#my good friends marla and john

[undergroundbillions]

petition for marla and john from flop of the heap to play mommy and poppa in the rag dolly revival

- mod wowf🐾

[semper-legens]

44. Five Nights At Freddy's: The Silver Eyes, by Scott Cawthon and Kira Breed-Wrisley

Owned?: No, library Page count: My summary: Ten years ago, Charlie's friend Michael was killed at the pizzeria that was her father's baby. Now, she's returned to the town where she grew up for the memorial, alongside the friends she's since drifted apart from. But when they break into the abandoned Freddy's, it seems that the disappearances weren't buried with Michael and the other children. The animatronics are alive. And there's a killer on the loose… My rating: 2.5/5 My commentary:

So, Five Nights at Freddy's. That sure is a game. The background to me reading this is that I watched the film with a friend not too long ago, and it was surprisingly good. That, plus an excellent video essay by NezumiVA, got me interested in FNaF lore, and I wanted to take the plunge and see what the books were like for myself. Now, don't get me wrong. FNaF is not necessarily a good game series - it's too bogged down in its own lore and mystery, and the ongoing narrative just becomes more and more convoluted with each installment. Plus, Scott Cawthon himself is a conservative Republican who has donated to the Republican party and is anti-choice. Screw him. Still, I find FNaF in and of itself to be an interesting case of an internet horror series, and the progenitor of the 'twisted children's mascot' style of survival horror game. I'd heard the books went some weird directions, so why not borrow them from the library? So without further ado - it's The Silver Eyes.

And how did I find it? Mostly, bland. To be expected, really. The thing about FNaF is that it does, in fact, work really well in the medium that it is in - that of a jumpscare-heavy suspenseful horror game. All of the lore is backstory and background that gets hinted at through the actual game And I'm talking about the first game here. A common criticism of FNaF as it develops is that it gets bogged down in creating new Twists And Turns and piling lore upon lore upon lore. You can't adapt FNaF as-is into a book; literary jumpscares aren't really a thing. So what we instead have is a standard horror/coming of age story. A seventeen year old returns to her hometown, a place tied up in family history, a place that still holds a lot of mysteries about her past. But surprise! The monster that plagued her childhood is still here, and now she has to defeat it! The narrative doesn't really deviate from this basic premise, which is…alright. Like, it's fine. Paint by numbers horror, but largely inoffensive.

There were three things that greatly annoyed me about this book, however, and I will complain about all of them in turn! One, there were too many characters. Charlie is accompanied by her friends John, Jessica, Carlton, Lamar, Marla, and Marla's little brother Jason. So that's seven characters to get to know, and half of them feel sidelined. I couldn't tell you the first thing about Lamar and Marla, Carlton is mostly just The Snarky One, and Jessica's not that much more fleshed out than John, who gets deuteragonist status by virtue of being Charlie's sort-of love interest. You could cut half of this cast and the narrative would not suffer even the tiniest bit. Add to them the secondary characters like Afton and Carlton's family and Henry Emily, and you've got way too many people to keep track of.

Second, there were so many choices in the story that weren't justified or fall apart with any sort of scrutiny. Charlie had a twin brother who was killed when they were small; somehow, she didn't know about this until now? Nobody mentioned it to her? Carlton's dad refuses to look for him after he goes missing in Freddy's and leaves it a full night on the flimsy premise that Carlton is probably just pulling a prank, which is just an artificial way to create peril that made no sense. But the gold medal for this goes to the killer himself, William Afton. See, in the first game, we don't need to know why Afton murdered a bunch of kids - that part is just backstory to the idea that the animatronics are haunted. But here, we have serial killer Afton who just loves snatching and killing kids…because? There's not even a basic excuse for his behaviour, I guess we're just supposed to understand that he's evil or something and not think any more about it. But at the end, when he kidnaps Carlton, he just puts him in a springlock suit and leaves him there, which of course means that Carlton later escapes. Other people, he just murders, but that day he decides not to? For…some reason? He has no motive, he just does things that are meant to be creepy, and that's it. No nuance. Which, again, can work when it's just backstory for a video game whose whole point is to avoid getting jumpscared. Not so in this sort of prose narrative.

And finally, not all that surprisingly for FNaF, the narrative just takes a left turn into copaganda in the middle. Carlton's dad, a police officer, expresses that they knew that Afton was responsible for the deaths, but they didn't have enough evidence to convict him so he got away with it. Well, specifically they say that they can't convict him without bodies, but there's been murder convictions without bodies before in real life? But anyway, the fact that the narrative validates this sort of opinion by having Afton be an evil murderer who murders evilly feeds into that copaganda viewpoint of 'if only police were allowed to be tougher then those evil murderers would stop walking free'. Basically advocating for a police state. It was baffling, I had to put the book down for a minute when I read it because it felt like Cawthon jumping onto a soapbox just to be conservative for a moment. Gross.

Next up, the life of a godkiller, and those she loves.

[your-old-sins-tournament]

12 YEAR OLD OCS; SIDE B

Marla [@doctorshatehim] (she/her)

She's my horrible little old fan character. She was also shipped with a canon character in the unspecified media and has fire powers and can morph into a weird monster thing with big teeth.

Description

Marla's a short gray alien cat with light grey markings, curly fur, and amber eyes. She wears a white button-up with a orange and yellow striped sweater over it with a red-orange bowtie and blue pants. Marla has two tails with flames on either tail tip. Lastly, she has a little curled-in tuft of hair on the top of her head.

John [@mx-yip-yip-hooary] (he/him)

ok so from what i remember they were the most stereotypical oc in the history of ocs. also i made them when i was a gacha kid. sue me.

Ok so John is this kid who has like a shit family. his parents aren't physically abusive, but they're very neglectful. this leads to the kids being very mean to each other, as they each blame the others for their parents' lack of care. one day, after a particularly bad argument, john runs off to blow some steam. he finds this sword just lying in the middle of woods and picks it up. surprise surprise the sword was possessed by a angel general who fought in a ancient "demons vs angels" war. (the lore is that centuries ago there were three groups; angels, demons, and humans. humans came along later, and both the angels and demons didn't like them and therefore hid from them. but the thing is angels and demons don't like each other too, and kept having fights. it escalated into a war that destroyed both societies. the remaining magic from the battle still lingers)

john now has powers! yippee! he can summon weapons when he feels like basically. but the thing is he doesn't know that he has powers. because yknow he doesn't really think of summoning weapons most of the time. but he is aware theres Something Else in his head. huh. the general keeps trying to get john to collect more magic and build up the angel forces again but john just has no clue what the guy is talking about. one day though john snaps at his older sister and almost accidentally kills her. his parents to disown him.

but good thing for him there's actually now a group dedicated to finding out what these magical residue marks are and helping people affected. so hes taken into that and joins a friend group :]

[connectionterminated13]

Since you asked me what’s your thoughts on silver eyes as a whole i’ll do the same thing. What’s your thoughts on the silver eyes trilogy as a whole and what’s your thoughts on the characters as well?

Oh boy here we go

The silver eyes

Was pretty good! I think that Charlie was a fun main character and it was a good self-contained story. I think all of the scenes in the pizzeria were properly tense even though it takes a bit to really start going. Also the fact that Dave Miller was pretty much described having rat energy always makes me laugh...

The twisted ones

I don't think we needed a sequel but it's okay! I think the twisted ones themselves look pretty cool and it continues the story well enough. I don't really have any strong opinions about it I just think it's a thing... Except for everything with Charlie investigating and Sprint trap thinking he's the best thing since sliced bread-

The fourth closet

Why..? I knew about the robot twist going in and could see some of the stuff leading up to it but I think it was poorly executed... There was a lot of good ideas in there I think circus babies pizza world, The mystery of who fake Charlie was and even the robot thing could have been pretty good if handled well.. There were definitely some cool bits but As a whole I just see it as a ton of mispotential.

Also I will forever curse them for not adding in Michael because sister location already came out you could have expanded on his character there!!

Charlie

I think she's a good main character for the series. I like how she's a bit shy and awkward but also can kick a** when she needs to (She's been doing push-ups). I like her relationship with Henry and the way he still affects her even though hes long dead. Also her figuring out about Sammy and for a little bit thinking he might not actually be dead made me sad. I would've really liked if they didn't just kill her after the robot reveand explored how she feeled about that that would have been cool maybe...

