#my biological grandmothers were both horrible people

[destinationtoast]

My grandmother sent me this endearing text check-in this morning

I'm sick and my grandmother just said she'd bring by "a fruit or two" and then showed up with these plus four grocery bags (tea, milk, juice, tea, yogurt drink, tissues, tea, oatmeal, some very fancy cheese, tea, plus three creme brulees???) 😭😭😭

[73chn1c0l0rr3v3l]

if you're willing to share, i'd love to hear your thoughts on adoption/found family/people being weird about it. the way things ended up in that episode felt kind of off to me and i'm still trying to put my finger on why.

I'm writing this with a headache, so please forgive if it is a bit meandering.

I'm also going to state up front I am not talking about the adoption industry & all of the shitty stuff involved in that - I'm talking about my own experiences as an adoptee.

First things first: people are Weird about adoption. There's this assumption that people are default genetically related to their family unless stated otherwise, there's the assumption that people will want to be connected to their blood family, there's this assumption that biological family is always the best answer. I think a lot of people have a lot of default assumptions about what family IS & what it means, & they get uncomfortable if you question them.

There are 2 adoption narratives - either your adopted family is horrible & you find your biological family & stuff is Better, or you leave your horrible biological family to get adopted into a family that is Better. There's nothing for "i won't ever have access to the biological family, & I don't entirely relate to my adopted family either," or "my biological family loves me but I can't be in their lives because our values are too different but I don't actually like my adopted family but they're who I grew up with" or even the very succinct "they both suck, okay?" There's a huge variety of experience, & I feel like a lot of the nuance gets lost on people who don't relate for whatever reason.

It's one reason the Timeless Child resonated with me so hard? Because yeah, sometimes you don't know who you might have been & you mourn it, but you can't be anyone but the society that raised you. On a more personal level... well, Tecteun very intensely reminded me of my mother, & I was rewatching Flux (including That part) the night she died & uh... certain parts of that sure were familiar.

It's really frustrating as someone who is currently sorting through some VERY complicated family feelings - my mother (my actual mother, the mother who raised me) died in September. My father - the man I grew up with - died in 2012. I haven't heard from most of my family since then - I didn't hear from most of my family when my mother was dying, which happened over months. I haven't heard from my father's family in more than a decade at this point. They were not there when I was suffering as a kid, they were not there when I needed support as a teenager, they were not there when I was coming into myself as a young adult. Family to me isn't a thing that you WANT, because what's the point of it? I understand it's a different thing for other people, but these things are never one size fits all, & I resent them being treated as such.

If you came up to me & said "you can travel with the Doctor through time & space & you get a SPACE DAD or a SPACE MOM" I would run very fast in the other direction. I've got parents. Depending on how you look at it, I've got more than the usual set that most folks have. I don't want a replacement or an additional parent - I want to grieve the ones I have, untangle the feelings I've got about them. I want people in my life who care about me, who I care about - friends, lovers, mentors, partners, & all those other relationships that you don't have names for. I like it when things don't slot into place neatly.

Which leads me to my issues with found family as a trope. My main issue with it is that it treats the whole thing as very... one size fits all. That everyone *wants* to be part of a family with a mom & a dad & a grandmother & kids. Versus wanting to be in a polycule, wanting to be in a friend group, wanting to be part of a community. I feel like with the ending of the Giggle, it was slotting the Doctor (& Mel) in the parts of a traditional family - they're the aunt & the uncle now! Not blood related, but still having a designated Place. Which possibly ties in to people being weird about adoption, since merely being Not Blood Related somehow makes it different.

I am, admittedly, also allergic to labels. My only label irt my sexuality is queer, I do not have a gender, I have stepped off the various spectrums & am just... me. What I like about the Doctor & their relationships is that most of the time they're in that same grey area? Is the Doctor Sarah Jane's lover? Her best friend? Her avuncular old uncle figure? Her mentor? They all apply to varying degrees, but they're all also valid, & I love that.

I could also talk about my SPECIFIC issues with how it was done in the giggle, but most of that comes down to taste, & we all know that varies from person to person to a much greater degree.

I am also not telling off people who do like found family & those dynamics- I'm really glad there's so much space for so many interpretations! I'm really glad there are so many different enjoyments to be had!

... I'm not sure if all of this entirely made sense, but thank you for letting me ramble a bit.

[moonwalker750]

Sometimes back, I was flipping through Tolkein's fic, focusing on Elrond(He's my favorite character). They were varied and interesting. However, after finishing them, a consistency (there were exceptions) was present in the description of the twins' backstory.

Elwing had not much interaction with her children, the twins were largely left to their own devices and ignored by other people. She was a horrible mother obsessed with Silmaril. Earnedil was pretty much a deadbeat father, by the way, the authors sound, went on a cruising vacation.

Maedhros and Maglor were perfect parents for twins. The twins loved them and considered them their actual parents. Elrond (even in the middle of the 3rd age) and Elors were very critical of their biological parents and viewed them in a bad light. Elrond was a raging Feanorian (the very same person who recited his ancestry on his mother's side in LoTR) and indifferent to his Sindarin ancestry and that side of the family. When he goes to Valinor, he didn't even want to see his biological parents, he considers Nerdanel as his grandmother. And, in some, Feanor is the grandfather. (no problem, but stop hating on Idril and Tuor.)

While reading, I had no particular thoughts on this subject. I was much more interested in 'what happens next?

Afterward, my stupid brain kicked a gear and was like, WAIT A FUCKING MINUTE! THEY WERE PRINCES! (Often I forget, since 'Lord' is pretty much attached to Elrond's name, in my head).

Dude, how can you sell this shit? Moreover, Have we not any critical? To accept it (Well, I did, so I'm an idiot, too).

The twins were princes on both sides by their parents. Heirs. Are you telling me that the people of Sirion, refugees of two fallen kingdoms, would not have loved these two little children to bits and pieces?

They were descendants of Turgon (King of Gondolin and later the fucking High King of Noldors) and were of the line of Melian and Elwe, Luthien and Beren, then Dior and Nimloth. How is this believable? Granted the elves would be busy with their lives. But you cannot tell me, the twins had no line of Uncles and Aunties to look after them.

Those who were close to Turgon (lord or captains, a few did make it to Sirion) had supported Idril and Tuor on their journey to safety and had watched Earendil growing up. Would they truly not have cared enough about the sons of their golden-haired prince? (Idril and Tuor, by all accounts, journeyed alone. Whereas Earendil has a small crew to man Vingilot.) What about Doriathians? Those Doriathians that knew the royal family and served their Kings and Queens. Friends and servants who knew Nimloth and thought these are her grandsons, who remembered another pair of twins-now dead, who raised their baby Queen and looked after her. Are you telling me they wouldn't help Elwing to teach her, raise them, and look after them?

We don't know their age when the Sack of Sirion happened, but they were probably children at that time. As children, then as young adults, they have every right to be angry at their biological parents. Reach their conclusion. And, it is fine. Because emotions at that age are a ball of twisted yarn. Emotions rarely followed logic. But these emotions grew from hurt. But do we think Elrond would beholden to the similar reasoning in the middle of the Third Age (after the alliance)? His epithet is 'Wise'. He had seen the wars and seen the world. He had faced choices and made them. Known the helplessness and hope. He had been a victim of wars and a general in the war. He had been free and carried the burden of lives in his hand.

A disquiet would always be there, but that inferno of anger and betrayal? No, he would understand, he would accept and make peace with it.

Their life among Fenaorians was not sunshine. They were held hostages, at the start, by people who are referred to as vile, as kin slayers. The Feanorians were as much of the monster to them as Melkor. They were terrified, alone, and abandoned in an enemy's land. And Feanorians? Maedhros and Maglor had lost the last of their brother(s). Thrice, they had slain elves. They were empty-handed of their salvation, again. They had lost their chance to retrieve that Silamaril. The Enemy was growing powerful by second, and the clutch of Oath was a noose around their neck. Do you think the loss of Ambaruss would not affect them? That they would not be affected by kin slaying, as fruitless as the last one? That it had not pushed Maedhros's metal stability down? That they and their warriors could love unconditionally, to forget their hardship? (People of Sirion had hope. However, the hope of salvation and a voidless death was slipping past Fenorians). That there aren't more people like the servants of Celegorm who left a pair of children in a forest to die? Lost, broken, and filled with rage at Dior and Elwing and their damnation? Willing to harm children when they had killed children before? That Maedhros and Maglor aren't weighed down by the death of their family and that the twins are the grandsons of the elf(man? half-Maiar?) who killed their three brothers? (Not consciously, but subconsciously yes.)

Despite everything, there was still humanity (elvenity?). The Feanorians had committed atrocities, but they were not atrocious people. Not most of them. Their choices and actions imprisoned them. Still they tried to raise the twins. Elrond could remember a dozen warm memories with Faenorians. They were young and at a formative age, so they latched on to the brothers (On Maglor mostly. Maedhros was more of a silent shadow in the back). Maglor did try. He taught them what he could. Activities that befitted their ranks and being kind to the twins. But he was a Lord with duties that took him away from children.

Would being a raging Feanorian stan would be in Elrond's character? With age, our opinions change, even toward our closest. Would he not remember Sirion? (even if it is screaming and blurred dreams) Would his feelings be so black and white?

What I am trying to say is, that it cheapens their (the twins) backstory and their character. To paint one in gold and another a dull brown.

Okay phew my rant has ended. Please be polite if you wish to comment!

[martianbugsbunny]

OUAT Thoughts Pt.18--Episodes 16-17

I have watched through S2E17; spoilers DNI. Also, spoiler warning for anyone further behind than I am.

—Kay, I love me some hurt/comfort as much as the next guy, but episode 16 was all hurt. No comfort at all. I rate my emotional agony as 1/10, would not recommend. (And it didn’t get much better in episode 17.)

—Mr. Gold actually apologized to his son. I’ve gotten so used to every character in all entertainment being “flawless” and thereby rude and uncompromising (and any other character accepting that for some reason) that I forgot people could be written who actually did apologize for doing something wrong.

—The name fading off the dagger as Mr. Gold was dying was horrible. Also, I should’ve known that candle would come back to haunt somebody.

—Oh, yes, a masquerade ball! I am feasting tonight!

—Also, Cora’s wedding dress was lovely. I would’ve liked it better if it was actually white, not ivory, but the decorations were stunning.

—It’s hilarious to me that the Charmings have absorbed Mr. Gold into the family *threateningly* Like, they probably wouldn’t invite him over for dinner, but they’ll haul him in for a favor.

—And it works the opposite way, too! Mr. Gold is all, “ew, get that kid away from me” until he can use that family connection to get a favor out of the Charmings.

—I really want to see a Thanksgiving dinner for this family. That’s gotta be the most dramatic meal ever held. Henry; his adopted mother (who wants to kill his grandma); his biological mother; his bio mom’s parents (who are the same age as his bio mom); his long-lost dad (who has issues with his own long-lost father); and his other grandpa (who just happens to be the most manipulative mind in the universe). Also, Snow is technically *also* Henry’s adopted stepsister, because her stepmom is Henry’s adopted mom. And that also makes Regina both Henry’s adopted mom and his step-great-grandmother. Sounds like a grand old time!

—It’s gonna be jolly awkward for Belle and Mr. Gold when she finds out that he’s not dead.

—But his little speech to her over the phone was beautiful. I particularly love that the first thing he said to her was not that he loved her, or that she loved him, but that she was a hero. That was what he thought was most important for her to know.

—It’s also fun (fun being a relative term) that Belle’s hospital gown is yellow.

—Right before I turned on episode 16, I remembered the original Rumplestiltskin story and freaked out. (I was actually at a library recently, and I found Grimm’s fairytales and read the Rumplestiltskin story for giggles. OUAT Rumplestiltskin is much better.) Anyway, it took me this long to remember that Cora was a miller’s daughter, and I should probably be worried about where her origin story would go.

—I was right. I should’ve been worried. Rump has just the worst taste in women—other than Belle. Mila was a loser and Cora was a jerk.

—As much as I hate Cora—which is a lot—I appreciate her last moments. She had her heart back, and she realized that if she’d had it the whole time, Regina would’ve been enough for her. That’s rather touching.

—But I’m still not upset that she’s dead.

—I’m not thrilled about how she died. I thought Snow killing her would bad enough, but she also manipulated Regina to make her give the final blow. That’s pretty terrible.

