#mckenzie and her straight girl crush

[fizzytoo]

skipping prom because 2/3 of you have people you’d like to avoid

[thestarstoasun]

The question that had ignited a change in Will had come completely out of the blue. It was just like any other day, a day spent in the comforting familiarity of the infirmary. The only patients were a daughter of Ares and Connor Stoll of Hermes – who had to be put on opposite ends. Nico was cutting bandages while Will lectured Connor on reckless pranks on the Ares cabin that ended up with him in the infirmary.

That was when Gracie walked in. Gracie and Will were close, mainly because she had clung to him – much like he had clung to Lee when he was claimed as a son of Apollo. “Hey Will! I have a question.” She looked up at him with the innocence a child should have. An innocence that was stolen by the rest of them through wars and death.

Gracie's green eyes reminded him so much of Lee, it was almost unnatural. Lee had gotten his eye color from his mortal mother, while Will’s blue eyes came from Apollo. The shade of green was something Will had never been able to put into words. Though, the many girls and guys at camp who had crushes on his older brother had plenty for them.

Will shot one last, narrowed look at Connor before turning his attention to his sister with a much brighter expression. His eyes softened and he ruffled her hair. “What’s up, Rapunzel?”

Out of the corner of his eye, Will could see Nico raise a questioning eyebrow, which reminded him they still had so, so many movies to watch in order to catch his boyfriend up on everything he missed because of the Gods.

“Jerry, Yan, and I were in the attic of the cabin-“ Will could feel his body tense up and tried to make them at least appear natural. “The boxes up there had a bunch of names up there. Lee Fletcher, Michael Yew, Isabella Nightshade, Mckenzie Ayers, Juliet Solbello-“

“That’s Italian.” Nico interrupted, noticing that with every name Gracie innocently listed Will looked closer and closer to breaking a apart.

“It is?” Gracie looked his way with brimming excitement in her eyes, directing her attention to Nico. Will flashed him a distant, but appreciative small smile. Nico nodded, a reply to them both, so as he distracted Gracie, Will slipped away through the side door of the infirmary.

He knew what Gracie was going to ask as soon as she started to list the names of their siblings she had never, would never, get to meet. She wanted to know who they were and what happened to them, but Will wasn’t brave enough, or strong enough, to talk about it. Five…only five of his thirteen dead siblings, and he could hardly handle hearing the fact his younger siblings, (they had never met them. They shouldn’t be touching their stuff. What if it gets lost? Or broken? What if there’s nothing left of them to remind Will that they lived?) had found the Apollo kids' biggest secret. The last remains of a shattered family with a father of healing that couldn’t be bothered to save them.

Will went straight to Cabin 7, ignoring the looks of other campers. He saw Jerry and Yan looking at a picture a much younger, more innocent Will Solace drew of him and his big brothers (big brothers that would never hold him again. Not until he joined them in Elysium). “Put that down. I told you guys not to go in there.” He couldn’t help but wince at the harsh tone in his voice. Snapping at them wouldn’t help the situation. Will Solace had a responsibility to his living siblings first, as their big brother. His own feelings could be pushed down into the suffocating box where they threatened to drown him. “Sorry, please . I don’t want it to get ripped. It’s pretty old.”

Yan at least had the decency to look guilty. “I’m sorry, Will. You guys just never talk about any of them, and you, Austin, and Kayla always find excuses to not be in the cabin.”

“We all noticed, so we figured whatever you were hiding in the attic was why.” Jerry added, finally looking a bit ashamed.

Will took a deep, shaky breath and grabbed one of Lee’s flannels. Most of the ones he wore now were once Lee’s that, when the time came to pack his belongings, Will had taken for himself because he knew it was the closest he would ever get to one of his older brother’s hugs ever again. “It’s not because of these. It’s because of why they’re there. Why the people they belong to aren’t..” Will clutched to Lee’s flannel and put it on, despite the temperature outside being the reason he hadn’t worn one today at all. “Please, put the boxes and all their belongings back in the attic. They belonged to our older siblings. And I promise, I-“ Once again, Will had to pause and clutch onto the sleeves of Lee’s flannel. “I’ll tell you guys all about them.”

Will’s gaze landed on the old video camera that neither he, Kayla, nor Austin had had the heart to look at the recordings after Manhattan left them feelings emptier than ever. But, Will Solace couldn’t let his younger siblings see how much this really hurt him, so he looked over at them and smiled brightly. “Don’t feel bad, we all make mistakes. I gotta go check on Neeks, since I may have left him with Gracie.”

Will walked out of cabin 7 with a heavy heart hidden by a porcelain mask that was covered in cracks plastered together by the sense of responsibility and becoming head counselor and the oldest sibling, after being a former youngest, in the matter of hours during a war. Other campers looked through at the cracks in his carefully crafted mask wondering how long until it shattered leaving whatever Will Solace could be underneath it exposed for the world to see.

Part 2

[adamwatchesmovies]

Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Jojo Rabbit walks a delicate line. One scene is laugh-out-loud, darkly comedic. The next is soul-crushing. When you look at it on paper, it shouldn’t work. On the screen, it’s memorable, tender, hilarious and insightful - a picture like none other. There are some who will find it tasteless but for the rest, it's one you'll be compelled to revisit.

In the final years of WWII, Ten-year-old Johannes “Jojo” Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis) dreams of serving in Nazi Germany's army like his absent father. While at Hitler Youth Camp, Jojo follows the advice of his imaginary best friend, a child’s rendition of Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi). After an accident cripples him, he is sent back home. There, he discovers his mother (Scarlett Johansson) is harbouring a Jewish teenaged girl (Thomasin McKenzie).

This film excels at exposing the hypocrisy of the propaganda necessary to keep the Nazi machine (and similar systems) going. Jojo is only a child and even he has difficulty understanding how Elsa can be a demonic creature with horns and wings that drinks blood and can mind control good German boys, is cripplingly fascinated with shiny things and also an enemy the Nazis will easily eliminate. To him, she looks just like a normal girl. None of the interactions they have confirm her as dangerous.

The characters of Elsa, Jojo and his mother are all played relatively straight. Everyone else is a living contradiction. Rebel Wilson plays Fräulein Rahm. Despite being unmarried, she boasts having given birth to 18 children for Germany. How that’s possible, who knows. Her unreleting enthusiasm for the Nazi cause is bizarre considering her job at the Hitler Youth camp is to teach the girls there to dress wounds, take care of the injured… and have children. Not particularly exciting compared to the boys, who get to play with live munitions and enjoy the outdoors. The next noteworthy contradiction within the film is Nazi Germany’s attitude towards children. We’re told they’re the future, that the world will belong to them but as the tide of war shifts, we see the kids become be extremely disposable in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it bit of off-sceen gruesomeness. The whole thing is topped by Taika Waititi’s portrayal of Hitler. Self-described as a Polynesian Jew, even if Waititi wasn’t directing and writing, his casting would feel like a smart, subversive inside joke. As the film begins, this Adolf Hitler is Jojo’s best friend. Once the boy starts questioning what the authorities have been feeding him, Hitler becomes increasingly hostile and comical. He’s more “so pathetic you’re glad you can laugh at him” than “funny because it’s so wrong to see Hitler doing this” kind of funny.

Lest you think this film does not take what happened during WWII seriously, understand that key scenes make you forget all about the fanciful imagination of Jojo’s world and bring you back to reality. The scenes with him and his mother, for example, are surprisingly grounded. You can feel the exhasperation Rosie must feel as her son makes all of these statements about Adolf Hitler, the Nazi cause, Jews and Germany. How frustrating it must be for her to endure what she hears. She could tell Jojo what the truth is, but he's a child. He doesn't understand what's really going on and doesn't understand that admitting the truth out loud could have serious consequences.

Though there are some big, memorable laughs within Jojo Rabbit, the dramatic revelations are so sobering that the drama/comedy split doesn't feel like it's down the middle. Said revelations only come in during the latter half of the movie, however, so they hit you when you least expect it - and hit you hard. This is not the kind of movie you easily forget precisely because it makes bold, bizarre-sounding choices. Though there is a chance you'll be so off-put by "Jojo Rabbit" that it won't be your cup of tea, every move that's being made has been carefully considered and the themes used throughout make it a picture I don't hesitate to recommend. (February 10, 2023)

[mikeisafighter]

THE REAL top 20 country songs of 2022

Okay look, here’s my actual list of top country songs. Rather not explain too deep about it, you can look it up yourself. This is the internet.

Payton Howie - Freedom Tenille Arts - Back Then, Right Now Tenille Arts - Call You Names Payton Howie - Never Go Home Blake Shelton - Come Back As A Country Boy Payton Howie - Keep Her Breathing Callie Twisselman - Cowboy Chayce Beckham & Lindsay Ell - Can’t Do Without Me Page McKenzie & Garrett Biggs - Hung Up By Now Tenille Arts - Give It To Me Straight Jason Aldean - Trouble With A Heartbreak Dariann Leigh - Leave Carly Pearce & Ashley McBryde - Never Wanted To Be That Girl Kenzi Whittington - On You Caitlin Quisenberry - What If Payton Howie - Country Before Me Caitlin Quisenberry - Love Her Out Of My Head Brooke Hatala - The Dash Tenille Towns - When’s It Gonna Happen Page McKenzie - House And now for songs I’m keeping an eye on in 2023 Alexis Wilkins - Stand, That Girl and Home (with Fish Fisher) Payton Howie - Jail And Jesus Tenille Arts - Jealous Of Myself & Motel On The Moon Mikayla Lane - Ambush Dariann Leigh - Jackson

For all intensive purposes, while Country was pretty strong for me in 2022, Rock absolutely crushed it.

[jacqcrisis]

more lumberyard monster stuff including characters and monster anatomy. putting under read more cause LONG

characters: 

Sixer: monster man. no idea what he is or where he came from, only that he doesn’t want to go back. is generally playful, lazy, incredibly quick to learn, curious, and a trouble maker when he’s bored. loves his tv, the dog, eating, annoying Dale, sleeping, and Alvin. 

Alvin: lover boy. Tony’s nephew. Started working at the lumberyard not long before they found Sixer. is kind of quiet, gentle, relatively down to earth, clearly beat down already even in his mid-twenties, not helped by his verbally abusive and manipulative girlfriend who eventually becomes his fiancee as he doesn’t know how to get out of the relationship. loves working with him hands, modding/fixing things, old cars, all kinds of music, and chilling with Sixer.

Tony: the dad guy. first generation American. mom immigrated to U.S. from Mexico. loves motorcycles, making people smile, and his wife. is second pony to the owner, runs the saws, and is basically the lumberyard’s HR department. has four kids and is all-around a nice guy. see’s the yard crew as a second family. Named Sixer for his six limbs and is very proud of that fact. Thinks of him as his ‘buddy’.

Charlie: bull dyke owner. Took over the yard from her father. is happily married to a law professor. loves bourbon, her motorcycle, and her dog. used to smoke, has the smoker’s voice and laugh, and chews nicotine gum like her life may depend on it. is tough but fair. pretty no nonsense with most of her workers, but Tony who is both a family friend and her second in command and Sixer, who she dotes on in her own way.

Dale: Shitty guy. Hates paying child support. Just the worst. An HR nightmare before Sixer came along to keep him in place.

Brian: Alvin’s friend who also works at the yard. Likes to drag race, pick up chicks, and kind of instigates Dale even if he doesn’t mean to. Is kind of ambivalent to Sixer but likes the novelty of having this weird monster at the yard

McKenzie: cashier girl/secretary. Doesn’t work in the yard itself, but spends all day inside answering the phone and cashing out orders. Single-mother in her early twenties and Charlie allows her to bring her kid to work when she can’t get a babysitter especially with Sixer around cause he likes watching the kid. Kind of stuck up, kind of a party girl, but is fun to be around.

Scruff: Is a dog. Some kind of large shepherd mix. Loves to follow Sixer and is the one who initially found him on a rainy afternoon, injured and hiding behind the saw mill.

Angela: Charlie’s wife. visits the yard from time to time. Tony calls her the big boss because everyone watches themselves when she’s around. Is beloved by all save for Dale. Sixer has some kind of crush on her.

Monster anatomy bits: 

- Sixer is a strange mixture of ape, panthera, and reptile in body shape, while gait swaps between felid and simian depending on the situation. is capable of sitting on his haunches to get a better look around and capable of walking for a limited time on two legs, though very awkwardly. hips generally sit lower to the ground than shoulders while walking on all fours as forelimbs are slightly longer than backlegs. is capable of reaching speeds of 35mph for an extremely limited time and can leap up to 30ft horizontally though is capable of walking for days on end if needed.

- is covered in large golden brown plated scales that are smooth to the touch. from the shoulder to just before the hips are large thick black spines ranging in length that can be raised and lowered at will to be flush against the back or stand straight up. spines are used to sense vibrations and temperature changes in the air to make up for piss poor hearing. also has some very vibrant neon blue markings that show up after his winter shed during the springtime along his back and sides and that fade by mid-summer. 

- skull and face shape is vaguely human in that it is forward facing and very flat though with noticeable differences. face is covered in smaller thinner scales. eyes are larger, green-yellow in color with round pupils and has two sets of eyelids, one for blocking out light, the other for blocking out dust, debris, and water while still maintaining sight. nostrils are almost flush to the face and also large, covered by sensitive receptors that are activated by a chemical in his saliva, excellent at smelling. brow has bumpy ridges that stick out instead of eyebrows. jawbone is bisected and each side is capable of limited independent movement. has no lips. tongue is long and teeth are more ape like. has no external ear and is genuinely not great at hearing unless someone it talking directly at him. has a crop of black hair/fur on top of head that never grows longer than inch along with a few more psuedo-horns around the crown that are dull.

- six limbed. two hind legs and four arms, each ending in a foot/hand with four digits. one set of arms is slightly larger than the other and has larger claws and are used primarily for locomotion, climbing, and fighting/hunting. other set used for more delicate work. scales on the palms of smaller hands are notably thinner and more sensitive to touch for tool work, affection, and object manipulation. Tony jokingly calls the larger arms his ‘fightin’ arms’ and the smaller ones his ‘doin’ arms’

- from head to tip of tail, Sixer is about 12 feet long and from shoulder to ground when on ‘all fours’ stands at about 4 feet tall. tail makes up 30% of body length, is neither stiff nor prehensile, and is capable of a limited amount of wagging closer to the tip, generally used to signal mood though can be used to whip antagonizers.

