotten new clothes in so long, idk. I would probably say Hot Topic. Describe your skincare routine. I don't have one, if I'm being honest. I just shower. What’s your typical morning routine look like? I don't have one of those, either. The only thing that's consistent is going to the bathroom, eating, and taking my meds. Even brushing my teeth, the time of day when I do that (if I'm not leaving the house) varies. Then it's time to just binge stuff on YouTube and do whatever on the laptop... Are you still playing Animal Crossing? I've never played it, actually. How has the pandemic specifically affected you? It's caused a lot of stress worrying about my mom falling ill, given her being immunocompromised. It's also held me back from searching for another job (even though I don't know what I'd go for, anyway...), because I absolutely refuse to risk bringing Covid into this house by leaving it daily or whatever. What is your main source of anxiety? Being mentally ill, really. It just affects a lot. Any bands or artists you’ve recently discovered? Not very recently, no. What kind of games do you play on your phone? Just Pokemon GO nowadays. Do you have a specific aesthetic? It varies. I love dark, gothic, and gory stuff, but then I also love everything pink and pastel?????? Pastel gore is especially where it's at. Describe the moment you realized you were falling in love with someone. I'd rather not. What’s your favorite sparkling water brand/flavor? I've never even tried it before. What’s your favorite makeup brand/brands? I don't wear nearly enough makeup to be even remotely familiar with any. What’s your all-time favorite movie? It'll probably always be The Lion King. Do you have any subscription boxes? No, but they're cool. What fictional creature would you like as a pet? On deviantART today I actually discovered a fantastic artist who does a lot of HTTYD fanart, and I would say as a dragon lover, Toothless would be soooo great. Have any local businesses closed that you’re sad about? I'm certain tons have closed, but none come to mind. How do you feel about TikTok? I don't feel anything about it. Did you/do you still have a Neopets account? Haha I've had like... two or three at different stages in my life. What were you doing at 9 o'clock this morning? That's actually when (virtual) group therapy starts. Are you wearing any jewelry? Yeah; my piercings (if you count them) and then two rings that I always have on. Are you good at hiding disappointment? No. I'm bad at hiding my emotions because they're so strong. What happened the last time you cried? lmaooo I was finishing watching a The Evil Within 2 LP yesterday, and like, the last hour or so of the game just rips me apart. I was hoping so bad that my mom didn't pass by and ask what the problem was. What would your parents be surprised to learn about you? Both would be stunned to know the situation I had with Joel/my former best friend's boyfriend when I was around 12. What fictional character do you have the biggest crush on? dARKIPLIER Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world? When all things are considered, like laws, seeing family, etc., somewhere in Canada, or maybe Alaska. Actually, Alaska would be really cool. What after school activities did you do in high school? I didn't have any, if you mean like, school sports and clubs. I did do dance once or twice a week, but it wasn't tied to my school. What’s the last book you really loved? I positively adored The Handmaid's Tale. If you could have been a child prodigy what would you have wanted to be skilled at? My writing was seen as very exceptional for my age as a kid, but it still would've been awesome if it was even better. If earth could only have one condiment for the rest of time, what would you pick to keep around? Uhhh I guess ketchup. I use that the most of all options. What is the scariest experience you have ever had? The night of the breakup. It was such an impossible concept to me that I genuinely thought my life was over, that I'd pull the plug at any moment. Who is a non-politician you wish would run for office? Oh, hunny, Markiplier lmao. Call it a bias all ya want, but he's just a genuinely incredible person that cares so much for everyone and is so serious about equality and just being a good person. Do you think it’s important to stay up to date with the news? It's very hypocritical of me to say, but yes, regardless. Do you own plants? If so, what kind of plants? If not, would you like to grow any? I've never been into growing plants, honestly. Is there a city that you have a particular fondness for? If so, what city is it and why? No, not really. When was the last time that you acted impulsively? Is this a common behavior for you? I dunno, I've gotten better at this. I probably said something I shouldn't have. If you received an allowance as a kid, what kinds of things would you buy with it? Were you more the type to save up for something big, or spend it on little things? I didn't get one. When you cuddle with someone, how do you prefer to position yourself? Would you rather be held, or do the holding? Or both? Are we sitting or lying down? Either way I think I have a tendency to lay my head on their chest while hugging them, and my legs generally curl up. If I'm upset, I definitely feel better and just a greater sense of safety if I'm the one being held, but if the roles are swapped, then I like to be the one doing the holding because I know that's what I want when I'm upset, so treat others how you wanna be treated, y'know. When you woke up today, did you find unread messages from anyone? No. Have you recently told anyone that you miss them? Yes. Can you recall the last time you turned down an offer, of any kind? Mom asked if I wanted to come with her to Ashley's a few days ago, but I said no. I wasn't in a social mood at all. Is there anyone you interact with every day on social media? No. What was the main character's name in the last fictional book you read? Sunny. Have you ever been rejected by a church? No. Is your family nice to you? Yeah. Are you comfortable with your gender? Yeah. What was your favorite Mary-Kate and Ashley film? I don't remember; we had a couple, though. What was your favorite book you had to read for school? The Outsiders. What was your favorite Nickelodeon show? ngl, I don't remember a lot of them and don't feel like looking up a list. Do you still live in the house you grew up in? No. Which Spice Girl was your favorite? I don't remember their names. Do you think you look the best you've ever looked? Oh hell no. Have you been hurt by religion? Yes, honestly. In Truth or Dare, would you rather choose Truth or Dare? I always choose "truth." Have you ever had more than one crush at once? Yeah, I think that's perfectly normal to feel, even for someone monogamous like myself. Just when you establish a relationship, then it's time to make a choice. What social issue do you care about most? This is hard to say with how passionately I hold my opinions, but probably LGBTQ+ rights. It's just... so disgusting to me that I was once homophobic. It's like I want to make up for it. Just the idea of being repulsed by love just because someone has "the wrong thing" in their pants is just... appalling. When was the last time you read a Bible? Many, maaaany years ago I started reading it, but I didn't get very far at all. Do you own a Bible? I personally don't, but I know Mom has one, maybe multiple. Do you discover new music regularly? No; I very much stick to what I know. It's great when I do, though, given that that's how I find new songs to repeat to the grave. What does your first name mean? "Of Britain" or something like that. What country do you live in? U.S.A. Do you believe that gays are born that way? Uh, yes? Who honestly believes a homosexual would *choose* to be in the discriminated minority? People are murdered and abused for simply their sexuality; no sane person would "choose" to risk that torture.

[sigilscriber]

You’re a Witch??? Rant ahead

Today, like so often, I got that same reaction when I told someone at work I was a practitioner.  As always the sterio-typical “But witches are women” was the first thing that crossed their mind. But it often goes beyond that when it comes to me.  

I am also tagged with “Where is all your crystals and pendants?” “I thought they only where black?” “Where are your robes?” “Where are your rustic renaissance clothes?” “Where are you goth clothes?” “What is you wand?” “What school can I apply to?” “Is there really a sorting hat of sorts.” “Where is your familiar?” “Do you know Alyssa Milano?” “You must have thousands of books” “My bosses best friends daughter is Wiccan?” “Aren’t you actually a Wizard?” “Can I see your book of spells?” “Ooooooooooh My daughter soooo loves Sabrina.” “My ancestors lived in Salem during the trials”  DEEP SIGH!

Thanks Hollywood, 

I guess we went from being classed as being green and ugly to being new age- sparkly-hippies, battling monsters and bad witches. No change. Still mis-represented. If even more so. 

On average I am just your average college guy. No robes or outrageous garb, no crystals or rings, no piercings. Not even a tattoo. Okay I DO have one heptagram pendant that I wear under my shirt (Just like a Christian or Jew.) And yes I admit I do have a small collection of mortar and pestels and herbs. I just happen to like the shapes and makes of different mortars.  I do have a wand but it stays in the draw of my altar. I am not bashing people that do where and have all that gear, clothes and stuff. To each their own. I’m not into hats at all, not into robes and ren shirts. I do not even have a car slathered with tons of witch stickers. I do not need that stuff. Yes, I do have a special pair of jeans and T shirt I like to wear for certain ceremonial works. But even the shirt is just a plain blue t-shirt. Nothing on it. I mean if you saw me crafting, I would look like a pain ordinary guy. I do not have a book of spells of Shadows. I do however have a prayer book I made. I use to have tons of books, but realized it was all the same wiccan stuff being written over and over and over and over and over and over. I ditched them all.

And this whole idea that because I am a witch, people think the only way they can relate to me is bringing up something like “Oh I know someone who sells crystals in Australia” or “Do you know Rowling?”  Point of fact. not only do I NOT know her but I LOATH her. She is the cause of my bitterness.

There are days when people pull this on me I feel like asking “Oh you are Christian? Can I see your bible? Do you know Archbishop Wenski? Why are you not wearing a head covering? Yeah I had a Christian relative that was mauled by lions in Roman. Of course I won’t but there are days....

Its bad enough that they continue to make shows and movies that makes ANYONE that’s remotely new age or a witch like they are some comical nerd, dim-witted or clutz. There are times I would love to see a show were the family is Pagan or witches and look and act as normal as anyone else or even well-off, but its the Christian/Jewish neighbors that are made to look like the “freaks”. And seriously, if I ever met Rowling  or the creators of Salem, Charmed or Sabrina I would probably bash their heads in  with the closest thing I could grab. And you seriously do not want to know what I would do to the asp-hole creators of Supernatural and all those Ghost Hunter shows.

They think its cute to play around and make TV series and movies out of peoples seriously dedicated arts and lives. Let see them make a “Magickal/MIracle” movie about a church of Christians VS Jews. Have them casting “miracles” like parting water, multiplying food, turning furniture into animals. burning flora and water into blood. Lets have a movie where kids go to a different monasteries and learn to make holy water and oils, learn prayers to battle other monasteries. They can be based off of the 4 arch angels and can be chose by an animated rabbi hat. The headmaster can be Noah. And they can get helper cherubs. And it all can take place in the Garden of Eden that they reach by a golden elevator shaped like an arc. Oh and there will be giants, unicorns, fauns, phoenixes, talking snakes and dragons (Because all of these creatures are mentioned in the bible as real) Yeah and the Jews and Christians can turn each other to pillars of salt. And hey, lets have prayer beads and rosaries bestow special powers like strength and invisibility. I mean why not????

Lets have a Show where the family is Pagan/Witches living in a nice house in Suburbia, dad is an executive and mom is a teacher. No special effects, no house with tons of “supposed “ withy stuff is strewn everywhere. No mention of them being pagan or a witch. Maybe just one small pentacle or sacred symbol on the far wall. Now and then at dinner they will have a meal blessing. Have the friend/neighbor be some half wit blonde Christian with huge hair that’s like “Oh I have a rosary for that” any time a problem pops up and works in a Christian book store.

In short: No. Not ALL witches wear tie-die shirts with pentacles on it, Not all witches where tons of rings and pendants. Not all look like some uber goth chick or stoner hippy. Not all have arms emblazed with tattoos. Not all have spell books. Not all live in Victorian/Georgian manors with herbs and glass baubles everywhere. There is no wrinkled elves, Hogwarts or invisibles trains. Some of us wear suits or gym clothes, live in Levitown houses and 40 floor apartments and do not have a single tattoo or crystal. We do not go to special invisible schools nor battle evil witches and monsters with wands. The only robe we wear are bathrobes and the only hat we wear is a hoodie or driving cap.       

[youaresimplycomplex]

Lady of the Orc [Part 3]

“Sooo….” Varbuk said, “Where did you want to start.”

“I.. uuuhhh,” was all Ashlynn could manage. She had tons of questions but they wouldn't come to her.

“How about you start?” She said hoping to give herself some time.

“Uuuhhhhh…” he said as well, they were both hopeless.

“Oh I've got one! What is this place?” Ashlynn asked.

Varbuk looked confused and said “My house?”

“No, I mean the town. What it is called.”

“OOOHH! Sorry, it's called Buried Hatchet.”

“Not a particularly subtle name, is it?” Ashlynn teased his home.

“Subtlety is overrated, we say what we mean and mean what we say. Also isn't your home a valley full of Birch trees, called Birch Vale?” Well he had her there. Though the flexible Birch does make a beautiful crest for her family.

“Fair enough but if it was named like your home, it would be called Utter Incompetence.”

“Or Bad Neighbor,” Varbuk offered with a laugh, that she joined into. It was like thunder the way he laughed. She was a little jealous on how his voice boomed and filled the room.

“So the humans are experiencing famine right now right? That's why Utter Incompetence invaded?"

“Yeah harvest was bad these last couple years. You here seem unaffected though, what's your secret?” It had been a tough two years. The store houses had keep everyone from starving but not by much.