—Snow actually having been affected by killing someone is a good story element. I’m tired of heroes who kill the villain and then don’t show any remorse at all. Like, yeah, they’re bad, and the world is probably only safe if they’re dead, but the hero being emotionless about it says more about the hero than it does about the villain. I don’t think I could trust any person who wasn’t upset by having killed.

—It is now semi-plausible than Baelfire and Mr. Gold might eventually start to work on patching up their relationship. I’m down with that.

—Also, I noticed the description for the next episode (the one or two sentence one that appears next to it on Disney Plus) and I’m very happy. I’ve been waiting for some Pinocchio content for a while now. Maybe he’ll even get to see his father again.

—For a villain who plays it so close to the chest, Rump actually falls in love a lot. He gives away parts of his backstory a lot. And I think that’s good, compared especially to Cora. He’s a villain who still has a heart, which is a large part of why he is so compelling. His machinations would make him interesting, even if he didn’t have these heart-wrenching events spaced throughout his life that push him further and further into darkness, but it’s the fact that he has a heart to be wrenched that gives him life. It’s the reason I hope to see him redeemed at some point in the future. He is ultimately a good man who went down a very dark path, and those tiny glimpses into his inner workings keep it believable that he could be a good man again.

—Now that I’ve been a lil deep—I need to see more of Red. She appeared briefly in these episodes, but I’m pining for my pretty wolf girl. Also, I really, really, *really* want to see her in a red flannel again.

—I’m not looking forward to Snow falling into darkness. That is going to be thoroughly unpleasant for me.

—Regina is super creepy. Trying to arrest that dad so she could keep his kid was nuts.

—I almost forgot—I now know the connection between Cora and what’s-her-face. I’ve already forgotten her name. I can’t believe Snow’s mom used to be such a jerkwad.

Happy Bi Visibility Day! In my time zone, it’s kinda late, but it’s still the 23rd.   💖💜💙

*(Why the heck is there not a plain pink heart emoji?)

[yourgamemasterthewhiterabbit]

Well when I smell too much of it my throat and lungs start closing up and I can't breathe properly, so I am hardly going to try smoking it?

Ignoring that, I never thought it looked appealing. It was smelly and any adult I knew who smoked coughed all the time and looked a little strung out and like they might be slowly dying, from the smoking or otherwise, so I just associated it with not being able to breathe and having terrible health and knew from early on that it was addictive and that these people were literally just still spending money to live that way because they tried it and got hooked. People also bitched about how much it was costing and then kept doing it.

It also seemed annoying and to make you annoying to be around. Smokers would either try to light up in your house with your kids and get mad when you told them to stop, or had to constantly excuse themselves to go do it, even in the rain and cold. It would let so much cold air in all the time, and maybe its the PDA or the monotrophism but I thought interrupting my life every hour or so to go suck back something that was gross and killing you slowly wasn't an appealing thing to end up wanting to do with your time and money. I already knew on some level I enjoyed leaning into the hyper-focus and was already pissed off bodies had to pee and eat. Why add another biological demand to the pile? Why do that?

I couldn't breathe properly around people who smoked and my grandmother constantly smoked in the house with us, even though the label said that second hand smoke can cause horrible lung cancer and kills people, and so it also seemed to me, even as a child, that it must cause some kind of horrible mental compulsion if the adults around me who claimed to care about me would also treat not smoking around me like a rule they were eager to break the moment someone else wasn't watching them. I had to either accept they cared more about their momentary comfort than my health/life or that it was basically a magic compulsion that they were now cursed to through some very real mechanism. Maybe both.

I didn't want any of that.

So no, not even one time.

Not even the one time at 12-13 or so when I had gotten so used to being forced around second hand smoke again that I was basically getting horrible withdrawal migraines once I got away from it, while there was a pack kept on the nightstand right next to me. Not even knowing it would make the brain splitting pain stop if I tried even just a little bit of it. Not even already effectively addicted and in horrible pain despite having never chosen to try it.

Because I didn't want to do that to my body/life/wallet.

I might be a "sticks to what I decide is best for me to a nearly pathological degree, which no pain or craving or difficulty or addiction can override, and is actually happy that way" kind of autistic though, so I imagine it's a little different for most people who never smoked.

[snowdice]

A Twist of Fate {Part 2} (Everything’s Fine Universe) [Dice Roll 13]

Fandom: Sanders Sides

Relationships: Remus & Janus & Patton, Remy & Patton

Characters: Janus, Patton, Remus, Remy

Summary: It wasn’t unheard of for people to gain soulmarks later in life, but it was quite rare. Usually fate was set in stone. Yet, when one’s fated death was prevented, fate had to make some adjustments.

As he fell, Patton may have felt a strange prickling feeling across his skin. He however, was not paying attention to that, far too distracted and confused. All he knew was that by the time he hit the ground, both of his hands were covered with marks. Later when he went home he’d notice even more in other places, but the ones he noticed when he hit the ground were the obvious ones on his hands.

Then, there was Janus. Janus had only one soulmark on his body. At least. He had only one soulmark that hadn’t been burnt off years ago. When he landed on top of Patton, he did not notice the marks that suddenly appeared on his arms and face. Patton did, however, notice two little designs appear on him: one along the side of his nose and the other right below the scaring on the left side of his face. The second was already colored in by the time they hit the ground.

Universe: Soulmate AU and Superhero AU

Genre: The Dice Roll said fluff and it is… but… it’s more fluff and angst, hurt/comfort-ish

Notes: Child abuse, homelessness, malnutrition, acid burns, platonic soulmates

My Master Post Part 1

Patton could not keep the small wistful smile off his face when Jimmy and his… brother? uncle? guardian? (He almost certainly wasn’t the kid’s father because there were no soulmarks on Jimmy’s face. He’d seen the mark on Jimmy’s forearm though that matched the colored in one on the man’s wrist. Perhaps he was a much older brother.)… left. Patton liked the little boy who frequently came into the bakery even though Jimmy sometimes said weird or scary things. Patton did not know the boy’s story but considering the absence of any parental soulmarks that would typically mark a person’s face, he imagined there was a reason for the way his mind seemed to stray to darker thoughts. At least he seemed happy with his guardian now. The man barely ever spoke, a quiet contrast to the little boy who seemed unable to stop talking for five seconds without exploding, but he clearly loved Jimmy. They were sweet together.

“You are so soft for kids,” a voice said from next to him, making him startle a bit. He had not noticed Remy leave the table he’d been camped out at all day.

Patton smiled at him once he’d calmed down from the small fright. “More coffee, Remy?” he asked.

Remy made the twirling motion with his pointer finger that translated to him rolling his eyes since he couldn’t remove his sunglasses. “How long have we known each other, babe?” he asked.

Patton rolled his own eyes for real and took his offered coffee cup. “Want anything to eat?”

“Nah, just the caffeine.”

Patton nodded and absentmindedly went about filling the coffee cop, but then he paused when he caught sight of the clock and spun around. He crossed his arms over his chest. “You’ve been studying since breakfast time. I don’t remember you ordering any lunch.”

“I’ll get lunch in a bit,” Remy said, waving him off.

“Remy, it’s an hour ‘til closing.”

“…Shit.”

Patton sighed and shook his head, finishing up getting him his refill before turning to grab him a bacon and cheese croissant out of the display case. “Eat,” Patton said, shoving the food and drink at him.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say dad.”

Patton smiled slightly even as he felt his heart twinge at that word. Remy seemed to notice his discontent and reached across the counter to give him a soft punch on the shoulder. “Bad day?” he asked.

Patton shrugged. It was always a bit of a sore spot, but usually not so much that Remy joking with him in that way would sting.

“Sorry Pat,” Remy said. “Didn’t meant to make it worse.”

“It’s fine Remy,” Patton promised. “I’m fine.”

Remy studied him for a moment with a frown, and Patton squirmed under the intensity of his gaze even if it was hidden behind the dark shades. “No, you’re not,” he said bluntly and maybe that’s why he and Remy were soulmates. He was willing to say it unlike everyone else who either politely avoided the subject when they were being nice and when they weren’t… well, let’s just say, Patton had heard the term “unloved” far too many times in his life.

Remy had always done his best, but ever since Patton’s parents had died two years ago dwindling his number of soulmates from a measly three down to one, the insult had started stinging more and more.

It did not help that Patton could see the writing on the wall (or perhaps on the skin would be more accurate) when it came to Remy. Remy was his platonic soulmate, and Patton loved him so, so much, but, well, Patton was aware that… Remy had a lot of life to live outside of Patton.

Remy wasn’t quite what one would call a “well-loved,” but his number of soulmates was in the higher range of normal. There were three on his face: two from his parents and a “blessing mark” from his grandmother. One dotted his wrist for his baby sister who was still in middle school who he’d practically helped raise. There were five that littered his back in different places, only two filled in so far including the one from Patton. (Patton’s had filled in long ago when they were in 3rd grade, and at least Patton had that. Patton could claim the spot of Remy’s first non-familiar soulmate. It made him a little bit special even if… even if Patton could tell it wouldn’t last.) The one soulmark on his chest waited to be filled in by his romantic soulmate, and Patton had to imagine the two on his hands for future children would follow after that.

Patton was happy for him. He was! He’d have a lot of love in his life and Patton loved him so much he couldn’t resent that. The thing was, usually, people had some overlapping soulmates. Maybe Patton wouldn’t have all of Remy’s friends as soulmates, but he should at least have one indicating he would get to know the romantic one, right? One would think he’d have something for Remy’s future kids, because he already knew he would love them if he ever met them. Even just… even just one overlapping friendship soulmate would make Patton feel better. Patton should have some sign of being a part of Remy’s future social circle engraved onto his skin.

Unless.

Unless, well, unless Patton ended up not mattering much in the end.

It hurt to think about. It hurt to know that Patton was likely just an important childhood friend whom he would eventually drift away from as his life moved on without him. Yet, Patton had no one else. Patton would never have anyone else. He had three soulmates. All of them met. Two of them gone.

It didn’t sound much like a happy ending.

“I’ll be fine,” Patton replied. “It’s just a bad day. I’ll be right as rain tomorrow.”

Remy’s fingertips tapped on the rim of his coffee cup a few times. “You should adopt.”

Patton blinked at the suddenness and ludicrousness of that suggestion. He almost laughed. “Who is going to let me adopt anyone?” Patton asked, waving both of his hands around sadly.

“Adopt a soulless kid.”

“Don’t call them that,” he hissed, immediately.

Remy jerked at the sudden venom in his tone. “It’s just what they’re called Pat,” he said. “I wasn’t being mean. It’s their government designation…”

“I know…” Patton said. “It just seems so… mean.” Like ‘unloved,’ but at least ‘unloved’ didn’t make it onto his driver’s license. At least he had the option to pull on a cardigan and go around under the radar with most people not even knowing how many soulmarks he had.

“See,” Remy said. “You’d be perfect to take one in. You’d be thoughtful and patient even with their status. It’s probably what a lot of them need.”

“I don’t even know if people can adopt them,” Patton said.

“Well, someone has to take care of them:” Remy pointed out, “adoption or fostering or some other thing special to them. Maybe you could do that.”

“I still don’t know if they’d allow me to. You can adopt people who aren’t your soulmates, but they don’t usually allow people like me to…” He’d looked up adopting once when he was a teenager on one of the nights when his heart ached too much to sleep, just to see if he’d ever be able to. He’d found one couldn’t even apply for adoption without a hand or lower arm soulmark, a biological relationship to the child, or a soulmate who had a biological relationship to the child. Yet… people with no soulmarks were treated differently by the government, usually for the worse, but… maybe they’d let someone they thought was incapable of giving parental love foster someone who they thought was incapable of receiving any love at all. “Maybe I’ll look into it.”

“You should,” Remy said. “I know you’d make a great dad.”

Patton chuckled humorlessly, looking down at his blank hands. “Clearly.”

“Don’t be like that, Pat. Even if it wouldn’t be exactly what everyone else has, that wouldn’t make it necessarily bad. You don’t have to be someone’s soulmate to love them.” Patton knew that. He knew that very well. He’d loved or wanted to love so many people in his life. They’d just never seemed to want to accept that love let alone love him back.

He smiled at Remy sadly. “Like I said, I’ll think about it.” He shook the thought away. “Not eat your croissant and then go home and get some rest, Rem. I know you’re worried about your exam tomorrow, but passing out from exhaustion and/or low blood sugar in the middle of it won’t help you finish med school.”

“That’s what coffee’s for.”

“Remy.”

