#might do comics with him and shane?

[bellbones1207]

Shane and my cowboy OC Jack >:3c

Ever since they first met Jack has stubbornly kept talking to him out of spite <3 until it loops around into affection hehe

Also, alt version with Jack's cowboy hat and different colors under the cut :)

[magicalqueennightmare]

Talk to Me

Daryl Dixon x Reader

After the prison falls you're on your own, until you find Daryl with a group. When things happen he carries the guilt for it all until you find the safety of Alexandria and force a confrontation

Warnings: talk of violence, cursing, forced sexual acts? The claimers were sickos(italics are flashbacks)

Same verse as Back Me so Reader was Shane's adopted sister

The day the prison fell was chaos. A blur of fighting, both humans and walkers. When you realized it was useless you'd heard yelling over the commotion. Maggie's voice was screaming for evacuation, Sasha too but you couldn't find anyone. You found an opening in the mass of walkers and ran, praying you'd find them on the other side as you sliced through the dead.

So much had happened since that day. If you stopped and let yourself ever actually think about it you were afraid you'd sink down into that hole and never find your way out. First it was Terminus, then Gabriel's church then the storm in the barn. The day Aaron had approached with photos and a story of a town that was guarded by a wall and willing for new residents all of you had rightfully been hesitant but now? You'd settled. It was slowly becoming home, you just wished things between you and Daryl could ever be fixed.

You sat on the porch of the home most of you were still sharing. Aaron had been adamant about the fact that there was plenty of room for you to spread out and you were slowly doing such but the group was tight-knit and felt better being closer. Maggie and Glenn had taken the house directly across the street, Rosita and Abraham were next door while you were planning to eventually move in with Carol and whoever else joined the two of you in the house she'd taken when offered.

You would've asked Rick if you could stayed with him, Michonne and the kids but that would also take explaining just why you felt uncomfortable moving into one of the other houses. You didn't want to see that look in Rick's eyes or to pull him into whatever was going on between you and Daryl. They were best friends, Rick claimed you as a little sister especially after Shane's death. It wouldn't have been fair to Rick.

You leaned your head back against the banister of the porch, fiddling with one of the arrows from your bow and watching a few residents of Alexandria. Poor bastards, the look on their faces the first time they'd gotten a look at your group had damn near been comical.

------------------

"Stay close and stay alert" Rick warned in a low voice, his eyes connecting with yours then Daryl's then Michonne's. Each of you gave a sharp nod. When the gate rolled open your group tightened up to walk in together. Your shoudler brushed against Rosita's on one side and Glenn's on the other. Ok maybe not that close. All of you adjusted slightly to give each other enough room to pull weapons if need be.

Aaron was leading your group in, looking part tour guide and part ring leader. A crowd quickly gathered, gawking like all of you were some sort of side show freaks. It hit you how normal this place looked. Untouched. You looked around at your friends, your family. Blood and mud caked most of you. Rick's beard was thick enough to hide a damn family of squirrels in, all of the women in your group save for michonne and Carol looked like you'd never heard of a brush and Daryl looked like he was nothing short of feral. You wanted to hate this community, for not being put through the hell all of you had, for not facing the shit storm outside this gate but you pitied them. How could they have survived this long? What would happen if the gate failed? If a walker got in? If another group attacked? Your people didn't need them, they needed you.

-------------------

"Walsh!" You were broke out of your own thoughts by Abraham's deep voice calling you. You jerked up and shot him a glare "That's a good way to catch an arrow Ford" he grinned and nodded to the bow sitting next to you "Might be if that thing was in your hand"

You rolled your eyes but could help a small smile before adding the arrow you'd been fiddling with to your bow and standing "What do you want anyways?" "You seen Rosita?" He asked and you nodded "bout an hour ago. She was headed to med with Tara. Why?"

He shrugged "Just wondering" he started to walk away but stopped and looked back "you alright kid? You looked a little out of it" you nodded "Yeah I'm good. This whole having time to catch your breath is new and taking some getting used to" his laughter echoed down the street "I hear ya on that. I'll catch you later" you watched him walk off and shook your head. If Abraham was starting to notice you needed to do something different. He barely knew you like that. It wouldn't be long before someone else said something.

"So what's the deal with you and her?" Carol's voice came from behind Daryl. He glanced over his shoulder to see her walking up to him. He was hoping hiding out on the outskirts of Alexandria meant fewer people but of course Carol would manage to sniff him out.

"Me and who?" He knew who the hell she meant, he wasn't that much of a dumbass but he wasn't gonna admit it. He couldn't face you, not after what had happened. She rolled her eyes "You and Miss America. Y/N. Who else! You and her have been damn near inseparable since the camp at the quarry then the prison falls and we all find each other again and I've yet to hear a word get passed between the two of you except for on your right or look out"

He shrugged, going back to working on the pile of arrows in his hand "We ain't gotta talk every day. We're here now. She's safe, ain't she?"

-------------

Carol knew him better than that, she knew when something was wrong. She sat down next to him "What happened out there? Before you and her found Rick and Michonne?" She watched him as she asked the question and saw his gaze flick from the arrows to her then down to the dirt underneath his boots "Nothing"

-------------

Daryl had joined the claimers just to have better chances of finding some of the group, a better chance against the dead. They were following the railroad tracks, supposedly going after some guy they had issue with that had killed one of their people. He didn't really care. He kept moving in hopes to find a trace of someone, anyone.

He'd been at the back of the group when he heard one of them let out a low whistle "Well look what we got here boys" then he felt his blood boil when he heard your voice, trying so damn hard to hold steady but he could hear the trace of fear in it "Let me go you son of a bitch before I fucking gut you"

-------------

"That look tells me something happened" Carol pushed and he shook his head "Nothing happened" she sighed "Ok but if something did and you need to talk or need help talking to her, I'm around" he muttered a thanks as she stood and walked away.

What was he supposed to say to you? He fucking missed you. You were the first person that had ever really had his back, to not judge him. He'd been there for you through Shane and you were there for him through Merle but now he didn't know if you could forgive him and even if you could, did he deserve it?

He stood up and grabbed the arrows and his bow. He needed to get out the walls for a while, get some air without everyone around. He'd go tell Rick he was gonna go hunting. That way he was helping at the same time and not just running.

"I'm not comfortable with you going out alone" Rick told you and you were trying desperately to not sound like a teenager begging to go out on a Saturday night and failing. There was only a couple years difference between you and Rick but now? It very much felt like when you were a teenager and him and Shane would happen to "Show up" wherever you were at.

You glanced over at Michonne who was watching the two of you with a hint of amusement. "Help?" She shook her head "No way. You're practically brother and sister. Not my job to intervene"

You rolled your eyes then turned back to Rick "I survived on my own after the prison fell before I found Daryl, do you really think I can't handle the woods around here? How long did Michonne survive alone? How long did Carol when you banished her from the prison? C'mon Rick, please?"

He tilted his head slightly, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Fine. Find someone to go with for my sake. I know you're capable but if you get a deer you can't carry it back on your own, can you?" You nodded "Thank you!" You grinned at Michonne and stooped to plant a kiss on Judith's head before rushing out the door.

You walked towards the gate and spotted Glenn on the guard tower and waved. "You heading out?" You nodded "Rick cleared it. He said I could go hunt" Glenn looked sceptical "On your own?"

Of course Rick didn't say you could go on your own but you hadn't found anyone to go with you. Carl was spending time with Enid, Maggie wasn't in the shape, you couldn't find Abraham and you were sure if Rosita or Tara was up to go hunting and Sasha had night guard duty so she was sleeping.

-------------

Before you could open your mouth to respond you heard Rick's voice behind you "Wait up" you turned on your heel to see Rick and Daryl walking towards you and Glenn. Daryl wouldn't make eye contact with you but you'd gotten used to that.

"Yeah?" You asked Rick so he motioned to Daryl "Carol said you struck out on everyone you asked to go with you and Daryl was headed out anyway. You two have always worked good together so I figured that solves both problems"

You weren't going to get into this now, not with Rick and Glenn here and not in broad daylight with anyone else nearby as an audience so you just cut your eyes at Daryl "Good with you Dixon?" He nodded "Fine by me" you looked back at Rick "Wish us luck. Hopefully we'll come back dragging a deer or two"

Rick smiled and patted your shoulder then looked at Daryl "Stay safe and keep her safe" "Yeah man, always" Daryl muttered as the gate slid open and you quickly walked out forcing him to half jog to catch up with you before you reached the patch of woods just outside the gates that would lead the two of you deeper into the surrounding area and hopefully onto some tracks so silence would be forced.