(I also dressed up as her for Halloween which was fun)

John

Hes a nice fella. I think he is a good love interest for Charlie but had some issues in the twisted ones and especially in the fourth closet.... I love how clueless he is most of the time and how he is really trying to figure it all out. I don't have much to say he's just a nice fella and I feel slightly bad for killing him in my own au all the time

Jessica

I think she's a good companion for Charlie. The friendship in general is just really cute and nice. She can also kick a** when she needs to. I just like her too she's nice (I also feel bad about killing her in my au.... I'm sorry I keep on killing off the silverized friends characters I can't help myself!!)

Carlton

I like him I like his funny I like his comebacks I think hes a good addition to the group

Marla

She's there... I don't really have any opinions on Marla

Lamar and Jason

I do think it was a good idea to cut down the Group A bit since there were a lot of them. But still I would have liked a bit more from these 2

Clay and aunt Jen

They're cool. They should be more stuff I agree with you on that

William

I love this man no matter how much the book's fluctuate he is just so Entertaining...

As a whole I think the series had a lot of good ideas that were not executed the best but in general was a fun experience :)

[tmrrwppl]

Been thinking about how Clari and Stephen are cousins and probably share the same 5 braincells because Stephen is a reckless idiot, and Clari is a slightly less reckless dumbass. And both are absolutely little chaos goblins for the LULZ.

But like, they have never interacted much during the main canon. Clari was around and Stephen was around, but they never really talked (again, main trio [John Cara Stephen] vs secondary trio [Cas, Clari, Russ] with only Russ being the 4th wheel to the main trio). And Clari was always busy AF keeping everyone alive in the Lair.

But the times they have interacted, absolutely morons together. Bad puns, side eye glances of judgement about everyone else. They could totally have a good relationship if they interacted.

But for now, Clari just forms this bond with Marla that is absolutely 'favorite aunt'/'favorite niece' and Stephen is still just 'eh that chosen one guy I'm related to'.

But also at the same time, she's like, 6 years older than him... and probs about a full foot shorter so she can't exactly just step up and be the cool older cousin, cause she's absolutely a hot mess (by her own admission, since Stephen's def graduating high school and she never made it past freshman year etc etc)-- but she'd probably just take Luca under her wing as the sole human bb and if he breaks out, she'll throw a damn party for him to make him feel more comfortable with all the nonsense he's seen and dealt with from e'rrybody.

Sidebar:

I feel like after the fact when Clari finds out about Jed being her dad, she goes to Marla since she's basically the only adult left she has current familial ties to, and Marla takes one look at her and is like "yeah, that checks" (because she also have freaking eyeballs, Jed).

And tbh Clari having strong relationships with the mother figures in her life (Morgan and Marla [and Jordan's mother, Adelle, in most verses]) is fantastic. Because God knows her own mother was... a fucking disappointment, to say the least.

Especially when Morgan and Clari were just drawn to each other and became best friends, and Morgan is 100% the first person Clari tells about Jed being her father because it's *kind of* important since Morgan is having her little half sibling(s)-- which simultaneously gives Morgan not only John as adopted stepson, but also Clari as bestie and stepdaughter (and we all know Clari would have that fucking Ikea crib either put together in minutes or in the garbage as soon as she looked at the directions-- depending on her mood)

Idk, I've been thinking about Clari and her biological family relationships lately cause while I've beaten her and Cas to death (absolutely a bad joke on my behalf here), I've never really poked far into the side she gains when she finds out about being half Price.

[playhousemassacrez]

Since I saw you on my silver eyes cast post I just want to ask what are some of your headcanons on John, Jessica and Carlton.

I'm so glad you asked me!

The gang all exist in my AU actually! Since I'm not too fond of the Charlie books (The Fourth Closet being my least favorite cuz Willaim is not how I pictured him to be when he made Circus Baby for Elizabeth. Also, Elizabeth could've been used better), I decided that they should all hang out together, along with Elizabeth and Evan (they're teenagers in my AU btw!).

John is not Charlie's boyfriend, but he still remains good friends with her.

Oh, they all live in the modern times cuz I just felt like it.

Elizabeth and Jessica are gal pals!

I also gave them last names too.

John: Mitchell

Jessica: Peterson

Marla and Jason: Campbell-Roberts (Marla's dad married Jason's mom and it's all good)

Lamar: Davis

Carlton is still the son of Clay Burke, yes and that's fine. Carlton is my dumbass and I love him.

Jessica has light brown hair but did dye the ends of her hair blonde.

They also have favorite characters from Freddy's here too.

Charlie: The Puppet and Lefty cuz that's her siblings, Marianna and Sammy.

John: Freddy

Jessica: Bonnie

Carlton: doesn't have one unfortunately.

Marla: Maybe Chica?

Jason: doesn't like them at all LOL

Lamar: Maybe Toy Freddy?

I'm still working on them more so these will have to do for now (sorry if they suck)

[therecordchanger62279]

THE WEEKEND I SAW MILES PLAY THE BLACKHAWK

SHORT FICTION

It was April of 1961. I’d read in The Chronicle that Miles Davis had an engagement at The Blackhawk scheduled for the 21st and 22nd – a Friday and Saturday night. I’d been dating a girl named Marla from the secretarial pool at work for the past couple of months, and I called her as soon as I found out about the show and invited her to go. She agreed, although she wasn’t really a jazz lover.

Thursday afternoon, Marla came into my office and told me she couldn’t go after all. When I pressed her for a reason, she said something vague about friends visiting from out of town. This was the third time in the past month she’d cancelled on me. So I decided to go alone.

I left work a little early Friday, and dropped by the barbershop for a haircut. Then I headed home, made myself a quick dinner, put on a jacket and slacks, and my favorite tie – the one with the musical notes on it – and called a cab. The cabbie was a bit late in arriving, but I hopped in, and when he asked, “Where to?” I told him, “The Blackhawk.”

Traffic was heavy with people in the city for a Friday night. The skies were overcast and threatening rain, and I’d left my umbrella at the office. The cabbie chattered the whole way about whether or not The Giants had a shot at the pennant that year. I didn’t think so, but he insisted that since they had the best centerfielder in baseball, they couldn’t miss.

When we pulled up to the club, the line wound all the way down the block. I jumped out, paid the driver and rushed to the back of the line – hopeful that the show wouldn’t be sold out by the time I got to the door. A few minutes later, another cab arrived and three men in hats, and raincoats - two of them clutching notebooks, and pencils, and the other a camera - got in line behind me. I found out from their conversation that one of them was a reporter and another, a photographer from Time magazine. The third worked at The Chronicle. I guess they were there to interview Miles after the show. They didn’t seem to know much about jazz, and even less about the club. Apparently they’d called for reservations, and were told The Blackhawk didn’t take reservations. Guido, the owner, had very strict rules about that. You took your chances. Which is why, when I was old enough my dad use to invite me to go with him instead of taking my mom. She hated waiting in line for anything. Come to think of it, she didn’t much like jazz either. (Women are funny that way.) The first jazz show I saw at The Blackhawk with my dad was The Modern Jazz Quartet. The acoustics were so good at The Blackhawk that they didn’t even use microphones that night. But you could hear every note. I couldn’t get over that.

Anyway, I got inside just minutes before the first set began, and only a few minutes after the skies opened up and the rain came pouring down. I was given what looked to be the last available table in the far corner left of the stage. Millie, a waitress who’d been at the club for years (my dad always flirted with her, and left her the biggest tips) took my drink order, and I settled in to hear the first set.

From my vantage point, I could see pianist Wynton Kelly’s back. I couldn’t see Jimmy Cobb behind his drum kit at all. But I had an unobstructed view of both Miles, and his sax player Hank Mobley. I could only see bassist Paul Chambers when Mobley wasn’t out front soloing. Miles was wearing a beautiful blue, pinstriped suit. I made a mental note to go shopping that weekend for one just like it.

Miles played his standard show that night. He used the mute quite a bit, and the rhythm section was in the pocket all night. They sounded good, although some of the spark that was there when I saw the group with John Coltrane was missing. Mobley could play, but Coltrane’s were big shoes to fill.

At any rate, Millie kept the drinks coming, and at one point I noticed the roof was leaking next to my table. Millie brought a tin pan and set it on the floor to catch the water. Sometimes the water dripped in rhythm to the music.

Between the first and second sets, Miles wandered onto the floor and was chatting amiably with several people I took to be regulars. But I noticed he would sign the occasional autograph. So the next time Millie came to the table, I asked to borrow her pen and I grabbed one of the club’s matchbooks off the table, and wandered over to where Miles was standing. He finally glanced my way, and I couldn’t speak. I just pushed the matchbook and pen in his direction, and he quickly scribbled his name on it, handed it back to me and went on with his conversation. I pocketed the matchbook and slipped back to my table.