“Yeah, yeah, fine,” he grumbled, sticking half of the croissant into his mouth. Having a full mouth did not stop him from talking however, “but afterwards I’m coming straight to your house and we’re going to eat pizza and watch horrible romantic comedies until the sun comes up the next morning.”

Patton chuckled. “It’s a good thing I don’t work until Sunday.” Remy nodded, already finishing the rest of the croissant. He grabbed his coffee cup and went to take a big gulp. “Remy that’s hot!”

He set the cup down on the table once he was finished downing about 1/3 of it. “I fear no god. Put it in a to-go cup for me?”

He turned to wander back to his table as Patton grabbed a to-go cup from under the counter. Patton watched as he opened his backpack and slid all of his study materials into it in a disorganized mess before slinging it over his shoulder. “Don’t give me that look,” he said when he saw Patton watching. “I have to keep up my image of a hot mess.” Patton handed him his coffee cup when he came back over. “See you later Pat.” He leaned forward to give Patton a smooch on the nose, and Patton batted him away.

“I’ll see you tomorrow Remy.” Remy turned around and shot him finger guns, almost walking straight into someone as he exited the bakery door. “And watch where you’re going! You’ll get hit by a car if you’re not careful.”

He turned the finger guns into birds knowing he was too far away for Patton to chide him. He was gone in the next moment. Patton shook his head. There wasn’t anyone left sitting in the bakery. He decided to go ahead and start prepping to close. Maybe he’d be able to go home early.

Want to read more? Click below!

Part 3

[saltwatersatire]

“A Family Mystery Uncovered”

Write the Story: A Family Mystery Uncovered

Include the following: Sunday, secret, wallpaper, swap, sister, curiosity, island, notebook, marathon, demand

 It was a warm Sunday morning, almost a perfect day, minus the annoyance of my grandmother’s two Pomeranians barking their little heads off to demand breakfast. I sat on the porch wondering if my grandmother was ever going to get up to feed them. After a few minutes, it became clear she was not. I made my way into the house and navigated through the kitchen to fill their bowls with food and fresh water.

By then, it was nearly 10am and my grandmother should have been awake. I walked down the hallway to her room to check on her. I found her sitting on her bed, an old notebook in hand.

“What’s going on, Gran?” I asked, sitting next to her. “Oh, nothing” she said, picking at a piece of wall paper that was peeling behind her nightstand. “I just found this old notebook of your father’s. That’s all.”

“Oh.” I replied. I had not seen or heard from my father since my grandfather’s funeral eons ago, and I knew that my lovely stepmother definitely had a hand in his neglect. If it wasn’t about her or her biological children, it did not matter. My older sister, Christina, and I, did not matter. It was okay though, really. Christina and I were used to it. Our father’s MO was the typical start a family and leave it to start a new one, just to do the same thing type. The one good thing that came from it all was us, our sisterhood, our bond. Christina and I share a bond that is typically only heard of with twins. Only we are not twins, we’re technically only half sisters. But still, there is no denying who we are, what we feel, or our bond.

“Do you ever wish you could have a do over?” I heard my grandmother ask distantly. “What?” I responded, startled to be jolted from thinking about my sister; and even more startled to hear her question her baby boy. “Do you ever wish you could have a do over? You know, with your dad. Don’t you ever wish you could just swap with one of your friends or classmates?” I thought on it for a minute before carefully replying “no.”

“No?” She questioned curiously. “No.” I replied firmly. “He’s a horrible father and person, and while I hate a lot of the things that he’s done and pain he’s caused, if he wasn’t my father, I wouldn’t have Christina. And I wouldn’t trade her for the world.”

She sighed. “Yes, you two are quite bonded. Your father tried everything to keep her a secret from you. But somehow you knew, you always knew. When you were little, you used to tell people that you weren’t an only child, that you had an older sister, she just lived elsewhere. You thought you were making it up to make being an only child less lonely…”

“But I wasn’t.” I interjected. It was true that he lied about Christina. It was true that he split with her mother and never looked back, never had anything to do with her, then met my mom and had me. It was also true that I thought I was making up lies about having an older sister because I’d wished I had one so bad. It wasn’t until I was about 8 years old and my parents were splitting up that my mom decided to tell me the truth: The older sister I thought I made up, existed.

“No, you weren’t. She knew about you, too. She just didn’t know how to go about finding you until she found me once she turned 18. You were one of the first things she asked about though. Somehow, you both knew the other existed. As much as we tried to leave Paganism back on the island after everything that happened in Salem, it shows through in the two of you in the most extraordinary ways. I assumed it was your mom’s teachings, until your sister ended up being the same. I guess there are just some family curses that can’t be broken.”

I frowned. “Christina and I don’t see it as a curse at all. We love our bond and connection, and we love our heritage. No offense, Gran, but unlike you, we aren’t ashamed of where we came from. We aren’t ashamed of our Pagan ancestors or the Celtic blood that courses through our veins. We’re proud of it. We embrace it.”

“Yes, and that’s what got a lot of your ancestors burned at the stake. It’s also probably why you two have such a strong connection. Almost magical. It’s definitely that Celtic blood.” She said, handing me my father’s notebook. “What do I want with this?” I asked. “Well,” she started, “it answers some other questions you and Christina may have…”

“Oh, like what?” I shot at her, getting annoyed. He abandoned Christina. He abandoned me. What other questions could we possibly have? I doubted the answers to why he was the way he was were in there. He never thought he did anything wrong. He abused Christina’s mom so she left, but he’s the victim. My mom caught him cheating with his secretary who is now me and Christina’s step mom, but somehow, he was the victim when my mom asked for a divorce. In his eyes, he could do no wrong. In his eyes, everyone was against him and he was ALWAYS the victim. He even blamed Christina and I for not being in his life, yet he’s the one who walked away when we were just kids.

Sensing my annoyance, my grandmother took a more gentle approach this time. “Honey, I know things haven’t been easy for you and your father. If there was anything I could do to change that, I would. But, I do think you’ll want to know what’s in here. Especially since you and Christina are so happy to have found each other. And especially since you’re such proud Pagans.” I rolled my eyes at her words. If the notebook didn’t contain answers about why he’s been so awful to Christina and I, then why would I want it? What else could he possibly have to answer for?

“Look, Gran, anything short of him admitting that Katie is yet another half sister and not our step sister like he’s been claiming, is going to fall on deaf ears… or blind eyes, in this case, because I already know the answers about why he keeps abandoning his daughters isn’t in there. I already know that the answers about why he treats Katie like gold and Christina and I like shit isn’t in there.”

She took the notebook from my hands and gingerly flipped through the pages until she found the one she was looking for somewhere in the middle. She took a deep breath and gently put the notebook down on my lap and quietly said “Or maybe it does.”

I looked down at the notebook page and detailed right there in my father’s very own handwriting wasn’t just the details from both mine and Christina’s births right down to anecdotes about our moms, grandparents and the doctors, but Katie’s, too. Also detailed next to Katie’s name was the lie my step mom was going to tell her current husband, and the lies my father had told my mom that contributed to the circumstances that lead to Katie’s conception and eventual birth. As well as the lies as to why he was even at the hospital for my sister’s birth when everyone was under the impression she belonged to my step mom’s ex, my real step brother, Dylan’s, dad.

I looked up at my grandmother, mouth slightly open. “But, part of you already knew that, didn’t you?” She asked quietly. I sighed and nodded. “Gran, I just need to know one thing.” She looked at me expectantly.

“He lied to keep Christina and I apart. He lied about our real relation to Katie. I just need to know… How many more of us are there?”

“As far as I know, it’s just you three. But don’t you need at least three to be considered a coven?” She replied with a sly smile. I looked at her, not quite sure what to make of everything. “I’m gonna go call Christina.” I announced as I stood up, letting the notebook fall off my lap and onto the floor. I stepped over the notebook and left the room to get my phone. I told my sister about the barking dogs, the Star Trek marathon Grandma and I binged the night before in honor of my Grandfather, and even briefly mentioned the notebook. But since Christina felt the same way about our father as I did, she didn’t press me about the notebook. And I never mentioned Katie.

[life-simplycomplicated]

2020 of Gratitude

I am grateful for...

1. Health: We often take for granted our good health. The ability to walk, breath, use our strength to lift anything. Covid really has crippled the way we live our lives. To those who suffered at the hands of Covid I hope they recover both in mind and body. Many people I know are fortunate not have have come across Covid in their lives and I hope it continues in that direction. We have a vaccine now which gives light at the end of this very dark tunnel 2020 has been. 

2. Relationships: Many changes have happened as we adapt to living with the fear of Covid. We have all had to curtail our friends circle of whom we meet. Some relationships have weakened and others have become stronger. I am luckily to have such a wonderful friend group and loving partner. Even though we have limited hang out sessions, the ones that are had are that more special. 

3. Helpers: “when I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me,’ Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” - Mr. Rogers. I have come to a point in my life where I am not only able to help others just through moral support. It feels good when I am able to help without worrying how it may affect my finances. My mom told me my grandmother was the type to help others even if it puts herself in a tough position. I guess one can say I inherited her kind heart to help those I care about and those in need. 

4. Simple comforts: Do you enjoy curling up in a blanket on the couch to watch something? What about stepping into a hot shower when it is super cold in the house? I like to drink hot Cocoa outside when its super cold in the morning or even at night. I love the warm feeling of getting back into bed and its still warm and toasty while it is cold in the room. 

5. Healthy work environment: I was working in a horrible place 2018-late 2019. Things have changed and there are many ups and a few downs with the new format of having work in satellite homes across the county. I am working with better people both in staffing and those I help service. To sigh and take a deep breath in your car before work to compose yourself is a sign you may be in a bad place. I no longer have to do that and it feels so good to go into work do my hours and go back home without carrying negative feelings within me. 

6. Family: I consider my friends are my family. I had a rough falling out with mine during my college years. I was adopted by my friends family and they too are family to me. I look up to them and am thankful for all they have done for me over the years. My friends may have heard me say how much I love them and how important they are to me. My words only encapsulate only a small portion of my feelings. I do not believe they will truly know how much they mean to me. That is fine though as I feel my love may be overwhelming to them. I am happy being able to share my life with my friends and family. Oh yeah, my relationship with my biological family is fine now. I love my mom and dad and will always have a place for them in my heart. Thanks for giving me life and allowing me to grow my bonds to those I love. 

2020 has been a crazy year because of Covid. I started my year off great with the new year and then going to Korea in February. Covid in Korea was little to no cases when I went. No one really though Covid would be as serious and deadly until it was too late. It could have been avoided but those in charge decided to not care. When I came back I was excited for the annual Tahoe cabin trip we have. Right before the trip my Aunt passed away from a heart attack. This devastated me as she was like a second mom to me growing up. I was a pall bearer for the first time. I felt great honor in being selected. The day of the funeral I had to suit up and power through with such a heavy heart. Right after I rushed to Tahoe for the cabin trip. It was a strange feeling having just buried a loved one and then going out to have fun.

The cabin trip was crazy fun and one to live in infamy. Once I got home I went back to work and each night as I drove to work I could not hold back my tears and cried for about a week each night. I am lucky to have such great support from many loved ones. As the months passed by many things kept hitting the world from wild fires to almost having WW3 happen. I was able to get through the year with lots of tennis and small hang outs with my bubble of friends. There are other things in my year that had a negative affect on me and I would rather just forget about them. 2020 was a difficult year for many. I feel lucky as I had a stable job through out all of the pandemic. Strong support from friends and family. Able to pay rent without worrying if I will make ends meet. Always had food on the table that could be shared with friends and family. All my basic needs are and were met. 2020 was bad, but I was one of the few fortunate ones who did not suffer the many hardships brought by the Covid pandemic. 

[lovemesomesurveys]

1. have you ever gotten soap in your mouth for cursing? do you think that’s right to do to kids who curse?: Nope. I didn’t say any curse words as a kid for one, but also I’m pretty sure my parents wouldn’t have done that if I did. They would have just talked to me about it and tell me not to say them. I personally don’t like the soap punishment, I think it’s dumb. I’ve heard of some parents who use hot sauce instead, which is just horrible. I understand if you don’t want your kid to curse, but you don’t have to torture them. Just talk with them and explain why it’s not nice to say and that kids shouldn’t speak that way or whatever. Don’t make too big a deal about it. Try not to curse around them either, that’s where they likely hear it and you can be an example for them. If talking doesn’t work then take something away like a toy or some computer time or whatever. I think it’s also important to reward kids when they’re behaving, even just acknowledging it. That can go a long way.

2. what age do you think is appropriate for kids to start watching horror movies with lots of gore?: Well, I personally don’t think kids should watch that at all. I’d say wait until they’re in high school. 