“How do I know your not a spy?” He said in his playful way.

"Hhmm well, I've obviously gone rouge."

"True," he said while pretending to think, "So I guess I can trust you." He then laughed again. "My father being so connected with nature helps. We also switch around what we are growing from time to time."

"And switching out crops helps?"

"That's what my dad told me, says it keeps the earth spirits happy."

"Earth spirits?"

"Yeah, spirits of the Earth?" Varbuk said almost confused. Ashlynn had heard of the fey and many magical phenomenon, but never considered anything so close to home.

"Sorry I've just never heard of such things"

"Well the natural world has tons of spirits. Me and my dad commune with them."

"Wait you can talk to these spirits?"

"Not me my dad can. I can more or less call on their powers with the right rituals. That's how fight by calling on the strength of a bear."

"Does it work?"

"Well I'm still here aren't I?" He said while looking away, posing with a huge grin.

"Fair enough," Ashlynn said while stealing a glance at Varbuk's still exposed chest while his eyes were elsewhere. "Is there anything else you can do?"

"Uhhhhh…" he said deflating from his pride. "OH! I know, I can talk to animals!" He ran out of the with a quick assurance he'd be back. Ashlynn could hear and feel his footfalls head down stairs and towards the kitchen. She was left alone with her thoughts again. That was most of her days honestly but now she just wanting Varbuk back in the room with her. She realized how strange it was, about a week ago she was about to be forcibly married to him and dreading it. Now though she lying in bed, eager to see him return.

"Well I don't want him like that I just want to talk to him." she said to herself quietly. As soon as the words left her she knew how much it was a lie. She had been peeking at his pecs all day. He was tall, and handsome so unlike all the other men at court. She had seen how courtly men like their women though. Not wanting love they just wanted something to own. Varbuk actually listened to her. Let her speak and was receptive to it.

As her mind swirled around, her heart suddenly thumped in her chest. It took her by surprise because she had barely noticed it all this time, muffled by the poison. Now though it was surging with life. She started to worry but then she heard Varbuk thundering up the stairs with someone else's familiar footsteps.

Sure enough Fluffy came bounding into the room and hopped up onto the bed and then laid down on top of Ashlynn. She panicked for a second but he hadn't stepped on her at all and the new weight was nice. Varbuk enter the room, with some candles and some herbs.

"This will take a minute or two but once I do this, I'll be able to talk with Fluffy." Ashlynn was a little taken aback but remained silent as the orc set about. He took off his shoulder coverings and great axe, leaving his entire top half exposed. This was the most she had seen a man undressed in all her life. She couldn't help but admire him. Hair dusting his breast and leading down to a happy trail down his stomach. His pecs were most prominent sticking out of his barrel chest.

Ashlynn tried to distract herself by petting Fluffy but to no avail. He lit candles and burned some incense. He also put painted claw marks on his chest. Then he sat down on the chair facing Fluffy. His hands were placed in his lap for meditation. He was so focused on his spell he didn't notice Ashlynn's cheeks turning red. He closed his eyes and began to speak in a low voice. She couldn't understand him but it definitely sounded orcish.

This went on for a time then suddenly he let out an animalistic growl. This spooked Ashlynn but it was not the end of the weirdness. A menagerie of animal sounds came from between his two tusks. It was strange but as quick as it happened, it stopped. His eyes flew open and glowed slightly. He then looked at Ashlynn.

"Watch this," he said turning back to Fluffy. He then began to bark at the dog in a way that could not be an impression. Fluffy's attention immediately went to the orc. They barked back and forth like they we actually conversing.

"What are you two talking about?"

"I'm just asking my best bud in the whole world how he's doing."

"And he can understand you?"

"Yeah, we've been talking to each other forever now. Though back when I was little, my dad would do the talking for me. I asked him so much he taught me this ritual so he could stop being the middleman." He went back to barking at his dog for a second.

"Fluffy says he likes you," Varbuk said with a goofy grin.

"I can tell, let him know that I like him too."

"He's said he's happy." Then as he listened to fluffy his face showed some concern.

"Everything ok Varbuk? What did he say?" He looked a bit stunned for a second but then said, "I can finally hear her heartbeat. It's been so quiet ever since we meet." He took a moment to think, "What does he mean by that?" She knew exactly what he meant.

"Whatever is affecting me seems to be affecting my heart and just now it started beating at full force again."

"Really!?" Varbuk said before putting his ear up to Ashlynn's chest. She was more than a little flustered at a half naked man who now had his head on her breasts.

"Wow it's going really fast are you ok?" The intruding orc said before looking up and seeing his blunder. He pulled away and stammered

"I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN-" Now both of their faces were painted crimson embarrassment. Ashlynn pulled herself together first.

"It's fine, no harm done, just no one else has gotten that close before."

"None of your suitors make it that far?" Her answer was plain on her face before it left her mouth.

"I... didn't have suitors. Unlady like behaviors such as quick wit and speaking out, wasn't very popular back home. What about you? There must be someone vying for your affections." Now it was Varbuk's turn to look self-conscious.

"I'm the only orc my age here. Most people were too afraid to have kids in their old orc clans. Afraid to bring kids doomed to their fate." He looked sad for a moment but then a bit of happiness warmed his face as he continued.

"Not my mother though, she had before my father convinced her to leave. They did their best to make sure I didn't fall into the hateful ways of my peers." It was quiet for a second but then Ashlynn spoke.

"Well they did a wonderful job. You're overflowing with kindness, even to me who not too long ago was a stranger, and worse your enemy."

"Thanks, I want to protect the home my parents worked so hard to build. What about your family though? They can't be all bad."

"Unfortunately yes they are." Ashlynn said with a sigh.

"Really!?"

"Yeah, my mother died after having Franklin, my younger brother. So it's just me, my two brothers and the colossal asshat that is my dad. And since my brothers want to rule one day they suck up to my father like it's what they were born to do. They all found new ways to belittle me because of how I speak my mind. The family library taught me all I needed to know though so I didn't need them."

"Geez, that must of been rough though."

"It was, I felt like there was nothing I could do and nowhere I could go. Those books let me go places I could never go." There was another silence between them. Varbuk started to awkwardly fidget and then said,

"You know I could take you sometime." Ashlynn was surprised but he continued.

"I've traveled around a good bit and still know the way around. Once we get this curse and Bad Neighbor situation figured out maybe we can go somewhere."

"I would like that" Ashlynn couldn't help but smile, this orc had that effect on her.

__________________________

“Finally I got a hit on the beast and I cut his head off with one strike of my axe!” Varbuk said while play acting out his story, decapitating the empty air.

“Impressive but if you dodged all its swipes how’d you get that scar?” Ashlynn said pointing to wound on his foot that started this story.

“Well on the way back, me and my hunting master are carrying back our prize. Then he stubbed his toe and dropped the dead thing onto me. The owlbear got its revenge when one of it’s lifeless talions dug into my foot. To this day I won’t let him live it down,” Varbuk sat down in the bedside chair.

“Sure, it was you hunter master and not you inability to evade owlbears, that earned you that shinner.” Ashlynn playfully mocked her friend’s bravery.

“It's true and you don’t believe me, we’ll go pin down ol’ Ferger and he’ll tell you the same story,” Varbuk, came back with. “Besides that how I got the feathers for your cloak.” Ashlynn picked up the cloak and started to puppet it around.

“Varbuk I’ve come for... THE OTHER FOOT!” Then she threw it on top of him as they both laughed.

Shouting from outside stopped their giggles. Another new arrival in town. One glance and then they were hurriedly getting ready.

“You think it's Rachthar?” Ashlynn said slipping into her shoes. The fancy dress shoes now carrying about six days worth of dirt, from running out to see everyone who comes to town.

“Let's pray it is, they've been overdue for 2 days now.” They both shared a worried look.

They both were making a quick pace towards the eastern gates. The orcs had fortified a lot over the past couple of days. The once small cobble walls now rose into a looming fortress barricade. Lots of Fields were left outside guarded by fences and the people who worked them. There was a tension in the air. Anyone new could be a simple merchant or a herald of war.

The odd duo made their way up one of the lookout towers that flanked the gate. From there anyone could see far along the path that wound through the hills. On that road today three figures walked to the town. Each one with a different shade of skin, green, red and blue. The green figure was obviously an orc, with a large frame Ashlynn had seen plenty of by now. The other two were strange she had never seen or heard of people with such skin tones.

“It's Rachthar!” Varbuk shouted with a leap. He started to wave at the small band.

“Where's the cleric?”

“He's the crimson tiefling”

Ashlynn paused and turned to him and said, “What's a tiefling?”

“Wait you don't know? We really need to get you out more. Maybe put you out on fluffy's old leash.” He said quite smugly before he got elbowed in the ribs by Ashlynn. “Should put you on a leash.”

“Woof woof” he said with a laugh. “Well tieflings are people with infernal blood.”

“Like demons and devils? Does that make them dangerous?”

“No they just get a bad reputation. Besides if they're dangerous because of their heritage what's that make us.”

“Fair enough. I'm sorry I didn't mean to insult.”

“I know you didn't, you just gotta be willing to have an open mind."

“Alright then, then I'll try.”

“Sweet,” he said, smiling. By the end of their talk the trio of people had reached the gates.

“OPEN THE GATES OUR FRIENDS ARE HERE!*

Varbuk yelled, his booking voice thundering out. Ashlynn, Varbuk, and his parents all meet up at the gates to meet the Peacemaker and his companions. The imposing wooden barriers swung open to reveal the new arrivals to Ashlynn.

The orc was built like many the orcs she had seen. He wore an array of colors, along with the tambourine and lute he looked more like a mistrial then a diplomat. The Peacemaker had each side of his head shaved down and hair left on top was tied into a four part fishtail braid. He walked with a confidence in his stride. He looked closer to Varungad's age than anyone else.

The red tiefling, up close, was clearly the cleric. His robes were plain but practical. He carried a pair of small wooden hands bound at the wrist with red cord, the holy symbol of Ilmater. His skin was a darker red like a velvet rust. His horns came from each side of his head and around the front like a bull's.

He had a thick tail trailing behind him off the ground. His eyes glowed with a warm yellow. The poor man of god looked a bit nervous his hands drawn up and walking as close to Rachthar as politely possible.

Now the second tiefling was a wild sight. His skin varied from sky to navy blue fading across his body. Which a lot of it was on display. He wore a jacket with no shirt underneath. And his pants only went down slightly past his knees. Unlike the other two, who each were attentive to what was happening, he seemed bored and uninterested. His horns were the wildest part about him, 6 of them rose out of his head of red hair to form a small crown. The horns in the front higher than the back. He had a tail but it was much thinner and flicked around like it had a mind of it own.

“Varungad!” Rachthar said greeting him with a hug.

“Sorry for the delay, we ran into a bit of trouble on the way. Just some bandits with bad business savvy. How are things here?” The chief paused and after a look around and responded,

“Complicated, but first we need the help of you clerical friend.” It was only a moment of surprise before the horned priest stepped forward.

“How can I help, is someone hurt?” His previous nervous demeanor replaced with a serious face and tone.

“Come and I'll explain,” and with that he began to lead the way.

_______________________________

Varungad and Varbuk caught up their guests on the recent events. As usual Varbuk was very active in his storytelling. Ashlynn sat and listened to this story again. He was getting rather good at telling it but he may be running out of people to tell it to. As she listened she found herself distracted, but not by Varbuk this time. Cackle the blue tiefling, had a presence that Ashlynn could feel. An Aura that seemed to surround him. No one noticed it, except for her but just as she started to pay attention to it he seemed to notice her eyes.

She looked away but Ashlynn new she was caught. Cackle didn't say a word, but his aura began to push outwards. Ashlynn could feel it shoving her she tried to ignore it but it shoved anyways. She tried to shrug it off and surprisingly it worked. Cackle's aura was pushed back.

She looked and saw that the tiefling was staring at her with a question on his face. Before he could ask the others had finished their retelling.

"So what I'm hearing is things have gotten messy." Rachthar said leaning toward in his chair.

"That's a nice way of putting it but yeah." Varangard said.

"You're definitely not in a envyable situation, my Friend. The Duke Brandon is going to be quite a foe to face, but I insist we try to make peace again." Rachthar said.

"AFTER SUCH NAKED HOSTILITIES!!??" Varbuk's mother shouted with slammed fist.

"Gurrock," Varangard tried in vain to calm his wife.

"THAT WORM LITERALLY TRIED TO STAB US IN THE BACK!" Despite her volume, she had some solid ground to be mad.

"Yes he did but going to war with him will lead to not a lot of good things. First of all it's exactly what they expect of us. It will confirm every suspicion that all those nobles have. Secondly if we win, he'll just limp back to his keep and call on his allies for aid. Then you'll fighting your whole lives to keep want you've gained." Rachthar paused and let it sink in, then went on.