The second set began with “All of You”, and the whole band seemed more relaxed and in the groove than they were during the first set. I stayed for the third set as well, and when it was finally over I went to the bar to settle my bill. Susan, the bartender’s wife, rang me up. I heard her tell another guy they were expecting an even bigger turnout the next night.

I was there Saturday night as well. The band played four sets, and included “Two Bass Hit”, and “Someday My Prince Will Come”. And they were even better than they were the night before. As I was leaving Saturday night I noticed some recording equipment being dismantled and packed, and when I asked Guido about it, he told me that Miles’ record label Columbia had recorded both nights for an album that would come out in the fall.

I still have the original album I bought at the record shop around the corner from my building. I’ve nearly worn it out in the years since.

I moved east to Chicago in 1965. There were a lot of great clubs there as well, but none with the ambience of The Blackhawk. There was just something about that place. Marla has no idea what she missed that weekend of April 1961 when Miles Davis came to town. She broke it off with me a week later, and I heard she was seeing some guy named Jim from Finance. But I still have my matchbook with Miles’ name on it, and I can listen to the music anytime I want. Sometimes I even think I can hear water dripping in that pan on the floor next to my table.

© 2023

[deltaheartsstuff]

remember when i use to post here. haha me to

I did it drew the silver eyes gang but really my headcanon versions of them since I don't really want to draw the canon version Not gonna go into wall of text info about these guys but ill go into abridged version of stuff that I have changed from the canon and also maybe au concept to make it more unique Charlotte: She a little to nice for her own good and also believes in the paranormal. She mostly goes on ghosts hunts to free or banish spirits. She also blushed at John sometimes John: he is training to be a journalist, he has the additude of a junior detective but loses it when Charlie is around sometimes cause he got a crush on her and acts nervous. Carlton doesn't help. Carlton: pretty much same. Just he looks smart but isn't that smart and does dumb stuff. Jessica: She basically best friend to Charlie she goes between girly fashion girl to sort of a leader type. Marla: She is a energetic tomboy who is friendly and also a sort of over protective older sister (that might be canon but don't know) Jason: He just annoyed when his sister drags him around and sometimes he just goes straight to her when he is scared or someone is mean (again maybe canon but ah) Lamar: He is straight man of the group who acts nervous when he feels like he is in a awkward situation. He is also Marla's best friend and sticks around them. Also changed it now alot of them stay near hurricane cause I'm different Imma say au idea. They are all a group of ghost hunters (Mostly doing it in there spare time) that go into the abandoned mall at Freddy's to see if it is haunted. If they find out it is they want to try and free them. Lamar only one who doesn't believe but goes with them just cause he wants to hang out. Jason comes only cause Marla gotta babysit I might go for this and might not

[feverinfeveroutfic]

a man of many colors: a one shot

an accompanying piece to the fever in, fever out-verse. circa 2013 (or whenever he started getting heavy). a little something soft, sweet, and sensual for your sunday. enjoy 😘

“Never marry at all, Dorian. Men marry because they are tired, women, because they are curious: both are disappointed.” -Oscar Wilde, the Picture of Dorian Gray (aka my favorite book and the driving force behind my long fics save for now it's dark)

It was nearly midnight by the time Alex returned to his apartment in Brooklyn. Another rendezvous with Testament was in the books. Add to this, he finally had gotten Planetary Coalition out to the world after he had wanted to do it for what felt like forever, and he could not have timed it any better with the arrival of the summer solstice, and yet it felt so long ago despite the year behind him. Nothing else to do but to chill out and call it night. When the morning came beckoned the question as to what to do next.

He ran his fingers through his shoulder length mane of jet black hair as well as that notorious silver stripe on the right side of his head, the only piece of hair as gray as the full moon outside of his window. Like the pearl upon a prince's crown.

He then reached over and flicked on the switch next to the doorway. The floor lamp next to his couch lit up the big red painting on the wall: to the right stood his cluttered guitar wall; to the left was his bookshelf.

Alone in Brooklyn.

He set his things down next to his small, shabby couch and he was about to take a seat when he peered down at his wrist watch. And then he remembered.

“Oh, Sam's probably still up,” he muttered to himself.

His longtime best friend Samantha Shelley who lived two doors down from him. She lived there for as long as he did in New York City, since the start of the New Millennium. The last thing she told him before he embarked on tour was she stayed up late enough in the case of his feeling lonely on the dates and he could call her at any time he so wished. She had seen it before, and she had witnessed it firsthand with both Stormtroopers of Death and Anthrax.

He had been sitting for a prolonged time anyway with the flight back to the Big Apple and thus, he doubled back outside to the warm summer night and the deserted sidewalk. Indeed, her front porch light shone bright from next to the door frame.

He adjusted the lapels of his little top shirt and then he knocked on the right panel three times. Alex gave his hair another little toss back and kept his thumbs tucked into his pockets. He peered behind him to the empty street for what felt like forever when the front door swung open.

“There he is!”

He turned to find Sam standing there in the doorway, wrapped in a loose white paint splattered smock and with a paint brush in one hand. Even though she was four years older than him, her jet black hair never turned gray at any given time. She still looked like little Sam I am, the bored and restless art student that could from the coast of California, relocated to New York City, much like how he did over a decade later. She threw her arms around him and he returned the favor with her.

“I was wondering when you'd get home,” she said as she rested her head against his chest.

“And I was just wondering if you were up,” he confessed as he held back to look right into her dark eyes.

“You feel a lot softer than usual, too.” She brought her attention to his body, which had grown a bit rounder in recent months.

“That's road life for ya,” he replied with a shrug of his shoulders. “And just getting old, too.”

“Well, come on in, big boy—I couldn't sleep so I was just going to make myself some tea and paint something.”

Alex closed the door behind him and the soft aroma of dough caught his attention. Sam ducked into the kitchen to his right, and he followed her in there, where the aroma was even stronger.

“Damn, what smells good in here?” he asked her as he took a seat at the edge of the bar so he could watch her. She had set the brush down on the counter, right in front of him, and his eyes ran over the little brush head and the smooth dark bristles that came together to a fine point.

“Cannoli,” she replied as she switched off the oven. “Gotta have something with the tea.”

“Keep those away from me,” he begged her.

“Why? I thought you love cannoli.”

“I do.”

Sam frowned at him, and he nibbled on his bottom lip. He lowered his gaze to his round waist and his thickened thighs.

“Do you see me right now?” he asked her with a gesture down to the middle of his body.

“I do see you.” She couldn't resist showing him a grin. “You look fine, Alex.”

“Fine being relative, I presume.” He raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders.

“No, fine meaning 'elegant'.”

“'Elegant' being relative, too.”

“Not at all! I love the way your body looks now.”

“All fat and old just for your enjoyment,” he chided.

“Alex, you're not that fat,” she declared. “In fact, you're not fat at all. And for crying out loud, you're younger than me. If you're old, I'm ancient.”

“Yes, I am fat—look at me! Look at this big belly!” He leaned back and placed those slender hands on his round belly. “It's all from eating too much. It's all from living here and being around a whole cornucopia of food all the time, whether it's here or out and about.”

“I think you look amazing with some extra weight,” she confessed. “I think it's just a sign that you love to eat and you love feeling full. I mean, you did eat up all that pizza for me that one time.”

Alex let his lanky arms relax a bit and he laughed at that memory.

“Do you remember that?” Sam rested her hands upon the edge of the counter and she gazed on at his old stone face.

“How could I forget? Chuck smoked a shitload of weed and Eric, John, and I all got the munchies big time. It was right then I knew I was gonna get fat some day.”

“You're not fat!” she insisted. “Your face is so sweet and you've got the cutest little tummy now. When you and I started getting closer, I seriously thought you'd look good with a little weight. And it's not big at all—it's real cute and sweet looking.”

“Prove it,” he said.

“Prove it?” she laughed at that.

“Yes!”

She nibbled on her bottom lip. There had been a few times in the past where they got close, but nothing happened to help either of them. There had been times where she wanted to come closer to him.

She then raised a finger to him.

“Don't move,” she told him, and he shook his head. Sam ducked out of there and into the next room for something. Alex kept his hands rested upon his knees and he never flinched once the whole entire time she was out of there. Soon she surfaced from her bedroom with a pad of watercolor paper in one hand as well as her dusty old paint palette.

“Man, you've had that thing forever, haven't you?” he teased her with a sly smirk upon his face.

“Since the beginning of art school,” she recalled, “and when both Bel and Marla told me I was gonna need it. Anyways—” She set the palette down on the counter before her.