3. do you know what the word “polyamorous” means? and did you ever hear that song by breaking benjamin?: Yes I know what it means, no I haven’t heard that particular song by them.

4. how many bug bites do you currently have?:  Zero.

5. what’s one word you always have trouble spelling and can’t remember the correct spelling of?: Whenever a question like this comes up, “onomatopoeia” always comes to mind. That’s a word I never use except for these questions haha, but yeah I can never seem to remember the spelling, I have to Google it each time.

6. what’s one band that really sucks live?: I’ve never seen a bad live performance, but I’ve heard things about some bands that I haven’t seen, such as Maroon 5. I’ve heard they’re pretty bad. :X

7. do you go to warped tour? why or why not?:  I’ve never been.

8. do you have any wind chimes outside your house? how many?: Yes, a couple. 

9. do you know someone who actually had someone give them a bouquet of real roses and one fake one, and tell them they’ll love them until the last one dies?:  I’ve never heard of that lol but awww how corny and sweet.

10. which do you like better, firefox or internet explorer?: Firefox out of the two, but I use Chrome.

11. who is the most attractive person on your street?: I haven’t seen all my neighbors, but I don’t find the few I have seen attractive. 

12. do you have a flat stomach? would you ever wear a belly shirt to show it off?:  I have a flat stomach, but noooo you’ll never see me in a crop top. I’m waaaaay too self-conscious for that.

13. which do you prefer on yourself, long or short hair?: Long, which is what I have, but it takes more energy and maintenance than I can give right now and I should just cut it short again. :/ I just can’t bring myself to do it for some reason, though.

14. what about on your preferred sex? long or short?:  Short.

15. with eyebrow piercings, do you prefer the ring or the curved barbell?:  I don’t care for eyebrow piercings, personally.

16. have you ever pierced something yourself? why and what was it?: Nooooo. I would never. I’m terrified of needles and don’t do well at all when getting blood work done, and that’s by professionals. I could never attempt to pierce myself with no experience at all. I’d also be scared of doing something wrong or causing an infection.

17. would you date someone who was five years older than you?:  Maybe. I think that’s the oldest I would go.

18. i heard of a girl whose boyfriend cheated on her with a 13yearold (he’s 18) and got her pregnant, so she left him. what would you have done if you were in her situation?:  Omg. I’d have left him, too, but I also would have reported him.

19. how old was the youngest person you ever found attractive? and how old were you?:  Just a year younger than me.

20. isn’t it annoying when you’re trying to start conversation with someone and all they say is “yup” or “really now” or something like that?: Ugh, yes. If they’re clearly not into it or they’e distracted then forget it, what’s the point? I can’t keep a conversation going if the other person isn’t putting anything into it nor would I want to even try.

21. if you have aim, do you have any linked screen names? how many?: AIM died.

22. which of your favorite bands released a new album last?: Hmm. I’m blanking at the moment.

23. are you waiting for any bands to release new albums? which ones?:  Not in particular, but I’m always down for new music.

24. what’s your favorite store for buying cds and such at?:  I haven’t bought a CD since like 2011. I usually just went to like Walmart or Target. I also bought a few CDs from a place that sold old records/albums/cassettes, though. That’s also the place I sold all my CDs to.

25. what’s the point in buying dvds like “girls gone wild” and other porn if you can get tons more online for free?: I don’t know, ask someone who watches porn. 26. if you had to have one drug (illegal ones, like marijuana and cocaine and all of them) right now, what would it be?: Marijuana is legal here, but that’s the only drug I would do.

27. would you ever get a sleeve or a half sleeve on your arm (we’re talking about tattoos)?:  No. I only want one little one.

28. do you have a wireless mouse and/or keyboard?: I have a laptop, so it has a built-in trackpad and keyboard. 

29. do you think your biological parents love each other?: Yes.

30. do you have callouses on your feet?:  No.

31. did you see the commercial for that “foot grater” on tv that basically shaves the callouses off of your feet? isn’t that nasty to think about?: Gahhh, yes. 🤢 It was so gross.

31. what’s your favorite color combination (ex. pink and purple)?: I love pastel colors together.

32. ever been to watchmovies.net? what do you think of the quality of the movies there?:  Yeah, back in the day. I totally forgot about that. The quality wasn’t too, too bad on the ones I saw.

33. what’s one movie you’re dying to see but haven’t had the chance to see yet?: There’s a few movies that were supposed to come out this year that I wanted to see, but that’s obviously not going to happen. 34. would you rather live alone in a huge mansion or alone in a small studio apartment?: I don’t want to live alone at all, but if I had to choose I’d definitely choose the small studio apartment. I wouldn’t want to live in some huge house by myself. That would make me a lot more anxious and uncomfortable. I don’t even want a big house like that for my family and I, it’s just so unnecessary. We’d only need a house big enough for 4 adults and a doggo to live in. 

35. if you came across child porn on your computer, what would you do?:  Omg, that would mean I was hacked somehow. I’d be disgusted and horrified and try to get rid of it as quickly as possible. Are you supposed to report that kind of thing? I would think so, so that it could be taken down and hopefully catch whoever distributed it.

36. what’s the last computer game you played?: The Sims 4. It’s been a couple years, though. I get urges to play, but I’m too lazy.

37. what’s the name of the street you live on?: I’m definitely not sharing that.

38. would you ever dye your entire head blonde?:  No.

39. what’s the randomest thing you ever heard of someone collecting?:  *shrug* I have a rock collection, so who am I to judge. lol.

40. how often do you use “<3” or “:]”?: I don’t use :], I use :) Anyway, I don’t use emojis or smiley faces super often, but sometimes when I feel they’re fitting. I know some people who get a little carried with them.

41. isn’t it annoying how people walk around thinking hollister logo tshirts and ripped jeans are preppy, even though those things would never be allowed in a prepatory school because of the dress code?: >> *stares blankly in “I don’t care”* <<< Hahaha, for real. 

42. how do you feel about abortion?:

43. what’s one thing your grandmother does that you can’t stand?:  She doesn’t do anything that I can’t stand. My grandmothers were/are (my maternal grandmother sadly passed away 15 years ago) sweet, loving, and adorable. haha.

44. did you ever notice how it’s more tragic if a younger person dies than an older person, even if they both died of the same cause?:  Loss of my grandparents was heartbreaking for me, I had a really hard time with their loss. Them being older didn’t make it any easier. I think why people find it even more devastating when a child dies is because they were so young and hadn’t even had a chance, yet, like their life had just begun. There was so much still to experience. They should have had a lot more time. Even a young adult because it’s like their life is also kind of just beginning in a way, perhaps they just started or finished college, were about to start a new job, or were about to get married and start a family. They, too, have so much still to experience and should have had more time. But still, losing someone who is older is still just as sad. I think some people just can sometimes find a little comfort in the fact that they had lived a long life and got to experience a lot. 

45. when’s the last time you snuck around, and where did you go?: I don’t have to sneak around. Never have.

46. how often do you wash your hair?: Every couple days.

47. do you think the price for a movie ticket is too high these days?: Well, these days movie theaters aren’t even open. However, I don’t think it’s the movie ticket price that’s too high, it’s getting stuff at the concession stand that racks it up. The food and drinks are ridiculously overpriced. I just have to get some popcorn, though. I miss movie theater popcorn with salt and lots of butter.  48. have you ever been to a drive-in movie theater?:  Yeah, a few times as a kid. Actually, the last time I went was to see the Willy Wonka movie with Johnny Depp when it came out. I wish they still had drive in theaters where I live. I think they should make a big comeback, I mean that’s perfect for social distancing. We can stay in our own cars, closed off from others, but still enjoy movies on the big screen.

49. what’s your favorite musical?:  Sweeney Todd (the one with Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter). 

50. what do you think of dr. seuss?: I was a fan as a kid, I loved his books. They’re classics. I actually have a Star-belly Sneetch stuffed animal, which is a character from his book, The Sneetches. 

[vincedeangelo]

At a glance he may look like Grant Gustin but in reality they’re just 213 year old Vince De’Angelo, a witch here in Barton Hallow. They are a lone witch. They work as a professor of Horticulture and Biological Sciences here in town and are known for being energetic and distracted. I’d watch my back if I were you..

[History]

Saying that life has been complicated for Vince is a bit of an understatement. It didn’t start that way, but it didn’t start easily either. Being born at the middle of the 18th century in Europe to a distinctly Bohemian traveling family, his parents were already well aware of a long vein of magic running through the family tree, his several siblings and half siblings could attest to that much, but most of that magic was rooted into nature. Vince grew up in comfortable chaos, happy enough for the most part, within the shelter of a large family who looked after each other and, while facing a great deal of downward glances from the rest of society, were themselves excellent at thriving and enjoying life with very little in hand.

It was what, in later times, might be compared more to the lifestyle of a hippie commune once the family did finally settle in an area of Britain and became, more or less, the farming, earth-worshiping sorts. Which was all well and good, that slow pace wasn’t as appealing to Vince’s teenage self though and he sort of laments that he did take off when he had to see more of the world; the things he saw weren’t exactly pleasant. It did very little to unsettle his excitable, eager personality but more than a few times he made a mess of his efforts out in the world.

It wasn’t until his twenties that he began to test his magic more, at that point much of his time was spend engrossed in the the developing underbelly of London and how strangely different it was than his own upbringing. It was there that he met the person, or rather the vampire, who became his best friend in very short order. Unconventional, yes, but the two spent more than their fair share of time discussing philosophy, life and the world around them. They were inseparable. At such a pivotal point in his life Vince directed his studies towards darker magic, seeing no fear in exploring the limits of them at the urging of the vampire. It was the start of his studies as a necromancer, and one of the point of his life he still looks back very fondly on.

It seemed almost impossible to imagine but as close as they were, as much adoration Vince had for his dearest friend and companion, but that bond became strained when the prospects of relocating became as necessity. The world, again, was changing drastically, and becoming less kind to those who were not human but especially the undead in London. A few murders in the area had suspicions heavy and Vince saw it as the chance to finally leave Europe to see the States, but his friend wanted nothing to do with the idea. The xenophobia of walking into a seemingly new and hostile place was too much, the arguments spiked and eventually they split paths; Vince hopeful to change their mind later but left the argument unresolved.

Always far too trusting a soul, and lonely, Vince became involved shortly after in a particularly determined coven under the name of the Children of the Silent Voice; a group of witches who were mostly like himself and held necromantic or otherwise ‘dark’ magic as their most honed abilities. He believed that magic wasn’t evil in any form, that like anything it held a place in the balance. They recruited him under the guise of crafting a safe haven for those like themselves and Vince devoted years to helping them find other witches via communication with spirits. The breaking point came when the coven was attacked by Hunters, forcing Vince’s hand with the situation, giving him little choice but to step outside the realms of peace and right into bloodshed. He thought his intentions were good, thought his efforts held purpose in helping those like himself who suffered the cruelty of humans' fear of magic.

Something was deeply wrong though, and it began his reign as second to the High Priestess of the coven; the bloodiest time in his life. It built around him a reputation that still lingers now; he was a destructive force, the constant tip of power. After all, winning was easy when the fallen were your’s to reanimate and command against your enemies. He existed as a figure of terror, caught up in the fog that was those confusing years.

It was all for nothing, in the end. During one of his attacks on a village that had, supposedly, destroyed several witches, Vince picked up a particularly stubborn spirit that wouldn’t leave him alone. She persisted, a nightmare that haunted him in ways that others hadn’t managed, a lost child who perished before her time. Her misery broke that daze, finally, and forced him to take a step back and view what he had been doing, the horrible things that had left stains on his hands. His mind had been twisted by those he followed, and he finally saw that truth. When he approached the Priestess with his doubts she dismissed him as a traitor, banished him from their ranks and he was almost relieved to flee. His last act before leaving Europe behind was to urge the spirit who had followed him to move on, and once she had he decided it was time for him to do the same.

Living through the 19th century in the States was certainly an experience, one he absolutely would not have traded for anything else. Seeing both the best and the worst of what people were capable of was an eye-opening view of the world, and he naturally developed a certain fondness for the eighties and its’ flower-child mentality that reminded him so much at home. He bounced around, joined a cult or two out of curiosity, wandered off when he grew tired of it, even played a few lighthearted attempts at using his power to help people communicate with their lost loved ones but mostly maintained a human image as the growing uneasiness with the supernatural turned from tension to a sudden war.