"Now two of his plans to sweep you away have failed. So he could be a bit easier to sway towards peace. Also you have Lady Ashlynn on your side." All the heads in the room looked at her.

"Well I'm no use, he won't listen to me."

"Well he's going to have to, you're the only high ranking human that isn't in your Dad's pocket," Rachthar said. Ashlynn still wasn't sure but then Varbuk spoke up.

"And we'll have your back. We won't let him ignore you." The young orc said with such conviction that she almost believed it.

'But maybe let me see If I can remove the curse, so she's in proper health." Lumos said speaking up reminding Ashlynn of her supernatural illnesses. She got up and leaned onto the cleric letting him carry her up to her room.

"Sorry if this is weird, but -"

"If you're going to ask why I turned to Ilmater, It's okay, I get that a lot."

"Actually I was going to ask about Cackle, what's his story?." The tiefling was a bit surprised. Ashlynn was looking for any answers about that aura he radiated.

"Here go ahead get into bed and I'll tell you." She did as she was told and got onto the large bed.

"I'll be honest, I don't know much about him. We meet him along the way. He helped us out fight off some bandits that had thought we had something valuable."

"How's that he doesn't look the type to be able to use a sword too well."

"Well he's a sorcerer."

Ok that's new, Ashlynn thought.

"So like a wizard?"

"Sort of but they can use magic innately without having to study but they can't learn new spells easily." She had never heard of such powers. That might explain him having an aura.

The tiefling bowed his head in prayer as began to move his hands over Ashlynn. She felt the holy magic take hold onto her then suddenly it felt like she couldn't breathe. It's like her soul was being pulled out of her chest. The familiar darkness spiking and clinging to her. Then it stopped and Ashlynn gasped for air.

"Are you okay?" Lumos asked, sounded scared. It took a minute of deep breathing before she could answer.

"I'm okay but it's not gone."

"I've never seen a curse like that."

"Any other way to get rid of curses?"

"A dispel magic by a powerful wizard might work but I'm not sure." Lumos saw the despair forming in Ashlynn and tried and comfort Ashlynn, but then a shout from outside

"SPY!"

Ashlynn ran outside with everyone else. They saw a human running and jumping from house to house. Varbuk and Varungad ran after him and without thinking so did Ashlynn. They chased after him barely managing to keep up. The human ran for the wall. The orcs shouted for him to stop but he rudely keep running away. Ashlynn could feel whatever darkness flaring up inside her. The pain was growing in her chest.

It was certainly one of her Father's spies. He had built up a 50ft lead on them and wasn't getting slower. Arrows and crossbow bolts flew at him but all missed.They had to stop him, her father already had enough of an advantage. All the people he would hurt.

Thump.

The people trying to live their lives.

Thump!

The pain in her chest swelled but her heart started to beat over it.

THUMP!

So she reached out a hand and with the most commanding voice she could muster she shouted,

“STOP!” The pain shot into her arm. Suddenly the spy twisted and stopped, paralyzed.

There was a pause a long shadow stretched from Ashlynn to the frozen human. She could feel that she was holding him in place, somehow.

This moment was short lived though, as she had only stunned him. Gravity took hold and had him tumbling down and off the roof. He landed on the ground face down and some of the guards ran up and grabbed him.

"How did you do that?" Varbuk asked as he rushed over to Ashlynn side?

"I don't know I just reached out an-" she was cut off by a loud laughter, a Cackle if you would. The blue tiefling was bent over laughing. Before anyone could say anything he spoke.

"I KNEW YOU WE'RE LIKE ME!" He said pointing rather triumphantly at Ashlynn.

"What are you talking about?" She asked worried and confused by it all.

"You a sorcerer too!"

[twoidiotwriters1]

Prologue of Written In The Stars (Harry Potter xFem!Oc)

A/N: Suprise! This is totally self-indulgent so if any of you read it that’s a win (but do let me know if you like it) this is only the prologue but I still don’t know the title of the whole series so yeah... be ready for a long, long, ride.

Words: 2,307

Series’ Masterlist

Chapter One 

Stories tend to be told like they were made for the people in them. 

It's our job to understand a simple thing: that's not how life works. The world is much more complicated, it's years of history piled into little actions that collide in one end, people are born so others can change the world, this is why we can't live without the other.

This story is about a girl with remarkable power, a baby that grew for war, and a bond far more stronger than any magic.

And it all started with two kids on a train.

But first, a little bit of background story:

Emily Sultens was the daughter of a Magizoologist and an Auror, both in their late forties when they had her, but always loving and caring, they gave her the best of the best. Emily grew up surrounded by all kinds of magical creatures and spooky stories from Dad's work. It was easy to say that Emily couldn't wait to have her own adventure, and when she got the letter from Hogwarts in 1971, she was ready to prove her value.

Matt Dumbledore, on the other hand, was the only son of Aberforth Dumbledore. His mother, a humble witch who lived in a small village, died at the moment of birth. His uncle, the famous Albus Dumbledore found him and took care of him for most of his life, Matt lived in Hogsmeade during his childhood prior Hogwarts with his father, but Aberforth never addressed him as his son for reasons that only him and his brother knew.

Matt grew up in a quiet, dusty home, He inherited his uncle's traits, a clever mind and infinite patience to get the things he so desperately wanted. Matt wouldn't allow anyone to compare him to his family members, he was his own person, and he'd create his own path.

The Daily Prophet watched his every move, being the only heir of a long-lasting family known for their incredible talent, and the rumors surrounding his birth (many believed he was actually Albus' son) Matt grew up with thousands of rules he was ready to break.

On September first, 1971 Matt and Emily met, and after a few years of friendship, they fell in love and had a kid: Mel Dumbledore.

Emily had spent the whole night watching over her daughter, she knew something was wrong when Matt didn't arrive.

When Dumbledore appeared on the doorstep holding Mel... well, she just knew. She was prepared for it, after all being an Auror, especially on times like this, wasn't easy. What she hadn't expected to hear was that only one survivor had been found: Harry.

Remus came to her as soon as he heard, both with a sense of betrayal since it was no one but their friend Sirius the one who told the Dark Lord where his friends were. She held Mel tight against her chest, the only logical thought being 'She's alive, she's with me' until Dumbledore appeared again the next morning.

And of course, he had a plan. One that involved Emily and her daughter moving miles away from their current home. Emily accepted, she could only think of the thousands of memories she had of Matt in that house, and the ones that would never come.

Harry had an aunt, who was married and had a kid the same age as him, all she had to do was to move next door to keep an eye on the boy, make sure no Deatheaters would appear since things were still dense in the wizarding world. She had to make sure Harry would live to turn eleven.

Why she accepted, she didn't know. Maybe part of her thought it was cruel to pull apart the babies. Even if they were too little to remember, they shared a bond. Harry was her best friends' son. She couldn't turn her back on him, she would never.

So Emily packed her bags and that same afternoon she moved over to Privet Drive Nº5.

The young woman gave up on magic, she kept her wand safely hidden in her bedroom and raised her daughter in the muggle world, away from all the things that could hurt her. She knew that at some point Mel would find out, on her eleventh birthday to be precise, but it was all just too complicated. How would she tell the little girl that her father died in the hands of a murderer? How could she tell her that the boy living next to them was a legend from where they came from? No, she'd wait. Then, once Mel had her letter, she would explain everything.

"Was that everything, Mily?" Remus asked, putting the last box in the living room.

"Yes," Emily covered Mel's little body with a blanket, she then poured two glasses of firewhiskey and gave one to Remus.

"To the Potters," She raised her glass.

"To Mel... and Matt," Remus added.

She stopped for a moment, remembering the news article she read that morning.

"To the boy who lived."

Both of them finished their drinks in a matter of seconds.

What now?

Six years later after that quiet morning when Petunia had found Harry at her doorstep, things hadn't changed much on Privet Drive. Same bushes, same houses, same people. Time had gone by though, even if you didn't see at plain sight.

Mel was now seven years old, and she was a curious kid. She enjoyed playing in her room or her backyard, always keeping herself busy. Her mom never allowed her to leave the house unless it was for school, so whenever Mel wanted to feel accompanied, she always peeked through the neighbors' fence.

And every time without a fail, she would see him.

A scrawny, black-haired boy with damaged glasses. Always doing chores.

She was tiny, so when the boy got closer to the fence she wasn't able to see him anymore. So Mel went back to her house, grabbed a small stool, put it in front of the fence.

She stood on her tiptoes... and fell to the other side.

"Ouch!" The boy quickly squirmed away and looked at her, frowning, "W-What are you doing?"

"Ugh," The girl rubbed the back of her head and pouted, "Nothing! I... I live next door and I heard noises, so I wanted to see what you were doing"

She looked up to the boy, the first thing she noticed was his bright, green eyes hidden behind dirty old glasses, his hair seemed to be disheveled even though that day wasn't so windy and his smile was tiny but had a mocking undertone.

He also had a scar on his forehead.

"Are you alright?"

"What'd you think? I hit my head..." She groaned.

"You shouldn't spy on people"

"I wasn't spying! I just... I always see you out here," She shrugged, "I got curious, that's all"

"I know you," He replied, "you go to my school and get in trouble a lot, like me"

"It's not my fault," She grumbled, "Should we introduce ourselves? My mum always does it when we meet new people... I'm Mel, I'm seven and I've lived here since I was a baby"

"Nice to meet you," The boy hesitatingly reached for her hand, "Uhm, I'm Harry and I'm also seven, I've lived with my Aunt and Uncle since I was a baby"

"Oh, they aren't your parents?" She asked with genuine surprise.

"No," Harry shook his head, clearly displeased, "my parents... died when I was little"

"I'm sorry," Mel felt her cheeks sting from embarrassment, she let go of his hand, "I didn't know"

"That's alright," He scratched the back of his head, "What about your parents?"

"Just my mum. My dad... he's gone."

"We're not so different then," Harry smiled politely.

"I guess not"

They sat against the fence, one next to the other.

"Dudley is your cousin then? Not your brother?"

"We're not that similar are we?" He made a funny disgusted face.

"Not at all," Mel grinned.

"Why are you always inside your house?"

"My mum says it's safer, and I don't have tons of friends, my classmates think I'm weird cause I always have odd accidents"

"Me too!" Harry's eyes widened, "It happens whenever I'm upset about something"

"It's the same with me!"

The children stared at each other in amazement. They knew there was something between them, far beyond the mutual understanding.

Suddenly, a voice pulled them out of their thoughts.

"Boy, have you finished with those bushes?!" Screamed Harry's uncle.

"Mel, time for lunch!" Announced her mom from the kitchen.

Both of them stood up quickly and said in unison:

"I have to go!"

The girl started to walk away, to circle the fence. Harry waited until she was on the other side. Mel peeked through one of the cracks between the wood so she could see him one last time.

"See you Harry, I hope we can be friends"

"See you," He smiled, "I do too"

"BOY!" Harry jumped, rushing over to the back door of his house.

Mel went into the kitchen, excited to tell her mother all about Harry.

"Careful, it's hot," Her mother put a plate of soup in front of her, sitting beside her.

"I met our neighbor today," Mel said cheerfully, "his name is Harry"

"Oh," Her mom raised her eyebrows, "did you? How?"

"Uh, I talked to him through the fence," She lied, "He's nice and we decided to be friends now!"

"Oh," Repeated her mom, wasn't she happy for her? "that's nice, love..."

She got up from and walked over to the sink, feeling her heart beating harshly against her chest.

So Mel had finally met Harry, she was hoping it would happen soon, considering how much time did the kids spend in their houses, but now that it was happening, she felt scared. Why? Maybe cause time was running out, and she still wasn't ready to tell the truth.

Yet, a distant memory made its way back, the day she'd met her best friends:

Emily walked nervously through the hall, looking for an empty compartment where to sit. Suddenly, laughter erupted from one of them: four boys where inside, but only one of them caught her eye.

Matt Dumbledore, she knew that he was about to start Hogwarts just like her, (she heard her father talking about it the night before) and knew that wherever this kid decided to be, she'd be there as well, the mischief was certified.

"I know you!" Was the first thing the little girl said once she opened the door to the compartment, "You're Albus Dumbledore's son!"

The boys looked at her in surprise, staying deadly silent.

"Ah," The boy blushed lightly, "he's not my father, he's my uncle... uh, nice to meet you?"

The girl giggle, a bit embarrassed as well but too excited to actually worry about it.

"Sorry, it's just that I knew you'd be here and I was excited to meet you, your family is a legend!" She looked around to the rest of the boys, "Oh, right. I haven't introduced myself. I'm Emily Sultens, and you are..?"