-he sheds twice a year, the process taking about two weeks from start to finish and these have been dubbed as ‘hell weeks’ by the crew because they have a massive grumpy snappy itchy monster who rubs himself on every rough surface up to and including the buildings, forklifts, the lumber, any unfortunate cars, the fence, and Alvin for 12-16 days. the best way to deal with it is to hose him down twice a day or provide a small pool for him to soak in and give up on trying to get the garage broom from him which he uses to brush himself.

- opportunistic omnivore that can eat almost anything. to lead a healthy diet, requires 70% meat/organ/bone and 30% veg. while svelte, he actually gains a little extra belly cause of the access to a local deer/rabbit overpopulation and the crew just giving him food all the time. 

- has a range of vocalizations and i still haven’t decided if he’s capable of speech or if it’s severely limited and the crew teach him to use asl cause it would make sense if he couldn’t form most words given mouth anatomy and I like it better than unexplained telepathy. i’ll probably go with that.

- genitalia are internal and male in nature. 

monster man and the lumberyard extra bits i thought of:

- Tony gives Sixer a T.V. but it’s only hooked up to local channels so at night he watches a lot of bad television and soap operas.

- Sixer starts crushing on Alvin very quickly, but does not understand how to romance Anyone, so he tries to do a mixture of whats instinctual for him and what he sees on bad T.V. Alvin brushes it off for years, thinking Sixer is Just Like That. it takes him a bit to realize he’s catching feelings because while he is book smart, he also is, regrettably, a himbo

- some sneaky government thing is looking for him. so is a local cryptid hunting group. They get alerted cause some hunters find the remains of deer who’s wounds look nothing like something a local predator could do. no one suspects to look in the dusty lumberyard, of course.

- for holiday parties and get togethers, either Charlie or Tony always hand off a bunch of food to Alvin, telling him to go give it to the ‘old man next door’ so he can get away from his fiancee for a bit and so Sixer doesn’t miss out on the festivities

[wreckofawriter]

Focus

Pairing: Draco Malfoy x Ravenclaw!reader

Warnings: Slight swearing, bullying

Word count: 4,728 (this is the longest one I've ever written)

Request: Hey do you think you could do a Draco imagine? I was thinking with a ravenclaw reader who’s actually shy and clumsy.

A/n: Sorry this came out later than I anticipated, its regents week for me and I was crushed by exams. I hope to have part one of my Draco series out over the weekend. Hope you guys like this ridiculously long one!

“Ms. y/l/n” You heard an all too familiar voice say.

“Yes Professor?” You asked turning around swiftly to face the raven haired teacher.

“What happened with your potion, it was a complete disaster?” The teacher asked.

You flushed, it was no secret you weren't exactly great at positions, you were too clumsy to measure anything out, you managed to cut your finger and you always messes up the order of ingredients.

“I'm so sorry professor i'm just not very good at positions. I have been studying I swear, it just..” Your voice trailed off. “I'm sorry professor.” You mumbled looking down.

“I want you prepared for the test next Wednesday, you should be able to manage that?” He asked eyebrows raised.

“Of course professor.” You mumbled still quite flush from the whole conversation. You turned to leave walking back towards your common room. About thirty seconds later you saw the last person you wanted to. Mckenzie Clarkson. She was a fellow housemate who unfortunately was extremely popular, pretty, nimble footed and of course, smart. She was basically everything you weren't, in your mind.

“God your pathetic.” The brunett girl laughed, her stunning green eyes narrowing. “You have lost, what was it? 30 points for us today.” The girls behind her giggled whispering things to each other. “You shouldnt even be in Ravenclaw. Your far to stupid. You cant even get into the common room without help, you trip over your own feet and you are practically failing all your classes.” She smirked clearly feeling very good about herself, as you willed yourself not to cry. You hated crying, so you just glared up at her anger rushing through you like a wave, but you kept it down, what could you possibly say to her?

“Can you just let me go?” You asked voice weak.

“I don't know can we?” The hallway erupted in laughter.

“Just let me leave.” You said voice a bit stronger now as your anger grew.

“Fine.” She smirked as she moved out of the way. You quickly began to walk through the group of girls, the embarrassment was suffocating.

Just as you were about to break free of the group, a girl stuck he leg out sending you sprawling to the ground. Your hands, full of books that scattered as you attempted to get your arms in front of you, it was a failure and you landed on your elbow directly followed by you face. You groaned in pain as you felt blood begin to seep from your nose.

“Oops.” The girl giggled before they all turned to leave laughing and joking.

You lay there for a few seconds squeezing your eyes shut, begging the tears to retreat. You eventually pushed yourself up so you were sitting. You were surrounded by books and papers, you had blood rushing down your face dripping onto you shirt and you had had enough. You simply pulled yourself to the side of the hallway drawing your knees to you cest and began to cry. You knew this wouldn't stop. You were far too shy to say anything and even if you weren't the girls were right anyway. Why were you in Ravenclaw when it took you a good twenty minutes just to figure out the password to your own common room?

Just then your heard voices. You quickly moved grabbing your books and sprinting out of the hallway before anyone could see you. You sprinted the whole way back to the tower. You were greeted by the raven statue you had grown to hate. You groaned loudly.

The statue spoke, “How is it possible for you to stand behind your father while he is standing behind you?” it asked, making you groan again.

“Can you please just let me in, im covered in blood.” You grumbled knowing that it wouldn’t answer. You tried to think. How can I stand behind something that is behind me? You racked your brain for an awnser but it seemed impossible. You couldnt help it you began to cry again. Frustration, embarrassment and sadness filled you as tears streaked you cheek. Why were you put in Ravenclaw? What could that stupid, good for nothing, hat possibly seen in you that made him shout “Ravenclaw” like a farmer yelling for his next sheep to slaughter.

You then heard footsteps beside you. You turned to see Cho Chang. She was in the year above you and was everything a Ravenclaw should have been, pretty, athletic, and of course wicked smart. You wanted to hate her for being so perfect but you couldn't.

“Hey,” She said softly, “I heard what Mckenzie did. That's messed up.” She attempted to sooth you.

“It doesn't matter.” You attempted to smile but it was more of a tight lipped grimace.

“She’s wrong you know.” Cho smiled.

You gave a half hearted laugh, “What could possibly make me a Ravenclaw?”

“So much y/n,” she said, “You are crazy good at Wizards Chess for one.”

“That’s just a stupid game.” You grumbled.

“No, it takes strategy and I've never seen a single person beat you.” She pointed out.

You blushed not used to getting praised.

“Also i've seen your artwork, its beautiful, absolutely stunning.” She smiled making you blush more.

“Thanks.” you mumbled.

“Look don't let one girl get you down.” She advised before asking the statute for the riddle. It answered and she stood there thinking for a second.

    “Oh!” she exclaimed, “Your standing back to back.”

    The statue spun open as you hit your forehead onto you stack of books making you stumble, barley catching yourself before you fell. You cursed yourself before ascending the stairs to your room. You had had enough humiliation for today.

    Draco rolled his eyes as Zambini told another terrible joke beside him, “What do you call a red head with no brains?’

    “I don't know, you with red hair?” Draco mocked.

    “Close but no.” the other boy snickered, “A weasley!” He erupted into laughter as they rounded the corner, heading to the common room.

    As they continued talking Draco felt something thump against his foot. He looked down to see a leather bound book which he had kicked a few feet in front of him. The platinum blonde raised his eyebrows before bending down to pick it up.

    “What the..” Balises voice trailed off.

    Draco looked up to see a small puddle of blood at the end of the quoridor.

    “Some idiot probably got hurt in potions or something.” Draco scoffed, though he was a bit confused. They continued walking being careful to avoid the blood. Draco's mind was quickly brought back to the book and he opened it to see what it was. What he saw stunned him.

    They were sketches. Not crappy sketches that was done by some kid, but damn good sketches. Most of them looked like they were for herbology. There were various plants with notes about them scribbled in messy handwriting in the margins, but every few pages there was something different. On the fifth page there was a drawing of a creature he didn't recognize. It was a black horse-like creature with big leathery looking wings. He wondered what it was. They had now arrived at the common room and Draco went directly to a couch sitting down on the black leather, continuing through the book. On the eleventh page there was a drawing of a broom stick. It was read Nimbus 2000 at the handel. There were various other sketches of random objects littered throughout the pages of plants and each was extremely realistic. His thoughts were interrupted by Daphne and Pansy.

    “Did you draw those Malfoy?” Daphne asked plucking the book out of his hand ignoring his protests.

    “No, could I have it back?” He asked glaring at the girl.

    Before she could respond Perkison interrupted, “Who’s is it Dracy?”

    “Don't call me Dracy” the boy groweld, “and I haven't the slightest idea.”

    “Oh, how did you get it?” Daphne asked.

    “I just found it, now give it back.” He stood up snatching the book up before retreating upstairs.

    “Who pissed in his cheerios?” Pansy grumbled plopping onto the couch.

    The next day you had herbology first period, you quite liked herbology you were good at it too. You loved how you could just sketch after you finished the drawing of the plants and of course you love your grade in the class. It made you feel less like a loser. Just a little less. When you plopped yourself into a seat next to a Ravenclaw boy named Casey. He was always very nice and often complimented you drawings. You would be lying if you said you didn't like him a little.

    After sitting down and greeting the boy you opened your bag to look for your sketchbook. It was nowhere to be found. What the heck? You thought as you searched through your bag with no luck. Then it struck you. You must have left it in the dungous yesterday. You cursed yourself quietly.

    “You okay?” Casey asked beside you.

    “Yeah I just lost my book,” You smiled at him blushing a bit.

    “Oh. I could help you look for it later if you want.” He offered.

    “O-oh I wouldn't want to bother you.” you blushed

    “It's no bother, I swear i want to help.” He smiled flashing a pearly set of straight teeth.

    “Ok, s-sounds good.” You stammered, you felt your face grow impossibly warmer.

    The lesson continues and you talked occasionally to Casey, you did your sketch on a piece of lined paper, you would transfer them when you found your notebook. After Herbologioy you and Casey headed down to the dungeons to look for your book. You had never really hung out with him out of class and it was nice. You were fighting a blush the whole time, you weren’t really one who interacted with attractive boys out of class.

    Draco began to make his way down to potions, he was still working through the drawings, there were many creatures he had never heard of before. It was odd, how had he never seen so many of these before? He was halfway through the dungeons when he heard giggling. It wasn't Pansy’s shriek, it was a soft quiet sound that made him think of the patter of rain on dewy grass. He turned the corner to see two figures in blue robes. One was a tall boy with dirty blond hair and deep brown eyes. Next to him was a y/h girl with y/h/l y/h/c hair that shone in the candle light. Her eyes were a stunning y/e/c that shared a soft yet sharp gaze with the world. He was taken aback. How had he never seen this girl before? They both looked at Draco expecting him to speak but he didn't, he simply kept walking brushing past the two, tucking the leather bound book back into his robes.

    As he walked away, he heard the boy mutter something to the girl, causing her to gasp and laugh,

    “Casey!” she scolded him

    “Oh come on y/n that was funny.” He teased back and Draco almost gasped in surprise. That was y/n? y/n y/l/n? No way. You were in his potions class and you never even spoke up, you were constantly messing up positions too. How was that girl the same one whose name he had grown deaf to Snape yelling? I didn't seem possible.

“Shot, I have to get to positions.” you told Casey glancing at your watch. He said goodbye as you walked quickly to your worst class. You were actually unusually excited, Luna one of your best friends had offered to help you out because you had the class together and she was quite good at potions. You entered the classroom quickly and found Lun, sitting next to the girl. As you waited for class to start you chatted about the different potions and what might be on the test.

“Wait for the dragons egg you have to turn it to powder first right?” you asked to see your friends gaze elss where.

“Dracos staring at you.” She said simply as if she hadn't just said an impossible sentence.

“What?” you asked turning around to meet a pair of silver eyes already on you. They quickly dodged away making you blush tremendously. “I saw him in the hallway eairler, and Casey made a stupid joke about him, hes probally plotting my death.” You sighed reality crashing on to you.

    “I don't think so.” Luna said in her usual dreamy tone.

    “What else would he be doing?” You murmured returning to your notes.

    Before Luna could answer Snape entered the room and you snapped your eyes to the front of the class.

    “It has come to my attention that many of you are getting nothing done in this class.” He stated harshly. You cringed this was not going to end well. “And because of that fact I have made a new seating chart,” You groaned, just when you were getting excited about positions.

    “Listen for your name and your partner,” He continued. “Parkinson, Belby. Goldstein, Crabbe. Greengrass, Lovegood.” You glanced at your friend who was as usual, smiling. You are happy for her as well, there were much worse partners to be had. “Corner, Zambini. Boot, Blustrode. Y/l/n, Malfoy.” The rest of the names went out of the window when you heard your partner. This was not going to be good, not good at all.

    When Draco heard your name called, then quickly followed by his he felt like he was going to throw up. And it wasn't because he knew you were probably going to botch whatever potion they made, it was because he wasn't sure if he could focus around you. He blushed madly and tried to think about something else. It's just a pretty girl you bloody idiot. He scolded himself. You just met her today, he reminded himself Well just realized she existed today. He was shaken out of his thoughts by Snape's voice.

“If you don't like your partner, too bad. Move together please.” Draco glanced over at y/n who was already packing up, Zambini moved from his seat apologizing to Draco for his partner and moved toward the back where Micheal was seated.

    He then saw you make your way over to him your cheeks a bit red, the same way they were when you were talking to that Casey boy in the hallway. He grimaced, how was he jealous of someone he had never spoken a word to? He then decided he would ignore every good quality you had and focus on the bad ones. That way it would be easier to pretend to hate you right?

    The second you sat down his plan failed. You smelt like vanilla and roses. He wanted to lean closer to you and inhale your addicting scent forever, but instead he moved over or so he couldn't breathe in your intoxicating fumes.  