One Vince wanted no part in, purposely avoiding to take sides on the matter and acting under the ideal that it was never going to solve anything. Having known real horror and being the cause of it before, he was approached time and again to join the ranks of various covens and groups but refused each time, no longer willing to be a part of such things. He expected it to settle down in a few years but they never did and the battles just kept hitting too close for comfort and sending him darting off to the next spot in search in peace. It never lasted long enough, but he just kept trying, looking for the silver lining and the end of that conflict that never seemed to come.

When rumors of Barton Hollow stirred up they caught his interest, the possibility of a new start in a place where he wouldn’t be constantly accosted for involvement in the bloodshed sounded wonderful. It was an easy choice and he quickly set off to what he hoped would be his new home for a while; in short order setting himself up as a professor at the college thanks to his handful of degrees earned over time and making himself useful to the local magic using community with his flair for cultivating wickedly dangerous plants and herbs.

Vince can be a bit much at times. He’s excitable, not at all reserved, and tends to ramble. That rambling may turn a million different directions in one conversation; he’s quite a mess about it. But he adores people; living, dead, human or otherwise. He’s very quickly becoming a relatively well known figure around the Hollow for his cheerful presence and willingness to engage people around him. It’s a sharp contrast to the history written in such bloody terms, but he doesn’t hide it. He’s open enough about his mistakes, but he certainly hopes that people understand that the past isn’t the measure of what a person is but who they were before they knew better.

As for that past, by all accounts Vince is considered one of the stronger necromancers left in the world, and one who has practiced dark magic for a very long time. Plenty of people seek him out for those skills and he does lend them to causes he thinks are going to do some positive change, but by the large his power is only used in small ways anymore. He can reanimate the dead but has learned the agony of what it costs to both himself and the poor soul, can communicate with the dead and does so when he needs information, and he knows an unsettling but rather effective way of stealing the last sights and few moments of death from a corpse's eyes. Not something to witness if you have a weak stomach. Of course he can also destroy life with a shocking amount of ease. But as someone who values life a great deal and knows the worth of it, he is far more careful in his practices these days.

While it really has very little to do with his abilities as a witch, he is known around town by the covens and the lone witches alike as the person who has an impressive garden of plants and herbs that are fairly lethal. He carefully tends to plants that are highly toxic, have properties that are considered dangerous and drug-like, and those that other witches use in spell craft but cannot access very easily because of their dangerous nature. He willingly offers this rare and deadly flora to those in need of it regardless of coven association, if he’s sure their intentions aren’t to use them in a malicious way. Just don’t try to steal his plants, that hits a nerve you don’t want to rub too thin.

Much of his gift for, and interest in, gardening and plants comes from growing up helping his mother and grandmother raise their garden in his earliest years. Those fond memories fuel his care in that work, but of course his magic influences much of his life so it seems like his real talent in the area is with those deadly species more than their mundane counterparts.

He has a pet cactus named Jared that makes the trek between his classroom on campus and his home in the downtown region of the Hollow daily; Jared is very well looked after and is a standard sort of his species. Nothing all too extraordinary to Jared, but Vince does enjoy putting little hats and costumes on him for various holidays and events the same way most people would dress up a pet. Jared has the distinction of being carried to and from home every day, Vince insists it would be cruel to just leave the poor thing all alone in the classroom at night.

Vince is demisexual, polyamorous; he's fairly unbiased to the gender of his partners though he tends to favor men a bit more, it certainly doesn't sway his interests too much from the rest of the gender spectrum. He’s had an interesting go with relationships in life but nothing ever stuck for long. His list of ex’s run the range but for the most part the breakups were civil, if awkward on his part, ones. He still maintains friendships with a few of them without much drama, still the occasional night spent in their company, but for the most part he’s been solitary for a good twenty or so years by his own choice. Having spent that time burying himself in education and the fascinating scientific world that has surged in the 20th century that took up most of his time. He’s very friendly but painfully awkward at the basic ability to recognize that people are interested in him, and equally bad at making his own interests known because by the large he doesn’t view intimate situations as solely outside the lines of friendships and his tendency to blur the two has made for some amusingly skewed situations in the past.

He is intensely afraid of small spaces; graves absolutely terrify him and any enclosed space causes him to panic. The reasoning lies in some of his conditioning early on in his necromatic practices when he accidentally managed to get himself trapped during the exploration of an older graveyard; the underground tunnels beneath it at one point collapsed and he was unable to escape. He was lucky that another witch who was mentoring him at the time found him but it instilled lifelong terror in him.

Vince loves to read, he’s been around a long while, he absolutely is enamored with knowledge and the creativity of people. It doesn’t matter what; from the most coveted early century tome to the most hilariously badly written new trashy romance novel; he reads with the sort of determined fervor that keeps him constantly hunting for new books. The internet, for that reason, is something else he loves; there’s always endless distraction on there.

He’s not the typical image for a necromancer but he hardly thinks that’s a bad thing. His students in particular he has a soft spot for, generally willing to go out of his way to do what he can if they need help. But really that extends to most people; he’s just a cheerful, upbeat sort who tries not to dwell too much on the bad. He’s also horribly clumsy at it though, but he’s good at laughing at his mistakes.

Vince misses being part of a coven, but even with the urging of those in the Hollow he hasn’t agree to join any of them. The past has made him wary of the intentions of leaders, and he doesn’t want to be a pawn once more. He’s toyed with the idea of starting his own but dismissed the possibility with the certainty that even as acting as second to someone he trusted as fully as he would have to another Priestess it’s unlikely anyone would be comfortable with someone with his power in that role, especially not with the shape the world in in with the ongoing war.

[Wanted Connections] To be vastly expanded on later, but to give a jumping off point for plotting: 

Vampire he used to be best friends with. 

Someone older than himself (213), was in Europe/London in those early years, and would have had a very close friendship with Vince. Basically the person he considered his companion and other half of sorts; he misses them very much but hasn’t seen them in a long time. They had a bit of a falling out over Vince’s involvement in the Silent Voice Coven back in the day and after the dust settled with all of that Vince went to the states and lost all contact with his friend.  This person would know a great deal about Vince, would have been about as close as anyone could be, and very much needs to be back in Vince’s life again. 

Siblings/Half Siblings

Vince had a large family, several of whom were witches themselves. He may have younger or older siblings or half siblings around, or could have werewolf or vampire siblings now depending on if they were human to begin with and were turned. He’s lost track of family over time but would remember them, this is very open to ideas and different sorts of sibling relationships. He was always an odd one in the family. 

Witches looking to recruit him for various reasons. 

The war, past or present tense, the covens, just in general. Vince has a lot of power, an unsettling amount in fact, but he’s actively avoided involvement with the covens aside from his supplying them with various plants and herbs since he’s moved to Barton when it first was established. Good intentions or bad; people who put that pressure on him to join them. 

Someone human he can ‘adopt’. 

Really Vince has a soft spot for humans, he finds them fascinating really and admires their drive in what amounts to such short lives. Someone he’s grown fond of in a brotherly sort of way and keeps an eye on, helps, and basically just tries to keep out of trouble. Bonus points if they are in fact a lot of trouble to deal with. 

People who know his past too well. 

There’s nothing all that hidden about Vince’s past and how bloody it was, but he’s put it mostly behind him. Some people haven’t, and some people like to give him grief over the idea that people can’t change. This person is an ongoing source of exhaustion for him but he’s toughing it out, trying to make them see the good; but it’s not easy. 

Someone who knows his worst secret

Lots of witches use magic to lengthen their lives, but for those with necromanic abilities the spells are particularity gruesome. Vince did something a long time past that he isn’t too eager for others to know, for the sake of keeping his own life thriving well past his mortal years, but this person, somehow, has managed to get that knowledge. With that comes a degree of power over him, for the sake of keeping that secret. A dark fae he traded a favor to ensure his life never ended naturally, another witch he sought out for a spell that he never should have; I'm open to ideas on this one.

Hunters 

Vince is a necromancer, a rather well known one. Over time he's come across people who have wanted to destroy him but has managed to evade them well enough. But this one is out for blood, maybe because of a contract, maybe his actions in the past did something to harm their family line, maybe they just really can't stand dark magic. Whatever the case it's a hard situation for Vince, not wanting to kill again but also very resolute on the idea of not dying. 

[acaciarosewrites]

Untitled (and Unfinished) HP Black Family AU

So I was looking through my files and I found this that I had written forever ago. Posting it here because I have no plans to continue it at this time.. maybe someday I’ll come back to it, who knows?

Electra Black sighed as she glanced around the darkly decorated sitting room. She was utterly and completely bored. There was nothing to do – aside from lessons with her grandmother, Walburga Black, that had thankfully been cancelled.

The dark-haired ten-year-old girl supposed she was bored because she knew something big was happening. After all, her grandmother did not cancel these family heir lessons for any little thing that could not wait or be solved on its own. No, whatever the reason it was cancelled, it was down to something big happening.

It had to be, what with the number of Black family members that had shown up at Grimmauld Place in the past hour. Electra had been the one to escort them from the Floo room just off the entrance hall on the first floor all the way to the “War Room” that was across from the kitchen on the basement level.

By every Black, she meant every Black.

Her great-grandfather Arcturus had shown up first along with her other great-grandfather Pollux and great aunt Cassiopeia. Minutes after the eldest Blacks had spoken to Walburga the four had sequestered themselves in the barely used War Room with orders to escort any member of the family that arrived straight to that room. And she had done so. Each time trying to glean any information and generally trying to understand the situation that was happening in the few seconds the door was open - and subsequently slammed closed.

Only members of the family that had been born into the family were allowed at the meeting. Her great-grandfather Arcturus had made sure to emphasize that distinction. Cousin Narcissa’s husband had learned that the hard way after being turned away by Arcturus himself. she had told Malfoy only those that were born a Black were being let into the room. The self-entitled prick had pouted worse than she ever had in her life (primarily being raised by her grandmother had taught Electra that if she wanted to pout, Walburga would give her something to pout about).

Lucius left not long after that. Thank Salazar. She was bored, but she was not that bored that she would have accepted his company.

Electra mused that the most intriguing thing, if no the most perplexing, thing to happen today was not even the meeting itself. It was that Andromeda Tonks nee Black had shown up and was welcomed into the War Room with not even a peep out of her grandmother. The world was truly coming to an end. There was no love lost between Walburga and her father’s favorite cousin. Then again, Cedrella Weasley was also down there and World War III hadn’t started - yet.

Electra had barely gotten the idea to wait near the door of the War Room to glean any information she could when the meeting adjourned and the family left before she was crossing the hall when noise from the Floo room caught her attention.

Surely there were no other members of her family left to come to the meeting! The only living members, aside from herself, were her father and cousin Bellatrix and they were both imprisoned within Azkaban.

Walking over to the room in question, Electra poked her head through the half open door. Standing in the center of the room was a familiar and haggard man that stood roughly six feet with sandy brown hair and amber flecked green eyes - eyes that had always seemed warm despite their contrasting colors.

“Papa?” Electra exclaimed, rushing forward into the open arms of her father’s husband.

“Hello El.” Remus smiled as he wrapped his arms around the ten-year-old he had seen only a handful of times over the years.

“Papa, what are you doing here?” Electra questioned as she pulled back slightly from the hug to peer up at him. “Not that I’m not happy to see you! Electra was quick to reassure him.

Remus chuckled and shook his head, “I know. Not often we are able to see each other.” They both shared commiserating looks.

Electra had only been just over a year old when Sirius was arrested and imprisoned in Azkaban for his alleged crimes. Remus was her father’s husband and her stepfather, but he didn’t have any claim over her because there was no blood relation despite Sirius’ wishes and directives. She would have gone to her godparents, but James and Lily Potter were murdered by the Dark Lord. As it was there was a custody... dispute... that immediately sprang up after her father’s imprisonment. Her grandmother, backed by the Black elders, had petitioned for her custody as had Electra’s biological mother, Priscilla Rowle.

In the end, Electra had been removed from Remus’ care and given to the Blacks to raise. The girl wasn’t an idiot. She knew the only reason that they wanted her was because she was the rightful heir to the Black Family. While Walburga Black may have burned Sirius’ name off the family tapestry and disowned him, Arcturus Black was still the head of the family and he had not disowned his grandson. Seeing as how his only son Orion had predeceased him and Regulus had died before having children, Sirius was the only male Black that qualified as an heir. Though his incarceration had complicated matters, Arcturus figured Electra would be a better heir to the family than Draco Malfoy would.