One of the kids raised his hand, amused by the outburst of the girl. He had messy, black hair and a funny smile.

"I'm James Potter, nice to meet you," The boy shook her hand and then moved the trunk from the seat in front of him so she could join them.

"I'm Remus," Said the boy next to the window, he had dark circles under his eyes and small, thin scars covering his face.

"Sirius," The last boy sitting in front of her talked. He had pretty eyes and the darkest hair she'd ever seen.

"And I'm Matt," He leaned in to shake her hand, "but I guess you knew that already..."

"Yes," She replied smiling, "the newspapers mention you all the time"

She eyed him up carefully, he had clear blue eyes and light brown hair. She liked his smile a lot.

"Of course you know him!" James exclaimed, "he's the son of the coolest wizard that's ever existed! Aberforth Dumbledore: the guy that turns people into goats..."

"Actually," Remus spoke up, "that title belongs to Merlin. Uhm, the one about the greatest wizard, not the goats"

"Yes!" Sirius threw a fist in the air, "you'll be the smart one of our group"

The boy hugged Remus so fast he accidentally dropped the books he had on his lap. Matt picked them up and put them on top of a trunk.

"Thanks," Remus grunted, pushing Sirius away.

"No problem," He smiled.

Emily and the boys kept talking for a while, after a few minutes a little girl with bright, red hair and a quiet boy with funny clothes joined them. James had an argument with the small kid, and the redhaired girl joined the fight.

"Let's go, Severus" Said the girl, standing up and walking away in outrage.

"Oh sorry, we didn't mean to hurt your ego, I'm sure you're used to be treated like royalty" Emily huffed.

The boys laughed, but the girl glared at her, clearly upset.

"Look who says it, Miss pretentious," She turned around and grabbed Severus by the arm, pulling him away from their compartment.

"See you, Snivellus!" Replied Sirius between laughs.

'Four years' She thought, 'only four years left.'

"Mum, are you okay?" The little girl asked, worried about her mother's strange behavior.

"Yes," She took a deep breath before turning around, smiling like nothing had happened, "I'm just a bit sleepy, that's all. Eat now, before it gets cold"

Mel nodded and complied, eating in silence.

Emily knew it was only a matter of time before she found out. And Harry... well, as closer the better.

Next Chapter —>

[justmewoo]

Legacy [ Avengers x Male Reader] Ch.3

Thank you all so much for the rebloggs and likes! Please let me know how I can improve it or if you want me to add more to it.

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A/N: I forgot to mention but the reader has Peggy's hair color but has Steve's blue eyes and his smile. this is all unedited at the moment. So I apologize. By the way this takes place before civil war but I will be adding the movie after a few chapters. And when I do who's side should he choose team cap or team iron man? Let me know please!

"Agent Hill make sure to let me know if he wakes up. We need to keep this on the down low." A deep voice said. 

"Of course. The doctor said it would take a few hours till he wakes up. It seems like all of his organs are functioning along with his heart." A female voice responded back. 

"To think after a few years later the same thing occured to him like it did to Steve Rogers." The man voice spoke again. 

'Steve Rogers he's talking about my father. Did this man know him or what does he mean by the same thing had occured. I have to open my eyes and move to let them know I can hear them. I need to see my mother and Tony.' 

"Coulson found a pair of dog tags on him around his neck it seems like he was in the Vietnamese war back in the 70s." The voice of a woman said again. I was tired of listening talk in front of me. So I decided to give it a chance and open my eyes. 

I was able to open my eyes and adjust them to the light. I looked at my surroundings to find myself inside a white room. There where machines surrounding me. I was in a hospital room. I took a look at my left side to find the two people who where talking. One was a tall male who was wearing black clothing along with an eye patch and dark skin. While the other was a woman wearing similar clothing. "Where am I, how did I get here." I asked with a raspy voice. 

The pair looked at one another before the girl decided to speak up first. "My name's Maria Hill i'm an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and this is the director of S.H.I.E.L.D Nick Fury." I sat up on the bed taking a good look at them. 

'If there agents from Shield then that means i'm in good hands. They obviously know my mother though they dress differently.' I thought. 

"I'm going to be straight forward and say this but [Male Reader] you've been asleep for the past fourty one years." His voice echo inside my head. I shook my head running a hand through my hair. I yanked the tubes connected to my heart and arm. I stood up from the bed and looked outside. 

Everything looked different outside. There was tall buildings with tons of different commercials and Ads. Looking down I saw many people walk everywhere. Their clothes also looked different many wore bright colors while other wear suits similar to the ones Howard wears. The different cars that passed by looked nothing like the cars I once knew. People had a screen on their hands while walking. Some talked with them placing it in their ears. They where right this wasn't the New York I knew or grew up in. 

"Where sorry but it has to be this way. We found your body frozen under the water. We rescued you thankfully we managed to save you." Maria said. 

I glance at them before staring down at my hands. "So what am I supposed to do now, all the people I kew are probably gone. My mother is probably dead already. And from the looks of my hands it seems like I didn't age so i'm probably still twenty nine years old." I said running a hand through my face just thinking of a possibility that my mother could be dead. 

"Actually we want to ask you a few questions to get to know you better. And while been frozen you don't seem to age so yes you are correct." Fury said grabbing my attention to him. 

I sigh running both hands through my face. I paced back and fort with hands behind my back. "I'll tell you everything about me. My name's [Male Reader] Carter Rogers. I was known as little Rogers during the Vietnam War. I served the last five years there. I had never met my father because he disappeared before he even knew about my mother being pregnant. My mother was Peggy Carter she worked with S.H.I.E.L.D and my father was Steve Grant Rogers also known as Captain America. He went missing during world war two leaving no choice but to have my mother raise me on her own with the help of my grandparents. I grew up around headquarters. I also grew up close with Howard Stark and his family. He offered me a job and worked with him in coming up with new projects. I also worked in a Bar in the night time. I was closed with their son Tony he was like a little brother to me and he was the last person I saw along with their butler Jarvis." Both of them glance at each other before looking at me. 

Nick Fury took a few steps and stood next to me his hands where behind he's back. "Listen [Male Reader] there's something you must know. The thing is your father Steve Rogers is alive but he can't know abour your existence at least not yet. We don't know how or the reason why where frozen."

"My father's alive I want to meet him please I have to see him." I pleaded placing my hands on his shoulders staring back at him. "I need to even if it's from afar please all I had was a picture of him I beg of you Furry." He glanced at Maria Hill before turning back to look at me. 

"You will meet him along with the rest of the avengers and will be staying at the Stark Tower here in New York. The avengers are a group of super heroes who's always protecting our world." 

'Stark Tower and super heroes. That means there's a chance I will get to see Tony again and meet my father for the first time.' I thought. 

"Are you listening Rogers, you will be given a new identity so starting from this moment your name will be [Fake Name] [Fake Last Name] you said about being closed with Tony Stark. When you see him he won't know or any other person besides us do I make myself clear." I nodded. 

"I understand sir."

"Very well, let's get things ready the clothes in which we found you will be return but do not wear them. I don't want them to find you suspicious." 

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After Nick Furry and Maria Hill sorted out things. They returned my old clothes along with the small picture I had that day of Tony in my pocket. A tear dropped on the picture as I looked down at it. I recieved a wallet with money on it. So I placed the picture inside there unfortuanetly I lost the wrist watch that Tony had given me. They also gave me a pair of new shoes and a simple plain white shirt with some blue super tight pants appearntly they called them jeans. They also gave me a black leather jacket. While finish getting dress the people in S.H.I.E.L.D. created my new fake profile because there's smart people who can figure out that it's all false. 

Agent Coulson showed me the day technology and internet which was now called Wifi. It gives you the ability to connect to the web with just a tap on the screen of a phone. 

"I added Fury, agent Hill and my phone number on here incase of an emergency. The streets in New York haven't changed just a few new buildings here and there. So do you understand how a phone works." Coulson asked. 

"I'm pretty smart with technology so this seems easy to handle. So you just tap the green button to answer a call and the red button to end the call correct. And you can also sent messages like sending a letter." I walked over to him showing the message word on the phone. 

"That's correct but, when you sent text messages don't write them as letters just what you would say to them in person. Now come on it's time to go the files are ready. Furry informed me about your situation and let me say that i'm really honored for your time during the war in Vietnam [Male Reader] and one more thing your going to be part of the Avengers Furry thinks they could use your help." 

"Thanks so i'm assuming you will keep my dog tags because it contains my real name. Your welcome Agent Coulson it was a duty I had to fullfill plus you can say I followed in his foot steps. But why would I join them if i'm nothing special just a regular human been." I answered confused as we begin to walk out of the room and into the hallways of the building.

"He thinks that you have the capability in being part of their team because your similar to your father. Your'e strong like him and its true no normal human can survive been frozen for over fourty years. Just like at it this way now you get to finally meet him in person and remember he's not supposed to know your his son till we figure out the reason why the same thing happen to you. And don't get too close with anyone either act normal as possible Furry orders." 

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We got inside a black fancy car. Someone drove the car while Coulson continued to talk. I could only watch in awe out the window as we passed through the city. New York had become such a beautiful place. It was nothing compared to before so many lights and people filled the streets. Never in my life did I dream about the future. I figured I wasn't going to be able to see it. But boy was I wrong, big shopping centers where almost at every corner. The tall buildings where above more than five feet tall. Some even had a transparent mirror so you can see people working in offices. With every turn the car made it I could only continue to stare. This place sure had a lot of nice views. But what made me feel like a kid again even for a little bit was crossing the big bridge of New York.

But what made me jump out of my seat was the small burger place I used to enjoy going when I was a kid and the last time I took Tony with Jarvis. I frowned thinking about that night. From there on I sat back down on my seat and listened to everything Coulson was telling me. 

The ride to Avengers compuund took approximately an hour and a half because of traffic and outside of the city. I looked out the window to see the sky cloudy and gloomy. The car entered some sort of big open space where trees stood. Big gray buildings appeared surrounding the trees. A letter A in white was drawn on the ground I watched in awe at the imagine. This was where the Avengers where staying at. There was also a lagoon or river behind the biggest building. The fresh air made me feel at ease.'This used to be an abandoned facility' I thought. The car stopped in front of the building. Coulson got out of the car first then soon I followed after. I got out of the car and closed the door after me we stood there staring at giantic building. Coulson walked away first and opened the door. He stood near it staring at me. My hands where beginning to sweat and my heart beat faster each second.

I clutched my hands in fist taking a deep breath before walking inside the compund. I followed behind Coulson inside. But when I stepped a foot inside the floors where extremely shiny the entrance was amazing all the furniture matched the walls. And the windows where taller than I was. I heard steps coming from the staircase that was nearby but didn't pay much attention yet. 

"You should close your mouth or you'ill catch a fly believe me it's not pretty." Said a deep voice. I snapped my head at the voice to see a tall male wearing pants and a dark blue long shirt. He wore some sunglasses and had raven hair. In the middle of his chest he had a glowing thing that looked rectangular. "Tony Stark nice to meet you." He walked over to us and extended his hand to me. 

'This is Tony, he looks older than me by now I should be way older than him not the other way around. I missed the chance of seeing him grow up and now he's all a man. You have no idea how happy I am to see you.' Forgetting about the rules I go for a hug instead of a hand shake. I feel Tony tense up not returning the hug back. "Tony your all grown up." I whispered. 

"Do I know you from somewhere kid." Tony asked as I pulled away from him.

"Of course you-" Coulson sent a big glare making me rethink my words. "Of course you don't know me I just moved to New York from.... Japan." I lied remembering the information of the fake name. 

"Then you didn't adjust well with Japan's culture because they don't hug at all looks like you didn't get the memo." Tony joked patting my shoulder. 

"I'm [Fake Name] [Last Name] starting from today i'll be joining S.H.I.E.L.D." I said. 

"Hold it right there kid if your going to join our team you can't be calling us  SHIELD we are way better than they are and we are the Avengers. Unless you want to get smashed I suggest you keep that in mind." 

"Right, sorry I just haven't heard much of you in Japan I apologize." I apologized before staring in awe at Tony.

"Tony will be able to guide [Fake Name] into the compund and mind showing him around so he can meet the rest of the avengers." 

"Actually no I have plans with Pepper sorry you're going to have to ask Cap or Wanda heck even Vision will it was nice meeting you [Fake Name]." He waved goodbye and left the building without looking back. 