“Take off your clothes,” she commanded him, and his eyes widened with horror.

“...why?”

“Don't question it, Alex. Just do it.”

He shifted his weight in his seat and he looked down at his freshly filled out body. She bowed her head a bit so a piece of her black hair lowered over her right eye. He swallowed and shifted his weight again.

“I know that look,” he muttered. “That look has haunted me for so long.”

“I'm gonna tell you the same thing I said to Joey and Frankie,” she started, “in fact, I think said this to you when I drew your full body the first time. We're both adults here. I won't do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable.” She then peered over her shoulder to the fridge. “I have an idea.”

She opened the fridge door and took out a bottle of red wine.

“Oh, boy,” he quipped, nervous.

“I know how you are with booze,” she recalled as she shut the fridge door with her hip, “and I know how you like your wine, too. You told me to prove it so I wanna prove it and you know, I want you to be comfortable.” Without another word, she opened the bottle and poured a bit into a clear clean glass from the overhead cupboard.

“It's easy on me,” he said.

“It's easy on Alex's delicate little tummy,” she teased him as she handed it to him and then proceeded to pour herself one. She then raised a glass to him and they clinked their glasses together. He downed the whole glass in one gulp: he didn't realize how thirsty he was until it hit his tongue.

“My goodness,” she remarked as he set the glass down on the bar.

“Man alive, I was dyin' of thirst,” he declared: she could see it in his eyes.

“Take off your clothes, Alex,” she commanded in a low voice. He sighed through his nose and then he held onto the lapels of his silk shirt. He was careful to take it off and drape it over the back of the stool. Sam sipped on her wine as she watched him take off his shoes, followed by his jeans and his shirt, the latter of which he was reluctant to take off in front of her. He held still there with his fingers on the hem and his eyes fixated on her.

Sam nodded her head at him.

“Go ahead,” she gently coaxed him. “Go ahead. It's okay.”

Alex fetched up a sigh and then he peeled off his shirt for her. He stood there in his underwear right in front of her.

“All the way,” she encouraged him, and he recoiled a bit.

“Come on, baby—let me see you.”

He lowered his gaze to the palette and the brush. Of course.

Alex let them drop around his lanky ankles and he stood before her, completely nude. Sam showed him a little smile.

“Now we're cooking with macaroni.” She downed the rest of her wine and picked up the palette and the brush, and then she snapped her fingers for him to follow her into the front room. He kept his shoulders hunched and his hands down below his thick waist, but once she turned around to face him, she scoffed at him.

“Come on, Alex, just relax,” she begged him. “It's not like I'm gonna suck your dick and tell you it's all a game of cowgirl and Indian.”

“I'm just not used to this, though,” he confessed with a nervous chuckle.

“Oh, come on, you're a Renaissance man! And I want you to feel like that, too. Every Renaissance man deserves to be painted. So—” She patted the comfy couch cushion. “—have a seat, my love.”

His toes curled a little bit at the sound of that, but he slid onto the cushion closest to the arm. And he rested his arm there to help himself relax. It was just the two of them after all. Sam doubled back into the kitchen for a glass of water for her brush: she also dragged the bar stool in and placed it right in front of him. She took a seat with the watercolor paper on her lap and the palette and the water on the coffee table right before her. She eyed the full shape of his body, especially around his middle.

“Pleasingly plump,” she noted.

“I'm pleasingly plump if the North Pole is refreshingly chilly,” he grumbled.

“The North Pole is refreshingly chilly!” she laughed. “But look at you, though—all full and round and well fed.” He knitted his knees together as if to be modest, but it only accentuated the softening shape of his body. “Just so undeniably gorgeous.”

“So do you want me to lay on my side or—?” He leaned onto his right side and he rested his elbow further on the arm of the couch.

“Yeah. Just put your legs up on the cushions next to you—just like that—”

It was awkward to feel a rush of cool air in between his legs, such that it made his face turn warm. Either that or it was the wine talking.

“Your face is so rosy,” she remarked. “I don't think I've ever seen it this pink before.”

“I'm laying on my side, buck naked, and I've got a little wine in me after a three hour flight following a big ass tour. I feel pink.”

Without another moment's hesitation, Sam got right to work. She kept her gaze fixated on him and every so often, she took a glimpse down at the paper to make sure she was getting it right. She had done for so long and yet it helped to go back to basics every once in a while.

“I love your body,” she said at one point. “I'm just so in love with your body and the way it looks.”

Alex held perfectly still with his left hand rested upon the side of his belly as it hung down a bit. He held there even when he felt the pressure coming on in his right arm and his hip. But he stayed there for her. He watched her closely, at the movement of the brush and the soft look of love in her eyes.

They had known each other for years and yet that look and her desire to create always left a soft feeling in his stomach. She was fascinated by him, because she saw him as an artist rather than a genius. She saw him as a man rather than a god.

And it all came down to her painting him right at that moment and how she felt about him.

“I just think back to what you said to Joey that one time,” he piped up.

“What one time?” She chuckled at that as she lightly ran the paint brush down the paper. “Joey and I went out for about a year and a half before he met Krista, and then again literally ten years later. It's been on and off between us.”

“When you guys started going out and I overheard you saying that exact same thing to him,” Alex replied as he shifted his weight a bit. “Like, verbatim. You said the exact same thing to him. How you love his body and how you wanted to render it somehow.”

“Well—understand, I was madly in love with him then,” she pointed out as she rinsed off her brush. “I wanted to draw him the way I've been drawing you but—his heart has always been with Krista.”

She dipped the brush into the patch of black, which he soon figured out was Prussian blue mixed with a bit of dark brown.

“And yours is with me,” he said in a near whisper. Sam lifted her gaze from the palette for a look over at his nude body. She had the look of love with him, but then there were the times his face softened at the sight of her.

“Right?” Alex asked her with a raise of his eyebrows. Sam raised her head and showed him a warm little smile, but she never replied. He knew she was thinking it, but she never replied.

Instead she bowed her head again and resumed painting. He knew she was rendering his head. She then cleared her throat and spoke again.

“Referring back to Joey and Krista, just yesterday, she asked me why you and I aren't married yet.”

“Yet?” Alex chuckled at that.

“Yeah, I know. I told her that I feel like you and I have known each other for so long, and we keep coming back to each other, and it's so soft and silky and cozy between us that I have no choice but to come back home to Mr. Skolnick. And so it's because of that, according to her, we might as well be.”

“Nah,” he shook his head.

“I know, right? We're best friends. I think that in and of itself should be enough.”

“I think it should be, too,” he confessed.

“We like each other. We love each other. I can take it.” Sam dipped the head of the brush in the bright sunny yellow paint.

“Who needs a piece of paper to say it, am I right?” He showed her a little smirk.

“Right!”

She raised her gaze again and he wondered what she was putting that yellow on.

“You know, I've always loved the way you look whenever you get all full of food,” she confessed. “You get all silky and sweet looking.”

“Like the night you finally warmed up to me?” he recalled.

“I think it was you who warmed up to me,” she corrected him, to which he shrugged.

“I dunno if it matters—it was the night we both finally calmed our asses down and said 'yes' to each other.” That brought a laugh out of her, and she rinsed off the brush again.

The thin head of the brush with a bit of China white on top for the signature streak atop his own head. Within time, she rinsed off the brush and showed him the painting, to which he brought a hand to his chest as if he had seen Avalon.

“Oh, my god—Sam. You never cease to amaze me.”

“I kept messing up your fingers,” she said, “on your right hand.”

“They look good, though!” he declared. “Eh, it's guitar player's fingers after all.” He dragged himself along the cushions a bit and his right ached from holding it there for so long.

“Would you like some tea?” she offered him as she set the paper on the stool.

“Yes, please—and can I sit up now?” he asked her with a slight pout to his lips.

“Yes, you may, big and beautiful,” she announced as she wiped the head of the brush on the towel. Alex rolled over onto his back and hoisted himself up onto his elbows: his body had grown soft enough that it was slightly difficult to sit up without the use of his arms. Sam strode over to him to help him but he managed to do it. He leaned back against the back of the couch and then he took glimpse down at himself.

“I feel so distended,” he confessed, and she reached down and lovingly patted his little belly.

“Nah, you're cute,” she giggled. “Just so cute.”

“Which is it?” he teased her.

“What do you mean?”

“I'm beautiful, cute, hot—which is it, Sam I am?”

“All of those things.”

She stooped over and brought her face close to his. Those smooth sensual lips. That large beaklike aquiline nose. Those deep eyes that haunted her for decades.

“You are a man of many colors, baby,” she whispered to him as she ran her fingers through his gray streak.