Of course, though her mother had not gained custody of her, she was given visitation. When Electra was seven years old she had overheard an argument between her mother and grandmother. It was a horrible fight that had scared her, but she learned some interesting and important things that night.

Nobody talked about her father. She knew his name, knew he was in Azkaban. But that was all she had known up to that point. Electra had found out that he had a husband, that she had a stepfather - one who had taken care of her and loved her as if she were his own.

One who had loved her enough to try and appeal to Priscilla Rowle to allow him to send letters and gifts to his daughter.

Electra had debated about what to do with this information for days. On the one hand, there was no way that she would get to see her stepfather. After the long and hard-fought custody battles that had taken place after her father was arrested and the fact that she was isolated from the outside world - excluding members of her family - and there was the fact that no one even talked about her father and the few things she had managed to overhear... well she knew that no one would allow her to see her father’s husband.

On the other hand, no one knew she knew about her stepfather. No one had to know if she was writing to him. And no one had to know if she was meeting him when the opportunity presented itself.

So, in the end Electra had contacted Remus Lupin-Black. Sending him a letter (one that had taken twenty different forms before she decided to just explain how she had come to know about him and how much she would like to meet him and know more about him and her father. She had gotten a reply and soon the two were owling each other, always careful to ensure that their letters to and from Electra were sent in the dead of night. Electra made sure that the letters her Papa (as she had dubbed him) were locked away in a box that only she could open that was given to her by great-aunt Cassiopeia.

The very first time she met Remus after beginning to owl him was when she was eight years old. Her grandmother was called away by Black Family business and the raven-haired girl had assured she would be alright on her own. After all, they had a house elf that could watch over her. With portkey (probably illegally made) that would take her back home in a second in hand, she had Kreacher apparate her into Malfoy Manor. It didn’t take much for her to convince Kreacher to allow her to visit her cousin Draco and spend time over there. Once he was gone she took the Floo over to the Leaky Cauldron before exiting out in the hustle and bustle of Muggle London. Her Papa had met her a few buildings over. It was all Remus could do but to simply lead her to the city park a few blocks away where they would end up talking for hours.

They got to know one another well after that. She learned more about her father and stepfather about her deceased godparents and the little bit he knew about her god-brother – the famous Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived – that was sent to live with muggle relatives for his safety.

She had also learned that her dad was innocent of the crimes he was imprisoned for.

Remus had told her on that first face-to-face meeting that Sirius had not been the secret keeper for the Potters as everyone believed. They had hatched a plan to have people believe that he was the secret keeper as a misdirect to keep Peter Pettigrew out of the line of fire. And who would believe that Peter was their secret keeper when Sirius Black was James’ best friend and the best man at his and Lily’s wedding? Nobody. They had thought they were so clever. When everything had happened that Halloween night, Sirius had gotten a bad feeling and left Electra with Remus and told his husband that he was going to check on Peter. From there Remus could only guess how everything went down.

Peter had betrayed them. He had betrayed James and Lily to Voldemort and Sirius had gone after him.

Things got confusing after that. Sirius had been arrested after killing Peter and a street full of muggles.

Remus had finally been granted a visit to see his husband in Azkaban. He had only been granted his request because he had gone to Dumbledore and told him he needed to do so to move on, to heal from the betrayal.

It was there in Azkaban, that Sirius had told him what had happened. How Peter had betrayed them all by joining Voldemort, how he had tricked him and caused the explosion that killed the muggles and had cut his own finger off before transforming into his secret Animagus form (a rat, how telling).

Sirius had informed Remus that Peter was still out there. He had also implored his husband not to go to anyone with this. They would not waste any time in throwing a werewolf into Azkaban for causing a stir.

It was a lot for the young girl to take in, but she trusted Remus. She didn’t know how but she knew the older man was telling her the truth – she had always had the knack for knowing when someone was telling her the truth or straight up lying to her face.

Remus had then told her he’d been spending his years trying to hunt down any leads on Pettigrew and where he had gone to ground after the fall of Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

Electra had shaken her head as she focused on Remus. While she had taken every opportunity to see her Papa over the years, he had never been to Grimmauld Place. It was too risky. And now that every member of the family who was born into the family and was of age were currently in the War Room it was not a good idea for him to be casually entering the ancestral home.

“Papa? What? You shouldn’t be here! If they found out... you know that they are all here? Something’s happened but I don’t know what and—”

Remus silenced her by holding up a letter. “It’s fine El. I was formally invited.” Electra immediately recognized Grandfather Arcturus’ scrawling script, beautiful and masculine, with her Papa’s name on the front.

“What’s going on?” Electra practically demanded.

“Your dad escaped Azkaban.”

“What!” the raven headed girl practically shrieked.

“Your dad escaped Azkaban.”

“How? Why? Have you seen him? Do they know?”

Remus chuckled lightly, “Marauder secret. He found out where the rat was. Yes. And if you mean your last question to be about your family, yes. If you mean the last question about the Aurors, that’s a yes as well.”

Electra took in the information and nodded.

“Did he get the rat?”

“We were at an advantage. The dementors didn’t realize your dad was gone for two days. He made excellent time. The rat didn’t know we were coming. We have him caged. The only question is what happens now.” Remus pulled a folded newspaper from his traveling robe. It was the morning edition of the Daily Prophet. “SIRIUS BLACK ON THE RUN! YOU-KNOW-WHO’S NUMBER ONE ESCAPES THE INESCAPABLE!” could clearly be read across the top of the paper with a moving picture of her father chained around the arms and legs while holding up a placard with his Azkaban ID number, clearly screaming at the person who had taken the photo.

Electra looked away from the paper, a questioning look on her face.

“I’m here to see how your family is going to handle this.”

“You intend to tell them of his innocence?’ Electra was surprised. Most of the people in that room wouldn’t lift a finger to help her father and those who were kinder, who still spoke to her father after everything had turned their backs and washed their hands of him when Remus had tried to explain his husband’s innocence.

“I plan to remind them that Sirius never had a trial, was never officially convicted, that he’s still the heir to the Black Family, and that he’s basically been kidnapped and held hostage by our government for the past nine years. How they respond is up to them.” Electra couldn’t help but to nod in agreement. That was probably all for the best. “Where is this War Room?”

“Down the stairs, first door on the left.” She said as she led him out of the Floo Room and over to the staircase that led to the basement level of the house.

“I’m going to have to wait out here, aren’t I?”

“You could,” Remus smirked at her, “Or you could go across the street and hang out in the small court yard for a bit.” He threw back over his shoulder as he descended the steps to the basement.

Electra was frozen as she watched her Papa knock on the War Room door before being permitted to enter. She didn’t even stick around to watch the door close behind him. The ten-year-old was racing down the hall and out the front door. She barely paused to look both ways before crossing the street.

Electra’s silver-grey eyes scanned the courtyard carefully before she caught sight of the reflective canine eyes peering through the bushes. Eyes that were focused directly at her.

She held her breath as a large Grim-like dog emerged slowly, as if he was trying not to frighten her.

[monstrousgourmandizingcats]

Onions, orchid, primrose?

Onions: Tell about your dad.

This actually involves a lot of oversharing about painful elements of my personal story, so I’ll just say that I have a shiftless deadbeat cokehead of a biological father and a heaven-sent angel stepfather and leave it at that.

Orchid: Tell about your grandparents.

My mother’s parents were pretty standard [what used to be called] “white ethnic” (he self-hating Jewish, she proudly Italian) lower-middle-class tradespeople from Springfield, Massachusetts and both died before I was born; my mom got along better with her mother than with her father, but that’s not saying much. From the accounts of people who knew them, my grandfather had gone through horrible problems and was a complete asshole to almost everyone around him for his whole adult life but you could tell there was a vulnerable person inside if you looked, and my grandmother had what I’d call a very well-exercised sense of the tragic.

My stepfather’s parents were upper-class lace-curtain Irish originally from Baltimore, although my stepfather and his siblings were raised in New Jersey. My grandmother was a stage actress before she got married, and was a well-read and widely loved woman until her death when I was twelve. The facts and figures of my grandfather’s life were stereotypical midcentury businessman to the point of archetype–US Navy in The Big One, Harvard MBA, Wall Street, Exxon, extensive personal and professional ties in Latin America. I got to know him pretty well in my teens, but he had Alzheimer’s by then so the main life lesson that I got from him was one of dealing with weakness and living one’s life to the end.

Primrose: Describe your ideal life.

Enjoyable job that doesn’t take me away from the home too much, maybe a few books published to not-uniformly-terrible reviews, happy marriage, a few kids whom my wife and I have strong relationships with. The sort of thing that would be normal-to-vaguely-unambitious for an intellectually-inclined man in “Golden Age of Capitalism” America but feels like one’s wildest dreams as a twentysomething now.

Flower Asks

[ladiesandwitches]

why are people complaining Disenchanted was too cliché or used too many clichés and/or tropes when that is the LITERAL POINT OF THE ENCHANTED MOVIES? Like both films are an homage to and parody of typical fairytale dynamics and arcs? Like OF COURSE they went the evil stepmother route and the evil queen route because that’s what the stories do!! also I have people saying ‘why did they make teen Morgan moody. Not all teenagers are like that’. Yes, they are. All of us are at that age, not because we are moody and hateful, but because biologically in our brain we no longer find delight in hearing the familiar voices of childhood, everything in us wants to hear NEW voices. This is an evolutionary development which helps us grow our personalities and knowledge and understanding of the world, and is meant to help continue the propagation of the species. You do get easily irritated with adults as a teenager because of this, and you think you know more than you do, and you feel certain you’re the only teenager who has ever felt the way you do. If you don’t remember you were like that as a teenager, you’re in denial or you’re a teenager currently. it’s literally how we develop as humans. I have always gotten along with my mum, we like a lot of the same things, she’s always been a little zany and always fun, but as a teen I had arguments, fallouts, I wanted to be with my friends, not my mum. It’s natural. Also your frontal lobe hasn’t yet fully developed and you don’t process negative emotions healthily and you’re more likely to lash out than an adult would, so Morgan doing the ‘you’re not my real mum’ is totally expected (Sabrina does the same thing to Zelda) because they’re angry and they lash out. it doesn’t mean they don’t love them. teen years are a time for developing and finding your own place and your own likes and dislikes and your own style, and that is difficult and complicated, and it effects your attitude, your patience, etc. you are neither fish nor fowl, as my grandmother used to say, and that is a horrible thing to go through. So yeah Morgan is gonna be like that, but as it shows in the film, it doesn’t mean she doesn’t love her mum, or that she doesn’t know her mum loves her; she’s just figuring stuff out

also people need to stop watching Disney films (such as hocus pocus 2, disenchanted) and reviewing them as if they are made for adults and not children. They are adult-friendly children’s films, not the other way around.

rant over

[hiimwebby-vanderwaal]

Archetype — The Explorer Birthday — March 31st, 2003 Zodiac Sign — Aries Sun, Pisces Moon, Aries Rising  MBTI — ENTP Enneagram — 7; The Enthusiast Temperament — Sanguine Hogwarts House — Gryffinclaw Moral Alignment — Lawful Good Primary Vice — Envy Primary Virtue — Kindness Element — Fire

Overview:

Mother — Arabella Vanderwaal nee Beakley (Deceased) Father — Liam Vanderwaal (Deceased)  Mother’s Occupation — Spy/Secret Agent in espionage for S.H.U.S.H agency Father’s Occupation — Spy/Secret Agent in espionage for S.H.U.S.H agency Family Finances — Middle class presently. Decent money was made though when everyone was a spy Birth Order — Only child. Webby’s parents died when they were three while in the midst of an under cover mission, there wasn’t much time for the birth fo another baby Brothers — None Sisters — None Other Close Family — Bentina Beakely, she’s Webby’s grandmother on the maternal side and also presently Webby’s legal guardian.   Best Friend — She doesn’t have one YETTTT. UGHHH SOMEONE BE HER BEST FRIEND!!!!! She so lonely :((( I mean at this point if I have to give her one it would be her grandmother lol Other Friends — She doesn’t even have A BEST-FRIEND so that means she doesn’t have any FRIENDSSS!!! Please make sure this changes for my babbbyyy. She needs friends in her liffeee Enemies — Right now she really doesn't have any considering that she's been living locked up wherever her grandmother is, but maybe she'll make some along the line. Who knows!!!  Pets — None Home Life During Childhood — Webby's parents died when she was only three and then at that point her grandmother took complete custody of her. From then on, Webby has basically been living a very locked up, sheltered life. Her grandmother treated her very well and Webby does love her very, very, VERY much but she just wished her life wasn’t so  What Did His or Her Bedroom Look Like — Very decorative!!!! But strategically so. Webby is very organized. She has a huge map on one of her walls and she has tacks pinned as to where she wants to go, where she has been, and possible history/mythical adventure areas all color coded!!! She also has boards up some with like her academic schedule, and others with things that she’s obsessed with!!!  Any Sports or Clubs — Not really only because lil Webby was basically stuck at home with her granny BUT she’s very athletic and will happily get her hands dirty!! Don’t count her as your typical girly-girl, she is not!!!! She does know about sports though and could tell you the rules to each one.  Favorite Toy or Game — Does spy training count?! Because she loovess that!!! And is damn good in combat and espionage tactics. She even has a back-pack of handy dandy gadgets!! Her favorite board game though is Catan and video game is Call of Duty  Schooling — Webby was homeschooled. This is her first year in an actual school here in Swynlake Secondary :D Favorite Subject — History Popular or Loner — Loner :((( Not by choice!!! She does want to make FRIENDS!!!   Important Experiences or Events — There was the death of her parents, although Webby was only three when this occurred it can be marked as an important event on her life because that was how her life with Bentina had occurred. The day when she was dropped off at Seamus’s and he was given temporary legal custody of her. Her first day of REAL SCHOOL!!!!  Nationality — British/Dutch Culture — British Religion and beliefs — Webby doesn’t really practice any religion but she does study them!!! She’s intrigued by their practices, rituals, history and often times myths that are attached to them. She can read a lot of ancient religion languages too. Bring on those ancient texts and documents!!!! She LOOVESS them!!!! 