"Don't mind him he's always like that with new team members. Furry informed me about you joining our team welcome to the Avengers Compound i'm Steve Rogers it's a pleasure to meet you [Fake Name]." Steve no father said walking to my direction. My father is standing before my very own eyes. My eyes widen at the resembles that I share with him. He was about the same height with a nice tone body similar to the picture mother had in her office. Except of course he was younger back then but still he hasn't changed a bit. The big hero everyone talked about back then was standing right there in front of me. I was frozen in place my mouth half open but no words seem to come out of it. I wanted to run and hug him, to tell him that i'm his son that I was creates by the love him and my mother had. That I was proud of having a father like him. But what if I did would I make him proud or just plain out disappoint him. Maybe this is a second chance at getting to know America's hero. After what felt like forever to me I had the courage to finally speak to him. Coulson nudge from behind and pushed me a bit forward to shake my father's hand. 

"M-My na'name's [Male]- I mean [Fake Name] [Fake Last Name] it's a big honor to be part of your team. Thank you for welcoming me." We shook hands with one another. 

"Agent coulson I got this from here i'll be showing him around and prestening the ones left. Should we come on there's people I would like you to meet." Steve said. I walked next to him and followed furthure inside the building. Coulson made his way back to the car driving away. 

The furthure we walked inside the more my eyes continued to explore something new. Inside they had tons of different rooms along with an elevator that gets you to any floor of the building. The kitchen was average but bigger than my kitchen back home. While we walked together I couldn't help but admire him. I couldn't take my eyes from drifting to him. I felt like a kid who's just moved in to a new house with their dad and is showing him around.

"Your room is this one next to mine if you need anything please don't hesitate to ask. It seems that no one is in here besides us so later I will introduce you to everyone. By the way have I seen you before your face looks a bit familiar to me." He said patting my shoulder as he passed by me. 

"Thanks for showing me the place it sure is going to take a lot to get used to a place so big with technology. But no actually we have never met before till now I used to live in Japan so i'm not well aware yet of everyone from the team. But I get that a lot and no need to worry Mr. Rogers I will come to you for help if needed." 

"Just call me Steve or Cap see you around new guy." I nodded and watched as he walked a few steps away and went to his room. 

'Ma I finally met my father and he's such an incredible person.I just hate that i'm lying to him but one day he will know the truth about me.' I thought to myself before walking inside my new room. But what I didn't know was that the truth was going to be reveal sooner than I thought it would.

[in-arlathan]

This or That

Honestly, I had so much fun coming up with answers for this. I never thought about my preferences in fics for too long, so I had to make up my mind with some of these but I learned a lot about myself. This was unexpected.

I was tagged by @dharma-writes​ ♥︎

And forwarding to @faerieavalon @cornfedcryptid @serial-chillr @johaeryslavellan @rivainisomniari @midnightprelude and anyone else who likes to join. As always, sorry if you’ve been tagged already. :3

Without further ado: here are my answers for this round of “This or That”.

slow burn or love at first sight

I love any romance that manages to build up a relationship and adds more and more tension between two characters over time. It’s so much more rewarding when they finally get together.

fake dating or secret dating

What is fake dating in this context, exactly? Like “let's pretend to be a couple so my parents don’t get upset about me being single”? Or “please pretend to be my new boyfriend so my ex gets jealous (so I can later fall in love with you)”? Because that sounds like something I don’t like. It makes being single look like it’s the worst (it’s not) and forces at least one character to do something they don’t want to. So, secret dating it is for me.

enemies to lovers or best friends to lovers

I can’t recall an enemies-to-lovers story that really stuck with me, tbh. I prefer fics in which the couple is interested in one another and shows a great deal of respect before finding themselves in love with the other (hence my tendency towards slow burn).

oh no there’s only one bed or long-distance with correspondence

Oh, the sudden intimacy. Let’s have some of that. :p

hurt/comfort or amnesia

As someone who enjoys stories with a strong emotional conflict at the core, I’m all for hurt/comfort in fics. Also, amnesia stories have been done so many times by now that the plot is fairly predictable.

fantasy au or modern au

Have to admit: AU is not really my thing. If a fantasy world is set in modern times, I feel somewhat uncomfortable. When a character from a modern world gets drawn into a fantasy world, I have a hard to time to adapt to that, too. I wish I knew why but I have no idea. It’s just a squick, I guess. I prefer AU that experiments with a certain event going down differently or a character who turns out not to be dead and such things, but those are usually not super canon-divergent.

mutual pining or domestic bliss

Mutual pining all the way. Mostly because of my preference for bittersweet romances (I’m into Solavellan for a reason... :).

smut or fluff

Okay, this was hard to decide. When it comes to writing, I’d say I prefer to write fluff. It’s been a while since I wrote something smutty and I never tried my hand at it again because it can come of as cheesy or plain ridiculous. I don’t think I have the skill level to execute a good smut scene, tbh. But I love to read smut, especially if it has a nice plot to go with it.

canon compliant or fix-it fic

There are a few time travel fix-it fics that are really good and utilize a lot of the canon to create a new world. That’s why I love them. When I like a book/film/game/etc, I’m into the canon and its lore and don’t need much deviation from it. In both reading and writing, I always seek for stories that are nice additions to the canon or tweak details in an interesting way.

alternate universe or future fic

Due to my love for the canon.... I’d say future fic. Let skip ahead and see what happened to those characters.

one-shot or multi-chapter

A bit of both. I write a lot of one-shots because I enjoy caputring emotional turmoil in a short text. When it comes to reading, I prefer multi-chapter. Dang, some of my favorite fics are like 300,000 words strong. That’s longer than any of the books on my shelves.

kid fic or roadtrip fic

Phew, this really depends. I wrote kid fics when I was younger, but now...? I tend towards roadtrip fic.

reincarnation or character death

Okay, honest answer: I love the drama!

arranged marriage or accidental marriage

I’d like to say neither because in some stories, both options are presented without consent from at least one character and I’m not into that. I have seen a few stories with an arranged marriage where the couple involved is okay with that and they grow on each other without a ton of murder and/or domestic abuse. That’s nice. But otherwise... idk.

high school romance or middle-aged romance

Maybe this an “I’m Too Old For This Sh*t” type of answer, but I love middle-aged romance. I love to see characters in their prime come together (preferably in a slow burning way) and build a strong romantical bond that turns them into a power couple. Being in my thirties, I can relate to that a lot more. Besides, I wrote a lot of angsty teenage/highschool romance when I was a teen myself, so I satisfied that demand early on, I guess. :p

time travel or isolated together

Half a year ago, I’d say I don’t like either of these things, but there are a lot of Solavellan time travel fix-it fics that have proven me wrong.

neighbors or roommates

Friends getting into trouble together for funzies? Yes, please!

sci-fi au or magic au

As said above, AU is not really for me. But that’s okay.

body swap or genderbend

Hm... I haven’t read or seen a good body swap in a long while (it’s up there with “amnesia” as a trope that has been done too blandly for too many times). I do like experimentations with gender, however.

angst or crack

Angst is the natural companion of hurt/comfort, so yeah, sign me up for that!

apocalyptic or mundane

Phew, idk? Apocalyptic, I guess. Or a bit of both? I love stories in which everything goes to hell. But I do love a layer of mundane in such a fic as well. Like, everything that focuses on the characters and their daily struggles within an apocalyptic setting.

[levelstory]

Music Reflection I, The Cringe is Real

The other day, my mother made a comment to me that there really is no sense that can bring back memories quite like your sense of smell. I agreed with her, but commented that sound and music may be tied for that ranking. Smell certainly brings me back to certain moments of my life, in ways I can't always explain to myself. But music brings back memories in a different kind of way. Songs are attached to specific thoughts and actions, to who I was at the time of listening. 

I thought it could be fun to revisit some of these songs from the past and talk about my feelings toward them, then and now. I imagine this will be a series of blogs so you can always look forward to more...

No Strings Attached by NSYNC

One of the most loaded questions you could ask a nine year old girl in the '90s was: do you prefer the Backstreet Boys or NSYNC? I was a hardcore Backstreet Boys listener. I owned all of their albums (except Millenium which was a damn shame) and listened to them rigorously, practicing for dance recitals next to "Quit Playing Games with My Heart" and making up dance moves to "As Long as You Love Me" and "Get Down." When my brother received the Chapter One album for his birthday, our home videos show my face sink into a pit of jealousy that he got the album instead of me. We even had Backstreet Boy action figures from Burger King which I am sure can be found somewhere in our basement to this very day, as well as a poster that had a button that when pressed would play a clip from "Don't Want You Back." 

I had an intense loyalty toward them, for reasons that are very unclear to me as I never outright disliked NSYNC's music. I heard them enough at the skating rink and at birthday parties. For some reason, all I can remember is disliking their look compared to BSB. Both groups were distinct in this regard, and I very much clung to the group I had spent most of my elementary career listening to on repeat.

One of the cool toys in the late '90s, early 2000s was called HitClips, little cartridges that would play 30 second clips of songs from popular artists like Britney Spears, Hanson, and of course BSB and NSYNC. I remember a girl in my fifth grade class bringing her hit clips in and being nice enough to let me borrow them and bring them home. Of course some of them were NSYNC and I remember replaying "Bye Bye Bye" and "It's Gonna Be Me" over and over, aching to listen to the full tracks. Shortly after returning them, I imagine I got my mom to take me to Target (which was my go to music store at the time) and used my allowance money to purchase the NSYNC album, No Strings Attached.

There are so many memories I attach to listening to this album. I had just gotten my very first desk for my bedroom and I remember my boom box sitting at the back of the desk where I would pop in CD's and cassette tapes. This was also around the time my room was painted from plain white to a soft pink. One of my best friends at the time also owned this album. Her father owned a camper that sat in their driveway, and we would sit inside with her stereo and listen to music while we pretended to be camping far away from our suburban reality.

"No Strings Attached," the titular song in which the album was named, was not always a favorite of mine. At first it was the well known tracks that held my interest before I gave the rest of the album a chance. Songs like "Space Cowboy," "Digital Get Down," and "That's When I'll Stop Loving You" were tracks I came to love later, along with "No Strings Attached." The song is one that so easily gets stuck in my head (along with "Just Got Paid"). Once I hear it, I can't unhear it for some hours and I find myself humming it throughout the day. More than anything, this track in particular seems to be the most nostalgic. Whereas songs like "Bye Bye Bye" and "This I Promise You" I have returned to regularly throughout my life, "No Strings Attached" is one that I love all the more because it isn't one I necessarily return to all that often, and in that way it feels rare and distant, and therefore nostalgic.

Listening to this track with the modern ear does not do it any favors. Sure it sounds good, if not a bit chaotic like much of this album, but the lyrics lean toward the "nice guy" narrative which I am so over in 2019. I appreciate it from a distant, but can't say it has aged particularly well. NSYNC sing to this supposed lady that they want to have a relationship with her, with no preconceived expectations, or no strings attached, unlike the guy she is currently with who doesn't pay her any attention or return her calls. It all feels very '90s...and if I am being honest, returning to the '90s is one of the main reasons I return to these tracks. While I can't give it too much credit, I won't deny that it is a banger to listen to and enjoy. No Strings Attached remains one of my favorite albums from the ‘90s.

Why Not? by Hilary Duff

As a teen, I never really got on the Hilary Duff / Lizzie McGuire train. For reasons that are way too dense and difficult to unpack here, I really disliked the live action Disney "sitcoms" as a kid. Many of my friends watched and enjoyed them, while I hated them. So when the Lizzie McGuire movie came out to theaters, it was the last thing I wanted to see. Yet I did end up seeing it...at least, I feel like I saw it in theaters. I don't remember who convinced me to see it or why I gave in to my dislike, but I did see it. I also remember being at a friends house and she wanted to watch the DVD while I adamantly didn't and it caused a bit of a rift between us for a few hours. We got over it of course, and to go into all of that would be another tangent so I shall move ahead.

My friend who loved the show bought the movie soundtrack and we listened to it constantly. I remember sleeping over her house and making up dances, jumping on the bed, and running around like crazy kids with a ton of energy tend to do. "Why Not?" was my favorite song from the Lizzie McGuire soundtrack. I remember I loved Hilary Duff's voice, and was convinced that my own voice was almost identical to hers. I have a distinct memory of sitting at my bedroom window and singing her music to myself, carefully measuring my voice and making sure I sang just like she would.

This song was heavily marketed upon the release of the Lizzie McGuire movie. The music video was on TV all the time. In many ways it fit very well with the film's core themes - why not take chances? Why not do the thing you are most afraid of? If you don't take the chance, you may never have the opportunity to do so again. The lyrics are a mixed bag. One line that I never grow tired of is, "you always dress in yellow, when you want to dress in gold, instead of listening to your heart, you do just what you're told." It is certainly not a lyric that contains much depth and I assure you it isn't the message of the lyrics that have always captured me, but rather how they bounce and flow and how effortlessly Duff approaches them. It is a portion of the song that I always enjoy. 