-------------

Yours and Daryl's footsteps were near silent as you moved in tandem through the woods. The last few years of hunting side by side had built a routine and familiarity that even the recently acquired distance between the two of you couldn't change.

You could feel his eyes on you every now and then but chose to ignore it. He hadn't wanted to come out here with you any more than you'd wanted to come out here with him. You had an idea that Carol had masterminded the whole thing in an attempt to force you two to be in the same area for more than a few minutes.

A twig cracking made both of you spin around, bows raised only to be met with one stray walker stumbling through the bush. You groaned in frustration, hoping it'd been a deer for a quick hunt as Daryl shot it. He cut his eyes at you "you good?" You half laughed "Be better if we found a damn deer for some meat"

He nodded before snatching his arrow out the walker and cleaning it off on the bandana he had in his hip pocket "Takes longer than thirty minutes" you knew that but you could feel how tense he was every time he looked at you. You rotated your neck in a tight circle then motioned to the woods in front of you "Well we're wasting daylight. Let's get on it"

You and Daryl hadn't traded more than five words past that but you did get two does. Daryl carried the heaviest of the two back so you heaved the lightest across your shoulders and followed his careful footsteps back the way you'd came. The pace you were going you should manage to be able to get back and dress the deer before the sun set good.

You could see the walls of Alexandria just up ahead and laughed when you heard Abraham's voice boom out "Well look what the cat dragged in. Dixon and Walsh done got us some Venison" you shook your head and followed Daryl into the gate. The two of you headed for the back of the food storage area where it'd been set up to strip animals after hunting trips.

--------------

Daryl barely glanced at you as the two of you worked to dress the deer, separating the meat. The skin and even some of the bones could be used as well. You were focusing on your task at hand, wiping the sweat off your forehead with your arm to avoid smearing blood on yourself.

You'd gotten pretty good at all this. He could remember when he'd had to teach you where to cut and how to pull the skin off to not ruin it. You cut your eyes up at him and smiled slightly but that was all it took for that flood of guilt to wash over him.

---------

Daryl felt his heart drop when he saw one of the claimers, Kilan with his hand buried in your hair, the barrel of his gun digging into your temple. You were still fighting, that was something he'd always loved about you. You refused to roll over and die.

You'd hadn't seen him yet but he knew these assholes rules so before anyone could speak he made sure his voice carried over them all "She's claimed" every one of the claimers eyes turned towards him and he saw the moment his voice hit your ears because your shoulders released just a little.

Joe nodded to Kilan and he released you causing you to stumble. The group stepped back and you practically dove into his arms. "Daryl! You're alive!" He'd never had anyone so damn happy to see him still breathing. He held you close to his chest "I'm alright darlin. Are you ok?" You nodded, glancing back at Kilan "Except for losing a handful of hair to the asshole over there"

Kilan took a step towards you but Joe stopped him with a hand on his chest before smiling wickedly "Well damn Dixon, introduce us" you turned to face the claimers, tucking yourself as close as you could to his side without inhibiting a draw of his bow. "Leave her be man" Joe tsk tsked "If she's claimed then claim her" Daryl felt his stomach drop at the look in Joe's eyes. Every claimer's hand inched toward their weapon. The two of you were outmanned and outgunned.

He shook his head before clearing his throat "I got this Y/N. Why don't you go shower?" You glanced up from the deer you'd just finished dressing "I'm damn near done" he shrugged "Yeah but I can finish up" you stared at him for a second before slowly nodding "Ok"

You wiped your hands on your pants then held out your knife "Sharpen this, please?" He nodded "yeah" and took it, careful to not touch your skin.

You found yourself on the porch of Carol's house. It was late so you didn't want to risk waking Judith by going to Rick's. After you'd showered you came out to Carl giving you your knife and saying Daryl had tasked him with returning it.

Even when everyone had eaten together he'd put Abraham, Rosita, Sasha and Glenn between the two of you. You didn't want to wake Carol if she was asleep so you just sat down close to the door and leaned back against the house. The night air had a slight chill but the jacket you now had was plenty of enough to block from the chill.

Rosita had braided your hair for you so that wasn't even a bother. You closed your eyes, listening to the sounds of the night until the door clicked and you opened them to see Carol looking down at you "Wanna come in?" She asked and you shook your head. She nodded "in that case, let me get you some tea and I'll come out"

--------------

You sat on the steps, looking up at the stars and sipping whatever tea concoction Carol had brewed up. It was pretty good,had a slight honey and vanilla taste. She'd also insisted on you wrapping a blanket around your shoulders.

After a few minutes she bumped your knee lightly "He won't talk to me, do you want to? Or need to?" You let out a breath that shook on the end "A lot happened Carol. A lot of bad shit"

She slipped an arm around your shoulders and whispered "You didn't judge me for Lizzie sweetheart. I'm not judging for anything but I love you and I love Daryl. You two care about each other so much, you have for so long and it hurts seeing the distance between you two"

You took a deep breath then nodded "Did Rick ever tell you about the claimers?" "The ones who attacked him, Michonne and Carl?" She asked and you nodded. You went silent for a few breaths so she turned to look at you "Honey. What happened?" You could feel tears working to break free "I was alone after the prison. I was running from a herd, trying to stay ahead of it. I fell and wasn't paying attention, I should've been paying attention.."

"Don't" she warned lightly and you gave her a watery smile before continuing "some guy grabbed me by the hair, shoved a gun in my face and announced well look what we got here boys" she connected the dots fairly easily "The claimers" her voice was low and you nodded "Daryl was with them. He spoke first said I was claimed?"

She gave you a questioning look so you shrugged "It was their rules. If one of them claimed something that was supposed to be the end of it but their leader Joe was bored apparently..." she squeezed your hand "you don't have to tell me if you aren't comfortable" you turned to face her "I can't keep it in my head any longer Carol" she nodded "Ok. I understand then"

You took another deep breath "He told Daryl to introduce me. Daryl asked him to just leave me be and I guess that pissed him off because then he told Daryl if I was claimed to claim me"

---------------

You hadn't realized you were crying until Carol pulled you over onto her "What did they do to you two?" She asked but you just shook your head. "I had to cross lines with her I never would've. Lines she'd never gave me permission to cross and lines that if we ever would've crossed shouldn't have been with eyes and guns on us" you heard and pulled back from Carol to see Daryl standing there, watching you with a worried expression.

Carol looked from you to him "Do you two want me here for this or do you need to do this alone?" You wiped your eyes and swallowed hard before finding your voice "Alone" she smiled and rubbed your arm "I'll be inside if you need me" she stood and patted Daryl's arm before heading inside.

"I'm sorry" he sounded so damn broken. "Daryl, you're not to blame" you'd wanted to tell him this for so long but the same day they'd found you they'd found Rick and Michonne. You and him were planning to leave but had to stay because a feeling had told you those sick fucks were after Rick.

-------------

You stood up and he took a step back to give room between the two of you. You crossed your arms, suddenly feeling a lot colder than the night "They didn't make you do everything at least" you wanted to offer comfort but his face twisted in disgust "They made me do enough. I should've fought them. I never should've been with them. I should've..." you cut him off "Yeah and if you would've fought them and they would've killed you? Then it would've them holding me down and taking turns on me!" You felt tears slid down your face as you faced him, weeks of frustration spilling over.

"I should've kept you safe" his voice was just above a whisper. "You did everything you could to keep me safe Daryl. Joe had a gun to your head. It was your lips on mine or his. Your hands on my breasts or his. Even then you shielded my body from their view as much as you could and I nodded that it was ok because that was how we could stay alive"

He shook his head "I still touched you without you wanting me like that. You should hate me. You got every right to" you reached out for his hand and he flinched slightly but didn't move away "Listen to me Daryl. I don't hate you, nor do i blame me. You kept me alive and you kept me out their hands. We saved Carl from getting raped by them. We killed them. You're just as much a victim as I am but I need you back. I've had you at my side for too long. I can't do this damn thing without you"

"I'd never hurt you for nothing" he spoke and it broke your heart hearing his voice crack. You nodded "I know Daryl" you used his hand you were still holding to pull him towards you and instead of resisting he let you pull him into a hug, fitting himself around you.

You buried your face in his chest, letting the emotions you'd been burying since the fall of the prison hit you fully. You felt moisture hitting your head and realized Daryl was crying but didn't say anything, he needed to get it out too.

After a while the two of you pulled back and you smiled up at him "I missed you" he half laughed "I missed you sweetheart"

"How did you manage that?" Rick asked Carol as the two of them watched you and Daryl walking towards the gate, bows thrown over your shoulders talking and laughing.

"They just needed a little help finding their way past the bad shit back to each other" she replied with a smile.