    “Hi, i’m y/n.” You said sweetly sticking your hand out.

    “I know who you are.” Draco responded ignoring your hand and continuing to stare at the board, slouching in his seat.

    “Oh ok.” You murmured. He saw a small frown take over your soft pink lips and he felt angry for being its cause.

    Snape explained that you were to make a Confusing Concoction potion and told you you had till the end of class. The potion wasn't too complicated. You thought you might be able to get through this one.

    “I'll get the water you can work on the feathers.” Draco drawled trying not to get to close to you as he stood. You pretend not to notice.

    “Ok.” you nodded. You grabbed the feathers and began to separate the barbs from them. Not but two feathers in you yelped with pain as a barb pierced your thumb. You yanked it out hissing in pain as you saw blood drips from the wound. Draco who was now back and heating the water grimaced at the sound of your pain but refused to show that he cared.

    He sighed loudly, “Look you go clean up and I will finish the feathers.”

    “Thank you.” you whimpered walking towards a sink face red as the blood dripping from your hand.

    Draco let out a breath he didn't know he was holding after you walked past. He then sat down and began to work on the feathers. His fingers moved easily to separate the barbs from the stalk and he couldn't help but wonder how you had possible stuck yourself with one so quickly. He then heard a thump and an apology and looked up to see you stumbling back to your seat face a brilliant red as Millicent and Boot glared after you. He snickered a bit turning back to the feathers.

    Once you had most of the ingredients in you had to wait for 30 minutes for it to boil so Draco sat down and pulled out the book of drawings he had found.

    He was flipping through the pages again when he heard a gasp beside him. He looked up eyebrows raised.

    “Where did you find that?” You asked pointing at the book.

    “In the hallway.” He smirked, “Why do you care anyway?”

    “Because it's mine.” You whispered causing his cheeks to flush.

    “This is yours?” He asked surprise sewn into his voice.

    “Yes.” you nodded, “I lost it when..” your voice trailed off face growing red, “after potions.” you finished voice quiet.

    “You sure this is yours?” It came out harsher than Draco had intended but what could he do about it now?

    “Yes.” you breathed out face growing warmer. “It does have drawings in it, doesn't it?”

    “Well yeah but they are like, really good.” Only after he said it did he realise how it sounded. He instantly was filled with guilt as your face flashed with sadness and anger.

    “Yeah, well, they’re mine.” You grumbled voice quiet.

    “Here.” He handed the book to you, your hands brushed before you snatched the book away and he felt like he was going to burst at the feeling of your skin against his.

    Just then the timer on your position went off and the two of you continued to work.

    That's how it went for two weeks. You and Draco would share very few words as you worked together. Your grade did improve, but you were still quite prone to accidents and Draco rolled his eyes everytime. You went from being sad he didn't like you to being mad. He was always so rude. He would avoid speaking to you, looking at you, hell he avoided you altogether, his seat was always poised at the other end of the desk as if you were some sort of plague. All of this made you angry and frustrated. What have you done to make you so repulsive? You knew you weren't the best at potions but you had only messes up three the whole time and you were improving. You had never been rude to the boy even once, how come he hated you so much?

    “I just don't get it.” You pouted turning to Casey who was walking you down to potions.

    “It's not your fault y/n, he's like that with everyone.” He explained, “He's just a dick, not much you can do about it.”

    “But maybe if I was better at potions the-” you were interrupted by Casey.

    “Y/n its not your fault, you are amazing and sweet and kind, it's just him okay? Don't let him make you doubt yourself.”

    You blushed furiously at his words, “Thanks Case.”

    “Plus if he's really pissing you off just blow a potion up in his face.” he jeered.

    You laughed loudly, “He'd probably kill me with his icy glare.” you teased.

    “He is always glaring at you.” Casey smiled.

    “Thanks for walking me.” You said.

    “Of course, i’ll see you around y/n.” He beamed.

    “See ya.” You said before entering the classroom. You were met with Draco's frozen glare.

    “Hello Malfoy.” You greeted.

    “Y/l/n” he responded his voice vacant of any emotion.

    You sat down and glanced at the board to see what position you were working on. You then looked at Draco who was already looking at you making you blush.

    “I'll get the water.” You said promptly before standing up and snatching a cauldron. Only when you did this you left foot got caught behind your right and you plummeted to the ground. You dropped the cauldron with a clang and you hit the ground. You instantly heard laughter erupted throughout the room and you felt tears well up in your eyes. You then heard a snicker and you didn't have to see his face to know it was Draco. You blinked furiously face a deep shade of crimson. You then pushed yourself off the ground, lifted the cauldron from a few feet away and turned to face the slytherin boy. Your shyness suddenly disappearing in your rage and embarrassment when you saw the everlasting smirk perched on his lips. You felt two tears cascade down your red cheeks as you thrust the cauldron into his hands.

“Screw you Malfoy.” your voice trembled through gritted teeth. You then quickly left the classroom, laughter disappearing behind you. You made it maybe two cordors from the classroom when you saw Mckenzie. You instantly turned to run but were cut off by a few other girls already behind you.

“God y/n, such a clutz.” She snickered. “I think you belong in a physical therapy building not a wizarding school.”

You only whimpered feeling helpless and small.

“Boo-hoo poor, poor, y/n all alone.” She rubbed her eyes with her fists.”You do realize that Casey only hangs out with you because of a dare right?”

Your eyes widened in confusion.

“I made a dare that he couldn't get you to go out with him in a month and here we are, only two weeks in and you are practically drooling over him.”

You felt a sob leave your mouth. You wanted to say it wasn’t true but you knew it was. It sure as hell wasn’t a coincidence he asked to help you find your book the exact day she said she struck the deal with him. You felt angry. Sad. But most of all embarassed. You were always so embarrassed. Why where you always so fucking embarassed?!

“Guess I'll have to go out with him now that I told you about the bet” She smirked picking at her long blue nails.

“Of course.” You muttered tears falling of your chin.

“What's that?” Mckenzie smirked.

“Of course he would want to go out with you.” You began to sob and you saw Mckenzie’s smirk widen and your anger out did you.

“Of course, some douchebag like him would want to date a slutty bitch like you.” Anger dripped like poison from your voice. All of the laughter around you stopped as you felt yourself smile. You looked up through your tears to see Mkenzies mouth wide open in shock, her eyes wide in her sockets.

Anger took over her features and she pulled her wand from her robes with a shriek. “Stupify!” she shouted and you were sent sprawling backward. Your head hit the stone wall and black dots danced in your vision. You groaned closing your eyes but they popped back open when you heard another voice.

“Back off!” it yelled anger knit into its frame. You turned to see Draco heading strait at the girls. He whipped his wand once and suddenly Meckenzi flew into the air. She then dangled there like an invisible rope was tied to her ankle.

She shrieked for the girls below her to help but they just turned and ran fearful of the boy heading toward them. After the other girls disappeared Draco flicked his wand again and Mckenzie fell to the ground and began to cry.

“Get out of here before I do more than hex you.” You heard him growl.

The girl instantly stood up sobbing as she stumbled away. Draco's eyes softened when they landed on you.

“Are you alright?” he asked as he rushed over to you.

“What do you care Malfoy?” you mumbled attempting to get up only to stumble over your own feet and plummet to the ground, well you would have hit the ground if it wasn't for a pair of strong arms wrapping around you. You looked up at the blonde, his grey eyes were set on your lips and felt your heartbeat speed up to extremely high. Draco's face was now quite red as he helped you back to your feet.

“Why do you hate me?” the question rose from your lips before you could stop it. You flushed immediately after it left your mouth. Draco looked taken aback by the question.

“I don't hate you.” he stated.

“Don't lie to me. You avoid looking at me, you don't speak to me, hell you sit as far away from me as possible.” You paused looking at the boy, “I just want to know why.”

He laughed he actually laughed. What could possibly be funny right now? Was this all another joke? Did he really find your misery that funny. You flushed madly turning to leave.

“No wait love, don't leave.” Draco begged his laughter stopping abruptly.

You felt heat rush to your face at the nickname and turned around looking at the ground. Your gaze was turned upward when you felt a finger slowly lift your face upward. You had never blushed so much in your entire life.

“I don't hate you y/n. I would never hate you.” He smiled, not his usual smirk but a genuine smile and it made you go weak at the knees. “I don't think I could ever hate you.”

“Then why do you act like you do?” you asked, “Why do you avoid me? Why do you never talk to me, never look at me?”

He sighed, “I avoid you because whenever I get near you, I smell you. And it drives me crazy.” His hand caressed your cheek bone and you were pretty sure you face was on fire. “Your scent is beyond intoxicating. When I talk to you I lose track of everything else and I can only hear your voice echoing in my head.” He whispered, his minty breath danced across your face making you shudder. “And when I look at you, it's like the world disappears and it's only you standing there. Everytime I look at you I have to battle myself not to lean in and taste your lips.”

You stared at him. You couldn't breath, your It had been replaced with butterflies that were now fluting inside you madly. You were pretty sure this is what death felt like. But then something clicked inside you and your realized this wasn't death it was love.

“When it comes to you, I can focus on nothing else.” Dracos lips were so close you could feel them brush yours and you couldn't take it anymore. You grabbed the back of his head and smashed his lips onto yours.

You had never felt anything like it before, his lips danced on yours with grace you couldn't even begin to fathom. You felt his tongue slid across your lips and your eyes widened in surprise. You then shut them again opening your mouth a slight bit. You ran your hand threw his hair as he explored your mouth with his tongue pushing you up against the wall softly. You didn't want to break the kiss but you felt your lungs burn begging for air and you drew away from him.

You were both panting when you pulled apart. Your face was a bright red, your lips swollen, and hair disheveled but to Draco, you had never looked more beautiful.

“Merlin,” he gasped out, “I'm never going to focus again when I know you kiss like that.”

You flashed a brilliant red and giggled, Draco then decided he couldn't stop himself anymore, he pressed his lips against yours once again.

[outerbankslut]

89, 23, 34, 41, 60 hah, 65, 3 ohhh! for the asks

Ooh thankyou for these questions bb!! I love em 🥺

89: What would be a question you’d be afraid to tell the truth on?

If someone asked about like my sexuality. Like recently I’ve been feeling like I might be attracted to girls as well as boys and like idk. I haven’t ever really had a crush on a girl irl (I have no clue whether I have a crush on the girl in my art class but I might I’m just really bad at differentiating like feelings and shit) but thing is I’m still not sure and I don’t really wanna put a label on it. I also don’t know how my friends would react because like all of them are straight lmao. My sister is bi so I know my family would be fine with it but I’m just worried my mum would think I’m copying her and it’s like a phase or some shit. So like if I was asked idk whether I’d tell the truth or not (not me using this as an excuse to rant my feelings shshshha)

23: How do you vent your anger?

Normally just end up crying lmao. Like sometimes I wanna like throw stuff but I don’t, mostly just cry, rant in my head, make up fake scenarios of like me ranting to other people about it lmao idek.

34: Most attractive singer of your opposite gender?

Harry styles. Point blank period (honestly there is more but Harry is just ugh)

41: What was the last book you read?

It was a long time ago... oops I’ve read fics on here and wattpad but haven’t read a real book in a while. The last one I read was I think sweetfreak by sophie mckenzie.

60: Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you?

I have a metal waterbottle that’s like a pink and grey marble design on my desk.

65: Give me your top 5 favourite blogs on Tumblr.

Ooh this is a hard one cause I can’t choose just five. I’ll do the first five to come to mind. (A lot of these are like the first people I spoke to on tumblr and now I’m like sentimental wtf) you’re also one of my fave blogs bb 🥺

@outrebanx

@sguymon21

@bricksatanakinswindow

@angellissy

@crxstalreeds

3: Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 23, give me line 17.

“Why did you just hit me?” he asked, after racking ten thou-sand years’ worth of alien wisdom for the answer.

from the last fifth wave book 😌

[oohlook-thevoid]

Ok I’ve literally been unable to stop thinking about all the books I loved as a kid so I’m going make a list of like my favourite childhood (meaning stuff I read from yr 1 to yr 8 roughly) book series/authors because I can (with like random anecdotes relating to them for some). And maybe if it’s out the brain I can start chilling again. (I’m fairly certain this will be long as hell)

Ruby Redfort - Lauren Child I have several memories relating to these books because THEY ARE THE BEST. Ok, so first memory is how I got into them. My town has a local lit fest and the year this first RR book came out, Lauren Child came and did a talk there. I went with my mum and it was super cool, I got the first book (signed!) and fell in love with the series. I also remember she gave away a like unfinished copy of the book to another girl in the audience. She also spoke about how the author of the RR books mentioned in Clarice Bean had given her permission to write about the character and I believed her; like me and my mum left and I was like going on about how I wanted to read the other books and then it turned out they weren’t real. Also that year I dressed up as Ruby for World Book Day at school: I wore this hand me down slogan tee with ‘so over it’ on and a hairgrip with a plastic fly glued to it. The other strong memory of the books I have is actually to do with them. Y’know the scene (in I think it’s book 2) where Ruby’s hiding and she describes hearing the tap of Italian leather shoes and you know it’s The Count. Like that scene makes me lose my shit everyday I remember it, like I had major chills when I read it. 

The Declaration trilogy - Gemma Malley

13 Treasures trilogy - Michelle Harrison 

My Secret Unicorn - Linda Chapman

Stardust - Linda Chapman I distinctly remember I returned one of the books from this series to the library. When I went to take something out next I was told I hadn’t returned it. I went and checked and found it on the shelf. That was the beginning of my dislike for the local librarians (the rest occurred when I did work experience there many years later).

Rainbow Magic - Daisy Meadows I absolutely adored this books as a kid. There was one in particular (the one about the fairy w/ the same name as me) that I treasured. It was my comfort book and if something was up with me it was obvious because I was reading that book again. Unfortunately I decided I was grown up and gave them all away a few years ago which sucks coz I could do with my comfort book again.  Another thing, recently I looked these books up for some reason and discovered Daisy Meadows is a pseudonym for multiple authors and that one of the writers was in fact LINDA CHAPMAN of several other of my fave childhood book series. Absolutely wild.