The bridge, like most pop songs, is tragically boring. I enjoy Duff's humming (is that the word for what she does immediately after the bridge? What would you even call that?) but then the lyrics move toward the point where the song writers must have been on a time crunch saying, "You'll never get to heaven, or even to LA, if you don't believe there's a way." This lyric caught me off guard recently because I never really thought about it before but I just find it funny that the song talks about going to heaven, something that contains so much religious meaning and cultural significance, and then immediately puts going to LA on the same scale. Like, you'll never escape eternal damnation if you don't take chances, but you might also not make it to LA where you could become famous...yes, those are equally important. Sure I knew the song was generic, but my god it just drops into the absurd and pitiful by the bridge. 

Despite this, I still really enjoy the song. It isn't perfect but it speaks to a particular time of my life and I enjoy the memories associated with it. 

I'm With You by Avril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne's album "Let Go" was a big deal when it came out. It has a distinct place in my memory, coming out the year I moved into a new house, went to a new school, and started entering my teenage years. This was a time when burning CD's was still considered legal and so I never actually owned the album. My cousins burned the album on a CD for me, and I made a cover in Microsoft Word compiled of the album name made in Word Art and pixelated images of Lavigne scattered about. At the time, I thought my album cover looked really cool. 

"Let Go" was released around the same time Lizzie McGuire was on the rise, but unlike Hilary Duff and the Disney Channel, Lavigne made us 12 year olds feel like we were listening to adult music. Listening to this album felt hardcore at the time. It was low key grunge music, with themes and ideas far more sanitized than we knew.

I can remember a friend I made at my new school and going to her house where we listened to Avril Lavigne, rocking out to "Sk8ter Boi" and playing air guitar along with "Complicated." But "I'm With You" took on a much darker tone than either of these songs, and used a word that was off limits, "damn." There is a home video we have, which I believed I tried to tape over and remove from existence in case of blackmail, where I filmed myself singing the song and every time Lavigne belts, "It's a damn cold night!", I would fall silent at the "damn" and not say anything at all, for fear of being heard by my parents.

I can't say Lavigne's album has aged all too well. It isn't horrible but it is also nowhere near as good as we believed. Full of angst and "edgy" guitar, it definitely remains a product of its time. What is strange is that Lavigne's album is not one I have felt the need to return to much as I have grown older. The strongest memory with the album is listening to it in the car on my portable CD player on the way to North Carolina in the summer. Apart from that, my memory usually paints in broad strokes and just remembers the album being super popular when I was a sixth grader. All of the girls my age loved it, as did I, and my friends performed "Sk8ter Boi" at a lip sync competition. 

"I'm With You" stands out for its slow pace when compared to all of the other tracks. "Losing Grip" is sharp and industrial sounding, "Complicated" is the soft rock track that fits perfectly on the radio, "Sk8ter Boi" is the song to rock out to, and "My World," my personal favorite as a kid, is a fun guitar jam. But "I'm With You" isn't fun. It really showcases Lavigne's vocal range as well as her vulnerability as a songwriter. It builds up slowly and concludes with a strong crescendo of instrumentation. Okay, that might be overstating things just a tad. But there is something about this song that always gets me and I know that is the nostalgia talking. 

Lucky by Britney Spears

I have something to admit...I never owned a Britney Spears album. How can I call myself a real '90s kid if I didn't own a Britney Spears album? It is embarrassing. There were plenty of her songs I loved, but I guess I got by with her song "Sometimes" being on the compilation record, Now 3, which I listened to quite frequently. 

When "Lucky" was released, I really loved it. It was one of those songs that I loved so desperately that I am surprised I never got around to asking my parents for the album it was on. Luckily, a friend of mine owned said album and brought it over for my 10th birthday party. I imagine we listened to the album a lot that night, but all I can really remember is me dancing to "Lucky" on my screen porch while my friends watched, giggling. In fact, we have video evidence of this and it doesn't embarrass me...well, it embarrasses me a little. The video is somewhat cringy in that I am not a good dancer, but I make up for it with silliness for sure. 

"Lucky" tells the story of a celebrity who isn't happy. It comes off as very Marilynne Monroe; you expect this person to have it all but actually they don't and it makes them very sad. It isn't a very complicated song (though I guess none of the songs I am writing about are complicated). The storytelling is straightforward and easy to grasp. 

It is expected for listeners to wonder if the song is autobiographical and if Britney really was unhappy in her current predicament. Hindsight certainly reveals that this was most likely the case in some regard. Seeing where she is now and where her career has gone doesn't bode well for this song which makes me much more sympathetic toward her as a human being. If this was the case, listening to the track makes you sad. Still, if you can look past the blatant message, it is a track that remains catchy though I don't find I love it as much as an adult. The song just doesn't sound as catchy anymore, and it only makes me feel sad for Spears. 

All for Love by Stevie Brock

This track is easily the most obscure of the bunch. Stevie Brock never acquired the same celebrity as the other artists on this list. However, he did enjoy a few good years of teenie bopper fame and air time on Radio Disney. He was one of the many Aaron Carter wannabes that arrived on the music scene. This isn't to say he didn't have talent. His still immature voice was catchy enough and he was clearly a great performer. But like many child artists, his record was generic and…well, bad. Very bad. 

One huge trend of the '90s and early 2000s was this weird thing where young boys on the verge of becoming teens would sing songs about getting the girl and dating and complex romantic topics that made little sense to a teenager. The result is that the songs are super hetero-normative and a bit creepy. I am sitting in the car, reliving my childhood memories by listening to this song, and I can't help but think, "is it weird that I, a 29 year old woman, am listening to a 13 year old, whose voice still hasn't matured, sing about his 'romantic troubles' with a girl in his class who clearly doesn't want to date him but he wants it so it is okay that he keeps pursuing her?". Yes, it is a little weird. 

What is really weird to me is that I remember this song as if it came out way before it actually did. The album didn't properly release until summer of 2003 and I seem to recall listening the year previous. This could be because when I bought the album I was 12 going on 13 and thus I associate it more with being 12 than a 13 year old middle-schooler. But it would make sense. After all, the whole reason I even heard of Stevie Brock was because when on vacation in 2003 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, my family ate at the Hard Rock Cafe and on the big screen where they played music videos, Brock's cover of "All for Love" came on the screen. I've always been the type of person who loves music so when I hear a song I enjoy, I have to write it down so that I can listen to it when I would get home. These days we have apps that allow us to listen to songs and tell us what they are called. But back then when music wasn't as readily available and I was a child who didn't really have enough money to buy things at the ready, this act was more of a scavenger hunt than anything else. Would I be able to find this guy's album when I got home? What if it wasn't at Target? What would I do then? 

Fortunately, Brock captured a strong, if not temporary, following and his album was on store shelves. "All for Love" is a fine song, mostly due to it being a cover from another band. As already addressed, the lyrics feel very odd coming from someone so young. He addresses the girl he is singing to as "sugar" which just makes me skin curl. It is creepy that the music industry breeds young boys to sing about these things so early. This was easily my favorite song from the album. My strongest memories of the song, besides first hearing it at the Hard Rock Cafe, are listening to it and the entire album at my friends house. We had a fun tradition of bringing her boombox outside and dancing around the front lawn. I remember her birthday party and us tween girls dancing through the summer air, our bare feet wet from the moist grass. I'm sure the neighbors had fun watching us act like total maniacs. 

Revisiting these songs was fun, but I know there are more I want to talk about in the future! Stay tuned! What are some songs you listened to as a kid that make you feel super nostalgic today? Let me know in the comments!

[istill-loveyou39]

The Story Begins...

So I’ve decided today is the day! I’m not going to be a chicken shit and I’m going to post what I’ve been working on. 

I suppose its a fanfic but it’s more of an adventure. I took the Queen crest with horoscope figures and made them into original characters. Set in the land of Rhye, two fairy siblings have to journey away from home to stop a coming calamity, the Black Queen. Each of my characters of based off of someone, however loosely. There’s also a ton of song references and Queen details in there! It’s just something I couldn’t stop thinking about and had to write down. Something fun!

I hope ya’ll like it. I take criticism. Sometimes without crying! Haha! Let me know what you think???  

Words 1969

Chapter 1: Lazing On a Sunday Afternoon

 Rys placed her leather bound book on her lap and lifted her face to the sun. The warm beams made their way through the leaves on the tree in which she sat to heat her cheeks. Summer had just begun in Rys' town of Lily Valley and she was taking advantage of the lazy hot days. Nestled in her favorite reading spot, a crook in the branch of a weeping willow, Rys took a moment to look out between the vines. Everything was green and full of life, making the valley look surreal. Large lily fields surrounded her perch, their pure white petals reflecting the sun and making them almost hard to gaze upon.

Located in the southern plains of Rhye, Lily Valley was inhabited by the fairy folk. Preferring the warmer climate to the frosty mountains of the north, the fairies thrived in the grasslands, planting and harvesting the crop that gave the town its name.

Rys always felt as ease in Lily Valley, especially when the sun was shining and she had a good book to sink into.

As Rys let her brown eyes laze over the horizon, she noticed a figure moving in through the lilies, picking its way carefully toward her. The messy brown mop of hair Rys recognized as her only sibling, Tin. Taller and more athletic than her, Tin sprinted towards her perch without any real effort. She was always jealous of his ability to make anything look easy.

"Hello sister dear!" Tin said in his sing song voice, the one he saved for her. Tin had always been a shy kid but he opened up around his close family and friends, especially Rys. Rys was Tin's best friend and she was his. They were two years apart but Rys felt that even if the years were greater, they would still remain close.

"Tin! How did you know I was here?" Rys inquired.

"What a ridiculous question Rys. I know your spots." Smirking, Tin tapped her dangling leg with a long slender finger. Rys liked to think she kept her secret reading spots as they were - secret. But she was sure Tin knew them all like he stated.

"What brings you to the outskirts of Lily Valley then brother?"

"Oh I just wanted to take a walk, enjoy the fresh air and sun." A devilish grin pulled at the corners of his mouth.

Rys rolled her eyes and glared back at her older brother, knowing full well this was not the reason he was here.

"Ugh. Fine. Our mother and father invited over Yari and her family for lunch. Or should I say they invited her over for a makeshift wedding!"

Rys laughed and shook her head. Their parents had been pushing a local girl, Yari, on Tin ever since they came of age. Yari was enamored with Tin of course but Tin wanted nothing to do with her. Despite informing their parents of this, they were determined to marry their eldest son to the daughter of the town leader. Rys' mother and father were traditional folk and stuck in their ways. Rys and Tin were in a secret agreement to never become them.

"Oh Tin. Not again." Rys felt ashamed that her parents did this to Tin. Although he was nonchalant in his speech she could tell that it bothered him. She had an inkling as to why he disliked the idea of marrying Yari however. She was a nice girl with lovely blue eyes and a generous nature but Tin, Rys thought, had never seemed to look her way. She didn't want to press him on the matter and was resolute in waiting for him to talk to her about it.

"Yes indeed darling." Tin sat heavily on the ground beneath Rys, instantly picking up a blade of grass and ripping it to shreds.

"I do wish they would leave it alone. I know it bothers you Tin."

Tin didn't say anything in return; he simply played with the grass between his feet. The two sat in silence for a while, enjoying the solitude. The siblings enjoyed each other's company immensely and never felt awkward to sit together in silence. Most times they would talk and share stories of life until their mother and father would silence them.

The sun slowly crept higher in the sky as Rys went back to reading her book. Tin lounged below her; eyes shut and face to the sun. His hands folded neatly in his lap. Rys soon felt the need to shut her eyes for a mid afternoon nap as well. She returned her book to her knapsack and rolled ever so slightly to the right. When she looked up she could see a field of lilies stretching from the tree line to the outer limits of her town. The field was full to the brim with magnificent white flowers, their petals reaching for the sun.

Rys took a moment to appreciate the sheer beauty that surrounded her home, breathing deep the scented air and releasing the tension held in her muscles. But as her eyes wandered over the field something caught her eye and made the hair on the back of her neck strand straight up.

Sitting up and moving the willow tree’s fronds, Rys peered out to get a better look at what she saw.

"Tin. Wake up." Rys called down to her snoozing brother.

"Hmm?" Tin replied, cracking an eye.

"Do you see that?"

"What?"

"That. In the middle of the field." Rys pointed to the dead center of the field where she spotted an unnerving sight.

Standing up, Tin stretched and shaded his eyes with his hand.

"I don't see - oh wait. I do see it. It surely can't be what I think it is." Tin looked up at his sister with a questioning look.

"Well, let's go see for sure." Rys hopped down from her perch with as much grace as she could muster. Together they picked their way through the flowers, careful not to damage any of the precious buds. A strange sense of dread pulsed through her veins as continued on, making the hair on her arms stand straight up.