[grimespial]

Double The Daddies

Daryl Dixon x Single Dad!Male Reader

At first, I can imagine Daryl thinking one of the women were the mother, like people thought Shane was Carl's father

It wasn't until he actually noticed that it was just you two in the tent, I mean most single parents he knew were mothers with dead beat baby daddies, it was a bit of a suprise to him.

But of course, your kid is the one that decides everyone else are "scaredy-cats" and has practically imprinted on Daryl

Daryl at most said a few sentences total to them, doesn't matter how blunt the kid just won't get the hint

The more you had to go collect them or stand near Daryl to be close to them, the closer you and Daryl ended up getting.

If Merle was around he'd never hear the end of how soft he was, but something about this kid just knew how to tug at his heart

It became second nature to look for you in a room, moving closer when there was any danger,

He didn't even notice until Rick was looking for you and pointed out that Daryl tends to keep an eye on you two.

Daryl was honestly scared when he started feeling weird around you, he ended up brining it up to Carol before getting laughed at

He was not amused.

She told him it was called a crush, and that made it worse. What do you mean he had a crush? And to a man? This was all new so he avoided it

Which meant avoiding you and your kid

To say it hurt was an understatement, but your baby was hurt so much worse. They just couldn't understand why Daryl wasn't around anymore

You could push the feelings away when it was just you, but when they asked "Where's Dad Daryl?" it was enough.

It didn't help how they saw Daryl care for Judith, wondering why he didn't like them anymore.

You had to wait till your kid was asleep before confronting him, it was going to end up in a shouting match so hopefully they wouldn't hear it.

Shouting match was correct, what wasn't expected was it to be cut off by Daryl kissing you. He looked as shocked as you did, before you pulled him back in

What you forgot to warn Daryl about was he might accidentally be called dad, and that scared him.

How is he supposed to be a dad? He didnt exactly have a good example growing up. It was something to get used to for sure, but you always gave him the choice to talk and ask them to stop.

You really became a little family, a life without Daryl seemed impossible now.

When Daryl was out on runs he always looked for stuff for you and your kid, it helped that Carl enjoyed to share his comics, or as he said, "infect them with comics."

Your cell had a blanket covering the door, Daryl loved you, didn't hide or deny that he was yours, but he didn't want just anyone to see him so vulnerable.

Your kid, that was one of Daryl's favourite phrases now but you'd never hear it come from his mouth, but it was clear when his smile just slightly raised everytime it was said.

Your kid never left Daryl alone if they could stay together, somehow convincing him to carry them around on his hip or shoulders

If you'd told Daryl before the apocalypse he'd have his own little happy family, he'd have probably taken it as some sort of mockery.

And now he wouldn't change anything, even if it took the world ending to find his new world.

[thatflatenedfrogontheroad]

I made a tier list...

please make your own!! I need to see boomer nations opinions on our man!!!! I know the tiers are actually so vile so change them if you desire :)))

OK so my quick blurb on why they are their!! (working worst to best)

28. Identity Crisis #5 - HE WOULD KILL ME FOR THE FUN OF IT. It did bring about the most random rivalry between Tim drake’s fandom and boomer's which is very funny

27. Black Lantern - Oh no… he's back… like a boomerang. Ate his own son... RIP…. L skill issue

26. Sliver Age - Would actually call me a slur and say that I don't deserve rights. He would hate crime me and then solicit me for sex. He looks like he's wearing a dress… what a pretty lady.

25. Flash TV Show - EWWWWWWWW, he though he ate...

24. DC Online - He looks like he would punch me in face at a NYC bus stop

23. White Lantern - Don't look at me like that… stop. He's back from the dead like a boomerang?? Something about most of the New 52 boomerangs don't hit the same. the bride all in white :’)

22. Young Justice - Gave me the ick. You might be thinking... he looks identical to SS hell to pay, why is he down here?? Great question… HE WAS SO CREEPY TO ONE OF THE GIRLS IN YOUNG JUSTICE….. WHO IS A MINOR!

21. Injustice Movie - Just because your in the background… doesn't save you from this list!!!

20. New 52 - Ok he's kinda hot if you look through your peripherals…Why are you wearing skinny jeans… you millennial

19. Harley Quinn TV Show - He's fine… just fine. “We’ll stack out bingo… Boomer loves an older woman” NO HE MUST LOVE ME! I AM VERY VERY MATURE FOR MY AGE

18. Flash: Sins of the Father - Can you please stop talking in the 3rd person… you are starting to sound crazy.

17. Most Wanted - I know jack shit about him. That's probably because he is barely in a comic issues THATS NAMED AFTER HIM!

16. Flash Point Paradox - His fight scene actually ate. I'm a sucker for Boomer being with the Rogues. If cyborg can take his belt off… so can I

15. Suicide Squad 2021 - Wow they somehow gave him even less lines than his first movie. 1. He doesnt look like boomer. 2. His accent is so bad… and hes AUSTRALIAN 3. His acting low key kinda mid 4. They killed off two of the only OG suicide squad members they had on the cast 5. He dies in the first 20min and in the most disrespectful way

14. Suicide Squad 2016 - The only good thing to come from this man is the fanfiction he brought. THIS FUCKING MOVIE MADE HIM A CANON BRONY WHICH I CAN NOT FORGIVE. GET THIS OUT OF MY SMUT BEFORE FREAK THE FUCK OUT >:( Fuck him and pinky too, you son of a bitch!!!! (its not that serious lol... i just want him to stop fucking a toy horse... please guys)

13. This Goober Alien Guy - I know nothing. He just kinda showed up… and I'm not mad just a little confused. He looks like he needs a hot chocolate and a hug :)))) 

12. Lego Batman Movie - Low key an icon. What I would do to get my hands on one of these sets… I would come close to killing someone for it

11. DC Lego Super Villains - If he wasn't Lego I would propose (Shane Dawson style) Once again what I would do for the very discontinued Lego set tie in…

10. Batman: Brave and The Bold - Those cheekbones could cut someone. Why are you wear a mini skirt… take it off ;)

9. Suicide Squad (comic) - Yes I know he was drinking and driving but he's not real so it doesn't count!!! The beginning of the Boomer Mobile! THE GAP TOOTH DUDE!

8. Justice League Unlimited S1 - AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Ok the hairline is… bad…. But so is mine twin!! I LOVE THAT THEY GAVE HIM PROPER CLOTHES AND NOT RAGS DUDE

7. Agent of Oz - is this picture is my school profile pic...yes… and??HE'S COVERED IN BLOOD AND IM GIGGLING!!!!!!!!!!!

6. Stjepan Sejic's Boomer - Choke hold and choke me...  I want to hear his voice but he can't break his mewing streak…The ungodly things I would let him do to me

5. Dark: Apocalypse War - Constantine! Boomer! GIRLS! GIRLS!! ILL SLEEP WITH BOTH OF YOU!!! I was not expecting him in this movie so I started to freak out when he showed up DUDE. PLEASE LET ME SIT ON IT

4. Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay - I'm a ride he wouldn't survive… I DONT HAVE WORDS TO DECRIBE HOW I FEEL DUDE… I WOULD DO ANYTHING HE ASKED FOR NO JOKE. Dead on the floor

3. Justice League Unlimited S2 - The glow up in REAL... had me on my hands and knees as a 3rd grader… and still on my knees today. I have never wanted someone to fuck me in the back alleyway of a shit bar so bad in my life

2. Batman: Assault on Arkham - The one that started it all… he is the reason I am this way. no lube, no protection, all night, all day, from the kitchen floor to the toilet seat, from the dining table to the bedroom BUT GREG ELLIS IS PUBLIC ENIME NUMDER ONE. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID!!!!

AND THE BEST ONE!!!!!!!! WE ALL SAW IT COMING

1. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League - I AM GNAWING ON THE IRON BARS OF MY ENCLOSURE!!!!!! He has it all, the face, the VOICE, the look, the character!!!!! It is hands down the most consistently good representation of captain boomerang out their… and its canon that's he has a big dick :D I would sell my first born to get one night…

Thank you all for reading this word vom, I am sick in the head <3

if any of the comic issues are off or something please let me know :)

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make your our and tag me!! i need to see them <3<3<3

[hannahssimblr]

In the evening we bike to the shop to buy firelighters. Jen says she likes the idea of a bonfire while we eat our barbeque food, even though the only time one has even been lit at the beach house is when my dad did it, all the while ranting on about how he learned everything he knew about fire in the boy scouts, and how if I had an iota of discipline or self control I might have benefitted from them before the local pack expelled me for being a shithead.

He was right. I reluctantly accept it as Jen and I approach the materials for making fire. Nobody has ever told me about the difference between briquettes and coal, what firelighters actually look like and exactly where peat plays into all of this. I know nothing about how to do manly things, and only ever figured out how to pitch a tent after subtly watching Shane do it the first time he and I went camping in the woods. 