Dolphin Diaries - Lucy Daniels Guesss what? It’s another pseudonym in children’s literature. Turns out Dolphin Diaries was written by Ben M. Baglio. I’m beginning to think my entire childhood was a lie. 

Tiara Club - Vivian French

Sophie Mckenzie books I’m not sure if this was in one of her books but I do remember that around the time I was reading all her books I read a book where and American character ended up in London. She was in the bathroom and she heard a local person talking and went off on one (in the narrative) about how this person should move to the USA where her accent would be appreciated. To this day, weirdest scene I’ve read. I hated it. But I loved Sophie Mckenzie’s books. 

Uglies - Scott Westerfeld In year 8 we had a booklet of extracts we were studying. The final extract of the booklet was from Uglies which, coincidentally, I had recently read (as had one of my friends). Unfortunately, we never studied it in class. Largely because, whilst he was strict and scary as hell, the teacher we had was super easy to distract. He was ex-army so all someone had to do was bring that up and he’d go off on one for ages. There was also another lesson where somehow the class ended up discussing spongebob for most of the hour. 

Jacqueline Wilson books I mean, I wouldn’t be a British girl if I hadn’t read a ridiculous number of Jacqueline Wilson books; Hetty Feather was my favourite. Also, in like year 5, I lent my copy of Dustin Baby to a girl in my class. Never got that book back. 

Enid Blyton books Specifically the boarding school ones (St. Clares, Malory Towers and Naughtiest Girl). I actually used to get the Naughtiest Girl books instead of money from the tooth fairy. I guess my parents must have got the box set cheap and decided that this was a good idea. And tbh it was. 

Lady Grace Mysteries - Grave Cavendish Another case of a pseudonym - Grace Cavendish was the main character, not the actual author. Anyway, I read this when I was in like yr 4 which was also a time when I couldn’t sleep well and I was awake a lot (idk why). My parents, not having technology to blame for problems as they do for my brothers now, decided these books were to blame and banned me from reading them. So that was fun. 

Gwyneth Rees books My year 1 teacher (who was, like, the best) got me into these books, that’s it.

Meg Cabot books So, I really only got into these books because two of my friends loved them. These two friends would often wander off w/o the rest of the group to talk about boys and their crushes. That’s mildly relevant, the point is I read these books (and did enjoy them) purely because one of those friends liked them and I had a crush on her (not that I actually realised that at the time). 

An Unfortunate Fairy Tale series - Chanda Hahn

Iron Fey series - Julie Kagawa Both this series and the one above were the specific genre I was reading when I was 12/13. Like books where a girl is not normal and there’s a mean broody fae love interest with black hair and blue eyes was my shit back in the day, I was reading many series like it but these two are the ones I still have positive thoughts on. Anyway, I distinctly remember reading books like this and listening to Taylor Swift constantly. I was like trying to bond with my friends like yeah my type has black hair and blue eyes (coincidentally a similar appearance to a guy who asked me out around the time, we’re not going into that mess though but I didn’t date him, we’ll leave it at that). Anyway, more than anything these books combined with Taylor Swift songs was my way of staving of the realisation I’m gay and of trying to make myself straight. It clearly wasn’t that effective. 

House of Night series - P.C. & Kristin Cast

Vampire Academy + Bloodlines - Richelle Mead I had these series on my nook. I read them way too much purely because it was easy to. Now, my nook is broken and the account inaccessible so they’re lost to the ether. 

Jackson Pearce books Oh god. Ok, so when I read Sisters Red, it was the first book I’d read with swearing in. I remember going to my mum and being like there’s a swear word because I wasn’t sure I was allowed to read that and I didn’t want to be found out and end up in trouble. So that was fun to.

Fantastic Diary of Bathsheba Clarice de Trop series - Leila Rasheed

Sita Brahmachari books Artichoke Hearts in particular, I just remember loving it and then reading all her other books that were in the school library. 

Rose series - Holly Webb

We were liars - E. Lockhart So this is one of the only stand alones here but I have to mention it. In drama we had to sit and read quietly as the teacher went through the register and called us up to see our exercise books. I was reading this book. I also happened to finish it before I was called up. I was crying, knowing I’d have to talk to my teacher in a few minutes trying to not look like I’d been bawling.  

Cathy Cassidy books

Thora series - Gillian Johnson

Journey to the River Sea - Iva Ibbotson

A year without Autumn - Liz Kessler

[icariamusing]

CHARACTER BASICS

FACECLAIM: Ashley Benson

NAME: Zoey Katz

AGE: 26

BIRTHDAY: June 30, 1995

OCCUPATION: Illustrator for comic books and manga.  

HOMETOWN: Icaria

PETS: A Dalmatian named Cooper who is 3 years old.

POWERS

Zoey received the ability to shape shift into any animal from her mother.

BIOGRAPHY

Kevin Katz never in his life imagined he would end up with a woman as beautiful as Zoey’s birth mother. He was a quiet man who liked to keep his head down and go about his business. As a chemical engineer he spent most of his time in a laboratory with not many people to talk to anyway, and he was content with his life. Not happy, but content enough to get by. He made great money, had a nice house, and was healthy. To him there wasn’t more he could ask for. That was until Daisy walked into his life filled with life, freedom, and adventure. She’d told him that anything with her couldn’t last long term, but if he wanted to live in the moment, then they could grow something wonderful. Kevin was powerless to say no to such a beautiful woman, so they spent three months in bliss. When Daisy wanted to move on, Kevin had said goodbye with a smile and truly thanked her for getting his head on straight. Gone were the days of him wasting away in a lab without actually taking the time to put himself out there. No, he’d take the things Daisy taught him and apply them every day.

Life took another drastic turn for the engineer months later when Daisy was back at his doorstep with a child. He was in shock and thought they’d been careful, but there in the woman’s arms was a beautiful baby girl. Daisy, who revealed herself to actually be the Greek Goddess Demeter, explained as much as she could to him. She’d told him that her life, who she was didn’t allow for her to raise the baby as she wished she could, but she knew her father was a great man who would take care of her. Kevin was momentarily lost. He was only twenty six, and had no idea how to even go about being a single parent of a baby, never mind a demigod. That had to come with some different parenting needs in his mind. Demeter calmed him by telling him about a place called Icaria. There he would find the support he needed for their little girl.

The adjustment was big, but within a few weeks Kevin was on a plane to Greece with Zoey. With a healthy savings, Kevin decided to leave behind the stuffy lab coat, and instead open up a comic shop on the island called Your Universe Comics. There he spent much of his time with his baby girl as he learned how to parent through mostly trial and error with some books thrown in. Thankfully, when Zoe was three, he’d found love in the form of a school teacher on the isle named Heather McKenzie. Zoey had a mom and their house felt a little more like a home with all the little touches the woman brought in.

Kevin and Heather got their first taste of how different raising a demigod was when Zoey first shape shifted into a dog. The experience was so surreal that they still laugh about it to the present day. One moment their daughter was coloring as she always did when she was seven, and the next she was barking from the living room after seeing a dog on television. After getting over the fear of wondering if Zoey would even know how to shape shift back to her human form, they drew up a plan on how to help their daughter until she learned how to better control her gift.

School was okay for Zoey. She loved to learn and was what many would consider nerdy, but her favorite subject was art. Anytime she could draw, she was at her happiest. It wasn’t long before teachers took notice of how gifted she was and began encouraging her skills. Although she was teased at time for her shy, quirky, and just overall dorky demeanor, Zoey never let it get her down. Things of course got much easier when Marceline moved to Icaria. The two had immediately become friends, and it wasn’t long before they’d discovered they were sisters. From that moment, they were inseparable.

In high school, Zoey met Jack Carlyle when her dad needed to take his car in, and a new shop had opened up in town. Although she’d never admit it, Zoey may have had a mild crush on the man when she was younger, but that quickly faded as they grew closer as friends. Zoey would stop by the garage after school to ask him for help on her harder math homework or just to draw and keep him company. Jack was actually the hero in her first comic she’d ever drawn, and he proudly hung up the work on the walls. Despite the age difference, she will always consider him one of the closest friends she’ll ever have.

As an adult, Zoey is a successful illustrator who has the privilege of working from home unless she needs to meet with an author to get their vision on what they want characters to look like for their comics or manga. She also owns Your Universe Comics since her father passed the business down to her. Outside of her year long relationship with Theo, which turned out to be more of a friend soulmate than romantic, love wasn’t something she actively searched for. Her mentality was that it would find her when it was supposed to, and if she stressed over it, that would just make her miserable.

LEX | SHE/HER | 30 | EST

[myhauntedsalem]

Bloody Benders

In the late 1800’s while travelling the roads of Labette County, Kansas you might have come across a small bed and breakfast inn owned by the Bender family. As travel was slow via horse and cart you may have felt inclined to stop off for the night, especially if you were a man as the Benders daughter Kate was quite beautiful and curvy.

Unfortunately should you stay the night, it was likely you were not going to leave again. The Bender family were all serial killers and their list of victims was long.

As you are shown to the place of honor at the dinner table you probably would not take great notice of the thick curtain behind you that subdivided the little one room cabin, or the trap door at your feet. Unfortunately death was waiting for you there.

Kate would serve you, entertain you with flirtatious conversation, her low cut and loose shirt keeping you distracted. As this was taking place John Bender, the family’s patriarch and his son, would be standing right behind you, a heavy hammer in their hands. When the time was right they would swing, the hammer smashing you in the side of the head. This would leave you unconscious or dead, but either way you were soon to be finished off.

The table would be moved out of the way, and the trapdoor opened, where you would be slid below the house to have your throat cut, spilling your lifeblood onto the cellar floor. From here you would have all your valuable possessions taken from you and then buried in one of the various adhoc burial grounds dotted around the Bender property. Maybe you would be buried whole, maybe in parts, it all depended on the Bender’s mood and whether you were easy to carry or not.

You were then just another of the missing persons who had disappeared while travelling this part of the country, a statistic, your fate unknown until this murderous scheme was uncovered by almost pure luck.

The Bender family killed more than a dozen people at their property between 1871 and 1873. In 1870, five families had settled in the Osage township, Kansas, located along the great Osage Trail, a main route for anyone looking to travel west.

One of these families was John Bender Senior and his son John Bender Junior. They made their land claim and began creating a home, the one room cabin, a barn and a well. Once these initial constructions were complete they sent for Kate Bender and her daughter Kate.

This small community of families were all spiritualists, of which Kate was a self proclaimed psychic and healer. Ma and Pa spoke very little English, were not very nice to their neighbors, and were considered half wits. John spoke English well, but was also considered a halfwit due to his tendency to laugh aimlessly and at length. Kate on the other hand was beautiful, charming and quite the business woman.

The Bender’s home was subdivided by a sheet allowing the back end to become their living space and the front half to be a general store and a place people could come for a meal. Kate also utilized it for her spiritual practices, healings, lectures and séances.

It was a quiet community, travelers went through and although many went missing, no one thought there was murder happening in their own town. That is until the body of a man was found in a nearby creek with his head crushed and throat cut. The following year, 1872, two other men were discovered in a similar state, and soon people realized something was quite wrong as finally the disappearances seemed to be linked to the Osage township.

Groups of vigilantes were formed who would then travel around arresting anyone who seemed untoward or had the slightest criminal record. However, with no proof, these people were released by authorities only to be chased out of the town.

In late 1872 a man and his infant daughter were relocating to another part of the country, and when they were not heard from again a neighbor, Doctor York, followed their trail to go looking for them. He also was never seen again.

Doctor York had two brothers, one a Colonel, who went looking for him and the trail led straight to the Bender family. The Bender’s did say that the Doctor had stayed at the inn, but had left the next day and that perhaps he had been attacked and killed by the local Indians.

That would have been that had Ma Bender not chased a woman from the inn screaming and threatening her with a knife. Colonel York returned to the inn with armed men to find out what had happened. Ma Bender could not speak English very well, but upon being pushed, she flew in a rage saying the woman she had chased was a witch who had cursed her.

Kate Bender settled the situation down and invited the Colonel back the following night so she could use her psychic abilities to help him locate his Doctor brother. The Colonel did not fall for the ruse and was convinced the Bender family were guilty of all the disappearances, but needed proof.

A meeting was arranged at the township in the hopes of organizing a warrant to search all the homes, but the arguing began and soon once again the Osage Indians were in the firing line, many thought they were to blame. As all of this was taking place, the Bender family quietly took their possessions and fled.

Their disappearance was not noted for several days, but when it was, there was a massive outcry and many people descended on the property to search it for the missing people. They opened the trapdoor and found it bloodstained, the floor was dug up and found that so much blood had seeped into it that they were still digging up clotted blood several feet down.

The cabin was then lifted by several dozen men and carried some distance so the entire floor could be easily dug up. No bodies were found. However, when they started to dig in the vegetable garden and apple orchard the bodies were discovered, one of the first found was Doctor York. A majority of the bodies were found to have one side of the head smashed in and their throats cut. Not all bodies were found in the ground, as some were discovered in the Well along with other dismembered remains.

As the word got out about the Bloody Benders crowds of people travelled to the property which was soon stripped of every possession left by the family as souvenirs, and once that was done, people started to take the wooden cladding home with them. Everyone wanted a piece of this macabre history.

A friend of the Bender’s was found by the mob and taken back to the house and questioned. When he had no answers they hanged him from a rafter, and when he lapsed into unconsciousness they took him down, woke him up and continued interrogating him. This cycle of hanging and release was repeated several times before he was allowed to leave.

Many other people would be caught, tortured and arrested under suspicion of being in cahoots with the Bender family, or being a Bender. However it is not known whether the Bender family themselves were ever caught. Bounties were put on their heads, and although several groups claimed to have captured and killed the Bender’s, none ever claimed the reward.

Many of the remains found on the property were never identified or claimed and were reburied near to where they were discovered.

As a final twist, it turns out that Ma and Pa Bender might not have been married, but rather John and Kate were!