Physical Appearance:

Face Claim —  Sabrina Carpenter Complexion — Fair skin with freckles on her nose and cheeks!! Hair Colour — Blonde but like more of a darker, dirty blonde. No where near platinum   Eye Colour — A beautiful pale, sky bluueee!!! <3 Height — 5ft. (Omg she’s my height!!!!) Build — Slim to average build Tattoos — Nope, mainly because of Bentina BUT she does want one!!!! Someone take her to her FIRST ONE!!!!! Piercings — Yes, just the standard two ear piercings. Common Hairstyle — Loose and down. Webby ain’t got time to be doing any fancy extra shit lmao. It would end up a wreck anyways because she can’t sit still. Sometimes it is picked up in like a make-shift ponytail or bun but that’s about as fancy as she gets. If you see something else, someone else did her hair xD  Clothing Style — You guys will see because she’s going to get a closet task done on her woooo!!!! But it’s pretty girly for a girl who does shit to her hair lmao Pretty, floral, cute tops in soft colors. Some type of flow-y cardigan or something always over her shirts. If it’s a graphic tee it’s normally related to like zodiac or mythical stuff. Often times she has a very girly skirt on, but best believe there is always shorts underneath it because she will still kick some ass with her skirt on xD. You can catch her in work out clothing as well: sweats, tank-tops all that jazz. She does stay on top of her exercise!!! Mannerisms — Loud, energetic, constantly in someone’s face (but not like in a confrontational matter), bubbly, always smiling, always curious

Health:

Overall (do they get sick easily)? — Nope. Webby is healthy as a horse, Bentina was very on top of this and has ebbed that into her granddaughter as well.  Physical Ailments — Nothing as of right now, but I am sure she’ll be breaking a bone sometime soon xD  Neurological Conditions — I think we are good in this part. I mean some people might consider her having like ADHD, but honestly that’s just her personality  Allergies — None Grooming Habits — Good. She has clean hygiene habits. Like don’t get her wrong she has no qualms getting down and dirty, jumping in puddles and mud all that stuff but she does clean up after haha Sleeping Habits — Oh my god no one should ever sleep with Webby. Webby has HORRIBLE sleeping habits!! She tosses and turns constantly, takes up like her entire bed space and is a serious blanket hogger xD She might be a bit more tamed if someone else slept with her but like only an itsy bitsy tiny little bit xD Eating Habits — Webby like sort of falls on both ends of the spectrum because on one hand she is conscience of what she eats and wants to make sure she has a well balance meal with all it’s appropriate food groups in BUT on the other handdd she is the first one to eat a SHIT TON of sweetsss!!! She has hard-core sweet tooth on her and that’s mainly because she wasn’t able to indulge in such things when her granny was around so now she’s taking FULL ADVANTAGE  Exercise Habits — On point!!!! Part of her spy training was remaining fit and always having a set required time for exercising. She still follows through with this even with her granny not around. She now goes to the gym though!!! EEEE. Before it was at home with her grandma.  Emotional Stability — Webby is like all over the place when it comes to her emotions. They like hop. She can never just be one emotion for far too long and then she’s very open about them. Webby is not one to really stuff her emotions down.   Body Temperature — Pretty average, nothing special. She like doesn’t lean one way or the other.  Sociability — Super AWKWARD!!! She has no concept of personal space, often times pauses leaving an air of weird silence, is VERY over enthusiastic, energized and blunt but in a very kind way. She isn’t shy, she just doesn’t know how to play it cool so it all comes off so bad lmao Addictions — None. Drug Use — Nope. Alcohol Use — Not really.

Your Character’s Character:

Bad Habits — Chewing on her pens, awkward silences, rocking on her heels, loosing eye contact because her eyes always wonder around, tapping on her finger nails when speaking, short attention span hahaha, loud, has no awareness of personal space whatsoever or normal social cues Good Habits — Always smiling, very nice,  highly enthusiastic, very open, not shy AT ALL, trustworthy, loyal, moral, very intelligent, her willingness to listen (even with a short attention span haha), her joy in making FRIENDS!!! Best Characteristic — Her enthusiasm :D Worst Characteristic — Her lack of knowing even the most common of social cues xD Worst Memory — Her granny having to leave her for a super secret spy mission that she can’t be part of. (Would be the death of her parents but she was very young when that happened)  Best Memory — Her first ever SUCCESSFUL SPY TRAINING EXAAMM!!! Her first ever somersault and every other fancy spy fighting technique!!! ANDD all the great fun memories she knows she’s going to make in Swynlake!!!   Proud of — All the languages she has learned to read and speak!!! She loves learning about languages and the fact that she has so many of them under her belt is a great personal achievement for her :DD Embarrassed by — Webby is kind of a hard person to embarrass tbh... so I don’t think at the moment she has anything that would embarrass her haha. She should be embarrassed about her horrible attempts at “playing it cool” but she really does believe that she does a good job at it.... sighh Driving Style — Webby doesn’t drive  Strong Points — Her determination and enthusiastic drive in life!!!  Temperament — Sanguine Attitude — Optimistic, joyful, determined, feisty,  Weakness — Her inability to tune herself down. She can be a bit too much almost all of the time xD   Fears — The lost of her Granny!!!! She’s the only biological family Webby hasss  Phobias — None  Secrets — Webby comes from a family of top secret spies all part of the S.H.U.S.H agency!! And she herself has been trained by her Granny to excel in the art of espionage much like all of those before her!!!  Regrets — None right now!!! Let’s see how long that lasts haha Feels Vulnerable When — She’s alone and when it may dawn her that someone doesn’t like her or thinks that she’s extremely odd... although she hasn’t learned social cues quite that well, she is aware of that and knows that she can be a bit too much to handle.... :((  Pet Peeves — Doesn’t really have many that she’s aware of... because I really doubt Webby would be self aware of her own pet peeves haha  Conflicts — The isolation she has been under while living with her grandmother. It has left Webby with very poor social skills because she isn’t aware of the social normalities of the world. She never had to use any, so although she may not be that aware of it, it can cause conflicts with the person she’s holding a conversation with.   Motivation — Making her granny proud and hoping that one day she’d become an exceptional spy like everyone in her family!!!!! Being able to one day find some of the mythical secrets of the world!!!  Short Term Goals and Hopes — Excel in school, make friends, go on an ADVENTURE!!!! Long Term Goals and Hopes — To become a spy!!!! Fully complete her bucket list Sexuality — Bi-sexual although she isn’t aware of this because Webby has NEVER had the chance to explore her sexuality. This is my take on what I think is where Webby leans Exercise Routine  — She was definitely placed in a very tight and heavy training routine with her grandmother where she has learned all about espionage. Now that her grandma isn’t around to continue her training, she’s taking to making sure she stays fit by going to the gym, mostly every morning on the weekends and after school during the weekdays. She also repeats some of her training everyday to make sure she remains on top of those. Day or Night Person — Both Introvert or Extrovert — Extrovert  Optimist or Pessimist — Optimist

Likes and Styles:

Music — Everything!!!! Webby legit listens to anything and everything even instrumentals!!!  Books — I wrote them in one of the WriMo tasks for her butttt The Davinci Code series, Harry Potter Series, J. Robery Kennedy’s James Acton series. She’s also very into non-fictional books that talk about Ancient societies and the mythical beliefs attached to them. Magazines — Nope. Foods — Webby did keep to a rather strict food habit, but that was when her Granny was around!!! Now that Bentina isn’t around she has indulged in some unhealthy yummy food including tons of sweetss   Drinks — JUICEEE a HUGE lover of juice!!! Any kind really but her favorite is fruit punch!!! Not a fan of tea though  Animals — All types and sorts of mythological creatures!!!! Unicorns are her favoritttee but tbh she wants to see them ALL.  Sports — Not really that into sports if she’s honesstt, but she’ll play them!!!! Just give her the rules (if she doesn’t already know them because she does know a great deal of them) she’s a very fast learner!!!!   Social Issues — Ughhh she’s still very young right now and politics isn’t her top focus in life tbh haha  Favorite Saying — “I want excitement; and I don’t care what form it takes or what I pay for it, so long as it makes my heart beat.” F. Scott Fitzgerald Color — Pink!!!!  Jewelry — None. She’s not a huge jewelry person, does puts on studs for her ears from time to time Games — Again I wrote some of them on that WriMo task, but her absolute favorite game, at least video wise is Call of Duty!!! Board game it would have to be Catan  Websites — Webby does have a Facebook and an Instagram!!! Her insta handle is: webby_aroundtheworld. She uses the internet a lot though for researching!!! Her history would contain of a lot of history and mythical texts sort of searches haha  TV Shows — Really, check that task out!!! But her fave tv show issss The Librarians.  Movies — Scary/Horror movies!!!!! The Saw series are her favorite!!!!! All those BOOBY TRAPS!!!!  Greatest Want — To have her own FREEDOM!!! and MAKE FRIENDS!!!!  Greatest Need — Honestly, to freaking learn some social cues maann!!!!!

Where and How Does Your Character Live Now:

Home — Webby currently lives with Seamus as for right now he has temporary custody of her until Bentina is to return sooo his house haha Household furnishings — Gotta ask Sav about that bahaha the house looks like how she envisions it since it belongs to Seamus xD. Neighborhood — the Farmlands, southwest part of Swynlake Town or City Name — Swynlake, England  Details of Town or City — We all know how Swynlake issss Married Before — Nope. Significant Other Before — Also, nope. Children — Nope. Relationship with Family — Close!!!!! Webby has a tight-knit relationship with her Granny!!!! She’s also the only living relative she has soooo Car — Nope. Career — No career at the moment, her career is school Dream Career — A spy!!!! For the same agency as all of her family!!!! Maybe even becoming an Explorer too or like an Archeologist!!!  Dream Life — One where she get’s to travel the WORLD, learning about all the ancient secrets out there from once living and thriving ancient societies, going on some crazy wild spy missions, and expedition adventures!!!! EEEE that would be her DREAAMMM.  Love Life — None at the moment but I don’t think she would be closed to the idea if it ever strolled along. Webby is a free spirittt  Talents or Skills — Fully trained in espionage defensive and offensive tactics!!! Fluent in a good bunch of different languages, skilled in gymnastics and tumbling, can play both the violin and cello!!! Does know how to diffuse a bomb and/or other type of explosion items (part of her spy training). Highly and exceptionally sufficient with the computer and researching what she needs as well as records about people... I am sure there is more but right now I am drawing a blank... Intelligence Level — Highly intelligent!!!!!! But it’s definitely not something she like throws at people’s faces, if anything people tend to forget about her intelligence due to her constant enthusiasm   Finances — She can manage haha 

Your Character’s Life Before Your Story:

Past Careers — None yet, but she has #careergoals!!!  Past Lovers — None.  Biggest Mistakes — I’m going to leave this open because she’s only sixteen she still hasn’t made what one would consider their biggest mistake, she has a lot more to go  Biggest Achievements — Same as above. 