In contrast, my father has shot an actual gun. He and his brothers hunted deer, game and wild pigs in the hills around their family farmhouse in Redding California. As they loaded up their rifles and zipped up their jackets they would say things to me about how I’d be coming with them someday, as though was some sort of honour, something to strive for, but by the time I was big enough to kill pheasants I was already five thousand miles away drawing comics on printer paper. My soft hands were meant for art.

“You grab the firelighters,” I tell Jen, and take a swerve towards the magazine stand so that I can peruse something in my comfort zone. There’s a small selection of artsy magazines, and I flip one open. 

“Um, do you think we should buy gasoline or something?” She stands chewing on her lip. 

“Probably not, right? That seems dangerous.”

“Should we ask someone?” 

“What? No.” Embarrassing.

I pretend to be engrossed in an article so that I don’t have to help, but while I'm there, an ad catches my eye, “Hey,” I call out to Jen, “would you want to go to an exhibition this weekend?”

“What kind?”

“Art.”

“Yeah, what kind?”

I turn the page to her so that she can see it, “contemporary,” and her eyes narrow at the images of weird sculptures made of bits of scrap metal, canvases with random splatters of paint dripping off the bottom, colour bleeding onto the floor.

“Hm. See, that’s the kind of weird art I don’t get.”

“It’s not about the art specifically, it’s about us doing something fun together.”

“And that’s in Dublin?”

“Yes.”

She smirks in a self satisfied way, “You’re bored,” she stops a passing customer to ask him if he knows what firelighters are, and if so, what does the box look like.

He shows her, and while she’s picking up the last two packets I come to stand with her, not helping, because now I'm more interested in selling this new idea to her. “It’ll be fun! How nice would it be to have a change of scenery? Get back to the city where stuff is actually happening, maybe go to that ice cream place you like.”

I’m certain this will sway her, but she pulls a face, “There’s loads of ice cream here, and the only reason you think nothing is happening on the beach is because you’re deliberately not doing anything.”

“Is it so bad that I want to have a day out with you?”

“No, I suppose not, but...” She wrinkles her nose “Fine. I don't want to be cynical. Do you think I’m cynical?”

“Yeah a bit.” I pay for the firelighters. As we exit the shop into the lingering light of the evening I admit to her, “I’m trying to cheer myself up, I just think I should make the most of the time I have left.”

She laughs, “It sounds like you’re terminally ill. You’re moving. So what? I’ll still talk to you all the time.”

“Yeah but I really want to savour these last few weeks. Will you come to the gallery?” I grip her arm and pretend to die, letting my knees buckle under me to really sell it, “...before it’s too late?”

“God, yes, fucking hell,” she groans, “I’ll come. I’ll do whatever you want for the rest of the summer, right?”

I throw an arm around her, “Thanks Jen.”

“Yeah, manipulator.”

“Takes one to know one,” I say cheerily, and we unlock our bikes and head towards home.

Beginning // Prev // Next

[lily-alphonse]

Idk if you're still doing the rare pair challenge, but if you are could you do Emily and Shane. I saw a post about them, and now I'm curious about your thoughts

You might be referring to @fkapple 's comics, I LOVE them (I recommend checking them out if not)

I think if I was to write them they would be based off of that kind of dynamic. They are weirdo buddies and then maybe turn into something more when Shane gets his shit sorted.

A will-they-wont-they where they come close a couple times for various reasons. Maybe Shane comes on to her when he's drunk and she rejects him assuming he just doesn't know what he's doing. Shane is too ashamed to explain he DOES want something more with her, and just doesn't have the courage when he's sober.

Both are also worried about messing up their friendship because they make each other so happy and rely on each other. They make each other laugh more than anyone, too.

Emily is worried about it coming off as her taking on another project of a man, which her sister would roast her for. So she really wants Shane to be in a better place mentally before they get together.

They get closer and closer over time though and start to become each other's plus-ones to things where it's a little dubious, like the flower dance. They insist oh no no we're just friends, but they are the closest thing they have to a partner.

And it would continue even after Shane gets better, because they've been in denial so long there is a mile long list of excuses to not change anything. Some external factor would have to force them together.

Maybe Haley has enough of the will-they-wont-they and traps them somewhere until they talk to each other LOL I love that trope

This ask is a part of the (now closed) SDV Rarepair Challenge! Check out the other answers here, and make sure to boost your favorite so it can appear in the final fic poll! More info on that here.

[regaliasonata]

Ninja Storm Headcanons

@skyland2703 @eve6rangers @buster-loves-pr

(Some stem from the AU fic)

-Blake thrifts heavy, that man dresses to impress and would even go to lengths of joining online auctions.

-Tori has the strongest elemental output out of the team, while they are all strong her control over water is terrifying to the point of any deep feelings and willpower rooted together allow for her to make tsunamis or even a hurricane if she sees fit.

-Dustin might be a bit air headed but he’s really good and retaining information. Reading books can be exhausting but with his love for comics he’s gotten a very visual mindset and pretty much maps out every scene he reads, helps with studying a lot.

-Marah and Kapri are twins with Kapri being the older one.

-Hunter too likes to dress up a bit but the real reason why he never really showed off like Blake was cause most of his money was either spent on biking tools or saved up. He really prefers shoes and baggy clothing, also one of those people who actually uses a stylish watch when wearing it outside.

-Cam is loaded with money due to his dad, the Watanabe’s have investments all around the place through generational business and with Kanoi’s influence they’ve accumulated a lot of wealth. They live in a huge estate hidden away somewhat like the ninja schools, the team sometimes sneaks in due to the fact that there a bunch of rooms making it seem like a castle.

-Shane has a tendency of helping people but sometimes it tends to get him into trouble, years ago when he was around eight years old he stole medicine to help out a kid who had a sick mom and it got him in juvenile detention. Didn’t matter cause he was happy he could help, that kid was Cam(rip Miko).

-The team has a good taste in music, Blake enjoying a lot of R&B and Soul music, Hunter enjoying hip hop and rock, Dustin has a taste for a lot of upbeat music and Japanese city pop, Cam secretly likes pop, Tori has a mix of a lot of taste and Shane enjoys Lo-fi beats with high tempos. Their favorite artists is Nujabes.

-Shane tends to add style to his fighting by adding in chants or specific words with technique, he seems to find it bringing energy and more power into his element. He’s got a cool way of thinking within the world and the team started to pick up a few of these tendencies…they can’t make fun of him considering Hunter names some of this own techniques after specific gods of thunder.

-Best dancers on the team are Dustin and Hunter but everyone else has a really good rep as well…Hunter was taken aback when they went to a nightclub and Dustin got all close and personal when they started playing a bunch of huge beats.

-Cam broke the stock market and might’ve been responsible for the 2008 crash…

-Meeting up with other rangers is always pleasant, the yellow rangers before Dustin absolutely love him, Tori is surprised to have been the first female blue ranger in ages, Shane isn’t allowed to bring Hunter anymore due to him roasting and hating a lot of the old reds but he finds a way to sneak in. Blake pretty much judges some of the clothing of the other blues and Cam refuses to meet any green rangers but he will be down to hang out with RJ.

-They will jump the shit out of anyone who’s an asshole, anyone who’s homophobic, anyone who picks on Dustin and Cam, anyone who who’s basically causing some trouble. Like you don’t wanna catch any of their smoke🔥

-As teachers they made it mandatory for the students to watch ATLA, both cause the show is good but also the examples for lessons are top notch. It’s also how they found out that fire was an element some students could use.

-Dustin has a crush on Cole the Wild Force Red Ranger…Hunter is jealous.

-although ninja steel is another team that they somewhat acknowledge it anyone compares them to that team or tries to do a versus situation they will get very offended. In another universe where Ninja Steel was a good season they are a part of the Wave Academy and the Ninja Storm rangers love their company. Cam actually raised Levi.

[mahi-wayy]

𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒 | 𝑫𝑼𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑵 𝑩𝑹𝑶𝑶𝑲𝑺

• General • Romantic [only sfw]

A/n : should I drop the romantic?