Order of Disappearances of Victims:

1869 – Joe Sowers – not proven as victim 1871 – Mr. Jones – body found in Drum Creek 1872 – 2 unknown men – found on prairie 1872 – Henry McKenzie – body mutilated 1872 – Ben Brown 1872 – W.F. McCrotty 1873 – George Loncher & little girl 1873 – Johnny Boyle * – found in well 1873 – Dr. William York ? – John Greary ? – Unknown female ? – Unidentified man ? – Dismembered parts of several victims

Money Taken From Victims:

40 cents or $2,000 depending on sources $36, finely matched team of horses $2,600, possibly to buy claim build home $38, wagon, good horse team $1,900, possibly to buy claim $10, red pacing mare, $850 saddle $2,000, possibly to buy claim

Found with crushed skulls and slit throats:

Discovered in Bender’s apple orchard

[kelpiesedge]

Calling all YA fans! We have a special early Christmas present for you! Award-winning author Claire McFall has written a brand new chapter in the Ferryman saga! Read on to find out what exactly happened at Dylan’s Christmas Dance. 

Look out for the series finale, Outcasts, in March 2019!

***************************************************************************************************

It was snowing. Not the beautiful, pristine blanket of white that glistened in Christmas movies; this was more wet, slushy, gross snow, churned up and muddied by cars on the road and then spat onto the pavement. Which was why Dylan was wearing a glittering, purple party dress… and wellingtons.

She had her shoes in a plastic bag, though, her fingers clinging to the handles and slowly going numb thanks to the cold night air. Her other hand was toasty warm, tucked into Tristan’s. Dylan peeked at him out of the corner of her eye. She’d tried to talk him into hiring a kilt for the dance, but he’d balked at the idea of donning “a skirt” and instead was dressed in his black school trousers and a dark blue shirt that made his eyes seem to glow in an unearthly way. He’d hacked at his long hair the week before, instructing a barber to cut it tight to the sides of his head, leaving a deliberate disarray of spikes on top. Dylan had been horrified as she’d sat in the waiting area of the hairdressers – she loved running her fingers through his hair – but Tristan said he was sick of it getting in the way. It had been a shock at first, but now that Dylan had grown accustomed to his new shorn look, she had to admit it suited him. It emphasised the angles of his face, gave him a leaner, fiercer look.

She grinned, shaking her head at him when he eyed her quizzically. She wanted to pinch herself. She, Dylan McKenzie, was heading to a Christmas dance, hand in hand with the best-looking boy at school; the best-looking boy in Glasgow (or anywhere, really). Loving that fact was shallow, and she’d never admit it out loud – she pressed her lips together tightly and just smiled when Tristan followed up his look with a questioning squeeze of her hand – but she did love it. A year ago she’d never have dreamt she could experience this kind of happiness.

The only thing marring her evening was she couldn’t tell anyone the boy beside her was all hers. To everyone else at Kaithshall Academy, she and Tristan were cousins.

As they got close to the school, she gently disengaged their fingers. And felt the loss immediately – not just because it was cold. Tristan tried to regain her hand, but she dodged his searching fingers.

“People will see,” she murmured.

“So?” Tristan replied, though she knew he wasn’t serious. They’d had this discussion several times before.

There was a queue to get into the school, tickets once again being carefully checked – and rechecked – by the industrious McManus. He glowered indiscriminately, Scrooge standing in the way of all the Christmas fun.

“What’s in the bag?” he demanded when it was Dylan and Tristan’s turn to present their tickets. “Are you trying to sneak alcohol into a school event, young lady?”

“It’s my shoes,” Dylan answered, holding the bag open for him to inspect.

He peered in, like the contents might jump out and attack him, pursing his lips disapprovingly at the pair of spike-heeled sandals that Dylan had bought in a moment of madness and was now dreading having to dance in.

“Hmmm. And you?” He scowled at Tristan, who was wearing a thin jacket over his shirt. Tristan just stared back at him, refusing to be cowed – or searched – and to Dylan’s delight McManus backed down first, raising a disgruntled arm towards the entrance. Dylan suppressed her smile as they hurried inside. She had the feeling the bad-tempered history teacher considered every pupil he was forced to admit a personal affront.

A giant Christmas tree dominated the school’s reception area. It stood at a slightly drunken angle, and the baubles and tinsel had been thrown on in a haphazard, uneven fashion, but the lights twinkled merrily. Along with the jaunty Christmas music filtering in from the assembly hall, it gave Dylan a sparkly, festive feeling.

Or maybe that was the glass of very spiked eggnog that her dad had slipped into both their hands while her mum tried to organise pictures in front of the fireplace.

“Come on,” Dylan said, grabbing Tristan’s arm and tugging him along towards the cloakroom. They both ditched their jackets and Dylan yanked off her wellingtons with relief. Hanging on to Tristan for balance, she slipped her shoes on and stood up in them experimentally. They’d been fine in the confines of her bedroom and she thought she’d be okay – so long as she stayed in this exact spot and didn’t try to make any sudden movements.

“These may have been a mistake,” she admitted to Tristan.

“It’s all right,” he grinned back at her. “I’ll stay close by, so that if you fall, it’ll be straight into my arms.”

Dylan snorted. “That’s an awful line,” she grimaced.

“Sorry.” Tristan’s eyes twinkled, completely unrepentant. “I blame your dad’s eggnog. What the hell was in that?”

“Brandy,” Dylan told him. “Eggs and cream… but mostly brandy. Come on, let’s go check out the hall.”

The music got louder as they entered, belted-out Slade lyrics competing with the din of several-hundred teenagers crammed into the space.

“I thought you said this would be country dancing?” Tristan shouted.

Though most of the young people in the hall were crowded around the chairs that lined the room, a fair few – mostly girls – were in the middle, moving, well, more accurately, gyrating to the music. The headteacher, standing by the refreshments table like a bouncer, was looking distinctly pale, probably at the thought of wading into the middle of the scantily clad group and trying to enforce school-appropriate dance moves. Good luck with that, Dylan thought.

“It is,” Dylan shouted back, taking wicked delight in crushing the relief on Tristan’s face. “See?” she pointed, “The ceilidh band’s setting up. It’ll start in a minute.”

“Great,” Tristan monotoned, and Dylan laughed.

“Say it like you mean it!” she told him, amused.

They’d had several country dancing lessons in PE over the last few weeks. For Dylan, who’d been forced to practise the set pieces since primary school, it was nothing new, or special. She was just delighted to have someone to dance with – the people who couldn’t find a partner had to pair up with a teacher. Tristan, on the other hand, hated it.

It was strange. Normally, he moved confidently, gracefully; he was at ease with his body. At the Halloween dance, he’d burled Dylan around like he’d spent every day doing it. But apparently, doing a pas de basque was completely beyond him, and the progressive dances – where you had to keep changing partners – utterly baffled him. Dylan found it endearing – and hilarious. For once, she was the leader and not the klutz.

“Promise me I’ll only have to dance with you,” Tristan pleaded.

“I promise,” Dylan replied, “I don’t think it would be right to inflict you on anyone else anyway!”

She certainly didn’t want him dancing with Cheryl, or Steph, or any of their moronic friends. The whole bunch of them were, of course, in the thick of the writhing, dancing bodies.

The song ended and, instead of the thumping bass of another pop song, the screech of fiddles and an accordion pierced the sudden quiet.

“All right!” Mrs Peters, the Head of PE, clambered up onto the stage, microphone in hand. “Pairs on the dance floor for a Gay Gordon!”

“You know this one!” Dylan exclaimed.

“Yippee!” Tristan deadpanned.

Feeling light and happy enough that she was all but bouncing on her overly high heels, Dylan hauled Tristan onto the dance floor. Positioning herself in front of him, she grabbed his hands, placing one down by her side and the other over her shoulder.

“Just watch everybody else and do what they do,” she instructed. “You’ll be fine.”

Tristan nodded, expression grim. He looked like a prisoner about to face the walk to the executioner’s chair.

“I love you,” she told him, unable to contain her smile in the face of his misery.

“Humph,” he said.

If they weren’t surrounded by half the school – and if they weren’t supposedly cousins – she’d have kissed him.

The music changed into the rhythm for the dance and they started forwards.

“Forward two, three, four.” She twisted, tugging Tristan’s hands to make him do the same. “Back two, three, four. Forward two, three, four.” Twist. “Back two, three, four. Now,” she dropped one of his hands, “just walk.” Putting all of her weight on the ball of her foot, she spun beneath Tristan’s arm. “Okay, waltz! Round and round and round we go, ready to start again!”

By the third time through, Tristan had it, and Dylan was able to stop her muttered instructions and just enjoy the flow of dancing with him. His warm hands, the strength of his body when he held her, his martyred expression…

“See?” she commented when the music stopped. “You can do it!”

“Great. Please tell me we can spend the rest of the night sitting on one of those lovely comfy chairs over there. Or better yet, find some quiet, dark corner where we can—”

“Right folks, next up is a Strip the Willow. Everybody into sets of eight, please.”

Strip the Willow – Dylan’s absolute favourite. Spinning, twirling and burling – and if your feet didn’t leave the floor you weren’t doing it right. She bit her lip and eyed Tristan hopefully. He looked at her, then at the chairs, then at the dance floor. Heaving a sigh, he turned and wordlessly led her towards the chaos of pupils trying to get into position.

Dylan got Tristan through a Strip the Willow, a Canadian Barn Dance and even a Dashing White Sergeant, though he was clearly unimpressed that he had to share her with Robbie Muldoon from their science class for that one.

The next dance, a quickstep, was a progressive and Dylan gave in to the horrified (and terrified) look on Tristan’s face and let him drag her out of the hall. They bypassed the queue for the toilets and Tristan tugged her a little way up the technical corridor. This was out of bounds, the lights off, but he shouldered through the double doors until they were encased in near-night darkness.

“Tristan! What are we doing here?”

“Guess,” Tristan replied, nudging Dylan over until her back was to the wall and he was towering over her. “I want to collect my reward.”

Dylan smiled, her hands finding Tristan’s in the dark. That was how she’d enticed him here in the first place, promising a kiss for every dance he survived.

“If we get caught—”

“We won’t,” he promised. “Now, by my count that was four dances, and I think I deserve double for that last one.”

“Hmmm. Maybe…” Dylan lifted herself up until her nose was level with his chin – Tristan was too tall for her to get any higher.

“Will this convince you?” He pulled something out of his pocket and dangled it above Dylan’s head.

“What on earth is it?” Dylan peered in the dark.

“Mistletoe,” Tristan said, looking pleased with himself.

“Where did you get mistletoe?” Dylan snatched it out of the air, felt the hard, unyielding shape of it. “This is plastic! It totally doesn’t count!”

“Use your imagination,” Tristan insisted. He plucked it out of her hand and held it once more over her head, his expression aggrieved.  

“You’re adorable,” Dylan told him, grinning. She kissed his jaw, all she could reach until he dropped his head and pressed his mouth to hers. He kissed her until she ran out of breath and was forced to pull away.

“Merry Christmas,” she whispered. “Your first Christmas,” a bubble of laughter, “and your first Christmas dance.”

“Merry Christmas,” he whispered back. “My first Christmas… and hopefully my last Christmas dance!”

“We’ll see,” Dylan hedged. “I’ll sneak you more eggnog when we get home.”

“I’ll need it,” he grumbled.

The soft strains of music changed and Dylan turned her head.  

“Tristan!” she said. “It’s the Flying Scotsman. Come on, we have to do this one! Please!”

He groaned, burying his face in her neck, but he let her lead him back down to the hall and out onto the floor where they joined the throng preparing for the dance.

Her heart lifted at the whirling to come. Standing opposite Tristan, waiting to start, Dylan felt her throat tighten and her eyes glisten. He looked stoic, resigned… and pretty miserable. And he was doing it for her, because he loved her. It was a gift beyond measure. 

***************************************************************************************************

Hungry for more? Both Trespassers and Ferryman are available to buy now! Get your copy for Christmas here! 

(And look out for the series finale, Outcasts, in March 2019!

[icariahq]

Thanks for applying Lex! We look forward to seeing Zoey around the island. Make sure to send your blog in within the next 24 hours or reach out to us if you need an extension. Ashley Benson is now taken!

( ASHLEY BENSON, FEMALE, SHE/HER) ⌇ have you seen ZOEY KATZ around icaria? they are the 26 year old child of DEMETER. they remind me of comic filled bookshelves, spiral sketchbooks, and half tucked white button downs. They’ve been on the island for 26 years.

OOC info:  

NAME / PRONOUNS | AGE | TIMEZONE:

Lex/she/her/30/EST

ROLEPLAYING EXPERIENCE

Since I was about 20 I think…

TRIGGERS

POOF!

IC info:

WHO ARE YOU BRINGING TO THE ISLE?

* FACECLAIM: Ashley Benson

* NAME: Zoey Katz

* AGE: 26

* BIRTHDAY: June 30, 1995

* OCCUPATION: Illustrator for comic books and manga.  

* HOMETOWN: Icaria

* PETS: A Dalmatian named Cooper who is 3 years old.

POWERS: 

Zoey received the ability to shape shift into any animal from her mother.

BIOGRAPHY:

Kevin Katz never in his life imagined he would end up with a woman as beautiful as Zoey’s birth mother. He was a quiet man who liked to keep his head down and go about his business. As a chemical engineer he spent most of his time in a laboratory with not many people to talk to anyway, and he was content with his life. Not happy, but content enough to get by. He made great money, had a nice house, and was healthy. To him there wasn’t more he could ask for. That was until Daisy walked into his life filled with life, freedom, and adventure. She’d told him that anything with her couldn’t last long term, but if he wanted to live in the moment, then they could grow something wonderful. Kevin was powerless to say no to such a beautiful woman, so they spent three months in bliss. When Daisy wanted to move on, Kevin had said goodbye with a smile and truly thanked her for getting his head on straight. Gone were the days of him wasting away in a lab without actually taking the time to put himself out there. No, he’d take the things Daisy taught him and apply them every day.