“You're not just saying that 'cause of that, are you?” His eyes darted up towards his streak.

“The stripe is the epitome of it. I've known you since you were a young boy and I've watched you blossom into such a big and beautiful man.”

“It's funny—I've always wondered why you always come back to me, too,” he admitted with his voice low and husky. He sat there before her, nude and growing as round as a Buddha.

“I've always wondered, too,” she added. “Because you're just so full and lush now—I love every inch of you. I take that back, I'm in love with every inch of you. I'm in love with every inch of you, every inch of this man before me. I don't need to marry you—I love you that much. I never want to stop drawing you, even when the streak overtakes and it all turns gray, and it falls out of your head, and even when your body softens to the point of no return.”

Those sensual lips turned up into a sweet little smile, one that made her think of Cliff. He lowered his gaze to the paint brush in her free hand, and she brought her lips to his forehead again. She looked right into those deep set eyes and showed him a smile in return. He was usually so stone faced and serious but whenever he looked at her, he grew as soft and silken as the skin on his belly. He was a sixteen year old boy once again.

“Are those cannolis still warm?” he asked her in a small voice.

“I believe they are, given I never took them out of the oven,” she told him with a wink. “Put your clothes back on and I'll bring the tray in plus some tea. I want you to eat to your heart's desire. I want you to feel the love I feel for you within you.”

[tabloidtoc]

Closer, May 18

Cover: Hollywood’s Golden Era -- at home with the stars 

Page 1: Contents 

Page 2: The Big Picture -- Newly divorced from Orson Welles, Rita Hayworth relaxed at home in 1948 with her favorite companion her dog Pookies 

Page 4: Golden Age of Glamour auction -- striking portraits of Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Clark Gable and Lucille Ball for sale 

Page 5: Cameron Diaz opens up about motherhood and a return to movies, Prince Harry gets on board with Thomas 

Page 6: Hellos & Goodbyes 

Page 8: Picture Perfect -- How Does Your Garden Grow? -- January Jones 

Page 9: Kate Hudson’s daughter Rani waters the garden, Sam Champion gardening, Paula Deen waters her garden, Susan Lucci in a tulip garden 

Page 10: Milla Jovovich and daughter Osian 

Page 11: Kym Herjavec and her twins Hudson and Haven, Daphne Oz with husband John Jovanovic with kids Domenica and Jovan Jr. and Philomena and Giovanna, Robin Thicke with daughter Lola 

Page 12: Meryl Streep toasted Stephen Sondheim, Giada De Laurentiis with frizzy hair 

Page 13: Gayle King with heart-shaped flowers, Katey Sagal as Dan’s friend Louise on The Conners 

Page 14: Reese Witherspoon and her dog, Cameron Mathison and his dog Red 

Page 16: Cover Story -- At Home with the Stars -- Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward 

Page 17: Audrey Hepburn 

Page 18: Steve McQueen, Sammy Davis Jr. 

Page 19: Dean Martin, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Rock Hudson 

Page 20: Kirk Douglas, Marlon Brando 

Page 21: Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, Anthony Perkins, Ernest Borgnine 

Page 22: Sharon Stone secrets I’ve never told -- the actress recounts her meteoric rise and heartbreaking losses in a new memoir 

Page 24: The Jack Webb Only I Knew -- the Dragnet star’s daughter shares warm stories about her father 

Page 27: Spot the Difference -- John Oates on The Goldbergs 

Page 29: Horoscopes -- Taurus Stevie Wonder 

Page 30: Entertainment -- Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult on The Great, In the Spotlight -- Mark Ruffalo 

Page 32: Movies -- Michael Pena on Fantasy Island

Page 33: DVDs, Books, Music -- Pam Tillis on her album Looking for a Feeling 

Page 34: Television 

Page 36: Great Escape -- Tichina Arnold on St. Maarten

Page 42: Whatever Happened to the Cast from 227 -- Regina King, Hal Williams, Marla Gibbs, Jackee Harry, Alaina Reed Hall 

Page 43: It Happened This Week 

Page 44: Matthew Modine -- how my wife saved me -- the star on his big moments, missed chances and the love that got him through 

Page 48: Growing Up Royal -- Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton are raising their children with love, rules and responsibilities 

Page 50: Diane Ladd at 84 -- Why I’ll Never Retire -- the acclaimed actress opens up about finding the key to happiness, cooking comfort food and taking pride in daughter Laura Dern 

Page 52: A Melrose Place Reunion -- the cast of the 1990′s favorite nighttime soap opera came together for a good cause 

Page 54: The style of Bridget Moynahan 

Page 56: All About Comfort -- Jenna Fischer 

Page 58: My Life in 10 Pictures -- Tom Berenger 

Page 60: Flashback 

[tic-of-the-tac]

The Ultimate In-Depth Analysis of Carlton Burke from the FNAF Novels (PART ONE)

(This took me a really long time to make, so I hope you enjoy it! I was inspired to write this by sn0ji’s in-depth John analysis post, so thanks, sn0ji! Also, I do discuss POTENTIAL TRIGGERS in this, including, but not necessarily limited to, SEXUAL ASSAULT and MANY FORMS OF VIOLENCE, so read at your own risk. And I know what you’re thinking: Cara, what on earth does Carlton have anything to do with sexual assault? Well, prepare to have your mind blown, and not just based on that fact, because I go into SO much detail in this essay and I mention little events and details from the books that NO ONE has EVER talked about before. It’s in so much detail that I had to make a Part 2 for it, so be sure to check that out! So sit back, relax, and enjoy my in-depth analysis of Carlton Burke!)

People know Carlton for his most obvious character trait: his humor. This is the trait that either makes you love him on at least his surface level or overlook him completely. The first group LOVES his humor. It is their favorite thing about him. While most will just like him for the jokes, some people in this group will even dive deeper into his personality and appreciate him even more. (I’m in this group.) The second group chooses to overlook Carlton because his sense of humor and surface-level personality can often come off as immature. However, calling Carlton immature based on these facts alone is completely ignoring his entire character ark and deeper personality which motivates him to put the safety and happiness of others before himself.

In The Silver Eyes, people will notice his humor, but they won’t notice the other subtle details of his personality that Kira and Scott took the time to mention throughout the book. The first action he is described as doing when Charlie enters the diner is thinking of his words carefully before he speaks them. That is not an easy task for most people, and it takes a level of maturity that is often overlooked to avoid acting on impulse. Also, when the boys split up from the girls (and John) after visiting Freddy’s on the second night, Carlton is the one that looks back at the girls, smiles at them genuinely, and waves over his shoulder. This moment is probably one of the most overlooked small moments in the book series, but it is probably one of my favorites, and it took me a couple rereads to catch. It shows that Carlton is a genuine and sweet person who will go out of his way to be friendly to others and make them smile. While people may see his prank-pulling as ignorance to other people’s emotions, it is quite the opposite. Carlton has shown that when it is time to be serious, he is VERY serious. His speech about Michael during the ceremony is super emotional and a sweet testament to his childhood best friend. However, he also sprinkled in some humor not because he is constantly a jokester, but because he doesn’t want to make people more upset than they already are given the tragic circumstances. He is trying to make them feel better. The number one motivation that pushes him forward in life is making people smile and laugh, which in turn is making them happier than they are. (I can honestly relate to that on a personal level because this is the one thing that keeps me going too, which is why I appreciate and adore his character so much.) The pranks he pulls make him happy, and he is hoping to make people laugh by doing them. He does not have ill intentions by telling jokes and pulling pranks. His humor allows him to push through his grief as well as help others push through theirs, which is very honorable and admirable for him to do. It is not immature of him at all. He also tends to use humor when he is terrified, in attempts to calm himself. He’s not just saying jokes for the heck of it, he’s hoping to make the best out of any dangerous or scary situation. (I relate to that too, as I tend to crack more jokes when I am nervous.) It may not be the brightest idea to crack jokes in front of someone who could literally kill him with the tap of a finger, but he is doing what his brain has trained himself to do his entire life when dealing with a bad situation. Not to mention he has a severe concussion (I know that the book says that it’s mild but let’s get real here, being unconscious for HOURS is a REALLY bad sign), so he’s not thinking clearly. He’s acting on impulse because his brain is physically not working properly. Anything that he says from Chapter 9 onward is not an entirely accurate representation of his overall character. It does, however, give us a good insight into how he deals with physical pain and the effect his pain may have on others. He keeps telling people that he’s fine even though he’s CLEARLY NOT FINE, and he constantly apologizes for the way he is acting even though it is NOT HIS FAULT. Even through pain and terror his genuineness shines through. Also, even though he is not thinking clearly, he is able to focus his anger and pain to stand up to the person that killed his best friend, nearly killed him, and is still threatening him and his friends. That is very courageous of him and it is an action worthy of audience applause. He doesn’t let his anger and pain out on his friends, but he is not afraid to show it either, which shows a sense of control in his life, even when he is not thinking clearly. Having this control shows maturity. In The Silver Eyes alone, Carlton proves that there is more to him than meets the eye.