I - GENERAL

heart and soul of the team. he is the one who keeps them together through thick and thin in and outside the suit.

very very sensitive towards his people.

he has adhd but we all know that. time blindness, can't stay still, difficulty with spatial awareness, either too energetic or lethargic, hyperfixations. I know bcz takes one to know one.

while he is very friendly and easy going to even strangers he prefers being with his people then spend time handling strangers. that's why he doesn't work two consecutive shifts for kelly whenever she asks for him to do one extra shift.

is the only one who is on good terms with his family and not has much issues with his big family. his dad did motocross in his teens and owns a garage right now, his mom used to work co operate but decided to be stay at home parent once his younger twin sisters were born.

a woman dominated household like, he has four sisters, one older than him a good six years, than the second one is four years older and then he has three years younger than him twin sisters. his grandma was a real strong personality of the family before her death, his aunts both from mother and father side are pretty and strong woman too.

he weirdly doesn't have even a cousin of his age, doesn't mind it to be honest.

met shane and tori on the same day but different incidents. for the eventual red wind ranger, he saw him alone at the skateboard park and decided to be friend him, for tori she was new student in the same school.

was the one who got to know about the ninja academy and dragged the two along with him.

he still feels awkward and just off around marah no matter how much he tries to be normal. she has apologised to him but something in him just won't let go even after he forgave her.

was made incharge, by sensei himself, of dragging cam out of ninja-ops so the techie doesn't actually forget the feel of sun or something.

saying no to him is either very hard or if you do manage to say no, it makes you feel guilty. eternally.

very protective of the team, the lions do love their pride, anyways he can be found curled up in the med bay around a injured team member until the person is all healthy.

he cannot maintain deep sleep for long, thank you adhd, he manages not more than four hours every night therefore he can be found napping a hour at max during the day.

another adhd thing is he has random knowledge.

while at first his short attention span, difficulty with instructions, impulsivity, time blindness etc affected the team both him and others learnt to work around it. cam also dragged his ass to a doctor and got him some meds for his own good.

worst anger out of the bunch but it's rarely seen.

if a upset dustin is a kicked puppy, a angry dustin is a lion who's mane was ruffled the wrong way and that too without permission.

his element is also like the worst thing to be out of control which happens quite easily when he is angry. usually he has a good grip of how much of his emotions flow into his control of the earth element but his anger, so rare and always genuine and unfiltered makes it snap. it results in earthquakes, trees/forests uprooted, ground cracking, mines or caves collapsing, landslides etc etc.

takes a while to calm him down. either he eliminates whatever pissed him off or his team manages to tame him down a few notch.

doesn't enjoy yelling and arguments but if he is shouting or arguing then the topic or the person it concerns means a lot to him.

till date yet to have a serious argument with anyone in the team, even if he lightly snaps at one of them for something he relazises it quick and apologises.

he has a very good visual memory, if he remembers scenes and events vividly, thank you comic books, also can imagine what a opponent might pull and act accordingly if his adhd reaction time isn't being a bitch.

very trusting we all know.

he is just a sweet boy trying his best okay.

II - ROMANTIC

he is painfully and adorably obvious and too shy and anxious to make the first move.

tries his best to not let his overly chaotic life sabotage the relationship he has.

tells random stories and facts.

will let slip about the ranger part if the relationship goes long and he starts feeling comfortable.

makes sure the bad party doesn't find about his partner.

his kiss is either all consuming or all surrendering, mostly the second one because well he is in love.

sleeps a koala curled around his partner.

---

tags : @skyland2703 @ninjastormz @junglefurytrash @junglekarmapippa @atomic-bobo @anyavaramyr @chanti-leaving @skyland2703 @augment-techs @regaliasonata taglist is only for power rangers content. so let me know if you wanna be added or removed.

[arsenicalikat]

TOWL - Finale reactions and Holy Shit.

I'm pretty sure we started out with Rick thinking, Fuck, I'm going to have to kill Pearl.

It was way too easy for Michonne to break in. Like way too easy.

Beale, not really a citizen? That's a strange way to put it. They only kill for food or compulsion. Right? What does that mean? Is that a question? Beale sharing his time with Rick, sharing the weight? What the fuck does that mean?

Of course, it was in the cat. Just for Michonne.

But also, all those pictures of Gabe- it kind of sweet in a it didn't have to be that way kind of way.

Lol, Michonne Bodied that soldier.

Beale making Rick take his prosthetic off means he doesn't know how Rick will react. I wonder if someone else reacted poorly to the briefing. And his talking about killing Claimer Joe is wild.

"THe soldier in question has never been someone like you." Hmmmmmmmmm??? What does that mean? Does he want Rick as his successor?

How old is Beale? He went to Nam, twice?

Ummmmm, the teddy? like the first episode? But also shows how brutal the CRM is. Like they are moving stuff and droped a stuffed animal. It makes you wonder how they got it? Why?

Child evacuation protocol? 14 years? 1,000,000 strong hordes? Evolution of the virus? He thinks they are saving humanity. He thinks they are the ones who beat the odds.

He sacrificed Philly to save PA. Such a hardship; it's not like they could fight and save them all.

(I'm only a little sarcastic.)

Only 10% of children saved? What the fuck?

He admitted to Omaha and Campus Colony. Wow.

So, they want to take over the CRP. They want to take over the world.

The walkie going off during the meeting was kind of great. Her walking out of the meeting can be so bad.

He wants Rick as the leader. I felt like that might be coming.

Is Rick really thinking about Killing Beale in his office? That is such a bad idea. I love that Beale took the gun and the prosthetic but not his knife.

Is Beale trying to get Rick to bring in Alexandria? You know that shit isn't real.

Swear on the sword... Holy shit! You know, I don't think Rick has ever not taken a beating in a fight until now. That was the hottest freaking Rick kill ever. My god, I want to watch that over and over.

Please don't have to kill that man in the elevator. You can't leave a trail of bodies that lead to you. Bro, a blood pool? an actual trail...

I love how they came to the same decision at the same time.

ah, shit, he saw the blood. Rick always gets the shit kicked out of him before he wins. That was brutal as fuck.

"Is this yours?" "What's in it?" lol, a body.

Is Pearl going to be the big bad in the next season- I really want a next season, like so bad.

This is the shit we do.

Why the fuck did he leave his hand behind? That is such a good weapon/tool. I mean, that sets up for the comic hook hand, but man, I really liked that hand.

The balls on them to do that surrounded by all those soldiers. Holy hell. They should be pissing their selves.

It took Pearl forever to realize who Dana/Michonne was. Like, she was supposed to be smart.

But using Beale and that soldier to pull the pins? That is freaking smart. Then Pearl coming in at the absolute wrong moment is freaking wild. She just fucked herself, there is no way Michonne will let her live.

The hand-holding was sweet, though.

How the fuck did Thorne live through that?? Is he going to kill her? Like actually? Is it like Shane all over again? He has to kill her like he has to. Fuck her up, Michonne!

LOVE DOESN'T DIE.

Get that man a gas mask, please.

They took it to the CRC/CRP. They took down the CRM. Free movement established. It's done.

Awwww! Omg! It's their babies. It's Judith. It's RJ. Rick sees his baby! "I knew it, Dad." Awwwwww.

"You're the brave man?" I lowkey hated that. "You can call me dad." Awwwww.

Believe a little longer.

[nebulapo]

Some headcannons i have of shane that i might mention in my comic

I already mentioned this but he has a slight southern accent, nothing too crazy or strong.

Shane is actually a good cook, he cooks for jas when marnie is busy sometimes and for some reason knows a lot of recipes, hes just WAYY too lazy to cook most of the time so 90% of the time he just goes for simple frozen meals for himself.

This isnt really a headcanon since im pr sure its canon? But i dont think its ever been mentioned in game (unless im wrong), but shane is vegan and doesnt eat meat products ESPECIALLY chicken.

Shane has a bunch of old band tee’s he used to wear during his teenage years, most dont really fit him anymore but he still doesnt get rid of them, maybe sometimes when hes too lazy to do laundry he wears them. (I say this bc of emily’s heart event, that man definitely listens to dadrock)

He has a bunch of scars on his arms and legs from chickens pecking him or their claws, he also is most of the time covered in chicken feathers, he has feathers in his hair, his sweater, his pockets. No matter what he does to get rid of them theyre always there.

He owns ANYTHING chicken, chicken plushies, chicken keychains, stickers, shirts ANYTHING. As long as it has a cute chicken on it he wont hesitate to buy it.

I probably have more but these are ones i think about a lot.

[vo-kopen]

A counter proposal to the “Shane of Watcher is a demon and so all the ghosts hide from him” “theory.”

So in DC comics (I am far from an expert on dc so this might get vague) there is a character known as Dr Thirteen. Originally he was in his own setting but got folded into the wider dc universe. The issue with that is he is the biggest skeptic possible, and he does not believe magic or ghosts are real. And sudden he believed that while living in a reality where Zatanna and Deadman exist.

To explain how he continues to dismiss the supernatural, it was dc canon that he so firmly believes everything has a simple and logical explanation that REALITY ITSELF IS WARPED BY HIS SKEPTICISM so that any ghost supernatural element he encounters is changed by his presence into something mundane.