Life took another drastic turn for the engineer months later when Daisy was back at his doorstep with a child. He was in shock and thought they’d been careful, but there in the woman’s arms was a beautiful baby girl. Daisy, who revealed herself to actually be the Greek Goddess Demeter, explained as much as she could to him. She’d told him that her life, who she was didn’t allow for her to raise the baby as she wished she could, but she knew her father was a great man who would take care of her. Kevin was momentarily lost. He was only twenty six, and had no idea how to even go about being a single parent of a baby, never mind a demigod. That had to come with some different parenting needs in his mind. Demeter calmed him by telling him about a place called Icaria. There he would find the support he needed for their little girl.

The adjustment was big, but within a few weeks Kevin was on a plane to Greece with Zoey. With a healthy savings, Kevin decided to leave behind the stuffy lab coat, and instead open up a comic shop on the island called Your Universe Comics. There he spent much of his time with his baby girl as he learned how to parent through mostly trial and error with some books thrown in. Thankfully, when Zoe was three, he’d found love in the form of a school teacher on the isle named Heather McKenzie. Zoey had a mom and their house felt a little more like a home with all the little touches the woman brought in.

Kevin and Heather got their first taste of how different raising a demigod was when Zoey first shape shifted into a dog. The experience was so surreal that they still laugh about it to the present day. One moment their daughter was coloring as she always did when she was seven, and the next she was barking from the living room after seeing a dog on television. After getting over the fear of wondering if Zoey would even know how to shape shift back to her human form, they drew up a plan on how to help their daughter until she learned how to better control her gift.

School was okay for Zoey. She loved to learn and was what many would consider nerdy, but her favorite subject was art. Anytime she could draw, she was at her happiest. It wasn’t long before teachers took notice of how gifted she was and began encouraging her skills. Although she was teased at time for her shy, quirky, and just overall dorky demeanor, Zoey never let it get her down. Things of course got much easier when Marceline moved to Icaria. The two had immediately become friends, and it wasn’t long before they’d discovered they were sisters. From that moment, they were inseparable.

In high school, Zoey met Jack Carlyle when her dad needed to take his car in, and a new shop had opened up in town. Although she’d never admit it, Zoey may have had a mild crush on the man when she was younger, but that quickly faded as they grew closer as friends. Zoey would stop by the garage after school to ask him for help on her harder math homework or just to draw and keep him company. Jack was actually the hero in her first comic she’d ever drawn, and he proudly hung up the work on the walls. Despite the age difference, she will always consider him one of the closest friends she’ll ever have.

As an adult, Zoey is a successful illustrator who has the privilege of working from home unless she needs to meet with an author to get their vision on what they want characters to look like for their comics or manga. She also owns Your Universe Comics since her father passed the business down to her. Outside of her year long relationship with Theo, which turned out to be more of a friend soulmate than romantic, love wasn’t something she actively searched for. Her mentality was that it would find her when it was supposed to, and if she stressed over it, that would just make her miserable.

ANYTHING ELSE:

I love ya’ll.

[gadgetgirl71]

Top Ten Tuesday 29 December 2020

Welcome to this weeks Top Ten Tuesday. Originally created by The Broke & The Bookish, which is now hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week it features a book or literary themed category. This weeks prompt is:

Favorite Non ARC Books of 2020:

Confessions of a Bad Boy by J D Hawkins

Confessions of a Bad Boy Episode 1: Never Commit

I’m the internet’s favorite Bad Boy – the guy who’ll tell it to you straight. No bullshit charm. No excuses. Consider it a public service, letting women know the truth about what guys are really thinking and teaching guys how to get what they want.

Yes, we were checking that girl out. No, you don’t want to meet her parents. And no, ladies, we don’t care what shoes you wear – as long as they’re up around our neck by the end of the night.

Life was simple, until fate brought me back together with Jessie. My best friend’s younger sister, who I just happened to have the hottest one night stand of my life with four years ago. Who calls me at 3 AM to get bailed out of jail. Who I can’t keep my hands off of. And who can never find out who I really am.

She’s off-limits, but I don’t care. And when I need a fake girlfriend to help me out of a jam at work, she’s the only one who can help. Now I’m stuck sharing a hotel room with her for the weekend.

A long, sexy weekend, one that I wish will never end.

314 (Widowsfield Trilogy #1) by A R Wise

Alma Harper has been trying to forget what happened in Widowsfield 16 years ago. She has a good life as a music teacher now, and might rekindle her relationship with her one true love. However, the number 314 haunts her, and threatens to bring her back to the day that her brother disappeared. When a reporter shows up, just days before March 14th, Alma realizes that her past is coming back to haunt her. What happened on March 14th, at 3:14, 16 years ago? No one but The Skeleton Man can remember.

Off Limits (Kings of Mayhem MC #5) by Penny Dee

I’m about to break the biggest rule of all.

RUGER: I was sixteen when she was born. The niece of my best friend. An angel with bright blue eyes and hair the color of night. Through the years I’ve seen her grow from an adorable dimpled cupid into a strong, independent beauty. Into a goddess. A temptress. Fate has brought us together. But she is off limits. I’ve got no business wanting her. No business at all.

CHASTITY: For years I’ve crushed on him. An older man who makes me tremble. A biker King whose arms I want to get lost in. Whose body I can only dream about touching. Whose lips I’m dying to taste. I shouldn’t want him. But I do. I shouldn’t lust after him. But tell that to my poor hopeless heart. I should stay away. But I won’t.

Off Limits is book five in the Kings of Mayhem MC series. It can be read as a standalone.

Primal Howl (Primal Howlers MC #1) by Piper Davenport

Orion: I’m the oldest son of MC royalty. My father founded the Primal Howlers and he expects me to wear his patch one day. The problem is, I don’t know if that’s what I want. Lately, I couldn’t give two sh*ts about anything.

Until her.

Raquel: I moved to Monument, Colorado to write my thesis and get some much-needed distance from my overbearing family. What I didn’t expect was to find is myself hung up on a biker who appears to have nothing to lose.

I, however, have everything to lose and I’m worried Orion just might be my downfall.

Primal Need (Primal Howlers MC #2) by Piper Davenport

18+ for language and sexual situations…

Sundance: I’m the president of the Primal Howlers out of Monument, Colorado. My wife was taken from me ten years ago, leaving me to raise our three children alone. I’ve been diagnosed with a disease that I’m not sure I’ll beat, and to make matters worse, I’m now in the crosshairs of a rival club.

But enough about the upside of my life, because Wyatt Bates just walked into it, her confidence enough to rock my world, but her sweetness might just be the end of me.

Wyatt: I’ve lost almost everyone who ever loved me. Cancer took them all, so the last thing I’m looking for is a relationship that will break me again.

Then I meet Thorne “Sundance” Graves and my world is turned on its head by the sexy as hell biker. Now I must choose between a chance at love or the risk of complete devastation.

Roommaid by Sariah Wilson

Madison Huntington is determined to live her dreams. That means getting out from under her family’s wealth and influence by saying no to the family business, her allowance, and her home. But on a teacher’s salary, the real world comes as a rude awakening—especially when she wakes up every morning on a colleague’s couch. To get a place of her own (without cockroaches, mold, or crime scene tape), Madison accepts a position as a roommaid. In exchange for free room and board, all she needs to do is keep her busy roommate’s penthouse clean and his dog company. So what if she’s never washed a dish in her life. She can figure this out, right?

Madison is pretty confident she can fake it well enough that Tyler Roth will never know the difference. The finance whiz is rich and privileged and navigates the same social circles as her parents—but to him she’s just a teacher in need of an apartment. He’s everything Madison has run from, but his kindhearted nature, stomach-fluttering smile, and unexpected insecurities only make her want to get closer. And Tyler is warming to the move.

Rewarding job. Perfect guy. Great future. With everything so right, what could go wrong? Madison is about to find out.

Minus (Burning Saints MC #1) by Jack Davenport

18+ for language and sexual situations…

Burning Saints MC outcast, “Minus” Vincent, has been summoned out of exile by the Club’s President for reasons unknown. Upon his return, he finds himself tempted by forbidden fruit of the past that has only gotten sweeter with time.

Christina “Cricket” Wallace knows exactly what kind of life she wants, and it’s far from the chaos and mayhem of an outlaw motorcycle club. She’s worked hard to get where she is, and she won’t let anyone keep her from getting there…especially her over-protective biker brother, or the sexy as hell Club rival she thought she’d never see again.

As Minus and Cricket pursue their own roads, they find their paths intersecting in a violent and passionate collision that will forever change their futures.

Clutch (Burning Saints MC #2) by Jack Davenport

8+ for language and sexual situations…

The Burning Saints Motorcycle Club is the only family Clutch has known, and violence his only stock and trade. Humanity has handed him nothing but pain and struggle, and he’s come to expect even less from it. As an orphan, he’s always found it easier to bond with machines than with people. Now his club family is in danger of losing its way, its identity, even its very existence.

Dr. Gina Gardner is newly single, completely unprepared to mingle, and as it turns out, cannot sing and safely operate a motor vehicle at the same time. What she craves is time away to figure out what she wants. What she just might get, however, is a detour to what she needs.

When Clutch and Gina find themselves at the same crossroad, will they speed by each other, collide in a fiery crash, or blaze a new trail together?

A Witch for Mr Holiday by Deanna Chase

Welcome to Christmas Grove, where holiday magic and matchmaking is in the air.

When Rex Holiday walks into the charming town of Christmas Grove, all he plans to do is to spend the season helping out at his buddy’s Christmas tree farm. What he doesn’t expect is for an overzealous matchmaker to slip a love potion into his cider. But the joke’s on the resident matchmaker, because not even a potent love spell can break through the walls he’s built around his heart. But when the girl next door catches his eye, some of his barriers start to crumble. Still, Rex Holiday’s time in Christmas Grove is only temporary. He can’t afford to fall in love. Or can he?

Holly Reineer is a powerful spirit witch who can see the future for everyone. Everyone but herself that is. And when Rex Holiday walks into her life, she sees his, too. He’s destined for a big corporate job all the way across the country. So when he starts to show interest in her, she knows it’s only temporary, and Holly’s not interested in a fling. She wants her happily-ever-after. But he’s very hard to resist… Can a love spell rewrite the future? If so, Holly will need to learn to follow her heart and, for once, trust what she can’t see.

A Witch for Mr Christmas by Deanna Chase

Welcome to Christmas Grove, the town full of love, magic, and holiday miracles.

Ilsa McKenzie has only ever loved one man. But eleven months ago, he walked out of her life, leaving her heartbroken and her life changed forever. After leaving the magical town of Christmas Grove to regroup and get her life in order, Ilsa’s back, ready to face her past and start her future with or without him. There’s only one question. Will Zach want to be a part of her life or will he run again?

Zach Frost doesn’t love easily. He’s loved and lost before. All he’s ever wanted was to run his Christmas tree farm and start a family. And once Ilsa arrives in town, it seems he’s on the verge of making his dreams come true. But his past is complicated and it’s about to catch up with him. Can he make peace with his mistakes or will he let history repeat itself and lose his chance with the one woman who can make him feel whole?

Until next week.

#JustForFun, #Top Ten Tuesday, #TopTenTuesday, #TTT

[sphq]

“Was I not worth the truth?”

RACHEL ELIZABETH JAMES is a(n) SEVENTEEN/EIGHTEEN-year-old SIREN and is attending SPELLBOUND ACADEMY as a SENIOR. SHE currently identifies as SEXUAL ORIENTATION and is CURRENTLY SINGLE. Her FACE CLAIM is CRYSTAL REED.

RACHEL is CARING, COMPLEX, and OPTIMISTIC, but can be COMPETITIVE, RESENTFUL, and SILLY.

X LAST TIME ON SPELLBOUND…?

Last time we saw Rachel James, she was being her usual life-of-the-party self while nursing a huge ass crush on a one Mr. Lawson. Too bad, her friends kept her in the dark and didn’t tell her that while she was pining over him, he was sleeping with her best friend, Lindsay McKenzie. Who votes that we should tell her?

X HI, MY NAME IS

Rachel Elizabeth James was born on August 17th, 1993 in Brookville, New York to Robert and Diane. She has brown hair, light brown eyes, and is currently five feet eight inches. She has one younger sister named Anne.

With her mother a successful lawyer and her father a successful entrepreneur, Rachel James has been around money all of her life. She grew up deeply immersed in the world of people who all have proper etiquette and are pros at destroying the lives of others. Despite all of her lessons, she never failed to keep her down-to-earth outlook on life and other people.

Luckily for her, she still knew how and when to be respectful and proper. Well, she did until something happened at one of her parents’ famous parties. Angry and embarrassed, they sent her straight to boarding school. She doesn’t mind it though, she likes it here.

Rachel is returning to Spellbound Academy as a Senior and plans to have as much fun as she can. Throughout the school, she is known as the go-to girl whenever you need to party, have a little fun or blow off some steam. Due to her bubbly attitude, it’s not that hard for her to make new friends and it helps that she’s naturally flirtatious too.

It’s not a secret that she has or had a crush on Blake Lawson, but for some reason, he wouldn’t give her the time of day and that frustrated her to no end. She moves on quickly though her heart still yearns for the mysterious Blake Lawson.

X THESE ARE MY FRIENDS & THESE ARE OUR STORIES

✘ CARSON BENSON: Her current roommate. ✘ BRITTANY FULLER: Brittany Fuller & Rachel James have been best friends since meeting during the Welcoming Ceremony during their Freshman Year. ✘ BLAKE LAWSON: When Rachel James & Blake Lawson first met, she was immediately smitten, but Blake wasn’t all that interested. Turns out, he was more interested in her best friend, Lindsay. Rachel still doesn’t know that the two were dating. ✘ LINDSAY MCKENZIE: Lindsay McKenzie and Rachel James are best friends.  After meeting in Freshman year, the quickly became close along with Brittany Fuller. However, like everyone else, Rachel is unaware of Lindsay’s past with Blake Lawson. Rachel’s own history with him could cause problems between the two if she ever found out. ✘ ROBERT MILLER: He’s one of her best friends.

[sapienveneficus]

And All Shall Know the Wonder

Finally, I wanted to repost the individual blurbs I wrote about each cast member. 