Carlton is not in The Twisted Ones, but there is something worth mentioning about what he is doing during the events of the book. He is studying acting in New York City. Coming from someone who also wants to study acting in New York City, I know that you cannot be some ordinary idiot to get into a college in NYC. It takes a lot of time and effort to apply, and to get into many NYC acting colleges, you need to be smart as well as good at acting. Carlton got into a college in NY, showing that he’s no idiot and he is willing to put in time and effort to achieve what he wants. Not to mention, during all of this, he is dealing with the grief of his parents separating a lot better than most people. (He certainly handled it better than I did when my parents got divorced.) These actions are very mature of him, showing that even in The Twisted Ones, Carlton is a deep, complex character that is more than just dumb comic relief.

Lastly, there’s The Fourth Closet. This book is the most obvious example of Carlton being more than what he appears. In the first scene Carlton appears in, John, who has been in a constant depressed state for the past six months, smiles genuinely when Carlton races downstairs to greet him for the first time in almost two years, while only faking a smile when reuniting with Jessica and Marla. To John, Carlton is a joy to have around. Not to mention the condition of Clay’s house dramatically improves when Carlton comes home. It shows that people find Carlton as someone who makes them happy and they want to have around. Later, Carlton shows genuine concern for his father when he ends up in the hospital and also when they find a sick Charlie. He really cares about other people and wants to make sure they’re okay. While Carlton is VERY intrigued by Not-Charlie’s appearance (and people use this as reasoning to dismiss him as a dumb jokester), he is TERRIFIED of her. He likes to look at her, sure, but when she presses up against him, strokes his face, and tries to kiss him, he repeatedly tells her NO and tries to get away from her. Carlton is not a dumb, horny teenage boy; he is a victim of a downplayed sexual assault attempt, and it is overlooked because he’s a boy, she’s a robot, and he showed interest in her appearance before and after the attack. It is also overlooked because people think of it as just a way to lure him in to kill him, but the text specifically mentions that she “leaned in for a kiss” and ALSO KISSES JOHN WITHOUT HIS CONSENT (meaning yes, John is a victim of sexual assault). (And yes, kissing someone without consent can be considered sexual assault. I did my research before writing this.) Carlton is not completely innocent because staring at Not-Charlie like he does could actually be considered sexual harassment, but showing interest in her does not warrant her to approach him with sexual intentions because he did not give consent. Immediately after, he is unsure how to feel about it. He is still extremely fascinated by her appearance, but he didn’t want to be anything more than frenemies, and the fact that she tried to push it further terrified him. He is essentially thinking, “Isn’t this what I wanted? I thought she was hot, but I didn’t really want her to approach me like that.” These mixed emotions confuse him, and he shows this confusion when he meets up with Marla and sees Not-Charlie on the TV. Again, it’s not him being just a dumb, horny teenager. Then, he is the one to point out that Not-Charlie, in one of her alternate forms, looks like Circus Baby. No one else was able to make that connection. If he is really an idiot as people claim, he wouldn’t have been the one to make this connection. Instead, he shows that he is actually smart, insightful, and observant. (This is actually the third time he showed these traits; the first time was in The Silver Eyes when he observed Dave’s personality, and the second time was in the same book when he found the security camera above the back room door and made the GENIUS decision to slowly make his way across the floor to get in view of the security camera, which ended up saving his life.) Carlton and Marla’s mission from this point on is to save Jessica and hopefully find the missing children. When Carlton and Marla are in the mirror maze and being pursued by Funtime Freddy, Carlton steps in front of Marla, shields her, and keeps her calm on several occasions, showing that he is protective of the people he cares about. Once they find Jessica and most of the missing children, Carlton makes the courageous and mature decision to give his earpiece, the only defense he has, to Jessica and go out on his own to rescue the last missing child. This is the most courageous decision made by any character in the entire book series. TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 2.

[cuddliestbear]

So, I have audible and I use it like all the time. Its not that I don't like just reading books but I don't have the time anymore. I'm always doing one thing or another and don't usually have the time to just sit down and read. At work, in between phone calls I have my headphones in listening to the narrators tell their stories and type away at my keyboard. At home, I will listen while doing chores, or cooking, feeding and cleaning my animals, etc.

I have just used one of my credits to get 'The Silver Eyes' audiobook by Scott Cawthon and some other lady I don't feel like looking up right now. And I've heard about it, I've played FNAF, I've watched countless videos on Game Theorists, Markiplier, Jacksepticeye, NateWantstoBattle and other channels about this game.

I'm only on Chapter 7, and holy shit. I obviously know it's a horror/thriller novel, and it's going to have some thing or another to do with creepy animatronics and missing kids, but just...I guess I wasn't expecting this much? I think this book is canon, too. Like a part of whatever convoluted story is all behind the franchise.

There are spoilers ahead if you wanted to read or listen to the book yourself. You have been warned.

So, there's Charlie, for the most part, she's the main character. I don't remember if her last name was mentioned or not. She's come back to this town of Hurricane to attend a sort of memorial/scholarship giveaway in the memory of her childhood friend Michael. Who was one of the five kidnapped and missing children. and then the story goes on from there.

I just wanna note a few things I have noticed in association with the games.

First the five missing kids. We all know the suspected backstory to the first game. Five kids were kidnapped and killed then stuffed into the animatronic suits. So, that was...interesting.

Then, Charlie's childhood home...I could be wrong but for some reason it gave me serious Fnaf 4 vibes and I'm not sure how accurate that is.

The creepy thing that was in the corner of her father's workshop where he built the animatronics. It sounded kind of like an exoskeleton, and the design reminded me of Ennard, from FNAF 5. But then she made the realization that that exoskeleton was put into the Foxy suit, so it didn't add up anymore. But who knows.

The yellow bunny. Before FnafVr came out it wouldn't have meant much to me other than just the creepy guise the killer used to capture not only those five kids but also Charlie's twin brother Sammy when they were toddlers at the Fazbear Family Diner. It reminds me HEAVILY of Glitchtrap, and I don't think that is a coincidence.

Evidently, Charlie's father started the whole Fazbear franchise. The Diner, then the pizzeria, and the others as well. I have no idea about fnaf 3 or 2 or five, but there are strong connections to at least 1, 4 and the fnavr game

The Freddy Fazbear's Pizza is described to be the same one from the first game, suggesting that during the timeline, that game came before the events of the book, but after the children's kidnappings and murders.

Dave, this "security guard" is def the same dude who wore the yellow spring Bonnie suit to kidnap and kill those kids, but Dave could just be an alias. He's a relatively new character to me still because he was only introduced a chapter or two ago.

Same topic but a little less observational of the story.

I obviously know that bad shit gonna happen because the book is centered around fnaf and knowing fnaf something bad always happens.

If ANYTHING happens to Jason, I will literally kill everyone then myself. Because he is a young child and Fazbear Entertainment and children are not a good combo, bad shit happens.

Charlie, though she is the main character is kind of weird to me because she literally grew up in a room of animatronic like toys. And I do NOT gel with that shit at all. I hate hate hate hate hate freaking animatronics and have long before fnaf was a thing. Charlie was unnatural in her fondness of them and I do not trust those who are not at least wary of things that act alive but aren't.

Jessica's character may just be written this way on purpose but I kind of wanna introduce her face to a brick repeatedly. I don't like her much.

Marla is almost as bad but not in the same way. I wouldn't smack her with a brick but maybe my hand. Who in their right mind as an older sibling would let their younger brother or any younger sibling into an abandoned building where one of their friends had been kidnapped and never seen again???? Like this bitch needs a slap hard across the face for even allowing that shit. What kind of big sister are you to bring your kid brother into possible danger like that?

Then, Charlie again, this bitch legit got attacked by foxy on her second outing to this boarded up and hidden old janky place and decided it would be okay to go back???? With some sketchy dude named Dave???? Sure her friends were with her, but the bitch literally showed them all he knew a fuck ton more about that pizzeria and the operation of those animatronics than any rando property security guard ought to, and they didn't nope the fuck out and all leave?