They came to the center and gazed upon what had caught Rys' eye. A jet black lily grew among the pure white flowers. It looked alien and out of place. Something about it didn't feel right to Rys even though it was indeed just a flower. It seemed to radiate an aura of unease and agitation.

Tin and Rys stared silently at the ebony flower, bewitched by its eerie beauty and the stories they'd heard behind such a rare bloom.

Suddenly, Tin mada a move for the stem, ripping it from the earth and sending dirt flying.

"Tin!" Rys exclaims in shock.

"There. It's gone and we don't have anything to worry about, love." Tin threw flower as far as he could into the field. "It was probably just a random thing, you think?"

Tin was trying to convince himself that seeing such a bloom was an arbitrary thing. Both of them knew what a black flower could mean but neither was able to put it into words.

Silently they walked back into town, lost in their own thoughts.

There's no way that a lone black flower meant anything. Rys thought. She and Tin had heard stories passed down from the elders about death omens and what happens after a jet black flower is found. Rys steeled herself against such negative thoughts and marched up the stairs to her home.

Inside, Rys and Tin's mother was reading in her favorite chair with her favorite blanket draped over her legs.

"TIN! Where in the Queen's name did you run off to? We had company!" Their mother shrieked as soon as she saw them enter through the door. Normally their mother was a calm and gentile person, but when it came to matters of propriety, she was as strict as ever.

"Mother, you know very well that I have no interest in being shown to the local girls like a jewel being put up for auction." Tin collapsed into a wooden chair in the kitchen, sighing at his mother's admonishment.

While her mother continued to rail against an uninterested Tin, Rys made her way to her bedroom. Her room was small but she thought it rather cozy. Covered in dried flowers, linens, and pillows, Rys was happy in the little slice of paradise she made for herself.

"I hear your mother has found Tin." Sighed a husky voice. Rys' father poked his head around the door frame and leaned his body against the wall. "I'm glad you’re both home. Dinner is almost ready."

"Thanks, Dad." Rys was still mulling over the possible meaning behind the black bloom and wasn't tuned into the conversation her father had started.

"Rys. What's the matter? I know that face. You wear your emotions on your sleeve." Her father picked up on her distracted nature, forcing her out of her thoughts.

Hesitantly, Rys confessed everything.

"We saw something today. Tin and I. It must be completely random but it still gives me gooseflesh when I think of it." Rys had always been a rather cautious and nervous person unlike her brother who seemed to have inherited all the family’s bravado.

"What did you see?" Her father moved into her room, concern showing in his face as he took a seat on the bed beside her.

"A black lily." Rys whispered as if the words themselves carried a weight.

Her father's face instantly drained of color and a shiver ran through his body as he stood. He looked down at Rys, real fear behind his usually clear eyes.

"Dad? What - what is it?" The gooseflesh rose on her arms once more.

"Where did you see this bloom?"

Rys shared all the details of where they were and how Tin violently extracted it from the ground.

"You shouldn't have touched it. You know the legends right?" Her father stood in the middle of the room, unmoving.

"Yes, but surely -”

"I will return." He abruptly departed from her room, descended the stairs, gathered Rys' mother (who was still blathering on about Tin) and exited the house. Rys followed and found Tin at the front door, just as confused as she was.

"Where are they off too? Mother wasn't nearly done with her lecture."

"I told father about the black lily. He seemed scared Tin. Do you think it could have been an omen?" Rys held her elbows as a sudden chill swept though her.

Tin was silent, watching his parents disappear into the house of the mayor.

"I don't know Rys, but if it is, that means something actually would happen in this town!" Tin chuckled and walked away from the door back to his perch by the kitchen table.

Rys sighed and shrugged off Tin's flippant remark. Their town was small and therefore it lacked a certain amount of excitement. But if the flower was truly an omen, that was not the kind of excitement any town of any size wanted.

 Rys and Tin fed themselves, cleaned the kitchen, and retired to their respective rooms for the night. Their parents had been gone a while but Tin was unconcerned. He told Rys that they were probably apologizing profusely to the mayor and Yari for his disappearing act earlier in the day. Rys knew that was probably the case and they were no doubt a few drinks in, forgetting all about the time. But something still stirred in the back of her mind. Something tickling and creeping through her thoughts. Something dark and nasty was coming and it all had to do with that obsidian flower.

[enixamyram]

Hey, guess what, I’ve found another screen rant I want to react to! I wasn’t planning to do any more but, reading through this article, I just have SO many problems with it... So Let’s do another, agree or disagree with a Screenrant article made by someone with no bias at all. (Sarcasm for the last part by the way.) So let’s see:

Agreed with this point. People act like, if the characters weren’t on screen then they disappeared or something. Maybe they were just living their own lives?

... I don’t even understand this article. Apparently this is 20 things people get wrong and this point is that the timeline can make sense, but then OP goes on to say “However, the more characters were introduced and the more worlds the characters ventured into, it became clearer and clearer that time didn't work the same way everywhere... However, in a world of fairytales, expecting anything more than that is simply asking too much. What does it matter, exactly, when some of these events took place as long as we know that they were a long time ago in a universe not at all like our own?”

Like, so that means this isn’t something people get wrong - the timeline DOESN’T make sense - so what the hell is it doing in this article? You can’t claim you’ve solved it just because you shrug and go “yeah but it’s magic so what do you expect?”

I mean the text directly conflicts the title/bullet point. Luckily I can still safely say I disagree, both with the title and the text because the timeline became f*cked, and just making an embarrassed shrugging face doesn’t change that.

I can’t even say disagree because this is just plain wrong! I don’t quite understand this writer. I can’t tell what they’re deal is, like did they just give a poor title to their article?

Season 1 - The Original Curse Season 2 - Belle and Sneezy lost their memories. Season 3 - Everyone lost a year. Season 5 - Camelot Season 6 - Emma lost her memories Season 7 - Another Curse.

Notice how I left out 4? Well this is where I’m getting confused because this is what OP had to say about Season 4: “While season four dabbled with alternate universes, memories were never wiped or reset in the way they were in every other season.”

... But their memories WERE wiped! They were essentially in a curse because their memories WERE wiped and they WERE given new identities just like the original curse. So yes, memory wipes did in fact happen every single season!

So I can’t agree or disagree because maybe some people do call Ruby a lesbian, but most everyone I talk to calls her bi... So I’ma just skip this one.

Note: She’s bi people. This is canon. If you don’t agree then tough shit.

Agreed, there’s plenty of other ways true love can be proven. TLK is probably just the most convenient, lol.

Kind of agree? I mean I think most people do know and acknowledge this but I guess it can sometimes escape people without realising in passing sentences?

This is true. It was a lame and terrible reveal that made no sense but it was revealed.

... Like, I’m getting confused again. Because this title either doesn’t fit or the writer lives under a rock because no one get’s this wrong! Everyone - rightfully - calls out Zelena for what she did. Even Zelena fans admit what she did was messed up!

... I do agree, I don’t think she made up for all the awful things she did and she definitely became “one of the team” way too quickly for my liking. (I’m hesitant because I suddenly have an idea what side of the fandom wrote this article and I can pretty much predict where it’s going.)

AND THERE IT IS!

DISAGREE.  DISAGREE. DISAGREE. DISAGREE. DISAGREE. DISAGREE.

“Nothing says good guy like being an older man who takes advantage of a young girl, impregnates her, and lets her go to jail for crimes you yourself committed.” First off, we don’t know his age. Second, he didn’t ‘impregnant’ her. She got pregnant. It takes two to tango though I doubt the writer knows this. And third, Emma went to jail for HER crimes. Sorry, dear writer, but let me just fill you in. Aiding and abetting a fellow criminal IS A CRIME! Emma did wrong and she was punished for it. I don’t necessarily agree with what Neal did but he is not responsible for where Emma ended up.

“Even further, nothing says good guy like someone who mocks the woman he allegedly loves for the years of trauma, suffering, and scars she endured as a result of your callous, selfish behavior.” ... WHEN?!

“... Neal Cassidy became more and more like the selfish, frequently malicious parents who raised him.” ... Again, WHEN?! Like seriously, selfish maybe but malicious?!

“In no world would he have been the right man for Emma or a good father to Henry because he could never accept accountability for any of his many wrongdoings.” Except, you know, Neal knew Henry all of five minutes and was already dedicated to being a great dad to him and literally was WAY better at being a father to Henry than Hook ever was to the kid. And I added the Hook part because my God, the writer of this article couldn’t be more obvious a CS shipper if they had every sentence end with swans and pirate flags.

It’s amazing how, even dead, they’re still threatened by Neal’s character.

Maybe this was true in S6, but by S7 they had clearly retconned it, making the Wish Realm a very real place. Otherwise there’s a ton of plot holes and you’ve got to be a real idiot to say you’d rather accept plot holes than that the Wish Realm might actually be real.

(Also, just saying, another terrible title because what happened to Emma and Regina when they were in the Wish Realm very much DID happen. So again, really poor titles for this article that clearly doesn’t know what it’s point is.)

... She VIOLATED everyone’s minds by erasing their memories and TRIED TO MURDER ZELENA!

She may have had good intentions but that doesn’t change the fact that she was a villain for a season! Dude, have you never heard the phrase “the road to hell was paved with good intentions”?! I’ll defend Emma turning Hook into a Dark One for sure, but trying to completely ignore the awful things she did?! Jesus Christ!

Again... What? OP... Everyone already KNOWS this. This article is meant to be things people gets wrong but, honestly, I think OP’s the only idiot who gets things wrong at this point. So I’m once again torn because I agree with the statement but I don’t agree that this is something people get wrong.

*Sigh* OP’s giving me a migraine. Not because their statement is incorrect, but because all their reasoning is!

“Regina, as we know, went back and forth to points outside of Maine many times during the preceding 28 years.” It was actually explained, by Regina herself to Hook in Season 2, that because she (and he) had no cursed memories, crossing the town line would not affect them.

“Greg and Tamara are also able to cross the town lines, with Greg even remembering the tiny town for years and years after a traumatic encounter within it during his childhood.” Again. The town line affects people who ARE CURSED! This is made very clear! Henry can also cross the town line when he went to get Emma.

The title, once again, is misleading. People are able to leave - so long as they don’t CROSS THE TOWN LINE. That’s the part CURSED people are not able to do.

I’ve given up Agreeing and Disagreeing at this point. OP’s points are making my brain hurt so let’s just move on.

You’re right OP. It did serve a purpose. It’s purpose was to be a cash grab!

Apparently OP’s excuse is that Anna and Elsa helped Emma come into her own as a magic user? Like yeah, I’m calling bullshit. Emma had no problem using her magic until they brought Frozen in, then they made a whole storyline of Emma having problems just to justify having Elsa struggle and then help her with it.

And after they left they were barely even mentioned. So, again. NO PURPOSE. (Apart from a cash grab.)

Okay, so actually, I do agree. Regina is still Henry’s mum but the fact is, his adoption can’t be legal because Regina would need to have lied on her application and all the usual checks usually done for people wanting to adopt couldn’t possibly have happened.

I was going to agree on technicality but you know what? No.

DISAGREE!

Just because the couples aren’t perfect doesn’t make them toxic. (Using OP’s examples:) “Robin's relationship with Regina results in his being repeatedly assaulted and fathering a child as a result of that assault.” Wow, dude, wait to blame the girlfriend for some of the bad stuff that happened in Robin’s life. I sure feel sorry for whoever you end up with if this is how you see it. “Hook and Emma frequently lie to one another as well,” Lying does not equal a toxic relationship! Certain lies, maybe, but general lying is just what people do when they’re embarrassed or ashamed or upset. What counts is what you’re lying about and also whether or not you come clean about it.

The only one I’ll agree with is RumBelle but even then OP completely misses the reason WHY they’re a toxic relationship. Instead they generalise it into very un-toxic details.

... Again... Like... I agree with the statement but NO ONE GETS THIS WRONG!

OP is clearly just using this article as an excuse to bash Regina. And I’m not a Regina fan, but no, dude, if you’re gonna do this then make a “20 of the worst things Regina ever did” list. Not a “20 things people get wrong” and then list a bunch of things that one in ten people gets wrong!

And now OP’s repeating. Because I’m pretty sure this was covered in the 4th one? Like, agree. I guess. But it feels like OP was running out of things and figured Regina bashing again would be too obvious or something.

Okay. Now this is something a lot of people won’t agree with but... I do.

I agree the show was intended to be Emma’s story and that it then got popular and other characters got popular and it branched out into something more.

... However OP is still a colossus idiot because they ended on this sentence:

“It's what made the concept of a seventh season without almost any of the Charmings such a laughable concept - and such a colossal failure, as well.” And while Season 7 may not be the masterpiece I pretend it is to piss of anti’s, it is also far from the worst. OP just hates it because their fav wasn’t centre stage and they’re bitter as hell.