Now, I don’t believe ghosts are a thing, but I do find the idea that Shane’s skeptical presence turns every haunted location they visit into a normal building funny. All of Ryan’s techniques should work, but Shane turns all the ghosts into stuff like carbon monoxide.

Tagging @espanolbot2 as I believe you know of Watcher and you know DC lore well, just in case I summarized Traci’s dad wrong.

[candle-lamp]

Rereading SBG and writing what I notice: Episode 21-30:

- Logan tearing up while the phantom grabs Ashlyn

- phantom taking a knee to the face dang

- how heavy are the phantoms bc Aiden was able to fully lift one over himself, either they’re really light or he’s stronger than I thought

- if that phantom had better aim Logan would be very dead

- Tyler checking on Logan

- Ashlyn actually managed to calm Logan down

- Taylor catching Logan before he fell

- Taylor suggesting they experiment with the body

- the phantoms’ bodies being goop raises some interesting questions about what they actually are

- Taylor asking if Logan is okay

- when exposed to light, the phantom gained several eyes that look much more human than their normal ones

- who’s jacket is Logan wearing?

- everyone wanted to go to Savannah and never thought about transportation (average teenager thought process lol)

- Ashlyn is really short compared to the others, which makes sense for dance

- goofy phantom climbing barbed wire

- Taylor telling Ben it was a good idea

- wonder how much Aiden’s allowance is?

- Ashlyn used Aiden’s knife to cut her hair

- Aiden’s parents were gone for months????

- Tyler said he was wondering where Logan was

- Aiden calling Ben “bud”

- Taylor keeping a hand on Logan’s shoulder (she seems to do that a lot when comforting people)

- Tyler calling Aiden “psycho” and Ben “big guy”

- Mr. Thomas noticing Ashlyn’s shadow

- Ashlyn telling Aiden to let go of her hair or she’ll break his arm (I believe her)

- when Aiden tells them not to share Ben’s past, it’s the first time we see him get serious

- we learn the name of the kid who hurt Ben (Shane), I wonder if he’s gonna show up later in the comic?

- I totally forgot Ben’s house got attacked holy crap

- based on h the e timeline Aiden gives I think Ben’s been living with them for 2-3 years? might be wrong

- Aiden calls Ben “bud” again

- Ashlyn completely set aside her food

- Ben blushing when Taylor thanks him

- they live in Alto, Georgia

- those first nights in the shadow dimension must have been terrifying holy crap

- Aiden being so bored by the theories that he slams his head into the table

- Tyler was fully ready to smack him lol

- Aiden was the one to suggest showing Ashlyn's shadow, he was also the one to originally point out the shadow in Logan’s photo

- Logan and his scooter, the twins only have one bike with them, did one walk or did they squeeze on to it?

- Tyler "could you walk any slower?" Aiden "yeah"

- Ashlyn's parents try so hard I love them

- the twins, Logan, and Ben sitting on one couch and Ashlyn and Aiden on the other

- everyone (rightly) disgusted by Aiden’s chewing

- Ashlyn's parents get tense when they say Logan is being bullied, they were also worried that Aiden was bullying Ashlyn, was Ashlyn bullied before or do they just take bullying really seriously?

- Logan got screwed over when they were originally going to the graveyard, at least everyone else was in a group (the twins, and Ashlyn could easily join Aiden and Ben) maybe he lives close to the twins? bro is lucky to be alive

- Logan’s rifle is Ashlyn’s dad's

- most of the gang's weapons make sense but where did the flail come from? hello? screw character backstories I wanna learn about the flail

- first phantom in the human world is freaky as crap

- younger Ashlyn is so real

- Logan’s grandmother being much more suspicious of Ashlyn’s parents, I wonder how his grandparents reacted to learning he was being bullied (assuming they didn't know)

- month time skip for the training arc

- Ashlyn's mom fully bodying Ben is amazing, also Aiden clapping in the background

- Logan is often depicted with tears when panicked or relieved

- Logan silently dying when Ashlyn’s dad chokes him

- Ashlyn hears the dude spying on them

- Aiden buying everyone the matching suits for fun

[theambivalentagender]

Hey hey 👋

May I ask for that OC x Canon ask game 3, 7 and 10 for Shane and Zeke please?

Have a good day ❤️

Lord help me this got way too long. If only I could write this many words every day in my original novels.

Who is the better cook?

It depends. Zeke hasn't been able to cook much for themselves or others in the game, except for the pepper poppers, since all they have to work with is a microwave in their crappy farmhouse. And before the farm they mostly relied on fast food and other instameals. But it's gonna turn out that they're a really good improvisational cook. They love making soups and pastas and any time of food that involves throwing a bunch of things in a pot. Recipes requiring exact amounts frustrate the hell out of them.

Shane has....canonically poor cooking skills in some areas. But in my headcanon/VE canon he's one of those types who has a couple recipes in his head that are, for some reason, fantastic because he makes them. Man can't cook scrambled eggs but somehow picked up a whole beef wellington thing after seeing someone make it on TV once. He seems particularly good at making things that involve a lot of doing a few things and letting them sit for a bit while he does something else.

Of course it's hard for him to believe *any* of his cooking is good so he's surprised when people specifically request his stuff.

What are their love languages?

I think I've pretty strongly established Zeke's giving love language is physical affection. It's hard for Zeke to give or receive physical affection with most people but once they're with someone romantically it's like they feel comfortable enough to have "permission" to be affectionate that way so they're all over that.

Receiving for Zeke would be acts of service, even if they wouldn't want to admit it. They're stressed the hell out and often overwhelmed and having someone else care enough to help out means a lot to them. But they also feel bad feeling that way because they don't want to burden others.

Lucky for both of them Shane's giving love language is acts of service. Which I think works in canon since his letters early on to you are about sending you food and recipes. The main reason he breeds the blue chickens is because he wants to provide for Jas's future in some way. He just wants to feel like he's helping somehow.

(I also think he might secondarily have a giving love language of Words of Affirmation, or at least he wants to. He just struggles with verbally expressing himself, so acts of service is easier for him to actually do)

Receiving wise he's all about quality time. He's like a cat - doesn't say much to you, but always happens to wander into the same room you're in. Happy to hang out just to be around another human being instead of by himself stewing in his own thoughts. Once they're married my thought is that his favorite thing to do in the morning is walk out on the porch and watch Zeke cursing up a storm while they're doing morning work.

How do they bring out the best in each other?

There's a whole theme I have with their relationship in the comic that's about wanting and being wanted. Zeke was a bold kid who ended up having a traumatic, abusive childhood that essentially drove in the message that them wanting things was wrong, the things they wanted were always wrong, and they just had to have life happen around them without interfering because otherwise things would go horribly wrong.

They never initiated relationships before, and pretty much always accepted someone asking them on a date at least once because to them it was the only chance they had at anything romantic. I haven't gone too much into it in the comic yet but before they went to the farm they were kinda stuck in a relationship with a guy who was, by all technical definitions, a great guy. Squeaky clean, generally attractive, well educated, overall nice and respectful. But Zeke never actually felt any attraction or attachment to them. But still they stayed because, again, Zeke felt they were the one in the wrong to want something else.

Shane is the opposite in most ways, with not feeling wanted. In VE, he lost his mom before he could even form real memories of her. Marnie was supposed to be the one who adopted him but shit happened that I'll elaborate on at some point in the comic and instead Shane grew up bouncing around in the foster system with visits to his aunt in the spring/summer. His foster families either completely ignored him or were overbearing/controlling, and he quickly learned how to get sent back from the second type as fast as possible by acting out. As a kid he didn't know the complexities of the situation so he grew up often thinking Marnie didn't want him either. That thinking only really started to change after the incident where Zeke and Shane got lost in the woods as kids, but that mentality isn't easy to unlearn.

As a teenager/young adult he liked to date around and sleep around casually. When he did occasionally get in a longer term relationship, he'd often end up trying to change himself to their preferences, because he figured no one would actually want to be with the real "him" in the long term. Naturally, this always backfired eventually.

After the death of Jas's parents, Shane gave up on dating entirely. He also gave up entirely on this idea of presenting someone he wasn't to the outside world. He didn't have the energy to try and make himself appealing to other people all the time, he had to put all that to taking care of Jas. And if nobody wanted him for that, then fine.

So to the point of the original question, the best they bring out in each other is Zeke realizing that their wants are good and valid, and Shane realizing he is wanted for who he is. Not even just in a strictly romantic sense either: Shane has talked about admiring Zeke for being able to go after what they want in life, consequences be damned. And Zeke likewise sees the positive things in Shane as he is that he's never seen in himself - his thoughtfulness and determination to take even small steps forward.