Miles Barbee – Miles plays the role of Otto, one of the teenage boys in the show. Otto’s more of a supporting role, but Miles has definitely managed to make his presence known on stage. I think his greatest strength in this production has been his ability to circumvent expectations. His character is meant to be the youngest of the school boys; he’s even dressed in a sort of sailor suit to denote his juvenile status. And yet, he’s called upon to deliver some of the most audacious lines/lyrics in the whole show. He plays this contrast beautifully.  Those moments in the show, where he does or says something unexpected, are always perfectly and wonderfully shocking.

Katie Boeck – Katie plays the voice of Wendla/guitar. Wendla’s the female lead, so Katie sings and speaks quite a lot throughout the course of the show, but one of her many gifts is the ability not to pull focus. She’s there to support the actress playing Wendla, and she does it seamlessly. She and Sandra Mae Frank, who work together to play Wendla, have developed an exceptional rhythm on stage. Their partnership is so well formed that, as an audience member, it’s easy to mistake them for the same person. And Katie’s voice, wow, I’ll do my best to explain just how incredible she is. The music of Spring Awakening is more pop/rock than your standard Broadway show. When casting the show, the producers and director sought out actors and actresses who had more of a singer/song writer sound than a more traditional Broadway sound.  (more straight tone, less belt) Katie’s voice fits the music perfectly. Wendla’s solos are beautiful but understated. There’s a temptation to go too big. I’ve seen other actresses treat Mama Who Bore Me as their Mama Rose moment, but Katie lets the song be soulful and quiet, just as it should be. One of the great tragedies of this show is that it didn’t get its own cast recording. I would love to have a proper studio recording of Katie singing Whispering, but, as the Rolling Stones so wisely stated, you can’t always get what you want.

Alex Boniello – Alex plays the voice of Moritz/guitar. Moritz is one of the male leads so, like Katie as the voice of Wendla, Alex speaks and sings a great deal throughout the course of the show. Unlike Katie, Alex does not exist in the background. His stage presence is the opposite of understated. He’s the kind of actor who could be in the background of a scene holding a nondescript box, so far removed from center stage that he’s practically in the wings, and yet as an audience member you’d be thinking, “Who’s that guy with the box?” So he and Daniel Durant, the actor who plays Moritz, have worked out a different way to share the role. There are times when Alex is unseen while on stage, but he’s literally behind a physical object or turned completely around, back to the audience. There are times when he’s in the middle of the action, lightening scenes with his fantastic comedic timing. And then there are moments when he’s simply not on stage at all, and Daniel signs with no voice. This combination of varied approaches to the hearing/deaf partnership only adds depth to the already complex character of Moritz Stiefel. And what can I say about Alex’s voice? It has that rough rock quality perfectly suited to Moritz’s songs. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but I am also in mourning for the studio version of Alex singing Don’t Do Sadness that we will never get.

Joshua Castille – Josh plays Ernst, another of the teenage boys in the show. Josh, like Alex, has an undeniable stage presence. So he’s been given more weight to carry in the show than an actor playing Ernst (a supporting role) normally gets. Josh, in addition to telling Ernst’s story, is there to show the audience what it would have been like to be a deaf teenager in 19th century Germany. There are dozens of little moments throughout the show where he does that to great effect. One of the show’s early scenes takes place in a classroom. The teacher is calling on each student in turn to recite passages from Virgil’s Aeneid. When Ernst’s turn comes, he begins to fingerspell as he speaks the Latin words out loud. The teacher quickly and harshly shuts him down. Later in that same scene, after the teacher speaks an instruction to the class, Ernst turns to his seatmate who has to write down the instruction on his slate because, naturally, Ernst can’t hear them. These are small moments, but they speak volumes to the deaf experience in a world dominated by oralism, as it would have been in the 1890s. And as Ernst is a smaller role, brought to life by such a dynamic actor, these small moments truly stand out. Ernst’s big scene takes place in the show’s second act. The scene is a comedic one, and as the show’s second act is rather heavy, this lighter scene is desperately needed to balance things out. That being said, Josh and Andy Mientus (his scene partner) have added dramatic layers to a scene that is typically just played for laughs. Josh allows Ernst to be simultaneously clever, prideful, innocent, hopeful, joyous, and vulnerable. Josh is one of the youngest cast members, he turned 21 during the show’s run, and I for one cannot wait to see whatever project he decides to tackle next.

Daniel Durant – Daniel plays the role of Moritz, one of the male leads. The actor who played Moritz in the original Broadway run, John Gallagher, Jr., won a Tony award for his performance, and I would be shocked if Daniel is not, at the very least, nominated for one as well this season. His performance is, I feel like remarkable isn’t a strong enough word, but it’s what’s coming to mind at the moment. Moritz is a teenage boy carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. He struggles terribly in school, has a strained relationship with his parents, has never kissed a girl, and his best friend is smartest and most popular kid in town. And in this production, he’s also deaf in a society dominated the hearing. Moritz is typically portrayed with a sort of restless anger, but Daniel’s portrayal is softer, more introspective. His Moritz is desperate to find the good in whatever terrible situation life hands him, right up to the point where there is no good left to find. Daniel brings a degree of raw vulnerability to Moritz that is unlike any portrayal of the character I’ve seen before. One of Daniel’s strongest scenes takes place in the first act. Moritz has just received terrible news and has to share that news with his stern father. Now, in the Deaf West revival, both Mortiz and his father are deaf. So the scene is only signed, not spoken. The scene is painfully uncomfortable to watch because both actors on stage act it so authentically. The scene is almost too real. Daniel perfectly portrays Moritz’s fear, desperation, sadness, and shame as he speaks with his father. As I said at the beginning, I would be stunned if Daniel isn’t nominated for a Tony this season.

Treshelle Edmond – Treshelle plays Marta, one of the teenage girls. Marta is one of the supporting roles, and Treshelle plays her beautifully. She has the ability to blend into the group of girls during the ensemble numbers, and then shine when she takes center stage for her big number. Marta is deaf in this production, but unlike the characters I’ve discussed so far, she does not have a close relationship with her inner voice. In fact, Kathryn Gallagher, who plays the voice of Marta, and Treshelle never share the stage. This physical separation is heavily symbolic as it speaks to Marta’s profound feeling of isolation and brokenness. Treshelle balances Marta’s profound sadness with her desire to blend, to be a part of a group. She’s a character searching for love and kindness from a world that has, thus far, denied her both.

Sandra Mae Frank – Sandra plays Wendla, the female lead. I’m just going to say, right at the top, that Sandra’s portrayal of Wendla is the best I’ve ever seen. She’s the other actor in this production who will most likely receive a Tony nomination, and she couldn’t be more deserving. Wendla’s a complex character, and Sandra plays her with an unprecedented level of artistry. She perfectly balances Wendla’s innocence with her growing sexual awakening. I think that innocence, in its purest most child-like form, is one of the toughest qualities to act on stage. The actresses I’ve seen play Wendla in the past have all failed to portray Wendla’s innocence at the beginning in a believable way. They have all given in, in one way or another, to the temptation to over-act the show’s opening scene between Wendla and her mother. Sandra’s performance in this scene, by contrast, is brilliantly authentic. As an audience member, I believe that I am watching a teenage girl trying to have an uncomfortable conversation with her mother. I believe in her genuine desire to get the answers to her questions; to understand a part of the world that is being kept from her. Sandra also shines in her scenes with Austin McKenzie, the actor who plays Melchior. We see Wendla’s feelings for Melchoir evolve from school girl crush, to genuine love and affection in such a perfectly organic way. Again, I’ve seen so many actresses over-act these scenes, but Sandra’s performance is perfectly understated and authentic. Her best scene though, in my opinion, is the scene just before Whispering. This scene, as it mirrors the show’s opening, is set between Wendla and her mother. Wendla’s innocence from the beginning is all but gone as she doesn’t cajole, or beg, but rather demands honesty from her mother. In that moment, Sandra chooses to use her own voice as she asks, “Why didn’t you tell me everything?” Sandra uses her voice exactly three times in the show, and while each time packs such an emotional punch, there’s hardly a dry eye in the house as Whispering comes to a close. This woman deserves a Tony!

Kathryn Gallagher – Kathryn plays the voice of Marta/guitar. Much like Katie, Kathryn allows herself to exist in the background, so that her presence does not distract from Treshelle’s portrayal of Marta. Kathryn’s greatest strength is unquestionably her musicality. Her voice is strong and pure. She layers such raw emotion onto every line she sings, it makes the experience of watching Marta’s scenes that much more powerful. Kathryn is also a fantastic guitarist. I am in awe of the way that all of the voice actors are able to simultaneously sing their lines so that they mach perfectly with their counterpart’s signing while at the same time playing their instruments. I like to imagine that part of the Deaf West Spring Awakening audition process was the classic grade-school “rub your belly as you pat your head” test.  Kathryn, I’m quite sure, would pass that test with flying colors.

Sean Grandillo – Sean plays the voice of Otto/bass. Sean has an exceptional voice and is quite an accomplished musician. He plays both the upright bass and the electric bass in the show while managing to conduct the other musicians on stage. He also has an undeniable stage presence. I am sure that this fact presented somewhat of a challenge to show’s director, Michael Arden. Sean, after all, voices a supporting character who doesn’t really get his own standout scene or musical number. So what they’ve done, and I suspect this was intentional, is cleverly work Sean into several of the musical numbers and scenes. He’s been gifted these little moments throughout the show to show off his exceptional comedic chops and dynamic personality.  I suspect that Spring Awakening will not be the last time we see Sean Grandillo grace a Broadway stage.

Russell Harvard – Russell Harvard plays all of the deaf adult males in the show. (The school’s headmaster, the village priest, and Moritz’s father) As each of the characters he portrays is quite unique, Russell has the opportunity through the course of the show to demonstrate his impressive range as an actor. As the headmaster, he gets to flex his comedic muscles. As the priest, he’s perfectly stoic and pompous. But it’s in the role of Moritz’s father where he truly shines. He embodies the cruelty, disinterest, and anger of that character in such a masterful way. He and Daniel Durant have worked so well together to let that big confrontation scene in act one evolve throughout the run of the show. The scene is so powerfully raw, that it never fails to leave me breathless.

Amelia Hensley – Amelia plays the role of Thea, one of Wendla’s best friends. She’s typically portrayed as a sassy little know-it-all, but Amelia plays her in a way that is more earnest than cruel. Thea does occasionally say the wrong thing at the exact wrong time, but in this revival those moments seem to come from a genuine place of concern for her friends, rather than a need to be right driven by Thea’s own sense of superiority. It occurs to me, as I write these actor paragraphs, that each actor really has found a way to breathe new life into these characters. These portrayals aren’t complete departures from the originals. Instead, these differences are more nuanced. They’re the kinds of interpretations that can only come from actors who have studied their roles for an extended period of time. (but back to Amelia) Amelia’s greatest strength is her ability to build relationships on stage with the other actors. You see it in the way she interacts with the actress who plays her sister, Melitta. There are times when it is difficult to tell where Thea ends and Melitta begins. They seem to effortlessly move and act as one. And you also see it in her scenes with Wendla. Her subtle teasing and the knowing looks they exchange go a long way to create a friendship on stage that we, as audience members, need to believe has existed for years.

Lauren Luiz – Lauren plays Melitta/voice of Thea. Melitta is a character who has been created for this revival. She is Thea’s twin sister. She speaks for Thea as Thea signs. So unlike the other hearing actors who play voice of (fill in the blank) as inner voices or imaginary friends, Lauren gets to play a real character who is meant to be seen. And she plays the part beautifully. I feel like I’m over using the word beautifully. I am, aren’t I? Oh well, it fits so I’m going to continue using it. Lauren has worked hard to form an incredible on stage bond with Amelia, it really is hard to believe these two aren’t sisters in real life. But Lauren’s greatest gift to the show would have to be her voice. It’s soulful but also strong. She has a voice that stands out. It’s a shame her character doesn’t get any proper solos. There have been rumors that she’ll take on the role of Ilse when the show goes on tour next year. I, for one, hope those rumors are true.

Austin McKenzie – Austin plays the role of Melchior Gabor, the male lead. Melchior is smartest and most popular teenager in this small German village where the play is set. In every production of the show I’ve seen, the actor playing Melchior owns this fact and dials up his arrogance accordingly. But, that’s not how Austin plays the part. His Melchior has a dash of humility mixed in with the arrogance. Actually, now that I really stop to think about it, the word arrogance has a connotation that doesn’t truly fit. Melchior is arrogant in the sense that he thinks he knows better than the adults in his life, but that’s more the arrogance of youth than something specific to this one character. He also doesn’t treat his peers as if he’s superior to them. He does, though, act as their defacto leader. Signing instructions to his classmates when the teacher’s back is turned, teaching his best friend about sex, and ultimately being chosen by the headmaster as a scapegoat when a terrible scandal threatens to ruin the school’s reputation. Austin’s Melchior is a leader, an imperfect leader, but not a pompous one. Austin performs the role with such a fierce intentionality. That’s actually what stood out to me the most, the first time I saw the revival. I remember thinking, “I have never seen an actor speak and sign with such intensity, in a way that demands to be both seen and understood.” I should probably explain that Austin is a hearing actor who is also fluent in ASL. In fact, you should know that Spring Awakening is not just his Broadway debut, it’s his theatrical debut. Which means that Spring Awakening is his first production of any kind, ever. I’m talking no off Broadway shows, no regional theater, no community theater, not even a kindergarten production of Winnie the Pooh. Two years ago, while this production as still very much in the development stage, Austin applied to be an ASL interpreter for the Deaf West Theatre Company and was instead asked to audition for Melchior.  I wanted to briefly share his backstory for two reasons, first because it’s an amazing story, and second because it explains why he was chosen for the part. The character of Melchior serves as a bridge between the worlds in Spring Awakening. He’s the glue that holds the show together. In a typical production, he serves as a link between the children and the adults, the boys and the girls, the cast and the audience, and finally between the present and the future. It’s a demanding role for any actor to take up, but the Deaf West production demands even more. Because Deaf West’s Melchior must also be a bridge between the world of hearing and the world of the deaf. It’s true that all of the cast members sign at least a little throughout the course of the show. Everyone signs along with the songs as the signs have been seamlessly woven into their choreography. Obviously, the deaf actors sign all of their dialogue while their hearing counterparts speak it. And the hearing actors with stand-alone roles sign and speak their dialogue, but there isn’t much of it for them to sign because these roles are smaller. So the burden on the hearing actors having to learn ASL for their parts isn’t too great. It’s maybe 7 or 8 lines of dialogue over the course of the entire show. But, Melchior is the lead. He has monologues, multiple solos, and long, complicated scenes with several different characters, both hearing and deaf. Melchior has to be that bridge, connecting those two worlds for the audience. I think that this explains why Austin speaks, sings, and signs with such intensity. As Melchior he is desperate to be both heard and understood, but as a hearing actor working with a deaf cast, performing in front of a mixed audience, he is determined to reach everyone. And he succeeds. This entry is already way too long so I don’t have time to say much about his vocal performance. As you might imagine, it’s amazing! I do want to very briefly highlight the song I believe Austin does best. As I’ve already stated, Melchior has several solos throughout the course of the show. And each actor I’ve seen take on the part has had one signature number; one number that has stood out, at least to me, as THEIR song. Jonathan Groff’s was Left Behind, Jake Epstein’s was The Mirror-Blue Night, and Austin McKenzie’s is Totally Fucked.  From the first note to the last, he OWNS that song. I think it’s a combination of timing and hubris. He’s got the timing of, “There’s a moment you know (pause) you’re fucked,” down perfectly. It always draws a big reaction from the crowd. And then there’s the way he acts the song. As I said up top, Austin’s Melchior is more intentional and earnest than the other’s I’ve seen. This song, though, is a departure from that. It’s as if he saves all of his pure, unadulterated, self-assuredness for this number alone. And the effect is, well, fantastic! I think the elderly woman sitting behind me during a matinee last month summed up his acting in this song perfectly. “That Melchior! He’s a real cad!” Austin’s the other cast member who deserves a Tony nomination, but as I suspect that the Hamilton cast will crowd Austin’s category, I doubt he’ll get one.