Then, THEN. One of their friends gets fucking kidnapped right the fuck in front of Jason by Dave dressed in the Spring Bonnie suit and since Jason is apparently too fucking stupid to say that the Bonnie was yellow, Charlie nor John caught on even though both of them would have known what that fucking meant!!!!! Like Jason, my dude, I love ya, ur a cute fuckin kid, but descriptions are fucking important. You are 11, you are smart enough to figure that out.

Also, then Carlton's dad, a police officer just kind of invites them over for cocoa and claims Carlton is pulling a trick on them and will show up. Um bitch no. You're son is probs dead, and you are not even helping to find who is responsible right now. All you're worried about is that the door was chained and the kids couldn't have gotten in. Did it occur to you or your dumb as bricks co-officer Dunn that maybe just fuckin maybe the chains were put on in between the kids leaving to get help and you all coming back? Maybe like idk the kidnapper didn't want you to follow him or interrupt whatever sick and twisted things he's doing?

Anyways, I think that's it for now. I'm going to listen to more and hopefully not fucking give myself nightmares. Wish me luck.

[grayisholi]

music tag :D

I was tagged by the boi himself @dontdowhatisayandnobodygetshurt <3 <3 Love ya matty!!

1: A song you like with a color in the title — Faded Coat of Blue by Jolie Holland

2: A song you like with a number in the title — 21 Guns by Green Day

3: A song that reminds you of summertime — I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker by Sandi Thom

4: A song that reminds you of someone you would rather forget about — House of the Rising Sun by The Animals (and I’ll never forgive the fucker)

5: A song that needs to be played LOUD — Blood in the Cut by K. Flay

6: A song that makes you want to dance — To Noise Making by Hozier

7: A song to drive to — British Intelligence by Jamie T

8: A song about drugs or alcohol — Coming Up Easy by Paolo Nutini

9: A song that makes you happy — Liztomania by Phoenix

10: A song that makes you sad — My Friends by Oh Wonder

11: A song that you never get tired of — Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene by Seafret

12: A song from your preteen years — The Only Exception by Paramore (first full song I ever learned on guitar)

13: One of your favorite 80’s songs — Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie

14: A song that you would love played at your wedding — Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy by Queen

15: A song that is a cover by another artist — Heroes by Gang of Youths

16: One of your favorite classical songs —  Overture for A Midsummer’s Night Dream by Mendelssohn (fuckin slaps 10/10 recommend)

17: A song that would sing a duet with on karaoke — Somebody to Love by Queen (quartet?? XD)

18: A song from the year that you were born — Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus

19: A song that reminds you of family — Secret Smile by Semisonic

20: A song that keeps you calm/levels you out — Falling by Florence + the Machine

21: A favorite song with a person’s name in the title —  Layla (Acoustic) by Eric Clapton

22: A song that motivates you — Nina Cried Power by Hozier

23: A song that you think everybody should listen to — Achilles Come Down by Gang of Youths

24: A song by a band you wish were still together — I’m so sorry, all my little ex-emo heart could think of was Teenagers by My Chemical Romance

25: A song by an artist no longer living — Imagine by John Lennon (covered by David Bowie)

26: A song that makes you want to fall in love — Let Me Down Easy by Gang of Youths

27: A song that breaks your heart — Dear You by Lucy Spraggan (suicide tw)

28: A song by an artist with a voice that you love — Marla Jo by Fairplay feat Will Connolly 

29: A song that you remember from your childhood — Mr Brightside by The Killers

30: A song that reminds you of yourself — Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy by Queen... again

31: A song that makes you feel empowered — Feel It Still by Portugal the Man

32: A song perfect for a roadtrip — Summer of ‘69 by Bryan Adams

I also, uh... made a playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7xv96jR9Nr5bIdfx7j87SM

I tag the squad @flying-roomba  @emolordisme @dead-men-disco @crowleydear @theunconventionalking ^.^

[totallycorrectfnafquotes]

tfc reactions and stuff

i managed to avoid spoilers up until now so i guess i’m reading/reacting to this let’s go

(spoilers below the cut)

chapter 1

“...where a clown’s painted face filled the screen, caught in a convulsive fit of laughter.” i don’t trust like that

“‘Did you already have this costume, or did you make it especially for the grand opening?’“ I REALLY DON’T TRUST LIKE THAT

i don’t know who luis is but i like him

“... i need you to get your head in the game.” dang i don’t remember there being so much murder or robots in high school musical :/

HE KEPT THEODORE

JOHN DON’T YOU DARE THROW THEODORE AWAY

and i’m crying now

“She called my name.” FUCK

“When he found himself too far out, he would always take deliberate steps back to the shoulder, and it was always with a secret sinking disappointment in himself that he would do so.” o h :(

“‘And so does she.’“ WHOM?

what the fuck is going on

john stop being a bitter fuck and hang out with your friends

also what the fuck is going on

chapter 2

who the hell is this lady

i don’t trust her

john be nice to theodore

be nice to my son

is charlie possessing her own corpse

is this a michael afton scenario

“I was in this play about a horse.” carlton i would literally die for you

yea this ain’t charlie

john please do not call her “my charlie”

“I thought I was going to die.” yeah that’s not suspicious at all

“Those weren’t her eyes.” oh big fear

“Even breathing was strained and unfamiliar...” michael afton: yeah i know that feeling

random pain? michael afton: yeah i know that feeling

chapter 3

“Raise it a few more degrees.” UM

what the fuck is going on

“They will become more, just like you did.” BIG FEAR

okay john you’ve officially reached stalker levels

john are you accusing sammy of being a sleeper agent

“...as if it was all she could do to hold herself in one piece.” if this line turns out to be foreshadowing i swear to god

“...he heard the sound from theodore’s head again: the whirring and then the click.” oh no

okay i think i know where this whirring and clicking from theodore’s head thing is going and i don’t like it

at all

wait

rabbit head

oh NO

“...above them was a sign, in red and yellow neon letters: CIRCUS BABY’S PIZZA.” aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

chapter 4

“Zombies vs. Zombies!” if that’s foreshadowing i swear to god

charlie panic ordering the same as john but failing to realize he hadn’t ordered anything yet is literally me on dates

“Honestly, I don’t even know what you saw in that girl-- selfish, scatterbrained, pathetic.” something doesn’t feel right here, scoob

this conversation turned from awkward to super fucking awkward dear god really quick

IS THE WOMAN WITH THE GUY WITH THE CANE JEN

I SWEAR TO GOD IF SHE’S JEN

is circus baby’s a cult

CLAY NO

chapter 5

“For Michael.” thank you i am crying again

“You mean it’s about Charlie.” nice job jessica you just summed up the novel and a good part of the games in one sentence!

“’It was the machine Charlie’s father built to kill himself.’“ aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

what

what the fuck

what the fuck

oh

ohmy god

ohmygod

chapter 6

no don’t split up that’s how people die in horror stuff

make up your mind john. are you gonna call him dave, afton, or springtrap

WHY WOULD YOU LEAVE CHARLIE ALONE IN THE FIRST PLACE YOU DUMBASSES

chapter 7

“’Am i not enough?’ ... ‘No, you’re not.’“ okay i know this woman is Definitely Evil but i feel bad for her now

john, jess, you two are literally being ten times too obvious

oh, a walkie talkie? this can only go well.

“Charlie was looking at him like he was prey.” oh fun.

JESSICA WHAT ARE YOU DOING

“Her bright orange hair was tied up in two pigtails on either side of her head...” AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

okay but not-charlie is actually giving me chills. scott and kira, nice job there

oh fuck

chapter 8

it’s BABY TIME BITCHES

“Now I know that people are all fading, fragile, inconsequential.” well if you didn’t know she was a bad guy after fucking MURDERING AUNT JEN ATTEMPTING TO KILL CLAY AND KIDNAPPING JESSICA this line solidified it

i can literally hear heather masters speaking these lines

fuck off william you stinky bitch

jessica sweetie you’re doing great

“...because if that’s hell, there’s a hole at the bottom of it reserved for you.” JESSICA SWEETIE YOU’RE DOING FUCKING AMAZING

“Elizabeth!” ooooh name drop

“They’re still in there.” o h

chapter 9

“I have to get inside!” that sounds... familiar

“Yeah, it’s a good neighborhood, John. Nothing bad ever happens here.” carlton i missed you so much

“John sent me to help.” OH NO

okay so flirty femme fatale. cool

“I rushed into my last relationship and I almost ended up dead in a moldy fur suit.” bdshgdkgad

i’m not really sure that’s how reverse engineering works but dang if that wasn’t a cool way of escaping baby

chapter 10

“He’s been here long enough for those to heal...” william afton i am coming for your ass

chapter 11

“My only lasting instruction for you concerns the fourth closet.” ooo title drop

“...fill it with every kind of flammable thing and burn it to the ground...” seems like bear dad’s keeping with his whole fire thing

“’I’m the only you that matters.’“ shut up you bitchy metal scrapheap

chapter 12

“’It’s legal as long as you don’t pick any locks,’ he said. ‘Now be quiet so I can pick this lock.’“ guys i think i have a new favorite line

OF COURSE THERE’S A MIRROR MAZE

YOU CAN’T HAVE A CLOWN THEME HORROR NOVEL WITHOUT MIRROR MAZES

“’I kn-ow you’re in h-ere.’” oH?