[redgoldsparks]

April reading and reviews by Maia Kobabe

I post my reviews throughout the month on Storygraph and Goodreads, and do roundups here and on patreon.

Yolkai Cats vol 1 by Pandania

Quick, fast, silly short comics about cats who share characteristics with Japanese Yokai ghosts. I was particularly charmed by the cat with the extremely long extendable neck and the cat that grew to the size of a wall and blocked roads. Goofy and sweet! 

Dekoboko Sugar Days, vol 1, by Atsuko Yusen

Yuujirou rescued Rui from a childhood scrape, and they've been friends ever since. Also, Yuujirou has nursed a crush all the way into high school... and is dismayed that cute, kind-hearted Rui grew a whole head taller than him! It's extremely obvious that the feelings are returned, but it takes a couple chapters for these two to get their shit together and confess. Silly and sweet. 

Dekoboko Bittersweet Days, vol 2, by Atsuko Yusen

Boyfriends Yuujirou and Rui are reaching the end of high school. Yuujirou is ready to commit to living together and to coming out to their families-- but Rui wants to chase his career dreams by studying abroad. A more serious story than the first about a couple facing their first really big challenge. Also spicier than book one! 

The Freeze-Frame Revolution by Peter Watts

In the far future, a spaceship built on earth travels through distant reaches of our galaxy building a serious of wormhole gates for the hypothetical use of humans who will come after them. Except the ship as been traveling for hundreds of thousands of years and no one has ever come out through the gates. The lives of the 30,000 humans on board are artificially extended because they spend the majority of their time cryogenically frozen, with only brief times spent awake to help out when the ship runs into a problem that the onboard AI can't handle. The ship is also riddled with strange little mysteries: a hidden valley of data crystals; gardens of mutant modified plants; graffiti on the walls in which people leave messages for others who might not wake up and see them for hundreds of years. Amidst all of this, some of the ship's crew want to rebel, tired of their endless missions. But how can they rise up when they spent nearly all their time asleep? I loved the premise of this novella, and enjoyed the ship setting, but found the character development rather thin. If I had really loved any of the characters the twist at the end would have hit a lot harder.

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams read by Mela Lee

I'm not much of a romance reader, but the premise of this one drew me in. The romantic leads, Eva and Shane, are both writers, and more than that, they've both been writing books about each other since an emotionally charged and brief relationship in their teen years ended in tragedy. Though both of their stars have been rising in the literary world, they've been avoiding any direct encounters. As adults, Eva is a single mom raising a smart, creative daughter in Brooklyn on the proceeds of her erotic supernatural romance series. Shane, two years sober, has started teaching and mentoring unprivileged youth in whom he sees himself. When they meet unexpectedly at a literary event, sparks fly. Their connection seems as immediate and overwhelming now as it did when they were young, but are either of them ready to try again? Can their romance fit into their real, adult lives? Eva has chronic pain, an invisibly disability she has struggled with her whole life, and I really appreciated that as an element of her character. Like many romances, most of the setting in this book are lush, glamorous and give scenes a heightened sense of reality. I had to suspect my disbelief about some things, but I enjoyed the book a lot. 

A Hidden Magic by Vivian Vande Velde

I've had this book on my shelf for ages, picked up at a used bookstore because of fond memories of other Velde books (Dragon's Bait and Heir Apparent made a big impression on me as a pre-teen). Unfortunately, I think I waited too long to read this, as it's a bit too simplistic for my tastes as an adult reader. It's a very short fairy-tale like story about a princess, Jennifer, who is fairly average in every way, who has to rescue a handsome but stupid prince from a curse. Jennifer and a sorcerer named Norman talk their way out of trouble with a witch, a giant, a dragon, an evil fairy and a jinni. The somewhat predicable story is enlivened by gorgeous line art illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman. 

Nonbinary Memoirs of Gender and Identity edited by Micah Rajunov and Scott Duane

A nuanced collection of essays from many different perspectives of folks whose gender doesn't fit into the binary. More than thirty contributors' pieces are arranged into five sections, themes around "What is Gender?", "Visibility", "Community", "Trans Enough", and "Redefining Dualities." This book came out in 2019, the same year as my book, and it's interesting to think about how much has changed since then.

Nine Liars written by Maureen Johnson read by Kate Rudd

This series continues to delight! This one follows Stevie and her friends thought the fall of their senior year. They're all thinking about colleges- where to go, how many to apply to. Well, Stevie's friends are thinking about college. Stevie is thinking about how much she'd like to see her boyfriend, currently studying in England, and how much she wants another real murder case. Then David proposes a study abroad trip over Thanksgiving break and Stevie gets both of her wishes. I thought the motive of the murder in this one was less convincing and less clever than most of the previous books, but I honestly didn't care because I was having such a good time watch Stevie crack it (and blunder through very realistic conflicts with her peers). These are some of the best YA mysteries around, and I'm so glad there are more to come! 

Ajo y El Vampiro by Bree Paulsen

¡Leí este cómic en español para practicar y lo disfruté mucho! Una historia simple pero linda.

Family Style by Thien Pham

Thien Pham traces his life from a refugee boat leaving Vietnam to a refugee camp to San Jose, California, anchoring memories around specific meals. Each memory is rich with sensory details- the saltiness of fish, the sweetness of rice, the novelty of school lunches in a new country- and build a narrative of a family surviving steep odds. The art is simple but effective, and the story is well-paced and moving. I had the pleasure of picking up an ARC of this memoir at the American Booksellers Association winter institute and enjoyed it so much.

A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner read by Steve West

Sophos, the heir of Sounis, viewed with contempt by his father and a long series of tutors, was exiled to an island with his mother, sisters, and a small household of servants. He spent his time mostly reading poetry and wishing for someone to relieve him of his inherited responsibilities. Unfortunately, what comes instead is a troupe of attackers who kidnap Sophos, disguise him as a slave, and burn the manor house. Not sure if his mother and sisters survive, Sophos is taken back to the continent, where he is sure a rebellion of Barons waging civil war against his uncle, the king, mean him great harm. Sophos manages to escape and hide himself away among the indentured laborers in a great house, right under the nose of a Baron who might have hand in his kidnapping. From there, Sophos must make a decision: live safely in obscurity; or reveal himself and risk his life and the lives of his family? From this lowly position, is there any way Sophos can re-take his country? I picked this series back up after a 5 year gap since reading the first three. I had definitely forgotten some important information; for example, the fact that Sophos was a major character in book 1. This somewhat lessened the impact of some of the political machinations, but I still really enjoyed my return to this world and plan to finish out the series now.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

This is a story about complicated friendships and creative partnerships, the kind of deep intertwining of lives that an outsider might easy mistake for romantic or sexual but is in fact something closer to a platonic soulmate situation. It's semi-nonlinear, and covers much of the life of Sam Masur and Sadie Green from their meeting in a children's hospital in the late 1980s into their mid-30s and careers. Sam and Sadie become best friends through a chance meeting, and bonded over a shared love video games. A childhood grievance breaks their friendship, and they do not speak for many years until reconnecting in Massachusetts where Sadie is studying game design at MIT, and Sam mathematics at Harvard. Sam throws out a wild idea: in the summer break before their senior years, they should build a computer game together. So begins a tumultuous collaboration that absolutely delighted me, as did the epistolary elements, the mid-book shift into second person narration, and the stories within the story. What did not delight me was the abusive boyfriend who takes up a lot of space in the first 1/3 of the story. If student/teacher relationships and their accompanying unfair power dynamics, marital infidelity, or brief descriptions of physical abuse are a no-go, this book may not be for you. However, when this character mostly exited the narrative I began to enjoy it more and more and I can see why so many people added it to their favorite books of the year lists last year.

[augment-techs]

Wondering what gay rare pairings do you have for PR, wanted to see if there was some I had in common👀?

Might write some one shots of them!

Oh what a lovely jar of worms to open up. As far as I'm concerned ALL of the PR characters are queer, but let's see what I can actually put down that has standing in any capacity.