Wow this was probably the stupidest article yet. OP either clearly doesn’t know what they were meant to be doing (a list of things people often forget about the show) or they just wanted to make a list where they bitched a few points and couldn’t be bothered to think of a catchy title or reason why. Either way, OP’s an idiot and most of these points are ridiculously dumb.

[mynameisdreartblog]

Architectural Styles 2

Leo: Mission Revival. So, my mom wants to run from a senatorial seat this incoming election, and I think it'd be really hopeful if you campaigned for her Napoleon Dynamite style. I know that's a lot of info to lay on you at once, so I'm gonna give you some resources to aid you with the campaign as well: dates, notes, mottos, early poster designs, bare speeches, and decorative pencil toppers. Oh, and I also must tell you that you're one of her contenders for a running mate, and you have a three-month period to set all this up before. All this is awaiting you only if you agree to any of it. But, I'd really favor you a lot more because I handmade this fancy suit just for you and I made sure to put Scooby-Doo patterns on your tie. No, they didn't have Velma — your favorite — because Scooby's the icon, and they're not gonna waste money printing designs of the other characters. Also, I'd like to mention that, on a $50 basis, I'll come to your house and suck your cock for this if you don't do it. I expect a response from you by tomorrow. […] I like you but only because you come off strong, and I like people who come off strong. You're the exact opposite of the guy who cut me off in that jeep with obnoxious stickers, and that example is exactly the model we need for… the running mate of a senatorial politician: that's what we need at this moment. […] Listen, I can flatter you all day with my compliments, but the choice (at the end of the day) is ultimately yours… but it'd really make my mom happy if you agreed, so please do it? Ok, that's it <Oro pulls out a gun.> You listen here, you piece of human garbage. You will be my mom's running mate when she runs for a senatorial seat, and you will do it in a humorous style à la Napoleon Dynamite. Did you fucking hear me? You will help her run, and you will get a Scooby-Doo tie! FUCK YOU!

Taurus: Akbari. A trucker hat, left abandoned on the highway; how sad. It was probably a long-gone reminder of a time of joyous festival by the roadside, but it's best not to linger about those thoughts for too long; you could end up feeling remorseful over what happened. [,,,] Anyways, let's get back to getting in the nitty-gritty of this abandoned truck stop. First things first: break through the entrance; get the crowbar then. Argh, you see the, unf, glass here is very strong here because what the truck drivers used to do is, well, to put it harshly: they rammed themselves into the place usually on accident. It would leave the place with a ton of damage and a lighting condition that eerily warns of domestic verbal abuse <the glass is lifted out of the window frame, offering an entrance into the truck stop.> […] I love these places because they're like convenience stores on meth, and this location in particular was part restaurant, part hotel, and part gas station: a three-way tie between unsanitary conditions! […] Purpose? Why, there was no purpose here except the pure curiosity of it all. There were no Hopper-esque scenery that we could take in, nor beer we could stash, nor are there any gas pumps to feed myself with. «Wait, what?» We're here purely for the adventure: this baby's gonna be demolished by the next month, and we gotta make a lasting impression of what once was while we still have the chance. […] Woah, is this the ice machine I saw on that internet video? It is: it's a Hoshizaki ice machine! «Uh, Koil? There's still trucks outside.» Wow, a 2014 calendar for Paris glitz, and it has kittens too! Aw man, you can still smell the grease left on these fryers. Oh, and there's a bag of Jelly Bellies here too? «Koil, they're coming inside; they have flashlights and batons!» Ooh, a headset! I bet this is wired up to somewhere that's still operating: "Ah yes, please come in, Olligestaia, we're having an emergency here: I just shat myself." «Koil, they're right outside the door, I can clearly hear the barking dogs and intense yelling to get out of the establishment!» Yo, they got a TV!

Aquarius: Art deco. A cop thought that we were smoking weed when we were actually smoking plain-old cigarettes. You see, that's how you mess with their heads: you make it look like you're doing something illegal, but you're actually doing something in the same vein as what they presumed you to be doing only legal. I could picture the look on his face, he looked at us with a disappointment in his eyes that he couldn't bust some younglings for three ounces of weed (thanks for the stash by the way, Ali), but at least I didn't give him candy cigarettes instead. You know, the ones that always felt and tasted like chalk and came in those superhero-themed boxes? Yeah, I ended up circulating those enough as a young age to build up a drug empire somewhere in India: it's crazy how that turned out, but I don't associate with that much anymore (I just let it do its business and I have a coconut in the receptionist's desk with a recorder to answer any complaints). [,,,] <Roaches scurries to taste the crumbs of the candy cigarette left on the ground. Comically, its tiny coughs can be heard from attempting to eat the repackaged chalk.> […] Heh, that was a fun run-in with the law… wait, I'm above twenty-one and I've been so for years now. Why the fuck was he investigating us for illegally smoking when I'm clearly not a minor? Was I with other people who happened to be minors? Was that what set him off? Wha-, those candy cigarettes are getting to me, man. I think I may've imagined that entire encounter: those kids weren't there with me, that cop wasn't there to approach me, and you weren't here to talk to afterwards… where's that goddamn chalk? I need it: it's the only thing that holds the cure to my newly acquired madness. […] <The roach has now started its own miniature drug business from the stash of crumbs it managed to take upon its initial encounter. It's build a monopoly based on the supply.> Come on, where is it? Don't do this to me, Ali.

Pisces: Maghreb. I specifically remember there being an entire roleplay here involving some sort of anime-esque sky fortress that revolved around three main characters interacting with each other. What compromised the structure of it was a single person who had a godlike presence within the world: he watched over a giant, green field of earthen hills that was populated by titanic golems. What he led on was that he was secretly the master of these beings, but he was also a creator that struggled with restraining his own madness. They were our star of the show and an explicit name was never given, only "Dr. G." — I swear, he stole that from somewhere. [,,,] Accompanying Dr. G was a distant traveler from an astronautical world: his name was unknown, but he went by MC and said that his backstory consisted of being chased down by intergalactic bounty-hunters before landing on the planet of Dr. G. On that planet, he had a newfound purpose to write and create filthy beats. [,,,] Then there was… Austino. He was the one whom Dr. G despised with all his might but had to keep around for necessity. Austino was the one who'd make it his job to annoy all other characters and break the fourth wall as often as possible. He was the one whom, in past roleplaying sessions, Dr. G often tried to murder but kept reanimating to spite him… Oh, and there's Pandora, I guess. […] I might be misremembering this, but I'm pretty sure there were various homoerotic elements within it at various intervals, as there was a scene where Austino stops to showcase everyone else this cool thing he found online, and it was the Moby Huge (a three-foot dildo). […] It was weird as hell, and all I remember from the climax was that some green dude appeared at the end and foreshadowed what I'm doing now after an epic battle between a demon — created by Dr. G — that imitated the powers of MC. I think it was for the purpose of a hero's trial, or something? […] Dr. G later tried creating a cyberpunk roleplay, but it never went anywhere.

[spooky-shinx]

A little thing I wrote last night. Ryan is a seer in it. I tried my best researching what powers a seer has so if I write it completely wrong then please let me know how to change it!

• Shane’s grandmother passes away and she leaves her apartment complex to him. He’s not quite sure if he wants to take over being the owner, but it was in her dying will for him to be the one to keep it going. He can’t find it in him to disrespect her dying wish.

• So he packs his bags and moves to the place he inherited from her. The place is literally in the middle of no where and he wonders who the hell would want to live out here away from society. Upon arriving he’s greeted by some of its residents asking him if he’s Mrs. Madej’s grandson.

• He tells them yes and they give him their condolences saying that his grandmother was like a 2nd mother to them and that she will greatly be missed. Shane isn’t suprised. His grandmother was a very caring kind person and often when she visited back home she always liked to talk about some of the residents who lived in her complex. She was very fond of alot of them, so it’s not surprising for him to see these strangers grieving over his grandma.

• They also mention that there throwing a welcome party for him so he can meet the other people living here, which Shane is hesitant about that, but tells them okay because it would be rude to decline going to a party their throwing together just for him. So he spends the rest of the day unpacking and getting situated in his grandmother’s house.

• When 6pm is near he gets dressed in more decent apparel and walks over to some strangers complex that the party is being thrown at. He knocks and the door opens to reveal a man about his age dressed nicely in all black. The other man ushers him in saying his name is Eugene and welcoming him to his home. Shane walks inside and is greeted to tons of people who turn to look at him, the newcomer.

• Eugene tells everyone to back off and to let Shane breathe. He then hands him a glass to drink that is full of some sparkly pink liquid. He tells him that he made it with the best herbs and potions he had. He also tells Shane that if he doesn’t like the taste to let him know and he could change the flavor up with a little magic.

• Then there’s a small explosion and someone is yelling “Eugene! I think I put the wrong spice into this” and Eugene apologizes to Shane about leaving before he goes into the kitchen rolling his eyes saying “Damnit Zach I told you not to touch anything”.

• Shane doesn’t have time to think about what the hell that noise was before a small women is in front of him telling him “Hey”. He remembers this girl from earlier because she was one of the first people who greeted him when he arrived. He tells Sara “Hello” back and soon he’s being lead around by her as she goes around introducing him to everyone who is in the home at the moment.

• Sara is nice and he’s glad she’s here to introduce him to the residents of this place for him because he thought he was going to have to awkwardly go up to people and introduce himself. There is one strange thing he notices about her though. Her hair is purple and every once in awhile he notices it sparkle. He blames the lighting in the room and says it’s just the light messing with his eyes.

• After a while he’s mentally exhausted from talking to so many people and tells Sara he’s going to rest up a bit and that he will come find her once he’s ready to mingle again. She gives him a smile and thumbs up before telling him sure and bouncing off to talk to someone else. Then Shane walks around Eugene’s place looking at all the weird stuff he has decorating his home.

• He’s examining a bookshelf that’s full of jars stuffed with bones, trying to determine if he should be worried about being in the home of someone who has freaky shit like this in plain view in their house, when he feels a hand on his back. He turns around to see who the fuck is touching him so casually like that and is greeted to the sight of a smaller younger man looking up at him with curious eyes.

• “Hello I’m Ryan”, the man tells him before sticking his hand out for a handshake. Shane suspiciously eyes the other mans out stretched hand for a short time before he finally takes it. Then he looks down to see Ryan close his eyes for a few seconds before he opens them back up and gives Shane a small smile, letting go of his hand. Then Ryan tells Shane “I can’t see your aura, hear your thoughts, or see your future and past so you must be related to Mrs. Madej”.

• Shane stares at him trying to decipher what the fuck this guy just told him because who in their right mind tells someone that they can’t see their aura, future or past and hear their thoughts? This man has to be insane or on something. So he tells Ryan “Are you okay? What are you talking about?”.

• Ryan frowns at him before saying “No I’m fine. I couldn’t read Mrs. Madej either so I figured you were related to her since I can’t read you also”. That response is still not helping Shane at all try and figure out what this guy is talking about. So he responds back to Ryan telling him “Look pal she was my grandma, but I have no idea what your talking about because what you telling me sounds like nonsense”.

• Shane watches as realization crosses Ryan’s face and then the other man is apologizing, telling him “Oh I’m sorry! I should have told you what I am. I’m a seer”. This guy is definitely smoking something, Shane thinks and then he laughs telling Ryan “So what, you can see ghosts and the future? Your kidding right?”

• Ryan gives him a confused look before asking Shane “Do you not know this place is supernatural?”. Okay Shane is pretty sure the other man is crazy now because supernatural? There’s no way since the supernatural doesn’t exist. “The supernatural isn’t real buddy. Are you sure your okay? You’ve been telling me some concerning stuff”, he tells Ryan.

• Ryan narrows his eyes at Shane after his response telling him “I’m not crazy. Not to sure how much your grandmother told you, but this apartment complex is housing for those who are supernatural or posses magical abilities. It’s a safe heaven for us to live at and not have to worry about being hunted or exposed by normal beings”.

• Shane gives him a blank stare trying to process everything Ryan told him. According to the other man everyone here in this house is mythical of some nature and Shane just can’t believe that. His grandmother never once mentioned her old apartment complex was a housing for supermundane beings to him and Shane isn’t about to believe what some stranger told him.

Not to sure what I want to make Shane and his grandma. I was thinking of making her a nephilim or cambion. Since none of her children had her powers she thought it wasn’t inheritedable until Shane was born and she saw what she had in him. She never told him or anyone the truth though because she couldn’t put her residents in danger. So when she dies she wants Shane to take over for her and she leaves him a lengthy letter probabaly in her house for him to find explaining everything, but he just hasn’t found it yet? Something like that. I haven’t thought that far yet.