IS IT MY BOY?

“The glitching voice had a strange, unsteady tone.” IS IT MY B O Y

IT IS MY BOY

FUNTIME FREDDY HAS JOINED THE PARTY

chapter 13

“Why do I have to be the leader? It’s bad enough when I’m just in charge of myself.” okay but big mood

MANGLE???

MANGLE I FUCKING TRUSTED YOU

M A N GL E

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

so like is the funtime foxy from sl now confirmed to be mangle or am i reading this wrong

scott and kira: mangle is a literal monster who can and will kill

me, pointing at mangle: good baby fox

scott and kira:

me, pointing at mangle harder: g o o d  b a b y  f o x

wow i can’t believe funtime freddy is fucking dead

press f to pay respects lads

chapter 14

“You’re so attached to something so... easily broken.” elizabeth you are literally the definition of a fucking villain

also one of your teammates was smashed to hell and back pretty easily what does that say about you

what

what the fuck

what the fuck is going on

chapter 15

“A boy in a black-and-white striped shirt...” oh?

“‘That’s our friend. He helped me find my puppy!’“ OH

all the missing children are gone now and i’m sobbing

chapter 16

“’Oh, please, I practically am a nurse...’” marla being a premed student makes you a future nurse, not a nurse now

in conclusion: everything hurts and i’m dying

[booksandwords]

Ride the Lightning (Sinister in Savannah, #1)

by Aimee Nicole Walker

Series: Sinister in Savannah, #1 Read Time: 4 Days Rating: 3/5

Quote: Life is like a thunderstorm—unpredictable, beautiful, and sometimes dangerous. — Maeve St. John

Warnings: PTSD, discussion of death and terrorism and survivor's guilt.

I really enjoyed Ride the Lightning much more than I think I expected to. Particularly given I only chose to read it now despite having bought it quite a while ago to fill a prompt for a reading challenge, always a risky prospect. The ending is lovely. Everyone gets what they need and there is no true sadness. I really enjoyed the ride the whodunit aspect and the parallel romance. Avery and Jonah are so good for each other and their bedroom aspects suit them their mix of playful and serious mixing Avery's flirtatious and sunny self with Jonah's brooding and stormy side.

The plot didn't feel predictable to me in hindsight maybe it should be but isn't that a sign of good writing? Being able to look back and see the things the signposts you missed. I do worry about the fate of one of the characters but I think maybe he's fine. Given there are two more books in this series he may yet reappear. On the subsequent books I appreciate that we are given tidbits of them. Book two Mr. Perfect follows Felix and Jude Arrow because there is no way that rivalry isn't hiding all kinds of electric chemistry. Felix is going after a case that for in order to avoid civil suits Jude is shying away from. I'm would guess on professional egos the size of small planets, a history and a battle of wills. Book three Pretty Poison follows Rocky and a yet unmet man. The case in question is Tess Hamilton and it honestly looks really interesting. Tess is a black widow type. Look I have a great aunt who appears like a black widow and it endlessly amuses the whole family. I just really like any book that plays with the trope. The plot is basically is Tess a black widow or not and if she is how did she get away with it for so long.

The characters are likeable on the whole you will find yourself screaming at them to get on with it but that is part of the charm. Their unresolved sexual tension that everyone can see but they are unwilling to act on. they both have very humanising elements too. Jonah's past is more than a bit dark. Just be aware he has PTSD though not as bad as I've read in other books. There is some discussion of death and terrorism and survivor's guilt.

Marla is Jonah's next-door neighbour, recently diagnosed with terminal cancer, Marla is a freaking Queen in two senses of the word. I love her so much. "There are certain things I am unwilling to compromise and staying true to myself tops the list. Love me as I am or get the fuck gone." She is all power and sass and let me go my way. She actually feels quite similar in some ways to Maeve St. John, Jonah's grandmother and the most influential figure in his life. Both are somewhat guiding figures to him. Marla is core to the reason the plot exists, she is the friend that asks Jonah to investigate Earl Ison's case.

Have a note dump because this is already long...

“Why are you assuming her affair is with a man?” Jonah asked out of curiosity. “Oh, hell,” Rocky said slowly. “Why the hell didn’t I consider her lover could be a woman?” “We’re brainwashed with heteronormative bullshit from birth,” — There is a subplot involving PI Rocky and a cheating spouse case that still isn't resolved at the end of the book. I find it amusing and this line, in particular, is so good because we really, really have. (Jonah and Rocky)

God bless any author who writes explicitly safe and consensual sex. In this case, there is also Jonah knowing that as much as Avery wanting something he isn't ready it will hurt him.

Rocky is a serial flirt but Felix is "the slut puppy in this trio,”. That makes things interesting, Rocky may not be all talk per se but he likes to play and banter.

Rocky and Felix have an almost perfect sibling-like relationship. Given they haven't been working together long that was a choice to write but it works well with their personality types.

“Today’s episode is called Ride the Lightning,” [... ] “The term is slang for execution by electric chair, which wasn’t abolished in Georgia until October 2001.” — I didn't know the origins of the title. It's a great choice. I won't add spoilers but the whole thing just works. (Felix)

"Resolve whatever demons are haunting you, cut those fucking chains, and allow yourself to love and be loved in return. You deserve it, baby." — I could write a hundred of Marla's lines here and it wouldn't be enough. In some ways she makes the book.

Just omg the Scooby-Doo references

Karlee who we never met but I kinda wish we did is the sort of best friend I think everyone needs. She's giving her bestie the kick in the pants Avery so desperately needs.

“Goodnight, Avery.” “Sweet dreams, thundercloud.” — Avery's nickname for Jonah is adorable. Thundercloud suits Jonah.

“No one wants to think that innocent people land in prison, especially not on death row. History has taught us otherwise, and I’m afraid some people weren’t paying attention to the lessons.” — This is totally a fair point but also a gut punch. (Jonah)

Props for Ellie. I do love seeing queer women in powerful positions. She's also the best aunt Jonah could ask for.

“Glitter,” Marla scoffed. “I said snazzy, not tacky. This blush pink is my signature color in case you haven’t noticed.” — Look I laughed at this. This is another moment of Marla in a nutshell.

Total respect to any author who can write friendships like this. A hookup that has turned into an almost sibling-like relationship. Neighbours are willing to risk anything for each other. Ride or die best friends and the varying romantic dynamics. All mixed up and working so well in harmony. For those who like Aimee Nicole Walker's writing style after reading this. Royce and Sawyer with their hilarious chemistry, the like of which I haven't read since Rowe and Noah in Unbreakable Bonds, have their own series Zero Hour (book one Ground Zero). Events involving some of the characters in Ride the Lightning take place in the second book, Devil's Hour. I would guess Jonah's cutie housemate Kendall will turn up somewhere else too. Preferably without his problematic baggage. Believe it or not, it's only Travis's douchery that makes me call him problematic not their complicated relationship.

[marlaluster]

Links to articles where John Legend is said to be announcing he's not good friends with Kanye West anymore...

Just a note about the links: It appears the thing that talks in my mind most often has altered some stories on this topic to make it seem John Legend is still friends with Kanye West after I posted here about the meaning of the articles saying John Legend was not friends with West as he once was.

"I did alter the stories. I wish this to go on where I am not out as who I am," he thing that talks in my mind said.

"It is happening, Marla. He is coming out as the devil," something representing my soulmates said in my mind about John Legend.

But some stories I'm going to link to next here seem to express further than others that John Legend is no longer friends with Kanye West. Other stories say the two people are simply not as good friends as they used to be.

Excerpt (follows) from Entertainment Tonight online article, one of three articles linked to below, where it seems it's being said that the two celebs are no longer friends at all. It seemed the thing that talks in my mind was defeated by this following thing being said...

However, Legend said he believes it was West's run for president in 2020, and Legend's refusal to support said run, that was the final nail in the coffin for their decades-long friendship.

Links follow...