MMPR/Boom! Comics/Shattered Grid/Beyond the Grid (they overlap so much):

Billy Cranston/Eugene "Skull" Skullovitch Jason Scott/Farkas "Bulk" Bulkmeier Kimberly Hart/Aisha Campbell Tommy Oliver/Jason Scott Violet Arias/Zack Taylor/Jason Scott/Trini Stone Canyon OT3 Kiya/Trini Matt Cook/Skull/Billy (in that order) Bulk/Skull/Tommy (I have a friend whose fault this is) David Trueheart/Stan Skullovitch (same friend) Daniel O'Halloran/Trek Daniel O'Halloran/Terona Washington Jamie Gilmore/Nikolai Chukarin 1969 Rangers OT5 Grace Sterling/Andrea Virgil | Red Psycho Ranger/Photon | Black Psycho Ranger Nokrea | Pink Psycho Ranger/Yellow Psycho Ranger Andros/T.J. Johnson Andros/Zhane Dhaza/Maavi Remi/Ari Goldar/Scorpina Lord Drakkon & Omega Jason Scott (platonic) Lord Drakkon & Red Sentry Skull (sexual) Black Sentry Adam Park/Scorpina Scorpina/Coinless Trini Black Sentry Adam/Red Sentry Skull (they need someone in hell) Coinless Zack/Coinless Trini/Coinless Bulk Ranger Slayer Kimberly/Coinless Bulk Heckyl & Cam & Kim (platonic friends) T.J. Johnson & Kelsey Winslow & Karone & Mia Watanabe & Conner McKnight (background rangers UNITE as platonic babies) J.J. Oliver/Anara Turbo/In Space: Andros/Zhane Cassie/Ashley Rangers OT6 Psycho Rangers OT5 Lost Galaxy: Maya & Bulk (platonic, platonic, platonic--I just like the idea of her having a friend who isn't a ranger) Damon/Leo Lightspeed Rescue: Chad/Joel Kelsey/Dana Chad/Marina Carter/Ryan (queer-platonic) Time Force: Eric/Wes/Jen Eric & Trip (opening up that circle of friends for Mr. Grumpy) Katie/Nadira Wild Force: N/A Ninja Storm: Dustin/Shane/Tori/Cam Tori/Kapri Marah/Dustin Dino Thunder: Kira/Ethan/Conner Cassidy/Trent/Devin Elsa/Hayley SPD: Kat/Doggie (no, I DO NOT care about the wife) A Squad OT5 B Squad OT5 Jack/Sky Z/Sky Mystic Force: Leelee/Clare Leelee/Clare/Phineas Xander/Chip/Vida Operation Overdrive: N/A Jungle Fury: R.J./Fran Fran/Lily/Camille Jarrod & Casey (good for trauma healing) RPM: Ziggy/Dillon Summer/Scott/Flynn OT5 Gem/Dr. K/Gemma Samurai: Lauren/Mia/Emily Antonio/Jayden Mike/Kevin Spike Skullovitch & Rangers (friend, friend, friend, pleeeease; I don't want them fucking him and he's too good for them) Megaforce: Emma/Jake (another friend got me into this, even though I have never watched anything from this series except for the Big Showdown) Dino Charge: Koda/Ivan/Heckyl Ninja Steel: Calvin/Preston Victor/Monty Hyperforce: N/A Beast Morphers: Betty/Devon

Dino/Cosmic Fury: Javi/Amelia Ollie/Aiyon Izzy/Fern Zayto/Ollie/Aiyon Once & Always: Billy/Skull & Zack Rocky/Adam/Aisha TomKat

[hannahssimblr]

Chapter One

2010

The rain is thunderous on midsummer’s day. It comes down in sheets, whipping against the side of the car as we crawl down a narrow, coastal road that opens out onto the Irish sea. Still, despite the weather there are parked cars snaking along on both sides of us, two wheels up on the footpath as drenched holiday makers weave around them, clinging to sunglasses and straw hats as they retreat from the beach.

It is one of those summer days that feels utterly wintry. The sky became dark suddenly, big black clouds engulfing blue, and a fierce wind whipped through the dunes, tossing sand in the faces of those who had yet to escape back to their cars and caravans. It feels apocalyptic in a comical sort of way; Mothers seizing small children out of sand and seawater motes they’ve spent the morning digging, surrendering teal striped windbreakers, beach towels and sarongs to the gail. Plastic spades and buckets abandoned and overflowing with rainwater. 

I feel scammed by this. Kelly had gone on and on about how the weather in the south east was nicer than anywhere else in the country. She actually used the word “microclimate” at least twice while trying to convince Claire and I to spend our summer in her familys’ mobile home, but I’m irked as I look out the back seat window at the dire sights in this resort town. The freak storm had only started when we were mere minutes from the strand and it instantly felt like our holiday had been jinxed.

Kelly’s older brother Shane laughs uproariously as he drives his Fiat Punto through a huge puddle right by a queue of holiday makers somehow desperate enough to hold their place outside the local cafe. They cry out in indignation as a wave of rainwater sloshes over them. 

Kelly, in the passenger seat, thumps him. “That’s embarrassing when you do that” 

“That’s embarrassing when you do that” he mimics, in the way that an eight year old child would.

She scoffs. “A bit of self control wouldn’t go astray, the only person who thinks that’s funny is you.” 

“It’s funny.” He confirms. “More embarrassing to me that people would be that desperate for a cappuccino.”

I don’t have siblings, but watching Kelly and Shane, I imagine it must be liberating to have an outlet for your frustration like that. I sometimes feel like I have an unusual amount of anger swirling inside my body. Recently, after seeing an open window on the third floor locker room at school, I asked Claire if it’s normal to fantasise shoving one of the girls who bullied me in second year out of it, and she said that it wasn’t, which honestly surprised me. I really did think that everybody had violent fantasies from time to time. The window one isn’t even really my worst one. 

When I visited the Healys’ house when I was smaller I used to find the way that Kelly and Shane interacted with each other overwhelming. He’d yank on her ponytail hard if she held on to the remote control for ten seconds longer than they’d agreed, and then she’d kick him in the shins with her stiff patent school shoes on and they’d both shriek and claw at each other while I sat watching, frozen in shock on the couch behind them. Things like this never happened in my home. It was just me reading or playing quietly while my parents watched TV.

When we were eight and Shane was nine, I witnessed him accidentally elbow Kelly directly in the eye socket when she tried to grab his Playstation controller out of his hands. I don’t remember why she wanted it, but I still remember her wails. She had a black eye for three weeks, and I don’t think that Shane ever said that he was sorry. I was nervous around him for a while after that.

I feel now that a black eye or two might have done me some good in my life. Knowing Kelly today, she’s aspirational for how she never holds anger inside or bottles up her emotions like I do. When something bothers her she just says it. I wish I could be like that, but I’m cursed with shyness and a terror of taking up too much space. Kelly and I have fought so many times during our long friendship, and yet the confrontation never seems to get easier for me. I feel it like a rock in my stomach, a dizzy nausea and a thumping heart when I know she’s getting ready to confront me. I always end up taking the blame and apologising to her, then spend weeks furious at her and at myself for not speaking up. Kelly doesn’t think like that. When I say I’m fine she believes me, and when I tell her she’s right she agrees. I imagine that to live inside her head is a blissful, anxiety free paradise. 

“Do you have the keys to the front door?” Kelly asks her brother as we clamber out of the Punto. The grass under the wheels is so sodden with rain that I can feel the tires sinking into it already, and as soon as my feet touch the ground, they’re swallowed by it too. 

“Ah,” I hear Claire exclaim from the other side of the car. “That’s my flip flop gone now. Shane, will you bring my suitcase inside for me? I need to fish my sandal out of the muck” To my great surprise, he actually does it, and makes a big show of carrying as many bags as he can manage, making sure to check if she’s looking at him doing it. Casual. Claire is oblivious to him anyway, she’s used to boys just doing what she asks but I’m amazed that Shane is going along with it too. For as long as I’ve known him he’s been as nasty to Kelly’s friends as he is to her. All of us an extension of his little sister, and each one as annoying and stupid as the last. It feels like only last week that he sabotaged our back garden camping trip by firing stones down at us from the treehouse.  

There is less history with Claire though, we’ve only been hanging out with her for about a year and a half. She’s a good person, casual, easy going, and her mother pays for her to get highlights in her hair and use makeup from the expensive department stores, so she always looks exactly the way that she wants to look – perfectly effortlessly beautiful. Everyone loves her too. She’s the genuinely kind and generous type. Finding her among a sea of hormonal teenagers in our all girls catholic school was like a miracle, there was never any drama, she never wanted to gossip or speak badly about anybody else. She’s blessed with pure content and happiness.

I lag behind as Kelly and Claire scurry into the mobile home as I try to wipe the mud from my runners. They’re laughing together and trying to shield their hair from the rain, and when I see them together like that I feel a pang of jealousy. I had been both of their friends first, and lately it feels like they’re closer to each other than they are to me. I have to take my shoes off at the door and leave them out on the deck. Maybe the rain will clean them. This summer is going to be great. I tell myself. I am going to be confident and have fun. It’s become like a mantra to me now. Perhaps if I can convince myself that nothing will go wrong on this holiday then I’ll manifest positivity.

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