[kim-isnt-seaweed]

 I know, i know, i know i should be a better granddaughter to my biological dad’s parent’s, i know they’re old and i if i keep putting it off i might regret it, i know they love me and i love them, yet i still can’t bring myself to talk to them or visit them when I’m in Colombia. i know this makes me sound like a horrible person, but when you grow up with Jehova witness grandparents you will both learn resent them and they’re religion. Because you can’t understand why their religion is more important than you, why their religion is more important than themselves. My grandmother always asked me if the reason i didn’t like visiting them was that they were poor, which is ridiculous because my mom’s family comes from the same exact lower class area, my uncle lived there until very recently. The reason i don’t like visiting them is that they give all their money to their church, everything it hurts me and it makes me angry seeing them sick and complain about their bad roof and seeing my baby cousin with old toys and then you asking my mom for help because the church asked for too much money that month. I know for a fact that my father would be furious at you for doing that because i know that he felt the same way i do about your religion.

 i don’t like going because every time i talk about something i like you tell me it’s the “devils” remember that time you told me i was sinning for playing with barbies because one time a barbie scratched a little girl while she was sleeping? i do, because i couldn’t sleep for a week after that. Remember when you didn’t go to my first communion party because it was a Catholic celebration and you believe Catholicism is the “devil’s”? or that time you saw a little pendant of the Virgen mary on my neck and you started calling her a whore and how we were sinning by saying she was a saint because apparently giving birth is dirty and stains you from being a saint or perhaps do you remember when i turned 14 and you told me that the only reason you were at my party was because i am my father’s daughter, but that i shouldn’t be celebrating my birthday because God “hates” birthdays and Jesus hates people that celebrate their birthday because that one lady in the bible that asked for someone else’s head for her birthday, you don’t remember? i do because i had to go cry in the bathroom.   i also remember that you always made me go to your house despite knowing i feel uncomfortable going there because all your neighbors stare at me and think that because they knew my dad they have the right of touching my face or pulling me into their house so they could show me around “Juan David's daughter” all because you guys always said you were old and poor and going to my house was too troublesome even though my mom always offered to pay the taxi, but one day, one crazy coincidence made me realize that nothing is more important than your church, one day i open the door and before either of us realized what was happening you blurted out the words “hi, do you have the time to hear about our lord and saviour Jesus?” how crazy is it that on one of your door knocking rounds through a steep hilled neighborhood you wound up on your granddaughter’s doorstep, the same granddaughter you told you were too old and tired to visit. 

...

i’m sorry this is just something i’ve been wanting to get off my chest for a while 

[xladyalaeria-ht]

The images above are not mine. I found them on Pinterest and Tumblr. 

( katie mcgrath, 23 (30), cisfemale. )  ♟  raise your glass for ( alaeria hightower ), the ( lady ) hailing all the way from ( oldtown ). the word on the kingsroad is that they’re known as the ( wildcard ), and apparently they can be ( - subserviant ) and ( - secretive ), but at least the gods blessed them and made them ( + charming ) and ( + creative ). no one is positive as to their intentions but they’re loyal to house ( hightower & targaryen ), so they can’t be all bad.  Hello my lovely friends, it tis I, the slowest turtle in the planet finally finishing up and posting my bio for Alaeria. If anyone wants to plot a connection or a thread with her, please do feel very free to hmu, sweethearts!! <3

Ok, so let met first start off by saying what some/most of y’all might have suspected or guess by now, that my girl's  no.1 biggest secret is that she's actually not the real Alaeria Hightower! XD But, she is a Hightower by blood though, as her dad is the current ruling Lord of Hightower. Now let the story begin...

So about 2 yrs before she got married to Drogon Targaryean, she was actually the very secretly unknown, bastard child of Lord Dietrich Hightower from an extremely discreet liaison he had with a woman (who is actually a descendant of the Free Folk & also from another land/kingdom ( i haven’t really decided which one just dfghjklkjh ^.^”). He was a lustful dickhead of a guy who basically just wooed and charmed her mother with fake promises of love and he hid his true identity from her. When she got pregnant and thus found out her lover's real identity, she then immediately left, (to his relief as well as he didn't want to fuck up his marriage and spoil his shiny & extremely proud reputation) because she didn't want her child to known as a bastard and also to prevent her from getting gossiped about , bullied, etc...And also cos her mom still hopelessly cared for that idiot lover of hers despite knowing better. XD

Alaeria and her father never once met until one day, 2 years ago, thru a chance meeting and it was hard to not believe that she was his child as she had a unique birthmark which only members of his line would have, and she was the exact spitting image of her paternal great-grandmother XD They also eventually came to find that she also possessed quite a mixture of a few physical & non-physical traits of Maris the Maid, one of the most legendary Hightower ancestors.

Dietrich Hightower’s  only legitimate daughter with his legal wife, the current ruling Lady of Hightower, was the real Alaeria Hightower. She was a rather sickly and a pretty weak child. She also had the misfortune of having some facial scars and horrible looking birthmarks on her face and neck, and was also slightly disfigured due to a terrible accident while growing up. Her overly-proud and image conscious/ shallow parents were pretty dismayed by her appearance and was extremely fearful that she might not be able to make a good & strong match with other great houses. So from when she was 8 or so, onwards, they kept her carefully hidden in Hightower and she hardly went out of their fortress of a home. Plus whenever she had to be presented out for public events , they covered her face with pretty but dark-coloured veils and spread word that it was "prophesied that she had been both blessed and cursed with great beauty upon her 5th birthday and whoever who caught any single glimpse of her face from that point onwards, before she was married, would be struck down with  a great misfortune at a major point of their lives." So yeah, they managed to make many people believe this bullshit fake prophecy with asking a few servants to spread rumors that she was an incredibly beautiful baby & toddler & a few daredevils who had tried to sneak a peek of her face properly when she was 10/ 11 had been afflicted with horrible accidents and disastrous illnesses. The ruling couple also were planning to tell their in-laws after she managed to be wedded, that “this gift of beauty of her was also two-edged curse as she would be struck with a minor harmless affliction (ugly facial marks and stuff) after her wedding night”  XD rofl

They also obviously never told anyone that her health wasn’t that strong and constantly on a see-saw condition ;)

Ruling Lady Hightower was overly-protective of her poor little girl and devoted a lot of her time to pampering and spoiling her daughter so much, that the real Alaeria Hightower, grew up to be quite the brat : shallow, entitled  & extremely lazy young woman that was only interested in material items and frivolous matters, never bothering to study much or read nor get well-versed with current political events (despite having pretty sharp brains). She was also pretty selfish, never genuinely concerning herself at all with the welfare of anyone but that of herself and her beloved mom. She never ended up being close with her father at all as well.

In the meantime, my baby ( who I’m still struggling with deciding on her real, original name asdfghjkl, forgive me ^.^”) had been growing up in a pretty nomadic lifestyle with her loving mother, who had quite of a wandering soul in her. Despite never truly having a proper home or a long-term abode, she was pretty happy with her life as a travelling low commoner. She adored her mother and her mother cherished her right back, always making sure that she felt safe and secure. During all her many years of growing up, she had travelled to many & all sorts of lands and kingdoms & had a very rich past filled with memorable experiences and cultures as well as meeting all sorts of people. Her mother taught her to always be kind, loving and to be compassionate no matter what, as well as to always hold on to the hope that there will always be a light shining in the darkness in end. Her mother also always(!), highly stressed on filial piety and thus her daughter become an extremely dedicated & very dutiful daughter, that rarely counteracted nor really argued with whatever decisions her mother made ( even if very secretly sometimes doesn’t really like it nor agree with it :p)

In the end through it all, Her personality is that of a warm, genuine, sincerely charming and pretty affectionate woman. She's also pretty gentle sometimes. She's happens to be quite witty and pretty knowledgeable as she has a huge thirst for knowledge and was always very eager to learn as much as possible about anything & everything from when she was a child till now still. She's very loving and always tries her best to smile a lot no matter what, and also is very generous. Her flaws are that she is pretty naive towards the noble-people’s  manipulation, cunning & wicked ways since she's so open. She gets anxious(TM) easily at times and can be quite the worrier over some matters. She's also too docile/ overly-fillial towards her elders which would be her dad, his wife and all the older relatives of Drogon's family. ( this would give them a bit of power over her and it's kind of second nature to her to feel obliged to obey whatever they demanded of her...for now) She  is actually rather clumsy on some occasions, but now she has to try her best to be elegant & graceful  as much as possible ( so hard tbh XD) . She actually doesn't like the idea of battles and war and doesn't fully enjoy being a royal.  All she ever wants in life is to just live simply, happily and peacefully with her loved ones and that's it. Poor gurl. She likes spending time outdoors a lot and her hobbies more lies with cooking on her own, making small herbal soups/drinks (which she learned a great deal from her mother), swimming, riding and wood-crafting and playing with animals. She also has a pretty curious nature and high penchant , nay desire(!), for exploring all kinds of new places.

Now back at Hightower: (3 and a half years ago, before everyone came to King’s Landing) ;D: Shortly after Drogon's mother & his privy council and the rulers of Hightower came to an agreement & set arrangement to wed Drogon and (the real) Alaeria in the near future, the real Alaeria unfortunately got infected with a fatal and incurable, long-term, disease. Lord Hightower was panicking hard over what to do with the marriage arrangement as he really wanted to strongly bind their house with the great House of Targs, (cos despite whatever their current status may be , he wisely deemed that this powerhouse could potentially rise up to take over the Iron Throne again in the future & if not, well, it was better to be allies with this formidable house than be enemies ryt incase of any future wars?)

And this is when he unexpectedly & finally met with his bastard daughter at this critical emergency time. Upon meeting her and seeing some potential in her, he then had this brilliant but crazy & extremely risky solution, that my baby should take over her royal half-sister's place and pretend to be her for the benefit/good of the kingdom.

My baby had been seeking hard for her biological dad a few months prior to that life-changing event, as her beloved mom had just recently died but she managed to tell her daughter the truth of her real-parentage and told her that if her dad ever accepted her as his own & welcomed her  , she (my baby) must promise to be an obedient and filial daughter to him as my baby had been to her all these years.

However, when her father revealed his plan of deception to her, she immediately didn't  wanna do that plan with her dad as she was so damn scared that it would quickly derail and go wrong and they'd be exposed within the first day of her setting foot in Dragonstone XD Plus, also she ever truly wanted was to meet her biological dad and get to know him, not to be powerful lady! She was fearful for both hers & her dad's lives if they were found out and that she might either be facing life imprisonment , exilation or the worse of all, death, if her future husband and his council was so enraged over the whole major deception and wanted to punish them badly. BUT because of her promise to her mom and also because her dad eventually managed to sway her with lots of showers of affection and eager interest to bond and get to know his bastard daughter, which Dietrich quickly detected that she longed for fatherly love and acceptance ( half of this stuff he did,  was subtle manipulation which my poor baby will not realize until later) she then eventually did reluctantly agree to go with the whole plan.

Thus they spent that two years, before the day she was to step foot into Dragonstone for the engagement party and the wedding, coaching her relentlessly on how to become  perfect princess. The becoming Araelia part was easier to get into bcos,  nothing much was really known about the real Araelia outside of Hightower, since she was kept hidden most of the time by her parents, and had minimal interaction with folks during any major public feasts & events happening there and only a handful of highly trusted folks in Hightower knew of this whole matter. SO basically my baby could really be her own character & personality when she was and is still, now going about as "Lady Araelia.”

Atm, my poor gurl feels so conflicted internally, cos she loves Drogon so, so much and she's so torn over whether to  finally tell him the truth rn or continue holding it a secret to her grave. Cos she doesn't know how he is going to react!  She's in so much agony over her current dilemma right now, because the one thing she's no.1 scared of,  is losing him and his love . She's felt so happy, secure and at peace with him eversince the day they got married till now hence, she's so scared of losing him & this happy marriage forever if she confesses.But then again, she feels so horrible for still continuously lying to the man she loves, every single day.

Also, eversince arriving at King’s Landing for the past few days, she’s been holding an ever-persistent anxiety  at the back of her mind  over her true identity being discovered out. She’s been trying very hard to hide and keep her anxiety & stress at bay as often as possible. The current occasion she was attending and the place where it was held was the most riskiest of situation to be in at the moment, as there was the fearful possibility that someone from some other place which she could have bumped into during her past life of nomadic living with her  mother, would chance upon her and recognize her. Thus, inadvertently exposing her real identity and bringing the dreaded drama that was sure to follow.