Andy Mientus – Andy plays the role of Hanschen, the school’s obnoxious brown-noser . Andy is a force of nature on stage. He’s a brilliant comedic actor with an impressive set of pipes, but first and foremost, he is Spring Awakening’s biggest fan. He saw the original run during his senior year of college. He loved the show so much that he made his own Spring Awakening Facebook fan page, where fans from around the world could gather and discuss the show. Spring Awakening’s producers loved his page so much that they made it the show’s official fan page. Then, after graduating from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!), Andy auditioned for Spring Awakening’s first National Tour and was cast as Hanschen. Fast forward to 2014, Andy and Michael Arden (the director) approached the Deaf West Theatre Company about translating and putting on a production of Spring Awakening, and now that production is on Broadway. Andy is acting in a revival of his favorite show, a revival that he helped bring about. He is living every fan’s dream. And I, for one, couldn’t be happier for him.

Patrick Page – Patrick plays all of the hearing adult males in the show. (the teacher, the doctor, a priest, Hanschen’s father, and Melchior’s father) Patrick is a classically trained actor with a Broadway career spanning decades. Unlike the other adults in this show, who already had connections to or are members of the deaf community, I suspect Patrick took this role because it presented him with a fresh challenge. Having worked for so long in the theater, there’s probably very little he hasn’t done . As you might expect, Patrick brings his vast experience as a Broadway actor to the show. He knows how to project, how to play to the back of the house, and how to keep a show from getting stale week in and week out. I’m sure the cast has enjoyed having someone with his unique professional experience in their company.

Krysta Rodriguez – Krysta plays the role of Ilse, the show’s outsider character. Ilse’s presence is felt in the show’s first act, but she doesn’t appear properly until the second. Krysta is an incredible actress, and she has a remarkable voice. She also has a rather impressive Spring Awakening backstory. Krysta was a member of the original ensemble cast and understudied several of the female roles, including Ilse. When Deaf West’s Spring Awakening first opened in LA, it was playing in this tiny 95 seat theater, and a different actress had the role of Ilse. But when the show transferred to a bigger theater out in Beverly Hills, that actress had to drop out to because of a prior commitment. Andy knew that Krysta was living in LA at the time, and that she was available. So he recommended her to the director, and the rest, as they say, his history. Well, not quite. There’s one more part of her story that I didn’t know about until the holiday season. Around Thanksgiving, Broadway does a big charity drive. So after each show, a few actors will share with the audience a little about the charities they’re supporting that season, one of which is a charity that helps actors pay for health care. I’d heard these charity speeches before because, before moving to the city, the holiday season is when I typically would be in town to see a show. So when Krysta got up to speak after a performance of Spring Awakening, I expected to hear the standard speech about the importance of giving generously to support the Broadway community. What I did not expect to hear, is the story that she shared. Last year, Krysta was diagnosed with breast cancer. The actor’s fund helped pay for her treatment. Treatment that she finished just a week or so before starting rehearsals for Spring Awakening. So Krysta is an actress I’ve come to respect for her talent but also for her courage.

Daniel David Stewart – Daniel plays the voice of Ernst/piano. The relationship between Ernst and his inner voice is the closest of any of the deaf/hearing counterparts in the show. The actors have both explained in interviews that this closeness is intentional. Ernst is one of the few characters who gets to retain some semblance of childlike innocence and optimism, despite all of the terrible things that happen so many of the characters around him. Daniel, despite staying close to Josh (who plays Ernst) throughout the course of the show, never detracts from Josh’s performance. Daniel, like Katie, has found a way to be present without being a distraction. Daniel also is an incredibly talented musician. His voice is pure and clear, and he plays the piano beautifully. He also does a lot of work in the background of several musical numbers to provide cues for the deaf actors. Daniel truly is a remarkable, multitalented young actor.

Ali Stroker – Ali plays the role of Anna, another of Wendla’s close friends. Ali has an impressive voice and an undeniable stage presence. She is also, and I can’t believe I’m typing this in the year 2016, the first actress in a wheelchair to act in a Broadway show. Most Broadway theaters, for those who have never been to one, are not ADA compliant. There are steps to enter and exit the theaters, the tiny bathrooms are either a floor above or a floor below the orchestra level and are accessible only by stairs, and very few rows have wheelchair seating. In fact, New York City itself isn’t really ADA compliant either. Coming from the DC area, that was big shock to me when I first moved here. Did you know only 18% of the city’s subway stations are handicap accessible? That’s less than 1/5! New York City has an appalling record when it comes to universal accessibility and access, and this is just one of the issues that this production of Spring Awakening has brought to light. (but back to Ali) Ali brings a light and joyful spirit to the show’s first act. Her optimism in the role of Anna is infectious. But as the show darkens, Anna’s optimism and joy all but disappear. Ali has some serious dramatic chops. I certainly hope that her first Broadway show won’t also be her last.

Alexandra Winter – Alexandra plays Greta/Harp. Greta is a new teenage character, added to help strengthen the sound of all of the ensemble numbers. She doesn’t really have a role in the story so I can’t speak to her acting abilities. I can say that she has a lovely voice and plays the harp beautifully.

Alex Wyse – Alex plays George, a geeky teenage boy hopelessly in love with his piano teacher. Georg, as a character, is there to provide brief moments of comic relief to help balance out such a dark and dramatic show. Alex does this brilliantly. He has such natural, effortless comedic timing. He also has an amazing voice. I’ve already spoke briefly about the show’s casting process, how the director wanted actors with more of a coffee house voice than a standard Broadway voice. Well, Alex is the exception to that rule. He needs to be, because George has a powerhouse solo in Touch Me, and Alex kills it each and every night. He stands up on a classroom chair, towering over his cast mates, and belts his heart out. He never fails to bring the house down with his solo. Alex is also a bit of a titan on social media. Between his hilarious tweets and clever periscope performances, I have no doubt he could make it as a stand-up comic. If he ever decides to take a break from Broadway, that is, which I hope won’t be happening any time soon.

[cjoatprehn]

The Truth

It’s  Time to Stop the Negativity in My Life

   Introduction

“Here is the truth about that…weird girl you know just around the block. That girl you bullied in elementary and middle school…that college student who always seemed to take care of others and not herself. That girl who seemed to want to say one thing…but just doesn’t say it at all. The bookworm who seemed to love homework. That teenager who is awfully mean on her periods. The daughter that seems to want others to understand and have excuses for every mistake she does. The granddaughter that says random things and draws on anything…even your light-colored couch with a marker. That cousin who always seems to want to leave parties and has a crush but will never confess. That one student that hates fighting others, and self-destructs herself. The girl that is writing this post….to release the truth that she has been hiding…and is willing to accept the consequences as they come.”

               I want to say, thank you…to all of you who have been with me for this long in my life. I appreciate all your efforts to make sure that I am happy, safe, and above all, healthy. That I know whether to cross the street or not, to speak out and say what I think. To speak the truth in the inward parts. God hates a liar. And the Holy Spirit is watching me now, as I write this. This is my confession to all of you and my confirmation of my signature that I will accept all consequences as they come through. Most of you may want to unfollow me and not support me and that is perfectly okay with me. I just…want you guys to know the truth. The real me. I warn you, this may…sound messed up to a very certain extent. Depending on who reads it. But…

I am no longer going to hide behind fantastical stories anymore. I will…take what comes and may God protect the rest of me and my mind. I want to go ahead and apologize to Him now, for all the exaggerated stories. All of it.

In Real Life Shoutouts:

Now…Shout outs are in order. First off, the Father My God, for creating and revealing things to me. The one listener who doesn’t get annoyed at my constant babbling. Um, My Grandma Neal and my Grandma Clara. For helping me through everything, life in general. And Grandma Virgie Monroe, for having the Artist mind to understand someone as complex as me. The Prayer Ministry, for their prayers for my family and life. Alberta and Daqwon McKnight, for their hospitality, generosity, guidance and preaching. Corinthian Baptist Church, for becoming the one place where I can be safest and happiest. No matter if it is Sunday or not. Miss Erline and her family for showing just…so much hardworking talent in the Mission Ministry. Kelli Michelle Wise for raising me and my sister. Mckenzie Joyner for being the best girlfriend I could ever have in Maryland, being able to relate to a girl that balances me out is wonderful. Edwin Johnson IV for the longest friendship I have ever been able to maintain without unintentionally breaking it. Raymond Fisher III and his family, for the constant support especially when I became homeless. Renoir Dawson-Finan (I have some thanks for you too), for coming so quickly whenever I needed you. Your comfort during the hard times made it bearable (when you weren’t….you know…NSFW). Yoni for being the gentleman of advice, silliness, and absolute absurdity. My siblings as well. I love you all. No matter your actions. Also. Mary Baldwin University: Gloria Cooper, Shay’De Tyler, Destinee and Heather Zollars, Hannah Fishbourne, Andrea Cornett-Scott and her husband, Gamer’s Guild, Kate, and so many more. I appreciate all your positive messages and love on my whiteboard. I still have the pictures in my over 12,000 photo library, hehe. There are many more people in my life I may have forgotten but I want to move on to the Online friends now.

 Online Shoutouts:

         First Shoutout goes to the first ever server I have joined on Discord. Yes, while flawed, the entire group of friends that I met for Dungeons and Dragons, while it…was an experience with many highs and lows, I am glad to have experienced the joy of slaying monsters with a silly band of diverse people. I still have the recordings, and the photos from when Coley visited and drew the Aquarius constellation on my hand. I hope you guys are well. Even if you guys no longer like my existence anymore. The others are those I have made in Art Servers, Roleplay Servers, and Youtubers like Tehrogue, Melle-D, Mona-Chan, Jacksepticeye, Markiplier, Your Daily Dose of Internet, AyChristineGames, All of the Viners out there, you are all amazing and I love your content. On Tumblr, you guys have all been kind, and there are so many I could list. But while I am late, I want to shoutout to you guys too. You know who you are.

 Lord Give Me Strength…

        I…have a lot to confess to you all. A lot of the things you have heard about/from me and my character…are probably exaggerated to make myself seem…a lot more interesting and awesome than I actually am. The reason I overexaggerated the stories I tell about what happen to me, no matter how short or long, is because…I am afraid of being judged for my true self. And making my life seem…insane, seemed like the best way to make friends. But! Not every story was…untrue. The Homeless Shelter story, did actually happen. But…nobody hit on me, or did anything wrong. They were all very grateful for the goods we brought for their survival. The Angela is insane on Sugar,…is both true and untrue in a sense. Because I do get a certain boost from it and the caffeine in my medication, and crashing ends up screwing the day for me. But…me doing flips and jumping down flights of stairs and landing on my feet is not true. Also it’s very dangerous don’t do that unless you are trained (or something like that). There are actually a lot of stories that were exaggerated….Me walking straight out the front door and going 84-86 miles was true. Geepus sometimes my legs sheer pain from when I walked those long distances. It really was terrifying to walk in the pitch black of night with nothing but trees and no lights around you in a manic state. The sister story…well…(That was true.) The Attempting Suicide twice (true) the first boyfriend (True) Many of the stories I tell are actually true I am discovering but the added details and overexaggeration for effect makes it…laughable and crazy to say the least.

             But…long story short…there are so many stories I have told, to make you laugh, to make me seem like a kickbutt person, or to inspire you. But I’m here to say, most of them were overexaggerated for the sake of…my inner security about myself, and you guys laughing makes me laugh so I add stuff to make it even funnier. Because everyone needs a good belly-aching laugh. Or someone needs an awe-inspiring story.

 I will admit, those of you who sense I am hiding something…I usually am. On an everyday basis. Even people like Edwin still are finding out more about me and my experiences with life. I know a lot more than I let on….I’m not violent, or an absolute hothead all the time, I tend to blurt out what’s on my mind. I…I’m imperfect. But I’m okay with that. God Made me to be imperfect and enjoy the pleasures he gave for me to enjoy. I know you have a lot of questions. For those of you who have my number and social media, message me. I’ll answer any questions you may have. If you have lost faith in me, or hate me for the lies, or just…other bad things…I am okay with that.  Thank you all for listening to my confession. I look forward to the future and what lies ahead. But no matter what, I still believe in, and love all of you, and will do anything no matter what for you. That has never changed.